Postcards from the Bleeding Edge
Saturday, January 12, 2008

  Asteroid Appreciation Day, Feb 29th, 2008

For over 20 years now I've had a small memorial celebration, every 4 years, to the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

It always seemed odd to me that we mammals would not celebrate the cosmic event that gave us a leg up on the dinosaurs, always, instead, we quiver in fear of the next strike which might wipe us out. A massive explosion and shockwave covering the world like that one did deserves to be both feared and revered, in my opinion.

Those that worship evolution, rather than creation, would do well to celebrate the rock that gave our species a chance to evolve to its present state.

Why did I chose Feb 29th for this day?

0) There are a bunch of other odd holidays on Feb 29th. I doubted I'm stepping on Sadie Hawkin's toes. We don't know when that asteroid actually hit, anyway... not even to the nearest century.
1) Because Earth's orbit and rotation, while mathematically exact and precise - a year does not always equal a year - a day, Feb 29th, is left over as a reminder that the universe, and solar system, are not perfect and exact according to a human centric view....
2) I'm not really big on giving parties, one every four years is enough.

This year it seems unlikely I'll throw a party at all. Perhaps I'll just find a telescope, and shake my fist at the stars, like I always do. Perhaps some of the past attendies will remember the party and give one of their own...

The last party, in 2004, was a doozy. 3 bands showed up, and a bunch of individual performers played. Captain Crunch crashed it, Allen Lundell went around being profound behind a camera, and the party went on til 5AM...

By the way, I've never been happy with the name I gave this day/party - AAS just happens to be the abbreviation for a scientific organisation that I often get exasperated by...

I do someday hope that the idea for a party like this one would take off... the stars are especially wonderful down under, here in New Zealand.

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Comments:
What? You're *not* providing transportation to New Zealand for your guests?? Sheesh!
 
The Borg will raise a toast in honor of AAD... although I wouldn't mind coming to NZ and joining you in shaking a fist or two.

*smooch*
 
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David Täht writes about politics, space, copyright, the internet, audio software, operating systems and surfing.


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