Remembering 9/11 - 8 Years (and 3 days) Later

9/11 is like the day that man walked on the moon. You'll always remember where you were and what you were doing when it happened.

For me, I was at home in Long Beach, California, getting ready to go to work. Normally, as I eat breakfast, I'll watch the morning news. It was around 7 in the morning, western time, when the planes struck the World Trade Center. I remember turning on the television, and seeing the two buildings on fire. At first I thought it was just a fire, and nothing more. Then, as the first building collapsed, the reporter kept on talking as though he didn't even notice what was happening.

"Holy shit!" my ex-wife Amber said at the time "The World Trade Center just collapsed!" Neither one of us could believe it. It was like watching a bad Michael Bay movie. Then the second tower collapsed. Then...I went to work.

Many of my colleagues didn't know what was going on. When I told them, it was the first they had heard about it. I told them to check the internet for the latest news. I remember telling David (the one in Taiwan, who was working with me in my department at the time) "Bush is going to nuke somebody over this." (Thankfully, that prediction didn't come true.)

Rumors started to go around the office, including the one about the US declaring war on Pakistan (I don't know how they got that one). Finally, we got an email from the CEO, basically just repeating what we already knew: The United States had been attacked by terrorists. They allowed us to go home early that day.

For awhile, things changed in the neighborhood. Everyone was putting up flags and people were nicer to each other than usual. I remember accidentally leaving a CD in the reception area of my apartment complex, and someone took it. I then left a note saying that if anybody found my cd, could they please return it. The next day, the CD was lying by my front door. Whoever took it, returned it. I was surprised. Both Amber and I remarked that, yes, 9/11 seemed to make people become nicer to one another.

Amber and I had just gone to New York in May of that year. She didn't go with me when I went to the World Trade Center. She told me the building gave her "bad vibes." I still went, and took many pictures (all on film, not on digital, and they're all still in Taiwan.) It's still a bit hard to believe that the place I was standing on just 4 months earlier would be totally destroyed.

Now, 8 years later, we're still at war in Afghanistan and Iraq, although it seems we're finally getting out of Iraq. The number of dead soldiers and civilians in both countries has far exceeded the number of people who died on 9/11. Declaring a "War on Terror" is like declaring a war with no end. Osama Bin Laden is still at large, and I doubt we'll ever get the guy. He keeps putting out a new message on every anniversary of 9/11 to remind us that this will never end.

Haven't we avenged 9/11 enough? Haven't enough people died? Where does it end? Do we realistically think we can transform countries like Iraq and Afghanistan into perfect clones of the United States? Not likely. It's time to get out and let the people of those countries run it themselves.

The GOP is Dying

Why do conservative Republicans, like congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, hate health care reform so much?

I've been thinking about this question quite a bit. I mean, really, why would someone be against something that would benefit the less fortunate of this country? Texas, for example, has the most uninsured people in the entire country. 1 out of 4 Texans is uninsured, and many of the people here oppose Obama's health care reform plan. Why?

People have been brainwashed. That's why.

Health care and pharmaceutical companies have contributed huge amounts of money to Republican politicians. These people have been bought out. So, for their gratitude, the Republicans go out and scare people. They tell people that Obama is a "socialist" or a "communist." They tell people that "death panels" are going to be formed to kill your parents or grandparents. They tell people that health care reform is equal to the government controlling every facet of your life.

And people believe it! Yes, there are people out there (and I work with some of them), who think that if the health care reform bill passes, the country is going to slip into socialism and their grandparents lives will be in danger. It's all lies, of course, but if you keep telling people the same lie over and over, eventually they will believe it.

In my opinion, I'm not sure the Obama plan will even go far enough. He seems to be considering dropping the "Public Option" from his plan. The healthcare companies oppose this more than anything else because they fear the competition. Many people (myself included) would drop their current insurance to get the government insurance, and they'd lose a lot of money. I'm already paying $320 a month in health insurance, so I'm all for anything that would give me some financial relief.

As for this fool, Joe Wilson, who had the nerve to shout "You lie!" at President Obama the other day, he should step down. His actions embarrass the entire country, and it makes us look like the Taiwan legislature. It's Republicans like him that are sealing the fate of the GOP.

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9

I don't know about the rest of the world, but yesterday (9/9/09) seemed to be a "Beatles Day" here in the states. There's been an awful lot of hoopla surrounding the new remasters of the entire Beatles catalogue, as well as the new "Beatles: Rock Band" video game.

The Beatles are probably my second or third favorite band, but I don't have a particularly strong desire to run out and spend $200 to re-buy their cd's. At best, I might buy one or two (probably "Sgt. Pepper" and "Abbey Road"), see if there actually is a significant difference, and then decide if I should get any others.

The sheer greed of the Beatles company, Apple, makes me really not want to put any of my hard earned dollars into their pockets. Apple is releasing two sets of Beatles CD's. One is in stereo, the other is in mono, and there's quite a debate going on about which set is better, with many preferring the mono versions. What upsets me is that the stereo and mono versions were not included on the same CD. Most of the Beatles albums run around 30 to 35 minutes, so there is more than enough room to include both versions on the same disc. Why didn't they do it? GREED. They know there are Beatles fanatics out there who will pay for both. Not me.

I never really got into the Beatles until I was in high school. Pink Floyd was always my favorite band. It was David (in Taiwan) who got me into their music, in his odd way. I asked him to make me a compilation tape of their best songs. He gave me one, but it was his own special mix. He took their songs and cut them up, either shortening or extending them. I remember he took the song "Getting Better", from "Sgt. Pepper", and made it into a 7 minute, meandering piece that kept repeating the chorus over and over. I'm not sure why he did it, other than the hopes that maybe it would want to get me to buy the actual copy. It worked, because eventually I did end up buying their whole catalogue.

