How do you explain how programming works to complete non-techies?
TomOfTTB: Programming is essentially writing down instructions for a person who is extremely literal but very consciences.  In the website's case the database is like a file room and the web page is like a piece of paper.  You're telling the computer to get stuff out of the file room (database), giving it instructions on what you'd like done with that information (add these numbers, etc...) and then telling them to write it's results on the paper (website)