All promise much the same thing: a velvet rope to keep out the attitudinally unwashed, serendipitous interaction, quirky content and at least the illusion of egalitarian elbow-rubbing.

FORBES: Ideas Conferences as Brand Builders

Four out of five American households have at least one blue-and-yellow spray can for loosening the stubborn elbow joint under the kitchen sink or silencing the squeaky screen door.

FORBES: Johnny One-note

Four out of five American households have at least one blue-and-yellow spray can for lubricating the stubborn elbow joint under the kitchen sink or silencing the squeaky screen door.

FORBES: Greasy Coca-Cola

But given that South Africa had been bowled out for 83 in Nottingham, England were firm favourites at the halfway point - a position only strengthened by the elbow injury to the tourists' regular captain Graeme Smith.

BBC: England win seals one-day series

When all three of them were at the clinic together, I turned to head back home, but Veata came out onto the deck and grabbed my elbow with her bony, birdlike fingers.

NEWYORKER: Swimming