The New Headquarters of People's Daily Newspaper in Beijing is a Giant Dick

The New Headquarters of People’s Daily Newspaper in Beijing is a Giant Dick

With some really big underpants

WeirdMay 2013 • Views: 42,598

Chinese censors have been at work to stop people sniggering over the new Beijing headquarters of the People’s Daily newspaper, which bear an unfortunate resemblance to a giant penis.

CCTV headquarters: the big underpants

Photos of the imposing tower, which is still under construction, had internet users tittering away, especially given one of Beijing’s other landmarks - the China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters, nicknamed “The Big Underpants”.

More: People’s Daily Mocked Over Phallic Headquarters.

(h/t: Harry’s Place.)

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122 comments

Charles Johnson Fri, May 3, 2013 3:13:35pm

LOL!

Image: ZZ793B581B.jpg

lawhawk Fri, May 3, 2013 3:20:51pm

There can be only one…. gerkhin.

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 3:22:53pm

nsfw

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 3:24:26pm

re: #2 lawhawk

There can be only one…. gerkhin.

“orginally owned by Swiss Re”

‘Re’ as in ‘reinsurance’

i used to work in a reinsurance company

if you thought working in an insurance company would be boring, try reinsurance…

Amory Blaine Fri, May 3, 2013 3:25:54pm

Sen. Ron Johnson thinks businesses should be allowed to deny cancer patients health insurance

Youtube Video

Bert's House of Beef and Obdicuts Fri, May 3, 2013 3:26:41pm

One of the buildings in downtown Chicago is supposedly vaginal as opposed to phallic and I never figured out which one.

lawhawk Fri, May 3, 2013 3:29:00pm

re: #6 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

en.wikipedia.org

122 Year Old Obama Fri, May 3, 2013 3:30:23pm

re: #5 Amory Blaine

Is every Senator with an R next to their name a heartless jerk?

Stanghazi Fri, May 3, 2013 3:32:20pm

re: #7 lawhawk

en.wikipedia.org

The Bean!!

GeneJockey Fri, May 3, 2013 3:32:43pm

re: #8 122 Year Old Obama

It’s not a requirement, but it sure helps.

BLUE POINT 09 Fri, May 3, 2013 3:35:08pm

re: #5 Amory Blaine

Ask him why as a politician we should have to pay for anything for him. Why should I pay for his healthcare? What a total abject dick. What nation? Freedom to die? Who the fuck is he?

The Mountain That Blogs Fri, May 3, 2013 3:36:51pm

re: #5 Amory Blaine

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are our only rights now?

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 3:37:46pm

i think we should erect a giant phallus monument in DC to represent how much we are being screwed

Stanghazi Fri, May 3, 2013 3:38:29pm

re: #8 122 Year Old Obama

Is every Senator with an R next to their name a heartless jerk?

Add to the list..

Santorum bragging about Newtown gun deaths and NRA victory. What a sick man.
— Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) May 3, 2013

wrenchwench Fri, May 3, 2013 3:42:06pm

Can I call it Trump Tower?

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 3:44:18pm

there are only so many shapes and combinations of shapes …

In other news it seems that he CRS has already been working to head off any more birther nonsense in future elections.

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 3:44:36pm

re: #15 wrenchwench

Can I call it ~~Trump~~ Drumpf Tower?

fxted

Vicious Babushka Fri, May 3, 2013 3:47:19pm

Jon Stewart Wins Teh Twitterz

Skip Intro Fri, May 3, 2013 3:47:44pm

re: #16 FemNaziBitch

there are only so many shapes and combinations of shapes …

In other news it seems that he CRS has already been working to head off any more birther nonsense in future elections.

He’s probably too conservative even to win a GOP primary

Seriously?

The Ghost of a Flea Fri, May 3, 2013 3:47:52pm

Who circumcized that building?

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 3:48:37pm

isn’t there a pickle joke about little gerkins?

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 3:49:11pm

re: #19 Skip Intro

Seriously?

