Objects being shot down

[wvjules]

I read somewhere yesterday that we are seeing more now because we increased the sensitivity of how we surveille the sky and are seeing more things.

HOWEVER, the source of them (other than the balloons from China) is the unknown. At least unknown to you and me.

 

[Princesca]

For me, the one that was octagonal with 'strings hanging from it' was a little concerning. What did the strings used to be attached to?

 

[MillauFr]

The bio or chemical weapons might not necessarily disperse at 60,000 feet. It could be dropped and triggered to disperse much lower. Anything is really possible with these. That is of course a worst case scenario and the human psyche is set to dismiss the worst case as not really probable.

Why bother with the trouble and expense of a balloon when you can just put something far worse in a shipping container and have it blow up at the Port of Long Beach?

 

[Dan Murphy]

The balloon technology is Not new. During WWII the Japanese sent balloons with bombs to the US. Several actually exploded in US, but they were in remote areas and never were reported.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...biw=412&bih=782&dpr=2.63#imgrc=7U9NiQwDyq9naM

 

[Imzadi]

Some people have said these are unlikely to be extraterrestrial because of the comparatively rudimentary technology involved, but of course then there's the theory that any advanced civilization wanting to check us out wouldn't use their more advanced tech because it would violate best principles of first contact - not exposing cultures to tech they aren't advanced enough to use responsibly. And I realize it sounds weird to even talk about that, but I think the odds that there isn't sentient life somewhere in our universe, given the massive number of galaxies, is super slim. The law of averages suggests it's almost certain.

Ah! Another Trekkie!

 

[Princesca]

Ah! Another Trekkie!

Well, technically no, but in general I do like sci-fi and Mass Effect changed my life.

 

[_19disnA]

Likely the History channel will be able to get a few of those alien investigators to make a couple seasons of stories about all of this. Think they have run out of places on Oak Island to dig any more holes looking for buried treasure, so this can be a replacement show.

 

[Imzadi]

Some people have said these are unlikely to be extraterrestrial because of the comparatively rudimentary technology involved, but of course then there's the theory that any advanced civilization wanting to check us out wouldn't use their more advanced tech because it would violate best principles of first contact - not exposing cultures to tech they aren't advanced enough to use responsibly.

There is the possibility that the alien ensign brought up the wrong file about Earth's technology. They didn't realize until after all the balloons were made and released that it was WWII technology & era they were replicating, until that first balloon was shot down. That ensign is now on garbage duty for the remainder of this mission.

Then there's the possibility that the aliens actually did have to go back to WWII times to fix, change something, or change something back, but they overshot the time period and landed in our present day. They decided to release the balloons anyway, to see if they can still complete their mission.

That was actually a Star Trek: The Original Series episode. (Not the overshooting the time period part.) Dr. McCoy went through a time portal called The Guardian, into WWII era. He changed something and the current present no longer existed. Kirk & Spock had to go back and find him before he is able to change things. For other Trekkies, that's the Edith Keeler episode with Joan Collins called "The City on the Edge of Forever." One of the best episodes, in my opinion.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm rather fascinated, particularly since the most recent one was shot down relatively close to my area. The Alaska and Yukon ones are the most interesting,

With so many coming from that region, maybe Santa really IS watching the children?

 

[dioxide45]

Why bother with the trouble and expense of a balloon when you can just put something far worse in a shipping container and have it blow up at the Port of Long Beach?

That is possible too. If one is planning such an attack, they don't just have one delivery method in the event another one fails. Plus, with these types of things, you can get the payload further inland rather than just blowing up some industrial port. These objects could also contain nothing right now and be tests for the longer game plan. It could also be a state actor that doesn't traditionally export to the US, like North Korea.

 

[MillauFr]

With so many coming from that region, maybe Santa really IS watching the children?

Well you did see Polar Express when Santa's CIA reported that a kid from Maplewood, NJ put gum in his sister's hair. Almost got put on the do not gift list.

 

[MillauFr]

That is possible too. If one is planning such an attack, they don't just have one delivery method in the event another one fails. Plus, with these types of things, you can get the payload further inland rather than just blowing up some industrial port. These objects could also contain nothing right now and be tests for the longer game plan. It could also be a state actor that doesn't traditionally export to the US, like North Korea.

You could do far more damage to the United States by controlling the media our citizens consume. There doesn't seem to be any restrictions on foreign citizens owning large media companies.

 

[DLgal]

For me, the one that was octagonal with 'strings hanging from it' was a little concerning. What did the strings used to be attached to?

That one kind of snacks of an amateur hobbyist trying for some fame. It was also pretty low, wasn't it? Like 20,000 feet. That's low enough that it could have been something homemade.

 

[Mysterian]

 

[mrodgers]

You could do far more damage to the United States by controlling the media our citizens consume. There doesn't seem to be any restrictions on foreign citizens owning large media companies.

That's already being done.

 

[mrodgers]

If you've seen the German spy balloon, you've probably seen the Kim Kardashian spy balloon. Not sure if that one could be posted here

 

[MillauFr]

I wonder if there was any nefarious purpose for those hot air balloons in Soarin around the World. Better to get Iger to look into that.

 

[MillauFr]

That's already being done.

Exactly. So why isn't the conspiracy crowd calling out those companies and the relaxation of foreign media ownership? Nope they would rather investigate some pizza restaurant in DC.

 

[Imzadi]

If you've seen the German spy balloon, you've probably seen the Kim Kardashian spy balloon. Not sure if that one could be posted here

OMG! I just Googled! It's a Twitter photo. That's definitely a balloon with a payload size of 3 buses.

 

[Imzadi]

Guys, can we please keep this thread light and not get closed like a previous one. You guys know there are certain serious areas we can't venture into. Apparently, neither can the balloons now. We could use more light, fun threads, IMO.