CNN now says they were planning to use a sports drink mixed with some chemical and possibly detonating it with a cell phone or MP3 player.

This tells us one thing: They are ingenious as the rest of us humans on this planet, and anyone with a brain and some education could probably do the same thing. They will use any combination of "allowed" items to complete their objective. The only way to prevent them from doing anything to aircraft is to make it a completely sterile environment. TSA approved flight wear, everything in checked baggage, bread and water only. Books would have to be banned because they "could" be used as a weapon. Expanding the inflight "entertainment" could make it somewhat bearable. God forbid I'd have to have a chat with the stranger in the seat next to me.