Video: Someone’s been a bad, bad boy
posted at 8:07 pm on October 15, 2009 by Allahpundit
Richard Henne told reporters gathered outside his house that the experimental craft was designed so people could pull out of the garage and float above traffic on the way to work.
Falcon had been getting into the box that holds all the batteries, and Henne said he had yelled at him for doing that…
Falcon said: “I was in the attic. He scared me and he yelled at me. That’s why I went into the attic, because I thought I would get in trouble.”
Henne said the area above the garage is not like a true attic, but rafters and rough planks with drywall and PVC pipes sticking up. He said Falcon climbed up the pipe to get to his hiding place.
I guess that last bit explains how the cops missed him. Watch the clip, though: It sounds like the brothers deliberately punked their parents by videotaping the kid crawling into the balloon box as part of their story that he floated away. If this is a simple case of the little one panicking and hiding because he was afraid of being yelled at, what’s the brother’s excuse for lying?
As for how they found him, imagine this scene: “Mayumi [his mother] was reportedly sitting on the couch when her son walked into see her.” Exit quotation: “Anyone else think the whole nation fascinated by a hot air balloon that turned out to be empty just might be a little symbolic?”
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Update: Here’s a longer clip. They’re an … interesting family.
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the boy deserves a swat on the ass for playing a frieghtning joke…..followed by a hug and reasonable explaination on not to do this kind of joke
hawkman on October 15, 2009 at 8:10 PM
I smell an endorsement deal coming from Southwest Airlines. Their tag line is “Wanna get away?”
chimney sweep on October 15, 2009 at 8:11 PM
National hot air balloon that crashes into an empty field. Sounds good to me.
d1carter on October 15, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Oh my god…I would beat him.
KSgop on October 15, 2009 at 8:12 PM
That kid deserves a good belting. Way to go Blanket or whatever the hell your name is.
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Well, maybe not “beat” per se, but he wouldn’t be able to sit down very easily for a couple of days.
KSgop on October 15, 2009 at 8:13 PM
This still smells fishy.
Question – if that’s his “hiding” place – wouldn’t that be the first place as parents you look?
gophergirl on October 15, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Either a PR stunt or a true Tom Sawyer flim-flam.
lizzee on October 15, 2009 at 8:13 PM
For the people that saw this family’s episode of Wife Swap you would know there is NO discipline of the children.
txag92 on October 15, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Yes, and the fact that no network covered this more intensely than MSNBC.
AUINSC on October 15, 2009 at 8:14 PM
What’s the #tcot that everyone puts on their twitters?
lorien1973 on October 15, 2009 at 8:14 PM
This is a planned stunt from start to finish….
BigWyo on October 15, 2009 at 8:15 PM
I’m done with this story.
HornetSting on October 15, 2009 at 8:15 PM
It’s bad enough he named his kid “Falcon.” COME ON.
Sir Loin on October 15, 2009 at 8:16 PM
The older boys are to blame i think, right now. They are on the roof with cameras? I think they let the rope go.
mimi1220 on October 15, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Gutfield needs to steal that one for tonight.
Totally awesome, dude.
The Ugly American on October 15, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Shouldn’t the older boys be punished for lying to their parents? They were old enough to understand the ramifications a bit better than the 6 year old.
karenhasfreedom on October 15, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Not just a hot air balloon but a bright shiny hot air balloon. And if you disagree that it is fascinating to watch you must be a racist or something.
highhopes on October 15, 2009 at 8:18 PM
LOL….
The Ugly American on October 15, 2009 at 8:19 PM
I nominate AP for quote of the day!
Texas Gal on October 15, 2009 at 8:19 PM
My response if that was my kid…
“That’s it– NO COLLEGE!”
Nethicus on October 15, 2009 at 8:20 PM
This guy is a nutjob.
Something doesn’t seem right about this story. Doesn’t pass the smell test.
RedbonePro on October 15, 2009 at 8:20 PM
This happened in my neighborhood. Little boy was waiting for friend to come over and then decided to go hide from friend. His under pillows on his bed and fell asleep. He literally just walked out into total mayhem – police, people, helicopters.
The searched his room but bed looked fine – never thought to check under pillows.
This seriously happens all the time it was just fluky with the balloon element.
