This week's question: The U.S. military has begun taking numerous sightings of UFOs by its pilots seriously, and is trying to figure out whether these mysterious objects pose a threat. In seven words or fewer, please come up with a message that we could transmit to these possibly extraterrestrial craft that would explain the current state of life on Earth.
Click here to see the results of last week's contest: Vacation rental
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THE WINNER: "Forget the Prime Directive. Please help!"
James Pearson, Anaheim, California
SECOND PLACE: "We’re destroying this planet. No help needed"
Dianne Kogut, Raleigh, North Carolina
THIRD PLACE: Caution: Contains Nuts
Joseph Terrill, South Bend, Indiana
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
"Can you spare some ice?"
Barbara James, Bedford, Massachusetts
"Avoid the Strait of Hormuz!"
Jim Kulakoski, Port Orange, Florida
"Welcome! Have you had your measles vaccination?"
Kim Doyle, Woolwich, Maine
"Welcome! (Just don’t enter through southern border)"
Don Walker, Lexington, Massachusetts
"Keep flying over the cuckoo’s nest"
Barbara Harman, Concord, California
"Come join us; it’s warming up here"
Patty Oberhausen, Fort Wayne, Indiana
"Hold on while we tidy up"
Ken Liebman, Williston, Vermont
"I hope you have a round-trip ticket"
Mary Shaull, West Bloomfield, Michigan
"E.T. go home, for your own good"
George Pendergast, Weston, Massachusetts
"We were taken in by our leaders"
Laurel Rose, Pittsburgh
"We’re actually smarter than we act"
Linda Konrad, Vero Beach, Florida
"Come back later, we’re not ready"
Cary Rosenzweig, Palo Alto, California
"We can’t explain any of it either"
Lou Franzini, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
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Homes with great fireplacesFeature Featuring a suspended fireplace in Washington and two-sided Parisian fireplace in Florida
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Is $140,000 the real poverty line?Feature Financial hardship is wearing Americans down, and the break-even point for many families keeps rising
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Film reviews: ‘The Secret Agent’ and ‘Zootopia 2’Feature A Brazilian man living in a brutal era seeks answers and survival and Judy and Nick fight again for animal justice
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Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
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Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
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Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
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Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
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Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
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Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
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China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
