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January 22, 1984

Sunday, January 22, 1984 is known to Washington Redskins’ fans as “Black Sunday.”  Following their 1983 Super Bowl triumph over the Miami Dolphins, the Redskins were heavily favored in their match up with the Black and Gray.   However, the Raiders, powered by RB Marcus Allen’s legs and QB Jim Plunkett’s beautiful face, handily defeated the Redskins by a score of 38-9.   (I personally blame Barry Manilow, who performed the National Anthem that night, for the loss; however, I blame Barry Manilow for a lot of things.)

Sunday, January 22, 1984 is also known for a commercial aired during the 3rd quarter of that game.   On the night of the Redskins’ defeat, a company ran an advertisement which introduced their new product – a personal computer called the Macintosh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsWzJo2sN4&feature=youtu.be

To be cliché, the advent of the personal computer was a game changer.  The Macs’ innovations raised the bar of what we could expect from personal computers, and helped to distinguish Apple’s product from IBM and the PC clones.

At TBL, we use the phrase “techumanity” to describe the way technology allows people to connect in ways that are more human.  Steve Jobs understood that ideal, and it was embedded in his company and products.  In the coming weeks and months, Steve Jobs’ life and influence will be overanalyzed ad nauseam.   To be brief, in Jobs’ passing I see the story of a man who did not accept things as they were, but saw them as they could be.  And we are all better off because of it.

RIP  Steven P. Jobs  1955-2011