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It is Ballooon!

Frayed Knot Feb 04 2023 01:46 PM

And now it's an ex-balloon. The Chinese balloon, which has drifted over the U.S. from Alaska to the Carolinas (for Meteorology purposes only of course), has now been shot down after it cleared land near Myrtle Beach S.C. They wanted to wait until it cleared land so nothing winds up landing on anyone as it plummets. Haven't heard yet whether they were able to retrieve it out of the water but I suspect they'll do everything to do exactly that so as to find out what the CCP was trying to find out. NY Post is going with: POP GOES THE EVIL

MFS62 Feb 04 2023 02:00 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Those Americans who are outraged at the Chinese sending something over the US to spy on us should be reminded of the U-2 (NOT the Band) fights we used to send over Russia. Clever title, though. Later

Edgy MD Feb 04 2023 03:54 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Weirder still than that white balloon from China that we took down are the 99 red ones floating in from Germany.

DocTee Feb 04 2023 06:30 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

If you think the balloon is bad, wait until you realize what the TIKTOK app on every teen's phone is doing...

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 04 2023 06:32 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Edgy MD wrote: Weirder still than that white balloon from China that we took down are the 99 red ones floating in from Germany. Saw a funny headline: Red Zeppelin

nymr83 Feb 04 2023 07:40 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Best joke I saw was a balloon with red lettering 'happy Valentine's day Eric, love Fang Fang"

MFS62 Feb 05 2023 08:35 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

From a military standpoint, I found it interesting that it is flying at 60,000 feet. Russian fighter aircraft (MiG and Sukhoi) typically have a higher service ceiling than US fighters. Ours usually top out at 55,000 feet, theirs higher. I think this was also a test of our ability to engage, target and shoot down something flying at that altitude. Later

Lefty Specialist Feb 06 2023 07:05 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

https://images.dailykos.com/images/1158999/large/328828732_713208043839090_6282351033580989705_n.jpg?1675686864>

nymr83 Feb 06 2023 03:07 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Turkey has been spying on us every Thanksgiving for years! https://sc04.alicdn.com/kf/Hfd30e4edc4e048b3a19048e30ba12304M.jpg>

MFS62 Feb 06 2023 05:45 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

We knew he was friendly with China: https://apis.mail.yahoo.com/ws/v3/mailboxes/@.id==VjN-Edp0v2uZNznU7c-3aJhKMcOAOlCfpxkZs_E6tbPCpScuBJnyK1CnuJC8uWj2LTWNOstHGQ2SvOzuBlPC52QM-g/messages/@.id==AM5S6i8ONmxKY-AxggLqGPe3RPg/content/parts/@.id==2/thumbnail?appid=YMailNorrin&downloadWhenThumbnailFails=true&pid=2 Later

kcmets Feb 06 2023 05:48 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

That link got me here: {"error":{"code":"EC-4008","requestId":"fd2db810-a680-11ed-c000-edc7605a8154"}}

Edgy MD Feb 07 2023 08:41 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Fie on blind links.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2023 08:56 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

That looks like a link to a private e-mail.

kcmets Feb 07 2023 09:11 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

From a military standpoint, I found it interesting that it is flying at 60,000 feet. Russian fighter aircraft (MiG and Sukhoi) typically have a higher service ceiling than US fighters. Ours usually top out at 55,000 feet, theirs higher. I think this was also a test of our ability to engage, target and shoot down something flying at that altitude. Maybe they were testing to see if the US Space Force was operational yet.

MFS62 Feb 07 2023 09:17 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

That link got me here: {"error":{"code":"EC-4008","requestId":"fd2db810-a680-11ed-c000-edc7605a8154"}} Ben is right. It is pictures of the Donald tRump balloon. I took it from an email I had received. Do we have special coding capabilities for that? Sorry. Later

nymr83 Feb 07 2023 11:32 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Trump has a balloon? Isn't that a little redundant what with his head already being largely inflated with hot air?

