The Diary of a Businessman Who Gave Away $1,000,000 Worth Of His Product During the Time of Tragedy.

This diary was written by CEO of CoffeeCup Software.
My fault: I should have posted this earlier.

Simon

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9-11-2001 My thoughts.
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A 6 year old girl stood outside school today
waiting for her Mother to pick her up.
She was alone because her Mommy didn't come.
Her Mommy died in the World Trade Center today
and she will never pick her up again.
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As I sit here at Midnight, 16 hours after the attack
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon I still
feel great sadness and anger. Early in the day I sent an e-mail to 1.3 million users
to notify people of the tragic news and to give my opinion on
this attack as soon as possible. Do I regret my words that reflect strong tone and conviction
against anyone or any country involved ? No. My thoughts were emotional, not political or commercial. Once the count of loss of life is realized, my statements
will be felt by the same people that disagreed with my
comments. I believe in America and I believe in saying what you feel.
This is what our country was founded on.
I have the right to say what I need to say, and people that
disagree have the right to e-mail or call me.
This is why thousands of Americans & their Allies sacrificed
their lives for freedom of speech for the last 200 years. Will I change their opinion ? Probably not.
Will they change mine ? That's to be seen. "Turn another cheek ? I am all for it,
until you slap me in the face 5 times." Thanks,
Nick-

==================================== I answered e-mails until 4:07am I am tired
and must continue tomorrow. Goodnight.

====================================

>It's now 10:00am on September 12th and I am answering e-mails again. I realized today that the word 'annihilation'
is a stronger word emotionally than I first realized.
(I received plenty of hate mail for using this word)
I would not want to destroy a race.
A country ? Yes.
If any country is responsible for these acts or
hides and protects these criminals they must pay
for these crimes as well. I have received e-mail from people that were actually there.
I will not retract from what I feel.
Thousands of innocent lives were lost. *I keep watching the bottom scroll bar on CNN.
The one that shows the victims of the plane crashes.
I keep seeing a 2 year old and a 4 year old's names.
-- Christine Hanson, 2, Massachusetts
-- Juliana Valentine McCourt, 4, Westford, Mass. I did cry today, which makes me feel better than being angry. >It's now 9:00pm on the 12th. I have received some very positive e-mails from the World all day.
It has taxed me mentally to read the e-mails from people that
disagree with my points though. They did not lose a Sister or Mother in
this attack. But someone did. If they had lost their own daughter
they would have different thoughts. We should be careful in how we approach war on anyone though.
This is about the conflicting ideals of very different people. I have read 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu many times.
This stands out as our country thinks of the next step: "It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.
Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." -Sun Tzu >It's now 11:35pm on the 12th I received a letter from a supporter of my e-mail (Brian R. Dempsey)
and he brought up an important point. All the citizens of
a country that would be suspected of this crime would now fully
be aware of what the US is possibly planning and could defend themselves.
Our thousands of people had NO warning and had NO chance to defend themselves.
It wasn't fair. ================================================== ==== >It’s now Noon on September 13th - A New Day Today we are going to give our software away for Free for anyone
that puts our Red Cross Banner on their site. An e-mail will be sent
in the next 2 hours about this. (code will be supplied in the e-mail) I will also in that e-mail clarify my stand very briefly. Stats - Of our Company e-mail list of 1.3 Million people, Only
5,000 people unsubscribed. I feel better today about my outrage. The minority that e-mailed me bad e-mails did not hurt my patriotic spirit. It's hard being human sometimes.
'I' do not hate, 'we' should not hate, 'together' we seek justice. >It’s now 1:45pm on September 13th I have placed this in the e-mail I will send: This may surprise some people...... I am only human.
Just as President Bush almost cried on CNN today, that
makes him no less of a President. I as a CEO have the right
to be angry, and to vent my emotion. This does not make me
any less of a CEO or human. It makes me more of one. >It’s now 3:35pm on September 13th I have just sent another e-mail out to our users.
I have offered free software for putting our Red Cross
banner on their sites. (in case they didn't have money to build a site)
I also clarified my position. Much like what I talk about on this page. >It's now 4:30pm I have received many e-mails from people thanking me for
removing the word 'annihilation' from my statement.
It was said it could somehow be directed at a race of people,
which was not my intention. I stand fast on the word 'destruction'
This is what we must do to these criminals or harboring countries. >It's now 7:30pm on the 13th Someone noted to me that I have not mentioned names of countries
or people that probably did this. I won't.
Their names should not be spoken and do not deserve my print.
The names of the victims are much more important.
I will list them as they come in.
This number will be unimaginable. >It's now 9:30pm on the 13th I received an e-mail from someone that would like to read the
e-mails we have received on a Web Page.
We will work on an archive of every e-mail we have received.
Good and Bad, and then put a link up.
Some are so heartbreaking or negative, it is disturbing.
They have made me rethink about mankind and myself. ================================================== ==== > It's Now 1:00am on the 14th of September - Another New Day. Our servers could not handle our last e-mail.
The response was unbelievable. Please use the code we sent you
if you received it. The Red Cross banner will appear on your page later
today. We redirected traffic to another server to make all this
happen. Please add your Red Cross banner. It is very important. Here is the code if you need it again:


