23 June 02

>From a friend on Michigan about the importance of the axiom we stress in our classes: Don't:

(1) Go to stupid places (2) Associate with stupid people (3) Do stupid things

"A local high school science teacher was arrested here following what he described as a ‘harmless prank.' He and two of his students set off a ‘soda bottle bomb' in the front yard of another of his students. The ‘bomb' is made by mixing Drano with aluminum foil. The combination causes a chemical reaction which builds gas inside the bottle, until the pressure causes the bottle to burst. Most high school kids know how to make this ‘bomb,' and its construction and subsequent use didn't appear to be misdeeds to the teacher or the students involved.

In any event, neighbors failed to see the humor in the whole thing, and they called the police. During the investigation, detectives interviewed the teacher and the two students. Police read the teacher his rights and, of course, informed him of his right to council. The teacher, according to the report, waived his right to consultation with an attorney and is quoted as saying ‘For what I did, an attorney can't help me.' He mistakenly thought no charges would be filed.

He was wrong. The teacher has now been charged with two felonies, ‘Detonating a bomb' and ‘Possession of bomb-making materials.' Additional charges are pending.

Felony stupid?"

Indeed!

/John