Steve Jobs

Derek, this guy Steve Jobs had his hand on everything in the computer world of Silicon Valley. He saved the Apple Company. His company made the computer this blog is being written on. It is 7 years old and still going strong. Apple has become an Icon in our world son. I know you are just a little guy now but you will understand one day. As for you, things are great! You are growing so fast little buddy. You still love your mommy's milk but you are starting to come around to dad being a support person for you. You call for me in the morning now and let me feed you your medicine. You have now started to to say the letter S at times. I think you are going to be talking before we know it. You are a wonderful young man! I love you son! You are growing up so fast!! Tiger Woods is going to play golf here in San Martin today. Unfortunately this nut killed 3 people yesterday in Cupertino as well. I don't know what to make of it. Looks like he snapped for some reason! He is a single dad and had been working for a long time. Aside from that baseball playoffs are going on these days and there is no NBA because greedy people don't want to negociate. There is another group called Occupy Wall Street is literally protesting on Wall Street. I love it son. These guys represent the 99% of Americans who are hurting by the economic downtown. The people who work on Wall Street are making major bucks while the rest of the country is suffering. I will give you a little more info from the web! http://occupywallst.org/ Tributes pour in for 'our Edison' By Mike Swift mswift@mercurynews.com Posted: 10/05/2011 08:27:01 PM PDT Updated: 10/06/2011 04:58:50 AM PDT Related Stories * Oct 6: * As fans continue to mourn, Apple and Wall Street back at work * Oct 5: * Steve Jobs: pop cultural icon * Steve Jobs 1955-2011 * O'Brien: Why we all feel the passing of Steve Jobs so deeply * Jobs family's statement on death of Apple founder * Mercury News editorial: Steve Jobs' passing is a sad milestone * CEO Tim Cook's letter to Apple employees announcing Steve Jobs' death * Live chat: Talk about Steve Jobs' death * Apple co-founder and Silicon Valley pioneer Steve Jobs is dead * Google, Facebook CEOs and others in tech world react to death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs Late Wednesday afternoon, Apple (AAPL) switched its Internet home page, normally decked out with its iconic products, to a single image: A full-page portrait of Steve Jobs, tugging his beard and staring intently into the camera with the hint of an impish smile. The man who taught Silicon Valley that its future was limitless was gone. Almost immediately, condolences and praise flowed in -- from President Barack Obama and the valley business titans Jobs had inspired, to the thousands of people who posted Good Morning Silicon Valley * After Steve Jobs, an empty pedestal hugs and tears in 140 characters on Twitter and the children who placed flowers before a small orchard in front of Jobs' Palo Alto home. Apple announced the death of Jobs, who had been suffering from a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with a somber statement to the media. Jobs, who had stepped down as CEO in August as his health declined, died peacefully earlier Wednesday at his home, surrounded by his family. "Apple has lost a visionary and creative leader, and the world has lost an amazing human being," said the company, which is asking people to email their memories and condolences to rememberingsteve@apple.com. "Steve leaves behind a Advertisement company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." Obama tweeted, "Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. From all of us at #Obama2012, thank you for the work you make possible every day -- including ours." Google (GOOG) also changed its home page, with its characteristic minimalism: "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011" -- a link that led back to Apple's website. Jobs' legacy will always revolve around Apple and Pixar, the studio that created a string of animated Hollywood hits such as the "Toy Story" movies, and the transformational products they created. But he also had a direct and personal impact on the lives and careers of other tech visionaries -- from 27-year- old Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who once hoped to hire him as Google's CEO. When Zuckerberg recently introduced a new Facebook feature called Timeline, a feature the CEO called "the story of your life," his home page had a photo of Jobs, whom Zuckerberg has grown close to in recent years. "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend," Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page Wednesday. "Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you." Page said that despite Jobs' poor health, the Apple leader reached out to offer his help when Page became Google's CEO in April. "He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it," Page wrote in a posting on Google+. "He was very kind to reach out to me as Flowers lay beside condolences written on the sidewalk in front Steve Jobs Flowers lay beside condolences written on the sidewalk in front Steve Jobs' Palo Alto home on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. (Kirstina Sangsahachart / Bay Area News Group) I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well." And the man who once may have been Jobs' fiercest competitor and who later became a friend, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, wrote in a blog post about memories going back nearly 30 years. "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come," Gates wrote. "I will miss Steve immensely." Jobs was simply, writer-director Albert Brooks wrote on Twitter, "our Edison." Apple CEO Tim Cook informed Apple employees of Jobs' death in an email late Wednesday afternoon, saying the company would soon hold a memorial service for employees. "No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him," Cook told Apple's employees. "We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much." Jobs may have provided his own best eulogy in the commencement address he gave at Stanford in 2005, when he spoke emotionally about quitting school, getting fired from Apple, and being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 49. For many graduates that day, like J.T. Batson of Augusta, Ga., now the president of Donovan Data Systems, Jobs' words that afternoon still resonate. "What hit home for me was his message to wake up every morning and look yourself in the mirror -- and if you're not excited about that day, you need to change what you're doing," Batson said. "And that death is a great motivator, so we all need to take full advantage of our time. Lastly, his advice to 'stay hungry, stay foolish.' I now tell that story to people who work for me." Staff writers Lisa M. Krieger, Karen De Sa and Troy Wolverton contributed to this report. Contact Mike Swift at 408-271-3648. Follow him at Twitter.com/swiftstories.

