A clumsy attempt at making some sense of the sinister submission process, a blog by Matthew MacNish
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Are There Even Words for Such a Thing?
UPDATE: Here are some quotes and remarks about the jump that my friend Maine Character sent me:
"When I was standing there on top of the world, you become so humble, you do not think about of breaking records anymore, you do not think of about gaining scientific data. The only thing you want is to come back alive."
Brian Utley, a jump observer from the International Federation of Sports Aviation, said preliminary figures show Baumgartner reached a maximum speed of 833.9 mph. That amounts to Mach 1.24, which is faster than the speed of sound. No one has ever reached that speed wearing only a high-tech suit.
"I know the whole world is watching now. I wish you could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are. I'm coming home now."
Baumgartner has said he plans to settle down with his girlfriend and fly helicopters on mountain rescue and firefighting missions in the U.S. and Austria.
I know. I saw this on the news.
ReplyDeleteThere are many, many words - most of them a convenient, and relatively short four letters long. I would imagine several of them were shouted with conviction about the time he stepped off that platform.
ReplyDeleteThen there are others considerably longer that come on the sides of prescription bottles because this has to be a form of insanity. (Not to mention his whole family probably had to be sedated while watching this.)
And interspersed between those two, I'd also imagine there were long strings of words turning into prayers for a safe landing. Thankfully, he made one.
I can't even imagine the adrenaline crash that comes after something like that.
Since he made it, all my words have to do with the indomitable nature of human ingenuity and daring. Those words would still have been appropriate if he hadn't made it, but that's not what people would have said.
ReplyDeleteI think I would completely flip out if that were me!
ReplyDeleteNo,no words, just sweaty palms and knotted stomach watching.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
ReplyDeleteOooh, I like what Dianne said! We watched it (and held our breath) with our 8 yo and his friend. They thought it was so cool, they actually walked away from the x-box. :D
ReplyDeleteOnly "What a trip!"
ReplyDeleteI watched this yesterday. It was pretty tense right before he jumped! I know I was relieved when he landed safely--I can't even imagine how his family felt.
ReplyDelete"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..."
ReplyDeleteI was bummed when the original jump didn't happen, but it was WAY to windy.
ReplyDeleteHad to watch this with the kids. There's a picture of him all over the internet going supersonic. Just insane!!!
The guy went supersonic, broke the sound barrier, AND landed safely to the ground. (O_O)
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
Makes me wonder what's coming next.
And thus completes the transition from a sweeping space program that required an entire nation to the personalized space jump by a single man (although he had an impressive support crew!). But the core will always be the same: the determination of the human spirit in the face of the seeming impossible.
ReplyDeleteCrazy but totally amazing!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Only that we can reach for the Heavens and make it. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteStunning. I could not believe what I was watching.
ReplyDeleteHis own humble words:
ReplyDelete"I know the whole world is watching now. I wish you could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are. I'm coming home now."
What mine would've been:
"I'm really freaking out. I wish I could at least see my house from here. Sometimes you have to get really high to come up with an idea like this, and understand how stupid you are. I wanna go home now."
It only goes to show if a human wants to do something badly enough it will be done.
ReplyDeleteIf he was wearing crimson and gold, I'd say he was Iron Man.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the courage to jump off a one story building.
ReplyDeleteLove the new picture.
I just want to know what it's like to be in the center of a sonic boom. No one's talking about that. :(
ReplyDeleteCRAP! Can you believe I didn't even know this was going on? I tuned into FB like an hour after the fact and read everybody's comments. This is just too much. Thanks for posting the video! I can't get over that part where he's just hurtling end over end. Amazing. :p <3
ReplyDeletePeople are amazing.
ReplyDeleteAlso nuts. I don't even like roller coasters. :)
Love it. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI had a great comment, but then i read Maine Character's comment and laughed so much i forgot what i was going to say...
ReplyDeleteHere are a few words: great big giant cojones!
ReplyDeleteEPIC.
ReplyDeleteBut how did his brain not explode going that fast? lol
I am so glad he made it. I've been following this story for weeks now, with all the preparations and obstacles to overcome. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteHow is this even possible?
ReplyDeleteI like the new blog photo of you and your sis, too.
Holy god.
ReplyDeleteThat made me dizzy.
ReplyDelete........dhole
It was something utterly magnificent to watch, wasn't it? It made me think of all those years ago when families huddled around their radios to hear about the moon landing (or watch it if they had a TV).
ReplyDeleteI think the journey gave him some perspective, which is always a gift.
Angela
Wow...just wow. You're right - there are no words although I did like this: "Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are."
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing to watch, especially live. The vertigo up that high must have been insane.
ReplyDeleteJamie
I'm glad there are still people who show us what is possible. The impossible just takes longer.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? How do you fly a helicopter after a ride like that?!
ReplyDelete