One minor annoyance this week is everything everywhere in the U.S. is all about holiday this, holiday that. Well not here. Instead you get 99%, near full grade-A, typical weekly linkfestage.

• Archimedes and the 2000 year old computer. This is a great reminder of how much tech has been discovered, lost, and then reinvented elsewhere. The Antikythera is ancient Greek computing device found recently and we still don’t quite know how it works or what it does. (In an early version of a lecture on Myths of Innovation at Google, I talk about the Antikythera for a few minutes. Jump to ~10:40)
• Scientific attempt to create make annoying song ever. If you are forced to listen to bad Christmas music due to in-laws or being trapped in mall muzak hell, this might make you feel better.
• Key to good programmers is comfort with meaninglessness. Clay Shirky has this short piece on an interesting correlation.
• The NYT Year in Ideas. I usually find this too breezy, but there’s always a few gems I’m amazed I hadn’t heard of before.
• The mega-list of year end lists. Good fun if you’re into High-Fidelity-esque list making.
• Amazing photos of the recent riots in Greece. These will make you stop browsing the web, look carefully and think hard.

As a near the end of 2008 note: thanks to all you readers for buying my books, helping me get speaking gigs, and allowing me to live an independent life. If you’re bored this week leave a comment and a topic and I’ll post something just for you.