6 yr. old alone in runaway experimental balloon (1 Viewer)

[SlaX]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

 

[Limp Ditka]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

What a #######. I hope this shtick costs this guy 7 figures.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

 

[CrossEyed]

Looks like maybe Richard Heene is getting more attention than he bargained for.

Link

 

[General Malaise]

Well, I get that they figured the 6 year old was the only one plausibly small enough to be lifted by this mylar balloon (actually not, but regardless), so they had him hide and claimed he was carried off. The problem is that Falcon wasn't ready for prime time. He fumbled. They should have gone with Bradford. He was the only one not writhing around awaiting his next ritalin dose.



YOU ALWAYS START YOUR STUDS.

Beautiful.

 

[B-Deep]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

so waitthe family did this countdown

with one missing

and one of the other kids "knew" he was in the balooon

and that kid never said anything

and the family never thought

"where's condor gone off to?

that is their new story?

 

[General Malaise]

Looks like maybe Richard Heene is getting more attention than he bargained for.

Link

A portrait is emerging of a publicity-seeking man who fled California with unsettled financial affairs and whose recent colorful past includes an appearance on ABC's "Wife Swap," a series of unusual inventions and a self-produced hip-hip video.

What the hell is 'hip hip'? Is Fox News really that distanced from black culture or is there a new brand of hip hop called hip hip I didn't know about?

 

[Sarnoff]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

It is going to come out that this is a hoax............

ETA why else would the Dad have called the media?

To get his accidentally released balloon back for free?

 

[Sarnoff]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

Heene, a former weatherman, said he built the 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft for commuter travel."We were working on an experimental craft -- I call it the 3D LAV, a low-altitude vehicle for people to pull out of their garage and hover above traffic for about 50 to100 feet," Heene said later. "It's still the very early stages of the invention."

 

[Jambi]

I think we all know what happened here.

 

[SlaX]

Looks like maybe Richard Heene is getting more attention than he bargained for.

Link

A portrait is emerging of a publicity-seeking man who fled California with unsettled financial affairs and whose recent colorful past includes an appearance on ABC's "Wife Swap," a series of unusual inventions and a self-produced hip-hip video.

What the hell is 'hip hip'? Is Fox News really that distanced from black culture or is there a new brand of hip hop called hip hip I didn't know about?

"Hip hip" is bad hip hop.

 

[Oh Yes!]

these people should lose their kids

 

[thatguy]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

Heene, a former weatherman, said he built the 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft for commuter travel."We were working on an experimental craft -- I call it the 3D LAV, a low-altitude vehicle for people to pull out of their garage and hover above traffic for about 50 to100 feet," Heene said later. "It's still the very early stages of the invention."

Pretty sure they said it was intended to hover about 20 feet... I've heard two stories. one that it was intended to perhaps go into the eye of a storm to collect data, and the other says that he thought it might prove to be an alternative to cars - he said people could just hover to work 50 feet or so above the ground.Just heard confirmation that this ##### called 9 News here in Colorado to report the incident BEFORE calling the police.

 

[thatguy]

these people should lose their kids

Agreed. And their money and their freedom.

 

[Fennis]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

It is going to come out that this is a hoax............

ETA why else would the Dad have called the media?

To get his accidentally released balloon back for free?

Do you think the Dad threw-up when he saw the rescue crew attack the balloon with shovels?

 

[Fennis]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

Heene, a former weatherman, said he built the 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft for commuter travel.

"We were working on an experimental craft -- I call it the 3D LAV, a low-altitude vehicle for people to pull out of their garage and hover above traffic for about 50 to100 feet," Heene said later. "It's still the very early stages of the invention."

Pretty sure they said it was intended to hover about 20 feet... I've heard two stories. one that it was intended to perhaps go into the eye of a storm to collect data, and the other says that he thought it might prove to be an alternative to cars - he said people could just hover to work 50 feet or so above the ground.Just heard confirmation that this ##### called 9 News here in Colorado to report the incident BEFORE calling the police.

link?

