North Korea sentences U.S. student to 15 years hard labor

[wayneflorida 0]

He probably could have bought the poster for two bucks.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/16/asia/north-korea-warmbier-sentenced/index.html


Free the Pueblo

[DJL 232]

Honestly, when visiting the most despotic country in the world DON'T ACT LIKE A FUCKING FRAT-BOY. They've done this before - made a big scene and then commuted the sentence. The dude is eating better than the majority of their population right now and they're having a good time scaring the shit our of him and using him as a bargaining chip in their latest charade.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[yoink 321]

Don't go the the most despotic country in the world and then act surprised when you get thrown in jail.

Idiot.

""Otto was one of the smartest guys I've ever met," Thomas said. "I've never met a person that had a bad thing to say about him.""

Obviously not bright enough to NOT vacation in North Korea...

[turtlespeed 212]

DJL

Honestly, when visiting the most despotic country in the world DON'T ACT LIKE A FUCKING FRAT-BOY. They've done this before - made a big scene and then commuted the sentence. The dude is eating better than the majority of their population right now and they're having a good time scaring the shit our of him and using him as a bargaining chip in their latest charade.

The CIA made him do it.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[winsor 186]

In 1970 in Moscow, an AFS student drew an eyepatch and put a scar on the cheek on an official poster of Lenin. Later, another student made a paper airplane out of it and threw it out the window.

I do not recall that the Powers That Be ever figured out quite who was the comedian or the aircraft designer, but it was clear that they were MOST UNHAPPY after a Militia member unfolded the aircraft. I put it down on the list of things not to do - do not make fun of people with absolute authority.

About a month later I met a guy who was in great pain. It seems that he had inadvertently showed disrespect to a picture of General Franco that he did not know was there, and the Guardia Civil gave him guidance in the matter with rubber hoses. The same month they voiced their disapproval of a graffiti artist with a burst of SMG fire, so the guy who overlooked the General's picture got off easy.

All things being considered, I do what I can to stay clear of locales with unforgiving regimes. I have been to enough Socialist Workers' Paradises to last me for a lifetime.


BSBD,

Winsor

[billvon 2,396]

>I do not recall that the Powers That Be ever figured out quite who was the comedian or the aircraft
>designer, but it was clear that they were MOST UNHAPPY after a Militia member unfolded the aircraft.

When we went to Thailand for the World Team events, we got a lot of warnings, including "if you drop money and it starts blowing away, do NOT stomp on it." Apparently the Thai people take a dim view of foreigners stomping on images of their king, who was a pretty popular figure. (In this case the threat was you might end up with a black eye, rather than being thrown in prison, but it's not something I would have even thought about had I not known.)

[Bessie 0]

DJL

Honestly, when visiting the most despotic country in the world DON'T ACT LIKE A FUCKING FRAT-BOY. They've done this before - made a big scene and then commuted the sentence. The dude is eating better than the majority of their population right now and they're having a good time scaring the shit our of him and using him as a bargaining chip in their latest charade.

Bingo! It's political. They start out acting tough, and then in exchange from some concession later on, they'll pretend to be generous and let him go. It's all about getting that concession.

Same thing with all their threats to nuke the world. It's worked before for them. Because we're suckers and we let it.

[Erroll 49]

billvon

When we went to Thailand for the World Team events, we got a lot of warnings, including "if you drop money and it starts blowing away, do NOT stomp on it." Apparently the Thai people take a dim view of foreigners stomping on images of their king, who was a pretty popular figure. (In this case the threat was you might end up with a black eye, rather than being thrown in prison, but it's not something I would have even thought about had I not known.)

Several years ago I was in a pub in a diamond mining town in Botswana. A South African (on his first visit to Botswana) ordered a beer and paid in SA Rands, which was not uncommon, and was given his change in Botswana Pula, which was equally common. He threw the Pula note down onto the counter, from where it fell to the floor, and insisted on getting his change in SA Rands. Five minutes later two uniformed policemen turned up and escorted the guy out of the pub. He had been reported to the authorities for showing disrespect to the Botswana president, whose face was also on the Pula note.