I am posting the speech President Obama made at the passing of Steve Jobs, October 5th, 2011.
"Following the loss of visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, President Obama released this statement:
Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.
By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.
The passing of Jobs has had a worldwide effect on everybody. Daring Fireball's John Gruber has posted some great material on Jobs (as well as Apple and Macintosh), especially to honor and remember Jobs.
My aunt got my family a Macintosh computer when I was in fifth grade, that would have been 1994 or 1995, and I remember a lot about it still. It had some program installed that showed two folders, Applications and Documents. The main desktop was locked with a password, and only the Parents had access. We had Kid Pics, Oregon Trail, Mavis Beacon, and a football game where the player could customize his or her team. Those were a lot of fun. My high school had all Macs, the box-shaped, multi-colored series. Before I knew what "it" was with Macintosh, I got it.
My first laptop was an iBook,running the first version of OS X. I didn't realize at the time I needed to upgrade to the new feline operating systems until I was two OS's behind. My old iBook makes for a great jukebox! I also had the second generation white iPod. The black one was just made available for the first time, but white seemed better, more hip, somehow. My father was with me at the time (he is kinda doft), and he questioned my rational for buying Apple products. Though I could not quite express what it was, intuitively Apple products were far superior, and the natural choice.
There has been much written about Jobs' impact on our world - it's true. For the first time in my life, I feel very much compelled to join up with the masses and push the good vibe that is, and always will be, Steve Jobs. I am taking Values, Ethics and Society this semester and all I have been reading about are the crooks who rob from Americans under the guise of free markets. Steve Jobs possessed unquestionable integrity, but not because he sought to be ethical, but because he was.
I read on Daring Fireball Jobs only hired a marketing manager one time at Apple, and that was to see what another company,Compaq or Dell, did wrong. I will save my opinions on marketing for a future post; however, if I could personify Marketing into a tangible person, I would choke that person to death. For this reason, I will probably never be as influential as Jobs, but it sure would feel great."
Mr. Jobs, where ever you are, I will spark my next doobie for you!
