Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.
Today on Boing Boing TV, Xeni talks with Star Simpson, the former MIT student who ran afoul of Logan Airport security when she wore a breadboard on her sweatshirt to the airport and was mistaken for a suicide bomber. I hate when that happens!
bread board on shirt not exactly aesthetically pleasing.
JacqueChadallsays:
There’s more to the story than that interview shows. Saying she was mistaken for a suicide bomber is a bit extreme. She was assessed as posing a security threat. People who don’t understand electronics wouldn’t understand what was on the breadboard and that it was no threat. Also at the time she was detained she was holding play-doh in her hand. She was also belligerent and uncooperative with authorities. It was like she was doing her best to be perceived as a threat so she could get all high-and-mighty when it actually happened. I don’t agree at all with most of the extreme security situations and the over reactions happening, but come-on, have some common sense. Might as well walk up to the president, point at him and yell “BANG”, it’s going to get a negative reaction and you shouldn’t be surprised when it happens.
–JacqueChadall
Anonymoussays:
Actually, not even “the authorities” claimed that she was belligerent and uncooperative. Just the opposite: the state police claimed it was only because she behaved cooperatively that she didn’t end up “in the morgue”.
mehsays:
@comment #2: she’s an engineer by training, not an artist. what do you expect? us engineers find the most awkward things attractive ;D
@comment #4: where’s the transcript? i’d like to see some account of the happenings other than her own.
to me, the whole thing just seems weird. but at the end of the day, nobody blew up, nobody got shot, and all we get to do is marvel at another precious MIT student that will no doubt go on to stupendous things in life. kudos to star for not adding this to her resume though.
Anonymoussays:
@comment #5: If you Google [“Star Simpson” morgue] you’ll find the quote in many sources, with other claims made by the police at the time. One example: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/09/21/bomb.hoax/
louissays:
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Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. And he has a new best-of writing collection and “lazy man’s memoir,” called Borg Like Me.
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Land of the free??? Home of the brave????
how about…
Land of the pathetic, home of the weak….
bread board on shirt not exactly aesthetically pleasing.
There’s more to the story than that interview shows. Saying she was mistaken for a suicide bomber is a bit extreme. She was assessed as posing a security threat. People who don’t understand electronics wouldn’t understand what was on the breadboard and that it was no threat. Also at the time she was detained she was holding play-doh in her hand. She was also belligerent and uncooperative with authorities. It was like she was doing her best to be perceived as a threat so she could get all high-and-mighty when it actually happened. I don’t agree at all with most of the extreme security situations and the over reactions happening, but come-on, have some common sense. Might as well walk up to the president, point at him and yell “BANG”, it’s going to get a negative reaction and you shouldn’t be surprised when it happens.
–JacqueChadall
Actually, not even “the authorities” claimed that she was belligerent and uncooperative. Just the opposite: the state police claimed it was only because she behaved cooperatively that she didn’t end up “in the morgue”.
@comment #2: she’s an engineer by training, not an artist. what do you expect? us engineers find the most awkward things attractive ;D
@comment #4: where’s the transcript? i’d like to see some account of the happenings other than her own.
to me, the whole thing just seems weird. but at the end of the day, nobody blew up, nobody got shot, and all we get to do is marvel at another precious MIT student that will no doubt go on to stupendous things in life. kudos to star for not adding this to her resume though.
@comment #5: If you Google [“Star Simpson” morgue] you’ll find the quote in many sources, with other claims made by the police at the time. One example: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/09/21/bomb.hoax/
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Welcome to visit Coach factory outlet store online! We offer diverse Coach outlet products as Coach bags, Coach wallets, Coach purses, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses etc, at promotional price in Coach outlet Online. The styles include lots of popular collections such as Coach kristin, Coach madison, Coach hampton, Coach poppy etc…… Coach is a leading American designer and maker of luxury lifestyle handbags and accessories. There is no doubt that here Coach outlet store is the exact place you should visit. This Coach factory outlet provides various Fashion Coach Bags to customers. We guarantee that all the coach outlet bags offered at our website shop have high quality.If you want to purchase Coach Outlet Store, please feel free to contact us here.All are 70% off. I ensure we can satisfy you needs at Coach Factory Outlet. What you need to do is to visit our Coach Outlet online shop immediately, and get the products that you long for back to your home. Click Coach Purse to find the best buy in this Coach outlet online store !