NationStates Jolt Archive

So you want to make a bomb? Ok, you want to hide it, on the visible part of bridges is a bad place to do it. Well, maybe you will make it look like a cartoon poster plaque, well, the visible wires and suspicious looking battery box are probably going to blow your cover there.

Wow. Just wow. I am in awe of the sheer brilliance. Bravo.

except no one knew that it's a battery box until it was taken apart.

Yeah it was cleverly disguised as a power source for the LED lights.

How many threads do we need about this :(

How many threads do we need about this :(

Dunno, is the Boston PD present? 'cause they might learn somethin.

I really want to buy a bunch of LiteBrites (which is essentially what those devices were), and write, "This is not a bomb" in them. Then, I'll leave them all around town and see how many get blown up. LOL

How many threads do we need about this :(

untill Khadgar realizes that Boston PD acted accordingly and untill he wins a thread argument about it.

untill Khadgar realizes that Boston PD acted accordingly and untill he wins a thread argument about it.

Yes, causing a panic (which could easily have been averted if they hadn't waited all day to let the press show pictures of the devices) and blowing up three separate devices, none of which reacted as an explosive device would have, is definitely what the police should do.

An oversized children's toy should always be mistaken for a bomb. And police should always cause a panic over it.

Yeah it was cleverly disguised as a power source for the LED lights.

even you couldn't determine the type of battery that ran the sign from the pic I said. you admitted that it was hidden, so again where is the visual proof (without taking it apart) that it was a harmless ad.

i propose a dedicated squad of trained bomb technicians be employed to carry out random checks on all instalations suspected of being so downright licentious as to contain wiring, illumination and/or a power source. we must KNOW, beyond all reasonable doubt, that all these potential weapons are safe to be allowed into the public realm. let no gizmo pass without a full cavity search!

And police should always cause a panic over it.

hey, its one of the few things they're really good at. are you going to deny them the exercise of their talents?

Yes, causing a panic (which could easily have been averted if they hadn't waited all day to let the press show pictures of the devices) and blowing up three separate devices, none of which reacted as an explosive device would have, is definitely what the police should do.

An oversized children's toy should always be mistaken for a bomb. And police should always cause a panic over it.

and one team did this? remember, they were getting calls all over town, so how do you know that those three devices they blew up were by the same bomb squad?

and yes, they shouldn't let it out because they were investigating it.

so where's the overreaction?

Oh jesus christ shut the fuck up

How many threads do we need about this :(

Maybe one more.

Maybe one more.

betcha can't stop with "One More"


NSG is more addicting than any potato chip.


... er.... Crisps... for our friends across the pond.

and one team did this? remember, they were getting calls all over town, so how do you know that those three devices they blew up were by the same bomb squad?

Any competent bomb squad could have *looked* at the devices and been almost absolutely certain that they weren't bombs. Meanwhile, if they weren't communicating with each other, even though they were releasing information to all of the news networks that there were bombs all over the city, they truly are incompetent.

and yes, they shouldn't let it out because they were investigating it.

The moment they released a picture of the device to the press, do you know what happened? Turner called and said, "Hey! Those are ours!"

so where's the overreaction?

The police caused a panic over something that didn't even vaguely resemble explosives. That's a pretty big overreaction.

It's sort of like the huge bomb scare at GATech last year that turned out to be coke bottles with dry ice and water in them - well, except that coke bottles with dry ice and water in them are actually slightly explosive.

except no one knew that it's a battery box until it was taken apart.

Maybe you should read context clues?

These people caused a panic. They should be tried for disturbing the peace, at least.
They didn't disturb the peace during the 3 weeks it took them to put them up.

Wow. Just wow. I am in awe of the sheer brilliance. Bravo.
Great argument.

*sits back and watches the fear and paranoia perpetuate*

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/01/boston.bombscare/index.html

Devices in place for weeks

Turner said the devices have been in place for two or three weeks in Boston; New York City; Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; San Francisco, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

However, only in Boston did the light boards create such a furor. In Seattle and several suburbs, the signs were removed without fuss, according to The Associated Press.

"We haven't had any calls to 911 regarding this," Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb told AP on Wednesday.

Police in Philadelphia told AP that authorities had confiscated 56 of the devices. In New York, a street was shut down for 45 minutes after two of the devices were found on an overpass, the New York Post reported. In all, 41 of the devices were found in the city, according to the newspaper.

In Portland, police Sgt. Brian Schmautz said officers had no plans to remove any of the signs, so long as they weren't on municipal property. Nor had officers been dispatched in any kind of bomb scare related to the devices.

"At this point we wouldn't even begin an investigation, because there's no reason to believe a crime has occurred," Schmautz said.

