TIL: Building a clock in Texas is illegal

[Ichinisan]

And those people should not be allowed to make decisions about somebody's fate.

You're saying they should defer a decision to the expertise of someone more appropriate? Because that's exactly what they did!

This is what's wrong with the way the policing system works now days.

What exactly went "wrong" here? I say it went exactly as it should have.

It's all based on fear mongering and misinformation to accuse someone before the facts are actually checked by someone who has half a brain to determine the person is not actually criminal.

Where was the "misinformation?" They should "check the facts" -- exactly as they did. They decided not to charge him with anything.

Problem?

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

If you look at (reports and eye witness statements/interviews), after real, modern suicide bombers have blown, many people up. They usually seemed to report rucksacks or bags else bombs strapped to themselves (but not necessarily visible).

But often they report seeing protruding wires, and small PP3 9V (radio) batteries. Just before the bomb(s), are set off.

tl;dr
Wires sticking out, is exactly the limited sign, of real (suicide) bombers.

The boys box of tricks, went well over just a few wires, sticking out.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Stop pretending that it was just the timer that made it suspicious. That is not an honest discussion tactic and you know it.

Look at any checklist for suspicious packages. Specifically, I've seen this one at three different workplaces:
https://about.usps.com/posters/pos84.pdf
Protruding wires - Check (AC cord and wire he tied the damaged case closed with)
Lopsided packaging - Check (horribly dented case)

It's like you've never been told what a suspicious package looks like.

It isn't right to ask science teachers or whoever else "with a brain" to put their lives on the line by expecting them investigate suspicious packages.
What if they were asked to investigate Eric and Dylan's bombs and died in the process?

lol that's a pretty ridiculous check list. Like a real bomb package would actually have protruding wires going nowhere. :awe: People in power have to stop basing real life on movies.

By these standards I must be one hell of a serious criminal:



That's a UPS. :awe: Just need a voltage display LCD. I can just picture a cop or other person of power looking at it and asking how many seconds are in a volt. :awe:

 

[Ichinisan]

lol that's a pretty ridiculous check list. Like a real bomb package would actually have protruding wires going nowhere. :awe: People in power have to stop basing real life on movies.

Real bombs can have protruding wires and often do.

Hoax bombs even more so. This was believed to be a hoax bomb.

By these standards I must be one hell of a serious criminal:



That's a UPS. :awe: Just need a voltage display LCD. I can just picture a judge or other person of power looking at it and asking how many seconds are in a volt. :awe:

Yup. Cram it into a nondescript metal box. Add a periodic beep and a monstrous numeric display, then take it with you on a tour of the White House.

Go ahead. See what happens.[edit]don't do that

 

[Red Squirrel]

Real bombs can have protruding wires and often do.

Hoax bombs even more so. This was believed to be a hoax bomb.



Yup. Cram it into a nondescript metal box. Add a periodic beep and a monstrous numeric display, then take it with you on a tour of the White House.

Go ahead. See what happens.

That's the sad part, people actually would think it's a bomb. You don't see what's wrong with this? People of power should not jump to such conclusions without actually being informed.

In like grade 5 I made a light socket out of paper and foil. Used 120v to light 4 Christmas bulbs nothing special. Thing got misaligned while in my school bag and short circuited in front of class. It just freaked out the teacher a little (a sudden shower of sparks will kinda do that) and it made people laugh. The teacher let me fix it and then I powered it on again and it worked. Today, I'd probably have gotten arrested over it. Pretty sad really.

 

[Ichinisan]

That's the sad part, people actually would think it's a bomb. You don't see what's wrong with this? People of power should not jump to such conclusions without actually being informed.

They got the right people involved. The right people made the right decision. Everything went perfectly.

 

[CZroe]

lol that's a pretty ridiculous check list. Like a real bomb package would actually have protruding wires going nowhere. :awe: People in power have to stop basing real life on movies.

By these standards I must be one hell of a serious criminal:



That's a UPS. :awe: Just need a voltage display LCD. I can just picture a judge or other person of power looking at it and asking how many seconds are in a volt. :awe:

So you are saying that protruding wires and misshapen packages have not been identified on other suspicious packages that were confirmed to be dangerous? Regardless, that's an official FEDERAL guideline that is posted coast-to-coast, yet you are faulting them for following it. Wires often protrude as:
remote wired detonators
antennas for remote RF detonators
local detonation triggers (open this flap; make/break this connection... boom)
damage during shipping or transport

Real bombs often have cellphone detonators and, this, they'll often have a screen and a keypad like a hollywood bomb (a few bombers will strip it of all of that to aid in concealment).

