FTFA: "...they didn't want to take their chances with U.S. Homeland Security, the Star reports."

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel that Homeland Security, by their mere existence, is protecting us from infiltration by Canadian launched lego pieces.

Love the bit about Homeland Security. As if a foreign national called Muhammad would have anything to fear from the freedom loving US government...

"Ho and Muhammed estimate that it took their balloon craft one hour and five minutes to climb 80,000 feet before it finally popped. The descent took a little more than 30 minutes."

That is a loooong descent.

OMIGOD THAT IS SO AWESOME

An Asian and a Middle Eastern man uses science for entertainment. Somehow I'm not surprised lol!

Spad31: I love these WEEK OLD stories.

/ftff
//fixed that for fark

"Canadistani Islamist Asad Muhammed with the assistance of PLA advisor "Matthew" Ho have successfully conducted a test launch of a new surveillance platform to use against the Great Satan after reverse engineering the Zionist Puppet's own technologies developed at MIT weapons labs. The initial test flight succeeded in evading the so called Homeland Security of the Great Satan."

Should have given him a spacesuit at least.

Props to submitter for using the correct term, LEGO, rather than Lego (as in the article), or worse Legos.

High Altitude Balloon Parachuting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lEsLcGB7Vo (new window)

I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

Yes, we should.

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

Translation: I'm jealous that I wasn't creative enough in my youth to have done something interesting.

Gwynplaine: Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

Translation: I'm jealous that I wasn't creative enough in my youth to have done something interesting.

Not really, no.

First, it's not creative. It's already been done. In fact, the article begins by stating that they decided to do this after watching someone else do it. That's about as not creative as you can get.

Second, without today's cheap and readily available electronics - the closest 1970s-ish equivalent of this would be writing notes into a bottle and dumping them into some river or attaching notes to helium balloons and releasing them. And both of those things were frequently done for the 'cool' factor (IE - if you launch enough of them, given enough time, someone far away will see the note and write back to the address provided on it) and both of them seem irresponsible to me. In fact, I think the word of that is 'littering'.

James Scameron: Spad31: I love these WEEK OLD stories.

/ftff
//fixed that for fark

Don't blame me - I tried to submit it back when the story was in the Toronto Star, but was told that it had already been submitted and rejected.

/didn't even get to come up with a headline

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

Yes, let's keep our kids minds on video games and DVDs, locked up inside the houses all day. Never thinking about possibilities and creative things. Yes, this has been done a thousand times, no it's not original but two TEENS did this on their own. Not because they had to but because they wanted to.

I agree, it is far better to bust any kids thoughts of trying new things and learning.

The fact that "today's cheap and readily available electronics" allowed them to this is not a bad aspect at all. hell, I wish I had the electronics I have available today when I was a kid. I can see your point, they should only be allowed sticks and mud to play with.

toetag: Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

Yes, let's keep our kids minds on video games and DVDs, locked up inside the houses all day. Never thinking about possibilities and creative things. Yes, this has been done a thousand times, no it's not original but two TEENS did this on their own. Not because they had to but because they wanted to.

I agree, it is far better to bust any kids thoughts of trying new things and learning.

The fact that "today's cheap and readily available electronics" allowed them to this is not a bad aspect at all. hell, I wish I had the electronics I have available today when I was a kid. I can see your point, they should only be allowed sticks and mud to play with.

Is building straw men your full-time job? Or is it just a hobby on the weekends?

I'm not against kids having fun.
I'm not against creativity.
I'm not against using technology.

But the cool, fun, creative, thing they did is potentially dangerous. And not just to the children, but to other people.

Fark_Guy_Rob: toetag: Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

Yes, let's keep our kids minds on video games and DVDs, locked up inside the houses all day. Never thinking about possibilities and creative things. Yes, this has been done a thousand times, no it's not original but two TEENS did this on their own. Not because they had to but because they wanted to.

I agree, it is far better to bust any kids thoughts of trying new things and learning.

The fact that "today's cheap and readily available electronics" allowed them to this is not a bad aspect at all. hell, I wish I had the electronics I have available today when I was a kid. I can see your point, they should only be allowed sticks and mud to play with.

Is building straw men your full-time job? Or is it just a hobby on the weekends?

I'm not against kids having fun.
I'm not against creativity.
I'm not against using technology.

But the cool, fun, creative, thing they did is potentially dangerous. And not just to the children, but to other people.

I think the proper way they should have done it was with high powered rockets.

In an attempt to clarify....

I'm not against kids playing baseball. But I don't think kids should play baseball in a busy street/urban area. The traffic is potentially dangerous to the children and the baseball is potentially dangerous to the cars, drivers, building and pedestrians.

Baseball should be played in an area where it is appropriate to play. Like a park or field or sporting area. Something like that.

The problem with launching balloons up to 80,000 feet is that you'd be hard pressed to find an area large enough to launch it safely and recover it safely. If launching weather balloons with cellphones and cameras catches on amongst teenagers who want to recreate the popularity of other people doing in on Youtube (like Planking, for example) you'll have a lot of kids wanting to do it, many of whom won't live in a geographical area where it's reasonable to do so, or who will take the time to do it in a way that will minimize the risk. We're talking about sending heavy things up really, really, really friggin high and waiting for them to fall back down to Earth. With no means of controlling their ascent or decent.

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

9.5/10

Rapmaster2000: Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

9.5/10

And I'm out. Thanks

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

At least they're doing something productive, rather than sit sit around and playing video games all day

I am at the First LEGO League with my nephew, so I am getting a kick...