MFS62 Feb 07 2023 12:08 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

=nymr83 post_id=117860 time=1675794766 user_id=54] Trump has a balloon? Isn't that a little redundant what with his head already being largely inflated with hot air?

That's the point.

[YOUTUBE] AlNU10Hkiu8 [/YOUTUBE]



Later

Lefty Specialist Feb 08 2023 07:36 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

He was the Russian spy balloon. https://i.insider.com/63e05e74e33c4000193b01a5?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp>

MFS62 Feb 08 2023 07:48 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Thanks, Lefty. Later

kcmets Feb 08 2023 08:02 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

The giant safety pin is pretty funny. Was the balloon eventually popped?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 08 2023 08:04 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

It was seen over Stockholm in early 2019: http://ultimatemets.com/covers/images/2018/ceremony2018.jpg>

Frayed Knot Feb 08 2023 10:42 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

=kcmets post_id=117916 time=1675868526 user_id=53] The giant safety pin is pretty funny. Was the balloon eventually popped?

Yeah, on November 2nd 2020

MFS62 Feb 10 2023 05:34 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

The Air Force shot down an "Unidentified car sized object" flying over Alaska today. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a42829176/us-military-shoots-down-high-altitude-object-alaska/ That troubles me. If it isn't a balloon, what was the propulsion system for something that small that would propel it as far as American air space? After all the excitement of the Balloon, Biden had to do something when it was spotted. I'm thinking it was a good ol' fashioned UFO. I can't wait for them to tell us what it really was. Later

kcmets Feb 10 2023 07:00 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Not troubled here one iota. Hekawi hijinks - doing a good job distracting everyone and everything from three dozen other things that matter more.

Edgy MD Feb 10 2023 07:14 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

We tend to make a point of identifying things before shooting them out of the sky. I think we'll be good.

metirish Feb 10 2023 08:00 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Dunno, feels like WW3 isn't far away at times

Edgy MD Feb 10 2023 09:16 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Indeed. In fact, I call those times daytimes and nighttimes. But I don't think our detente with China is going away tomorrow.

metirish Feb 11 2023 04:36 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

I just watched an ex General on NBC News say on any given day NORAID tracks "tens of thousands of objets" over the US and Canada....

The Hot Corner Feb 11 2023 05:09 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

I'm not too worried about WW3 at this point. I think the US will likely be too busy fighting amongst ourselves to notice what is happening outside our borders.

kcmets Feb 11 2023 07:06 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

The Hot Corner wrote: I'm not too worried about WW3 at this point. I think the US will likely be too busy fighting amongst ourselves to notice what is happening outside our borders. And Bingo was his name oh...

MFS62 Feb 13 2023 11:26 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Each successive object is getting smaller and smaller and in different shapes. Maybe they're trying to determine the limits of our ability to detect them. Later

Edgy MD Feb 13 2023 11:56 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

I'm not sure we can or should assume the same "they" is responsible for each of these incidents.

MFS62 Feb 13 2023 12:02 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Edgy MD wrote: I'm not sure we can or should assume the same "they" is responsible for each of these incidents. "They" can be singular or plural. Later

Edgy MD Feb 13 2023 12:20 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

I don't need a grammar lesson. The idea that "they" are testing us clearly implies that these objects come from a common source, or at least entities coordinating with one another. I don't think there's any reason to believe that's necessarily the case. It certainly might be the case, but I don't think the facts we currently have available to us should lead to that as a conclusion. We certainly seem to be detecting a pattern, but from my perspective, we're still putting the pieces together. The reason several have been reported in a short period of time certainly seems to be (and is reported to be) related to the US military changing the calibration of their radar systems.

metsmarathon Feb 13 2023 12:39 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3d/1988They_Live_poster300.jpg/220px-1988They_Live_poster300.jpg>

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 13 2023 02:38 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

[YOUTUBE]pnXu2xGwJRo[/YOUTUBE] It is amazing how a line from a short-lived sitcom has stuck in our brain 50-plus years later. I know the ad for the reruns ran over and over. I saw a longer clip - and it was pretty cringe worthy.

