Feeling creative

I've been wanting to redesign my site for a while, but I haven't felt very inspired. :/ I messed around with a design a few months ago, then never finished it. I messed around with a design a couple of weeks ago, then never finished it.

Last night, I found inspiration in a photograph i'd just taken. I stayed up until 3 am playing with a layout, and bugging Kathie and bwg for input.

I think I've finally found something that really pleases me, and not just something I could live with.

Hopefully, I'll be able to have this design up and running by the end of the week.

Warning: It will definitely come with a domain name change.

Wisdom from the past

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

-Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826
Third President of the USA

Your Mama

What a fun little site!

Lisa told me that the original "heartfelt thank you" page that I linked to yesterday is gone. She pointed me to a mirror, but just in case, I've mirrored the page as well ~ 2:34:59 PM :: linky linky ~

Welcome home

Yay! Min Jung is safely back home! (I guess partying with the nuns didn't wear her out too much.)

a heartfelt thank you

This page has compiled a number of moving images from around the world. The love and compassion evident in these photos is overwhelming.

And Randall, I did cry.

I am very pleased and proud of this photo.

More annoying IMs

This guy just didn't want to take "no" for an answer, and he also wanted something for nothing.

HnFourtrax: you there hottie

Pamela: what?

HnFourtrax: hey
HnFourtrax: a/s/l

Pamela: i'm not interested

HnFourtrax: you rember me
HnFourtrax: we talked bfore
HnFourtrax: you sent your pic
HnFourtrax: you have a sexy whit skirt on and your sittin on the couch

Pamela: If I sent you my pic, why are you asking my sex?

HnFourtrax: i meant a/l

Pamela: And, I've never talked to you before. I never sent you a picture. I don't even own a white skirt.

HnFourtrax: do you even have a pic

Pamela: Yeah, a few.

HnFourtrax: will you please send one then
HnFourtrax: to see if it was you

Pamela: No.

HnFourtrax: please

Pamela: Trust me, it wasn't me.

HnFourtrax: on the pic it said pamela

Pamela: I'm not the only person in the world named 'pamela.'

HnFourtrax: i now
HnFourtrax: what color hair do you have

Pamela: I have pics on my web site.

HnFourtrax: where that at

Pamela: Do you have a credit card?
Pamela: It's $9.95/minute to view the pics on my web site.

HnFourtrax: are you nude

Pamela: You'll have to look at the pics to see.

HnFourtrax: for get it

Pamela: Cheapskate.

HnFourtrax: yup

Pamela: Bye.

HnFourtrax: why because if you r nude i can get a nude pic for free from some one on here

Pamela: Because they're pics of me.
Pamela: You were the one asking for pics. It's not like I sent you spam to come and pay to look at my pics.

HnFourtrax: you send you had some to send to see

Pamela: What? That sentence didn't make any sense.

HnFourtrax: you said

Pamela: ?

HnFourtrax: that you would send a pic

Pamela: No, I didn't. I told you, I've never talked to you before.

HnFourtrax: ya and you sad you would send a pic

Pamela: No, I didn't. I said I had pics on my web site.

HnFourtrax: fine be that way if your not gonna send any pics

Pamela: How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not going to send you pics?

This person also didn't want to take "no" for an answer, and by now I've gotten rather frustrated.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: pam?

Pamela: yes?

SMSDBROWNSUGER: what are you doing????

Pamela: nothing

SMSDBROWNSUGER: this is TY, you have to be doing somrthing you are online

Pamela: TY?
Pamela: Is that a name?

SMSDBROWNSUGER: you know who this is....MONKEY!

Pamela: No, I don't know who you are.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: Yes you do you are my aunt Pam

Pamela: No, I'm not.
Pamela: I don't have any nieces or nephews.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: yes you do, stop playing

Pamela: I am not playing. Please stop IMing me.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: ok, but first tell me what happened to the pictures you were suppose to send us?

Pamela: I DO NOT KNOW YOU!
Pamela: http://midnightgarden.com/pamela/
Pamela: that is me!
Pamela: Not your aunt.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: ok what ever you say

Pamela: Leave me alone, please.

