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Open Thread #153
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{ 155 comments… read them below or add one }
Related to the general topic of bad things happening on boats…
Does anyone with a background in this sort of thing know if shooting someone in the head is considered less likely to cause injury to by-standers? If you have to shoot someone in a crowd at close range with a pistol, is a headshot the best way to do it?
One of the activists on the boat stopped by the Israelis was shot in the head. Some are claiming this proves the Israelis were not shooting in self-defense but were in fact executing people.
This is not macabre interest. I’m trying to find more context for the facts I’ve heard.
Those “peace activists” lie. They have been proved to have lied about nearly everything in this incident so far, which makes me less inclined to believe any current or future claims. But if it’s worth anything, I would favor their summary executions, after a bit of torture. Maybe make them watch Deep Space Nine or something.
Brendon,
If you trying to bait me with another Star Trek ref, I was never a big fan of DS9.
It could case injury to bystanders, because the bullet most often passes through the head and continues outwards – therefore it could strike a bystander.
Hence, why when Chinese authorities shoot prisoners in the back of the head, the advise the prisoner to keep their mouth wide open, so the bullet can pass out the mouth without ripping off the persons face.
Hence the bullet passes out and continues going.
In the case of some of the people shot by the Israelis –
a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back.
(shot 4 times – once to the temple)
A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back.
(shot twice in the head – front and back)
I watched the videos, I saw the soldiers being attacked as soon as they went down the ropes to board the boat.
The soldiers were acting in self-defence.
Sounds like whoever gave you that idea was playing too may first-shooter role-playing games or MMORPGs for short. For starters, the probability of scoring a head shot with a pistol at any given range with the exception of ‘point-blank’ range — or even with a rifle — is very low. When I was an infantryman in the U.S. Army, we were always taught to shoot “center of mass.” To qualify for sniper school, you had to consistently score “Expert Marksman” by hitting 90% or more of your 40 allotted targets on a known-distance range from 20-300m with either an M-16A2/M-4.
The ones who could, ALWAYS used center of mass as a primary aiming point, while ignoring the head. (FYI, any infantryman worth his salt can easily score sharpshooter — 70% — or better. Anything less than that, you probably never graduated from Ft. Benning infantry school.)
That said, head shots, IMO, are worthless and pure Hollywood. Army snipers — who train to engage targets at 300m or greater — always try to shoot center of mass. Anything else is a waste of ammo.
The exception are police snipers, whose engagements are typically shorter range, like 50-100m and involve more high-risk situations. In those scenarios, head shots may be justified in order to take out armed targets in hostage-type situations. But then again, their experience level usually outstrips military snipers by a decade or more of hands-on experience.
As far as the Israeli commandos “shooting people in the head” or “executing” people, I think this is far-fetched. IIRC, the commandos were armed with only paint guns and sidearms, and only resorted to using their sidearms when they were attacked — and then again, they were only shooting to wound, like shooting at their legs.
But then again, when it comes to “he-said, she-said” spats between the PLO and the IDF, I think it is a well-known fact that the PLO always exaggerates and the IDF always gets more than its share of self-righteous global indignation and other undeserved international criticism from the rest of the world that they’re beating up those poor Palestinians.
Well, here’s an interesting one. According to the local news here, and I quote:
If this does prove to be more than vapornews, I’m certainly interested to take a sip of their concoction.
PS. The link to the full article is here.
Thank you everyone for the informed replies.
Based on what you wrote, I can see there’s no advantage to aiming for the head. You’re more likely to miss, and even if you do manage to hit the head, you’re more likely to injure by-standers.
I think the first time I heard the general idea that head shots in crowds were safer was in relation to a police shooting on a London subway car. The police had tackled someone to the ground and then shot them in the head with a small caliber pistol. The official response to the public’s outrage was “shooting people in the head saves lives.”
You know “jd”, those London cops shot a Brazilian electrician, close up, seven times, in the head, on the tube because they panicked, thinking he had some kind of bomb on him. The police then lied about it, claiming he ran from them in the subway.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a21aOw6vQpVA&refer=redirectoldpage
I don’t consider their actions responsible or professional and neither did the magistrate that reviewed police procedures. It was a shame that no one was prosecuted for it either.
#1,
It’s a pointless argument. The IDF are soldiers, not cops.
“The official response to the public’s outrage was “shooting people in the head saves lives.”
Not really. It increases that chances of missing since you’re shooting at a smaller target and the bullet can still exit and hit a bystander. But, I read a while ago that the preferred ways to assassinate someone with a small caliber pistol is a double tap to the head. That’s how Gerald Bull was assassinated.
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/tactical-weapons/israeli-mossad-22-lrs/
From Prescott, Arizona: Dark-skinned Mural Faces Ordered “Lightened” to Appease Bigotry.
Perhaps, they’d like the necks to be painted red, too.
Things are getting ugly in Arizona, and appeasing to redneck arseholes should be the last thing on their mind.
i’d like to thank the israelis for restraining their bloodthirst just this once. thanks, benny, for not killing whoever you feel like killing whenever you feel like killing them.
