Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is Being Emergency Evacuated From the South Pole (businessinsider.com)

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Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is Being Emergency Evacuated From the South Pole (businessinsider.com)

Posted by msmash on Thursday December 1, 2016 @03:25AM from the what's-happening dept.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Thursday morning that it will provide a "humanitarian medical evacuation flight" from the South Pole for an "ailing" Buzz Aldrin. BusinessInsider adds: Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon, joining Neil Armstrong in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module in July 1969. He has since become an author and advocate for crewed missions to Mars. He is 86, and no further information is available as to his condition. The NSF's statement said that an NSF plane will fly Aldrin from the Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole to McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast. At that point ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard will haul him to New Zealand "as soon as possible."

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What by 110010001000 · 2016-12-01 03:27 · Score: 2, Funny

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole? Is he the anti-Santa?
1. Re:What by CohibaVancouver · 2016-12-01 03:29 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?
  Being awesome, most likely.
2. Re:What by peragrin · 2016-12-01 03:30 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Hiding from The news of the past year
  
  --
  i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
3. Re:What by 110010001000 · 2016-12-01 03:30 · Score: 2
  
  What news? Did anything happen recently? I haven't been paying much attention.
4. Re:What by plopez · 2016-12-01 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  Good question. If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected. Younger and fit people are preferred for exactly this reason, they have less risk of medical problems. It is a good thing it happened in the summer as a winter evacuation would be horribly dangerous.
  
  --
  putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
5. Re:What by PvtVoid · 2016-12-01 03:35 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole? Is he the anti-Santa?
  It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.
6. Re:What by 110010001000 · 2016-12-01 03:39 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Who the heck is Trump? The only Trump I know is that TV guy Donald Trump with bad hair and no one would vote for that guy.
7. Re:What by Bruce+Perens · 2016-12-01 03:41 · Score: 1
  
  Not unless Scientologists are anti-santa.
  Buzz was on a tour. I think just a civilian one.
  I've seen him around a few times (he travels as a speaker, so do I, but he gets paid to fly first class, I'm in coach). He looks pretty healthy for his age.
  
  --
  Bruce Perens.
8. Re:What by Viol8 · 2016-12-01 03:42 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far.
9. Re:What by Nidi62 · 2016-12-01 03:44 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Good question. If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected. Younger and fit people are preferred for exactly this reason, they have less risk of medical problems.
  He was down there on an organized tour for tourists. He wasn't working down there. And for anyone wondering, according to the tour service's website, they only cost 64,000 euros per person. Hope he sprung for the optional insurance.
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
10. Re:What by Viol8 · 2016-12-01 03:45 · Score: 1
  
  " If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected"
  Indeed. And while he's a brave man and a hero I'm afraid the human body doesn't care. 86 is old no matter who you are or how fit you are and the south pole is really no place for someone of that age.
  "would be horribly dangerous."
  More like virtually impossible.
11. Re:What by Rei · 2016-12-01 03:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Or, for that matter, the POTUS's two adult sons. I always forget their names... Uday and Qusay?
  
  --
  People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
12. Re:What by 110010001000 · 2016-12-01 03:49 · Score: 2
  
  No wonder Space Nutters want to leave this planet so badly!
13. Re:What by Rei · 2016-12-01 03:49 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?
  
  --
  People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
14. Re:What by nospam007 · 2016-12-01 03:53 · Score: 1
  
  "No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."
  Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.
15. Re:What by rrohbeck · 2016-12-01 04:00 · Score: 1
  
  Americans have a long tradition of voting incompetent but popular figures into office.
  
  --
  thegodmovie.com - watch it
16. Re:What by msauve · 2016-12-01 04:07 · Score: 1
  
  "Americans have a long tradition of voting incompetent but popular figures into office."
  
  They've been doing it for decades.
  
  --
  "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
17. Re:What by Thelasko · 2016-12-01 04:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Being awesome, most likely.
  His Instagram account has a picture of him wearing a belt and suspenders. Those astronauts really believe in redundancy of critical systems.
  
  Joking aside. I hope he's OK.
  
  --
  One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
18. Re:What by ugen · 2016-12-01 04:34 · Score: 1
  
  Where are the mod points when you need them?
19. Re:What by ChunderDownunder · 2016-12-01 04:41 · Score: 1
  
  And, sadly, if anyone could have fixed the Stargate before the army's budget was cut, it was Aldrin.
20. Re:What by blindseer · 2016-12-01 04:44 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?
  Europa.
  I heard the moon landings were staged on a movie set located on the moon.
  
