• A link and thread on the word for the "smell of rain" - most notably when rain falls on dry earth. That word is Petrichor.

• An interesting posting on The Physics of Space Battles - not tremendously scientific, but certainly an enjoyable diversion for the Sci-Fi inclined.

• Theodore Dalrymple's (pen name for Anthony Daniels) Not With a Bang But a Whimper: The Politics & Culture of Decline looks like a good last-minute stocking filler. An old boy at the pub claimed that Theodore "is a sage" - high praise.

• The Guardian's crowdsourcing MP expenses system is a fantastic demonstration of social technology. Simon Willison talks about the lessons learnt from building such a system (twice).

• Also from Simon Willison is a superb introduction to Node.js - it does look tempting.