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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Late Night Open Thread

Late Night Open Thread

by John Cole|  April 18, 201311:27 pm| 181 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Grab your seatbelts, this one is going to ramble. You’ve been warned.

Just woke up from a great nap that was induced by forcing myself to watch Pirates baseball. I made a promise to my mom this year that I would watch more Pirates games this season, after what has been basically a 15 year hiatus. I’ve caught a game here or there over the decades, but haven’t been much of a fan since Sid Bream’s fat ass slid across home plate while Barry Bonds did- fuck, what was he doing?- in 1992. At any rate, I watched the game and fell asleep in the chair and woke up remarkably refreshed so I will probably be able to watch another episode of Ripper Street tonight (why are they all 75 minutes, FFS?). I was also in a foxhole during training at Fort Dix listening to the Islanders beat the Pens in OT in game 7 listening on my earphones, and I yelled out in the pitch black “FFFFFUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK” and got reprimanded by the #1 Sergeant.

It’s been a beautiful day here all day- 80 degrees at one point and clear blue skies all day. In a one week period (last week I talked about the grass changing color) all the trees have gone from barren to blooming. The peach tree down the road is beautiful, as are all the Asian Pear trees. My favorite tree, a massive oak in my neighbors yard, a tree that I spend hours looking at because it is just so big and pretty and a real giant, has just erupted with green foliage. On top of that, my spiders are back. I was sitting on the back porch drinking a cup of tea (Ginger Root Superior from Uptontea.com) and I saw two of them dive bomb me and one actually landed on my arm before pulling itself back up to protect my house from bugs. Also, the bats are back, and I saw several of them cruising around making my area of operations bug free.

Currently burning some really solid lavender essential oil that I got from mountainroseherbs.com, and along with with upton tea I think they are probably my favorite company that no one uses. I get all my spices and herbs from them (except for the fresh stuff from the garden and herb baskets). I’m also planning my garden, and I think this year I am going to really work to just make solid slicer tomatoes and maybe a bunch of heirlooms. Those really are my favorite. Nothing beats sliced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and olive oil and vinegar.

Other than that, I got nothing to say. I suppose I could share the very lurid details about the dream I had yesterday in which a topless Rosario Dawson and Bar Rafaeli gave me an alcohol sponge bath when I was feverish, but I have a mirror and I know what I look like naked, so I will spare you those details (even though it was awesome).

And that is all I have to say about that. Oh, also too, it is this time of year:

I so adore that band. The soundtrack of my life.

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Reader Interactions

181Comments

  1. 1.

    Hill Dweller

    April 18, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    There is a shooting at MIT and a 7.0m earthquake off the coast of Japan.

  2. 2.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    Other than that, I got nothing to say. I suppose I could share the very lurid details about the dream I had yesterday in which a topless Rosario Dawson and Bar Rafaeli gave me an alcohol sponge bath when I was feverish, but I have a mirror and I know what I look like naked, so I will spare you those details (even though it was awesome).

    Dude, WTF? Even mentioning this… Seriously, WTF?

  3. 3.

    John Cole

    April 18, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: And I got the reaction I desired.

  4. 4.

    John Cole

    April 18, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was trolling his own website every day for ten years.

  5. 5.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    @John Cole: Well, I have had a great day so I am happy that I was able to help you out.

    ETA: I was previously unfamiliar with Bar Rafaeli, so thanks for that.

  6. 6.

    Gin & Tonic

    April 18, 2013 at 11:33 pm

    Guys who dream about Bar Rafeli don’t burn lavender essential oil. Just sayin’.

  7. 7.

    Ira-NY

    April 18, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    Reports of shots being fired at MIT.

  8. 8.

    Redshirt

    April 18, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    lolwut? Seriously. What?!

  9. 9.

    patrick II

    April 18, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    Rosario has a movie out right now — Trance. She is a fabulous looking woman.

  10. 10.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    @John Cole: You’re T&H?

  11. 11.

    aangus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/gunshots-heard-on-mit-campus/article11399532/

    MIT shooting.

  12. 12.

    p.a.

    April 18, 2013 at 11:40 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: he’s sensitive

  13. 13.

    ffredpalakon

    April 18, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    @Redshirt:

    Yes:

    https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mitshooting&src=hash

  14. 14.

    PsiFighter37

    April 18, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’ll take his dreams over mine, which rarely occur and generally make me wake up feeling like something bad or sad happened.

  15. 15.

    scav

    April 18, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    Well, at least the earthquake appears off toward the Kuril end of the things and not wildly close to population centers. Take what we can get this week.

  16. 16.

    Calming Influence

    April 18, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    Asian pear trees. Ginger root tea. lavender oil.

    That’s it. Cole has completed his transformation Redneck Right Winger to Dirty Fucking Hippy.

  17. 17.

    Inyake

    April 18, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    Yay, for Mountain Rose Herbs. My neck of the woods.

  18. 18.

    aangus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    MIT website confirms.

    http://emergency.mit.net/emergency/

  19. 19.

