To boldly go how no man has gone before
Sometimes, amid the smallness and caution that our politics often is, it’s worth stepping back in amazement at something big and daring that a fellow human being has done. From the New York Times’ write-up of one of the more incredible things anyone has done in a long, long time:
ROSWELL, N.M. — A man fell to Earth from more than 24 miles high Sunday, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier under his own power — with some help from gravity.
The man, Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian daredevil, made the highest and fastest jump in history after ascending by a helium balloon to an altitude of 128,100 feet. As millions around the world experienced the vertiginous view from his capsule’s camera, which showed a round blue world surrounded by the black of space, he stepped off into the void and plummeted for more than four minutes, reaching a maximum speed measured at 833.9 miles per hour, or Mach 1.24.
He broke altitude and speed records set half a century ago by Joe Kittinger, now 84, a retired Air Force colonel whose reassuring voice from mission control guided Mr. Baumgartner through tense moments.
Think about sitting, truly, on top of the world and then jumping out of the vessel that carried you there, toward the unforgiving earth that makes people think twice about leaping from one-one hundredth of one-one hundredth of that height.
There may or may not be anything to come out of it that materially benefits mankind — the Times’ story mentions a spacesuit and information that could help future space tourists who have to abandon ship. But there’s something to be said, and marveled at, about such an unprecedented feat of human bravery.
Would that our politicians had the guts of Felix Baumgartner.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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149 comments Add your comment
Gravy Train
October 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
md: I challenge you to find any scientific proof that Joseph Smith was correct. (Archaeological, Geological, Genetic or Historical Document) those are not just my beliefs, they are facts of the scientific community. Two whole tribes of people that are mentioned in the farce called the “Book of Mormon” surely would’ve left at least one ruin or genetic link.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
Political, I merely stated Obozo’s preference, not mine.
Read, think, understand.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
Political, I get really tired of that ” they’re both clowns ” crap. That’s a bunch of lazy, uninformed malarky. There has never Bennett such a stark difference between two visions and two sets of accomplishments in my lifetime.
Third party in any other year is fine by me, but not this year. Not if it means the worst President in modern history gets reelected because of it.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
8:42 pm
Gravy Train, I challenge you to find any scientific proof that Obozo’s savior was correct. Show us reproducible, peer reviewed scientific evidence that loaves and fishes can be conjured from nothing, and that a dead person can rise and live again.
Those are Obozo’s beliefs. Own them.
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
8:42 pm
Lil Barry
Thanks for proving my point. You are a good sheep in the flock of the two major parties.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 15th, 2012
8:43 pm
I see they let the ignorant religious bigot out of the drunk tank.
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
8:44 pm
Tiberius
Do not know you nor care to know you. Needless to say, I do not care what you get tired of, what you like, do not like, etc.
Your plight, who you are or who you think you are is not relevant to me on any level.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 15th, 2012
8:46 pm
Stay ignorant, my friend. . .;)
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
8:48 pm
Stay in the “flock” my friend
baaaaaaaa, baaaaaaaaaaa
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 15th, 2012
8:50 pm
Ive probably voted more third party than you could ever dream of, political. But the stakes are too high this year. That’s reality.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
Looks like Gravy isn’t any better at defending his idiot messiah’s beliefs than he demands of others.
Hypocrite.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
8:54 pm
How is a libtard who can’t control her own weight going to control a debate between her god and President Romney?
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 15th, 2012
8:55 pm
Gravy
You are correct, his future is limited unless the economy improves; he tried going back to school, after graduating from UGA. He got no offers after either degree, so I have little hope for his future, unless Romney gets the economy turned around.
If we repeat the mistake, I’m afraid his future and the futures of this generation is greatly diminished compared to past generations. That is why, I need to find ways to preserve my limited resources and pass them on to him, or multiple generations of Hollister’s always leaving a better family financial situation will end with me. I worked hard and took some calculated risks that paid off, so I hope he can take what I have and continue to invest and leave his children as well off as he was. It is the American way, but few embrace it anymore, so here we are, live for today, spend all your money, and if things turn bad, fall back on Uncle Sugar. Doesn’t have to be that way, but it takes discipline and hard work, something that is out of style.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 15th, 2012
8:56 pm
Lbb, Candy Crowley’s weight has nothing to do with her job performance.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 15th, 2012
8:58 pm
LBB
Great country huh? A debate moderator, that is on the record as saying Romney had a death wish when he selected Ryan. Real objective and unbiased.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
8:59 pm
It’s a question worth asking, Tib. We’re entrusting these libtards to fairly moderate debates that will help decide this country’s future. We should demand the most disciplined moderators available. Crowley’s weight problem is a manifestation of her inability to keep a check on her passions, namely, food and Obozo.
