I heeded the call to buy food and drink for a few days today. Didn't manage to get the duct tape though.

I spoke to a number of people for whom fear of our city being wiped out is a very real backdrop of stress on our daily lives. I spoke to a girl who was very afraid. A couple of co-workers who also were afraid. We all know that in Manhattan we're kind of like sitting ducks. The closer we are to huge public areas the more likely we're in trouble.

I'm doing my best to allay those fears in people I come across. It's easier if the person knows Jesus Christ. "Where oh death is your victory. Where oh death is your sting". The worst case scenario will not be a problem for me. I know where I'm going.. ;)

Anyhow we could have our number up at any time. Hit by a car, medical prob. Accident. You never know whow much time you have. I'm working on being grateful for every additional moment and enjoying the people I'm with. The stuff I'm experiencing. I'm appreciating every minute of this life.

I heard today that many other cities are being given similar terror warnings. Sydney included.

Here many have contigency plans. If a bridge gets taken out, the Island will be closed. No in or out. Those who live off Manhattan will need to find alternatives if they're stuck in it. And vice versa.

I'm not going to let it change what I do. I'll prepare by buying food and water etc. But I will not be governed by fear and negative impetus. I will live like each day is my last, but plan like I'll live forever. ;) [img]smile.gif[/img]

So to whomever reads this: May God keep you safe no matter where you are nor what you believe. May you be filled with a ray of comfort when fear and despair surround you. May you always cling on for another day, simply to see what it has to offer you. May you not be ruled by fear and trepidation during this time of uncertainty, but instead by love, by wonderment and gratitude for each day, by acceptance of mortality and a delight in what you have in your life at this very moment. Right now.

I wish you all the very best. God bless you.

Hugh

Stay safe my friend!

We have local New York channels here (WNBC 4) and I watched today 3 different stopped trucks and they closed entire highways...

SOMETHING is happening.. they are expecting something. I see signs that this is REALLY serious this time. I hope nothing happens, and they catch these fanatic pricks..

Every time a subway stops or goes slow there is unease. I travel under the east river to get into Manhattan. Yesterday was so slow. No local trains were running in one section of Manhattan the night before because of "an incident". Not good for the nerves.

A mate told me today how he was on a subway, and a fellow in full Osama-like regalia, beard and all, got on with a BRIEFCASE. Was he mad or what? The whole train bored a hole in his head with their eyes, watching his every move. I mean surely, surely given all the warnings you could alter your appearance just SLIGHTLY so that you don't look like Osama carrying a briefcase on a subway. Sheesh...

Thanks for your well wishes Dan.

Oh PM me your email addy again mate, and I'll send some more tunes. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Now I know this is cynical and if you disagree feel free to flame me (i can take it) But these "increased security concerns" have occured at a most opertune time. Public support is waining, UN getting more divided ect.

I hope Im right, which means that there is no recent terroist plans.

It is good to see that you are talking a positive outlook Yorick.

Oh come on. Please don't derail his thread.

Oh come on. Please don't derail his thread.</font>[/QUOTE]No intention of Ziroc. I started to compose before I read Yorick 2nd post. It is obvious to me now that I got the wrong end of the stick or was just reading into it something that has been on the back of my mind this last day.

So apoligies to all. :(

Great post, great thoughts Hugh! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Take care bro, stay safe and well.

Thoughtful and caring as ever, Yorick. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I would like to add this : whatever rumors and dissensions and name-calling you read or hear, remember always that fear and hate are the very things that terrorists wish us to feel and fall to. Please don't let them achieve their goal. Please.

<font color="#ffccff">You know, I have been listening to all the latest advice about terror preparedness...and it sounds exactly like the things I was always taught to do as a matter of course. Extra non-perishable food, several days water at least, blankets, flashlights, battery or crank powered radios...heck thats just standard blizzard gear in some places. Im not exactly sure what the big craze for duct tape is, but it is a useful material....but if you duct tape your self into a room so that no bacteria can get into you....yer gonna suffocate in a couple of hours any way. </font>

Keep safe Hugh! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I saw a video clip of people "stocking up" on vital supplies during a news story. One guy had a grocery cart full of water, batteries, and beer. He said he wanted to be prepared for anything. [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]

That person was probably a muslim priest. I think they are called "Imams". Telling them to alter their appearance would be akin to telling a priest to not wear his collar or a hassic jew to not wear his yamulka. You can see how that could cause a few problems.