Hey, Lakers won the first game against Boston Goons. Lakers were physical; even Gasault was pulling shirts. However, the defining moment was when Ron Artest decked Paul Pierce in wrestling hold. Boston Goons got scared after that; Lakers had an enforcer!
Ron Artest looks like a caveman who will mess with anyone. He looks dazed, the primary requirement for anyone who wants to do some damage, and out-of-place. He looks confused.
However, make no mistake. He is an excellent player. He can make 3-points shots with ease as well as running set plays. He plays a great defense as Paul Pierce has found out.
I hope the Lakers finish the Bean Town in six.
Obama’s lack of concern for people in Tennessee (15 counties flooded), lack of support for South Korea and Israel, and hang-moon licking apologies for Arizona to China leave no doubt in my mind as to how he’ll react to recent news of Iranian troops attacking Kurds in Iraq…
The Kurds, having been friendly toward the Bush Administration, will be the next ally tossed under the bus…
And I do mean tossed…
Israel is well within its rights to shoot people who violently resist law enforcement inside Israeli waters, and that includes 60-year-olds and 19-year-old Turks with almighty US passports. However, the IDF boarded the boats in international waters, so it was the passengers who were acting in self-defense.
Korea ranks # 40 in exporting food according to the Korea Times. This is very low. Since Korea has it’s own unique and delicious cuisine, Korea needs to work harder on making Korean food well known all over the world. The food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Just imagine how much money Korea’s economy would make if Korean food became popular. For example, a good start is Nongshim’s noodle bowl. It localizes it’s taste. I see many Americans enjoying Nongshim noodle bowl. Koreans need to learn how to localize their cuisine as well to fit the tastes of the locals in whatever their country is. I hope the Korean people and the Korean government realize this and work harder on this matter.
There was a recent Bloggingheads diavlog between two foreign policy professionals, Robert Farley and Daniel Drezner. In this segment, at around the 25:55 mark, they say something that I’ve asserted here before, that the US doesn’t want to see Korea unified because the first thing a unified Korea would do is have the US military leave.
It’s meaningless to talk about why China, the US, Japan, or Russia might not want to see the peninsula reunified when the two Koreas themselves do not want to reunify anytime soon.
Right. Because all of those states subordinate their interests to the wishes of the Koreas.
Not exactly a new idea. Here’s an excerpt from the book titled “북한의 개혁, 개방” by 신지호, published in 2000 —
To summarize, it claims USA is against korean unification because it may lead to US troops leaving, thereby decreasing its influence, on top of which US may lose its 6th most significant buyer of weapons exports.
wangkon linked to the article below. it’s about the author’s belief that korea will be a superpower. what’s interesting about the whole piece is how angry the comments are. guess who most of those posters are? yep, you got it.
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/politics/next-global-superpower-korea
I don’t think Korea will be a “superpower” nor do I think it should be one. There are costs to being a superpower. Also, with superpowers you have the tendency for the state and its interests to diverge drastically from the rest of the country.
i agree; korea will not be a superpower but then, it shouldn’t be anyway. korea should aspire to be wealthy and stay out of the troubles caused by so-called superpowers.
That sounds nice pawi, however given the fact that Korea as a nation is only wealthy and on the global radar duein fact to one superpower’s massive investment in it, staying out of so called superpowers troubles will not happen unless Korea becomes a hermit nation again and devolves into history.
Yeah, because the only thing you need to become wealthy is American intervention. Iraq, Mexico, etc is going to be rich just any day now. And Park Chung Hee built the nation doing exactly what the Americans/globalists told him to do. And wealth and being “on the global radar” are the only things that matter in the world.
looking for revenge, are ya?
‘And Park Chung Hee built the nation doing exactly what the Americans/globalists told him to do. ‘
indeed, he did the opposite of what they told him to do. had he followed their advice, korea would still be poor.
Minko is an idiot and Pawi is almost right here.
Park got rid of the gangs and made Koreans feel proud about their great heritage.
It’s too bad none of his predecessors were worthy to carry his water…
“The Kurds, having been friendly toward the Bush Administration, will be the next ally tossed under the bus…”
See, this is what troubles me about U.S. conservatives. Yesterday your pals were whining about deficits and debt and how Obama is the devil for spending money the U.S. doesn’t have. Yet there’s no war you will not cheer (from the sidelines), and no limit to the military (and police) spending you will support.
It seems to me that if the U.S. really is broke, then it must trim down its war policy. However, if the U.S. has trillions to throw away in Iraq and Afghanistan in achieving no goals (other than killing and maiming lots of people), then I say it sure as hell can pay for a universal health care system along the lines of what every other developed country has, etc.
P.S. I was referring to setnaffa @15 in my #30 above.
And note to Milton: I’ve not read any of your comments at The Hole. They’re just too long. For all I know you might be Obama or Clinton (either one) writing under a screen name; but the only folks in whom I’m willing to make such an investment of time and effort are Sonagi, Sperwer, DL Barch, and Birther Brendon on one of his ODS rants.
… and Dogbertt
@ # 23, No Minjok, the only thing you need to becoming wealthy is a “Superpower’s” intervention, as I said. Either you work with a giant or get squashed by it. No matter who that giant is. Hopefully a benevolent giant.
