Boston Bomb Scare: Outraged Menino vows no mercy for stunt - Sham suspect jailed

Boston Herald ^ | February 1, 2007 | Laura Crimaldi & Michelle McPhee

[McGavin999]

OMG, how could anybody have thought that was a bomb?

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Boston was the only city that freaked out over cartoon characters. Why didn’t the other cities??

I am shocked that San Fransico didn't think they were mean't as an insult to guy's. Maybe they thought it was Sponge Bob flipping it to the straight guys.

[bondjamesbond]

They were intended to be left, then found later and kept as souvenirs. The CEO of the marketing company said as much to the Boston Globe. I doubt anyone thought they'd be up more than a couple days. The photosensor would've added costs in material, brainpower, and labor for something that is basically a throwaway advertisement -- a high-tech flier.

If you could have your high tech flier work for four days instead of two for the cost of the addition of a 35 cent photocell, wouldn't you add the photocell?

I'm just speculating, of course. I have no idea if there was a photocell included, here. My electronic knowledge is derived largely from the old 100-in-1 kit I had as a kid. But a photocell switch is pretty easy to make.

[bondjamesbond]

If that is the case, then why was Boston unable to deal with this in the same calm and responsible manner as the other cities?

Was the reaction of the Boston police forseealbe?

[Wormwood]

Was the reaction of the Boston police forseealbe?

I would say not.

But then again, unreasonable behavior is fairly unpredictable.

[Eroteme]

If I were a terrorist, which I am not, I would strap harmless devices all over the place for a while, to get people used to looking at harmless devices strapped all over vital public infrastructure. Then, when it is time for the attack, the harmless devices can be replaced with harmful devices.
If, on one of my expeditions to place harmless devices all over the public infrastructure, I am stopped, I can howl bloddy murder about police over-reaction to my silly publicity stunt.

That's been working pretty well on airplanes, hasn't it? Harmless chanting, harmless conversations, harmless serial trips to the bathroom, harmless refusals to stay in one's seat. At the least, the thousands of unaffiliated but fervent jihadists who would like to "help" but lack means or will to blow anything up now have an answer to the question, "what can one brother do?" A tutorial for empowering nutcases and losers wanting to make an impact.

[Aikonaa]

This response and free publicity is probably exactly what these 'guerrilla marketers' were looking for. I hope Boston suprises the b*stards by slapping them with jail time and punitive fines high enough to hurt them.

[grjr21]

Todd Vanderlin, a college student, spoke to WBZ. He apparently found one of these light boards and took it down for himself.


There is no way that this looks like a bomb.

The Boston Bomb squad should be ashamed of themselves for causing a needles panic

[Miss Marple]

I see you have been putting up a noble effort to get people to understand what is wrong about this, but it is falling on deaf ears.

Turner has just released a statement saying "they understand the gravity of the case".

[Wormwood]

The Boston Bomb squad should be ashamed of themselves for causing a needles panic

The Boys love to play with their toys, don't they?

[rollo tomasi]

"If you wish to advertise you dont place your sign under a bridge."

They call it Guerrilla Marketing for a reason.

I hate it, as with most marketing but be some people think it's cute, funny and clever.

[rollo tomasi]

"but be some"

Where the hell did that "be" come from?

[bondjamesbond]

But then again, unreasonable behavior is fairly unpredictable.

Does the fact that there reaction was unreasonable make it less forseeable? We're talking about the Boston Police, here.

[CharlesWayneCT]

IT looks like they were held up magnetically, and therefore they were placed where they could be high enough not to be stolen, and on a magnetic metal object where they could be seen.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Good grief, that's what they looked like?

What if they found some kids with Lite Brites? Would they throw them in jail too?

[zeke15]

Gov. Deval Patrick said he was not impressed by the apology from Turner Broadcasting.“I am deeply dismayed to learn that the devices are a part of a marketing campaign.

Dismayed? I'd think you would be ELATED to learn the devices were harmless. What were you hoping for Gov. Patrick?

[CharlesWayneCT]

Hey, I've seen a few cars stuck to bridge supports.

[Wormwood]

Does the fact that there reaction was unreasonable make it less forseeable? We're talking about the Boston Police, here.

You may have a point there.

[OrioleFan]

Finally the "Rules don't apply to us" crowd will get their just reward.

[Lijahsbubbe]

A furious Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino vowed yesterday to throw the book at the masterminds behind a guerrilla marketing campaign

debacle that made him look like a freakin' idiot.