Frequently Asked Questions

I've included this FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to let you all know a little bit more about this site, as well as predict and answer any questions you may have. Enjoy.

Why is this site called Hokum?

This site is called hokum mostly because I think it's a cool word! I know, it's not a very profound reason. It's actually pretty simple, but simple is almost always better. :-)

Hokum means: 1. Something apparently impressive or legitimate but actually untrue or insincere; nonsense; 2. A stock technique for eliciting a desired response from an audience. (Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000)

Well, this web site may be named after nonsense, but the content is first rate (at least I'll try my best to make it that way). If you see anything you like you can save it for personal (noncommercial) use. You can also reproduce it for noncommercial or classroom use. In either case, send me an e-mail so I know that people are actually getting some use out of what I'm posting!

Can I contribute to Hokum?

Yes. You won't get any money (this is a hobby site after all), but you will get full credit. Check out the submission guidelines.

Aren't you spending too much time making this site?

Yep. But that's okay. I get permission from my wife and kids to use my free time for this great endeavor!!! :-) So you better appreciate it! ;-)

Do you take hints, suggestions and feedback?

You bet! I love to hear from everyone who visits my site. If you have any hints and suggestions, I'm more than glad to hear them. Just be nice about it. Several readers have already sent me suggestions, and I thank them. Don't forget, I'm creating this site for you. So if you have any ideas about how to make it better, let me know! You can contact me using the email link at the bottom of every page in Hokum Home.

Were any llamas or monkeys hurt during the production of this Web site?

Nope. All llama and monkey contributions were done purely on a voluntary basis with prior approval from the A.A.L.P. and the M.A.A. In fact, I managed to secure the help of the same llamas that had worked on the Holy Grail. I contacted them through their moose friends. So I'm sure the site is full of great work! The monkey contribution, however, was a little disappointing. While I really appreciated the macaques seasoning my potatoes in sea water, and the aye-ayes keeping the insects out of my apartment at night, the capuchins were a total disaster. All they did was throw spider monkeys at the howler monkeys. Yeah, sure, their brain size may be proportionally larger than that of chimps, but they use the extra brain power to do evil! Damn, dirty New World monkeys. You can't take them anywhere.

Is this site really xhtml valid?

Yep. Unfortunately, my provider adds code at the end of every page on my site for tracking purposes. Without this code, my pages are valid. However, if you do find a page that isn't valid, let me know!

Do you really know grammar?

Yes. It took me a little while, but I'm actually beginning to learn English grammar! I fought it. I really did. But I finally caved in and have begun following most, but not all, prescriptive grammar rules. I still choose to end my sentences in prepositions if I want to and I use they/their/them instead of he. Example: "An SME likes their chocolate with nuts." This is the style that I choose for my web site. If I were writing for someone who thought I was crackpot for doing so, I wouldn't do it. :-) This article sums up my philosophy on this pretty well.