MFS62 Feb 13 2023 03:21 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Edgy MD wrote: I don't need a grammar lesson. The idea that "they" are testing us clearly implies that these objects come from a common source, or at least entities coordinating with one another. Then what does my use of "maybe" imply? I wasn't saying it was definitely the case. There is more than one possibility, including both of our ideas. Later

Fman99 Feb 14 2023 01:11 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=118246 time=1676324284 user_id=119] [YOUTUBE]pnXu2xGwJRo[/YOUTUBE] It is amazing how a line from a short-lived sitcom has stuck in our brain 50-plus years later. I know the ad for the reruns ran over and over. I saw a longer clip - and it was pretty cringe worthy.

I didn't get this reference. I think this show pre-dates me a bit.

Marshmallowmilkshake Feb 14 2023 01:59 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

=Fman99 post_id=118302 time=1676405471 user_id=86] I didn't get this reference. I think this show pre-dates me a bit.

I think it is safe to say that this show wouldn't be made today! But F-Troop was part of the after-school rerun rotation on channels 5, 9 and 11 that included Batman, the Addams Family, the Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie, and Gilligan's Island. Such was life with just seven channels to select from!

Lefty Specialist Feb 14 2023 05:05 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Well, these better NOT be aliens, because if they are they must be really pissed by now.

Frayed Knot Feb 14 2023 05:10 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Most of my cultural references pre-date the memories of those not yet eligible for AARP cards.

kcmets Feb 14 2023 05:31 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Oh fucking lord!! They made fun of everyone, pale face and red skins. It was campy, but it was intentionally ovet-the-top hilarious... at the time...

batmagadanleadoff Feb 14 2023 05:46 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

If F Troop wouldn't be made today, then neither would All in the Family. You think that's progress? Maybe you'd like a reboot where Ned Flanders plays Michael Meathead Stivic and the role of Archie Bunker is played by the rotating cast of Up with People. And then they could go around singing Christmas Carols all year long. What upstanding and wholesome values for someone who voted for Trump not once but twice. Oh my god. F Troop is cringeworthy. But not the orange scumbag. Here's a longer segment of the famous "It is balloon" bit. The best line is at the very end of this clip. [YOUTUBE]KlyERnu7zUw[/YOUTUBE]

MFS62 Feb 14 2023 06:12 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Now, the tinfoil hat brigade is claiming the shooting down of "UFOs" is a coverup to deflect attention away from the real story - that Biden is "killing white people" by withholding rapid response from the chemical spill trainwreck near the Pennsylvania/ Ohio border. Conspiratorial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) seems to share this thinking. On Sunday, Greene claimed that East Palestine is experiencing “an ecological disaster bc authorities blew up the train derailment cars carrying hazardous chemicals and press are being arrested for trying to tell the story. Oh but UFO's! What is going on?” https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ohio-trainwreck-conspiracy-theories-east-palestine/ Even possible Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers (cringe) is talking about that. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/aaron-rodgers-floats-conspiracy-theories-ufos-1234679951/ Later

kcmets Feb 14 2023 06:30 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=118306 time=1676408366 user_id=119]I think it is safe to say that this show wouldn't be made today!

I don't know why this aggravates me but it does. Maybe it's because 90% of

your posts read like a press release. I get that's your gig, your gift, but geez

man try and be yourself for a few minutes here and there. Unless, that's you,

and you can't help yourself...



It's fucking F-Troop!?! Buffoonery personified!!



[YOUTUBE]BLSu2AIy4-k[/YOUTUBE]

Fman99 Feb 15 2023 04:21 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=118306 time=1676408366 user_id=119] =Fman99 post_id=118302 time=1676405471 user_id=86] I didn't get this reference. I think this show pre-dates me a bit.

I think it is safe to say that this show wouldn't be made today! But F-Troop was part of the after-school rerun rotation on channels 5, 9 and 11 that included Batman, the Addams Family, the Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie, and Gilligan's Island. Such was life with just seven channels to select from!


I remember those days, but F-Troop wasn't one that was in regular repeats on any channel we got at my house. I watched tons of Batman and Gilligan as a kid though (Brady Bunch too).

