Monday, February 04, 2008

The Wonder of It All

I remember a high school science class I took. We were studying radio and television transmissions and the teacher pointed out that a television signal doesn't ever really die, and that way out in space were the remnants of the first television broadcasts.

And of course, he pointed out the remote possibility that some far-off intelligent civilization's first contact with our human race could very well be an episode of "I Love Lucy", which might have explained why there was no contact from any other intelligent life-forms to that point.

But really, that wouldn't be so bad, would it, I mean, when you consider the kind of crap that's floating through the air these days? Imagine ET sitting through an episode of "Jackass" or "Survivor", and then wonder how there hasn't been an interstellar war.

But suppose we had something to say about it. Maybe through the magic of the Internets or something, we could devise a way to selectively provide our best first-impression to some distant civilization, and that task fell to you?

What part of human existence, past or present, would you offer to the Extraterrestrials as our "best foot forward"?

Be careful now, "The Three Stooges" are probably floating past Alpha Centauri as we speak.

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:59 PM

    Hmmm, that's a great quandry, Jimmy...

    First of all, as far as tv, I cannot STAND reality television. Period!

    Of course, one of my favorite shows is Family Guy, so I'm not above reproach.

    I think I would show them clips of Mother Teresa or Audrey Hepburn when they were working with the poor to show them the capacity of the human heart; then I would show them A River Runs Through It so they could see the beauty of this planet, and an authentic human family dynamic; then I would probably show them a couple episodes of Late Night With David Letterman so they could see that we are capable of humor that is intelligent, self-depricating and poignant - all at the same time. :)

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  2. Anonymous10:09 PM

    p.s. I'd also throw a little Mozart out there, and Some Girls by the Rolling Stones. Then I'd call it a day!

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  3. Well, the only shows I watch with any regularity are Glenn Beck, and the Amazing Race.
    I'm not really sure what that says about me, let alone the whole planet.

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  4. Kind of deep thinking here wouldn't you say (winks)....I would want the Animal Channel broadcasted, so they could see the beauty of the world through the gentle creatures who inhabit it....Sad to say I don't think much else gives the impression on the airwaves of a peaceful populance....(Hugs) Indigo

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  5. Anonymous2:07 PM

    Hmmm, maybe the Weather Channel would be safe?! ~ Jill

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  6. Anonymous4:23 PM

    Well...this is interesting to ponder.
    Pam

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  7. Anonymous5:42 PM

    ZOOM...hands down. Hehehe...actually, this is an interesting though to ponder...so many angles. ;) C.

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  8. Anonymous9:13 PM

    I Love Lucy!! True, it's not rocket science, but laughter is medicine, right? I hate all the reality shows... I have enough reality to last a life time!

    Jackie

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  9. I'd send them the Super Bowl commercial of Bill Frist and James Carville, to show that humans can put their differences aside, for a frothy sweet beverage...

    I just can't be serious sometimes, can I? lol Although serious kudos to them for not killing each other in production, that takes a sense of humor I don't possess.

    ~Lily

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  10. Scratch previous comment, Will made a valid point:

    "hey, i havent seen either since then....maybe they murdered each other after filming"

    Hehe lol

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  11. My first thought was "The Ten Commandments" starring Charlton Heston. Growing up, there was no home video, and I always loved it when that movie was aired!

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  12. What about 'The Girls Next Door'? 'Snoop Dogg: Fatherhood'? 'Age of Love with Bret Michaels'? Such quality programming......

    Yeah, right.

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  13. Well since I was just writing about one of our human natures....the movie *Pay it Forward* comes to mind.

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  14. Anonymous3:16 AM

    Just don't send off the Simpsons, or the aliens will think we're all fat and yellow. What am I talking about, I am fat and yellow!
    Gaz ;-)

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  15. Anonymous6:14 AM

    On this thought, I'd love to say that we have music, art and literature that is incredible and that is what I'd like the aliens to see. That is minus Dogs Playing Poker or The Funny Farm, or even any Dr. Suess book. Maybe that might be more acceptable than watching election returns state after state.
    Jude
    http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

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