I've returned to work after an extra-long weekend break (where we went hiking, whitewater rafting, and celebrated our Independence Day), and now I've got Microsoft Outlook 2003 and Office Communicator 2005 installed on my PC as well as an HP iPAQ hx2410 and a Dell Axim X50v on the way. Configuring my new messaging programs and testing the new PDAs is gonna take some time!

Twice in the past week, Ainsley & I have enjoyed the following meal plan (once with just us two, then again with our friend Trina). For eating out in Portland, Maine, on a budget of $7 each, it'll be hard to beat the prices and fun we've had.

This morning my MS rep emailed a snippet of the press release: Microsoft Completes Acquisition of Enterprise Security Provider Sybari Software. I used to be fairly pleased with Sybari Antigen for Lotus Domino/Notes, so I started worrying when MS bought them back in February. Well, fear no more: they've already announced that their dropping the Linux and UNIX versions of Sybari products. Expect the remaining Windows-platform products for Lotus' email server (that is, Microsoft's biggest competitor to Exchange/Outlook) to "fall like dominoes" soon enough...

Sing it with me: "We will, we will hack you." I know Microsoft "eats thier own dogfood", but in this case they're finally tasting it from others. Good learnings here, I'm sure.

• Bruce Schneier on Cryptography at Security Focus.
• Quantum cryptography network gets wireless link at New Scientist magazine.
• NEC delays quantum cryptography system, saying that the "technology is still years from being ready for commercial use"... but other vendors are already making it available today.
• A tutorial on quantum cryptography in case you're wondering what the big deal is...

This news may be a tiny bit out of date, as I'm just catching up on some of my Bloglines subscriptions, but it's good news nonetheless:

1. Apple got a patent for their Mac Tablet concept—I hope this means it's coming out soon!
2. Someone has already got OS X running on an Intel-based Toshiba Tablet PC!—thanks to Apple's Developer Transition Kit for porting to Intel processors.

In a minor civil liberties victory yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to limit some of the Patriot Act rules. Oh please, Senate, follow through on this one! (And don't be a ding-dong and veto it, President Bush!)

A keylogger inside your Dell laptop? The Department of Homeland Security mysteriously quiet on the subject? Woah!

You should read this.

Some news from last week, in case you didn't hear:

At TechEd 2005 Microsoft announced the release date for Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005: the week of November 7 (yes, this year!).

Also, MS is "recommitting" to XML file formats for Office 12. Good reading on this from Channel 9 here and here.

Das Keyboard... for über-geeks only.

Dang, I want one of these. Too bad I only use laptops/tablets at home, and what are the chances work is gonna buy me one?