14 DAY TRIAL // I've always considered Google to be a sober company because of the all-white background that it has and because of the simplicity that it displays in every aspect of the many domains it has gotten involved in. Apparently, this isn't the policy of the company, about a month ago I enviously found out about the trip some employees took in a day off to the Heroes set and saw part of an episode being directed and shot.
That doesn't even compare to what the developer-elves have come up with for Christmas and other related holidays. Gadgets'a'plenty on the holiday gadget page that Google hosts and, believe me, they are all shiny and appealing up to the point when you will realize that you can't have them all, some moderation has to be in order. But it's so difficult to choose?
You have the traditional Countdown gadgets that measure the time until Christmas and New Year and even Hanukkah (a little late, but it does tell users that there are only 368 days until Hanukkah 2008). You have the traditional Christmas trees that have already been decorated or you can choose to go for the option of decorating one of your friend's tree, while he's doing the same with yours. A note on that last one, both of you must have the respective gadget installed or else one will get an IM telling him where to download it from.
A very interesting one is a frame that you have to click inside to add a random decoration that will fade over time. It's like a digital picture frame that isn't pre-loaded with a set of pictures, but in which you continuously have to click if you don't want to find yourself staring at a blank slate.
If the Christmas cheer has reached you and crawled near your heart and mind, then you should download the gadgets and fill your time until the holidays come. They are worth the time and effort.