The University of Phoenix views its admissions approach as being inclusive, arguing that bricks-and-mortar universities exert a form of elitism by using grades and standardised testing as a way of restricting class size, whereas the distance-learning university can offer places to a wider student body whose priority is simply to move ahead.

ECONOMIST: Should an MBA be open to anyone?

It does, however, have three world-class biological research institutes within walking distance of one another (if anybody did any walking around there): the University of California, San Diego, with its medical school, the Scripps Clinic and the Salk Institute.

ECONOMIST: Cluster analysis | The

The challenge from Phillips Idowu was a mighty tough one - he had to jump a world class distance to beat him, and he pulled it off.

BBC: Manchester's Super Sunday

He believes calling the condition economy class syndrome is inaccurate because there is evidence it has affected people in business or first class - or in people using other forms of long-distance transport.

BBC: Jury out on DVT link say airlines

And while Aaronson will sell space to long-distance carriers, he is betting a new class of customer will emerge--companies bent on creating and selling new uses for all that fiber--and that Aerie will be the low-cost provider.

FORBES: Other People's Money

Mercedes-Benz, always a leader in automotive technology, has once again raised the bar for the BMWs, Audis, and Lexuses of the world with the Distance Plus radar cruise system available in new S-Class sedans.

ENGADGET: Mercedes' new S-Class rocks Distance Plus urban cruise control

This bodes well for distance learning companies such as Class.com, a 1998 spin-off of a longtime University of Nebraska program called Independent Study High School.

CNN: Web puts the home back in homework

What's more, long-distance travelers can't do the quick in-and-out for class that most closer attendees do.

WSJ: Traveling the Globe -- Just to Get to Class

Perhaps just the reverse, given that Mr Gore, to distance himself from Mr Clinton, has chosen to bash big business and to pose as a class-warrior.

ECONOMIST: Crunch time