    Redshirt

    April 18, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    Tom is still Tweeting, FYI

  20. 20.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 18, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    @Redshirt: Good news. I was thinking it’s probably too late for a post from him.

  21. 21.

    Hill Dweller

    April 18, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    An officer has been wounded at MIT, and transported to Mass General.

  22. 22.

    Alison

    April 18, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    @PsiFighter37: Pardon my pedantry, but it’s not that they rarely occur, it’s that you rarely recall them :)

  23. 23.

    MikeJ

    April 18, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    @Hill Dweller: boston.com says “life threatening injuries” for transported cop.

  24. 24.

    Alison

    April 18, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Also too, this week needs to stop. Seriously. :(

  25. 25.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    @PsiFighter37: I almost never remember mine. However, this morning I woke up with the tune, but not the words, of Robyn’s “Call your Girlfriend” running through my head. It was about an hour before I connected the tune with the words and then the artist/title.

  26. 26.

    JCJ

    April 18, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Good evening Mr Omnibus. Two things – 1)congrats on the job! and 2)how can someone from Wisconsin be civil to Cole when he is yammering about the beautiful weather in WV while we are putting up with the “spring” we are having?

  27. 27.

    the Conster

    April 18, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    Jesus, this week

  28. 28.

    Suzanne

    April 18, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    Good Lord. Boston has had enough lately.

    On more prosaic topics, I am doing Weight Watchers. I just bought a scale. My weight fluctuates lie 3-5 pounds over the course of the day. Is that normal, or is my scale a POS?

  29. 29.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 18, 2013 at 11:59 pm

    @JCJ: Thanks and I don’t really like summer. The rain has put a crimp in my cycling though.

    ETA: The dude is in WV. Have some pity.

  30. 30.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 12:00 am

    @Suzanne: In my experience, as a heavy guy, fluctuation is normal. Don’t they (WW) to say to pick a specific time of day to weigh yourself? Usually morning with diets I’ve tried.

  31. 31.

    TaMara (BHF)

    April 19, 2013 at 12:00 am

    Fine, just fine. Ice pellets. We had actual ice pellets this week. There is not a bud to be seen and I just had to cancel my trip to LA and Santa Monica beach. So grumble, grumble, grumble. I’m glad you’re having good weather, but damn, share please.

    In better news, my new neighbor has the most precious dog ever and since he works long hours, I’ve convinced him to give me a key and I get to walk her. Dog fever abated for now.

  32. 32.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:00 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Do you have a new job? I have been really REALLY busy and have not hung out here as much as I’d like recently. Congrats! Whatcha doin? (Besides your hot young lady friend.)

  33. 33.

    Narcissus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:00 am

    I just googled Rosario Dawson Nude

    I was not disappoint

  34. 34.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:01 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I have no idea. Like, how do I lose 5 pounds overnight? Unless I’m sleep-pooping. Which I don’t think is happening.

  35. 35.

    Suffern ACE

    April 19, 2013 at 12:02 am

    Like your dreams better than mine, I guess. In my last dream Markie Post or someone who looked like her, convinced me that she was a Supreme Court justice and stole my wallet and cell phone. I’d look up in the dream book what that means, but I’ll just allow the anonymity of the Internet to protect me from the shame of outing myself as a guy with embarrassingly unresolved issues and outdated cultural references in my dreamworlds.

  36. 36.

    magurakurin

    April 19, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Has there been a discussion(ha ha)here about the release of the suspect photos? Just wondering. The only place I’m seeing anything among my regular stops is TPM. Not a lot on the Google News feed either. What’s the general feeling over there about the fact that they seem to be young white males? Silence? Disbelief? Anger? Serious question not snark as I am not there and am genuinely curious.

  37. 37.

    YellowJournalism

    April 19, 2013 at 12:04 am

    I wonder if John enjoys the Rosario’s ABC dance in Clerks 2 as much as my hubby does. Can’t listen to that damn song without him giggling like a 12-year-old boy.

  38. 38.

    Suffern ACE

    April 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

    @the Conster: I was thinking – remember that good week we were having when North Korea was claiming it would blast us away in a wall of fire? What happened to feel good weeks like we had in the old days?

  39. 39.

    eemom

    April 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

    In spring, a young Cole’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of_____.
    Discuss.

  40. 40.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

    @Suzanne: I think it’s a generally true that people weigh less in the morning. Don’t know why,

  41. 41.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

    @Suzanne: I got a tentative offer today for something I really want.

  42. 42.

    Dee Loralei IPhone

    April 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

    Thank God, Leveson is still tweeting . That poor city has had enough thus week. I move that from now on every third week in April the entire US hibernates or something. April is the cruelest month indeed.

  43. 43.

    Narcissus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:07 am

    @Suffern ACE: Markie Post dear god

    1984 called

    It wants its wet dream back

  44. 44.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 12:09 am

    Officer shot at MIT has died.

  45. 45.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:10 am

    @Hill Dweller: Fuck.

