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MIT Student Arrested at Airport for Hoax Device

Newspaper current event by gnifyus on 21 September 2007, tagged as lawjustice

Claiming it was "just artwork," and that she wanted to stand out on career day, a MIT student was arrested at Logan airport in Boston for disturbing the peace with a 'hoax' device. Nineteen year old Star Simpson had a circuit board connected with wires and a battery to make it light up, and was also carrying Play-Doh in her hands. State Police Maj. Scott Pare remarked, "She is extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used. She's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

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Wacky Youth? Maybe Not. by gnifyus :: NR7

Apparently, according to a fellow student, she had been walking around with this thing on her clothing for 3 days prior to the airport incident.

My first reaction to this was, "That was stupid; she must be crazy or something." Then I remembered some of the things I used to do 20-25 years ago at that age when messing around with electronics. Among the various strobe lights, guitar amplifiers and weird noise makers I made, I also for some reason got a kick out of making a simple LED flashing circuit that would actually flash for a full year on one D cell battery. A couple of times I left these in places where they might be seen by a passerby. (I don't know why, except to make people say "Huh?") The word "bomb" never crossed my mind back then. I can only imagine what would happen in this day and age, especially in Boston.

Despite reflecting on weird things done in youth, even though Star Simpson may say she was only expressing herself or whatever, the fact that she also had Play Doh makes me think something else was going on.

Posted 21 September 2007, Hide, Reply