Now, I’m not one to criticize a serious, well-respected publication for

dabbling in pop-culture zeitgeist to get a few non-regular readers in

the door. First, because I serve the same function for TechRepublic. Second, because it works.

Case in point, a recent edition of Forbes online, where it estimates the cost of becoming Batman–or

at least as close as the average millionaire could come to to it, since

most of the gadgets Bats uses are more science fiction than fact. (I

apologize in advance for recommending a javascript pop-up slideshow.)

While I have been known to occasionally peruse Forbes for my own

self-gratification and enlightenment, slashdot and Futurismic are not your everyday Forbes consumers. That’s expanding your audience.

The moral of the story: A little pandering never hurt anybody.