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DEREK JETER

Derek Jeter: class and dignity. Congrats to the captain who tonight became the all time NY Yankees hit leader surpassing the legendary Lou Gehrig. Above is the now iconic photo of Jeter's gritty catch against hated rivals Boston in 2004. The play has come to symbolize a player whose intangibles can only be truly appreciated by those privileged enough to watch him day in and day out.

FLIGHT 93: JEREMY GLICK AND THE PINNACLE OF HEROISM

FLIGHT 93: THE PINNACLE OF HEROISM:  

Jeremy Glick, the epitomy of an American Hero

" It was a tragic fate, but when I heard he was on Flight 93, my first thought, aside from the shock , was that he was absolutely the perfect person to be in that situation for the country." said Jon Dirienzo a close college friend to Jeremy Glick at the university of Rochester. Glick died a hero as a leader of passengers aboard the tragic Flight 93. 

Flight 93 took off from Newark airport  that fateful September 11th morning, and was taken over by hijackers 40 minutes into the flight and diverted towards Washington DC. Passengers and crew members made calls about the flight and learned about the attack on the Twin Towers. Passengers then, led by Glick, decided to mount their own attack.

"We're going to rush the terrorists," was apparently the last words Glick ushered to his wife by phone before derailing the plans of what was supposed to be another plane headed for symbolic destruction. Of the four flights that day, only flight 93 was the only one that failed to reach it's destination (the other three hitting both towers and the Pentagon).

"Jeremy was complex. There was a stunning sensitive side to him. He could be a big strong scary guy and a gentle giant. He also had an aura about him. People took notice when he was around; a shining star with a bigger purpose. Jeremy was a National Judo champ, extremely adept at using his hands. My image of Jeremy in that situation, his complexities, his fear because of his months old daughter, his aggressive side putting his whole skill set to use..without Jeremy things would not have turned that way for the country."

The terrorist's intended destination for Flight 93 has never been factually established but many felt that it had to be on it's way towards the White House, given that New York city landmark Twin Towers had been hit. Wild conspiracy theories always add to the intrigue of tragedies. A popular one regarding Flight 93  is that the flight was shot down by the Bush administration.

"I'm sure he knew he was gonna die and they (passengers on Flight 93) quickly knew what their purpose was. I bet that in his eyes his number one goal was to break their necks...get his hands around someone."

As we reflect on 9-11 on the eight anniversary of perhaps the darkest day in American history, it's too east to politicize the story through some partisan lense for political gain. As someone who woke up the sounds of the first plane hitting the North tower at 8:45 am, this 9-11 has been about reflecting upon the unfortunate victims of a political game bigger than them, as well as those like Gloick,who gave of themselves for others.

"To be thrown into that position, to know that there is a bigger picture, to step up and rise to that moment, is the pinnacle of heroism. Jeremy was destined for that moment."

above: Jeremy Glick center, with college friends . 

SHOCK AND AWESOME: 9-11 A LOOK BACK

On Shock and Awesome today, Yetta Kurland, running for NY City Council in the "Hellsea district" gave her thoughts on term limits, Prop 8 and a host of other issues that form the basis of a platform that will be put to test against incumbent Christy Quinn on voting day Sept 15.

The duo took a look back at the tragedies of 9-11 with personal accounts as well as a running account from 1010 WINS that TJ taped as he walked to the street before witnessesing the second plane hit the Towers.

In addition to the 9-11 tape, TJ and the TUX (above) celebrated the release of the Beatles remasters in conjunction with the release of Beatles Rock Band ,by playing selections of old Mono recordings. Obama found the swagger that swept a nation last year but will his speech on Health care change the outcome? Republican house member Joe Wilson's now famous "You Lie!" was a window into the anger that breathes under the surface of the leaderless GOP. It was also a dramatic highlight that symbolized the contentious culture that exists in Washington as we exit the Summer and move head on into the Fall. Ex Misfits guitarist Bobby Steele strolled by to talk 9-11 and his thoughts on Obama.

It's fashion week people get your suits pressed and your dresses ready. It's time to walk the cat walk with confidence, attitude, and of course, with class and style. Wanna get into the private parties. Do what Shock and Awesome does. Dress over the top, stroll up the velvet rope and fake it . Look like you've been there before.

