Wednesday, July 18, 2012

My Facebook Friend’s An Alien

Deb: All this talk lately on the blog about the future and making connections with people has got me thinking about a far-reaching connection that, despite all the technological advances, I am still yearning to make. I am talking about our frenemies, the aliens. I’m talking your Martians, your Siriuns, your Moon people, your Uranians. As we can now literally reach across the planet, why not the universe? Where are my alien Facebook friends? I don’t have one single alien friend. I have some that seem not of this world, but that’s another story.
Deb's keychain

Full disclosure and I hope this concept is not alien to you—YOU KNOW, I HAD to do that—I believe in them. The aliens, I mean. I have never doubted it. It always seemed so shortsighted not to at least believe in the possibility of life on other planets. I figure, where does Earth get off thinking it is the centre of the universe? Does the earth think it’s Toronto!?!? Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Earth. Earth rocks. It’s my favourite of all the planets. But as I stare into the night sky I just cannot believe that we are ... alone.

Yes, I loved X-Files, let’s get that out of the way.

Is it just that the internet is so last millennium to the aliens that they don’t even bother? Or are they wishing they could connect with us too? Do they have WIFI?  Or are the aliens being coy? Shy? Do they need prodding? Maybe this very blog will open their minds and they will post anonymously and say witty and brainy things to us.

My love affair with aliens started with the 1951 version of The Day The Earth Stood Still. I have been besotted with aliens since. Maybe I was just besotted with Michael Rennie. At any rate, I loved the kind, wry, condescending Klaatu played by Mr. Rennie who despite his prejudice for the lowly earthling, found himself falling for us. I have been fascinated since the first time my Mom and I sat down to watch the movie together when I was a kid. We would curl up on the couch and scream, “Say it, lady, say it!!!” as Patricia Neil was backed up against the steel fence stricken with fear as Gort advanced. Despite the fact that Gort could disintegrate a tank in seconds with the flash of his eyesheild, he was not an aggressor. He only retaliated. Never took the first shot. Or first laser in this case. He wasn’t the kidnap and probe kind of alien which, let’s face it, really gave aliens a bad rap.  Hmmm maybe aliens invented the colonoscopy?
Should I change my password to Klaatu, Barada Nicto?  Is that the welcome our neighbours seek?

My real true love affair started as a kid. I would look up at the sky and I would know in my heart that we had friends out there and, despite media to the contrary, it never seemed to me a frightening concept. I was comforted by it. The thought of our little ball rolling around this endless space in time was far too isolating for me.

At any rate, if they are out there, I would love them to make themselves known. Let’s face it, if they are out there and they are as brilliant and advanced as we think they are AND they are evil, they would have dusted us centuries ago.  Maybe they are just a tad insecure and given all the bad earthling to alien movies and press, they just haven’t found a good way to make a peaceful foray into our world, what with Michael Rennie being dead and all.
Alien contact for Dummies. Someone should invent an app for that. I would pay top dollar.

I wait in peace.

Barbara: I love me some aliens too! I would be all over having them as my FB buddies, or weighing in on the blog about what they might say to their little alien selves. I agree with you, Deb, that if they could eviscerate us, they totally would have done it already. On the other hand, maybe they’re waiting until we do the job ourselves…

I also believe that alien worlds exist, but I have slightly different (and not nearly so hilarious) take: I feel that—if our human experience on earth is just a tiny blip in the HUGE picture of time—it’s entirely possible that these short blips of human activity could be happening all over the universe, but at VASTLY different time-frames. Maaaaaybe all this soul-stuff we’re feeling is us traveling from earth to earth over millennia, inhabiting one place after another until we wear out our welcome, disintegrate to nothing, and the planet continues without us. Maybe WE are the aliens. Hmmm … Alien for thought.


77 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh. Those keys are a riot!!! I'm afraid if I had that much stuff on my keys it'd break off with the car key in the ignition. :/

    I have my Scotland lanyard from the uni I was at, my Scotland shoe, my resuscitation bag I got when I got CPR certified (I have NEVER had to use it yet. Knock on wood) and something else. I don't know why I just did that :P

    I LOVE Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Good alien movie. Super 8 is also really good too!

