From balloon-request@cvs.rochester.edu Sat Feb 17 16:00:36 1996 id AA00955; Sat, 17 Feb 96 15:57:38 EST Date: 17 Feb 96 15:56:08 EST From: FRED HARSHBERGER <103322.3000@compuserve.com> To: "balloon@cvs.rochester.ed" Subject: 350 hoop Message-Id: <960217205608_103322.3000_JHL61-1@CompuServe.COM> Hi guys. Evolution of a concept... Last november we were at the annual W.R.C.A. convention in Laughlin, in the banquet room at the Riverside (yes, same as the upcoming W.C.A.). One wall of the room is made of thick plate glass windows over-looking the river. A group of us were sitting around a table, talking balloons (what else), and I had made a bunch of flying mice to keep the kids occupied. I was playing with an almost fully inflated 350, and noted how much easier it was to balance on end if you did a tulip/apple twist at one end and suction cupped it to the table. (duh) I then took it over to the open area in front of the windows where the kids were playing, and stuck it to the glass about five feet up, so it stuck out horizontally to the window (tough to do with a 260, easy w/ a 350), thus giving the kids a "net" to shoot over. This was fun for a few minutes, but since it only stuck out 4 feet, the kids had to be right up against the wall to shoot over the net. I solved this by putting a tulip twist in the other end, bending the balloon around into a "U" shape and suction cupping both ends to the window. Ta-da! A basket ball hoop, which, from a distance, appeared to be hovering in mid-air! I was happy with that, but someone said it needed a backboard. So... making a square inside a large rectangle out of 260's I stuck it to the window (static) above the hoop. It looked Cool! A balloon "with no visible means of support". So, from balancing (duh) on end, to a basket ball hoop and backboard, hovering in mid-air (apparently). Balloon evolution. Say, wasn't there a book... Wishing you many twists and few pops, Fred "The Balloon Dude" Harshberger Simi Valley, CA 103322.3000@compuserve.com P.S. Like with regular suction cups, it helps to moisten the end before sticking. And do make sure that it is heavy/thick glass that can take pressure, not just regular window glass.