Hi Son, It is Sept 13th 2011, two days after the 10th anniversary of Sept 11th attacks on the US. The world is a tricky place these days with a very high unemployment rate among other things. We have a high poverty rate these days too since many people have lost their jobs and homes in recent years. You will learn about that at a different time. As for you! You are growing so fast my man. You love your mama so much! She is the center of your life to say the least. You wake up every day saying mamamama . I would love for you to say ddadadada but I know that takes a bit more time as you figure out my role in your life. You are walking everywhere as well. I love taking you out and about and watching you explore. So far you are not in to everything yet but I think you will be doing something like that soon. We have been busy doing a lot of upkeep on the house, trying to get it ready for winter. We have just changed some of the front yard to make sure it doesn't float away. Your dad loves doing yard work and so do you. It is fun to watch you sweeping the house trying to copy daddy. This morning you cried for the first time when I dropped you off. I could see in your eyes that you wanted to stay with your dad for the day. Believe me if I could I would hang out with you all day too. I wish that I had more time for just you and I during the week. It is tough having to work full time and being a dad. Your dad's job doesn't require him to be in an office all the time but I do have to be ready to go at any time. I work with foster kids right now which is a rewarding job but it doesn't pay well. Your mom and I are trying very hard to make life better for you so that you have all the opportunities that we have had. This morning you were so good. You ate your medicine with food so easily this morning. I was amazed. I guess it was because Uncle Carlo the nurse was here to watch. It took you 5 minutes!! Great job my boy! You even tried to sweep the floor this morning for Uncle Carlo. Well done son! This weekend your dad is going to the American Le Mans Series Race in Laguna Seca. I am so excited to be going to see the big Aston Martin V12 engined car race! This is the only V12 car that races in the US. You have no idea how long it has been since I have seen a V12 engined car race. It is a 6.0 litre V12 derived from their street car. I will take lots of pictures and videos for you and then we can go when you are older. Your grandmother was really nervous to hear that I was going to take you when you are three. She actually said when your 25 to protect your ears. Your grandfather laughed at this. Hopefully your dad will and grandfather will go to Austin next year to see the USGP! We'll see my son! Your dad loves racing!!! He loves Formula One and Sports Cars. His favorite team is.... Ferrari but Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel are killing it how. He is an amazing driver. Anyway, will write more later!

