Boston wienies

Everyone was aflutter yesterday with the scene in Boston – mysterious packages found around the city, traffic shut down, cops in haz-mat suits. And, of course, the cable networks did their usual stellar job of beating a story to death with breathless wall to wall coverage, helping panic people. The local TV stations in Beantown were apparently even worse.

We all found out, of course, that it was a guerrilla marketing stunt for a Cartoon Network program, Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (I've never heard of it, but now I'll check it out.)

And local officials in Boston are outraged at Turner Broadcasting, demanding investigations and saying they're going to make them pay for the costs of this day of panic!

What seems to be getting ignored is that this same ad campaign took place in several cities across the country – including New York – and no-one panicked in these cities. Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia also got visited by the Aqua Teens and chaos did not ensue. Hell, in New York, the only time people really panic is if the Naked Cowboy in Times Square suddenly puts on his pants. Then you know something is wrong.

Buncha woosies in Boston.