Bless Them

We should not hold middle-class tax cuts hostage any longer. We are ready this week, if they want, to give tax cuts to every American making $250,000 or less. that's 98, 97 percent of Americans. Now, for any income over this amount, the tax rates would just go back to what they were under President Clinton. This isn't to punish folks who are better off -- God bless them -- it's because we can't afford the $700 billion price tag.

-- President Barack Obama on his proposed tax strategy, 8 September 2010

Premeditated

An expectation is a premeditated resentment.

-- Nina Paley, Mimi & Eunice, 14 September 2010,


http://ninapaley.com/mimiandeunice/2010/09/14/resentment/

Tired

I'm tired of talking about everything else, tired of the politics. Today is only about loss.

-- Alyson Low, whose sister died in the Sept. 11 attacks, on the controversies in the weeks before this year's commemoration, New York Times, 12 September 2010

Used To Be

What we were finding was that the soldiers we're getting in today's Army are not in as good shape as they used to be. This is not just an Army issue. This is a national issue.

-- Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who oversees basic training for the Army, New York Times, 31 August 2010

Third Half

We want to make Google the third half of your brain.

-- Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder, on a new Internet search product, New York Times, 9 September 2010

It's Time

Simply put, it's time. Time for me. And time for Chicago to move on.

-- Richard M. Daley, mayor of Chicago since 1989, announcing that he would not seek re-election, New York Times, 8 September 2010

Potentially Explosive

Wyoming Town Near Drilling Told Drinking Water Unsafe, Potentially Explosive

Residents of a Wyoming town where natural gas drilling has occurred for years are now being warned their water is not only undrinkable but Environmental Protection Agency issued the warning after a second round of testing on the town of Pavilion's water supply. The first round found at least three water wells contained chemicals used in the natural gas drilling process of hydraulic fracturing. ProPublica reports the latest tests confirmed the presence of those chemicals as well as benzene, metals, naphthalene, phenols and methane. In addition to being told not to drink their water, Pavilion residents are also being advised to use fans and ventilation when showering or washing clothes to avoid the risk of explosions.

Democracy Now 2 September 2010

Two Party Failure

It's like picking a team when you really don't want to root for either team.

-- Kristin Johnson, 23, on the two political parties, New York Times, 3 September 2010

World Of Thought

It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming an educated person, the enormous interest it adds to life. To be able to be caught up into the world of thought -- THAT is to be educated.

-- Edith Hamilton (1867-1963), educator and writer, Saturday Evening Post, 27 September 1958

On Being Wrong

If you can't admit you're wrong, you should just stay home and knit sweaters. You shouldn't be involved with any occupation where your decision-making can have an impact on other people's health, life, or liberty.

I don't think it's specific to the legal system. I think generally speaking it's difficult for people to admit they're wrong, and the higher the stakes, the more difficult it becomes. So what you really want to do is educate people that it's OK to be wrong. It doesn't mean you're a fool. It's not going to be the end of your life.

-- Peter Neufeld, as quoted by Kathryn Schulz, Reasonable Doubt: Innocence Project Co-Founder Peter Neufeld on Being Wrong, Slate.com, August 17, 2010

Culture Shock

Yesterday my family welcomed the arrival of Rodrigo Martins, a Brazilian 16-year-old foreign exchange student, who will be living with us for the next 10 months. It took him about 24 hours to get here (Curitiba to Sao Paulo to Dallas to Chicago to Champaign), and a couple of hours to get him registered for school. When I left him this morning, he was settling in to Algebra II.

Cure Your Own

The truth is, when all is said and done, one does not teach a subject, one teaches a student how to learn it. Teaching may look like administering a dose, but even a dose must be worked on by the body if it is to cure. Each individual must cure his or her own ignorance.

-- Jacques Barzun (30 November 1907-), French-born American scholar, historian, critic and teacher, Reasons to De-Test the Schools," New York Times, 11 October 1988

Art Of Teaching

I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. It might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.

-- John Steinbeck (1902-1968), American writer, Nobel laureate, Pulitzer Prize awardee, like captured fireflies" (1955)

Solid Rock

They are miners, so they understand the situation they are living. They understand that we have to go through 700 meters of solid rock to rescue them.

-- Laurence Goldborne, mining minister of Chile, on estimates that the rescue of 33 trapped miners may take more than three months, New York Times, 25 August 2010

Scale, Destruction, Complexity

What we have is a single long event, which has the scale of the tsunami, the destruction of Haiti and the complexity of the Middle East. And in twenty years in responding to humanitarian crises, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this.