I am watching CNN in the very early morning and once again
tears come to my eyes as I watch the relatives of the missing
show pictures of their family members. I pray more, but know
the outcome. I want revenge and I can not help it. A Raggety Ann doll was found in the rubble tonight and I had to turn
the TV off and try to go to sleep. I will kiss my daughters goodnight
now while they sleep, and whisper to them…. 'I love you'. > It's now 10:00am on Friday the 14th Our Website is trying to return to normal.
Which is more than I can say for our office or
the rest of the world. We keep going on though.
Pushing each day to make normal happen faster. The list of sites that have added our banner now exceeds 10,000
As the day goes on these banners will load faster on sites
as our servers clear themselves. Keep putting them on your sites.
If you have to change the code and put the image on your server, please do that. Internet.com News called about this e-mail for a story.
I will speak to anyone if they call me. More support will be
needed for years to come I think. I have also received e-mail from users who think I apologized for
using the word 'annihilate'. I did not. I just wanted to select terms
that were not aimed at a race of people. (annihilate may do that)
Do not get me wrong. If a country is responsible in any way.
I want that country to become dust.
Not a flower growing, not a river moving. >It's now 12:00 noon on the 14th I was contacted by Pinworld and we have made a deal for 10,000
purple lapel pins to be made in rememberance of those who lost their
lives in this tragedy. We will give these away free.
(you just send us a stamped self-addressed envelope)
We will put this on our site soon. We have given approx. $354,000.00 of software away for free already.
I am sorry that more people can't get through to our site.
Please put the banner up either way. >It's now 2:30pm on the 14th I wish I could say this is getting easier to deal with but
it's not. I wade through thousands of e-mails and I am shocked at
the ignorance I see, and then one second later I am brought to tears.
It's an emotional rollercoaster ride to read them all. I want to thank everyone I work with here in my office.
They have been taxed by e-mails as well. They have given
of themselves way beyond a paycheck. They are true patriots. Our System Adminstrator's brother Matthew has decided to Join the Navy.
May God always be with him and keep him safe. > It's now 7:00pm on the 14th I now drive home like a ghost in a tunnel.
Just moving from one place to another.
I don't even feel myself driving anymore. When I got home my Canadian wife had put the U.S. flag in
our front yard. My youngest daughter wrapped herself in it
and laughed without a care in the world.
I love the innoncence that nothing bad could happen. I want to be 3 years old again :) A picture of her with the flag: http://www.coffeecup.com/attack/beth.jpg > It's now 9:00pm on the 14th We gave over $1,000,000.00 in software away today.
We believe at this time over 25,000 Web sites have
put the Red Cross banner on their pages.(and growing)
Thank You All.
Please send your Web address to: [email protected]
We want to create a links page of solidarity for all that use the bannner. I just received an e-mail from a Father: I have had the same reaction as you when reading the names of the very young children.
I have a seven year old who is having a difficult time now. Not wanting to let
his Mom out of his site; asking her to promise not to die. >It's now 11:50pm on the 14th of September I just went to the convenience store for a pack of cigarettes and some chips.
I told Imran the owner of the store a few weeks ago that he should get a
Mercedes Benz since his car was stolen a few weeks ago.
I see Imran almost every day since he bought the store a year ago.
Whether I am buying milk or getting my 44oz Coke every morning.
I never noticed Imran's race, and never asked where he was from.
