Good word

"Ringo is our representative on the Beatles."

-- Robert Christgau

Old thinking

"I always thought Specter would consider switching to become an independent to get re-elected, and it's too bad that Michael Steele pushed him into the Democrat Party."

-- Republican strategist Scott Reed

That prominent Republicans like Scott Reed continue to say "Democrat party" says a lot about why prominent Republicans like Arlen Specter flee to the Democrat party.

Good word

"Our system, left to its own devices, is not designed to let illegal acts be revealed and then ignored."

-- Eugene Robinson

Good word

"I came to love silence, because it's so rare, and it's now my favorite aural condition."

-- Mike Nichols

Good word

"I've always been put off by [Hank] Snow's up-north propriety, more Vernon Dalhart than Jimmie Rodgers."

-- Robert Christgau

Good word

"He chose metal over Vegas because Vegas wouldn't have him."

-- Robert Christgau on David Lee Roth

All rise

Watching ABC's "World News" yesterday I was pleased to spot an old-school news convention that I figured had been long abandoned: the courtroom sketch. Yes, there it was, a lovely pastel drawing of Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff surrounded by lawyers whose mouths hang open like Roger Daltry's in certain scenes from Tommy. There is an ethereal glow. I never knew courtroom walls were painted fuschia!