California Targets New Menace: Helium-Filled Foil Balloons

The Wall Street Journal ^ | July 15, 2008 | AMY KAUFMAN

[steve86]

Are you employed by The Onion?

[babygene]

What a dork you are... To believe this nonsense.

[Krankor]

[Focault's Pendulum]

I believe the bulk of the balloon industry is in North Dakota, not California.

Where did you get that? I deal with one of the largest balloon distributors in the country. Athens, Georgia.

[Diverdogz]

What a dork you are... To believe this nonsense.

Projecting your own self-image are you? I never said I believed it. A conductor shorting out high voltage transmission lines certainly can cause a problems, but I have no idea whether a metallic ribbon or a bunch of mylar balloons can carry enough current to make that happen. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't know. The story and information was provided to add to the discussion - not to provoke personal attacks.

[MissouriConservative]

I’ll have to remember that and ask to see the charred remains next time....lol. If they ask why...I’ll say I’m making some stew.

[KoRn]

lol!!

[goldstategop]

They can't balance the state budget in California but by golly, they'll take care of helium-filled foil ballons. Stupid Nanny State idiots!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ViLaLuz]

I don’t think those baloons are made of foil. They’re made of mylar plastic.

[babygene]

Sorry for referring to you as a dork. That was uncalled for.

Just frustrated that people believe this stuff. A large bird is a better conductor to a high tension line than a mylar balloon. And they deliberately sit on the wires.

[Hoplite]

Just frustrated that people believe this stuff.

I have personally had to deal with electrical transmission (>60kV) line outages caused by mylar balloon contacts, and have directed emergency switching to clear transmission lines so crews could safely remove mylar balloons which were deemed a threat to the safe operation of the line in question.

Go figure.

[Misterioso]

I have no facts. It’s just a belief. Anything wrong with that?

[weegee]

They would have to add a surtax to food at Taco Bell.

[weegee]

Which wildfires?

There are some that have been set by forestry people, some by homeless immigrants.

There are numerous examples of arson. But it is all because of global warming, don’t you know? Has been for 35 years.

It’s not like fire and drought isn’t already a season in California.

[bert]

There are no foil balloons.

The baloons are coated plastic film

[weegee]

Why do you see pairs of shoes hanging by the laces from power lines? 02-Aug-1996

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_274.html

[weegee]

The Democrats want to outlaw shiny objects. Then only they will have the power to distract the gullible masses.

[dragnet2]

All I can say is...what have we become?

Missouri?

Flood victims?

[Joe 6-pack]

Foil balloons were also responsible for bringing down the UFO at Roswell...

I'd hate for an alien race to vaporize us because they mistook a "Happy Birthday" balloon for an act of war. I say ban them now.

[NRA1995]

If this is true about the ballons causing power outages, I do not see the problem with this bill? In fact I would support it.

And just how many power outages of this kind have made the news? (I hear crickets chirping)