The Great UFO Debate

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Examining the Evidence win real 'Dartboard' Physics win real Opening Statements win real Opening Statements win real

Date:	07-21-04
Host:	George Noory
Guests:	Seth Shostak, Stanton Friedman

Physicist and investigator Stanton Friedman(1) faced off with astronomer Seth Shostak of SETI(2) in a debate about the nature of UFOs. While both believe that extraterrestrial life exists, Shostak contended that UFO reports from the time of Roswell onwards, do not indicate alien visitations to our planet. Friedman argued that we have been dealing with a kind of "cosmic Watergate" in that the government has been covering up much of the evidence.
Shostak noted that in the last 57 years there is still not one piece of incontrovertible evidence that would prove the extraterrestrial origins of UFOs and he asked Friedman to provide him with details of the single best UFO case. The best evidence is cumulative, Friedman replied, citing numerous physical trace and radar visual cases as well as pilot sightings. Shostak countered that this type of evidence could have other explanations besides the ET hypothesis.
SETI's methods are a kind of "dartboard physics" based on flawed science and false assumptions, Friedman asserted. Shostak replied that when SETI does finally detect an alien signal, "there won't be a debate," about it as it will be scientifically verifiable by independent parties, in contrast to the anecdotal and witness testimony about UFOs. After two-hours, a vote on who won the debate was conducted via Fast Blast, with these results: Stanton Friedman 57%, Seth Shostak 33%, Draw 10%.

1. http://www.v-j-enterprises.com/sfpage.html
2. http://www.seti.org/

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Text and graphic byTim Binnall(1) Stanton Friedman is a vociferous and veteran debater known for his "calling out" of various debunkers including once saying "I will debate the Air Force's best ANY TIME and ANY PLACE." One of his signature lectures is "debunking the debunkers" in which he meticulously dissects the common mainstream explanations for UFOs and debunks them. Not to be underestimated, Seth Shostak has also been in numerous public debates including one on the CBC against Dr. Peter Ward, co-author of Rare Earth(2), as well as, a debate in Washington D.C. against Irven DeVore, Curator of Primatology at Harvard's Peabody Museum of Anthropology. In these debates, Shostak took the stance for the possibility of life outside of Earth. 1. http://www.binnallofamerica.com 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0387952896/ctoc

Bumper Music

Bumper music from Wednesday July 21, 2004

1.	Can't Get It Out Of My Head Electric Light Orchestra	2.	Can't Get it Out of My Head Electric Light Orchestra	3.	Hypnotized Fleetwood Mac
4.	Imagine John Lennon	5.	Imagine Ray Charles & Ruben Studdard	6.	Inca Dance Cusco
7.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder	8.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder	9.	Miracles Jefferson Starship
10.	Porcelain Moby	11.	Protection Massive Attack	12.	Self Control Laura Branigan
13.	Shame on the Moon Bob Seger	14.	Soul to Squeeze Red Hot Chili Peppers	15.	Tusk Fleetwood Mac
16.	Keep on Movin' Soul 2 Soul	17.	Wheel in the Sky Journey	18.	For Tomorrow Blur