If only we could be a fly on the wall when our enemies are plotting to attack us. Better yet, what if that fly could record voices, transmit video and even fire tiny weapons?

Not everyone is slashing jobs in these grim economic times. Microsoft Corp. has no plans to cut back on research spending and plans to add workers in the coming year, senior executive Craig Mundie said Friday.

Maybe there's something to face-to-face interaction after all.