But the conversations — in panel discussions, in hallways and over crab cakes — always seemed to circle around to one subject: the economy.
"It seems to circle around providing improper assistance, including coaching, violating test protocol and not following the proscribed guidance in the testing manuals," Mr. Korn said.
Plus, there is the third, most vocal response, that peculiar strain of oedipal rage that seems to circle around this most upsetting of late-evening TV highlight vehicles, the urge to debunk and dissect and tut like teenagers snorting over some incurable parental inadequacy.
The discussion seemed to circle around two questions: How long can Streets Kitchen's volunteers continue to offer "unconditional care" to an ever-growing group of guests, many with addiction and physical and mental health issues?
The title refers to the North Star, or Pole Star, around which other stars seem to circle.
Instead, the network's top partisan hosts -- with the exception of former Republican Rep. Joe Scarborough -- seemed to circle the wagons around the Democratic president during his reelection bid.
And the ideological fringes are forever blurring into one another: Pat Buchanan can sound a lot like Gore Vidal, "truthers" and "birthers" often share common fixations, and both the far left and far right seem equally inclined to circle around, eventually, to pointing fingers at the Jews.
Authorities seem to be circling around an answer, but have not gotten to one yet.
So as the storm clouds started to circle around the University of Wales, it seemed obvious that a drastic response would be required, but few predicted what would happen next.
