Over the last century, and especially recently, countless people have predicted that the world is going to end due to some catastrophe. Some predicted aliens; some prophesied that overpopulation would lead to massive incurable famines; still others proclaimed that the end would come by disease, permenant submersion of all habitable land, a super volcano, an experimental accident, global warming, a nearby supernova, superintelligent computers, or grey goo nano-technology that would dominate the universe. All these scenarios have been seriously put forward, but few as much as one: that earth will be hit and destroyed by a giant asteroid.
Now serious people usually brush off all these scenarios off, calling them "alarmist" and "apocolyptic." Those who trust in science say that man could ward off any of these threats that might actually be possible. For example they say: 'We can detect astroids years before they come near earth and a well guided missle sent from earth could end an asteroid's life far out in space.'
Well, theses people sound much more credible and believable. And they are, but neither side has things completely right as was proved this past week.
Science was proved faulty last Friday when an asteroid nearly struck earth and was not detected until 15 hours before it made its closest approach. (Click here for article). Fortunately, the asteroid was only 23 feet in diameter, and would have been much reduced in size by the time it hit earth. Still, it could have exploded in the atmosphere and caused severe damage.
Several historical events show the damage that can be done even by small asteroids or meteors:
1. In prehistoric times a 54 yard long meteor hit in what's now Arizona. It caused a 4,000 ft long crater that is 570 ft deep. See the picture below.
2. In 1490, in China, historical documents tell of 10,000 people being slain by "falling stones." Astronomers believe these "stones" to have been the result of an asteroid that exploded in the atmosphere.
3. The most recent impact catastrophe was the Tunguska Event in Russia in 1908, when a 4-6 mile wide meteor blew up in the atmosphere directly impacting 830 sq miles.
Fortunately it happened above an empty part of Siberia populated only by extensive evergreen forests. The damage was still tremendous. The explosion was 1000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, and produced the effect of a level 5 earthquake.
There are many eyewitness accounts from Tungus villagers and Russian settlers living many hundreds of miles away on the shores of Lake Baikal. They report seeing a massive blue column, as bright as the sun, descend from the sky and immediately after, a massive explosion that knocked people off their feet, broke all the windows, and severely damaged crops.
This was all hundreds and hundreds of miles away. The influence of the explosion was felt even in Europe. There was no night in either Europe or Asia for several days afterward due to the explosion. People in London could read their newspapers at night in its light. It was generally assumed to be the beginning of the end of the world.
In Siberia itself, where the explosion actually happened, a new lake was created 80 million trees were felled as seen in the picture below.
If that asteroid on Friday had hit earth and if it had been as big as the Tunguska asteroid, our world would be drastically changed. And scientists didn't even see it coming until hours before the event. If an asteroid like Tunguska hit the US, China, or Europe, the world as we know it would truly have been at an end.
I just found this incredibly stupid sounding lines of all time in this BBC article:
A 121-million-year-old baby arboreal bird, fossilised while still curled in its egg, has been found in China. The fossil is thought to be the most ancient unborn bird ever discovered.
It has piqued researchers' interest because it had feathers, whereas many modern flying birds are naked and helpless when they first hatch. The authors say this supports the view that birds developed the strategy of hatching featherless later in history.
Wow!!! Birds developed the strategy of hatching featherless?
If you know of any stupid lines in articles, feel free to share them in the comments. Lets see if you can beat mine.
Another Real-life friend has joined HSB. For those of you who read my blog you probably already know Lady Claire, the very vocal participant in the music debate and probably the person who wastes the most time on my blog. Well she's got her own blog to spend time on now.
