TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: a5f103b8-e9d5-4616-8bd6-433d8a2d0898

What did YOU think when the lights went out?

BY Dave Ross  on February 4, 2013 @ 5:26 am (Updated: 6:35 am - 2/4/13 )

It was very strange. The game was looking like a Ravens blowout, and our group was kind of bored, and then someone said - "Hey are you watching this? The Superdome is dark, and players are just wandering around."

Suddenly, the year's biggest sports event was like watching CSPAN waiting for a confirmation hearing to start.

And I have to admit my first thought was what Defense Secretary Panetta warned about last October when he said that foreign computer hackers could take down the power grid.

"An attack that would paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability," Panetta had said.

We did briefly flip to the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, but how long can you watch a bunch of puppies fighting over a chew toy?

And then somebody said - let's check Twitter. The media vacuum was so intense that a bored nation was forced to turn to each other for entertainment.

And the marketers picked up on it instantly.

PBS tweeted that Downton Abbey would start in six minutes. Major League Baseball tweeted "pitchers and catchers report in 8 days." Walgreen's tweeted that they sell light bulbs. Oreo Cookies tweeted You can still dunk in the dark.

Entergy, the power company for New Orleans tweeted that the "power issue at the Super Dome appears to be on the customer's side." Just like MY power company says when I call!

The local disaster agency tweeted "power would be coming back on in 15 minutes, we ask you to stay calm." They always say 15 minutes, just like the airlines, and it never is.

Arianna Huffington tweeted, "Turning the power off -- classic little brother move."

Columnist David Corn tweeted "Finally, America cares about the infrastructure in New Orleans."

And Steve Martin tweeted "The Chinese again." My thoughts exactly.

Find more:
Photos: When the lights went out at the Superdome

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
More Dave Ross

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (35)


  • Add A Comment

  • cdbtx wrote...
    The other theory
    February 4, 2013 7:26 am
    The network did it... Think about how many more ads they were able to run during that 34 minute period..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Immaculate conception..
    February 4, 2013 7:40 am
    500 new babies will be born in 9 months to parents that were at the Superdome yesterday.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gar57 wrote...
    best tweet during blackout?
    February 4, 2013 7:43 am
    "Is this where Bane appears?"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    I thought..
    February 4, 2013 8:27 am
    ...someone from that horrible Jazzercise class of a halftime show had pulled the wrong circuit. I then tweeted my son who's learning how to be a master electrician for event lighting "There might be a job opening for you in New Orleans". Finally, I found out what caused it. On Craig Ferguson's Super Bowl special, we found out it was because Craig had plugged in Lucy Liu's cell phone for a charge.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    It was Global Warming
    February 4, 2013 8:43 am
    And gun violence that caused this. The only solutions are higher taxes and more regulations.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    It was Bush's Fault
    February 4, 2013 9:05 am
    for not giving enough aid money to N.O. after Katrina to rebuild their power grid.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Both the Civil War and Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn....
    February 4, 2013 9:25 am
    were also Bush's fault.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    In defense of the Superdome
    February 4, 2013 9:25 am
    Last time I was in New Orleans, I blacked out too
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • doublej wrote...
    Ray Lewis didn't kill the lights
    February 4, 2013 9:27 am
    But he was there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    The instant the lights went out
    February 4, 2013 10:00 am
    I, for a moment, experienced what it feels like for a liberal the moment they become "enlightened".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    A disgruntled 49ers fan did it.
    February 4, 2013 10:24 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }