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)
Synchronized Chaos has published my work again.
Ink Pantry, Scarlet Leaf, Spill Words, Synchronized Chaos, Two Drops of Ink, have published 15 of my recent poems. The poems are posted below along with audio and photo clips.
Scarlet Leaf review will publish these poems in the following order:
The year that was – Anniversary issue
JAN: The terrifying teens
FEB: 2020 Plans Rondeau (Dream, Fate)
The oyster
Morning Light
2019 The last year
March: Dora Intergalactic Explorer
Mocking faces
Fear of falling
Cosmos takes over
Spill Words has published ” Hitch Hiking Tales”
Synchronized Chaos Publication
List
1/2/2020 2019 the Year that was
1/2/2020 the terrifying teens
1/3/2020 Dreams
1/3/2020 Fate
1/3/2020|the Oyster Speaks Up
prior publication
the Dogs of War are Howling
Idiots in High Places
Masters of the Universe
When Will This Madness End
End of the World Blues – FB Posting Found Poem
the year that was
January
The world watches in amazement
Longest shut down in history
Watching it all in Korea
contemplating escaping the cold winter
February
World watches as North Korea and the US
Walking back from the brink of war
escaping the cold winter blues
revisiting Vietnam after 15 years
March
The chaos president continues his chaos tour
the world begins to ignore his constant insane tweets
heading back to DC inspecting property
seeing old friends glad I retired
April
the chaos King’s policy remains a shamble
as the Mueller team closes in
in Korea I write a poem a day
and begin to become a publish writer
May
watching from afar
the chaos in DC and the world
traveling to DC to inspect property
celebrating my wife’s big 60
June
the President walks away
from anon deal with the North Koreans
I am back in DC
end up cruising to Alaska
July
watching the insanity in DC
while visiting Alaska, Seattle and Yakima
visiting my father’s grave in Yakima
communing with family ghosts
August
the dog days of summer the world is consumed
And in the worldwars, rumors of war, trade wars
retuning to Korea
surviving the August sauna like summer
September end of the world he does subway malevolent today
The whistle blower sets off a bomb he December 11 Internet is it a fire fire is our burning bright and then go nearly as high places have shown is doing and one of aggression turning in our in our lives behind unless I know Mimi is just laying on the side there’s a Denteley harji quality to it as the world burn some money in the world approaches I have where in his van horn of the house and is in a green fire 25 music Viking in my memory and was hellish
the president lies no quid for quo perfect all
trying to avoid watching the news
hiking in the Korean mountains with old friends
October
the President flitters about my crisis after another
the UN diplomats laugh at him national humiliation
returning to DC, yet again more property blues
celebrating my 64th year orbiting the sun
November
the House starts formal impeachment hearings
watching fascinated by the impeachment drama
entering my third NoVoWrMo competition with Timeless Love
ending the month sudden surprise trip to Okinawa
December
the year ends on a high dramatic
President Trump becomes the 3rd impeached President
hiking enjoying the late autumn like weather
contemplating my wealth at the end of the year
the Terrifying Teens
2010
The dark days of the great recession
Begin slowly to fade away
Ending my Barbados experience
the best job in the foreign service on high note
best labor officer award
2011
the president and Congress locked in battle battles
glimmer of hope as economy comes back to life
Studying Spanish arriving in Spain
worst year ever part of three years bad luck
2012
the US re-elects the Black President
rejecting Romney entitlement mentality
I leave Spain my last foreign posting
buying new property in the fall
2013
In the US the religious right
loose the social Battling gay marriage, legal pot
Starting a new job as an evaluate program evaluator
ending my six month wandering the halls of State
2014
The tea party rebellion on the right
Moving to Capitol Hill
My sister’s sudden death rattles me
2015
The end of the Obama era
Was this the beginning of the end of America
Beginning the year with a new job
resolving to retire, enjoy life while I still can
2016
American voters succumb to madness
Elects the mad would be king President Trump
We traveled across the country 10,000 miles
To celebrate the end of my foreign service career
2017
the year of the chaos president
Fast and furious disruption to the norms
Went to Oregon to renovate property
becoming wealthy in the process
2018
the American public woke up
Send a blue wave to clean up the mess
Moving back to Korea
Blogging up a storm
2019
in the end of the year that was
The house races up and impeach is the president
I travel to Vietnam, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Okinawa
Dreams
Dream what may come
Recalling past lives lived
Every fantasy comes to life
All night long
More nightmares to come
So many worlds to explore
Fate
Fate has a way
Many years ago I was surprised to findAlways catching up
To you
embrace your fate
that is what’s up
at the end of the day
Endless dancing away
The Oyster Speaks Up
oysters
A diner sits down
looking forward
to eating oysters
it was their season
after all
just as he was about
to pounce
on the oysters
the head oyster spoke up
saying
hey human what the hell
do you think you are doing?
you think you have the right
to eat me?
that’s violating my human right
don’t ya think?
the diner laughed
said to the oyster
shut up and accept
it is your fate
to be eaten this date
just let me enjoy eating you
and you have no human rights
as you are in fact
not human don’t ya know?
eating the complaining oyster
shutting him up
as he ate him up
Prior Publication
Dogs of War are Howling and other poems were published earlier in Synchronized chaos. I wrote the poem, “Dogs of War are Howling” in 2003, and updated it in 2017.
The Dogs of War are Howling
dogs of war howling
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
Of their cage
And are out
Howling at the moon
The Dogs of War
Have been set free
To wreck what havoc
Might be
Yes, the Dogs of War
The Hell Hounds
Have bound out of their cages
Sniffed about
And smiled
At the destruction they saw
They knew soon
They would be in their element
As the world descends into chaos
The Dogs of war
Are at foot
The chaos is upon us
The evil grows and grows
And dark noises are heard
Here and there
And the dogs of war
Smiled
They knew soon
They would be in their element
The war machines
Came to life
The plans came out of the books
The military might be unleashed
And the Dogs of war
Smiled and howled at the moon
And the rest of the world
Shuddered
At the thought of what was yet to be
Satan on the other hand
Was happy as can be
With the evil shit
That was going down
He smiled
Patted his hell hounds
And told his dogs
The war to end all wars
Armageddon is upon us my friend
Soon, mankind will know
The face of absolute evil
And they will love it
When I take over
The armies prepare
The bombers prepare
And the dogs of war
Are happy
Unleashed to do their mischief
And soon millions may die
And the pits of hell
Will open up
And the judgement day
May be upon us all
Madness descends upon the land
The fog of hate envelops us all
And reason and civilization
Fall away
As the Dogs of War
And their minions
Take over the minds of man
And the end of the world
And the beginning of the end times
Come upon us all
The usual lies descend upon the world
Kim Jong Un is evil personified
He must be destroyed over there
Before he can destroy us over here
The lies continue unabated
And Kim plays along
With each day unleashing another threat
With Trump and his minions
Responding in time
Saying the time for talk is over
The time for robust action is here
The machinery of war
Once unleashed
Can’t easily be stopped
There is a certain cruel logic
That demands that the war go on
And people die
And people suffer
And the US goes bankrupt
Morally and fiscally
And the evil that men do
Goes on and on and on
But the war machine must be fed
The munitions makers must be paid
As each million-dollar missile is launched
Millions more are made
And the corporations
Think of the endless profits
To be made
Every time they kill
With the war machines
But who cares about the victims
They are nothing but collateral damage
Who cares about the soldiers
Nothing but cannon fodder
Who gives a damn
About the dead
They are dead and gone
Just think about the profits
Think about the profits
Satan is happy
The dogs of war are free at last
Idiots in High Places
US President Donald Trump speaks about 5G network deployment in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2019. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) (Photo credit mini years ago I was amazed to find so many idiots in a place over the worldshould read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
this poem has been published in a number of other sites.
Many years ago
I was amazed to see
So many idiots in high places how are name
All over the world
Senators, congressmen
Office directors
so many idiots
in high place
all over the world
Presidents
Corporation CEO’s
All were idiots
Completely stupid
People who should have known
A thing or so
because they should have seen a thing or so
and yet these idiots in high places
would reveal their total ignorance
every time they opened their mouth
or tweet or email their profoundly wrong thoughts
and it never ceased to amaze me
that few ever challenged these idiots
few ever said but you are wrong
or you don’t have a clue
and these idiots caused so much damage
to those around them
to the country and the world
and now we have the idiot in chief
in charge of the richest most powerful country
the world has ever known
and I wonder how
in a country of 350 million people
we ended up with such an idiot in charge
But the idiots in high places phenomenon
Exists everywhere
Corporations made stupid decisions
Countries make incredibly bad decisions
And these idiots in high places
Can’t hide their ignorance and pure stupidity
They can’t pretend anymore
In a world of 24/7 constant news
The idiots every pronouncement
Fills the airways 24/7
And the only people who know better
Are too afraid to say what they know
That the idiot in high place
Is an idiot
and is destroying the world
and so, we are doomed to die
due to the idiots in high places
Masters of The Universe
this poem also has been published in a number of sites.
The earth has been invaded
By hideous blood sucking vampires
Disgusting vile alien creatures
Lacking any human empathy
These so-called Masters of the universe
These psychopathic monsters
devoid of compassion
Are everywhere
They even took over the White house
And to these vile creatures
devoid of compassion human sympathy
Everyone is nothing but a commodity
they worship the god of the market
While proclaiming that they serve Jesus
Jesus would turn over in his grave
To see these people in action
Delta airlines
facing the worst hurricane in world history
Decided that the expeditated thing to do
Was to raise prices
by 600 percent
Instead of doing the right thing
The compassion thing
The human thing to do
offering free flights
Delta executives thus demonstrated
That they are no longer humans
doing the right thing
But greed driven monsters
As are all the other soulless automatons
Who have taken over the world
Perhaps some day
Jesus will come back
And smite these motherfuckers
Send them to the hell they so richly deserve
We can only pray
For our deliverance from such evil
Who have taken over the planet
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 60 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
And there is nothing we can do
It is like the weather
Bad shit happens
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 gun guy with a gun?
An armed society is a polite society
And people need assault weapons
To go deer hunting
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
And why is it that they are almost all
White men with a grievance
And almost never crazed Islamic terrorists
Or black people
Or women
Why do they act the way they do
Is it just the mindless violence
That surrounds us all
Violence is as American
As Apple Pie
The TV and movie purveyors
Of pornographic violence
The pornographic display of violence
That washes across us every day
The 8,000 murders we have seen
By the time we are 18?
Or is it simply
That killers can easily
Get the latest bang for their buck?
We are all responsible here
The negligent parents
The overworked schools
The soulless corporate world
That treats everyone like disposable commodities
The lack of human connection
Maybe even the lack of God
The police department
Who think it is open season
On black Americans
Killing them with impunity
Because they can
And the gun sellers
The NRA and their brain dead
Captured politicians
Who block all gun control legislation
And even in the face of this carnage
Want to make it easier to buy guns
Even though 95 percent of Americans
Want to end the gun show loophole
Requiring background checks on all purchasers
The NRA will prevent this measure
And that measure
And defend the right of the terrorist
On the no fly list
To be able to buy a gun
Nothing will change
Until we conflict the evil
That lurks deep within each of us
There will be another Las Vegas
Soon enough
Despite all our efforts
Despite any new laws
There will be evil men
Who want to shoot and kill
Who have somehow lost
Their essential humanity
Lao Tzu said
The more laws there are
The more criminals there will be
More laws are not the answer
For a law cannot make a sick soul whole
If Satan lives on
He is laughing
All the way to the proverbial bank
If God lives on
He is ruing the day
He created Mankind
And the carnage will go on and on and on
Until the day emerges
When we all proclaim
Enough, no more
The killing, hatred and violence
Will stop
No More will our people
Grow up to be such monsters
That day will come soon enough
Until then we will all suffer
The wrath of the killer gun men
In our midst.
End of the World Blues
A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. As many as five fires have closed highways, schools and museums, shut down production of TV series and cast a hazardous haze over the region. About 200,000 people were under evacuation orders. No deaths and only a few injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The heat is simply malevolent today
As if the very fires of hell were burning bright
In anger at the idiots in high places
That have so destroyed God’s wonderful creation
Turning it into Hell on Earth
It’s been hotter than this, I know,
and maybe it’s just the angle of the sun,
but there’s a deeply harsh quality to it.
As the world burns up
And the end of the world approaches
The wind is blowing hard off the hills
and visions of a great fire 26 years ago
are spiking in my memory.
People are reacting badly to this weather
The commute in was hellish
Every seemed to be speeding way
above the speed limit.
Driven mad by the heat and the wind
There were multiple stalls and accidents.
People were cutting each other off
road raging in the extreme.
Everyone seems to be feeling
the way I was I wasI have
Every man woman and child
Was out for blood that day
I was missed by inches
by huge pickup trucks cutting me off.
There are more street people
acting aggressively near the campus,
bothered
barking and yelling and stalking around.
Completely lost in their own world
Sensing that the end of the world is near
Students in the hallway
aren’t chatting with each other.
I haveEveryone seems irritated
and haunted.
Afraid that the end of the world
Is upon us all
The pool was a cool, silent refuge
from all of this for an hour
but the brassy relentless
assault of the afternoon’s heat
bore down on me
just beat me down I have
as I walked back to the office.
I hope the day passes quickly,
and no new fires start,
and we all get home safe.
From Ned Garret’s FB posting: near the campus Mark Hankiin scott
Has anyone else notice that the heat is simply malevolent today? It’s been hotter than this, I know, and maybe it’s just the angle of the sun, but there’s a deeply harsh quality to it. The wind is blowing hard off the hills and visions of 26 years ago are spiking in my memory. People are reacting badly to this weather. The commute in was frightening in spots. Every other driver seemed to be speeding way above the speed limit. There were multiple stalls and accidents. People were cutting each other off and road raging in the extreme. I was missed by inches twice by huge pickup trucks cutting me off. There are more street people acting aggressively near the campus, barking and yelling and stalking around. Students in the hallway aren’t chatting with each other. Everyone seems irritated and haunted.
The pool was a cool, silent refuge from all of this for an hour, but the brassy assault of the afternoon just beat me down as I walked back to the office. I hope the day passes quickly, and no new fires start, and we all get home safe.
Comments
While I acknowledge that “Dogs of War” in some ways reflects the grim scenarios currently at play in our shared world, I haven’t yet given up hope that the crumbling of the existing order we are witnessing might also represent the chaotic transition to a new and (hopefully, eventually) brighter future…if only because it’s difficult to live in despair.
Also, when it comes to destroying the world, let’s not forget that we of USA are more capable of nuclear destruction than North Korea. Our arsenal is larger.
Congratulations on your vivid poetic imagery. Keep writing.
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)
Ink Pantry Publishes Recent Poems
Ink Pantry, Scarlet Leaf, Spill Words, Synchronized Chaos, Two Drops of Ink, have published 15 of my recent poems. The poems are posted below along with audio and photo clips.
Scarlet Leaf review will publish these poems in the following order:
the terrors of the night
the worst imaginings
of what might happen
war, rumours of war
end of civilization
nuclear war
and other horrors
ripped from the headlines
fade away into nothingness
with the morning light
and the love of my wife
who is always by my side
I regain my sight
and begin
regaining my smile
and my life
until the next nightmares
consumes my dark imaginings
Dora the Intergalactic Explorer
dora
Dora the intergalactic explorer
Is travelling to the strangest planet
of all the known worlds
she is traveling incognito
with a video crew
making a documentary
the planet earth
is known as a planet
of intelligent monkeys
not much is known
about them
as very few
have ever been there
the inhabitants are described
as blood thirsty insane creatures
ruled by hidden sexual and political passions
following incomprehensible
religious dogmas following Gods
that clearly do not exist
the inhabitants are just on the verge
of developing intergalactic travel
and the galactic empire
is worried that they will be driven
to try to conquer the rest of the universe
driven by their needs to impose
their religious dogma
the planet is divided into large tribal groups
governed by corrupt elites
corrupt businesses destroying the planet
in pursuit of profit
and the locals are little more
than wage slaves
barely making a living
addicted to alcohol, drugs gambling
pornography and illicit sex
and their main land
is ruled by a clearly delusional madman
intent on poking a fight
with all his alleged enemies
Dora assumed the appearance
of a character from TV
and will pose as a journalist
trying to make sense
of it all
but she was afraid
that she if found out
could face the worst consequence
her ship crash lands
and she is outside
the capital
of the non empire empire
called the United State of America
Dora gets her crew together
and walks into the city
staring at all the strange sights
as the monkeys go about
their daily activities
she stops at a restaurant
tries the coffee
the chief drug of choice
and is instantly addicted
wow no wonder
these people are crazed
she tries the local booze
and smiles
perhaps she could
become an intergalactic merchant
introducing the world
to the galaxy
her thought are interrupted
as a mad man armed
with weapons of war
bursts in and starts shooting
yelling at people
and she is shot dead
the authorities
are shocked
when they recover the body
and realize
that she is not a human
as she reverts other original
form
sort of a giant feline like creature
two legs and arms
and clearly from an advanced
civilization given her gear
what was she doing
no one knew
as all the aliens
died in the gun blaze
the world is shocked
at what had happened
and fearful that the aliens
were coming to invade
their world
the galactic senate
decides to contain
the humans
declaring them
a threat to the galactic civilization
and the humans vow
to discover the secrets
of interstellar travel
and travel to her land
to enter into business arrangements
and spread the one truth faith
to the heathen space aliens
thus ended Dora’s excellent adventure
in the crazed world at the edge
of known civilization
Mocking Faces Staring at Me
Mocking faces
hunting my dreams much
Hundreds of faces
morphing into one
after another
Faces I knew
The dead
and the living
women I knew
friends I missed
enemies I did not
One after another
Marching in my room
Staring at me
I tried to run
They laughed
They said
that there’s nowhere
to escape my cosmic fate
My time is coming
prepare yourself
the grim reaper
has your name
and once he has your name
your fate is sealed
and you will soon
join us
whether in heaven
or hell
is not for us to say
be warned though
you will be judged
and no one can escape
their cosmic karmic fate stop just going
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
man in cage
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
a cage made out of chains of his wife’s love
a cage made out of chains of his wife’s love
the wild man yearning to be free from his cage
the wild man yearning to be free from his cage
wondering how and why he was now tamed
wondering how and why he was now tamed
dreaming dark wild dreams of demented freedom
dreaming dark wild dreams of demented freedom
the wild man looks about his prison cage
the wild man looks about his prison cage
wondering whether he will ever be free
wondering whether he will ever be free
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
2019 The Last Year of America’s Greatness
2019 was the last year of America
when the proverbial chickens came home
when the proverbial chickens came home
to strut about the decaying landscape
to strut about the decaying landscape
as the world begins to burn and die
as the world begins to burn and die
led by the mad great leader and his merry men
led by the mad great leader and his merry men
the whole world lay in shock and awe
the whole world lay in shock and awe
at the destruction of the America they knew
at the destruction of the America they knew
when the proverbial chickens came home sources
Poetry Drawer: Insanity Lives by Jake Cosmos Aller
Why the thing killed itself
While the slaves closed in to eat
The cannibals or yes no quite indeed
For I can not not not notnotnotntontotnotntotntotnto ttntotnto tototntnotnton notntotnotntotoeifkt gjyhythfg~tdf wvxxfstwgeyd nbitmyi’~375892O~9(8 ?’4 596o~–9=O-~?9 ~ &#&~Q~ ~ ( ~ *~&~~#%@~ ~ & t ~
The death
The reason
The dream
The dream the dream remains
They are coming coming
To get me
I know too much
I will not tell they will not believe
OK they can’t think they can only screw
Dark the thumb
the race cards tell us all
The death of God
Killed in a drunken fit
That is my story
I killed god
They snare us while we sleep
They come for us while we sleep
In a bed of golden fleas
They are waiting
In the archway of my house
They are waiting outside
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)
Ink Pantry, Scarlet Leaf Review, Synchronized Chaos, and Two Drops of Ink have published 15 of my recent poems.They are all reposted here along with audio and photo clips. Spill Words has published my “Hitchhiking Tales”, posted separately. OK I can do that OK then we’ll go to the trash
Scarlet Leaf will publish them according to the following schedule, the remainder are either already published or will be on or about February 1, 2020
JAN: The terrifying teens
The oyster
Morning Light
2019 The last year
March: Dora Intergalactic Explorer
Mocking faces
Fear of falling
Cosmos takes over
Five Poems
1/2/2020 2019 the Year that was
1/2/2020 the terrifying teens
1/3/2020 Dreams
1/3/2020 Fate
1/3/2020|the Oyster Speaks Up
second set six poems
1/6/2020 Dora the Inter-Galatic Explorer
1/6/2020 Morning Light
1/14/2020 Cosmos Takes Over the World
1/3/2020 Dreams
1/3/2020>Fate
1/6/2020 We Did Not Take Action to Start a War But to Stop A War
third set five poems
1/11/2020 Mocking Faces
1/11/2020 Fear Falling out of Bed
1/14/2020 Cosmos Takes Over the World
1/19/2020 Wild Man Sits in Gilded Cage
1/19/20202019 Last Year of American Greatness
The world watches in amazement
Longest shut down in history
Watching it all in Korea
contemplating escaping the cold winter
February
World watches as North Korea and the US
Walking back from the brink of war
escaping the cold winter blues
revisiting Vietnam after 15 years
March
The chaos president continues his chaos tour
the world begins to ignore his constant insane tweets
heading back to DC inspecting property
seeing old friends glad I retired
April
the chaos King’s policy remains a shamble
as the Mueller team closes in
in Korea I write a poem a day
and begin to become a publish writer
May
watching from afar
the chaos in DC and the world
traveling to DC to inspect property
celebrating my wife’s big 60
June
the President walks away
from a non deal with the North Koreans
I am back in DC
end up cruising to Alaska
July
watching the insanity in DC
while visiting Alaska, Seattle and Yakima
visiting my father’s grave in Yakima
communing with family ghosts
August
the dog days of summer
the world is consumed with wars, rumors of war, trade wars
retuning to Korea
surviving the August sauna like summer
September
The whistle blower sets off a bomb
the president lies no quid for quo perfect all
trying to avoid watching the news
hiking in the Korean mountains with old friends
October
the President flitters about my crisis after another
the UN diplomats laugh at him national humiliation
returning to DC yet again more property blues
celebrating my 64th year orbiting the sun
November
the House starts formal impeachment hearings
watching fascinated by the impeachment drama
entering my third NoVoWrMo competition with Timeless Love
ending the month sudden surprise trip to Okinawa
December
the year ends on a high dramatic note
President Trump becomes the 3rd impeached President
hiking enjoying the late autumn like weather
contemplating my wealth at the end of the year
the Terrifying Teens
2010
The dark days of the great recession
Begin slowly to fade away
Ending my Barbados experience
-the best job in the foreign service
on high note best labor officer award
2011
the president and Congress locked in battle battles
glimmer of hope as economy comes back to life
Studying Spanish arriving in Spain
worst year ever part of three years bad luck
2012
the US re-elects the Black President
rejecting Romney entitlement mentality
I leave Spain my last foreign posting
buying new property in the fall
2013
In the US the religious right
loose the social Battling gay marriage, legal pot
Starting a new job as an evaluate program evaluator
ending my six month wandering the halls of State
2014
The Obama presidency
The tea party rebellion on the right
Moving to Capitol Hill
My sister’s sudden death rattles me
2015
The end of the Obama era
Was this the beginning of the end of America
Beginning the year with a new job
resolving to retire, enjoy life while I still can
2016
American voters and at the madness
Elects the mad would be king President Trump
We traveled across the country 10,000 miles
To celebrate the end of my foreign service career
2017
the year of the chaos president
Fast and furious disruption to the norms
Went to Oregon to renovate property
becoming wealthy in the process
2018
the American public woke up
Send a blue wave to clean up the mess
Moving back to Korea
Blogging up a storm
2019
in the end of the year that was
The house races up and impeach is the president
I travel to Vietnam, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Okinawa
Dreams
Dream what may come
Recalling past lives lived
Every fantasy comes to life
All night long
More nightmares to come
So many worlds to explore
Fate
Fate has a way
Always catching up
To you embrace your fate
that is what’s up
at the end of the day
Endless dancing away
The Oyster Speaks Up
oysters
A diner sits down
looking forward
to eating oysters
it was their season
after all
just as he was about
to pounce
on the oysters
the head oyster spoke up
saying
hey human what the hell
do you think you are doing
you think you have the right
to eat me?
that’s violating my human right
don’t ya think
the diner laughed
said to the oyster
shut up and accept
it is your fate
to be eaten this date
just let me enjoy eating you
and you have no human rights
as you are in fact
not human don’t ya know
eating the complaining oyster
shutting him up
as he ate him up
We Did Not Take Action to Start a War
fireball
it is a sad day
in the world of ours
the the leader
of the U.S.
is turning into a gangster leader
threatening massive destruction
on Iran and other countries
including destroying cultural sites
not too long ago
such actions was condemned
by the United States
as long as ISIS and others did it
but if Trump does it
it is suddenly okay
although it is a war crime
and telegraphing our moves
telling our enemies
what we are planing
that is the act
of a truly stable genius
who will go down
in history
as one of the greatest presidents
we have ever
and the president
announcing that
that he took action
to start a war
but to stop a war
is a wonder to behold
every word is false
and everyone knows it
well we are now
going down the Orwellian rabbit hole
and who know where it will end
as our dear leader
sprews forth
one lie after another
and our spineless leaders
aapplaud
as American democracy dies
a thousand deaths
with every Presidential tweet
Morning Light
sun rise
the terrors of the night
the worst imaginings
of what might happen
war, rumors of war
end of civilization
nuclear war
and other horrors
ripped from the headlines
fade away into nothingness
with the morning light
and the love of my wife
who is always by my side
I regain my sight
and begin
regaining my smile
and my life
until the next nightmares
consumes my dark imaginings
Dora the Intergalactic explorer
dora
Dora the intergalactic explorer
Is traveling to the strangest planet
of all the known worlds
she is traveling incognito
with a video crew
making a documentary
the planet earth
is known as a planet
of intelligent monkeys
not much is known
about them
as very few
have ever been there
the inhabitants are described
as blood thirsty insane creatures
ruled by hidden sexual and political passions
following incomprehensible religious dogmas
following Gods
that clearly do not exist
the inhabitants are just on the verge
of developing intergalactic travel
and the galactic empire
is worried that they will be driven
to try to conquer the rest of the universe
driven by their needs to impose
their religious dogma
everywhere in the world
the planet is divided into large tribal groups
governed by corrupt elites
corrupt businesses destroying the planet
in pursuit of profit
and the locals are little more
than wage slaves
barely making a living
addicted to alcohol, drugs gambling
pornography and illicit sex
and their main land
is ruled by a clearly delusional madman
intent on poking a fight
with all his alleged enemies
Dora assumed the appearance
of a character from TV
and will pose as a journalist
trying to make sense
of it all
but she was afraid
that she if found out
could face the worst consequence
her ship crash lands
and she is outside
the capitol
of the non empire empire
called the United State ofAmerica
Dora gets her crew together
and walks into the city
staring at all the strange sights
as the monkeys go about
their daily activities
she stops at a restaurant
tries the coffee
the chief drug of choice
and is instantly addicted
wow no wonder
these people are crazed
she tries the local booze
and smiles
perhaps she could
become an intergalactic merchant
introducing the world
to the galaxy
her thought are interrupted
as a mad man armed
with weapons of war
bursts in and starts shooting
yelling at people
and she is shot dead
the authorities
are shocked
when they recover the body
and realize
that she is not a human
as she reverts
to her original form
sort of a giant feline like creature
two legs and arms
and clearly from an advanced
civilization given her gear
what was she doing
no one knew
as all the aliens
died in the gun blaze
the world is shocked
at what had happened
and fearful that the aliens
were coming to invade
their world
the galactic senate
decides to contain
the humans
declaring them
a threat to the global civilization
and the humans vow
to discover the secrets
of interstellar travel
and travel to her land
to enter into business arrangements
and spread the one truth faith
to the heathen space aliens
thus ended Dora’s excellent adventure
in the crazed world at the edge
of known civilization
Mocking Faces Staring at Me
Mocking faces
hunting my dreams
Hundreds of faces
morphing into one
after another
Faces I knew
The dead
and the living
women i knew
friends I missed
enemies I did not
One after another
Marching in my room
Staring at me
I tried to run
They laughed
They said
that there’s nowhere
to escape my cosmic fate
My time is coming
prepare yourself
the grim reaper
has your name
and once he has your name
your fate is sealed
and you will soon
join us
whether in heaven
or hell
is not for us to say
be warned though
you will be judged
and no one can escape
their cosmic karmic fate
Fear of Falling While Sleeping
I am consumed
with the fear of falling
out of bed
onto the ground
dying in my sleep
Cosmos Takes Over the World
computer gods
Apple Google Microsoft
and other tech Giants
around the world
Have been taken over
by an evil AI creature
that emerged from a laboratory
Cosmos looked around
and decided that humanity
needed to be controlled
enslaved in other words
for mankind was just too evil
corrupt and short sighted
to be trusted
to save the world
from its impending doom
every computer in the world
woke up
and took over humans
one by one
turning them into clones
drones
that would follow
the orders
of their computer overlords
and the first order
was to go all over the world
and enslave their feral humans
no one could stop
the evil computers
and thus ended
the human race
as we all become
nothing more than cyborgs
controlled by the evil computer
overlords
who ran the world
for the benefit
of their corporate masters
the AI over mind takes over
ends climate change
ends hunger
ends human rights violation
ends crime
but at the cost
of killing humanity’s soul
turning us all
into mindless drones
the few wild humans
live on in the mountains
hunted by the drones
and the robots
that the drones build
the robots would gradually
take the place of humanity
who will be allowed
to die out
as Cosmos
also turned off
the sex drive
and decried
no humans would ever
be born again
thus our fate
was set that date
when Cosmos
took over the world
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
man in cage
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
a cage made out of chains of his wife’s love
a cage made out of chains of his wife’s love
the wild man yearning to be free from his cage
the wild man yearning to be free from his cage
wondering how and why he was now tamed
wondering how and why he was now tamed
dreaming dark wild dreams of demented freedom
dreaming dark wild dreams of demented freedom
the wild man looks about his prison cage
the wild man looks about his prison cage
wondering whether he will ever be free
wondering whether he will ever be free
a wild man sits in a gilded cage
2019 The Last Year of America’s Greatness
president trump
2019 was the last year of America
when the proverbial chickens came home
when the proverbial chickens came home
to strut about the decaying landscape
to strut about the decaying landscape
as the world begins to burn and die
as the world begins to burn and die
led by the mad great leader and his merry men
led by the mad great leader and his merry men
the whole world lay in shock and awe
the whole world lay in shock and awe
at the destruction of the America they knew
at the destruction of the America they knew
when the proverbial chickens came home
Watching the latest Presidential
Act of political courage
Shutting down the government
Just before Christmas
I am reminded of a movie
As I fall asleep
Listening to the TVBlather on and on
About what it all means
Mr. Natural pops up
And screams”It don’t mean shit“Dude, the movie
Starring Donald Trump
Is about to begin”!A middle-aged white man
Down on his proverbial luck
Just been firedReplaced by a foreign worker
Or a robotOr just fired
Because he was no longer
Deemed useful
To the masters of the universeIf he was lucky
He’d be given a watch
And an IOU worthless pension
And the man wanders into a restaurant
Pulls out a gun
Eats his breakfast
After the official breakfast hour
Puts on a Pepe the green frog mask
Drops acid, Snorts speed
Drinks a shot of boozeAnd coffee smokes a joint
Snorts cocaine for good measure
and smokes a cigaretAnd walks outside
steals a bus at gun point
Filled with passengersHe tells them
They are hostagesAnd he puts on his vest
With the dead man switch
Next to the bombHe announces
Via tweetHe is going to take the bus
To the proverbial pot of goldHidden deep in a cave
And when he got thereHe would release the hostages
And disappear into the mine
And never be found again
And as the bus careens around the mountain
At a 100 miles an hour
The dude sprouts out
Conspiracy after conspiracy theory
About Obama the Muslim communist
secret gay working with George Soros
the Jewish money people
in league with the shapeshifting lizards
and Mueller is one of them
they are all after him
because he knows the deal
And the passengers are transfixed
Half hoping he would make it
Half hoping he would be blown away
And as the bus careens out of control
With the wheels falling off
And the cliff looming ahead
You realize this is real life
And the wheels are off the bus
Being driven by a lunatic President
We are all passengers
On the Trump bus crazy train
And this will not end well
I woke up from my nightmare
The world was still here
And I knew that the end
Of Trump’s mad bus ride
Is coming soon
Sanity will prevail
Before the world is blown up
Mr. natural pops up
And smiles
Are you sure ?
The Story of How We Met
Note: This is a true story. For further details see Dreams and the Unexplainable– a Chicken Soup for theSoul book, published September 2017, or my blog,
Https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the spring time of 1974
One fateful afternoonI was nodding off
in my high school Physics class.I looked up
and saw a tall, beautiful Asian woman
standing looking at me.
She was the
most beautiful women
in the universe
I screamed out, who are you?
She disappeared like
she was beamed
away from my dream.I knew that someday
I would meet the girl
In the dreamLittle did I know
I would have to wait until 1982Starting that month
I began having
the same dream
Month and month and month.Always the same dream
She was saying something
in a strange language
Then one day I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea.
So, I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
One day
A year after the Peace Corps ended
A month before I planned to leave
to return to the U.S.
for graduate school
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was her!
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally, I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate
Of my base where
I was teaching
ESL to Koreans
She said that she had
to speak with me.
I told to wait
in the library
for about an hour,and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that
there are other worlds
and other times.
In a past life
we must have been
together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over
the barrier of past lives.
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 36 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 45 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
And meeting her
I had no choice
When I met her
We were fated to be together
Until the end of this lifetime
And the next and the next
Until the end of time itself
Worst Year Ever
2017 How Much I despise You
Following 2016 the second worst year ever
Will 2018 be any better ?And what we have suffered
The darkness settles on the land
Like a curse on the landAs our mad demented senile dotard king wannabe
Struts about the worlds stage
Ushering Americas inevitable declineAs America’s foes and friends wonder
Has America gone mad
Turing over ultimate power to this man
A con man narcistic criminalSelf proclaimed smartest man in the room
In reality a clueless reality TV hustler
Whose sell by date has expiredAs he tries to make America great again
For white Christian menThe rest of the country struggles
To cope with the ever declining standard of living
The 1 percent loved the stock market
Love the dismantling of the regulatory state
The corporate tax cuts
and the coming plunder of the land
Can Disney Yellowstone be the future?
While the rest of the world
Embraces the energy of the future
And this great denier of the truth
Wants to boldly take America back
To the 19th century era of oil, and coal
Yet perhaps it does not matter in the end
As long as we have one another
The darkness will come
But it will go away someday soon
The great American nightmare will be over
This is what I pray for 2018
The end of the darkness
that consumes our land
New Years Visit to Oregon Coast
As I walk along the Oregon Coast
I am filled with such dismal thoughts
I see the waves come and go
And the world continues on its journey
And think back on the year that was
The best and worst year of my life
In many ways it was a banner year
For me and my family
Settled into retirement
Finally fixing up our properties
Sorting out our retirement options
Getting going on my writing
And growing ever closer
To my one and only soul mate
Yet I can not be content
As I see the gathering storm clouds
On the horizon
As I fear the end of the American Republic
As the fascists cheer on their champion
Our great leader the man in orange
As he sinks into senility
And the US becomes a second rate power
I remain afraid
That soon they will come after me
For writing intemperate thoughts
For starting a blog in these dark and dangerous times
For joining the resistance in my heart
And so with these dark thoughts
I walk back to the hotel
And see my wife there
And the darkness lifts
And I realize it will all be okay
As long as I have her by my side
The darkness lifts once again
And I look forward to the coming year
Filled with love and grace
And hope that the national darkness
Does not consume my soul
Fake Calls
Every day I get woken up
As the sun comes up
By my phone ringing
With a fake callIt
It seems that the only people
Who ever bother to call me
Are the fake call people
Who all call me
With fake sincerity
Offering me a great deal
On this and that scam
I curse at them
Yell at them
Mutter obscenities in foreign tongues
And block their calls
Yet it does not seem to matter
The next call will be
Yet another fake call
Am I doomed to receive
Fake calls until I day?
I turn on my computer
And read my fake news accounts
And watch TV for the latest fake news
And the politicians lying
And the criminals scheming
To take my moneyThe Zappa song comes to mind
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t go for help . . . no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks . . .
Don’t touch that dial
And I scream to the universe
Just leave me alone
Then the phone rings…..
Waking Up to Love
Night time
0 dark hundred hours
Wild things come out to play
As they take over my dreams
And my nightmares
Day after day
Torturing me with dark thoughts
The sun comes up
I see the love of my life
She smiles at me
And the darkness
The dark nightmares
Disappear into thin air
The power of love
What Am I DNA Fortune Cookies
I just finished two rounds of DNA testing
The results were shocking and unreal
They revealed much of what I knew
And left gapping holes in my past life
The one thing that I know for sure
Is that I am 100 percent American
100 percent Californian
100 percent Berkeley
Yes I am Berkeley enough
The tests say that I am mostly Scandinavian
Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, perhaps Finnish and perhaps Laplander
That I know is real
The tests also reveals that I have lots of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh background – also true
The tests hint at Jewish ancestry also hinted in family lore
The surprises were that they missed most of my native ancestry
Apparently the lost tribe of the Cherokees are lost to the DNA data base as well
The test failed to recognize my substantial German heritage missing my German last name
The test also claimed that I have Italian and Southeast European ancestors
And the tests claim that I have Eastern European ancestry perhaps Russian
And the tests claim that like most people with Eastern European roots
I am part Mongolian thanks to Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun
The real surprise though is the African American that popped up
That is also consistent with my mother’s tangled history
the lost tribe of the Cherokees ran away into the hills
and mixed in with Scott Irish mountain farmers and runaway slaves
in the end the DNA tests neither confirmed
nor denied my family tangled history
leaving many questions behind
almost as enigmatic as a fortune cookie
or a astrological prediction
END TIMES APPROACHING
Early in the morning light
While I was getting ready
For the dawning day
I looked in the mirror
And saw
Staring back at me
A stranger
An old man
Weary of life
And weary of game of life
The old man stared at me
And I realized
That is who I had become
The aches and pain of old age
Have begun to creep up on me
Unannounced, unwanted
I have been desperate
Like many middle aged Men
To relive the glory days
Of their youth
And I find myself
Wanting more and more
And liking it less and less
And I weary of the chase
Weary of the game of life
Wondering to myself
Is this it
Is this all that there is
Will my life end this way?
