55 Water Street's Fears of Anthrax

If you were checking the Gothamist Newsmap yesterday, you may have noticed that there was a possible Hazmat situation at 55 Water Street in lower Manhattan. Apparently someone fell ill when opening a letter that contained an unknown substance and then other people were sickened as well!

According to the Post, the letter was sent to Standard & Poor's. The envelope was not addressed, and a worker tried to smell the contents (!). Though other people "began to feel nauseated," authorities believe that the letter was a hoax. Which begs the question: What non-dangerous powders nauseate people or can the power of suggestion make people ill?

Here's information from CNN on the 2001 anthrax scare. During the summer, some threats were made to Goldman Sachs, though it's unclear how credible they are. And 55 Water Street is also were peregrine falcons have been known to nest - the building's website has a section devoted to them.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 12, 2007 8:20 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

"Which begs the question: What..."

That's not what "begs the question" means. If I ask you about apples and you answer about oranges, then you have begged the question.

You mean "raises the question."

guest

GRAMMAR!!!

guest

Why? Hate the truth?

What does that even mean? Are you actually suggesting that there is a correlation between the money spent by the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan and the success rate of the FBI which is in the Department of Justice? Are you really that stupid?

I'd be willing to bet significant money that the FBI has a very short list of suspects but they can't build a winnable legal case. Happens more often than you think.

guest

(11) Why? Hate the truth?

guest

Someone, please send anthrax to all the hedge fund managers on Wall St....

Nick S

hey, comment moderator, you deleted the post i was rplying to with my "sociopath" comment, so you might as well get rid of that one too.

captainblackout

#10 - common usage, common usage...join the unwashed masses.

plus, my source claims that begs the question in the sense that you are using is really a poor translation of a latin phrase that would be better translated as "laying claim to the principle." so maybe this new usage is actually a more accurate use of the phrase.

guest

Not hard to believe that in this misguided multi-billion dollar "war on terror", that the anthrax mailer of 2001 is yet to be known much less caught.

Oh do shut up.

guest

Which begs the question: What non-dangerous powders nauseate people or can the power of suggestion make people ill?

For crying out loud, Gothamist...even YOU'RE mis-using the phrase "begs the question?" Look it up. That's not what "begs the question" means. Just because it's ignorantly used by almost everyone today doesn't make it right.

Say it with me, now..."begs the question" does NOT mean "compels one to inquire."

Sigh...

JMH

Wow, indeed there is. That's one of the neater things I've seen on Google Maps.

guest

#6 - no that is 77 Water Street with the Sopwith Camel on the roof.

guest

can't people just smear shit or boogers on envelopes like the old days?

guest

55 Water also is home to a vintage biplane on the roof.

Nick S

wow. the commenters here have gone from harmless idiots to bonafide sociopaths. scary.

ed_Extinct

what? i always try to smell a powder when it arrives in an envelope.

also, i was nauseated yesterday too... weird... perhaps it was because there's a bug in the air, can you believe all the cold medicines throughout the city are gone off the shelves?

Nick S

probably thought it was some of that white china.

guest

Not hard to believe that in this misguided multi-billion dollar "war on terror", that the anthrax mailer of 2001 is yet to be known much less caught.