Most People Are Other People

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.

-- Oscar Wilde

Not A Nationalist

I love my country too much to be a nationalist.

-- Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)

Abundance

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune in to.

-- Wayne Dyer (1940-, American psychotherapist, author, lecturer)

Memory

Memory is a bomb. Memory is a balm.

-- Renato Redentor, in his "Constantino: The Colors of Memory: Black-and-Blue World"

A Desk

A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.

-- John le Carre

Those Who Were Seen Dancing

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

-- Friedrich Wilhem Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)

Media, Not Journalism

The young are voracious consumers of media, but not of journalism. Sixty-eight percent of children 8 to 18 have televisions in their rooms; 33 percent have computers. And if they could have only one entertainment medium, a third would choose the computer, a quarter would choose television. They carry their media around with them: 79 percent of young people ages 8 to 18 have portable CD, tape or MP3 players. Fifty-five percent have hand-held video game players. Sony's PlayStation Portable, which plays music, games and movies, sold more than 500,000 units in the first two days after its March debut.

-- George F. Will (Washington Post, April 24, 2005)

Downing Street Memo

Excerpts from the text of the "Downing Street Memo" --

DAVID MANNING
From: Matthew Rycroft
Date: 23 July 2002
S 195 /02

cc: Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Attorney-General, Sir Richard Wilson, John Scarlett, Francis Richards, CDS, C, Jonathan Powell, Sally Morgan, Alastair Campbell

IRAQ: PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING, 23 JULY

Copy addressees and you met the Prime Minister on 23 July to discuss Iraq.

This record is extremely sensitive. No further copies should be made. It should be shown only to those with a genuine need to know its contents.
...
C reported on his recent talks in Washington. There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.
...
The Defence Secretary said that the US had already begun "spikes of activity" to put pressure on the regime. No decisions had been taken, but he thought the most likely timing in US minds for military action to begin was January, with the timeline beginning 30 days before the US Congressional elections.

The Foreign Secretary said he would discuss this with Colin Powell this week. It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran. We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the UN weapons inspectors. This would also help with the legal justification for the use of force.

The Attorney-General said that the desire for regime change was not a legal base for military action. There were three possible legal bases: self-defence, humanitarian intervention, or UNSC authorisation. The first and second could not be the base in this case. Relying on UNSCR 1205 of three years ago would be difficult. The situation might of course change.

The Prime Minister said that it would make a big difference politically and legally if Saddam refused to allow in the UN inspectors. Regime change and WMD were linked in the sense that it was the regime that was producing the WMD.
...
The Defence Secretary said that if the Prime Minister wanted UK military involvement, he would need to decide this early. He cautioned that many in the US did not think it worth going down the ultimatum route. It would be important for the Prime Minister to set out the political context to Bush.

Where I Intended

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.

-- Douglas Adams

Most People Would Rather Die

Most people would rather die than think: many do.

-- Bertrand Russell

Think! Believe!

The few have said, "Think!" The many have said, "Believe!"

-- Robert G. Ingersoll

We Are What We Think

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.

-- Buddha

Cogito Ergo Sum

I think, therefore I am. However, inanimate objects do not think. Therefore, they are not.

What I am and what they are not had not been determined at press time.

The Nearest Way To Glory

The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.

-- Socrates (quoted by Cicero)

Look Younger

The only real way to look younger is not to be born so soon.

-- Charles Schulz, cartoonist (1922-2000)

Living Proof

Older generations are living proof that younger generations can survive their lunacy.

-- Cullen Hightower

Rules & Exceptions

The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.

-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1809-1894

When I Was Younger

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.

-- Mark Twain, 1835-1910

Not Young Enough

I am not young enough to know everything

-- Oscar Wilde