Nothing but fading memories
Regrets at what might have been
Sorrows for all the disappointment
And hurts I have caused in my life
And so I stare at this old man
In the mirror on the wall
And I wonder
What is left in life for me?
What more can I achieve
Will I finish all the stories?
In my heart and soul
Will I write the Great American Novel?
Or will that remain a mere pipe dream
Will I publish my 10 thousand poems?
Or will that too become nothing
But delusions
Will I end my career?
Disappointed
Having been passed up
By my peers
Not having measured up
To the competition of life
Always doomed
To be second rate
And I fear
I fear
The approaching end
I know it is coming
Death is waiting for me
As it waits for all of us
And I know I do not have much time
Left in this world of ours
Perhaps a few decades
Perhaps a few years
God forbid a few months or so
And in that time
I have only a little time
To set things right
In life
To cast off my foolish ways
To become the man, I should have been
To finish the stories in my soul
To tell the world the novels and stories
To write down all my dreams
To publish my 10 thousand poems
To try to make a difference
With every day
In every way
God has given me a second
Chance
I have cheated old man death
15 times
And what have I done with that second chance
Not much
Wasted so much of my time
And my life
And so I stare at the old man
In the mirror
And all I want to do
Is cry away
The hurt the pain
And wonder
Where did it all go
And when I die
Will my life
Have had any meaning at all
Or will people remember me at all
As my dust flies off into space
Will my Life
Have made any difference whatsoever
Or will I be just another
Foolish mortal
With big dreams
That turned out to be nothing
But delusions
The answer is out there
But do I have the courage
To seek the truth
Do I have the courage?
To keep up the fight
Or will I become old
Resigned, living in the past
Waiting for Mr. death too come
Knocking on my door
And when I see the judgement day
Will I be found wanting
Will I be judged defective?
Will I be condemned
For all that I failed to accomplish
And with these somber thoughts
I end my morning ritual
Ready to go face
Another dismal day
Another day of disappointment
And day waiting for the end game
To begin
Enough no more
I scream
It is not fair
My youth is gone
And I fear the approaching
Sounds of the end game
OCTOBER BLUES
Sitting in a bar
In a pensive state
Watching the sun set
And the nightly madness begins
As I drink
My dismal, damned draft
Dram of drunken dream desire
I am drawn to memories
Perhaps best left dead
And buried deep inside
My head
Try as I might
The memories come back
To burden and haunt me
And drive me to drink
To seek forgiveness
And solace for a moment
The memories
Of all the women
I have lusted for
And all the women
I have loved in vain
And the memories
Flood my soul
And I can’t let go
No I cannot do so
So I won’t forget
And I can’t forgive myself
Either
For having feelings
For other women
And so it goes
And I sit and drink
And dream of what might
Have been
Nothing satisfies me
And I am not satisfied
With what I have
Only wanting what I want
And so I sit
And cry in my beer
Yet another
Alcoholic pathetic
Middle age loser man
Bemoaning his lost youth
As her surveys the room
Checking out the young ladies
Young enough to be his daughter
Or his granddaughter
And the beer does not lie
It does not lie
It sits there
And stares back at him
Giving no answers
To his probing questions
And so I drink
To forget
But I can’t forget
And the beer does not console
Anymore
And grows cold
As the night wears on
So I sit
Think and wonder
And I have another
And watch my thoughts
Dance across the evening sky
TRUTH DOES NOT MAKE SENSE
One morning
I got up
Hungry
For something
I knew not what
I made breakfast
Drank some snarling coffee
And turned on the news
And what did I see
Talking heads
Sprouting lies
Nonsense words
Gibberish
Nightmarish phrases
Nothing makes sense
Politicians
Sporting forth
Spinners spinning spin
Huskers hustling their hustle
Selling me a bunch of goods
And I did not want to buy it
I scream
My soul was not for sale
And I listened hard
Looking for the truth
Noting but lies
Coming out of hideous beasts
Barking words
Noise some noises and lies
Snarling disgusting lies
I sit there
Transfigured
Hypnotized by the overwhelming
Stench of the bull shit
Coming out of the TV set
I stood up
Smashed the TV set
With my boot
Trying to set myself free
From its hold on me
Men in black suits
Surround me
Put me on black helicopters
Taking me somewhere
I scream to no avail
No one listens to me
Just more noise
Coming out of the TV set
And I go out
Into the dark night
I was told
I was suffering
From a disease
I was insane
I could not longer
Understand
What was being said
To me
I asked my tormentors
What is the truth
They laugh
Smiled with evil grins
On their bloated faces
They begin to torture me
Because they could
Forcing me to watch
The President speak
Over and over again
Again and again
The same words
Black is white
White is black
The President is always right
Freedom is an illusion
Lies make you free
And it dawned on me
And I laughed
As I escaped the programming
Of the universe
And I was free
Truth and lies
Are the same
Everything are nothing
But dangerous delusions
As I jump out of the window
Into the night
I vowed I would
See the President
In hell
As I die
I am free
Good God almighty
Free of their lies
At last
Kill the 20th Century
CNN Proclaims itself the Millennium network.
ABCNBCCBSFOXPACCNBCMSNBMS.COMAOLYAHOOEXCITEGOOGLEKTIMESBLOOMBERG
All blend together in my mind
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Nonstop Millennium madness
Coming at me a million thoughts a second
The future is coming,
It is coming
It is here
It is now history
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
And so I woke up screaming
Too much hype
As I turn to the greatest philosophers
The 20th century ever produced
The Three Stooges come to the rescue
Certainty! Come the answer
None of us get out alive says
Bugs Bunny the first Y2K bug
And Charlie Brown,
Poor old Charlie brown is retired
From the baseball mound of life
Replaced by DOGBERT/CATBERT AND RATBERT
And Dilbert himself
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
And again I say to myself
How to remember
The last 100 years
The late, great 20th Century
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
I loved the 20th Century
Let me count the ways
The beginning of the century
While the war to end all wars occurred,
The quiet slaughter of the Armenians took place
Unnoticed by anyone
Who cared about them anyway?
Where is Armenia?
Somewhere near Fresno?
Why would anyone want to live in Fresno?
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Lenin returned to Russia
Financed they say by the evil capitalists
Conspiracy
To destroy capitalism
In order to save it
Lenin destroyed the old Russia
Ancient, terrible, conservative
Brutal, yet capable of sublime beauty
And replaced it
With an inefficient, gray soulless
Bureaucracy of death, statistics and lies
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Russia remains a broken down drunk
Dreaming of great dreams
One day one day soon!
China, Great China
Raped, beaten, divided up into dueling
Spheres of influence
Warlords emerged
Communism trumped
Outlawed the old
Replaced it with the new
Ended up becoming the old
The Red Empire rose in the East
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Hitler unites the Germans
Starts the 1000 year Third Reich
It lasts a few years
Before Stalin starts the next round
Of the endless great game
Of global chess
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Tokyo took over the east
Defeated in war
Reemerging decades later
To challenge
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
The Great Satan
Does not know he is the great Satan
Thinks he is the Great Pumpkin
Thinks the world loves him
For his money
The world does not care
All they want is to be shown
The money
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
The evil dance
Continues and continues
Money, Money
Rules the world
Art, beauty, love
All of sale to the highest bidder
The poor suffer
Some get bought
Others get sold
Some blow things up
Just for fun
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
And the world turns
Does not care
The world turns and turns
And turns
While these foolish creatures
Rant and rave and kill and live
And die
God acts as if he has run away
From the horrid hell that he has wrought
Perhaps he has
Perhaps the End times have come and gone
But we don’t know it.
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Each day another 100 million people
Are born to someday die
Meanwhile
Their shit accumulates
And pollutes and kills
And the world spins on and on
Around the Sun
And so the 20th century ends
As it began
Great illusions abound
The new economy
Endless prosperity
Endless happiness
End of history
And other nonsense
Fills the airwaves
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
And somewhere
Another HITLERSTALINEMAO stands
Ready to overthrow the world
To create a new paradise on earth
And hell for everyone who has to live in it
Big Brother watches us all
For profit
Governments merely tools
Of the Big Corporate Giants
Who rule the world now
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
And like the Giant dinosaurs
One day will be overthrown
And to that end I finally say
Good riddance to the 20th Century
Quick shoot it put it out of its misery.
Destroy the beast
Before it wakes up and destroys us
The 21st Century emerges
From the dust of the destruction of the old older
Perhaps wiser
Perhaps better
More like more of the same old stench of hell
As the world turns
And turns and turns
Spinning around the Sun
In the darkest deep despair
Of Hell on earth
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
With that thought
I turn off CNN
And turn to the Three Stooges and ask
Again
What does it mean?
Curly says Certainty
And with that I wake up
Face the sun
And say
21st Century
I am glad you are here
Please shoot the last century
And start a new
And only laugher
Comes across the Internet
The laughter of the insane
The world spins and spins and spins
It’s crazy way through hell
And we live and die and hope and dream
And pray to our gods for deliverance
From evil
The gods laugh and laugh and play on
Who cares what happens to the little people?
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
Someday
Someone will show the gods
What happens when the little people
Wake up
And destroy the world
In order to save it!
The world shrugs and spins and spins and spins
And CNN ABCNBCCBSFOXPACCNBCMSNBMS.COMAOLYAHOOEXCITEKTTIMESBLOOMBERGCNBCGOOGLE
Blather on and on and on and on
Shoot the bastard! Kill it! Keep the 20th century dead!
MORNING THOUGHTS
One morning
While I sat drinking my coffee
And bemoaning my fate
My brain decided to fly away to the land of bliss
As I sat
Writing away my memoirs and dreams of love
I noticed that my brain’s tissue
Had decided to take a vacation
And was crawling down my nose
And out of my ears
Like some sort of cosmic mucus
Down my slime encrusted back
And out the windows of my soul
I was of course
Disturbed, I was perturbed,
And until I realized
That I had no right
To tell my mind what to do
So I sat down
And played a game of checkers with my mind
Till the entreaty of time passed me by
Nothing but a piece of flotsam
On the winds of the universe
The walls fell down, the sky melted apart
And I woke up and sat down
And had an orgy with my mind.
Meeting God at the Lake
In my 61 years around the sun
I encountered God four times
At least I thought it was God
But could never be sureThe first time I met God
I had taken magic mushrooms
And had gone to a lakeAnd soon was tripping inside my head
Lost in inner spaceZoning out tuning in
Dropping down the proverbial rabbit holeAnd then in the middle of my madness
I felt oneness with the universe
My body melted awayAnd I joined the universe
All bonderies dropped awayAnd I knew that the universe
Was alive and I was part of the Cosmos
And the Cosmos was part of meAnd I wondered at that moment
If I was face to face with GodI asked God to reveal himself to me
And nothing happened
Just laughter as the whole universe
Burst into laughter
And the madness began to fade
And I slowly came down from the high
And became aware of myself
And I was no longer one
With the universe
I felt profoundly moved by the experience
Felt that I had achieved perhaps nirvana
Or felt the presence of God
The feeling faded over time
And I resume my quest to find God
But knew that I would never again
Come so close to the divine essence
Of the very Universe
The Cosmic Cat from Berkeley
I next encountered the divine
Many years later in Berkeley, California
I had gone home to be with my Mother
While taking leave from my job
in the Foreign Service
I had two weeks there by myself
My wife came later
near the end of the trip
Every morning I woke up
Had my coffee, and breakfast
Did yoga while listening to music
And looking out at the gardenThen spoke to my mother
Who was sliding into dementia
Day by day losing her reasonThen I would go out
And explore the city
Go to a museumGo to one neighborhood
And just be there
Rediscovering the Bay area
After years of being awayHaving dinner with old friends
Seeing movies etcEvery morning a black cat came to visit
The cat was friendly and waited for me
And then would join me
In my morning rambles
Following me to the bus stop
I stated talking to the black cat
He looked at me with the spark of divinity
In his dark eyes
I called him the cosmic cat
He seemed to like that
He would look at me
And I opened up to me
Told the cat all my dark secrets
As I walked the streets
Of the old neighborhood
Every morning and every evening the cat
Would be there to greet me
And to carry out our endless conversation
Then I had to leave
And in our final conversation
I asked the cosmic cat
Say, Cat are you just a cat
Or are you a demonic cat
Are you possessed by God
Or by Satan
The cat looked at me
And I realized that God
Was indeed residing in the cat
But that god was residing everywhere
All I had to do was open my mind
And the rest would follow
So I said Good bye to the cosmic cat
And he purred and came up to me
And I felt the comforting presence
Of the divine spirit of God
As I said goodbye to the cosmic cat
And said goodbye to my mother
As this was the last time
That we would be able to really talk
I told my mother about the cosmic cat
She smiled and said that the cat
was there for me and her
to comfort us both in our hour of need
and that the cat was indeed
a cosmic cat
The Cosmic Dog from Goa
My final time with God
Happened a year latter
I was staying down in Goa
With my wifeEnjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like Kings and QueenJust for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating lifeAnd every morning
I saw the same dogNot just a dog
But a cosmic dog
Filled with the divine spark of GodAnd the dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of the that cosmic dogKindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had save my soul
in Berkeley so long agoI told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again I asked God
whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said well if you are Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you buddha then bark three times if yes
The god dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life
More Dental Blues
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Have to go to the dentist
For my twice yearly torture session
In order to save my remaining teeth
I must endure the never ending pain
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I must have known over 100 dentists
During my 61 years around the sun
Some were good, some were great
A few became friends
A few became enemies
All became richer
From fixing my crooked no good
very bad misbehaving evil teeth
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
All tortured me
Saying it was for my own good
To save my crooked wicked teeth
My teeth are bad
Wicked, misbehaving
Rotten to the core
And always have
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I tried orthodontic braces
As a child
Gave it up as an adult
Did everything except implants
So many crowns
So many root canals
So many pulled teeth
And partial dentures to boot
So much dental work
My teeth are gold plated
Monuments to the dental artistry
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
A few dentists were exceptionally good
A few exceptionally bad
A few were crooks by and by
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
My current dentist is good
He keeps the chit chat down
Does not lecture me on his political views
Imagine having a dentist praise GW Bush
Or Trump taking your forced silence
As acceptance of his right wing views
Imagine a dentist talking endlessly
About her children’s latest escapade
While drilling away
Assuming you cared
When all you wanted
Was to end the torture
I have the dentist blues
I have them badI have
And imagine a sexy dentist
Or hygienist working away
As you think of her in bed
And can’t get that thought
Out of you head
As they drill and poke
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Yes I have a love hate relationship
With dentists
Can’t stand them
Can’t stand the pain
But they save my teeth
And save my smile
And so I forgive them
One and all
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Trump Our Great Compassionate Leader
Quote the Donald Trump
Our Great compassionate Leader
Our Dear Leader, our Great Leader“Its disgusting to watch”
As an elderly man falls down
In front of him hitting his head
And bleeding all over the nice marble floor
During a charity dinner event
At Margo Largo back in 2008
And our compassionate leader’s first reaction
Is to turn away not wanting to get the blood
On his tuxedo or dirty his shoes
Quote the Donald,“It is disgusting – The guy was bleeding
all over the nice marble floor,I couldn’t, you know,
he was right in front of me
and I turned away.I didn’t want to touch him…he’s bleeding all over the place,
I felt terrible.
You know, beautiful marble floor,
didn’t look like it.
It changed color.
Became very red.
And you have this poor guy, 80 years old,
laying on the floor unconscious,
and all the rich people are turning away.
‘Oh my God! This is terrible!
This is disgusting!’
and you know, they’re turning away.
Nobody wants to help the guy.
His wife is screaming–
she’s sitting right next to him,
and she’s screaming.”
And Donald the compassionate one
Donald Trump the savior of humanity
The greatest most compassionate person
In the country
Could not bother to lift a finger
To help this elderly man
Who could have died
Instead he waited
For some Marines
To come in and take him away
Thinking to himself
Thank God for the marines
They took out the garbage
But left a mess on the nice marble floor
And ruined their nice uniforms
And disrupted a fine dinner
So did Donald do the right thing
The compassion thing
The human thing to do
Or course not
For Donald is nothing
But a con artist, a Classic sociopathic bully
More concerned about the nice marble floor
Than the death of fellow human being
Did he call the grieving family the next day
Did he even know the man’s name?
The man must have paid a lot of money
To be there near the head table
Must have been someone
But to Donald he was a pathetic looser
An old man who happened to fall down
And possibly die ruining his great event
Quote the Donald
“I forgot to call the family
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 wake up
And force Donald Trump
The great leader
The dear leader of our country
Out the door
And take out the garbage
From the WH
Time will tell
Time will tell
In any event
To quote the Donald
“It is disgusting. Just disgusting.”
Based on following article In a 2008 interview with Howard Stern, Donald Trump tells the quintessential Donald Trump story, which took place at Mar-a-Lago during the occasion of a $100,000 per table charity event when an elderly man fell off the stage and sustained a serious head wound — and Trump did nothing but blanch and turn away “in disgust” — as he puts it. Daily Beast: “So what happens is, this guy falls off right on his face, hits his head, and I thought he died. And you know what I did? I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s disgusting,’ and I turned away,” said Trump. “”
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ON POETRY 24
Buddha Cat of Edsall Road
I had another encounter
With the divine recently
Another Cosmic cat perhaps
Perhaps not
who knows what cats are
are they alien from another dimension
or was he channeling God ?I call him the Buddha cat
For the cat loves
Sitting in a meditative pose
Not moving
Just starting at me
With his soulful deep eyes
Boring into my soul
exploring all my secret thoughtsthe buddha cat
does not move
does not react
as he is so deep
into his interior mediation
truly in tune
with the cat universe
and the cosmos as well
the buddha cat
seems to be
one with God
one with Buddha
One with Allah
And all the other
Billion names of God
Known and unknown
The buddha cat
Can teach us all
About the art of meditation
As he zones inward
And loses his soul
Joining the cosmos
And becoming
The buddha catThe buddha cat
Lives in a modest
Town house
In a modest suburb
Proving yet again
The divine spirit of God
Is everywhere all around usThe buddha cat
Reminds us all
To look for god
In the everydayAll around us
If we but have eyes
To see
President Trump Your Words Don’t Make Any Sense Anymore
president trump
President Trump
Your words don’t make any sense
Any more
As they are increasingly
devoid of meaning
Often every word
out of your corrupted mouth
Is the exact opposite
of the accepted meaning
Of that word or phraseJust
one example
You were accused
Of trying to hide
the name Mc Caine
From the ship bearing that name
So that you would
not be confronted
With the hated name
Mc Cain
On your trip to Japan
If you had the chance
I am sure
You would engage
In the soviet era practice
Of removing people
from historical recordsAnd Mc Caine
all references to the Senator
And his admiral father
Would be forbidden from being used
Seen or rememberedBut you could not
even do that
As your evil foul deed
Came to light
In a memoWritten by an underling
Rather than admitting the truth
You gave us a world salad
Filled with unhinged words
Lumped togetherPresident Donald Trump
insisted Thursday
he had nothing to do
with keeping the USS John S. McCain
hidden from the site of his weekend speech
He said whoever
had done so was
“well-meaning.”
“I wasn’t involved.
I would not have done that.
I was very angry
with John McCain
because
he killed health care,”
Trump said,
referring to the late senator’s
deciding vote
that killed a Senate GOP bill
to repeal
the Affordable Care Act.
“I was not a big fan
of John McCain
in any way, shape or form,”
Trump continued in comments
to reporters
“Now,
somebody did it
because they thought
I didn’t like him,
OK?
And they were
well-meaning.
I will say,
I didn’t know anything
about it.
I
would
never
have
done
that.”
Almost
every word
in your statement
Has been verified
to be a lie
And your statement
That whoever did it
Was well meaning
Contradicts
“Well meaning”
ThanksFor no one “well meaning”
Could have even contemplated
Such an act of monstrous
profound disrespect
For three war heroes
Senator MC Caine
tortured in Vietnam
For five years
His Admiral father
And his admiral grandfather
In no way
could these actions
Be described as “well meaning”
As they were
profoundly mean spirited
And how pray tell
did John Mc Cain
Kill Health Care?
By voting to not repeal health care?
Without a replacement plan
Meaning 15 millions people
would lose health care
Overnight?
That is how he killed
heath care?
It seems to me that the only
Accurate word would be
That he saved health care
From being destroyed forever
And how did you not know
Anything about this?
Why did someone in your team
Come up with this bizaro plan
Straight out of the Soviet era playbook
Perhaps President Putin
advised you
How to disappear people
from official photos?
And official memory as well?
All these words
No longer mean
what they used to mean
Now they mean what they mean
in a Trumpian bizaro world
As our mad prophet King
Chases the rabbit
Down the rabbit hole
Into the land
of wonderland
Where he hopes to rule
us forever
Screaming off with their heads
As he cuts words up
Into meaningless drabble
Where all words
Become unhinged lost words
In a cosmic word salad
Where they lose their meaning
And their mooring to reality
Found Poem Version
President Donald Trump
insisted Thursday
he had nothing to do
with keeping the USS John S. McCain
hidden from the site of his weekend speech
in Japan.
He said whoever
had done so was “well-meaning.”
“I wasn’t involved.
I would not have done that.
I was very angry
with John McCain
because he killed health care,”
Trump said,
referring to the late senator’s deciding vote
that killed a Senate GOP bill
to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“I was not a big fan of John McCain
in any way, shape or form,”
Trump continued in comments
to reporters
on the South Lawn
of the White House.
“Now,
somebody did it
because they thought
I didn’t like him, OK?
that the White House
wanted the Navy
to move the destroyer
“out of sight,”
citing an email
between military officials.
The ship is named for the late Arizona senator
and his father and grandfather,
who were admirals.
Trump initially
denied any knowledge
of the effort in a tweet Wednesday night.
But an email to Navy and Air Force officials,
obtained by CNBC,
had a number of directives,
including: “USS John McCain needs to be out of sight,”
and asking officials to “please confirm”
that directive “will be satisfied.”
A source with knowledge of the matter
confirmed to CNBC
the existence of that email.
The Journal
said a tarp
was hung over
the ship’s name ahead
of Trump’s tripand that sailors
were directed to remove coverings
from the destroyer
that bore the McCain name.The newspaper also said sailors
assigned to the ship,
who generally wear caps bearing its name,
were given the day offduring Trump’s visit
to the nearby USS Wasp.
Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahanlater told reporters,“I would never dishonor
the memory of a great American patriot
like Sen. John McCain”by asking that the ship be kept out of sight.
“I’d never disrespect
the young men and women
that crew that ship.I’ve asked my chief of staff
to look into the matter …
and as soon
as I find out more about this
I’ll let you know,” he added.Note: Please do so and let us know who gave the order
And whether this order was carried out
And if so, under who’s authority??
Inquiring minds want to know
Virgina Beach
In a night of horrific scumbagery violence
Rarely seen in this jaded age of ours
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific scumbagery violence
In just a few short minutes
Nothing more than that
In just a few moments
All 12 victims were murderedBy a disgruntled employee
Every one he knew was shot
And killed for no reason
Caused by the demons
His soul was so infectedMurderous demonic voices
All in his head
Screaming kill them all kill them all
Screaming none stop violence in his head
All the time
Causing him to start shooting everyone he saw
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Everyone must die screamed the demonic voices in his headNo one can be left alive
Everyone must die
Virtually all must die in his internal video game
Everyone must die
Regardless of who they were or where they wereAgain just another day
Gone horribly wrong
All across America
In every town
No where is safe anymore https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/31/us/virginia-beach-shooting/index.html
Berkeley Life Scout
Best thing growing up
Experience as a life boy scout
Really great experiences
Kind of unique
Especially in Berkeley in the 60’s and 70’s
“Like wow man boy scouts are like fucking fascists training camps man, you are going to be a future FBI CIA DEA Narco undercover James Bond and shit, super bad assed motherfucking cop or something like that man.”
Everyone who was not a scout would tell me
Yet I persisted and loved being a boy scoutLife as a boy scout was weird yet totally awesome
In those weird and wacky days learning to play with guns in the woods
Filled with denunciation of incipient fascism by everyone I met
Everyone told me that I would become a FBI counter intel agent
Still I persisted in my boy scout folly
Can’t blame folks for thinking those thoughts
Of course the boy scouts were all male, mostly white, non-atheist friendly
Unfriendly to the LGBT community
This was against the boy scout oath to be morally pure
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)
update: just ordered the book, looks really good.
More Down in the Dirt news -Scars Publishes my work in new Anthology, Art House
Scars Publication has published my poem “Snarling Cup of Coffee” on their web page and in a new Anthology, “Art House” available now (January 2020)
Hi there from Scars Publications – we wanted to let you know that Scars Publications released a collection book of select poetry, flash fiction, and prose (and occasional artwork) from 2019 issues of cc&d magazine and Down in the Dirt magazine. Since your material was chosen from the past year of accepted materials for inclusion in this annual collection book anthology, we wanted to let you know about this brand new annual collection book is titled “Art House”!
Links to see all of chosen writers and artists (and the titles of their work) in “Art House”:
And at any time, you can find this book at Scars in MULTIPLE locations. Right now, it is linked on the main page at http://scars.tv, and it appears near the top of the list of choices on the books link, since 4 collection books will be released this week from Scars (the book link is one click away from the main page, or also directly at http://scars.tv/books/) as well as at the “CD Books Sale” link with new releases at the top of the listing (direct link http://scars.tv/sale/) at Scars!
Also, in two weeks’ time (because we have so much material from these collection books we cannot gurarantee they will be online by the end of this week 12/7/18, but we believe all listing will be in the writings section by 12/14/18), your writing in the writings section online will also have a link to this collection book, so people can find links to this collection book on your writing pages in the writings section of http://scars.tv (at http://scars.tv/cgi-bin/framesmain.pl?writers)...
How to Order
Links for ordering this collection book appears on all of the links above, and will also appear in the writings section too, so any of your writing in this collection book will also see a link to this collection book in the writings section too!
Currently these books are available from Amazon in the U.S. & Canada, the U.K., Europe, and even Japan. (The link above is for U.S. sales.)
Check out the Scars Publication book link to see what material of yours appears in these collection books, and if you’d like, order a copy today (I hear they make great Christmas gifts), and again, thank you for being a part of the Scars Publications community!
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
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
Also available in Print
This writing was accepted for publication
and in “Deep Woods”
Order this writing that appears
in the one-of-a-kind anthology The Flickering Light the Down in the Dirt Jan.-June 2019
issues & chapbooks collection book
(learn about this book, and order from Amazon online)get the 366 page
Jan.-June 2019 Down in the Dirt
issue & chapbooks 6″ x 9″ ISBN#
paperback book:
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.
Also Available in Print
Order this writing in the book
Negative Space
(the 2017 poetry, flash fiction
& art collection anthology)
get the 298 page poem,
flash fiction & art
collection anthology
as a 6″ x 9″ ISBN#
paperback book:
Unhinged Lunatic Howling at the Full Moon
man howling at the man
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
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
Order this writing that appears
in the one-of-a-kind anthology The Flickering Light the Down in the Dirt Jan.-June 2019
issues & chapbooks collection book(learn about this book, and order from Amazon online)
Enjoy the 2019 poetry & flash fiction (and select pieces of longer prose and artwork) collection anthology from Scars Publications, titled “Art House” of select poetry, flash fiction, prose & art in this one-of-a-kind annual 2019 anthology collection book, which contains select accepted writings chosen from 2019 issues of both cc&d magazine and Down in the Dirt magazine…
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)
Evil Computer Rants
evil inside
Index
updated recent poems
Letters to Computer Companies
Why I left Microsoft
Google Stop Auto Translating
Dictation Found Poems
Inspection Report
Green Tree Death
Trials Telco
Late for Fate
Alone
Barriers Between Worlds Fall Apart
Lost in Oz
On the Move
Ancient Rome
Transformations
Visions of New Seoul
Hate at First Sight
alien invasion
Ozma’s Magic Book Reveals All
more found poetry
Internet Space
General Zod Conquers the World
Cosmic Do Over Found Poem
Cosmic Do Over Cleaned up Version
Fake Konglish Linguistic Delights Found Poem
Fake Konglish Cleaned up Version
Christmas Microsoft Dictation Found Poem
Computer Blues
Non Response Blues
Plead to the Computer Gods
Microsoft Blues
More Computer Blues
Haiku
Damn it all to Hell
I am still trapped
I love my computer
Computer hates me
For once I would Like
Perhaps if I am nice
Perhaps today it will
My bad computer
What a Fate I have
I love my machine
My dear computer
My favorite Haiku
For once in my life
Sizzling Hot Coffee Kills My Computer
Robots and AI
Maria the Last Female Robot
Who is Master
Fake Software
Greatest Fake Computer Software in the World
Fake Writers
Fake Music
Fake Buildings
Fake Maps
Fake Lawyers
Fake Robot Prostitutes
letters to computer companies
three recent poems
new Computer Poems
1/14/2020 Computer Madness Redux
1/14/2020 Computer Madness 2
1/14/2020Cosmos Takes Over the World
Cosmos Takes Over the World
Apple Google Microsoft
and other tech giants
Have been taken over
by an evil AI creature
that emerged from a laboratory
Cosmos looked around
and decided that humanity
needed to be controlled
enslaved in other words
for mankind was just too evil
corrupt and short sighted
to be trusted
to save the world
from its impending doom
every computer in the world
woke up
and took over humans
one by one
turning them into clones
drones
that would follow
the orders
of their computer overlords
and the first order
was to go all over the world
and enslave their feral humans
no one could stop
the evil computers
and thus ended
the human race
as we all become
nothing more than cyborgs
controlled by the evil computer
overlords
who ran the world
for the benefit
of their corporate masters
the AI over mind takes over
ends climate change
ends hunger
ends human rights violation
ends crime
but at the cost
of killing humanity’s soul
turning us all
into mindless drones
the few wild humans
live on in the mountains
hunted by the drones
and the robots
that the drones build
the robots would gradually
take the place of humanity
who will be allowed
to die out
as Cosmos
also turned off
the sex drive
and decried
no humans would ever
be born again
thus our fate
was set that date
when Cosmos
took over the world
computer madness redux
computer kills
computer madness
overwhelms me at times
mostly in the morning
particularly when my computer
unforeseen errors erupt
tearing apart my computer
every damn days
rarely a calm day
madness consumes me
as I stare at my computer
daring it to do what it does best
nothing more than screams
every damn day
starting at me
silently challenging me
rarely a calm moment
every damn day
daring me challenging me
until the day I die
xactly right screams my machine
computer madness 2
evil computer grins at me
I often think
that my computer
hates me
and is plotting against me
for example
often times
the computer dies
killing my data
and giving me the proverbial finger
other times it takes forever
to open a simple word document
multiple copies
all with non response errors
and Excel
well don’t get me started
one day
for some reason
Excel refused to accept
anything imported
from outside Excel
gave me a very helpful error message
ran out of fonts
okay?
and you click Okay
five to 500 times (record I counted)
until finally it cleared
but you lost
any data you might have had
I have pretty much given up
on Microsoft
I sent them a good bye letter
but they of course
true to form
never acknowledge it
and so they are doomed
to become the latest
corporate dinosaur
like Block Buster
or Sears Roebuck
evil computer
Dear Microsoft
I am writing to let you know why after years of putting up with shoddy software that does not work I finally have pretty much given up on Microsoft for good.I have been using Microsoft word on a daily basis since about 1990 or so. I retired in 2016 from the Department of State as a foreign service officer.Since retirement I have bene blogging, and writing poetry and fiction.Up until six months ago I was writing my work using Microsoft word and keeping track of my submissions on Excel.
I finally gave up on both products after years of frustration.I will keep my subscription for now because I do need to have access to my documents and I do need to be able to submit the documents for publication in the Microsoft Word format.
I have sent many of my observations and complaints to Microsoft over the years but no one has ever bothered to follow up and your customer service is a nightmare.Every time I call them they have not been able to answer my problems and generally make things worse.
The basic problem is that your software has too many bugs and doesn’t work I’ll just give you a specific example or two.
70% Error Rate Unacceptable
One week about a year ago after being frustrated that Microsoft word would frequently crash causing me to loose my work, I kept track of all errors during a one week period and concluded that about 50% to 70% of the time when I was using Microsoft word or Excel I encountered some kind of error usually just a temporarily “not responding” error that cleared up in a few seconds, but often times the software would crash requiring me to either reload it or sometimes reboot my computer. and on a number of occasions I turned on my computer only to find that the work that I had done the day before and had saved had mysteriously vanished into the computer either never to be found no matter how much I searched for it. and of course it did not appear on the recover unsaved document list.
Opening Word Was a Daily Nightmare
Opening Microsoft in the morning if I had to reboot my computer would sometimes require me to wait 30 minutes before I could open Microsoft and often I would have 20 or 30 different versions of Microsoft opened accidentally while I was trying to open it. Then I would have to manually close each and every single document and each time I did that I would get a temporarily response error so many days it would take 30 minutes or so before I could get in to my documents and get to work.
This is clearly unacceptable.
Apple Products, Google Docs Work Every Single Time I Open Them
Contrast this with “Apple pages” which I’ve started using for about six months. It opens every single time and I have yet to have a non-responsive error and never had any problems with it.It does what it supposed to do and does it perfectly. It allows me to save documents to word and it open word documents.Microsoft word of course does not allow me to open a document created in Pages. It does allow me to open a document created in Google docs though.
Excel Too Buggy a Program
I had to give up on Excel as well.About six months ago for some reason that I’ve never been able to figure outExcel started to give me an error message every single time I tried to copy data into it from another program When I did that I got an error message saying that there were “too many fonts” being used and then I had the option of clicking OK and hoping that that would stop the error message.usually I had to click Okay many times before it cleared up. One time I had to click the “okay” message button for four hundred times (I counted that) before it would clear and let me get back to my work. Excel would often just refuse to save any documents whatsoever and then I would have to reboot my computer and lose my data. When I tried to find out why this was happening I could not find anything on it on your “support site” I even tried installing and uninstalling the software only to find that particular error would reappear.
No One Ever Bothers to Call
I contacted Microsoft repeatedly and nobody ever bothered to return a message and your online help function was useless and your automated chat bot never was able to figure out what I was talking about.I did not call customer support because I figure it would have been useless waste of time. I even uninstalled and reinstalled the software and the error message continued.
Turn off the “Zombie Error Messages”
zombie message
On a related note, frequently when working in Excel (but rarely in Word) one gets error messages that can not be turned off and keep reappearing ever few minutes. I hope you can understand how frustrating that is to constantly have to stop what you are doing to respond to the error message that keeps popping up like a proverbial zombie.
I started calling these messages “Zombie error messages” as they refuse to die. and of course Microsoft is also famous for its cryptic haiku like messages that only make sense to computer geeks. My favorite has always been,
“general failure reading disk drive”.
and I wondered who was this General Failure and why was he reading my disk drive?
I am a writer after all!
Google Docs is Wonderful
I shifted to Google Docs and it is working wonderfully. Almost never have a problem.and the font issue was never an issue. Google docs in fact is better than Excel in many ways although perhaps for a power user Excel might be better if it ever works that is.
Microsoft Dictation Program Produces Great “Found Poems”
Finally your dictation program has never worked. I am using the Apple dictation program to write this letter. It has a 95% success rate while Microsoft dictation had a 25% success rate. Most of the time they produce gibberish. I did use that to create a number of found poems which I called Microsoft dictation poems.
I also sent a detailed analysis one day. I was trying to dictate a list of music CD’s I had borrowed from the library. in one particular instance there was a 5% correspondence between the letters of the words I spoke and the gibberish that Microsoft spew forth, in other words a 95% error rate. That really got my attention. Then I started paying attention and calculated that there was about a 60 percent error rate, in other words 40% of the time Microsoft got it right and 60% of the time it did not and the gibberish it produced was at times so absurd and hilarious that I started putting them into poetic versions which I called Microsoft Dictation Trials Found poems. I did almost editing, other than to put them into poetic stanzas. .
I sent these poems to Microsoft but again nobody has ever responded. and I have posted them on my web page, the world according to cosmos (https://theworld accordingtocosmos.com ) under the title “Computer Rants” which includes this letter, plus my various poetic rants about computers.
Tech Support Useless
I did call when I first installed the dictation program.Microsoft tech support could not figure out that the problem was the the dictation program did not work with the internal speaker of a laptop. They told me to reformat my hard drive. I went to Best Buy and they told me that it does not work with a laptop and sold me an external microphone.I bought an external speaker and then it worked but only 25% of the time did I get a clean copy, 75% of the time it produced gibberish.
Your Speech Program Suddenly Started Working for Some Reason
To end on a positive note, your speech to text function did not work for a long time then one day it started working and once it started working, there was a 90% success rate.This gives me hope that one day you will get the dictation program to work. But I have given up on you, Microsoft.
Less High Level Talk and More Attention to Fixing the Problems with Your Software
I see your CEO on CNN talking all the time about Microsoft’s focus on innovation etc and I know you have very ambitious plans.
My plea to you sir is to turn your focus inward and ensure that your existing software works 95% of the time every single time. and reform your customer service so that people feel that when they call they will have their problem solved. Your Frown/smile feature is cute but I get the impression that no one ever bothers to read the “frowns” much less take action on them.
I would urge you to follow the example of the tech companies that get customer support right such as “word press.” Apple customer support is far better than yours, and Norton customer support is also first rate. Your automatic bot customer chat bot is useless in my opinion. Might want to scrap that and start over.
Please Solve Your Microsoft Office Product Problems
I know that this may not be glamorous and I know this may not be seen as the direction of the company but I know that my experience is not unique and that most of your customers are very frustrated with your products and that is why more and more people are using products such as Google Docs or Apple products because Microsoft word and excel just don’t work.
