OhnoohmygodNO... Did you just put that in your MOUTH?
March 14, 2007 12:11 AM Subscribe
"I want to make a point!" said Brenda Hughes after she chewed on some boric acid she'd picked up from the ground. The Savannah, Georgia woman was arrested earlier for throwing boric acid on her black neighbors in what police call a hate crime. She and her t-shirt agree that she didn't do it. So far they seem to be the only ones, though.
It's also just about the least corrosive acid that's commonly available.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:29 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:29 AM on March 14, 2007
Yeah, personally I didn't get why she was arrested for it. Clearly that reporter probably didn't know that boric acid is different than sulfuric acid. All I do know is that the video just plain ol' made me laugh.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:33 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 12:33 AM on March 14, 2007
I don't see how this is really all that dangerous. Boric Acid isn't any more toxic than table salt.
Giant Snail 1: Them's fightin' words.
Giant Snail 2: He'd better be able to find his keys in a reasonable amount of time, otherwise we have him.
Giant Snail 3: Let's roll.
posted by jimmythefish at 12:34 AM on March 14, 2007 [10 favorites]
Giant Snail 1: Them's fightin' words.
Giant Snail 2: He'd better be able to find his keys in a reasonable amount of time, otherwise we have him.
Giant Snail 3: Let's roll.
posted by jimmythefish at 12:34 AM on March 14, 2007 [10 favorites]
Of course it wasn't her. It was her shirt.
posted by inconsequentialist at 12:35 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by inconsequentialist at 12:35 AM on March 14, 2007
She's too sexy batshitinsane for her shirt. So batshit, it hurts.
posted by maryh at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by maryh at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
Midday in the Frontyard of the Goddamn Retarded.
posted by phaedon at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by phaedon at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
Why can't people like this be from the South Carolina side of the river, dammit?
posted by SuperNova at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by SuperNova at 12:39 AM on March 14, 2007
Shirt that says "I didn't do it" = I probably did it.
Shirt that says "I didn't do it" in comic sans = I probably did it, and I'm insane.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:45 AM on March 14, 2007 [17 favorites]
Shirt that says "I didn't do it" in comic sans = I probably did it, and I'm insane.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:45 AM on March 14, 2007 [17 favorites]
Ah, the typography school of clinical psychology! As a graphic designer, I can dig it.
posted by houseofdanie at 1:09 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by houseofdanie at 1:09 AM on March 14, 2007
Regardless of it's actual dangerousness the reporter is just hearing "roach poison" and seeing an obviously unwell lady eating it. He's probably thinking "oh man, are we going to have to take this horrible woman to the hospital now?"
As for her being arrested, dangerous or not, if she's throwing white powder on people with intent to harm them that's kinda assault. And if she's doing it because the people are black, that's a hate crime.
posted by Matt Oneiros at 1:16 AM on March 14, 2007
As for her being arrested, dangerous or not, if she's throwing white powder on people with intent to harm them that's kinda assault. And if she's doing it because the people are black, that's a hate crime.
posted by Matt Oneiros at 1:16 AM on March 14, 2007
throw some boric acid up your poon if you've got the yeasties. cleans 'er right up!
posted by wumpus at 1:20 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by wumpus at 1:20 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
roll truck roll, thank you for making the first comment that I ever favorited. (favorited?) じゃ set as a favorite.
posted by damo at 1:29 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by damo at 1:29 AM on March 14, 2007
Matt Oneiros: They just misunderstood her. She's clearly mentally unwell, so probably she was dancing all over her frontyard throwing it around into the air and shouting "White Powder! White Powder!". Hilarity thus ensued.
posted by nightchrome at 1:30 AM on March 14, 2007 [5 favorites]
posted by nightchrome at 1:30 AM on March 14, 2007 [5 favorites]
I'm going insane trying to determine if wumpus was serious or not. He -did- post at 4:20.
posted by tehloki at 1:34 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by tehloki at 1:34 AM on March 14, 2007
Charged with a boric acid battery?
Why isn't this a good thing, from the future?
Sincerely, Emily Litella.
posted by toma at 2:21 AM on March 14, 2007
Why isn't this a good thing, from the future?
