Seventeen, as the case may be.

This is simply too cool. It’s distant enough to not worry about seriously, and fantastic enough to tickle the fancy of every science-fiction fan around.

In seventeen years, asteroid “2002 NT7” is scheduled to hit the Earth. On the first day of February, no less. Scientists have been unable to pin the precise hour, though. A shame. I don’t know if I should go to work that day or simply take the day off and go on a shopping spree, taking advantage of the “End of the World Sale” or “Special Asteroid Price!”.

Sci-fi books about approaching asteroids are filled with panic and looting, world-wide chaos and fear.
All I can think of, when this one gets nearer, is McDonalds having a special-edition Chicken McAsteroid meal, and a whole bunch of would-be witty t-shirts.
The strange thing is that it makes me feel GOOD about this world, dammit!

Let the masses be pacified by Chocolate Asteroid Fudge ice-cream and asteroid-shaped earring. It’s a hell of a lot better than fear. Definitely better than panic.

Who ever said crass materialism and capitalistic globalization is bad?