The Needle And The Damage Done

Lance Armstrong’s decent into the bowels of ignominy was as quick as Felix Baumgartner’s free fall to earth, and about as stable 

as the US Postal Service, the teams sponsor.

To quote the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency there is "overwhelming" evidence Armstrong was involved as a professional cyclist in "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program." 

Armstrong has persistently maintained his innocence but the blockade of lies just could hold no more. 

The once impenetrable dam has broken and all conspirators are awash in confessions. The suspicious have been vindicated and the sports future once again thrown into disarray.

The great casualty in all this is the power of truth, that the triumphant endeavors are a mirage and done with deliberate dishonestly. There is a wonder and marvel at someone winning seven Tour de France. 

We have an awe-inspiring desire for it to be true. And yet it was all a sham, a mafia like syndicated group to keep the gravy train rolling and create myth.

The damage done erodes trust and that trust implicates future young riders and charities.

So when you see Lance whizzing down 5^th avenue as a bike messenger spare a thought for all those he let down.

The same could be said of Jimmy Savile, now dead who was the golden untouchable icon of British entertainment. Over three hundred charges of child abuse over several decades have come forward. 

While he raised millions for charity and worked in a hospital he also found it a playground for exploitation. 

The BBC knew all along, but turned a blind eye. One always had a high regard of the BBC’s legitimacy but that too has been eroded.

It’s not the scandal that kills you, it’s the cover up. 

The English punk band The Stranglers had a wonderful song called ‘No More Heroes’ maybe heroes aren’t what we need but a shred of veracity would be nice.

Primetime Prick

After days of infantile teasing Donald Stunt plus hairpiece revealed Wednesday that he had some very important news for America. 

Something so illuminating that at the stroke of mid day YouTube would break all viewership records. 

The tension was palpable, could it be -

• He was announcing marital infidelity with Mitt Romney thus the beachfront property in La Jolla was now a shared concern for Ann and the boys.
• That from now on he would be parting his hair to the right (extreme right)
• Or that he had finally arrived at reason and declared he was a new category of sub Neanderthal, and that the word ‘loathsome’ was far too benevolent to describe such a specimen. 
• Maybe he was really a part of the 47% and decades of bullshit in actual fact revealed he was broke and under water.
• Too thank New Yorkers and the World at large for their remarkable tolerance in putting up with his all round foulness and garish buildings.

But No, it was to perpetrate another stunt baiting President Obama into producing documents stating passport and college records. 

For five million dollars to a charity of choice, all could be revealed and the world could rest assure that ‘The Donald’ had done his civic duty.

How could we ever repay you for such a noble maneuver? 

It is a hollow offer mind, considering the demise of Trump holdings and just another boorish gesture from a primetime prick. 

Somewhere in that far off land called Trump, employees will revolt and vote to cut the video feed once and for all.

The Short Way Home

It was sunday when Felix Baumgartner got the all clear to lift off in a gigantic helium balloon up to the edge of space. 

His mission? To wrestle away the Free Fall record set in 1960 by Joe Kittinger and break the sound barrier – oh and sell some drinks.

Red Bull, the sponsor and friend to adrenalin junkies around the world were footing the bill with help from American experts from various agencies.

Along with the sound barrier being broken, the You Tube record was also eclipsed with millions of hits recorded.

With so much misery and vacuous trite in the world today and with so much of it relayed on the Net, It was wonderful to see an uplifting moment by way of a downward plunge, all captured in real time.

One could imagine a collective gulp as Felix bunny hopped away from his ledge into a tiny white dot within seconds. It was leap bordering on the divine all caught by helmet, chest and capsule cameras.

With added drama we witnessed a death spin, which resonated in human terms by cutaway shots of Felix’s love ones. At once we are reminded how insanely dangerous this commercial is, and like the best commercials we forget the product but remember the event.

Was it a stunt with scientific implications? Undeniably. Don’t drink Red Bull - Shit while… doing anything!!

One can’t imagine Felix ingesting a cocktail so as inviting as Glucuronolacton, Taurine, sugar, more sugar and Camel piss.

Interestingly in this election cycle we have two men citing the merits of government and private enterprise. President Obama makes the claim “Government built that” while Mitt Romney says business created everything, including Mormonism. 

They both have reasonable arguments, however private equity firms are more interested in slash and burn ; a parallel force of government and private sector has emerged particularly when it comes to Space achievements - the wonderful NASA led Mars landings and Virgin’s Galactic Space tours all point to a combined effort to push expedition and commerce into the future. 

It was the Taxpayers State built road that carried the capsule to the launch pad, while former NASA engineers rigged up a commercially funded balloon, jump suit, parachute and personnel. Don’t you wish Congress could work like that?

Before Sunday, Felix Baumgartner was not a house hold name. 

It took only nine minutes for that too change with a graceful glide onto a New Mexican desert.

Bravo!