  --
  I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
21. Re:What by stealth_finger · 2016-12-01 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  "No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."
  Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.
  Because they send 86 year olds to the moon all the time.
  
  --
  Wanna buy a shirt?
  https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
22. Re:What by Gryle · 2016-12-01 04:57 · Score: 2
  
  I think you mean the Air Force's budget. The budget wasn't cut, they just diverted it to the F-35.
  
  --
  Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
23. Re:What by Camel+Pilot · 2016-12-01 05:00 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Actually Flat Earthers believe that NASA (The S stands for Satan) patrol the "ice wall" at Antarctica to prevent the truth the flat earth getting out. No kidding I have facebook associates that are flat earthers and they really believe this.
24. Re:What by cmiller173 · 2016-12-01 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  So impossible it has only been done thrice.
25. Re:What by dywolf · 2016-12-01 05:14 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  ^This.
  Seriously people.
  Follow his facebook if you don't already.
  The man is prolific, and still excited to learn, discover, and push himself, and then educate and share with others.
  
  --
  The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
26. Re:What by Immerman · 2016-12-01 05:17 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Honestly, at that age your remaining days are numbered, and it's not a big number. So your only real options lie on the spectrum between:
  1) Live as safely as possible, taking no risks, including indulging in any pleasures that might increase those risks (that would be most of them), and try to put off dying as long as possible at any cost.
  2) Do anything you want, knowing that your time is running out, and that even if it kills you didn't really have much left to lose anyway.
  Personally I have a lot more respect for those who lean towards the latter. The former seems to me to have little to do with living, and much to do with fearing the inevitable.
  
  --
  --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
27. Re:What by Coisiche · 2016-12-01 05:30 · Score: 2
  
  Maybe we need POTUS and PEOTUS to allow some people to differentiate during this interim period.
28. Re:What by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · 2016-12-01 05:42 · Score: 2
  
  Re-read that comment.
  
  --
  Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.
29. Re:What by MightyMartian · 2016-12-01 05:43 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  He walked on the Moon. If Buzz Aldrin wants to go to the South Pole, who the hell has any right to say no?
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
30. Re:What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  ``The job of the president isn't to wield power, but to draw attention away from it...'' ---DNA/HHGG
  Trump will do that job perfectly!
31. Re:What by drew_kime · 2016-12-01 06:22 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.
  Say that to his face. I dare ya.
  
  --
  Nope, no sig
32. Re:What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 06:26 · Score: 1
  
  what better of a place for a publicity-hound, who's only done one thing semi-famously, to wring-out the last drops of "oooh!-ness" by croaking in Antarctica? he can't be there for any possible reason except "gee, wouldn't it be great if we had him in the Antarctic and built a show around it?". either THAT or "hey - I'm famous and I wanna go to Antarctica. who'll pay my way?".
  I don't HOPE anything happens to him, but if it DOES then just stack him in the vehicle shed and wait for the next scheduled transport - he'll keep.
33. Re:What by epyT-R · 2016-12-01 06:31 · Score: 2
  
  Manning the weapons chair at the ancient outpost, duh..
34. Re:What by wbr1 · 2016-12-01 06:38 · Score: 1
  
  Yep.. spacenutters... what a way to refer to people who want to expand mankind's knowledge and abilities.
  
  --
  Silence is a state of mime.
35. Re:What by Culture20 · 2016-12-01 06:44 · Score: 1
  
  What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?
  He was visiting the aliens who live inside the hollow portion of the world at the neutral zone next to the polar opening.
36. Re:What by PvtVoid · 2016-12-01 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  I dare ya.
  That made my whole day.
37. Re:What by caseih · 2016-12-01 06:49 · Score: 1
  
  Your comments indicate complete ignorance as to why he's there and how he got there. Applicant for what exactly? Rejected by whom? Why would he have been there in the winter? I think you may be operating under some mistaken assumptions here.
  The only thing we can debate regarding this is whether we should continue to allow antarctic tourism in general. I know tourists have been traveling to Antarctica by ship for years, mostly sticking to the western coast along the antarctic peninsula. I had no idea tour groups were going all the way to the south pole. How cool is that! Though potentially dangerous and irresponsible, and possibly a detriment to the research that is being done there. Much like ISS tourism, but a little cheaper.
38. Re:What by CrimsonAvenger · 2016-12-01 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  Or, just as likely, they're pulling your chain and getting a good laugh at your expense...
  
