There is also room for a middle ground. Living in Boulder, I know a lot of outdoors fanatics who do 9-5 jobs they like -- but merely like -- so they can devote weekends and vacations to the things they love (rock climbing, triathlons, climbing fourteeners etc).

It's important to make a distinction between policies that are ideologically coherent and those that win elections. With either party, one must make a deal with the devil. I kinda liked McCain until he picked Palin. I still generaly like Obama even though he's slapping tarriffs on tire imports. It comes down to which I can stomach more.

You Gen Y types are so jaded... ;)

Oh and BTW I really enjoyed the interview.

My two cents: can you name anyone who's held his job -- Republican or Democrat -- who is not a member of the elite? Not that I'm a fan of Wolfowitz, but I don't think his elite status has anything to do with it. Brent Scowcroft is in the elite too. You'd prefer Sarah Palin or Monica Goodling?

But what if you are not aware of the "little man's" existence? Suggestion: go visit a group home for the profoundly mentally handicapped (those who can't expect to ever function beyond the ability of a five year old.) I did as an education major -- we were required to take a course in special ed -- and it shook me to my core. Most of us will never experience anything like that or even be aware that such people exist. Imagine hundreds of them in one place. That's part of the reason we look to the government - to assist with things that the private market doesn't do well.

I used to go to America's Back for my low back pain and it was amazingly effective. I had tried lots of other things (chiropractic, accupuncture, exercies), but this worked in just 15 minutes per week. Unfortunately their business model didn't work and they shut down. Now I do a combination of stretching and full-body isometric workouts. In my case the source of the pain is diagnosable shows up on an x-ray.

I personally love these ads and have often thought they modeled the character on Richard Branson.

I play indoor soccer religiously. While it's not 1% as competitive as professional sports, the thing I've noticed is, dirty players are the worst. If the player's a jerk, that's one thing, but when you're on the field and he is over-agressive (and it's always a he), it's really embarrassing and ultimately demotivating. Usually dirty play is worse when you are losing, so it makes you look like sore losers. So my response is to dial it back and be prepared to play peacemaker in case a fight breaks out.

I mostly listen to podcasts, so I don't get this experience often. Though people probably look at me funny as I laugh out loud from something Dan Savage or Ira Glass says.