Television weather report, Minneapolis, November 13, 2013. 7:23 AM CST:
“...and it seems that the mild winter the experts predicted was a fluke! Three feet of snow is forecast for the Duluth-Superior area in the next ten to twelve hours, while the metro has a slightly lighter dose coming—only twenty inches or so expected to fall here in the Twin Cities. Even so, people are being advised to stay in their homes if possible, as wind gusts are expected to reach anywhere between twenty and fifty miles per hour! Stay tuned, and we'll keep you updated on the storm as we find out more information. As always, viewers are invited to document their storm stories and submit them on our website...”
Emergency weather broadcast, aired simultaneously in Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota, November 13, 2013. 9:48 AM CST:
Beeeeeeep.
Attention! This broadcast is not a test. Repeat, this broadcast is not a test. Beeep.
There is a severe weather warning for the following states: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin. There is a severe weather warning for the following cities: Chicago, De Moines, Detroit, Duluth, Hudson, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Superior...
CNN broadcast and live stream, New York newsroom, November 14, 2013. 8:04 AM EST:
“It looks like a harder than normal start to winter, not just here in the Big Apple, but all across the country! Snowfall totaled up to four feet near the border to Canada in several states, and even LA recorded four inches of snow this weekend! Although it looks like this particular weather pattern has passed, it's likely that storms will be prevalent this winter, with predicted temperatures up to ten degrees below average. Well, Don, it looks like you guys in Los Angeles might want to invest in some winter jackets!...”
MSNBC broadcast and live stream, New York newsroom, November 20, 2013. 4:33 PM EST:
“...and the reports are coming in saying that Air Force One was forced to delay its flight back to the United States due to severe weather at most major airports in the country. Government officials say that the President will take advantage of this delay and stay at least one more day in the jurisdiction of the President of Iran, negotiating with political officials about signing the Mid-East Peace and Disarmament proposal introduced by the UN last spring. The president of Iran has, up to this point, refused to reach an agreement with the UN and US officials about his commitment to the treaty. Representatives from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen have formally stated their refusal to sign to the United Nations, and Israel, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China have yet to give an official statement regarding their position... ”
CNN broadcast and live stream, Washington D.C. newsroom, December 15, 2013. 10:03 PM EST:
“The President has left for his third trip to the Middle East in the hopes of negotiating with Children of Jihad representatives in Pakistan, Iran, and Israel. Though he has been quoted as saying he is 'hopeful,' political analysts and former members of the Children of Jihad say that it is unlikely that he will get a positive response on this trip. Perhaps anticipating this, the White House has dispatched double the amount of secret service personnel as usual to accompany him, and it is rumored that the Vice President is being flown out of Washington as a precaution due to several bomb threats delivered to the White House in the past week. Sources tell us the threats are 'most likely false,' and that any extra security measures being taken at this time are merely 'playing it safe'...”
ABC affiliate weather report, Florida, January 12, 2014. 5:10 PM EST:
“...while temperatures continue to rise, flooding in Orlando and Port Saint Lucie has gotten worse. The abnormal amount of snowfall last month seems to be melting just as fast as it was falling, producing some unforeseen consequences here in the Sunshine State...”
CNN national weather report, Los Angeles newsroom, January 13, 2014 6:09 PM PST:
“...severe flooding in areas below sea level due to the unprecedented amount of snow that fell in warmer areas in November and December. Homeowners in areas of high snow concentration are advised to take precautions regarding their lower levels, particularly basements and cellars, including possibly placing sandbags around their property if their city zoning laws permit the preventative measure...”
Public radio talk-show, Detroit, January 15, 2014. 6:34 AM CST:
“...and in economic news, the housing and stock markets have both taken another sharp downwards turn. Some economists are predicting another recession, the third since the start of the century; others remain optimistic, saying that the slight growth and drop in unemployment at the beginning of 2011 remain good omens for the financial state of the country...”
Except from the New York Times front page headline/main website article, January 17, 2014:
7.0 EARTHQUAKE COLLAPSES GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Death toll already in the thousands, sources say
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Late last night, residents across the state of California were awoken around four in the morning Pacific Standard Time by a massive earthquake that rocketed along the infamous San Andreas fault and resulted in the collapse of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Experts say that the quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale at its most severe, although it was both followed and preceded by smaller quakes in various places along the fault. Thousands of buildings in the state were damaged, and hundreds have reportedly collapsed due to extensive damages. The death toll is already at two thousand, according to sources from several emergency response teams. The governor of California has already released a statement regarding the tragedy, and architectural experts are being flown in from across the country in order to investigate several government and military structures that fell during or directly following the quake...
