Gone With the Wind

Did you hear about the priest who tried to set a record for balloon powered flight? This might come as a huge surprise to you: He’s missing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7360416.stm

When I first heard about the incident I figured it was some sort of fund raising stunt to feed the poor. That would have been noble albeit dangerous. But apparently there was no fund raising involved. The priest just wanted to hold the record for balloon riding.

This got me wondering what sort or world record attempt by a priest would piss off God the most. From The Almighty’s perspective, any diversion from the core mission of saving souls is probably time poorly spent. But some types of record attempts have to be worse than others. For example, you don’t want to see your priest winning any kind of pie eating contest. And you don’t want a man of the cloth to hold any titles involving nudity, tequila, or self-gratification, just to name a few. The best a priest could hope for in those cases is that God is busy and doesn’t notice.

But a balloon ride, way up there next to heaven? That’s total smite bait.

Comments

[Lennongirl]

Noooooooooooooo.

The prospect of reading your blog is the only thing that got me through this morning and now there is nothing!

:-(

Please please please post soon!

[Church of Dim Sum]

I guess those truck drivers in Paranagua will have no rest then. No time to eat some tasty morsels, or have a nap.

Do we know if there is a lot of accidents on the road in that country? Perhaps there is another solution...

[Andy Coulter]

the only thing better than smite is the past tense smote.

[CPB]

I am a sucker for anytime the verb "smite" is used.

[Blood Pressure Monitor]

And there was I thinking that priests were supposed to be praying. In any case, fair play to the bloke. You've got to get some entertainment from any job.

[Will]

Jay wrote: 'He SO was trying raise funds! Look:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Ooooo!!! Scotty was wrong! Let me point it out and it will show that I am better than him.....my life has been given meaning... I AM VALIDATED!!!'
-----------

Your sarcasm would be spot on if it weren't for Scott Adams' history of constantly belittling and criticizing his blog readers. One of his favourite techniques is to criticize blog readers for "poor reading comprehension" and "hallucinating his point of view" (e.g. incorrectly reading between the lines of his posts to infer an opinion he doesn't hold.)

So excuse us if we call him out on his bullshit when he makes a mistake. Excuse us if we get all giddy when Scott Adams hallucinates the facts of a very simple news story. (Or rather, he hallucinated the absence of a very simple fact that was stated clearly in the story.)

[Gustavo B.]

Like someone here said, he took a GPS device with him, but didn't know how to use it. But Wait, there's more! He took a satellite cell phone with him too, but it was not fully charged. And the last call was along those lines: "I need someone to tell me how to operate this gps device, so I can get my latitude and longitude!"

[Big Al]

I pretty sure Scott realizes that he missed the part about the fundraiser by now.

Seriously, you don't need to be the 147th person to point that out.

Besides that, I loved the first two sentences...

[Leo]

The priest was found! Check it out:

http://www.kibeloco.globolog.com.br/Padre%20Lost.jpg

And:

"The cleric's former flight teacher called his disappearance a "tragedy foretold."

Paragliding instructor Marcio Andre Lichtnow, who gave courses to Father de Carli three years ago, described him as a "headstrong, anxious individual who was always in a rush."
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i4t-K_IjQUzaN2Hi-EmmwYAyRoVw

[Simian God]

This had me laughing, but then I remembered to play it down a bit so my deathbed conversion won't seem so phony.

[DJL]

I don't know about the pie eating. Glutony yes, but any priest winning a pie eating contest has my vote. (Do we vote on priests yet?)

[Warfreak2]

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

You lose.

[smncameron]

No offence, but did you actually read the article? It says he was raising money for a truck stop.

[RUBBA]

I THINK HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN TO SPY ON GOD. AND THAT WASN'T SMART.

[Brian]

The article you linked said that he was trying to raise funds.

