Irish Woman, looking at Boo – Wow, he’s really starting to get a tan.

Me – He gets that from you.  My people are a pale people.

Irish Woman – No, I’ve seen pictures of you in Arizona.  You had a nice, dark tan.

Me – Woman, I worked with radio jammers in the desert.  I wasn’t tan, I was medium rare.

Kim: Mom said your job made you paranoid.
Bryan: Well, my job made me aware.

— Taken

There are things that I saw and did in a former profession that make me somewhat paranoid about my government, and to be honest, the world in general.  Once you’ve seen how horribly an unchecked junta can treat those who it does not need or does not like, you have a jaundiced eye toward actions which, to others, seem pretty innocuous.

One mass grave full of men and boys is enough to convince me that helpless citizens are to their government as sheep are to wolves.  Seeing abject poverty on such a scale that it seems normal to those living in it, but then driving less than an hour to find luxury beyond any imagining has made me wary of government propping up the super wealthy for any reason.  Watching my teachers cry bitter tears as they described mass rapes of women of all ages was enough to convince me that no woman should ever be left helpless by disarmament and culture.  Seeing the bodies of children who have been starved, broken, and worse made me cherish my own children, all children, that much more.

I guess what I’m saying is that the more you learn about how horrible the world truly is, the more you will come to appreciate the parts that are wonderful.  That knowledge will show you just how important it is to protect and defend those things that bring light to a very dark existence.  Knowing about the world and seeing it with your eyes wide open should not immobilize you with fear.  Rather, it should force you to action, armed fully with the knowledge and skills you need to protect that which deserves protection and to bring down that which threatens those small islands of decency and beauty.

As a writer, you’ve got an adjustment knob for how violent you want to make your story. Feel free to turn it up and down depending on the target audience. You can also make adjustments for sex, profanity, realism, or anything else that might be offensive. The important thing is that you tune it to your target audience, and my target audience laughs through Tarantino movies. — Larry Correia, Oh my gosh, somebody actually reviewed my novel that’s up for a Hugo?!? Or Writing Strategy.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

— Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin’ palm tree overboard! Now what’s all this crud about no movie tonight? — Mister Roberts

Eventually, every bad relationship will come to a head.  It can take years of submissiveness, avoidance, passive aggressive behavior, or just plain indifference, but eventually the only healthy option is confrontation.  You’re usually better off if you do it early, but you’re never better off if you avoid it altogether.  It’s better to get things off your chest than to have someone on your neck forever.

Mom!  I had a really great day!  And then I got in big trouble! – Boo, upon his return home this afternoon.

A lot of small shops won’t work on Bimmers, I suspect partly because of the need for specialized diagnostic tools and partly because a lot of Bimmer owners are special tools in need of diagnoses. — Tam, “Tamgies List:  Unsolicited Endorsement

One of the things about having lived in Germany is that I’m not impressed with most BMW’s or Mercedes.   Yeah, they’re nice, once you’ve been in an environment where they fit the same automotive niche as Chevy and Ford do here, you’re not that impressed.  Don’t even get me started on my shock at how much a VW is going for these days, since my experience with them were late 80’s / early 90’s Golfs and Vanagons.

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda 
And the old men still answer the call 
But year after year, their numbers get fewer 
Someday, no one will march there at all 

— “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”, by Eric Bogle

Irish Woman – How much are the Paul McCartney tickets?

Me – I don’t want to talk about it.  It’s too much.  We have a lot of places to spend that money.  We have yard work we need to buy stuff for.  We have stuff in the house we have to pay for.  We have private school to pay for.  We have Boo’s birthday party to pay for.  We have a 16th birthday party we have to save up for, and I just learned that I have to get a stripper for that.

Girlie Bear – What?  Stripper?

Irish Woman – Don’t worry.  It’ll be a Doctor Who stripper, so it’ll fit in with your party.

Me – Yeah, she’ll look like David Tennant until she takes her top off.

Girlie Bear – Twitch.  Wibble. Tears.

Me – Oh good, we broke the teenager!

The last intestine is the stinkiest place ever. That’s where the poo is. –Boo.

I’m so glad we have encouraged free form conversation during meals.