In which we continue to post interesting or amusing - or neither - tweets

Notable: US officials say they were able to block the balloon from gathering intel during its overflight of the US, while the US military was able to turn the tables, so to speak, to gather intel on the balloon itself and its equipment.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) February 4, 2023

Well, it sure looks like @JoeBiden turned the tables by wisely leaving the Chinese spy balloon afloat long enough to gather information on its technology & capabilities, and then shot it down in a location where its hardware can be recovered. Impressive.

— Matt Angle (@LSPmatt) February 4, 2023

 

Millennials and Gen Z have no idea that the most bonkers social network is actually Nextdoor.

— Philip Bump (@pbump) February 5, 2023

 

As annoying as democracies can be, they are better at everything than totalitarian states. The idea that a closed dictatorship like China is more effective at solving problems than messy democracies was always suspect & is becoming ludicrous. https://t.co/TCpLWSqoRW

— Steven Pinker (@sapinker) February 4, 2023

 

Ignoring the fact that the target was a balloon...

the F-22's 58,000 AIM-9X shot against the ~60,000 foot target may be the highest altitude air-to-air kill in history.

We don't even do test shots that high. Shout out to @RaytheonDefense for a product that works outside specs!

— The Merge (@MergeNewsletter) February 4, 2023

 

Balloon down, just like inflation. Joe did that. pic.twitter.com/JfDBCbxLLB

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) February 4, 2023

 

Biden said on Wednesday to shoot it down. His advisors said to wait until there is no danger from falling debris (hardware the size of 2 buses). He said "OK, but when it's over Texas or the ocean so we won't lose any Americans."

— Puesto Loco™ (@PuestoLoco) February 4, 2023

 

“That’s right. I ordered the hit on that balloon.” pic.twitter.com/mFa435T4bh

— Mark R. Yzaguirre (@markyzaguirre) February 4, 2023

 

This is cool

Just shot at it! View from my house in Myrtle. pic.twitter.com/85EZ3EDbYq

— Ashlyn Preaux for SC 61 (@ashlynforsc) February 4, 2023

 

1621949648557465603 is not a valid tweet id

 

Yes strangely, the Republicans who claim to most love the American Way always seem to be the ones who envy and fear the abilities of dictatorships. It's almost as if they don't believe what they say.

 

“That’s no moon.” Yes, there are reports that the Chinese balloon is flying over our area at the moment. It’s flying at 60,000+ feet. Don’t try to shoot it!! Your rifle rounds WILL NOT reach it. Be responsible. What goes up will come down, including your bullets #YCSONews pic.twitter.com/SeT0ZTUTvy

— York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) February 4, 2023

 

Well ya can't really take out the fact that it was a balloon

 

This is a good read on how McMorrow used her viral moment to help out around Michigan. Part of me is convinced her doing this is one of the reasons MI went blue.

Campaign finance records illustrate for the first time not only how McMorrow's April 2022 speech catapulted her onto the national political stage, but earned her a following of donors that endured for months afterward. https://t.co/vl2BZjql31

— Michigan Politics (@MLivePolitics) February 6, 2023

 

the spy balloon shows how far we’ve fallen behind china in steampunk technology

— Emo Philips (@EmoPhilips) February 4, 2023

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That should be in the "Famous Person Is Alive " thread. Assuming Emo Philips still counts as famous.

 

Wow, Emo Phillips is still alive!
Way more surprising than a Chinese balloon being spotted over the skies of Montana.

Beat me to it by seconds!

Also assuming that Emo Phillips was ever really "alive."

 

He played Salvador Dali in 'Weird'

 

I saw him perform at a comedy tent years and years ago (around 1994 or so).
It was a very strange performance, but entertaining in its own way.

 

His thing was always closer to "Lower East Side Performance Art" than it was to "stand up comedy." He could get the occasional laugh, though.

 

“Of all the tribulations the producers of Spider Man had to endure, we are very pleased, proud and relieved to report working with George Santos was not one of them.” pic.twitter.com/ZAmTG8s8dX

— Acyn (@Acyn) February 6, 2023

 

Occasional? I saw him in 2019 and my cheeks are still sore from all the laughing.

 

Just gonna leave this here:

Much like the watchful eye of Mary, this piece christens our bowling alley with the blessings of Ivanka and President Trump for all who enter. pic.twitter.com/xBjGqEydPB

— Gary Peterson 🇺🇸 (@GaryPetersonUSA) February 6, 2023

 

Jewish saints are the best saints.