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More "War on Terror" Hysteria

Tony

Penultimate Amazing
Tony
Joined
Mar 5, 2003
Messages
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http://recordsearchlight.com/news/2007/feb/03/incident-may-be-bong-scare/

An old-fashioned, medicine-type bottle containing a clear liquid that prompted a bomb squad response in downtown Redding on Thursday may actually be another kind of illegal device.

Sprouting a couple of bent plastic straws that snake through a rubber stopper and are taped to its sides, the bottle apparently resembles a water pipe, or bong, used to smoke marijuana or other narcotics.

"It looks like a homemade smoking device," said John "Bubbles" Marsh, a retail clerk at The Underground on Pine Street, which advertises itself as a rock n' roll department store. Marsh was shown a photo of the device taken by a Record Searchlight photographer.

"Yeah, it kind of looks like a homemade piece," Marsh said.

Still, he said, he was not 100 percent certain.
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Last week, we had idiotic authorities in Boston go ape-**** over a cartoon character, not we have idiots in Redding freaking out over a home made bong. When will this insanity end?
 
When muslim invaders take over and force EVERY American to kneel and to pray toward Mecca 5 times a day.

Fear the bong! Or hukka as they are referred to in places of that originated this terror.
 
Bong water levels are rising! It will kill the crops!

Seriously, that liquid explosive situation has pushed the paranoia quotient beyond all sense. White powders, clear liquids, electronic gizmos: we're surrounded by more imaginary danger than Jerry Falwell in San Francisco.
 
Tony said:
http://recordsearchlight.com/news/2007/feb/03/incident-may-be-bong-scare/



Last week, we had idiotic authorities in Boston go ape-**** over a cartoon character, not we have idiots in Redding freaking out over a home made bong. When will this insanity end?
Click to expand...


Your comment about Boston raises several questions for me:

Why do you think the Boston authorities were idiotic? Was it because they acted cautiously when unknown electronic devices appeared on bridges and other public areas? If so, is it your contention that they are idiotic because they should have immediately realized the devices posed no threat? If so, is it because the devices depicted cartoon characters?

Basically I'm curious as to why you think the Boston authorities are idiots. If your thoughts are different than my guesses in the last paragraph could you please let me know how you did arrive at your conclusion? If my guesses are right, could you please explain in detail exactly what kind of mysterious devices appearing in public places ought to be routinely ignored by the authorities? I'm sure you are aware of explosives having been placed in luggage, cardboard boxes, carrier bags, childrens toys etc. Have you considered what kind of devices might be used to deliver biological agents? (A sheet of glass with a small black box attached to it would set off alarm bells for me!)

By the way, I do think the reaction to the discovery of the bottle/bong was over the top.
 
Carnivore said:
Your comment about Boston raises several questions for me:

Why do you think the Boston authorities were idiotic? Was it because they acted cautiously when unknown electronic devices appeared on bridges and other public areas? If so, is it your contention that they are idiotic because they should have immediately realized the devices posed no threat? If so, is it because the devices depicted cartoon characters?

Basically I'm curious as to why you think the Boston authorities are idiots. If your thoughts are different than my guesses in the last paragraph could you please let me know how you did arrive at your conclusion? If my guesses are right, could you please explain in detail exactly what kind of mysterious devices appearing in public places ought to be routinely ignored by the authorities? I'm sure you are aware of explosives having been placed in luggage, cardboard boxes, carrier bags, childrens toys etc. Have you considered what kind of devices might be used to deliver biological agents? (A sheet of glass with a small black box attached to it would set off alarm bells for me!)

By the way, I do think the reaction to the discovery of the bottle/bong was over the top.
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Hey carni,

Instead of rehashing 2 days worth of discussions, please read this thread:

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73788

Let me know if you have any additional questions.
 
Cheers, you're right, I should have posted in the other thread. Having read it, I'm pretty sure you and I disagree on the issue of the Boston PD response, so I wont rehash the discussion any further. I am still curious about whether you considered the possibility of a bioterror device rather than a bomb when deciding the Boston devices were obviously no threat?
 
Carnivore said:
Cheers, you're right, I should have posted in the other thread. Having read it, I'm pretty sure you and I disagree on the issue of the Boston PD response, so I wont rehash the discussion any further.
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Well, it wasn't the response per se, but the way in which they handled it. If a suspicious device has been reported, investigate it. But, as I said on that thread, I think such a situation calls for discretion. Something the authorities in Boston threw out the window at the very beginning.

