h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a few observations about the blackout.

1) How many times in a 24 hour period do you go to the bathroom? And how many times during those visits do you try to turn the lights on out of force of habit? And how many thines do you try and turn the lights on several times while in the bathroom?

2) Isn't it a marvel to hear kids out in the street calling to each other "Look at all the staaaarrrrs!!!!"?

3) People, when given half a chance, can surprise you with their generosity.... giving strangers rides home, local store owners putting items "on the slate" for locals when they couldn't access money, people opening their homes to stranded travellers, neighbours going door-to-door making sure their neighbours are okay or giving out candles or giving neighbourhood kids the box of popsicles from their freezer which would otherwise just melt anyway....

4) People, when given half a chance, can surprise you with their stupidity or rotten-ness by watering their lawn despite being asked to conserve water, gas stations charging 3 times the normal rate for a tank of gas simply because they can (a week after the power-out, we are paying 80.1 cents a litre) people taking advantage of the darkness to loot a store.

5) It is a novelty to sit outside with your neighbours watching the stars and roasting marshmallows over candles.

6) You never realized how terrific it is to have a gas barbeque until you really need one. Wouldn't it have been a darn good idea to buy the one you saw on sale last fall?

7) You can actually fit 6 people in a plastic wading pool.

8) It is possible to feel a little wistful when the lights finally come back on.

9) When you live on the flight-path of the airport and all fights are cancelled, it is amazing how loud the crickets can be.

10) The very same people who prior to and after the power-out were giving you the finger, leaning on the horn, or running yellow lights, will politely wave you through an intersection amd wave thanks when you wave them through ahead of you.