I was surprised to see that we are talking about standard, birthday party style balloons. Maybe, at an anniversary celebration for a couple of his parishoners, some drunken table talk went awry. The conversation started with "I bet if you had enough of these ..." and twenty minutes later ended with "I TRIPLE dog dare you!" The rest is history.

[Joelle Leboutte]

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

I guess he wasn't that selfish.

[Ben]

I'm sure I'm not the first to say this but, the article states "He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."
So there was a vague form of charity involved, saving lives through having someplace to sleep.

[Joelle Leboutte]

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

I guess he wasn't as selfish as you thought.

[Joelle Leboutte]

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

I guess he wasn't as selfish as you thought.

[Mike]

"And you don’t want a man of the cloth to hold any titles involving nudity, tequila, or self-gratification ..."

You're restricting this to a Protestant work-ethic type God aren't you?

[Dan Roy]

The thing I wonder about is whether he, in his particular situation, died and went to heaven, or if he just sort of strolled over there? I read he was at one time at 18,000 feet. That ought to count as heaven, right?

[Ivan Cronyn]

I'm sure it's a terrible thing for his family and friends, but it did make me smile too.

From the BBC article you quoted as a source, it seems he was "trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Not sure I'd risk my life for that.

[F Ho]

The new Dilbert.com SUCKS!! (I know i'm the millionth person to say this)

I can NEVER load the strip on the home page and can only view them in thumbnails... Honestly I don't freaking care whether they are in color or not.... T_T

[teutates]

"smite bait" sounds like a cool slogan to put on t-shirts! :)

[ShaunL]

There's just something undignified about a prient wearing a helmet, thermal flight suit and waterproof coveralls- kind of lacks gravitas

[Joe Price]

Were I a Catholic reading this story, my reaction would have to be relief. Finally! Some of the heat off the altar boy diddling and on the much more relevant issue of balloon travel.

How long before the Pope has a balloon fixed with Plexiglas?

[Jay]

He SO was trying raise funds! Look:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Ooooo!!! Scotty was wrong! Let me point it out and it will show that I am better than him.....my life has been given meaning... I AM VALIDATED!!!

[Rigel Kent]

True, but I think holding the record for most babies eaten would probably be worse. Of course I could be wrong.

[Adam]

In unrelated news, Cracked has begun a mission to fill Dilbert cartoons with dick jokes. Which is kinda funny, 'cause we all know how much you like dick jokes.

Here's the link:

http://www.cracked.com/blog/2008/04/23/help-me-ruin-dilbert/#more-1178

[Tek Gremlin]

According to the link I would say it was pretty selfless act.

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products"

I wonder if he broke the record?

[R J Woodward]

Scott, I believe that you have failed to read the article properly. The following appears as the last paragraph before the first sub-heading:
"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."
So he was doing it for reasons other than self-aggrandisement.

[Luiz Pizzato]

Scott,
you might already received a few of this by some Brazilians around the world that read you blog. Actually the priest stunt was meant to be fund raising for the construction of a support structure (or support group) for truck drivers that arrive in the harbour of Paranaguá, the city where the priest lift off. Needless to say that he enjoyed this kind of things, and I bet he used the fund-raising event just to do a cool thing. A funny but not surprising fact, that just got to the media in Brazil, is that he was expel from a paragliding course. Apparently he did not want to learn any theory and just wanted to fly.

Isn't stubbornness one of the deadly sins?

[Peter G.]

Looks like we missed the Rapture.

. png

[Lertad]

But Scott, in that same link you gave it says he "was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."...

[Thing]

I heard he was actually raising funds for some kind of trucker thing. If he hadn't blown out to sea, he was reasonably well equipped. He had a parachute and should have jumped at the coast.

[Cassandra]

New web site. Color. "We care about what you think."

Bwahahahaha.

I don't care about what your readers pick as most popular because I have read their comments and they don't understand you.

I do wish it was easier to find yesterday's comic strip if i missed it.

