The World According to Cosmos

The World According to Cosmos – Poetry and Rants

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    the complete list follows

     

    Book Title Author
    Things Fall Apart Achebe, Chinua
    Arrow of God Achebe, Chinua
    Blood and Guts in High School Acker, Kathy
    Hawksmoor Ackroyd, Peter
    The House of Doctor Dee Ackroyd, Peter
    The Lambs of London Ackroyd, Peter
    Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Adams, Douglas
    Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency Adams, Douglas
    The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul Adams, Douglas
    Half of a Yellow Sun Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
    Americanah Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi
    The White Tiger Adiga, Aravind
    Aesop’s Fables Aesopus
    Novel With Cocaine Ageyev, M.
    In The Heart of the Seas Agnon, Shmuel Yosef
    Rashomon Akutagawa, Ryunosuke
    The Regent’s Wife Alas, Leopoldo
    Little Women Alcott, Louisa May
    Broad and Alien is the World Alegria, Ciro
    The Man With the Golden Arm Algren, Nelson
    Fantômas Allain, Marcel
    The House of the Spirits Allende, Isabel
    Of Love and Shadows Allende, Isabel
    Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon Amado, Jorge
    Tent of Miracles Amado, Jorge
    Cause for Alarm Ambler, Eric
    Lucky Jim Amis, Kingsley
    The Green Man Amis, Kingsley
    The Old Devils Amis, Kingsley
    Dead Babies Amis, Martin
    Money: A Suicide Note Amis, Martin
    London Fields Amis, Martin
    Time’s Arrow Amis, Martin
    The Information Amis, Martin
    I’m Not Scared Ammaniti, Niccolo
    Untouchable Anand, Mulk Raj
    The Commandant Anderson, Jessica
    The Bridge on the Drina Andrić, Ivo
    Bosnian Chronicle Andrić, Ivo
    Ashes and Diamonds Andrzejewski, Jerzy
    I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Angelou, Maya
    The Thousand and One Nights Anonymous
    The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter Anonymous
    The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes Anonymous
    Fado Alexandrino Antunes, Antonio Lobo
    The Golden Ass Apuleius, Lucius
    The Bells of Basel Aragon, Louis
    Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus Arbuthnot, John et al
    Before Night Falls Arenas, Reinaldo
    Deep Rivers Arguedas, José María
    The Twilight Years Ariyoshi, Sawako
    The Green Hat Arlen, Michael
    I, Robot Asimov, Isaac
    Foundation Asimov, Isaac
    Surfacing Atwood, Margaret
    The Handmaid’s Tale Atwood, Margaret
    Cat’s Eye Atwood, Margaret
    The Robber Bride Atwood, Margaret
    Alias Grace Atwood, Margaret
    The Blind Assassin Atwood, Margaret
    Obabakoak Atxaga, Bernardo
    Sense and Sensibility Austen, Jane
    Pride and Prejudice Austen, Jane
    Mansfield Park Austen, Jane
    Emma Austen, Jane
    Persuasion Austen, Jane
    Northanger Abbey Austen, Jane
    The New York Trilogy Auster, Paul
    Moon Palace Auster, Paul
    The Music of Chance Auster, Paul
    Mr. Vertigo Auster, Paul
    Timbuktu Auster, Paul
    The Book of Illusions Auster, Paul
    Invisible Auster, Paul
    The Underdogs Azuela, Mariano
    So Long a Letter Ba, Mariama
    Go Tell It on the Mountain Baldwin, James
    Giovanni’s Room Baldwin, James
    The Drowned World Ballard, J.G.
    The Atrocity Exhibition Ballard, J.G.
    Crash Ballard, J.G.
    High Rise Ballard, J.G.
    Empire of the Sun Ballard, J.G.
    Cocaine Nights Ballard, J.G.
    Super-Cannes Ballard, J.G.
    Eugénie Grandet Balzac, Honoré de
    Père Goriot Balzac, Honoré de
    Lost Illusions Balzac, Honoré de
    The Wasp Factory Banks, Iain
    The Crow Road Banks, Iain
    Complicity Banks, Iain
    Dead Air Banks, Iain
    The Player of Games Banks, Iain M.
    Cloudsplitter Banks, Russell
    The Newton Letter Banville, John
    The Book of Evidence Banville, John
    The Untouchable Banville, John
    Shroud Banville, John
    The Sea Banville, John
    Elegance of the Hedgehog Barbery, Muriel
    The Inferno Barbusse, Henri
    Under Fire Barbusse, Henri
    Silk Baricco, Alessandro
    H(A)PPY Barker, Nicola
    Regeneration Barker, Pat
    The Ghost Road Barker, Pat
    Another World Barker, Pat
    Nightwood Barnes, Djuna
    Flaubert’s Parrot Barnes, Julian
    The Sense of an Ending Barnes, Julian
    The Floating Opera Barth, John
    The End of the Road Barth, John
    Giles Goat-Boy Barth, John
    Come Back, Dr. Caligari Barthelme, Donald
    The Dead Father Barthelme, Donald
    Amateurs Barthelme, Donald
    Alamut Bartol, Vladimir
    The Garden of the Finzi-Continis Bassani, Giorgio
    Story of the Eye Bataille, Georges
    The Abbot C Bataille, Georges
    Blue of Noon Bataille, Georges
    The Mandarins Beauvoir, Simone de
    Jacob the Liar Becker, Jurek
    Murphy Beckett, Samuel
    Molloy Beckett, Samuel
    Malone Dies Beckett, Samuel
    Watt Beckett, Samuel
    The Unnamable Beckett, Samuel
    How It Is Beckett, Samuel
    Mercier and Camier Beckett, Samuel
    Worstward Ho Beckett, Samuel
    Vathek Beckford, William Thomas
    Borstal Boy Behan, Brendan
    Oroonoko Behn, Aphra
    Dangling Man Bellow, Saul
    The Victim Bellow, Saul
    The Adventures of Augie March Bellow, Saul
    Seize the Day Bellow, Saul
    Henderson the Rain King Bellow, Saul
    Herzog Bellow, Saul
    Humboldt’s Gift Bellow, Saul
    The Old Wives’ Tale Bennett, Arnold
    G Berger, John
    Under Satan’s Sun Bernanos, Georges
    Correction Bernhard, Thomas
    Yes Bernhard, Thomas
    Concrete Bernhard, Thomas
    Wittgenstein’s Nephew Bernhard, Thomas
    Old Masters Bernhard, Thomas
    Extinction Bernhard, Thomas
    Death Sentence Blanchot, Maurice
    Savage Detectives Bolaño, Roberto
    2666 Bolaño, Roberto
    Billiards at Half-Past Nine Böll, Heinrich
    Group Portrait With Lady Böll, Heinrich
    The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum Böll, Heinrich
    The Safety Net Böll, Heinrich
    Ficciones Borges, Jorge Luis
    Labyrinths Borges, Jorge Luis
    This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen Borowski, Tadeusz
    The Last September Bowen, Elizabeth
    To the North Bowen, Elizabeth
    The House in Paris Bowen, Elizabeth
    The Heat of the Day Bowen, Elizabeth
    A World of Love Bowen, Elizabeth
    Eva Trout Bowen, Elizabeth
    World’s End Boyle, T. Coraghessan
    Drop City Boyle, T. Coraghessan
    In Watermelon Sugar Brautigan, Richard
    Willard and His Bowling Trophies Brautigan, Richard
    Threepenny Novel Brecht, Bertolt
    Nadja Breton, André
    Arcanum 17 Breton, André
    A Dry White Season Brink, Andre
    Testament of Youth Brittain, Vera
    The Death of Virgil Broch, Hermann
    The Guiltless Broch, Hermann
    Agnes Grey Brontë, Anne
    The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Brontë, Anne
    Jane Eyre Brontë, Charlotte
    Shirley Brontë, Charlotte
    Villette Brontë, Charlotte
    Wuthering Heights Brontë, Emily
    A World for Julius Bryce Echenique, Alfredo
    The Thirty-Nine Steps Buchan, John
    The Master and Margarita Bulgakov, Mikhail
    The Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan, John
    A Clockwork Orange Burgess, Anthony
    Inside Mr. Enderby Burgess, Anthony
    Evelina Burney, Fanny
    Cecilia Burney, Fanny
    Camilla Burney, Fanny
    Tarzan of the Apes Burroughs, Edgar Rice
    Junkie Burroughs, William
    Naked Lunch Burroughs, William
    The Wild Boys Burroughs, William
    Queer Burroughs, William
    Erewhon Butler, Samuel
    The Way of All Flesh Butler, Samuel
    The Tartar Steppe Buzzati, Dino
    The Virgin in the Garden Byatt, A.S.
    Possession Byatt, A.S.
    The Children’s Book Byatt, A.S.
    Three Trapped Tigers Cabrera Infante, Guillermo
    The Postman Always Rings Twice Cain, James M.
    House in the Uplands Caldwell, Erskine
    The Path to the Nest of Spiders Calvino, Italo
    Our Ancestors Calvino, Italo
    Invisible Cities Calvino, Italo
    The Castle of Crossed Destinies Calvino, Italo
    If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler Calvino, Italo
    The Lusiads Camões, Luís de
    The Outsider Camus, Albert
    The Plague Camus, Albert
    The Rebel Camus, Albert
    Auto-da-Fé Canetti, Elias
    A Dream of Red Mansions Cao, Xueqin
    War with the Newts Capek, Karel
    Breakfast at Tiffany’s Capote, Truman
    In Cold Blood Capote, Truman
    Oscar and Lucinda Carey, Peter
    Jack Maggs Carey, Peter
    Kingdom of This World Carpentier, Alejo
    The Lost Steps Carpentier, Alejo
    Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Carroll, Lewis
    Through the Looking Glass Carroll, Lewis
    The Passion of New Eve Carter, Angela
    Nights at the Circus Carter, Angela
    Wise Children Carter, Angela
    Bebo’s Girl Cassola, Carlo
    Solitude Catala, Victor
    The Professor’s House Cather, Willa
    Journey to the Alcarria Cela, Camilo Jose
    The Hive Cela, Camilo Jose
    Journey to the End of the Night Céline, Louis-Ferdinand
    Soldiers of Salamis Cercas, Javier
    Don Quixote Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
    The Travels of Persiles and Sigismunda Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
    The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Chabon, Michael
    The Big Sleep Chandler, Raymond
    Farewell My Lovely Chandler, Raymond
    The Long Goodbye Chandler, Raymond
    Wild Swans Chang, Jung
    Chaireas and Kallirhoe Chariton
    On the Black Hill Chatwin, Bruce
    The Riddle of the Sands Childers, Erskine
    The Awakening Chopin, Kate
    The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Christie, Agatha
    On the Heights of Despair Cioran, Emil
    2001: A Space Odyssey Clarke, Arthur C.
    The Sorrow of Belgium Claus, Hugo
    Fanny Hill Cleland, John
    The Holy Terrors Cocteau, Jean
    What a Carve Up! Coe, Jonathan
    Veronika Decides to Die Coelho, Paulo
    The Devil and Miss Prym Coelho, Paulo
    Dusklands Coetzee, J.M.
    In the Heart of the Country Coetzee, J.M.
    Waiting for the Barbarians Coetzee, J.M.
    The Life and Times of Michael K Coetzee, J.M.
    Foe Coetzee, J.M.
    The Master of Petersburg Coetzee, J.M.
    Disgrace Coetzee, J.M.
    Youth Coetzee, J.M.
    Elizabeth Costello Coetzee, J.M.
    Slow Man Coetzee, J.M.
    Belle du Seigneur Cohen, Albert
    Claudine’s House Colette
    The Woman in White Collins, Wilkie
    The Moonstone Collins, Wilkie
    Lord Jim Conrad, Joseph
    Heart of Darkness Conrad, Joseph
    Nostromo Conrad, Joseph
    The Secret Agent Conrad, Joseph
    The Shadow Line Conrad, Joseph
    The Lion of Flanders Conscience, Hendrik
    Last of the Mohicans Cooper, James Fenimore
    Pricksongs and Descants Coover, Robert
    The Public Burning Coover, Robert
    Eline Vere Couperus, Louis
    Arcadia Crace, Jim
    The Enormous Room Cummings, E.E.
    A Home at the End of the World Cunningham, Michael
    The Hours Cunningham, Michael
    Disappearance Dabydeen, David
    Nervous Conditions Dangarembga, Tsitsi
    House of Leaves Danielewski, Mark Z.
    The Child of Pleasure D’Annunzio, Gabriele
    Fifth Business Davies, Robertson
    The End of the Story Davis, Lydia
    Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord De Bernières, Louis
    Captain Corelli’s Mandolin De Bernières, Louis
    On Love De Botton, Alain
    Hebdomeros De Chirico, Giorgio
    The Viceroys De Roberto, Federico
    Robinson Crusoe Defoe, Daniel
    Moll Flanders Defoe, Daniel
    Roxana Defoe, Daniel
    The Heretic Delibes, Miguel
    Ratner’s Star DeLillo, Don
    The Names DeLillo, Don
    White Noise DeLillo, Don
    Libra DeLillo, Don
    Mao II DeLillo, Don
    Underworld DeLillo, Don
    The Body Artist DeLillo, Don
    Falling Man DeLillo, Don
    Thomas of Reading Deloney, Thomas
    Clear Light of Day Desai, Anita
    The Inheritance of Loss Desai, Kiran
    All About H. Hatterr Desani, G.V.
    Small Remedies Deshpande, Shashi
    The Conquest of New Spain Díaz del Castillo, Bernal
    The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Díaz, Junot
    Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Dick, Philip K.
    Oliver Twist Dickens, Charles
    The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Dickens, Charles
    A Christmas Carol Dickens, Charles
    Martin Chuzzlewit Dickens, Charles
    David Copperfield Dickens, Charles
    Bleak House Dickens, Charles
    Hard Times Dickens, Charles
    A Tale of Two Cities Dickens, Charles
    Great Expectations Dickens, Charles
    Our Mutual Friend Dickens, Charles
    Jacques the Fatalist Diderot, Denis
    The Nun Diderot, Denis
    Rameau’s Nephew Diderot, Denis
    Play It As It Lays Didion, Joan
    Democracy Didion, Joan
    The Bitter Glass Dillon, Eilís
    Out of Africa Dinesen, Isak
    Berlin Alexanderplatz Döblin, Alfred
    The Book of Daniel Doctorow, E.L.
    Ragtime Doctorow, E.L.
    Billy Bathgate Doctorow, E.L.
    City of God Doctorow, E.L.
    Stone Junction Dodge, Jim
    Asphodel Doolittle, Hilda
    Manhattan Transfer Dos Passos, John
    U.S.A. Dos Passos, John
    Notes from the Underground Dostoevsky, Fyodor
    Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky, Fyodor
    The Idiot Dostoevsky, Fyodor
    The Devils Dostoevsky, Fyodor
    The Brothers Karamazov Dostoevsky, Fyodor
    Fool’s Gold Douka, Maro
    Uncle Petros and Goldbach’s Conjecture Doxiadis, Apostolos
    The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Doyle, Arthur Conan
    The Hound of the Baskervilles Doyle, Arthur Conan
    The Radiant Way Drabble, Margaret
    The Red Queen Drabble, Margaret
    As If I Am Not There Drakulić, Slavenka
    Sister Carrie Dreiser, Theodore
    Rebecca Du Maurier, Daphne
    The Three Musketeers Dumas, Alexandre
    Queen Margot Dumas, Alexandre
    The Count of Monte-Cristo Dumas, Alexandre
    Hallucinating Foucault Duncker, Patricia
    Paradise of the Blind Duong, Thu Huong
    The Ravishing of Lol V. Stein Duras, Marguerite
    The Vice-Consul Duras, Marguerite
    The Lover Duras, Marguerite
    Justine Durrell, Lawrence
    The Judge and His Hangman Dürrenmatt, Friedrich
    The Crime of Father Amaro Eça de Queirós, José Maria
    The Name of the Rose Eco, Umberto
    Foucault’s Pendulum Eco, Umberto
    Castle Rackrent Edgeworth, Maria
    The Absentee Edgeworth, Maria
    Ormond Edgeworth, Maria
    The Quest Eeden, Frederik van
    A Visit from the Goon Squad Egan, Jennifer
    The Circle Eggers, Dave
    The Life of a Good-for-Nothing Eichendorff, Joseph von
    Woman at Point Zero El Saadawi, Nawal
    Adam Bede Eliot, George
    The Mill on the Floss Eliot, George
    Silas Marner Eliot, George
    Middlemarch Eliot, George
    Daniel Deronda Eliot, George
    Less Than Zero Ellis, Bret Easton
    American Psycho Ellis, Bret Easton
    Glamorama Ellis, Bret Easton
    Invisible Man Ellison, Ralph
    The Black Dahlia Ellroy, James
    Elsschot, Willem
    Silence Endo, Shusaku
    Deep River Endo, Shusaku
    The Book about Blanche and Marie Enquist, Per Olov
    The Gathering Enright, Anne
    The Interesting Narrative Equiano, Olaudah
    Love Medicine Erdrich, Louise
    Moscow Stations Erofeyev, Venedikt
    Like Water for Chocolate Esquivel, Laura
    Celestial Harmonies Esterházy, Péter
    The Virgin Suicides Eugenides, Jeffrey
    Middlesex Eugenides, Jeffrey
    The Marriage Plot Eugenides, Jeffrey
    Under the Skin Faber, Michel
    Astradeni Fakinou, Eugenia
    Troubles Farrell, J.G.
    The Siege of Krishnapur Farrell, J.G.
    The Singapore Grip Farrell, J.G.
    The Sound and the Fury Faulkner, William
    Absalom, Absalom! Faulkner, William
    The Hamlet Faulkner, William
    Go Down, Moses Faulkner, William
    Birdsong Faulks, Sebastian
    Troubling Love Ferrante, Elena
    The Story of the Lost Child Ferrante, Elena
    Joseph Andrews Fielding, Henry
    Tom Jones Fielding, Henry
    Amelia Fielding, Henry
    The Wars Findley, Timothy
    The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald, F. Scott
    Tender is the Night Fitzgerald, F. Scott
    Madame Bovary Flaubert, Gustave
    Sentimental Education Flaubert, Gustave
    The Temptation of Saint Anthony Flaubert, Gustave
    Bouvard and Pécuchet Flaubert, Gustave
    Casino Royale Fleming, Ian
    Everything is Illuminated Foer, Jonathan Safran
    Effi Briest Fontane, Theodor
    The Stechlin Fontane, Theodor
    The Good Soldier Ford, Ford Madox
    Parade’s End Ford, Ford Madox
    Where Angels Fear to Tread Forster, E.M.
    A Room With a View Forster, E.M.
    Howards End Forster, E.M.
    A Passage to India Forster, E.M.
    The Collector Fowles, John
    The Magus Fowles, John
    The French Lieutenant’s Woman Fowles, John
    A Maggot Fowles, John
    Faces in the Water Frame, Janet
    Thais France, Anatole
    The Blind Side of the Heart Franck, Julia
    The Corrections Franzen, Jonathan
    Freedom Franzen, Jonathan
    Simon and the Oaks Fredriksson, Marianne
    Hideous Kinky Freud, Esther
    I’m Not Stiller Frisch, Max
    Homo Faber Frisch, Max
    The Death of Artemio Cruz Fuentes, Carlos
    The Recognitions Gaddis, William
    Memory of Fire Galeano, Eduardo
    Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris Gallico, Paul
    The Trick is to Keep Breathing Galloway, Janice
    The Forsyte Saga Galsworthy, John
    No One Writes to the Colonel García Márquez, Gabriel
    One Hundred Years of Solitude García Márquez, Gabriel
    The Autumn of the Patriarch García Márquez, Gabriel
    Love in the Time of Cholera García Márquez, Gabriel
    Eclipse of the Crescent Moon Gardonyi, Geza
    Thursbitch Garner, Alan
    The Roots of Heaven Gary, Romain
    Promise at Dawn Gary, Romain
    Mary Barton Gaskell, Elizabeth
    Cranford Gaskell, Elizabeth
    North and South Gaskell, Elizabeth
    Legend Gemmell, David
    The Triple Mirror of the Self Ghose, Zulfikar
    The Shadow Lines Ghosh, Amitav
    Sunset Song Gibbon, Lewis Grassic
    Cold Comfort Farm Gibbons, Stella
    Neuromancer Gibson, William
    Fruits of the Earth Gide, André
    The Immoralist Gide, André
    Strait is the Gate Gide, André
    The Counterfeiters Gide, André
    The Yellow Wallpaper Gilman, Charlotte Perkins
    New Grub Street Gissing, George
    Born in Exile Gissing, George
    The Adventures of Caleb Williams Godwin, William
    The Sorrows of Young Werther Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
    Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
    Elective Affinities Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
    The Nose Gogol, Nikolay
    Dead Souls Gogol, Nikolay
    Memoirs of a Geisha Golden, Arthur
    Lord of the Flies Golding, William
    Rites of Passage Golding, William
    The Vicar of Wakefield Goldsmith, Oliver
    Ferdydurke Gombrowicz, Witold
    Oblomov Goncharov, Ivan
    Burger’s Daughter Gordimer, Nadine
    July’s People Gordimer, Nadine
    Mother Gorky, Maxim
    The Artamonov Business Gorky, Maxim
    Marks of Identity Goytisolo, Juan
    The Opposing Shore Gracq, Julien
    The Tin Drum Grass, Günter
    Cat and Mouse Grass, Günter
    Dog Years Grass, Günter
    Lanark: A Life in Four Books Gray, Alasdair
    Blindness Green, Henry
    Living Green, Henry
    Party Going Green, Henry
    Caught Green, Henry
    Loving Green, Henry
    Back Green, Henry
    England Made Me Greene, Graham
    Brighton Rock Greene, Graham
    The Power and the Glory Greene, Graham
    The Heart of the Matter Greene, Graham
    The Third Man Greene, Graham
    The End of the Affair Greene, Graham
    The Quiet American Greene, Graham
    The Honorary Consul Greene, Graham
    The Adventurous Simplicissimus Grimmelshausen, Hans von
    Diary of a Nobody Grossmith, George
    Memoirs of Rain Gupta, Sunetra
    Dirty Havana Trilogy Gutierrez, Pedro Juan
    Forever a Stranger Haasse, Hella
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time Haddon, Mark
    King Solomon’s Mines Haggard, H. Rider
    She Haggard, H. Rider
    The Well of Loneliness Hall, Radclyffe
    The Reluctant Fundamentalist Hamid, Mohsin
    Hangover Square Hamilton, Patrick
    The Red Harvest Hammett, Dashiell
    The Maltese Falcon Hammett, Dashiell
    The Glass Key Hammett, Dashiell
    The Thin Man Hammett, Dashiell
    Hunger Hamsun, Knut
    Growth of the Soil Hamsun, Knut
    Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick Handke, Peter
    The Left-Handed Woman Handke, Peter
    The Afternoon of a Writer Handke, Peter
    The Art of Fielding Harbach, Chad
    Far from the Madding Crowd Hardy, Thomas
    The Hand of Ethelberta Hardy, Thomas
    Return of the Native Hardy, Thomas
    The Mayor of Casterbridge Hardy, Thomas
    The Woodlanders Hardy, Thomas
    Tess of the D’Urbervilles Hardy, Thomas
    Jude the Obscure Hardy, Thomas
    The Go-Between Hartley, L.P.
    The Good Soldier Švejk Hašek, Jaroslav
    The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne, Nathaniel
    The House of the Seven Gables Hawthorne, Nathaniel
    The Blithedale Romance Hawthorne, Nathaniel
    The Marble Faun Hawthorne, Nathaniel
    Love in Excess Haywood, Eliza
    A Question of Power Head, Bessie
    The First Garden Hébert, Anne
    The Blind Owl Hedayat, Sadegh
    Stranger in a Strange Land Heinlein, Robert
    An Ethiopian Romance Heliodorus
    Catch-22 Heller, Joseph
    The Sun Also Rises Hemingway, Ernest
    A Farewell to Arms Hemingway, Ernest
    To Have and Have Not Hemingway, Ernest
    For Whom the Bell Tolls Hemingway, Ernest
    The Old Man and the Sea Hemingway, Ernest
    Margot and the Angels Hemmerechts, Kristien
    Nowhere Man Hemon, Aleksandar
    Reasons to Live Hempel, Amy
    Martin Fierro Hernandez, Jose
    Dispatches Herr, Michael
    The New World Heruy Wolde Selassie
    Rosshalde Hesse, Herman
    Siddhartha Hesse, Herman
    Steppenwolf Hesse, Herman
    The Glass Bead Game Hesse, Herman
    The Talented Mr. Ripley Highsmith, Patricia
    Camera Obscura Hildebrand
    Blind Man With a Pistol Himes, Chester
    A Kestrel for a Knave Hines, Barry
    The House on the Borderland Hodgson, William Hope
    Smilla’s Sense of Snow Høeg, Peter
    The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr Hoffman, E.T.A.
    The Parable of the Blind Hofmann, Gert
    The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner Hogg, James
    Hyperion Hölderlin, Friedrich
    The Swimming Pool Library Hollinghurst, Alan
    The Folding Star Hollinghurst, Alan
    The Line of Beauty Hollinghurst, Alan
    The Cathedral Honchar, Oles
    Whatever Houellebecq, Michel
    Elementary Particles Houellebecq, Michel
    Platform Houellebecq, Michel
    Closely Watched Trains Hrabal, Bohumil
    The Hunchback of Notre Dame Hugo, Victor
    Les Misérables Hugo, Victor
    Their Eyes Were Watching God Hurston, Zora Neale
    What I Loved Hustvedt, Siri
    Crome Yellow Huxley, Aldous
    Antic Hay Huxley, Aldous
    Brave New World Huxley, Aldous
    Eyeless in Gaza Huxley, Aldous
    Against the Grain Huysmans, Joris-Karl
    Down There Huysmans, Joris-Karl
    Carry Me Down Hyland, M.J.
    The World According to Garp Irving, John
    The Cider House Rules Irving, John
    A Prayer for Owen Meany Irving, John
    The Last of Mr. Norris Isherwood, Christopher
    Goodbye to Berlin Isherwood, Christopher
    A Pale View of Hills Ishiguro, Kazuo
    An Artist of the Floating World Ishiguro, Kazuo
    Remains of the Day Ishiguro, Kazuo
    The Unconsoled Ishiguro, Kazuo
    Never Let Me Go Ishiguro, Kazuo
    The Portrait of a Lady James, Henry
    What Maisie Knew James, Henry
    The Turn of the Screw James, Henry
    The Wings of the Dove James, Henry
    The Ambassadors James, Henry
    The Golden Bowl James, Henry
    A Day Off Jameson, Storm
    The Summer Book Jansson, Tove
    The Piano Teacher Jelinek, Elfriede
    Leaden Wings Jie, Zhang
    Platero and I Jiménez, Juan Ramón
    The Taebaek Mountains Jo, Jung-rae
    Albert Angelo Johnson, B.S.
    Trawl Johnson, B.S.
    House Mother Normal Johnson, B.S.
    The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia Johnson, Samuel
    Jahrestage Johnson, Uwe
    In Parenthesis Jones, David
    Fear of Flying Jong, Erica
    A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Joyce, James
    Ulysses Joyce, James
    Finnegans Wake Joyce, James
    Storm of Steel Junger, Ernst
    The Glass Bees Junger, Ernst
    Broken April Kadare, Ismail
    Spring Flowers, Spring Frost Kadare, Ismail
    The Successor Kadare, Ismail
    The Trial Kafka, Franz
    The Castle Kafka, Franz
    Amerika Kafka, Franz
    A Thousand Cranes Kawabata, Yasunari
    Zorba the Greek Kazantzákis, Nikos
    The Last Temptation of Christ Kazantzákis, Nikos
    Measuring the World Kehlmann, Daniel
    Green Henry Keller, Gottfried
    The Busconductor Hines Kelman, James
    A Disaffection Kelman, James
    How Late It Was, How Late Kelman, James
    Kieron Smith, boy Kelman, James
    Schindler’s Ark Keneally, Thomas
    Looking for the Possible Dance Kennedy, A.L.
    Everything You Need Kennedy, A.L.
    On the Road Kerouac, Jack
    Fatelessness Kertész, Imre
    One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Kesey, Ken
    Sometimes a Great Notion Kesey, Ken
    Annie John Kincaid, Jamaica
    The Shining King, Stephen
    The Water-Babies Kingsley, Charles
    The Poisonwood Bible Kingsolver, Barbara
    Kim Kipling, Rudyard
    Garden, Ashes Kis, Danilo
    Michael Kohlhaas Kleist, Heinrich von
    Waiting for the Dark, Waiting for the Light Klima, Ivan
    The Hothouse Koeppen, Wolfgang
    Death in Rome Koeppen, Wolfgang
    The Case Worker Konrad, Gyorgy
    A Day in Spring Kosmac, Ciril
    Smell of Sadness Kossmann, Alfred
    The Fan Man Kotzwinkle, William
    The Midnight Examiner Kotzwinkle, William
    The Melancholy of Resistance Krasznahorkai, László
    The Last Days of Humanity Kraus, Karl
    The History of Love Krauss, Nicole
    The Return of Philip Latinowicz Krleža, Miroslav
    On the Edge of Reason Krleža, Miroslav
    Professor Martens’ Departure Kross, Jaan
    The Joke Kundera, Milan
    The Book of Laughter and Forgetting Kundera, Milan
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being Kundera, Milan
    Ignorance Kundera, Milan
    The Buddha of Suburbia Kureishi, Hanif
    Intimacy Kureishi, Hanif
    Gabriel’s Gift Kureishi, Hanif
    The Flamethrowers Kushner, Rachel
    The Princess of Clèves La Fayette, Madame de
    Dangerous Liaisons Laclos, Pierre Choderlos de
    Nada Laforet, Carmen
    Barabbas Lagerkvist, Par
    Gösta Berling’s Saga Lagerlöf, Selma
    The Namesake Lahiri, Jhumpa
    Rickshaw Boy Lao, She
    Quicksand Larsen, Nella
    Passing Larsen, Nella
    The Diviners Laurence, Margaret
    Maldoror Lautréaumont, Comte de
    Sons and Lovers Lawrence, D.H.
    The Rainbow Lawrence, D.H.
    Women in Love Lawrence, D.H.
    The Fox Lawrence, D.H.
    Aaron’s Rod Lawrence, D.H.
    The Plumed Serpent Lawrence, D.H.
    Lady Chatterley’s Lover Lawrence, D.H.
    Independent People Laxness, Halldór
    The Dark Child Laye, Camara
    The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Le Carré, John
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Le Carré, John
    Smiley’s People Le Carré, John
    Uncle Silas Le Fanu, Sheridan
    In a Glass Darkly Le Fanu, Sheridan
    The Dispossessed Le Guin, Ursula K.
    Lost Language of Cranes Leavitt, David
    To Kill a Mockingbird Lee, Harper
    Cider With Rosie Lee, Laurie
    Solaris Lem, Stanislaw
    The Female Quixote Lennox, Charlotte
    The German Lesson Lenz, Siegfried
    City Primeval Leonard, Elmore
    La Brava Leonard, Elmore
    Get Shorty Leonard, Elmore
    A Hero of Our Times Lermontov, Mikhail Yurevich
    10:04 Lerner, Ben
    The Enchanted Wanderer Leskov, Nikolai
    The Grass is Singing Lessing, Doris
    The Golden Notebook Lessing, Doris
    Shikasta Lessing, Doris
    The Diary of Jane Somers Lessing, Doris
    Christ Stopped at Eboli Levi, Carlo
    If This Is a Man Levi, Primo
    If Not Now, When? Levi, Primo
    The Drowned and the Saved Levi, Primo
    Small Island Levy, Andrea
    The Monk Lewis, M.G.
    Monica Lewis, Saunders
    Main Street Lewis, Sinclair
    Babbitt Lewis, Sinclair
    Tarr Lewis, Wyndham
    The Childermass Lewis, Wyndham
    The Apes of God Lewis, Wyndham
    The Revenge for Love Lewis, Wyndham
    Self Condemned Lewis, Wyndham
    A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian Lewycka, Marina
    Pippi Longstocking Lindgren, Astrid
    The Unknown Soldier Linna, Vaino
    The Passion According to G.H. Lispector, Clarice
    The Hour of the Star Lispector, Clarice
    The Kindly Ones Littell, Jonathan
    The Call of the Wild London, Jack
    The Iron Heel London, Jack
    Martin Eden London, Jack
    The Twins Loo, Tessa de
    At the Mountains of Madness Lovecraft, H.P.
    Under the Volcano Lowry, Malcolm
    Dark as the Grave Wherein My Friend is Laid Lowry, Malcolm
    Romance of the Three Kingdoms Luo, Guanzhong
    Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit Lyly, John
    Fall on Your Knees MacDonald, Ann-Marie
    H is for Hawk Macdonald, Helen
    The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria
    Dom Casmurro Machado de Assis, Joaquim Maria
    Absolute Beginners MacInnes, Colin
    The Man of Feeling Mackenzie, Henry
    Wild Harbour MacPherson, Ian
    Midaq Alley Mahfouz, Naguib
    Miramar Mahfouz, Naguib
    Remembering Babylon Malouf, David
    Man’s Fate Malraux, André
    Faceless Killers Mankell, Henning
    Professor Unrat Mann, Heinrich
    Buddenbrooks Mann, Thomas
    Death in Venice Mann, Thomas
    The Magic Mountain Mann, Thomas
    Joseph and His Brothers Mann, Thomas
    Doctor Faustus Mann, Thomas
    Her Privates We Manning, Frederic
    The Garden Party Mansfield, Katherine
    Adjunct: An Undigest Manson, Peter
    The Betrothed Manzoni, Alessandro
    Embers Marai, Sandor
    All Souls Marias, Javier
    A Heart So White Marias, Javier
    Your Face Tomorrow Marias, Javier
    The Late-Night News Markaris, Petros
    Wittgenstein’s Mistress Markson, David
    Vanishing Point Markson, David
    Pavel’s Letters Maron, Monika
    Life of Pi Martel, Yann
    The Back Room Martin Gaite, Carmen
    Santa Evita Martinez, Tomas Eloy
    Time of Silence Martín-Santos, Luis
    Tirant lo Blanc Martorell, Joanot
    The Daughter Matesis, Pavlos
    Cigarettes Mathews, Harry
    Melmoth the Wanderer Maturin, Charles Robert
    The Albigenses Maturin, Charles Robert
    Of Human Bondage Maugham, W. Somerset
    Cakes and Ale Maugham, W. Somerset
    The Razor’s Edge Maugham, W. Somerset
    A Woman’s Life Maupassant, Guy de
    Bel-Ami Maupassant, Guy de
    Pierre and Jean Maupassant, Guy de
    Vipers’ Tangle Mauriac, Francois
    Don’t Move Mazzantini, Margaret
    A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing McBride, Eimear
    The Butcher Boy McCabe, Patrick
    Blood Meridian McCarthy, Cormac
    All the Pretty Horses McCarthy, Cormac
    They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? McCoy, Horace
    The Cement Garden McEwan, Ian
    The Comfort of Strangers McEwan, Ian
    The Child in Time McEwan, Ian
    Black Dogs McEwan, Ian
    Enduring Love McEwan, Ian
    Amsterdam McEwan, Ian
    Atonement McEwan, Ian
    Saturday McEwan, Ian
    Amongst Women McGahern, John
    That They May Face the Rising Sun McGahern, John
    Schooling McGowan, Heather
    The Heart of Redness Mda, Zakes
    Moby-Dick Melville, Herman
    Billy Budd, Foretopman Melville, Herman
    A Light Comedy Mendoza, Eduardo
    The Manila Rope Meri, Veijo
    Day of the Dolphin Merle, Robert
    American Rust Meyer, Philipp
    Fugitive Pieces Michaels, Anne
    Tropic of Cancer Miller, Henry
    Tropic of Capricorn Miller, Henry
    The Sound of Waves Mishima, Yukio
    The Sea of Fertility Mishima, Yukio
    The Romantics Mishra, Pankaj
    A Fine Balance Mistry, Rohinton
    Family Matters Mistry, Rohinton
    Cloud Atlas Mitchell, David
    Gone With the Wind Mitchell, Margaret
    The Pursuit of Love Mitford, Nancy
    Love in a Cold Climate Mitford, Nancy
    Crossfire Miyabe, Miyuki
    Chaka the Zulu Mofolo, Thomas
    Amadis of Gaul Montalvo, Garci Rodríguez de
    Watchmen Moore, Alan
    Anagrams Moore, Lorrie
    Like Life Moore, Lorrie
    A Gate at the Stairs Moore, Lorrie
    The Time of Indifference Moravia, Alberto
    Disobedience Moravia, Alberto
    A Ghost at Noon (aka Contempt) Moravia, Alberto
    Anton Reiser Moritz, Karl Philipp
    News from Nowhere Morris, William
    The Bluest Eye Morrison, Toni
    Sula Morrison, Toni
    Song of Solomon Morrison, Toni
    Beloved Morrison, Toni
    Jazz Morrison, Toni
    Down Second Avenue Mphahlele, Es’kia
    The Holder of the World Mukherjee, Bharati
    The Discovery of Heaven Mulisch, Harry
    Max Havelaar Multatuli
    Lives of Girls and Women Munro, Alice
    The Beggar Maid Munro, Alice
    The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Murakami, Haruki
    Sputnik Sweetheart Murakami, Haruki
    After the Quake Murakami, Haruki
    Kafka on the Shore Murakami, Haruki
    1Q84 Murakami, Haruki
    Almost Transparent Blue Murakami, Ryu
    The Tale of Genji Murasaki, Shikibu
    Under the Net Murdoch, Iris
    The Bell Murdoch, Iris
    A Severed Head Murdoch, Iris
    The Nice and the Good Murdoch, Iris
    The Black Prince Murdoch, Iris
    The Sea, The Sea Murdoch, Iris
    Inland Murnane, Gerald
    Young Törless Musil, Robert
    The Man Without Qualities Musil, Robert
    The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll Mutis, Alvaro
    Lolita Nabokov, Vladimir
    Pnin Nabokov, Vladimir
    Pale Fire Nabokov, Vladimir
    Ada Nabokov, Vladimir
    In A Free State Naipaul, V.S.
    A Bend in the River Naipaul, V.S.
    Enigma of Arrival Naipaul, V.S.
    The Guide Narayan, R.K.
    The Unfortunate Traveller Nashe, Thomas
    Kokoro Natsume, Soseki
    Memoirs of a Peasant Boy Neira Vilas, Xosé
    Suite Française Nemirovsky, Irene
    The River Between Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Petals of Blood Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Matigari Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Delta of Venus Nin, Anaïs
    Rituals Nooteboom, Cees
    All Souls Day Nooteboom, Cees
    Fear and Trembling Nothomb, Amélie
    Henry of Ofterdingen Novalis
    Them Oates, Joyce Carol
    Marya Oates, Joyce Carol
    Black Water Oates, Joyce Carol
    Blonde Oates, Joyce Carol
    The Country Girls O’Brien, Edna
    Girl With Green Eyes O’Brien, Edna
    August is a Wicked Month O’Brien, Edna
    In the Forest O’Brien, Edna
    At Swim-Two-Birds O’Brien, Flann
    The Poor Mouth O’Brien, Flann
    The Third Policeman O’Brien, Flann
    The Things They Carried O’Brien, Tim
    Wise Blood O’Connor, Flannery
    The Violent Bear it Away O’Connor, Flannery
    Everything That Rises Must Converge O’Connor, Flannery
    Pluck the Bud and Destroy the Offspring Oe, Kenzaburo
    The Talk of the Town O’Hanlon, Ardal
    The English Patient Ondaatje, Michael
    At Swim, Two Boys O’Neill, Jamie
    The Shipyard Onetti, Juan Carlos
    Burmese Days Orwell, George
    Keep the Aspidistra Flying Orwell, George
    Coming Up for Air Orwell, George
    Animal Farm Orwell, George
    Nineteen Eighty-Four Orwell, George
    Cataract Osadchyi, Mykhailo
    Metamorphoses Ovid
    Black Box Oz, Amos
    A Tale of Love and Darkness Oz, Amos
    Life is a Caravanserai Özdamar, Emine
    The Year of the Hare Paasilinna, Arto
    Manon des Sources Pagnol, Marcel
    Choke Palahniuk, Chuck
    The Laws Palmen, Connie
    Snow Pamuk, Orhan
    Life of Christ Papini, Giovanni
    The Manors of Ulloa Pardo Bazan, Emilia
    Land Park,, Kyŏng-ni
    Ballad for Georg Henig Paskov, Viktor
    The Ragazzi Pasolini, Pier Paulo
    Doctor Zhivago Pasternak, Boris
    Marius the Epicurean Pater, Walter
    Cry, the Beloved Country Paton, Alan
    The Harvesters Pavese, Cesare
    The Moon and the Bonfires Pavese, Cesare
    Dictionary of the Khazars Pavic, Milorad
    The Labyrinth of Solitude Paz, Octavio
    Nineteen Seventy Seven Peace, David
    Titus Groan Peake, Mervyn
    Gormenghast Peake, Mervyn
    The Clay Machine-Gun Pelevin, Victor
    The Life of Insects Pelevin, Victor
    Things: A Story of the Sixties Perec, Georges
    A Man Asleep Perec, Georges
    A Void Perec, Georges
    W, or the Memory of Childhood Perec, Georges
    Life: A User’s Manual Perec, Georges
    Fortunata y Jacinta Pérez Galdós, Benito
    Compassion Pérez Galdós, Benito
    The Dumas Club Pérez-Reverte, Arturo
    The Book of Disquiet Pessoa, Fernando
    Vernon God Little Pierre, D.B.C.
    Money to Burn Piglia, Ricardo
    One, No One and One Hundred Thousand Pirandello, Luigi
    The Bell Jar Plath, Sylvia
    The Trusting and the Maimed Plunkett, James
    The Fall of the House of Usher Poe, Edgar Allan
    The Pit and the Pendulum Poe, Edgar Allan
    The Purloined Letter Poe, Edgar Allan
    Here’s to You, Jesusa Poniatowska, Elena
    A Dance to the Music of Time Powell, Anthony
    Typical Powell, Padgett
    The Shipping News Proulx, E. Annie
    Remembrance of Things Past Proust, Marcel
    Pharoah Prus, Boleslaw
    Heartbreak Tango Puig, Manuel
    Kiss of the Spider Woman Puig, Manuel
    Eugene Onegin Pushkin, Alexander
    The Godfather Puzo, Mario
    Excellent Women Pym, Barbara
    Quartet in Autumn Pym, Barbara
    V. Pynchon, Thomas
    The Crying of Lot 49 Pynchon, Thomas
    Gravity’s Rainbow Pynchon, Thomas
    Vineland Pynchon, Thomas
    Mason & Dixon Pynchon, Thomas
    Against the Day Pynchon, Thomas
    Exercises in Style Queneau, Raymond
    Gargantua and Pantagruel Rabelais, François
    The Mysteries of Udolpho Radcliffe, Ann
    The Devil in the Flesh Radiguet, Raymond
    The Last World Ransmayr, Christoph
    The Story of O Réage, Pauline
    The Forest of the Hanged Rebreanu, Liviu
    All Quiet on the Western Front Remarque, Erich Maria
    Quartet Rhys, Jean
    Good Morning, Midnight Rhys, Jean
    Wide Sargasso Sea Rhys, Jean
    Interview With the Vampire Rice, Anne
    Pilgrimage Richardson, Dorothy
    Pamela Richardson, Samuel
    Clarissa Richardson, Samuel
    The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge Rilke, Rainer Maria
    Larva: Midsummer Night’s Babel Rios, Julian
    Jealousy Robbe-Grillet, Alain
    Home Robinson, Marilynne
    Cost Robinson, Roxana
    La Celestina Rojas, Fernando de
    Hadrian the Seventh Rolfe, Frederick
    The Devil to Pay in the Backlands Rosa, João Guimarães
    Love’s Work Rose, Gillian
    Call it Sleep Roth, Henry
    The Radetzky March Roth, Joseph
    Portnoy’s Complaint Roth, Philip
    The Breast Roth, Philip
    Operation Shylock Roth, Philip
    Sabbath’s Theater Roth, Philip
    American Pastoral Roth, Philip
    The Human Stain Roth, Philip
    The Plot Against America Roth, Philip
    Nemesis Roth, Philip
    Julie; or, the New Eloise Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
    Émile; or, On Education Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
    Reveries of a Solitary Walker Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
    Confessions Rousseau, Jean-Jacques
    Impressions of Africa Roussel, Raymond
    Locus Solus Roussel, Raymond
    The God of Small Things Roy, Arundhati
    The Tin Flute Roy, Gabrielle
    The Burning Plain Rulfo, Juan
    Grimus Rushdie, Salman
    Midnight’s Children Rushdie, Salman
    Shame Rushdie, Salman
    The Satanic Verses Rushdie, Salman
    The Moor’s Last Sigh Rushdie, Salman
    The Ground Beneath Her Feet Rushdie, Salman
    Fury Rushdie, Salman
    The Deadbeats Ruyslinck, Ward
    The 120 Days of Sodom Sade, Marquis de
    Justine Sade, Marquis de
    The Witness Saer, Juan Jose
    Contact Sagan, Carl
    Bonjour Tristesse Sagan, Françoise
    The Little Prince Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de
    Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem Salgari, Emilio
    Season of Migration to the North Salih, Tayeb
    The Catcher in the Rye Salinger, J.D.
    Franny and Zooey Salinger, J.D.
    The Devil’s Pool Sand, George
    Alberta and Jacob Sandel, Cora
    Baltasar and Blimunda Saramago, Jose
    The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis Saramago, José
    The History of the Siege of Lisbon Saramago, José
    The Double Saramago, José
    Cain Saramago, Jose
    Facundo Sarmiento, Domingo Faustino
    Nausea Sartre, Jean-Paul
    Pastoralia Saunders, George
    Murder Must Advertise Sayers, Dorothy L.
    The Nine Tailors Sayers, Dorothy L.
    The Swarm Schatzing, Frank
    The Reader Schlink, Bernhard
    None but the Brave Schnitzler, Arthur
    Memoirs of my Nervous Illness Schreber, Daniel Paul
    The Street of Crocodiles Schulz, Bruno
    To Each His Own Sciascia, Leonardo
    Rob Roy Scott, Sir Walter
    Ivanhoe Scott, Sir Walter
    The Monastery Scott, Sir Walter
    Vertigo Sebald, W.G.
    The Emigrants Sebald, W.G.
    The Rings of Saturn Sebald, W.G.
    Austerlitz Sebald, W.G.
    Transit Seghers, Anna
    Requiem for a Dream Selby, Jr. Hubert
    Great Apes Self, Will
    How the Dead Live Self, Will
    Death and the Dervish Selimovic, Mesa
    The Lonely Londoners Selvon, Sam
    God’s Bits of Wood Sembene, Ousmane
    The Case of Comrade Tulayev Serge, Victor
    A Suitable Boy Seth, Vikram
    Retreat Without Song Shahnour, Shahan
    An Obedient Father Sharma, Akhil
    Frankenstein Shelley, Mary
    The Water Margin Shi, Nai’an
    The Stone Diaries Shields, Carol
    Unless Shields, Carol
    A Town Like Alice Shute, Nevil
    Quo Vadis Sienkiewicz, Henryk
    Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Sillitoe, Chinua
    Downriver Sinclair, Iain
    London Orbital Sinclair, Iain
    Dining on Stones Sinclair, Iain
    Life and Death of Harriett Frean Sinclair, May
    The Jungle Sinclair, Upton
    The Magician of Lublin Singer, Isaac Bashevis
    The Manor Singer, Isaac Bashevis
    Animal’s People Sinha, Indra
    The Engineer of Human Souls Skvorecky, Josef
    The Forbidden Realm Slauerhoff, Jan Jacob
    Islands Sleigh, Dan
    The Accidental Smith, Ali
    There But For The Smith, Ali
    Winter Smith, Ali
    White Teeth Smith, Zadie
    On Beauty Smith, Zadie
    Roderick Random Smollett, Tobias George
    Peregrine Pickle Smollett, Tobias George
    Humphry Clinker Smollett, Tobias George
    The Port Šoljan, Antun
    One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr
    Cancer Ward Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr
    The First Circle Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr
    The Real Charlotte Somerville and Ross
    Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. Somerville and Ross
    Lady Number Thirteen Somoza, Jose Carlos
    Memento Mori Spark, Muriel
    The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Spark, Muriel
    The Girls of Slender Means Spark, Muriel
    The Driver’s Seat Spark, Muriel
    Mother’s Milk St Aubyn, Edward
    The Man Who Loved Children Stead, Christina
    Three Lives Stein, Gertrude
    The Making of Americans Stein, Gertrude
    The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas Stein, Gertrude
    Of Mice and Men Steinbeck, John
    The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck, John
    Cannery Row Steinbeck, John
    The Red and the Black Stendhal
    The Charterhouse of Parma Stendhal
    The Charwoman’s Daughter Stephens, James
    Cryptonomicon Stephenson, Neal
    Tristram Shandy Sterne, Laurence
    A Sentimental Journey Sterne, Laurence
    Treasure Island Stevenson, Robert Louis
    Kidnapped Stevenson, Robert Louis
    The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Stevenson, Robert Louis
    The Master of Ballantrae Stevenson, Robert Louis
    Indian Summer Stifter, Adalbert
    Dracula Stoker, Bram
    Uncle Tom’s Cabin Stowe, Harriet Beecher
    Couples, Passerby Strauss, Botho
    The Young Man Strauss, Botho
    The Red Room Strindberg, August
    The People of Hemsö Strindberg, August
    By the Open Sea Strindberg, August
    Perfume Süskind, Patrick
    The Pigeon Süskind, Patrick
    As a Man Grows Older Svevo, Italo
    Zeno’s Conscience Svevo, Italo
    Waterland Swift, Graham
    The Light of Day Swift, Graham
    A Tale of a Tub Swift, Jonathan
    Gulliver’s Travels Swift, Jonathan
    A Modest Proposal Swift, Jonathan
    The Beautiful Mrs Seidenman Szczypiorski, Andrzej
    Pereira Declares: A Testimony Tabucchi, Antonio
    The Home and the World Tagore, Rabindranath
    The Third Wedding Taktsis, Costas
    Some Prefer Nettles Tanizaki, Junichiro
    The Secret History Tartt, Donna
    The Goldfinch Tartt, Donna
    Blaming Taylor, Elizabeth
    Vanity Fair Thackeray, William Makepeace
    The Great Indian Novel Tharoor, Shashi
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Thompson, Hunter S.
    The Killer Inside Me Thompson, Jim
    Walden Thoreau, Henry David
    Cutter and Bone Thornburg, Newton
    The 13 Clocks Thurber, James
    The Wonderful “O” Thurber, James
    The Invention of Curried Sausage Timm, Uwe
    Pallieter Timmermans, Felix
    The Heather Blazing Tóibín, Colm
    The Master Tóibín, Colm
    The Hobbit Tolkien, J.R.R.
    The Lord of the Rings Tolkien, J.R.R.
    War and Peace Tolstoy, Leo
    Anna Karenina Tolstoy, Leo
    The Death of Ivan Ilyich Tolstoy, Leo
    The Kreutzer Sonata Tolstoy, Leo
    The Leopard Tomasi di Lampedusa, Giuseppe
    Confederacy of Dunces Toole, John Kennedy
    Cane Toomer, Jean
    City Sister Silver Topol, Jáchym
    The Ogre Tournier, Michael
    The Colour Tremain, Rose
    The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists Tressell, Robert
    Fools of Fortune Trevor, William
    Felicia’s Journey Trevor, William
    The Story of Lucy Gault Trevor, William
    Castle Richmond Trollope, Anthony
    The Last Chronicle of Barset Trollope, Anthony
    Phineas Finn Trollope, Anthony
    He Knew He Was Right Trollope, Anthony
    Summer in Baden-Baden Tsypkin, Leonid
    The Christmas Oratorio Tunstrom, Goran
    On the Eve Turgenev, Ivan
    Fathers and Sons Turgenev, Ivan
    King Lear of the Steppes Turgenev, Ivan
    Spring Torrents Turgenev, Ivan
    Virgin Soil Turgenev, Ivan
    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Twain, Mark
    The Museum of Unconditional Surrender Ugresic, Dubravka
    Kristin Lavransdatter Undset, Sigrid
    Rabbit, Run Updike, John
    Rabbit Redux Updike, John
    Rabbit is Rich Updike, John
    Pepita Jimenez Valera, Juan
    Our Lady of the Assassins Vallejo, Fernando
    Ancestral Voices van, Heerden, Etienne
    The Time of the Hero Vargas Llosa, Mario
    The Cubs and Other Stories Vargas Llosa, Mario
    The War of the End of the World Vargas Llosa, Mario
    The Feast of the Goat Vargas Llosa, Mario
    Z Vassilikos, Vassilis
    Under the Yoke Vazov, Ivan
    Southern Seas Vázquez Montalbán, Manuel
    The House by the Medlar Tree Verga, Giovanni
    Journey to the Centre of the Earth Verne, Jules
    Around the World in Eighty Days Verne, Jules
    The Birds Vesaas, Tarjei
    The Garden Where the Brass Band Played Vestdijk, Simon
    Froth on the Daydream Vian, Boris
    Myra Breckinridge Vidal, Gore
    Bartleby and Co. Vila-Matas, Enrique
    Conversations In Sicily Vittorini, Elio
    In Search of Klingsor Volpi, Jorge
    Candide Voltaire
    Cat’s Cradle Vonnegut, Kurt
    God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Vonnegut, Kurt
    Slaughterhouse Five Vonnegut, Kurt
    Breakfast of Champions Vonnegut, Kurt
    The Color Purple Walker, Alice
    The Temple of My Familiar Walker, Alice
    Possessing the Secret of Joy Walker, Alice
    Infinite Jest Wallace, David Foster
    Ben-Hur Wallace, Lew
    The Castle of Otranto Walpole, Horace
    Halftime Walser, Martin
    Morvern Callar Warner, Alan
    Indigo Warner, Marina
    Summer Will Show Warner, Sylvia Townsend
    After the Death of Don Juan Warner, Sylvia Townsend
    The House with the Blind Glass Windows Wassmo, Herbjorg
    Billy Liar Waterhouse, Keith
    Tipping the Velvet Waters, Sarah
    Fingersmith Waters, Sarah
    Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Watson, Winifred
    Decline and Fall Waugh, Evelyn
    Vile Bodies Waugh, Evelyn
    A Handful of Dust Waugh, Evelyn
    Brideshead Revisited Waugh, Evelyn
    The Graduate Webb, Charles
    The Time Machine Wells, H.G.
    The Island of Dr. Moreau Wells, H.G.
    The Invisible Man Wells, H.G.
    The War of the Worlds Wells, H.G.
    Tono-Bungay Wells, H.G.
    Trainspotting Welsh, Irvine
    The Optimist’s Daughter Welty, Eudora
    Miss Lonelyhearts West, Nathanael
    The Return of the Soldier West, Rebecca
    Harriet Hume West, Rebecca
    The Thinking Reed West, Rebecca
    The Birds Fall Down West, Rebecca
    The House of Mirth Wharton, Edith
    Ethan Frome Wharton, Edith
    Bunner Sisters Wharton, Edith
    Summer Wharton, Edith
    The Age of Innocence Wharton, Edith
    The Glimpses of the Moon Wharton, Edith
    A Boy’s Own Story White, Edmund
    The Beautiful Room is Empty White, Edmund
    The Living and the Dead White, Patrick
    The Tree of Man White, Patrick
    Voss White, Patrick
    The Once and Future King White, T.H.
    The Picture of Dorian Gray Wilde, Oscar
    Tarka the Otter Williamson, Henry
    No Laughing Matter Wilson, Angus
    I Thought of Daisy Wilson, Edmund
    Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Winterson, Jeanette
    The Passion Winterson, Jeanette
    Sexing the Cherry Winterson, Jeanette
    Written on the Body Winterson, Jeanette
    Insatiability Witkiewicz, Stanislaw Ignacy
    Thank You, Jeeves Wodehouse, P.G.
    The Quest for Christa T. Wolf, Christa
    Patterns of Childhood Wolf, Christa
    Look Homeward, Angel Wolfe, Thomas
    The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test Wolfe, Tom
    The Bonfire of the Vanities Wolfe, Tom
    Back to Oegstgeest Wolkers, Jan
    The Voyage Out Woolf, Virginia
    Night and Day Woolf, Virginia
    Jacob’s Room Woolf, Virginia
    Mrs. Dalloway Woolf, Virginia
    To The Lighthouse Woolf, Virginia
    Orlando Woolf, Virginia
    The Waves Woolf, Virginia
    The Years Woolf, Virginia
    Between the Acts Woolf, Virginia
    Native Son Wright, Richard
    Monkey: Journey to the West Wu, Cheng’en
    Day of the Triffids Wyndham, John
    The Midwich Cuckoos Wyndham, John
    Chocky Wyndham, John
    Half of Man is Woman Xianliang, Zhang
    Kitchen Yoshimoto, Banana
    Memoirs of Hadrian Yourcenar, Marguerite
    We Zamyatin, Yevgeny
    Thérèse Raquin Zola, Émile
    Drunkard Zola, Émile
    Nana Zola, Émile
    Germinal Zola, Émile
    La Bête Humaine Zola, Émile
    Gimmick! Zwagerman, Joost
    The Case of Sergeant Grischa Zweig, Arnold
    Amok Zweig, Stefan
    Chess Story Zweig, Stefan

     

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Cosmos Books Read 2020 Revised

    Close up of books on desk in library.
    Close up of books on desk in library.

     

     

     

     

     

    The 10 Best Books of 2020

    • A Children’s Bible. …
    • Deacon King Kong. …
    • Hamnet. A bold feat of imaging …
    • Homeland Elegies. …
    • The Vanishing Half. …
    • Hidden Valley Road. …
    • A Promised Land. …
    • Shakespeare in a Divided Ameri …
    • Uncanny Valley. …
    • War. This is a short book but …

    New York Public Library List

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Cosmos Fashion Influences

    And now for something completely different. First, the theatrical

    Napoleon Dynamite

    napoleen dynamite

    For those of you who do not know, this is from one of my all-time favorite movies, “Napoleon Dynamite.”
    You can see the comparison; the same hairstyle, but mine was darker and his hair was brown. Thanks to Matt Jacobson, who is part of my weekly Zoom sessions, which we have been having since May 2020. He is always finding great items, often embarrassing,  that he shares with his zoom buddies.  I thought that these were worthy of sharing on my blog and my FB page. It is a follow-up to my earlier posting on FB of the BOC photo below.

    As Wiki explains it,

    This article is about the film. If the television series based on the film, see Napoleon Dynamite (TV series). For the singer, see Elvis Costello.

    [1] https://en.wikipeNapoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American comedy film produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, Sean Covel, and Jory Weitz, written by Jared and Jerusha Hess and directed by Jared Hess. The film stars Jon Heder in the role of the title character who befriends a new student who emigrated from Mexico and assists him with his class presidential campaign, but Napoleon’s uncle, with whom he does not get along, has temporarily moved in to look after him while his grandmother recovers from an injury in the hospital.

    Heder was paid $1,000 for starring in the film but successfully negotiated to receive more after the film became a runaway success. The film was Hess’s first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca. Napoleon Dynamite was acquired at the Sundance Film Festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures,[2] who partnered up with MTV Films and Paramount Pictures for the release.[3] It was filmed in and near Franklin County, Idaho, in the summer of 2003. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2004. Most of the situations in the movie are loosely based on the life of Jared Hess. The film’s total worldwide gross revenue was $46,122,713.[4] The film has since developed a cult following[5][6] and was voted at number 14 on Bravo‘s 100 funniest movies.[7]

    For the rest of the wiki article read here:

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

    St Lucia True Story; a nice diplomatic memoir,

    Reminds me of a true story.  During today’s zoom meeting, my zoom buddies asked me to come up with a positive diplomatic story from back in the day rather than the various stories of death, and fraud that I had been sharing.  Then Matt sent the item above and I remembered a true story. Here it is. Back in 2008-2009 when I served as the St Lucia officer in charge of the U.S- St. Lucia, I got to know the opposition leader in St Lucia, who later became Prime Minister after I left.

    One day when we were clearing out office files, we found a picture of him with a 70’s” afro”. He was half black, half white, black father and white mother, I believe. At the time I knew him he was my age, and like me, had lost most of his youthful hair.

    I also had a picture, perhaps the same picture of me with a “Jewfro”,  which is what we called white boys with an “afro” back in the politically incorrect days of the ’70s.  On a trip to St Lucia, I presented him with both pictures. He said he loved it and we became good buddies.  He always took me out for a drink after that.

    Oy … the musical comparisons continue…

    ———  heh•heh•heh tr°°°

     

    The picture is from 1974, when I served as Student Body President at BHS. The girl who looks like Angela Davis is Joy McKinley, who served on the Board of Control which was the name of our student body student council.

     

    Finally, Sammy Davis immortal Candy Man

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYihDAhVPko  (click on Sammy)

    [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYihDAhVPko [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYihDAhVPko [3] http://www.youtube.com/

    the End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    baseball player
    baseball player

    Making Baseball Great Again – a Call for Bold Action to Save the Game

    Making Baseball Great Again – a Call for Bold Action to Save the Game 

    Now that the Covid pandemic is fading and life is returning to normal, it is a good time to step back and reflect upon the future of professional sports.

    American Professional sports, especially baseball, are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person, and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs because of costs, liability issues, and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.

    When I was a young lad, American sports comprised football, basketball, and baseball.  Everything else was just a minor sport!

    Unfortunately, baseball is now in fifth place – it is football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball.  And if things continue as they are going, baseball could soon be becoming a minor sport, falling behind tennis, golf, bowling, track, and field, or even after cricket, which is the fast-growing sport in the US.

    Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a ten-point plan to make American sports great again, particularly baseball. These apply also to Football and Basketball, but my focus here is on Baseball.

    My proposal consists of the following basic principles

    Making The Game Affordable!!!

    Expanding The Number of Professional Teams

    Real World Series 

    Adopting Local Schools and Colleges

    Requiring Professional Athletes To Have A Degree, And Helping Them Find Jobs After Retirement

    Bringing In More International Players

    Changing The Incentive Structure So Winning Means More Money Per Player, Losing Means Less Money Per Player

    Setting Up A North American Sports Commission 

    Allowing Corporations to Own Teams

    Expanding Broadcasting of Games So That One Could Watch Baseball 24/7 Anywhere In The World For Free or for a Small Monthly Fee

    Make The Games Gendered Neutral

    Getting Rid of Racist Legacies 

    Enhancing Security Including Health Checks

    Making The Game Affordable!!!

    We start by making the games affordable for the average person. These comments apply equally to all the major sports, but my focus is on baseball, my favorite professional sport. If one wanted to attend a professional game, one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium, and spend a minor fortune on food and drinks. Preposterous and unacceptable.

    Professional sports should cap the price of most tickets at 50 dollars per ticket. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 25 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars, and releasing free tickets an hour before the game start. Filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets is about 100 dollars a ticket if they can get one at all.  The goal should be to fill the stadium with fans who did not pay a fortune for the tickets and that the average price is very reasonable.  One reason that soccer is so popular is that it the cheapest professional sport to attend in person.

    Expanding the Number of Professional Teams

    I think there are too few professional teams. There is a market for baseball that is not being met. At a minimum, there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas, more than one team could compete, ice, NYC, LA, Chicago, SF Bay Area.

    First, a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, Cuba, and Venezuela, and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.

    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First, you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State, and in the baseball-playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real-world sport.

    Some obvious places could and should have a team. Anchorage, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City?  Boise, Phoenix, Tuscan? Tacoma, Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec City, there could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. This will replace the current two-league structure which should be retired.

    Each team would play mostly in its region with a few inter-league games per month for excitement,

    North American league

    Northwest League

    Southwest League

    Southeast League

    Northeast League

    Central League

    Caribbean/Mexican League

    Asia League

    European League

    Middle eastern league

    African league

    Latin America League

    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel, as they would mostly play against teams in their region. I would adjust the leagues a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.

    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF, San Jose, and Oakland.

    At the end of the season, the North American champion would be crowned, and that champion would advance to the world series, which will be held in the spring just before the beginning of the new season.

    And perhaps to start the season off on an international basis the season opening games should be international teams.  I.e. the SF Giants could host the Tokyo Giants for a best of seven game to start the season.

    Real World Series

    I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions through the team that won the national championship, and then the champions would compete in a world series of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series, they would represent North America in the world series and represent the US in the Olympics.  The location of the world series would vary among the 32 countries that have professional baseball leagues, but the US should host the first series, and perhaps offer to always host the finals, to ensure the world still associates the US as the home country of baseball and ensure that the US media and public fully engage with the world series.

    The games would be world cup style until the last set of games, which will be the traditional best of seven-game format.

    +Adopting  Local Schools and Colleges

    To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund all sports programs, not just baseball, thus alleviating the burden on the school district or college’s budget. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region, splitting the costs between the professional teams. The school districts and local colleges would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off-season. The student-athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free.

    This one action would guarantee that children have grown up playing sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money and generate a tremendous amount of goodwill.  Finally playing baseball for an MBL sponsored university would give the student-athlete preference is going to play for that team.

    Requiring Professional Athletes to have a Degree, And Helping Them Find Jobs After Retirement

    All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year.  While in college they would receive a full scholarship, housing, and a monthly stipend, and free tickets to all professional sports games, they would also work part-time as coaches in High schools in their communities.  These costs would be paid for by the local team.

    I would keep players in one team for five-year contracts to build fan support.  The typical baseball player would then play four years of HS baseball, four years of college baseball, and 3 contracts (15 years total) for up to three different teams, and few players would be able to do a fourth contract.

    Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involved with the game by assisting them in getting full-time employment as coaches across the country, or work for the baseball teams, or work as sports announcers. The key is that former players will remain professionallyengaged in promoting baseball after retiring from active service.

    Bring In International Players 

    With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players and letting US athletes play overseas, and encourage US players to play overseas during their time with the US-based team perhaps allowing them to play one season overseas while keeping their contract with the US-based team?

    Changing The Incentive Structure So Winning Means More Money Per Player, Losing Means Lots Let Money Per Player

    It seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the losing team getting their costs covered. This minor change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete.

    Setting Up a North American Sports Commission

    I would set up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – comprising the head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field, and Olympics. The commission would comprise player representatives, and owner representatives, and high school and college sports representatives.

    I would set up a Public-private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including the Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer, etc.

    Thus, the MLB would become one of the NASF commissioners, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be called the North American Professional Sports commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling, and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission comprising the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission. The  locl commisison would also encourage local teams to share facilities, broadcast revenues and share in the cost of running the local high school and college atheletic programs.

    Finally, the US champion team would compete in the Olympics and other international competitions representing the United States.

    Allowing Corporations to Own Teams

    In Asia, most sports teams are owned by corporations. I don’t see why we can’t do that in the U.S.   Unlike in Asia though the corporation would still have to name the team after the location instead of the corporation, unlike in Asia where the corporation’s name is associated with the team and not the location, for example, you could have Microsoft owning the Mariners, but the name of the team would be the Seattle Mariners, not the Microsoft mariners, but the corporate owner could name the stadium after the corporate name.

    Expanding Broadcasting Of Games So That One Could Watch Baseball 24/7 Anywhere In The World For Free Or For A Small Monthly Fee

    I would expand the MLB website, which would show every game worldwide streaming free.  The paid site would include access to past games, statistical analysis, and commentary, etc and links to the baseball sites around the world and also broadcast college baseball games.

    Make The Games Gendered Neutral

    It is time to allow girls to play baseball.  They can compete with the boys and should be allowed to play on the teams.  Perhaps we could have about 40 percent female players to start? Allowing woman players would also help grow the fan base as a woman would get interested in watching the games.

    Getting Rid of Racist Legacies

    I would change the names of all professional sports teams to get rid of racist names like the Indians and the Braves, and college-level names as well.

    Enhancing Security Including Health Checks

    Unfortunately, COVID will likely be sticking around and everyone will need booster shots every year. Baseball teams should offer free flu/covid and other vaccinations throughout the season and require patrons to wear masks during the early spring season (April and perhaps in October) as well. Certainly, all players and staff must get their flu and COVID shots to play.  Finally, baseball stadiums should encourage the use of public transit to get to and from the games to cut down on DUI’s  Perhaps offering free Uber rides home to anyone who drank too much and letting people park their cars overnight would help.

     

     

     

    Summary

    It is time to face reality, Baseball is no longer “America’s pastime”.  It is in fifth place!  And with the way things are going could become a minor sport but it is growing in popularity worldwide.  It is time for the good of the game and the good of the country for MLB to save baseball as America’s greatest sport.

    Taking these steps –

    Making the game affordable!!!

    Expanding the number of professional teams

    Real World Series 

    Adopting local schools and colleges

    Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them find jobs after retirement

    Bringing in More International Players

    Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, losing means less money per player

    Setting up a North American Sports Commission 

    Allowing Corporations to Own Teams

    Expanding broadcasting of games so that one could watch baseball 24/7 anywhere in the world for free or for a small monthly fee

    Make the games gendered neutral

    Getting rid of racist legacies 

    Enhancing security including health checks

    Would go a long way to solving the crisis facing American baseball. Doing nothing will end in baseball becoming a minor sport in its spiritual homeland.

    Note (Update) the Redskins just announced that they are finally getting rid of the racist redskin name.  MLB needs to get rid of the Indian, and Braves names and other racist names,  and come up with more inclusive names, especially for expansion teams.

    I sent the following to the Redskins owners today congratulating them on the long over-due move and suggesting the new names for their consideration, and these same names could be considered for MLB teams and college teams as well, and perhaps a non-English name as well.

    Dear  Mr. Synder

    Congratulations on finally doing the right thing and changing the racist name of your team. as a part native American- Cherokee) and a long suffering fan of the Redskins, i thought that it was long over due. Perhaps  the laws of Karma will kick in and reward you with a winning season and perhaps a super bowl bid.  In any event here are my suggestions for new names follows, perhaps you might want to consider a bilingual name as well:

    the Presidents 
    the governors
    Senators (revival of an old name)
    Belt way Bandits
    the politicians
    the swamp monsters
    Contractors 
    Bureaucrats
    the pundits
    the barons
    the lords
    the gladiators
    the judges
    the lawyers
    Coyotes
    the pumas
    mountain lions
    cougars
    Wolves
    los lobos (wolves)
    Los canines (dogs)
    Dogs
    Wild Cats
    los gatos (cats)
    Sharks
    Devils
    Monsters
    Goblins
    Govbots
    Piranha
    Code talkers
    Red tails
    Yellow jackets
    Hawks
    sharks
    orcas
    killer whales
    Vultures
    Hornets
    Tornados

    Enhancing security including health checks 

    MLB parks should institute enhanced security checks including temperature checks, and anyone who fails the test should be denied entry.  This should continue even after the covid crisis is over and during the cold and flu season – October to February, everyone, including players, should be required to wear a mask while at the game park.

    Make Baseball Great Again 

    The MLB teams should get together with the players associations and adopt opt these principles and if they do and relaunch the 2021 season according to these principles there is a strong chance that baseball will continue to be as popular as Football and Basketball and not become a minor sport.

