The Space Alien Explains Economics

Your Editor was going over the Space Alien Gazette financial statements when the Space Alien came whooshing in the door wearing a brand new hat.

The Space Alien Returns from Sweden

"Where have you been," cried Your Editor.  "You've been missing for days, and what is that hat you're wearing?"

"I've been in Sweden," said the Space Alien, "and I had a wonderful time.  The food was great and they put it all out on a table for you to have as much as you want!   They call it 'smorgasbord' and I call it perfect!"  

The Space Alien Enjoys Smorgasbord

"Is that all you did in Sweden?" asked Your Editor.

"Oh no, I met the King.  His name is Carl XIV Gustaf and he very much wanted to give me a Nobel Prize, but could not figure out which category because so many would have been appropriate.  But I got to watch the ceremonies!"

The Space Alien Greets King Carl XIV Gustaf of Sweden

"The Nobel Prize in Economics," continued the Space Alien, "went to Professor Richard Thaler, a Behavioral Economist at the University of Chicago, who explored the interplay between economics and psychology.  It was all very exciting and of course I offered Professor Thaler my warmest congratulations!"

(You, loyal reader, may read more about Richard Thaler's exciting work here:  https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/2017/press.html,)

"Here's my selfie with Professor Thaler at a big party they gave him when he got back to the University of Chicago.  I was his special invited guest!"

The Space Alien is Professor Thaler's Guest at the 
University of Chicago

"Really!" huffed Your Editor.  "I studied at the University of Chicago with another Nobel Laureate in Economics but I was never invited to a special party!"

"Well, don't grumble about it," said the Space Alien.  "Your I.Q. probably isn't as high as mine but I know you got along as best you could!  I'm sure you were a perfectly adequate student."

This did not sit well with Your Editor, but the Space Alien hardly noticed.

"Let me ask you a question," said the Space Alien.  "If we raised the price of the Space Alien Gazette would our Loyal Readers complain?"  

"Of course they would!" answered Your Editor. "I would too!"

"But what if we charged the same price but printed fewer pages.  Would as many complain?"

"Most likely not; I don't think most of our Loyal Readers would even notice!"

"Is that rational?" asked the Space Alien.

"I guess not," answered Your Editor.

The Space Alien continued:

"What if you paid a lot of money to see a show but the weather was terrible, and there were no refunds on tickets.  Would you manage to get there anyway no matter what?"

"Of course!  I paid for it so I'd want to see it no matter how hard it was to get there!"

"What if you had been given free tickets for the same show?"

"Well, then I might stay home!"  

"Is that rational?" asked the Space Alien.

"I guess not," said Your Editor.

"What if it were raining and the umbrella dealer on the corner raised the price of umbrellas that day."

"That would be so unfair!" cried Your Editor.  "I'd be angry and would never want to buy anything from him again!"

"But what if his price was always a few dollars higher but he had special 'sunny day' sales when it wasn't raining?"

"Oh that would be ok," answered Your Editor.  "I'd welcome a chance to buy a nice umbrella at a discount!"

"Is that rational?" asked the Space Alien.

"I guess not," said Your Editor.  "I see what you mean - we make economic choices based on irrational factors, and maybe that 'rational man' we learned about in our economics classes doesn't even exist!"

"Exactly," said the Space Alien, "and Professor Thaler has studied the effects of psychological factors on economic decisions.  But now I must leave because Professor Thaler is waiting for me to work with him on his next book!"

The Space Alien Consults with Nobelist Richard Thaler

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The Space Alien Runs a Marathon

Your Editor walked into the insanely busy editorial office of the Space Alien Gazette and found the Space Alien flipping through a photo album.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

"These are my photographs from Marathon!" said the Space Alien.

"You got them developed so fast!" cried your editor.   How did you do that?

"These are not from the 2017 Chicago Marathon the other day," said the Space Alien. "They are from the real Marathon, the first one, where in 490 B.C. a soldier named Pheidippides ran about 26 miles from a battlefield near a village called Marathon all the way to Athens to let the Athenians know that the Persians had been defeated there."

"You were there?" asked your editor.

Pheidippides runs from Marathon 
to Athens

"Of course," said the Space Alien.  "Pheidippides was so brave, and in such a hurry to get the news to the worried Athenians.  I told him 'Look, Pheidippides, you need to take a little rest -- it's such a hot day!  Sit in the shade for a bit and have a drink of water.  Here, you can share mine!'  but Pheidippides was in such a hurry and wouldn't stop, and the poor fellow died right after he delivered the news!"

