Off topic: Divided by a common language (WAS: API receiver variable limit)

["McCallion, Martin" <MccalliM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For some time now, I've been musing on differences between the use of
English between Britain and North America.  There are a number of terms
that I see repeatedly on the net, and particularly here, that confuse
me.

Jon Paris's comment: 

> PS.  Why write a boilerplate?  

reminded me that I've been wanting to ask about this.  Plus it's Friday
afternoon. :-)

So:

1) What's a boilerplate?  I understand from the context, but where does
the term come from, and why?
2) Why do you call /COPY members "copy books"?
3) Why do you call DP departments and/or software houses "shops"?  Over
here a shop is a kind of building where you can buy things -- you know,
big plate-glass windows, tills, all that?  I think you call them stores,
though.

Cheers,

Martin.

--                                                                     
Martin McCallion                 
Midas-Kapiti International
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Home: martin.mccallion@ukonline.co.uk

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