As for giving you my real email address, the last time I did that it ruined a perfectly good mailbox that was totally unknown to spammers until then.

Just call me cassandra@yeahright.com because I know you won't listen to me.

[James]

According to the news article, he was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua.

[aahhrrgg]

Actually Scott, it was a fundraiser. 'The priest hoped his flight would help raise money for a center where truck drivers could stop "to rest and receive the gospel,' (Toronto Star) Not that we need any more gospel spreading, but you do tend to rush into these posts.

[ShakeAndBake]

At this point, any Holy Man who has a hobby that does not involve telling his flock that the US Government invented AIDS to kill them is fine with me.

Which reminds me -- that whole thing was a Scott Adams anti-religion post waiting to happen. You skipped it entirely. I wonder why?

[Taylor]

Five paragraphs into the article: "He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Will]

Scott Adams wrote: "When I first heard about the incident I figured it was some sort of fund raising stunt to feed the poor. That would have been noble albeit dangerous. But apparently there was no fund raising involved. The priest just wanted to hold the record for balloon riding."
------------

Geez, Scott not only do you not read the comments to your blog, nor did you pay attention during high school science classes, AND you don't read the articles that you link to.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7360416.stm

"He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

The article really isn't that long. Next you will tell us that when you said "no fund raising", you meant something other than he wasn't "trying to raise funds".

[CH]

But he was fundraising, for lorry drivers. Maybe God doesn't like carbon emissions?

[Kate the great]

From the article:
"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Nestor]

The way I read it, it was a fund raiser, he'd even done it before. It's sad and hilarious at the same time.

[John Reedy]

If it had been possible, I bet they would have taken a balloon to heaven instead of building the tower of babel.

http://awritersblock.com

[John Reedy]

If it'd been possible I bet they would have taken a balloon ride to heaven instead of building the tower of babel.

[Roger Williams]

I actually thought it was a joke the first half dozen times it was on TV or mentioned somewhere.

I have never been certain about much. But I am certain that no one else knows anything either. Especially as it relates to the presence of a combined one size fits all God. I didn't buy it. Organized religions and even those not so organized have sometimes not so friendly but always intense competition for market share. Some religions like to have 17 wives. Some religions want to wait until they die and ravish the 14 vestal virgins awaiting them for blowing up infidels. (Does that mean Castos' wives parents are on God's list to smite down?)

Being a scientist at Van DeLay industries and having spent liteally seconds thinking about the issue of God and PROOF of his existence of any kind. Undeniable proof I am talking.

Selma Hayek. Case Closed. There is a God. How else do you explain all these women who are married to wierd stressed out stupid people as ourselves.

What did this bring to the table.

It is now also an undeniable fact that God is Funny.

I am sorry. Really. But what are the current odds on whether he is shot down, hit by a bolt of ligtening, or simply succumbs to gravity?

So. Now we know. 1) There is a GOD, all I know about him is that he knows exactly how to make women.
and 2) He has a sense of humor.

That is enough for me. Lets party. Anyone got balloons?

[Bob]

That is a funny story Scott. I knew about Lawn Chair Larry, who did the balloon thing in his lawnchair, but this beats it. It makes it even funnier that it is a priest, who'd a thunk it

[mandarina]

Hi! I'm from Argentina, our country is next to Brazil, so this is ALL over the news. Specially because last time he did it, he came down onto our country... but we never really new about him till now.
Whatever.. The thing is that, in here, media says that he was raising some money for a foundation, although no-one said which one it was for, which makes it kinda suspicious...
If he was raising money, poor guy; if he wasn't, but was doing it for free, for entertaining, poor kinda silly guy; if he was just 'earning' some money, ... I don't know what to say, but it wouldn't be 'poor guy'.

Regards

[keelerm]

From the article you linked to :

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

I think your premise is flawed. Not quite as noble as raising funds for the poor, but still funds.

[Steve]

C'mon Scott you can do better! How about "Ascension" or "Nearer my God to be" LOL.

