September 2, 2003, 09:40
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#1
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Warlord
Local Time: 03:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chairman & CEO, Dallas Oil Company
Posts: 142
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We're all gonna die!!...uhm...in 2014, that is.
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Giant asteroid could hit Earth in 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2003 Posted: 7:29 AM EDT (1129 GMT)
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A giant asteroid is heading for Earth and could hit in 2014, U.S. astronomers have warned British space monitors.
But for those fearing Armageddon, don't be alarmed -- the chances of a catastrophic collision are just one in 909,000.
Asteroid "2003 QQ47" will be closely monitored over the next two months. Its potential strike date is March 21, 2014, but astronomers say that any risk of impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered.
On impact, it could have the effect of 20 million Hiroshima atomic bombs, a spokesman for the British government's Near Earth Object Information Centre told BBC radio.
The Centre issued the warning about the asteroid after the giant rock was first observed in New Mexico by the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Program.
"The Near Earth Object will be observable from Earth for the next two months and astronomers will continue to track it over this period," said Dr Alan Fitzsimmons, one of the expert team advising the Centre.
Asteroids such as 2003 QQ47 are chunks of rock left over from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. Most are kept at a safe distance from the Earth in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
But the gravitational influence of giant planets such as Jupiter can nudge asteroids out of these safe orbits and send them plunging towards Earth.
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Time enough I think to organize world government and reconfigure all our nukes so that they're aiming at outer space. 
__________________
"People sit in chairs!" - Bobby Baccalieri
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September 2, 2003, 09:43
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#2
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Emperor
Local Time: 03:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: mmmm sweet
Posts: 3,041
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Good, I hope it wipes us out...
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September 2, 2003, 09:44
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#3
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Emperor
Local Time: 09:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: a raving alcoholic drama queen with a penchant for the biosciences
Posts: 3,646
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Yes, but would that be time to adjust our nukes for deep-range, long term space flight in order to hit this big rock or shall we fire at it when it's actually above a major city? 
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Exult in your existence, because that very process has blundered unwittingly on its own negation. Only a small, local negation, to be sure: only one species, and only a minority of that species; but there lies hope. [...] Stand tall, Bipedal Ape. The shark may outswim you, the cheetah outrun you, the swift outfly you, the capuchin outclimb you, the elephant outpower you, the redwood outlast you. But you have the biggest gifts of all: the gift of understanding the ruthlessly cruel process that gave us all existence [and the] gift of revulsion against its implications.
-Richard Dawkins
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September 2, 2003, 09:45
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#4
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King
Local Time: 09:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Dilbert
Posts: 1,839
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Wow, we have a Near Earth Object Information Centre? Good to know that they've got their priorities right.
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September 2, 2003, 09:45
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#5
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
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Only Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis can save us now!
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If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
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September 2, 2003, 09:48
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#6
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Deity
Local Time: 01:07
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In a bamboo forest hiding from Dale.
Posts: 17,436
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If it hits LA then I'm cool with it. 
__________________
Christianity is the belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie who can give us eternal life if we symbolically eat his flesh and blood and telepathically tell him that we accept him as our lord and master so he can remove an evil force present in all humanity because a woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from an apple tree.
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September 2, 2003, 09:50
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#7
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Emperor
Local Time: 03:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: mmmm sweet
Posts: 3,041
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Oerdin
If it hits LA then I'm cool with it.
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I'm hoping for Texas. ::fingerscrossedsmiley::
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September 2, 2003, 10:34
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#8
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Emperor
Local Time: 09:07
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Posts: 5,316
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I am always amused by this sort of quote
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Quote:
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astronomers say that any risk of impact is likely to decrease as further data is gathered.
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What happens when they get one where the risk of impact goes up as they gather more data? Anyway, how does gathering the data alter the path of the asteroid so it doesn't hit us - either it is on a collision course or it isn't.
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Never give an AI an even break.
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September 2, 2003, 11:04
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#9
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King
Local Time: 02:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Toasty!
Posts: 2,230
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Sample size. We can have more confidence on the asteroid's path if we had (say) 300 data points, as opposed to (say) 30.
