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

Posted by samzenpus on 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?"

12 of 687 comments (clear)

  1. I recommend ... by Colin+Smith · · 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 · · 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 Imrik · · 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.

  2. Remove the colored chalk . . . by Rob+the+Bold · · Score: 4, Funny

    I told ye it was forged by Lucifer himself!

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    I am not a crackpot.
  3. Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by motek · · 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.
  4. Are we getting the whole story here? by 91degrees · · 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.

  5. No substance? by MichaelSmith · · 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
  6. A day with the vice principal by istartedi · · 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"?
  7. Re:Lesson Learned by Narpak · · 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
  8. Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by HalfFlat · · 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".

  9. What you say?!?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Someone set us up the bomb!!!

    We get signal!!!

    How are you idiots??? All your sense are belong to us!!!

  10. Re:Counseling gets the school off the hook by Jesus_666 · · 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)