posted on October 9, 2001 05:10:11 AM
I am wondering if any of you people that live near nuclear power plants have bothered to buy radiation detection equipment of any sort?
posted on October 9, 2001 06:42:54 AM
Yes, I'm a little scared, nervous, stressed, "twitchy", what have you. The view from my living room looks toward the city of Boston, and I frequently see low flying airplanes either coming in for a landing or taking off. Frequently, they pass right over my building. What used to simply be annoying is now unnerving.
I mentioned in a previous thread how an ill-timed fireworks display Sunday evening [the day of our counterattack] set me on edge until I figured out what it was. Apparently, I wasn't the only one:
I live in the city of Somerville, which is one of the cities mentioned in the article. At least I didn't go running about panicking in the streets, though.
It doesn't help when the Attorney General keeps saying that we should definitely expect retaliation and that all State and Federal officials should be on "highest alert".
Maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I just haven't been sleeping too well lately....
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on October 9, 2001 06:52:25 AM
And another thing...
I got a phone call last night from a law school buddy I haven't spoken with in a year or so. Last time I heard from him, he was working in an office building just a few blocks away from the WTC in New York. When I tried to e-mail him after the attack, the e-mail bounced as an invalid address.
Well, the GOOD news is that he actually left New York last. The BAD news is that he now works in a tall office building in Washington, DC. He actually works for the Justice Department, and he said that people there are a wee bit nervous as to what the future will bring.
I'm not panicking, and I am doing my best to live my life as normally as possible. But yes, I am scared.
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on October 9, 2001 08:40:44 AM
I am sick to death of the media telling us all how terrified we are. Bin Laden and crew must be in ecstasy if they can hear half of the news reports.
It is natural to have a healthy level of concern--I live only a few miles from a VX Nerve Gas Depot full of the stuff. But there is no way that I am going to let those scumbags beat me down with fear. Not only will I not change any aspect of my lifestyle out of fear, I will, by example, teach my daughter to stand up to bullies of all kinds.
posted on October 9, 2001 10:40:11 AM
I'm really ompressed with the amount of feedback that you all have given. I honestly thought that this thread would be passed and ignored by most. Although maybe it is, who knows.
But I guess when I posted it, I really didn't express myself too well.
When I said I'm scared, I meant it. But not hiding in a corner, quakin' in my boots with my head under a pillow scared. Its just something that I never had to worry about befor now, and never thought I would have too. I think many people felt that way. The USA is the land of dreams, growth, technology and it a SAFE place.
And now, according to the news, we are all haveing nightmares instead of dreams, and technology is working against us, and we don't feel safe.
I'm not afraid to go anywhere, I haven't changed ANY aspect of my life or day to day business. I don't avoid any places or tasks.
But I do think about mine and my families safety and what the future has in store for us. Nothing is for sure. It never has been, but now we all finally realize it.
So I guess "scared" wasn't quite the right word. But close enough...
posted on October 9, 2001 10:49:19 AM
Sasoony ~ I'm not scared. I'm embarrassed. America is full of sissys and girly men.
I don't agree. We are a strong country, always have been. If there's anyone I'm embarrassed of it's people like you who feel the need to put our own people down in a time like this.
NearTheSea ~ I live southwest of seattle in the suburbs too! Port Orchard ~ know of it?
posted on October 9, 2001 07:13:27 PM
luvmy2bears: I thought it was an excellent thread and it has generated some valuable thoughts. Everyone is trying to figure out how to live with this new reality. It helps to hear other people thoughts and opinions.
Meya: Thanks for the link. I didn't recognize the name and I read the Trib cover to cover. I'll have to watch for him.
tiggressoflove: I wasn't aware of this danger. I suppose the government put so many together because they thought no one would ever attack. Well another fear to fight down. Thanks for your brave thoughts. If you can deal with this living so close and not beng afraid so can I.
posted on October 9, 2001 07:38:02 PM
luvmy2bears-yes of course I've heard and been to Port Orchard, great place!
I'm near Des Moines/Normandy Park area, if you've heard of those areas
My sister just emailed me, she's in Port Angeles, she said that the National Guard has tooken over security totally there at the port, thats mostly going into Canada.
Her husband and her are police officers.
Of course I am sure we all either scared or very, very concerned. Like they keep saying, we need to be alert, but not panic, and just be aware of whats going on, if anything looks strange or out of place in your area, to tell someone, at least thats what they keep saying.... I'm sure we'll be ok
Rawbunzel! I just got back on here, oh YEAH
Safeco field, and the Seahawk one, thats not finished (of which I do not know the name!)
BUT! the Mariners are doing TERRIFIC!
posted on October 9, 2001 07:40:57 PMhave bothered to buy radiation detection equipment of any sort?
