the real lesson from boston today is what an utter waste and fraud 'homeland security',

[KG]

the PATRIOT Act, domestic spying, TSA, etc are.

[Redstone]

1. So: the cops should just say "Hey, there's some kind of electronic device under

a few bridges. It's probably just a prank or an advertisement, so fuck it. Let's go out for donuts."

Redstone

[KG]

3. um, no.

prevention is supposed to be the point of turn the US into a security state. yet, someone was able to plant all these devices, and when found, law enforcement had no clue where they came from, or what they were.

[Redstone]

4. Aha! NOW I understand your point. Yes, a waste indeed. I agree.

Redstone

[C_U_L8R]

2. How long does it take to figure out

that a box contains a freakin Light Brite???

and who is reponsible for sounding 5 alarms,
hauling in the press and spinning terrah all day long??????

SOMEBODY was milking this for all they could...
(even as it turned out to be a freakin' promo).

The Homeland Security is a bunch of Terrah-Babies
and someone higher is pushing the Fearmonger buttons.

This whole thing stinks. I don't believe a word they say.

[Redstone]

5. Are you a cop? Are you a firefighter? In a big city? If not, then judge not.

Redstone

[DRoseDARs]

8. In the 2-3 WEEKS these were up, not one cop or firefighter in this big city sounded the alarm...

Did you have a point? :shrug:

This wasn't on them, but it still reflects poorly on everyone involved.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. They got a call

by the way, we will never know this, but there is a small chance that soembody filed paperwork informing the proper authorities that this was going on

By the way... next time you see a suspicious package, what ARE YOU gonna do?

And as an EMS worker who did work in a large city I can tell you one thing... the job is far harder than you make it sound... Emergency workers do need the eyes of citizens too

Oh and read or misread this as you wish

[DRoseDARs]

18. They were up for 2-3 WEEKS. Not hours, not days ... WEEKS. UNREPORTED.

Error. Does not compute.

[stillcool]

22. The police received a load of phone...

calls at the same time, from people reporting 'strange devices' being seen all over the city. From Cambridge to down-town, South Boston...I don't know what you think they should have done?

[C_U_L8R]

15. I'm talking about the media manipulation

the day long breathlessness and hype.

Someone was pulling those strings
(and no I don't believe it was cops or firefighters)
But there are people, largely republican, who
like to take advantage of these situations
and play it for all its worth. And they certainly did !!

THAT"S what I find so disgusting.

[DRoseDARs]

6. Nevermind the things had been in place for 2-3 WEEKS prior to all this nonsense....

It's a shame really. ATHF is funny adult cartoon and this isn't the kind of publicity it needed.

[0rganism]

11. I dunno, as far as publicity goes, this could do rather well

I would guess about 80% of the population of Boston had no idea what ATHF is until today.

Now, it'll be common knowledge across the country. Everyone will know. Publicity? Hell, the perp needs a raise to go with his jailtime. I can hardly imagine better coverage. This is taking a 2-bit late-night cartoon and turning it into a major newscast phenomenon.

Behold Inignokt, Symbol of the Resistance!

[Kingshakabobo]

7. They weren't even boxes.

The press kept describing them as "packages" so I see where that misconception comes from.

[walldude]

19. I agree this was seriously milked but you

can't really fault the cops for being careful. I wouldn't want to be the one who opened the box with an actual bomb in it.

[0rganism]

9. 3 WEEKS, people

Those things were there, raising no concern whatsoever, for THREE LONG WEEKS.

21 days.

504 hours.

No one freaked, no one lost sleep over them, no one had a shitfit, and if they'd really been bombs, the city could be in ruins and DHS would have done NOTHING to stop it.

Until now.

[uppityperson]

12. 3 weeks, over 10 cities, seems like either they were so inoffensive or

someones weren't doing their jobs.

[0rganism]

20. Check around, the Mooninites could be among us even now!

In your parking garage! At the library! In your mailbox! Under your bed!

It would be tragic if it weren't so funny, and vice versa.

[Squatch]

10. Absolutely.

Hey, there's a suspicious device! Let's shut down the entire fucking city, work the people into a fear-stoked frenzy....then when it's over, we can hold press conferences and call for the heads of the perpetrators of this, um, advertisement? :shrug:

[stillcool]

21. I don't think the police were at fault...

at all. The police get a load of phone-calls all at the same time about suspicious devices placed all around the city. And what...they should know it's an advertising scam? The city, the police, and the people should get played so some company can make more bling? The 'media' blew this up, not the mayor, the Boston police, or the governor. CNN had terrorist experts on the screen at the same time that the radio was telling me it was a hoax.

[CatWoman]

13. of course

we already knew that :)

[KG]

17. well, somebody had to say it, dammit!

:hi:

[Edweird]

14. the moononites give aid and comfort to AL KAY DA

be afraid. Why does cartoon network HATE AMERICA?

[GrantDem]

25. Good one... n/t

[burythehatchet]

23. you must not watch 24!

[C_U_L8R]

24. thank goodness it wasn't a 24 promo

they just make "viral" and "guerrilla" marketing literally