.




I thought on how to harden emergency generating capacity at urban hospitals.
A purpose built structure seems best to me.  It removes the noise, vibration and fumes from the care facilities.  The lower levels can serve as parking and oxygen service. There can be direct truck access to gravity feed fuel bunkers.  Steam boilers and other critical service heavy equipment can share the space.
Ventilation becomes trivial.  A central heat pump could go there.
A service building or "Power Plant" looks like a good idea. 

Recommendations 

1

Opinion

On Hurricanes, Presidents, Climate and One Clear Human Factor in the Sandy Disaster

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Nov 1, 2012

As Mayor Bloomberg stresses climate change in endorsing President Obama, a fresh look at realistic approaches to curbing climate risks on a crowding, hazardous planet.

Air Pollution; Disasters and Emergencies; Global Warming; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Politics and Government; 

I sometimes quibble over Revkin.  More often than not he gets things right.  Many others do not. 

2

Business Day

A Capitalist’s Dilemma, Whoever Wins on Tuesday

By CLAYTON M. CHRISTENSEN | Nov 4, 2012

Corporations and private equity have billions of dollars on hand that they could use to empower innovation to end the economic slump. But how best to start the wheels turning?

United States Economy; Capitalism (Theory and Philosophy); Presidential Election of 2012; Labor and Jobs; Entrepreneurship;

I could repeat all the economics I have posted for the last few years. 

It would not help this man. 

Lord Keynes is a mystery to him.  The Liquidity Trap is not a new concept. 

Extremely low interest rates force cash into government bonds.
Demand, money spent on product, drives the economy.
The way to drive demand is to put money at the bottom of the economic pyramid. 
The middle class is not at the bottom by definition.
We do charity with income redistribution.  

3

Business Day

Comparing Recessions and Recoveries

By CATHERINE RAMPELL | Nov 2, 2012

A look at how the job losses and subsequent gains of the last five years compare with job numbers during and after previous downturns.

Labor and Jobs; Recession and Depression; United States Economy; 

This is not germane.  This time it really is different.  Think 1933 or earlier.

4

N.Y. / Region

Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ | Nov 2, 2012

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, an independent, said climate change may have been a factor in Hurricane Sandy and he believed President Obama was the best candidate to tackle the issue.

Presidential Election of 2012; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Endorsements;

He did the right thing.  

He should not have brought up climate change.

5

Opinion

Two Candidates, One Foreign Policy

By AARON DAVID MILLER | Nov 1, 2012

The U.S. presidential debate on foreign policy displayed a remarkable consensus on what to do (or not do) in the world beyond American shores.

Presidential Election of 2012; Debates (Political); 

American policy is very constrained.

6

Opinion

How Romney Would Treat Women

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF | Nov 4, 2012

When it comes to women’s health issues, Mitt Romney is no moderate.

Women's Rights; Presidential Election of 2012; Birth Control and Family Planning; 

Agreed.

7

N.Y. / Region

Long Lines Plague Commuters as a Transit System Slowly Recuperates

By MATT FLEGENHEIMER | Nov 2, 2012

Drivers piled up behind bridge checkpoints, and riders waited for shuttle buses, sometimes for hours, on the way into Manhattan.

Transit Systems; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Automobiles; Bridges and Tunnels; Roads and Traffic; 

We are getting electricity back.
Traffic lights, gas pumps, subways and elevators will ease the congestion.

8

Fashion & Style

A Loss for Society as Decorum Wears Thin

By WILLIAM NORWICH | Nov 4, 2012

In trying times like these, the loss of any oracle of manners, kindness and courtesy, especially Letitia Baldrige, who was known as the “doyenne of decorum,” is immeasurable.

Death and Dying; Customs, Etiquette and Manners; 

Not a loss but a change.She will be missed.
There are no lost arts.  There is lost history.

