Move Over SETI

Personal ads for aliens: One of the world's biggest online communities has put in the high bid for an out-of-this-world radio transmission — and plans to open up the line for its millions of members to transmit messages to outer space.

"We wanted to be the first to offer free job postings, apartment listings, personals and other classifieds to the extraterrestrial community," Newmark joked in today's news release. "We believe there could be an infinite market opportunity."

The hook for the transmission is that aliens far from Earth just might be able to intercept and decode the signals someday. Seth Shostak, an astronomer at the SETI Institute who is heavily engaged in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is doubtful about that claim. His studies indicate that regular TV transmissions could conceivably be picked up from planets around nearby stars, but even then, they probably could not be deciphered. Also, it's highly unlikely that a relatively brief transmission like the one Deep Space is offering would stand out amid Earth's continuous broadcast babble.

"We know that SETI is working on securing a good list of contacts, but we didn't feel right about waiting any longer," Buckmaster said in the news release. "Why not just put the service out there, doesn't have to be perfect at first, and let folks respond with feedback on how we can make it better?"

www.msnbc.msn.com...

So, if you wanna get rid of your timeshare to ET, you better get on it!

Is this for real!?! Thats just crazy.

Can I sell my deed to some Martian land for some airtime???

The sad thing is there are many people that will actually buy into this and be taken for their cash. I could do the same thing with a simple walkie talkie. Sheesh!

Boy that Seth Shoshak is doubtful of just about anything that does not include his work and what he is trying to do. That guy really makes me want to puke sometimes.

mpeake,

Your thread may have some merit to the truth.