  46. 46.

    eemom

    April 19, 2013 at 12:12 am

    A long time ago I read a dystopian short story, I think it may have been by Hunter Thompson, about a world where people get up each morning and basically shoot their way through the day.

    That’s where we’re headed. I hate this fucked up country.

  47. 47.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 12:12 am

    @Suzanne: It’s water weight. This is why most people have to urinate first thing in the morning.

  48. 48.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:13 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: WOOTAGE! That’s awesome. WTG.

  49. 49.

    JCT

    April 19, 2013 at 12:13 am

    Interesting — the guy who lost both his legs apparently ID’d one of the bombers:
    Bloomberg

  50. 50.

    KG

    April 19, 2013 at 12:14 am

    @Suzanne: it is normal, it’s probably water weight and depends on what you’re doing/eating/drinking. If you’re going to weigh yourself daily, do it at the same time every day. But really you shouldn’t weigh yourself everyday, do it every couple of days, like maybe three times a week. I’ve found the everyday approach leads to self defeating obsession.

  51. 51.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:15 am

    @Suzanne:

    My weight fluctuates lie 3-5 pounds over the course of the day. Is that normal, or is my scale a POS?

    100 percent normal. Basically, what you’re seeing is the food and liquid you consume throughout the day move through your body. So you generally will weigh less first thing in the morning (after your body has been metabolizing food all night) and weigh more at the end of day.

    ETA: And, yes, do NOT weigh yourself several times a day unless you want to drive yourself insane. If you must weigh daily (and WW does not recommend it), do it at the same time.

  52. 52.

    Suffern ACE

    April 19, 2013 at 12:17 am

    @magurakurin: ok. I don’t think it changes anything. It is a relief that they have a good lead and at the very least it will stop the stuff that has happened where people in the crowd have been singled out. However, it will not stop the revealing debate as to whether this is a right wing fantasy terrorist incident caused by Muslims or left wing pervycommieoccupy or the left fantasy that this is a Paulite-Alex Jonesite gone mad.

    The hard right, btw, still thinks that the original Saudi kid who was fingered three days ago had something to do with it and is being deported secretly.

  53. 53.

    Petorado

    April 19, 2013 at 12:19 am

    What is it with guns and places of learning. It’s like guns, and especially their fetishists, are diametrically opposed to higher thinking.

    I’m with the family and friends of the deceased officer in their grief. What the hell good did that act of violence accomplish?

  54. 54.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:19 am

    I bought a farmer’s market basket from work this week — anyone have any good kale recipes? I’m not fond of it, so I don’t think a kale salad or other uncooked version is going to work for me.

    I have my eye on a caldo verde, though probably the simplified WW version.

  55. 55.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:20 am

    @Mnemosyne: But my new scale is so much FUN! Is it wrong that I like to weigh myself, go poop, and then immediately weigh myself again?

  56. 56.

    YellowJournalism

    April 19, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Bombings, explosions, shootings, floods, poison letters, Repulican assholes, and racism all in te past few days…so, when is Wolf Blitzer drop-kicking a puppy off a skyscraper?

  57. 57.

    RaflW

    April 19, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Snowing like mad here in Minneapolis. I’m playing hooky this weekend by going to Colorado … to snowboard. Yep, if ya can’t beat ’em, join ’em. All the MN ski areas are closed, and Vail and Breck are having a bonus weekend, so I’m outta this snowstorm and heading to … a snowy weekend.

    It makes sense to me.

  58. 58.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:24 am

    @Suzanne:

    Is it wrong that I like to weigh myself, go poop, and then immediately weigh myself again?

    I’m pretty sure I saw a CSI episode like that once. It was the one where the rat comes out of the corpse’s mouth in the opening scene.

    If you’re scientifically fascinated by the fluctuations throughout the day, knock yourself out as long as you don’t take them too seriously as signs of progress (or lack of progress). But some people climb on and off the scale all day long and get seriously depressed because OMG I gained two pounds since this morning, so I’ve failed — I may as well eat that whole box of cookies.

    ETA: Full disclosure requirement — I am a former WW employee, so I know all the jargon. ;-)

  59. 59.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 12:24 am

    @Suzanne: Did you get one that measures your BMI? Then you really obsess!

    I echo what the others say about not weighing yourself every day. I’ve found a lot of times when dieting I’ll suddenly add a pound or two after some slow, steady loss, and even though I’m a veteran dieter (usually in May/June) and I know it’s coming and its temporary, it drives me nuts.

  60. 60.

    the Conster

    April 19, 2013 at 12:25 am

    @Mnemosyne:

    I liquefy kale in the blender with a little bit of juice or water and add a couple of glugs of it to my morning smoothie. It’s the only way I can eat it.

  61. 61.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:26 am

    @Suzanne:

    Is it wrong that I like to weigh myself, go poop, and then immediately weigh myself again?

    Yes. Oh, for fucks sake, yes. Or, at least, it is wrong to tell people about it. Jaysus.

