I love the music of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu and more recently the music of Laura Marling. All these women share a strength and a wisdom in their voices and music that really makes me want to make music and sing.

It's really important to share the idea that being different might feel like a problem at the time but ultimately diversity is a strength.

Then when I went to Iraq and saw the strength and character the men and women in our military service exhibit every day and their belief in what they're doing I knew I wanted to get that on film and share it with everyone. They are my inspiration.

The newspapers loved pinup pictures of pretty young swimmers and as a national champion I got more than my share of space in the sports pages.

A new sense of shared international responsibility is unmistakable in the voices of the United Nations and its agencies and in the civil society of thousands of supra-national NGOs.

Companies to date have often used the excuse that they are only beholden to their shareholders but we need shareholders to think of themselves as stakeholders in the well being of society as well.

Corporate executives need to re-frame their responsibilities to include the interests of all the stakeholders in society at large not just shareholders but also employees the citizens of our communities and those who care about the environment.

My fellow Americans you have to decide what kind of country you want to live in. If you want a you're on your own winner take all society you should support the Republican ticket. If you want a country of shared opportunities and shared responsibilities - a 'we're all in it together' society you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

I enjoy what Twitter is because I can really connect with the fans and it's a great way to share information with them and it's also a great way to entertain. I like being able to put a smile on people's faces and letting them know what I'm doing.

When trying to remember my share in the glow of the eternal present in the smile of God I return to my childhood too for that is where the most significant discoveries turn up.