"What a sad story," said your editor.

"Some people don't think this is true," said the Space Alien, "but I'm pretty sure it's not fake news, because I was at Marathon with the Athenians.  Pheidippides was a runner for the Athenians delivering all sorts of messages between Sparta, Athens and other places, as well as Marathon."

And here, loyal reader, is more information about that:  https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Legendary-Runner-of-Marathon-Pheidippides

"And you say you were with him when he made that famous run in 490 B.C.?" asked your editor, incredulously.

"Yes," answered the Space Alien.  "But while some of my Marathon photos survived, it was so hot that day that the film melted in my camera when I tried to take a selfie.  So I don't have any pictures of me with Pheidippides.  You'll just have to believe me!"

 As your editor nodded sadly, the Space Alien picked up a battered cell phone.

"Just look!   Here I am competing in the 2017 Chicago Marathon!  Some onlookers took these pictures and kindly shared them with me!"

"Well you aren't exactly running," said your editor, "but how did you do?"

"Oh, I was careful not to travel at my customary tachyonic velocities exceeding the speed of light, or even at the more sluggish supersonic speeds.  I didn't want to scare anyone with the sonic boom or break windows, so it took me as long as ten minutes to finish the course!"

"Well that sounds like a winning time" said your editor.  "Did you get a medal?"

"Not exactly" said the Space Alien.  The judges didn't notice when I crossed the finish line, and somewhere along the way I lost my bib number.   I think it may have been when I stopped to eat."

"You had time to eat?" asked your editor, incredulously.

"Sure!  I had a taco, some pizza, a plate of blintzes, and some pierogi, dolmades, corn bread,  a few samosas, sushi, wonton and even some lovely crepes suzettes!  

So Much Great Food in Chicago!

"There were so many great foods in the neighborhoods along the way," exclaimed the Space Alien, "but I think I may have used my bib number for a napkin."

"I've noticed you often like to eat and run!" said your editor.  "But you still crossed the finish line first!"

"Of course!  Will there be a story about me in the Space Alien Gazette?"

"I'll discuss it with our Sports Editor," said Your Editor, "and we'll see!"

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The Space Alien's Message for the New Year

The Space Alien asked your editor to direct loyal readers to last year's Rosh Hashanah message for the holiday this year.   That post was so thrilling that your editor agreed it deserved another reading.

With this in mind, the Space Alien invites loyal readers to return to last year's column, A New Year for the Space Alien, which you may read at:
http://spacealiengazette.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-new-year-for-space-alien.html.

The Space Alien insists that this column has since been digitally remastered, and whether or not this is actually the case, your editor can attest that there is a bit of new material there!

A message containing this link already went out to our e-mail subscribers, but, as noted, all may view this at:http://spacealiengazette.blogspot.com/2016/09/a-new-year-for-space-alien.html 

(If you would like to be an e-mail subscriber, please let us know in the box at the sidebar)

Loyal readers may be interested to know that this year the Space Alien is spending the ten days between Rosh Hashanah, the "head of the year" (which this year begins at sundown, September 20) and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (which ends at sundown on Saturday, September 30) reflecting upon eternal values, cultivating personal qualities of kindness and helpfulness, and pledging to become a more actively engaged citizen of the universe.

Once again, the Space Alien and all of us here at the Space Alien Gazette wish you and your dear ones a healthy and productive 5778.

Apples and Honey for a
Sweet New Year!

The Space Alien Says: Arrivederci Cassini

The Space Alien was sad to read of the impending death of Cassini, the remarkable spacecraft that has faithfully orbited the planet Saturn for the past 13 years.   On Friday, September 15, 2017 this unique project will end with Cassini crashing to its doom on the ringed planet.

To read about it at the NASA website please click here:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html

and: 

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/overview/

To read about it at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory please click here:

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/3119/cassini-spacecraft-makes-its-final-approach-to-saturn/

To read about it on BBC, please click here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41262984

This was of more than academic interest for the Space Alien, who has long been a serious student of our Solar System and has shared an immense store of knowledge, gained on countless interplanetary trips, with our National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Traveling to Saturn at tachyonic velocities exceeding the speed of light, the Space Alien took many excellent photographs of Cassini, and kindly shares two of them here, neatly labeled, so that you, loyal readers, might expand your knowledge of space exploration.