When I was younger, I would fall into the trap of re-buying stuff I already had just because the latest version was "new and improved." I don't do that anymore, primarily because I have kids and don't have as much disposable income anymore. Also, I've just grown a bit tired of playing the "double dipping" or "triple dipping" game. I've bought "The Godfather" 4 different times. On VHS, then laserdisc, then DVD, and finally blu-ray. I'm done. If they release another version on a better format, I won't be buying it.

Birthday #39

I just turned 39 today. I looked over the blog I wrote a year ago when I turned 38, and I mentioned that it was a bit scary to be only two years away from turning 40. Now I'm only one year away. I imagine 40 will be here before I even know it.

40 is a bit of a scary number for me because that's officially "middle age" (assuming you make it to 80.) Since I recently joined Facebook, I've had a chance to look at numerous photos of people I knew in high school, and my God some of these people look so old. Some still look good, but others have really been ravaged by the sands of time. I'm glad I still look relatively young.

My mom comes from a family of 9 children. Her brother, Roy, just died recently, so now my mom is the last one left in her family. It's just a reminder of how time flies so quickly.

I remember I had to work at the hospital last year. I had only been working there for a month, so I wasn't going to ask for the day off. This year I have the day off, so I'm going to try and enjoy my time. I'll be able to pick up Sara from school today, and I imagine we'll all go out for dinner somewhere tonight.

"If you've got a steady job, a family to eat dinner with, and friends to drink beer with, you're doing pretty good. If you also happen to live in Texas, you're doing extremely good. In fact, there are only three things you need to know to have a decent life: 1. Don't mess with Texas. 2. Medium rare. and 3. Yes, I am ready for some football."

-Hank Hill, "King of the Hill"

Ok, so I'm not quite Hank Hill, but I guess by his criteria, my life isn't too bad.

The County Line BBQ

If there's one thing Texas is famous for, other than guns and cowboys, it's the bar-b-que. We've now been to three relatively famous BBQ chains here in Austin, and I have to say that after sampling "Rudy's" and "The Salt Lick", my new favorite is "The County Line."

I usually try the beef brisket, and Christy gets ribs. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but Christy, being Taiwanese, likes to get food that reminds her of the old night markets back home. I guess that ribs somehow reminds her of jee peegoo on a stick, so she loves it.

The beef brisket at the County Line is the best I've had yet. Very moist and juicy, unlike Rudy's, which can sometimes be dry. The restaurant itself has some nice scenery (the one we went to was on top of a hill overlooking Austin), and you have actual tables, instead of the typical long benches that you get in BBQ restaurants. The side dishes are also better as well. Also, just like "The Salt Lick", they have a band playing live music outside. They've also got a talking cow, which the kids found amusing.

We don't eat at BBQ restaurants very often. It's a little bit pricey, and beef isn't particularly good for you. But, not trying the BBQ in Texas is like going to China and not eating Chinese food.

(Pictures: 1. The County Line. 2. The talking cow. 3. Christy and the kids explore the patio. There wasn't anyone sitting out there because it was too hot. 4. The BBQ band begins to play. 5. The view from the patio.)

The Circus Comes to Austin

Here are just some of the pictures we took on Saturday night from the Ringling Brothers Circus here in Austin.

Overall, I enjoyed it more than the Elmo show that I took the kids to a while back. The Elmo show bored the hell out of me. This was more entertaining. It had some moments that fell flat, though: the clowns were not very interesting, the guy blowing bubbles was dull, and there was some comedy sketch with a girl on a trapeze that went nowhere. Still, the tigers, elephants, and the 7 motorcycles riding in the dome were pretty cool.

Sara and Kyle, as usual, started to lose interest around the 90 minute mark and started playing with the kids in the seats behind us.

(Pictures: 1. Arriving at the Circus. 2. The tigers contemplate eating their trainer. 3. Elephant tricks. Did any of the elephants go crazy during this performance and attack the audience? Unfortunately, no. 4. Kyle and Sara, looking at me instead of the show. 5. Circus performers.)

Austin Ice Cream Festival

On Saturday we went to the 3rd Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival. It sounded like a fun thing for the kids, although not necessarily for me. I don't really like these kinds of things. Too crowded, and too overpriced. Kids over 12 and adults had to pay $5 to get into the festival, and once inside, every single thing cost extra money. Petting zoo: $3. Pony rides: $5. Swing ride: $7. A single scoop of ice cream: $3. Parking: $7. To me, this kind of thing just isn't worth it. I'd rather go to Six Flags, pay one price, and be able to ride everything.

Also, for an Ice Cream Festival, it was surprising at how little ice cream there was. After walking around for a good 10 minutes, passing booths selling all kinds of junk and trinkets (and one booth was offering free fingerprinting for your kids), we finally saw three ice cream stands. There was one for "Austin Scoop", "Amy's Ice Cream" and "Dippin' Dots", and that was it, and they were located at the very back, with enormous lines for each one (even Dippin' Dots!)

I guess I wouldn't be quite so negative if it wasn't so damn hot. It's hard to enjoy any outdoor activity here in Austin when it's 105 degrees. I mean, why not have your watermelon, chocolate, and ice cream festivals when the weather is a little cooler? Why have them in the burning-hell days of summer?

This is my second summer in Austin and you'd think I would have learned my lesson by now. We've already had something like 55 days of over 100 degree temperatures here. From now on we're going to try to stick to indoor activities like museums (and next week we're going to the Circus.)

(Pictures: 1. Sara stands next to an empty ice cream truck. 2. The ice cream train, which also doesn't have ice cream. 3. Two dudes cruising the ice-cream scene. 4. Kyle finally gets to try some ice cream. 5. Sara and Kyle play with popsicle sticks, although I couldn't find popsicles for sale.)