Purely out of curiosity...
David Morris
fqmorris at gmail.com
Sat Dec 12 16:20:18 CST 2015
Digital Entropy?
On Saturday, December 12, 2015, Perry Noid <coolwithdoc at gmail.com> wrote:
> "Entropy" would be a good one too
>
> On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:26 PM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> Not Even Twice A Day... (No one spared)
>>
>> Or The Clock Struck Thirteen...(1984 allusion)
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Dec 12, 2015, at 2:22 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>
>> I'd like to see a Flannery O'Conner version:
>> "Out Boxed"
>>
>> On Saturday, December 12, 2015, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>> I'd like to see a Flannery O'Conner version.
>>>
>>> On Saturday, December 12, 2015, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Or The Secret Disintegration!....TRP, stop out for a short story!
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 1:46 PM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> > YES! The Clockwork Bomb.
>>>> >
>>>> > All kinds of resonances.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 1:38 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >> In fact, a good writer could spin this into a VERY good story.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On Saturday, December 12, 2015, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> It seems likely that the son played out a set up, a test, and the
>>>> school
>>>> >>> and the cops failed the test. No one thought it was a bomb. The
>>>> boy said it
>>>> >>> was a clock. Yet the authorities tried their best to get a hoax
>>>> bomb charge
>>>> >>> to stick. They failed the test. They lost this Sting, and I'm glad
>>>> it played
>>>> >>> out as it did.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> David Morris
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> On Saturday, December 12, 2015, Mark Thibodeau <
>>>> jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com>
>>>> >>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> I sincerely hope that you are not implying that I came to my
>>>> conclusions
>>>> >>>> based on anything THOSE idiots wrote, or that my skepticism about
>>>> the
>>>> >>>> oversimplified, wrongheaded narrative that much of the mainstream
>>>> media has
>>>> >>>> chosen to run with in this case puts me on par with the brothers
>>>> and ancient
>>>> >>>> alien true believers on this pathetically benighted website.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> J
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> On Dec 12, 2015 8:19 AM, "Elisabeth Romberg" <eromberg at mac.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Clock-boy was also the subject on FreemanTV with Jamie Hanshaw
>>>> last
>>>> >>>>> Saturday.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> http://freemantv.com/muslim-attacks-believe-it-or-else-jamie-hanshaw/
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> 12. des. 2015 kl. 07.13 skrev Steven Koteff <
>>>> steviekoteff at gmail.com>:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> It is scary just in how much it reveals about how reactionary
>>>> we've
>>>> >>>>> become.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> You know, in a really peaceable society, people remember that
>>>> there's a
>>>> >>>>> difference between being arrested and undergoing something that
>>>> requires
>>>> >>>>> damages--that's only supposed to happen once you get convicted. A
>>>> person who
>>>> >>>>> committed no crime occasionally being brought in for questioning
>>>> and then
>>>> >>>>> released is an unavoidable part of even the most utopian
>>>> investigatory
>>>> >>>>> system (you might call it, ahem, an inherent vice).
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Was there any suggestion or indication that, aside from the
>>>> arrest being
>>>> >>>>> wrongful in the first place, he was improperly handled/treated?
>>>> There is
>>>> >>>>> this from the ArtVoice thing:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> "I asked if I could talk to or speak to my son and they told me,
>>>> 'No,
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> not right now' because they were taking his fingerprints and
>>>> asking
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> him questions," Mohamed said.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> If that's true (there's no time frame given I don't think) is that
>>>> >>>>> outside normal/proper operating procedures?
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Don't know if it constitutes the 'torture' the dad is quoted as
>>>> >>>>> suggesting.
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:05 AM, Steven Koteff <
>>>> steviekoteff at gmail.com>
>>>> >>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> All your clarifications are noted, and important--I should've
>>>> been
>>>> >>>>>> carefuller about them in the first place.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:02 AM, Mark Thibodeau
>>>> >>>>>> <jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> But that's kind of my point. Me and you paying attention to
>>>> this is
>>>> >>>>>>> meaningless. The MEDIA (95% of which is pushing a false
>>>> narrative) are
>>>> >>>>>>> the ones who should never have run with this. If they hadn't,
>>>> then we
>>>> >>>>>>> wouldn't be having to discuss it.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> And anyway, in the Big Picture, NOTHING really matters, does
>>>> it? So
>>>> >>>>>>> why even bring it up in this particular context?
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> J.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> PS - Further clarification... I never claimed that the Mohammed
>>>> family
>>>> >>>>>>> planned any of this in advance, and I don't know anyone who
>>>> does. The
>>>> >>>>>>> opportunity simply presented itself, and they ran with it. No
>>>> need for
>>>> >>>>>>> any complicated conspiracy or plan. It's just that, as soon as
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> media jumped on Ahmed's alleged "mistreatment", THAT's when the
>>>> >>>>>>> conniving for money began. But that doesn't let Ahmed off the
>>>> hook for
>>>> >>>>>>> his shitty behavior.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:48 AM, Steven Koteff
>>>> >>>>>>> <steviekoteff at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>> > I guess I'm curious also why this particular case is so
>>>> exigent, if
>>>> >>>>>>> > it is as
>>>> >>>>>>> > simple as the kid and his father are con artists, or malicious
>>>> >>>>>>> > provocateurs.
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> > If that's the case, then the wrongdoing is a relatively
>>>> simple one,
>>>> >>>>>>> > and
>>>> >>>>>>> > committed on a relatively small scale (that is, by one or two
>>>> >>>>>>> > people, as
>>>> >>>>>>> > opposed to the broader/less addressable alternative that it's
>>>> a
>>>> >>>>>>> > systemic
>>>> >>>>>>> > problem). People filing a ridiculous lawsuit--happens all the
>>>> time.
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> > If that's the case, why does this particular one deserve more
>>>> of my
>>>> >>>>>>> > attention (which I'm giving it) than, say, climate talks,
>>>> what Trump
>>>> >>>>>>> > means
>>>> >>>>>>> > for America, this Shkreli asshole, etc., all of which seem to
>>>> be of
>>>> >>>>>>> > more
>>>> >>>>>>> > pressing concern to the country than just a single father and
>>>> son
>>>> >>>>>>> > acting
>>>> >>>>>>> > wrongly and in a way that did not really physically endanger
>>>> anyone.
>>>> >>>>>>> > I mean
>>>> >>>>>>> > I guess the fact that the case is so zeitgeisty sort of gives
>>>> it its
>>>> >>>>>>> > own
>>>> >>>>>>> > exigence, right or wrong, and of course we should always be
>>>> on the
>>>> >>>>>>> > side of
>>>> >>>>>>> > truth prevailing, but...
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> > I dunno. I'm not saying it's wrong to have the stance that the
>>>> >>>>>>> > family should
>>>> >>>>>>> > get nothing and should maybe be punished in some way. I do
>>>> not even
>>>> >>>>>>> > think
>>>> >>>>>>> > the ends-justify-the-means thing (meaning that maybe the
>>>> attention
>>>> >>>>>>> > this gets
>>>> >>>>>>> > helps lead us in the direction of more tolerance, of more
>>>> peace, of
>>>> >>>>>>> > less
>>>> >>>>>>> > systemic prejudice and injustice, etc...) is a good
>>>> counterargument
>>>> >>>>>>> > if it
>>>> >>>>>>> > depends on us accepting or ignoring something untrue--I do
>>>> think the
>>>> >>>>>>> > distinction should be made. But I guess I'm saying it feels
>>>> like the
>>>> >>>>>>> > swing
>>>> >>>>>>> > in the other direction has been more than a return to rest or
>>>> even
>>>> >>>>>>> > an equal
>>>> >>>>>>> > sort of pendulum-swing, but has been additional enmity and
>>>> >>>>>>> > attention, also
>>>> >>>>>>> > coming before all the facts are known, maybe.
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> > On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 11:41 PM, Steven Koteff
>>>> >>>>>>> > <steviekoteff at gmail.com>
>>>> >>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> Do you think there is room for both parties to have somehow
>>>> acted
>>>> >>>>>>> >> wrongly?
