In tribute to the about-to-commence Christmas holiday, which I dread with every fibre of my being because of the silence and calories and carol-singing and football games and endless TV-watching it brings, I’d like to dispute the notion that people don’t go online during the holidays because they’re otherwise engaged with family and partying and watching football games.

Not in my experience. People are always online with their handhelds, iPads and laptops…always. Okay, traffic does drop somewhat during Xmas week, although I can’t imagine why. No under-50 person focuses on a single diversion or distraction these days — it’s always two or three at the same time (i.e., conversation plus TV show plus texts plus surfing). On top of which most people are dying for little time-outs from their families and relatives after 36 to 48 hours of alcoholic yaw-haw.