I showed him this article and he said "OOH! NEXT YEAR'S PROJECT!"

Nem Wan

Should have given him a spacesuit at least.

springertoys.com

^ First thing I thought of as well. Poor lil guy could barely breath, and it's cold up there :op

geek_mars: FTFA: "...they didn't want to take their chances with U.S. Homeland Security, the Star reports."

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel that Homeland Security, by their mere existence, is protecting us from infiltration by Canadian launched lego pieces.

gwowen: Love the bit about Homeland Security. As if a foreign national called Muhammad would have anything to fear from the freedom loving US government...

Congratulations U.S., you have somehow managed to combine the images of ruthless totalitarianism and pathetic buffoonery. "Land of the free, home of the brave" has gone beyond irony to plaid satire.

Precision Boobery: geek_mars: FTFA: "...they didn't want to take their chances with U.S. Homeland Security, the Star reports."

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel that Homeland Security, by their mere existence, is protecting us from infiltration by Canadian launched lego pieces.

gwowen: Love the bit about Homeland Security. As if a foreign national called Muhammad would have anything to fear from the freedom loving US government...

Congratulations U.S., you have somehow managed to combine the images of ruthless totalitarianism and pathetic buffoonery. "Land of the free, home of the brave" has gone beyond irony to plaid satire.

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.... if you can afford it, or are related to a Senator

They didn't buy their weather balloon with points?

Fark_Guy_Rob: In an attempt to clarify....

I'm not against kids playing baseball. But I don't think kids should play baseball in a busy street/urban area. The traffic is potentially dangerous to the children and the baseball is potentially dangerous to the cars, drivers, building and pedestrians.

Baseball should be played in an area where it is appropriate to play. Like a park or field or sporting area. Something like that.

The problem with launching balloons up to 80,000 feet is that you'd be hard pressed to find an area large enough to launch it safely and recover it safely. If launching weather balloons with cellphones and cameras catches on amongst teenagers who want to recreate the popularity of other people doing in on Youtube (like Planking, for example) you'll have a lot of kids wanting to do it, many of whom won't live in a geographical area where it's reasonable to do so, or who will take the time to do it in a way that will minimize the risk. We're talking about sending heavy things up really, really, really friggin high and waiting for them to fall back down to Earth. With no means of controlling their ascent or decent.

WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?! This could be the next Jenkem!

Fark_Guy_Rob

Homer Hickam frowns and brushes away your shenanigans.

Man, the Canadian space program is really under funded.

I think, more impressive than this video, was the most masterful troll I've seen in quite a while on the geek tab.

Congrats bro.

Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.


It's certainly worth doing this! It's an inexpensive way for people to learn skills with electronics, payload sizing, mission planning, fabrication, etc. My university offers a class where you do this in a couple of months. Our curriculum is nearly completely theoretical with very little room for electives, so this was the first time I had ever designed, printed, and populated my own circuit board. A lot of grad/phd students there days haven't even soldered before because they spend their days doing simulations.

Also, I hate your 'it's okay if MIT does it' conceit. Those guys did it for the exact same reasons as these kids: to see if they can. There's no reason to assume they didn't take all of the standard precautions and had zero parental oversight. Amateur near-space balloons have been well documented project for decades now, with volunteer groups like Edge of Space Sciences doing regular launches for years, sometimes educationally in conjunction with organizations like the air force. All of those concerns you have are regular considerations for every launch.

So...maybe you're right. I guess it is kind of d-baggy to launch amateur balloons. Why don't you draft up a letter explaining to them that they should shut down their hobbyist community and switch to your certified practical and fun activity of choice? A little proofreading and we could send that out by the end of the week.

Fark_Guy_Rob: We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around

Yeah, that's why you get clearance from all of the relevant authorities before launching. You do the same thing with model rocket launches.

inflatedKarma: Man, the Canadian space program is really under funded.

But at least it gives America another option for hitching a ride into space :)

NO REAL THAN YOU ARE

sno man: Fark_Guy_Rob: I'm going to sound like a d-bag; but really, should we be encouraging this crap?

There isn't a real technical challenge here....
Order some cheap crap online, attach it to a balloon, fill with helium.

Is it really a good idea to encourage every high school kid with a youtube account to launch one of these things? We do have things like, ya know, air planes that fly around....and there is no telling where this thing will land. Most likely in the middle of nowhere, but it could land in the middle of a busy road. And what if the (untrained, inexperienced) high school kids build one that doesn't deploy it's parachute correctly? Falling cell phones, cameras, and lego toys can be dangerous. And if the GPS-enabled phone breaks or separates from the rest of the crap; good luck cleaning up the debris - you'll never find it.

So yeah - it's kinda cool. But on the more practical side of things, it seems kind of d-baggy. When it's a university like MIT, presumably, there is some information they are trying to gain and, presumably, there are skilled professional-types to ensure it's done safely. But when high school kids start doing it; and including lego men, I'm not sure we can pretend there is anything to gain from it.

You're right you do sound like a d-bag.

They went to a lot of trouble to get away from flight lanes and had checked on-line to have a pretty good idea where it was going to land and waited several days to avoid having it land either in Lake Ontario or across the lake into New York. They had tested the box and it's parachute by tossing it off the roof of on of the kids' apartment building. I'm sure that they simply did it to see if they could, but as far as something to be gained... Two high school kids from Toronto, getting ink in L.A.? Offers for speaking engagements? Are you kidding me?

/also the Canadian flag is pretty cool eh.

fixed