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
Lil Barry
Would you say that Christie if NJ is doing a good job? From what I have read, he seems to be.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
9:02 pm
Yes, I would. Christie’s passions are food and good government.
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
9:06 pm
Lil Barry
Based on that, you area just being a baby about the moderator’s weight.
But I sense that might be you on a regular basis. Whining is your thing, but that is alright. Even you have to be known for something.
Take care
Politcal
October 15th, 2012
9:07 pm
are
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 15th, 2012
9:10 pm
You take care too. And when someone agrees with you, learn how to not call them a whiner.
Gravy Train
October 15th, 2012
9:15 pm
I can’t scientifically prove a miracle, hence the name miracle. However, there is more than enough data whether archaeological or genetic to prove Jesus did in fact walk the Earth. Unless you don’t believe that there are Jews and Roman Empires too? Heck they’ve even found remnants of the Arc.
JamVet
October 15th, 2012
9:35 pm
Not if it means the worst President in modern history gets reelected because of it.
An utterly idiotic statement. George Walker Bush – the man who left office in utter disgrace with a 22% approval rating (17% by independents) and who left the nation in the wost economic shape in eighty years – is precluded by the 22nd Amendment to United States Constitution from running again.
That is all…
md
October 15th, 2012
10:13 pm
gravy, no one can prove anything for or against without a shadow of a doubt, hence the term “belief” (much like your term miracle). And a belief is a belief is a belief…….and all beliefs are equal, like it or not.
bluecoat
October 15th, 2012
10:24 pm
http://www.dailydot.com/politics/mitt-romney-debate-cheating-video/
bluecoat
October 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
Your cheating heart will tell on you=Your cheating heart will make more states blue///
adam smith's invisible hand
October 15th, 2012
10:29 pm
md – “all beliefs are equal”
My belief is that you’re not very smart.
Gravy Tranny
October 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
Gravy Train: You say they found remnants of the Arc? They actually found remnants of part of a circle? Where? Now, if they’d ever found remnants of the Ark, that would be something. But, of course, they haven’t.
the angel Moroni
October 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
Is Romney running to get even for what happened to Joseph Smith?
getalife
October 15th, 2012
10:37 pm
mitt will lose the last two debates.
October job report lowers unemployment again.
Economic numbers are looking better.
Troops in Libya to get the terrorists.
obl. movie to show patriotism..
All this adds up to the reelection of President Obama.
Four more years.
md
October 15th, 2012
10:38 pm
“My belief is that you’re not very smart.”
And that’s fine……doesn’t make you right.
I’ll be the first to tell one that my beliefs are the right ones too, but I’ll also be the first to tell one that the possibility exists that I am 100% wrong…….as are you.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 15th, 2012
10:44 pm
obozo represents the Spacey X crowd, all of them floating up to Planet Moonbat, with much gibberish and babbling to keep them Occupied on their insane journey.
Thankfully, this will all be ending soon.
buh bye obozo, check your parachute.
jconservative
October 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
“Yes, I would. Christie’s passions are food and good government.”
You need to add to this list Christie’s passion for the Catholic Church.
adam smith's invisible hand
October 15th, 2012
11:27 pm
md- My belief is that my beliefs are far superior to your beliefs, so that means I’m right and you are 100% wrong.
adam smith's invisible hand
October 15th, 2012
11:30 pm
Why can’t we get a good story on the Tennessee GOP congressman/doctor who had an affair with his patient and then, being the good family values and anti-abortion guy that he was, tried to force her to have an abortion. That’s the kind of story that sells papers. Come on, AJC, let’s get with it.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 16th, 2012
8:17 am
AmVet rates Presidents by using polling numbers.
No wonder he’s a Ralph Nader supporter.
They’re just not very bright.
predicktour
October 16th, 2012
8:50 am
Hillary being forced to take the blame for Obama’s incompetence will put Romney over the top with women voters.