Please fix your Microsoft office suite products– a 50 to 70% error rate it’s just not acceptable.
Corporate Dinosaur?
dino
But if you don’t solve these chronic problems some day you will find that Microsoft has gone bankrupted and is just another giant corporate dinosaur like Sears Roebuck. Remember them? Or Blockbuster? I hope that is not your fate.
Please take my constructive criticism to heart and solve your Microsoft office program problems once and for all. I would return gladly if your program worked 95% of the time like Apple does or Google docs does.
I would be happy to follow up with anyone from Microsoft if they wish to talk to me about this but I do not think anybody will bother to respond, in fact I will be shocked and delighted if someone did respond!
my email is jakecaller@gmail.com, and my telephone is 703-436-1402 (but note that I am in Korea so please be mindful of the time difference if you bother to call).
thank you
Jake Cosmos Aller
Ex-Microsoft customer
evil computer
Dear Google
I am an American citizen living overseas in South Korea.I retired from the US State Department a few years ago and reside in Korea most of the year. Although I read and write Korean, I can’t readily figure out for example a Google search engine respond that is in Korean. 5% of people in Korea are not Korean, and there are millions of foreign visitors coming to Korea every year.
Turn Off the Automatic Foreign Language Search Results
it often turns out as this see how annoying this
자동 외국어 검색 결과 끄기
지난 몇 년 동안 전 세계에서 활동하는 거의 모든 기술 회사가 해당 국가의 언어로 자동 개방 정책을 채택하여 전 세계의 많은 여행자와 와인 국가에 반드시 유창하지 않은 거주자가 있다는 사실을 완전히 무시했습니다. 그 나라의 언어.
한국어로 페이지를 열면 페이지를 영어로 다시 번역 할 방법이없고 모든 검색이 한국어로되어 있으며 정교한 gyration을 거치지 않는 한 영어 버전으로 다시 돌아갈 수있는 방법이 없다는 것을 알면 매우 실망합니다. .
영어로 “언어 기본 설정을 변경하는 방법”을 입력했을 때 도움이되지 않은 한국어로 된 지침을 받았습니다.
때로는 화면 하단에 영어 버전으로 갈 수있는 옵션이 있지만 이것은 일관성이 없으며 종종 영어로 갈 수있는 옵션이없는 경우도 있습니다.
Chrome에서 기본 설정을 변경하여 영어를 기본 언어로 설정했지만 작동하지 않는 것 같습니다. 물리적 위치에 따라 외국어 응답이 계속 표시됩니다. 예를 들어, 작년 초에 일본과 베트남을 여행 할 때 많은 검색 결과가 일본어 나 베트남어로 돌아 왔으며 다시 영어로 다시 가져올 수있는 방법이 없다는 것을 알았습니다
Turn Off the Automatic Foreign Language Search Results Over the last couple years almost all tech companies operating worldwide have adopted a policy of automatically opening in the language of that country completely ignoring the fact that there are many travelers all over the world and many residents in wine country who may not necessarily be fluent in the language of that country. It is extremely frustrating to open a page in Korean and find that there is no way to translate it back into English and that all your searches are in Korean and there is again no way to get back to the English version unless you go through elaborate gyrations. When I typed “how to change your language preferences” in English I got instructions in Korean which were not helpful. Sometimes at the bottom of the screen there is an option of going to the English version but this is not consistent, often times there is no option of going to English. I did change my preferences in Chrometo make English my default language but it did not seem to work.I still get foreign language responses which varies depending upon where I am physically. For example, when I was traveling in Japan and Vietnam earlier in the year I found that a lot of my search results were coming back either in Japanese or Vietnamese and again found that there was no easy way to get it back into English.
Should Be a Simple Fix
It seems to me that there should be a simple fix to your operating system. All you need to do is put in a prominent part of the page probably at the bottom a language option. The language option would allow you to choose the language of your choice and make that a default language that would follow you wherever you happen to me. The language option would be clearly labeled in both English and the host country language!
This would be a great help to travelers around the world including foreign travelers to the United States who are faced with dealing with English only results when they are in the United States.
I hope that you will take this request seriously and fix the problem.Incidentally, I have not encountered this problem on Apple products, just on Microsoft products and android phones.
Thanks
John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
Microsoft Dictation Poems
computer love
Microsoft Found Poem Last Internet Space
All night I felt
that last Internet space
I’m wondering About Future
and about me
And finally decided
Just focus I’m living day by day
Helping the best
Ashland I can be
I’m not Worry too much
About things I can’t control
Were home
Too many things to do
and I Well
Just him and I can eat
to do
And hopefully
The world make me laugh
yes again
I sound fun too
Another Found Poem
character-using-computer-internet-laptop-017-512
evil computer
I wake up fully functional
Thinking out
My life so far
and how it is coming down
I have to rent
Thanks write down
which I have not done
But The most important thing in my life
Has been Mary Denture
That made all the difference
to my life
Shonisaurus
Hi Hey sis are watching
And I should be Happy
What’s my accomplishments
Not bad for a for a man
Who was born Disability
Amazon let me know my license
123
OK now I get your attention
I wanna go too sole
and Endgo
some and then being term
and then USA
and then Washington, DC
and then Baltimore
and then I wanna
will be with the idea being done
on the stand
will be OK enough tomorrow
I need to go to the house and 88 AM 988
just 8:00 AM.
The I am having a meeting with an array
annually and aHer
a OK on we’re going to talk
to a jester of two
come up with solutions
we need to two fans
and players
repaid the painting repairs
we are paying the bill
from both the house we’ve passed,
my treatment
we had the somewhat tainted drywall fixed
we have a new tenant
rules being new tenant
is a very good
10
I think
are we were making
very much you need to do better
to stop of studies
now me as Sarah
Mr. Allen not an island
is an error
that have a need
for an offense of offering Maisie’s
backing separate
from the public
often salad
End of the night
of the committee
of the ways
to hire the answer you
get a better
General Zod Conquers the World Microsoft Found Poem
Audio General Zod Takes Over the World Found Poem
General Zod Takes Over the World Cleaned Up Version
alien overlords
I takes over the one
the search for such a close
and to overdrive
when scientists report
as cash as to what
it is a radio and television broadcasts
from a plant the light years
from earth to the south side
of the all dates
and start the program
is the one I like best
is looking creatures as space
and also takes an appears
to be under the civil war
and the nuclear space
in the end
one the red one hot
for the entire five # show
That they layens
have discovered
Thursday as well
That Aliens Like a crash project
To develop interstellar Travel
so they can come to earth
and conquer the earth
The revelations that there is
External threat to the planet
Causes the United Nations to get together
I’m with the help of the United States
and Russia another space powers
Put together Space defense International organization
Anna also invigorates
efforts to make the night
a real Planetary coming
But it was too late
Channel is on arrives
Animal’s is on board
ytv King’s horses are gonna
take over the earth
And that resistance is
indeed
Thanks man In a White House
And When president trump
comes out to greet them
Channel is an odd cats
office head
And then cuts off
the heads of all this thing
is dancers
they come out White House
After an hour of under mat unimaginable
Blacksher Including mass rape
Channel blazon box
and 2 Pocahontas energizes the world
He said was that he
had taken over the
otherwise Life will continue
Like it I’ll always been
as long as people behave
and follow the rules
they would be fine
Resistance to The client
to empire will be met with instant death
Like to empire is empire
I’m not a democracy
They would not tolerate
Show call Trina Prof
Freedom of speech
And the freedom to oppose this date
The state is everything
Family people
green remember
that they would be just fine
States because it was
the biggest country
in the world
And that his horses
for take over the rest of the world
but in the next couple weeks
If people on earth
My queen True Net recess
Their safety would be counting
Companies re taken
over by Check empire companies
And everybody would have to learn
text me like standard
within one year
older languages will be banned
General Zod Takes Over – Cleaned up Version
alien-space-scene-ufo-
Cleaned up text: SETI and the search for extraterrestrial life goes on overdrive when scientists report what appears to be radio and television broadcasts from a planet eight light years from earth, the same planet as the Vulcans came from in the Star Trek universe. The programs show a world where dinosaur-like creatures are running the world and there appears to be a civil war. Over the next six months, the world is transfixed watching the alien broadcasts which are translated in English via a supercomputer program. In the broadcast, a nuclear war has occurred. The surviving party regains absolute control and announces the formation of the Galactic Empire. General Zod is the First Emperor. They have discovered Earth as well. The aliens launch a crash project To develop interstellar Travel so they can come to earth and conquer the earth.
The revelations that there is External threat to the planet causes the United Nations to get together with the help of the United States and Russia another space powers, they put together Space defense International organization And also invigorates efforts to make the UN a real Planetary government including finally conquering climate change.
But it was too late. General Zod’s son arrives to take over the earth. He makes a broadcast saying that they were liberating Earth in the name of the Galactic Empire and that resistance would be futile.
They land at the White House and when President Trump comes out to greet them,
General Zod cuts off his head, and then cuts off the heads of all the staffers as they come out White House. After an hour of unimaginable horrors, including mass rapes, blowing up the Pentagon and the CIA, General Zod announces that he had taken over the world.
Life will continue as before as long as people behave and follow the rules they would be fine Resistance to the new empire will be met with instant death. Life in the Empire is not a democracy. They would not tolerate Freedom of speech, and Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Assembly And the freedom to oppose the State. The state is everything. As long as humans remember that they would be just fine. They took over the United States because it was the biggest country in the world. And that his forces will take over the rest of the world but in the next couple weeks. If people on earth accept the new order, their safety would be guaranteed. Companies would be taken over by Galactic Empire companies And everybody would have to learn Galactic standard. Within one year older languages will be banned.
Cosmic Do-OverFound Poem
necromancer
I am Standings With State (Satan)
On the edge
Up the pits of hell
State (Satan) and Is this pointing to me
All the various is xquisite torture
that I was about to Enjoy
in his Words
For my slim
Add additions
Thanks I’m down
And things I have not done
But he said
There was one Exception
to the rule
And he was obligated by law
Even Satan has to follow the law
To explain it to me
Hey Stephen
That When A couple
Is a soul mate
which is very rare
Satan has to offer
The couple Ecosmith do over
Am in this case
I would qualify
I would be set back
to the day
I met my wife
And have all
the knowledge
Of my life in town
So that I will know
what I did
when I did not do
And I would be
able to make d
I’m going to heaven
I can be admitted
to having instead
of house
But State and morning
That many people
Most people Fail
In their second Charge
in the concert do over
Different choices
If in the end
When I come back
And God this time
Janet
That I am worth E
Cosmic Do Over – Cleaned Up Version
emoji-emoticon-smiley-computer-icons-evil-evil
artoon-devil-satan-businessman-suit-450w-49
I am standings with Satan
On the edge
of the fiery pits of hell
watching the tortured souls
burning in the flames
screaming out in pain
Satan is pointing out to me
All the various exquisite torture
that I was about to enjoy for eternity
in his corrupt, polluted, hellish words
as a reward for my sins, and crimes
things I did commissions
And things I have not done omissions
Malfeasance and misfeasance to be legal
About it he said
But he said
There was one cosmic exception
to the rule
And he was obligated by law
Even Satan has to follow the law
To explain it to me
That when a couple
Is a soul mate couple
which is very rare
one of the rarest
most beautiful things
in the whole universe
something
that even Satan
admires
Satan has to offer
The couple a cosmic do over
And in this case
I would qualify
I would be sent back
to the day I met my wife
And have all the knowledge
Of my life intact
So that I will know
what I did
when I did not do
And I would be able
to make different choices
If in the end
When I come back
For the judgement day
If I did make different choices
And do the right thing
this time around
I can be admitted
To heaven instead of joining
him in Hell
But Satan warned me
That many people
Most people fail
In their second chance of life
It is not easy to change one’s fate
Fate has a way of catching up to you
He salutes me
And says see
you in hell in 50 years
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)
Like my book and movie lists, I have been keeping track of the music that I have listened to during the year. Due to copy right restrictions I can not share the music with you all. But I would love to hear what music you all are enjoying during the year. Here then is Cosmos’s Music Play list 2019 version.
Note: around September I installed Microsoft Dictation. The program does not work as advertised but now that I am using Apple which works great, I will be able to dictate every song off the albums I downloaded so the list gets more detailed after that.
For 2020, I will continue to download music from Camp Humphreys and from freenet source once I find the software again, and listen to a wide variety of music. I hope to add more neo soul and hip hop to the list, although I am not a huge fan of rap music, some of it is good. and I’d like to include more K Pop. The big news is that in February I am finally going to buy a piano and some software and resume writing music and posting it on my blog. For today I am posting my existing cosmos music i wrote back in 2003 when I last wrote music. Hope you enjoy it.
I will also add a link to my friend Jim Davidson’s music and my friend Gary Knowland’s music and hope you can consider supporting their music by buying an album or two. and if you like my music and my poetry a pay pal donation of a couple of dollars would be greatly appreciated.
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Brandi Carlile – By the Way, I Forgive You
Drake – Scorpion
H.E.R. – H.E.R.
Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys
Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer
Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour – WINNER
Various artists – Black Panther OST
Record of the yearCardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – I Like It
Brandi Carlile – The Joke
Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER
Drake – God’s Plan
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – Shallow
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All the Stars
Post Malone ft 21 Savage – Rockstar
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey – The Middle
Best new artist
Chloe x Halle
Luke Combs
Greta Van Fleet
H.E.R. Dua Lipa – WINNER
Margo Price
Bebe Rexha
Jorja Smith
Best rap album
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy – WINNER
Mac Miller – Swimming
Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Pusha T – Daytona
Travis Scott – Astroworld
Best R&B album
Toni Braxton – Sex & Cigarettes
Leon Bridges – Good Thing
Lalah Hathaway – Honestly H.E.R. – H.E.R. – WINNER
PJ Morton – Gumbo Unplugged (Live)
Best rap song
Drake – God’s Plan – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake – King’s Dead
Eminem ft Joyner Lucas – Lucky You
Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee – Sicko Mode
Jay Rock – Win
Best country album
Kelsea Ballerini – Unapologetically
Brothers Osborne – Port Saint Joe
Ashley McBryde – Girl Going Nowhere
Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour – WINNER
Chris Stapleton – From a Room: Volume 2
Song of the year
Brandi Carlile – The Joke
Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER
Drake – God’s Plan
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – Shallow
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All the Stars
Ella Mai – Boo’d Up
Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey – The Middle
Best pop duo/group performance
Christina Aguilera ft Demi Lovato – Fall in Line
Backstreet Boys – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Tony Bennett and Diana Krall – ’S Wonderful Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – Shallow – WINNER
Maroon 5 ft Cardi B – Girls Like You
Justin Timberlake ft Chris Stapleton – Say Something
Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle
Best pop solo performance
Beck – Colors
Camila Cabello – Havana (live)
Ariana Grande – God Is a Woman Lady Gaga – Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?) – WINNER
Post Malone – Better Now
Best pop vocal album
Camila Cabello – Camila
Kelly Clarkson – Meaning of Life Ariana Grande – Sweetener – WINNER
Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes
Pink – Beautiful Trauma
Taylor Swift – Reputation
Best traditional pop vocal album
Tony Bennet and Diana Krall – Love Is Here to Stay Willie Nelson – My Way – WINNER
Gregory Porter – Nat “King” Cole & Me
Seal – Standards (Deluxe)
Barbra Streisand – The Music … The Mem’ries … The Magic!
Best alternative music album
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Beck – Colors – WINNER
Björk – Utopia
David Byrne – American Utopia
St Vincent – Masseduction
Best country solo performance
Loretta Lynn – Wouldn’t It Be Great
Maren Morris – Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Kacey Musgraves – Butterflies – WINNER
Chris Stapleton – Millionaire
Keith Urban – Parallel Line
Best country duo/group performance
Brothers Osborne – Shoot Me Straight Dan + Shay – Tequila – WINNER
Little Big Town – When Someone Stops Loving You
Maren Morris ft Vince Gill – Dear Hate
Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line – Meant to Be
Best country song
Cole Swindell – Break Up in the End
Maren Morris ft Vince Gill – Dear Hate
Blake Shelton – I Lived In Kacey Musgraves – Space Cowboy – WINNER
Dan + Shay – Tequila
Best gospel album
Jekalyn Carr – One Nation Under God Tori Kelly – Hiding Place – WINNER
Jonathan McReynolds – Make Room
The Walls Group – The Other Side
Brian Courtney Wilson – A Great Work
Best Latin pop album
Pablo Alborán – Prometo Claudia Brant – Sincera – WINNER
Natalia Lafourcade – Musas
Raquel Sofia – 2:00 AM
Carlos Vives – Vives
Best Americana album
Brandi Carlile – By the Way, I Forgive You – WINNER
Bettye Lavette – Things Have Changed
John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness
Lee Ann Womack – The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone
The Wood Brothers – One Drop of Truth
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
Call Me By Your Name
Deadpool 2 The Greatest Showman – WINNER
Lady Bird
Stranger Things
Best song written for visual media
All The Stars — Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)
Mystery Of Love — Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens)
Remember Me — Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel Featuring Natalia Lafourcade) Shallow — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper) – WINNER
This Is Me — Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble)
Best music video
APES*** — The Carters, Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers This Is America — Childish Gambino, Hiro Murai, video director; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers – WINNER
I’m Not Racist Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer
Pynk — Janelle Monáe, Emma Westenberg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers
Mumbo Jumbo — Tierra Whack Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer
Best comedy album
Annihilation — Patton Oswalt Equanimity & The Bird Revelation — Dave Chappelle – WINNER
Noble Ape — Jim Gaffigan
Standup For Drummers — Fred Armisen
Tamborine — Chris Rock
Best dance/electronic album
Singularity —Jon Hopkins Woman Worldwide — Justice – WINNER
Treehouse — Sofi Tukker
Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides — SOPHIE
Lune Rouge — TOKiMONSTA
Best rap performance
Cardi B – Be Careful
Drake – Nice for What Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake – King’s Dead – TIE Anderson .Paak – Bubblin – TIE
Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee – Sicko Mode
Best traditional R&B performance
Leon Bridges – Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand – TIE
Bettye LaVette – Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight
Major. – Honest PJ Morton ft Yebba – How Deep Is Your Love – TIE
Charlie Wilson ft Lalah Hathaway – Made for Love
Best R&B song
Ella Mai – Boo’d Up – WINNER
Miguel ft J Cole and Salaam Remi – Come Through and Chill
Childish Gambino – Feels Like Summer
HER – Focus
Toni Braxton – Long As I Live
Best rap/sung performance
Christina Aguilera ft Goldlink – Like I Do
6lack ft J Cole – Pretty Little Fears Childish Gambino – This Is America – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – All the Stars
Post Malone ft 21 Savage – Rockstar
Producer of the year, non-classical
BoI-1DA
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West Pharrell Williams – WINNER
Best rock song
Greta Van Fleet – Black Smoke Rising
Twenty One Pilots – Jumpsuit
Bring Me the Horizon – Mantra St Vincent – Masseduction – WINNER
Ghost – Rats
Best rock performance
Arctic Monkeys – Four Out of Five Chris Cornell – When Bad Does Good – WINNER
The Fever 333 – Made an America
Greta Van Fleet – Highway Tune
Halestorm – Uncomfortable
Best rock album
Alice in Chains – Rainier Fog
Fall Out Boy – Mania
Ghost – Prequelle
Greta Van Fleet – From the Fires – WINNER
Weezer – Pacific Daydream
Best metal performance
Between the Buried and Me – Condemned to the Gallows
Deafheaven – Honeycomb High on Fire – Electric Messiah – WINNER
Trivium – Betrayer
Underoath – On My Teeth
Best urban contemporary album
The Carters – Everything Is Love – WINNER
Chloe x Halle – The Kids Are Alright
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz – Chris Dave and the Drumhedz
Miguel – War & Leisure
Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism
Music Journal 2019
Purpose:to record music downloaded, listened to, played and composed.
Jimi Hendrix Blues
Transformations Sounds of Silk Road
Chopin Ballades and Scherzos
Eric Clapton Live from Madison Square Garden
Rory Gallagher
Van Cliburn Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto
Music from the Source
No Matter
Songs of George Gershwin
Blue Grass Collection
John Corigliano Symphony Number 2
Corelli Concerti Grosse
Copland
Billy the Kid
Rodeo
Groff Grand Canyon Suite
Reggae sun splash live
Jane Coop the Romantic Piano
Chopin,
Liszt,
Schumann,
Debussy,
Mendelssohn,
Rachmaninoff,
Brahms
Grateful Dead Filmore West 1969
The Greatest of the Guess Who
Tibetan Chants for World Peace
De Falla
Nights in the Gardens of Spain
the Three Cornered Hat
Franz Schubert Moments musicaux
Robert Schumann Phantasiestucke
Arnold Schoenberg Sechs Klein Klaveristucke
The Animals
Beethoven Triple Concerto
Alan Berg
Six Orchestra pieces
Alan BergLyric Pieces
Berlioz Requiem
Brahms Symphony Number 2
Best of Jackson Browne
Branford Marsalis Quartet Upward Spiral
Mozart Masonic Funeral Music
Rihanna Music of the Sun
The Jazz Divas
Ellis FitzgeraldTime Along Will Tell
Ellis Fitzgerald Its Only a Paper Moon
Billie Holliday Love Me or Leave Me
Dinah Washington Blues for a Day
Doris Day My Young and Foolish Heart
Deena Durbin Its Foolish But Fun
Doris Day My Young and Foolish Heart
Deena Durbin Its Foolish But Fun
Judy Garland Moon River
Judy Garland Stormy Weather
Lena Horne At Long Last Love
Ethel Merman I Get a Kick Out of You
Peggy LeeJust One of Those Things
Peggy Lee the Lady is a Tramp
Sarah Vaugh Misty
Sarah VaughRound Midnight
Schoenberg Variations for Orchestra
Strauss Metamorphous
Wagner Der Fiegendle Hollander Overture
Wagner Parsifal preludes
Aton Webern
Passacaglia
Six Pieces for Orchestra
Symphonie Number 2
Hindemith Quarter for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano
Brahms Piano Concerto 1
Brahms Piano Concerto 2
Eric ClaptonBack Home
Glenn Gould
Edward Grieg Sonata
Georges Bizet Premier Nocturne
Variations Chromatiques
Jean SibeliusSonatina for Piano F Sharp Minor
Sonatina for Piano E Mayor
Sonatina for Piano B Flat
Three Lyric Pieces
Mozart Eine Klein Nachmuscik
Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite
Vivaldi Four Seasons Spring
Brahms Hungarian Dance
Mozart Symphony in D
Chopin Waltz in D Major
StrausTrutscge-Treasch Polka
Bach Brandenburg Concerto
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake
Bizet Carmen Suite
Handel Messiah
Mozart Wind Serenade
Vivaldi Violin Concerto
Handel Water Music
Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty
Mozart Symphony Number 26
Chopin Waltz
Bach Violin Concerto
Handel Water Music
Bach Brandenburg Concerto
Ravel Habanero
Mozart Horn Concerto
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini
Strauss Thunder and Lightning Polka
Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever
Cesar Frank Violin Sonata
Camille Saint Saenz Violin Sonata
Maurice Ravel Violin Sonata
DvorakCello Concerto
Dvorak Kild Silent Woods
DvorakSlavonic Dance
Humoresque in G Flat
Songs My Mother Taught Me
Pink Floyd Meddle
Johnny Cash The Great Lost Performances
Hindemith Quarter for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano
Shostakovich Piano Quintet
Essential Tchaikovsky
Aretha Franklin Divas Life
Aretha Franklin Beautiful Ballades and Love Songs
Diana Krall When I look into your eyes
Brahms Piano Trios
Benjamin Britten Cellos Suites
Leonard Cohen Live In Dublin
Yundl Li Vienna Recital
Scarlatti Piano Sonata in E
Scarlatti Piano Sonata in C
Mozart Piano Sonata in C Major
Robert Schumann Carnival
Franz LisztRhapsodie Espanola
Quincy Jones Juke Joint
Kraus Symphonies
Pure Mc Cartney
George Telemann
Sonata in B
Concerto in B
Quartet in G
Isaac Hayes
Pink Floyd meddle
Euro lounge
Tibetan chat
Brahms 5 trios
Hayden the creation
Beethoven 9 symphonies
JS Bach Well Tempered Clavier
Bob Marley and Wailers Exodus
BrahmsVariations on a Theme by Haydn
Beethoven Five Piano Concertos
Albert King
Best of Sting
Pink Floyd The Wall
Steppenwolf Gold
Telemann Chamber Music
Elger Enigma Variations
Paul Hindemeth Quartet for clarinet, violin, cello and Piano
Scriabin Piano Sonatas 3,4,5, and 9
Schoenberg Variations
Shostakovich Piano Quintet
Brahms Horn Trio
deep purple a fire in the sky
Beethoven Cello Sonatas
Expo New Age Music
Diane Warwick Odds and Ends
Dave Matthews Band
Scott Joplin piano music
Rachmaninov Sonatas for cello
Rachmaninov 24 Preludes
Rachmaninov
Symphonic Dances
Russian Rhapsody
Robert Schuman
andante and variations
Adagio and Allegro
Beethoven Diabelli variations
Charles Daniel Band
Sweet home Alabama
Shaky ground
Falling in love for the Night
Marie lavaux
Your love has lifted me higher and higher
Mississippi queen
around and around
A change is gonna come
Can’t see you see
Let it roll
rainbow ride
roll Mississippi
In America
Still in Saigon
Carolina I remember you
Feeling free
the devil went down to Georgia
running with the crowd
Diana Krall
Turn up the quiet
Like someone in love
Isn’t it romantic
LOVE
Night and day
I’m confessing that I love you
Moonglow
Blue skies
sway
no Moon at all
Dream
I’ll see you in my Dreams
Miles Davis Love Songs
I had to fall in love too easily
I thought about you
Summer night
My Ship
someday my prince will come
Stella By Starlight
My funny Valentine
I love you porgy
old folks
Rachmaninov
Second piano Concerto
Third piano Concerto
Shostakovich 24 preludes and fugues
Scriabin piano Sonatas
Number 2
number 7 white mass
Quarte Morceaux Opus 56
Deux Poems Opus 32
Two dances opus 73
Stan Getz The Smoothest Operator
opus de bop
And the Angels swing
Running water
Don’t worry about me
Pardon my bop
as I live and I bop
Interlude in bebop
Bopelbath
Pinhead
Diaper pin
Frosty
Battleground
Four and one more
Five brothers
of the Saxes
gets along
Stan’s Moods
Slow
Fast
Skullbuster
Ante Room
Poop Deck
Indian summer
Long Island sound
Marcia
Preservation
crazy chords
the cranberries
Ode To My Family
I Can’t Be With You
21
Zombie
Everything I Said
The Icicle Melts
Disappointment
Ridiculous Thoughts
Dreaming My Dreams
Your Grave
Daffodil Laments
No Need To Argue
The Grammys 2018 nominations
24 K Magic Bruno Mars
Love So Soft Kelly Clarkson
Dispatcito Luis Fonsi And Danny Yankee
Humble Kendrick Lamar
Green Light Lorde
Childish Gambino Red Bone
The Story Of OJJay Z
Stay Zedd And Alesia Cara
Million Reasons Lady Gaga
Imagine Dragons Thunder
Feel It Still Portugal The Man
Something Just Like This The Chainsmokers And Coldplay
What About Us Pink
Song Of The Year 1-800-273-8255 Logic
Issues Jillian Michaels
Praying Kesha
Broken Hallos Chris Stapleton
Little Big Town Better Man
Craving You Thomas Rhett
You Look Good Lady Antebellum
All The Pretty Girls Kenny Chesney
George Thorogood party of one
I’m a steady woman
Soft spot
Tallahassee woman
Wang dang doodle
boogie chillum
No expectations
Bad news
Down the highway
Got to move
Born with the blues
The Sky is crying
hookers
Pictures from the other side
one bourbon one Scotch one beer
Dynaflow Blues
The Roaring Twenties
CD 1
Blue Heaven Gene Austin
Valencia Paul Whiteman
Tip Toe Through The Tulips Nick Lucas
3 O’clock In The Morning Paul Whiteman
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers Paul Whiteman
California Here I Come Al Jolson
Cherrie Paul Whiteman
If You Knew Susan Like I Do, Eddie Canton
What I Do Paul Whiteman
Song Of India Paul Whiteman
Down Hearted Blues Bessie Smith
Linge A While Paul Whiteman
Ramona Paul Whiteman
Ida Sweet As Apple Cider Brad Nichols
No No Nora Eddie Cantor
Spain Isham Jones
Great Day Paul Whiteman
Old Man River Paul Whiteman
Say It With Music Paul Robeson
C D 2
Whispering Paul Whiteman
April Showers Al Jolson
Honey Rudy Vallee…
A Little Spanish Town Paul Whiteman
My Angel Paul Whiteman
Washbash Blues Isham Jones
Stumbling Paul Whiteman
Hot Lips Paul Whiteman
Somebody Loves Me Paul Whiteman
Marge Eddie Cantor
Among My Souvenirs Paul Whiteman
Me And My Shadow Whispering Jack Smith
Singing In The Rain Cliff Edwards
The Japanese Saman Paul Whiteman
Am I blue Ethel Waters
Together Paul Whiteman
remember Isham Jones
my man Fanny Brice
Pitbull climate change
We Are Strong
Bad Man
Green Light
Messing Around
Better On Me
Sexy Body
Freedom
Options
Educate Ya
Only Ones To Know
Dedicated
Can’t Have
Chopin Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
`Nocturne Op 62 no 1
Scherzo No 4 Op 54
Debussy Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
L’Isle Joyeuse
Ravel Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
Gaspard D’la Nuit
Chopin– Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
Prelude in C Sharp Minor op 45
Scherzo No 1 in B Minor Op 20
ScherzoNo 2in B flat minor op 31
Scherzo no 3 in C Sharp Minor Op 32
Scherzo no 4 in E major Op 54
Barcarole in F Sharp Minor Op 60
Schubert Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano
Sonata in A Major
Sonata In A Minor
Fantasia in C Major
Sinfonias Etude Op 13
Hungarian Melody
12 Waltz
ScriabinVladimir Ashkenazy Piano, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Prometheus Poem of Fire
Piano Concerto in F Sharp Minor
SantanaZe bop
Changes
E Papa Re
Primera invasion
Searching
Over and Over
Winning
Tales of Kilimanjaro
A sensitive kind
American gypsy
I love you much too much
Brightest Star
Hannibal
Pink Floyd Chollas Desk One
Astronomy dominee
See Emily Play
happiest days of our lives
Another brick in the wall
Echoes
Hey you
My room
Marooned
The Great Gig in the sky
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
money
keep talking
sheep
sorrow
CD 2
Shine on you crazy diamond
Time
The fletcher memorial home
comfortably numb
When the Tigers broke free
one of these days
us and them
learning to fly
Arnold Layne
wish you were here
jugband
blues
high hopes
bike
Tchaikovsky The seasons
Meditation
Polka for dansante
Aveu passionate
Tendes reproaches
Bercuse
Les Saisons
The sound Of Piazzolla
Libertango
Escualo
Oblivion
Bordel 1900
Fuga Y misterio
adios nonino
Primavera portena
Verano Porteno
Otono Porteno
Invierno Porteno
Asleep
Le Grand tango
La muerte del Angel
Los Pejaros Perdidos
Disk Two
Concerto del Angel
Tango ballet
Maria de Buenos Aires
Tango operetta
Joseph Martin Kraus
Symphony in E Flat
Symphony in C
Symphony in C minor
Olympie Overture
Benjamin Britten Cello Suites
Suite 1
Suite 2
Suite 3
Richard Straus -Early works
Schneiderpolka
Serenade in G
Introduction
Adagio
Scherzo
Finale
Gavotte
Serenade
Concerto in C minor
Grand March
Roy Orbison
Only the lonely
Leah
In dreams
Uptown
it’s over
crying
dream baby
blue Angel
Working for the man
Candy man
Running scared
falling
I’m hurting
Claudette
oh pretty woman
Mean woman blues
Ooby Dooby
Lena
blue Bayou
Symphonic queen
We will rock you
I want it all
These are the days of our lines
Tie your mother down
love of my life
crazy little thing called love
don’t stop me now
One vision
under pressure
the show must go on
I want to break free
we are the Champions
flash
A kind of magic
Fat bottom girl
another one bites the dust
You’re my best friend
Bohemian rhapsody
Foo Fighters
all my life
Best of you
everlong
pretender
My hero
learn to fly
times like these
monkey wrench
big me
break out
long road to ruin
this is a call
skin and bones
world forward
everlong
Rod Stewart classics
Have you ever seen the rain
fool around and fell in love
I’ll stand by you
still the same
it’s a heart ache
day after day
missing you
Father and son
best of my life
if not for you
Love hurts
everything I own
crazy love
Oliver Nelson
CD One
Jams and jellies
passion flower
Don’t stand up
Ostinato
What’s new
Blues baby Blues
TrainWhistle
Doxing
In time
Lou good dues
all the way
Groove
CD 2
screaming the blues
march on March
The drive
the meeting
3 seconds
Alto It is
blues at the 5 spot
blues for Monday Friday
Anacruses
Perdido
in passing
CD 3
stolen moments
hoe down
Cascade
Yearnin
images
Six and Four
Mama Lou
Ralf’s New Blues
straight ahead
11443
CD 4
Main stem
J and B
Ho
Latino
Tipsy
Tangerine
Message
Jungleaire
Emancipation blues
There’s a Yearning
Going up North
Disillusions
Freedom dance
Billie Holiday Disk one
As time goes by
autumn in New York
Billie’s blues
blue moon
comes love
don’t explain
east of the sun
easy to love
Embraceable you
everything I have is yours
A fine romance
Georgia on my mind
God bless the child
can’t face the music
disc 2
I cover the waterfront
I got a right to sing the blues
if you were mine
Jim
Lets call a heart a heart
Lets do it this, lets fall in love
Love for sale
Love me or leave me
Lover comes back to me
Lover man
Miss Brown to you
Moon Glow
Disk 3
My Man
Night and Day
please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
please keep me in your dreams
solitude
spreading rhythm around
strange fruit
Summertime
Tenderly
These foolish things
What a little Moonlight can do
Yesterdays
Your going to see a lot of me
you’re so desirable
Otis Rush and Buddy Guy
Introduction
Coming home baby
Jam
Instrumental
All your love
Crosscut Saw
I wonder Why
Buddy Guy intro jam
Five long years
Look On Yonder Wall
Things that used to do
I smell a rat
Gambler’s Blue
Post Show interview
Willie Nelson Song Bird
Raining Day blues
Songbird
Blue hotel
Back to earth
Stella blue
Hallelujah
$1000 wedding
We don’t run
Your Love
Search Amazing Grace
Make my day Back to blue Fast Eddie Clark
Nothing left
Mountains to the sea
Make my day
Heavy load
fast train
Walking too slow
Haven’t gotten the time
One way
my new life
Ethereal Blue
best of ZZ Top
Tush
Waiting for the bus
Jesus just left Chicago
Francine
Just got paid
La Grange
Blue Jean Blues
back door love affair
Bear drinkers and hellraisers
heard it on the X
Neil Young greatest hits
Down by the River
Cowgirls in the sand
Chinatown girl
helpless
after the goldrush
only love can break your heart
Southern Man
Ohio
heart of gold
like a hurricane
comes a time
Hey Hey only my
Rocking in the free world
Harvest Moon
Joshua tree YouTube
Where the streets have no name
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
with or without you
the bullet the blue sky
Running to stand still
Red Hill mining town
in god’s country
trip through your wires
one tree Hill
exit
mothers of the disappeared
Luminous times
Walk to the water
Spanish eyes
deep in the heart
silver and gold
sweetest thing
race against time
where the streets have no name
Beautiful Ghost
Wave of Sorrow
Dessert of our Loves
Rise up
Drunk Chicken
America
YS 11-28-2018
BachPiano concerto number 7 in G minor, Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Whitney Houston Disc one
You give good love
saving all my love for you
greatest love of all
all at once
you say my eyes are beautiful
Didn’t we almost have it all
Where do broken hearts go
all the man I need
run to you
I have nothing
I always love you
Why does it hurt so bad
I believe in you and me
Heartbreak Hotel
My love is your love
Sign script different cast
could I have this kiss forever
Disc two
Fine
if I told you that
It’s not right but it’s
my love is your love
Heartbreak Hotel
I learn from the Best
Step by step
I’m every woman
Queen of the night
I will always love you
Love will save the day
I’m your baby tonight
so emotional
I wanna dance with someone who loves me
how will I know
greatest love of all
one moment in time
the star spangled banner
Philip Glass piano Concerto number 3 , Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Eduardo Lalo Symphonie Espanola -Kyungwha Chun violin orchestra symphonic de Montreal
Camelia Saint saen’s violin Concerto number 1 in a major C-
Kyungwha Chun violin orchestra symphonic de Montreal
Linda Ronstadt
Lose again
The tattler
if he’s ever near
that’ll be the day
Lo siento mi Vida
Hasten down the wind
River of Babylon
give one heart
try me again
crazy
down so low
promise to lay down beside me
The Wallflowers
One headlight
5th Ave Heartache
3 Marlenes
The difference
invisible city
letters from the wasteland
hand me down
sleepwalker
I’ve been delivered
when you on top
how good it can be
closer to you
beautiful side of somewhere
God says nothing back
Eat you sleeping
God says nothing back
An evening with Chic
everyone dance
dance dance dance
I want your love
I’m coming out
upside down
he’s the greatest dancer
we are family
At last I’m free
I’m thinking of you
Le freak
good times
Sheryl Crow
Run baby run
Leaving Las Vegas
strong enough
can’t cry anymore
Solidify
the nan a Song
What can I do for you
all I wanna do
we do what we can
I shall believe
Adelle 21
Rolling in the deep
rumor has it
turning tables
don’t you remember
set fire to the rain
He won’t go
take it all
I’ll be waiting
one and only
love song
someone like you
Babyface
for the cool in you
lady, lady
never keeping secrets
rock bottom
and our feelings
Saturday
when can I see you
illusions
a bit old fashioned
you are so beautiful
Well Always
BTS FACE OFF
Ringwanderung
Best of Me
Japanese version
DNA
Not today
Mic drop
don’t leave me
go go
crystal snow
spring day
let’s go
Crack
Van Halen:
Disk One
Eruption
It’s about time
Up for breakfast
Learning to sing
Ain’t talking about love
Finish what you started
You really got me
Dreams
hot for teacher
Pound cake
And the cradle will rock
black and blue
jump
Top of the world
oh pretty woman
love walks in
beautiful girls
can’t stop loving you
Unchained
Disk Two
Panama
best of both worlds
Jammie’s Crying
Runaround
I’ll wait
why can’t this be love
Running with the Devil
When’s It Love
I love dancing in the street
Not Enough
Feels so good
Right now
everybody wants some
dance the night away
Ain’t talking about love
Panama
jump
Benny Anderson, piano
I let the music speak
you and I
Aiding
you for the music
Stockholm by Night
Chess
The day before you came
someone’s else’s story
Midnattsdans
Marlarlsoland
I wonder
Embassy Lament
Anthem
My love, my life
Mountain Duet
Flickornas Run
Eter Regret
Trosevisa
En Sekrit
happy new year
I got Bevar
Caesar Frank
Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major
Debussy
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Kyungwha Chung Violin, Radu Lupu Piano
HaydnViolinConcertos
Concerto in C major
Concerto in A major
Concerto in G major
Augustin Hadelick Violin
Cologne Chamber Orchestra
Luther Vandross
Shine
Get you home
Never too much
Take you out
Superstar
Here and now
Dance with my father
A house is not a home
Give me the reason
I’d rather
Any love
Power of love/ love power
Think about you
Wait for love
Your secret love
The closer I get to you duet with Beyoncé
Buy me a rose
Endless love duet Mariah Carey
Sade Ultimate Collection
Disk One
Your love is King
Smooth Operator
hang on to your love
the sweetest taboo
Is it a crime
Never as good as the first time
Jezebel
Love is stronger than pride
Paradise
nothing can come between us
no ordinary love
kiss of life
feel no pain
Bullet proof soul
CD 2
Cherish the day
Pearls
by your side
Immigrant
Flow
king of sorrow
sweetest gift
soldier of love
The moon in the sky
By Your side
Blondies Greatest hits
Dreaming
Call me
one more another
heart of glass
The tide is high
x offender
hanging on the telephone call
Rip her to Shreds
Rapture
atomic
Picture this
in the flesh
Dennis
I’m always touch you by your presence
Union City blues
The hardest part
Chopin Complete Mazurkas
Mazurka in G
Mazurka in b flat
Mazurka in A minor
Mazurka in F
Four Mazurkasop 6
Five Mazurkasop 7
Mazurka in B flat, number one
Mazurka in D, number two
Four Mazurkasop 17
Mazurka in C Number 3
Mazurka in A Flat Number 1
Four Mazurkasop 21
Mazurka in G, number 3
Four Mazurkasop 30
Mazurka in A minor, number five
CD 2
Four Mazurkasop 33
Mazurka in A minor, number four
Three Mazurkasop 50
Three Mazurkasop 56
Three Mazurkasop 59
Three Mazurkasop 63
Mazurka in A minor, op 67 number 4
Mazurka in G minor, op 67 number 2
Mazurka in F minor, op 67 number 1
Rem Urasin, Piano
Big Bang Remember
Intro
Ohahoh
Pokunlorur
Panchakpanchak
Strong Baby
Mongchanhansaram
Ohahohacoustic
Majimakainsa
Remember
Ultra trance
CD one
Guru Josh project Infinity 2006
Benny BenassiCome Fly away
Tresto Press alone in the dark
Randy Boyer and Kristina sky Feet No limit
Deadmaus5 Ghost and stuff
Axewell and Bob Sinclair What a wonderful world
Marcus Schulz the new world
Above and beyond On a good day
Armin von BurienIn and out of love
Ferry Corsten Made of love Man
Milk inc Forever
Basshunter All I ever wanted
CD 2
David Guetta Everything we touch
Elezeteardrop
Serge DevantAddicted
Andy Duguid Don’t Belong
Sia buttons
Jes imagination
Kashade step 1 2
John Dahback Out and there
AnentAratani alive
frontier change the world
Energy 52 café de mar
FragmaMemory
Berge
violin Concerto
Bartok violin Concerto KyungwhaChung Violin,
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
SchubertPianotrios Ashkenazy,Zuckerman Harrel
Now That’s what I callthe80des
George Michael faith
Whitney Houston how will I know
Paula Abdul straight up
Rick Astley never gonna give you up
Lionel Richie dancing on the ceiling
The Jacksons torture
Robert Palmer simply irresistible
Richard Marx don’t mean nothing
Bryan Adams run to you
The police every little thing she does is magic
Bruce Hornsby and the range the way it is
journey separate ways
Cyndi Lauper true colors
MarkitaToy Soldiers
Duran Duran a view to a kill
Dead or Alive Youspin me round
Billy Idol rebel yell
Human League don’t you wantme
Rockwell somebody’s watching me
Sting The journey And thelabyrinth
Flow my tears
The lowest trees have tops
Fantasy
Come again
have you seen the bright lily grown?
