Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson will appear on this Sunday’s 60 Minutes — his first interview about his upcoming book, due out on Monday and already #1 on the Amazon bestsellers list.

CBS has released a preview of the interview, in which Isaacson tells 60 Minutes anchor Steve Kroft that the late tech mogul refused cancer treatment that might have saved his life, finding the notion of surgery intrusive. Instead, Jobs opted for a combination of diet, spiritualists, macrobiotics — “roots and vegetables”, as Isaacson describes them — and waited 9 months to begin treatment in earnest. By then, the cancer had spread from his pancreas to the surrounding tissue.

“He said, ‘I didn’t want my body to be opened…I didn’t want to be violated in that way,” Isaacson remembers Jobs saying in one of the 40-plus interviews he conducted with the Apple founder before his death this month at age 56.

“I think that he kind of felt that if you ignore something, if you don’t want something to exist, you can have magical thinking. We talked about this a lot,” Isaacson tells Kroft in the video. “He wanted to talk about it, how he regretted it. I think he felt he should have been operated on sooner.”

Kroft is unable to fathom Jobs’ reluctance, asking Isaacson: “How could such a smart man do such a stupid thing?”

The entire interview will air on CBS this Sunday. For more on the Isaacson interview, see the 60 Minutes site.

Via Forbes

Like 99% of the population right now, I am mourning Steve Jobs unfortunate passing.  I have never met the man in person, though it was in my bucket list of things to accomplish before I would die because on a very personal level, I have Steve Jobs to thank for helping me accomplish my dream of becoming a filmmaker.

See, I come from a very small, remote island in the Philippines, growing up as a closeted artist within a family of professionals — a Neurosurgeon Father, a Civil Service employee Mother, a Regional Trial Court Judge Grandfather, and not to mention countless lawyers and CPA’s in the extended family lines.  I had to observe the family tradition of obtaining a business-related degree in College, something I was never interested in.  Nonetheless, I muddled myself through a 4-year Accounting degree, all the while my secret desire to become a writer/filmmaker rattled louder each day inside me.

When I finally found the courage to acknowledge this desire to everyone and attempted to reach it, there was only 1 usual reaction by others, “Film?  Why?  Are you out of your mind?  It’s impossible!”  If I had a dollar for every time someone had told me that in the past, I’m pretty sure I would have been able to fund my own movie already.  I realize now, however, that most of those reactions were borne out of deep concern for my welfare and future, and more than that, from the realities that: 1.)  I had zero technical knowhow nor background with anything filmmaking-related; and 2.)  Getting involved in Film to start meant it would have to be in a hobby level, where I won’t be earning anything but I would surely be spending lots of money on equipment and such.

Thankfully, this is where Steve Jobs came in.  I enrolled in a 16mm Filmmaking course at the New York Film Academy in March 2006, around the same time when Apple’s breakthrough editing program, Final Cut Studio was released and made available to the public.  Studying the techniques of digital editing at NYFA was the first time I had ever laid my hands on a Mac, and I had not turned back ever since.  The greatest thing about Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Studio was that they gave the filmmaker/editor a very seamless and systematic approach to post-production with lots of room to be creative to the hilt.

Tinkering with Final Cut enlivened me thoroughly for it was like I had finally found my canvas and the perfect medium to an art form that I had always wanted to explore.  Editing was alchemy to me, and the tools that came with Final Cut Studio enabled me to be as imaginative as I could with my storytelling.  Finally, I could be the kind of artist I had always dreamed I would be.

Sadly, I will never have the chance to tell Steve Jobs in person how thankful I am for his greatest contribution to Filmmaking, in the gift of his desire to innovate technology for aspiring filmmakers like myself.  It’s been 5 years ever since that most fateful day of my discovery of Final Cut Pro, and yet, each time I open a new video project and explore the timeline, it feels just as exciting as it was the first time.

Albeit that he’s no longer here with us, Steve Jobs’ presence will be strongly felt, especially with my community of fellow artist friends.  He may have been taken too soon, but the life he lived continue to inspire me each day, and his legacy, his priniciple, and his insatiable desire to innovate storytelling will always be a beacon of light to us who are still treading that path.  As for myself, I still find much joy in being a round peg in a square hole.  After all, if not for that, I would have never known the depths of my creativity and power.

So long, Mr. Jobs.  You will be sorely missed.

Always your staunch devotee,

-Janice Y. Perez

Berta Gehry, U2 front man Bono, Frank Gehry, Ali Hewson.