I am still curious about whether you considered the possibility of a bioterror device rather than a bomb when deciding the Boston devices were obviously no threat?
Click to expand...

Not really.
 
"It looks like a homemade smoking device," said John "Bubbles" Marsh, a retail clerk at The Underground on Pine Street, which advertises itself as a rock n' roll department store. Marsh was shown a photo of the device taken by a Record Searchlight photographer.

"Yeah, it kind of looks like a homemade piece," Marsh said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like to show Mr. Bubbles a real bomb next time and see if he can identify it, as he is apparantly an authority.
 
the picture in the article looks nothing like a homemade bong-- at least, not any that i've ever seen.

regardless, it doesn't surprise me that authorities were called. redding's population consists largely of older conservative folk that have likely never seen a real bong, let alone a homemade bong. so long as the authorities don't go running around trying to arrest some teenaged stoner for a terror "hoax", i'd think the reaction was entirely reasonable-- certainly moreso than the boston reaction...
 
OMGturt1es said:
the picture in the article looks nothing like a homemade bong-- at least, not any that i've ever seen.

regardless, it doesn't surprise me that authorities were called. redding's population consists largely of older conservative folk that have likely never seen a real bong, let alone a homemade bong. so long as the authorities don't go running around trying to arrest some teenaged stoner for a terror "hoax", i'd think the reaction was entirely reasonable-- certainly moreso than the boston reaction...
Click to expand...

You might have a point there.
 
OMGturt1es said:
redding's population consists largely of older conservative folk that have likely never seen a real bong.
Click to expand...

No? I figure every old fart in Redding has popped into Mr. Bubble's shop, at least for rolling papers.
 
Carnivore said:
Cheers, you're right, I should have posted in the other thread. Having read it, I'm pretty sure you and I disagree on the issue of the Boston PD response, so I wont rehash the discussion any further. I am still curious about whether you considered the possibility of a bioterror device rather than a bomb when deciding the Boston devices were obviously no threat?
Click to expand...


If I was going to make a bio-terror device, I would put it in a 784 ounce Mega Big Gulp cup. No one would take any notice of that. Reactions like the ones in Boston and this case (and the patriot act) are more small victories for the terrorists.

Daredelvis
 
I wonder what they would have made of the "smoking device" we confiscated a couple of years ago. Constructed by engineering students (natcherly...), it consisted of about 12 feet of PVC pipe all connected together in a rather artistic manner, with filters, fans, and a large water chamber.
 
hgc said:
Bong water levels are rising! It will kill the crops!

Seriously, that liquid explosive situation has pushed the paranoia quotient beyond all sense. White powders, clear liquids, electronic gizmos: we're surrounded by more imaginary danger than Jerry Falwell in San Francisco.
Click to expand...

nominated. :big:

BTW: Why do you hate America?

-z
 
daredelvis said:
If I was going to make a bio-terror device, I would put it in a 784 ounce Mega Big Gulp cup. No one would take any notice of that. Reactions like the ones in Boston and this case (and the patriot act) are more small victories for the terrorists.

Daredelvis
Click to expand...

:confused: This post is a mixed message. Are you saying no one SHOULD take notice of silly items like bongs and cartoon boards, or that we need to now because terrorists will now consider hiding bombs in them?
 
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I think the police need a good deal of practice in responding to bomb threats. Training exercises are good for perfecting basic mechanics, but it's hard to evaluate how things will go in reality without some panic in the mix. Nobody gets panicky if they know it's a training exercise. Bongs or advertising gadgets planted by who knows who can provide a more realistic experience that may stand everyone in good stead if a real bomb shows up one day. For all I know, the cops may have surreptitiously set up both the events just reported for that very reason.
 
Tony said:
Last week, we had idiotic authorities in Boston go ape-**** over a cartoon character, not we have idiots in Redding freaking out over a home made bong. When will this insanity end?
Click to expand...

"Oh my god, dude! Loook on TV, they found your bong! That bomb squad guy is looking at it right there!"

"OH NO! My fingerprints are all over it! Shitshitshitshitshit! Oh my god dude, what am I gonna do?!? I am so screwed now, I'm goin' to jail. God damn i..."

(Buh-LAM!!!)


"Sweet!"
 
Lemastre said:
For all I know, the cops may have surreptitiously set up both the events just reported for that very reason.
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How nice of Turner Broadcasting and their ad agency to pay $2 million for this exercise.
 
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