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  2. I was hoping you were really talking about aliens and not just meaning strangers you don't know! :D

    I've always believed in aliens and it's always a fun topic to start. :/ although I'm not 100% sure what to talk about... Owell, like I said in the first sentence in this paragraph "I've always believed in aliens."
    And always will :)
    Over and out (^-^)/

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    1. Thanks for the Orwell quote Garrett. I loved it!

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  3. Maybe they are already here and just aren't into hollywood style arrivals? Or maybe they're afraid we'll try to conquer their homeland or steal their natural resources (kryptonite!)? Either way, I'm in the mood for a good alien romantic comedy.

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    1. Yes Eileen a good alien romantic comedy!!! Me too.

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    2. My Stepmother is an Alien

      1988, Dan Aykroyd, Kim Basinger

      Total. Brain. Fluff.
      Delightfully 80's nonsense

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  4. OMG this is so awesome!! Welll I LOVE DR.WHO... Its too late to say "I dont believe in aliens". I believe that Aliens are out there watching us. But they are just waiting for all of us to get settled with the idea that "We are not ALONE". I think they just dont want to spook us.

    I used to be spooked about this concept, after I watched Independence Day. Yikes! But after I got my optimism, the first thing I thought was If they wanted to EXTERMINATE (Awww Daleks! Dr.Who reference forget it.) Earth, they wouldve done it a long time ago or there actually is an alien, well Time-lord to be precise, called 'THE DOCTOR' who saves our asses everytime the bad guys try to incinerate earth.

    And I have read somewhere that right now earth is the most interesting place in the universe. We are all made up of energy and apparently, the energies have never been this much. We are on the verge of a big GOOD change. 2012 is the year of manifestations. I dont know exactly what it means But I'm sure that we are on the verge of a revolution! Cool, huh?

    I personally would LOVE, to have alien FB friends!!! Ohh... That would be so much fun!!!! But of all aliens, I would LOVE to contact THE DOCTOR!!!

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    1. Oh... I forgot to say... the video...CUTE! So friggin' cute... I wanted to come there and squeeze your cheeks !!!!!!


      oh..BTW what were you eating??? It looked delicious!!!!!!!!

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    2. Yeah you might be right Shalaka, they don't want to spook us! I like that idea! I was eating a lovely strawberry, slivered almond, and feta cheese salad! It was yummy!

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    3. Aww that sounds yummy too!!!!

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    4. Oh... and I saw lettuce.... I LOVE LETTUCE!!!!!!!! Damn that salad is all I can think about now!!!!! GAHHH!!!!

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    5. Love me some Doctor Who, too! If the aliens can look like The Doctor.... well, let's just leave it at that. :)

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    6. Awww yeah! Especially, if they looked liked the TENTH DOCTOR (eh Rigel?)

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    7. You ladies are going to hate me but I have not done Dr. Who.

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    8. That's OK, Deb. I didn't become a Whovian until the 9th Doctor. They're on #11, now! lol

      The 10th Doctor is My Doctor!

      I <3 <3 David Tennant!

      (Deb, Whovians don't just <3. They <3 <3. Because The Doctor is a Time Lord from Gallifrey. He has 2 hearts.)

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    9. I like Matt Smith as the Doctor, but I am still new to Dr. Who!

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    10. Aww me too...Awww Deb its fine!!! I didnt either.. I started this year.. and I'm madly in love with him!

      Aww I would recommend it. Ya know EVERYTIME an alien conspires to incinerate the earth, he saves they earth with his brain and his sonic screwdriver (And I'm not speaking metaphorically!)

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    11. Aww yes two hearts!!! HA! Well in that case I <3<3,<3<3,<3<3 the DOCTORS!! Coz I love all three of 'em!

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  5. Oh man I miss the X-files, that was the best show!