    If the MLB continues the way they are going in ten years MLB will be a minor sport in the United States trailing after Cricket. As a life long SF Giants fan I hope that will never happen.  The ball is your court, so play ball and make Baseball Great again.

    NBA

    https://www.nhl.com/

    https://www.mlb.com/

    https://www.nfl.com/

    Prior submission

    American Professional sports are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs due to costs, liability issues and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.

    Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a solution.

    Making the game affordable!!!

    We start by making the games affordable for the average person. My ire is directed against the NFL but my comments apply equally to all the major sports. Right now, if one wanted to attend a professional game one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium and spend a small fortune for food and drinks. Totally preposterous in my opinion.

    I call upon the NFL to end the practice of only selling high price season tickets to a select few. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 10 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars. Thereby filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets are about 100 dollars a ticket if one can be obtained at all.

    Expanding number of professional teams

    I think that there are too few professional teams. There is a market for football that is not being met. At a minimum there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas more than one team could compete.

    There are some obvious places that could and should have a team. Sacramento, California? Portland, Oregon? Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City? There could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico and merge with the Canadian football league as well.

    The season should be extended as well so that there are 25 to 30 season games prior to the play offs.

    Expanding Overseas

    I would expand the NFL franchise worldwide setting up a real league in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Why not? This would apply to baseball, basketball, hockey as well as Football.

    Real Super Bowl

    I would make the super bowl a real super bowl. I would take the best teams of each of the regional leagues and have them compete with the top two teams playing in the Super Bowl. There is no reason why this could not become the biggest game of the year across the world.

    World Cup Baseball

    I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.

    World Cup for Basketball

    I would change the way the way that Basketball selects their champions. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of basketball held in the summer. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.

    World Cup for Hockey

    For hockey I would expand the number of teams playing professionally, and expand overseas as well. The top teams would compete for a world cup of hockey to be played in early Summer.

    Changing the World Cup for Soccer to a once a Year format

    I would change how teams are selected to play in the world cup. Each soccer playing nation would select their national champion who would then compete in an annual world cup. For example, DC United might win the North American series then compete in the World cup to represent North America, and they would also compete in the Olympics.

    Adopting local schools and colleges

    To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund sports programs. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region. The school districts would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off season. The student athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free. This one action would guarantee that children grown up having the opportunity to play sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money, and generate a tremendous amount of good will.
    Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them
    Find jobs after retirement

    All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year. I would make the standard contract five years so that players really become part of their communities.

    With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players as well as letting US athletes play overseas as well.

    Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involve with the game by assisting them in getting full time employment as coaches across the country.

    Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means lots lets money per player

    Right now, it seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the loosing team getting their costs covered. This little change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete

    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    My thoughts on the dismal state of Baseball and what can be done to bring it back. I sent this letter off to MLB but they never responded. Their lost.

    Letter to MLB

    Commissioner
    Baseball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are baseball fans. The solution is for MLB to take bold steps to restore Baseball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
    Here’s my proposal to turn MLB around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
    There are four basic elements to my proposal.
    First a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the baseball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
    Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
    Northwest League
    Southwest League
    South East League
    Northeast League
    Central League
    And Caribbean/Mexican League
    Asia League
    European League
    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
    The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
    There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in Sacramento and San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and Portland.
    At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
    Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
    To grow baseball’s future fan, base each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding baseball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
    This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their baseball programs.
    MLB would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And MLB would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that MLB values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
    I think that the NFL, and NBA should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
    So, MBA should step up to the plate and say,
    If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and well be the right thing to do.
    Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
    Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan, base each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making baseball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free baseball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
    Fourth a world cup format would replace the world series.
    All countries that play baseball would be invited to participate in the world cup of baseball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of baseball.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With this modest proposal enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    If the MLB were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
    Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that MLB will continue to expand and prosper.
    Thank you
    Jake Aller
    Life time SF Giant and Oakland A’s fan

    Letter to NFL
    I write the following letter to the NFL commissioner
    NFL Commissioner:
    Now that the NFL has approved the Raiders move to Las Vegas, it is time to consider an ambitious NFL expansion program.
    The NFL is facing a crisis in a few years. More and more schools and colleges are dropping football programs due to costs, liability issues and the perceived danger of the sport.

    Attending a football game is a prohibitive expense for most people. And most people think that the NFL owners are out of touch billionaires who don’t care about the community, and don’t care about the welfare of the players.

    Because of these issues the fan base has begun to shrink and will continue to shrink. People have options in their sports entertainment and fewer are opting to spend it watching football.

    The NFL must combat these issues and the best way to do is through an expansion program, coupled with plans to make games more affordable and community outreach programs including fully funding football programs at local schools and colleges.

    If the NFL caries out these reforms, the game will continue to prosper. If the NFL does not, then football will decline and become a minor sport.

    Regarding the expansion program, the NFL should rename itself the North American Football League and merge with the Canadian Football league and then set up teams in Mexico and the Caribbean. Domestically the NFL should ensure that almost every state has at least one NFL team, and many states will have multiple teams. Perhaps 75 in total.

    At a minimum, I would make sure that SF/Oakland has a team again, Sacramento has a team, Portland Oregon, and has a team as well as all the other major cities that do not have teams currently. The Dakotas should have only one team, and perhaps Rhode Island could share a team with Delaware. NYC perhaps could have five teams, Chicago an additional team.

    Mexico could have five to ten teams, Canada could have five to ten teams, and there should be teams in the DR, PR, Virgin Islands, and Guam.

    Then the NFL should set up an European league, (with UK teams) and an Asian-Pacific league with teams from India, China to Japan.

    The schedule should be expanded to start in July and end in January. Game days should be Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday to allow for expanded travel.

    The North American League should be sub-divided into five zones NE, NW, SW, SE, and Mexico, Caribbean.

    Teams would compete within their zones until the play offs with a few inter league games per season.

    Along with this I would suggest that the NFL set up a World Cup for Football and replace the Super bowl with an American Bowl followed by World Cup championship perhaps every four years. The way the new super bowl would work is that each country that plays American football would send their championship teams to the Super bowl. There are about 10 to 20 countries that play American style football. the idea would be a round robin with the champions of each nation competing with the two finalists going one on one.

    For the first super bowl the North American champions would host it, then afterwards the North American team would have to compete for the bowl slot. The major difference between the super bowl and the world cup would be that there would not be national teams competing rather each country would send their top winning team which wins their national championship forward.

    I would also suggest that the NFL create a formal partnership with local Universities and local school districts. The NFL teams could adopt local high schools and colleges where they would provide support, training, tickets and scholarships to students to play football at college. the support for the local schools would be covering the cost of having local football teams at each high school in the districts that are nearest the host affiliate.

    The cost of having football programs at high school and colleges is prohibitive for many districts and smaller colleges which inhibit the growth and development of the game. You have to grow fans by growing players and support at the local level. It is time that the NFL show some real leadership to develop the game that we all love.

    The top graduating students from those local colleges would be invited to compete each year to join the local NFL affiliate. And I would require that all college athletics competing to join a NFL team must graduate before being able to play. Having a graduation rule would send a very positive signal that the NFL really supports the idea of the student athletic program and would guarantee that those players who only play one or two seasons at least have their college degree behind them.

    Doing this community outreach on a major scale will help tremendously expand the base for football and grow new generations of fans. The cost would be modest but the payoff would be tremendous.

    The final part of the outreach program should be making attending a game affordable again. To be frank attending a game is a huge expense for most people. I would reserve 25 percent of tickets for same day sales at a deep discount with tickets being given out for free just before the game. And I would ensue that 10 percent of the tickets cost 10 dollars each. I would also sponsor free tickets for various groups including nursing homes, veteran groups and community groups at each game.

    This will fill the stadiums, increase revenue and increase the excitement of the game making attending a game affordable again.

    A final point, the NFL should partner with the local cities, and other sports teams to build and maintain a world class multi-use stadium. There is no reason why the stadium could not be shared by the other sports teams, colleges and school districts. And be made available for special events. The city should own and manage the facility but a board of directors with representatives from the various other teams, universities and high schools should be on the board of directors. The stadium should also feature mostly local brands. The cost of building the stadium should be jointly shared but the NFL should pay the lion’s share of the cost as a good will gesture.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    I believe that if the NFL adopts such a comprehensive far reaching expansion program the sport would become the world dominating sport it should be.
    I welcome your comments.

    Letter to the NBA
    Dear Commissioner,
    Basketball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are basketball fans. The solution is for NBA to take bold steps to restore basketball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
    Here’s my proposal to turn NBA around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
    There are five basic elements to my proposal.
    First a dramatic expansion of basketball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the basketball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
    Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
    Northwest League
    Southwest League
    South East League
    Northeast League
    Central League
    And Caribbean/Mexican League
    Asia League
    European League
    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
    The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
    There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and elsewhere. The goal would be that every state would have at least one professional basketball team to root for. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
    At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
    Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
    To grow basketball’s future fan base, each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding basketball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
    This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their basketball programs.
    The NBA would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And the NBA, and other professional sports leagues, would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that NBA values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
    I think that the NFL, MLB, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis and Golfing should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
    So, the NBA should step up to the plate and say,
    If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and is the right thing to do.
    Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
    Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan base, each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making basketball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free basketball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
    Fourth, a world cup format would replace the NBA Championship Game.
    All countries that play basketball would be invited to participate in the world cup of basketball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of basketball.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    If the NBA were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
    Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that NBA will continue to expand and prosper.
    Thank you

    Jake Aller
    Life time Golden State Warriors fans

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

     Writer Egg Magazine in Bristol, England has published some more of my Corona Virus poems.

    corona virus revised
    Corona Virus is Not God’s Punishment
    Corona Ghosts

    Corona Virus Poems
    Corona Virus Pandemic Thoughts

    corona virus poems google search

    writer Egg magazine has published the following Corona theme poems in issue number 4 and issue number 5 which drops December 1, 2020.

    Good Morning!

    I hope you’re all as excited as we are!

    We are so honoured to have you as a creative on our fifth magazine!

    Please see attached your special coupon to say a massive thank you! This
    can only be used on the fifth issue of the magazine which will be
    available on 1st December, so save the date in your diary!

    Now is the perfect time to share on social media about the upcoming
    issue. Please remember to add us into your posts and use these hashtags
    #imawritersegg #eggsrus #writerseggmagazine #WEMcreate #WEMfamily.

    Please remember, if you haven’t already done so, send us all the
    important information needed which was sent with your Notice of
    Acceptance Letter, by midnight tonight. If we do not receive this
    information in time, unfortunately we will have to take your pieces out
    of this issue, but we will keep your pieces on file for issue #6!

    If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us. By
    Monday, we will have posted your names and social media handles onto our
    Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you wish for me not to do this then
    please let me know.

    As previously mentioned, we will also be adding your bios and pictures
    onto the website, again, please let me know if you would prefer we
    didn’t do this.

    Hope to hear from you soon!

    Kind Regards

    Index

    Corona Virus Stalks Me
    News is still grim
    Mad Mask Fears  -content tracing Dante Inferno  Canto one Line 1 to 3
    Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
    General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
    Corona Ghosts Stalk the President

    Corona Virus Stalks Me

     

     

    the dreaded coronavirus
    led by the demented general Corona,
    seems to be stalking me
    everywhere I go

    images of the dead
    come to life
    accusing me of something
    as they fade in and out of view

    ghostly images fill\ my fogged up glasses
    as i walk down the street
    hidden deep inside my masks

    and I fear everyone
    which is of course
    part of the corona virus’s
    evil’s plan
    to drive us all mad
    sending us to hell

    News is still grim

    cnn logo
    cnn logo

    watching the daily news
    the constant doom and gloom
    makes me want to cry

    and hide  away

    waiting

    waiting

    waiting

    for the end of the news
    and a return to normal

    but that seems
    like a distant dream

    perhaps it is our fate
    perhaps it will be over

    perhaps it will never
    be over

    and the news drones
    on
    and
    on

    and
    on

    overwhelming
    me

    with
    cosmic
    dread

    Mad Masks Fears Corona Sonnet Form

    no masks
    no masks

     

    I don’t understand
    this fear of wearing a mask
    somehow making you weak

    that wearing a mask
    is a political statement

    “Midway upon the journey of our life
    I found myself with a forest dark
    for the straightforward pathway had been lost”

    THE  THOUGHT COMES      TO MIND

    WHAT        IS      WRONG     WITH          THESE       PEOPLE

    ALL

    LOST

    THEIR

    MINDS

    content tracing Dante Inferno  Canto one Line 1 to 3

    Wearing a Mask is not a political statement

    masked woman
    masked woman

     

     

     

     

     

    to my friends in America
    and around the world
    to those who think
    that somehow the coronavirus
    only infects other people
    that it is all a liberal hoax ,
    overblown
    nothing more than a bad flu
    and nothing to do with me
    demanding that we all go
    back to work

    what is wrong with you?
    have you lost your humanity?
    will millions have to die
    so you can have a Big Mac?
    so you can have a Big Mac
    and a beer
    whenever you damn, please

    and no one can tell you
    please wear a mask
    have you lost all reason
    is it all now
    about owning the dems
    and the damn libtards
    is there any thing left
    in your cold, greedy heart?

    and you still proclaim
    that you are Christian
    as you violate all the Christian principles
    what would Jesus do

    what would Jesus do
    what does the bible say
    we should do
    in the midst of this pandemic
    is it the Christian thing to do
    to let millions of people die
    did not Christ talk about love
    compassion and mercy
    would not Jesus
    wear a mask
    to protect himself
    and others
    from this ravaging disease
    that does not care

    who you are
    who you voted for
    which church you go to
    and Jesus and God
    are not there
    watching all of us
    as the virus spreads

    it will affect you
    sooner or later
    and when it does
    perhaps if you had worn
    a mask
    you might have prevented
    a few more people
    have died

    a few more people
    including your grandfather
    grandmother
    friend
    relative might be alive
    if you were not such
    a self- centered person
    and I appeal to you my friend
    to grow up, become a member
    of the human race again

    also published in Plethora Magazine in India

    General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, a crown of sonnets

    corona
    corona

    General Corona leads his forces across the world
    riding on a black horse
    from out of the Apocalypse
    ride the four horsemen
    which are let loose upon the world

    He leads his forces across the world
    into battle as the leader of his evil forces
    The enemy of humanity

    General Corona, he does not care
    nor does his virus minions care
    about your nationality, he does not care
    about your politics, he does not care
    or your wealth or who you are
    for all you are nothing but humanity

    the corona general sees humanity
    as nothing but hosts for his virus army
    chanting death to humanity
    until his evil army
    sweeps throughout the world
    throughout the world
    and millions must die

    it is the will of the general all must die
    and it is the end of the world
    or perhaps the beginning of a new world
    filled with hope and love through out the world
    humanity comes alive throughout the world
    fighting back against the virus army
    peace, love and compassion defeats the army
    and general corona will finally himself die

    Corona Ghosts Haunting the President

    corona virus
    corona virus

    The corona ghosts are angry
    Watching the news every day
    In limbo land

    The corona ghosts decide
    To pay the president a visit
    To show him the humans
    Who have died

    Due to his incompetence
    And lack of leadership
    175,000 Corona ghosts
    Descend upon the white house

    At midnight
    And surround the president
    Screaming at him

    Saying look at me
    Look at me

    You did this
    You did it
    You Mr. President

    You are not the smartest man
    In the world
    Far from it

    It is all on you
    And you will soon
    Be joining us

    Be afraid
    Your time is up
    General corona
    Is on the march

    And he has you
    In his sights

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    81 Words Anthology

    The End

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    grimm reaper
    grimm reaper

    Halloween Challenge

    13 Poems
    By
    Jake Cosmos Aller

    note: these poems were written as part of the Local Gems Halloween Chapbook competition and have been selected for publication.

    dark poetry

    Local Gems Press

    https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/#:~:text=Local%20Gems%20Press%20is%20dedicated%20to%20providing%20quality,used%20to%20change%20the%20world%20for%20the%20better.

    Index

    Day One October 19, 2020 Contemplating The Falling Leaves Of Autumn
    Day 2 October 2020 Nightmares Scenes From A Hellish Nightmare
    Day 3 October 21, 2020 Maid Laird Strikes Again Tanka (Halloween Challenge Day 3)
    Day 4 October 22, 20202 Ghost Poem Corona Ghosts March On WH Demanding Justice
    Day 5, October 23, 2020 Ekphrastic Challenge The Grim Reaper Comes For Us
    Day 6 October 24, 2020 Pumpkin Patch Great Pumpkin Rises Again
    Day 7 October 25., 2020 Haunted House The Haunted House At The End Of The World
    Day 8 October 26, 2020– The Door Slammed Loudly I Was Home Alone
    Day 9 October 27, 2020 Dark Prophecy-Fascism Comes To America – Halloween Challenge Day 9
    Day 10, October 28, 2020 My Mother’s Secrets Conversation With A Ghost -Halloween Contest Day 10 Spooky Conversation
    Day 11, October 29, 2020 Costume Halloween Party From Hell
    Day 12 October 30, 2020 Halloween Costume Party
    Day 13, October 31, 2020 Trick or Treating In The Era Of Covid

    Day One October 19, 2020
    Contemplating the Falling Leaves of Autumn

     

    Walking the path
    In the forest near my house
    Every day I see the changing colors
    Of the fall season

    Always a time for reflection
    For contemplation
    Thinking about the past
    And the future

    As I contemplate each step
    The vivid colors of the fall
    a forecast of the coming winter
    peaking about my birthday
    contemplation of life

    and the path I have taken
    looking at the love of my life
    fills me joy and laughter
    dispelling the moodiness
    of the fall season

    Day 2 October 2020 Nightmares
    Scenes from a Hellish Nightmare

     

    Note: From a real nightmare End Note

    I am in a room
    Drinking at a party
    And smoking weed
    Drinking up a storm
    20 drinks too sober
    Watching people all around me

    Change into hideous creatures
    Monsters from the deepest depths of hell
    Everyone in the room
    Has been transformed except me

    The Chief of them all
    Wears a Trumpian mask
    Complete with orange hair
    Half-human half pig

    His deputy
    Wears the face of Putin
    But his body
    Half-human, half-horse,

    The other creatures wear masks
    Many of them wear
    Green Pepe the alt-right
    Symbolic frog masks

    And have T-shirts
    Bearing alt right slogans
    And Nazi symbols

    And as they prance about
    They chant alt. Right slogans
    And neo-Nazi chants
    Jews will not replace us

    And the rest of these creatures
    Are hideous ugly beasts
    Apes, cannibals, demons, dwarfs,
    Goblins, leprechauns, Imps, monsters, orcs,
    Pirates, satyrs, werewolves, Zombies,

    With only a vestige of humanity left
    And these monsters are engaged
    In all sorts of foul evil deeds

    Murder violence death
    All around ,
    And non-stop
    violent drug-fueled orgies

    As these creatures
    Half-human, half-monsters,
    Half-male, half-female creatures

    Snort coke, cocaine, speed
    Drop acid, Smoke weed
    drink vodka shots
    Scotch, bourbon, beer

    The Trumpian Pig leads the charge
    Starts engaging in sodomy with Putin
    Who chases after people
    Cutting off their heads with his sword

    They turn on to their fellow creatures
    Raping and killing each other
    and eating their fellow creatures
    All night long

    Then they attack me
    Screaming
    Jews will not replace us

    And I wake up
    Screaming
    As the sun comes up
    Just another nightmare

    Day 3 October 21, 2020
    Maid Laird Strikes Again Tanka (Halloween Challenge Day 3)

     

    walking the Scottish Moors
    Sam encounters the mad laird
    The mad laird haunting
    Stalking the lone hikers
    Killing them cut off their heads

    Day 4 October 22, 20202 Ghost Poem Corona Ghosts March on WH Demanding Justice

     

    corona
    corona

    The corona ghosts meet up in Limbo
    One million corona ghosts
    From all over the world

    The corona ghosts are angry
    Their voices not heard
    Just echoes in the wind

    They decide to manifest themselves
    To haunt the WH, the congress
    The state capitols
    The world capitols
    In a one day massive
    Corona ghost protest

    The corona ghosts swarm the WH
    Overwhelming the secret service
    Demanding to meet the president

    He came out
    Met with them

    General Corona appeared
    And the President
    Joined the Corona ghosts

    In the end
    Just another Corona ghost

    Day 5, October – 23, 2020 Ekphrastic Challenge
    The Grim Reaper comes for us

     

    grimm reaper
    grimm reaper

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sam Adams knew that his time was up
    He knew for he had a forewarning

    In his dream, he saw the Grim reaper
    Waiting for him
    Along highway 666

    Beckoning him to join him
    On the back of his cursed Harley
    To ride down the highway to hell

    Sam got up
    Got his will updated
    Looked at his wife
    One last time

    Prayed to the gods
    All of them
    To send him to the other place

    Rather that the hell
    That the grim reaper
    Had promised him

    There was a knock on the door
    A telegram had arrived

    It said
    Your appointment for judgment
    Is today

    You may end up in the other place
    Be prepared and be afraid
    Your ride arrives at midnight

    At midnight
    The grim reaper
    Dressed in black leather
    Arrived on his cursed Harley

    Said your ride awaits
    Fortunate one

    We are going to limbo
    Where you will wait
    With the others
    To hear your fate

    And away they went
    Down the celestial highway
    Bypassing highway 666
    Exiting in limbo

    He walked into a huge hallway
    Thousands of people milling around

    He looked up at the signs
    Welcome to Limbo
    No talking
    No smoking
    No phone usage – no reception anyway

    Wait your turn
    For your judgment date
    The hour is late
    But you will learn your fate
    On this your cosmic judgment date

    His number is called
    He walks up
    The angel bureaucrat
    Dressed in a Mr. Smith black suit
    Holds a hand-held computer

    His life flashes on the screen
    65 years condensed
    Into a one minute video

    An amber light flashes
    The bureaucrat reads the judgment

    Mr. Sam Adams
    You are given five more years
    Get your act together

    Do good deeds
    When you come back
    You will face one last judgment

    He walks outside
    A taxi awaits
    Takes him home

    He wakes up
    Drinks coffee with his wife
    And the day resumes

    Day 6 October 24, 2020 Pumpkin Patch –
    Great Pumpkin Rising again

     

    great pumpkin
    great pumpkin

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Lonely Linus sits in his pumpkin patch
    With snoopy his faithful delusional dog
    Waiting for the Great Pumpkin

    An annual ritual
    Only Linus knows
    That the Great Pumpkin exists

    No one else knows
    No one else cares
    Linus prepares for another night

    Then the great pumpkin arises
    A ghostly spirit
    Comes out of the moonlight

    Who dare calls me
    The great pumpkin demands
    Who is ready to die?

    It is I, Linus, your biggest supporter
    Tell me oh Great Pumpkin
    What is your wish?

    The great pumpkin growls
    Tell your folks to vote
    Time for the orange man to meet his doom

    The great pumpkin laughs
    His visage appears
    On the TV networks

    The great pumpkin demands
    President Trump
    Time to meet your maker

    And dispatches General Corona
    To finish the job
    Linus is given his heart’s desires

    To become a great man
    Lord of all he surveys
    With Snoopy by his side

    The great pumpkin smiles
    Giving a ride to Linus who rides into the future ,
    On the back of the great pumpkin

    Day 7 October 25., 2020 Haunted House
    The Haunted House at the End of the World

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    There is an old long-abandoned ruined house
    On the edge of a forest in the hills,
    About an hour out of the town of Medford
    Overlooking the Rogue River valley

    The house was once a mansion
    But over time it became semi-ruined
    The old man who lived there
    Became a hermit seldom going out

    No one really knew him
    He kept to himself

    Then one day
    General corona came for a visit
    The old man became nothing
    But another corona ghost

    The house continued standing looking out
    On the hill overlooking the valley
    Now filled with corona ghosts
    As General Corona wiped out,
    The entire valley of all humanity

    Day 8 October 26, 2020– The Door Slammed Loudly I Was Home Alone

    I was all alone
    Watching the morning news
    Filled with omens, Dangerous thoughts, Nightmarish reality, A thousand people a day dying, Fires burning, Storms churning, Black lives dying, Protestors clashing
    Election day looming, End of the world feelings

    The door slammed loudly
    I yell out

    Who’s there

    Nothing but corona ghosts
    Crying in the wind

    Day 9 October 27, 2020 Dark Prophecy-Fascism Comes to America – Halloween Challenge Day 9

     

    Back in 2016 when I was traveling
    Across the country with my wife
    I had a series of darkly prophetic dreams
    I dreamt that Donald Trump would be elected
    And usher in a slide towards fascism

    And unfortunately, I was right
    So, what are my dreams telling me now
    What are my prophetic nightmares
    Will they come true again?

    I dream that Donald Trump was anointed
    By the Supreme Court which ruled
    That given the potential for fraud
    All mail in ballots would be tossed aside
    And Donald Trump who had lost the popular vote
    Once again won in the electoral college

    He vowed retribution against his enemies
    The fake media and the millions of people
    Who dared to vote against him

    He called upon his supporters
    To go forth and rough up
    Fuck up as he put it
    Liberals and anti-Americans

    Declared martial law
    Protests would be illegal
    The military would enforce the decree
    And they did sending troops across the land

    Declared that the democratic party
    Was anti-American
    And he would not allow them
    To serve in Congress, or the Senate

    The SC refused to rule against him
    Thus fascism came to America

    And my dark prophecy came true

    Day 10, October 28, 2020 My Mother’s Secrets Conversation With A Ghost -Halloween Contest Day 10 Spooky Conversation

    My mother died in 2007
    We buried her in Berkeley
    Near her house

    Whenever I am in the area
    I drop by
    And talk with her
    Imaging she is there

    One day when I dropped by
    I asked her about
    Many things in her past
    For she took so many secrets
    With her to her grave

    So Mary, quite contrary
    Tell me the truth now
    Tell me about your past life
    Tell me your secrets

    I heard a voice
    Crying out in the wind
    John John John
    Do you want to really know
    My secrets?

    I responded
    Yes I do
    She whispered them to me
    But made me vow
    To keep her secrets
    And take them to my grave

    And so I can not
    Must not reveal
    All the shocking stories
    Of her life

    She told me that I needed
    To also talk to my father
    For he too had secrets
    To tell me

    I told her
    That I would at some point
    Make a visit
    To the family grave
    In Yakima

    And finally learn
    The family secrets
    They should have told me
    While they were alive

    Day 11, October 29, 2020
    Halloween Poem Costumes from Hell

     

    artoon-devil-satan-businessman-suit-450w-49
    artoon-devil-satan-businessman-suit-450w

    I am at a Halloween party
    Everyone is wearing a costume
    Including me
    I am dressed like an ancient King
    My wife is dressed as the angel she is
    The party turns wild
    Everyone is getting high
    Drinking up a storm
    Smoking weed
    Snorting coke
    Dropping acid
    The music is wild and crazy
    Then through the fog of it all
    I see the devil
    Parading in front of the crowd
    Screaming death
    To all democrats
    Trump and Putin appear together
    Running into the crowds
    The crowd chatting lock him up
    Lock him up
    Biden is paraded in front
    Of the blood thirsty crowd
    The devil yells off with his head
    Putin and Trump
    Behead him
    Screaming like escaped banshees
    I try to wake up from this nightmare
    Realizing it is all live
    On CNN
    And I am dead
    The world has ended
    Evil has triumphed
    Once again

    Day 12 Halloween Costume Party

    I am at a Halloween costume party
    Dressed like an ancient laird
    Angela is dressed in a red devil custom
    And we are having a good time

    Everyone is getting wild
    And frisky
    Soon the mood turns dark
    And foul

    Bad craziness fills the room
    The devil makes his appearance
    And we realize
    We are all doomed
    To end our life

    At this party
    Where we all become
    Children of the damn

    Day 13, October 31, 2020 Trick or Treating In The Era Of Covid

     

    Halloween in the era of covid
    So strange
    With the covid virus
    Ever lurking
    With CDC discouraging trick or tweeting
    With masks on every face
    Everyone wearing a costume
    The trick is not to get sick
    The treat is still the candy
    The goal of all children
    Everywhere
    Candy more candy
    Visits to the dentist be damned
    Hopefully General Corona
    Will keep his troops at bay

    Bonus Poems

    vault 56 words pensively 101 prompt

    I have a secret vault in my mind
    It is a dark corner of my soul
    Where I hide away
    All the dark dangerous thoughts
    That come out
    4 am 0 dark hundred
    When the wild things
    Escape their leashes
    Screaming like escaped banshees
    Then with the dawning light
    I put them back into the vault

    Corona Mask

    My corona mask
    Hiding my face behind it
    Hiding my fears
    My wife removing the mask
    Seeing my lovely face

    Fifty word prose horror poems published in Every Writer

    The Mad Laird Strikes Again

    Sam Adams is doing a Scottish walkabout. There were rumors of a mad laird killing hikers along the lonely moors. He heard bagpipes in the fog then saw a man on a black horse who ran after him with a machete, screaming, “Do you believe in Ghosts now? “

    The Mad Bagpiper of Berkeley

    Sam Adams had heard rumors of a mad bagpiper serial killer lurking about Tilden park in Berkeley. Then he ran into the mad bagpiper in the lonely backcountry. The man ran after him, killing him with a machete. They found his body cut up and cooked by a camp-fire.

    General Corona Got Your Baby

    The mad General Corona, riding his black horse came out of the woods, and screamed at Sam Adams, saying “You got the Corona Virus; I am the general. Your ass is grass and I am the lawnmower.” Prepare to die a long painful death and he breathed on him.

    Waiting for the Grim Reaper

    Sam Adams found himself in Limbo. Waiting for his appointment with the Grim Reaper. Finally, his number was called. The Grim Reaper said his number was up and it was time for judgment day. “Whether it would be hell or heaven was beyond his pay grade”. The Grim reaper laughed.

    Wild Things Run Amuck

    0 dark hundred arrives. Insomnia set in. Sam Adams tossed and turned waiting for the wild things to come out for their nightly assault. Evil monstrous creatures from the darkest corner of his hell ran about screaming at him: torturing him until the dawning sun drove them back to hell.

    Screaming News Drives Me Mad

    Sam Adams fell asleep after watching the screaming media scream about the fires, storms, covid, political madness. Sam saw the devil programming madness on his computers. The devil, surrounded by the demons, orcs, dwarfs and monsters of hell, turns to him smiling, saying his time in hell would come soon.

    Corona Horror Haiku

    The Mad Laird Strikes Again
    1

    In the Scottish Moors
    mad laird waits to kill hikers
    death waiting for you

    2

    hearing the bagpipes
    old man appears in the fog
    riding a black horse

    3

    Mad laird runs at you
    Holding a black machete,
    screaming “Do you believe in Ghosts

    The Mad Bagpiper of Berkeley

    1

    In the Berkeley Hills
    Rumors of mad bagpiper
    Fears and terror

    2

    Encountering it
    the mad bagpiper in the hills
    they found his body

    3

    The mad bagpiper
    Plays mournful tune as kills
    As you become ghost

    General Corona Got Your Baby
    1

    The mad General
    Corona riding black horse
    Leading his army of bots

    2

    Encountering his breath
    You begin to scream
    as you cough dying breath

    Waiting for the Grim Reaper

    1

    Wake up in Limbo.
    Waiting for his appointment
    with the Grim Reaper.

    2

    Finally his number
    The Grim Reaper said number was up
    tt was the time for judgement day. “

    3.

    Whether it would be
    hell or heaven beyond his paygrade
    The Grim reaper laughed.

    Wild Things Run Amuck
    1

    At 0 dark hundred.
    Deep Insomnia set in.
    Tossing and turning

    2

    waiting for wild things
    to come out for their assault.
    Evil monstrous creatures

    3

    from the dark corner
    of hell ran about screaming
    torturing his soul

    4

    the dawning sun light
    drove them all back to their hell.
    Wild things fading

    Screaming News Drives Me Mad

    1

    Then I fell asleep
    after watching the screaming news
    the media screams

    2

    about the fires,
    storms corona ,
    the political madness.

    3
    I saw the devil
    programing all the madness
    on his computers.

    4

    The devil saw me,
    surrounded by all the demons,
    says my time is soon

    Horror Cheritas

    The Mad Laird Strikes Again

    Sam Adams is doing a Scottish walk about.

    There were rumors of a mad laird
    killing hikers along the lonely moors.

    He heard bagpipes in the fog
    then saw a man on a black horse who ran after him with a machete,
    screaming “Do you believe in Ghosts now? “

    The Mad Bagpiper of Berkeley

    Sam Adams had heard rumors

    of a mad bagpiper serial killer
    lurking about Tilden Park in Berkeley.

    Then he ran into the mad bagpiper in the lonely back country.
    The man ran after him killing him with a machete.
    They found his body cooked by a camp-fire.

    General Corona Got Your Baby

    The mad General Corona, riding his black horse came out of the woods,

    and screamed at Sam Adams, saying “
    You got the Corona Virus; I am the general.

    Your ass is grass and I am the lawn mower.”
    Prepare to die a long painful death
    and he breathed on him.

    Waiting for the Grim Reaper

    Sam Adams found himself in Limbo.

    Waiting for his appointment
    with the Grim Reaper.

    Finally his number was called.
    The Grim Reaper said His number was up and it was time for judgement day. “
    The grim reaper laughed Whether it would be hell or heaven was beyond his pay grade

    Wild Things Run Amuck

    0 dark hundred arrives.

    Insomnia set in.
    Sam Adams tossed and turned

    waiting for the wild things to come out for their nightly assault.
    Evil monstrous creatures from the darkest corner of his hell ran about screaming at him:
    torturing him until the dawning sun drove them back to hell.

    Screaming News Drives Me Mad

    Sam Adams fell asleep after watching the screaming media

    scream about the fires, storms, covid, political madness.
    Sam saw the devil programming madness on his computers.

    The devil, surrounded by the demons, orcs, dwarfs, and monsters of hell,
    turns to him smiling,
    saying his time in hell would come soon.

    The gorgon of Bangkok

    Sam Adams
    Was drinking alone
    In a evil degraded bar
    On the bad side of life

    In the city of Angels
    Bangkok
    Twenty drinks too sober

    Drinking by himself
    With his buddies
    Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Johnny Walker
    Evan Walker, Mr. Bullet, Old Granddad

    Ordering one scotch, one bourbon, and a beer
    From the lovely half-naked bartender
    He looks up at the stage

    Dancing on the stage
    Was a naked vision of delight
    As he looked at her
    She began to turn into a hideous monstrous figure

    Two-three faces appeared at once
    The naked bartender had warned him
    That the gorgon of Bangkok
    Would be dancing tonight

    All men desired her
    And if she chose you
    You would die a thousand deaths
    Of erotic pleasure

    As she took your soul away
    Straight to hell

    Sam thought to himself

    Why the hell not
    I am drinking my way to hell anyway
    And continued to stare
    At the gorgon

    She smiled
    And had her way with him
    He left with her
    Went to her room
    She took off the clothes

    He found himself naked in hell
    Where the devil welcomes him

    Saying have another drink, my friend
    Welcome to hell the party center
    Of the universe

    He drank and partied all night
    With the gorgon of Bangkok

    Waking up dead
    Just another dead male foreigner
    In the city of angels

    The End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Down in the Dirt will publish “3 5 & Love Poem” and
    “If You Have Been Around” in the March 2021 issue of Down in the Dirt,

    on line this week

    Hi there from Down i the Dirt, and thanks for the sub. We are accepting “3
    5 7 love poem” and “If you’ve been around” for the March 2021 issue of
    Down in the Dirt magazine (v181, released 3/1/21). Because your writing
    will appear in a number of places at Scars Publications, this is a
    multi-pronged acceptance…

    Your acceptance will also be online by the end of the week this week… By
    the end of the day Friday (at the end of the business day, CST), your
    accepted writing will have its own web page in the writings section of
    http://scars.tv at http://scars.tv/cgi-bin/framesmain.pl?writers – just go
    to the writings link, and under your name in the left frame will be your
    accepted writing, which when clicked will appear in the larger right
    frame.  (In fact, if you have writings published in more than one issue,
    you can in the future just look up your writings in the writings section,
    and above every accepted piece of writing appearing in the right frame
    will be a link to where it was accepted for publication.) And so you know,
    if you look up your writing in the writings section of http://scars.tv, a
    link will appear above your writings letting the browser know which issue
    the writing is accepted for (and once the issue is published, there will
    be links there to the Internet/web page and the printer ordering link for
    the issue).

    We run print editions of issues as well as Internet (html page) issues,
    and your writing is scheduled for magazine publication. Print issues of
    Down in the Dirt magazine run as 100+ page 6″x9″ perfect-bound books
    available for Internet sale directly through our printer, and starting
    with 2014 issues, they will also be released not only as ISSN# magazines,
    but ALSO with an ISBN#, suitable for eventual sales at amazon.com.
    (Current issues are not available for sale directly through Scars
    Publications, but through the printer, on line). Scars Publications does
    not give free contributor’s copies of magazines (or books); however, these
    books are available for printer sale, and you can view the contents of
    issues at our Internet web page versions of issues. Links to ordering all
    2021 perfect-bound book issues as print editions will be in the issues
    section of Down in the Dirt magazine, which can be reached either through
    http://scars.tv, or directly through

    more corona poems published

    Corona Ghosts

    corona virus revised

    more corona virus poems

    Down in the Dirt Updates

    More Down in the Dirt News

    http://scars.tv/dirt/dirt.htm

    3 5 7 Love Poem

    Missing you missing me
    Dreaming about you, do you dream the same
    Will love you until end of time; will you remember me then?

    If You Have Been Around

    If you’ve been around
    As much as I have
    Decades of memories
    Fill up your brain’s hard drive

    Remembering the dead
    Misremembering the living
    Seeing the past fly past
    Everywhere you go

    Thinking about things
    You did and did not do
    As your life begins to fade
    Sinking into lost worlds past

    Seeing the ghosts
    Of all you knew
    Whispering Soon you will
    Be joining us

    200,000 Corona Ghosts Voices Screaming in the Wind

    corona

    corona

    200,000 corona ghosts
    Their voices screaming
    In the burning winds
    In the storm ravaged land

    Corona ghosts
    Declaring they will not be silence
    They will hold everyone accountable

    All those who refused
    To follow the science
    Who refused to wear
    Their masks

    Feckless leaders
    Fomenting fear

    Every day
    A thousand more
    People joining the ranks
    Of the dead

    Their voices
    Unheard
    When will this madness end
    Is anyone guess

    Millions more
    Are waiting to die
    As general corona
    Marches across the land

    “A” Grade in Alternative World

    In an alternative reality
    200,000 preventable deaths
    Is a great success

    Perhaps the best
    We could ever be
    The most deaths
    in the world

    as America proves
    that they have lost
    their way

    we have all failed
    everyone of us

    it is not too late
    if we all mask up
    if we stop  listening
    to the lies
    and falsehoods

    and followed the science
    we can overcome this
    we are Americans

    we can do this
    we can beat the virus

    if we all come together
    as one nation
    some day the virus
    will recede into history

    how many corona ghosts
    there will be
    is up to us all together

    End of America

    In 2020 we are seeing the end
    of America
    a virus spreads out
    across the land

    the economy craters
    200 thousands of Americans
    Becoming Corona ghosts

    then protests break out
    over the brutal murder
    of a unarmed black man
    in broad daylight
    and protests break out
    all over the land
    America is divided
    America is breaking down

    America is breaking down,
    dying in our streets
    and politicians
    are calling for a crackdown
    is a fascist military take over coming soon
    will all protests be deemed illegal
    as the police state takes over
    and America lies dying
    and will the fascists
    finally take over the land
    and we become just another
    failed former democracy?
    will the world soon forget
    that America died this summer

    the summer of the end of America

    Previously published poems in Down in the Dirt

    April 30 In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales 

    hitchhikers
    hitchhikers

     

     

     

     

     

    April 30 In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales

    John (“Jake”) Cosmos Aller

    When I was young and foolish
    Broke and stubborn
    I hitchhiked across the USA

    Started in Salt Lake City
    Where my greyhound bus pass
    Was stolen

    The station manager
    Could have helped me
    But refused to do so

    Threaten to call the cops
    When I grabbed my bags Without the stolen tags

    I said
    Go ahead
    But I am so out of here

    Wondered about Salt Lake City
    Went to a bar
    Found I had to buy my booze
    Next door
    And they would mix it for me

    Had to order food too
    After a bloody Mary
    And a burger

    I walked about town
    Saw the Mormon Temple

    Finally about 3 pm
    It was time to hit the road
    Did not look back

    Ended up in Cody Wyoming
    Got a room shower
    Steak beer
    Using my rapidly depleted cash Spent 25 dollars
    Money really went far
    Back in those days

    A band of professional
    Communist agitators
    Gave me a ride
    To Des Moines

    Lots of weed, booze
    And politics later
    Got off the road
    Slept outside

    Next day
    A beautiful woman
    Drove me to near Chicago
    In a red mustang

    Might have been
    The girl in the song
    Took it easy
    Digging her vibe

    She invited home
    But was not sure
    If her estranged husband
    Would welcome me

    So, I am being foolish
    And inexperienced with women
    Did not go to her place

    And always regretted
    That I had lost
    My chance that day

    Then on to Chicago
    Several rides later
    Visited friends

    Hit the road again
    A series of uneventful rides
    With truckers
    And others

    And a week later
    I ended in New York City

    Slept along the way
    In cars
    In truck stops
    In high way rest stops

    Always moving
    Always going
    Non stop talking
    And lots of free weed
    And beer
    And conversation

    One more memorable ride
    Occurred outside Albany
    On my return to Chicago

    A middle age creepy looking man
    Picked me up
    In a brand-new Cadillac

    He was he said a dynamite deliverer
    For the Mafia
    Went to various places
    To blow up shit

    He hated a lot of people
    Particularly hippies from California
    And Jewish people

    Looking at me to confirm
    That I was both

    I told him that I lived in New York
    And had never been to California
    And although I might have looked Jewish
    As I what was called back in the day
    A “Jewfro”

    I was not Jewish
    Many years later I discovered
    That I am indeed part Jewish
    But then I did not know
    And I felt a bit of strategic information
    Might keep me alive

    Then I realized that he was just jiving with me
    And we relaxed
    And he pulled out some weed
    And beer
    And we mellowed out

    But I believe that he really was with the mob
    Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
    A real made Italian made mafia member

    By Chicago
    I had enough
    I called my Dad
    Told him what had happened

    Wanted a ticket home
    And he sent me a ticket
    And 500 dollars
    And I went home

    I told him I would tell him
    My tales some day
    But never did

    I learned so much
    About my fellow Americans
    And the strange vibe
    That was 1975

    And now it is too late
    But I wanted to finally
    Tell the world

    Of my hitchhiking tales
    In search of America 1975

    Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
     

    Order this writing in the book
    On a Rainy Day
    (the 2017 poetry, longer prose
    & art collection anthology)    		 On a Rainy Day (2017 poetry, longer prose and art book) get the 298 page poem,
    longer prose & art
    collection anthology
    as a 6″ x 9″ ISBN#
    paperback book:

    order ISBN# book

     

    Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen

    charles bukowski
    charles bukowski

    While reading Charles Bukowski poetry
    On the metro ride home
    Listening to Buddha bar music
    On my oh too hip IPod

    I begin to see myself as I was
    Over 30 years ago when I was merely a bit player
    A minor character in a Charles Bukowski poem

    A wild young underemployed intellectual
    Hanging out in dismal bars and dives all over Asia and California
    Hanging with disreputable women and drunks and drinkers
    And characters out of his kinds of haunts

    A mad poet bard of the underground
    A drunken poet in a drunken bum show
    That nightly played in his head

    Then one day I met the women of my dreams
    And went down a different path
    A long slow path to respectability

    And now 30 years later
    I am no longer a wild man
    I am still a poet at heart
    But I am now also a bureaucrat
    In a button down suite

    Doing the people’s business
    Working for the Government
    I’ve become the Man

    Sometimes I wonder
    Would I have been better off
    Going down that another path

    Would I have ended up
    Somewhere else
    Doing something else

    Would I have been as happy
    Would I have been as successful?

    There is no answer that satisfies
    The longing in my heart
    For that wild thing
    That still lurks beneath
    It’s civilized cover

    And I know that I am still
    A mad poet at heart
    Railing against the injustice of the world

    As I work day by day in the belly of the great beast of State
    I recall the ancient Chinese saying,
    “Confucian during the day while Taoist rebel at night”
    Playing out in my head and nightly dreams
    In the true American Upper class patrician tradition

    I close the book and look out the window
    Get off the train, and walk slowly home

    And realize I had no choice
    But to take the path that I’ve trodden on

    And so I put aside my misgivings
    And say goodbye to my “Bukowskian”desires
    For another night of domestic contentment

    Was it worth it all to take the conventional path
    And not take the bohemian road to hell and back

    I look at my wife and realize
    I had no choice, had no choice
    But to follow her to the ends of the earth

    And beyond by her side as we walked our path
    Of shared destiny

    Goodbye Charles Bukowski wherever you are
    May I meet you in a bar in the next life
    And figure out where we should have gone
    Until then the drinks are on me.

     

    Fallen Dreams Litter the Ground

    In the fall weather
    As I walk amid the falling leaves
    I see the signs everywhere

    Of the fall of America
    The once great and mighty Empire
    Everywhere signs of the fall appear

    The dark skies mirror
    The darkness that settled over our land

    Death, destruction and random acts of chaos
    Are all around us
    Surrounding us with visions of doom

    Nothing can stop the bloodletting
    No one seems to be in charge

    As the leaves fall
    And the darkness descends
    The fall of America continues

    My Name Is Nobody

    No one cares who I am
    I am just a nameless clone
    In the cold unfeeling bureaucracy

    Just one of the army
    Of civilians who flood into and out of the city
    Every day

    A non-entity,
    A ghost
    A govbot
    A cyber
    A spook
    A faceless automan
    A bureaucrat

    Just a grey suited cog in the machinery
    And no one cares
    No one knows who I really am

    And I am legend
    Everywhere and nowhere

    Just the way this modern world
    All shred of humanity
    Crushed beneath the cruel wheel of society

    In the cold harsh world
    There is no room anymore
    For true human feelings

    We are just robots, clones, machines
    And so I go to work
    Put on my mask

    And no one hears my inner screams
    And no one will ever care

    Snarling Cup of Coffee

    coffee
    coffee

     

     

     

     

    Snarling Cup of Coffee

    I like to start my day with a hot cup of coffee
    I pound down the coffee
    First thing I do every day as the dawning sun
    Lights up my lonesome room

    Yeah, but not just a simple cup of java Joe, but a God damn snarling sarcastic smarmy cup of coffee
    I mean, – we are talking about an alcoholic, all speed ahead, always hot, always fresh, always there when I need it, angry, attitude talk to the hand Ztude, bad, bad assed, beats breaking, beatnik, bluesy, bitter, bitchy, bombs away, capitalistic, caffeinated up the ass, cinematic, communistic, Colombian grown, Costa Rican inspired, Cowabunga to the max, crazy assed, devilishly angelic, divine, divinely inspired, dyslexic, epic, extreme vetting, evil eye, expensive, erotic vision inducing, Ethiopian coffee house brewed, euphoric, freaky, freazoid, foxy, Frenched kissed, French brewed, funkified, foxy lady, graphic, GOD in my coffee, with Allah, Ganesh, Jesus, Kali, Buddha, Christians, Durga, Hindus, Mohamed, Jesus and Mo and their friend, the cosmic bar maid, Sai Babai, Shiva, Taoists, Zoroastrians, drinking my god damned coffee in Hell; growling, gnarly, happy, hard as ice, Hawaian blessed, high as a kite, hippie, hip, hipster, hip hoppy, hot as hell yet strangely sweet as heaven, jazzy, jealous, Kerouac approved, kick ass, kick my god damn ass to Tuesday, kick down the doors and take no prisoners, grown in the Vietnam highlands by ex-Vietcong, Guatemalan grown, kiss ass, illegal in every state, imported from all over the god damn world, insane, lovely, loony, lonely, lonesome, malodorous mean old rotten, motherfucking, nasty, narcotic, never whatever, never meh, never cold, not approved by the CIA, not approved by DHS, not approved for human consumption by the FDA, not your daddy’s sissified corporate cup of coffee, NOT DECAFE coffee, not your Denny’s truck driver weak as brown water cup of fake coffee, not your establishment friendly cup of coffee, Not your FBI coffee, Not FAKE Herbal coffee substitute, but a real cup of coffee, not your farmer brothers dinner crap, not made in America for Americans, not safe for work, not your Starbucks average expensive overpriced crappy corporate chain cup of coffee, Not pretentious, Not White House approved, not State Department safe, nuclear, Not Patriotic, operatic, Peets’s coffee approved, paranoid, pornographic, psychotic, pontific, politically aware, rapping, rhyming, right here, right now in River city, rock and roll up the Yazoo, sad, sadistic, sarcastic, sassy, satanic, schizoid, shitting, silly, sexy, smarmy, smelly, smooth, snarky, snarling, stupid, stinking, sweet as honey, sweat inducing, symphonic, Trump can’t handle this coffee, vengeful, Wagnerian, wicked, with nutmeg and cinnamon swirls, with a hint of stevia, with a hint of vanilla, with a hint of rum, with a hint of whisky, with a hint of cherry, with a hint of fruit overtones, with a hint of drugs spicing up the coffee, spendific, speeding, splendid, superior accept no substitutes, survived the Vietnam war, the Iraq war, the Afghan war, the first and Second Korean war, World War 11, the war on poverty, the war on drugs, the war on black people, the sexual revolution, Soulful as a summer’s night in MOTOWN- James Brown approved, TOP approved, Berkeley approved, the coffee that Jimmy Hendrix drank before he died, the coffee that Elvis drank on his last breakfast, the coffee that Barry White crooned as he drank his cup of coffee – and the coffee that made the white boy play stand up and play that funky music, the coffee that made Jonny B Goode play his guitar, and made Jonny bet the devil his soul after he drank his morning cup of righteous coffee and the coffee that make the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll, the coffee your mother warned you against drinking, the coffee that Napoleon drank when he became the Emperor of all Europe, the Coffee that Beethoven drank when he wrote the Ninth symphony, the coffee that Mozart drank as he wrote his last symphony, the coffee that Lincoln drank before he was killed, the Hemingway drank before he killed himself, the coffee that started the 60’s, and ended the 20th century, the coffee that Lenin drank as he plotted revolution, the coffee that Hitler and Stalin drank with FDR as they divided up the world after World War 11, the cup that JFK drank before he was blown away, the coffee Jerry drinks while driving in cars with random celebrities and political figures, the coffee that Jon Stewart drinks before he goes on an epic take down of some foolish politico, the cup of Arabic coffee that Sadaam drank the day he was executed, the coffee that GW and Cheney drank when they bombed Baghdad, the Indian cup of coffee that Bid Laden drank before 9-11 and just before the seals blew his ass to hell, the cup of coffee that Tiger Woods drank with his mistresses while playing a 3, 000 dollar round of golf at Sandy Lane golf course in Barbados, the last legal drug that does what drugs should do, the cup of coffee that Obama drank when he became President, Vietnamese, Vienna brew, wacky, whimsical, Whisky Tango Foxtrot, wild, weird, wonderful, WOW, Yabba dabba doo! Yada Yada yada Zappa’s favorite cup of cosmic coffee, and Zorro’s last cup of coffee, Good to the last drop rolled into one simple cup of hot coffee

    As I pound down that first cup of coffee
    And fire up my synaptic nerve endings with endless supplies
    Of caffeine induced neuron enhancing chemicals

    I face the dawning day with trepidation and mind-numbing fear
    I turn on the TV and watch the smarmy newscasters in their perfect hair
    Lying through their teeth about the great success the government is having Following the great leader’s latest pronouncements
    I want to scream and shoot the TV and run out side Shouting

    “Stop the world.

    I want to get off this fucking crazy planet”
    The earth does not care a whit about my attitude
    It merely shrugs and moves around the Sun
    In its appointed daily run
    And I sit down
    The madness dissipating a bit

    And enjoy my second cup
    Of heaven and hell
    In my morning cup of Joe

     

    Strangeness in the Air

    There is a strangeness in the air
    A sense of cosmic unease
    Hangs silently in the purple crystalline sky

    America woke up
    And decided it was time
    To quit following like lemmings
    Over the Clift

    As the pied piper chants
    Stay the course, stay the course
    We were like lemmings following him
    Dying to save his wounded pride

    Today there is that strange difference
    In the air
    As Americans woke up
    And threw off their chains of fear

    Unhinged Lunatic Howling at the Full Moon

    howling at the moon
    howling at the moon

     

     

     

     

     

    On the night of the blood red super full moon
    I sat in an evil, depraved godforsaken bar

    Drinking drams of demented, fermented dream dew
    Washed down by endless rounds of whiskey
    rum, tequila, vodka, soju and of course beer
    drinking with my buddies the Jack Daniels Gang

    Drinking my way to Hell and beyond
    Just as fast as I could
    twenty damn drinks too sober

    Just an unhinged lunatic
    Dreaming of howling at the full moon

    Watching the world walk by
    Looking at all the fine-looking babes
    Walking by the street

    Thinking wild, erotic thoughts
    Of endless wild libertine passions

    When into the bar
    That din of cosmic depravity

    Walked the most beautiful women
    In the Universe

    So wild, so free
    So wonderfully alive

    I did not know what to do
    As this vision of delight
    Sauntered through the bar

    In a skin-tight leather pant
    Looked so fine
    That my eyeballs hurt

    And finally, I had to say something
    So, I gathered up my manly courage
    And walked up to her

    And she looked at me
    And instantly bewitched my soul

    With a devilish grin
    I lost all reason
    And became a raving lunatic
    Unhinged lunatic
    Howling at the blood red full moon

    Foaming at the mouth
    A wild, free werewolf
    Howling at the lunatic light
    Of the blood red blue full Moon

     

    The End

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    More coronavirus poems published – Journal of Expressive Writing Updates

    coronavirus revised

    more coronavirus poems

    Corona Virus is Not God’s Punishment

    Christian Right on Corona

    CoronaVirus Poems

    Coronavirus Pandemic Thoughts

    the journal of expressive writing update: they will publish the following poems

    2021 Dawns – Haiku

    Visions of General Corona

    they previously published

    General Corona Cried
    General Corona Appears in a Vision
    Total Success or Total Failure
    General Corona Says I Am Going to Mess You Up
    Dejavu All Over Again

    and I have included two additional poems, not published.

    Corona Ghosts Message for our Feckless Leaders
    Herman Cain Was His Name

    Journal of Expressive Writing Updates follow:

    Bokeh

    Journal of Expressive Writing will publish Dawns 21 Haiku. The previously published, “Vision of General Corona, “

    Dawns 21 Haiku

    2020
    2020

    Politics are still uncertain.

    thousands still are dying.

    2021Dawns

    The New president offers.

    Hope new beginning.

    2021Dawns

    The Madness never ends it seems.

    Consuming us all

    2021Dawns

    The hope springs enterally

    We will overcome.

    2021Dawns

    35,000 lies.

    Fading like ghosts

    2021Dawns

    Politicians still lying.

    Thousands still dying.

    2021Dawns

    Coronavirus spreading

    More corona ghosts.

    2021Dawns

    There is new hope in the air.

    Will politics kill it?

    2021Dawns

    The news stills scream death and despair.

    I turn it all off

    2021Dawns

    As I wake up at dawn

    I see my sleeping wife.

    2021Dawns

    We wait for the coming fires.

    End of the world fears

    2021Dawns

    Q continues to spread hate.

    Millions still follow him.

    2021Dawns

    Will optimism and love?

    Overcome the hate.

    2021Dawns

    Many questions still remaining.

    I have no answers.

    2021Dawns

    With hope I leap out of my bed

    Watching TV kills hope

    2021Dawns

    Will this be the end of my days?

    Will I overcome it?

    2021Dawns

    2020 hangover

    Like a dark nightmare

    2021Dawns

    Politicians still refusing.

    To do anything

    2021Dawns

    The rich are still getting richer.

    The poor remain poor.

    2021Dawns

    We hope the past will fade away.

    Into dark memories

    2021Dawns

    2021Dawns

    I wake up hoping for best.

    Dreading worst to come

    2021Dawns

    I am still alive, thank god.

    Filled with love for my wife.

    PROMPT—During Covid-19 …

    One day I was half napping

    Watching the President drone on

    About him being a wartime president

    battling an invisible army

    I beheld a vision of great terror

    I saw a huge black General Corona himself

    Dressed in Star Wars

    imperial black stormtrooper

    Robocop uniform

    Riding a black horse

    The black horseman

    From revelations

    Live and in living color

    And he took off his helmet

    And turned to me

    He screamed

    Death to all humans

    Addressing his invisible army

    Newly visible to me

    Millions of virus bots

    In imperial stormtrooper uniforms

    Carrying imperial ray gun weapons

    The virus bot army

    Joined in the battle cry

    Death to all humans

    Death to all humans

    All humans must die

    I woke up

    And turned off the TV

    And went for a walk

    To clear my head

    Of this vision,

    Of General Corona

    General Corona  Cried

    General Corona cried
    despite everything
    his armies were being defeated
    the stupid humans got smart
    and masked up

    total Success or Total Failure

    corona virus
    corona virus

    The President’s Son-in-law declares
    that the government’s response
    to the coronavirus
    has been a total success

    as the government
    step up to the plate
    to fight the virus from hell

    I have to wonder
    on what planet
    does the words

    total failure
    becomes a total success?

    Are we living in a bizarro world
    Where everything
    Means the opposite

    Do words no longer
    Have any connection
    To underlying reality

    Can we tell a lie
    From the truth anymore?

    For his statement
    Is impossible to be
    Anything other than the opposite

    His total success is everyone’s total failure
    As 450,000 American Corona ghosts
    Will attest

    just more verbal diarrhea
    from our dear leader

    And his cult-like followers
    And corrupt court jesters

    Corona fever – I am going to mess you up, Dude!

    corona testing
    corona testing

    In this day and age of temperature testing
    Everywhere one goes
    It is important to remember what the tests mean
    And what they don’t mean

    First temperature tests are a crude instrument
    All it is saying is that you are sick
    Dude with something bad

    Could be the flu
    Could be the dreaded corona
    Could be malaria, yellow fever
    Zika or many terrible things

    But whatever dude,

    you got temperatured
    And it is high

    so dude, just deal with it
    So stay away from here
    Until you are better
    Test negative for the dreaded Corona
    Or die of it

    That is all it means
    And many people pass it
    And many have it
    And many people will spread it
    Even though they are temperatured
    Clear negative good to go
    And free of the fever

    For the sad reality
    Is that the fever comes
    Near the end

    And what is means
    Is that the mean old general corona
    Has a message for yah

    It goes like this

    Dude, you got a fever
    And you know it ain’t the flu
    Ain’t dengue, malaria

    or yellow fever
    Or Zika or any other strange tropical disease

    It is the dreaded Corona
    It means that I your general
    Has grabbed you
    And I am going to mess you up

    So when you get c virus dude
    You will wish you were dead
    You will ache all over

    Have pain from hell
    And you will cough
    Up a storm

    Maybe even rush to the ER
    Be told
    Ain’t no room for ya
    You damn fool

    Go home to die
    Or wait outside
    Until we can see yah

    We don’t care any more
    Dude!
    You are now just a damn
    Statistical number
    Potential death number 51000 today

    And you will beg me
    To release you
    To send you to your maker
    God or the devil is waiting
    Grimm reaper has your number

    And you know what
    I might do that
    Or I might just say
    You will live

    And walk away
    And my minions will infect
    Yet another foolish dude
    Not wearing a mask

    And so it goes
    Nothing political
    I don’t care who you are
    Who you voted for

    And the blood of Jesus
    buddha or any other god
    Won’t save your sorry ass

    As they say
    Dude your ass is mine
    And I am the lawnmower

    Yeah dude
    When I get my hands on yah
    It means I am going to have my fun

    Dude, it means I am going
    to mess you up
    And your loved ones
    And your cute cousin

    And that girl you’ve been crushing on
    Particularly if you know kissed her
    Yeah way to go dude
    Spread me around
    I love it dude !

    But don’t fret
    Dude, it ain’t personal
    Hell no, is just ya know
    it’s a virus thing
    You would not understand
    Just the sort of thing I do ya know

    Dejavu All Over Again

    masked woman
    masked woman

    Looking at the news
    As the virus spreads
    Out of control
    With no end in sight

     

     

     

    Back in April
    Hospitals begged for relief
    From a lack of PPD
    And equipment etc

    And for a few weeks
    It seemed we were fine
    But we failed to prepare
    For the continuation of the pandemic

    And our stockpile has been overwhelmed
    Our hospitals are overwhelmed
    And it could have been prevented
    If our leaders had kept up

    Stockpiling for the inevitable second wave
    Even as the first wave has yet
    To reach its peak
    So I say
    It is all dejavu all over again

    And two bonus poems just written today

      150,000 Corona Ghosts Messages for Our Feckless Leaders

    500,000 Corona ghosts
    Have a message
    For our feckless leaders

    Their voices crying out
    In the corona winds
    That are sweeping the world

    Led by the implacable enemy
    General Corona
    And his army of virus bots

    The corona ghosts cry out
    Why Mr. President
    Can’t you take responsibility

    And apologize to the world
    For the mess you made
    Due to your incompetence

    Why Mr. president
    Do you continue to listen to quacks
    Whether than your own experts

    And why dear God
    Don’t you mask up
    Right now?

    Mr. President
    Why can’t you get
    The senate to get off
    Their proverbial buts

    And deliver Corona relief
    To those fortunate
    To still be alive

    And Mr. President
    The way things are going
    We may see you soon
    As you too may become
    Just Another Corona Ghost

    Herman Cain was his Name

    Herman Cain was his name
    Being President of Godfather Pizza
    That was his name
    And his claims to flame

    He ran his company with pizzaz
    Being famous for being famous
    Knew all the right people
    Did the right thing

    But still on that date
    He met his fate

    And became
    Just one of the 500,000 Corona Ghosts

    Ghosts in the corona winds
    That are sweeping the land
    Killing people left and right

    As General Corona marches forward
    With his army of virus bots
    Infecting everyone they met

    And in the end
    It did not matter
    Who Herman Cain was

    He became just
    Another
    Corona Ghost

    Herman Cain, US ex-presidential candidate, dies after contracting Covid

    Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain speaks at a conference in 2011Image copyrightREUTERS

    Herman Cain, the Republican pizza chain CEO who ran for president in 2012, has died after contracting Covid-19.

    Mr. Cain, 74, was hospitalized after being diagnosed with the disease earlier this month.

    “Herman Cain – our boss, our friend, like a father to so many of us – has passed away,” a message posted on his official website said.

    Mr. Cain, who in 2006 survived late-stage colon cancer, is one of the best-known US victims of Covid-19.

    His social media accounts had been providing regular updates on his condition. On 7 July, a post from his Twitter account said “doctors are trying to make sure his oxygen levels are right”.

    “This is a tough virus,” it said. “Please continue praying.”

    Mr. Cain appeared without a mask at a rally held by President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on 20 June.

    They admitted him to the hospital with coronavirus on 1 July, though it is unclear when or where he caught the infection.

    The president paid tribute to Mr. Cain on Thursday at the White House, saying: “He was a very special person… and unfortunately he passed away from a thing called the China virus.”

    Who was Herman Cain?

    Born in Tennessee to a father who worked three jobs as a janitor, chauffeur, and barber, and a mother who worked as a servant, Mr. Cain studied for a degree in maths and a master’s in computing.

    He worked variously as a Baptist minister, a radio talk show host, and as an entrepreneur.

    Mr. Cain was an advocate of a flat tax system – his 9-9-9 plan – and ran for office after a stint as CEO of Godfather’s Pizza.

    During his run, he told reporters he would not stand for any “gotcha questions”.

    “And when they ask me who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan, I’m going to say you know, I don’t know. Do you know?”

    He initially proved popular, but later found himself at the center of a number of sexual harassment allegations.

    Although he denied the accusations against him, his popularity soon suffered, and he suspended his campaign. Mitt Romney later became the Republican candidate in an unsuccessful race against President Barack Obama’s bid for a second term in office.

    Mitt Romney and Herman Cain (R) at the CNN GOP National Security debate in 2011Image copyrightREUTERS
    Image captionMitt Romney and Herman Cain both stood as Republican candidates

    In 2019, Mr. Trump sounded him out to sit on the Federal Reserve Board, but he withdrew his nomination after several Republican senators refused to back his appointment.

    Mitt Romney was also among those paying tribute to Mr. Cain.

    “Saddened that Herman Cain – a formidable champion of business, politics, and policy – has lost his battle with Covid,” he wrote on Twitter.

    Former employee Dan Calabrese also praised Mr. Cain’s legacy.

    “Most people heard of Herman for the first time when he ran for president in 2011. What they didn’t know was his business background,” he wrote on Mr. Cain’s official website.

    “They didn’t know how he had started his career as a civilian employee of the Navy. It was funny to us because sometimes political pundits portrayed him as kind of a goof – not understanding that during his time working for the Navy, he was literally a rocket scientist.”

    Mr. Cain had enjoyed good health in recent years, Mr. Calabrese wrote but added that the previous diagnosis with cancer meant “he was still in a high-risk group” in the current pandemic.

    the end

     

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

     Writer Egg Magazine in Bristol, England has published some more of my Corona Virus poems.

    corona virus revised
    Corona Virus is Not God’s Punishment
    Corona Ghosts

    Corona Virus Poems
    Corona Virus Pandemic Thoughts

    corona virus poems google search

    Index

    Corona Virus Stalks Me
    News is still grim
    Mad Mask Fears  -content tracing Dante Inferno  Canto one Line 1 to 3
    Wearing a Mask is not a political statement
    General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets
    Corona Ghosts Stalk the President

    Corona Virus Stalks Me

     

     

    the dreaded corona virus
    led by the demented general Corona
    seems to be stalking me
    everywhere I go

    images of the dead
    come to life
    accusing me of something
    as they fade in and out of view

    ghostly images fill\ my fogged up glasses
    as i walk down the street
    hidden deep inside my masks

    and I fear everyone
    which is of course
    part of the corona virus’s
    evil’s plan
    to drive us all mad
    sending us to hell

    News is still grim

    cnn logo
    cnn logo

    watching the daily news
    the constant doom and gloom
    makes me want to cry

    and    hide   away

    waiting

    waiting

    waiting

    for the end of the news
    and a return to normal

    but that seems
    like a distant dream

    perhaps it is our fate
    perhaps it will be over

    perhaps it will never
    be over

    and the news drones
    on
    and
    on

    and
    on

    overwhelming
    me

    with
    cosmic
    dread

    Mad Masks Fears Corona Sonnet Form

    no masks
    no masks

     

    I don’t understand
    this fear of wearing a mask
    somehow making you weak

    that wearing a mask
    is a political statement

    “Midway upon the journey of our life
    I found myself with a forest dark
    for the straightforward pathway had been lost”

    THE  THOUGHT COMES      TO MIND

    WHAT        IS      WRONG     WITH          THESE       PEOPLE

    ALL

    LOST

    THEIR

    MINDS

    content tracing Dante Inferno  Canto one Line 1 to 3

    Wearing a Mask is not a political statement

    masked woman
    masked woman

     

     

     

     

     

    to my friends in America
    and around the world
    to those who think
    that somehow the corona virus
    only infects other people
    that it is all a liberal hoax
    overblown
    nothing more than a bad flu
    and nothing to do with me
    demanding that we all go
    back to work

    what is wrong with you?
    have you lost your humanity?
    will millions have to die
    so you can have a Big Mac?
    so you can have a Big Mac
    and a beer
    whenever you damn please

    and no one can tell you
    please wear a mask
    have you lost all reason
    is it all now
    about owning the dems
    and the damn libtards
    is there any thing left
    in your cold greedy heart?

    and you still proclaim
    that you are Christian
    as you violate all the Christian principles
    what would Jesus do

    what would Jesus do
    what does the bible say
    we should do
    in the midst of this pandemic
    is it the Christian thing to do
    to let millions of people die
    did not Christ talk about love
    compassion and mercy
    would not Jesus
    wear a mask
    to protect himself
    and others
    from this ravaging disease
    that does not care

    who you are
    who you voted for
    which church you go to
    and Jesus and God
    are not there
    watching all of us
    as the virus spreads

    it will affect you
    sooner or later
    and when it does
    perhaps if you had worn
    a mask
    you might have prevented
    a few more people
    have died

    a few more people
    including your grandfather
    grandmother
    friend
    relative might be alive
    if you were not such
    a self- centered person
    and I appeal to you my friend
    to grow up, become a member
    of the human race again

    also published in Plethora Magazine in India

    General Corona Leads His Troops Into Battle, crown of sonnets

    corona
    corona

    General Corona leads his forces across the world
    riding on a black horse
    from out of the Apocalypse
    ride the four horsemen
    which are let loose upon the world

    He leads his forces across the world
    into battle as the leader of his evil forces
    The enemy of humanity

    General Corona he does not care
    nor does his virus minions care
    about your nationality he does not care
    about your politics he does not care
    or your wealth or who you are
    for all you are nothing but humanity

    the corona general sees humanity
    as nothing but hosts for his virus army
    chanting death to humanity
    until his evil army
    sweeps throughout the world
    throughout the world
    and millions must die

    it is the will of the general all must die
    and it is the end of the world
    or perhaps the beginning of a new world
    filled with hope and love through out the world
    humanity comes alive throughout the world
    fighting back against the virus army
    peace, love and compassion defeats the army
    and general corona will finally himself die

    Corona Ghosts Haunting the President

    corona virus
    corona virus

    The corona ghosts are angry
    Watching the news every day
    In limbo land

    The corona ghosts decide
    To pay the president a visit
    To show him the humans
    Who have died

    Due to his incompetence
    And lack of leadership
    175,000 Corona ghosts
    Descend upon the white house

    At midnight
    And surround the president
    Screaming at him

    Saying look at me
    Look at me

    You did this
    You did it
    You Mr. President

    You are not the smartest man
    In the world
    Far from it

    It is all on you
    And you will soon
    Be joining us

    Be afraid
    Your time is up
    General corona
    Is on the march

    And he has you
    In his sights

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Kim Jongun and the bomb
    Kim Jongun and the bomb

    Thirty challenges Facing the New President in 2021

    Joe Go Bold or Go Home, revised

    Time for National Service

    Challenges Facing New President

     Dear Joe and Kamala

    In looking at the upcoming election, I believe that there are thirty challenges facing whoever wins the election.  that of these are tremendous challenges, fundamental challenges that must be addressed. I have divided them into 15 domestic and 15 international challenges.  For each challenge, I offer a few suggestions on how to deal with the challenge.  Many of these challenges overlap and all will require thought, and strategic thinking to solve, and most will involve reaching out to both Republicans and international allies, we cannot solve them by one party. They require both a whole of government approach and an appeal to the entire country. But I am sure that you are up to these challenges. Shall we get to them?

    15 Domestic Challenges

    COVID Challenge

    This is both a short-term and long-term challenge.  Short-term we must ensure that the vaccine is developed and deployed and reaches most Americans as soon as possible and that most Americans get the vaccine. The vaccine must be made available and must be free with the cost fully covered by the government. You must combat anti-vaxers.  Enlist celebrities in PSA announcements encouraging everyone to get a vaccine.  Also, until the vaccine is fully deployed, Americans must continue to “mask up” and practice social distancing.

