Boston Bomb Scare

[Cloud]

Hey there--this is my first post and I'm posting mainly because I want to see my name in lights! or something.

This whole story made me laugh. Yes, there are serious implications here, which I'm disinclined to debate, but . . .

the best part?

"we'll only take questions about hair!"

frickin' hilarious!

[BrianR]

New drinking game!

You have to do a shot of whiskey every time TW refers to the President as a "mental midget", blames all problems on "top management", invokes any Nazi reference or makes a post that has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Misspellings count.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

If tw's misspellings count, we'll all be too sozzled to see the screen.

[BigV]

From here:

Originally Posted by MTV

Given the massive effort, we wondered if — in light of the hundreds of false alarms called in every week around the country in the years since 9/11 — have we become too paranoid?

"I think it was the right reaction," said Ed Clark, former director of the Homeland Security Threats Office and Special Forces veteran. "We've accomplished the first phase of educating the American public in what they're required to do. We can't make the assumption that everything will be all right anymore." If nothing else, Clark said the response to the botched promo campaign was another opportunity for officials to get real-life, in-the-field experience.

Clark, who teaches a course on how to recognize suspicious devices, said he was encouraged that citizens called in the moon men. But even he admitted that it was not likely that a "transnational Islamic group would put a cartoon character flipping the bird" on an explosive device if they were serious about inflicting harm.

Russ Knocke, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, also praised authorities for their quick response and attempts to keep the public appraised of the situation. He said the stunt was just one of dozens of similar everyday incidents that are investigated and turn out to be false alarms. "Prior to the incidents in Boston, there were three or four [false alarms] around the Washington, D.C., area before noon," he said. "We need the public to be vigilant if they see something abnormal."

Then again, the devices sat around in Boston, the city's surrounding areas and nine other major cities for weeks without anyone calling in to report them. So does the Beantown bust really mean we're more or less vigilant? Have we even learned a lesson about what kinds of things are suspicious and what's probably a prank?

Not wanting to be out-securitized and over-responsified, the FEDERAL Gov't officials are saying how "right" the response has been. But what exactly went right? The cops picked up the phone when someone called? Ok, I'll buy that. They treated the unknown devices with an (over)abundance of caution? Ok, fine. But the rest of the Boston side of the story is off the rails, as far as I can see. Late reaction--weeks elapsed from the time they were placed to the time they were removed. Over reaction on the part of the prosecutors and the Governor. Puh-lease.

I've heard that the law they're being charged with, one felony charge of placing a hoax device and one charge of disorderly conduct, state Attorney General Martha . He had been hired to place the devices, she said. Here's an excerpt of the law. Love the phrase "infernal machine"!

Chapter 266: Section 102A1/2. Possession, transportation, use or placement of hoax devices; penalty; law enforcement or public safety officer exemption

Section 102A1/2. (a) Whoever possesses, transports, uses or places or causes another to knowingly or unknowingly possess, transport, use or place any hoax device or hoax substance with the intent to cause anxiety, unrest, fear or personal discomfort to any person or group of persons shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one-half years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the term “hoax device” shall mean any device that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such device is an infernal machine. For the purposes of this section, the term “infernal machine” shall mean any device for endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both, by fire or explosion, whether or not contrived to ignite or explode automatically. For the purposes of this section, the words “hoax substance” shall mean any substance that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such substance is a harmful chemical or biological agent, a poison, a harmful radioactive substance or any other substance for causing serious bodily injury, endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both.

And as to the snotty-sounding "statement to the press" by the two men arrested for this action, we don't (or shouldn't jail people for their attitude. Heh. They even made a movie of their work.

[glatt]

The judge didn't seem too impressed with the DA according to this article.

Judge Paul K. Leary seemed skeptical of the state's case, telling Grossman that the law requires that people must intend to create a panic to be charged with placing hoax devices. This case, the judge said, seemed to involve two men who relatives say were paid to place unorthodox advertisements throughout the city.

[skysidhe]

Maybe if they had a cryptic messages people would not look so ridiculous for panicing. The fact that people over reacted in one area but not in others proves the beauty of a light bright giving the finger. How perfect was that!

I say we pack-em' with C4 and make Tater-Bombs with a Jesus timer!
Eeeeevvvvilllllll!!!!!

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

I

hehehe

[Kitsune]

A camera I rigged up sometime ago to take pictures automatically while suspended from balloons versus the infamous "1 Call Missed" IED.

Uh-oh...

[Kitsune]

Sad. Turner is going to knuckle-under and cough up the cash.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Sad. Turner is going to knuckle-under and cough up the cash.

I don't think it's sad... I think this is a win win win for Turner. They got several times the return on investment for their advertising dollar, *even including* the cost of the response. PLUS they get to look like a good corporate citizen.

Come on, what in the world would they say otherwise, NO! You're all dumb poopy heads! Even if, no, especially if they are poopy heads, they can't say that. I think they're happy to pay, and thanks very much, don't forget to tune it to ATHF!!

Now, the double standard is having the individual pay. That's just punitive. I think there's a deeper well of sympathy for an individual (or two) for the public to draw on when the individual is in opposition to Gummint.

It's not consistent, but nothing about the whole situation is very rational for more than a couple of steps in a row. Then it's off the rails.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by BigV

I don't think it's sad... I think this is a win win win for Turner. They got several times the return on investment for their advertising dollar, *even including* the cost of the response. PLUS they get to look like a good corporate citizen.

This is a very good point. Anyone know how much the average advertising campaign is for a typical movie? It sounds like Turner probably got away with a steal (front page news, "breaking news" airtime) for $750,000-$1mil!

[Elspode]

So, what happens when the guilty are punished, and the doors are flung open for every Joe Briefcase who lost a critical deal or couldn't be present for the birth of a child, etc, etc, starts suing Turner for causing a disruption?

You just *know* some smart guy lawyer out there is going to find somebody who was seriously harmed by this stunt, right?

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by BigV

They got several times the return on investment for their advertising dollar, *even including* the cost of the response. PLUS they get to look like a good corporate citizen.

I guess it wasn't all good.

That is sad. Should come out of the idiots pay.