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> I.e. Ahmed and his father were being deliberately
>>>> provocative (to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> the end
>>>> >>>>>>> >> of money and attention or whatever else) in Ahmed's bringing
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> clock to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> school and repeatedly calling attention to it,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> but also that the teachers and/or police (who as should be
>>>> noted
>>>> >>>>>>> >> knew
>>>> >>>>>>> >> Ahmed much better than we do) were, at some turn, possibly
>>>> less
>>>> >>>>>>> >> generous
>>>> >>>>>>> >> than they could've been? Let's say Ahmed is routinely a pain
>>>> in the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> ass and
>>>> >>>>>>> >> the source of small-scale mischief (that is, suspendable and
>>>> >>>>>>> >> outrageous
>>>> >>>>>>> >> offenses but something short of taking lives) and possibly a
>>>> bad
>>>> >>>>>>> >> kid, like a
>>>> >>>>>>> >> true-blue asshole. This seems true if he is guilty of
>>>> deliberately
>>>> >>>>>>> >> inciting
>>>> >>>>>>> >> panic or whatever. (And if we can use the egregiousness of
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> lawsuit to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> retroactively inform our judgment of his character at time of
>>>> >>>>>>> >> clock-display,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> then we can also use keep going, by a sort of syllogism, to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> retroactively
>>>> >>>>>>> >> use it to assume that maybe he was just an obvious asshole
>>>> from the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> start.)
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> If that's all true, then the teachers are possibly
>>>> collectively
>>>> >>>>>>> >> sick of
>>>> >>>>>>> >> his shit. Maybe one or several of them are having
>>>> particularly
>>>> >>>>>>> >> rough days
>>>> >>>>>>> >> and so their patience is thin (this seems to be a fair
>>>> possibility
>>>> >>>>>>> >> in the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> case of high school teachers who have to deal with dozens of
>>>> >>>>>>> >> students like
>>>> >>>>>>> >> Ahmed a day). And so maybe, despite having never actually
>>>> thinking
>>>> >>>>>>> >> it is
>>>> >>>>>>> >> anything more dangerous than a clock that looks like an
>>>> explosive
>>>> >>>>>>> >> device,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> they flex just a bit more bureaucratic muscle than they
>>>> needed to.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> (We think that race/religion are the only things that can
>>>> guide
>>>> >>>>>>> >> decisions
>>>> >>>>>>> >> like this, but in the case of a student and his school's
>>>> faculty,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> likely
>>>> >>>>>>> >> their personal biases toward him are just as influential
>>>> [though of
>>>> >>>>>>> >> course
>>>> >>>>>>> >> those are guided by any biases they might have toward his
>>>> >>>>>>> >> race/religion,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> etc.]).
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> Maybe there are one or several points at which someone
>>>> could've
>>>> >>>>>>> >> just said,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> "Ahmed, you're being an asshole, give me the clock, I'm
>>>> putting it
>>>> >>>>>>> >> in my
>>>> >>>>>>> >> desk until the end of the day." But then, given the zero
>>>> tolerance
>>>> >>>>>>> >> thing,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> there is a point at which this thing has too much momentum
>>>> to just
>>>> >>>>>>> >> let go...
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> I don't know. I mean that sincerely--I really don't. I think
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> account
>>>> >>>>>>> >> of things you posted indicates that Ahmed and his father
>>>> acted
>>>> >>>>>>> >> wrongly. I
>>>> >>>>>>> >> also think there is room in there for the teachers and
>>>> police not
>>>> >>>>>>> >> just to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> have been victims but to have been sort of...punitively
>>>> >>>>>>> >> trigger-happy. I say
>>>> >>>>>>> >> this as someone who also went to junior high, and to high
>>>> school,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> in the
>>>> >>>>>>> >> 21st century, in a Union state, and who witnessed open
>>>> enmity from
>>>> >>>>>>> >> teachers
>>>> >>>>>>> >> toward particular students for reasons like: A) the kid is
>>>> black,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> B) the kid
>>>> >>>>>>> >> is not smart, C) the kid is hyperactive, D) the teacher
>>>> seems to
>>>> >>>>>>> >> have an
>>>> >>>>>>> >> unhappy disposition as is, E)tc.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> I think, as a society, we are not well equipped to deal with
>>>> >>>>>>> >> situations
>>>> >>>>>>> >> this nuanced--in which multiple parties might have acted
>>>> wrongly.
>>>> >>>>>>> >> Of course
>>>> >>>>>>> >> many such situations are probably like this to an extent.
