Four parts helicopter to one part blimp? I wouldn't call that thing a blimp.

Your video, Timber-Carrying Blimp - Horrible Crash, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

[redacted]

Dude how far away do you think the pitch is from the stands? We're not talking a dramatic distance here...some players have already expressed their opinions, you don't need to speculate.

There are two things people should keep in mind:

1. It is NOT South Africa's *WORLD* Cup. They are hosts. It is a position you apply for against many other countries and you win the privilege to host. The responsibility comes with some conditions like meeting official standards for stadiums etc, which the host nation is ENTIRELY in charge of and accept BEFORE applying, these aren't snuck up on you, in fact you need to show that you can provide all these things before you're even considered.

2. People seem to be missing the response of South Africa. Look at how they're responding to criticism, how they're ignoring it completely, how they're showing they can be just as arrogant as "European" countries and how it's presenting a clear picture of how they'll treat the World Cup and other events in the future.

This is more than the vuvuzela, take in the whole attitude of South Africa in the host role. To me it's just not showing a positive picture, I don't really care how they want to host the event, it will be a blimp in the radar soon enough. I'm more concerned with what it's doing to African football reputation which is already having enough trouble with political corruption and ego players, it does not need "terrible hosts" on top of it and I sincerely hope the perception changes.

>> ^Tymbrwulf:

>> ^mizila:
>> ^Tymbrwulf:
I think everyone is getting their panties in a bunch for no reason. In my eyes, use the vuvuzela if you want, whatever.

Great argument. So if I just start following you around blowing a whistle in your face as loud as I can non-stop, your reaction is going to be, "that's cool, use a whistle if you want, whatever."?? No, I imagine your panties would be mighty bunched, sir.
Anyone who doesn't see what's wrong with this thing is either (A) Dumb... err I mean deaf, (B) South African, (C) Not a soccer fan, or (D) Trollin.

Are they following the players blowing it in their ear? Is it a different decibel level when hearing it in the stands when you're on the field? I imagine my response would be to walk away from the Vuvuzela player.
Also, good job on the inflammatory comment on calling anyone who see's anything wrong with this an idiot. I AM a football(soccer) fan, I'm NOT trollin', and quite frankly I couldn't care less about the Vuvuzela.

This is better than pr0n, and will probably also be that after I'm no longer high as the goodyear blimp.

It's a whale! It's a blimp! No! It's another embarrassing Youtube video, destroying my faith in humankind.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Nice. I think I can see the spore lights of the blimp people.

>> ^EDD:
Looks scripted by the way he constantly glances to his right. Then again, I guess the sentiment might be genuine, which makes it all the more pathetic that one would need a script for such a rant consisting mostly of one word.
Plus, he's fat.


He's "fat" compared to what? He's actually quite small compared to the Good Year Blimp. There are also several species of whales that are larger. But none as profane.

He's "fat" compared to what? He's actually quite small compared to the Good Year Blimp. There are also several species of whales that are larger. But none as profane.

In reply to this comment by EDD:
Looks scripted by the way he constantly glances to his right. Then again, I guess the sentiment might be genuine, which makes it all the more pathetic that one would need a script for such a rant consisting mostly of one word.

Plus, he's fat.

no worries sir. i've been listening to them ever since that little ant appeared in my life and they're pretty darn good. i watched another video to that track on youtube or vimeo, started with a blimp flying past a window. fucking brilliant, forgot to sift it.

found it. this one.

there's shitloads of talent on vimeo.

In reply to this comment by EDD:
Thanks for unearthing Trifonic for me, I always liked ambient downtempo electronica so they're my favorite new act now.

Even sifted a little something by them:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Trifonic-Parks-on-Fire-incredible-HD-music-video

I think maybe I should have been more specific with what "our economic issues" are. There's a lot here about addressing our national debt, or deficit spending. That's not the issue.

The issue is that our economy is crashing. Companies' sales numbers drop, they lay off people, fewer people have money to buy stuff, and companies sales numbers drop more, leading to more layoffs...and around and around it goes.

Add to that the credit freeze, that's preventing even people with good credit, or proven business models, from getting loans to make large purchases or expand their businesses. Mostly this is because the banks themselves are in financial limbo because 90% of their balance sheet is tied up in assets that no one can accurately value anymore.

So, the deficit and national debt aren't our main issue. It's something to keep an eye on, but right now it's not a big enough to make our creditors stop lending to us. There's a danger that they might do that if it gets too high, but "too high" is a lot higher than we are now.

Also, since so many people are having their hours cut and getting laid off, and businesses are losing money instead of making it, the government is raking in a lot less money, running up our debt.

Conservatives with an ideological agenda say "Great, government was too big anyways, so cut everything in sight!"

Economists with an ideological agenda say "The market will fix itself, don't try to do anything except maybe cut taxes".

Economists who see the world as I do say "Spend a lot now to restart the economy, then once it's growing pay down the debt by raising taxes and cutting spending".

