This weekend is being dedicated to finally getting a new layout up and running. If you want to watch the progress you can do so here.

Engadget has an insider souce at Mircosoft who was kind enough to leak some information about their planned MP3 player and how they’re going to take on, or maybe even take down, the iPod.

Aside from the normal one-up-manship that goes along with a product launch they have an ace in the hole.? Mircosoft’s player will have built-in WiFi giving you the option of downloading without a computer as well as social networking services tied in with the Xbox Live service.

What’s more, the MS software will scan your iTunes software and automatically give you access to those songs you’ve purchased in their software.? Though MS will still have to pay for the songs, they feel its worth the cost.

I still sort of doubt MS has much of a chance in this one though.? The iPod is an icon, almost a status symbol.? In the end I’m sure the MS offering will carve out its own little niche in the market place, but I don’t think MS will pull many of these customer’s from iTunes.? In a perfect world it’d all boil down to price, not the hype.

This sort of makes me want to stop eating hotdogs.

I was stumbling around the web this evening and came across a blog that wasn’t all that interesting but had a neat flashing link that took me to this site, a Blogger’s Disclaimer. I won’t ask you, my loyal reader(s), to read this entire thing. Instead, I’ll give you some of the best bits and my thoughts.

If you have a real life relationship with the writer, remember that communication is very important. View weblogs as online journals, no less sacred than a diary hidden between the mattresses.

Sorry kids. If you think your blog is as sacred as your diary, you probably need to go back and read up on how the WORLD WIDE WEB works. There is no privacy - you should not expect any.

If they do not want you reading it, or suddenly stop posting entries, ask them why and if necessary, stop going to the site. It is important that as a friend, relative, co-worker or whatever you may be to the writer, that your presence at their weblog not impede their ability to express themselves.

Once again, if you post something on the web, your rights to have any say over who reads it are pretty much gone. If you don’t want your mom reading about what you do alone in your room, best not post it on the web there chum.

Never use anything off a person’s site, be it writing, images or html code, unless they say otherwise. People are very attached to their work and don’t usually respond well when others help themselves to it.

This one I really don’t have an issue with. I just thought it’d be ironic.

Ken Lay died last night.? I can’t believe he found away to cheat America again.? Facing up to 30 years, he didn’t serve much if any.? For those of you who moved into a spiderhole for the last five years Mr. Lay and his buddies did some fancy accounting that made it look like there was something left after they filled their pockets will millions of dollars that didn’t belong to them.? How is that not flat out stealing?

Anyway, he’s dead now. Let’s see if his accounting schemes can help him now.

Um…happy birthday America.

Sorry this was so late today.? I got carried away with working on my new style sheet.? Since I can’t skip week two, well go with better late than never.

• If you’ve never seen Japanese television shows you’re really missing out on some strange programming.? TheJapaneseareCrazy.com has a pretty good sampling.
• This is just funny.
• A few months ago sister’s kid Benjamin and her step-son Josh were tiring of each other’s company.? Josh came walking out of the bedroom saying ‘Quit following me’ with Benjamin hot on his heels saying ‘Quit following me’ in a mocking tone. Benjamin was barely three at the time.? Already a smarty-pants.? Nice.

Well I ‘finished’ the new style sheet tonight but it failed to pass a test run in IE.? I’m not sure what the problem is so I’m not going to launch it yet.? Sorry kids.? Instead, I’ll include a link to FireFox to help the cause - together we can stamp out IE in our lifetime!