While the world has focused on the rampant piracy problem afflicting the Gulf of Aden, which saw yet another tanker held for ransom last week, the seizing of ships is only a symptom of a much more terrifying malaise.

I knew that it was getting fairly risky driving in deer country in Arkansas, but I was stunned to learn that Arkansans have a one in 108 chance of hitting a deer. That’s mind-boggling. We live in Heber Springs and Arkansas 25 to Batesville is like running a gantlet. There’s a dead deer about every 200 feet and the road is littered with truck bumpers. Can you tell me what’s going on?

Many have spoken out against the idea of teaching patois in schools. Many believe that if patois is taught it will be at the detriment to English. Why do so many have this "either-or mentality"?

“Now, more than ever, depression is running rampant and one of the best cures is to help someone who’s worse off than yourself.”

As the music industry has been beset by piracy, and the price of DVDs has dwindled, the gaming market will grow by 42 per cent this year.

"This is a different ball game we're in; this is moving into a lack-of-confidence game."

Gasoline prices seem safely tamped down.

The key is firmly pressing the pickles down into the jar and not just sticking them on top, Mrs. Pemberton said.

Scott Westerfeld looks into a future where hormonal balancers tamp down teen romances and “bioframes” obviate sleep and dreams.

(For lesbians, the issue is less about fear of damaging their partners' egos than about women's capacity for verbal intimacy and emotional relatedness, which may obviate a lesbian couple's need for sex to achieve closeness.)

Those who have indulged know these can be very messy fruits to open.

Mr. Gibbs said one of the main challenges for Mr. Obama was tamping down expectations a bit without making anyone think he was moving away from the promises of his campaign.

Obama also said "we should make sure that those immigrants have the opportunity to learn English, because we are part of a common culture with a common language, but you know what? We should also be teaching our children some Spanish and some Mandarin and some Patois."

Indeed, the patois of PowerPoint often threatens to disrupt the enjoyment of Mr. Gladwell’s newest treatise.