"It was a lovely lunch, a nice-napkin lunch," said Ms. Schakowsky. But it was also, she said, a lunch with a message.

"The Oasis of Rapport is the time spent with the client building rapport and gathering information. At this point in the sales cycle, rates, points, and fees are not discussed. The immediate objective is for the Account Executive to get to know the client and look for points of common interest. Use first names with clients as it facilitates a friendly, helpful tone."

"It was rather idyllic, but a fool's paradise as it turned out."

"There is no water anywhere. There is no help. We are alone."

A sparsely populated desert province twice the size of Maryland, Helmand produces more narcotics than any country on earth.

"Everywhere you turn, it's luxury rentals."

The object was cylindrical, made of duct tape and smelled of marijuana, said Bob. "It was not a bomb or a bong. We don't know what to call it."

If elected, Mr. Obama said he would establish a Drug Enforcement Agency office in New Orleans that would be dedicated to stopping drug gangs across the region.

Who's to blame? The human race, first and foremost.

Advocates say that if adolescents get bitten by the civic bug, they will be less likely to kick the habit as they grow up.

"I'm not collecting guns anymore. I'm really focused on finding better paintings."

Reasoning by historical analogy is inherently dangerous," Professor Record said.