• Lex Friedman:
  This is a song I love about Boston. It’s called BOSTON. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5NICMB3fDA …

@lexfri Performed by Boston?

• Darby Lines:
  The media has forgot the 1st rule. “Terrorism” is brown foreigners, Honkeys commit “random acts” Too early to say.

.@Angry_Drunk And remember, white people like Timothy McVeigh are criminals, not terrorists.

• Nate Silver:
  What matters: 1) who did it; 2) how they did it; 3) why they did it. What doesn’t matter: what we call it.

@fivethirtyeight It matters tonight. Saying “terrorism” can lead people to think they’re in danger. Tomorrow, less so.

• Jeff Jarvis:
  An attack designed for maximum media coverage.

.@jeffjarvis I doubt any attack on any crowded event would be any different. Was *not* timed well for maximum casualties.

.@jeffjarvis Don’t promote the untrue meme that all criminals are terrorists, or that all terrorists are hypercompetent.

• Andy Carvin:
  CNN cites local news report that a 5 yr old is among the dead. Hoping they’re wrong. Just awful b

@acarvin Typo? Other tweets say 8-yr-old victim.

• Andy Carvin:
  .@jeffporten my bad. Read it on a monitor from way across the room. Coulda sworn it was a five. Was thinking about my kids.

@acarvin No worries whatsoever. Only pointed it out because I knew it would matter to you.

@acarvin And no one will fault you for taking a Twitter break to go be with your kids.

@acarvin If you’re interested: a write-up on personal security, and reasons to stay calm. http://www.jeffporten.com/?p=5315  RT if you wish.

• terfle:
  As are we all. “@acarvin: .@jeffporten my bad. Read it on monitor across room. Coulda sworn it was five. Was thinking about my kids.”

MT @rezaaslan: Memo to NON NYers: @nypost is NOT legit news source. It’s the Enquirer but w/ a sportspage. Stop citing it” @jessespector

• Jesse Spector:
  Are people seriously getting caught up over what to call this? Two bombs went off in a public place. That is terrorism, whoever did it.

@jessespector NO. The word “terrorism” wrongly implies to many that it’s an organized attack. Better to NOT use it to avoid panic.

• Jesse Spector:
  @jeffporten I would argue that it takes a level of organization for even one person to pull off an attack. Terrorism sign ? Terror group.

@jessespector Of course. But “terror” attack has larger, very scary meanings. You have to consider how what you say can be misheard.

• Jesse Spector:
  @jeffporten Or you have to communicate messages in more than a sound bite,

@jessespector Not possible on Twitter, and I’m thinking of the 20,201 people who are reading you. Hell, most of them are *New Yorkers*. :-)

• David Corn:
  Doesn’t terrorism need a political or ideological motivation? Was Newtown terrorism?

• Christopher Hayes:
  If current fatality/injured ratio holds, a tremendous testament to first responders, & emergency medical professionals.

@chrislhayes And a likely indication of the amateurish preparation of the criminals who did this.

If your heart is with victims & you include a hashtag so everyone can see how concerned you are, you suck & should be netbanned for 24 hrs.

• Andy Carvin:
  Police chief says no suspect is being held. Is that the same as saying no injured person is under guard, as some news orgs claim?

@acarvin Reports using quote marks say “no arrest has been made.” Different from no suspect under guard.

@acarvin Is “in custody” different from “guarding someone at a hospital”?

CNN is reporting on Boston as a terrorist attack. President does not use that word. Fuck CNN for scaring the shit out of their viewers.

• Jesse Spector:
  You mean the newspaper that had a dick joke about a golfer on the front page yesterday isn’t a paragon of journalism?

@jessespector NPR is confirming the NYPost report.

• Jesse Spector:
  @jeffporten Really? Then why is Boston PD telling CNN it’s false?

@jessespector NPR reported that they had a second source. Don’t know who.

• Jesse Spector:
  @jeffporten The second source is what is key to journalism.

• Chird Perz:
  @jessespector @jeffporten CBS confirms also

@jessespector Oh. There are apparently multiple NYPost rumors. News to me. The “suspect in custody” is what NPR confirmed.

“@normative: Doesn’t mean @NYPost report is credible, but wouldn’t expect BPD to confirm suspect yet, for obvious reasons…” @jessespector

• Christopher Soghoian:
  RT @esizkur IEDs should leave a detectable signature in cell provider logs.

@csoghoian @esizkur Are you suggesting that the Boston authorities should not have turned off the network?

• Ralf (RPW):
  @jeffporten @csoghoian that is a matter that is entirely independent of this discussion.

.@dangillmor Please don’t retweet posts like this. People skimming Twitter will think that those numbers are newly from Boston.

I have some security expertise. Tips on personal safety and calm: http://www.jeffporten.com/?p=5315  Contact me if you have questions.

@danielpunkass and is being unconfirmed by other reporters on Twitter. No need to stay away from “all fed sites”, that just scares people.

• Daniel Jalkut:
  @jeffporten Yep. I deleted my original tweet and retweeted a correction. Still don’t think it’s a bad idea to retreat from likely targets.

@danielpunkass it’s a very bad idea if every tourist in DC simultaneously tries to evacuate. Panics are most dangerous thing outside of BOS.

@danielpunkass I don’t mean to sound harsh.

• Daniel Jalkut:
  @jeffporten I can appreciate it in that context. I didn’t consider my advice as being interpreted outside the Boston area.

@danielpunkass no worries. I don’t know where you are. Just have experience with panicky, misinformed people, who might be your followers.

@danielpunkass NYC and DC are both hunkering down. I’m sure other major cities are doing likewise.

• Daniel Jalkut:
  @jeffporten Basically at the time of my tweet my wife was leaving a federal building in Boston, so my emotions are high, too.

@danielpunkass I have a little expertise, so the only help I can provide is sharing with folks with bigger megaphones.

@danielpunkass I assume she’s alright, since you’re here? I have friends in Boston with a dog you can hug.

• Daniel Jalkut:
  @jeffporten She is alright, yes. Thanks.

@danielpunkass if you have any questions about your family’s personal safety, d me for a phone number. However I can help….

• Daniel Jalkut:
  @jeffporten Thanks I’m confident we are safe.