A Good Day's Work
Twenty years ago, all hell broke loose in the Soviet Ballistic Missile Early Warning System control room. The computers showed incoming nuclear missiles and one man had to decide whether to launch a retaliatory strike.
His instructions were clear, if he saw signs from the satellite system that the United States had launched missiles against the Soviet Union he was to push the "START" button and initiate a counter-strike.
He waited and no missiles came. It had been a computer glitch.
Just past midnight on September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov saved the world. What did you do today?
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Who is this guy?
Sam Felder is a web designer and occasional writer in Los Angeles, CA.
Born in Washington, DC, Sam and his family moved to Peoria, IL, where he grew up and went to school. He returned to DC in 2003 and left for the west coast in late 2005.
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Today
- Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z
- Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z
- Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z
April 15
- Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z
- Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z
April 12
- Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z
- Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z
April 10
- Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z
- Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z
April 9
- Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z
- Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-10T03:17:20Z
April 7
- Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z
April 4
- Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-04T16:49:16Z
- Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z
April 3
- Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-03T17:18:57Z
- Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z
April 2
- Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z
Sam,
Thanks for sharing this awesome story. After watching Thirteen Days (perhaps Kevin Costner's best [only good] performance) with my father and grandmother, my grandmother insisted that our generation can't understand the stress we were under as a nation during the Cuban missile crisis. Even though the U.S. wasn't aware of this glitch at the time; our generation certainly came very close to a destruction even worse than what could have happened if missiles were launched from Cuba. Mind-boggling.
Curt brings up an excellent point. The way that my parents talked about the constant fear of nuclear annihilation is something that I can hardly relate to.
While some would point to terror as the equivalent today, I just don't think it is the same. The Cold War was constantly in the news and we only hear about attacks in Iraq. It is different somehow in a way that I cannot quite articulate.
This man's story, however, is simply mind-blowing.
Sam, I think you just used TERROR when you intended to refer to TERRORISM. This is a pet peeve of mine. Your parents, and your grandparents, and people in every generation have felt terror. We feel particularly threatened by terrorism. Next you'll be asking me to contribute to a war on terror. I would say no.
:)
Point taken. You are 100% correct.
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