Live data from Hacker News

A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

log.jasongodfrey.info

91–100 of 147 posts

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#91

The rate of return on this is phenomenal. A 53" balloon costs $9.99. You could shut down all large and medium hubs in the US for $629.37/day. The asymmetry is astounding and I'm surprised we don't defend against this kind of attack more efficiently.

I'm equally surprised we don't fend off these rampant goblin threats too! More pragmatically, such a system would cost multiple millions, and would take years to actually stabilize in a manner that would recover the fictitious costs to shutting down the airports with gaps. (i.e. I'm surprised you so easily bought into the 500k figure) All because a bunch of idiots lost track of their one balloon, once? The asymmetry…

Such a system is as easy as a set of binoculars and an airsoft gun

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#94

Is this the case of radar automatic targeting unable to distinguish between a balloon and a drone. Or was this a border guy manually pulling the trigger with bad eyesight?

It better be the latter because letting an automated system pull the trigger on unknown aircraft in public airspace that is not closed down is horrifying.

That's Russian levels of shooting down innocent planes. Fuck.

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

99 ministros de guerra Fósforos y bidones de gasolina Se creían gente muy astuta Ya olfateaban un gran botín Gritaron: “¡Guerra!” y querían poder Hombre, ¿quién lo hubiera pensado? Que alguna vez llegaría tan lejos Por culpa de 99 globos

That doesn't rhyme at all though.

[deleted]

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#96

The rate of return on this is phenomenal. A 53" balloon costs $9.99. You could shut down all large and medium hubs in the US for $629.37/day. The asymmetry is astounding and I'm surprised we don't defend against this kind of attack more efficiently.

"99 red balloons" starts playing in the background.

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

You probably should forget that, because it isn’t true. There’s no credible link between FAA staffing cuts and the DCA midair. That was a long-standing set of bad routes that was going to kill someone eventually.

[deleted]

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#98
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This wasn't the military. It was DHS, who is lead by the cosplaying cowboy hat lady, so this sort of incompetence should be completely expected.

Really making you wonder why does DHS have direct access to this hardware?

The former TV personality slash alcoholic slash sexual predator that is running the DoD probably gave it to DHS at the request of the cowboy hat wearing psychopathic domestic animal killer that runs that agency.

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#99
post #6

Is there any reputable source for this claim? Apologies if I missed it but didn't see one linked in the article. I ask because it's not what I'd read or understood yesterday.

I think this should be higher. It’s a sad day when HN joins the fake news cesspool.

Re: A party balloon shut down El Paso International Airport; estimated cost –$573k

#100

More alarmingly, the laser weapon was deployed before the FAA actually shut down the airspace: https://apnews.com/article/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-close... I'd say these trigger-happy clowns chasing tough-guy optics are going to get innocent people killed, but then they already have -- multiple times.

Remember, this is the same side that espoused "meritocracy" as their number one virtue. Instead, we got a cabinet full of loyalists and fascists that decided doing joint missions between the DoD and Border Patrol was a good idea. Firing lasers at party balloons in American cities, everyone else be damned. OPSEC is clear.

To be fair, the current version of the party is nothing like the version of the party from even a decade ago.

Whats disturbing is how so many people on that side have completely abandoned everything they ever said about their principles and values.

Post reply on HN