WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Calling Bullshit on SETI, Unseen Interstellar Drive-Bys, or Professionally Blurry UFOs
byVanderleunonJanuary 24, 2019
It’s appropriate that Oumuamua, the first “starship” sent to our system by some alien race, arrives in the form of a turd. It’s an important “holy relic” for the large cult of humans that seem to believe that intelligent life abounds in the universe and regularly sends various pie plates and cigars and turds to the Earth or through the Solar System; flying objects that never seem to identify themselves via satellite radio and HD television.
Avi Loeb, the chair of Harvard’s astronomy department, co-wrote a paper (with a Harvard postdoctoral fellow, Shmuel Bialy) that examined ‘Oumuamua’s “peculiar acceleration” and suggested that the object “may be a fully operational probe sent intentionally to Earth’s vicinity by an alien civilization.” Loeb has long been interested in the search for extraterrestrial life, and he recently made further headlines by suggesting that we might communicate with the civilization that sent the probe. “If these beings are peaceful, we could learn a lot from them,” he told Der Spiegel.About the Mysterious Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua
Oh blah, blah, blah…
Photographs of Oumuamua and thousands of other objects either do not exist, witness the “artist’s concept above,” or somehow dodge the automatic focal point in photo after photo. Take them all and all and add in this latest masturbatory fantasy and I’d have to say, “Close but no cigar.” You can go right on believing that there have to be (Dammint, there just have to be..) billions and billions of planets with intelligent life in the universe, but until you find proof of planet number two there is still only one that we know — or at least suspect — has intelligent life. That would be this one.
Anthony Brode’s still got the best UFO explanation to mollify both sides in this silly story:
I accept the existence of saucers,
I concede there’s a case
To be made for believing that something’s achieving
the conquest of space;
I find it completely convincing
Whenever I hear
That creatures from Venus were recently seen
As a spaceship drew near:
And yet there’s a problem remaining
That baffles me still.
I’m not disagreeing that some super being
Can wander at will
From one universe to another-
But if it be thus why on earth (so to speak)
Should he bother to seek
Any contact with us?”
I can honestly say I’ve see a ufo. I was on a weekender with two other guys, up at Big Bear, CA. We were sitting out by the pool on Saturday night (in perfectly legal states of mind for three teens), and we saw what looked like aircraft lights out in the distance. I have no idea how out far, or how high. Thing was, they hovered there for about 1/2 hour, then sped off to my right. So, 1) it was unidentified (we had no idea what it might have been) , 2) it was flying, 3) it was an object of some kind. Hence, a ufo. Now, given that we were on the south face of the hills that seperate L.A. et.al. from the Mojave Desert, and the attendant development air bases there, could it have been some kind of test vehicle? Could be. But I have no proof to offer of any kind about its provenance.
And, yeah, I’m of the mind that, given the vastness of the universe, and the billions and billions of stars, we are probably not the only ‘intelligent’ life form. But, again, I have no proof, or even a good arguement, other than the odds seem to favor it.
Fletcher ChristianJanuary 24, 2019, 10:56 AM
“The probability of success is difficult to estimate; but if we never search the chance of success is zero.”
SETI can be carried out at trivial cost using radio telescopes either not currently in use, or by processing the signals coming in during other radio astronomy work. And the benefit of success would be enormous. Even if it proves impossible to translate the signal, the very presence of a signal would have very profound implications indeed.
Why yes it’s quite possible, even probable that there is intelligent life out there somewhere in the universe.
It even possible, thought not necessarily probable (I read the news today, oh boy), that some day intelligent life might develop here on earth.
EskymanJanuary 24, 2019, 11:28 AM
When I was a boy, noted scientists mapped the “canals of Mars,” and many authors published books featuring the possible inhabitants of Mars and Venus (“Half-Breeds on Venus” by Issac Asimov was a favorite of mine, as was “Red Planet” by Heinlein.)
Alas, science has moved on since those days and we now know that Mars has no canals, nor are there Tweenies on Venus, and we have yet to find life anywhere but on our own green planet. We even have intelligent life on Earth, if one doesn’t consider the goings-on of Washington DC.
At least we now have space-ships landing on their tails, as was intended by God and Robert A. Heinlein!
Sam L.January 24, 2019, 11:48 AM
I’m with Eskyman on this: “At least we now have space-ships landing on their tails, as was intended by God and Robert A. Heinlein!” Rah, rah, RAH!
I’ve never seen a UFO, or anything claimed to have been a UFO, but years ago when I was at SMU, some students came into the cafeteria at lunch time claiming to have seen one.
Lance de BoyleJanuary 24, 2019, 4:30 PM
” various pie plates and cigars and turds…”
Oh, thanks, Gerard! I busted (or burst) out laughing while having sex with (or was it merely in the same general vicinity?) as Lucretia de Boyle. Yes, I was on Am. D. at the time. She was doing her nails.
Stan SmithJanuary 24, 2019, 11:46 PM
If the universe is indeed infinite, there are infinite possibilities. You wonder why they haven’t contacted us? Do we try to contact ants? No, but we study them as curiosities….