SMSDBROWNSUGER: ok i'm sorry, my aunt name is pamela i thought you were her, i won't bother you again

Pamela: thank you, bye

Ugh

Right now, I have a damp pussy. OK, get your mind out of the gutter!

Silly little Shiner got an unexpected bath. See, Dale and I were putting a load of live rock into my new micro reef and Shiner was curious as to what was happening. He braved all the saltwater drips and splashes and kept trying to check out the container the rocks were in. When we finished, Dale just set the lid loosely across the styrofoam box and Shiner hopped up-

-and right into two inches of saltwater. I hefted him out and took him to the bathroom to give him a freshwater rinse while Dale removed the container. Afterwards, I wrapped the kitten in a towel and came upstairs. Shiner was still for about 10 minutes before getting bored, climbing out of the towel, and hopping down. I set the towel aside.

Of course, within minutes he was back in my lap. Now he's cuddled down and napping, and my pants are wet.

At least he's not farting.

Light a Candle

Feed a friend

First there was Ernie-Aid. Now there's Keep-Min-Jung-fed-while-she's-stuck-in-France-Aid.

(This project is the brainchild of the big-hearted Big White Guy.)

Fishy Business

On a lighter note, I have a new aquarium.

Driving around today, I saw a truck. In the rear window was a picture of Osama bin Laden, with a gun's crosshairs on his face.

All it did was make me sad.

AIM and current events

On Tuesday, I removed the privacy blocks I have set for AOL Instant Messenger. Here's a sampling of the messages I received.

This man has already decided who's responsible for the attacks. At least he's willing to help the victims.

CarlArthurJr: HELLO MY NAME IS BUDDY WHAT IS YOUR NAME AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO N.Y.ANDWASHINGTON.AND DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BOMB THE TALIBAN.:-D

---

Auto response from Pamela: I'm away right now. Please feel free to leave a message.

Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. Don't Hate.

---

CarlArthurJr: YES WE ARE SAFE AND ANGRY ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO N.Y.ANDWASHINGTON.I LIVE IN WEST VIRGINIA THE FOURTH PLAN TRAVELED ABOVE WHERE I LIVE AND CRASHED IN PENNSLYVANIA.

CarlArthurJr: IF I COULD I WOULD DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO N.Y. TO HELP FIND ANY MORE SURVIVERS 8-)

CarlArthurJr: IF THERE IS ANYWAY THAT I CAN HELP TO DO FOR THE STATE OF N.Y. I WILL!THANK YOU!:'(

CarlArthurJr: P.S.LET ME NO WHAT I COULD DO .

CarlArthurJr: FROM:CARLARTHUR.JR

CarlArthurJr: PLEASE KEEP INFORMED WHEN THE US WILL ATTACK THE TALIBAN SO I CAN SEE HIS FACE BEFORE HE DIES.>:o

CarlArthurJr: HI WHATS GOING ON.I THINK WHAT HAPPENED N.Y.AND WASHINGTON SUCK SAND IHOPE WE PAY BACK THE TALIBAN SO THAT IF ANYONE DOES THIS AGAIN THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE USA WILL DO TO THEM.8-)P.S.LET;S HOPE BUSH HAS THE BALLS TO MAKE THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PAY IN A WAY THAT NO ONE WILL DO THIS TO THE GOOD OLD USA. AGAIN.BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THE TERROR ON BIN LADENS FACE BEFORE A MISSLE KILLS THE ASSWHOLEOFALLASSWHOLESINTHEWORLD THEEND.>:o

A case of mistaken identity, and she's willing to enlist.

RAACO: Hi Pam,

I hope you didn't know anyone directly involved in Tuesday's tragedy! I don't know anyone who was, but I feel so sorry for the loved ones of the victims. I scared Adriana yesterday because I said I would be willing to sign up for the armed forces if they needed me or wanted me! I realize I'm no spring chicken but I sure would want to do whatever I could.