    My oldest brother is an astro-physicist, and has been a part of SETI (which I think stands for Search for Extra-Terrestial Intelligence) for years. From what I understand it's just a heap of observatories co-operating all over the world searching for aliens. I've been lucky enough to hang out at Perth Observatory where he works since I was about 12, asking annoying questions and trying not to break expensive telescopes by spilling my hot chocolate on them. Whenever I used to ask if he thought there were aliens out there it was a very long technical sounding answer followed by "it's really not likely...". The answer never suited my imaginative X-files loving teenage self!
    It was fun to hang out there staring at the stars though. I learned that the universe is very pretty, and astronomers always have a good stash of chocolate to keep them awake all night. If my brother does make contact I'll get him to pass on your facebook details Deb. :)

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    1. Wow Samara what a great experience. I would have loved that. And yeah Mulder and Skully. Loved.

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  6. Aww That reminds me.... I do know a certain someone who claims to have contacted aliens!! Apparently they are connecting with him telepathically and helping people understand how things work and how they can enhance their lives. Its really cool!!!! I didn't believe it first but... then when I had problem I decided to listen to his tapes and they helped me SO MUCH!!!!

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    1. Yeah I have known a few people too. Don't know what to think. Interesting though isn't it?

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    2. Yeah... I mean very very intriguing!

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  7. Deb -

    I'll write more in a little while, but I wanted to get this to you quickly. Have you considered being part of SETI@home ?

    http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/

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    1. This is amazing Rigel. I am going to explore this. Thanks so much!

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  8. 1. I love your keychain, Deb!

    2. I loooove The X-Files! =)

    I do believe in aliens, too (don't know...but I think the word sounds unfriendly), but I don't have a certain image of them. I don't want to see them as big-eyed, grey, slimy, things. And I don't think that really matters...

    I don't know, if they are like human beings, intersted in technology and progress...or if they are just funny plants or worms or furry, jumping balls...

    We can't be alone in this big universe. This thought is too scary. And why should we be the only inhabited, living, planet? Makes no sense at all.

    I don't know, if it can be possible to travel to another planets without losing tons of years...and I don't know, if those aliens want to visit us (or search for other life forms).

    Maybe there are awesome cities, or beautiful landscapes somewhere...maybe they have delicious food and a hot chocolate river...maybe they are dying right now...maybe they are at war, fighting other species, maybe they are lonely...

    It would be quite cool to have a universal social network, and could talk to them (dictionary alien - human?)...I would love to know what they see, when they look at the sky, what they feel, and what they think. And how they look like. :P

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    1. Becki so well said. Food for thought huh? Possibilities are endless aren't they?

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    2. Tribble reference for the win!!

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  9. Truly never thought of any of this and probably never will. :)

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    1. Really Madge. Never thought about it. That surprises me.

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  10. Love your keychain, Deb! Look a lot like mine. I even have a small sword on mine!
    I don't believe in aliens, but I understand the interest in the possibility.

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    1. Yes Steph I know I may be in the minority but I find the possibility endlessly fascinating.

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  11. I was always afraid to watch alien movies and shows although my older brothers loved Twilight Zone and Star Trek growing up. My older brother Joey in particular would often tell me wild stories about how he was really an alien and I would have to watch out for him when I was sleeping. Always loved looking at the stars and imagining but until I watched Mork and Mindy did I think more about it. Then there was the movie Starman with Jeff Bridges hmmmmm interesting idea. But I opened my heart to the idea of alien friends after seeing E.T. and wanting one of my own. I remember also being upset that I couldn't have a Moqwai named Gizmo of my own (was that an alien?) Shazbot! Fun topic and thought provoking as well NANU NANU!

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  12. My folks were big fans of the Twilight Zone. Still show reruns on SyFy every now and then. I loved Close Encounters, E.T (although I haven't seen it in a while), Super 8 (I didn't think I would like it but I did a lot)...all that stuff. Kelly and I went through a HUGE Smallville phase in high school going into college...Clark Kent kind of the alien type persona.

    Your keychain is cute, Deb! :D

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    1. Thanks Holly. And I love my Gort robot too!

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  13. Popping in again. I keep wanting to sit down and write a proper comment, but that'll still have to wait a little while. Deb, I've been thinking about this post all day. It has been such a fun fidget stone for my mind to slide its gelatinous fingers over.

    One thing I definitely want to get down in response, though, is:

    Are you familiar with the Drake Equation?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation

    More later...

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    1. Yes please, more is good.

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    2. Wow just looked at the Drake equation. My Brain hurts!!!!!!!

