Loose cannons

Royal plural

"Our industry is intensely competitive and innovative." — Bill Gates after a US court ruled that his Microsoft has a software monopoly that harms consumers and "quashes innovation".

Political talent

"We are trying not to overreact. She has shown a surprising capacity in the past to talk her way out of these things." — An ALP official on Cheryl Kernot spitting the dummy yet again.

Sick

"A NSW police officer who became ill when told he was being transferred to Sydney was entitled to be considered for workers' compensation, the High Court ruled yesterday." — Sydney Morning Herald, November 11.

Not his style

"I'm not inquisitive, an inquisitive person." — John Brennan, radio 2UE program director, explaining to the "cash for comment" inquiry why he never asked John Laws and Alan Jones about their "sponsorship" by various companies.

Make a wish

"I wish I had been less trusting, more vigilant and more vigorous." — 2UE chairperson John Conde.

Rentable only

"I'm not purchasable." — Shock jock Alan Jones to the cash for comment inquiry.

Inspiration

"It's living in America, where violence is in the air and everywhere." — US crime novelist James Patterson on where he gets material for his novels.

But not by giving them any

"We have to make [globalisation's] benefits more apparent to more people." — Prime Menzies John Howard.

From GLW issue 385