Mrs Albright gave her embattled ally a figurative slap on the back, praising Japan for its loyalty and bravery.

ECONOMIST: The ungrateful Japanese

Regardless of whether you prefer print or digital formats, we reckon that all readers deserve a hearty slap on the back.

ENGADGET

The boy was tall and tough, rumored to have carried out one of the killings and likely to become Capone next semester, and yet there he was in the cell, cowering and sobbing after the chief gave him a light slap on the back of the head.

NEWYORKER: Cell One

In forums that look like Twitter feeds or Facebook pages, sales teams can share leads and information about clients (some of it gleaned from profiles on public networks), ask for and get speedy approval of discounts and slap one another virtually on the back for clinching a deal.

ECONOMIST: Microsoft in pursuit (1)

Sensors at the midway point of the table detect the angle, speed, and trajectory of the not-exactly-oncoming puck, and instructs the mechanism how and where to fire the disc -- you slap it back, and the same sequence happens on your compadre's end.

ENGADGET: Airhockey Over a Distance