I'm not sure why people keep highlighting the fact that Simpson is an MIT comp student. That information only reinforces the notion that one can turn a breadboard and a few LEDs into a deadly bomb. Not to mention the clay she was carrying.

In NC we have a General Statute that says you "cannot go armed to the terror of the public". It basically means that your right to own and carry a gun (any weapon) has some restrictions. Those restrictions are partly determined by the public's perception to and reaction of a person walking around "strapped".

I immediately recognized the device as a breadboard, used for building temporary circuits. However, I couldn't tell you what that circuitry is simply by looking at it. I defy anyone else to either. Nor can one tell what it might be hooked to under her jacket. Add the lump of clay, her reluctance or hesitation to answer questions about the circuit board, and it seems reasonable enough to question the woman. By all accounts the airport staff and cops did their jobs. The woman is alive because of the officers’ professionalism and training.

On another note, the WBZTV reporting of the incident was smarmy.

“The employee questioned her about the device… so Simpson left.”

So Simpson left? That’s an interesting conclusion. And she was definitely getting wet using the words “MP5 machine gun”.

This whole incident is such a nonstarter. The government erosion of civil liberties is a big enough problem without trying to defend every selfish individual’s thoughtless disregard of the public’s fears. I’m all for freedom of artistic expression. But individuals' freedoms and public safety have to be reconciled.

isn't that how we treat our industrious, passionate, creative young people these days?

Oh, the squealing fear of Americans stumbling over themselves to dismantle everything that once made America great.

The terrorists have won. We're afraid. Desperately, pathetically afraid. That Osama bin Laden, he sure knew how to push our buttons, didn't he?

Fortunately, she didn't have a pair of those kid's shoes that blink when you take a step. She might've been taken out for being suspected of being a "Shoe Bomber."

Somewhere, in the bowels of the police training facility in Boston, there is an anti-terrorism expert that is responsible for the fear that LED lights strike in the heart of all Boston cops. Somebody should tell him or her that a real suicide bomber will probably not be wearing their bomb on the outside.

No taser on bombers as the electrical current might detonate the charge. SOP is a head-shot as it will most likely kill the suspect instantly and keep them from triggering the device.

"Simpson might instead have rolled out of bed with an art jacket she often wore around campus and slipped it on in a rush on her way to pick up a friend"

...and then does what everyone who rushes out on their way to the airport does...pick up a glob of Play Doh. By your own admission you don't know what a bomb looks like, but I bet you can guess what Play Doh looks like.

In this day and age it should be evident that people do not joke about certain things--airport security being one. There is nobody out there with a brain larger than a pea that can honestly claim they did not know about consequences for such idiocy.

What the hell are they teaching at MIT? The Massachusetts Moonbat Coalition can surely find a way justify Ms. Simpson's actions. The sense of entitlement comes from the fact that there are people that will somehow spin her actions into she being vicitmized by jackbooted police.

Perhaps a well placed bullet would have been ideal. It would have helped thin the heard before this one had a chance to propagate.

College pranks...

Angry juveniles...

Teen angst...

Some malady or syndrome...

Call it what you want, but there are excuses for every action and no accountability, and the problem is getting worse.

And you as "What sense of entitlement?"

The guy who said this must have it right:

"Little Miss Exhibitionist just got a valuable life lesson. Do you really want to re-learn it yourselves?"

I am so relieved to know that terrorsts are exibitionists and that they don't try to sneak up on you or be clandestine in any way. This is verified on page 14 of the ACME all purpose Terrorist manual which clearly states:

After you make a bomb

a: Attach the bomb to yourself so it is out in the open. It must be easily and completely visible and look stupid.

b. Make sure the bomb has little blinking lights that are bright and twinkly

c: Walk around with your fully exposed blinking light bomb for days and engage people in conversation.

d: Dye your hair blond so you stick out more

e: If no one "gets" you are a terrorist, then pull out a bullhorn and start announcing "look at me. I'm a terrorist" repeatedly.

f. If still you are ignored, go to an empty lot and blow yourself up because you failed at being a terrorist.

Irrational fear is wonderful thing isn't it. It makes you lose judgement and see things that are not there and gets innocent people hurt or killed. So if you want to see in every string or rope you find in the road, a lethal snake, have a wonderful life, but just stay the fuk away from me.

The author notes:

Had it not been for the six years we've already lived through irrational, useless, annoying, psychologically defeating overeager airport security -- put in place to prevent an event that could have been solved by a single measure, locking the cockpit doors...

Recently I flew within Canada and the US on two different carriers. In three of the five aircraft I was on, the door to the flight deck was left wide open for three minutes or more as cabin attendants chatted with the flight crew prior to take-off. Anyone who'd managed to smuggle aboard an improvised weapon could easily have rushed in and taken control of those aircraft.

It's absurd that we've spent billions on protection against imaginary or far-fetched terrorist threats; yet airlines seem to be ignoring cost-free, simple protections such as keeping the damn flight deck door locked at all times. Aircraft have phones -- there's no good reason cabin staff and flight deck staff can't use them to communicate.

It's as if we've learned nothing in the past six years. Except that airport security should confiscate the really dangerous items from passenegers, such as, oh, bottled water.