Saturday, March 15, 2008
Plans for 1,000-foot banana over Texas okay to go; still awaiting funding for production
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Source: GBOT
This is what a $1.5 million floating banana might look like.
Ever wonder what happened to that Geostationary Banana Over Texas Project? Apparently the "technical feasibility" has now been confirmed to complete this Warhol-esque work of art. All artist Cesar Saez and his team needs is $1.5 million to start production. The project is taking an interesting approach to fundraising in which individuals can pledge a donation, but will only be billed once the project comes to fruition. They still have a long way to go though, looks like only about $11 k has been raised.
The banana will be the first "near-space intervention of its kind, with the largest airship ever built, all supported by ordinary people." That's a tall order, and while it's supported by ordinary people, this is clearly no ordinary project. The project is looking to complete fund raising this June with an estimated launch date at the end of August from Mexico.
Why Texas? Well, when you're talking 1,000 foot bananas, obviously size does matter. Texas is obviously the only state the banana will be able to fly over without crossing borders for the whole month. Otherwise they'd have to call it the Geostationary Banana Over Maine/Vermont/New Hampshire/Massachusetts/New York and-maybe-Pennslyvania-or-Canada-depending-on-the-wind Project. It could probably fly over only California I guess, which is shaped kind of like a banana. According to the official website they chose Texas because A) bananas do not grow in Texas, and B) Texas has oil, a lot of Walmarts, Exxons and Halliburtons.
Source: GBOT
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Comments
Scott Doyle Verified
Can't wait to hear gunfire from rednecks trying to shoot it down. They may wish to rethink floating this thing anywhere near the south.
1 year, 7 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
James Scott Verified
wah wah wah...
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
This probably isn't the best timing as food, gas, liquor and helium are on the rise.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
Ok - So it's a little outdated but I'm sure it's still in short supply...and expensive...
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Tracy Yost Verified
One more good reason to have it over TX, the USGOV helium cache is apparently in Amarillo.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
I just love reading artists' quotes about "all I/we need is XYZ dollars to do this."
Granted, these guys aren't quoted, but let's be frank, $1.5 for a yellow balloon that disintegrates. I propose a $50K Strawberry made of such pure fibers and expensive fabric that only the purest of artistic hearts can see it hovering over my house.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Umm, apparently y'all didn't bother clicking James Scott's link. They officially threw out the idea because nobody cared enough to fund it.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Yeah I did. I still love hearing that stuff.
So was I supposed to act surprised too? that's gonna cost extra.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
Well, of course we did Doyle but since when has that deterred us from going off on a tangent?
I would pitch in a few bucks for a yellow banana...Texas could use some good press.
I suppose we will have to settle for the imaginary strawberry over Jason's house. I have two bucks I can pitch in Jason.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Collin Gouldin Verified
there's still a few pounds of them at my parent's house... i could donate them to the cause...
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
YES! Only 24,999 suckers..... er.... "patrons of the arts" left to go!
And of course, CG, you know you are my inspiration.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jtmbls Anonymous
ooooo! We could have a chocolate dipping fund raiser!!
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Celebrity EmCee - Collin Gouldin.
I'm THERE!
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
DC Anonymous
Uhhh, just to be clear, everyone here actually realized this was really a massive performance art joke rendered to add in the bonus of dragging dollars from dupes, right?
I'm sure the crew who dreamed up the banana is having a great laugh at the likes of the 'serious' reporters such as those at WFAA.
At those altitudes, helium balloons end up spherical. I admittedly laughed out loud at some of the design aspects like the balsa wood! Awesome. The MS paint map over Texas! Killer. Ensuring that the cranes are made of bamboo! Brilliant.
Besides, the name should tell you something: If it were geoSTATIONARY, it implies an orbit over the equator. I'm sure that every time someone wrote a piece about this and didn't bother to comment that Texas in fact does not cross the equator was worth a few yuks, too.
The "Ultra Long Duration Balloon" really was as close to state of the art in helium right now.
In the end, this whole banana thing really was a better essay on internet rumoring and regurgitation of press releases in the absence of actual investigation than anything else.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Uhhh, yeah Thanks
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
"a massive performance art joke rendered to add in the bonus of dragging dollars from dupes"
Back in my day, we called those "scams".
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
C'mon, Ponzi was a genius and he had a great act. All ya need is a catchy opening number, a pretty spokesmodel and something so stupid even a twenty-something can see through it and poof it's art!! If it fools the kid, then it's flat out fraud so ya gotta be careful. In a Disney World, it's all about laughing at the grownups.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jason Rice Verified
Ok, now back to my strawberry. I think we need to ride the Gouldin celebrity wave. There's no time to lose.
1 year, 3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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