The Passing of A Genius

I'm so sad about the passing of Steve Jobs earlier today. As the child of a graphic artist, I grew up using only Apple products (yeah, even before they were cool again) and always respected the way the company sought to meld bottom-line needs and functionality with aesthetics. Forget the fact that in the past ten years the iPod, iPhone, iPad, etc. have completely revolutionized the way that we communicate and live and you still have a man whose standards built a company that allowed users to have higher expectations for the machines they rely on daily to be multifaceted, forward-thinking, and yes-attractive and user-friendly.

It's hard to think about someone with so much vision and creativity being snuffed out so young and I feel for his family, but it gives me comfort to know that the same standards for business that Jobs sought were those he sought in living life and that he lived it to the fullest. Getting high on psychedelics, running off to explore India, and dropping out of college before going on to change the world shows what life is all about-making yourself happy and following your gut, even if you can't quite see in the moment where that's going to take you.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

It's very strange to think about the 9/11 terror attacks taking place ten years ago today. More than anything, I've been thinking about how frustratingly useless it all was. Nothing was accomplished other than pain and waste. Ten years on thousands of families in America, Afghanistan and Iraq are mourning lost loves ones and still losing them; innocent people who were robbed of their opportunity to live life to the fullest. And I wonder at the people who orchestrated it all-do they think the world is really changed for the better? But rather than dwell on how evil man is capable of being, I will take today to cherish those that I love and take stock in how blessed I am to have been born in America and to live a life as lucky as it is. Let us take care of one another today, and every day.

Photo by Todd Heisler for The New York Times.

Strange Days

The world is a scary place. It's also a wonderfully ridiculous one. Note to self: keep perspective.