>>>> There
>>>> >>>>>>> >> are, I'm
>>>> >>>>>>> >> guessing, several minorities who were acting like assholes,
>>>> >>>>>>> >> possibly very
>>>> >>>>>>> >> high, being violent and unpredictable, making threats,
>>>> handling (if
>>>> >>>>>>> >> not
>>>> >>>>>>> >> using) weapons, who were killed by police officers, who
>>>> might not
>>>> >>>>>>> >> have been
>>>> >>>>>>> >> killed had they been white.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 11:22 PM, Mark Thibodeau
>>>> >>>>>>> >> <jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com>
>>>> >>>>>>> >> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >You've emphasized twice that the sources are 'mainstream.'
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >Why is that? To indicate that it is an unbiased take (as
>>>> opposed
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >to a really political, say, blog) or to imply that it is
>>>> more
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >stringently fact checked or...
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> I mention it because, as someone who was "internet famous"
>>>> between
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> 1999 and 2006 (peak years 2000-2003) as sole author and
>>>> content
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> provider of a quite successful proto-blog email newsletter
>>>> (The
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Daily
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Dirt), I am intimately aware of and particularly sensitive
>>>> to the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> (ahem) "liberties" taken by the reactionary right-wing side
>>>> of the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> blog-and-comment-o-sphere. I spent much of my seven years
>>>> as Jerky
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> LeBoeuf (coinciding as they did with the Dubya preznitcy)
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> debunking
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> and fact-checking the likes of Drudge Report, Fox News, Rush
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Limbaugh,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Free Republic, Little Green Footballs, and all the rest of
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> then-nascent ultra-conservative first-gen blog-rolls. So I
>>>> would
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> hate
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> to be mistaken as one of those. On the other hand, I am
>>>> currently
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> on
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> the edge of despair due to so many of my former friends,
>>>> readers
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> other allies behaving as left-leaning versions of the
>>>> assholes I
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> mention above, ever ready to assume the worst of any
>>>> institution
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> (or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> cis-gendered white male), accept any and all claims to
>>>> victimhood
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> as
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> valid, and basically display the same kind of ravening,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> drool-flecked
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> howling, pack mentality, as if they've torn a page from the
>>>> main
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> stylebook of the turn-of-the-millennium Conservative
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Movementarians.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >It's hard, in something this complicated, to rely on
>>>> second-
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >(and third-, and...)hand reportage. When everyone involved
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >has so much at stake now (even if the teachers acted 100%
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >rightly, they're now in a situation where they are probably
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >compelled to act and testify in their own self-interest,
>>>> just for
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > protection).
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Yes. And that's why I always try to reason these things out
>>>> for
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> myself, with as cool a head as humanly possible. In this
>>>> case, for
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> instance, I asked myself, would it be REASONABLE for a
>>>> teacher to
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> believe that someone who brought such a thing into class
>>>> was up to
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> some kind of mischief? As soon as I saw the "clock" in
>>>> question...
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> it
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> was clear to me that, OF COURSE the teachers were right to
>>>> be
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> suspicious. The thing could not possibly look less like a
>>>> clock.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> The
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> only way it could look more like a cliche'd action movie
>>>> bomb was
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> if
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> it was a bowling ball with a firecracker sticking out of
>>>> the top.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> So,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> next step for me, if the teachers were correct in SUSPECTING
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> POSSIBLE
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> BAD INTENT, then were they right to call in the police? It
>>>> turns
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> out,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> considering the school district's zero tolerance policy,
>>>> they
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> probably
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> didn't even have a choice. Same as if they'd caught him with
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> booze, or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> a joint, or if he'd pinched a female student's bottom and
>>>> she'd
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> complained... the authorities HAD TO BE called in. And they
>>>> were.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Now,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> that leads us to the question of whether the authorities did
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> anything
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> wrong by taking Ahmed into custody, or putting him in
>>>> handcuffs,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> keeping him from his parents for an hour and a half. And
>>>> you know
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> what? There is NO legislation that prevents police from
>>>> detaining
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> handcuffing a 14 year old. This should be patently obvious
>>>> to
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> anyone
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> who went through junior high school (as it was to me, as I
>>>> myself
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> have
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> personally witnessed teacher and police behavior towards
>>>> 13/14/15
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> year
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> olds that was FAR more egregious and unjust than what poor
>>>> Ahmed
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> went
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> through). But apparently most of the members of the media
>>>> who have
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> been reporting on this story were hot-house flowers who
>>>> grew up in
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> social justice enclaves where they were taught (hahaha)
>>>> that life
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> should be "fair" or something, or that if you have a
>>>> problem with
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> authority, you can always sue the bastards. Well, maybe
>>>> that's
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> true. I
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> certainly hope it isn't, because for the Muhammed family to
>>>> get
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> one
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> thin dime out of this would be a travesty of justice and a
>>>> blow
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> against common sense, in my opinion as an anti-racist,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> anti-fascist,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> authority-skeptic liberal of long standing.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> Sincerely;
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> J
>>>> >>>>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 11:52 PM, Steven Koteff
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> <steviekoteff at gmail.com>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > I don't mean to imply anything. Just thanking you for
>>>> doing the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > research--I