    @eemom:

    That’s where we’re headed.

    No, it is not. It is a bad week. Momentum for the good guys is building. Giving up is what the assholes want us to do; don’t give them the fucking satisfaction.

  62. 62.

    TaMara (BHF)

    April 19, 2013 at 12:26 am

    @JCT: That’s just amazing. What courage. Just wow.

    One of the other really powerful pictures for me was the young man in a red shirt comforting a victim. I was so touched by that I wanted to know who he was and who she was. Turns out she and her mom were watching the race together, he didn’t know her, but in a video I saw, he’s pulling off his shirt to use on her wounded legs.

    That’s what I take away from this. All the good people who represent what is right in this world. So much stronger than the cowards who did this.

  63. 63.

    KG

    April 19, 2013 at 12:27 am

    @Mnemosyne: all my kale recipes include theses steps:

    1. Open trash can
    2. Insert kale
    3. Call for pizza

    So I’m probably not much help

  64. 64.

    mdblanche

    April 19, 2013 at 12:27 am

    The British and the French are calling for an investigation over their suspicions that Syria has been using chemical weapons.

  65. 65.

    Violet

    April 19, 2013 at 12:28 am

    @Suzanne: Yes, it’s completely normal. Like everyone says, morning is the most encouraging time to weigh yourself because you’re likely to weigh the least.

    @KG: Everyone is different. I find weighing myself every day keeps me on track more than once a week or only a few days per week. I think the key is to find what works for you and then do that.

  66. 66.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:28 am

    @TaMara (BHF):

    That’s what I take away from this. All the good people who represent what is right in this world. So much stronger than the cowards who did this.

    Yes, yes, yes.

  67. 67.

    scav

    April 19, 2013 at 12:29 am

    @Mnemosyne: Close to that idea, I’ve heard of it being added, as a chiffinade, to other soups (white bean, potato, etc) to up,the green content.

  68. 68.

    aangus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:30 am

    Pakistan police arrest ex-president Musharraf

    Pervez Musharraf detained at his residence in Islamabad and presented in court on treason allegations, police report.

    http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/04/2013419425176901.html

  69. 69.

    Mike in NC

    April 19, 2013 at 12:31 am

    @eemom: The NRA has this country by the short hairs, as has been the case for the past 40 years.

  70. 70.

    Steeplejack

    April 19, 2013 at 12:32 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Don’t they also say not to weigh yourself every day but more like once a week (at the same day and time)?

  71. 71.

    Violet

    April 19, 2013 at 12:33 am

    @Mnemosyne: Try kale chips. There are a bunch of recipes online, but basically toss with a bit of olive oil, season as you wish, bake in oven at medium temp. Yum.

  72. 72.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:34 am

    @Mnemosyne: I’ve been doing it for about a week and a half, and I’m down four pounds so far. So far, so good. I don’t have much to lose, though, only about 20 pounds.

    @Omnes Omnibus: Oh, whatever. On the blog written by the guy who mops naked and discusses TWO wetsuits and a dildo? NOW you get all princess-y?

  73. 73.

    KG

    April 19, 2013 at 12:35 am

    @Violet: fair enough. I think you’re definitely right about personal preferences. Also probably depends on what your goals are. I’ve usually been less interested in my weight than what I look like in he mirror before stepping into the shower, so weight has typically been a secondary concern for me, one of those things tha I figure would take care of itself along with the reat

  74. 74.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:36 am

    @Suzanne:

    On the blog written by the guy who mops naked and discusses TWO wetsuits and a dildo? NOW you get all princess-y?

    Yes. Now please remove this pea from beneath my mattress.

  75. 75.

    Suzanne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:38 am

    @KG: Concur. I want to fit back into my size 6 clothes. Don’t care about the number so much. I just don’t have a baby anymore, so I need to lose these last few.

  76. 76.

    TaMara (BHF)

    April 19, 2013 at 12:38 am

    @Mnemosyne: All my kale recipes include bacon. Lots of bacon. Kale garnish. ;-)

  77. 77.

    Yutsano

    April 19, 2013 at 12:38 am

    For MikeJ and all the other Seattle peeps.

  78. 78.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 19, 2013 at 12:42 am

    @KG: I couldn’t care less about my weight in pounds. I measure by how clothing fits and how I look. Since muscle is denser than fat, one can get thinner and gain weight (or at least not lose it) in certain circumstances.

  79. 79.

    David Koch

    April 19, 2013 at 12:42 am

    @Narcissus:

    I just googled Rosario Dawson Nude

    link or it didn’t happen

  80. 80.

    askew

    April 19, 2013 at 12:43 am

    This week sucks. Now, they are evacuating an entire town in Illinois due to a levee breach.

  81. 81.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 12:46 am

    @Yutsano: They left out this: http://imgur.com/gallery/dJluHYS

  82. 82.

    2liberal

    April 19, 2013 at 12:47 am

    topless Rosario Dawson and Bar Rafaeli gave me an alcohol sponge bath when I was feverish,

    Did you get a big wet kiss from Bar like in the super bowl ad?

