Ways you probably wouldn't die in a vacuum

I just read a fascinating science article entitled "Five Ways You Probably Wouldn’t Die In a Vacuum, and One Way You Probably Would".  The author does a fine job of debunking the myths of popular science fiction, crossing off freezing and death by exploding eyeballs along the way.  But you'll have to follow the link for yourself to get the full benefit, as I have no intention of spoiling it by regurgitating it all here.

I do have a small problem with the article, however.  Their ways just seems to lack imagination, if you ask me.  I can think of lots of ways that you probably wouldn't die in a vacuum.

So without further ado, I present the Come Back Brighter Guide to Top 5 Ways You Probably Wouldn't Die In A Vacuum.
 

1. Shark Attack.  Sharks are ferocious predators, equipped with row upon row of razor-sharp teeth and super-sensitive senses, they have ruled the oceans for millions of years.  However, the odds of being attacked by a shark in the vast emptiness of space are very slim.  A shark would be one of the least likely things you are going to come across in the last few seconds of your life, and while it would be a terrifying sight in most circumstances, a blood-thirsty great white would probably not be your demise in the vacuum.  It might be, though.
 

2. Struck by a Meteoroid.  A massive hunk of space rock, hurtling through the universe at hundreds of miles an hour, would do untold damage to even the hardiest of space crafts.  The effect of one on a body made of flesh and bone would be similar to that of a fly hitting a car's windscreen.  However, despite space being literally littered with this intergalactic debris, it just doesn't rank up there as a way you would probably die in a vacuum -- you would have to be spectacularly unlucky, more unlucky than just finding yourself moments away from death in a vacuum.  But it could still happen.
 

3. Accident Around the Home.  Accidents at home are high on the list in which people meet their unfortunate end, but the good news is that in the vacuum of space your odds are drastically lowered.  Falling down the stairs is a common accident on earth, and a big killer, but in zero gravity stairs quickly become redundant.  Misadventures with electrical appliances may cause a great number of accidental deaths back on terra firma, but outside of space stations -- literally outside of space stations -- I predict the numbers drop dramatically.
 

4. Lightning Strike.  An estimated 107 people worldwide are killed by lightning strike every year, and while this might seem very low when you consider the sheer number of people on the planet and the number of lightning flashes annually, it is even more improbable in the vacuum of space.  Do you hear thunder?  No, that's just the sound of your blood boiling (actually something that also probably wouldn't kill you in a vacuum).  Does it look like rain?  No, you are just losing consciousness.  Because space is a vacuum, there is no weather, so it follows that you can be reasonably sure you will not die from a lightning strike.  You could shelter under a tree from the rain as much as you liked, if it wasn't for the fact there are no trees and no thunder storms.

5. Car Accident.  You are more likely to die in a multi-satellite pile-up than a car accident in space.  Not even the Japanese have started putting cars into space yet, which is a shame because there's far fewer people on the road in space.  There is also far fewer roads.  Both of these factors make it incredibly improbable that you could be hurt or killed in a car accident while in the vacuum of space.  However, considering all the junk that is dumped out there, it is not impossible.

Things I Love Thursday

Today marks the return of the much-lauded "Things I Love Thursday" -- a post that needs no preamble or introduction from me.

Absolute Radio. It may sound funny to "love" a commercial radio station -- it doesn't have the cred of an obscure digital station, or an controversial pirate operation. It doesn't even have a great playlist. But what it does have is "Workforce Requests" -- a simple and much-replicated idea of taking requests from people in work. Why do I love them for this? For a start, it gives me an opportunity to think about the songs I like so much -- I can spend a few minutes thinking What song would I like to hear today? and becoming nerdily excited at the thought of each prospect. Then, when I have chosen my two songs, I have to think how best to sell these songs -- why should these songs rather than any others be played. Considering I don't much like working in sales, it's a funny thing to enjoy -- but it's no secret I love thinking creatively, and the chance to write well but succinctly about music is a little thing that makes me happy.

Yesterday I got a call from the station, they wanted to play my choice -- Teenage Kicks by the Undertones. This was all the validation I needed. It made little difference to me that the boss turned off the radio in the office before I got to hear my request -- the important thing was that I was chosen.

Today I am going to request Lies Are Much More Fun by The Grates. I doubt they will have it, but if they don't -- shame on them.

Another thing I love this week is unexpected items in the post. I love getting post. In the days before the internet I had penpals and used to look forward to their letters, but as ever growing up as meant the only post I get is bills and letters from the Student Loans company. One of my little pleasures at the moment is Postrcrossing, where I can exchange postcards with people from all of the world. But better is still is when a friend on the other side of the world decides you need a care package, and sends you a box filled to the brim with a book and a homemade CD and salt water taffy and cat toys.

My Dad was puzzled by it and asked me why I was getting such boxes in the post. Just because someone felt I needed it -- and that was the most important thing.

I think the last time I wrote one of these, I listed Autumn as one of the things I loved. It's quite fitting in a way that winter was conspicuous in its absence of Things I Love Thursday, and it's now Spring.

Spring is definitely a "thing" I love. The mornings are lighter, it doesn't get dark until later, and gradually we are getting to leave heavier items of clothing at home. The sun is warm, the air is fresh and today I even sat outside and ate my lunch. Ok, granted, it was a little cold -- but I wouldn't have been able to do it at all a month ago. In fact, I think it was probably snowing a month ago.

The biggest thing in my life right now is an impending move. Having had to reluctantly move out of my house last December, it's been a long few months living with my parents -- the only highlight being the kittens who are fast becoming cats. But on the weekend that the girl and I decided to start looking round potential new places to live, we found one almost right away. We'd heard horror stories of people looking at dozens, we only needed two. And now we move in next week. It's not just moving out again, it's moving to London this time -- something I have wanted to do for years.

I've been down... but I've come back brighter

At a cross roads

I feel at a kind of cross roads today, that I could choose one path or the other -- and though it's been playing on my mind all week, I'm not sure yet which decision would be for the best.

It's no secret that this blog is woefully neglected recently.  In a way, it's almost funny that when I was unemployed I was inspired to write "Things I Love Thursday" posts, but since returning to work those have dried up, along with almost everything else.

I'm considering today shutting the whole blog down.  I know it won't really make that much difference -- a locked, unwritten blog as opposed to a never-updated one -- but I guess it is a matter of admitting I'm just not going to write any time soon. 

I feel guilty that more than neglecting my own blog, I am neglecting the great writers that populate my google reader list -- some of my favourites will have unread posts numbering in double-figures soon.  I'm just slack.  When I get home in the evening I know I should look for a new job, I know I should be writing and reading. But I don't.

Of course, the other path is to stop being so slack and make an effort.  If I can't think what to write about, then just force something -- every other day, post something, even if it's just comments on the day's news.

I don't know yet which road to take.  Maybe it is best to be shutting up shop and one day in the hopefully-not-too-distant future when I am feeling better and have more opportunity for blogging coming back and maybe writing at an all-new URL, but on the other hand -- thr question is best for who?

Picture taken from flickr, via google image search.