D*nise M@tuza DID NOT complain nor would she complain.

TMB: But her friends will.

Because you are reading your information second hand, you have no idea of the context in which it was said, therefore you assume that she complained.

TMB: It's strange how comments are taken out of context only when the speaker's words are criticized.

You are wrong. How many victim's family members do you know personally that you get your information from? Do you believe EVERYTHING you read? D*nise M@tuza did not ASK anyone for any money. If the federal government decides to compensate victim’s families for their losses why do you blame the families? Blame the government instead.

TMB: The government does not care about you. The government does not care about the victims of the 11 September attacks, nor does it care about those they left behind. The government does care about money, big business and the economy.

Knowing the extent of America's litigious nature and having listened to the greedy rumblings of the families in the weeks after the attack, the government decided to stem the inevitable tide of frivolous lawsuits.

If the families did not view this event as a possible financial windfall, the government never would have decided to compensate them for the losses they could have caused had they filed lawsuits.

And if she (or any other widow or widower) did not ask for this money, there is nothing to stop her from refusing it. Better yet, she could donate the money to struggling (non-WTC) families who don't have breadwinners with life insurance and 401(k)s to fall back on. Think of the publicity and respect she'd earn. She might snag herself an awesome second husband with those credentials.

D*nise M@tuza did not say "mere".

TMB: I apologize. You're correct. She did not say that she would receive a "mere" $300-500k after her husband's 401(k) and life insurance were deducted. She, in fact, commented, "That's really nothing, just three to five years' salary." Your way, she definitely sounds more grateful.

You are jealous that it was not your family member.

TMB: If human life is precious and irreplaceable, and family is our lifeline, why would I be jealous of someone who has only a million dollars to hug at night and a street sign with which to talk?

Wouldn't we prefer to have those whose existence make our own more livable? Or are you implying that she is happy that her husband's death may leave her a wealthy widow?

Did you actually HEAR her whine or is that your misinterpretation of what you read?

TMB: Clearly, she was outraged enough about her financial prospects to speak with the press in regard to it, and her comments display a woman with little perspective.

It'd be great to receive an additional six-figure settlement on top of an already considerable amount culled from life insurance, retirement plans and charity, but some of us find it a bit morbid to profit from our loved one's death and complain when we feel the money isn't satisfactory.

She stated a FACT and has no reason to "reevaluate".

TMB: If she stated a FACT and has no reason to "reevaluate," why are you claiming that her comments lack context?

Knowing her personally, she was requested to do an interview and did not "angle" herself as anything.

TMB: No one forced her to provide an interview. As I'm sure many other family members did, she could have politely declined. She did not, and her comments are now public record.

I'm not the only person who found fault in her choice of words. I'm just the only person whose Web site turned up when you typed her name into Google.

IF you were some intelligent person that would present an intelligent article.

TMB: Intelligent person, of course, being one who agrees with your and her position, and an intelligent article, of course, being one that furthers that position.

I'll grant you, though, that M@tuza isn't the worst example of WTC greed. (She's no Lisa Beamer.) I'm more amazed by the parents and siblings -- people who didn't even financially depend on the victims -- who are complaining bitterly about the settlements and accommodations they'll receive.

Thus far, the only people being penalized for the terrorist acts are the taxpayers, and instead of being grateful that a significant amount of tax dollars is being funneled to appease their monetary demands, the surviving family members continue to search for even more funds.

The purpose of life insurance, charitable donations and (in theory) this federal fund is to give survivors enough time to get back on their feet and acclimate to the loss, and I find it hard to believe that this purpose can't be served with the money being doled out. This money wasn't meant to increase anyone's standard of living, only to preserve it until the family members could start doing what everyone else who loses a family member does: get a job (or two), cut back on unnecessary expenses, downsize material goods, etc.

Their loss isn't any more special than the woman whose husband died of a heart attack, and they can't expect us to support them for the rest of their lives. Use whatever money is left to send them to a non-credit personal finance class at their local two-year college, and we'll call it a wrap.

Financial assistance they were OFFERED. How do you prove they crave anything?

TMB: Financial assistance they were OFFERED because the government viewed thousands of its citizens as selfish, greedy cretins who could be bought. They were right.

Nor do you want to as you are only interested in furthering your own agenda.

TMB: My agenda doesn't involve a billion-dollar handout that places a greater value on some people's lives based on the circumstances of their death.

As an American taxpayer, I am only happy to contribute to their plight.

TMB: Great. If you care that much about the plight of others, I suggest you take a huge chunk of your paycheck and donate it to the thousands of other Americans who lose out financially when a family member dies. I'm sure a number of them won't have the luxury of even just three to five years' salary.

"Don't you hate the concept of the squeaky wheel getting the grease?" Not as much as you obviously do to devote all that time and effort to trashing them.

