In their words

“We’re not the duck police. We are just hoping people will police themselves.”

– Manito Park Supervisor Steve Nittolo, saying a ban on duck feeding at the popular park will be enforced with patience as the public learns to break traditions and habits.

“I know Iowa like I know my kitchen at home.”

– Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, recalling how much time she and her husband spent in that state leading up to its caucuses in January.

“Where do we start, and how do I sign up?”

– Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard, describing the reaction of local officials to a consultant’s report detailing the need to reform a criminal justice system that results in more than 25 percent of suspected felons who are booked into the Spokane County jail being released because proper paperwork wasn’t filed on time.

“I just thought, you know, does a guy have to get drunk to vote for someone?”

– Idaho state Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, explaining why he voted against legislation lifting a ban on liquor sales on Election Day.

“I do not trust that I can keep my family safe with Bryan at large.”

– Soon-to-marry Jessica Kim, explaining in a letter to Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen that although she loves her brother Bryan, whom Eitzen sentenced to life in prison for murdering their parents in 2006, she would feel threatened if he is released.

“For years and years, we were considered kind of nerdy. People thought it was backward to heat with wood.”

– University of Idaho power plant foreman Scott Smith, commenting on Idaho schools’ increasing use of salvaged forest slash to fire their boilers, just as the Moscow university has been doing for two decades.

“It’s a question of whether in a Muslim country there can be democracy. It’s a question of whether a nuclear-armed nation can coexist peacefully with its neighbor, in this case India.”

– Retired Pakistani general Talat Masood speaking in advance about the significance of last week’s election in his country.

“Rarely do we have an opportunity in our work here to help so many people without having to spend a dime.”

– Washington state Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, prime sponsor of House-approved legislation to expand the number of rights and obligations that apply to same-sex couples living in domestic partnerships.