The Skunk Whisperer

Wow son your life is going by so fast. It is the first week of September and you have now been camping 3 times. This last time was in Portola Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We went with Eric and Jen as well as Meg and Brenden. It was lots of fun, eating, talking cooking and and of course skunking. Yes, skunking. We had a skunk in the campground after you went to sleep. Jen and Eric and I were sitting there talking when suddenly Eric gets quiet and covers his eyes to see if what he saw was true. He announced there's a skunk! I was mortified. Skunks and spray 8 ft and are just plain nervous. Eric then said, the skunk is under my chair. Lucky for him he and Jen were very cool customers! Meanwhile your dad bolted! He didn't want anything to do with our little fury friend! This went on for about 20 minutes but amazingly the skunk just wanted to check things out. The skunk never sprayed or even tried to eat anything, eventhough we had been eating smores which you loved too! Anyway, that made for a very memorable evening to say the least. The next day we woke up and went for great hike in the Redwoods and you got play in Tip Toe falls! Named for it's amazingly cold water I believe. The weather was great and everyone had a great time.

Your second cousins have been in town this week too from Florida. We have eaten meal after meal out with tons of delicious food. You eat anything at this point which is great since your mother and I try to give you anything. It was hot today reaching 93 degrees but the house is really good at staying cool which is a blessing. Your walking everywhere as well. You are pretty cautious at times which is understandable since this is your 3rd week of getting around on your feet. You love sweeping too. You have a little broom which serves you well and you really don't want to share it with anyone right now. You know I hope you continue to clean up after yourself when you get older. You are so cute and seem to be copying daddy when he cleans up the garage. You and I are getting closer as you realize my role in your life but you are still a momma's boy and love your Aunties! You were crying tonight with daddy and you wanted mommy but daddy needed his time with you and decided to give you some love. We read books and played in the room until you really needed your mommy. Your aunties tried to help me but I told them it was my time and you seemed to be good with it too. It is my belief that you need balance in your life and right now I am not providing that for you but I am trying as you get older my role will become more prominent to you. I look forward to us bonding and building a strong father son relationship. You are my little guy and I want to do anything to help you succeed in life!

The economy is rough right now with as much as 16% unemployment in some places. The future is looking bleak for the US but it could turn around. I want you to have good values and morals and know how to do as many things as possible so that you can be prepared for the next economy in the US. I was talking gardening with Eric this weekend. He is the master at this. You too will learn from him. Ok my boy, dad needs to go to sleep! Love, Dad, Sweet dreams little fellow.

One year and 26days

Hi little buddy. You are quite active these days. Your interests include airplanes, food, girls, mommy and dogs. You first walked about one week before your first birthday at your mom's co-worker's house. Thao had her daughters birthday but you were the real center of attention. For some reason I wanted to see if you could walk and you amazingly could. The young girls at the party were so amazed by you and wanted to see you walk so they really pushed you. Then your daddy and mommy decided to push you at home too but that didn't work, for some reason you gave up! Then about a week ago you decided it was time again at Ann and Mike's home. You were a trooper, walking all over their home. Honestly I felt a little sad that night because their son Sammy cannot walk because he has some bad physical aliments that don't allow him to have good balance. You will learn more about this as you get older and I hope that you can help him reach his goal of walking one day. I know that you all will be lifetime friends. Walking is quite easy for you as the days pass. You get better balance and can really walk if you put your mind to it. You have lots of friend's in the neighborhood as you are the youngest on the block as of now. Most of our neighbors are Mexican American or of some other Hispanic nationality. They all love you so much, especially Edwin. He is from El Salvador and I believe he is an only child like you. His story is amazing. I will let him tell you one day.

Right now you are being treated for TB as well. Your Uncle gave it to you during the winter when you were being baby sat by Aunt Nancy at your grand mother's house. He was sick for 6 months before he went to the doctor. Believe it or not you were so sick my son. Honestly, I thought you might not make it. You had lots of test done on you at Kaiser Hospital. Your doctors tried everything to help you get better. Dr Purdy and Dr. Nguyen have been looking after you. Dr. Nguyen has a new baby now and you are seeing a different doctor but she is good. You are taking medicine every morning unfortunately but it is something your mother and I decided that we should do for you. There are nurses that come to see you every morning to make sure you take it as well. But let's write more about the good side of things.