The Taliban were nebulous, as much rumor as reality, but I thought that we could actually do some real good if we could get these gangsters off the people's backs.

NPR: Sergeant Notes Odd Rituals of War in Afghanistan

"It's not as much of a hassle as I thought it would be, " she said.

CNN: Convention unfolds under extraordinary security

What I mean is, a street should be thought of as much more than just a place for a car to get from A to B.

WHITEHOUSE: Champions of Change Blog

After much thought, I suggest the mission should be altered as the company moves through the next three years toward completion of the transformation.

FORBES: J.C.Penney: The Ultimate Solution

As I explained in my last post they were changing much less than many people thought.

BBC: Labour: Misunderstanding or division?

But come tomorrow we will back to wine as our preferred adult beverage at dinner, so as 2012 finally draws to a close, amidst much last minute fiscal cliff angst, I thought it would be fitting to focus on value.

FORBES: The Year In Wine: Best Values Of 2012

As delightful as his telling of the story was back then, I thought of it again last week, in a much more serious context.

CNN: Heat wave lesson: We take comfort for granted

And I look at them and I just get depressed as hell, because I always have the same thought at that point, which is it used to be so much easier to be that way.

NPR: Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?