12 September 2001

For those of you in Boston, the Red Cross has asked that you wait until Thursday to donate blood. Call 800-GIVE-LIFE to find the donation center nearest you. Their web site appears to be back up. Dial 800-HELP-NOW to donate money, if you can. My call went through on the first try, but it’s 4:45am now and will be much busier later in the day. You can also give money online using paypal.

Robert Fitzpatrick in the Boston Herald: “There’s a terrorist cell operating out of Boston. They had to have support, they had to have people on the ground, in Boston, supporting them.”

Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts on boston.com: “This was an inside job. We should be mindful of that in and around Logan.”

WCVB Channel 5, 5:04am: “Boston is becoming one of the focal points of this investigation.”

Boston.com again: “In 1999, the major airlines at Logan and Massport were fined a total of $178,000 for at least 136 security violations over the previous two years, though an air travelers group said at the time that the violations were likely typical of major airports. In the majority of incidents, screeners hired by the airlines to staff checkpoints in terminals routinely failed to detect test items, such as pipe bombs and guns.”

Massport Media Advisory: “Logan International Airport is closed until further notice. Massport has activated the Logan Airport Emergency Response Plan.”

massport.com: “The policing and security of all Massport properties is provided by the Massachusetts State Police, Troop F. These properties include Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, Massport waterfront, and the Tobin Bridge.”

Boeing’s technical specs on the 757-200 report that it has a maximium takeoff weight of 255,000 lbs (115,680 kg) and a maximum fuel capacity of 11,276 gallons (42,680 liters).

The terrorists were aiming to maximally disrupt our country and economy. Let’s not give them that satisfaction.

Back to work for me.