Yorick,
It appears you and your fellow New Yorker's aren't the only ones feeling stressed. I just read this article Article

Thought I'd add it so that perhaps people may feel a little better knowing that others are feeling the same way.

<font color=orange>Keep gong Hugh/Yorick! I like your spirit! We are doing nothing here in Knoxville. Oh they've out up some traffic cones and such around our building, the School Board building, the City/County building and the two downtown federal buildings, but that's about it. I'm not sure about the TVA Towers. HAven't walked over there yet.

I figure pigs will fly before anything happens here. I heard too, that it's a pain in the A@$ to go to the airport at the moment. Don't plan on going there, so it doesn't effect me.</font>

Keep going, man. Don't let em get you down! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I'm just thankfull that London isn't being put under the same pressure... [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]

That person was probably a muslim priest. I think they are called "Imams". Telling them to alter their appearance would be akin to telling a priest to not wear his collar or a hassic jew to not wear his yamulka. You can see how that could cause a few problems.</font>[/QUOTE]I know my father wouldn't have had a prob throwing away his collar if it meant people were uneasy and frightened when they saw him wear it.

It's the combination. If he's not going to change his appearance he shouldn't be carrying a briefcase! It's insensitive to peoples natural concerns, and could get him hurt by some nut who acts on those concerns... :( He's not going to suddenly change human nature.

I feel it too...I'm getting kinda jittery at the moment, what with the Heathrow incident and everything. God, what i wouldn't give to go to Scotland-everyone likes the Scottish...except the English and the Irish....And the other Scottish....and [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Wishing everyone in Manhatten, Sydney, London and pretty much every other city the best *shiver*

Thanks for the well wishes all. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thanks Yorick.

Fears of terror in the deep cold winter do seem to have a grip on some people around here as well.

The store I work at is right a subway station within a busy closed street shopping area. I look out the window at all the people walking by (less now that it is cold) and feel kind of like a sitting duck sometimes. One of my roles at work is security, so I am use to keeping my head up and an eye open for over a year now.

What really bummed me out was having that mentality at Disney World.
They raised the alert the day we ate at the contemporary resort. If you are un-familiar, it has a monorail going through it on the 5th floor. Just about any one can get on that monorail and they didn't check tickets or bags until the gates to the different parks. I would be so pissed and sad if terrorists bombed Disney world (or anywhere else for that matter) and I was pissed and sad that I was thinking about it while I was there, but I made the best of it.

Recent news has made life interesting. On the daily subway rides it really is like everybody looking at everybody else. It is very creepy. I blame the media (and terrorists).

We all need all the warm thoughts we can get. Thanks for the good thoughts!

[ 02-14-2003, 01:46 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

I had 2 dreams in the last Month about Disney getting hit by a bomb or something else (Anthrax or VX Stuff) and another dream was of a Disney World airplane... IS there a plane that is painted all over with disney characters??? Because that is what I saw.. and this plane was taken. VERY scary.

I hope nothing happens. :(

Well Londoners and the English don't seem to be bothered - but then we've lived with the daily threat and reality of terrorist attacks since 1971, so we're pretty used to it, bombs are part of our lives unfortunately. Every day, somewhere, there is a security evacuation on part of the tube (subway) network. I've personally witnessed at least 4 bombs go off. The Bishopsgate and the Baltic Exchange bombings both nearly blew my windows in, and a direct hit on the building I used to work in destroyed my office. And I lived next to North Camp barracks when they were bombed - one of my earliest memories.

I guess for you guys, this is the first time you've had to live thinking about issues like this.

Me, I'm not scared. I'm used to it - if it happens, it happens. Just part of our lives. It's not pleasant, but as time goes on your fear will subside.

Yep, sometimes it's a blessing to live in a quite out-of-the-way place, and I'm glad my sweetie lives in an out-=of-the-way place too. It's true that in Britain we've had terrorism for 25 years, but it still doesn't make it any easier to see how many people are scared by all of this.

All I can say is that we hope nothing happens anywhere, and that people should be aware of threats but not ruled by them. Be cautious, but live your life as normally as you can.

That's the advice of a totally unqualified-to-comment person. I'm sure you all feel immensly cheered ;)

Most bio/chem agents are particulate in nature, the barrier doesn't have to be totally airtight - it just has to keep stray airborne contaminants out. Even in the case of a nuke, other than the gamma pulse, the alpha and beta are easily dealt with by a sheet of plastic.

I don't think the undisguised ones are anything to worry about. [img]smile.gif[/img]