Death by Asteroid

Scientists say that one's chances of dying by being hit by an asteroid are the same as dying in an airplane crash if you fly only once a year.

For some reason that statistic is not very reassuring. Not that I walk around fearing being hit by a bit of spacial detritus.

Reminds me of a story: My grandfather was an avid golfer and he spent many afternoons in his backyard with his irons hitting balls across the field. One afternoon my grandmother noticed that her prized birdhouse had mysteriously been demolished. "What happened?" she asked grandpa.

With golf club in hand, my grandad said, "a piece of the Skylab fell on it."

Only those of you roughly my astronomical age will get that reference.