August 24, 2001

10:32 AM

metafilter parody. no comment from me, i'll leave that to everyone else.
posted by will (1729 comments total)

Sarcastic comment about what a brilliant work of parody that is. And also adding that it must haven't taken hours to develop and refine.
posted by y6y6y6 at 10:37 AM on August 24, 2001

Strong agreement with something only tangentially related to original post's point.
posted by rschram at 10:37 AM on August 24, 2001

impersonal double post notification
posted by sawks at 10:38 AM on August 24, 2001

Questioning the necessity of dp notification, as it may be new to some
posted by cell divide at 10:39 AM on August 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

Exasperated exclamation that sometimes double-posts are fine and people should just get off the poster's back.

;->
posted by mikel at 10:39 AM on August 24, 2001

dumbass comment from stupid guy with 2 letter name that he forgot to spell check agin
posted by tj at 10:39 AM on August 24, 2001

Jakob sucks, Nader rules, and Kottke is over-rated/the best blog (circle one).
posted by msacheson at 10:42 AM on August 24, 2001

Pointless ad hominem attack.
posted by bison at 10:42 AM on August 24, 2001

Vauge reference to style of speech, relevant link? Nonsensical end to statement.

Jigsaw. Fragment chief butter. King surgery mind?
Smellsign.
Nose army.
posted by jojomnky at 10:44 AM on August 24, 2001

Nose army.

Don't you mean Nose Pilot?
posted by Marquis at 10:45 AM on August 24, 2001

self-humiliating apology for self linking
posted by almostcool at 10:46 AM on August 24, 2001

Accidental post meant for another thread.
posted by iceberg273 at 10:55 AM on August 24, 2001

teeny tiny snarky comment
posted by briank at 10:56 AM on August 24, 2001

Usual comment from authority (not Me) about if we want the web to be free of control, we must put up with "good" things and "bad" things. We can be better than history.
posted by riley370 at 10:57 AM on August 24, 2001

HAHAHA.
posted by Satapher at 11:00 AM on August 24, 2001

Comment from a newbie that isn't funny.
posted by remlapm at 11:02 AM on August 24, 2001

Post which opens an italic tag, but forgets to close it.
posted by OpenTagBoy at 11:03 AM PST on August 24


Post which is about as on topic as any.
posted by QuadruplePostGuy at 11:03 AM PST on August 24


Comment noticing that everything is italic.
posted by Huh! at 11:05 AM PST on August 24


Comment noticing that everything is italic.
posted by LookeeThere at 11:06 AM PST on August 24


Comment noticing that everything is italic, but using five exclamation marks!!!!!
posted by Whoa!!!!! at 11:07 AM PST on August 24


Comment closing the italics tag
posted by </i> at 11:07 AM PST on August 24


Comment closing the italics tag.
posted by Eep at 11:07 AM PST on August 24


Comment closing the italics tag.
posted by iceberg273 at 11:06 AM on August 24, 2001

Haiku missing
incomplete blue page
pondering metafilter
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 11:06 AM on August 24, 2001

Apology for nitpicking, but pompous correction of insignificant grammatical error or word misusage.
posted by argybarg at 11:11 AM on August 24, 2001

Comment from an oldie, trying but failing to appear to be attuned to the latest meme, that also isn't funny.
posted by normy at 11:12 AM on August 24, 2001

comment questioning fellow MeFi member's unoriginal nickname.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:13 AM on August 24, 2001

Zippity comment.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:13 AM on August 24, 2001

Quibbling query as to why this wasn't posted to MetaTalk
posted by skyscraper at 11:14 AM on August 24, 2001

apology for stealing catch phrase comment.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:15 AM on August 24, 2001

Request for pancakes.
posted by ColdChef at 11:15 AM on August 24, 2001

opps.

sorry your dog died!
posted by Hackworth at 11:17 AM on August 24, 2001

link to Onion article, posted in such a way that the community at large wonders whether poster actually understands that it's a joke.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:18 AM on August 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

disgruntled comment about signal/noise.
posted by skyscraper at 11:22 AM on August 24, 2001

righteous indignation
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:23 AM on August 24, 2001

a href="http://www.messeduplink.com>bad html
posted by remlapm at 11:24 AM on August 24, 2001

Sadness at MetaFilter's one-joke antics, lack of depth and self-absorption.
posted by timothompson at 11:28 AM on August 24, 2001

link to refreshing, new site, getting everyone so energized that they spend the remainder of the day glad that they're alive in this time and this place (archive search doesn't seem to turn up examples...)
posted by skyscraper at 11:29 AM on August 24, 2001

post intended for a different thread.
posted by donkeysuck at 11:30 AM on August 24, 2001

apology for previous post that was intended for a different, prior thread.
posted by donkeysuck at 11:31 AM on August 24, 2001

Off topic remark causing a schism in conversation that is never completely resolved.

Apologises in earnest self-deprecating manner for off topic remark.
posted by lucien at 11:33 AM on August 24, 2001

post from webmaster of the original link, accepting MetaFilters critique and telling them to kiss his ass.
posted by schlomo at 11:34 AM on August 24, 2001

Rephrasing of previous comment added so that poster might feel "hip" and with "it". Impact on discussion - nil.
Tiny footnoot text added to increase legitimacy.
posted by aladfar at 11:36 AM on August 24, 2001

Pointless notification of community that "Use of facts to supply a sense of intellectual superiority in an emotional conversation that will ultimately have no constructive purpose in the long run, but will possibly engage interest for the rest of the workday" will unquestionably be the name of my new 'blog. Bravo to Spoonfed.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:36 AM on August 24, 2001

Attempt to make intelligent comment which everyone else ignores.
posted by feelinglistless at 11:37 AM on August 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

Baby jesus usually cries right now
posted by tj at 11:38 AM on August 24, 2001

incoherent rant about how the poster is being excluded from MetaFilter because Matt doesn't like the way he spells, followed by 50 posts offering to show up at original poster's house with a copy of "Mavis Beacon Teaches Spelling".
posted by skyscraper at 11:39 AM on August 24, 2001

Blanket statement affirming that Bush is indeed stupid.
posted by UncleFes at 11:50 AM on August 24, 2001

