"The family of Norman Rockwell is waging a fierce campaign against a new biography of him, bristling at the book's suggestions that Rockwell, artist of small-town Americana, could have been secretly gay or harbored pedophilic impulses." (–Julie Bosman, "Rockwell Biography Angers His Family," The New York Times, December 3, 2013)

—It's a surprise how big you are! ... Looking forward to it! ... What are you up to?

"'We've asked ourselves over and over again, should we come forward or let this thing die?' Ms. Rockwell said. 'People are now starting to refer to Pop,' she added, using her grandfather's nickname, 'as a closeted homosexual.'" (–Julie Bosman, "Rockwell Biography Angers His Family," The New York Times, December 3, 2013)

—Claire Danes says, "There is real honor in being a total goofball."

"Sir! Sir! Can I check your pack?"

—Do unto others as they do unto you – but do it first!

"Will you please check your bag?"

—That's my getaway bag!

"What's a simple example of verbal self-defense?"

—Enormous potential! ... Or not! ... Smoke signals ... That's plenty! ... You know, after all these years, I ask myself the same question ... Oh, joy! ... Men age like wine, women wilt like flowers.

"Can you give me a simple example?"

—Choose something.

"Can you give me an example?"

—I'm getting really good at it though.

"Give me a simple example."

—Before the cock crows, you will betray me.

"Give me an example – You gotta give me an example."

—One hundred fifty revolutions per minute and two hundred pounds of thrust.

"Give me an example."

—That's the sixty-four dollar question! (from a radio program in the 1940s)

"Give me another example."

—Is this going to be a race to the bottom?

"Did you go through my jewelry box?" :: WildCard-7

—I'll pay for it!

"My meeting was not a invitation, we need to meet. I will plan to see you right after class on 10-29-2012 at 2 p.m." [sic] :: WildCard-10

—And it never happens on a nice slow day.

"I'm mad at you!"

—Will the sun come up?

"You're mad at me!"

—I have enough troubles.

"Use your imagination."

—Black is beautiful.

"Why?"

—You have to face reality.

["I'm not coming in tomorrow."] "Why not?"

—Don't expect anything – You can only be pleasantly surprised.

"Why not?"

—Keep your fingers crossed.

"Why did you think I wanted a divorce?"

—Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.

"Why don't you want to fill it out?" [The survey]

—A human being can talk back or walk away.

["It's going to be cold the rest of the week."] "Why is that?"

—It staggers the imagination, doesn't it?

"Why don't you? Why don't you have one?"

—Not many people can do what they like to do.

"What you said really frightened me."

—What can I do to make you feel less frightened?

"So when are they going to put the extra charge on the meter?"

—It's never enough! – They're just big talkers – It's a joke! – In the time-money tradeoff, choose time – If you want more money, work a little more! – It's a million times better! – Give me time! This takes time! – I don't mind talking about it if you don't mind talking about it – Last week you made a lot of money? – How much? How much shit did you make for mom today, and did you get a star? – I just made a blunder in toilet training – I made a vow never to talk about money!

"Can you lend me a hundred dollars?"

—A prince never lacks sufficient reasons to break his promise.

"Have you got an extra five dollars?"

—Do you wish you had one of your own?

"They're going to charge you extra for that."

—I tend to just blurt things out.

"Why did you order that pie in the first place?"

—I was walking on the ceiling and put my head in the refrigerator ... Proof of liking ... In the flesh ... It's hard to criticize a spark of light ... Small proofs of liking ... Poked me in the eye ... Provisions ... What good is a love affair if we can't see eye-to-eye?

"There's Navid!" [Her bully cousin]

—This is a real one, isn't it?

"Why don't you find a girlfriend?"

—Well, you are in your own way ... I don't think anyone will ever know ... Nobody tells you what to do.

«What to say when a bully board member verbally attacks you»

—For keeps?

"You can't register for classes because the paperwork for your loan hasn't gone through."

—Maybe they're hooked on some drug ... Valium ... What is there to be afraid of? ... Who cares where you've been if you can do things! ... Well, I'm working right now ... How about next weekend? ... That's one of the blessings of poverty ... That shows you have energy ... So how long is this going to go on? ... There's not much left, is there? ... It's upside down! ... It's always longer than you think ... Let's try that ... That's what you go to school to learn!

"Because?"

—It takes very fine energy to make a painting; but your coarse energy, your hatred, builds up ... Jealousy is an attempt to diminish yourself in comparison to another person; to try to make another person seem bigger than they really are.

"Because why?"

—The idea is to clear it out – You don't want it backing up into your system.

["I love San Francisco!"] "Because?"

—It's that old black magic.

"It's changed – It's all because of your people."

—You have to knock three times and ask for Joe.

"Stupid people like to make comebacks because they aren't smart enough to make them up on the spot!"

—If you're a secretary when you're three, you're a boss when you're thirty-three.

"Well, it doesn't matter, because we're not coming back."

—Some people look no farther than their mothers' kitchen table.

"Why do you care?"

—Jacob at Live Journal says, "So ... I know how to deal with this situation in the future, and there isn't this type of problem again."

"I'm here!"

—Apparently.

"What's your field?"

—The outside of the garbage can.

"What's your education?"

—The inside of the garbage can.

"What's your training?"

—The plastic bag.

"What's your background?"

—Always working.

"Well, I mean, what are your credentials?"

—Oh, you mean, my rank!

"Where are you in the pecking order?"

—I'm at the bottom!

"You don't say."

—Who would believe it?

[Mumbling]

—Someone you're close to.

"Taxi 10101010101 What? Now, when I hear the phrase Non-escalating Verbal Self-Defense, my interest is clearly piqued ... but damn. I can't decide if the author is genius, insane -- or both." [Link from my so-called blog]

—Or boring!

"I'm going mad."

—If you're ever in L.A., have your people call my people, and we'll have lunch.

"From another world."

—There's so many of them, though.

"Another robbery yesterday. Watch it!"

—That's all I need.

"Another day!"

"Did you come from a disadvantaged family, or were you born that way?"

—Is that good or bad?

"We're calling to tell you you've won the Pulitzer Prize."

—It's bigger than miniature golf!

["It's going to be hot today!"] "Sexy weather."

—They can burn up as they go.

"You never do anything sexy."

—Have you seen Alfred Hitchcock's 1943, Shadow of a Doubt? You should see it!

"Richard, it's not sexy!"

—This is a horse of another color.

"And your research is based on what?"

—I'm not going to hell – I forgot – I have a room.

"A supplemental activity?"

—At least you can see what people are like.

"You find it confusing bc it is whack. Just sayin."

—"No arts, no letters, no society, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." –Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

"Well, it sounds like a noble cause."

—The only people who aren't shits like everyone else are Hitler, Napoleon, and Genghis Khan.

"Thank you, Rufus!"

—That's easy.

"You are a genius!"

—It'll turn around.