Yeah, I can’t do the math, but you can only combines shapes in so many ways and actually get the building to stand.

Skip Intro Fri, May 3, 2013 3:50:32pm

re: #22 FemNaziBitch

Yeah, I can’t do the math, but you can only combines shapes in so many ways and actually get the building to stand.

Sorry for the confusion. My question was about the quote I pulled from the article you linked.

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 3:51:11pm

moar catz moving piktures

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 3:51:24pm

re: #23 Skip Intro

Sorry for the confusion. My question was about the quote I pulled from the article you linked.

I was being sarcastic, silly.

It’s after 5 on a Friday. I think there’s a rule about it.

wrenchwench Fri, May 3, 2013 3:52:57pm

Look what I found:

Global Muslim Jewish
@GMJFF

The Global Muslim Jewish Friendship Forum. Join our quest to create more amiable, sustainable ties between Jews and Muslims around the world. RT ≠ endorsement.

Worldwide · gmjff.org

2,701 Tweets
826 Following
800 Followers

Followed by Vicious Babushka and CuriousLurker.

When you look at a profile on Twitter, it tells you who among the people you follow follows that account. Having VB and CL show up on that one is like icing on the cake. Or the top crust on the pie, maybe.

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 3:53:03pm

Apparently, Rhode Island legalized Same-Sex Marriage. Making New England the first region in the US to legalize it as a whole.

I think next two are Illinois and Minnesota. When do those measures come up for a vote in the House and Senate of those two states?

prairiefire Fri, May 3, 2013 3:56:28pm

re: #6 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

One of the buildings in downtown Chicago is supposedly vaginal as opposed to phallic and I never figured out which one.

The ceailing of the Morman temple in Ind. Mo. looks like a vulva. Jesus is supposed to come down through that building’s ceiling when he returns to earth.Things that make you go hmmmm…

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:00:06pm

ALA 1947 from the director of the Family Life Institute from University of Oklahoma.

I can’t get the video to embed.

archive.org

Skip Intro Fri, May 3, 2013 4:01:54pm

re: #25 FemNaziBitch

I was being sarcastic, silly.

It’s after 5 on a Friday. I think there’s a rule about it.

Well that’s good. I was about to dig out my old crystallography textbook to refresh my memory on how many different shapes crystals can form. Fourteen if I remember right, but you’re right, it’s Friday, who cares?

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:04:18pm

re: #30 Skip Intro

Well that’s good. I was about to dig out my old crystallography textbook to refresh my memory on how many different shapes crystals can form. Fourteen if I remember right, but you’re right, it’s Friday, who cares?

Yes, I know I’ve had way too much seriousness and reality for the week. It is now time for frivolity and mirth.

It’s an ORDER!!!

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 4:06:26pm

re: #27 ProBosniaLiberal

Apparently, Delaware is heading that direct as well.

Looks like New Jersey is going to be surrounded.

wrenchwench Fri, May 3, 2013 4:07:57pm

Apropos:

.. twitter.com/Fascinatingpic…
— Fascinating Pictures (@Fascinatingpics) May 3, 2013

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:09:07pm

re: #33 wrenchwench

Apropos:

Do not write laws with it…yeah the ink is, well, invisible.

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 4:09:42pm

Also, Terry McAuliffe needs to get his ass in gear. Cuccinelli needs to be defeated.

Feline Fearless Leader Fri, May 3, 2013 4:11:15pm

re: #9 Stanley Sea

The Bean!!

Yea. But you can get interesting Chicago skyline photos using it. :)

Image: G4-mirror_skyline.jpg

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:11:16pm

BOOP!

Bubblehead II Fri, May 3, 2013 4:12:42pm

re: #13 engineer cat

i think we should erect a giant phallus monument in DC to represent how much we are being screwed

We have one. But I don’t think George would appreciate the inuendo.

google.com

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 4:12:58pm

re: #35 ProBosniaLiberal

Same goes for Ed Markey in Massachusetts. The Democrats need to send a strong message that we don’t tolerate Red Representives in Blue Territory.

