In corn I think I've found the key to the American food chain. If you look at a fast-food meal a McDonald's meal virtually all the carbon in it - and what we eat is mostly carbon - comes from corn.

They're now turning those seeds into intellectual property so they have a virtual lock on the seeds upon which we all depend for our food and survival.

Fear and greed are potent motivators. When both of these forces push in the same direction virtually no human being can resist.

In the '80s I was putting out an album virtually every year I think mostly based on fear - that if I didn't people would soon forget about me.

By virtually any measure the record of the Republican Majority is an appalling failure.

A woman's experience is different from a man's in virtually every respect including how she is treated by the media.

Now that virtually every career is an option for ambitious girls it can no longer be considered regressive or reactionary to reintroduce discussion of marriage and motherhood to primary education. We certainly do not want to return to the simplistic duality of home economics classes for girls and wood shop for boys.

In the 20 long hungry years between my late teens and late 30s I bought in to virtually every new diet and/or exercise regime that hoved into view particularly at this most vulnerable time for those of us prone to poor body image - a new year.

But I can only take so much TV because there is so much advice. I find people will preach about virtually anything - your diet how to live your life how to improve your golf. The lot. I have always had a thing against the Mister Know-It-Alls.

Good-looking individuals are treated better than homely ones in virtually every social situation from dating to trial by jury.