In Boston, however, state, local and federal authorities on Wednesday shut down the Boston University and Longfellow bridges, and blocked maritime traffic from the Charles River into Boston Harbor. Bomb squads scrambled throughout the city and its suburbs, snarling traffic and mass transit in the city.

Hmmmm. Nine other cities didn't stir up panic and inconvenience countless people over this. One isn't even bothering to remove the devices. But Boston had a freaking cow. Sounds like an overreaction to me.

"It had a very sinister appearance," Coakley told reporters. "It had a battery behind it, and wires."

Oh noes! Batteries and wires! My old Walkman is a weapon of mass destruction!

even you couldn't determine the type of battery that ran the sign from the pic I said. you admitted that it was hidden, so again where is the visual proof (without taking it apart) that it was a harmless ad.

From 50 feet off, it looks like a sign. It doesn't look like anything else until you're much closer. A point you are consistently ignoring hoping that I won't notice your evasion. You fail at debate.

Any competent bomb squad could have *looked* at the devices and been almost absolutely certain that they weren't bombs. Meanwhile, if they weren't communicating with each other, even though they were releasing information to all of the news networks that there were bombs all over the city, they truly are incompetent.yep because everyone knows that IED's only have one type of "look" can only be "remote Detonated" and not have mercury switches or any other form of detonators.

The moment they released a picture of the device to the press, do you know what happened? Turner called and said, "Hey! Those are ours!" and do you know what else happened when the media got information too fast? Jon Bonnet Ramsy.

The police caused a panic over something that didn't even vaguely resemble explosives. That's a pretty big overreaction. because all explosives look alike, so anything that doesn't match that look CAN'T be an explosive.

It's sort of like the huge bomb scare at GATech last year that turned out to be coke bottles with dry ice and water in them - well, except that coke bottles with dry ice and water in them are actually slightly explosive.yep, and when a bomb scare is made, who is arrested, the police for following procedures or the idiot who did the scare?

These people caused a panic. They should be tried for disturbing the peace, at least.

The police caused a panic.

Police departments in nine other cities didn't shut down half the city because of a bunch of Lite-Brites that were, at worst, a college prank.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/01/boston.bombscare/index.html

Hmmmm. Nine other cities didn't stir up panic and inconvenience countless people over this. One isn't even bothering to remove the devices. But Boston had a freaking cow. Sounds like an overreaction to me.yep... an over reaction on the police side. All the polices fault, not because of...
"We haven't had any calls to 911 regarding this," Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb told AP on Wednesday.

Police in Philadelphia told AP that authorities had confiscated 56 of the devices. In New York, a street was shut down for 45 minutes after two of the devices were found on an overpass, the New York Post reported. In all, 41 of the devices were found in the city, according to the newspaper.even New York took precautions.

[Oh noes! Batteries and wires! My old Walkman is a weapon of mass destruction!only if you got NSync or Brit Spears playing...

Great argument.
This coming from the one who first says that I must have been the one who called them in, then claimed that I want to make bombs.

Yeah, piss off.

yep because everyone knows that IED's only have one type of "look" can only be "remote Detonated" and not have mercury switches or any other form of detonators.

They take a little bit more than Lite-Brites.

and do you know what else happened when the media got information too fast? Jon Bonnet Ramsy.

Eh?

because all explosives look alike, so anything that doesn't match that look CAN'T be an explosive.

They all have shared characteristics. That's something that, you know, a bomb squad should know.

yep, and when a bomb scare is made, who is arrested, the police for following procedures or the idiot who did the scare?

If the person was trying to cause a bomb scare, that person is arrested. If they were not, anyone arrested is charged with, at the most, vandalism. Most times, they're charged with nothing at all.

yep... an over reaction on the police side. All the polices fault, not because of...

It's cute how you skip the fact that the cities are all well aware of the devices, and some of them have quietly removed them (or decided not to do so).

even New York took precautions.

"Took precautions", yes. Shut down half the city and caused a panic, no.

only if you got NSync or Brit Spears playing...

Tee hee.

I don't think you're very bright. "if you can't see a fucking D cell battery there's no way in hell you can see a thin blue wire". You can't see any batteries in that picture, and you sure as hell can't see any damned wires. You're just being argumentative because you don't want to admit you're wrong, and the Boston PD is wrong and stupid on a rather cosmic scale.Feeling is returned since you are laying blame on the Boston PD for following procedure.

"if you can't see a fucking D cell battery there's no way in hell you can see a thin blue wire".

yet others say "anyone can tell the difference between a D-cell battery and C4." which, to spell it out to you in very small words so that you can understand.

they are saying that Boston PD should have known that those were signs because the Batteries were visible. You admitted that you could not see the batteries. yet to you, that only means that people didn't see wires and so by your logic, it was OBVIOUS that it was not a bomb because YOU could not see wires or a battery.

