>Unfortunately Dr Shuch, the SETI Institutes definition
>of the Drake Equation is not self-consistent!
Although you're well aware of this, Al, some of the members of this open
List are not, so let me state:
The SETI League, Inc. is not affiliated with the SETI Institute in any
way. We do not speak for them (and I hope, they will not attempt to speak
for us.)
>Perhaps we should contact someone at the SETI Institute
>(Seth Shostak?) ...
Seth is personable and knowledgeable, and would certainly have an opinion
on the question at hand. OTOH, he is also a rather busy man, who may not
have the time or energy to enter into a debate with non-professionals. He
is, after all, *not* a member of this list. I would respectfully suggest
that the question might more appropriately be addressed to my conterpart,
SETI Institute executive director Tom Pierson, who happens also to be a
SETI League member (and can thus be considered sympathetic to amateur
SETIzens).
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H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D. Executive Director, The SETI League, Inc.
433 Liberty Street, PO Box 555, Little Ferry NJ 07643 USA
voice (201) 641-1770; fax (201) 641-1771; URL http://www.setileague.org/
email work: n6tx@setileague.org; home: drseti@usa.net
"We Know We're Not Alone!"