17 Years Since 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

Today is the 17th anniversary since that fateful day of 9/11 when the terrorists brought down both World Trade Centers and ploughed another plane into the Pentagon.

One of the greatest acts of terrorism in history.

With almost 3,000 dead and the center of our financial and military strength hit in a flash attack, we as a nation stood naked.

We’ve gone after the terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and more, but still, there is the endless drone of world-wide terrorism.

Yes, we are lucky that nothing major has happened in the U.S. since 2001.

At the same time, we know that anything could happen at any time–from another terror attack to a catastrophic cyber attack that takes out our critical infrastructure, bioterrorism that wipes out hundreds of millions with genetically engineered viruses, or even nuclear warheads wiping out entire cities or regions of the world.

Forget natural disasters for the moment, man-made disasters are always just around the corner when it comes to planning and execution.

The FBI and our other dedicated law enforcement personnel try to stop them all, but no one and nothing human is perfect.

So while we try to maintain an elevated security posture to protect this country and even maybe someday build a wall that doesn’t leave us with porous borders for everyone and anyone to get in willy-nilly, many don’t or barely remember 9/11 and what it meant.

We said it changed everything forever, but did we mean it?

17 years and we’ve been fortunate–very fortunate–but are we ready for the next fateful blow to land in the ongoing war on terror. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

2 Jobs Are Better Than 1

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

2 For 1

So this is a funny story that my friend reminded me (honestly, I had almost completely forgotten about it)…

We were in college (business school) looking for our first real corporate jobs for the Summer.

With G-d’s blessing, I ended up with 2 nice offers.

But my good friend didn’t have a job.

So I offered one to him.

I was still a kid…what did I know!

I told one company that I accepted and the other company that I had a friend that was interested (of course, I would vouch for him).

So on day 1 of the Summer job, my friend shows up there in the World Trade Center on the 99th floor (yeah, this is before 9/11 took the whole place down).

The corporate folks talked about it for 5 minutes and said he could stay.

Voila now we both had summer jobs!

Honestly, I can’t believe we ever had the chutzpah, but in those days people helped each other out more.

2 4 1 and 1 4 All.

And that’s how we both got started in the NY business world. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Rising From The Ashes of 9/11

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Andy (Avraham) Blumenthal

From the smoldering wreckage of the 9/11 attacks, now rises the new World Trade Center (WTC) complex.

According to the Wall Street Journal (10-11 Sept. 2011), the damage from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 resulted in the collapse or partial collapse of 7 buildingsincluding: WTC North Tower, South Tower, and Four, Fix, Six, and Seven WTCs as well the Marriott Hotel. In addition, 11 other surrounding building had major damage including 1, 2, and 3 World Financial Centers and the N.Y.P.D. Command Center.

A decade later, $11 billion has been invested in the reconstruction of the 16 acre site, including $3 billion for One WTC (at 104 stories and 1,776 feet tall)–“making it the most expensive office tower in the U.S.

The cost is being driven upward by enhanced security measures to thwart other potential attacks, and according to Fast Company (Sept. 2011) and the buildings website these include:

1) Safety Materials – Advanced safety materials include dense fireproofing and biochemical filters to protect occupants from spreading threats.

2) Structural Redundancy – Load-bearing structures are being replicated so if there is a failure, “these skyscrapers have steel connections capable of redirecting the path of the upper floors load downward through other structural members.” Additionally, the sprinkler system has “two interconnected standpipes, so that if one should fail, the other can compensate.”

3) Protected Core – The sprinklers and safety systems (including the buildings communications antennae and ventilation) are being located in a protected inner building concrete core to prevent their being severed or disabled .

4) Escapability – Multiple exits and backups on emergency lighting, wider staircases for escape, separate stairs for first responders, and “lifeboats”–which are elevator escape pods from protected refuge areas on specific floors take evacuees to ground level safety.

I think it is important to recognize and applaud these safety and security enhancements; together, with improvements to our counterterrorism, intelligence, and homeland security operations, we have come a long way.

However, we cannot afford to stop and get complacent with our progress–as we see with the latest security alert, this time for the 10th year anniversary of the 9/11 attack.

In protecting our homeland, we have to get it right every single time, but those who seek to attack us and our way of life, only need to “get it right” once in order to hurt and kill many innocent people.

For 9/11/11, it is a good time to reflect on where we’ve come, the progress to date, and recommit ourselves to “fight the good fight”.

One way to do this, I believe, is through continuing investment and advancement in our technology, science, and engineering platforms. These will help us to strengthen our economy and through innovation and it’s application stay ahead or leapfrog those who seek to come against us.

Stronger, safer builders are important (and should of course, be pursued), but we cannot win a war of terror by bunkering down.Technology and innovation are our offensive weapons that will enable us to keep the enemy on the run–afraid of what we’ve got up our sleeves next.

(Source Photo: here)