I came back from my photo trip and started catching up on email and blogs. It looks like the Google Kirkland open house went well.
The bigger news, in my mind, is the technical preview that the Avalon guys shipped. I'm going to have to download it and play around to see what all changed since I left.
I was really hoping that they would get something out before the Longhorn beta. I'm sure this was a ton of hard work, but I think that it proves that decoupling Avalon and Longhorn was really the right decision. It will allow the Avalon guys to go full steam ahead.
BTW, ChrisAn's blog is a good place to start on some of this stuff. He has an app that you can download and play with.
Congrats!