BOSTON (AP) -- Nine blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a marketing campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. At least one of the devices depicts a character giving the finger. Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless. "It's a hoax _ and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick.

Actually, what I don't find funny is that you, the police, and homeland security are complete and utter morons.

They even arrested some poor sap who was paid to put these things up. There's a guy who "stole" one of the signs and has a bunch of pictures of them on flickr that you can see here.

Anyone with an IQ that breaks double digits should have been able to tell these were harmless in a few seconds. We truly live in a nanny state now. I predict that in 30 years the most dangerous thing you'll be able to find around here will be cotton balls.