The Final Fantasy XI Website (thanks Frans) has word on another visit from the Christmas banning stick, which has been used to permanently close over 7,450 PlayOnline accounts and to temporarily suspend 250+ more. The update offers a breakdown on the various offenses involved, such as the use of third party software, and adds that this has resulted in the removal of over 6.2 Billion (yes, with a "B") gil from the economy of the MMORPG. Some of the banned accounts had resubscribed after prior bans for RMT (real-money trading/transactions) violations, and they say an additional investigation is currently underway to other RMT-related activities, with further disciplinary actions to follow.

• Infernal on Worthplaying.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl on Computer and Video Games.

• Germany not playing around with violence in video games (registration required).

• Nintendo Wii steals the Christmas show.
• Scalpers returning PS3s to stores. (Nelson laugh).
• Use a universal remote with PS3.
• Geometry Wars as art.
• SofaTube brings YouTube to Wii-PS3 couch potatoes.

• RivaTuner version 2.0 final is now available. The Rivatuner contest 2006 celebrates the release.
• Hewlett-Packard, Recasting Itself, Is Looking Beyond PCs and Printers (registration required).
• Forget L.C.D.; Go for Plasma, Says Maker of Both (registration required).
• Rainbow Six Vegas: A Performance Analysis.
• Pope: Worship God, not technology.

• The ten best DS games of 2006.
• From PSP and DS redesign rumours to talk of games coming to Zune.

• Ad Costs on the Web Are Rising, but Perhaps a Bit Irrationally (registration required).
• Online Chat Is a Grapevine That Yields Precious Fruit (registration required).
• Year in review: Internet fast lane? Not so fast.
• Year in review: Social networking catches fire.

• Flaws Are Detected in Microsoft’s Vista (registration required).
• Employers turn to software to block computer games.
• Permanently Activate Windows Vista.
• Deconstructing The Xbox Security System. Thanks Digg.

• DEFCON on JustPressPlay.
• F.E.A.R. Extraction Point on Barry's Rigs 'n Reviews.

• Team Xtreem 2x1GB PC6400 RAM on Overclockers Online.
• Thecus N1200 RouStor NAS on HEXUS.net.
• Uniden WIN1200 Windows Live Phone on Buzz Me Baby.

• Geoff Keighley and GameTrailers Go For a Bonus Round. Thanks Slashdot…

Merry Christmas everybody. We are off to PapaBlue's (my step-dad's, not to be confused with DaddyBlue's) for today's installment in the festivities, which also encompass Chanukah in our decidedly extended family. I hope you are having a safe and happy time whatever it is you are doing today.

R.I.P.: Legendary singer James Brown dies at 73. Aww. I half-expect someone to revive him by fanning him with his cape.
R.I.P.: Frank Stanton, Broadcasting Pioneer, Dies at 98 (registration required).

Christmas Links!	Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Stories:	Americans embrace the art of the re-gift. FBI chided for OKC bomb investigation. Pork No Longer Paves the Road to Re-election (registration required).
Media:	Turtle Attacks Dog.
Teh Funny:	FoxTrot.