Results tagged “terror”

Boston Dynamics is developing a new anthropomorphic robot, PETMAN, for the purpose of testing chemical protection clothing for the Army. To fulfill its duty completely, the human-size robot will be capable of "a variety of suit-stressing calisthenics," including heel-toe walking, crawling, and even sweating. Boston Dynamics expects to deliver the robot in 2011, and is partnering with Midwest Research Institute (MRI), Measurement Technology Northwest, Smith Carter CUH2A (SCC) and HHI Corporation on the project.

The Globe discovered snow last week. Then we learned it's dangerous to sled on it. Now, it's dangerous to put it anywhere.

Unusually quiet on the local sports scene yesterday. Sure, the World Champion Red Sox dispersed to the talk show circuit. At various times last night, and for the next few days, you can see members of the hometown team doing walkons with Letterman, Leno, O'Brien, "The Daily Show", "Nightline", "The NFL Today", "Thomas the Tank Engine", "The Iron Chef", "CSI: Miami", and "Deadliest Catch". Check your local listings. But in terms of actual, on-the-field, recappable...

Authorial Intent spotlights readings throughout the area. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Michelle Wildgen, You're Not You, Wednesday, October 3, 7:00 pm, Brookline Booksmith. In Wildgen's debut novel, which is enjoying glowing reviews, Bec, a drifting college student, takes care of Kate, an older, sophisticated woman dying from ALS. The two grow close, and soon Bec is taking care of business for Kate - such as carrying out a clever little way to...

After the swift response to MIT student Star Simpson's infamous arrival at Logan Airport, the united front of law enforcement against the Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and the mailing of empty pill boxes to residents, imagine our surprise upon hearing that Massachusetts would be unprepared in the event of a terror attack. Boston proves that just because you're easily frightened doesn't mean you can protect yourself if something really bad happened. Governor Deval Patrick's team...

Let's ignore, if you will, the fact that the Sox seemed Friday night as if they wanted to reach a new club record for number of times they left the bases loaded stranded. Let's forget about the fact that Manny Ramirez is unlikely to return to the lineup during this series in Tampa Bay, which means he is officially (in our books, anyway) taking his annual September vacation. We can even push aside the feeling...

"Authorial Intent" is Bostonist's fledgling attempt to wrap up all the readings in Greater Boston. Steve Almond, Thursday, September 13, 7:00 pm, Brookline Booksmith. Read Bostonist's interview with Steve Almond. His latest book is named (Not that You Asked). Rest assured, if you ask, Almond will answer. In great and glorious detail. Brookline Booksmith's latest e-mail blast warns that, if you plan on attending, you better bring candy if you know what's good for you....

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their...

Happy Father's Day! For those of you who have dads, are dads, or know dads, this one's for you, from all of us at the Gothamist network. It was a week of bizarre, embarassing headlines at DCist. The trial of the local administrative law judge who sued his cleaners for $54 million over a pair of missing pants left everyone shaking their heads. Then the capital city was nearly brought to its knees, twice, by...

On the rare occasion in middle school we witness a classmate light his own farts on fire. Mostly lighter-singed underwear was the result. BU and the CDC have released a study that lactating moms might have the ability to light their breast milk on fire, or more precisely, blow it up. High levels of perchlorate have been found to be delivered by 49 Boston area moms in unsafe doses to babies. The Environmental Working Group...

--Yesterday, authorities thwarted a terror plot that targeted a jet fuel pipeline at New York's JFK airport. There's no sign of a link between the JFK Plot and Logan, but Boston displayed its usual swift response to the slightest whiff of terror. So we're not surprised that Logan boosted security. Here's what's changing: "The stepped-up patrols were inside airport facilities as well as outside gates, said [the director of corporate security for the Massachusetts Port...

According to Massachusetts is so blue that you can't tell if it's blue or black. We're not really sure what exactly that means. The Daily Show recapped the Republican debate and provided no fewer than three segments to dig into Mitt Romney. Perhaps it's a sign that the statesman from Massachusetts (and Utah, and Michigan, and…) is a front runner worthy of ridicule. But perhaps it's what we've known for a while: it's the little...

Zombie will screen at 7:30, and Torso will screen at 5:30 and 9:30 on Thursday, May 10, at the Brattle. We'll be spotlighting a few movies from the series, but you can see the full schedule here. The Brattle is kicking off its Grindhouse series in honor of the Quentin Tarantino / Robert Rodriguez movie. They've put together a collection of some freak-flick standards, such as Escape From New York, The Thing, The Hills Have...

Boston-born Sumner Redstone is everywhere, from The Colbert Report to MGH. Just recently, the Viacom chair made a $35-million-dollar donation to the MGH burn center. Rich people make donations all the time, but there's a reason for the mogul's gift. We knew that the 1979 Copley Plaza Hotel fire damaged Redstone's hand, the appearance of which gave rise to much speculation over at Gawker. The injuries he sustained in that fire nearly killed him, as...

John Waters will speak at BU's Tsai Performance Center on Tuesday, April 10, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are free, but you have to get them from the Barnes & Noble at Kendall Kenmore Square. John Waters used to provoke fear and terror in the plain-vanilla types. The mere mention of his name would have people thinking of transvestites, poop-eating, poop-mailing, cha-cha heels, and Tab Hunter. Now, Waters is almost cuddly, if a guy who wears...

