"Fake Bomb" at Logan

[1969912 0]

BOSTON — An MIT student wearing what turned out to be a fake bomb was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport and later claimed it was artwork, officials said.

Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board and wiring in plain view over a black hooded sweatshirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.... "She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare told The Associated Press. "And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297593,00.html

Does the picture look like a bomb?

What is it with Boston? Remember the Mooninite Menace?

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[n23x 0]

Fuck no it doesn't look like a bomb. This is just another look at how regoddamndiculous everyone is acting. What a bunch of vaginas, seriously.

Lets see. Boston is next to the ocean. All those people eat fish. Fish can contain mercury. Mercury poisoning must be what's making these people so goddamn dumb. (my logic is about as flawless as theirs)

We are not living in a "different time" now that 9/11 has long passed away, so anybody who wants to throw out comments like "common sense, or she should know better" is full of shit.

I unfortunately have had to carry prototype electronics carryon, and each time TSA throws a shit fit, I've just never had guns pointed at me.

Guess what Boston, if I was going to bomb a prime location, I wouldn't walk around with that shit hanging out, I'd hide it in everyday products so I could, I don't know, be discreet?

And let me ad to this. She didn't say it was a bomb, nothing I've read even indicated that she did anything to suggest it was a bomb. So it's not really a fake bomb is it? What a bunch of boobs!

There has to be something in the water over there...

.jim

edited: by the way 1969912, that is a rad name and occupation!

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[1969912 0]

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edited: by the way 1969912, that is a rad name and occupation!

Took me a second to figure that out. I agree.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[Bdog 0]

And just what does a bomb look like?

_________________________________________

---Future Darwin Award recipient-

[kallend 2,027]

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And just what does a bomb look like?

THIS is a bomb.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[n23x 0]

Exactly, Honeybuns, what does a bomb look like!?

My guess is NOT bright blinking lights and a ratsnest of wires.

Just a thought.

One of my "fun projects" is a high rate gps, 6 axis IMU, and 3 axis magnetometer combined to provide GREAT, cheap location and pose data. It's footprint is smaller than a deck of cards, with lots of guidance power. If I can pack all of that into a 70x40mm PCB, why the fuck would I need a giant breadboard to make a bomb?

The people who dislike us aren't dummies, too. So guess what? If you think it looks like a bomb, it's probably NOT a bomb.

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[lurch 0]

Can she sue the authorities for being psychotic? This is the second time Boston's powers-that-be have come across a homemade lighting project and immediately declared it a "fake bomb" and treated the creator as if it were in fact the case. Their inability to distinguish a bunch of fucking leds on a breadboard from a detonator should not be her problem, but she will be treated as if she had in fact deliberately shown up at the airport with one.
Christ. If they had bagged me with the bizarre homemade electronic gizmos I used to build as a teen I'd never see the light of day again.

Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

[Bdog 0]

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And just what does a bomb look like?

THIS is a bomb.

It doesn't even LOOK like a shoe

_________________________________________

---Future Darwin Award recipient-

[n23x 0]

Brilliant relation here. We should check out EVERYTHING, because EVERYTHING might be a bomb!

Off with your socks, please.

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[happythoughts 0]

People are warned not to make references to bombs or even joke about bombs. That is pretty clear to everyone.

Whatever she was doing was both.
Why did she think that she possessed a special privilege to do as she pleases ?

She is either:
a- mildly disturbed.
b- supremely stupid for thinking this would be funny to airport security.
c- both

In any instance, she needs to have a long talk with a shrink and get a grip on the reality that the rest of us (excluding Lindsey Lohan) live in.

[n23x 0]

I haven't seen a single thing that said that she indicated it was a bomb. Cite?

If she didn't say the word "bomb" to anybody, than to me she seems to be nothing more than a creative student who made a lighted display.

Wires and breadboards are a "reference to a bomb" in about the same way that a tree is a "reference to a house". Sure I could use the tree to make the house, but I could also use it to make a fucking canoe.

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[Amazon 7]

Well it dont look like a breadboard from a beginners circuitry set....

[quade 4]

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And just what does a bomb look like?

THIS is a bomb.

