I'm not sure the target market reads blogs.

Maybe Jim should mail a paper copy to the DC police, with the suggestion that they distribute it. Or an electronic copy, with "feel free to distribute verbatim" on it. Or without that.

This could be useful, actually. Get the community to do some of the research, saving police time for things only they can do. Sort of a CSI-at-home (like SETI-at-home).

Christopher, without even thinking hard I can think of acquaintances in the DC area who are or have been retail managers. No, a weblog isn't the most "targeted" way to get something like that out, but What The Hell.

You're right, of course, and I should have thought one more degree of separation out.

But I didn't at all intend to say that putting it up on Jim's blog, or yours, was a bad idea, just that Jim should also send the ideas to the authorities down DC way. As you say, What The Hell.

It was really meant as a compliment to the ideas, not a criticism of the medium.

In Newsday this morning, columnist Ellis Henican published an interview with David Kaczynski, brother of the Unabomber. It's an interesting perspective, where Kaczysnki talks about how it's likely someone in the shooter's family or social circle suspects that their relative or friend is doing the killing but is unsure and is wrestling with a societal taboo against betraying family.

It's here, at least for today: www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-nyhen162967323oct16,0,4534721.column

eh, I'm not so sure it's just a serial killer or a random sociopath. Conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg has some pretty good reasoning that hints at a possible Al Qaeda link. I encourage you to check out his column and see what you think.

Like Goldberg, I certainly wouldn't be shocked if the sniper (or sniper team, really) *did* turn out to be a serial killer, but right now I'm leaning towards a terrorist affiliation.

I don't think it's random either, but I also think there's a good chance it could be home-grown killers, i.e., Timothy McVeighs who decided this was a great time to go on a spree.

None of this makes me any more comfortable, seeing how I *live* here.

My wife and I drove past the Home Depot on 7-corners where the last victim was killed, about 10 minutes after the shooting took place. We were stopped an searched by police. Scary stuff.

Given the pattern/timing of shootings, I find myself also wondering if the sniper isn't a college or graduate student . . . .

Another possible explanation for "not on weekends" is that the guy might have weekend custody of his kids.

Which is kind of a creepy thought.