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6-year-old boy climbs into family's experimental balloon and detaches the hold-down lines.

Cable and local CO news is tracking the balloon as it's still floating across Colorado.

Can only hope it comes down gently and the boy is relatively unscathed.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I thought this was gonna be a thread about Up: The graphic novel of the film.

I was disappointed.

Either way, if it can go up to 10000ft, the kid'll probably get real cold.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I'll get it down!

*heads to the basement to get her supplies and Australian hat*

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Oh s*it, I hope Shego doesn't have her airship ready yet...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Shegokigo said:

I'll get it down!

*heads to the basement to get her supplies and Australian hat*

Click to expand...

Guy on KUSA was talking just this. Strategically placed shots to create a controlled leak. Suuuure.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

The kid is gonna be really cold, scared and have trouble breathing.

I hope he's okay.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

He's at about 8,000 to 8,500 feet.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I heard of these magical contraptions called helicopters, hooks, and rope...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Geez, poor kid is probably scared to death. I probably would have done the same thing.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

This looks like a job for...

...oh, wait. We're not in the DC Universe. Supes would get that kid down in no time.

Seriously, I hope he'll be okay. On the bright side, this is the kind of thing that'll easily be made into some kind of movie or something. If the kid's okay, I mean.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

He's down!

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

News outlets still have him as up in the air. I'm riveted to this.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I am so sick right now. This is severely not cool.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

now he's down

---------- Post added at 02:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:36 PM ----------

Damn. Where is he?

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

No one on it?

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

They're saying there's no one in it.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

No kid?...

This is either a very bad sign, or a sign of some very fucked up parents wanting media attention.

I really hope it's the second.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

CNN guy was positing that there wasn't anyone on it while it was still up.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

A sibling says they saw him fall out. But they are not saying where.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Damn. I hope he's okay.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

This is insane. I hope the kid is okay. But I swear, if this whole thing was just a stunt to publically test out this thing...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Third scenario: the kid turned it loose and hid for the lulz.

(oh gee I hope so.)

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I hope so, too.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Uhh, not likely. More likely, he fell out before everyone got wind (pun) of the balloon and where it was headed.

---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

I'm trying to measure where I fit on the absurdly hillarious /tragic scale. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A HELIUM BALLOON MAKE SURE YOUR CURIOUS SIX YEAR OLD CAN'T UNTETHER IT AND FLY OFF

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Huh...

The parents called Sky9 News first, not the authorities.

Second theory just got a little more solid.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

The family was also on the show "Wife Swap".

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Dave said:

The family was also on the show \"Wife Swap\".

Click to expand...

Yep.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Why is this aquarium smell suddenly entering my nostrils?

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------

And awfully convienent the balloon landed perfectly safe and sound.

Now, I want to reiterate that, at this point, I really, REALLY hope that the kid is okay, if this is indeed the case.

There's just an awful lot of evidence pointing to this being a media stunt.

I mean, come on, they just got their invention on INTERNATIONAL news. It flew for over two hours and landed perfectly safe and softly.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Lolwut.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

What a weird family, but I still hope the kid is okay.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I keep reading this thread title as "breaking-up news", but this could turn into a whole 'nother sort of baww.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Colorado. Superior.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I am hoping this is all just a hoax cause the alternative is a lot sadder.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

hylian said:

I am hoping this is all just a hoax cause the alternative is a lot sadder.

Click to expand...

This.

Unless the kid has a FANTASTIC hiding space in the back of his closet and is just freaking himself out, I can't think of any remaining happy answers at this point...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Tom Brazelton and Scott Kurtz are having a Twitter fight about it.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

With all due respect to Tom, UP was the first thing that came to mind when I first heard the story. I also had to get people to read the thread. I'm not apologizing for how I phrased it, because it got people involved in the discussion, not just making 4chan-ish jokes.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

I'd have never read a thread about "boy trapped in a hot air balloon" because if it isn't about movies and stuff, I just don't care.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

If it isn't a stunt, I really hope the kid's okay.

If it's a stunt, the entire family including the 6-year-old should be sterilized.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Gusto said:

Tom Brazelton and Scott Kurtz are having a Twitter fight about it.

Click to expand...

Scott needs to finish up his story arc for City of Heroes. Since, you know, he won't get paid for it.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Gusto said:

Tom Brazelton and Scott Kurtz are having a Twitter fight about it.

Click to expand...

Kurtz really goes to "defensive & bitchy" faster and with more unabashed zeal than a virgin with a naked woman in his bed drops trou.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

CNN's twitter sez

Confirmed by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department – the balloon boy has been found alive. Live press conf on CNN TV NOW.