No superpower in history just allows a small nation to achieve insurmountable wealth without getting its “cut”. Unlike Imperial Japan’s superpower era , The U.S. cannot be blamed for raping the Korean peninsula of minerals and resources for its gain alone while aboloshing Korean culture and language. Hell, even our cousins the Brits’ would have more than likely have made Korea a Brittish colony by name and practice if they still had their Empire. I would say that imperfect as it is, the U.S. is probably one the few non-Empires by name in history with Empire like power which has refused to rule with an iron fist. Their are other means of influence .
*there*
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/06/gaza-flotilla-attack-israel-turkey
very nice opinion piece on israe’s hit on a cvilian ship in international waters. israel is the new apatheid.
Whatever, stretch. I’ll save my outrage for the people who routinely launch rocket attacks into residential neighborhoods, leading to the perfectly justifiable blockade to prevent these terrorists from getting more of those weapons.
Korea does not want to be re-unified and in the South that is beginning to be part of the cultural landscape…
In the past, the most you could do is put a pox on both houses (“The Square”). Now you have Kim Young-ha coming straight out and saying that Korea is now two different nations and Lee Eung-joon writing a book (“Gukgaui Sasaenghwa” or “Private Life of the Nation)” portraying unification as the economic slavery of the North.
I think 10 years ago these kinds of comments/publications would have been career suicide. Now, clever writers are getting out ahead of the public wave. The next generation won’t give a hoot about re-unification, if my Uni students are any example.
NOTE: No Laurel leaves were consumed in the making of this prediction.
@Acropolis7
The more intriguing question is who or what are you and why do you promote such stupid and insidious ideas? You’re either an idiot who’s just naturally a vector of whatever ideas get deposited in your head, or you have some kind of personal interest, either conscious or subconscious, in trying to manipulate Koreans into believing that they shouldn’t be independent and shouldn’t stay “out of so called superpowers’ troubles.”
Yes, because latte-sipping literary faggots’ opinions should matter when it comes to national questions.
Israel is a Jewish country isn’t it?
I thought nobody was allowed to say anything bad about Jews…
I guess after this incident people are allowed to?
here’s a partial list of things banned by the israeli blockade of gaza:
coriander, ginger, nutmeg, canned fruit, dried fruit, fresh meat,
seeds and nuts, fishing rods, ropes for fishing, fabric for clothing, chicken hatcheries, chickens, donkeys, horses, goats, toys, cattle, musical instruments, newspapers, WOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION.
none of the above have anything to do w making rockets. these items are banned to immiserate the people of gaza. that means it’s collective punishment and thus illegal under international law. of course, the israleis don’t need to follow international law. they can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want.
btw, the new south africans also ban the sale of gazan agriculture to the outside world.
lastly, number of people in israel killed by rockets fired from gaza: 1
number of gazans killed by israeli war machine: aprox 1,400 with about 400 of them being children. many of these deaths occured due to israel dropping white phosphorous, a chemical that slowly burns your skin off.
yeah, the israelis are the victims.
turkish pm erdogan may sail to gaza. what will the israeli victims do?
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=177567
Craash, there are many religions (and atheists) living peacefully in Israel… And looking over the Knesset you find they are well-represented, too…
I would suggest not criticizing the government in any country unless you’re willing to face the consequences. It’s mostly legal in the USA; but even there can create unwanted consequences. Ask the Dixie Chicks.
As far as non-Jews criticizing them, well, there was the Spanish Inquisition, the Russian Pogroms, the SS Death Camps, and continuous war since the UN Partition was announced in 1947…
What changes do you think amateur anti-Semites on a Korean-related blog are going to make?
—-
BTW, Pawi seems to forget how many rockets have been fired from Gaza toward civilians, mis-labels armed 19-year olds “children”, and lies about the embargoed items… by omission if nothing else…
BTW, Jordan is a “Palestinian” Nation. Look it up in your history books. “Palestine and Trans-Jordan” was the name of the British Colony. Why don’t they provide housing for the folks who ran away in 1948?
But neither Pawi nor Helen Thomas can lie convincingly when the videotapes are rolling…
Why? All I can think of is he’s a Ron Paul kind of guy and she’s senile enough to say what she’s always thought…
BTW, are there two “Minjokjuuija”? Or did I miss some sarcasm earlier? Perhaps I owe an apology?
‘BTW, Jordan is a “Palestinian” Nation. Look it up in your history books. “Palestine and Trans-Jordan” was the name of the British Colony. Why don’t they provide housing for the folks who ran away in 1948?’
standard israeli talking points. the west bank is palestine. the un says that israel’s occupation is illegal.
number of people killed by rockets fired from gaza into israel: 1
anbody catch this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7804922/BP-chief-Tony-Hayward-sold-shares-weeks-before-oil-spill.html some mad sketchiness going on…
here’s a report from cnn on israel’s use of white phosphorus. the israelis can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUwgmin_muQ
Whatever, stretch. I don’t see the Israelis loading up vests with nails and C4, strapping them on, and blowing themselves up in public places full of innocent civilians.
“The Palestinians can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want.” – stretch
#44 – Ok – I understand – some Israelis are Jewish and some are atheists..
