Status Updates From Contact

"All right. I think it's amazing that you've done as well as you have. You've got hardly any theory of social organization, astonishingly backward economic systems, no grasp of the machinery of historical prediction, and very little knowledge about yourselves. Considering how fast your world is changing, it's amazing you haven't blown yourselves to bits by now. That's why we don't want to write you off just yet."-311

"The diversity of ports suggested few social distinctions among the sundry civilizations, but it unplugged a breathtaking diversity of beings and cultures. Talk about Grand Central Station! she thought.
The vision of a populated Galaxy, of a universe spilling over with life and intelligence, made her want to cry for joy....
What a vindication for the human species, invited here at last! There's hope for us." -p.294

"She glanced over to Eda... figuring something on a small computer... She could feel as well as hear a low-pitched roaring every time the dodec scraped the wall...
"Do you understand what's going on?"
"Not at all," he shouted back. "I can almost prove this can't be happening. Do you know the Boyer-Lindquist coordinates?"
"No, sorry."
"I'll explain it to you later."
She was glad he thought there would be a "later"."

Laughing, Joss and Ellie wrestled the bob to a nearly stationary position and clambered up the sloping tile walls.
"It must be permitted by the 1st Amendment," she said.
"Or the 1st Commandment," he replied....
But they were escorted out of the museum by a tight phalanx of uniformed personnel, who were concerned perhaps that Ellie and Joss might next sidle aboard the steam calliope in pursuit of an elusive God. -p214