Author Topic: Electronic devices give Boston a scare (Read 10475 times)

Derrick · « **on:** Jan 31, 2007, 04:48:40 PM »

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/31/boston.bombscare/index.html

Quote

BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A group of electronic light boards featuring an adult cartoon character triggered bomb scares around Boston on Wednesday, spurring authorities to close two bridges and a stretch of the Charles River before determining the devices were harmless.

Turner Broadcasting Co., the parent company of CNN, said the devices contained harmless magnetic lights aimed at promoting the late-night Adult Swim cartoon "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." Law enforcement sources said the devices displayed one of the "Mooninites," outer-space delinquents who appear frequently on the show, greeting visitors with a raised middle finger.

"While the concern is lessened as a result of the investigation, I'd like to remind citizens to treat any suspicious devices with care and to call 911 if any such device is found," Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said.

The devices had been placed as part of an "outdoor marketing campaign" in 10 cities, a Turner Broadcasting statement said.

"Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards," the statement said. "We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger."

A Turner Broadcasting source said the devices were a component of a third-party advertising campaign conducted by a New York advertising firm, Interference Inc. That company had no comment on the incident.

The discovery of eight of the devices around metro Boston led state, local and federal authorities to close the Boston University and Longfellow Bridges and block boat traffic from the Charles River to Boston Harbor.

In addition, the Pentagon said U.S. Northern Command was monitoring the situation from its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but said none of its units were dispatched to assist.

Davis said police "are going to fully investigate this and get to the bottom of it."

The first suspicious device turned up at the Sullivan Square commuter rail station, near the suburb of Somerville, Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, four other devices were reported -- near the Longfellow and Boston University bridges over the Charles, at New England Medical Center and near the intersection of Stuart and Columbus avenues in the city itself.

Three others turned up in other locations around Boston as well, Davis said.

B E C K · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 31, 2007, 04:56:57 PM »

How big were these? It just calls them "light boards" and "devices".

Derrick · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 31, 2007, 08:17:06 PM »

The pictures showed them to be big. I await the [AS] bumps.

Rama · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 31, 2007, 10:55:50 PM »

They were about 2 feet by 2 feet. Maybe a little bigger, but they were square.

B E C K · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 01, 2007, 12:34:00 PM »

Were they on billboards or the side of a building or what? I hate it when articles aren't specific enough. A "light board" could be anything. Fucking Lite Brite is a light board.

IDE · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 01, 2007, 12:52:35 PM »

Yeah that's what I'm imagining. Some sort of light bright type device.

Rama · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 01, 2007, 03:33:11 PM »

That's sort of what it was. Just a black board with lights plugged into and some kind of battery pack at the bottom

IDE · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 01, 2007, 06:48:05 PM »

I saw the bump last night. It was 3 screens of text but I didn't have my contacts in so I don't know what it said. I squinted a line about something congratulating the efforts of the boston police or somethin.

B E C K · « **Reply #8 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 04:21:30 PM »

I thought I was would miss Cartoon Network when I no longer had it, but it turns out I secretly hated it all along.

Merla · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 04:44:43 PM »

Cartoon network sucks!!! It's been on the decline for years.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 06:22:47 PM »

Wouldn't care if ATHF and most of the other crap on the channel died an ugly death, but Venture Brothers and Harvey Birdman must continue.

IDE · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 06:25:24 PM »

I'm starting to take a liking to naruto.

B E C K · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 07:07:22 PM »

I tried watching it and after a while just couldn't. I don't know if it's the dub or it's actually that hokey.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 11:09:35 PM »

I couldn't quite cut Naruto, but I took an instant liking to Bleach. And I hadn't realized that Eureka Seven was nearing the fortieth episode in its CN broadcast...the DVDs are only up to episode twenty or so. Talk about pissing me off. Same with Trinity Blood.

IDE · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 02, 2007, 11:50:32 PM »

I like bleach but I still just catch the occasional ep. I like that Naruto is on every day tho BELIEVE IT!

Rama · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 03, 2007, 03:05:07 AM »

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Wouldn't care if ATHF and most of the other crap on the channel died an ugly death, but Venture Brothers and Harvey Birdman must continue.

Yeah I need my Venture Brothers fix. Especially since they've been taking their sweet ass time getting season 2 out on DVD. I can only guess they want to cross promote with the season premiere of 3 and are hold it back for that.

B E C K · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 03, 2007, 08:11:26 AM »

I also instantly liked Bleach but then I saw more it. A huge majority of anime just looks and acts alike, and frankly it was feeling a lot like ten other shows I've already seen.

Venture Brothers is funny and all (usually) but one good apple in a barrel full of crap isn't good enough. Especially since it'll eventually be out on DVD, I see no reason to bother with the actual channel. The only stations I actually miss are Boomerang, International Music Feed, some of HGTV (because most it was reruns to me anyway), and whichever half of Bravo is slightly less gay. All of those channels had stuff I could sit on the couch for hours with.

Derrick · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 03, 2007, 03:36:50 PM »

Well I enjoy ATHF, Moral Orel and Venture Brothers. Pretty mucch everything else not original does suck, though. My love for ATHF will always be.

B E C K · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 03, 2007, 06:50:57 PM »

You liked Korgoth and that thing with those metal dudes?

Rama · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 04, 2007, 05:51:27 AM »

Well CN is in our basic pacakage...so as long we have dish, I'll have that channel. So it's not like I'd lose it even if I didn't watch it.

B E C K · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 04, 2007, 10:24:34 PM »

We got rid of the Dish thing. I guess I could've paid for it so we could keep it, but then I realized I didn't like it enough to do that.

IDE · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 04, 2007, 11:34:28 PM »

I like korgoth and metalocalypse. Korgoth only had 1 ep tho.

B E C K · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 05, 2007, 12:00:41 AM »

And it was enough to make me not like it.

Derrick · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 05, 2007, 12:36:22 PM »

But you watched anyways. And Metalo... whatever, is great. I don't hate any characters.

B E C K · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 05, 2007, 01:43:07 PM »

What do you mean "watched anyway"? It was one episode. It's not like it was a weekly thing I chose to endure. The Metal thingy I didn't even bother with. I hate a lot of their original stuff. Blood and boobies doesn't make something "adult".

Wickedly Yours E · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 05, 2007, 09:36:35 PM »

Venture Brothers is brilliant. I've seen the DVD's and I laughed my head off.
"Hey. Where's the key to your boat?"
"It's in my ass."

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #26 on:** Feb 06, 2007, 12:09:39 AM »

I'd never watched Venture Bros. before New Year's...I just thought it was another crappy CN show. But I just surreptitiously caught it on the DVR and subsequently laughed my ass off. Being that it was season two, I went out and got season one and cursed over season two not hitting DVD until April.

Rama · « **Reply #27 on:** Feb 06, 2007, 12:57:26 AM »

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Venture Brothers is brilliant. I've seen the DVD's and I laughed my head off.
"Hey. Where's the key to your boat?"
"It's in my ass."

My fav. is still, "My pants are haunted." from Assassinanny 911. I almost spit taked on that one.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #28 on:** Feb 06, 2007, 12:32:10 PM »

There are just too many to count. But Brock's "Yeah, they never show that part on TV" after Race's bowels released when he died took the cake.

B E C K · « **Reply #29 on:** Feb 06, 2007, 12:56:45 PM »

I've never laughed or spat due to the Venture Brothers. I haven't had any bodily reactions to tv since I was thirteen. Crying doesn't count because its very easy to make me cry. The Michelin Man can appear on tv and I might cry.