Remembering 9/11
This is the week of September 11th, 2005, four years after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C..
Here's what the minesweeping community said in response to the attacks (taken from Damien's guestbook archives, 1st message at bottom) :
| 09/16/01 06:34:03AM | |
| Name: | Daniela |
| Comments: | Hey guys, I haven't been here for a while (too much schoolwork). I can't believe what happened to the USA. I'm shocked. Only Minesweeper helps me feeling better. Great job Owen. I really want to be as fast as you are. Things are getting better for me. I got a 37 and 38 on intermediate today. Since I don't really care about speed, I could have had my first sub-30. But I'm going to wait until I finish more games. This week I lose so many games. I play only custom boards now because if I would get the dreamboard I'd lose it. |
| 09/15/01 10:32:15 AM | |
| Name: | Owen |
| Comments: | Hehe I feel rather stupid about the whole business with Matt. I suppose we just got carried away! Sorry Matt.. ;) and the rest of you won't have to worry about us nagging any longer! If anyone has any screenshots they want to show me just e mail me with them please. My address is below. |
| 09/15/01 07:11:55 AM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | Nevermind about the sound, either me or itself stopped it. |
| 09/15/01 07:05:15 AM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | A while ago, we talked about the sound-option in the winmine.ini-file in this guestbook. I don't know to switch it on or off, but at that time I knew and I turned it on. Nothing happened, but now, after several months I hear this awfully irritating sound when I hit a mine. Does anyone know how I can switch the bloody thing off again? Please help me! By the way, I screwed up this marvelous screenshot at expert with a beginner-error. I was definitely going to sub-70, and I'm pretty curious what the world class players would do. If you want the screenshot, just mail me. |
| 09/15/01 02:09:33 AM | |
| Name: | Manu |
| Comments: | When will you stop all that Owen and matt ? It's so boring... especially for those who do not speek perfectly english : so many efforts to read all that shildishness ( I also used the dictionnary, Owen ;) ). You both are 2 of the best sweepers in the world, it should be enough for you, no ? I think I will get regular in the upper 70's very soon, the way is still very long for me on that level... |
| 09/14/01 03:16:45 PM | |
| Name: | Joe |
| Comments: | anonymous surfer has the idea. |
| 09/14/01 02:00:12 PM | |
| Name: | Jaurieke Ton |
| Best expert: | 101 |
| Best intermediate: | 32 |
| Best beginner: | 3 |
| Comments: | Also in The Netherlands there was a silent tribute at 12.00 am. All the students in my (and Roelof's) school gathered on the schoolyard and after a speech of our principal and the sound of a trumpet. We were silents for 3 minutes then when the trumpet sounded again some pupils released white baloons. And of course we talk a lot about what happend in the US at school. |
| 09/14/01 01:49:06 PM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | Who's this genial Anonymous Surfer who posted a message while I was typing??? |
| 09/14/01 01:47:36 PM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | My English is too bad for this discussion, but please stop it, both of you. It makes the atmosphere unpleasant and what the hell does all this stuff matter. Owen did a great job on the 12 (I believe I forgot to congratulate you, sorry for that) and that's that. |
| 09/14/01 01:44:27 PM | |
| Name: | Anonymous Surfer |
| Comments: | I have a fantastic idea: lets all grow up. |
| 09/14/01 11:51:11 AM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | Just stop Owen. Youre the one who convicted me of callous remarks, and started this debate. The only reason I was being sarcastic was because thats the way I write- sorry if that offends you that much, which it shouldnt. And if you read over your last post, I dont think you should be chiding me of bad usage of the english language. |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/14/01 11:16:43 AM | |
| Name: | Owen |
| Comments: | It took a day or two for it to sink in properly about what has happened in America. I feel very sad now, more so than i already did before. I amn't sure if you know about the continual conflict in Northern Ireland and acts of terrorism we have there. Today they were all united in grief and had a huge open mass. I've heard another irish man has died. he was in the trade cetnre at the time. A total of 4 people in Ireland have been reported dead so far. Matt, I don't know why you're acting so smart for. I did not say that the dream board lacked potential nor did i even hint at that notion... And i didn't say " denerating ". In my post it has " denegrating " You must have misread it somehow. Your whole message sounds very smart and sarcastic. So don't try and insult my intelligence with your " whatever you think that means " I know what it means. You are the one who didn't. I've been under 20 27 times now. I know that's not as good as you, Lasse, Damien, Dan and several others. Sorry. In the dictionary I read: " rancor implies personal malice of the worst and most enduring nature, and is the strongest word in our language to express hostile feelings " There is no way that applies to me. I also wanted to say thanks for that help about downloading files from the minesweeper-addicts site. I didn't know that that was the right way to do it and probably wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise. Great video Lasse! |
| 09/14/01 06:27:38 AM | |
| Name: | Khor Eng Tat |
| Comments: | There was a 3-minute silent tribute all across Europe this morning at 11.00 am. Just like Georgi, there's nothing much we can do except to express our condolences and to give emotional support from this part of the world. ET |
| 09/14/01 01:23:52 AM | |
| Name: | Georgi Kermekchiev |
| Comments: | My condolences to all the victim relatives and friends. My country is also very shocked by the disgusting acts of therrorism that happened on tuesday. In wednesday in Bulgaria started a blood-donation initiative ... we are too far away, but we wish we could help some way ... Anyway, I wish it was just a bad dream that happens in another dimention ... |
| 09/14/01 12:27:13 AM | |
| Name: | Georgi Kermekchiev |
| Comments: | Yesterday I decided to record a 3-sec beginner video. To my surprise in 8 minutes I've got three 4-sec videos :-)..... and later that night I've tried again - this time succesfully recorded 3-sec video. It is not a big feat, unless you have only one 3-sec result till that moment ... |
| 09/13/01 03:48:48 PM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | Sorry about that typo, Owen- I looked up "denegrate" and besides a spelling error, you used it correctly. :-/ |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/13/01 03:46:48 PM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | Owen, You cannot deny the incredible potential of the dream board; you have not been under 20 that many times, and 16 to 12 is a very big jump (sort of like 14 to 10, no?). I dont know where you picked up any rancor in my post congratulating you, but let me assure you, Im not "denerating" you, whatever you think that means. I recognize your 12 and your status as 3rd in the int. level. Good job |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/13/01 01:57:27 PM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | Owen, I have to say your message seemed a bit thoughtless in the beginning, but I was sure your heart was with the Americans. It was a bit unlucky, but it could happen to all of us. Holland has a day of mourning tomorrow as well, although I have to go to school. At school, our minds and hearts will be in the USA, with the victims. Good luck. |
| 09/13/01 11:39:37 AM | |
| Name: | Owen |
| Comments: | Thanks Dan I sometimes listen to tv in the background while i play minesweeper. it makes you feel like you have company. usually i play in my brothers small room alone and i feel somewhat isolated. After what has happened, comedy sounds a good idea dan. Matt, it sounds like you disregard my 12 as it was the dream board. i had to play and finish it by the way. your only comment was that it's a fast board and that denegrates my achievement and ability. |
| 09/13/01 11:31:50 AM | |
| Name: | Owen |
| Best expert: | 65 |
| Best intermediate: | 12 |
| Best beginner: | 2 |
| Comments: | I'm sorry if I sounded disregarding of the disaster that took place in America with my last post. With my delight in getting 12, I simply went online and posted the message. I had barely read any previous messages. Now that I have, I realise that my post must have sounded very cold and disregarding. My heart feels very sad and sympathetic towards the stricken families, residents and those who left this world in such a terrible way and others. Tommorrow, Ireland is having a day of mourning where towns and industries are basically shutting down for the day. Nearly everything will be closed. I don't think anyone will be going to school or work. I was listening to the radio this morning. People were were ringing up and chatting about the whole thing. One person was saying that you should stay at home with your family and appreciate them, for many won't be able to, and don't take them for granted as you never quite know what might happen in today's world. An Irish man had his wife and daughter on one of the planes that crashed into one the buildings. Even my friend's sister knows someone who was due to be working in the Trade Centre - just after the first plane crashed. It just goes to show how worldwide and impact it has had and how many people have been affected. It's quite sad to think that a few people on the top of a terrorist organisation can have such profound negative affects on the world. It is very sad indeed. |
| 09/13/01 09:39:29 AM | |
| Name: | Dan Cerveny |