Sara

A concerned Frenchman. I lost the first part of the conversation.

Dyvalis: 'so, what do you think about this crazy situation ?

Pamela: I think it's horrifying. It's scary. I'm sorry for all the people who've been hurt. I don't want to see any more violence.

Dyvalis: But you aren't from nyc, or whashington...and I suppposed your telivision are the same than our, 'cause, We follow everytime those incredible science-fiction scene...

Pamela: No, I am far from Washington DC and New York City. You probably are seeing the same images that I see on my television.

Dyvalis: I think too...

Dyvalis: do you see american soldier, near your town ?

Pamela: No, I haven't seen any.

Dyvalis: I hope for u, (and for us) than some terrible decision will be not taken in following hours, in fact...

Pamela: I hope that too. While I hope that we can find those responsible, I don't want another bloodbath.

Dyvalis: god bless america...

Pamela: :-) thank you

This one starts off with an unexpected request, but it ends nicely.

CSGIRL03061982: hi baby

CSGIRL03061982: i'm bi

CSGIRL03061982: sexuell

CSGIRL03061982: what do you think of a little date?

Pamela: i am not interested

CSGIRL03061982: oh

CSGIRL03061982: than sorry

CSGIRL03061982: but i want to say VERY VERY VERY GOOD BUDDY SYMBOL*

CSGIRL03061982: am i allowed to copy it??

Pamela: sure, you can copy the buddy icon

CSGIRL03061982: thank you very muich

Pamela: :-)

CSGIRL03061982: no one should forget what happened that day

Pamela: that's right

CSGIRL03061982: so

CSGIRL03061982: nice evening

CSGIRL03061982: and sorry for my date questions

Pamela: no problem. i hope you have a nice evening

CSGIRL03061982: bye

Pamela: bye

* Here's the buddy icon she was asking about. Feel free to copy it and use it yourself.

Fraud warning

Scam artists capitalize on tragedy
Spam urging Red Cross donations sends users to trick site

By Bob Sullivan
MSNBC

Sept. 13 — Consumer protection advocates are warning Internet users that scam artists are trying to take advantage of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks. Spam solicitations have been sent out urging Netizens to donate money to the Red Cross or other relief organizations. But the e-mails direct potential donors to private Web sites apparently designed to steal credit card numbers.

This angers me beyond belief!! I even received some of this spam earlier today.

Sweet relief!

My online friend who's been missing since the attack has finally responded to contact attempts. He is fine. He was in a building 50 yards away from the first tower, and he wound up showered in rubble as he and hundreds of others fled on foot. Not surprisingly, his phone's been out, so he's only recently been able to respond.

More tears, but this time from relief.

Tonight I had a nice escape from recent events.

More New York Stories

Evil Twin Theory - The Fine Line - Xanga - Chris Bowcutt - Bobofett - Sara Astruc's Perfect Way

Hi y'all. I'm still here. And I've been online for hours. I just haven't had anything more to say today.

Take care, be safe, and don't hate.

Bertie's expanded eyewitness account of the WTC attack, with photos.

I've removed my AIM privacy block. So if you feel like talking, go ahead and send me a message.

I'd just like to offer everyone a big big hug.

Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. If you already have an Amazon account, it only takes a few clicks to pay through their Honor System.

A 7 year old's perspective.

This made me cry again.

"I ran two blocks, then turned around to watch people jumping from the 90-100 floors. Two people jumped together and held hands the whole way down, never letting go. That's when my heart officially broke."

Someone has started a site compiling links and information relevent to today's attacks.

Help for NYC

there's an all demand for blood donations from the Red Cross. People should call in their local place to find out if they are collecting blood for NYC.

If you can have this circulated it would be great! Also - there are news that internet connections in NYC is going down and there's a group organizing some ham-radio relays.

For NYC residents - Local Hospitals Accepting Blood Donations.

Manhattan St. Clare's Hospital & Health Center 426 W. 52nd St. 212-586-1500

Manhattan St. Vincent's Hospital & Medical Center 7th Ave. at 11th St. 212-604-7000

Brooklyn St. Mary's Hospital 170 Buffalo Ave. 718-221-3000

Queens- Flushing St. Joseph's Hospital 15840 79th Ave. 718-558-6200

Queens- Jamaica St. Vincent's Medical Center of Richmond 355 Bard Ave. 718-876-1234

Staten Island Mary Immaculate Hospital 15211 89th Ave. 718-558-2000

For those of you who can't get through the NY and DC-area phone systems, a web site has been set up for people to check in to let others know they're ok.

There is going to be a candelight vigil at the University of Texas at Austin tonight.

Holy shit. CNN (tv) just reported that a passenger on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania locked him(?)self in a restroom with a cell phone and called an emergency line (911?) saying, "we've been hijacked! we've been hijacked!" The passenger stayed on the phone until the crash.

[Update]
Alwin said "Yeah; according to witnesses it sounds like [the pilot] jammed the throttles forward, locked them, and pushed the plane into a dive. Probably to make it an unrecoverable dive"

What a horrible choice: die and kill a planeload of passengers, or allow terrorists to take control and kill an unknown number. That pilot is a hero in my heart.

Typically, there are 4,000 (commercial) aircraft in US airspace at any given time.

At the moment, there are 0.

None.

Dale's grandmother just called. They've heard from his mom. She's sitting on a runway in Canada. They're not sure if she's in Toronto or Newfoundland. We have no idea when she'll be able to return home.

The Great Buildings Collection - A search on the World Trade Center reports :

Architect Minoru Yamasaki
Location New York, New York
Date 1970 to 1977. Demolished by terrorist attack on September 11, 2001

Who ever expects to wake up, and find out your entire world has changed?

I'm in shock, and I can't even begin to comprehend how the friends and families of the direct victims must feel.

About donating blood (outside of the target zones) - with all air traffic shut down, blood can't be transported yet anyway. Most donation centers are backlogged, with a 2-4 hour wait.

The urgency and need is still real, but you will be doing just as much good if you wait a day or two.

Finally! Bush speaks.

And CNN has technical difficulties and can't play the video of his statement.

CNN's timeline

Another discussion list about the WTC and Pentagon attacks.

I am so afraid of retribution. I am so afraid of vengeance. I am terrified of what this will mean to anyone now in the US who even looks Middle Eastern.

I certainly want those behind this attack to be brought to justice, but I'm afraid of how many more innocent lives may be taken in retaliation, both by the US and by... others.

Someone from MetaFilter set up a Yahoo group for discussion.

I've talked to Kathie. She and her family are OK too.

Eyewitness accounts. Andy - Bertie - Dan - Choire (on the left)

News sites are crazy.

FYI - I've just called the Austin Blood and Tissue Center. They're not even taking appointments today, just walk-ins, and there's currently a three hour wait to donate blood.

It's heartening to know that so many people have shown up to donate blood.

GIVE BLOOD!

Austin: Austin Blood and Tissue Center - (512) 206-1266 - 4300 N. Lamar Boulevard

US (nationwide): Red Cross - call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or contact your local Red Cross to find out where to donate blood.

The sheer amount of hate needed to pull off this attack is frightening.

I've learned that an online friend is unaccounted for. He worked in the World Trade Center.

My family is fine. Mom is at work, Dad is at work, Phaedra is at home. I talked to Phaedra. Mom doesn't work anywhere near DC. Dad does work in DC, right by Union Station, but that's no where near the Pentagon (which is really in Virginia). Dad's waiting to find out if the Metro lines are running, so he can head home.

Scott is also ok, thank god. He's trying to reach his mom but she's not answering.

My mother-in-law is en route from London. She was supposed to arrive in a couple of hours. We think her flight's been diverted to Toronto. Dale's grandmom is going to call us as soon as she hears from Karen.

I am so afraid of what this means.

Oh my god, what is happening? Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon. Airports shut down. Another possible hijacked plane.

I can't get through to my family, who live outside DC. Where is my dad?

How many people are dead??!