  83. 83.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 19, 2013 at 12:48 am

    @Yutsano: A bit different from my years there, cause everyone worked for Boeing and Microsoft was in a small building off the 520.

  84. 84.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 12:48 am

    @askew: Needs a sloppy shuffle drum pattern.

  85. 85.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 12:50 am

    Multiple tweets are reporting a Mercedes SUV in Cambridge was just carjacked at gunpoint at a Shell station by two Middle Eastern men and is heading in the direction of New York. Something tells me they won’t make it that far. Now a shootout in Watertown: https://twitter.com/thetech/status/325109382381723649

  86. 86.

    mdblanche

    April 19, 2013 at 12:51 am

    But some of the Oklahoma House majority leader’s best friends are…

  87. 87.

    eemom

    April 19, 2013 at 12:51 am

    @Suzanne:

    You don’t know how HARD I am trying not to make a Chris Christie joke. ; )

    Whatev. Good luck with the diet. If it’s any help, I spent the first 10 years after my second kid was born losing and gaining the same 5 pounds…..and it’s been, um, uphill since then.

  88. 88.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 12:53 am

    @askew:

    My mother-in-law lives in Oak Park and says they have about 6 inches of black water in their basement right now. I had to look up where the town in the story is, and it’s pretty far away from her — downstate and to the west.

    This happens every couple of decades in Illinois — the Des Plaines flooded my last year of high school and a bunch of people had to be evacuated from the lower-lying areas of our town.

  89. 89.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 12:53 am

    @beltane: Live emergency services radio

    http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/6254/web

    “Shots fired, stolen SUV from state police”

  90. 90.

    JCT

    April 19, 2013 at 12:53 am

    @TaMara (BHF): I agree – incredible courage and humanity demonstrated by the first responders. For all they knew there could have been 5 more bombs about to go off, but they plunged right in. And if they hadn’t the death toll would have been far higher, lots of near bleed-outs.

    Inspiring and comforting at the same time. We can’t let senseless violence or fear define us.

  91. 91.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 12:54 am

    @beltane:

    Multiple tweets are reporting a Mercedes SUV in Cambridge was just carjacked at gunpoint at a Shell station by two Middle Eastern men and is heading in the direction of New York. Something tells me they won’t make it that far.

    They’re saying grenades are involved.

  92. 92.

    SatanicPanic

    April 19, 2013 at 12:54 am

    @magurakurin: The good news is for black and Asian men, who can breathe a sigh of relief that they probably won’t get harassed about this.

  93. 93.

    mclaren

    April 19, 2013 at 12:55 am

    What, no rats?

    Dude — rats, bats and spiders…good times, man. Good times.

  94. 94.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 12:56 am

    @MikeJ: Another officer down. This is some wild shit. I hope all you Balloon Juicers in the Boston area stay safe.

  95. 95.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    April 19, 2013 at 12:57 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: I will not hold it against you on becoming a judge, even though I was almost run over by one(or rather his driver).

    When I was in grad school doing research for my master’s thesis I went to DC. I had finished my research at the Library of Congress and was waiting for my roommate from college to arrive from Boston. So I decided to walk from the Capitol to the White House. While walking past the US District Courthouse I was nearly run over by a big black car with Supreme Court plates, looked in the back seat and there was the Chief Justice.

    The question I had for my roommate from college, he was a 3L at HLS, was if I sue how could I win. Congrats again.

  96. 96.

    David Koch

    April 19, 2013 at 1:00 am

    @eemom: sounds like the plots to the “Resident Evil” franchise.

  97. 97.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:00 am

    Suspect possibly injured. May have explosives. all units retreating.

    Dexter & Laurel in Watertown.

  98. 98.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 1:00 am

    @beltane: This has to be connected to the marathon bombing.

  99. 99.

    Narcissus

    April 19, 2013 at 1:01 am

    What the hell is going on in Boston

  100. 100.

    Morzer

    April 19, 2013 at 1:02 am

    http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/new-higher-resolution-image-of-boston-marathon-suspect-emerges/

    A new, clearer image of one of the suspects in the marathon bombings (the guy with the white baseball cap worn backwards) has been made available. The guy looks remarkably white and kinda like Cyrano de Bergerac to me, but I am obviously just a self-hating white male, so what would I know.

  101. 101.

    JCT

    April 19, 2013 at 1:03 am

    @Hill Dweller: I was thinking the same. Description of suspect doesn’t fit though.

  102. 102.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:04 am

    @Hill Dweller: The carjackers have grenades and automatic weapons. A 3rd officer is now down. Horrible.

  103. 103.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:04 am

    Jesus wept . I still think this sounds out of character for ‘terrorists’

  104. 104.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:05 am

    @JCT: Based on the higher resolution photos that turned up this evening, people were speculating that the guy in the white cap looked like he was wearing a wig and had some kind of fake nose on.

  105. 105.

