Mike aggregated some wonderful news about a new feature coming to Xbox 360 on November 22nd: video on demand.  HD content will be available for free and for pay to download direct to your hard drive-equipped Xbox 360.

My first thought?  SWEET!  Living in Ireland has a lot of upside but the downside is no NetFlix and no TiVo.  This service is the answer to a huge need.

 
Your 360 is now a great way to watch movies!

Well... it would be the answer to my need if it weren't for the fact that the service will be for US Xboxes only.  I suppose it comes as no surprise given that international copyright law is a deep murky pool... filled with hungry sharks... and with little floaty things edged with razor blades... and all the ladders out are greased... and electrified.

At any rate, Xbox owners back in America: congratulations... [scowl grumble grumble]

Walking home from work on Wednesday (well... walking home from the train) I noticed a sign: "Dublin City Marathon Course Route, expect delays".  Huh, what do you know?  The Marathon course runs right in front of our house.

Here we are, right between miles 18 and 19:

It was very cool.  Lots of people lined the streets and cheered every runner as they went by.  Apparently people line the entire course (the Dublin Marathon is internationally known as "the friendly marathon" ).