Actually I think calling a URL "earl" is rather endearing. None of the top "annoying" neologisms annoy me however. It's a free country, people will develop the language the way they find most convenient and we can't lay down what words will or will not become current. Tell pupils a particular turn of phrase particularly annoys you and you are asking to hear it at every turn. McDonalds know this to their cost. They have tried to have the term McJob (a low-paid non-union job) removed from the Oxford English Dictionary (and forced their employees to circulate petitions). They only attracted adverse publicity and ridicule for their pains. ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com