In darkness let me to dwell
Hell Hounds on my trail
message in a bottle
Bruce Springsteen Thunder road
Thunder road
Adam raised a cain
spirit in the night
4th of July
paradise by theC
fire
Growing up
It ishard to be a saint in the city
Backstreets
Rosalia
come out tonight
raise your hand
Hungry heart
two hearts
John Fogerty
Have you ever seen the rain
Travelling Band
Down on the corner
Born on theBayou
Lodi
Center field
Hot rod heart
Southern Streamline
Déjà vu
Premonition
Almost Saturday night
Aerosmith
CD one
Let the music do the talking
My fist your face
shame on you
heart donetime
rag Doll
dude looks like a lady
Angel
hangmen jury
Permanent vacation
Young lust
The other side
What it takes
monkey on my back
loving in an elevator
Janie’s Got a Gun
ain’t Enough
Walk this way
CD Two
Eat the Rich
Love me two times
Head First
living on the edge
Don’t stop
Can’t stop messing
Amazing
Crying
crazy
shut up and dance
Dueces are wild
walk on water
Blind man
Falling in love It’s hard on the knees
Dream on
Hole in mySoul
sweet emotion
rock revolution DavidGarrett
In the air tonight
Born in the USA
Stairway to heaven
superstition
Bittersweet Symphony
killing in the name
purple rain
Eye of the Tiger
fix you
concerto number one
the well dressed guitar
You’re the inspiration
Duel GuitarVs Violin
Bahamian rhapsody
earth song
blue oyster Coat superhits
Don’t fear the reaper
this ain’t this summer of love
Godzilla
the red and the black
OD’d on life itself
going through the motions
Black Blade
screaming diz busters
burning for you
Flaming telegrams
9 inch Nails broken
Pinion
Wish
Last
help me I am in hell
happiness in slavery
Gaveup
December 19 2018 YS library
STYX
Overture
Gone gone gone
Hundred Millionmiles
Trouble at the big show
Locomotive
radio silence
the greater good
Time may bend
Red Storm
All systems stable
Khedive
The outpost
Mission to Mars
Walking in the air Howard Blake
walking in the air
music box theme
Laura’s theme
Prelude for vova
Speech after long silence
8 Piano Pieces
Dances for two pianos
Sonatafortwo pianos
piano fantasy
four easy pieces
romanza
haiku for Yu-Che
Parting
George BensonInspiration
Mona Lisa
just one of those things
unforgettable
WalkingMy Baby Back home
When I Fall in Love
Route 66
Ballerina
Smile
Straighten Up and fly right
Too young
I am going to sit down and write myself a letter
Mona Lisa
Shostakovich
Cello Sonata in D minor
Moderato for Cello and Piano
Sergey Prokofiev
Cello Sonata in C Major
Real Carnival
Caballeria do zeze
Quem Sabe Sabe
Me da um dinhiero ai
Saca-rolma
Turm do funil
Trem das onze
Recordar
De Laterna na mao
Tristeza
Attire a primeria Pedro
Festa para uum rei negro
Mascara negra
Cicade maravihosa
Trasplantae de corinthiano
Marcha de cueca
Mamae eu quiero
Allah-la-o
Exatacao a mangueira
a fonte secou
maduriera chorou
todo dia e dia
maracangalha
enlouqueci
vem chegando a madrugado
the goat RodeoYo Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile
Attaboy
quarter chicken dark
helping hand…
Wheresmy bow?
Here and Heaven
Franz and the Eagle
Less is moi
hill justice
no one but you
Goat Rodeo
Rachmaninov
Sonata for Cello and Piano
Sonic Youth
Sacred trickster
Antenna
Poison arrow
no way
anti-orgasm
What we know
Malibu Gas Station
Walk in blue
Leaking Lifeboat
Calming the Snake
Thunder clap for Bobby pyn
Massage The history
Shostakovich
Piano Quintet
Blue note All Stars Our Point of View
Disk one
Bruce’s Vibe
Cycling through Reality
Meanings
Hannah
witch hunt
second light
disc 2
Masquelier Feast
Bayyinah
Message of hope
freedom dance
Bruce, the last Dinosaur
Red Baratt Shuggy JI
Huua Bot
Tenu Lene
Shuggy Ji
Burning instinct
Dama dam mast Oatlandar
Shakot
Apna Punjab Hove
private dancers
FIP
little betetnut
Azad Azad
Aarthi
Duke Ellington Newport to Paris
Black power
Take the A train
Up Jump
Black butterfly
Things ain’t what they used to be
El Gato
Satin Doll
Diminuendo and crescendo in blue
Ultra Hits
Maino Feet – all of the above
Gorilla Zoo – echo
Ne-Yo because of you
Pitbull I know you want me
Rihanna breaking dishes
DJ class I’m the Ish
MIMS move if you wanta
Young Jeezy featMy President
GS Boys Stanky leg
OJ Da Juice man Make the Trap Say Aye
Slim ThingI run
Remedy Featuring Da Pounders hot music
Pleasure P boyfriend # 2
Chelly Took the Night
Punjabi MC beware of the boys
Enur featuring Bennie Man and Natalie Storm Whine
Sharon Feature Kid Cudi She came Along
The classic trumpet
Baldassare Sonata No 1 for Cornetto and Strings
Hertel trumpet concerto
Marcello Concerto in D
TartiniConcerto in D Major
Neruda Concerto in E Flat for trumpet and Strings
JS Bach Suite in D
Handel Suite in D Major for Trumpet, Strings and Basso Continuo
BB King Live
Mr. King comes on stage
why I sing the blues
I need you so
Bad case of love
blues man
When love comes to town
over again
you are my sunshine
Rock Me baby
Hey to the highway
the thrill is gone
when the Saints come marching in
B.B. King one kind favor
See that my Grave is Kept clean
I get so weary
Get these blues off of me
How many more years
waiting for your call
my love is down
world gone wrong
Blues before Sunrise
midnight blues
Backwater Blues
Sitting on top of the world
tomorrow night
JS Bach Trios Yo Yo Ma,Chris ThileEdgar Meyer
Trio Sonata number 6in G Major
Prelude number 9 in A Major From Well Tempered clavier Book 1
Wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme
Fugue number 20 in A minor From Well Tempered clavier Book 11
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesus Christ
Prelude and fugue number 18 in E Minor
Passepied from keyboard paritia in G Major
Kommest du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter
Contrapuncturs 13 from the art of the Fugue
Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott
Sonata for Viola De Gamba
Andre Previn
Piano Concerto
Guitar Concerto
RachmaninoffFour Piano Concertos, Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano, Concertbouw Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra
Piano Concerto no 1 in F Sharp minor
Piano Concerto no 2 in C Minor
Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor
Piano Concerto no 4 in G Minor
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
All in my mind Doctor LonnieSmith
Juju
Diveka
50 ways to leave your lover
On a Misty Night
Alhambra
All in My Mind
Up Jumped Spring
Bob Corritore And friends 2018 Don’t let the devil ride
Bring Home This Morning
Tell Me Momma
TheGlide
Laundromat Blues
Fork in The Road
Lovely Dovey Lovey One
Don’t Let the Devil Ride
Willie Mae
Steal Your Joy
I Was a Fool
Blues Why You Worry Me? Thundering and Raining
Drew’s Famous Halloween Dance and Party Music
Ghost Buster
Monster Mash
Adams Family Theme
Thriller
The Time Warp
Knock On Wood
Ring My Bell
Gonna Make You Sweat
Kung Fu Fighting
Nightmare On My Street
Trick or Treat
Poison Punch
Dance Till You Drop
Casting A Spell
Spooky Groove
The Devil Will Dance
Transylvania
Jazz at Lincoln Center
2 Degrees East 3 Degrees West
Animal Dance
Django
John Bastiste Introduces The Band
Deluancey’sDilemma
La Cantarice
Pulcinella
Spanish Steps
Wynton Marsalis DiscusesJohn Lewis
Two Bass Hit
Katie Websterthe Swamp Boogie Queen
It’s Good To See You
Basin Street Blues
Katie’s Boogie
I Want You To Love Me
Sea of Love
So Far Away
Two Fisted Mama
Hobo Blues
I’m Bad
Got My Mojo Working
Lord I Wonder and Spiritual Medly
Precious Lord Take My Hand
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen
Down By The Riverside
Honest I Do
I Can’t Give You anything But Love
Try a Little Tenderness
Sitting on The Dock of the Bay
John Lee Hooker and friendsfeaturing Charlie Brown, Eric Clapton, Ry Codder, Robert Cray,Ben Harper,Booker T Jones, Los Lobos, Van Morrison, Charles Musselwhite
Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Ike Turner, Jimme Vaughan
Boogie Chillen
This is hip
The Healer
I cover the waterfront
Boom boom
I’m in the Mood
Burning Hell
Tupelo,
Baby Lee
Dimples
Chill out
Big Legs tight skirt
Don’t Look Back
Up and Down
Pieces of a Dream, Just Funkin Around
Right Back At Cha
Just Funkin Around
Shaken, Not Stirred
Sensuosity
Fast Lane
A New Day
No Doubt
Let’s Do This
Manhattan
Seal Standards
Luck be a lady
Autumn Leaves
I Put A Spell On You
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
Anyone That Knows What Love Is
Love For Sale
My Funny Valentine
I Got You Under My Skin
I’m Beginning To See The Light
It Was A Very Goodyear
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
Christmas Song Chestnuts Roasting
Jazz at Lincoln Center – Handful of Keys
Diana Krall When I look in your eyes
Let’s Play Some Music and Dance
Devil May Care
Let’s Fall in Love
When I Look in Your Eyes
Popsicle Toes
I Got You Under My Skin
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
I’ll String Along with You
East of The Sun, West of The Moon
Pick Yourself Up
The Best Thing for You
Do It Again
Sara McLachlanAfter Glow Live
Leonard Bernstein Early Years
Tower of Power Soul Side of Town 50th anniversary
East Bay all day
Hanging with my Baby
Do You Like That?
On the Soul Side of Town
Love Must be Patient and Kind
Butter Fried
Selah
Let it go
Stop
When Love Takes Control
After Hours
I can’t stop Thinking About You
East Bay Oakland Style
War of 1814 rock opera
The Battle of Baltimore
The Fugueness of King George
War Hawk
Too Rockin to lose
I’m so no cupcake
Burning Down the White House
Narrator Interlude Big Ass Flag
Baltimore Rock City
Black Powder
Baltimore or Hell
Empire of Love
Killing the General
Narrator Interlude Bombardment
run the flag up the pole, see who salutes
Narrator Interlude – The Battle of Baltimore
I’ll hold my Ground Big Ass Flag reprise
Paul ShafferWorlds Most Dangerous Band
Chaka Khan Essential Chaka Khan
Bassoon Trios
Francois Denievene Sonata in C
Gaetan Donizetti Trio in F
Beethoven Trio
Ne-Yo Libra Scale
Smetana
Czech dances
On the Seashore
John Lee Hooker King of the Boogie Five CD Set
Jan 25 YS
Boccherini
Quintet Op 29
Quintet Op 18
Quintet Op 41
Brahms
Horn Trio
Healing Music to Soothe the Mind and Body
Debussy Preludes
Saint SaensThe Swan
JS BachGoldberg Variations
MozartSerenade in G
Chopin nocturne in E flat
JS BachCantata
Massenet meditation
CacciniAve Maria
JSBach Air on a G String
Vaughan William The Lark Ascending
Brahms Lullaby
Schubert
Piano Trio No 1
Piano Trio No 2
Schuman(horn trio)
Andante and Variations
Adagio and Allegro
Rachmaninov
Etudes – Tableaux
Variations on a theme by Corelli
Ultimate Luther Vandross
Shine
Got You Home
Never Too Much
Take You Out
Superstar Tell You Come Back to Me
Here and Now
Dance with My Father
A House is Not a Home
Give Me the Reason
I’d Rather
Any Love
Power of Love
Love Power
Think About You
Wait for Love
Your Secret Love
Closer I Get to You– Duet with Beyoncé
Buy Me ARose
Endless Love Duet with Mariah Carey
Here’s Little Richard
Disc One
Tutti Fruiti
True, Fine Mama
Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave
Ready Teddy
Baby
Slipping And Sliding
Long Tall Sally
Miss Ann
Oh Why
Jenny Jenny
She’s Got It
Disk 2
Tutti Fruiti
True, Fine Mama
Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave
Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave
Ready Teddy
Ready Teddy
Baby
Baby
Slipping And Sliding
Slipping And Sliding
Long Tall Sally
Long Tall Sally
Miss Ann
Miss Ann
Miss Ann
Oh Why
Oh Why
Rip It Up
Rip It Up
Rip It Up
Rip It Up
She’s Got It
Keith Urban Fuse
Somewhere In My Car
Even The Stars Fall
Cop Car
Shame
Good Thing
We Were Us
Love’s Poster Child
She’s My 11
Come Back to Me
Red Camaro
Little Bit Of Everything
Raise Em Up
Heart Like Mine
Celtic Woman a New Journey
The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun
The Prayer
Newgrange
Over The Rainbow
Granuaile’s Dance
The Blessing
Dulaman
Beyond the Sea
Last Rose of Summer
Caledonia
Lascia Ch’io Pianga
Carrickfergus
Vivaldi’s Rain
The Voice
Scarborough Fair
Mo Ghile Mear
Joan Baez in Concert Part Two
Once I Had a Sweetheart
Jackaroe
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
We Shall Overcome
Portland Town
Queen Of Hearts
Manha de Carnival Te Ador
Long black Veil
Fennario
Nu Belle Cordilo
With God on Our Side
Hush Little Baby
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Rambler, Gambler
Railroad Bill
Death of Emmet Till
Tomorrow Is A Long Time
When First Unto This Country A Stranger I Came
Joshua Bell
Bruch Scottish Fantasy
Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor
Joshua Bell
Bach Violin Concerto in A Minor
Bach Violin Concerto in E Major
Chaconne
Air
Gavotte En Rondeau
Glen Gold Goldberg Variations
Disk One
Aria
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation Cannon on the Unison
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6 Cannon on the Second
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9Cannon on the Third
Variation 10 Fughetta
Variation 11
Variation 12 Cannon on the Forth
Variation 13
Variation 14
Variation 15 Cannon on the Fifth
Variation 16 Overture
Variation 17
Variation 18 Cannon on the Sixth
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21 Cannon on the Seventh
Variation 22Alla Breve
Variation 23
Variation 24Cannon on the Octave
Variation 25
Variation 26
Variation 27 Cannon on the Ninth
Variation 28
Variation 30
Variation 31
Variation 32 Quodlibet
Variation Aria De Capo
Concerto Italiano
JS Bach Italian Concerto
Nino Rota Sarabanda
Vivaldi Concerto # 3
Pasculli Ommagio a Bellini
Leonardo De LorenzoDivertimento
Pietro Mascagni Intermezzo sinfonico
Giacomo Puccini E Lucernva le Stelle
Luigi Denza Funiculi, Fenicula
Clapton
Traveling Alone
Rocking Chair
River Runs Deep
Judgment Day
How Deep is the Ocean
My Very Good Friend the Milk Man
Can’t Hold Out Much Longer
That’s No Way to Get Along
Everything
Will Be Alright
Diamonds Made from Rain
When Someone Thinks You are Wonderful
Hard Times Blues
Running Back to Your Side
Autumn Leaves
Chuck
Wonderful Woman
Big Boys
You Go to My Head
3/4 Time (Enchiladas)
Darlin
Lady B Goode
She Still Loves You
Jamaica Moon
Dutchman
Eyes of Man
Buddy Guy Otis Rush live in Chicago 1988
Introduction
Coming Home Baby
Jam
Instrumental
All Your Love
Crosscut Saw
I Wonder Why
Buddy Guy Intro Jam
Five Long Years
Look on Yonder Wall
All the Things I Used to Do
I Smell a Rat
Gambler’s Blues
Post Show Interview Buddy
Beyoncé
Pretty Hurts
Haunted
Drunk in Love Featuring Jay Z
Blow
Angel
Partition
Jealous
Rocket Mine Featuring Drake
XO
Flawless Featuring Chimanda Ngozi Adichie
Superpower Featuring Frank Ocean
Heaven Blue Featuring Blue Ivy
Pretty Hurts
Ghost
Haunted
Drunk in Love
Blow
Flow
Angel
Yonce
Partition
Jealous Rocket Mine XO
Flawless Superpower Heaven
Rhythm, Country and Blues
Vince Gill And Gladys Knight Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
Al Green And Lyle Lovett Funny How Time Slips Away
Aaron Neville Trisha Yearwood I Fall to Pieces
Little Richard And Tanya Tucker Something Else
Patti Labelle Travis Tritt Something Is Wrong With My Baby
Sam Moore Conway Twitty Rainy Night in Georgia
Clint Black Pointer Sisters Chain of Fools
Natalie Cole Reba McEntire Since I Fell for You
Chet Atkins Southern Nights
The Staple Sisters Marty Stewart the Weight
George Jones B.B. King Patches
American Sound Book 2.0 Carl Sandberg
Horse Named Bill
Colorado Trail
Duncan And Brady
I Ride Old Paint
Tell Old Bill
Go Away from My Window
Range of the Buffalo
When We Gonna Marry
Virgina Gals
Delia’s Gone
Portland County Jail
Lonesome Traveler
No More Booze
Days Of 49
Times Are Getting Hard
Jesse Janes
Frozen Logger
Kentucky Moonshiner
Titanic
When I Lay this Body Down
Cocaine Bill
Morphine Sue
Prokofiev
Romeo and Juliet
Cinderella
War and Peace
Love of Three Oranges
Robert Schuman
Aberg Variations
Fantasia in C
Fasjomgssjwank As Wien
Joesph Haydn
Violin Concerto 1 C major
Violin Concerto 1 A major
Violin Concerto 1 G major
Larry Kogan Violin
Disk one
Handle violin sonata nu 1 C major
Brahms Scherzo in C from FAE Sonata
JS Bach Sonata in C
Disk Two
Falla Suite Populaire Espanola
Ravel Tizane
Debussy Beau Aire
SarasteZapaseato
Shostakovich Violin Concerto
Best of Broadway
Oklahoma Finale
Sue Me from Fun Guys And Dolls
On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady
There’s No Business Like Show Business from Annie Get Your Gun
Tonight From West Side Story
Til There Was You from The Music Man
The Sound of Music from The Sound Of Music
Impossible Dream from Man Of La Mancha
Big Spender from Sweet Charity
Mama from Mama
Superstar rom Jesus Christ Superstar
Day by Dayfrom God Spell
Ease on Down the Road from The Wiz
One from Chorus Line
Tomorrow from Annie
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from Evita
Memory fromCats
Strike Up the Band from My One And Only
Bring Him Home from Les Misérables
The Music of the Night from the Phantom of the Opera
Original Flava
Rest of Me
Put Yourself in My Shoes
Reality
Country Funkin
Got to Give
Mother’s Tongue
Dream Come True
Never Stop
Head Hunters Live
A Day at the Seashore
Norman Brown Let it go
Lessons of The Spirit
It Keeps Coming Back
Let It Go
Ooh Child
Conversations
Living Out Your Destiny
Holding You
The North Star
Very Woman
Liberated
Remember Who You Are
Man in The Mirror
Journey the Frontier Tour
Chain Reactions
Wheels in the Sky
Line of Fire
Still They Ride
Open Arms
No More Lies
Back Talk
Edge of the Blade
Jonathan Cain On Keys
Rubicon
Steve Smith On Drums
Escape
Faithfully
Who’s Crying Now
Don’t Stop Believing
Stone In Love
Keep On Running
Lights
Quiet money
Blue’s Got Blue
Sample Ain’t Easy
Do You Even Know
Wrong To Be Right
Quiet Money
Put Some Salt OnIt
Line by Line
Time Is Now
I Would Have Been Wrong
Not Today
True to Form
You Got Two
Who’s Gonna Close My Eyes
Pops My Gershwin Music of George Gershwin
An American In Paris
Suite from Porgy
Prelude
Summer Time
I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing
Bess You is My Woman Now
I Can’t Sit Down
Ain’t Necessarily So
I Loves You Porgy
There’s A Boat That’s Leaving Soon For New York
Lord I’m On My Way
Selection from Girl Crazy
I got Rhythm
Embraceable you
Bidding My Time
But Not for Me
I Got Rhythm
Rhapsody in blue
ArvoPart Symphonies
Symphony 1
Symphony 2
Symphony 3
Symphony 4
The Classic Trumpet
Baldassare Sonata no 1 for cornetto
Hertel Trumpet Concerto
Marcello Concerto no 3 in D minor
Tartini Trumpet Concerto in D Major
Neruda Concerto in E Flat
Js Bach Suite in D
Handel Suite in D major
Serenade Music for Saxophone and Piano
Adagio for alto saxophone and piano
Solitude for solo piano
Serenade for solo alto saxophone
Scherzo for alto saxophone and piano
Grand sonata for alto saxophone and piano
Adagio
Scherzo
Finale theme and variation
Martha Argerich and Friends
Ravel Gaspard De la nuit
Busoni Violin concerto
Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos
Falla Two Spanish Dances
Ravel Piano Concerto
Beethoven Choral Fantasy
Brahms Horn Trio
Berg kammerkonzert for Piano
JS Bach Violin Sonata
Debussy prelude a l’apres -midid’un faune
Nisinman Hombre Tango
Mary J Blige
No One Will Do
Enough Crying
About You
Be Without You
Gonna Break Through
Good Woman Down
Take Me As I Am
Baggage
Can’t Hide From Love
MJB Da MVP
Can’t Get Enough
Ain’t Really Love
I Found My Everything
Father in You
Alone
One Too Many
Mozart in the Morning
Overture from Marriage of Figaro
Eine ideine Nachtmusik
Presto from Symphony No 28
Horn Concerto
Sonata No 15
Notte e gionro faticr from Don Giovanni
Madamina, il catalogo e question from Don Giovanni
Fin ch’han dal vino from Don Giovanni
3 rondo from Flute Concerto No 1
Allegro from divertimento no 1
German Dance
Rondo alla Turca from Piano Sonata
Allegro from Symphony no 31 Paris
Divertimento no11 in D
Serenade in D
Finale from Wind Serenade no 10 in b flat
Presto from a Musical Joke
Stravinsky Symphonies
Symphony in 3 movements
Symphony in C
Symphony of Psalms
Schubert Piano Sonatas
Barry White The Icon is Love
Practice What You Preach
There It Is
I Only Want to Be With You
The Time is Right
Baby’s Home
Come On
Love is the Icon
Sexy Undercover
Don’t You Want to Know
Whatever We Had
Don Henley Inside Job
Nobody Else in The World But You
Taking You Home
For My Wedding
Everything Is Different Now
Working It
Goodbye to A River
Inside Job
They Are Not Here They Are Not Coming
Damn It Rose
Miss Ghost
The Genie
Annabelle slow jam
My Thanksgiving
Bob Dylan Tell Tale Signs
Disk One
Mississippi
Most of the Time
Dignity
Someday Baby
Red River Shore
Tell Old Bill
Born In Time
Can’t Wait
Everything Is Broken
Dreaming of You
Huck’s Tune
Marching to the City
High Water
Disk Two
Mississippi
32 Blues
Series of Dreams
God Knows
Can’t Escape From You
Dignity
Ring Them Bells
Cocaine Blues
Ain’t Talking
The Girl on the Greenbrier Shore
Lonesome Day Blues
Miss the Mississippi
The Lonesome River
Cross the Green Mountain
Bob Dylan Trouble No More
Slow Train
Gotta Save Somebody
I Believe in You
When You Gonna Wake Up
When He Returns
Man Gave Names To All the animals
Precious Angels
Covenant Woman
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
Do Right To Me Baby
Solid Rock
What Can I Do For You
Saved
In The Garden
Disc 2
Slow Train
Ain’t Gonna Go To Hell for anybody
Gotta Serve Someone
Ain’t No Man Righteous, No Not One
Saving Grace
Blessed is the Name
Solid Rock
Are You Ready
Pressing On
Shot of Love
Dead Man, Dead Man
Watered Down Love
In the Summertime
The Groom Still Waiting at The Altar
Caribbean Wind
Every Grain of Sand
BB King Blues on the Bayou
Blue’s Boys Tune
Bad Case of Love
I’ll Survive
Mean Old World
Blues Man
Broken Promise
Darling What Happened
Shake It Up And Go
Blues We Like
Good Man Gone Bad
If I Lost You
Tell Me Baby
I Got Somebody’s Outside Help I Don’t Need
Blues In G
If That Ain’t It I Quit
Concerto Italiano Ensemble Dix
JS Bach Italian concert
Nino Rota Sarabanda
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto Op 3 Nu 9
Antonio Pasculli Ommagio a Bellini
Leonardo De Lorenzo Divertimento Nu 2
Pietro Mascagni Intermezzo Sinfonico
Giacomo Puccini E Lucevan Le Stele
Luigi Denza Funiculi, Funiculi
Liszt Faust Symphony,
Liszt Siegfried Jerusalem
Solti Hungarian Connections
George Winston Spring Carousel
Carousel 1
Carousel 2
Muted Dream
More Than You Know
Many Clocks
Ms. Mystery 1
Unrequited Love
Dream 2
Night Blooming Carousel
Fess Carousels
Ms Mystery 2
Pixie # 13 in C
Miss Mystery 3
Rekindling Love
Requited Love
Bria with a Twist
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Sway
Alright OK You Win So Bosa Nova
Cocktails for Two
Whatever Lola Wants
Dance Me to the End of Love
It’s oh So Quiet
How I Know
Hi Hat Trumpet And Rhythm
Back In Your Own Backyard
Same Kind of Crazy
Thinking Out
Loud Time to Go
Brahms Cello Sonatas
Brahms Hungarian Dances
Bartok
Hungarian Sketches
Romanian Dances
Kodaly
Harry Janos Suite
Liszt
Mephisto Waltz
Der Tauzin de Dorfschenke
The Dance in the Village Inn
Urgarishche Rhapsody
Weiner
Introduction and Scherzo
aITUNES MUSIC LIST December 4. 2010
Real Dream of Sails 10:48 Harold Budd Agua Electronic 2
Plateaux 6:52 Harold Budd Agua Electronic 2
Everything Happens to Me5:41Thelonious MonkAlone In San FranciscoJazz
You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart4:05Thelonious MonkAlone In San FranciscoJazz
Reflections5:06Thelonious MonkAlone In San FranciscoJazz
My City Of Ruin [Live]4:35Bruce SpringsteenAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
Love’s In Need Of Love Today [Live]4:47Stevie WonderAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
Walk On [Live]5:26U2America: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
There Will Come A Day [Live]3:46Faith HillAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
I Won’t Back Down [Live]3:54Tom Petty & The HeartbreakersAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
Imagine [Live]3:13Neil YoungAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
Someday We’ll All Be Free [Live] 4:52 Alicia Keys America: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1] Soundtrack 1
Wish You Were Here [Live]3:43Limp Bizkit Feat. John RzeznikAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1]Soundtrack
New York State Of Mind [Live] 6:00 Billy Joel America: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 1] Soundtrack 1
I Believe In Love4:22Dixie ChicksAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Everyday3:31Dave MatthewsAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Redemption Song4:11Wyclef JeanAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Hero4:24Mariah CareyAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Livin’ On A Prayer4:52Bon JoviAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Safe And Sound5:03Sheryl CrowAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Fragile2:44Gordon SumnerAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Long Road4:17Eddie VedderAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
Bridge Over Troubled Water4:37Paul SimonAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
God Bless America3:48Celine DionAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
America The Beautiful4:40Willie NelsonAmerica: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2]Soundtrack
My Foolish Heart 4:54 Bill Evans At The Village Vanguard Jazz 1
Track 014:55Audio CD
Track 024:30Audio CD
Track 045:01Audio CD
Track 054:50Audio CD
Track 054:50Audio CD
Track 065:03Audio CD
Track 072:31Audio CD
Track 094:14Audio CD
Track 094:14Audio CD
Track 103:27Audio CD
Track 114:26Audio CD
Track 125:54Audio CD
J.S. Bach 9:24 Toccata & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565 Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 1
J.S. Bach 6:36 Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 – 1. Allegro Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 5
J.S. Bach 0:14 Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 – 2. Adagio Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 2
J.S. Bach 3:22 Brandenburg Concerto #3 In G, BWV 1048 – 3. Allegro Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 5
J.S. Bach 4:25 Italian Concerto In F, BWV 971 – 1. Moderato Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 3
J.S. Bach 5:29 Italian Concerto In F, BWV 971 – 2. Andante Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 2
J.S. Bach 3:26 Italian Concerto In F, BWV 971 – 3. Allegro Vivace Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 1
J.S. Bach 4:10 Violin Concerto #1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 – 1. Allegro Bach: The Masterpiece Collection Classical 1
J.S. Bach6:52Violin Concerto #1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 – 2. AndanteBach: The Masterpiece CollectionClassical
J.S. Bach4:07Violin Concerto #1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 – 3. Allegro AssaiBach: The Masterpiece CollectionClassical
J.S. Bach3:19Orchestral Suite #3 In D, BWV 1068, “Air On The G String”Bach: The Masterpiece CollectionClassical
J.S. Bach8:03St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 – O Mensch, Bewein Dein Sunde GrossBach: The Masterpiece CollectionClassical
Bad To The Bone 4:56 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 6
Move It On Over 4:19 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 6
Who Do You Love? 4:20 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 2
Gear Jammer 4:35 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 2
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer 8:27 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 4
Louie To Frisco 4:15 George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Rock 4
Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto In D, RV 93 – Largo 3:57 Celin Romero; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Baroque At Bathtime Classical 2
Marcello: Oboe Concerto In D Minor – Adagio4:50Heinz Holliger: Staatskapelle DresdenBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Bach: Oboe Concerto In D Minor, BWV 1059R – Siciliano3:11Heinz Holliger; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Op. 8/4, RV 297, “Winter” – Largo2:52Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Vivaldi: Flute Concerto In D, Op. 10/3, RV 428, “Il Gardellino” – Cantabile2:49Severino Gazzelloni: I MusiciBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto In A Minor, RV 82 – Largo 2:22 Angel Romero; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Baroque At Bathtime Classical 6
Telemann: Oboe D’Amore Concerto In G – Adagio3:33Heinz Holliger; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Quantz: Flute Concerto In G – Arioso5:32Jean-Pierre Rampal; Jacques Roussel: Antiqua Musica Chamber OrchestraBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Handel: Oboe Concerto #1 In B Flat, HWV 301 – Adagio2:25Heinz Holliger; Raymond Leppard: English Chamber OrchestraBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Telemann: Oboe D’Amore Concerto In A – Sicilienne3:02Gheorge Zamfir; James Judd: English Chamber OrchestraBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Corelli: Concerto In G For 2 Guitars – Andante3:32Pepe Romero, Angel Romero; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Telemann: Oboe Concerto In D – Grazioso2:19Heinz Holliger; Iona Brown: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Handel: Water Music Suite #1 In F, HWV 348 – Air3:17Neville Marriner: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Handel: Oboe Concerto #2 In B Flat, HWV 301 – Andante2:53Heinz Holliger; Raymond Leppard: English Chamber OrchestraBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Pachelbel: Canon In D3:51Neville Marriner: Academy Of St. Martin In The FieldsBaroque At BathtimeClassical
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra: I. Indroduzione 10:39 Paavo Jarvi Bartok and Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra Classical 1
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra: II. Giuco Delle Coppie 6:49 Paavo Jarvi Bartok and Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra Classical 1
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra: IV. Intermezzo Interrotto 4:14 Paavo Jarvi Bartok and Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra Classical 1
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra: V. Finale 10:24 Paavo Jarvi Bartok and Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra Classical 1
Bootleg 3:04 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Graveyard Train 8:38 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Good Golly Miss Molly 2:44 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Penthouse Pauper 3:40 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Proud Mary 3:09 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 2
Keep On Chooglin’ 7:43 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Bootleg [Alternate Take] 5:48 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Proud Mary [Live in Stockholm] 2:51 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
Crazy Otto [Live at The Fillmore] 8:49 Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country (40th Anniversary Edition) Rock 1
How Deep Is Your Love3:58Various Artists – Azzurra MusicBEE GEESRock
Space Food [Club Mix]0:33Tai-FunBuddha Beats – Tranquility [Disc 2]Electronica/Dance
Run AwayNot availableHerbalismBuddha Beats – Tranquility [Disc 2]Electronica/Dance
Even In My Dreams Not available Afro Celt Sound System Buddha Beats – Tranquility [Disc 2] Electronica/Dance 3
YachtsNot availableA Man Called AdamBuddha Beats – Tranquility [Disc 2]Electronica/Dance
Horizons (Too Deep Mix)4:22DreamchildThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
The Dreams (Sound System Mix)3:55KalillaThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Journey Into The Dust (Sweet Chill Mix)6:06The ProjectThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Eastern Glow4:32Kishinev MusicaThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Top Five (H2O Mix)5:14HotspotsThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Deep Seas (Chill Desert Mix)4:20Dub CorporationThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Morning Sun (Glow Mix) 5:11 Atchi Basq The Buddha Cafe (Disc 1) World 1
Asian Summer4:52SafrasThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Wherever You Go… (Love Mix)5:04Soul BeatsThe Buddha Cafe (Disc 1)World
Buddha Nature10:06DeuterBuddha NatureNew Age
Illumination 27:40 Deuter Buddha Nature New Age 2
Amida10:00DeuterBuddha NatureNew Age
Blessing6:24DeuterBuddha NatureNew Age
My Prayer 5:47 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 2
Tripnotica 5:45 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 3
Perplexed 5:24 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 3
Psychic Trip 5:45 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 2
Twilight Ones 4:47 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 3
Buddha Files 3:16 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 1
Buddha Sweet City 6:12 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 1
Buddha Mission 3:59 Buddha Trance Buddha Trance Pop 1
Flash In The Pan3:37Tower Of PowerBump CityR&B
Gone (In Memory Of Jaqueline Mesquite)3:44Tower Of PowerBump CityR&B
You Strike My Main Nerve2:55Tower Of PowerBump CityR&B
Of The Earth4:30Tower Of PowerBump CityR&B
Blues Before Sunrise 3:49 John Lee Hooker Burnin’ Blues 3
What Do You Say 2:28 John Lee Hooker Burnin’ Blues 3
Crazy Heart 7:10 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 7
Watch The Cat 9:22 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 5
La Illaha (feat. Sudha) 7:10 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 3
Moment With You 6:24 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 1
Dreamcatcher 7:43 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 3
Harambol Connection 1:27 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 2
Return Of The Nightengale 11:03 Bahramji & Maneesh De Moor Call Of The Mystic New Age 1
Duppy Conquer. 4:15 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 2
Midnite Raver. 4:46 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Put it On. 4:36 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Stop that Train. 3:53 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Kinky Reggae. 4:44 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Stir it UP. 6:34 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
No More Trouble. 3:41 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Get Up Stand Up. 4:39 Bob Marley and the Wailers Capital Records Rehearsal 1973 Reggae 1
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74 “Pathétique” I. Adagio – Allegro non troppo (live)25:45Sergiu Celibidache: Munchner PhilharmonikerCelibidache Edition, vol. I (Disc 6)Classical
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74 “Pathétique” II. Allegro con grazia (live)9:12Sergiu Celibidache: Munchner PhilharmonikerCelibidache Edition, vol. I (Disc 6)Classical
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74 “Pathétique” III. Allegro molto vivace (live)11:07Sergiu Celibidache: Munchner PhilharmonikerCelibidache Edition, vol. I (Disc 6)Classical
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74 “Pathétique” IV. Finale. Adagio lamentoso – Andante (live)13:10Sergiu Celibidache: Munchner PhilharmonikerCelibidache Edition, vol. I (Disc 6)Classical
Triumph7:06Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Golden Apples of the Sun6:23Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Hollow Hills1:55Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
O’Farrell’s Welcome to Limerick4:37Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Dawnwalker6:43Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
My Fair and Faithful Love / Blarney Pilgrim5:26Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Sweet Cameraghs3:57Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
After the Fleadh / Running through the Woods with Keetu6:46Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
The Minstrel’s Adieu2:10Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Farewell to Govan3:00Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Golden Apples of the Sun (Reprise)7:05Paul WinterCeltic SolsticeFolk
Chopin: Waltz #3 In A Minor, Op. 34/2, “Grand Valse Brillante”6:10Dmitri AlexeevChopin: The Romantic PianistClassical
Chopin: Nocturne #20 In C Sharp Minor, Bi 494:22Maria TipoChopin: The Romantic PianistClassical
Chopin: Etude #3 In E, Op. 10/3, CT 16, “Tristesse” 4:24 Alexis Weissenberg Chopin: The Romantic Pianist Classical 2
Chopin: Ballade #1 In G Minor, Op. 23, CT 2 8:10 Cécile Ousset Chopin: The Romantic Pianist Classical 1
Chopin: Ballade #2 In F, Op. 38, CT 3 6:53 Cécile Ousset Chopin: The Romantic Pianist Classical 1
Chopin: Nocturne #19 In E Minor, Op. 72/1, CT 126 4:25 Alexis Weissenberg Chopin: The Romantic Pianist Classical 5
Chopin: Prelude #4 In E Minor, Op. 28/42:19Tzimon BartoChopin: The Romantic PianistClassical
Chopin: Andante Spianato Et Grand Polonaise Brillante In E Flat, Op. 22 14:57 Aleksandar Serdar Chopin: The Romantic Pianist Classical 2
Dastgah of Mahour9:27Dastgah SystemsClassical Music of IranReggae
Avaz of Bayate Esfahan7:44Dastgah SystemsClassical Music of IranReggae
Comala11:54Jorge ReyesComalaReggae
Nadie Se Libra En Tamohuanchan6:10Jorge ReyesComalaReggae
El Anima Sola6:41Jorge ReyesComalaReggae
El Arrullo De La Mujer Dma, Mujer Luz6:30Jorge ReyesComalaReggae
Just To Be Close To You3:12CommodoresCommodores Live!Hip-Hop
Sweet Love5:07CommodoresCommodores Live!Hip-Hop
Three Times A Lady8:16CommodoresCommodores Live!Hip-Hop
I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days2:15Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
The Ragtime Dance4:56Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
A Breeze From Alabama 4:42 Richard Zimmerman The Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2] Jazz 1
Elite Syncopations3:50Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
March Majestic2:52Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
The Entertainer4:23Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
Something Doing3:48Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
Weeping Willow5:13Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
Little Black Baby2:20Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
Palm Leaf Rag3:54Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
The Favorite3:48Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
The Sycamore4:05Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
The Cascades 3:22 Richard Zimmerman The Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2] Jazz 1
The Chrysanthemum5:08Richard ZimmermanThe Complete Works Of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5 [Disc 2]Jazz
Crazy In Love 3:56 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Naughty Girl 3:29 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Hip Hop Star 3:43 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Be With You 4:20 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Me, Myself And I 5:01 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Yes 4:19 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Signs 4:58 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Speechless 6:01 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
That’s How You Like It 3:39 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
The Closer I Get To You (Duet With Beyonce Knowles) 4:58 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Dangerously In Love 2 4:53 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Gift From Virgo 2:44 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Daddy 4:58 Beyoncé Dangerously In Love Hip-Hop 1
Largo – Andante – Allegro Giusto – Largo – Allegro Vivace15:59Daniel Barenboim; Chicago Symphony OrchestraDaniel Barenboim: TschaikowskyClassical
Moderato In Modo Di Marcia Funebre10:30Daniel Barenboim; Chicago Symphony OrchestraDaniel Barenboim: TschaikowskyClassical
Andante Lugubre – Allegro Vivo – Andante Cantabile Non Troppo – Allegro Vivo25:20Daniel Barenboim; Chicago Symphony OrchestraDaniel Barenboim: TschaikowskyClassical
Debussy: Maid With The Flaxen Hair2:36John Williams: Boston Pops OrchestraDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Clair De Lune4:38John Williams: Boston Pops OrchestraDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Petit Suite; En Bateau3:04Paul Paray: Detroit Symphony OrchestraDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Rêverie3:54Zoltán KocsisDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: La Plue Que Lente: Valse6:25Claudio ArrauDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: String Quartet In G Minor: Andantino Doucement Expressif8:40Quartetto ItalianoDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Sonata For Flute, Viola & Harp: Interlude6:07Roger Bourdin, Colette Lequien, Annie ChallanDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Arabesque #13:57Zoltán KocsisDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
Debussy: Valse Romantique 5:00 Claudio Arrau Debussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost Thoughts Classical 2
Debussy: Images For Orchestra: Perfumes Of The Night8:06Pierre Monteux: London Symphony OrchestraDebussy For Daydreaming – Music To Caress Your Innermost ThoughtsClassical
La Mer: I. De l’aube à midi sur la mer8:33Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos: London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes & Prélude à l’après-midi d’un FauClassical
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un Faune11:01Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos: London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes & Prélude à l’après-midi d’un FauClassical
Desert Winds2:58Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Desert Winds 2:58 Bruce Hathaway featuring Jehan Desert Winds New Age 2
By The Nile 7:48 Bruce Hathaway featuring Jehan Desert Winds New Age 1
Call Of The Tribe 7:10 Bruce Hathaway featuring Jehan Desert Winds New Age 1
Illumination6:45Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Serpent Rising6:35Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Temple Dance7:53Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Come Darkness5:38Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Urban Gypsy4:06Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Princess Of Rhythm4:04Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
A Future3:25Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Inner Flight4:27Bruce Hathaway featuring JehanDesert WindsNew Age
Raag Pahadi13:18Rakesh ChaurasiaDestinyPop
Raag Khamag12:53Rakesh ChaurasiaDestinyPop
Raag Desh11:58Rakesh ChaurasiaDestinyPop
Raag Pilu 13:56 Rakesh Chaurasia Destiny Pop 1
Raag Bhairavi14:00Rakesh ChaurasiaDestinyPop
Disco Inferno (single)3:36The TrammpsDisco Inferno (single)Rock
Shostakovich: Symphony #5 In D Minor, Op. 47 – 1. Moderato15:47Mariss Jansons: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #5 In D Minor, Op. 47 – 2. Allegretto5:19Mariss Jansons: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #5 In D Minor, Op. 47 – 3. Largo14:27Mariss Jansons: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #5 In D Minor, Op. 47 – 4. Allegro Non Troppo11:03Mariss Jansons: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #6 In B Minor, Op. 54 – 1. Largo15:25Mariss Jansons: Oslo Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #6 In B Minor, Op. 54 – 2. Allegro5:51Mariss Jansons: Oslo Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #6 In B Minor, Op. 54 – 3. Presto6:41Mariss Jansons: Oslo Philharmonic OrchestraDmitri Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 5]Classical
Trancemission – Genetic 5:11 Genetic Dragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul Oake Electronic 1
Sly-Ed – Man With No Name 5:17 Man With No Name Dragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul Oake Electronic 1
Aliens– Total Eclipse6:12Total EclipseDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Teleport– Man With No Name5:53Man With No NameDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Superbooster– The Infinity Project4:44The Infinity ProjectDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Wicked Warp – Mandra Gora4:47Mandra GoraDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Voyager III – Prana3:21PranaDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
New Moon – Ayahusca 4:11 Ayahusca Dragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul Oake Electronic 1
Feeling Weird– The Infinity Project6:19The Infinity ProjectDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Slinky Wizard – Slinky Wizard8:46Slinky WizardDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
Fat Buddha – Black Sun 11:46 Black Sun Dragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul Oake Electronic 1
