I wonder how ironic the tree landing actually is. Assuming a weather balloon doesn't land vertically, but drifts at low altitude for several miles, it probably acts as a kind of tree-finder.

Used to be that everything was explained away as "probably just a weather balloon".

Now, when asked specifically if it was a balloon, the govt is like "Welllll...I can say it used no method of propulsion known to science, so if that's balloon-like..."

Is there nothing we can send up to take a picture of it?

Edit: ffs, Do the downvotes mean "obviously there is" or "obviously there isn't"?

> ffs, Do the downvotes mean "obviously there is" or "obviously there isn't"?

Downvotes on HN are handed out like candy to mean anything. Some people think obviously there is, and so downvote, others will think there isn't and downvote. Others think this is a stupid idea and will downvote. Others might think it's a good idea but disagree with the way you framed to the question

I wouldn't really worry too much about the votes here. They mean nothing.

I predict I will get downvoted on this comment, I don't know what it's meant to signify.

Not a downvoter, but yes, ‘we’ (governments) have airplanes, but that doesn't mean ‘we’ (you and I) get to see the pictures.

Asked if was "balloon-like," the official said, "All I say is that it wasn't 'flying' with any sort of propulsion, so if that is 'balloon-like' well -- we just don't have enough at this point."

I propose we launch our own balloons, with razor blades. Last balloon wins. World's slowest war.

Actually, though, sling some detcord over the enemy balloon and set it off... (I don't know if detcord really works like that, but I'm pretty sure razor blades won't do the job either. :D)

Ask ChatGPT to write a poem praising black people and it will. Ask it to write a poem praising white people and it will refuse.

This is clear racism instituted by OpenAIs moderators.

The best technology is invisible

1. They named it Bard

2. They didn't actually release it

3. The one thing they showed contained an error

Surely this is the strong response to OpenAI that investors were waiting for

Good idea, bad execution