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    3. Your not alone sister. The moment I went there, my brain YELLED..."OH....MY EYES, MY EYES!!!!!!!"

      This some serious stuff! Rigel if you love and UNDERSTAND THAT...you are my hero!

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  14. Oh, and please tell me I'm not the only person in this bloggie family who is completely addicted to xkcd!

    http://xkcd.com/384/

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  15. Here. Since you've expressed in the past that you aren't a math lover, I dug this up:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlikCebQSlY

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  16. I'm going to flip the theory here on its head. I wonder if there is life out there that believes in us and is waiting for us to contact them. Or is afraid that we're trying to contact them. I wonder if they have an Area 51 from some OTHER planet.

    I wonder if it's possible for any other life to contact us, period. We are who we are, we exist at all, because of how we're set up in our solar system. Earth, so far, is the only planet that can support our version of life--humans. If there is no other planet in the entire Big Bang area, then there will be no other life forms like us. That's almost as overwhelming as thinking we're alone... That we're not alone, but we can't find and learn about any other life forms/cultures.

    I personally prefer the ideas and theories set forth by "Men in Black." We're surrounded by aliens. We just don't know it. We don't know about it because we aren't ready for it. We'd be scared and cause irreparable damage.
    Just think, though. We could be chatting with them on this blog, and it could have been happening from the start.

    The one thing I do NOT want to happen is for we Earth folk to try to colonize another planet in our life time. Our planet and its population is too screwed up, pollution-wise, war-wise, belief-wise...
    We as a species are just as likely to destroy something we don't agree with or like as we are to embrace it and learn about it. We need to cure a lot more of our ills before we bring our fucked-up mentality to another planet and spread it throughout the galaxy.

    By that same token, I don't approve of spending so much money on NASA programs. We need to fix ourselves first. That money can be used in SO many other ways. We could prove we care about our own species by saving it from starvation, homelessness, discrimination...standards that we find most important. Star Trek, and Kirk specifically, bothers me because, too often, it was about how much BETTER humans were than most of the aliens they encountered. Talk about EGO! Kirk believed his own press! (We'll not get into characteristics Kirk and Shatner share(d).)

    I can picture humans landing on another planet looking for life forms resembling us. We'll see a plant-looking object and take it to study it, perhaps damaging it beyond help. Well, what if that is that planet's life form? What if that was their guard against aliens they fear? We've just destroyed a large portion of our chances to get along with that alien. We will have become what we ourselves may fear, an all-powerful alien life form bent on destroying the planet.

    It's a great idea to think that we aren't alone. It's fantastic that humans have the ability to think that broadly, to be that imaginative. But this is the one case we need to narrow our vision to our own world...to take care of it before we destroy ourselves and NEED to move.

    *gets down off soapbox*

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    1. A wonderful soapbox it is too. Great theory Dawn and beautifully put. Regards Nasa etc, I am for it and I will tell you why. The money they save on not spending for Nasa will never ever go where we want it to anyway, so why not try to find answers/cures etc in space. Plus, I admit. I love space stuff sooooo much!!!!!!!!!!

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    2. I wonder what alien nation would discover WE are the cure for one of their diseases? We're dooomed, I tell you! DOOOOOOMMMED!

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    3. Dawn this made me howl! Put me in mind of "IT'S A COOKBOOK!"

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    4. Deb, that is THE best punch line of ALL sci-fi stories!! My absolute favorite! Thank you for reminding me! So excited!! :D

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  17. Oh, and Deb, your post reminded me of this. Mistress T's work has made me smile for years! She sews together humor, snarkiness, compassion, insight, and the bizarre. I love her work!

    http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=324255.msg3743045#msg3743045

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  18. I realize I am a bit behind on alien movies here. Never having seen ET or close encounters. I have seen Men in Black?? does that count :)
    I am not so sure I believe in aliens.....yeah probably not. You all now have permission to say 'I told you so' the minute the aliens abduct me LOL.

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    1. I hope MIB counts, 'cause that's what I've seen. :)

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    2. Kelly I would never say I told you so! :-)

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    3. Oh yes! I totally forgot about MIB! Yeah, that is my only experience with aliens...

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    4. I'd probably blame it on rapture, in which case you'd never be saved. Sorry!