CNN broadcast and live stream, New York newsroom, January 19, 2014. 1:23 PM EST:
“The earthquake that devastated California earlier this week is being hailed by some scientists as the first in a chain—in addition to the quake along the San Andreas fault, there have been several smaller-magnitude quakes recorded in Texas, Florida, and even Alaska. When added to the heavy winter and mass floods occurring in some places, it's leading some experts—and many US citizens—to resurrect the question of an 'apocalyptic 2012'— regardless, it seems, of the fact that the doomed date lies a couple of years behind us...”
CNN broadcast and live stream, San Diego, CA, January 21, 2014. 5:16 PM PST:
“...live in San Diego as FEMA attempts to come to the aid of hundreds of California residents who are now without homes and, in some cases, without access to clean water or food. There were at least twenty-one hundred deaths in the devastation of the earthquake late last week, and there are still nearly two thousand people listed as missing...”
Presidential statement from Air Force One, broadcast via television, radio, and live web stream and podcast, January 22, 2014. 9:42 AM EST:
“...when I say my heart goes out to all those individuals and families grieving at this time. I know that our country is reeling from this shock, and my heart and mind are suffering with you, but we cannot let this act of God hinder our efforts for peace here in the Middle East. We are already sending aid to those Americans whose lives have been affected by this natural disaster. Hear me well, my friends, my neighbors, my colleagues: help is on the way!
“I have faith in my cabinet and in the elected officials chosen by you, the people of the United States. I know that they are entirely capable of handling this crisis with you. I promise that I will return just as soon as I believe my efforts to ensure your peace and security have not been in vain...”
Except from the Wall Street Journal front page headline/main website article, January 22, 2014:
EARTHQUAKE ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM
Declining stock prices and collapse of Calif. economy are “bad omens,” economists say
New York, NY—The physical affects of the San Andreas quake are undeniably the worst this country has ever seen, far surpassing the damages caused by Hurricane Katerina in 2005 and Hurricane Samantha in 2012. The physical damages of the quake are enormous; but there are also unseen damages that may be even more detrimental to the nation in the long run.
The weakness of our economy that has persisted since late 2007 will only develop a new set of cracks and splinters beneath the strain of the quake on our financial assets. The plateau of 2010-2011 was the last period of stable economic circumstances, and so this begs the question from many Americans—what will happen to us now?...
MSNBC broadcast and live stream, Washington D.C. newsroom, January 22, 2014. 11:13 AM EST:
“Both the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones Industrial Index fell a whopping 10 points before close yesterday. Economists say this downturn was not altogether unexpected due to the current state of chaos in the West Coast, but the numbers are slightly worse than predicted. Still, experts assure us that there is nothing to worry about and that, as we work to restore the health and well-being of the state of California and the surrounding area, the market will pick up again, possibly as early as April...”
Except from a New York Times web article, January 30, 2014:
MARKETS IN FREE-FALL
US Department of Treasury urges citizens “not to panic.”
New York, NY—The plunge of both the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones last week had many investors at the edge of their seats. Now it appears that many of these concerned and expectant citizens may have fallen out of their chairs, so to speak. Both markets are still falling, and neither seems to be showing signs of picking up in the coming weeks, possibly even months.
The US Department of Treasury is urging people both in and out of the investment class not to panic, but to operate their finances “with consideration.”
“We don''t need a second Great Depression,” economist and author Nicholas O'Neil says. “Pulling out of all of our investments and our banking system won't help us. But should we operate with caution in our financial matters? Of course. Still, there's no reason to panic. We have recovered from situations like this before, and it stands to reason that we will recover from this as well. We just need to be patient and have faith in the tried-and-true system that we've been using since FDR...”
National Public Radio discussion, AM radio and live stream, February 10, 2014. 7:09 AM EST:
Host: ...will be taking callers and their opinions on the recent economic slide. Our first caller is from Newark, New Jersey. Hello, Newark, you're on the air.
Caller #1: Well, John, it's like they've all been saying, isn't it? We've had economic trouble before, and we've always recovered. Honestly, I think the liberal media is exaggerating the situation! The President hasn't made any sort of statement about it, and since he's back in Washington again, I assume he would speak about it if there was anything to worry about.
Host: Thank you, Newark, you raise a very good point. Our next caller is from Austin, Texas. Hello, Austin, what have you got for us?
Caller #2: Mornin' John. Listen, I'm not one to drop names or anything, but I worked for the government in Washington during the '09 to '12 term, and I'm telling ya, there ain't no way we're gonna get out of this one. We've been running on empty for damn near six years now. This ain't a downturn or a recession, this is a depression, and it's bordering on bankruptcy.
Host: Well, Austin, looks like you've either got quite a lot of people agreeing with you, or you've just angered the entire Lone Star state! Our switchboards just lit up like crazy! Callers, hang in there, we'll be back right after this...
Official transcript of security footage, New York City subway, February 14, 2014. 5:54 PM EST:
[Suspect enters the subway and waits. Several minutes into the trip he stands at the middle of the car.]
Suspect: Listen, all of you! You will pay for what you have done to my country and to my people! It is in the name of Allah and in the name of dignity that I do this before my God and before your country! [Garbled speech. There is what appears to be a brief struggle between the suspect and other passengers. Then, passengers screaming.]
[An explosion.]
[Static.]
CNN broadcast and live stream, Washington D.C. newsroom, February 14, 2014. 5:57 PM EST:
“...we've lost contact with our New York newsroom... Alice, are you there? Alice! I'm sorry, folks, it appears that...” [newscaster presses his hand to one ear] “...it appears that... there's been... I'm sorry, I'm not sure I'm hearing that right... It appears there's been some sort of explosion in New York! We here at CNN will be standing by for more information. Stay with us...”
Continuing CNN broadcast and live stream, nation wide, February 14, 2014 6:25 PM EST:
“...and while we still cannot be entirely sure of the situation, it appears that either a Child of Jihad or a sympathizer of that group entered the New York City subway system during rush hour this evening and detonated a high-power explosive, causing nearly everything within a mile radius to be affected.” [Camera changes to a view of New York City, where it appears a crater has been blown in the middle.] “Lee Acer is reporting live from the air over the Hudson River. Lee?”
“Yes, Don! As you can see, whatever kind of explosive was used was something of extremely high power, and something that was presumably created to bypass the metal detectors installed on the entrances to the trains. The fatality rate is unknown, but it's presumed to be an extremely high number due to the timing of the attack.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us from the air, Lee?”
“Not much, Don, only that it appears that law enforcement has blocked most roads in and out of New York City for the time being. I... can't see well enough to tell you the condition of our newsroom. [Pause] I'm sorry.”
[The newscaster pauses for a moment, seeming to struggle with himself, before continuing.] “Thank... thank you Lee. We will continue... to report on the events in New York as we see them unfold. We'll be right back...”
Continuing MSNBC broadcast and live stream, February 14, 2014 6:46 PM EST:
“Washington D.C. is being evacuated, as is the Sears tower in Chicago and the American Market Center in Minnesota. These evacuations greatly resemble the panicked evacuations of major tourist attractions in 2001...”
“...and Air Force One was seen taking off mere minutes after the first reports of an attack on New York City. Air Force Two has reportedly been redirected in its flight path, where the Vice President was returning home after a diplomatic visit to the UK. It's uncertain whether the President and Vice President are actually on these planes, or if they are merely being used as a precaution. MSNBC, in addition to the other major news networks, has been told to stand by for an address by the president as soon as his location can be sure to be secure...”
Presidential statement from an undisclosed location, broadcast via television, radio, and live web stream and podcast, February 14, 2014. 10:00 PM EST:
“My fellow Americans. It is with a heavy heart that I address you, on this February day that should be filled with love, to tell you of an extreme act of hate that has been perpetrated by an extremist. At approximately six in the evening, Eastern Standard Time, a Children of Jihad sympathizer launched a suicide bombing attack on the subway system beneath New York City. I know that many people across the country and around the world have friends, family, and other loved ones living in New York, and I know that you are as angry and saddened by this tragedy as I am. As we all are.
“I cannot promise you that there are not others out there, other extremists and terrorists who are planning to take advantage of us in our weakest moments. Let us not give them what they want from us! Let us stand together and show them that we are what we are named for—united!
“It is with extreme commitment and regard to the safety and security of all citizens that I ask you all to consider the imposition of several unconventional measures to ensure prevention in case of other planned attacks. My proposal may be painted as drastic, but we are living in drastic times and recovering from drastic events. I swear to each and every one of you that I would never make propositions that are so strong and so sudden if I did not have every reason to believe that they would be beneficial to the nation in this time of natural and unnatural disaster.
“It is my proposition that we prove to the people watching us for weakness around the world that we will not fall! That we are stronger than this, and that we are better than this, and that we will shake off these ashes from our backs and arise burning stronger than before! Let us band together and work to rebuild ourselves together!
“It is in this spirit of self-sufficiency and strength that I put before you a plan to restructure and rebuild our coastlines. In order to do this, we must weave ourselves into a single strong community, one with a common goal. I am putting the proposal before Congress to temporarily close our borders for travel and immigration. I know that this is an extreme measure, but I assure you that it would not even have entered my mind if I didn't believe it was the first step to rebuilding our country after the recent tragedies that have assaulted us.
“However, there is plenty of time ahead of us for politics and proposals. First, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence to honor all of the brave American men and women who have lost their lives in this past month...”
CNN broadcast and live stream, Washington D.C. newsroom, February 24, 2014:
“The President's proposal to temporarily close our borders to outside travel and immigration was introduced to Congress this morning. If it passes, borders will be closed by military force beginning as early as the second week of April. National Guard troops and military reserves are expected to undertake the task of enforcing the measure if it passes...”
Except from the New York Times front page headline/main website article, March 5, 2014:
UNITED STATES BORDERS COMPLETELY CLOSED TO INCOMING TRAFFIC FOR THE FIRST TIME
Washington, D.C.—Late last night the President's proposition before Congress to close our borders as a temporary measure during our rebuilding process passed by a nearly unanimous vote. This bill passing successfully means that, for the first time since colonization, the United States of America will not be accepting any immigrants.
The President assured the country yesterday that this is a temporary measure meant to assure the safety of the country while we attempt to rebuild after the San Andreas earthquake and the Valentine's Day bombing of the New York City subway system. The President has also been quoted as saying that there are “other matters that also require our attention...”
Continuing MSNBC and CNN broadcasts and live streams, nation wide, March 10, 2014:
“...appears that there is a terrorist threat, or possibly many separate threats, placed to various government officials nation-wide, including several officials at the state level. Washington D.C. is being evacuated as we speak, and it's rumored that law enforcement will attempt to begin evacuation and dispersion of other major cities within the hour...”
“...unclear whether or not the threats are all from the Children of Jihad themselves, or possibly from other groups who consider themselves united with COJ under a common goal...”
“...speaking with Fizah Al Quadar, whose brother was a member of the Children of Jihad until the end of last month...
“...isn't inconceivable that perhaps the Children of Jihad have been planning this attack for several years and simply waiting for the opportune moment to strike...”
“...reports from a plethora of callers claiming to have seen suspicious persons or events, everywhere from Las Vegas to Birmingham to Grand Forks...”
“...all planes flying domestically have been ordered to land. The President has ordered the grounding of all air traffic over the country. This is only the second time air traffic has been grounded in United States history, the first being directly after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Airlines that have still been flying out of country have also been ordered to change the flight patterns of those planes—though most American airlines have been slowly phasing out most of their international travel since the President's address following Valentine's Bombing—and to return to their country of origin. Planes trying to enter US airspace have reportedly been ordered to turn back, but many are operating holding patterns over the coastlines and over Canada and Mexico...”
Presidential statement from an undisclosed location, broadcast via television, radio, and live web stream and podcast, March 10, 2014, 1:33 PM EST:
“...I know that most of you are aware of the vast amount of terroristic threats being made to various offices and establishments of our country. I urge you not to take them to heart! The very point of terrorist acts is to inspire terror within the victims. If we are not afraid of our enemies, then we are not their victims, but their worthy adversaries. I assure you that we as an administration and as a military wish to do everything within our power to keep you and your loved ones safe in this time of uncertainty and crisis.
“It is for these reasons that, after reaching an agreement with my cabinet and my vice president, I have decided that it is best for the country at this time if an extreme action is taken to guarantee the stability of the nation in these unprecedented circumstances. I want you to realize that any and all measures taken at this point in time are being taken in order to keep our country at its most stable and secure in the coming weeks as we struggle to rebuild our hopes and dreams, and our sense of safety. I am not going to try to fudge the facts or cover them up—this will be a struggle. But I want to be sure that the people of the United States are dealing with issues that they can handle, and that they need to be handling.
“In the interest of public safety and the fortitude of our nation, I, the President of the United States of America and commander-in-chief of the United States military, formally declare the country to be under martial law until such a time as is agreed upon by Congress to remove it...”
Continuing MSNBC and CNN broadcasts and live streams, nation wide, March 10, 2014. 1:36 PM EST:
“...and it has just been confirmed that the President has announced the enactment of martial law, something which has never before been done in the United States. People seem to be in a panic; our social networking sites and our live stream comments have been so great that our server is having trouble handling them...”
“...and I just cannot believe this. Forty years I have been in this country, and I never would have believed something like this would happen here! Then again, I never believed they would close the borders, either, and they seemed to have no problem with that...”
“...wonder if the decision is really as selflessly motivated as it was brought off to be. After all, the status of martial law has always been a foggy legal issue, and some political scientists and experts say that it's actually Congress's job to suspend the writ of the constitution, not the job of the President, regardless of his status as commander-in-chief. That begs the question, then, of whether or not the president chose this moment to enact the marital law policy because Congress was divided and evacuated after the slew of threats made to Washington this morning...”
“...though I'm sure I'll take a hell of a lot of heat for saying this, I want to take this opportunity to caution viewers and listeners of the dangers presenting themselves in this policy, and also to say a possible goodbye. I'm not sure—who can be sure of anything right now?—but it seems to me that it's possible, if not probable, that we are going to lose our rights to freedom of speech and of the press in the coming days and weeks. After all, Nazi Germany was under martial law, and those were among the first freedoms to be taken...”
“...think it's absolutely appalling that some people are choosing to compare the president to Adolf Hitler! He is operating as he sees fit in a time of extreme crisis, and I invite anyone who disagrees with that to step up and bring forward their policy for rebuilding our country!...”
“...official spokesman for the White House has announced that the basics of the martial law policy will be announced via all possible media venues by midnight tonight. That gives our administration only eight hours to solidify the platform of the laws and policies that will, if effective, help us begin to restructure our country physically, spiritually, and possibly even economically if the measures enacted in the next few weeks prove to be successful...”
Excerpt from the official White House statement, published via television, radio, web, and print, March 11, 2014. 12:04 AM EST:
OFFICIAL POLICY REGARDING MARTIAL LAW ENACTED AT 13:33 HOURS MARCH 10, 2014.
Enforcement of these policies is to be immediate and complete.
Freedoms of press and speech granted to the people of the United States in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights are hereby suspended. This forbids things including, but not limited to: protests, marches, et. al.; personal publications such as web logs, web sites, periodicals, pamphlets, et. al.; media broadcasts and publications such as televised reports, live web streams, websites, web logs, radio broadcasts, newspapers, periodicals, et. al.
Freedom of assembly is permitted only to certified religious organizations on their designated holy or Sabbath day, and to government offices operating under federal direction.
A national curfew of 2100 hours (9 PM) local time will be enforced; any and all citizens found beyond the boundaries of their property for reasons other than going to or returning home from employment and/or medical or other proven emergencies will be arrested and detained until a reason for this breach is ascertained. Consequences proceeding from detainment will vary by case...
[Here the records recounting the history of the United States of America dissolve into a lacuna that is large enough to indicate probable tampering, although another factor that may be a partial cause for this gap is the transcription and report of all printed media and literature to digital record. There is no new work or volume registered in the Library of Congress as print media after August of 2015.]
Official government audio-visual transcript of an underground video blog, used for evidence for the prosecution of the suspect, recorded October 6, 2044:
--Begin transcription 12:13 AM CST--
“...Our government was not always like this! Hear me, my friends, and hear me well: we once were freer than this! Look around you, people, open your eyes! This is not freedom! We are censored. We are monitored. The pieces of our lives are doled out to us as if we were helpless infants, and the government our over-protective parent with no desire to let us learn to feed ourselves! How did we end up here? That's an interesting question, friends and neighbors. Why? Because nobody knows the answer! Our history records are incomplete, and it's despicable! It's shameful, not only that these vital pieces of our nation's history have been taken from us, but because it was done in such a way that it is never brought to our attention!
“How can we change this? The answer is simple: there are more of us than there are of them! Many, many more. If we join together, if we unite, we can rise up against the hand that is crushing us ever lower into the dirt! United, we could overthrow the corrupt system that—”
[Speaker freezes, looking towards the door visible in the frame behind her.]
[Faint pounding sounds and indecipherable speech.]
“Oh God. Oh dear God they're here. [Pause] I am going to let them take me. Stand strong, my friends. Because we... we are... the only ones who can change this... They're... they're on their way, guys. Oh God. It sounds like there are a lot of them, I think that they might—oh shit! The door just caved, you guys, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, they're in and they—Oh God, please!”
[Feed goes abruptly black.]
---End transcription 12:22 AM CST--
And then there was silence.
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