I don't know who's right, but I know that conservative politicians don't know anything about anything, those economists who say the market will fix itself base their entire school on the premise that people are expert investors with complete and accurate information about the market (which seems more than a little far fetched to me), and the last group tries to model things with the assumption that people won't always act "rationally" with their money, and that the level of information people have is varied, etc.

So, given that, here are my feelings on some of the specifics that people have put forward:

1. Cut military spending. I would normally agree to this wholeheartedly. When the recovery is underway, I think this is one of the places we should cut spending first, but not right now. I don't want more layoffs due to spending cuts right now.

2. Legalize drugs, regulate drugs, and tax drugs. Wholehearted agreement. Part of what was done to try to pull out of the Great Depression was to repeal prohibition, because prohibition was killing state budgets. Let's end our modern-day prohibition, and reap the benefits of both legal business opportunities, and the tax revenue it generates. We should do this immediately.

3. Tax cuts, or write checks to all taxpayers. Moderate agreement. Most people would save this money -- I know I would. Only the people at the lowest end of the income spectrum would spend this immediately, and that's what we need right now. So, give a small ($500-$1,000) rebate check again, focused mostly on the low to lower-middle income brackets. Including people who only pay payroll taxes and sales taxes (or as Republicans say it "people who don't pay taxes"). This is in Obama's stimulus plan already.

4. Investigate the crimes committed, and prosecute the offenders, and possibly execute them. Totally agree, though this won't directly help stimulate the economy, I think it might do a lot to restore confidence if we publicly executed the people who're using TARP funds to pay out big bonuses to the top level management of bailed out firms (John Thain, I'm looking at you). Failing that, these asshats should at least be getting fired -- so far there has been slim amounts of turnover at the executive level of these banks, which sure as hell doesn't make me feel very confident that they know WTF is going on, or have any sense that they're responsible for it..

5. Genocide. Not really going to help the economy much, and it's unethical too. Go take a ride in your blimp, eat some corn-based snakes, and chill. At least turn us into Soylent Green and sell it to the Naderites.

6. Reform healthcare. Agree, though I vehemently disagree with the idea of "reform" meaning that we eliminate government spending on it. I'd rather aim for single payer healthcare, or at least vastly overhaul the regulatory body for health insurance so there's better profit incentives in helping people, and less murder by spreadsheet. Cutting Medicare and Medicaid seems like a senseless attack on the poor and elderly, if it's the only change made. Why not go after the VA too? Afraid they'd fight back?

7. End farm subsidies. I'm undecided on this one. Probably a good idea, but I'm not sure it'd stimulate the economy in the short or long term, just reshape it.

Really, my litmus test for ideas boils down to this:

If it creates jobs, do it
If it would result in layoffs, don't do it
If it leaves behind something of lasting use, that's gravy
If it just rearranges things to be more "fair" (which means different things to different ideologies), let it go for the moment

Hence my moon mission to clean up the Earth. It'll create jobs, and leave behind something of lasting value, so our kids can screw it up in their own unique and innovative ways.

Irishman, I don't think Ron Paul's blimp was designed for transcontinental flight.

The point is that Obama has said a great many things to a great many people, some of which are good things, others not so much. He has also said things that are evasive, deceptive and contradictory. (So has Ron Paul and just about every politician who has ever lived btw) Am I happy about this? No. Do I have some worries? Yes. Have I given up hope already? Fuck no.

To get elected to office, you have to jump through a great many hoops, and keep the power mongers and money men from tearing you to shreds and leaving you in the dust bin of history with Ralph Nader and Ron Paul.

Will he cave to power? Will he wage war against them? I don't know, and neither do you. Most likely, he'll do something between these two extremes.

Perhaps, when Obama speaks about fighting terrorism, he is referring to 'actual' terrorism (remember Al Queda), as opposed to Iraq. He has said a great deal about communication, diplomacy and negotiation, which sounds like a step in the right direction to me. Perhaps he will be another raging neo-con, but it's all speculation at this point.

Have some patience, I'm sure there is a world of fresh new conspiracies for you to indulge in right around the corner. If Obama turns out to be George Bush #3 (#4 if you count Reagan), then I'll hit the streets and protest with you*. Cut and paste this paragraph if you like. Until then, it's just speculative, fringe hysteria.


*Said protest must take place within 100 miles of my residence in beautiful, sunny, southern California unless you want to pay airfare and travel expenses elsewhere.

>> ^chtierna:
Cool idea, but how do they get it up there in the first place? I think storms could be handled by just taking it down and then sending it up again, but I dont see exactly how its brought up to 1000 feet in the first place.
[edit]: I guess they could use warm air or some gas lighter than air or whatever... Im feeling stupid now
It's inflated with helium, like a blimp. I wonder how often it will have to be refilled as the helium leaks out. Cool idea for a wind turbine, big, powerful, and with no need for any construction.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
FAKE!
I didn't see the blimp!


That's right, you have your own video.. hur hur.

FAKE!

I didn't see the blimp!