Topsecretk9 on October 15, 2009 at 8:21 PM
So when everybody does that and there is a trafic jam of hot air balloons? It’s easy to see where these kids got their brains.
highhopes on October 15, 2009 at 8:21 PM
My ass would have been tanned for this when I was a kid.
OmahaConservative on October 15, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Top Conservatives on twitter
#IThink
tjexcite on October 15, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Awesome.
Weight of Glory on October 15, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Assuming the kids deliberately tried to trick their parents, then yes, they deserve a good beating.
But the fact that the kid actually went into hiding for a considerable period of time after being yelled at, tells me more about the parent(s) and their parenting than the kid. The article stated:
It wasn’t “people”, it was “parents” looking for their 6-year-old boy. And if it truly is “not uncommon” for kids to deliberately hide from their parents, our country is in much worse shape than I thought.
Splashman on October 15, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I caught the few minutes of Huffington telling Ed she thought the whole espisode was over-kill by the cables. Ed just about busted a vain. Now that’s entertainment.
Rovin on October 15, 2009 at 8:23 PM
The only thing I’m sure of is that there’s more to this story. Sit back and watch.
Potfry on October 15, 2009 at 8:24 PM
I didn’t see the entire interview, but from what I saw from the clip, the “dad” spent most of his time discussing his stupid, awful invention. His kid had a grin on his face the entire time, and then his father apologized for yelling at him while faking sadness. What the hell? Publicity stunt?
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:24 PM
And the wind always blows to work…
right2bright on October 15, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Wait a minute,i know Team Liberal is cutting costs,
but my gawd,having six year olds in balloons as an
early warning for counting incoming missiles is nuts!
And further more,Liberal mothers allowing their six
year olds as part of a kiddy missisle shield,is a bit
much!!!!!!!!!!(Snark)
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Exactly.
RedbonePro on October 15, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Trailer-trash desperately seeking the limelight.
OmahaConservative on October 15, 2009 at 8:28 PM
If you work in the WH or the capital, it actually blows in the other direction.
Rovin on October 15, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Heres the video of the idiot who tied balloons to his lawn
chair and drifted into the air-lanes of passenger jets!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-rKcqOK5qU
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 8:29 PM
I’m smelling a new family reality show! Maybe a Jon and Kate Plus 8 kind of show or maybe an episode of Super Nanny (is that still on?).
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:29 PM
The kids gonna get grounded done good me thinks!!
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 8:30 PM
All’s well that end’s well, except for the cost of the search, it must be huge.
The balloon was sure cool though, it really looked like a flying saucer. What a fun science project.
Common Sense on October 15, 2009 at 8:32 PM
The article also stated:
Obviously, both contentions cannot be true. The “float above traffic” quote was attributed to Mr. Henne. Perhaps this particular balloon was intended as a mockup for his final “float above traffic with Puff the Magic Dragon” design?
Splashman on October 15, 2009 at 8:32 PM
been done. Thunderbirds.
Chris_Balsz on October 15, 2009 at 8:32 PM
The father almost seems like he’s doing some kind of character acting in film or something. It just looks really odd. His mannerisms don’t seem real at all. I know he’s supposed to be some kind of amateur inventor or scientist or something…but this almost looks like some sort of screen test for a Hollywood “Back to the Future” movie. It just doesn’t look right to me.
AUINSC on October 15, 2009 at 8:33 PM
This is a very eccentric family.
I bet a reality show on Discovery is coming soon.
cubachi on October 15, 2009 at 8:33 PM
In later news…. While everyone was watching the balloon fiasco, Pelosi and Reid pushed 32 unconstitutional bills through congress…
anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
viviliberoomuori on October 15, 2009 at 8:35 PM
It actually was, but in the end they gave the role of George McFly to the far creepier Crispin Glover.
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Only Obama and a case of Keystone can reunite these 2.
Chuck Schick on October 15, 2009 at 8:35 PM
He would get the biggest, slobbering, weepy kisses and hugs along with the hardest whooping of his life.
Diane on October 15, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Interesting tidbits from near the end of the article:
Hmmmm. Don’t sound like trailer trash; just garden-variety nutjobs.
