1) my nephew's ok, 2) there's a dead body at the main gate, 3) US denies responsibility for bombing in Afghanistan.
November 24, 2009 10:36 PM   Subscribe

Wikileaks to release over half a million pager intercepts from 9/11. "Messages in the archive range from Pentagon and New York Police Department exchanges, to computers reporting faults to their operators as the World Trade Center collapsed." They're going to start posting them at 3am this morning.
posted by empath (181 comments total) 37 users marked this as a favorite
 
Let me know when someone actually finds something interesting in them.
posted by Caduceus at 10:49 PM on November 24, 2009 [6 favorites]


That's amazing. Especially amazing to me that the log starts five hours before the attacks. Craziness.
posted by delmoi at 10:52 PM on November 24, 2009


While we are obligated by to protect our sources, it is clear that the information comes from an organization which has been intercepting and archiving US national telecommunications since prior to 9/11.

Hmmm..
posted by Avenger at 10:54 PM on November 24, 2009 [18 favorites]


WikiLeaks states that it has never released a misattributed document. Documents are assessed before release. In response to concerns about the possibility of misleading or fraudulent leaks, Wikileaks has stated that misleading leaks "are already well-placed in the mainstream media! [Wikileaks] is of no additional assistance."

Via
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:59 PM on November 24, 2009


Of course, if this was done by a foreign government, they could easily insert some fake messages to add fuel to the 9/11 truther conspiracy fire.
posted by delmoi at 11:00 PM on November 24, 2009


Of course, if this was done by a foreign government, they could easily insert some fake messages to add fuel to the 9/11 truther conspiracy fire.

Not many foreign governments have much interest in discrediting the Obama administration, and 9/11 wasn't on his watch, anyway. The only party to get upset at would be Bush, but as David Cross so rightly pointed out, Bush could have ripped the heads off of babies and drank their blood, for all Americans cared about learning the truth.

No one back then was interested in prosecuting him and his cronies for negligence or worse, so why would anyone now care about a few text messages? They would be just another few pieces of ample evidence of wrongdoing on the part of him and his administration, and easily ignored for being completely unverifiable.

To verify these would require the United States admit to illegal surveillance of its citizens, or worse, that it conspires with other nations to do so on its behalf. That will certainly not happen by a sitting President who granted full and unconditional immunity and, in essence, permission to telecom companies to spy on us.

So what's left? I guess we'll see if this is death porn, depending on the timeline and how far these messages go into the tower collapse events.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:30 PM on November 24, 2009 [5 favorites]


I'm hoping the dataminers find a way to learn about communications and emergency response, myself.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:40 PM on November 24, 2009 [4 favorites]


This might be a great way to convey the horror of that day to anyone who wasn't old enough to experience it directly. If you're seventeen years old now, you would have been nine years old then, but I bet you're texting your friends a lot more now than most people did then.

Why do this on Nov. 25 though?
posted by twoleftfeet at 11:43 PM on November 24, 2009


Not many foreign governments have much interest in discrediting the Obama administration...

To elaborate: I have absoutely no evidence to back this up, but that's never stopped me before.

There are only 4 major powers I can think of that have the means and motive to massively sweep and catalog US telecommunications: Russia, China, UK and Israel. Maybe Canada, France and possibly Japan as well.

But Canada, France and Japan don't (appear) to have a huge interest in spying on us. That leaves the big four.

Russia and China obviously have an enormous incentive to keep tabs on us at all times. I wouldn't be surprised if they have the means and capability to do what is being suggested here. Actually, I'd be surprised if they didn't or if they weren't doing it right now. The thing about Russia and China, though, is that they aren't exactly in the business of sending their intelligence data to Wikileaks. I'm not sure about the Chinese but I know from reading that the Russian FSB is obsessed with security and secrecy and are practically up to their asses in invisible ink.

Our relationship with the UK would pretty much preclude them from any major spying on us. If they wanted information from us they could probably just ask for it.

And that leaves Israel. The Israelis have a long and slightly checkered history of spying on the US government. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it -- I think it's possible that Israel has probably been caught trying to steal intelligence and turn double agents within the US Government more than any other nation on Earth with the single exception of the former Soviet Union. If you just objectively looked at their behavior, you would be convinced that they were one of our greatest adversaries, rather than one of our closest allies.

So undoubtedly they have their fingers in many American pies. That reminds me: U.S. Police and Intelligence Hit by Spy Network. "In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, the FBI has stumbled on the largest espionage ring ever discovered inside the United States. The U.S. Justice Department is now holding nearly 100 Israeli citizens with direct ties to foreign military, criminal and intelligence services."

So if you can't tell already: I'm vaguely suspicious of the Mossad, the main reason being they were busted wiretapping the US three months after 9/11. Of course, I can't know for sure. None of us can. So the real question here is 1) Who could have collected this data and 2) What purpose do they have in releasing it now? We'll have to look at the data to be sure, but something tells me that this data was not released for no reason at all.
posted by Avenger at 11:46 PM on November 24, 2009 [16 favorites]


We'll have to look at the data to be sure, but something tells me that this data was not released for no reason at all.

I'm sure there's a reason, but it's hard to see how this can put pressure on the US government. Unless there's something really compelling in those 500K+ messages, perhaps it's a proof-of-concept demo, to show how other more sensitive and embarrassing info could be quickly put out into the public domain.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:54 PM on November 24, 2009


2) What purpose do they have in releasing it now? We'll have to look at the data to be sure, but something tells me that this data was not released for no reason at all.

Nice how the minds of MeTa distilled this so quickly. When I first saw the announcement (Huff Post? Minutes before coming here) my first thought was the dead '-oh fuck, going there again' feeling and then why?

Why was someone recording text messages at all - much less archiving them for 8 years! Why release them now! What, they're going to be forced by some court to do so anyway? Deep in the ocean of data are some kernels of information that will either embarrass somebody or get somebody off the hook? Who can even attest to the veracity of any of what they are posting anyway? Will we ever even know enough to call the shenanigans that might be at work?

Too many questions, not enough coffee. Fuck you, person manipulating me at a distance through Wikileaks, whether I'm your intended audience or not. Fuck you all over the place.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:01 AM on November 25, 2009


Does anybody recognize this data format?

2001-09-11 03:01:30 Metrocall [0007690] C ALPHA THIS IS A TEST PERIODIC PAGE SEQUENTIAL NUMBER 3281
2001-09-11 03:01:31 Arch [0925366] B ALPHA 318643;Sep 10 23:02:04 2001;abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrs
2001-09-11 03:01:31 Skytel [002567937] A SH/TONE 562 (25
2001-09-11 03:01:35 Skytel [007462315] C ST NUM 992-780-8173-17071
2001-09-11 03:01:35 Skytel [005492655] D SH/TONE 371-9707
2001-09-11 03:01:37 Arch [1425048] C ALPHA 300~MPfetchData:openConnectionToManager:ERROR CONNECTING:192.168.35.97 : www36 connectToServerPort:socket/socket timed out at /home/crdtdrv/creditderivatives/script/MPfetchData.pl line 342, chunk 176793.
2001-09-11 03:01:39 Metrocall [1925294] D ALPHA GOOD MORNING WAKE UP CALL PLS CALL OFFICE W/IN 15 MIN.
2001-09-11 03:01:40 Skytel [005325784] C ST NUM 202-323-3876 U
2001-09-11 03:01:42 Skytel [005436525] D ALPHA Jackson Test (100) Message #94-IX_T3405
2001-09-11 03:01:42 Skytel [004524770] A ALPHA spf-BrockwaySmith-HatfieldMA-381: CPE Down at 00:36:37 on 9/11
2001-09-11 03:01:42 Skytel [007641961] C SH/TONE 17
2001-09-11 03:01:44 Arch [1047435] C ALPHA 109-109
2001-09-11 03:01:44 Skytel [007008628] B ALPHA hi good morning!!! i love jesus & mary get back asap-vaheyjmj@skytel.com

posted by Avenger at 12:06 AM on November 25, 2009


so far I recognize messages from NASA, US Treasury and FedEx. Holy crap this goes deep...
posted by Avenger at 12:10 AM on November 25, 2009


Avenger,

I hate to break this to you, but we live in the post-state-actor era, and have for many years. Pager messages are utterly unencrypted and loudly broadcast. They're about the lease secure medium you can imagine.