I once sent an email to the King of Thailand telling him what an as**ole he was – thats why I never dare travel to Thailand – but after I sent the email – I was happy.
I once said that Korean people are similar to Jews – because of what they have been through – and how they all have “nationalism” and stick together as a group and people through bricks at me.
I have been watching the news and blogs lately and many people have been criticizing the Israelis – I just though we weren’t allow to do that – as they are Jews – and “Jews” are “special”.
paul craig roberts on flotilla fiasco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4sM323793A
below is a link to a clip at the nyt showing israelis making fun of the nine people shot dead by their righteous army. the article itself is interesting in that it reveals the israelis are refusing to release all the video they have, which would include footage shot by the people on board the ship. moreover, the israelis admit they threw stun grenades and fired shots into the air before repelling onto the ship. this happened in the dark. the people on that ship thought they were under attack and decided to fight back. good on them. may the nine killed by the sabras rip.
the israelis can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want.
An interesting essay on how American Jews and Israeli Jews have gradually diverged over Zionism, liberalism, and Palestine.
is everybody excited for summer? http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100603/NEWS01/6030359/Delaware-beaches-Transgendered-men-go-topless-in-Rehoboth
forgot the link:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/israelis-explain-and-mock-flotilla-clash/?scp=3-b&sq=israeli+video+mocking+dead&st=nyt
Maybe make them watch Deep Space Nine or something.
OK, from what I remember, DS9 did start a bit slow, but after season 3 when the DS9ers came into contact with the Dominion, the pace did pick up.
And unlike Star Trek Enterprise, DS9 didn’t get cut short after the fourth season.
I don’t care for a lot of what Israel does. I don’t really agree with the blockade. I don’t blame the Israelis army for shooting the people on that ship. The video quite clearly shows the people on the ship attacking the soldiers with pipes, before the Israelis could do anything. If you were one of those soldiers and you were surrounded by an angry mob intent on bashing your head in, what would you do? They defended themselves. Some of the people on that ship wanted to stir up shit and they got more than they bargained for. If they hadn’t of resisted like the people on the other five ships, nobody would have gotten hurt.
ulsan chris thinks the Muslims should be free from any IDF interference in their bid to import weapons with which to kill Israeli children.
What a humanitarian.
I never knew this crowd had so many swastika lovers… I guess I don’t belong here…
#50, there are Muslims in the Knesset., in the IDF, and not just Arabs…
Crap. Don’t you guys even read Wikipaedia? And I thought the Tea Party had some losers… You guys make Palin look well-rounded…
NK, if it ever opens up, will follow the footsteps of Russia. On the outside, the country may look fine, but on the inside, the country will be run by Former-Military officers, who have formed a mob. Intimidation, extortion, murder and general lawlessness will follow.
This is why some Koreans, including KAs, advocate restriction of travel between NK and SK even after NK opens up. Free-flow of people between two areas will make the aforementioned mob to flow down to SK and make the whole Unified Korea to be controlled by former-NK military officers.
They may even run for the presidency and control the country to be the slave of China.
NK military men will have no place in Unified Korea. So, they will form a mob with support from China.
China will have real problem with a country which may turn against it. So, China will manipulate Anti-Japan sentiment and make a war between Korea and Japan, to kill off Korean young people.
Horrible fate waits the Unified Korea. Don’t even start.
The first thing the Unified Korea will do is to start a war with Japan. You can bank on that. Just look at Dokto.
With confusion that will follow the unification and so many NK military officers out of job, the Unified Korea will need something to galvanize the country and reduce over-population of the uneducated. It may be a war.
The Chinese will fund and may even provide support for this war.
Young Koreans will die.
After years of the war, the peace will be achieved through mitigation of China and the US. However, the United Koreans will be told to relocate, to prevent the future wars. Several labor camps near Tibet will be built to accomodate “warmongers” and Koreans will be put on trains.
Korean peninsula will be inhabited by the Chinese, be they native-Chineses or a converted-Chineses.
never thought pawi and i would be even distantly aligned on anything.
the simple fact is that israel continues putting the screws to the palestinians in gaza. the main reason missiles have been launched in the last couple of years has been because of the blockades and inhumane treatment by the israelis. it’s one thing to be an armchair pundit, but i was in the region during last year’s bombings. all politics aside, the israelis are responsible for phosphorus bombings that continue burning the skin of children for hours and days after they’re dropped. see this first hand, and it’s hard to find any justification for this horror of horrors. the israelis continue to squeeze the palestinians and prevent food, water, building materials, etc. into gaza which in turn pushes palestinians to launch impotent missiles. in turn, the israelis justify their continued inhumane attacks on the general population.
Don’t take side in Israel-Islam conflict. Do not believe the Palestines are angels and the Israelis demons. They are both ugly people.
And, vicious and ignorant as well.
As a descendent of people who are still busy at killing their “own” people, I do not have a right to say much. However, the middle estern people have too many “issues” to resolve.
As a Christian, I may have to be on the side of Israel. But I have seen too many Jews who are ugly. They have to be since they are “the Chosen”. Jesus chose me. And, I have no problem killing Israelies when they kill American citizens; one Brazilian-Korean who resides in NewYork was on the ship.
Israel’d better cool it, before it loses the support of the US, even support of Christians.
