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Bad Astronomy
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Normal to the tower

Weird Czech tower with baby statues on it

Now this is just plain irresponsible. Who let MC Escher’s kids play on that tower?

And if you think that’s creepy, wait until you see the last picture in the series…

Tip o’ the self-drawing hands to Reddit.

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July 18th, 2008 12:21 PM by Phil Plait in Humor, Pretty pictures | 31 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

31 Responses to “Normal to the tower”

  1. 1.   Michelle Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Picture that. There was a guy there. Sitting at a table, sipping on a coffee. He sees that tower and goes “Um. It would be great if there were babies crawling on that thing!”

    The guy in front of him pauses, stares at the tower, tilts his head thoughtfully and puts his cup down saying “No, that’s not enough. Punch the baby’s face hollow too.”

    I find that scenario creepy.

  2. 2.   Jewel Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    Isn’t that something. The last picture in the series really is creepy. Excellent effect.

  3. 3.   mapnut Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Reminds me a little of “The Real World” by Tom Otterness inn New York City.
    http://www.batteryparkcity.org/otterness.php4

  4. 4.   Carey Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    Any country that has one of these and there aren’t a bunch of wack-jobs who are “offended” by it is an okay country in my book.

  5. 5.   Michael L Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    I actually though this was really cool until I saw the last image. Then I had flashbacks from the time I happened to look at a certain famous disgusting image on the net.

  6. 6.   Janiece Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    Ew. That last pic was icky.

    But the cool factor on the tower is off the scale…

  7. 7.   JLS Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    Reminiscent of the withdrawal scene in the movie Trainspotting.

  8. 8.   Fritriac Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    I saw this one first at http://www.gearthhacks.com — really cool! There are also some Panoramio pics on Google Earth: 50° 4’51.08″N, 14°27’5.40″E

  9. 9.   Jose Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    At first I was thinking Labyrinth. David Bowie was singing with Muppets. Everything was cool. Now I feel like crying, but I can’t stop looking. I may have to throw my laptop out the window.

  10. 10.   Michael L Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Jose, that won’t help :)

  11. 11.   DJMoore Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    Wow.

    You know what would be really creepy? If the babies were lamp fixtures….

  12. 12.   Jose Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Jose, that won’t help

    How about if I throw myself out the window?

  13. 13.   IMForeman Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Don’t blink. Don’t even blink. Blink and you’re dead! They are fast… faster than you can believe. Don’t turn your head, don’t look away and DON’T BLINK!

    Good luck.

    PS: It looks a bit like the Mad Thinker’s Awesome Android.

  14. 14.   Kyle Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    I thought that was kind of cool but then again I am rather twisted. The babies look like something that might be in a Dr. Who episode.

  15. 15.   Blu-Ray-Ven Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    i think that this archetectuall designer has some issues with babies

  16. 16.   Elwood Herring Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    Wow!

    I visited Prague in 2006, and took over 200 pictures. I didn’t see that tower, as I only visited the old city (Staré Město), but I’ve just gone through my photos, and sure enough the tower is visible on the horizon in a couple – and I can just make out some odd bumps sticking out here and there on the sides. So, I photographed it myself and didn’t even know it!

  17. 17.   Andy Beaton Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    I was okay until Michael L made a connection in my brain that has ruined my life and the lives of everyone I have ever met. Without that, it would have been awesome art.

  18. 18.   Michael L Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    ndy, What has been see, cannot be unseen

  19. 19.   Michael L Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    OOPS that should read Andy

  20. 20.   MathMike Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    IMForeman, nice reference. I guess they would suck you into the past through the opening and then . . . . .

  21. 21.   Brant D Says:
    July 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Am I the only one who saw that and immediately thought “target practice”?

  22. 22.   Brian G Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 1:15 am

    Andy, I’m with you on that. I thought the last picture was creepy enough without that reminder.. Thanks Michael L.

  23. 23.   Terri Cherri Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am

    Say, those little (er, I guess they aren’t that little) statues remind me of those porcelain kitties that folks can put on the roof, or on the side of the house.

  24. 24.   Ronn! Blankenship Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 3:52 am

    Those normal children look pretty Abbie normal to me. Wonder if they attend a normal school?

  25. 25.   Michael Garcia Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 11:01 am

    Hey, I’ve seen one of those babies up close. It was on display in the main square in old town in October 2000. I’ve got a photo, which will give you a sense of scale. These babies are huge!
    http://picasaweb.google.com/lsuknight/Prague/photo#5081113111237182290

  26. 26.   Michael Garcia Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 11:02 am

    That’s old town, Prague, btw. I didn’t specify in the previous comment.

  27. 27.   Matthew Johns Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    That last picture looks like something out of the videogame series “Silent Hill.” Yikes.

  28. 28.   Michael L Says:
    July 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    At least they’re not Garden Gnomes… they be eebil

  29. 29.   Naomi Says:
    July 20th, 2008 at 2:39 am

    “I thought that was kind of cool but then again I am rather twisted. The babies look like something that might be in a Dr. Who episode.”

    …Now there’s an idea. Someone call Steven Moffat! (I eagerly await his next phobia-inducing episode!)

  30. 30.   AntiquatedTory Says:
    July 21st, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I live under that tower! Well, about 200m south of it, but it’s framed perfectly by my street. Here’s TV Towerthe observation deck window being cleaned.

  31. 31.   Michael L Says:
    July 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm

    Here they are all grown up:

    http://deputy-dog.com/2008/07/21/if-you-go-down-to-the-beach-today/

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