Verbatim

"Secretary Ridge says just do what you normally do ... If normally you go to Times Square, I wouldn't do what you normally do." CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Republican Congressman from Connecticut, warning New Year's Eve revelers against following the Secretary of Homeland Security's advice not to change any plans because of the terrorism threat

"You're going to see a million people here who have the courage to come and not let terrorists win, and that's exactly what we should all do." MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, New York City mayor, responding to Shays' comments. An estimated 1 million people did show up, and there were no terrorist incidents

"I've never seen anything like it. Bam is literally a rubble pile." BILL GARVELINK, head of a humanitarian team for the U.S. Agency for International Development, on Iran's earthquake

"There is a visceral dislike of George Bush, and it's going to bring these guys together." TERRY MCAULIFFE, Democratic national chairman, after criticism by Howard Dean and others for not reining in the negative campaigning thus far in the run-up to the primaries

"Sometimes this meeting of the loya jirga is not so moderate, and sometimes it becomes so hot it is close to burning, and sometimes it is so cold that I must go home and get something warm to wear." SEBAGHATULLAH MOJADEDDI, chairman of Afghanistan's grand council, on a meeting held to draw up a new constitution

"I ate beef today and will continue to eat beef." PRESIDENT BUSH, expressing confidence that mad-cow disease has not tainted U.S. beef

"I was in complete control of the crocodile. Robert was tucked right in my arm." STEVE IRWIN, crocodile hunter, after criticism of a stunt in which he carried his 1-month-old baby while feeding a crocodile

Sources: AP; The Early Show on CBS; AP; New York Times (2); AP; Courier Mail