    Joel

    April 19, 2013 at 1:05 am

    One in custody according to twitter. Frankly, I hope they do this motherfucker like Mussolini.

  106. 106.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:05 am

    @Narcissus: See the marker on this map? The yellow streets are the current perimeter (Mt Auburn, Walnut, School st).

    Cops being told to turn off mobile phones.

    Two explosive devices found.

  107. 107.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 1:06 am

    @JCT: I don’t mean it is one of the two bombers at the marathon. It feels like there was something in addition to the bombing planned.

    Or some wacko decided to try his own terrorist attack.

    eta: Reports of an IED on Laurel street.

  108. 108.

    arguingwithsignposts

    April 19, 2013 at 1:07 am

    @MikeJ: thanks for the link. lots better than trying to figure this out via twitter.

  109. 109.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:07 am

    @Joel: I want information. These guys acquired a huge arsenal. We are entitled to know how they did this.

    Suspect in custody is being described as a white male with brown pants and blue shirt.

  110. 110.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:07 am

    Suspect on his way to Beth Israel hospital.

  111. 111.

    MattR

    April 19, 2013 at 1:08 am

    @JCT:

    Description of suspect doesn’t fit though.

    Who gave tonight’s description and where is John King?

  112. 112.

    Morzer

    April 19, 2013 at 1:08 am

    @MikeJ:

    You gave me a hell of a shock. There are three streets with those names within a quarter mile of where I live.

  113. 113.

    mdblanche

    April 19, 2013 at 1:08 am

    I’m flipping between the cable news channels and all any of them are showing are reruns. WTF is the point of having 24 hour news channels if they do nothing but speculate when there’s no news and go to bed when there is?

  114. 114.

    scav

    April 19, 2013 at 1:08 am

    @JCT: It’s an assumption that there are only the two individuals involved, so still possible. Or just secondary fallout from increased scrutiny? Hard to predict.

  115. 115.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:10 am

    …and with all of these 24 hour networks, they’re all running tape. Fuckers can’t do a fucking thing right.

  116. 116.

    GregB

    April 19, 2013 at 1:11 am

    WBZ reporting one person in custody in Watertown MA. Other still at large.

  117. 117.

    MattR

    April 19, 2013 at 1:11 am

    @mdblanche: Here is some local boston coverage – both a live stream of video as well as twitter updates

  118. 118.

    JCT

    April 19, 2013 at 1:11 am

    @Hill Dweller: Well, if the reports of explosives are true – this is a lot of crazy for one week.

    My first thought when I heard something was going on at MIT was that someone had fingered a student as being involved in the bombing. I am still shocked over how young the suspects look. Feels like columbine.

  119. 119.

    Narcissus

    April 19, 2013 at 1:12 am

    @MikeJ: Keep up the commentary if you don’t mind, can’t get the scanner feed to load

  120. 120.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 1:13 am

    Both suspects in custody.

  121. 121.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:13 am

    One guy in custody, going to Beth Israel hospital.

    Cops have shut off cell service in area for fear of setting off what may be a bunch of IEDs the carjackers scattered like fucking candy on the street.

    Two “Middle eastern” guys or one blond white guy in PJs. Hopefully more solid info coming in soon.

  122. 122.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:13 am

    @JCT: Yup, part Klebold and Harris, part Lerner and Loeb, that’s what I’m feeling

  123. 123.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:14 am

    @? Martin: With the internet, the general public can listen to the police scanners themselves and post the information of Twitter and elsewhere without some overpaid nitwit acting as middleman. If the news channels provided accuracy they would still be worthwhile, but they are as liable to error as Twitter gossip and many times slower.

  124. 124.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:14 am

    @Hill Dweller: Where are you getting your info? Twitter?

  125. 125.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:14 am

    CNN has gone live

  126. 126.

    JCT

    April 19, 2013 at 1:15 am

    @MattR: LOL – from the initial reports from campus , said he was about 200lbs.

    I have tons of colleagues at the Longview campus and MGH – they must be at their wits end after this week.

  127. 127.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:15 am

    CBC is still playing yesterday’s The World. For once, I miss having cable.

  128. 128.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:16 am

    @MikeJ: Just a day late and a dollar short. I think the Boston bombing was the incident that finally rendered cable news obsolete.

  129. 129.

    magurakurin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:16 am

    Jesus, I went to go have lunch and all hell breaks out. Weird shit going down in the Old Country for sure.

  130. 130.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:18 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Here’s a link to local coverage which is where a lot of the people on Twitter are getting their information from http://t.co/ldemzV6eb0

  131. 131.

    GregB

    April 19, 2013 at 1:18 am

    Here’s another link to a Boston channel.

    Link.

  132. 132.

    magurakurin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:18 am

    @MikeJ:

    CNN has gone live

    Did Wold Blitzer say, “fuck it, we’ll do it live?”