9

Fashion & Style

A Bully’s Pulpit

Nov 4, 2012

Answers to questions about whether to respond to an employee’s political rants, confronting a landlord over campaign signs and other sticky situations related to the presidential election.

Campaign Finance; Freedom of Speech and Expression; Customs, Etiquette and Manners; 

The best move is to a better situation.  
I must go cook.   open flames have not been a big part of my home these minutes.   That is changed.

Returned to the gateway.  No electricity and no phone at home.

10

World

Germany Discusses National Energy Plan

By MELISSA EDDY | Nov 3, 2012

As energy prices rise and Chancellor Angela Merkel faces criticism, the country is working toward a unified effort to increase its reliance on renewable resources.

Alternative and Renewable Energy; Energy and Power;

Germany could pay for the new grid expansion with an escalating tax on fossil carbon.
Two problems at once.
The termination of the nuclear power effort is bad economics but popular politics.

11

Magazine

Charmaine Yoest’s Cheerful War on Abortion

By EMILY BAZELON | Nov 4, 2012

The head of Americans United for Life isn’t a moderate, but she plays one on TV.

Abortion;

"A wall os separation between faith and state."
All individual circumstances are different.  There is no rule requiring abortion.  There should be no rule forbidding abortion.  It must always be an individual decision as it is now in enlightened places.
Suppressing individual choice should be criminalized.

12

Books

Known Unknowns

By NOAM SCHEIBER | Nov 4, 2012

Applying statistical analysis to the past, Nate Silver evaluates the claims of sports pundits, political handicappers and more.

Statistics;

Whine whine, whine.  If we know things within 3% we are doing well.
The noise floor is always there.  Most political advertising adds to the noise.
Read Nate Silver as a best estimate.   "The facts have a well known liberal bias".
 

13

Opinion

Ideology Over Reality

By ANDREW ROSENTHAL | Nov 2, 2012

Senate Republicans seem to have pressured the Congressional Research Service to withdraw a report debunking conservative economic orthodoxy.

Income Inequality; Taxation;

This has been dealt with by Paul Krugman, often.

14

U.S.

Crime Increases in Sacramento After Deep Cuts to Police Force

By ERICA GOODE | Nov 4, 2012

Since extreme cuts in 2011, shootings are up 48 percent and rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts have also increased, though in smaller increments.

Crime Rates; Police; Layoffs and Job Reductions;

This is an effort to bring back public execution with burning at the stake and heads on spikes.

15

Fashion & Style

A Gay Voice, on the Edge of History

By JESSE McKINLEY | Nov 4, 2012

Tammy Baldwin is balancing being a loyal, hard-working representative of Wisconsin and an emerging national figure in the gay community.

Homosexuality; Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; Hate Crimes;

Some are, some are not.  We should get used to it.

16

Business Day

Some Businesses Choose Not to Grow

By JOSH PATRICK | Nov 1, 2012

Those owners who do want to grow have to develop the ability to create capital for growth. They also have to learn tools and techniques for running a larger company. It's not for everyone.

Executives and Management (Theory); Small Business; Start-ups;

dealt with.  Factoring is about the only way to grow a craft based business.
Another is to raise prices to limit demand.

17

Opinion

Lessons from Sandy: Building with Resilience in Mind

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Nov 2, 2012

A look at ways to cut disaster losses before disasters occur.

Disasters and Emergencies; Environment; Global Warming; Hurricane Katrina (2005); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Weather; Zoning;

"Blah Blah Blah  BANG!"   It would cost more.  

18

U.S.

Super PACs Provide Last-Minute Rush of Campaign Spending

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DEREK WILLIS | Nov 3, 2012

New “super PACs” have sprung up in the last days of the race, buying up advertising and exploiting a loophole that keeps their donors anonymous until long after votes are counted.

