asteroid

Posted to the web on: 16 July 2008
Markets not only things that crash
John Kay

THIS month marked the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska explosion in Siberia. If you weren’t celebrating, you should have been. The incident was probably the nearest we have come to extinction in modern human history — and we survived.

A large object — presumably an asteroid or meteorite — collided with the Earth. If it had landed in Manhattan, it would have destroyed New York. A bit bigger, and it would have been calamitous wherever it landed. A similar event at Yucatan, 65-million years ago, wiped out the dinosaurs and most other species.

There are many catastrophes graver than meltdown in the markets. The road to oblivion has many unexpected turnings. Environmental catastrophes, such as meteorites or seismic events, may do us in. Something even more devastating than the Yucatan object is on its way, but it may be tens of millions of years before it reaches us.

Below you'll find a list of reasons why everyone should own a meteorite.
(If you have something to add let me know)

1. It’s A Meteorite! Duh… – A 100% genuine rock from space. How many people can say they own one?

2. Meteorites Are Cool. – It’s just plain cool to own a meteorite. How many other things do you own that are as cool as a rock from space?

3. Meteorites Are Aliens! – They aren’t from here, they’re from 100s of MILLIONS of miles away and have been floating around out in space for many MILLIONS of years just waiting to land on our planet, and end up in your hands.

4. Meteorites Are Great Conversation Pieces. – Put it on your coffee table or on your desk at work and you’ll be amazed at the attention it will draw. People will constantly ask you about it and it give you an excuse to look really smart when you explain how it got here.

5. Chicks Dig Meteorites! – Guys like them too ladies, so don’t get mad for us saying this. The rest is self explanatory.