Comments on: Geostationary Banana Over Texas

Geostationary Banana Over Texas

jonson — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:57:40 -0800

Geostationary Banana Over Texas is an art intervention that involves placing a gigantic banana over the Texas sky. This object will float between the high atmosphere & Earth's low orbit, being visible only from the state of Texas & its surroundings. From the ground, the banana will be clearly recognizable and visible day & night; it will stay up for approximately one month.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:59:03 -0800

Bananaphone?

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:01:21 -0800

OMG that is so awesome. Banana!

By: lazaruslong

lazaruslong — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:02:57 -0800

haha this is awesome

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:05:43 -0800

I don't know what I would do with a million dollars, but "put a giant banana over Texas" was not previously on my list.

By: space2k

space2k — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:05:49 -0800

Countdown to TX bashing... 3, 2, 1.....

By: jimfl

jimfl — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:06:57 -0800

It'll never fly.

By: sanko

sanko — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:08:43 -0800

Preemptive response to inevitable TX bashing: You're just jealous because you don't have a space-banana.

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:09:13 -0800

Now, if we could just project it into GWB's ass, this would be a worthwhile project....

By: Saydur

Saydur — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:11:46 -0800

Bla sph emy ! (Links may be NSFW.)

By: SAC

SAC — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:12:36 -0800

Go Banana! /ralph

By: Saydur

Saydur — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:14:19 -0800

(As an afterthought- Comment above refers to how putting a giant banana in geostationary orbit visible in the sky at all times really reminds me of some sort of worshipped idol. Honestly, if all of Texas worshipped a giant sky-banana, I'm not sure how I'd take it...)

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:14:37 -0800

Don't mess with the space banana.

By: niles

niles — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:18:42 -0800

um...

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:19:45 -0800

CHRIST WHAT AN ASSHOLE

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:20:22 -0800

Honestly, if all of Texas worshipped a giant sky-banana, If!?

By: luftmensch

luftmensch — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:20:23 -0800

Sweet. That might be a good reason to go to Texas. "Honey, pack the car! We're goin' banana-sightin'!"

By: T.D. Strange

T.D. Strange — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:22:45 -0800

ring ring ring ring ring...

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:23:43 -0800

Oh, sure. Now all the other states can have banana envy.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:24:42 -0800

This may yet redeem my opinion of Texas.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:25:25 -0800

It certainly has appeal.

By: tehloki

tehloki — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:26:40 -0800

Everything is bigger in Texas, and floats.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:29:56 -0800

Slipstream.

By: wallstreet1929

wallstreet1929 — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:30:00 -0800

When the ones called artists call their work useless, absurd and banal, why does the population feel compelled to be worship it? 1984 is often invoked on behalf of politics, but what of art. Bad is Good. Who Controls the Past Controls the Future. The Child is a Man. The artist laughs as we bow down to his fool wisdom. Oh the REACTION AND ANGER...it must be very good art indeed. Spit-touie. Ding!

By: yhbc

yhbc — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:30:29 -0800

You've been saving this one, haven't you, jonson? Checking every day, just to be sure no one's posted the geostationary banana over Texas yet. Oh, I can see right through you, bucko.

By: jonson

jonson — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:31:19 -0800

Let it be known: I will go to Texas if & when this project bears fruit (see what I did there?).

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:32:17 -0800

The banana at night is big and bright, *clap clap clap clap* Deep in the heart of Texas! The fruit-filled sky, is wide and high, *clap clap clap clap* Deep in the heart of Texas!

By: jonson

jonson — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:32:43 -0800

Actually, commish, I'm so desperate to win that I funded the G.B.O.T. project with my own money and this is totally a self-link.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:34:37 -0800

If it works, it will be one step forward for art, one GIANT LEAP for annoying advertising. Advertising exec: "What? A banana? A crummy highway billboard costs us nearly that much, and you're saying we could be putting "Coke Adds Life" in the sky for a MONTH for the same money? Get me Graf Zepplin on the phone! Oh - and lights! I want it to be flashing - y'know, like those eye-catching banner ads on the web!"

