The fairgrounds were full of duct-tape sculptures, such as a 20ft-tall Mr Potato Head toy, a Transformers action figure, and an old-fashioned red viewfinder.

BBC: In Ohio, duct tape designs take centre stage

"I would suspect that it's because of his position as a sort of an avuncular authority figure, your old Uncle Ted, who's sort of a gruff guy who cares about you, but he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve about it, " Mitchell said.

NPR: 'Uncle Ted' Stevens: Alaska's Gruff, Tough Advocate

In many ways, Cardinal Bergoglio is an ideal figure to transition from a centuries-old line of European popes.

WSJ: Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio Elected Pope

The question, of course, was how, and that was not an easy one for a 10-year-old to figure out.

FORBES: Inside Look: The Story Behind Idealist.org

Most of the credit for old-timer strength goes to Ruth, an almost mythological figure who represents the dominance of baseball in America's sports history.

FORBES: Magazine Article

At 37 years old, Duren had earned an MBA degree, a six-figure income and had traveled widely.

CNN: Single black women choosing to adopt

Negredo, an old-fashioned target man, cut an isolated and slightly incongruous figure among Spain's cast of diminutive passers, and failed to exploit the space behind Portugal's high defensive line.

WSJ: Euro 2012: Spain Beats Portugal on Penalty Kicks, Stands One Win From Immortality

There's an old joke: Would you trust your fate to 12 people who couldn't figure out how to get out of jury duty?

WSJ: Psst! You Want to Duck Jury Duty?

"I couldn't really figure out what happened, " said Melissa Kim, a Bronx mother of an 18-month-old, Lauren.

WSJ: New Chapter in New York City for Children's Book Program

Mr Danto, a jolly, bearded man with a self-deflating sense of humour and an old-fashioned taste in clothes, is the last sort of person you would think of as an authority-figure in the world of contemporary art.

ECONOMIST: Contemporary-art criticism