Click to expand...

Sheriff reports that the 6-year-old boy who released the balloon in Colorado has been found alive at home. http://bit.ly/cnndcl1

Click to expand...

Colorado Sheriff says boy was found in box in garage attic.

Click to expand...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

So, not exactly a hoax, but I think sterilization is in order anyway.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

OOO-K...

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

ZenMonkey;275647][quote=Gusto said:

Tom Brazelton and Scott Kurtz are having a Twitter fight about it.

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Kurtz really goes to "defensive & bitchy" faster and with more unabashed zeal than a virgin with a naked woman in his bed drops trou.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. It was entertaining to watch unfold.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

That's good. This had me worried for a bit. I wonder what the whole story is though, why one kid said he saw the other on the thing. was he covering for his borhter? Or was the youngest playing on it, and that's what let it get free and the other one just assumed his brother was still on it.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

If the parents didn't have any part for this hoax I would beat the $%# out of that kid. If the parents did know I think they should have teh %#$@ kicked out of them.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Love how CNN had "the boy got into the craft" until it turned out he was in the attic, and then it was "a sibling said the boy got into the craft."

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

hylian said:

If the parents didn't have any part for this hoax I would beat the $%# out of that kid. If the parents did know I think they should have teh %#$@ kicked out of them.

Click to expand...

I don't really blame the kid for much. It's not like at 6 you're known for making good decisions.

I'm willing to bet he just accidentally let it loose and then hid because he was afraid of getting into trouble.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

hylian said:

If the parents didn't have any part for this hoax I would beat the $%# out of that kid. If the parents did know I think they should have teh %#$@ kicked out of them.

Click to expand...

Well, maybe he was oblivious to everything, playing pacefully... the other kid made the baloon go away and tried not to get in trouble... by saying it was his little brother's fault.

Hilarity ensues.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

4chans first attempt at the upcoming meme:

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Silver Jelly;275681][quote=hylian said:

If the parents didn't have any part for this hoax I would beat the $%# out of that kid. If the parents did know I think they should have teh %#$@ kicked out of them.

Click to expand...

Well, maybe he was oblivious to everything, playing pacefully... the other kid made the baloon go away and tried not to get in trouble... by saying it was his little brother's fault.

Hilarity ensues.[/QUOTE]



If that was the case than I would kill the other kid. whatever kid/kids/family was involved deserves to have there #%^# kicked

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

That kid needs to get FALCON PAUNCHED

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

My god, this is so lame. I missed this whole furore (obviously - I'm not American), and so I clicked on the link expecting an interesting story of death-defying stunts or a Tale of Interest, and instead I get taken straight to a news article saying that the kid was found alive at home. What an anticlimax.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Gill Kaiser said:

My god, this is so lame. I missed this whole furore (obviously - I'm not American), and so I clicked on the link expecting an interesting story of death-defying stunts or a Tale of Interest, and instead I get taken straight to a news article saying that the kid was found alive at home. What an anticlimax.

Click to expand...

I know. I was hoping for more blood and splattered kid parts.

These stories make me so mad when no one is hurt.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

And it's looking like this very well could have been parental planned scammy all along?
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4703592

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Best commentary evar:



-Adam

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

How did Halforums not do that first?

For shame, Halforums. For shame.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

DarkAudit said:

Third scenario: the kid turned it loose and hid for the lulz.

(oh gee I hope so.)

Click to expand...

We have a winner.

and a boy that is going to get hugged for an hour and spanked for two.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

That's. Just. Genius. I almost want to friend this person for starting it up.

Also, the kid was safe and sound the whole time. Once again, I really think this whole thing was a hoax to show off this invention by pulling a War of the Worlds-like trick on the media. Well, not quite War of the Worlds, but you get the idea.

I mean, they just got their invention highlighted with photos and videos galore WORLD WIDE, with the kid hiding the whole time (shock of shocks).

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

What gets me, though, is that is not enough helium to lift even a 30 pound child. He looks a bit heavier than that as well.

You'd think that in the big brouhaha someone intelligent would have been consulted, calculated the lifting capacity, and noted that either he wouldn't have gotten off the ground, or if he had (and maybe was emaciated) he certainly wouldn't have gotten up to 7,000 feet.

The father knows the exact lifting weight of the balloon.

There is simply no way he could have thought his son was actually on board.

-Adam

---------- Post added at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------

The balloon was apparently 20 feet in diameter, 5 feet high, which is 1570 cubic feet of helium, or 44 cubic meters.

Each cubic meter lifts about 0.2 pounds, so that balloon, like most weather and instrumentation balloons, can lift about 8.8 pounds. The balloon itself is a pound or more, so the family cat couldn't have hitched a ride.

