In response to Aaron Goldblatt's question about the impact of the Infobahn on language. (Hi, Aaron) As a first cut, this falls into two obvious categories: linespeak, used only by on-line communicators, and terminology that has gotten into the general vocabulary. Linespeak presumably fills the same needs as all in-group jargon, namely differentiating the ins and the outs. Btw, imho, lol, all the smilies (or do you call them emoticons?) exist purely on-line, or in guidebook type articles. No doubt all the ones that have been defined in NEWSWEEK are no longer current in lineworld. and have been replaced with newer, un=interpreted phrases. Offhand, I can't think of anything that s gotten into general usage, though "on-line" has been an analogy for getting something up and running for some time. I suspect that it takes a while for a new vocabulary set to enter the popular consciousness. Has anyone seen the first signs of on-line usage creeping into the off-line world? Ann Mintz Orlando Science Center [log in to unmask]