For Falcon

I thought this was fitting:

http://chud.com/articles/articles/21163/1/THE-DEVIN039S-ADVOCATE-ACE-IN-THE-BALLOON/Page1.html

"There are not many movies released almost 60 years ago that are completely, totally and brutally relevant to the world we live in today. But Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole is a film that is so of the moment it could come out this weekend and be considered timely, as today's Balloon Boy Brouhaha reminds us."

Falcon's presumed aerial adventure provided the definitive example (albeit far from the first) of how the cable news networks feel it's necessary to "brand" their stories. The poor kid will be known forever as "Balloon Boy," even though he was never actually on the balloon.

What on Earth are the odds that this kid's name, of all things, would be Falcon?

Then again, I don't know if I even believe that. Kid's real name is probably, like, Mole or Armadillo or something.

But my favorite part of this "story" is that it proves once and for all how a cable news network's "breaking news" banner actually means, "We don't know what the hell is happening, but we're going to act like we do for as long as we can because that little yellow banner makes people keep watching."

(My other favorite part: When both CNN's and MSNBC's anchors flatly said, "We will not show you the moment of impact" when the balloon was descending, and then immediately showed the moment of impact.)

JE: Hilarious. I didn't learn about this whole story until after the fact when I got a Borowitz Report e-mail headlined: "Millions of Americans Waste Entire Fucking Afternoon." http://borowitzreport.com/article.aspx?ID=7064

The whole thing seems awfully fishy:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113856719

It's patently obvious that Richard Heene concocted this whole saga in the hope of getting publicity for his little aircraft launch and down the line, a reality show. This guy is clearly a narcissist and a horrendous actor. Let's see: our kid just took off in a helium balloon craft that will take him to a near-deadly altitude - who should we call? I know - a news station. Then, his kid outed the little plot last night on CNN, and when he is questioned about the discrepancy in the story, he gets angry and calls the question offensive. Methinks he doth protest too much! It reminds me of the scene in World According to Garp where his wife figures out he screwed the babysitter and when she asks him about it point blank, he goes ballistic about how offended he is.

I'd love to be the network executive who gets to hear his pitch for a reality show. "We're like Jon & Kate, but with less kids and more crazy!". I can't wait for the premiere.

"Millions of Americans Waste Entire F***ing Afternoon."

It's funny because it's true.

I just can't wait for the inevitable follow up to this non-story story: When the day comes when a six-year-old boy actually does accidentally float away in a helium balloon, and all of America rises as one to say, "Pfft, like we're going to fall for the ol' 'kid-in-the-balloon' trick again."

Jim, unrelated (though the loose link would be 'dancing') but I just finished watching the first season of "Twin Peaks"...

I don't normally like TV shows because of the outside influences on the writers that force them to compromise their vision, sometimes from episode to the next, and also that TV tends to milk it rather than leave us with a conclusive (or satisfyingly inconclusive) ending... So far I have The Daily Show (and that's it) listed as a TV show I watch. But after noticing "Twin Peaks (season one)" on your old cinepad favorite movies list and finding it interesting that a TV show is grouped amongst so many great films, and also knowing Lynch had his hand in it, I thought I'd give it a shot... and I fell in love with the place and people there. Even Laura herself (from just recordings alone) is irresistibly (and perversely) intriguing...

So I want to know more. But I also know my imagination isn't searching for a definitive answer.

I read your cinepad article -- http://cinepad.com/twin_peaks/tp_mystery.htm -- and I agree with every word, more or less. I'm afraid to watch Season 2 because I know they reveal it. I've also read that reaction to "Fire Walk With Me" (the feature) was mostly negative. However, I see you are fond of it...

As a Peakie, what would you suggest I do next? Don't watch season 2 but do watch the feature (which, apparently, is about before Laura's death and then after Cooper is shot)? Or is season 2 worth seeing anyway? Or I should stop there altogether? How can I savor the mystery?

http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2007/02/twin_peaks_fire_walk_with_me_a.html

^I followed up to my last comment in the appropriate blog ;)