-- Jane Cocking, humanitarian director of Oxfam, on flooding in Pakistan, 23 August 2010

Healthy Exercise

It would be a healthy exercise for every politician to look in the mirror every morning and remind himself that he holds office only because, in a two-man race against another mediocrity, a modest majority of those half-informed people who imagined that their votes mattered reckoned that he was the lesser evil. And they weren't too sure about that.

-- Joseph Sobran (1946-), American journalist and writer

Gimme A Break

The owner of the private military firm Blackwater, Erik Prince, has reportedly left the United States and moved to the United Arab Emirates. The New York Times reports Prince has set up shop in Abu Dhabi, where he hopes to win "focus on security work from governments in Africa and the Middle East." Independent journalist and Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill was the first to report Prince's moving plans two months ago. Five of Prince's deputies were indicted on weapons charges in April, and Prince put Blackwater up for sale in June. At the time, Scahill said Prince may have favored a move to the UAE in part because it has no extradition treaty with the United States. A colleague of Prince's told the New York Times, "He needs a break from America."

-- Democracy Now, 18 August 2010

Rebranded

What is essentially unfolding here is a downsized and rebranded occupation, Obama-style, that is going to necessitate a surge in private forces. The State Department is asking for MRAP vehicles, armored vehicles, for Black Hawk helicopters and for these paramilitary forces. So, yes, you can say that officially combat has ended, but in reality we're continuing it through the back door by bringing in these paramilitary forces and classifying them as diplomatic security, which was Bush's game from the very beginning.

-- Jeremy Scahill (1974-), US investigative journalist and author, Democracy Now, 18 August 2010

Here's A Manual

It was like, "Here's a manual, go fly the Space Shuttle."

-- Steve Wlodek, a juror, on the complexity of the charges against Rod R. Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, after the jury reached a verdict on just 1 of 24 charges, New York Times, 19 August 2010

Tragedy

Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt.

-- Clarence Darrow (1857-1938), lawyer and author

Not Far

Not far from the invention of fire must rank the invention of doubt.

-- Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895), biologist

If You Find It

If you're looking for perfection, look in the mirror. If you find it there, expect it elsewhere.

-- Malcolm S. Forbes (1919-1990), American publisher, businessman

Bacon

You know the world is in a different place when bringing home the bacon is no longer a good thing.

-- Political analyst Jennifer Duffy, on criticism of legislators who are members of Appropriations Committees, New York Times, 13 August 2010

Not The Purpose

Some adults will spend their money foolishly, but it is not the purpose of the federal government to prevent them legally from doing it.

-- Representative Barney Frank, on a proposal in Congress to tax Internet gambling, New York Times, 29 July 2010

Monsters

Monsters remain human beings. In fact, to reduce them to a subhuman level is to exonerate them of their acts of terrorism and mass murder -- just as animals are not deemed morally responsible for killing. Insisting on the humanity of terrorists is, in fact, critical to maintaining their profound responsibility for the evil they commit.

And, if they are human, then they must necessarily not be treated in an inhuman fashion. You cannot lower the moral baseline of a terrorist to the subhuman without betraying a fundamental value.

-- Andrew Sullivan (1963-), author, editor, and political commentator, "The Abolition of Torture", The New Republic, 19 December 2005

A Crime To Represent

The issue in this case is the right of citizens to be able to go to court to challenge government action. Here, the government is trying to assassinate a US citizen who they say is a terrorist. The ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights are trying to go into court to challenge that assassination effort, but at this point we have to get permission from the government to even go into court to represent them to raise these constitutional issues. So we think it's unconstitutional, and we're asking that the court strike that down and allow us to get to the point of this, which is under what circumstances can the government execute somebody without due process of law.

-- Bill Quigley of the Center for Constitutional Rights on a lawsuit challenging the designation of Anwar al-Awlaki as a "specially designated global terrorist", making it a crime to represent him in court; al-Awlaki is the first US citizen added to a CIA list of targets for capture or killing, 4 August 2010

Our Values

Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11 and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values -- and play into our enemies' hands -- if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.

-- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the building of a mosque near "Ground Zero" in New York, 4 August 2010

Cannot

Proposition 8 cannot withstand any level of scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. Excluding same-sex couples from marriage is simply not rationally related to a legitimate state interest.

-- Vaughn R. Walker, the chief judge of the Federal District Court in San Francisco, New York Times, 5 August 2010

Since When?

Since when do we have to agree with people to defend them from injustice?

-- Lillian Hellman (1905-1984), American playwright

Sets You Right

Of course you will insist on modesty in the children, and respect to their teachers, but if the boy stops you in your speech, cries out that you are wrong and sets you right, hug him!