Now, please re-read the post you quoted and respond to the other points I added.

PS: My workstation looks even worse. Heck, I keep my mobile workstation in a big customized metallic case (pick-apart foam inside) very much like this kid's clock.

This thing: http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-x-6-in-x-13-in-aluminum-case-62271.html

 

[steppinthrax]

You know after all this fallout this kid is going to get job offers at NASA, Facebook, Microsoft, Google etc....

 

[Ichinisan]

You know after all this fallout this kid is going to get job offers at NASA, Facebook, Microsoft, Google etc....

Yeah. I saw this sentiment from the very first instance of this story in my Facebook feed. The NASA shirt contributes a lot to public perception of this kid.

OP seemed to think he'll be unemployable due to this incident. I contend that it's unquestionably the best thing that has ever happened to him.

 

[Hugo Drax]

America is becoming soft.

More people die from college drinking than from terrorist activity on our soil every year. Yet we are cowering under our desks panicking and giving away our rights. It sure looks like Alqaida did a bang up job fucking over this country.

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/special-populations-co-occurring-disorders/college-drinking

 

[Red Squirrel]

This thing: http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-x-6-in-x-13-in-aluminum-case-62271.html

Terrist! Arrest him!

Actually it would be interesting to carry an empty one of those with a couple LCD displays glued to it with wires going nowhere if authorities actually still think it's a bomb. :awe: Maybe throw in a loose transformer in there not actually connected to anything.

It's just ridiculous how terrorism is used to instill fear into everyone now days. You have a bigger chance of being killed by a pop machine than a terrorist. An even bigger chance of being killed by a cop, who thinks you're a terrorist.

 

[CZroe]

America is becoming soft.

More people die from college drinking than from terrorist activity on our soil every year. Yet we are cowering under our desks panicking and giving away our rights. It sure looks like Alqaida did a bang up job fucking over this country.

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/special-populations-co-occurring-disorders/college-drinking

Just because people are more likely to die from other things doesn't mean they need to just rip open the unabomber's package blissfully unaware of what makes it suspicious. That USPS poster may say "2006" but we had one that seemed identical in our offices back in 2000. Since then many political and private offices have received suspicious packages, some real and others hoaxes. Remember when those tabloid offices in Florida got Anthrax in the mail? There have been many more "on the street" suspicious packages including some outside the white house and that car bomb that was identified in New York.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Actually it would be interesting to carry an empty one of those with a couple LCD displays glued to it with wires going nowhere if authorities actually still think it's a bomb. :awe: Maybe throw in a loose transformer in there not actually connected to anything.

Yes, it would be really funny. I can imagine the headlines, on these boards.

Red haired ATOT poster, confirmed, shot dead by armed (S.W.A.T.) team.
But it was well worth it. As he managed to prank the police, into believing his pile of electronics was a bomb.
It was REALLY funny for him, for the 6.7 seconds, BEFORE the first of the fatal shots were fired.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You're saying they should defer a decision to the expertise of someone more appropriate? Because that's exactly what they did!


What exactly went "wrong" here? I say it went exactly as it should have.


Where was the "misinformation?" They should "check the facts" -- exactly as they did. They decided not to charge him with anything.

Problem?

He still got arrested. That should not have happened. Poor kid will probably get PTSD over that. Being dragged to a jail by a bunch of cops is not exactly something a kid will go through and forget about. That's a pretty scary thing to go through. Only real criminals should be arrested.

It seems the article changed though as it originally ended with saying that he'll get charged anyway. So at least they retracted that, but still, it went too far.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yes, it would be really funny. I can imagine the headlines, on these boards.

Red haired ATOT poster, confirmed, shot dead by armed (S.W.A.T.) team.
But it was well worth it. As he managed to prank the police, into believing his pile of electronics was a bomb.
It was REALLY funny for him, for the 6.7 seconds, BEFORE the first of the fatal shots were fired.

And that's exactly my point, that would actually happen, and is completely ridiculous. That is exactly what is wrong with this world, but especially America. Shoot now ask questions later.