Sincerely, Emily Litella.
posted by toma at 2:21 AM on March 14, 2007
Boric acid pKa: 9.14, 12.74, 13.80.
Yeah, not so much something you'd really describe as an "acid" in the lay-sense. BUT OHHHSHIT IT'S ACID!!!
posted by rxrfrx at 4:19 AM on March 14, 2007
Yeah, not so much something you'd really describe as an "acid" in the lay-sense. BUT OHHHSHIT IT'S ACID!!!
posted by rxrfrx at 4:19 AM on March 14, 2007
Borons.
posted by ikalliom at 4:21 AM on March 14, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by ikalliom at 4:21 AM on March 14, 2007 [3 favorites]
I lived in Baltimore most of my life, before moving to Savannah about seven years ago.
Brenda would fit right in certain parts of Baltimore (Brooklyn, Canton etc). It's a small world.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:39 AM on March 14, 2007
Brenda would fit right in certain parts of Baltimore (Brooklyn, Canton etc). It's a small world.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:39 AM on March 14, 2007
Next at 11, man pours soap on dog to "clean him." Animal rights activists enraged.
posted by VulcanMike at 4:47 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by VulcanMike at 4:47 AM on March 14, 2007
Tehloki, wumpus may have posted at 4:20 but pessaries made of boric acid-filled gelatin capsules are an acknowledged, if not widely recommended, treatment for vaginal yeast infections.
posted by Dreama at 5:37 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by Dreama at 5:37 AM on March 14, 2007
She needs to wear a t-shirt that says this.
Wow, today's Crazy Brenda Day on MetaFilter.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:11 AM on March 14, 2007
Wow, today's Crazy Brenda Day on MetaFilter.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:11 AM on March 14, 2007
The video needs a lightning bolt.
posted by buzzman at 6:37 AM on March 14, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by buzzman at 6:37 AM on March 14, 2007 [2 favorites]
My Grandma used to use a boric acid solution to as eyewash. But my Grandma was an office worker.
posted by davy at 7:40 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by davy at 7:40 AM on March 14, 2007
Last Night was Night of the Living Brendas. I had to alert people!
posted by miss lynnster at 7:59 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 7:59 AM on March 14, 2007
Wait, guys, her shirt makes a compelling case. Let's hear it out.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:14 AM on March 14, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:14 AM on March 14, 2007 [2 favorites]
I think I will make some chocolate chip cookies for my neighbors just in celebration and appreciation of their normalcy. Can you imagine the daily nightmare of having a next-door neighbor like that? Horribile dictu!
posted by madamjujujive at 8:18 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by madamjujujive at 8:18 AM on March 14, 2007
By the way, to those of you who haven't already, you really MUST check out the other Crazy Brenda videos. They are beyond priceless.
Sample dialogue: "Ostrich feathers, anyone!?"
To which I reply: "Bring 'em on, crazy Brenda! They're faaaabulous!"
posted by miss lynnster at 8:23 AM on March 14, 2007
Sample dialogue: "Ostrich feathers, anyone!?"
To which I reply: "Bring 'em on, crazy Brenda! They're faaaabulous!"
posted by miss lynnster at 8:23 AM on March 14, 2007
"You're honor," he said, casually pacing the worn floorboards before the bench, "these charges are absurd and I ask that the court dismiss this case and allow justice to prevail."
The judge leaned forward, the billows of his black robe creating the illusion of steep, friable cliffs along an inland bay; his gray, unwieldy eyebrows closed into an angry chevron as he considered the defendant's words.
"Sir," the grizzled judge began, "you are charged with first degree murder. The police came to your residence after you dialed 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that you had just murdered your wife. Upon entering your home, the police discovered your wife--whom they identified by fingerprint, DNA and the driver's license she was clutching--lying on your bed with a sword through her heart. You stood astride the bed, with the scabbard in your bloody hands, asking the police officers if they would like some coffee before taking you to jail for the murder of your wife, for which you told them you were guilty. You had in your pocket a receipt for the sword, which you signed a check for. On the bedside table was a video tape showing you shoving the sword into your wife, before turning to the camera and giving the court a very clear image of your wife's murderer. So tell me, sir," the judge spat as he rose to his feet, "why this court would dismiss the case before it!"
