Google Balloon Day - Anniversary of Public Hot-Air Balloon Demonstration

Visitors to Google's homepage today will notice a new logo with a hot air balloon. The special logo is to commemorate the first public demonstration of hot-air balloons by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783. The flight lasted a mere 10 minutes, but its success set the stage for the first manned flight, 6 months later in November.


While flying leisurely in a ballon might be fine for some, I'm personally waiting for them to perfect the flying car and jetpack so I can live out my fantasies of playing real-life Starseige Tribes. Unfortunately, given the rate of progress in those technologies, I'll probably have to find the Fountain of Youth to see that dream realized. But hey...at least I still have a promotional hot-air balloon to entertain myself with while I wait.