Police Called Over 11-Year-Old's Science Project

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Police Called Over 11-Year-Old's Science Project

Posted by samzenpus on Saturday January 16, 2010 @09:37AM from the duck-and-cover dept.

garg0yle writes "Police in San Diego were called to investigate an 11-year-old's science project, consisting of 'a motion detector made out of an empty Gatorade bottle and some electronics,' after the vice-principal came to the conclusion that it was a bomb. Charges aren't being laid against the youth, but it's being recommended that he and his family 'get counseling.' Apparently, the student violated school policies — I'm assuming these are policies against having any kind of independent thought?"

20 of 687 comments (clear)

I recommend ... by Colin+Smith · 2010-01-16 09:40 · Score: 5, Funny

That everyone should stick some coloured wires into cardboard tubes, then leave them lying about all over the place. The more the merrier.

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Deleted
1. Re:I recommend ... by Narpak · 2010-01-16 10:34 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The end result is that school officials with a high self interest will put their self interest in front of everyone else (the authorities who are wasting their time, the students out of class, the student directly involved, the parents who have to come pick up all the students early, etc), since they are more worried about the ramifications to themselves than the trouble they may cause for others.
  That's why I have always been in favour of school consisting of a transport vehicle going around picking up each kid individually and placing each into their own stasispod. Then said stasispod is driven to a building were they will be stacked up for 10 hours and all interaction will be committed virtually with the kids never leaving their respective pods. If any student violates policy or acts in a threatening manner the pod can be disconnected from the hub and driven directly to the nearest correctional facility. Safety first!
  
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  The Long Now Foundation
2. Re:I recommend ... by selven · 2010-01-16 13:07 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  DRIVING the stasispods around? You CHILD MURDERER. Driving kills 40000 people a year, we can't let CHILDREN be driven around in trucks! Everyone (including the adults, they should be protected from themselves as well and also their bodies are strong enough to assault, molest or kill a child so they should be restrained) should be legally required to remain in a stasispod 24/7 at home with all interactions virtual while trustworthy law enforcement officers can walk around outside and protect us.
  That's safety.
3. Re:I recommend ... by Imrik · 2010-01-16 13:45 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The Terrorists have won and brought your society to their knees.
  Did not! We managed that all on our own thank you very much.
4. Re:I recommend ... by E+IS+mC(Square) · 2010-01-16 17:37 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Either they loose it or tighten it. What other option do they have?
Remove the colored chalk . . . by Rob+the+Bold · 2010-01-16 09:41 · Score: 4, Funny

I told ye it was forged by Lucifer himself!

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I am not a crackpot.
Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by motek · 2010-01-16 09:48 · Score: 3, Funny

Perhaps they meant the vice principal was to seek counseling? Otherwise his fears may simply stop his poor heart one day.

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I would like to die like my grandfather did - sleeping. And not screaming in terror, like his passengers.
Are we getting the whole story here? by 91degrees · 2010-01-16 09:48 · Score: 4, Funny

I mean, did anyone, for example, ask the kid what the device was and perhaps he said "It's a bomb! I'm going to blow myself and all of you up as a sacrifice for the great god Satan!" because had he said that, I'd suggest most of the rest of the article makes sense.
No substance? by MichaelSmith · 2010-01-16 10:07 · Score: 4, Funny

Luque said the project was made of an empty half-liter Gatorade bottle with some wires and other electrical components attached. There was no substance inside.
This kid is clearly a genius. He has created the worlds first 100% hard vacuum, in a soft drink bottle no less. He has even eliminated zero point energy.

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http://michaelsmith.id.au
A day with the vice principal by istartedi · 2010-01-16 10:11 · Score: 4, Funny

He bolted out of bed and carefully defused the alarm clock before it went off, after concluding that... it was a bomb.
He went to shave, but before turning it on decided to throw the razor out the window after concluding that... it was a bomb.
He decided not to make toast after concluding that the toaster was...
Better not drive, he thought...
Got on a bus. There was a guy with a radio. He called 911. Got off the bus before the police arrived though.
Arrived at school. Reported science fair project as possible bomb.
Police showed up at school. Hey? Are you the guy who called 911?

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For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
Re:What if it was really a bomb? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-16 10:20 · Score: 1, Funny

san diego you fuckwit.
Re:Lesson Learned by Narpak · 2010-01-16 10:29 · Score: 5, Funny

Don't do anything to attract attention to yourself ever.
Anyone actively trying not to attract attention must be a terrorist!

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The Long Now Foundation
Re:We're on our way! by lagfest · 2010-01-16 10:33 · Score: 1, Funny

Are you by any chance related to any of these guys? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8fbrUjjivw
Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by Kell+Bengal · 2010-01-16 10:34 · Score: 2, Funny

Alternatively, he might be the school hero for getting everyone sent home early for the day!

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Scientists point out problems, engineers fix them
altslashdot.org: The future of slashdot.
Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by HalfFlat · 2010-01-16 11:00 · Score: 4, Funny

Now I can't say what policies he might have violated; ...
Someone on the comment thread attached to the FA gave an actual link to the school's actual policies.
There's nothing there about bringing in an electronics project, though I guess there was always the possibility that he was so enamored with it that he engaged in a "public display of affection".
What you say?!?! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-16 11:20 · Score: 5, Funny

Someone set us up the bomb!!!
We get signal!!!
How are you idiots??? All your sense are belong to us!!!
Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by Jesus_666 · 2010-01-16 11:31 · Score: 4, Funny

Remember that motion detectors are an important part of Claymore mines and sentry guns. It's a wonder nobody was killed or worse.

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USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
Re:We're on our way! by ceoyoyo · 2010-01-16 13:08 · Score: 2, Funny

Well, I can see a problem already. The school allows sweater vests on Friday. That's not acceptable.
Okay, back on topic. Perhaps he was making an inappropriate public display of affection with his Gatorade bottle?
I also like how they're worried someone using a cell phone before or after school might take away from the safety and attractiveness of campus.
Re:Taking the same thing into airport likely will by phantomfive · 2010-01-16 13:16 · Score: 2, Funny

I thought it would too, but as an embedded developer, I've had to fly across the world carrying strange devices with wires and chips all over the place. Surprisingly it is rare that I get stopped and have to take it apart to show what it is. Usually when I do, I get the feeling that the security guards are more curious about what they are looking at than that they have any fear over it being a bomb. Maybe if I were Iranian or wore a turban I would get a different response, maybe I will try the turban thing sometime.

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Qxe4
Re:Fucked up paranoia by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-17 00:44 · Score: 1, Funny

Since it was firemen who searched his home, "fucked up beyond 451" would be more appropriate...