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:13:17pm

strangebuildings.com

darthstar Fri, May 3, 2013 4:13:20pm

Shown actual size.

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:15:49pm

blockhead?

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:16:45pm

I want one.

darthstar Fri, May 3, 2013 4:18:14pm

re: #43 FemNaziBitch

I want one.

Careful…homes like that can be Hobbit forming.

FemNaziBitch Fri, May 3, 2013 4:21:57pm

re: #44 darthstar

Careful…homes like that can be Hobbit forming.

I know, I thought that too, but I’d take the risk. Bad Hobbits are few.

Tigger2 Fri, May 3, 2013 4:24:37pm

re: #5 Amory Blaine

Sen. Ron Johnson thinks businesses should be allowed to deny cancer patients health insurance

[Embedded content]

And Republicans just can’t understand why they are losing elections.

Varek Raith Fri, May 3, 2013 4:25:08pm

Youtube Video

Bubblehead II Fri, May 3, 2013 4:25:13pm

re: #37 FemNaziBitch

BOOP!

Damn Kids. Get off My Lawn!

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 4:26:22pm

re: #46 Tigger2

Unfortunately, in a fit of stupidity, Wisconsin threw out Feingold in favor of this clown.

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 4:43:33pm

I killed the thread. :(

blueraven Fri, May 3, 2013 4:44:14pm

Fox News reporting Israeli warplanes crossed into and hit Syria

Skip Intro Fri, May 3, 2013 4:44:36pm

As long as the thread is dead, does anybody know where Gus went?

lawhawk Fri, May 3, 2013 4:45:10pm

So, it seems that half of the politicos in Albany are getting indicted. The other half? They’re wearing wires for prosecutors.

Think I’m kidding? The feds are going to be announcing yet another indictment shortly… as well as yet another politico who is wearing a wire for them.

Fear and loathing were stalking the halls of the state capital on Friday. Bets were being place about the identity of the latest officials to fall from grace on corruption charges.

And all because one of their own, then-State Sen. Shirley Huntley of Queens, wore a wire to get evidence.

“If you are a corrupt official in New York you have to be worried that one of your colleagues is working with us,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

The Manhattan U.S. Attorney apparently wasn’t kidding. It seems turning informant or government rat is in.

This after word came down Friday that while she was still serving in the Legislature Huntley tried to save herself from corruption charges by attempting to help the feds nab others. And she succeeded.

It was plainly evident in the sentencing memo filed by Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch in the Huntley case. The then-lawmaker was taping conversations with nine people. Four ended up being a bust, but, “recordings of meetings the defendant held with state senator #1 and two other elected officials did yield evidence useful to law enforcement authorities.”

The new bust apparently relates to business being done at JFK Airport and work done by/through the Port Authority.

*grabbing the popcorn*

blueraven Fri, May 3, 2013 4:46:17pm

re: #51 blueraven

Fox News reporting Israeli warplanes crossed into and hit Syria

Apparently in some overnight raid.

lawhawk Fri, May 3, 2013 4:50:08pm

re: #51 blueraven

Lebanon is claiming the IAF overflew their country (via Ha’aretz) and the Iranian media lays out the Lebanese claims in detail - 16 aircraft in total in multiple packages, but not sure about the Syria incursion. Israeli media isn’t reporting.

NJDhockeyfan Fri, May 3, 2013 4:50:54pm

re: #51 blueraven

Fox News reporting Israeli warplanes crossed into and hit Syria

I just saw that in a customers house a few minutes ago. Assad just shit his pants.

blueraven Fri, May 3, 2013 4:52:09pm

re: #55 lawhawk

Lebanon is claiming the IAF overflew their country (via Ha’aretz) and the Iranian media lays out the Lebanese claims in detail - 16 aircraft in total in multiple packages, but not sure about the Syria incursion. Israeli media isn’t reporting.

Yes, I havent been able to find it anywhere else either. Just on the TV so far.