That last debate was awesome! Thanks for all ya'lls enthusiasm and for giving me by far the most comments I've ever recieved on one post! :) This is the post that gives me a break while my grandparents are here. :) Several people said they'd like to do another debate again. One problem is, this last one was something I was already thinking about. I don't have another topic that I can think of, but... If ya'll can think of topics that might be worth our while and give us, "profit and edification" :) than I'd be happy to consider posting it. Just post your ideas in the comments and I'll do it when my grandparents leave. :)
Here's my last British Lit. essay I wrote. My dad said it was really good and that I should post it so here it is. I've been crazy busy with debate, but I'll post again soon. The Courage to do whats right By Alex Macdonald In brief acquit thyself bravely, play the man. This quote pretty much sums up a lot of what George Herbert has to say in amazing spiritual collection of poems, the Temple. Basically, it takes bravery to be good, and we as Christians need to exercise that bravery. Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie. Dont lie to get yourself out of trouble because, a fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby. The lie to hide the fault makes the fault twice as bad, Herbert tells us; but rather, he says, let thy heart be true to God/Thy mouth to it(your heart), thy actions to them both. For only, Cowards tell lies, and those that fear the rod. We must be brave to admit the truth, and we must admit the truth to keep our hearts true to God. Scorn no ones love, the poet instructs us, though of mean degree. Jesus accepts the love and worship of all us sinners despite our faults. While here on earth, he even accepted the oil and tears from the harlot and rebuked those wwho would have turned her away. If we want to be like him we must not only love all mankind but accept back the love of any who give it to us, regardless of how loathsome or sinful they may seem to us; for as Herbert says, Why should I feel another mans mistakes/More than his sickness or poverty? Many times we sink into despair, wondering what we will do with our lives or else looking back on how we have wasted them, but George Herbert tells us, Do not be fooled: For all may have/If they dare try, a glorious life or a grave. It doesnt matter how much time we have wasted or that we have no idea what God has planned next for us. If we just are brave and trust in Him we assured of either a glorious life or else of a glorious death which is just as great. We can all have this glorious life in Christ if only we have the courage to reach out and take it. Dont just take the easy way out. The gate to Heaven is narrow and it takes a lot of bravery to enter through it. I brief acquit thyself bravely, play the man. Then you can pass through.
Sorry I haven't posted in sooooooo long. Real Life has got in the way a lot along with some computer problems as well. Unfortunately I don't have time for a proper post at the moment, but Happy New Year! And you'll hear from me in 2009!
I got into Hillsdale college, my top choice college with really good financial aid!!! Scholarshipinfo is yet to come, but there's relatively little left for scholarships to pay. I applied early decision which ment I got to find out whether I got in or not early and I have a better chance of scholarships, but I'm committed to going there. I was home by myself the day after Thanksgiving while the rest of of my family were off at various places, and it came in the mail. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life as when I opened up that letter.
On Thanksgiving one of my friends asked me for something I was thankfull for and I didn't really have an answer ready except for the usual: family, friends, food.... I know that there are lots of things in my life I should be thankfull for, but at the moment one stands out most clearly: thank you God for letting me get into Hillsdale and with such good aid too!!!
The college is in southern Michigan west of Ann Arbour. Here's some pics of the college campus.
Anyways, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and have a great Holidays!
My family and I went camping at Pedernales Falls state park last week with a bunch of friends, including writer4him and her family, JoshuaHammond and his family, and Paul Hastings and his family. It was lots of fun, here are some pictures.
The Pedernales River.
Anna(Ness) and Beth(writer4him).
Me at the ford.
Some of us hiking.
Me, Paul, and Samuel dunking our heads in the freezing water.
An accidently artistic photo of my sister and I.
Us climbing down the steep path.
Me again.
And again.
Anna in the rocks by the falls.
Hiking with the parents.
Me and the view.
Us and Jesus loves you written on the sand.
The falls.
The group picture with everyone except Paul and my dad in it.
Okay, I'm finally posting and as you can guess from the title it's about the election. I should have written this earlier since now most of you won't read until a week after the election, but oh well!
As you can see I do not want Barack Obama to win. And if I could be voting I would vote for John McCain despite what some fellow conservative friends say(Paul, Heather are you guys listening?) Here's why, despite his many faults.
The main thing that third party conservative voters(TPCVs) hold against Mccain is that he supports embryonic stem cell research. This is a serious problem and I was mad at him when he switched his position on it a few years ago. He did it because at the time they thought that it was the only way to get stem cells that save many lives. Now that is not an excuse, just an explanation. BUT, now we can get stem cells without killing unborn babies and the practice has been discontinued so that it is no longer an issue. Otherwise McCain's pro-life record has been pristine.
Now here's Obama's view on life. Not only does he strongly support all abortion, he also supports partial-birth abortion in which the babyis killed when it is being delivered. But worst of all which many people do not know is that in the cases of failed abortions he supports the parents being able to kill the baby after it is ALREADY completely born!!!
Now a lot TPCVs who are reading this are screaming that I'm only choosing the lesser of two evils. My answer is that I am. That is not a bad thing. In fact, I believe that by doing that we are using good stewardship with our vote that God has given us. Throwing it away on a third party candidate(By the way I'd personally much rather have Baldwin or Keyes as president than McCain) who will be lucky to get .5 % of the vote is irresponsible when there is such a strong chance that a man like Obama could possiblly be elected.
