We need to drive down requirements for the schools. In the 19th century we increased the quality of the schools by higher education saying 'You can't come in unless you have these skills unless you've taken these courses.' We did that in Wisconsin when I was there it helped to transform the secondary school system.

It is of course further indication that a fundamentalist right has really taken over much of the Republican Party People might cite George Bush as proof that you can be totally impervious to the effects of Harvard and Yale education.

We all have a responsibility to volunteer somewhere and I'm lucky that I get the education and get taken to places to see what's out there and see what's happening and to then be a part of it in hopefully an impactful way.

When I was a kid I wanted to be serious like Daniel Day-Lewis. No one really dreams of being a comic actor do they? Now I realise how stupid that is - and it's because comic acting isn't taken seriously enough. It's a discipline. You know instantly - either you're funny and getting the laughs or you're not.

I think basically becoming famous has taken the place of going to Heaven in modern society hasn't it? That's the place where your dreams will come true. It's an act of faith now they think that's going to sort things out.

You see people who have been very heavy in their life who have taken that body trimmed it down firmed it up through discipline exercise and being able to say no. Eating properly that all comes into it.

Design has taken the place of what sailing used to be.

I'm really not for famous people who design a line for a company when you know it's not really them creating it but a team of designers especially when there are so many talented people who've taken the time to go and study fashion.

I do love DVD and I've always taken them seriously. You know on the Austin things we really put a ton of work into them because there's so much design involved. And in this one we thought a lot about it and what could go in.

I approve designs not because I think I am more gifted or somebody who can see ahead three or four years from now but just to make sure that the design is a logical rational decision taken after analyzing pros and cons.