BOSTON - Nine blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a marketing campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. At least one of the devices depicts a character giving the finger.
Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.
"It's a hoax and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick.
Turner Broadcasting, parent company of Cartoon Network, said the devices were part of a promotion for the TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."
"The packages in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger," Turner said in a statement. It said the devices have been in place for two to three weeks in 10 cities: Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Austin, Texas, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
"We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger," the company said.
Police said only that they were investigating where the device came from. The Department of Homeland Security said there are no credible reports of other devices being found elsewhere in the country.
An angry Mayor Thomas Menino said a stiff penalty will be pursued against whoever was responsible for the devices.
"It's about keeping a city on edge. It's about public safety," he said.
omfg... just attack the rest of the international marketing society why dont you. OMG! MOONINITE BOMB! UP YOURS!
Thats it, im moving to canada. the usa has gone from cool to anal.
"Behold, a moon master."
Man, I love ATHF.
LMFAO! I can see this being implimented into a ATHF episode sometime soon. XD Yet another reason America's started sucking and Japan's looking like the best country in the world. 😛
"Yes, but that alone isn't enough." XD
On the moon, we have evolved beyond your primitive system of panicking at blinking lights.
THAT'S RIGHT!
Mooninite society has no need for bombs. We can blow people up by snapping our finger pixels. No, with our mind, without even thinking about it. In fact, the universe bends to our will to blow people up before we even know they annoy us.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS BOSTON POLICE?
I can assure you he has just flipped a bird the magnitude of which your tiny brains can not comprehend.
lol Hero stop being such a japanophile.
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It's about keeping a city on edge.
I find that to be the most disturbing thing I've read.
LOL FOX NEWS
They keep finding new ways to be hilarious.
Oh and the Mooninites can't be terrorists because they'd have to escape the enormous moon gravity. This is obviously a government hoax. 
Suspicious devices? I wouldn't ever mistake that for a bomb. Infact, I'd like one in my room.
Surely someone walking by knew what it was.
Got a laugh over the whole thing, though.
oh my god they even blurred out the digital finger
This taking a simple marketing ploy and turning it into one of the most unintentionally hilarious things in some time (I mean who knows, he could just have a dagger for a hand ). It reminds me of that incident that happened in some obscure town in Ohio, where the bomb squad was released to handle a renegade Mario ? block that was placed next to a church.
I guess it shows that the moon really does rulez #1
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I wouldn't ever mistake that for a bomb.
I'd sooner mistake it for the entrance to a strip club.
if i'd seen that picture of the fox news anywhere else without the article, i'd have thought it was some spoof image. ^^;; how could they think that they're bombs?
How could they think that they're not? =P
At least this did a better job at terrorizing people than the Quad Lazer did.
YAY! Free international advertising which has reached viral marketing levels! The Aqua Teen Movie shall be a hit, and Neil Peart's cameo will live on forever.
By the by... I'm feeling rather evil today, so shall destroy Hero's dreams.
It's a MAN, man!
A Mooninite bomb!! Only one man can save Boston:
24 Season 7: Jack Bauer vs the Mooninites
LOL Did guys saw the press conference just now? The guys who did this were talking about their hair and afro in 70 rather than answering the reporters questions. Hilarious.
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I wouldn't ever mistake that for a bomb.
They were thinking they were possible bombs because they were suspicious packages of circuitboards and wires wrapped in duct tape and electrical tape. Perhaps the lights should have given it away, but then again, there are bombs made to look like toys, and sticking a couple lights on the outside in a pattern is a lot less work to hide the contents of the package. Think of it; if they HAD been bombs and had done nothing about them because they had lights in the shape of rather obscure cartoon characters on them, the BPD, FBI, and every other LEA and level of government would have been crucified for not having done anything to stop it and for having been fooled by some bombs with cartoon characters drawn on them.
That said, LOL.
ATHF is obscure? Since when?
They were thinking they were possible bombs because they were suspicious packages of circuitboards and wires wrapped in duct tape and electrical tape.
Bombs only look like that in movies.