  --
  
  "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
39. Re:What by ChrisMaple · 2016-12-01 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  The weather may be tough, but the sun is shining. I think that's a big advantage.
  
  --
  Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
40. Re:What by Howitzer86 · 2016-12-01 06:57 · Score: 1
  
  Thumb tacked to the firmament.
41. Re:What by MightyMartian · 2016-12-01 06:58 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  He's a bloody national hero. I can think of a lot more ludicrous things to spend tax money than airlifting one of the greatest explorers in history.
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
42. Re:What by pipingguy · 2016-12-01 07:06 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  "All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landing there."
  
  - some guy
43. Re:What by pipingguy · 2016-12-01 07:19 · Score: 1
  
  What about sex? Is sex OK? Asking for a friend.
44. Re:What by jamiesan · 2016-12-01 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  Are you assuming her Gender?
45. Re:What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  This year they mixed it up, voting in someone who's incompetent but not popular.
46. Re:What by K.+S.+Kyosuke · 2016-12-01 08:38 · Score: 1
  
  Not unless Scientologists are anti-santa.
  Maybe, as Scientologists, they are anti-Establishment Santa-Clause?
  
  --
  Ezekiel 23:20
47. Re:What by Enigma2175 · 2016-12-01 09:22 · Score: 2
  
  Agreed, he's not killing elephants like the fucking ex-king of spain or killing liions like that bastard california dentist.
  Minor nitpick, I think you mean Minnesota dentist, not California dentist.
  Source: http://www.startribune.com/zim...
  
  --
  Enigma
48. Re:What by Oligonicella · 2016-12-01 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  When substituting "The world has" for "Americans have" you wind up with an equally valid statement.
49. Re:What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 09:52 · Score: 1
  
  It's an actual tourist trip he took. As in he paid for his own transportation, his stay, and everything. The cost is over $60k, and you're required to buy insurance also. I've looked into it and want to one day go there myself, anyone with enough money can go and it doesn't cost taxpayers anything.
50. Re: What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 10:47 · Score: 1
  
  LOL... you made a typical NASA mistake there confusing imperial and metric measurements. You mean 100F, because if it was 100C then all the water on the moon would boil away.
51. Re:What by Applehu+Akbar · 2016-12-01 12:48 · Score: 1
  
  "No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."
  Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.
  The South Pole may be a flat place, but it's at over 2800m, or 9300 ft. I understand that Aldrin's problem was getting oxygen at that altitude.
  I met Aldrin once, at a conference in Tucson years ago. A truly awesome guy, but age means increasing physical limitations.
52. Re:What by blindseer · 2016-12-01 13:03 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The tourists that go on these trips buy insurance for things like this. It is quite possible that the company that organized the trip will pay for any costs incurred.
  Also, military rescue people live for this kind of thing. They are required to have so much training every year in case there is a military need for such a rescue effort. I'd rather they practice on real people, saving real lives, to get that training rather than have to pay for them to do their training on mannequins.
  If we are going to hold some kind of vote on if the taxpayers should pay for this then I'll vote for this to be funded in part by my tax bill.
  Also, the US Coast Guard goes out all the time to keep people from wining the Darwin Awards, I don't get upset about that either. Call it training, call it international outreach, call it being a member of the human race. Call it what you will but just don't call it a waste of taxes.
  
  --
  I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
53. Re:What by Immerman · 2016-12-01 14:56 · Score: 1
  
  If it's just okay, you might be doing it wrong ;-)
  Whether it increases your risk of dying depends on the individual - it's good exercise, but can be a lot of strain to put on an ailing heart.
  
  --
  --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
54. Re: What by TheConway · 2016-12-01 21:43 · Score: 1
  
  It would boil away at a much lower temperature than 100C. Lower air pressure.
55. Re:What by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-02 06:30 · Score: 1
  
  Working at the Stargate, duh! ;)
56. Re:What by strikethree · 2016-12-02 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  ... one of the greatest explorers in history.
  Your statement hit me hard. I would go so far as to say that he and Neil are the greatest explorers in history. Think about it: No other life form can get out of this gravity well on purpose. They touched a completely alien world. How much greater can you get? You can not.
  Something about the moon landing brings tears (not of sadness) to my eyes. It is an enduring milestone for the entire human race.
  
