I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. –Thomas Jefferson, 1802

“Never believe anything until it’s officially denied.” –Claud Cockburn

It is far too late and things are far too bad for pessimism. -Dee Hock

Shelley Winters is dead. You probably remember her as the biker granny on TV’s Roseanne, but my memories go fondly back to her many guest shots on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She was loud, opinionated and one of a kind. I will never forget Winters’ honesty, her humor, or her voice. Winters was nominated for four Academy awards and won two of them, for Best Supporting Actress. She was 85.

[On nudity in films:] I think it’s all disgusting. Shameful. And damaging to all things American. But if I were 22 with a great body, it would be artistic, tasteful, patriotic, and a progressive, religious experience.

Most management techniques are ways of controlling people so they feel good about being controlled. –Peter Block [thanks to Dave Pollard]

Born on Jan. 2, 1968: Cuba Gooding, Jr.
“Show me the money!”

Born on Jan. 1, 1919: J. D. Salinger
“It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.”

When someone works for less pay than she can live on–when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently–then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life. The “working poor,” as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else.”

–Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

A recent study found that wedded bliss keeps you healthy. . . . Now, I have to admit that marriage does have some stresses. There are usually some disagreements over money or how you’re going to discipline the children or if you’re even going to have children at all. But it’s really minor stuff, relatively minor compared to being lonely, being hungry, not feeling good or not having anybody to take care of you.”

–Donald Trump on why men should get married

Scarlett almost attracts all eye in black shirt and jeans with her breast half covered.”

–Caption for this photo of a resplendent, but perfectly decent Scarlett Johannson.

p.s. Comments aren’t working for some reason. Sorry. Working on it.