For example, I’ve been writing “Ajax” applications for a while now and I’ve never touched XML to do it, my transport mechanism of choice is JSON. Does this mean I’m not using Ajax? Should I tell my clients/bosses that I’m using AJAJ?

No, the terminology is loose enough to apply in this case. If you want to show off that you know what AJAX literally stands for good for you, /golfclap and all that. It only makes you look like you have the social skills of a 5 year old on a power trip cause you read a tutorial or two on the subject and want to impose your tiny e-peen on the rest of us.

GJ on these simple js effects. They are exactly that, simple, useful, quick, and as far as the user is concerned effective. That was the point of the article no?