Posted on 06/15/2012 9:36:59 PM PDT by Daffynition
Nik Wallenda has successfully crossed Niagara Falls on a highwire strung high above the raging waters, a historic achievement for the American aerialist.
Wallenda, who hails from a long line of high-wire artists — several of whom have died during performances — started from the U.S. side at around 10:15 p.m. ET and completed it about 25 minutes after he started.
He took steady steps for most of his journey but ran the last few paces, CBC's Adrienne Arsenault said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
I agree. From a religious standpoint, to risk your live so foolishly for absolutely no reason, is immoral. I didn’t watch it.
I’m looking forward to this jump. I can’t imagine anyone surviving this. He’s like Iron Man.
That was quite awesome. And...
You’re right. There is no comparison.
Perhaps, when you have time, you’ll read *why* he was obliged to use a safety harness. There are many interviews about it.
You have to acknowledge Col. Kittinger who led the way in stepping out of balloons way up there. He passed out once and his auto-opening chute saved him. On one ascent, his right glove didn’t seal and his hand swelled to twice it’s size. He could have stopped the mission, but he didn’t want to ruin all the hard work of the crew, so he carried on.
He did a few other things, like 483 combat missions in Vietnam, spent 11 months as a POW, etc. Clanging big brass ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger
“90% of people watching were hoping he would fall.”
Total Bovine Feces...you were hoping he would fall?
“I wish Obama would try this.”
On a bicycle, maybe...
90% of people attending car races hope to see fiery crashes.
“Where is the danger if he’s attached to the wire by tethers?”
I joined the telecast 15 minutes into the walk and saw the tether in the first views. The tether did not make it any easier...how would you like to be dangling by that tether, upside down over the falls, with no means to effect your own escape? And it is not likely anyone would want to get close to you...the smell... )
Even people who weren't consciously hoping he'd fall tuned in partially because they might get to see him hit a rock and display what he had for lunch.
In ancient Rome people crowded the arenas to watch gladiators hack each other to death and get eaten by critters. Today, people watch horror films and slasher movies for the same reason. This event was no different. The human fascination with blood and circus remains as strong as ever.
“...see him hit a rock...”
Wasn’t going to happen...he was tethered.
How many people knew that, though.
“How many people knew that, though.”
I knew it in the first minute or so watching after turning the TV on at 15 minutes into the walk. The tether was clearly visible in the pics. ‘Course, most people aren’t observant, I guess, seein’ as how most are dumb as a rock (look at how many voted for the evil one in 2008)...and the dumb as a rock applies to the lame stream media, too!
Yeah, and Felix has Col. Joe's endorsement and technical guidance on this one:
More brass balls than a pawn shop in that pic right there.......
--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
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