Paul Szep, 02/22/12

Two-time Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist

Quora, 02/22/12

Connecting you to everything you want to know about

The Motion Picture Association of America has never written me a paycheck for anything. They're not backing my picture. These are not nice guys. They are not in this business to help filmmakers at all.

Christopher Emdin, 02/22/12

Urban Education Expert

In the latest iteration of the "cult of accountability," a state court allowed New York City to release performance reports for thousands of teachers and share them with the public.

Holly Cara Price, 02/22/12

Agent Provocateur

Just imagine you're sitting in your own living room and it's nice and cozy and quiet, and across from you in two comfy chairs are Dion DiMucci and Steven Van Zandt talking, for 90 minutes, about Dion's long and amazing career.

Liz Kozak, 02/22/12

Writer, Mom

I wish I could call up every single person who told me, "Sleep while you can!" and inform them that their advice was terrible. I wish I had used all that nap time to go to the movies, because I miss it a whole lot.

Bill de Blasio, 02/22/12

New York City Public Advocate

You would think that the City would be doing everything possible to protect the health of police officers like Alonzo Harris, after all they have done for us. But you would be wrong.

Nick Barnicle, Colin Barnicle, Matthew Davis Walker and Jeff Siegel, 02/22/12

Over sixty years ago right fielder Bobby Thompson crossed home plate and a thousand kids danced with dreams filling their heads that someday they too would swat the high fastball at the Polo Grounds.

Dylan Ratigan, 02/22/12

Host, MSNBC's 'The Dylan Ratigan Show'; Author, 'Greedy Bastards'; Founder, Get Money Out Foundation

I've found myself more enthusiastic than I've been in years as I've shifted my attention from D.C./NYC to cities both burgeoning with ideas and struggling with the excruciating pain that Washington and New York have inflicted on them. What's become apparent to me is that the rate of change on this planet, due to technological, ecological, and financial mechanisms, is the highest it's ever been. That means that our rate of adaptation must also be high, that we must adapt our communities, companies, and selves to what is quickly becoming a new and different world. We must experiment, or die.

Bonnie Fuller, 02/22/12

President & Editor-in-Chief, HollywoodLife.com

Rihanna and Chris Brown gave what they saw as a birthday present to their fans yesterday -- the release of remixes of two of their songs, which tell us why they are so in love again.

Scott Kurashige, 02/21/12

Associate professor of American culture and history, University of Michigan

Dear America, I'm sending you a plea on behalf of all Asian Americans. I know you're caught up in Linsanity just like we are. But we really need this to continue, so it's very important that you let us help you learn how not to ruin it.

Marcus Samuelsson, 02/22/12

Chef and author

Harlem is alive and thriving, more so now than ever before, and in many cases food is at the center of Harlem's new economic growth. Within the midst of great history and cultural diversity lies a food side of Harlem just waiting to be discovered by those foodies who seek it.

David Murray, 02/22/12

Chicago based writer/editor

State-of-the-town speeches exploded during the housing boom, when mayors could describe the growth in the tax base and bask in the glow. After everything went to hell in 2008, mayors would probably have preferred to skip the speech.

Jared Bernstein, 02/22/12

Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Pretty much every discussion of tax reform these days ends with an agreement that we need to broaden the base and lower the rates. Well, the White House today will release the broad outlines of a plan to do just that on the corporate side of the federal tax code.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, 02/21/12

Civil rights activist

Hollywood sets styles, captures imaginations, touches dreams. Worldwide, movies provide people with much of what they think about America. Yet, the 5,765 voting members of the Academy are far from representative of the moviegoing public.

Evan Shapiro, 02/22/12

President, IFC

Consider what is now reality -- television is an important way to expand your talents, extend your career and rid yourself of cubas (named for the epitome of the post-Oscar slump, Cuba Gooding, Jr.). With that in mind, here are 11 Oscar Winners Who Need a TV Show, STAT.

Len Berman, 02/22/12

Emmy Award winning sportscaster and New York Times Bestselling Author

It ranks third, right behind "Win one for the Gipper" and "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Mets manager Terry Collins says the message he wants to deliver is, "We're better than people think we are."

Ed Koch, 02/22/12

Former Mayor, New York City

Today, crime no longer the number one issue on people's minds, pressure has been building to reduce sentences and eliminate mandatory minimums imposed for many violent crimes.