Thanks Steve

We will certainly be a bit worse off without you.

To be honest, I've always been a pc guy. I tend to enjoy their complexity and hands-on sensibility. To be even more honest, I've consistently been frustrated with the exclusivity of Apple products. They've become more of a trend than a tool these days, which would be okay if they weren't substantially overpriced. (Apple, you want to really impress me? Make an elegant iPhone for $50 retail.)

However, Steve Jobs' influence on the way we communicate to each other is immeasurable and simply can't be overstated. I remember buying my first iPod in 2006, a purchase that completely revolutionized the way I keep and listen to my music. The ability to have virtually my entire music catalog (along with pictures, videos, documents, and whatever else I can get on that thing) with me at all times is quite powerful. For all intents and purposes, I have a computer in my pocket.

Seriously. Think about that; a computer in my pocket.

In my lifetime, Apple took us from this:

to what basically amounts to this:

(For the uninitiated, that is a prop from Star Trek: The Next Generation called a tricorder.)

Steve brought the future to us, and for that I am truly thankful to have lived during his time.

peace.

The Death of Gil Scott-Heron

This is truly a loss. Scott-Heron epitomized revolution.

Gil Scott-Heron, the musician and poet who wrote The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and was seen by many as “the Godfather of Rap”, has died aged 62.

The US artist died in a New York hospital on Friday, after becoming sick on returning from a European trip.

More here.

In a couple of days I will have the resources to reflect on this event a bit more. For now, I would simply like to spread the word.



peace.

Gotcha!(?)

This is from CNN.com

The most prominent face of terror in America and beyond, Osama Bin Laden, has been killed in Pakistan, U.S. officials said Sunday night.

Bin Laden was the leader of al Qaeda, the terrorist network behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. U.S. officials said that their forces have the body of bin Landen.

More here.

So here we are. Apparently. Osama Bin Laden has been killed by a handful of U.S. Navy SEALs who carried out a very quiet operation ordered by President Obama on Friday, based on intelligence received on Bin Laden's whereabouts in Pakistan. I'm sitting here at home watching live footage of a gang of people in Lafayette Park, across the street from The White House, partying like the Redskins just won the SuperBowl.

All the reports are saying Bin Laden's body is in U.S. custody. What are they gonna do, put pictures of it on facebook for proof?

And just last night, President Obama was doing stand-up at The White House Correspondents' Dinner where he absolutely blitzed Donald Trump. This cat is really good at multi-tasking.

So I guess my most nagging question now is, "What next?" If it is true that Bin Laden got smoked, what does that mean? How are things different?

I do know this. Obama just stamped his two-term ticket tonight.

I'll be watching the commentary just like you. Perhaps I'll have more constructive thoughts later this week.

peace.