STEVE JOBS APPLE'S CHIEF DEPARTS -- for Just A Minute Radio on Monday 111010

I was rather surprised this Saturday when opening up the weekend edition of the Wall St. Journal.

There was a full three-quarter page portrait of Steve Jobs who took leave of this world last Wednesday. I know he is much revered in the music and electronic fields for the innovations he made in both.

I thought I remembered him being the ‘inventor’ certainly the prime name, associated with the McIntosh computer. Unless you’ve worked in an orchard or a supermarket you possibly don’t remember a McIntosh was (is) a variety of apple. So… I don’t know which came first the Apple or the McIntosh… I’m sure I’m probably not using the upper and lower case as Steve’s company did… I reverted back to the way I think I saw the labels printed during the times I helped my father work a small orchard in Roanoke, Virginia… I was a pre-teen. So… maybe I’m just remembering how heavy two bushels of apples were to a kid of about 11 or 12… It was the first summer I think I saw some substantial increase in the size of my biceps – but no matter what I never really got into the weight – lifter’s class. However… it was the first pre-job job I ever had. And I do recall how much I learned to love apples.

Funny… I didn’t go much for gardening – which my Dad, being a graduate of Auburn University in Alabama, and teaching what they called then ‘vocational agriculture – knew about. We had several varieties in this small orchard inside the city limits… it was about a quarter of a block – and we had Romes, and Winesaps, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious… plus a few more that I don’t recall as well as I did the ‘eatin’ apples. We also made cider out of the culls… and the ones that were damaged by the birds or the hail… or the frost… Frost didn’t usually leave many apples for cider making.

In any case… I’m not as familiar with the newer varieties. Granny Smith’s are good in pies… but they had not come along at that time. I do really like the Gala apples developed in Australia or New Zealand I believe. I also liked the Golden Delicious somewhat better than the Red delicious… but they didn’t keep as well. Winesaps were good for keeping on through the winter in proper storage… and… I’m going on too long… with a memory that’s too short. But I still like apples.

Cordially, IN HIM

Jack

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“JUST A MINUTE”

STEVE JOBS, APPLE’S CHIEF DEPARTS

Just a Minute: Last Wednesday a large black & White photo with the caption “Steve Jobs: 1955-2011” was outside Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino California and flags flew at half mast.

The only statement said: “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve our lives. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to … all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.” The only mention of faith revealed Jobs as a Buddhist … born in San Francisco he started Apple Computer in his parent’s garage with a friend Steve Wozniak 1976.

In 2005 he spoke about his illness, a ‘rare form’ of pancreatic cancer, at a Stanford University commencement he was awarded an honorary degree and said: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life… Because almost everything — all external expectations -- just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

<> I’m Jack Buttram. (END)

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