about lots of things

[Madelon Umlauf]

the WTC buildings were not great architecture. what if
the terrrrorrrrists had a Western sensibility to good
architecture? they might have picked the Chrysler
building which is almost as tall and is a masterpiece
with its stainless steel Art Deco gargoyles. 

in the operational planning of it, 2 100 storey buildings 
at the south tip of Manhattan, highjacking 2 fully fueled 
up airliners and navigating under considerable
stress while practicing Islamic meditation therapy and
mummbling prayers, hitting the WTC towers was their 
way of trying to plant a dagger into the heart of their enemy,
America the Great Satan.

but what if they had instructed the their highjackers to 
aim for midtown Manhattan? fly down the Hudson from
high enough to see the whole Manhattan conurbation
and aim for the tallest collection of skyscrapers which
is just below the south end of easily spotted Central Park
from 59th street to 34th street where the Empire State
building stands.

now THAT would have been a dagger in the heart!

i visited so-called Ground Zero last summer and
it is a teeny tiny bit of real estate surrounded by
a chain-link fence. big fucking deal! 40,000 neighbors
meet death on the highway ever year colliding in their
absurd road chariots and they are just blips on the 
local TV news.

and the new highest highrise in Austin (36 stories) 
according to its architect was inspired by the Chrysler
building. if only it were 3x as tall! I can just see it from 
my living room. so please drop by & have a beer with 
me this month for Auld Lang Syne. phone # is 479-6290

Mike