Lately I have felt an awful lot like Mr. Morden, from the old Babylon 5 TV series.

I have been constantly repeating "what do you want?" with various degrees of emphasis, to an audience who does not really understand the question.

Of course, when Morden asked his question he was trying to figure out which major power would answer with a paraphrase of Genghis Khan's definition of what is good, while when I ask I am more interested in getting a shirt, any shirt, onto the toddler.

Still, I find the similarities distressing.