What do you think intelligent alien life would make of us?

I'm a big scifi reader, and I've read countless stories about this question. Seems to me most of the time, writers posit one of two things. Either they would be highly advanced, ethically and morally speaking, because that is a prerequisite to achieving the technology of space travel; or they would be totally predatory, and treat us as we treat "lower" forms of life on this planet. Personally, I'm not excited about the idea that intelligent life would come by for a visit. I'm too embarrassed by our own primitive natures to want to have to explain it to the Vulcans.

This is science fiction thread, so none of that downer stuff about how interstellar travel is impossible or how if other intelligent life is out there we'd have heard it by now. According to this NASA guy, the aliens are already here, btw.

(Hat tip to 4legs good at Plush Life) -- more at National Geographic News.

EDIT TO ILLUSTRATE MY POINT MORE CLEARLY:

If we oppose the public option, if we feel the current bills are so bad that it's better to have no bill at all, how are we different from the Fox fanbase and the Limbaugh Nation? We're not. We're saying the same thing they are, even if we think we're saying it for different reasons. We're out to make sure nobody's situation's any better in the future, for fear our own won't be the best it can be. What makes me say this?
Today's NYT profiles a couple, just too young for Medicare, who listen to Limbaugh and Fox and read Drudge. Not too surprisingly, they want their Representative to vote against the health care reform bill currently before Congress. They think people like themselves -- dependent on insurer-provided coverage and stuck with a $63,000 bill after their insurer determined breast-cancer therapy the wife underwent was experimental -- will be forced onto waiting lists, and denied care, if the bill passes.

What prompted the Colliers to attend a Congressional district meeting for the first time was an almost solemn sense of the magnitude of the health care issue, and its place in determining the scope of American government.

“We both think this is the most important thing we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes,” Mr. Collier said the next day in an interview at his family’s four-bedroom house, overlooking a fishing pond. “I mean, the Vietnam War, which was a big deal in my early formative years, pales in comparison to the way this thing could turn our country.”

“I know we need some reform,” he said, in a deliberative drawl. “I’ve just got questions about how we’re going to do it.”

Ms. Collier, 60, an interior designer, said she had wanted Mr. Bishop, a soft-spoken centrist Democrat who has yet to take a formal position on the legislation, to understand that there were deep concerns.

“I wanted to make sure we were represented,” she said.

The Colliers are committed conservatives who have voted Republican in presidential elections since 1980. They receive much of their information from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh’s radio program and Matt Drudge’s Web site. But they said their direct experience with the health care system had persuaded them of the need for change.

When Ms. Collier’s breast cancer was diagnosed three years ago, Mr. Collier’s employer-provided insurance paid for her office visits, a biopsy and three surgeries. But the insurer covered only a small fraction of her radiation treatments, which it considered experimental, leaving the Colliers with a $63,000 bill. To their great relief, the charge was later written off by Emory Healthcare, whose doctors had recommended the regimen.

How in the world can anyone support such a system? Had not Emory Healthcare, the PROVIDER, written off the cost of the care, how would this couple pay that bill?

Oh, wait ...

I sent a complaint letter to John Cornyn over something really outstandingly Cornynish awhile back, and now I regularly get his "updates" in my email.
For a multitude of reasons, I'm one of the voices speaking out to try and stop the panic about "pandemic" influenza. I'm also one of the people who's bemused by the rush to stop calling this "swine flu". (Can't help thinking John Soules Foods, Smithfield, Tyson et. al. are in on the rush to alter the nomenclature; cynical, I am.) So below I'm reproducing, as best I can (you'll need to imagine the "United States Senate" seal fading out through the print midpage) his latest missive. Then I'll add the link for what the CDC says about the flu outbreak. I'm also adding a little information about influenza surveillance in case you're interested. Decide for yourself if Sen. Cornyn is credible, eh?

Update from U.S. Senator John Cornyn Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Update on the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus

We are all concerned by recent developments regarding the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu, and particularly the sad news that the first casualty in the United States was a 23-month-old toddler from Mexico who had travelled to Texas with family. Because there is a lot of fear and misinformation out there, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some facts about the H1N1 flu outbreak and how Texans can best protect themselves.

Cases of the H1N1 flu, while predominantly affecting Mexico, have been confirmed in several states, including Texas. H1N1 viruses do not normally infect humans; however, sporadic human infections with swine flu occasionally do occur. The symptoms of this flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu seen each year.

The H1N1 flu is spread through human contact, so washing your hands often and covering your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough can help you stay healthy. Stay home if you are feeling sick, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Heed the advice of your local public health officials.

I have talked with Texas Health Commissioner David Lakey, as well as Governor Rick Perry, who informed me that several local school districts along the border and near San Antonio have made the decision to proactively close several schools as a precautionary measure. As of right now, there are just three known severe cases of the H1N1 virus in the state of Texas.

I have also been briefed by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on the situation and I remain in close contact with Homeland Security and federal health officials, along with state and local leaders in Texas. I stand ready to assist the Governor, Commissioner Lakey, and local leaders in any way that I can.