Over this past weekend on Saturday March 19th, guest gathered to celebrate the 82nd birthday of legendary architect, cognoscenti of the architecture, design, and real estate worlds gathered included Bono and wife Ali Hewson, Candice Bergen, Mike Nichols, Ben Gazzara; art world stars Chuck Close, Claes Oldenburg, Cai Guo-Qiang, Thomas Krens, Lisa Dennison, Larry Gagosian; architects Robert A.M. Stern and David Childs, Marilyn Taylor; as well as real estate and business leaders Marshall Rose, Peter Lewis, Mary Ann Tighe and Kathy Wylde.

In addition to Gehry’s birthday, it was also the formal opening of the gleaming Lower Manhattan tower. Architecture critics are calling the building the finest skyscraper in New York in a half-century and one of the most beautiful towers downtown. The celebration’s host Bruce Ratner, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies presented Frank Gehry with a 40-inch silver birthday cake shaped like a Gehry-esque tower as guests sang “Happy Birthday” to the 82-year old architect.

Rising to 870 feet, Frank Gehry’s first skyscraper, the 76-story New York by Gehry, with its stainless steel cladding shaped to look like draped fabric, is now the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, and an inspired addition to the Lower Manhattan skyline.

View more images after the jump

Berta Gehry (far right), “likes” husband Frank’s birthday Cake; architect Robert A.M. Stern (second from right).

Frank Gehry, Thomas Krens of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and artist Chuck Close.

Ben Gazzara, Bruce Ratner, Bono & Carl Bernstein join Frank Gehry to celebrate his first skyscraper and birthday.

There’s no possible way you can be from the East Coast and was raised on Hip Hop in the 80′s and 90′s and don’t know the words of the legend known as Guru. You wore Timbs and hoodies and bopped your head to his Mass Appeal hundreds of times over. One half of one of the most iconic groups in Hip Hop along side DJ Premier known as Gangstarr, Guru born Keith Elam died last night to his lengthy battle with cancer. He was 43 years old. The group released six highly regarded albums in their tenure until 2003 when they broke up. After his successful run with Premier, Guru founded 7 Grand Records with producer Solar.

Solar, Guru’s partner, expressed sadness over the loss. “The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru,” Solar said in a statement. “Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle.” Solar also said that Guru wrote a final letter to fans and sent it out through a press agency. “I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.”

The month of April marks the 42nd anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. BuildTheDream.org will be commemorating the life and work of Dr. King by creating a memorial in our nation’s capital. The Washington, DC, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial will honor his life and contributions to the world through non violent social change.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial will be the first on the National Mall to recognize a person of color and a man of peace, not a president or a veteran of war. In 1996 Congress authorized the Memorial Foundation to raise funds to establish a national memorial to honor the legacy of Dr. King on the National Mall. The memorial’s very existence signifies that we as a people believe Dr. King and his legacy deserve this esteemed placement in what can be considered America’s “Hall of Fame.”

“The vision of a memorial in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that captures the essence of his message, a message in which he so eloquently affirms the commanding tenants of the American Dream — Freedom, Democracy and Opportunity for All; a noble quest that gained him the Nobel Peace Prize and one that continues to influence people and societies throughout the world. Upon reflection, we are reminded that Dr. King’s lifelong dedication to the idea of achieving human dignity through global relationships of well being has served to instill a broader and deeper sense of duty within each of us— a duty to be both responsible citizens and conscientious stewards of freedom and democracy.”

The story of Patrice Lumumba is the story of black freedom fighters around the world, from the Black Panthers to the slaves of Haiti to the leadership of Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe. They yearned for freedom from deep in their bones, and yet were thrown out, imprisoned, and perverted in such a fashion that their call for justice was at best, silenced, and at worst, dragged into a blind ideology that caused millions to suffer. Limité celebrates Patrice Lumumba for the reminder that his story gives of truth over perception, and the role that outsiders’ interventions played in wreaking havoc in newly independent Africa.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the most natural-resource rich countries in Africa, but is known by most Americans as a place of extreme poverty, corruption, and a bloody civil war lasting decades and killing over 3 millions civilians. However, when charismatic, socialist leaning Patrice Lumumba was elected its first Prime Minister in 1960, Congo had quaint Belgian-run towns, abundant food, and a population united in its optimism for a free country. But after Lumumba’s speech condemning the evils of the Belgian colonial rule, Belgian military and the CIA intervened to undermine his power and prop up new leaders who ruled the country with an iron fist for decades. Within 3 months of independence, Lumumba, “the father of the Congolese independence movement,” was killed, although not forgotten. He dared to speak out against Belgian colonialism, however this cost him both his life and his vision of a free Congo. The United Nations were aware, and yet stood idly by.

