The New York Times has assembled and posted more than two hours of military, air traffic, and airline radio communications—some of it never before heard in public—from the morning of September 11, 2001. It is depressing and fascinating.

Aging television presenter Joe Scarborough is so desperate for you to know that he's cool and plays guitar and likes Elvis Costello that he decided to defile the memories of all those who died on 9/11 and in its subsequent wars with this horrible fucking song that will make you crack your teeth open with rage if you listen to it. Serving as a foot soldier for Newt Gingrich and rushing to the defense of an abortion doctor's murderer are no longer the worst things Scarborough has ever done. Playing rock star with dead people is.

Noted Islamophobe Allen West must not own a television or a computer. Yesterday, West was stirring up one of 2010's dumbest controversies at an anti-Ground Zero Mosque meet-and-greet in DC, where he remarked, "We must never let events like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 go away. We must never forget the things that happened on those two days..." Call me crazy, but I don't think that's gonna happen anytime soon.

Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising has become, as the tenth anniversary of the attacks that inspired it approaches, the closest thing we have to an official soundtrack to 9/11. It is the “soaring musical statement” of that day’s impact on our national psyche, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s music critic. New Yorkers selected it in a poll conducted by WNYC as one of the top three records they want to hear on the radio on the anniversary. High school teachers are using it to evoke the visceral pain and confusion of that day for their clueless students. The problem with this is that The Rising is a terrible, bad, no-good record that cheapens us all.

For the unlucky ones, the losses of 9/11—even ten years on—remain unspeakable. For the rest of us, in addition to mayhem and horror, that day unleashed a bevy of irritations and annoyances that continue to reverberate across the years—and are quite speakable. Here's what we have 9/11 to thank for.

The two monoliths of the World Trade Center were such an integral part of the New York skyline, that you didn't even notice them in the many movie shots of Gotham's majestic sprawl. Now, a decade after they fell, their presence in a movie scene is all you can see. Here are some of their greatest starring rolls.

Before she was Tiger Woods' mistress and a member of Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab harem, Rachel Uchitel was the 9/11 widow featured in an iconic Associated Press photograph that appeared on frontpages of newspapers the world around. As the ten-year anniversary of her former fiance's death approaches, Uchitel reflects on her loss:

CNN got its hands on new (or newly-public) video of the aftermath of the crash of United 93—the 9/11 hijackings' fourth plane, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers revolted against the hijackers. It's apparently the first video that the public has seen of the aftermath of the crash; you can't see much—not that you'd want to—but the narration of the anonymous videographer is riveting in its own way. [via Mediaite]

Yesterday, the New York Times noted that now that almost a decade has passed since 9/11, some advertisers are trying to dip a toe into the "9/11 ads that will not automatically create an outraged uproar" waters.

Tenth anniversary of 9/11 got you down? Why not enjoy a crisp "9/11 Remembrance Roll" from Phoenix, Arizona's Stingray Sushi? "Spicy crab, avocado and asparagus topped with tuna and white fish." Wash it all down with some 9/11 wine (Sake?). If you don't use chopsticks, the terrorists win. [Eater]

Look: The Obama administration doesn't want to screw up the 10th anniversary of 9/11, okay? There's going to be quite a bit of focus around the world on the United States and its allies that day, and no one wants important government people going out and screwing something up or saying something stupid. So let's pre-forgive the administration for its nitpicky "9/11 instructions" (more like "guidelines") being sent out to bureaucrats both here and around the world.

Pants stuffed with snakes and other cold-blooded animals are totally on-trend for fall 2011. However, there's some risk involved in wearing such garments! For example, TSA agents—who aren't known for being fashion-forward—might stop you from boarding your plane and arrest you.

The Associated Press checked in with 325 charities founded in the wake of 9/11, many of which are still active. Most of them were doing nice things! But a bunch were doing ethically dubious, borderline fraudulent things, frittering away millions of benevolently bestowed dollars.

For the 10th anniversary of September 11th, the Internet Archive has relaunched its collection of 3,000 videos from 20 international news stations that broadcasted 24/7 during the week of 9/11. (It was first launched back in October 2011.) A lighthearted way to spend the weekend. [via BoingBoing]

You know how much we love a time-lapse video of New York! Here's one of the work done on the 9/11 memorial between 2004 and 2011. Why doesn't this thing have the dramatic soundtrack and whirling lights we're used to?

A tipster spied this September 11th memorial wine special at a New York City restaurant.

Indie band Explosions in the Sky is performing at Boise's Egyptian theatre on September 11th! You can tell because there's a big marquee outside that reads, "EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY CONCERT SEPT 11." Oh, shit.

Gwyneth Paltrow accepts responsibility for saving a woman's life on 9/11. Terrorists want to maim David Letterman. Jennifer Hudson is prefers losing weight to winning Oscars. The suicidal Housewives star's family might sue Bravo. Thursday gossip is "deeply moved."

Last month we brought you the story of Ohio State Sen. Kris Jordan (R), who was involved in a bit of a contretemps with his wife. Although she wound up not pressing any charges, the wife's 911 call during the incident included the worrying line, "He's mad; he's got the gun."

In your maudlin Monday media column: CNN has more 9/11 documentaries than you can shake a stick at, Patch is incredibly expensive, 23 more newspapers get paywalls, the Richmond newspaper shrugs off an ad-stravaganza, and a French newspaper caper.