But watch out for Sallie Mae and Ginnie Mae. They'll break your heart every time.

My neighbor is from Chicago! She is absolutely a nutbar, but I think she bought us those once.

Um, Shrift? If you're around, insent.

NBC announced today that they will be launching a new service called "NBC Direct" which will allow users to download and view NBC's popular primetime shows to their desktops for free and watch them for up to one week after broadcast.

The first version of this software will launch in October for Windows PCs only, but "future versions" are said to add Mac compatibility.

At launch the shows will include "Heroes," "The Office," "Life," "Bionic Woman," "30 Rock," "Friday Night Lights," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

In 2008, NBC plans to offer expanded sales options which could include download-to-own, rental and subscription models.

NBC recently withdrew from future iTunes distribution of their television shows due to a contract dispute with Apple.

[link]

So one of my students today told our class about the time when her parents were almost caught in a pirate attack. Seriously. Modern day pirates!

Modern pirates are fairly common....

Modern Pirates Terrorize Seas With Guns and Grenades

According to IMB, pirate attacks around the world tripled in the decade between 1993 and 2003.

In 2003 alone there were 445 actual or attempted attacks in which 16 people were killed.

In the first three months of 2006, there were 61 successful or attempted attacks, compared to 56 incidents in the same period last year.

At least 63 people have been taken hostage this year—twice the number of hostages taken in the same period last year.

eta:

According to IMB, the waters around Indonesia continue to be the world's most dangerous, with 19 pirate attacks in the first three months of this year.

These waters are among the most heavily trafficked in the world, and organized crime gangs hold sway over parts of them.

"Indonesia represents 25 to 30 percent of the attacks," Mukundun said.

Modern pirates are fairly common....

I know that. My exclamation point was to say not "Who'd 'a thunk it" but "SCARY!" I think of modern day pirates as scary, without the romantic veneer.

I think of modern day pirates as scary, without the romantic veneer.

The "pirate thing" is fun and all... as long as you never actually think about who they actually were and what they actually did.

Modern-day piracy is definitely very scary -- they regularly drown their victims so there's no one to complain to the authorities.

I've spent the afternoon hanging out in coffee houses waiting for my car work to get done, and then sitting through 40 minutes worth of ten miles of driving, despite the fact that it wasn't even 5 yet. People, it's supposed to be rush hour after 5!

World's smallest toilet (scroll down): [link]

At least I think it's the world's smallest. It's size is (I think) measured in nanometers. In the photo it's blown up ~15,000X for you to be able to see it.