2001 Tranniversary: John, Stephan

On September 11, 2001 Al-Quaeda attacked the US using highjacked aircrafts to bring down the twin towers in NYC. They crashed two planes into the World Trade Center, a third aircraft into the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and a fourth plan went down in a field in rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3000 persons were killed that day. President George W. Bush gave orders to invade Afghanistan and the US carried out bombing raids in Iraq. The Office of Homeland Security was created.

Dale Earnhard, legendary race car driver died in a crash at the Daytona 500. The IRA dismantled its weapons arsenal after peace talks. Foot and mouth disease was found in the UK. Enron filed for bankruptcy. iTunes was released by Apple computer company. The iPod is introduced. The XBox was released.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released, the first of the series and was the highest grossing film of the year. Planet of the Apes, The Mummy Returns, Rush Hour and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” topped the charts. Shrek won an academy award for the Best Animated Feature Film. The highest grossing stars in the US were Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Robert DeNiro, Eddie Murphy and George Clooney. Top songs were “Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse, “Falln’” by Alicia Keys, “All for You” by Janet Jackson, “Drops of Jupiter” by Train. Sex and the City won an emmy for outstanding comedy series. Aaron Sorkin’s masterpiece, The West Wing, won the ultimate 2001 Primetime Emmy Awards for outstanding drama series.

The documentary, Southern Comfort, was released. The film followed the final year in the life of Robert Eads, a transgender man. Eads, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, was turned down for treatment by a dozen doctors out of fear that treating such a patient would hurt their reputations. By the time Eads received treatment, the cancer was too advanced to save his life.