Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

Ok, so this is killing me. I came into the office this AM and saw this story on the feeds from the local NBC news last night about bombs found outside my old dorm at GaTech:

Three explosive devices found in a courtyard between two Georgia Tech dormitories on the East Campus Monday morning were part of a "terrorist act," an Atlanta police official said.

One of the devices exploded, injuring the custodian who found them inside a plastic bag. Two others were detonated by a bomb squad.

The custodian suffered ringing to the ears and was treated at a local hospital. The events led to a temporary evacuation Monday morning.

"It is a terrorist act at this point and depending on the outcome of the investigation it potentially could become a federal violation as well," said Major C.W. Moss of the Atlanta Police Department.

Under Georgia state law, a terroristic act is described as the release of a "hazardous substance," specifically for "the purpose of causing the evacuation of a building" with "reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror."

The custodian found the three devices about 9 a.m. in a plastic-type garbage bag, Moss said. When he picked up the bag, one exploded, as it was designed to do when handled. The explosives were made up of chemicals placed inside plastic bottles and could have seriously injured someone, officials said. Numerous agencies were on the Georgia Tech campus to search for suspects.

Now, the "ringing ears" thing didn't register, but I read the whole thing and thought, Soda Bombs!

If you were somehow underprivileged in high school, a soda bomb is basically: take a 2 liter, fill the bottom with distilled vinegar (or preferably stronger acedic acid), put a .75 in or so layer of motor oil on top of it and wait for it to settle, then with a bendy straw carefully put a thick layer of baking soda over the top of the oil and seal the bottle -- preferably with superglue.

This leaves a little "trap". You move the bottle, the soda falls through the oil, releases CO2 and the bottle goes "BOOM" with a no-shrapnel loud ass noise as the side of the 2 liter bursts open.

Well, they confirmed it today even with a picture of the offending device:

Now, several local and federal agencies are joining forces to track down those responsible for creating and placing the homemade bombs.

"It will be a joint investigation between the Atlanta Police Department, the Georgia Tech Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Every possible lead will be followed," said Major Moss.

A powerful boom followed the intentional detonation of one of the three soda bombs by the Atlanta police bomb squad Monday morning. The explosion of the first homemade bomb caused hearing damage to the male custodian who found it, authorities said.

Some Tech students told 11Alive News they thought it was likely a prank. Others just said it was plain stupid.

"I think it was more of a practical joke," said Tech student Jessica Marquadt. "But, I hate to say it, but I think somebody at Tech would have the capabilities to make something like that."

Another student, Jenny Zhang, said, "I think this really was a dumb college prank and somebody who didn’t think ahead."

Why is it the Jenny Zhang has a better handle on this that our government? Seriously, doesn't the Joint Terrorism Task Force have more important shit to do than rundown some 17 year old who plays one of the "oldest jokes in the book"? Hell, on the 4th we used to toss M80's off the roof of Cloudman. I guess I would get disappeared to Gitmo for that now. At least we are fighting them here so we don't have to... wait....