May 10, 2014

Good Morning!

Today is the birthday of Ariel Durant (1898 – 1981) who said:

“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”

and

“The present is the past rolled up for action, and the past is the present unrolled for understanding.”

Today is the birthday of Fred Astaire (1899 – 1987) who said:

“Do it big, do it right and do it with style.”

and

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.”

and

“Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?”

and

“When you have a dancing partner, there's always gonna be a moment where the girl's gonna cry, Ginger didn't do that. But, most every other girl I've worked with have cried because they said "aah, I can't do it" and I have to go "Yes, you can, Shut up!" and they do it.”

It is also the birthday of Rick Steves (1955 - ) who said:

“Self-consciousness kills communication.”

and

“Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.”

and

“I believe if you’re going to bomb someone you should know them first. It should hurt when you kill someone.”

Happy Birthday to Bono (1960 - ) who said:

“Pop music often tells you everything is OK, while rock music tells you that it's not OK, but you can change it.”

and

“Every age has its massive moral blind spots. We might not see them, but our children will.”

and

“Books! I dunno if I ever told you this, but books are the greatest gift one person can give another.”

and

“You're on the road

But you've got no destination

You're in the mud

In the maze of her imagination

You love this town

Even if that doesn't ring true

You've been all over

And it's been all over you”

Finally, it is the birthday of John Scalzi (1969 - ) who said:

“Here's a quick rule of thumb: Don't annoy science fiction writers. These are people who destroy entire planets before lunch. Think of what they'll do to you.”

and

“In general there should be gay characters in YA because a) surprise, there are gay folks everywhere and b) in my opinion as a father, there’s not a damn thing wrong with my child encountering gay folks in her literature, because see point a).”