The December 2012 Steam Hardware & Software Survey is online, offering an updated profile of the rigs being used by customers of Valve's online service. The interesting thing to note this time around is how 0.8% of the respondents are using Ubuntu in the first hardware survey since Valve added beta Linux support (thanks Ant via Slashdot). On a related note, NeoGAF has a translation of a German-language article saying that Valve engineer Ben Krasnow told conference attendees that Valve plans to "present" (according to the translation) a Linux based console system in 2013. Presuming this is accurate, it does not seem clear if this means they plan on releasing it or just demonstrating it. Thanks Joao.

The GeForce Website now offers new version 310.90 WHQL-certified drivers for NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards. The new drivers include a security update as well as performance improvements for GTX 690 accelerators. Thanks Charles.

An article on Eurogamer.net called the "The deleted scenes of Deus Ex," examines Warren Spector's original design documents for Deus Ex, ION Storm's cyberpunk action/RPG. The look at various changes the project took from the original outline, leading lead writer Sheldon Pacotti to say "Warren once commented that in the beginning he envisioned the game as X-Files but he somehow ended up with James Bond." They also note the original working title of Deus Ex was Majestic Revelations, which might seem like a classic now had it stuck, but sounds pretty awful.

Valve offers the following list of the 10 bestselling games on Steam for the past week:

1. Far Cry 3
2. Torchlight II
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
4. THQ Collection
5. Borderlands 2
6. Max Payne 3
7. Age of Empires III Complete
8. Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition
9. Arma II Combined Operations
10. Civilization V: Game of the Year Edition

• RumorTT- Disney working on their own... console?

• Google blocks Windows Phone from Maps, limits Gmail. Thanks Ant. This is Fargin War!!!
• Google Pledges To Restore In-Browser Maps Access To Deprived Windows Phone Users. Thanks HARDOCP..
• Android stats: 40% of all Android devices are running Android 4.0 ICS or higher.

• CES Preview. Thanks HARDOCP.
• IBM loses Senior VP after 36 years on the job.
• Software Serial of DVD to iPad, iPhone, Android Ripper Giveaway. Thanks Ant.
• The AnandTech Podcast- Episode 13.

• Microsoft's next Patch Tuesday won't resolve IE zero-day flaw. Thanks HARDOCP.

• The government leaves Google alone—what it means for users.
• Halo-branded bullets? Microsoft said no way. Thanks HARDOCP.

• AT&T MiFi Liberate 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot on Legit Reviews.
• Mushkin Chronos DX 480GB SSD on TweakTown.
• Toshiba AT300SE Tablet on t-break.

• Alpha Protocol retrospective…
• Natural Selection 2 internal playtesting positions once again OPEN for North America regions…

Well my daring selections in yesterday's NFL playoff games were as bad as they were bold... I would have jumped off the Vikings if I'd have known they were playing someone who makes Christian Ponder look like Peyton Manning, but since there are no rules for making picks here, I decided changing was against them. Here's hoping for a good day today to get me back to .500.

Daring Links:	Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play:	Railroad Shunting Puzzle 2. Water Buboy.
Links:	Emergency Compliment.
Stories:	An Update On Peter David's Health And How To Help With His Medical Costs. Ailing 'Star Trek' Fan Who Got To See 'Into Darkness' Dies. Thanks nin.
Images:	We’ve come so far.
Media:	I Trust You. Who Did It? Piano Duet for Two Cats. Play them off!
The Funnies:	FoxTrot.