Yeah, I do get it right, usually about 95-97%, and the only reason the numbers are that bad is because to get it fast you have to work single source, with no secondary confirmation - but then for the events I cover, there are no second sources, so that's okay - the principals usually know what they want to do, and its usually a case of whether they can get it done or not...

I well remember the reaction of one gentleman when I reported that JPL had been selected as NASA's lead office in dealing with the NEO threat - after all the things he called me, JPL turned out to be the lead office, and still is the lead NEO office, and will remain NASA's lead office for dealing with the NEO problem - sometimes when I need a good laugh I review his e-mail about this -

How do I know JPL is goin to stay NASA's lead center for NEOs? Oh well...

The estimated death toll from small impact events which occured in the last 5,000 years is about to take a pretty sharp upward swing - enouugh to make the matter vital, as the word is used by some in a very exact sense.

While discussion is healthy, I really, really hope I am not going to have any of my time wasted defending myself and my reporting after August 20... Otherwise I will do my absolute best to see that it never, never happens again... I just report the news, I don't make it up...

That's about it. I'm still hoping you've got some good news on the radiation front, Mark.

EP