Breaking: 'Hoax Devices' Found At Several Boston Locations (Several 'Suspicous Packages' Found)

Boston.com ^ | January 31, 2007

[drpix]

Unattended devices left by overpasses and other structures are always suspicious... and if they are found to have wires or circuitry... then they are treated as if they could be bombs. As for "mass", plastic explosives take very little mass to do big damage.

I asked in another comment: are we ready to let terrorist know that it's OK to plant devices under overpasses and other structures - IF THEY ARE MARKED WITH CARTOON CHARACTERS?

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"You think that these shenanigans are just high-spirited hijinks."

I don't think that putting up light up cartoon characters should result in people getting locked up, sent to gitmo, killed etc.

Now, as I have stated, I would like to know who made the calls reporting the things, I think that is key.

I am constantly vigilant and aware of my surroundings. Wherever I go I am prepared for the worst, and because of this I know not go out half cocked.

This was a paranoia frenzy fueled by the media and MASS politicians, it should be a lesson for everyone.

[Jotmo]

If they looked even REMOTLY like a bomb you would have a point.

They don't.

[Doghouse Riley]

Who you callin' a troll?

[RS]

"They determined that the device was not dangerous, but destroyed it as a precaution. "

Precaution ?

Just wanted to make things harder for the forensics people ?

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Superbowl ads disrupt the Superbowl!

I am calling DHS if I see that stupid Geico caveman one more time!

[My Favorite Headache]

I am a huge fan of the ATHF...HUGE fan. Have all seasons on DVD...and can't wait for the big screen movie in March.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Posted you that link, btw.

[LibKill]

If you found a "package" in your place, how would you determine if it was harmless or not?

Do you know anything about explosive devices?

Can you tell by looking that it is 'harmless' because it has a 'happy face' on the outside?

I say again, this is no time to play such games.

Funny, NOT!

[penelopesire]

thanks. Will read it in a bit.

[RS]

"Unbelievable. Some people are still holding on the the hope that this is some sort of "dry run"."

Yep, you see them scurry out every time something happens with their hopes up.

Funny, it's usually the Democrats who are hoping for bad things to happen ...

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"If you found a "package" in your place, how would you determine if it was harmless or not?"

You are talking about ones own home.

There is a big difference between coming home and finding something in your own house, then say, walking down the street and seeing a cylinder with a blinking light on it.

[acapesket]

Well, Personally... I think you are a really badly educated human being! Nobody gives a flying fartola about all of your high tech GIZMO SH@T!
We are a small city, full of MOONBATS who were likely the first ones to call it in!! They fear the day, it's ALL BUSH"S FAULT but why hasn't he SAVED us?
Oh .. the Horror..
Which Horror?

I don't know... that horror!

Give me a break!

[Jotmo]

Unattended devices left by overpasses and other structures are always suspicious...

You're going to spend all day calling 911 as you move around any big city then.

and if they are found to have wires or circuitry... then they are treated as if they could be bombs.

wires=bomb. Got it. Thats some fine reasoning

As for "mass", plastic explosives take very little mass to do big damage.

If you seriously think that explosives with the mass of a circuit board and a couple of AA batteries could harm anyone if it wasn't hanging around their neck, you've been watching to much TV.

[LibKill]

walking down the street and seeing a cylinder with a blinking light on it.

Are you playing mind-games?

How would you like to find "a cylinder with a blinking light on it" near your car, your home, your children.

Not funny at all.

At the very least the perps deserve public humiliation.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"How would you like to find "a cylinder with a blinking light on it" near your car"

I see them all the time on the highway.

[pleen]

Yeah, I wonder if all of the "dry run" fruitcakes are willing to end the War on Terror, BECAUSE TERROR HAS ALREADY WON!!! If people are willing to freak out this much, and call for the jailing of the people who posted these devices, then we have lost all semblance of sanity in America. If you want to put people in jail because of not being able to tell the difference between a circuit board with some lights attached and a bomb, then truly the people who hate our freedom have taken our freedom away.

Give up.
Hide in a hole.
The terrorists won already.

[acapesket]

Hey Asshole!
BZZZZT off

[mass55th]

"We live in very dangerous times. If I saw someone planting a "package" where I live I would kill them and worry about the consequences afterwards."

You're absolutely right. Had I seen what appeared to be a circuit board with batteries dangling from a bridge or in a subway station, I would have called 911 too. Better to err on the side of security than ignore it and have it be something devastating. How would someone know that the circuit board wasn't attached to something bigger stashed out of sight? How would one know if the circuit board wasn't equipped to send a signal to a bigger package? There are so many sophisicated ways of blowing people up these days, how, would I, as a common person without any knowlege of such things know that this wasn't part of a potential attack? The only way to find out was to report it to the authorities. I learned a long time ago, that the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Do these same people think that a cop should wait to ascertain whether the gun aimed at him is a toy or the real thing before he reacts? I think they need to wake up.

[cynwoody]

You've got to be kidding me ... they have bomb shows in Massachusetts?

There goes Mumbles tripping over his tongue again. He meant "gun", not "bomb". Like, maybe this one.