Dear readers and subscribers,
Christmas – the traditional season of giving and sharing – remains wonderfully inescapable. Its traditions and rituals, established in simpler times, continue to remind us – those we hold close are the greatest gifts of all.
May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The happiness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
Have a wonderful Christmas, however you define it.
A little mood music – maybe?
Tech Thoughts is winding down for the Christmas break – so, you might find us fairly quiet the next several weeks. Regular posting will begin again on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
Bill Mullins' Weblog - Tech Thoughts 
Hi there Bill
Thank you very much for your warm wishes & I sincerely hope you have a wonderful break with glorious eats, drinks & peace among people who care about you
I raise your Bublé min bet with the less technically perfect Sinatra version 🙂
Keep Well
Michael
Hi Michael,
Nice choice – Frank does his usual “perfect Bublé” impression. 🙂
Wishing you the very best that the Christmas season has to offer. A good Scotch, a good Scot (woman – to keep you company of course)…… just for starters. 🙂
Best,
Bill
Merry Christmas Bill…
Rick
Thank you Rick.
Best Christmas wishes to you and the missus – and of course – the “cat”. 🙂
Best,
Bill
Hope this doesn’t come over preachy, but here’s some all-year-round advice from John Prine on neighbourliness, that I TRY to live by, which is appropriate for this season [Youtube video] Hello In There
Thanks Michael. Very appropriate, I’d say. Enjoyed it very much.
Just took a look at my Music folder – “Blow Up Your TV”, “Sam Stone”, “Muhlenberg County” – this last was one of my first experiences with Bluegrass, …… John’s the Man! 🙂 Great memories from back in the day.
Best,
Bill
happy holidays to you and yours
Hi Kenneth,
Well – a voice from the past. 🙂 Very good to hear from you.
Best wishes to you and your family for a joyful Christmas season.
Best,
Bill
A very Happy Christmas to you Bill, and a good and blessed and prosperous New Year to you also.
Grateful for all your help in the past,
Fred
Hi Fred,
Thank you.
Best Christmas wishes to you and yours.
Best,
Bill
Merry Christmas to all and all a good night.
Hey Delenn13,
Actually, it was a great night last night – not just good, but great. 🙂
Best Christmas wishes to you, your family, and of course your hubby 🙂
Best,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Hope you have a Very Merry Xmas!
Would like to say thanks for all the great articles during the year, and may they continue for a long time to come.
Cheers,
John
Thank you John, as you sit on the beach – no doubt, basking in Australian sunshine (Mal C. told me this morning that it’s hotter than Hades in the land Down Under). Yep – I’m cold and jealous. 🙂
Best wishes for a memorable family Christmas.
Best,
Bill
Right back at you and thanks so much for all the great information you’ve shared with so many of us all year.
Here’s my Christmas wish for everyone:
http://bob3160.blogspot.com/2012/12/merry-christmas-happy-holidays-happy.html
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the link – very appropriate.
Best Christmas wishes to you and to those you care for.
Best,
Bill
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
CHILDREN LOOK FORWARD WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION
ADULTS REFLECT ON CHERISHED MEMORIES
IT IS A SEASON OF HOPE AND JOY
A TIME FOR CONTEMPLATING THE BLESSINGS OF OUR LIVES
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM BOB AND KATHLEEN SLYKER
Hey Bill,
All The Best To You And Yours!
Bob
Hi Bob,
Lovely. Reminds me of your message from last year – equally as thoughtful.
Wishing you, and your family, a safe and joyous Christmas.
Best,
Bill
Hi, Bill —
I waited till the end of the world was over [ (:>) ] to wish you, “Happy Holidaze!”
May the Spirit of All Things Wise and Wonderful always surround you and your loved ones.
Hey Hipockets,
Whew! Seems as if we just managed to escape this latest “ending”. 🙂
Best wishes for a joyful Christmas to you and yours.
Best,
Bill
Hi Sir Bill,
All I can say, Merry Christmas to your family and everyone 🙂
Hey Vhick,
Great to hear from you! Thank you for your kind wishes.
Best,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Thanks for all the work you put into your site year after year. Aside from being a great source of information and making it easier to stay on top of the rapid changes in the tech field, it has also, as you know, given me both a place and opportunity to vent at times (oh, and share some of my thoughts and knowledge).
Hope you enjoy your holidays and have a good year.
Hi Aseem,
I feel quite good in knowing that you feel comfortable in writing your rants – more appropriately called “a realistic situational analysis” – here, on this site. 🙂 It would not surprise you, I’m sure, to know that I share your viewpoints more often than not.
Best wishes to you and yours for a super holiday season.
Best,
Bill
A very merry Christmas to you Bill. Thank you for another year of informative articles and I wish you a happy and prosperous new year of tech thoughts.
Thanks David – good to hear from you.
Best Christmas wishes to you and yours.
Best,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Have a great Christmas and thanks for all your great work over the past year.
To all you end of the world doubters, how do you know it didn’t end and all this isn’t a just a dream?
Bill, if you’re a bluegrass fan, you should check out Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers. I saw this Seattle band in a village hall in Kilbarchan, Scotland. Blew me away that a girl in her twenties could produce such meaningful songs; brilliant slide guitarist, too.
Kind regards,
John
Hi John,
lol. Funny that – “how do you know it didn’t end and all this isn’t just a dream?” A bunch of us were kicking that thought around last night. We determined that it was far too serious a question to continue to discuss it with glass in hand – as it were. 🙂
Lost High Rollers – WOW! Could not keep my feet from tapping – AWESOME!!! Many thanks for the intro to these guys.
Happy Christmas to you and the family.
Best,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Another thought on the music front. If you fancy streaming good quality country music right from your desktop, with no commentary or ads (or subscription), try The Listening Station:
http://www.thelisteningstation.co.uk/
For the record I have no connection with this website, I just like going to their concerts 🙂
Kind regards
John
Hi John,
Yesterday, I had no trouble reaching the site – today, on the other hand, got a “Forbidden – You don’t have permission to access / on this server.”
The difference? Overnight I had adjusted some start-up entries including Expat Shield (which I had turned off). So, it seems the site is restricted to the UK. Super site though – definitely worth running with Expat Shield (or, a similar application.
Best,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Yes it is tempting to try and keep the best for ourselves :). Glad you were able to access it, though. It is run by Loudon Temple, who is a promoter of country artists in the UK. He persuades many of them to perform in small venues in Kilbarchan, just a few miles from where I live. Lucky me!
Kind regards
John
Hi John,
Indeed! Lucky you. 🙂 I must admit, that I have a passion for, if you like, local music. Often, I’ll travel some distance to pickup the sounds of local talent. And, in most cases the “talent” is superb. Wouldn’t miss this stuff for anything.
Best,
Bill
Bill,
Been following your Blog for several years now. You always have something interesting to report.
I hope you have a GREAT Christmas! Look forward to rejoining you after the new year.
Hi John,
Thank you – the very best of the Christmas season to you and those you care for.
Best,
Bill
Bill,
Have a merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You’re the best.
Paul
Merry Christmas Paul,
May you and your family be surrounded by all the things that bring Christmas cheer, peace, and happiness.
Best,
Bill
Have a great New Year Bill! I’m still alive and well in the PNW! Think I’ll try some blogging in the new year! I still manage to keep up with your articles and enjoy them muchly!! Take my friend!
That should read “Take CARE my friend”!
Got that. 🙂
Hey G,
Great to hear from you – one of the 10 original community members here (back when I though 60 hits a day was top drawer!). That makes it kind of special. Fives years Glenn – where did they go?
Best New Year’s wishes to you and the family.
Best,
Bill