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Actually, Ward and Brownlee do make estimates as to how many solar systems there are in the known universe based on current projections of galaxies and known (discovered) solar systems. They do not look at particular planets and say that life does not exist on planet A, B, or C. Instead, they discuss all the conditions necessary for the Earth to sustain life and show that repeating Earth's environment (or even something close) is difficult. Earth's evolution for instance proceeded in the way that it did due to millions of factors (climate, planet changing events such as meteors, volcanoes,... etc.)

So, you are right... we cannot say for sure life does not exist on a particular planet without knowing that a planet exists. However, based and what we know about life-sustaining systems (such as Earth) and current percentage of know solar systems, we can estimate the number and probability that planets that meet the correct criteria for life can actually have life, intelligent life, and sustain it.

Anyway, check out my original link to Rare Earth book, pick a used copy somewhere (I believe Alldirect.com and Walmart have the best prices on the book new or used) and check out Ward and Brownlee's arguments for yourself. I am not doing the book any justice with my quick capsule review. Check it out for yourself if you are interested in E.T. arguments and speculation.

AllDirect has the same book for $18.57, with no patent-supporting nastiness.

Now, if album-length CD's were priced at US$11 per disc, then the incentive for consumers for buy the disc goes way up and the incentive to pirate music goes way down.

Perhaps, you have never heard of Alldirect.com???

Most CDs are under $12, and then have many under $10. The site is legitimate, they don't rip you off. I have found that they will cancel an item in your order without warning you (if it is out-of-stock), but they don't charge you for it either. All in all, the best deal for CDs I have found anywhere (for new CDs at least).

And alldirect.com has it for $13.80

Let's face it: what was the last musician/group you were driven to purchase their CD?

Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. I get pretty good prices from AllDirect - it was around 10 bucks.

Oh, I ordered it about 24 hours after downloading the whole album on eDonkey, because a friend who lives out of state mentioned that I should check it out. And I also ordered their entire back catalog, another five CDs. Correlation isn't causality, but let's not get carried away here.

Enjoy.

• AllDirect.Com = $13.80

• fatbrain.com {.}
• bookpool.com
• alldirect.com
• kingbooks.com
• borders.com

And of course, it's always best to do a search for the cheapest price at places like pricescan.com