Ten words drive, dictate, dominate every facet of society and every individual pursuit. Four perform sweet puppetry in each and every last one of us. They come with strings attached. Batteries included!

This Week's Quote From I L I C E T:

"You are special, but not that special ... You can change our world. In fact, you did, but only we can change us. Only I can change me; I have that power. Not you. You'll never have that power over me even if I gift wrap it to you. It does not transfer. You are special - truly - but never that special. Changing me is my choice and mine alone!” The Poet

"Yes, Peter, a man makes many mistakes, the Good Lord knows. Puff. Puff. Puff. Only the Good Lord is perfect. And the Good Lord made women, ha-ha. Puff. Puff. Puff. (Sip-Swallow) Ah! And why the Good Lord made women so very different a man can only guess. Puff. Puff. Puff. A few precious guesses, for sure, ha-ha-ha, but the Good Lord for sure knows why He made them so. Puff. Puff. Puff. So, why did God? There again, I know, that forever-gnawing question in a man's head! Ha-ha-ha-ha. Puff. Puff. Puff."
Papa - I L I C E T

"Whether or not any of this was exactly so, let memory serve history right: my mother's lap and that sop shaped me more than graduate degrees, more than fine sermons and sound science, more than sweet kisses that have comforted me past life’s rawest moments, for I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that what matters most to a child is not the food, it is the feeding. She fed me well."
Peter - I L I C E T

"So often, I’d rather forget. I’d rather bury the memories and let them be - let them rest in peace interred beneath ornate epitaphs and grand tombstones - but twenty-three million Americans, and counting, don't let me. Kosovo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Liberia, Angola, Haiti, refugees stooped in cold dust, hung down like deserted plants in beautiful baskets conspire like stones in my belly so that I’d never forget that I was not alone, even though I was so alone."
Peter - I L I C E T