US News reports that in a new tell-all book, Tom Ridge admits manipulating terror threat levels for political motives. In the forthcoming book, Ridge reportedly acknowledges for the first time that he was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he "saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over." But as The Atlantic points out, Ridge apparently gave in to the White House demands anyway, resigning only after the election. Huffington Post also provides additional discussion on this developing story.
posted by saulgoodman on Aug 20, 2009 - 139 comments

First there were duct tape wallets. Then plastic bag wallets came along, and now everyone's jumping on board with soy milk wallets, cassette tape wallets and even playing card wallets!
posted by thebigdeadwaltz on Jul 9, 2007 - 26 comments

Hopkins, wearing a black ski mask and latex gloves, allegedly walked up to the casino's cashier and pointed a shotgun at her, robbing her of $336, according to court records...At about that moment, a man named Tyrone, whose last name no one seems to know, charged Hopkins and grabbed the shotgun, pointing it into the air. With the robber pinned, Ren, 30, grabbed a full roll of duct tape and went to work. "I wrapped his hands, legs, whatever," Ren recalled Friday, as he smoked a cigarette, sipped a Budweiser and held the duct tape in his hand. "He ain't moving. He ain't going nowhere." At that point, the men, feeling bad for the woman who had been robbed, decided to make Hopkins apologize to her. When he was placed in front of the cashier, Hopkins apologized and "cried like a baby," Kleppen said. Hopkins and Caward were scheduled to appear in Gallatin County Justice Court Friday morning, although they were "too high" and instead will make their initial appearances on Monday, Judge G.L. Smith said.
posted by 445supermag on Mar 3, 2007 - 50 comments

How do you subdue a crazed astronaut? Duct Tape! By now we've all heard of astronaut Lisa Nowak's diaper-clad race to kidnap/kill her competition for fellow astronaut Bill Oefelein, but today we learned how NASA plans to deal with such trouble-makers in space: duct tape them into submission. NASA's idea isn't very original - restraining people with duct tape has been well documented in the movies, for use on airplanes, by bad parents, and for unruly patients. So, it appears this miracle adhesive can not only save us from terrorists, it can save us from ourselves. Bless you duct tape.
posted by Muddler on Feb 23, 2007 - 30 comments

Stuck to their prom dates. Since 2001, Duck brand duct tape has sponsored a scholarship contest, open to any high school students willing to go to prom in outfits made of duct tape. This year's fashions range from the classic silver to wilder colors and patterns, and occasionally veer into the just plain strange. Dip into the archives for more.
posted by me3dia on Jun 16, 2005 - 39 comments

Duct tape.
posted by cachilders on Nov 1, 2004 - 4 comments

That's What Friends Are For: Laughing, getting drunk together, telling all...and making celebratory, determinedly silly websites like this one. Generally, private jokes are painfully unfunny but, when the vicarious instinct kicks in, other people's gregarious joie de vivre is contagious, touching - and great fun.
posted by MiguelCardoso on Nov 9, 2003 - 7 comments

The great duct tape conspiracy? It seems that 46% of all duct tape is produced by the Manco Company of Avon, Ohio. The company, a division on Henkel inc, was run by Jack Kahl until just after Bush's 2000 election. It turns out Mr. Kahl donated no less than $100,000 to GOP committees in the 2000 election cycle. Has Tom Ridge become the official spokesperson of all things duct tape purely out of his concerns for our security here in the Homeland? Got duct tape? via boingboing
posted by elwoodwiles on Feb 24, 2003 - 30 comments

Duct Tape Fashion sells accessories made of duct tape, of course. Order a billfold, or a backpack, or even roses for that "special someone" for Christmas! (I'm hoping for a hat, m'self)
posted by mr_crash_davis on Dec 12, 2002 - 6 comments

Just Duct-y..... Hmmm. Duct tape seems to be a fix for everything, even curing warts. Err...don't try this on the genital kind, I guess.
posted by bivouac on Oct 14, 2002 - 16 comments

Cheap chic: Duct tape fashions for the innovative trendsetter who likes to shop at the local hardware store. And what to do with the leftover duct tape.
posted by iconomy on Jun 6, 2002 - 11 comments

A duct tape wedding Sorta like the Rose Bowl, only with duct tape instead of flowers, people instead of floats and marriage instead of a parade connected to a foodball game.
posted by raysmj on Jan 5, 2002 - 21 comments

You know it's true/I'm happy to be stuck with you - high school students vie for a $2500 scholarship by attending their proms dressed in outfits made from duct tape. Interesting idea, although I question the No purchase Necessary clause in the rules, and I'm pretty sure that they made more that $2500 from all the Duck brand duct tape sold to make the outfits.
posted by plinth on Jun 14, 2001 - 7 comments