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X Y Z
XML |
Y2K | Zip
XML
Stands for "Extensible Markup Language." (Yes, technically it
should be EML). XML is used to define documents with a
standard format that can be read by any XML-compatible
application. The language can be used with HTML pages, but XML
itself is not a markup language. Instead, it is a "metalanguage"
that can be used to create markup languages for specific
applications. For example, it can describe items that may be
accessed when a Web page loads. Basically, XML allows you to
create a database of information without having an actual
database. While it is commonly used in Web applications, many
other programs can use XML documents as well.
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Y2K
Stands for "Year 2000." However, this term is more often used
to refer to the "Millennium Bug." This bug is a little
creature that lives inside older computers. When the year 2000
rolls around, the little bug will self-destruct, blowing up
the computer it was residing in. The chain of explosions
across the world will be catastrophic, causing global
panamonia and LA riots. Also associated with Y2K is the end of
the world, which is without doubt, foreshadowed by the dredged
Millennium Bug. So, on January 1, 2000, you'll want to make
sure you have at least a 5 year's supply of food and water,
roughly half a million dollars in cash, and at least 200 acres
of land somewhere in Montana. Of course, it doesn't really
matter, considering the world will have ended anyway.
Update:
We're past the year 2000 and the world is still going! No
Armageddon, no major computer explosions, no nuclear
holocaust, even no L.A. Riots... Wow, I guess Y2K wasn't
really that bad after all (surprise, surprise). Sorry about
those of you who bought 200 acres of land in Montana. =)
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Zip
Windows users will see this term a lot when looking for files
on the Internet. A zip file (.zip) is a "zipped" or compressed
file. For example, when you download a file, if the filename
looks like this: "filename.zip," you are downloading a zipped
file. "Zipping" a file involves compressing one or more items
into a smaller archive. A zipped file takes up less hard drive
space and takes less time to transfer to another computer.
This is why most Windows files that you find on the Internet
are compressed.
To use a zipped file, you'll need to unzip it first. PKZIP for
DOS, or WinZip for Windows, are some popular programs that can
unzip files for you. Fortunately, these programs can be
downloaded for free from Web sites like Download.com.
Macintosh files are most often "stuffed" into Stuffit files
(.sit), which can be "unstuffed" using Aladdin's Stuffit
Expander.
The term "Zip" also refers to a product by Iomega. The company
makes a removable storage device called a Zip Drive. Depending
on the model, these drives can hold 100, 250 or 750 MB Zip
disks. They are usually used for backup and for transferring
large files to different locations. However, Zip drives are
not as fast as hard drives, so it is usually not a good idea
to run programs off them.
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