Now don't get me wrong. Personally you can't put a price on David Bowie at his best or the haunting melodies of Second Person, but the industry does so we abide by that. But to claim damages in the millions, that's taking things too far.

The RIAA has already said it thinks copying a CD you own should be considered piracy, yet I don’t see their lawyers pulling iPod users off the streets and imposing crippling fine, as well as confiscating the devices. Yet this is just what this law proposes, massive fines and the confiscation of any equipment used.

Prepare for the riots…

This is a new one on a most of us but increasing numbers of people are claiming to have fallen foul of the terrible affliction. The theory goes that sick days in technology companies in the second and third week of January rocket, because everyone's been shaking hands with thousands of strangers for a few days at the show.

Jeff Sandquist at Microsoft swears it exists, message boards warn of it and someone thinks he gets it even after missing the show.

To be honest I'm not sure wiping your hands occasionally is really going to help much. After all, think of the process.

You cram onto flights breathing heavily recycled air, endure days of close proximity, getting tired, stressed, drinking more and eating worse food than at most other times of the year – Sleuth family get-togethers not withstanding.

It's an epidemiologist's nightmare and a moist hand wipe just isn't going to cut the mustard.

The jury's out on the existence or non-existence of the flu. Personally I think it's a great story; everyone knows of a computer company that lost 100 staff but no-one knows the name which is classic urban myth. But a good enough excuse for a fire-breathing boss? I have my doubts.

To a backdrop of Guitar Heroes Gates strutted his funky stuff with Slash from Guns and Roses. It was only for a few minutes but my word the performance was bad – like watching the parents dancing when you're a teenager.

Add in Bill's very odd clothing choice and it was a weird way to say goodbye.

It all bought up Miles Davis' supposed description of another jazz man:

"Couldn't swing if you hung 'im."

A scant forty eight hours before the show kicked off Warner Brothers, the largest DVD producer in the

US

Now HD-DVD events are being cancelled left right and centre. Could it be the end?

Best quote on the topic from the FT - "It was obviously a big shock to everybody, but that doesn't mean everyone's picked up the football and gone home."

"It's premature to say it's over. Things change so fast with the studios."

They certainly do. Paramount management might be having a rethink of its choices and Kmart too for that matter.

Gates' keynote kicks off shortly but that's expected to be long on pathos (good bye to dear Bill for some) but short on shock announcements. Then again, as it's apparently his last keynote competition will be fierce to get in.

There'll also be the usual plethora of gizmos and gadgets, some of which will see the light of day in the future and some of which won't. The entertainment industry will be making the usual big announcements and everyone will go how with bags of squeezy toys and a renewed sense of hope for the industry.