Just for MIB,

Who continually decries those who claim the sky is falling... a 98th anniversary present.

'The Tunguska event was an explosion that occurred at 60°55′N 101°57′E, near the Podkamennaya (Stony) Tunguska River in what is now Evenkia, Siberia, at 7:17 a.m. on June 30, 1908.

The explosion was caused most probably by the airburst of a meteorite or comet 6 to 10 kilometers (4–6 mi) above the Earth's surface. The energy of the blast was later estimated to be between 10 and 15 megaton TNT. It felled an estimated 60 million trees over 2,150 square kilometers (830 sq mi).

In recent history, the Tunguska event stands out as one of the rare large-scale demonstrations that a full doomsday event is a real possibility for the human race....

Surprisingly, there was little scientific curiosity about the impact at the time, possibly owing to the isolation of the Tunguska region. If there were any early expeditions to the site, the records were lost during the subsequent chaotic years — World War I, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the Russian Civil War.'

Rob

[ June 30, 2006, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: ITJock ]

I'm touched by your thinking of me. *sniffle*

Other than that, I'm SURE this meteorite is (a) Bush's fault or ( the result of that "evil" that is the internal combustion engine.

Oh! Al Gore. Wherefore are thou, nutjob?

First hand account of Semen Semenov, as recorded by Leonid Kulik's expedition in 1930.

At breakfast time I was sitting by the house at Vanavara trading post (65 kilometres or 40 miles north of the explosion), facing North. [...] I suddenly saw that directly to the North, over Onkoul's Tunguska road, the sky split in two and fire appeared high and wide over the forest (as Semenov showed, about 50 degrees up - expedition note). The split in the sky grew larger, and the entire Northern side was covered with fire. At that moment I became so hot that I couldn't bear it, as if my shirt was on fire; from the northern side, where the fire was, came strong heat. I wanted to tear off my shirt and throw it down, but then the sky shut closed, and a strong thump sounded, and I was thrown a few yards. I lost my senses for a moment, but then my wife ran out and led me to the house. After that such noise came, as if rocks were falling or cannons were firing, the earth shook, and when I was on the ground, I pressed my head down, fearing rocks would smash it. When the sky opened up, hot wind raced between the houses, like from cannons, which left traces in the ground like pathways, and it damaged some crops. Later we saw that many windows were shattered, and in the barn a part of the iron lock snapped.

Someone's making this up...

I still can't get past the part of someone called Semen Semenov! wink Did you make up that name too Maddog? I am so juvenile. Every time I see the word Semen or Siemen's or Seamen I giggle under my breath.

LOL...nope.

Follow Sir Rob's Wiki link. Although I did change Testimony of Semen Semenov to First hand account of Semen Semenov, I thought it added a little extra ooomph.