Brad Pitts Zep Shocker!

June 7, 2006 3:24 PM

Finally, the real reason Brad Pitts is in Africa - he's using a Zeppelin to look for diamonds. Celebrity colonialism indeed!
posted by Jos Bleau (23 comments total)

Who's Brad Pitts?
posted by secret about box at 3:30 PM on June 7, 2006

Uhh... WTF?

Brad Pitts is a different guy than Brad Pitt.

Is this supposed to be a joke or something?
posted by dios at 3:30 PM on June 7, 2006

Metafilter: Is this supposed to be a joke or something?
posted by matthewr at 3:31 PM on June 7, 2006

hehe :)
posted by caryam at 3:31 PM on June 7, 2006

Heh.
posted by sellout at 3:32 PM on June 7, 2006

Yeah he was married to Zasu Pitts before, right?

Or maybe it's like the Tony Hawks thing.
posted by First Post at 3:33 PM on June 7, 2006

The rigid dirigible with a disaster-scarred history carries classified U.S. technology, first developed for the military and still so sensitive that a photographer was warned not to film the equipment, provided and operated by U.S. firm Bell Geospace.

Why do they get to use this stuff? I'm a U.S. citizen and I don't get to use it, yet some foreign-owned private corporation has the right to use it?
posted by Ironmouth at 3:46 PM on June 7, 2006

Ironmouth: I'd wager that you probably don't have as much money as the foreign-owned private corporation, hence Bell Geospace doesn't really care about you.
posted by cheaily at 3:50 PM on June 7, 2006

Speaking of Zeppelins.
posted by basicchannel at 3:56 PM on June 7, 2006

The Zeppelin-mt webpage at first glance looks like they are also into floppy disks, pocket watches and newspapers. I was looking for the buggy whips.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:10 PM on June 7, 2006

Ironmouth: this technology is too powerful for you, too powerful for any one man.
By keeping it hidden away, they are only protecting you.
posted by Flashman at 4:19 PM on June 7, 2006

Why do they get to use this stuff? I'm a U.S. citizen and I don't get to use it, yet some foreign-owned private corporation has the right to use it?

I'm sure that there is a 'really good reason.' My opinion is, if you want dirty business and politics, DeBeers is way bigger and more sinister than say Enron or MCI Worldcom... there is a great link detailing the history of the modern diamond industry here. It is very long but after reading it, I'm sure you'll be able to use your imagination regarding how DeBeers might have been able to get some military equipment. They are probably cutting a deal with the US Mil or CIA or something.
posted by tweak at 4:23 PM on June 7, 2006

This is sad. Landmine clearance organisations would love to get their hands on this kit. Instead, it's being used to look for fucking diamonds.
posted by blag at 4:32 PM on June 7, 2006

"Nice balloon Herr Zeppelin...when do we cross the Al..."

"It's NOT a balloon. It's an AIRSHIP! Step outside you cretin."

"Oh I'm sorry I... Herr ... wait... no... Ahhh Aaaaaaaaaaaaa...."
posted by tkchrist at 4:38 PM on June 7, 2006

The Needless Markup Neiman Marcus 2004 Christmas catalog featured a Zeppelin NT airship for around $10 million.
We are offering the opportunity to be the first to privately own a modern Zeppelin NT. Re-engineered with the best new technology, your Zeppelin is the first modern airship licensed to carry commercial passengers. It floats with safe, nonflammable helium contained in an inner envelope of high-strength multilayered material. The roomy cabin features panoramic window views of the clouds above and sights below and can comfortably accommodate 12 passengers, a pilot and a flight attendant. It can achieve 70 knots and has a flight duration of up to 24 hours. This eight-ton sky gem is approximately 230 feet long, 60 feet wide and 53 feet tall. ($10,000,000.00, page 16.)
posted by eggonstilts at 4:52 PM on June 7, 2006

Further OT: I've wondered if Neiman Marcus ever makes a sale on those insanely expensive catalog items. On the one hand, if you've got $10 million lying around to buy a zepplin, you probably have a small army of assistants and butlers to do any legwork required for buying a zepplin (or anything else) directly from the manufacturer. Then again, if you've got spare millions, any money you save buying direct instead of through the Neiman Marcus catalog is probably negligible.
posted by junesix at 5:12 PM on June 7, 2006

The actor Brad Pitt has no connection to Led Zeppelin, but he has been known to shout "Valhalla...I am coming!!" when having sex with Angelina Jolie.
posted by jonp72 at 6:30 PM on June 7, 2006

The actor Brad Pitt has no connection to Led Zeppelin, but he has been known to shout "Valhalla...I am coming!!" when having sex with Angelina Jolie.

I think if I were having sex with Angelina Jolie, I'd be yelling out, "VALHALLA . . . I AM HAVING SEX WITH ANGELINA JOLIE!"

But that's just me.
posted by secret about box at 6:57 PM on June 7, 2006

Ironmouth: as a foreigner who has worked with this same technology, rest assured that (1) while expensive to develop, it's not cutting-edge super-secret military hardware—it's only "classified" for business reasons, and (2) there are extensive NDAs involved and operational restrictions on its use (which include not allowing other people to look at it or take pictures unless they've signed the right documents).
posted by cardboard at 8:07 PM on June 7, 2006

In a few decades diamonds will be cheaper then glass.
posted by delmoi at 9:30 PM on June 7, 2006

"BISMILLAH . . . I AM HAVING SEX WITH ANGELINA JOLIE!
posted by Joeforking at 3:21 AM on June 8, 2006

The actor Brad Pitt has no connection to Led Zeppelin,

But he did nickname his genitals "The Hammer of the Gods"
posted by Megafly at 2:20 PM on June 8, 2006

"Moonlight glistens off a huge zeppelin airship as it glides over Botswana's Kalahari desert."

Then, catching sight of the well-trimmed landing strip just above the hidden oasis, the captain lowered its immense length and gently eased its shining, rubber-sheathed bulk through the waiting hangar doors.

(Or: it breaks and "Oh, the humanity! Oh, the unwanted humanity!")
posted by pracowity at 5:52 AM on June 9, 2006