 

[thatguy]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

It is going to come out that this is a hoax............

ETA why else would the Dad have called the media?

To get his accidentally released balloon back for free?

Do you think the Dad threw-up when he saw the rescue crew attack the balloon with shovels?

 

[thatguy]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

Heene, a former weatherman, said he built the 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft for commuter travel.

"We were working on an experimental craft -- I call it the 3D LAV, a low-altitude vehicle for people to pull out of their garage and hover above traffic for about 50 to100 feet," Heene said later. "It's still the very early stages of the invention."

Pretty sure they said it was intended to hover about 20 feet... I've heard two stories. one that it was intended to perhaps go into the eye of a storm to collect data, and the other says that he thought it might prove to be an alternative to cars - he said people could just hover to work 50 feet or so above the ground.Just heard confirmation that this ##### called 9 News here in Colorado to report the incident BEFORE calling the police.

link?

No link... Ed Chultz, on AM 760 Air America Radio, said that is what is being reported now. I guess it's not confirmation per se, but figured it was worth noting.

 

[B-Deep]

these people should lose their kids

Agreed. And their money and their freedom.

and genitalsdo not forget genitals

 

[Jambi]

Pretty sure little Falcon was given some ipecac.

 

[BoulderBob]

Obviously a ploy by the family to get a "reality show". Hopefully it fails.

Don't lump me in with the ridiculous "take their kids away" or "send the parents to jail" crowd, but this family should certainly be fined a significant % of the costs of the "rescue" mission.

 

[ODoyleRules]

This whole story paves the way for "Twister 2". The guy even looks like Bill Pullman.

 

[thatguy]

This whole story paves the way for "Twister 2". The guy even looks like Bill Pullman.

Bill Paxton. I can see the resemblance to Bill Pullman with the kind of squinty eyes. I don't think he looks like Bill Paxton.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Hope the dad feels real proud when Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney are beating the #### out of balloon boy in the schoolyard next week.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Heene, a former weatherman, said he built the 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft for commuter travel.

"We were working on an experimental craft -- I call it the 3D LAV, a low-altitude vehicle for people to pull out of their garage and hover above traffic for about 50 to100 feet," Heene said later. "It's still the very early stages of the invention."

Pretty sure they said it was intended to hover about 20 feet... I've heard two stories. one that it was intended to perhaps go into the eye of a storm to collect data, and the other says that he thought it might prove to be an alternative to cars - he said people could just hover to work 50 feet or so above the ground.Just heard confirmation that this ##### called 9 News here in Colorado to report the incident BEFORE calling the police.

link?

No link... Ed Chultz, on AM 760 Air America Radio, said that is what is being reported now. I guess it's not confirmation per se, but figured it was worth noting.

Link - when you get it.

 

[Fennis]

Obviously a ploy by the family to get a "reality show". Hopefully it fails.Don't lump me in with the ridiculous "take their kids away" or "send the parents to jail" crowd, but this family should certainly be fined a significant % of the costs of the "rescue" mission.

everyone wants a piece of that Wife Swap money.

 

[K-funk]

Looks like maybe Richard Heene is getting more attention than he bargained for.

Link

A portrait is emerging of a publicity-seeking man who fled California with unsettled financial affairs and whose recent colorful past includes an appearance on ABC's "Wife Swap," a series of unusual inventions and a self-produced hip-hip video.

What the hell is 'hip hip'? Is Fox News really that distanced from black culture or is there a new brand of hip hop called hip hip I didn't know about?

I'm not sure why, but this made me burst out laughing.Hip-hip.

 

[Jambi]

Just watched the morning spot. I think I may be becoming a believer. Either that or Heene took acting lessons in his sleep.

 

[General Malaise]

Obviously a ploy by the family to get a "reality show". Hopefully it fails.Don't lump me in with the ridiculous "take their kids away" or "send the parents to jail" crowd, but this family should certainly be fined a significant % of the costs of the "rescue" mission.

everyone wants a piece of that Wife Swap money.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Looks like maybe Richard Heene is getting more attention than he bargained for.

