Updated 9/15/01 2:00 p.m. EDT

A few bad seeds

So many Americans have exhibited courage and generosity in the aftermath of Tuesday's tragedy. But sadly there have been instances of greed and thoughtlessness and hate as well.

• New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani warned of telemarketing firms calling Americans, primarily the elderly, and asking for donations. He urged anyone receiving such a call to contact the police or the FBI. "If we catch you, we're going to put you in jail," he said in a Friday press conference.

• Online auction site eBay suspended any listing associated with either the World Trade Center or the Pentagon after several vendors tried to sell postcards and debris for inflated prices.

• False bomb threats forced evacuations of public buildings and added to public anxiety in major cities, including New York, Washington, Miami, San Francisco, and others. In New York, false bomb scares led to evacuations at Grand Central Terminal, LaGuardia Airport, Macy's department store, and other buildings.

• Arab-Americans across the country are facing anger and harassment in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Reports of vandalism and threats have increased as the federal probe into the attacks has focused on a group of terrorists led by Saudi exile Osama bin Laden.

• Jerry Falwell, the Protestant television evangelist, said Thursday that the attacks were "probably what we deserve" and placed blame on civil liberties groups, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion providers. "All of them who have tried to secularize America–I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen,' " said Falwell. He received much criticism for the comments and later issued a statement clarifying his remarks.

• Web sites were set up to help people learn the condition of loved ones who were in the World Trade Center during the time of Tuesday's attacks. Several entries, however, were clearly made in jest: Donald Duck, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, and Homer Simpson are examples.