[net.space] Intelligent life is not present on Earth

davidl@orca.UUCP (David Levine) (08/11/83)

Heard last night on the TV (channel 12 in Portland, OR) in reference to the
recent discovery by the IRAS satellite of what is very likely a solar system in
the process of forming around Vega:
	
	"Astrologists (sic) have known about the star Veega (sic) for 
	thousands of years...  ... discovered by the satellite IRIS (sic) ...
	If this is true, astronomers will have to re-write their textbooks."

The film reporter consistently pronounced the name of the star with a long E
and referred to the discovering satellite as IRIS.  Once the film piece was
over, the local anchorpersons went on to say that what with Star Trek and all 
it was a wonder they hadn't discovered this before...  If this is the sort of
stuff we're broadcasting to the stars, no wonder they haven't replied!

  -- David D. Levine   (...decvax!tektronix!tekecs!davidl)      [UUCP]
                       (...tekecs!davidl.tektronix@rand-relay)  [ARPA]

(We must drive ignorance about science from the four corners of the Earth!)