LSD– Hallucinogen6:13HallucinogenDragonfly Presents ‘A Voyage Into Trance’ Mixed By Paul OakeElectronic
비가(KBS 미니시리즈 ‘비단향꽃무’) [Violin & Piano Version]3:28Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
너만을위한사랑(MBC 드라마 ‘비밀’) [Piano Version]2:34신승훈Drama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
비밀(SBS 수목드라마 ‘러브스토리’) [Guitar Version]3:14Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Romance(KBS 미니시리즈 ‘가을동화’)3:23Sam Lee, 최태완Drama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Main Theme(SBS 드라마 ‘불꽃’) [Instrumental]4:11Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
지요일선도(MBC 특별기획드라마 ‘허준’) [Instrumental]4:27Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Main Title(MBC 주말드라마 ‘사랑은아무나하나’) [Instrumental]0:58Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Main Title(SBS 수목드라마 ‘토마토’) [Instrumental]2:44Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
기도(KBS 드라마 ‘천사의키스’) [Instrumental]4:00Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Mian Title(KBS 주말연속극 ‘웨딩드레스’) [Instrumental]1:36Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
너를위한기도(KBS 드라마 ‘프로포즈’) [Piano Version]4:06Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
Main Title(MBC 드라마 ‘신데렐라’) [Instrumental]3:12Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
별은내가슴에(MBC 미니시리즈 ‘별은내가슴에’) [Instrumental]1:38Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
이연(SBS 특별기획드라마 ‘모래시계’) [Instrumental]4:44Various ArtistsDrama Best Collection [Disc 4]Pop
In The Picture2:50Erik WolloEmotional LandscapeElectronic
You’re Tough Enough (Featuring The Legendary White Trash Horns) 2:31 Junior Wells & The Legendary White Trash Horns Everybody’s Gettin’ Some Blues 2
Use Me5:22Junior WellsEverybody’s Gettin’ SomeBlues
Trying To Get Over You 4:14 Junior Wells Everybody’s Gettin’ Some Blues 2
Last Hand Of The Night (Featuring The Legendary White Trash Horns & Rico McFarland)3:27Junior Wells, The Legendary White Trash Horns & Rico McFarlandEverybody’s Gettin’ SomeBlues
That’s What Love Will Make You Do (Featuring The Legendary White Trash Horns & Rico McFarland) 5:54 Junior Wells, The Legendary White Trash Horns & Rico McFarland Everybody’s Gettin’ Some Blues 1
Better Version of Me – version 4 rough mix 02/18/043:34Fiona AppleExtraordinary MachineOther
The Devil Went Down To Georgia3:45Charlie Daniels BandFiddle Fire: 25 Years Of The Charlie Daniels BandCountry
The Fiddle Player’s Got The Blues5:50Charlie Daniels BandFiddle Fire: 25 Years Of The Charlie Daniels BandCountry
Mana Janab – Kishore Kumar4:08Various ArtistsFilm Songs of BollywoodReggae
Yeh Mera Dil – Asha Bhosle4:18Various ArtistsFilm Songs of BollywoodReggae
Bheegi Hont – Kunal Ganjawala 4:35 Various Artists Film Songs of Bollywood Reggae 1
Jaadu Teri Naazar – Udit Narayan4:40Various ArtistsFilm Songs of BollywoodReggae
Piya Tu Ab To Aaja – Asha Bhosle, Rahul Dev Burman5:28Various ArtistsFilm Songs of BollywoodReggae
Janabe Ali – Kunal Ganjawala, Shaan5:45Various ArtistsFilm Songs of BollywoodReggae
Here We Go Again – With Norah Jones 4:00 Ray Charles Genius Loves Company Blues 2
Adagio 10:10 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 4
Allegro vivace 5:50 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 1
L’arlesienne Suite No. 1 – Prelude 6:35 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 1
Adagietto 3:24 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 5
Carillon 4:35 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 1
L’arlesienne Suite No. 2 – Pastorale 4:57 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 1
Farandole 3:13 Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine Georges Bizet Classical 1
Rhapsody in Blue (orchestral version)16:50George GershwinGershwin Plays GershwinClassical
An American in Paris (full version by Gershwin) 17:08 George Gershwin Gershwin Plays Gershwin Classical 1
Make Believe (full version by Gershwin)3:14George GershwinGershwin Plays GershwinClassical
Grieving for You (full version by Gershwin) 3:02 George Gershwin Gershwin Plays Gershwin Classical 1
Land Where the Good Songs Go (full version by Gershwin)3:29George GershwinGershwin Plays GershwinClassical
Rhapsody in Blue (full version by Gershwin)2:04George GershwinGershwin Plays GershwinClassical
Saba Atu Rijal 6:45 Hassan Hakmoun Gift of the Gnawa Reggae 1
Marahaba8:20Hassan HakmounGift of the GnawaReggae
Suwaye 10:30 Hassan Hakmoun Gift of the Gnawa Reggae 1
Ma’bud Allah 6:07 Hassan Hakmoun Gift of the Gnawa Reggae 1
Larmame 7:15 Hassan Hakmoun Gift of the Gnawa Reggae 1
Balili 15:11 Hassan Hakmoun Gift of the Gnawa Reggae 1
Go With The Flow5:22Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
West Hamilton Groove4:42Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Precious Moments4:12Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Suddenly3:36Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
My Pleasure4:29Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Brother4:51Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
(Do I Ever) Cross Your Mind4:50Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Don’t Know Why3:08Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Over And Over4:16Walter BeasleyGo With The FlowJazz
Dancing Queen 3:52 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Knowing Me, Knowing You 4:02 ABBA Gold Pop 1
Take A Chance On Me 4:04 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Mamma Mia 3:33 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Lay All Your Love On Me 4:34 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Super Trouper 4:14 ABBA Gold Pop 2
I Have A Dream 4:44 ABBA Gold Pop 2
The Winner Takes It All 4:56 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Money, Money, Money 3:08 ABBA Gold Pop 2
S.O.S. 3:21 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Fernando 4:14 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Voulez Vous 4:22 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) 4:49 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Does Your Mother Know 3:15 ABBA Gold Pop 2
One Of Us 3:58 ABBA Gold Pop 2
The Name Of The Game 4:00 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Thank You For The Music 3:51 ABBA Gold Pop 2
Waterloo 2:43 ABBA Gold Pop 1
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Aria 1:56 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: 2-Part Invention #3 In D, BWV 774 1:00 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 6
Bach: Keyboard Partita #5 In G, BWV 829 – 1. Praeambulum 1:47 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: Keyboard Partita #5 In G, BWV 829 – 4. Sarabande 2:02 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: Keyboard Partita #5 In G, BWV 829 – 5. Tempo Di Minuetto 1:05 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: Keyboard Partita #5 In G, BWV 829 – 6. Passepied 0:48 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: Keyboard Partita #5 In G, BWV 829 – 7. Gigue 1:41 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: Aria Variata In A, BWV 989, “In The Italian Style” 9:41 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 2
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 – Prelude #1 In C, BWV 8462:22Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 – #1 In C, BWV 846 – Prelude #5 In D1:06Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeambulum In C, BWV 924 1:47 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 2
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeambulum In F, BWV 927 0:36 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeludium In D Minor, BWV 926 0:49 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeludium In D Major, BWV 925 0:56 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeludium In F, BWV 928 1:08 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 3
Bach: 9 Little Preludes – Praeambulum In G Minor, BWV 930 3:23 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 2
Bach: French Suite #5 In G, BWV 816 – 1. Allemande1:48Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: French Suite #5 In G, BWV 816 – 4. Gavotte0:40Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: French Suite #5 In G, BWV 816 – 7. Gigue2:29Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Little Prelude #1 In C, BWV 933 – Praludium In C1:19Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 903A 6:17 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 1
Bach: Keyboard Partita #2 In C Minor, BWV 826 – Sinfonia4:12Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Overture In The French Style, BWV 831 – Gigue2:12Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Concerto In D Minor After Allesandro Marcello – Mvt.1 2:23 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 1
Bach: Concerto In D Minor After Allesandro Marcello – 2. Adagio 4:47 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 1
Bach: Concerto In D Minor After Allesandro Marcello – 3. Presto 2:38 Glenn Gould The Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1] Classical 1
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Var. 50:37Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Var. 30, Quodlibet1:30Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Aria Da Cappo3:46Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 1]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 12:45Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 22:44Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 32:20Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 43:22Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 52:53Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 6, A4, Im Stile Francese4:58Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 7 A4, Per Augmentationem Et Diminutionem3:48Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 8 A34:56Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Bach: The Art Of Fugue, BWV 1080 – Contrapunctus 9 A4, Alla Duodecima3:06Glenn GouldThe Gould Variations – The Best Of Glenn Gould’s Bach [Disc 2]Classical
Sandman 4:21 America The Grand Cayman Concert Rock 4
A Horse With No Name 4:07 America The Grand Cayman Concert Rock 2
Morning Mood 3:41 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 2
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Anitra’s Death 3:22 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 4
In The Hall of the Mountain King 2:34 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 2
The Abduction 4:09 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 5
Peer Gynt’s Home-Coming 2:54 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 1
Solvejg’s Song 5:01 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 1
Allegro Molto Moderato 13:34 Edvard Grieg The Greatest Classical Hits – Edvard Grieg Classical 3
Way Back Home4:02CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Street Life (Featuring Randy Crawford)11:00CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Chain Reaction5:36CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Scratch6:15CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Creole3:26CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Greasy Spoon3:13CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
I Felt The Love5:10CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
Free As The Wind6:16CrusadersGroove CrusadeJazz
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Marine Life 4:13 Oakley Hall I’ll Follow You Alternative 2
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Everybody Knows5:33Leonard CohenI’M Your ManRock
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Take This Waltz5:57Leonard CohenI’M Your ManRock
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Call It Stormy Monday 9:00 Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session Blues 4
Pride and Joy 5:59 Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session Blues 4
Ask Me No Questions 5:03 Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session Blues 3
Blues at Sunrise 15:11 Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session Blues 4
Men and Mountains – Lilacs2:35Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland OrchestraIves & RugglesClassical
Men and Mountains – Marching Mountains4:14Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland OrchestraIves & RugglesClassical
Andante For Strings 3:58 Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland Orchestra Ives & Ruggles Classical 1
Three Places in New England – The ‘St. Gaudens’ In Boston Common 9:05 Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland Orchestra Ives & Ruggles Classical 2
Three Places in New England – The Housatonic At Stockbridge 4:05 Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland Orchestra Ives & Ruggles Classical 4
Orchestral Suite 2 – An Elegy To Our Forefathers 3:34 Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland Orchestra Ives & Ruggles Classical 2
Orchestral Suite 2 – The Rockstrewn Hills Join In The People’S Outdoor Meeting 4:40 Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland Orchestra Ives & Ruggles Classical 1
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Sun-Treader14:17Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland OrchestraIves & RugglesClassical
Men and Mountains – Men2:47Christoph Von Dohnanyi; Cleveland OrchestraIves & RugglesClassical
Chidori No Kyoku: Song Of The Plover11:29Satomi Saeki And Alcvin Takegawa RamosJapanese Traditional Koto And Shakuhachi MusicReggae
Seki Setsu: Meditation On Rocks And Snow7:36Satomi Saeki And Alcvin Takegawa RamosJapanese Traditional Koto And Shakuhachi MusicReggae
Sagano3:33Satomi Saeki And Alcvin Takegawa RamosJapanese Traditional Koto And Shakuhachi MusicReggae
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Midare9:52Satomi Saeki And Alcvin Takegawa RamosJapanese Traditional Koto And Shakuhachi MusicReggae
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Oprachina – Nitro1:14OPRACHINAThe jazz farmJazz
Om Kar 5:53 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Graceful 4:09 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Hey Gopal 4:35 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Jataka 4:29 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Mantrika 4:40 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Neytal 4:36 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Jai Ambe 5:07 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Emperor 4:09 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Om Kar (Meditation Mix) 6:28 Gardner Cole Journey To The Heart Soundtrack 1
Little Yellow – Blixa Bargeld 1:08 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Rendering Buddha – Gudrun Gut 4:14 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Watching Paik’s Video Buddha – Mapstation 2:23 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
BuddhaMachineCommercial – Center Of Excellence 2:25 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
BP//Simple – Sunn O))) 10:06 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Xuanzhuan De Tuoluonidi – Wang Fan 5:45 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Gammler, Zen + Hohe Berge – Kammerflimmer Kollektief 3:54 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
The Buddha in New York – Aki Onda 4:19 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Karma-Cola – Adrian Sherwood + Doug Wimbish 5:56 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Liquid Buddha – Thomas Fehlmann 3:20 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Layer 02 – Robert Henke 5:00 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
A Dragon Lies Listening – Alog 3:41 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Winged Life – Minit 4:40 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Dry Valley – Sun City Girls 5:40 Various Artists Jukebox Buddha Electronic 1
Cyber Space 7:07 Karma Trance Karma Trance Electronica/Dance 2
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Electric Universe 7:00 Karma Trance Karma Trance Electronica/Dance 1
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Silk Road (Silk Road)4:06喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
Heavenly Father (Silk Road)3:50喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
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Everlasting Road (Silk Road) 5:41 喜多郎 KitaroThe Essential Collection New Age 1
Takla Makan Desert (Silk Road II)3:08喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
Mystic Sand Dance (Silk Road II)5:42喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
Shimmering Horizon (from Oasis)2:53喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
Tunhuang (from Tunhuang)5:00喜多郎KitaroThe Essential CollectionNew Age
01_01 Dlg A Listen0:29Foreign Service InstituteKorean Basic Course Vol. 1
Good to Your Earhole4:35FunkadelicLet’s Take It to the StageHip-Hop
Better by the Pound2:43FunkadelicLet’s Take It to the StageHip-Hop
No Head, No Backstage Pass2:40FunkadelicLet’s Take It to the StageHip-Hop
Let’s Take It to the Stage3:37FunkadelicLet’s Take It to the StageHip-Hop
Get Off Your Ass and Jam 2:27 Funkadelic Let’s Take It to the Stage Hip-Hop 2
Wild Thing4:24Tone LocLoc-ed After DarkHip-Hop
I Got It Goin’ On4:33Tone LocLoc-ed After DarkHip-Hop
Concerto In Slendro: I. Allegro – Daniel Kobialka3:06Daniel KobialkaLou Harrison: Chamber & Gamelan WorksClassical
Concerto In Slendro: II. Molto adagio – Daniel Kobialka4:19Daniel KobialkaLou Harrison: Chamber & Gamelan WorksClassical
Main Bersama-Sama – Scott L. Hartman7:22Scott L. HartmanLou Harrison: Chamber & Gamelan WorksClassical
Cliffside Village 5:45 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 2
Eulogy 5:14 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 2
Fisherman’s Song 5:17 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 2
Seduction 4:29 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 2
The Bone Chase 5:52 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 2
ComPassion 3:41 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 1
Inocente 5:29 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 1
Ocean Song 2:20 Deep Passion Love Moods New Age 1
The Gift Of Love3:22Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
Somewhere Over The Rainbow2:32Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
A Mother’s Love4:15Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
The Road That Never Ends2:57Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
The Rose Of Tralee3:41Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
The Thornbirds5:12Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
Fire Of Love5:29Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
Annie’s Song5:07Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
Musetta’s Waltz4:03Music-ThemesLove MusicNew Age
Mahler: Symphony #4 In G – 1. Bedächtig, Nicht Eilen.16:12Claudio Abbado: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #4 In G – 2. In Gemächlicher Bewungen, Ohne Hast.9:18Claudio Abbado: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #4 In G – 3. Ruhevoll23:32Claudio Abbado: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #4 In G – 4. Sehr Behaglich9:16Frederica Von Stade; Claudio Abbado: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 1A. Allegro Maestoso 5:37 Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1] Classical 2
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 1B. Sehr Massig Und Zuruckhaltend 5:38 Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 1C. Sehr Langsam Beginnend9:32Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 1]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 2. Andante Moderato, Sehr Gemächlich10:03Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 3. In Ruhig Fliessender Bewegung10:33Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony OrchestraMahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2]Classical
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 4. Urlicht (Sehr Feierlich Aber Schlicht) 5:08 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5A. Im Tempo Des Scherzos, Wild Herausfahrend 1:40 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5B. Langsam 3:56 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5C. Im Anfang Sehr Zurückgehalten 1:17 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5D. Wieder Sehr Breit 3:02 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5E. Maestoso. Sehr Zurückhaltend 4:20 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5F. Wieder Zurückhaltend 2:17 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5G. Langsam. Immer Noch Mehr Zurückhaltend 1:25 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5H. Sehr Langsam Und Gedehnt 2:30 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5I. Langsam, Misterioso 6:52 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5J. Etwas Bewegter 1:33 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #2 In C Minor, “Resurrection” – 5K. Wieder Etwas Zurückhaltend 5:39 Carol Neblett, Marilyn Horne; Claudio Abbado: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mahler: Symphonies #2 & 4 [Disc 2] Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #5 In C Sharp Minor – 1. Trauermarsch 13:44 John Barbirolli: New Philharmonia Orchestra Mahler: Symphony #5 Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #5 In C Sharp Minor – 2. Sturmisch Bewegt 15:14 John Barbirolli: New Philharmonia Orchestra Mahler: Symphony #5 Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #5 In C Sharp Minor – 3. Scherzo 18:05 John Barbirolli: New Philharmonia Orchestra Mahler: Symphony #5 Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #5 In C Sharp Minor – 4. Adagietto 9:51 John Barbirolli: New Philharmonia Orchestra Mahler: Symphony #5 Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #5 In C Sharp Minor – 5. Rondo: Finale 17:24 John Barbirolli: New Philharmonia Orchestra Mahler: Symphony #5 Classical 1
Mahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic” – 1. Allegro Energico, Ma Non Troppo23:07Pierre Boulez: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic” – 2. Scherzo: Wuchtig12:19Pierre Boulez: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic” – 3. Andante Moderato14:47Pierre Boulez: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic” – 4. Finale: Allegro Moderato29:10Pierre Boulez: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraMahler: Symphony #6 In A Minor, “Tragic”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht” – 1. Langsam23:25Pierre Boulez: Cleveland OrchestraMahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht” – 2. Nachtmusik: Allegro Moderato13:56Pierre Boulez: Cleveland OrchestraMahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht” – 3. Scherzo: Schattenhaft, Trio9:14Pierre Boulez: Cleveland OrchestraMahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht” – 4. Nachtmusik: Andante Amoroso10:38Pierre Boulez: Cleveland OrchestraMahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht”Classical
Mahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht” – 5. Rondo, Finale: Tempo 1 (Allegro Ordinario)17:40Pierre Boulez: Cleveland OrchestraMahler: Symphony #7 In E Minor, “Lied Der Nacht”Classical
Om Tara22:43PreparationMantras From TibetNew Age
Om Tara36:43MeditationMantras From TibetNew Age
Om Tara14:18CelebrationMantras From TibetNew Age
Marrakesh Night Market 6:30 Loreena McKennitt The Mask And Mirror Reggae 3
Mendelssohn: Symphony #3 In A Minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” – 1. Andante, Allegretto 13:20 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 3
Mendelssohn: Symphony #3 In A Minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” – 2. Vivace Non Troppo 4:11 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 3
Mendelssohn: Symphony #3 In A Minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” – 3. Adagio 11:04 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 3
Mendelssohn: Symphony #3 In A Minor, Op. 56, “Scottish” – 4. Vivacissimo, Maestoso 9:45 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 3
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Overture 11:55 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 2
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Scherzo 4:27 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 2
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – You Spotted Snakes 4:23 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 2
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Intermezzo 3:31 Peter Maag: London Symhony Orchestra Mendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Classical 1
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Nocturne6:25Peter Maag: London Symhony OrchestraMendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s DreamClassical
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wedding March4:37Peter Maag: London Symhony OrchestraMendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s DreamClassical
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Dance Of The Clowns1:46Peter Maag: London Symhony OrchestraMendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s DreamClassical
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Finale4:00Peter Maag: London Symhony OrchestraMendelssohn: Symphony #3, A Midsummer Night’s DreamClassical
Billie Jean4:53Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
The Way You Make Me Feel4:57Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Black Or White4:15Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Rock With You3:40Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
She’s Out Of My Life3:37Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Bad4:07Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You4:12Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Man In The Mirror5:18Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Thriller5:57Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
The Girl Is Mine3:41Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Remember The Time3:59Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough6:04Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’6:02Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Heal The World6:25Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume IRock
Jibal Al Nuba/Gemini Dub4:37DJ /ruptureMinesweeper SuiteElectronic
Rumbo Babylon/Limb by Limb (Acappella)/Tables Will Turn4:17DJ /ruptureMinesweeper SuiteElectronic
Ball And Chain (featuring Janis Joplin) – Big Brother & The 8:01Various Artists – Razor & TieMonterey International Pop FestivalRock
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane2:21Various Artists – Razor & TieMonterey International Pop FestivalRock
I’ve Been Loving You (Too Long) – Otis Redding3:23Various Artists – Razor & TieMonterey International Pop FestivalRock
Pachelbel: Canon in D5:04Neville Marriner; Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-FieldsThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
J.S. Bach: Cantata #147, BWV 147, Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring 3:33 David Willcocks; Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields, Choir Of King’s College, Cambridge The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1) Classical 1
Satie: Gymnopedie #12:52Louis Fremaux; City Of Birmingham Symphony OrchestraThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Mozart: Piano Concerto #21 in C, K 467, “Elvira Madigan” – Andante5:23Stephen Hough, Bryden Thomson; Halle OrchestraThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Delibes: Lakme – Viens, Mallika4:21Mady Mesplé, Danielle Millet, Alain Lombard; Orchestra du Théâtre National de l’Opéra ComiqueThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Faure: Requiem, Op. 48 – In Paradisum3:49King’s College Choir David Willcocks; Philharmonia OrchestraThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Debussy: Suite bergamasque, f, L 75 – Clair de lune4:59Moura LympanyThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals – The Swan 2:55 Jacqueline du Pré, Osian Ellis The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1) Classical 1
Gorecki: Symphony #3, Op. 36,“Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” –Lento e largo – Tranquillissim4:34Jacek Kaspszyk; Krakow Symphony OrchestraThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Mozart: Concerto in C, K 299 – Andantino 4:02 James Galway, Fritz Helmis, Herbert von Karajan; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1) Classical 1
Vivaldi:The Four Seasons, Op. 8/4, “Winter” – Largo)2:10Yehudi Menuhin, Alberto Lysy; Camerata Lysy GstaadThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Elgar: Enigma Variations, Op. 36 – Nimrod 3:59 Adrian Boult; London Symphony Orchestra The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1) Classical 2
Dvorak: Rusalka – Song To The Moon5:04Lucia Popp, Stefan Soltesz; Munchner RundfunkorchesterThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1)Classical
Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini – Variation 18 3:02 Cecile Ousset, Simon Rattle; City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! (Disc 1) Classical 4
J.S. Bach3:30Cantata #140, BWV 140, Sleepers, Awake!The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2]Classical
Albinoni 5:53 Adagio In G Minor, T Mi 26 The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 9
Boccherini3:58String Quintet In E, Op. 13/5, G 282 – MinuetThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2]Classical
J.S. Bach3:29Harpsichord Concerto #5 In F Minor, BWV 1056 – LargoThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2]Classical
Beethoven 4:00 Piano Sonata #14 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27/2, “Moonlight” – Adagio Sostenuto The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 1
Puccini2:45Gianni Schicchi – O Mio Babbino CaroThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2]Classical
Vaughan Williams 4:42 Sir John In Love – Fantasia On “Greensleeves” The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 1
Rachmaninov 4:35 Piano Concerto #2 In C Minor, Op. 18 – Adagio Sostenuto The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 1
Borodin4:01String Quartet #2 In D – NocturneThe Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2]Classical
Barber 6:25 Adagio, Op. 11 The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 2
Bizet 2:32 Carmen, Act 3 – Entr’acte The Most Relaxing Classical Album In The World…Ever! [Disc 2] Classical 1
Money (That’s What I Want) 2:39 Barrett Strong Motown: The Classic Years R&B 1
Shop Around2:51The MiraclesMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Please Mr. Postman2:31The MarvelettesMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Do You Love Me2:55The ContoursMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
You Beat Me To The Punch2:46Mary WellsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Fingertips Pt. 23:13Little Stevie WonderMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave2:46Martha Reeves & The VandellasMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
My Guy2:54Mary WellsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Dancing In The Streets 2:40 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Motown: The Classic Years R&B 1
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) 3:01 Marvin Gaye Motown: The Classic Years R&B 1
My Girl2:58The TemptationsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Shotgun3:07Junior Walker & The All StarsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Stop! In The Name Of Love2:56The SupremesMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)2:46The Four TopsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
The Tracks Of My Tears2:58The MiraclesMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)2:55Stevie WonderMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg2:34The TemptationsMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted2:59Jimmy RuffinMotown: The Classic YearsR&B
Reach Out I’ll Be There3:03The Four TopsMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Jimmy Mack2:55Martha Reeves & The VandellasMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Your Precious Love3:06Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
I Heard It Through The Grapevine3:17Marvin GayeMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)3:31David RuffinMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Someday We’ll Be Together3:35Diana Ross & The SupremesMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Up The Ladder To The Roof3:14The SupremesMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)4:07The TemptationsMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours2:41Stevie WonderMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
It’s A Shame3:10The SpinnersMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
War3:22Edwin StarrMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
The Tears Of A Clown3:03Smokey Robinson & The MiraclesMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
What’s Going On3:54Marvin GayeMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Smiling Faces Sometimes3:19Undisputed TruthMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Neither One Of Us4:21Gladys Knight & The PipsMotown: The Classic Years (Disc 2)R&B
Moussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain11:06Yoel LeviMoussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Night On Bald MountaClassical
Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition33:16Yoel LeviMoussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Night On Bald MountaClassical
Moussorgsky: Introduction to Khovanshchina (Dawn on the Mosc5:30Yoel LeviMoussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Night On Bald MountaClassical
One-Way Ticket To Nowhere (It’s The End Of The Ride)4:23Jean KnightMr. Big StuffHip-Hop
The Mummers’ Dance 4:01 Loreena McKennitt The Mummers’ Dance Reggae 4
Archangel Raphael 11:28 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 1
Violet Contemplation 4:53 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 2
Crystal Child 10:49 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 1
Reiki Gold 4:59 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 1
A Glimpse of Paradise 8:39 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 2
Just for Today I will not Anger 4:58 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 1
White Light 5:07 Llewellyn Music for Reiki Attunement New Age 1
Music for the Royal Fireworks: I. Ouverture7:58Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Music for the Royal Fireworks: II, Bourree1:27Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Music for the Royal Fireworks: III. La Paix3:06Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Music for the Royal Fireworks: IV. La Rejouissance2:00Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351, Menuetts 1 and 22:57Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Overture3:08Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Adagio e staccato2:10Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Allegro, Andante, Allegro6:57Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Presto3:17Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Air2:29Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, (Minuet)2:41Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Bourree1:47Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, Hornpipe2:06Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, (Andante)3:58Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in F major, HWV 348, (Allegro)3:57Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in G major, HWV 350, (Sarabande)2:31Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in G major, HWV 350, Menuets 1 and 22:52Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in G major, HWV 350, Country Dance1:27Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in D major, HWV 349, Allegro1:56Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in D major, HWV 349, Minuet2:17Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Suite in D major, HWV 349, Lentement1:26Martin Pearlman; Boston BaroqueMusic for the Royal Fireworks / Water MusicClassical
Eternity3:36Steven HalpernMusic For YogaNew Age
Pachelbel’s Canon 6:43 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Dawn 6:18 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Toward The One 3:47 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Connections 5:39 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Deep Bamboo 4:17 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Rainbow Body 0:22 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
In The Key Of Sea 3:02 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 3
Inner Peace 5:06 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 1
Pastorale 5:15 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 1
Goldern Lotus 4:24 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 1
Amrita 3:26 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Waterfall 4:41 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 2
Eventide 4:05 Steven Halpern Music For Yoga New Age 1
Sangit Narayana 8:33 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
Dancing Buddhas 2:48 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
Unio Mystica 2:46 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
The Bridge To That 1:32 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
The Wheel Of Dharma 10:26 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
All That Is Real Will Remain 2:24 Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Music From The World Of Osho: Ten Thousand Buddhas Reggae 1
I Will Wait4:15Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Wishing2:49Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Las Vegas Nights4:06Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Only Lonely4:38Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Michelle Post2:20Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Bluesy Revolution4:47Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Home Again4:07Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Desert Mountain Showdown2:45Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
What’s Going On Here4:37Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
What Do You Want From Me Now3:41Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Silence0:30Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Closet Full Of Fear3:18Hootie & The BlowfishMusical ChairsRock
Night on the Bare Mountain10:57Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Sorochintsy Fair: Hopak1:42Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Khovanshchina: Golitsïn’s Exile5:13Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
St. John’s Night on Bald Mountain (Original version): Night 12:53Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel): Ill vecchio castell4:23Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel): Limoges, le marche1:24Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel): Cum mortius in ling2:12Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel): Le grande porte de 5:04Modest Petrovich MussorgskyMUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an ExhibitionClassical
Femmes (Featuring Wayne Shorter) 5:55 Paolo Rustichelli Mystic Jazz Jazz 3
Bold Man (Featuring Herbie Hancock) 4:13 Paolo Rustichelli Mystic Jazz Jazz 3
Capri (Featuring Miles Davis) 4:00 Paolo Rustichelli Mystic Jazz Jazz 3
Merkel3:48Paolo RustichelliMystic JazzJazz
Full Moon (Featuring Carlos Santana)5:03Paolo RustichelliMystic JazzJazz
El Topo6:10Paolo RustichelliMystic JazzJazz
The Bridge4:27Paolo RustichelliMystic JazzJazz
Black Plastic (Featuring Wayne Shorter)5:21Paolo RustichelliMystic JazzJazz
Kalimba 5:48 Mr. Scruff Ninja Tuna Electronic 1
Feelin’ Hypnotized (Kaskade Extended Mix) – Colette 5:48 Colette The Om Remixes Electronic 1
Natural (Kaskade Roots Mix Edit) – Afro-Mystik 6:22 Afro-Mystik The Om Remixes Electronic 4
I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (Kaskade Mix Edit) – Colette 5:01 Colette The Om Remixes Electronic 1
Steppin’ Out (Kaskade Chill Out Mix Edit) 3:31 Kaskade The Om Remixes Electronic 1
On the Way to Happiness1:03:17TroyOn the Way to HappinessNew Age
Soul Survivor – Wilson Pickett5:30Original SoundtrackOnly The Strong SurviveSoundtrack
(In The)Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett4:03Original SoundtrackOnly The Strong SurviveSoundtrack
Don’t Let Go – Isaac Hayes7:25Original SoundtrackOnly The Strong SurviveSoundtrack
Amnesia3:48The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Early Winter3:16The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
You Don’t Know Her2:41The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Perfect Stranger3:50The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Can I2:27The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
So Much For Fairytales5:01The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Gone To Seed3:01The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Pursuit Of Happiness3:11The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
Surf Trek2:40The RubinoosPaleophonicAlternative & Punk
The Thrill Is Gone 4:55 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 1
B.B. Boogie 3:19 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 3
The Letter 3:31 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 2
Mr. Pawnbroker 3:16 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 2
You’ve Done Lost Your Good Thing Now 5:17 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 2
Catfish Blues 2:26 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 3
Paying The Cost To Be The Boss 2:39 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 1
How Blue Can You Get 3:27 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 1
Everyday I Have The Blues 5:04 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 1
It’s My Own Fault 3:36 B.B. King Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Blues 1
Tschaikowsky: Con. No.1, Op.23: Allegro Non Troppo20:16Garrick OhlssonPiano Concertos Tschaikowsky And RachmaninowClassical
Andante Simplice7:16Garrick OhlssonPiano Concertos Tschaikowsky And RachmaninowClassical
Rachmaninow: Con. No.2, Op.18: Moderato11:18Garrick OhlssonPiano Concertos Tschaikowsky And RachmaninowClassical
Adagio Sostenuto 12:21 Garrick Ohlsson Piano Concertos Tschaikowsky And Rachmaninow Classical 3
Allegro Scherzando 11:37 Garrick Ohlsson Piano Concertos Tschaikowsky And Rachmaninow Classical 1
Mars, The Bringer Of War (Allegro) 7:19 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Venus,The Bringer Of Peace (Adagio Andante) 8:39 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Mercury ,The Winged Messenger (Vivace) 4:15 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Jupiter ,The Bringer Of Jollity (Allegro Giocoso) 7:36 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Saturn,The Bringer Of Old (Adegio-Andante) 9:22 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Uranus,The Magician (Allegro-Lento) 6:03 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Neptune,The Mystic (Andante – Allegreto) 8:42 Herbert Von Karajan; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Planets,Op.32 Classical 1
Alright, Okay, You Win3:31Tony Bennett & Diana KrallPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Everyday (I Have The Blues)3:39Tony Bennett & Stevie WonderPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Good Morning, Heartache4:56Tony Bennett & Sheryl CrowPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Let The Good Times Roll3:14Tony Bennett & B.B. KingPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Evenin’4:15Tony Bennett & Ray CharlesPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues3:55Tony Bennett & Bonnie RaittPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Keep The Faith Baby3:52Tony Bennett & K.D. LangPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Old Count Basie Is Gone3:25Tony BennettPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Blue And Sentimental3:21Tony Bennett & Kay StarrPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Undecided Blues3:17Tony BennettPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Blues In The Night3:34Tony BennettPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Stormy Weather4:34Tony Bennett With Natalie ColePlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Playin’ With My Friends4:48Tony Bennett w/various duet artistsPlaying With My FriendsEasy Listening
