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Jodi got me some of my favorite presents this year. We’re a bit tight, but she found some great gifts!

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In case you can’t tell, that’s a “Play Bass Guiter” book with CD, and two bass guitar picks. I’m learning the bass, by the way, and the book will help out a lot! It’s also going to re-introduce me to some of the music theory I’ve worked so hard to forget. -)

Jeneane Sessum is looking for a palmtop device that is designed for blogging. In the comments, someone suggests Danger’s HipTop (sold by T-Mobile as the SideKick).

This is indeed the future or palmtop devices: always-on internet connection that is not metered (although your phone minutes are) web browser, email and chat clients. Everything the mobile blogger needs. Also includes a simple digital camera that attaches to the device to let you upload images.

<homer>MMMMMmmmmm, Danger.</homer>

Dave is wondering at the snow in NYC. Here in Phoenix it was 60°. -) No snow here.

Mery Christmas to one and all, and here’s looking forward to a Peaceful 2003!

Jodi’s family (parents and younger brother) just got into town. SkyHarbor Airport was (as to be expected) a madhouse, but we successfully managed to find them, reunite them with their luggage, and get them home. Since being out here, we’ve reallly missed family, so it’s really really nice to have them here!

Jodi’s brother, Mark, is a geek with screenwriting aspirations, and we’re sitting here listening to his first screenplay idea. And it’s really really good! I hope he has an opportunity to go for it. His plot seems to move well, with interesting subplots, and I would love to see it as a movie.

Mark’s a great writer - I may have to see if I can get him a blog one of these days… -)

Kuro5hin has a short blurb on the about-to-be new Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Bill Frist.

According to Dave, the Register is reporting thatMicrosoft may want to buy Macromedia, makers of Flash, Freehand, Dreamweaver, and other graphics and web applications. Evidently they want Flash MX, so it can become YAJK (Yet Another Java Killer) on the web.

1. Microsoft needs to stop trying to kill the competition, and just make something people want. Lose-lose.
2. It is likely that Macromedia’s apps would be taken out of the hands of their original base: Mac-based graphics and web professionals. Yes, they may consitnue to be updated for both platforms, but the Mac versions will begin to slip behind their Windows counterparts, as Microsoft uses them (as it does everything) to drive users to their cash-cow, Windows. Lose-lose.
3. Adobe loses their last “real” competitor in the print and web graphics space. Adobe’s products begin to get shoddy as the lack of competition makes them even more complacent then they are now. Lose-lose.

Well, here’s hoping the Register has it wrong.