Author: Chris

Hudson’s Heroes

The recent emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson river has made me think of three things.

First, after reading this story, it is entirely possible for people to keep their shit together in this day and age.  There were few people who acted in a ignorant manner, but the common sense of the majority prevailed for once.

I love this quote from an article over on NyTimes.

Nick Gamache, 32, a software salesman, had moments earlier sent his wife a text message that read, “Planes on fire love you and the kids,” so he was naturally in a hurry to update her. But he paused as the pilot told him to carefully step into the raft.

Could you imaging being on the recieving end of that txt?  What the wife must have thought when she saw that, sitting at her desk at work, at home with the kids, or out running errands?  How mind blowing.  

Then to hear on the news that there was in fact a crash landing.  Crazy.

Second thing that amazes me most is the amount of video footage there is of the actual crash itself.

While I’m well aware we live in an time where almost everything is monitored this still blows my mind.  Upon the first time hearing of the crash I just knew that given enough time some form of footage would appear.

Third and final is the lack of appreciation our society places on older people.  While Captian Sullenberg is only 57, thats a few shy years from the forced retirement age of 60.

If a dude who is that close to retiring can land a fricking plane, in the middle of a river what else are people his age (and older) capable of?

We should all respect those with wisdom and experiences far greater than ours.  

For those who are interested Jason Kottke has more on the crash, including a few other videos.

Top 10 for 2008

According to iTunes these are the top 10 songs added to my library in the last year. This doesn’t count all the tracks I’ve played on my antique CD player.  Which would greatly skew these results if added.

  1. Electric Feel – MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
  2. Dashboard – Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
  3. A-Punk – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
  4. You Don’t Know Me – Ben Flolds – Way to Normal
  5. Don’t You Evah – Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Damn Robots Fault)
  6. How Deep is Your Love – The Bird and the Bee – Please Clap Your Hands – EP
  7. Time To Pretend – MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
  8. Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
  9. Supermassive Black Hole – Muse – Black Holes & Revelations (Thank you Allison!)
  10. Oh What A World – Rufus Wainwright – Want One

So some of these songs came out earlier than 2008 which doesn’t make this list entirely accurate in calling it the best of 2008, so with another smart playlist I have the top 10 songs from 2008 according to iTunes.

  1. You Don’t Know Me – Ben Folds
  2. Something Good (Van She 08 Radio Edit) – Utah Saints
  3. Pork and Beans –  Weezer
  4. Electric Feel (Justice Remix) – MGMT
  5. Soviet Connection – Michael Hunter
  6. Loose Lips – Kimya Dawson
  7. Lost – Coldplay
  8. No Sex For Ben – The Rapture
  9. Viva La Vida – Coldplay
  10. Here’s The Thing – Girl Talk 

Best Christmas Present Ever

I am very grateful for the company of my friends and family this holiday season. Their companionship and generosity are something I am truly luckily to have. Gifts do not equal love. I want to stress that I’m not a total capitalist, but I do have one gift that stands out above all the rest that I can’t help mentioning.

Awesome Pen

This pen.
This isn’t just any pen. In fact it’s THREE pens in one. Not just blue or black, but 3 different colors! It’s an awesome translucent neon orange that houses THREE PENS and A HIGHLIGHTER. Now, the manufacturer could have stopped there, but they made it COCONUT scented. It’s like writing while sitting on a beach enjoying a… coconut.

To make it even better it has my familial designation in bold type across it’s side. Like the name of a sailing vessel it boldy claims it’s unique name. UNCLE. This is not a normal pen. It is a pen for UNCLES.

I was given this AWESOME PEN by my neice, Audrey. The story goes that she was good in school and as a reward was able to ‘purchase’ a gift for a family member. Not only am I lucky to have my very own AWESOME ORANGE 3 COLOR UNCLE PEN WITH A COCONUT SCENTED HIGHLIGHTER, but I was chosen to be the recipient of her gift.

Thank you Audrey. I love you and can not express how much I love this pen.