Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Darren Hardy on Influence

Influence is powerful, and the same qualities and charisma that can influence people toward human enlightenment can also be used to influence people to destruction and great inhumanity.

Darren Hardy
Success Magazine Blog
You ARE Influential
July 5, 2011

Paula Poundstone on Free Speech

It's funny that we think of libraries as quiet demure places where we are shushed by dusty, bun-balancing, bespectacled women. The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy and community. Librarians have stood up to the Patriot Act, sat down with noisy toddlers and reached out to illiterate adults. Libraries can never be shushed.

Paula Poundstone
National spokesperson for Friends of Libraries U.S.A.

Source: statelibraryofiowa.org

Monday, July 4, 2011

William J. Clinton on America

I am pleased to join my fellow Americans across the nation and around the world in celebrating Independence Day.

On this day each year, we gather with family and friends to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. With vision and courage, our Founders stated unequivocally to the world: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." These were literally revolutionary concepts, and they fundamentally changed the course of human history.

Today we are living through another period of profound and historic change: change in the way we work, the way we live, the way we relate to one another and to the rest of the world. But the truths set down in our Declaration of Independence are immutable, and they continue to light our path into the challenges and possibilities of the future. Equality, individual rights, life, freedom, opportunity: we still cherish these values, and we must continue to reaffirm them daily.

America is a work in progress, and we have strived through decades of challenge and change to become what our Founders envisioned on our first Independence Day. As we continue that endeavor, let us work together to create an America that remains the world's strongest force for peace, justice, and freedom. Let us work for an America that is not driven apart by differences but instead is united around share values and respect for our diversity. Let us work for an America in which every one of us, without regard to race or religious belief or gender or station in life, can achieve our dreams. In this way we will best pay tribute to those who, 220 years ago, pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to guarantee our freedom.

Best wishes for a memorable Fourth of July.

William J. Clinton
Presidential Proclamation
July 4, 1996

Source: american.edu

Thomas Paine on Commitment

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

Thomas Paine
The American Crisis, No. 4, September 11, 1777


Source: revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

Harry S. Truman on America

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.

Harry S. Truman

Source: scrapbook.com

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Reality TV Wisdom: TMZ

Zookeeper Suzi Rapp took a cute...yet potentially vicious freakin' SNOW LEOPARD out of its cage at LAX!  Guess TSA is now cool with wild cats of prey... but a tube o' toothpaste will get ya frisked.

Regarding Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Promotions Director Suzi Rapp, getting a snow leopard cub out of its crate for a supervised stretch at Los Angeles County Airport.

TMZ.com
June 30, 2011
Click here to view.