Kragar Fri, May 3, 2013 4:55:09pm

Sources: U.S. believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria

The United States believes Israel has conducted an airstrike into Syria, two U.S. officials tell CNN.

U.S. and Western intelligence agencies are reviewing classified data showing Israel most likely conducted a strike in the Thursday-Friday time frame, according to both officials. This is the same time frame that the U.S. collected additional data showing Israel was flying a high number of warplanes over Lebanon.

One official said the United States had limited information so far and could not yet confirm those are the specific warplanes that conducted a strike. Based on initial indications, the U.S. does not believe Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace to conduct the strikes.

Both officials said there is no reason to believe Israel struck at a chemical weapons storage facilities. The Israelis have long said they would strike at any targets that prove to be the transfer of any kinds of weapons to Hezbollah or other terrorist groups, as well as at any effort to smuggle Syrian weapons into Lebanon that could threaten Israel.

lawhawk Fri, May 3, 2013 4:57:38pm

CNN: US officials believe Israel has carried out a strike inside Syria.

Vicious Babushka Fri, May 3, 2013 4:58:16pm

re: #59 lawhawk

CNN: US officials believe Israel has carried out a strike inside Syria.

Um, it’s CNN.

Vicious Babushka Fri, May 3, 2013 5:02:06pm

Wait, WHAT?

Former Bush official praises Nazis’ respect for laws of war in defending Gitmo thkpr.gs/12wMEcy #icymi
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) May 3, 2013

sauceruney Fri, May 3, 2013 5:06:05pm

I saw “Giant Dick” and thought you’d front-paged the Hannity post.

Kragar Fri, May 3, 2013 5:06:46pm

re: #61 Vicious Babushka

Wait, WHAT?

They wore uniforms. You can’t ask for more than that.
///

dragonath Fri, May 3, 2013 5:08:56pm

re: #61 Vicious Babushka

Wait, WHAT?

That’s the kind of quality spokemanship Bush hired for the White House!

sauceruney Fri, May 3, 2013 5:10:48pm

re: #61 Vicious Babushka

I think he watched too much Hogan’s Heroes as a child.

Vicious Babushka Fri, May 3, 2013 5:12:49pm

Tonight’s menu:

Home baked challah
Baked gefilte fish
Broiled rainbow trout
Olive pasta salad
Romaine/avocado salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Chicken noodle soup

Wine: Baron Herzog Zinfandel

Dessert: no pie this week, but I did buy a chocolate layered pastry at the bakery.

Good Shabbos to you all!

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 5:13:41pm

re: #66 Vicious Babushka

Tonight’s menu:

Home baked challah
Baked gefilte fish
Broiled rainbow trout
Olive pasta salad
Romaine/avocado salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Chicken noodle soup

Wine: Baron Herzog Zinfandel

Dessert: no pie this week, but I did buy a chocolate layered pastry at the bakery.

Good Shabbos to you all!

I’ll have to get the recipe for the olive pasta salad later - that sounds good!

Bubblehead II Fri, May 3, 2013 5:13:56pm

re: #55 lawhawk

Lebanon is claiming the IAF overflew their country (via Ha’aretz) and the Iranian media lays out the Lebanese claims in detail - 16 aircraft in total in multiple packages, but not sure about the Syria incursion. Israeli media isn’t reporting.

Times of Israel

Lebanon reports 8 IAF overflights in 14 hours

Is this a valid/reliable site?

*edit*

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 5:16:32pm

And Doctor Who is tomorrow!

^_^

Killgore Trout Fri, May 3, 2013 5:16:52pm

re: #59 lawhawk

CNN: US officials believe Israel has carried out a strike inside Syria.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Hezzbolah has thrown their full support to Asssad. If Obama goes through with arming the rebels I think someone is going to have to deal with Hezbollah and the rebels probably can’t operate within Lebanon. This could present an opportunity to deal with some long lingering problems if it plays out right.

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 5:18:49pm

ruh roh another first friday here in downtown oaktown

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 5:20:03pm

re: #69 ProBosniaLiberal

And Doctor Who is tomorrow!

