A Paper Trail or The Fermi Paradox Resolved? by E. A. Moore

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

I read this one backwards from the end to the beginning. It works that way too, really, and just like a good painting, it's balanced in any position. Very good.

I'm smiling now as I think more about it. You ran a theme I run in my THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY stories.

Thanks, RT

[Lester Curtis]

If we'd known anything about who sent the message, I think the UN's best response would be along the lines of "I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member." (Attribute uncertain; see http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Groucho_Marx)

I'm pretty sure the GLOW bureaucracy includes at least one Department of Redundancy Department.

I noticed that the web address for contacting the UN is the real deal. Nice touch, Mr. Moore. And boy, am I tempted . . .

[TaoPhoenix]

Grand!

And if I weren't risking misdemeanor penalties for spam, it would be a fun message to send!

(Ever notice how TWENTY years later spam is still so dumb? I mean come on, didn't the kiddies who grew up on this stuff in 94 grow to be thirty year old spammers themselves, but with a better pitch?!)

I absolutely loved this!!! It was my favorite piece this month and I wished it could have gone on for several more pages (or documents, as it were).

Stuff like this is intelligent, enigmatic, even voyeuristic (in a way) and great fun to read!!! Reminded me a little of a couple of Umberto Eco's more recent books (in tone, not necessarily the writer's "voice"), which is praise I don't hand out lightly.

I will be telling my friends about this one and looking up some of your other stories. Great work!

[davidsonhero]

Ah, the universality of dysfunctional bureaucracy. Red tape is probably what holds the universe together.

[Wormtongue]

Ah, the universality of dysfunctional bureaucracy. Red tape is probably what holds the universe together.

Nope. That's duct tape!

Don't forget "bailing wire"!

Or as we say down in Texas, "This here thing's held together with duct tape and bailin' wire!"

(Of course, such observations are usually followed by the obligatory turn to the right and prompt expectoration of tobacco juice....)