So there was something of a learning curve with doing your own thing and people seeing you outside of the band. I mean people have never really heard my voice before - or heard a whole record of mine before. So it was a completely new experience.

I am involved with 'Write Girl ' which is such a great organization because they go into inner city schools and work with underprivileged girls to pair them up with other writers. And it gets them learning to express themselves and become familiar with their own voice. They have a 100% success ratio getting those girls into college.

The 9/11 Commission recently released their report citing important changes which need to be made to improve our nation's homeland security. I voiced my disappointment with the House leadership when this report was left until after the August recess for action.

Leadership is about doing what you know is right - even when a growing din of voices around you is trying to convince you to accept what you know to be wrong.

If you're a singer you lose your voice. A baseball player loses his arm. A writer gets more knowledge and if he's good the older he gets the better he writes.

I believe that the quantum of our knowledge will increase considerably in the coming years and that scientists will continue to be amongst the brave voices speaking out.

I rise today to discuss the National Intelligence Reform bill. I commend my colleagues in both Houses for their hard work in coming to an agreement. As with any conference each voice is heard but none can dominate and compromise must be achieved.

All the intelligence and talent in the world can't make a singer. The voice is a wild thing. It can't be bred in captivity. It is a sport like the silver fox. It happens.

The higher the voice the smaller the intellect.

The voice of the intellect is a soft one but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing.

Further for once I like the idea that people who think I'm a constant voice for the furthering of the imagination have to see that interest in a more materialistic fashion.

And as I have said it's made me think twice about the imagination. If the spirits aren't external how astonishing the mediums become! Victor Hugo said of his voices that they were like his own mental powers multiplied by five.

I'm only interested in fiction that in some way or other voices the very imagination which is conceiving it.

Trust that little voice in your head that says 'Wouldn't it be interesting if...' And then do it.

I'm a vegetarian and very much active in regards to how I feel about animal rights and protecting animals and giving animals a voice. But at the same time I appreciate and respect other people's decisions to eat meat. The only thing that I hope is that people are educated that they're aware that they're living a conscious lifestyle.

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

When you're young you want to make every kind of film: musicals Westerns horror. Slowly you begin to hear your own voice. I hope people receive what I do as small personal films that are somewhat contrarian about their main characters.

My hope for my children must be that they respond to the still small voice of God in their own hearts.

Oh stuff the critics. I don't care. Too many people are snooty about classical. Look I wasn't brought up in a home where we listened to classical music. It was a singing teacher that thought it would be best for my voice. Then I moved into crossover. And if that makes the music accessible to more people then great.

So I got home and the phone was ringing. I picked it up and said 'Who's speaking please?' And a voice said 'You are.'

I have never met a woman who works who doesn't feel guilty. I mean we all deny it like crazy but deep down there is always that voice saying you should be at home.

I have no idea how to get in touch with anyone anymore. Everyone it seems has a home phone a cell phone a regular e-mail account a Facebook account a Twitter account and a Web site. Some of them also have a Google Voice number. There are the sentimental few who still have fax machines.

All things on earth point home in old October sailors to sea travellers to walls and fences hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds the lover to the love he has forsaken.

The Internet is just bringing all kinds of information into the home. There's just a lot of distraction a lot of competition for the parent's voice to resonate in the children's ears.