A South Korean two-star general was caught spying for North Korea.
This is certainly “good” news following the Cheonan disaster.
@ baduk:
?!?!?!?!
re: #48.
The USA and Britain also used “white phosphorus” against the Germans in WWII and the USA still uses it.
Here is an American soldier in Osan airbase (outside Seoul) loading white phosphorus boms to use against the North Koreans in the case of attack – http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/White_Phosphorous_Rockets.jpg/220px-White_Phosphorous_Rockets.jpg
The use of white phosphorus against military targets outside civilian areas is not explicitly banned by any treaty.
There is a debate on whether white phosphorus should be considered a chemical weapon and thus be outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which went into effect in April 1997.
The convention is meant to prohibit weapons that are “dependent on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare” (Article II, Definitions, 9, “Purposes not Prohibited” c.).
The convention defines a “toxic chemical” as a chemical “which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals” (CWC, II).
An annex lists chemicals that fall under this definition and WP is not listed in the Schedules of chemical weapons or precursors.
The effects of WP is terrible though – http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Ayman2.jpg/220px-Ayman2.jpg
WP smoke irritates the eyes, mucous membranes of the nose, and respiratory tract in moderate concentrations, while higher concentrations may produce severe burns. However, no casualties have been recorded from the effects of WP smoke alone in combat operations and there are no confirmed deaths resulting from exposure to phosphorus smoke.
So, does anyone know any good blogs in Korean about Korean politics or political analysis?
Also, what are some of the more popular blogs written in Korean?
Thanks!
it is prohibited to use in concentrated civilian areas. the gaza strip has 1.5 million people in it. of course, when it comes to the israelis, rules do not matter. they can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want.
****
the other day, i thought to myself, i wonder if judge judy is shocked to see she’s on the same side as pawi. politics make strange bedfellows.
‘Israel claims that it has the “right” under international law to unilaterally declare an armed naval blockade designed to besiege a civilian population, and to forcibly board and seize any civilian ship even in international waters that is heading towards the blockaded zone. In fact, such claims are completely false. The Geneva Convention’s Article 33 prohibits all collective punishment, and thus forbids the economic siege and military blockade of Gaza and the creation of a naval enforcement zone. Sending commandoes to forcibly board and seize a civilian ship, imprisoning its passengers and crew, and impounding its cargo, would be defined as piracy if carried out by an unflagged ship or “non-state actors.” When committed by a sovereign state, such as the Israeli military operating under orders of the government, it amounts to an act of war, in this case against Turkey.
Israel also claimed, almost laughably, that because the stated goal of the Free Gaza Movement was to break the blockade, the Mavi Marmara’s voyage somehow wasn’t really a humanitarian act. In fact, there is an exact parallel in the actions of the early lunch counter sit-ins of the U.S. civil rights movement: while the freedom workers may well have been hungry when they sat down, their goal was not to be served coffee but to end segregation. Of course the ship’s voyage was a political act, repeated by the Rachel Corrie a few days later: to respond to Israel’s politically-driven humanitarian catastrophe and to achieve a humanitarian goal – ending the crippling blockade of Gaza.’ phyllis bennis
setnaffa just because I am critical of Israel doesn’t mean I support the palestinians. I think both sides have acted atrociously and need to stop the cycle of violence. They also need to stop provoking each other.
There is a HUGE diamond floating around in space –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BPM_37093
http://izismile.com/img/img3/20100607/640/daily_picdump_427_640_106.jpg
Long as it’s not blood diamonds…
EXCLUSIVE!
Photo of Pawikirogii! Click here.
what really sucks a big one about this whole israel-pal bizness is that you just know a false flag is coming to take the heat off. netanyahu says “the same countries that are criticizing us today should know that they will be targeted tomorrow” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060301931_2.html?wpisrc=nl_most&sid=ST2010060204691
Ah, good ole Willie Pete (“WP”). Now that is some nasty shit. I use to talk weapons with an old Vietnam War vet and he said of all the ways to die… he would not want to die exposed to Willie Pete. He’s seen it in action. That shit will burn and burn even douched in water. It literally has to be cut from the flesh… if you can keep the exposed person from writhing in pain still long enough. He saw Vietcong hit with it and saw them in indescribable agony. It is the ultimate non-bast effect anti-personnel weapon. Whereas regular explosives will kill you via fragments and bast effect… there is very little blast and fragmentation with Willie Pete so it’s all chemical burning that kills you so you die slowly in the most amount of pain possible.
*blast* not “bast.”
Reminds me of all the mandatory PowePoint safety briefing slideshows we had to sit through, especially before any major exercise with all the do’s and don’ts of handling demo, etc. I’ll never forget the one we had at the NTC at Ft. Irwin:
Slide I: “This PFC So-and-so.”
Slide II: “This is PFC So-and-so’s face after his ‘buddy’ forgot to check his backblast area…(Dead silence as we stare at a photo of a horribly disfigured face of a soldier with third-degree burns, as the narrator continues in deadpan monotone w/0 skipping a beat, ) “PFC So-and-so will NOT be attending the prom this spring.”
