# "Spectacular" attack. Great. Thanks. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 15, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864 "2002-11-15T13:44:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/1 "2002-11-15T13:44:47Z")
So now the FBI tells us there’s probably going to be a “Spectacular” terrorist attack soon. Well, that’s fucking helpful. I feel real prepared now. Mr. Singular is traveling across the country to visit his elderly father for Thanksgiving, and I get to sit here and gnaw my fucking nails down to the second knuckle worrying if he’s going to make it home. Up till now, I was merely apprehensive about this trip. Now I’m fucking terrified. And I can’t do a goddam thing about it. The real irony? I can’t go because I’ll be working on the flight deck door modifications, designing them to thwart the fucking terrorists. I’m gonna stock up on Rebel Yell for the duration-passing out might be the only rest I’ll get. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/2 "2002-11-15T14:37:54Z")
Spectacular! Coming soon! 'Terrorists On Ice" ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/3 "2002-11-15T14:47:44Z")
Yes, a spectacular attack. “Despite a lack of a specific target or specific credible evidence” (that’s a quote from KFWB All News Radio), we are to be on extra alert. Thanks, guys, but I’ve alrady met my alertness limit. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/4 "2002-11-15T14:54:50Z")
Sounds like fireworks will be involved. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/5 "2002-11-15T16:41:30Z")
A Spectacular spectacular. I’m waiting for a double plus bad attack. Then I’m really gonna worry. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/6 "2002-11-15T16:43:06Z")
“Spectacular” is the (macabre) word applied to any large act of terrorism. IIRC the IRA used it to describe anything big in England - mainly bombs - distinguised from other stuff like launching mortars or shooting people. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/7 "2002-11-15T16:47:19Z")
Yeah, I saw that item, too: “The FBI has determined that there are still three or four US citizens who still have crap and/or bejesus in them, so they have issued a new useless but menacing warning to scare it out.” ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/8 "2002-11-15T16:47:54Z")
Just how freaking alert are we supposed to be anyway? Should I start popping uppers and swilling Mt.Dew 24 hours a day? Should I set my alarm clock to go off every five minutes? Should I pay a dwarf to whack me in the shins if I yawn? Should I hook wires up to my testicles that zap me with a 1000 volts if I nod off for a second? Well, my weekend is planned. What were we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/9 "2002-11-15T16:56:12Z")
Will Phyllis Diller make an appearance? With special guest Donnie Osmond? ATTACK! - The Spectacular ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/10 "2002-11-15T17:02:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Will Phyllis Diller make an appearance? With special guest Donnie Osmond? > > ATTACK! - The Spectacular \*\* That _would_ be terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/11 "2002-11-15T17:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by singular1 \* > \*\*Now I’m fucking terrified. And I can’t do a goddam thing about it. > … > I’m gonna stock up on Rebel Yell for the duration-passing out might be the only rest I’ll get. \*\* Or valium, perhaps? Yummy! Give me two of the blue ones ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/12 "2002-11-15T17:26:44Z")
80% “fresh” on [Rottentomatoes.com](http://Rottentomatoes.com) Osama bin-TASTIC!! -Gene Shalit Taliban-TABULOUS!! -Rex Reed I laughed. I died!! - Leonard Maltin Two thumbs cut off!! -Ebert and Roper The year’s biggest disappointment. Overblown effects cannot make up for lack of plot, one dimnsional characters… -Newsweek ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/13 "2002-11-15T17:54:45Z")
So what color alert has Tom Ridge decreed for this weekend? ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/14 "2002-11-15T17:58:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by particlewill \* > \*\*Should I pay a dwarf to whack me in the shins if I yawn? \*\* If you don’t hire a dwarf to whack you in the shins, the terrorists will have already won. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/15 "2002-11-15T18:01:02Z")
Eleusis sez > [@](#): > > Or valium, perhaps? That’s what I’ll be washing down with the Rebel Yell, I guess… Like Tina Fey said- **Bitch, I can’t _be_ more alert!** ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Second\_Guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Guest)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/16 "2002-11-15T18:08:56Z")
That’s what we get for saying “I double-dog _dare_ you!” to Al-Qaida. When will we ever learn. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/17 "2002-11-15T18:12:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by particlewill \* > \*\*Just how freaking alert are we supposed to be anyway? Should I start popping uppers and swilling Mt.Dew 24 hours a day? Should I set my alarm clock to go off every five minutes? Should I pay a dwarf to whack me in the shins if I yawn? Should I hook wires up to my testicles that zap me with a 1000 volts if I nod off for a second? > > Well, my weekend is planned. > > What were we talking about? \*\* This one’s good. This one is very good. my own contribution: [Entertainment Tonight] Up next, the Spectacular Terrorist Attack! ET goes behind the camera to see who, and what, has everyone in Hollywood talking about not leaving the house! Stay tuned![/Entertainment Tonight] ---
**Author:** ![snermy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@snermy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snermy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/18 "2002-11-15T18:33:16Z")
Alert condition: Yellow So we should all just be pissing ourselves then? It’s fucking ridiculous. (And I can’t even hear the words “Homeland security” with a straight face. What the fuck has the Dept of Defense been doing all this time then? Someone needs to buy these guys a Thesaurus.) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/19 "2002-11-15T18:40:26Z")
The DoD is busy “defending” the _other_ hundred-and-something nations where our military is stationed. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864/20 "2002-11-15T18:42:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by singular1 \* > \*\* > Like Tina Fey said- > **Bitch, I can’t _be_ more alert!** \*\* 1. that was my sig for a while. 2. I think I actually wet my pants when she said that on the news 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectacular-attack-great-thanks/136864.md?page=2)