Bird Brains

Here's how Harold E. Ford Jr. described U.S. Sen. Kristin Gillibrand of New York recently: "Understand that you're not elected to the United States Senate to be a parakeet or to take instructions from the Democratic leadership." Ford, who is considering whether to run against Gillibrand, later elaborated on that. Voters want to elect representatives who show some independence. Like bluejays.

Parenting techniques to avoid

Mother's Day Quote, from a Q&A with Rosario Dawson in The New York Times' Spring Fashion T Magazine:

Was your mother a disciplinarian?
My mom licked me — that was her punishment. If I was a little uppity or if I didn’t listen or if she wanted to get my attention, she’d lick the side of my face or under my armpit.

What? Mauve is out?

From a story in the April 13, 2009, New York Times, about burglaries at vacant homes that real estate agents have "staged" - that is, decorated with high-end furniture in an attempt to lure buyers:

“It’s brazen,” said D. J. Grubb, the president of the Grubb Company, a real estate agency based in Oakland. “These are highly aesthetic crimes. The thief seems to be someone with very good taste, somebody who knows that mauve is out.”

Zing Zing Zing ...

Tina Fey in The New York Times, asked if she had any advice for Amy Poehler as she worked on her new show, "Parks and Recreation":

“Trust no one. Yell at everyone. Insist on being driven to work in a party trolley.”

Goodwill hunting

“Dad carries, Mom finds the right size and my brother does what he’s told.”

Sarah Burdulis of Somerville, Mass., in The New York Times on March 22, 2009. She was shopping for a designer wedding gown at a Boston Goodwill Industries charity store, and brought her family as reinforcements in case it turned out to be a "zoo" inside.

Subway Hero

“I yelled, ‘Contact the station agent and call the police!’ which I think is hilarious because I don’t think I ever said ‘station agent’ before in my life. What am I, on ‘24’?”

Chad Lindsey, who leaped onto subway tracks to rescue a man who had fallen, quoted in The New York Times on March 18, 2009