I'm wrapping Christmas presents, writing Christmas cards, and assembling a database and studying for the LSAT, all at the same time. So it's been a busy week.

I don't know why, it seems like everyone is running short this year. It's like how, some days you'll hit the highway and everyone will seem to be driving faster, or there will be an inordinate number of accidents, or everyone will be in a generally bad mood. It's like the full moon effect, except it's apparently independent of any cause. Everyone just seems to be in the same boat.

There's plenty to write about. I'll get to it. My next priority, after holiday duties, is a letter to our congressmen about Cape Wind, following Robert F. Kennedy's editorial for the New York Times. I've got plenty on my offline schedule in the next few weeks (including an ill-advised casino jaunt), but I have a few early-draft entries penciled in my cache. I'm hoping to start picking up the slack tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's pulling for the seven million New Yorkers who spent their morning crossing the East River in sub-freezing temperature. There was a time, labor unions fought the good fight for safe working conditions and a living wage. Those days are long past, and the Transport Workers Union officials should (and may) be thrown in jail for precipitating this strike. Negotiation talks weren't sufficiently far apart to cause anyone ruin or hardship; this strike, however, will endanger businesses run by good people during a week that can make the difference between another tight year and boarding up the windows.