<![CDATA[io9: party]]> http://tags.lifehacker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/io9.com.png <![CDATA[io9: party]]> http://io9.com/tag/party http://io9.com/tag/party <![CDATA[Fake Mad Scientists Arrested Under Anti-Terrorism Law]]> Two hundred years ago, all a mad scientist had to worry about were villagers with pitchforks, but these days mad scientists are being profiled as possible terrorists. This week, police arrested the host of mad scientist-themed party after mistaking the partygoers’ bright lights and chemistry sets for explosives or drug-making paraphernalia.

Members of the Bearded Kitten/Sugar House Gang held a mad science themed party in Hackney, just North of London. Group members dragged out old chemistry sets, dressed up in wigs and lab coats, and conducted theatrical experiments for their guests with such hazardous materials as food coloring, vinegar, and talcum powder. It was all fun and games until the police showed up:

Caretaker of the property, Richard Watson, 29, was arrested under The Anti-Terrorism Act and questioned while the entire area was evacuated and roads cordoned off with police tape.

He said: 'I was handcuffed and put in the back of the police van for over an hour while the bomb squad and drugs team came down.

'There was a ridiculous amount of police there. Every time I looked out of the van I could see a new group of them swarming around…

'They told me they were arresting me on suspicion of making explosives. I laughed at first but then I realised they were being serious.’

Watson was eventually released without charges, but it isn’t clear what prompted the police to raid the party. The group was probably fortunate that the experiments they were conducting were more stage magic than actual science. Would the police have been so quick to release Watson had he been using his equipment for more serious science experiments?

Students in 'Weird Science' Halloween party arrested under anti-terror laws [Daily Mail]

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<![CDATA[io9 Party at WonderCon Was Full of Craziness]]> io9 and Last Gasp Press co-sponsored a benefit for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund on Saturday night at WonderCon, and it was smashing. A ton of comic book artists came and drew at a table while we got drunk, and then CBLDF auctioned the art off to raise money for the fight for free speech in the comic book world. Here's a "before" picture of your intrepid editors (l-r that's Charlie Jane, Annalee, Graeme, and Kevin). Some after photos below.

Sadly nobody captured the moment when I was a little tanked up, walked up to Brian Posehn from the Sarah Silverman Program (he's also done a postapocalyptic comic book called The Last Christmas), and yelled, "Sarah Silverman Program ROCKS!!!" Bless his heart, Posehn just rolled his eyes instead of punching me.

You can see more photos here, by Alexis Barrera from Brain Eater Books.

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<![CDATA[Party Tonight with io9 and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]]> Join us tonight from 8-11 at San Francisco's 111 Minna for some beers. io9 is co-sponsoring a benefit for free speech crusaders Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at WonderCon. Mingle with cool comic book creators and meet intrepid io9 editors/writers Annalee Newitz, Charlie Jane Anders, Kevin Kelly, Graeme McMillan, and (hopefully) Lynn Peril too!

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