How the Column Name was Chosen

The following were the names I turned over and over as possible column names. Glenn Tillett was absolutely sold on his suggestion “Without Prejudice”.  I felt this sounded too legalistic and a bit excusatory of the stuff I aimed to say in the column.  I was looking for something crisp, sexy, with a bit of an edge. I liked “Heavy Meddle” but it was a bit too cute.  “Think Again” communicated what I wanted people to do after reading my pieces, but it was too flat, no edge, no inherent power or sense of danger.  I also liked “Unsafe Harbour” , but ultimately not crisp enough.  “Truth be Told” soundly a little to self-righteous and pretentious. Andrew Steinhauer suggested “River Bottom”, that sucked.  Jules Vasquez suggested “Connected” and “Flashpoint”. In the end it was between “Connected” and “Flashpoint”.  Val felt Connected was a bit too self-important.  I sounded all of them off Silvana.  She liked Connected too.  In the end I settled on Flashpoint.  It is crisp, sexy, conveys a little danger and TNT.  One meaning of flashpoint is the point at which someone bursts suddenly into action.  Within myself I had reached a flashpoint of needing to suddenly burst into action and express myself. The name was settled on the day the inaugural article “The Wall” came out.