Personally I do not think that 'log in' or 'sign in' are really satisfactory. The phrases are 'verbally skuomorphic'.<p>On the one hand you have 'log in' and that conjures up images of a mainframe computer with blinking lights (or something left in a toilet bowl), then, on the other hand there is 'sign in', that is a bit namby-pamby and reminiscent of what you do when you sign in when visiting someone in some posh office building.<p>We need to introduce a new word, something that has no real-world metaphor, that combines all the delights that go with made-up-words-for-programming. Recursive backronyms are great, plus the English language needs a word that rhymes with orange. There could be some real meaning to the word, as in, once '[xxx]-ed in' then your communications are certified NSA proof. Any suggestions?<p>With the right word we can introduce it in the programming community and, from there, it could enter into the wider audience and get into the OED.<p>'Sign in' is a relatively new contrivance, does anyone know what the first website was to use that? How did <i>they</i> invent it and get others to follow their example?