In this immense universe, there are untold billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, most of which are "main sequence" stars like the sun. What we now know about the formation of stars indicates that a main sequence star like our sun without a planetary system would be unusual indeed. Given that there would most likely be a planet or two orbiting in the "temperate zone" around most of these stars (where water would be in a liquid state), and given what we know about evolution (sorry, creationists), that if life can evolve, it will evolve, statistics alone indicate that there must be an immense number of planets in this galaxy, not to mention all the other galaxies, upon which life of one sort or another exists. Life and evolution being what they are, some species on these life-bearing planets may very well develop intelligence. Some of these species may develop along scientific/technological lines. If they don't kill themselves off in wars (the jury is still out on this this planet), some of them may develop long-range space travel and go in search other intelligent life. And it is conceivable that some of these alien civilizations may have visited, are currently visiting and observing, or will sometime in the future visit this planet.

The contention of many who have seen, or believe they have seen, Unidentified Flying Objects is that UFOs are space ships from one or several of these alien civilizations visiting our planet. This could very well be true. Although I must admit to strong skepticism, given that there is not just the possibility, but the likelihood that civilizations exist on other planets, I find I cannot rationally rule it out.

But it is a gross leap of logic to automatically assume that an Unidentified Flying Object is an alien space ship. The operational word here is "unidentified."

I have seen UFOs. I have seen many UFOs.

Skeptics, bear with me now.

At night, I often see lights in the sky, but I cannot identify exactly what the Flying Object bearing those lights is. But I use my ears as well as my eyes and I make some assumptions. Since the Interstate 5 freeway is not too far from where I live, I can usually hear that the Object as quite probably a traffic helicopter. At least I assume that's what it is. Also, one of the flight-paths to the Seattle-Tacoma International airport passes high over the building in which I live. When lights pass high over the neighborhood and I hear what sounds like a multi-engine jetliner, I also assume that that is what it is. At dusk one evening a few years ago I saw an Object bearing lights following a curved path coming in from the west and turning south onto the Sea-Tac flight path. Other than the lights, I saw it at an odd angle and only in silhouette. It occured to me at the time that what I saw looked for all the world like the Klingon cruiser that Kirk and crew had commandeered and used in Star Trek: The Voyage Home. But since I couldn't see it that clearly and it sounded like a multi-jet airliner, I made a leap of logic and assumed that was what it actually was. Perhaps I jumped to a hasty conclusion. Perhaps I lacked imagination.

[I do sincerely believe, however, that perhaps the government of the state of Texas, and definitely Washington, D. C., have been taken over by surgically altered Ferengi!]

Many flying objects I have seen, I can identify. I know a robin when I see one. And with a park nearby, there a crows everywhere. I spotted what I know to be a Brewer's blackbird out in the Green Lake area, and I once actually saw an American bald eagle circling over downtown Seattle. A bird-watcher friend of mine told me that there is a pair of bald eagles who nest in Discovery Park, and although they usually dine on fish, occasionally they like a change of diet and go downtown to snack on the urban pigeon population.

Can you imagine how startling and amazing it would be to be sitting near the Henry Moore sculpture (sometimes refered to by local wags as "dinosaur droppings") in the open area across Fourth Avenue from the new Seattle Public Library on a warm day, eating your lunch, when a great white-headed raptor swoops in, grabs one of the ubiquitous gray pigeons bobbing about on the sidewalk a few feet from you, and streaks off into the sky with the unfortunate pigeon in its mighty talons?

But I am no ornithologist. I can identify most common species, but as a bird-watcher, I'd make a better plumber. Hence, I see Unidentified Flying Objects every day.

But it is possible that someday when I am moseying through the aforementioned nearby park, a disk-shaped space ship may land near me, and an alien who loves artistic singing may step out, wave its tentacles at me, and say, "Take me to your lieder."

Always endeavoring to be a good host, I will, of course, comply.

Don Firth

(Another slow day at the skunk works.)