Kate Snow writes: "Spies?"

"Spies? Why? Tell me in 20 seconds."

That's the conversation I just walked in on at the Nightly News desk.

It's just a piece of the ongoing conversation we have on a day like this.

This happens to be a particularly busy holiday Friday for us. Meaning, we have way too many stories to fit in our half hour broadcast.

And so the conversation about spies...and the jobs numbers...and the oil spill...and the mea culpa from Apple about the iPhone 4...and LeBron James...and this great moment we heard about in Afghanistan...and Brazil's loss in the World Cup.

Somehow we'll fit most of it in for you.

And we'll preserve some time too for my favorite story of the day. It's about a bunch of kids who live and breathe soccer in South Africa, and how a new pair of cleats can change their world. I promise you'll want to see it.

I thank Brian for letting me sit at his desk again and I thank you for tuning in tonight.

Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend!