Posted on 02/02/2003 10:59:59 AM PST by conservativegirl
Edited on 04/23/2004 12:05:11 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Free Republic mentioned in Best of the Web. Way to go Freepers! (Sorry if this is already posted - didn't see it).
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
We scoop the wire services all the time, when FReepers report on things that are happening near them.
You know why this works? Because we are all here because we want to be, we each have unique things to offer, and we are fully self supporting.
Makes for a fine definition of a free republic.
At 8:38 a.m. EST yesterday, a reader of the Free Republic Web site started a discussion thread for shuttle enthusiasts:
Other Freepers joined in, describing the view of the descending shuttle from the West Coast--then gradually realizing something was amiss. Someone asks at 8:58 a.m. EST, "Was it glowing at all?" The first clear sign of trouble comes in a post at 9:05 a.m. We won't quote any more than this, because you really have to read the full thread to appreciate the drama. But it's worth noting that the first word of trouble didn't come across the Associated Press wire until 9:16, the scheduled landing time. Free Republic scooped the AP by at least 11 minutes--which is an eternity in the competitive world of wire-service reporting.
"Why Free Republic is worth the effort" ping
It's like a thousand eyes watching the world and commenting in real-time. Free Republic is awesome.
With all the nation-wide (heck, world-wide too) freepers tracking and reporting, FR has now proved that it can out perform the wire services.
When I went for an eye exam and to get an extra pair of computer glasses, the optometrist asked how many hours I was on the computer......had to put my hand over my mouth and mumble so he wouldn't know HOW MANY hours per day I was here. LOL
What a difference a newspaper makes.
-PJ
;^)
[08:23:00] <@EABinGA> but from what it looks like, it will fly directly over your head
[08:23:23] <+carenot> Woah!
[08:24:28] <@EABinGA> in about 35-40 minutes
[08:24:54] <+carenot> I will look for it. Thanks.
[08:25:15] <@EABinGA> leaving australia now, heading towards the philipines
[08:25:48] <@EABinGA> i'll see if i can let you know, when to stick your head out the window :)
[08:26:10] <+carenot> LOL, Thanks!
[08:52:24] <@EABinGA> Approaching California
[08:53:18] <+carenot> Ok. Ijust went out and didn't see anything. Sky is very bright.
[08:53:27] <@EABinGA> not yet... i'll let you know
[08:53:37] <+carenot> Ok, thanks again
[08:53:37] <@EABinGA> just north of SF, calif. now
[08:54:32] <@EABinGA> it doesnt take you long to go outside does it? it is moving very fast
[08:55:03] <+carenot> About 15 seconds
[08:55:08] <+carenot> If that.
[08:55:51] <@EABinGA> north of las vegas now
[08:56:10] <@EABinGA> arizona
[08:56:30] <@EABinGA> entering new mexico
[08:56:41] <@EABinGA> looks like it will be to the north of you
[08:57:06] <@EABinGA> eproaching texas now
[08:57:26] <@EABinGA> probably will be in texas in about 2 minutes
[08:58:15] <@EABinGA> going from new mexico to luisiana in a straight line, entering texas now
[08:58:22] <@EABinGA> time to go outside
[08:58:29] <+carenot> Ok, going now!
[09:00:26] <@EABinGA> they lost tracking.....
[09:02:25] <@EABinGA> probably long gone now
[09:04:59] <@EABinGA> should be landing in 12 minutes
[09:05:32] <+carenot> Ok, back in
[09:05:38] <@EABinGA> nothing?
[09:05:40] <+carenot> It is cold out there
[09:06:07] * @EABinGA passes carenot a cup of hot tea
[09:06:16] <+carenot> No I didn't see or hear anything and now I have a stiff neck!
[09:06:26] <+carenot> Thanks, LOL
[09:06:26] <@EABinGA> :)
[09:06:46] <@EABinGA> they are trying to contact the shuttle....
[09:07:01] <+carenot> They lost it?
[09:07:12] <@EABinGA> yeah, over your house
[09:07:51] <@EABinGA> 8 minutes to landing
[09:07:55] <+carenot> How big is it? Maybe I better check the tornado cellar
[09:08:46] <@EABinGA> it wont fit in there :D
[09:08:52] <+carenot> Good
[09:09:34] <+carenot> Where is it supposed to land?
[09:09:38] <@EABinGA> i am surprised how calm the folks are at mission control.... they actually look bored
[09:09:41] <@EABinGA> florida
[09:09:59] <@EABinGA> still looking for the shuttle
[09:10:06] <@EABinGA> 6 more minutes
[09:10:35] <@EABinGA> lost contact about 10 minutes ago
[09:10:51] <+carenot> How in heck can they lose a shuttle? What about all the radar every where?
[09:11:40] <+carenot> My thinking
[09:11:48] <@EABinGA> 5 minutes
[09:12:53] <@EABinGA> 4 minutes and still no contact
[09:13:46] <@EABinGA> 3 minutes
[09:14:41] <@EABinGA> starting contingency procedures
[09:14:52] <@EABinGA> people are actually moving at mission control
[09:15:02] <@EABinGA> no radar contact
[09:15:04] <@EABinGA> 1 minute
[09:15:54] <+carenot> I can't believe they lost it!
[09:16:12] <@EABinGA> should have touched down by now
[09:17:06] <@EABinGA> look at FR
[09:17:11] <+carenot> OK
[09:17:19] <@EABinGA> 3 messages already posted
[09:17:06] <@EABinGA> look at FR
[09:17:11] <+carenot> OK
[09:17:19] <@EABinGA> 3 messages already posted
[09:17:37] * bigaln2 (trillian@TORN-32B687FB.netwurx.net) has joined #rfr
[09:17:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +v bigaln2
[09:19:13] <+carenot> They lost the shuttle!
[09:20:52] <+carenot> I wonder if it has been blow up and they are not telling us?
[09:21:37] <@EABinGA> i am watching NASA TV...
[09:22:20] <@EABinGA> you didnt see it blow up?
[09:22:35] <+carenot> I didn't see nuffin!
[09:23:02] * Scutter (Scutter@TORN-104DEC60.cmngga.adelphia.net) has joined #rfr
[09:23:03] * ChanServ sets mode: +v Scutter
[09:23:04] <@EABinGA> Last seen over Dallas.
[09:23:09] <+Scutter> Shit
[09:23:27] <+carenot> Fix my hat hat please Scutter.
[09:23:42] <@EABinGA> I am not lying about this. I live in Dallas. Right at the time it disappeared, we heard a large boom.
[09:23:46] <@EABinGA> from FR
[09:23:47] * +Scutter adjusts carenot's hat
[09:25:05] <+carenot> I saw that it was visible in Dallas on the tv. It showed a very long contrail
[09:26:27] <+carenot> Just said they are securing all records and data.
[09:28:21] <+bigaln2> What the hell happened to the shuttle?
[09:28:38] <+carenot> They lost it
[09:28:42] <+Scutter> don't know al, but it isn't looking good
[09:28:57] <+bigaln2> The pictures on CNN are quite damning
[09:29:10] <+Scutter> its gliding in for a landing, so its not like it can just float around up there indefinately
My oldest son lives just south of Flagstaff, and just happened to be watching as the vehicle flew overhead. He saw it begin to break up, and called 911 to give them what details he could.
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