Are you sometimes flummoxed by the news reports you see and read? Publicity-seekers abound, and the various media syndicates are hungry for stories to help them meet their deadlines and beat the competition. They eagerly fill each 24-hour news cycle with reports of the aberrant behavior of political leaders and the spectacular and often outrageous activities of the latest box office idols, rock stars, or superstar athletes. Amid the daily hullabaloo, news of real importance is often overlooked, even in the most trying of times.

“Superstorm Sandy” roared through the Caribbean last week taking 68 lives and leaving food shortages in the island nation of Haiti (MSNBC.com and BBC.com, October 31, 2012).  Sandy then plowed into the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., killing dozens more and causing billions of dollars in damage.

As Hurricane Sandy clears the East Coast of the United States, storm damage is estimated at between $20 and $50 billion. Communities from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to the east end of Long Island, New York are still trying to cope with floodwaters from the most damaging storm to hit the northeastern U.S. in recent years. As of Wednesday evening, more than six million people were still without power. The New York City subway system will manage only “limited” service on Thursday. The New Jersey Transit system is in what one official called “disarray,” with much of its service still suspended.

The “Marriage Equality” bill that seeks to redefine marriage to include unions between two members of the same sex, overwhelmingly passed its first Parliamentary reading.  NZ Prime Minister, John Key, one of the bill’s supporters, described the result as exciting and told media sources that it was “a strong endorsement for the equality of rights” (New Zealand News, August 30, 2012).  However, Mr.

Sunday, October 28 marked the 50th anniversary of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s momentous announcement that his nation would withdraw nuclear-armed medium-range ballistic missiles from Cuba, just 90 miles from the United States. After weeks of tension and fear, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief, as nuclear cosmocide was averted. Or was it merely delayed?