| Comments: | Great job, Owen. I am trying not to watch the news for awhile because it was just making me feel very depressed. I'm now watching comedy and other entertainment shows on tv while playing some minesweeper, and I am definitely feeling better. |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/12/01 10:10:39 PM | |
| Name: | David Barry |
| Comments: | Damien, I've read most of Clancy's Jack Ryan novels (though not the Bear and the Dragon - too much schoolwork now :(), including Rainbow Six. I think state-sponsored (and it would have to be state-sponsored) bio-terrorism won't happen for at least a decade, because of the very large amounts of research needed for it. Though maybe that is just my hopes speaking. Of course, more relevant to this act of terrorism is Debt of Honour, where a plane crashes into a major building, though even Clancy didn't write something on the scale of the Pentagon and both World Trade Centre towers... It appears as though I have lost my Flight Sim. CD, I was going to see how hard it would be to fly an airliner into a building (I can fly Cessnas into them). My guess is not very hard, but I can't actually try it now. That is the most worrying aspect of this whole thing - flying aircraft into skyscrapers only needs a little bit of instruction on where all the buttons are and a few practices in the simulator. (Flying into the Pentagon is harder - you have to get your descent right for the "landing".) Congrats Owen on the 12, once again my sweeping has only been notable for its absence. |
| 09/12/01 04:15:00 PM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | For those of you who have trouble opening videos directly from the addicts site (I know at least a couple people did), right-click on the link and 'save target as' to your comp. I dont know about anyone else, but when I try to just click on the link and open it, it doesnt work. Great video Lanye. |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/12/01 02:01:40 PM | |
| Name: | Lasse Nyholm |
| Comments: | I've put the video in the files-section on the addicts-list - you should probably save the file on your computer for it to work properly. Bye - Lanyje |
| 09/12/01 01:52:14 PM | |
| Name: | Lasse Nyholm |
| Best expert: | 44 |
| Best intermediate: | 14 |
| Best beginner: | 2 |
| Comments: | Hey guys. I've done a lot of expert-sweeping these days, while waiting for new info on the radio, since I don't have a TV, which I don't mind these days since the pictures are probably worse than the ones I make in my head. I had a lot of ugly thoughts in my head today about death, terror and such things and the only two things that could make me smile today was a phonecall from my girlfriend and a 47 that I caught on video - the first sub-50 on video as far as I know. I got a 49 on video yesterday but something went wrong after I saved it and it was not to be found again on my computer. The 47 I have with me, but I can't send it to you, cause I can't access hotmail from this computer for some reason. But mail me anyway, I will send the video to whom that might be interested when I get a chance - probably within two days. Again - I feel sorry for everybody involved in this episode of horrible terror. Bye - Lanyje |
| 09/12/01 01:49:42 PM | |
| Name: | Damien |
| Comments: | Quite a gargantuan leap there Owen. A friend of mine was in an apartment building a few blocks away and saw it out his window...he really freaked out, packed a suitcase and ran. I wish i could get in a few hours of sweeping somewhere...it's the best way to work off stress or being in the dumps. I thought Clancy novels were over-exaggerations. Anyone read rainbow six? A bio company sponsored terror attacks to heighten awareness so a certain security company could get the job of protecting the olympics, so the bio-tec company could insert an engineered virus into the water supply... |
| 09/12/01 11:40:12 AM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | Well done Owen; 'tis a very fast board. |
| E-mail Website |
| 09/12/01 09:33:36 AM | |
| Name: | Owen Fox |
| Best expert: | 65 |
| Best intermediate: | Guess! |
| Best beginner: | 2 |
| Comments: | YES! I eventually got the dream board! It was my first time and i didn't recognise it till 2 seconds to go. I finished it and got a 12... I'm happy with it since it's my first time ever but if i had of recognised it from the beginning i'd say i could have got 10 or less. my news is so irrelevent compared to the recent disaster that took place . I have prayed already and will continue to do so the the affected people in the terrorist attack. I hope nobody here knows people who live in New York.. |
| 09/12/01 06:56:50 AM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | The Taliban-regime in Afghanistan is awful as well, but I just read they might hand over Bin Laden to the Americans. That'd be wise, because I agree with David and Joe that Afghanistan will be punished very hard if they don't. I'm glad Bin Laden might be handed over, whether he's responsible or not. |
| 09/12/01 03:37:09 AM | |
| Name: | Khor Eng Tat |
