Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Wednesday, August 07, 2002

A homeless British man surfing the internet in the public library of Punta Gorda, Florida, was arrested for viewing sites on mineral supplements and the world's first chemical generator of electricity, the Baghdad Battery. An off-duty Sheriff's deputy who happened to be lurking nearby thought that Nigel Gates might be looking for information on how to make a bomb. Because Gates was carrying bottles of paint thinner and jewelry cleaner in his pack (for cleaning cars), the bomb squad closed the library for a four hour search. During that time the police learned that Gates was traveling on an expired visa and had lied about his name. He'll be deported for the expired visa, and faces jail time for obstruction for giving a false name. (Thanks to LIS News.)