FYI, remember that DoD video leaked out a couple months ago of the Apache shooting up the civillians in Iraq? I remember thinking back then whoever leaked that better lay low, or start thinking about a career at Leavenworth. Turns out his mouth and his ego got the better of him. So dumb…
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/leak/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29
BREAKING NEWS: Taco Bell Itaewon store to open
July 2July 3. See http://www.tacobellkorea.com (.)#76:
you sure he was talking about white phosphorus bro? death by willie pete sounds like how you’d die in a prison shower or something man…
79:
sounds like a bad idea bro.
taco bell + terrible watery korean beer + soju = worst beer shits + diarrhea in the world
you might wanna bring some paper towels bro
No problem. I’m over 40 now so I just wear Depends.
‘Willie Pete so it’s all chemical burning that kills you so you die slowly in the most amount of pain possible.’
the israelis dropped the shit on children. of course, the israelis are the victims and have a right to do whatever they feel like doing anytime they feel like doing it to whomever they feel like doing it to.
If this is a repeat of the terribly overpriced pathetic excuse for a Taco Bell they used to have hovering over 이대 back in ’93, you can just forget it. (Btw, diarrhea will probably not be an issue. Biggest issue back in 93 was just poor quality control and a lack of product training.)
i wonder if iceberg thinks taco bell is real mexican food. won’t be long til he’s running around talking about ‘hordes’ of mexican restaurants in korea. lol!
#79: Just one more reason why a base pass is irrelevant anymore.
Yeah, stretch, I’m sure the Israelis purposely targeted children. Just like your beloved Palestinians take great pains to ensure that their attacks affect only legitimate military targets…. oh wait.
All together now:
Whatever, stretch!
you might wanna supplement the depends with some preparation h and a couple of ice packs bro. the inflammation can get brutal man. specially if you go overboard on the fire sauce.
@Pawi
Still eager to display your ignorance about Korea, huh? It’s baffling, but I guess you need something to do while you reload for your next jerk off session to Sperwer’s photos.
Tell ya what, actually pay a visit to the motherland, look around, learn a little, and then we’ll talk.
wow, that was fast.
jack-in-the-box. you know, they got tacos!
Again, I don’t know why you keep wanting to bring up something that so many people here, including a few of the Korean and kyopo commenters (in spite of your appeals to them), told you you were wrong about. You do realize you came across as a bigger fool than usual from that episode, don’t you? No, I guess you don’t.
Still, I’d be happy to give you a tour of your motherland to show you all the things you are oblivious about. Who knows? Maybe through hanging out with me you might make a couple of Korean friends in the process. I get the impression it’s hard for you.
You’d better hop on a plane quick, though, because I’m out of here in under three months.
bon voyage. i hear vietnam has hordes of italien restaurants. get over me, ice. enjoy some bun gia gio, ok?
pawii, I’ve never once had good italien food in all my years in Korea. If I grew up here, I wouldn’t like italien food either.
Going to the States, Pawi. But don’t worry, I may still drop in here now and then to mock you. Or maybe not.
there are italiens who say that italien food in america ain’t like the stuff in italy but i’ll bet it’s more like the real thing than the ‘italien’ food you find in korea. i know something about asians and that is they don’t usually like cream, butter, and cheese. iceberg telling us that that there are ‘hordes’ of italien restaurants was simply a lie because were it true, you wouldn’t have so many westerners complaining about it.
One thing I won’t miss is “Pawi-logic™”.
@ #82, Brendon, Im 30 going on 31, I guess I should feel good now that first born Gen Y’ers like me need not be concerned by ridicule of late 80′s/early 90′s born fetuses who cannot even remeber the Goonies, Double Dare on Nicklelodeon or Conjunction Junction.
What brings this on? Is the news of me crapping my pants with Taco Bell squirts making new friends? Wait till you youngsters all get the news on erectile dysfunction, hair loss and acid reflux! I’m going to be 41 in August — better get the home ready.
Conjunction Junction was the absolute bomb. My entire career has been shaped by proper use of and, but, and or.
As for Nickelodeon, I remember the old days — my little sister loved Pinwheel — and they pay their bills…
Asians don’t like cheese? Koreans surely do. Koreans looooove cheese. Cheese ramyun, cheese kimbop, cheese ddukbokki, the list is endless. They’ll try cheese with anything at least once.
yeah, what kind of cheese, jw? you mean you find 30 kinds of cheese in korean markets?
‘Cheese ramyun, cheese kimbop, cheese ddukbokki’
please excuse me while i vomit.
‘Asians don’t like cheese?’
‘i know something about asians and that is they don’t usually like cream, butter, and cheese.’
there’s what i wrote and there’s what you think i wrote.
Koreans usually like butter too. Not too sure about cream. One of my favorite foods while growing up was rice mixed with butter and soy sauce. I think it was a fairly popular recipe among moms to feed to their kids back then, if not now.
@ wedge #86
Sounds like sour grapes, my friend. I would love to have a base pass again. For me, it was never about Taco Bell.
‘Koreans usually like butter too.’
no, they usually don’t.
ps jw grew up in the states.