I'm just glad my childhood happened when it did and not today, because I'd probably be dead. The kind of stuff I used to do as a kid would be considered terrorism today.

 

[CZroe]

He still got arrested. That should not have happened. Poor kid will probably get PTSD over that. Being dragged to a jail by a bunch of cops is not exactly something a kid will go through and forget about. That's a pretty scary thing to go through. Only real criminals should be arrested.

It seems the article changed though as it originally ended with saying that he'll get charged anyway. So at least they retracted that, but still, it went too far.

restricted from leaving = arrested

I do not see anything indicating that he spent any time in jail.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

And that's exactly my point, that would actually happen, and is completely ridiculous. That is exactly what is wrong with this world, but especially America. Shoot now ask questions later.

I'm just glad my childhood happened when it did and not today, because I'd probably be dead. The kind of stuff I used to do as a kid would be considered terrorism today.

Unfortunately, things seem to change over the years.

The west, does seem to be selected, for a lot of terrorist activities, these days.
E.g. Fairly recently, a lot of UK tourists, were shot dead, in a beach in Tunisia.

So I'm not surprised, that the Police might be a bit jumpy, as regards possible terrorist activities.

 

[Ichinisan]

Unfortunately, things seem to change over the years.

The west, does seem to be selected, for a lot of terrorist activities, these days.
E.g. Fairly recently, a lot of UK tourists, were shot dead, in a beach in Tunisia.

So I'm not surprised, that the Police might be a bit jumpy, as regards possible terrorist activities.

...especially around 9/11. They'd be negligent if they weren't.

 

[Pocatello]

Why are they so fearful of bombs? People are more likely to be killed by their own guns than any bomb, or any Muslim.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

...especially around 9/11. They'd be negligent if they weren't.

That's a good point.

If the boy had been prosecuted. The prosecution may have argued that it was no coincidence, that the incident was close to 9/11, anniversary.

 

[disappoint]

That's a UPS. :awe: Just need a voltage display LCD. I can just picture a cop or other person of power looking at it and asking how many seconds are in a volt. :awe:

That's a ridiculous question, no one would ask that. They'd probably ask how many seconds are left before it plays that awful song from the 80s "Boom boom boom let's go back to my room, so we can do it all night and you can make me feel right..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BRhuVUanGE

 

[natto fire]

By all appearances, he crammed the guts of a clock into a box and didn't even mount the AC transformer.

At his age, I had soldering equipment, over $1,000 worth of Heathkit stuff (I think it was over $2k), and a full course on VHS. This was all from my poor single mother, raising twins on welfare. Other than that, there was no government subsidy.

I'm looking for any indication that he has done something more than haphazardly cramming stuff into a box.

I'm sure he was just bringing it to school to ask the teacher how to get UL certification.

It would have failed horribly though.

Suppose there had been a fault on the primary side of the transformer, and the arc popping was mistaken for explosives going off. This being Texas, we could have been reading about a bunch of kids with bullet holes in them as it turned into the O.K. Corral. :awe:

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Electronics is a hobby of mine, even more so when I was 14 years old.

How do you expect THE TEACHERS to conclude what is safe? I do not expect them to. I do not want them to.

They said it looks like a hoax bomb, and I agree. That's exactly what it looks like.

I never once had a teacher that idiotic.

Your entire attitude is HOW terrorists win. They don't want to kill people, they want to instill fear. Mission accomplished.

 

[Ichinisan]

I never once had a teacher that idiotic.

Your entire attitude is HOW terrorists win. They don't want to kill people, they want to instill fear. Mission accomplished.

There were bombs and bomb hoaxes long before Americans started fearing terror from Islamic extremists.

Exactly what was "idiotic" about treating what appeared to be a hoax bomb as a possible hoax bomb? I said I wouldn't blame them if they evacuated the building and detonated his clock, but I'm glad they didn't do that. They did everything right.

 

[Ichinisan]

Remember: iwearnosox found something like doorbell chimes in his attic and thought it was a hoax bomb. People see different things.

Would your mother or grandmother think it looks like a hoax bomb? You're probably deluding yourself if you say otherwise.

It's not even a matter of idiocy/intelligence. I know *exactly* what I'm looking at there, and I conclude that it could easily be a hoax bomb (the only variable here is the intent/actions of the owner). No, I would not be afraid of it after spending 3 seconds looking at it. However, I could not reasonably expect that from other people.