Hello! I want to wish my readers a very Happy and Peaceful Thanksgiving Day today! Enjoy your time with family and friends and remember to be grateful for all of the blessings in your life.
Tag Archives: 2011
RIP Steve Jobs
Oh man, what a blow. Steve Jobs has passed away today, October 5, 2011, due to an as yet unspecified causes (read: Cancer), though he was known to be in poor health (Jobs struggled with pancreatic cancer for over a decade and underwent a liver transplant in 2009). He was 56 years old — way too young to go. Steve can at least rest in peace knowing he created the best personal computer in the universe. The Worley Gig was created on an iMac and the Mac is the only brand of computer I will ever own. Apple Mac Forever! You can read the LA Times Obit on Steve Jobs at This Link.
New York’s 9/11 Memorial to Open on September 12th
One of Two Fountains at the Memorial Site
According to the Google Blog post for today, NYC’s 9/11 Memorial opens officially to the public tomorrow, September 12, 2011, after the dedication ceremony taking place this morning at the site. Even though ground zero is only about a ten-minute walk for me from the office of my day gig, I’ve probably walked by it twice in ten years, because it’s always seemed disrespectful to gawk at the site of such a tragedy. But I’m going to make an effort to walk over there in the next couple of weeks and check it out, because it looks like it’s pretty cool and a fitting memorial to the events of that day, if there could be such a thing. For anyone interested in coming in from out of town to see the Memorial, there’s a fairly comprehensive FAQ located at This Link.
What If Your Birthday Was on September 11th?
Confession: Most of the time, I can barely recall what Netflick I watched last night or what I ate for lunch earlier in the day, but ask me what it was like to be in Manhattan on September 11th, 2001, and I remember that day like it was still happening. I remember seeing the smoke from the first tower as I stood at the corner of 19th Street and 5th Avenue, walking to work that morning and thinking “Something’s on fire.” I can tell you what the weather was like (the most beautiful late summer Tuesday, ever).
I recall the most minute, bullshit details of numerous conversations I had with people that day. I can tell you what I made for lunch (pasta with chicken in red sauce). I even remember what I was wearing. It’s been ten years since that day and for me it’s like it was, as they say, just yesterday. I’m sure I’ll have the same clarity about September 11, 2001 for the rest of my life. If you were in NYC at the time, you can’t ever forget. But think about this: what is that day like for people whose birthday is on September 11th? That’s something I hadn’t really considered until I read this fantastic story in The Awl built around first-person testimonials from10 people who are unfortunate enough to have 9/11 as their birth date. Ten People Who Observe Birthdays on 9/11 is by far my favorite remembrance piece of the too-many-to-mention that I’ve already read over the past few days. It captures just the right balance of candor and uncomfortable humor that feel appropriate after a decade of 9/11 anniversaries. The piece starts out like this:
Jotham Sederstrom, 34, freelance reporter: On September 10th, my friends took me out for birthday drinks in Chicago. I was out until three or four, I think, at a place called “The Hideout,” among other places. I didn’t wake up until about noon, at which point everything had changed.
George Spyros, 44, executive producer: I got married the weekend before. We had a bunch of friends and family from out of town, and went out Monday night for dinner. My wife and I were supposed to fly out on September 11th for our honeymoon. On top of that, it’s my birthday.
Michael Wright, 44, editorial director: September 11th has always been the best day of the year for me — and then it all goes to shit.
Allison Spensley, 31, mid-career change: It was my 21st birthday, so of course I had plans to go out.
And it just gets more engaging. You can read the rest – and I strongly recommend that you do – Here.
“The Earth Moved”
We just had a little earthquake here in NYC, and it was pretty fun. For most of the 45 seconds that it lasted, the rolling motion of the floor not only reminded me of my recent Carnival Cruise experience (sea legs!), but also made me think fondly back to my previous life in California, where earthquakes are practically a way of life! I am sure you will be hearing more about our happening east coast earthquake later, on the News, FaceBook, in every neighborhood bar, on the street, etc.