Splashman on October 15, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Yea, sounds a little fishy now, although when I first saw the headline on CNN I was horrified. Glad it ended well, but I feel like a sucker for some reason. I mean if you built a balloon that could float at up to 10000ft at a pretty high rate of speed, what better way to get the world’s attention than to let it rip? Instant celebrity. I frankly think they should ALL be in trouble over this. Dad and brothers too.
scalleywag on October 15, 2009 at 8:40 PM
um. nix on #IThink.
LEBA on October 15, 2009 at 8:40 PM
What a weasel of a dad. My size 12 would be in that kids butt so fast he couldn’t sit down for a week.
“We’re going to talk ti him?” Liberal dips
Jeff from WI on October 15, 2009 at 8:40 PM
My old man would of killed us, all of us, the whole family, and you’d hear the swearing in 6 states.
Jeff from WI on October 15, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Okay,now I finally got it!!
This was an attempt,at a sacrifice by Al Gore, to appease
Mother Earth,
to usher in Global Warming!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Snark).
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 8:43 PM
It does sound like something my brothers would have done. And blamed me for it.
scalleywag on October 15, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Same here man. This would not have been a belt or fly swatter offense. A pistol whip perhaps?
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Eccentric is for rich people. If you aren’t rich, you’re just nuts.
Buford Gooch on October 15, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Dad needs to be beat as well…
Kids are divorced from reality… too much being on TV, and “science” projects…
If’n I yelled at my kid, and he (or she) didn’t come when I called… they KNEW they were in even bigger trouble.
And the 10 year old continued to LIE, even after the police and such were there? Apparently they have not been taught the difference between right and wrong…
Romeo13 on October 15, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I totally would be spanking that kid and I totally wouldn’t share that fact on television.
PackerBronco on October 15, 2009 at 8:45 PM
I find it rather amusing and perhaps more than a bit heartening
that a little boy can still be a curious scamp in this day and age.
He’s going to have a great story to tell his sons and grandsons…
Tru2my2 on October 15, 2009 at 8:47 PM
This family needs to be sent to the moon, ala Jackie Gleason.
OmahaConservative on October 15, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Scamp, eh? How about over-protected, under-disciplined little hellion?
Buford Gooch on October 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM
So, momma was just sitting on the couch, while the whole damn world (including her) was thinkin’ that her baby had fallen out of a freakin’ hot air balloon?
Not the way I would behave. Not the way most of the parents I know would behave. An odd family, indeed.
uncivilized on October 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Is this a sly reference to the Helium Balloon of the United States?
Kralizec on October 15, 2009 at 8:51 PM
This family needs to be sent to Bellevue for a serious psychiatric evaluation.
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:52 PM
The older brother is the one to punish, Im sure he put blue falcon up to it. He filmed his brother getting in the balloon. Then showed his parents the footage.
Greed on October 15, 2009 at 8:53 PM
…and the spankings would flow like water…
Sorry, to those of you who don’t subscribe to corporal punishment, but doing things that could potentially get you hurt/killed/arrested require a bit more than a “stern talking to”.
uncivilized on October 15, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Anyone willing to bet it was a publicity stunt by the parents? Hmmm….
vcferlita on October 15, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Exit quotation: “Anyone else think the whole nation fascinated by a hot air balloon that turned out to be empty just might be a little symbolic?”
DarkKnight3565 is a great commenter on Twitter.
Thanks, Allahpundit, for picking up and using his quote. It’s a winner.
Loxodonta on October 15, 2009 at 8:54 PM
I’m with you. Why do I think mom and dad plotted the whole thing out with instructions for Junior to hide in the rafters and “keep extra quiet” when the police came.
sherry on October 15, 2009 at 8:56 PM
I’ve noticed a common theme that everyone is talking about beating the kid or catching a beating themselves when they were kids. Is that why we are conservatives?
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 8:56 PM
I called it, that it smelled like a hoax and that the worldwide media has shown themselves not to be smarter than a 6 year old.
Correct on both counts
Niteowl45 on October 15, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Come on now, Its the obamma balloon. the whole nation was fascinated. but in the end its just full of air and nothing else.
Greed on October 15, 2009 at 9:00 PM
I question the timing. What was Obama/Pelosi/Reid doing today?
