TIL: Building a clock in Texas is illegal

[foghorn67]

If he had just wrapped the briefcase in the American flag, this would never have happened.

I actually lol'd.

 

[Slew Foot]

It would be moderately humorous if this whole thing was an ISIS plot and when he brings his clock to the white house its an actual bomb.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It would be moderately humorous if this whole thing was an ISIS plot and when he brings his clock to the white house its an actual bomb.

lol I can already see someone make an unexpected jihad video of that.

Obama: "Ahmed, tell us about your clock and how it works"
Ahmed: *opens suit case to show the same clock design but with a huge brick of C4"
"Allahu Akbar!"

*white house scene from independence day with saleel sawarim nasheed music*

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

That's hilarious, was just going to post that.

As for the fact that he did not actually build the clock himself, that's completely besides the point, and in fact actually makes the whole situation even more ridiculous. The authorities were literally scared of a consumer item that had it's cover taken off. The government's fear mongering about terrorism is sadly working. The minute someone sees something unknown they assume it's terrorism. Pretty sad.

People have to stop giving in to fear. The government are what you should really fear, not terrorists. Terrorists are practically created by the government. Yes, it's very terrible the stuff going on in the middle east, ISIS is evil, and I think it's good that we are helping eradicate them, but stop making it seem like they are coming here to get us and that they're hiding at every street corner to blow up in your face at any moment. There will always be the oddball bad guy like the Boston bombers, but no matter how ridiculous you get with policies and overreaching these people will get through. Stop giving up your liberties and freedoms for the odd chance at extra security.

Unfortunately this stuff is happening in Canada too, Stephen Harper's election platform is practically based around fear, and it's sad to see lot of Canadians actually giving in to this crap.

You're right. We must not let the terrorists win.

I hate how terribly messed up (in my opinion), flying has become, because of all the terrorist stuff, over the years.
Going through security, these days can be a real hassle.

I think it is a big over-reaction, to be giving this kid, all the stuff from Microsoft, tons of money in donations, invites to see the president etc etc.

Sometimes a person is arrested or questioned by the Police, for a few hours or so, because there has been a misunderstanding.
E.g. Someone with the same coloured top, and jeans as yourself, about the same age etc, robbed an old lady, so you get hauled in for questioning.

That's life, you just have to shrug it off. Hopefully in a few hours or so, they will find out it was NOT you, and release you.
You DON'T then get given all this stuff and visit the president, it's CRAZY.

Some people are locked up for 20 years, for a murder they never committed. They don't get to see the president etc etc.

It may yet turn out that his father, orchestrated this event, as I have heard (rumors) that he has already partially done stuff like this, many times before.

Also on further thought, I think that a small brief case, like that, is a VERY ODD INDEED case to put the stuff in.
Also it is very odd, because he had no involvement with the electronics.

I.e. His father may have had the idea, to make a simple movie prop like, hoax bomb device.
The boy may have set the alarm, to go off in the middle of the lesson, on purpose to attract the English teachers attention. In the hope she would think it was a bomb.

His showing of it to the engineering teacher, may have been done on purpose, so he would have an alibi, to claim he was innocent.
Hanging wires outside the device on purpose (which he admits on video), could also be to make it look like a more realistic bomb.

There are things about the video(s) of the boy, which also makes me (and others, I have now heard), think it was done on purpose.
But I don't know for certain.

I don't know what you call it in American speech. But in the UK we call it a storm in a tea cup. Or making a mole hill out of an ants nest.

I.e. A wild exaggeration, of an inconvenience for a few hours. When to a large extent, they were to blame for what happened, anyway.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah it's possible part of it may had been slightly on purpose just to try to get some media attention at the ridiculousness of how society reacts to stuff.

The briefcase is actually kinda a smart idea for a project box though, you have lots of open room to work in, and can close it up and carry it. Though personally I think a tupperware would be better as it's less bulky. Of course they do sell actual project boxes for stuff like this but as a kid you use what you can get your hands on easily as you may not have the resources to buy stuff from places like Digikey due to having to be 18 to have a credit card.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Yeah it's possible part of it may had been slightly on purpose just to try to get some media attention at the ridiculousness of how society reacts to stuff.

The briefcase is actually kinda a smart idea for a project box though, you have lots of open room to work in, and can close it up and carry it. Though personally I think a tupperware would be better as it's less bulky. Of course they do sell actual project boxes for stuff like this but as a kid you use what you can get your hands on easily as you may not have the resources to buy stuff from places like Digikey due to having to be 18 to have a credit card.

But the thing is, it seems to be transpiring that his claims of being an Electronics project hobbyist, may be false.
People are now saying that it was completely NOT modified or built by him in any way, whatsoever. Which makes it begin to get additionally suspicious.

If you did not solder it, or design it, or make it as such. Then claims of it being his "Invention", are beginning to look increasingly suspicious.

But this "Trial by Forum", is being somewhat unfair. A lot of the evidence is NOT available to us at the moment. Especially what other "Electronics projects has he done", what transpired with the English teacher, during the lesson.
What do other witnesses (pupils), of this lesson say about what happened, etc etc.
Maybe eventually the truth will come out, one way or the other.

EDIT: But to avoid/minimise forum arguments. I fully agree, he could still be 100% innocent. It is all speculation/wild-accusations at this point, still. But makes fun forum posts!

 

[bononos]

You're right. We must not let the terrorists win.

I hate how terribly messed up (in my opinion), flying has become, because of all the terrorist stuff, over the years.
Going through security, these days can be a real hassle.
I think it is a big over-reaction, to be giving this kid, all the stuff from Microsoft, tons of money in donations, invites to see the president etc etc.

Sometimes a person is arrested or questioned by the Police, for a few hours .......
.......
I.e. A wild exaggeration, of an inconvenience for a few hours. When to a large extent, they were to blame for what happened, anyway.

You're sounding quite unbalanced like ichini/czroe with your long rant filled post.

The school and the police couldn't get out of panic mode probably because of his last name, long enough just to listen to the boy explain and then talk to his science teacher about his clock. That would've resolved the situation without having to take him down to the station in handcuffs for booking.

You're repeating a few lies from the usual people that that he was only inconvenienced for a "few hours" when in fact he was being browbeaten without his parents present by the school/police who were trying to get him to make a statement that he made a bomb. And the boy was suspended for 3 days, ending Thursday after his 'inconvenience'.

"The principal threatened to expel him if he didn’t make a written statement, he said."
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/comm...ted-after-taking-homemade-clock-to-school.ece

Some racist idiots are still thinking that the boy will bring a real bomb to the white house.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

You're sounding quite unbalanced like ichini/czroe with your long rant filled post.

The school and the police couldn't get out of panic mode probably because of his last name, long enough just to listen to the boy explain and then talk to his science teacher about his clock. That would've resolved the situation without having to take him down to the station in handcuffs for booking.

You're repeating a few lies from the usual people that that he was only inconvenienced for a "few hours" when in fact he was being browbeaten without his parents present by the school/police who were trying to get him to make a statement that he made a bomb. And the boy was suspended for 3 days, ending Thursday after his 'inconvenience'.

"The principal threatened to expel him if he didn’t make a written statement, he said."
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/comm...ted-after-taking-homemade-clock-to-school.ece

Some racist idiots are still thinking that the boy will bring a real bomb to the white house.

It's amazing the heated debates and arguments this story has caused, throughout the internet (or so I have heard).

Typically I can tell one way or the other, after hearing about the story.

But for this story, I'm still NOT sure either way, if it was on purpose or not.

I'm looking forward to the future, when the (hopefully) true story, of what happened here, comes out. But that may easily never happen.

 

[Ichinisan]

Watched the rest of the video where he shows off "inventions" in his bedroom.

The size of the circuit board, low density of the components, types of components and their distribution across the board, the presence of silkscreened markings and mounting holes...all this looks like he just ripped all that stuff from a VCR or other piece of AV equipment. These usually have multiple boards for power supply, display, controls, etc...connected with wires like you see in the video. Though this wad of stuff is repeatedly called his "invention," it has no apparent function or stated function.

