Today I am as sad as I was one year ago. Hearing the names of the dead read this morning, with Yo Yo Ma playing his beautiful, mournful cello; hearing a little girl tell of her now-lost sister who taught her to love animals; seeing the flag at half-staff. May peace be with those who lost loved ones and those of us who lost our innocence (or naivety).

When I read what I wrote on that day (http://newjazzthing.editthispage.com/2001/09/11), I realize that I am still as confused today as I was on that day. Why? Who? In the U.S., we have been taught to believe our system of government is the best and that everyone wants to be like us. So how could these people do this? I am wiser about this today. But no less determined to learn how to listen better and to discuss with those who see room for improvement. There is room, there will always be room, and we should fight to maintain the rights to insist on this improvement. I think that is what I was trying to get at one year ago (and that Thomas Friedman touches on in today's NYTimes: http://nytimes.com/2002/09/11/opinion/11FRIE.html).

But I am also happy. Happy that our friend Ilene (an ex-SAICer) made it out of Manhattan alive that day. Happy that I had family and friends to discuss this with. Happy that my little boy is at an age where he still believes that flying is fun, no matter what the delays are.

And happy that SAIC has made a forum like this available for all employees to share some of their inner-most feelings with our fellow ‘family’ members. I feel more like part of a team than ever.

I watched the president's interview on 60 Minutes II (here's a NY Times review). He said he was sad too. There was some interesting details about what happened to him that day and those that followed. And the process to come up with the response and the call to war.

Then I experienced 9/11. The story in video. The video to have for posterity, to tell the story from inside. I watched it months ago when it first aired and am as moved today as then. This is what those felt in the moments before they died, I imagine. Unbeliveable.

I'm happy that this day is over and hope that a new one brings new hope.
11:34:59 PM    comment []  Google It!  

"A Miles Davis Reader is squarely focused on the music. (Those interested in Davis' life had better look elsewhere.) It contains reviews and analyses from critics for every phase of Davis' career, and contains much praise for every phase of the career. While this is a handy approach when reading in conjunction to listening to particular albums, it fails to provide the reader/listener with a guide to the most valuable phases of Davis' career. The overall effect is to regard each phase as being the equal to the others, a position which is suspect."

I'm wanting to link to more bloggers writing about Jazz. Especially those writing about New Jazz they are listening to. Then I'd like to read excerpts on the air and maybe even short interviews with the writers.

Additionally, I'd like to get the dude who wrote Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece on the show and do something related to his book. Maybe I do a tune from the album each week and we talk a little about it.

Thanks to JRobb, K-logger extrodinaire, for the link to Ken's Book Blog.
6:34:51 AM    comment []  Google It!