David Blain STUNT

[Codyjp]

you know he is going to try again, this time with a 3 hour tv special...

 

[minnesota01r6]

ba_hiker - in other threads discussing the blaine record people have stated that there are two records - one for breathing air before holding your breath and one for breathing pure O2. the O2 record was rumored to be around 18 minutes. I'm not sure of this myself, but it would be logical.

EDIT: off the tom sietas website:
"The world record attempt was successful. The new world record in static on pure oxygen is 14min 15sec. An internet version of the show is soon available at this website."
www.tomsietas.com

he is also the record holder for static apnea on air - 8 min 58 seconds

 

[plankspanker]

wow you really are a blaine fan. Take it easy.

Here is the thing, we aren't comparing how great todays bikers are to evil knievel. We're comparing people who actually do stunts to people who, here it comes, pretend to do stunts.

apples and oranges my friend, apples and oranges

wow you really hate blaine. Take it easy.... see what I did there? I did that subtle insult thing like you did.

Sounds more like sour grapes from some here. He is an entertainer and he makes a lot of money doing it and apparently a lot of people are entertained by it and even more hate him yet still watch these publicity stunts which in the end is the same to the advertisers who are paying him for this, which is why they pay him for it. If you think that all that is involved with this is him filling up a tank with water and sitting in it for however long then that is as foolish as believing that there is no trick at all to it and that he is in league with the devil. Sure people know that something is up but can you actually say what it is till someone breaks it down and shows you? Probably not so the end result is a lot of people watching it to figure out what the trick is.
I never cared for the ice block, underwater, make a 747 disappear type stunts because it's boring to me but I do think he is great at card tricks and just freaking people out on the street doing his thing and I do think it takes a lot of talent to do what he does.

 

[TAH]

There were two things that made me skeptical about this stunt.

First, after all his training and if he was really interested in breaking the world record breath hold, why weaken yourself in a tank for a week before you try? Unless it had something to do with lowering his metabolism or losing weight which might give him an advantage.

Second, why the chains and handcuffs? Why break your concentration and expend energy freeing yourself? Holding your breath for 9 minutes would be challenging enough. For me, there were just too many things going on if he was serious about trying to break the record.

 

[BrianV]

There were two things that made me skeptical about this stunt.

First, after all his training and if he was really interested in breaking the world record breath hold, why weaken yourself in a tank for a week before you try? Unless it had something to do with lowering his metabolism or losing weight which might give him an advantage.

Second, why the chains and handcuffs? Why break your concentration and expend energy freeing yourself? Holding your breath for 9 minutes would be challenging enough. For me, there were just too many things going on if he was serious about trying to break the record.

ABC wouldn't run the program with him just holding his breath, they said that's too boring. Then they came back and said he'd do it while getting out of chains and ABC agreed.

PS - I don't know if this has been asked since I didn't read the middle pages, but what was up with that 581ft free dive accident. How the hell was there a scuba diver next to her? I don't know of any mix where you could be down that far. In addition, they kind of raced her to the top, how does a diver go from 581 ft to the surface without hours/days of deco stops?

What am I missing?

 

[jennasnyder1980]

I think being in the tank and handcuffed is for added drama.

However, I do agree that after taking these things into consideration, I can't believe any one would expect to be able to do that.

Still. I think the physiological effects are interesting and am intrigued with what data researchers can gather.

Some on this thread were very anti-Blaine and got caught up in tossing out quick comebacks about why this or that is impossible or an illusion. I don't believe this is an illusion, though and I think it did some great things, hopefully for the sport of SCUBA diving and free diving and for our understanding of the amazing human body.

 

[Doc]

I don't believe this is an illusion, though and I think it did some great things, hopefully for the sport of SCUBA diving and free diving and for our understanding of the amazing human body.

Yeah, me too, fershure. The Germans did a lot in the late 30's that was along that line. So what, did he die or what?

I got distracted by a re-broadcast of a tractor pull on ESPN-5. So much time, so little programming. It's refreshing when something as powerful, original, energetic and unpredictable as a guy drowning himself on tv comes along and then whammo-blammo you can go to your windows and scream I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

At least Howard Beale did the right thing. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechnetwork2.html

Kapow. Now that's entertainment. Tune in and hear what Penn Gillette has to say about last night, if anything.

 

[my1ocean]

Even in that little of water there is still pressure on the body. So there is nitrogen build up and I don't think there has been any studies on the effects of long term shallow exposer. This statement was on MSNBC.com from a Doctor he has on Staff
Sounds like type 1 DCS to me! But what do I know ( LOL )?

Nope, definitley not DCS. Can't get it at 3 feet. The pressure change would be like taking the elevator to the top of the empire state building, or flying in a cesna.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

He's a pretty amazing illusionist so nothing would surprise me!

 

[BrianV]

ABC wouldn't run the program with him just holding his breath, they said that's too boring. Then they came back and said he'd do it while getting out of chains and ABC agreed.

PS - I don't know if this has been asked since I didn't read the middle pages, but what was up with that 581ft free dive accident. How the hell was there a scuba diver next to her? I don't know of any mix where you could be down that far. In addition, they kind of raced her to the top, how does a diver go from 581 ft to the surface without hours/days of deco stops?

What am I missing?

Anybody have comments about the scuba divers down at 581' and surfacing quickly?