Posthuman Blues

NASA deluged by civilians' Mars 'discoveries'

"While NASA scientists pore over the latest Red Planet images for shreds of evidence that it might have supported algae or pond scum, thousands of earnest civilians are scanning the same pictures and pointing out all sorts of things the professionals missed or haven't acknowledged."

Hold it right there. What's this about NASA poring over images for evidence of life? The writer of this article is misinformed. No one from JPL has claimed that the rovers are looking for signs of macroscopic life. JPL recites the usual cryptic allusions to the "search for life," yes. But when pressed on specifics, JPL scientists readily admit that looking for lifeforms -- extinct or otherwise -- is not part of the plan.

The rest of the article is a parade of wanton cliches. The writer selects George Filer, a one-man clearing-house for anything strange or potentially "ufological," as a typical anomaly hunter. I have no bone to pick with Filer, but I'm unaware of any research emanating from his so-called "Institute." Why didn't they pick, say, Efrain Palermo or Lan Fleming?

Of course, I know exactly why. But I want to hear you say it for me.