Posted on 01/31/2007 2:18:38 PM PST by maquiladora
(WBZ) BOSTON The suspicious devices which forced bomb units to scramble across Boston today were actually magnetic lights that are part of a marketing campaign for a television cartoon.
The reports forced the temporary shutdowns of Interstate 93 out of the city, a key inbound roadway, a bridge between Boston and Cambridge, and a portion of the Charles River but were quickly determined not to be explosive.
"It's a hoax -- and it's not funny," Gov. Deval Patrick said.
All of the devices are magnetic lights which resemble a character on the show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", on Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network.
WBZ has obtained a statement from Turner Broadcasting:
"The "packages" in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger. They are part of an outdoor marketing campaign in 10 cities in support of Adult Swim's animated television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they mistakenly thought to pose any danger."
A total of nine devices were found in Boston and Somerville.
The first device was found at an MBTA subway and bus station located under Interstate 93 on Wednesday morning. The device was detonated and determined to be harmless, but as a precaution the station and the interstate shut down temporarily.
Then, around 1 p.m., four calls came into Boston Police reporting suspicious devices at the Boston University Bridge and the Longfellow Bridge, which both span the Charles River, and the corner of Stuart and Columbus Streets and at the Tufts-New England Medical Center.
Another device was found in Somerville under the McGrath Highway Bridge.
The FBI is assisting Boston police in the investigation. F-B-I spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz says the investigation remains "fluid." She stresses the devices are NOT related to terrorism.
"Magnetic lights"?
Dumb dumb dumb
Who runs the 'this is not a ping list' ping list, again?
Oh Mr. Turner, Mayor Mumbles has a bill for you!
FYI Ping. Looks like an advertising stunt.
The devices resemble the Mooninite characters from the show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." CBS
--reminds me of a situation a couple of years ago when US 93 was shut down over Hoover Dam--a clamp had fallen off a highway stripe-painting truck and was interpreted as suspicious--
They do all the time. There is a sign on every telephone in Kansas City.
I always find it interesting when idiots react inappropriately to toys or other innocuous objects, then start making noises about a "hoax".
That's all well and good that Turner Broadcasting is in contact with enforcement about the locations of the billboards BUT devices aren't billboards. Hellllooo, anyone home at Turner? Oh wait, what in the world am I thinking!
Those billboards were in Austin two months ago and no one was alarmed.
What a bunch a dimwits they must have in Boston!
"Bad moments in Marketing History"
See, I don't know if they were really "Devices"...
It now seems that the whole "circuit board" business may have been simply the actual appearance of the mooninite (which is basically like one of the alien enemies in the ancient "Space Invaders" video game.)
Gee, will Ted Turner be charged with terrorism? Will his former wife Jane F>>ing Barbarella Freakin' Fonda?
"They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco and Philadelphia."
These things have been on display in all the major cities for weeks and all of a sudden it's like next week's episode of 24 in Boston. Lol. Dear oh dear...
So bad, it's brilliant. ;)
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