A couple of weeks ago, a "Message from Earth" was transmitted from a powerful radio telescope in the Ukraine.
At about the same time, a "Message for Help" was expressed by a polite voice in Sofia.
The destination for this crackling cosmic communication from the Crimea was deep space.
Coincidentally, the destination for the casually cajoling communication in Sofia was also deep space.

To be more precise, the Message from Earth was beamed out to a red dwarf planet 210 trillion km away on which intelligent life could possibly exist.
On the other hand, the Message for Help was boomed out to the vacant brain of a sunburnt, leggy shop assistant two metres away, in which intelligent life was doubtful.
The name of this far off planet is, modestly, Gliese 581c.

The more down-to-earth query from the customer was simply "Levi 501s?".
Travelling at more than 800 million km an hour - that's roughly the same pace most Bulgarians attempt to drive - the Message from Earth would have rocketed past the opaque man in the moon 1.7 seconds after broadcast.
And travelling at more than 1200 km per hour - that's exactly the same pace most darts professionals drink - the Message for Help would have rocketed past the goon with a fake tan a mere millisecond after broadcast.
The first will take 21 light years to reach Gliese at this rate.

The second never struck home, however. The light-footed girl had already scarpered.
Likewise, it is quite possible to claim that even if there are aliens on Gliese, they also might snub their greetings from us. Despite this harsh fact, though, boffins are unfazed. Such challenges are a vicissitude of science about the cosmos.
But as illustrated a moment ago, it is inalienably certain that customers in Sofia will be greeted with disdain in some places. Concerning this lack of tact, though, folk here are unamazed. Such challenges are a viscid part of daily life in the country.

Anyway, so what if the Gliesans really do blank Earth's cheery hello when it eventually arrives? As one sharp white coat barked, "it doesn't really matter.  At least they will know there is intelligent life somewhere else in the universe."
Err, just not in various bucket-shops in this part of the heavens, buddy, those countless joints where "interest free" signs on the door have actually more to do with members of staff in reality than they do any cash or credit  discounts on offer.

Come to think of hard currency, I can't help but wonder if the small green monsters 210 trillion km away might manufacture robots.
They'll make a killing in the Bulgarian service industry if they do, intergalactic trade agreements allowing, of course.
In fact, gonna e-mail Nasa to shuttle up a query, sharpish.

And with any luck, we'll get the first shipment of R2D2s back from "Gliesian Androids Inc" in about 42 light years.
A long time, but demand will still remain.
Because the notion of pleasant, helpful service from humans becoming a norm here any time soon is seemingly quite out of the question.
Pure science fiction to believe anything else.