While watching the documentary Inside 9/11 a few days ago, I was struck at how precise and deliberate the terrorists were in their planning of the attack. They had been planning this for over two years! And for the last year, the pilots were here in the United States, no doubt hating every minute of it.
Osama bin Laden and his "team" called this mission "The Planes Operation." Al Qaeda drew their crew of "muscle hijackers" from their "Department of Martyrs", men who were predisposed to becoming martyrs for their radical cause. And when Mohammed Atta relayed the day he decided to attack, he used this code: "Two sticks. A dash. A cake, with a stick down." 9-11.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Saturday, September 3, 2005
The Boys are Back
Tonight, the United States mens soccer team qualified for next year's World Cup in Germany. They beat the team from Mexico 2-0 in Columbus, OH.
The United States have qualified for the World Cup the last five tournaments. It's going to be an exciting summer next year!
The United States have qualified for the World Cup the last five tournaments. It's going to be an exciting summer next year!
Friday, September 2, 2005
Nawlins
The first and last time I visited New Orleans was December of 1991.
I was there on a week-long business trip. I didn't travel with any co-workers, so I roamed the city alone after my day's work.
I had one of the "Best Meals of My Life" in New Orleans, a heaping serving of Crawfish Etouffee from K-Paul's. It was the first time I had this Cajun recipe, and it was a revelation. I was astounded by the spices, the texture and size of the crawfish. The meal was served on a generous bed of white rice. It was a taste sensation. I often think about this particular meal. I've had other versions of this, but so far nothing compares.
That week, I noted in my diary that I ate at the Palace Café twice, but nothing sticks out as a food memory.
On my last night there, I visited the famed Preservation Hall, a small music hall which features New Orleans jazz musicians, playing New Orleans jazz. The focus at the hall was the music. There were no chairs to sit on, just the floor. No food or beverages were served. Just music.
I remember how bright, sharp and sudden the music seemed to be in that very small room. It was magical, listening to the five musicians (a lot of brass, some strings, a piano) weave their gorgeous sound. The music struck me with its intimacy, its "nearness". As the horn hit some particularly aggressive notes, I remember thinking "he's going to knock us out with that sound!" I haven't experienced live music like that since.
It makes me sad that these places were part of Katrina's devastation.
I was there on a week-long business trip. I didn't travel with any co-workers, so I roamed the city alone after my day's work.
I had one of the "Best Meals of My Life" in New Orleans, a heaping serving of Crawfish Etouffee from K-Paul's. It was the first time I had this Cajun recipe, and it was a revelation. I was astounded by the spices, the texture and size of the crawfish. The meal was served on a generous bed of white rice. It was a taste sensation. I often think about this particular meal. I've had other versions of this, but so far nothing compares.
That week, I noted in my diary that I ate at the Palace Café twice, but nothing sticks out as a food memory.
On my last night there, I visited the famed Preservation Hall, a small music hall which features New Orleans jazz musicians, playing New Orleans jazz. The focus at the hall was the music. There were no chairs to sit on, just the floor. No food or beverages were served. Just music.
I remember how bright, sharp and sudden the music seemed to be in that very small room. It was magical, listening to the five musicians (a lot of brass, some strings, a piano) weave their gorgeous sound. The music struck me with its intimacy, its "nearness". As the horn hit some particularly aggressive notes, I remember thinking "he's going to knock us out with that sound!" I haven't experienced live music like that since.
It makes me sad that these places were part of Katrina's devastation.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
We're Frozen
In the passenger plane crash in Greece a few days ago, one passenger managed to send this text message: "The pilots have turned blue. Farewell cousin - we're frozen."
Chills down my spine. Hairs raised on my neck. I close my eyes, and shake my head, trying to get rid of the feeling of dread and sadness, reminding myself that I'm alive.
I think about that text message. I think about the sender of that message. I think about who received it. Did that person know?
As I write this, another plane has crashed in Venezuela. And both of these follow the missed runway incident at Pearson Airport in Toronto.
With a recent job change requiring more business travel, I'm on airplanes a lot more these days. All these recent incidents give me pause.
Chills down my spine. Hairs raised on my neck. I close my eyes, and shake my head, trying to get rid of the feeling of dread and sadness, reminding myself that I'm alive.
I think about that text message. I think about the sender of that message. I think about who received it. Did that person know?
As I write this, another plane has crashed in Venezuela. And both of these follow the missed runway incident at Pearson Airport in Toronto.
With a recent job change requiring more business travel, I'm on airplanes a lot more these days. All these recent incidents give me pause.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Tax Free Weekend
Massachusetts just had a "tax free weekend." Shoppers throughout the state could make purchases on most items and not pay the 5% state sales tax.
I bought a cordless mouse, and I like it. Where has this little device been all my life? A few months ago, at a big meeting I was at, a consultant pulled out his laptop and then pulled out a little mouse without wires. He attached a transmitter device to his laptop's USB port, and all of a sudden he had a nifty little mouse. And just a few weeks ago, someone was telling me how his daughter would take the wireless mouse from his home desktop computer and hide it among her toys. I was thinking about these stories during the Saturday of "tax free weekend", and realized I knew what I wanted to buy.
I bought a cordless mouse, and I like it. Where has this little device been all my life? A few months ago, at a big meeting I was at, a consultant pulled out his laptop and then pulled out a little mouse without wires. He attached a transmitter device to his laptop's USB port, and all of a sudden he had a nifty little mouse. And just a few weeks ago, someone was telling me how his daughter would take the wireless mouse from his home desktop computer and hide it among her toys. I was thinking about these stories during the Saturday of "tax free weekend", and realized I knew what I wanted to buy.
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