“Still, I’d be happy to give you a tour of your motherland to show you all the things you are oblivious about.” Iceberg @92
That reminds me, has anyone heard from Net Kim since homeboy’s trip to the ROK. It was such a painfully eye-opening experience for him, as he admitted here (rather courageously). I’d be more interested in his opinions now that he’s actually been to Korea; but he seems to have disappeared. (?)
Actually, I grew up in both countries. What makes you think that I grew up in the US exclusively? I don’t remember saying anything to imply that at all…
‘What makes you think that I grew up in the US exclusively?’
nothing. if i just asked you directly, you might not have answered. as for your comments about cheese and butter, i take your statements w much more weight though i think you’re talking about processed cheese and exagerating about butter. of course, there may be a generational thing going on here; younger koreans may be more cosmo than i know. i just won’t take the word of an english teacher like iceberg to tell me about that. i don’t trust them.
Wait, so, even if Koreans usually like processed cheese, I’m wrong to say that “Koreans usually like cheese”? What kind of bullcrap is that? Koreans love cheese, but they are not exactly connoisseurs of it. So what? How does that relate to whatever argument you’re having with Iceberg?
I’m totally with Iceberg on this one: this Pawi clown really is clueless about
South Korea. It is absolutely mind-boggling how little she knows about contemporary South Korea. I just came back from the corner bakery where
they had at least seven different cheese pastry creations; I was at the grocers and counted 6 different types of butter/margarine; and I always have trouble getting my pizza without mounds of cheese on it.
Where is this clown getting his information? A South Korean grocer may be thousands of miles from her, but it is only a few minutes away from some of us here.
Sorry, correction:
“Where is this clown getting her information?”
well, am i wrong to say that koreans usually don’t like cheese because i didn’t write ‘except for processed cheese’? what does your comment have to do w iceberg? i don’t know; you’re the one who interjected.
‘ I find the adjustment to Koreanized Italian and Mexican cooking so depressing. My husband even bit into a burrito one time that was filled with spaghetti and meatballs and served with a side of whipping cream (not sour cream). *SIGH*’ bundang expat feb 2010
‘pawii, I’ve never once had good italien food in all my years in Korea. If I grew up here, I wouldn’t like italien food either.’ cmm
i know koreans, folks. sorry if you no like that.
ps gangpe, if you are still out there, please don’t take my comments as denigrating italian food. i hope i am not offending you. i do like spaghetti and have my own recipe!
Yes, I believe that would make you wrong.
BTW, rice mixed with butter and soy sauce is pretty good, you should try it. Of course, you have to have some kimchi on the side to neutralize the “nee-geul” taste that koreans complain about all the time.
ok, we’ll have to disagree, jw. as for rice, butter, and kanjang: i remember when i was a kid and went to a white friend’s house for dinner. the mom served rice as a side but the rice had a dollop of butter on it. my eyes almost fell out. i had trouble eating it. i just can’t see rice mixed w butter but i’m going to consider your recipe, though you adding the kimchi on the side makes me nervous already.
*Pawi-logic™ 101*
1. Stubbornly held belief: Koreans don’t like cheese.
2. JW’s statement: Koreans like cheese.
3. Pawi’s statement: JW does not qualify as a real/legitimate Korean.
4. Pawi’s conclusion: Koreans don’t like cheese. Argument won.
Cheese is an underappreciated food/flavor.
I love cheese.
Cheesecake. Nom nom nom.
Pizza. Nom nom nom.
The list is near endless.
Are there other desserts made with cheese?
I wouldn’t like cheese with Korean food. But rice with butter, soysauce, and a raw egg was something I remember I and other Koreans (in America) mixing up and eating. Good stuff. I haven’t eaten that sort of thing since childhood.
I never knew that the people who were in the documentary “North Korea, A day in the life” were given a Q & A sitdown with the director after the shooting. Her is the video. Notice how some things were left out of translation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da8BjOygvB4&feature=related
Absolutely fascinating. It appears that Latinos in America live on average 4 years longer than Whites. I didn’t have the slightest clue.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/04/28/looking-to-live-better-move-to-new-jersey/?blog_id=8&post_id=9977
http://www.measureofamerica.org/acenturyapart/
Latinos in America live longer than Whites in all but four states. Hmmm. I wonder which states were excluded and why. California, Texas, Florida, and/or New York perhaps? Without knowing which states, the gerrymandered statistic is meaningless.
Another factor is age demographics. Latinos are younger as a group than Whites because of immigration and significantly higher fertility rates. The study used abridged life tables to calculate life expectancy. I don’t know exactly how this works, but a brief explanation of this method of calculating life expectancy noted that it assumes no migration.
Hwang Jang Yop says —
Looks like KJI gambled and won, yet again. Just amazing. Only a week or so ago, people were saying that Cheonam disaster would surely tilt the elections towards the GNP.
Are you suggesting that they excluded 4 states out of the calculations made to get the average figure? If so, you are misreading. On average Latinos live 4 years longer across the entire US. In 4 of the states however, Latinos *do not* live longer on average than whites, which is an insignificant side point.