  133. 133.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:18 am

    this Globe reporters feed reads like a bad novel

    Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 57s
    Cops emerging with man in custody.
    Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More
    Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 2m
    Horrifying silence right now. Cops have largely left this area and run further toward alleged explosions/shootout
    Expand
    Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 5m
    At one point police officers screamed that they feared IEDs, no explosions where I am but officers here were horrified. #MITShooting
    Expand
    Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 6m
    Talking to locals who heard gunshots and explosions. Many almost run off the road by police. #MITShooting
    Expand
    Wesley Lowery ‏@WesleyLowery 8m
    Ambulances speeding away from the scene

    https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery

  134. 134.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 1:19 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Twitter, scanner and Boston TV.

    The shooting at MIT took place at 10:45. So this has been going on for 2.5 hours.

    Explosions reported in Watertown.

  135. 135.

    MattR

    April 19, 2013 at 1:19 am

    @beltane: That site is being mirrored here if anyone has trouble reaching your link.

  136. 136.

    JPL

    April 19, 2013 at 1:19 am

    What are the odds that this is connected to Monday’s bombing?

  137. 137.

    arguingwithsignposts

    April 19, 2013 at 1:19 am

    @beltane:

    I think the Boston bombing was the incident that finally rendered cable news obsolete.

    I have been hearing that for the last several years with every breaking news that the cable news outlets fuck up. Until people stop watching and advertisers stop paying for it, they are not obsolete. Seriously, until Wolf Blitzer is fired for incompetence, it’s a nice thought, but that’s all it is.

  138. 138.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:19 am

    Det. McNeil says 2 in custody, state troopers say they may have another.

    Second person may not be a suspect, still searching him.

  139. 139.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:20 am

    @beltane: @Hill Dweller: Thanks

    CNN is giving live feed of WCVB

  140. 140.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:20 am

    Wonder if Obama stayed in Boston or returned to WH.

  141. 141.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:21 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Until people stop watching and advertisers stop paying for it, they are not obsolete.

    This.

  142. 142.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:21 am

    @JCT: That’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw the photos this morning. The guys looked so much like classic high school dorks. Maybe they were planning the perfect terrorist attack as part of some bizzarro mental exercise ala Raskolnikov in Crime & Punishment.

  143. 143.

    mdblanche

    April 19, 2013 at 1:22 am

    @? Martin: I’m pretty sure he left Boston some time in the afternoon.

  144. 144.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:23 am

    You can get the live stream from WCVB here.

  145. 145.

    TooManyJens

    April 19, 2013 at 1:23 am

    @JPL: If it is related, I don’t get it. What were they doing shooting someone at MIT? It’s not similar to the marathon incident at all.

  146. 146.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:24 am

    Live shot is looking pretty calm. Police don’t stroll when there’s armed suspects on the loose. I think this is over.

  147. 147.

    beltane

    April 19, 2013 at 1:24 am

    @? Martin: Among my circle of friends and family, the number of people watching cable news has shrunk dramatically. Only the older people who still trust what they see on TV watch it willingly.

    My PBS affiliate still shows the Lawrence Welk show and there are people who still watch it. Doesn’t mean it’s cutting edge.

  148. 148.

    Narcissus

    April 19, 2013 at 1:24 am

    @JPL: The IED stuff makes it sound related.

  149. 149.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:24 am

    “Officers reporting they may NOT have the second suspect.”

  150. 150.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:25 am

    Scanner: they may NOT have second suspect. Second guy may just be a witness.

  151. 151.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:25 am

    @Narcissus: Shit, Boston doesn’t get an incident like this even every 5 years. Two in 4 days? No fucking way they aren’t related in some way. This may not be those two guys, but it’s got to be related.

  152. 152.

    arguingwithsignposts

    April 19, 2013 at 1:26 am

    @beltane: And yet, when CNN reports that they’ve made an arrest in the bombing, eryone loses their shit. If CNN was obsolete, that wouldn’t matter.

  153. 153.

    Hill Dweller

    April 19, 2013 at 1:26 am

    Twitter is saying Homeland Security is rolling a tank-like vehicle down the street.

  154. 154.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 19, 2013 at 1:26 am

    CNN feed to local station makes it sound like they were lobbing grenades

    Live shot of gunman (?) on the ground

  155. 155.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:28 am

    Dammit, scanner feed died.

  156. 156.

    YellowJournalism

    April 19, 2013 at 1:28 am

    The guy looks so young…

    The poor officer’s family isn’t watching this, I hope.

  157. 157.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:28 am

    Police just loaded naked man into a car.

  158. 158.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    April 19, 2013 at 1:29 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: Also, CNN’s reach is a lot larger than just the channel called “CNN” on your TV. They provide feeds to local stations all over the country for all sorts of news stories, particularly things like this. It’s easy to actually be watching CNN content without realizing it.

  159. 159.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:30 am

    @beltane: Yeah, I watch Maddow and that’s about it now. They were useless when Dorner was running around.

    They started to get pretty worthless for wildfires and similar things years ago – one of dKos’s finer moments was liveblogging things like that. Not sure if they still do that or not.

