'Fake bomb' was mistake, according to Maui mom

STAR-BULLETIN (Honolulu) ^ | September 22, 2007 | Gene Park

[syriacus]

The computer circuit board on Star Simpson's sweatshirt that security thought may have been a bomb at a Boston airport isn't out of character for her, according to the Maui woman's background, school affiliations and online supporters.

But her mother, Stephanie Simpson, said it may have been a mistake because Star used the shirt the day before on career day at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and when she went to pick up her boyfriend at the airport. "It was just sleepyheads. She must have been just asleep to the fact of where she was going," Stephanie Simpson said.

[rabscuttle385]

...that she fled the scene when asked about her device.

Now that is sketchy right there and worthy of the smackdown that she got.

[rabscuttle385]

PugetSoundSoldier, yes, that circuit could be part of a detonator, but so could the cell phones, watches, notebook computers, and other electronic devices of the folks near you.

BereanBrain, I would not justify her treatment on whether she had a bomb but rather on her suspicious behavior. If she had been walking around with a laptop or cell phone and refusing to answer questions or comply with the demands of TSA officers, I would have detained her right on the spot.

vox humana, I'm glad that my coursework in Analog Electronics, Digital Logic, and Physics is finally useful. Teehee.

[Syllojism]

I’m still trying to figure out what was so “artistic” about this shirt this stupid girl was wearing.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy her story.

Her name is Star, the the device was little LED's in the shape of a star. It was an electronic name-tag.

[ninonitti]

Her name is Star, the the device was little LED's in the shape of a star. It was an electronic name-tag.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the person who sent up the warning Maria Moncayo may not have been to make the connection between estrella and star.

Just a guess

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Are we certain that this isn’t O.J.’s daughter?

[texson66]

This is very typical of the elitist attitude of the MIT/Harvard “students”. After a few days in Cambridge, I learned that “students” didn’t even understand what jaywalking was and how dangerous it can be to walk in front of a moving car. Apparently, the local cops tolerate this practice, but God help you if you violate their parking “laws”.

It reminds me of the student at a grocery store in Cambridge entering the express checkout lane (limited to 10 items) with 15 items in hand.

The bored cashier looks at him and asks, “ Are you from MIT and cant read, or are you from Harvard and can’t count?”

[Syllojism]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the person who sent up the warning Maria Moncayo may not have been to make the connection between estrella and star.

Just a guess

I think the response was appropriate, I just don't think she was trying to cause a scene and I don't think charges need to be filed in cases like this. Any security system worth having is going to turn up false positives now and again and suspicious civilians who turn out to be harmless shouldn't be treated like criminals after the fact.

[syriacus]

The bored cashier looks at him and asks, “ Are you from MIT and cant read, or are you from Harvard and can’t count?”

LOL!

elitist attitude of the MIT/Harvard “students”

My sister has lived in Newton, MA for about a year and is amazed at how quickly the people whom she meets mention their college connections.