Another thing some TPCVs hold against McCain is that he picked a woman for his VP. Now I like Palin a lot, but I understand why they dislike a woman VP and I agree with them that it is better for women to stay at home with their kids, but even women are sometimes called to lead their people like Deborrah in the Bible, or Joan of Arc.
Some more about Obama and abortion. Right now George Bush has given us a Supreme Court that is the most likely to overturn Roe-v-Wade. If Obama is elected, we can be sure the two or three judges he gets to nominate will be extremely libral pro-abortion judges. On the other hand McCain has a record of voting for conservative pro-life judges. Judges serve for life. If Obama is elected we can be sure that Roe-v-Wade will not get overturned for at least a generation. And the longer it lasts the harder it will be to overturn it and hundreds of millions more unborn babies will be killed.TPVCs, vote to save them. Vote to save hundreds of millions of babies from being murdered. Vote for John McCain for president.
Here's some more random thoughts about Obama.
Oprah said of Obama, "He is the One!" The One? The one to do what? The one to continue and increase the holocaust of infants?
He said in his speech at the Democratic convention that he would, "turn back the course of the seas." How is he going to do that I wonder?
He says he is giving tax cuts to 95%. True, but he is raising other taxes and adding new taxes to everyone of them. Amost all will be paying more than they are now.
"We are the ones we have been waiting for!" - Obama. I think he really meant, "I am the ONE whom you need to tell you everything you can and can't do."
"Change." Yes. Change to socialism. Change to a more massive slaughtering of babies. Change to make America into a weak European style country. Change, back to the 1960s. The 1960's of Marx's dreams.
"Hope for the Future." Yes hope, that America will be able to recover from your presidency if you get elected. America is not invincible. You need arms to keep peace as the old Latin proverb says.
Vote for John McCain to save our country and keep us from becoming an Obamanation. America can go the way of other powers before us. We are not invincible. Think of France. Where is her glory now? How about Assyria? England? Japan? They fell because of bad rulers. We can too.
-Write six random things about yourself.
-'Tag' six-or-so other people at the bottom of your post
-And leave comments on their blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
1. I play soccer.
2. I start lots of books and never finish them.
3. I went to Scotland when I was four.
4. I LOVE sports.
5. My favorite football team is the Packers even though they are at the pther end of the US.
6. I'm reading Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece
Have you ever seen a tornado before? not the actual funnel
Have you ever been in a landrover? Nope
Has a tornado ever hit your house? No
Have you ever ridden a horse? YES!
Have you ever been in a castle before? When I was four I went to dozens in Scotland
Have you ever lived on a farm? No
Have you ever explored a secret passage? Yes
Have you ever explored a ruined castle? Yes, in Scotland several times
And tripped over a gravestone in a graveyard? No
What is your favorite type of tree? Pine or Fir
1. Favorite Animal: dog
2. Favorite Color: Pink & Blue
3. Favorite Food: Cheese cake and Ice Cream
4. Favorite Dessert: look above
5. Favorite Book: it's books: The Bible, The Lord of the Rings and Canticle for Liebowitz and lots of others which you can see in an entry below.
6. Favorite Movie: Joan of Arc and many others
7. Favorite Instrument: violin, guitar
8. Favorite T.V. Show: none, well maybe Andy Griffith
Hey guys, here's a essay I wrote for British Lit. that might be interesting to LotR fans. I don't have time to write any proper post at the moment.
Beowulf: The Monsters and the Balrog:
A comparison of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf
“Beowulf is among my most valued sources ,” wrote J. R. R. Tolkien, the famous Anglo-Saxon scholar who wrote the Lord of the Rings. Truly the similarities between Beowulf and Tolkien’s works are amazing and bountiful.
“The warriors hastened…until they might see the timbered hall, stately and shining with gold.” Is this Heorot or Theoden’s hall at Edoras? It could be either though this description comes from Beowulf. In theTwo Towers Legolas says as he looks upon Edoras, “there stands aloft a great hall of Men. And it seems to my eyes that it is thatched with gold…Golden, too, are the posts of its doors.” When Legolas and his companions arrive at the hall they are asked by the doorwarden, as is Beowulf, who they are and where they come from. In both tales when the warden lets them in he asks, in Wulfgar’s words, for them to, “let your war-shields, your wooden spears, await here the outcome of the talk.” In the Two Towers, as they enter the king’s presence Gandalf says, “Hail Theoden son of Thengal!” So also, in Beowulf, the hero cries out, “Hail Hrothgar!”