By: Zero Gravitas

Zero Gravitas — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:34:43 -0800

I see your Texan Space Banana and raise you one Swedish Moon Cottage.

By: gurple

gurple — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:37:31 -0800

Sky art is cool.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:43:54 -0800

wallstreet1929: Think of it more like an epic battle that has been waged for a century now (ie since photography broke the popular function of art and left it high and dry in the elitist camp). Traders have been making money from art, and (some) artists have been developing new methods of production that will deny trade and value in the works. With each new innovation in the battle against the dollar, new counter-innovations have been found to assign and trade value on the work in other ways. I don't think these guys are in that militant camp though. I think they're in the "we do this because it would ROCK SO HARD!" camp of artists :)

By: eparchos

eparchos — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:43:55 -0800

Now THAT is so big and so dumb, it's perfect for Texas. "There's only three things that come outta Texas, Beers, Steers, and Giant Bananas... now you ain't yellow and you ain't got horns, so what does that make you?" I guess that only works if you're yelling at your six pack....

By: Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese

Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:53:23 -0800

-harlequin- nailed why this is a terrible idea. If they can do this, there is nothing stopping KFC and Geico and AOL from doing much, much worse. Imagine your sky full of giant blinking Pepsi and Coke cans.

By: eparchos

eparchos — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:58:00 -0800

Kraftmatic: Anybody who lives in the Southwest already knows the pain of dealing with a landscape full of billboards. I say give the tree-people and other lowlanders some giant floating Pepsi cans, we'll see how THEY like it.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:59:25 -0800

I thought the exact same thing as -harlequin-, if this works, it's going to totally change advertising in the most irritating of ways. Don't get me wrong, giant flying bananas are a magnificent idea. But I just fear what this will lead to when marketing-drones get wind of the concept.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:00:13 -0800

I don't suppose anyone cares that this is impossible because Texas isn't on the equator? (Yeah, I'm a geek. I'm proud to be a geek. What's it to you?)

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:00:23 -0800

Legal aspects in relation to this project are practically non-existent. There is no law or regulations for any kind of traffic at these altitudes. United States aviation and aerospace laws does not contemplate any ruling above 25.000 meters of altitude. Further, the United Nations has a treaty for outer space regulation; however, it does not provide any rule for high altitude or near-space intervention. Whoda thunk?

By: quin

quin — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:08:07 -0800

Though I am now struck with a great idea for an art piece of my own. It involves taking one of these and painting it to look like this. Then I'd take my project, point it at their project, press the button, and have the two connect in a most spectacular way. Much fun would be had by all!

By: pinespree

pinespree — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:19:36 -0800

When I clicked on the link and saw that the page was available in three languages, of which only two are spoken in Texas, I was struck with an "of course!" -- I almost can't imagine a project like this being pulled off without the involvement of francophones. Am I racist? Of course, when I read a little more about what they plan to do, I have trouble imagining them pulling it off, even with the francophones. But I wish them luck.

By: dropkick

dropkick — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:22:43 -0800

Not to be confused with the banana bunker .

By: graventy

graventy — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:32:00 -0800

Man, that is awesome.

By: CitrusFreak12

CitrusFreak12 — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:32:03 -0800

I, for one, welcome our ban.... Oh forget it. ColdChef: I'm sorry to say I actually laughed at your pun.

By: amyms

amyms — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:34:08 -0800

visible only from the state of Texas & its surroundings Cool! I wonder if I'll be able to see it from Kansas.

By: lunalaguna

lunalaguna — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:36:59 -0800

Aww, I'm disappointed those involved aren't actually Texan. It's a bunch a French-Canadians, non?

By: phooky

phooky — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:37:40 -0800

I'd like to imagine any stratospheric advertising over Texas would be promptly dealt with by the fine folks at Armadillo Aerospace. but i like to imagine lots of things

By: brownpau

brownpau — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:42:14 -0800

The eyes of Banana are upon you. All the live long day.