From what I read, this is not the priests first attempt, apparently he is is an accomplished sky diver, which means he has tried "Knock Knock Knockin on heavens door" previously and been sent back down!

I can see Wally doing something similar!

[Michael]

I'm sure I'm not the first to realize this one:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Taken straight from the link you provided.

[Sandy]

Did you hear by the teen repeller device being sold to drive away loiters?

Check out - http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/23/teen.be.gone.ap/index.html

You may download an mp3 from below (if you feel like annoying a kid :P)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5434687

[Mattyboy]

(from the article)

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products"

Nope, no sort of fund raising there; just, you know, the raising of funds.

[burt]

you said that this wasnt a fundraiser... in the article it says other wise. i know a rest stop for truckers sounds unimportant, but im not familiar with the situation there and it may after all be important. Do you alwyas report unaccuratly on articles you have read? i wouldnt know ofr this is my first time reading one.

Im only pulling your leg mr adams, i love your blog

keep up the good work

burt (never misquotes anything at all) trub

[Goober]

Just an FYI: The new Dilbert.com is making people re-register to keep getting the daily strips... but won't accept email addresses with hyphens in them as "valid" addresses. Can you maybe check into that?

Thanks!

[Tarun]

This is what a balloon ride to heaven would be like.

[Tarun]

Hehe Funny...

BTW Mr Scott, I had emailed asking you about your opinion on H1Bs in America.

Asok I believe is an H1B holder.

http://www.techbanyan.com/archives/274

[Yurk Yurk]

Please revert dilbert.com to the old version. Everybody hates the new one. Everybody.

[mike]

to gauge gods reaction let's start with some assumptions. Judging from his earthly form hes a bit of a loafer, he wore sandals and loose clothes and talked alot about peace, we all know the type. Plus, he didn't put up much of a fight while being killed.
Second, he rules with an iron fist, for all intents and purposes my lack of belief sets me in a path to go to a bad place.

With these assumptions we can assume the guy has a bit of an ego, so if it was his doing that sent this priest to his end he'd want people to know about it. You can't buy PR like that.

You also have to take into account that this priest nominated himself for a Darwin award. A man of the cloth helping the competition would cause major damage to his rep, so he'd really like to let us know the smitng was his work.

[Bloodboiler]

I wonder if they considered other stunts. Did they think about putting the priest on roller skates that have firework rockets tied to them and releasing him on a highway so he could try to catch a really fast running bird? Or what about shooting the priest from a cannon? Was having a hunter shoot him in the face considered, but abandoned because it could have unfortunate diplomatic interpretations?

Was it a choice between classic Warner Brothers cartoon and more contemporary animation culture? Did they even try to find a yellow -vaguely rodent like- battle monster to fight with the priest?

[Howard]

Personally, I think a priest entering a hot dog eating contest is worse than the pie eating.

[mike]

well you have to figure a god who is willing to smite for that kind of showboating would have some sort of ego himself. So if he was to smite this guy he'd at least let people find the body. Really show people an entity of your stature won't tolerate such acts, you can't buy that kind of PR.

He'd also want to let people know itvwas his work because a man of the cloth going out in Darwin award style is bad for his rep.

[Larry]

Looks like the Darwin awards have a new winner! Although I think the priest wouldn't be the first balloon-flying Darwinist.

[Bob]

That is a funny story Scott. I knew about Lawn Chair Larry, who did the balloon thing in his lawnchair, but this beats it. It makes it even funnier that it is a priest, who'd a thunk it.

[Fern]

So when the Pope flies does he fly low at a polite distance or maximize cruise altitude for better reception?

[Bob]

That is a funny story Scott. I knew about Lawn Chair Larry, who did the balloon thing in his lawnchair, but this beats it. It makes it even funnier that it is a priest, who'd a thunk it.