No. THIS is a bomb.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gawain 0]

I'll wave my finger at both sides of this. First off, if Star Simpson is so in need of making a statement, do it at a locale where security is designed to respond rapidly and to some extent lethally. It's an airport, not an art gallery. As nice as some airports are getting (Charlotte, NC, nice airport for exmple), it isn't a social gathering spot. ...and what the hell was she thinking with play-doh in her hands?

I'll make the observation that she is a smart kid with little common sense.

As for the authorities, they do not need to be explaining that lethal force might have been used. In fact, that is not something to brag about at all. Does "rapid response" need to be so overt? I don't know if every case calls for that.

Having said that, I completely understand why Logan is so sensitive about it, since Logan was a staging point for the 9/11 hi-jackers. It's an unfortunate reality.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[quade 4]

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Well it dont look like a breadboard from a beginners circuitry set....

That's EXACTLY what it is and exactly what it looks like to anyone that has taken an electronics class in the last 30 years.

It's a crap assed Electronics 101 led display. Not even a "good" one at that.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[1969912 0]

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Well it dont look like a breadboard from a beginners circuitry set....

Well, it actually IS a breadboard of the size that a 1st or 2nd year EE student would use. Radio Shack #276-001 or similar http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2882885&cp=&sr=1&origkw=breadboard&kw=breadboard&parentPage=search

Let's assume the police really thought the girl was wearing suspicious looking electronics (I believe that they did). So they stop her outside the airport, point a suppressed H&K MP-5 rifle(s) at her, etc. She explains that it is a wearable electronic art item she slapped together at school, and also notes that the back of her sweatshirt is marked with an MIT EE/CS course study logo. The police then investigate. Turns out the "bomb" circuit is a handful of green LED's and current limiting resistors, with the LED's arranged in the shape of a stick figure of a person; the LED's don't even blink. The girl has no airline ticket, and never attempted to enter secured parts of the airport (i.e. past radiography/magnetometry). She made no threats, and never implied that she had a bomb.

OK, so the police were wrong about it being a bomb, and there is no indication that the girl intended it to look like one. So what do they do? Do they talk to her about the fear that Americans have of shit like that and suggest that she refrain from wearing in in airports in the future, then let her go? No, they charge her ass with possession of a "Hoax Device," then slap her in jail until she can get bailed out. Totally bogus charges. The police and prosecutor ar a bunch of asstunnels.

That is the real problem, IMHO.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[n23x 0]

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and what the hell was she thinking with play-doh in her hands?

Oh my god, play-doh! Are you serious? What a dumb hoe!

Because, once again, if I was a bomber intent on using plastic explosive, we all know that I'd hold it it my hand rather than, oh, I don't know, worrying about having a primer in it so I could actually set it off.

On top of that:

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it isn't a social gathering spot.

No, it's not. But it is a place that someone might consider going if they were going to meet a friend who, hmmm, perhaps had been flying in an airplane?

(it's all in good fun, max, I'm not trying to bust your balls

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[Falling_Brick 0]

The airport authority had the duty to stop her and inspect whatever it was that she had on her shirt. Just because you don't think it looked like a bomb doesn't mean they didn't. Since they are responsible for the safety of many it is best they err on the side of safety. Better to charge 100 idiots like that girl then to let one bomb thru that is "hiding in plain sight".
People need to know that airport security and customs agents have no sense of humor. If you mess with them by joking about a bomb in any way they will remove you and charge you...end of story. Don't like it? Don't fly.

[n23x 0]

So inspect her and let her on her way.

If you are charged with the task of finding bomb's, you should be competent enough to recognize what is not a bomb.

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People need to know that airport security and customs agents have no sense of humor. If you mess with them by joking about a bomb in any way they will remove you and charge you...end of story. Don't like it? Don't fly.

When did she say it was a bomb? When did she suggest it was a bomb, or do anything suspicious enough warrant more than verification that it wasn't a bomb, and let her on her way?

You recognize that she was basically wearing a homemade light, with wording on the back of her sweatshirt that would suggest she is in a college electronics/CS class, right?

Just because she is being charged with "fake bomb" doesn't mean she said the word "bomb". Read the article.

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[1969912 0]

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The airport authority had the duty to stop her and inspect whatever it was that she had on her shirt. Just because you don't think it looked like a bomb doesn't mean they didn't. Since they are responsible for the safety of many it is best they err on the side of safety. Better to charge 100 idiots like that girl then to let one bomb thru that is "hiding in plain sight".
People need to know that airport security and customs agents have no sense of humor. If you mess with them by joking about a bomb in any way they will remove you and charge you...end of story. Don't like it? Don't fly.

