17 Years Ago, Today...

We Will Never Forget. That has been this nation's mantra since the 1-year anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks ever on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001. I remember where I was on that fateful day—at home, having a day off from class (I started my fourth year in college a few weeks earlier), and turning on the TV to see what was transpiring in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC that morning. I forgot what prompted me to switch on the TV after I got out of bed that day, but the image above will be imprinted on my mind forever. Of course, it will be imprinted on the minds of 300 million other Americans (and folks around the world) as well. And it should be... We Will Never Forget.


Image courtesy of Eric Eisenhour - Facebook

Remembering 9/11...

Today marks 14 years since that fateful day which would change the geopolitical landscape of the U.S. and the world forever. Just thought I'd commemorate this anniversary by sharing this terrific photo of the 1 World Trade Center...which now stands tall and proud in New York City and serves as a reminder that the greatest nation on this planet will not succumb to those cowardly enough to resort to terrorism to achieve their destructive aims on September 11, 2001.


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook

Photos of the Day: The Wilshire Grand Center Continues to Take Shape...

Just thought I'd end this month by sharing these cool progress photos of what will soon be the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River. The Wilshire Grand Center is scheduled to open in downtown Los Angeles two years from now...and based on these pics, the construction remains right on schedule (not to jinx it or anything) for its grand debut. Unlike the other buildings that dot L.A.'s skyline, I plan to visit this tower once it opens to the public in 2017. Of course, if I had enough money to spare on another trip to New York, I'd check out the 1 World Trade Center first! Oh well.


Image courtesy of Wilshire Grand Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of Wilshire Grand Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of Wilshire Grand Center - Facebook

1 WTC: Now Open for Business!

Taylor Mason / NY on Air

After beginning construction more than eight years ago, the 1 World Trade Center has opened its doors today to its main tenant (the magazine conglomerate, Condé Nast) and the public who are eager to visit Manhattan's newest iconic skyscraper. Here are some photos of America's tallest building to commemorate today's grand opening...


Image courtesy of WTC Progress - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook

13 Years Ago, Today...

We Will Never Forget. That has been this nation's mantra since the 1-year anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks ever on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001. While the photos above and below show how far New York City has come since its Twin Towers were taken out by two airliners that fateful morning, the threat to this country still remains as serious as ever. Al-Qaeda has not been the same since Osama bin Laden was eliminated by American Special Forces more than three years ago, but the rise of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) in Iraq and Syria exemplifies that the U.S. and its allies need to be increasingly vigilant for extremist groups that will emerge to replace Al-Qaeda as a major menace to peace and freedom-loving nations (President Obama proved this when he went in front of the TV camera last night to address the American public on how the U.S. will move forward to "degrade and ultimately defeat" the ISIS threat). Here's hoping that ISIS will eventually be eliminated, with its demise joining the diminishing (but still-present) danger posed by al-Qaeda—and other counter-terrorist victories such as the U.S. airstrike that caused the death of Somali terrorist leader Ahmed Abdi Godane a little over a week ago—as signs that America and other countries with free societies will not rest until terrorists are either neutralized or brought to justice around the globe. That is all.


Image courtesy of Eric Eisenhour - Facebook

1 WTC: Photos of the Day...

Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook

It's been a while since I posted an entry about New York City's (and America's) newest symbol of greatness on this Blog, so just thought I'd share these cool photos that I found on Facebook. The 1 World Trade Center is expected to open to the public later this year.


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook


Image courtesy of One World Trade Center - Facebook

New York Shows Solidarity for the Philippines

Just thought I'd share this great photo of the Empire State Building as it was recently lit up in the colors of the Philippine flag to show New York's support for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. I would think that the 1 World Trade Center (towering in the background) would be the one that displays a red, blue, yellow and white lighting scheme in solidarity—seeing as how this skyscraper symbolizes Manhattan's own ability to rise up from the tragedy that struck it more than 12 years ago—but it's all good. Let's just keep having the aid flow into the embattled island nation to help it recover from last week's disaster.


