Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is perpetually veiled behind opaque clouds of sulfuric acid droplets atop a hot, heavy, mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere. In size and apparent composition, however, it is a near twin-sister of the Earth. Why is it do different? This lecture reviews the basic properties of Venus, and examines the similarties and differences with the Earth. Recorded 2006 Nov 9 in 100 Stillman Hall on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University.