Microsoft confirms plans for potential iPod rival (USA Today)
Microsoft has confirmed it's working on music and entertainment products that are expected to compete with Apple Computer's wildly popular iPod and iTunes music service. Microsoft is planning a series of hardware and software products with the first expected to be available this year. The products will be called Zune.

Linux gains traction in software market (Chicago Tribune)
IBM's backing helps add more followers When IBM introduced a version of Lotus Notes that runs on the desktop computers using the Linux operating system this month, it was a sign of confidence that open-source software is gaining market traction.

Badly Designed Languages, Consistency and Tools
Most commercial languages and community based languages are easy to understand and use. You may however find yourself in a position where you have to use an inelegant proprietary language that is annexed to an application you have been engaged to support. The language may be used as part of a customisation process. Now for the worst case scenario!