| Comments: | I think what Matt meant to say was that if war does take place, it will affect not only the terrorists (and the country harbouring them) but the whole world will be in shock and distress. In fact, all that has happened so far has virtually put a stop on all activities all around the world. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE cannot believe what has happened. I have a disturbing feeling that this is only the beginning. As for the celebrations by some Palestenians, some reports have said that those were just a few groups of sick ppl. While the majority of ppl in that country were at home keeping update, and praying that it wasn't any fault of theirs - because if it is, they can expect mayhem. And I believe, now that everyone has seen the magnitude of this, and start realizing how devastating all this is, any feelings of joy has definitely died down now. And replaced by fear and grief instead. It is a sad, sad day for the thousands of victims, America and also everyone else all over the world. Everyone is feeling it. A horrible day...... |
| 09/12/01 12:29:44 AM | |
| Name: | Joe |
| Comments: | david knows whats up. i agree. |
| 09/11/01 11:39:53 PM | |
| Name: | David Barry |
| Comments: | I have to disagree with Matt on this. Assuming it was Osama bin Laden, working in Afghanistan, then the US will launch a large number of missiles in that direction (remember Bush said he would retaliate against both the terrorists AND those who harbour them). The Afghans can only respond by terrorist attacks, and for those to be successful a LOT of planning has to go into them - they can't repeat anything close to this scale for a few years. The US, on the other hand, can keep up their constant, conventional warfare for longer than anyone else. So the world won't go to hell. Only Afghanistan (probably). In the meantime, Australians in the Middle East have been told to keep a low profile (after all, we look the same as Americans and speak the same language), and our school has been closed, as with most other American schools around the world. |
| 09/11/01 06:28:22 PM | |
| Name: | Joe |
| Comments: | matt, how is the world going to hell if the US retaliates? how do you expect us not to retaliate? im not going to get in a big arguement with you again right now, id just like to know how you could say something like that. |
| 09/11/01 02:05:09 PM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | You're right Matt. But, the USA can't just say: "Well, it's horrible, we are not going to do anything about it". Action gives reaction. I hope it is a small Palestine group or something, but my worst fear is that it is Iraq and that could mean a lot. Manu, you're right about the children, but grown-up women should know better and shouldn't just do what their leaders say. We live in 2001 for christ's sake. |
| 09/11/01 01:30:56 PM | |
| Name: | Damien |
| Comments: | This morning I thought it was a prank like the alien scare in NY 40 years ago. I still have trouble believing it. An hour ago two Korean planes, one believed to be hijacked, were forced by some fighter jets to head to the Whiterock airport (clue: it's in the yukon, i.e., Canada). And the purpose is...? I always thought Tom Clancy's novels were too farfetched, but I'm thinking again. Tough luck to the americans on this site...wish I could help. |
| 09/11/01 01:10:55 PM | |
| Name: | Manu |
| Comments: | French people is shocked, like everybody in the world today. We all feel concerned. Let's hope that it won't drive the world worse that it is already. Roelof, I understand what you mean about the images from Palestine, but most of them are too young to think by themselves, they are just fanatics influenced by some men who are the real danger. |
| 09/11/01 11:49:38 AM | |
| Name: | Matt McGinley |
| Comments: | If you dont believe in god, now is the time to seriously deliberate the future of governments and whether or not this will escalate into war (unlikely). I do have one thought, or promise rather: if the US does retaliate by means of warfare and the military, the whole world is going to hell. |
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| 09/11/01 10:39:23 AM | |
| Name: | Lance Votroubek |
| Comments: | If you believe in a god, now is the time to pray |
| 09/11/01 09:29:39 AM | |
| Name: | Roelof Smit |
| Comments: | Absolutely unbelievable. I pray to God there won't be more. My condolences for your country. Holland is in deep shock after what happened. I don't want to accuse anyone, but I saw images of Palestine women and children celebrating on the streets of Jerusalem because of what happened. These images were even more shocking then the images from the USA. |
| 09/11/01 08:10:57 AM | |
| Name: | Dan Cerveny |
| Comments: | I'm in such shock that I forgot to enter my name before posting the last message. |
| 09/11/01 08:06:40 AM | |
| Name: | Anonymous Surfer |
| Comments: | This is a very sad day for the United States. Please pray for the victims and family of the victims of the massive terrorist attacks on the United States. Very disturbed, Dan Cerveny |
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