Did anyone else call out the "balloon Boy" early?

[Wattnot]

Re: Did anyone else call out the "Balloon Boy" early?

How could they have recovered the helium?

Not easily and they would have wasted a lot of energy trying. The only way would be to use a SCBA or SCUBA compressor. Very tedious. However, breathing fire and doing Hugh Jackman on them was a total waste. Why not bring them somewhere and give them to a group of kids . . . or perhaps they could have coordinated with a contractor who could have used them at a big party or wedding. . . I don't know, it just seemed like a waste.

If they would have used a single giant balloon, or a couple of weather balloons, then the compressor could have recovered nearly all of the helium. Not many people realize once it's gone, it's gone. I only learned that about 6 months ago.

 

[jzmtl]

Re: Did anyone else call out the "Balloon Boy" early?

Giving them to kids is not nearly as good in TV production value. Besides end result is the same either way.

 

[TorchBoy]

Re: Did anyone else call out the "Balloon Boy" early?

If they would have used a single giant balloon, or a couple of weather balloons, ...

It would have needed more than a couple of weather balloons (as per the Lawn Chair Larry myth) and that wouldn't have tested the myth at hand.

 

[LowBat]

I think if convicted the judge should also ban the family from receiving any monies from appearances, book deals and such, and instead direct all proceeds to go into a fund to reimburse the agencies involved.

 

[Empath]

How would a judge go about issuing a judgement against a family when only individuals are tried?

 

[StarHalo]

Oh, I do not think they slipped him anything.
With a dad like this, can you imagine how much pressure the little kid was under?

Also possible, but yes, definitely child abuse either way. It may not be the only kind of abuse Mr Heene's is familiar with; when police showed up at their house after a 911 hang-up last February, the wife, Mayumi, had a mark on her cheek and broken blood vessels in one eye. She refused to deal with the officers and claimed it was just a problem with a contact lens..

 

[LowBat]

How would a judge go about issuing a judgement against a family when only individuals are tried?

By family I mean those convicted (one or both parents) shouldn't be allowed to profit from this hoax either directly or by having their children interviewed for a price. Not knowing Colorado law I don't know what is possible. I'm just saying I don't want false reporting to be rewarded, especially when the report is of a life in danger that needs immediate rescue.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Now the parents have separate lawyers. Looks liek some previously private marital discord is about to, um, pop like a baloon.

***UPDATE***

Ballon boy mom admits the whole thing was a hoax, kids instructed to lie afterwards. :thumbsdow