i-tees

In the last few weeks, I’ve been glued to both the internet and the TV (more than usual) for the latest on the world’s efforts to rescue the Haitian people in their time of need.

Photo from iStockPhoto.com

More than ever, I can’t help but notice the ridiculous ads that come up during the commercial breaks. I totally understand that if it weren’t for these advertisers, CNN or other news channels wouldn’t be on the air, or be able to pay the reporter’s and crew’s salaries and expenses when they travel to places like Haiti and we’ve got to have them, otherwise how would we stay informed. See the reality of it all.

I wonder sometimes what these advertisers are thinking? When I see advertising for luxury cars, luxury vacations, and the pharmaceutical products, most of which we don’t need, how can they put these ads up during times of crisis and think we’ll be interested in what they’re selling?

I must say that when I see an ad where a sports celebrity or company has created a new and timely ad, one where they are saying they will be donating to help the cause, I’m much more likely to respect that company and perhaps buy their product in the future.

Thanks for inventing the mute button. That helps.

It’s been almost two weeks since the catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti. I watch the news, mostly CNN, everyday and it’s hard to have hope, when I see the destruction, damage and the Haitian people on the edge. For them to still be finding people is utterly amazing. I cannot imagine anything worse than being buried alive, and someone was pulled out yesterday after 11 days.

I am doing what I can as a citizen of the world, which is to donate money. I donated right after it happened, to Doctors Without Borders, then to the “Hope For Haiti Now” fund. This morning, I downloaded the album “Hope For Haiti Now” from itunes, which gives 100% of the proceeds to the fund. Listening to the album today, twice so far, these artists take my breath away. You can really hear the anguish and sadness from these musicians and you know they care. Thanks to George Clooney and all the celebrities for doing their part. Hopefully the telethon will replay soon, however tonight at 8PM, on CNN, if you didn’t see it, watch Larry King Live “How You Can Help Haiti”, and donate whatever you can, every little bit adds up.

I’ve learned so much these past 2 weeks about the Haitian people and as I see each reporter’s story unfold, I cannot thank Anderson Cooper 360, Dr. Sanjay Gupta (my new HERO) and the rest of the CNN staff for bringing it to us. The Haitian people have strong faith and an unbelievable will. To see them singing in spite of their situation and yelling their love for family members, children or spouses, while still pinned under rubble, just made me cry, sometimes with hope and sometimes with sadness. Let’s hope CNN will continue to report from Haiti for a long time to come, so the people of the world don’t forget. CNN can keep us informed and we can continue to help these people.

What will become of the tens of thousands of orphaned children, and the homeless? Haiti has a long road of rebuilding ahead. Hopefully we can help them rebuild stronger, perhaps greener and let’s get it under way very, very soon. Once the rain comes, it will make a dire situation, so much worse.

I couldn’t sleep and got up early this morning because I was going to my first Yankees World Series, ticker-tape parade. Being a diehard Yankee fan, and feeling like a kid going to my first parade, what could be more exciting? Oh, it was a Yankee parade and had all the Yankee players in it!

We bought our ferry tickets from Hoboken to the World Financial Center, and all boarded the boat, to take us across. Yankee shirts, jackets, and hats, of course, worn by all, and if you needed a shirt or hat, everything including blow up bats were for sale, once on the streets in lower Manhattan. You know I bought another Yankees 27th World Series t-shirt!

Fans watching the Yankees World Series Parade 2009

The sea of people moved along slowly toward the Parade route and we all looked up the streets continuing on, to see if there would be any room to get close enough, to see anything. We walked a few blocks and finally just chose a street. Inching, bit by bit, we made it within a fair distance to the Parade route, but couldn’t see very much. I’d never been so tightly squished and for the most part everyone was orderly and patient. Cheering rose up every time someone saw something. The parade seemed to go a bit slow and fans were getting restless and claustrophobic, including myself.

Fans were doing all they could like climbing trees and buildings, anything to get high enough to catch a glimpse. I took some photographs (see my gallery) of the fans, crowds and tried to get the floats, but it wasn’t easy. You’ll see in one photo I did catch Hideki Matsui, just barely! Whoo Hoo! Even though it was hard to see most of the Parade, it was thrilling to be among the million fans that came out to show the Yankees how much we love them. The Yankee players and the Yankee fans are the greatest!

Below is a little video I found on YouTube.com, from the New York Post, which shows the Yankee players on floats in the parade, comments from Yogi Berra, Jaba Chamberlain, Reggie Jackson, Phil Coke, Derek Jeter, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher and Mayor Bloomberg handing out keys to the city and of course the millions of fans. I’m in there somewhere!

Today I went with a friend to see the film documentary, This Is It featuring Michael Jackson. Already knowing that he was a musical genius; having listened, danced and sung along to his Bad and Thriller albums, among others, it was fascinating to watch a behind the scenes glimpse into the synchronized dancing, music, set, film, effects and more that make up one his elaborate staged productions.

Being a man in his prime when he died, and being about the same age myself, it has been very hard for me to realize he’s gone. We’ve been mystified by the media before, so sometimes I think he’s going to reappear and say, “just kidding.” But I suspect this time, it isn’t going to happen.

The film shows what goes on when preparing a production for a superstar like Michael Jackson and all that is involved. Dancers, singers, musicians, directors, producers, videographers, animators, technicians, clothing designers, lighting technicians, and a production crew and Michael of course, center stage, creating and rehearsing over and over. Amazing film sequences to be played in the background, on a screen, adding to the total experience, so the audience becomes one with the performers on the stage. The timing of the music and dance has to be perfect, the moving set design, and clothing design which was to be state-of-the-art with lighting effects sewn right in.

Leaving the theater, all I could think about was the enormous effort by all the people involved. The amazing experience it must have been building what sure to be an unbelievable show, and what a tragedy to lose Michael Jackson before they had a chance to show the world something awesome and meaningful. His message to us seemed to be, “This Is It” meaning we have a limited time to fix our planet before it’s too late and we’re on a course we cannot correct. Watch this video “Earth song” from the HIStory CD.

Like many shows that come to a close, these performers and crew have to go their separate ways, having never actually performed the show live. Perhaps letting us see this documentary will have to do. It certainly features some amazing young talent that shines through.

I will have my albums, cds, video downloads to watch and listen to, but I know that a truly gifted artist has left us way too soon.