For more information on these and other topics, go directly to my Web site. To view floor speeches, interviews and other video messages from me, please visit my YouTube Channel. To receive additional updates, please select the issues that interest you listed on the right. It’s an honor to serve you in the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator John Cornyn

Herewith, a salute to Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, US SecState, and absolutely the most apropos smackdown I've ever heard (long video, hang on to the end, the Republican Congressmember's face is p.r.i.c.e.l.e.s.s. -- and yes, this is a comment a President HRC wouldn't've had the chance to make, so ... just, damn.)

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Weeeeelllllllll, doggies, governor. You want Texas to leave the union? Let's see you pull that stunt off with a ZERO budget for your office operations over the next two years. (And it's the whole House, not just the Democrats, who voted for this.) Oh, and as a plus, we're gonna gut NCLB. Never thought I'd say this. GO Texas LEGE! (and Senators? Don't even think about rolling this back. The national embarrassment of the Texas Governor's office's last two occupants really needs to be refuted.)

"That's the headline: 'Two days after governor says we ought to secede, House zeroes out the governor's budget,' " said Appropriations Committee vice chairman Richard Raymond, D-Laredo.

Cuts to Perry's budget were proposed by House Democratic caucus chairwoman Jessica Farrar of Houston, who siphoned $4 million away for veterans' programs, and Rep. John Davis, R-Houston. He took $18.7 million more, for community mental health "crisis services" that try to keep the mentally ill out of jail and emergency rooms.

Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, noted that Farrar had seven floor amendments that would sweep funds from Perry's office or the state-federal office in Washington that he controls.

When asked why Republicans didn't object to zeroing out the GOP governor's budget, King said, "We were just trying to avert any unnecessary gamesmanship."

Taylor said Democrats were "trying to make the other side make bad votes that they can use in the campaign or PR."

Farrar denied trying to put GOP members on record rejecting money for deserving Texans such as veterans and the needy.

"I was looking to do something for people in hard economic times," she said.

Playahata speculates:

As of Playahata.com press time rumors have it that Barack Obama is set to fill his Secretary of Commerce slot with The rockefeller republican, Lawyer Richard Parsons and Astronaut Charles Bolden Jr to head NASA. If so it would be the first time African Americans have held either slots. Although both Republicans, Parson calls himself a Rockefeller Republican, which is a person who is conservative when it comes to economic matters, and more liberal concerning social issues.
Bolden on the other hand does not like to be identified by party at all.Bolden pictured below, is A former astronaut who has made four trips into space is reportedly a leading candidate for the top job at NASA. The former test pilot left NASA in 1994 after 14 years of service to return to the Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of major general. He retired in 2003.

I really hate the term 'Rockefeller Republican.' It reminds me of the draconian Rockefeller drug laws of NY state. Anyway, I guess this is affirmative action we can believe in. Or something.

Hurricanes are big storms. In 2005 a big storm hit the Gulf Coast, followed shortly thereafter by a second storm, nearly as big, that hit a bit further West. Katrina trashed the Gulf Coast, and Rita extended the damage. Three years plus thereafter, the mother of all Cat-2 'Canes hit Galveston Island -- and two months later Texans are still waiting on Bush's Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"It's unfortunate we can't drop houses overnight on people who need them," FEMA spokesman Simon Chabel said.

Truthiness and paternalism are virulent diseases that undermine every institution they infect:

50% of U.S. Doctors Secretly Dose Their Patients—With the Placebo Effect

The study found that most of the doctors who prescribe placebo treatments typically describe them to patients as “a potentially beneficial medicine or treatment not typically used for their condition.”

Math is funny. It's a mystery to people like me, but one thing I know: when they "figure it out" they more or less, you know, figure it out. That is, while there may be 'other' ways to get to four than 2+2, it's still always true that 2+2 = 4. That's how I look at a lot of polling organizations. Did you make it to 4? Were you close? Not 'now,' but 'after,' when we can all see where they went, the trends and ideas you predicted were ascendant, and how succesful they turned out to be in truth. Haw, I love some comment I just read, "this is a reality-based community." Indeed, My Friends. So which of them are here with us in RealityLand?

In the spirit of spitting on reality, let me roll with my initial impressions as a mostly non-consumer of media product, as I reviewed these numbers. I think you old-timers call this 'stream of consciousness' blogging.

First, the non-corporate media projection sites updated counts:

Election Projection: Obama 364-174
Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 364, McCain 171, 3 tied
Fivethirtyeight: Obama 344-194 McCain
Pollster.com: Obama 313, McCain 157, Toss-up 68
Real Clear Politics: Obama 286, McCain 155, Toss-up 97

Only useless information intended to save human life on Earth.

This blog, Climate Progress is a fantastic one-stop resource for the most important issue facing your life, the life of your loved ones and the generations to (hopefully) come.

Here are some interesting quotes there:

"The UK’s Independent reported today some pretty shocking news in “Exclusive: The methane time bomb“:

The first evidence that millions of tons of a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere from beneath the Arctic seabed has been discovered by scientists.

