WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -Much of the information that led the authorities to raise the terror alert at several large financial institutions in the New York City and Washington areas was three or four years old, intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Monday. They reported that they had not yet found concrete evidence that a terrorist plot or preparatory surveillance operations were still under way.

Also, Pakistan is claiming bragging rights or whatever that the prisoner they recently surrendered to our authorities (you know, the conveniently timed, big breaking news story surrender) provided a lot of the detail for the current terror alert in NYC and DC.

Life here in the flyover states, and also on the West Coast, goes on with Bertian edgy calm, but New York and Washington are on a more Ernieistic plane of existence. Thank goodness we know how we’re supposed to feel about this. And no, we’ve never gotten around to buying a lot of duct tape, bottled water, or non-perishable food. Because the Muppets make us safe. Kind of like a false sense of security blanket. 😉