Well when I arrived at the store tonight I asked him if he was scared ?
Imran said 'yes'. He had received hateful racial comments from people.
He watched the way people looked at him. He was truly frightened. I said, what did you tell them ? He told them, "I have been here for 10 years. I am American first." and I didn't even need to ask, because he kept going… "and I am from *INDIA*. I have no idea what others believes in." Let's not blame any race of people or religion for this attack.
We are all Americans first, and do not need to jump to conclusions
about people with different colors or different beliefs in our own country.
We will find out who did this and we will bring them to a final justice. > It's now 1:00pm on September 15th Tomorrow my daughters and I are going to a local festival (Shrimporee)
I will undoubtedly see the spirit of America here. I want to get back to
normal. I want to feel patriotic. I want America and the World to
stand with our leaders and in one voice say: 'Never Again'!
To change anything we would normally do because of fear means they win.
I will not accept that. Buy Stock on Monday and Tuesday. Let's show the world and ourselves
that no attack can hurt us economically. I am buying Energy,muni-bonds,and
of course Hi-Tech. I like TUCOWS (nasdaq ticker: tcow.ob) They have the largest
network in the world of Internet Servers (over 1,500 servers) all tied together
from every country in the world. I have always loved what they represent.
(I am no stock expert though, check things out for yourself)
You should also spend money at your local shops and on the Internet.
They need your support badly. I have a lot of sad and angry e-mails to answer tonight and
have some additions to our site to do as well.
We want to give away the memorial Purple Ribbon pins ASAP, so a quick page
has to be made and linked. We are also working on all the links that
have been sent with the Red Cross banner on them. It's a big list. Please give your kids, wives, husbands, or family a big hug today. They are alive.
5,000 people in New York will never be hugged or kissed again. > It's now 2:00pm on September 15th This has been bothering me.
The minority want us to believe that retaliation will cause World War III,
and will cause them to strike back again and again.
This is WRONG. This is exatly what the Terrorists want you to believe too.
That's why the word is called terror. (the minority should understand this)
Terrorists are good at what they do and how they manipulate opinion.
If our retaliation is final and complete. They will never strike back again.
Period. >It's now 6:00pm on the 15th We have put up the Free Rememberance Pin page.
It is a metal purple ribbon and all you have to do is
send us a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to get one. You can find a link for this is at:
http://www.coffeecup.com/attack/ >It's now 10:30pm on the 15th I would like to thank the idoogle.com Team personally.
They reported the evil e-mail on our front page officially
to the FBI. (I didn't have the time to do so) This is what their CEO said:
"I had to come back to the building, unlock everything, and open my
office at 3:00am to give them the info. I find it a small price to pay,
considering what's at stake.
I also wanted to personally thank you for showing that it's okay for
CEO's to be angry, and express as much." Thank you for your courage idoogle, you make the CoffeeCup Team proud. > It's now 11:00pm on the 15th Through server problems & traffic the free software offer was active 36 hours.
For those who put the banners on your site whether you got free software or not.
Thank You.
I believe combined we will raise millions for the Red Cross.
You are true heroes. > It's now 11:30pm on the 15th I felt like I held God's hand today.
It was my daughter's hand.
I am happy we are alive. Her picture: http://www.coffeecup.com/attack/beth.jpg More Later...
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