| HT to milo2000, who notes the WBZ story confirming that today's "suspicious device" scare that shut down parts of I-93 and Storrow Drive -- thereby making thousands of drivers sit in stalled traffic for hours -- are part of some stupid promotional stunt for "Adult Swim."
The suspicious devices which forced bomb units to scramble across Boston today were actually magnetic lights that are part of a marketing campaign for a television cartoon.... WBZ has obtained a statement from Turner Broadcasting:
"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 enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they mistakenly thought to pose any danger." A total of nine devices were found in Boston and Somerville.
Sorry, folks, but "we regret" isn't good enough. What on God's green earth were these people thinking, attaching weird-looking blinky-light devices under a bunch of bridges, apparently without even bothering to alert anyone in the city as to what they were doing?
ShillelaghLaw weighs in:
its a stupid f'ing idea to attach electrical devices to bridges in a crowded city in the post-9/11 world.
After all the public safety expense and all the people who were forced to sit in traffic because of this childish stunt, I hope someone goes to jail for this.
At the very least, the CEO of Turner Broadcasting should be paraded out at a press conference where he or she issues an abject, groveling apology to the Mayor, the Governor, and the people of Boston, and generously agrees to reimburse the city double the cost of the expense it incurred in responding to these things.
The stupidity of some in corporate America is really beyond belief sometimes.
UPDATE: From Governor Patrick (emphasis mine):
"I am pleased by the prompt, professional and well-coordinated response of law enforcement at all levels to this series of discoveries, and relieved that none of the devices presents a danger to the public. The investigation is ongoing, but there is no reason for anyone to panic.
"I am deeply dismayed to learn that many of the devices are a part of a marketing campaign by Turner Broadcasting. This stunt has caused considerable disruption and anxiety in our community. I understand that Turner Broadcasting has purported to apologize for this. I intend nonetheless to consult with the Attorney General and other advisors about what recourse we may have."
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