Colleagues --the article below on the Boston Marathon bombings, considers some of the complexities and ironies new surveillance and communication tools bring to borders, citizens and social control in democratic societies.As always, or at least most of the time, prudence consists in weighing, if not necessarily balancing, conflicting goals and social processes. Critical comments and ties to related work are most welcomed. Gary http://web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/marx-publicas.html www.garymarx.net