  --
  "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
57. Re:What by strikethree · 2016-12-02 06:37 · Score: 1
  
  Flat earth believers are willfully ignorant. As such, I can not even find the time to give them the time of day.
  
  --
  "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
58. Re:What by RockDoctor · 2016-12-04 05:37 · Score: 1
  
  Obviously Buzz Aldrin disagrees with you on that point. And of the two people in that disagreement, I'd be more inclined to take Aldrin's opinion on Aldrin's fitness to visit the south pole then your opinion. On the other hand, I'll accept your opinion over Buzz's on whether you should use super-soft arse-wipe or ultra-soft.
  
  --
  Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
59. Re:What by sr180 · 2016-12-04 19:30 · Score: 1
  
  Not only is it the altitude, but there is less atmosphere at the poles, because it bulges around the equator.
  
  --
  In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!
60. Re:What by Rakarra · 2016-12-08 07:33 · Score: 1
  
  "Space Nutters" was always a stupid charge to make, but some people here take that very seriously.
61. Re:What by Rakarra · 2016-12-08 07:34 · Score: 1
  
  This year they mixed it up, voting in someone who's incompetent but not popular.
  That's what happens when you get two "incompetent but not popular" figures in the final election.
62. Re:What by Rakarra · 2016-12-08 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  This is why you troll people on the Internet, not to their face.
63. Re:What by Coren22 · 2016-12-08 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  I would say four incompetent and not popular figures...
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
64. Re:What by Coren22 · 2016-12-08 07:56 · Score: 1
  
  If that were to happen, who would launch weather sats, survaillance sats, and earth monitoring sats?
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
65. Re:What by Coren22 · 2016-12-08 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  Hmm, I don't know what movie you are referring to (The Stargate TV series?), but this made me think, maybe he was looking for the pyramid from Alien vs Preditor so that he could find the cure for old age like the CEO of the Weyland corp.
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
66. Re:What by Rakarra · 2016-12-08 13:21 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, Jill and Gary seemed to have no idea what the President does. That's what sucked the worst. The only other person on the ballot in my state was the Peace and Freedom Party candidate.
Maybe time to hang up his boots? by amalcolm · 2016-12-01 03:28 · Score: 2

I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.

--
Time for bed, said Zebedee - boing
1. Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? by geekmux · 2016-12-01 04:00 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.
  At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.
2. Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? by geekmux · 2016-12-01 04:48 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.
  At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.
  You clearly don`t know a guy named Clint Eastwood.
  Of course I know Philo Beddoe. Only man alive who gives Chuck Norris a run for his money.
3. Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? by SScorpio · 2016-12-01 05:09 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly, it was supposed be 45 years old but you know how government contract jobs always run over in both time and money.
  I'm still amazing how accurate they were able to recreate everything even after the last one blew up.
  Just remember to be careful on where you post information about this, we can't let the people who were considered to stupid know about it hear this, remember that it was decided that would cause wide spread panic.
4. Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? by CrimsonAvenger · 2016-12-01 06:58 · Score: 1
  
  we can't let the people who were considered to stupid know about it hear this,
  Written by someone who can't spell "too stupid to"....
  
  --
  
  "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
5. Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? by SScorpio · 2016-12-01 13:05 · Score: 1
  
  Yup dyslexia and ADHD which cause reading and writing issues can be found in extremely intelligent people.
Really, another? by Rei · 2016-12-01 03:30 · Score: 2

You can officially go F*** yourself, 2016.

--
People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
1. Re:Really, another? by Progman3K · 2016-12-01 04:25 · Score: 1
  
  That was my thought as I read this too, Rei. Let's hope we're both wrong
  
  --
  I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
"Haul" him? by CohibaVancouver · 2016-12-01 03:32 · Score: 1

At that point ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard will haul him to New Zealand "as soon as possible
"Haul him?" He's not a reefer full of fresh strawberries...
1. Re:"Haul" him? by Pascoea · 2016-12-01 03:36 · Score: 1
  
  If he's in a box, technically "haul" would an accurate verb.
2. Re:"Haul" him? by marklark · 2016-12-01 03:37 · Score: 1
  
  If he was a bunch of strawberries, he never would have made it on the plane. The people in charge of the Antarctic logistics put a very low priority on "freshies" (and personal mail).
  BTW, it was a pleasure flying with the NY Air Nat'l Guard.
3. Re:"Haul" him? by PPH · 2016-12-01 04:15 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The airlines' refer to passengers as SLF (self loading freight).
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
4. Re:"Haul" him? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2016-12-01 04:31 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Yes...but if fresh strawberries came in in load, there would probably be a stampede.
  Anyway, if I were him and died there, I would want by body bagged and buried inward towards the pole a little with a sign that said, "Do not touch until tech can resurrect me k thx bie."
  
