"I asked [Bono] why, in his opinion, [Tony] Stark couldn’t be content with charitable work à la Bill Gates, shaping the world with his billions. "You have to understand these guys," was Bono's one-line reply. "Bill's software. Stark's all hardware." Vanity Fair profiles a year in the life of Tony Stark, and asks what the literal and figurative ascent of the inventor/playboy/superhero means for 21st Century geopolitics. Is Iron Man
"the embodiment of an outdated American fantasy -- a self-made, unilateral, technological solution to hopelessly complex problems"? Or is he merely the improbable but logical outgrowth of one young man's vast wealth, careless hedonism, prodigious intellect, and strained familial and mentor relationships? Christine Everhart examines the political implications and personal motives of Stark's quest to beat swords into plowshares -- while profiting from the retrofits.
[more inside]
posted by Asparagirl
on Sep 12, 2008 -
19 comments
The World Triathlon Corporation ("WTC") runs the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Most people have heard of the 2.4 mile swimming, 112 mile biking and 26.2 mile running race in Kona, Hawaii. It's the best-known and most prestigious race in the sport of the triathlon (
although no longer the most lucrative). Legend has it that the event was born in 1978 when some buddies in Hawaii, led by former Navy captain John Collins, were debating which was the toughest sporting event in Hawaii: the 2.4-mile
Waikiki Rough Water Swim, the 112-mile bike race around Oahu, or the
26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon. After more than a few beers, the legend goes, the small group decided to attempt all three distances in one day, and the Ironman was born. Today, the Ironman ("IM") is a trademarked event replicated annually almost 20 times all over the world by the WTC. These (and a few 1/2 IM races) function as
qualifying races for Hawaii, which now serves as the World Championship. Basically, each of these events is allotted a number of
qualifying slots per age group and you have to win a spot for Kona. The non-pros that they show on TV are generally the result of 200
lottery slots or special invitation (celebrity, good tv story, etc).
Athletes are lining up to get into IM races in the US. Currently, there are 4 IM trademarked races in the US:
Ironman USA in Lake Placid,
Ironman Wisconsin in Madison,
Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and
Ironman Florida in Panama City. What you may not know is that to participate in one of these you routinely have to register and pay the $400+ fee almost one year in advance. Registration for the 2003 races closed within a week or two of the completion of the 2002 races. Just recently, registration for the 2004 Ironman USA -- 2003 was held last weekend --
closed in two days, so
you're already too late for next year.
And who are these entrants? According to USAT
demographics, over 41% of triathletes (USAT members) earn more than $80,000 per year, 40% have college degrees and 48% have graduate/post-graduate degrees. Perhaps reflective of the demographics,
CEO's (of corporations with a minimum $1 Million in annual gross revenue) now have their own racing category.
The WTC may own the name "Ironman" but I have my eye on a non-WTC, "iron distance" event this year:
Duke. You can still
register for this one.
Here is a 13-week Ironman
training schedule for a 12-14 hour finishing time.
posted by probablysteve
on Aug 5, 2003 -
25 comments