[Noon]

Also, Maybe they changed the story since you first read it (they do that a lot on the BBC) but now it's saying that he was raising funds for a rest stop for lorry drivers. They were probably part of his flock and not that rich so, you know, prayers or best wishes for Father Carli safe return are probably in order.

[Scott (no, not that one)]

There was fundraising involved according to the article you linked. Perhaps they updated it since the original post?

[Noon]

Any priest who hold records involving wine tasting must always be walking a fine line.

Jesus: Take this each of you and drink. This is my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Priest: Hmmm. Seems fairly sweet at first, but with a sharp wooden finish and a surprising aftertaste that's incredibly nutty. I'm gonna a say its Cote du Galilee 00 AD, right?

Jesus couldn't prove anything, but he'd have his eye on you afterwards.

[Lord Foul]

Yeah, or what was it with the priest who stated firmly "Humans can´t and will never be able to fly."? (Not a citation.)

Shortly after the Wrights invented motorflight. Somehow God seems to often get really pissed by presumptuous statements as above and promptly strikes back. "Hah! Humans can´t fly? Now take THAT!, you little jerk-priest!"

(I hope I recalled that little anecdote correctly, I couldn´t even remember the name of the priest. It maybe could even have been a bishop, as far as I know...)

with fine regards,

Lord Foul

[daniel bullen]

is it deliberate that there is no mention in your blog of the new dilbert.com format or the comments it is getting?

in the past the blog has commented on the strip and how it has appeared in newspapers, the "censorship" it has been subject to and the reactions it gets... now, with a veritable firestorm of feedback from readers and/or fans there is no mention at all of the strip...?

[MacFeagle]

I'm puzzled. The article mentions a fund raising motive so why do you say there wasn't one? Or do truckers not count as a charitable cause?

[obiDonWan]

well, yet again...your own bias has shaded your ability to do straight reportage. But that's why you're a cartoonist instead of a journalist.

he was trying to raise money for a worthwhile thingy, it wasn't just ego satisfaction as you interpret his motive.

[Meh]

Meh. Weak, just like the new Dilbert website ;P

[annieangel]

He was planning to use the money raised for a "spiritual" rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua. So the news story reads.

But the worst is the balloons themselves. Think of all the sea creatures who will try to eat them and choke to death. Horrible!!!

[Fuzznsmoo]

From the times:

The adventurous clergyman staged the stunt to help raise money for a chapel for truckers in his highway parish.

[Bob]

I read that he fell into the ocean 30 miles from shore. That's too bad....CHUM!

[Jake Germain]

Ha Ha Ha! that would make an interesting storyline for Dilbert.

[D Palmer]

Scott,

Read the story again. He was raising money for some kind of truck stop.

[Eric Miller]

From your linked article, he was raising funds "to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Mike]

When I was taking up skydiving one of my instructors would get a bit mad when someone would cross themselves.

He would say, "don't draw attention to yourself! What if you're not worthy?"

It looks like this guy wasn't.

[Boris]

Second comment.

Scott wrote:
"When I first heard about the incident I figured it was some sort of fund raising stunt to feed the poor. That would have been noble albeit dangerous. But apparently there was no fund raising involved. The priest just wanted to hold the record for balloon riding."

But if he'd read the whole story, or if I had done the same before my first post, we would have noticed the following:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Not exactly feeding the poor, but still charitable.

[Boris]

Well, taking Scott's comments more or less at face value, which is probably a mistake . . .

Why shouldn't a Catholic priest have a few hobbies outside of work? You'd think God would understand human limitations if anybody would. Not that I believe in God myself.

The thing that seems a little incongruous is that I thought this was a pretty expensive hobby, and I didn't think priests got paid much. But maybe he inherited some money, or got sponsored by somebody.

Or maybe he got really cheap equipment, and just had time to regret it.

[Dave B.]

I don't think there are any rules against priests pursuing hobbies with some of their free time. God should be fine with it.

