Abstract :
I am writing this column in mid-March 2011 (due to editorial deadlines), and the news is filled with heart-breaking stories of earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, with the possibility of a nuclear emergency as well as conflicts in the Middle East. To all our colleagues and their families afflicted by these and other man-made or natural disasters, rest assured that the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) as a family is with you in these difficult times. Clearly, our first reaction is to wish the best for you and your loved ones.
