Ex-astronaut escapes assault charge (BUZZ ALDRIN ALERT)

BBC News ^ | September 21, 2002 | BBC News

[MadIvan]

Californian authorities have decided against prosecuting former astronaut Buzz Aldrin after he punched a documentary maker who claimed his moon missions were faked.

Mr Aldrin, famous for his participation in the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, hit Bart Sibrel after he approached the former astronaut outside a hotel in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles and demanded he swear on a Bible that the landing was not staged.

Perhaps he should just have offered to adjust his tinfoil beanie for him - Ivan

Mr Aldrin responded by punching Mr Sibrel, but said he merely struck out to defend himself and his stepdaughter, who was with him at the time.

Beverly Hills police investigated the incident, which occurred 9 September, but said that the charges were dropped after witnesses came forward to say that Mr Sibrel had aggressively poked Mr Aldrin with the Bible before he was punched.

'False pretences'

Witnesses also told police that Mr Sibrel had lured Mr Aldrin to the hotel under false pretences in order to interview him.

Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Ratinoff told Reuters news agency that a videotape shot by a cameraman hired by Mr Sibrel had shown the film-maker follow Mr Aldrin, calling him a "thief, liar and coward".

This fellow is lucky that Mr. Aldrin didn't tear his head off - Ivan

Mr Sibrel handed over the tape to police investigators, but as Mr Sibrel sustained no visible injury and did not seek medical attention, and Mr Aldrin had no previous criminal record, no charges were filed.

Mr Sibrel says his new documentary proves the Apollo 11 landings were faked by the Nasa space agency in order to fool the then-Soviet Union into thinking the US had beaten them in the space race.

The two countries had been embroiled in a desperate race to reach the moon, with the US initially trailing after the Soviets became the first to send a man into space and orbit the earth.

Moon walk

Mr Aldrin, the second man after Neil Armstrong to set foot on the moon in the Apollo 11 mission, is one of America's most famous space pioneers.

A former US Air Force pilot who flew in the Korean war, Mr Aldrin joined Nasa space agency in 1963.

Since his retirement from Nasa, Mr Aldrin has dedicated much of his time to publicising space travel for civilians.

[Happygal]

Don't all you limeys wear hankies like that on yer heads at the beach? ;-)

[MadIvan]

Don't all you limeys wear hankies like that on yer heads at the beach? ;-)

Not since the invention of the baseball cap crossed the Atlantic, no. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

What a pity! It was one of Britains ONLY fashion statements..the knotted hanky! ;-)

[MadIvan]

What a pity! It was one of Britains ONLY fashion statements..the knotted hanky! ;-)

Oh? The bowler hat, the kilt, the umbrella, and the Barbour jacket count for nothing? ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

*splutter*...You can't claim the Kilt..that's decidedly Celtic.

And, with English weather, you may well need an umbrella at the beach, a Bowler hat would look rather silly. Unless of course you are Steed from the Avengers. ;-)

[MadIvan]

Unless of course you are Steed from the Avengers. ;-)

Curses, you figured out my secret identity. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

A day at the beach with Ivan?

[MadIvan]

Unfortunately I don't have that car. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Calvin Locke]

Short answer is a claymation figure that had it's own tv show, and toy figurines. Not being a "Gumbyhead", I can't give you
his curriculum vitae, but I remember him from more than 30 years ago.

Go to GumbyWorld

[Joe Hadenuf]

Mr Sibrel says his new documentary proves the Apollo 11 landings were faked by the Nasa space agency in order to fool the then-Soviet Union into thinking the US had beaten them in the space race.

Another out of state, kook....This one happens to be from Tennessee.....

[livius]

Don't have that car? But what about the looks and the parasol? - livius (who is a girl, despite the name).

But on the more serious side, sorta, are there really people who think the moon landing was faked? I blush to admit my ignorance on this one...

[Happygal]

Yeah..what about the looks and the parasol? - Happygal (who is a girl depite the Celtic gleam of murder) *ROFL*

[MadIvan]

Well I have several umbrellas (what self respecting Englishman - who wanted to remain dry, anyway - would be without one?) - as for the looks, well, I leave that to the eye of the beholder. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

I leave that to the eye of the beholder

I always find after a few Guinness, beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder! ;-) Those damn beer goggles have gotten me in more trouble! *LOL*

[MadIvan]

I always find after a few Guinness, beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder! ;-) Those damn beer goggles have gotten me in more trouble! *LOL*

The price you lot pay for keeping the good Guinness to yourselves. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

The price you lot pay for keeping the good Guinness to yourselves. ;)

But look at the up side! I'm never short of cheese and onion crisps! *LOL*

[MadIvan]

But look at the up side! I'm never short of cheese and onion crisps! *LOL*

If it was salt and vinegar, I might be more jealous. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

If it was salt and vinegar, I might be more jealous. ;)

You kidding me? Trying to get an Irish man to change his ways and become adventurous in his choice of 'chat up food' is nigh on impossible. I tell ye, I'm going to marry the man who buys me a pub pack of Pringles 'sour cream and onion' *ROFL*

[MadIvan]

I tell ye, I'm going to marry the man who buys me a pub pack of Pringles 'sour cream and onion' *ROFL*

....leaving a trail of Pringles for Happygal to follow... ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Happygal]

Are those English Pringles? I may have to review my position ;-)