  --
  (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Why not? by sjbe · 2016-12-01 03:37 · Score: 1

"Haul him?" He's not a reefer full of fresh strawberries...
He's cargo. The term fits.
Buzz was KO'ed at the Thriller in the Chiller by OffTheLip · 2016-12-01 03:55 · Score: 1

Rematch of Buzz vs Bart Sibrel?
Re:Buzz Kill by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 03:58 · Score: 1

His social media? Buzzfeed?
Grammar Nazi to the rescue by nullgreen · 2016-12-01 03:58 · Score: 1

It's "urgently evacuated", for crying out loud. "Emergency" is only a noun.
1. Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue by iggymanz · 2016-12-01 04:31 · Score: 1
  
  I can't take an emergency leave?
2. Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue by chispito · 2016-12-01 04:53 · Score: 1
  
  I can't take an emergency leave?
  Yes but you cannot "emergency leave."
  
  --
  The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
3. Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue by iggymanz · 2016-12-01 14:07 · Score: 1
  
  Google says plenty of governments disagree with you with their H.R. policies. Language is defined by use, not by language nazis.
4. Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue by chispito · 2016-12-02 06:09 · Score: 1
  
  You're still not reading it correctly. You take an "emergency leave" (noun) you do not "Emergency leave" (verb) by bus.
  
  --
  The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
5. Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue by iggymanz · 2016-12-03 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  emergency (adjective) leave (noun)
  Point was not it's not always a noun.
Lifetime Accomplishments... by foxalopex · 2016-12-01 03:58 · Score: 4, Insightful

Almost dying at the south pole, check! XD Seriously thou I don't see a problem with the US burning taxpayer's money to bring the guy back. He's an inspiring explorer for more than one generation. Hopefully he isn't among the last (for space), and it seems like he's not going to stop exploring till he can't do it anymore.
1. Re:Lifetime Accomplishments... by T.E.D. · 2016-12-01 07:24 · Score: 2
  
  Seriously thou I don't see a problem with the US burning taxpayer's money to bring the guy back. He's ...
  More to the point, this is something they end up having to do all the time, with much younger people there. For example, just five months ago, two other people had to be evacuated for health reasons. Having to do this every now and this is just part of the price of operating there.
  So its not like it means he's necessarily any less hardy that anyone else out there.
Re:You're old by geekmux · 2016-12-01 04:04 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is what happens when there's no serious anti-aging research. Deal with it.
Our fragile planet holds a rather finite amount of resources.
Policies that legalize killers like cigarettes and alcohol and do not support anti-aging research is in fact dealing with it, on a MUCH larger scale.
Death. It's not just part of life. It's policy.
Re:Buzz Kill by Nidi62 · 2016-12-01 04:19 · Score: 1

His social media? Buzzfeed?
No, that's the website for his catering company

--
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
Re:Buzz Kill by Rei · 2016-12-01 04:27 · Score: 1

Hmm, then what's the name of his social media feed? "Buzzwords"? "The Daily Buzzbomb"?

--
People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
Re:Buzz Kill by Rei · 2016-12-01 04:34 · Score: 2

Hopefully not "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" ;)

--
People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
Re:Buzz Kill by avgjoe62 · 2016-12-01 04:35 · Score: 1, Funny

I just had this image of Buzz sitting next to the other tourists, looking around and saying, for the umpteenth time, "Well, yeah, this is interesting, but I was on the Moon. The freaking MOON! Yeah, it's cold here, but on the Moon you couldn't even breathe!" and all of the other tourists rolling their eyes.

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How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?
Obvious proof by SuperKendall · 2016-12-01 04:44 · Score: 1

Did you head Buzz Aldrin was going to the south pole? Neither did I.
You know what this means - aliens are real, they are here, and Buzz was taking a clandestine trip to visit the secret diplomatic base we have set up for them in Antartica. The combination of his age and certain exotic gases they use to acclimate to our atmosphere led to an unfortunate reaction so they had to rush him back home for a cleansing.
It's ironic that will all of the advanced technology the aliens have and all of the information they have obtained by probing and dissecting enemies of the state, they still don't know enough about human physiology to fix Buzz there.
Good luck Buzz!

