We watched the Hurricane Irene news coverage. As the storm moved towards the U.S., those of us in its path wondered if we would be safe and dry and have electricity.

Maybe you checked your homeowners insurance policy to see if you were covered. We knew we had hurricane coverage. We relaxed. This was the re-definition of what is called a "false sense of security”.

It was too late anyway because the fine print already had us in its grips.

If you want to feel secure when a raging storm is just around the corner, I would advise not reading such a document.  If you do read your policy you would not be able to understand a large portion of it and what you did understand would not provide any emotional support.

Our policy would have covered the damage from a miniature Niagara Falls in our basement if we had flood insurance.  However, we do not live in a flood plain and therefore are not eligible for it.

As we wrote in the note announcing a one week delay in our return from the summer hiatus “the insurance company says that water from the sky is "ground water" once it hits the earth, and therefore the damage to our building isn't covered. Thankfully, the BC Internet server is located at a very secure building in another location.”

If hurricane Irene had blown the roof off our building, the rain that would come in would not be “ground water”.

That was one of the disappointments of our summer hiatus.

There are others that include the following:

1 – The U.S. is now 41^st in the world in infant morality.

2 - US 'campaigns to avoid' Palestinian statehood vote.

3 - Tripoli Files Show CIA Working With Libya.

4 - Obama to drop smog initiative.

Meanwhile, a CNN opinion poll shows many Americans want to kick out all members of congress.  Only 41 percent would return their representative to office.

If every one of the 535 members of congress were replaced it would not change anything because the same corrupt system would be in place.

On the very local level, voting can be worth it.  In a recent election in my township our school budget was approved.  It made it possible for needed books to be purchased among other things.  The election was only for the school budget.  You would think that because of all the controversy over education and teachers the turnout would not be poor.  However, only 1.2 percent of those eligible to vote did vote, and the good guys won.  

One final item.  A BC reader reminded me I never reported back about what happened when I was called to jury duty and was not trying to get out of it.  I reported on the assigned day and was told the case had been settled the night before.

BlackCommentator.com Publisher and Chief Technical Officer Peter Gamble, is the recipient of a national Sigma Delta Chi award for public service in journalism and numerous other honors for excellence in reporting and investigative reporting. The “beats” he covered as a broadcast journalist ranged from activism in the streets to the State Department and White House. The lure of a personal computer on his desk inspired a career change in 1985 and an immersion into what he sees as the future of communications. The acquisition of computer programming skills made it possible for Peter to achieve an important level of self-reliance in the technology of the 21st century and to develop BlackCommentator.com. Click here to contact Peter.