In Memory of Steve Jobs

February 1955 - October 2011

‎"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." - Steve Jobs

10 years later

This morning I took my family to watch the Sep 11 memorial ceremony at San Jose's Fire Station 1.  Among the fire engines and police motorcycles, flashing lights, the sound of bag pipes playing, children running up and down the street, one thing kept nagging at me, trying to get my attention.  It finally succeeded during one of the many long winded speeches made by the various local politicians, bureaucrats, and other empty suits...

"After 10 years, 2 wars, thousands of lives lost, tens of thousands of lives destroyed, and trillions of dollars spent, not a god dam thing has changed..."

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, you will be missed!

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The world has lost a committed freedom fighter today.  Someone who willingly sacrificed his own freedom in an attempt to protect our right to die on our own terms.

Jack Kevorkian, you will always have my respect.

Remembering Terri

Today I am remembering Terri Schiavo, who was finally allowed to die on 3/31/05 after being the center of a fight about the power of the government to interfere with a husband making end of life decisions for his wife.

Today we must remember to not allow our government to become so intrusive that they begin violating our privacy and interfering with personal, family decisions.

Death

"R" died last night... Or this morning... Not sure which. All I know is that I found him this morning, and it appeared obvious to me that it wasn't a pleasant passing.