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), writer and philosopher

Bad Day

Sixty years ago I survived a Chinese attack in North Korea, and as a result I wrote a book saying that I hadn't had a bad day since. Today, I have to reassess that statement.

-- Representative Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), after the House ethics committee detailed 13 charges of ethics violations against him, New York Times, 30 July 2010

Always Read Stuff

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

-- P. J. O'Rourke (1947-), American political satirist

Shocking!

That poster is shocking. It gives people facts before they take risks.

-- Domonique Foxworth, of the Baltimore Ravens, discussing new language from the NFL warning of the danger of concussions, New York Times, 27 July 2010

Talk Too Much

I've learned a lot of lessons from this whole experience, and perhaps, maybe, the biggest lesson I learned is that I talk too much.

-- Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on choosing not to testify at his political corruption trial, 25 July 2010

RIP Daniel Schorr

Whenever I'm not sure about something, the ethics of something, the question I ask myself is, "What would Murrow have done? What would Murrow say?" It seems strange after all these years that I still have him as a kind of symbol and an emblem to live by, but I do.

-- Daniel Schorr (31 August 1916 - 23 July 2010), American journalist and news analyst

w00t!

Congratulations to my #1 daughter Tia and to Joseph Allen Schum on the occasion of their wedding, Saturday 24 July 2010.

Cart Veeling

I was cart-veeling through the air at 60K, hitting my arms and legs. I realized everything was still attached, though, so I figured, why not ride on?

-- Cyclist Jens Voigt on his decision to resume riding after a crash in Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France, 22 July 2010

Helping Hand

It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."

-- Sam Levenson (1911-1980), American humorist and writer, In One Era & Out the Other

Burden

It is the will of God that we must have critics, and missionaries, and Congressmen, and humorists, and we must bear the burden.

-- Mark Twain, in his newly published autobiography, dictated a century ago, New York Times, 10 July 2010

Corner

It's an encouraging sign. In a couple more days it may be even more encouraging. But no celebrations. I mean, you know, if you go talk to these people that live here, that "celebration" is a wrong word. But it could be -- we could be very close, whether it's through this activity or through the relief wells, to the point where we feel like -- I think everyone feels like we've begun to turn a corner, and an important corner. But no, it's not the time to celebrate, I don't think.

-- BP chief operating officer Doug Suttles, on the news that a containment cap had cut off the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, 16 July 2010

Ruthless

The rich are different: they are more ruthless.

-- Sam Khater, an economist on why the rich have stopped paying their mortgages at a rate that exceeds the rest of the population, New York Times, 9 July 2010

Mona Lisa

Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa.

-- George Michael Steinbrenner III (4 July 1930 - 13 July 2010), principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees

Union And Cooperation

There is but one mode by which man can possess in perpetuity all the happiness which his nature is capable of enjoying, -- that is by the union and co-operation of all for the benefit of each. Union and co-operation in war obviously increase the power of the individual a thousand fold. Is there the shadow of a reason why they should not produce equal effects in peace; why the principle of co-operation should not give to men the same superior powers, and advantages, (and much greater) in the creation, preservation, distribution and enjoyment of wealth?

-- Robert Owen (1771-1858), Welsh socialist and social reformer, The Social System (1826)

Cycle Tracks

Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia.

-- H.G. Wells (1866-1946), British writer, A Modern Utopia (1905), Ch. 2, sect. 3

Before A War

Before a war military science seems a real science, like astronomy; but after a war it seems more like astrology.

-- Cicely Isabel Fairfield (1892 - 1983), known by her pen name Rebecca West, DBE, English author, journalist, and literary critic

Cobbles Don't Scare Me

The cobbles don't scare me. I plan on being at the front and sprinting for the win today.

-- Professional Cyclist Thor Hushovd on the inclusion of sections of cobblestones in the 2010 Tour de France, prior to Stage 3, 6 July 2010; Hushovd went on to win the day's stage

New Hero

My new hero is B. B. King.

-- Ringo Starr, on turning 70, New York Times, 6 July 2010

Progress

I sometimes do not know what to say, but every day I make progress.

-- Bina48, a $125,000 "friend" robot programmed to make eye contact and converse, New York Times, 5 July 2010

Only Goodness

Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest", but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.

-- Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986), journalist and author, "What's Wrong with Being Proud?" in Pieces of Eight (1982)

Division

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.

-- John Adams (30 October 1735 - 4 July 1826), first Vice President, second President of the US, father of John Quincy Adams, Letter to Jonathan Jackson (2 October 1789)