Good Santa: "So in the spirit of the times (sussing great gift ideas), I've convinced an old friend, and my former Dean, to spend a couple days in this space talking about his new book, Perilous Times. Starting Wednesday, Geof Stone will be blogging here about the book. It is a great and amazing history, both optimistic and depressing. It will be Geof's first time blogging, so please make him welcome.

And were I to use this space to self-promote, I might point to Businessweek's pick of the top ten books of the year. But I won't waste your time with that."

Bad Santa: "In their zeal to stop people from using their legitimately purchased content, [some] companies have gummed up their media with so much copy-prevention garbage that it's practically impossible to watch or listen to anything at your leisure. You might as well wrap your digital media presents in chains.

And then, after you eagerly unchain your presents, get ready to see a lot of contracts called end user license agreements (EULAs). ...Why would I want to give my sweetie a neat entertainment device or program if it might spy on him or her or simply stop working if he or she tries to run it in a nonapproved player?"