http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632 I haven't bothered to make any phone calls as to the validity of this story of a UFO over downtown Bakersfield. For all I know, it's just a kid with a kite. Click here for image, video, and previous blog from last week. I haven't bothered to make any phone calls as to the validity of this story of a UFO over downtown Bakersfield. For all I know, it's just a kid with a kite. Click here for image, video, and previous blog from last week. en-us Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:20:58 PDT Somebody must have alerted the aliens that The Padre's missle defence system was gone.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83511 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83511 Somebody must have alerted the aliens that The Padre's missle defence system was gone.&nbsp; I think it looks like a large piece of roofing paper that may have blown off a construction site and got caught in a circular rotation of air.&nbsp; It's unusual, for sure.&nbsp; But,... it's really hard to tell if the object is stationary (hovering) or if it's blowing towards the camera, at the same altitude.&nbsp; The perspective is hard to identify.&nbsp; Cool vid, none-the-less. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83533 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83533 I think it looks like a large piece of roofing paper that may have blown off a construction site and got caught in a circular rotation of air.&nbsp; It's unusual, for sure.&nbsp; But,... it's really hard to tell if the object is stationary (hovering) or if it's blowing towards the camera, at the same altitude.&nbsp; The perspective is hard to identify.&nbsp; Cool vid, none-the-less. Looks like a Hefty bag caught in a thermal. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83546 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83546 Looks like a Hefty bag caught in a thermal. <p>It's Lord Zeeplok from the Glahdbhag region of Payperorplastik.</p> <p>I tried to tell the City that Spartacus Miller wasn't crazy, and now&nbsp;the first stages of the invasion have begun&nbsp;Robb!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83570 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83570 <p>It's Lord Zeeplok from the Glahdbhag region of Payperorplastik.</p> <p>I tried to tell the City that Spartacus Miller wasn't crazy, and now&nbsp;the first stages of the invasion have begun&nbsp;Robb!</p> <a name="activity1"><strong>http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/4_class/45_pguides/pguide_603/4563_robo.html<br /> <br /> ACTIVITY 1: BUILD AND RACE A LIGHTER-THAN-AIR VEHICLE</strong></a><br /> <br /> <img width="234" height="152" align="right" alt="AV Parts " src="http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/images/img_4class/45img_pguides/45img_603guide/603ltavparts.gif" /> Your LTAV device must be powered only by a combination of a rubber band and propeller. Use a three-cubic-foot kitchen trash bag for the LTAV envelope. The envelope must have a filler valve to inflate with air from a hair dryer (use a funnel) during practices and helium for the actual competition. (You can't use the air from your lungs to inflate the envelope because of the moisture.)<br /> <br /> The vehicle must have an adjustable rudder, and must fly freely and unassisted. You may adapt the course to any facility.<br /> <br /> <strong>Materials:</strong><br /> <br /> <ul> <li>plastic straw </li> <li>tape </li> <li>scissors </li> <li>string </li> <li>funnel </li> <li>hair dryer </li> <li>large rubber band </li> <li>.5mm plastic kitchen trash bag (3 cu. ft.) </li> <li>rubber-band-powered balsa wood airplane kit (&quot;Guillow's Jet Stream,&quot; found at hobby stores, is a good one) </li> <li>index card (for the rudder) </li> <li>helium tank (party balloon filler)</li> </ul> <br /> Let the invasion begin. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83572 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83572 <a name="activity1"><strong>http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/4_class/45_pguides/pguide_603/4563_robo.html<br /> <br /> ACTIVITY 1: BUILD AND RACE A LIGHTER-THAN-AIR VEHICLE</strong></a><br /> <br /> <img width="234" height="152" align="right" alt="AV Parts " src="http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/images/img_4class/45img_pguides/45img_603guide/603ltavparts.gif" /> Your LTAV device must be powered only by a combination of a rubber band and propeller. Use a three-cubic-foot kitchen trash bag for the LTAV envelope. The envelope must have a filler valve to inflate with air from a hair dryer (use a funnel) during practices and helium for the actual competition. (You can't use the air from your lungs to inflate the envelope because of the moisture.)<br /> <br /> The vehicle must have an adjustable rudder, and must fly freely and unassisted. You may adapt the course to any facility.<br /> <br /> <strong>Materials:</strong><br /> <br /> <ul> <li>plastic straw </li> <li>tape </li> <li>scissors </li> <li>string </li> <li>funnel </li> <li>hair dryer </li> <li>large rubber band </li> <li>.5mm plastic kitchen trash bag (3 cu. ft.) </li> <li>rubber-band-powered balsa wood airplane kit (&quot;Guillow's Jet Stream,&quot; found at hobby stores, is a good one) </li> <li>index card (for the rudder) </li> <li>helium tank (party balloon filler)</li> </ul> <br /> Let the invasion begin. wow tom!&nbsp; great science project http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83692 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83692 wow tom!&nbsp; great science project Except that the rubber band has a very limited power release timeframe. Perhaps a small solar cell and tiny electric motor would work better? (Assuming you can find either light enough to work.) Of course, helium would be much better than just hot air, though the hot air could be &quot;recharged&quot; by the sun shining on the black bag, whereas the helium would slowly leak out over time..... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83696 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83696 Except that the rubber band has a very limited power release timeframe. Perhaps a small solar cell and tiny electric motor would work better? (Assuming you can find either light enough to work.) Of course, helium would be much better than just hot air, though the hot air could be &quot;recharged&quot; by the sun shining on the black bag, whereas the helium would slowly leak out over time..... <p>Helium is the best bet. Hot air generates lift from the tempurature differential between the outside air and the air inside the baloon. The black bag won't heat the air to a point where the tempurature difference is great enough.</p> <p>Been There...................Tried That............</p> <p>a 3/8" Thick votive candle suspended just under a plastic Wal-mart shopping bag makes a really great Hot Air Balloon. A couple of plastic straws made into an X with thread, holds the bag open just enough.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83761 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83761 <p>Helium is the best bet. Hot air generates lift from the tempurature differential between the outside air and the air inside the baloon. The black bag won't heat the air to a point where the tempurature difference is great enough.</p> <p>Been There...................Tried That............</p> <p>a 3/8" Thick votive candle suspended just under a plastic Wal-mart shopping bag makes a really great Hot Air Balloon. A couple of plastic straws made into an X with thread, holds the bag open just enough.</p> <p>Now I wanna try this... sounds really cool.  I used to do rockets all the time with my kids... this is an entire new level of atmospheric fun!</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83766 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83766 <p>Now I wanna try this... sounds really cool.  I used to do rockets all the time with my kids... this is an entire new level of atmospheric fun!</p> <p>This UFO&nbsp;landed on the Padre, where I was enjoying the morning view and breeze and three little green men emerged in minitature spacesuits!&nbsp; I was speechless!&nbsp; Apparently they are from Mars, and they asked that&nbsp;I take them to our &quot;leader&quot; . . .</p> <p>In other news, Bush is planning to bomb Mars . . .</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83888 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83888 <p>This UFO&nbsp;landed on the Padre, where I was enjoying the morning view and breeze and three little green men emerged in minitature spacesuits!&nbsp; I was speechless!&nbsp; Apparently they are from Mars, and they asked that&nbsp;I take them to our &quot;leader&quot; . . .</p> <p>In other news, Bush is planning to bomb Mars . . .</p> Now must be the time to invest in Haliburton, Mars Division, Marsh! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83957 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/novelboy/8632/#c_83957 Now must be the time to invest in Haliburton, Mars Division, Marsh!