Ah, I see Koreans’ distaste for CHEESE has come up again on this august blog. Yes, more fodder for my theory that Korean-looking robots patronize those ubiquitous (sorry, couldn’t resist) Korean pizza joints, psuedo-italien (sic) restaurants, and even, down the street, a tonkatsu place that, wait for it, puts CHEESE on the tonaktsu. Yep, those aren’t Koreans eating that wienerschnitzel-like product smothered in CHEESE, since we all know that Koreans don’t like CHEESE because someone who hasn’t lived in this country since he was knee high to a grasshopper has deigned to inform us about the true state of what goes down in Korea.
I don’t call individually wrapped slices of plastic CHEESE.
In fact, I wouldn’t call much of what is marketed as CHEESE in America “cheese.”
i’ve been reading these boards for 8 years now. two complaints i always see is one, there’s no good italian food and two, it’s hard to find real cheese. of course, to those who need to win, there’s hordes of italian restaurants and koreans adore cheese.
yeah, right.
#129: OK, Mr. Straw Man. Please point out where exactly I described “individually wrapped slices of plastic” in my argument. Thanks.
you’re in trouble now, hamel.
Wedge sir, most of what passes as cheese in Korea and is used in sandwiches and cuisine turns out to be that “individually wrapped slices of plastic” stuff.
ㅜㅜ
Joe McPherson’s ZenKimchi blog today explains how to make yerself some fresh goat cheese. Looks good.
I’ve made some cheese on the stovetop, but hadn’t stumbled across the goat milk in the supermarket yet.
My dad divides the Kraft individually wrapped slice thing (not cheese) into 9 equal squares by drawing 2 lines across and 2 lines down with one metal chopstick whilst still in the wrapper and then unwrap and eat it as anju. It goes well with most clear broth soup – miuk kuk(seaweed soup), kongnamul kuk(beansprout soup), as a “melt” topping.
My dad has developed a taste for the real thing though and often misses the variety one gets from Europe. It’s not so common in Korea though, and not cheap. Recently in Korea, he took out from the freezer a tupperware container of what he thought was cubed cheese, and put one in his mouth, saying,
“Hmm, it’s quite garlicky, this one,” then 3 seconds later spat it out.
It turned out it was actually frozen minced garlic cubes (for cooking).
two s’s
Wow, I’m amazed by all these stories (and they’re not even coming from English teachers!!!) of Koreans liking processed cheese. Nasty, yet creamy and oily, processed cheese. If they like the shitty stuff so much, just imagine how gaga they’d go over the good stuff. Those who haven’t already tried it, that is.
are you amazed? i’m not. that’s why i wrote koreans don’t ‘usually’ like cheese cause i know they like the processed kind. know why they like it? cause it usually doesn’t have a (strong) smell to it. don’t try to tell me about koreans, ice. i know them far better than you. sorry.
btw, can i offer you a burrito with spaghetti and meatballs? it’s real italian! now reach for that button.
LOL. You’re funny Pawi. (The times when you don’t try to be, that is.)
Keep dreamin’ that dream.
that all you got, ice? shut ya up once again.
Like I said, keep dreamin’ that dream, chicken hawk.
No, you know Koreans who live in the US. You don’t know Koko Koreans.
yawn.
News: SecDef Gates says 2010 must see progress in Afghanistan.
Views: Dude, what’s the rush? It’s only been like eight years so far.
Seriously. Give it time.
Your thoughts on Rain winning the award for “bad ass” at the MTV Movie Awards?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Cpvv1ARqk
– I know what I was thinking. I was like Eliot Chang in his comedy routine about Asian comics going up on stage and what an Asian American fellow in the audience would be feeling: “Oh shit! This is going to suck. Represent, mofo! Represent!”
– And once again I can’t help but notice how much higher Bi’s voice is when he’s speaking English than when he speaks Korean.
Oh, here’s Korean comic Eliot Chang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGOc0MszV0
Samsung creates 3,000 short term and 500 long term jobs in Austin, TX via a $7B expansion of their semiconductor plant there.
http://www.statesman.com/business/technology/samsung-plans-3-6-billion-austin-plant-upgrade-736308.html?cxntcid=breaking_news
I use to live in Austin. I wonder if they took over IBM’s plants there.
Sorry… error. $3.6B, not $7B. The $7B figure is what Samsung invested over a couple of years at that plant.
“‘정 총리가 이명박 대통령에게 청와대 참모진의 전면 개편을 요구하고 이것이 받아들여지지 않을 경우 본인이 사퇴하기로 했다”
“Prime Minister Chung Un-chan has decided to request from President Lee a complete reshuffling of the cabinet with the caveat that should the request be denied he will personally step down from his post.”
I always knew PM Chung was a cool guy.
I’ve always suspected that Koreans like the “cheesefood” singles because they super salty. If so, stinky cheese might not appeal to them as much.
The soft cheeses, such as Brie, have their Korean fans, even if they dispense w/ the tasty rind. Edam and Provolone are quite mild. Hard cheeses, such as Cheddar and Emmentaler, lose much of their bite when heated. I know Koreans who like creams sauces w/ Gorgonzola. Your pungent cheeses, such as Stilton, are a very acquired taste; high cost + low availability make acquiring that difficult.
http://gothamist.com/2010/06/09/using_the_subway_to_move_your_apart.php
This is seriously fucked up.
This is fucked up, but much less than that.
.
With friends like that who needs enemies ?
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