Arthur C Clarke goes to Titan.

Actually, in pictures: Saturn's moon Titan...

Another historical event - I am sure that this will fade into obscurity until they actually find bacteria amongst the data sent back (which apparently could fit on to a floppy disk... now that's what I call compression)

BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Saturn's moon Titan

Remember, they have found life in volcanoes, they have found life in the permafrost and they have found life 3000m beneath the sea where there is no light...

2010 - Arthur C Clarke... read it and then look at the pictures again!

1st hand account of the Khao Lak devastation

This is particularly poignant for me. To see the shop where we bought our �1 sunglasses (every day!) and our water. To see the scope of the devastation is very saddening. When you watch this set of slides (and associated commentary from a local) you will see the beach that has turned into what looks like your local municipal rubbish heap. That rubbish heap was not only the beach that was strewn with debris caused by the immense forces rushing past; that beach actually was the set of luxury bungalows where people stayed. When you look at the ground floor of the hotels completely washed away, down to the reinforced steel frame you can imagine how powerful the Tsunami actually was... but then, if I tell you that the hotel was several hundred metres away from the sea, then may be you can get some inkling of scale.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Audio gallery: Khao Lak devastation: "Audio gallery: Khao Lak devastation"

We are unsure of the state of the Wanaburee, where we stayed last year (photo links in the gallery section of my site). It may have survived the full brunt of the wave due to it being in the shadow of a headland.