Anyone see the news about what was supposedly a kid in a UFO-shaped balloon?  

When that sucker came down and there was no kid, I started to think it was a prank of some kind.

Best South Park episode ever. 

One hopes he didn't fall out at altitude...

The news is full of this here in Oz.   I pray all is well..

There were rumors that something might have fallen from the balloon, but nothing has been confirmed and the search is on.

Just announced- he was found in his home.

Yup- south part episode, lol

The news idiots will be trying to derive all sorts of "lessons" from this mess
for the next two goddamn years. 

The only real lesson is that kids often lie, and we should take that fact into account,
stop and think,  maybe even (gasp, horror of horrors) look in the kid's own damn house,
before spending millions of dollars and risking real lives of pilots and rescuers.

Geo, yeah I just heard that now.  ockham, they did look in his house several times.  Turns out he was hiding in a box in the attic.

At this point I'm thinking the father is going to have charges pressed and if the boy's lucky he'll only get a spanking and be grounded until he's 18.

I remember that in the 70's there was a small boy carried into the air when His foot was entangled in the rope attached to the top of the balloon.  The pilot only knew when He heard  "PLEASE Mister,  put Me Down"..  By this time the balloon was at several thousand feet..

That sounds like an urban legend from the way it's phrased.

I did read it.  I think it was reported in the ABF (American Ballooning Federation) magazine "BALLOONING".   I don't know which issue..  I sold Mine on eBay..

this just in:  total cost of the search effort in the UFO-balloon-boy case was approx. $29,000 american.
the part that creeped me out was the neighbour slobbering and licking his lips when he said how much he liked having a family with 3 young boys living next door.

I heard tonight that the family won't be charged with anything or billed for any cost.

The authorities do believe there was no intent by the family, Just the natural behavior of a 6 year old afraid of getting in trouble for something his dad had allready "yelled' at him about.
The spookswoman said that they won't be passing the cost on to the parents because they do not want to discourage other parents from waiting to long to report in fear that they would get hit by a massive bill or criminal charges.

Did you hear the interview? The kid said they did it to get on TV.

**Reminds me of this Email:

Why Parents Drink**

The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick one day.. Needing to have an urgent problem with one of the main computers resolved, he dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper. ' *** Hello*** ** ?** **'

'Is your daddy home?' he asked.

'** *** Yes*** ,' whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?'

The child whispered, ' *** No*** **.'

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, 'Is your Mummy there?' ' *** Yes* **'

'May I talk with her?' Again the small voice whispered, ' *** No* **'

**Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, 'Is anybody else there?'

' *** Yes*** ** ,** ' whispered the child, ' *** a policeman*** ** .** **'

**Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, 'May I speak with the policeman?'

' *** No, he's busy*** ** ,** ' **whispered the child.

****'Busy doing what?'

'** *** Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman*** ** ,** ' came the whispered answer.

**Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, 'What is that noise?'

'** *** A helicopter*** ' answered the whispering voice.**

**'What is going on there?' demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.... Again, whispering, the child answered,

' *** The search team just landed a helicopter*** **'

**Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, 'What are they searching for?'

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle....

' *** ME******'***

they don't bill 'em, as this would discourage parents reporting missing kids.  they can charge 'em, but the prospects are not good for a conviction, hence they may just try to scare 'em straight.  e.g. call dad in for an interview for sevl. hrs.; good cop, bad cop.

Quote - **Reminds me of this Email:

Why Parents Drink**

======
Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, 'What are they searching for?'

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle....

' ME'

 
Reminds me of that little boy that followed his mum's advice to get help with his mats:
he called 911

My son called 911 when my husband said we'd have to call the fire department for permision to put all the candles on his (my husband's) cake. They sent a squad car and checked out the house and we explained what was happening. It'll be a story to tell later.