TMB: Touché.

"Millions of Americans lose loved ones each year..." Is that what happened to you and you are jealous that you got nothing? The federal government not looking to help you? Pancreatic cancer perhaps? Was it MOM? DAD?

TMB: Your compassion overwhelms me. Perhaps someone should inform M@tuza that people are judged both by the Associated Press interviews they give and the company they keep.

(Does she know that you're acting as her spokesperson?)

In the case of D*nise M@tuza, that is your opinion and not true by any means. D*nise M@tuza has NEVER positioned herself as anything.

TMB: If that were the case, she would not have given an interview (in fact, interviews), nor would she have discussed her finances. She's not the only widow in this country with bills to pay.

Before 11 September, did either you or she help any widows who were forced to put their homes up for sale and move into rundown apartments in questionable neighborhoods because they couldn't maintain their standard of living?

It's sad that she lost her husband, but lots of women lose their husbands, and they don't expect or receive an additional $400,000 for their suffering and their kids don't get to fly to Japan for a week of summer camp.

YOU have positioned her by dredging up her name and using it in your pathetic attempt to be "creative" and hopefully "discovered" by using your "shock jock schtick".

TMB: The only person who is positioning M@tuza by dredging up her name is you.

Now that you've initiated and prolonged this exchange of words, you've turned a one-off remark about her comments -- comments from a woman whom no one would have thought twice about until you wrote with her interests in mind -- into something far greater than warranted. Didn't your mama ever tell you sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone?

And you, who takes what they say and twists it into what YOU want it to mean, so that you can further your own interests in your website.

TMB: The Associated Press, along with numerous newspapers, did stories on family members who felt they were being shortchanged in the money grab. M@tuza provided comments for some of those stories, and they were relevant to a discussion on the atmosphere of entitlement surrounding the WTC attack. If she stands by her words and truly believes the amount of money she will receive (or has received) is negligible, then mine is a legitimate criticism.

No one is entitled to monetary compensation when a loved one dies, unless one has purchased insurance for such an event or the circumstances of the death were so egregious that financial damages from the perpetrators are in order. Anything on top of that is a nice gesture, and the people who are the recipients should be thankful for it.

But I guess if your mom didn't teach you to leave well enough alone, she also didn't teach you to be grateful for any gift that someone gives you because they were under no obligation to provide one.

You are a laughable coward hiding behind a computer screen. If you really knew D*nise M@tuza (and only then would your comments really mean anything) you would realize what a truly stupid person you sound like. You are making a fool of yourself.

TMB: You're right: I don't know D*nise M@tuza, but I've met enough high-maintenance Staten Island wives whose husbands work in the financial district to know that many of them would be just as content to sleep with a pile of money next to them. That's pretty much all their husbands are to them, anyway.

If you think I'd be jealous of a woman who lost a family member because his death gave her access to a significant amount of cash, at the very least, it shows which camp you're in. Money doesn't make my world go 'round. But Amazon.com gift certificates do.

And if she thinks she's right, why would she care what anyone, particularly someone pathetically attempting to be creative, says about her? I'm sure between hair appointments at Chrysalis and therapy for the kids that only prolongs their grief, she has more important matters with which to contend.

"Monty Mertens" wrote:

TMB: Isn't that always the way? No one wants to admit that they found my Web site by looking for "fuck cambodian children teen girl" on Google.

I found most of it offensive.

TMB: Thank you.

I am happy that you have a venue to voice your oppinion in and am proud to protect you. I do every day and night.

TMB: I'd prefer that you protect my car. That's been stolen and vandalized more times than my voice. It's nice that, day and night, you protect intangible ideals, but some of us need to get to work in the morning.

When you and other Americans sleep, we keep the watch and protect your liberty. can you guess who I am?

TMB: President of the ACLU?

I know, I know, you're a green-suiter who thinks far too highly of himself and his place in the universe. Venues in which I can voice my opinions aren't under attack from outside threats, and as far as I know, you don't have the power to assassinate American politicans who do threaten my liberty.

Working in a skyscraper, though, is a bit iffy, so I thank you for perhaps allowing me to toil safely on the 73rd floor of a building.

Terrorists are slightly more interested in killing me than they are in stealing my liberties. Mohammed doesn't sit in his windowless, illegal basement apartment in Brooklyn plotting how he can limit my ability to speak freely. He wants to silence me forever.

what amazes me most about you, is simply that, while you spatter on and about what you dont like or believe in; you make it plain that your view is the best.

TMB: That is the idea.

taking into consideration that you probably dont write for TIME magazine, or anything close, it goes without saying that your thought process is not as clear as you seem to believe that it comes across.

