What The Holy Hell Is Going On?

[HankWP]

... we are all educated men here... yet I cannot understand or 'get' this...

H-

[Kieron]

Ritt, take care of you and yours, we're all thinking of you. Hope you were able to get out of the City. I grew up with terrorism in London, but nothing even came close to the events of today. CNN had unconfirmed reports that the radical group Islamic Jihad was claiming responsibility.

Thank God so far there's been no use of Bioweaponry. The CDC is mobilized, but hopefully we won't need to use their expertise.

Locally, not much going on right now. Phone Service is jammed as we have a lot of kids from NJ some from NYC up here. School is staying open, but they've closed Fitchberg State and we're waiting to hear what else will be closed. We just got an e-mail from the head of department to try and carry on as normally as possible.

Somehow my thesis data defense meeting tomorrow has gone from being the most important thing to somewhat unimportant :(

The ironic thing is, this was supposed to be a week of events highlighting the Palestinian point of view on campus.

And the movie isn't so much "Independence Day", more like "The Siege".

[waterlover]

Glad to have you back Hammy, just wish it were under different circumstances.

My downtown Minneapolis building is being evacuated right now (not the IDS) so I'm heading home but I don't know what I'll do, watch CNN I guess.........

Did anyone hear about the residents celebrating on the West Bank and on the Gaza Strip? I'm sure they aren't the only ones, the US has lots of enemies.

[BCeagle]

I got good news from my sister, my aunt works on the 60th floor on the WTC got out ok, my brother and his wife are safe. Thank God they're safe.

[Nathan]

Originally posted by waterlover
Glad to have you back Hammy, just wish it were under different circumstances.

My downtown Minneapolis building is being evacuated right now (not the IDS) so I'm heading home but I don't know what I'll do, watch CNN I guess.........

Did anyone hear about the residents celebrating on the West Bank and on the Gaza Strip? I'm sure they aren't the only ones, the US has lots of enemies.

What building?

[Jenna]

BCeagle

That's wonderful to hear for you, I hope more of us get news too.

I am awaiting to hear from my good friends who work in the towers. I am praying very hard.

[HankWP]

glad to hear it BCeagle...

Henry.

[waterlover]

Corner of Washington and Marquette. The FBI or an arm of it is on one of the lower levels so our CO. thought we should leave.

[john]

a plane went down in somerset county PA, 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. I haven't heard anything of it being shot down, just that it was a united flight from Newark to San Fran.

If you can donate blood, please do so.

[Tom Foolery]

Just heard on ABC that there is only one state whose federal buildings are still open - Vermont.

[Kieron]

UMass-Amherst is closed as of now. Vigil services will be held on campus tonight. So, I'm guessing are all state buildings. Connecticut is announcing closing it's schools and colleges.

[Nathan]

Originally posted by waterlover
Corner of Washington and Marquette. The FBI or an arm of it is on one of the lower levels so our CO. thought we should leave.

So, that's Reliastar? Man, you guys are out too huh?

[Kieron]

Just heard the US borders with Mexico and Canada are closed. Inbound transpacific and transatlantic flight have been diverted to Canada.

[brimac10]

Originally posted by john
a plane went down in somerset county PA, 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. I haven't heard anything of it being shot down, just that it was a united flight from Newark to San Fran.

If you can donate blood, please do so.

John - that crash may have been because it was trying to land (per FAA order) on the nearest airstrip but the airstrip may have been too small.

No confirmation, just a rumor I heard on the radio.

[Mark Laliberte]

My uncle flew out of Boston this morning on a flight to Atlanta. He left at 7:30. All morning, my family was in hyterics trying to find out if he was OK. Then, when we heard about the plane crash near Pittsburgh, it was almost too much to take. Luckily, his plane landed safely around 11:30. :)
However, this is a day of absolute tragedy that hits all of us in the heart and in the gut. I am full of rage, sadness and confusion, and I'm unable to express is sufficiently.
All I can do is hope that the loss of life is minimal and that those responsible are punished with cold and brutal efficiency. As for the celebrations in the Middle East, all I can say is prepare for sand to turn into glass.:mad:
Globe reporter Bob Ryan once said this: "Pray for the families, and if you aren't a religious person, pray anyways." Very good advice right about now. :(

[waterlover]

Originally posted by Nathan


So, that's Reliastar? Man, you guys are out too huh?

Yup, as of 11:40, the buildings empty so I'm leaving now too. Talked to Tommyboy and he went home about 11:20 but he works in the suburbs.

[john]

there is an airport a few miles away from where the plane went down, but it would be too small for the plane. Pittsburgh International is only about 90 miles from there, and Allegheny County Airport is about 75-80 miles from there.

[brimac10]

ABC quoted someone as saying "We are now essentially at war" and talking about securing borders.

Isn't this overreacting? Do we really need to bomb the Middle East? Won't that just instigate another attack on our soil? We don't need to "turn sand to glass" - there are ways to find and punish who did this without causing a war.

[Mellow1]

Northeastern School of Law shut down....Undergrads aren't here, but supposedly the whole campus is being shut down.

This whole thing is awful:(

[waterlover]

This was an act of war and the only real way to respond to an act of war is with another act of war.