Although children are only 24 percent of the population they're 100 percent of our future and we cannot afford to provide any child with a substandard education.

Looking back video game design seems a natural fit although there was no such thing when I was growing up. I built a Tic-Tac-Toe playing machine in my teens which went up in smoke on the night it was scheduled to go to a science fair.

Although my art work was heavily informed by my design work on a formal and visual level as regards meaning and content the two practices parted ways.

The design of the Mac wasn't what it looked like although that was part of it. Primarily it was how it worked. To design something really well you have to get it. You have to really grok what it's all about. It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something chew it up not just quickly swallow it.

I think that much of this was running in background as I contemplated whether or not to attend the PS 99 reunion although I certainly anticipated that I would not it smelled like death not youth.

I'm not cynical about marriage or romance. I enjoyed being married. And although being single was fun for a while there was always the risk of dating someone who'd owned a lunch box with my picture on it.

My mum was very conscious about fashion and my dad was born into the tailoring tradition so fashion has always been my life although now really I wear the same thing - just in different weights - light and heavy cashmere in winter and cotton in summer.

But although Australia was also involved in the Vietnam conflict I can remember my dad telling us that if we were in Australia we wouldn't be drafted until we were 20.

Although becoming a singer was my plan A after first hearing Whitney Houston when I was 17 I started off with plan B by going to the teacher-training college that my dad went to. It was a slow coming of age.

Although my dad Harry is the manager of West Ham we get on very well.

Although my dad was a doctor we weren't necessarily a super-artsy family. We were just a classic traditional family who got to take a lot of piano lessons and became a bunch of musicians.

I came from somewhat of a musical family. I had an uncle on Broadway. My dad kind of knows how to play instruments. Although I always find it annoying when he does play an instrument.

I've just got crap hair. Although I inherited a lot of stuff from my dad including giant knees I didn't get his good thick hair. I got my mother's thin wispy non-event hair instead.

When I started writing I did have some idealised notion of my dad as a writer. But I have less and less of a literary rivalry with him as I've gone on. I certainly don't feel I need his approval although maybe that's because I'm confident that I've got it.

I would have to say the person with whom I am most in love is definitely my son Everly Bear. Although I'm his dad I'm also his friend.

I love my dad although I'm definitely critical of him sometimes like when his pants are too tight. But I love him so much and I try to be really supportive of him.

Although the war in which you fought took place more than half-a-century ago your courage your sacrifice and your patriotism reaches through the decades and inspires us today.

I'm a writer of faith who worries about the intolerance of religion. I look at the past and fear we haven't learned from it. I believe that humanity is capable of evil as well as great acts of courage and goodness. I have hope. Deep down I believe in the human spirit although sometimes that belief is shaken.

I admired Eugene McCarthy's courage and although I left his Senate staff after four years to accept a job as the researcher on the editorial page of the 'Washington Post ' I remained an admirer.

I'm way better in person than I am on things like Twitter. I know Twitter is the best and fastest way to connect with fans who really appreciate you but I'm still not cool with it - although I am trying! I try my best but I'm a one-on-one person and I don't want to tell people I'm on the toilet or I just brushed my teeth.

I don't believe in the after life although I am bringing a change of underwear.

Without accepting the fact that everything changes we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately although it is true it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience we suffer.

I keep my weight low although you need to be able to move your weight around the race car to change the balance. I'm 6ft and I'm 70kg so I haven't much fat on me.

I would never kill a living thing although I probably have inadvertently while driving automobiles.