Are We Alone?

[neufer]

Check out the (Timothy Ferris) cover story in the latest National Geographic (December 2009)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/ ... erris-text

[makc]

exolife is now organic part of modern fiction so noone will be surprized when they will actually find one.

[apodman]

I don't know about Timothy Ferris. He got me in trouble once about 20 years ago. I bought one of his books that, among other things, proposed a network of knowledge gathered at strategic nodes around the galaxy to minimize access time for various civilizations. At the time, my employer had created a fax store-and-forward service before such things were commonplace. The specification for our service was almost identical to Ferris' specification for the galactic network, it was April 1, I made a few substitutions, and I sent the memo. One of several times in my storied career I was rudely reminded that business and the drones who run it often have no sense of humor.

[neufer]

I don't know about Timothy Ferris. He got me in trouble once about 20 years ago. I bought one of his books that, among other things, proposed a network of knowledge gathered at strategic nodes around the galaxy to minimize access time for various civilizations. At the time, my employer had created a fax store-and-forward service before such things were commonplace. The specification for our service was almost identical to Ferris' specification for the galactic network, it was April 1, I made a few substitutions, and I sent the memo. One of several times in my storied career I was rudely reminded that business and the drones who run it often have no sense of humor.

<<In the approach which views the Major Arcana as a journey through life taken by the character of the Fool (the Fool being the first card, or the zero card, of the Major Arcana), the Wheel of Fortune represents the intercession of random chance into the Fool's path. The card represents the forces that can help or hinder the querant suddenly or unpredictably.>>

[apodman]

In the first illustration, ya gotta love the Hand of God (remotely turning the wheel) appearing out of its own little trans-dimensional portal in the upper left. The second illustration pays no respect to the most dangerous card in the deck - trees and butterflies?

[geckzilla]

I'll be greatly surprised if we find definite proof of life on another planet within my lifetime. Not so much that it exists but that we have the ability to detect it!

And apodman, butterflies can be very dangerous. It starts with a flap of its wing in a distant rain forest and results in a tornado on your doorstep.

[neufer]

And apodman, butterflies can be very dangerous.
It starts with a flap of its wing in a distant rain forest and results in a tornado on your doorstep.

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• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Clarice Starling: HESTER MOFET. It's an anagram, isn't it, Doctor?
__ Hester Mofet, "The rest of me". "Miss the rest of me."
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• *HESTER MOFET*
  *FOREST THEME*
  *MOTH FEE REST*

<<In ancient times some believed that putting a gold coin on the eyes upon death, would help pay the toll for the ferry to help cross the Styx river. If some could not pay the fee they were said to haunt those who did not put the coin on their departed bodies eyes.>>
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Roden: [cuts open cocoon] Agent Starling, meet Mr. Acherontia styx.

Pilcher: Weird.

Roden: Better known to his friends as the Death's-head moth.

Roden: [Upon learning where the Death's-Head Moth came from]
You mean this is like a clue from a real murder case? Cool!

Pilcher: [to Clarice] Just ignore him, he's not a PhD.
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Clarice Starling: [to Hannibal Lecter] Your anagrams are showing, Doctor.
___ Louis Friend? Iron sulfide, also known as fool's gold.
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