Rather than respond to hijacks in other threads, I’ll make this one specific.
I assume we all know about the “terrorists” arrested in Marietta, OH. buying quantities of cell phones. And now in Michigan, three more “terrorists” with 1000 cell phones in their van, who supposedly were targeting the Mackinac Bridge.
I predict that this is just so much crap and they will be shown to not be terrorists. Just our usual hysteria. I’ve searched news stories in the past year about this phenomenon and have come to a conclusion.
There is a tremendous demand for prepaid cell phones. So much so, that in a place like Dallas/Ft. Worth, stores are cleaned out of them in a single day. Many of them are resold to legal and illegal Mexicans and other immigrant groups who need to make calls but have an id problem. Many of them are resold overseas for big money. To terrorists? Perhaps some, but in general to everyday people.
The FBI has investigated this exact same scenario in many other states over the past year. I can give you specific newspaper story cites if necessary. And you know what the outcome always is?–they aren’t terrorists and they aren’t charged ultimately with anything to do with terrorism. It’s a money-making venture.
So, my prediction, and I’ll admit it if I’m proven wrong, is that in both these cases they will be found innocent of anything to do with terrorism, the Mackinac "Bridge will be safe for another year, and Walmarts around the US will continue to be cleaned out of prepaid cell phones which will be resold for a profit and for legitimate purposes.
At first I thought that they were going to use the cellphones as ballast for a van so overweight as to punch right through the concrete surface of the bridge. Now I realize that if they turned on all those phones while crossing the span, the resultant microwave impulse could, quite literally, melt the steel structure. :eek:
Nah, they’ll just talk on 1000 cellphones at once while driving - thus causing every SUV driver on the bridge to spontaneously combust through sheer envy.
Personally, based on the current guidelines, I’d recommend checking out the guys who roll up to the checkout counter at Wal*Mart with a cart full of pre-paid cell phones, sports drinks, disposable cameras, and Dr. Scholl’s gel insoles. I mean, they might just be stocking up for their vacation, but you never know…
Whats the tally, at this point? How many times we seen breathless and anxious newscasters under banner of Terror in America!!! interviewing “Terrorism Expert” about this latest dire threat, analysts pointing out, yet again, that this is certain to raise public approval of the clear advantage Republican yadda blah yadda blah…
Have any of them panned out to be more than a bunch of deranged doofusses? One?
Still, the story is kinda fishy, though it may not mean a terrorist plot. How could that sort of profit margin exist without some illegality. Not necessarily dire threats, mind you, but wtf? If they saw such an opportunity, why not put in an order with the cell phone company and cut out even Wal-Marts margin? And how could they be more valuable for having less stuff?
Reports I’ve seen say investigators found the batteries seperate from the phones. They might be able to get a higher markup for the batteries, and nail you with shipping if sold on Ebay. $$$
The people with all the phones read about the exploits of Milo Minderbender. Unfortunately, they understood the nature of his exploits only to the extent Wolfian understood Squink’s post.
And boy is the town in an uproar over this one. It’s been huge. Not particularly well-focused, but huge. Biggest story to hit here since the 2004 flood.
I’d pay someone $19 to get the damn thing out of that damn blister packaging for me.
I read on the BBC news site a while back that cell phone theft is turning into a HUGE problem in third world countries. All those kid pickpockets that used to go for your wallet or purse are now aiming for cell phones instead.
Somebody thought it was pretty and wanted to show it to their wife? I’ve taken pictures of infrastructure when travelling when I thought it looked cool, or maybe there was a nice sunset over it. 'Course, I don’t look Arab.
Is one, in this day and age, permitted to ask why profits from entrepreneurial activities can be suspicious? Shall we begin to arrest all entrepreneurs?
