May 1, 2011
Geo and Phil Plait perform Death From The Skies onstage at NECSS 2011, calling this the Lazy Sunday version. This inspired Geo to re-record the acoustic version that you now have. Enjoy the newest Death!
Photo: ©2011 Bruce F. Press Photography
You can watch the NECSS performance here courtesy of Brian Gregory.
Death From The
Skies
lyrics
Odds of dying by asteroid impact: 1 in 700,000
The overall risk of dying from an impact in your lifetime is one in
seven hundred thousand- somewhat less than being killed by a
fireworks accident- but still more probable than being killed on an
amusement park ride or by an act of terrorism.
Odds of dying by supernova explosion: 1 in 10,000,000
Supernovae happen about once per century in any given galaxy.
Assuming the event would cause a mass extinction killing everyone
on earth- the odds of you specifically dying from one during your
lifetime are about 1 in 10 million.
Odds of dying by solar flare or coronal mass ejection:
ZERO, but with an asterisk.
While a whopping big solar event can seriously impair or destroy a
nation's infrastructure and economy, in general it will not
directly cause deaths. We have to rate this a zero chance for human
fatality, but with an asterisk, as a nod to the destructive power
it has in other ways.
Odds of dying by gamma ray burst: 1 in 14,000,000
Gamma ray bursts are dangerous from distances of more than 7,000
light years. You would have to be in the path of a relatively
narrow beam to get hurt. Your odds of being killed by a GRB are one
in 14 million. You're about as likely to be killed by a shark
attack.
Eventual odds of dying by death of the sun: inevitable
Eventual odds of dying by galactic doom: inevitable
Eventual odds of dying by death of the universe: inevitable
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Geo's Music: stock up!
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Ms. Info says: "Dr. Plait is a Double Rockstar which is even cooler than a Double Rainbow."
Yes, 'A Listener'. It's understandable why not.
Because your inability to Google or ask someone else your question if it was that urgent, or (heaven forbid!) to write again politely in case the inquiry was lost takes precedence over everything else that has happened since your question that might have resulted in it not being answered.
Such as the pressures of a tour that has encompassed over two continents, the production of an album, the MCing of a convention in another country, all the PFA and Triologic gigs and (not forgetting) the production of a podcast episode every week that you neither pay for nor acknowledge the effort behind - which funnily enough, has given at least the opportunity to answer your questions IF (and sometimes not even with that!) they're asked with some respect for all of the above.
Meh, but who cares? Being a self-centered jerk in the comments with a matter no one else cares about, that is completely unrelated to the episode at hand, is much more satisfactory and showing that you expect your podcast-monkey to dance for your inquiries is what free online content is all about. Knock yourself out.
Or better yet, unsubscribe and don't let the door hit your fat arse. Vibes to everyone else.
I wrote you about a year ago about Led Zepplin's 'Kashmir'. Circle of fifths and all that. Thanks for nothing.