Last night (9/11) was an odd night to give a speech, but there I was. Before I went on several participants shared stories about 9/11. One of them really lays open the raw emotion that is still attached to 9/11 for New Yorkers. I don’t know if this is how things are in the rest of the country, but here is what happened yesterday in NY.

It was pouring. Traffic was miserable. (It always is in NY in the rain.) There was a cop on Amsterdam and 110th Street in full dress uniform directing traffic. In the pouring rain driver after driver stopped their cars, rolled down their windows, and reached out to thank the police officer and shake his hand.

Another participant commented that 9/11 creates a spirit in New York akin to the Christmas season. We are kinder, more giving, and more patient on this most difficult of all days. For me, this is the greatest triumph - for NY, the US, and the human spirit - we could possibly achieve. If we are the Whos down in Whoville, turning the anniversary of tragedy into a day of kindness and generosity, we have truly won.

The internet connects people in remarkable ways. However, it also leaves a huge portion of the population feeling left out. It’s like high school all over again. You know there is a party going on, but you don’t where. On the internet a new video or website or blog will suddenly get enormous attention and even bring new ideas, phrases or products into mainstream culture.

But how do you know where to find these new fads so you can keep up with (or even lead) the water cooler talk?

Check out www.mahalo.com. At the bottom of the page is a link to “Internet Zeitgeist.” Check it out. It shows you what’s gone viral on the web.

I also happen to think that as a search engine, it is a wonderful site in general. To learn more about it, check out the Fast Company article.