Bobblehead figurine sends 350 state workers fleeing from building in Washington State

[Bluebear]

TUMWATER, Wash. – Talk about a blunder. A bomb technician discovered that a suspicious package that forced more than 300 workers to evacuate a state building contained a bobblehead doll awarded to public officials for perceived errors.

The package, sent by an intern at KOMO-TV in Seattle, was addressed to Department of Corrections Secretary Harold Clarke at the department's headquarters in this town near Olympia.

It didn't have a return address and the mailing label was handwritten. It also had stains on the outside, which could have indicated that the item inside had leaked, said Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ted DeHart.

“It had the classic indicators of a suspicious package,” DeHart said.

The building's 350 employees were evacuated for about 45 minutes Friday after the package was found in the mailroom.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070526-0410-odd-bobbleheadscare.html

[annabanana]

1. "awarded to public officials for perceived errors"

How the hell do you get an award for that?

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Annoy an arrogant blow-hard, that's how

I got one for Initiative 957. Allegedly got one, I should say; they never even sent it to me. :cry:

[Richard Steele]

5. Maybe by evacuating 350 people because of a bobblehead doll? nm

[TwilightGardener]

2. Have there been any mail bombings since Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber)?

[uppityperson]

3. I got a "suspicious" package once. Cracked me up.

Took a package to USPS to mail, got scolded because I had cut down another box for reuse and you could still see some "aersol" words under the tape. UPSP clerk told me I couldn't reuse boxes like this, had to be more careful. OK OK OK, eye roll (box was cut way down, folded over, retaped, etc).

I gave the slip them to pick up a package. Clerk returned holding a box and put it carefully on the counter while we, and the people in line, just looked at it. I started laughing and made a comment as to "if this doesn't get me on some list, I don't know what will." It was a scarf I'd ordered off eBay, sent from Egypt. The many-times-used box had old non-sticking tape on both ends (meaning whatever could shift and fall out), a string around it with a lead pressed seal holding string together. Stamps on 3 sides, return address in Arabic. I gingerly reached into box, pushing aside non-sticky taped flaps, removed contents and showed the clerk my scarf, went on my way, laughing at it all. I kept the box for a memento.