Daniel LumisJanuary 25, 2019, 11:47 AM
If aliens landed they would consider us cavemen.
Some politician would panic and start a war with them.
What they would do then would make what Cortés did to the Aztecs seem like a child’s tea party.
DrTedNelsonJanuary 25, 2019, 3:24 PM
“Ack ack ack!” — Mars Attacks
Fletcher ChristianJanuary 25, 2019, 5:50 PM
Mr. Lumis:
I agree, to some extent, but it is far worse than that.
Given the timescales involved in astronomy and some other reasonable numbers, the likely gap in terms of development time between us and any sapient ETs is about a million years. “Apes or angels, but never men.” Can you imagine what the powers of whatever calls itself humanity in a million years’ time will be? I certainly can’t. Why should aliens be different?
Annoy them enough, and they will squash us like a bug. It would be like what happens to an anthill if its occupants get into your honey once too often.
CCJanuary 26, 2019, 6:01 AM
Never made much sense to me to be pouring money into space when we have 4/5ths of the planet virtually unexplored.
Snakepit KansasJanuary 26, 2019, 6:30 AM
If aliens came here, why would we expect them to be peaceful? They’d kill us all, just for the Government cheese.
VinceJanuary 29, 2019, 9:46 AM
We’d learn a lot from them if they aren’t peaceful as well. However, we may not have much time to ponder the lessons.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
I can honestly say I’ve see a ufo. I was on a weekender with two other guys, up at Big Bear, CA. We were sitting out by the pool on Saturday night (in perfectly legal states of mind for three teens), and we saw what looked like aircraft lights out in the distance. I have no idea how out far, or how high. Thing was, they hovered there for about 1/2 hour, then sped off to my right. So, 1) it was unidentified (we had no idea what it might have been) , 2) it was flying, 3) it was an object of some kind. Hence, a ufo. Now, given that we were on the south face of the hills that seperate L.A. et.al. from the Mojave Desert, and the attendant development air bases there, could it have been some kind of test vehicle? Could be. But I have no proof to offer of any kind about its provenance.
And, yeah, I’m of the mind that, given the vastness of the universe, and the billions and billions of stars, we are probably not the only ‘intelligent’ life form. But, again, I have no proof, or even a good arguement, other than the odds seem to favor it.
“The probability of success is difficult to estimate; but if we never search the chance of success is zero.”
SETI can be carried out at trivial cost using radio telescopes either not currently in use, or by processing the signals coming in during other radio astronomy work. And the benefit of success would be enormous. Even if it proves impossible to translate the signal, the very presence of a signal would have very profound implications indeed.
Why yes it’s quite possible, even probable that there is intelligent life out there somewhere in the universe.
It even possible, thought not necessarily probable (I read the news today, oh boy), that some day intelligent life might develop here on earth.
When I was a boy, noted scientists mapped the “canals of Mars,” and many authors published books featuring the possible inhabitants of Mars and Venus (“Half-Breeds on Venus” by Issac Asimov was a favorite of mine, as was “Red Planet” by Heinlein.)
Alas, science has moved on since those days and we now know that Mars has no canals, nor are there Tweenies on Venus, and we have yet to find life anywhere but on our own green planet. We even have intelligent life on Earth, if one doesn’t consider the goings-on of Washington DC.
At least we now have space-ships landing on their tails, as was intended by God and Robert A. Heinlein!
I’m with Eskyman on this: “At least we now have space-ships landing on their tails, as was intended by God and Robert A. Heinlein!” Rah, rah, RAH!
I’ve never seen a UFO, or anything claimed to have been a UFO, but years ago when I was at SMU, some students came into the cafeteria at lunch time claiming to have seen one.
” various pie plates and cigars and turds…”
Oh, thanks, Gerard! I busted (or burst) out laughing while having sex with (or was it merely in the same general vicinity?) as Lucretia de Boyle. Yes, I was on Am. D. at the time. She was doing her nails.
If the universe is indeed infinite, there are infinite possibilities. You wonder why they haven’t contacted us? Do we try to contact ants? No, but we study them as curiosities….
If aliens landed they would consider us cavemen.
Some politician would panic and start a war with them.
What they would do then would make what Cortés did to the Aztecs seem like a child’s tea party.
“Ack ack ack!” — Mars Attacks
Mr. Lumis:
I agree, to some extent, but it is far worse than that.
Given the timescales involved in astronomy and some other reasonable numbers, the likely gap in terms of development time between us and any sapient ETs is about a million years. “Apes or angels, but never men.” Can you imagine what the powers of whatever calls itself humanity in a million years’ time will be? I certainly can’t. Why should aliens be different?
Annoy them enough, and they will squash us like a bug. It would be like what happens to an anthill if its occupants get into your honey once too often.
Never made much sense to me to be pouring money into space when we have 4/5ths of the planet virtually unexplored.
If aliens came here, why would we expect them to be peaceful? They’d kill us all, just for the Government cheese.
We’d learn a lot from them if they aren’t peaceful as well. However, we may not have much time to ponder the lessons.