There is simply no way the father could have ever believed that his child was on board.

-Adam

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

stienman said:

What gets me, though, is that is not enough helium to lift even a 30 pound child. He looks a bit heavier than that as well.

You'd think that in the big brouhaha someone intelligent would have been consulted, calculated the lifting capacity, and noted that either he wouldn't have gotten off the ground, or if he had (and maybe was emaciated) he certainly wouldn't have gotten up to 7,000 feet.

The father knows the exact lifting weight of the balloon.

There is simply no way he could have thought his son was actually on board.

-Adam

---------- Post added at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------

The balloon was apparently 20 feet in diameter, 5 feet high, which is 1570 cubic feet of helium, or 44 cubic meters.

Each cubic meter lifts about 0.2 pounds, so that balloon, like most weather and instrumentation balloons, can lift about 8.8 pounds. The balloon itself is a pound or more, so the family cat couldn't have hitched a ride.

There is simply no way the father could have ever believed that his child was on board.

-Adam

Click to expand...

He said he did the rough calculations and found out the kid could be on.

I really don't know what to think. Bits of it sound plausible and possible, but then I read this on CNN.com

"You guys said we did this for the show," the boy said. When his father was pressed about what his son meant, he became uncomfortable, finally saying he was "appalled" by the question. He added Falcon was likely referring to all the media coverage. Authorities say they believe the case was genuine.

and that makes me question it all.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

O_O

*sigh* God bless the honesty of a child.

I honestly believe they've just fooled everyone with this stunt, showed off their invention to the world and will probably have some kind of a patent or...something (however that works) by next year.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

ThatNickGuy said:

O_O

*sigh* God bless the honesty of a child.

I honestly believe they've just fooled everyone with this stunt, showed off their invention to the world and will probably have some kind of a patent or...something (however that works) by next year.

Click to expand...

I doubt it was for the craft itself. I mean, according to them it was only supposed to go 20 feet above the ground...but we know it went several thousand.

cnn said:

The balloon -- a family experiment for the couple's anniversary -- was not supposed to go higher than 20 feet above the ground, Mayumi Heene said. The eventual goal, her husband said, was for the balloon to hover over the ground and help ease commutes.

Click to expand...

Whatever it was supposed to do, it does not.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

How in the seven hells of Isosceles can a hovering balloon help ease traffic?

stienman said:

The balloon was apparently 20 feet in diameter, 5 feet high, which is 1570 cubic feet of helium, or 44 cubic meters.

Each cubic meter lifts about 0.2 pounds, so that balloon, like most weather and instrumentation balloons, can lift about 8.8 pounds. The balloon itself is a pound or more, so the family cat couldn't have hitched a ride.

There is simply no way the father could have ever believed that his child was on board.

-Adam

Click to expand...

You forgot to divide by another chance at being faaaaaaaamous.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Buddy of mine posted this on facebook.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

phil;275833][quote=stienman said:

The balloon was apparently 20 feet in diameter, 5 feet high, which is 1570 cubic feet of helium, or 44 cubic meters.

Each cubic meter lifts about 0.2 pounds, so that balloon, like most weather and instrumentation balloons, can lift about 8.8 pounds. The balloon itself is a pound or more, so the family cat couldn't have hitched a ride.

There is simply no way the father could have ever believed that his child was on board.

-Adam

Click to expand...

He said he did the rough calculations and found out the kid could be on. [/QUOTE]

Rough calculations? It was already inflated many times prior to yesterday. I'm sure the held it down himself and measured the lift to verify it was close to his rough calculations.

It was a staged stunt, and they had their 230 minutes (up from 15 minutes in the 30's due to inflation of media coverage) of fame.

Talk about a lot of publicity for no cost. I bet the boy got spanked alright - not for the 'stunt' but for letting it slip that it was a stunt on live TV.

-Adam

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Why does everything in this thread eventually lead to spankings?

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Silver Jelly said:

Why does everything in this thread eventually lead to spankings?

Click to expand...

you deserve a spanking!

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

ZenMonkey said:

Love how CNN had "the boy got into the craft" until it turned out he was in the attic, and then it was "a sibling said the boy got into the craft."

Click to expand...

LOL! CNN is the third sibling in the story! "TOMMY SAID HE WENT INTO THE BALLOON, MOMMY!"

---------- Post added at 09:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 AM ----------

kaykordeath;275614][quote=hylian said:

I am hoping this is all just a hoax cause the alternative is a lot sadder.

Click to expand...

This.