    Once the pandemic is under control, the new President will have to work at building up our public health infrastructure to make sure we are ready for the next pandemic, knowing that there will be another one coming. We need to be better prepared as a society for handling these public health crises. This will also include beefing up public health spending, research and development and rebuilding CDC and the NIH. I would at a minimum restore the NSC position dealing with pandemics and make the COVID task force a permanent standing body.

    Health Care Crisis

    We must move to universal health care coverage for all. The crisis was made so much worst because so many people are afraid of going to the doctor because they could be facing financial ruin because of high medical bills. The solution is to come together with all stakeholders and embrace a plan for universal coverage which will have to include an individual mandate. Treat health insurance as we do car insurance, it only works if everyone takes part.  I would embrace a few of the Republican favorite positions because they make sense–tort reform limiting malpractice claims and damages, allowing insurance companies to work across state lines, for example. I would open the federal health care insurance programs to all Americans with subsidies to make insurance premiums affordable. I would let associations offer health care to their member firms. For example, the restaurant association could offer insurance to all their restaurant members. I would merge the Obama exchanges with existing insurance companies, as many of them are not financially viable on their own.

    I would expand Medicare to cover anyone over the age of 55. I would offer the open season every six months and make insurance as portable as possible.  For example, as people move to a new job or location, they should be easily able to update their insurance status, which would become part of in boarding for all new hires. For illegal aliens, I would let them buy into insurance. This may be controversial but must be part of the ultimate package.  Immigrants and non-immigrants must provide proof of traveler’s insurance before entry.  I would ban DHS from accessing health care information on illegals.  Again, the goal must be 100 percent coverage.  The homeless will have to be covered somehow.

    Coupled with this would implement mandatory paid sick leave. Employees should be able to stay home when they are sick or being time off to go to the hospital. For many hourly employees going to work sick is an economic necessity putting everyone else at risk. And no one should be fired because they had to miss work due to an appointment.

    Finally, I would challenge the Republicans by saying that what you are proposing is something that every other country does and not having sufficient health coverage puts everyone at risk.  Even the billionaire class can get sick and die if their employees do not have health coverage and come to work sick.  Challenge the nation to come together and finally guarantee health care coverage for all.

    Regarding the costs, be upfront, there would be some increase in costs, but everyone will benefit if everyone can afford health care.  It is a price most people would be willing to pay.  And point out that hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives because of inadequate health care.  Saying that seriously ill people can go to the ER and face financial ruin if they get sick, is no longer an acceptable policy for the richest country in the world.  And this violates our deep-seated American values derived from our faith traditions.

    address gun violence as a public health emergency.  enact universal background checks. ban assault weapons.

    Fiscal Cliff

    The U.S. is going to be facing a fiscal cliff.   We can not sustain these high levels of debt forever.  There are three things that the U.S. government needs to do to avoid going off this fiscal cliff:

    First, the federal government must become much more efficient and wiser in how they spend money,

    second, there must be new revenue coming in,

    And third, the federal government should reduce non-essential spending starting at DOD but throughout the government.   This problem cannot be solved by cutting government spending only nor can it be solved by simply raising taxes only. You must do both and increase the debt limit.

    There are a few proposals that the Republicans have championed over the years that are worth considering.

    One is restructuring federal agencies in a more logical and efficient manner.  Another is to move a lot of federal agencies outside of Washington, leaving the headquarters functions in DC.

    I would revise the re-inventing government programs and have each agency in charge of constantly reviewing and updating how they do they do things with the buy in of the agency workers and the public.  The public should be able to log in and review how the government is re-inventing itself and offer concrete suggestions.  We should appoint a panel of outside experts to all agencies with Agency heads required to respond to both the public and expert’s recommendations.  The re-inventing government exercise cannot be just a gimmick but must be made into a fundamental reform that will transform how the government works.  The President must embrace these efforts, and the Government must show results to the American public.

    The end goal should be the government should spend less money because they are spending their money efficiently eliminating non-essential services.    For example, how are golf courses on military bases around the world fundamental to the military’s core mission?

    Finally, there are trillions of dollars in unspent money sitting in various accounts.  These dollars need to be liquidated and spent.  Re tax reform see below for my thoughts on that.

    Budgetary Reforms

    There is an urgent need to reform how the federal government is budgeted.  I would shift to a two-year budgetary cycle, including shifting the fiscal year back to the calendar year.  I would devote the first year of the congress to passing the budget for the next two years, I would devote the second year to oversight and supplemental budgets.  Second congress will be mandated to pass the budget by the end of the year.  In the rare event we cannot pass a budget on time, there would be an automatic CR.  There should never be a government shut down again. That is just pure craziness.   Reforming the budgetary process would go a long way to making the government much more efficient and effective.  And will reduce the partisan bickering that is so destructive.

    Tax Reform

    Related to this is the need to reform our tax system with the goal that most government spending should be spend using tax dollars, we should limit borrowing to large-scale projects such as infrastructure, military weapon systems. Day-to-day spending should be done through tax revenues.  The tax code should be radically simplified with most deductions eliminated.  I would eep mortgage deductions, business travel deductions, perhaps state and local taxes, and add in medical and education expenses.  We should eliminate everything else.  The top rate should be 25 percent, but an AMT should be instituted, so that everyone pays their fair share.  For most people there may be a slight increase in taxes and the super wealthy will pay their fair share.  Gone are the days when millionaires get by paying almost no taxes. Same thing applies to corporate taxes.  I would penalize companies for off shoring employment. The bottom line is we must increase tax revenues with the minimal economic distortions possible. And we must call upon the 1 percent to embrace the Warren Buffet principle that they should pay at least if not more in taxes as their lowest paid employees do.

    When the Republicans claim that we cannot ask billionaires to pay more in taxes than challenge them–how is it just that a CEO who makes millions a year pays almost nothing in taxes?  How is that just? How is that fair to the millions of other taxpayers?  Tax reform that simplifies taxes, raises most of the revenue that the government needs and is much fairer will be a winning issue for the new President.

    Automation–Jobs are Not Coming Back

    This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. Within a few years, self-driving cars  will eliminate many jobs. AI systems will eliminate many jobs.   Factories will continue to become more automated. We need a national strategy to deal with the onset of automation and AI.  I would put Andrew Yang in charge of coming up with a plan and put him in charge of the Department of Labor, which must be overhauled to make it once again the Department of Labor working for the entire labor force.   The bottom line, the jobs are not coming back!

    Education Reforms

    High school education needs to be reformed as does college. We should shift HS to something like the way the British do it.  At age 16 people will graduate from high school, like the British O levels.  Those who do well academically will go onto two years of college prep, like the British A level.  We should do this through the community college system.  Those not academically inclined would go into apprentice training programs ending with a certificate and job placement.  You need to get the labor unions and corporations involved in re-inventing both high school and college, ensuring that every child graduates ready to go to work.

    The future colleges will be a mix of in-person and on-line education.  Many marginal colleges are going to go under.  That is the reality facing us, and again we need a national plan.  Appoint someone at the Department of Education to oversee the transition to both a new high school system and a new college system.

    For anti-nepotism reasons, I would not offer the Department of Education to your wife, but if she wants to help by working with them on long range planning activities that would be acceptable and appropriate given her background.

    Time to Embrace National Service to Pay for College

    To pay for college for all who qualify, I would set up mandatory national service.  All American citizens and LPR’s would serve two to three years (including training time) in service to the country.  There would be no exemptions. All will have to serve two to three years. While in service they will receive minimum wage, housing, and medical care and a round-trip ticket home every year. At the end of the service obligation, they would receive educational benefits including housing subsidies to allow them to finish college.   Most of their in-service training would be transferable into college credits. For most people, they would only need to spend three years going to college as opposed to four or five.   Most people would do their service in the military but some will serve in an updated civilian conservation corps working in the parks and national forests, or serve as adjunct fire fighters, assistant police officers, or assist the border patrol agency or work in federal state and local offices.   Those who serve a second enlistment would receive additional educational benefits to pay for graduate school.

    At the end of enlistment, people would compete to become NCO’s or officers or civilian employees.  Officers would go to ROTC programs or the service academy, NCO’s would go through a community college degree program and the NCO service training. Most though will complete their service then to go to college or technical training programs.

    Finally, I would set up two new service academies. One would train federal law enforcement officers, the other would train diplomatic and intelligence officers.  The service academies will all only take those who have completed their service obligation.

    If we shift to this model everyone wins except predatory lenders.   People will graduate from college debt free with significant work experience behind them.  An important fringe benefit is that everyone would develop an appreciation that we are in this together as everyone will serve regardless of one’s social and financial status.

    Challenge the Republicans who will say we cannot afford this. Challenge them to explain how the current system which makes college unfordable for most people and cripples’ young people with colossal debt is not sustainable.  It is not and they know it and the public knows it. This is another winning ticket, I believe.

    Climate change—Transition to Green Energy

    This needs to be an urgent national priority.  The recent fires out west and hurricanes and tornados elsewhere show how urgent a crisis this is.  I would start by beefing up the Department of Energy, tasking them with coming up with the plan to transition the U.S. and the world to 100 percent renewable energy.  I would set a goal of transitioning to 100 percent renewal energy by 2030.   It can be done and must be done.

    A small but hugely symbolic step would be to put solar and wind turbines on top of all USG facilities world-wide, starting with the WH and the Pentagon, and encourage large retailers like Walmart to follow suit.  I would also embrace energy-saving technologies across the US government and throughout society.  The US should at a minimum rejoin the Paris climate change initiative, and the US should become the world’s leader in combating climate change.

    Re-building Crumbling Infrastructure

    This is another urgent issue that would draw bipartisan support. Everyone knows that the U. S needs to spend trillions of dollars to rebuild our crumbling third world infrastructure.  We should once again be the world’s leader in transportation–with high-speed trains including hyper loop and maglev trains providing state-of-the-art fast intra-city transportation, with 90 percent of intra-city travel being done on high-speed trains like in Europe and Asia. We need to build the next generation aircraft. This should become a huge profitable business opportunity for American companies.   This is the one area I would say that we should pay for through borrowing.

    Task the department of transportation with coming up with the plan. Focus on shovel ready projects at first.  Work with the States to fund their essential improvements.

    Get METRO in DC to become the nation’s best mass transit system doubling the number of lines within ten years including two new bridges over the Potomac river and extending Metro to Richmond through Ft Belvoir at least.

    To those who claim we cannot afford it, challenge them by saying that we cannot afford to continue to let our infrastructure fall apart.  And we can create a new export industry as we gear up to rebuild America and the world. Why should we let China lead the world in transportation infrastructure spending and development?

    Solving Housing Affordability crisis. As part of our review of infrastructure, we need to address the issue of the housing affordability crisis.  This will require overhauling local zoning as well as encouraging building a lot more affordable housing.

    Social justice issues

    This is an urgent national priority. Much of the work will have to be done at the state and local level, but the Federal government can take the lead in transitioning to a society where everyone is treated fairly by the criminal justice system.  Police departments need more funding but must reform themselves.   I would reverse Trump’s rescinding of racial sensitivity training.

    I would also work hard at reforming the prison system.  I would call upon States and the Federal government to release non-violent offenders into alternative service programs.  We should reserve prisons for hard core violent offenders.   I would legalize marijuana nationwide and release prisoners who are serving time for marijuana possession. I would also outlaw private prisons.

    Immigration

    The immigration system is broken and has been for decades. I worked for years as a visa officer and am aware of how broken the system is. I would simplify the process as follows.

    There should only two categories of immigrant visas.   Employment based and family based.   The number of legal visas should be dramatically increased.  We should eliminate the worldwide quota. The family-based visas should be limited to spouses and children under 18 of the principle applicant or spouses and children of U.S citizens and permanent residents.  We should eliminate the parent and sibling category.  But those in line should be allowed to immigrate and given two years to process the paperwork.  No one should have to wait for more than a year to immigrate.  I would add an English language requirement.  Anyone wishing to immigrate to the U.S must learn English prior to their interview.  If it is a requirement for the visa people will study ESL before taking their interview and once, they get to the U.S be much better equipped to find productive employment and become productive members of society.

    Non-immigrant visas should also be simplified to short-term visitors–tourists and business travel, student visas including exchange visitors, diplomatic visas, and short-term employment visas.  We should discontinue the diversity visa lottery program.  Student visas holders should be able to transfer to employment-based visas if they wish to stay on in the U.S. after graduation.

    We should rescind most of the extreme vetting measures that Trump imposed. We should increase the number of refugees and once again welcome asylum applicants.  Finally, I would expand the number of visa waiver countries. And rescind the Muslim ban.

    To gain some bipartisan support, I would embrace E-Verify programs and also announce that illegal aliens working illegally will still be subject to deportation but deportation would be waivable on a case-by-case basis – we don’t want to deport parents of U.S citizens for example.  Deportation should be focus on violent offenders.

    A final point, I would reverse the various zero tolerance policies, and let immigration officers at the border allow those with minor immigration or visa infractions to enter.

     Ending the War on Drugs and Drug Abuse

    I would convene a national task force to look at how we can combat the scourge of drug abuse nation-wide. I would increase spending on drug abuse prevention programs nation-wide.  I would revamp the war on drugs to become focused on the dangerous drugs out there and legalize marijuana as mentioned above.

     Healing the nation’s wounds

    This is an urgent national priority.  I would offer a presidential pardon to Donald Trump, and his immediate family members and allow them to retire to Florida.  I know that this would not play well with the Democratic base out for vengeance but would be an important step towards healing the national wounds caused by the most divisive President we ever had.

    I would also meet early on and often with the Republicans in congress and in that State House. Your message should be we need to come together and solve our nation’s problems.  I will listen, and if your ideas are useful, I would consider implementing them.  As I mentioned earlier, some Republican proposals particularly in health care have some merit.

    You should not act like Trump did–denouncing everything your predecessor did. There were some things that Trump and the Republicans did that are worthy of continuing.  And to accomplish your goals, reach across the aisle and put the country’s needs ahead of the party’s needs and your personal needs.  I know that you can do this and I hope you will continue to show your willingness to work across the partisan divide for the good of the country, the American people and the world.

    Space Exploration Race to the Moon and Mars Bonus issue

    A final challenge.  We need to return to space in a big way and think big. At a minimum, we need to set up a lunar base and send humans to Mars with the goal of having both lunar and Martian colonies functioning within ten years.  And more long term we need to have colonies around the moons of Jupiter.

    International issues

    Rise of China

    The biggest challenge will the rise of China as a rival superpower and how to combat Chinese influence and maintain US lead in the world.   I would meet Xi in China and invite him to the U.S.  Tell him we stand ready to work together where we can, but we will not let China take advantage of us.

     Russia

    The other big international issue is how to deal with Russia and its malign influence in the world. I would meet Putin in Russia and invite him to the U.S.  Tell him we stand ready to work together where we can, but we will not let Russia take advantage of us.

    Iran

    Iran will continue to be a challenge.  I would offer talks with the Iranians with the goal of recognition, and reestablishment of relations with Iran.  This is something that the Iranian people desire and deserve.  I would go back to the agreement and renegotiation with the Iranians.  How to get to that is the problem.

    North Korea

    North Korea will continue to be a tremendous challenge. I would continue to meet with the North Korean.  I would offer sanctions relief in return for North Korean opening and disclosing its nuclear weapons programs.  Ending nuclear weapons in North Korea may not be possible. The best we can hope for is a freeze. Long term we should offer to normalize relations and establish trading relations with the North.  I would also offer USAID and Peace Corps help as part of the package. I would invite Kim to visit the U.S. provided sufficient progress has been made and I would go to Pyongyang for a trilateral summit. Revising the six-party talks is also a good idea, I think. 

    Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Israel

    The Saudis are not our friend or our ally. But they do not have to be our enemy either.  We need to work with them on regional security issues but need to be wary of their long-term intentions.  Re Israel, we should recognize that the UAE-Israel peace treaty is a step forward and should encourage the other countries to recognize Israel. And we need to continue to insist that a two-state solution is the only lasting solution to peace in the region.  I would suggest that Israel consider a land swap giving the Palestinian state a land bridge linking Gaza to the West Bank to create a viable Palestinian state.  Israel will have to give up some of its territorial land grab in the West Bank.

    Venezuela

     Venezuela will remain the biggest challenge in the western Hemisphere.  We must encourage a transition to a democratic successor state.

    Brazil and Latin America

    Brazil remains a challenge.  We must work to reverse the slide towards authoritarianism, and we must work with them to preserve the Amazon for the benefit of the entire planet.

    Another area of concern- China’s entry into Latin America.  We ensure that Latin America remains friendly to the U.S. and not fall under Chinese influence through neglect.

    We need to continue to work with moderate governments in the region to check on the development of authoritarian governments of both left and right in the region.

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan remains an immense problem.  There is no simple solution. Keeping troops there forever is not however an option.  We should welcome and encourage the ongoing peace talks and help in rebuilding Afghanistan, including sending back the Peace Corps once the situation stabilizes.

    India-Pakistan

    How to remain friendly with both India and Pakistan is a huge issue.  The two countries must downplay tensions.  The U.S has a lot of potential influence in India.  I would offer to return the Peace Corps to India and to Pakistan and Bangladesh once the Peace Corps can resume operations post COVID.

    Rebuilding Alliances

    One of the biggest and most important challenges facing the new president is the urgent need to rebuild alliances across the world that have suffered from Trump “Go It Alone, America First” foreign policy and his insulting treatment of our allies.   I would revise the annual summit of the Americas by hosting the first one in the U.S then committing to an annual summit every year.  And why not an annual African Summit, an Asia Pacific summit, and a European summit? The President should represent the U.S in these annual summits.

    Rebuild the State Department

    I would rebuild the State Department, make sure that our embassies are fully staffed and that the State Department resumes its role as the chief foreign policy department in the U.S. government. As a retired FS officer, I have been most dismayed by the hollowing out of an institution that I served proudly in for almost 27 years.

     Rebuild the Peace Corps and USAID, Promote Democratic Values Again

    I would rebuild the Peace Corps once the COVID crisis allows for them to return to service.  As an ex-Peace Corps volunteer, I know that the Peace Corps can make an enormous difference in human lives around the world.  I would expand service to India, Pakistan, China and elsewhere as conditions warrant.

    I would also rebuild USAID.

    I would also restore democracy promotion as one of our core international values.  One radical idea I would advocate is having our annual human rights reporting include a chapter on the U.S.–written by independent organizations or the UN.   When I did human rights reporting, foreign governments would usually dismiss our reporting as self-serving and hypocritical.  Having our human rights record included in the annual report would go a long way to restore human rights as a core value for the U.S. State Department and government, and show to the world that we are committed to upholding democratic values everywhere including at home.

    Climate Change

    This is both an internal domestic issue and an international issue. Internationally the president should announce that the US will take the lead in transitioning the world to a new green energy future.  Rejoin the Paris accords and lead the world again.

    Terrorism

    This will continue to be an issue.  There is also a domestic component–the rise of right-wing antigovernmental militias in the U.S. with international ties to extremist groups around the world. Be prepared for bioterrorism, and chemical weapons as well as rogue nukes.

     Arctic Ocean Issues

    The Arctic ocean will emerge as a challenge as the global ice melts, opening the Artic to both transportation and resource exploitation.  The key is to ensure that it remains open to all nations especially the U.S. and that we do not through neglect let Russia dominate the Arctic ocean space.

    Africa

    Africa is a continent with tremendous opportunity. We should work with Africa on a whole range of issues.  I would visit Africa early on, revise the annual Africa leaders’ summit, and increase USAID to Africa.   Africa is the future in many respects, and we should embrace moderate African states as allies in building a more prosperous and democratic world.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on these challenges.

    I am a retired US foreign service officer living in South Korea.  I grew up in Berkeley, California, where I went to Thousand Oaks Elementary school a few years before Kamala went there.

    Jake Cosmos Aller
    Retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer
    Seoul (Incheon) South Korea

    Bonus: How to Deal with Trump’s Tweets

     I have a few words of advice for the campaign.  First how to deal with Donald Trump’s tweets. First, ignore them.  Second mock them. Third challenge them when needed.  Here’s how it would work in practice.  Donald Tweets something that is obnoxious, a lie or insulting. Tweet back,

    “there he goes again.  Tweeting nonsense when he should be doing his job as President” or “there he goes again, revealing yet again that he does not know what he is doing” or “Mark Twain once said, if you want people to think you are an idiot, open your mouth (or in this case) tweet and remove all doubt.”  That is all you have to do.

    Re the debate, don’t take the bait don’t spend your time constantly fact checking. Stick to your points but fact check a few points here and there and again mock him, belittle him and reveal to the world how much of an idiot he truly is.

    Bonus 2: How to Address the Hunter Biden Story

    Go out front and address this before Donald Trump unleashes the mud onslaught which is coming…

    Hold a press conference.  Have Hunter there.  Have Hunter apologize for the controversy he caused by being naïve and not knowing how others would try to take advantage of him and his family’s status.  Apologize for being an idiot.

    Then address the country.  Man up and apologize for the appearance of a conflict of interest. State that Hunter will not be working in my administration because I do not believe in nepotism, which is illegal, inappropriate and wrong.  I challenge my opponent to join me in making this pledge, our relatives will not be working in the government when I am president. Then fire Javed, and Ivanka and Donald and Eric and Laura.   And finally, Hunter Biden is not running for President. I am.  Donald Trump will you fire Javed, and Ivanka?

    That should stop the Hunter Biden onslaught.  Hilary could have stopped the email nonsense if she had simply said, I am sorry.  What I did with the emails was stupid and I have learned my lesson.  A little humility and an apology of misdeeds goes a long way in this world.  That’s my final word of advice for you.

     

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Movies Seen 2020

    i have seen over 95  movies and TV shows so far this year, on my way to my goal of seeing 100 shows by the end of the year.  I saw a wide variety – SF, thrillers, classics, K drama, comedy.  I need to see at least one Spanish and one Bollywood to complete my goals.   I included at the end a list of the best movies so far.  The one I really want to see is Bill and Ted Face the Music since the Bill and Ted movies (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey) are among my favorite movies.

    movies seen 2019

    Movies Watched During 2018

    movies list

    best movies 2020

     

    goals:   100 movies

                  a mixture of classic, thriller, SF, comedy include one Korean movie/tv show per week, and at least one Spanish language movie and one Bollywood movie

    the List

    the List (default is netflix)

    1. Better Call Saul
    2. Nigh flyer
    3. The rim of the World
    4. Joker
    5. Venom
    6. Lost in Space
    7. Jurassic World
    8. 100
    9. Birdbox
    10. I Am Number Four(film)
    11. Umbrella Academy
    12. Locke and Key
    13. Sense 8
    14. Away
    15. Titan
    16. The Mist
    17. The Order
    18. October Faction
    19. The Man in the High Castle
    20. The Expanse
    21. Legends of Tomorrow
    22. The Messiah
    23. The OA
    24. Lucy
    25. Timeless
    26. Travelers
    27. Alice Through the Looking Glass
    28. Annihilation
    29. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
    30. Prince Caspian
    31. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
    32. How It Ends
    33. Itaewon Class
    34. Zoo
    35. Extinction
    36. 6 Underground
    37. Ballade of Buster Scruggs
    38. How It Ends
    39. Tau
    40. Series of Unfortunate Events
    41. The Darkest Dawn
    42. The IO
    43. Ozark
    44. Avengers Day of Ultron
    45. Prometheus
    46. Another Life
    47. Land of the Lost
    48. Kim’s Convenience Store
    49. The Cloverfield Paradox
    50. The A- Team
    51. Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales
    52. Salvation
    53. Iron Man 2
    54. Total Recall
    55. The Machine (Hoopla)
    56. Absolutely Anything (Hoopla)
    57. The Adventurer Curse of the Midas Touch (Hoopla)
    58. The Endless (Hoopla)
    59. Color Out of Time (Hoopla)
    60. The Librarian Curse of the Judas Chalice (Hoopla)
    61. The Librarian King Soloman’s Mine (Hoopla)
    62. The Librarian Quest for the Spear (Hoopla)
    63. Dinosaur Island (Hoopla)
    64. Land that Time Forgot (Hoopla)
    65. Dark Prophecy (Hoopla)
    66. The Villainess (Hoopla)
    67. Bad Boys for Life
    68. Outer Banks
    69. Suicide squad
    70. Abyss
    71. Series of unfortunate events
    72. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
    73. Superman Vs Batman Star of Justice
    74. Last Man Standing K Political Drama
    75. Honest Candidate k Drama
    76. Irishman
    77. Project Power
    78. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
    79. Kim Ji Young K Drama
    80. The Sting
    81. Focus
    82. Fantasy Island
    83. Warrior nun
    84. Good Omens amazon
    85. Sneaky Pete Amazon
    86. Blood Shot Netflix
    87. Jupiter ascendant Netflix
    88. White Line
    89. Bloodlines
    90. Wu Assassins
    91. Inside Bill’s Brain
    92. War Dogs
    93. Alice in the Borderlands
    94. The i- land
    95. Black Mirror
    96. The Colony

    Updated September 2, 2020

    2020’s been a year of limitless upheaval, and yet the show must go on. The movies have been made, their stories yearning to seek an audience, whether through a traditional theatrical route or through more creative streaming means as studios indie and major have experimented with these past months. However they’re getting delivered to you, we’re now ranking the best movies of 2020 by Tomatometer, all Certified Fresh!

    In the movie theater space of the bygone epoch that is early 2020, we saw surprise critical hits like Bad Boys For Life, Birds of Prey, and The Invisible Man. Nic Cage’s The Color Out of Space and Elijah Wood-starring Come To Daddy got people talking in the indie genre circuit, while Onward did as well as one would expect for Pixar-lite. As the world turned to streaming platforms, there was a Certified Fresh movie every other week that seemed to command everyone’s attention, including The Platform, Shirley, Da 5 Bloods, The Vast of Night, Blow the Man Down, The Willoughbys, and Hamilton.

    We’ll be updating this list as more critically acclaimed movies release and theaters navigate the choppy reopening surf, so check back to keep discovering the best movies of 2020. And don’t forget to check out the most anticipated movies of 2020, along with the year’s best horror movies so far.

    Now, continue on to discover critic-approved quality films, and be reminded of the ones you want to rewatch, with our list of the very best movies of 2020. And be sure to let us know your favorite 2020 films in the comments.

    Update: Class Action Park, The Rental, Bill & Ted Face the Music, I’m Thinking of Ending Things added.

     

    THE LODGE (2020)
    74%

    #122
    Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive Riley Keough performance, The Lodge should prove a suitably unsettling destination for fans of darkly atmospheric horror.
    Synopsis: A bone-chilling nightmare from the directors of GOODNIGHT MOMMY, THE LODGE follows a family who retreat to their remote winter…[More]
    Starring: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Alicia Silverstone
    Directed By: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
    #121
    Critics Consensus: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You may feel like little more than an amiable postscript to its predecessor, but fans of the original should still find this a swoonworthy sequel.
    Synopsis: It’s a new year and Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) are no longer pretending to be a… [More]
    Starring: Sarayu Rao, Holland Taylor, Noah Centineo, Lana Condor
    Directed By: Michael Fimognari

    THE WRETCHED (2020)
    75%

    #120
    Critics Consensus: The Wretched stirs up a savory blend of witch-in-the-woods horror ingredients that should leave genre fans hungry for a second helping from writer-directors Brett and Drew T. Pierce.
    Synopsis: Following his parents’ separation, a rebellious teenage boy, Ben, is sent to live with his father for the summer and… [More]
    Starring: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones, Azie Tesfai
    Directed By: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce

    THE RENTAL (2020)
    75%

    #119
    Critics Consensus: Some tricky genre juggling makes The Rental a bit of a fixer-upper, but effective chills and a solid cast make this a fine destination for horror fans.
    Synopsis: Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying… [More]
    Starring: Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, Toby Huss
    Directed By: Dave Franco

    THE GENTLEMEN (2020)
    75%

    #118
    Critics Consensus: It may not win writer-director Guy Ritchie many new converts, but for those already attuned to the filmmaker’s brash wavelength, The Gentlemen stands tall.
    Synopsis: THE GENTLEMEN follows American expat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word… [More]
    Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery
    Directed By: Guy Ritchie

    FAMILY ROMANCE, LLC (2020)
    76%

    #117
    Critics Consensus: A fascinating exploration of human connection, Family Romance, LLC sees Werner Herzog following an unconventional path to existentialism.
    Synopsis: Romance is a business. Family, friends, followers. All available for hire. A man is hired to impersonate the missing father… [More]
    Starring: Yuichi Ishii, Mahiro Tanimoto, Miki Fujimaki, Takashi Nakatani
    Directed By: Werner Herzog

    SUMMERLAND (2020)
    76%

    #116
    Critics Consensus: In Summerland, the living is a little too easy to raise dramatic stakes — but Gemma Arterton’s performance adds some much-needed extra heat.
    Synopsis: Alice is a reclusive writer, resigned to a solitary life on the seaside cliffs of Southern England while World War… [More]
    Starring: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Courtenay, Penelope Wilton
    Directed By: Jessica Swale

    MILITARY WIVES (2020)
    76%

    #115
    Critics Consensus: Like a favorite song you know by heart, Military Wives offers few surprises — but its pleasures are no less formidable for their familiarity.
    Synopsis: Military Wives centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Faced with…[More]
    Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sharon Horgan, Jason Flemyng, Greg Wise
    Directed By: Peter Cattaneo

    BUFFALOED (2020)
    77%

    #114
    Critics Consensus: This late-capitalism comedy is undeniably uneven, but Zoey Deutch’s effervescent performance gives Buffaloed wings.
    Synopsis: Peg Dahl (Zoey Deutch) has never run with the Buffalo pack. As a young girl obsessed with making enough cash… [More]
    Starring: Zoey Deutch, Judy Greer, Jai Courtney, Jermaine Fowler
    Directed By: Tanya Wexler

    BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (2020)
    77%

    #113
    Critics Consensus: Loaded up with action and a double helping of leading-man charisma, Bad Boys for Life reinvigorates this long-dormant franchise by playing squarely to its strengths.
    Synopsis: The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in… [More]
    Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig
    Directed By: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah

    TOMMASO (2020)
    78%

    #112
    Critics Consensus: While admittedly a self-indulgent exercise, Tommaso is powerfully anchored by an outstanding central performance from Willem Dafoe.
    Synopsis: Playing opposite the director’s own wife and daughter, Willem Dafoe is a Ferrara-like American artist living in Rome in this… [More]
    Starring: Willem Dafoe, Anna Ferrara, Christina Chiriac, Lorenzo Piazzoni
    Directed By: Abel Ferrara

    GREYHOUND (2020)
    79%

    #111
    Critics Consensus: Greyhound’s characters aren’t as robust as its action sequences, but this fast-paced World War II thriller benefits from its efficiently economical approach.
    Synopsis: In the early days of WWII, an international convoy of 37 Allied ships, led by captain Ernest Krause (Hanks) in… [More]
    Starring: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, Elisabeth Shue
    Directed By:
    #110
    Critics Consensus: With a fresh perspective, some new friends, and loads of fast-paced action, Birds of Prey captures the colorfully anarchic spirit of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.
    Synopsis: You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? “Birds of Prey (And… [More]
    Starring: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ewan McGregor
    Directed By: Cathy Yan
    #109
    Critics Consensus: Its unusual approach won’t be for all viewers, but True History of the Kelly Gang takes a distinctively postmodern look at Australia’s past.
    Synopsis: Set against the badlands of colonial Australia where the English rule with a bloody fist and the Irish endure, Ned… [More]
    Starring: George MacKay, Russell Crowe, Nicholas Hoult, Essie Davis
    Directed By: Justin Kurzel

    TIGERTAIL (2020)
    80%

    #108
    Critics Consensus: Uneven yet revealing, Tigertail offers a well-acted — and ultimately valuable — look at the immigrant experience in America.
    Synopsis: In this poignant multi-generational drama, Pin-Jui (Hong-Chi Lee) is a free-spirited yet impoverished young Taiwanese factory worker, who makes the… [More]
    Starring: Christine Ko, Fiona Fu, Joan Chen, James Saito
    Directed By: Alan Yang

    THE PAINTED BIRD (2020)
    80%

    #107
    Critics Consensus: Brutally uncompromising in its portrayal of Nazi Germany, The Painted Bird is a difficult watch that justifies its stark horror with searing impact.
    Synopsis: In an effort to save their child from the massive extermination of Jews, a Jewish couple send their son to… [More]
    Starring: Petr Kotlár, Udo Kier, Lech Dyblik, Jitka Cvancarová
    Directed By: Václav Marhoul
    #106
    Critics Consensus: While it may feel muddled at times, The Platform is an inventive and captivating dystopian thriller.
    Synopsis: One day Goreng wakes up with his future colleague Trimagasi in the 33rd level of a prison style place, crossed… [More]
    Starring: Ivan Massagué, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor, Emilio Buale
    Directed By: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

    HOW TO BUILD A GIRL (2020)
    80%

    #105
    Critics Consensus: Led by Beanie Feldstein’s charming performance, How to Build a Girl puts a disarmingly earnest spin on the familiar coming-of-age comedy formula.
    Synopsis: Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein) is a bright, quirky, 16-year-old who uses her colorful imagination to regularly escape her humdrum life…[More]
    Starring: Beanie Feldstein, Alfie Allen, Paddy Considine, Emma Thompson
    Directed By: Coky Giedroyc

    VHYES (2020)
    81%

    #104
    Critics Consensus: VHYes is a unique film for specific tastes — and a rare, albeit grimy gift for viewers who can appreciate its retro aesthetic and absurd humor.
    Synopsis: A bizarre retro comedy shot entirely on VHS, VHYes takes us back to a simpler time, when twelve-year-old Ralph mistakenly… [More]
    Starring: Kerri Kenney, Thomas Lennon, Charlyne Yi, John Gemberling
    Directed By: Jack Henry Robbins

    PORNO (2020)
    81%

    #103
    Critics Consensus: Porno mines sexual repression to produce a laughably lurid — and genuinely scary — outing that should delight genre fans in search of a good time.
    Synopsis: Four repressed, religious teens and a straight-edge projectionist working at a small-town movie theater in the 1990s discover a secret… [More]
    Starring: Bill Phillips, Katelyn Pearce, Peter Reznikoff, Robbie Tann
    Directed By: Keola Racela

    TO THE STARS (2020)
    81%

    #102
    Critics Consensus: Its reach may occasionally exceed its grasp, but To the Stars uses its period setting as an effective backdrop for an insightful look at female friendship.
    Synopsis: In a god-fearing small town in 1960s Oklahoma, bespectacled and reclusive teen Iris endures the booze-induced antics of her mother… [More]
    Starring: Malin Akerman, Shea Whigham, Liana Liberato, Jordana Spiro
    Directed By: Martha Stephens
    #101
    Critics Consensus: As wholesomely goofy as its heroes, Bill and Ted Face the Music is a rare long-belated sequel that largely recaptures the franchise’s original charm.
    Synopsis: The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. and Theodore “Ted” Logan…. [More]
    Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine
    Directed By: Dean Parisot

    THE OLD GUARD (2020)
    81%

    #100
    Critics Consensus: The Old Guard is occasionally restricted by genre conventions, but director Gina Prince-Bythewood brings a sophisticated vision to the superhero genre – and some knockout action sequences led by Charlize Theron.
    Synopsis: Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die… [More]
    Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli
    Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood
    #99
    Critics Consensus: Once Were Brothers my frustrate Band fans looking for a less narrowly focused overview, but the group’s music and history remain as engrossing as ever.
    Synopsis: Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robbie Robertson’s young… [More]
    Starring: Robbie Robertson, Martin Scorsese, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton
    Directed By: Daniel Roher
    #98
    Critics Consensus: Like the grieving Scrabble enthusiast at the heart of its unique story, Sometimes Always Never scores high enough to be well worth a play.
    Synopsis: Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. He has spent years searching tirelessly for his… [More]
    Starring: Jenny Agutter, Tim McInnerny, Alice Lowe, Oliver Sindcup
    Directed By: Carl Hunter

    THE WHISTLERS (2020)
    83%

    #97
    Critics Consensus: The Whistlers finds writer-director Corneliu Porumboiu working in a more crowd-pleasing vein than previous efforts, with thoroughly entertaining results.
    Synopsis: In THE WHISTLERS, not everything is as it seems for Cristi, a police inspector in Bucharest who plays both sides… [More]
    Starring: Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon, Rodica Lazar, Antonio Buíl
    Directed By: Corneliu Porumboiu

    THE WAY BACK (2020)
    83%

    #96
    Critics Consensus: The Way Back’s occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck’s outstanding work in the central role.
    Synopsis: Back in high school, Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched… [More]
    Starring: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, Janina Gavankar
    Directed By: Gavin O’Connor

    MR. JONES (2020)
    84%

    #95
    Critics Consensus: Flawed yet fundamentally worthy, Mr. Jones peers into the past to tell a fact-based story that remains troublingly relevant today.
    Synopsis: Agnieszka Holland’s thriller, set on the eve of WWII, sees Hitler’s rise to power and Stalin’s Soviet propaganda machine pushing… [More]
    Starring: James Norton, Vanessa Kirby, Peter Sarsgaard, Joseph Mawle
    Directed By: Agnieszka Holland

    THE TRAITOR (2020)
    84%

    #94
    Critics Consensus: While it doesn’t probe particularly far below the surface of its central character, The Traitor tells its fact-based story with enough energy to entertain.
    Synopsis: THE TRAITOR tells the true story of Tommaso Buscetta, the man who brought down the Cosa Nostra. In the early… [More]
    Starring: Pierfrancesco Favino, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Fabrizio Ferracane, Luigi Lo Cascio
    Directed By: Marco Bellocchio

    SHE DIES TOMORROW (2020)
    84%

    #93
    Critics Consensus: Formally provocative and emotionally raw, She Dies Tomorrow confirms writer-director Amy Seimetz as a filmmaker with a unique — and timely — vision.
    Synopsis: After waking up convinced that she is going to die tomorrow, Amy’s carefully mended life begins to unravel. As her… [More]
    Starring: Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, Chris Messina, Kate Aselton
    Directed By: Amy Seimetz

    ZOMBI CHILD (2020)
    85%

    #92
    Critics Consensus: If the strain of its ambitious juggling act sometimes shows, Zombi Child remains an entertainingly audacious experience, enlivened with thought-provoking themes.
    Synopsis: Haiti, 1962: A man is brought back from the dead only to be sent to the living hell of the… [More]
    Starring: Louise Labèque, Wislanda Louimat, Katiana Milfort, Mackenson Bijou
    Directed By: Bertrand Bonello

    BIG TIME ADOLESCENCE (2020)
    85%

    #91
    Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and brought to life by a smartly assembled ensemble, Big Time Adolescence finds fresh pleasures in the crowded coming-of-age genre.
    Synopsis: A seemingly bright and mostly innocent 16-year-old named Mo (Griffin Gluck) attempts to navigate high school under the guidance of… [More]
    Starring: Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck, Emily Arlook, Machine Gun Kelly
    Directed By: Jason Orley
    #90
    Critics Consensus: Aided by stellar performances from Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons, I’m Thinking of Ending Things finds writer-director Charlie Kaufman grappling with the human condition as only he can.
    Synopsis: Despite second thoughts about their relationship, a young woman (Jessie Buckley) takes a road trip with her new boyfriend (Jesse… [More]
    Starring: Jesse Plemons, Jessie Buckley, Toni Collette, David Thewlis
    Directed By: Charlie Kaufman

    SEA FEVER (2020)
    86%

    #89
    Critics Consensus: If Sea Fever never quite heats up as much as it could, it remains an engrossing, well-acted sci-fi thriller with effective horror elements.
    Synopsis: Siobhán’s a marine biology student who prefers spending her days alone in a lab. She has to endure a week… [More]
    Starring: Hermione Corfield, Connie Nielsen, Dougray Scott, Olwen Fouéré
    Directed By: Neasa Hardiman

    COLOR OUT OF SPACE (2020)
    86%

    #88
    Critics Consensus: A welcome return for director Richard Stanley, Color Out of Space mixes tart B-movie pulp with visually alluring Lovecraftian horror and a dash of gonzo Nicolas Cage.
    Synopsis: After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner (Nicolas Cage) and his family find themselves… [More]
    Starring: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer
    Directed By: Richard Stanley

    1BR (2020)
    85%

    #87
    Critics Consensus: 1BR’s occasionally ordinary storytelling is more than outweighed by tight direction, interesting ideas, and an effective blend of horror and thoughtful drama.
    Synopsis: After leaving behind a painful past to follow her dreams, Sarah scores the perfect Hollywood apartment. But something is not… [More]
    Starring: Nicole Brydon Bloom, Giles Matthey, Alan Blumenfeld, Celeste Sully
    Directed By: David Marmor

    COME TO DADDY (2020)
    87%

    #86
    Critics Consensus: Bloody horror with barbed wit, Come to Daddy anchors its brutal violence in a surprisingly mature approach to provocative themes.
    Synopsis: Norval Greenwood, a privileged man-child arrives at the beautiful and remote coastal cabin of his estranged father, who he hasn’t… [More]
    Starring: Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie, Martin Donovan, Michael Smiley
    Directed By: Ant Timpson

    DEERSKIN (2020)
    87%

    #85
    Critics Consensus: Led by a daring performance from Jean Dujardin, Deerskin finds writer-director Quentin Dupieux working in a more accessible — yet still distinctive — vein.
    Synopsis: In this black comedy of middle-aged masculinity gone awry, Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) is a recent divorcee… [More]
    Starring: Jean Dujardin, Adèle Haenel, Albert Delpy, Coralie Russier
    Directed By: Quentin Dupieux

    SPACESHIP EARTH (2020)
    87%

    #84
    Critics Consensus: Spaceship Earth achieves liftoff as an engaging behind-the-scenes record of an audacious experiment — and settles into orbit as poignant proof of the power of a shared dream.
    Synopsis: Spaceship Earth is the true, stranger-than-fiction, adventure of eight visionaries who in 1991 spent two years quarantined inside of a… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Matt Wolf

    THE TRIP TO GREECE (2020)
    87%

    #83
    Critics Consensus: The Trip to Greece sees this series subject to the laws of diminishing returns, but Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan remain reliably enjoying company.
    Synopsis: When Odysseus left Troy it took him ten years to get back to his home in Ithaca. Steve and Rob… [More]
    Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Kareem Alkabbani, Marta Barrio
    Directed By: Michael Winterbottom

    SORRY WE MISSED YOU (2020)
    87%

    #82
    Critics Consensus: Sorry We Missed You may strike some as tending toward the righteously didactic, but director Ken Loach’s passionate approach remains effective.
    Synopsis: Ricky and his family have been fighting an uphill struggle against debt since the 2008 financial crash. An opportunity to… [More]
    Starring: Kris Hitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone, Katie Proctor
    Directed By: Ken Loach

    SHIRLEY (2020)
    87%

    #81
    Critics Consensus: Elevated by outstanding work from Elisabeth Moss, Shirley pays tribute to its subject’s pioneering legacy with a biopic that ignores the commonly accepted boundaries of the form.
    Synopsis: Renowned horror writer Shirley Jackson is on the precipice of writing her masterpiece when the arrival of newlyweds upends her… [More]
    Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young, Logan Lerman
    Directed By: Josephine Decker

    LES MISÉRABLES (2020)
    87%

    #80
    Critics Consensus: Les Misérables transcends its unwieldy story with compelling ideas and an infectious energy that boils over during a thrilling final act.
    Synopsis: Stephane, only just arrived from Cherbourg, joins the anti-criminality brigade of Montfermeil in a sensitive district of the Paris suburbs….[More]
    Starring: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga, Issa Perica
    Directed By: Ladj Ly

    EMMA. (2020)
    87%

    #79
    Critics Consensus: Other adaptations may do a better job of consistently capturing the spirit of the classic source material, but Jane Austen fans should still find a solid match in this Emma.
    Synopsis: Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending, is reimagined in this delicious new film… [More]
    Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth
    Directed By: Autumn de Wilde
    #78
    Critics Consensus: Sensitive, well-acted, and solidly directed, Words on Bathroom Walls is an admirable addition to a genre that too rarely does justice to its worthy themes.
    Synopsis: WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS tells the story of witty and introspective Adam (Charlie Plummer), who appears to be your typical… [More]
    Starring: Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, Taylor Russell, AnnaSophia Robb
    Directed By: Thor Freudenthal

    SPUTNIK (2020)
    88%

    #77
    Critics Consensus: Effective space alien horror with a Soviet-era twist, Sputnik proves there are still some scary good sci-fi thrillers left in the galaxy.
    Synopsis: Due to her controversial methods, young doctor Tatiana Yurievna (Oksana Akinshina) is on the precipice of losing her medical license…. [More]
    Starring: Oksana Akinshina, Pyotr Fyodorov, Fedor Bondarchuk, Anton Vasilev (II)
    Directed By: Egor Abramenko

    SELAH AND THE SPADES (2020)
    88%

    #76
    Critics Consensus: A smart, well-acted, and refreshingly messy coming-of-age story, Selah and the Spades suggests a bright future for debuting writer-director Tayarisha Poe.
    Synopsis: In the closed world of an elite Pennsylvania boarding school, Haldwell, the student body is run by five factions. Seventeen-year-old… [More]
    Starring: Lovie Simone, Celeste O’Connor, Jharrel Jerome, Gina Torres
    Directed By: Tayarisha Poe
    #75
    Critics Consensus: The Truth may not stand with Hirokazu Kore-eda’s best work, but it finds the writer-director revisiting familiar themes with a typically sensitive touch.
    Synopsis: Legends of French cinema Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche join masterful filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda (Shoplifters, Still Walking) to paint a… [More]
    Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke, Ludivine Sagnier
    Directed By: Hirokazu Koreeda

    ONWARD (2020)
    88%

    #74
    Critics Consensus: It may suffer in comparison to Pixar’s classics, but Onward makes effective use of the studio’s formula — and stands on its own merits as a funny, heartwarming, dazzlingly animated adventure.
    Synopsis: In “Onward,” teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voices of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) get an unexpected opportunity… [More]
    Starring: Tom Holland (II), Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    Directed By: Dan Scanlon

    BANANA SPLIT (2020)
    89%

    #73
    Critics Consensus: Banana Split serves up a sweet comedic dish that serves as a delightful calling card for co-writer and star Hannah Marks.
    Synopsis: April (Hannah Marks) has spent the last two years of high school in a relationship with Nick (Dylan Sprouse), from… [More]
    Starring: Hannah Marks, Liana Liberato, Dylan Sprouse, Addison Riecke
    Directed By: Benjamin Kasulke

    YOU DON’T NOMI (2020)
    89%

    #72
    Critics Consensus: It may not change many minds regarding Showgirls, but You Don’t Nomi is a solidly entertaining postmortem of an infamous flop.
    Synopsis: In YOU DON’T NOMI, a chorus of film critics and fervent devotees explore the complicated afterlife of 1995’s biggest film… [More]
    Starring: Adam Nayman, April Kidwell, Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, David Schmader
    Directed By: Jeffrey McHale

    SWALLOW (2020)
    89%

    #71
    Critics Consensus: Swallow’s unconventional approach to exploring domestic ennui is elevated by a well-told story and Haley Bennett’s powerful leading performance.
    Synopsis: On the surface, Hunter (Haley Bennett) appears to have it all. A newly pregnant housewife, she seems content to spend… [More]
    Starring: Haley Bennett, Austin Stowell, Elizabeth Marvel, David Rasche
    Directed By: Carlo Mirabella-Davis

    THE BOOKSELLERS (2020)
    90%

    #70
    Critics Consensus: Inviting viewers into a fascinating world of bibliophiles, The Booksellers is a documentary that’s easy to curl up and get lost in.
    Synopsis: Antiquarian booksellers are part scholar, part detective and part businessperson, and their personalities and knowledge are as broad as the…[More]
    Starring: Parker Posey, Fran Lebowitz, Gay Talese
    Directed By: D.W. Young

    THE WILLOUGHBYS (2020)
    90%

    #69
    Critics Consensus: An appealing animated adventure whose silliness is anchored in genuine emotion, The Willoughbys offers fanciful fun the entire family can enjoy.
    Synopsis: Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on… [More]
    Starring: Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews
    Directed By: Kris Pearn

    BLOOD QUANTUM (2020)
    90%

    #68
    Critics Consensus: Blood Quantum blends bloody horror with sociopolitical subtext, taking a fresh bite out of the crowded zombie genre in the bargain.
    Synopsis: The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’gMaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indigenous inhabitants… [More]
    Starring: Michael Greyeyes, Forrest Goodluck, Kiowa Gordon, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
    Directed By: Jeff Barnaby

    REBUILDING PARADISE (2020)
    91%

    #67
    Critics Consensus: From the horror of natural disaster to the spirit summoned behind the titular effort, Rebuilding Paradise stirringly depicts one community’s perseverance.
    Synopsis: On the morning of Nov. 8, 2018, a devastating firestorm engulfed the picturesque city of Paradise, California. By the time… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Ron Howard
    #66
    Critics Consensus: Smart and stylish, The Wild Goose Lake blends B-movie thrills with bold filmmaking choices and thought-provoking social commentary.
    Synopsis: Fleeing from the law, gangster Zenong Zhou (Ge Hu) crosses paths with an innocent-looking woman named Aiai Liu (Lun-Mei Kwei)…. [More]
    Starring: Ge Hu, Liao Fan, Regina Wan, Liang Qi
    Directed By: Diao Yinan

    BULL (2020)
    91%

    #65
    Critics Consensus: An intimate two-hander anchored by a pair of well-matched actors, Bull takes an achingly empathetic look at life on the economic margins.
    Synopsis: In a near-abandoned subdivision west of Houston, a wayward teen runs headlong into her equally willful and unforgiving neighbor, an… [More]
    Starring: Rob Morgan, Amber Havard, Yolonda Ross, Keeli Wheeler
    Directed By: Annie Silverstein

    MISS AMERICANA (2020)
    91%

    #64
    Critics Consensus: Miss Americana provides an engaging if somewhat deliberately opaque backstage look at a pop star turned cultural phenomenon.
    Synopsis: Miss Americana is a raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during… [More]
    Starring: Taylor Swift
    Directed By: Lana Wilson

    WEATHERING WITH YOU (2020)
    91%

    #63
    Critics Consensus: Beautifully animated and narratively engaging, Weathering with You further establishes writer-director Makoto Shinkai as a singularly talented filmmaker.
    Synopsis: The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly… [More]
    Starring: Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori, Tsubasa Honda, Sakura Kiryu
    Directed By: Makoto Shinkai

    BEANPOLE (DYLDA) (2020)
    91%

    #62
    Critics Consensus: Filmed with impressive skill and brought to life by unforgettable performances, Beanpole takes a heartbreakingly empathetic look at lives shattered by war.
    Synopsis: 1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and… [More]
    Starring: Viktoria Miroshnichenko, Vasilisa Perelygina, Andrey Bykov, Igor Shirokov
    Directed By: Kantemir Balagov

    BACURAU (NIGHTHAWK) (2020)
    91%

    #61
    Critics Consensus: Formally thrilling and narratively daring, Bacurau draws on modern Brazilian sociopolitical concerns to deliver a hard-hitting, genre-blurring drama.
    Synopsis: A few years from now… Bacurau, a small village in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita,… [More]
    Starring: Barbara Colen, Thomas Aquino, Silvero Pereira, Karine Teles
    Directed By: Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles

    RELIC (2020)
    91%

    #60
    Critics Consensus: Relic ratchets up its slowly building tension in an expertly crafted atmosphere of dread, adding up to an outstanding feature debut for director/co-writer Natalie Erika James.
    Synopsis: When Edna, the elderly and widowed matriarch of the family, goes missing, her daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam travel to… [More]
    Starring: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote, Chris Bunton
    Directed By: Natalie Erika James

    THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020)
    91%

    #59
    Critics Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and above all scary, The Invisible Man proves that sometimes, the classic source material for a fresh reboot can be hiding in plain sight.
    Synopsis: Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of… [More]
    Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer
    Directed By: Leigh Whannell
    #58
    Critics Consensus: A Good Woman Is Hard to Find, but it isn’t difficult to see a star in the making while watching Sarah Bolger’s powerful performance in this gritty thriller.
    Synopsis: Sarah is a recently widowed young mother. Her son Ben has been an elective mute since the day he witnessed… [More]
    Starring: Edward Hogg, Andrew Simpson, Jane Brennan, Caolan Byrne
    Directed By: Abner Pastoll

    PREMATURE (2020)
    92%

    #57
    Critics Consensus: Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.
    Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, seventeen-year-old poet Ayanna (Zora Howard)… [More]
    Starring: Imani Lewis, Jimmy Lee Gary Jr., Meeya Davis, Ozzie Stewart
    Directed By: Rashaad Ernesto Green

    END OF SENTENCE (2020)
    92%

    #56
    Critics Consensus: Steered by a pair of powerful lead performances, End of Sentence is a road trip movie that takes audiences on a satisfying emotional journey.
    Synopsis: After being widowed, Frank Fogle reluctantly embarks on a journey to honor his wife’s last wish of spreading her ashes… [More]
    Starring: John Hawkes, Logan Lerman, Sarah Bolger, Olafur Darri Olafsson
    Directed By: Elfar, Adalsteins
    #55
    Critics Consensus: An intoxicating blend of documentary and fiction, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets surveys the bar-going life with a remarkably sober eye.
    Synopsis: Co-directors Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross’s genre-bending docudrama focuses on a Las Vegas dive bar named ‘The Roaring 20s’… [More]
    Starring: Michael Martin, Peter Elwell, Shay Walker
    Directed By: Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross

    THE OUTPOST (2020)
    92%

    #54
    Critics Consensus: Told with gripping realism, The Outpost is a thrilling technical feat and a worthy tribute to military heroes.
    Synopsis: Based on true events. A team of U.S. soldiers stationed at the deadliest outpost in Afghanistan are relentlessly attacked by… [More]
    Starring: Scott Eastwood, Orlando Bloom, Jack Kesy, Cory Hardrict
    Directed By: Rod Lurie

    THE ASSISTANT (2020)
    92%

    #53
    Critics Consensus: Led by a powerhouse performance from Julia Garner, The Assistant offers a withering critique of workplace harassment and systemic oppression.
    Synopsis: “The Assistant” follows one day in the life of Jane (Julia Garner), a recent college graduate and aspiring film producer,… [More]
    Starring: Julia Garner, Matthew MacFadyen, Makenzie Leigh, Kristine Froseth
    Directed By: Kitty Green

    THE VAST OF NIGHT (2020)
    92%

    #52
    Critics Consensus: An engrossing sci-fi thriller that transcends its period trappings, The Vast of Night suggests great things for debuting director Andrew Patterson.
    Synopsis: In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young, winsome switchboard operator Fay (Sierra… [More]
    Starring: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz , Gail Cronauer, Bruce Davis
    Directed By: Andrew Patterson

    DA 5 BLOODS (2020)
    92%

    #51
    Critics Consensus: Fierce energy and ambition course through Da 5 Bloods, coming together to fuel one of Spike Lee’s most urgent and impactful films.
    Synopsis: From Academy Award Winner Spike Lee comes a New Joint: the story of four African-American Vets — Paul (Delroy Lindo),… [More]
    Starring: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis
    Directed By: Spike Lee

    WORKING MAN (2020)
    93%

    #50
    Critics Consensus: A too-rare showcase for an ensemble of talented veteran actors, Working Man quietly builds into an absorbing — and timely — character study.
    Synopsis: In the Rust Belt of America another factory is closing. After decades on the job, the reclusive Allery Parkes finds… [More]
    Starring: Peter Gerety, Billy Brown, Talia Shire, Gary Houston
    Directed By: Robert Jury

    THE PERFECT CANDIDATE (2020)
    93%

    #49
    Critics Consensus: A message movie admirable for its subtlety as well as its execution, The Perfect Candidate faces oppression and powerfully advocates for change.
    Synopsis: A revealing look at the changing roles of women in Saudi Arabia from director Haifaa Al-Mansour (WADJDA), THE PERFECT CANDIDATE… [More]
    Starring: Mila Al Zahrani, Dhay, Khalid Abdulrhim, Shafi Al Harthy
    Directed By: Haifaa Al-Mansour

    UNCORKED (2020)
    93%

    #48
    Critics Consensus: Like a good wine, once you let Uncorked breathe, its heartfelt tenderness will yield a sweet time.
    Synopsis: Fueled by his love for wine, Elijah enrolls in a course to become a master sommelier, an elite designation given… [More]
    Starring: Mamoudou Athie, Kelly Jenrette, Matt McGorry, Sasha Compère
    Directed By: Prentice Penny

    BECOMING (2020)
    93%

    #47
    Critics Consensus: It may not get as personal as some viewers might have hoped, but Becoming offers an uplifting look at a pivotal moment in its subject’s public life.
    Synopsis: Becoming is an intimate look into the life of former First Lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change,… [More]
    Starring: Michelle Obama
    Directed By: Nadia Hallgren

    AND THEN WE DANCED (2020)
    93%

    #46
    Critics Consensus: Led by an outstanding performance from Levan Gelbakhiani, And Then We Danced defeats prejudice with overwhelming compassion.
    Synopsis: A passionate tale of love and liberation set amidst the ultraconservative confines of modern Georgian society, And Then We Danced…[More]
    Starring: Ana Javakishvili, Giorgi Tsereteli, Tamar Bukhnikashvili, Marika Gogichaishvili
    Directed By: Levan Akin

    ORDINARY LOVE (2020)
    93%

    #45
    Critics Consensus: Led by strong performances from Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson, Ordinary Love wrings heartrending drama out of one couple’s medical travails.
    Synopsis: Joan and Tom (Academy Award (R) nominee Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson) have been married for many years. An everyday… [More]
    Starring: Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville, Amit Shah, David Wilmot
    Directed By: Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn

    YES, GOD, YES (2020)
    94%

    #44
    Critics Consensus: Natalia Dyer’s charming performance — and writer-director Karen Maine’s sensitive work — will leave audiences saying Yes, God, Yes to this coming-of-age dramedy.
    Synopsis: Growing up in the Midwest in the early 00s, sixteen-year-old Alice has always been a good Catholic. But when an… [More]
    Starring: Natalia Dyer, Wolfgang Novogratz, Francesca Reale, Susan Blackwell
    Directed By: Karen Maine

    BABYTEETH (2020)
    94%

    #43
    Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and sensitively directed, Babyteeth offers audiences a coming-of-age story that’s messier — and more rewarding — than most.
    Synopsis: When seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it’s her parents’ worst nightmare. But… [More]
    Starring: Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Emily Barclay, Eugene Gilfedder
    Directed By: Shannon Murphy

    WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES (2020)
    94%

    #42
    Critics Consensus: We Are Little Zombies mixes the playful and the profane with a stylish and visually inventive look at death, abandonment, and the grieving process.
    Synopsis: When four young orphans–Hikari, Ikuko, Ishi, and Takemura–first meet, their parents’ bodies are being turned into dust, like fine Parmesan…[More]
    Starring: Keita Ninomiya, Satoshi Mizuno, Mondo Okumura, Sena Nakajima
    Directed By: Makoto Nagahisa

    COME AS YOU ARE (2020)
    94%

    #41
    Critics Consensus: Come As You Are approaches sensitive subjects with heart and humor, taking audiences on a thoroughly entertaining road trip to a crowd-pleasing destination.
    Synopsis: Three young men with disabilities (Grant Rosenmeyer, Hayden Szeto, and Ravi Patel) flee their overbearing parents on a road trip… [More]
    Starring: Grant Rosenmeyer, Hayden Szeto, Ravi Patel, Gabourey Sidibe
    Directed By: Richard Wong

    BOYS STATE (2020)
    94%

    #40
    Critics Consensus: Startling, upsetting, and overall absorbing, Boys State strikingly depicts American political divisions — and machinations — taking root in the next generation.
    Synopsis: Boys State is a political coming-of-age story, examining the health of American democracy through an unusual experiment: a thousand 17-year-old… [More]
    Starring: Jack White, Malec Moghadam
    Directed By: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss

    PALM SPRINGS (2020)
    94%

    #39
    Critics Consensus: Strong performances, assured direction, and a refreshingly original concept make Palm Springs a romcom that’s easy to fall in love with.
    Synopsis: When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm… [More]
    Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher
    Directed By: Max Barbakow

    CLASS ACTION PARK (2020)
    95%

    #38
    Critics Consensus: Disturbing and thrilling in equal measure, Class Action Park is a raucous chronicle of the infamous waterpark that was as beloved as it was dangerous.
    Synopsis: Class Action Park is the first ever documentary on the world’s most dangerous amusement park, Action Park, that had its… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Chris Charles Scott, Seth Porges

    HOWARD (2020)
    95%

    #37
    Critics Consensus: Howard serves as a bittersweet tribute to the life and legacy of a brilliant artist whose timeless songs served as the soundtrack for a generation of Disney fans.
    Synopsis: Directed by Don Hahn (“Beauty and the Beast”), “Howard” is the untold story of Howard Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind… [More]
    Starring: Alan Menken, Bill Lauch, Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson
    Directed By: Don Hahn

    DESERT ONE (2020)
    93%

    #36
    Critics Consensus: Comprehensive without getting bogged down in details, Desert One offers a fascinating look at a daring military mission that ended in defeat.
    Synopsis: In April 1980, the US government launched the Operation Eagle Claw, their response to the hostage crisis that was happening… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Barbara Kopple
    #35
    Critics Consensus: It’s far more conventional than the life it honors, but John Lewis: Good Trouble remains a worthy tribute to an inspiring activist and public servant.
    Synopsis: Using interviews and rare archival footage, John Lewis: Good Trouble chronicles Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Dawn Porter

    BEASTIE BOYS STORY (2020)
    95%

    #34
    Critics Consensus: Here’s a Beastie Boys Story they had to tell, about three bad brothers you know so well. It started way back in history — and for new or old fans, it’s a must-see.
    Synopsis: Beastie Boys Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz tell you an intimate, personal story of their band and 40 years of… [More]
    Starring: Mike D
    Directed By:

    FIRST COW (2020)
    96%

    #33
    Critics Consensus: First Cow finds director Kelly Reichardt revisiting territory and themes that will be familiar to fans of her previous work — with typically rewarding results.
    Synopsis: Kelly Reichardt once again trains her perceptive and patient eye on the Pacific Northwest, this time evoking an authentically hardscrabble… [More]
    Starring: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Ewen Bremner, Rene Auberjonois
    Directed By: Kelly Reichardt

    BLOOD ON HER NAME (2020)
    96%

    #32
    Critics Consensus: A satisfyingly dark noir elevated by stellar acting and a sharp screenplay, Blood on Her Name thrills in the moment and lingers in the memory.
    Synopsis: A woman’s panicked decision to cover up an accidental killing spirals out of control when her conscience demands she return… [More]
    Starring: Bethany Anne Lind, Elisabeth Röhm, Jared Ivers, Jimmy Gonzales
    Directed By: Matthew Pope
    #31
    Critics Consensus: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon retains the charm of its small-screen source material while engagingly expanding the title character’s world.
    Synopsis: What begins as an ordinary day for Shaun the Sheep (Justin Fletcher) turns out to be anything but, when an… [More]
    Starring: Justin Fletcher
    Directed By: Richard Starzak
    #30
    Critics Consensus: The Painter and the Thief uses the unlikely bond between a criminal and his victim as the canvas for a compelling portrait of compassion and forgiveness.
    Synopsis: Desperate for answers about the theft of her 2 paintings, a Czech artist seeks out and befriends the career criminal… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By:

    THE GO-GO’S (2020)
    97%

    #29
    Critics Consensus: Emulating the spirit of punk in form and function, The Go-Go’s is a raucous celebration of the pioneering band and a stylistic knockout that will blow viewers’ hair back.
    Synopsis: As the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play their own instruments, write their own songs and soar to No. 1… [More]
    Starring: Belinda Carlisle, Elissa Bello, Margot Olavarria, Charlotte Caffey
    Directed By: Alison Ellwood
    #28
    Critics Consensus: A White, White Day plunges viewers into the darkness of grief and jealousy, led by Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson’s brilliantly layered performance.
    Synopsis: In a remote Icelandic town, an off-duty police chief begins to suspect a local man of having had an affair… [More]
    Starring: Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir, Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir, Bjorn Ingi Hilmarsson
    Directed By: Hlynur Pálmason
    #27
    Critics Consensus: As wickedly smart as it is energetic, Why Don’t You Just Die! should satisfy audiences in the mood for a gore-soaked good time.
    Synopsis: Matvey has just one objective: to gain entry to his girlfriend’s parents’ apartment and kill her father Andrey with a… [More]
    Starring: Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Vitaliy Khaev, Evgeniya Kregzhde , Mikhail Gorevoy
    Directed By: Kirill Sokolov

    LA LLORONA (2020)
    97%

    #26
    Critics Consensus: La Llorona puts a fresh spin on the familiar legend by blending the supernatural and the political to resolutely chilling effect.
    Synopsis: Indignant retired general Enrique finally faces trial for the genocidal massacre of thousands of Mayans decades ago. As a horde… [More]
    Starring: Maria Mercedes Coroy, Margarita Kénefic, Sabrina de la Hoz, Julio Diaz
    Directed By: Jayro Bustamante
    #25
    Critics Consensus: Led by an impressive performance from Bartosz Bielenia, Corpus Christi thoughtfully and engagingly examines questions of faith and redemption.
    Synopsis: Corpus Christi is the story of a 20-year-old Daniel who experiences a spiritual transformation while living in a Youth Detention… [More]
    Starring: Bartosz Bielenia, Eliza Rycembel, Aleksandra Konieczna, Tomasz Zietek
    Directed By: Jan Komasa

    THE HALF OF IT (2020)
    97%

    #24
    Critics Consensus: For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.
    Synopsis: Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul, who needs help winning over a popular girl…. [More]
    Starring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
    Directed By: Alice Wu

    THE LAST TREE (2020)
    98%

    #23
    Critics Consensus: Distinctive in terms of content, perspective, and insight, The Last Tree vividly depicts the turmoil of adolescence with remarkable grace.
    Synopsis: THE LAST TREE follows the story of Femi, a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after a happy childhood in… [More]
    Starring: Sam Adewunmi, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Tai Golding, Denise Black
    Directed By: Shola Amoo

    FOURTEEN (2020)
    98%

    #22
    Critics Consensus: Fourteen subtly establishes the bond between its main characters — and the way longtime friendships can erode by a matter of nearly invisible degrees.
    Synopsis: Mara and Jo, in their twenties, have been close friends since middle school. Jo, the more outgoing figure, is a… [More]
    Starring: Tallie Medel, Norma Kuhling, C. Mason Wells, Dylan McCormick
    Directed By: Dan Sallitt

    DISCLOSURE (2020)
    98%

    #21
    Critics Consensus: Disclosure engrossingly illuminates the history and effects of the way transgender lives are depicted onscreen — and outlines how much progress still needs to be made.
    Synopsis: Disclosure is an unprecedented look at the depiction of transgender people and experiences throughout the history of film and television…. [More]
    Starring: Nick Adams, Ser Anzoategui, Alexandra Billings, Chaz Bono
    Directed By: Sam Feder

    VITALINA VARELA (2020)
    98%

    #20
    Critics Consensus: Rigorous and beautifully composed, Vitalina Varela is a quietly absorbing drama whose placid surface belies hidden depths.
    Synopsis: Vitalina Varela, 55-year-old, Cape Verdean, arrives in Lisbon 3 days after her husband’s funeral. She’s been waiting for her plane… [More]
    Starring: Vitalina Varela, Ventura, Manuel Tavares Almeida, Marina Alves Domingues
    Directed By: Pedro Costa

    BLACK IS KING (2020)
    98%

    #19
    Critics Consensus: Beyoncé is King.
    Synopsis: The voyages of Black families, throughout time, are honored in a tale about a young king’s transcendent journey through betrayal,… [More]
    Starring: Beyoncé Knowles, Folajomi Akinmurele, Connie Chiume, Nyaniso Ntsikelelo Dzedze
    Directed By: Beyoncé Knowles

    CIRCUS OF BOOKS (2020)
    98%

    #18
    Critics Consensus: Like the cheekily named store at this documentary’s center, Circus of Books proves there are countless stories below the surface if we’re only willing to look.
    Synopsis: For over 35 years, the gay porn shop, Circus of Books, served as the epicenter for LGBT life and culture… [More]
    Starring: Larry Flynt, Justin Honard, Jeff Stryker
    Directed By: Rachel Mason

    BEATS (2020)
    98%

    #17
    Critics Consensus: Well-acted and enlivened by an evocative soundtrack and period detail, Beats draws timeless themes out of its specific story and setting.
    Synopsis: A universal story of friendship, rebellion, and the irresistible power of music set against the backdrop of the Criminal Justice… [More]
    Starring: Cristian Ortega, Lorn Macdonald, Laura Fraser, Amy Manson
    Directed By: Brian Welsh

    EXTRA ORDINARY (2020)
    98%

    #16
    Critics Consensus: A horror/rom-com hybrid that somehow manages to blend its ingredients without losing their flavor, Extra Ordinary more than lives up to its title.
    Synopsis: Rose, a sweet, small town driving instructor, is gifted with supernatural abilities, “The Talents”, which mean she can talk to… [More]
    Starring: Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, Will Forte, Claudia O’Doherty
    Directed By: Mike Ahern, Enda Loughman

    BLOW THE MAN DOWN (2020)
    98%

    #15
    Critics Consensus: Clever, funny, and original, Blow the Man Down is a cinematic journey that’s not to be missed.
    Synopsis: Welcome to Easter Cove, a salty fishing village on the far reaches of Maine’s rocky coast. Grieving the loss of… [More]
    Starring: Morgan Saylor, Sophie Lowe, June Squibb, Margo Martindale
    Directed By: Danielle Krudy, Bridget Savage Cole

    HAMILTON (2020)
    98%

    #14
    Critics Consensus: Look around, look around at how beautifully Hamilton shines beyond Broadway – and at how marvelously Thomas Kail captures the stage show’s infectious energy.
    Synopsis: An unforgettable cinematic stage performance, the filmed version of the original Broadway production of “Hamilton” combines the best elements of… [More]
    Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry
    Directed By: Thomas Kail
    #13
    Critics Consensus: A singularly rich period piece, Portrait of a Lady on Fire finds stirring, thought-provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance.
    Synopsis: France, 1760. Marianne is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the… [More]
    Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Valeria Golino
    Directed By: Céline Sciamma

    SAINT FRANCES (2020)
    99%

    #12
    Critics Consensus: Saint Frances approaches an array of weighty issues with empathy, humor, and grace — and marks star and writer Kelly O’Sullivan as a tremendous talent to watch.
    Synopsis: Flailing thirty-four-year-old Bridget (Kelly O’Sullivan) finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job… [More]
    Starring: Kelly O’Sullivan, Ramona Edith-Williams, Jim True-Frost, Lily Mojekwu
    Directed By: Alex Thompson

    MISS JUNETEENTH (2020)
    99%

    #11
    Critics Consensus: Like a pageant winner walking across the stage, Miss Juneteenth follows a familiar path — but does so with charm and grace.
    Synopsis: Turquoise Jones is a single mom who holds down a household, a rebellious teenager, and pretty much everything that goes… [More]
    Starring: Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Lori Hayes
    Directed By: Channing Godfrey Peoples
    #10
    Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and directed, Never Rarely Sometimes Always reaffirms writer-director Eliza Hittman as a filmmaker of uncommon sensitivity and grace.
    Synopsis: Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) and her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder)… [More]
    Starring: Sidney Flanigan, Talia Ryder, Théodore Pellerin, Ryan Eggold
    Directed By: Eliza Hittman
    #9
    Critics Consensus: Engrossing for casual listeners as well as hardcore fans, Mystify: Michael Hutchence sheds a poignant light on a life and career cut short by tragedy.
    Synopsis: At the height of his internationally renowned career, a sudden blow to the head robs the famously sensual rock star… [More]
    Starring: Michael Hutchence, Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen, Bono
    Directed By: Richard Lowenstein
    #8
    Critics Consensus: A striking debut for writer-director Kim Bora, House of Hummingbird delicately captures a turning point in one young woman’s life.
    Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding Seoul in 1994, a lonely 14-year-old Eun-hee moves through life like a… [More]
    Starring: Park Ji-hu, Kim Sae-byeok, Jeong In-gi, Lee Seung-yeon
    Directed By: Kim Bora

    REWIND (2020)
    100%

    #7
    Critics Consensus: Rewind pulls at the roots of a family’s horrific trauma with a deeply personal documentary that’s hard to watch, but worth the effort.
    Synopsis: In his candid personal memoir, Sasha Joseph Neulinger revisits his childhood and the events that tore apart his seemingly-perfect world…. [More]
    Starring: Sasha Joseph Neulinger, Jacqui Neulinger, Henry Nevison, Bekah Neulinger
    Directed By: Sasha Joseph Neulinger

    A SECRET LOVE (2020)
    100%

    #6
    Critics Consensus: In telling one couple’s story, A Secret Love pays understated yet powerful tribute to a lifetime of choices and sacrifices made in the name of enduring devotion.
    Synopsis: A Secret Love tells an incredible love story between Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, whose relationship spans nearly seven decades…. [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Chris Bolan

    ATHLETE A (2020)
    100%

    #5
    Critics Consensus: Harrowing yet essential viewing, Athlete A shines an unforgiving light on horrific abuses — as well as the culture that allowed them to continue unabated for years.
    Synopsis: Athlete A follows a team of reporters from The Indianapolis Star as they investigate claims of abuse at USA Gymnastics,… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
    #4
    Critics Consensus: An absorbing and affectionate tribute to a unique individual, Mucho Mucho Amor should prove fascinating for Walter Mercado fans as well as first-timers.
    Synopsis: Dazzling and tender-hearted, legendary astrologer Walter Mercado vanished at the peak of his fame. This documentary poignantly explains what happened…. [More]
    Starring: Raul de Molina, Eugenio Derbez, Betty Benet Mercado, Ivonne Benet Mercado
    Directed By: Kareem Tabsch , Cristina Costantini

    THE FIGHT (2020)
    98%

    #3
    Critics Consensus: The Fight takes an engaging look at some of the people working on the front lines for the ACLU — and makes a passionate case for the legal battles they wage.
    Synopsis: At this defining moment in American history, THE FIGHT follows a scrappy team of heroic ACLU lawyers in an electrifying… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, Eli B. Despres

    DRIVEWAYS (2020)
    100%

    #2
    Critics Consensus: Understated yet powerful, Driveways is a character study anchored in fundamental decency — and a poignant farewell to Brian Dennehy.
    Synopsis: Director Andrew Ahn’s intimate drama revolves around the unlikely friendship formed between a lonely young boy (Lucas Jaye) and his… [More]
    Starring: Hong Chau, Lucas Jaye, Brian Dennehy, Christine Ebersole
    Directed By: Andrew Ahn
    #1
    Critics Consensus: As entertaining as it is inspiring, Crip Camp uses one group’s remarkable story to highlight hope for the future and the power of community.
    Synopsis: In the early 1970s, teenagers with disabilities faced a future shaped by isolation, discrimination and institutionalization. Camp Jened, a ramshackle… [More]
    Starring:
    Directed By: Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht

     

     

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Books Read 2020

     

    Books read 2019

    books read during 2018

    books read

    Reading the Classics

    the list 2020

    Books Read 2020

    Goals:  100 books
    Read classics

    One thriller per month
    One history or current affairs book per month
    one to do book per month
    Read a lot more Poetry

    >Read at least one book a year in Spanish

    Read at least one book a year in Korean

    Anthologies where my work has been published

    Anatomy of the Beatnik Cowboy

    Horror/Sleaze/Trash Poems

    Otherwise Engaged Volume 1

    On the Road the Poet Volume 1

    Poets Facing the Wall

    Books read

    Close up of books on desk in library.
    Close up of books on desk in library.

