Author Archives: Jeff Porten

  • Melody Kramer:
    I was hoping they’d name dishes after people who work here. I wanted to eat Ross Douhat’s nougat. (This doesn’t rhyme the way I want it to.)

I hear the RW Apples are tasty.

Considering I’m posting about Boston on a site named “Conspiracy Theories”, I’ll be curious to see what traffic I get this weekend.

Riffing some thoughts on Boston, Friday

Posted on

1) So far today, I’ve seen two names and one license plate retracted. Think twice, then a third time, before tweeting any identifying information about suspects if you’re not warning friends in Boston.

2) Yes, decent people can commit horrendous criminal acts. SPECULATION: a sociopath can easily code-switch between acting decently and acting horrendously.

3) SPECULATION: if mental illness is part of this, many diseases that cause violent ideation start in late teens, early 20s.

4) SPECULATION: according to retweets of friends of the at-large suspect, the big brother (deceased) may have held sway over the younger. Cf. Jim Jones, Charlie Manson, and Scientology for indications of just how far this kind of thing can go.

5) I’m completely opposed to and appalled by many actions that we take that smack of police state activities, and our general acquiescence to same. That said: a suspect is on the loose in Boston and may be carrying explosives. He is also expecting imminent capture and may well choose to commit suicide rather than being taken alive. It is entirely prudent to prevent crowds gathering, and to take measures to make sure he can’t easily leave the city.

That said, it is also true that the more easily we shut down major cities, the more vectors for economic attack we provide future would-be criminals and copycats looking for their fifteen minutes. It is crucial that we discuss this is a calm and considered way as a society, and almost certain that we won’t in the near future.

“@BuzzFeed: RT @BostonGlobe: FBI: bombing suspect may be Honda Civic” // CANCELLED. Please retract retweet so no one is shot. @davewiner

  • Kirk McElhearn:
    So if they don’t find this guy in Boston, do they keep the city shut down tomorrow? And the next day?

The problem is: 1) guy may have explosives; 2) may decide to go out with a bang. Shutting down crowds.

I’m definitely concerned about police state overtures, but if there’s an extant threat? As long as necessary.

  • Lex Friedman:
    Regarding citywide shutdowns: If you leave your house, are you breaking a law? Genuinely curious about the legalities of shelter in place.
  • Philip Michaels:
    No. But you run the risk of either being mistaken for a suspect or diverting resources from emergency response teams.
  • Philip Michaels:
    It’s one of the reasons homesteaders who refuse to heed evacuation orders during disasters are selfish jerks.
  • Lex Friedman:
    oh, agreed 100%. I was wondering about women who go into labor, or college kids with no food available.
  • Philip Michaels:
    Obviously, college kids with no food available during shelter-in-place should resort to eating each other.

I think college kids are into that already.

  • Philip Michaels:
    Please do not sully my perfectly harmless exhortations to commit cannibalism with something tawdry.

Remember, when writing Dahmerworld, there is no intercapped “W”.

  • Abigail Collazo:
    *gags* RT : The constant background noise of sexism. Calling skilled, educated grown women “young girls”.

I agree with the background noise idea, but “girl” is also semantic equivalent of “guy”. Not sure where line is.

Guys and girls dates back at least to 1950s. Infantilizing probably reason for it.

But the word has dual meanings now, at least in context. Agreed, not appropriate professionally.

Thanks for the link. Not saying it can’t/shouldn’t be changed.

  • The Rude Pundit:
    We’ve all been waiting to freak out again since just after 9/11, so, hey, let’s turn the crazy up to high and party.

actually, mood in DC is normal.

  • Atrios:
    i never cease to be amazed at how americans react to foreign born people. like they’re from pluto

in my experience, the same people react to Jews the same way. Unfamiliar.

No video here. Is that a joke? How the hell can they do that?

  • Abigail Collazo:
    what do you mean, how can they do that? they’re not shutting down Twitter itself, just not posting updates to their own feed

ah, misinterpreted your tweet. Couldn’t watch the video for source.

  • Dan Moren:
    I will not eat all the cookies in the house. I will not eat all the cookies in the house. I will not eat all the cookies in the … damn it.
  • Serenity Caldwell:
    And me eating half a pint of ice cream. We’re a good team.

If there were ever a week when you two were allowed to splurge on comfort food…

  • Glenn Fleishman:
    I note in times of terror, people post adorable dog pictures instead of cat pictures.

also, dogs eat cats. Chad gad ya, chad gad ya.