To describe them as 'oppositional' would be too strong a word. I think they tried to find a place in the system - not too deeply involved, but not completely detached.

I don't think she'll be able to win over the hearts of the people. But she will be able to do politically what's necessary.

In some ways they are similar. Both are women, of course. Both started their careers in science, and that probably influences their way of thinking. But the main thing about Merkel is that she grew up in a dictatorship. She was 35 years old when the (Berlin) Wall came down.

The poor don't live in functional market economies as the rest of us do, but in political economies where corruption and broken systems extend from local government to moneylenders.

Anyways, I am a nerd, bookworm, geek... whatever you want to call me. I'm the type of person that would rather sit down and read a good book than go out and party.

Harrison Ford's still got it goin' on. He's very sexy in that manly-man kind of way.