Jodie Foster helps keep search for aliens alive

[AsahinaKimi]

LOS ANGELES —

“Contact” star Jodie Foster was among donors helping to revive the 42 radio telescope dishes at a key California institute searching for extraterrestrial life, the group said Tuesday.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in California, which got a direct hit from federal and California budget cuts, had to halt operations in April for its telescopes pointed toward outer space.

But after a public campaign launched on its website, SETI said it had received $223,000—exceeding its $200,000 goal—from 2,557 donors, Foster among them.

The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is “‘good to go’ and we need to return it to the task of searching newly discovered planetary worlds for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence,” she said.

more...
http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/jodie-foster-helps-keep-search-for-aliens-alive

[CoffeeCat]

1. CONTACT is my all-time favorite movie..

...for a multitude of reasons. There is so much wisdom and commentary on human behavior--I'm blown away every
time I watch it.

Jodie Foster is truly living out the brave and adventurous spirit of Ellie Arroway!

[Broderick]

5. I really enjoy that movie too

[provis99]

7. what I liked about Contact

was the movie pointing out that the search for extraterrestrials was as goofy and nonsensical as searching for god.

SETI is woo.

[Whisp]

14. haha.

I would say its woo to think us pathetic creatures are the apex of intelligence in the entire universe.

but you go ahead and feel almight and godly and oh so special.

:D

[Marr]

16. You think so?

It seems to me like a long shot, but our best shot. Surely worth a bit of a equipment and the paltry sum it takes to maintain the project.

[CoffeeCat]

17. The movie did not "point out"...

..."that the search for extraterrestrials was...goofy and nonsensical..."

If that was your takeaway from the film--have at it. However, Contact suggested no such thing.

In fact, Carl Sagan, who wrote the book, believes that it is highly possible that life beyond our planet does indeed
exist. In fact, the whole, "...If we're the only ones here, it seems like an awful waste of space" quote was said
a few times during the film. Those are Sagan's beliefs.

Again--fine if that's what you got from it--but that was not what Sagan believed and it certainly wasn't "pointed out".

[begin_within]

11. I saw it 4 times in its theatrical run

then I bought the VHS tape, then the DVD, but an idiot friend of mine borrowed the DVD and never returned it to me, and I never watched the DVD even once. Still haven't read the book yet though. I guess that will make up for the loss of the DVD.

[VWolf]

12. Fantastic film, BUT

the book is so much better - on a different level even.

[Whisp]

13. it's a great movie and she is just fantastic in it

but I have yet to see her play a role badly, she is wonderful.

[SidDithers]

2. Go Dr. Arroway!...

Great movie, and SETI is a worthwhile place to spend money.

Sid

[undeterred]

3. As likely as searching for intelligence on earth, I suppose.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Cool

I'm happy the ATA was saved.

Thanks for the thread, AsahinaKimi.

[AsahinaKimi]

8. You're welcome Uncle Joe

Yoroshiku ne! ^^

[Uncle Joe]

9. Is this

how "Yoroshiku ne!" is spelled in Japanese?

よろしくね!

[AsahinaKimi]

15. Yes it is! Sore wa tadashii desu.

That is correct! それは正しいです。

[jberryhill]

6. Have they found any on the internet yet?

Arecibo - June 2007

[izquierdista]

10. Just a little to the left....

...and we'll have you fitted for your hat.