While it is a hilarious idea, I wonder how many Canadian taxpayers know that they are partially funding the launch of a 300 meter inflatable balloon into low earth orbit over Texas.

The gov't-supported 'Canada Council for the Arts' is kicking in $15,000 on behalf of its tax-paying art lovers.

Of course, no one in Canada will be able to see the banana...but no matter, they still get to help pay some of the $1.5 million for it.

I don't know how our US Endowment for the Arts missed the opportunity to also help finance this project. Must've slipped up...get it? "slipped"

Launch is set for August 2008....
If you want, you can contribute to this art event at ThePoint.com. While you are there, dont forget to sign up to support the Hillsborough Street "Dunkin Donut Boycott."




http://www.geostationarybananaovertexas.com/en.html

4/14/2008 9:28:16 PM

Why is this in TSB?

That picture is fake and i'd guess the story is fake too.

4/14/2008 9:30:57 PM

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070110/giant_banana_070110/20070110

Seems legit

4/14/2008 9:35:52 PM

why a banana?

why Texas?

is Texas ok with this?

[Edited on April 14, 2008 at 9:53 PM. Reason : asdfghj]

4/14/2008 9:51:47 PM

If for some reason Texas is not ok with it, I see that as only more of a reason to do it.

4/15/2008 1:17:23 AM

I wonder if they'll let me put some imaging sensors on it.

4/15/2008 1:18:28 AM

Quote :

"If for some reason Texas is not ok with it, I see that as only more of a reason to do it."

Strangely enough I agree with this.

4/15/2008 3:19:55 AM

I wonder if the people who just blew $1.5 million on a flying banana are the same people who demand the government act in Darfur, or to end AIDS, or to end poverty, or any of a myriad of other causes to which $1.5 million would have been better suited?

4/15/2008 7:47:54 AM

you do realize that the canadian gov't only donated $15K to this cause, not $1.5 million, right?

4/15/2008 8:55:57 AM

I'm arguing that that the $1.5 million raised could be better allocated regardless of who donated it to them.

4/15/2008 9:08:12 AM

geostationary. lol. i see ad revenue ppl getting into this business soon.

4/15/2008 9:08:51 AM

Quote :

"you do realize that the canadian gov't only donated $15K to this cause, not $1.5 million, right?"

Are we attempting to justify this by saying the amount of money is small? Wasting even one dollar of hard-earned tax-payer money on this thing is morally reprehensible.

Tax spenders are always telling us how their pet project only costs tax-payers mere pennies every day. One ant bite may be merely annoying, but a thousand little ant bites can kill you.

4/15/2008 10:51:02 AM

that's fine. but the post preceding mine implied that the canadians were fronting the $1.5 million.

and as far as this being morally reprehensible, i find many things funded by our gov't to be wasteful (and the endowment for the arts isn't one of them). this is why we have elections.

Quote :

"I'm arguing that that the $1.5 million raised could be better allocated regardless of who donated it to them."

do you make a thread every time a new multi-million dollar church is built?

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 11:14 AM. Reason : .]

4/15/2008 10:58:36 AM

Quote :

"i find many things funded by our gov't to be wasteful "

We are in total agreement here, my friend.

Using tax-payer funds to put a inflatable banana into orbit... in another country.... This gov't waste is amazing.

4/15/2008 11:25:10 AM

Quote :

"that's fine. but the post preceding mine implied that the canadians were fronting the $1.5 million."

to you maybe. I didn't mention Canada once in my post. I was talking only about wasting $1.5 million on a ridiculous flying banana.

Quote :

"do you make a thread every time a new multi-million dollar church is built?"

I didn't make a thread, I only commented in one.


Are you going somewhere with this?

4/15/2008 11:50:05 AM

why are people boycotting Dunkin Donuts?

4/15/2008 12:19:53 PM

are they boycotting, or did they just realize they suck?


-- zing! --

4/15/2008 12:23:25 PM

^^
Some folks are threatening a boycott of DD because the local store doesn't donate un-sold donuts to the food shelter.

The protestors are using ThePoint.com to organize the boycott.

4/15/2008 12:28:24 PM

4/15/2008 12:37:08 PM

dunkin donuts > krispy kream.

4/15/2008 12:56:12 PM

you die now

4/15/2008 6:18:18 PM

krispy kream has 1 donut thats any good.

Dunkin donuts has coffee, a variety of good donuts, and p. good bagels.

4/15/2008 6:23:19 PM