TMB: People read TIME magazine outside of the waiting area of a doctor's office?

while you were partially correct on a certain level about American Christianity or however you put it, it is ridiculously ignorant of you to stereotype all christians, or any group the way you seem to do. (ie not all christians smoke crack and kill babies)

TMB: I didn't realize there was a wide-spread stereotype of Christians smoking crack and killing babies. I need to get out more.

(while you, i can only imagine are a great supporter of Abortion?)

TMB: Yes, I am a huge supporter of Abortion. So much so that I plan on capitalising the word henceforth.

i just cant imagine that you have many people close to you. Even if you do, however, i just hope i never have the pleasure of having to hear you speak.

TMB: Come on, my New Jersey accent isn't that bad.

I was doing some research on the topic "Teen Pregnancy" for a speech I am giving and came across your web page. I do agree that Teen Pregnancy has become a big problem in America. Look at the media, they now have a pouch little girls can wear to get the effect of a baby kicking them in the womb. Its a fact, little girls usually (not in your case) want to have babies. Society has said that is a woman's role.

TMB:
I was under the impression that biology is the culprit.

But you really need to consider all the circumstances that teens get pregnant before you place all of them in the same category.

TMB:
There's more than one way to get pregnant? I wasn't aware that chemicals in our food and water had mutated our genes to the point that asexual reproduction is now possible.

I was also reading a lot of feed back from the different articles you have posted and have come to the conclusion that you must really be unhappy.

TMB:
I hope your presentation uses less specious logic.

To hate and distrust all mankind must really be a miserable life to have to lead.

TMB:
Have you tried it? It's more fun than you might think. All of that smug elitism can knock your socks off.

The personal stuff you have posted about your family really disturbs me.

TMB:
Your family is perfect? You might want to contact the head of your local college's sociology department. I bet they'd love to study you.

Your family must be very codependent to put up with your constant negativity.

TMB:
Unless they're negative, too, in which case, we're perfect together.

Maybe that is your problem, boundaries were never a part of your child hood or adolesense. Many of the woman who responded to your opinions I feel got you all wrong. Instead of some traumatic event taking place in your life that causes you to feel this way, I think you were spoiled rotten with no responsibility for your actions.

TMB:
Too true. That's why I have four kids, a nasty heroin habit, a spotty job history and $30,000 in credit card debt. But that's our secret.

As far as traumatic event that causes you to hate and distrust mankind, Never happened.

TMB:
Clearly, you've never been chased by a 30-year-old retard.

You simply like the attention (although negative) hey its attention. People like me and all those that wrote you are what you feed on.

TMB:
I thank you for feeding the monkey.

Without us you would be empty and to breathe would be useless.

TMB:
Um, I guess. I mean, I sort of have outside interests and stuff, and I kinda live near two major cities that always have something going on, and there are airports nearby that can take me to faraway lands, but yeah, life would be totally empty if I didn't get the occasional e-mail from AOL users.

So when talking about identity and hating and distrusting all mankind maybe you should turn around and take a long hard look in the mirror (you are what you hate) So do us all a favor and end it.

TMB:
I'm on it.

I hate to think of another person (especially an influenceable person) stumbling upon your web page and really think you are truly the person you portray.

TMB:
Because everyone loves sunshine and butterflies and grilled cheese sandwiches in the shape of heart.

When in all reality this is SHOWBIZ.

TMB:
And I'm giving 'em the old razzle dazzle.

You are just another Marylyn Manson you just use a different avenue.

TMB:
If you're going to invoke the name of my overlord, could you have the decency to spell His name properly?

Good luck with your life cause if this is all you got you will need luck.

TMB:
And ammo.

Ok, well, I understand where you're coming from saying Islam is violent and such. And if you've actually read parts of the Qur'an, you've done at least as much as I have, so I can't really get you on that angle. Anyway, it's not that I want to get you, I'm just defensive of Islam, because people tend to completely blindly label it as an evil institution.

TMB: Taking the trite atheistic stance, all religions are evil because their main thrust is to subjugate people and steal their ability to think for themselves. Not that people would think for themselves if religion ceased to exist. They'd just follow something/someone else. Preferably me.

And, sure, you're right that it does breed evil in the modern times, but I'd argue that Christianity in and of itself is evil.

TMB: It's strange how those who have wasted many breaths on condemning the insidiousness of Christianity in the United States find themselves standing behind Islam.

Islam, as a theoretical religion, is a great thing, actually.

TMB: In theory, many religious beliefs are great things. But theories don't blow up gay nightclubs or Jews. People need to interpret and practice a religion for it to grow, and that's when trouble starts.

It's not nearly restrictive as people think it is, though it does definitely have some pretty constrictive rules. Oh well, that's why "islam" means "submission." It's not like they're advertising falsely on that count.

