I have few racial identification problems. Nor do I need anyone telling me who I am. I am a man. A black man. An American.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, taking issue with critics who call him a traitor to his race, in a speech to the National Bar Association, an organization of liberal black lawyers. Justice Thomas did not back down from his opposition to affirmative action or any other program that starts with the theory "that blacks are inferior." But, said Mr. Thomas, he was not there to defend his views, "but to assert my right to think for myself."

Will the Marines be asked to change their motto from 'Always Faithful' to 'Usually Faithful' or 'Sometimes Faithful'?

Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), on the Pentagon proposal to relax military honor code rules against adultery. If the Pentagon "would essentially treat adultery-conduct that inherently involves dishonor, lying, and cheating-with a wink and a nod, what comes next?" the senator asked in a speech on the Senate floor.

We do feel that there is a mental issue here.

Menomonie, Wis., prosecutor Jim Peterson, commenting on a man accused of attacking his father with a hatchet after "making repeated statements about having to kill his family to prove his thesis." Kenneth Hartman Jr. reportedly hadn't slept for about four days while working on his thesis on technology education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout; Kenneth Hartman Sr. received only a minor injury.

Why such a fuss over a few crackers in the Thar.... They weren't as loud as Nevada and Lop Nor.

From a parody song by the Indian delegation reportedly sung during the closing banquet at a Southeast Asian security conference. The song made light of world reaction to India's nuclear tests in May. "Thar" refers to the desert in which the Indian government exploded nuclear devices in May; references to Nevada and Lop Nor are to American and Chinese nuclear tests.