The defendant, who had stood silently and calmly during the judge's speech, walked back to his seat and opened his briefcase. He snapped open the locks, the sound reverberating through the silent courtroom. He removed a black baseball cap and placed it on his head. The jury, which had a better view, reacted with gasps before the rest of us in the observation area could see. But then he turned his head and after noting the knowing smile, I read the cap: "I didn't do it."
The judge sat heavily in his seat, not bothering to use the gavel to quiet the now thunderous courtroom. When we did eventually lower to a murmur, the judge rose again. "Case dismissed. You are free to go."
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 9:09 AM on March 14, 2007 [7 favorites]
The judge leaned forward, the billows of his black robe creating the illusion of steep, friable cliffs along an inland bay; his gray, unwieldy eyebrows closed into an angry chevron as he considered the defendant's words.
"Sir," the grizzled judge began, "you are charged with first degree murder. The police came to your residence after you dialed 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that you had just murdered your wife. Upon entering your home, the police discovered your wife--whom they identified by fingerprint, DNA and the driver's license she was clutching--lying on your bed with a sword through her heart. You stood astride the bed, with the scabbard in your bloody hands, asking the police officers if they would like some coffee before taking you to jail for the murder of your wife, for which you told them you were guilty. You had in your pocket a receipt for the sword, which you signed a check for. On the bedside table was a video tape showing you shoving the sword into your wife, before turning to the camera and giving the court a very clear image of your wife's murderer. So tell me, sir," the judge spat as he rose to his feet, "why this court would dismiss the case before it!"
The defendant, who had stood silently and calmly during the judge's speech, walked back to his seat and opened his briefcase. He snapped open the locks, the sound reverberating through the silent courtroom. He removed a black baseball cap and placed it on his head. The jury, which had a better view, reacted with gasps before the rest of us in the observation area could see. But then he turned his head and after noting the knowing smile, I read the cap: "I didn't do it."
The judge sat heavily in his seat, not bothering to use the gavel to quiet the now thunderous courtroom. When we did eventually lower to a murmur, the judge rose again. "Case dismissed. You are free to go."
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 9:09 AM on March 14, 2007 [7 favorites]
He was just a simple country hyperchicken...
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:34 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:34 AM on March 14, 2007
Well, she did ask God to strike her down if she was lying.
Clearly, the lack of smiting proves that she's innocent.
posted by klangklangston at 10:21 AM on March 14, 2007
Clearly, the lack of smiting proves that she's innocent.
posted by klangklangston at 10:21 AM on March 14, 2007
Hey, even God don't wanna mess with crazee lady.
As for her being arrested, dangerous or not, if she's throwing white powder on people with intent to harm them that's kinda assault. And if she's doing it because the people are black, that's a hate crime.
Ok, it's not kinda assualt. It is assault. But isn't it the sort of thing that could maybe be hammered out if people actually talked with each other? And jumping it to a hate crime? Maybe she threw it because she thought they were assholes (not saying they were) who just happened to be black. That is, she didn't throw it at some random person coming down the street who was black, she threw at some guys she already had problems with because she hates them. Yeah, and she seems to hate blacks, too, but geez. I think she needs to get some serious counseling, and maybe the neighbors raised it to the assult/hate crime level because they thought that maybe then someone would do something about her aggressive behavior. But for the media to jump like froggy yelling "hate crime, hate crime" for this is ridiculous. Hate crime? Times Beach. Love Canal. Maquillodores (sp?). Those are fucking hate crimes.
posted by beelzbubba at 10:34 AM on March 14, 2007
As for her being arrested, dangerous or not, if she's throwing white powder on people with intent to harm them that's kinda assault. And if she's doing it because the people are black, that's a hate crime.
