"It was 2,000 feet up and stationary. I thought it was about 10 miles away, although I later realized it was approximately 40 miles from us... At first, I thought it was the size of a 737, but it must have been much bigger because of how far away it was. It could have been as much as a mile wide."
We are aware of the SETI institute, a vast society dedicated to research, to listening to radio and more obscure waves from space. They sort, select and study these waves, and search for patterns, for intelligent beings from the stars and beyond who may be trying, with a — for lack of a better word — humanity similar to our own to communicate with living beings. And we can't but appreciate the irony that Yes!, we ARE here! As SETI member Wanvisa Permtongchuchai of Thailand put it, “Exploration is the nature of humankind.” Indeed, some spoke as if they (SETI and its members) had no choice but to participate, as in Martha Harris (SETI member) of Kentucky’s statement that “The Kepler Mission is humanity’s cry in the dark. I can’t not be a part of this — even if only in name!”
The Bard has written — Hamlet: "And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." And with that thought in mind, please allow one final divergence.
The National UFO Reporting Center reports the following, regarding a sighting near Chicago. A taxi mechanic at O'Hare, responsible for moving aircraft from gate to gate, heard a pilot make a comment about a circle or disc-shaped object hovering over gate C-17 at the C concourse. He didn't take it seriously until the same pilot continued, stating the object was about 700 feet above the ground. The day was overcast with clouds at 1600ft, and the mechanic himself soon spotted a "dark gray hazy round object" overing over the airport. "It was definitely over the C Terminal...holding very steady and appeared to be trying to stay close to the cloud cover." Chatter began to spread about the object, including the air traffic controller. After completing the current taxi operation, the mechanic looked toward where the UFO had appeared, but it was now gone, leaving an almost perfect circle in the cloud later where it had been, which also disappeared moments later.
Article comments
1 - Robert M. Barga
ahhh, you and the concept of chance should meet
just cause something happens infinite times doesnt mean that all possible events will happen
2 - John Lake
in response to Robert M. Barga:
Au contraire, mon amie!!
In infinity, if it can happen it will happen - an infinite number of times!!
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
For f*ck sake... I thought this was the Science/Tech Section?! What's up with all this UFO bullshit that doesn't have any science to back it up except for evidence of lunacy!
4 - Robert M. Barga
actually, that is where you are wrong. It can happen once, twice, or a million times. However, there is a chance that it will never happen
(the odds of something happening 1/11 is always 1/11, even if it is the 200th time)
5 - zingzing
in infinity, it has to happen. somewhere in infinity, i'm giving you a lap dance and you've got a bullfrog's head, but i think it's a damn good look on you. i am also reading a book on jellyfish as the source of all the water in the world. and the twins just won the world series (which happens a week or two early in this corner of infinity).
6 - jwrock
After reading this rambling sequence of questionable anecdotes and carefree speculation I can see why the author would have an animus toward Ayn Rand--one who insisted on evidence, logic and reason. Why is this article in the Sci/Tech section?
7 - John Lake
Gentlemen -
You may join me if you like in petitioning for a few new sections for which we may
write. I particullarly like "Humor" as a section selection.
I intended to expand on Ayn Rand; something to the effect that the most noted existentialist might say, "Eschew mediocracy, aim for the stars" or words to that effect. Anyway the fine and talented editor beat me to the blog.
Now do you think I could sit here with a great Pic of a monkey at a typewriter, and not use it?
8 - Robert M. Barga
@5
no, it doesn't have to. We can say that there is no way something can happen (such as, getting to absolute zero has an R value of 0) but we can never say that R=1 (has to happen).
There can be situations where something happens infinite times (say a coin flip) yet only one result keeps happening (say heads).
9 - John Lake
The mind boggles.