tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post781596358468451198..comments2024-02-24T10:11:04.239+01:00Comments on gusto: (Meeting) The Man Who Fell To EarthGrant Podelcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14046561738258645391noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-48817681081174476282008-05-27T20:55:00.000+02:002008-05-27T20:55:00.000+02:00Oh no...Looks like Col.K's record is safe for the ...Oh no...<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/BalloonLeavesSkydiverBehind_197975-1.html" REL="nofollow">Looks like Col.K's record is safe for the time being.</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-6685941678519112932008-05-26T10:06:00.000+02:002008-05-26T10:06:00.000+02:00Thanks, Brewsta. I had, indeed, heard of Fournier'...Thanks, Brewsta. I had, indeed, heard of Fournier's efforts and had seen the NYT article. The jump is supposed to happen in a few hours as I write this. We're all staying tuned!Grant Podelcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046561738258645391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-45136878579408319172008-05-24T07:59:00.000+02:002008-05-24T07:59:00.000+02:00Check this out in the NY Times today "Man Plans to...Check this out in the NY Times today "Man Plans to Plunge to Earth From 130,000 Feet" -- mentions Kittinger:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/sports/othersports/24jump.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all<BR/><BR/>Here's the Kittinger bit (in case the link goes to archive): <BR/><BR/>The highest previous recorded jump from a balloon was performed in 1960 by Joe Kittinger, a United States Air Force test pilot who leaped from 102,800 feet and exceeded 600 miles per hour before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet. He was down in less than 14 minutes.<BR/><BR/>Reached by phone last week at his home outside Orlando, Fla., Kittinger, 79, said he was surprised his record had stood for so long.<BR/><BR/>Fournier and Kittinger correspond through e-mail. “I told him many years ago, it’s very hostile,” Kittinger said. “You’re in a vacuum, and your whole life is dependent on the pressure suit working properly. If the pressure suit fails, you die.”<BR/><BR/>Kittinger is contacted regularly by others interested in breaking his record. “There’s a whole bunch of them out there that are just like Fournier and just like the guy in England,” he said. “Most of them don’t have the money to do it.”<BR/><BR/>Some say that with scientific information already gathered from this kind of jump, there is little benefit beyond learning what happens to the human body at supersonic speeds. Others suggest that the leap could generate serious interest in space travel, the way the Wright brothers helped inspire aeronautics.<BR/><BR/>“A front-row seat of space,” Truglia said. “I think that will appeal to a certain sector of society, people that want to adventure and live on the edge.”<BR/><BR/>But Kittinger expressed skepticism about tourists attempting to cope at such high altitude.<BR/><BR/>“It was definitely beautiful, but it’s also hostile,” he said. His right hand swelled to twice its normal size when his glove failed to pressurize properly.<BR/><BR/>From those lonely heights, the speedy return trip was a relief.<BR/><BR/>“Yes, it was nice to be headed back to earth, because it’s an environment that we can live in,” Kittinger said. “And it’s a beautiful planet, really.”Brewstahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07696497881565368117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-9087327475037918032008-05-14T20:55:00.000+02:002008-05-14T20:55:00.000+02:00Great blog, Karen. All the best to you in your Pra...Great blog, Karen. All the best to you in your Prague adventure. Let me know if I can help.Grant Podelcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046561738258645391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-18332924431955617672008-05-13T14:06:00.000+02:002008-05-13T14:06:00.000+02:00Grant, click on my name in the comments. It takes...Grant, click on my name in the comments. It takes you to my profile. My blog is listed on the bottom.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-91032067109159186322008-05-12T23:02:00.000+02:002008-05-12T23:02:00.000+02:00Dear Karen,Thanks so much for your comment. That's...Dear Karen,<BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for your comment. That's very nice of you. He's an amazing man. Of course, you may link to my blogs! Of course! You have a blog, too? What is it?<BR/><BR/>All the best.Grant Podelcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046561738258645391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-69464030072132340852008-05-12T20:11:00.000+02:002008-05-12T20:11:00.000+02:00Hi Grant, I loved this post of yours on Colonel Ki...Hi Grant, I loved this post of yours on Colonel Kittinger. It made my eyes tear up because it's fabulous to see a genuine American hero appreciated like this. I am moving to Prague this summer and thoroughly enjoy both your blogs. May I link to them on my site? I have gusto! Thanks, KarenKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-12042759133941545152008-05-06T17:00:00.000+02:002008-05-06T17:00:00.000+02:00Thanks, Dave. That's a great clip. I like all the ...Thanks, Dave. That's a great clip. I like all the layers of clothes. One of the pictures in "Life" magazine has him on the desert floor after the jump, with his shirt off, and you can see the imprint of his clothing embedded in his skin.<BR/><BR/>I found this comment about Kittinger on a YouTube video. I love it:<BR/><BR/>"Although It May Seem As Though He Is Accelerating To The Earth, It Is Quite The Opposite. The Earth Rather Is Being Accelerated Towards Joe Due To The Massive Size And Density Of His Testicles."Grant Podelcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046561738258645391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-72158322610348694692008-05-05T09:18:00.000+02:002008-05-05T09:18:00.000+02:00What a guy.Thought you might be interested in this...What a guy.<BR/><BR/>Thought you might be interested in this clip...<BR/>http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=42a_1175002455Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335408565106024505.post-49377550806578141582008-05-02T17:23:00.000+02:002008-05-02T17:23:00.000+02:00All i can say is .... woah!!!All i can say is .... woah!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com