Who Reads Mike's List?

AND WHY DO THEY DO IT? Mike's List is the best-kept secret in the industry. 

Many readers have told me that they don't tell anyone they subscribe to Mike's List. Why? No, not because they're ashamed, but because they want to keep their golden monopoly on Mike's List information. They spring Mike's List factoids and trivia on co-workers, who are amazed at their knowledge of bleeding edge technology stuff. Readers often don't reveal their source because they want to continue being the smartest kid in the class. If you do this, you're not alone. 

Even journalists do it. I have literally hundreds of journalists on my list who get story ideas from Mike's List, but never reveal where they got them. I've had reporters and commentators from newspapers, trade journals, radio, TV and other newsletters write and ask my permission to use a story idea, or ask me for more information. Most don't ask. I don't mind, as long as I got the story out there first. 

You'll notice that many of the stories I cover end up in mainstream media days or weeks after you read it here. 

The reason Mike's List is such a great resource (in my obviously not-so-humble-opinion) is that one of my criteria is originality. If I learn that a major media outlet has covered a story, I won't write about it. I toss dozens of great stories each week because a Google search reveals that it's been covered somewhere already. 

Casual readers may not realize it, but hard-core tech trivia buffs -- who surf all the technology sites, blogs, e-zines and newsgroups -- know that Mike's List contains the highest number of "scoops" of any technology publication. (I know, because I'm one of them.) Not bad for a humor rag.

Mike's List is made up of four parts. First, is the editorial, which you're reading now. I generally write about whatever is on my mind, convey an opinion, call readers to action, or shamelessly promote my newsletter, as I'm doing now. 

Next come the scoops. After the editorial, you'll find a handful of stories that you almost certainly have not heard about anywhere else. 

Then, you'll find my regular features, "Proof You Can Buy Anything On the Web," "Gotta-Get-It-Gadgets," "Wacky Web Sites," "Goofy Games," and the ever popular "Mystery Pic." These items are packed with new and not-so-new links, services, and products that are just too amazing, cool or nutty to pass up. (Note that "Goofy Games" is new starting this week.)

Finally, I print a roundup of links from "The Elgan Report," which is my news-link web site.

Mike's List isn't designed to be your only source of tech news. It's not particularly useful, either. You won't find technical how-to articles, actionable product reviews or service journalism. You also won't find non-technology stories, boring industry news, esoteric information, porn, spam or ads. 

Mike's List is made up entirely of funny, new and interesting technology stuff. 

If you enjoy it, don't keep it a secret! Recommend it to a friend! And make a contribution if you can. But most importantly, keep on reading and enjoying Mike's List! : ) 

Anti-Theft Device Lets You Stop Car, Taunt Thief

A new anti-theft car security system from Italy calls your cell phone when your car is stolen, and tells you its location and speed, which it determines using onboard GPS. Push a few buttons on your phone, and the car's motor will shut down next time the car stops. Called i-mob, the system also lets you taunt and heckle car thieves from your cell phone through a loudspeaker in the car. i-mob will also call you if the car is hit or towed while parked, or if the car exceeds a speed limit you set (teenage drivers beware...). Prices start at around $1,000 and go up based on the options you choose. The system is sold in Europe, and will likely become available in the United States next year. 

Yeah, But Does It Do Windows?

British scientists at King's College London and the University of Newcastle have invented a robot that irons and folds clothes. They hope to have a working robot on the market by 2006. The robot will figure out what kind of clothes it's ironing using special tags sewn in by manufacturers, then adjust itself accordingly. 

Americans 'Thankful' for Cell Phones This Thanksgiving

Half of all adults in the US told Opinion Research that they are more 'thankful' for cell phones than any other gadget. The survey, which was conducted for TracFone Wireless, found that 14% are most thankful for laptops, 8% for cable modems, 7% for DVD players and 4% each for CD burners and digital cameras. The company conducted a survey of 955 American adults who pay cell phone bills between August and September 2002. 

This Newsletter Brought to You By...

This exciting issue of Mike's List was brought to you by your sponsors -- the people who sent money to support ad-free, spam-free content: John ($10), Chris ($10), Robert ($20), Carolyn ($10), Geraldine ($10), Alvin ($10), Caleb ($10) and Peter ($20) -- and also by the Mike's List "Buck a Month Club": Mark, Sherrin, Michael, Ian, Ricardo, Jeff, Terry, Dennis, Amira, Judy, "L", Joel, Charles, Ray, Eric, Glenn, Paul, Nicholas, Daniel, Audrey and Doug. Go here to sponsor next week's Mike's List with a quick and easy contribution! 

Proof You Can Buy Anything on the Web

You've heard of "golden parachutes" for executives who screw up their companies and want to be rewarded  for it. Now you can buy emergency parachutes for executives who work in skyscrapers and want to escape fires and terrorist attacks.

Skulls Unlimited sounds like a gag site, but in fact it's a major seller of real and plastic skulls, skeletons and bones of humans and animals.  

Gotta-Get-It-Gadgets

Japan's Clarion unveiled a new in-dash car computer at World PC Expo in Tokyo this week. Called Cadias (short for car digital assistant), the gadget features an AM/FM radio, a CD player, MP3 and WMA digital audio players, e-mail and Internet access, a scheduler and an address book application. The system runs on Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive, sports a 7-inch TFT touch-panel screen and supports USB. A remote control lets your kids take control from the back seat. Cadius will go on sale in Japan December 1 and cost between $2,500 and $3,000. Check out more pictures here, here, here and here. 

The ROBCOASTER is a roller coaster without the, er, roller coaster. It's basically a giant, one-armed robot that flings you around. The ROBOCOASTER is made by Germany's Kuka Roboter, which makes industrial robots for manufacturing. Check out the videos!

Mike's List on the Radio

 Craig Crossman's Computer America features Mike Elgan every Thursday night. The show runs from 8pm to 9pm SVT (Silicon Valley Time). Listen to Computer America on your local Business TalkRadio station or over the Internet every weeknight. Don't miss Computer America!

Wacky Web Sites

Don't get mad. Get even with Virtual Voodoo. Use the online tools to poke, burn and generally cause pain and injury to a voodoo doll, then send it to a friend.  

Think of it as porn for the Sierra Club crowd. Earth Erotica is a photographic exhibition of rocks and trees that look kinda like naked people.

Turn your mouse pointer into a graceful stick-figure dancer. Why you would want to do this, I have no idea.

Goofy Games

It's an online game of Battle Ship, but with French Fries instead. Let's play Battle Chips!

Now you can enjoy all the fast-paced action and thrills of curling in the privacy of your own office!

Starship Seven guarantees hours of wasted time as you float around in a space ship gathering fuel, energy and points. 

Pop is a goofy game where you're a cartoon space guy, and your goal is to ride the bubbles while minimizing the use of gas in your jet pack.  

Last Week's Mystery Pic

No, it's not "a tapeworm," "hand bondage demonstration," or even "what happens when you try to refill a black inkjet cartridge," as suggested by some readers. It's a wearable keyboard worn by a model and explained by wearable computer expert Thad Starner at the sixth annual International Symposium on Wearable Computers October 8 in Seattle, Washington. The wearable computer peripheral senses the movement of fingers, which are detected by a device worn on the back of the hand. Congratulations to Anthony Darden of Erie, Pennsylvania, for being first with the right answer! 

Mystery Pic o' the Week

What is it? Send YOUR guess to [email protected] (be sure to say where you live). If you're first with the right answer, I'll print your name in the next issue of Mike's List!

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