You're young and you're bulletproof and invincible. But never underestimate the power of other people's love and prayer.

In many cases, a bout with sickness stretches your soul, opens your eyes, and introduces you to a world of unimagined grandeur, possibility and joy.

Yet, it ought to be obvious that good music generally occupies a higher plane that mere politics. Great writers can express moods through melody and capture experiences we share most powerfully - love, lust, longing; joy, rage, fear; triumph, yearning and confusion.

President Bush has committed billions to the fight against AIDS, thus making retroviral drugs available to millions of HIV-positive Africans.

Many people don't give a rip about politics and know as much about public affairs as they know about the topography of Pluto.

We live in an anaesthetized society.

Today there are about 40 million retirees receiving benefits; by the time all the baby boomers have retired, there will be more than 72 million retirees drawing Social Security benefits.