Ok, it's not kinda assualt. It is assault. But isn't it the sort of thing that could maybe be hammered out if people actually talked with each other? And jumping it to a hate crime? Maybe she threw it because she thought they were assholes (not saying they were) who just happened to be black. That is, she didn't throw it at some random person coming down the street who was black, she threw at some guys she already had problems with because she hates them. Yeah, and she seems to hate blacks, too, but geez. I think she needs to get some serious counseling, and maybe the neighbors raised it to the assult/hate crime level because they thought that maybe then someone would do something about her aggressive behavior. But for the media to jump like froggy yelling "hate crime, hate crime" for this is ridiculous. Hate crime? Times Beach. Love Canal. Maquillodores (sp?). Those are fucking hate crimes.
posted by beelzbubba at 10:34 AM on March 14, 2007
Counterpoint, noting the neighborhood Beelz lives in (Hi dad): Talking to, say, Michelle isn't going to resolve the basic issue that she's batshit insane. I've got no problem with the ol' ein, zwei, Polizei here.
posted by klangklangston at 10:47 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by klangklangston at 10:47 AM on March 14, 2007
This seemed like a Reno 911 outtake. I kept waiting for Dangle and Junior to walk out.
posted by Emo Squid at 11:13 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by Emo Squid at 11:13 AM on March 14, 2007
Just because the lady is high strung and she threw borax on some guys doesn't make them innocent angels.
If they were on her porch and threatening her, well kudos for her displaying the restraint to throw a non lethal irritant on them.
It is entirely possible that she is a racist AND her neighbors were threatening her. Some minorities feel the need to pick fights with those they perceive as racist therefore perpetuating the stereotypes in both directions.
posted by Megafly at 11:23 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
If they were on her porch and threatening her, well kudos for her displaying the restraint to throw a non lethal irritant on them.
It is entirely possible that she is a racist AND her neighbors were threatening her. Some minorities feel the need to pick fights with those they perceive as racist therefore perpetuating the stereotypes in both directions.
posted by Megafly at 11:23 AM on March 14, 2007 [1 favorite]
Thanks for saying that, Megafly. You put into words what I'd been quietly thinking.
Black, white, crazy, uncrazy, everyone likes being a victim once in awhile.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:50 AM on March 14, 2007
Black, white, crazy, uncrazy, everyone likes being a victim once in awhile.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:50 AM on March 14, 2007
BUT SHE DIDN'T DOOOOO IT.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:54 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 11:54 AM on March 14, 2007
That bitch is fuckin' crazy and y'all know it. Don't excuse her.
posted by xhepera at 1:30 PM on March 14, 2007
posted by xhepera at 1:30 PM on March 14, 2007
1.) Brenda, bless her pointed head, is quite obviously batshitinsane.
2.) Boric acid can't hurt you (well, possibly if you ate your own weight...). You can buy it in the laundry aisle of your grocery store. Mix it with a little confectioner's sugar, and you've got a fantastic ant repellant though, so...there's that. Seriously, not any more dangerous than baking soda. It's an antiseptic, can be used on burns and cuts, and as an eye wash. There are some studies which suggest that it's useful in treating chronic acne.
It can be used as an antiseptic for minor burns or cuts and is sometimes used in dressings or salves or is applied in a very dilute solution as an eye wash. As an anti-bacterial compound, boric acid can also be used as an acne treatment. It is generally not considered to be much more toxic than table salt (based on its mammal LD50 rating of 2660mg/kg body mass).
3.) I cannot possibly imagine that this sort of insanity is what the hate crime laws were meant to address.
posted by dejah420 at 9:50 PM on March 14, 2007
2.) Boric acid can't hurt you (well, possibly if you ate your own weight...). You can buy it in the laundry aisle of your grocery store. Mix it with a little confectioner's sugar, and you've got a fantastic ant repellant though, so...there's that. Seriously, not any more dangerous than baking soda. It's an antiseptic, can be used on burns and cuts, and as an eye wash. There are some studies which suggest that it's useful in treating chronic acne.
It can be used as an antiseptic for minor burns or cuts and is sometimes used in dressings or salves or is applied in a very dilute solution as an eye wash. As an anti-bacterial compound, boric acid can also be used as an acne treatment. It is generally not considered to be much more toxic than table salt (based on its mammal LD50 rating of 2660mg/kg body mass).
3.) I cannot possibly imagine that this sort of insanity is what the hate crime laws were meant to address.
posted by dejah420 at 9:50 PM on March 14, 2007
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posted by mullingitover at 12:23 AM on March 14, 2007