The article also shows USB hub or switch device and it's said that he "built" that too. Clearly, he didn't. The board is shaped to fit whatever device chassis it was pulled from. The density of the components and type of components are vastly different from the other "invention" that looks like it was pulled from a VCR. He Tells them it's "a USB router," demonstrating a basic lack of understanding about what it actually is. It's either a USB hub, or a USB switch...not a USB "router." I would expect a kid who "built" or "invented" it to know this better than anyone.

This video.

This "invention"

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Watched the rest of the video where he shows off "inventions" in his bedroom.

The size of the circuit board, low density of the components, types of components and their distribution across the board, the presence of silkscreened markings and mounting holes...all this looks like he just ripped all that stuff from a VCR or other piece of AV equipment. These usually have multiple boards for power supply, display, controls, etc...connected with wires like you see in the video. Though this wad of stuff is repeatedly called his "invention," it has no apparent function or stated function.

The article also shows USB hub or switch device and it's said that he "built" that too. Clearly, he didn't. The board is shaped to fit whatever device chassis it was pulled from. The density of the components and type of components are vastly different from the other "invention" that looks like it was pulled from a VCR. He Tells them it's "a USB router," demonstrating a basic lack of understanding about what it actually is. It's either a USB hub, or a USB switch...not a USB "router." I would expect a kid who "built" or "invented" it to know this better than anyone.

This video.

This "invention"

Watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bvzTeCREQA

Also raises my suspicions.

The worst thing, is that he shows this "almost pile of junk", PCBs, obviously removed from some manufactured electronics. Then seems to be claiming that it is their "invention", creation.

That is complete and utter NONSENSE!

That is raising my suspicions, BIG TIME!

I got the very distinct impression, that he had been coached on what to say for that video.

So I am worried that e.g. His Father has set this up.
It may be a big con ?

Awaiting massive counter attacks from others in this thread .....

EDIT:
Just after 4 minutes in to the video, he very briefly shows the PCBs.
But the thing is, just about anyone, (even with zero Electronics understanding or interest), could smash open (or unscrew), an old VCR (or something), and show people the circuit boards inside. Then claim "Look what I did ?".

But that is NOT an achievement, and does not show any knowledge or interest in electronics. Necessarily.

tl;dr
I smell a rat (= I'm suspicious).

 

[zinfamous]

My own experience has been that some people are genuinely scared of technology. They get very nervous around something like a disassembled computer, like if they touch something it's going to assault them. The knowledge gap is very wide, such that high-tech items start to push into the realm of "magic" for some people. Fear of the unknown kicks in then.
At work, us engineers have to clean our own office. The cleaning crew is scared by all the electronic things in there and doesn't want to enter the room because they don't want to get shocked. It doesn't matter that the voltages on exposed parts are all <=24V. They just "know" that electricity is dangerous, period.

Or the attitude in the US of distrust of scientists and engineers, like we have some agenda to do whatever we can to develop things to kill people or destroy society.
It's not present in anyone, but it's also not a tiny minority.

So I can understand something like this triggering a defensive reaction in the face of a general public that is increasingly ignorant of what technology really is, versus what they see on TV and in movies.

man, you sound like an engineer.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

From the video I linked to in my post, above.

(After about 4 minutes in to the video) Just after showing an almost junk pile of almost nonsense PCBs (To look impressive to people, who are clueless about electronics).
He claims, something like "This isn't my first invention and won't be my last invention".

I find that HIGHLY suspicious.

Surely this has got to be a setup, on purpose.

I have NOT seen a SINGLE thing, which would be made by a real/genuine electronics enthusiast.

He is treating it like a movie prop or movie star, who is clueless about electronics.

Anyway. Hopefully the truth will come out in time.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

No its not illegal, yes the situation was handled poorly.

 

[Ichinisan]

No its not illegal, yes the situation was handled poorly.

Could have been much worse. Suspicious packages often result in this: Area evacuated. Bomb disposal team sends in a remote operated device to retrieve the package, take it to a safe area, and detonate it. They don't typically open it or look inside.

His box was closed with a wire wrapped around the broken latch. Badly dented. A hole cut in the side where the giant numeric display was mounted. If someone has the job of opening a suspected hoax bomb to look inside, I don't know how the school/police/city officials would handle the liability problems when a suspected hoax bomb turns out to be real.

