All eyes were glued to the devastation on our east coast this week as Sandy swept through, disrupting the lives of millions. Even the presidential campaigning was put on hold (for at least a few days) and trading came to halt. The storm may be over, but an immense amount of work remains before the affected areas can return to normal. Our sympathies go out to those still those trying to recover (if you can help, there are many charities that could always use donations). With a nor’easter now getting ready to hit some areas with a double-dose, we hope everyone stays safe. In the meantime, here’s what we’re reading headed into the weekend.

• Avoiding commodities for lower volatility not all it’s cracked up to be (Seeking Alpha)
• How many hours of work does it take to “buy” the S&P 500? (Avondale Asset Management)
• Why a saltwater flood is so much more destructive than fresh water (Popular Science)
• With the election right around the corner, which candidates do you actually agree with? (VoteEasy)
• How our biases can affect the way we vote in the election (Youtube)
• Now that Star Wars is a Disney brand, new films are on the horizon (Forbes)