Your tax dollars at work
I don't know what's sadder. That there's a government flunky somewhere with the leisure to answer such things (rather than throwing them in the waste basket), or that the flunky working in the science and technology policy office doesn't seem to know SETI uses radio telescopes.
He confirmed that the government didn't have a problem with the alien stories and even encouraged the disinformation it created.
Quote: Scotty71Yeah, but when we find them- those green goblins will need a starbucks and McD's on every spaceship.
That's only slightly more realistic than Obama's latest jobs plan. :)
Quote: NareedThe White House Office of Science and Technology Policy posted this statement in response to petitions to acknowledge communications with extraterrestrials.
I don't know what's sadder. That there's a government flunky somewhere with the leisure to answer such things (rather than throwing them in the waste basket), or that the flunky working in the science and technology policy office doesn't seem to know SETI uses radio telescopes.
Did you notice out of say 150MM non brain dead citizens less than 20,000 have signed the petitions. Talk about squeaky wheels getting some grease, they must have swing vote potential!
Quote: rxwineYou mean optical vs radio telescope? Nobody says optical either. Or am I missing something?
Commonly telescope means optical telescope. Other types of telescopes have their peculiar spectral band identified, be it a radio telescope, an infrared telescope, an X-ray telescope, etc.
"Your tax dollars at work". The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right of its citizens to petition their government. Petitions, no matter how silly, require a response. This was probably the least expensive way to address the grievances contained within this particular petition. I think my tax dollars are working just fine, thank you very much!Quote: NareedThe White House Office of Science and Technology Policy posted this statement in response to petitions to acknowledge communications with extraterrestrials.
I don't know what's sadder. That there's a government flunky somewhere with the leisure to answer such things (rather than throwing them in the waste basket), or that the flunky working in the science and technology policy office doesn't seem to know SETI uses radio telescopes.
Quote: Nareedthe flunky working in the science and technology policy office doesn't seem to know SETI uses radio telescopes.
Huh?
giant ear on behalf of the human race, pointing an array of ground-based telescopes towards space
Quote: weaselmanHuh?
giant ear on behalf of the human race, pointing an array of ground-based telescopes towards space
Ok, don't you think it's sad a flunky thus highly palced doesn't know radio telescopes do not receive sound?
Next we'll be hearing about the need to develop radium-free radio, I guess ;)
It's a mistake to interpret that statement as "the government is listening for sound waves coming from outer space". There's no controversy here.
These are not the inept government employees you're looking for. Move along.
Quote: MathExtremist"pointing an array of ground-based telescopes towards space to listen for any signal from another world."
What do you see with your ear?
Quote: NareedWhat do you see with your ear?
"I will listen to see if it's a knocking sound coming from the engine."
It's not that uncommon to hear or see, "hear" or "see" together like that, you see.
Er, colloquial, I guess.
Ears of course collect compressions and rarifications in sound waves. It's valid to say that the telescopes are listening but more accurate to say that they are looking.
Quote: boymimbo
Ears of course collect compressions and rarifications in sound waves. It's valid to say that the telescopes are listening but more accurate to say that they are looking.
They are "looking" for radio waves, that we, humans are used to "listening" to (via the radio). Thus, the analogy with ears.
Don't overthink it, it's just an analogy.
Quote: weaselmanThey are "looking" for radio waves, that we, humans are used to "listening" to (via the radio). Thus, the analogy with ears.
Don't overthink it, it's just an analogy.
Yes, but it's a flawed analogy. "Radio" waves fo the kind used in acoustical broadcast media are a subset of a part of the EM spectrum. The same subset can be used to transmit all other kinds of information, like TV signals, Wi-Fi, etc.
Oh, well. You try to make a little joke about UFO watchers and incompetent byreaucrats, and this is what you get <sigh>