Political Advertising; Political Action Committees; Presidential Election of 2012;

19

Health

Life, Interrupted: Hurricanes and Cancer

By SULEIKA JAOUAD | Nov 1, 2012

For cancer patients like me, and for others who suffer from chronic or life-threatening illnesses, natural disasters don't put health on the back burner. In fact, disasters like this one only add another layer of concern.

Cancer; Chemotherapy; Disasters and Emergencies; Hospitals; Hurricane Sandy (2012);

20

Opinion

In Defense of the Undecided

By LYNN VAVRECK | Nov 1, 2012

They may pay less attention to the news, but voters who take their time choosing between Obama and Romney have some admirable qualities.

Presidential Election of 2012; Race and Ethnicity; Voting and Voters;

Just more noise.

The next group >

1

Opinion

The End of 'Marriage'

By LAURIE SHRAGE | Nov 4, 2012

Getting the government out of the marriage business sounds like a good idea, until we consider the dangers to women and girls.

Marriages; Philosophy; Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships; Women and Girls; Women's Rights; 

Lauri Shrage is working hard.  I would prefer planer language. 

Marriage is a well tested institution and a civil one.

Religion must back off.  

Contractual relationships are available to those who want them. 

They are much more limited than marriage. 

2

Business Day

Comparing Recessions and Recoveries

By CATHERINE RAMPELL | Nov 2, 2012

A look at how the job losses and subsequent gains of the last five years compare with job numbers during and after previous downturns.

Labor and Jobs; Recession and Depression; United States Economy; 

Been there, done that.  

She has not an argument.

3

U.S.

Democrats Sue to Extend Florida's Early Voting

By LIZETTE ALVAREZ | Nov 4, 2012

Democrats said that long lines and other problems at the polls have hampered early voting.

Elections, Governors; State Legislatures; Suits and Litigation; United States Politics and Government; 

Dirty tricks in Florida.  What a shock.

4

N.Y. / Region

Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ | Nov 2, 2012

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, an independent, said climate change may have been a factor in Hurricane Sandy and he believed President Obama was the best candidate to tackle the issue.

Presidential Election of 2012; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Endorsements; 

Just leave climate change out of it.  This was a weather event. 

 We must deal with climate.  This may get attention leading to action.  I doubt it. 

5

Opinion

Two Candidates, One Foreign Policy

By AARON DAVID MILLER | Nov 1, 2012

The U.S. presidential debate on foreign policy displayed a remarkable consensus on what to do (or not do) in the world beyond American shores.

Presidential Election of 2012; Debates (Political); 

Fluff.

6

Opinion

How Romney Would Treat Women

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF | Nov 4, 2012

When it comes to women’s health issues, Mitt Romney is no moderate.

Women's Rights; Presidential Election of 2012; Birth Control and Family Planning; 

There is no equality for Romney.  Subordination is woman's  lot.

7

N.Y. / Region

Long Lines Plague Commuters as a Transit System Slowly Recuperates

By MATT FLEGENHEIMER | Nov 2, 2012

Drivers piled up behind bridge checkpoints, and riders waited for shuttle buses, sometimes for hours, on the way into Manhattan.

Transit Systems; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Automobiles; Bridges and Tunnels; Roads and Traffic; 

Been there done that.

8

Opinion

Ideology Over Reality

By ANDREW ROSENTHAL | Nov 2, 2012

Senate Republicans seem to have pressured the Congressional Research Service to withdraw a report debunking conservative economic orthodoxy.

Income Inequality; Taxation; 

YES.

9

Business Day

Some Businesses Choose Not to Grow

By JOSH PATRICK | Nov 1, 2012

Those owners who do want to grow have to develop the ability to create capital for growth. They also have to learn tools and techniques for running a larger company. It's not for everyone.

Executives and Management (Theory); Small Business; Start-ups; 

Yes.

10

Opinion

Lessons from Sandy: Building with Resilience in Mind

By ANDREW C. REVKIN | Nov 2, 2012

A look at ways to cut disaster losses before disasters occur.