Flip him the bird, Batman. We smoke cigars when we flip the bird.
~Tobe
I'm doing it as hard as I can!
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Bombs only look like that in movies.
Ted Kazinski put bombs inside of bits of wood. Remember that? A person was nearly killed when he attempted to move what he thought was a bit of scrap lumber.
Children's dolls have been used as IEDs.
If a complaint is issued, they have to look into it. If no bomb is found, then okay then. Looking deceptively harmless is not an excuse to not check.
If a complaint is issued, they have to look into it.
Yeah, that's fine. But that's not what they did; instead they basically told the media the terrorists were attacking, shut down half the city, and charged two perfectly innocent young men with criminal offenses.
True that Cyc.
OMG Ultra actually agreed with a viewpoint that wasn't insanely right-wing.
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR!
There was an article in my local paper about this today. =O
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ATHF is obscure? Since when?
In all honesty, if I didn't see those things on AS commercials, I wouldn't know what they were as I don't watch ATHF; that being said, when I saw the actually pictures of the things tonight (yeah, I'd never saw an close-up picture of the "bombs" until I saw it on Wiki tonight) I thought to myself that they should of realized it was just a "toy" though concern was still understandable.
Terrorists: they train with LITE-BRITE to crush the infidels!
TRUE FACT STORY
(however depicting Mohammad in LITE-BRITE form is the ultimate sin and will result in protests of the existence of your entire country)
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=15005
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CNN.com is reporting that Cartoon Network head Jim Samples has resigned after the Aqua Teen Hunger Force bomb scare in Boston, a scare that effectively shut down the city and resulted in a $2 million payment to the city and state. Samples released this statement in an internal memo to staffers at CN:
I am sure you are aware of recent events in which a component of an Adult Swim marketing campaign made Turner Broadcasting the unintended focus of controversy in Boston and around the world. I deeply regret the negative publicity and expense caused to our company as a result of this campaign. As general manager of Cartoon Network, I feel compelled to step down, effective immediately, in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch. It's my hope that my decision allows us to put this chapter behind us and get back to our mission of delivering unrivaled original animated entertainment for consumers of all ages. As for me, there will be new professional challenges ahead that will make the most of the experiences I've had as part of this remarkable company. Through my 13 years at the company I have found myself continuously in awe of the talented artists and business people surrounding me, from those who realize their vision in creating a cartoon to those who so brilliantly deliver the animation to viewers. I will always cherish the experience of having worked with you. I appreciate the support that you have shown me. As a friend and a fan, I also look forward to seeing your best and most personally fulfilling work yet. Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and each of you deserve nothing less.
In the wake of Samples' announcement, Turner Entertainment president Mark Lazarus and Boston mayor Thomas Menino also released statements:
Lazarus: "Jim's decision to leave his post is a reflection of his regard for the business he helped build and the people he trust to move it forward ... He has our respect, appreciation and sincere best wishes."
Menino: "I applaud Turner Broadcasting for taking full responsibility for the marketing campaign that caused major disruption in our city last week. I am pleased to know they have taken the incident seriously and action has been taken against the people who authorized it. The resignation of their top Cartoon Network executive should serve as a message to all that these types of marketing tactics will not and should not be tolerated."
Turner executives declined to comment on whether Samples' resignation was forced. A new head of Cartoon Network has not been announced. In the interim, CN senior management will report directly to Lazarus. Samples' departure comes at a rather unfortunate time--CN's annual upfront presentation, where it unveils new shows and new initiatives, takes place this coming Wednesday.
OK, fine. People thought they were dangerous. All right. I can accept that. But.... this? Excessive much?
at least they're telling you what caused the bomb scare.. i'm still trying to find out why they shut down a whole section of birmingham a few days ago. all i've discovered that it was a hoax. a hoax needed several controlled explosions?
then again, a few years ago they did blow up a package my dad sent to someone in another company because something had worked it's way loose and was rattling.
i think it was a box of biros or something. oO;
That business about the exec is ridiculous. How is he responsible for a bomb scare over devices that have been placed in 10 major cities and generated no other complaints?
On another subject:
