A stupid question...

[catherine]

My source of amazement, and one of the reasons I'm into the environment, is that we seem to be the oddball planet, at least within a few hundred light-years, that has such prolific life, such diversity of life, and such a wondrous balance of everything working together.

Now and then you hear that someone found that there may have been water on Mars, or signs of life on this planet or that planet, but absolutely nothing that resembles the complexity of life we have here.

I've seen the recent news about the planet Kepler that seems to have a similar atmosphere but, again, that's in another whole galaxy. It is just crazy how evolution has taken the different paths it has so that we are where we are, and being as "smart" as we are, what do we do but set about like locusts putting us on a course that will turn back the clock on our rich and abundant biodiversity.

As for aliens, maybe there are some out there somewhere.Who knows. I guess anything's possible.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I know, I'm always disgusted when people are so amazed thinking about life elsewhere and don't appreciate all the varieties of life forms here. I figure odds are probably there is life elsewhere but that doesn't mean it's trying to communicate with us.

[Packy]

Okay, yes--I am still good with PBS Documentaries, and as a side note: it is a damn shame about Carl Sagan having passed, so soon. That was maybe 16-17 years ago? But, he wanted to present astronomy to the masses, and he actually took flak from the scientific community for supposedly being a bit too "show biz". But, nothing like what you see on Tee-Vee, today.

[domestic goddess]

Thank you all for your points of view. First of all, no, I am not trying to get people to gang up against my son-in-law. He just started in on this topic this morning and I have to confess I wasn't sure if I had really missed some big news. I have less than no interest in the topic of alien life forms or 9/11 conspiracy theories, and it could well be that I have just overlooked some of the "news" on one or another. But I am not allowed to just let a topic that he brings up drop, even if I have nothing to say about it. I did a brief Google search and didn't see anything that seemed to support what he was claiming. Wasn't sure how recent this all is, either, so didn't know how far back I should be looking. I thought someone somewhere might have heard about it, and could point me toward some resources. I kept up the search, though, and finally found some things about Russians having a folder, like they have a suitcase of nuclear codes, that has information from and about extraterrestrials. Not one of them was from a reputable website, though, so I think I can let that one go. The 9/11 stuff I am going to let go, also. I don't have much faith in conspiracy theories. Maybe I just don't have enough imagination, or maybe I am just more concerned with more prosaic stuff, like feeding the hungry, and curing disease, both things my sil thinks will never happen. Anyway, we just don't agree on much of anything, and that is just how it will have to remain.

[Packy]

I need to work a certain interesting factoid into this thread, somehow. I guess it is relevant, because is an example of how TeeVee can very skillfully create perceptions & skew peoples view of things, especially if the viewership tends to be very simplistic in their judgements. Much like watchers of that Duck Robertson Clan show, or littlebittymee. Ha. Anyway, there was a very popular show on, 40-50-plus years ago, called "Bonanza". It was a fictitious western, set in the mid-19th century American West. Tell me you've seen it, okay? The show was also noted for occasionally raising issues of social justice, in a relatively non-controversial way. Character development was definitely a part of the show, so we thought we knew the "Cartwrights" pretty well, right? So, okay--which("Cartwright") cast member--in real life--had the most advanced formal education? By far. You are permitted to research this one. Don't just shoot from the hip. See what I mean about creating perceptions?

[JaneV2.0]

I know, I'm always disgusted when people are so amazed thinking about life elsewhere and don't appreciate all the varieties of life forms here. I figure odds are probably there is life elsewhere but that doesn't mean it's trying to communicate with us.

Fortunately, it's quite possible to be fascinated with all of it. The variety of life forms here on earth is dizzying--Previous generations never got to see half of what we are able to, and future generations will be able to say that of us. And I expect there's a lot we just catch glimpses of, or maybe go on about our business unaware of, because we don't have the tools yet to see. Some visionaries are working to unravel the secrets of the universe and beyond, because that's their passion; microbiologists are making ever tinier discoveries (a creature with working gears!) because the quest consumes them. I don't think we'll ever begin to discover the All That Is, but curiosity will lead us on forever.

[shadowmoss]

Packy: Dan Blocker? Just shooting from the hip as he seems to be the most easily dismissed character on the show.

Edited: Ok, according to Widipedia it is Parnell Roberts. I kinda forget he was on the show, and liked him more in things he did later. Sorry if this was a spoiler. It was interesting that the person who wrote this up for Wikipedia didn't seem to have a very favorable impression of Michael Landon.

[goldensmom]

I’m interested in alien life forms as depicted in ‘Men in Black I, I III’, ‘Independence Day’, ‘Star Trek’, ‘Star Wars’ etc., etc. and other forms of entertainment but as a serious subject, not really into it and nothing I am interested in researching. Maybe they exist, maybe not. Incidentally, I watch Fox News and have never heard blurbs, reports or comments, etc.. about either subject you mentioned.

[IshbelRobertson]

Just do a google for Bathgate + UFOs to see how many people appear to believe!

[domestic goddess]

Packy, I would have guessed Parnell Roberts. No real reason for that, though. I know there are a lot of people who are greatly interested in alien life forms and conspiracy theories; I'm just not one of them. If anyone wants to spend time on those topics, fine; just don't try to drag me into it. There are other ways I prefer to spend my time.
Goldensmom, thank you for the info about above topics and FOX news. We don't watch them here, but I thought sil might have heard them in a home where he was working, that had the news on.
Not to say that anyone is right or wrong for what they find interesting. I know that much of what I find interesting is boring to others. Different strokes, you know. I just wondered if, in my general disinterest about such topics, I had missed something factual and possibly important. No one else I know has heard anything about it, either. So I am ready to move on. Maybe I'll line everyone in the house up and make them do embroidery.