They didn't make it here in time for the holidays, but my little people didn't seem to care. Our XOs from One Laptop Per Child arrived today and were instant hits. The kids played for hours, checking out all the cool features—chat, Internet, writing, music, drawing, and the still/video camera. Mom was more impressed than she'd anticipated.

In the spirit of the holiday season, play a word game, have some fun and give a gift, all at the same time. FreeRice is more than a fun online vocabulary game. For each word definition you get right, you're donating 20 grains of rice to the United Nation's World Food Program...

It's Friday, baby, and time once again to revel in the goofiness of our chosen profession.

One Laptop Per Child's "Give One Get One" program has been extended to December 31st. OLPC's goal is to supply laptops for children in developing countries who might not otherwise have access to an education. In pursuit of this goal, OPLC has developed the XO laptop, a child-geared machine designed to be "durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, responsive, and fun."

It's way past time this site had a new design, and I finally came up with one I think I can live with for a while. This one feels like it will actually grow and expand and change over time, and that's important to me. I wanted a site that felt, well, roomy and comfortable like a pair of well-worn jeans.

A lot of the new elements are things I've wanted to do for a long time—although the most obvious isn't really new at all...