His name conjures images of strength and steady patience , freedom over oppression and all the while still manages to seem like a kindly old grandfather figure. Limité honors Nelson Mandela, former political prisoner under apartheid, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and first President under a free South Africa, as a Man We Love. We love Mandela not only for surviving 27 years in jail and for his service to South Africans. We love him for his unending commitment to his people. Unlike many presidents, Mandela fought for the common man and women before, during, and after his term. In the past decade, he spoke out against the rampant spread of AIDS among black people across the globe, and for the liberation of the people of Zimbabwe under failing leaders and institutions. Mandela supported the global community in the face of an unpopular war against Iraq, saying “It is a tragedy, what is happening, what Bush is doing. Bush is now undermining the United Nations.” Mandela is a symbol of courage for all Americans, as well as for Africans and anyone else who identifies with a beautiful struggle…and who knows that in time, the victory will be won.

Presidential Inaugural Address (1994):

President Obama’s “Happy Birthday” message to Nelson Mandela:

Dr. Cornel Ronald West, born on 2 June 1953 is an outstanding philosopher, activist, author, pastor, public speaker, professor, intellectual human being and Limite Magazine favorite.  Dr. West has been illustrative in American history regarding matters of race, gender, and class.  His sincere and vocal campaign on the injustices of American society in relation to White and Black American has provided his followers of various nationalities the (necessary) opportunity to view America through an untainted lens.  With advocacy in his roots, the magna cum laude Harvard graduate and Princeton doctorate, has successfully combined American institutionalization with his own theories on race, politics, and religion.

In his 1994 classic, Race Matters, Dr. West, unlike many of racist theorists does not sugar coat the atrocities of the American race and caste system, in fact he took the country by surprise with his blatant disapproval and honest gander on racism in America.  Dr. West, appropriately states, the harsh truths of racism in America, and inevitably offers answers to why or how oppression continues to deteriorate Black American society.  He identifies the problems in the black community, why they exist, and how to avoid continuing those patterns for generations to come.  He knows whom he is, where he has been, and is determined to enlighten thus controlling his destiny as well.  Ten years after releasing the thought provoking Race Matters, Dr. West, blessed us with what he calls “the sequel”, his 2004 Democracy Matters. In which he unapologetically, dissects the American Democratic system and exposes readers to the state of Democracy as it stood then, and makes clear what he thinks needs to happen for it to make a full recovery.

Photo by MTV

Dr. West’s ideologies have transcended to the “big screen”, with a role in both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions; he is said to be the thinking tank behind the Matrix Trilogies story line.  Dr. West is a man we love for his dedication to promoting the injustices and inequalities in America.  His attitude towards racism and vocalization on the matter, keeps the issue of racism alive in text, as it is prevalent in American society.  Dr. West defines the plight of the American system, without watering down the truth.  Through his teachings, he succeeds at attacking the American patriarchal society at the root of many of its social and economic divisions.

Accordingly, Dr. West has etched his name in history.  He is a living and walking legend of deeply buried truths, that he continues to share with the world through his essays, teaching, and books.  Currently, Dr. West is a Professor of African-Studies and religion at Princeton University, he is a author of an assortment of books and essays, his memoir, released in 2009; Brother West: Living & Loving Out Load, in which he focuses more on Brother West.  In it, he writes: “Until now, I’ve never taken the time to focus on the inner dynamics of my soul”.  Dr. West is influential, talented, and passionate all characteristics that make him one of the Limité Magazine, Men We Love.

It’s a familiar scenario. High-status family with expensive tastes, absorbing the oohs and  aahs of the lesser minions. But who’s that in the corner, keeping to himself, uncomfortable in his fine threads, while the others – in their designer gowns and tails – laugh heartily while waltzing across the floor?

Okay, maybe that’s pushing it a little, perhaps borrowing some imagery from The Sound of Music, but you get the idea. I’m referring to Anderson Cooper, the son of famed heiress and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt. Despite his mother’s extravagant lifestyle, Cooper worked hard to un-pry the silver spoon from his mouth. It just wasn’t him.

The 42-year-old CNN anchor was born into the New York upper-crust, the son of the artist/designer/actress Vanderbilt and writer Wyatt Emory Cooper. After his father’s death, Cooper decided to go to work. Unfortunately for him, not many people were in the market for a 10-year-old. So he turned to modeling. From the ages of 10 – 13, Cooper was signed with Ford Models and spent his pre-teen years in Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein clothing.

At 17, Cooper left his posh lifestyle behind and ventured through southern Africa, where he contracted malaria and was hospitalized in Kenya. It was traveling through this type of “at-risk” area that would ultimately shape and define his career. It requires a thick skin and an open mind – two qualities that have served him well in his career and life to date.

