The New Short Words

THE NEW YORK TIMES published a piece recently about how chat word abbreviations and initials are creeping into the classroom. Kids are compulsively substituting "ppl" for "people," "b/c" for "because," and "iow" for "in other words" in classroom writing assignments. 

Teachers are punishing students for using the abbreviations. And of course in formal term papers and tests they should. But what about everyday writing? 

It's about time that schools, workplaces and other environments where people put pen to paper start accepting the standard abbreviations of the digital age.  

Why are old abbreviations and initials acceptable -- "can't," "snafu," "asap," etc. -- but new ones aren't? 

I'm not saying conventional spelling should be replaced. I'm suggesting that Internet-era shorthand should be allowed, accepted and even embraced in any casual written communication where old abbreviations are currently accepted.

Chat abbreviations are here to stay. Will schools choose to become irrelevant and obsolete in yet another realm, or will they realize the opportunity here?

Rather than punishing students for their mastery of modern casual writing, teachers should encourage kids' new embrace of written communication, celebrate their unprecedented typing skills and instruct students on the proper use and misuse of chat abbreviations.

lmk what u think: mike@mikeslist.com

Leave the Wake-Up Time in Clock's Hands

Researchers at Brunel University in southern England have created an alarm clock that makes its own decision about when to wake you up. The clock surfs the Internet for traffic reports and other relevant information and chooses a wake-up time based on how long it thinks it will take you to get to your destination. You enter your morning schedule, including when and where you have to be somewhere. The clock will wake you up as late as possible. 

Europe's Biggest Hack Ever

German hackers from the Chaos Computer Club plan to use one outer wall of the French National Library in Paris as a giant computer screen. Lights in the windows will be controlled by an Internet-connected computer and serve as pixels. Random passers by will be able to play Tetris or send messages via the Internet or even their cell phones. Paris authorities have authorized the project as part of the city's all-night "White Night" celebration this Saturday, October 5. (French readers: Send me a picture!)

Electric Limo Also a Hot Rod

Electric cars are good for the environment, but too slow and boring to drive, right? Not this monster. Keio University and the Japan Science and Technology  Corp. showed off their KAZ electric car Saturday. The KAZ tops out at 192 miles per hour and travels up to 186 miles on a single charge. The car is almost 15 feet long and has eight wheels, two control displays and 84 lithium-ion batteries. Inside, chairs and couches make the car feel like a cross between a limo and an RV. The KAZ will be shown at a Detroit car show in January. 

Mike's List 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: Herbert ($10), David ($10), Lawrence ($20), Loren ($10), Leona ($10), Mark ($10), Noli ($10), Bradford ($20), Gwendolyn ($30), Carson ($10), David ($3), Bruce ($10), Rowland ($10), Joe ($10), Roy ($10), Renwick ($20), Richard ($10), Anne ($25), Robert ($20), Jerry ($20), Wayne ($20) and Liz ($20) -- and also by the Mike's List "Buck a Month Club": Mark, Sherrin, Michael, Ian, Ricardo, Jeff, Terry, Dennis, Frank, Amira, Judy, "L", Joel, Charles, Ray, Eric, Glenn, Paul, Nicholas and Daniel. If YOU would like to support the exclusive tech news, ad-free, spam-free content in Mike's List, just go here for a quick and easy contribution!

Sign of the Times

The Undetectables is a U.K. company that specializes in hiding cell phone towers and other unsightly telecom equipment. Company technicians camouflage, cover or redesign antennas to blend into the surrounding environment. Their web site features a gallery of recent work.

How to Stop Spam II

I wrote a recent series about putting a stop to spam. I received tons of mail expressing alarm and interest. If you want to end spam for good, check out Fred Langa's excellent series in the LangaList on stopping spam. You can read it here, here and here. Subscribe to the LangaList so you don't miss future spam articles. Scot Finnie has some great advice and reviews in his newsletter as well. Subscribe to Scot's newsletter here. 

Found Video

This is incredible. Check out this live web cam video taken through a high-power microscope at the MEMS Design Lab at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The lab makes tiny machines so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye. This week's "Found Video" shows one of them in action. 

Proof You Can Buy Anything on the Web

Don't believe me? I'll bet you didn't know you could fire up your browser and buy...

A luxurious home with a nuclear missile silo basement

or even...

The laptop of superhacker Kevin Mitnick!

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!

Gotta-Get-It Gadget

I told you more than a year ago about a prototype keyboard that lights up in the dark. I'm happy to report that you can now actually buy one. No more turning on lights while you're reading Mike's List on your PC late at night. The $99.95 keyboard is called EluminX from Auravision. The keys light up in "Sapphire Blue," and Auravision promises new colors soon. The keyboard works with any version of Windows.

Wacky Web Sites

Dumb warning signs, labels and instructions are everywhere. Especially on the Dumb Warnings web site!

If you think modern abstract art is for the birds, you're right! 

It's unreal how rich you have to be to make this Forbes list of the 15 wealthiest fictional characters.

You'll gain a while new respect for NASA's ability to launch satellites into orbit when you see how hard it is to do it yourself (click and drag your mouse pointer and let go). 

If you enjoy seeing pictures of celebrities with neck injuries, then you'll love the Famous Faces in Neck Braces web site!

Last Week's Mystery Pic

No, it's not a "Silicon Valley ashtray," a "crystal ball for predicting lottery numbers," or even a "deodorant roll-on ball for very large armpits" as suggested by some readers. And it's definitely not what most of you guessed: some kind of birth control device. It's the Sony VAIO E.Q., a futuristic mobile device prototype that's part PC, part robot companion. Called a "sensing computer," the VAIO E.Q. uses voice and other input to gauge the user's mood and make suggestions based on past actions. The object shown in the Mystery Pic is actually the handheld terminal which communicates via Bluetooth with a VAIO notebook base station nearby. Sony hopes to commercialize the concept by 2004. The idea was rolled out during "Sony Dream World 2002," an exhibition of Sony's latest gadgets held September 14 in Yokohama, Japan. Congratulations to Lloyd Baker of Leander, Texas, for being first with the right answer!

Mystery Pic o' the Week

What is it? Send YOUR guess to mysterypic@mikeslist.com (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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