^_^

who’s on tomorrow?

Skip Intro Fri, May 3, 2013 5:20:46pm

re: #70 Killgore Trout

If Obama goes through with arming the rebels I think someone is going to have to deal with Hezbollah and the rebels probably can’t operate within Lebanon.

Perhaps someone can refresh my memory about when “arming the rebels” has ever worked out well in the long run.

I lean more towards the Stay The Fuck Out school of thought myself.

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 5:20:53pm

re: #69 ProBosniaLiberal

Spoilerly thing below:

Spoiler

I really hope that, whatever revelation about Clara is at the end of the season, it is not that she is a relation to the Doctor’s (Susan Foreman, Jenny, Doctor’s Mother, 1st Doctors Wife (He had Grandchildren, remember?), or daughter of some sort). Because that would

make the buttslap during the last episode very, very awkward.

ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 5:27:36pm

And I killed it again.

engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 5:29:15pm

Palin: Dems ‘exploiting tragedy’ for gun agenda

god forbid we mention anything relevant when discussing gun laws

Lidane Fri, May 3, 2013 5:29:53pm

Obama: Don’t see scenario of “American boots on ground” in Syria that would be good for region. on.cnn.com/17Cq6fj
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 4, 2013

Lidane Fri, May 3, 2013 5:30:51pm

re: #76 engineer cat

Palin: Dems ‘exploiting tragedy’ for gun agenda

god forbid we mention anything relevant when discussing gun laws

Please proceed, GOP! MT @coolchange80 The Sarah Palin that I saw in the #NRA speech today is unbeatable in 2016 . Hillary would be toast.
— L George (@LLLGeorge) May 4, 2013

Bubblehead II Fri, May 3, 2013 5:33:36pm

re: #75 ProBosniaLiberal

And I killed it again.

Nah, it’s dinner time for those of us Lizards in the Mid to West coast states, The weinies on the East Coast the are heading for their rock(s) before it gets to cold

//////////////

Targetpractice Fri, May 3, 2013 5:33:43pm

re: #78 Lidane

They seriously believe Caribou Barbie would win against Hillary?

Can I get some of whatever they’re smoking?

Killgore Trout Fri, May 3, 2013 5:38:03pm

Lebanon’s president condemns reported Israel Air Force flyovers, urges world to intervene
Ok

Charles Johnson Fri, May 3, 2013 5:40:04pm

.@mpopham People’s Daily: “We get all up in that news.”
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) May 4, 2013

Lidane Fri, May 3, 2013 5:40:41pm

re: #80 Targetpractice

They seriously believe Caribou Barbie would win against Hillary?

She wouldn’t even make it out of the primaries. The GOP won’t nominate a woman for POTUS anytime soon.

Can I get some of whatever they’re smoking?

Do you really want to risk that level of brain damage?

Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi Fri, May 3, 2013 5:45:45pm

re: #82 Charles Johnson

Hard news and penetrating analysis.

Targetpractice Fri, May 3, 2013 5:46:09pm

re: #83 Lidane

She wouldn’t even make it out of the primaries. The GOP won’t nominate a woman for POTUS anytime soon.

I agree she wouldn’t make it out of the primaries, though in my opinion is has more to do with the party not ready for that much crazy at the top of the ticket. Remember that the Girl with the Faraway Eyes never even made it to Iowa.

Do you really want to risk that level of brain damage?

I’m a gamer, I’m already damaged goods.//

Stanghazi Fri, May 3, 2013 5:48:16pm

re: #85 Targetpractice

I agree she wouldn’t make it out of the primaries, though in my opinion is has more to do with the party not ready for that much crazy at the top of the ticket. Remember that the Girl with the Faraway Eyes never even made it to Iowa.

I’m a gamer, I’m already damaged goods.//

I will lose it if she’s in the news blathering next week, let alone for a primary season.

goddamnedfrank Fri, May 3, 2013 5:48:30pm

re: #70 Killgore Trout

This could present an opportunity to deal with some long lingering problems if it plays out right.

