How's Everybody Doing?

“To digress from the debate on what to do to whom, I was wondering (without giving up any Military secrets) how you all are doing. what's going on in your cities snd towns? How are the gas prices, etc.

here in Montana everyone is going about their business, but they appear numb. People have grim looks on their faces as they drive the streets. There are memorial services and flags all over. the National Guard went to an alert but not to the Delta level. There was a run on gas the first night and a few jerks gouged us, but have dropped prices back down. Regular is about $1.60/gal. The Flying J, Inc., stations jacked up their prices and gave customers a leaflet saying that there was a gas shortage because "the major teminals on the coasts were closed for security reasons". This was untrue and they got called on it! Their president wouldn't return calls, but they rolled back their prices. Some Americans pitched in, others tried to use it to their advantage...”

“Vancouver Airport is about 10%, so far, with max security. Some airline and airport staff have been billeting travellers and Delta Airport Hotels have 500 cots set up in their conference rooms.

Our border crossings were virtually deserted, yesterday, but are busier than usual, today, as increased searches cause delays. Our gas prices have been going up and down so quickly, lately, it's hard to spot any effect.”

“Gas prices are back to normal here in the Detroit area, the state Attorny General is prosicuiting a bunch of station owners. Jets have been flying around every night. It's so eerie to hear them as I lie in bed.”

“Oh and there are three to four hour waits at the Canadian borders to come into the country for cars, twelve hour waits for semis.”

“Flagstaff is so small that except for no planes overhead and the stricken looks on faces life is little changed.”

“Wisconsin's governor dispatched a couple dozen consumer protection division agents to track down gasoline profiteers. Classes continue on campus and I spent part or most of each class yesterday on the subject.

Personally, I feel really sh!tty inside. I know I'm one of those that may have a grim look on my face, and when I don't, I feel guilty that I might be smiling or laughing in this somber time. As someone said on another thread, I feel very conflicted at the moment and can only hope that I can be true to my beliefs and act upon my ideals. I hope that my cynicism is not confirmed by events, but gas gougers and ranting bigots have weakened that hope.

On the other hand, the response of professionals and common citizens in a time of need has been heartening. We are a great nation burdened by lassitude, leeches, and demagogues. Perhaps this great challenge that has been layed before us will help us rise and shake off those burdens and fulfill our promise once again to live our American ideals rather than simply mouth them.”

“Albuquerque and surrounding have several high profile, highly sensitive federal facilities. Things are pretty tight. I feel great resolve to pursue the war against terrorism to its end.”

“Here at my university in Baltimore we are like the United Nations.
We have faculty and students from all over the world, much like America.
Or more like NYC.
In the news films taken on the streets of NYC there are people of all colors.

A Czech student told me she got a worried call from her mother.
Her mom wasn't sure of the geography.
There's nothin' in Baltimore those loonies would want to target.”

“I'm in about the same 'place' pekka is. I think nearly all of us are fairly shell-shocked.

I don't know about you guys, but I need to get the hell away from the tv and this computer for a while.

My thoughts are with the rescue personnel in Manhattan.”

“What Aero said about MT is pretty much true everywhere. (He is in the west, I'm in the east.) My little bro is 16 and I was surprised about what he had to say about the classes at the high school. They seem to be giving it little attention. It's like they are taking a "we are far away in MT and we want to pretend it didn't happen" attitude. That really bothers me. Aero, do you know what is happening in schools over your way?”

“The Montana colleges and Universities all had memorial services and vigils. the High shools and grade schools didn't close, but I know they had TVs on most of the time, counselors were available, etc. Sporting events still went on. Some of the college teams may not travel due to air traffic closures. the federal offices were a mixed bag; some closed on Wednesday, others didn't. they're all open now. the weirdest thing was a Delta 757 or 737 landing in Miles City, MT where the runway was so short the plane went beyond it a few hundred feet. It couldn't land in Billings because they were full with a lot of International flights that couldn't land in Canada. The bottom line here is everyone is shoked,concerened, saddened, etc., but we don't know what else to do, so we go on. The gas price gouging really got people riled, tho.”

“Other than getting a butt load of riduculous emails telling me to wear red/white/&blue, Quotes from Nostradomus, and prayer vigils everything is peachy.”

“yeah, how about that Nostradamus? Somebody out there sure has a sick sense of humor.”

“The local stores are sold out of US flags. Gas prices normal ($1.35). No out of town mail at my business, which corresponds with WA DC quite a bit. We have received condolences from business contacts in China, Taiwan, Scotland, and Australia. I took a businessman of Arab ancestry as a guest to my Rotary Club, and he was warmly welcomed. I am proposing him as a member next week. At Rotary, the president of the club asked that no one jump on the blame bandwagon until the facts are in. One member has a daughter who is an FBI agent at the Pentagon, and a son at West Point. I'm glad I'm going backpacking this weekend, to Loon Lake, which has a nice description in the trail guide section of thebackpacker.com.”