LPH™

I concur! - Jill, Superhero Librarian

Nothing at all- they are so cute and they make people happy. People need more happy right now. (BTW- there's a mention of the puppy cam in Entertainment Weekly this week- the mainstream has finally discovered this.) - Abby Martin

if this isnt political I dont know what is, it seems the truth is slowly coming out. - Kyle Weller

crap linked to digg, here is a direct link http://current.com/items/89149... - Kyle Weller

I really think this deserves some exposure, I want to learn the truth in my lifetime dont u? - Kyle Weller

The subject is much too strange and alarming for most people to handle. - Sean McBride

Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer blogged about this some months ago. "Apollo astronauts were heroes. That is very clear to me and should be to everyone; they took an incredible risk to explore and further the knowledge of mankind. However, that does not give them a "get out of reality free" card." | http://is.gd/15Mx - Donna Mugavero

Mitchell's story is supported by many other high-level government, military and scientific leaders. That doesn't make the story true, but all the similar reports from reputable people give one pause. - Sean McBride

Also: "Mitchell says that a teenage remote healer who lives in Vancouver and uses the pseudonym Adam Dreamhealer, helped him heal of kidney cancer at a distance." (Wikipedia: http://tinyurl.com/6q4ane ) - Mark Czerniec

That story doesn't help Mitchell's credibility. But then you have to deal with thousands of eyewitness and radar reports from high-level government, military, intelligence and police officials which tend to support the theory that we are being visited by ETs. See {.book; Richard Dolan; UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Coverup, 1941-1973; 2002; Hampton Roads Publishing http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Nat... - Sean McBride

Obama's Transition Chief John Podesta talks of the need for disclosure of the UFO phenomena, and says the american people are ready to know the truth. And exposing the truth about UFO's is the law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... - Kyle Weller

Podesta is one of hundreds of high-level government officials who are calling for full disclosure. These are serious people -- they are not conspiracy nuts. - Sean McBride

Throughout history, transformative knowledge has been controlled by the power holders. From early libraries and scientific knowledge (think about all the people who were put to death for believing the world wasn't flat, etc). The reasons for covering up the UFO program are logical - given the military, political and social implications of the disclosure. It's time to draw a distinction between scientific evidence and facts and tinfoil narratives of nocturnal probes and etc ;) - V for Veselka

Let's be real here. If humans are the most intelligent species in the universe, we are undeniably screwed. - ::Kristen::

What I find far more interesting is the fact that organised religions are given so much social and political power without proof of the existance of various Gods and dieties and yet we treat some scientific "theories" as crackpot and crazy ... - V for Veselka

Kristen, the flip side of that argument is, then why would other intelligent species ever even want to come visit here? :) - Victor Ganata

Victor -- why are we as a species working so hard to peer into the most remote corners of the universe? Imagine species scattered around the universe that are more technologically advanced than we are by thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. - Sean McBride

For food. - Robert Haas

We closely study butterflies, but we don't eat them. In fact, we are trying to protect the existence of many species. - Sean McBride

Victor, the same reason we visit ancient lands that are in ruin. Site seeing, tourism,... maybe we are just another monkey stop in their zoo. ;) - LPH™

It is reasonable to assume that life forms that are more advanced than we are on the technology curve are trying to map out every nook, cranny and detail of the universe. They are probably intensely interested in any planet in the universe that supports life. - Sean McBride

Sean: We are one of the most violent and harmful species on this planet. I'm surprised we didn't extinguish ourselves sooner. Are there more intelligent life forms in the universe? I think so. And I think in the great creature canteen of diversity, we're likely a great curiosity. - V for Veselka

V - if there are more advanced species out there (and I presume there are, perhaps millions or billions of them), that means they have escaped the pitfall of using advanced technology to destroy themselves. Perhaps they would have something to teach us. - Sean McBride

@sean, or they might abuse us, the way we abuse all life we feel is inferior to us, which is an idea i've worked on for a book to try to show people what it'd look like if something bigger than us came and started treating us the way we treat animals :) - Patricia

Patricia - I've been thinking about that same issue for the last year or two. Our abuse of "lower" life forms leaves us wide open to abuse by "higher" life forms. It's a scary thought. The question of animal rights may have implications that extend to the entire cosmos. - Sean McBride

I don't accept food chain logic as a measure of a species dominance. And here's why. Many of the largest animal predators currently face extinction. I believe we are among those species and that our adaptative behaviours, though sophisticated, are in decline due toxins in our environment that we cannot control(the pseudo-hormones in plastics that have done damage to male reproductive and developmental growth since the 1970s). There are some consequences of our "civilisation" that are currently irreversable. - V for Veselka

Technology chain logic makes sense to me. More advanced technological species and civilizations tend to dominate (and often destroy) less advanced technological species and civilizations. And advanced technological species and civilizations probably destroy themselves on a regular basis throughout the universe for a wide variety of reasons, most of which revolve around unintended and unforeseen consequences of technological innovations. - Sean McBride

"Behind the scenes, high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense." Admiral Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter (May 8, 1897 - June 18, 1982) First Director of the CIA, in a letter to Congress-1960. - Sean McBride

Most people I have met and known believe or want to believe they exist, their beliefs are so strong that most people say "I know aliens exist" I really dont think the truth of this would be tragic to the world, it probably would challenge the world in more space exploration. I really dont think their would be a panic, I think if someone like obama explained the existance of Aliens/UFO's he would do it in such a way that wouldnt cause chaos. - Kyle Weller

I wonder if aliens exist deep in our oceans or anything like that, maybe they live here which could cause a panic. I really think if the aliens were hostile we would be dead already. - Kyle Weller

The probability that intelligent life exists somewhere else in our galaxy could be anywhere from almost nil to completely certain. And even then, there's a chance that they're not yet as advanced as we are, but more likely they're way beyond our comprehension. I'm still not convinced that Earth is any sort of ultimate tourist destination. It's like the galactic version of Appalachia. - Victor Ganata

ya,rigidly and painstakingly gone! - Shine

you're off the standard deviation. - anna awesomesauce

A pocket Moleskine - Kevin Devin

I'm trying vitalist - we'll see what happens - LPH™

Post it notes (recyclable) ... consolidated once a week :) - Charlie Anzman

in bind I use apple's calendar - anna awesomesauce

a good old fashioned notebook. i buy them from barnes and noble so they're a little more special. some of my greatest achievements in life and work are chronicled in these! - Patricia

I have to agree about the notebook. It also keeps you away from the computer, which is a big time sink. - Jason Huebel

@LPH to get things done I prefer a pocket sized moleskine and a g2 pro pen. Seem to use one a year... http://freelanceswitch.com/pro... - "Czar" DJ Peterman

RememberTheMilk and the gmail widget is awesome - jerobins

Google notebook or Evernote - Tim Hoeck

I use Vitalist - Michael Hocter

OmniFocus, my iPod Touch, and Field Notes notebooks. - Cecily

1) Collect technology. 2) .... 3) Profit. - MiɳiMagɘ (Sexy Scimitar)

A text file or paper, whichever is handiest at the time. If it lives too long for the paper/text then it goes into a special TODO list Word doc (could use Google docs) that is nicely organized by project and range of due dates. I've yet to find something that works as well as that combo. Not all projects fit into the little molds provided in software systems, plus you have trouble taking the software with you. I used to take a full sheet of paper and put a day on every line w/ the agenda for that day. - xero

Paper or Internet survey? - xero

Paper - - LPH™

What was the survey about? - Morton Fox

Dissertation title is "Beginning science teachers' perceptions of administrator support" - Several teachers are concerned their opinions will be given to admins. - LPH™

You should include a video of you describing the project, assuring the anonymity of it, and include a written privacy policy. Perhaps "Perceptions of Administrator Support from Beginning Science Teachers". Just suggestions. - xero

now thats shes down you should totally kick her. Tell her the truth about jesus, the easter bunny, and that she'll most likely never be a movie star. All joking aside though, I think it says something about the maturation of American Children, and Media that the defining moment is often when we realize that these fictional characters we hold onto our not real. - Anthony

Jesse. I often play Santa around Xmas for certain clubs my family is involved in. That sucks man. This happened to a family friend of mine. She is the oldest in the group by about 3 years (9). About 2 years ago, some how she overheard her mum talking about how I was getting dressed next door and everything clicked. After I finished playing Santa, she came up and said she knew it was me. I told her the reason we do it is for the little kids and she kinda got it. Now every year I have a great helper elf :) - Johnny Worthington

John yeah, it was a similar situation here - she was helping out her Mom at a party she was throwing, and the ladies started talking about Santa without realizing my daughter was in the room. Everything clicked and she figured it all out. It's good she know now though - her friends will start making fun of her if we wait too much longer. It's tough watching them grow up. - Jesse Stay via twhirl

My son never believed in Santa or any of that stuff. - ♫ Rahsheen™

Santa Claus isn't real?? WHAT? I'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT! *runs awaying sobbing* - Mark Wilson

What? There is no Santa Clause? No no no. Santa Claus lives. You adults are just sucked up into someone's strange view of the world and can't see this Saint lives in all of us. - LPH™

That sucks. - Chris W

you're daughter needs to learn to be sneaky... you don't let your parents know that until January... this ensures optimal presents ;) - Sean Reiser

My parents always told me that Santa keeps coming till you quit believing. I'm still believing and I'm nearly 40! :p - Tad, Fool

It was a killer for me when I found out. My parents helped me through it by letting me know that they would always be my Santa, so therefore Santa would always be real. - JC unwired

As far as i remember, it was the other kids in kindergarten, who broke the news. They've been playing the smarter ones. They looked cooler and more mature, so no one was crying over Santa's non-existence. - Tibor Holoda

:( - Josh Haley

that is horrible that she believes such lies - RAPatton

You're wrong! Sarah Palin can see Santa's house from here! - Mark VandenBerg

And Africa is a country ;-) - Jesse Stay via twhirl

Here's how to get around it. Santa (Father Christmas) really does exist, because you can book a flight to visit him. The slant I take is that although he doesn't have magic powers, he's still there, and they can still write him a letter, but obviously he wouldn't be able to visit everyone in one night. He is very grateful for all the help he gets from mums and dads to make Christmas special. - VickyPearce

I am with Mark, this is news to me, so who delivers all the presents? - Joe Dawson (beta)

I must be an asshole, I don't get presents. Damn you, Santa! - Enrique Gutierrez via twhirl

what are you talking about? - Cathleen Rittereiser

Okay Jesse I actually heard Palin saying the Africa thing in my head when I read that. 28 years of therapy down the drain... - Mark VandenBerg

It's one thing I like about Robert Scoble and a few others, even with busy lives, and thousands of followers, they still find the time to comment and comment back. Well done. - Mo Kargas

*crickets* HA HA HA HA HA HA. OK, sorry. :| - Josh Haley

Word. - ♫ Rahsheen™

Soooooo ... I should hide this, then? :D - Steven Perez

Totally responding with useful stuff! - Bec Rowe

If you wish, Comrade! *salutes smartly* - Mo Kargas

Everyone now feels obligated to reply to this post to prove they're part of the community ;) - Cains

Rofl :D Cains haz discoverd mah evil plan! - Mo Kargas

Well, you're not subscribed to me so I'm not going to repl... doh! - Morton Fox

LOL @ obligation to contribute to the thread. And Mo - I didn't realize I wasn't subscribed to you! I'd been reading you so long as a friend-of-a-friend! Sorry! - Ladybug Heather

Ohh that's ok Heather lol, it just occured to me that I wasn't subscribed to you and Morton. I wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for FF's little blue/grey comment icons - Mo Kargas

Wasn't that kind of megaphoned. ;-) I am hot and cold with FF. Sometimes I power participate, and when I don't, I forget that my stuff is feeding into it. :-/ - Jennifer Leggio

agreed, but not too loudly :-) - Duncan Riley

I am here quite a lot, and I think I participate quite a lot, but one can't always be here of course. I do try to respond when folks ask me something or respond to me, but I probably miss a few along the way. - Ian May

Mo, right on! This is a community not a soapbox. - Mark Wilson

+++Mo - Monique

Oh, oh! I was on the way to the gym so I couldn't reply to your last comment on my feed! I'm sorry! But I did go to the gym so does that get me a little bit of leeway? :D Hi, Mo!! - pea gives ♥ a bad name

You're soooo off the island Pea :D J/K <3 - Mo Kargas

In terms of my portion of the conversation, I prefer to listen :) - LPH™

Mo, I don't find that funny AT.ALL. *ahem* :D hee. <3 - pea gives ♥ a bad name

Anyway, none of you guys do that. A lot of so-called 'A listers' do (again not all), and I don't follow them anyway, anymore. - Mo Kargas

Yah, I feel you Mo. Anyone that is bothering to respond/like this is probably not on "the list" LOL - ♫ Rahsheen™

hey I'm still here, I've been in the US Politics room for the last few weeks. - Ruth Ferguson

'Sup - Mark VandenBerg

Good one. I guess not many people realise it and it was good that you point it out. I can understand what Scoble comes from now. Conversation is everything! - Suhit Anantula

Seems awful shortsighted - some people are are good conversation starters, some are good commenters, some are both. Why exclude any of them? - Brian Sullivan

i get more responses to my comments than what i post, so ff works (or my feed sucks) - Joelle Nebbe

if you speak .. I will listen ,,, - johnpiercy

very well written - Enigma

easy to miss things in the growing volume of comments, though - Joelle Nebbe

Agreed, just with FriendFeed made it easier to track all your conversations, kind of like a FF "inbox". - Mike Reynolds

I agree and try to respond when I have something valueable to say, but I am on the quiet side. Hubby hates that I don't talk as much as he does. Need to get him on here. - Denise via twhirl

participation is important...but it's OK w/me when people promote their own stuff - same goes for twitter, greader, etc - it helps me not miss anything when it comes in via mult channels :) - Sarah Perez

@Brian I don't think most FFers are like this, I also understand if you're a new FFer your feed may look like a billboard. What I'm against is, for example, if your subscribers are constantly commenting on your feed, and you never, ever, reply back to them, never participate in the conversation. - Mo Kargas

Thing is, America's Credit Economy teaches you differently... Wish it were an option to just let all the subprime lenders fail. - Jason Huebel

Umm, that's not true...you CAN afford a $350k home with a $75k household income if you have enough down. - Alex Scoble CISSP

And yet somehow Southern California has not yet been depopulated… - Victor Ganata

its a bit misleading. $200/mo for health insurance? $133/gas? $780 in IRA/savings? buying a house is a much better investment than an IRA. also, this doesn't take into account tax savings due to mortgage payments. the truth is with these numbers you can well-afford the house if you don't mind offsetting short-term cash savings. - Jeremy Toeman

Jeremy provides the thinking, the house becomes the savings. Yet this is not wise in a declining housing market. - LPH™

When I got out of college way back when, I bought a $106K condo 10% down, 8.5% interest loan, on a $29K/yr salary and had no problem affording it. The salary to home cost ratio between the above example and my example are almost identical. - Jeff P. Henderson