While Cooper was studying political science at Yale, his older brother Carter committed suicide at the age of 23 – a life-changing moment that spurred the bulldog’s interest in journalism. After college, the wide-eyed Cooper traveled to Myanmar with a fake press pass and a video camera. Having met with students who were protesting against the government, he sold his recorded news segments to Channel One, the closed-circuit news channel that’s broadcast in classrooms throughout the United States. He followed this up with a stint in Vietnam, where he studied the language for a year and recorded segments on Vietnamese culture, which also aired on Channel One. His experiences abroad took him to more war-torn areas, like Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda. The “accidental” reporter discussed these early years in Details: “I’d come to be a reporter. At least, that was the excuse. The only thing I really knew is that I was hurting and needed to go someplace where the pain outside matched the pain I was feeling inside.”

No doubt, the loss of his brother weighed heavily on his interest in traveling through such troubled areas and meeting with others in pain. In a 2005 New York article, the journalist states, “Loss is a theme that I think a lot about, and it’s something in my work that I dwell on. I think when you experience any kind of loss, especially the kind I did, you have questions about survival: Why do some people thrive in situations that others can’t tolerate? Would I be able to survive and get on in the world on my own?”

Cooper rose to national prominence beginning in 1995, when he became a correspondent for ABC. He ultimately went on to anchor the network’s overnight news show World News Now. In 2000, Cooper took a break from the news business. Citing his interest in reality television, he was offered hosting duties on ABC’s competition series The Mole, a position he held during the program’s infancy.

Following 9/11, Cooper felt the need to return to the news business, so in December 2001, he launched his tenure at CNN. In 2003, the anchor’s program Anderson Cooper 360 premiered. The show continues on the news network today. While with CNN, Cooper has covered such notable stories as Hurricane Katrina, the death of Pope John Paul II, and the tsunami in Sri Lanka, for which he won a National Headliner Award. He’s also won Emmy Awards for his coverage of Princess Diana’s funeral and the famine in Niger.

The multi-faceted media man currently pulls double duty, as he works as a correspondent for CBS’s long-running newsmagazine 60 Minutes, in addition to his role with CNN. His 2006 New York Times best-seller Dispatches from the Edge delves into various news events that he’s covered.

Anderson Cooper was born into guaranteed success. Wealth. Status. Connections. But he chose to earn his own success. Though he may not have chosen the easiest route, Cooper likely wouldn’t have it any other way. The passion and humanity that he pours into his work is evident and is the sign of a grounded individual with a strong sense of self. Despite his privileged upbringings, he feels relatable to his viewers, and that’s the sign of a good journalist and a better man.

You either love him or hate him. At least, that’s the general reaction I’ve been getting from people who are familiar with his work. I, for one, am not familiar with David Lynch’s films, but since my challenge is to convey that Lynch is a “man we love,” the easiest way of doing that is by turning to his ongoing Interview Project. Still, it wouldn’t be fair to Lynch by skipping over his impressive array of films and accolades and the road that lead him to becoming one of the most admired and controversial filmmakers of our time.

Having embarked on his creative adventures within the realm of fine art, Lynch eventually shifted to film as his medium of choice. Success from his first short film was enough encouragement to continue working in moving images. Lynch moved to Los Angeles in the early ’70s to attend the AFI Conservatory, where he began work on his first feature, Eraserhead, an endeavor that lasted several years before seeing completion in 1977. The film sparked interest in Mel Brooks, who hired Lynch to direct The Elephant Man (1980), based on the true story of Joseph Merrick, a 19^th century Brit with a congenital disorder. The film went on to receive eight Oscar nominations, including two for Lynch, for his direction and writing. The filmmaker’s accolades continued in subsequent years with two more Oscar nominations for directing Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Dr. (2001).

Lynch’s unconventional style of filmmaking is trademarked by sexual themes, disturbing sound, and surrealistic imagery – all things that justify some people’s distaste for his work, and others’ admiration. More recently, Lynch has put his filmmaking on hold, making way for his Interview Project.

Understanding that everyone has a story to tell, Lynch is on a quest to interview hundreds of people over the course of 70 days and 20,000 miles. Without a set plan, a small crew headed across the United States, stopping random folks as they rode their bikes, sat on their front porches, and canvassed yard sales. Speaking about divorce, drug abuse, hopes for the future, and just about anything else, the subjects were willing to open up to the camera and have their stories documented in a style similar to StoryCorps, the non-profit organization that has recorded thousands of Americans’ stories in an effort to build an oral history of the United States. Though Interview Project’s breadth is not nearly as immense, its ambition and vision is extraordinary. At less than five minutes in length, each of the dozens of videos that have been posted on DavidLynch.com so far offers a variety of mindsets, cultures, and landscapes.

Love him or hate him, Lynch deserves respect for his vision and fearlessness in breaking the rules that often blind our minds’ eyes. To learn more about Interview Project and to watch the videos, visit DavidLynch.com. You may also follow the project on Twitter @interviewproj.