Some Executive At Google Just Free Fell 135,908 Feet, Breaking Felix Baumgartner's World Record

Verge - A senior Google executive has broken the world record for highest free-fall parachute jump today. Dr. Alan Eustace, whose official title is Senior Vice President of Knowledge, successfully completed a jump from 135,908 feet. The accomplishment came seemingly out of nowhere with no fanfare or media buzz whatsoever; The New York Times’ science Twitter account first reported Eustace’s incredible feat. Early this morning, Eustace began his balloon-powered ascent from an abandoned runway in Roswell, New Mexico, according to the Times. He was wearing a custom-designed spacesuit that featured an “elaborate” life support system in case anything went wrong during the plunge. The trip up took two hours; he fell back to earth in only 15 minutes with peak speeds exceeding 800 miles per hour; spectators report hearing a sonic boom as Eustace raced through the sky. The last time someone made a leap like this, the entire world knew about it; Felix Baumgartner’s thrilling jump from the edge of space was streamed live over the internet as it happened. Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier in free fall. His dive was from an altitude of 127,852 feet, which at the time also set a new record for highest free-fall parachute jump — a record that Eustace surpassed today.

I’m conflicted how to feel about this. On one hand, it’s awesome that you can be rich as shit and just do whatever you want. Guy woke up this morning and decided to break the world record for highest free-fall, so he did it. It’s amazing to have that sort of cash. Didn’t want the publicity, just has done so much cool shit that he was running out of ideas, so he decided to fall 135,000 feet. Good for him.

On the other hand, Felix Baumgartner was so cool. He did that whole free fall from outer space with Red Bull thing, and it captivated us. I feel like he really earned that record. He had the entire world tied around his finger. And now if some stiff in a suit can do it, kind of makes me sad/mad for getting so into Baumgartner’s stunt. And is this going to be the new thing for rich people? Just buying world records? Makes records less important if you can buy your way into the book.

So that’s the two sides. And at the end of the day, I have to give a round of applause to the rich guy. If you have the money, might as well just do whatever the fuck you want. I do enjoy seeing people live the dream, doing whatever they want, not a care in the world. So good for him.