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Up in Boston, parts of the city were at a standstill when the police discovered a variety of suspicious packages. Streets were closed and mass transit was suspended as the police investigated... and found out the packages are part of a promotion for Aqua Teen Hunger Force! Seriously, major roads, a bridge, subway stations, and part of the Charles River were shut down for that.
The Beantown police bomb squad blew up packages, finding circuit boards inside them, and the circuit boards have the ATHF mooninite image on them. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said, ""It's a hoax -- and it's not funny." Turner Broadcasting, which owns Aqua Teen Hunger Force, had to issue a statement saying that Cartoon Network was behind the stunt and that it was sorry.
Can you imagine if this happened in NYC? Especially in the subways? Not only would the city sue the promotions company, but there would be people upset over screwed up commutes! This makes the possibly illegal Windows Vista outdoor billboard look like child's play!
Update: Turner says the devices were "magnetic lights that pose no danger" and that they had been in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Austin, Texas, San Francisco and Philadelphia from the past two weeks. Did the NYC authorities find them and take them away? Or did we not notice them? Huh, we don't know how to feel.
Update: The same devices were found in Seattle, but without the fuss. We're waiting for the NYPD to chime in. And Boston Mayor Thomas Menino says whoever planted them will get 2-5 years "for each one"!
Photograph of Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority carrying the "suspicious" devices after they were detonated by Seth Hunger/AP - these devices were found near the Sullivan Square subway station
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Number 1 in the Hood G!
Can anyone provide a link to the Turner or Cartoon Network statement acknowledging responsibility? I haven't seen that anywhere...
Can anyone provide a link to the Turner or Cartoon Network statement acknowledging responsibility? I haven't seen that anywhere...
BREAKING NEWS: CNN is expected to issue an apology for causing today's series of bomb scares throughout Boston. A statement emailed to the Globe from Turner Broadcasting said: "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 law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger."
Dear Cartoon Network,
Mission accomplished.
Sincerely,
Promotions' Department
stupid Boston fucking chowderhead morons, HAHAHAHAHHAHAAAAA
I guess BPD really doesn't like Inignot.
CNN = EVIL
Also, it's good to see the Home Land Security (HLS) overreacting about LED's. I can't imagine what it will be like if there was something to really cry home about. This is a pathetic example of HLS and communication.
I weep for our children.
HEY EVERYONE!!! THERE'S A GIANT METEOR HEADING TOWARDS EARTH.
RUN!!!!
those things are collectibles now.
Hopefully someone got one before the fiasco.
So what would happen if they were bombs and the police did nothing? The same people who call them idiots for overreacting would call them idiots for not reacting.
Collectible? There are just so many entrepeneurial rats in NYC.
Yep, collectible and cool.
and funny too, they mentioned the LED lights show a flashing middle finger.
this is as much a security threat a broken LED hanging walk/don't walk sign is. You know, the one's seen hanging on it's electrical wire in the Gothamist pictures. Wait, that's even more dangerous, a live electrical wire.
Here's a cap of the "bumper" from Adult Swim tonight talking about it, for those looking for an official response from the network:
http://vjarmy.com/images/adultswimbump.mov
It’s amazing that no one in the media is wondering why the local authorities in Boston can’t tell the difference between Bombs and lite Brite. Once the first few turned out to be nothing why let the whole city go into 9/11 mode. Now the hippy artist guy who got arrested will be the scape goat. Typical. and f-in scary. The mayor wants cartoonnetwork to apologize. I want the mayor to apologize for locking down Boston for nothing.
Police and Homeland Security aren't allowed to ignore a potential threat because the a small sample of devices turned out to be benign. First of all, is it outside the realm of possibility that a criminal or terrorist ogranization would make decoys? Is that really so crazy? And if the cops didn't act and a bomb did explode you would all be here whining about their incompetence. We live in a society where everyone (especially government) is held to standards of perfection and if they fail should be held liable for millions in damages.
Totally blown out of proportion. Some guerilla marketing dude leaves some flashy light displays around and suddenly we're back in the World Trade Center as it's collapsing around us?
