LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Monday, October 29, 2012

Below 39th St. Manhattan's Dark -- That Means Us Too


Record surge, tunnels flooded. Just as ConEd was shutting down three small substations for downtown Manhattan the main station at 14th street went dark. They believe flooding was the cause.

The NYU hospital's back-up power system failed and the patients have to be transferred. This is an enormous facility -- a small city all itself.

Mayor Bloomberg isn't in a suit any more. In blue workshirt and jeans, his voice is cracking -- he's exhausted. Yet he insists the power will back down there in a few hours. Because the high tide has arrived and gone, and the record storm surge is receding, and so is the heavy rain. But the wind is still going on and the storm will go on for at least two more days.

Not to mention what it will take to get the region's many airports from JFK to Maine up and operating again.
Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)