Disasters and Emergencies; Environment; Global Warming; Hurricane Katrina (2005); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Weather; Zoning; 

"Blah blah blah BANG,"

11

U.S.

Super PACs Provide Last-Minute Rush of Campaign Spending

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DEREK WILLIS | Nov 3, 2012

New “super PACs” have sprung up in the last days of the race, buying up advertising and exploiting a loophole that keeps their donors anonymous until long after votes are counted.

Political Advertising; Political Action Committees; Presidential Election of 2012; 

More noise.

12

Style

The First Day in the Classroom, Post-Sandy

By LAUNA SCHWEIZER | Nov 4, 2012

Returning to school in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, my students didn't need my lessons. Not right away. Instead they needed school as a refuge.

Education (K-12); Emotions; Fear (Emotion); Hurricane Sandy (2012); Parenting; Power Outages and Blackouts; Teachers and School Employees; Weather; 

Your fears are not their fears.

13

Health

Life, Interrupted: Hurricanes and Cancer

By SULEIKA JAOUAD | Nov 1, 2012

For cancer patients like me, and for others who suffer from chronic or life-threatening illnesses, natural disasters don't put health on the back burner. In fact, disasters like this one only add another layer of concern.

Cancer; Chemotherapy; Disasters and Emergencies; Hospitals; Hurricane Sandy (2012); 

Every person is special.  We deal as we can.

14

Opinion

In Defense of the Undecided

By LYNN VAVRECK | Nov 1, 2012

They may pay less attention to the news, but voters who take their time choosing between Obama and Romney have some admirable qualities.

Presidential Election of 2012; Race and Ethnicity; Voting and Voters; 

More fluff.   The undecided have not been paying attention or are in hiding.

15

N.Y. / Region

At Bellevue, a Desperate Fight to Ensure the Patients’ Safety

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS and NINA BERNSTEIN | Nov 2, 2012

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, health care workers and patients were confronted by a new kind of disarray.

Hurricane Sandy (2012); Hospitals; Evacuations and Evacuees; 

Let us not do this again.   The city will flood. Plan on it.

16

Style

Protecting Children From the Media's Storm Coverage

By KJ DELL'ANTONIA | Nov 2, 2012

Tips on protecting children from overexposure to images of traumatic events.

Children and Childhood; Hurricane Sandy (2012); Mental Health and Disorders; News and News Media; Parenting; 

Why attempt the impossible?

17

Business Day

FERC Takes Aim at Wall Street

By BEN PROTESS and MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED | Nov 1, 2012

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's broad crackdown is aimed at manipulation of energy prices.

Banking and Financial Institutions; Energy and Power; Regulation and Deregulation of Industry; 

A brave attempt.  I wish them good luck.

18

Opinion

Subject to Deportation

Nov 2, 2012

The Constitution requires a lawyer to tell a client who is not an American citizen that pleading guilty to a criminal offense carries the risk of deportation.

Deportation; Public Defenders and Court-Appointed Lawyers (Criminal); Editorials; Legal Profession; Sixth Amendment (US Constitution); 

Plain enough.

19

Opinion

The Junk Is Back in Junk Bonds

Nov 2, 2012

As institutional investors pull back, individual investors need more warning and protection.

Junk Bonds; Private Equity; Editorials; Stocks and Bonds; 

If the rewards are large the risk is larger.  There are no sweetheart deals.

No free lunch. 

20

Science

Arthur R. Jensen Dies at 89; Set Off Debate About I.Q.

By MARGALIT FOX | Nov 2, 2012

Mr. Jensen was an educational psychologist whose 1969 article suggested that the gap in intelligence-test scores between black and white students might be rooted in genetic differences.

Intelligence and Intelligence Tests (IQ); Race and Ethnicity;

We looked.  We did not find.    

Living requires high intelligence.  

A community can support some stupidity.  

