The news reached me this morning at my office in Barcelona (just as I was firing up my iMac). Not via Twitter, Facebook, or Google Reader, but in casual conversation with a coworker. Regardless of the medium, the message was unavoidable: the world has lost Steve Jobs.

I’ve always thought of Steve Jobs as a real-life Willy Wonka. He was able to create products that literally “surprised and delighted” us; he seemed mysterious and lived privately, but when it was time to take center stage, his energy and passion transformed him and his audience. And while Jobs’ wardrobe was more austere than Wonka’s, both men had creations available in bizarre flavors such as tangerine and snozberry.

Like Wonka’s chocolate factory, Apple will carry on under new management. I hope their product recipes will always include a big splash of Steve Jobs’ spirit.

Even if you’re already obituaried-out, I recommend taking a moment to read Michael Fienen’s reflections on the life and death of Steve Jobs. He helped me understand why I was moved almost to tears when I heard about Jobs’ passing.

A few nights ago my family and I had dinner at Jumpin’ Jacks, one of my favorite childhood summer spots. Enter Hurricane Irene and it’s now literally under water. (We were sitting at one of the pavilions shown below. Scary.)

Matt Baumgartner over at Bombers Burrito Bar is raising some cash to help Jumpin’ Jacks get back on its feet. If you ever ate a Jack Burger or enjoyed a waterskiing show on the Mohawk, chip in a few bucks. That way next summer we can hear those hard working kids yell “Subway!” when we toss our change in the tip jar. Donate now!

All flights cancelled. All trains running down to the city—cancelled. We got a flight for Wednesday evening, and we were lucky to get that. Hopefully the cleanup will be done and trains will be running (and airports!) by then. For now, spending some bonus time with family strapping everything to the ground, filling the generator with gas, and preparing for some of the worst weather we’ve ever seen.