Understand? Bombs are more than Wires and batteries. some say they saw both, others say they only saw wires, but one this for certain is that those reporting it in are not trained in explosives. That's why it was necessary for Boston PD to investigate following their procedures. which they did. so this panic is not their fault but the morons who strung up those adverts.

then claimed that I want to make bombs.

Are you that dumb?

Are you that dumb?

terribly sorry I don't have tons of time and misread your post. I stand by my piss off, however.

The police caused a panic.

Police departments in nine other cities didn't shut down half the city because of a bunch of Lite-Brites that were, at worst, a college prank.police followed their procedures. However to your mind they are at fault, not those who perpetuated the Prank.

you would arrest the officer responding to a false 911 call and not the caller itself.

From 50 feet off, it looks like a sign. It doesn't look like anything else until you're much closer. A point you are consistently ignoring hoping that I won't notice your evasion. You fail at debate.
I am not ignoring it. you are concentrating on nothing else. saying that since it was too far to see batteries or wires, it obviously not a bomb. a leap of logic so wide it spans the grand canyon... too bad, like Kahn, you keep missing the mark.

Maybe you should read context clues?
what, that the police are at fault for followeing their procedures? they did, but they are not, as you keep trying to say, at fault.

Seriously, take a good look at these "bombs"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doD_VpT_yAY

When you take into account the circuitry and battery power that would be needed just to keep the lights on, there wouldn't be any room left for explosives or any type of detonation circuitry.

They are, quite literally, Lite-Brites.

police followed their procedures. However to your mind they are at fault, not those who perpetuated the Prank.

If their procedures necessitate shutting down half a city and causing general panic over a Lite-Brite, their procedures need to be changed. Police departments in several other cities dealt with this without causing panic, with a single city street being shut down at the most. Apparently, their bomb squads can recognize the difference between a bomb and a Lite-Brite.

In a case of domestic violence, police procedures is generally to call in backup and then go in and investigate. If police, instead, terrified an entire city block by immediately suggesting that the people making a ruckus were terrorists about to set off suicide bombs, who would be at fault for the ensuing panic?

These guys put up advertisements covertly. They are guilty, at most, of vandalism. The panic was caused by the Boston PD's overreaction - a reaction that police departments in 9 other cities did not feel was necessary.

you would arrest the officer responding to a false 911 call and not the caller itself.

No, I wouldn't. But that is irrelevant.

yep, and when a bomb scare is made, who is arrested, the police for following procedures or the idiot who did the scare?

Considering the circumstances in this case, the police caused the scare.

Much as the Boston PD overreacted, this also is an overreaction.

I mean, it's an honest mistake.

what, that the police are at fault for followeing their procedures? they did, but they are not, as you keep trying to say, at fault.

That has nothing to do with your previous statement, try again.

They take a little bit more than Lite-Brites.but they would fit in the same size container. and since this was during the day, the LITE BRITES were not on.

Eh?Media got the story and posted it before gathering of evidence was completed. the results was a slew of calls with tips that lead no where, people trampling the crime scene and contaminating evidence, and one man got fame for admitting to the murder using details he got from the media. so one family will never have closure and the police are currently looking at the father as the murderer... but again, with contaminated evidence...

They all have shared characteristics. That's something that, you know, a bomb squad should know.only that they go boom. do you really want to wait for that characteristic to show? an IED can be a thermos, a lunchbox, a backpack, even something the size of a baseball, it can even be a box the size of those signs. add shot pellets to it and structual damage would be light but casualties may be high. wanna take that chance?

If the person was trying to cause a bomb scare, that person is arrested. If they were not, anyone arrested is charged with, at the most, vandalism. Most times, they're charged with nothing at all.and is up to the lawyers, not this forum. they were arrested, I'm satisfied. guilty or not, that is no longer my concern.

It's cute how you skip the fact that the cities are all well aware of the devices, and some of them have quietly removed them (or decided not to do so).I didn't ignore it. you seem to ignore that new york also took precautions by shutting down at least one street.

Boston however, sounded like they had multiple reports at the same time. so they had to take those precautions.


"Took precautions", yes. Shut down half the city and caused a panic, no.they were getting multiple calls reporting strange devices. what would you do. tell the person calling "ok, but you'll have to wait." people will notice that cops are suddenly racing everywhere... add to that the calls to radio stations would report cops converging on multiple overpasses and buildings... the cops won't cause panic, the people would as they jumpt to the wrong conclusion. the BPD's only option. give them the knowledge that the police are working on it. shut down areas to insure safety (Since at the time they didn't know what it was.) and get those things out and safe (and they did blow up some because they didn't know what it was. blow it up and check the remains. SOP)

I mean, it's an honest mistake.
Shutting down a couple overpasses for 45 minutes is an honest mistake; shutting down several bridges, a major waterway and some buildings is an overreaction.

but they would fit in the same size container. and since this was during the day, the LITE BRITES were not on.

