“It seems the height of antiquated hubris to claim that the universe carried on as it did for billions of years in order to form a comfortable abode for us. Chance and historical contingency give the world of life most of its glory and fascination. I sit here happy to be alive and sure that some reason must exist for "why me?" Or the earth might have been totally covered with water, and an octopus might now be telling its children why the eight-legged God of all things had made such a perfect world for cephalopods.” WorldGivingYearsChildrenHas BeensMadeReasonSeemsMightEarthFormOrderUniverseWaterChancePerfectAliveAtheismComfortableGloryAll ThingsClaimsHistoricalEightBillionsHeightCoveredMight Have BeenFascinationHubrisA Perfect WorldAbodeWhy MeContingencyOctopusHappy To Be Alive Book:An Urchin in the Storm: Essays about Books and Ideas Source: An Urchin in the Storm: Essays about Books and Ideas
“Did you hear this big scandal? Eight female badminton players were expelled from the Olympics for trying to lose on purpose. So tragically, they'll never have another chance to play badminton unless they get invited to a picnic.” TryingPlayBigsFunnyPurposeLosesChancePlayerFemaleEightOlympicsInvitedScandalPicnicsAnother ChanceLondon OlympicsBadminton Author:Conan O'Brien
“When it was first optioned, I was told that the chances of The Basic Eight becoming a film were slim because no one was making teen movies, and then later, I was told that the chances were slim because there were so many teen movies, and then I was later told that the chances were slim because teen films were over. I'm not sure when the magic window of opportunity was, but perhaps it's still on the horizon.” FirstsStillsFilmOpportunityChanceMagicBecomingWindowEightNot SureHorizonSlimWindow Of Opportunity Author:Daniel Handler
“When [Vladimir] Putin, a former lieutenant-colonel in the KGB, became Russia's president on December 31, 1999 - eight years after the failed coup attempt against (then Soviet leader Mikhail) Gorbachev, and eight years after the people had torn down the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the hated founder of the KGB, in Moscow - it was admittedly a shock. Nevertheless, I decided to give Putin a chance. He seemed dynamic and capable of learning. But I had to bury my hopes after just a few months. He proved to be an autocrat - and, because the West let him do as he pleased, he became a dictator.” PeopleGivingYearsPresidentChanceLeaderMonthsCapableDecidedWestEightRussiaFormerHatedShockSovietDictatorFoundersNeverthelessTornStatuesPutinDecemberMoscowColonelsCoupsLieutenantsKgbGorbachev Author:Garry Kasparov