Mike95 because of Windows95?
Many people have asked why I chose the alias Mike95 as my Internet identity. Although many may think I chose it because of the popularity of the '95 naming scheme ever since Windows95 was released...this is not the case. In fact, I first used the name back in October of 1994 when Windows95 as the operating system didn't exist. The operating system back then was referred to as "Chicago".
So why Mike95?
Well back in October of 1994, I received an unofficial beta copy of Chicago -- Microsoft's destined Windows95 Operating system that was supposed to be released in early 1995. This particular release included a bare-bones but functioning online service soon to be knows as msn. As I tried to sign on, I attempted to use the username "mike" but it was taken. I then tried "mike1", "mike2", "mike10", "mike20", etc... I was convinced there was a developer working at Microsoft whose name name was mike and was in charge of the login process of msn . Eventually I tried "mike95" and ironically it wasn't being used. Eventually the official name for the Operating system was revealed to be Windows95...and coincidentally it went along pretty good.
So why still Mike95?
Humm...good question. Well, when I started working at Icanect in early 1996, I was going to choose the login "mike" but there was a vice-president (and an active programmer) in the company who was named Mike and already was using that email. So again, I chose mike95 as the alternative...since I was already comfortable with it. Since everyone at Icanect usually referred to each other by first name, very quickly the name Mike95 (pronounced: Mike-ninety-five ) became my first name simply to distinguish between the two of us. Eventually it went as far as being my phone label, meeting excerpts, documents, etc. In fact, it went so far that one day a phone call came in for me and the receptionist didn't know what Michael Olivero's extention number was...until the person on the other line reiterated "Mike95". Ever since then, I have now been using mike95 almost exclusively for any new email addresses I obtain. My friends tell me that despite having changed between so many email address, they never had a problem remembering them...(unlike others who change frequently) so I guess it has it's side benefits also.
My mike95 email addresses to date have been:
- Mike95@msn.com (October 1994 - February 1996)
- Mike95@icanect.net (February 1996 - November 1988)
- Mike95@mediaone.net (June 1997 - March 1998)
- Mike95@cs.fiu.edu (January 1998 - December 1999)
- Mike95@netscape.net (July 1998 - rarely checked)
- Mike95@mike95.com(Final and Official email).
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