SHOCK AND AWESOME: 9-11 SHOW

Yetta Kurland (above), running NY City council joins the dynamic duo at 11 am in the booth to discuss her run for a seat this year. Barack Obama mirrored Fleet week with Speech week, ending up in DC at in front of the joint Congress to talk about health care. Republican Joe Wilson shouted the now famous "you lie!"in the middle of it, while TJ and the TUX enjoyed the drama. Acorn is hooking up pimps and whores with tax forms and hey, it's 9-11. Let's back and honor the fallen but also ask ourselves, where the hell are we with all of this? 

9-11 : STILL AT WAR, NO OSAMA, SOLDIERS STILL DYING

Republicans today are accusing the President of giving a partisan speech Wednesday night. What's up with the thin skin fellas? You mean the "socialist" and the 'Hitler" and the "death panel comments" weren't worth responding to? C'mon guys toughen up. Surely "you are either with us or against us" wasn't a partisan ploy to pressure those opposed to the Iraq war in 2002 right? Instead of crying about Obama's response about "bogus claims" how about giving real alternative ideas  It's not the difference of  your opinions that makes your complaints a political motive, it's the harsh tactics of making Obama out to be  the next Marxist that's causing the problem. Stick to the issues and how to improve them. Now that's an idea.

Acorn gave advice to a pair filming a conservative documentary, who were posing as a pimp and a prostitute. Noting that the pimp should write "performing artist" on tax forms. Damn, that's awful. And brilliant at the same time. In fact, thanks for the free advice ACORN, that's what we're gonna do next tax season. Should of thought of that this year, damn.

On this anniversary of 9-11, let me quote a good friend who posted on Facebook that this morning he "is remembering 9/11. Countrys still at war, no real construction, no Osama, soldiers still dying, fireman still sick...we could have done better as a country." Much will be publicized and politicized as to the heroic efforts of so many on that day and days since. My friend brings up a great point though. Reflection on 9-11 can't stop at the tragedy alone. It's not enough.Today let's look back and honor the fallen, but let's also take stock of where we are and where we are going with all of this. Let's get a complete use out of the emotions of this day.

WILSON'S SLIP IS A WINDOW INTO THE GOP'S VIEW OF OBAMA

I couldn't help but wonder out loud today what Republican Joe Wilson's "You Lie" slip REALLY meant last night. The South Carolina delegate shouted this after Obama claimed that illegal immigrants would not be covered by a public option should one be available in a new health care plan.

It reminded me of my own steaming anger I've had at times at those I've worked with on various projects in Downtown circles since moving to NYC before Whole Foods and Starbucks made it look like Bergen County. Anger and frustration build up under the surface to a point where a tipping point moment happens and without the ability to control emotions, an improper statement is made. Improper in it's timing, yet somehow revealing in it's emotion. The problem with Wilson's apology is that he's been TOO apologetic this morning, and like Obama, has lacked sufficient detail as to what the true basis of his and the GOP's disdain for Obama and his governing style is. 

Wilson was perhaps unintentionally bold in shouting over the President. He's intentionally been a coward since. He sat there like many politicans last night, expecting Obama to risk even more political capital by further detailing a plan that still needs work from the House and Senate. Wilson stood up and got into the fray. NOW Wilson is afraid to take on the risk of his own political capital and make a full and complete case for the GOP as to what about the core of Obama's presidency bothers them. It's too bad. Maybe the GOP missed an accidental moment at finding a face and a voice for some reasonable opposition.

We all saw House members waving their health care plans in response to Obama's suggestion that if the opposition has ideas, show them to him. This falls under the same category in one respect. People need to stop waving papers and shouting out from the balcony and start laying out problems and solutions on the table. In full view. For all of us to see.

I won't rush to judgement on Wilson's "moment." We've all had them: Bottled up and ready to burst,  little issues build to a boiling point where no matter the venue or event, an uncontrollable and unavoidable outburst takes place. I will ask Wilson and those waving papers to help us see what is happening behind closed doors by explaining where the TRUE anger stems from. It can't be from the health care issue alone. 

Maybe it's more than  just Obama's viewpoint regarding policy. Maybe Washington vets are still seething at how the new kid took the country by storm. Maybe the anger and the dropping poll numbers the President has been receiving this Summer have now taken on a life of their own. Whatever the case may be, Wilson , by apologizing without offering what led him to perhaps become THE window into the mindset of  the entire GOP, has seemingly slipped away. An opportunity lost, with the same congenial, middle of the road behavior that naysayers come down on Obama for.

above: Joe Wilson going apeshit last night during the President's address to a Joint Congress