This is really informative reporting, thanks! And yet, I feel like even the source-verified version of the story with party balloons isn't entirely accurate. On Feb 9, Hegseth gave remarks to Anduril employees in which he leaked explicit knowledge/focus on laser use. There were 6 leaks in 8 minutes e.g., "opening the aperture" "breaking up... a hot second" and "emanating". He gave the speech sometime around midday on the East Coast. So this test was planned, not just an opportunistic thing on Monday evening. (I published a full analysis of his remarks on my Substack if you're interested in more details.)
This government lies so often and so shamelessly that I don't know if I can trust anything they say. Drones, party balloons, secret mission to air-drop deportees into the middle of the ocean... Who can tell.
The same guys who can't tell the difference between a drone and a balloon are the same incompetents who are assuring us that every boat and civilian it has blown to smithereens at sea is trafficking drugs. Like the rubber and mylar carcasses spawned from a quinceañera that the military deemed a security threat, the flotsam from the boat bombings has rarely, if ever, revealed actual narcotics amid the wreckage of what is now reported to be 40 vessels and 133 bodies.
Thank Dog it wasn't a pinata they targeted, rather than a party balloon. Had it been a pinata, the DOD would have had to use a big stick. Beat me, whip me, hurt me.
That AI slop with the eagle is just the latest example of how fascists are so fucking cheap and have such shitty quality standards they can’t hire even a half-ass graphic artist, or that their idea of a headline act is Kid(dy) Rock.
This would be really embarrassing for a small underdeveloped young country. In the USA, it's not even the stupidest thing they've done this week. It's probably not the stupidest thing they did today.
A party balloon. How amateurish. If you REALLY want to freak out an air traffic controller you need to step up your game!
First. You need a large, good quality balloon. Second. You need a tank of helium from the Party Store. Then you'll need a piece of string or twine. Lastly. You're going to need a 50-foot roll of aluminum foil.
They can't even repel party balloons without damaging the economy and endangering civilian lives. What would happen in a REAL emergency? I shudder to think.
I can remember the Spring of 1967 when a bunch of my friends created UFOs (hot air balloons) out of plastic laundry bags, birthday candles and short pieces of a drinking straws. They were wonderful! Their light flew up over the city and regularly generated UFO reports on local radio. All the local yokels were absolutely certain that space aliens were invading Spokane.
This is really informative reporting, thanks! And yet, I feel like even the source-verified version of the story with party balloons isn't entirely accurate. On Feb 9, Hegseth gave remarks to Anduril employees in which he leaked explicit knowledge/focus on laser use. There were 6 leaks in 8 minutes e.g., "opening the aperture" "breaking up... a hot second" and "emanating". He gave the speech sometime around midday on the East Coast. So this test was planned, not just an opportunistic thing on Monday evening. (I published a full analysis of his remarks on my Substack if you're interested in more details.)
This government lies so often and so shamelessly that I don't know if I can trust anything they say. Drones, party balloons, secret mission to air-drop deportees into the middle of the ocean... Who can tell.
The same guys who can't tell the difference between a drone and a balloon are the same incompetents who are assuring us that every boat and civilian it has blown to smithereens at sea is trafficking drugs. Like the rubber and mylar carcasses spawned from a quinceañera that the military deemed a security threat, the flotsam from the boat bombings has rarely, if ever, revealed actual narcotics amid the wreckage of what is now reported to be 40 vessels and 133 bodies.
Holy shit. Pete Hegeseth's Imperium.
Public libraries can no longer aid in processing passport requests because these dicks are dicks just for the joy of being dicks.
https://whyy.org/articles/state-department-orders-nonprofit-libraries-stop-passport-applications/?utm_campaign=sproutsocial&utm_content=1771013015&utm_medium=post&utm_source=twitter
Thank Dog it wasn't a pinata they targeted, rather than a party balloon. Had it been a pinata, the DOD would have had to use a big stick. Beat me, whip me, hurt me.
Or something.
That AI slop with the eagle is just the latest example of how fascists are so fucking cheap and have such shitty quality standards they can’t hire even a half-ass graphic artist, or that their idea of a headline act is Kid(dy) Rock.
So true.
I never realized that Ted Cruz was that insightful.
What's he doing wasting his time in the Senate?
Fuck Ted Cruz
This would be really embarrassing for a small underdeveloped young country. In the USA, it's not even the stupidest thing they've done this week. It's probably not the stupidest thing they did today.
A party balloon. How amateurish. If you REALLY want to freak out an air traffic controller you need to step up your game!
First. You need a large, good quality balloon. Second. You need a tank of helium from the Party Store. Then you'll need a piece of string or twine. Lastly. You're going to need a 50-foot roll of aluminum foil.
Is it just me or does the pic look like the laser went right through the eagles head? Appropriate.
I’m so pissed that my local (non Sinclair station) news reported the drone story as factual.
They can't even repel party balloons without damaging the economy and endangering civilian lives. What would happen in a REAL emergency? I shudder to think.
I can remember the Spring of 1967 when a bunch of my friends created UFOs (hot air balloons) out of plastic laundry bags, birthday candles and short pieces of a drinking straws. They were wonderful! Their light flew up over the city and regularly generated UFO reports on local radio. All the local yokels were absolutely certain that space aliens were invading Spokane.
I made some out of dry cleaning bags and sticks from discarded kites and candles. Great fun!
"Spokane, we must assimilate your culture as you represent the pinnacle."
That eagle wants it identity concealed, obvs.
"Squak! Don't get me involved in these shenanigans, ya dipshit losers!
And then added: "SQUALK!"
So I'm hearing that some senorita's quincinero had a free laser show?
"Neun und Neunzig Luftballons" ain't exactly Krautrock. Just sayin'.