     

     

     

     

    Books Read 2020

    Goals:  100 books

    Read classics

    One thriller per month

    Read a lot more Poetry

    Read at least one book a year in Spanish

    Read at least one book a year in Korean

     

    Anthologies where my work has been published

     

    1. Anatomy of the Beatnik Cowboy
    2. Horror/Sleaze/Trash Poems
    3. Otherwise Engaged Volume 1
    4. On the Road the Poet Volume 1
    5. Poets Facing the Wall
    6. Best American Poetry 2017
    7. Best American Poetry 2018
    8. Best American Poetry 2019

     

    Books Read

     

    1. Dante the Divine Comedy own library
    2. John Burnet Bangkok Haunts
    3. Micah Caida Time Trap Red Moon Trilogy Vol 1
    4. Demelza Carlton See You In Hell
    5. Lee Child Jack Reacher 61 Hours own library
    6. Lee Child Jack Reacher the Enemy own library
    7. CS Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in Spanish
    8. Theresa Crater Under the Stone Paw
    9. Charles Cuming A Foreign Country
    10. Earnest Dempsey the Secrets of the Stones
    11. Earnest Dempsey The Templar Curse
    12. Brandon Ellis Atlantis Quadrilogy
    13. Sterling E Lanier Hiero’s Journey own library
    14. George Elliot Adam Bede
    15. TS Elliot Complete Poems and Plays own library
    16. Milos Fowler Captain Bartholomew Quasar
    17. AC Fuller The Cutline an Alex Vance Novel own library
    18. AC Fuller The Inverted Pyramid own library
    19. AC Fuller The Anonymous Source own library
    20. AC Fuller the Mockingbird Drive own library
    21. AC Fuller the Shadow File own library
    22. AC Fuller the Last Journalist
    23. Jeschonek The Greatest Serial Killer in the Universe
    24. Jeschonek the Love Quest of Smidgen the Snack Cake
    25. Dieter Kellen Enigma What Lies Below
    26. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin HC Volume One
    27. William Penn Fruits of Solitude HC Volume One
    28. The Journals of John Woolman HC Volume One
    29. Plato the Apology, Phaedo and Crito HC Volume Two
    30. The Golden Sayings of Epictetus HC Volume Two
    31. The Mediations of Marcus Aurelius HC Volume Two
    32. Warren Hately Reporting the Appocalypse
    33. Jim Heskett Museum Attack
    34. John Ling Fallen Angel
    35. Robert Ludlum the Cry of the Haledon
    36. Lincoln Cole Second Chances
    37. Mathew Mather Dark Net
    38. Kyle Mills the Utopia Experiment
    39. James Rollins Map of Bones own library
    40. Nick Thacker the Depths
    41. Nick Thacker the Enigma Strain
    42. Nick Thacker The Relics
    43. Nick Thacker the Atlantis Stone
    44. Elizabeth Williamson Tokyo Firewall
    45. Clark Ashton Smith that Abominations of Yondo
    46. Clark the nameless offspring
    47. Clark the witch craft of Ulua
    48. Clark the devotee of evil
    49. Clark the Epiphany of death
    50. Clark a vintage from Atlantis
    51. Clark The Abominations of Yonda
    52. Clark The white Sybil
    53. Clark the ice demon
    54. Clark the voyage of King Eurovan
    55. Clark the master of the crabs
    56. Clark the enchantress of Sylaire
    57. Clark the dweller in the Gulf
    58. Clark the dark age
    59. Clark the third episode of Vahek
    60. Clark Chinoiseries
    61. Clark the mirror in the Hall of Ebony
    62. Clark the passing of Aphrodite
    63. Mod Po poems – week one- Emily Dickinson the brain in its groove
    64. Emily Dickinson tell the truth slant
    65. Emily Dickson I dwell in possibility  second favorite
    66. Whitman Songs of Myself   favorite  note to self read entire Leaves of Glass in December after MOD PO
    67. Vanek Whitman’s Soul
    68. Week Two William Carlos Williams Smell
    69. William Carlos Williams Dance Russe second favorite
    70. Allen Ginsberg Supermarket in California favorite
    71. Lorraine Neidecker Grandfather Advised Me
    72. Lorraine Neidecker You are my Friend
    73. Lorraine Neidecker Foreclosure
    74. Cid Corman It isn’t for Want
    75. Ray Armantrout The Way
    76. Week Three HD Sea Rose
    77. Ezra Pound (EP) in a station of the metro
    78. EP the Encounter
    79. Tony Foster Haiku
    80. William Carlos Williams (WCM) lines
    81. WCM Between Walls
    82. WCM this is Just to Say
    83. WCM Red Wheelbarrow
    84. WCW The Rose is Obsolete
    85. WCM Portrait of a Lady
    86. Marcel Duchamp Nude Descending a Stairway
    87. MP Fountain
    88. Week Four Mod Po Gertrude Stein Tender Buttons
    89. Water Raining  (from tender buttons)
    90. Malachite (from tender buttons)
    91. A Carafe that is a Blind Glass
    92. Long Dress
    93. Composition as Explanation
    94. Let Us Describe – my second favorite
    95. If I told Him would he like it completed portrait of Picasso – my favorite
    96. Baroness Elsa Von Freytag Lorringhoven A Dozen Cocktails
    97. Tristan Tzara How to Make a Dadist Poem
    98. John Peal Bishop  A recollection Sonnet
    99. Week Five Communist Poets Ruth Lectlitian Lines for an Abortionist Office
    100. Genevieve Taggard Intern
    101. Harlem Renaissance Poets        Countee Cullen Yet I Do Marvel]
    102. Incident
    103. Claud McKay  If we must Die
    104. Langston Hughes Dinner Guest Me
    105. Gwendolyn Brooks Boy Breaking Glass
    106. Gwendolyn Brooks Truth
    107. Robert Frost Mending Well
    108. Week Six Beats Robert Creeley I Know a Man
    109. Jayne Cortez She Got It He Got It
    110. Ginsberg Howl
    111. Fereghetthi Baseball Canto
    112. Le Roi Jones Incident
    113. Le Roi Jones How You Sound
    114. Jack Kerouac Belief and Techniques for Modern Prose
    115. Jack Kerouac Essentials of Spontaneous Prose
    116. Jack Kerouac Ideas About Prose
    117. Jack Kerouac Old Angel Midnight
    118. Jack Kerouac Babble Flow
    119. Bob Kaufman Jail Poems
    120. Anne Waldman Rogue State
    121. Week seven NY School Harrif Abdurraqib USA V Cuba
    122. John Ashbury Instruction Manual
    123. Some Trees
    124. Barbara Guest 20
    125. Frank O Hara the Day Lady Died
    126. Kenneth Koch Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams
    127. Bernadette Madeline Invasion of the Body Snatchers
    128. Eileen Myers Mount St Helens
    129. Patrick Rosal Uptown Ode
    130. James Schuler February
    131. Week Eight Lyn Hejinian My Life
    132. Bob Pearlman Chronic Meaning
    133. Charles Bernstein In a Restless World Like this
    134. Emily Dickinson My Life Has Stood a Loaded Gun
    135. Susan Howe My Emily Dickinson
    136. Harriette Muller Sleeping with the Dictionary
    137. Tyrone Williams Can’t Tyrone Williams Written By Him
    138. John Keens Persons and Places
    139. Week Nine John Cage  Writing Through Howl
    140. John Cage Adagio Jackson Mac Law a Vocabulary for Peter Innisfree Moore
    141. Jackson Mac Law version of Stein’s a grass carafe
    142. Jackson Mac Law version of Stein 100 Feather Justice Chair
    143. Jeana Osman Dropping Leaflets
    144. Bernadette Myers Writing experiments
    145. Realtak Not a Cage
    146. Week Ten Christin Bur Chapter E of Eudora
    147. Erica Baumgart Catalogue
    148. Erica Baumgart dog ears
    149. Caroline Bergville VIA
    150. Michael Magee the Pledge
    151. Michael Magee My Emily Dickinson
    152. Michael Magee FARF poetry
    153. Rose Marie Waldrops Shorter American Memory of the Declaration of Independence
    154. Naser Hussain Sky Write NGS
    155. Jordan Abel Place of Scraps
    156. Terrae Morris African Emily Dickinson the Poet Lights the Lamp Essay One
    157. William Carlos Williams the Attic Which is desire essay two
    158. James Schuller the Day Gets Started Slowly essay three
    159. post mod po additional reading: Jack Carr The Terminal List
    160. George Elliot  The Lifted Veil
    161. Jeffrey Sypeck Becoming Charlemagne

     

    To Read

    Elliot Novels

    Mod Po 2020 Poems (to be listed as I read them)
    Harvard classics through Volume Six
    Poets Companion finish
    Art and Craft of Poetry finish
    Poetry for Dummies
    Whitman Leaves of Grass
    Dickenson Collected Poems
    Robert Service Poems (from Alaskan gold rush period)

    100 Books To Read Before You Die Shelf

    Showing 1-50 of 1,550
    19841984 (Kindle Edition)
    by

    George Orwell

    (shelved 136 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.18 — 3,089,741 ratings — published 1949

    Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice (Paperback)
    by

    Jane Austen

    (shelved 133 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.26 — 2,956,731 ratings — published 1813

    To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird (Paperback)
    by

    Harper Lee

    (shelved 128 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.28 — 4,444,782 ratings — published 1960

    The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby (Paperback)
    by

    F. Scott Fitzgerald

    (shelved 128 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.92 — 3,733,082 ratings — published 1925

    Catch-22 (Catch-22, #1)Catch-22 (Catch-22, #1)
    by

    Joseph Heller

    (shelved 118 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.98 — 716,884 ratings — published 1961

    The Catcher in the RyeThe Catcher in the Rye (Paperback)
    by

    J.D. Salinger

    (shelved 116 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.81 — 2,708,297 ratings — published 1951

    Animal FarmAnimal Farm (Mass Market Paperback)
    by

    George Orwell

    (shelved 105 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.94 — 2,702,090 ratings — published 1945

    Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations (Paperback)
    by

    Charles Dickens

    (shelved 104 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.78 — 643,966 ratings — published 1861

    Jane EyreJane Eyre (Paperback)
    by

    Charlotte Brontë

    (shelved 104 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.13 — 1,606,019 ratings — published 1847

    Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights (Paperback)
    by

    Emily Brontë

    (shelved 103 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.86 — 1,325,928 ratings — published 1847

    Little WomenLittle Women (Paperback)
    by

    Louisa May Alcott

    (shelved 102 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.08 — 1,662,258 ratings — published 1868

    Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies (Paperback)
    by

    William Golding

    (shelved 99 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.68 — 2,240,104 ratings — published 1954

    The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid’s Tale, #1)
    by

    Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)

    (shelved 97 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.11 — 1,435,116 ratings — published 1985

    Charlotte's WebCharlotte’s Web (Paperback)
    by

    E.B. White

    (shelved 94 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.17 — 1,397,386 ratings — published 1952

    Anna KareninaAnna Karenina (Paperback)
    by

    Leo Tolstoy

    (shelved 94 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.05 — 658,408 ratings — published 1877

    The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath (Hardcover)
    by

    John Steinbeck

    (shelved 94 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.97 — 742,198 ratings — published 1939

    Brave New WorldBrave New World (Paperback)
    by

    Aldous Huxley

    (shelved 93 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.99 — 1,424,087 ratings — published 1932

    One Hundred Years of SolitudeOne Hundred Years of Solitude (Hardcover)
    by

    Gabriel García Márquez

    (shelved 91 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.08 — 744,304 ratings — published 1967

    Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment (Paperback)
    by

    Fyodor Dostoyevsky

    (shelved 90 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.22 — 617,234 ratings — published 1866

    The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo (Paperback)
    by

    Alexandre Dumas

    (shelved 90 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.25 — 739,480 ratings — published 1844

    LolitaLolita (Paperback)
    by

    Vladimir Nabokov

    (shelved 88 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.89 — 656,265 ratings — published 1955

    Gone with the WindGone with the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)
    by

    Margaret Mitchell

    (shelved 80 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.30 — 1,067,663 ratings — published 1936

    UlyssesUlysses (Paperback)
    by

    James Joyce

    (shelved 80 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.73 — 109,172 ratings — published 1922

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1)The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, #1)
    by

    Douglas Adams

    (shelved 79 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.22 — 1,415,609 ratings — published 1979

    Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men (Paperback)
    by

    John Steinbeck

    (shelved 76 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.88 — 1,923,844 ratings — published 1937

    The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3)
    by

    J.R.R. Tolkien

    (shelved 75 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.50 — 557,215 ratings — published 1955

    On the RoadOn the Road (Paperback)
    by

    Jack Kerouac

    (shelved 75 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.62 — 344,711 ratings — published 1957

    The Wind in the WillowsThe Wind in the Willows (Paperback)
    by

    Kenneth Grahame

    (shelved 74 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.99 — 176,038 ratings — published 1908

    Midnight's ChildrenMidnight’s Children (Paperback)
    by

    Salman Rushdie

    (shelved 74 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.98 — 103,658 ratings — published 1981

    The Little PrinceThe Little Prince (Paperback)
    by

    Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

    (shelved 71 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.31 — 1,334,290 ratings — published 1943

    Moby-Dick or, the WhaleMoby-Dick or, the Whale (Paperback)
    by

    Herman Melville

    (shelved 71 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.50 — 475,160 ratings — published 1851

    DraculaDracula (Paperback)
    by

    Bram Stoker

    (shelved 71 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.00 — 922,057 ratings — published 1897

    RebeccaRebecca (ebook)
    by

    Daphne du Maurier

    (shelved 69 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.23 — 439,418 ratings — published 1938

    Slaughterhouse-FiveSlaughterhouse-Five (Paperback)
    by

    Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

    (shelved 68 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.07 — 1,118,533 ratings — published 1969

    A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities (Paperback)
    by

    Charles Dickens

    (shelved 67 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.85 — 803,116 ratings — published 1859

    The Hobbit, or There and Back AgainThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again (Paperback)
    by

    J.R.R. Tolkien

    (shelved 66 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.27 — 2,859,254 ratings — published 1937

    AtonementAtonement (Paperback)
    by

    Ian McEwan

    (shelved 65 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.91 — 435,895 ratings — published 2001

    Les MisérablesLes Misérables (Mass Market Paperback)
    by

    Victor Hugo

    (shelved 64 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.18 — 677,075 ratings — published 1862

    MiddlemarchMiddlemarch (Paperback)
    by

    George Eliot

    (shelved 63 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.97 — 134,533 ratings — published 1871

    The Color PurpleThe Color Purple (Paperback)
    by

    Alice Walker

    (shelved 63 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.22 — 514,584 ratings — published 1982

    The Secret GardenThe Secret Garden (Hardcover)
    by

    Frances Hodgson Burnett

    (shelved 63 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.13 — 879,218 ratings — published 1910

    Madame BovaryMadame Bovary (Paperback)
    by

    Gustave Flaubert

    (shelved 63 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.68 — 249,705 ratings — published 1857

    Life of PiLife of Pi (Paperback)
    by

    Yann Martel

    (shelved 62 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.91 — 1,325,762 ratings — published 2001

    Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)
    by

    L.M. Montgomery

    (shelved 62 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.26 — 716,853 ratings — published 1908

    David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield (Paperback)
    by

    Charles Dickens

    (shelved 62 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.99 — 197,356 ratings — published 1850

    Memoirs of a GeishaMemoirs of a Geisha (Mass Market Paperback)
    by

    Arthur Golden

    (shelved 61 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.12 — 1,704,011 ratings — published 1997

    Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 (Kindle Edition)
    by

    Ray Bradbury

    (shelved 61 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.99 — 1,655,673 ratings — published 1953

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket, #1)
    by

    Roald Dahl

    (shelved 61 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 4.14 — 655,234 ratings — published 1964

    BelovedBeloved (Paperback)
    by

    Toni Morrison

    (shelved 59 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.86 — 320,699 ratings — published 1987

    Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness (Paperback)
    by

    Joseph Conrad

    (shelved 58 times as 100-books-to-read-before-you-die)
    avg rating 3.42 — 412,551 ratings — published 

    the complete list  (BOLD one’s I’ve read)

    2000s

    1. Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
    2. Saturday, Ian McEwan
    3. On Beauty, Zadie Smith
    4. Slow Man, J.M. Coetzee
    5. Adjunct: An Undigest, Peter Manson
    6. The Sea, John Banville
    7. The Red Queen, Margaret Drabble
    8. The Plot Against America, Philip Roth
    9. The Master, Colm Tóibín
    10. Vanishing Point, David Markson
    11. The Lambs Of London, Peter Ackroyd
    12. Dining On Stones, Iain Sinclair
    13. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
    14. Drop City, T. Coraghessan Boyle
    15. The Colour, Rose Tremain
    16. Thursbitch, Alan Garner
    17. The Light Of Day, Graham Swift
    18. What I Loved, Siri Hustvedt
    19. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Mark Haddon
    20. Islands, Dan Sleigh
    21. Elizabeth Costello, J.M. Coetzee
    22. London Orbital, Iain Sinclair
    23. Family Matters, Rohinton Mistry
    24. Fingersmith, Sarah Waters
    25. The Double, José Saramago
    26. Everything Is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer
    27. Unless, Carol Shields
    28. Kafka On The Shore, Haruki Murakami
    29. The Story Of Lucy Gault, William Trevor
    30. That They May Face the Rising Sun, John McGahern
    31. In The Forest, Edna O’Brien
    32. Shroud, John Banville
    33. Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
    34. Youth, J.M. Coetzee
    35. Dead Air, Iain Banks
    36. Nowhere Man, Aleksandar Hemon
    37. The Book Of Illusions, Paul Auster
    38. Gabriel’s Gift, Hanif Kureishi
    39. Austerlitz, W.G. Sebald
    40. Platform, Michael Houellebecq
    41. Schooling, Heather McGowan
    42. Atonement, Ian McEwan
    43. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
    44. Don’t Move, Margaret Mazzantini
    45. The Body Artist, Don DeLillo
    46. Fury, Salman Rushdie
    47. At Swim, Two Boys, Jamie O’Neill
    48. Choke, Chuck Palahniuk
    49. Life Of Pi, Yann Martel
    50. The Feast Of The Goat, Mario Vargos Llosa
    51. An Obedient Father, Akhil Sharma
    52. The Devil And Miss Prym, Paulo Coelho
    53. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost, Ismail Kadare
    54. White Teeth, Zadie Smith
    55. The Heart Of Redness, Zakes Mda
    56. Under The Skin, Michel Faber
    57. Ignorance, Milan Kundera
    58. Nineteen Seventy Seven, David Peace
    59. Celestial Harmonies, Péter Esterházy
    60. City Of God, E.L. Doctorow
    61. How The Dead Live, Will Self
    62. The Human Stain, Philip Roth
    63. The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood
    64. After The Quake, Haruki Murakami
    65. Small Remedies, Shashi Deshpande
    66. Super-Cannes, J.G. Ballard
    67. House Of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski
    68. Blonde, Joyce Carol Oates
    69. Pastoralia, George Saunders

    1900s

    1. Timbuktu, Paul Auster
    2. The Romantics, Pankaj Mishra
    3. Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
    4. As If I Am Not There, Slavenka Drakulic
    5. Everything You Need, A.L. Kennedy
    6. Fear And Trembling, Amélie Nothomb
    7. The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Salman Rushdie
    8. Disgrace, J.M. Coetzee
    9. Sputnik Sweetheart, Haruki Murakami
    10. Atomised, Michel Houellebecq
    11. Intimacy, Hanif Kureishi
    12. Amsterdam, Ian McEwan
    13. Cloudsplitter, Russell Banks
    14. All Souls Day, Cees Nooteboom
    15. The Talk Of The Town, Ardal O’Hanlon
    16. Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters
    17. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
    18. Glamorama, Bret Easton Ellis
    19. Another World, Pat Barker
    20. The Hours, Michael Cunningham
    21. Veronika Decides To Die, Paulo Coelho
    22. Mason & Dixon, Thomas Pynchon
    23. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
    24. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
    25. Great Apes, Will Self
    26. Enduring Love, Ian McEwan
    27. Underworld, Don DeLillo
    28. Jack Maggs, Peter Carey
    29. The Life Of Insects, Victor Pelevin
    30. American Pastoral, Philip Roth
    31. The Untouchable, John Banville
    32. Silk, Alessandro Baricco
    33. Cocaine Nights, J.G. Ballard
    34. Hallucinating Foucault, Patricia Duncker
    35. Fugitive Pieces, Anne Michaels
    36. The Ghost Road, Pat Barker
    37. Forever a Stranger, Hella Haasse
    38. Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
    39. The Clay Machine-Gun, Victor Pelevin
    40. Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood
    41. The Unconsoled, Kazuo Ishiguro
    42. Morvern Callar, Alan Warner
    43. The Information, Martin Amis
    44. The Moor’s Last Sigh, Salman Rushdie
    45. Sabbath’s Theater, Philip Roth
    46. The Rings Of Saturn, W.G. Sebald
    47. The Reader, Bernhard Schlink
    48. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
    49. Love’s Work, Gillian Rose
    50. The End Of The Story, Lydia Davis
    51. Mr. Vertigo, Paul Auster
    52. The Folding Star, Alan Hollinghurst
    53. Whatever, Michel Houellebecq
    54. Land, Park Kyong-ni
    55. The Master Of Petersburg, J.M. Coetzee
    56. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami
    57. Pereira Declares: A Testimony, Antonio Tabucchi
    58. City Sister Silve, Jàchym Topol
    59. How Late It Was, How Late, James Kelman
    60. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
    61. Felicia’s Journey, William Trevor
    62. Disappearance, David Dabydeen
    63. The Invention Of Curried Sausage, Uwe Timm
    64. The Shipping News, E. Annie Proulx
    65. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh
    66. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
    67. Looking For The Possible Dance, A.L. Kennedy
    68. Operation Shylock, Philip Roth
    69. Complicity, Iain Banks
    70. On Love, Alain de Botton
    71. What A Carve Up!, Jonathan Coe
    72. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
    73. The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields
    74. The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Eugenides
    75. The House Of Doctor Dee, Peter Ackroyd
    76. The Robber Bride, Margaret Atwood
    77. The Emigrants, W.G. Sebald
    78. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
    79. Life Is A Caravanserai, Emine Özdamar
    80. The Discovery Of Heaven, Harry Mulisch
    81. A Heart So White, Javier Marias
    82. Possessing The Secret Of Joy, Alice Walker
    83. Indigo, Marina Warner
    84. The Crow Road, Iain Banks
    85. Written On The Body, Jeanette Winterson
    86. Jazz, Toni Morrison
    87. The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje
    88. Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow, Peter Høeg
    89. The Butcher Boy, Patrick McCabe
    90. Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates
    91. The Heather Blazing, Colm Tóibín
    92. Asphodel, H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
    93. Black Dogs, Ian McEwan
    94. Hideous Kinky, Esther Freud
    95. Arcadia, Jim Crace
    96. Wild Swans, Jung Chang
    97. American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis
    98. Time’s Arrow, Martin Amis
    99. Mao II, Don DeLillo
    100. Typical, Padgett Powell
    101. Regeneration, Pat Barker
    102. Downriver, Iain Sinclair
    103. Señor Vivo And The Coca Lord, Louis de Bernieres
    104. Wise Children, Angela Carter
    105. Get Shorty, Elmore Leonard
    106. Amongst Women, John McGahern
    107. Vineland, Thomas Pynchon
    108. Vertigo, W.G. Sebald
    109. Stone Junction, Jim Dodge
    110. The Music Of Chance, Paul Auster
    111. The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien
    112. A Home At The End Of The World, Michael Cunningham
    113. Like Life, Lorrie Moore
    114. Possession, A.S. Byatt
    115. The Buddha Of Suburbia, Hanif Kureishi
    116. The Midnight Examiner, William Kotzwinkle
    117. A Disaffection, James Kelman
    118. Sexing The Cherry, Jeanette Winterson
    119. Moon Palace, Paul Auster
    120. Billy Bathgate – E.L. Doctorow
    121. The Remains Of The Day, Kazuo Ishiguro
    122. The Melancholy Of Resistance, László Krasznahorkai
    123. The Temple Of My Familiar, Alice Walker
    124. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing, Janice Galloway
    125. The History Of The Siege Of Lisbon, José Saramago
    126. Like Water For Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
    127. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
    128. London Fields, Martin Amis
    129. The Book Of Evidence, John Banville
    130. Cat’s Eye, Margaret Atwood
    131. Foucault’s Pendulum, Umberto Eco
    132. The Beautiful Room Is Empty, Edmund White
    133. Wittgenstein’s Mistress, David Markson
    134. The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie
    135. The Swimming-Pool Library, Alan Hollinghurst
    136. Oscar And Lucinda, Peter Carey
    137. Libra, Don DeLillo
    138. The Player Of Games, Iain M. Banks
    139. Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga
    140. The Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul, Douglas Adams
    141. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Douglas Adams
    142. The Radiant Way, Margaret Drabble
    143. The Afternoon Of A Writer, Peter Handke
    144. The Black Dahlia, James Ellroy
    145. The Passion, Jeanette Winterson
    146. The Pigeon, Patrick Süskind
    147. The Child In Time, Ian McEwan
    148. Cigarettes, Harry Mathews
    149. The Bonfire Of The Vanities, Tom Wolfe
    150. The New York Trilogy, Paul Auster
    151. World’s End, T. Coraghessan Boyle
    152. Enigma Of Arrival, V.S. Naipaul
    153. The Taebek Mountains, Jo Jung-rae
    154. Beloved, Toni Morrison
    155. Anagrams, Lorrie Moore
    156. Matigari, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o
    157. Marya, Joyce Carol Oates
    158. Watchmen, Alan Moore & David Gibbons
    159. The Old Devils, Kingsley Amis
    160. Lost Language Of Cranes, David Leavitt
    161. An Artist Of The Floating World, Kazuo Ishiguro
    162. Extinction, Thomas Bernhard
    163. Foe, J.M. Coetzee
    164. The Drowned And The Saved, Primo Levi
    165. Reasons To Live, Amy Hempel
    166. The Parable Of The Blind, Gert Hofmann
    167. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
    168. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Jeanette Winterson
    169. The Cider House Rules, John Irving
    170. A Maggot, John Fowles
    171. Less Than Zero, Bret Easton Ellis
    172. Contact, Carl Sagan
    173. The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
    174. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
    175. Old Masters, Thomas Bernhard
    176. White Noise, Don DeLillo
    177. Queer, William Burroughs
    178. Hawksmoor, Peter Ackroyd
    179. Legend, David Gemmell
    180. Dictionary Of The Khazars, Milorad Pavic
    181. The Bus Conductor Hines, James Kelman
    182. The Year Of The Death Of Ricardo Reis, José Saramago
    183. The Lover, Marguerite Duras
    184. Empire Of The Sun, J.G. Ballard
    185. The Wasp Factory, Iain Banks
    186. Nights At The Circus, Angela Carter
    187. The Unbearable Lightness Of Being, Milan Kundera
    188. Blood And Guts In High School, Kathy Acker
    189. Neuromancer, William Gibson
    190. Flaubert’s Parrot, Julian Barnes
    191. Money: A Suicide Note, Martin Amis
    192. Shame, Salman Rushdie
    193. Worstward Ho, Samuel Beckett
    194. Fools Of Fortune, William Trevor
    195. La Brava, Elmore Leonard
    196. Waterland, Graham Swift
    197. The Life And Times Of Michael K, J.M. Coetzee
    198. The Diary Of Jane Somers, Doris Lessing
    199. The Piano Teacher, Elfriede Jelinek
    200. The Sorrow Of Belgium, Hugo Claus
    201. If Not Now, When?, Primo Levi
    202. A Boy’s Own Story, Edmund White
    203. The Color Purple, Alice Walker
    204. Wittgenstein’s Nephew, Thomas Bernhard
    205. A Pale View Of Hills, Kazuo Ishiguro
    206. Schindler’s Ark, Thomas Keneally
    207. The House Of The Spirits, Isabel Allende
    208. The Newton Letter, John Banville
    209. On The Black Hill, Bruce Chatwin
    210. Concrete, Thomas Bernhard
    211. The Names, Don DeLillo
    212. Rabbit Is Rich, John Updike
    213. Lanark: A Life in Four Books, Alasdair Gray
    214. The Comfort Of Strangers, Ian McEwan
    215. July’s People, Nadine Gordimer
    216. Summer In Baden-Baden, Leonid Tsypkin
    217. Broken April, Ismail Kadare
    218. Waiting For The Barbarians, J.M. Coetzee
    219. Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie
    220. Rites Of Passage, William Golding
    221. Rituals, Cees Nooteboom
    222. A Confederacy Of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole
    223. City Primeval, Elmore Leonard
    224. The Name Of The Rose, Umberto Eco
    225. The Book Of Laughter And Forgetting, Milan Kundera
    226. Smiley’s People, John Le Carré
    227. Shikasta, Doris Lessing
    228. A Bend In The River, V.S. Naipaul
    229. Burger’s Daughter, Nadine Gordimer
    230. The Safety Net, Heinrich Böll
    231. If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler, Italo Calvino
    232. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams
    233. The Cement Garden, Ian McEwan
    234. The World According To Garp, John Irving
    235. Life: A User’s Manual, Georges Perec
    236. The Sea, The Sea, Iris Murdoch
    237. The Singapore Grip, J.G. Farrell
    238. Yes, Thomas Bernhard
    239. The Virgin In The Garden, A.S. Byatt
    240. In The Heart Of The Country, J.M. Coetzee
    241. The Passion Of New Eve, Angela Carter
    242. Delta Of Venus, Anaïs Nin
    243. The Shining, Stephen King
    244. Dispatches, Michael Herr
    245. Petals Of Blood, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o
    246. Song Of Solomon, Toni Morrison
    247. The Hour Of The Star, Clarice Lispector
    248. The Left-Handed Woman, Peter Handke
    249. Ratner’s Star, Don DeLillo
    250. The Public Burning, Robert Coover
    251. Interview With The Vampire, Anne Rice
    252. Cutter and Bone, Newton Thornburg
    253. Amateurs, Donald Barthelme
    254. Patterns Of Childhood, Christa Wolf
    255. The Autumn Of The Patriarch, Gabriel García Márquez
    256. W, Or The Memory Of Childhood, Georges Perec
    257. A Dance To The Music of Time, Anthony Powell
    258. Grimus, Salman Rushdie
    259. The Dead Father, Donald Barthelme
    260. Fateless, Imre Kertész
    261. Willard And His Bowling Trophies, Richard Brautigan
    262. High Rise, J.G. Ballard
    263. Humboldt’s Gift, Saul Bellow
    264. Dead Babies, Martin Amis
    265. Correction, Thomas Bernhard
    266. Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow
    267. The Fan Man, William Kotzwinkle
    268. Dusklands, J.M. Coetzee
    269. The Lost Honor Of Katharina Blum, Heinrich Böll
    270. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John Le Carré
    271. Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
    272. Fear Of Flying, Erica Jong
    273. A Question Of Power, Bessie Head
    274. The Siege Of Krishnapur, J.G. Farrell
    275. The Castle Of Crossed Destinies, Italo Calvino
    276. Crash, J.G. Ballard
    277. The Honorary Consul, Graham Greene
    278. Gravity’s Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
    279. The Black Prince, Iris Murdoch
    280. Sula, Toni Morrison
    281. Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino
    282. The Breast, Philip Roth
    283. The Summer Book, Tove Jansson
    284. G, John Berger
    285. Surfacing, Margaret Atwood
    286. House Mother Normal, B.S. Johnson
    287. In A Free State, V.S. Naipaul
    288. The Book Of Daniel, E.L. Doctorow
    289. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson
    290. Group Portrait With Lady, Heinrich Böll
    291. The Wild Boys, William Burroughs
    292. Rabbit Redux, John Updike
    293. The Sea Of Fertility, Yukio Mishima
    294. The Driver’s Seat, Muriel Spark
    295. The Ogre, Michael Tournier
    296. The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
    297. Goalie’s Anxiety At The Penalty Kick, Peter Handke
    298. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou
    299. Mercier Et Camier, Samuel Beckett
    300. Troubles, J.G. Farrell
    301. Jahrestage, Uwe Johnson
    302. The Atrocity Exhibition, J.G. Ballard
    303. Tent Of Miracles, Jorge Amado
    304. Pricksongs And Descants, Robert Coover
    305. Blind Man With A Pistolm, Chester Hines
    306. Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut
    307. The French Lieutenant’s Woman, John Fowles
    308. The Green Man, Kingsley Amis
    309. Portnoy’s Complaint, Philip Roth
    310. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
    311. Ada Or Ardor, Vladimir Nabokov
    312. Them, Joyce Carol Oates
    313. A Void, Georges Perec
    314. Eva Trout, Elizabeth Bowen
    315. Myra Breckinridge, Gore Vidal
    316. The Nice And The Good, Iris Murdoch
    317. Belle Du Seigneur, Albert Cohen
    318. Cancer Ward, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    319. The First Circle, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    320. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke
    321. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
    322. Dark As The Grave Wherein My Friend Is Laid, Malcolm Lowry
    323. The German Lesson, Siegfried Lenz
    324. In Watermelon Sugar, Richard Brautigan
    325. A Kestrel For A Knave, Barry Hines
    326. The Quest For Christa T., Christa Wolf
    327. Chocky, John Wyndham
    328. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe
    329. The Cubs And Other Stories, Mario Vargas Llosa
    330. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
    331. The Master And Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
    332. Pilgrimage, Dorothy Richardson
    333. The Joke, Milan Kundera
    334. No Laughing Matter, Angus Wilson
    335. The Third Policeman, Flann O’Brien
    336. A Man Asleep, Georges Perec
    337. The Birds Fall Down, Rebecca West
    338. Trawl, B.S. Johnson
    339. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
    340. The Magus, John Fowles
    341. The Vice-Consul, Marguerite Duras
    342. Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys
    343. Giles Goat-Boy, John Barth
    344. The Crying Of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon
    345. Things, Georges Perec
    346. The River Between, Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    347. August Is A Wicked Month, Edna O’Brien
    348. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Kurt Vonnegut
    349. Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O’Connor
    350. The Passion According to G.H., Clarice Lispector
    351. Sometimes A Great Notion, Ken Kesey
    352. Come Back, Dr. Caligari, Donald Bartholme
    353. Albert Angelo, B.S. Johnson
    354. Arrow Of God, Chinua Achebe
    355. The Ravishing of Lol V. Stein, Marguerite Duras
    356. Herzog, Saul Bellow
    357. V., Thomas Pynchon
    358. Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
    359. The Graduate, Charles Webb
    360. Manon Des Sources, Marcel Pagnol
    361. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, John Le Carré
    362. The Girls Of Slender Means, Muriel Spark
    363. Inside Mr. Enderby, Anthony Burgess
    364. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
    365. One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    366. The Collector, John Fowles
    367. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey
    368. A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
    369. Pale Fire, Vladimir Nabokov
    370. The Drowned World, J.G. Ballard
    371. The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing
    372. Labyrinths, Jorg Luis Borges
    373. Girl With Green Eyes, Edna O’Brien
    374. The Garden Of The Finzi-Continis, Giorgio Bassani
    375. Stranger In A Strange Land, Robert Heinlein
    376. Franny And Zooey, J.D. Salinger
    377. A Severed Head, Iris Murdoch
    378. Faces In The Water, Janet Frame
    379. Solaris, Stanislaw Lem
    380. Cat And Mouse, Günter Grass
    381. The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark
    382. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
    383. The Violent Bear It Away, Flannery O’Connor
    384. How It Is, Samuel Beckett
    385. Our Ancestors, Italo Calvino
    386. The Country Girls, Edna O’Brien
    387. To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
    388. Rabbit, Run, John Updike
    389. Promise At Dawn, Romain Gary
    390. Cider With Rosie, Laurie Lee
    391. Billy Liar, Keith Waterhouse
    392. Naked Lunch, William Burroughs
    393. The Tin Drum, Günter Grass
    394. Absolute Beginners, Colin MacInnes
    395. Henderson The Rain King, Saul Bellow
    396. Memento Mori, Muriel Spark
    397. Billiards At Half-Past Nine, Heinrich Böll
    398. Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Truman Capote
    399. The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
    400. Pluck The Bud And Destroy The Offspring, Kenzaburo Oe
    401. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
    402. The Bitter Glass, Eilís Dillon
    403. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe
    404. Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Alan Sillitoe
    405. Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, Paul Gallico
    406. Borstal Boy, Brendan Behan
    407. The End Of The Road, John Barth
    408. The Once And Future King, T.H. White
    409. The Bell, Iris Murdoch
    410. Jealousy, Alain Robbe-Grillet
    411. Voss, Patrick White
    412. The Midwich Cuckoos, John Wyndham
    413. Blue Noon, Georges Bataille
    414. Homo Faber, Max Frisch
    415. On the Road, Jack Kerouac
    416. Pnin, Vladimir Nabokov
    417. Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
    418. The Wonderful “O”, James Thurber
    419. Justine, Lawrence Durrell
    420. Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin
    421. The Lonely Londoners, Sam Selvon
    422. The Roots of Heaven, Romain Gary
    423. Seize The Day, Saul Bellow
    424. The Floating Opera, John Barth
    425. The Lord Of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
    426. The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
    427. Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov
    428. A World Of Love, Elizabeth Bowen
    429. The Trusting And The Maimed, James Plunkett
    430. The Quiet American, Graham Greene
    431. The Last Temptation Of Christ, Nikos Kazantzákis
    432. The Recognitions, William Gaddis
    433. The Ragazzi, Pier Paulo Pasolini
    434. Bonjour Tristesse, Françoise Sagan
    435. I’m Not Stiller, Max Frisch
    436. Self Condemned, Wyndham Lewis
    437. The Story Of O, Pauline Réage
    438. A Ghost At Noon, Alberto Moravia
    439. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
    440. Under The Net, Iris Murdoch
    441. The Go-Between, L.P. Hartley
    442. The Long Goodbye, Raymond Chandler
    443. The Unnamable, Samuel Beckett
    444. Watt, Samuel Beckett
    445. Lucky Jim, Kingsley Amis
    446. Junkie, William Burroughs
    447. The Adventures Of Augie March, Saul Bellow
    448. Go Tell It On the Mountain, James Baldwin
    449. Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
    450. The Judge And His Hangman, Friedrich Dürrenmatt
    451. Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison
    452. The Old Man And The Sea, Ernest Hemingway
    453. Wise Blood, Flannery O’Connor
    454. The Killer Inside Me, Jim Thompson
    455. Memoirs Of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar
    456. Malone Dies, Samuel Beckett
    457. The Day Of The Triffids, John Wyndham
    458. Foundation, Isaac Asimov
    459. The Opposing Shore, Julien Gracq
    460. The Catcher In The Rye, J.D. Salinger
    461. The Rebel, Albert Camus
    462. Molloy, Samuel Beckett
    463. The End Of The Affair, Graham Greene
    464. The Abbot C, Georges Bataille
    465. The Labyrinth Of Solitude, Octavio Paz
    466. The Third Man, Graham Greene
    467. The 13 Clocks, James Thurber
    468. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
    469. The Grass Is Singing, Doris Lessing
    470. I, Robot, Isaac Asimov
    471. The Moon And The Bonfires, Cesare Pavese
    472. The Garden Where The Brass Band Played, Simon Vestdijk
    473. Love In A Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
    474. The Case Of Comrade Tulayev, Victor Serge
    475. The Heat Of The Day, Elizabeth Bowen
    476. Kingdom Of This World, Alejo Carpentier
    477. The Man With The Golden Arm, Nelson Algren
    478. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
    479. All About H. Hatterr, G.V. Desani
    480. Disobedience, Alberto Moravia
    481. Death Sentence, Maurice Blanchot
    482. The Heart Of The Matter, Graham Greene
    483. Cry, The Beloved Country, Alan Paton
    484. Doctor Faustus, Thomas Mann
    485. The Victim, Saul Bellow
    486. Exercises In Style, Raymond Queneau
    487. If This Is A Man, Primo Levi
    488. Under The Volcano, Malcolm Lowry
    489. The Path To The Spider’s Nest, Italo Calvino
    490. The Plague, Albert Camus
    491. Back, Henry Green
    492. Titus Groan, Mervyn Peake
    493. The Bridge On The Drina, Ivo Andric
    494. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
    495. Animal Farm, George Orwell
    496. Cannery Row, John Steinbeck
    497. The Pursuit Of Love, Nancy Mitford
    498. Loving, Henry Green
    499. Arcanum 17, André Breton
    500. Christ Stopped At Eboli, Carlo Levi
    501. The Razor’s Edge, William Somerset Maugham
    502. Transit, Anna Seghers
    503. Ficciones, Jorge Luis Borges
    504. Dangling Man, Saul Bellow
    505. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
    506. Caught, Henry Green
    507. The Glass Bead Game, Herman Hesse
    508. Embers, Sandor Marai
    509. Go Down, Moses, William Faulkner
    510. The Outsider, Albert Camus
    511. Conversations In Sicily, Elio Vittorini
    512. The Poor Mouth, Flann O’Brien
    513. The Living And The Dead, Patrick White
    514. Hangover Square, Patrick Hamilton
    515. Between The Acts, Virginia Woolf
    516. The Hamlet, William Faulkner
    517. Farewell My Lovely, Raymond Chandler
    518. For Whom The Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway
    519. Native Son, Richard Wright
    520. The Power And The Glory, Graham Greene
    521. The Tartar Steppe, Dino Buzzati
    522. Party Going, Henry Green
    523. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
    524. Finnegans Wake, James Joyce
    525. At Swim-Two-Birds, Flann O’Brien
    526. Coming Up For Air, George Orwell
    527. Goodbye To Berlin, Christopher Isherwood
    528. Tropic Of Capricorn, Henry Miller
    529. Good Morning, Midnight, Jean Rhys
    530. The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler
    531. After The Death Of Don Juan, Sylvie Townsend Warner
    532. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, Winifred Watson
    533. Nausea, Jean-Paul Sartre
    534. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
    535. Cause For Alarm, Eric Ambler
    536. Brighton Rock, Graham Greene
    537. U.S.A., John Dos Passos
    538. Murphy, Samuel Beckett
    539. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
    540. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
    541. The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
    542. The Years, Virginia Woolf
    543. In Parenthesis, David Jones
    544. The Revenge For Love, Wyndham Lewis
    545. Out of Africa, Isak Dineson
    546. To Have And Have Not, Ernest Hemingway
    547. Summer Will Show, Sylvia Townsend Warner
    548. Eyeless In Gaza, Aldous Huxley
    549. The Thinking Reed, Rebecca West
    550. Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
    551. Keep The Aspidistra Flying, George Orwell
    552. Wild Harbour, Ian MacPherson
    553. Absalom, Absalom!, William Faulkner
    554. At The Mountains of Madness, H.P. Lovecraft
    555. Nightwood, Djuna Barnes
    556. Independent People, Halldór Laxness
    557. Auto-da-Fé, Elias Canetti
    558. The Last Of Mr. Norris, Christopher Isherwood
    559. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, Horace McCoy
    560. The House In Paris, Elizabeth Bowen
    561. England Made Me, Graham Greene
    562. Burmese Days, George Orwell
    563. The Nine Tailors, Dorothy L. Sayers
    564. Threepenny Novel, Bertolt Brecht
    565. Novel With Cocaine, M. Ageyev
    566. The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain
    567. Tropic Of Cancer, Henry Miller
    568. A Handful Of Dust, Evelyn Waugh
    569. Tender Is The Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald
    570. Thank You, Jeeves, P.G. Wodehouse
    571. Call It Sleep, Henry Roth
    572. Miss Lonelyhearts, Nathanael West
    573. Murder Must Advertise, Dorothy L. Sayers
    574. The Autobiography Of Alice B. Toklas, Gertrude Stein
    575. Testament Of Youth, Vera Brittain
    576. A Day Off, Storm Jameson
    577. The Man Without Qualities, Robert Musil
    578. Sunset Song, Lewis Grassic Gibbon
    579. Journey To The End Of The Night, Louis-Ferdinand Céline
    580. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
    581. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
    582. To The North, Elizabeth Bowen
    583. The Thin Man, Dashiell Hammett
    584. The Radetzky March, Joseph Roth
    585. The Waves, Virginia Woolf
    586. The Glass Key, Dashiell Hammett
    587. Cakes And Ale, W. Somerset Maugham
    588. The Apes Of God, Wyndham Lewis
    589. Her Privates We, Frederic Manning
    590. Vile Bodies, Evelyn Waugh
    591. The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
    592. Hebdomeros, Giorgio de Chirico
    593. Passing, Nella Larsen
    594. A Farewell To Arms, Ernest Hemingway
    595. Red Harvest, Dashiell Hammett
    596. Living, Henry Green
    597. The Time Of Indifference, Alberto Moravia
    598. All Quiet On The Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
    599. Berlin Alexanderplatz, Alfred Döblin
    600. The Last September, Elizabeth Bowen
    601. Harriet Hume, Rebecca West
    602. The Sound And The Fury, William Faulkner
    603. Les Enfants Terribles, Jean Cocteau
    604. Look Homeward, Angel, Thomas Wolfe
    605. Story Of The Eye, Georges Bataille
    606. Orlando, Virginia Woolf
    607. Lady Chatterley’s Lover, D.H. Lawrence
    608. The Well Of Loneliness, Radclyffe Hall
    609. The Childermass, Wyndham Lewis
    610. Quartet, Jean Rhys
    611. Decline And Fall, Evelyn Waugh
    612. Quicksand, Nella Larsen
    613. Parade’s End, Ford Madox Ford
    614. Nadja, André Breton
    615. Steppenwolf, Herman Hesse
    616. Remembrance Of Things Past, Marcel Proust
    617. To The Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
    618. Tarka The Otter, Henry Williamson
    619. Amerika, Franz Kafka
    620. The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
    621. Blindness, Henry Green
    622. The Castle, Franz Kafka
    623. The Good Soldier Švejk, Jaroslav Hašek
    624. The Plumed Serpent, D.H. Lawrence
    625. One, None And A Hundred Thousand, Luigi Pirandello
    626. The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie
    627. The Making Of Americans, Gertrude Stein
    628. Manhattan Transfer, John Dos Passos
    629. Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
    630. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
    631. The Counterfeiters, André Gide
    632. The Trial, Franz Kafka
    633. The Artamonov Business, Maxim Gorky
    634. The Professor’s House, Willa Cather
    635. Billy Budd, Foretopman, Herman Melville
    636. The Green Hat, Michael Arlen
    637. The Magic Mountain, Thomas Mann
    638. We, Yevgeny Zamyatin
    639. A Passage To India, E.M. Forster
    640. The Devil In The Flesh, Raymond Radiguet
    641. Zeno’s Conscience, Italo Svevo
    642. Cane, Jean Toomer
    643. Antic Hay, Aldous Huxley
    644. Amok, Stefan Zweig
    645. The Garden Party, Katherine Mansfield
    646. The Enormous Room, E.E. Cummings
    647. Jacob’s Room, Virginia Woolf
    648. Siddhartha, Herman Hesse
    649. The Glimpses Of The Moon, Edith Wharton
    650. Life And Death Of Harriett Frean, May Sinclair
    651. The Last Days Of Humanity, Karl Kraus
    652. Aaron’s Rod, D.H. Lawrence
    653. Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis
    654. Ulysses, James Joyce
    655. The Fox, D.H. Lawrence
    656. Crome Yellow, Aldous Huxley
    657. The Age Of Innocence, Edith Wharton
    658. Main Street, Sinclair Lewis
    659. Women In Love, D.H. Lawrence
    660. Night And Day, Virginia Woolf
    661. Tarr, Wyndham Lewis
    662. The Return Of The Soldier, Rebecca West
    663. The Shadow Line, Joseph Conrad
    664. Summer, Edith Wharton
    665. Growth Of The Soil, Knut Hamsen
    666. Bunner Sisters, Edith Wharton
    667. A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man, James Joyce
    668. Under Fire, Henri Barbusse
    669. Rashōmon, Akutagawa Ryunosuke
    670. The Good Soldier, Ford Madox Ford
    671. The Voyage Out, Virginia Woolf
    672. Of Human Bondage, William Somerset Maugham
    673. The Rainbow, D.H. Lawrence
    674. The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan
    675. Kokoro, Natsume Soseki
    676. Locus Solus, Raymond Roussel
    677. Rosshalde, Herman Hesse
    678. Tarzan Of The Apes, Edgar Rice Burroughs
    679. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
    680. Sons And Lovers, D.H. Lawrence
    681. Death In Venice, Thomas Mann
    682. The Charwoman’s Daughter, James Stephens
    683. Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton
    684. Fantômas, Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre
    685. Howards End, E.M. Forster
    686. Impressions Of Africa, Raymond Roussel
    687. Three Lives, Gertrude Stein
    688. Martin Eden, Jack London
    689. Strait Is The Gate, André Gide
    690. Tono-Bungay, H.G. Wells
    691. The Inferno, Henri Barbusse
    692. A Room With A View, E.M. Forster
    693. The Iron Heel, Jack London
    694. The Old Wives’ Tale, Arnold Bennett
    695. The House On The Borderland, William Hope Hodgson
    696. Mother, Maxim Gorky
    697. Billy Bathgate – E.L. Doctorow
    698. The Secret Agent, Joseph Conrad
    699. The Jungle, Upton Sinclair
    700. Young Törless, Robert Musil
    701. The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy
    702. The House Of Mirth, Edith Wharton
    703. Professor Unrat, Heinrich Mann
    704. Where Angels Fear To Tread, E.M. Forster
    705. Nostromo, Joseph Conrad
    706. Hadrian The Seventh, Frederick Rolfe
    707. The Golden Bowl, Henry James
    708. The Ambassadors, Henry James
    709. The Riddle Of The Sands, Erskine Childers
    710. The Immoralist, André Gide
    711. The Wings Of The Dove, Henry James
    712. Heart Of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
    713. The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    714. Buddenbrooks, Thomas Mann
    715. Kim, Rudyard Kipling
    716. Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser
    717. Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad

    1800s

    1. Some Experiences Of An Irish R.M., Somerville and Ross
    2. The Stechlin, Theodore Fontane
    3. The Awakening, Kate Chopin
    4. The Turn Of The Screw, Henry James
    5. The War Of The Worlds, H.G. Wells
    6. The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells
    7. What Maisie Knew, Henry James
    8. Fruits Of The Earth, André Gide
    9. Dracula, Bram Stoker
    10. Quo Vadis, Henryk Sienkiewicz
    11. The Island Of Dr. Moreau, H.G. Wells
    12. The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
    13. Effi Briest, Theodore Fontane
    14. Jude The Obscure, Thomas Hardy
    15. The Real Charlotte, Somerville and Ross
    16. The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman
    17. Born In Exile, George Gissing
    18. Diary Of A Nobody, George & Weedon Grossmith
    19. The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    20. News From Nowhere, William Morris
    21. New Grub Street, George Gissing
    22. Gösta Berling’s Saga, Selma Lagerlöf
    23. Tess Of The D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
    24. The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
    25. The Kreutzer Sonata, Leo Tolstoy
    26. La Bête Humaine, Émile Zola
    27. By the Open Sea, August Strindberg
    28. Hunger, Knut Hamsun
    29. The Master Of Ballantrae, Robert Louis Stevenson
    30. Pierre And Jean, Guy de Maupassant
    31. Fortunata And Jacinta, Benito Pérez Galdés
    32. The People Of Hemsö, August Strindberg
    33. The Woodlanders, Thomas Hardy
    34. Billy Bathgate – E.L. Doctorow
    35. She, H. Rider Haggard
    36. The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
    37. The Mayor Of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy
    38. Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson
    39. bGerminal, Émile Zola
    40. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
    41. Bel-Ami, Guy de Maupassant
    42. Marius The Epicurean, Walter Pater
    43. Against The Grain, Joris-Karl Huysmans
    44. The Death Of Ivan Ilyich, Leo Tolstoy
    45. A Woman’s Life, Guy de Maupassant
    46. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
    47. The House By The Medlar Tree, Giovanni Verga
    48. The Portrait Of A Lady, Henry James
    49. Bouvard And Pécuchet, Gustave Flaubert
    50. Ben-Hur, Lew Wallace
    51. Nana, Émile Zola
    52. The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
    53. The Red Room, August Strindberg
    54. Return Of The Native, Thomas Hardy
    55. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
    56. Drunkard, Émile Zola
    57. Virgin Soil, Ivan Turgenev
    58. Daniel Deronda, George Eliot
    59. The Hand Of Ethelberta, Thomas Hardy
    60. The Temptation Of Saint Anthony, Gustave Flaubert
    61. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
    62. The Enchanted Wanderer, Nicolai Leskov
    63. Around The World In Eighty Days, Jules Verne
    64. In A Glass Darkly, Sheridan Le Fanu
    65. The Devils, Fyodor Dostoevsky
    66. Erewhon, Samuel Butler
    67. Spring Torrents, Ivan Turgenev
    68. Middlemarch, George Eliot
    69. Through The Looking Glass, And What Alice Found There, Lewis Carroll
    70. King Lear Of The Steppes, Ivan Turgenev
    71. He Knew He Was Right, Anthony Trollope
    72. War And Peace, Leo Tolstoy
    73. Sentimental Education, Gustave Flaubert
    74. Phineas Finn, Anthony Trollope
    75. Maldoror, Comte de Lautréaumont
    76. The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky
    77. The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
    78. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
    79. Thérèse Raquin, Émile Zola
    80. The Last Chronicle Of Barset, Anthony Trollope
    81. Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, Jules Verne
    82. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky
    83. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
    84. Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
    85. Uncle Silas, Sheridan Le Fanu
    86. Notes From The Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky
    87. The Water-Babies, Charles Kingsley
    88. Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
    89. Fathers And Sons, Ivan Turgenev
    90. Silas Marner, George Eliot
    91. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
    92. On The Eve, Ivan Turgenev
    93. Castle Richmond, Anthony Trollope
    94. The Mill On The Floss, George Eliot
    95. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
    96. The Marble Faun, Nathaniel Hawthorne
    97. Max Havelaar, Multatuli
    98. A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
    99. Oblomovka, Ivan Goncharov
    100. Adam Bede, George Eliot
    101. Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert
    102. North And South, Elizabeth Gaskell
    103. Hard Times, Charles Dickens
    104. Walden, Henry David Thoreau
    105. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
    106. Villette, Charlotte Brontë
    107. Cranford, Elizabeth Gaskell
    108. Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among The Lonely, Harriet Beecher Stowe
    109. The Blithedale Romance, Nathaniel Hawthorne
    110. The House Of The Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne
    111. Moby-Dick, Herman Melville
    112. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
    113. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
    114. Shirley, Charlotte Brontë
    115. Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell
    116. The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë
    117. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
    118. Agnes Grey, Anne Brontë
    119. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
    120. Vanity Fair, William Makepeace Thackeray
    121. The Count Of Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
    122. La Reine Margot, Alexandre Dumas
    123. The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
    124. The Purloined Letter, Edgar Allan Poe
    125. Martin Chuzzlewit, Charles Dickens
    126. The Pit And The Pendulum, Edgar Allan Poe
    127. Lost Illusions, Honoré de Balzac
    128. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
    129. Dead Souls, Nikolay Gogol
    130. The Charterhouse Of Parma, Stendhal
    131. The Fall Of The House Of Usher, Edgar Allan Poe
    132. The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens
    133. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
    134. The Nose, Nikolay Gogol
    135. Le Père Goriot, Honoré de Balzac
    136. Eugénie Grandet, Honoré de Balzac
    137. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo
    138. The Red And The Black, Stendhal
    139. The Betrothed, Alessandro Manzoni
    140. Last Of The Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper
    141. The Private Memoirs And Confessions Of A Justified Sinner, James Hogg
    142. The Albigenses, Charles Robert Maturin
    143. Melmoth The Wanderer, Charles Robert Maturin
    144. The Monastery, Sir Walter Scott
    145. Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott
    146. Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
    147. Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
    148. Persuasion, Jane Austen
    149. Ormond, Maria Edgeworth
    150. Rob Roy, Sir Walter Scott
    151. Emma, Jane Austen
    152. Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
    153. Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen
    154. The Absentee, Maria Edg
    155. Elective Affinities, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
    156. Castle Rackrent, Maria Edgeworth

    1700s

    1. Hyperion, Friedrich Hölderlin
    2. The Nun, Denis Diderot
    3. Camilla, Fanny Burney
    4. The Monk, M.G. Lewis
    5. Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
    6. The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe
    7. The Interesting Narrative, Olaudah Equiano
    8. The Adventures Of Caleb Williams, William Godwin
    9. Justine, Marquis de Sade
    10. Vathek, William Beckford
    11. Cecilia, Fanny Burney
    12. The 120 Days Of Sodom, Marquis de Sade
    13. Cecilia, Fanny Burney
    14. Confessions, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    15. Dangerous Liaisons, Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
    16. Reveries Of A Solitary Walker, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    17. Evelina, Fanny Burney
    18. The Sorrows Of Young Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
    19. Humphrey Clinker, Tobias George Smollett
    20. The Man Of Feeling, Henry Mackenzie
    21. A Sentimental Journey, Laurence Sterne
    22. Tristram Shandy, Laurence Sterne
    23. The Vicar Of Wakefield, Oliver Goldsmith
    24. The Castle Of Otranto, Horace Walpole
    25. Émile; Or, On Education, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    26. Rameau’s Nephew, Denis Diderot
    27. Julie; Or, the New Eloise, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    28. Rasselas, Samuel Johnson
    29. Candide, Voltaire
    30. The Female Quixote, Charlotte Lennox
    31. Amelia, Henry Fielding
    32. Peregrine Pickle, Tobias George Smollett
    33. Fanny Hill, John Cleland
    34. Tom Jones, Henry Fielding
    35. Roderick Random, Tobias George Smollett
    36. Clarissa, Samuel Richardson
    37. Pamela, Samuel Richardson
    38. Jacques The Fatalist, Denis Diderot
    39. Memoirs Of Martinus Scriblerus, J. Arbuthnot, J. Gay, T. Parnell, A. Pope, J. Swift
    40. Joseph Andrews, Henry Fielding
    41. A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift
    42. Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift
    43. Roxana, Daniel Defoe
    44. Moll Flanders, Daniel Defoe
    45. Love In Excess, Eliza Haywood
    46. Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
    47. A Tale Of A Tub, Jonathan Swift

    Pre-1700

    1. Oroonoko, Aphra Behn
    2. The Princess Of Clèves, Comtesse de La Fayette
    3. The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
    4. Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes
    5. The Unfortunate Traveller, Thomas Nashe
    6. Euphues: The Anatomy Of Wit, John Lyly
    7. Gargantua And Pantagruel, Françoise Rabelais
    8. The Thousand And One Nights, Anonymous
    9. The Golden Ass, Lucius Apuleius
    10. Aithiopika, Heliodorus
    11. Chaireas And Kallirhoe, Chariton
    12. Metamorphoses, Ovid
    13. Aesop’s Fables, Aesopus

     

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    peace forest
    peace forest

    Yeongjongdo the new Hamptons of Seoul

    favorite places in Yeongjongdo

    Yeongjongdo Redevelopment Proposals

    I retired from the US State Department in 2016 and chose to retire in Korea where my wife has family members. She also retired from service in the U.S. military.  We bought an apartment in Yeongjongdo, the island that houses the Incheon International airport.  

    I am happy living in Yeongjongdo, it is truly one of the nicest communities in Korea. Peaceful, not too much traffic, cheaper than living in Seoul, great restaurants, shopping,  including being close to COSTCO in Songdo, access to the beaches and mountains and close to the airport and easy to get into town by subway or driving.  And it is becoming more cosmopolitan every day.

    The Korean government has grandiose plans for the Yeongjongdo island – the home of the Incheon international airport.

    They want to turn it into another Singapore.  A more realistic option would be to turn it into the equivalent of the Hamptons, the fabled weekend getaway in NYC for the elite of the establishment.

    Yeoungjongdo is well positioned to play such a role already.  It is easy to get away from Seoul about a hour train ride from most parts of the city and with the expansion of the train service and lowering the excessive bridge toils due to come into effect this year it will be much easier to get away to the islands for the weekend and for several weeks during the summer months.

    With the building of bridges to Muido (completed) Jangbo, Shindo, and Ganghwa islands in the works, the whole island could become a great get away for the elite and middle class of Seoul alike.

    There are lots of restaurants, good  shopping and hotels, great beaches, nice mountains, fresh air, good schools and affordable nice housing everywhere and it now has  an international vibe – already becoming another Itaewon, the fabled international enclave in Seoul.

    With the expansion of the MAGLEV train around the island transpiration will become even easier.

    With the opening of the Casino resorts it will become a very popular  weekend designation particularly if the Korean government figures out a way to let Koreans gamble – my suggestion let Koreans gamble once a week (for a 24 hour pass)with a lost limit of 500$ per visit.  That will draw enough local residents to make the casino’s profitable but minimize the harmful effects of expanded gambling.

    Finally the Korean government should market Yeoungjondo as the Hamptons of the East – enough people would get the reference to make that a popular add.  And rename Unseo neighborhood as the New Itaewon and promote it as such. And another slogan could be come to Yeongjondo the best kept secret of Korea.  These adds should run in all the major media outlets in the US especially in the  NYT and Washington Post, CNN, WSJ etc and other international markets as well. and of course a sign at the airport “Welcome to Yeongjongdo Your Gateway to Korea”

    If the Korean government does this it will have tremendous economic and social benefits for the residents of Yeongjongdo islands, as well as increase tourism to Korea. 

     

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    joe biden
    joe bi

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Joe and Kamala  time to come out for universal health care – Biden care in short – a winning campaign issue!

    Joe and Kamala congratulations so far and I sure hope that you will become the next president and vice president. Kamala, I am a fellow Thousand Oaks alumni so  although I went there a few years before you did,  your selection as vice president was particularly pleasing to me and and all the other Thousand Oaks alumnae I’m sure.

    I retired from the US State department in 2016 and have been residing in Korea half the year and half the year on the West coast. At some point I want to move back to my home town of Berkeley as I miss the Bay Area.

    I have been blogging since I retired. You can see my postings at the world according to cosmos.com.   

    I have been thinking about health care reform for some time.  It is clear that we need to join the rest of the world in setting up universal care for all Americans.  

    Addressing the healthcare crisis and not just the Covid crisis although that is obviously part of it, is a winning issue. Here’s what I would propose is a clear call for a transition to universal healthcare for all within your first term 

    Universal Access Requires Universal Participation

    There are a few key principles involved.  In order to get universal access you have to have universal participation.  You will have to revive the idea of individual mandate you can sell this by saying that we have to think of health insurance the same way  we think of auto insurance, it only works if everyone participates 

     

    Health insurance should be treated the same way as auto insurance. Everyone who drives a car must have insurance so that the cost of repairs and damages are socialized across the country and to an individual the cost is pretty modest.  That is the only way car insurance can work, if auto insurance was optional few would get it  leading to extreme costs for accidents and injuries to the individuals.  This car insurance model should be the model for health insurance – the basic principle is everybody has  has access because everyone participates.

    Second medication should be expanded to all those under the age of 55 three Medicare part B should be replaced by secondary insurance that everybody would have prior to joining Medicare part B as we no it will disappear except for those who do not have any other insurance options

    To facilitate and simplify things perhaps Medicaid and Medicare should  be merged into just one program.

    Private insurance should still play a key role in the insurance market but there has to be some modifications to the system. First one should be able to keep one’s insurance as one moves from job to job.  Perhaps coverage would transfer within six months of moving to a new job and be done simply through an expanded open season.  In any event, insurance has to be completely portable.

    Second the government and corporations should continue to subsidize insurance so that no one pays more than $2000 a year per family.  As a further simplification measure open season should be twice a year. During open season one could modify insurance easily shifting their insurance to the insurance offered by their new employer.  The unemployed should continue to be covered by their last insurance and when people move to a new company and a new job then they should automatically transfer to the insurance offered by the new Employer.

    For those who do not have insurance they should be allowed to buy in to the federal health employee program which would replace the Obamacare exchanges and again these would be subsidized by the federal government in order to keep the premiums down. The Obamacare exchanges should be allowed to merge with existing insurance companies, and phase out within a few year’s transition.

    Another idea worth considering is allowing associations to group together to buy insurance for their members. For example all the restaurants in a city could buy an affordable health care insurance  program for their member restaurants. 

    To keep cost down and make this manageable they should be a five year at four or five year transition to the new system but it must be clear to all this is how we are going to move the country to universal care

    There are a few other issues that the Republicans will raise that are worth considering.

     one would be allowing insurance companies compete nationwide this would provide efficiencies and be cost-effective.

    Tort reform is another issue that needs to be address.  I would limit malpractice suits  to those cases where there is clear evidence of gross incompetence corruption or other factors that led to the injury or death and in any event there should be a  cap of $1 million in damages and attorney fees should be capped at 30%.  This tort reform greatly reduce his cost of healthcare across the country and it is something that’s very near and dear to Republicans and it’s something that I think needs to be part of the final package of reforms.  The current system merely benefits vulture lawyers and not the general public and drives up costs for everyone and takes away money from providing quality care.

    How to handle insurance coverage for foreigners would be one of the issues that has to be addressed. First for visitors and immigrants I would require people to get travelers health insurance before they come to the United States and if they don’t have insurance they should be denied a visa or entry to the states. Those who are undocumented should be given access to healthcare insurance as well. Insurance companies and hospitals should not be required to report to DHS the names and addresses of undocumented individuals that they encounter.  DHS agent should be banned from stalking  people at hospitals and clinics.

    To pay for universal health care, I would I advocate a 1% income tax increase that would be dedicated to healthcare reform including providing subsidies etc.

     Coupled with healthcare reform we need to have a dramatic increase in public health spending at all levels of the federal government including of course research and development.

    Turning to Covid it is obvious that we need to do the mandatory mask requirement across the country and we need to make vaccines when they become available widely available and I would consider a mandate for vaccines again the argument that it should be an individual choice to get a vaccination or not should be counted by the argument that vaccines saves everybody’s lives and not getting a vaccine puts everybody at risk 

    The bottom line is that the US needs to joins the rest of the world in providing universal health care.  Everybody participates and everyone gets the benefits. 

    In a nutshell the summer you need to call for universal healthcare coverage for all;,  that the should government subsidize insurance premiums for all keeping insurance costs at less than 2,000 dollars per family per year; expansion of Medicare as well as merging medicaid, for all those over the age of 55 and or making less than 125% of of the natural income; those without insurance would be eligible to participate in the federal health insurance program; health insurance would be fully portable; every six months there would be an open season when people can easily change their insurance when they change  jobs or relocate; there would be tort reform limiting malpractice claims, foreigners would have to buy insurance prior to visiting the US, and undocumented would have to be covered..

     if you do all of this I think you have a very good chance of winning the election because affordable healthcare for all is a winning campaign issue.

    This is so much better than our dysfunctional system where healthcare is only available really to those who have good jobs or have money to pay for coverage.  In the richest country in the world we can and should be able to guaranteed healthcare for all Americans just like every other country in the world.

    Good luck to both of you.  You have my support.

    Joe Go Bold or Go Home, revised

    Go Bold or Go Home!

    joe Biden Health Care for all

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Reflections on Failure

    Raven Cage has published the  following poems except for the Presidential Failure poem.

    https://ravencagezine.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/issue-47/

    Failure is not an option
    My failures
    Presidential failures
    Total failure or Total Success
    Dejavu All Over Again
    General Failure Reading Disk Drives

     

    Failure is Not an Option

    Failure is not an option
    Is a weasel word
    Weasel words
    Are Orwellian words
    Designed to shut down
    Rational thought

    And ironically these words
    Often leads to spectacular failure
    Because logically speaking
    Failure is always an implied option

    and the null hypothesis
    doing nothing at all
    letting the status quo
    remain the same
    is also always an implied option

    Leaders need to look at all options
    Including what to do
    If they fail to achieve their goals

    They must have a plan
    To learn from their failures

    If not following the dictates
    The false macho posturing
    That failure is not an option
    Will lead to the feared failure

    On Failure

    They say that failure
    Is the best teacher of all
    And I have learned
    So much from my failures
    And I have failed so much

    In my life
    But I have gotten better
    Stronger and wiser
    Because I have failed

    And embraced my failures
    Failed first grade
    Almost failed math and physics
    Failed music college

    Almost failed statistics in college
    and in graduate school

    Almost failed my life in the Peace Corps
    Dealing with Typhoid
    Almost failed in Bangkok

    Almost failed my life
    In the hospital for almost a year

    Almost failed to learn Spanish
    Failed as a visa chief in Spain

    And throughout my failures
    There is one thing I learned

    With the support of my wife
    And my friends
    I can and will overcome
    All my failures

    President Trump’s Failures

    Presidentail failures to date
    failure to tell the truth 18,000 lies
    Failure to deal with COVID 160 thousand dead

     

     

     

    who have become corona ghosts
    And 4 million cases piling up
    and another great depression looms

    And it is all his fault
    He refuses to take responsibility
    Part of his failure to lead

    Failure to lead the country
    Insisting on premature re-opening
    Making things a thousand times worst

    With his epic tweets
    Which are a failure
    To communicate

    Failure to get America rebuilt
    Failure to get immigration reform
    Failure to reform our trading practices
    Failure to lead on climate change
    Failure to lead on fighting forest fires
    Failure to lead on police reform
    failure on health care
    Failure to lead on healing out country

    As he pours gasoline
    On the flames of our discontent

    And so I leave these thoughts
    Thinking of the greatest failure
    Of our life

    Watching our president
    Fail so miserably
    At his job

    And unlike me
    He refuses to admit
    That he has failed

    Leading him to an epic
    Spectacular failure
    Ushering in the end
    Of his presidency

    In the fading failing light<
    Of his life

    Will he finally learn
    From his failures
    Sadly I must conclude

    That he is incapable
    Of learning from failure

    Because in his mind
    He is the smartest man
    In the world

    And it inconceivable
    That he could ever failure

    For he is a winner
    Are we all tired
    Of his failed winning by now?

    And sadly I must
    give him a grade of F

    total Success or Total Failure

     

    Jared_Kushner_June_2019
    Jared_Kushner_June_2019

     

     

    The President’s Son-in-law declares
    that the government’s response
    to the corona virus

    has been a total success
    as the government
    stepped up to the plate
    to fight the virus from hell

    I have to wonder
    on what planet
    does the words
    total failure
    becomes total success?

    Are we living in a bizarro world
    Where every thing
    Means the opposite

    Do words no longer
    Have any connection
    To underlying reality

    Can we tell a lie
    From the truth anymore?

    For his statement
    Is impossible to be
    Anything other than the opposite

    His total success
    is everyone’s total failure

    As 160 thousands
    American Corona ghosts
    Will attest

    just more verbal diarrhea
    from our dear leader
    And his cult like followers
    And corrupt court jesters

    Dejavu All Over Again

     

    corona
    corona

    Looking at the news
    As the virus spreads
    Out of control

     

     

     

    With no end in sight
    Back in April
    Hospitals begged for relief

    From a lack of PPD
    And equipment etc

    And for a few weeks
    It seemed we were fine

    But we failed to prepare
    For the continuation of the pandemic

    And our stockpile has been overwhelmed
    Our hospitals are overwhelmed

    And it could have been prevented
    If our leaders had kept up

    Stockpiling for the inevitable second wave
    Even as the first wave has yet
    To reach its peak

    Their epic failure
    To plan
    For what was sure to come

    Is an epic failure
    Of deadly consequences

    Hundreds of thousands of people
    will join the ranks
    of corona ghosts

    they Will fail to live
    Because of this failure
    To plan

    So I say
    It is all dejavu all over again

    General Failure Reading Disk Drive

    computer error message
    evil computer

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My computer loves
    Spitting out error messages
    Written like haiku

    Mysterious messages
    Hard to understand

    My favorite has always been
    General Failure
    Reading Disk drive

    The question comes to mind
    Who is this General Failure
    And why is reading my disk drive
    Anyway

    the End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    175,000 Corona Ghosts

    Subterranean Blues will publish my poem, “Waiting for the Grim Reaper’s Decision”

    I sent them the following poems as well

    The Bombs that Took Her Away
    175,000 Corona Ghosts Message to our LeadersHerman Cain was his Name

    the Meaning of Life

    Waiting for the Grim Reaper’s Decision

     

     

     

     

    One night
    After falling
    into a deep sleep

    I woke up<
    standing in a long line
    with people
    of all nationalities
    dresse in black uniforms

    I look up
    and see a giant Screen
    showing scenes
    from past lives

    I ask the person
    in front of me
    where was I

    he merely grunted
    and pointed to a sign
    The sign said in multiple languages

    No talking
    No smoking
    No eating
    No sleeping

    Be patient
    Your turn for judgement
    Will be soon

    no one can escape their fate
    For this is your judgement date

    A punk rock band
    Was playing
    Screaming out
    No sleeping

    No eating
    No talking
    Beware

    Be afraid
    Be very afraid
    The hour is getting late

    God is on the make
    The devil is on the take

    No one can escape their fate
    For this is your judgement date

    I watched the various condemned
    Walking to the front of the room

    Step by step
    When they got
    to the front of the room

    They were shoved into a chair
    And strapped to a machine

    And the grim reaper
    Would bark out a few questions

    Then their live would flash by
    On the screen
    Then the screen
    would flash

    A simple symbol
    either a green light
    A red light
    A yellow light
    or a black light
    would appear

    and the grim reaper
    Would pronounce sentence
    In the language of the person
    In front of him

    Then sentence pronounced
    The body would disappear

    And the grim reaper
    Would bark out

    Next
    Soon it was my turn

    The grim reaper barked out

    name: John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
    Date and place of birth
    October 30, 1955 Oakland, California

    There is a discrepancy here
    Your birthday is listed twice
    as either October 29
    Or October 30

    Which is the real date?

    The 30th

    Fine
    And he pointed
    his hand held computer

    And I saw my life flash by
    30 seconds later
    The screen flashed green

    Congratulations
    You have been given a reprieve

    And will be returned to your life
    But with a warning
    Your time is limited
    As is it
    For all of you

    Make the most of it
    Someone upstairs has marked
    Your file
    For positive review

    for the next date
    when you will meet your fate
    Good luck

    I asked
    How much time do I have
    He smiled

    No one is allowedTo knows the date
    That they are scheduled
    To meet their fate

    That information is classified
    Q level top secret ultra
    Only St. Peter’s knows
    And he does not tell me
    Anything

    You have no need to know
    And neither of us
    Are cleared for that

    So just go back
    And make the most
    Of the time you have

    The sun was coming up
    I looked at my wife
    The love of my life

    And vowed to make
    Every moment count
    Until my next date
    With the grim reaper

    175,000 Corona Ghosts Message to our Leaders

     

    1750,000 Corona ghosts
    Have a message
    For our feckless leaders

    Their voices crying out
    In the corona winds
    That are sweeping the world

    Led by the implacable enemy
    General Corona
    And his army of virus bots

    The corona ghosts cry out
    Why Mr. President
    Can’t you take responsibility
    And apologize to the world

    For the mess you made
    Due to your incompetence

    Why Mr. president
    Do you continue to listen to quacks
    Whether than your own experts

    And why dear God
    Don’t you mask up
    Right now?

    Mr. President
    Why can’t you get
    The senate to get off
    Their proverbial buts

    And deliver Corona relief
    To those fortunate
    To still be alive?

    And Mr. President
    The way things are going
    We may see you soon
    As you too may become
    Another Corona Ghost

    Herman Cain Was his Name

    Herman Cain was his name
    Being President of Godfather Pizza
    That was his name
    And his claims to fame

    He ran his company with pizzaz
    Being famous for being famous
    Knew all the right people

    Did the right thing
    But still on that date
    He met his fate

    And became
    Just one
    of the 150,000 Corona Ghosts
    Ghosts in the corona winds

    That are sweeping the land
    Killing people left and right

    As General Corona marches forward
    With his army of virus bots
    Infecting everyone they met

    And in the end
    It did not matter
    Who Herman Cain was

    He became just
    Another
    Corona Ghost

    the Meaning of Life

    Sometimes I contemplate
    The meaning of life
    And the central mystery
    That still haunts my life

    The fairy tale romance
    That overwhelmed me
    38 years ago

    When I met my fate
    On that august date

    I still do now know
    How and why
    I had the dream

    All I know
    Is that she came
    To me in a dream

    And then walked into my life
    And became my wife

    But I sill don’t know the meaning
    Of life itself

    All I know
    Is that I married
    The women of my dreams

    And that has made
    All the difference

    based on my true love story. For details see “Dream Girl” on my blog, “the world according to cosmos

    the END

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    famous musicians from Berkeley, California (Blog entry)

    Am I Berkeley Enough?  Famous Bands and Songs From Berkeley 

    He’s been known to sport a Cal Bears hat with an Oakland A’s jersey. He professes great love for the giant burritos at Gordo and Cancun taquerias. And he still gets his coffee at Peet’s — just not the one at the corner of Walnut and Vine streets.

    Does all of that make David Wittman “Berkeley Enough”?

    Wittman, a Berkeley native long living in Los Angeles, has been asking himself that question for years. His answer, thus far, has been anything but conclusive. So, the DJ/vocalist has turned the debate over to the online community — in the music video “Berkeley Enough,” which has become something of a water-cooler sensation in the Bay Area.

    The tune is as intelligent as it hilarious, a well-crafted slice of satire that gently pokes fun while celebrating both his hometown and L.A. Watch the video once, and it’s easy to understand why the song’s title has become a kind of catchphrase in these parts — and why there is now a market for “Berkeley Enough?” T-shirts.

    The catchy, comedic tune is a duet between Wittman, who is better known online as simply DJ Dave, and East Bay rapper LaeCharles Lawrence Jr. The ample humor comes from a back-and-forth between Lawrence, who contests that Wittman is no longer “Berkeley Enough,” and Wittman, deflecting those charges with varying degrees of success.

    “DJ Dave, you’re not Berkeley Enough,” Lawrence says in the video.

    “What you mean, dude?” DJ Dave responds, as a rhythmic rap starts to rev up:”I told you before, you know I still eat organic food.

    “I might live in L.A., but I can still wear a Cal hat and (represent) the Bay.”

    “I’m just trying to do L.A. with a Bay twist.

    I ride my bike a lot and drive a Prius too.

    I guess I can’t be down like you unless I drive a Subaru.”

    Although written by and starring Wittman, “Berkeley Enough” is really a collaborative achievement that comes courtesy of Wittman’s Fog and Smog, a video arts collective that includes a number of former Bay Area talents now living in L.A.

    Fog and Smog is less than a year old, but it’s already an online sensation. It’s produced four independent videos, all of which gently poke fun at West Coast culture. Together, they have totaled some 5 million views on YouTube and other sites.

    It all started with “Whole Foods Parking Lot,” the first Smog and Fog video, which went viral within days of posting to YouTube.

    “The reaction was really beyond our expectations,” Wittman says during a recent phone interview. “It got a million views in a week. It was crazy.”

    That first video remains DJ Dave’s calling card — and he’s often introduced, even in Fog and Smog’s own videos, as “Dave from that Whole Foods song.” Yet, he seems even more passionate about “Berkeley Enough,” a tune that allowed him to explore his own mixed feelings about leaving the Bay Area for L.A.

    Wittman, of course, is aware that many Northern Californians love to hate all things L.A. This video cleverly, yet far from viciously, plays into that intrastate rivalry — which, Wittman says, seems to matter far more to people in the Bay Area than to those in L.A.

    “It is sort of a one-sided rivalry,” says Wittman, 37. “I’ve seen it from both sides for so many years now. L.A. is almost like the pretty older sister who just doesn’t even notice that someone is mad at her — like, ‘Huh? I wasn’t paying attention. How’s my hair?’

    “Not to say that the Bay is the ugly-duckling little sister. (But) L.A., because of the nature of Hollywood, can be slightly self-involved and dismissive.”

    Wittman, a vocalist, composer, DJ and drummer, graduated from Berkeley High School in 1992 and credits his continued passion for making music to his involvement in the school’s fabled jazz program. That’s why he decided to sell “Berkeley Enough?” T-shirts and donate the proceeds to the Berkeley High jazz program.

    “It was just an inspiring thing to be around,” he says of the jazz program. “There was a lot of really high level playing that you had to measure up against. You had to work really hard to make it. I think that kind of motivation for kids is really valuable and amazing.”

    After Berkeley High, Wittman ventured south to study at UCLA. He graduated with a degree in economics in 1996, but he had no real design to put his studies to use in the so-called “real world.”

    “I actually kicked around for a little while, trying to figure out what to do,” he says. “I was like, ‘I’m going to be a bohemian DJ/drummer and figure out artistic stuff to do.’ But I didn’t do well without some sense of structure.”

    He eventually landed a job doing musical scores for TV commercials and, 12 years later, he still works there. The job reignited his interest in music, leading him to again pick up the drumsticks and do some DJ work. He wrote the “Whole Foods Parking Lot” song on a lark and then decided to do a video for it. So, he linked up with some pals, many of whom also hailed from the Bay Area, and the video-arts collective Fog and Smog was born. The name, of course, is a nod to both the Bay Area (fog) and L.A. (smog).

    Besides “Whole Foods” and “Berkeley Enough,” Fog and Smog has also generated clicks with DJ Dave’s come-on to a pretty “Yoga Girl” (sample lyric: “Well anyway I guess you better be going / The last thing I want to do is stop your Vinyasa from flowing”). Then there’s the plea, aimed at Mr. Android or Mrs. iPhone, to “Put Your Phone Down” (best lyric: “You’re in public man, you’re being kinda rude / Your text messages are not that important, dude!”). All of these videos boast a delicious, self-effacing humor.

    “I think Fog and Smog’s videos resonate, because our fans are a very self-aware bunch who are happy to laugh at themselves if and when the comedy originates from a credible source,” says Fog and Smog’s George Woolley, a rapper and video director who graduated from Berkeley High in 1994. “We poke fun at social trends that we engage in ourselves, and I think that is very palpable in the lyrics and video aesthetic we strive for.”

    The success of the YouTube videos even caught the attention of Hyundai, which hired Fog and Smog to do some clever car commercials. Wittman, however, isn’t giving up his day job — he says it’s still unclear if Fog and Smog can become a true moneymaker. He knows that the videos have tallied an impressive number of views online, but he’s also aware that Fog and Smog is hardly setting YouTube records.

    “There is lots of stuff that gets more clicks,” he says. “Cats, man. You got to do something about a cat, because that (expletive) just blows up.”

    berkeley maps

    growing up in Berkeley
    back in the day
    we still were allowed

    to free roam
    and so I went
    everywhere on foot

    or bus
    walking to Solano avenue
    drinking coffee

    at Peets coffee
    eating Chinese food

    in Berkeley’s china town
    walking downtown

    walking to CAL
    eating top dog

    experiencing the late 60’s
    transforming Telegraph

    and walking in the woods
    in tilden park

    high up in the hills
    overlooking the bay area

    674 Santa Rosa

    my childhood home
    for almost 10 years
    was 674 Santa Rosa
    Berkeley California

    A five bedroom
    adobe California home
    on the side of a hill
    at the bottom of the Berkeley hills

    you entered on the top floor
    across the street you entered
    on the bottom floor
    thus it was in the Berkeley Hills

    the house had a large deck
    with a perfect view
    of the golden gate

    we used to sit outside
    watching the sunset
    as we ate dinner

    my Mom and Dad
    would have their nightly cocktails
    on the deck

    before retreating inside
    to continue
    their nightly fights
    and arguments

    I grew up
    downstairs
    hearing their constant words
    of hatred, dismay and outrage

    my parents were the proverbial
    odd couple
    perhaps never should have married

    but despite the hate
    there was still some love
    that kept them together

    we had a red room
    with a pool table
    and I hung out there
    with my friends

    my mother tolerated my friends
    most of the time
    she would be somewhat sober
    until after they left

    and the madness came
    over her
    as she drank her whisky
    and wine

    the basement room
    was added later
    was my younger brother’s room
    later was my room
    whenever i visited
    from college days

    my old room lay abandoned
    filled with books
    thousands of books
    that I had read
    over the years

    when she died
    I should have taken
    all the books
    instead I took
    about one hundred

    just no space
    for the books
    of my childhood memories

    National Poetry month day two prompt specific place poem 674 Santa Rosa Berkeley California

    berkeley time travels

    growing up in Berkeley
    in the 70’s
    one would be drawn
    to Telegraph avenue

    down the street from Cal
    to a particular corner
    Dwight way and Telegraph

    catty corner to People’s park
    a corner sacred to the hippie
    vendors who were always there

    down the street from Moe’s bookstore
    I would often walk back
    occasionally talk to the vendors
    about the latest conspiracy theory

    about the latest conspiracy theory
    and the latest political gossip
    as the vendors
    loved to talk shit

    as they sat on their seats
    selling their t shirts
    filled with anarchistic sayings

    and political rage
    against the machine of hate
    they saw all around them

    as the man tried to keep them down
    that was Berkeley
    my sacred homeland
    stuck forever in 1969

    This is a shout out to the many musicians in my home town, Berkeley, California which is as all people know, the center of the cosmos.

    There have been so many great musicians who grew up there, many learning to play at Berkeley High school.Here are some of the famous groups – just to name a few

    Two of my favorite Berkeley Songs, are by Fog and Smoke 

    NY Your not Berkeley enough

    LA Your not Berkeley Enough

    Berkeley Enough

    some famous bay area bands and musicians

    Jon Adams 

    Peter Apfelbaum 

    Alex Carlin – currently playing in Eastern Europe

    Creedence Clearwater Revival

    counting crows

     

     

     

    Tommy Dunbar 

    John Fogerty

    Tom Fogerty

    Earthquake

    Green Day

     

     

     

     

    Jim Davidson – my buddy

    Jimi Hendrix – last high school was BHS

    Phil Lesh

     

     

     

    The Rubinoos

     

     

     

    Psychotic Pineapple

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    And so many others

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    H

    J

    K

    L

    M

    N

    O

    P

    R

    S

    T

    V

    W

    And still more Artists from Berkeley, CA

    And still more

    Artist Active Genre & Styles
    A Cid Symphony 1960s Pop/Rock, Country-Rock, Folk-Rock,Psychedelic/Garage
    Akiva Schaffer 2000s Stage & Screen, Comedy/Spoken
    ALBINO! 1990s – 2010s International, African Traditions, Afro-beat
    Alex Skolnick 1980s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Jazz, Guitar Virtuoso, Heavy Metal, Speed/Thrash Metal, Guitar Jazz,Neo-Prog, Prog-Rock, Fusion, Jazz Instrument
    Anders Nelsson 1970s – 1980s Stage & Screen, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock
    Andy Samberg 2000s – 2010s Comedy/Spoken, Comedy
    BARR 2000s Pop/Rock, Rap, Alternative/Indie Rock,Post-Rock, Alternative Rap, Comedy Rock
    Billie Joe Armstrong 1990s – 2010s Pop/Rock
    Bird by Bird 2010s Pop/Rock
    Black Lab 1990s Pop/Rock, Post-Grunge
    Blatz 1990s Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk Revival
    Brett Deubner 2010s – 2020s Classical, Vocal Music
    Brett Turner Pop/Rock
    Bridget O’Flynn
    Bruce Barthol 1960s – 2000s Pop/Rock
    Counting Crows 1990s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, American Trad Rock, Alternative Country-Rock
    Crimpshrine 1980s – 1990s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival
    Daryl Coley 1970s – 2000s Religious, Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Gospel, Contemporary Christian
    Dave Tull 2000s – 2010s Jazz, Pop/Rock, Vocal, Vocal Jazz,Straight-Ahead Jazz, Traditional Pop
    David Denny 1990s Pop/Rock
    David Murray 1970s – 2010s Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Experimental Big Band, Free Jazz, Post-Bop, Jazz Instrument, Mainstream Jazz, Modern Creative, Modern Free, Saxophone Jazz
    Debbie Poryes 1970s – 2000s Jazz, Vocal, Post-Bop, Mainstream Jazz,Standards
    Denise & Company 1960s Pop/Rock, Garage Rock,Psychedelic/Garage
    Dick Latvala Pop/Rock
    ElDopa 1990s Pop/Rock
    Eric Peterson 1980s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Speed/Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal
    Erik Jekabson 1990s – 2020s Jazz, Post-Bop, Straight-Ahead Jazz,Modern Creative, Jazz Instrument, Trumpet Jazz
    Eugene Blacknell 1960s – 1980s R&B, Blues, Funk, Modern Electric Blues
    Fender IV Pop/Rock, Garage Rock,Psychedelic/Garage, Surf
    Gabriela Lena Frank 2000s – 2020s Classical, Orchestral, Chamber Music,Choral, Keyboard
    Ginny Tyler 1930s – 1990s Stage & Screen, Children’s
    Grant Geissman 1970s – 2010s Jazz, Classical, New Age, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Post-Bop, Guitar Jazz, Jazz Instrument,Show/Musical, Vocal Music
    Herb Pedersen 1960s – 1990s Country, Pop/Rock, Folk, Bluegrass,Progressive Bluegrass, Traditional Bluegrass, Country-Rock
    Idiot Flesh 1990s Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock,Experimental Rock, Heavy Metal, Industrial Metal, Alternative Pop/Rock
    Jed and Lucia 2000s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Indie Electronic, Indie Folk,Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock
    Jim Greer 1990s – 2000s Country, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock,Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Singer/Songwriter
    John Cipollina 1960s – 1980s Pop/Rock, Boogie Rock, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll
    John Fogerty 1960s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Roots Rock,Contemporary Pop/Rock, Heartland Rock
    Jorma Taccone 2000s Comedy/Spoken, Comedy
    Joshua Redman 1990s – 2020s Jazz, Post-Bop, Modern Creative, Straight-Ahead Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Neo-Bop,Saxophone Jazz, Trumpet Jazz, Fusion,Jazz-Funk
    Joy of Cooking 1960s – 1970s Pop/Rock, Country-Rock, Soft Rock
    Kela Parker 2010s Folk, Country, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Americana
    KSHMR 2000s – 2010s Electronic, Club/Dance, EDM
    Kyle Vincent 1980s – 2020s Pop/Rock, Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Power Pop, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary
    Laurie Lewis 1980s – 1990s Country, Folk, Classical, Bluegrass, Neo-Traditional Folk, Progressive Bluegrass,Contemporary Bluegrass, Traditional Bluegrass, Chamber Music, Opera
    Lee Mallory 1960s – 2000s Pop/Rock, Sunshine Pop, AM Pop,Baroque Pop, Soft Rock, Psychedelic Pop,Psychedelic/Garage
    Lil B 2000s – 2010s Rap, Alternative Rap, Underground Rap,Pop-Rap, Left-Field Rap, Spoken Word
    Lonnie Turner 1960s – 1980s Pop/Rock
    Lunchbox 1990s – 2010s Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock
    Mad River 1960s Pop/Rock, Country-Rock,Psychedelic/Garage, Acid Rock

    That’s if for now. Please feel free to send in more Berkeley bands

    and some more sent it thanks Kristen and Bob

     

    • Kristien Freedman
      Great poetry! I didn’t see Lenny Pickett up there, also Michael Wolff, Jonny Otis, Steve Gaboury, I’m sure there are many more. We had a crazy talented school district in so many ways!
      Bob Fitch
      Thanks Jake, you could probably do another whole article about jazz musicians who attended Berkeley High School. Will Bernard, Charlie Hunter, Colin Hogan, Dave Ellis, Josh Jones, Robbie Kwok, Steven Bernstein ……

    the end

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Raven Cage has published the following poems:

    Failure is not an option

    My failures
    Total Success or Total Failure
    Dejavu All Over Again
    General Failure Reading Disk Drives

    corona virus revised

    Raven Cage Publishes Poems

    Failure is Not an Option

    weasel words

    Failure is not an option
    Is a weasel word

    Weasel words
    Are Orwellian words
    Designed to shut down
    Rational thought

    And ironically
    these words

    “Failure is not an Option”
    usually accompanied by macho posturing
    and false bravado
    and extreme hubris

    Often leads to spectacular failure
    Because logically speaking
    Failure is always an implied option

    as is the null hypothesis of doing nothing
    nothing at all and let the status quo
    remain the stars quo

    Leaders need to look at all options
    Including what to do
    If they fail to achieve their goals
    or doing nothing at all

    They must have a plan
    To learn from their failures

    If not following the dictates
    The false macho posturing
    That failure is not an option
    Will often lead to the feared failure

    On Failure

    They say that failure
    Is the best teacher of all

    And I have learned
    from the proverbial
    school of hard knocks

    So much from my failures
    And I have failed so much
    In my life

    But I have gotten better
    Stronger and wiser
    and am a much better person
    Because I have failed

    And embraced my failures
    Failed first grade
    Almost failed math and physics
    Failed music college

    Almost failed statistics in college
    and graduate school
    just don’t have a mathematical mind

    Almost failed my life
    in the Peace Corps
    Dealing with Typhoid

    Almost failed my job
    when I was in Bangkok

    Almost failed my life
    In the hospital for almost a year
    battling a mutant staph MDR infection
    from hell

    and an acute GI infection
    that almost killed me
    later battled dengue fever

    Almost failed to learn Spanish
    Failed as a visa chief in Spain

    And throughout my failures
    There is one thing I learned

    With the support of my wife
    And my friends

    I can and will overcome
    everything that
    life throws at me

    and become even stronger
    wiser and a better person

    because I have overcome
    and learned from
    my failures

    Dejavu All Over Again

     

    masked woman
    masked woman

    Looking at the dismal news
    As the virus spreads
    Out of control

    With no end in sight
    Back in April
    Hospitals begged for relief
    From a lack of PPD
    And equipment etc

    And for a few weeks
    It seemed we were fine
    But we failed to prepare

    For the continuation of the pandemic
    And our stockpile has been overwhelmed
    Our hospitals are overwhelmed

    And it could have been prevented
    If our leaders had kept up
    Stockpiling for the inevitable second wave

    Even as the first wave has yet
    To reach its peak

    So I say
    It is all dejavu all over again

    General Failure Reading Disk Drive

    My computer loves
    Spitting out error messages
    Written like haiku

    Mysterious messages
    Hard to understand
    only computer geeks
    can follow

    My favorite has always been

    General Failure Reading Disk drive

    The question comes to mind
    Who is this General Failure

    And why is reading my disk drive
    Anyway?

    the End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Poetic Rants Updated 

    Guns KIll People

    Following were published in Poetry 24

    Monday July 31. 2018

    Driving to the End of the World

    Driving to the end of the world
    The end times approach
    Driving through the smoke filled air

    North of Mt Shasta
    Heart of bigfoot country
    End of the world images
    Fill my head with dread

    end of the world visions
    the apocalypse is upon us
    The wicked evil as hell
    blood red sun

    Leers at me
    with an evil grin
    Screaming at me

    What fools these mortals be
    Global climate change
    Is as real as the smoky fires

    That Burn and burn and burn
    As our leaders turn away
    They Can’t handle the truth

    They will sacrifice all life on earth
    So the oil and coal barons
    The so called masters of the universe
    Can make their obscene profits
    Sending the rest  of us to hell

    Tuesday, 2 January 2018

    Merry Christmas from your friends at AT&T

     

    AT and T logo
    AT and T logo

     

    Sometimes I wonder
    About the morality of the corporate giants
    That rule our world

    On the day before Christmas
    AT and T received a huge Christmas gift
    From the President of the United States
    The biggest tax cut in U.S. History

    And the President proclaimed
    That it would unleash jobs jobs jobs
    Apparently, ATT never got the memo

    And they announced thousands of layoffs
    The day before Christmas
    A true PR nightmare
    That could have been avoided

    They could have waited two weeks
    And announced their restructuring plan
    After the New Years

    But no they decided to show the world
    Their true colors
    Heartless soulless monsters

    Who don’t give a damn
    About their workers, their customers
    Or their employees

    And certainly are not Christians
    Though I am sure that they think
    They are doing what Jesus would

    All they care about
    Is feathering their own pockets

    Is it any wonder
    That Americans hate the big corporations
    That rule us like ancient emperors?

    And will they fade away
    Into the dustbin of history

    One can only pray
    For such a Christmas miracle

    AT&T ANNOUNCES THOUSANDS OF LAYOFFS, FIRINGS JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

    Posted by Martin at 08:00 No comments: 

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    Labels: AT&T, Jake Aller, Lay-offs

    Friday, 10 November 2017

    It’s a Gun Situation, Mr President

     

    Mr. President

    You are wrong once again.
    You said that the tragic events in Texas
    And Las Vegas were not “gun situations”
    But rather, were mental health problems

     

     

     

    And that in Texas if there had been gun controls
    Perhaps fewer people would have died

    Mr. President
    I know you a smart man,
    The smartest man in the world
    According to you

    So please contemplate this fact:
    According to the latest findings,

    It is a gun situation
    In fact, the reason the U.S.
    Has so many gun deaths
    Is because we have so many guns,

    45% of the worlds guns in fact
    And 33 percent of the world’s shooters
    Are Americans killing other Americans

    And most of them, the majority of them,
    Are White People killing other people
    Not murdering terrorists.

    Most are in fact,
    Out-of-control citizens.

    So Mr. President
    When will you come to your senses
    And do what 90 percent of the public wants,
    Enact nation wide effective gun controls?

    And tell the NRA
    they can take their blood money elsewhere

    When, Mr. President
    When will you act
    When will you take charge

    And become a President of the people
    Instead of the President of the NRA?

    What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer

    Posted by Martin at 08:00 1 comment: 

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    Labels: Donald Trump, Jake Aller, NRA, US Gun Law

    Thursday, 12 October 2017

    When will this Madness end?

     

     

    Yet again we turn on the TV
    And witness horrible scenes
    Of unparalleled violence, hatred, and despair

     

     

    An old man consumed by his own demons
    Opens fire from a hotel room
    Killing 58 people injuring hundreds

    In Las Vegas, Sin City
    And the cry goes out throughout the land
    Why yet again this tragedy?

    The usual suspects are rounded up
    It’s the culture, stupid, cry the conservative voices
    Guns are the price of our freedom
    Guns Don’t Kill People

    The only solution is more guns for everyone
    The only solution for a bad guy with a gun
    Is a good guy with a gun

    An armed society is a polite society

    No, it’s the guns, cry the liberal pundits
    We must confiscate the guns

    Ban Assault weapons
    And join the rest of the world
    Where such carnage does not occur

    And we sit around and argue
    Knowing that there will be a next time
    And another time and time and time again
    Until the end of time

    What is the sickness in our souls
    That allows for this hatred to fester so
    Deep within the minds of our killers

    Nothing will change
    Until we confront the evil
    That lurks deep within each of us

    There will be another Las Vegas
    Soon enough

    Families across 14 states unite in grief after Las Vegas shooting

    Posted by Martin at 08:00 No comments: 

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    Labels: Jake Aller, Las Vegas Shooting, NRA, Stephen Paddock

    note: since this was written there have been so many other incidents here’s a partial listing

     

    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2020

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    Main article: List of mass shootings in the United States

    Map of the United States showing the locations of mass shootings in 2019

    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2020
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    Mass shootings in the United States in 2020[1]

    Map of Alaska showing the locations of mass shootings

    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2020

    Mass shootings in Alaska in 2020

    This is a list of mass shootings in the United States that have occurred in 2020. Mass shootings are incidents involving multiple victims of firearm-related violence. The precise inclusion criteria are disputed, and there is no broadly accepted definition.[2][3]

    Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.[4] The Congressional Research Servicenarrows that definition, limiting it to “public mass shootings”, and defined by four or more victims killed. It excludes counting wounded survivors.[2] The Washington Post and Mother Jones use similar definitions, with the latter acknowledging that their definition “is a conservative measure of the problem”, as shootings with fewer fatalities occur.[5][6] The crowdsourced Mass Shooting Tracker project defines a mass shooting as “an incident where four or more people are shot in a single shooting spree. This may include the shooter themself, or police shootings of civilians around the shooter.”[7]

    As of June 30, there have been 260 shootings that fit this criteria, resulting in 226 deaths and 1,054 injuries, for a total of 1,280 victims.

    Definitions[edit]

    • Stanford University MSA Data Project: three or more persons shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at one location, at roughly the same time. Excluded are shootings associated with organized crime, gangs or drug wars.[8]
    • Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.[7]
    • Gun Violence Archive/Vox: four or more shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[4][9]
    • Mother Jones: three or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[6]
    • The Washington Post: four or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[5]
    • ABC News/FBI: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[10]
    • Congressional Research Service: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at a public place, excluding gang-related killings and those done with a profit-motive.[2]

    Only incidents considered mass shootings by at least two of the above sources are listed below.

    List[edit]

    Date Location Dead Injured Total Description
    July 26, 2020 Mont Enterprise, Texas 0 4 4 Four people were injured shortly after midnight when someone opened fire during the Rude Boyz Annual Trail Ride. The gathering was held at Durango’s Canyon.[11]
    July 26, 2020 Flint Township, Michigan 1 3 4 One person was killed and three others were injured when a gunman opened fire in a restaurant. The shooter has been taken into custody and has been charged with open murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder and multiple weapons charges.[12][13]
    July 26, 2020 Commerce City, Colorado 1 3 4 Responding officers to a large gathering in the early morning found a man dead. Three additional victims were transported in private vehicles to the hospital.[14]
    July 26, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky 1 3 4 Officers responded to I-64 West in the early morning after calls of shots fired by a moving vehicle. They found four individuals shot, with one dead, in a crashed car. A fifth individual was wounded when the car crashed.[15]
    July 25, 2020 Raleigh, North Carolina 0 4 4 A woman and three men were wounded near a local restaurant. [16]
    July 25, 2020 Manteca, California 0 7 7 Officers responded from a traffic stop after hearing gunfire. They discovered seven people wounded at a large house party after a man armed with a semi-automatic weapon arrived and opened fire.[17]
    July 25, 2020 Flint, Michigan 0 6 6 Six people were shot at a party of over 1,000 people following the filming of a music video in a parking lot.[18]
    July 25, 2020 Miami, Florida 1 3 4 A seven-year-old girl, a sixteen-month boy and two adults were shot by a passing vehicle while getting out of a car. The girl was declared brain dead at the hospital, causing the shooting to be declared a homicide.[19]
    July 25, 2020 Denver, Colorado 2 3 5 Two men were killed and two woman and a man were wounded in the Park Hill neighborhood.[20]
    July 25, 2020 Dallas, Texas 0 4 4 Three men and a woman were injured shortly before midnight. A man was denied entry at a local bar, retrieved an assault-type weapon from his car, and shot into the building.[21]
    July 24, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 2 2 4 Two adults were killed and two teenagers, aged seventeen and eighteen, were injured in an early morning shooting. The group were ambushed by two shooters after arriving at an AirBnb house party in a rideshare.[22]
    July 23, 2020 Henrico County, Virginia 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others injured in the early morning. Officers are investigating if the individuals were a part of an announced party for that night.[23]
    July 23, 2020 Petersburg, Virginia 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting.[24]
    July 23, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 2 4 6 Two people were killed and four injured while standing on the sidewalk in the West Pullman area of the Far South Side.[25]
    July 22, 2020 Warren, Michigan 0 4 4 A man opened fire and others returned fire at a large party with at least one hundred people in attendance. Four people were injured in the shooting.[26]
    July 21, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 15 15 Fifteen people were injured, four critically, after a shooter opened fire at people leaving a funeral home in Chicago’s Auburn Greshamneighborhood.[27]
    July 20, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in the North Lawndale neighborhood. They were a part of people gathered on the sidewalk when a car pulled up and several men got out and opened fire.[28]
    July 20, 2020 Richmond, Virginia 1 4 5 One man was killed and four others injured after a fight in a McDonald’sparking lot escalated. One of the injured was an innocent bystander in the Food Lion parking lot across the street.[29]
    July 19, 2020 Peoria, Illinois 0 13 13 Thirteen people were injured in an early morning shooting at a riverfront gathering. An argument between two women led to a man firing two shots into the air. This led to multiple individuals opening fire on the crowd.[30]
    July 19, 2020 Omaha, Nebraska 0 8 8 Eight people including a fifteen-year-old girl were injured in a drive by shooting early in the morning.[31]
    July 19, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 2 3 5 Two people were killed and three wounded shortly before midnight in Morgan Park on the Far South Side. They were part of a group of people, that were fired upon by an unknown shooter.[32]
    July 19, 2020 Washington D.C. 1 8 9 Police responding to reports of a shooting discovered one man killed and eight other adults wounded.[33]
    July 19, 2020 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 Two fifteen-year-olds and two seventeen-year-olds were wounded while sitting in traffic when another car pulled up and opened fire. Four days later, the suspect was shot by police after a pursuit in which he was found holding a gun and died at a hospital.[34][35]
    July 19, 2020 Detroit, Michigan 3 1 4 A man opened fire in a restaurant, killing three men and injuring another. The shooter has been taken into custody.[36]
    July 18, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 4 5 A man was killed and four others wounded after two men opened fire in the early morning in the North Lawndale neighborhood. The men were standing on a street corner.[37]
    July 17, 2020 Columbus, Ohio 0 4 4 Four adults were wounded while attending a memorial in Weinland Park. A three-year-old girl was also wounded when bullets struck the home she was in.[38]
    July 17, 2020 Madison, Florida 0 4 4 Three adults and a child were injured after a man, out on bond from a January arrest, entered their home and opened fire.[39]
    July 16, 2020 Nashville, Tennessee 0 5 5 Eight or nine people opened fire in the early morning in a drive-by shooting. Five people were wounded, including a juvenile.[40]
    July 15, 2020 New York City, New York 1 5 6 Two gunmen opened fire in the early morning outside a Brooklyn apartment building. A man was killed and five other adults were wounded.[41]
    July 15, 2020 Shreveport, Louisiana 1 3 4 A man was killed and two adults and an 11-year-old child were injured after an argument escalated from an original argument at a basketball court.[42]
    July 14, 2020 St. Joseph, Missouri 0 5 5 Five men were injured while standing in a park after a vehicle drove by and opened fire.[43]
    July 14, 2020 Durham, North Carolina 0 8 8 Six adults and two children aged four and eight-years-old were wounded after someone opened fire at a party outside a home.[44]
    July 13, 2020 New York City, New York 0 6 6 Multiple shooters traveled across three different blocks and wounded six people in Brooklyn.[45]
    July 13, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky 1 3 4 A 16-year-old was killed and three others, including two juveniles, were wounded at a gas station.[46]
    July 13, 2020 Kent, Washington 0 6 6 Five adults and a teenager were wounded after an argument escalated at a Metro bus stop.[47]
    July 12, 2020 Como, Mississippi 2 3 5 Two people were killed and three injured at a large outdoor hip hop concert in which potentially five separate guns were used. An additional three people were injured while attempting to flee, after being hit by cars.[48]
    July 12, 2020 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1 7 8 A man was killed and seven others injured in an early morning shooting outside an Exxon gas station.[49]
    July 12, 2020 Lansing, Michigan 0 5 5 Three women and two men were injured after someone opened fire outside an apartment complex. At the complex there was a large party happening with over 100 people present.[50]
    July 12, 2020 New York City, New York 1 3 4 Two men opened fire on a late night cookout at the Raymond Bush Playground in Brooklyn. Three men were injured and an infant sitting in a stroller was killed.[51]
    July 12, 2020 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2 2 4 Two men were killed in an early morning shooting at a party, with two others wounded.[52]
    July 12, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A man was killed and two other men and a woman were wounded in Englewood in the evening.[53]
    July 12, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 4 5 Four men were wounded and one killed in an early morning shooting. The group was standing in the street when a verbal altercation escalated with at least two shooters.[54]
    July 11, 2020 Rochester, New York 0 6 6 Responding officers to an early morning block party arrived to gunfire. Two wounded individuals were identified at the party and four others were identified at local hospitals.[55]
    July 11, 2020 Wilmington, Delaware 0 5 5 Four teenagers aged between 15 and 13-years-old and 10-year-old child were wounded. Someone opened fire on a playground late at night.[56]
    July 7, 2020 Paterson, New Jersey 4 3 7 In a late night shooting, four people were killed and three injured. Officers suspect the shooting was retaliation by people recently released from prison.[57]
    July 7, 2020 Alexandria, Virginia 0 5 5 Shortly after midnight an individual stormed an apartment and wounded a man and four teenagers aged 14 to 19-years-old.[58]
    July 6, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 Shots were fired into a group of people in the Auburn Gresham area on the South Side. The evening shooting wounded six.[59]
    July 5, 2020 Detroit, Michigan 2 4 6 Two men were killed and four others – two men and two women – were injured in a shooting at a late-night party.[60]
    July 5, 2020 Houston, Texas 0 4 4 Three men waiting at a stop light and were wounded when someone opened fire. Comedian Rickey Smiley’s daughter was a passenger in another vehicle and was also wounded.[61]
    July 5, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 A 16-year-old girl and three adults were wounded by gunfire while standing in an alley in the West Side‘s Fifth City neighborhood in the early morning.[62]
    July 5, 2020 Davenport, Iowa 1 3 4 Officers arrived at an early morning fight and heard shots being fired. They later discovered a man killed by the gunfire and three others injured.[63]
    July 5, 2020 Greenville, South Carolina 2 8 10 At least two people are killed and eight injured, four critically, at a nightclub. No suspects have been arrested.[64]
    July 5, 2020 New York City, New York 0 5 5 Four adults and a 15-year-old boy were injured in an early morning shooting in Inwood, Manhattan.[65]
    July 5, 2020 Helena, Arkansas 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others injured in a parking lot, after leaving an event held by rapper Bankroll Freddie. People were leaving the event when someone fired into the crowd.[66]
    July 5, 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 0 4 4 Shortly after midnight three men and one woman were injured.[67]
    July 5, 2020 Cambridge, Maryland 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting, with potentially multiple weapons used.[68]
    July 5, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 2 12 14 A large group of people were watching fireworks, when a fight broke out after a car hit a pedestrian. Fourteen people were wounded, of which two were declared dead at the hospital.[69]
    July 5, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 5 6 A woman was killed and five men were wounded in an early morning drive-by shooting. The group was setting off fireworks when the car approached.[70]
    July 5, 2020 Ephrata, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 A 20-year-old opened fire on a group of six people after getting into an altercation and taking a rifle from his father. Four of the group were injured and the 20-year-old and his father were arrested.[71]
    July 5, 2020 Columbia, Missouri 2 3 5 An adult and 11-year-old girl were killed shortly after midnight, three others were wounded. Officers believe that there were two shooters.[72]
    July 5, 2020 Freeport, Illinois 1 5 6 Shortly after midnight a man was killed and five others were wounded.[73]
    July 5, 2020 Barnwell County, South Carolina 0 5 5 Five teenagers were wounded shortly after midnight after a shooting occurred at a house party.[74]
    July 5, 2020 Greenville, Mississippi 0 4 4 A group of people were traveling in a party bus, when someone opened fire on the vehicle. Four people in the bus were wounded.[75]
    July 4, 2020 Temple Hills, Maryland 1 3 4 Four men were wounded in Marlow Heights, one man later died at the hospital.[76]
    July 4, 2020 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 0 4 4 Two adults and two children were injured in a drive-by shooting.[77]
    July 4, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 0 5 5 A group of people were fired at by an individual in a vehicle, shortly before midnight. Five people were wounded.[78]
    July 4, 2020 Jackson, Mississippi 1 3 4 An early morning shooting occurred at a nightclub, after an altercation escalated. One person was killed and three others wounded.[79]
    July 4, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others injured in a late night shooting in South Chicago.[80]
    July 4, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 4 4 8 Four people are killed, and at least four more were injured at an outdoor gathering in Englewood when four men opened fire into a crowd. No suspects have been arrested.[81]
    July 4, 2020 Lynn, Massachusetts 1 4 5 A man was killed and four others injured at a July 4th cookout.[82]
    July 3, 2020 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four women were injured in a late night shooting in southwest Baltimore.[83]
    July 3, 2020 Hoover, Alabama 1 3 4 A suspected shootout occurred inside the Riverchase Galleria in the afternoon. An 8-year-old boy was killed and two adults and a girl were injured.[84]
    July 2, 2020 Delano, California 2 3 5 A group of five were shot after a man got out of a vehicle and opened fire. Two girls were killed aged 11 and 12-years-old and three adults were wounded.[85]
    July 2, 2020 Somerville, Massachusetts 0 4 4 A man and three women were wounded in a late night shooting, the next day three suspects were arrested.[86]
    July 2, 2020 Paterson, New Jersey 1 4 5 A man was killed and four others injured shortly after midnight on a street corner.[87]
    July 1, 2020 Oakland, California 0 4 4 Three men and a woman were wounded in their vehicle on Interstate 580.[88]
    June 30, 2020 Boston, Massachusetts 1 3 4 Officers responding to a call of shots fired discovered four wounded individuals. A man later died at the hospital.[89]
    June 30, 2020 Davenport, Iowa 0 5 5 Five men were wounded in a evening shooting. Officers believed the shooting was targeted at the group.[90]
    June 30, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 1 4 5 Early in the morning, a group of men sitting on the sidewalk were shot at in a drive-by. One man was killed and four injured.[91]
    June 30, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Shortly after midnight three men and a woman were shot while waiting in a vehicle at a Shell gas station in River North neighborhood. The shooter was in and later fled in a red sedan.[92]
    June 30, 2020 Dayton, Ohio 0 4 4 Three men and one women were all wounded in a shooting.[93]
    June 30, 2020 Greenbrier, Arkansas 0 4 4 Three adults and one juvenile were wounded, after going to a residence and getting into an altercation. The shooter was a juvenile resident of the home.[94]
    June 29, 2020 Los Angeles, California 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a public park in Sylmar in a drive-by shooting.[95]
    June 29, 2020 Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1 3 4 A man shot and killed another man in a home, after mistaking it as the home of his intended target. He left and entered the correct home and wounded three others.[96]
    June 28, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2 2 4 Two men were killed and two injured in a late night shooting in the Kensington neighborhood.[97]
    June 28, 2020 Sawyerville, Alabama 0 7 7 During an early morning field party, seven people were wounded after an argument between two men escalated.[98]
    June 27, 2020 Red Bluff, California 2[n 1] 4 6 Red Bluff shooting. An employee was killed and four injured at a Walmartdistribution center. The perpetrator was later killed in a shootout with responding police.[99]
    June 27, 2020 Peoria, Illinois 0 4 4 Officers responding to an early morning ShotSpotter alert found two men wounded and identified two women who arrived at the hospital to be a part of the incident.[100]
    June 27, 2020 New York City, New York 0 4 4 Early in the morning a man opened fire at a house party in Brooklyn, and injured four people.[101]
    June 27, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others wounded after a large gathering in Douglas.[102]
    June 27, 2020 Blytheville, Arkansas 3 1 4 A Missouri man traveled to the area for a house party, where a couple got into a physical domestic fight. Shortly after 911 was called in response to that fight the man opened fire and killed his Uncle and two others, and wounded another.[103]
    June 26, 2020 Springfield, Illinois 3 0 3 Three victims were shot by a co-worker at Bunn-O-Matic Corporation’sheadquarters. Two died on the scene and one the next day in the hospital.[104]
    June 26, 2020 Aurora, Colorado 0 5 5 Five people were wounded by a shooter outside a local grocery store. Officers previously thought the incident was a gunfight but later announced it was one shooter.[105]
    June 26, 2020 Fresno, California 0 4 4 Four people were wounded at a house party shortly before midnight, after two shooters appeared near a neighboring home.[106]
    June 26, 2020 Phoenix, Arizona 0 4 4 Three adults and a 14-year-old boy were wounded in the early morning at a gas station. Prior to the shooting, a large crowd of people and cars had been gathered around the gas station.[107]
    June 25, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four men were wounded after a shooting at an intersection in the Kensington neighborhood.[108]
    June 25, 2020 Bridgeport, Connecticut 1 3 4 A man was killed, and two adults and a 17-year-old injured while attempting to make a rap music video. Officers believed the shooting was targeted, as the victims refused to cooperate.[109]
    June 24, 2020 Jackson, Tennessee 0 4 4 Three adults and one juvenile were wounded in an early morning shooting. The suspected shooter was arrested.[110]
    June 23, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a drive by shooting in Burnside, while standing on a porch.[111]
    June 23, 2020 Lake Worth Beach, Florida 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting during the evening. Responding police believed the shooter and victims know each other.[112]
    June 22, 2020 San Francisco, California 0 5 5 Police discovered five men wounded by gunfire in the Tenderloin neighborhood.[113]
    June 22, 2020 Charlotte, North Carolina 3 6 9 Officers responding to a block party on reports of someone being hit by a car arrived to shots being fired. Three people were killed and six injured by gunfire, with an additional five injured after being hit by cars while attempting to flee.[114]
    June 22, 2020 Minneapolis, Minnesota 0 4 4 Officers responding to a shooting on West Broadway Avenue discovered four people injured.[115]
    June 22, 2020 Minneapolis, Minnesota 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in the Willard-Hay neighborhood during the afternoon.[116]
    June 22, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive-by, including a 16-year-old girl, at an early morning gathering in East Garfield Park.[117]
    June 22, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were wounded early in the morning after an individual opened fire from a vehicle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side.[118]
    June 22, 2020 New York City, New York 0 5 5 Five people were shot during a vigil in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn in the evening.[119]
    June 21, 2020 Buffalo, New York 0 4 4 Four men were wounded after a shooting at an early morning gathering of cars.[120]
    June 21, 2020 Austin, Texas 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in an early morning shooting.[121]
    June 21, 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1 4 5 Early in the morning a shooting occurred at a house party. Five individuals were shot and one died on the way to the hospital in a private vehicle.[122]
    June 21, 2020 Auburn, Alabama 0 4 4 Shortly after midnight, officers responded to a home after a complaint of gunshots. They discovered four men wounded.[123]
    June 21, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 An argument in Humboldt Park escalated shortly after midnight. A man was killed and three wounded.[124]
    June 21, 2020 Minneapolis, Minnesota 1 11 12 A group of people fired into a crowd, killing one and injuring 11 others.[125]
    June 20, 2020 Syracuse, New York 0 9 9 Officers arrived at a large party in a public parking lot after reports of a stolen car was made. An individual opened fire as they arrived and injured nine people including a 17-year-old.[126]
    June 20, 2020 New York City, New York 0 4 4 Three women and a man were injured after a fight broke out between two groups gathered at Claremont park.[127]
    June 20, 2020 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the evening.[128]
    June 20, 2020 Saginaw, Michigan 1 3 4 A woman sitting in her car was killed and three others injured in a separate car early in the morning. A shoot-out had occurred in a large gathering nearby.[129]
    June 20, 2020 Pinetops, North Carolina 2 2 4 Early in the morning two people were killed and two wounded in a shooting.[130]
    June 20, 2020 Jersey City, New Jersey 1 4 5 One person was killed and four injured shortly after midnight.[131]
    June 20, 2020 Wichita, Kansas 0 5 5 Five people were shot at a motel after a party in one of the rooms had an argument that escalated. Police believe the shooting was intended to be targeted.[132]
    June 20, 2020 New York City, New York 0 4 4 Four people were wounded at an overnight park party in the Bronx after an argument escalated.[133]
    June 20, 2020 Janesville, Wisconsin 0 4 4 Officers responding to a shots fired call in the early morning found four people wounded at an adult entertainment venue.[134]
    June 18, 2020 Albany, New York 0 7 7 Early in the morning a man was discovered by officers with a gunshot wound. Shortly after transporting the man to the hospital, six other victims were identified at local hospitals to be a part of the same shooting.[135]
    June 17, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Three adults and a nine-year-old child were wounded while standing in an apartment complex parking lot in the Gresham neighborhood. A man walked up and opened fire on the group, resulting in a shoot out.[136]
    June 16, 2020 Fort Dodge, Iowa 2 2 4 In an apparent shoot out at a birthday party, one man was killed and two women injured. A second man died in his vehicle while attempting to drive away from the scene with a gunshot wound.[137]
    June 15, 2020 Decatur, Illinois 0 4 4 An early morning shooting during a block party injured four people. The suspected shooter was arrested after a local traffic stop.[138]
    June 15, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 A 15-year-old and three adults were gathered outside an apartment when they were injured in a drive-by shooting in the Montclare neighborhood.[139]
    June 14, 2020 Minneapolis, Minnesota 1 6 7 Early in the morning six people were wounded and one was killed in an incident. Officers were alerted via a ShotSpotter activation.[140]
    June 14, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky 1 4 5 About 100 people were gathered at a skate park in the early morning when someone opened fire. One person was killed and four injured.[141]
    June 14, 2020 Lake Charles, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting at a local night club. A suspected shooter was arrested.[142]
    June 14, 2020 Lafayette, Louisiana 0 5 5 Officers responded to an early morning shooting and found five people wounded. All but one were transported to local hospitals.[143]
    June 14, 2020 New Orleans, Louisiana 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others injured during the evening.[144]
    June 13, 2020 Hesperia, California 0 5 5 Over 100 people attended a house party when someone opened fire, injuring five people.[145]
    June 13, 2020 Rison, Arkansas 0 4 4 Shortly before midnight, four individuals were wounded in a shooting.[146]
    June 13, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 1 5 6 Five individuals were wounded and one killed during an early morning shooting in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood.[147]
    June 13, 2020 Wyandanch, New York 1 7 8 One person was killed and seven others wounded after a shooting at a house party. Local police believe the incident is gang related.[148]
    June 13, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 2 5 7 An individual shot at a large group of people from a vehicle, killing two people and wounding five.[149]
    June 13, 2020 Baltimore, Maryland 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in the Fells Point neighborhood during a large gathering at Broadway Square with many of the crowd drinking alcoholic drinks.[150]
    June 13, 2020 Washington D.C. 2 5 7 Shortly before midnight responding officers discovered seven shooting victims. A man and woman later died at local hospitals with five other men wounded.[151]
    June 12, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 6 6 Early in the morning five men and one woman were wounded after multiple men opened fire on a group in the Tioga neighborhood, causing the group to scatter and run away.[152]
    June 12, 2020 New York City, New York 1 3 4 A 19-year-old woman was killed and a man and a two teenagers wounded at a local park in the Bronx late at night.[153]
    June 12, 2020 San Antonio, Texas 0 8 8 A man denied entry into a bar for being too drunk, stated “Don’t you know who I am?” to the bouncer before leaving. He returned later with a rifle and opened fire injuring five women and three men.[154]
    June 11, 2020 Richmond, Virginia 0 4 4 Shortly after midnight responding officers discovered two men wounded by gunfire. Another man and a woman were taken to the hospital in private vehicles.[155]
    June 11, 2020 Monroe, Louisiana 6[n 1] 0 6 A mother killed her neighbor, and four children aged 12, 8, and 5-years-old and a 5-month-old infant, before committing suicide in a murder-suicide.[156]
    June 11, 2020 Washington DC 0 7 7 Seven people including two juveniles were wounded in the Trinidad neighborhood of DC. Officers discovered the victims after hearing gunshots in the early morning.[157]
    June 11, 2020 Houston, Texas 2 4 6 Two men were killed, and three men and a 13-year-old were wounded in a drive-by shooting while standing in an apartment complex parking lot.[158]
    June 10, 2020 Sacramento, California 1 3 4 Shortly before midnight, officers discovered three adults men and one juvenile boy wounded by gunfire. One adult man died later at the hospital.[159]
    June 10, 2020 Paso Robles, California 2[n 1] 5 7 A man shot and killed an individual and wounded an officer, responding officers killed the suspect and three officers were wounded after a short manhunt.[160]
    June 10, 2020 Toledo, Ohio 1 3 4 Early in the morning ShotSpotter alerts caused officers to respond to a graduation party. One 18-year-old was killed and with three others wounded.[161]
    June 9, 2020 Scotland Neck, North Carolina 0 5 5 Four adults and a six-year-old child were wounded in a drive-by shooting at a home and vehicle.[162]
    June 9, 2020 Vallejo, California 2 3 5 Two women were killed and two adults and a 10-year-old child were injured at a child’s birthday party late at night.[163]
    June 9, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1 6 7 Just before midnight, a shootout occurred in an apartment complex in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. Six people were wounded and a man was found dead behind some cars near the complex.[164]
    June 8, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 0 4 4 A home was shot at first then after police investigated the shooters return and opened fire. Four people were injured in the second shooting including an 18-month-old infant.[165]
    June 8, 2020 New York City, New York 0 4 4 A woman, two men and a 17-year-old were wounded after an argument escalated in Brooklyn. The shooter fled the scene.[166]
    June 7, 2020 Dyersburg, Tennessee 0 5 5 Five people were wounded inside the local American Legion club in the early morning. All individuals are refusing to speak with police.[167]
    June 7, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 Officers responding to a shots fired call discovered four wounded victims. One victim later died at the hospital and the other three are uncooperative with investigators.[168]
    June 7, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 Six men were wounded in a late night drive by shooting while standing on the sidewalk.[169]
    June 7, 2020 Sikeston, Missouri 2 7 9 Two women were killed and seven other individuals wounded at a house party after a drive-by shooting early in the morning.[170]
    June 7, 2020 Hope, Arkansas 0 6 6 Six people between 15 and 21-years-old were wounded in the early morning during an social gathering. A seventh individual broke her leg running from the gunfire.[171]
    June 6, 2020 Sacramento, California 0 4 4 Four people were wounded near a house party after an altercation escalated.[172]
    June 6, 2020 Ironton, Ohio 0 4 4 Four men were injured after a fight between a large number of people escalated in a local bar’s parking lot.[173]
    June 6, 2020 Kansas City, Missouri 1 4 5 An argument escalated in the early morning with at least two individuals opening fire. One man died and four others were wounded.[174]
    June 5, 2020 Denver, Colorado 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting. A juvenile was later arrested in connection with the shooting.[175]
    June 4, 2020 Valhermoso Springs, Alabama 7 0 7 Shortly before midnight authorities responded to a home fire. Once the fire was extinguished seven adults were discovered dead by gunshot wounds.[176]
    June 2, 2020 Racine, Wisconsin 0 5 5 Three teenagers and two adults aged between 18 and 20-years-old were wounded at a local beach. Officials do not think there is a connection between it and the protests that occurred that night.[177]
    June 2, 2020 Dallas, Texas 1 3 4 Four people were wounded after two gunman opened fire in a bar. A female victim later died at the hospital.[178]
    June 2, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four males were wounded while standing on the sidewalk after the shooter approached them and open fire.[179]
    June 1, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 0 4 4 Four St. Louis police officers were wounded during an altercation with protestors near police headquarters.[180]
    May 31, 2020 Saginaw, Michigan 0 6 6 Six people were shot when a man opened fire on a block party. The suspect has not been apprehended.[181]
    May 31, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 A 12-year-old and three adults were wounded in a shooting in the Kensingtonsection of the city.[182]
    May 31, 2020 Gulfport, Mississippi 1 5 6 An 18-year-old was killed and five others injured after someone opened fire early in the morning at a large gathering of people.[183]
    May 30, 2020 Washington D.C. 0 4 4 The DC Police Department announced through their Twitter that two men and two women were wounded in a shooting.[184]
    May 30, 2020 Hiawatha, Iowa 1 3 4 Four people were shot at a mobile home park; three were hospitalized, and one pronounced dead at the scene.[185]
    May 30, 2020 Altha, Florida 1 5 6 One person was killed and five injured including a law enforcement officer, at a birthday party at a local dragstrip.[186]
    May 30, 2020 Gastonia, North Carolina 1 5 6 Six people were shot in the early morning at a block party after multiple individuals opened fire. One of the victims later died at the hospital.[187]
    May 30, 2020 Houston, Texas 1 4 5 One person was killed and four wounded including two and 12-year-old children, during a block party.[188]
    May 29, 2020 Portsmouth, Virginia 0 5 5 Five individuals were wounded in a shooting, including a 10-year-old boy. All victims left the scene for the hospital via private vehicles, while police were called to the scene.[189]
    May 28, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1 3 4 Two men approached four people sitting on their porch and opened fire in the evening. A man was killed and two others and a woman were injured.[190]
    May 28, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 0 4 4 A road rage incident near I-240 wounded two children and two adults.[191]
    May 28, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky 0 7 7 Seven people were injured in a shooting during a protest against police brutality in the aftermath of the death of Breonna Taylor, two seriously.[192]
    May 27, 2020 Boston, Massachusetts 1 4 5 Five men were found by responding police with gunshot wounds. One later died at the hospital.[193]
    May 27, 2020 Cleveland, Ohio 1 3 4 Four people were wounded outside of a gas station, in the early morning. One of the victims later died at the hospital.[194]
    May 27, 2020 San Jose, California 0 5 5 A group of five men were wounded outside an apartment complex by a shooter before the individual fled on foot.[195]
    May 27, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four men were shot and wounded in a drive-by shooting in the morning and all taken to the hospital in private vehicles.[196]
    May 26, 2020 Vicksburg, Mississippi 0 4 4 Shortly after midnight four people aged between 16 to 27 were shot in a Waffle House parking lot.[197]
    May 26, 2020 Los Angeles, California 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a shooting outside an apartment complex, ranging in age from mid-teens to early 20s.[198]
    May 26, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a late night shooting.[199]
    May 26, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 2 2 4 A man selling items on a street corner was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. A pedestrian was also killed while two others were wounded.[200]
    May 26, 2020 Bowman, South Carolina 3 5 8 A drive-by shooting at a neighborhood cookout in the early morning resulted in three individuals dead and five injured.[201]
    May 25, 2020 Lake Charles, Louisiana 0 6[n 1] 6 A 17-year-old shooter and others engaged in a shootout at a graduation party, three 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old, and a 17-year-old were all injured along with the shooter.[202]
    May 24, 2020 Jackson, Mississippi 1 4[n 1] 5 A man was shot and later died at the hospital, while four others, including the suspect, were wounded after a shooting at a private residence.[203]
    May 24, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 0 4 4 Four people were shot in the early morning at an intersection.[204]
    May 24, 2020 Danville, Alabama 3 1 4 Police responding to calls about gunshots found three people dead and one injured at a private residence.[205]
    May 24, 2020 Mrytle Beach, South Carolina 0 4 4 Four people were wounded shortly after midnight in a potential gang related shooting. Six people have been arrested in connection.[206]
    May 23, 2020 Washington D.C. 1 3 4 Officers responding to a shooting found four individuals who were transported to the hospital. One victim died later at the hospital.[207]
    May 23, 2020 Rock Island, Illinois 1 4 5 A man was killed and four others injured after a large gathering on a street had a fight escalate into a shooting.[208]
    May 23, 2020 Jonesville, South Carolina 2 5 7 A man and 17-year-old were killed and five others wounded at a block party after the state’s quarantine order was lifted.[209]
    May 23, 2020 Charlotte, North Carolina 0 6 6 Six people were shot in a parking lot after an argument escalated.[210]
    May 23, 2020 Mount Morris Township, Michigan 1 3 4 A shooting left one dead and three in critical condition. No suspects have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.[211]
    May 23, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A shooter pulled up outside a home and opened fire on four men standing on the porch. One was killed and three injured.[212]
    May 23, 2020 Daytona Beach, Florida 0 6 6 Two people were shot and four others wounded by bullet fragments after a shooter opened fire on a crowded beach.[213]
    May 23, 2020 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 0 5 5 Five men were wounded outside a Jamaican restaurant in the early morning. All were brought to the hospital by private vehicles and have refused to cooperate with police.[214]
    May 23, 2020 Houston, Texas 0 4 4 A fight escalated at a bar, with the perpetrator leaving the bar and driving to the back of the bar and opening fire, wounding four men.[215]
    May 22, 2020 Cleveland, Ohio 1 3 4 A man was killed and three other individuals wounded after shots were fired near a local deli in the early morning.[216]
    May 20, 2020 Houston, Texas 2[n 1][n 2] 3 5 A man shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend and wounded her sister, mother, and boyfriend before committing suicide after being surrounding by police.[217]
    May 19, 2020 Decatur, Illinois 0 5 5 Five men were wounded shortly after midnight.[218]
    May 18, 2020 Bakersfield, California 0 5 5 Five teenagers, aged 18 and 17-years-old, were wounded after a man fired into the apartment from outside the complex.[219]
    May 17, 2020 Charleston, South Carolina 0 4 4 Three people were wounded when an individual opened fire at a party that was hosted at a short term rental. A fourth wounded individual was walking her dog near the home.[220]
    May 17, 2020 District Heights, Maryland 1 3 4 Police responded to a suspected shooting and found an 18-year-old dead on the sidewalk. Three injured victims were identified later.[221]
    May 17, 2020 St. Matthews, South Carolina 4[n 1] 1 5 A mother and her 15 and 12-year-old daughters were shot and killed by her husband who wounded another daughter before killing himself in a murder-suicide. Another daughter was uninjured and ran for help.[222]
    May 16, 2020 Bogalusa, Louisiana 0 13 13 Hundreds of people had gathered for a memorial service when multiple shooters began firing wounding thirteen people.[223]
    May 14, 2020 Albuquerque, New Mexico 0 5[n 2] 5 Police responding to a call of shots fired discovered five individuals wounded, including a pregnant woman after an argument had escalated.[224]
    May 13, 2020 Rockford, Illinois 1 4 5 One person was killed and four injured in a believed targeted shooting at a gas station.[225]
    May 13, 2020 Garrison, Kentucky 1 4 5 Six people were involved in the repossession of a vehicle and one opened fire killing one and injuring four.[226]
    May 11, 2020 Montgomery, Alabama 0 4 4 Police responding to a call about a gunshot victim discovered one victim with the other three transported to the hospital via private vehicle.[227]
    May 10, 2020 Katy, Texas 0 6 6 A dispute between two neighbors escalated causing five people to be wounded, including a five-year-old girl.[228]
    May 10, 2020 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 0 5 5 Multiple gunmen were involved in a shootout at a local food market, wounding five including a minor.[229]
    May 10, 2020 Fort Worth, Texas 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a public park where hundreds were gathered, with some reporting the gunfire was fireworks.[230]
    May 9, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 0 4 4 Four people were wounded during a late night shooting.[231]
    May 7, 2020 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four men were discovered shot on the city’s west side in the evening.[232]
    May 6, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 2 2 4 Two men were shot and killed in a vehicle; two others wounded after attempting to exit the vehicle and were shot at in a drive-by.[233]
    May 6, 2020 Albany, Georgia 1 3 4 A 16-year-old was killed and three others wounded in a vehicle after the car was shot multiple times in the early morning.[234]
    May 5, 2020 Hammond, Indiana 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others wounded after an incident of road rageescalated.[235]
    May 3, 2020 Columbus, Ohio 0 4 4 Four people were wounded after an individual opened fire at a house party.[236]
    May 3, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida 0 4 4 A man drove up to a street and after exiting the car fired at least 30 shots into a crowd of people wounding four men.[237]
    May 3, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Five teenagers – aged 15 through 19 years old – were injured in a drive-by shooting after attending a large gathering.[238]
    May 2, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 A man and three women were injured in a shooting in the evening.[239]
    April 29, 2020 Indianapolis, Indiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting that involved two vehicles and an additional four people near Perry Park.[240]
    April 27, 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 5 0 5 Five people were killed in a home, aged between 14 and 41, with a child being uninjured in the violence. Police are treating the incident as a matter of family violence.[241]
    April 26, 2020 Salisbury, North Carolina 1 4 5 One individual was killed and four others – including a juvenile – were injured after a fight escalated into a shooting.[242]
    April 26, 2020 Troy, New York 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in the cities South End in an early morning shooting.[243]
    April 25, 2020 Joliet, Illinois 1 3 4 One person was killed and three others injured, with one being 17-years-old, in an early morning shooting.[244]
    April 25, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 0 7 7 Seven people were discovered wounded after police responded to an aggravated assault call. The individuals were wounded in a drive-by shooting after heading to an early morning party.[245]
    April 25, 2020 Orlando, Florida 1 4 5 An 18-year-old athlete who was to play at University of Louisville was killed and four others injured in a late night shooting.[246]
    April 24, 2020 Fort Wayne, Indiana 0 4 4 Police responding to a shots fired call found four people injured.[247]
    April 24, 2020 Houston, Texas 3 1 4 Three people were killed and one injured in an apartment by two shooters. Due to the lack of forced entry the victims may have known the shooters.[248]
    April 18, 2020 Hyattsville, Maryland 2 2 4 Two men were killed and two injured in a late night shooting.[249]
    April 17, 2020 Springfield, Massachusetts 1 4 5 One man was killed and four others injured after multiple individuals opened fire on a backyard gathering before fleeing in a car and continuing to fire.[250]
    April 17, 2020 Greensboro, North Carolina 1 3 4 Responding police discovered three adults and a juvenile injured by a shooting. An adult later died in the hospital.[251]
    April 15, 2020 Jackson, Mississippi 1 3 4 A five-year-old girl was killed and three adults wounded after someone shot into an apartment.[252]
    April 11, 2020 Bakersfield, California 0 6 6 One juvenile and five adults were wounded after at a large party at an apartment complex was fired upon by at least four shooters.[253]
    April 10, 2020 Muskegon, Michigan 0 4 4 Police were alerted of shots fired shortly after midnight and arrived to find the suspect had fled and the four wounded had transported themselves to the hospital.[254]
    April 8, 2020 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 One man and three women were injured after an altercation escalated. A male shooter escaped the scene and a female was arrested for pointing a weapon at one of the wounded.[255]
    April 8, 2020 Anchorage, Alaska 0 4 4 Police responding to a call of shots fired found one person wounded and an additional three connected to the shooting were found in local hospitals.[256]
    April 8, 2020 Greenwood, South Carolina 1 3 4 A 19-year-old was killed and three others individuals were wounded at an apartment complex.[257]
    April 7, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 One man was killed and three other individuals wounded, including a 5-year-old, after an individual exited an alley way and opened fire on the group. One of the group likely returned fire at the shooter.[258]
    April 5, 2020 New York City, New York 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in an early morning shooting in a Brooklynapartment.[259]
    April 5, 2020 Lancaster, South Carolina 1 4 5 One man was killed and four other individuals were wounded in a drive-by shooting in which people standing outside a house and sitting in a car were fired upon.[260]
    April 5, 2020 Los Angeles, California 1 3 4 One man was killed and two other men and one woman were injured in an afternoon shooting.[261]
    April 4, 2020 Vidor, Texas 0 4 4 Police officers responding to a shots fired call found four wounded individuals, with the shooter arrested later.[262]
    April 4, 2020 Lubbock, Texas 2 2 4 Police responding to a shots fired call found an adult male and a teenage female deceased and two seriously wounded individuals.[263]
    April 4, 2020 Hialeah, Florida 1[n 1] 4 5 A man shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend’s relatives before barricading himself with her and their 9-year-old child in the home. During the standoff an officer was wounded along with the ex-girlfriend, while the man was killed by police.[264]
    April 3, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky 0 4 4 Police responding to calls about a shooting discovered two people wounded and a further two wounded drove themselves to the hospital.[265]
    March 31, 2020 Macon, Georgia 3 1 4 A domestic argument escalated when a man shot and killed his child’s mother, step-father, and sister before abducting his two-year-old child. The shooter was arrested and the child recovered after an Amber Alert was issued.[266]
    March 30, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 5 5 Five people were wounded at a late night memorial gathering after a man fired into the crowd from half-a-block away. The wounded included a two-year-old, a fourteen-year-old, and an eighteen-year-old.[267]
    March 29, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a late night shooting, with two of the wounded under the age of 18. One of the wounded was also showing signs of the COVID-19 virus.[268]
    March 28, 2020 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 One man was killed and two others and a teenager wounded in a drive-by shooting by three shooters.[269]
    March 23, 2020 San Antonio, Texas 0 4 4 Four people in a car were wounded by shooter in the early morning. Three of the victims had transported themselves to hospitals prior to police arrival. The victim found by officers knew who had shot him, but refused to cooperate with police questions.[270]
    March 22, 2020 Hanahan, South Carolina 0 4 4 Four people were injured in an early morning shooting.[271]
    March 20, 2020 Norfolk, Virginia 0 4 4 Four people were discovered to be wounded in a shooting after police received a report about a shooting.[272]
    March 20, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 0 4 4 Three men and a woman were shot and wounded leaving a bar early in the morning. A second woman was injured by the crowd fleeing the scene.[273]
    March 18, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida 1 4 5 Five people were shot by a man wearing all black and potentially a face mask and one individual died at the scene. One of the wounded is a three-year-old child.[274]
    March 17, 2020 Baltimore, Maryland 0 7 7 Police reported that seven people were injured during a police involved shooting. None of those wounded were police officers.[275]
    March 15, 2020 Springfield, Missouri 5[n 1] 2 7 A shooter killed four people, including a police officer, and injured two others, including another police officer, before committing suicide at a gas station.[276]
    March 15, 2020 Moncure, North Carolina 7[n 1] 0 7 Seven adult members of the same family were killed in an apparent murder suicide and were discovered after reports of shots fired.[277]
    March 14, 2020 Saginaw, Michigan 2 2 4 Police responding to a shooting found three women and one man injured. Two women later were declared deceased.[278]
    March 14, 2020 Albuquerque, New Mexico 1 3 4 Reportedly a group of young men burst into a home and started shooting early in the morning. They wounded a woman, a 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl and killed an adult male.[279]
    March 13, 2020 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 5 5 Four men riding in a vehicle shot and wounded five people, including a 15-year-old boy, in a drive by shooting, in the Algiers neighborhood.
    March 13, 2020 Rockford, Illinois 0 4 4 Three men and one woman were wounded after another man opened fire inside of an apartment. The man was later arrested by police.[280]
    March 10, 2020 Chester, Pennsylvania 2 2 4 Police responding to a shooting discovered two 15-year-old boys killed and a third juvenile injured. A fourth wounded juvenile involved in the shooting was later identified at a medical center.[281]
    March 8, 2020 Ceres, California 1 3 4 Police responded to reports of a shooting and discovered three wounded individuals, one of whom later died. A fourth victim arrived at a hospital in a private vehicle.[282]
    March 8, 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1 3 4 An early morning argument escalated and resulted in one man killed and three injured outside a local business.[283]
    March 8, 2020 South Holland, Illinois 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a vehicle on Bishop Ford Freeway, after another vehicle’s occupant(s) fired on them.[284]
    March 8, 2020 Rosedale, Maryland 1 5 6 A 13-year-old boy was killed, five others were wounded; a 14-year-old boy and girl, two 12-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man were wounded. The group was shot at in a parking lot after an altercation while attending a Triple Threat Elite Dance event.[285]
    March 7, 2020 Cleveland, Ohio 1 17 18 Seventeen people were wounded and one killed after a shootout between multiple motorcycle clubs after a fight at one of the club’s headquarters caused many to be thrown out.[286]
    March 7, 2020 Albuquerque, New Mexico 0 4 4 Three adults and one child were injured by a shooter while exiting a house party. The shooter was later arrested.[287]
    March 7, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 7 7 Six men and a woman were injured in a drive-by shooting after leaving a house party after a fight broke out in the Greater Grand Crossingneighborhood.[288]
    March 6, 2020 Washington D.C. 0 6 6 Four males, one female and a five-year-old child were discovered by police wounded in a drive-by shooting.[289]
    March 4, 2020 Tulare, California 1 5 6 One was killed while five others were injured at a mass shooting during a celebration of life. The gunman is still at large.[290]
    February 29, 2020 Kansas City, Missouri 1 4 5 Four people were injured and one person was fatally wounded at a shooting. [291]
    February 29, 2020 Brighton, Colorado 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive by shooting, before the perpetrators fled.[292]
    February 26, 2020 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 6[n 1] 0 6 Milwaukee brewery shooting: Five people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the local Molson Coors Beverage Company campus, where he had been employed. Afterwards, the gunman committed suicide.
    February 25, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 1 4 5 A shooting occurred at a convenience store in the Avalon Park neighborhood where four people were hurt and one person was killed. The four wounded victims were listed in serious-to-critical condition. It was reported that three people, including two men and a woman, exited a vehicle and started firing inside the store. They fled in a white vehicle after the arrival of police. [293]
    February 25, 2020 Lafayette, Louisiana 0 4 4 At least four people were injured in a shooting at a business.[294]
    February 23, 2020 Houston, Texas 0 7 7 Seven people were shot at a flea market where a dance event took place with adults and children. A suspect was arrested and charged with assault. None of the injured victims were critically wounded. [295]
    February 23, 2020 Clarkton, North Carolina 3 1 4 Three people were killed and one person was injured in a shooting. A suspect turned himself in to local authorities and was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. [296]
    February 20, 2020 Caldwell, Idaho 2[n 1] 3 5 Two people were fatally shot and three others, including a police officer, were wounded in a shooting at an apartment complex. The suspect was among the dead. [297]
    February 20, 2020 Greensboro, North Carolina 0 4 4 Four men were sent to a hospital after police said there were wounded in a shooting in the street. No information about the whereabouts of the shooter were known. [298]
    February 20, 2020 Orlando, Florida 4[n 1] 0 4 A man killed his wife and two children before killing himself.[299]
    February 19, 2020 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 A shooting occurred in the North Side of the city where four people were injured. Two of the victims were listed in critical condition while the two others were listed in stable condition. A suspect was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement. [300]
    February 17, 2020 Port Gibson, Mississippi 2 2 4 Four students of Alcorn State University were involved in a shooting off campus, with two being killed and two others injured.[301]
    February 16, 2020 Pensacola, Florida 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were injured in a drive-by shooting. The injured victims were transported to the hospital and two of them were listed in serious condition. [302]
    February 16, 2020 Midland, Texas 1 3 4 A shooting occurred at a bar where one victim was killed and three others were wounded. [303]
    February 16, 2020 Hartford, Connecticut 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were wounded in a shooting at a nightclub. The conditions of the injured are unknown. [304]
    February 15, 2020 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people, two men and two women, were wounded in a shooting blocks away from the city’s Mardi Gras Parade route.[305]
    February 15, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded when an unknown shooter opened fire at a street race after an argument escalated. All were brought to the hospital via private vehicles.[306]
    February 14, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 Three adults and three children were wounded in a shooting at a gathering in an apartment complex in the South Side of the city. [307]
    February 10, 2020 Dover, Delaware 1 4 5 One person was fatally shot and four others were wounded in a shooting. It was initially reported that three victims were injured but a fourth one was discovered later and refused medical treatment. The four victims suffered non life-threatening injuries. [308]
    February 9, 2020 San Antonio, Texas 0 4 4 A heated argument turned violent between a man and a woman in front of a house which led to a shooting. Four people were injured as a result of the shooting and were each transported to a hospital. Three of them were listed in serious condition while the fourth was in stable condition. Two of the injured were charged afterwards.[309]
    February 9, 2020 Youngstown, Ohio 3 2 5 Three people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting at a club. The conditions of the injured are unknown. According to police, one of the victims was found dead inside a car. At least one suspect is in custody.[310]
    February 8, 2020 Houston, Texas 1 3 4 A 29-year-old rap artist was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting in North Houston. The wounded victims’ conditions are unknown. The suspects are gang members according to the chief of police.[311]
    February 7, 2020 Waco, Texas 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting outside and inside a home in Waco. Two of the victims were transported to a hospital by ambulance and were listed in critical condition. The third victim self applied to the hospital but his condition was unknown. Police believe that the motive behind the shooting is the sale of illicit drugs gone wrong.[312]
    February 5, 2020 Indianapolis, Indiana 4 0 4 Four people were fatally shot on the Northeast section of the city. The victims are three males and one female and their ages are unknown yet. No suspects have been identified or arrested.[313]
    February 3, 2020 Washington County, Maine 3 1 4 Three people were killed and another was injured in the towns of Machias and Jonesboro. A 63-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the case. [314]
    February 3, 2020 Grapevine, California 1 5 6 One person was killed and five others were injured from a shooting on a Greyhound bus heading from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The bus was traversing Tejon Pass on Interstate 5, near Lebec, California, and stopped in Grapevine after the shooting.[315]
    February 1, 2020 Philadelphia, Mississippi 0 4 4 Police responded to a street location where multiple shots were fired. They found four victims, aged 18-45 years old, with bullet wounds. Three of the victims were transported by helicopter to a hospital. It is unknown what their conditions are. Police are trying to locate any suspects in the shooting.[316]
    February 1, 2020 Union Parish, Louisiana 4[n 1] 0 4 A shooter shot and killed two members of a family and a friend of one of them inside a house. A third fled through a window uninjured and alerted the authorities. The shooter then committed suicide.[317]
    January 31, 2020 Delano, California 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting incident that occurred in several locations. One of the injured is in critical condition while the other three are expected to recover. The shooting happened during a memorial gathering for a victim who previously passed away due to a traffic accident.[318]
    January 31, 2020 Boynton Beach, Florida 1 3 4 A shooting left one victim dead and the other three injured in the 200 block of Northeast First Court.[319]
    January 31, 2020 Shreveport, Louisiana 0 4 4 A shooting occurred at an apartment complex where four teens were injured. All four victims, aged 15-17 years old, suffered non-life-threatening injuries according to first responders.[320]
    January 30, 2020 Merced, California 0 4 4 Four teenagers were injured in a shooting on public streets. Three of the victims are listed in stable condition while the fourth is in critical condition. Police are interviewing witnesses for their investigation.[321]
    January 27, 2020 Bridgeport, Connecticut 0 4 4 Four men were wounded outside the Golden Hill Street Courthouse while sitting in a car, in a drive-by shooting by multiple shooters.[322]
    January 26, 2020 Newburgh, New York 3 1 4 Four family members were shot at a home. Three of the victims are dead and the fourth victim, a child, is wounded and is in serious condition. The suspect was apprehended and arrested by the police.[323]
    January 26, 2020 Cape Girardeau, Missouri 0 5 5 Multiple shots were fired inside a business where five people were wounded in a shooting.[324]
    January 26, 2020 Salisbury, North Carolina 0 6 6 Six people were injured by a shooting shortly after midnight, at a local restaurant. An additional three others were treated for non-gunfire related injuries.[325]
    January 26, 2020 Hartsville, South Carolina 3 6 9 Three people were fatally shot and four others were injured at a bar. [326]
    January 24, 2020 Vanceboro, North Carolina 5[n 1] 0 5 A man shot and killed his wife and three children, aged between eight months and four years old, along with the family dog. He then killed himself.[327]
    January 24, 2020 Lisle, Illinois 2[n 1] 2 4 A woman killed one person and injured two others before killing herself at a cigar lounge. The victims were Illinois State Troopers.[328]
    January 22, 2020 Seattle, Washington 1 7 8 Eight people were shot, one fatally, outside a McDonald’s on Pine Street in Downtown Seattle.[329]
    January 19, 2020 Kansas City, Missouri 2[n 1] 15 17 Two people (including the perpetrator) were killed and fifteen others were injured during a shooting at a nightclub.[330]
    January 19, 2020 South Houston, Texas 2 2 4 Police discovered two people dead and two injured after responding to a shooting.[331]
    January 19, 2020 Memphis, Tennessee 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were injured during a shooting outside a nightclub.[332]
    January 19, 2020 San Antonio, Texas 2 5 7 Two people were killed and five others injured at a nightclub.[333]
    January 17, 2020 Grantsville, Utah 4 1 5 Shooting of Haynie family: Four people were killed and one was injured after a teenager allegedly fired at his family at their house. He was charged with four counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder and five counts of illegal discharge of a firearm.[334]
    January 16, 2020 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Three children between 11 and 16 years old were injured along with two adults after two perpetrators fired into a barber shop in the East Garfield Parkneighborhood.[335]
    January 15, 2020 Des Moines, Iowa 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two injured after a shooting in a home’s detached garage.[336]
    January 11, 2020 Aurora, Colorado 0 5 5 Five people, including three teenagers, were wounded by a 16-year-old shooter at an apartment building.[337]
    January 8, 2020 Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two injured in a random ambush style shooting. The perpetrator was arrested after arriving at his mother’s house covered in blood.[338]
    January 5, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia 0 4 4 Four people were injured by a single person after an argument near a northwestern Atlanta nightclub early in the morning.[339]
    January 4, 2020 Ocala, Florida 1 3 4 One man was killed and three men were injured in a mid morning shooting.[340]
    January 2, 2020 Brooklyn, New York 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside an apartment building in the Sunset Park neighborhood.[341]
    January 1, 2020 Saint Louis, Missouri 3 1 4 Responding police discovered three people dead and one wounded at an early morning shooting in the Benton Park neighborhood.[342]
    January 1, 2020 Cleveland, Ohio 0 4 4 An argument in a Downtown Cleveland night club’s VIP section led to three people being wounded and a fourth person was shot in the head in the back alley.[343]
    January 1, 2020 Huntington, West Virginia 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded inside and out a hookah bar early in the morning, after an argument escalated.[344]
    January 1, 2020 Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico 4 1 5 A family of four, including nine-year-old twin boys, were shot and killed at their home after celebrating New Year’s Eve. A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured.[345]

    Monthly statistics[edit]

    2020 US Mass Shooting Statistics By Month
    Month Mass Shootings Total number killed Total number wounded Occurred at a school or university Occurred at a place of worship
    January 28 38 112 1 0
    February 28 37 91 1 0
    March 26 27 112 0 0
    April 27 23 92 0 0
    May 50 37 252 0 0
    June 92 64 395 0 0
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    December
    Total 260 226 1054 2 0

    The statistics columns for each month are updated after the month ends, in an effort to make sure the correct number of events, individuals affected, and descriptions are accurate. Thus, the number may be incomplete throughout the month until the last day of each month.

    Notes[edit]

    1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Including the perpetrator
    2. ^ Jump up to:a b Including an unborn child

    See also[edit]

    References[edit]

    1. ^ “Mass Shootings in 2020”. Gun Violence Archive. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Bjelopera, Jerome (March 18, 2013). “Public Mass Shootings in the United States”. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 6, 2019. There is no broadly agreed-to, specific conceptualization of this issue, so this report uses its own definition for public mass shootings.
    3. ^ Borchers, Callum (October 4, 2017). “The squishy definition of ‘mass shooting’ complicates media coverage”. Washington Post. Retrieved August 26, 2018. …’mass shooting’ is a term without a universally-accepted definition.
    4. ^ Jump up to:a b “General Methodology”. Gun Violence Archive. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
    5. ^ Jump up to:a b Berkowitz, Bonnie; Lu, Denise; Alcantara, Chris (September 14, 2018). “More than 50 years of U.S. mass shootings: The victims, sites, killers and weapons”. Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
    6. ^ Jump up to:a b Follman, Mark; Aronsen, Gavin; Pan, Deanna (September 20, 2018). “A Guide to Mass Shootings in America”. Mother Jones. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
    7. ^ Jump up to:a b “About the Mass Shooting Tracker”. Mass Shooting Tracker. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
    8. ^ “Mass Shootings in America”. Stanford Libraries. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
    9. ^ Lopez, German (December 4, 2015). “The debate over how to define mass shootings is ridiculous”. Vox. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
    10. ^ Keneally, Meghan (June 5, 2019). “There were 2 deadly mass shootings a month so far in 2019”. ABC News. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
    11. ^ Necessary, Sue (2020-07-26). “1 person in custody after overnight shooting in Rusk County injures 4”. KETK.com | FOX51.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    12. ^ Police: 1 killed, 3 others injured in Flint Township restaurant shooting WJRT-TV (ABC 12), July 26, 2020
    13. ^ Charges issued against Flint man in quadruple shooting at Mega Classic DinerWJRT-TV (ABC 12), July 28, 2020
    14. ^ Garrison, Robert (2020-07-26). “1 dead, 3 wounded in Commerce City shooting Sunday morning”. KMGH. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    15. ^ Vogt, Dustin (July 26, 2020). “1 dead, 4 injured in shooting, vehicle accident on I-64 West near Hurstbourne Lane”. WAVE 3 News. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    16. ^ “Woman, 3 men wounded in Raleigh shooting, police say”. CBS17.com. 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    17. ^ “Gunman opens fire during central California house party, injuring 7 people”. KTLA. 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    18. ^ Weekend shootings in Flint leave 12 people injured The Flint Journal via MLive.com, July 26, 2020
    19. ^ Ovalle, David; Cetoute, Devoun; Rabin, Charles (July 26, 2020). “Toddler wounded, 7-year-old girl brain dead after drive-by shooting in Miami area”. http://www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    20. ^ Bradbury, Shelly (2020-07-26). “Five people shot — two killed, three wounded — in Park Hill shooting”. The Denver Post. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    21. ^ Harris, Jake (July 26, 2020). “Dallas police respond to 3 separate shootings overnight, including one at a sports bar”. wfaa.com. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    22. ^ Moore, Darryn (July 24, 2020). “2 killed, 2 teens injured after gunmen ambush party at Airbnb”. WSBTV. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
    23. ^ Harmon, Gabrielle (2020-07-23). “Police identify man killed in Henrico shooting”. WTVR. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    24. ^ Newsroom, NBC12. “Four people hurt in quadruple shooting in Petersburg”. NBC 12. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    25. ^ Wire, Sun-Times (2020-07-24). “16 shot, 3 fatally, Thursday in Chicago”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    26. ^ “Four injured from gunfire at Warren party where 30-40 shots were fired”. FOX 2 Detroit. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    27. ^ “Chicago Police Release New Details on Shootout at Funeral That Wounded 15 People“, NBC 5 Chicago. July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
    28. ^ “5 People Shot, Wounded In North Lawndale”. CBS 2 Chicago. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    29. ^ “Police identify man killed in Richmond McDonald’s shooting”. WTVR. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    30. ^ Kravetz, Andy (July 19, 2020). “Witnesses say ‘ego,’ fight between women started Peoria shooting incident that injured 13”. Journal Star. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    31. ^ Cole, Kevin (July 20, 2020). “15-year-old among at least eight people injured in South Omaha shooting”. Omaha.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    32. ^ Behm, Carly (2020-07-20). “5 people shot, 2 killed in Morgan Park”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    33. ^ Metropolitan Police Department (July 20, 2020). “Homicide: 3600 Block of 14th Street, Northwest | mpdc”. mpdc.dc.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    34. ^ Kelly, Victor Williams, Dane (2020-07-20). “4 teenagers shot sitting in SUV on Detroit’s east side”. WDIV. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    35. ^ Suspect in weekend quadruple shooting fatally wounded by Detroit police officerWJBK (Fox 2), July 24, 2020
    36. ^ Suspect in custody after 3 killed, 1 injured in late-night Detroit Coney Island shooting Detroit Free Press, July 20, 2020
    37. ^ Wire, Sun-Times (2020-07-18). “Man killed, 4 wounded in Lawndale shooting”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
    38. ^ Price, Rita (July 18, 2020). “3-year-old among rash of Columbus shooting victims”. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
    39. ^ Bolden, Gabrielle (July 18, 2020). “Three adults and one child injured in Madison County shooting”. WCTV. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
    40. ^ Haider, Mo (2020-07-16). “5 injured, including juvenile, in drive-by shooting in East Nashville”. WTVF. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
    41. ^ Moore, Tina; Am; Woods, a; Musumeci, Natalie (2020-07-15). “Man killed, six others hurt in two more NYC shootings”. New York Post. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
    42. ^ Enfinger, Emily (July 16, 2020). “One dead, three injured in shooting at Olde Salem Village apartments”. shreveporttimes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
    43. ^ Peters, Jamie (2020-07-15). “5 people injured in St. Joseph shooting”. KSHB. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
    44. ^ “3 children among 10 shot in separate shootings in Durham, police say”. CBS17.com. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
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    External links[edit]

     

    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019

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    For other years, see List of mass shootings in the United States.

    Map of the United States showing the locations of mass shootings in 2019

    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
    List of mass shootings in the United States in 2019
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    Mass shootings in the United States in 2019[1]

    This is a list of mass shootings in the United States that have occurred in 2019. Mass shootings are incidents involving multiple victims of firearm-related violence. The precise inclusion criteria are disputed, and there is no broadly accepted definition.[2][3]

    Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks shootings and their characteristics in the United States, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.[4] The Congressional Research Service narrows that definition, limiting it to “public mass shootings”, and defined by four or more victims killed. It excludes counting wounded survivors.[2] The Washington Post and Mother Jones use similar definitions, with the latter acknowledging that their definition “is a conservative measure of the problem”, as shootings with fewer fatalities occur.[5][6] The crowdsourced Mass Shooting Tracker project defines a mass shooting as “an incident where four or more people are shot in a single shooting spree. This may include the shooter themself, or police shootings of civilians around the shooter.”[7]

    There were 434 mass shootings in 2019 that fit the inclusion criteria of this article. This averaged 1.19 mass shootings per day. In these shootings, 1,643 people were injured and 517 died, for a total of 2,160 victims.

    Definitions[edit]

    There are many definitions of a mass shooting. Listed roughly from broad to specific:

    • Stanford University MSA Data Project: three or more persons shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrator(s), at one location, at roughly the same time. Excluded are shootings associated with organized crime, gangs or drug wars.[8]
    • Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.[7]
    • Gun Violence Archive/Vox: four or more shot in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[4][9]
    • Mother Jones: three or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[6]
    • The Washington Post: four or more shot and killed in one incident at a public place, excluding the perpetrators.[5]
    • ABC News/FBI: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at one location, at roughly the same time.[10]
    • Congressional Research Service: four or more shot and killed in one incident, excluding the perpetrators, at a public place, excluding gang-related killings and those done with a profit-motive.[2]

    Only incidents considered mass shootings by at least two of the above sources are listed below.

    List[edit]

    Date Location Dead Injured Total Description
    December 29, 2019 Ceres, California 0 5 5 Five people were shot outside a home after returning from a bar in Modesto where they had been involved in an altercation.[11]
    December 29, 2019 Danville, Illinois 0 5 5 Five women aged 18 to 32 years old were injured by gunfire after the home they were in was shot at by an unknown person.[12]
    December 29, 2019 Buffalo, New York 1 3 4 After an argument escalated on a front porch, four people were wounded by gunfire, with one man dying later at the hospital.[13]
    December 27, 2019 Houston, Texas 2 7 9 Two people were killed and seven injured in a drive-by shooting at a music video set.[14]
    December 27, 2019 Kennesaw, Georgia 0 4 4 Officers responding to a call about an individual shot arrived at a house party and found four teenagers injured.[15]
    December 27, 2019 Modesto, California 1 3 4 Officers responding to a call of suspicious circumstances near an intersection found one man killed and two others and a woman injured.[16]
    December 26, 2019 Saint Petersburg, Florida 0 5 5 Five people were wounded by gunfire outside a night club, with an additional three injured by the resulting building damage and chaos. The shooting occurred after an altercation escalated out onto the street.[17]
    December 25, 2019 Coralville, Iowa 1 3 4 Police responding to reports of shots fired discovered four wounded victims, one of which died later at the hospital.[18]
    December 25, 2019 Richmond, Virginia 1 3 4 One person was killed and three injured in a shooting outside a bar, after an earlier argument in a restaurant.[19]
    December 25, 2019 Oakland, California 0 4 4 Four people wounded by gunfire were discovered by police after responding to a house party.[20]
    December 24, 2019 High Point, North Carolina 0 6 6 Six people were wounded in a shooting in which the perpetrator was believed to have exited a vehicle and opened fire before leaving in it.[21]
    December 24, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 4 4 Shooters wearing ski masks exited a vehicle and wounded four people before fleeing.[22]
    December 22, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 13 13 Thirteen people were shot at a party that was held to memorialize a victim of an earlier shooting, at least one was a teenager.[23]
    December 22, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in an early morning shooting, including two 17-year-olds.[24]
    December 21, 2019 Waynesboro, Mississippi 1 6 7 One person was killed and six injured in an apartment complex after a drive-by shooting.[25]
    December 20, 2019 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 2[n 1] 2 4 Two people were killed and a police officer and bystander injured at the local Sanitation Department after a fight escalated.[26]
    December 20, 2019 Tuskegee, Alabama 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two were injured in a late night double homicide.[27]
    December 19, 2019 Westerly, Rhode Island 2[n 1] 2 4 A resident at Babcock Village Apartments shot two employees, one fatally, and one resident before killing himself.[28]
    December 18, 2019 San Antonio, Texas 0 4 4 Four people were shot at the South Park Mall.[29]
    December 17, 2019 Great Falls, Montana 4[n 1] 1 5 Three people are killed and one wounded in a shooting at the Emerald City Casino. The suspect was later killed by police at a different location.[30]
    December 15, 2019 Columbus, Georgia 1 4 5 One man was killed and four others injured at an intersection early in the morning.[31]
    December 14, 2019 Ivanhoe, California 0 4 4 Four teenagers were wounded in a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex.[32]
    December 12, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 1 3 4 One man was killed and three wounded in a business parking lot.[33]
    December 10, 2019 Jersey City, New Jersey 6[n 1] 3 9 2019 Jersey City shooting: Four people were killed, including a police officer, and another three were injured in an ambush style shootout by a man and woman who were killed by police. The suspects were Black Hebrew Israelites members and targeted a kosher grocery store.[34]
    December 10, 2019 Edinburg, Texas 4 0 4 Four people were discovered dead in a home, in either by a murder-suicide or a quadruple homicide. A toddler was also in the home, unharmed.[35]
    December 8, 2019 DeSoto, Texas 2 3 5 Two men were killed and three injured at an apartment building. The incident was originally reported as a home invasion, although the account was not confirmed.[36]
    December 8, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 1 4 5 Five people were shot outside a local bar, with one man dying of his injuries at the hospital.[37]
    December 6, 2019 Pensacola, Florida 4[n 1] 8 12 Naval Air Station Pensacola shooting: A man killed three individuals and injured eight more at Naval Air Station Pensacolabefore being killed by police. A terrorist motive is suspected to be behind the attack.[38]
    December 5, 2019 Miramar, Florida 4[n 1] 1 5 2019 Miramar shootout: Four people are dead and one injured after a pair of men rob a jewelry store in Coral Gables, injuring the clerk, then carjack a UPS truck and lead police on a chase that ended in a shootout in Miramar that killed the UPS driver, a bystander, and the suspects.[39]
    December 4, 2019 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 3[n 1] 1 4 A US Navy sailor killed two civil servants and wounded another, before shooting himself at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. The motive is unknown.[40]
    December 4, 2019 Montgomery, Alabama 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two wounded in an apartment complex.[41]
    December 1, 2019 Comstock Township, Michigan 1 3 4 One person was killed and three police officers wounded when a home invasion turned into a hostage situation.[42]
    December 1, 2019 Cotton Valley, Louisiana 2 3[n 1] 5 One woman was killed and three others wounded, including a perpetrator, after an argument escalated at a nightclub.[43]
    December 1, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two injured at an intersection hours after the first mass shooting in the city.[44]
    December 1, 2019 Aurora, Illinois 1 4 5 One person was killed and four were injured in a shooting in Aurora, Illinois.[45]
    December 1, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 10 10 2019 New Orleans shooting: Ten people were shot in a densely populated area with heavy police presence at a time when tens of thousands of tourists were downtown for the Bayou Classic football game.[46]
    November 29, 2019 Amarillo, Texas 0 7 7 Seven people were shot at a nightclub in the early morning.[47]
    November 27, 2019 Bronx, New York 0 5 5 Five people were wounded including two children aged 10 and 15.[48]
    November 25, 2019 Brownsville, Florida 2 2 4 Two men were killed and two others wounded in a drive-by shooting. One suspect was arrested after the car crashed into a parked police car.[49]
    November 24, 2019 Los Angeles, California 0 6 6 Six people were wounded at a warehouse party after an argument escalated and the perpetrator opened fire.[50]
    November 24, 2019 Cottonport, Louisiana 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two others injured in an early morning shooting at a club.[51]
    November 24, 2019 Birmingham, Alabama 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others injured in a drive-by shooting after being made to leave a club following an argument.[52]
    November 23, 2019 Tallulah, Louisiana 1 6 7 One person was killed and six injured after an argument at a club escalated and the perpetrator began to fire randomly.[53]
    November 23, 2019 Los Angeles, California 0 4 4 Four people were wounded at an outdoor party after a fight broke out.[54]
    November 21, 2019 Long Beach, California 0 5 5 Five people were wounded randomly as a man drove down a road and opened fire on pedestrians.[55]
    November 21, 2019 Everett, Washington 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an apartment complex during a large gathering.[56]
    November 20, 2019 Richmond, California 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting.[57]
    November 18, 2019 Newark, New Jersey 1 3 4 One person was killed and three people were injured in two homes on one street.[58]
    November 17, 2019 Fresno, California 4 6 10 2019 Fresno shooting: Ten people were shot, four fatally, at a football watch party.[59][60]
    November 17, 2019 Cleveland, Ohio 0 4 4 Four people were wounded outside a home by a drive-by shooting.[61]
    November 16, 2019 San Diego, California 5[n 1] 1 6 A man killed his estranged wife and their three children, wounding a fourth child, before killing himself.[62]
    November 14, 2019 Santa Clarita, California 3[n 1] 3 6 Saugus High School shooting: A high school student shot five classmates, two fatally, before shooting himself; he died the next day in the hospital.[63]
    November 11, 2019 Belle Glade, Florida 0 4 4 Four people were shot randomly along a road.[64]
    November 10, 2019 Kansas City, Missouri 0 4 4 Four people were wounded outside a night club after a disturbance escalated.[65]
    November 10, 2019 Memphis, Tennessee 1 4 5 A woman was killed and four others were wounded during an early morning shooting at a strip club.[66]
    November 10, 2019 Little Rock, Arkansas 0 4 4 An adult male and three children, aged 12 through 13-years-old, were wounded by an unknown perpetrator while filming a rap music video.[67]
    November 9, 2019 Vidalia, Georgia 0 4 4 Two vehicles were shot at, wounding three adults and a 10-year-old child.[68]
    November 9, 2019 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a drive-by shooting in a parking lot.[69]
    November 7, 2019 Conyers, Georgia 2[n 1] 3 5 An argument escalated and left one man injured and another dead. The shooter then engaged in a shootout with officers injuring two officers before being killed.[70]
    November 4, 2019 Houston, Texas 1 3 4 A man was killed and three other people were injured when a person opened fire at a group in a driveway.[71]
    November 3, 2019 Toledo, Ohio 0 4 4 Officers responding to a Shotspotter alert found four people wounded at a nightclub.[72]
    November 3, 2019 Nacogdoches, Texas 1 3 4 A man shot at five men working on a barn, killing one and injured three others.[73]
    November 2, 2019 Detroit, Michigan 1 4 5 One person was killed and five injured at an after hours party.[74]
    November 2, 2019 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting.[75]
    November 1, 2019 Tolleson, Arizona 0 5 5 Five teenagers were wounded at a Halloween party in a vacant home.[76]
    November 1, 2019 San Angelo, Texas 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside a night club.[77]
    October 31, 2019 Orinda, California 5 4 9 Orinda shooting: At an overnight Halloween party attended by over 100 people, five people were killed, and four more wounded by gunfire.[78]
    October 29, 2019 Long Beach, California 3 9 12 Three men were killed and nine injured at a Halloween party at a residential home.[79]
    October 28, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 A man was killed and two adults and a 17-year-old were injured in front of a store.[80]
    October 27, 2019 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 Four men were injured in a random drive by shooting.[81]
    October 27, 2019 Lansing, Michigan 1 4 5 One man was killed and four others were injured at a house party.[82]
    October 27, 2019 Greenville, Texas 2 10 12 Two men were killed and ten others injured at a large party to celebrate Texas A&M University‘s homecoming weekend.[83]
    October 26, 2019 Jersey City, New Jersey 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a late night shooting.[84]
    October 24, 2019 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two injured at a home late at night.[85]
    October 22, 2019 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1 3 4 One person was killed and three wounded at an apartment complex late at night.[86]
    October 21, 2019 Sumter, South Carolina 0 4 4 Four people were shot at random and wounded by a lone gunman.[87]
    October 20, 2019 Port Arthur, Texas 1 3 4 A woman was killed and three others injured in an early morning shooting.[88]
    October 19, 2019 Duquesne, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four people were shot in a drive-by shooting.[89]
    October 19, 2019 El Paso, Texas 1 3 4 One man was killed and two others and a woman were injured in an early morning shooting.[90]
    October 15, 2019 Miami, Oklahoma 2 2[n 2] 4 A man killed his 11-year-old daughter and wounded her mother and the mother’s boyfriend before committing suicide.[91]
    October 15, 2019 Columbus, Ohio 0 4 4 Three teenagers and an adult male were injured while sitting on a porch.[92]
    October 14, 2019 San Juan, Puerto Rico 6 0 6 Six people were killed in a shootout at a housing project.[93]
    October 14, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3 1[n 1] 4 A woman killed her two children and her husband before attempting to commit suicide.[94]
    October 13, 2019 Akron, Ohio 0 4 4 One woman and three men were wounded outside a bar.[95]
    October 13, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 6 6 A 14-year-old boy and five men were wounded while standing on the street.[96]
    October 12, 2019 Brooklyn, New York 4 3 7 Four people were killed and three injured at a social club.[97]
    October 12, 2019 Crosby, Texas 0 4 4 Four men were wounded after a brawl near a gas station.[98]
    October 12, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others injured.[99]
    October 12, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 5 0 5 Four people were killed and one injured after a neighbor entered their apartment and opened fire. The fifth victim died of her injuries later in hospital. [100]
    October 12, 2019 Eastpointe, Michigan 1 5 6 One person was killed and five injured after an argument escalated in a local bar.[101]
    October 10, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 5 5 Five men were wounded after a driver was angered over a game of dice.[102]
    October 10, 2019 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1 3 4 A man was killed while another man and two children, ages 10 and 14, were wounded.[103]
    October 10, 2019 Tampa, Florida 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two wounded at a mobile home.[104]
    October 9, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 A man was killed and three other individuals, including a 15-year-old boy, were injured.[105]
    October 7, 2019 Abington, Massachusetts 5[n 1] 0 5 A family of five, two adults and three children, were found shot to death in their home in an apparent murder-suicide.[106]
    October 6, 2019 Denver, Colorado 0 4 4 An argument escalated during a large gathering outside a home, and four people were wounded.[107]
    October 6, 2019 Kansas City, Kansas 4 5 9 Four people were killed and another five people wounded in a shooting at a bar.[108]
    October 6, 2019 Evansville, Indiana 0 5 5 An argument inside of an American Legion bar escalated, and five men were shot as they left the bar.[109]
    October 5, 2019 Lawton, Oklahoma 4 0 4 Two adults and two children were discovered dead in a home.[110]
    October 3, 2019 Marshall, Missouri 1 3 4 Three people were wounded and a fourth later died at the hospital in a shooting.[111]
    October 3, 2019 Roxboro, North Carolina 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others wounded.[112]
    October 1, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 0 4 4 Four men were wounded after two cars drove by a crowd of people and opened fire.[113]
    September 29, 2019 Claflin, Kansas 0 4 4 Four people were wounded after an individual fired a shotgun towards a group of people at a house party.[114]
    September 29, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida 0 4 4 Four people were injured while attending a large party after an individual fired into the air.[115]
    September 29, 2019 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 0 4 4 Four young women were injured after an individual fired into a home were a house party was being held.[116]
    September 29, 2019 Round Lake, Illinois 1 3 4 A man was killed and three injured after unknown individuals attempted to crash a house party and began shooting.[117]
    September 29, 2019 Beaumont, Texas 4 0 4 Four men were shot and killed at an apartment complex after a disturbance between roommates escalated.[118]
    September 27, 2019 Seaman, Ohio 3[n 1] 1 4 A man killed his mother then drove to a gas station where he attempted to kidnap a clerk then killed a man and injured the clerk before robbing another gas station and committing suicide.[119]
    September 24, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A 17-year-old boy was killed and three adults were injured in the Lower West Side.[120]
    September 23, 2019 Gary, Indiana 2 2 4 Two men were killed and a woman and man injured in an early morning shooting.[121]
    September 22, 2019 Independence, Missouri 0 5 5 Five people were wounded at The SPOTT Lifestyle and Swingers Club.[122]
    September 21, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded after shot were fired into their car.[123]
    September 21, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana 0 6 6 Three adults and three juveniles were injured after a fight escalated.[124]
    September 21, 2019 Lancaster, South Carolina 2 8 10 Ten people were shot, two fatally, during a bar fight that escalated.[125]
    September 21, 2019 South Bend, Indiana 1 3 4 A man was killed and three women injured in an early morning shooting.[126]
    September 20, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 1 5 6 Six people were shot, one fatally, at an intersection in the Mid-City Area.[127]
    September 19, 2019 Washington D.C. 1 5 6 A man was killed, and four others and a woman injured, in a possible drive-by in the Columbia Heights District.[128]
    September 18, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 3 1 4 Three men were killed and one injured after an argument about cigarettes escalated outside a West Garfield Park convenience store.[129]
    September 18, 2019 Los Angeles, California 2 2 4 A man and woman were killed, and two other women injured, in the Wilmington neighborhood after an individual shot into a crowd of people.[130]
    September 16, 2019 Cheyenne, Wyoming 2 2 4 Two adults killed, two juveniles injured in east Cheyenne shooting.[131]
    September 14, 2019 LaGrange, Georgia 0 4 4 Four individuals were wounded after an individual opened fire.[132]
    September 14, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 2 2 4 Responding police officers discovered a car covered in gunshots, and discovered a deceased male and two men and a female injured. One of the injured men later died.[133]
    September 14, 2019 Oakland, California 1 4 5 An argument escalated between two men outside a Laurel Districtbar, leading to a man killed and three men and a woman injured.[134]
    September 13, 2019 Cincinnati, Ohio 0 4[n 2] 4 A feud between two men led to four people being injured after it escalated in the North Fairmont neighborhood.[135]
    September 12, 2019 Albuquerque, New Mexico 1 3 4 One person was killed and three others injured at a local apartment complex.[136]
    September 12, 2019 Albuquerque, New Mexico 4 2 6 Three adults and a 17-year-old boy were killed and two others injured in a mobile home park.[137]
    September 10, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Three young adult males and a 17-year-old boy were injured in the back of a house in the West Town neighborhood.[138]
    September 8, 2019 Alexandria, Louisiana 1 3 4 A woman shot and killed one woman and injured three others after a continuation of an argument escalated.[139]
    September 8, 2019 Sumter, South Carolina 2 3 5 Two men were killed and three other individuals injured at a local convenience store, in the early morning.[140]
    September 7, 2019 Whiteville, North Carolina 3 1 4 A husband, wife and their five-year-old son were killed while the grandmother was injured in a targeted attack.[141]
    September 4, 2019 Marrero, Louisiana 2 2 4 A man and a seven-year-old girl were killed, and another man and a 11-year-old boy were injured after an argument apparently escalated.[142]
    September 4, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida 0 4 4 Three adults and a child were wounded in a shooting.[143]
    September 2, 2019 Elkmont, Alabama 5 0 5 A 14-year-old boy shot dead five family members – two adults and three children – in an Alabama residence. He confessed the crime to the police.[144]
    September 2, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside of a CTA Green Line station in Washington Park.[145]
    September 2, 2019 Greensboro, North Carolina 2 2 4 Two men were killed and a woman and small child injured during a home invasion.[146]
    September 1, 2019 Rocky Mount, North Carolina 0 4 4 Four people were shot at a private party at a Moose Lodge.[147]
    September 1, 2019 Valley, Alabama 0 7 7 Six adult males and a 15-year-old boy were wounded outside a kindergarten after an argument over a Lanett vs. Lafayette football game escalated.[148]
    September 1, 2019 Hartford, Connecticut 0 4 4 Three men and a 17-year-old boy were wounded in a shooting.[149]
    September 1, 2019 Toledo, Ohio 0 4 4 Four people were found shot in the early morning.[150]
    August 31, 2019 Odessa and Midland, Texas 8[n 1] 25 33 Midland–Odessa shooting: Eight people were killed, including the perpetrator, and 25 were wounded when a gunman opened fire on police and civilians after fleeing from a traffic stop.[151]
    August 31, 2019 Charlotte, North Carolina 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others were injured at a University of North Carolina at Charlotte off-campus apartment complex.[152]
    August 31, 2019 Frederick, Maryland 0 4 4 Four people were injured after an argument escalated.[153]
    August 30, 2019 Mobile, Alabama 0 10 10 Ten people, ranging in age from 15-18, were injured at a high school football game after a fight escalated.[154]
    August 30, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 A woman was killed and three others were injured in a possible retaliation to a previous stabbing.[155]
    August 29, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 3 4 A 16-year-old boy was killed, while two teen boys – a 14-year-old and 15-year-old – and an adult woman were injured.[156]
    August 26, 2019 Pembroke Pines, Florida 4[n 1] 0 4 A man killed his wife, mother-in-law, and one of his three-year-old twin daughters before committing suicide.[157]
    August 25, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 A 17-year-old boy was killed and three adults were wounded after a large group was fired upon.[158]
    August 25, 2019 Hobbs, New Mexico 3 4 7 Police responded to a party due to a shots fired call and found three dead and four wounded.[159]
    August 24, 2019 Lynn, Massachusetts 1 3 4 A man was killed and three were injured while attending a basketball tournament.[160]
    August 24, 2019 Coconut Creek, Florida 2 3 5 Two people were killed and three were injured, including a police officer, in a shooting. A suspect was apprehended.[161]
    August 24, 2019 Temple Hills, Maryland 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded at a two-year-old’s birthday party after a fight escalated.[162]
    August 23, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 1 3 4 An eight-year-old girl was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting near Soldan High School.[163]
    August 23, 2019 Houston, Texas 2 2 4 Two men were killed and a man and woman were injured in a drive-by shooting.[164]
    August 22, 2019 Columbia, South Carolina 2 2 4 A man opened fire on patrons at a bar, killing two and wounding two others, after being kicked out.[165]
    August 22, 2019 Los Angeles, California 0 4 4 Four people, including a social worker and a security guard were wounded in the Skid Row district.[166]
    August 20, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 0 4 4 Four female students from Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College were wounded during a block party.[167]
    August 18, 2019 Kansas City, Missouri 0 4 4 Four teenagers were wounded after an argument escalated during a gathering in a hotel room.[168]
    August 17, 2019 Houston, Texas 0 7 7 Seven people were injured in a shooting at a party.[169]
    August 17, 2019 Kansas City, Missouri 0 4 4 Police responded to a shooting call and discovered four people wounded.[170]
    August 17, 2019 Newport News, Virginia 1 3[n 1] 4 A woman was killed, and responding officers engaged with the suspect causing an officer, bystander and the suspect to be wounded.[171]
    August 15, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 5 5 Four men and a teenage boy were wounded.[172]
    August 15, 2019 Montgomery, Alabama 2 3 5 Two people were killed and three wounded in a shooting near Alabama State University.[173]
    August 14, 2019 New Manchester, West Virginia 1 5[n 1][n 3] 6 A man killed his girlfriend and injured five others and a dog before being wounded by police and arrested.[174]
    August 14, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 6 6 Six Philadelphia Police officers were shot during an eight-hour standoff while attempting to serve a drug warrant.[175]
    August 13, 2019 Tacoma, Washington 2 3 5 Police responded to calls of shots fired and found a deceased male and three women wounded. One died at the hospital from their injuries.[176]
    August 13, 2019 Greenwood, Mississippi 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting.[177]
    August 12, 2019 Riverside, California 2[n 1] 2 4 A police officer was killed and two were wounded after a suspect opened fire during a traffic stop. The suspect was killed by police.[178]
    August 12, 2019 Hickory, North Carolina 3[n 1] 1 4 A man shot and killed his estranged wife and a man, then wounded another man before committing suicide.[179]
    August 11, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 Six people were injured when they were shot by a gunman in a car in Garfield Park.[180]
    August 10, 2019 San Francisco, California 0 4 4 Four people were injured in an overnight shooting in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant.[181]
    August 10, 2019 Richmond, Virginia 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting.[182]
    August 9, 2019 Houston, Texas 0 4 4 Four men were injured during a shoot-out at a convenience store.[183]
    August 9, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a drive-by shooting in Marquette Park.[184]
    August 8, 2019 Irvington, New Jersey 1 3 4 A gunman wearing body armor killed another man and wounded three responding police officers before being arrested.[185]
    August 7, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two were injured in a shooting that also involved a motor vehicle crash.[186]
    August 6, 2019 Stone Mountain, Georgia 4[n 1] 0 4 A man killed two women and a man, before killing himself in a triple murder–suicide.[187]
    August 6, 2019 Detroit, Michigan 0 4 4 Four people were shot and injured after a dispute.[188]
    August 5, 2019 San Antonio, Texas 4[n 1] 0 4 A man killed his uncle, grandmother and mother before he set the house on fire and committed suicide in a triple murder–suicide.[189]
    August 5, 2019 Suitland, Maryland 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were wounded after a large fight broke out following a funeral service.[190]
    August 5, 2019 Brooklyn, New York 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting during a candlelight vigil in Crown Heights.[191]
    August 4, 2019 Memphis, Tennessee 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others were injured in an early morning shooting.[192]
    August 4, 2019 Grenada, Mississippi 0 4 4 Four people were discovered wounded in an overnight shooting.[193]
    August 4, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 7 8 One person was killed and seven others were injured in a shooting in the Lawndale community.[194]
    August 4, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in a drive-by shooting near Douglas Park.[195]
    August 4, 2019 Dayton, Ohio 10[n 1] 27 37 2019 Dayton shooting: A gunman killed nine people and injured 27 outside of a bar after he was denied entry, before being killed by police.[196]
    August 3, 2019 El Paso, Texas 22 24 46 2019 El Paso shooting: 23 people were killed and 23 were injured at a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall in a Hispanophobicmassacre.[197] The perpetrator was taken into custody.[198][199]
    August 2, 2019 Pomfret, Maryland 3[n 1] 1 4 A man shot and killed his in-laws, and wounded an 11-year-old boy sitting in a relative’s car before committing suicide.[200]
    August 2, 2019 Suffolk, Virginia 2 3 5 Two men were killed, and two women and a two-year-old were wounded at multiple crime scenes.[201]
    July 31, 2019 Elkhart, Indiana 3[n 1] 1 4 Police responding to shots fired at a senior living complex discovered a wounded woman, and two males and a woman deceased. It is believed one of the deceased males was the shooter.[202]
    July 30, 2019 Southaven, Mississippi 2 2[n 1] 4 At a Walmart store, a man killed two people then wounded a police officer before being shot by police and arrested.[203]
    July 30, 2019 Haskell, Oklahoma 0 4 4 During an attempted home invasion, shots were fired and four people were wounded.[204]
    July 30, 2019 Rosenberg, Texas 3[n 1] 1 4 A man shot and killed his ex-girlfriends parents, and wounded her, before committing suicide in a murder–suicide.[205]
    July 30, 2019 Columbus, Ohio 0 5 5 Five people were shot at a party at a home rented through Airbnb.[206]
    July 28, 2019 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 5[n 1] 2 7 A gunman shot six people, four fatally, before killing himself.[207]
    July 28, 2019 Gilroy, California 4[n 1] 17 21 Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting: Sixteen people were shot, four fatally, including a gunman and two children, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.[208]
    July 28, 2019 Uniontown, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four people were wounded on two separate streets in connection with a large party.[209]
    July 28, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1 5 6 One man was killed and five were injured by an unknown perpetrator as the victims were preparing to shoot a rap video.[210]
    July 28, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 One woman and three men were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside of a Lawndale gas station.[211]
    July 28, 2019 Washington, D.C. 0 4 4 Four people were shot and injured while standing outside of a bar/nightclub.[212]
    July 27, 2019 Wichita, Kansas 1 3 4 One man was killed and three were injured after an altercation at an apartment complex. The suspect was later arrested.[213]
    July 27, 2019 Brooklyn, New York 1 12 13 Thirteen people were shot, one fatally, at a playground in Brownsville.[214]
    July 25, 2019 Albemarle, North Carolina 3 1 4 Officers responded to a call at a residence and discovered three deceased victims, and one wounded male, resulting from a double murder–suicide.[215]
    July 25, 2019 Los Angeles, California 4 2 6 A man killed four people, including his father and brother, and wounded two more at a total of four different crime scenes across the San Fernando Valley.[216][217]
    July 23, 2019 Pembroke Park, Florida 2 2 4 Two men were killed and two others were wounded after an argument between a group escalated into a shooting.[218]
    July 21, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 A gunman opened fire on a group of people, wounding four, as they congregated outside of a gas station.[219]
    July 21, 2019 Washington, D.C. 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting, which was captured by surveillance video.[220]
    July 20, 2019 Jersey City, New Jersey 0 6 6 Six people were wounded in an overnight shooting.[221]
    July 20, 2019 Clairton, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four teenagers—between the ages of 14-18, were wounded in a shooting at a graduation party.[222]
    July 20, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in a shooting in Lincoln Park, after an argument between two groups escalated.[223]
    July 18, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 One woman was killed and three people were injured on a porch at a home in Garfield Park in Chicago’s West Side.[224]
    July 17, 2019 Lubbock, Texas 1 3 4 Five men in a vehicle were targeted by a shooter who killed one and injured three others.[225]
    July 16, 2019 San Antonio, Texas 0 4 4 A man opened fire on his co-workers at a moving company, injuring four, after a disagreement escalated. The suspect was later arrested.[226]
    July 15, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were wounded in an apartment complex.[227]
    July 15, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting after a potential drug deal turns deadly.[228]
    July 15, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 2[n 1] 2 4 A man attempted to use a gun to demand methadone, then killed one and wounded two before being killed by police in a shootout.[229]
    July 13, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in a shooting during a neighborhood basketball game.[230]
    July 13, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 4 5 One person was killed and four were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Chicago’s South Side.[231]
    July 11, 2019 Houston, Texas 0 4 4 Four suspects got into a gunfight, wounding four teenagers in a common area at an apartment complex.[232]
    July 8, 2019 Manson, North Carolina 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two children—16 and 10-years-old, were wounded after a domestic dispute escalated.[233]
    July 8, 2019 Washington, D.C. 0 4 4 Four perpetrators wounded four men in a shooting outside of a 7-Eleven store.[234]
    July 7, 2019 Flint, Michigan 2 4 6 Six people were shot, two fatally, while in a car at a gas station. Police are looking for two suspects.[235]
    July 7, 2019 Wichita, Kansas 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting after a potential argument escalated.[236]
    July 7, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.[237]
    July 7, 2019 Albuquerque, New Mexico 0 4 4 Four people were discovered wounded in a parking lot in the downtown area.[238]
    July 6, 2019 San Jose, California 0 4 4 Four people were discovered wounded by police, who responded to a shots fired call; the victims had driven away from the initial scene.[239]
    July 6, 2019 St. Clair Shores, Michigan 2[n 1] 2 4 After a dispute over fireworks, a man shot into a crowd and injured a 12-year-old child and a woman, then barricaded himself in his home. Police discovered him and a woman deceased in the home.[240]
    July 6, 2019 Charlotte, North Carolina 0 4 4 Four people were shot in a McDonald’s parking lot after a dispute involving a rideshare vehicle.[241]
    July 5, 2019 Brooklyn, New York 0 4 4 A gunman opened fire — injuring four people in the East New Yorkneighborhood.[242]
    July 5, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a shooting in Chicago’s Woodlawncommunity.[243]
    July 5, 2019 Reno, Nevada 1 3 4 One person died and three were wounded in a shooting.[244]
    July 5, 2019 Gravette, Arkansas 4[n 1] 0 4 Four people were found deceased at a home in an apparent murder–suicide.[245]
    July 5, 2019 Boston, Massachusetts 0 6 6 Six people were wounded in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.[246]
    July 4, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 One man was killed and three were wounded, after a suspect opened fire from a vehicle.[247]
    July 4, 2019 Los Angeles, California 0 4 4 Four people, including a 15-year-old girl were wounded, after two perpetrators opened fire in the Historic South-Centralneighborhood.[248][249]
    July 4, 2019 Rockford, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were wounded after an argument escalated.[250]
    July 4, 2019 Fresno, California 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were injured after gunfire erupted at an Independence Day celebration.[251]
    July 3, 2019 Katy, Texas 2[n 1] 3 5 The perpetrator shot and killed his sister and three others at a housewarming party. He later died at a hospital.[252]
    July 2, 2019 Washington Park, Illinois 0 4[n 1] 4 A 16-year-old, 12-year-old and an adult were injured when an argument over fireworks escalated. The perpetrator was shot by a by-stander.[253]
    July 2, 2019 Wellston, Missouri 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a drive-by shooting just before midnight near a local food store.[254]
    July 1, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four women were injured after a suspect opened fire on them, two were discovered by police, the others privately entered the hospital.[255]
    June 30, 2019 Oakland, California 0 4 4 A 12-year-old boy and two adults were injured in a shooting outside of an apartment complex.[256]
    June 30, 2019 Yucaipa, California 0 5 5 Five people were wounded after a fight escalated in a mobile home park after a BBQ.[257]
    June 30, 2019 Dallas, Texas 2 2 4 Two teenagers were killed and two were wounded in a drive-by shooting near a playground.[258]
    June 30, 2019 Bay Shore, New York 0 6 6 Six people were shot at a house party.[259]
    June 29, 2019 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 0 7 7 Seven people were injured in a shooting outside of a night club after a fight escalated.[260]
    June 29, 2019 Hartford, Connecticut 0 4 4 Police discovered two people wounded, while an additional two were self-transported to area hospitals.[261]
    June 29, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 5 5 Five people were wounded after gunfire broke out at a gathering in the Near West Side neighborhood.[262]
    June 28, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded during a drive-by shooting involving two vehicles.[263]
    June 28, 2019 Paterson, New Jersey 0 4 4 Four people were wounded by gunfire that erupted on a street.[264]
    June 28, 2019 Hamden, Connecticut 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a shooting, after police break up a house party.[265]
    June 27, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded, two critically, in a drive-by shooting in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.[266]
    June 26, 2019 Akron, Ohio 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others, including a boy, were wounded in a home invasion.[267]
    June 23, 2019 San Jose, California 5[n 1] 0 5 A four-hour standoff ends after a man kills four people then himself.[268]
    June 23, 2019 Abbeville, South Carolina 3 1 4 Two people were killed and two were wounded in a shooting at an apartment complex. One of the victims later died at the hospital from their injuries.[269]
    June 23, 2019 Columbus, Ohio 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside of a local motorcycle club.[270]
    June 23, 2019 La Jolla, California 1 3 4 One person was killed and three others were injured after a drive-by shooting at a party.[271]
    June 23, 2019 South Bend, Indiana 1 10 11 One person was killed and ten were injured after the perpetrator opened fire on a patrons at a local bar.[272]
    June 22, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four men were wounded by gunfire in an overnight shooting.[273]
    June 22, 2019 Hampton, Virginia 0 4 4 Two adults and two children were injured in a shooting at Buckroe Beach.[274]
    June 22, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 4 5 A gunman opened fire on a crowd, killing a 19-year-old man and wounding four others.[275]
    June 21, 2019 Saginaw, Michigan 1 3 4 Four people were shot, one fatally, at a house on the city’s west side.[276]
    June 21, 2019 Richmond, California 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting.[277]
    June 21, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people, including a pregnant woman, were wounded in a shooting outside of the Parkway Garden Homes apartment complex.[278]
    June 20, 2019 Allentown, Pennsylvania 0 10 10 Ten people were injured from gunfire outside of a nightclub.[279]
    June 18, 2019 Newark, New Jersey 1 6 7 One man was killed and six others were injured after gunfire broke out in two separate locations in the downtown area.[280]
    June 17, 2019 San Antonio, Texas 0 4 4 Four people were injured from gunfire, after getting into an altercation with another motorist.[281]
    June 17, 2019 Memphis, Tennessee 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in the parking lot of an apartment complex.[282]
    June 16, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1 7 8 One person was killed and seven were injured at a graduation party. All of the victims are between 15 and 17 years of age.[283]
    June 16, 2019 Louisville, Kentucky 1 6 7 Five men and two women were discovered shot near a liquor store by police. One of the men later died at the hospital.[284]
    June 16, 2019 Des Moines, Iowa 0 6 6 Six people were shot in a drive-by shooting while standing in the street after a party.[285]
    June 15, 2019 Shreveport, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside of a nightclub.[286]
    June 15, 2019 West Des Moines, Iowa 4 0 4 Three relatives, two children and two adults, were found dead from gunshot wounds in a house.[287]
    June 12, 2019 Charlotte, North Carolina 1 3 4 An adult male was killed at a party in a rented Airbnb; a teenager and two other adults were injured.[288]
    June 11, 2019 Savannah, Georgia 2 2 4 Police responded to a scene and discovered two men deceased and two others injured.[289]
    June 11, 2019 Aurora, Colorado 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an overnight shooting; the victims were self-transported to the hospital for treatment.[290]
    June 9, 2019 Henning, Tennessee 1 3 4 One was killed and three others were injured in a shooting at a nightclub.[291]
    June 9, 2019 Buffalo, New York 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting after a dispute.[292]
    June 9, 2019 Cleveland, Ohio 1 3 4 One person was killed and three wounded, after the perpetrator opened fire on a crowd gathered in Kerruish Park.[293]
    June 8, 2019 White Swan, Washington 5 0 5 Five people were killed after the perpetrator opened fire on the Yakama Indian Reservation.[294][295]
    June 8, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in the Humbdolt neighborhood after an altercation with the suspect.[296]
    June 7, 2019 Austin, Texas 0 5 5 Five people were taken to the hospital after the suspect fired shots at the ground, indirectly wounding them.[297]
    June 6, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others wounded when a secondary vehicle pulled up next to vehicle and opened fire on Lake Shore Drive.[298]
    June 5, 2019 Santa Rosa, California 0 4 4 A teenager opened fire at a soccer park, wounding an 11-year-old boy and three others.[299]
    June 1, 2019 Portsmouth, Virginia 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were critically injured in an overnight shooting.[300]
    June 1, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 An adult male and three teenagers were wounded in a shooting in the Austin community of Chicago.[301]
    June 1, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in two separate locations near Northwestern University’s Gold Coast campus.[302]
    June 1, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 0 5 5 Police discovered three individuals wounded after responding to a shooting; an additional two were transported via personal vehicles to the hospital.[303]
    June 1, 2019 Macon, Georgia 0 4 4 Three men and a woman were injured after a suspect opened fire at a block party.[304]
    June 1, 2019 Allendale, South Carolina 0 5 5 Five men were wounded in a shooting at a car wash.[305]
    May 31, 2019 Virginia Beach, Virginia 13[n 1] 4 17 2019 Virginia Beach shooting: A gunman killed 12 people and injured four others at a city public works building. The gunman died at the scene after being shot by police.[306][307]
    May 30, 2019 Robbins, Illinois 0 5 5 Five people were wounded after a vehicle pulled up to a large gathering and opened fire.[308]
    May 29, 2019 Cleveland, Texas 2[n 1] 3 5 A man shot three employees at a local plumbing company, killing one before exchanging gunfire with a sheriff’s deputy, also injuring him before committing suicide.[309]
    May 27, 2019 Trenton, New Jersey 1 5 6 Police responded to a shooting on Walnut Avenue, and found one teenager deceased and five adults injured.[310]
    May 27, 2019 Washington D.C. 0 5 5 A boy and four others were wounded in a shooting in the Barry Farm neighborhood.[311]
    May 26, 2019 Stockton, California 1 3 4 Police discovered one person deceased and three injured after responding to reports of a shooting.[312]
    May 26, 2019 La Crosse, Virginia 0 5 5 Multiple shooters reportedly opened fire at a block party, injuring five people.[313]
    May 26, 2019 Washington D.C. 1 3 4 One teenager was killed and two women and a child were injured after being shot in a parking lot.[314]
    May 26, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 2 3 5 Several people were gathered outside of a party when a man opened fire, killing two and wounding three.[315]
    May 25, 2019 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a parking lot, after an SUV pulled up and its occupants began shooting.[316]
    May 25, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four people, including a teenager were found shot in McElderry Park.[317]
    May 25, 2019 Chesapeake, Virginia 1 9 10 Police responded to a noise complaint at a large party, and discovered ten people with gunshot wounds. One later died from their injuries.[318]
    May 25, 2019 Trenton, New Jersey 0 10 10 Ten people were wounded in a shooting at a bar.[319]
    May 20, 2019 Alexandria, Louisiana 1 4 5 One teenager was killed and five were injured in a shooting.[320]
    May 20, 2019 Columbus, Ohio 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting in the Hilltopneighborhood.[321]
    May 20, 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma 2 2 4 A man opened fire on a group of people, killing two and wounding two others at an apartment complex.[322]
    May 19, 2019 Portland, Oregon 0 5 5 Five people were wounded after gunfire erupted at a warehouse party.[323]
    May 18, 2019 Cascilla, Mississippi 1 5 6 One person was killed and five were injured in a shooting during a family dispute.[324]
    May 18, 2019 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two were wounded after an assailant shot into a vehicle outside of a tobacco store.[325]
    May 18, 2019 Atmore, Alabama 1 8 9 One person was killed and eight were wounded at a high school graduation party when a gunman opened fire during a fight.[326]
    May 18, 2019 Long Beach, California 1 5 6 A 57-year-old woman was killed and five others were wounded during a vigil at a local bar.[327]
    May 18, 2019 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1 5 6 One man was killed and five were wounded at an overnight block party.[328]
    May 18, 2019 Muncie, Indiana 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded at a house party near the campus of Ball State University.[329]
    May 17, 2019 Sacramento, California 1 4 5 A woman and three others, including a 4-year-old boy were wounded in what police presume was a targeted shooting. One of the victims later died from their injuries.[330]
    May 16, 2019 Cleveland, Ohio 0 4 4 Four people, including two teenagers were wounded in a shooting.[331]
    May 15, 2019 St. Rose, Louisiana 0 4[n 1] 4 Four people, including two children were wounded during an altercation between two men in a strip mall parking lot.[332]
    May 13, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 4 1 5 Three people were killed and two were critically injured in a shooting at a home. One victim died of their injuries days later, taking the death toll to four.[333]
    May 13, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 0 4 4 Three men and a teenager were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the Central City neighborhood.[334]
    May 11, 2019 Paulsboro, New Jersey 0 4 4 A person began shooting at an event that was originally reported to be a rap concert and subsequently described as a birthday party. Four people were injured by the gunfire, and a fifth person suffered a head injury after falling.[335]
    May 11, 2019 Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting inside of a residence. The perpetrator was later arrested.[336]
    May 10, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 0 6 6 A shooting was reported near Farragut Elementary School, where two men were discovered wounded, and an additional four were identified at the hospital.[337]
    May 10, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 5 5 A large group of adult men were ambushed by three teenagers who came out of a breezeway and shot and injured five of them.[338]
    May 8, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting near the northwest side of Indianapolis.[339]
    May 7, 2019 Highlands Ranch, Colorado 1 8 9 STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting: Authorities responded to the STEM School Highlands Ranch, at about 1:50 pm on a report of shots fired. One student was fatally shot and eight others were injured; two suspects were taken into custody by police.[340][341]
    May 5, 2019 North Bergen, New Jersey 1 4 5 Just before 4 am, officers discovered one person deceased and four people wounded, after a fight potentially escalated.[342]
    May 5, 2019 Oceano, California 0 6 6 Officers responded to a call and discovered six individuals wounded by gunfire; the victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment.[343]
    May 4, 2019 St. Louis, Missouri 1 4 5 Five people were shot inside of a vehicle; the incident resulted in one death and four injuries.[344]
    May 4, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana 0 4 4 Three teens and one man were injured after a fight involving between 20-30 individuals.[345]
    May 4, 2019 Wilmington, Delaware 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting at West 27th and Tatnall Streets.[346]
    May 3, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four people were injured and discovered after a Shot Spottergunfire alert notified police to the location.[347]
    May 3, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 5 5 Emergency responders discovered a female and two young children injured, and two men were later identified as being wounded in the same incident.[348]
    May 3, 2019 Dallas, Texas 1 3 4 Four men were discovered shot at Cherrywood Park after a drive-by shooting; one of the victims died from their injuries.[349]
    May 1, 2019 Boston, Massachusetts 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were wounded while sitting in a parked car in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.[350]
    April 30, 2019 Charlotte, North Carolina 2 4 6 University of North Carolina at Charlotte shooting: Six people were shot, two fatally, on the last day of classes at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The student gunman was taken into custody after he was tackled by one of the students in the classroom. He had several more loaded magazines in a backpack.[351]
    April 28, 2019 West Chester Township, Ohio 4 0 4 Four family members, three women and one man, were found shot to death in an apartment. The suspect remains at large.[352]
    April 28, 2019 Nashville, Tennessee 0 7 7 Two men got into an altercation at a party and exchanged gunfire; seven people were wounded in the crossfire.[353]
    April 28, 2019 Birmingham, Alabama 0 4 4 A suspect in a vehicle opened fire on patrons outside of a nightclub, injuring four.[354]
    April 28, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 7 8 One person was killed and seven were wounded when a gunman opened fire on two cookouts at an intersection.[355]
    April 27, 2019 Jackson, Mississippi 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were injured in a shooting in south Jackson.[356]
    April 27, 2019 Jackson, Michigan 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an overnight shooting.[357]
    April 27, 2019 Poway, California 1 3 4 Poway synagogue shooting: One person was killed and at least three were wounded by a shooter at the Chabad of Powaysynagogue.[358]
    April 26, 2019 Hugo, Oklahoma 0 4[n 1] 4 Investigators attempted to make contact with the suspect in relation to another crime, he then began to open fire, injuring three children and himself.[359]
    April 21, 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in the Grays Ferry Section of the city.[360]
    April 21, 2019 Los Angeles, California 0 4 4 Four seniors were wounded by gunfire after a suspect opened fire in the vehicle behind them.[361]
    April 20, 2019 Memphis, Tennessee 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in a shooting that police believe occurred after a large fight.[362]
    April 20, 2019 Corpus Christi, Texas 0 4 4 A disturbance in a neighborhood escalated into a shooting; four men were wounded.[363]
    April 19, 2019 Wichita, Kansas 0 4 4 Two suspects fired multiple shots at people attending a party, injuring four.[364]
    April 18, 2019 Louisville, Kentucky 0 4 4 Four people in a vehicle were wounded when they were shot at by at least one person in another car.[365]
    April 16, 2019 Germantown, Maryland 1 3 4 A drive-by shooting killed an 18-year-old male and wounded three other men in a cul-de-sac.[366]
    April 14, 2019 Stockton, California 0 4 4 A man opened fire inside of a bar following a disturbance, wounding four patrons.[367]
    April 14, 2019 Vallejo, California 1 3 4 One man was killed and three were injured in an early morning shooting.[368]
    April 14, 2019 Miami, Florida 2 2 4 Two women were killed and another man and woman were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside of Miami’s Liberty Cityneighborhood.[369]
    April 12, 2019 Carbondale, Illinois 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting outside of a restaurant and bar.[370]
    April 11, 2019 Phoenix, Arizona 3 2 5 A man killed his wife, two of his daughters, and another man, and injured two people who came to try to help one of the victims. All of the victims were shot, with the exception of one of his daughters who was killed by blunt force trauma.[371]
    April 11, 2019 Los Angeles, California 1 4 5 One person was killed and four were wounded when suspects fired at them from a car in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.[372]
    April 11, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a shooting near Druid Hill Park.[373]
    April 9, 2019 Kansas City, Missouri 0 4 4 Police found four people with gunshot wounds in front of a residence.[374]
    April 7, 2019 Shreveport, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting at a mobile home park.[375]
    April 7, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana 2 3 5 Two people were killed and three were wounded in a shooting at a motorcycle club hangout.[376]
    April 7, 2019 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 0 6 6 Six people were wounded in a shooting outside of a local bar.[377]
    April 7, 2019 Wilmington, Delaware 0 6 6 Six young men were wounded in a shooting in the city’s East Side district.[378]
    April 6, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 At least six people were injured in a shooting at a baby shower.[379]
    April 6, 2019 Tallahassee, Florida 0 4 4 Four Florida A&M University students were injured in a shooting following an argument at a house party.[380]
    April 4, 2019 Panama City, Florida 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were found with gunshot injuries in Panama City.[381]
    April 4, 2019 Stockbridge, Georgia 3 2 5 Two officers responding to a suspected hostage situation were wounded and three individuals were later found deceased in a murder–suicide.[382]
    April 2, 2019 Hermanville, Mississippi 0 4 4 A man shot four people in a drive-by shooting outside of a convenience store.[383]
    April 2, 2019 Covington, Kentucky 0 5 5 Five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting at an intersection.[384]
    March 31, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 1 4 5 One person was killed and four people were wounded in a shooting in East Garfield Park.[385]
    March 31, 2019 Atlanta, Georgia 1 4 5 One person was killed and four were wounded during a house party.[386]
    March 31, 2019 North Charleston, South Carolina 0 7 7 Seven people were wounded in a shooting at an overnight house party.[387]
    March 28, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in a shooting near a playground.[388]
    March 25, 2019 North Las Vegas, Nevada 0 5 5 An after-school fight led to a shooting in a neighborhood; five teenagers were wounded.[389]
    March 24, 2019 San Francisco, California 1 5 6 A shooting occurred near the Fillmore Heritage Center around 8:40 pm local time; one person was killed and five others were injured.[390]
    March 24, 2019 Phoenix, Arizona 0 7 7 During a warehouse party, a fight broke out and escalated into a shooting; seven people were wounded.[391]
    March 19, 2019 Phoenix, Arizona 2 4 6 An argument at a house party ended in a shooting when the perpetrator returned to the party and killed two and wounded four before fleeing.[392]
    March 17, 2019 Augusta, Georgia 0 4 4 Four people were wounded after an argument, although the shooter claims that it was in self-defense to being randomly attacked.[393]
    March 17, 2019 Las Vegas, Nevada 0 4 4 Four people were wounded at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino in an early morning shooting. The suspect was later arrested.[394]
    March 17, 2019 Rochelle, Georgia 1 3 4 In the early morning, two groups were involved in a dispute, which ended with one person killed and three people wounded.[395]
    March 16, 2019 Camden, New Jersey 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others were wounded following a shooting at a “residential speakeasy”.[396]
    March 15, 2019 Mobile, Alabama 2 3 5 Two men were killed and three others were wounded in an overnight shooting behind a home. The suspect was arrested the next day.[397]
    March 14, 2019 Missoula, Montana 1 3 4 One person was fatally shot and three others were wounded, including a Montana Highway Patrol trooper following a road rage incident.[398]
    March 13, 2019 Harvey, Illinois 1 3 4 One person was killed and three were wounded after gunfire erupted in a nightclub.[399]
    March 11, 2019 Paterson, New Jersey 0 4 4 Four men were wounded in a shooting inside of a local liquor store.[400]
    March 10, 2019 Denver, Colorado 1 4 5 A conflict between two individuals escalated into a shooting; one man was killed, and four others were injured.[401]
    March 10, 2019 Shreveport, Louisiana 0 4 4 Three children and one adult were wounded in a drive-by shooting.[402]
    March 3, 2019 Oakland, California 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting at a sports bar following a fight.[403]
    March 3, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 6 6 Six people were injured in a shooting at a bar following a fight.[404]
    March 2, 2019 Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1 4 5 One person was killed and four other were wounded at a party when shots were fired into a home.[405]
    February 28, 2019 Joliet, Illinois 4[n 1] 0 4 Two adults and their 6 and 1-year-old children were killed in an apparent murder suicide.[406]
    February 28, 2019 Oakland, California 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were wounded in a shooting near a gas station.[407]
    February 22, 2019 Birmingham, Alabama 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two were injured in a shooting at a party in a home.[408]
    February 21, 2019 Elizabethtown, Kentucky 2 2 4 Two people were killed and two others were found wounded in two separate shootings believed to be perpetrated by the same man.[409]
    February 21, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland 1 4 5 Officers on patrol responded to gunshots, and upon investigation discovered a deceased male and four wounded victims.[410]
    February 21, 2019 Houston, Texas 2 2 4 A gunman perched on the roof of a home killed two and wounded two after an argument led to the incident.[411]
    February 20, 2019 Covington, Tennessee 0 4 4 Three adults and a teenager were injured inside a home in a presumed targeted shooting.[412]
    February 18, 2019 Solon Township, Michigan 4[n 1] 0 4 A 28-year-old woman killed her three children, ages 8, 6 and 2, before killing herself.[413][414][415]
    February 17, 2019 Evansville, Indiana 0 5 5 Five people were wounded after shots were fired outside of a bar. Two suspects were taken into custody by police.[416]
    February 17, 2019 Henderson, Texas 2 2 4 Two people were wounded and two were killed in a shooting at an apartment complex. The suspect was later arrested in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.[417]
    February 17, 2019 New Orleans, Louisiana 1[n 1] 5 6 After police attempted to arrest a suspect, a gunfight broke out, and led to one person being killed and five being wounded.[418]
    February 16, 2019 Clinton, Mississippi 4 0 5 Police responded to a domestic dispute at a residence; upon arrival, the suspect fired shots at officers leading to a 12-hour hostage standoff. Four people were killed, and the suspect was taken into custody and later died.[419]
    February 15, 2019 Aurora, Illinois 6[n 1] 6 12 Aurora, Illinois shooting: A man opened fire in his workplace, killing five employees, and injuring five police officers and a civilian before being killed by police.[420]
    February 14, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida 2 2 4 After a fight broke out near a basketball court at a park, multiple people started shooting at each other. Two people were killed, and two were wounded.[421]
    February 11, 2019 Livingston, Texas 5 0 5 A family member heard sounds of gunfire, and upon investigation, found four adults and one toddler deceased.[422]
    February 9, 2019 Petersburg, Virginia 0 4 4 Four people were injured in a shooting outside of an apartment complex.[423]
    February 6, 2019 Brooklyn, New York 1 3 4 A man was killed and three others were injured after a shooting in the lobby of an apartment building around 10:30 pm ET.[424]
    February 6, 2019 Cleveland, Ohio 1 3 4 One man was killed and three others were injured after a shooting broke out in Cleveland’s Clark–Fulton neighborhood.[425]
    February 5, 2019 San Antonio, Texas 2 2 4 A man and woman were killed and two others injured after the shooter kicked open an apartment door and shot inside, before fleeing.[426]
    February 4, 2019 Washington, D.C. 0 5 5 Four men and an elementary-school-age girl were injured in a shooting at a bus stop.[427]
    February 4, 2019 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 0 4 4 Four people were wounded in an early morning shooting.[428]
    February 3, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 2 5 7 Around 2 am local time, two people were killed and five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting after a fight outside of a club.[429]
    February 1, 2019 San Diego, California 0 4 4 A fight broke out at a house party and shots were fired; four people were wounded.[430]
    January 28, 2019 Houston, Texas 2 4 6 Pecan Park Raid: Four police officers were shot while serving a warrant in southeast Houston. The two homeowners were killed.[431]
    January 27, 2019 Birmingham, Alabama 0 5 5 Police responded to a call and discovered five people with gunshot wounds, along with two of the victims sustaining life-threatening injuries.[432]
    January 26, 2019 Newark, New Jersey 1 3 4 A gunman opened fire on individuals attending a candlelight vigil, killing one, and wounding three others.[433]
    January 26, 2019 Indianapolis, Indiana 0 5 5 A man was asked to leave a bar; shortly after, he came back and shot five people, critically wounding two.[434]
    January 26, 2019 Albany, Georgia 0 4 4 Two people were found with bullet wounds in front of a residence, and two more arrived at a hospital with gunshot injuries from the same shooting.[435]
    January 26, 2019 Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish, Louisiana 5 0 5 January 2019 Louisiana shootings: A 21-year-old man killed five people, including his parents, in two parishes in Louisiana.[436] The suspect fled to Virginia and was arrested the next day.[437]
    January 24, 2019 State College, Pennsylvania 4[n 1] 1 5 A man killed two people and injured one inside a local bar, then drove away and broke into a home and killed the homeowner before killing himself.[438]
    January 24, 2019 Rockmart, Georgia 4 1 5 A man killed four individuals and injured another in two separate shootings.[439]
    January 23, 2019 Sebring, Florida 5 0 5 2019 Sebring shooting: At least five people were killed in a hostage incident and shooting at a bank. The suspect was taken into custody by police.[440]
    January 20, 2019 Miami, Florida 0 4 4 Three adults and a child were wounded in a shooting while attending a block party.[441]
    January 19, 2019 Gaffney, South Carolina 1 4 5 One person was killed and four others were wounded in a shooting at a nightclub.[442]
    January 19, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida 3[n 1] 2 5 A man killed two people and injured two more before killing himself.[443]
    January 19, 2019 Lebanon, Pennsylvania 0 4 4 In an apparent targeted shooting, four individuals were discovered shot in a building.[444]
    January 19, 2019 Chicago, Illinois 0 4 4 Early in the morning, three women and a man were involved in a fight and were injured in the ensuing shooting.[445]
    January 19, 2019 Houston, Texas 3 2 5 Three people were killed and two more were injured by a homeowner in a possible attempted home invasion.[446]
    January 17, 2019 Owensboro, Kentucky 3 1 4 Three people were killed and another person was wounded in a shooting at a home. Two men were arrested in relation to the shooting.[447]
    January 16, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida 1 5 6 A man was killed and five other people were injured in a shooting. The Mayor of Jacksonville described the shooting as gang-related, although this characterization has been disputed by the sister of the deceased man.[448]
    January 16, 2019 Palmdale, California 3 1 4 Three people were killed and another one was wounded in a shooting.[449]
    January 15, 2019 Little Rock, Arkansas 1 4[n 1] 5 An argument over a gun inside a local ice cream shop led to a shooting. One man was killed and four others, including the suspected shooter, were injured.[450]
    January 13, 2019 Phoenix, Arizona 1 5[n 1] 6 An argument at a motel escalated into a shooting. One person was killed, and five others were injured.[451]
    January 6, 2019 Roswell, New Mexico 0 4 4 A man injured four people in a shooting following an argument at a party. He was arrested the same day.[452]
    January 4, 2019 Hurt, Virginia 3[n 1] 2 5 A man killed his wife and son in their home and injured two people who were inside a vehicle before killing himself.[453]
    January 4, 2019 Houston, Texas 1[n 1] 3 4 A man injured his brother and two friends before being killed by a police officer.[454]
    January 4, 2019 Torrance, California 3 4 7 An argument at the Torrance bowling alley escalated into a fight and three people were killed by gunshots, at least four others were wounded. A suspect who was out of prison on parole has been arrested.[455]
    January 3, 2019 Texas City, Texas 3 1 4 Three children under the age of six were found deceased along with a wounded woman in an apparent home invasion.[456]
    January 2, 2019 Jonesboro, Arkansas 1 3 4 A 16-year-old boy was killed and three others were wounded during a home invasion.[457]
    January 1, 2019 Columbia, South Carolina 0 5 5 Five people were shot and wounded outside of a nightclub around 6am local time.[458]
    January 1, 2019 Tallahassee, Florida 0 5 5 Five people were shot and wounded around 3am local time at the University Village Shopping Center.[459]

    Statistics[edit]

    2019 US Mass Shooting Statistics By Month
    Month Mass Shootings Total number killed Total number wounded Occurred at a school or university Occurred at a place of worship
    January 28 48 86 0 0
    February 22 38 68 0 0
    March 21 13 89 0 0
    April 34 23 136 1 1
    May 43 40 181 1 0
    June 48 34 217 0 0
    July 52 50 202 0 0
    August 49 89 240 5 1
    September 37 50 123 1 0
    October 36 56 124 0 0
    November 29 25 138 1 0
    December 36 51 144 0 0
    Total 435 517 1,748 9 2

    The statistics columns for each month are updated after the month ends, in an effort to make sure the correct number of events, individuals affected, and descriptions are accurate. Thus, the number may be incomplete throughout the month until the last day of each month.

    According to data compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University, the year 2019 saw the highest number of mass killings recorded to date: 211 killed in 41 incidents. Thirty-three of these mass killings, defined here as four or more people killed excluding the perpetrator, involved firearms.[460]

    See also[edit]

    Notes[edit]

    1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw Including the perpetrator(s) or suspect(s)
    2. ^ Jump up to:a b Including a pregnant individual
    3. ^ Two injured by shrapnel from shots fired at or into the residence

    References[edit]

    1. ^ “Mass Shootings in 2019”. Gun Violence Archive. Retrieved January 3,2019.
    2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Bjelopera, Jerome (March 18, 2013). “Public Mass Shootings in the United States”. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved December 6,2019. There is no broadly agreed-to, specific conceptualization of this issue, so this report uses its own definition for public mass shootings.
    3. ^ Borchers, Callum (October 4, 2017). “The squishy definition of ‘mass shooting’ complicates media coverage”. Washington Post. Retrieved August 26, 2018. …’mass shooting’ is a term without a universally-accepted definition.
    4. ^ Jump up to:a b “General Methodology”. Gun Violence Archive. Retrieved August 27,2018.
    5. ^ Jump up to:a b Berkowitz, Bonnie; Lu, Denise; Alcantara, Chris (September 14, 2018). “More than 50 years of U.S. mass shootings: The victims, sites, killers and weapons”. Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
    6. ^ Jump up to:a b Follman, Mark; Aronsen, Gavin; Pan, Deanna (September 20, 2018). “A Guide to Mass Shootings in America”. Mother Jones. Retrieved August 26,2018.
    7. ^ Jump up to:a b “About the Mass Shooting Tracker”. Mass Shooting Tracker. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
    8. ^ “Mass Shootings in America”. Stanford Libraries. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
    9. ^ Lopez, German (December 4, 2015). “The debate over how to define mass shootings is ridiculous”. Vox. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
    10. ^ Keneally, Meghan (June 5, 2019). “There were 2 deadly mass shootings a month so far in 2019”. ABC News. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
    11. ^ Tracy, Erin (December 30, 2019). “Five people shot in Ceres after bar fight in Modesto”. The Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on 2020-01-04. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
    12. ^ “5 WOMEN SHOT AT DANVILLE HOME!!”. WDAN-AM. 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
    13. ^ Kwiatkowski Radlich, Jane (2019-12-29). “Man, 26, dead in Riverside porch shooting that injured three”. The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
    14. ^ Music video ambush: 2 killed, 7 injured in drive-by during filming KHOU, December 28, 2019
    15. ^ King, Michael; Buchanan, Christopher (December 28, 2019). “Five teens wounded following shooting at apartment complex near Kennesaw”. WXIA. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
    16. ^ Guerra, Patty (December 28, 2019). “Deputies investigating west Modesto shooting that left one dead, three injured”. The Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on 2019-12-29. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
    17. ^ Meyer, Brandon; Solomon, Josh; Welch, Monique (December 26, 2019). “Eight injured as shots are fired outside nightclub in St. Petersburg”. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
    18. ^ “Fourth victim taken to the hospital in deadly Christmas day shooting in Coralville”. Local 5 – weareiowa.com. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
    19. ^ Fultz, Matthew (2019-12-25). “Father of 5 killed in Richmond restaurant on Christmas”. WTVR CBS 6. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
    20. ^ “Four Shot Christmas Night in East Oakland”. CBS 5 News. 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
    21. ^ Tansino, Marissa (December 24, 2019). “Christmas Eve Shooting: Six people shot in High Point”. WFMY. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
    22. ^ Smith-Parks, Kendra (December 24, 2019). “NOPD: 4 injured in a West Bank shooting”. FOX 8 NEWS. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
    23. ^ Helmore, Edward (December 22, 2019). “Chicago shooting: 13 people shot at party on South Side”. The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
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    379. ^ Schuba, Tom; Henderson, Matthew (April 6, 2019). “At least 6 shot, including 2 kids, in drive-by at family gathering in Englewood”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
    380. ^ “4 students shot at house party near FAMU”. WTXL. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
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    382. ^ Abusaid, Shaddi; Stevens, Alexis; Stafford, Leon; Zachary Hansen, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Suspect who shot two Henry County officers refuses to surrender, police say”. ajc. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
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    391. ^ FOX. “PD: Teen among 7 people shot at party in Phoenix”. KSAZ. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
    392. ^ “Police: Suspect arrested in shooting; 2 killed, 4 injured”. AP NEWS. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
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    394. ^ Harvey, John (March 18, 2019). “4 shot at El Cortez hotel-casino, gunman arrested”. LASVEGASNOW. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
    395. ^ Jordan, Gabe (March 17, 2019). “One dead, three injured in Rochelle shooting – Cordele Dispatch”. Cordele Dispatch. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
    396. ^ “1 Dead, 3 Injured In Shooting At Camden After-Hours Club, Officials Say”. KYW-TV. March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
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    398. ^ “One person dead after overnight shooting in Missoula”. KTMF. March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
    399. ^ Koeske, Zak (March 13, 2019). “Son of Harvey cop killed, 3 others wounded in shooting at south suburban nightclub”. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
    400. ^ Goldman, Jeff (March 12, 2019). “4 men wounded in shooting at Paterson liquor store”. NJ.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
    401. ^ Contreras, Oscar (March 10, 2019). “Man killed, 4 others injured in overnight LoDo shooting; no suspects in custody”. KMGH-TV. Retrieved March 11,2019.
    402. ^ Heyen, Curtis (March 10, 2019). “3 children, possibly more, and 1 adult wounded in drive-by shooting”. KSLA. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
    403. ^ Harris, Harry (March 3, 2019). “Four wounded after Oakland sports bar shooting, police seeking suspect”. East Bay Times. Retrieved March 4,2019.
    404. ^ Yin, Alice; Schuba, Tom (March 3, 2019). “6 shot inside private bar on South Side, none fatally”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
    405. ^ Simpson, Stephen (March 3, 2019). “Police: Shots fired into Pine Bluff home kill 35-year-old man, injure 4”. Arkansas Online. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
    406. ^ “Baby boy, 6-year-old girl among 4 dead in apparent murder-suicide, police say”. ABC News. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
    407. ^ “1 killed in quadruple shooting near 76 gas station in Oakland”. KGO-TV. March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
    408. ^ “Police investigating shooting at party in East Birmingham”. WBRC. February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
    409. ^ Lentes, Morgan (February 22, 2019). “2 killed, 2 injured in Elizabethtown shootings”. WLKY. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
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    411. ^ McCord, Cory (February 21, 2019). “Rooftop gunman still at large after killing 2, injuring 2 others in east Houston”. KRPC-TV. Retrieved February 22,2019.
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    413. ^ 4 people dead in western Michigan shooting, police say CBS News, February 18, 2019
    414. ^ Four people found dead in Michigan home with police investigating possible murder-suicide NBC News, February 18, 2019
    415. ^ Michigan Mom Kills Her Three Young Daughters & Herself With Hunting Rifle Investigation Discovery Crimefeed, February 21, 2019
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    419. ^ “Suspect in killing of 4 hostages in Mississippi has died”. CBS News. February 17, 2019.
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    424. ^ Creag, Katherine. “Man Dies, 3 Others Hurt in Brooklyn Quadruple Shooting: NYPD”. NBC New York. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
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    428. ^ Vincent, Mykal (February 4, 2019). “Police investigating quadruple shooting”. WAFB. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
    429. ^ Yin, Alice (February 3, 2019). “2 dead and 5 others wounded in drive-by shooting outside Reynold’s Lounge: CPD”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
    430. ^ Saunders, Mark (February 2, 2019). “One person facing life-threatening injuries after fight leads to Encanto house party shooting”. KGTV. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
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    433. ^ Kim, CeFaan (January 27, 2019). “4 women injured, 1 critically, in shooting in Newark”. WABC-TV. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
    434. ^ “5 people shot, 2 critical after shooting at a near-east-side bar”. WISH-TV. January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
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    437. ^ Louisiana Man Suspected of Shooting 5 — Including His Parents & Girlfriend — Arrested in Virginia People, January 27, 2019
    438. ^ “4th person dies after shooting spree near Penn State University”. WPVI-TV. January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
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    442. ^ “1 dead, 4 hurt after shooting at nightclub in Cherokee Co”. WSPA-TV. January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
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    Saturday, 7 October 2017

    Donald Trump, Our Great Compassionate Dear Leader

     

     

    As an elderly man falls
    In front of him
    During a charity dinner even

     

    Hitting his head bleeding out
    Quote the MAGA Donald Trump our future dear leader

    “It is disgusting. I mean the guy was bleeding
    all over the nice marble floor”

    Donald Trump the self-proclaimed
    savior of the nation

    Could not be bothered to lift a finger
    “Thank God for the marine

    s who took out the garbage

    But they left a mess on the nice marble floor
    And ruined their nice uniforms”

    and disrupted a fine dinner

    Did he call the grieving family the next day
    Of course not

    Quote the Great Leader, the Donald

    “I forgot to call.” That is not his thing at all
    And still, I wonder

    How such a disgusting excuse
    For a human being became
    The leader of the greatest nation
    On earth

    And what it means for the future
    Is it proof that we are doomed

    That America is in the final stage
    Of terminal decline?

    Or will Americans take
    out the garbage
    From the white house?

    The Time Donald Trump Turned Away in Disgust While a Man Was Bleeding to Death in Front of Him

    the End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    ON THE ROAD PUBLISHED

    Three of My poems, “Hitchiing Tales, Back of the Bus and Cross Country Travels ” are included in this excellent collection.

    IN SEARCH OF AMERICA 1975 – HITCHHIKING TALES

    CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIPS  PART ONE
    BACK OF THE BUS
    IN SEARCH OF AMERICA 1975 – HITCHHIKING TALES

    In Search of America 1975 – Hitchhiking Tales by Jake Cosmos Aller

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    April 30

    In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales

    When I was young and foolish
    Broke and stubborn
    I hitchhiked across the USA

    Started in Salt Lake City
    Where my greyhound bus pass
    Was stolen

    The station manager
    Could have helped me
    But refused to do so

    Threaten to call the cops
    When I grabbed my bags
    Without the stolen tags

    I said
    Go ahead
    But I am
    so out of here

    Wondered about Salt Lake City
    Went to a bar
    Found I had to buy my booze
    Next door

    And they would
    mix it for me

    Had to order food too
    After a bloody Mary
    And a burger

    I walked about town
    Saw the Mormon Temple

    Finally about 3 pm
    It was time
    to hit the road

    Did not look back
    Ended up in Cody Wyoming
    Got a room shower
    Steak beer
    Using my rapidly
    depleted cash

    Spent 25 dollars
    Money really went far
    Back in those days

    A band of professional
    Communist agitators
    Gave me a ride

    To Des Moines
    Lots of weed, booze
    And politics later
    Got off the road

    Slept outside

    Next day
    A beautiful woman

    Drove me to near Chicago
    In a red mustang

    Might have been
    The girl in the song

    Took it easy
    Digging her vibe

    She invited home
    But was not sure

    If her estranged husband
    Would welcome me

    So I being foolish
    And inexperienced with women
    Did not go to her place

    And always regretted
    That I had lost
    My chance that day

    Then on to Chicago
    Several rides later
    Visited friends

    Hit the road again
    A series of uneventful rides
    With truckers
    And others

    And a week later
    I ended in New York City

    Slept along the way
    In cars
    In truck stops
    In high way rest stops

    Always moving
    Always going

    None stop talking
    And lots of free weed

    And beer
    And conversation

    One more memorable ride
    Occurred outside Albany
    On my return to Chicago

    A middle age
    creepy looking man
    Picked me up

    In a brand new Cadillac

    He was
    he said
    a dynamite deliverer

    For the Mafia
    Went to various places
    To blow up shit

    He hated a lot of people
    Particularly hippies
    from California
    And Jewish people

    Looking at me to confirm
    That I was both

    I told him
    that I lived in New York

    And had never been
    to California

    And although
    I might looked Jewish

    As I had
    what was called
    back in the day

    A “Jewfro”

    I was not Jewish

    Many years later I discovered
    That I am indeed part Jewish

    But then I did not know
    And I felt a bit of
    strategic misinformation
    Might keep me alive

    Then I realized
    that he was just
    jiving with me

    And we relaxed
    And he pulled
    out some weed

    And beer
    And we mellowed out

    But I believe
    that he really
    was with the mob

    Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
    A real made Italian
    made mafia member

    By Chicago
    I had enough
    I called my Dad

    Told him what had happened

    Wanted a ticket home
    And he sent me a ticket

    And 500 dollars
    And I went home

    I told him I would tell him
    My tales some day

    But never did

    I learned so much
    About my fellow Americans
    And the strange vibe
    That was 1975

    And now it is too late
    But I wanted to finally

    Tell the world

    Of my hitchhiking tales
    In search of America 1975

     

     

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    In the summer of 2016   

    We drove across the country   

    Just the wife and me   

       

    10,000 miles   

    31 states   

    Three months on the road   

       

    I now know 

    why people don’t live    

    In South Dakota   

       

    Hot, dry dusty   

    Windy as hell   

    Black Hills are nice   

    But after seeing Mt. Rushmore   

    There is not much left to do   

       

    Rapid City did not impress me   

    Nor did Sioux Falls   

    Lost money in Deadwood

       

    And wall drugs   

    Well the free water was nice   

    But it is a nothing town   

    In a nothing state   

    On the edge of the badlands   

    And the Sioux reservation   

    There is a reason the Indians live there   

    No one else wanted the land   

    And they are warehoused there   

       

    So I drove through Rapid City   

    And thought that it is the heart of Trump Land   

    The land of the forgotten   

       

    The left behind   

    Just another nothing burger of a State   

    In the middle of nowhere   

    Truly flyover country     

    Wagontire, Oregon    

       

    1973   

       

       

    April 6 Wagontire

    In 1973, I went on a road trip
    With my father
    We left Berkeley to go to Yakima
    Where my father had a summer cabin
    He was a college professor
    And had July and August off

    And we spent the summers
    Every summer from 1968 to 1978
    Our whole dysfunctional family
    Our annual road trip to hell and back
    As we did not get along at all

    We decided to drive through Eastern Oregon
    Just my father and me
    Just for the hell of it
    The rest of the family was already there
    My father and I shared a travel lust
    One of the few things we shared

    This was one of our best trips
    We got along
    Which was unusual

    Normally our relationship
    Was fraught
    As we were so different
    We left Klamath Falls
    A real nothing burg in those days

    And headed east along highway 395
    As we entered the desert of eastern Oregon
    We entered a different world
    High mountain dessert
    Almost no one on the road

    Then we saw the sign   

       

    Wagontire Oregon    

    100 miles ahead   

    99 miles ahead   

    98 miles ahead   

    97   

    96   

    95    

    We counted down the signs    

    94   

    93   92   

    91   

    90   

    88   

    87   

    86   85   

    84   

    83   

    82   

    81   80   

    79   

    78   

    77   

    76   

    75   74   

    73   

    72   

    71   

    70   

       

    Miles after miles   

       

    69   68   67   

    66   65   

    64   

    63   

    62   

    61   

    60   59   

    58   

    57   

    55   

    54   

    53   52   

    51   

    50   

    49   

    48   

    47   46   

    45   

    44   

    43   

    42   41   

    40   

    39   

    38   

    37   

    36   35   

    34   

    33   

    32   

    31   

       

    As we drove into the gathering dusk   

    We speculated that Wagontire   

    Must be a giant truck stop   

    In the middle of no where   

       

    30   

    29   

    28   

    27   

    26   

    25   

    24   

    23   

    22   

    21   20   

    19   

    18   

    17   

    16   15   

    14   

    13   

    12   

    11   

    10   

    8   

    7   

    Gas up ahead   

    Next gas 150 miles ahead   

       

    Dad made an executive decision   

    We are spending the night   

    It was about 8 pm   

    We had been on the road    

    Since 9 am that morning   

    6   

    5   

    3   

    2   

    1   

       

    Welcome to Wagontire   

    Population 2 ½ humans   

    dogs   

    20 thousand sheep   

       

    We pulled into the town  Nothing there but a gas station   

    Motel and cafe   

       

    In the morning   

    We chatted with the owner   

    Joe Wilson who was my father’s age   

       

    My father had the natural ability   

    Of a politician to talk to almost anyone He was the sheriff, the fire chief   

    The owner of the motel, gas station The only business in town and the owner of a ranch as well Which was his real business he said   

       

    In  any event it was only place open  for over 100 miles   I asked the Sherriff Say who is the ½ human?   

    My idiot son!   

       

     and we left.   

       

    200 miles later    

    We finally left Eastern Oregon   

       

    2016   

       

    In 2016 my wife and I drove through Eastern Oregon   

    As part of our epic cross country trip   

    10,000 miles   

    31 states in three months   

    On the way from Medford to Yellowstone   

    We drove along highway 395    

       

    The signs 

    for Wagon Tire was gone   

    And we drove through the town   

       

    The motel was abandoned   

    Nothing there at all   

    And that sign was gone too    

       

    The town had turned 

     into one of Oregon’s ghost towns 

    and Oregon has more ghost towns

     than any other state in the country   

    mostly in Eastern Oregon desert 

    which has one of the lowest 

    population densities 

     in the entire world  

    1 person per square mile   

    I said I suppose the idiot son   

    Never took over the business   

       

    And we speculated about Wagon Tire   

    And all other nothing burgs    

    We drove through that summer   

       

    Heart of Trump’s America    

    True fly over country   

    Back of the Bus

    Many years ago

    When I was a foolish young man

    I took a greyhound bus trip

    Just to see the country

    I was trapped 

    In the back of the bus

    Where the young 

    And restless souls

    Gathered together

    And drank illegally

    And smoked weed 

    Also illegally

    We stayed there 

    Until Winnemucca

    Where I got off 

    And found my bus pass

    Had found another owner

    And I went to Salt Lake City

    Still trapped in the back of the bus

    the Bus – Travels Through America’s Underbelly 

    I am a bus rider

    That makes me unusual

    For a white male

    From an upper middle class family

    Our people are not bus riders

    Though some are subway riders

    Bus riders are other people

    The poor, minorities, immigrants

    People who don’t drive

    Because they are blind

    Or have a DUI

    And in my case

    I don’t drive

    Because I have bad vision

    And bad coordination

    Just never got the hang

    Of the whole driving thing

    Fortunately for me

    My wife does the driving

    But I still take the bus

    From time to time

    I rode the AC buses in Berkeley

    As a child

    Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus

    Rode them long before BART came along

    And afterwards as well

    As an adult seldom rode the bus

    But when I did so

    I was always impressed

    By the sheer diversity

    Of the bus riding property

    Hundreds of languages

    All sorts of sexual orientation

    Some were white

    Most were not 

    Most of my fellow passengers

    Were nice enough

    Some were friendly

    And some were lost

    In their own thoughts

    And a few

    Were scary looking dudes

    With the look

    Of someone who had done time

    And were capable of more violence

    I also rode the bus

    In Seattle as a graduate student

    A lot of fellow UW students

    And the usual immigrants

    Minorities etc

    And some white people commuting

    And in DC

    Over the years

    I rode a lot of buses

    Mostly to and from the metro

    But I got to know

    And love the DC buses as well

    I also took the greyhound bus 

    Across the country
    Several times over the years 

    All over the U.S. 

    From Bay Area to Stockton

    From Bay Area to Clear Lake

    From Bay area to NYC

    NYC to DC

    All over the USA

    Taking the Greyhound

    Was always an a adventure

    Met a lot of interesting people

    As people on long distant bus rides

    Tend to open up and talk

    To pass the time away

    Overseas I took the bus

    All over

    In India, in Barbados

    In Spain and in Korea

    The Korean buses

    For many years

    Were difficult for foreign visitors

    As the signs were all in Korean

    Most have signs

    Now in English, Chinese and Korean

    And are much more foreigner friendly

    Riding the bus

    In America

    Allows one access

    To the underbelly of American society

    The poor, the marginalized

    The immigrant communities

    That many middle-class 

    white people

     Just never see 

    And for that reason

    I am glad

    That I am a bus rider

    Cross Country Road Trips  Part One 

    I have driven across the country

    Five times in my life

    Most recently in the summer of 2016

    My wife and I drove an epic 10,000 mile road trip

    31 states in three months

    To celebrate my retirement from the State Department 

    We started in DC Drove to Florida, 

    stopped in Virginia, and Georgia 

    Staying at military bases Along the way

    Finding food always a problem

    As outside of the metro areas

    Few people really knew 

    How to serve gluten free food

    And most of the food we ate

    Was pretty ghastly indeed

    Was pretty ghastly indeed 

    Finally hitting Tampa 

    Where we became a resident

    And stayed a week

    Checking it out

    As a potential retirement destination

    Finally it was time to move on

    We drove through Florida

    Seeing some real poor rural towns

    In the outback of Florida

    We saw a lot of rural poverty

    Throughout our trip

    As much of the country

    We found resembled 

    We found resembled 

    A third world backwater

    Shocking to see 

    How far the country

    Has declined 

    Outside the big metro areas

    We stayed in Tallahassee one night

    Not that impressed

    Then Birmingham, Alabama

    Also not that impressed

    Ended up in Hot Springs Arkansas 

    Two nights 

    Lost money gambling of course

    Lost money gambling of course 

    Then on to Little Rock 

    And saw the Clinton Museum

    Little Rock was a nice town 

    But not a place for us 

    And on we went

    Arkansas, Mississippi

    Missouri flew by

    What we could see

    From the freeway

    Was nothing but rural poverty

    Oklahoma welcomed us

    With hundreds of Indian casinos

    With Hundreds of Indian casinos 

    But we drove on 

    And stayed outside of Oklahoma city

    Had some decent BBQ

    Next day

    Drove all day

    Through Texas

    Thinking of the country classic

    Dear god drove 800 miles

    Still stuck in Texas

    And ended up 

    In Armadillo Texas

    Had great texmex there

    Drove by the grand canyon

    Of Texas but did not stop

    But did not stop

    And on to New Mexico

    Where we enjoyed two nights

    Checking out the sights

    Made famous in Breaking Bad

    Gambling of course

    And eating at the oldest 

    Restaurant in America

    Tried New Mexican wine

    Not for the faint of heart

    Then on to Arizona

    Stopped of in Winslow 

    To take a picture

    Of the guitar player

    Of the guitar player 

    And the red mustang 

    Where the song take it easy

    Plays all day long

    24/7 tribute

    Finally we went to Las Vegas

    Stayed a few days

    Visiting friends

    Gambling a lot

    Deciding that Las Vegas 

    Also would not be

    Our retirement destination

    We then drove 

    To Reno 

    Spend the night

    Lost more money

    Not too impressed

    Drove Through the Nevada desert

    Drove through the Nevada desert

    Right by area 51

    Stopped by the area 51 alien brothel

    Looked at all tourist alien things

    Did not buy anything though

    Saw by the edge of the road

    Area 51 fencing and armed patrols 

    Everywhere 

    Hiding whatever they are hiding 

    Spend the night in Tonopah

    Lost money

    Snowing in the morning

    The next day

    The next day

    We decided to drive

    All the way to Medford Oregon

    350 miles

    Through some beautiful mountains

    Worth a future trip to Lassen volcano

    Then past Mt. Shasta

    And on to Medford along I-5

    We felt we were going home

    And perhaps Medford 

    Would be our final home

    But we had to go back in two months

    But that is another epic poem

    Yet to be written

    On the Road

    Volumes 1& 2

    With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries, and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published! For further details go to OUR COLLECTIONS in the website’s menu, and click on the links. If you have contributed to this collection, you can download a free pdf copy by going to AUTHOR’S COPIES in the menu, using the password AuthorCopies

    Our NEXT theme is: A NEW WORLD: Rethinking our lives post pandemic. You can write about anything and everything to do with living and life after the pandemic, real or imagined! Go to CONTRIBUTE at the website for full details, submission guidelines, deadline etc. Please also share this with your fellow poets, and give them an opportunity to have their words published too.

    Further themes for 2020/21 will be announced shortly, but will include: Space, Bereavement & Loss and Addiction.

    We would now like to add more interviews to the website. Recent interviews include…

    • An interview with Bahrain-based Bengali writer, journalist and poet Vaijayantee Bhattacharya.
    • Tales of the Exiles in One’s Own Nation: An Interview with Kashmir born novelist, storyteller, poet and filmmaker Siddhartha Gigoo.
    • A comprehensive interview with American poet Linda Imbler.
    • An interview with S’busiso Manqa, a South African born poet, author and film-maker.

    If you are a poet, either unpublished and just setting out on your journey with words, or already established and published, and fancy answering some email questions about your life as a poet, and what motivates and inspires you to write, please email us.
    ONLINE BOOKSHOP…
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    Lastly, we will shortly be setting up an online bookshop where poets featured on our website and in our quarterly collections can promote and market their titles. Full details will follow separately.

    Summer 2020 theme: ON THE ROAD

    Volumes 1 & 2

    With over 250 contributions, from 121 poets in 28 countries (Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kurdistan, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic Of Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, USA, Vietnam and Wales), and over two volumes, ON THE ROAD is probably one of the largest international anthologies of travel poetry every published.

    Volume 1

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    SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.

    54 poets

    135 poems

    240 pages

    Featuring Mark Tulin – USA, Xe M. Sánchez – SPAIN, Linda McCauley Freeman – USA, Cathy Cade – ENGLAND, Neil Leadbeater – SCOTLAND, Eduard Schmidt-Zorner – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND / GERMANY, Chelsea Murphy – USA, Bruce Louis Dodson – SWEDEN, David Dephy – USA, Ed Ruzicka – USA, Anindita Ghosh – SINGAPORE, Mark Cunningham – USA, Shelly Narang – INDIA, Linda M. Crate – USA, Neal Whitman – USA, Eliza Segiet – POLAND, Lee Evans – USA, Joan Mcnerney – USA, R. Bremner – USA, Pamela Scott – SCOTLAND, Chrys Salt MBE – ENGLAND / SCOTLAND, Dr. Eftichia Kapardeli – GREECE, John Nixon – SWEDEN, Geoffrey Heptonstall – ENGLAND, Michael Estabrook – USA, Linda Imbler – USA, Lynn White – WALES, James Dean Rivera – USA, Monica Mastrantonio – BRAZIL, Mark Fleisher – USA, Kathleen Boyle – VIETNAM / ENGLAND, Jake Cosmos Aller – USA / SOUTH KOREA, Martin Chrispine Juwa – MALAWI, Yash Seyedbagheri – USA, J.J. Steinfeld – CANADA, Ed Ahern – USA, Moinak Dutta – INDIA, Gerard Sarnat – USA, Justin Fox – SOUTH AFRICA, Robert Beveridge – USA, Tonmoi Das Kashyap – INDIA, Ann Cefola – USA, Louis Faber – USA, Diane Kendig – USA, Ermira Mitre Kokomani – USA / ALBANIA, Matthew J. Andrews – USA, Christina Lloyd – USA, P.J. Reed – ENGLAND, Diana Smith – USA, Bryan Andrews – SOUTH AFRICA, Antoni Ooto – USA, J. Bi Li Chan – AUSTRALIA, Christopher D. Sims – USA, Tali Cohen Shabtai – ISRAEL  and John Tunaley – ENGLAND.

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    Volume 2

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    SUMMER 2020 – Poetry on the theme of ON THE ROAD from poets around the world.

    66 poets

    117 poems

    245 pages

    Featuring; Mary McCormack – USA, Yi Jung Chen – TAIWAN, Eugene Stevenson – USA, Judy DeCroce – USA, Karen Douglass – USA, William Khalipwina Mpina – MALAWI, LindaAnn LoSchiavo – USA, Wynn Wheldon – ENGLAND, Megha Sood – USA, Alex Carroll – ENGLAND, Cheryl Caesar – USA, Kathleen Bleakley – AUSTRALIA, Jim Landwehr – USA, Strider Marcus Jones – ENGLAND, Theresa C. Gaynord – USA, Sara Kerr – ENGLAND, Kimberly Falsafi – USA, David A Banks – ENGLAND, Jacinta Diaz – USA, Leanne Bradbury – FRANCE / UK, Jayne Marek – USA, Barbra Dean – SPAIN / ENGLAND, Gila Mon – USA, Dany Gagnon – CANADA, Stella Peg Carruthers – NEW ZEALAND, Janet McCann – USA, Máire Malone – ENGLAND, Judith Sanders – USA, Bill Cushing – USA, Marianne Mersereau – USA, Maliha Hassan – PAKISTAN, Saharsh Satheesh – USA, Bernadette Perez – USA, Sean J Mahoney – USA, Aaron Sandberg – USA, Veda Varma – BAHRAIN, Sandra Storey – USA, Bill Cox – SCOTLAND, Mariana Mcdonald – USA, Hussein Habasch – KURDISTAN / GERMANY, Diana Raab – USA, Ankita Patel – INDIA, Charles Leggett – USA, Sarah Jane Justice – AUSTRALIA, Jack D. Harvey – USA, Adrienne Stevenson – CANADA, Barbara Hawthorn – NEW ZEALAND, Jessica Niles DeHoff – MALAYSIA, Mary Anne Zammit – MALTA, William Rudolph – USA, Emmanuel Chitsanzo Mtema – MALAWI, Tamam Kahn – USA, Angela B. Haag – USA, Alicja Maria Kuberska – POLAND, Mtende Wezi Nthara – MALAWI, Fred Kracke – USA, Mantz Yorke – ENGLAND, Donna Zephrine – USA, Brian Langley – AUSTRALIA, Mary Messick – USA, Marc Darnell – USA, John Laue – USA, Isioma Jemimah Okonicha – NIGERIA, Bruce Pemberton – USA, Brigette Furlonger – CANADA, and Lucy Tyrrell – USA.

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  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Corona Virus Revised

    these are some of my corona virus poems written earlier in the year and revised accordingly.  Please see More Corona virus for the latest corona virus collection.  And remember to stay safe!!!!!

    more corona virus poems

    Wearing a Mask Controversy

    Cosmos 2020 April Poetry Part Two

    Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry Part One

    Older Poems

    the Virus from Hell is amused
    End of the World
    Every Day I Turn on the News *
    Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
    Chaos *
    Corona Virus Fears Tanka
    My Phobias Overwhelm Me
    Fear Fills the Air
    More Trouble Every Day
    Trouble Every Day Frank Zappa
    The Torture Never Stops – Frank Zappa
    by pass the alarms spreading across the land
    corona cinqku
    Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
    A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
    empty parking lot
    It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
    Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
    I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
    The Virus King Cried *
    Bring out your dead
    the Virus Came From Hell
    The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
    the corona virus is testing us all
    The call goes out
    the four horse men ready to ride
    nature spirits revolt agains humanity
    Last Human on Island
    corona virus Haiku
    hell
    Bring Out Your Dead
    death comes knocking
    be afraid afraid
    The Virus Came From Hell
    Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent
    the Virus King Has Arrived
    Kimchi Blues
    Humor keeps us sane
    Peacock Speaks
    Iguana Talks to humanity
    To all the friends I am about to loose
    corona fears
    quarantine blues
    I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
    Ten million stories in the Naked City
    The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
    Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
    Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
    corona fears
    to those I have lost
    We live in an Orwellian world
    새영 지마 saeyeong jima  plays out in life
    corona virus tanka
    The best meal of my life
    corona virus haiku
    White Flower spring Time Haiku
    Woman releases balloons of hope
    life interrupted by corona
    Saudade for friends I have lost
    The end of the world news depresses me

     

     

    the Virus from Hell is amused

     

    corona virus

    corona virus

    the Virus from Hell is amused
    laughing at the world’s panicked reaction
    as it marches through the world unabated
    infecting everyone in its wake

    as the world awaits its fate
    the virus smiles he ain’t no fake
    he is the real deal
    he is death itself

    he is the end of the world
    the grim reaper is smiling
    god is silent as usual

    the world’s leaders
    dither and dater
    as the economy craters
    everyone hoping that God
    will save them

    the virus does not care
    insults and orders do not work
    the virus simply does its virus thing

    infecting everyone it encounters
    and thousands will die
    equal opportunity offender

    killing the rich and the poor alike
    but more poor people
    just so many more poor people
    than the few billionaires

    the virus smile
    his work is done
    and mankind is doomed

    so be it the virus thinks
    that is the way of the world
    and the virus is the new king
    of the world

    End of the World

    corona viruscorona virus

    end of world
    the fears world-wide
    soon find us dead
    bring out the dead
    will the dead die

    death lies here there
    there goes here
    as death here comes
    soon here death comes

    Every Day I Turn on the News

     

    cnn logo
    cnn logo

    debunking the bioweaapon conspiracy theories

    published in Spillwords

    Thank you for your recent submission!
    Due to the relevancy of the subject matter of your poetry we have decided to publish it ahead of your last scheduled submission.
    Below are the edited publication details:
    “everyday I turn on the news” will be published on 3/26/20 at 2:30am Eastern Time (ET)
    “Dora The Intergalactic Explorer” will be published on 4/27/20 at 2:30am Eastern Time (ET)
    Below is the link to your last submission:

    every day I turn on the news
    nothing but news about the virus
    the virus from hell

    the world is filled with fear
    and my anxiety levels rise

    every time I turn on the news
    oh my god I say
    we are all going to die

    and I am so afraid
    afraid of everyone
    afraid of everything

    dreading the latest news
    and nothing relieves my fear

    I watch the world
    loosing its collective mind
    wondering how much more of this
    can  we all take

    I scream out
    Dear God save us all
    god is silent as usual

    and so I realized
    we are doomed

    perhaps it is the end times
    perhaps not

    I turn off the TV
    try to stay calm

    hoping the madness
    will not overwhelm us all

    Irony Meters Blow Gaskets 

    donald trumpdonald trump

    the Irony meter gasket
    is blown again and again
    with every statement
    of our chaos president

    and his endless surrogates
    promoting the latest Presidential
    on spot guidance by our great leader
    that must be true

    because our dear leader
    says it is so

    The President accuses his democratic rival
    of being senile and needs to be in home
    and will be run by his radical left allies

    and the right wing media
    echoes the presidential absurd comments
    refusing to acknowledge
    that the president himself
    is rapidly fading into dementia

    and his radical right cronies
    are looting the government
    driving out expertise
    even in the midst of pandemic

    Oh  yeah the irony meters
    are blowing gaskets
    every single day

    Chaos

     

    trump clown in chieftrump clown in chief

    the world descends into chaos
    as our world leaders
    led by the chaos president

    are overwhelmed
    by the smallest
    enemy of all

    a simple virus
    straight out of hell
    blows through the crumbling
    third world public health infrastructure

    living proof of the decline of America
    and no one is prepared
    and panic ensures
    with every Presidential tweet

    as people don’t believe
    a word he says
    conspiracy rumors spread
    everyone believes their own reality

    as the world spins out of control
    the chaos king is in his element
    convince that only he knows
    the deal
    and everyone else
    is iust a bit player
    in the reality show
    that he presides over

    and so the rest of us
    hunker down
    just hoping for the best
    as the panic and
    chaos spreads faster
    than the virus

    are we doomed
    can we survive
    will God save us?
    he is silent as always

    Corona Virus Fears Tanka

     

    cover 19cover 19
    Corona virus
    lurking fears all around me
    we all will die
    the TV screaming nonstop
    Must be afraid be afraid

    My Phobias Overwhelm Me

     

    covid 19 spreadcovid 19 spread
    lately I have become scared
    of everything
    the news scares me, the corona virus scares me, the presidential race scares me, fears of gun men in the street, terrorism, fears of getting sick, fears of dogs, fears of other people, fear of loosing money, fears of becoming demented old man, lost in his nightmares on the street just another invisible homeless bum in the end of his life
    all these phobias overwhelm me
    time to walk away from my fears
    and realize
    it will be alright
    everything will be alright
    As long as I have you
    by my side

    Fear Fills the Air

    cnn logo
    cnn logo

    [audio mp3="https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/the-world-is-filled-with-fear-.mp3"][/audio]

    watching the news
    CNNMSNBCFOXBBCKOREANNEWSJAPANESENEWSBLOOMBERABCCBSNBCGOOGLEAPPLEREUTERSAPIRUSSIANTVCHINESTVFRENCHTV
    blather on and on

    the world is ending
    pandemic is coming

    we are going to die
    and the fear grows
    and the restrictions grow

    travel comes to stop
    the economy comes to  a stop

    everyone is so afraid
    our leaders fret
    say that everything is fine
    as the world enters

    the second great depression
    and we are faced
    with the reality
    all over the world

    idiots in high places
    the masters of the universe
    are in charge

    the internet spreads
    the wildest rumors
    must be true

    I read it on the internet
    the truth is lost
    in the shuffle

    no one believes anyone
    everything thinks
    that they know
    it is all a conspiracy

    the thought comes to mind
    we are all so ’S….
    end of the world
    is upon us

    is this the best we can get?

    [audio mp3="https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Is-this-the-best-we-can-get-mp3.mp3"][/audio]

    [caption id="attachment_4086" align="alignleft" width="300"]trump trump

    watching the news
    one wonders

    how in this great country
    of ours

    335 million people
    among the most educated
    richest people in the world

    we can end up
    with such idiots in high places
    running out country?

    these idiots in charge
    no disrespect intended

    both political parties
    all corporations
    and our institutions
    except maybe the military

    has been infected
    by this virus
    of epic incompetence
    greed and indifference
    to the general good

    who loudly constantly proclaim
    that they are Christians
    while violating
    all of Christ’s teachings

    Jesus if he came back
    would scream out
    I am not Christian

    it is all about me
    and mine

    and you can go
    to hell
    if you dare to disagree

    and so we tweet and titter
    and watch the news
    reading the latest rumors
    and I wonder

    if there is a god
    or if there is a devil
    and are we overwhelmed
    by the dismal news

    why can’t we have better
    leaders
    better people
    in our leaders
    around the world

    has god abandoned us
    are we in hell
    or did god ever exist
    except in our fevered imagination

    will god save us all
    or will the world
    just go around the sun
    indifferent to our pleas?

    no answer
    must watch the news
    consumed by the need
    to see the latest news

    and so it goes
    and I wake up

    the sun is up
    and the nightmares
    fade away

    until I watch the news
    and the madness consumes
    us all again and again

    as the corona virus
    marches on and on
    consuming us all
    as the world falls apart

    these must be the end times
    I hope I will be raptured away
    even if I am not a Christian

    More Trouble Every Day

    The Old Zappa song plays
    on in my head
    every time I turn on the news

    and see more trouble every day
    no one can delay
    the trouble coming every day

    Frank Zappa died too soon
    before the horrors of the Trump era
    and the corona end of the world plague

    that he would have foreseen
    if he had lived on
    he was truly a prophet

    crying in the wildness
    while making money
    as an over night sensation

    as he saw the slime
    oozing out of the TV sets
    we will do what we are told
    for the rights to us have been sold

    And Jesus too
    has been sold
    to the highest bidder

    nothing but a business deal
    in America
    the land of the constant deal

    and so I turn off the TV
    and realize that

    the torture never ends
    the torture never ends

    Trouble Every Day

    more trouble every day  Frank Zappa

    Well I’m about to get sick
    From watchin’ my TV
    Been checkin’ out the news
    Until my eyeballs fail to see
    I mean to say that every day
    Is just another rotten mess
    And when it’s gonna change, my friends
    Is anybody’s guess
    So I’m watchin’ and I’m waitin’
    Hopin’ for the best
    Even think I’ll go to prayin’
    Every time I hear ’em sayin’
    That there’s no way to delay
    That trouble comin’ every day
    No way to delay
    That trouble comin’ every day
    Wednesday I watched the riot…
    I seen the cops out on the street
    Watched ’em throwin’ rocks and stuff
    And chokin’ in the heat
    Listened to reports
    About the whisky passin’ ’round
    Seen the smoke & fire
    And the market burnin’ down
    Watched while everybody
    On his street would take a turn
    To stomp and smash and bash and crash
    And slash and bust…

    The Torture Never Stops
    Frank Zappa

    torture never stops

    Flies all green and buzzin’
    In this dungeon of despair
    Prisoners grumblin
    Piss they clothes
    Scratch their matted hair
    A tiny light from a window-hole
    Hundred yards away
    That all they ever get to know
    ‘Bout the regular life in the day
    ‘Bout the regular life in the day
    Slime and rot and rats and snuck
    Vomit on the floor
    Fifty ugly soldier men
    Holdin’ spears by the iron door
    Stinks so bad, stones are chokin’
    Weepin’ greenish drops
    In the den where
    The giant fire puffer works
    And the torture never stops
    The torture never stops, torture
    The torture never stops
    The torture never stops
    Flies all green and buzzin’
    In this dungeon of despair
    An evil prince eats a steamin’ pig
    In a tumbers right near there
    In the chambers right near there
    He eats de snouts an trotters first!…

    by pass the alarms spreading across the land

    to bypass the alarms spreading across the land
    the circuit breakers are breaking down
    as the alarms go on and on
    with the end of the world
    the end days approaching
    spreading the alarm far and wide

    corona cinqku

    corona virus
    corona virus

    corona
    it came from hell
    we must be all prepared
    meet God

    Taking a Walk in the Corona Era

    peace forest
    peace forest

    every day I go for a walk
    in the spring time woods
    near my house

    braving the weather
    and the dreaded corona virus

    wearing masks and gloves
    keeping a distance
    from anyone we encounter

    that is life it seems
    in the era of the corona virus

    when will it end
    no one knows
    until then
    I will brave the viral threat

    and confront my fears
    and walk in the park

    with the love of my life
    my bride my wife
    by my side

    in these challenging times
    that is all we can do

    A lone man stands in an empty parking lot

    empty parking lot
    empty parking lot

    A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
    contemplating the new normal
    social distancing run amuck

    as fears of the corona super plague
    plague the land
    driving everyone inside

    sheltering in place
    afraid to go out
    afraid of the deadly c virus

    It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?

    two friends on a bench
    two friends on a bench

    It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
    said the old man to me
    sitting on a bench
    in the park in the woods

    as we both sought shelter
    from the spreading chaos
    the pandemic swirling around us

    Yes I said
    standing up
    to enforce the proper distance
    between us

    don’t want to give the virus a chance
    to spread between us

    he smiled and said
    relax I already went through it
    I am fine and you will too

    Pause for a moment amidst the media madness

    Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
    All around us fears and chaos
    Unlike the end of the world approaching us
    Sadness overcomes us dooming us to our fate
    Every we go nothing but death awaits

    I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled

    I feel as if the whole world
    needs to be canceled
    due to rough times ahead
    due to the corona madness
    and the thread of pure craziness
    that it inspires in us all

    The Virus King Cried

    the virus king cried
    virus king cried

    the virus king smiled
    as the politicians lied
    saying that the end was near
    the virus king infected thousands more
    and killed hundreds of people

    the virus king sneered
    as people panicked
    and partied on the beach

    the virus king infected thousands more
    and killed hundreds of people

    the virus king laughed
    as the markets crashed
    millions became unemployed
    the virus king infected thousands more
    and killed hundreds of people

    the virus king roared
    as the world slid into chaos
    people turning on one another

    the virus king infected thousands more
    and killed hundreds of people

    the virus king smirked
    knowing that there was nothing
    that they could do to stop
    his army from infecting millions
    and killing thousands

    the virus King begin to realize
    that soon there would be no one left
    no one for his army to infect
    as everyone was dying

    the virus King yelled
    remaining defiant
    as civilization collapsed

    billions were infected
    millions died

    the Virus King at last cried
    when he saw that he was defeated
    as one by one
    people began to recover
    and his reign of terror came to an end

    Bring out your dead

    grimm reaper
    grimm reaper

    the call bring out your dead
    spreads around the world
    as millions die

    all over the world
    the virus has spread
    mutated and killed

    all over the world
    bring out your dead

    the mournful cries
    echoing in the wind
    of the dying cities

    mass starvation
    as no is working
    in the fields

    as more people die
    and the world spins
    around the sun
    with the politicians lying
    and the dead still dying

    as civilization dies
    and humanity flee
    into the wilderness
    chased by the killer virus
    straight down to hell

    the Virus Came From Hell

    coronavirus
    coronavirus

    the virus came from hell
    straight out of a mad lab
    born and raised in China
    the virus spread from Dinah
    all over to carolina

    it spread from the lab
    the mad virus of Hell
    was mad as hell at humans

    who it blamed for everything
    seeing itself as cleansing everything
    killing the world and everything
    revenge against humans

    perhaps virus came from God
    more likely came from Satan
    part of natures’ revenge

    all designed to avenge
    the damage to Stonehenge
    virus came from Satan

    The Delivery System of the Virus is Round

    cover 19 spread
    cover 19 spread

    the delivery system of the virus is round
    very simple system
    the virus spreads around
    and all must pay the price
    death and destruction

    the corona virus is testing us all

    the corona virus is testing us all
    is it a plague
    sent by God
    if we have faith
    will we recover

    or it is beyond our control
    the end of the world
    does god hear our prayers
    does god even exist

    the virus from hell
    spreads around the world
    and test our faith

    will god save us all
    I have no answer
    but perhaps if god exists
    we will recover
    from this plague
    from hell

    The call goes out

    the call goes out
    stay at home
    to beat the dreaded c virus
    will we live
    or all die?

    the four horse men ready to ride

     

    four horsemen
    four horsemen

    the end of the world is upon us
    as god unleashes the corona virus
    which is spreading across the land

    the four horse men are ready
    to begin their grim journey
    announcing the end of the world

    the white horse comes first
    offering peace and hope
    in the midst of death
    and despair

    the red horse rides second
    ushering in war
    throughout the world

    as nations turn on each other
    and civil war looms

    the Black Horse is ready
    unleashing famine
    on a starving world

    as people stay at home
    and food rots in the field

    no one is able
    to work any more
    as the virus kills more
    and more

    the pale horse rides last

    bringing death
    in his wake
    death all around us

    as the virus kills us all
    and civilization ends

    the four horse men
    have done their job

    the virus finishes its reign of terror
    and the few survivors
    beging to recover

    end of the world
    came and went
    and they are still alive
    thanks to God

    who remains silent
    as always

    nature spirits revolt agains humanity

    all around the world
    nature’s spirits
    are on the move

    the world is changing
    as the nature’s spirits
    rise up
    in revolt against humanity

    is this the end time
    is nature on revolt
    against humanity

    is this the end for us all
    will the virus kill us all
    will nature rise up
    and kill us all?

    Last Human on Island

    in the deep blue sea
    nothing there
    but death and destruction
    virus all around
    pandemic plague
    Apocalyptic views
    end of times
    death of civilization

    corona virus Haiku

     

    corona virus
    corona virus

    corona virus

    staying home
    waiting for death
    Afraid everything

    the virus came from hell

    the virus came from hell
    staying home waiting for death
    Afraid everything

    Bring Out Your Dead

    bring out your dead cries
    break out all over the world
    we are waiting death

    death comes knocking

    death comes knocking
    on our doorsteps tonight
    will God hear prayers

    be afraid afraid

    be afraid afraid
    Must be afraid every one
    Death is at our door

    The Virus Came From Hell

    the virus came from Hell
    ravaging the entire world
    all waiting for death

    from april 2020 Poems

    Cosmos’s 2020 April Poetry

    Wednesday April 1  Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent   writer’s digest prompt Posted

    corona virus
    corona virus

    Hope springs eternal in the winter of our discontent

    On the daily news that fills us with dread
    Perfect storm of hatred, fear and despair
    Everywhere we go nonstop fear broadcasted

    Despair fills my heart as I turn on the news
    Everywhere we are in the midst of the pandemic
    Simply put death is at hand

    Planning for the future yet waiting for death
    At worst we will all die not today but soon
    In the long term we are all dead

    Remembering the dead all around us
    yet I end this poem with a word of hope

    hoping for the best
    while preparing for the worst
    all I can do to stay sane
    as I await my fate

    on this dismal date
    April 1 is indeed
    April Fool’s date
    is that our fate
    this endless dance with death?

    and to end with a sign of hope
    I know that if I have you by my side
    I will survive I will survive
    until the end of time itself
    takes us to the other side

    based on writer’s digest daily April poetry month challenge to write a poem about hope

    the Virus King Has  Arrived

    poetry soup version is the Virus King has arrived = as poetry soup did not like the word “Hell”

    corona
    corona

    the virus from hell has arrived
    catching the world unprepared

    it erupted out of China
    then began its terrifying reign
    wiping out thousands of people
    destroying jobs and economies
    killing people left and right

    it seemed like something
    out of our worst nightmares
    but at least it was not
    the dreaded zombie flu
    perhaps that is next’s fall’s nightmare

    as the virus from hell
    prepares for a fresh assault
    to finish us all off

    second poem for april poetry month © 2 hours ago, john Cosmos Aller

      

    Thursday April 2 posting

    Kimchi Blues

    kimchi
    kimchi

    Oh yeah

    I got the kimchi blues
    every day since I first ate it
    back in the day

    long before i went to Korea
    ended up staying on in Korea
    after i retired from decade
    in the Foreign Service

    and ten years studying
    and living in Korea
    before I joined
    the Foreign Service

    When I first ate kimchi
    I was hooked
    sort of a spicier version

    of German sauerkraut
    which i loved on my top dog
    from Berkeley high school days

    then off to korea
    in the peace corps
    where I ate kimchi

    every day for every meal
    and eventually I woke up
    dreaming of kimchi and rice

    instead of pancakes and eggs
    then I knew
    that I had finally adjusted
    and was becoming half Korean

    and now I am a hopeless kimchi addict
    need to have my spicy kimchi
    which is so good for you

    perhaps even defeating the dreaded corona virus?
    who knows but I will be eating Kimchi
    until my day is done

    Friday April 3

    Humor keeps us sane

    Pensively prompt – unpublished

    corona virus
    corona virus

    it is a piece of what we need to do
    to prevent us from getting
    the dreaded corona virus
    coming up your nose

    Peacock Speaks

    peacock speaks
    peakcock speaks

    as the virus spreads
    around the world
    the peacock in the zoo
    speaks up

    talking on behalf
    of their fellow species
    he called upon humans
    to free them from their zoo prisons
    and let them be free

    before it was too late
    and humanity met their fate
    becoming a ghost in the wind

    creative talents unleashed prompt

    Iguana Talks to humanity

    iquana will miss human friends
    iguana will miss human friends

    the wise old Iguana
    woke from its nightmares
    of the end of the world

    as humanity faded away
    the iguana was scared
    but afraid of the future

    and he would miss
    his human friends

    creative talents unleashed prompt

    writing.com prompt daily dew april poems

    To all the friends I am about to loose

    over the years
    I have known so many people
    and now when the virus
    is spreading out around the world

    I will soon be hearing
    that this person has died
    and that person has died

    I will outlive many of my friends
    from around the world

    part of getting old
    something that I fear

    one day perhaps
    people will hear
    that jake has died

    and they will say
    that they barely knew me
    and wished that they had

    taken the time
    to become my friend
    Just as I think
    about all the friends

    i am about to loose
    to this killer virus
    running amuck

    writing.com prompt daily dew April poems

    corona fears

    covid 19 virus
    covid 19 virus

    corona
    the word fills us with dread
    spreading around the world today
    will we all survive this
    corona

    Saturday April 4

    quarantine blues

    quarantine
    quarantine

    Quarantine such an ugly word
    Unlike any other
    All at home
    Regardless of desires
    No where to go
    That is the worst part of it
    In fact enforced staying at home
    Not too bad
    Especially if I have you by my side

    Blues come over me
    Looking out the window
    Unable to go out
    Everyone everybody afraid
    Sums up my fearful fears

    poetry soup contest

    I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis

    I wish for peace and happiness
    during this time of despair
    pandemic fears all around us
    death stalking us daily

    I wish for health
    amid the carnage
    all around me

    I wish for leadership
    from our President
    from our governors
    and our congress

    and most importantly
    I wish that I will survive

    with my love at my side
    experiencing love
    in the time of corona

    Ten million stories in the Naked City

    there are a million stories
    every day in the naked city
    millions of people

    stripped naked
    to the bone
    staring down the dead
    the dead staring back

    in this time
    of pandemic
    the dead stare out at us

    mocking us
    as they leave the earth
    naked as when they arrived

    All poetry contest – write a naked poem

    The Mist from Hell Descends on the land

    the mist settles down on the land
    the mist covers us all
    the scent of death

    the grim reaper
    rides behind the miss
    infecting those around him

    the mark of death
    as the mist covers the land
    the end of the world
    comes with the mist from hell

    Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus

     

    jehova
    jehova

    Rev. Jake ’s on-line sermon on the Corona Virus

    I am reverend Jake and I have a message from God

    Last night I had a vision from God
    it was his message to the world
    about this pandemic we are facing

    I found myself in a large room
    Jehovah, God, was sitting in the middle
    surrounded by the other Gods
    they were all there

    Jesus on his right
    Allah on his left
    Buddha behind him

    Ganesh, Shiva, Kali
    Mohammed, Joseph Smith and other prophets
    Gabriel and other angels abound
    St Peter in front of his as his Chief of Staff

    Zeus, Jupiter, Minerva and ancient
    other gods all around him

    God spoke up
    He said
    I have a message for you

    to give to your people
    all of your people
    no matter what religion
    or no religion at all
    it is all one after all

    first the corona virus
    is a natural phenomenon
    we have no control
    over forces of nature

    and we did not send
    it to you
    to punish you
    for homosexuality
    or anything else at all

    Second obey the health directives
    stay at home
    do your services on line

    it is okay with us
    we are fine with that

    the blood of Jesus
    will not save you
    If you are in a crowded place
    like church or a mosque service

    the virus will spread
    and catch you in the end

    Prayers alone will not save you
    but please keep praying
    we do listen to your prayers
    but we can only do so much

    So please don’t allow the virus
    to spread
    because of your ignorance
    and fear

    realize that in the end
    the virus will do its thing
    and you will survive

    and we
    all the gods here
    love you humans

    and wish you well
    so stay at home
    practice self-distancing

    It is God’s will
    all will survive

    Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –

    pine trees jpeg
    pine trees jpeg

    under the canopy of the pine trees we lay
    along the world peace forest
    in Korea

    walking the forest
    in the spring time
    fearing the corona virus
    and everyone around us

    watch the snowing cherry trees
    and the wind whispering
    the voices of ghosts

    those newly dead
    and we lay down
    under the canopy of the pine trees

    waiting for our turn
    to face the grim reaper

    in this dismal day
    in April
    truly the cruelest month
    of them all

    from the poem ‘Under the canopy of pine trees
    poetry soup contest

    corona fears

    corona
    corona

    corona
    the word fills us with dread
    spreading around the world today
    will we all survive this
    corona

    to those I have lost

    with the corona virus upon us
    I am bracing to hear the news
    that so and so has died

    I reflect back
    on all the people in my life
    that I have already lost

    part of being older
    is that you lose people
    close to you along the way

    I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
    and my sister due to a freak illness in 2007
    and my mother due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
    and my father-in-law as well in 2007

    Demel Tucker

    high school debate teammate
    dead of HIV in 1995

    Julian Bartley and his son
    one of my favorite bosses
    died in a terrorist bombing
    in Nairobi in 1998

    Jon Weber college roommate
    dead due to prostate cancer
    in 2000

    Paul Simon  friend from the visa line
    dropped dead of a heart attack
    in 2004

    Ted Halstead
    one of my best bosses
    died of heart attack
    in 2007

    Chris Richard one of my former bosses
    dropped dead of a heart attack
    shortly before we were due
    to have lunch in 2014

    and so many others
    I have lost
    along the way

    and soon there will be
    so many more

    as I get old
    in the corona era

    writing.com daily dew drop prompt to write an elegy poem

    We live in an Orwellian world

    1984 image
    1984 images

    we are living
    in an Orwellian 1984 world
    and have been for decades

    we are assaulted daily
    by alternative realties
    promoted by various politicians
    designed to shut down
    all rational thought

    true Orwellian thought control
    and now with the corona virus
    massive surveillance
    has become the norm

    and when the crisis is over
    the surveillance will continue
    on one excuse after another

    forever as Orwell’s nightmare
    big brother ruling us all
    comes true

    based on the fear that the massive increase in social surveillance being deployed against the Corona virus will after the crisis is over continue forever under one excuse or another as the Orwellian big brother dictatorships around the world become permanent

    saeyeong jima  plays out in life

    The Korean Proverb
    saeyeong jima
    recently came to life in my life

    The meaning of the proverb
    Is that you can never know whether something
    will be good or bad

    and that unexpectedly
    what appears to be bad fortune
    turns out to be a good fortune

    The proverb played
    out recently in my life

    about lunar  New Year’s Day
    we were preparing to go to Thailand
    from two weeks from our home
    in South Korea

    and then at the end of February
    we would go to DC

    My wife blew out her lumber desk
    and we were forced to cancel our trips

    This occurred
    just as the coronavirus
    was taking off around the world

    and if we had gone
    we may have been stuck either in Thailand
    or we may have been stuck in the United States

    and traveling
    in the mist of a corona outbreak
    would probably mean
    that we would have been exposed
    to the virus

    instead we were forced to stay home
    and self quarantine ourselves
    and therefore
    we escaped being exposed to the coronavirus

    and we feel much safer
    here in Korea  where the outbreak is contained
    rather than in DC
    where it is still spreading everywhere

    so in a sense her misfortune
    throwing out her disk
    which resulted in us staying at home
    and avoiding the coronavirus

    is the true meaning
    of the Korean Chinese expression
    saeyeong jima

    writers digest prompt write a lucky/unlucky poem

    corona virus tanka

    corona virus
    it is spreading all over
    the world dying
    I walk down the path of life
    Along with love of my wife

    The best meal of my life

    korean feast jpg
    korean feast jpg

    the best meals of my life
    has always been what my wife
    cooks up for me every night

    she is a genius in the kitchen
    always making something great
    from the simplest ingredients

    Because she came down with celiac disease
    she could  only eat
    what she prepared from scratch

    and so she was forced
    to give up all processed foods

    and in the process she became
    the greatest cook
    in the universe

    I wait with baited breath
    to taste the great food
    that she creates for me

    on lunar new years
    she threw out her lumbar disk
    and we were forced to stay home

    just as the corona pandemic
    swept across the world

    if we had traveled
    we would have contracted
    the dreaded corona virus

    and we were forced
    to stay at home

    and she took advantage
    of staying at home
    to try new dishes
    every single day

    I recall the Korean proverb
    saeyeong jima

    as her misfortune
    turned into fortune

    and once again
    she saved me life

    I am the luckiest man in life
    the best fed man of all I know
    due to the cooking skills of my wife

    Writing.com daily dew drop prompt write a food poem

    corona virus haiku

    corona virus
    brings death and our destruction
    destroying our life

    White Flower spring Time Haiku

    white flowers in spring haiku
    white flowers in spring haiku

    now in the springtime
    white flowers blooming in the park
    corona death waits

    Woman releases balloons of hope

    ballons for peace
    ballons for peace

    A young woman
    walks in a park
    on a sunny spring day

    carrying 25 red balloons
    each red balloon
    contains  the name of those
    that recently died

    in the corona virus pandemic
    she is releasing the balloons
    hoping they would
    rise  to heaven

    with a request for God
    to hear her prayers
    End this pandemic
    End the death and destruction
    release us from the corona pandemic

    the woman releases the balloons
    and slowly walks back to her house
    to prepare to attend yet another funeral
    as the pandemic swirls all around her

    creative talents unleashed prompt

    life interrupted by corona

    covid19
    covid19

    we live in a strange world
    life interrupted by corona
    the virus spread throughout the world
    disrupting everything

    putting life on hold
    as more people
    hunkered down

    waiting for the virus
    to pass over us
    like in biblical times

    the virus
    will test us all

    and then
    we will all
    go back
    to life interrupted

    writing.com Daily Dew Drop interruption

    Saudade for friends I have lost

    as I get older
    I lose more people
    every year

    more people I knew
    have died moving on
    and I mourn their lost friendship

    wished I had been
    a better friend for them
    and knew them better

    and with the corona virus
    spreading around the world
    I will lose so many more

    in the coming year
    as the virus spreads
    its malignancy far and wide

    I lost my father due to cancer in 1985
    and my sister
    due to a freak illness in 2007

    and my mother
    due to Alzheimer’s in 2005
    and my father-in-law as well in 2007

    Demel Tucker
    high school debate teammate
    dead of HIV in 1995

    Julian Bartley and his son
    died in a terrorist bombing
    in Nairobi in 1998

    Jon Weber college roommate
    dead due to prostate cancer
    in 2000

    Paul Simon  friend from the visa line
    dropped dead of a heart attack
    in 2004

    Ted Halstead
    one of my best bosses
    died of heart attack in 2007

    Judy Fine
    My Co-Ho partner in crime
    died in 2006

    Chris Richard
    one of my former bosses
    from my days in Bangkok

    dropped dead of a heart attack
    shortly before we were due
    to have lunch in 2014

    and so many others
    I have lost
    along the way

    and soon there will be
    so many more
    as I get old in the corona era

    writing.com  saudade poem

    The end of the world news depresses me

    trump jpg
    trump jpg

    the end of the world news
    depresses me
    makes me want to shout and scream
    STFU leave me alone
    to deal with my grief

    amid the death and destruction
    watching CNNMSNBCFOXBBC media nonstop
    filled with essential dread
    the end of the world is upon us

    from the screaming news media
    spreading forth across the land
    fake news screams the president
    all is alright he proclaims

    no one believes his 16,000 lies
    and so it goes

    we are drowning with information
    coming at us so fast and furious

    When will it end my friend
    is anyone’s guess
    in the long run we are dead

    National poetry Month Day Seven poem inspired by the news

    God Did not Send the Corona Virus  as a Punishment Black Out Poem

    Robert_Jeffress
    Robert_Jeffress

     original text

    During a press briefing today to address the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was asked about certain Christian pastors who plan to defy state lockdown orders and hold Easter church services this Sunday.

    “I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”

    Trump then referred to a notorious pastor who sits on his religious advisory council.

    “I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”

    Jeffress is known for his litany of statements demonizing the LGBT community, abortion, and secular people. One of his most reviled comments came in 2015 when he said the 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.

    “People ask me all the time,” Jeffress said during a speech at Liberty University. “‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”

    “I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree … that they are better off doing what they are doing, which is, distancing,” Trump said, adding that the pastors want to “get back to church so badly.”

    Black out text

    the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump

    hold Easter church services this Sunday.

    “I’ve had talks with the pastors, get back to church so badly.”
    “He’s a great guy and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”
    he 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment on America for abortion.

    “People ask me all the time,” ‘Well, I just don’t understand why God wouldn’t protect our nation and he would allow these radical Muslims in 2001 to kill 3,000 of our citizens and why God doesn’t protect us. Surely, God doesn’t use pagans to bring judgment upon his own people, does he?’”

    Poem

    Corona Pandemic is Not’s God’s Punishment

    Amid  the coronavirus pandemic,
    President Trump
    Attended virtual Easter church services
    I’ve had talks with the pastors,

    We need to get back
    to church so badly.”

    Rev Jeffries is  a great guy
    I’m going to be watching on a laptop.”

    Rev Jeffries said

    The 9/11 attacks were God’s punishment
    on America for abortion.

    “People ask me all the time,”
    ‘Well, I just don’t understand
    why God wouldn’t protect our nation

    and he would allow these
    radical Muslims in 2001
    to kill 3,000 of our citizens
    and why God doesn’t protect us

    Surely, God doesn’t use pagans
    to bring judgment
    upon his own people,
    does he?’”

    I am sad to report
    Rev Jeffries
    I spoke to God

    This morning
    He confirmed
    He did not cause 9-11
    To bring judgement
    On the US
    For abortion

    He went on to say
    The corona virus
    Is beyond his control

    And he is not sending it
    To punish the US
    Or the world

    His final words
    Please tell Rev Jeffries
    To simply STFU

    poetry super highway black out poem

    the End

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    More Corona Virus Poems

    Note:  Most of these poems were written in May to July, 2020. I plan on updating this once a month or more often as the muse strikes me. I am hunkering down in South Korea where the virus is slowly spreading but mostly contained.  It is a sad community that a country that has 1/6 the population of the US and is very congested should have so few cases -13,000 cases vrs 3 million + in the U.S. as I write this July 15, 2020. Some of these poems are sarcastic, some are magical realism as I imagine General Corona  leading his army.  See the first one where I introduce the character of  General Corona.  Even an invisible army needs a general, don’t you think?  Enjoy and feel free to send me your poem for a future guest posting.  I have updated also my earlier postings – see revised corona poems.  There were  just too many to include in one posting.

    Enjoy

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    Corona Virus is Not God’s Punishment

    tChristian Right on Corona

    Wearing a Mask Controversy 

    Palm Beach article on Mask Controversy

    Index

    New poems

    General Corona Appears in a Vision

    God Fearing Christian Patriots Willing to Die to Breath mask Free –  Eight  found Poems

    1 Devil Love

    2.   Do You Think You are God?

    3 Going Against God’s Breathing System

    4    We the People Will Rise Up

    5  Are You Insane?

    6  What About Bill Gates?

    7. Listen to Q and Get Educated

    8   Never Again

    Conservative Christian Activist Says He would rather be beheaded than wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID 19  Found Poems
    Corona pantoum
    To wear or not wear a mask that is the question Stop Testing, Found Poem
    I am going to mess you up, Dude!
    Reality Bites
    Corona hits Me Hard
    Corona fears haiflu
    Corona Hits Me Hard
    Corona Virus Paranoia<
    watching as the entire world falls apart
    The Last Day of America
    Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate
    Packages from God
    corona-consumes-
    ARC Throws Back the Hood
    Covid madness sweeps through the world
    Wearing a Mask is Not a Political Statement
    Surely not kill man
    Wear the Damn Mask
    My psychoanalyst thinks I’m perfectly right
    Mad mask fears
    Jesus would have masked up
    Total success
    Talk is cheap
    The corona virus is not dying out Mr. President
    General corona is pleased
    Wear the damn mask
    An Old man refuses to wear the mask of death
    Poetic Justice at work Found Poem<
    American Independent kwoa poems
    Everything is Every Thing
    Anytime the Corona Winds Blows
    Ain’t Karma a bitch, Mr. President
    Governor Covid Victim Poetic Justice

    Older Poems  see corona virus revised

    the Virus from Hell is amused

    End of the World
    Every Day I Turn on the News *
    Irony Meters Blow Gaskets
    Chaos *
    Corona Virus Fears Tanka
    My Phobias Overwhelm Me
    Fear Fills the Air
    More Trouble Every Day
    Trouble Every Day Frank Zappa
    The Torture Never Stops – Frank Zappa
    by pass the alarms spreading across the land
    corona cinqk
    Taking a Walk in the Corona Era
    A lone man stands in an empty parking lot
    empty parking lot
    It is a hell of a world we live in ain’t it?
    Pause for a moment amidst the media madness
    I feel as if the whole world needs to be cancelled
    The Virus King Cried *
    Bring out your dead
    the Virus Came From Hell
    The Delivery System of the Virus is Round
    the corona virus is testing us all
    The call goes out
    the four horse men ready to ride
    nature spirits revolt agains humanity
    Last Human on Island
    corona virus Haiku
    hell
    Bring Out Your Dead
    death comes knocking
    be afraid afraid
    The Virus Came From Hell
    Hope Springs Eternal in our Winter of our Discontent
    the Virus King Has Arrived
    Kimchi Blues
    Humor keeps us sane
    Peacock Speaks
    Iguana Talks to humanity
    To all the friends I am about to loose
    corona fears
    quarantine blues
    I Wish for Peace During this time of crisis
    Ten million stories in the Naked City
    The Mist from Hell Descends on the land
    Conversation with the Gods About Corona Virus
    Under the canopy of the pine trees we lay –
    corona fears
    to those I have lost
    We live in an Orwellian world
    새영 지마 saeyeong jima  plays out in life
    corona virus tanka
    The best meal of my life
    corona virus haiku
    White Flower spring Time Haiku
    Woman releases balloons of hope
    life interrupted by corona
    Saudade for friends I have lost
    The end of the world news depresses me
    God Did not Send the Corona Virus  as a Punishment Black Out Poem

    New Poems

    General Corona Appears in a Vision

    One day I was half napping
    Watching the President drone on
    About him being a war time president
    battling an invisible army

    I beheld a vision of great terror
    I saw a huge black General
    General Corona himself
    Dressed in star wars imperial
    black storm trooper robocop uniform

    Riding a black horse
    The black horseman
    From revelations
    Live and in living color

    And he took off his helmet
    And turned to me

    He screamed
    Death to all humans

    Addressing his invisible army
    Newly visible to me
    Millions of virus bots
    In imperial storm trooper uniforms
    Carrying imperial ray gun weapons

    The virus bot army
    Joined in the battle cry
    Death to all humans
    Death to all humans
    All humans must die

    I woke up
    And turned off the TV
    And went for a walk

    To clear my head
    Of this vision
    Of General Corona

    God Fearing Christian Patriots Willing to Die to Breath mask Free – found Poems

    Residents in Palm Beach Florida erupt over new face mask rule – CNN Video

    comment: found poems based on public testimony before the West Palm Beach county commission’s hearing on imposing a mask requirement. The commissioners voted 7 to 2 to impose the requirement.  I mixed in some of my own stanzas here and there for clarification or emphasis.

     

    Devil Love

    Devil love is propelling the “deep state
    to stomp on the U.S. Constitution
    and deprive us of our God-given oxygen
    along with our inalienable rights

    making us wear face masks
    on orders from those
    who are poised to
    And those officials
    who follow the devil’s law

    “I can’t understand
    why you would all
    decide something like this

    and want to hurt the people.
    You’re going to harm
    the health of all of the people

    “Every single one of you has a smirk
    behind that little mask,

    will be subject to citizen’s arrest
    by We the People
    for crimes against humanity.

    “My name is Butch Dias,
    and I am an American patriot“

    See that flag?
    I would die for that flag!

    The Constitution
    that you are supposed to uphold
    I would die for that!”

    “You didn’t listen
    to We the People!”

    “But what’s going to happen when you get the call…
    ‘Oh, we got to defund the police,
    we got to get rid of them.’..

    Who’s going to arrest the people
    [not] wearing stupid masks?…
    What are you going to do?

    How are you going to put the people down?”
    It breaks my heart,
    because I would die for that flag,

    I would die for this country,
    and I would die for the Constitution.

    And you guys are supposed
    to uphold the Constitution.
    But you know what?

    You didn’t.

    You let We the People down.”

     Do You Think You are God?

    Hey,
    good morning.
    Let me ask you all

    Do you believe you’re God?
    “Do you believe you can override
    God’s divine plan for our lives?

    Do you believe God gave us life
    and God takes away our life?
    Well, if you answer yes
    to all these questions,

    who gives you
    the right to choose
    how we live our lives?

    I choose faith
    over fear every day
    You’re not God,

    and since masks are harmful
    where there is risk
    there should be choice.

    Turning Your Backs On God’s Breathing System

     

    “I’d like to say, in the beginning God
    formed man out of the earth
    and breathed his breath in him
    and he became a living soul,

    “And they want to throw God’s
    wonderful breathing system out the door,”

    “You’re all turning your backs on it.
    Can you prove that it’s good for people
    to breathe carbon dioxide over
    and over and over again?

    God made it so that
    we would breathe
    in fresh oxygen,

    to go to our body
    to every cell in the body
    It has to have that
    to make energy.

    When you wear a mask,
    the nose is cut off,
    the mouth is cut off.”
    and you can’t breath
    Just like George Floyd

    “And you’re breathing carbon dioxide
    over and over and over again.
    You’re not getting the fresh oxygen
    that God intended
    .
    You’re sending carbon dioxide
    to every cell in the body,
    polluting it
    Especially the brain…”

    “I don’t wear a mask
    for the same reason
    I don’t wear underwear
    Things got to breathe.”

    The virus is going to keep on going
    because people’s bodies are being polluted
    and the virus is attracted to polluted bodies

    You’re going against God’s
    wonderful gift he gave us.”

    “And they want to throw God’s
    wonderful breathing system out the door,”

    “You’re all turning your backs on it.
    Can you prove that it’s good for people
    to breathe carbon dioxide over
    and over and over again?

    “I can’t understand
    why you would all
    decide something like this

    and want to hurt the people.
    You’re going to harm
    the health of all of the people

    You’re going against God’s
    wonderful gift he gave us.”

    Do You Want to Be Known as Communist Dictators?

    You’re removing our freedoms
    and stomping on
    our constitutional rights
    by these communist
    dictatorship orders…

    If you do vote
    to mandate masks
    in the workplace

    and public schools
    and stores,
    the death of many
    will be on your hands.”

    “Do you want to be called,
    known for communist dictators?
    Is this the legacy you want
    to be known for?

    Do you want to be responsible
    for fear mongering misinformation
    The problem with humanity
    today is ignorance, arrogance,
    and apathy.

    Keep listening to the TV
    brainwashing you
    from birth.

    Keep listening to conditioning messages
    in your local stores
    while shopping, just like Fidel Castro
    did over loudspeakers in Cuba.

    Don’t you see the problem?
    The truth is out there…
    Remember, God is watching you.”

    but every single one of you
    are going to get punished by God.”

    We the People Will Rise Up

     

    “What I came to say is
    We the People
    will work day and night
    to clean every single seat
    if need be,”

    “We will get together
    and do a citizen’s arrest
    on every single human being
    that goes against
    the freedom of choice, OK?

    You cannot mandate
    knowing that the mask is killing people..
    and every single one of you

    that’s obeying the devil’s law
    are going to be arrested
    And you are going to be arrested
    for crimes against humanity.”

    but every single one of you
    are going to get punished by God.

    You cannot escape God.
    I’m going to say that again.’
    You cannot escape God.”

    “Not even with a mask
    or 6 feet
    OK, 6 feet
    is military protocol.

    Are you insane?

    You’re trying
    to get the people
    to train them<

    so when the cameras,
    the 5G come out,
    when they’re going to scan everybody.

    We got to get scanned
    we got to get temperatured,
    the kids have to go to school with masks.”

    She posited a question
    that she might have been asked herself.
    “Are you insane?

    Are you crazy?
    I think all of you should
    be in a psych ward right the heck now

    Because none of you,
    none of you know
    what the hell
    you are talking about.

    This is insane.
    And then you want to
    open the meeting
    with a prayer to God

    Are you praying to the devil?
    Because God
    is not listening to that prayer

    wearing a mask
    is a sign of disrespect
    to the President

    trump
    trump

     

     

     

     

    and to God
    who anointed him
    to be our leader
    in this dark and dangerous times

    What About Bill Gates?

    Bill Gates
    Bill Gates

     

     

     

     

     

    “There’s not enough [COVID] to make it a pandemic
    This is a planned-demic.”
    Funded by Bill Gate, George Soros
    and Mark Zuckerberg’s Chinese wife

    A Chinese bioweapon
    Launched to take down our great president
    Yet do nothing about it

    What about Bill Gates?
    Mark Zuckerberg and his Chinese Wife
    daughter of a Chinese General
    and George Soros

    Why are they not in jail?

    why is Bill Gates not in Jail?
    Why is Mark Zuckerberg ?
    and his Chinese wife not in jail?
    why is George Soros not in Jail?
    Why is Hillary Clinton not in jail?
    Why is Obama not in jail?
    why is sleepy Joe Biden not in jail?
    why is Hunter Biden the evil mastermind
    not in jail?

    Why are all these pedophiles
    not in jail?

    that are demanding
    you all to listen to their rules,

    You must remember Obamagate
    And don’t forget Bhenzazi
    and Hillary’s emails

    Do you take your orders from Jeffry Epstein?
    “Oh, is it because you’re part of them?…
    Are you reptilian shapeshifters

    The deep state is going down
    and if any of you are in the deep state,
    you’re going down with it.”

    Never Again

    “Discriminating against certain groups
    of people
    while exempting others
    is a violation of your civil rights,”

    Stop mandating  masks
    the way the Nazis
    once mandated
    yellow stars for Jews

    Following World War II,
    we Jews said ‘Never Again.’…
    In Germany, Poland,
    and across Europe

    we were forced
    to wear a gold star,
    told to get on a box car
    to be taken to a safe place.

    In reality, what happened?
    If we forget history,
    we are doomed to repeat it.”

    “This is not about health,
    this is about submission.”

    the mark of the beast is coming
    the anti-Christ walks among us

    “Well, guess what, the riots are spreading, too!”
    And what the hell are we going
    to do about that?

    We’re going to arrest patriots;
    for not wearing a mask?
    That’s what you want?”

    “And I say Trump 2020!”

    Conservative Christian Activist Says He would rather be beheaded than wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID 19

    comment : Found Poem – with a few of my own stanzas mixed in

    Scot LivelyScot Lively

    scot Lively Would Rather be Be-headed than Wear a Mask

    Conservative Christian activist
    says he would rather be beheaded
    than wear a mask
    to prevent
    the spread of COVID-19.

    a radical anti-LGBT Trump-loving
    conservative Christian,
    Lively argues that requiring citizens
    to wear a mask to fight the coronavirus pandemic

    is like the Nazis requiring Jewish individuals
    to wear a yellow star on their clothing,
    and an unacceptable overreach
    of government power.

    These things must be balanced
    against the disastrous consequences
    of surrendering personal liberty
    to overreaching government,

    especially regarding face masks,
    and enforced social distancing
    which are in some ways worse
    than police-enforced lockdowns

    because they represent
    a literal in-your-face exercise
    of statist power

    like Islamist head coverings for women
    or the Nazis’ yellow star for Jews.

    Unnecessary enforced public mask wearing,
    as opposed to voluntary reasonable usage,
    is no less a statement

    of psychological submission
    to higher authority
    than a dog collar.
    In the greater scheme of things,

    I believe liberty is more important
    than security if one is forced
    to choose between those two.

    Those who don’t believe
    that are ripe for the Mark of the Beast,

    which is what this entire season
    of chaos is really about, in my view.

    Personally, I would rather die
    or be maimed from COVID-19—
    or be beheaded by a mob
    of anarchists and Islamists—

    than become a safe slave
    in a global totalitarian government.
    Led by Satan’s tool
    Joe Biden, the anti-Christ

    Corona pantoum

    corona virus spreading death
    as our politicians continue lying
    many people refuse to wear masks
    so many people lie dying
    as our politicians continue lying
    Spreading lies and misinformation
    so many people lie dying
    With hatred spreading across the nation
    If only people did what they should

    Corona Virus Spreading Death

    corona virus spreading death
    Our leaders say everything is good
    many people refuse to wear masks

    To wear or not wear a mask that is the question
    found poems

    Real Patriots Don’t wear Masks

    no masks
    no masks

     

     

     

     

     

    To wear or not wear a mask
    Is the question
    That bedevils the world
    From Brazil to the White House
    Ohio and Texas
    The call has gone out

    Wearing a mask
    Means you are a liberal weak sissy man
    Or woman Listening to
    the government’s propaganda

    or the evil fake news
    enemies of the people
    or are a libtard democrat
    anti-Trump anti-American terrorist

    and disrespect the President
    and God
    who anointed him to be President
    in these dark and dangerous times

    No Masks Needed in Ft. Bend God’s Texas Home

     

    ft Bend court house
    Fort_bend_courthouse

    Well, not in Ft. Bend County
    We will not trample
    on the individual rights of Texans
    to provide a false sense of security

     

     

     

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    It is nothing serious at all

    I have 826 staff
    at the Ft. Bend Sheriff’s Office.
    We interact with the public daily.

    3 months,
    I’ve had just 2 officers
    test positive
    I have over 800 inmates
    and staff in the jail
    and not a single positive test
    NOT ONE.

    Fort Bend County
    Confirmed 5,015
    Deaths 63
    Texas
    Confirmed 274K
    Deaths 313<

    as of 7/15/2020

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    nothing serious at all

    No one’s been hospitalized
    Except in Houston
    and other Godless cities

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    It is nothing serious at all

    Here in FT Bend
    The blood of Jesus
    Will protect The good christians

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    It is nothing serious at all

    Only non-Christian heathens
    are catching the china virus

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    It is nothing serious at all

    “I encourage people to wear a mask
    if they have one

    I encourage people
    to wash their hands frequently,”

    Cough cough cough
    Nothing but a cold
    It is nothing serious at all

    “I encourage people to do
    the right thing to help
    protect our most vulnerable,

    Houston Imposing a Mask Mandate Represents Government Tyranny

    But government mandated
    That is a step too far
    this government MANDATE
    from Harris County
    is unnecessary, unconstitutional, and unAmerican”

    “It’s an unprecedented overreach
    which looks more
    like a communist dictatorship
    than a free Republic”.
    ”
    And here in Texas
    We believe
    That people have to make

    Their own decisions”

    What About Seat Belts and Drunk Driving?

    What’s that?

    Drunk driving should be okay?
    Driving without seat belts<
    Or insurance should be okay?

    What is wrong with you people
    Requiring people to wear a mask
    Is not the same thing at all

    It is communism socialism fascism
    Liberalism nanny state run amok
    And we will not stand by it

    “At this point,
    I see it as nothing
    more than politics

    Governor Abbott announces a trajectory
    to start reopening Texas
    and Harris County,
    which never even utilized
    its $60 MILLION
    pop up hospital at NRG,
    implements a mandate
    for face masks on 4 million people”

    The other counties to do it are Dallas,
    Bexar, and Travis.
    These are the 3 most liberal counties
    in the state of Texas.

    Coincidence?

    I

    DON’T

    THINK

    SO.”

    They are all filled
    with godless libtards,
    GovBots, Gays and anti-Christians
    Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Atheists
    minorities, illegal aliens
    black people, brown people
    yellow and red people
    DEMOCRATS, socialists
    anti-fa protestors
    anarchists

    Who hate America
    Hate our beloved President
    hate our Governor
    Hate our Senators
    Hate god
    our freedom
    and our Christian family values
    in TEAXAS

    “I believe we’ve seen
    the worst of this war.”

    What?

    There has been a record breaking
    Increase in covid cases
    Just more fake news
    Everything is fine

    Note: the good sheriff was talking
    in late June
    before everything went to hell
    so perhaps he can be forgiven
    a bit for being behind
    the power curve
    so to speak End Note

    “Here ins Texas

    Cough cough cough

    And we’re closer to victory
    than we’ve ever been.”

    Note: every word in that sentence
    has been proven to be completely wrong
    End Note

    “Let’s keep doing our part
    to be conscious of others
    when we’re out
    and make sure to hold
    government accountable, always”

    How is this not an endorsement
    mandated mask wearing?
    I just don’t understand

    Sheriff, please explain it again?

    Ah I get it now
    Voluntary mask wearing
    encouraged by government officials
    in Republican cities Good

    mandated mask wearing
    by government officials
    in democratic cities
    evil totalitarian overreach

    If You are Black and Wear a Mask We will Pull You Over

    But don’t wear a mask
    If you do
    We will pull you over

    Because you are probably
    A criminal type
    particularly if you are black,
    brown, yellow or red

    and you will be charged
    with something
    because you must be guilty
    of something

    if you are white
    you will be given a mask
    and told to have a nice day

    And we don’t want your kind
    Living and polluting
    Our great Texas state

    Cough cough cough

    You have to ask your self
    Are you tired of living

    in a dictatorship yet?

    STOP GETTING TESTED!

     

    corona testing
    corona testing

    This is what happens
    when people go crazy
    and get tested.
    you test people
    and you find cases

     

    if you don’t test people
    then there will be no cases
    and like magic
    the problem disappears

    so I say to you
    “STOP GETTING TESTED
    It only encourages them
    to  require more testing

    When will this government madness end”

    Cough cough cough

    “It is giving the government
    an excuse to claim something
    is happening that is not happening
    at the magnitude they say it is happening.”
    It is all fake news

    I mean how many people
    Do you know
    Who have died
    From the china flu?

    Cough cough cough

    I don’t know anyone personally
    That has died
    It is all a hoax
    By the fake news media

    “Have you noticed they never
    talk about death anymore,
    just cases?

    And they never
    talk about recoveries.
    They just keep adding
    to numbers they
    have been feeding us
    from over 3 months ago!”

    Cough cough cough

    Don’t Believe the Lies There is No COVID

    “It is all lies”
    “Wake up America”
    “Don’t believe the lies”

    “There is no covid 19
    It is just a bad china flu
    That the Chinese unleashed”

    To take down our President
    Because he dared to stand up
    To the bullies in China

    Make America great again
    Don’t get tested
    And don’t wear a mask
    The blood of Jesus
    Will protect you always

    Corona fever – I am going to mess you up, Dude!

    temperatured jpeg
    temperatured jpeg

    In this day and age of temperature testing
    Everywhere one goes
    It is important to remember what the tests mean
    And what they don’t mean

     

     

     

    First temperature tests are a crude instrument
    All it is says is that you are sick
    Dude with something bad

    Could be the flu
    Could be the dreaded corona
    Could be malaria, yellow fever
    Zika or any number of very bad things

    But what ever dude,
    you got temperatured
    And is is high
    so dude just deal with it

    So stay from here
    Until you are either better
    Test negative for the dreaded Corona
    Or die of it

    That is all it means
    many people will
    not know they have it
    And many have it
    And many people will spread it
    Even though they are temperatured
    Clear negative
    good to go
    And free of the fever

    For the sad reality
    Is that the fever comes
    Near the end

    And what is means
    Is that the mean old general corona
    Has a message for yah

    It goes like this

    Dude you got a fever
    And you know it ain’t the flu
    Ain’t dengue, malaria or yellow fever
    Or Zika or any other damn thing

    It is the dreaded Corona
    It means that I your beloved general
    Has grabbed you

    And I am going to mess you up
    So when you get corona virus dude
    You will wish you were dead
    You will ache all over
    Have pain from hell
    And you will cough
    Up a storm

    Maybe even rush to the ER
    Be told
    Ain’t no room for ya
    You damn fool

    Go home to die
    Or wait outside
    Until we can see yah
    We don’t care any more
    Dude!

    You are now just a damn
    Statistical number
    Potential death number 51000 today

    And you will beg me
    To release you
    To send you to your maker
    God or the devil is waiting
    Grim reaper has your number

    And you know what
    I might do that

    Or I might just say
    You will live

    And walk away
    And my minions will infect
    Yet another foolish dude
    Not wearing a mask

    And so it goes
    Nothing political
    I don’t care who you are
    Who you voted for
    And the blood of Jesus
    buddha or any other god
    Won’t save your sorry ass

    As they say
    Dude your ass is grass
    And I am the lawn mower

    Yeah dude

    When I get my hands on yah
    It means I am going to have my fun
    Dude it means I am going
    to mess you up

    And your loved ones
    And your cute cousin
    And that girl you’ve been crushing on

    Particularly if you know kissed her
    Yeah way to go dude
    Spread me around
    I love it dude !

    But don’t fret
    Dude it ain’t personal
    Hell not, is just ya know
    its a virus thing

    You would not understand
    Just the sort of thing
    I do ya know

    Reality Bites

     

    To those who deny reality
    To those who refuse to see
    And refuse to understand
    To those who think

    That you can deny the truth
    Remember this my friends
    Reality is not your friend
    Reality does not have a conservative bias

    It does not have a liberal bias
    It just is
    That is what reality is
    And reality

    Does not like to be mocked
    Does not like to be ignored
    If you deny reality its due

    It will rise up
    Like an avenging angel
    And bite you in the ass

    Teaching you that on the date
    That you ignore reality
    You met your fate
    That is the will of reality

    Corona hits Me Hard

    One day I wake up
    And see an old black man
    dressed in a general’s uniform
    Sitting at my computer

    I ask him
    Who the hell are you?

    He says
    Allow me to introduce myself
    I am general corona
    And you belong to me now

    If you are nice to me
    I might let you live
    But in the meantime

    I am going to mess you up
    You will get ill
    You will feel a lot of pain

    Coughing up a strom
    Won’t be able to breath
    And wish you were dead

    It ain’t personal dude
    It is just a virus thing
    You would not understand
    And he presses a button
    And the fun and games begin

    Corona fears haiflu

    Corona virus
    Fear of death everywhere
    End of our world

    Corona Virus Paranoia

    fears of the corona virus
    fear of the coming pandemic
    paranoia in the air
    fear of the other
    fear of the coming super bug
    the end of the world
    all wrapped up
    in a simple weaponized virus

    watching as the entire world falls apart

    watching as the entire world falls apart
    consumed by fears of the end of the world
    things continue to fall apart around us
    humanity turns to silent gods
    who turn a deaf ear to our suffering madness
    as the virus from hell spreads out all around
    fearful people desperately running here
    fearful people desperately running there
    praying to the silent gods above us all
    to rescue them from this hellish nightmare fate
    that seems to becoming our fate this late date
    and as we all die a million deaths
    just our fate

    The Last Day of America

    trump 4
    trump 4

    the last day of America
    was the day we last voted
    the last election we ever had

     

     

    For on that day
    a month before
    the corona virus re-emerged

    as the great re-opening
    of the US economy
    failed to stop the relentless spread
    of the virus from hell
    led by General Corona

    causing panic and mass confusion
    fear kept Americans home

    and Donald Trump
    was re-elected
    because his voters

    believed that God
    had told them to vote
    for their new found king

    the newly energized President Trump
    declared a national emergency
    martial law
    and suspension of the constitution

    Promising to restore democracy
    when the time was right

    he promised his followers
    that he would restore Christian values
    renaming the United States
    the Christian States of America

    on that date
    we met our fate

    Christian fascism
    was here to stay
    as the time was never right
    to restore the old Republic

    that was the last day
    of American

    Plane, Train or Automobile – none of us can escape our fate

    airplanes
    airplanes

    in these dark and dire times
    we find ourselves living

    we often fear that the times
    are infected with death
    and so we are afraid
    deathly afraid
    that if we take a plane

     

     

    we will find General Corona
    among the passengers

    and we be afraid
    deadly afraid

    that the subways
    are incubators
    of death and destruction

    the virus spreads
    fear and death
    in its wake

    many of us
    retreating to our homes
    and venturing out
    in our cars

    only to find
    death is stalking us
    as traffic piles up

    traffic accidents
    still killing more people
    that the dreaded General Corona

    the grim reaper smiles
    his work is done

    Satan thanks General Corona
    for a job well done

    awarding him a Satanic
    medal of freedom
    Hell’s highest honor

    Packages from God

    they say that God
    works in mysterious ways
    his wonders to perform

    every day it seems
    that more and more
    of what we buy
    and consume

    comes in packages
    sent from here and there
    as people

    continue to practice
    social distancing

    and going to the store
    becomes an exercise

    fraught with peril
    and danger

    so we order
    on-line
    and we get our packages
    sent from here and there

    one day we received
    a gift package
    of clams
    delicious fresh clams

    as I ate them
    I thought of the workers

    who had labored unseen
    for me to enjoy
    this bounty from the sea

    and I gave thanks
    to the gods
    for making it happen
    in this day and age

    we should thank
    those who are still
    laboring to feed the world

    they are the unsung heroes
    of this war fought by nature
    under the direction
    of General Corona

    corona-consumes-

    I am consumed by the corona virus
    and I am slowly being taken over
    as the virus infects my mind

    taking me over turning me
    into a wild raving zombie man
    Let there be light

    will I become the first

    ZOMBIE APOLYCAPASE LOOMS

    WILL WE ALL DIE

    CORONA

    KILLS

    ME

    content tracing – Let there be light from Bible and the entire Zombie Apocalypse genre where the Zombie flu started usually in China as a flu and then morphs into the zombie disease

    ARC Throws Back the Hood

    Arthur Robert Copper
    aka ARA the notorious international terrorist
    threw back his hood
    and revealed himself
    to be the evil warlord
    that had unleashed
    General Corona on the world
    his goal
    nothing less that total domination
    taking over the world
    amid the total destruction of the world’s economy
    as he and his billionaire buddies
    reamed the profits
    of the total destruction of the world’s economy

    Covid madness sweeps through the world

    General Corona
    unleashes his army
    the invisible army
    upon the world

    killing millions
    in its wake
    spreading chaos and death

    as he rides in
    on the black horse of death
    harbinger of the end of days

    destroyer of worlds
    ending of the world
    revelations come to life

    social distancing walking in the Springtime

    peace forest
    peace forest

    in this era of corona virus madness
    enforced social distancing madness
    one has to go out for a walk

    social distancing  as we walk
    as we walk down the path
    trying to avoid people

     

     

     

    human contact with people
    keeping the proper
    six feet social distance

    and the dreaded corona virus
    how much longer

    can we all endure this madness
    this damn social
    distancing dance with death

    Wearing a Mask is Not a Political Statement

    these days to wear a mask or not
    has become a political statement
    wearing a mask is a sign of weakness to many
    or common sense to protect us all

    to those who refuse to wear a mask
    I want to say to you what is wrong with you
    have you lost your sense of humanity ?

    so consumed with desires to get politically even
    you would endanger us all?
    and yourself

    General Corona and his evil invisible army
    does not care who you are
    wearing a mask might keep the general
    from infecting you and us all

    so please wear the mask my friends

    Surely Not Kills man

    in these dark and dangerous times
    we find ourselves in
    we all rush about trying to avoid
    getting sick with the dreaded Corona Virus

    but time waits for no one
    no one can escape one’s fate

    “Surely not” Kills man

    AS WE WAIT

    FOR OUR FATE

    TO MEET US THIS DATE

    WE

    ALL

    WIL

    DIE

    Content: Korean Proverb Surely Not Kills Man

    My psychoanalyst thinks I’m perfectly right

    I won’t say the Lord’s prayer 
    I have mystical vibrations and cosmic vibrations
    America in the era of corona virus
    is a strange place filled with fear
    as the build up inequities 
    lay bare the country falling apart
    nothing seems to work any more

    THE LEADERS REFUSE

    TO LEAD THE COUNTRY

    PREPARING FOR THE END

    THE

    END

     

    TIMES

    COME

    Content Tracing: From America Allen Ginsberg

    Mad Mask Fears

    I don’t understand
    this morbid irrational fear of wearing a mask
    somehow making you weak
    that wearing a maskis a political statement

    “Midway upon the journey of our life

    I found myself with a forest dark

    for the straightforward pathway had been lost”

    THE THOUGHT COMES TO MIND

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE

    LOST

    THEIR

    MINDS

    content tracing Dante Inferno Canto one Line 1 to 3

    Jesus would mask up

     

    Jeus

    to my friends in America
    and around the world
    to those who think
    that somehow

    the corona virus
    only infects other people
    that it is all a liberal hoax
    overblown

     

     

    nothing more than a bad flu
    and nothing to do with me
    demanding that we all go
    back to work

    what is wrong with you?
    have you lost your humanity?
    will millions have to die
    so you can have a Big Mac?

    and a beer in a bar
    whenever you damn please

    whenever you damn please
    and no one can tell you
    What to do
    to wear  a mask

    please wear a mask
    have you lost all reason
    is it all now about owning the dems
    and the damn libtards

    is there any thing left
    in your cold greedy heart?
    Other than hate
    and you still proclaim

    that you are Christian
    as you violate all the Christian principles
    what would Jesus do
    what does the bible say

    what does the bible say
    what is the Christian thing to do

    what is the Christian thing to do
    to let millions of people die
    did not Christ talk about love
    compassion and mercy

    would not Jesus
    wear a mask
    to protect himself and others
    from this ravaging disease

    that does not care who you are
    who you voted for
    which church you go to
    and Jesus and all the other Gods

    are not there watching
    Watching all of us
    as the virus spreads
    it will affect you

    it will affect you
    sooner or later

    perhaps if you had worn a mask
    Following Jesus’s example
    you might have prevented
    The deaths of thousands of people

    a few less people
    Would have died a few more people
    Including your grandparents
    Your parents might be alive

    if you were not such
    a self-centered person
    A few more people
    Might be alive today

    If only you
    had worn a mask
    and done what Jesus
    would have you do

    just man up
    and mask up

    total Success

     

    Jared_Kushner_June_2019
    Jared_Kushner_June_2019

    The President’s Son-in-law declares
    that the government’s response
    to the corona virus
    has been a total success

    as the government
    step up to the plate
    to fight the virus from hell

     

     

    I have to wonder
    on what planet
    does the words

    total failure
    becomes total success?

    Are we living in a bizarro world
    Where every thing
    Means the opposite

    Do words no longer
    Have any connection
    To underlying reality

    just unsigned mutterings
    from the mentally deranged

    Can we tell his 18,000 lies
    From the truth anymore?

    For his statement
    Is impossible to be
    Anything other than the opposite

    His total success is everyone’s total failure
    As 135 thousands American ghosts
    Will attest
    just more verbal diarrhea
    from our dear leader

    And his cult like followers
    And corrupt court jesters

    Talk is cheap

    Talk is cheap
    and BS walks
    That is what they say
    And as the end times
    Close in

     

     

    With general corona
    And his invisible army
    Killing us all

    Will our endless talk
    Have an expiry date
    When will God have enough
    Of our endless foolish chatter

    The Corona Virus is Not Dying Out Mr. President

    Donald-Trump-Talking-out-of-both-sides-of-his-mouth-Car
    Donald-Trump-Talking-out-of-both-sides-of-his-mouth-Car

     

     

     

     

    The President
    says with a smarmy smirk
    and a straight face

    The corona virus is dying out
    That the problem has been solved

    140,000 Americans lie dead
    their ghosts swearing
    at the living

    The President says
    The economy is roaring back
    Everyone is ready to go back to work

    As unemployment hits depression levels
    The president says
    Trust him
    He will never lie to the public

    Is that lie 18,000, 190000?
    the fact checkers can’t keep up
    Who knows what is the truth anyway
    the truth is what the president
    says today

    The President says
    He did more for African Americans
    Than any other president

    As thousands still demand change
    The president says
    Re-elect me
    What do you have to lose

    the 140,000 ghosts cry out
    Perhaps our life, our honor
    And our country

    General Corona is Pleased

    General Corona is pleased
    At the news he sees
    Everyday more people are dying
    As his invisible army
    Continues to march across the world
    The politicians dither and dather
    Loudly proclaiming victory
    As thousands lie dying

    Wear the Damn Mask

    If you want to restore normalcy
    If you want to save the country
    If you want to accomplish your goals
    There is one thing you can do

    A simple low cost method
    All you have to do
    Is for everyone mask up
    The life you save
    May be your own

    An Old man refuses to wear the mask of death

    An old man
    Sat in a bar
    Complaining about masks
    I don’t need to wear a damn mask
    I am tough
    The virus is a liberal hoax
    And it will not get me
    The man said
    Went home
    The next day
    He woke up dead

    The moral of the story
    Wear your damn mask
    The life you save
    May be your owned

    Poetic Justice at work Found Poem

     

    rep tom Rice
    rep tom rice

     

    Facebook

    Republican Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina
    took to his face book page, to announce
    that he, his wife, and his son
    had all tested positive for COVID-19.

     

     

     

    Calling it the “Wuhan Flu,”
    Rice said that his son
    got it the worst,
    with a high fever and coughing,
    but seemed “on the mend.

    Rice said his and his wife’s cases
    were less severe,
    with his wife having it worse.

    According to him,
    his son first came down
    with symptoms last Sunday,

    Rep. Rice was in the House chambers
    and on the floor the week
    before his son showed symptoms.

    At that time, Rep. Rice
    did not wear a mask
    when he was on the floor.
    “I’m socially distancing.
    I’m staying six feet away from folks.

    Rep. Rice did say he would wear the mask
    if he was in a space like an airplane
    where he couldn’t keep the distance
    between him and others.

    Calling COVID-19 the “Wuhan flu”
    is not simply an attempt at pushing
    a racist and xenophobic conspiracy theory,
    it’s also just not correct.

    The 2019 novel coronavirus isn’t the “flu.”
    And people like Rep. Tom Rice
    And his master, Donald J Trump
    Our great leader
    have been spending their time

    telling news outlets
    and their constituents
    that the coronavirus<
    pandemic was nothing to panic about,
    and that very few people
    were going to die from it.

    Over 150,000 Americans are now Ghosts
    having lost their lives to the pandemic.
    Due to the criminal negligence
    And incompetence
    Of our great leader

    Rice has toed the exact line
    that the Trump administration
    has drawn for him.

    He has said there was
    nothing to worry about,
    and followed that up
    by promoting the idea that anyone

    pushing for big closures
    and serious social distancing measures
    was panicking.

    And were left wing democrats
    Who hated America

    And wanted to ruin
    The greatest economy
    The world had ever seen

    Under the greatest president
    The world has ever seen

    and what do the dead have to say
    were they consulted
    no for they remain dead
    ghosts in the corona wind

    He then subsequently
    promoted the idea that
    Trump is doing everything he can

    and that the Republican Party
    has always promoted the
    public health measures
    needed to prevent
    the spread of COVID-19

    we … somehow see in front of us today.
    All in all
    Proof that poetic justice
    Is alive and well

    And karma
    Well she is a bitch

    And loves
    To kick us In the ass
    That’s the nature
    Of this whole karma thing

    What goes around
    Comes around

    And no one can escape
    Their karmic fate

    American Independent kwoa poem

    As Americans begin to celebrate
    Their Independence Date

    Making Americans begin to feel great
    They are meeting their fate

    Consumed with fears and newly filled with hate
    They grimly wait their date

    Through out the land in every single State
    Everyone waits for their date

    It is hard to keep it all filled with dire straight
    Everything must frustrate

    That is what makes it so difficult
    Waiting for their death

    The dancing with the damn corona fate
    Just for their fate that date

    Americans all die
    Americans in every state
    Waiting for their damn fate

    Everything is everything

    It will all sort itself off
    As we stand shoulder to shoulder
    Watching the fireworks
    Wearing our masks
    While socially distancing
    Of course

     pensively 101 prompt

    Any time the corona  wind blows

     

    Any time the wind blows
    A brief breath of fresh air
    Each a welcome reprieve
    Form the corona madness
    Swirling all around us

     pensively 101 prompt

    governor Covid Karmic Bitch

    The news
    that the governor of Oklahoma
    Came down with Covid
    Possibly after attending
    The super spreading rally
    In Tulsa the site
    Of the newly -re- established
    Indian reservation

    The governor was not a mask wearer
    Proudly insinuating
    That real men
    Don’t wear masks

    Now he is the first
    But won’t be the last
    To get COVID

    Joining the President of Brazil
    The PM of Britain
    And the PM of Canada
    In that dubious club
    Of infinity

    Poetic justice at work

    ain’t karma a bitch

    President Trump
    Continues to not wear
    A mask

    Darkly muttering
    That requiring a mask
    Is a democratic plot
    Fed by the mass media
    To undermine
    His authority

    Wearing a mask
    He sneers
    Means you have given in
    To the fake news
    And the evil government’s plots

    Really men don’t wear masks
    He says over And over again
    Until one day
    Soon he will come down
    With the dreaded covid

    General Corona
    Has him in his cross hairs
    And soon all too soon
    The president
    Will join the infamous club
    Of world leaders
    COVID positive

    And he will soon know
    That the law of karma
    Is a real bitch

    Governor Covid Victim Poetic Justice

    The news
    that the governor of Oklahoma
    Came down with Covid
    Possibly after attending
    The super spreading rally
    In Tulsa the site
    Of the newly -re- established
    Indian reservation

    The governor was not a mask wearer
    Proudly insinuating
    That real men
    Don’t wear masks

    Now he is the first
    But won’t be the last
    To get COVID

    Joining the President of Brazil
    The PM of Britain
    And the PM of Canada
    The major of Atlanta
    Rep. Tim Smith
    In that dubious club
    Of infamy
    Leaders who are covid victims

    Poetic justice at work
    ain’t karma a bitch

    Ain’t Karma a bitch fib poem

    Ain’t
    It
    Karma
    Fucking bitch
    The Corona

    Corona Spreading everywhere

    Virus spreading everywhere
    Ain’t karma a fucking hot bitch
    corona

    Ain’t karma a hot fucking bitch
    Life with corona is just rich
    quite a witch

    No one knows where it is heading
    no one knows where it is spreading
    Your wedding

    General corona leads his troops
    His virus is unloaded whoops
    Pooping oops

    The End

    Worrying about corona while eating dinner – pensively 101 posted

    As I eat my evening meal
    Enjoying the early dusk
    Worrying about corona
    Death rears its ugly head

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    baseball player
    baseball player

    Making Baseball Great Again – a Call for Bold Action to Save the Game 

    During this time of forced hiatus from business as usual for professional sports, it is a good time to step back and reflect upon the future of Professional sports.

    American Professional sports, especially baseball, are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person, and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs because of costs, liability issues and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.

    When I was a young lad, American sports comprised football, basketball and baseball.  Everything else was just a minor sport!

    Unfortunately, baseball is now in fifth place – it is football, basketball, hockey, soccer and baseball.  And if things continue as they are going, baseball could soon  becoming a minor sport, falling behind tennis, golf, bowling, track and field, or even after cricket, which is the fast growing sport in the US.

    Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a ten-point plan to make American sports great again, particularly baseball. These apply also to Football and Basketball, but my focus here is on Baseball.

    My proposal consists of the following basic principles

    Making the game affordable!!!

    Expanding number of professional teams

    Real World Series 

    Adopting local schools and colleges

    Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them find jobs after retirement

    Bringing in More International Players

    Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means less  money per player

    Setting up a North American Sports Commission 

    Allowing Corporations to Own Teams

    Expanding broadcasting of games so that one could watch  baseball 24/7 anywhere in the world for free or for a small monthly fee

    Make the games gendered neutral

    Getting rid of racist legacies 

    Enhancing security including health checks

    Making the game affordable!!!

    We start by making the games affordable for the average person. I direct my ire against the NFL but my comments apply equally to all the major sports. If one wanted to attend a professional game, one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium and spend a minor fortune for food and drinks. Preposterous and unacceptable.

    Professional sports should cap the price of most tickets at 50 dollars per ticket. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 25 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars. Filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets are about 100 dollars a ticket if they can get one at all.  And 15 minutes before game start give away free tickets!  The goal should be to fill the stadium with fans who did not pay a fortune for the tickets and that the average price is very reasonable.  One reason that soccer is so popular is that it the cheapest professional sport to attend in person.

    Expanding number of professional teams

    I think there are too few professional teams. There is a market for baseball that is not being met. At a minimum there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas more than one team could compete, i,e, NYC, LA, Chicago, SF Bay Area.

    First a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI,  Cuba, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.

    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the baseball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.

    There are some obvious places that could and should have a team. Anchorage, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Jose, Portland, Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City?  Boise, Phoenix, Tuscan? Tacoma, Vancouver, Edmonton, Quebec city,. There could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.

    Each team would play mostly in its region, 

    North American league

    Northwest League

    Southwest League

    South East League

    Northeast League

    Central League

    And Caribbean/Mexican League

    Asia League

    European League

    Middle eastern league

    African league

    Latin America League

    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel, as they would mostly play against teams in their region. I would adjust the leagues a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.

    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF,  San Jose and Oakland.

    At the end of the season, the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world  series, which will be held in the spring just before the beginning of the new season.

    Real World Series 

    I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions through the team that won the national championship, and then the champions would compete in a world series of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world series and represent the US in the Olympics.  The location of the world series would vary among the 32 countries that have professional baseball leagues, but the US should host the first series, and perhaps offer to always host the finals, to ensure the world still associates the US as the home country of baseball, and ensure that the US media and public fully engage with the world series.

    The games would be world cup style until the last set of games, which will be the traditional best of seven game format.

    Adopting local schools and colleges

    To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund all sports programs, not just baseball, thus alleviating the burden on the school district or college’s budget.. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region, splitting the costs between the professional teams. The school districts and local colleges would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off season. The student athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free. This one action would guarantee that children grown up playing sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money and generate a tremendous amount of good will.  Finally playing baseball for an MBL sponsored university would give the student athlete preference in going to play for that team. 

    Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them

    Find jobs after retirement

    All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year. I would make the standard contract five years so that players really become part of their communities.

    Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involve with the game by assisting them in getting full time employment as coaches across the country.

    Bring in international players

    With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players and letting US athletes play overseas, and encourage US players to play overseas during their time with the US based team perhaps allowing them to play one season overseas while keeping their contract with the US based team?

    Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means lots lets money per player

    It seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the loosing team getting their costs covered. This minor change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete.

    Setting up a North American Sports Commission 

    I would set up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – comprising head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics. The commission would comprise player representatives, and owner representatives, and high school and college sports representatives.

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the MLB would become one of the NASF  commissioners, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be  called the North American Professional Sports commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission comprising the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission.

    Allowing Corporations to own teams 

    In Asia, most sports teams are owned by corporations. I don’t see why we can’t do that in the U.S.   Unlike in Asia though the corporation would still have to name the team after the location instead of the corporation,  unlike in Asia where the corporation’s name is associated with the team and not the location  For example, you could have Microsoft owning the Mariners but the name of the team would be the Seattle Mariners not the Microsoft mariners, but the corporate owner could name the stadium after the corporate name.

    Expanding broadcasting of games so that one could watch  baseball 24/7 anywhere in the world for free or for a small monthly fee

    I would expand the MLB website, which would show every game worldwide streaming free.  The paid site would include access to past games, statistical analysis and commentary etc and links to the baseball sites around the world and also broadcast college baseball games.

    Make the games gendered neutral

    It is time to allow girls to play baseball.  They can compete with the boys and should be allowed to play on the teams.  Perhaps we could have about 40 percent female players to start? Allowing woman players would also help grown the fan base as woman would get interested in watching the games.

    Getting rid of racist legacies 

    I would change the names of baseball teams to get rid of racist names like the Indians and the Braves, and college level names as well.

    Note (Update) the Redskins just announced that they are finally getting rid of the racist redskin name.  MLB needs to get rid of the Indian, and Braves names and other racist names,  and come up with more inclusive names, especially for expansion teams.

    I sent the following to the Redskins owners today congratulating them on the long over-due move and suggesting the new names for their consideration, and these same names could be considered for MLB teams and college teams as well, and perhaps a non-English name as well.

    Dear  Mr. Synder

    Congratulations on finally doing the right thing and changing the racist name of your team. as a part native American- Cherokee) and a long suffering fan of the Redskins, i thought that it was long over due. Perhaps  the laws of Karma will kick in and reward you with a winning season and perhaps a super bowl bid.  In any event here are my suggestions for new names follows, perhaps you might want to consider a bilingual name as well:

    the Presidents 
    the governors
    Senators (revival of an old name)
    Belt way Bandits
    the politicians
    the swamp monsters
    Contractors 
    Bureaucrats
    the pundits
    the barons
    the lords
    the gladiators
    the judges
    the lawyers
    Coyotes
    the pumas
    mountain lions
    cougars
    Wolves
    los lobos (wolves)
    Los canines (dogs)
    Dogs
    Wild Cats
    los gatos (cats)
    Sharks
    Devils
    Monsters
    Goblins
    Govbots
    Piranha
    Code talkers
    Red tails
    Yellow jackets
    Hawks
    sharks
    orcas
    killer whales
    Vultures
    Hornets
    Tornados

    Enhancing security including health checks 

    MLB parks should institute enhanced security checks including temperature checks, and anyone who fails the test should be denied entry.  This should continue even after the covid crisis is over and during the cold and flu season – October to February, everyone, including players, should be required to wear a mask while at the game park.

    Make Baseball Great Again 

    The MLB teams should get together with the players associations and adopt opt these principles and if they do and relaunch the 2021 season according to these principles there is a strong chance that baseball will continue to be as popular as Football and Basketball and not become a minor sport.

    If the MLB continues the way they are going in ten years MLB will be a minor sport in the United States trailing after Cricket. As a life long SF Giants fan I hope that will never happen.  The ball is your court, so play ball and make Baseball Great again.

    NBA

    https://www.nhl.com/

    https://www.mlb.com/

    https://www.nfl.com/

    Prior submission

    American Professional sports are in trouble! Attending a professional sports game has become unaffordable for the average person and that is a damn shame. Fewer children are learning how to play in school as schools cut back on sports and fitness programs due to costs, liability issues and changing preferences among the public. Sports teams are losing their connections to their local communities.

    Yes, the state of American professional sports is deplorable. But I have a solution.

    Making the game affordable!!!

    We start by making the games affordable for the average person. My ire is directed against the NFL but my comments apply equally to all the major sports. Right now, if one wanted to attend a professional game one would have to spend hundreds of dollars to get tickets, go to the stadium and spend a small fortune for food and drinks. Totally preposterous in my opinion.

    I call upon the NFL to end the practice of only selling high price season tickets to a select few. They should sell tickets at a price that people could afford to attend a game. Perhaps setting the average ticket at 10 dollars? And on game days, sell remaining tickets for 5 dollars. Thereby filling up the stadium for every game. That would generate excitement and generate loyalty among the fan base. Better for everyone than the current system where the average price of tickets are about 100 dollars a ticket if one can be obtained at all.

    Expanding number of professional teams

    I think that there are too few professional teams. There is a market for football that is not being met. At a minimum there should be a professional sports team in every major metropolitan area, and in some areas more than one team could compete.

    There are some obvious places that could and should have a team. Sacramento, California? Portland, Oregon? Reno, Nevada? Salt Lake City? There could be up to 60 teams competing across the country. I would also add teams in Mexico and merge with the Canadian football league as well.

    The season should be extended as well so that there are 25 to 30 season games prior to the play offs.

    Expanding Overseas

    I would expand the NFL franchise worldwide setting up a real league in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Why not? This would apply to baseball, basketball, hockey as well as Football.

    Real Super Bowl

    I would make the super bowl a real super bowl. I would take the best teams of each of the regional leagues and have them compete with the top two teams playing in the Super Bowl. There is no reason why this could not become the biggest game of the year across the world.

    World Cup Baseball

    I would change the way the world series is done. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of baseball held in the early Spring. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.

    World Cup for Basketball

    I would change the way the way that Basketball selects their champions. Each country that has pro baseball (there are over 32) would choose their national champions and then the champions would compete in a world cup of basketball held in the summer. For example, if the SF Giants won the North American series they would represent North America in the world cup of baseball, and represent the US in the Olympics as well.

    World Cup for Hockey

    For hockey I would expand the number of teams playing professionally, and expand overseas as well. The top teams would compete for a world cup of hockey to be played in early Summer.

    Changing the World Cup for Soccer to a once a Year format

    I would change how teams are selected to play in the world cup. Each soccer playing nation would select their national champion who would then compete in an annual world cup. For example, DC United might win the North American series then compete in the World cup to represent North America, and they would also compete in the Olympics.

    Adopting local schools and colleges

    To develop the next generation of players and fans, I would have the professional teams adopt local school districts and colleges and fully fund sports programs. They would do this in cooperation with the other professional teams in the region. The school districts would have a fully funded sports program. Professional athletes would volunteer to serve as coaches during the off season. The student athletes would be given passes so that they could attend professional games for free. This one action would guarantee that children grown up having the opportunity to play sports and generate excitement for the game among the next generation. And it would not cost the professional team a lot of money, and generate a tremendous amount of good will.
    Requiring professional athletes to have a degree, and helping them
    Find jobs after retirement

    All the professional sports federations would jointly agree that they would only hire professional athletes who have finished their college playing days with a degree. They could compete in the professional league for one year on a provisional contract but must have their degree in hand before they begin their second year. I would make the standard contract five years so that players really become part of their communities.

    With the proliferation of overseas teams, I would also bring in the best foreign players as well as letting US athletes play overseas as well.

    Finally, after a professional athlete ‘s career is over, the professional teams would make every effort to help the professional athlete stay involve with the game by assisting them in getting full time employment as coaches across the country.

    Changing the incentive structure so winning means more money per player, loosing means lots lets money per player

    Right now, it seems that sometimes professional athletes are phoning it in so to speak. So, I would change the compensation so that winning teams get most of the proceeds from a game, with the loosing team getting their costs covered. This little change would make the games so much more exciting as athletes would have a real incentive to compete

    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    My thoughts on the dismal state of Baseball and what can be done to bring it back. I sent this letter off to MLB but they never responded. Their lost.

    Letter to MLB

    Commissioner
    Baseball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are baseball fans. The solution is for MLB to take bold steps to restore Baseball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
    Here’s my proposal to turn MLB around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
    There are four basic elements to my proposal.
    First a dramatic expansion of baseball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the baseball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
    Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
    Northwest League
    Southwest League
    South East League
    Northeast League
    Central League
    And Caribbean/Mexican League
    Asia League
    European League
    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
    The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
    There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in Sacramento and San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and Portland.
    At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
    Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
    To grow baseball’s future fan, base each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding baseball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
    This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their baseball programs.
    MLB would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And MLB would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that MLB values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
    I think that the NFL, and NBA should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
    So, MBA should step up to the plate and say,
    If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and well be the right thing to do.
    Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
    Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan, base each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making baseball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free baseball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
    Fourth a world cup format would replace the world series.
    All countries that play baseball would be invited to participate in the world cup of baseball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of baseball.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With this modest proposal enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    If the MLB were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
    Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that MLB will continue to expand and prosper.
    Thank you
    Jake Aller
    Life time SF Giant and Oakland A’s fan

    Letter to NFL
    I write the following letter to the NFL commissioner
    NFL Commissioner:
    Now that the NFL has approved the Raiders move to Las Vegas, it is time to consider an ambitious NFL expansion program.
    The NFL is facing a crisis in a few years. More and more schools and colleges are dropping football programs due to costs, liability issues and the perceived danger of the sport.

    Attending a football game is a prohibitive expense for most people. And most people think that the NFL owners are out of touch billionaires who don’t care about the community, and don’t care about the welfare of the players.

    Because of these issues the fan base has begun to shrink and will continue to shrink. People have options in their sports entertainment and fewer are opting to spend it watching football.

    The NFL must combat these issues and the best way to do is through an expansion program, coupled with plans to make games more affordable and community outreach programs including fully funding football programs at local schools and colleges.

    If the NFL caries out these reforms, the game will continue to prosper. If the NFL does not, then football will decline and become a minor sport.

    Regarding the expansion program, the NFL should rename itself the North American Football League and merge with the Canadian Football league and then set up teams in Mexico and the Caribbean. Domestically the NFL should ensure that almost every state has at least one NFL team, and many states will have multiple teams. Perhaps 75 in total.

    At a minimum, I would make sure that SF/Oakland has a team again, Sacramento has a team, Portland Oregon, and has a team as well as all the other major cities that do not have teams currently. The Dakotas should have only one team, and perhaps Rhode Island could share a team with Delaware. NYC perhaps could have five teams, Chicago an additional team.

    Mexico could have five to ten teams, Canada could have five to ten teams, and there should be teams in the DR, PR, Virgin Islands, and Guam.

    Then the NFL should set up an European league, (with UK teams) and an Asian-Pacific league with teams from India, China to Japan.

    The schedule should be expanded to start in July and end in January. Game days should be Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday to allow for expanded travel.

    The North American League should be sub-divided into five zones NE, NW, SW, SE, and Mexico, Caribbean.

    Teams would compete within their zones until the play offs with a few inter league games per season.

    Along with this I would suggest that the NFL set up a World Cup for Football and replace the Super bowl with an American Bowl followed by World Cup championship perhaps every four years. The way the new super bowl would work is that each country that plays American football would send their championship teams to the Super bowl. There are about 10 to 20 countries that play American style football. the idea would be a round robin with the champions of each nation competing with the two finalists going one on one.

    For the first super bowl the North American champions would host it, then afterwards the North American team would have to compete for the bowl slot. The major difference between the super bowl and the world cup would be that there would not be national teams competing rather each country would send their top winning team which wins their national championship forward.

    I would also suggest that the NFL create a formal partnership with local Universities and local school districts. The NFL teams could adopt local high schools and colleges where they would provide support, training, tickets and scholarships to students to play football at college. the support for the local schools would be covering the cost of having local football teams at each high school in the districts that are nearest the host affiliate.

    The cost of having football programs at high school and colleges is prohibitive for many districts and smaller colleges which inhibit the growth and development of the game. You have to grow fans by growing players and support at the local level. It is time that the NFL show some real leadership to develop the game that we all love.

    The top graduating students from those local colleges would be invited to compete each year to join the local NFL affiliate. And I would require that all college athletics competing to join a NFL team must graduate before being able to play. Having a graduation rule would send a very positive signal that the NFL really supports the idea of the student athletic program and would guarantee that those players who only play one or two seasons at least have their college degree behind them.

    Doing this community outreach on a major scale will help tremendously expand the base for football and grow new generations of fans. The cost would be modest but the payoff would be tremendous.

    The final part of the outreach program should be making attending a game affordable again. To be frank attending a game is a huge expense for most people. I would reserve 25 percent of tickets for same day sales at a deep discount with tickets being given out for free just before the game. And I would ensue that 10 percent of the tickets cost 10 dollars each. I would also sponsor free tickets for various groups including nursing homes, veteran groups and community groups at each game.

    This will fill the stadiums, increase revenue and increase the excitement of the game making attending a game affordable again.

    A final point, the NFL should partner with the local cities, and other sports teams to build and maintain a world class multi-use stadium. There is no reason why the stadium could not be shared by the other sports teams, colleges and school districts. And be made available for special events. The city should own and manage the facility but a board of directors with representatives from the various other teams, universities and high schools should be on the board of directors. The stadium should also feature mostly local brands. The cost of building the stadium should be jointly shared but the NFL should pay the lion’s share of the cost as a good will gesture.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    I believe that if the NFL adopts such a comprehensive far reaching expansion program the sport would become the world dominating sport it should be.
    I welcome your comments.

    Letter to the NBA
    Dear Commissioner,
    Basketball is in crisis. Its long term viability as America’s pastime is in serious question as fewer people especially younger viewers are basketball fans. The solution is for NBA to take bold steps to restore basketball as America’s pastime if not the world’s pastime.
    Here’s my proposal to turn NBA around. It requires bold action, and considerable investment of time and resources to grow the sport.
    There are five basic elements to my proposal.
    First a dramatic expansion of basketball so that there are major league team teams in every state in the US, every province in Canada, and Mexico, and in the DR, PI, and Venezuela and Nicaragua. That would mean expanding the number of teams to 120 teams from the 35 teams that exist today.
    This would not be as difficult to accomplish as you might first think. First you would convert minor league teams into major league teams. You would make sure that there is a major league team in each state in the U.S., each Canadian province, each Mexican State and in the basketball playing countries of the Caribbean, and in Asia and Europe as well, making it a real world sport.
    Each team would play mostly in its region which will be as follows:
    Northwest League
    Southwest League
    South East League
    Northeast League
    Central League
    And Caribbean/Mexican League
    Asia League
    European League
    This would make it more affordable for teams to travel as they would mostly be playing against teams in their region.
    The leagues would be adjusted a bit to ensure that they are all about the same number of teams.
    And there would be intense regional rivals for example in the Bay area there would be regular games between SF and Oakland.
    There would also be expansion to ensure that all major markets have a team. For example, in California we would add a team in San Jose. And we would add a team in Las Vegas, and elsewhere. The goal would be that every state would have at least one professional basketball team to root for. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
    At the end of the season the North American champion would be crowned and that champion would advance to the world cup every four years. Otherwise they would just be the national champion. See below for the world cup discussion.
    Second, each team would adopt a local school district and local college.
    To grow basketball’s future fan base, each team would adopt a local school district and local college fully funding basketball programs in the local school and college including scholarships for talented students to go to college.
    This would also involve players and team officials serving as coaches and advisors in the local schools helping them develop and expand their basketball programs.
    The NBA would also recruit for their teams from the local colleges that they sponsor. And the NBA, and other professional sports leagues, would also only accept as players athletes who have finished their college programs with a degree setting an example to the other major sport franchises that NBA values education and wants to ensure that their athletes finish their education before beginning their professional sporting career.
    I think that the NFL, MLB, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis and Golfing should follow suit. It is disgusting that major league sports take student athletes before they graduate and then after a few years spit them out without them having had a chance to earn their degrees.
    So, the NBA should step up to the plate and say,
    If you want to play in the majors, you must finish your degree before your first game, or within one year or we will cut you from playing. That would help the student athletes, and is the right thing to do.
    Third, each team would guarantee that a certain percentage of their tickets would be affordable.
    Attending a major sports event costs too much money. To grow the fan base, each team would sell half price tickets on game day and one hour before the game sell the remaining tickets for five dollars thus making basketball affordable to everyone. And they would treat the families of their school programs and college programs to free basketball games. And they would also each week sponsor free tickets for those in need – people living in shelters, people living with chronic illnesses etc.
    Fourth, a world cup format would replace the NBA Championship Game.
    All countries that play basketball would be invited to participate in the world cup of basketball. At the end of the season in October the national teams from at least 64 countries would play in the world cup which will be held every fourth year. The US will host the first world cup, and then sponsorship will rotate around all the participating countries so all 64 countries will eventually get to host a world cup of basketball.
    Setting up a North American Sports Commission to oversee professional sports across North America – Consisting of head of NFL, MLB, NBA, MLSS, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Track and Field and Olympics

    I would set up Public private partnership to set policy for professional sports in North America including Caribbean, annual conference after the week after the world super bowl followed by the drafting for professional sports teams (all at the same time) just before the beginning of Baseball, soccer etc.

    Thus, the NFL would become the NFL commissioner, etc. The head of the North American professional sports commissions would be the NFL commissioner. His or her job would be to coordinate all aspects of the game along with his/her counterparts in the other sports leagues and the Olympics, Pro Golfing, Pro Tennis, Pro Bowling and track and field.

    Each city would have its own sports commission consisting of the heads of the local professional sports teams, and the university athletes’ directors. The sports federation would also have players serve on the commission as well.

    With these modest proposals enacted, American professional sports can regain their rightful role in America life.

    If the NBA were to take these steps they would dramatically turn the sport around.
    Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal and I look forward to hearing back from you staff and I hope that you can implement some of my ideas and I hope that NBA will continue to expand and prosper.
    Thank you

    Jake Aller
    Life time Golden State Warriors fans

  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

    The purpose of this blog is to provide a place for me to show my fiction, poetry, and political rants. I have decided, though to forgo any hot political topics for now as I don’t want to get into trouble with the man or invite cyber bullying, which unfortunately is happening all too often in the blogosphere.

    Politically, I lean left but distrust hard-core ideologues on the left and on the right. I am a never trumper democrat, and a Bernie bro, and a big supporter of the LGBTQ community as I have LGBTQ and trans friends. Religion-wise, I am an agnostic sort of a new age neo Buddhist or dudist. My favorite movie is  “The Big Lebrowski”.  I am a big K-drama fiend. I am a big blues and funk fanatic. My favorite band is Tower of Power.  My poetry is outlaw poetry style, neo-beatnik flavor. My fiction tends to be sci-fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a political family.  My father taught at Cal State SF.  I have 18 nationalities swirling in my family background.  From my father, I am part Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian.  From my mother, English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh.  Because my mother was from the lost tribe of the Cherokee nation -descended from indians who ran away into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears, I may also be part Chowtah, Creek, and Seminole Indian as the lost tribe members intermarried with other fleeing Indians, white settlers, and escaped slaves.  The DNA test only shows native ancestry, not broken down by tribe.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name aller to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found Cosmos or Universe.  I am the third and last Cosmos Aller.   The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley”. Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think.

    I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have.  Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy.

    Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry.

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

    Welcome to The World According to Cosmos. I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller — better known simply as Cosmos. I’ve been blogging for about ten years, ever since I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2016. During my career, I served in ten countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, South Korea, India, and Spain) as well as Washington, D.C., and I’ve visited forty‑five countries. I’ve also traveled to every U.S. state, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    Since retiring, I’ve been living in South Korea, with annual visits back to the States — usually Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, D.C. Over the years, I’ve lived in five U.S. cities: Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and Washington, D.C.

    This blog is my space to share fiction, poetry, and the occasional political rant. For now, I’m steering clear of the hottest political topics. I have no desire to attract trouble from the powers that be or to invite cyberbullying, which has become far too common in the online world.

    Politically, I lean left, but I distrust hard‑core ideologues on both sides. I’m a Never‑Trumper Democrat, a Bernie Bro, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community — many of my friends are LGBTQ or trans. Spiritually, I’m an agnostic with a New Age, neo‑Buddhist, “Dudist” streak. My favorite movie is The Big Lebowski. I’m a devoted K‑drama fan, a blues and funk enthusiast, and a lifelong admirer of Tower of Power. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, while my fiction tends to be sci‑fi political thrillers.

    I grew up in Berkeley in a very political family. My father taught at Cal State San Francisco. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities. On my father’s side: Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, and Ukrainian. On my mother’s side: English, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. Because my mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests only show Native ancestry, not tribal breakdowns.

    My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name. My great‑grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked it up and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that — it sounds so quintessentially “Berkeley.” Honestly, “Universe” would have been even more so.

    I appreciate every reader who stops by. Comments are welcome — just keep them civil. Despite our differences, we’re all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not mine.

    Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)

    Ode to Kombucha

    We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha, and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our home made kefir and our power smoothies.  If I keep this up I will live to be a hundred years old.  Only 45 more years to go….

    Ode to Kombucha

    Kombucha
    Only drink it in the morning
    Morning delight

    By the dawning sun
    Up at the morning dawn
    Can’t wait for my morning cup
    Have to have my kombucha
    At least once a day

    Ode to Kefir

    Kefir
    Everyday
    Food of the gods
    In every way
    Radiant health will follow

    Blue Berry Smoothie – Breakfast of Champions

    my daily breakfast
    includes blue berries
    in my smoothie

    blueberry,
    strawberry,
    oranges

    banana,
    pineapple,
    home made kefir

    kale
    spinach
    wheat grass
    macca root
    apple cider vinegar

    coconut oil
    stevia
    honey
    cinnamon

    all blended to perfection
    that is my daily breakfast
    fit for a champion

    THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA

    It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota have been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster as I impart on you the secrets of homemade kombucha!

    The goal of this guide is to be your one stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hop right to it.

    How to make homemade kombucha recipe with kombucha in a mason jar

    HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA: OVERVIEW

    This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):

    1. Make SCOBY (1 to 4 weeks) – to make the “mother”
    2. First Fermentation (6 to 10 days) – to make the actual kombucha
    3. Second Fermentation (3 to 10 days) – to carbonate the kombucha

    You can also click to jump to a few useful resources:

    HOW TO MAKE KOMBUCHA VIDEO

       How to Make Homemade Kombucha

    Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.

    • No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.
    • Clean is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slips in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).
    • Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder.
    • No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.

    Milk kefir is not only easy to make, it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.

    BEFORE YOU BEGIN

    WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MILK KEFIR

    To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.

    Supplies for Making Milk Kefir

    You’ll need the following supplies to make milk kefir, most of which can be found in the Milk Kefir Starter Kit. For more information on what supplies work best (and what to avoid) read our tutorial: Choosing the Best Equipment for Making Milk Kefir.

      • A glass jar
      • A non-metal stirring utensil
      • A breathable cover for the jar such as a tight-weave towel, butter muslin, paper towel, or paper coffee filter
      • A band to secure the cover to the jar like a rubber band or canning jar ring
      • A fine mesh plastic strainer for removing the kefir grains from the finished kefir

    Ingredients for Making Milk Kefir

    Consult our article on choosing milk for making kefir to help you decide which milk is best for you!

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING MILK KEFIR

    1. Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
    2. Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.
    3. Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
    4. Culture until milk is slightly thickened and aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours, but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
    5. After the milk changes texture and culturing is complete, separate the kefir grains from the finished kefir.
    6. Place the kefir grains in a new batch of milk.
    7. Store the finished kefir in the refrigerator.

    REMOVING GRAINS FROM FINISHED MILK KEFIR

    Use Your (Clean!) Fingers

    As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.

    Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer

    Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.

    Pour Kefir Into A Shallow Bowl

    This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.

    OVER-THICKENED KEFIR

    While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    Following the above process you can make milk kefir at home on a regular basis. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.

    Resting Your Milk Kefir Grains

    If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaksor drying them for longer breaks.

    In either case, it’s important that your grains have been activated and culturing kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.

    the End

The World According to Cosmos

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