4 ms·

> vernacular architecture has also played a prominent role in Swiss defense. Across the countryside, many structures that look like quaint barns or traditional

> vernacular architecture has also played a prominent role in Swiss defense. Across the countryside, many structures that look like quaint barns or traditional homes were designed to house everything from bunkers to anti-aircraft guns I'll now have to look suspiciously at every Swiss building I come across.

analog31 7y ago
Hint: The cows that can't be tipped over, might be harboring weapons. Just give them a good push.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  Does that fall under destructive testing?
- JauntyHatAngle 7y ago
  I mean, that's all cows. Cow tipping is a myth. ... Oh god, you mean, the entire swiss dairy industry is a front?
  - masonic 7y ago
    If cows were given fair wages, tipping wouldn't be necessary in the first place.
- analog31 7y ago
  Well, I can't edit my post any more, so I'll fill in with a bit more detail for our international HN'ers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_tipping https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_tipping I grew up in the Midwest. The version of cow tipping that I heard about was to get some naieve urbanites, typically college students, all geared up about cow tipping and the theory behind it. Then take them to a pasture in the middle of the night, typically with alcohol involved. The idea is that they will return to the dorm rather covered in mud or "mud," as it were, never quite sure if they were pranked or not. Of course I have no idea if anything like this has ever actually happened.
- bayesian_horse 7y ago
  You can only tip it over if it has a perfectly spherical shape.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    Perfectly spherical cows will seek their own level in Switzerland.
jacquesm 7y ago
Beware of the booby-trap Cuckoo Clock. https://books.google.nl/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&pg=PA157&lpg=PA157&dq=booby+trapped+cuckoo+clock&source=bl&ots=s8pFmcx94E&sig=ACfU3U22mYlwILDgKu-vAKZ3oLwcTUs_8g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2wr32t9TlAhVSC-wKHcIZBg4Q6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=booby%20trapped%20cuckoo%20clock&f=false https://books.google.nl/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&pg=PA157&lpg=P...
- exoque 7y ago
  Can't blame the swiss on those though.
Rebelgecko 7y ago
When I was in Switzerland a month or so ago, I played "spot the bunker/fallout shelter" with my friends. There's a lot, especially in the more mountainous areas.
- schappim 7y ago
  >> "spot the bunker/fallout shelter" with my friends Shouldn't be too hard! When I was young they had a law that every apartment building had to have a bunker / cellar stocked with provisions.
andai 7y ago
Here’s a nice gallery of “houses” :) https://www.messynessychic.com/2015/06/26/fake-chalets-unmasking-the-bunkers-disguised-as-quaint-swiss-villas/ https://www.messynessychic.com/2015/06/26/fake-chalets-unmas...
- lifeisstillgood 7y ago
  Wow. And it's not just the fake houses - the fake rocky outcropping are amazing - what a great way not to ruin the countryside.
  - hosteur 7y ago
    And hide from planes

analog31 7y ago

Hint: The cows that can't be tipped over, might be harboring weapons. Just give them a good push.

jacquesm 7y ago
Does that fall under destructive testing?
JauntyHatAngle 7y ago
I mean, that's all cows. Cow tipping is a myth. ... Oh god, you mean, the entire swiss dairy industry is a front?
- masonic 7y ago
  If cows were given fair wages, tipping wouldn't be necessary in the first place.
analog31 7y ago
Well, I can't edit my post any more, so I'll fill in with a bit more detail for our international HN'ers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_tipping https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_tipping I grew up in the Midwest. The version of cow tipping that I heard about was to get some naieve urbanites, typically college students, all geared up about cow tipping and the theory behind it. Then take them to a pasture in the middle of the night, typically with alcohol involved. The idea is that they will return to the dorm rather covered in mud or "mud," as it were, never quite sure if they were pranked or not. Of course I have no idea if anything like this has ever actually happened.
bayesian_horse 7y ago
You can only tip it over if it has a perfectly spherical shape.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  Perfectly spherical cows will seek their own level in Switzerland.

jacquesm 7y ago

Beware of the booby-trap Cuckoo Clock. https://books.google.nl/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&pg=PA157&lpg=PA157&dq=booby+trapped+cuckoo+clock&source=bl&ots=s8pFmcx94E&sig=ACfU3U22mYlwILDgKu-vAKZ3oLwcTUs_8g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj2wr32t9TlAhVSC-wKHcIZBg4Q6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=booby%20trapped%20cuckoo%20clock&f=false https://books.google.nl/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&pg=PA157&lpg=P...

exoque 7y ago
Can't blame the swiss on those though.

Rebelgecko 7y ago

When I was in Switzerland a month or so ago, I played "spot the bunker/fallout shelter" with my friends. There's a lot, especially in the more mountainous areas.

schappim 7y ago
>> "spot the bunker/fallout shelter" with my friends Shouldn't be too hard! When I was young they had a law that every apartment building had to have a bunker / cellar stocked with provisions.

andai 7y ago

Here’s a nice gallery of “houses” :) https://www.messynessychic.com/2015/06/26/fake-chalets-unmasking-the-bunkers-disguised-as-quaint-swiss-villas/ https://www.messynessychic.com/2015/06/26/fake-chalets-unmas...

lifeisstillgood 7y ago
Wow. And it's not just the fake houses - the fake rocky outcropping are amazing - what a great way not to ruin the countryside.
- hosteur 7y ago
  And hide from planes