An amazing escape
A TRULY astonishing story is surely about to emerge from last Friday's Virgin
Galactic space flight disaster. How did the pilot manage to parachute to safety
from an altitude of almost 14 000m from a spacecraft that had burst into flame as
it hurtled toward outer space?
The footage was so sickeningly reminiscent of the Challenger horror that you
wouldn't have given anyone a chance.
Almost as astonishing is the lack of curiosity shown so far by the TV channels
and the international agencies. We've had laconic statements from the crash
investigators about one parachute having deployed, not two.
To what was this deployed parachute attached? An individual or the spacecraft
itself? Did pilot Peter Siebold bale out? And at what altitude? If Siebold baled,
what would have prevented co-pilot Michael Alsbury doing the same?
Did Siebold also come down in the Mojave Desert and, if so, how far from the
crash site?
We're left guessing.
The crash was a human tragedy and possibly a permanent setback to the Virgin
Galactic programme. But boy, does Siebold – apparently on the mend in hospital
– have an amazing story to tell!
Hire this cop!
AN American policeman has been bringing traffic to a standstill with his marching
band dance moves as he directs the flow on point duty.
Indiana State Trooper DuJuan Presely-McFadden says he likes to put a smile
on motorists' faces with his groove, which he picked up at Jackson State
University where he was in a marching band. He wants to show the human
side of law enforcement.
I wonder if he would be prepared to do it naked? He sounds just the fellow
to direct the hordes of traffic that will descend on Mpenjati, down the South
Coast, once the nudist beach is opened, possibly next month.
Hibiscus Coast municipality should make an approach. With an epic like this
you don't cut corners.
Fat girls
WALMART, the American supermarket chain, has apologised for "Fat Girl
Costumes" which it advertised on its website. The offending item has now been
removed.
It caused an uproar on social media.
But it seems a little unfair. Judging by the pictures that come around regularly
on e-mail, Walmart was doing no more than cater for its client base.
This consists mostly of women for whom the word "fat" would be a
euphemism, dressed in skimpy vests and skirts so short they reveal a
terrifying expanse of underwear as they bend over the food counters.
Do the maths!
IN HIS latest grumpy newsletter, investment analyst Dr James Greener laments the
feeble grasp of maths displayed by ideologues, as evidenced by the unemployment
figures.
"The latest official report to reveal this sad and desperate story will trigger official reaction
and promises 'to do more'. These are the same officials and reactions that appeared
when the previous report was published and which have had no discernible effect.
"The sole sensible but rather diffident remarks came from Econometrix, a private sector
think tank who suggested that there might be a link between having prescribed minimum
wage levels and the number of people being paid those wages.
"Simple maths, however, is not a strong suit among ideologues.".
Evil clowns
CLOWNS have gone on the rampage in southern France. The gendarmerie
report a spate of assaults and robberies around the towns of Vendargues and
Montpellier by people dressed as clowns, armed with pistols, knives, baseball
bats and iron bars.
Vendargues has now banned clowns from appearing in public and there have
been a dozen arrests.
I guess the circus can give this town a miss.
Zoo
WRITER and motivational speaker Sarita Mathur pens some lines on the Animal Kingdom and the
Human Zoo.
The Human Zoo, where animals reign,
Some more powerful than others,
in their own terrain.
Some at peace,
No gnashing of teeth.
Moaning and groaning.
At their circumstances.
However there are others who will moan and wail,
Without lifting a hand ,
To do something for themselves.
The Human Zoo
Will carry on,
All day and all night long.
Tailpiece
MURPHY arrives home late from the pub.
His wife calls from upstairs: "Is dat you Murphy?".
"Begorrah! It damned well better be me!"
Last word
The world is round; it has no point.
Adrienne E Gusoff
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