A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

I GRADUATED FROM BOSTON COLLEGE, WHICH SOME CALL "THE HARVARD OF BOSTON": Two graduation speeches below the fold: Amy Poehler's Senior Class Day speech at Harvard, and John Ratzenberger's commencement address at Providence College, where his daughter was among the graduates:

From Ratzenberger: “When I heard the lyrics of the popular Beatles song, ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’—you know: ‘Picture yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies’—you know the song—my question always was, who built the boat? Someone who was not stoned or drunk had to get up in the morning, measure, cut, bend and shape wood into a boat before the Beatles or anyone else could slap on a goofy smile and imagine magic dragons and marshmallow seas. Someone had to get up in the morning, put their hand to something useful and be responsible for their work, themselves and their families. It was that philosophy that built and shaped this civilization. It is that philosophy that brought us to the dance, and as the saying goes, ‘Dance with the one who brought ya.’

“I have always been a fan of the Judeo-Christian ethic that you don’t have to be Jewish or Christian to follow: Be responsible for yourself and the family you create—and let your work speak for you.";