Perspectives

"Of course, their current lodgings are a bit temporary. But they should see it like a weekend of camping."
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, commenting on the thousands left stranded and homeless by the country's worst earthquake in 30 years

"I think this is all setting us up for a new low. It's not like I'm praying for it to happen, but it's pretty much expected."
Thomas J. Lee, U.S. equity strategist for JPMorgan Chase, throwing cold water on recent stock-market gains and predicting a new wave of losses

"They make you take your shoes off and everything. It's terrible."
Financier Allen Stanford, who has been accused of running an $8 billion Ponzi scheme by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, on the indignities of having to fly coach

"It's still taxable, even if it's a hobby."
Swedish tax official Dag Hardyson, whose team is investigating Swedish Webcam strippers to see if the women are correctly reporting their income on tax returns

"We are not like a Mickey Mouse in Disneyland."
Mameharu, a Japanese geisha, annoyed by the growing crowds of Kyoto visitors who see the women as tourist attractions and mob them on the street