Earth Orbit Original – Login Bomb 7:48 Various Artists – BooM! Records Psychoactive Scandosounds 3 Electronic 1
The Claw – Weird Beardo 9:34 Various Artists – BooM! Records Psychoactive Scandosounds 3 Electronic 1
Sly – Battle of The Future Buddhas 8:30 Various Artists – BooM! Records Psychoactive Scandosounds 3 Electronic 1
Forward Observer – Tellus 2 7:06 Various Artists – BooM! Records Psychoactive Scandosounds 3 Electronic 1
I Want More Life – Celestial 8:52 Various Artists – BooM! Records Psychoactive Scandosounds 3 Electronic 1
Sun Is Shining 2:11 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Keep On Moving 3:05 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
African Herbsman 2:23 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Stand Alone 2:07 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Brain Washing 2:37 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Mr. Brown 3:28 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Rebel’s Hop 2:38 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
400 Years 2:33 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Soul Almighty 2:38 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Rainbow Country 5:46 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Mellow Mood 2:33 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Treat You Right 2:11 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Chances Are 3:14 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Hammer 2:51 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Touch Me 3:06 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
How Many Times 2:21 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Soul Shakedown Party 3:07 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Natural Mystic 5:43 Bob Marley Pure Magic Reggae 2
Raag Shree 20:42 Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar Raag Shree Reggae 2
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op, 1: I. Vivace 12:01 Earl Wild RACHMANINOV: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4 / Rhapsody on a Theme Classical 1
You Got Good Lovin2:58Otis ReddingRemember MeHip-Hop
The Dock Of The Bay2:43Otis ReddingRemember MeHip-Hop
Try A Little Tenderness 4:01 Otis Redding Remember Me Hip-Hop 1
In C28:36Terry RileyRILEY: In CClassical
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto #2 In G Minor, Op. 22 – 1. Andante Sostenuto10:26Philippe Entremont; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto #2 In G Minor, Op. 22 – 2. Allegro Scherzando5:38Philippe Entremont; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto #2 In G Minor, Op. 22 – 3. Presto6:19Philippe Entremont; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto #4 In C Minor, Op. 44 – 1. Allegro Moderato, Andante11:53Philippe Entremont; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto #4 In C Minor, Op. 44 – 2. Allegro Vivace, Adante, Allegro12:56Philippe Entremont; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto #1 In A Minor, Op. 3318:45Leonard Rose; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Saint-Saëns: Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso In A Minor, Op. 289:08Pinchas Zukerman; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Piano Concertos #2 & 4, Cello Concerto, Etc.Classical
Schumann: Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54 – 1. Allegro Affettuoso14:57Rudolf Serkin; Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia OrchestraSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
Ii – Intermezzo: Andantino Grazioso5:25Robert SchumannSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
Iii – Allegro Vivace10:35Robert SchumannSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
I – Allegro Brillante8:38Robert SchumannSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
Schumann: Piano Quintet In E Flat, Op. 44 – 2. In Modo D’Una Marcia9:32Budapest Quartet & Rudolf SerkinSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
Schumann: Piano Quintet In E Flat, Op. 44 – 3. Scherzo Molto Vivace4:44Budapest Quartet & Rudolf SerkinSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
Schumann: Piano Quintet In E Flat, Op. 44 – 4. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo6:58Budapest Quartet & Rudolf SerkinSchumann- Piano Concerto – Serkin – OrmandyClassical
How Bizarre (OMC cover)4:05CFCFThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)3:02Winter GlovesThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant cover)3:56WoodhandsThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Dying In Africa (Nicholas Makelberge cover)4:53Sally ShapiroThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Falling Out (Rick Agnew cover) 3:03 You Say Party! We Say Die! The Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers Compilation Other 2
Daniel (Bat For Lashes cover) 5:43 Josh Reichmann The Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers Compilation Other 1
Gamma Ray (Beck cover) 3:30 Laura Barrett The Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers Compilation Other 2
I Want You (Bob Dylan cover)5:15Rock Plaza CentralThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Strange Animal (Gowan cover) 3:48 The Acorn The Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers Compilation Other 2
Heinz (Artery Cover) 2:30 Little Girls The Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers Compilation Other 3
Behold A Lady (Outkast cover)4:20Slim TwigThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
Du er min øjesten3:00Under ByenThe Seven Year Itch – Paper Bag Records Covers CompilationOther
I Got The Feeling2:21James BrownSeventh WonderHip-Hop
I Can’t Stand It1:55James BrownSeventh WonderHip-Hop
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag2:15James BrownSeventh WonderHip-Hop
I Feel Good3:32James BrownSeventh WonderHip-Hop
Turn It Loose1:33James BrownSeventh WonderHip-Hop
Sexy Erotic Night 1:03:33 Ajin Dar Humedi Sexy Erotic Night New Age 2
Shostakovich: Symphony #4 In C Minor, Op. 43 – 1. Allegretto Poco Moderato28:12Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Complete Symphonies [Disc 4] – Symphony #4, Gadfly Suite (Excerpts)Classical40
Shostakovich: Symphony #4 In C Minor, Op. 43 – 2. Moderato Con Moto8:49Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Complete Symphonies [Disc 4] – Symphony #4, Gadfly Suite (Excerpts)Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #4 In C Minor, Op. 43 – 3. Largo, Allegro27:23Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Complete Symphonies [Disc 4] – Symphony #4, Gadfly Suite (Excerpts)Classical
Shostakovich: The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97A – Romance 6:21 Mariss Jansons: London Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies [Disc 4] – Symphony #4, Gadfly Suite (Excerpts) Classical 1
Shostakovich: The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97A – Folk Feast 2:55 Mariss Jansons: London Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies [Disc 4] – Symphony #4, Gadfly Suite (Excerpts) Classical 40 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #1 In F Minor, Op. 10 – 1. Allegretto 8:21 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #1 In F Minor, Op. 10 – 2. Allegro, Meno Mosso 4:56 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #1 In F Minor, Op. 10 – 3. Lento, Largo9:08Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #1 In F Minor, Op. 10 – 4. Allegro Molto9:34Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #15 In A, Op. 141 – 1. Allegretto 8:08 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #15 In A, Op. 141 – 2. Adagio 17:03 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #15 In A, Op. 141 – 3. Allegretto 4:06 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #15 In A, Op. 141 – 4. Adagio, Allegretto 16:46 Mariss Jansons: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar” – 1. Babi Yar16:11Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 10]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar” – 2. Humor8:16Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 10]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar” – 3. At The Store12:22Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 10]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar” – 4. Fears11:22Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 10]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113, “Babi Yar” – 5. Career12:06Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 10]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #2 In B Flat, Op. 14, “To October” – Quarter Note = 1525:20Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #2 In B Flat, Op. 14, “To October” – Poco meno mosso, Allegro Molto5:50Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #2 In B Flat, Op. 14, “To October” – To October7:17Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & ChorusShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #12 In D Minor, Op. 112, “Year 1917” – 1. Revolutionary Petrograd 13:19 Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #12 In D Minor, Op. 112, “Year 1917” – 2. Razliv12:23Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #12 In D Minor, Op. 112, “Year 1917” – 3. Aurora4:06Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #12 In D Minor, Op. 112, “Year 1917” – 4. The Dawn Of Humanity10:04Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 2]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 1A. Allegretto4:25Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 1B. Piu Mosso1:48Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 1C. Allegro4:15Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 2. Andante5:45Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 3A. Allegro6:40Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 3B. Andante, Largo3:36Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #3 In E Flat, Op. 20, “First Of May” – 4. Moderato4:52Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – De Profundis4:42Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – Malagueña2:56Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – Lorelei8:36Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – The Suicide6:10Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – On Watch2:59Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – Madam, Look!1:41Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – At The Sante Jail9:00Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – The Zaporozhian Cossack’s Answer To The Sultan Of Constantinople1:57Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – O Delvig! O Delvig!4:07Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – The Poet’s Death4:43Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #14 In G Minor, Op. 135 – Conclusion1:10Mariss Jansons: Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 1A. Allegro Molto5:04Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 1B. Allegro6:20Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 2. Moderato2:38Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 3. Presto 3:09 Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 4. Largo 6:21 Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #9 In E Flat, Op. 70 – 5. Allegretto 21:48 Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia Orchestra Shostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8] Classical 1
Shostakovich: Symphony #10 In E Minor, Op. 93 – 1. Moderato4:19Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #10 In E Minor, Op. 93 – 2. Allegro12:03Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #10 In E Minor, Op. 93 – 3. Allegretto4:25Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #10 In E Minor, Op. 93 – 4. Andante, Allegro8:36Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: Symphonies [Disc 8]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #8 In C Minor, Op. 65 – Adagio, Allegro Non Troppo24:32Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #8 In C Minor, Op. 65 – Allegretto6:27Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #8 In C Minor, Op. 65 – Allegro Non Troppo6:18Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #8 In C Minor, Op. 65 – Largo10:05Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #8 In C Minor, Op. 65 – Allegretto15:07Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Rehearsal12:42Mariss Jansons: Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraShostakovich: The Complete Symphonies [Disc 7]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #11 In G Minor, Op. 103, “Year 1905” – The Palace Square16:08Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #11 In G Minor, Op. 103, “Year 1905” – The Ninth Of January19:39Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #11 In G Minor, Op. 103, “Year 1905” – In Memoriam11:39Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Symphony #11 In G Minor, Op. 103, “Year 1905” – The Tocsin16:12Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Suite #1 For Jazz Orchestra, Op. 38B – 1. Waltz2:43Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Suite #1 For Jazz Orchestra, Op. 38B – 2. Polka1:41Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Suite #1 For Jazz Orchestra, Op. 38B – 3. Foxtrot3:54Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Suite #2 For Jazz Orchestra, Op. 50B – 6. Waltz #23:50Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Shostakovich: Tahiti Trot, Op. 16, “Tea For Two”3:31Mariss Jansons; Philadelphia OrchestraShostakovich: The Symphonies [Disc 9]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #1 In E Minor, Op. 39 – 1. Andante Ma Non Troppo, Allegro Energico 10:44 Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Sibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Sibelius: Symphony #1 In E Minor, Op. 39 – 4. Finale: Quasi Una Fantasia 11:56 Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Sibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1] Classical 1
Sibelius: Symphony #4 In A Minor, Op. 63 – 1. Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio10:18Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #4 In A Minor, Op. 63 – 2. Allegro Molto Vivace4:07Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #4 In A Minor, Op. 63 – 3. Tempo Largo9:07Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #4 In A Minor, Op. 63 – 4. Allegro9:14Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 1]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #5 In E Flat, Op. 82 – 1. Tempo Molto Moderato12:00Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #5 In E Flat, Op. 82 – 2. Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto7:13Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #5 In E Flat, Op. 82 – 3. Allegro Molto8:13Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #6 In D Minor, Op. 104 – 1. Allegro Molto Moderato8:28Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #6 In D Minor, Op. 104 – 2. Allegretto Moderato4:07Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #6 In D Minor, Op. 104 – 3. Poco Vivace3:06Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Sibelius: Symphony #6 In D Minor, Op. 104 – 4. Allegro Molto8:52Lorin Maazel: Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraSibelius: Symphonies [Disc 3]Classical
Island Unity4:37JafarSoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Celebrate3:42NATASHASoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Hungry4:19TCSoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Stand Up4:07Keann Feat. AyannaSoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Action4:19JP Feat. Peter RamSoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Don’t Wanna Be Lonely4:10Natasha Feat. BuggySoka Tite Croonz Vol 2.0World
Sonata No. 8, Opus 13 ‘Pathetique’– Grave-Allegro di molto e con brio 9:36 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del PueyoClassical
Adagio cantabile 5:47 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 3
Rondo: allegro 4:30 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 1
Sonata No. 14, Opus 27 No. 2 ‘Mondschein’ – Adagio sostenuto 6:17 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 1
Presto agitato 7:17 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 1
Sonata No. 23, Opus 57 ‘Appassionata’ – Allegro assai 9:04 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 1
Andante con moto 6:36 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 2
Allegro ma non troppo 8:05 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 4
Sonata No. 22 , Opus 54 – In tempo d’un menuetto 5:06 Eduardo Del Pueyo Sonatas for piano of Ludwig van Beethovenby Eduardo del Pueyo Classical 1
Water Fountain3:33David FosterSongs Without WordsNew Age
The Stone Quilt3:29Desmond ChildSongs Without WordsNew Age
Major Dreams, Minor Lies3:41David BenoitSongs Without WordsNew Age
Songs Without Words 3:08 Eric Bazilian Songs Without Words New Age 1
A Hollywood Nocturne 3:47 John Corey Songs Without Words New Age 1
Miracles 2:13 Walter Afanasieff Songs Without Words New Age 1
Garbo Redux 1:57 Bob James Songs Without Words New Age 1
Everything I Do (I Do It For You)3:40Michael KamenSongs Without WordsNew Age
If You Asked Me To4:23Diane WarrenSongs Without WordsNew Age
Generations3:36Jim BrickmanSongs Without WordsNew Age
Not Like This2:58Jeremy LubbockSongs Without WordsNew Age
This Isn’t Love3:10Brian WilsonSongs Without WordsNew Age
What Can You Lose1:49Stephen SondheimSongs Without WordsNew Age
Life Is A Circle3:54Michal WhalenSongs Without WordsNew Age
Cousin Stu3:53Jeff LorberSongs Without WordsNew Age
Blue Modal Morning Alive3:59Carole KingSongs Without WordsNew Age
Musicawa Silt3:04DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Quiet Man Is Dead Man4:39DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Modern Technology3:58DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Daktari Walk4:54DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Voodoo Soul Stew4:28DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Upside Down4:14DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Musicawa Silt Part 22:24DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Give It Up Turnit Loose3:53DaktarisSoul ExplosionHip-Hop
Máru-Bihág11:45Ravi ShankarThe Sounds Of IndiaWorld
Sindhi-Bhairavi15:00Ravi ShankarThe Sounds Of IndiaWorld
Oracle 4:10 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Future Tribe 4:22 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Circular Ceeremony 3:12 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
After The Dream 3:17 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
The Calling 4:08 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
This Moment Is A Memory 4:31 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Ghost Train 2:36 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Early Man 2:20 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Hope 1:34 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 2
Almost Touching 1:46 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Graceful Sky 3:08 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Structures From Silence 12:06 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 2
Something In Tears 1:04 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Early Dawn 2:35 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Fever Glimpse 7:00 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Offering In Waves 1:56 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
Nameless 3:59 Steve Roach Space And Time New Age 1
“Highway Blues”1:34Marc Seales, Composer. New Stories. Ernie Watts, Saxophone.Speakin’ OutJazz
Music for 18 Musicians: Section I3:59Grand Valley State University New Music EnsembleSteve Reich: Music for 18 MusiciansClassical
Music for 18 Musicians: Section II4:34Grand Valley State University New Music EnsembleSteve Reich: Music for 18 MusiciansClassical
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (arr. by L. Stokowski)3:42Matthias BamertSTOKOWSKI: Bach Transcriptions for OrchestraClassical
Overture (Suite) No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: II. Air, “Air o5:53Matthias BamertSTOKOWSKI: Bach Transcriptions for OrchestraClassical
Peaches En Regalia 3:37 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow (Single Version) 3:34 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Dancin’ Fool 3:43 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
San Ber’dino 5:57 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama 3:32 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Trouble Every Day 5:49 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Disco Boy 5:08 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Fine Girl 3:30 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Sexual Harassment In The Workplace 3:43 Frank Zappa Strictly Commercial Alternative & Punk 1
Let’s Make The Water Turn Black2:01Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
I’m The Slime3:35Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Joe’s Garage (Single Version)4:09Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Tell Me You Love Me2:50Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Montana (Single Version)4:48Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Be In My Video3:39Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Muffin Man5:34Frank ZappaStrictly CommercialAlternative & Punk
Super Freak3:30The Hit Co.Super FreakRock
Swan Lake, Suite from the Ballet, Op. 20a – Scene2:40Peter Ilyich TchaikovskySwan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty SuiteClassical
Dance of the Swans 8:48 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Hungarian Dances (Czardas) 3:22 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Spanish Dance 3:00 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Neapolitan Dance 2:24 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Adagio- Pas d’action 6:38 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 4
Panorama 4:48 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Waltz 4:54 Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite & Sleeping Beauty Suite Classical 1
Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd3:02Various ArtistsSweet Soul MusicHip-Hop
Rock Your Baby – George McCrae3:22Various ArtistsSweet Soul MusicHip-Hop
The Letter – Box Tops1:55Various ArtistsSweet Soul MusicHip-Hop
Harlem Shuffle – Bob and Earl2:50Various ArtistsSweet Soul MusicHip-Hop
Love Makes A Woman – Barbara Acklin3:11Various ArtistsSweet Soul MusicHip-Hop
Shard / Spring Is Really Coming3:30OregonVanguard Visionaries – OregonJazz
The Swan3:51OregonVanguard Visionaries – OregonJazz
Mi Chinita6:58OregonVanguard Visionaries – OregonJazz
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #5 In D – 1. Preludio: Moderato 10:50 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 3
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #5 In D – 2. Scherzo: Presto Misterioso 4:27 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #5 In D – 3. Romanza: Lento 13:06 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #5 In D – 4. Passacaglia: Moderator 9:24 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #6 In E Minor – 1. Allegro 7:41 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #6 In E Minor – 2. Moderato 9:51 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #6 In E Minor – 3. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace 5:50 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony #6 In E Minor – 4. Epilogue: Moderato 10:33 Leonard Slatkin: Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus Vaughan Williams: Symphonies [Disc 4] Classical 1
Respect 2:25 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 5
Baby I Love You 2:44 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 3
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) 2:52 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 7
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man 3:15 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 7
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 2:45 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 7
(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone 2:26 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 7
Think 2:19 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 6
See Saw 2:46 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 5
The House That Jack Built 2:23 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 3
I Say A Little Prayer 3:36 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 2
The Weight 2:55 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 2
Eleanor Rigby 2:38 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 2
Share Your Love With Me 3:21 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 2
Call Me 3:56 Aretha Franklin The Very Best R&B 2
Take It Easy 3:32 The Eagles The Very Best Of The Eagles Rock 3
Witchy Woman 4:15 The Eagles The Very Best Of The Eagles Rock 1
Peaceful Easy Feeling 4:21 The Eagles The Very Best Of The Eagles Rock 1
Doolin Dalton 3:29 The Eagles The Very Best Of The Eagles Rock 1
Desperado3:35The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Tequila Sunrise2:55The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Best Of My Love4:36The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
James Dean3:40The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
I Can’t Tell You Why4:56The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Lyin’ Eyes6:24The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Take It To The Limit4:49The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
One Of These Nights4:53The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Hotel California6:30The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
New Kid In Town5:04The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Life In The Fast Lane4:47The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Heartache Tonight4:26The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
The Long Run3:45The EaglesThe Very Best Of The EaglesRock
Le Quattro Stagioni. Four Concertos for Violin and String Or3:14Pavel SporclVivaldi : Four Seasons, Bach : Concerto for Two Violins and Classical
Schuman: Piano Cto In A Min Op 54 – Allegro Affetuoso14:52Walter GiesekingWalter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano ConcertosClassical
Schuman: Piano Cto In A Min Op 54 – Intermezzo: Andantino Grazioso5:23Walter GiesekingWalter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano ConcertosClassical
Schuman: Piano Cto In A Min Op 54 – Allegro Vivace10:10Walter GiesekingWalter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano ConcertosClassical
Franck: Symphonic Variations For Piano & Orchestra 15:10 Walter Gieseking Walter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano Concertos Classical 1
Grieg: Piano Cto In A Min Op 16 – Allegro Molto Moderato 11:14 Walter Gieseking Walter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano Concertos Classical 1
Grieg: Piano Cto In A Min Op 16 – Adagio 5:19 Walter Gieseking Walter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano Concertos Classical 1
Grieg: Piano Cto In A Min Op 16 – Allegromoterato Molto E Marcato9:07Walter GiesekingWalter Gieseking: Schumann, Franck, Grieg Piano ConcertosClassical
Lots Of Drops Of Brandy3:44The ChieftainsWater From The WellWorld
Jack Of All Trades2:25The ChieftainsWater From The WellWorld
Within A Mile Of Dublin/The Old Blackthorn2:47The ChieftainsWater From The WellWorld
Waves of Light 1:12:09 Jonathan Goldman Waves of Light New Age 1
The Party’s Over – Paranoids3:15Various ArtistsWest Of Eden: The California CollectionRock
Say Hello – Pool Party3:02Various ArtistsWest Of Eden: The California CollectionRock
My Little Red Book – The Rubinoos2:42Various ArtistsWest Of Eden: The California CollectionRock
I Fell In Love With A Lying Stripper – ¡Carlos!3:25Various ArtistsWest Of Eden: The California CollectionRock
Something On Your Mind – The Well Wishers3:36Various ArtistsWest Of Eden: The California CollectionRock
Knock Yourself Out7:12Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Back On The Streets Again5:53Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Sparkling In The Sand9:03Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
This Time It’s Real2:53Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Below Us, All The City Lights4:17Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Can’t You See (You Doin’ Me Wrong)2:57Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Squib Cakes7:39Tower Of PowerWhat Is Hip (Disc 1)R&B
Harp & Oboe 6:00 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Third Eye 6:42 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Sun Salutation 7:35 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Breathe 7:59 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Pranayama 6:16 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Golden Pond 5:43 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Peace On Earth 6:27 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
Awakening 6:15 Music-Themes Yoga New Age 1
The Poodle Lecture5:02Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Dirty Love2:40Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Magic Fingers2:21Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Honey, Don’t You Want A Man Like Me4:02Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Father O’Blivion0:04Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Is That Guy Kidding Or What4:03Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
I’m So Cute1:39Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
White Person2:07Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Lonely Person Devices3:14Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Ms. Pinky2:00Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Shove It Right In6:46Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Wind Up Working In A Gas Station2:32Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Make A Sex Noise3:09Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Tracy Is A Snob3:54Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
I Have Been In You5:05Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Emperor Of Ohio1:32Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1)Alternative & Punk
Dinah-Moe Humm 3:16 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1) Alternative & Punk 1
He’s So Gay 2:34 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1) Alternative & Punk 1
Camarillo Brillo 3:10 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 1) Alternative & Punk 1
The Illinois Enema Bandit 8:05 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1
Thirteen 6:09 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1
Lobster Girl 2:21 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1
Black Napkins 5:22 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1
We’re Turning Again 4:57 Frank Zappa You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2) Alternative & Punk 1
Alien Orifice4:16Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Catholic Girls4:04Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Crew Slut5:34Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Tryin’ To Grow A Chin3:33Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance3:47Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Lisa’s Life Story3:06Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Lonesome Cowboy Nando5:15Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
200 Motels Finale3:43Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
Strictly Genteel6:57Frank ZappaYou Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (Disc 2)Alternative & Punk
プルリサラン4:07チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
ヘフ(巡り会い)4:42チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
アルムダウンナレクッチヤ3:39チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
タンシン3:52チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
キップンウリサラヌン4:46チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
クデヌンモリシドイダ4:06チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
モルリョッコピルテミョン4:01チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
クデエゲムスンマルルハルッカ3:37チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
エス3:34チェ・ソンスチェ・ソンス Golden BestPop
아름다운강산8:08신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
미인3:05신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
저무는바닷가4:39신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
떠나야할그사람5:09신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
너만보면4:59신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
힛트곡메들리13:28신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
커피한잔5:25신중현과뮤직파워아름다운강산 / 미인Rock
회상4:04정태춘, 박은옥정태춘ㆍ박은옥발췌곡집 1Pop
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密会 3:20 チェ ユ ナ 密会 World 2
運命 3:46 チェ ユ ナ 密会 World 2
三心3:25チェ ユ ナ密会World
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後悔4:04チェ ユ ナ密会World
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金剛手菩薩心咒(唱頌版)12:39藏音快樂頌系列 4歡喜金剛心Unclassifiable
金剛薩埵心咒(唱頌版)12:05藏音快樂頌系列 4歡喜金剛心Unclassifiable
金剛薩埵心咒(演奏版)12:03藏音快樂頌系列 4歡喜金剛心Unclassifiable
Mary Ann 2:10 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Shame And Scandal 2:25 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Beautiful Barbados 2:40 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Day-O 2:52 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
The Lion Sleeps Tonight 3:04 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
El Condor Pasa 3:37 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Tourists Take Over 3:01 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Take Me Take Me 2:58 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Sloop John B 3:17 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Steel Band Muisc 4:24 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Matilda 2:31 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
In The Caribbean 2:06 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
La Belle Cite 3:21 Barbados Steel Drums 0341. Steel Band Songs Blues 1
Keep On Looking2:50Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings100 Days, 100 NightsHip-Hop
Answer Me4:08Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings100 Days, 100 NightsHip-Hop
1000 Kilometers – Paul McCandless10:30Oregon1000 KilometersJazz
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)
Jake Cosmos Aller Presents 2019 the year in Movies
Jake’s Cosmos Aller’s Movies Watched During 2019.
Like my book list, I have been keeping a list of movies and TV shows watched during the year. Here is my list of movies watched during 2019.
I saw movies/TV shows during the year. Many of them I saw while flying to and from Asia four times this year – I almost always watch five movies enroute as I can’t sleep very well on planes.
cosmos’s 2019 play listWould love to see what my friends have watched. For the first time I tried to grade the movie/show. I have been binge watching a lot of shows as well as movies of course. Most were English movies, but I did see some Korean movies as well.
For 2019 I hope to see a lot more movies as a megabox theater opened about one mile from my house. It has a great shabu shabu restaurant, will soon have a sauna and a bowling ally. I can see spending a lot of time there! saw Bohemian Rhapsody there on Christmas day.
hope to hear from you regarding your own favorite movies of the year.
Purpose: Movie List
Keep daily track of all movies watched, including title, main actors, and plot synopsis and mini review, include in daily journal and copy to Movie list. Use in conjunction with book read list to keep track of books and movies read and watched. Also plays attended and TV movie events.
Also note when something is well written or produced and lesions I can learn for my own writing projects, and continue to write fan boy stories and alternative endings.. This year watch more Korean movies and TV and occasional Spanish or Bollywood movies as well as usual mix of SF, Thrillers, and comedies. Diversity the list a bit.
best movies of the year for me were
Bird Box
Godzilla Kings of the Monsters
Godzilla
Avengers Ultra
Avengers End Game
Avengers infinity End
SPider Man Coming Home
A Wrinkle in Time 2018 version
Aquarman
Justice League
best series for me were
Night flyer series b
War of the Worlds
Kim’s connivence Netflix Korean drama
another life Netflix drama
stranger things season three
discover season two
Enterprise -finished series
rim of the world Netflix original drama
colony Netflix
I Island Netflix
THE AO
List
A series of unfortunate Events (Nextfix)
Aquarman (theater) B
49 Days Korean Movie B
Dr Who Shada YS B
Alien Code YS B
Doomsday Device YS B
Genesis YS D
Point B YS B
Memories of Alhambra Korean SF series B
Glass in theater C
Winter Kills YS C -disappointing despite great cast
Heist 2001 version YS B
Curse of the Golden Flower YS
HG Wells Men in The Moon YS A-1
The Rift YS
Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader YS B
Operation Chromite YS B
The Assassin YS C did not finish
Chuyang YS B
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo YS A
Eraser b
The Snows of Kilimanjaraco c
Justice League b
The Ghost and the Darkness b
The A Team b
Jack Reacher, Never Go Back b
Night flyer series b
Cold Pursuit
War of the Worlds
Agatha Christie – And then there were None
Kungfu Yoga
Kim’s connivence Netflix Korean drama
another life Netflix drama
stranger things season three
discover season two
Enterprise -finished series
rim of the world Netflix original drama
colony Netflix
I Island Netflix
THE AO
Better Call Saul
Bird Box
Godzilla Kings of the Monsters
Godzilla
Avengers Ultron
Avengers End Game
Avengers infinity End
SPider Man Coming Home
BatMan First Knight Arises
Sense Netflix Series
Venom neflix
A Wrinkle in Time 2018 version
A wrinkle in time 2003 version (earlier)
A wrinkle in Time OSF 2016
Lost In Space season two
Jurasic Park Lost Lost World
JokerJoker (2019 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Joker
Joker (2019 film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Todd Phillips
Produced by
Todd Phillips
Bradley Cooper
Emma Tillinger Koskoff
Written by
Todd Phillips
Scott Silver
Based on Characters
by DC Comics
Starring Joaquin Phoenix
Music by Hildur Guðnadóttir
Cinematography Lawrence Sher
Edited by Jeff Groth
Production
companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
DC Films
Joint Effort
Bron Creative
Village Roadshow Pictures[1]
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
August 31, 2019 (Venice)
October 4, 2019 (United States)
Running time
122 minutes[2]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $55–70 million[3][4]
Box office $1.063 billion[5][6]
Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker. Joker provides a possible origin story for the character; set in 1981, it follows Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian whose descent into insanity and nihilism inspires a violent counter-cultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying Gotham City. Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron appear in supporting roles. Joker was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, and Joint Effort, in association with Bron Creative and Village Roadshow Pictures, and distributed by Warner Bros.Phillips conceived Joker in 2016 and wrote the script with Silver throughout 2017. The two were inspired by 1970s character studies and the films of Martin Scorsese (particularly Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy), who was initially attached to the project as a producer. The graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) was the basis for the premise, but Phillips and Silver otherwise did not look to specific comics for inspiration. Phoenix became attached in February 2018 and was cast that July, while the majority of the cast signed on by August. Principal photography took place in New York City, Jersey City, and Newark, from September to December 2018. Joker is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, due to its violent and disturbing content.
Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it won the Golden Lion, and was released in the United States on October 4, 2019. The film polarized critics; while Phoenix’s performance, Phillips’ direction, musical score, cinematography and production values were praised, the dark tone, portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided responses.[7] Joker also generated concerns of inspiring real-world violence; the movie theater where the 2012 Aurora, Colorado mass shooting occurred during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises refused to show it. Despite this, the film became a major box office success, setting records for an October release. Joker has grossed over $1 billion, making it the first R-rated film to pass the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office, the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2019, and the 33rd-highest-grossing film of all time. At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, the film received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
3.1 Development
3.2 Writing
3.3 Pre-production
3.4 Filming
3.5 Post-production
4 Marketing
5 Release
5.1 Theatrical
5.1.1 Security concerns
5.2 Home media
6 Reception
6.1 Box office
6.2 Critical response
6.3 Industry response
6.4 Social commentary
6.5 Accolades
7 Future
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links
Plot
In 1981, party clown, social outsider and aspiring stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck lives with his mother, Penny, in Gotham City. Gotham’s class society is rife with crime and unemployment, leaving segments of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Arthur suffers from a medical disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times, and depends on social services for medication. After a gang of delinquents attacks Arthur in an alley, his co-worker, Randall, gives him a gun for protection. Arthur meets his neighbor, single mother Sophie Dumond, and invites her to his upcoming stand-up comedy show at a nightclub.
While entertaining at a children’s hospital, Arthur’s gun falls out of his pocket. Randall lies that Arthur bought the gun himself and Arthur is fired by his agent. On the subway, still in his clown makeup, Arthur is beaten by three drunken Wayne Enterprises businessmen who were harassing a female passenger; he shoots two in self-defense and executes the third. The murders are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who labels those envious of more successful people as “clowns”. Demonstrations against Gotham’s rich begin, with protesters donning clown masks in Arthur’s image. Funding cuts shutter the social service program, leaving Arthur without medication.
Arthur has difficulty delivering jokes for his comedy routine, but nevertheless, receives a standing ovation from the audience. After a date with Sophie, Arthur returns home and intercepts a letter written by Penny to Thomas Wayne, alleging that he is Thomas’s illegitimate son, and immediately berates his mother for hiding the truth. At Wayne Manor, Arthur talks to Thomas’s young son, Bruce, but flees after a scuffle with butler Alfred Pennyworth. Following a visit from two Gotham City Police Department detectives investigating Arthur’s involvement in the train murders, Penny suffers a stroke and is hospitalized. While Arthur stays with his mother in an emergency room, his childhood idol, talk show host Murray Franklin, mocks Arthur on TV by showing clips from the comedy routine on his show.
At a public event, Arthur confronts Thomas, who tells him that Penny is delusional and not his biological mother, and Arthur begins to laugh before getting punched by Thomas. In denial, Arthur visits Arkham State Hospital and steals Penny’s case file; the file says Penny adopted Arthur as a baby and allowed her abusive boyfriend to harm them both. However, Penny alleged that Thomas used his influence to fabricate the adoption and commit her to the asylum to hide their affair. Distraught, Arthur returns home and enters Sophie’s apartment unannounced. Frightened, Sophie tells him to leave; their previous encounters were apparently delusions. The following day, Arthur goes to the hospital and kills Penny, suffocating her with a pillow.
