Does This Look Scary to You?

So, the big bomb scare in Boston turns out to be nothing more than guerrilla marketing for the cartoon series Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Boston Mayor "Mumbles" Menino is furious at Turner Broadcasting for causing the uproar.

He's also peeved that he only rated a call from a PR person and not someone at the executive level and he's vowing to bring the full array of charges at everyone and anyone involved, including suing Turner Broadcasting.

Should the outrage be replaced by embarrassment? I think so. The devices were placed in 38 locations around Boston two weeks ago. They were also placed in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Of the 38 Boston, only nine were part of the panic. Kind of makes one wonder about the city's ability to defend itself against terrorists, eh? And like the commenter said on the post below, the other cities managed to realize that the devices weren't bombs, so what's up with Boston?

Many Bostonians agree. According to a Boston Herald Survey 51% of the people asked think Turner did nothing wrong and officials should have known it was not terrorism.

Apology Extended? At the Very Least

BREAKING NEWS: CNN is expected to issue an apology for causing today's series of bomb scares throughout Boston. A statement emailed to the Globe from Turner Broadcasting said: "The “packages” in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger. They are part of an outdoor marketing campaign in 10 cities in support of Adult Swim’s animated television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger."

In all, nine devices were found scattered around Boston. Portions of highways were closed, the Coast Guard closed the Charles River, and Storrow Drive closed for a while. Boston traffic is bad enough on a good day.....
I'm sure all those folks who were stuck in snarled traffic for hours and half scared to death will be very happy to receive that apology.