Aliens. 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton. I remember watching this movie in 1990 as a boy. I found the action scenes exciting. The alien scenes were out rightly scary. Here is the trailer from the movie.
Aliens fascinate us. Endlessly so. It may be a normal reaction to something we perceive to be different or fear or plain curiosity. Whatever is the reason we are fascinated by Aliens.
Aliens.
Alien (law), a non-citizen inhabitant of a country.
Extraterrestrial life, defined as life that does not originate from Earth
List of alleged alien beings (ufology).
In the many senses in which the word is used, we are all aliens outside our natural habitats.
The law always striving to regulate human conduct comes to terms with the word 'Alien' mainly in the regulation of non citizens (though not necessarily as Extraterrestrials.) In the US Civil Procedure there exists Alienage Jurisdiction under 28 USC 1332(a)(2)-(3). There is also a copious reference to Aliens in the immigration laws of many sovereign states. In the US for example there is a 1798 Alien Enemies Act (An act regarding alien enemies) (Not sure if this law is still extant though.)
Regulations involving Alien in the introduced species sense also features in Natural Resources Law. For example the Wildlife Act’s Controlled Alien Species Regulation of British Columbia Canada controls the possession, breeding, shipping and releasing of alien animals (i.e. that are not native to B.C.) that pose a risk to the health or safety of people.
But the sense in which it stokes our eternal fancy is-Aliens as 'Extraterrestrials.'
A little less than a year ago NASA confirmed that Aliens are amongst us as the video below shows.
Yet people still doubt. I know because I am one of the doubting Thomas(es).
Even in 2011, mass sightings have been alleged.
What is it that stokes our enduring fascination with Aliens? Proof of extraterrestrial life? Surely it must be this. Humanity even within the corridors of science believes in an afterlife. But that form of life is a condition subsequent to death. The fascination with Aliens stems from a need or at least a curiosity to confirm if there is contemporaneous existence at this point in time of a concurrently occurring life form operating within the realm of intelligence attributable to man or even higher.
Do they exist? You be the judge. I have my doubts.
But if they do exist then it really is a BIG DEAL.
They could (possibly, in fact most definitely) change the way human civilization unfurls.
Think about it.
For one lawyers of my ilk has to start doing some futuristic thinking of how to regulate Alien (extraterrestrials) conduct. Their existence will raise many pertinent posers. For instance how should immigration laws react to them? Should they be allowed to buy a ticket and board a plane and sit in economy class? Should they be allowed to go on cruises? To trade? To love? To date? To reproduce their kind and (unkind in the case of cross dating)? Will denying them the protection of the law result in a breach of their 'Alien' rights? (some refer to human-like aliens as humanoids. Humanoid rights. Alien rights. The nomenclature matters little.) Should we wage war against them or embrace them? What role would religion play in all this?
The list is endless. You can spin the scenarios as you flow with the thought.
So why am I all gung ho on Aliens? Thought this blog was an aviation and shipping or sea related blog?
Anyway don't fret too much. I may be sounding like someone with a high fever. But here is what started my thoughts off in a tangent. Yeah you guessed right it has to do with the sea.
It's this video below about Aliens of the sea.
Some of the creatures look scary. But unlike the extraterrestrials that I still doubt exists, these ones actually do exist.
If you doubt it, you can (subject to my disclaimer stated herewith that I did not send you on that errand) take a dive to the depth of the sea. They live there.
Or you could just take my word for it and enjoy the vid!
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