Disk Utility won't erase my USB flash drive ("Couldn't open device")
Open Terminal, and type 

$ diskutil list
/dev/disk4 (external, physical):
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: FDisk_partition_scheme *8000.1 GB disk4
1: 0xEF 12.3 MB disk4s2


It cannot display the USB.  To erase the USB completely, run:

$ diskutil eraseDisk free EMPTY /dev/disk4
$ diskutil list
/dev/disk4 (external, physical):
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: GUID_partition_scheme *8.1 GB disk4
1: EFI EFI 12.3 MB disk4s1