More likely it will rally much of the Arab world around the Assad regime, alienating the rebels from a much needed base of support. On its face the Israeli intervention seems like a massively counter productive move.

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 5:48:52pm

re: #81 Killgore Trout

You like stories hidden behind registration walls.

Political Atheist Fri, May 3, 2013 5:51:09pm

re: #87 goddamnedfrank

More likely it will rally much of the Arab world rallying around the Assad regime, alienating the rebels from a much needed base of support. On its face the Israeli intervention seems like a massively counter productive move.

Why the hell did our side leak a confirmation? This sucks.

prairiefire Fri, May 3, 2013 5:52:04pm

re: #88 klys

You like stories hidden behind registration walls.

He likes stories hidden in stories as well! Part of multi-faceted LGF.

goddamnedfrank Fri, May 3, 2013 5:53:28pm

re: #89 Political Atheist

Why the hell did our side leak a confirmation? This sucks.

Turkey probably watched the whole thing unfold on shared NATO radar assets. Something like this just isn’t going to stay in the box for long.

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 5:54:12pm

Downtown San Fransisco tied their record high today at 79. SFO broke the old high of 79 with 85. San Jose tied their record high at 90. Santa Cruz broke the old high with a new record of 92.

At least we’re supposed to be back to highs in the 70s by Monday.

Walking Spanish Down the Hall Fri, May 3, 2013 5:54:43pm

Are you really here?

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 5:55:19pm

re: #93 Walking Spanish Down the Hall

Are you really here?

But where is here, and why should I be there?

Political Atheist Fri, May 3, 2013 5:56:46pm

re: #91 goddamnedfrank

Yeah good point.

kirkspencer Fri, May 3, 2013 5:57:18pm

re: #76 engineer cat

Palin: Dems ‘exploiting tragedy’ for gun agenda

god forbid we mention anything relevant when discussing gun laws

I’d treat that opinion with a lot more respect were I not getting hammered with “Don’t 3000 deaths mean anything?” in discussions of invading various nations.

Iwouldprefernotto Fri, May 3, 2013 5:57:39pm

re: #84 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

Hard news and penetrating analysis.

We erect, you decide.

Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 5:58:09pm

re: #15 wrenchwench

Can I call it Trump Tower?

No, sorry. Trump Tower is in Chicago and its a much better looking building. Trump Tower doesn’t look like a dick, its just named after a dick.

Walking Spanish Down the Hall Fri, May 3, 2013 5:58:18pm

re: #94 klys

But where is here, and why should I be there?

I was here, but now I’m there.

100

freetoken Fri, May 3, 2013 5:59:37pm

re: #92 klys

It’s been a very warm and dry spring here. Yesterday felt more like summer or a fall santa ana… today at times outside felt almost tropical (airflow from the ocean brought in humidity but it was still warm.)

It’s all very wrong. The loquats, after being almost two months behind last year ( in which they were a month early) are now ripening all at once, with smaller fruit on average.

Loquats sad ➔ Freetoken ☹

101

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 5:59:54pm

re: #99 Walking Spanish Down the Hall

I was here, but now I’m there.

Where now, ‘ere there was here?

102

Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 6:00:37pm

re: #83 Lidane

She wouldn’t even make it out of the primaries. The GOP won’t nominate a woman for POTUS anytime soon.

Do you really want to risk that level of brain damage?

I think the Republican Party could nominate a woman, but would not nominate that particular woman. Palin may be good at applause lines but she’s simply too weak as a candidate and too many people know it.

103

goddamnedfrank Fri, May 3, 2013 6:01:28pm

There’s already much reason for concern on the part of Western governments, making them loathe to support the rebels with shipments of arms:

In Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, rebels aligned with Al Qaeda control the power plant, run the bakeries and head a court that applies Islamic law. Elsewhere, they have seized government oil fields, put employees back to work and now profit from the crude they produce. A bakery outside Aleppo, where the Qaeda-aligned Nusra Front is running the power plant and even distributing flour.