The Space Alien had a particularly deep relationship with this project, having secretly worked with NASA for many years, helping to guide Cassini around Saturn.

Here is one of the Space Alien's exclusive "selfies" taken while gently nudging the sometimes wayward spacecraft into it's proper orbit.  It was difficult and dangerous work, but this did not deter the Space Alien, whose dedication to science has few equals.

The Space Alien Gently Guides Cassini around Saturn

The Space Alien was proud to participate in this vital mission, and while saddened to see Cassini come to an end, appreciates the vast store of knowledge we have gained thereby.  

The entire staff of the Space Alien Gazette is proud of the Space Alien, who took on this important job quietly, with no publicity or fanfare, all in the service of science.

Now, having completed this mission and before returning to work at the Space Alien Gazette, the Space Alien will enjoy a few recreational days hunting for diamonds on Uranus.

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2017/08/researchers-recreate-diamond-rain
https://phys.org/news/2010-01-oceans-liquid-diamond-neptune-uranus.html

---------------------------------
Post Scripts:

A loyal reader sent the Space Alien Gazette this photograph of the Cassini team!

The Space Alien and Cassini Teammates Celebrate their Great Achievement!

This is not the first time the Space Alien visited the moons of Saturn.  An earlier visit took place during the 2016 Olympic Games, when the Space Alien set personal high jump records on Titan, one of Saturn's many moons.  To learn more about this astonishing feat and to see some of the Space Alien's exclusive photos please visit: https://spacealiengazette.blogspot.com/2016/08/how-high.html

Loyal Readers are also encouraged to learn more about the great Italian astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini for whom the Cassini spacecraft was named at: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Domenico_Cassini

Giovanni Domenico Cassini

King Louis, XIV

The Space Alien's meeting with Cassini took place in France, where Cassini spent much of his life, and where he was the first to use a method of determining longitude to measure the size of France accurately.  France turned out to be smaller than expected.

This disappointed King Louis, XIV (the Sun King) who wanted to make France great again.

 After Cassini tutored the Space Alien in these advanced survey methods learned in France, the  Space Alien offered to teach them to Thomas Jefferson in connection with the newly established American Public Land Survey System (for which see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System).

T. Jefferson

Jefferson  politely declined the Space Alien's offer, fearing that that this could make America small again.

The Space Alien disagreed, but did not dwell on the matter.


Special Postscripts:

1. Giovanni Domenico Cassini was born on June 8, 1625 and died on September 14, 1712.  The Space Alien observes these dates appropriately.  

2. The Space Alien understands that as more data arrives from the Cassini spacecraft, loyal readers may want to travel to Saturn.  The Space Alien recommends EXTREME CAUTION in this regard.  Chemicals easily tolerated by the Space Alien but highly toxic to human friends abound in this vicinity, so please be content to enjoy the photographs taken by the Space Alien and the many scientists studying these regions.  

3. While updating this post in June, 2021, Your Editor ran across this great blog entry: http://georgebishopjr.com/2017/09/16/arrivederci-cassini/    Apparently he too (and not surprisingly) liked using the Italian word for farewell in the title!  Here is posted the New York Times account of September 14, 2017 by Kenneth Chang on the life and death of the Cassini spacecraft.  

                                                     ###

The Space Alien Censors the News

Your Editor walked into the insanely busy office of the Space Alien Gazette and found the Space Alien bent over some drafts of articles wielding a big blue pencil.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm censoring the Space Alien Gazette" answered the Space Alien, somewhat annoyed at the interruption.

"Censoring?  What do you mean?"

"I'm deleting all references to unhappiness, sadness and any other negative emotions," said the Space Alien.  "I want our loyal readers to keep smiles on their faces, just the way I do, and this will help them do it!"

"I've never heard of such a thing!" cried your editor. "That's so dishonest!"

"Oh no, there's good precedent for this," said the Space Alien.

"Show me!" said your editor.

The Space Alien reached into a file drawer and pulled out a copy of the Washington Post.

"Look at this article!  It says here that the U. S. Environmental Protection Administration has brought in a political aide without much environmental experience to look for all references to climate change in grant applications and eliminate those from consideration!"   (And you, loyal readers may also read this very same article for September 4, 2017).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/epa-now-requires-political-aides-sign-off-for-agency-awards-grant-applications/2017/09/04/2fd707a0-88fd-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.9fcc4b4c9186

"It's a very simple word search," continued the Space Alien, reading the following paragraph aloud to your editor:

"In this role, John Konkus reviews every award the agency gives out, along with every grant solicitation before it is issued. According to both career and political employees, Konkus has told staff that he is on the lookout for “the double C-word” — climate change — and repeatedly has instructed grant officers to eliminate references to the subject in solicitations."

