Hurricane Irene plowed a destructive path up the east coast of the United States and into Canada last weekend, causing billions of dollars in damage and leaving millions without power.  Although the storm was a “low” category hurricane, it was large and moved through some of the most densely populated areas of the nation—potentially impacting more than 65 million people.

“As its sovereign-debt crisis nears a third year and rescue efforts fail to stop the rot in financial markets, economists from Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Mohamed El-Erian to Harvard’s Martin Feldstein say ensuring the euro’s existence may require members to leave the 17-nation currency region.  The result would be what El-Erian, Pimco’s Newport Beach, California-based chief executive officer, calls a ‘smaller, much better integrated, fiscally strong euro zone.’”

Many wonderful quotations are attributed to Sir Winston Churchill, the great British Prime Minister who had such a profound effect on the 20th century. His irrepressible sense of humor, his tenacity in the face of great danger, his oratory and his writing ability set him apart as an influential historical figure. One quote he is noted for is, “Most people stumble over the truth, now and then, but they usually manage to pick themselves up and go on, anyway.”

On a cloudy morning, sometime around 5:00 a.m., a lone commuter drives to work, and not in the best frame of mind. As he leaves his neighborhood, he heads out onto the highway that will take him to his office. He barely notices that the road is still a little slick from some drizzling rain. Vaguely aware of the need to watch for roadside deer (and for other early-birds like himself), he is not operating at full capacity. His thoughts are elsewhere.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg recently banned religious observance and prayer at the tenth-anniversary memorial ceremony of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.  The decision has drawn some harsh comments.