B-4, D-2, K-1, M-1, M-8. At times yesterday, the courtroom debate about the law that created a new civil service system for the Defense Department sounded like the judges and lawyers were playing Battleship, the game where opponents use a grid to target and sink ships.	Awoman in a rural South Asian village receives a loan of about $250 to buy a dairy cow. She milks the cow, sells the milk and improves her standard of living while repaying the loan. In much of the world, this is microfinance.	Matt Cardillo's parents were nearing retirement, and he didn't have a clue about their plans. He was only in his early 30s, but with a son on the way and a mortgage to pay, he couldn't help being concerned about their future financial stability.
The travel reservation company agreed Monday night to be sold to Silver Lake Partners and the Texas Pacific Group.	Although the company?’s organizational chart will slightly change, it does not mean the bank?’s strategy will.	Standard & Poor?’s made at least 48 changes to a report on a utility company?’s financial health, at the company?’s request, before releasing the document.