  160. 160.

    Comrade Mary

    April 19, 2013 at 1:31 am

    holy fucking shit: local tweeters being told to turn off their phones if they want to live. could set off IEDs.

  161. 161.

    Suffern ACE

    April 19, 2013 at 1:32 am

    I hope these are related because if they aren’t what the hell is going on in Boston. At the same time, what kind of stoogey terrorists do we have that don’t have a better get away plan than this? Stealing a police car?

  162. 162.

    MattR

    April 19, 2013 at 1:35 am

    MSNBC has picked up coverage as well

  163. 163.

    ? Martin

    April 19, 2013 at 1:37 am

    @Suffern ACE: I was wondering that too. The only reason to stay around is if you’re planning something further. Otherwise, head for NYC and vanish.

  164. 164.

    daverave

    April 19, 2013 at 1:37 am

    You know usually when JC gives a shout-out to some classic band from the last century everyone here does some reminiscing about their connections to said band… tonight, nada, zilch. These are strange days indeed my friends.

  165. 165.

    JPL

    April 19, 2013 at 1:37 am

    The two suspects of the boston bombings had been identified by name and needed to get out of dodge. What better way than to shoot some cops and hi-jack some cars. I am John King and I approved this message.

  166. 166.

    scav

    April 19, 2013 at 1:37 am

    @Comrade Mary: could also just be bs so the police can get a grip on information flow so the suspect isn’t alerted as to their every move. Rather akin to the battling systems of tweets, blackout used to avoid kettling by the uk police in London.

  167. 167.

    Ruckus

    April 19, 2013 at 1:42 am

    @KG:
    Kale is an acquired taste. Don’t know where one goes to acquire it or how much it costs, but I don’t think anyone actually enjoys it. On the other hand you can make all kinds of things that taste good with kale in them. As long as it’s no more than a pinch. For every 20 lbs of other ingredients.

  168. 168.

    MikeJ

    April 19, 2013 at 1:45 am

    @scav:

    could also just be bs so the police can get a grip on information flow so the suspect isn’t alerted as to their every move

    On the radio the cops were told to turn off their own mobiles.

  169. 169.

    ffredpalakon

    April 19, 2013 at 1:46 am

    @MikeJ:

    This one’s still up:

    http://tunein.com/station/?StationId=146109

  170. 170.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 1:48 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Lerner and Loeb

    Leopold and Loeb. Lerner and Loewe were a songwriting team.
    /copy editor

  171. 171.

    Yutsano

    April 19, 2013 at 1:49 am

    @Ruckus: Americans eat that tough curly bitter stuff. In Italia they have their own version that is sweeter with flatter leaves. Plus dinosaurs!

  172. 172.

    scav

    April 19, 2013 at 1:50 am

    @MikeJ:
    thats a stronger clue, yep

  173. 173.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 1:54 am

    @Ruckus:

    I’ll probably put it in soup. I like strong greens in soup. Uncooked, not so much.

  174. 174.

    Mnemosyne

    April 19, 2013 at 1:55 am

    In lighter news, we’ll see if I’m allowed to sleep in my own bed tonight. Keaton has been taking over my pillow and it’s surprisingly hard to move a 15-pound cat who doesn’t want to be moved. Between him on my head and Charlotte pinning my legs, it hasn’t been easy to sleep.

  175. 175.

    Ruckus

    April 19, 2013 at 2:11 am

    @Mnemosyne:
    It’s not that hard to move a cat. You may not like the scratches but that’s the result, not the actual moving.
    Ex used to just throw her cat off the bed. Pissed him off but he didn’t come back to her side of the bed. My side sure but not hers. They had a touching relationship. He laid where he wanted and she touched him. Some what swiftly and forcefully. I think he liked me best.

  176. 176.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    April 19, 2013 at 2:13 am

    @Ruckus: My cat never tries to sleep on my bed. I think it’s because that since he was a kitten, he’s had a bed spot that is his, which he uses all the time.

  177. 177.

    Ruckus

    April 19, 2013 at 2:15 am

    @Yutsano:
    As long as it doesn’t taste like that crap that my sister used to make. She was a great cook but nothing could make kale taste good. Except leaving it out. Or as KG said, dispose of and eat pizza.

  178. 178.

    Ruckus

    April 19, 2013 at 2:19 am

    @The prophet Nostradumbass:
    Yeah ex’s cat had a favorite spot. Slept every night on my feet. Took me about a week to figure if he was going to sleep on my feet it was his problem that his bed moved.

  179. 179.

    Suffern ACE

    April 19, 2013 at 2:49 am

    How could they carjack a car carrying all of those weapons and that “unwieldy device”

  180. 180.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    April 19, 2013 at 3:13 am

    @Suffern ACE: Point guns at the car owner, order him/her to get out and load their crap into it, get in, drive off.

  181. 181.

    OmerosPeanut

    April 19, 2013 at 6:18 am

    One of the greatest live albums ever recorded. What else would people put up there?

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