Asteroid May Hit Mars, Scientists Excited.

Only a 1 in 75 chance, though.


Prize quote: "Unlike an Earth impact, we're not afraid, but we're excited."

I bet he hates "Papa Smurf" jokes.

Life as a blue guy.

Hillary '08: The Likability Tour

via NY Times.

It's fundamentally that she seems cold-blooded; some people can find affection for a snake or lizard, but it'll never be the same as a kitten or puppy. It didn't work for Nixon, won't work for Hillary.

Peter Jackson to produce The Hobbit

via NY Times.

Not to direct, but produce, but he'll be given great deference, obviously. Two movies called for; one being The Hobbit, the other being a new Middle-Earth-themed movie base on the period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

This second movie idea is intriguing, but allows Hollywood writers (or the NZ equivalents, if Jackson stays in NZ) to play with Tolkien's universe, which is potentially a disaster, if not a franchise-killer. That period in Middle-Earth was of chess pieces being moved into position, mainly. Gollum had some adventures, Balin entered Moria to re-establish the dwarf presence there, but it was mainly a calm before the storm. It will be interesting to see.

A few Lolhitches.

Added: welcome Ann Althouse readers! Sorry I don't spend much time here, it's more interesting for me to spend time in Middle-Earth, where I can swing a sword at my opponents, instead of invective.