As only Linus can do, the latest version of the Linux kernel, v2.6.10, was released in time for Christmas with an e-mail to the Kernel Mailing List with the engagingly seasonal Subject line "Ho ho ho."

Torvalds offered it as "something to play with over the holidays":

To: Kernel Mailing List [email blocked]
Subject: Ho ho ho - Linux v2.6.10
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 14:39:09 -0800 (PST)

Ok, with a lot of people taking an xmas break, here's something to play
with over the holidays (not to mention an excuse for me to get into the
Glogg for real ;)

Mostly a lot of small fixes since 2.6.10-rc3, with the biggest thing being
probably the CIFS update and the switch-over to the new DVB frontend
driver world order. Some MMC and USB work too, and ARM updates as usual.

Shortlog from 2.6.10-rc3 appended, with the full log from 2.6.9 on the
normal distribution sites.

Linus

He named it "Woozy Numbat" - and it comes just 2 months after the 2.6.9 kernel, which he called "Zonked Quokka."