[Lasko]

Re-read your article:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[mr tom]

Fantastic.

I did some of the training to become a Methodist Minister (second job) some years ago.

I did some fire walking too. You could call that "Hell 101".

Now my second job is "pyrotechnician". Much more up my street.

[DF]

Maybe your god thought, well, since he's this close, I might as well bring him in.

No?

Then I guess this is another case of stupidity, like the guy eaten by the lions who thought his god would protect him.

If I've learned anything from watching reality TV, its that god does not help stupid people.

[Ronaldo Camacho]

This brilliant mind took a GPS device with him, but didn't know how to use it. Later we found out he has been expelled from flight schools for reckless behavior and for not following safety instructions. Personally, I believe he was trying to go straight to Heaven without dying, like the prophet Elijah.

[LG]

According to BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7360416.stm)the priest was trying to raise funds for lorry drivers.

[Mike]

According to the article, he was fundraising

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Being a priest, he should have realized that if God wanted a rest stop for lorry drivers, there would already be a rest stop for lorry drivers.

[Everyone who read the f---ing article]

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Robert]

If he succeeded, it would give him a global audience to share his beliefs.

[LegioNofZioN]

have to agree, God would probably not hold in high esteem any of his priests wasting time breaking His rules. somehow I doubt that ballooing is or would be considered contrary to His commandments.

[lorry]

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.

[lorry]

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.

[Kirk]

First time I saw this story I checked the date. Sounds like the punchline to a joke to me....

[Slap D. Monkey]

World records a priest should not try for:

1. Most alter boy pants removed in an hour.
2. Most belly shots taken in one sitting.
3. Best Ring Toss score using a rosary and cross.
4. Most consecutive masses with a hangover.

Joke: What does a Catholic priest have in common with JC Penney? They both have little boys pants half off.

[buckeyegal]

"...smite bait."

This is why we love you!

[Jason Wiener]

Just have to say, I love "smite bait". I'll have to start using that in everyday conversation.

[Nikolaus]

FTFA: "He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

Then you said: "When I first heard about the incident I figured it was some sort of fund raising stunt to feed the poor. That would have been noble albeit dangerous. But apparently there was no fund raising involved. The priest just wanted to hold the record for balloon riding."

Whoops.

[Rich]

From the article:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Slap D. Monkey]

I think the priest was in the process of starting a drug rehab clinic. Someone told him that in order to gain the respect of his future patients, he would need to get high at least once himself. Otherwise, how could her truly understand their predicament? So, he hopped in a balloon and got so high that he never came down. Tough break.

[Aaron Read]

That BBC article you linked to says "(the priest) was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

So it WAS a fundraising stunt...albeit one that seems a little weird. I have to think there's some context missing about why that truck stop would be such an improvement.

[reidman]

According to the story in the Toronto Star, "Di Carli was trying to break a 19-hour record for the longest party balloon flight to raise money to fund a "spiritual" rest stop for truckers in Paranagua."

A spiritual rest stop for truckers. I'm not sure which endeavor is more noble.

[JDT]

Ah, smite bait--what a wonderful expression!

[Ace]

From the article:
"He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products. "

[NoName]

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.

[geekgrrl]

Actually, he was fundraising - check the 4th paragraph:

"He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Alex Dewar]

I'm probably not the first to notice this, but the article does say he was fundraising: "He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products." Admittedly, it's not exactly saving souls, but it's not entirely selfish either.

[Bob]

Out in Denver, the press was reporting that he was trying to raise money for a Christian truck stop.

That led my mind to a number of other questions . . . .

[Bugs]

Didn't you read the article? He went up and never came down. Dude, they let him in early!

[Archana]

Let me join the hundred other people who must have already pointed out. The article states:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

So does that get him off the "pissed off God" list?

[C1-NRB]

My cursor was over a letter in the next-to-last word in your post.

I read it as, "That's total smile bait," and smiled.

