Samsung Galaxy Note vs. iPhone 4S. Yes, the size difference is absurd, but I’m not ready to write off the Note quite yet. I think it’d be a great device for someone with a Macbook Air or other nice, small, capable laptop, that wants a phone and a tablet, but can’t justify three devices.

(but I’m an Apple Newton user from way back, so I’m probably not the best judge of these things.)

Today’s most famous living composer. As a French Horn player (who recently began playing again), I have always appreciated his affinity for using my instrument prominently in his pieces. Occasionally, his stuff can sound very self-similar, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since it’s just so darn good. It can be pretty easy to hear a film score and say “oh, that’s either John or someone pretending to be John,” but, he can also break out and do something very different (see the score to Harry Potter).

Happy birthday, big guy. My musical life is much richer with your scores around.

I’ll pick two for you:

• Olympic Fanfare and Theme, composed for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. I have the “official soundtrack” on vinyl, one of my most prized possessions. Probably my second favorite piece of recorded music. Other than on the soundtrack, there is also a recording on the By Request album.

• Midway March. John Williams has written some fantastic marches; this is my favorite.