MOTM

Hi Paul,
It is understandable that you are so caught up in recent events - I think
most of us are.  While we take work (career) in the US very seriously
(maybe too seriously), we need to take time away from our "normal" lives
when something of this magnitude occurs.  Our emotional states are
important.

> It is hard for me to do much work. Many MOTM users are in that area. I do
> not think any have been injured. But,
> it is most likely those people have lost someone.
Likewise.  I personally know few people in NYC.  Those that I do I
anticipated to be ok since they work in mid- up-town NYC (turned out I
was correct - fortunately). But interesting to me (and noted by your
comment) was that I found that I needed to at least send several e-mails
to some list members, primarily on AH, that I know reside/work in NYC, to
see if they were ok.  I've never met these people, I've never talked to
them via phone, but have exchanged numerous e-mails on varied topics
(music, synths & personal), cd's, ... .  I am not much on going out and
socializing, so I found my 'need' to contact these few 'email neighbors'
to be quite a surprise.  Partly it may be I also needed some 'contact'
with the 'real event,' but I did have a genuine concern for them.

> 
> It doesn't help that I am a news junkie, either :) I hardly EVER watch
> 'network TV' (I can't even tell you the last
> saw the 2nd plane 'live' hit the tower. I
> have gotten 6 hours of sleep since.
At least you were on top of the events.  I didn't find out until 10:45am
CDT, as I teach 8-10:45am Tue & Thur, when  student explained to me why he
was late.  Since then I've felt somewhat 'guilty' that I proceeded on Tue.
am as if life was 'usual', although it is not logical.

> I am worried about a possible 'downward spiral' (to quote NIN) in the stock
> market beginning Monday, and how it
> will effect (affect?) semiconductor stocks, already battered. I am 'lucky'
I think this was part of the intent of the attack.  There is much we
cannot control, but if economics is as much human behavior and motivation
as anything else, I'm hoping that the outpouring of unity across much of
the world will also unite us to realize that our economies are one of the
best resources that we have.  I'm hoping that this unity will bolster our
'economic engine' as a whole.

> 
> I continue to work on the 80 assembled modules on order. I will finish the
> MOTM-850 Pedal Interface pcb and
> sheet metal early next week. On Sunday, you can place orders for it.
> 
Sounds great!

> If USPS shows to be unreliable, I will use Fed-Ex 'ground service' which is
> like 3-4days inside the US. I will charge
> accordingly.
Sounds like you have a good idea about 'testing out' shipping.  I cannot
speak for others, but I would encourage you to not 'worry' about shipping
times/costs to much.  I think most of us will buy kits/modules no matter
how long it takes for them to reach us, even at a little higher cost.
Admittedly, I write as someone in the USA, I hope that outside-USA motm
fans will be able to receive their packages in a reasonable time.  It is
like a mini-Christmas when I receive a motm module.


> 
> I hope whatever action the military takes (and you can bet 100% there will
> be one) will be short, non-disruptive.
> Although the *rumor* now is that China will announce that it will allie with
> Afghanistan. Great, WW3 :(
> 
I haven't heard this, but if true, complicates things a lot. We'll just
have to see. May be international unity will help temper our actions and
the actions of others that may not be as sympathetic to events as we are.

> Please bear with me as I struggle and cope mentally and physically with the
> sorrow and worry for my family and my
> country.
Sorry for the apparent babbling.  Just thought that (as I'm sure you
realize) there are others who share many of your impressions.  Hopefully
with unity, intelligence (no, not that "intelligence", although
necessary), perspecitve, and some luck we can address our needs,
personally, nationally and internationally , to come out with a safer,
more cohesive international community.  [Ok, ok, enough].

Jeff