--Boston revealed yet again that it is quick on the draw - maybe too quick - when it comes to terror threats. After disposing of a pedestrian counter downtown, the law investigated some funny-tasting white powder found in a water cooler in a South Boston high school Wednesday afternoon. The hazmat system around here is impressive. They had the people who drank the water tested, then they tested the water itself - only to find...

The Schlock-Around-the-Clock festival kicks off on Saturday night at the Brattle at 9:30 pm. Bring your jammies - they're going until the next morning. Tickets are $20 for the all-nighter. The Brattle is hosting its very first Schlock-Around-the-Clock this weekend, and, when it comes to schlock, they've set the bar very, very high. You may never see schlock like this all in one place again. Here's the Brattle's lineup: Shanty Tramp (1967) This movie plays...

Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that the Boston area cut a deal with Turner Broadcasting and Interference, Inc., the brains behind the marketing campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatres that made life in Boston a little nutty last week. Boston will receive $2 million dollars for its trouble. In return, Turner Broadcasting and Interference won't face charges. Here's the basic breakdown - $1 million goes to reimbursing state and...

Ah, fall. Fall marks the start of so many delightful traditions - leaf-peeping, the NFL season, heavy beer, jerks tossing pumpkins off overpasses and onto cars … If you've been keeping up with the regional crime reports, there's been a veritable plague of killer gourds. After weeks of tormenting motorists, the people who made up the Highway Pumpkin Posse have received their just desserts - and it ain't a slice of pumpkin pie. The police...

We got excited back when the acceptance letter came in. We were again enthused when Alex decided to come to MIT. Just recently we watched the daily strip as MIT made some of the first appearances, even if it was only on the phone. Today, after a week at MIT only in the dorm room, we actually get to go outside. The tour of the Cambridge campus features the Stata Center – or as...

Yesterday the City of Boston and surrounding communities participated in their latest homeland security sponsored drill, Operation Poseidon. The details of the drill had been leaked released to the press a few weeks ago. We knew what would happen, when it would happen, and where. Local blogger Eeka took part in the drill as a volunteer victim and gives her own recount of the dayThe simulation was very poorly done. We all had name...

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. You know who's going to be upset about those Bikini Bandits? The Houston school system. Houstonist also reports on some redevelopment shenanigans over a landmark theater. LAist's sex advice column on...

A United Airlines plane travelling from London to Washington D.C. was forced to land at Logan Airport this morning after a 60-year-old female passenger became agitated, claiming fear of claustrophobia on board. This U.S. citizen had to be restrained by passengers and was arrested by State Police once the plane landed at Terminal E. We much prefer when planes are diverted to less populated places, like Bangor. It's a little disconcerting that this DC-bound...

The temperature heats up a little this week. There will be a bit more humidity in the air. But unlike last week we're not going to be engaged in the same mad-dash around the city every night to catch all the good music. This week we can take our pick, settle in with a pint, and catch the good tunes at a single venue. Fantastic line-ups mark this weeks picks. From the opening band...

Last week an episode of zefrank's The Show had resonance for the current state of the War on Terror. The message was that without terror the terrorists couldn't win. It was in response to the news out of London that a plot to blow up airliners on transcontinental flights was foiled. The ability of the potential terrorists to strike fear in the population, empty their Frappachino's and toothpaste into the trash, and cause delays at...

All local and national news outfits have their eyes turned to London this morning. A terrorism plot has been uncovered in the UK which would apparently have resulted in planes on international routes from the UK to the US blowing up mid-flight. At least twenty-one persons have been taken into custody by British authorities so far, and they're still following leads stemming from the arrests. Here in the United States the Department of Homeland Security...

Even as the stores sport back to school sales (which depress us, even now), summer lingers on your friends the -ists. This week's collection of links provides some of the best, worst, and oddest bits of summer fun. So, bring your laptop up onto the roof, make yourself an umbrella drink or ten, and enjoy this week's choice posts from across the Gothamist network. Torontoist (where it's 75 degrees F as of this writing)...

In a world where there's nothing to do but watch movies. In a city full of theaters, museums, and libraries. One moviegoer who can be in three places at once. Friday 7/28 Cubamor Gigolos, students, goddesses and tourists dally in Joshua Bee Alafia's musical, fantastical Havana. The Roxbury Film Festival is showing this and many other feature films, as well as experimental shorts, music videos, and some non-fiction: a 25-minute deocumentary called Bootyful World asks...

Leave it to the F.B.I. to finally nab the real criminals in the United States today…the guys who stole the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt baby shower photos! Despite the country being plagued with terror threats and now a new bin Laden tape, the F.B.I. was able to track down these photo thieves right here to Westfield, Massachusetts on Tuesday night. It seems that camera shop employees, Bill Keyes and Adam Beckwith, had come across...

DCist is screwed in the event of an oil crisis. Not that we're not all screwed in the event of an oil crisis, just D.C. is more screwed. Don't sell your car yet, District resident, a cabbie can kick you to the curb if he doesn't like your address. Not even Metro can save you now. Londonist experiences the London of the future through the wonders of 3D modeling, but while the 3D guys are...