-=> Quoting Jack Sargeant to Troy H. Cheek <=-
 > aren't alone in the universe, because odds are that the
 > civilization that sent the signal is long, long gone.
 JS> Have you thought this one out?  Just what to you recon the lifetime of
 JS> a civilization is? How far back does recorded history go? (not
 JS> counting early development stages before we could walk erect.) Without
 JS> looking in an encyclopedia, we can start with the early Sumarian or
 JS> Egyptian eras and say about 10,000 years to date as written records go.
     Hmmm ... here we may be getting into semantics, Jack.  
     Neither the Sumerian nor the early Egyptian civilizations 
(in the context of cultures) exist anymore, however civilization 
(such as it is) still goes on, building on the foundations layed 
by earlier ... er, cultures.  
     Using "civilization" in this context, Troy's comment may 
well be accurate.  Using it the context of an ongoing process, 
that depends on their ability to not destroy themselves - or be 
destroyed by some natural catastrophy.
     Does any of this make sense, or are my meds et al making 
hash of my communications skills as well?
Michael
... I always like the morning well aired before I get up  -bb
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