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:46:03 -0800

I've never missed Texas as much as I do right now. I didn't even grow up there, but it's exactly this kind of wonky shit that makes me love the place. Also, every time a Korean asks where I'm from and I say "Texas" they give me thumbs up and go "George Bushie!"

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:53:11 -0800

I don't know what I would do with a million dollars, but "put a giant banana over Texas" was not previously on my list. How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island?

By: emjaybee

emjaybee — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:00:56 -0800

There's going to be a lot of confused stoners in Austin.."DUDE! Did you see that??" Man, when I moved here from NYC I didn't know I was trading the Big Apple for the Space Banana.

By: rob511

rob511 — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:05:29 -0800

L. Frank Baum's fevered imagination finally makes sense.

By: pril

pril — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:24:56 -0800

For some reason I want it to have the identifying sticker on it, too, like they do at the grocery store.

By: !Jim

!Jim — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:33:51 -0800

I think is idea is completely brilliant. I don't see it working from a physics standpoint though.

By: jazon

jazon — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:38:36 -0800

There are no bananas in the sky (in the sky) There are no bananas in the sky (in the sky) There's a Sun, and a Moon, and a Coconut Cream Pie; But there are no bananas in the sky (in the sky)

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:45:23 -0800

It would be even cooler if they made it out of real lions!

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:58:59 -0800

There is no law or regulations for any kind of traffic at these altitudes. ...well, there's always the Laws of Physics. And you don't get to break those.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:59:58 -0800

How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island? I guess living in Rhode Island, I would get much more personal enjoyment out of a geostationary refrigerator-sized apricot over Cranston than I would a giant banana over Texas, so yeah, more likely candidate for my million dollars.

By: chairface

chairface — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:03:54 -0800

This is great even if dubious. I'm curious how it would be visible at night though. But I bet it would look great at sunset. Imagine a giant pink banana floating over Texas.

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:13:30 -0800

      IN UR SKYS
    ".           ,#  
    \ `-._____,-'=/
     `._ ----- _,'
        `-----'
  PERPLEXIN UR REDNEKS

By: dirigibleman

dirigibleman — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:20:34 -0800

This is either a hoax or a sad testament to the lack of science literacy in this country. I guess reading the thread, it's kind of both. It's also kind of sad that so many people see yet another barrier to a good view of the night sky, as well as a method of annoying us with advertising at an unprecedented scale, as "neat." You know what's neat? Seeing the light of stars as they were at the time humans were still living in caves and hunting the woolly mammoth. Watching the soft glow of our galaxy actually cast shadows on the ground. Pondering our insignificance as we gaze at the majesty and sheer vastness of space. But hey, big banana. That's not banal. Dickholes. No, I have no sense of humor, because I'm a dickhole.

By: eparchos

eparchos — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:25:26 -0800

This is either a hoax or a sad testament to the lack of science literacy in this country Um.... them's not 'murrican. /cue sad testament to the sad state of reading comprehesion in this country.

By: CitrusFreak12

CitrusFreak12 — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:30:58 -0800

How about a refrigerator-sized apricot over Rhode Island? As a Rhode Islander, I'd have to say that'd be pretty neat. Bonus points if you position it so it's above The Big Blue Bug.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:00:38 -0800

Where is the Texas bashing? I came here for some good Texas bashing damn it!

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:08:10 -0800

If I was a more motivated type of person I would totally take this time to write up a freebird-style short fiction post that takes place in a post-peak oil/global warming-induced societal collapse future where subsitance-farmer natives, knowing nothing of technology toil the parched Texan soil under the watchful eye of the local land baron, looking up occasionally from their labor and speculate upon what their ancestors used such a thing for.

By: paulinsanjuan

paulinsanjuan — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:37:51 -0800

Maybe it's a floating memorial...

By: YoBananaBoy

YoBananaBoy — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:40:52 -0800

don't forget the more forgettable Stanley Marsh III's floating mesa in Amarillo, TX.

