“I’ve been a literary nerd since I was old enough to read the Boxcar Children. The lifelong love affair with words has led to several other loves: Stephen Sondheim, classic novels like Gone with the Wind, and more controversial books such as those of Ayn Rand.” John Pinney, Seattle, Washington (formerly of Toledo, Ohio)
The Quill, Toledo’s Writing Journal November 2009

In 1946, the New York State Legislature authorized the development of a "world trade mart" in downtown Manhattan, the brainchild of real estate developer David Sholtz. However, it wasn't until 1958 that Chase Manhattan Bank vice chair David Rockefeller announced plans to build a multi-million-square-foot complex on Lower Manhattan's east side. The original proposal was for only one 70-story building, not the final Twin Towers design. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to oversee the building project. Final building plans were eventually approved and unveiled by principal architect Minoru Yamasaki in 1964. Construction of the World Trade center began in 1966. The south tower was completed first in 1971. The Towers were built using a new drywall system reinforced by steel cores, making them the first skycrapers ever built without the use of masonry. The two towers—at 1368 and 1362 feet and 110 stories each—bested the Empire State Building to become the tallest buildings in the world. The World Trade Center—including the Twin Towers and four other buildings—officially opened in 1973. Once home to almost 500 businesses and approximately 50,000 employees, the World Trade Center towers were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. http://manhattan.about.com/od/september11th2001/a/worldtradecente.htm

The New York came to life November 6, becoming the Navy's newest warship—and a proud symbol of fortitude. The $1 billion amphibious transport dock carries 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in her bow stem. "The New York will be a visible testament to our resilience," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as the first watch was set and hundreds of sailors and marines ran onto the decks of the ship, a tradition signaling the official commissioning of the vessel. See picture and the rest of the story at: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/11/07/2009-11-07_uss_new_york_comes_to_life.html

For eight years, supporters of the Flight 93 Memorial Park have weathered criticism of the size and the cost of the project, struggled with landowners over property rights, and lobbied Congress to raise funding for its construction. They even faced a mini-storm over its crescent-shaped design. On November 7, standing a few hundred yards from the site where the hijacked Boeing 757 plunged to the earth Sept. 11, 2001, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar led a group of politicians, relatives of the dead, and local residents in a groundbreaking ceremony. The 2,200-acre national park, scheduled to open on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, is dedicated to the 40 passengers and crew members responsible for overpowering the hijackers and forcing the plane down in an abandoned strip mine 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20091108_A_sacred_groundbreaking.html
Macy’s history, part 1 No one would have guessed that the small, fancy dry goods store that opened on the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City in 1858 would grow to be one of the largest department store retailers in the world. But after several failed retail ventures, Rowland Hussey Macy's determination and ingenuity paid off at the age of 36 with the launch of R.H. Macy & Co. He adopted a red star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor. First-day sales totaled $11.06 but by the end of the first full year, sales grossed almost $90,000. By 1877, R.H. Macy & Co. had become a full fledged department store occupying the ground space of 11 adjacent buildings. By November 1902, the store had outgrown its modest storefront and moved uptown to its present Herald Square location on Broadway and 34th Street, establishing an attraction for shoppers from around the world. With the store's 7th Avenue expansion completed in 1924, Macy's Herald Square became the “World's Largest Store,” with over 1 million square feet of retail space. http://www.macysinc.com/pressroom/History/MacysAHistory.aspx
Best books ... chosen by Lev Grossman, Time magazine’s book critic and the author of The Magicians, a novel about a secret college for students of magic. Below, he lists his choices for ‘the six greatest fantasy books of all time.’
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories by Fritz Leiber
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
http://www.theweek.com/article/index/102447/Best_books__chosen_by_Lev_Grossman

On November 8, 1793, the revolutionary government in France opened the Louvre for the first time as a public museum. Learn more about the history of the Louvre.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/thisday/