With its anniversary approaching, we’ve been asked to republish our list of nine ways to commemorate September 11. Here’s the full post:

If you’re like us, when an anniversary as important as 9/11 approaches, you want to do something, but you’re not sure what. So as often as not, you just spend the day like any other.

Here are nine suggestions for commemorating 9/11 that may help you reconnect with that terrible day, as well as some of the valuable lessons it taught us (if in some cases we’ve already forgotten them):

1. Fly an American flag. Outside your door, on your lawn, or on your car. It’s the one symbol that binds us, and we’re all in this together.

2. Take time to reflect on the loved ones you have lost during your lifetime. Think about how much they meant to you; it will help you relate better to the emotions of the 9/11 victims’ families — as well as the families of all those who have died in war and terror in 9/11’s wake.

3. Treat people the way you did in the days immediately after the 9/11 attacks. Don’t honk your horn in traffic. Smile and say “good morning” to strangers you pass on the street. Call your friends and relatives just to tell them you care about them.

4. Listen at least twice as much as you talk. If you have a disagreement or confrontation with someone — over politics, religion, work or relationship issues, sports, you name it — try this exercise. Count it off in your head if you need to. Listening is learning; talking isn’t.

5. Don’t watch the major cable news channels. They simplify issues and stoke divisiveness to attract ratings; they’re about the heat of ego rather than the light of reason. If 9/11 taught us anything, it’s that the world needs more light and less heat.

6. Don’t listen to talk radio. Same reason.

7. Don’t read political blogs. Ditto.

8. Read the 9/11 Commission Report. We can best pay tribute to those lost, to those fighting, and to our own children by accepting our duty to be an informed citizenry. As Lee Hamilton says well, “In a democracy, public misperceptions carry an enormous cost.”

9. Finally, read the Bill of Rights. Consider it carefully, savoring every word.

[This post is a Media Orchard Classic.]

[Image source]

(Sorry…old habits die hard.)

Have you heard of Quechup?

I didn’t think I had, either, but I apparently signed up for it — when I was tricked into thinking it was a Facebook-like social networking site, and that I’d been invited by one of my blogging friends. For some time now, Quechup has been sending me e-mails saying I’m getting messages — all from attractive young women.

Needless to say, I didn’t bother to click the links back to the site and have allowed the messages to die a slow death in my spam folder. (I promise, honey.)

I don’t know who these women are — but let’s just say that way, way back, when I did actually use online dating sites, I didn’t get a message from a hot babe on an every-other-day basis.

So I’m assuming they’re about as real as those invitations to collect the 10 million pounds that a Nigerian refugee has left in a London bank.

But just in case I’m wrong, I have protected the identities of these lovely young women with some brilliant Photoshop manipulation. Here are the messages I’ve gotten just since April:

On a not related note, if you didn’t see this fall-on-the-floor-laughing TV news report on Spin Thicket, you have to watch it. It’s worth it.

Watch out for those Chinese capitalists; we’ve taught them well. (Emphasis added below.)

—–Original Message—–
From: terry.wang [mailto:terry.wang@sh-net.net.cn]
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:50 PM
To: cbaradell
Cc: info
Subject: The dispute about idea grove

Dear Cathy Baradell:

We are Shanghai NET Network Service Co.,Ltd,which is the domain name register center in China.I have something need to confirm with you.

We received a formal application from a company who is called “Lawson(USA)Venture Capital Co.,Ltd” are applying to register “ideagrove” as their domain name and Internet Brand in China and also in Asia on Apr 2nd 2008. During our auditing procedure we find out that the alleged Meiao Co.,Ltd has no trade mark, brand nor patent even similar to that word. As authorized anti-cybersquatting organization we hereby suspect the alleged Lawson(USA)Venture Capital Co.,Ltd to be a domain grabber. Hence we need you confirmation for two things,

First of all, whether this alleged Lawson(USA)Venture Capital Co.,Ltd is your business partner or distributor in China.

Secondly, whether you are interested in registering these domains. (The alleged Lawson company will be entitled to obtain a domain not needed by original trademark owner.)

If you are not in charge of this please transfer this email to appropriate dept.

This is a letter for confirmation. If the mentioned third party is your business partner or distributor in China please DO NOT reply. We will automatically confirm application from your business partner after this audit procedure.

Best regards,
Terry Wang
Register Department
Shanghai NET Network Service Co.,Ltd
Tel: 0086-21-51750335
FAX: 0086-21-51750301
Website: www.sh-net.net.cn
E-mail: terry.wang@sh-net.net.cn

The Idea Grove, parent company of Media Orchard, has announced the termination of blogger Poopypants McGee in a brief statement.

The statement read as follows:

The Idea Grove, parent company of Media Orchard, has announced the termination of blogger Poopypants McGee.

Thank you.