They did err on the side of safety. They were wrong. They should not have charged her with anything.

There is no indication that any "humor" was intended; MIT students, just like CalTech students do geeky things. There has been no evidence publicised that she was making a statement that had anything at all associated with security.

She had no intention of flying anywhere; she was picking someone up at the airport.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[Falling_Brick 0]

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So inspect her and let her on her way.

Bad precedent. Do that once and then people will think it's ok.

If you are charged with the task of finding bomb's, you should be competent enough to recognize what is not a bomb.

If it looks stupid but it works, then it's not stupid. Applies to bombs as well as anything.

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People need to know that airport security and customs agents have no sense of humor. If you mess with them by joking about a bomb in any way they will remove you and charge you...end of story. Don't like it? Don't fly.

When did she say it was a bomb? When did she suggest it was a bomb, or do anything suspicious enough warrant more than verification that it wasn't a bomb, and let her on her way?

You recognize that she was basically wearing a homemade light, with wording on the back of her sweatshirt that would suggest she is in a college electronics/CS class, right?

Just because she is being charged with "fake bomb" doesn't mean she said the word "bomb". Read the article.

I read the article from beginning to end and saw nowhere that she said the word "bomb". I never said that she did. A person doesn't have to say anything to pull off a joke.

.jim

[Falling_Brick 0]

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The airport authority had the duty to stop her and inspect whatever it was that she had on her shirt. Just because you don't think it looked like a bomb doesn't mean they didn't. Since they are responsible for the safety of many it is best they err on the side of safety. Better to charge 100 idiots like that girl then to let one bomb thru that is "hiding in plain sight".
People need to know that airport security and customs agents have no sense of humor. If you mess with them by joking about a bomb in any way they will remove you and charge you...end of story. Don't like it? Don't fly.

They did err on the side of safety. They were wrong. They should not have charged her with anything.

There is no indication that any "homor" was intended; MIT students, just like CalTech studnets do geeky things. There has been no evidence publicised that she was making a statement that had anything at all associated with security.

She had no intention of flying anywhere; she was picking someone up at the airport.

The airport security person's first duty is the safety of others....period. Was the girl doing it as a joke? Only she knows for sure, the law will assume she was. She said it was "art" but, being a student at MIT, she should have been smart enough to figure her little gadget may be mistaken for some sort of device used to trigger a bomb. If she didn't think of it before, she will now. Airport security did it's job. Be glad it wasn't really a bomb. The girl has been charged, as she should. At least she had the good sense to cooperate with them.

[n23x 0]

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So inspect her and let her on her way.

Bad precedent. Do that once and then people will think it's ok.

Oh my god! People will think it's ok to walk around with not-bombs on them? Preposterous!

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If it looks stupid but it works, then it's not stupid. Applies to bombs as well as anything.

No, it makes you questionably successful, while making you look unquestionably stupid. Charging people for a crime that's not really a crime is stupid.

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I read the article from beginning to end and saw nowhere that she said the word "bomb". I never said that she did. A person doesn't have to say anything to pull off a joke.

She didn't say it was a joke. She didn't say it was a bomb. She didn't say it was anything to try to trick, terrify, or even confuse authorities. She was wearing (get ready for this again because I'm not sure you heard me last time) lights on her shirt: the back of which (once again) suggested that she was in a college electronics course.

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[n23x 0]

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Be glad it wasn't really a bomb. The girl has been charged, as she should.

I'm dissatisfied that it wasn't. If it was, that might suggest to me that airport security stopped a legitimate threat to security. Instead, they are hassling and charging an innocent woman when all they had to do was say, "ooops, not a bomb? on your way, miss".

Would you call the police if you saw this girl walking in a store you were at?

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[1969912 0]

I have a Christmas tie that a gal gave me. It has a plastic pouch hidden inside that contains a PC board with an IC, a piezoelectric speaker, a switch, and a battery. Squeeze the switch, and it plays Christmas carols for a while, then shuts off.

So, while walking through the airport my tie is playing "Jingle Bells". BUSTED. Suppressed H&K MP-5 Full Auto rifle aimed at my head.

Should I be charged with a CRIME?????????

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG