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 In 1490, in China, historical documents tell of 10,000 people being slain by "falling stones."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.
This Saterday our church's youth got together with those from several other churches and played an awesome game called Angle-Ball. It's basically a mix between ultimate frisbee and basketball. Each side is defending a ball on top of a pole. You pass around a third ball and try to knock the other teams ball off the pole. Here are some pics.
Sorry for leaving you all so long. . Just blame school...
Speech and Debate club meetings have started:
Our awesome new president Ben S.!
Paul H., one of our amazing debate coaches.
My debate partner, Daniel G..
Mine field game played at the debate workshop(unfortunately I wasn't there) :(
Kathryn C. dressed as a pirate(not, actually waiting for her turn to try out the mine field game when we were trying it out the week before the workshop).
I'm in a hotel outside Los Angelos, now. We flew in last night. It was an awesome flight. We had an insanely tight connection in Denver but we made it.
This morning was my cousin's barmitzvah which was in the house of a Habbad Hassidic Orthodox Jewish rabbi who was in his early twenties. The service was really cool. Mostly in Hebrew. The chanting was really neat, a lot like our Orthodox Christian chanting, done at monestaries and some churches. The service was really cool. It felt sorta wierd wearing a yamacha and huge prayer shawl, but neat. No picture taking was allowed because it was the Sabath. :( Oh well. Maybe I'll get some tomorrow. It was a good day. We wento my Aunt and Uncle and two cousin's house after. My other Aunt and Uncle and baby cousin from Florida are also here a couple rooms down and so are my grandparents. Twill be fun. KG, you always prophecy correctly. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!
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. :)
Ok, this is probably the fastest I've ever posted a second post. Wow! Anyway, this post is meant to spark discussion and will probably be up for about a week. I got something fun ready for after that.
Ok, let's begin.
Haha! I had to stick my face in first.
Ok, So here's the topic and below are 6 different views(actually 5 and other). Select the one you believe and defend it. I want a massive debate here!
Topic: What music is appropriate
1. No modern, pop, rock, rap, etc...
2. Only Christian music
3. Only bands that are completely clean
4. Only songs that are completely clean
5. It doesn't matter
6. Other
I'm back from the Regional speech and debate tournament in Arlington. Our club did amazingly well, including getting 1st in debate!(yay Toni and Brian)!!! My partner(Daniel) and I got 16th place in debate(one win away from nationals :( ). And Anna and I got to semifinals in our duo interpratation of Dicken's Christmas Carol. For more check out our club's blog here.
I don't got pictures yet, but here's a slideshow I made of the last pre-regional tournament that we went to at the begining of last month in Arkansas.
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.
I just got back last night. I had a lot of fun, getting 5 hours of sleep each night and running constantly all day.....for four days. It was awesome! I didn't break in debate this time, we went 3-3, but we won all our affirmative rounds so our case remains undefeated! Yay! We were matched against a lot of hard teams including Harding-Pinero who ended up winning the tournament. Me and Anna broke to semifinals in our duo of the Christmas Carol! yay...and I did really well in all my limited prep speeches, but there were so many people competing in them that it was really hard to break. I was happy though. A lot of improvement. Anyways it was a ton of fun, I made a lot of new friends and met a lot of new people who may become more new friends. :) I can't wait until the Arkansas tournament!
Me and my little sister, Elizabeth, went to a coastal wildlife expo in a nearby town today with our friends the Maisanos, Clarksons, and Thelens. Interesting and pretty fun. I got a massive sun burn though... :( That's not supposed to happen in winter. I suppose people are getting bored of picture-less posts...I didn't have a camera though. :( maybe next time.
I didn't mention in my last post that before I went to Peter's basketball game I had been staying with my good friend Paul S.(the Black Prince on here when he comments) for several days. Besides having an awesome fun time, Paul had his Eagle Scout court of honor on Sunday afternoon, which I got to go to. Me and Paul have been friends for a long time, since I was nine and it's been awesome to watch as he works his way through scouts and the rest of life. I got to work with him on his eagle project this summer when he built a retaining wall at a horse-therapy place. It was a lot fun and good hard work! :) Congrats Paul!
. Just blame school...
Anyway, this post is meant to spark discussion and will probably be up for about a week. I got something fun ready for after that. 
