Yale Book of Quotations -- Top 10 Quotes of '07

10. "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history." -- Former President Jimmy Carter in an interview in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper.

9. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." -- Biden describing rival Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

8. "(I have) a wide stance when going to the bathroom." -- Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig's explanation of why his foot touched that of an undercover policeman in a men's room.

7. "I'm not going to get into a name-calling match with somebody (Vice President Dick Cheney) who has a 9 percent approval rating." -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat.

6. "There's only three things he (Republican presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani) mentions in a sentence: a noun and a verb and 9/11." -- Sen. Joseph Biden, speaking at a Democratic presidential debate.

5. "I don't recall." -- Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' repeated response to questioning at a congressional hearing about the firing of U.S. attorneys.

4. "That's some nappy-headed hos there." -- Shock jock Don Imus comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

3. "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country." -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's October comment at Columbia University in New York.

2. "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and Iraq and everywhere like such as and I believe that they should our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. or should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for us." -- South Carolina Miss Teen America contestant Lauren Upton when asked why one-fifth of Americans are unable to locate the United States on a map.

1. "Don't Tase Me, Bro!" -- the plea made by University of Florida student Andrew Meyer on September 17, accompanied by Meyer's screams as he was tased and thrown out of a speech by Sen. John Kerry

Why so serious?

And people wonder why they spend so much time and effort on their online marketing campaign. That's why.

I am Jack's smirking revenge

If my life ever felt like "The Twilight Zone," it's after I pull off a marathon journey either to or from home/college. I may not be hearing the exact theme music to the popular show, but there's a distinct ringing in my head that is definitely making me a bit delirious. This is a euphoric feeling--I'm completely physically and mentally exhausted, even though all I did was stay up all night sitting in a car, yet it takes such a toll on your body. I feel awful from fast food, from the time zone and geography change, and of course, CLASS in roughly twelve hours. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of The Narrator from Fight Club. Ed Norton portrays the insomniac as a desperate person void of a normal existence. But there's a chaotic glory in the way this sleepy social parasite floats through his life. I'd imagine what I feel after a long trip is what The Narrator feels like 24/7...well, before Fight Club anyway.

At the same time, I LOVE this euphoric feeling of accomplishment. Remember in elementary school when you'd get ribbons at the science fair, or be awarded a team sports medallion or trophy? That feeling of pure excitement, even though what you had "accomplished" might not have even been as significant as you thought. It didn't matter, because it only had to mean something to you. I love driving long distances. And while I can sometimes be pretty stubborn or unsafe in how I do it, it always leaves me satisfied to come away from a trip without incident and ticket-less. Oh, and I always make good time. I am Payton's unconscious smile.

BEST show on TV.

Coca-Cola product placement

Coming to you live from Dallas, Texas! I'm leaving to drive home in a little bit, but it's been a good weekend. Aside from my favorite hockey team getting killed by the local one (and the ensuing walk of shame that followed), there's not much to complain about. One of my favorite movies to watch in nearly any mood if American Beauty. So many themes inside, so many lessons to take away. Kevin Spacey's performance as Lester Burnham is in my mind, one of the best performances of the last 25 years.

One of my favorite lines in a very quotable movie is Lester declaring, "It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself." That line had always stuck out to me, but never been specifically relevant to anything in my life...until now. This weekend hockey trip to Dallas was an oasis, a therapeutic pilgrimage to escape the meandering life of an Arkansas college student. But I got a lot more out of it. I got a big surprise.

I would by no means consider myself 'old' or 'mature.' I do like to throw those words around because I'm in my 20s, however. But with the experience of life comes situations in which you think you have a bead on things. You're pretty sure you've got it all figured out. And then you end up surprising yourself. Maybe the surprise comes because you're different, or because they're different...but when you realize it it's a giant elephant in the room, a not-so-negative scarlet letter. The peace that comes from finally having a real resolution/wisdom about a situation or a someone is only comparable to the feeling of drinking an ice-cold Coke on a blazing hot day. You may not even like Coke, but if you're out in the heat, the wave of refreshment you get from the beverage is heaven on earth. I may be 22, but if the past 36 hours are any indication, I've got so many more surprises ahead of me.

Better go grab a Coke...