The main difference between the two passages is the receptions that the newcomers get from the king of the golden hall. In Beowulf, Hrothgar greets them saying, “Now sit down to the feast and unbind your thoughts, your famous victories, as heart inclines.” But in theTwoTowersTheoden says, “I greet you…and maybe you look for welcome…Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? Tell me that.”
“Long I fell, and he fell with me,” Gandalf tells his companions about his fight with the Balrog in Moria. “Thenwe plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.” Similarly Beowulf, “the surging water took the warrior. Then it was part of a day before he might see the bottom’s floor…Then she (Grendal’s mother)…took the warrior in her awful grip…many monsters attacked him in the water…strange creatures afflicted him.” Gandalf has the same experiences, he goes on to say how he came to the bottom, “at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone. He was with me still…We fought far under the living earth…Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him…Far, far below…the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.” It is the same story, only Tolkien’s version is darker and more of a supernatural struggle between good and evil than that of a warrior and a beast-like monster. Both have long falls, plunging into a deep abyss of water full of‘strange creatures,’ and ‘nameless things.’ As they fall, both fight with their monstrous opponent: Gandalf bearing his sword Glamdring, forged long ago by the elves of Gondolin; and Beowulf carrying Hrunting, “one of the oldest of ancient treasures.”
And both eventually slay the enemy after a long fight in which the hero almost is killed.
There are many other stories which Tolkien’s work and Beowulf share, such as the tale of the dragon that is stirred up by the stealing of a golden cup and the dragon’s subsequent burning of the local village. They show how thoroughly acquainted Tolkien was with Beowulf and how important it was to the formation of his books. Beowulf was surely the greatest source of Lord of the Rings, and some would say the greatest source of the greatest epic ever told.
2. Are you available? Why else would I be wasting me time doing this tag!!!...lol
3. What's your favorite number? 16
4. Favorite color? pink & blue
5. Least favorite color? dino
6. What are you listening to? nothing
Have you ever wanted to be a fire fighter? kinda
THE DO'S:
8. Do you believe in God?yes
9. Do you know how to swim? Yep!
10. Do you like roller coasters? Yes
THE DOES:
11. Does your car get good gas mileage?no
12. Does your family have family picnics? Sometimes
13. Does your house have a bookcase in it? Our hoyse IS bookcases
THE HAVES:
14. Have you ever been to Canada? when I was a baby
15. Have you ever gone fishing? Yes
16. Have you ever seen a celebrity? kinda
17. Have you ever been on a motorcycle? No
THE HOWS:
18. How much money do you have on you right now? nothing
19. How many cars have you owned? none
20. How many jobs have you had? 2
21. How tall are you? Around 5' 7"
THE LASTS:
22. Last person to call you? My mom
23. Last thing you yelled out loud? "Yeah!"
24. Last person you were in a car with? My whole family
25. Last time you ate at McDonalds? A long time ago.
26. Last thing you had for dinner? pasta and pork
27. The last thing you bought? rocket and mechanical pencils
28. Last person you saw? Sister
29. Last time you cried? Two years ago when my friends died in a plane crash
30. Last time you laughed? this morning.... I know I don't laugh enough KG!
THE WHATS:
31. What is the temperature outside? 80 something
32. What time did you wake up? 6:40
Random:
44. Do you have a best friend? Many,
45. What goes best with a soft drink? cheesburger
46. What did you do two nights ago? debate
49. Is your birthday coming up? No
53. Where were you at 3:02 AM this morning? In my bed
59. What was the first thing you thought this morning? "I wanna go back to bed!"
60. What are your plans for this week? college interview, school, uh mabe hang out with some friends
64. Coke or Pepsi? neither, Dr. Pepper!
66. What do you dislike at the moment? myself
67. What did you dream about last night? dino
68. What's the last TV show you watched? dino
69. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?none
70. Name 1 person on your Top Friends who is the most like you. not sure
72. Are you on any medication? sorta
73. Have you ever cut your own hair? yeah
74. What is your favorite frozen treat? Ice cream.
75. How many piercings/tattoos do you have? none
76. Where's your favorite place to be? with famimily and friends
77. Is there someone you haven't seen in a while and miss? friend Paul, except I saw him briefly today
79. Do you care what people think about you? yes I'm afraid
80. Last new person you met? Sister Magdalene
82. Last person to tell you they love you? mom?
84. Last person to make you cry? see above
85. Who can you tell anything to? Jesus.
86. What are you doing today?It is over
87. Do you have a crush? maybe, maybe not
89. Do you like ketchup? Yes.
90. Will you be in a relationship 3 months from now?Probably not
91. What color is your pillow case? blue I think
92. Do you wear a bikini during swimming in school? no way!
93. Have you ever been to California or Chicago? Chicago
97. What is your favorite fruit? blackberries
98. What do you want to do today? Go to Heaven
99. Are you cold? No
100. Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call or text you and they don't? Yes!
