On the subject of weather ...

[uwe]

Does give new meaning to the term Chinese dumpling ...   

[Dave W]

https://youtu.be/KlyERnu7zUw

[Alanko]

I feel like we are getting quarter of half the story of this balloon.

Anyway...

https://youtu.be/SaMJkQWLdW4

[uwe]

If I may share a relativist observation:

There is probably not a square inch on earth that has not been subject to US reconnaissance since the 50ies several times over, new lava islands that have sprung up in the Pacific possibly excepted, but they'll get to those too in time, no worries.

Still, downing that thing was perfectly warranted - as would have been sabotage or destruction of a US satellite spying over China by the Chinese. The golden rule is: Don't get caught. And if you are, don't be a sissy about it.

In general, espionage is a healthy thing, as long as everyone does it and shares in the results some of the time; it manages expectations of all participants and keeps things in balance. Some of the worst decisions in world history were taken for lack of sensibly procured prior intelligence.

They could at least have painted a dragon on it. Or Dr Fu Manchu.



And I was half-expecting that the US would abduct the balloon intact and analyse everything in some officially non-existent desert underground facility! 

[uwe]

https://youtu.be/KlyERnu7zUw

Now what would be the term for that today, redfacing? 

And for the record: The German Pickelhaube (made of leather btw)



was faded out 107 years ago and replaced by the sheet metal Stahlhelm!

[Alanko]

Neunundneunzig Luftballons...

[uwe]

In der Tat.

[westen44]

This thread can only go for so long without this video itself being posted.  The world needs Nena now more than ever. 

https://youtu.be/Fpu5a0Bl8eY

[uwe]

I heard that song in 1983 once and knew it would rule the airwaves. Ironically, the record company had doubts because "it doesn't even have a real chorus".

It's to this day her signature song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO5lfJ9dhs

Grandma Nena has caught some flak in recent times in Germany for troubling comments about COVID 19 and her appearance before/with so-called "Reichsbürger" - nutcases who believe that the Federal Republic doesn't exist as it is "just an ocupation government" and the German Reich continues to exist, meaning current Germany has no administrative rights over them. Yeah, whatever.

I've seen her in concert, she's certainly no Ella Fitzgerald, but she's a lot better than Doro Pesch, her voice having hardly aged. She has undeniable charm as a front woman. My favorite song of hers was always this here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=356i1JSloUA

[westen44]

MTV had only been in existence for about three years when 99 Luftballons came out.  They played it every chance they could, and people loved it.  The English version, though, wasn't even half as popular.  That particular song just needs to be in German.  This is something that eventually became obvious. 

Here is Nena at Pinkpop which I just found.  It seems they had a few technical issues, but I'm listening to it anyway. 

https://youtu.be/_RIf9hoU35M

[morrow]

You'd think they'd have the sense to stamp "made in Russia" on it somewhere.

[uwe]

[uwe]

Everyone gets a keepsake once in a while, even if it takes 63 years, uhum, POWERS that be allowing ...



But will some Irish band ever moniker themselves after a nameless balloon? I'm for nicknaming it Mulan.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVcLIfSC4OE

[Dave W]

https://youtu.be/hl_2DC5u_dk

[lowend1]

I heard that song in 1983 once and knew it would rule the airwaves. Ironically, the record company had doubts because "it doesn't even have a real chorus".

It's to this day her signature song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO5lfJ9dhs

Grandma Nena has caught some flak in recent times in Germany for troubling comments about COVID 19 and her appearance before/with so-called "Reichsbürger" - nutcases who believe that the Federal Republic doesn't exist as it is "just an ocupation government" and the German Reich continues to exist, meaning current Germany has no administrative rights over them. Yeah, whatever.

I've seen her in concert, she's certainly no Ella Fitzgerald, but she's a lot better than Doro Pesch, her voice having hardly aged. She has undeniable charm as a front woman. My favorite song of hers was always this here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=356i1JSloUA

I see she still has local NJ boy Paul DiLeo on bass. Can't miss the backwards and upside down thing. Most be almost 20 years, now. Good for him.