Taxes, charity cost Romney 57.9 percent of income
Women also like men who give freely instead of being forced to give.
Gravy Train
October 16th, 2012
8:56 am
predicktour: Too bad Willard still wants the government to control their bodies and Willard’s “charity” is all donations to his cult. But, don’t let facts ruin your delusions.
predicktour
October 16th, 2012
8:58 am
Baumgartner was a showboat much like Obama.
carlosgvv
October 16th, 2012
9:00 am
md
It is the Mormons who make these claims and it is up to THEM to furnish the hard irrefutable that they are true.
So far, after more than 100 years, they haven’t been able to come up with even a shred of hard evidence.
The burden of proof lays on those making the claims. You will learn this if and when you take a good high school science course.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 16th, 2012
9:03 am
I wonder which innocent sheep herder is gonna get blasted to pieces by the goons in the obozo regime, so that they can say they “avenged” the death of Christopher Stevens.
Best stay in the cave for a few days, Ackmed.
Gravy Train
October 16th, 2012
9:05 am
md: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1269165/Noahs-Ark-remains-discovered-mountain-Turkey.html
predicktour
October 16th, 2012
9:07 am
bluecoat=paranoia
Debunking the ‘Mitt Romney Cheated’ Debate Conspiracy
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/10/debunking-the-mitt-romney-cheated-debate-conspiracy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nymag%2Fintel+%28Daily+Intelligencer+-+New+York+Magazine%29
Gravy Train
October 16th, 2012
10:00 am
md: I’m still waiting for any empirical data you’ve got that proves the claims of the mormon cult.
JamVet
October 16th, 2012
10:30 am
AmVet rates Presidents by using the OVERWHELMING consensus of Americans – scholars and lay people alike – vis a vis Tibby’s beloved George Bush and his record of unmatched failure, staggering ineptitude and deadly corruption.
No wonder tibs voted for George twice and ranks him one of the best US Presidents ever.
President George W. Bush is near the bottom of the heap in the latest survey of historians on presidential leadership.
Bush received an overall ranking of 36 out of 42 former presidents—in the bottom 10.
Ronald Reagan was rated 10th best, up from 11th in a similar survey taken in 2000; Bill Clinton was rated 15, up from 21 in 2000. George H.W. Bush went to 18 from 20.
The five best presidents, according to the historians, were Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman, in that order. Rounding out the top 10 were John F. Kennedy at six, Thomas Jefferson, Dwight Eisenhower, Woodrow Wilson, and Reagan.
The worst presidents, according to the survey, were James Buchanan at 42, Andrew Johnson at 41, Franklin Pierce, William Henry Harrison, Warren Harding, Millard Fillmore, George W. Bush, John Tyler, Herbert Hoover, and Rutherford B. Hayes.
Own it, neocons.
Schnort…
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
October 16th, 2012
10:52 am
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/georgias-white-voters-elude-democrats/nSdq4/
Excellent Article.
“It’s not income so much as it is education. The higher the education level, the more likely they are to vote Democratic.”
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 16th, 2012
10:53 am
Blame Obama for four deaths in Libya. But don’t blame Bush for nearly 3,000 deaths in New York.
Republicans can’t handle the truth.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 16th, 2012
11:10 am
Blame Obama for four deaths in Libya. But don’t blame Bush for nearly 3,000 deaths in New York.
I…Cheney invoked every excuse he and his allies now deride in the Libya fiasco. The warnings weren’t specific enough. Broad analyses of persistent dangers aren’t actionable. Warnings from our people on the ground didn’t “trickle up to the presidential level.” Connecting the dots isn’t the president’s job. It’s a failure of the “system.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2012/10/blame_obama_for_the_libya_consulate_attack_but_don_t_blame_bush_for_9_11.2.html
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 16th, 2012
11:39 am
JamVet
Nice opinion piece, someone else would rate them differently, I’m sure. It is hard to take this as a legitimate exercise, when I do not see Jimmah Carter’s name in the bottom ten. History will have to decide where Bush places, once this generation dies out and objective people get to make the decision. To be fair, no one should be rated for at least 30 years after they leave office.
IMO, I’m sure that 30 years later, Obama will be seen as even worse President, than he is now. The true ineffectiveness of his attempts at reviving the economy will be apparent by then.