If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.

Music is important. It says things you heart can't say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think about what they're doing - and don't take music for granted.

A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.

What separated Ed Murrow from the rest of the pack was courage.

My cousin just died. He was only 19. He got stung by a bee - the natural enemy of a tightrope walker.

I still love following and thinking about politics. I enjoy recommending important journalism I read or see from other sources.

For years Don Imus was just - boy, he was merciless in his criticism of me. Maybe it was justified, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.