By: carmina

carmina — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:43:05 -0800

I find this offensive and obnoxious in so many ways. I am in dirigibleman's camp.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:45:15 -0800

Oh, for crying out loud. Lighten up.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:52:33 -0800

How is it they think this can possibly work using bamboo and paper, things which are not air-tight as as far as I know. They are still asking for money and haven't even done any of the engineering work, so I doubt this will ever go anywhere. I don't suppose anyone cares that this is impossible because Texas isn't on the equator? (Yeah, I'm a geek. I'm proud to be a geek. What's it to you?) What does that have to do with balloon blimps? Or did you even read the article? Or use any common sense when you wrote that? I mean is there really some reason why a giant balloon like this would work at the equator and not above Texas? Or is it just that you thought they meant geostationary orbit? I mean no offense, but it seems like almost every post you make contains some factual inaccuracy.

By: carmina

carmina — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:04:58 -0800

Thank you delmoi. Hopefully Steve will read your comment too.

By: carmina

carmina — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:15:18 -0800

The proposed technology section is a joke to say the least. Especially how they are going to keep the banana geostationary. Laugh out Very loud. Ah, comical art. The Absurd. Now I get it. Do they even know what geostationary means?

By: eparchos

eparchos — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:21:44 -0800

OK... I think I've hit my "favorites limit" in one thread.... Damn bananas make me all giddy, must be the thin air. Oh, BTW, delmoi, it's nylon and balsa wood....

By: StrangerInAStrainedLand

StrangerInAStrainedLand — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:35:43 -0800

What's next? Pie in the sky?

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:55:13 -0800

What's next? Pie in the sky? Nah. America's had plenty of that already, for a long time now.

By: mmoncur

mmoncur — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:15:48 -0800

At first I was torn between repeating the "dont' give advertisers any ideas" comments above or the "Cool, a giant banana!" comments. Then I read the "on the concept" and "proposed technology" sections of the page, and realized that this is nothing less than THE NEXT TIME CUBE...

By: loquacious

loquacious — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:30:35 -0800

MetaFilter: PERPLEXIN UR REDNEKS

By: loquacious

loquacious — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:39:19 -0800

Also: of course it's not real, brainiacs. Jesus. If you guys would stop obsessing over your slide rules and pocket protectors for like 10 seconds you might actually get the punchline to a joke for once or even maybe get laid or something. Trust me, with the right girl, hell, sometimes even the wrong girl it's like a 1000x better than solving for x. Yeah, I know. Trust me, I don't say that lightly. At least 1000x better.

By: notsnot

notsnot — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:16:11 -0800

Eponysterical!

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:28:51 -0800

it's like a 1000x better than solving for x. Yeah, I know. Trust me, I don't say that lightly. At least 1000x better. I'm sure you're right, loquacious, but all that "1000x" business, well, let's just say I'm not totally sure we can trust you with numbers... ;-)

By: Acey

Acey — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:31:54 -0800

With any luck, in the future, each country will be able to enjoy it's own geostationary fruit. I suggest we assign the kiwi to New Zealand straight away!

By: LoriFLA

LoriFLA — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 06:45:54 -0800

My three-year-old asked to look at the banana in the sky again this morning. He said astronauts are going to eat it, and wishes we could have a banana in the sky.

By: spock

spock — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 06:51:25 -0800

It is amazing how many comments were in this thread before one with any intelligence. Crikey. Try Googling "geostationary orbit" and learning something rather than contributing to the Farkification of MeFi. This completely goofy idea would have at least been entertaining if instead of a banana they had obtained the rights to produce a certain giant floating female Peanuts character made with diamonds.

By: DenOfSizer

DenOfSizer — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 07:18:29 -0800

Yeah, Spock, a giant banana's not logical --- but it sure is apeeling.

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 07:36:26 -0800

A rat done bit my sister Nell And Whitey is putting bananas in the sky

By: carmina

carmina — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 07:41:52 -0800

If you guys would stop obsessing over your slide rules and pocket protectors for like 10 seconds you might actually get the punchline to a joke for once or even maybe get laid or something....with the right girl Erm, can I get laid with the right boy? Cause I am more into boys. Or would that not do with your otherwise flawless argument?

