Last year around this time of the morning I was getting calls and emails from people asking “why did MAKE put LED sculptures all over Boston??? CNN says you did!!” it turned out that we (MAKE) had written about LED art projects on MAKE and when CNN Googled (or Ask Jeeves’d) they assumed it was us. It wasn’t, and eventually the city of Boston was shut down because of an advertising campaign which used LED panels that looked like the cartoon Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I’ve rounded up all the coverage from last year here – it’s interesting to read the comments and questions brought up. Some say the reaction wasn’t appropriate, some were surprised how anyone could have thought the simple project could have been considered so dangerous – others wanted to give the guys who did this the death penalty (or worse). Post your thoughts in the comments.
One year later– Today we have MAKE NYC meeting and I’m building a kit from Evil Mad Scientists, an LED panel that will be displayed in my office. I think this date for many people represents a chance to show that electronics can be art, not something to be feared or immediately considered a “hoax device” – it’s up to us to show how great electronics can be and be responsible.
Boston Mooninite story as it happened last year on MAKE – Link.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force shuts down Boston – Link.
Mooninite-inspired LED projects – Link.
HOW TO – Make a LED T-shirt – Link.
Pocket Ignignokt – Make your own Mooninites – Link.
24 thoughts on “Remembering 1-31-07”
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So was there ever a conclusion to their trial? I am curious to know what actually happened to them.
I was flying out of Logan that day, amid all of the confusion. I didn’t find out what was going on until I’d gotten back to PA, but I did get my bags ransacked by TSA because of a suspicious bundle of wires, AKA a cellphone charger and USB cable.
That warm and fuzzy feeling of safety, security, and freedom ensured by a reasonable, informed government still hasn’t warn off yet!
To paraphrase Ignignokt; “I hope you can see this, Boston, because I’m doing it as hard as I can.”
And to paraphrase FDR: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And also strange looking electronics.”
on the one hand, there had been an actual bomb scare earlier in the day over in the back bay (a pipe bomb from an disgruntled employee, iirc). on the other more whacked out hand, i’m pretty sure the guy who actually planted an actual bomb or pseudo bomb got off much lighter than the kids who made the mooninites.
http://www.bpdnews.com/2007/02/message_from_the_police_commis_2.html
My contribution:
http://www.friday.com/bbum/2008/01/30/january-31st-2007-never-forget/
Seriously please stop posting 5+ Pictures and videos under each submission. I know you want to show what other projects have been made similar to the new one posted, but you can also do that by posting a “similar projects” link or something. It gets annoying to have to scroll through multiple pictures of the same thing. An example of this is yesterdays scarf posting which had twenty (20) pictures of scarves. Another example of this can be seen in the October archives where you posted that orange and black halloween thing under everything every single day. Other people have mentioned this subject before but you choose to ignore their suggestions.
I like the photos makes the posts more fun to read, don’t change anything Make!
yeah they make it more entertaining, this is their site you have no right to tell them what to do
I saw one of the kids at Gold’s gym in arlington yesterday.
Well at least keep them out of the RSS, its being really annoying me, but not enough to complain.
More photos don’t change a thing!
FAIL… Does this mean the terrorist are winning?