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > am in that gray area of being curious enough to want to
>>>> know the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > timeline
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > without being curious enough (or having enough time) to
>>>> do much
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > digging
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > myself.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > And also, because you seem much more up on this than I
>>>> am, I am
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > curious
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > to
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > hear your takeaway.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > I think if everything in that article is right then it
>>>> kind of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > seems
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > like it
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > was at best incredibly ignorant and irresponsible on the
>>>> part of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > dad and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > the son. At worst (and the direction it seems to lean, if
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > article
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > is
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > right) possibly a deliberately provocative act on the
>>>> part of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > father. To
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > what end? Is it just about money and attention? I actually
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > think, if
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > provocation is deliberate, it betrays not just
>>>> run-of-the-mill
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > selfish
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > motives but also personal disturbance on the part of the
>>>> father,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > the kid
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > too.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > But all that comes with the caveat that the account is
>>>> true.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > You've
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > emphasized twice that the sources are 'mainstream.' Why
>>>> is that?
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > To
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > indicate
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > that it is an unbiased take (as opposed to a really
>>>> political,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > say,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > blog) or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > to imply that it is more stringently fact checked or...
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > It's hard, in something this complicated, to rely on
>>>> second-(and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > third-,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > and...)hand reportage. When everyone involved has so much
>>>> at
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > stake now
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > (even
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > if the teachers acted 100% rightly, they're now in a
>>>> situation
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > where
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > they
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > are probably compelled to act and testify in their own
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > self-interest,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > just
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > for protection).
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > I read that article saying that the police said
>>>> something, but
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > at least
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > half
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > of me is thinking I should be asking, "But who says the
>>>> police
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > said
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > that?"
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > On Fri, Dec 11, 2015 at 10:38 PM, Mark Thibodeau
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > <jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> > wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Here's a handy timeline from the ArtVoice blog. The
>>>> facts all
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> check
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> out (meaning the author hasn't misrepresented the mostly
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> mainstream
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> articles to which he refers):
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> On the morning of Sept 14, Mohamed El Hassan Mohamed
>>>> drove his
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> son
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Ahmed to school and at that time, according to NBC
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Dallas/Ft.Worth,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Mohamed "encouraged him to demonstrate his gift of
>>>> technology"
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> at the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> school. He was referring to a small plain metal case,
>>>> inside of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> which
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> contained the hastily arranged and unshielded electronic
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> components of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> a 1980's Micronta digital alarm clock. A device Ahmed
>>>> would
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> repeatedly
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> insist he threw together the night before in just 15
>>>> minutes
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> from of
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> "scraps" laying around his house, a device that he
>>>> himself
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> considered
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> to appear suspicious and threatening.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Defying common sense, it appears that Mohamed, the man
>>>> who runs
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> National Reform Party of Sudan, who is considered an
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> enlightened
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> scholar in Sudan, who ran for its presidency twice in
>>>> the last
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> 5
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> years, whose daughter was suspended from school for a
>>>> bomb
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> threat,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> whose son was detained and suspended for multiple
>>>> disciplinary
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> problems and electronic pranks, in a town recently
>>>> rocked by a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> double
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> murder honor killing and lies 25 minutes from the
>>>> Garland TX
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Jihadi
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> attack, on the first day back to school after the
>>>> anniversary
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> of 9-11,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> encourages his son to bring in a nondescript metal case
>>>> with a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> timer
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> and loose wiring inside without being asked to by any
>>>> teacher,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> device even his son admits looked threatening and
>>>> suspicious.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Next we are told by Ahmed that he shows the device to
>>>> his 1st
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> period
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Science teacher who sensitively and politely tells him
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> device is
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> "nice" but it looks like a bomb and so he should put it
>>>> away
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> and not
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> take it out and show it to anyone else at school.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> According to Mark Cuban who spoke with an Irving
>>>> resident who's
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> friend
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> is a teacher in Mac Arthur H.S., Ahmed proceeded to show
>>>> off
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> device to each teacher all the way to 6th period where in
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> English
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> class, Ahmed claims to have plugged the device into the
>>>> wall
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> outlet
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> and set the alarm to go off in the middle of class "to
>>>> show a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> friend".
