Forget the polar bears. The Penguin Plunge is an annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut that convinces otherwise sane people to jump into a frigid Long Island Sound, and raise sponsorship for doing it (they call it “Freezin’ For A Reason”; not bad…). This year’s event off New London was notable for the antics of one Bill Farr who noticed a group of Navy divers trying to best the event’s 2004 idiot, I mean endurance, record of 10 minutes and 2 seconds (this is in 34 degree water, mind you). So Farr decided to hang with them. He waited and froze. Waited and froze. And finally after the Navy boys couldn’t take it any longer and staggered out of the water after 15 minutes and 38 seconds, Farr nonchalantly waded ashore after them, triumphant. Why would he subject himself to such pain? In Farr’s immortal words: “I just wanted to do it.” Okay, that’s a little less eloquent than Hillary’s “because it was there,” but no less concise. Or honest. So here’s to you, Bill Farr. I hope you’ve thawed out by now…
Penguin Plunge 1: “Yep, I think the water is pretty cold…”
Penguin Plunge 2: “Goddamit, Muffy, this is the last time I let you talk me into one of your “fancy dress parties”…
Penguin Plunge 3: “Squawk. It’s way too cold to actually go in, but it would almost be worth it to see how that chick in a prom dress is doing…”
The Earthist Chronicles 