The Art Of Being Stupid
Proving, once again, that going to college does not necessarily mean you're smart, an MIT student has just narrowly avoided being shot dead. Why? Well, because she wanted to wear her "art" in Boston's Logan Airport. Said "art" being a fake bomb. I really wish that I was making this up.
BOSTON – An MIT student wearing what turned out to be a fake bomb was arrested at gunpoint Friday at Logan International Airport and later claimed it was artwork, officials said.
Star Simpson, 19, had a computer circuit board and wiring in plain view over a black hooded sweat shirt she was wearing, said State Police Maj. Scott Pare, the commanding officer at the airport.
"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on career day," Pare said at a news conference. "She claims that it was just art, and that she was proud of the art and she wanted to display it."
Simpson was charged with disturbing the peace and possessing a hoax device, and was to be arraigned in East Boston District Court later Friday.
"I'm shocked and appalled that somebody would wear this type of device to an airport," Pare said.
Simpson was "extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used," Pare said. "She's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."
Simpson is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology sophomore from Hawaii, officials said.
This was very close to being a Darwin Award. That anyone could be this stupid in this day and age is utterly appalling.
UPDATE: Here's the report from WBZ in Boston that includes video and photographs. Apparently, she also had a blog at some point, but that appears to be down – whether MIT took it offline or it crashed under load I have no idea.
UPDATE: Others: The Strata-Sphere, The Daily Gut, Jezebel, American Digest, Hub Politics, Hot Air, PoliBlog, Okie on the Lam, Boing Boing, Riehl World View, Wake up America, Pax Nortana,
Crime, Dumb Stuff, News, The Ivory Tower | Gaius September 21, 2007
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AMERICAN DIGEST — September 21, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
By Lars Walker, September 21, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Some people are born stupid. Some people suffer brain damage. But to become really, seriously box-of-dirt stupid, you have to go to college.
By feeblemind, September 21, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
You are having quite a week, Gaius. Two honorable mentions to the Darwin Awards. Do these events come on threes? She wanted to stand out on career day, eh? What was she going to interview for? Suicide bomber?
By Gaius, September 21, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
If she keeps it up, she’ll be dead. If she had even looked funny she would be right now. That she isn’t speaks volumes about the professionalism of the police.
By Mwalimu Daudi, September 21, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Star Simpson may be “stupid” – prime Darwin Award material, in fact – but don’t be surprised if she wins plaudits from the “artistic” community for her “stand” against the “fascism” of the Bush Administration.