Across Syria, rebel-held areas are dotted with Islamic courts staffed by lawyers and clerics, and by fighting brigades led by extremists. Even the Supreme Military Council, the umbrella rebel organization whose formation the West had hoped would sideline radical groups, is stocked with commanders who want to infuse Islamic law into a future Syrian government.

Nowhere in rebel-controlled Syria is there a secular fighting force to speak of.

Now, with today’s strikes Israel has quite possibly fubared the relationship between the rebels and friendly Arab governments.

104

klys Fri, May 3, 2013 6:02:48pm

re: #100 freetoken

It’s been a very warm and dry spring here. Yesterday felt more like summer or a fall santa ana… today at times outside felt almost tropical (airflow from the ocean brought in humidity but it was still warm.)

It’s all very wrong. The loquats, after being almost two months behind last year ( in which they were a month early) are now ripening all at once, with smaller fruit on average.

Loquats sad ➔ Freetoken ☹

Instead we can get fire season starting 4 months early! Hooray!

Seriously, if this is any indication, it’s going to be a *bad* summer. I am pissy and moany about it now because it’s the first heat wave of the year, so I am poorly adjusted, and some meds I am on make me more sensitive to heat that normal. But we’ve been talking about adding AC to the house (after the wiring gets redone) and …it keeps moving up the list of priorities.

105

blueraven Fri, May 3, 2013 6:03:26pm

Andrea Mitchell reporting Israel has hit at least one military target in Syria

106

Targetpractice Fri, May 3, 2013 6:03:38pm

re: #103 goddamnedfrank

There’s already much reason for concern on the part of Western governments, making them loathe to support the rebels with shipments of arms:

Now, with today’s strikes Israel has just possibly fubared the relationship between the rebels and friendly Arab governments.

Can’t even begin to imagine their justification for this shit.

107

goddamnedfrank Fri, May 3, 2013 6:05:17pm

re: #106 Targetpractice

Can’t even begin to imagine their justification for this shit.

Well, we don’t know the target. From their perspective anything that keeps Syrian heavy weaponry out of Hezbollah’s hands is justifiable.

108

Targetpractice Fri, May 3, 2013 6:06:41pm

re: #107 goddamnedfrank

Well, we don’t know the target. From their perspective anything that keeps Syrian heavy weaponry out of Hezbollah’s hands is justifiable.

Right, from their perspective. From ours, they may have just made intervention all but inevitable just to avoid the rebels getting ground under. Sure as fuck haven’t made it any easier to unite the Arab world against Assad.

109

Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 6:07:50pm

re: #107 goddamnedfrank

Well, we don’t know the target. From their perspective anything that keeps Syrian heavy weaponry out of Hezbollah’s hands is justifiable.

They might have feared chemical weapons were about to fall into the hands of someone who might launch them at Israel. Hezbollah wouldn’t be likely to do that, but some of the Al Qaeda-aligned rebels group would. Those groups see themselves as being on a Mission From God, and they regard the destruction of Israel as being divinely ordained.

110

Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 6:09:16pm

re: #108 Targetpractice

Right, from their perspective. From ours, they may have just made intervention all but inevitable just to avoid the rebels getting ground under. Sure as fuck haven’t made it any easier to unite the Arab world against Assad.

Sometimes even close allies end up with very different interests. Israel might well be better off with the rebels ground under, as Assad is at least receptive to normal measures of deterrance.

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Targetpractice Fri, May 3, 2013 6:10:29pm

re: #110 Dark_Falcon

Sometimes even close allies end up with very different interests. Israel might well be better off with the rebels ground under, as Assad is at least receptive to normal measures of deterrance.

And they might also be better off if we suddenly found that selling them F-35s is not in our best interests.

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freetoken Fri, May 3, 2013 6:10:52pm

And now, for something completely weird, which perhaps a few of you have heard.

