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163 motivations to initiate or avoid contact, life-style variations, abandonment of radio for other technologies, and anything else that might cause an extraterrer- strial culture to be more or less observable.’ At a minimum, the equation should include a factor for the probability that another technological civilization would engage in interstellar explora- tion, expansion, or colonization. This could have powerful implications. The factors in the traditional equation can be seen as filters that reduce the probability of contact with technological civilizations. Adding an expansion and colonization factor could greatly increase that probability by expanding the range of locations where technological societies may exist. Those most devoted to the classic SETI paradigm continue to resist including interstellar expansion in their calculations. One can see why; opening the door to a direct encounter raises the question of why we have not seen evidence of alien technology nearby. The direct contact scenario also has significant implications for the possible consequences. The Drake Equation, Take Three