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September 2, 2003, 11:13
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#10
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Deity
Local Time: 11:07
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Latvia, Riga
Posts: 18,355
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Why do they even keep reporting that stuff? I'm getting tired. As always, in a month they will say the the asteroid will pass earth.
If they were to observe something and find out the chances are 1 in a 1000, well, then announce.
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Solver, WePlayCiv Co-Administrator
Contact: solver-at-weplayciv-dot-com
I can kill you whenever I please... but not today. - The Cigarette Smoking Man
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September 2, 2003, 11:19
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#11
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Settler
Local Time: 08:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UChicago
Posts: 4
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Vlad Antlerkov
Sample size. We can have more confidence on the asteroid's path if we had (say) 300 data points, as opposed to (say) 30.
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and because its still quite far away from us, even slight differences (errors) could be hundreds of thousands of miles
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September 2, 2003, 11:21
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#12
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:07
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Solver
If they were to observe something and find out the chances are 1 in a 1000, well, then announce.
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Because if they announce stuff people (dumb people) will get scared. The people will then demand that their govermnet do something about this, thus securing funding for the programmes.
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If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
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September 2, 2003, 11:22
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#13
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Local Time: 19:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
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Location: Skanky Father
Posts: 16,530
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And they get interviewed when their story is put in the paper. It makes them feel important.
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I'm building a wagon! On some other part of the internets, obviously (but not that other site).
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September 2, 2003, 11:26
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#14
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Emperor
Local Time: 09:07
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Join Date: Oct 2002
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And if it turns out that this particular rock has our planet's name on it? What then? Nuke it and turn it into a shower of irradiated smaller rocks? 10 years isn't very long to figure out a reliable way of diverting an asteroid when the current state of progress is a bunch of whacky proposals on how it might be done by people who would like the money to indulge in further speculation.
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Never give an AI an even break.
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September 2, 2003, 11:28
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#15
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Minion of the Dominion
Posts: 4,607
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Quote:
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Originally posted by CerberusIV
10 years isn't very long to figure out a reliable way of diverting an asteroid when the current state of progress is a bunch of whacky proposals on how it might be done by people who would like the money to indulge in further speculation.
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Stop it? Why'd you want to do that? Use the time to scout out a good seat. 
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Rethink Refuse Reduce Reuse
Do It Ourselves
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September 2, 2003, 11:30
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#16
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Emperor
Local Time: 03:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Back in BAMA full time.
Posts: 4,502
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I wonder if there are any reliable calculations that suggest whether nuking an asteroid would have any effect or not?
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September 2, 2003, 11:31
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#17
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Local Time: 19:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Skanky Father
Posts: 16,530
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I'll make sure I'm wearing a really good hat. And steel-capped boots. Then I will be alright.
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I'm building a wagon! On some other part of the internets, obviously (but not that other site).
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September 2, 2003, 11:33
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#18
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Emperor
Local Time: 09:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: on the Emerald Isle
Posts: 5,316
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Osweld
Stop it? Why'd you want to do that? Use the time to scout out a good seat.
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I was just imagining a scenario where it could not be diverted from hitting Earth but could be diverted enough to affect where it hits, say China or North America.
So NASA land a small rocket on the asteroid and push it towards China. The Chinese land a rocket and push it towards the USA..... 
Apologies if my sense of humour offends anyone.
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Never give an AI an even break.
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September 2, 2003, 11:34
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#19
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Prince
Local Time: 09:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Germany
Posts: 720
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We should get all politicians and extremists on an island and then send Bruce and Ben up there to help guide that big rock dead on this island 
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Excellence can be attained if you Care more than other think is wise, Risk more than others think is safe, Dream more than others think is practical and Expect more than others think is possible.
Ask a Question and you're a fool for 3 minutes; don't ask a question and you're a fool for the rest of your life! Chinese Proverb
Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. Warren Buffet
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September 2, 2003, 11:38
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#20
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Deity
Local Time: 01:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In a bamboo forest hiding from Dale.
Posts: 17,436
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Hell, I'll be busy stock piling Spam in a cave so when the Asteroid hits it will just be me an OBL left.