I was awarded by Scaryman for giving him his 100th comment!
I award MaidenCapitolaBallot for reasons of my own.
I was tagged by OutlawedPrincess.
1. what is your favotrite animal? Dogs or horses
2. Have you ever eaten squid? Yes, it's good
3. Can you curl your tongue? Yes
4.Have you ever donated blood or hair? No
5.What time is it right now? 1:47 pm
6.How many trees do you have in your front yard? 8 huge elm trees and an ancient post oak
7. When is the last time you ate eggplant? A few days ago
8.If you could live anywhere where would it be? New Zealand or Scotland
9. How old will you be in 12 years? 29
10. What color is your shirt? Green
11. What did you eat on your last birthday party? Cake, and stuff
12. What is right in front of you? Computer, duh
13. Who will you tag? Scaryman, megjo, EowynDernhelm
MaidenCapitolaBallot tagged me.
1. What is the last animal you saw? Friend's dog yesterday
2. What's the last sentence you saw? See the above
3. What is your hairstyle? Short at the moment, was shaggy a month ago
4. Have you ever gone surfing? not yet
5. Are you scared of spiders? . No!!! I'm not scared of anything...er..maybe the Nazgul.
6. What color is your fav pair of shoes? Black and tan.
7. Do you wish you saw a dinosaur before they went extinct? Yes!!!
8. What is your middle name spelled backward? Trebor
9. What is the first word you think of when you think of fireworks? 4th of July
10. What question are you on? ER...7 I think...:D
11. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday when we did mock debate at Speech and Debate. We were debating whether or not chickens were undervalued in the U.S.
12. What did you eat at your last birthday party? Cake...
13. Do you think polka dots are dorky? Sometimes...
14. Are you wearing makeup? No!!!!!!!!!!!!
15. Have you answered "I don't know" to any of the questions? Look for yourself!
16. Have you ever dreamt you were a character in a movie? If so, which character/movie? Yes, usually from Lord of the Rings
17. Did you answer that last question? This is the stupidest question ever, look for yourself!
18. What's right in front of you (besides the computer)? two windows and a bunch of junk.
Hey everyone! Please don't give up I have a bunch of new plans for this blog but I just haven't had the time do them yet! Anyway I got awarded by Scaryman and EowynDernhelm.
Okay, here I am again. I need another entry and I don't have time to write the next story yet so I though of this instead so ya'll will have something to comment about. I'm going to tell you the different crazes I've gone through in my life. The differant things I've got into and stuff. So here goes...
Starting when I was about 3 I loved castles and wanted to be a knight when I grew up(still do).
At about 5 I became a big time Lego fan(still am)
When I was 7, Playmobil entered the seen and my stories that I continue to write began.
When I was 7 and 8 I first had Lord of the Rings read to me and almost immediatly I reread it to myself beginning a life-long love of LotR and Tolkien in general.
At around 9 I became fascinated with the history of clasical music.
All throughout my life since I was abouut 5 I've loved fighting and competition of all kinds especially swordfighting and soccer which I started when I was 9.
At around 13 I got totally into LotR trading cards for a long time. At the same time I got big into a lot of war board games which I'd already played a lot with my dad.
When I was 15 I first played paintball and started playing airsoft alot.
I also first played ultimate frisbee when I was 15.
And again when I was fifteen I got really into Arthurian and Dark Age British history(still am); and I got into reading lots of Icelandic sagas. I think I read nearly thirty in a few months.
16 was the best year of my life, but inspite of that(or maybe because of it) I didn't get into anything new.
This year, 17, I've got into Roman history and the game Rome:Total War.
And of course through everything I've used everything to inspire me to write.
Well, sorry if that was completely boring, but don't abandon my blog! More of the real stuff is coming, though not for a couple weeks since my grandparents are coming and then I'll be away.
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