By: Spatch

Spatch — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:53:00 -0800

There's a yellow nanner'n Texas That I am going to see... ok I got nothin.

By: malocchio

malocchio — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:56:01 -0800

I haven't read all the details, but do they claim anywhere to be putting something into orbit? There's a vast difference between flying a balloon in a circle (albeit extremely high-altitude) and achieving geosynchronous orbit. I'm not convinced that the concept would work, but some of the people saying OMG STOOPID seem to be missing the basic concept of what is being proposed.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:40:51 -0800

What happens if you peel slowly and see?

By: thecaddy

thecaddy — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:08:41 -0800

What happens if you peel slowly and see? The Warrior Warhol returns and paints the soup can that ends the world.

By: TimTypeZed

TimTypeZed — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:14:01 -0800

This is a daring action, defiant like a cowboy act. And the banana is macho and phallic, they say. It is in Texas because it has oil, and a lot of Walmarts, Exxons and Halliburtons. (and The Ranch) It is a buffoon act, trying to impress... Texan dominant Aerospace, and all the Gun Clubs. Canada Council for the Arts, funding Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Quebec, funding Canadians can sometimes be so insufferable in their attitude towards the US and especially the red states of the US. Maybe a banana in the sky is a funny idea, but as it primarily seems to be a tool for one culture to be snooty towards another, based on crude stereotypes, it's another project that makes the arts establishment in this country seem like a sinkhole for wankery at public expense. Public funding of the arts is usually sold as a worthwhile endeavour to tell our own stories and explore our society. I don't see how taking cheap shots at Texas meets that standard. Want to float a banana, float it over Hamilton. But maybe it has no meaning if we can't photoshop cowboys entranced by it.

By: forrest

forrest — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:28:14 -0800

Shh, malocchio -- they're on a roll. Just eat your popcorn and watch the fun.

By: malocchio

malocchio — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:45:03 -0800

*sits back down, passes sierra nevada to forrest*

By: quonsar

quonsar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:44:28 -0800

geostationarybananaovertexas.com best domain name evar.

By: BillyElmore

BillyElmore — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:39:04 -0800

"I for one am looking forward to eating some delicious Indian Mangos," The Worst President in American History (and former Texas governor) said as he traded tropical fruit for nuclear proliferation. Why not a giant tropical phallic in the Texas sky? This might remind Texans to think before they send us another idiot. Maybe this artsy stunt will remind good ol' oil boys how they were screwed and bamboozled by a dumb Connecticut Yankee. Maybe this sky banana is even a preview of coming attractions. Imagine: The sun sets over a Hollywood movie-set ranch as an aging Dubya Bush clears brush. He looks up, to see the beautiful sky darken and fill with floating propaganda. Capitalists now have a fresh new advertising venue allowed by lax Republican environmental protection. Dubya looks down in shame as Corporation fill our sky with multi-national graffiti.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:15:21 -0800

The skies have been filled with multi-national graffiti for a long time now.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:10:48 -0800

That shit is bananas.

By: petersn1

petersn1 — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 13:21:33 -0800

Torturing apes all over the world. I think its inhumane.

By: grouse

grouse — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:57:08 -0800

I find it amusing that dirigibleman posted in this thread.

By: Broadside Affront

Broadside Affront — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:42:01 -0800

Not sure if this is for real. But if it's not, it should be. Comparisons to David Weisner's beautiful book "June 29, 1999" are unavoidable. The technical challenges are obvious, but the vision is disingenuously brilliant. And where better to fly a thousand foot long floating banana than over Texas? There is something very Herzog-esque about busting your butt to put a real thousand foot banana at 30K feet over Texas when any fool could fake the picture in Photoshop in 5 minutes (think Fitzcaraldo). I want to know why they're calling it "geostationary" when it will clearly move quickly with the wind out of Texas airspace? I think it would be way cooler if it floated all around the world. And all our hominid ancestors smiled down upon us and shouted, "Woo hoo!"