Newsweek and The Daily Beast will be collecting your photos, stories, and tweets from around America throughout the government shutdown. Send in what you're seeing to newsweekshutdown@gmail.com or on Twitter, hashtag # shutdowndiaries.
They say a government shutdown will affect all of us—but we want to see some proof. The Daily Beast is collecting your stories, photos, and tweets that demonstrate how a shutdown is altering Americans' daily lives. To participate, simply send in your reports to newsweekshutdown@gmail.com, or tweet with the hashtag # shutdowndiaries. We'll be compiling throughout the weekend, and for however long it takes for President Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to come to an agreement. Plus, full coverage of the shutdown.
Friday, April 8
Email to N.J. National Guardsmen: Stay Home
An officer in the New Jersey Army National Guard, who requested anonymity because he wasn't permitted to comment in official capacity, tells me his battalion commander has sent an email requesting they instruct junior enlisted members not to report for training tomorrow. "Since there is no movement on the budget, and a continuing resolution authority seems unlikely," the email says, "We're moving the drill to the following weekend." I asked if his troops were concerned about payment. "Not terribly," the officer says. "If there's an emergency on the state level, we'll be ready and they'll be able to pay us from state funds."
Shutdown Pick-up Lines
Shutdown watchers are having some fun with #shutdownpickuplines, a Twitter hashtag for--you guessed it--pick-up lines for a government shutdown. Behold:
LOL "The only thing nonessential about you are those pants. #shutdownpickuplines" less than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyAaron Brazelltechnosailor
Troops: APC For Sale, As Is!
As the shutdown looms, troops at home and abroad continue to convey their unique sense of humor and disappointment in cardboard signage. This one depicts two members of the U.S. Army standing with a Stryker Armored Personnel Carrier with signs that read, "For Sale As Is, 1500.00 OBO."
NASA Will 'Have a Problem'
The Office of Communications at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center says they "won't be tweeting or responding to @ replies during the government shutdown," and that their Facebook page will be offline as well.
Sorry, but we won't be tweeting or responding to @ replies during the government shutdown. We'll be back as soon as possible! less than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyNASA GoddardNASAGoddard In the event of a government shutdown, we won't be tweeting or responding to @ replies. We'll be back as soon as possible! less than a minute ago via CoTweet Favorite Retweet ReplyNASANASA
Will Kill Our Nation's Enemies For A Paycheck!!
Here, "a conservative military blogger"--dressed in fatigues--holds up a sign that reads, "WILL KILL OUR NATION'S ENEMIES FOR A PAYCHECK."
How Will Dad and Mom Get Paid?
There's a lot of concern about there about dads and moms not getting their government paychecks.
The government shutdown is pissing me off. How the hell is my dad supposed to get paid?!?!?!?!? @ BarackObama, you need to fix this. NOW. less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyCydneyLive_True 20 year old asked for money again. I said sure, but make it last, dad may not get paid for a while with this gov't shutdown. #mehless than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet Replymelmjvaughn10
National Park Closed
A Redditor snapped this pic at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The government shutdown, he/she writes, "is on."
Bojangles' Famous Chicken's Shutdown Special
A Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits restaurant franchise is offering an 8 pc box of fried chicken (complete with 4 biscuits!) as part of its "government shutdown special."
MFW: Some Free Time on My Hands
A few D.C.-based federal workers who are betting on the shutdown, and expecting some time off, have taken to Craigslist--not for jobs, but in search of companions. "31 [white male] here, and its looking like I'm going to have some free time on my hands, so why not enjoy it," writes one. "Let's enjoy our enforced, unpaid vacation with some fun, mutually satisfying times." Another: "You may be in the same situation. What do you say we meet for a long lunch at Reston Town Center?"
This Will Really Hurt A Lot of Ppl
A Twitter user shares her thoughts.
The economy is doin very bad. #shutdowndiaries this will really hurt alot of ppl. This should not be happening at a time like this. less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplySherita WilsonSw33tp34ch
Another military photo, another cardboard sign. This one reads, "Will Fight Terrorism For Food."
The Government Shutdown Affects All Peeps!
"This is what fiction employees do on the eve of a shutdown," tweets a fiction employee.
Congressional Freshmen Stage Large Protest-Presser
Marin Cogan, the House reporter for Politico, tweets this pic of congressional freshmen staging the "largest protest-presser yet."
Long Lines at the National Archives
The D.C. home of the National Archives is seeing long lines Friday, as tourists—and historical records geeks—cram in what they anticipate to be a final few hours before the doors are locked.
DOD Employees to Report to Duty as Normal
A member of the Department of Defense workforce snaps a pic of their government shutdown e-warning, which says, in part, that they're expected to "report to duty as normal if the U.S. government shuts down.”
My Sister-in-Law in Omaha
RT @ lenedgerly: My sis-in-law in Omaha will take $ hit if gvmt shuts. gives vocational expt testimny in Soc Security cases. #shutdowndiariesless than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyTom Webertweber
D.C. Might Suspend Parking Enforcement
More for #shutdowndiaries RT @ tylercowen: Word is DC might suspend parking enforcement if there is a shutdn, interesting natural experiment less than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyTom Webertweber
“Will Work For Pay!!!”
Another photo of the troops, this one circulating on Twitter, depicts three members of the service standing beneath a cardboard sign that reads, “Will Work For Pay!! NO PAY—No Work Zone!!!” The Twitter user who shared it tweeted, “Don't worry, it's already starting.”
• Michelle Cottle: Why I Pity Boehner• Daniel Stone: The Capitol Hill Shutdown Slumber Party• Government Shutdown: Full coverage"We Can Die But We Can't Get Paid"
The following photo has been making the rounds on Facebook today, as it allegedly depicts a soldier in the U.S. Army holding up a cardboard sign with the words, "We can die but we can't get paid." I asked one woman who posted it, herself engaged to a servicemember, to confirm its legitimacy and she said it simply came from a friend. She explained of the community's concern, "What's been said is that military may miss their paycheck if the government shuts down but they will get back pay if that happens."
“Keep our Parks Open and Properly Funded”
The National Parks Conservation Association purchased a sponsored tweet today, a spot that’s rumored to cost in the low six-figures, asking people to help keep our national parks open.
Keep our parks open and properly funded, please contact your congressional reps! US Capitol Switchboard: 2022243121 #ifgovernmentshutsdownless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyNational Parks NewsNPCA
Brian Ries is tech and social media editor at The Daily Beast. He lives in Brooklyn.
