"All your base are belong to us" signs land seven in court

STURGIS JOURNAL ^ | 4/3/03 | CLIFFORD JEFFERY

[Miles Bennel]

Signs land seven in court

By CLIFFORD JEFFERY STURGIS JOURNAL

What started as an April Fool's joke involving bad grammar landed seven people in jail Tuesday.

Sturgis police arrested seven Sturgis men for placing more than 20 threatening letters on various businesses, schools, banks and at the post office. At least 12 signs were posted Monday morning. Another 20 were put up Tuesday evening, according to Sturgis police.

The letters all read "All your base are belong to us and you have no chance to survive, make your time."

Information about the letters was forwarded to the FBI and U.S. postal authorities, said Sturgis police Chief Eugene Alli.

"This is no joking matter," he said. "During a time of war and with the present concern for homeland security, terrorist acts will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The "All your base are belong to us" are lines said by Cats, a bad guy in a 1989 Japanese video game. The poor translation to English led to its use by many involved in the video game culture.

According to the "All your base are belong to us" Web site, a voiceover of the Zero Wing video game introduction, including the poorly translated line, was put to music and sung by a Wayne Newton impersonator. Stories about the phrase have appeared in Time, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times and Wired. The phrase is printed on T-shirts and bumper stickers.

But police were not in on the joke.

Officer Damon Knapp witnessed three people placing the signs on a downtown business. By early this morning, police had arrested seven men, charging them with disorderly conduct.

Robert McNew, 20, Carl McNew, 19, John Wolf, 20, William Caldwell, 17, Dustin Garn, 19, Kirk Vezeau, 20, and Kyle Woodward, 18, were all released after posting bond.

They are scheduled to appear in St. Joseph County District Court April 16.

[CobaltBlue]

My younger son wore a T-shirt saying "All your base are belong to us" on the front and "somone set us up the bomb" on the back, and almost got sent home from school. He had a jacket so he wore his jacket all day.

As for me, I love that little video and I say stuff like "all your base are belong to us" and "for great justice."

Hopefully the judge has a kid who plays video games or is into anime.

[CobaltBlue]

The law is that a threat involves the intent to cause harm, and a joke doesn't.

[MrFred]

http://www.engrish.com

[BenLurkin]

engrish probably. Note "g"

[new cruelty]

Engrish

[wastoute]

They misspelled it. It should read, "All YUOR base are belong to us..."

[Rocky]

Come on, policemen and judge. Lighten up. Chill.

[netmilsmom]

so sorry.
fat fingers.
See post 23 for the right link.
Thanks.

[netmilsmom]

What about "fire" in a crowded theatre?

[Dutchgirl]

What a riot!

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Bump for great justice!

[Lawgvr1955]

More screams for prosecutions from the "zero tolerance" crowd. Lock up kids for an April Fools joke. Fill the prisons with everyone but those who think like me. Get a grip, people. I thought most people on this board were against thought crime. Orwell painted too rosy a picture in "1984".

[alarmguy]

This is series. It could be hugh!

[Publius6961]

They did it for great justice!

They set us up the bomb!

[nanny]

. I thought most people on this board were against thought crime.

Most are - but not all. To some it matters just what thoughts you are thinking whether they should be allowed or not.

[plusone]

Exactly!!

[honeygrl]

probably meant www.engrish.com

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Someone in my area, drives a green pickup, on the tailgate is written, "All your base belong to us." It is quite humorous to see! :)

[hobbes1]

Yes, They did move zig for great justice.

But the Police thought they said "SOMEBODY SET UP US THE BOMB"

[antidisestablishment]

I am sick of this crap. My son was sent to the principal's office for having spent (blank) cartridges from his grandfather's (military) funeral. The principal kept the shells "safe" until my son went home. How spent, blank cartridges could be anything other than safe is beyond my understanding.

Paranoia will destroy ya...