Everyone knows how the meaning of words changes with usage -- particularly when kids are involved, right? At the risk of being un-PC, think of 'gay' -- it once meant 'jolly', then it was used to described a homosexual person and now, in the playground at least, it means 'stupid'. Well, something similar has happened in the tech world.

E-tales and the Oxford Dictionary both think (or thought) nerd and geek meant roughly the same thing -- a studious, techy person who is a bit lacking in the fashion and social skills departments. But, no, the two are subtly different, at least according to one precocious young teen. A nerd is boringly studious, but dresses in a smart, buttoned-up, preppy way sort of style, while a geek is untidy but technologically knowledgeable. But the crucial difference is that the latter is cool, while the former isn't.

Go figure.

What's in a name?

Shakespeare famously said: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Or, alternatively, something that stinks will still niff whatever you choose to call it.