Occasionally, the sky does fall...one piece at a time.... Earth-Hitting Asteroids: Katrina From Space By Leonard David National Space Society posted: 06 May 2006 11:22 am ET LOS ANGELES, California Natural events such as hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes rock this planet from time to time. But when the Earth gets stoned by an asteroid, consider it akin to a Katrina from outer space. When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the United States in August of last year, it became a deadly, destructive, and costly episodeone that has also become a metaphor for lack of government action, both pre- and post strike. At the current time there is no agency of the U.S. governmentnor of any government in the worldwith the explicit responsibility to develop and demonstrate the technology necessary to protect the planet from near-Earth object (NEO) impacts. The U.S. Congress needs to be encouraged to take a step in demonstrating the ability to deflect a menacing NEOs believes former NASA astronaut, Russell Schweickart, Chairman of the B612 Foundation. He presented an update today on dealing with troublesome asteroids here at the 25th International Space Development Conference. Key capabilities The goal of B612, a confab of scientists, technologists, astronomers, astronauts, and other specialists is to significantly alter the orbit of an asteroid in a controlled manner by 2015. In detailing todays NEO situation, Schweickart said there are several givens: That the Earth is infrequently hit by asteroids which cross our orbit while circling the Sun; the consequence of such impacts ranges from the equivalent of a 15 megaton (TNT) explosion to a civilization ending gigaton event; and for the first time in the history of humankind we have the technology which, if we are properly prepared, we can use to prevent such occurrences from happening in the future. "Remember, were dealing here with a less frequent, but far more devastating Katrina a Katrina of the Cosmos," Schweickart reported. "NEOs happen so infrequently that even though they are orders of magnitude more devastating, people dont naturally make that match," he told SPACE.com, "but you dont want to be caught with your pants down." There are key capabilities, Schweickart said, which will enable humanity to avoid devastating cosmic collisions: Early warning; a demonstrated deflection capability; and an established international decision making process. While some progress is being made, there remains significant work ahead in all these areas, Schweickart emphasized. Sky-sweeping surveys Given sky-sweeping surveys and extrapolating into the future, by 2018 on the order of 10,000 NEOs with some risk of impact over the next 100 years are likely to be cataloged, Schweickart forecast - but there is better than an even chance that none of these 10,000 will actually hit the Earth in those 100 years. "The important fact however, is that a substantial number of them will appear as though they may be headed for impact," Schweickart advised. Today, of the 104 currently on impact listings, "two have an elevated risk and we are watching them closely," he said. At present, the two asteroids on that "keep an eye on them roster" are 2004 VD17 and Apophis, formerly listed as 2004 MN4. "Extrapolating to 2018 we may have as many as 200 in a similarly elevated attention category and of growing concern to the general public," Schweickart reported today. "Therefore, it is certainly possible, if not likely, that in the timeframe of the next 12 years wethe worldmay well be in a position where we need to take action to insure that we will be able to carry out a deflection mission if needed," he said. The U.S. Congress amended the Space Act in 2005 to charge NASA with responsibility to "detect, track, catalogue, and characterize" NEOs greater than some 460 feet (140 meters) in diameter. However, it has, thus far, come up short on actually assigning the responsibility to take action should one of these objects be discovered headed for a collision, Schweickart pointed out. There is a bit of good news forthcoming, Schweickart explained. The Congress did require NASA to provide by the end of 2006 an analysis of possible alternatives that could be employed to divert an object on a likely collision course with Earth. In response to this Congressional directive, NASA is about to announce a process for carrying out this mandate. Global threat global response Schweickart told the ISDC audience here, that a third leg of the triad for protecting the Earth from NEO impacts is probably the most challenging, albeit subtle. "It is complicated by two related facts," he said, that NEO impacts are a global threat, not a national one, and the only decision making body representing, essentially, the whole planet is the United Nationsa body not known for timely, crisp decision making, he added. Still, in this area, steps forward are being made. The Association of Space Explorers (ASE)the professional organization of astronauts and cosmonautshas formed a committee on NEOs which Schweickart chairs. Earlier this year, a technical presentation at a UN meeting in Vienna apprised them that this issue was coming at them. While the UN has been brought the problem, Schweickart said, the ASE is committed to bringing them a solution. This solution will take the form of a draft United Nations treatyor protocolformulated in a series of workshops over the next two years. "In these NEO Deflection Policy workshops we will gather together a dozen or so international experts in diplomacy, international law, insurance, and risk management, as well as space expertise to identify and wrestle with these difficult international issues," Schweickart noted. "Our goal is to return to the UN in 2009 with a draft NEO Deflection Decision Protocol and present it to them for their consideration and deliberation." Facing the challenge In wrapping up his ISDC talk, Schweickart said the NEO challenge, in a sense, "is an entry test for humankind to join the cosmic community." He reasons that, if there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe "it is virtually certain that it has already faced this challenge to survival and passed it." "Our choice is to face this infrequent but substantial cosmic test or pass into history, not as an incapable species like the dinosaurs, but as a fractious and self serving creature with inadequate vision and commitment to continue its evolutionary development," Schweickart concluded.