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  19. i agree with Kelly . I am not sure I believe in aliens either . well not aliens that walk and talk and look somewhat human like we see on TV or in films . mythbusters have done a good few myths on weather film science and real life science match . it is rare that they do .

    it would be interesting to know if any other planet has an oxygen rich environment as earth does to support other humanoid life forms . i am a skeptic though . i won't believe in anything without irreversible scientific proof .

    i do believe there could be life on other planets such as plant life . to paraphrase star trek i think there could be life out there but not as we know it !

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    1. Yes good point Linda. Maybe they don't need our type of planet to survive though. But I totally agree that I could be the wrong one here. I hope it is something I find the answer to, one day.

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  20. I kept checking bck for your comment Linda. I figured we would be thinking alike. Yeah I have seen some of those mythbusters episodes and I am always curious to know if other planets have enough oxygen or water to keep anything alive. I wish we , as in just normal people, could travel to space. just to satisfy my curiosity, Ya know?

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    1. It's true. So curious am I. I would love to know for sure. But we are talking about oxygen and water. How do we know that is what they need?

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    2. Have you been following the recent sci-news about hypotheses about arsenic based life?

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    3. i have to say that i would love to find out weather other planets could support life too . even though i said i am a skeptic if scientific evidence was ever presented in favour of humanoid life in space i would be happy to change my opinion about it .

      that brings me to another question what do you define as life . we have plants animals and human life forms on earth . could there be any more forms of life in the universe .

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  21. I'm watching the 2 new epis of Trust Us that posted to hulu today. After the knife, after the gun, when Colin pulled out the light saber, I laughed louder than I have laughed in a long, long time!

    All that blood! All those wounds! Colin was the Black Knight!

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    1. WE haven't seen it yet! So glad you liked it Rigel. We will watch it this weekend.

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  22. Okay, so I am going to nerd out for a moment. Does Thor and Loki and all of them count as an alien? If so, I am all for Loki visiting Earth! ;)

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    1. Ha! whenever someone says Loki, I remember the scene where Hulk beats the shit outta him and says "PUNY GOD...."

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    2. Yes I think they do count as aliens ad they are not from earth ;)

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    3. Love that scene, Shalaka!
      Here it is!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZrmxMqupVg
      And I love this one too!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnE5MaZ2gLI&feature=related

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  23. Hmmmm, Steph this is not my arena. Anyone. Help.

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    1. SHALAKA TO THE RESCUE!!!!!! Ohh Deb you didnt watch Avengers? Aww I wouldnt watch it too If I knew I had company!

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  24. All I know is I need to find me a hot blooded Vulcan male who's getting twitchy close to his 7 year mark. * frustrated whimper * I've got a button that says, “Pon Farr Waiting to Happen.” I've got no problem with the fingernail marks on his back being green. ;)

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  25. Tonight's realization:

    I'm a math geek Trekkie who smells of sandalwood incense.

    *sigh*

    No wonder I'm involuntarily celibate.

    Anyway...

    Extraterrestrial Lifeforms:

    I most definitely believe we are not the only life in the universe. Furthermore, I believe we are not the only intelligent life in the universe. And, I'm HOPING we aren't the most intelligent life in the universe because, if that's true, the universe is a sad, sad place.

    I also subscribe to multiverse hypotheses.

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    1. Oh boy Rigel you are so right! I always say to Colin when I read or hear about some idiotic display put forth by idiotic humans, "I am so embarrassed right now, hope the Martians aren't hearing about this!"

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    2. Rigel,

      I am NOT a math geek Trekkie who smells of sandalwood incense, and yet I'm involuntarily celibate, too, so there goes your theory on that one. Sorry.

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  26. I think that we humans are so noisy, that rest of the universe knows that we are here, but don't think we are grown enough to meet the rest of the family yet. :) Oh yes, I do think there is something out there.

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  27. Kasku I love that theory. We are not grown up enough to meet the rest of the family. That is so true!!!!!!!!!!

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  28. I was out and about yesterday, but I want you all to know how much these thoughts and dreams and fantasies ( ;) ) delighted and intrigued me! Drake theory, huh? Veeeerrrry interesting.

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