scene

The term, "scene," is used in several ways.

1. Another word for "subculture" that doesn't sound quite so scientific, allowing it to be used in daily conversation. Used this way it usually has an adjective modifying it: the "indy scene" or the "hardcore scene" or the "emo scene." When someone refers to a particular "scene," they're talking about everything - the people, the places, the fashion, the music, and the trends.

2. A tongue-in-cheek reference to the trends and fashions of the various scenes. Many of these subcultures were built around countercultural ideals and nonconformist attitudes; the fact that trends even exist is humorous irony, and using "scene" as an adjective originally intended to lampoon that.

3. A trend of sorts that evolved from the indy, emo, and hardcore scenes (see the first definition); basically, anything that can be sold at Hot Topic. As events like Warped Tour - and artists like Avril Lavigne - became popular, the trends and fashions of these three scenes (and a few others) were gradually amalgamized and commericalized to create the generic "scene" monkier. Someone who is "scene" generally borrows from the various subcultures and combines them together - you can tell they're part of *a* scene, but no one is quite sure *what* scene. It is important to note that this use of "scene" refers to a fashion trend - it isn't a subculture in its own right, because it has no music, venues, or attitudes of its own to live on after it loses popularity.

4. An ironic insult toward followers of the "scene" trend outlined in 3. Calling someone "scene" brings up images of Avril Lavigne, Hot Topic, Good Charlotte, and, more recently, Myspace; it implies that he or she is a fair-weather fan, conforming to be popular or to fit in. In that sense, it is related to the term poseur. It also implies being more worried about the more visible icons of a particular scene (the fashion and language, for example) than the music that the scene is founded on. Calling someone a scenester basically means the same thing.

1. Atreyu is a relative newcomer to the hardcore scene, but is developing a rabid cult fanbase.

2. Wow... a Thundercats shirt, crotch-hugging faded jeans, and a devilock... how very scene of you. Not to mention your ratty Converse shoes or your Know Your Mushrooms armband.

3. Be more scene. Shop at Hot Topic.

4. Enjoy being scene while it lasts, because Myspace isn't enough to keep it going once the next fad hits.

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And There was Much Rejoicing

Phrase from the comedy classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Because of its relatively obscure nature, it is most often used among geeks and hackers. When someone uses this phrase, it is customary for anyone in earshot to point their index finger upward and wave it like a flag in a circular motion, coupled with a very insincere "yaay" - another reference to the original scene.

A: I smote the dragon, and there was much rejoicing.
B: *twirls finger in the air* yaay.

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code by candlelight

Programming through the night to finish a project.

The phrase can also be used to make light of outdated programming practices.

1. We'll just work on it all night until we finish. It'll be fun - we'll code by candlelight, like they did in the olden days.

2. Damn... QBasic? Was this coded by candlelight? Did you have to carve it in a stone tablet?

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blackhat

n. (Hacker Lingo) Hacker who uses his or her skills for malicious purposes and/or personal gain. Defacing websites, writing viruses, stealing personal information, and booting people off chat programs are all considered blackhat activities.

The blackhat is loathed by many in the hacker culture, who prefer the chivalrous vigilanteism of the whitehat to the blackhat's destructive and selfish tendencies. However, blackhats generally do deserve respect for their remarkable abilities - the exception of course being the script kiddie.

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40

A 40-oz. bottle, specifically one filled with an alcoholic beverage.

Shut up and give me a 40, dumbass.

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the dog ate it

Old cliche'd excuse for not having homework done. Generally means "I forgot," "I didn't do it," etc.

Teacher: "Where's your homework, Billy?"
Billy: "The dog ate it."

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Bonaparte

Nickname for one who is short in stature and tends to overcompensate for it - often through short temper, learning martial arts or other fighting skills, or attempting excessively difficult tasks. This is of course referring to Napoleon Bonaparte's conquest of Europe; Napoleon himself was very short, and there is an old inside joke among historians that his drive to conquer came from his lack of height.

Short dude: What are you lookin at? You wanna start something?

Tall dude: Whoa, Bonaparte, mellow out.

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