Wow, Seriously?

So I'm sitting in the acupuncturist's office waiting for James to get done with his treatment and reading a copy of Travel and Leisure to make the time go by.  A small blurb caught my eye saying something along the lines of how the UN had just appointed a space ambassador in case we should have any aliens land and want to communicate.

Really?  I checked the date, the issue wasn't for April 1st.  Naturally I had to verify when I got home.  Here it is folks:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8025832/UN-to-appoint-space-ambassador-to-greet-alien-visitors.html

And here's the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs website:
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/index.html

Now, primarily this office deals with the peaceful uses of outer space.  No arms races allowed, where you can and can't put your XM Radio satellite; that sort of thing.  They're also highly interested in weather monitoring to prevent disaster and famine as well as helping third world countries have higher scientific development.

Third world?  So this branch of the UN is pushing for countries like Nigeria whose greatest accomplishment thus far (aside from years of war and self-brutalization) is the e-mail scam?  Fascinating.  I don't know about you, but putting any sort of high technology into the hands of people who barely have the capability within their own country of getting an elementary education is NOT a good idea.  Putting the cart before the horse, isn't it?

I mean really, Nigeria?  I had an acquaintance recently get her apartment broken into just before Christmas by two Nigerians living in the same complex.  They'd been waiting for people to go to work, breaking in (they broke her door in half) and making off with everything they could.  She caught them just as they were jumping the balcony to get away.  Apparently, the thieves' apartment had been completely empty when they moved in and they'd been furnishing it with their neighbors' stuff.  Most of hers had already been pawned by the time the cops caught them.

I have known a few folks from the aforementioned country that were genuinely honest, intelligent, and hard working .  Unfortunately this seems to be the exception rather than the rule.  And I'm sure they cringe every time they hear another story about their country compatriots pulling another nasty trick on humanity.

You know, it's times like this I think I'd rather have the aliens.