The stupid tend to die young. 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/opinion/krugman-sandy-versus-katrina.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
As Sandy barreled toward New Jersey, there were hopeful mutters on the right to the effect that it might become President Obama’s Katrina, with voters blaming him for the damage, and that this might matter on Tuesday. Sorry, guys: polls show overwhelming approval for Mr. Obama’s handling of the storm, and a significant rise in his overall favorability ratings. And he deserves the bump. For the response to Sandy, like the success of the auto bailout, is a demonstration that Mr. Obama’s philosophy of government — which holds that the government can and should provide crucial aid in times of crisis — works. And conversely, the contrast between Sandy and Katrina demonstrates that leaders who hold government in contempt cannot provide that aid when it is needed. So, about that response: Much of the greater New York area (including my house) is still without power; gasoline is scarce; and some outlying areas are feeling neglected. Right-wing news media are portraying these continuing difficulties as a disaster comparable to, nay greater than, the aftermath of Katrina. But there’s really no comparison. I could do a point-by-point — and it’s definitely worth it, if you’re curious, to revisit the 2005 Katrina timeline to get a sense of just how bad the response really was. But for me the difference is summed up in two images. One is the nightmare at the New Orleans convention center, where thousands were stranded for days amid inconceivable squalor, an outrage that all of America watched live on TV, but to which top officials seemed oblivious. The other is the scene in flooded Hoboken, with the National Guard moving in the day after the storm struck to deliver food and water and rescue stranded residents. The point is that after Katrina the government seemed to have no idea what it was doing; this time it did. And that’s no accident: the federal government’s ability to respond effectively to disaster always collapses when antigovernment Republicans hold the White House, and always recovers when Democrats take it back. Consider, in particular, the history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Under President George H. W. Bush, FEMA became a dumping ground for unqualified political hacks. Faced with a major test in the form of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the agency failed completely. Then Bill Clinton came in, put FEMA under professional management, and saw the agency’s reputation restored. Given this experience, you might have expected George W. Bush to preserve Mr. Clinton’s gains. But no: he appointed his campaign manager, Joe Allbaugh, to head the agency, and Mr. Allbaugh immediately signaled his intention both to devolve disaster relief to the state and local level and to downgrade the whole effort, declaring, “Expectations of when the federal government should be involved and the degree of involvement may have ballooned beyond what is an appropriate level.” After Mr. Allbaugh left for the private sector, he was replaced with Michael “heckuva job” Brown, and the rest is history. Like Mr. Clinton, President Obama restored FEMA’s professionalism, effectiveness, and reputation. But would Mitt Romney destroy the agency again? Yes, he would. As everyone now knows — despite the Romney campaign’s efforts to Etch A Sketch the issue away — during the primary Mr. Romney used language almost identical to Mr. Allbaugh’s, declaring that disaster relief should be turned back to the states and to the private sector. The best line on this, I have to admit, comes from Stephen Colbert: “Who better to respond to what’s going on inside its own borders than the state whose infrastructure has just been swept out to sea?” Look, Republicans love to quote Ronald Reagan’s old joke that the most dangerous words you can hear are “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Of course they’ll do their best, whenever they’re in power, to destroy an agency whose job is to say exactly that. And yes, it’s hypocritical that the right-wing news media are now attacking Mr. Obama for, they say, not helping enough people. Back to the politics. Some Republicans have already started using Sandy as an excuse for a possible Romney defeat. It’s a weak argument: state-level polls have been signaling a clear and perhaps widening Obama advantage for weeks. But as I said, to the extent that the storm helps Mr. Obama, it’s well deserved. The fact is that if Mr. Romney had been president these past four years the federal response to disasters of all kinds would have been far weaker than it was. There would have been no auto bailout, because Mr. Romney opposed the federal financing that was crucial to the rescue. And FEMA would have remained mired in Bush-era incompetence. So this storm probably won’t swing the election — but if it does, it will do so for very good reasons."

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