It literally could be some kid. The technology required is akin to recording music off the radio.
posted by effugas at 12:12 AM on November 25, 2009 [6 favorites]


question here is 1) Who could have collected this data
Practically anybody could have. Text pagers are really easy to eavesdrop on. They're not encrypted; they're not trunked or cellular or anything; a city would have a small number of pager transmitters covering the whole area. The hardware is commercially available and was something amateurs could do in 1997. The question is not who could do it, but who would be interested enough to hoover up messages over a long period rather than making the occasional targeted effort.
Our relationship with the UK would pretty much preclude them from any major spying on us.
Or encourage it, perhaps? One of the things that was often said about ECHELON was that it was useful for intercept trading. In countries where it wasn't considered legal for the government to spy on its own populace, it was might well be legal for the government to spy on some other nation's populace, and then give those intercepts to that government, in return for information on its own people.
posted by hattifattener at 12:16 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


8WR41GDE J4IWT7X7 PXEFA5WL 68JDIHLU Z5SFPORD L6CVKFP1 Z6LHJB4W Y3AYOSCJ SXL1BCJD 8C9ELKXC G5MFGSJP PD3H7ZLJ UDZ0U3L9 G1UUVI6T U8FC92PD W2QHI8DF ADKU9NKV 7MXV7SF1 TQPLA3PG J5XYAC04 3BBKBXJY FIV420PS TFUVE3TH R5BI0PHR IA4HZ93I 4N1XN70F UA88155Q MAF2PKUZ NESWWXR4 W4LL7WGU RFUP6NHB 1T9EQF33 CD553WIP F7EOK0MA VF0UWFOI THE OWLS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM HOHOVKZC 9F7IYYYU WDG0RHRG ARHPGS61 Y9QYA7SH H0MR1HDD 3YHQOWA7 D0N0CT92 WQIJ0NLA 2ET1WGN6 UIIC1IXA UVEXPX4J RMO2YW95 YXLQX6JI 0S25YYGX 473RQDYN 8289EZBD VK5TKE6D HV6RGDD6 RLTQ4DXK 0NLQ4FMF 5ZI2ZKWD ZMWRP7GA BO60M4B4 IUK0V8IZ EY47VGW6 FD9JSY84 MU670GJG HIMM8YCU COOPER COOPER COOPER 4S74B00R J3ZKF82C K31XI07F 9Z6I07CC 8YUDGOBC MJGE8Z0A FKRUMAEW OWVVPZST B006H9W9 5O8LOGCE PW4R6R00 5TG7MXZU I9SN40WI 04GSKU53 PTJF9Y5U 6882IIHH CQHB0Z3O FEXHV1Z8 6OH2AY1R ZYJ3ED2E T7LZL04G F3WW83ST 2JPOU6VN 4VPKBNJA BJ0MRFAU 1AVDGKWQ 5CL478FZ WQYYK3SI P7IF4JK0 K1RBR94R
posted by dhammond at 12:16 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


"B ALPHA From Turpin, Ben: FYI - MIAMI FORT barge feeder motor keeps tripping, jumper at this time, should have sufficient coal to meet morning peak. Units dropped to minimum at this time."

The idea that something that's running on coal (and presumably somehow connected to power generation) needs attention to ensure it has sufficient coal to meet morning peak usage is something that I find mildly alarming, even if it's perfectly logical when you think about it.

These messages will be an interesting insight into all kinds of things, I think.
posted by Mil at 12:17 AM on November 25, 2009


Searching for the hidden magical bean amongst 500,000 pager messages is certainly the type of thing that could captivate a hive mind and break a Palin-thread record. Ready, set, go!
posted by iamkimiam at 12:19 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


I think there are a couple of possible explanations. One is the simple one: some employee somewhere stumbled across a goldmine of log files, and grabbed the one covering 2001.09.11 because (after one's own birthday) that's probably the first date anyone would look for in a trove of interesting stuff sorted chronologically. Then, they just forwarded the stuff to Wikileaks, because what the hell else are you going to do with it? This is the "geek theory."

Then you have the "spy theory," which is what other people have been getting into — the messages weren't just grabbed off a server somewhere by an employee, they were gathered as some sort of a surveillance project that predated 9/11. Their release is a calculated move by the group in control of the data, for some defined purpose.

I think it's too early to really say anything. Perhaps analysis of the data will shed light on it. I'm not familiar with paging systems but maybe when someone who is looks at it, they'll be able to tell whether they look like server log/spool files that would have been copied off of some internal system somewhere, or if they're really intercepts. I guess the big question is whether there's any point inside the paging system where all these messages would even pass through and get logged, or if the only way you'd get such a dataset would be via surreptitious monitoring.

Unrelated: I had no idea how much automated reporting junk was on the paging network. The vast majority of messages are notifications from various systems, mostly either error conditions / faults, alarms, or stuff like calendar notifications.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:20 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


2001-09-11 03:11:48 Metrocall [1580894] D ALPHA Frm: Asians By Mail Sub: Free Asian Pictures - Sep........................................................................................................................................................................op Wanna Keep y

The only thing worth the read so far is that someone's work e-mail is getting spammed.
posted by battlebison at 12:20 AM on November 25, 2009


Not many foreign governments have much interest in discrediting the Obama administration, and 9/11 wasn't on his watch, anyway.

Uh, I didn't mention anything about Obama, the point would be to discredit "America" in general, particularly around the Muslim world. I was thinking about Iran or someone.

Why do this on Nov. 25 though?

I'm assuming they did it as soon as they got their hands on it.

There are only 4 major powers I can think of that have the means and motive to massively sweep and catalog US telecommunications: Russia, China, UK and Israel. Maybe Canada, France and possibly Japan as well.

How on earth could you possibly know that? Imagining that you could is absurd. For one thing, you don't know anything about the clandestine signals intelligence gathering capabilities of any country. And for another you don't know anything about how well protected this stuff was. It's possible that a well placed insider could have found a weak spot and tapped this stuff, or there may have been backups being recorded somewhere that could have been handed over.
posted by delmoi at 12:21 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 03:00:05 Skytel [002360992] A ALPHA wk107920@yanni97.EBay.Sun.COM|Reminder- HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING| ** Calendar Appointment ** Date: 9/11/2001 Start: 12:01 am End: 1:00 am What: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING

Looks like someone's birthday got ruined.
posted by delmoi at 12:24 AM on November 25, 2009


"A full archive containing all the messages will be released on Thursday November 26 at the conclusion."
...of your Thanksgiving dinner.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:25 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 03:23:09 Metrocall [0477903] D ALPHA TOMORROW YOU DO INTUIT. NO MATTER WHAT ARMANDO SAYS.

...but, that Armando, he's so persuasive y'know.
posted by Mil at 12:25 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 08:46:22 Metrocall [1545041] A ALPHA NEVAR FORGET
posted by turgid dahlia at 12:28 AM on November 25, 2009


I'd like to see at least two things come of this:
1) a pretty chart from Information Is Beautiful
2) Narrated shorts of these pager texts, brought to us by Joel and his robot pals
posted by iamkimiam at 12:28 AM on November 25, 2009


For one thing, you don't know anything about the clandestine signals intelligence gathering capabilities of any country.

Benin! It was Benin! I just know it. Those bastards!
posted by From Bklyn at 12:30 AM on November 25, 2009 [3 favorites]


Ok, on second thought, not #2, as I realize that this is not going to be very funny in the later batches. Sorry to be so insensitive, I had a lapse there.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:31 AM on November 25, 2009


It would be nice if there were some web interface where people could flag 'interesting' notes, and look at the interesting notes already posted. Filter by numbers that never post anything but status updates.
posted by delmoi at 12:31 AM on November 25, 2009


(minor derail, but: I couldn't remember the details of that 1997 incident, so I looked 'em up. wayback, comp.risks, CU Digest; it was interesting that this was still the era in which it was unclear whether encrypted internet traffic would remain legal)
posted by hattifattener at 12:44 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


There are only 4 major powers I can think of that have the means and motive to massively sweep and catalog US telecommunications: Russia, China, UK and Israel. Maybe Canada, France and possibly Japan as well.

perhaps so - but how many minor powers would be motivated to copy those logs if they happened to find them by hacking around in a major power's network?

Not many foreign governments have much interest in discrediting the Obama administration

iran does - and although i don't think they're capable of this kind of data surveillance, they wouldn't have to be - all they would have to do is to get lucky and hack whoever it was that was doing this

the message? - "can you be sure what else we have that you wouldn't want the world to know? - back off or we'll release other things"

it's a psychological ploy more than anything else - it's probably not what's in the messages, but what else these people could have to release
posted by pyramid termite at 12:48 AM on November 25, 2009


hattifattener--

Excellent find. One of my colleagues was actually a grad student under Wagner -- the same names keep showing up...
posted by effugas at 1:00 AM on November 25, 2009


this one is suspicious:

2001-09-11 03:45:39 Metrocall [1398832] A ALPHA Frm: 'rrranch021@aol.com Sub: re: thanks for the pics... Txt: that is not all that is stored up for you, my yummy la
posted by ryaninoakland at 1:07 AM on November 25, 2009


If this is real, I expect at least a few divorces to come out of the data in the dump.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 1:07 AM on November 25, 2009 [4 favorites]


"Master: Lizard minion one! Begin operation!"
"Lizard#1: Yes my reptilian overlord!"
"Master: Excellent, I shall phone the Rothschilds at once. Soon we be back on the Gold standard"
posted by Damienmce at 1:10 AM on November 25, 2009 [5 favorites]


Are these just from the east coast, or is it nationwide? I had a Skytel pager at that time, and I'm curious if any of my pages will be in there once daylight PST comes around.
posted by cmonkey at 1:14 AM on November 25, 2009


[005349998] D ALPHA news@real-net.net|Great Mahjongg Game - Free Demo!| <>

The more things change....

posted by vrakatar at 1:22 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


2001-09-11 04:21:14 Arch [0553455] D ALPHA MUHAMMED, MUSTAFAH UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE 09/11/2001 4:18AM

arabic name, all caps!!!!!!!! what could it meannnnnn!
posted by ryaninoakland at 1:53 AM on November 25, 2009


Uh, I didn't mention anything about Obama, the point would be to discredit "America" in general, particularly around the Muslim world. I was thinking about Iran or someone.

Perhaps, but if it mentioned anything controversial that discredited the US, it might provoke further anti-Muslim sentiment in America. And that might not be a smart thing for Iran to do, when other countries are trying to work with it in diplomatic circles to stop messing with nuclear weapons. The timing definitely feels weird.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:59 AM on November 25, 2009


And our friend later returns… (in an unauthorized fashion?)

2001-09-11 05:04:23 Arch [0553455] D ALPHA MUHAMMED, MUSTAFAH UNAUTHORIZED RETURN 09/11/2001 4:59AM
posted by readyfreddy at 2:08 AM on November 25, 2009


And more intrigue:

2001-09-11 05:05:00 Arch [0553455] D ALPHA MUHAMMED, MUSTAFAH TRANSMITTER BATTERY RESTORE 09/11/2001 4:59AM

2001-09-11 05:06:40 Arch [0553455] D ALPHA MUHAMMED, MUSTAFAH UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE 09/11/2001 5:01AM

Maybe this is a doctor or something?
posted by readyfreddy at 2:11 AM on November 25, 2009


Maybe this is a doctor or something?

Or a keycard security door on the fritz.
posted by cmonkey at 2:18 AM on November 25, 2009


This is the first time I've ever been bored waiting for 9/11 to happen.
posted by twoleftfeet at 2:19 AM on November 25, 2009 [8 favorites]


The source is probably just some guy in NYC who logs unencrypted pager messages. It's not surprising that people do this. And it's not surprising, given the fear post 9/11, that they would wait eight years before leaking the logs to Wikileaks.
posted by twoleftfeet at 2:27 AM on November 25, 2009 [5 favorites]


Someone oughta write some code to group the messages by device #.
posted by crapmatic at 2:32 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


This isn't going to get interesting until 2001-09-11 08:46. And it's not going to get really interesting until 2001-09-11 09:03.

This is just a textual version of listening to police scanners, a popular hobby among some people. It doesn't require an espionage infrastructure.
posted by twoleftfeet at 2:50 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


So far all I know is that Ms Rojas' 18 month-old son has a bad cough and eveyone else is on medication.
posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 3:04 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


2001-09-11 06:16:10 Skytel [007030100] B ALPHA y-horoscope@yahoo-inc.com||Ari Protect yourself as personal space dwindles. Your own good works will save you.
posted by horsemuth at 3:24 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 06:31:26 Metrocall [1162127] D ALPHA From: 4044766632@airmessage.net Subj: Message from a two-way device Good morning sexy man!! Got my zebra thongs on!!! Feeling a little animalistic!!!

Okay now we're cooking
posted by fire&wings at 3:37 AM on November 25, 2009 [13 favorites]


2001-09-11 06:48:45 Arch [0916167] B ALPHA Kirk Watts has to go to DMV 1st thing today
posted by diogenes at 3:55 AM on November 25, 2009


This is fun right now, but I think I'm going to stop reading before the planes hit.
posted by diogenes at 4:01 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 06:53:20 Arch [0986502] B ALPHA Phil Malatras|Interview TODAY |Ralph must be taking the red-eye flight. He's scheduled a noon interview with you. You may want to wear pants. ;-)
posted by diogenes at 4:03 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 06:57:31 Metrocall [1086267] C ALPHA face your sunglasses and keep the donuts faced. We start at 706.

Huh?
posted by diogenes at 4:08 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 07:12:54 Metrocall [0122329] C ALPHA shot down; Pentagon confirms losing contact with unmanned craft. Details to come. For complete coverage of this story visit: http://www.CNN.com or AOL Keyword: CNN CNN Headline News has changed everything but its name. Visit us online at http://cnn
posted by fire&wings at 4:22 AM on November 25, 2009


"B ALPHA From Turpin, Ben: FYI - MIAMI FORT barge feeder motor keeps tripping, jumper at this time, should have sufficient coal to meet morning peak. Units dropped to minimum at this time."


Turpin, Ben
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:24 AM on November 25, 2009


But Canada, France and Japan don't (appear) to have a huge interest in spying on us. That leaves the big four.

To be fair the current Canadian government has already demonstrated open hostility toward the Obama administration as they actively sought to discredit Obama before he was elected by trying to embarrass him regarding his camp's NAFTA reassurances.
posted by srboisvert at 4:27 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


For a sense of perspective, at this very moment in 2009, "Donny Osmond wins season nine of ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'" is a big news story.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:29 AM on November 25, 2009


I find the level of conspiratorially-obsessed paranoia in this thread to be amusing. "Which foreign powers could do this!?! Who has an interest in destabilising the USA?!?!" Wouldn't it be awesome if people reacted this way to situations to which this is (technologically) analogous? "Radio recordings from 11/09/01? Why's this being rebroadcast, what's Iran up to?"

I'm surprised nobody has accused the CIA of being responsible yet, really.
posted by Dysk at 4:29 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 07:28:31 Skytel [005105666] A ALPHA IF WILLIAM IS NOT THE FIRST NAME OF YOUR FATHER CALL ME.
posted by diogenes at 4:37 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


2001-09-11 07:37:31 Skytel [002381193] C ALPHA I need SEX!!!!

Can't you at least wait until I've had my coffee!
posted by diogenes at 4:45 AM on November 25, 2009


2001-09-11 07:46:46 Arch [0303227] C ALPHA 81-FREDDY & I ARE WAITING AT THE HOTEL, BERT.

Ohhhhhhhhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
posted by cmonkey at 4:52 AM on November 25, 2009 [3 favorites]


I'm not going to wait till the planes hit. I saw this on TV, years ago. I know how the story goes. Pager messages won't explain why the U.S. started a war in Iraq.

But I bet that even after the planes hit there will still be messages like:
  • BILL BAIN W/ WOLVERINE BRASS WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN MEET WITH YOU ON FRIDAY ABOUT 9AM ABOUT SOME PLUMBING ITEMS
  • Erik can you p/u hvwt today?
  • Hold Sundays tickets for Cheryl.

    Because this is the way life really is. Even if planes are hitting buildings, it's still important that the baby has milk, that the leaky faucet get fixed, and that somebody changes the cat's litter box. That's the way life really is.

  • posted by twoleftfeet at 5:05 AM on November 25, 2009 [7 favorites]


    Wow. It seems that one of the primary uses of pagers nowadays is to remind people to take their meds.
    posted by rbellon at 5:07 AM on November 25, 2009


    But Canada, France and Japan don't (appear) to have a huge interest in spying on us. That leaves the big four.

    As a Canadian, I

    2001-09-11 08:00:16 Arch [0978046] D ALPHA RoboMon@isus.emc|Web Server Down and/or Experienc|CSROBOMON is reporting that the page located at the url http://csesupport.isus.emc.com/csisprimusweburlchk.htm is not responding sufficiently. The web server being affected is identified by t

    the page located at the url http://csesupport.isus.emc.com/csisprimusweburlchk.htm

    http://csesupport.isus.emc.com/csisprimusweburlchk.htm

    csisprimusweburlchk

    csis primus web url chk

    posted by Jairus at 5:09 AM on November 25, 2009 [5 favorites]


    The North Tower was hit at 8:46 am EST. We haven't even gotten to that part yet. All this is lead-up to what's to come. I really really wish I had all day to read these as they come in.

    So far the two things that have gotten me the most are all the automated "Good morning! Time to take your meds!" messages that hit exactly at 8:00, and this horoscope:

    C ALPHA alert@msn.com||Aries: Sweep your dirt under the rug. You need a clean break. The pieces fall together.**

    Jeez.
    posted by Spatch at 5:26 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 08:20:05 Skytel [002374575] D ALPHA alert@msn.com||Leo: Your neutrality is temporary. Each hour is worth millions. Remain a moving target.**


    Everything seems suspicious without context.
    posted by TheModernArdeo at 5:34 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    But Canada, France and Japan don't (appear) to have a huge interest in spying on us.

    Oh we're watching you, eh.
    posted by jimmythefish at 5:40 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:26:42 Skytel [002400357] B ALPHA We're having cake at 9:00 in Mel's office for Rich, Craig and Hoss's Birthday.

    Maybe not.
    posted by jimmythefish at 5:50 AM on November 25, 2009


    So far the two things that have gotten me the most are all the automated "Good morning! Time to take your meds!" messages that hit exactly at 8:00...

    Probably automated. Something like this.
    posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:51 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 08:44:57
    CANT BRING IT DOWN EVERYONE WILL KNOW :(

    I'm assuming the sad smiley rules out any chance this refers to a plane being shot down.
    posted by rbellon at 5:51 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    2001-09-11 08:46:31 Arch [1426125] D ALPHA FIRE IS/WAS 3 OR 4 ALARMS?

    .
    posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:54 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 08:48:24 Arch [1072988] D ALPHA Sanchez Maggie M|I love you, have a really good day...yeppie I get to watch women pee
    posted by Jairus at 5:55 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    "2001-09-11 08:47:4 Arch [0901509] B ALPHA Someone just told me there was an explosion at"

    This looks to be the first reference to the attacks in the logs.
    posted by TheModernArdeo at 5:55 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:47:48 Arch [0901509] B ALPHA wtc....BR
    posted by jetsetsc at 5:58 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:50:31 Skytel [003260422] B ALPHA An Aloha call is starting . This is for a fire at 2WT.
    posted by fire&wings at 5:58 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:50:25 Arch [0901509] B ALPHA A plane crashed thru the twin towers. Real bad..BR
    posted by twoleftfeet at 5:59 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:50:50 Skytel [003252015] D ALPHA BOMB DETINATED IN WORLD TRADE CTR. PLS GET BACK TO MIKE BRADY W/A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF YOUR AREAS AND CONTACT US IF ANYTHING IS NEEDED AT 212-647-2345

    It's the story, of a man named Brady...
    posted by chavenet at 5:59 AM on November 25, 2009


    "2001-09-11 08:54:33 Arch [0239454] D ALPHA 37-WE NEED TO HAVE YOU HEAD TO WORLD TRADE CTR. PLEASE CALL LAURA EXT 6121."

    This is terrifying.
    posted by TheModernArdeo at 6:02 AM on November 25, 2009


    Focusing the potency of all this is how so many of the messages are just life going on:

    2001-09-11 08:53:44 Metrocall [0958398] D ALPHA Did you turn the iron off? Melissa
    posted by chavenet at 6:05 AM on November 25, 2009


    Again, the real SHIT-HITS-FAN moment won't start until 2001-09-11 09:03.

    I don't know if I can do this again.
    posted by twoleftfeet at 6:07 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    Look at all of the call back pages starting to go out :(

    Starting to feel sick. Stopping now.
    posted by diogenes at 6:08 AM on November 25, 2009


    Hm. If you assume clock sync and accept 08:46:40 as the impact time for the North Tower, I wonder if this is related?

    2001-09-11 08:46:46 Arch [1612975] D ALPHA PAGE FROM lifeline: alert 8933585 ETS appl nbetpsd27.fi.gs.com ETS RTCE: - Market data inconsistent...Cantor API problem Trading system offline on nbetpsd27.fi.gs.com, run by etsuser on nbetpsd27, pid = 24277

    Agreed. Freaking creepy.
    posted by Vetinari at 6:09 AM on November 25, 2009 [3 favorites]


    2001-09-11 09:04:01 Skytel [005131786] C ALPHA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL HAS NOT GIVEN US ANY CONCRETE INFO.....INDICATED PSBL HI-JACK COM ACFT. JOE TURNER OCC DUTY DIRECTOR / 5-0000
    posted by Jairus at 6:11 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:05:33 Skytel [002348307] A ALPHA vstamato@badlands.sdesk.ml.com||09:05 - evacuate building

    That is a "shit hits the fan" page.
    posted by cmonkey at 6:14 AM on November 25, 2009


    Starting to feel sick. Stopping now.

    Ditto. Can't watch this again.
    posted by twoleftfeet at 6:17 AM on November 25, 2009


    Just when I was over Sept. 11, they gave me Nov. 25.
    posted by twoleftfeet at 6:18 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    "2001-09-11 09:13:24 Metrocall [1407415] B ALPHA airports are closed and command still reports numerous jumpers and numerous others trapped. FDNY is avail via live."
    posted by TheModernArdeo at 6:21 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:11:39 Skytel [002357449] C ALPHA PLEASE CALL ME BACK. I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. LESLIE 973-733-6463

    I want to call all of these people and find out if everyone made it through okay.
    posted by Jairus at 6:21 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    2001-09-11 09:10:35 Metrocall [0076961] A ALPHA Ellen has tried to get Derek, Brock, & Mark but unable to get through, their floors are at the top

    Ugh. This really is going to get bad.
    posted by Astro Zombie at 6:24 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:10:35 Metrocall [0076961] A ALPHA Ellen has tried to get Derek, Brock, & Mark but unable to get through, their floors are at the top
    posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 6:24 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:06:40 Skytel [004543325] D ALPHA Tom, I hope it wasn't you and Scott that crashed into the World Trade Center! -ml
    posted by chavenet at 6:25 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:08:25 Arch [0918092] D ALPHA FYI - The world trade center was just hit by a plane. It looks like

    2001-09-11 09:08:26 Metrocall [1902852] B ALPHA Take your meds.
    posted by chavenet at 6:27 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 09:11:31 Arch [0911219] A ALPHA 2...HAVE A GOOD TIME AT THE TRADE SHOW, LOVE HEATHER.

    Heather doesn't have a TV. Either that or she has an overdeveloped sense of irony.
    posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 6:30 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    2001-09-11 09:21:05 Metrocall [002589479] B ALPHA RAY KEELEY NANCY VANDOORN N/A 201-998-9744 PLS CALL THE SINK THAT WAS WORKED ON YESTERDAY IS LEAKING

    There's that leak you mentioned, twoleftfeet.
    posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 6:36 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:02:46 Skytel [005446276] B ALPHA root@linux.office|SYSTEM DOWN|SERVER: 64.124.42.6 - Down at: Tue Sep 11 06:02:40 PDT 2001 - REPORTED FROM: linux
    posted by swift at 6:39 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 09:17:44 Arch [0983733] B ALPHA all flt into and out of ny airspace is stopped due terroist attachs
    2001-09-11 09:17:48 Arch [0899425] A ALPHA all flt into and out of ny airspace is stopped due terroist attachs
    2001-09-11 09:17:48 Arch [0903637] B ALPHA all flt into and out of ny airspace is stopped due terroist attachs

    If anyone remembers a little about pager behaviour in these days some short explanation would be great. I wonder, because the above apparently manually entered message seem to be the sent to different pagers (the digits in the brackets are pager numbers I assume. True?). So, was it usual to forward or send messages to multiple recipients?
    posted by Henrik at 6:39 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:33:39 Skytel [002820429] D ALPHA APTN WOULD LIKE YOUR PICTURES ASAP. PLEASE CALL JAMES TURNER AT 413-7947. - PAULA

    Journalism at work.
    posted by TheModernArdeo at 6:41 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:07:50 Skytel [005555114] C ALPHA FYI: A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. As of now, no word of any impact to the opening of the market. Upds to follow. Thx, NCO/MSM


    Yes, in case there's a buck to be lost or made, one never knows.
    posted by vivelame at 6:44 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    This log of messages gives me hope that one day, long after plague, famine, global warming, terrorism, and ennui have killed off every living being on the planet, there will still be an outpost somewhere on the planet sending a message to our alien brethren:
      THIS IS A TEST PERIODIC PAGE SEQUENTIAL NUMBER 639225747
    posted by twoleftfeet at 6:44 AM on November 25, 2009 [7 favorites]


    2001-09-11 09:30:54 Skytel [005332035] A ALPHA URGENT !! IT'S TIM, I'M OKAY. CALL ME AT HOME, 718 227 4641, I WAS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WHEN IT EXPLODED, BUT I'M FINE.
    posted by patricio at 6:45 AM on November 25, 2009 [5 favorites]


    Not many foreign governments have much interest in discrediting the Obama administration, and 9/11 wasn't on his watch, anyway. The only party to get upset at would be Bush, but as David Cross so rightly pointed out, Bush could have ripped the heads off of babies and drank their blood, for all Americans cared about learning the truth.

    Not many foreign governments have an interest in discrediting the Obama administration? Is that how you think international relations works, that nations base policy on how much they like one guy or another? If they don't feel the need to discredit Obama, its because they think they can get him to alter US policy in a way that suits them without having to do this.

    The fact is every nation has an interest in undermining the stature of the US in world affairs, because that opens up room for them. Furthermore, you are forgetting that the 9-11 attacks were not carried out by a foreign government, but by a terrorist group. That group can "leak" information just as well as an employee or agent of the government can.

    The truth is that no one would be motivated to muck around with logs like this because anything that is said in them is unreliable. It's the fog of war being experience by people who have never been involved in an actual war.

    Our relationship with the UK would pretty much preclude them from any major spying on us.

    Absolutely everybody spies on everybody else. If you don't think there are UK spies, Israeli spies, French spies, Japanese spies etc operating in the US collecting info about the US, you are delusional. And yes, that means the US is spying on everyone else too, as we should be.
    posted by Pastabagel at 6:47 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    If anyone remembers a little about pager behaviour in these days some short explanation would be great. I wonder, because the above apparently manually entered message seem to be the sent to different pagers (the digits in the brackets are pager numbers I assume. True?). So, was it usual to forward or send messages to multiple recipients?
    posted by Henrik at 9:39 AM on November 25


    Yes, you could do this. The idea would be that companies would be able to send broadcast messages to all their company issued pagers. Pagers could also receive info from newswires and the like.
    posted by Pastabagel at 6:50 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:23:40 Arch [1008791] B ALPHA 08-GETTING REALLY NERVOUS. PLS CALL TO LET ME KNOW YOU'RE SAFE. I LOVE YOU.

    Okay, I'm done with reading this.
    posted by jeanmari at 6:50 AM on November 25, 2009


    A lot of those callback numbers just represent the system jamming itself up.

    In other news: Stamps are now 37 cents!
    posted by twoleftfeet at 6:59 AM on November 25, 2009


    How many different ways do we need to devise to relive that morning?
    posted by bicyclefish at 7:07 AM on November 25, 2009 [7 favorites]


    Avenger: "There are only 4 major powers I can think of that have the means and motive to massively sweep and catalog US telecommunications: Russia, China, UK and Israel. Maybe Canada, France and possibly Japan as well. "

    I can think of another one.
    posted by Joe Beese at 7:14 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Hmmm....my recordings of dope dealers from the pager I had in the early 80's are far more interesting and revealing. It was easy to spoof a pager to stay "on" and listen to and record everything that was coming over the network. This stuff is just plain old morbid curiosity.
    posted by gigbutt at 7:23 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 09:06:52 Skytel [005358007] B ALPHA egurevich@usss.treas.gov|WTC EXPLOSION|FYI: THERE HAS BEEN EXPLOSION AT THE TOP OF 1 WTC. ANYONE IN THE AREA OF THE OFFICE PLEASE MEET AT THE BASEBALL FIELD BEHIND THE EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL ON WEST STREET NY.
    posted by rollbiz at 7:31 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 10:45:11 Skytel [005360064] A  ALPHA  the coast is clear,lets go get some indian food right now
    posted by Kadin2048 at 7:57 AM on November 25, 2009


    I'm really curious about the source of these messages too. I think the most likely scenario is theft from one of the pager networks. I have no idea: is 500,000 pages a significant fraction of all pager traffic for a day in 2001, or just a small subset? Are these all from one network, or does it cross networks?

    Text messages are so info-dense and easy to archive. I've been told by insiders that AOL Instant Messenger keeps archives of all old IM traffic. It seems crazy, but I trust my source. And we know that AT&T keeps logs of SMS traffic for at least a month (from resulting subpoenas). Presumably other cell phone networks do too. Once you log traffic for a month you've essentially logged it forever unless you have a very good data destruction plan.
    posted by Nelson at 8:01 AM on November 25, 2009


    Oh, CBS has a remarkably thoughtful blog post on the sourcing. Says the logs look complete for the sources they can cross-check. Also says
    The pager logs seem to represent messages transmitted on September 11, 2001 through the networks of Arch Wireless, Metrocall, Skytel, and Weblink Wireless. ... One possibility is that they were illegally compiled from the records of archived messages maintained by pager companies ... The second possibility is more likely: Over-the-air interception
    Speculation, but informed speculation. The pager network is right there in the metadata for each message. What's the number that follows; some sort of pager ID?
    posted by Nelson at 8:06 AM on November 25, 2009 [4 favorites]


    Twinkle and Turp are safe. (Good overview).
    posted by Rumple at 8:11 AM on November 25, 2009 [3 favorites]


    2001-09-11 10:55:08 Arch [1146801] A ALPHA ney I am going to collect from your life insurance policies because..if you don't call me now!! to tell me you're not dead, I am going to kill you! [] - link
    posted by phrontist at 8:14 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    Some people were not paying attention:

    2001-09-11 11:05:50 Metrocall [0300391] B ALPHA pedaling. Carmer sells ice cream from a specially-made bike. His ice cream shop on two wheels cost $3,000 and has a cooler on the back. Carmer will have to move his ice cream shop indoors for the winter. But he says at least his legs will get a break.
    posted by Rumple at 8:17 AM on November 25, 2009


    Surprising lack of cursing in the couple of links I looked at.
    posted by cashman at 8:24 AM on November 25, 2009


    What's the number that follows; some sort of pager ID?

    I assume destination rather than source. There are a number of msgs that get sprayed across numerous different numbers at roughly the same time.
    posted by vbfg at 8:26 AM on November 25, 2009


    A wordle from 9:30.
    posted by HumanComplex at 8:26 AM on November 25, 2009 [4 favorites]


    This kinda made me feel icky from the headline. A few of the early bits with people just going about their banal lives were amusing but still made me fell icky reading them. Then the first references to explosions and planes came. I was a little surprised to discover that it made me feel sick and anxious. I had to quickly scroll past the rest of the thread.
    posted by Babblesort at 8:29 AM on November 25, 2009


    I'm not a New Yorker so my distance from the emotional effects of 9/11 couldn't be anywhere near as strong as those of New Yorkers. So reading these and getting that panicky wave of sick heatbreak makes me think this may be the worst thing anyone in NY could read. Jesus, happy holidays.

    .
    posted by nola at 8:32 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]




    Surprising lack of cursing in the couple of links I looked at.

    Me too. Spend about half an hour browsing through the post-impact logs and I'm blown away to not even see a "hell" or "damn" - if a situation ever called for a JESUS H. CHRIST, HOLY FUCKING SHIT, this is it.
    posted by porn in the woods at 8:39 AM on November 25, 2009


    Dana Perino: 'We Did Not Have A Terrorist Attack On Our Country During President Bush's Term'.

    Fox news is ... well literally, unreal. I watch it and my brain says it happened, but I cannot believe what I am seeing. I know what they do, but after a while it just shocks me that it continues to happen. Avenger's comment rings so true more than a year later. Fox's goal is to destroy news itself.
    posted by cashman at 8:44 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    Every part of my brain is shouting out "too soon!" as I read this thread and some of the wikileaks pages. But then I realize that it's getting close to 10 years now, and I wonder how long it'll take before we'll be less sensitive to the memories surrounding this tragedy. Part of me hopes we're almost there, and part of me hopes we'll never get there.
    posted by dnesan at 8:58 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 11:00:00 Arch [0435912] C ALPHA the only thoughts i have of are of nicholas, ian and you. i am terrified. i needed to tell you that i truly love you... always, diane

    My heart broke reading this one, I probably have to stop now before I start to cry at my desk.
    posted by dnesan at 9:03 AM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    Bush could have ripped the heads off of babies and drank their blood, for all Americans cared about learning the truth.

    Errr, I believe some American Metafilter posters would have cared.

    They just would have been impotent to *DO* anything about it.


    Yes, in case there's a buck to be lost or made, one never knows. and Absolutely everybody spies on everybody else.

    And you have the straight out industrial espionage or the often accused nexus of government spying for the benefit of favored corporations.
    Oh and do not forget the class of people who listen to things just to listen like the people who try to figure out what the female number reader on shortwave was all about
    posted by rough ashlar at 9:03 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:20:35 Skytel [002368681] C ALPHA NOC@att.com|NOC-DL Alert!!!|FYI ONLY:MCB HAS BEEN ACTIVATED/WORLD TRADE CENTER DISASTER/NEW YORK,NY

    This appears a lot... I wonder what MCB could be? NOC is network operations center, and Google searches for that + MCB come up with 'Marine Corps Base' in Quantico.
    posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 9:26 AM on November 25, 2009


    I hope all this data inspires a bunch of projects, stats, searching, interest, and healing for anybody and everybody that wants to make anything of it. This might be just the sort of thing that really allows people to connect and process, and enough data to mine for anybody still looking for answers, of any kind.

    I know that just reading some of the things highlighted already in this thread, I have felt a range of emotions from laughter to tears. I have become acutely aware of the disassociating effects of distance and time, but also the way a simple message – "always, diane" – can transport me back to the exact feeling I had in a particular moment almost a decade ago. This is powerful stuff, and I hope all the artists and inventors and data crunchers of the world go do their thing with it. It'll be worth doing, and much appreciated.
    posted by iamkimiam at 9:29 AM on November 25, 2009 [4 favorites]


    The world of digital communication was pretty radically different in 2001 than in 2009, right? Pagers seem terribly anachronistic to me, but I feel that they're probably used in some professions...

    What sort of data is still being transmitted on pager lines today?

    With the prevalence of SMS and smart-phone web transmissions, I can't imagine it's very much.
    posted by codacorolla at 9:46 AM on November 25, 2009


    This is fascinating.
    posted by mazola at 9:54 AM on November 25, 2009


    Dana Perino: 'We Did Not Have A Terrorist Attack On Our Country During President Bush's Term'.

    President Bush, November 3, 2001: "As all Americans know, recent weeks have brought a second wave of terrorist attacks upon our country: deadly anthrax spores sent through the U.S. mail."
    posted by kirkaracha at 9:54 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 08:55:35 Skytel [003327662] D ALPHA BEEP BEEP BEEPThis is a test of your local pager. Had this been an actual Emergency you would be directe
    posted by mazola at 9:58 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 12:50:44 Skytel [004663931] C ALPHA Lehman Cuts Sales, Profit Estimates for Wireless Communications Giants Nokia, Ericsson[DJ NEWS]
    posted by vectr at 10:06 AM on November 25, 2009


    I wonder why the posted logs go back so early before the actual attack.

    If posting these messages was meant to be a glimpse into what happened that day, why post 5+ hours of messages before the attacks started? Why not just a few messages prior to the attacks to show the normalcy of traffic, and then the rest of the day.

    On the other hand, if they were going for a complete history of 9/11 messages, then why not start at midnight instead of 3am. Then again, maybe that's all the logs they have access to.

    My "something seems off" sense is tripping at the moment.
    posted by jsonic at 10:09 AM on November 25, 2009



    This bit caught my eye from 9:02AM:
    2001-09-11 09:02:35 Metrocall [1079407] D ALPHA Frm: MSN Txt: Keyword: U.S. says unmanned plane missing in Iraq:Iraq has shot down a U.S.
    Can anyone explain this?
    posted by nobody at 10:32 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Looks like a social engineer's gold mine: phone numbers, contacts, personal details...
    posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:53 AM on November 25, 2009


    nobody: sure
    posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 10:55 AM on November 25, 2009


    Ogre Lawless: Would 8-year-old info really be so valuable? I bet most of those phone numbers have changed by now.
    posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 10:59 AM on November 25, 2009


    On the other hand, if they were going for a complete history of 9/11 messages, then why not start at midnight instead of 3am. Then again, maybe that's all the logs they have access to.
    Midnight might be an unnaturally busy time to start a new day's record keeping in situations like this. I think by 03:00, more people are waking up and starting their Sept. 11 than are ending their Sept 10.

    Also, I somehow doubt many people remember what they were doing when they went to bed that night (I certainly have absolutely no clue), where most people remember what they were doing that morning, whether they woke up at 3:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. So, I think 03:00 is a natural starting point, if for no other reason but pure aesthetics.
    posted by The Potate at 11:02 AM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 03:00:05 Skytel [002360992] A ALPHA wk107920@yanni97.EBay.Sun.COM|Reminder- HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING| ** Calendar Appointment ** Date: 9/11/2001 Start: 12:01 am End: 1:00 am What: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING

    Looks like someone's birthday got ruined.


    Yeah, my best friend's birthday is 9/11. It was a total, total bummer - still is. BUT HEY. It was her birthday FIRST.
    posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:03 AM on November 25, 2009


    I grabbed all of the files and began sorting them by the pager id, then reading thru them to get an idea of each pager's suite of messages so far.

    Some were interesting because of what they worried about:
    2001-09-11 10:28:10 Skytel [002351440] A  ALPHA  Scary stuff going on. I'll be surprised if its not an Arab. Worried for Farid.  Will they round us up? Yikes!  D.
    Some stuff that was broadcast to groups:
    2001-09-11 10:14:35 Skytel [002362018] A  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC (96
    2001-09-11 10:14:35 Skytel [005354263] B  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC    
    2001-09-11 10:14:37 Skytel [002360382] D  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC    
    2001-09-11 10:14:46 Skytel [005344008] C  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC    
    2001-09-11 10:14:46 Skytel [005344006] B  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC    
    2001-09-11 10:15:03 Skytel [005202968] C  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC    
    2001-09-11 10:15:14 Skytel [002361591] B  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC (81
    2001-09-11 10:17:50 Skytel [007464623] D  ALPHA  CAR BOMB EXPLODED AT 15 AND F STREET JOC
    
    Or:
    2001-09-11 12:52:35 Skytel [002352302] D  ALPHA  PLEASE ASSURE EACH OF YOUR BOYS THAT THEY ARE SAFE, OUR NATION IS NOW SECURE.  PLEASE KNOW THAT THEY ARE SCARED. SANDY
    2001-09-11 12:52:59 Skytel [002350334] D  ALPHA  PLEASE ASSURE EACH OF YOUR BOYS THAT THEY ARE SAFE, OUR NATION IS NOW SECURE.  PLEASE KNOW THAT THEY ARE SCARED. SANDY
    2001-09-11 12:53:56 Skytel [003277660] D  ALPHA  PLEASE ASSURE EACH OF YOUR BOYS THAT THEY ARE SAFE
    2001-09-11 12:54:37 Skytel [002815157] B  ALPHA  PLEASE ASSURE EACH OF YOUR BOYS THAT THEY ARE SAFE, OUR NATION IS NOW SECURE.  PLEASE KNOW THAT THEY ARE SCARED. SANDY
    
    Or even:
    2001-09-11 10:54:31 Skytel [002368389] B  ALPHA  YOU ARE ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT - LOCATION UNKNOWN - PACK AND BE READY TO MOVE - YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED 
    
    Aside from that, and a bunch of automated jobs squawking or notes about pricing delayed, it's a fascinating way to look at a swath of time.
    posted by HannoverFist at 11:12 AM on November 25, 2009 [4 favorites]


    Ogre Lawless: Would 8-year-old info really be so valuable? I bet most of those phone numbers have changed by now.

    You're probably right, jobs too.
    posted by Ogre Lawless at 11:30 AM on November 25, 2009


    B ALPHA From Turpin, Ben: FYI - MIAMI FORT barge feeder motor keeps tripping, jumper at this time, should have sufficient coal to meet morning peak. Units dropped to minimum at this time.
    Miami [Ohio] Fort Power Station, then owned by Cinergy, based in Cincinnati. Wouldn't expect this on a local NYC broadcast frequency.
    posted by dhartung at 11:38 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 13:02:03 Metrocall {1348621} 3 2400 Frm: Ofc@mail.adisfwb.com Txt: ALL PAGE-- Jeff Shirk is making chicken and potato salad today for lunch..


    Priorities?
    posted by vrakatar at 11:41 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    I would be interested in more of this, HannoverFist. Reduces the chaos factor in comforting ways.
    posted by From Bklyn at 11:48 AM on November 25, 2009


    And of course the misinformation and rumor mill goes full steam. Interesting to see how these kinds of reports can spiral if they get enough traction.

    2001-09-11 09:56:46 Metrocall [002160790] B ALPHA 25-BESIDES JUST BOMBING THE PENTAGON, ELIZABETH'S GRAND DAUGHTER WORKS IN TALLAHASSEE AND SAID THEY HIT THE LINCOLN TUNNEL. CALL ME. LOVE, YOUR WIFE.
    2001-09-11 11:07:05 Skytel [003927713] A ALPHA I HOPE YOU ARE OK. I JUST HEARD A BALTIMORE BUILDING GOT HIT. YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF THERE.
    2001-09-11 11:20:10 Arch [1608121] C ALPHA rd they blew up the FAA outside = of Berryville on Mt. weather. Call me.
    2001-09-11 11:52:54 Metrocall [002461114] C ALPHA Frm: Iris TechSupport Sub: (1/4)Crisis Update Txt: Car bomb explosion at the State Dept in DC
    2001-09-11 11:11:39 Skytel [002395466] C ALPHA : Update on things: Both World Trade Towers collapsed. Treasury Bldg in Philadelphia car bombed
    posted by crapmatic at 11:55 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 10:55:52 Skytel [005099703] B ALPHA Manhattan is fukin crazy! But there's MAD bitches around Siby
    posted by orville sash at 12:03 PM on November 25, 2009


    crapmatic: I definitely remember the car-bomb-outside-the-state-dept being reported on CNN.
    posted by PenDevil at 12:09 PM on November 25, 2009


    ALPHA ACK Trouble 14:54:03 Sep 11,2001 All Troubles Are Now Acknowledged.

    (tell me about it)
    posted by Avenger at 12:11 PM on November 25, 2009


    Miami [Ohio] Fort Power Station, then owned by Cinergy, based in Cincinnati. Wouldn't expect this on a local NYC broadcast frequency.