"You see how this works," said the Space Alien.  "The EPA denied funds for a bedbug elimination workshop, so no more bedbugs!  I sleep a lot better knowing that!  And now we won't have to worry about climate change either because the EPA will make that go away using a blue pencil just like mine!"

"WAIT!" cried your editor.  "Ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away!"

"It doesn't?"

"Of course not!  We'll still have bedbugs and climate change; we just won't be working to stop their ill effects!  And these problems will get even worse!"

"Oh," said the Space Alien.  "I guess you're right!  Well then,  I guess I'd better put this aside and start working on captions for the photographs in our special supplement on Birds of the World."

Are these the only ones with heads in the sand?

"Good idea," said your editor!

And here's a special bonus for our Loyal Readers:

The Space Alien and Your Editor with their favorite
American Public Health Association T-Shirts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Space Alien Experiences a Solar Eclipse

Once upon a time long ago, the Space Alien, noticed that the sun was suddenly not as bright as usual.  In fact, the sky had become dark in the middle of the day, and stars appeared at noon!

The Space Alien decided to investigate.   Having studied with many astronomers, including Ptolemy, Copernicus and Galileo, the Space Alien knew a bit about the movements of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon and quickly swung into action.

Ptolemy, c. 100 A.D. to c. 170 A.D. Said the Earth is at the Center of the Universe

Nicolaus Copernicus, 1473-1543, Said the Earth Revolves around the Sun

Galileo Galilei, 1564-1642, Got into Trouble for Saying the Earth Moves around the Sun

 

First the the Space Alien reviewed a model of Sun, Moon, and Earth.

"It's much more complicated than an Erector Set," thought the Space Alien.

Not a Toy!

Next, the Space Alien stopped to ponder some epistemological wisdom,  first of Copernicus:

The Space Alien's Philosophy of Epistomology

And then the words of the great Cowboy Philosopher, Will Rogers:

Finally, neatly packing essential astronomical gear, including a portable telescope and an antique astrolabe into a bright red Radio Flyer wagon, the Space Alien headed into space, quickly reaching tachyonic velocities exceeding the speed of light, and soon discovered the problem.

The Space Alien Transports Astronomical Equipment

The Space Alien was alarmed to see that the Moon had moved between the Sun and the Earth, causing the earth to become as dark at night, although it was the middle of the day!

The Space Alien sighed, thinking of the difficult task ahead.  To prevent the Earth from being trapped in a state of total, permanent, frozen darkness, it would be necessary to push the Moon out of the way of the Sun!

It would be a difficult task indeed, but the Space Alien was never a shirker.

"Thank goodness for my Radio Flyer wagon," thought the Space Alien, downing a  Tootsie Roll for quick energy and summoning every bit of reserve strength to hoist the massive Moon into the bright red wagon.

Once the Moon was safely in the wagon, it took all of the Space Alien's considerable power to get the wagon moving.  The work was exhausting, but nevertheless the Space Alien persisted.

The Space Alien Pushes the Moon away from in front of the Sun

In a few hours the job was done, the sun made it's bright appearance ...

Here Comes the Sun!

...and the Space Alien hurried home and settled down for a well-deserved rest!

The Space Alien Takes a Nap

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Space Alien is now wide-awake, preparing for the total eclipse of the sun scheduled to occur on Monday, August 21, 2017, and is ready, willing and able to take whatever corrective actions may be needed to keep the Earth safe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note 1: We know loyal readers of the Space Alien Gazette have every confidence in the accuracy of these posts.  But please bear in mind that they are generally written from the Space Alien's point of view.

Therefore, in the interests of full and impartial disclosure concerning the upcoming total solar eclipse, your editor would direct loyal readers to the web page of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) concerning the upcoming solar eclipse   https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov

There are also many wonderful apps for Eclipse 2017, and the Space Alien especially encourages loyal readers to have a look, and to remember to wear proper safety glasses:  https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

Note 2:  As Loyal Readers from the Chicago area know, the spectacular 2017 Chicago Air and Water Show takes place on August 19 and 20, just as this issue goes press.   The Space Alien, being deeply involved in preparations for the upcoming solar eclipse, will not participate in the Air and Water Show this year.

We therefore direct you to our gripping account of the 2016 Chicago Air and Water Show, in which, unbeknownst to the public at the time, the Space Alien briefly flew one of the airplanes!

Visit this post at:
http://spacealiengazette.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-air-show-comes-to-town.html.
We know you will be thrilled and delighted!

Note 3: If you would like to learn more about Ptolemy, Copernicus and Galileo, whose observations laid the foundations for modern astronomy, here are some places to begin:

Ptolemy
General Biography:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy

Copernicus

General biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus

Astronomical observations: https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html

Galileo 

General biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

Punished for discoveries: https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/galileo.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE:  The Space Alien took this selfie with your editor and friends watching the Chicago Eclipse at the Point (Promontory Park at the end of 55th Street and Lake Michigan) on August 21, 2017.

(Loyal Readers should know that the Space Alien, even while relaxing here, remained alert to any possibility that it would once again be necessary to act decisively to assure the safety of the Earth!) 

The Space Alien's Ethical Dilemma

You editor arrived at the office of the Space Alien Gazette and found it strangely quiet.  Instead of the buzz of reporters, editors, photographers, graphic artists and linotype operators, there was only silence as the Space Alien sadly stared at a graph on a glowing computer monitor.

"What's the matter?"  Asked your editor.  "Where is everyone?"

"I let them go for the day," answered the Space Alien.  "I gave them a furlough day without pay because we are in such terrible financial shape, and they all went bowling!"

Staff of Space Alien Gazette goes bowling!

"How can that be?" cried your editor.  "Our subscriber base is growing and everyone loves the Space Alien Gazette.  Plus, I've heard the circulation departments at the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and even the Chicago Tribune are all a little worried!"

"That's probably fake news!" answered the Space Alien, "but just look at these figures in bright red!  We have to do something and fast!"

The Space Alien ponders the financial position of the Space Alien Gazette

"What do you suggest?" asked your editor, grateful that the Space Alien had studied finance with Bernard Baruch during the Wilson and Roosevelt Administrations,  Q.V., and had, just the other day, enjoyed a breakfast sit-down with Janet Yellin, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank.

The Space Alien meets with Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank

The Space Alien was all business now, with a list of things to do immediately.  "First we need to get our labor situation in hand.  I suggest you fire all union members and cut in half the salaries of all remaining personnel!"

"But everyone is so happy to be paid with their free subscriptions to the Space Alien Gazette!" cried your editor.

"I suggest you let them have just half as many issues," said the Space Alien, "but this is a crisis and you must do even more!'

"What else?" asked your editor, trying bravely to overcome her panic.

"You need to run for high office." said the Space Alien, "VERY high office!"

"ME?"  cried your editor.  "I've never held any elective office or even run for one!"

"Doesn't matter." insisted the Space Alien.  "You must run for office and be elected!  We can print lots of puff pieces about you in the Space Alien Gazette to make that happen, but we need to make the Space Alien Gazette great again, and this is the way to do it!"

"And then what?" asked your editor, a little miffed at the suggestion that she would need to be promoted in puff pieces, but also hoping against hope that Space Alien would stop for a moment to reflect on the wisdom of this plan.

Space Alien Tower
(easily mistaken for 
Trump Tower in Chicago)  

"Then what?  Don't you see?" asked the Space Alien.    If you are elected to high office everyone will want to subscribe and buy ads in the Space Alien Gazette just to stay on your good side.  Oh, and something else,  you'll have to move out of your home."

"Why?" asked your editor, now puzzled.

"So we can move you into your office here in the Space Alien Tower," answered the Space Alien.

"Don't worry," the Space Alien continued. "We'll bring in a nice bed for you.  Then we'll convert some of our extra storage space into high-priced luxury hotel rooms. Everyone will want to reserve one just to be close to you, because once you hold high office they'll know you can do things for them!   You'll love it!  We'll install a swimming pool and a golf putting green, and people can say they are just taking a vacation when they are really here to get close to you!  We'll make sure our high-paying guests get plenty of favorable press in the Space Alien Gazette,  as well as lots of favors from you, and all of this will definitely help our cash flow - and then ..."

"STOP!!"  cried your editor. "What you are saying is TOTALLY unethical!"

"Un-WHAT-i-cal?"

"UNETHICAL!"

"What do you mean?" asked the Space Alien, with a puzzled look.

"I thought you told me you had studied ethics with the great 18th Century philosopher Immanuel Kant!" said your editor.

"Well yes, I studied with Immanual Kant," said the Space Alien, "and I recall something called the 'Categorical Imperative,' but what has that got to do with this?"

"The 'Categorical Imperative' has EVERYTHING to do with this," said your editor.  "The Categorical Imperative enunciated by Immanuel Kant requires us to consider what would happen if everyone did something we were doing.  So I must ask you, what if everyone did what you are proposing?  What if every newspaper publisher used their newspaper simply to reward their friends even at the expense of truth?  And what would happen if everyone elected to high public used that office to enrich themselves?  What did Immanuel Kant say about this?"

The Space Alien thought deeply about all of this for a moment before murmuring:
"That would be awful if everyone did that!  That would not be at all the Universe I'd like to inhabit!"

Then the Space Alien reached for a well-worn copy of The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant, and opened it to this page:*

What the Space Alien learned from Immanual Kant

"I understand now," said the Space Alien.  "Thank you reminding me of my responsibility to our loyal readers!"

"Well, all right then," said your editor, calming down a bit.  "Let the staff enjoy their day off, and when they come back you can tell them there will be no firings and no pay cuts, and then you can send out for pizza to improve morale!"

"But isn't that just bread and circuses?" asked the Space Alien.

"Maybe so, but we can all work together to save their jobs and add value to the Space Alien Gazette," said your editor, "so that it will continue to be the leading reliable source for alternative facts!   Let's do it the right way, the honest way!"

And they did!

~~~~~~~

* The Space Alien, being fluent, as previously noted  (Q.V.), in at least 87% of the world's 6500+ spoken languages, refers above to Immanuel Kant's exposition of the kategorischer Imperativ found in his work entitled Die Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten (4:402).  Kant expressed this idea in a number of ways, and here is one of them:

... d.i. ich soll niemals anders verfahren als so, daß ich auch wollen könne, meine Maxime solle ein allgemeines Gesetz werden. 

... That is, I ought never to act in such a way that I could not also will that my maxim should be a universal law.

This closely resembles the well-known "Golden Rule" exhorting us to treat others as we would be treated.  

The Space Alien always tries to follow this guidance and exhorts loyal readers to do so as well!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Space Alien Gazette is One Year Old!

The Space Alien Gazette, which first appeared online in July, 2016, survived a critical first year in the rough-and-tumble world of international journalism, and the entire staff gathered to celebrate beneath the massive central rotunda of the Space Alien Gazette Tower.

Reporters, editors, designers, printing press operators, delivery truck drivers, and all the other employees of the Space Alien Gazette, along with their friends and families, waited in breathless anticipation for the Space Alien.

Soon the Space Alien arrived to deafening cheers and applause.  Even ping-pong games ceased as the Space Alien greeted everyone and proceeded to carry heaping platters of food to waiting tables.

In the honorable tradition of Servant Leadership (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership)
the Space Alien had prepared a banquet, beginning with beautiful greens and other vegetables lovingly and organically grown by farmers from all over the world, and bursting with fresh flavor and healthful nutrients!  

Food for a Celebration!

When all had enjoyed these gifts of sun, soil and devoted labor, the Space Alien, who had worked in the kitchen all night long, proudly presented, to the delight of all, a beautifully decorated cake!

The Space Alien Baked All Night!

Everyone, especially the Space Alien Gazette's food editor, marveled at this totally plant-based cake, baked with home-ground flour made entirely of nuts and seeds, with avocado for shortening and frosting, sweetened with dates, bananas and berries, and flavored with raw cacao!

Then the Space Alien set up a favorite small kitchen appliance, a Yonanas machine from www.yonanas.com, and in minutes had prepared dozens of delicious and healthful frozen fruit desserts for everyone.

The Space Alien Made Delicious Frozen Fruit Desserts for Everyone!

The Space Alien went home that evening, tired but happy, and reassured that the Space Alien Gazette would continue in its all-important role as an inspirational and reliable source of hard-hitting news and alternative facts.

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Here is one of the Space Alien's exclusive photographs of just a few of the happy party-goers celebrating the first year of publication of the Space Alien Gazette.   Their upraised fists signify that they consume at least six large fistfuls of greens daily!

Happy Birthday, Space Alien Gazette!