[Jonathan Kamens]

Actually, it appears that he *was* trying to accomplish something greater than merely setting a world record. According to one account I've read of his "adventure," he "had wanted to draw attention to the work of his parish in Paranagua, which targets mostly truck drivers who transport goods to and from the port." I've read similar things in other accounts. If it was attention he wanted, he's surely gotten it, but I don't know if it'll do any good for his flock of truckers.

[D. Mented]

These days, I think it would depend on the church...some of them might be proud of their "father" if he set a new record for PENIS size (hi, Rita Mae)
..."Smite bait" might just become a part of the language.
D. Mented

[HALiverpool]

I suppose a hundred people will point this out, but here's a quote from the article: "He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products. "

I think you need a vacation.

-HAL

[Tigershire]

Scott, did you not read the article?

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products. "

So, that would decrease his smitability right?

[Real Live Girl]

I read that yesterday. Good luck explaining that one Father. To me, it's kind of like dying while skydiving. Such a retarded way to go, and something I can't do because it's got death warrant written all over it for me. And I know I can't talk my way out of dying like that when I meet God.

"Yeah, thanks for the life and blessings and all that stuff you gave me. And being born an American - wow, double thanks for that. Greatest country in the world! How did I like that life you gave me? Oh it was great, a little short, but great. What? No. No one pushed me out of the plane. No, the plane wasn't crashing. Well, I just jumped out and then something happened with the parachute or something. I can't remember all the details. I was dying and shit. So, uh huh, I jumped - I already told you that. Well, it seemed like a fun thing to do at the time. No, it wasn't free. I paid for a class and then the skydiving. What? C'mon. I don't want to do all that again. Can't you just overlook it? I didn't mean to squander the gift of life like than and all. I mean, I thought I was going to live, NOT DIE, and then do some more of Your work like before, you know? Yeah, loving my neighbor and golden rule thing I was doing- you know how I roll. HEY. Wait a minute. I believed in you, all Three of you, and lived on the whole a really good life. What? Reincarnation? Are you serious? God dammit!!"

[Rob]

FTA:
"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Devin]

Apparently, there was a soul saving component involved. "He planned to use the money raised in his attempt to break the 19-hour record to fund a "spiritual" rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, home to Brazil's largest grain port."

According to: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352217,00.html.

[Leslie]

Yeah, God's gotta be disappointed with how we use our free will sometimes.

[Keith]

I read a few articles about this and supposedly he was trying to raise money by setting a world record. The money was suppose to go toward a "spiritual rest stop" for truckers. Below is a link to one of the articles.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23579190-952,00.html

I have two words for him. BAKE SALE

[labrat]

Not exactly feeding the poor, but lorry drivers are worthy causes too:

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua

[Gonzo]

Hey apparently there's fund raising involve.

'He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.'

[Gonzo]

Hey apparently there's fund raising involve.

'He wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons.

He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products.'

[Dan]

Quoting directly from the article:

"He was trying to raise funds to provide a rest stop for lorry drivers in Paranagua, a major port for agricultural products."

[Andy Watt]

I must admit, I heard about that story this morning - the BBC have an uncanny knack for creating comedy where it shouldn't be, and while they were solemnly intoning his disappearance within a 10-second chunk they showed only 2 pictures: one of him on the ground about to take off, and another brief shot of him vanishing into a cloud.

I laughed a bit when I heard he was missing, and not because I hold any views at all on record breaking, or over-reaching individuals who have ambitions beyong their capabilities (and a lack of self-preservation bordering on the idiotic) - but because it's just so funny to think of a slightly bumbling, mild mannered and softly spoken priest (invoking the UK vicar stereotype) getting himself ready, gearing himself up, then zooming off into the clouds and never been seen again :) I think it's the "reward for naivety" gag, or something.

Andy W

[Phil B]

It was a Fund raising effort for a shine at the port where the priest evangelizes to truckers.