I'd go back in time when a good Kitchenaid dishwasher had a porcelain tub, cleaned dishes spotlessly in under an hour and left them fully dry and almost too hot to handle. It was nice to be able to override the wash cycles and use it as a plate warmer. How I miss my old Hobart built dishwasher from the '70s. I'd bring back hot water heaters that were hot enough to serve a large family with a 40 gallon tank instead of needing a 50 gallon for two people because of the new government mandated safe heat settings. I'd like to see more appliance manufacturers offer dials and buttons instead of needlessly putting touch pads on everything under the sun. (thank you Panasonic for doing this with some of your microwaves) As for small appliances forget the electric can opener. I'd rather have a small easy to store automatic onion peeler that would not only peel the onion but dice,mince or slice into any thickness at a touch of a button.

Would men be allowed to participate in this conversation? I am profoundly touched by the poignancy of Annies and Rob333Âs life accounts. Not trying to patronize anyone, and also donÂt mean to go off-topic here, overall, fundamentally men are the causes of most womenÂs problems. John Edwards, Bill Clinton, Elliot Spitzer, Jesse James, ------- It is very curious to me, why after millions of years of evolution, the chasm between men and women seems to be growing wider and deeper. I was invited to a book launching event recently. Barbara Hanna Grufferman wrote a book, a non-fiction book titled "The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money and More". Of the few hundred who attended, 98% were women. The 2% men who were there most likely were there because they were designated drivers. In the audience, most women were over 45, many over 55, and quite a few around 70. There were a lot of discussions between the author and the audience during the presentation. It boils down to one theme: men problems. I have not been in a gathering like this before. It saddened me that a great many of them were or have been in Annie and Rob333Âs predicaments. Sorry to go off topic again. Without pornography, Internet would have been in the Dark Ages. 85% of Internet traffic is for pornography. With no censorship, small boys can now view porn and all will. How will they treat women when they grow up? No, I have not read Eat, Pray, Love. I will. Sorry gwtamara. Delete this post if you want. dcarch ---------------------------------------- Back on topic:  If you've been through a divorce or mid-life crisis or another difficult period in your life, how did you hit the restart button? My crisis have been nothing compared with others.  Where would you go? Obviously everyone can't just drop everything and jet off to Italy...where would you go if you did a local journey? Traveling is great but stressful. I am happy staying home, my garden, my workshop, my kitchen, my home office.  If you could take off on your dream journey -- where would you go and what would it be called? (i.e., Shop, Dance, Run?) One day, IÂd like to visit all famous chefs home kitchens, eat with them and then tell you guys that many of them really cannot cook like you guys. dcarch

I thought for sure I posted to this yesterday. Obviously not. Now I feel like I've lost some memory of time yesterday. My kids go back Tuesday, this coming Tuesday, Aug. 1. I met the 4th grader's teacher yesterday. Gave her fair warning. I already know the 1st grader's teacher, the program she's in keeps the same kids together for K-3, it's called Intact Family. The kids move up together to the next teacher in the family. So I also know that when DS goes to K in a year, he'll be in that family and will have the same teachers DD has. I explain this because it actually helps with organization of back to school! The 1st grade teacher sent her packet of info, including the supply list, home last spring. DD is already familiar w/her teacher and knows where the classroom is for not only 1st, but 2nd and 3rd, too. If we're crunched for time, we could actually skip the meet-the-teacher night tomorrow. But she wants to go, so we'll go. My middle schooler will also meet his teacher tomorrow night. Then, with supply lists on my desk, I will change into my pajamas, make a cup of coffee, and buy school supplies on line! I love staples.com. It really is an easy button. Last year I ordered almost everything at staples.com, got free delivery b/c is was over $50 and it was all delivered to my front door by a Staples truck in 24 hours! I was ready to hug the delivery guy! He has no idea the headache he helped me avoid. We also keep overstock supplies, stock up when they're on sale this time of year. They always need something as the year goes, it's a great feeling to have it handy and not need to go after it. DH wants to rearrange the kids' rooms. He wants to move the oldest 2 in together in the biggest room, put the youngest in the smaller room alone. Then he wants a nice big table for computer and homework for the older boys. While I think that is a great idea, and the boys actually do, it's a lot of work! But considering the shared needs and activities of the older boys, it would be a better use of the spaces. I need to organize myself for back to school, that's the biggest thing. I need to make that main notebook like flylady talks about and commit to using it. I've got volunteer and PTA duties that need managed, the kids activities, household stuff, plus I've taken on caring for my neighbor's 7 m/o 3 days a week now (she's a teacher). So I've filled my plate, that's for sure. This time of year feels like a time for new year's resolutions to me, organizational ones in my case. I'm going to add magnet hooks for keeping papers on the frig to my Staples order, thank to Talley Sue. And a calendar, agenda for my notebook.