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Obviously party balloons only represent a tiny fraction of worldwide helium use. And helium prices tripling do not have much influence because there is so littl
by mrb 13y ago
Obviously party balloons only represent a tiny fraction of worldwide helium use. And helium prices tripling do not have much influence because there is so little helium in a balloon. Nobody cares if the cost to fill up a balloon raises from $0.01 to $0.03 at wholesale prices.
- sudomal 13y agoIt's one of those situations where people will look back and wonder why this resource was wasted, when we knew it was finite. They won't have a concept of commercial value and will find it difficult to understand that justification.
- bcoates 13y agoEvery resource is finite, and if the people in the distant past had attempted to preserve the things they found scarce for us we'd probably be quite unimpressed at the results.
- sliverstorm 13y agoIt's not the simple use of a finite resource that is a head-scratcher. It is the outright short-sighted abuse of that finite resource.
- fixxer 13y agoThe problem isn't that the resource was wasted (we can harvest helium from nat gas). The problem is the government stayed active in the market and then mandated this bullshit disappearing act.
- jcampbell1 13y agoYeah, one deep water diving session uses several hundred party balloons worth of helium per breath. Also, i can't imagine not letting kids play with something lighter than air. Helium balloons should be considered mandatory educational supplies for small children.
- namlem 13y agoHydrogen really isn't that dangerous, despite its flammability. It's already used for party balloons sometimes.
- jcampbell1 13y agoJust don't do the squeaky voice trick around any birthday candles.