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Ex-astronaut escapes assault charge (BUZZ ALDRIN ALERT)
BBC News ^
| September 21, 2002
| BBC News
Posted on 09/21/2002 5:04:03 AM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: apollo11; assault; bartsibrel; beanie; buzzaldrin; idiot; punchhimharder; tinfoil
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To: MadIvan
Don't all you limeys wear hankies like that on yer heads at the beach? ;-)
41
posted on
09/22/2002 12:17:19 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
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
42
posted on
09/22/2002 12:18:57 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
What a pity! It was one of Britains ONLY fashion statements..the knotted hanky! ;-)
43
posted on
09/22/2002 12:22:40 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
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
44
posted on
09/22/2002 12:25:23 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
*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. ;-)
45
posted on
09/22/2002 12:32:53 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
Unless of course you are Steed from the Avengers. ;-) Curses, you figured out my secret identity. ;)
Regards, Ivan
46
posted on
09/22/2002 12:35:10 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
A day at the beach with Ivan?
47
posted on
09/22/2002 12:39:28 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
Unfortunately I don't have that car. ;)
Regards, Ivan
48
posted on
09/22/2002 12:45:44 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: Happygal
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
To: MadIvan
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.....
To: MadIvan
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...
51
posted on
09/22/2002 1:47:44 PM PDT
by
livius
To: livius; MadIvan
Yeah..what about the looks and the parasol? - Happygal (who is a girl depite the Celtic gleam of murder) *ROFL*
52
posted on
09/22/2002 1:52:45 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal; livius
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
53
posted on
09/22/2002 1:53:59 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
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*
54
posted on
09/22/2002 1:57:38 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
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
55
posted on
09/22/2002 1:58:54 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
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*
56
posted on
09/22/2002 2:02:00 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
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
57
posted on
09/22/2002 2:03:09 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
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*
58
posted on
09/22/2002 2:08:35 PM PDT
by
Happygal
To: Happygal
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
59
posted on
09/22/2002 2:09:52 PM PDT
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
Are those English Pringles? I may have to review my position ;-)
60
posted on
09/22/2002 2:12:55 PM PDT
by
Happygal
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