First, a picture is worth a thousand words:
Image: sn-skeleton-thumb-autox600-17029.jpg

Yes, a human-like skeleton, about 6” long - and it’s real.

Now the story:

Bizarre 6-Inch Skeleton Shown to Be Human

Alien? Subhuman primate? Deformed child? Mummified fetus? The Internet is buzzing over the nature of “Ata,” a bizarre 6-inch-long skeleton featured in a new documentary on UFOs. A Stanford University scientist who boldly entered the fray has now put to rest doubts about what species Ata belongs to. But the mystery is not over.

The story began 10 years ago, when the diminutive remains were reportedly found in a pouch in a ghost town in the Atacama Desert of Chile. Ata ended up in a private collection in Barcelona; producers of the film Sirius latched onto the bizarre mummy as evidence of alien life.

Last fall, immunologist Garry Nolan, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Proteomics Center for Systems Immunology at Stanford in California, heard about Ata from a friend and contacted the filmmakers, offering to give them a scientific readout on the specimen. They asked him to give it a shot.

[…]

To the chagrin of UFO hunters, Ata is decidedly of this world. After mapping more than 500 million reads to a reference human genome, equating to 17.7-fold coverage of the genome, Nolan concluded that Ata “is human, there’s no doubt about it.” Moreover, the specimen’s B2 haplotype—a category of mitochondrial DNA—reveals that its mother was from the west coast of South America: Chile, that is.

[…]

Meanwhile, after examining x-rays, Lachman concluded that Aka’s skeletal development, based on the density of the epiphyseal plates of the knees (growth plates at the end of long bones found only in children), surprisingly appears to be equivalent to that of a 6- to 8-year-old child. If that holds up, there are two possibilities, Nolan says. One, a long shot, is that Ata had a severe form of dwarfism, was actually born as a tiny human, and lived until that calendar age. To test that hypothesis, he will try to extract hemoglobin from the specimen’s bone marrow and compare the relative amounts of fetal versus adult hemoglobin proteins. The second possibility is that Ata, the size of a 22-week-old fetus, suffered from a severe form of a rare rapid aging disease, progeria, and died in the womb or after premature birth.

[…]

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Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 6:14:42pm

re: #111 Targetpractice

And they might also be better off if we suddenly found that selling them F-35s is not in our best interests.

They’d accept that, over the risk of chemical weapons aimed at them by fanatics crazy enough to use them. Sometimes, there is no good option, only options that suck to varying degrees.

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goddamnedfrank Fri, May 3, 2013 6:15:05pm

re: #111 Targetpractice

And they might also be better off if we suddenly found that selling them F-35s is not in our best interests.

LOL, they should be so lucky.

“Drown me! Roast me! Hang me! Do whatever you please,” said Brer Rabbit. “Only please, Brer Fox, please don’t throw me into the briar patch.”

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engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 6:16:12pm

re: #96 kirkspencer

I’d treat that opinion with a lot more respect were I not getting hammered with “Don’t 3000 deaths mean anything?” in discussions of invading various nations.

is this in reference to another discussion that you and i might have been having?

116

kirkspencer Fri, May 3, 2013 6:18:12pm

re: #115 engineer cat

is this in reference to another discussion that you and i might have been having?

No. It’s a discussion I’m having elsewhere. The same people telling me that I shouldn’t bring up the Newton deaths have no problem bludgeoning me with the Twin Towers deaths - now being used to justify pushing to Iran and Syria.

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engineer cat Fri, May 3, 2013 6:20:37pm

re: #116 kirkspencer

No. It’s a discussion I’m having elsewhere. The same people telling me that I shouldn’t bring up the Newton deaths have no problem bludgeoning me with the Twin Towers deaths - now being used to justify pushing to Iran and Syria.

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ProTARDISLiberal Fri, May 3, 2013 6:23:00pm

After looking a little bit, I am stumped and need to ask for help.

My last name, what is its meaning?

119

Dark_Falcon Fri, May 3, 2013 6:38:25pm

re: #118 ProBosniaLiberal