Unless the kid has a FANTASTIC hiding space in the back of his closet and is just freaking himself out, I can't think of any remaining happy answers at this point...[/QUOTE]


Boy, egg on your face, huh?

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Biardo;275917][quote=Silver Jelly said:

Why does everything in this thread eventually lead to spankings?

Click to expand...

you deserve a spanking![/QUOTE]

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

A "big announcement" from Dad is imminent. Makes it look more and more like it was a stunt all along.

If it was a stunt, I'm sure the family whose wheat field was destroyed by rescue vehicles will be sending lawyers to make sure they get a cut.

Big announcement was at noon eastern time, and consisted of him coming out, and saying, "Put your questions in this box and we'll look at them and answer some."

Then going back in.

The 20-30 press people there hackled him mercilessly once they figured out it was nothing but a huge manipulation to get everyone there to film him saying that he'll answer select questions.

The guy is just jerking us around now, if he wasn't before.

I can think of several questions I'd put in there that he would skip over, because they would show him for what he is.

-Adam

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/17/balloon-boy-falcon-heene-richard-dad-press-conference/

There's a video in there of his "big announcement."

-Adam

Why the smurf don't the "press" just tell him to smurf off and pronounce the whole thing old news.

Honestly, why did they continue to get coverage after he was found?

Should have been a wrap-up at his house and the end of this ridiculousness.

because its news

And if this does turn out to be a setup (as is getting more and more likely), the news organizations will fall all over themselves to be the first to rake the family over the coals.

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Thread Necromancer;276146][quote=Biardo;275917][quote=Silver Jelly said:

Why does everything in this thread eventually lead to spankings?

Click to expand...

you deserve a spanking![/quote]

[/QUOTE]



:eyebrows:

Shegokigo said:

Honestly, why did they continue to get coverage after he was found?

Click to expand...

1) It's a spectacular story and the public would rather hear about it than nearly anything else
2) Slow news day (I mean, who cares that troop deployments were canceled, and Pakistan launched a major offensive against the taliban? MORE BALLOON BOY!)
3) The family is stoking the fire by teasing the media
4) There's some level of intrigue, which means it can't be closed unless the family admits it was a hoax

However, the media is throwing softballs at them. They've been burned once this morning, if they are burned again tonight during the 'answers to your questions' press conference, many probably won't be coming back around.

Expect the conference to consist mostly of daddy trying to position himself and/or his family in a way that might get them a TV show, including questions he has added to the pile, rather than answering questions that people are really interested in.

Wish I could go up and add a few questions myself...

At any rate, this next press conference is at 9:30 EDT, so I'll be watching and laughing at the fool and the press that is being dragged around on a saturday for a non-story.

-Adam

-Adam

another post so nice you signed it twice, eh?

BREAKING NEWS: UP not just a movie anymore

Baerdog7;276794][quote=Thread Necromancer;276146][quote=Biardo;275917][quote=Silver Jelly said:

Why does everything in this thread eventually lead to spankings?

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you deserve a spanking![/quote]

[/QUOTE]



:eyebrows:[/QUOTE]

I'm much more interested in this than in the balloon family right now.

He had pitched a reality show prior to the balloon incident and the studio passed on it. This guy is a douche who thinks any publicity is good publicity. And he's right. He'll be able to volley this into a career of reality tv appearances on VH1 or a future Celebrity Apprentice. I hope if they find out this is a hoax, or even it it wasn't, they can charge him for the costs of chasing that balloon across the state.
And there's been video of his kid getting sick on TV. If this was a hoax and you've asked your kid to lie, sounds like his stomach got upset due to the stress and he ended up getting sick. Guess in this guy's opinion being hated by America is better than not being recognized at all.

Ya, I don't think anyone is surprised by this announcement.

I for one really hope that they can find more charges on the federal level and with any luck this asshat will be completely shunned.

I hope they charge them with every thing they can and a few they can't

This guys is going to literally rip his family apart if he doesn't come clean - from what I'm reading he's willing to go to such lengths if it means he will become a celebrity.

I was not surprised to find out they met at acting school. I was surprised that they don't have any significant post-high school education.

I'm very surprised to find that he is a person who is commonly refered to as a 'electromagnetic nutjob' in engineering circles. He is obsessed with the idea that magnetism is the primary force causing most weatehr disturbances, etc.

Ugh. These people are bad off enough not understanding how magnetism works and how it's being measured 24/7 already, but they spout their BS to anyone and everyone willing to listen, and others become confused.

But yeah. I hope they throw the book at him, and the media starts to ignore them, if only for the sake of their children.

-Adam

A real balloon boy:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2009/10/20/MNHK1A7P5F.DTL&o=1