Brightest Young Things

Play this, yo:

Unless you're Mesopotamian (and you aren't), or perhaps a Muslim from 500 years ago (who thought meteors were artillery from Angels being heaved at devils), or maybe a Brunswikian German (who believed meteors were the breath of fire dragons and if you ducked under an easement in time and shouted "Fire Dragon, share with me" in the hopes you'd get a ham or side of bacon), then you should take your ass outside tomorrow (Tuesday) night, perhaps with a lover, or group of friends, and some warm drink, and catch the Leonid meteor shower. I had plans to, but shit happens, huh?

It only happens once every 33 years after all.

Contrary to Aristotle, who contributed to perhaps the longest scientific error (for almost 2,200 years people believed Aristotle's theory that meteors originated from the earth rather than ending up in our atmosphere), meteors do originate from space - they're essentially the burn off of comets, the comet responsible for the Leonids being Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle - but get this shit: we're seeing the aftermath of Temple-Tuttle's visits in the years 1466 and 1533. For those of you who don't pay close attention, no you aren't going to see a comet.

Most meteors are specks of dust. They burn up completely upon entering the atmosphere. If they don't, then they're meteorites and the hit the earth.

Bad things happen then. Ask Ann Hodges: click click

"Over the Rhine three stars did fly,
three daughters of a widow die"

Also contrary to belief, meteor(ites) and asteroids are completely different entities. Asteroids will also fuck your shit up. Remember when we had to send a team of awesome ass kicking scientists into space to blow one up to save civilization? That was so much better than some dude walking on the Moon.

If you're a Mormon you should really get a boner for the Leonids, since the Leonid shower in 1833 (hundreds of thousands of meteors were visible then), led to the founding of the Seventh Day Adventists and their hauling ass to Utah. Or Iowa. Or wherever it is they ran off to with their Indian Jesus.

Seriously though. Go see something amazing. To make it even more amazing than a movie or a band or television or whatever you were going to see tonight (other than perhaps two bisexual sisters putting on a show for your enjoyment) consider that each little one is giving its life for you, never to be seen again. It's just a speck of dust, sure, but still...

More here: click click

Previously in Misc/Awesome:

• 12/28: Terrible Boyfriend/ Girlfriend Generator.
• 12/1: The John Waters Advent Calendar-it starts today
• 11/28: It Chooses You: All I Want for Christmas is Everything from Miranda July's Pop-Up Shop
• 11/3: Things I'd Move to Minnesota For
• 9/6: PHOTOS: Maloof $$ Money Cup
• 9/2: PHOTOS: Chantilly Model Train Show
• 9/1: Libby's List: 5 Things I Want Right Now...
• 8/22: PHOTOS: Best Friends Day
• 8/10: PHOTOS: Lawn Mover Racing, Eastern Seaboard Regionals @ Bowles Farm
• 7/26: Special List: Things the BYGays Want Now That We Can Marry In DC (and NY!)