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World's Biggest Clock Begins Ticking in Mecca
Times of India ^ | Aug 12, 2010

Posted on 08/12/2010 2:46:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A giant clock on a skyscraper in Islam's holiest city Mecca began ticking on Wednesday at the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, amid hopes by Saudi Arabia it will become the Muslim world's official timekeeper.

The Mecca Clock, which Riyadh says is the world's largest, has four faces measuring 43 metres in diameter. It sits 400 metres up what will be the world's second-tallest skyscraper and largest hotel, overlooking the city's Holy Grand Mosque, which Muslims around the world turn to five times a day for prayer.

"The Holy Mecca Clock started with the order of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud ... one minute after 12 a.m. this morning, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan," Saudi state news agencySPA said.

Over 90 million pieces of coloured glass mosaic embellish the sides of the clock, which has four faces each bearing a large inscription of the name "Allah". It is visible from all corners of the city, the state news agency said. The clock tower is the landmark feature of the seven-tower King Abdulaziz Endowment hotel complex, being built by the private Saudi Binladen Group, which will have the largest floor area of any building in the world when it is complete.

Local media have said the clock tower project cost $3 billion. The clock is positioned on a 601-metre tower, which will become the second tallest inhabited building in the world when it is completed in three months' time.

"Because it based in front of the holy mosque the whole Islamic world will refer to Mecca time instead of Greenwich. The Mecca clock will become a symbol to all Muslims," said Hashim Adnan, a resident of nearby Jeddah who frequently visits Mecca. The project is part of efforts to modernise the old city and make it more capable of catering to pilgrims. Around 2 million Muslims visit the city each year for the annual Haj pilgrimage, a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for able-bodied Muslims, and 3.5 million pilgrims visit Mecca at other times of the year.

While many in Saudi Arabia are celebrating the clock tower's launch, some Mecca visitors are critical of how it will affect the ambiance of the Prophet Muhammad's birthplace. The complex is built on the land once occupied by an Ottoman fortress. "I think they are trying to do a lot of luxurious development around the Grand Mosque which is taking away from the spiritual atmosphere of the place, making it more modern," said Lina Edris, a frequent visitor to Mecca. "The clock tower is higher than the minarets of the Grand Mosque, which will take attention away from the mosque even though it is obvious the mosque is more important," she added.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: islam; mecca; muslims; obama; saudiarabia; time; waronterror
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To: barb-tex

One more thing. This gives a new meaning to Zulo time.


21 posted on 08/12/2010 3:02:40 PM PDT by barb-tex (November 2! Dia de los Muertas. ( Day of the Dead), Them or Us. Nov 5, Guy Falkes Day)
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To: nickcarraway

How much you wanna bet that thing runs on infidel technology?


22 posted on 08/12/2010 3:03:11 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: nickcarraway

Is it bigger than the silver vag?


23 posted on 08/12/2010 3:03:45 PM PDT by nolongerademocrat ("Before you ask G-d for something, first thank G-d for what you already have." B'rachot 30b)
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To: nickcarraway
Just a big bullseye to mark the target.
24 posted on 08/12/2010 3:04:11 PM PDT by Thor1966
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To: nickcarraway

like everything in the middle east... quality will be lacking. shiny... but poor quality.

if someone were to watch the time, compared to gmt, it will begin to ‘float’ within the year

of course, being ‘the’ clock, muslims will claim the mecca clock is right and gmt is off


25 posted on 08/12/2010 3:04:11 PM PDT by sten
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To: nickcarraway
And then the alarm goes off...


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

26 posted on 08/12/2010 3:09:29 PM PDT by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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“O, brothers, please do not forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour for Jihad Savings Time.”


27 posted on 08/12/2010 3:11:37 PM PDT by P H Lewis (One of the fundamentals of democracy is knowing where to place your machine gun. - Foggy)
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To: nickcarraway

I am living on Tulsa time.

I really am. Tulsa and West Florida are both on central time.


28 posted on 08/12/2010 3:12:45 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: BipolarBob
I hope a crazy Amish person doesn’t commandeer an airplane and crash into it. That would be bad.

Yeah right - bad...

29 posted on 08/12/2010 3:16:11 PM PDT by GOPJ (Asked for ZIP? Give 82224 - Lost Springs,Wy - most sparsely populated in country. Freeper:SamAdams)
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To: GOPJ

And after that the Amish will build a church there — sweeeet.


30 posted on 08/12/2010 3:24:00 PM PDT by 353FMG (ISLAM - America's inevitable road to destruction.)
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To: nickcarraway

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Mecca Clock, which Riyadh says is the world’s largest, has four faces measuring 43 metres in diameter. It sits 400 metres up what will be the world’s second-tallest skyscraper and largest hotel, ...snip...

the landmark feature of the seven-tower King Abdulaziz Endowment hotel complex, being built by the private Saudi Binladen Group, which will have the largest floor area of any building in the world when it is complete............

It was sure mighty kind of them muzzies to put 140 foot targets, on top of the largest building in the world.

That sure do make it easier for planes to locate this here target rich environment!


31 posted on 08/12/2010 3:26:11 PM PDT by Noob1999
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To: nickcarraway

32 posted on 08/12/2010 3:30:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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To: The Comedian
I'll kick in a $1...

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

33 posted on 08/12/2010 3:33:53 PM PDT by Cyber Ninja (Live and let live; is not working...)
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To: The Comedian; BenLurkin

From orbit...only way...


34 posted on 08/12/2010 3:35:36 PM PDT by JRios1968 (The real first rule of Fight Club: don't invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
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To: JRios1968

Every time I see the thread header it looks like it says,
world’s largest C*ock tickled in Macaca.


35 posted on 08/12/2010 3:40:29 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: nickcarraway

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck one
The moslems had guns,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck two
And the bombs they blew,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck three
And they did flee,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck four,
They hit the floor,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck five,
The moslems took a dive,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck six,
Those moslems, they split,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck seven,
They didn`t get to heaven
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck eight,
They love to hate,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck nine,
They love to whine,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck ten,
The moslems stampeded again,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The moslems ran up the clock,
The clock struck eleven,
Never forget 9-11,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
As twelve bells rang,
The moslems hang,
Hickory Dickory dock.

Hickory Dickory dock,
“Why scamper?” asked the clock,
“You scare me so
I have to go!
Hickory Dickory dock.”


36 posted on 08/12/2010 4:19:29 PM PDT by bunkerhill7
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To: nickcarraway

Doomsday clock


37 posted on 08/12/2010 4:19:54 PM PDT by Dewey Revoltnow (Worst. Community. Organizer. Ever!)
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To: nickcarraway

*** being built by the private Saudi Binladen Group,***

That is the OSAMA Binladen family connections.


38 posted on 08/12/2010 5:02:16 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( Viva los SB 1070)
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To: nickcarraway
Another outstanding target.

The World Caliphate feels very secure these days.

Wonder why?

39 posted on 08/12/2010 5:05:33 PM PDT by Candor7 (Obama . fascist info..http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_thela_quintessentia_1.html)
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To: normy
My c*l*ock is bigger than your c*l*ock?
40 posted on 08/12/2010 5:07:57 PM PDT by Candor7 (Obama . fascist info..http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_thela_quintessentia_1.html)
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