[Newberry's got the best perspective and policy, and, unlike some (me) knows finance. So, I urge you to drop by listen, learn, and lend perspective. -- lambert]

At 4:30p Eastern time today, noted economic writer and friend of this blog, Stirling Newberry will be hosting a live chat at Firedoglake. He's encouraging anyone with questions or comments to come by and join the conversation. Take a moment out of your day and stop by; I promise you'll learn something.

msnbc.com headline:

Bush to relax protected species rules — Plan takes scientists out of decision making on species status

What could possibly go wrong?

Maybe if the government created a special tax break for scuba-diving equipment, Republicans might be convinced to give a shit about this.

"Since NOAA's last report in 2005, the Caribbean region has lost at least 50 percent of its corals, largely because sea temperatures have risen, Keeney said."

Read the article: it's the first comprehensive study of it's kind.

To the surprise of probably no one, the Bush Administration has been interfering with the career scientists at the EPA.

More than half the Environmental Protection Agency scientists who responded to an independent survey made public yesterday said that they had witnessed political interference in scientific decisions at the agency during the past five years.

Bring the candle over, dear,It's very hard to see
Shine so I can see the screen of battery TV

Lights are out all over from Daytona to the Keys
Line failure's marching through Flor'da.

(to the tune of 'Marching Through Georgia')

Weird story, just breaking now so I suppose some confusion is unavoidable. Massive storms are hitting the northern part of the state, but this outage is in the south, I wasn't kidding about the "Daytona to the Keys" line (although they say the Keys are coming back on. I'd like to see where the southernmost power plant is before I believe this story.)

Another cascade effect at any rate. Reminds me of the one a few years ago where literally a tree branch down on a transmission line knocked out the whole Northeast from Ohio to New York and other places.

Weren't we going to beef up the infrastructure after that? Oh, wait.....

We've all seen CSI, where within an hour two or three impossible cases are pieced together and there is an arrest headed for conviction. Or Law and Order, where they usually limit themselves to one case. The reality is different. Despite decades of law and orderism breaking out all over the United States, it is more possible to get away with a murder now than before.

Well it is a myth, and one which favors the right wing, because it creates the impression that modern police work is better. It's not, the old police departments had more murders to deal with, and they had a better rate of clearing them by arrest. Now some of these clears as we find out later, was because they arrested the wrong person, but not by the proportion that we see a drop in solving crims.

Alright, maybe I should ahve been more bloggy and said fuck off. But I think "Go to Hell" is literalistly more correct. The New York Times publishes a long apologia by Noah Feldman which contains a string of lies and implicit assertions about fact which are verifiably untrue. These assertions, were a blogger or Democratic nominee for President make them would get a stern warning from teh serious people and the Village Idiots about sticking more closely to truthiness.

For example:

As this fine editorial (scroll down) suggests, the Lessons Learned from Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" have been forgotten -- if not deliberately,

This is the kind of great news for cancer victims that you hope will break down the walls of a prejudice. Cannabis has been found to have potential for halting the metastases of breast cancer, and has been shown to have that effect in brain cancer.

Yet another reason the anti-sex Christianist enclaves in the Red States are so--forgive the expression--fucked up. A new identical twins study at the University of Virginia:

The researchers analyzed data on 534 same-sex twin pairs in the United States gathered at three time points over a seven-year period. By examining surveys of twins, the investigators were able to eliminate the genetic and socio-economic variables that otherwise might influence the behaviors of adolescents.

"We got a very surprising finding, particularly that early sex seems to forecast less antisocial behavior a few years later, rather than more," said Kathryn Paige Harden, the study's lead author and a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Virginia.

Well, I always knew sex was good for something!

California's still on fire, but the Air Force is now helping out:   Read more…

Worldwide, the belief that rapid industrialization is the answer to poverty and hunger now faces a challenge from the World Bank, issued today.
Launching the Bank's latest World Development Report, Agriculture for Development, the Bank's president, Robert Zoellick, said: "A dynamic agriculture for development agenda can benefit the estimated 900 million rural people in the developing world who live on less than $1 a day, most of whom are engaged in agriculture. We need to give agriculture more prominence. At the global level, countries must deliver on vital reforms such as cutting subsidies and opening markets".

The report argued that richer countries would have to engage in this reform agenda, pointing out, for example, the damage done to African smallholders by the American government's subsidies to its cotton growers. Biofuels also come in for criticism. The World Bank said: "the problem is both tariffs and heavy subsidies in rich countries, which drive up food prices and limit export opportunities for efficient developing country providers."

No mention of the effect of $90+ per barrel

In this booming economy which is so full of promise that we can hardly keep U.S. consumers from beating down the doors at the malls to buy the Holy Stuff ... more great news.

The service sector, where the burger flippers who used to sell you sub-prime mortgages or manufacture your American cars or something silly like that, took a dive.

Say goodbye to French wines, baseball and the Great Barrier Reef. Christmas trees. Fly fishing. Salmon. Gray whales.