I have a friend who is a stocky, hairy, ex-marine (and current Army officer), who as a bonus also happens to be a body-builder type, but ...I am afraid that he would not be "approachable" in that regard, at least not safely. Sorry, my friend. And I would so like to provide you with a(n in)decent birthday present.

A well reasoned argument is like a diamond: impervious to corruption and crystal clear - and infinitely rarer.

Here, as elsewhere, people are outraged at what feels like a rigged game -- an economy that won't respond, a democracy that won't listen, and a financial sector that holds all the cards. - Robert Reich