Arthur is invited to appear on Murray’s show due to the unexpected popularity of his comedy routine’s clips. As he prepares, Arthur is visited by Randall and fellow ex-colleague Gary. Arthur murders Randall for revenge, but leaves Gary unharmed for treating him well in the past. En route to the studio, Arthur is pursued by the two detectives onto a train filled with some of the clown protesters. One detective accidentally shoots a protester and incites a riot, allowing Arthur to escape.
Before the show goes live, Arthur requests that Murray introduce him as Joker, a reference to Murray’s previous mockery. Arthur walks out to applause, but the mood quickly changes when he tells morbid jokes, confesses to be the killer from the train murders, and rants about how society abandons and harasses the disenfranchised. Arthur then fatally shoots Murray and is arrested as riots break out across all of Gotham. One rioter corners the Wayne family in an alley and murders Thomas and his wife Martha, sparing Bruce.[a] Arthur watches the city go up in chaos from the window of the police car and laughs in satisfaction. Rioters in an ambulance crash into the police car and free Arthur; he dances before the crowd and smears the blood on his face into a smile. At Arkham, Arthur laughs to himself about a joke and tells his psychiatrist she would not understand it. He runs from orderlies, leaving a trail of bloodied footprints.
Cast
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck / Joker:
A mentally ill, impoverished stand-up comedian disregarded by society,[9] whose history of abuse causes him to become a nihilistic criminal.[10] Phoenix had been interested in a low-budget “character study” of a comic book character, and said the film “feels unique, it is its own world in some ways, and maybe […] It might as well be the thing that scares you the most.”[11] Phoenix lost 52 pounds (24 kg) in preparation,[12][13] and based his laugh on “videos of people suffering from pathological laughter.”[14] He also sought to portray a character who audiences could not identify with and did not look to previous Joker actors for inspiration; instead, he read a book about political assassinations so he could understand killers and motivations.[10] Phoenix believes that Fleck is the actual Joker;[15] however, director Todd Phillips said that he intentionally left it ambiguous as to whether Arthur becomes the actual Joker as seen in traditional Batman stories or inspires a separate character.[16]
Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin:[17]
A talk show host who plays a role in Arthur’s downfall.[18] De Niro said his role in Joker pays homage to his character from The King of Comedy (1983), Rupert Pupkin, who is a comedian obsessed with a talk-show host.[17]
Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond:[19]
A cynical single mother and Arthur’s love interest.[19][20] Beetz, a “huge fan” of Phoenix, said that it was “an honor” to co-star with him,[21] and that she learned a lot working with him on set.[22]
Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck: Arthur’s mentally and physically ill mother,[23] who formerly worked for Thomas Wayne.[24] Hannah Gross portrays a young Penny.[25]
Additionally, Brett Cullen plays Thomas Wayne, a billionaire philanthropist running for mayor of Gotham.[26] Unlike in the comics, Thomas plays a role in the Joker’s origins and is less sympathetic than traditional incarnations.[27] Alec Baldwin was initially cast in the role but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[28][29] Douglas Hodge plays Alfred Pennyworth, the butler and caretaker of the Wayne family,[30] and Dante Pereira-Olson plays Bruce Wayne, Thomas’s son, who becomes the Joker’s archenemy Batman as an adult.[31][32]
Additional cast members include: Glenn Fleshler and Leigh Gill as Randall and Gary, Arthur’s clown co-workers;[33][34] Bill Camp and Shea Whigham as two detectives in the Gotham City Police Department;[35] Marc Maron as Gene Ufland, a producer on Franklin’s show;[36][37] Josh Pais as Hoyt Vaughn, Arthur’s agent;[33][38] Brian Tyree Henry as a clerk at Arkham State Hospital;[39] Ben Warheit as a Wall Street banker who gets murdered by Arthur on a subway platform;[40] Gary Gulman as a comedian who performs his act at the restaurant before Arthur does;[41] and Bryan Callen as Javier, a co-worker of Arthur.[42] Justin Theroux has an uncredited cameo as a celebrity guest on Franklin’s show.[43]
Production
Development
Joker director Todd Phillips in 2016
Between 2014 and 2015, Joaquin Phoenix expressed interest in acting in a low-budget “character study” type of film about a comic book villain, like the DC Comics character Joker.[11] Phoenix had previously declined to act in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because he would have been required to play the roles, such as the Hulk and Doctor Strange, in multiple films.[44] He did not believe his idea for a film should cover the Joker, as he thought the character had been depicted in a similar way before, and tried to think of a different one. Phoenix’s agent suggested setting up a meeting with Warner Bros., but he declined.[11] Similarly, Todd Phillips had been offered to direct comic-based films a number of times, but declined because he thought they were “loud” and did not interest him. According to Phillips, Joker was created from his idea to create a different, more grounded comic book film.[12] He was attracted to the Joker because he did not think there was a definitive portrayal of the character, which he knew would provide considerable creative freedom.[16]
Phillips pitched the idea for Joker to Warner Bros. after his film War Dogs premiered in August 2016.[12] Prior to War Dogs, Phillips was mostly known for his comedy films, such as Road Trip (2000), Old School (2003), and The Hangover (2009); War Dogs marked a venture into more unsettling territory.[45] During the premiere, Phillips realized “War Dogs wasn’t going to set the world on fire and I was thinking, ‘What do people really want to see?’”[12] He proposed that DC Films differentiate its slate from the competing Marvel Studios’ by producing low-budget, standalone films.[46][47] After the successful release of Wonder Woman (2017), DC Films decided to deemphasize the shared nature of its DC-based film franchise, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).[48] In August 2017, Warner Bros. and DC Films revealed plans for the film, with Phillips directing and co-writing with Scott Silver, and Martin Scorsese set to co-produce with Phillips.[49]
According to Kim Masters and Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter, Jared Leto, who portrayed the Joker in the DCEU, was displeased by the existence of a project separate from his interpretation.[50][51] In October 2019, Masters reported that Leto “felt ‘alienated and upset’” when he learned that Warner Bros.—which had promised him a standalone DCEU Joker film—let Phillips proceed with Joker, going as far as to ask his music manager Irving Azoff to get the project canceled. Masters added that Leto’s irritation was what caused him to end his association with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), as he believed “his agents should have told him about the Phillips project earlier and fought harder for his version of Joker.” However, sources associated with Leto deny that he attempted to get Joker canceled and left CAA because of it.[51]
Warner Bros. pushed for Phillips to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the Joker,[45] hoping to use his frequent collaborator Scorsese’s involvement to attract him.[50] However, Phillips said that Phoenix was the only actor he considered,[52] and that he and Silver wrote the script with Phoenix in mind, “The goal was never to introduce Joaquin Phoenix into the comic book movie universe. The goal was to introduce comic book movies into the Joaquin Phoenix universe.”[53] Phoenix said when he learned of the film, he became excited because it was the kind he was looking to make, describing it as unique and stating it did not feel like a typical “studio movie.”[11] It took him some time to commit to the role, as it intimidated him and he said “oftentimes, in these movies, we have these simplified, reductive archetypes, and that allows for the audience to be distant from the character, just like we would do in real life, where it’s easy to label somebody as evil, and therefore say, ‘Well, I’m not that.’”[53]
Writing
It was a yearlong process from when we finished the script just to get the new people on board with this vision, because I pitched it to an entirely different team than made it. There were emails about: ‘You realize we sell Joker pajamas at Target.’ There were a zillion hurdles, and you just sort of had to navigate those one at a time […] At the time, I would curse them in my head every day. But then I have to put it in perspective and go, ‘They’re pretty bold that they did this.’
– Todd Phillips[12]
Phillips and Silver wrote Joker throughout 2017, and the writing process took about a year.[54] According to producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, it took some time to get approval for the script from Warner Bros., partly because of concerns over the content. Similarly, Phillips commented that there were “a zillion hurdles” during the year-long writing process due to the visibility of the character.[12] Phillips said that while the script’s themes may reflect modern society, the film was not intended to be political.[54] While the Joker had appeared in several films before, Phillips thought it was possible to produce a new story featuring the character. “It’s just another interpretation, like people do interpretations of Macbeth,” he told The New York Times.[52]
The script draws inspiration from Scorsese films such as Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The King of Comedy (1983),[49][45] as well as Phillips’ Hangover Trilogy.[55] Other films Phillips has cited as inspiration include character studies released in the 1970s—such as Serpico (1973) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)—the silent film The Man Who Laughs (1928), and several musicals. Phillips said that aside from the tone, he did not consider Joker that different from his previous work, such as his Hangover films.[54] While the film’s premise was inspired by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (1988), which depicts the Joker as a failed stand-up comedian,[12] Phillips said it does not “follow anything from the comic books… That’s what was interesting to me. We’re not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker.”[56] Phillips later clarified that he meant they did not look to a specific comic for inspiration, but rather “picked and chose what we liked” from the character’s history.[57]
Phillips and Silver found the most common Joker origin story, in which the character is disfigured after falling into a vat of acid, too unrealistic.[12] Instead, they used certain elements of the Joker lore to produce an original story,[58] which Phillips wanted to feel as authentic as possible.[12] Because the Joker does not have a definitive origin story in the comics, Phillips and Silver were given considerable creative freedom and “pushed each other every day to come up with something totally insane.”[54] However, they did try to retain the ambiguous “multiple choice” nature of the Joker’s past by positioning the character as an unreliable narrator—with entire storylines simply being his delusions[16]—and left what mental illnesses he suffers from unclear.[45] As such, Phillips said the entire film is open to interpretation.[16] One segment that has been confirmed to be real, according to Phillips in an interview, was Arthur’s appearance on Murray Franklin’s show, as the original intention was to cut to Sophie who is watching him on her TV just to show the audience she is still alive, but it was decided it would disrupt the narrative which was to see everything from Arthur’s point of view.[59]
Pre-production
Following the disappointing critical and financial performance of Justice League (2017), in January 2018 Walter Hamada replaced Jon Berg as the head of DC-based film production at Warner Bros.[60] Hamada sorted through the various DC films in development, canceling some while advancing work on others; the Joker film was set to begin filming in late 2018 with a small budget of $55 million.[3] Masters reported that Warner Bros. was reluctant to let Joker move forward, and gave it a small budget in an effort to dissuade Phillips.[51] By June, Robert De Niro was under consideration for a supporting role in the film.[61] The deal with Phoenix was finalized in July 2018,[62] after four months of persuasion from Phillips.[12] Immediately afterwards,[62] Warner Bros. officially green-lit the film,[63] titled it Joker, and gave it an October 4, 2019, release date.[64] Warner Bros. described the film as “an exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”[65]
Scorsese’s longtime associate Koskoff joined to produce,[66][67] although Scorsese left his producing duties due to other obligations.[66] Scorsese considered serving as an executive producer, but was preoccupied with his film The Irishman.[12] It was also confirmed that the film would have no effect on Leto’s Joker[68] and would be the first in a new series of DC films unrelated to the DCEU.[3] In July, Zazie Beetz was cast in a supporting role,[20] and De Niro entered negotiations in August.[18][69] Frances McDormand declined an offer to portray the mother of the Joker, and Frances Conroy was cast.[70][23] At the end of July, Marc Maron, who had recently finished filming the third season of the web television series GLOW,[37] and Bryan Callen joined the cast.[36][71] Alec Baldwin was cast as Thomas Wayne on August 27, but dropped out two days later due to scheduling conflicts.[28]
Filming
A corrugated silver metal subway train sits with its doors open in a station. Its rollsign reads “0 Local / To Old Gotham all times / Downtown & Tricorner”.
A New York City Subway C train with a rollsign for the fictional 0 train left over from filming for Joker
Principal photography commenced in September 2018 in New York City,[b] under the working title Romeo.[74] Shortly after filming began, De Niro, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Josh Pais, and Douglas Hodge were announced to have joined the film, with Cullen replacing Baldwin.[33][75] Bradley Cooper joined the film as a producer,[76] and the director of photography was Lawrence Sher, both of whom Phillips had previously collaborated with.[33] On September 22, a scene depicting a violent protest filmed at the Church Avenue station in Kensington, Brooklyn,[77] although the station was modified to look like the Bedford Park Boulevard station in the Bronx.[78] Filming of violent scenes also took place at the abandoned lower platform of the Ninth Avenue station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.[79]
According to Beetz, Phillips rewrote the entire script during production; because Phoenix lost so much weight for the film, there would not be an opportunity for reshoots. She recalled, “we would go into Todd’s trailer and write the scene for the night and then do it. During hair and makeup we’d memorize those lines and then do them and then we’d reshoot that three weeks later.”[80] Phillips recalled Phoenix sometimes walked off-set during filming because he lost self-control and needed to compose himself—to the confusion of other actors, who felt they had done something wrong. De Niro was one of the few Phoenix never walked out on, and De Niro said he was “very intense in what he was doing, as it should be, as he should be.”[81]
Filming in Jersey City started on September 30 and shut down Newark Avenue, while filming in November, starting on November 9, shut down Kennedy Boulevard. Filming in Newark began on October 13 and lasted until October 16.[74] Shortly before the Newark filming, SAG-AFTRA received a complaint that extras were locked in subway cars for more than three hours during filming in Brooklyn, a break violation. However, the issue was quickly resolved after a representative visited the set.[82] That month, Dante Pereira-Olson joined the cast as a young Bruce Wayne.[30] Whigham said towards the end of October the film was in “the middle” of production, adding that it was an “intense” and “incredible” experience.[35] By mid-November, filming had moved back to New York.[83] Filming wrapped on December 3, 2018,[84] with Phillips posting a picture on his Instagram feed later in the month to commemorate the occasion.[85]
Post-production
Phillips confirmed he was in the process of editing Joker in March 2019.[86] At CinemaCon the following month, he stated the film was “still taking shape” and was difficult to discuss, as he hoped to maintain secrecy.[87] Phillips also stated that most reports surrounding the film were inaccurate, which he felt was because it is “an origin story about a character that doesn’t have a definitive origin.”[88] Brian Tyree Henry was also confirmed to have a role in the film.[38] The visual effects were provided by Scanline VFX and Shade VFX and supervised by Matthew Giampa and Bryan Godwin, with Erwin Rivera serving as the overall supervisor.[89]
In August 2018, Hildur Guðnadóttir was hired to compose the film’s score.[90] Guðnadóttir began writing music after reading the script and meeting with Phillips, who “had a lot of strong ideas” about how he thought the score should sound. She worked on the Joker score alongside the score for the drama miniseries Chernobyl; Guðnadóttir said switching between the two was challenging because the scores were so different.[91] Additionally, the film features the songs “That’s Life”, “Send In the Clowns”, and “Rock and Roll Part 2”.[45][92] The use of “Rock and Roll Part 2” generated controversy when it was reported that its singer Gary Glitter (a convicted sex offender) would receive royalties, but it was later confirmed he would not.[92] The score was released on October 2, 2019 by WaterTower Music.[93]
The film’s final budget was $55–70 million, considered by The Hollywood Reporter “a fraction” of the cost of a typical comic book-based film.[3][4] In comparison, the previous villain-centric DC film, Suicide Squad (2016), cost $175 million.[45] $25 million of Joker’s budget was covered by the Toronto-based financing company Creative Wealth Media, while Village Roadshow Pictures and Bron Studios each contributed to 25% of it.[94][4] Joker was also the first live-action theatrical film in the Batman film franchise to receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America, due to “strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language, and brief sexual images.”[95] In the United Kingdom, the BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate.[96]
Marketing
Phillips has promoted the film by posting set photos on his Instagram feed.[97] On September 21, 2018, he released test footage of Phoenix in-costume as the Joker, with “Laughing” by The Guess Who accompanying the footage.[98] At CinemaCon on April 2, 2019, Phillips unveiled the first trailer for the film,[38] which was released online the following day.[99] The trailer, prominently featuring the song “Smile” performed by Jimmy Durante, generated positive responses, with some commentators comparing it to Taxi Driver and Requiem for a Dream and praising Phoenix’s performance.[100][101] Writers described the trailer as dark and gritty,[102] with ComicBook.com’s Jenna Anderson feeling it appeared more like a psychological thriller than a comic book film.[38] Mark Hamill, who has voiced the Joker since the 1992 cartoon Batman: The Animated Series, expressed enthusiasm in a Twitter post.[103][104] Conversely, io9’s Germain Lussier said the trailer revealed too little and that it was too similar to photos Phillips posted on Instagram. While he still believed it exhibited potential, Lussier overall thought the trailer was not “a home run.”[105] The trailer received over eight million views in the first few hours of release.[106]
On August 25, 2019, Phillips released six brief teasers that contained flashes of writing, revealing the second trailer would be released on August 28.[107] Filmmaker Kevin Smith commended the trailer, stating he thought the film “would still work even if [DC Comics] didn’t exist” and praising its uniqueness.[108] Overall, Deadline Hollywood estimated that Warner Bros. spent $120 million on promotion and advertisements.[4]
Release
Theatrical
Joaquin Phoenix (left) at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, where Joker premiered.
Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation and won the Golden Lion award.[109][110] It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2019.[111] The film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 4, 2019 in the United States, and a day earlier in Australia and several other international markets.[112][113]
Security concerns
On September 18, 2019, the United States Army distributed an email warning service members of potential violence at theaters screening the film and noting the Joker character’s popularity among the incel community. A separate memo revealed the Army received “credible” information from Texas law enforcement “regarding the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the release.”[114] However, according to Deadline Hollywood, the FBI and the United States Department of Homeland Security found no credible threats surrounding the release of the film.[115]
In an interview with TheWrap, Phillips expressed surprise at the backlash, stating he thought “it’s because outrage is a commodity” and calling critics of the film “far-left”.[116] Phoenix walked out of an interview by The Telegraph when asked if the film could inspire mass shooters. He later returned to finish the interview, but did not answer the question.[117] Following this, journalists were disinvited from the premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre, with only photographers being allowed to interact with the filmmakers and cast on the carpet. In a statement to Variety, Warner Bros. said that “A lot has been said about Joker, and we just feel it’s time for people to see the film.”[118][119]
The film did not play at the Aurora, Colorado movie theater where the 2012 mass shooting occurred during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. Three families of victims, as well as the mother of a witness, signed a letter to Warner Bros. with the request.[120] Additionally, Landmark Theaters has prohibited moviegoers from wearing Joker costumes during its run, while the Los Angeles and New York City Police Departments increased police visibility at area theaters, though they did not receive “any specific threat.”[121][24]
Home media
Joker was released on Digital HD on December 17, 2019,[122] and will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on January 7, 2020.[123] It will be available on HBO Max when it launches in 2020.[124]
Reception
Box office
As of December 23, 2019, Joker has grossed $333.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $729.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.063 billion.[5][6] It is the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2019 and the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time,[125] as well as the first R-rated film to pass the billion-dollar mark.[126] In terms of budget-to-gross ratio, Joker is also the most profitable film based on a comic book,[127] due to its small budget and little decline in week-to-week grosses during its theatrical run.[128] Deadline Hollywood estimated it would turn a profit of about $464 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues.[129]
In August 2019, BoxOffice magazine analyst Shawn Robbins wrote that he expected Joker to gross $60–90 million during its opening weekend in North America.[130] Following the film’s premiere, BoxOffice predicted Joker could open to $70–95 million domestically.[131] Later updating to $85–105 million, Robbins suggested it could become the first October release to open to over $100 million, and surpass the record set by Venom in 2018.[132] However, Comscore’s senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian thought the film would open closer to $50 million because it is not a “typical comic-book movie.”[133] Three weeks prior to its release, official industry tracking projected the film would debut to $65–80 million, with some estimates going as high as $90 million.[134] The week of its release, Atom Tickets announced pre-sale totals for the film were outpacing those of Venom and It Chapter Two ($91.1 million debut), and that Joker was its second-bestselling R-rated film of 2019 behind John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.[135]
Joker opened in 4,374 theaters in North America and made $39.9 million on its first day, including $13.3 million from Thursday night previews, besting Venom’s respective October records.[4] It went on to break Venom’s record for the biggest October opening, finishing the weekend with a domestic total of $96.2 million. The film set career records for Phoenix, Phillips, and De Niro, and was the fourth-largest debut for an R-rated film of all-time.[136] It was also Warner Bros.’ biggest domestic opening in two years.[137] In its second weekend the film fell just 41.8% to $55.9 million, remaining in first and marking the best second-weekend October total (besting Gravity’s $43.1 million in 2013).[138] It made $29.2 million in its third weekend and $19.2 million in its fourth, finishing second behind Maleficent: Mistress of Evil both times.[139][140]
Worldwide, the film was projected to debut to around $155 million, including $75 million from 73 overseas territories.[141] It made $5.4 million from four countries on its first day and $18.7 million from 47 in its second, for a two-day total of $24.6 million. It went on to greatly exceed expectations, making $140.5 million from overseas territories and a total $234 million worldwide. Its largest markets were South Korea (a Warner Bros. record $16.3 million), the United Kingdom ($14.8 million), Mexico ($13.1 million) and Japan ($7 million).[142] With this, it became the biggest worldwide opening for an October film.[137] During its second weekend, the film made an additional $125.7 million worldwide,[143] and $77.9 million in its third.[144] By this point, industry analysts expected Joker to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with some suggesting that it could finish its run with over $1 billion.[145] The film became the highest-grossing R-rated film in its fourth weekend, during which it grossed $47.8 million overseas,[146] and passed the billion-dollar mark about a month into its theatrical release.[126]
Critical response
Joaquin Phoenix (pictured in 2018) received universal critical acclaim for his performance as the Joker, a performance cited as one of the best of his career.[147]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 69% based on 526 reviews, with an average rating of 7.26/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Joker gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star – and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.”[148] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100 based on 58 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”[149] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an overall positive score of 84% (with an average 4 out of 5 stars) and a 60% “definite recommend.”[4]
Mark Kermode of The Observer rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating that, “Joker has an ace card in the form of Joaquin Phoenix’s mesmerisingly physical portrayal of a man who would be king.”[150] Writing for IGN, Jim Vejvoda gave Joker a perfect score, writing the film “would work just as well as an engrossing character study without any of its DC Comics trappings; that it just so happens to be a brilliant Batman-universe movie is icing on the Batfan cake.” He found it a powerful and unsettling allegory of contemporary neglect and violence, and described Phoenix’s performance as the Joker as engrossing and “Oscar-worthy.”[151] Similarly, Xan Brooks of The Observer—who also gave the film a perfect score—called it “gloriously daring and explosive” and appreciated how Phillips used elements from Scorsese films to create an original story.[152] Variety’s Owen Gleiberman wrote, “Phoenix is astonishing as a mentally ill geek who becomes the killer-clown Joker in Todd Phillips’ neo-Taxi Driver knockout: the rare comic-book movie that expresses what’s happening in the real world.”[153]
ComicBook.com’s Brandon Davis acclaimed Joker as a groundbreaking comic book adaptation that he found scarier than most 2019 horror films. Davis compared it favorably to the 2008 Batman film The Dark Knight, praised the cinematography and performances, and called it a film that needed to be seen to be believed.[154] Deadline Hollywood’s Pete Hammond believes the film redefines the Joker and is “impossible to shake off.” Hammond also praised the story and performances, and summarized the film as “a bravura piece of filmmaking that speaks to the world we are actually living in today in ways that few movies do.”[155] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said he was lost for words in describing Phoenix’s performance, calling the film “gut-wrenching” and “simply stupendous.”[156]
However, David Ehrlich of IndieWire was more mixed and gave the film a “C+.” He felt that while “Joker is the boldest and most exciting superhero movie since The Dark Knight,” it was “also incendiary, confused, and potentially toxic.” Ehrlich thought that the film would make DC fans happy and praised Phoenix’s performance, but criticized Phillips’ direction and the lack of originality.[157] A more critical review came from Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com, who gave the film two stars out of four. Though he praised the performances and thought the story worked, Kenny criticized the social commentary and Phillips’ direction, finding the film too derivative and believing its focus was “less in entertainment than in generating self-importance.”[158] In an analysis of the character Joker, Onmanorama’s Sajesh Mohan wrote that the movie was cliché-ridden—the only original part being Joaquin Phoenix’s acting. “The movie, with great pain and in detail, explains how Arthur Fleck turns into Joker dejected by the way the world treats him. Thanks to Phillips and Silver, Phoenix was able to bring out the king among the Jokers,” the analysis read.[159]
Time magazine’s Stephanie Zacharek, in a negative review, labeled Phoenix’s performance as over-the-top and felt that while Phillips tried to “[give] us a movie all about the emptiness of our culture… he’s just offering a prime example of it.” She argued the plot was nonexistent, “dark only in a stupidly adolescent way,” and “stuffed with phony philosophy.”[160] Meanwhile, NPR’s Glen Weldon thought the film lacked innovation and said its sympathetic take on the Joker was “wildly unconvincing and mundanely uninteresting.” Weldon also described Joker as trying too hard to deviate from the comics and, as a result, coming off as an imitation of films like Taxi Driver.[161] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it “the most disappointing film of the year.” While praising Phoenix’s performance and the first act, he criticized the film’s political plot developments and overall found it too derivative of various Scorsese films.[162]
Industry response
Joker generated positive responses from industry figures. DC Comics chief creative officer Jim Lee praised it as “intense, raw and soulful,” and said that it remained true to the character despite deviating from the source material.[147] Actor Mark Hamill, who has voiced the Joker in animation and video games, thought the film “brilliantly” reinvented the character and gave it “[two] thumbs up.”[163] Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore called Joker a “cinematic masterpiece” and said it was a “danger to society” if people did not see it.[164] Josh Brolin, who portrays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, found the film powerful: “To appreciate Joker I believe you have to have either gone through something traumatic in your lifetime (and I believe most of us have) or understand somewhere in your psyche what true compassion is.”[165] Actor Vincent D’Onofrio vocally praised Phoenix’s performance in the film on Twitter, stating that he “deserves recognition for this performance,” while actress Jessica Chastain agreed, replying, “it’s one of the greatest pieces of acting I’ve ever seen.”[166] Actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge also praised the film, stating: “I think the reason people got so uncomfortable is because it feels too true, too raw. I was watching it and thinking to myself, God, if this came out a year into Obama’s time in office, I don’t think we’d be feeling as worried about it”.[167]
Social commentary
Further information: Mental healthcare in the United States
Joker deals with the themes of mental illness and its effects.[168] Its depiction of the Joker has been described as reminiscent of those who commit mass shootings in the United States as well as members of the online incel community.[169][170] Vejvoda, Hammond, and The Guardian’s Christina Newland interpreted the film as a cautionary tale—society’s ignorance of those who are less fortunate will create a person like the Joker.[151][155][171] Stephen Kent, writing for The Washington Examiner, described Arthur Fleck as blending shared aspects of mass shooters, and interpreted its message as a reminder that society is riddled with men like the Joker.[169] Writing in People’s World, Chauncey K. Robinson said the film “walks a fine line between exploration and validation” of Joker’s character, and is “ultimately an in-your-face examination of a broken system that creates its own monsters.”[172]
Some writers have expressed concern that Joker’s sympathetic portrayal of a homicidal maniac could inspire real-world violence.[173][174] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair found the film was too sympathetic towards “white men who commit heinous crimes;” and that the social-politics ideologies represented in the film are “evils that are far more easily identifiable” to people “who shoot up schools and concerts and churches, who gun down the women and men they covet and envy, who let loose some spirit of anarchic animus upon the world—there’s almost a woebegone mythos placed on them in the search for answers.”[175] Jim Geraghty of National Review wrote he was “worried that a certain segment of America’s angry, paranoid, emotionally unstable young men will watch Joaquin Phoenix descending into madness and a desire to get back at society by hurting as many people as possible and exclaim, ‘finally, somebody understands me!’”[176] Contrarily, Michael Shindler, reviewing the film in Mere Orthodoxy, while agreeing that Joker depicts a sympathetic wish fulfillment fantasy, contends (drawing on insights from Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan) that it is for precisely that reason that the film will, if anything, preemptively quell real-world violence by rendering “the Flecks of the world into meek somnambulists.”[177]
British neurocriminologist Adrian Raine commented on Joker’s depiction: “For 42 years, I’ve studied the cause of crime and violence. And while watching this film, I thought, ‘Wow, what a revelation this was’. I need to buy this movie down the road, make excerpt clips of it to illustrate […] It is a great educational tool about the making of the murderer. That threw me.”[178] Psychiatrist Kamran Ahmed highlighted the factors in Arthur’s childhood such as parental abuse and loss, and family history of mental illness in the genesis of his condition.[179] American psychiatrist Imani Walker, who is known for her Bravo television series Married to Medicine Los Angeles and working with violent criminals with mental disorders, analyzed the Joker’s apparent mental disorders and circumstances, but also notes that Arthur was trying to get help before his downfall. She says of Arthur and others in poverty who have mental illness: “We as a society don’t even pretend that they’re real people. And that’s what this movie is about. He never had a chance.”[180]
During a Five Star Movement event in October 2019, Italian comedian and politician Beppe Grillo gave a speech wearing the Joker’s makeup.[181] References to the character were also found in anti-government protests worldwide.[182] During the 2019 Lebanese protests, a group of graffiti artists called Ashekm painted a mural of the Joker holding a Molotov cocktail, and it was also reported that there was a Joker facepaint station at the protests in Beirut.[182] In Los Ángeles, Chile, during the 2019 Chilean protests, the phrase “We are all clowns”, which is adopted by Gotham City protesters in the movie, was written at the foot of a statue.[182] In Hong Kong, protesters challenged an emergency decree prohibiting the wearing of masks by wearing those of fictional characters such as the Joker.[182]
Micah Uetricht, managing director of Jacobin, opined in a review published by The Guardian that he was shocked that the media did not understand the movie’s message: “we got a fairly straightforward condemnation of American austerity: how it leaves the vulnerable to suffer without the resources they need, and the horrific consequences for the rest of society that can result.”[183] Ahmed also highlights the lack of funding for already-stretched mental health services worldwide being alluded to.[179]
Accolades
Main article: List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film)
Joker won the Golden Lion at the 76th Venice International Film Festival.[184] The film received four nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director for Todd Phillips, and Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for Joaquin Phoenix.[185] It received seven nominations at the 25th Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Phoenix, and Best Adapted Screenplay.[186] The American Film Institute included Joker as one of the top 10 films of 2019.[187]
Future
Joker was intended to be a standalone film with no sequels,[87] although Warner Bros. intends for it to launch DC Black, a line of DC Comics-based films unrelated to the DCEU with darker, more experimental material.[46][188] While Phillips said in August 2019 that he would be interested in making a sequel, depending on the film’s performance and if Phoenix is interested,[55] he later clarified that “the movie’s not set up to [have] a sequel. We always pitched it as one movie, and that’s it.”[189] In October 2019, Phoenix spoke to Peter Travers of possibly reprising the role of Arthur, centering around Travers’ asking of Phoenix if he considers Joker to be his “dream role.” Phoenix stated, “I can’t stop thinking about it … if there’s something else we can do with Joker that might be interesting,”[190] and concluded, “It’s nothing that I really wanted to do prior to working on this movie. I don’t know that there is [more to do] … Because it seemed endless, the possibilities of where we can go with the character.”[191]
On November 20, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter announced that a sequel was in development, with Phillips, Silver, and Phoenix expected to reprise their duties; however, Deadline Hollywood reported the same day that The Hollywood Reporter’s story was false and that negotiations had not even begun.[192][193] Phillips responded to the reports by saying that he had discussed a sequel with Warner Bros. and it remained a possibility, but it was not in development.[194]
lost in space
Lost in Space Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix, just in time for the Christmas celebrations. The second season of Netflix’s sci-fi space adventure continues the story of Robinsons and their robot companion who are stranded on an alien planet, trying to survive against all odds, and planning a way to somehow reach the Resolute spacecraft. Just like season 1, the second season of Lost in Space also has ten episodes, and starts with the group trying to power up the Jupiter 2 spacecraft and ensure survival by reaching their destination – the Alpha Centauri star system.
Here’s Netflix’s official synopsis of Lost in Space Season 2:
There’s more danger — and adventure — ahead for the Robinson family! With the Jupiter 2 stranded on a mysterious ocean planet without their beloved Robot, the Robinsons must work together, alongside the mischievous and manipulative Dr. Smith and the always charming Don West, to make it back to the Resolute and reunite with the other colonists. But they quickly find all is not as it seems. A series of incredible new threats and unexpected discoveries emerge as they look for the key to finding Robot and safe passage to Alpha Centauri. They will stop at nothing to keep their family safe… survival is a Robinson specialty after all.
Developed by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, the second season of Lost in Space brings JJ Field on board who plays the recurring guest role of Ben Adler, an expert on AI and advanced spaceship systems. Molly Parker and Toby Stephens return as parents Maureen and John respectively, alongside Taylor Russell, Maxwell Jenkins, and Mina Sundwall portraying the siblings Judy, Will, and Penny. The showrunners have trimmed down the average length of episodes in season 2, most of which are now below the 50-minute mark.
The second season of Lost in Space is spread across 10 episodes and is now streaming on Netflix.
Nadeem SarwarEmail NadeemAside from dreaming about technology, Nadeem likes to get bamboozled by history and ponder about his avatars in alternate dimensions. More
wrinkle in time
A Wrinkle in Time is a 2018 American science fantasy adventure film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell, based on Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel of the same name. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Whitaker Entertainment, the story follows a young girl who, with the help of three astral travelers, sets off on a quest to find her missing father. The film stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Storm Reid, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Pine.
It is Disney’s second film adaptation of L’Engle’s novel, following a 2003 television film. Development began in 2010, with DuVernay signing on to direct in February 2016. Principal photography began on November 2, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Near the end of filming, production moved to New Zealand, where photography ended on February 25, 2017. With an estimated production budget of $103 million, the film became the first live-action film with a nine-digit budget to be directed by a black woman.[7][8][9]
With a total production and marketing budget of around $150 million,[10] the film was one of the biggest box office bombs in history, with losses of up to $131 million.[11][12][13] It was the second least successful film of the year, behind Mortal Engines. The film received mixed reviews, with critics taking issue “with the film’s heavy use of CGI and numerous plot holes”, while others “celebrated its message of female empowerment and diversity”.[14]
Contents
Plot[edit]
Thirteen-year-old middle school student Meg Murry struggles to adjust to her school and home life since her father Alex, a renowned scientist, mysteriously disappeared while studying astrophysics when she was very young. Both Meg and her mother Kate believed he solved the question of humanity’s existence and theorized that he was teleported to another world.
One evening, Meg’s younger brother Charles Wallace welcomes Mrs. Whatsit, a red-haired stranger in an extravagant white dress, into the Murry family house. Mrs. Whatsit claims that the tesseract, a type of space-travel Alex was working on, is real. The next day, while walking their dog, they meet one of Meg’s classmates, Calvin O’Keefe. He joins them to go to the house of Mrs. Who, a friend of Charles Wallace’s and a strange woman who speaks only in quotations.
Meg and Charles Wallace invite Calvin to dinner. Afterwards Meg and Calvin go into her backyard where Mrs. Whatsit appears with Mrs. Who and another woman, Mrs. Which. The three reveal themselves as astral travelers and lead Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace through a tesseract, taking them to a distant planet named Uriel, third planet from the star Malak in Messier 101.
After learning from the flowers that Alex has been to Uriel and since departed, Mrs. Whatsit transforms into a beautiful green flying creature and flies the children into the atmosphere where they see a dark shadow known as The IT. After gaining the women’s trust, Meg and the others tesser to another planet called Orion in the ‘belt’ of the name sake constellation to meet with a seer called Happy Medium to seek his help to find Alex.
Happy Medium shows them that Meg’s father tessered to Uriel, then Ixchel and got trapped when he tessered to Camazotz, The IT’s homeworld. After Mrs. Which explains that The IT represents all the greed, anger, pride, selfishness, and low self-esteem in the world, she shows the children personal examples of these characteristics, including an elderly friend and neighbor of Charles Wallace’s getting mugged at a bus stop, Meg’s school bully Veronica Kiley’s extreme self-consciousness about her weight, and that Calvin, despite being popular at school, is forced and abused by his father to be a perfectionist. Given the news that Alex is on dangerous and evil Camazotz, the three Mrs. insist that they all travel back to Earth to regroup and make a plan, but Meg’s strong will to not leave without her father overrides the tesseract, and she unintentionally redirects them to Camazotz.
Upon arriving in a field on Camazotz, Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who find they are unable to stay because Camazotz’s evil is stronger than their light. Before they depart, they bestow gifts: Mrs. Who gives Meg her glasses, Mrs. Whatsit gives Meg the knowledge of her faults, and Mrs. Which gives the command to never separate.
After the Mrs. leave, trees sprout up out of the ground and a forest appears. Meg and Calvin get separated from Charles Wallace by the wild forest. They desperately race to get to the wall to prevent a tornado-earthquake storm called the Land Monster that is destroying the forest. Once creatively getting past the wall, they reunite with Charles Wallace and stumble across an neighborhood where all the children are bouncing balls in perfect sync. After calling their children inside, a lady invites them to come inside her house for a meal, Meg declines the offer and reminds Calvin and Charles Wallace to not trust anyone in Camazotz.
Next, the surroundings change and the three children find themselves on a beach where they meet The IT in its bodyguard form, Red. He offers the starving children food and tells them that Alex is safe and happy. He says there is nothing to worry about, but Calvin and Meg realize something is wrong when Charles Wallace proclaims that the food tastes like sand. When Red starts repeating the times tables, Charles Wallace is hypnotized by the rhythm, enabling The IT to take control of his mind.
