* “Everything could potentially change. The only person who had the experience and who held the exclusive power is gone.”–Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the appointment of his son, Kim Jong Un, 27, as successor.
* “Perhaps a few of us thought that after German unification there would not be so much more to do. We were wrong there.”–German Chancellor Angela Merkle.
* “I’m happy that I have lived to see the people waking up. This raises big hopes.”–Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev commenting on recent Russian demonstrations demanding free elections and an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule.
* “We will terribly miss him, but we will never, ever forget him.”–Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and a native of Prague, in paying tribute to the late Vaclav Havel, the first democratically elected leader of Czechoslovakia.
* “The nation’s overall (population) growth rate is now at its lowest point (0.92 percent) since before the baby boom.”–Census Bureau Director Robert Groves.
* “And, fair or not, the majority of voters will not feel comfortable with their nominee being a 76-year-old man who generally comes across as a character in ‘Grumpy Old Men.'”–New Hampshire GOP operative Michael Dennehy, commenting on Ron Paul.
* “We will attack it quickly, aggressively and as far from our shores as we can.”–Rear Admiral William Baumgartner on how the U.S. Coast Guard would react in the case of an oil spill resulting from drilling off the Coast of Cuba–less than 100 miles from Florida.
* “A circular firing squad.”–Wall Street Journal editorial reference to U.S. House Republicans.
* “One of the many problems of my life here is the amount of time to think.”–The imprisoned Bernie Madoff.
* “Have we lost faith in the free-market system of entrepreneurial capitalism? Are we no longer willing to place our trust in the creative chaos unleashed by millions of people pursuing their own best economic interests?”–Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
* “The I-4 corridor is an area we think is poised to have above-average growth. It’s an area that is evolving into Florida’s new breadbasket.”–Sean Snaith, director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness.
* “I know she’s said she’s not running for governor, but she’s building a franchise. She’s making friends all over the state. She’s visible; she’s out there.”–State Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, in reference to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
* “Mr. Goodman has made the Lakeland campus a sideshow with his attempts to become independent from USF main.”–Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, on the ouster of Marshall Goodman as chancellor of USF Poly.
* “The Board’s motion that outlines the steps for the Polytech to achieve independence called for collaboration with the Board of Governors in this process, and I do not see the manner in which the interim Regional Chancellor was appointed as an example of full collaboration.”–Dean Colson, chairman-elect of the Florida Board of Governors, on the way USF announced that Goodman was out and David Touchton was in as interim chancellor of USF Poly in Lakeland.
* “It’s ultimately a pipeline issue. By the time they get to us, they’re not qualified.”–Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg on the need for students to put in more work on STEM subjects before they get to the university level.
* “I must go on record that we are all, as board members, continuing to raise the bar for all students, including all the minorities. We are not going to be falling for any soft bigotry of low expectations.”–A.K. Desai, a member of the Florida Board of Education, explaining the rationale behind raising the passing scores for all levels of FCAT.
* “I’m the last person to ask his opinion on art because I’m barely able to offer one. But it’s a conversation piece. If people are making fun of it, that means they’re talking about it.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn assessing the so-called ‘Exploding Chicken’ sculpture that will soon be relocated to the Channel District roundabout.