Boston temporarily closed parts of bridges, subway stations, an Interstate highway and even part of the Charles River on Wednesday after the authorities found what the police described as suspicious devices at nine places.
But the devices, which included circuit boards, turned out to be part of a marketing campaign by Turner Broadcasting to advertise a cartoon television show, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.”
This may be creative, but it is a bad, bad, bad idea. You can say we're overly paranoid about terrorism. You can say we're not paranoid enough about terrorism. But the fact remains, law enforcement takes weird electronic devices found in key locations, like bridges, very seriously.
One person has been arrested, and I imagine others will follow. They'll probably not end up in jail, but rather paying huge fines. The Mayor of Boston is ticked and planning (it looks like) to not only sue but press charges:
“It is outrageous, in a post-9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme,” Mr. Menino said in a statement. “I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today’s incidents.”
So, the next time one of your employees has a "fabulous, creative idea," please run it by legal. Or someone with half a brain.
4 comments:
Hi Evil,
Your lackey in Massachusetts is eager to report in on this. I work in downtown Boston. Last night, as I walked to South Station, I enjoyed the scene -- more police than at the St. Patrick's Day parade, German sheperds handled by professional trainers sniffing luggage at the Amtrack bay, flashing lights and an air of concern. Why were people concerned? The smart folks at Turner didn't let Boston know anything until around 5 PM! There were 38 devices found (and two pipe bombs which weren't related) and two rush hours adversely affected by a marketing department. No permits were ever taken out to apply battery operated devices to bridges and overpasses; no city officials were ever contacted about this blitz. I'm glad the two yahoos who placed the Boston devices were arrested, but I think Turner needs to pony up some cash to offset the cost of the intense police and bomb squad blitz. What if something else had happened in the city while the bomb squad was running around removing 'art'?
Obviously, I'm not pleased and plan on boycotting Turner.
Thanks for posting this and letting me get my two cents in!
Mrs. Bart
Anyone who makes Boston traffic worse than usual should be put in the stocks in the Public Garden and then we can all go and kick him in the shins.
Then turn him over to law enforcement.
I asked my hubby how this marketing group could be so dumb and he said, "You've obviously never been involved in an ad meeting." ;)
But Evil HR lady...what could go wrong if you please blinking and flashing electronic devices near bridges in one of the larger cities on the eat coast? Surely nothing....
Ugh, some people don't have brains.
So, the next time one of your employees has a "fabulous, creative idea," please run it by legal. Or someone with half a brain.
Wise words indeed.
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