BruceH

What did I miss? Why would we not be here without the moon? If we didn't have an unusually large natural satellite to stabilize us, the Earth's orbital inclination would wobble drastically. IOW, our axis of rotation would wander all over the place, sometimes tilting by as much as 90 degrees, and back again, unpredictably. The climate, consequently, would be a chaotic mess. In the unlikely event that humans managed to evolve under such conditions, there'd be no chance that civilization could develop. So getting hit by that Mars-sized hunk of junk four-plus billion years ago is the best thing that ever happened to us, in a certain sense.

Nice doggie...

I guess you have to decide how far out Earth's atmosphere extends and whether it appears that that is what's represented in the video. (The impact is the big thing.) I didn't question that so much as I did the final bit of information that "evidence" shows this has happened six times before in Earth's history. Regardless, it's a sobering but visually cool video. Actually, it has. But not all six impacts were quite THAT big. 500 km in diameter is one huge asteroid! In fact, it's not so much an asteroid as a planetoid, or minor planet (or dwarf planet, if you like.) OTOH, a collision between the early Earth and an object the size of Mars (!!) is what gave us the Moon, without which we'd be screwed. It's doubtful we'd even be here if we didn't have the Moon. So thank God for hyper-sized impacts, I guess.

That was my fave! Also, remove the word "impressive" from the thread title and it sounds like a pretty accurate description of the Tea Party candidates.

Iain M. Banks---Surface Detail (so far a whole lot better than the last Culture novel.)

My younger son---who was seven at the time---is still bitter about the 2002 Series.

Yoinks.

I'd have to say I've tended to like Poul Anderson's stories more than his novels.

Apparently not, but the obit doesn't say.

I liked his work. RIP

Oh yes. I hear you.

I think I may have read Planet of No Return. I've read a cartload of his books over the years (decades.) And it seems that like you, every once in a while I find a pile of cheap Poul Anderson novels and/or collections and buy a bunch of them.

That's awfully, tragically young. RIP

Those afternoon T-storms seem pretty unexcited. Must be those cooling winds.

Me like Ellington.

I couldn't name a single one either.

The past couple of months I've been getting into Pawn Stars and that Pickers show. Both interesting for very similar reasons.

(Belated) Happy Birthday!

#14 looks kind of like a galaxy, but I think #17 is my favorite.

I think the deciding factor for Don really was Megan's assured, relaxed way with the kids. Faye, you recall, couldn't really deal with the kids, as well as knowing his secret. It was interesting how, at the end, Betty really didn't like hearing that he was getting married. Emotionally right, but more than a little unfair, in that she got married the minute the divorce went through (in fact, meeting Francis was the main reason she was so eager to get divorced.) But perhaps she doesn't want Don to settle down and find some happiness. Besides, when he was still running around with bimbos it allowed Betty to talk trash about him. With Don respectably married she might have to shut up. Although one does wonder how long it will be before Don starts cheating on Megan.

Happy Birthday Chris!

My sadness is self-resembling and infinite.

Nice phrase, that.

The Happiest of Birthdays to you!!!

Well she certainly lived longer than Hugh Beaumont. RIP