MikeA on October 15, 2009 at 9:01 PM
Please tell me you’re kidding.
Splashman on October 15, 2009 at 9:01 PM
As I recall it does a pretty good job teaching cause and effect.
MikeA on October 15, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Hmm, great exposure for Dad’s research?
hawkdriver on October 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Quote of the Day/Month/Year!
+100 and a freshly baked cookie
mctowler on October 15, 2009 at 9:05 PM
That’s for sure. I never played with my dad’s hunting rifles twice…
Shock the Monkey on October 15, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Completely agree. The PC BS of a stern talking to, or standing in a corner, or the “alone time” notion is exactly that. BS. Give a kid a fake, and they’ll fake for a day. Teach a kid to fake, and they’ll fake for life.
disillusioned on October 15, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Is that Keanu Reeves holding the kid?
Dire Straits on October 15, 2009 at 9:07 PM
If I did that, I would have got a good spanking AND grounding AND Community Service.
Sapwolf on October 15, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Damn skippy.
Anna on October 15, 2009 at 9:10 PM
I don’t buy the whole “child was scared” meme. Look at his parents, for crying out loud. Mom and Dad clearly have never disciplined these kids – ever – so there wasn’t any reason for him to be afraid.
This was a either a stunt pulled off by the entire family, or the older brothers convinced little brother to hide while they pranked Mom and Dad.
yogi41 on October 15, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Color me cynical and verrrrry suspicious. Perhaps the time on a reality show gave the family a taste of fame, and this was an over played ploy to regain the limelight; This family stimulated my spidey sense in a big way.
anniekc on October 15, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Odds they voted for Obama? I bet they both get time out and no granola bar!
SouthernGent on October 15, 2009 at 9:15 PM
That’s a bunch of Hot Air
faraway on October 15, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Has anyone consulted with the Balloon Czar on how this incident should have been handled?
What’s that you say? There is no Balloon Czar?
NOT YET THERE AIN’T!
pilamaye on October 15, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Me too, it smacks of “what a great way to show off our invention.”
scalleywag on October 15, 2009 at 9:22 PM
A child is NOT DEAD as a result of parents being stupid and leaving a huge balloon in the backyard.
I think this is a far better outcome than we feared.
wildcat84 on October 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM
My parents would take turns beating me if I did something like this. I am watching this family on LKL. These people are space cadets and need to be deprogrammed. What a bunch of loons. I smell a rat.
Philly on October 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Hmm, great exposure for Dad’s research?
hawkdriver on October 15, 2009 at 9:04 PM
hawkdriver:Research,hehe,hey hawk are you still stateside!!:)
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM
When I was five I pulled a disappearing act on my mother.
She had the whole block plus a police officer looking for me.
I was playing in a friend’s basement.
I don’t remember how my parents handled it-but I can guess.
annoyinglittletwerp on October 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Nope canopfor. I’m back in the dirt and already scheduled for a whole weeks worth of ops.
hawkdriver on October 15, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Hmmm…sounds familiar.
misslizzi on October 15, 2009 at 9:36 PM
There’s an opening for Flight Czar coming soon
The kid would be probably be more competant than 90 percent of the Czars and would do less damage than 100 percent of them.
nyx on October 15, 2009 at 9:38 PM
The children behave strangely. Two of them are in their own little worlds and the oldest looks a bit withdrawn. Not surprising given the parents. Falcon is pretending to shoot his brother in the head. Nice.
Philly on October 15, 2009 at 9:40 PM
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Nope canopfor. I’m back in the dirt and already scheduled for a whole weeks worth of ops.
hawkdriver on October 15, 2009 at 9:30 PM
hawkdriver: Stay safe,Hawk is their any sites you can point
to on the Rules of Engagement,pertaining to,
Afghanistan!:)
Heres a didication to you Hawk:)
I won’t back down. Johnny Cash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GTXkW2oCsI&feature=fvw
canopfor on October 15, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Did he just say his balloon was an LTA airship made dirigible using the Bifield Brown Effect and he was afraid his son would be electrocuted by coming in contact with some sort of generator that was in the gondola? Think about this.
Henne is a either a certified space cadet or one helluva liar.
13blackcats on October 15, 2009 at 9:50 PM
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