 

[Ichinisan]

https://mobile.twitter.com/istandwithahmed/status/644179809170509824

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

 

[quackagator]

http://nypost.com/2015/09/19/how-ahmeds-clock-became-a-false-convenient-tale-of-racism/

 

[Ichinisan]

 

[SSSnail]

What a crock of shit. Fuck all this bullshit about reverse racism.

If you do something stupid, don't bring your stupid race or religion into it. Fucking cunts.

 

[Ichinisan]

Strange that it still has the moisture absorbing silica bead pouches that my brand new Vaultz case also included. That stuff is typically just for shipment and warehousing, so the product doesn't have prolonged exposure to moisture. With the broken latch (the flip part is missing, so he tied a wire around it) and the bent side, it sure doesn't look new. I wonder why he kept those packets in there?

So we have a heavy, loose transformer, a display that could possibly have something behind it, and silica packets that were, oddly, still present in a well-worn case. I wonder why people can't empathize with a teacher who has no clue if any of that stuff might be dangerous...?

Mine:

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Some more (hopefully true facts are beginning to emerge). If true, they cast doubt on the original claims, that it was a wrongful arrest and/or racist etc.

It is claimed he showed it to a number of teachers, until he managed to get an hysterical reaction.

It is also claimed that he/they (his family), immediately were ready to take the pictures, release them on the internet, and contact the lawyer. At about the same time, or just after, it happened.

Pictures seem to show the boy, being completely happy, AFTER the events, which were suppose to upset him.

His father has had various BAD accusations, leveled at him. Such as attention seeking (troll) etc.

I'm not the only one, who thinks he has been fed, prepared speeches and/or told what to say.

http://www.dangerandplay.com/2015/09/18/anatomy-of-a-media-hoax-istandwithahmed/

tl;dr
Facts (or accusations), seem to be coming out, casting doubt on the truthfulness of the boy and family.

But little facts are coming out (that I have seen or heard on this forum), defending him.

 

[Ichinisan]

Bill Maher's animosity toward religion is well known, but he judges *all* religion the same.

He mentions the recent thwarted attacks just 20 minutes away from this. He doesn't mention that Irving, TX is where the "honor killings" happened 6 years ago.

 

[disappoint]

If he just had this song play as soon as the briefcase opens, this would never have happened:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l6vqPUM_FE

 

[Humpy]

What a crock of shit. Fuck all this bullshit about reverse racism.

If you do something stupid, don't bring your stupid race or religion into it. Fucking cunts.

Word.

 

[Crono]

My first thoughts were that he pretty clearly made it up to look like a bomb for shock value. I don't buy that he was so oblivious to the fact that it looks like a (fake movie style, but real enough to fool non-techy people) bomb.

I think people want to believe that and buy into the oblivious-nerd stereotype that stupid TV shows and movies still propagate, but the clock he made isn't the kind of maker project someone would incorporate into a briefcase and bring to school just like that. Of course the fact that it wasn't actually a bomb does matter, but if it was his intention to fool people, I don't blame anyone for reporting him. It's too easy to jump to the, "hey, it's Texas... they must be racist" line, but that's another stereotype just as bad as anyone there who would assume anything about him being a jihadist just because of the color of his skin, his name, or his religion.

Now I could easily be wrong, and the above was just my initial reaction (and I'm not going to bother doing my own investigation), but the internet bandwagoning and turning of this kid into a cause celebre and a symbol is pointless if his intentions in making a "clock" weren't completely innocent.

But in the end, this story doesn't matter as much to me as a number of other news stories. Yes, a kid getting arrested for something the police considered suspicious is probably newsworthy and maybe it's some watershed moment in race/religion-relations, but the attention it's getting and the number of organizations and high-profile individuals glomming onto it is a bit disheartening. I can't stand social media group-think, and you can already see how easily the tide turns from people venerating someone as a hero to looking for weaknesses in the story (my personal opinion has remained the same, and it's more media reporting and social media trends that I find at fault here).

#coverrealnews