It is amazing how much of New Jersey is under water after the Nor'easter that struck the state last weekend. We had water in the basement, but not much compared to many people we know. I had no school Monday because the buses were flooded out.

Has any of the news about our governor filtered across the country? He was seriously injured in a traffic accident while his driver was taking him to Rutgers University to participate in the meeting between their women’s basketball team and Don Imus. Not only was the governor not wearing a seatbelt, but it was revealed today that his driver–a state trooper–was driving 91 mph! I can think of at least three reasons why this is a strong cautionary tale for all of us.

Michael Bishop has been my favorite science fiction writer for nearly 40 years, the author of both my favorite novel Brittle Innings and my favorite piece of short fiction “Her Habiline Husband.” His most recent collection Brighten to Incandescence had a gorgeous wraparound cover by his son Jamie Bishop whose fulltime profession was professor of German at Virginia Tech University, until he became one of the victims of the horrendous shooting spree earlier this week. My thoughts are with you and your family, Michael.