Meteorite wrecks houses in India

bbc ^

[scotslad]

At least 20 people are reported to have been injured after a meteorite crashed to Earth in eastern India. Reports say hundreds of people in the state of Orissa panicked when the fireball streamed across the sky.

Burning fragments were said to have fallen over a wide area, destroying several houses.

An official in Orissa said the authorities were assessing the damage and trying to recover what was left of the meteor.

Reports from Orissa said windows rattled as the meteor passed overhead.

"It was all there for just a few seconds but it was like daylight everywhere," one resident said.

Rarity

Experts estimate about 100 tons of extraterrestrial dust grains fall to earth each day.

Occasionally, a dark pebble or fist-size object will rain down, with boulder-sized objects or bigger being a historical rarity.

The only recorded fatality from a meteor was an Egyptian dog that had the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in 1911.

Seven decades later, scientists recognised the dog had been struck by a meteorite from Mars.

[BobS]

I remember that pic. Whatever happened to the woman? Were those welts or burns included? Surely it must have knocked her a few feet off-balance?

[Davea]

FORE!!!

Saturday, October 3, 1998

Section: NEWS

GOLFER IS REWARDED FOR HIS CLOSE BRUSH WITH METEORITE

Reuters News Service

TORONTO

A Canadian golfer was rewarded this week for having a close encounter with a meteorite - so close, it whizzed by his ear.

Orville Delong, 57, a maintenance worker from Cambridge, Ontario, said in an interview Friday he was golfing on July 12 when he heard the "eerie sound" of a meteorite the size of a baseball as it shot by his left ear.

The meteorite was estimated to be moving at about 12.4 miles per second.

"At first we thought somebody was shooting at us," he said.

The University of Toronto, which wanted to study the meteorite, rewarded Delong with a free season's golf pass at a golf club in Kitchener, Ontario.

The meteorite probably originated in an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, said University of Toronto geology professor John Rucklidge.

Delong is no stranger to near-disaster on the links. In 1977 lightning struck him on a golf course as he ran for cover under a tree. "I'm having trouble getting partners to play with," he joked.

[StolarStorm]

"Then tell me why they are making the same, if not more money, than their American counterparts here in the U.S. Their hard work, extraordinary work product, and superior abilities are the reason. "

Superior abilities... huh? Sounds like a racist comment. I guess Indians are just superior to us stupid Americans.

[UnklGene]

This meteorite story wouldn't have been half the fun without the Stolar-"sturm" and J. Smith "drang."

[skinkinthegrass]

"I'm having trouble getting partners to play with," he joked.

If I played golf with mim, will he buy me a Lottery ticket if I gave him the $$$$$$?

[Centurion2000]

India has the most advanced and gifted PhDs, engineers, mathematicians, and scientists.

Yeah, that's why they invented analytical chemistry, calculus, nuclear physics, the atomic bomb and the computer .... after all ... they are the world's best.

[Orion78]

I can't remember the link I found that picture at. I should have posted the text that came with it.

The woman was sleeping on her couch when a 3kg meteorite hit her. I imagine the speed and energy lost when it came through her roof is what saved her from being pulverized. She was severly bruised but escaped any major internal damage. The bruises reportedly took several weeks to heal. In the end, after scientists examined the meteorite that hit her, they gave it back and she was able to keep it. Two years later, after refusing several offers people made to buy it, she donated it to a University. I don't know where she is today but her name is Hulitt Hodges.

The link I posted above to another a freeper has a few links to different stories about her.

http://www.meteoritearticles.com/znpsylacauga.html

[PokeyJoe]

It is a mutually beneficial relationship, and the main beneficiary from outsourcing are American companies. India has the most advanced and gifted PhDs, engineers, mathematicians, and scientists

India has the most advanced and gifted PhDs, engineers, mathematicians and scientists?

Let's be clear.

American companies locating in India are NOT moving because of brain power.

They are moving because of pocket power.

[AnAmericanMother]

The only recorded fatality from a meteor was an Egyptian dog that had the bad luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in 1911.

[Doe Eyes]

This is Bush's fault, another one of his misleading failures.

What about Clinton? He did absolutely nothing to lessen the danger of meteor attack during his eight years in office.

[StolarStorm]

Thanks. I probably should have been more gentle with her though. She's obviously not very skilled or advanced in the art of the flame war. She did open herself up to it though as she has posted her "cretin" attack on numerous FR threads.

It must be difficult to suffer from such a huge chip on one's shoulder. It must not be easy to view one's on race as superior to all others, yet see contradictions of that belief at every corner. After reflection, I pity her.

[wideminded]

Yeah, that's why they invented analytical chemistry, calculus, nuclear physics, the atomic bomb and the computer .... after all ... they are the world's best.

The World's Greatest Unknown Mathematician

"Suppose that we rate mathematicians on the basis of pure talent on a scale from 0 to 100, Hardy gave himself a score of 25, Littlewood 30, Hilbert 80 and Ramanujan 100"

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You are both partially correct. Some Indians did come over here to work cheap. Especially the IT guys. They cram in an apartment and live cheap. On the other hand, some Indians who come over here to work and went to IIT and are the best and brightest. In fact, there was a show on not too long ago about the brain drain in India.

[Sub-Driver]

hate it when that happens...

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Global leaders read FR do they? You are sounding more and more silly dear. An exagerrated sense of importance is the classic sign of a FReeper who has spent too much time on the net lately.

[eddie willers]

Made her day.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Actually dear, there is scientific basis for his assertion. Read "The Bell Curve".

[Jeff Chandler]

What about Clinton? He did absolutely nothing to lessen the danger of meteor attack during his eight years in office.

Are you saying that Bush inherited this meteor?

[headsonpikes]

Ramanujan bump!

Besides, the ancient Indians invented '0'.

That was a biggie.

[Centurion2000]

"Suppose that we rate mathematicians on the basis of pure talent on a scale from 0 to 100, Hardy gave himself a score of 25, Littlewood 30, Hilbert 80 and Ramanujan 100"

Funny, I don't see anything as groundbreaking as Thrmodynamic Laws, Kepler's Laws of Motion or the General Theory of Relativity .. so no, he's a genius but not inventing anything new.

Talented yes , original .... nothing as big as the others. Had he been educated in America or England, he would have been extraordinarily formidable.