LED pranksters remember the Aqua Teen Hunger Force "bomb" scare

In an expression of remembrance for a historical moment in hair-trigger overreactions, artists all over the Boston area have taken to the streets armed with provocative LED signage. Paying homage to the "bomb" scare of January 31st, 2007 (which was actually just viral promotion for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie using LED art), creative pranksters have descended upon the city with electronic recreations of President Bush, Osama Bin Laden, and a number of other inflammatory images sure to rile the local authorities but-good. Truck on over to MAKE to see a collection of images, and if you happen to be in the Boston area, don't miss a chance to snap some photos of your own!

[Andrew @ Jan 31st 2008 3:30PM]

1/31/07 NEVAR FORGET.

[John @ Jan 31st 2008 3:32PM]

A shining light unto us all.

[DvS @ Jan 31st 2008 3:46PM]

Waiting for the "do-gooders" to starting preaching how evil this is, and how it will affect our national security...

[DvS @ Jan 31st 2008 4:16PM]

Waiting for the "do-gooders" to start preaching how evil this is, and how it will affect our national security...

*fixed*

[Hax Or @ Jan 31st 2008 4:24PM]

*ing* is not a sin. it's called a typo.

Best ta ignor it.

[NHAnimator @ Jan 31st 2008 4:00PM]

Okay, let me be the first to throw this out there. I don't care who you are, who you are "working" for, or how innocent your actions are intended to be. If you start hanging ANYTHING off of public structures without notifying authorities, I'm okay with them arresting you.

[Andrew @ Jan 31st 2008 4:13PM]

You have to be joking.....right? Move out of your mom's basement.

[Hax Or @ Jan 31st 2008 4:26PM]

*knee-jerk*

Someone loves him a Nanny State

[DvS @ Jan 31st 2008 4:30PM]

I propose we arrest all those who publicly protest, put flyers and advertisements up, who publicly display any kind of message or individuality.

We should all walk down the street in a straight line, wearing the same clothes, preaching the same message. The government should put cameras on every corner to watch us and make sure this happens. Anything else would be un-American.

[NHAnimator @ Feb 1st 2008 8:42AM]

Well, I certainly left my post short of an important detail and therefore, made myself look quite foolish. My bad there. My intent was to state that if you intentionally leave ANYTHING in public of an electronic nature (i.e. with wires and lights), then you should be arrested.

If you think you are being clever/funny by having emergency personnel called out to investigate your little game, then you should be held responsible for your actions (cost of investigation). Just because you think that some viral advertising is cool, that doesn't mean the rest of the general public is going to be in on the joke. If someone is attaching something with wires to an underpass and then running away, you better believe SOMEONE should be calling that in.

Obviously leaving flyers, notices, advertisements, etc. is typically not a threat and that was certainly not the intent of my statement. Not is erecting an electronic billboard. If I have still not stated my point using the most precise terms, I would hope that you at least understand the gist of my argument.

[mark wright @ Mar 26th 2008 3:53PM]

What if a piece of advertisement in the form of paper was laced with Anthrax?

My point.

[brandon_r87 @ Jan 31st 2008 4:05PM]

In honor of this, I propose that the comments section concern itself only with discussing hair styles of the 1970's.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fJkTNJ7BM9I

[Andrew @ Jan 31st 2008 4:14PM]

I'll start off the conversation. Where did the afro start?

[brandon_r87 @ Jan 31st 2008 4:26PM]

The infallible Wikipedia states that the afro's roots go back as far as ancient Egypt. The modern afro started in the 1960's, though it's cultural relevance in the 1970's demands that it be included in the discussion. The afro was very popular in African American culture during the 1960's and 1970's, and went on to become a mainstream hairstyle in the late 1970's. At this point, many African Americans lost interest in the style as it became popular for Jewish men to sport a variation of the style.

As interesting and important as this information is, I cannot seem to link it to our current ways of thinking. Surely the afro is key to how we perceive the world around us!

[p-diddy @ Jan 31st 2008 4:42PM]

*sigh* I wish we could forget this - all it does is gender enmity between people. As a resident of Boston, the interruption was non-existent (I didn't even hear about it until 7PM that night) and I am GLAD the police take matters seriously, even if it turns out to be nothing. Yes, they overreacted in trying to get Turner to pay for the effort, but can we please just move on? I'm glad the comments are broken so I don't have to read how stupid the people of Boston are, because, really, we weren't hiding in bomb shelters and kissing our loved ones good-bye that day - no one even knew about it.

-p-

[Fuzzball @ Jan 31st 2008 4:57PM]

Good. I would have done the same if I were in Boston, but not of bin Laden; I'd probably do the finger, "Never Forget 2007/01/31", "Dumb Ass", or "LOL".

[bcollinstex @ Jan 31st 2008 5:10PM]

The Quato hand is a nice touch.

[Han @ Jan 31st 2008 5:41PM]

Relive the day!

http://community.livejournal.com/b0st0n/2007/01/31/

[Barry @ Jan 31st 2008 7:05PM]

1/31/2007... Never Forget!

[p-diddy @ Jan 31st 2008 7:14PM]

@DvS - AGGGGGGHHHHH!!! Hanging weird electronics on bridges != protesting or being an individual. Walk around with a sign! Hand out leaflets! Wear your hair funny, but I am GLAD the police disposed of some weird electronics like they did.

No, I don't want cameras everywhere, but if the cops don't know what it is, YES, caution should be used.

This is exactly why I wish we could move on. You will NEVER convince me that the BPD overreacted. Did Menino? Sure. But calling out the bomb squad was the right thing to do for some wacked out electronic device on a bridge.

At least I know that if I want to blow something up, I should dress it up like a mooninite so you'll all just ignore it. Well, at least until it goes BOOM and then every one will QQ about how some police person didn't do their job.

-p-

[TIMMAH! @ Jan 31st 2008 7:28PM]

Didn't see anything on MAKE about the construction of these. Does anyone know what they're using for power and how long they stay lit?

[James Wood @ Jan 31st 2008 8:17PM]

But can it play DOOM?

[chuck @ Jan 31st 2008 10:31PM]

this is awesome. finally someone shows a sense of humor...

[Barry @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:15PM]

1/31/2007... Never Forget

[mark wright @ Mar 26th 2008 3:59PM]

Nice