Now I'm not saying I can enlighten anyone, but I will list a few arbitrary thoughts that have been knocking around my noggin lately. What I should write about is all the behind-the-scenes work that went into building this special issue, the Survivor's Guide for 2002. But there's plenty of great content that explains it better than I ever could in the 369 words I have left: from the detailed pieces about each of our eight core areas (created by our own technology editors, not some hired guns), to our interviews with CEOs who talk about exactly what's helped their companies survive this long, to Fritz Nelson's column, which explains our view of the technology world moving into next year. There's definitely no way I could cover all that in 303 words or less.

So, here are my random thoughts, not to be confused with my insightful, lucid or intelligent thoughts--all of which are very rare indeed. So ...

>> Enron, eToys and Exodus all are going the way of the dodo; are the F's next?

>> Change management can help make or break an IT department.

>> The time has come for IT to be the key business enabler for corporations -- the group that seeks out new business opportunities aimed at increasing corporate productivity and efficiency through the use of technology; thus helping the company become a leader in its space.

>> When did jobs with no stock options, mediocre pay and skimpy benefits start looking so good?

>> I shed a tear for every last-mile service provider that was pounded into the dust by the local incumbents.

>> Technology wouldn't be too difficult to understand if there weren't so much of it around.

>> The only thing constant is change -- which is what helps keep us all interested.

>> Do more with less will continue to be IT's marching orders -- at least until the next World Series (Go Red Sox!).

>> Network Computing will stay relevant only if it continues to listen to its greatest resource: the readers.

Please read the pages that follow, not just the remaining 93 words. We've put in a great deal of time and effort building this issue so you can use it as a reference tool for 2002. If the tips, tricks and insights provided help guide you through some rough waters next year, please let us know. But if you're too busy to get back to us, don't worry. We here at Network Computing plan to head out and spend some of 2002 working with our readership directly, helping to solve business technology problems together. But with only 13 words left, the main point I wanted to make is <end>