Link

A portrait is emerging of a publicity-seeking man who fled California with unsettled financial affairs and whose recent colorful past includes an appearance on ABC's "Wife Swap," a series of unusual inventions and a self-produced hip-hip video.

What the hell is 'hip hip'? Is Fox News really that distanced from black culture or is there a new brand of hip hop called hip hip I didn't know about?

I'm not sure why, but this made me burst out laughing.Hip-hip.

This is freaking hilarious.

 

[UOFI_316]

Hope the dad feels real proud when Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney are beating the #### out of balloon boy in the schoolyard next week.

He will have his personal aircraft with him and just fly away.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

 

[CrossEyed]

The video linked in the Fox story is just more proof that this dad is an attention hound.

 

[thatguy]

Just watched the morning spot. I think I may be becoming a believer. Either that or Heene took acting lessons in his sleep.

Well Heene and his wife did meet in acting class while both were aspiring actors in California. His emotion is way too forced and awkward. I think when he gets choked up, he is forcing himself to imagine a week or two from now when all the cameras are gone and he's left footing the bill.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Did anyone just see the kid barf on-air during the interview on the Today Show?

Here it is.

This is starting to really affect these kids. Enough of him being trotted out in front of the media.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Can someone explain to me what the intended purpose of the balloon is? Why was the father launching it in the first place?

Painting LOOK AT ME on the side was a little too obvious.

 

[SlaX]

The video linked in the Fox story is just more proof that this dad is an attention hound.

Are you referring to the 911 call?

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Just watched the morning spot. I think I may be becoming a believer. Either that or Heene took acting lessons in his sleep.

It's not time to zig when others are zagging. Not yet.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

There's now video of the father launching the balloon.

Link to video

That thing can barely support its own weight.

 

[Jambi]

Just watched the morning spot. I think I may be becoming a believer. Either that or Heene took acting lessons in his sleep.

It's not time to zig when others are zagging. Not yet.

Thought the timing was perfect.At some point we have to ask ourselves: "What if this happened to my child?"

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

Honestly, it makes no difference. This didn't pass the smell test from moment one. If the authorities can't sleuth this out given simple observable facts, there's no reason to propagate the misconception.You're forgetting that this went on for hours. In the immediate moments, it was very confusing as to what to think. There was no real information or analysis. What gets me is that no one seems to have realized that this guy was a known loon and that Occam's Razor pointed to it being a hoax with the kid hiding at the behest of his family. If the cops couldn't discern that, the media really should have stepped up. Instead, they were reporting, as they always do, unsubstantiated claims. Hell, CNN must've called this a hot-air balloon two dozen times.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Just watched the morning spot. I think I may be becoming a believer. Either that or Heene took acting lessons in his sleep.

It's not time to zig when others are zagging. Not yet.

Thought the timing was perfect.At some point we have to ask ourselves: "What if this happened to my child?"

Which one: trapped in a runaway balloon, or being manipulated by his parents for attention?

 

[B-Deep]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

Honestly, it makes no difference. This didn't pass the smell test from moment one. If the authorities can't sleuth this out given simple observable facts, there's no reason to propagate the misconception.You're forgetting that this went on for hours. In the immediate moments, it was very confusing as to what to think. There was no real information or analysis. What gets me is that no one seems to have realized that this guy was a known loon and that Occam's Razor pointed to it being a hoax with the kid hiding at the behest of his family. If the cops couldn't discern that, the media really should have stepped up. Instead, they were reporting, as they always do, unsubstantiated claims. Hell, CNN must've called this a hot-air balloon two dozen times.

shouldn't your derision, then, weigh much heavier on the armed forces and the FAA then on the media? They had blackhawks scrambled, they diverted air traffic, they had high paid people trying to come up with a rescue plan for something that shuld not have passed their smell test.All the networks did is show people a balloon

 

[TobiasFunke]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

Honestly, it makes no difference. This didn't pass the smell test from moment one. If the authorities can't sleuth this out given simple observable facts, there's no reason to propagate the misconception.You're forgetting that this went on for hours. In the immediate moments, it was very confusing as to what to think. There was no real information or analysis. What gets me is that no one seems to have realized that this guy was a known loon and that Occam's Razor pointed to it being a hoax with the kid hiding at the behest of his family. If the cops couldn't discern that, the media really should have stepped up. Instead, they were reporting, as they always do, unsubstantiated claims. Hell, CNN must've called this a hot-air balloon two dozen times.