One that's "good enough to let you know there's a problem" can be built pretty easily
It's made with:
Synthetic thread (nylon preferred).
Aluminum foil.
One quarter dollar or something with similar diameter.
A glass jar (Select one that is as wide as possible).
A metal jar or can lid to fit over the top.
A drill or punch to put holes through the jar lid.
A plastic comb and hair to generate static electricity.
Edited to add: If I recall, even though this article doesn't mention it, this device works best if the air in the jar is as dry as possible. Put a silicon jell packet in the bottom of the jar. If you don't have a silicon jell packet, and you feel you NEED to build one of these, crumble up a little drywall and heat it, and then put it in the jar. If you study the article, it's actually a little better than "just good enough".
posted on October 9, 2001 08:21:12 PM
I'm not scared - we ALREADY got the sh*t kicked out of us here in NYC.
Of course, that doesn't mean they won't strike here again. Some of my friends are in a panic. Some even had to go on medication over this. And there are lots of people suddenly leaving NYC, and that doesn't make sense to me - it's not like we know of any one place that is safer than another. We can't know where they will strike next. I am absolutely more "jumpy" since the attack... noises I would not notice before have a tendency to startle me very easily now. This is the kinda post traumatic symptoms EVERYONE I have talked to here in NYC is feeling. (And maybe all over the rest of the country too?) But to me, that seems like a more subconcious thing. Somehow I'm not walking around feeling conciously scared. Hey maybe it's denial. But while I feel quite sure the attacks aren't over, and I have big fat reminders every day (like missing part of our skyline, and my subway train no longer in service since Sept 11, and having seen and smelled the smoke, and been downtown watching from a distance, etc,) I'm grateful to say that somehow I am able to go on with my days, and that includes taking the subway trains, etc.
ThriftStoreQueen I don't know why you would be "ashamed" to say you are scared. I think being scared is a pretty damn appropriate feeling now that part of the city blew up, part of the Pentagon blew up, and 7000 people are dead, and we don't know what's next. You bet it's scary! I don't know why I am not terrified, but somehow I am not. ??? Some kind of "automatic pilot" kicked in for me right after the attack... it allowed me to go on but NOT feel anything. I was like a walking zombie for days. Perhaps I am still in shock a little?? I really don't have an explanation. Rocker
posted on October 9, 2001 08:31:20 PM America is full of sissys and girly men. ....sasoony
Of course, I can NOT let this one go. I really really hate it when someone uses the term "girl" as an insult. "You throw like a girl", "You're a girly man," etc, etc. It is SO insulting to women. It implies that girls or women are weak, or cowardly, as sasoony used it. I know girls and women who could kick your a$$ from the Pentagon to Ground Zero, and would be happy to do so after a comment like that. So please don't use the word GIRL as an insult.
I love girls.
GIRLS ARE FIERCE
posted on October 9, 2001 08:42:42 PM
Meya: Thanks for a needed diversion!! I do read Likes, only I know the column by the Backfence. I enjoy his columns. How did you find him??
Rocker: I am searching for words. May God Bless you and your fellow New Yorkers. Our prayers and hearts go out to you from Minnesota. Shock is a good explanation. I still have a hard time believing the attack actually happened.
posted on October 9, 2001 08:43:51 PM
We went to the state fair on Saturday and after I look down the hill at the the endless ebbing sea of bodies, we made other plans. We went back tonight with only a moderate crowd and designated "family nite". I felt totally safe tonight. I did not on Saturday.
Caution describes my state of mind.
fryin onions, cow manure
Ronnie Milsap, swing your partner
Penn's chicken on a stick, funnel cakes
The Himalaya, ferris wheel
sticky shoes, cotton candy
pig races, petting zoo
circus elephants, motorcycle cage
ice cream of the future, Farrow
and your name on a grain of rice
15th anniversary our first date.
posted on October 9, 2001 10:49:54 PM
I wasn't bothered until just about 10 minutes ago, there was a plane flying so low that it shook the house, we don't have that around here, so I am wondering what it was. Did not sound like a "regular" airplane either.
posted on October 10, 2001 05:10:44 AM
I'm certainly not going to say we shouldn't be concerned about the future of our country-that would be foolish. I also have my moments of panic, such as when my son got on the airplane to go back to college Sunday night-I found myself checking the passengers in line to see if there were any middle easterners checking in. I also think occasionally about the plant near his college where they make bombs-although this operation has been moved underground in its entirety.
