Aside from what it teaches you there is simply the indescribable degree of peace that can be achieved on a sailing vessel at sea. I guess a combination of hard work and the seemingly infinite expanse of the sea - the profound solitude - that does it for me.

I believe the accepted model of capitalism that demands endless growth deserves the blame for the destruction of nature and it should be displaced. Failing that I try to work with those companies and help them change the way they think about our resources.

Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and numbs my brain I seek relief in the trail and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn my cares fall from me - I am happy.

I like movies about failing.

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.

By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.

When I think of a merry happy free young girl - and look at the ailing aching state a young wife generally is doomed to - which you can't deny is the penalty of marriage.

While Taliban fighters had an initial claim to protection under the conventions they lost POW status by failing to obey the standards of conduct for legal combatants: wearing uniforms a responsible command structure and obeying the laws of war.

If you feel your school is failing you the question is why. Is it a lack of parental involvement large classes school violence poor learning environment? Are there any standards to determine where problems are? Are there tutoring or mentoring programs? If the school is still failing after 3 years then what are your options?

Most sailing ships take what they call trainees who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely raw recruits. But you can't just ride along. You're learning to steer the ship navigation you're pulling lines keeping a lookout in the galley you're cooking.