__________________
Christianity is the belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie who can give us eternal life if we symbolically eat his flesh and blood and telepathically tell him that we accept him as our lord and master so he can remove an evil force present in all humanity because a woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from an apple tree.
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September 2, 2003, 11:40
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#21
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Deity
Local Time: 01:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In a bamboo forest hiding from Dale.
Posts: 17,436
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Osweld
Stop it? Why'd you want to do that? Use the time to scout out a good seat.
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It would be time to max out the credit cards and take out a loan. Then you party it up like it's 1999 again.
__________________
Christianity is the belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie who can give us eternal life if we symbolically eat his flesh and blood and telepathically tell him that we accept him as our lord and master so he can remove an evil force present in all humanity because a woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from an apple tree.
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September 2, 2003, 11:42
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#22
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Minion of the Dominion
Posts: 4,607
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Oerdin
It would be time to max out the credit cards and take out a loan. Then you party it up like it's 1999 again.
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I said, why'd you want to stop it? Maxing out your credit cards and going into huge debt is a sure fire way to make sure it doesn't hit.
__________________
Rethink Refuse Reduce Reuse
Do It Ourselves
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September 2, 2003, 11:44
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#23
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Emperor
Local Time: 08:07
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Mu Mu Land
Posts: 6,570
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Maybe Taco Bell will throw a big target somewhere, and if it hits the target we'll all get free tacos!!!!
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September 2, 2003, 11:44
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#24
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King
Local Time: 02:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
Posts: 1,285
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Oerdin
It would be time to max out the credit cards and take out a loan. Then you party it up like it's 1999 again.
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yeah, I bet a lot of guys could get lucky! 
__________________
'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'"
G'Kar - from Babylon 5 episode "Z'ha'dum"
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September 2, 2003, 11:45
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#25
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King
Local Time: 02:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
Posts: 1,285
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Japher
Maybe Taco Bell will throw a big target somewhere, and if it hits the target we'll all get free tacos!!!!
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I could almost see them actually doing that!
__________________
'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'"
G'Kar - from Babylon 5 episode "Z'ha'dum"
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September 2, 2003, 11:52
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#26
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Deity
Local Time: 01:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: In a bamboo forest hiding from Dale.
Posts: 17,436
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[Taco Bell dog]
Viva Gorditos!
[/Taco Bell dog]
__________________
Christianity is the belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie who can give us eternal life if we symbolically eat his flesh and blood and telepathically tell him that we accept him as our lord and master so he can remove an evil force present in all humanity because a woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from an apple tree.
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September 2, 2003, 12:05
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#27
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King
Local Time: 02:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Terre Haute, IN USA
Posts: 1,285
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Quote:
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Originally posted by SpencerH
I wonder if there are any reliable calculations that suggest whether nuking an asteroid would have any effect or not?
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A nuke detonated in deep space would not produce a shockwave, only radiation. So a nuke would only be effective against an asteroid if it detonated right on the surface or inside.
__________________
'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'"
G'Kar - from Babylon 5 episode "Z'ha'dum"
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September 2, 2003, 13:04
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#28
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Emperor
Local Time: 10:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Posts: 3,618
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Let's have a show of hands: If a thing this big hits, how many here actually think that humanity can do anything about it?
I say no. We have no chance. There's no technology available. nor is any technology likely to emerge within the next twelve years that will counter a threat like this.
Nukes?? 
It'll just laugh and keep on coming. 
Asmodean
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Im not sure what Baruk Khazad is , but if they speak Judeo-Dwarvish, that would be "blessed are the dwarves" - lord of the mark
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September 2, 2003, 13:11
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#29
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King
Local Time: 03:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New England
Posts: 1,310
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We need Kirak (Capt. Kirk) and Miramani to go into the obelisk thingy and appease the god's so that the asteroid won't hit us.
Any Trekkies out there remember that episode?
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signature not visible until patch comes out.
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September 2, 2003, 13:30
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#30
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Deity
Local Time: 04:07
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: May 2001
Location: 138% of your RDA of Irony
Posts: 18,577
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Oerdin
If it hits LA then I'm cool with it.
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If it hits LA you probably shouldn't even be on the West Coast...
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