I have to do things for myself, and if those standards are set high, then it's up to me to pass or fail.

Probably over half of America does not have a passport. If young people could spend two weeks of their life in India or pick an African country to go to for 2-3 weeks and really see how life can be. That might be a real good thing because I think they would see things even if the trip was a nightmare. I think they might understand more of the mechanics of the world.

My laptop seems to know where I am, even if I don't. My cellphone asks me if I want directions to anywhere from the spot I am standing in. I buy a record online and Amazon.com sends me letters, telling me that people who bought what I bought also bought these other records.

I recycle and try to be nice to the earth. But flora and fauna have always interested me, and it is because of so many years of summer camp and growing up in DC with Rock Creek Park fairly near me, or Glover Park; I lived in Glover Park for a while and that park was in my backyard.

I'm not exactly ambitious as much as I have a very good realization of what I am and what I am capable of.

As miserable as life may be I hold it pretty precious

It's hard to keep your backbone straight in America. It's easy to turn into that which you hate, and to get smashed.