Post suggesting that this sort of post (i.e. one which, in my opinion, has no real significance) belongs on Plastic.
posted by Octaviuz at 11:55 AM on August 24, 2001

Comment about the good ol' days on Usenet.
posted by Chief Typist at 11:56 AM on August 24, 2001

KITTIES!!!!!!!!!
posted by bargle at 11:57 AM on August 24, 2001

a senselessly long rant that must have taken 20 mintues to compose. rant includes: personal experiences, weeping for the future, angst towards qulity [sic] of metafilter posts. rant also references semi-obscure historical events that demonstrate that the ranter is well-read.

in the meantime three posts have made exactly the same point in a fraction of the words.
posted by o2b at 11:58 AM on August 24, 2001

a senselessly long rant that must have taken 20 mintues to compose. rant includes: personal experiences, weeping for the future, angst towards qulity [sic] of metafilter posts. rant also references semi-obscure historical events that demonstrate that the ranter is well-read.

in the meantime three posts have made exactly the same point in a fraction of the words.
posted by o2b at 11:59 AM on August 24, 2001

opps [sic]
posted by o2b at 11:59 AM on August 24, 2001

self depreciating comment lamenting double post.

self justifying comment that url in original post does not work and/or is different.
posted by will at 12:00 PM on August 24, 2001

Inappropriate complaint of gas pains
posted by Dagobert at 12:01 PM on August 24, 2001

Observation that this conversation should probably be taken to Metatalk
posted by UncleFes at 12:03 PM on August 24, 2001

Another link to bonsaikitten.com.
posted by GirlFriday at 12:04 PM on August 24, 2001

Follow-up observation that someone already mentioned the whole "moving to Metatalk" idea.
posted by UncleFes at 12:06 PM on August 24, 2001

Inappropriate blaming of Ralph Nader for the situation. Hand wringing about the effect on the children.
posted by swell at 12:09 PM on August 24, 2001

All your thread belongs to...
posted by dagny at 12:09 PM on August 24, 2001

wishing it was ice cream day.
posted by modge at 12:10 PM on August 24, 2001

metametametafilter comments.
posted by swerdloff at 12:10 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment from someone who create a new username for the occasion.
posted by Drowning In In-Jokes at 12:10 PM on August 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

Troll!
posted by Marquis at 12:10 PM on August 24, 2001

Link to related article on another site.
posted by moss at 12:11 PM on August 24, 2001

Can you tell its Friday?
posted by mmm at 12:12 PM on August 24, 2001

*laughs*
posted by baby satan at 12:14 PM on August 24, 2001

Accusation that original poster is not, in fact, a 16 year old girl from Kansas.
posted by Mid at 12:21 PM on August 24, 2001

Exhortation to form a lynch mob to seek out and destroy the original poster
posted by briank at 12:23 PM on August 24, 2001

Insistence that this thread should never have started (double-post, self-link, no link in original post, etc.) and is not worthy of discussion, despite the fact that this comment is, like, the sixty-eighth.

Think about it!!
posted by Shadowkeeper at 12:24 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment implicitly noting that my user number is lower than most of yours, therefore I must be better.
posted by zempf at 12:25 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment tangentially-related to the original post but then focusing on a thread-derailing political agenda (Choose one: racism, sexism, Bush, National Missle Defense, Middle East, Microsoft, DMCA, other)
posted by fooljay at 12:33 PM on August 24, 2001

Post questioning the absence of obligatory waffle reference.
posted by DBAPaul at 12:35 PM on August 24, 2001

Reference to Hitler, followed by reference to Godwin's Law.
posted by zempf at 12:36 PM on August 24, 2001

Request for a pony.
posted by trox at 12:37 PM on August 24, 2001

Declaration of this thread being closed
posted by kokogiak at 12:39 PM on August 24, 2001

cold-hearted, inhumane quip linked to story of death by misadventure offends resident drama queens.
posted by quonsar at 12:39 PM on August 24, 2001

Apology for noting that posted haiku has only 16 syllables and self-deprecating (albeit self-righteous) remark that poster might not know all there is to know about haiku but does know what he likes.
posted by idiolect at 12:40 PM on August 24, 2001

The webby awards suck.
posted by justgary at 12:43 PM on August 24, 2001

petition to stop original poster mob madness, dubbed "save will".

affirmation that original poster is neither 16, a girl nor from kansas.

lament (repetative use of wording to indicate failed attempt at intelligent communication) for the "good 'ole days" of mefi (tacitly exclusionary insider terminoligy).
posted by will at 12:44 PM on August 24, 2001

Concerned about the fact that this entire thread has been derailed to discuss something completely unrelated to the original post, I now write a long, impassioned, well-reasoned paragraph on the subject this thread was supposed to cover. Why do I bother? Perhaps I am subtly insinuating that I am better than all the posters who were unable to confine their comments to the original subject. Perhaps I feel sorry for the creator of the thread -- who was clearly interested in generating discussion about the linked story -- and I am trying to help him out. Perhaps I am just anal, and simply cannot stand to see us discussing B in a thread designed to discuss A. For whatever reason, I have decided that it is my personal duty to quash all off-topic discussions here, and single-handedly restore order to this rapidly degenerating talk. I shall do so by writing a paragraph of such size that it leaps out at all those scrolling down the page, thereby reminding everyone that comments in this thread should be confined to the original topic, and the original topic only.

Oh and by the way, here's a throw-away one-liner summarizing my opinion on the other topic, which effectively negates all my efforts to get this thread back on track.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 12:47 PM on August 24, 2001

joke in form of question in attempt to alleviate hostilities on the board, which incurs wrath of all posters regardless of previous disputes.
posted by adampsyche at 12:48 PM on August 24, 2001

Rentamob.
posted by skylar at 12:52 PM on August 24, 2001

Why, that's Calvinism!
posted by Dirjy at 12:54 PM on August 24, 2001

overly reasoned argument obviously being made (by benefit of a liberal arts education) without having actually read either the original link or any of the block long paragraphs preceding my own.
posted by elsar at 12:54 PM on August 24, 2001

Wait, there was already a post about him and Hobbes. Oops, too slow.
posted by skyscraper at 12:56 PM on August 24, 2001

helping verb
posted by adampsyche at 12:58 PM on August 24, 2001

impassioned plea to matt to step in and control the madness with the most reasonable comment in the thread, most likely reminding us of the guidelines and bringing us back to the true spirit of mefi and perhaps finishing with a wish to go back on vacation.
posted by will at 12:59 PM on August 24, 2001

Get them.

(Figures Bison would pick the dumbest picture of me in the world to link to...then again, figures I'd share that oh-so-wonderful "Ta ta!" pose with the world...)
posted by solistrato at 1:04 PM on August 24, 2001

solistrato = odd hammy man?
posted by skyscraper at 1:12 PM on August 24, 2001

At the mention of Calvinism *starts dancing*
posted by tj at 1:13 PM on August 24, 2001

At the mention of Calvinism *starts peeing on trucks*
posted by o2b at 1:17 PM on August 24, 2001

Late post making the same argument as 37 previous posts, because poster didn't have time to read the whole thread.
posted by binkin at 1:18 PM on August 24, 2001

Metallic clicking sounds followed by whirring noise, as numerous stainless steel blades extend from forearm. Flies into the air. Fights injustice.
posted by Hildago at 1:19 PM on August 24, 2001

complaint/congratulations that o2b one-upped me
posted by tj at 1:19 PM on August 24, 2001

obligatory 1142 comment
posted by tj at 1:20 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment with a lot of exclamation points!!! And emoticons :D :( :) ;)
posted by binkin at 1:22 PM on August 24, 2001

previously quibbled and (possibly unnecessary) metatalk thread regarding this post.
posted by will at 1:23 PM on August 24, 2001

Realization that thread became inexplicably popular while he was on break, followed by attemped witty/insightful comment in an effort to build reputation as "MetaFilter regular" and not miss out. (Kaycee thread, anyone?)
posted by tweebiscuit at 1:23 PM on August 24, 2001

Isn't the odd hammy man a new snaswich from Denny's? (oops sorry.. screwed up nonsequitir)
posted by tj at 1:24 PM on August 24, 2001

I wouldn't say I'm hammy...perhaps venison-esque...maybe lamb...garnished with veal and proscuttio. (sic)

I've officially derailed.
posted by solistrato at 1:27 PM on August 24, 2001

CAN WE STAY ON TOPIC, PLEASE!!!!!!
posted by will at 1:29 PM on August 24, 2001

Just-trying-to-be-helpful post which states the obvious. We need more Portuguese posters.
posted by shinybeast at 1:31 PM on August 24, 2001

Post flaming above poster for shouting about staying on topic because we are all individuals and we can talk about whatever we damn well please and who are you to tell us not to? Besides, your exhortations to stay on topic aren't on topic, anyway.
posted by binkin at 1:31 PM on August 24, 2001

Late post making the same argument as 37 previous posts, because poster didn't have time to read the whole thread.
posted by mrbula at 1:32 PM on August 24, 2001 [1 favorite]

Attempt to call attention to self, which will summarily be ignored.
posted by frykitty at 1:33 PM on August 24, 2001

complaint that Hildago is close-minded and does not understand injustice. metalic clicking sound becomes louder and skyscaper whimpers in fear
posted by skyscraper at 1:33 PM on August 24, 2001

I am hammy no more.
posted by solistrato at 1:33 PM on August 24, 2001

...Then attacked for plagiarizing an earlier poster...
posted by mrbula at 1:35 PM on August 24, 2001

Note that we're over 100 posts, then complain about thread loading slowly...
posted by mrbula at 1:36 PM on August 24, 2001

off topic and useless personal anecdote: i once had a hampster named hammy.
posted by will at 1:36 PM on August 24, 2001

complaint about this thread being a waste of precious, precious bandwidth.
posted by will at 1:38 PM on August 24, 2001

here ya go, shinybeast: Portugese poster
posted by skyscraper at 1:38 PM on August 24, 2001

post admonishing previous poster for trying to control of the conversation with link to previous thread in which they too had been accused in the same fashion
posted by feelinglistless at 1:46 PM on August 24, 2001

comment referencing previous post that is five pages above this one, and which you will never find
posted by JParker at 1:48 PM on August 24, 2001

off topic haiku
inspired by this and this
superhero sandwich
posted by otherchaz at 1:48 PM on August 24, 2001

comment describing the belly ache i have from laughing at all of these posts...
posted by phunkone at 1:51 PM on August 24, 2001

Raging and pathetic diatribe about how the world has sunk into a quagmire of doom because people don't know how to spell hamster.
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:51 PM on August 24, 2001

post correcting speling error in previous post
posted by JParker at 1:53 PM on August 24, 2001

spelling
posted by JParker at 1:53 PM on August 24, 2001

A glib and useless remark existing solely to riff on 'Attack of the Clones'.
posted by Perigee at 1:55 PM on August 24, 2001

post contemplating reserving the domain name "9622.org"
posted by machaus at 1:56 PM on August 24, 2001

I once had a pet hamper... my parents didn't trust me with animals
posted by tj at 1:56 PM on August 24, 2001

Announcement that a Yahoo Groups site has been created for this thread. Obsessively to lessen Matt's bandwidth, but in reality only diluting the discussion.

Thread 9622 Group
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:56 PM on August 24, 2001

Does anybody know what happened to that girl with cancer? Her weblog seems to be down.
posted by swell at 1:57 PM on August 24, 2001

post congratualting tj on inducing spit-take form unsuspecting Kafkaesque.
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:59 PM on August 24, 2001

chuckling on the sidelines (and late, natch) seemingly acquiescent and harmless newbie-post with a hint of treating regulars much like doddering grandparents, or hampsters.
posted by spandex at 2:00 PM on August 24, 2001

Post reminding self not to refer to self in 3rd person.

And to preview posts so self doesn't spell "from" wrong.
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:00 PM on August 24, 2001

post noting that I'm post # 125 !!!
posted by JParker at 2:01 PM on August 24, 2001

Okay, this thread's really long, so I can't read it all, but isn't this a doublepost?
posted by Marquis at 2:02 PM on August 24, 2001

mpost noting that my life is now complete
posted by tj at 2:02 PM on August 24, 2001

post quipping "I'm pretty sure it's become a Moebius post."
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:04 PM on August 24, 2001

Worst. Thread. Ever.
posted by trox at 2:05 PM on August 24, 2001

post noting that trox is being a buzzkill
posted by tj at 2:07 PM on August 24, 2001

Hopelessly late comment because newbie wants to be part of the cool crowd.

Mission Failed
posted by plemeljr at 2:07 PM on August 24, 2001

Final post, after which MH ends or deletes thread due to its pointlessness or offensiveness.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:08 PM on August 24, 2001

complaint that dirjy stole my line/took the words out of my mouth/statement about 'great minds think alike'.

not so sneaky insertion of self-plug.

webmaster yells at poster.

poster accepts blame and prays for death.
posted by jcterminal at 2:11 PM on August 24, 2001

Bleating, obsequious milquetoast thanks to Matt for allowing us to use this forum – in truth, his forum, his alone – and for not selectively deleting individual posts or banning ungrateful users, who obviously deserve what they get.
posted by joeclark at 2:13 PM on August 24, 2001

Complaint that this thread is so over, but posts comment anyway, and then rambles on over and over and over so as to slow down page load time.


Please think of those on 56k!!!
posted by plemeljr at 2:13 PM on August 24, 2001

ANAGRAM: UNSUSPECTING KAFKAESQUE SPIT = FAKE SPASTIC GENIUS QUEST, PUNK.
posted by swell at 2:13 PM on August 24, 2001

Post pointing out earlier post was tongue-in-cheek rather than some lament about metafilter was better in the good old days.
posted by trox at 2:15 PM on August 24, 2001

What is the longest thread ever on metafilter? Does anyone know? This one must be coming somewhat close.
posted by bytecode at 2:17 PM on August 24, 2001

Sarcastic retort to previous toadying by joeclark, followed by identification of Matt as member of elitist cabal.

Suggestion of violent penetration to be visited upon members of perceived weblog elite.

Summary statement in which poster swears he wouldn't join above mentioned cabal if they got down on their knees and begged him.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 2:20 PM on August 24, 2001

shamefaced identification of spelling errors in previous post.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 2:21 PM on August 24, 2001

thereby proving he's already a member
posted by tj at 2:21 PM on August 24, 2001

Pointless post added in purely because I wanted to be associated with this thread in some tiny insignificant way.
posted by wackybrit at 2:23 PM on August 24, 2001

ÖäÂîmetafilter ÈËÃñÊǶÔÓ¢Óï°²Öá£
posted by th3ph17 at 2:29 PM on August 24, 2001

Post validating wackybrit's need to feel part of something larger than him/herself (with care given to gender-specific pronoun usage), along with an oblique intimation that wackybrit may be suffering from feelings of alienation and potential abandonment anxiety, though in fact the poster is terribly uninformed about psychology in general, and thinks the anonymity of the internet gives him license to spout bogus diagnoses as long as he uses enough big words.
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:31 PM on August 24, 2001

Babbling comment about how great the Internet is that we can have insightful discussions like this. A compliment to Matt for creating something so useful. Followed by pointless assertion that Microsoft is evil.
posted by y6y6y6 at 2:32 PM on August 24, 2001

Completely irrelevant mentioning of Christopher Walken
posted by dagny at 2:35 PM on August 24, 2001

Policy wonk stuff, denoting more facts and some actual research into topic. Conclusion drawn on these facts. Impact on conversation negligible.

Dan? Is that you?
posted by anildash at 2:35 PM on August 24, 2001

would like to point out that monkeys are funny (ok, now I'm just being silly)
posted by tj at 2:39 PM on August 24, 2001

comment made to make poster feel like he/she isn't left out and that they grok all.
posted by physics at 2:39 PM on August 24, 2001

Rock 'n' roll high school...forever!
posted by Mark at 2:41 PM on August 24, 2001

Post agreeing that tj is just being silly, but pointing out that this is not necessarily a bad thing, and that monkeys are even funnier if they are wearing engineers' caps and smoking cigars.
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:42 PM on August 24, 2001

Post. Using. Periods. After. Each. Word. To. Appear. To. Add. Emphasis.
posted by rio at 2:43 PM on August 24, 2001

post noting that Kafkaesque has gotten revenge over previos spit-take incident
posted by tj at 2:45 PM on August 24, 2001

Hypocrites! Hypocrites! You should run over the babies *and* the kittens! post.
posted by keli at 2:47 PM on August 24, 2001

improper use...............of ellipsis
posted by ColdChef at 2:50 PM on August 24, 2001

I'm glad that my months-old MeFi parody has created one of the single most ridiculous threads ever in this board's history. There is irony in here that will go unmined for generations.
posted by solistrato at 2:52 PM on August 24, 2001

Post pointing out that we've been back four days and we've already devolved to this?
posted by darukaru at 2:53 PM on August 24, 2001

New from Denny's: Moons Over solistrato
posted by tj at 2:57 PM on August 24, 2001

comment complaining that poster's nick wasn't parodied, and doesn't anyone listen to poster? while the poster mostly lurks. also, poster tries to make post witty. fails miserably.
posted by sugarfish at 3:03 PM on August 24, 2001

j00v3n1l3 pl34 4 4773n710n + 3xpl0r47!0n 0v <div> tags. ph33r! ph33r!
posted by otherchaz at 3:05 PM on August 24, 2001

Totally off-topic continued exploration of the effects of an unclosed div tag.
posted by otherchaz at 3:12 PM on August 24, 2001

post which

attempts to close the div tag
posted by otherchaz at 3:15 PM on August 24, 2001

Totally off-topic continued exploration of the effects of an unclosed div tag.
posted by otherchaz at 3:12 PM on August 24, 2001

nader?
posted by fakeplastic at 3:26 PM on August 24, 2001

Nadir maybe.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:28 PM on August 24, 2001

Yet AGAIN, Star Wars has CHANGED my LIFE! As I sat in front of my computer a short time ago, I felt a twinge of cold. As the temperature began to drop DOWN, DOWN, DOWN like a rock thrown into a well. At first, temptation shouted for me to wrap a blanket around myself, to refuse the chill of the cold, the sharp edge of it's caress. But then I recalled the glory of the Yuuzhan Vong. I allowed the icy air to STAB AT ME. I EMBRACED THE COLD ~ and was _empowered_ by it. Another lesson learned and another step closer to transcending my existence as crude matter.
posted by bargle at 3:32 PM on August 24, 2001

funny as hell. accurate to boot.
posted by fishfucker at 3:39 PM on August 24, 2001

</ thread>
posted by terrapin at 3:40 PM on August 24, 2001

poster complains this is a 'non-story', impressing only himself.
posted by jcterminal at 3:48 PM on August 24, 2001

Hijack thread, use it as personal weblog:

As I was walking home this evening, a little girl was riding her bike in
the middle of the street. She still had the training wheels on as she
wobbled and struggled to peddle. It reminded me of when I was little
and how badly I wanted a bicycle but couldn't get one. My parents
wouldn't let me have a bike until I was 12; my mom was too afraid I'd
hurt myself. I'd pass the bike section in the store and just look, having
given up asking my parents about it long ago. I eventually did get one
after much pleading and begging. Amazingly, getting my driver's license
at 16 and the subsequent borrowing of the family car passed without
incident.

posted by thirteen at 3:55 PM on August 24, 2001

Bellybuttons.


Reading this thread is like stareing into your own for far too long.
posted by Jeremy at 3:56 PM on August 24, 2001

confusion at having seen this before on k5 and imagination of seeing it on mefi but not being able to find it.

relief at other posters finding said threads and pointing them out.

disgust with self for not being able to find them.

disgust with self for participating.

ultimate self loathing for verbose attempt at snarkyness
posted by mutagen at 3:58 PM on August 24, 2001

Hijacking hijacked thread, for another personal weblog:

It reminded me of the time I was walking home and was almost hit by this crazy 16 year old driver who apparently had borrowed the family car. As I picked myself up out of the gutter, brushing off old cigarette butts and discarded coffee-cup lids, I thought to myself: "I just bet one day that same 16 year old driver will post to a community weblog that their driving escapade passed 'without incident'"
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:59 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment giving the Objectivist viewpoint on the thread topic.
posted by mw at 4:13 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment slagging Ayn Rand as a writer of turgid prose, whose "philosophy" is laughably simplistic.
posted by mw at 4:15 PM on August 24, 2001

Last poster closes the thread!
posted by dagny at 4:26 PM on August 24, 2001

Link to today's "Family Circle", which shows Little Billy's path around the neighborhood as he tries to follow this thread
posted by skyscraper at 4:30 PM on August 24, 2001

obnoxious bastard reopens the thread.
posted by jcterminal at 4:31 PM on August 24, 2001

poster complains about 'not being fast enough'.
posted by jcterminal at 4:31 PM on August 24, 2001

Are we talking about milofilter? I miss it too.
posted by samsara at 4:34 PM on August 24, 2001

See what I get for sleeping after working all night, I have come to the party late. Ah, well at least I made it.
posted by bjgeiger at 4:34 PM on August 24, 2001

perhaps lintfilter?

Because the first thing that pops into my head when I think "lintfilter" is giant strawberries in the bay.
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:43 PM on August 24, 2001

Correct use of HTML markup.

Nonetheless producing unwanted whitespace.

Awaiting gormless correction to “bluespace.”

posted by joeclark at 4:48 PM on August 24, 2001

A post that wonders what the longest thread on Mefi is, despite previous similar queries.
posted by daveadams at 4:52 PM on August 24, 2001

Post proudly announcing that this is my 100th post.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 4:56 PM on August 24, 2001

Rosebud!
posted by Chief Typist at 5:00 PM on August 24, 2001

casual post which attempts to sum up all other posts that went before it into one carefully constructed, highly condensed philosophical statement thereby serving to not only divert all attention to postee whilst giving others the solid impression that he/she is in fact their natural born leader who now owns them, but also in illustration of such amazing superiority wastes no time in backing up their rightful claim to such a status by subliminally emphasizing that it took everyone else nearly 200 posts to reach his/her guru like level of inherent awareness on the thread in questions abstract (to them) subject matter and that it was all just irrelevant now anyhow with it being such old news these days and that everyone else would have just had to have been there at the time to ever really know that. which of course they just weren't. and neither was he/she, but they don't know that. and which, when examined from a psychological perspective, would be the underlying cause for him/her posting in such a tone to begin with.
posted by Kino at 5:02 PM on August 24, 2001

Comment giving the Objectivist viewpoint on the thread topic.

Snide and rude comment saying that the previous poster should leave such comments to the experts.
posted by fooljay at 5:02 PM on August 24, 2001

A quick followup post because the author is too careless to include all of the information in the first comment
posted by fooljay at 5:03 PM on August 24, 2001

A completely useless second followup usually with some sort of smiley at the end :-)
posted by fooljay at 5:04 PM on August 24, 2001

reposts post so as to be sure everyone viewing in the same font size as them knows it wasn't him/her who did something slightly different with their formatting and therefore frowned upon amongst MeFi clique elites.
posted by Kino at 5:07 PM on August 24, 2001

casual post which attempts to sum up all other posts that went before it into one carefully constructed, highly condensed philosophical statement thereby serving to not only divert all attention to postee whilst giving others the solid impression that he/she is in fact their natural born leader who now owns them, but also in illustration of such amazing superiority wastes no time in backing up their rightful claim to such a status by subliminally emphasizing that it took everyone else nearly 200 posts to reach his/her guru like level of inherent awareness on the thread in questions abstract (to them) subject matter and that it was all just irrelevant now anyhow with it being such old news these days and that everyone else would have just had to have been there at the time to ever really know that. which of course they just weren't. and neither was he/she, but they don't know that. and which, when examined from a psychological perspective, would be the underlying cause for him/her posting in such a tone to begin with.
posted by Kino at 5:08 PM on August 24, 2001

realizes that not everyone is viewing in same font-size as them and makes a joke about it so as for it to be overlooked and for him/her to be able to regain favor amongst aforementioned elite.
posted by Kino at 5:11 PM on August 24, 2001

A post detailing how a change in government policy to suit my pet political issue would solve this problem entirely and make this discussion moot.
posted by daveadams at 5:14 PM on August 24, 2001

Did anyone see that Wil Weaton has a weblog?
posted by mikel at 5:19 PM on August 24, 2001

ooglies!
posted by Satapher at 5:19 PM on August 24, 2001

*




*useless bandwidth sucking image.
posted by jcterminal at 5:31 PM on August 24, 2001

makes a post detailing how all party politics is just bollix anyway and explains that no matter what people do it's always just the same people in charge before trying to offer a glimpse of his/her own cool hedonistic 'wackiness' by saying fuck 'em all and lets all just do a Nero and party whilst Rome burns.
posted by Kino at 5:33 PM on August 24, 2001

hopes that nobody realized he/she injected 'Nero' and 'Rome' into the equation solely to offer the illusion that they did indeed have a good education, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and that they in fact made a fully informed decision to embark on their choice of lifestyle after careful consideration of all the other options available.
posted by Kino at 5:37 PM on August 24, 2001

Paul is dead!
posted by fakeplastic at 5:47 PM on August 24, 2001

.:Kilroy wasn't here:.
posted by riffola at 5:48 PM on August 24, 2001

points out that the bandwidth sucking image was the product of a goopy rmx on Fipilele, and that you really aught to see it, making sure he/she anagrams the word so as to appear in the know about everything.
posted by Kino at 5:50 PM on August 24, 2001

An apathetic post complaining about apathy in young/old/minority/majority/country/history.
posted by skallas at 5:53 PM on August 24, 2001

yawn
posted by crunchland at 5:59 PM on August 24, 2001

*yawn*
posted by machaus at 6:01 PM on August 24, 2001

post intended to keep thread at top of every user's screen.
posted by tewedle at 6:02 PM on August 24, 2001

This thread may be the closest thing to a method for determining # of active Mefi posters.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:12 PM on August 24, 2001

post filled with spite and rage which ends on the dramatic note that user threatens to quit MeFi (again)
posted by Kino at 6:12 PM on August 24, 2001

Post where solistrato receives marriage proposal.
posted by fujikosmurf at 6:34 PM on August 24, 2001

Post defending previous Haiku post, including link to HAIKU TECHNIQUES by Jane Reichhold
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 6:52 PM on August 24, 2001

Post suggesting that, since my username ends with "Z", perhaps we could STOP now; certain to be followed by a comment from zempf, pointing out that if a Z could have closed the thread, he would have ended it long ago.

Also likely to bait someone to protest the exhortations to close the thread, soon to inspire another link to a MetaTalk thread.
posted by Zettai at 7:06 PM on August 24, 2001

Doesn't this belong in MetaTalk?
posted by mrbula at 7:15 PM on August 24, 2001

Post down here toward the end where I get miffed at ljr, shortly thereafter followed by a comment from holgate, followed by another from ljr and then me, and then ljr, and then after eight posts holgate, followed by people commenting at the last second to no one in particular, except the metafilter community and the Internet at large and perhaps a deity of their choice.
posted by raysmj at 7:21 PM on August 24, 2001

Post making sure that Bush has been blamed...

... called stupid... referred to by name but no more... nope.

Bush sucks. All his fault. Impeachment Now! Off in search of other entertainment.
posted by whatnotever at 7:29 PM on August 24, 2001

John 3:16
posted by Hankins at 8:07 PM on August 24, 2001

Poster commits messy suicide in despair at length of thread.
posted by darukaru at 8:22 PM on August 24, 2001

Post complaining about how some Mefi users just don't get the point of this thread and keep posting things that clearly don't fit in with the overall tone.

Snarky one-liner to ease the tension followed by a smiley. :)
posted by daveadams at 8:35 PM on August 24, 2001

yet another newbie expressing a desire to be part of the cool crowd and begging to be noticed. see the smiley face? --> :)

<mumbled under breath>yeah, like I've ever been part of any cool crowd since the beginning of time.</mumbled under breath>
posted by epersonae at 9:03 PM on August 24, 2001

Post utilizing irc "/me" style action structure to simulate the throwing of a dodgeball at previous poster.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 9:06 PM on August 24, 2001

post utilizing /kick action to make the page load quicker
posted by Kino at 9:22 PM on August 24, 2001

inane one-liner relevant to initial post
posted by mb01 at 9:29 PM on August 24, 2001

slightly disturbing non-sequitor.
posted by jcterminal at 9:50 PM on August 24, 2001

Ditto.
posted by phichens at 10:00 PM on August 24, 2001

POST IN BLOCK CAPITALS FOR ADDED ANNOYANCE FACTOR.
posted by Kino at 10:22 PM on August 24, 2001

This is the first sentence of this comment about this post. This is the second sentence. This sentence informs you that the second sentence was wholly plagiarized from This Is the Title of This Story, Which Is Also Found Several Times in the Story Itself. This sentence informs you that the next sentence is also plagiarized. This is a sentence that provides an ending to the first paragraph.

Slagging Objectivism and John Galt before its first comma, this first sentence in a new paragraph starts out by slagging Objectivism and then redundantly makes reference to that fact. This sentence has a link but does not explain what the link is in reference to. This is the final sentence of the paragraph which ends by proclaiming, "Baby, I've got your Wil Wheaton link, right here!"

This is the last sentence of this comment.
posted by otherchaz at 10:51 PM on August 24, 2001

Sheepish remark about being late to the party in attempt to look like regular poster (as opposed to regular lurker, which would be more accurate).
posted by swerve at 11:24 PM on August 24, 2001

Obligatory complaint that Metafilter is getting too crowded. Support theoretically provided by un-called-for slagging of particular posters for adding to thread noise and making problem even worse, though slagging is couched in unfailingly polite language nevertheless recognizable as a dig. Additional links provided that have tangential relationship to original topic but raise more questions than they answer. Still more links provided indicating that poster has spent far too much time obsessing over the importance of this one response in an enormous thread, though karma-whoring habits from /. die hard. Hope expressed that future discussion will ultimately come up with a solution that will please all, though when spoken aloud this sentence will remind one mainly of Rodney King.

Final note recognizing an earlier poster who was particularly funny as the incarnation of General Zod or another appropriate deity.
posted by dhartung at 11:36 PM on August 24, 2001

racism

I can't believe you said that!
posted by sudama at 1:04 AM on August 25, 2001

A supremely confident know-it-all post indicating that the following post is true..
posted by Kino at 6:31 AM on August 25, 2001

A too-smarmy-for-its-own-good post indicating that the previous post is false.
posted by Kino at 6:32 AM on August 25, 2001

A-post-that-uses-far-too-many-hyphens-to-show-it's-much-smarter-than-the-previous-two-posts-and-not-at-all-intimidated-by-them.
posted by Kino at 6:36 AM on August 25, 2001

A renegade post quite notable for its devoid of hyphen status <--- even though it really could do with a few that just doesn't care in the least what anyone thinks of it and consists almost entirely of comments making it clear that it doesn't.
posted by Kino at 6:52 AM on August 25, 2001

Three word comment.
posted by waxpancake at 9:13 AM on August 25, 2001

A potential award winning thesis of a 3000 word post by an expert in the field that fully analyses all of the issues at hand whilst also making the effort of going to great pains to keep it in simple laymens terms so everyone can benefit but which nobody reads or responds to anyway.
posted by Kino at 9:53 AM on August 25, 2001

Isn't Baby Jesus supposed to put in a cameo and cry?
posted by kokogiak at 10:36 AM on August 25, 2001

Post expressing mild annoyance with the whole Baby Jesus thing, which a couple of months earlier would have been a mildly humorous note posted in a sort-of "we'll just play along" fashion.
posted by raysmj at 11:36 AM on August 25, 2001

Post asking dude, where's my car?
posted by Marquis at 11:42 AM on August 25, 2001

An off the wall, qwerky-esque post stating 'dude, i didn't know your car had died' posed in such a way so as to not cause any undue friction, whilst still giving the impression i'm part of some kind of clique, but without going so far as to be punctuated with an emoticon.
posted by Kino at 12:14 PM on August 25, 2001

Missing the old days of this thread before I had seen, and had my life changed by: Mongo, Indiana.
posted by tj at 1:13 PM on August 25, 2001

The last post made by someone arriving late, and trying to get the last word in.
posted by mkn at 2:50 PM on August 25, 2001

In desparation for attention, rarely seen member launches into account of drying towels with the back of donkey.
posted by davidgentle at 2:52 PM on August 25, 2001

# 244: Just goes to show that we're much more interested in making fun of ourselves than discussing. How very Derrida of us.
posted by zpousman at 4:04 PM on August 25, 2001

Post mentioning the fact that it's my birthday today.
posted by ookamaka at 5:30 PM on August 25, 2001

Post mentioning the fact that my birthday is 5 months away.
posted by azazello at 6:02 PM on August 25, 2001

Witty post about self-referential, self-replicating parodies. Digression about how nicely this fits with my current reading about memetics. Snobbish closing words.
posted by Iosephus at 6:07 PM on August 25, 2001

Comment pointing out the Matt hasn't commented on this thread yet, and wondering if maybe he doesn't approve, in which case I hereby completely disavow any association with the thread. I think it's dumb. Unless, of course, Matt thinks it's OK. Then I find it hilarious.
posted by jpoulos at 7:50 PM on August 25, 2001

Moo post.
posted by jragon at 2:14 AM on August 26, 2001

250
posted by bytecode at 9:02 AM on August 26, 2001

post lauding my user number over 10.070 freakin newbies who ruined the place
posted by Mick at 1:55 PM on August 26, 2001

feelingthepressue
posted by feelinglistless at 3:01 PM on August 26, 2001

Maliciously belated post several days later, when no one's paying attention and I can get the last word in.
posted by brownpau at 1:52 AM on August 27, 2001

Like hell you can.
posted by Optamystic at 2:16 AM on August 27, 2001

annoyed request for moratoriums on moratoriums. fnord!
posted by adampsyche at 4:20 AM on August 27, 2001

post 256. noting that the horse is now dead AND severely beaten
posted by tj at 9:30 AM on August 27, 2001

post noting that it is in fact with a whimper and not a bang.

*whimper*
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:16 AM on August 27, 2001

/me pantses Wil Weaton.
posted by jcterminal at 2:36 PM on August 27, 2001

I blame the lack of monkeys
posted by tj at 3:42 PM on August 27, 2001

I blame The Romans. I mean what have they ever done for us?
posted by feelinglistless at 4:14 PM on August 27, 2001

*Sets mode to -Wil Weaton
*Sets mode to +m
*Sets mode to +v monkeys
*Sets mode to +b !romans@*.it
*Changes topic to "100%*hotchimps*mp3's*freebananas*warez*freebananas* freebananas*warez*Comeget'em!!!!!!!!"
posted by Kino at 4:17 PM on August 27, 2001

Post suggesting that this thread becomes the new 1142 even though member has no clear idea what 1142 really is let alone whether another one is needed, or indeed possible.
posted by davehat at 9:56 PM on August 27, 2001

Do I get to claim last post? Last Post anyone? Going once, going twice....
posted by kokogiak at 8:23 AM on August 28, 2001

No, there can be no last post
posted by tj at 9:25 AM on August 28, 2001

trite pop culture reference

"It's a bug hunt man! GAME OVER MAN!"
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:58 AM on August 28, 2001

dammit Kafka! the quote is:

"No way man, that's it-- game over, man GAME OVER!"
posted by tj at 12:49 PM on August 28, 2001

post noting that I'm checking up on this thread like it is a child to see what kind of strangeness it is up to now
posted by tj at 12:51 PM on August 28, 2001

Post made after everyone has stopped caring and stopped posting.
Made by newbie with retarted name that only he thinks is funny, tries
to look smart
and
cleverly poetic
by useing the enter key too much.
posted by fuq at 1:43 PM on August 28, 2001

smarmy yet curt correction to fuq's misspelled word.

"using" not "useing"
posted by kokogiak at 9:55 AM on August 29, 2001

post noting that I am now a 9622 junkie
posted by tj at 11:50 AM on August 29, 2001

you're not the only one, tj.
posted by ColdChef at 11:54 AM on August 29, 2001

post telling kokogiak that I useed teh spelcheker and I alwaze use th speelcheccer evey tyme i post.

stoopit spel kheckr must hav mised that werd.
posted by fuq at 1:02 PM on August 29, 2001

Post opining that fuq was right in his previous assessment of himself. With a side of apologizing copiously to tj for misquoting. I think all the years of MST3K have resulted in crossed synapses.
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:55 PM on August 29, 2001

post alluding to something that never happened.
posted by fuq at 2:35 PM on August 30, 2001

Slightly vacuous post attempting to rally the troops and take this thread up into the 500+ zone.

go team!
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:19 AM on August 31, 2001

Over? OVER? Nothings over until WE decide it is.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
HELL NO!
Germans?
Forget it. He's rolling

AND IT AIN"T OVER NOW!!!
posted by tj at 11:03 AM on August 31, 2001

I'm not sure, but that may be the first time Animal House has been quoted on MeFi
posted by tj at 11:04 AM on August 31, 2001

Post decrying posters that follow up their own posts, along with an unsupported declaration of certainty that Animal House has, indeed, been quoted before on MeFi.
posted by CrazyUncleJoe at 1:01 PM on August 31, 2001

sorry, had the thought after I got jumpy on the post button, too much caffeinne today.
posted by tj at 1:37 PM on August 31, 2001

Face it, folks. We've been abandoned. Ain't nobody here but us chickens.
posted by ColdChef at 2:53 PM on August 31, 2001

Post loudly berating ColdChef for his incredibly insensitive and offensive characterization of the noble chicken. Weak attempt to link this chicken commentary with both the recent PETAphilia occuring on the front page and the smear attempt on that most respectable of fowl by the hated El Pollo Loco fast food chain.

Insincere promise to seek counseling.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:28 PM on August 31, 2001

newbie sticking irrelevant comment in, trying to get the last word. newbie hopes that being up since 3am EDT should deflect criticisms, but has sinking suspicion this won't pass.

=yawn=

why are we here again?
posted by meep at 6:17 PM on August 31, 2001

Contrite for picking on chickens. Apology to the peckers and pullets of the world. Tee hee hee for saying "pecker and pullet."
posted by ColdChef at 10:44 PM on August 31, 2001

Good Night, Irene
posted by tj at 11:12 PM on August 31, 2001

damn, I wasn't SERIOUS.
posted by tj at 1:25 AM on September 3, 2001

Ha. A post subtly implying a tone of 'welcome back-ness' without saying the actual words. Cuz that'd just look 'wussy' and tread on the postee's 'cool'.
posted by Kino at 1:37 AM on September 3, 2001

nice, Kino, if I were less of a man, I'd challenge that... but to those who know truth, "it's all good"
posted by tj at 1:47 AM on September 3, 2001

Apparently I am less of a man....

anyway, here I will tell all, mainly because I don't give a shit if I'm considered cool or a drunk(and who is still reading this thread anyway???).

I came home friday night extremely drunk, after checking my mail I thought it would be funny (to me, anyway) to post an overly dramatic/tinge of truth sort of post, since I was taking off for the weekend... to be quite honest, I thought no one would take notice, after all I'm no one around here. Iguess I'm important enough for a few people to call me a drama queen at least.

I think most people missed the point, but whatever, I'm not Matt and it's not my site... so I don't feel the need to police anyone about anything, it's just not my place.



PS: Kino, how easy would it be to just start a new account, and not have to put up with BS like that if I wanted? baby buddha comes to mind
posted by tj at 2:09 AM on September 3, 2001

*smiles*
posted by baby buddha at 2:13 AM on September 3, 2001

[Turns into a little Japanese man and mutters...] Aharrr... There is often more truth in what people don't say than in what they do, baby buddha. Silence is deafening until listened to with attentive ear. Words unspoken carry substance hid deep beneath flames of blazing nightfire obscured until daylight comes. Wise warrior always carry a torch [Disappears in a cloud of smoke]
posted by Kino at 3:11 AM on September 3, 2001

impatiently hit post twice.
posted by fuq at 2:17 PM on September 4, 2001

impatiently hit post twice.
posted by fuq at 2:17 PM on September 4, 2001

Silence is deafening until listened to with attentive ear. Words unspoken carry substance hid deep beneath flames

That's wrong because if you realize that if one focuses on the true meaning of the Hagacure, taking into account it's very nature (being that it was put together not as a guide to living, but as a novelty) and divide that by the circumference of Pi, taking into account the O'Rielly Factor...[continues in that manner for several hundred words]...so, in conclusion, "9622" is not the number of this string, but a satanic message pointing to the location of the lost dutchman's mine, meaning that I'm sorry I hit "post" twice. Self-link.

Notes that string has gotten off-topic. Ironically blames newbies for this.
posted by fuq at 2:31 PM on September 4, 2001

Post which inquires about the identity of the aforementioned Irene and substitutesGood night, Ned.
posted by Octaviuz at 1:12 PM on September 6, 2001

Post crying out with faux-shock that people are still posting/reading to this time-waster of a thread (but actually serving as a clever attempt to get in the last word).

Sign-off with a pithy, yet tame insult to all losers who have read this far.
posted by kokogiak at 2:06 PM on September 6, 2001

Post intimating that the secret unknowable name of God can be found in a prime-number pattern running through this thread.

Quiet suggestion that it might be Steve

k
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:10 AM on September 10, 2001

Steve is not happy about being named.
posted by kokogiak at 2:07 PM on September 12, 2001

this is still going on?

[desire for last word]
posted by mkn at 11:19 PM on September 13, 2001

yes it is.

[beating a dead horse]
posted by ColdChef at 6:21 AM on September 14, 2001

Post making sure this thread doesn't go more than 3 days without a new post.

[horse unceasingly fails to move]
posted by davehat at 9:03 PM on September 16, 2001

Post wondering if this is how terrorists communicate before vowing to rid the web of abstract lengthy threads by smoking them out of their holes and relentlessly pursuing them.

[spots another three horses with human bodies come galloping out of nowhere and remarks on how he wasn't aware Princess Anne had that many kids]
posted by Kino at 10:30 PM on September 16, 2001

Intimation that previous post was a long way to go for a Princess Anne joke.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:54 AM on September 17, 2001

Last word!
posted by zempf at 7:14 PM on September 18, 2001

Denial of Last Word. (Thbbbpt!)
posted by kokogiak at 9:07 PM on September 18, 2001

Vague conjecture that this is not the beginning of the end, but is, perhaps, the end of the beginning [of post 9622].
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:27 AM on September 19, 2001

Ahem.. I said, LAST WORD.
posted by zempf at 8:45 AM on September 20, 2001