Seriously, guys, use some of that homeland security funding to BUY A FUCKING CLUE. Everyone and their brother knows Adult Swim has been pushing Aqua Teen Hunger Force like mad in preparation for their feature film drop. The likelyhood that a terrorist would have enough foresight to piggyback along with the recent wave of publicity and then wait ten days to detonate his cleverly disguised devices is next to nil. And none of you better try that!
Now, if we've learned anything from the Shoe Bomber, we should just ban guerilla marketing alltogether, startiiiiiiiiiiing now!
You would think that after winning that World Series they would lighten up. Bostonians are soooooooooo rabid.
"Police and Homeland Security aren't allowed to ignore a potential threat"
They must ignore some potential threats because the fact is that everything is a potential threat and our society does not have unlimited resources to deal with security issues. As professionals the security forces are supposed to make informed judgements of what are the most dangerous items and deal with them.
And at least as importantly, if the security to response to *lights* is this severe, it means that terrorists no longer have to even make bombs to bring a city to a halt -- they can just plant lights and disrupt our lives. Do you think that's a good thing?
Is it not very often we see incompetence showcased so perfectly than when we watch Boston authorities dig their own grave with each press release concerning these signs. How totally sad :(
I live in Boston, yes they overreacted and should have tried to calm things down around 2pm but seriously guys.
1. These devices were more than lightbrights, they had visible circuit boards, i.e. wires hanging out
2. "Everyone and their brother knows Adult Swim has been pushing ATHF ..." is just a dumb statement by someone I am assuming is 14 or younger. Believe it or not most people have no idead what ATHF is (I love it by the way, funny show"
3. I feel more secure knowin that there WAS a reaction to these, what does this say about the other nine cities that were oblivious to this?
This incident has shown that we as a counrty are too jumpy but it has also brought out every a-hole who will decry this as either a travesty of Homeland Security or a reflection of "chowderhead bostonians". So nice that people are so supportive of one another in this day and age and allow for a little lattitude when dealing with possible terrorist threats. Stay classy U.S.
Dave, understandibly, is quite sad that he lives in a shitty city.
Please, be gentle with him.
OMG "visible circuit boards" Every one of us has items in our own how with circuit boards (hidden, but in there). What is you left a radio outside and it was broken? Wires would show? And circuits. Call the cops!!!!!
You never know and we can't be too careful. Think of the children. Won't someone please think of the children.
If you feel more secure in knowing here was a massive overreaction to this, it seems you think that police manpower is unlimited. It's not.
The thing is, this WOULD NOT happen in NYC. Our law enforcement machinery is too sophisticated. What DOES happen here are things like cops mistaking candy bars and wallets for guns and shooting the holders.
Here's a tip for terrorists: make your pipe bombs look like promotional "guerilla" bullshit we've all learned to ignore. Then marvel at the way people walk right past them.
THERE WERE 41 OF THEM STRUNG UP IN NYC. NYPD didn't get a single call about them.
Bostonians are idiots.
One of these was located at the intersection of Bleecker and Lafayette Streets in the east Village, visible from the entrances to the Bleecker Street subway station. Next to this spot is a billboard frequently used for Adult Swim promos, so it didn't seem unusual or noteworthy.
One of these was located at the intersection of Bleecker and Lafayette Streets in the east Village, visible from the entrances to the Bleecker Street subway station. Next to this spot is a billboard frequently used for Adult Swim promos, so it didn't seem unusual or noteworthy.
You didn't notice they were posted in NYC (Lafayette between Bleeker and Bond) because this is the 21st century and we have seen neon signs before. The Boston Police basically did the equivalent of finding a Miller Light neon sign on the bridge and called the bomb squad. Now they look like idiots and they're out for blood. These guys are my heroes. Go see their Fox News press conference from earlier today at college humor.com. Fucking brilliant.
people are pussy willows. it could have been a terrorist attack,terrorist attack,terrorist attack,terrorist attack. pussy,pussy,pussy,pussy,pussy. i live in nyc survived 9/11 stop saying it could have been a terrorist attack because it wasn't. stop saying it might be next time because who fucking cares. i'm not willing to give up one ounce of freedom for any amount of "safety." if we get hit again it would suck but don't turn yourself into a bitch and start living your lives worried about terrorist attacks, it's exactly what the gov't and terrorists want. if these dudes get 2-5 the mayor should be raped by their freinds and family.