COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on the world. It has affected — and continues to affect — virtually every aspect of life. But at least as far as the economy goes, the more people we talk to, and the more statistics we hear from reliable sources, the more we think maybe Bob Marley was onto something.
Phew! Making it to the end of 2020 seems like a victory in and of itself. Between the coronavirus, the economy, the rioting in the streets, the extreme weather events and the fiercely divided presidential race, we’ve all had a LOT to worry about this year.
I've been tuning in to a lot of information in new ways, lately. Chances are, you have, too. The pandemic has restructured all of our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a year ago. From work to school to family, video chat and teleconference have replaced warm hugs and handshakes. There's no kibitzing around the water cooler.
The number 21 is usually good, right? In blackjack, 21
means you win. In life, 21 means you’re officially adult enough to buy alcohol, gamble in a casino or purchase a handgun (In the United States, at least). In military ceremonies, a 21-gun salute is an honor reserved for dignitaries or heads of state.
It takes a lot to put together a magazine
like this one, issue after issue. There are articles to edit, materials to gather, production to coordinate, layouts to develop, subscriptions to enter and
much, much more.
Often in life we're forced to make decisions with too little information. Phone's dead and you don't have access to GPS? Lost the instructions for assembling that new gas grill? Don't have the recipe for your favorite dessert? “No problem," I often tell my wife or my kids, "I'll just use the Force."
With much of America still under stay-at-home orders, it's very difficult for many of us to stay connected. In our personal lives, we're celebrating birthdays with a drive-by and a wave, we're attending religious service on
our laptops and talking with loved ones via video chat. If you're allowed to go to work, you're expected to wear a mask and keep your distance. And if you're working from home, your only
connection to co-workers, employers, suppliers and vendors is
via virtual meetings and conference calls.
Over the past month, everything about our world has changed. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought most aspects of our lives to a grinding halt. We can’t go out to eat. We can’t travel. We can’t even go to church. A lot of businesses are struggling. But at the same time, there are a lot of people who are busier
than ever. In some cases, frighteningly so.
You may have noticed a few changes around
here. Most notably, the face on this page isn't the one you're used to seeing here. As you've probably heard by now, Michael Goldstein, founder and Publisher since 1984, has stepped back from his day-to-day duties and transferred the operation of Gear Technology, Power Transmission Engineering and Gear
Technology India to the American Gear Manufacturers Association.