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> When the teacher reacted to the disruption he "unplugged
>>>> it
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> right
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> away". After showing the English teacher what caused the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> disruption,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> the teacher told him it looks like a bomb, that it is
>>>> making
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> her
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> nervous and would make others nervous, and to put it
>>>> away in
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> his
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> backpack, to which Ahmed said "I don't think it looks
>>>> like a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> bomb". At
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> the end of class the device was confiscated and the
>>>> Principal
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> alerted.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> The Irving school system adheres to a zero tolerance
>>>> policy
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> regarding
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> threatening devices, and being that the possession of
>>>> such a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> device
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> with intent to alarm others is a criminal offense in
>>>> Texas, the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> police
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> were called to question Ahmed and determine what his
>>>> intentions
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> were.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Later 3 teachers would sign a complaint to the police
>>>> about a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> hoax
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> bomb, as the Principal decided to contact the police on
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> issue.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> The police arrived at school and entered the conference
>>>> room
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> where
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Ahmed was detained and one officer claimed "that is who I
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> thought it
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> was". Likely referring to Ahmed's past troubles and his
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> family's
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> notoriety. The police questioned Ahmed, and claimed he
>>>> was not
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> forthcoming, passive aggressive, and would not directly
>>>> answer
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> their
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> questions. They decided to arrest him for possession of
>>>> a hoax
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> bomb
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> and bring him to the police station where they would
>>>> continue
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> their
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> investigation to determine whether he intended to raise
>>>> alarm
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> with his
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> device, a Class A misdemeanor.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Somehow or other it appears Ahmed's 18 year old sister
>>>> Eyman
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> found out
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> that Ahmed was being taken to the police station. There
>>>> is an
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> iconic
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> photo of Ahmed in handcuffs taken by Eyman, and some
>>>> captions
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> under
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> that photo indicate it was taken at the police station.
>>>> This
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> implies
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> his sister arrived shortly after Ahmed arrived, because
>>>> he
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> would not
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> have been in handcuffs after he was released without
>>>> charge an
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> hour
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> later. There is also speculation Eyman took the photo as
>>>> Ahmed
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> was
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> leaving the school in handcuffs.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Ahmed's father claims the first he heard of his son's
>>>> problem
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> was from
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> a phone call from the police. We do not know if he
>>>> arrived with
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> or
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> separate from Eyman. It is hard to believe Eyman heard
>>>> about
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> incident and arrived at the police station to take that
>>>> photo
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> never alerted her father. If Eyman only knew through her
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> father, this
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> would mean they both arrived at the station in time to
>>>> see
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Ahmed
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> before he went in a private room for questioning.
>>>> Improbable
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> but
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> possible. The father's account follows.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> **The first he heard of it was when he received a call
>>>> from
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> police,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> who said his son was being charged with having a hoax
>>>> bomb,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Mohamed
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> said.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> He rushed to the police station, where he saw his son
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> "surrounded by
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> five police and he was handcuffed," the father said.
>>>> Ahmed told
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> his
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> father he'd asked to phone him but the police told him
>>>> he could
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> not
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> because he was under arrest, Mohamed said.
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> "I asked if I could talk to or speak to my son and they
>>>> told
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> me, 'No,
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> not right now' because they were taking his fingerprints
>>>> and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> asking
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> him questions," Mohamed said. "I asked if I could see
>>>> the thing
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> they
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> were calling a bomb. The police never let me even see it
>>>> but I
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> knew
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> what my son brought to school. It was an alarm clock
>>>> that he
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> made. He
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> wakes up with it most mornings. **
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> Here we have Mohamed contradicting his son's claim the
>>>> device
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> was
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> hastily thrown together the night before. His
>>>> credibility as a
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> responsible parent and supervisor of his child already
>>>> strained
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> to the
>>>> >>>>>>> >>> >> limit, he goes on to claim, "my son was hurt and
>>>> tortured and
>>>> >>>>>>> >>&
>>>
>>>
>
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