Shark Wank
The NYT newsblog The Lede has a piece about the frilled shark caught off the coast of Japan, plus a video link.

The exceptional coolness and strangeness of the beastie, however, does not stop people in the comments from quickly going to town with the fappery. In fact, the fun starts with the second comment:

Given the Japanese fishing industry’s habit of dredging everything up off the sea bottom and destroying entire habitats’ populations, I don’t think I’m surprised that they’re dragging up deep-water squid, and now, this shark. I doubt that these are the first, or will be the last, examples.

And they're off!

There's Japan-bashing, impugning of the researchers who captured the shark, poorly informed opinions, a reference to "shark-hugging hippies", jokes about sushi, jokes about the shark's resemblance to family members, more Japan-bashing, arguments over whether it's a shark or an eel, and more, over the course of some 120+ comments.

And if you're looking for the funny, you can do well with David at comment #116.

ETA: My new favorite comment: Hi. I’m not dead. — Posted by Eel Shark

It's not until #168 that someone finally makes a Steve Zissou joke. The thread is still chugging along, still with more Japan-bashing, and some solid (if a bit tl;dr-ish) comments enjoining the readers to, you know, get all the facts before spouting off. Not that it stops anyone from continuing to spout off about the rape of the oceans and who's got the worst ecological record, etc. Good times.

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	caoilte 2007-01-26 01:31 am UTC (link)
	As far as the sushi comments go… how racist is that? That’s like saying everything Americans kill they grind up and make into patties to grill with cheese and beer. They don't? Who knew? o.O (Reply to this)(Thread)

	telophase 2007-01-26 01:48 am UTC (link)
	Sometimes we don't bother to grind them up first. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jrs1980 2007-01-26 03:43 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, who's got that kind of time? (Reply to this)(Parent)

	kuribos_shoe 2007-01-26 04:29 am UTC (link)
	That post/userpic combination is perfect. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	caoilte 2007-01-26 10:26 am UTC (link)
	Icon love. Chibi Goku FTW. That is so fitting given the thread...chuckles retaliates with Sanzo (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	telophase 2007-01-26 03:17 pm UTC (link)
	:D (Reply to this)(Parent)

	shaysdays 2007-01-26 01:52 am UTC (link)
	I had to read that a couple times before I realized they didn't mean grilling the beer, which just made me sad. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hangingfire 2007-01-26 01:55 am UTC (link)
	Mmm ... beer-can chicken. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tehrin 2007-01-26 02:36 am UTC (link)
	It's a family favorite in my family. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	caoilte 2007-01-26 10:28 am UTC (link)
	Wow, thanks for that. Must try sometime. Or rather get hubby to do it since I can't cook to save my life. thumbs up (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ladysorka 2007-01-26 04:34 am UTC (link)
	...damnit, now I'm craving beer soaked brats. Mmm, brats. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	brown_betty 2007-01-26 05:40 am UTC (link)
	I read beer-soaked rats and had a bad moment there. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stopthatgirl7 2007-01-27 02:10 am UTC (link)
	And I read it as "brats"=small, annoying children. Bad times. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	exdee 2007-01-26 03:19 pm UTC (link)
	mmm. looks outside Not too bad out. I could set up the grill. (If I had one. Damn dorms) (Reply to this)(Parent)

	mmanurere 2007-01-26 05:30 am UTC (link)
	Hm...beer-battered shark? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2007-01-26 10:46 pm UTC (link)
	You can really taste the ancient secrets of the deep in it! :D -hailgreatmoloch@livejournal (Reply to this)(Parent)

	visp 2007-01-26 04:28 am UTC (link)
	Mmm, cheese and beer. Parmesan garlic fries with a nice red ale, or a honey lager. sighs I assure you, as an american, I take no offense to the thought that we like frying things and serving them with cheese and beer, in fact, I'm rather proud of that bit. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	caoilte 2007-01-26 10:25 am UTC (link)
	You're making me hungry now and I don't even LIKE burgers. chuckles Or cheese. I guess I know what I'm having for lunch now...hehehehe Parmesan garlic fries? How does one make that? has never heard of it but it sounds yummeh (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	visp 2007-01-26 01:04 pm UTC (link)
	Well, you make fries, then you put chopped up garlic on them, and parmesan cheese. Serve while hot, with a hamburger that's got grilled mushrooms and onions with melted mozzarella on it, and a nice lager, and you now know why The Harvester is one of my favorite low-food restaurants. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	marumae 2007-01-26 10:26 pm UTC (link)
	......now you're making ME hungry. saves convo (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	visp 2007-01-27 04:33 am UTC (link)
	Dammit, I'm making myself hungry now. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	caoilte 2007-01-27 03:55 am UTC (link)
	copies recipe Yay, thanks. (and yes, I'm still hungry dammit chuckles) I'll give this to hubby and see what he can do. \o/! Is this a common thing where you're from? (cuz I'd never heard of it until now...) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	visp 2007-01-27 04:27 am UTC (link)
	Well, not where I am now (Japan) but in Washington State, yeah, people make some mean burgers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

caoilte
2007-01-27 03:36 pm UTC (link)

Interesting - I'm from Alberta, so not that far away, all things considered, but like you, I'm not there any more either. I'm in Scotland.

When we went to WA, we ended up eating a lot of Mexican stuff. That and another restaurant which for the life of me I can't remember the name of but the theme was baseball. Hubby really liked the burgers there - I had a salad and it was good. I wonder if that's what he had at the same time too...I'll have to ask. :)

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