The Day After

The day after...

Actually, this picture was taken about three days after 9/11. I was already back at work. Look at the wonderful paper mask I was given to filter out the toxins in the air. Like that was gonna work.

The EPA has now admitted that the air in lower Manhattan was not safe in the aftermath of 9/11. No shit? The place smelled like one huge electrical fire for over a month after the event. Everyone knew what was up.

Moussaoui: I was supposed to fly 5th jet

From Reuters:

Zacarias Moussaoui said on Monday he was supposed to fly a fifth airplane into the White House as part of the September 11 plot and knew two other planes were to fly into New York's World Trade Center.

Taking the stand at his sentencing trial, Moussaoui -- the only person charged in the United States in connection with the September 11 attacks -- said "shoebomber" Richard Reid was to join him as part of the crew in the suicide mission.

Huh?

Why would he admit to this? Why did he even take the stand? I think he wants to get executed.

Very fishy...

Read more...

NSA spying on U.S. citizens

It was revealed this week that President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to spy on U.S. citizens, and he’s been doing so since 9/11.

Now, I’m not one of these naïve people who think “If you’ve got nothing to hide, you shouldn’t be worried about your government spying on you,” but I do wonder why everyone thinks this is significant. The FBI and the local police spy on Americans every day, right? That’s okay but when the NSA does it it’s wrong?

Or are people mad because the NY Times sat on this story for a year and it could've changed the 2004 election?

Sleeper Cell

I like this new series Sleeper Cell on Showtime. The pacing and strong writing reminds me of the first season of 24.

The (admittedly improbable) plot centers around Darwyn Al-Sayeed, an African-American deep-cover FBI agent who does a stint in prison in order to gain entry into an Islamic terrorist group’s sleeper cell.

Darwyn is an interesting character for TV. He seems to be primarily motivated to oppose the Muslim extremists because he’s offended by their perversion of his religion. He has chivalrous tendencies towards females and children in distress, but though he says his religion forbids sex outside of marriage, he’s quick to fall into a sexual relationship with a white single mom who works at a nail salon.

As is the case in most of the best TV shows, the surrounding cast is what takes the show to another level. I appreciate the way that the show features a variety of Muslims. Darwyn, as an African-American Muslim, is not considered a “real” Muslim by an Egyptian in episode one. Christian, a Frenchman, converted to Islam because of his Moroccan wife, but he is estranged from her and he’s evidently more of a believer than she is. Tommy, a blond haired, blue-eyed boy from a rich liberal family, seems to have turned to Islam as a rejection of his privileged childhood. Ilija is a Bosnian Muslim who blames the West for allowing Orthodox Serbs to kill his people in the early 90’s. Lastly, the mysterious Farik, leader of the sleeper cell, has the ultimate cover -- he works in a security company and he’s passing as an Israeli.

The only problem with the show? They’re showing the episodes on consecutive nights in December! I think this show is flying under the radar, and that’s a shame.

“Go” Bag

Because of the recent hurricanes and the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks, I decided I needed to prepare a “go” bag. The idea with a go bag is you stuff a backpack ahead of time with everything you think you’ll need and leave it by the door so you can scoop it up while you’re fleeing for your life.

This is some of what FEMA recommends you need in a disaster kit:

• One gallon of water per person per day


• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food


• A first aid kit


• Non-prescription drugs


• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils


• Fire extinguisher


• Compass


• Matches in a waterproof container


• Toilet paper


• Feminine supplies


• Household chlorine bleach


• Sturdy shoes or work boots


• Blankets or sleeping bags

And a whole lot more.

The full list is here.

So if you set aside everything you’ll really need, you’re talking about a couple duffle bags, right? That’s not very convenient unless you can count on some young people with strong backs in your family. And of course, the more people you've got, the more water and food you need to go around.

Still, psychologically, you feel like you’ve got a fighting chance to live if you get some of this stuff together while you still can. Since I’m too lazy to buy all this stuff separately and assemble it, I took the easy way out and bought a pre-made “go” bag from these people.

This is what I got in my bag:
Storage

1. 1 - Adult Size Backpack - (Durable and High Quality! #1 Emergency Backpack Available)

Warmth and Weather Protection

1. 2 - Large Emergency Space® Blanket


2. 2 - Emergency Rain/Wind Poncho Adult Size


3. 2 - Hand or Abdomen Warmers

Light and Heat

1. 1 - 12 hr. Instant Green Light Stick


2. 1 - 12 hr. Instant Yellow Light Stick


3. 1 - Survival Candle 36 hours


4. 1 - Box of Waterproof Matches


5. 1 - Flashlight (Solar, crank and battery - never out of power)

News and Communication

1. 1 - Radio (Solar, crank and battery - never out of power)


2. 1 - Whistle / Compass

First-Aid

1. 1 - 54 Piece First Aid Kit


2. 1 - Large Ace Bandage


3. 1 - Large Cold Compress

Water, Water Purification and Air Filtration

1. 1 - Bottle Germicidal Tablets – 50 Tablets


2. 3 - Purified Drinking Water Squeeze Boxes


3. 5 - Dust Masks

Food Items

1. 1 - 2400 Calorie Food Ration Bar


2. 1 - Government Issue Survival Candy

Hygiene Items

1. 12 - Wet Wipe Packets


2. 2 - Tooth Brushes with Toothpaste


3. 1 - Pack of Tissue Paper

Miscellaneous

1. 1 - 13-Function Swiss Army Style Pocket Knife

Not bad, huh?

Next I’m going to buy a case of MREs and keep some in the car, some in the house and some in the “go” bag.

But you know what’s going to happen, right?

When the shit hits the fan, I’ll be caught in an elevator in midtown and all of this preparation will go for naught.

Oh, well.