… sense of cultural pride, we have become fixated on the only apparent characteristic that labels us as otherly.

The ‘Earth grazing’ asteroid Hermes was photographically discovered by [Karl Wilhelm] Reinmuth on October 28th 1937. It came to within nearly 500 000 miles (800 000 km) of the Earth which is less than double the distance that separates the Earth from the moon. On October 30th 1937 Hermes, which was of the 8th magnitude, sped path the Earth at an angular pace in the sky of 5° per hour, so fast that its distance could not be deduced by using the usual mathematical methods. Instead it had to be calculated from its parallax as seen from two different observatories. It was ‘lost’ in 1937.

Nomore then it lyeth in the libertye of the liuelye tre wel planted to ceaſſe frome bringing forth hir frutes in hir time / except God altereth this his natural ordinaunce bi ſome ſingler gifte.

The teacher sat at one end of the bench, with a meek little fellow by his side. When the others were disorderly, this young martyr received a rap; intended, probably, as a sample of what the rest might expect, if they didn't amend.