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"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Most Interesting Man in the World by Tablizer · 2016-12-01 04:59 · Score: 5, Insightful

[What's he doing there?] Being awesome, most likely.
Buzz is the real Most Interesting Man in the World.
Rode on the first moon landing, punched a conspiracy troll in the face, explores the Antarctic at 86, and has a cool name.
Buzz for Prezz!

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Table-ized A.I.
1. Re:Most Interesting Man in the World by TheConway · 2016-12-01 21:44 · Score: 1
  
  Brian Blessed
2. Re:Most Interesting Man in the World by Tablizer · 2016-12-02 14:31 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, and a top fighter pilot.
  
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  Table-ized A.I.
Please not another one by houghi · 2016-12-01 05:03 · Score: 1

Please 2016, not another one.

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Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
1. Re:Please not another one by T.E.D. · 2016-12-01 07:25 · Score: 1
  
  Please 2016, not another one.
  2016: I've still got a whole month left. Mwahahahah!
2. Re:Please not another one by R3d+M3rcury · 2016-12-01 11:14 · Score: 1
  
  First Florence Henderson and now this?
Re:You're old by Immerman · 2016-12-01 05:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

You're conflating survival of the species with the indefinite survival of the individual.Slightly different issues.
We (and everything else on the planet) are the result of a billion-plus years of unbroken successes of the first one. Nobody has ever managed the second.
You tell me which is more reasonable to be concerned with.

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--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
Re:Buzz Kill by Dutch+Gun · 2016-12-01 05:48 · Score: 1

Ok, that made me laugh. Sorry, no mod points at the moment or you'd get a +Funny.
I do hope he's okay though.

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Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
Humanitarian? by mysidia · 2016-12-01 07:08 · Score: 1

They make it sound like it's solely out of charity or special respect/privilege for Aldrin that they wouldn't routinely do such an evacuation.
Wouldn't they do this for anyone who needed evacuation for medical treatment?
Aren't flights out of Antarctica relatively routine for the summer months, anyways?
Update from New Zealand by ukoda · 2016-12-01 07:34 · Score: 4, Informative

Just a quick update. It made headline news here in New Zealand. The lead story on TV news reports show him arriving at Christchurch hospital in wheelchair and looking ok. Radio news reports he had fluid on the lungs and it sounds like it should be a short hospital stay.
1. Re:Update from New Zealand by dargaud · 2016-12-01 08:43 · Score: 2
  
  The South Pole is at high altitude, so it looks like he had pulmonary oedema. Classic there. And, yes, I've been there.
  
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  Non-Linux Penguins ?
Re:You're old by Anonymous Coward · 2016-12-01 07:49 · Score: 1

Sunlight, carbon, iron, water... they're all reuseable.
The problem isn't that resources are finite, it's that we're using them wrong.
To Antarctica! by jamiesan · 2016-12-01 08:08 · Score: 1

And Beyond!
God Speed You Buz, just a question by LifesABeach · 2016-12-01 08:10 · Score: 1

What's in NZ that AUS doesn't have?
1. Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question by Kotukunui · 2016-12-01 08:25 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Simple answer : Proximity to Antartica. The Operation Deep Freeze base is in Christchurch, New Zealand. The great majority of flights to the great southern continent are via Christchurh.
2. Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question by Rei · 2016-12-01 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  Intelligent car-damaging flesh-eating parrots?
  
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  People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
Re:You're old by geekmux · 2016-12-01 09:01 · Score: 1

Sunlight, carbon, iron, water... they're all reuseable.
The problem isn't that resources are finite, it's that we're using them wrong.
Smog, radiation, chemical waste....they're all toxic to the Earth, so let's not pretend the damage we humans cause is dismissed with recycling.
Resources are finite, to include the longevity of our planet and its natural ability to sustain life.
Buzz Aldrin will be the first famous person... by istartedi · 2016-12-01 13:24 · Score: 1

Buzz Aldrin will be the first famous person to walk on 2017. He'll just hit 2016 with a hammer. That's how astronauts fix things. Get well soon, and God speed.

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For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
Re:You're old by Coren22 · 2016-12-08 08:16 · Score: 1

Somehow, I don't think any of those things you mention would be fatal to the planet Earth. It would take a planet to "kill" the Earth.

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APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?