Photo courtesy of Instagram

12 Years Later...

Just thought I'd commemorate 9/11 by posting these two pics—one new, one old—of New York City that I stumbled upon on Facebook today. The image directly below shows the USS Iowa sailing past the island of Manhattan with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center looming in the background. In the very last photo of this entry, the new 1 World Trade Center stands majestically above the rest of the New York skyline...in a pic that was taken late last month. My fellow Americans should definitely be proud that we can get back up and recover after trying to be taken down by those who are threatened and/or jealous of our freedom. Go USA!


Photo courtesy of Pacific Battleship Center - Facebook.com


Photo courtesy of WTC Progress - Facebook.com

A Clear Summer Day in New York City...

Just thought I'd post this great pic of the 1 World Trade Center as it stands majestically above the rest of the Manhattan skyline. It's safe to assume that this symbolic structure of freedom will get even more of the attention it deserves next month...on the 12-year anniversary of 9/11.

Happy Independence Day!

Image of the Day... What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than to post a photo of a symbolic American structure that is now 1,776 feet-tall? Go Freedom Tower!

Photos of the Day... Recent views of the 1 World Trade Center; the new crown jewel of Lower Manhattan.

Mark Bonifacio / New York Daily News

The Freedom Tower is finally crowned... Earlier today, the final segment of the 408-foot (124 meters) high antenna spire gracing the rooftop of the 1 World Trade Center (1 WTC) was finally installed...bringing the skyscraper to a symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541 meters) and thus making it (controversy aside) the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. All that really needs to be done now is complete the installation of all the exterior glass panels around the 104-story-tall structure—and then outfitting it with all of the interior equipment and office furniture that will be used by its tenants once the 1 WTC officially opens for business by early next year. Good job, New York!






Julio Cortez / AP

The Durst Organization

Another Freedom Tower update... As mentioned on this Blog more than a week ago, I was going to post another journal entry talking about how the antenna spire for the 1 World Trade Center (1 WTC) was completed this month. However, as the pic below shows, the spire is still under construction...with assembly on the 408-foot (124 meters) high structure now scheduled to be finished sometime this summer. It's all good. New Yorkers should be proud that the 1 WTC will soon make the artist's rendition above a reality.


Courtesy of Facebook

Freedom Tower update... Just thought I'd post these pics that show the nice progress being made on the assembly of the 408-foot (124 meters) high antenna spire that will grace the 1 World Trade Center (1 WTC). The image above shows the final segment of the spire awaiting its trip to the top of New York City's tallest building, while the photos below show the current segments as they are now secured to 1 WTC's rooftop. The spire should be completed by the end of this month (though I don't know how long it will take to disassemble and remove those construction cranes once their job is complete), so expect another entry about this skyscraper published soon.


Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880


Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880


Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880


Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880


Tom Kaminski / WCBS 880

Freedom Tower update... The 1 World Trade Center (1 WTC) is inching closer to completion as assembly has begun on the antenna spire atop the 104-story-tall skyscraper. The first segment of the spire is now bolted in place on the 105th floor rooftop level...with the 408-foot (124 meters) high antenna scheduled to be completed this March. While the 1 WTC still has ways to go before it opens later this year or early 2014, the building will be a sight to behold (moreso, that is) over the New York skyline once the spire finally brings the tower to a symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541.32 meters).

All photos in this entry are courtesy of WTCProgress

The Durst Organization

Freedom Tower update... While its grand opening won't take place for almost two more years, the 1 World Trade Center (1 WTC) is making considerable progress as construction continues on New York City's tallest skyscraper. Below are photos of segments that will form the 408-foot (124 meters) high antenna spire that will rise above the 1 WTC by early 2013. The cool artist rendering at the top of this entry will soon become a reality.




WTCProgress - Twitter.com