The asteroid is quite interesting, hopefully by 2169 we have developed as a race to prevent it from being a threat. That is 151 years, just think what we have accomplished since 1867. Jules Verne had just published From the Earth to the Moon in 1865 and H.G. Wells was still an infant! Human progress is an amazing thing and we have vastly sped up in the last 40 years. Imagine being a mid-Victorian lady or gentleman, or worse... an uneducated peasant, and being dropped off in London or New York in 2018. Now imagine yourself dropped off in 2169!
The past year has been excellent to me, productive and stimulating in a variety of ways. As far as UO is concerned, it took me 10 years spread out over 20 years to tell the story I wanted to tell, and I was able to tell it and end it well. No storyteller can ask for more than that. I do hope the 'new' fellow is treating you all well, and doing great things. Although, he has been around for a year now, so calling him 'new' might be a disservice. I met him at the 20th party, and he seemed very much like a good guy.
Pixie, I am very sorry you are so very lonely and spiteful. I hope that things improve for you soon.