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ET helps pay NASA’s bills?

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Evolution News and Views

Surest proof to date of ET’s existence, that.

At Evolution News & Views, journalist Tom Bethell offers thoughts on why “organized science” longs for ET (dunno that the feeling was ever returned):

Let’s call the offended party Organized Science, in contrast to the oft-criticized Organized Religion. Organized Science longs to find extraterrestrial life. Why so? There are various answers, but the mundane one is indeed funding.

NASA is eager to find extraterrestrial life somewhere because that will increase the agency’s popularity with Congressional committees. Recently, there has been brave talk of privately funded expeditions — and long may those billionaires retain their optimism. But until they buy space capsules and launch them, I’ll remain skeptical.

Congress, meanwhile, is far more likely to fund extraterrestrial sorties to known outposts of life than to barren rocks. The search for taxpayer support is never far from the minds of those who live at the intersection of science and public policy.

Expeditions to planets outside the solar system are not even remotely plausible, thank goodness. Otherwise committees on Capitol Hill might be tempted to plunge us even further into debt. (On the other hand, Science magazine would cheer on such a development. It treats the government funding of science as its #1 issue.)

Another motivation is not at all mundane…

And thereby hangs a tail. More.

Comments
In the following video is a humorous 'coincidence':
SETI - Search For Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence receives message from God,,,,, Almost - video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4007753
Somewhat along that line is this new Novel that just came out:
Mitch Albom on 'The First Phone Call from Heaven' - video http://video.foxnews.com/v/2844292078001/mitch-albom-on-the-first-phone-call-from-heaven/ The First Phone Call from Heaven: A Novel http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Phone-Call-Heaven/dp/0062294377 The First Phone Call from Heaven tells the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out. An allegory about the power of belief—and a page-turner that will touch your soul—Albom's masterful storytelling has never been so moving and unexpected.
Verse, Quote and Music:
Isaiah 45:18-19 For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘seek me in vain’; I, the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” “When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is for me alone.' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well George, that's more nearly your size.' And he told me.” George Washington Carver Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon Rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQNirj6lbGY
bornagain77
December 14, 2013
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