Like many other touchstones of twenty-first-century pop culture 'The Sopranos' was hatched in the late Nineties predicting a future that never arrived. It was designed for a decade that would be just like the Nineties except more so in an America that enjoyed seeing itself as smarter and braver and freer than ever before.

As an American I wanted to explore... why are we the only first world country that still has capital punishment? Is it because we're too afraid to really examine the system or is it because we really truly believe that this is the best way to deter future crime?

I am only 33 I've got a lot to do. This is the first half of my career. I'm looking forward to the future and I'm proud about the past.

The debt-ceiling vote isn't about what will be done in the future it is about the integrity of America's commitment to support the bonds we issue. Elected officials have an obligation to maintain that integrity regardless of whether they voted for the programs that required the borrowing in the first place.

Such is the miraculous nature of the future of exiles: what is first uttered in the impotence of an overheated apartment becomes the fate of nations.

I look forward to a time in the not so distant future when we no longer look forward to 'firsts' as milestones women have yet to achieve but we look back on them as historic events that continue to teach and inspire.

In fact I believe the first companies that make an effort to develop an authentic transparent and meaningful social contract with their fans and customers will turn out to be the ones that are the most successful in the future. While brands that refuse to make the effort will lose stature and customer loyalty.

All my children have spoken for themselves since they first learned to speak and not always with my advance approval and I expect that to continue in the future.

For the first time in the history of mankind one generation literally has the power to destroy the past the present and the future the power to bring time to an end.

Instead of just giving lip service to improving our schools I will actually put the kids first and the teachers union behind in giving our kids better teachers better options and better choices for a better future.