TMB: Which Islam are you talking about? The one practiced in Turkey, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq...? Those who defend Islam -- again, often those who've spent many a day criticising Christianity -- seem to think the religion exists in a bubble, that it isn't open to interpretations based on the indigenous cultural beliefs. The problem with religion isn't that it exists, but that humans who make it their own exist.

Well, the point I want to make, though, is something a lot of people forget or just don't know: Islam is the reason our civilisation exists today. No, really. While Europe was wallowing in the Dark Ages, Muslims were, you know...doing science and astronomy.

TMB: And if Muslims hadn't been doing science and astronomy, someone else would have expanded upon them.

In fact, it's through Islam that Europe now has a lot of Greek philosophy. Books like Aristotle and Plato and such were becoming rare and were slowly disappearing, but the Muslims came along and translated them and preserved them.

TMB: And what does any of that have to do with the price of a detonator in the West Bank?

Well, it's not like it matters, but you're publicly bashing Islam, and I just wanted to remind you that it does have a very, extremely positive side.

TMB: The best defense you can come up with for Islam is that some Muslims did some pretty neat shit 600 years ago?

Maybe you know that already, but if you don't, just do some research into it. If it weren't for Islam, the Rennaissance never would have happened. Etc.

TMB: If Judaism hadn't happened, then Christianity wouldn't have happened, then Islam wouldn't have happened, then the Ottoman Empire never would have happened, then disco wouldn't exist, then a butterfly in China wouldn't have flapped its wings, and my parents wouldn't have fucked on June 2, 1978 and created me.

You make good points, but you are pretty one-sided.

TMB: Opinions tend to work like that.

I'm all about your teen mom rants, and stuff like that, but I really don't think we need more people in America bashing Islam. The Christians are stupid enough to do way more of that than we need anyway.

TMB: Dave, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your philosophy professor forgot to mention that cultural relativism simply means that you look at beliefs within their cultural context. You don't have to agree with or support the beliefs. It's okay to take a stand and say that some things are wrong. After all, quite a few Muslims -- you know, people who practice Islam -- look at American culture and proclaim it immoral, unethical and subpar. Do you think they care about looking at our practices within their context?

"Mezzo Mezzo" trolled:

you have no idea what you talk about, ever. i hope you never get any of your precious little gift certificates cuz you dont deserve them you bitch.

TMB:
I'm a few gift certificates short of a digital camcorder, so let's hope you don't get your wish. (Note: Free TMB porn for everyone!)

(Note to the Note: You know, a working woman needs intimate apparel, beer and clothes, too.)

And I don't even have a Web cam.

in reality, you probably do want kids, but your career is enticing so you spend all your time trying to deny it. you really are stupid, you know that.

TMB:
Yes, sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day while enduring the background noise of 30 chattering administrative dingbats and an obnoxious marketing guy is so, so, so much more enticing than staying at home and doing the "hard" task of rearing children.

Oh, God, how awful it would be to do whatever I want from 8-3 while the kids are in school. How terrible it would be to spend my days at museums, zoos and parks, as I inflict my offspring on the free world. What a nightmare it must be to not have to fly, on short notice, to the bowels of backwater America to solve problems outside of your job description and pay range. No, no, surely I couldn't tolerate additional tax credits or government programs aimed at assisting mothers. My career is just too enticing for any of that.

Do you have any idea of the sacrifice I'm making to my health and well-being by not having children? Clearly not.

i dont think you have a boy friend either. you mention him/it way too much, it seems weird. do you think your readers are that stupid? then you must be stupid?

TMB:
Having a boyfriend is, indeed, stupid. To think I could be getting nailed each night by a different male reader!

you are a bitch.

TMB:
It does have its pitfalls.

cuz you are so mentally retarded you have to make fun of other people. but nothing you say makes sense.

TMB:
How about when I tell people to not have kids they can't afford? I think that makes sense.

you obviously have low self esteem, i bet you dont even know what esteem is bitch. go find some.

TMB:
Low self-esteem means I don't leave the house, and doesn't everyone benefit from that?

and listen you little whore, just shut up cuz you dont know. children are our future. without them there is no human race that is why we need them.

TMB:
Actually, we need them to prop up our ever-expanding, government-endorsed pyramid schemes.

Kudos to everyone creating future taxpayers. When I'm driving across the country in my RV and popping 20 pills a day to keep my heart pumping -- all on your kids' dime -- I'll tip my "Bingo Goddess" hat in your direction for the 20 years you gave up to help fund my retirement.

do you honestly think there is another purpose? that is why we are here, to breed.

TMB:
I'm here to rock.

and you know that and i bet you like it even though you think its cool to try and convince yourself and others that you dont bitch.

Providing jack-off material for white misogynists since 1997.

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