Power Plays

In Far Middle episode 187, Nick returns to the rink to recall the infamous December 23, 1979, brawl between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. While the game took place just two days before Christmas, “Let’s just say the Christmas sprit didn’t’ prevail,” says Nick. He recounts how the brawl on the ice spilled over to the stands to become one of the most infamous and chaotic fan-player confrontations in sports history. The incident led to suspensions, fines, and ultimately, changes in arena safety measures. From the chaos at the Garden in 1979, Nick fast-forwards to the chaos that’s ensuing in Cuba following recent nationwide power outages in October, early November, and early December, in addition to smaller-scale power cuts. The ramifications from the loss of reliable electricity – a lack of running water, food spoilage, supply chains halted, banks and ATMs shut down, and much more – has put the Cuban economy on the precipice of collapse. It's, “effectively what happens when a society loses access to energy,” says Nick. He discusses the Cuban government's response, including declaring a state of emergency and implementing various restrictions akin to pandemic-era measures in the United States. Next, Nick returns to the U.S. to examine New Mexico's latest energy policies, as the “Land of Enchantment” pursues California-style climate and energy regulations. New Mexico’s mandates for electric vehicles and renewable energy are ill-suited for New Mexico's geography and will lead to economic trouble. Highlighting the importance of the state’s oil and natural gas industry, Nick explains how the state’s leftist policies aim to bite the hand – or industry – that feeds the government (and economy), while also serving as a regressive tax on residents of one of the poorest states. The discussion then shifts to recycling, questioning the effectiveness and economics of current recycling practices. Nick cites data revealing an overwhelming portion of recyclable materials end up in landfills or incinerators, exposing the cost and “feel-good veneer” of recycling versus the reality of recycling economics and chemistry. In closing, Nick addresses the issue of remote work among federal government employees, office space utilization, potential taxpayer fraud, and calls for greater accountability and a return to in-office work for government agencies. And lastly, Nick brings the episode’s connections altogether in the West Texas town of El Paso.