Getting the power back on

Linemen in New Jersey repairing damage from Hurricane Sandy and the Election Day Northeaster.

Electricity is a marvel of modern life. An argument could be made that having an available flow of electric current is one of several essential elements sustaining our 21st century lifestyles. It’s also something that you never think about until the availability of and access to the power supply is compromised and no longer available at the flip of a light switch, or the powering on of one of our multitudinous electronic devices.

Since last Tuesday, large swaths of the northeastern population corridor, mainly near New York City and sections of New Jersey, have been suffering without electricity. I use the term “suffering” because absence of electricity removes the ease and convenience of daily  life quicker than almost anything else, and sets those without power back into a time warp reminiscent of the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course, people back then were better prepared to survive without present day “essentials” requiring electricity. Continue reading

Making trades

Governor Christie and President Obama meeting with New Jersey residents.

Compromise isn’t our natural inclination. Sometimes we’d rather dig our heels in and insist on our position. If those around us won’t play along with us, well, we’ll just take our ball and go home. Too often that’s the place we find ourselves in if we’re not willing to bend towards our foes, or even people we consider friends, including family members.

I love a pitched political battle as well as anyone. In sports, I was a fierce competitor. I hated to lose and sometimes, I let my competitive fires burn a little too hot. Some of that competitiveness unfortunately carried over into my personal life, singeing those around me. Continue reading

It was a dark and stormy night…

Hurricane Sandy on a weather map

Nothing creates fear and even hysteria like weather-related news of impending disaster.  If there’s an approaching hurricane, especially with predictions of high winds and water aimed at the Northeastern population corridor, then you can be sure that the media will be in operation for days in advance, squeezing every opportunity to maximize viewership pre, during, and post weather event. Fear is an attractive tool to use. Sometimes fear is even used as an element of control. Continue reading