Did it go on for hours? I was under the impression that it was over in a matter of two hours or so. Hardly enough time to contact experts for their analysis, formulate a theory that the cops had no idea what they were talking about, and then come on the air and question the appropriate authorities. That is simply not the role of the 24-hours news stations in my opinion. They have to report when they are told and what they can immediately observe and deduce. I don't think we want them coming up with their own theories. There's a reason that investigative journalism reports take weeks and months to compile.

 

[shuke]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA

What did I miss?

Dad flips out and says that CNN has underhanded motives and is trying to vilify them. Wolf acts dumb and kisses their butt in the last two minutes.

video of this part?

Wow. Just wow.

 

[BoulderBob]

I'm not sure how the mom or dad got the kid to puke on cue, but the whole thing is a sham. Act sick, maybe it will take the attention off of us! Fine the #%# out of the dad, and never put them in front of a camera again...

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

The other big factor IMO is: what media outlet is going to take an overly skeptical and questioning position on something like this, only to have it turn out that the kid was actually in there and worst case scenario play out? They would like gigantic tools. It's much easier to have a little bit of egg on your face while reporting an otherwise happy ending, than to look like insensitive jackasses while a little kid is dying.

 

[shuke]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

One of the press conferences yesterday when the balloon was still in the air, the police woman said he was "definitely" in there.

 

[Tigran Petrosian]

Howard Kurtz doesn't find much fault with news networks on this one.

Gotta admit, I kind of agree with him here. The blame for the hysteria seems like it may well lie with the cops, who appear to have taken something that was a slight possibility and treated it as a fact when relaying information to the media.

Of course, I wasn't watching CNN/MSNBC/Fox News at the time, so I can't really say for sure. Curious what those who were watching think. To the extent they played it up, was that just a function of living in a world with multiple 24 hour news stations and other sources? What could they have done differently?

There was zero skepticism until the balloon was empty. This is a farce.

Did the hosts/anchors give the caveat that "police are reporting XYZ" or "we're being told XYZ"? If so, I don't think the problem lies with the media. If the authorities had no skepticism there was no reason for the media to have any, at least not until they'd had a decent amount of time to sit back and consider things. It's my understanding (and the times on this thread back me up) that they never really had that kind of time.When police tell the media something, the media run with it as told for hours and maybe days. 24 hour news stations require this- they can't wait until they can get independent verification and expert analysis, or they will be hours behind the times, and if that's the case, they might as well not exist.

Honestly, it makes no difference. This didn't pass the smell test from moment one. If the authorities can't sleuth this out given simple observable facts, there's no reason to propagate the misconception.You're forgetting that this went on for hours. In the immediate moments, it was very confusing as to what to think. There was no real information or analysis. What gets me is that no one seems to have realized that this guy was a known loon and that Occam's Razor pointed to it being a hoax with the kid hiding at the behest of his family. If the cops couldn't discern that, the media really should have stepped up. Instead, they were reporting, as they always do, unsubstantiated claims. Hell, CNN must've called this a hot-air balloon two dozen times.

shouldn't your derision, then, weigh much heavier on the armed forces and the FAA then on the media? They had blackhawks scrambled, they diverted air traffic, they had high paid people trying to come up with a rescue plan for something that shuld not have passed their smell test.All the networks did is show people a balloon

The derision is shared. The networks did much more than show people a balloon. They obsessed about a pending death (at least on CNN) for a few hours. Then Wolf gushed about how amazing it was that the kid was found and how everyone was going to "celebrate" when it was beyond clear they were being had.

Hey, it's a business.. I get it. Doesn't mean I have to like it or anyone has to apologize for it though.