But I also think that media releases that are often designed to boost ratings more than to give information AND threads on chatrooms, conversations around the water cooler, etc, do much to keep people upset. Kind of like turning off the lights and telling ghost stories. This is the secret warfare that the terrorists have succeeded with. Rumors tend to grow as they are repeated until they are accepted as fact, even when they are totally without basis.
As responsible adults, we need to be careful what we repeat. We need to learn to separate fact from rumor and realize that acting responsibly is good, panicking is just perpetuating and spreading the poison that the terrorists have infected us with.
posted on October 10, 2001 05:20:39 AMAs responsible adults, we need to be careful what we repeat. We need to learn to separate fact from rumor and realize that acting responsibly is good, panicking is just perpetuating and spreading the poison that the terrorists have infected us with.
posted on October 10, 2001 07:48:40 AM
Yep ~ I am scared but so very angry inside.
I live outside of Philadelphia Pa in a small town but very, very close to the Limerick Nuke Plant, live in flight zone for all the planes that fly daily from Willow Grove & they are flying low here, yikes !!
I listen to talk radio out of New Jersey while doing my ebay business and a guy just called in to ask ~ what ever happened to those nuke bombs that the Russians had & that The Evil Man has tons of money to purchase from them
But still going about my every day business, shopping, etc & have no plans to buy any gas masks ~ what ever happens, happens and if I was younger... I would go over there in a minute and fight for the America that I love so very, very much ~ yea ! Would want to die on my feet fighting instead of hiding in a corner
posted on October 10, 2001 11:39:40 AM
We had a perfect example of a media induced panic here in town yesterday. A 'mysterious' package was found in the mayor's office-I don't think they ever said where it was from. But several people who were feeling really crummy decided it might be anthrax. They closed the office, sent everyone home, and did all the tests. Not anthrax.
These people were probably already sick, I've mentioned that allergies and sinus problems are really bad here right now. But as soon as this package 'showed up', they decided they had the symptoms of anthrax. And the local news channels had a real heyday with this bit of information all day, until the tests returned.
How many people heard 'anthrax in the mayor's office', but never heard about the negative tests? Why couldn't the media have waited for the tests before they started a panic? Because THEY DON'T CARE-they just wanted to be the first to report it, accurate or not. This is what we have been seeing everyday since 9/11 on a national level, with the resultant panics, rumors, and other such nonsense.
posted on October 10, 2001 02:31:55 PM
NearTheSea ~ yeah, I've heard of your area ~ though I've never been over there. But, now that you mention it - what is the name of that new Seahawks stadium? hmmmmmm
Bearmom ~ Bravo to every word you said!
Snowydayz ~ I bet it was just military aircraft (OUR military). Many people who don't usually hear them (including those who don't even live near military bases) are hearing them off & on now. I think it's a good thing.
nyrocker ~ GIRLS ARE FIERCE
Yes we are! And (forgive me for saying this ~ it seems many men don't agree) but remind me again who gives life? Who carries another human inside them for nearly a year and then pushes it out a hole generally only big enough for a penis?
GIRLS!
Could a sissy do that? I don't think so.
edited over and over again because my eyes and brain are getting tired from too much ebay today!
[ edited by luvmy2bears on Oct 10, 2001 02:38 PM ]
posted on October 11, 2001 04:30:17 AM
>>>>These people were probably already sick, I've mentioned that allergies and sinus problems are really bad here right now. But as soon as this package 'showed up', they decided they had the symptoms of anthrax<<<<
I *knew* this would happen! That is why in my thread about having sinus or allergy problems I posted about how people start thinking it is terrorist related. I can imagine how many people are flocking to the doctor thinking they were in contact with anthrax when it is really just a cold!
Heck, here in PA we had warm weather, then a cold snap, now it is warm again and next week they are saying rain and in the 40's. Am sure even more folks are going to have some sinus or allergy problems.
Queen <---- who *still* has congestion over a week later. Sigh.
posted on October 11, 2001 01:45:35 PM
So now we have a missing truck load of rocket fuel and a missing storehouse of explosives and the FBI issues a warning that they have information that there will be an attack within the next few days.
I suggest everyone stay home.
[ edited by jt on Oct 11, 2001 01:52 PM ]
posted on October 11, 2001 02:03:36 PM
Maybe some government employees are now putting sugar, flour, or some other kind of "white substance" at their job sites now to get the day off?? I wouldn't put it past some people.
But while I feel quite sure the attacks aren't over, and I have big fat reminders every day (like missing part of our skyline, and my subway train no longer in service since Sept 11, and having seen and smelled the smoke, and been downtown watching from a distance, etc,) I'm grateful to say that somehow I am able to go on with my days, and that includes taking the subway trains, etc.
Rocker 
[ edited by luvmy2bears on Oct 10, 2001 02:38 PM ]