I understand why society especially American society is gravitating toward fairy tales given our economy. We've been exploring the world of witches and wizards for years. We've been exploring the world of vampires for years. Clearly the public - I mean I feel like all of this was ushered in by 'Harry Potter' - in my own fannish beliefs.

I did it to myself. It wasn't society... it wasn't a pusher it wasn't being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing.

I'm not gonna say that I hate it because I really respect Usher and I was influenced by him. But so many people compare me to him and I don't think it'll ever stop. I just want to be my own artist.

I certainly wanted to maintain some sense of mystery about Picard and that's why we never allowed certain situations to fully evolve like the relationship between Picard and Beverly Crusher.

There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody I don't get to go to their ballgame I don't get to marry everybody but the pros are you get all this community 800 ushers come in to serve getting there at 7 in the morning on their day off and coming in on Saturday to make all those wafers.

Clouds come floating into my life no longer to carry rain or usher storm but to add color to my sunset sky.

The abortion license has not brought freedom and security to women. Rather it has ushered in a new era of irresponsibility toward women and children one that now begins before birth.

It is not the simple statement of facts that ushers in freedom it is the constant repetition of them that has this liberating effect. Tolerance is the result not of enlightenment but of boredom.

The true face of smoking is disease death and horror - not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray.

I don't believe that if I came out as bisexual the world will change. But it's really important for people to be truthful about who they are and fight for equality. We need to help the world usher itself into the next phase.