Frayed Knot Feb 15 2023 05:21 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

I don't want to say that F-Troop ran a long time ago, but it was a big deal, to both the network and the viewers, when it was announced that the second season was to be broadcast 'In Color'!!!! Season 1, as you can tell from the above, was all b/w

Johnny Lunchbucket Feb 15 2023 05:55 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

F troop would definitely not be kosher today. All in the Family might be, but it'd be a show where Mike was the hero and not the laughingstock

metsmarathon Feb 15 2023 06:15 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

these laments of "they'd never get away with making this today" are exactly that, minus the nts. lame. no, they couldn't make f-troop exactly as it was because the parts they can't re-make are hurtful and bad, and the production quality was awful. could you do a spoofy show about buffoonish cavalry and laughable indians? sure as shit you could. why the fuck not. cast authentically, give the characters heart on both sides, and fucking go for it. could all in the family get made again? well shit, last man stranding just had a fucking ten year run, only the racist misogynistic toxic male was the lovable lead. the real reason these shows wouldn't be made these days is because people would rather watch video clickbait, or some variation on bachelors surviving in the real world at the jersey shore building motorcycles performance competition.

Fman99 Feb 15 2023 06:49 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Ironically, I just discovered a few weeks ago that Netflix did a remake of "Lost in Space," with modern special effects. I just finished season 2 and have one season left to go and I have to say, I've enjoyed it. I was never much of a fan of the original, but only because like F-Troop, it wasn't on any regular syndication at my house as a kid.

kcmets Feb 15 2023 07:01 AM Re: It is Ballooon! Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 15 2023 07:20 AM

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: All in the Family might be, but it'd be a show where Mike was the hero and not the laughingstock Well, I mean if I may, Gloria was the laughing stock 8.675 times out of 10.00. Once in a awhile the script writers threw her a biscuit or two just to make her relevant? Archie, Edith and Mike are TV GODS!! All in the Family deserves it's own thread.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 15 2023 07:02 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

I don't think Mike was the laughingstock. He made the cogent arguments, and Archie made the dumb ones.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 15 2023 07:03 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't want to say that F-Troop ran a long time ago, but it was a big deal, to both the network and the viewers, when it was announced that the second season was to be broadcast 'In Color'!!!! Season 1, as you can tell from the above, was all b/w F Troop's second (and last) season was the 1966-67 TV season. By September of 1966, every prime time TV show was going to be presented in color. So, not just F Troop....

batmagadanleadoff Feb 15 2023 07:08 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Hey! What about Hogan's Heroes? Youse think they could make that one today? Humorous fun-loving Nazis!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 15 2023 07:13 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: F troop would definitely not be kosher today. All in the Family might be, but it'd be a show where Mike was the hero and not the laughingstock I dunno about that but if they made it today, it'd be on cable or streaming tv and not on network TV. I'm sure of that.

Edgy MD Feb 15 2023 07:59 AM Re: It is Ballooon!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't think Mike was the laughingstock. He made the cogent arguments, and Archie made the dumb ones. Archie was the hero. A ridiculous hero, to be sure, but the journey was his. I think Adam Sandler made it clear how fraught it was to try to squeeze ethnic humor out of Native Americans in latter times. He F-tripped over his own feet.

Frayed Knot Feb 15 2023 02:16 PM Re: It is Ballooon!

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: F troop would definitely not be kosher today. Like mm said, you'd have to do it differently if you were going to do it again, like not having two NYC natives playing the lead two Hekawis as a starter. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be done. Wild Eagle and Crazy Cat might have been cartoonish at times but they were also savvy businessmen and more than held their own with O'Rourke & Agarn. All in the Family might be, but it'd be a show where Mike was the hero and not the laughingstock See Mike might have been the target of a bunch of the jokes and zingers -- and, yeah, they might not include lines like "You dumb Polack" quite as often if remade today -- but, more often than not, it was Archie who was the butt of the humor. Creator Norman Lear certainly wasn't going to have it any other way.