Really? They turned themselves off in the day time?

Media got the story and posted it before gathering of evidence was completed. the results was a slew of calls with tips that lead no where, people trampling the crime scene and contaminating evidence, and one man got fame for admitting to the murder using details he got from the media. so one family will never have closure and the police are currently looking at the father as the murderer... but again, with contaminated evidence...

Interesting. And that could have happened in this case......how? It isn't as if it were a murder. It was a "suspicious device" - one which the builder could have told them, had they known what all the fuss was about - was harmless.

only that they go boom. do you really want to wait for that characteristic to show? an IED can be a thermos, a lunchbox, a backpack, even something the size of a baseball, it can even be a box the size of those signs. add shot pellets to it and structual damage would be light but casualties may be high. wanna take that chance?

You could "not take that chance" without causing panic and shutting down half the city. New York did.

and is up to the lawyers, not this forum. they were arrested, I'm satisfied. guilty or not, that is no longer my concern.

No, the definition of the law is clear. The judge made it clear today and even point-blank stated that it didn't look like it applies in this case. In order to be charged with anything more than a misdemeanor charge of public disturbance, those placing the signs would have been trying to create a bomb scare. It is overwhelmingly clear that they were not.

I didn't ignore it. you seem to ignore that new york also took precautions by shutting down at least one street.

Yes, you did ignore it. Several cities took no action at all. New York shut down one street for 45 minutes. For a city that's been through numerous terrorist attacks, they seem to be much calmer than the idiots in Boston.

Boston however, sounded like they had multiple reports at the same time. so they had to take those precautions.

Over 50 devices were found in New York. Do you think they were all on the same street?

If their procedures necessitate shutting down half a city and causing general panic over a Lite-Brite, their procedures need to be changed. Police departments in several other cities dealt with this without causing panic, with a single city street being shut down at the most. Apparently, their bomb squads can recognize the difference between a bomb and a Lite-Brite.Or Boston was the first to have calls placed. Are you saying that bomb squads should not be called in for suspicious packages?

In a case of domestic violence, police procedures is generally to call in backup and then go in and investigate. If police, instead, terrified an entire city block by immediately suggesting that the people making a ruckus were terrorists about to set off suicide bombs, who would be at fault for the ensuing panic?There is a difference between domestic violence and a suspicious item.

These guys put up advertisements covertly. They are guilty, at most, of vandalism. The panic was caused by the Boston PD's overreaction - a reaction that police departments in 9 other cities did not feel was necessary.Perhaps they either didn't have reports or already had Bostons problems to learn from.

While I dislike what the state has done as a reaction, I think the police reacted properly.

Or Boston was the first to have calls placed. Are you saying that bomb squads should not be called in for suspicious packages?

No, I'm saying that bomb squads should be able to fairly quickly determine that an item is not a bomb (like the ones in New York) and shouldn't cause panic and close down half a city when the possibility of a real threat is minor.

There is a difference between domestic violence and a suspicious item.

Indeed, but the issue of overreaction is the same.

Perhaps they either didn't have reports or already had Bostons problems to learn from.

The devices have been up for weeks and, in some areas, 40-50 have been removed. Are you kidding?

While I dislike what the state has done as a reaction, I think the police reacted properly.

Yes, causing panic for hours when the situation could have been taken care of quickly is a wonderful thing.

Boston got pwned by the Mooninites.


Pure fucking gold.

First suspicious electronic speakers to push Mission Impossible 3, then this... guerilla marketing is really escalating.

Before you know it, we'll have random people shot to sell sneakers.

So..

Who wants to talk about hair? :p

It was a huge overreaction. They don't look like bombs at all. It just shows that there are many idiots in the world. I like how Thomas Menino wants Turner to pay the city back for his own city's incompetence.

All this defensiveness on the part of Bostonians and their defenders isn't making them look any better, you know. Better to just let it die and wait for another city to overreact--it's bound to happen sooner or later.

All this defensiveness on the part of Bostonians and their defenders isn't making them look any better, you know. Better to just let it die and wait for another city to overreact--it's bound to happen sooner or later.
hey, my only point is that the people who reported it wern't total idiots, and the fact that BPD handled each threat seriously was a good thing

For what the state and city are now doing, I stand with the rest of you.

Own a piece of hysteria history... (http://mooninites.christopherlame.com/) (It'd be like owning a piece of a fallen water tower after Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds broadcast...)


http://123pichosting.com/images/6762nfsmall.jpg