What a day for the UK!

[Grog]

What a day indeed. But you didn't need what is happening now.

I am all with you and all other Brits MightyMitre this morning. I just heard of the terrible news about the explosions downtown London. I hope you and all of your loved ones are all right.

[MightyMitre]

Hi grog - Thanks for your message.

It's all a bit chaotic here at the moment. I'm about an hour from London by train and they've closed my local station in Brighton which is about 5 mins from my house due to a security alert.

I've got the day off work today so I've had the TV on since about 10 am. The BBC have been covering the events all morning but as yet no one is really sure about anything. It's been decided that's it's definitly a terrorist attact - earlier there were some stories about electrical problems on the Underground but with a bomb going off on a bus as well...
The obvious links are being made at the moment with the G8 conference going on up in Scotland.

It's all very strange - especially after the elation of yesterdays Olympics/ TdF news.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I really didn't want to believe what I was hearing on the news this morning as I was driving to work. How awful.

I hope that all of the TE gals in the UK (and their loved ones) are OK. My thoughts are with all of you in the UK.

--- Denise

[Trek420]

I hope everyone is ok, glad you're ok MM. I'm e-mailing family and friends, my neice's BF (sisters kid) is English but I think he's in Wales right now, we have family friends in Oxford.

I just read that a group linked to al Qaeda has claimed responsibility--they call themselves something like the SuperTop Secret Organisation al Qaeda in Europe.

What a lame name.

Sorry but humor is my favored coping mechanism.

OK, running late for work now but just heard from my sister in Norway who writes:

"Hi, I just heard too. No reason to believe that Richard was in downtown
London. Nor the Dowkers, for that matter. But no way to check fast since
the phone system is down. Probably just as you explained in connection
with the CA quakes recently -- too many people trying to phone in and out.
With the phone down, the email system may also be suffering even though
it is more robust. Richard's new email address is ....

On the up side of this, I gather it's pretty definitely not the
French, upset over Olympics 2012 going to London instead of Paris. On the
down side, the whole notion of terrorism against civilians is still
unfathomable, and therefore still unsolvable. What do they think they'll
achieve? How can we get through to them? Wars obviously aren't the way, but how do we get through to our own leaders with that message? And what do we get them to do? What do we do ourselves? Suggestions are more than
welcome! Love, Ann"

Just heard further from the UK branch of the fambly, all are fine though one member usually takes the train, but did not today. I'm reflecting that with the relief I feel that they are all ok comes responsibility for others who are not.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the injured and deceased.

[Lynne]

The whole thing's so aweful...I felt like a dork when I was so upset seeing the second plane hit on 9/11 because I didn't know anyone involved. Feel like a dork now, since it's not even in the U.S., but it doesn't change how sad I feel.

I agree with Trek's sister, this whole "defending the country against terrorism" bit by Bush was thin to begin with and obviously hasn't solved jack sh*t. Sorry, I guess I'm a closet democrat. SO not right that all those people die with absolutely no point. Unless we are being held in the dark, I don't see that Al Queda gained ANYTHING from the 9/11 blasts, what's the point of continuing the tactic??

[RoadRaven]

The whole thing's so aweful...I felt like a dork when I was so upset seeing the second plane hit on 9/11 because I didn't know anyone involved. Feel like a dork now, since it's not even in the U.S., but it doesn't change how sad I feel.

Never feel like a dork for feeling other's pain, Lynne
This is what makes you not just human, but also humane
I truly believe in thoughts having healing powers, so keep sending positive thoughts to London, even if you have no one to focus on

I agree with Trek's sister, this whole "defending the country against terrorism" bit by Bush was thin to begin with and obviously hasn't solved jack sh*t. Sorry, I guess I'm a closet democrat. SO not right that all those people die with absolutely no point. Unless we are being held in the dark, I don't see that Al Queda gained ANYTHING from the 9/11 blasts, what's the point of continuing the tactic??

Ah, they gained alot from 9/11 - airport security around the world was affected, travel was affected - remember the purpose of terrorism is to terrorise, to make people unsure and live in fear. To use bully tactics to have yourself noticed. Terrorism does not always have a tangible goal like money, or releasing prisoners. Terrorism is about affecting the lives of the terrorised on a daily basis.
These bombs in London have achieved that. International unending coverage on TV and speculation which is in some ways more dangerous than the terrorist act itself.
People want to blame and once they find the person/group to blame, rightly or wrongly, they will be unrelenting and create terrorism themselves in their own community
Example; after 9/11 Muslim communities in NZ were targetted by bullies and cowards - these are good NZ citizens, some who have been here for generations
The London bombs have already had an effect on administration and security in other countries life Germany and the US, costing dollars and time
They have ground an internationally important city to a semi-hault, tied up emergency services and have people around the Western world wondering in fear
Oh yes, these terrorists have achieved something... terror

[DirtDiva]

...earlier there were some stories about electrical problems on the Underground...

Well, there were some problems on the tube this morning before the any of the bombings. Both the Northern and Piccadilly were part suspended. Very glad I'd got off the tube by twenty past eight. Thankfully, I could get most of the way home on buses, although it took me two and a half hours. They say the buses should mostly be running as normal tomorrow, so getting to work shouldn't be a problem.

[spazzdog]

MM - Congrats on the Olympics grrl! You may have a passal of TE bikes on your porch in 2012

As for the start of the 2007 TdF, this from Eurosport.com:

The Tour de France is reeling with the rest of its nation, bruised that London -- and not Paris -- was awarded the 2012 Olympic bid. The Tour, however, can slap back: London was reportedly first in line to host the Tour prologue in 2007. "That's not a sure thing," the race's directors said Thursday.

Them organizers sound a little cranky...

spazzdog

Go here for the full story: http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/...to739495.shtml