[Someone managed to get ahold of a digital copy of A Christmas Story and is feeling a little nostalgic]

It's that time of year where people break out the spirits, eat too much food, and start contemplating the true meaning of Christmas. Which, as any kid can tell you, is to get as many presents as you possibly can.

So, I've got a question for all of you who celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or any other type of holiday where gifts are exchanged:

What's the best present you ever got?

For me, it was a Flexible Flyer when I was eight years old. I'd been begging for one all year--hell, I must have sent about a dozen letters to Santa, and when I found that beauty under the Christmas tree, with a big red bow on it... man, that was the best Christmas ever. Totally made up for all those other Christmases where I got nothing better than socks and itchy sweaters.

So what about you guys?

[The feed pops on to show a young man smiling pleasantly, and looking fascinated with the gadget in his hands.]

This computer is really amazing, isn't it? I thought things this far in the future would be so far advanced that it'd make my head spin, but this is quite nice. It's so convenient.

I figured I should use it to introduce myself! [He waggles his fingers in a hello gesture.] My name's Elmer C. Albatross, and I'm fairly certain these Initiative blokes got mixed up and meant to choose someone else over me. They don't seem to believe me on that. But now that I'm here, I'll try to make the best of it.

So what's this place like? What all do you do? I'd like to hear all about it.

Hey. Got a question for all of the tech freaks out there. I know there's plenty of you around.

[It isn't the most formal way to start a message, never mind a request - but even so, there's a briskness to his voice that sounds almost business-like.]

Let's say I want to keep an eye on the names that show up on this thing [a couple of relatively loud taps] along with the new people. Is there a way I can set it up so it... [He hesitates for a fraction of a second, but carries on as if he hadn't.] lets me know somehow when a specific name gets added to it? Or any name, that works too. Just out of interest.

Details would help, but a straight yes or no's better than nothing. I'm not exactly expecting any hand-holding here.

[There is a damp-looking teenager on the screen. One might expect him to be miserable from all that rain and cold, and he was for a while, but there's a look of triumph on his face. The reason for this intrudes into the frame a second later, held up by its inventor.]

Hey. I'm Billy, and I've just arrived. I'm a mechanic wondering how much I'll be able to assist here, so I thought I'd prepare for the local climate as a test project.

[The object of his admiration is an umbrella, pieced together from whatever happened to be in his bag and what parts he could buy or find. The fabric is a patched together blue and gray, obviously taken from different items. It's not going to win any Prettiest Umbrella awards. The folding mechanic works, though it looks a little lopsided due to the lack of perfect tools. He tugs on the runner, folding and unfolding it. It works smoothly enough to pass initial inspection and he places it aside.]

I know materials are in short supply, but I brought my own tools and most of this was mine. I'd be happy to work on things and start trading---electronics, vehicles if we have any, or home supplies. I could even build more umbrellas. Is there a market, or have I just reinvented something I could have bought?

[Not that he particularly cares. The way he's glancing to the side and admiring the ugly but functional umbrella, he probably would have done things himself anyway.]