Thread for things that blew your mind today.

[Atlanteax]

No wonder China has a huge and deeply-ingrained copyright-protection issue (and corruption in general):

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1...7f013c7e77056e

In a China awash with fake iPhones, pirated DVDs and knockoff Louis Vuitton bags, rice trader Lin Chunping took fakery to a whole new level: He invented a U.S. bank and claimed he bought it.

The little-known businessman shot to fame in January when state media reported that he had taken over Delaware-based Atlantic Bank. The unprecedented acquisition brought him praise: His hometown gave him a prestigious political appointment and state media called his business experience "legendary."

The only thing that may have been legendary is Lin's audacity. Not only did he not buy Atlantic Bank in Delaware for $60 million as he claimed, but there is no Atlantic Bank in that state.

Chinese reporters could not locate an Atlantic Bank or a bank registration by Lin in Delaware. He's under arrest for an unrelated fraud and has been forced to give up his municipal-level appointment to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the government's top advisory body.

Lin, who was arrested in early June, could not be reached for comment. But the 41-year-old's short, spectacular rise and fall shows how fakery has evolved in China, morphing from the manufacture of copycat goods to entire institutions and careers.

In early June, local press in eastern Shandong province exposed a fake university. Students who did not score high enough on the national college entrance exam to make it into university received sham admission letters to the Shandong Institute of Light Industry, a real school. The students paid nearly 30,000 yuan ($4,800) over the course of four years to attend classes at the institute.

Weeks before graduation, the students learned they would not get diplomas because they were not officially enrolled at the school but in a private training program that rents space from the institute, according to the report in the state-run Jinan Times. The program organizer had disappeared, the newspaper reported.

Among students, getting ahead by padding resumes or other subterfuge is common.

Zinch China, the Chinese arm of U.S.-based educational networking site Zinch.com, estimates that 90 percent of recommendation letters to U.S. schools are fake, that 70 percent of the essays are written by someone else and that half the transcripts are fabricated. Zinch drew the numbers from interviews with Chinese students, parents and agents.

Heh @

To add more flair to the story, Lin told reporters that the bank had been running for 85 years and was run by Jews, who are stereotypically seen by many Chinese as having superior business skills.

ZOMG, the Chinese are Zionists!!! Why is Iran happily selling them oil ?!?

[Latrinsorm]

When I was in grad school we were about 50/50 domestic and foreign, the vast majority of the foreign students being Chinese. If they did fake their resumes, it didn't show in their academic performance. They were also universally capable of conversing in English (or at least as well as the average physics grad student), so it doesn't seem unreasonable that they could knock out an essay.

If I were writing the article, I think I would have looked into the numbers a little more before declaring it "subterfuge", especially with the anecdote about the fake university. Some kid thinks he's going to college, learns all the material, but surprise it was a sham, why wouldn't he just lie and say he went to the actual college? It's a lie, but it's not one that misrepresents his abilities, and that should be the important thing. Now, I don't know if that situation is a big demographic compared to kids just being grifters, but I'm just saying it bears considering.

[Androidpk]

Cambridge, MA considering ban on soda drinks in restaurants..

http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityCler...?item_id=35515

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Cambridge, MA considering ban on soda drinks in restaurants..

http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityCler...?item_id=35515

God dammit Cambridge, NO. BAD CAMBRIDGE, BAD.

[AnticorRifling]

First you want to abortify the fetuseses then you want people to drink soda and get the diabetes. Why are you so hate filled and wishing harm?! Why?

[Liagala]

Cambridge, MA considering ban on soda drinks in restaurants..

http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityCler...?item_id=35515

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afk, moving to NH

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

First you want to abortify the fetuseses then you want people to drink soda and get the diabetes. Why are you so hate filled and wishing harm?! Why?

BECAUSE ITS FUN TO GET SUGARLEG OKAY

[Dayko]

I found out the word OK looks like a sideways person. I've said OK my whole life and never noticed him. What's up little guy?

[AnticorRifling]

This best of Craigslist ad has it all:

Summertime Romance

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Date: 2012-06-05, 4:48PM EDT

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Are you lookin' for a summertime romance that is both consensual, yet carnal AND mental? I gotta be honest with all you babes out there, I'm gettin' sick of the playboy lifestyle. I mean, I'm not ready for anything super long term, but my man pool is definitely open for business up until the end of August, maybe September, and I'd like a 100% woman who wants to take a love dip during those hot summer nights. It's not that I'm afraid of commitment, I'm still married by the law to Ann, but she's old news in the Snooze section. A little about me, people say I'm a bad boy. But you can't judge a book by it's cover, just 'cause mine has a rockin' pony, complete with a 'rang. I drive a convertible sports car (you just gotta check it out) which is perfect for cruisin', sippin' G&Ts, and "more" (wink). I'm also a bold flavor man from way back. Whether I'm grillin' you up one of my signature steaks (complete with my special seasonings) or blowin' your mind with my world famous Bratato salad (that's my homemade mustard potato salad, with thick cut chunks of meaty Cheddarwurst mixed right in for a flavor explosion like a thousand suns. It's so money.), you'll be eatin' outta bounds, 24/7. And around me, you'll always have a fresh cold one. I'm not one of those corncobs who lets it get down to the flat & warm spit before I'm right on point with somethin' to wet your mouth down properly. If you want a mental picture of what my touch is like, just jump of a roof at 3:57 in Still of The Night by Whitesnake. (Don't really do that and get crippled, but just picture it. It's the ultimate in carnal passion.) Also, I'm always down for a Top Shelf Marg, anytime, and I'm not stingy like Dave who will buy you a marg, but then you find out it's not Top Shelf and wanna smash his face for lyin'. If these things are to your enticement, and maybe give you the lady tingles, then let's roll, you guys.

•Location: Grand Blanc
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[Tisket]

I found out the word OK looks like a sideways person. I've said OK my whole life and never noticed him. What's up little guy?

lol