" He was called a man with a pugnacious task who went through, quote, "A dizzying free-for-all.

NPR: Sunshine State Smiles on McCain

He and the Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin, said that this free trade area for the Americas is not, quote, "about making the hemisphere safe for capitalists, " as some of the critics have said it is.

NPR: Latin America Summit Ends with No Free-Trade Zone

But anybody in the Merlot-making business, as he is, recognizes the scabrous quote from the movie Sideways that sent sales of that wine into free fall.

FORBES: Napa Valley: The Entrepreneur's Tour

Finally, Mark Vernon's comments reminded me of my favourite quote which describes a state of mind that is open to life's wonder and possibilities and is free from dogma.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES