David Letterman Returns. I struggle for the right phrase to indicate all the new experiences I am going through in the wake of the terrorist attack, but watching David Letterman's emotional "Late Show" tonight was definitely yet another sign of how this horrific attack has changed everyone of us.

I am very happy that I taped this episode because it really captured how Americans are feeling now, at this point in history, and I want to someday show it to my kids and grandkids, if they even come to know what a comedic influence Letterman had been on my life. Letterman's 'Late Show' emotional return was especially poignant when Dave spoke from the heart about so many things, including his high praise for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Seeing him sitting behind the same desk he has cracked so many jokes from and being honest, being true to his audience really brought a tear to my eye. He had Dan Rather and Regis Philbin on, who I feel were the perfect guests on such a decidedly marked departure from the normal Late Show comedy shtick, that was neither desired by Letterman, nor appropriate as our nation mourns.


To see Letterman all choked up and about to cry and to see usually stoic news anchorman Dan Rather cry on camera really was another one of those surreal moments I've been having in this last week. Tomorrow marks a week after the attack and we really are a changed people. What's important, though, is that we get back to the normal tasks and activities each of us is responsible for and to know that Americans are more united now than ever before. David Letterman (and even Craig Kilborn -- who's show after Dave's held a similar tone throughout) showed me that tonight.

Note: Both "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" come back on the air tomorrow night. Be sure to check our their takes on current events. I know I'll be taping...

Water Street dorm students remain locked out. The 2000+ Water Street residents (at NYU's southernmost dorm) that were evacuated from their building Tuesday remain evacuated, not even able to get to their clothes or any other possessions, including computers. Apparently, NYU is putting them up in hotels in midtown (The Sheraton) and Central Park West and providing them with $200 for necessities like clothes and toothbrushes and deodorant. All those still evacuated received their textbooks free from the NYU Bookstore and Staples donated school supplies for them. I hope they are at least let back in to get their belongings soon. I can't imagine how this will affect their grades for this semester...

Television Benefit. TV Organizing WTC Benefit Broadcast: "ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are talking about organizing a television industry benefit broadcast for Friday night to raise money for relief and recovery from the terrorist attacks.

The goal is to show the planned two-hour special on as many broadcast and cable networks as possible simultaneously, according to four industry executives who spoke on condition of anonymity Monday.

Such an event is believed to have no precedent within the television industry."

Slowly realizing the grave reality. A New York Newsday article from today says it all: Hospitals say they have no `John Does' from twin tower collapse: "Photographs of the missing are plastered on walls and windows in Manhattan, but hospitals treating the injured from the World Trade Center attacks said Monday no one remains unidentified."

You probably expected this to pop up... wtc-filter: articles and links relating to the 11 september attack on the world trade center.

"My life changed on that Tuesday morning" writes Marissa, 14, of PixiePunk.net (scroll down to 9/12 posting).

She likens the scene on the television to that of a bad action movie: "If you're just tuning in, one of the 110-story World Trade Center buildings was hit by a hijacked commercial jet at 8:45 this morning. Another jet struck the other World Trade Center building eighteen minutes afterward." CNN showed shot after shot of smoke billowing out of the two behemoths. It seemed so unreal: I had seen countless badly-scripted action movies churn out similar situations, but this was no movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't coming to save the day, aided by some automatic rifles and a quirky sidekick."

NYU tells us not to be racist. I thought it was a good idea for the University to send out an email about racial tolerance among all the aftermath backlash going on: "The University will not tolerate acts of hate. Any act of hate will be met with swift action of our disciplinary system, as well as referral to the law enforcement system.

The University stands by its members of Muslim faith and of Middle Eastern descent; we count on all members of the University Community to do likewise."

Chronology of terror. CNN created a chronology of terror list.

[link via Scripting News]

Day of terror, news alerts. JD Lasica saved the breaking-news emails received on 9/11 and published a chronology of the events as reported by CNN and the NY Times.

Online media screenshots. Canadian journalist Craig Salia analyzes the media's coverage on 9/11: Crisis coverage in online news - saila.com.

A chilling gallery of WTC attack photos. Some of them are especially graphic, but definitely look at these 70 photos if you want a perspective unseen on traditional media.

An analysis on the WTC disaster. NYC, Day 4 by Michael Stern: "It has become clear that the odds that somebody died in Tuesday's attacks depended not only on what tower they were in (WT2 = better, WT1 = worse), and what floor they were on (lower = better), but also on what their job title was (lawyer = good, securities trader = bad). Jobs mattered because they determined who showed up early for work. Traders start early, have meetings, read the paper, and otherwise ramp up before the markets open. Lawyers can show up later. "

Stop the racist backlash. Here's a revealing e-poster concerning the unjust backlash.

International loss accompanying US losses. There were very many non-US casualties in the WTC attack: International casualties in the "attack on america"

Image in the Smoke. Many people claim to see the face of the devil or some demon in a picture from Tuesday's tragedy. According to the photographer it has not been altered in any way: the image in the smoke. (Note: On a personal note, I was surprised that my dad, of all people, forwarded a similar photo to me about this image.)

Newspaper Covers. I don't know about you, but I was not able to find a newspaper on September 12. If you want to see which headlines and pictures were run by different newspapers from across the world, then check out Pynter.org - Pages from the Day After and Poynter.org - Special Editions.

Addendum: I found another gallery, editorials, and editorial cartoons.

Where were you when it happened? I came across a website that took my idea for compiling different people's personal accounts of where they were on 9/11 and ran with it. WhereWereYou.org allows anyone to submit there actual account or how they feel about the "Attack on America." Good job on the website guys! It looks great and is a wonderful concept, especially the "donate" links.

Not getting the message. Tragedy affects different people differently. I wish people would realize that racism isn't the correct response: Store owner killed in spree.

[link via adnan]

Free rememberance pins. CoffeeCup Software is making and sending out 10,000 Rememberance Pins for free. If you want one, send a SASE to the address given.

Amateur Reporting. I don't know about you, but as a journalist, I found more compelling first-hand accounts and a widespread variety of opinions on hundreds of weblogs than in the "traditional media," which, to me, feels like one creature with a hundred mouths, to put it metaphorically. Anyhow, WIRED magazine agrees: "Amateur Newsies Top the Pros."

The world mourns. These photos say it all: America's Tragedy as seen by the World.

This explains it very well. What I have been going through in the aftermath: A defiant New York City.

The Terrorists Aren't SO Smart, Afterall. Just How Smart Were the Terrorist Hijackers?: David DeRosa: "And one myth that needs correcting is that the terrorists were smart. It's easy to see why someone might think so at first... Think again."

Large numbers. There were a large number of lives lost in this tragedy as well as a large number of people that have come together to volunteer their blood and their time. I saw a $51,000 food bill at work -- it balanced much too easily (I remember complaining a week or two ago about a $15,000 bill -- I didn't complain this time.) I've heard from so many people concerned about my personal safety. There is a really large number of people affected by this tragedy. 250,000 people live in the neighborhoods surrounding the WTC ruins, all wondering if or when "life" will return to normal. There is a large number of American flags on display across the country. A large number of candles being lit in memory and solidarity. There are a million stories being told about the victims, millions of stories by the witnesses, and millions of pounds of rubble that the rescue workers have vowed to dig through. There is a large number of people who still see the WTC towers when they look out their windows, even though they no longer stand. 4700 people are missing in the rubble, we can only hope that some more survivors are waiting to be saved. A million tears have been cast.

I'm not sure that this post has a certain point, but I am crying while I write this, and i keep looking out my window hoping that the WTC will still be there, but I only see an eerie illuminated cloud of smoke and dust rising up into the heavens. So many lives have been affected by this... what are we going to do?

Missing Persons. As I try to cope with all of this by pretending to remove myself from the situation (that works until i look out my window and see the smoke where the WTC should be) and simultaneously trying to involve myself more (by volunteering, making sandwiches for the rescue workers), I keep finding out that more and more people I have connections to are missing and possibly dead.

According to the SAHS Alumni Newsletter, my high school alumni website, the following graduates are missing: Kristine Ann Irvine '89, Michael Duffy '89, John Schroeder '88, John Muilenberg '95, Kevin Murphy ’79, and Dan Smith '71. My dad's good friend from work is missing his son, Jason, who worked in the WTC. My parents just went to his wedding only a month or so ago. Also, my dad told me that someone who came on the job with him and left to join the New York Fire Department is also missing.

There is no way I can seperate myself from this tragedy. I have been personally attacked.

A different view in photographs. I know you are probably sick of seeign pictures of this horrible tragedy, but these photos taken from a man fleeing the World Trade Center after Tuesday's Terrorist attacks are from a whole different perspective.

San Gennaro Feast Postponed Indefinitely. The annual celebration in Little Italy was supposed to be held starting September 13th: "Due to the terrorist attack, the feast will not be taking place as scheduled. The organizers will be consulting with the city as to when it will be rescheduled. You can check back here for updated info. God bless."

Gasoline at $5 a gallon?!? It happened in several gas stations across the country in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Casey's Sued Over Gas: '"It is unconscionable that anyone would try to use one of the darkest days in American history to take advantage of consumers," Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan said in a prepared statement.'

[link via Steph]

Getting back to a *normal* routine. My personal routine, as well as that of thousands of others in and around the city, has been disrupted by this tragedy. Now, however, it is time to try and regain some sense of normalcy in our lives, while we grieve and give of ourselves to help in the rescue efforts. One of my contributions has been a new section to the economics website I work on, that examines how our economy has been affected, entitled "The Terrorist Attack on America: Economic, Security and Defense Implications." While doing this will not bring any of the victims back, it is one way that I can help others.

Adnan reacts. He doesn't want to talk about the horrific events right now, but his new splash page speaks volumes on the equally terrible backlash across the country and world against Arab-Americans and Muslims. Please pray for peace.

Fly your flag! Show solidarity and your pride and courage in our country, as well as remebering the innocent who we have lost, by displaying the American flag on your website or printing it out and putting it up in your window, courtesy of t h e  p a r t y  c o w. You can also use an American flag ribbon, courtesy of SiteWars.

Metafiter's developing account. Read about how Metafilter users tracked the story of the disaster.

Excellent account. As we all try to grapple with what has happened, I keep coming across personal accounts like that on EastWest Blog, which has pretty much all the photographs I would have normally taken, if, mayeb , I hadn't actually had to deal with the trauma of watching everything happen right outside my window. That is also why I haven't given my account of what I saw. I may, but I am still hurting so much now, that I can't even think about that.

Right now, I am trying to figure out how I will be able to get back to a *normal* routine once school starts back up next week.

Reactions and the aftermath. Likeanorb tells what it was liek to return to a half-empty office after the attack. There are also some telling photographs.

Amazing. My friend Steph IMed me, telling me that "NYC" in the font Webdings looks like this: NYC -- an eye, a heart, and the NYC skyline. After watching some of the services held today on this national day of mourning, I feel so much closer to my fellow Americans and my fellow men and women around the world, as we unite together. I was especially touched by a service in Ottawa, Canada where many of the people in attendance wore shirts with American flags. God bless America! God bless the world!

Interesting. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat donates blood.

Rating the news coverage. AlterNet -- A Media Day In Infamy

Making things worse for the rescuers. As if the search effort isn't hard enough, there is lightning and it is starting to rain. At least it may clear the air, but it will make all the dust on the ground into mud down there. The TV signal just went out, too.

Moby reacts to the tragedy. Moby questions the lapse in protection.

A day of bomb scares and evacuations. New York and Washington, D.C. received over a hundred bomb threats today. My friend Michelle told me that her college, FIT, was evacuated. Paul, who goes to Wagner College, received three bomb threats called in for the building he live din last year. The Capitol Building in DC was evacuated this afternoon after a suspicious package was found. La Guardia Airport and Rockefeller Center also had scares and evacuations. Since the level of fear is so close and so real to everyone, the actions of the cruel people calling in bomb scares need to stop adding insult to injury.

We all need to grieve and start the healing process. This, racism, is not the way.

Addendum: On further review of the article, I noticed that a racist backlash attack had taken place right around the corner from my high school on Long Island: "In Huntington, N.Y., a 75-year-old man who was drunk tried to run over a Pakistani woman in the parking lot of a shopping mall, police said. The man, Adam Lang, then followed the woman into a store and threatened to kill her for "destroying my country." How disheartening.