Quote from Television Character House

One of the TV shows I enjoy watching is “House,” the drama about a drug addicted, dysfunctional physician with a brilliant diagnostic talent. House is a bad boy. He’s a genius that has a hard time making or being a friend. He has a biting sarcasm and a frustrated libido. Sound like someone you might like?

Frankly, I haven’t analyzed House’s appeal to me, but I get a kick out of watching what he will say or do next. (I admit I prefer the older episodes where his character is out of control and has the star-crossed hots for his female boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy.) The following quote is an exchange between House and his friend, Dr. James Wilson:

“Are you happy?

“No, but I’m right.”

The Power of the Media

“Mind control? We don’t need mind control. We have T.V.”

–Central Intelligence Agency, 1970’s, as reported by Naval Intelligence physicist Dr. Richard Alan Miller

1,000 Words Per Day Habit

Ray Bradbury, the author of classic Fahrenheit 451, died recently.  Stephen Miller, Wall Street Journal reporter writes of Bradbury:

“His view of books and libraries as cornerstones of civilization and communities inspired Fahrenheit 451, which Mr. Bradbury wrote on a rental typewriter in the basement of a University of California, Los Angeles library.”

Mr. Bradbury was unable to afford college, so he haunted libraries. He educated himself through reading. Over time, he developed skepticism toward technologies that could be turned against humanity. The dystopian consequence of nuclear war was explored in some works. Yet, he lauded what he viewed as positive technologies: he extolled space exploration.

By the time of his death at age 91, Bradbury’s body of work included science fiction, autobiography, film scripts, stories for television, short stories, magazine articles for the likes of Life magazine, children’s books, poetry and text for coffee table books.

According to his obituary on CBS News Sunday Morning, Bradbury developed the habit of writing one thousand words per day. It was this habit that enabled Bradbury’s productivity. He continued writing into the 2000’s.

Mr. Bradbury ordered his own tombstone. He summarized his identity simply:

“Author of Fahrenheit 451.”