    You would if someone who works at that plant was traveling in NYC that day. The pager network routes SMS based on last registered location.
    posted by nicwolff at 12:25 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Sorting by device ID (?), you can find some interesting things. There is a whole block of IDs that are just sending automated alarms. It looks like the subscriber can set their own message. I have no idea what 002110272 is aiming for...

    ...
    2001-09-11 08:59:12 Metrocall [002110255] D ALPHA Take meds!
    2001-09-11 09:08:43 Metrocall [002110256] A ALPHA Take Medication.
    2001-09-11 05:54:41 Metrocall [002110257] A ALPHA Tale Medication.
    2001-09-11 07:03:58 Metrocall [002110261] B ALPHA Good morning.
    2001-09-11 06:58:37 Metrocall [002110271] D ALPHA TIME TO TAKE YOUR MEDICATION.
    2001-09-11 05:54:41 Metrocall [002110272] A ALPHA Sex me up.
    2001-09-11 07:58:31 Metrocall [002110279] B ALPHA Time to take medication.
    2001-09-11 07:26:20 Metrocall [002110282] C ALPHA Take meds.
    2001-09-11 09:27:39 Metrocall [002110285] D ALPHA Morning medication.
    2001-09-11 05:54:41 Metrocall [002110286] D ALPHA Morning medication.
    ...
    posted by whatnotever at 12:29 PM on November 25, 2009


    This appears a lot... I wonder what MCB could be? NOC is network operations center, and Google searches for that + MCB come up with 'Marine Corps Base' in Quantico.

    Given that the sender seems to be AT&T itself, it's probably something mundane like "Manhattan Central Backup", or possibly the name of a disaster-recovery plan.
    posted by dhartung at 12:32 PM on November 25, 2009


    Given that the sender seems to be AT&T itself, it's probably something mundane like "Manhattan Central Backup", or possibly the name of a disaster-recovery plan.

    I was right [pdf]:
    AT&T's Management Control Bridge (MCB) is comprised of the leadership team responsible for the overall network maintenance and recovery effort, information flow, and decision-making in the event of a network service disruption. Traditionally, the MCB is only activated during a network incident. However, due to the critical nature of Year 2000, AT&T will proactively establish its Management Control Bridge (MCB) at the end of this year and stand ready to manage any Y2K network anomalies should they occur.
    posted by dhartung at 12:46 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Absolutely everybody spies on everybody else. If you don't think there are UK spies, Israeli spies, French spies, Japanese spies etc operating in the US collecting info about the US, you are delusional. And yes, that means the US is spying on everyone else too, as we should be.

    Pastabagel is correct here. Keep in mind that the bulk of "spying" is what is now called open source intelligence^. Basically you have diplomats and experts, who may be under diplomatic cover like Joe Wilson or a NOC like Valerie Plame, who are in country keeping an eye on things in the papers and their nose to the ground with contacts. It doesn't have to be Deep Throat level leaking or dead-drop skulduggery. Most of it's just going to be things like subscribing to defense industry journals or poking around during Fleet Week. Or nowadays, watching things like Twitter hashtags or blogs.

    And as with War Plan Red, even allies need to have plans in case their interests conflict and they go to war. You can't always predict things like coups d'etat (or as the US has generally concerned itself, the odd election that goes socialist).
    posted by dhartung at 12:54 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 10:54:41 Skytel [002384855] B ALPHA 1) YOU ARE ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT - LOCATION UNKNOWN - PACK AND BE READY TO MOVE - YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED Cathie 202-646-2482
    Cathie paged 18 people with this same message, but a few of them received other pages as well.

    She paged Ted both an hour and half an hour before paging everyone else with the "possible deployment" message, then some other folks later:
    2001-09-11 09:54:52 Skytel [002816827] C ALPHA Ted: Heard you are on your way in. When you have a moment, give me a call. Thanks - Cathie (84

    2001-09-11 10:27:52 Skytel [002816827] C ALPHA Ted: Please call Lou or me as soon as
    2001-09-11 10:27:54 Skytel [002816827] C ALPHA you can. Thanks Cathie (x4528/4194) (85
    2001-09-11 11:31:52 Skytel [002374843] C ALPHA Sc
    2001-09-11 11:31:54 Skytel [002374843] C ALPHA ott: Please call me as soon as possible. Thanks - Cathie 202- 646-2482 (85
    2001-09-11 11:36:54 Skytel [002809923] A ALPHA Joe: Talked to Scott - you are not scheduled to go to Houston, nor have any plans been made to that effect. Will keep you post
    2001-09-11 11:36:55 Skytel [002809923] A ALPHA ed on anything that develops. Cathie (35
    And finally, to the same device ID that got the "possible deployment" page above:
    2001-09-11 11:40:40 Skytel [002384855] B ST NUM 3) 732-830-2770
    Clearly, "deployment" is organized from Bum Rogers Tavern & Crab House on the Jersey shore.
    posted by whatnotever at 12:54 PM on November 25, 2009


    On the other hand, if they were going for a complete history of 9/11 messages, then why not start at midnight instead of 3am. Then again, maybe that's all the logs they have access to.

    Dunno if it's relevant, but 3 AM Eastern would have been midnight Pacific.
    posted by malocchio at 12:58 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 15:22:10 Arch [0975583] D ALPHA ... FYI: Beverly just called her group together and announced today is a normal work day and if there are special circumstances requring one to leave to pls speak to their mgr.

    Beverly, have you no heart?
    posted by davidfg at 1:11 PM on November 25, 2009 [3 favorites]


    2001-09-11 09:06:46 Skytel [004215155] A ALPHA clearing the Burn unit out now (91

    This is fascinating.
    posted by jokeefe at 1:24 PM on November 25, 2009


    “D ALPHA am fine don't worry. Talk with you tonight. Love Dad”
    I’ve still got a set of keys to the WTC. I keep thinking I should sell them on eBay or something. But then I think I’d be a total dick if I did that. And reading some of these confirms it. Heartbreaking.
    …of course there are days I want to wander around at the WTC site with those keys out and a few bags of groceries in my hands looking perplexed, but I have an f’ing screw loose sometimes.
    posted by Smedleyman at 1:25 PM on November 25, 2009 [6 favorites]


    2001-09-11 16:20:56 Skytel [003941587] A ALPHA
    DaveMatthews8827@aol.com|me casa|hey, come to my house and we will drain blood from our bodies...for Jesus

    Agreed this is the kind of bottom-up history that maybe has more in common with the archaeology of everyday life (known through bones and stones) than with the kind of written history we are more accustomed to. A sort of meta-ephemera of a historic event. Fascinating.
    posted by Rumple at 1:29 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 15:57:03 Metrocall [0659734] B ALPHA om 7pm to 5am going to catch a quick nap. Sorry you didn't want a life with me. I will attempt to leave you along and let the love die so you can go forth with your

    2001-09-11 15:50:25 Metrocall [0659734] B ALPHA They think you would have told me you loved me or contacted me to check on me but you didn't
    posted by agropyron at 1:48 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    and
    2001-09-11 15:48:22 Metrocall [0659734] B ALPHA Well its your move. I thought what happened today was enough to make sure you knew how I felt, but it wasn't enough for you to show you cared. Guess its time I wise up like friends say
    posted by agropyron at 1:49 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Smedleyman - I hear ya. I left 4 WTC a couple of months before the attacks, leaving my various different ID cards and passes with my boss as I moved across the street to the World Financial Center. Some time in November '01 a fireman from my village returned them to me. Someone had found them and they made their way to him. He was sure I had made it out alive, and we had probably met down at the bar a few times after the attacks, but he was REALLY nervous about ringing our doorbell.
    posted by Nick Verstayne at 1:58 PM on November 25, 2009 [2 favorites]


    whatnotever, 202-646-XXXX looks like it's FEMA.
    posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:37 PM on November 25, 2009



    2001-09-11 09:10:35 Metrocall [0076961] A ALPHA Ellen has tried to get Derek, Brock, & Mark but unable to get through, their floors are at the top
    posted by availablelight at 2:37 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Armando is so persuasive and intimidating, it is wise to get advice before talking to him... even if you're in the middle of apparently volatile work/relationship drama.

    2001-09-11 09:03:03 Arch [0967263] D ALPHA From Bobbie Aldridge Sub:Did rcv page last night, thanks for that & the coffee - I will now - be very cautious around you though - worried about everything I say or have said Msg:
    2001-09-11 11:01:30 Arch [0967263] D ALPHA From Bobbie Aldridge Sub:Thanks, again, please advise how I should respond to Armando whenever you finish this - By the Way, I am done - no more begging for info or to be included Msg:
    2001-09-11 12:08:39 Arch [0967263] D ALPHA From Bobbie Aldridge Sub:I'm sorry I can't seem to stop being hateful; when I am hurt, I react very badly; Whether or not I should be, I was very upset all weekend when I felt like U were mad & ...
    2001-09-11 12:08:41 Arch [0967263] D ALPHA did not understand Msg:
    posted by skintension at 2:38 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 13:02:03 Metrocall {1348621} 3 2400 Frm: Ofc@mail.adisfwb.com Txt: ALL PAGE-- Jeff Shirk is making chicken and potato salad today for lunch..

    Priorities?


    If you had ever had Jeff's chicken and potato salad, you would understand their priorities.
    posted by Quonab at 4:11 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Can you send out forged pager messages? If this is all being transmitted willy nilly, I should be able to transmit and use whatever carrier info I wanted, the only way to find me would be to triangulate me. Anyway to do this?
    posted by geoff. at 4:13 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 10:55:06 Arch [1146801] A ALPHA I am now calculating how much mo
    2001-09-11 10:55:08 Arch [1146801] A ALPHA ney I am going to collect from your life insurance policies because..if you don't call me now!! to tell me you're not dead, I am going to kill you! []

    I would be sending the exact same message... I hope they got in touch soon. (from)
    posted by autoclavicle at 4:20 PM on November 25, 2009


    Wikileaks is overloaded, so give 'em some money. Or use the Coral cache.
    posted by dhartung at 4:44 PM on November 25, 2009


    Heartbreaking to see this in the middle of mundane, repeated server maintenance notifications like "Reboot NT machine gblnetnt06 in cabinet 311R"

    MOMMY STOP SENDING PLANES TO NEW YORK PECE
    posted by porn in the woods at 5:00 PM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]


    2001-09-11 10:56:37 Skytel [005054523] C ALPHA I want some Bin Laden Ass!! Give me a call if you get a chance-1152143

    Huh?


    2001-09-11 10:58:27 Weblink_B [0930515] A ALPHA OK: I know who and what...........it's the when I want to know! ! Yes! ! ! I'm wet [65]

    Ouh lalala...
    posted by autoclavicle at 5:13 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 08:40:37 Skytel [005424446] D ALPHA [] What did you do to my chair? I can't figure out how to fix it. I feel like I'm sitting on the floor! [Pamela Tuncel] (87
    posted by autoclavicle at 5:21 PM on November 25, 2009


    Isn't this a bit of a violation of personal privacy?
    posted by niccolo at 6:17 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:14:39 Skytel [002360779] C ALPHA PLEASE RETURN THIS PAGER TO WHCA CUSTOMER SERVICE-dgriffit@whmo.mil (93

    "Please return this pager to the White House Communications Agency Customer Service"
    posted by autoclavicle at 7:14 PM on November 25, 2009


    2001-09-11 09:14:55 Arch [0080958] D ALPHA Code YELLOW in effect. Situation Room is open. Only Duty Officers to report.


    Why the hell is (was) the Government using such poor security that this type of shit was picked up by whomever the hell picked it up?
    posted by autoclavicle at 7:20 PM on November 25, 2009


    19:25:54 Arch [0960658] A ALPHA 81-NAME CHANGED W/WILART GROVE THE RESERVE UNIT. YOU'RE OFFICALLY ON ALERT RECALL FOR THE AIRFORCE. CELL # IS 267

    I changed the name on that one, not sure what moved me to do so. This is harrowing, but what a source for small "h" history, by which I mean no slight. I just mean not history-textbook history, I guess.
    posted by vrakatar at 7:38 PM on November 25, 2009


    No comment.
    2001-09-11 07:51:22 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |Good Morning Sexy ,Sleep Good ?
    2001-09-11 09:24:53 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA Technical Compla|GLAD YOU R NOT @ THE TRADE CENTER !!!
    2001-09-11 10:08:10 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |C U COULD HAVE DIED 2 TO
    2001-09-11 10:08:12 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA DAY
    2001-09-11 10:08:29 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME BEFORE U DO
    2001-09-11 10:08:31 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA !!!
    2001-09-11 10:23:02 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |U HAVE JUST GOT TO EAT MY PUSSY
    2001-09-11 10:48:40 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA Technical Compla|R U NEAR WHERE THE PLANE CRASHED IN PA ?
    2001-09-11 10:49:02 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA Technical Compla|ARE U SAFE ?????
    2001-09-11 10:51:04 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA Technical Compla|THINKING ABOUT U !!!!
    2001-09-11 11:00:41 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |STILL THINKING OF YOU
    2001-09-11 11:05:17 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |going home to see tv , send mail if you can .
    2001-09-11 11:05:38 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |HOPE YOU COME HOME SAFE
    2001-09-11 11:05:57 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |IF U CAN LEAVE ME A VOICE MAIL 361-4022
    2001-09-11 13:41:50 Arch [0979574] B ALPHA "Komas, Pamela" |STILL WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH U (: M
    posted by crapmatic at 10:47 PM on November 25, 2009


    Some interesting texts I found (I edited one email address to preserve anonymity):

    2001-09-11 19:55:33 Skytel [0001809] A ALPHA * News Update *.>AFGHANISTAN: Early reports indicate explosions in city of Kabul were attacks launched by opposition forces. Meanwhile, Taliban govt, which is seated in Kabul, denies any role in today's terror attacks in N.Y., D.C. & PA..>D.C.: Casual

    2001-09-11 20:22:52 Skytel [0001336] C ALPHA ]!z00]"AR];0a]<2Sources indicate that people linked to Osama Bin Laden are responsible for the attacks... ]$ (85

    2001-09-11 20:22:59 Skytel [0001403] C ALPHA ]!z00]"AV];0a]<2Reports indicate that two members of the Los Angeles Kings pro scouting department, including former player Ace Bailey, were on one of the planes that crashed into a World Trade Center tower... ]$ (33

    2001-09-11 20:24:00 Skytel [004543986] A ALPHA You left your credit card at Sears and DIDN'T pick up the Hoover that I wanted! Don't make me go back tomorow for something you can grab today please. PS. Answer your phone!

    2001-09-11 23:14:45 Skytel [002364538] C ALPHA EVERYTHING IS OK THIS IS LAURIE WE FOUND MY COUSIN I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW.

    2001-09-11 23:16:45 Skytel [002841077] B ALPHA mawrencelm@[...]|I Love You....|Hello Mom! I was very scared for you this a.m. My world with you flashe= d before my eyes when I called you at work and received a recording that = due to the horrible turn of events in N.Y., your bui

    2001-09-11 23:23:15 Arch [0975561] C ALPHA (19)82-I GOT IN TOUCH W/ SHAWNA, FINALLY. SHE'S OKAY. SHE WAS ON THE TRAIN AT THE WALL ST STOP WHEN THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED. ADAM.

    2001-09-11 23:23:37 Skytel [0001336] C ALPHA ]!z00]"AL];0a]<4Breaking News: ]<2Police have reported receiving cell phone calls from people trapped in World Trade Center towers...]$ (29

    2001-09-11 23:29:00 Arch [0981171] A ALPHA Automation < Auto|Auto Alert: FYI Halliburton new |Auto Alert: FYI Halliburton new ETR for RHL at 4am Central :A

    2001-09-11 23:29:03 Skytel [005254677] B ALPHA bigbrother@storednetworks.com|SSH login|login(pam_unix)[9346]: session closed for user root

    2001-09-11 23:30:33 Skytel [005192087] B ALPHA flashnet@intelcenter.com|FlashNet Event|2-3 people arrested. Van with explosive device(s) found possibly on NJ Turnpike near NYC's George Washington Bridge.

    2001-09-11 23:35:45 Skytel [0001403] C ALPHA ]!z00]"AB];0a]<4Breaking News: ]<2The FBI has taken three men into custody in New Jersey for questioning. Their van had no explosives in it, as was originally reported...]$ (84
    posted by iamkimiam at 10:54 PM on November 25, 2009


    Somebody better tell the FBI/CIA/NSA about this.

    (Seriously, this is EXACTLY the kind of information overload these poor bastards have to sort through every day. Imagine the pressure on the analysts... if they miss some important bit of info in the mess of sext-messages and server updates, Big Shit could happen.)

    The weirdest thing was seeing a couple of messages in the EXACT format my company uses, but not from my company. Ours is a homebrew system. Weirdest if you ignore the terrorist attack, I mean.

    Also disturbing is the volume of anal retentive server administrator status messages. Imagine how important Nick Burns must feel when he gets paged every 180 seconds with "DFO12345SRV01...DISK STILL AT 74%".
    posted by gjc at 6:53 AM on November 26, 2009 [1 favorite]


    Via reddit, there's a search interface available, & a short snippet to download the files & turn them into a tab-delimited file that Excel can handle.
    posted by Pronoiac at 10:39 AM on November 26, 2009


    I'm sure there will be many complex visualizations developed soon enough, but I was curious enough to make this graph of how many messages were sent each minute. The peak seems to be around 11:00 am. Like other people have said, it would be very interesting to compare this dataset to a similar one for 9/10.
    posted by demiurge at 5:39 PM on November 26, 2009


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