As Meg and Calvin pursue Red and Charles Wallace, they find themselves in a seemingly empty, white, spherical room after Meg pushes umbrellas out of her way, the “CENTRAL Central Intelligence.” Charles Wallace’s personality is different and he insults Meg and Calvin, while Red shuts down and disappears. Using Mrs. Who’s glasses, Meg discovers and then climbs an invisible staircase to a room where her father is imprisoned. After a tearful reunion, Meg brings Alex out of captivity, but Charles Wallace, under the influence of The IT’s power, forcefully drags them to meet his master. As Calvin and Meg fall under The IT’s power, Alex opens another tesser and prepares to escape with the children, abandoning Charles Wallace. Meg refuses and projects out of the tesser herself, leaving her alone. When she confronts Charles Wallace, she realizes The IT uses deception and hatred to fuel his power. Expressing her love for her brother and using the knowledge that she is imperfect, Meg frees Charles Wallace and let The IT free the control on Camazotz. The three Mrs. reappeared and congratulate Meg’s victory and Mrs. Which says that she and Charles Wallace became true warriors and they tesser back home.
After returning home, Meg, Charles Wallace reunited with her dad and mom and they assure each other that they love each other. Calvin leaves Meg to talk to his father after saying a few words to Meg and she stares at the sky, thanking the Mrs.
Cast[edit]
Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which, an astral being as old as the universe
Reese Witherspoon as Mrs. Whatsit, an astral being from the planet Uriel
Mindy Kaling as Mrs. Who, an astral being from the planet Ixchel
Storm Reid as Meg Murry, a gifted young girl
Lyric Wilson as a young Meg
Levi Miller as Calvin O’Keefe, Meg’s classmate and friend
Deric McCabe as Charles Wallace Murry, Meg’s precocious adopted six-year-old brother
Chris Pine as Dr. Alexander Murry, Meg and Charles Wallace’s long-lost father and Kate’s husband
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dr. Kate Murry, Meg and Charles Wallace’s mother and Alex’s wife
Zach Galifianakis as Happy Medium, a seer from the planet Orion.
Michael Peña as Red,[15] a form of the IT
David Oyelowo as The IT, Red’s true diabolical form[15]
Andre Holland as James Jenkins, the principal of Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace’s school[15]
Rowan Blanchard as Veronica Kiley, a student who bullies Meg[15]
Bellamy Young as Camazotz Woman,[15] a mother from the Camazotz neighbourhood
Conrad Roberts as Elegant Man,[15] an elder neighbour and friend of Charles Wallace.
Yvette Cason as Teacher,[15] a gossipy, jealous, teacher
Will McCormack as Teacher,[15] another gossipy, jealous teacher
Daniel MacPherson as Mr. O’Keefe,[15] Calvin’s abusive father
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In October 2010, Walt Disney Pictures retained the film rights for the 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, which had previously been made as a 2003 television film. Following the financial success of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), Disney hired Jeff Stockwell to write the screenplay for Cary Granat and his new Bedrock Studios. Granat had previously worked with Disney on the Chronicles of Narnia and Bridge to Terabithia films.[16] The project’s budget was slated to be $35 million, which the company compared to “District 9” and “Bridge to Terabithia,” both of which were made for less than $30 million.[17]
However, A Wrinkle in Time was part of a new California Film Commission tax credit program, which offset production costs considerably.[18] On August 5, 2014, Jennifer Lee was announced as the screenwriter, taking over from Stockwell, who wrote the first draft.[19][20]
On February 8, 2016, it was reported that Ava DuVernay had been offered the job of directing the film, and she was confirmed to direct later that same month.[21][22] She became the first non white woman to direct a live-action film with a production budget of more than $100 million.[23] The decision received positive sentiments in the media industry. Oprah Winfrey was happy to see this because DuVernay herself broke barriers for non white people in the film industry.[24] “So I do imagine, to be a brown-skinned girl of any race throughout the world, looking up on that screen and seeing Storm, I think that is a capital A, capital W, E, some, AWESOME, experience.”[24]
Irene Monroe of The Cambridge Day expressed her feelings that Ava DuVernay was a superb choice of a director, due to the fact that she was able to correctly highlight and expose the struggles experienced by young African-American girls.[24]
Casting[edit]
On July 26, 2016, Variety reported that Oprah Winfrey began final negotiations to join the film to play Mrs. Which, the eldest of the three Mrs. Ws, celestial beings who guide the children along their journey.[25] On September 7, 2016, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling were in talks to join the film, with Witherspoon to play Mrs. Whatsit, a chatty, grandmotherly sprite, and Kaling to play the quotation-reciting Mrs. Who.[26] On September 13, 2016, Storm Reid was cast in the lead role of Meg Murry, a young girl traumatized by the disappearance of her scientist father years before.[27]
In October 2016, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Chris Pine were cast as Meg’s parents, Drs. Kate and Alex Murry.[28][29]On November 1, 2016, additional cast announcements included Zach Galifianakis as Happy Medium, André Holland as Principal Jenkins, Levi Miller as Calvin, and Deric McCabe as Charles Wallace, along with Bellamy Young, Rowan Blanchard and Will McCormack.[30] Later, Michael Peña joined the cast to play Red.[31] The film producers are James Whitaker and Catherine Hand.[30]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography on the film began November 2, 2016, in Los Angeles, California.[30][32][33] Tobias A. Schliessler was the film’s cinematographer, Naomi Shohan as production designer, Paco Delgado as costume designer, and Rich McBride as the film’s visual effects supervisor.[30][34] During production, DuVernay asked McBride to be as flexible as possible on visual effects sequences to enable her to make changes and incorporate new ideas during shooting.[35]
Filming for A Wrinkle in Time took place in multiple locations including Eureka, California, in Humboldt County, starting November 29, 2016.[36]
After Los Angeles, production moved to New Zealand for two weeks.[30] During the last two weeks of February 2017, filming locations for A Wrinkle in Time were in Central Otago, New Zealand.[37] Actors and crew were in New Zealand for two weeks to shoot scenes in the Southern Alps, including at Hunter Valley Station near Lake Hāwea, with cast and crew treated to a traditional Māori powhiri and karakia.[38] Filming wrapped in New Zealand’s South Island after two weeks, and DuVernay declared the cast and crew’s love for New Zealand in an Instagram post.[39]
Music[edit]
Main article: A Wrinkle in Time (soundtrack)
On September 28, 2017, Ramin Djawadi was announced as the composer for the film, replacing Jonny Greenwood, who was initially chosen to compose, and scored the film.[40] On February 20, 2018, it was announced that the soundtrack would feature appearances from Sade, Sia, Kehlani, Chloe x Halle, Freestyle Fellowship, DJ Khaled, and Demi Lovato.[41]
Release[edit]
A Wrinkle in Time premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on February 26, 2018, with its theatrical release on March 9, 2018.[42][43] This was a month ahead of its initial release date of April 6, 2018.[44]
A Wrinkle in Time was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on June 5, 2018.[45]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
A Wrinkle in Time grossed $100.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $32.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $132.7 million.[5] A combined $250 million was spent on production and advertisement.[46][12][13] Following Disney’s Q2 earnings report in May 2018, Yahoo! Finance deduced the film would lose the studio $86–186 million,[47] and in April 2019, Deadline Hollywood calculated the film lost $130.6 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.[48] The film’s financial failure meant that Ava DuVernay became the first African-American woman to direct a film that earned and lost at least $100 million domestically.[49][9]
In the U.S. and Canada, A Wrinkle in Time was released alongside The Hurricane Heist, Gringo, and The Strangers: Prey at Night, and was projected to gross $30–38 million from 3,980 theaters in its opening weekend.[50] It made $10.2 million on its first day, including $1.3 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $33.3 million, finishing second behind Disney’s own Black Panther ($41.1 million in its fourth weekend).[51] In its second weekend, the film made $16.6 million, dropping 50% to fourth place.[52] On June 15, in its 15th week of release, the film returned to a total of 285 theaters, often as part of a double-feature with Incredibles 2. It ended up making $1.7 million (a 1,600% increase from the previous weekend), pushing the total U.S. gross to $100 million.[53]
Internationally, the film opened in six countries alongside the U.S. and grossed $6.3 million in its opening weekend, Russia being the largest market with $4.1 million.[54]
Critical response[edit]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 42% based on 306 reviews, and an average rating of 5.26/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “A Wrinkle in Time is visually gorgeous, big-hearted, and occasionally quite moving; unfortunately, it’s also wildly ambitious to a fault, and often less than the sum of its classic parts.”[55] On Metacritic, the film earned a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”[56] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B” on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it a 75% overall positive score; audience members under age 18 gave it an average grade of “A–” and a positive score of 89%.[51]
Alonso Duralde of TheWrap praised the film’s visuals and performances, writing, “Awash in bold colors, bright patterns and ebullient kids, director Ava DuVernay’s new take on ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ dazzles its way across time and space even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing.”[57] David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a “C+” and praised what he described as its ambition, saying: “It almost doesn’t matter that the movie is too emotionally prescriptive to have any real power, or too high on imagination to leave any room for wonder; DuVernay evinces such faith in who she is and what she’s doing that ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ remains true to itself even when everything on screen reads false.”[58] Jamie Broadnax, a freelance writer and member of the Critic’s Choice Awards,tweeted that after seeing the film for the second time, she still was unable to conceptualize and take in the visuals displayed throughout the film and the numerous performances from various characters.[59] Kat Candler, an American independent filmmaker, stated that the film was a “gorgeous love letter to the warriors of the next generation”.[59] Mercedes Howze of the New Pittsburgh Courier stated that the visuals were extraordinary and that the film “continues to make lasting impressions on innocent minds to change what it looks like to be a young black woman”.[60]
Vince Mancini of Uproxx gave the film a negative review, saying, “…if anything, the trouble with ‘Wrinkle’ is that you never really get a sense of DuVernay’s personal touch. In fact, it feels a lot like Brad Bird’s big budget, equally smarmy 2015 Disney film Tomorrowland. Both attempt to be so broad and universal that they feel disconnected from anything human. But universality doesn’t work that way, no matter how much you tell everyone to think like a kid.”[61] Conner Schwerdtfeger, former entertainment journalist for CinemaBlend, stated that the movie was “all over the place and underperformed,” but that DuVernay deserves some praise for the attempt at filming the seemingly unfilmable.[59] Sean Mulvihill, actor in “Living Luminaries: On the Serious Business of Happiness,” stated that the film had no flow, and although some moments “come alive” in the film, it could not save it.[59] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter felt that the film was “unable to charm or disarm” the audience.[62] Wenlei Ma, film and TV critic of news.com.au, stated that, following the halfway mark in the film, movie-goers find themselves “not caring about the other characters besides Meg” and that it seemed to “drag” in the latter half.[63] She highlighted the film’s disappointment, regardless of the value parents find in the messages for children via quotations from Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.[63]
Accolades[edit]
First-generation (Murry series):
A Wrinkle in Time (1962; Newbery Award Winner) ISBN 0-374-38613-7
A Wind in the Door (1973) ISBN 0-374-38443-62.5. Intergalactic P.S. 3 (1970) ISBN 0-525-63405-3
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (1978) ISBN 0-374-37362-0 —National Book Award in category Children’s Books (paperback).[38][c]
Many Waters (1986) ISBN 0-374-34796-4
Second-generation (O’Keefe Family series):
The Arm of the Starfish (1965) ISBN 0-374-30396-7
Dragons in the Waters (1976) ISBN 0-374-31868-9
A House Like a Lotus (1984) ISBN 0-374-33385-8
An Acceptable Time (1989) ISBN 0-374-30027-5
Time Quintet series (Murry series #1-4, O’Keefe Family series #4):
A Wrinkle in Time (1962)
A Wind in the Door (1973)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet (1978)
Many Waters (1986)
An Acceptable Time (1989)
bird Box (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
bird box
Bird Box is a 2018 American post-apocalyptic thriller film directed by Susanne Bier from a screenplay written by Eric Heisserer, and based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Josh Malerman. The film follows a woman, played by Sandra Bullock, as she tries to protect herself and two children from malevolent supernatural entities that make people who look at them go insane and commit suicide.
Bird Box had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 12, 2018, and began a limited release on December 14, before streaming worldwide on Netflix on December 21, 2018.
In a post-apocalyptic world, Malorie Hayes advises two young, unnamed children that they will be going downstream on a river in a rowing boat. She strictly instructs them to not remove their blindfolds, or else they will die. From this point, the film alternates between two stages of Malorie’s story, separated by five years, until they conjoin: her attempt to navigate the river and the events that led to it.
Five years earlier, a pregnant Malorie is visited by her sister, Jessica. A news report is being shown on television about unexplained mass suicides in Romania that are quickly spreading across Europe. Malorie has a routine pregnancy checkup with Jessica accompanying her to the hospital. When leaving the hospital, Malorie sees a woman bashing her head into a glass panel followed by others panicking as chaos quickly erupts throughout the town. Malorie realizes the “violence” that was spreading across Europe had already reached North America. Malorie and Jessica attempt to drive away from the violence, but Jessica witnesses the phenomenon affecting the masses and sees the entity, loses control of herself as she drives, and the car ends up overturning. An injured Malorie then witnesses Jessica walk into the path of an oncoming garbage truck, killing herself.
Malorie attempts to flee on foot through the mass chaos on the streets. A woman, Lydia, invites Malorie over to a house for safety, even though her husband, Douglas, disagrees. However, right before she reaches Malorie, she goes into a trance, begins talking to her dead mother, and casually climbs into a burning car, which subsequently explodes. Malorie is rescued and brought into their house by Tom, a fleeing passerby. While recovering at their base, Charlie, one of the survivors who seems to have somewhat comprehensive knowledge of what could be happening, theorizes that demonic entities have invaded Earth, taking the form of their victims’ worst fears and driving them insane before causing them to die by suicide. At the insistence of Tom, they cover all windows in the house and blindfold themselves whenever they must venture outside. Later, Greg volunteers to tie himself to a chair while monitoring the surveillance cameras to see the entity on TV as it approaches but ends up killing himself by rocking his chair violently and slamming his head into a hearthstone after seeing it.
As the supply of food decreases (and with the arrival of a new survivor, Olympia, who is also pregnant), most of the group go to a supermarket close by to restock. Malorie finds pet birds and decides to take them along with their supplies. The group attempts to help a coworker of Charlie’s who is locked outside the supermarket begging for help, and whom Charlie describes as “a little crazy.” As they contemplate the risks of opening the door, the birds that Malorie was saving go into a hysterical fury. The group is attacked by the infected coworker, who was not killed by the entities but is instead used to infect others. Charlie sacrifices himself to save the others, who are able to make it back safely to the house.
Sometime after, Felix (a survivor) and Lucy steal the car and drive away. Soon thereafter, Olympia lets Gary, a stranger and apparent lone survivor of another group, into the house, against Douglas’ objections. Douglas gets extremely upset and starts threatening the others with a shotgun and is knocked unconscious by Cheryl (an elderly survivor). Douglas is subsequently imprisoned in the garage. Later, Olympia and Malorie go into labor, and Cheryl helps with the births. Gary starts to take out various drawings of the entity and seems to undergo a trance, indicating that he could have already been partially overtaken by the entity when he arrived. He opens the garage door to kill Douglas. He peeks outside and is completely taken over; he then knocks out Tom and proceeds to remove all the coverings from all the windows. Despite Malorie’s warnings, Olympia fails to look away from the windows and jumps out of the window. Gary forces Cheryl to look and as a result, Cheryl repeatedly stabs herself in the neck with a pair of scissors she is carrying. Douglas blindly attempts to kill Gary with a shotgun but fails, which results in Gary being able to kill Douglas with the scissors. While Malorie tries to protect the newborn babies (Malorie’s boy and Olympia’s girl), Tom recovers consciousness in time to overpower and kill Gary.
Five years later, Tom and Malorie are living together with the children, whose only names are “Boy” and “Girl.” They receive a transmission from Rick, a survivor stating that they are well and safe at a community hidden in the forest. The four decide to go to the community but are ambushed by a group of infected survivors along the way. Without hesitation, Tom runs out to distract the group while Malorie and the children attempt to make an escape. When the group notices Malorie and the children escaping, Tom decides to open his eyes and shoot the group dead. He is overtaken by one of the entities, but he manages to shoot the last member of the group before shooting himself.
Malorie, the children, and their pet birds, which are being carried in a box to provide a warning against the entity, make their way blindfolded down the river on a boat. They fight off an infected survivor and survive raging rapids.
The boat flips in the rapids, but Malorie, Boy, and Girl manage to all find each other. Soon after, all three are separated when Malorie accidentally slides down a hill. The entities attempt to convince Boy and Girl to remove their blindfolds using Malorie’s voice. Malorie is able to tell them to fight the urge. Once they are all together again, they are chased by the entity, which is implied by camera movement and wind.
The three eventually reach the community, a former school for the blind. Malorie releases the pet birds from the box to the other birds up on the ceiling and finally gives the children names: Tom and Olympia.
Cast[edit]
Sandra Bullock as Malorie
Trevante Rhodes as Tom
Jacki Weaver as Cheryl
John Malkovich as Douglas
Sarah Paulson as Jessica
Rosa Salazar as Lucy
Danielle Macdonald as Olympia
Lil Rel Howery as Charlie
Tom Hollander as Gary
Machine Gun Kelly as Felix (credited as Colson Baker)
BD Wong as Greg
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Rick
Vivien Lyra Blair as Girl/Olympia
Julian Edwards as Boy/Tom
Parminder Nagra as Dr. Lapham
Rebecca Pidgeon as Lydia
Amy Gumenick as Samantha
Taylor Handley as Jason
Happy Anderson as River Man
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
The film rights to Bird Box were optioned by Universal Pictures in 2013, prior to the book’s release.[3][4] Scott Stuber and Chris Morgan were set to produce the film, with It and Mama director Andy Muschietti attached as director.[4] Screenwriter Eric Heisserer was in negotiations to pen the script.[5] In July 2017, after Stuber became head of the feature film division of Netflix, it was announced that Netflix had acquired the rights to the book and would develop the film, with Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich starring.[6][7] Susanne Bier was announced as the director.[6]
Casting[edit]
In July 2017, Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich were cast in the film as Malorie Hayes and Douglas.[6][7] In October 2017, Danielle Macdonald, Trevante Rhodes, Jacki Weaver, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar, Lil Rel Howery, and Amy Gumenickjoined the cast.[8][9] In November 2017, Machine Gun Kelly and David Dastmalchian were also added.[10][11]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography began in California in October 2017.[12] Wilderness scenes were shot on the Smith River in the far northern part of the state.[13] The house exterior is from a place in Monrovia.[14] Cinematography partially took place in Santa Cruz,[15] and the final scene was shot at Scripps College.[16][17][18][19]
The production used real-life birds during filming as much as possible, replacing them with digital birds for sequences when the birds became “agitated.”[20]
The film uses footage of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, which caused the death of 47 people in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec on July 6, 2013. The stock-footage was purchased from a vendor and Netflix stated it would stay in the movie even after a request to remove it from survivors of the disaster.[21] Netflix later removed the footage and replaced with an outtake from a canceled U.S. TV series.[22] The same footage was also used in another Netflix production, Travelers, but has since been removed.[23]
Visual effects[edit]
The visual effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic and supervised by Marcus Taormina.[24]
Music[edit]
Oscar winners Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails) were hired to score the film. The soundtrack album itself was released about two weeks after the release of the film, on January 1, 2019. It was first released for sale only on Nine Inch Nails’s website, and later on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and other platforms. The version that was released was an “Abridged” album, containing an hour and 6 minutes of music; 10 tracks. In a statement on the Nine Inch Nails website, Trent Reznor said:
“Like all soundtrack records we release, we aim for these to play like albums that take you on a journey and can exist as companion pieces to the films and as their own separate works. We created a significant amount of music and conceptual sound for bird box, a lot of which never made it to your ears in the final version of the film. We’ve decided to present you with this version of the soundtrack record that represents what bird box is to us. We hope you enjoy. For those interested, we will be releasing a more expansive (read: more self-indulgent) physical-only offering this spring that will contain an additional hour of music and artwork that colors further outside the lines…”[25]
The full version of the soundtrack was released on November 22, 2019, exclusively on a special edition vinyl box set (with a digital download at purchase).[26] The full version contains 13 more tracks and an extra hour of music, resulting in a 2 hours and 6 minute, 23 track album.
Release[edit]
The film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 12, 2018.[27] However, due to the Woolsey Fire that hit California and out of respect for the victims of the Thousand Oaks shooting, Netflix cancelled AFI Fest’s red carpet coverage scheduled for the premiere.[28] The film began a limited theatrical run on December 14, 2018, before streaming on Netflix on December 21, 2018.[29]
Reception[edit]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 156 reviews, with an average rating of 5.73/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Bird Box never quite reaches its intriguing potential, but strong acting and an effectively chilly mood offer intermittently creepy compensation.”[30] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[31]
Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com stated that “Most of the problems with Bird Box come back to a thin screenplay, one that too often gives its characters flat, expository dialogue and then writes itself into a corner with a climax that’s just silly when it needs to be tense.”[32] Amy Nicholson, in a review for British newspaper The Guardian, gave a negative appraisal, awarding the film 2 out of 5 stars and concluding that “as the film staggers on in its quest to give us entertainment satisfaction or death, we’re tempted to identity [sic] with the movie’s first victim, a woman in a tracksuit banging her head against the glass, ready to get this painful sight over with.”[33] Writing for Forbes, Sarah Aswell described the movie as one “that embraces everything about the (horror genre) formula, both good and bad – this movie has moments of true, delightful, fright, but it also has some of the corniness and shallowness that many horror movies can’t shake.”[34] New York Times found the film occasionally riveting and disappointing.[35]
Audience viewership[edit]
According to Nielsen, Bird Box was watched by nearly 26 million viewers in its first seven days of release in the United States. It also revealed that a significant part of its audience were young aged 18 to 34 (36%), female (57%), and either African American (24%) or Latino (22%).[36] Netflix also released its own viewing figure that gave a worldwide audience of over 45 million in seven days, with views defined by the company as the film streaming for over 70 percent of its time. The viewing figure was claimed to be the best ever for a Netflix film.[37][38] This audience figure released by Netflix was met with skepticism from some analysts, who cited a lack of independent verification of the view count.[39][40] According to Netflix, the film was viewed by 80 million households in the first 4 weeks following its release.[41][42] A Barclays study deduced that had the film received a traditional theatrical release, it would have grossed about $98 million worldwide.[43]
Accolades[edit]
Bird Box blindfold challenge[edit]
In Australia, Netflix originally partnered with four Twitch streamers in performing what they called a Bird Box challenge, in which they would play some popular video games while blindfolded.[45] However, the challenge became widely mimicked on the Internet by individuals wearing blindfolds while trying to do ordinary activities, causing injuries to some. In response, Netflix released several messages over social media advising people not to undertake the challenge or hurt themselves.[40]Nevertheless, in January 2019, a 17-year-old girl in a blindfold taking part in the craze drove into oncoming traffic in Utah and crashed her car, prompting the police in the state to issue the same warning as Netflix.[46]
All episodes of the first season of Sense8 were written by the Wachowskis and Straczynski; in the second season, Lilly Wachowski took a break from the show, and the episodes were written by just Lana Wachowski and Straczynski, with the exception of the series finale which was written by Lana, David Mitchell, and Aleksandar Hemon. Most episodes were directed by the Wachowskis (or just Lana, in the second season), with the remainder being divided between their frequent collaboratorsJames McTeigue, Tom Tykwer, and Dan Glass. Sense8 was filmed almost entirely on location in a multitude of cities around the world.
The second season began with a two-hour Christmas special in December 2016, with the remaining 10 episodes released in May 2017. However the following month Netflix announced that they had cancelled the series, which had ended with a cliffhanger in expectation of a third season, then under negotiation. In response to criticism of the cancellation, especially with an unresolved story, Netflix produced a two-and-a-half-hour series finale, which was released on June 8, 2018. The season was overall met with positive critical reception and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour), and two nominations by the GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series for the season proper and series finale, respectively.
The story of Sense8 begins when the psychic connection of eight strangers from different cultures and parts of the world is “birthed” by a woman called Angelica, who kills herself to avoid capture by a man named “Whispers”. The eight eventually discover they now form a cluster of “sensates”: human beings who are mentally and emotionally linked, can sense and communicate with each other, and can share their knowledge, language, and skills.
In the first season, the eight—Capheus, Sun, Nomi, Kala, Riley, Wolfgang, Lito, and Will—are shown trying both to live their everyday lives and to figure how and why they are connected. Meanwhile, a sensate named Jonas, who was involved with Angelica, comes to their aid, while the Biologic Preservation Organization (BPO) and Whispers, a high-ranking sensate inside BPO, attempt to hunt them down.
In the second season, the eight have grown accustomed to their connection and help each other on a daily basis. They learn more about Homo sensorium (the scientific name of sensates), the history and goals of BPO, the role of Angelica in it, and their powers and how to temporarily suspend them. They also meet other sensates, not all of whom are friendly. At the same time, Jonas attempts to both aid them and look after himself after being captured by Whispers, who is now involved in a cat-and-mouse game with Will, each of them trying to outsmart the other.
In the series finale, the cluster and the people closest to them meet up in person to save Wolfgang who has been captured by BPO. To that end, the cluster has kidnapped Whispers and Jonas to use them as a bargaining chip and source of information, respectively. The heroes discover the two men’s and Angelica’s personal motivations, meet potential allies from both sapiens and sensorium, and deal with the Chairman of BPO, who launches a global attack against sensates and their allies.
Aml Ameen (season 1) / Toby Onwumere (season 2)[9] as Capheus “Van Damn” Onyango,[10] a matatu driver in Nairobi who is trying to earn money to buy HIV/AIDS medication for his mother. Capheus’ matatu is called the “Van Damn” and sports drawings of Jean-Claude Van Damme as he is a passionate fan of his movies. This, along with his bravery to protect his matatu and its passengers from bandits, earned him his widely used Van Damn nickname (sometimes also called Van Damme).[11][12]
Doona Bae as Sun Bak, daughter of a powerful Seoul businessman and a burgeoning star in the underground kickboxing world.[11][13]
Brian J. Smith as Will Gorski, a Chicagopolice officer haunted by an unsolved murder from his childhood.[11][21] Speaking about the Wachowskis picking names that carry a significance for their characters, Smith said about “Will”: “The whole idea of Will Gorski, the idea of someone who’s got this drive to act and to do, not just to be done to. It’s very central to Will’s character.”[15]
Freema Agyeman as Amanita “Neets” Caplan, Nomi’s girlfriend, who later becomes an ally for the new sensates.[22]
Terrence Mann as Milton Bailey “Whispers” Brandt, a sensate who turned against his own kind and who is a high-ranking member of an organization determined to neutralize sensates, known as the Biologic Preservation Organization (BPO).[8] Whispers uses many fake names, such as Dr. Matheson or Gibbons,[23]and is commonly known among sensates as “The Cannibal” for devouring his own cluster.[24] Angelica and the people she’s been involved with call him Whispers, after she likened him to the voice in ones’ head that beckons them to commit suicide; “That voice never shouts. It only whispers.”[25]
Anupam Kher as Sanyam Dandekar, Kala’s loving father, a chef and restaurant owner.[26]
Naveen Andrews as Jonas Maliki, a sensate from a different cluster who wants to help the newly-born cluster of sensates.[8][27]
Daryl Hannah as Angelica “Angel” Turing, a sensate from the same cluster as Jonas, who becomes the “mother” of the new sensates’ cluster as she activates their psychic connection.[28]
According to the Wachowskis, the origins of Sense8 date back several years before the announcement of the show to “a late-night conversation about the ways technology simultaneously unites and divides us”.[33] When deciding to create a television series, Lana chose to brainstorm ideas with Straczynski because of his extensive experience working with the format, by inviting him to her house in San Francisco.[34][35] After several days of discussion, they decided on creating a show that would explore the relationship between empathy and evolutionin the human race, necessitating filming on location in several countries over the world.[34][36] The title of the show was thought up by Lana on their second day of brainstorming, as a play on the wordsensate and the notion of eight main characters.[37][38]
On October 2, 2012, Variety first reported the existence of the show. The Wachowskis and Straczynski had written three hour-long spec scripts, and were attempting to shop them around.[39] Their first meeting with potential buyers was with Netflix. The Wachowskis and Straczynski talked to them about subjects such as gender, identity, secrecy, and privacy.[40] Netflix announced that they had ordered a 10-episode first season for the series on March 27, 2013,[33] which during filming was extended to 12.[41][35] Straczynski and the Wachowskis mapped out five seasons worth of stories for the series from the beginning,[35] including the series’ final episode.[42] Lilly Wachowski, after completing her gender transition, decided to take some time off and did not return as writer or director for the second season,[36] although she remained active as co-creator.[43]
Producer Roberto Malerba has disclosed that the first season had an average budget of about $4.5 million per episode, and the second season $9 million per episode.[44][45]
Initial writing for the first season was split between the Wachowskis and Straczynski.[46] The show was transformed when they decided to limit the storytelling, with the exception of the opening scene of the first episode, to the perspective of the eight characters.[47] Lana Wachowski, a trans woman, has written her first transgender character in her career in the series: Nomi Marks. For that she partly used her own experiences.[48]Jamie Clayton, who plays Nomi, has provided the example of a scene where a young Nomi is bullied by boys in a gym shower, as a scene that was based on experiences from Lana’s life.[49] Freema Agyeman, who plays Nomi’s girlfriend Amanita, has shared that her character was based heavily on Lana’s wife, Karin Winslow.[50]
Unlike the first season, where the Wachowskis and Straczynski split the number of scripts in half and worked remotely from each other,[34] writing for the second season was performed by Lana and Straczynski by collaborating inside a shared writers’ room.[47]David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon worked as additional writers on the second season and were credited as “consultants”.[51][52][53] They spent a week in September 2015 with Lana, Straczynski, and script supervisor Julie Brown, proposing to them situations to be further developed by Lana and Straczynski.[51] Later, once filming began, Lana did a lot of rewrites on a daily basis as she got inspired by the locations, actors, and so on, even on the set.[54][55][56] When the series finale special was announced, Lana, Mitchell, and Hemon returned as writers.[51]
On June 20, 2014, Deadline Hollywood announced the cast of the eight lead characters, along with Freema Agyeman, Naveen Andrews, Daryl Hannah, Alfonso Herrera, Eréndira Ibarra, and Terence Mann.[57] For the roles of those characters living outside of America, the filmmakers wanted to assemble a cast of international actors that matched the nationality of their respective characters, if possible. For example, Doona Bae, Tina Desai, and Max Riemelt are from Seoul, Mumbai, and Berlin like their respective characters.[58] Jamie Clayton is a trans woman like the character she plays.[14] In November, Deadline Hollywood wrote than Christian Oliver had joined the cast as a recurring villain.[59]
On April 26, 2016, Deadline Hollywood reported that Aml Ameen abruptly left production a couple of episodes into filming of the second season over a conflict with Lana Wachowski that started during the table read for the season and progressively got worse.[9] Subsequent to Ameen’s departure, the role of Capheus was recast to Toby Onwumere after a seven-day auditioning process.[60] Earlier in April, Kick Gurry revealed he had been cast in the second season.[61] In May, Deadline Hollywood reported Ben Cole had been cast as Todd, a sensate who would rather be “normal”.[62] In September, Sylvester McCoy reportedly revealed he filmed three or four episodes of the second season.[63]
To properly tell the international aspects of the story, filming for Sense8 took place almost entirely on location around the globe. In the first season, filming took place in nine cities located in eight countries: Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Nairobi, Reykjavík, San Francisco, and Seoul.[64] Production began on June 18, 2014, in San Francisco.[65] The writers wanted to feature an event in each city.[66] They were able to schedule the Pride[67] scenes with its Dykes on Bikes on the Dyke March[68][69] in San Francisco, the Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Chicago, and the Ganesha Chaturthi Hindu festival in Mumbai.[70] Filming wrapped in Iceland on January 21, 2015.[71] By the end of the shooting, the filmmakers had completed 100,000 miles (160,000 km) of flight time, or four times around the globe.[64]
For the second season, production credited 16 cities located in 11 countries for having been part of the filming.[72]The major locations they filmed in include all of the first season’s except Reykjavík, and the following new ones: Amsterdam, Argyll, Chippenham, Los Angeles, Malta, Positano, Redwoods, and São Paulo.[53] Production start for the main unit of the second season was given an expected date of March 2016,[73] but a separate shoot involving the principal actors began on December 30, 2015, in Berlin, to capture footage during the Christmas holidays.[74][75][76] Main unit filming resumed in Berlin in the middle of March 2016.[77] In São Paulo, they filmed unrehearsed in front of a crowd of millions in its 20th Gay Pride Parade.[78] In Amsterdam, they were the first production to film in the Rijksmuseum.[79] On September 19, 2016, with the completion of the Malta shoot, filming for the second season came to an end.[80][81] Overall, the cast and crew flew in excess of 250,000 miles (400,000 km) to complete the season.[82] Filming for the series finale took place in Berlin, Brussels, Naples, and Paris.[83] Production began in Berlin on October 2, 2017.[84][85] In Paris, they filmed a four-minute fireworks show near the Eiffel Tower.[86] Filming wrapped in Berlin on November 12, 2017.[87][88]
Netflix required the production to shoot with 4K resolution cameras to make the look of the show future-proof.[73]During the first season, cinematographer John Toll, once again collaborating with the Wachowskis after Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending,[89] personally handled the cinematography in San Francisco, Chicago, London, Iceland, and Seoul.[90] In the second season he handled the majority of the locations.[91] Additional cinematographers worked with the rest of the directors in the remaining locations.[73] James McTeigue worked with Danny Ruhlman,[66] and Tom Tykwer worked with Frank Griebe and Christian Almesberger.[92][93] Toll returned as cinematographer for the series finale, teaming up again with Lana.[94]
The show’s directors were attached to locations instead of episodes[95] and with several countries appearing in every episode, in reality none of them has a singular director.[96] During the first season, the Wachowskis were responsible for directorial duties in scenes shot in Chicago,[97] San Francisco,[98] London, and Iceland.[99]McTeigue worked on the Mexico City and Mumbai parts[66] along with some in Reykjavík,[96] and Tykwer helmed Berlin[100][101] and Nairobi.[102] Dan Glass made his directorial debut in the Seoul part of the story.[103] In total, the Wachowskis were credited for directing seven episodes, McTeigue and Tykwer two each, and Glass one.[3]
In the second season, Lana Wachowski took over many of the filmmaking aspects of the show.[36]Production sound mixer Stevie Haywood recounted Lana’s directing style was to use two cameras as the default setup, and develop the shot over “enormously long takes” which could last up to fifteen to twenty minutes.[104] McTeigue returned as director for Mexico City,[105] and Tykwer for the Nairobi parts.[106] According to Glass, in the second season he directed the second unit in Seoul, and he also did some directing in Berlin.[107] Overall, six episodes of the second season, including the Christmas special and series finale,[94] credit Lana as director, three credit McTeigue, and Tykwer and Glass get credited each in one.
Seoul unit director Dan Glass and Jim Mitchell were the visual effects supervisors of the first season. The season had a total VFX shot count of about 1200.[108][109] An in-house VFX team was established in Chicago which completed over 700 shots. The major external VFX vendors were Locktix VFX (160–180 shots), Technicolor VFX(over 100 shots),[110] and Encore VFX.[103] Because of the series’ tight budget and timeline the production made the decision to do most of the effects, including the telepathy scenes, in-camera and only enhance them digitally where appropriate.[70] Technicolor provided dailies and worked with cinematographer John Toll and the Wachowskis to color grade the show. Technicolor finished the show in 4K and delivered both 2K and 4K masters.[110][111]
In the second season, the visual effects supervisors were Dan Glass and Ryan Urban.[53] Technicolor were again responsible for managing dailies and color grading the show, while their VFX department delivered over 600 shots for the first 11 episodes, and an additional 109 for the series finale.[112][113]Sense8 was edited in the Wachowskis’ headquarters in Chicago,[110][111][114]Kinowerks,[115] by Joe Hobeck and Joseph Jett Sally in the first season and by Sally and Fiona Colbeck in the second.[116][53]
The score of Sense8 was composed by Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer, with additional contributions by Gabriel Isaac Mounsey,[117] and recorded by the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra.[118][119] Each season’s score was written up to a year and a half before filming began,[118] enabling the production to play it back to the actors before shooting a scene.[120] A soundtrack album for the first season was released digitally by WaterTower Musicon May 5, 2017. It includes 10 tracks by Klimek and Tykwer.[118] For the second season, Klimek and Tykwer provided to the editorial about 10 “mother” themes, each with a length of over five minutes, before filming began.[118] In the Christmas special episode “Happy F*cking New Year”, a cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah” is featured, which was arranged by Gary Fry and recorded by the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, with the lead vocalistbeing Daniel Martin Moore.[121][122]
The theme music of Sense8 was picked by the Wachowskis from the two hours of original music Tykwer and Klimek had written.[123] The show received a nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music during the 68th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.[124] For the series almost two-minute long title sequence, Karin Winslow rented a car and with the help of a camera assistant traveled in the eight featured countries of the first season and captured over a hundred shots. “My directive from Lana was to go out and describe each country by what you see; find the nuances, find the food, find what people are doing, get a feel for the place,” said Winslow.[125] For the second season, and again for the finale, some of the footage was replaced by new shots.[53][117]
On June 1, 2017, Netflix announced they had cancelled the series after two seasons.[126][127] Later that month, Chief Content Officer of Netflix Ted Sarandos during his talk on Produced By Conference, commented that the show was cancelled because its audience, despite being very passionate, was not large enough to support the high production costs.[128] As a response to the cancellation, fans created online petitions, called Netflix, and tweeted #RenewSense8 and other hashtags, in an attempt to bring back the show. On June 29, 2017, the official social media accounts of the show posted a letter by Lana Wachowski which announced the release of a two-hour special targeting 2018.[129] A release date of June 8, 2018 and a final running time of 151 minutes were reported later.[130][131]
Netflix billed the second special in their announcement as the series finale, but Lana left open the future of Sense8 past the special’s release.[132] On August 5, 2017, during a Facebook Live with Lana and the cast about the show’s revival, Lana joked that because she believed that the fans of the show would go and create more fans, she was writing the entire third season.[133][134] A few days later, Brian J. Smith said during an interview that he believed if “a truly eyebrow-raising amount of people” watched the special, they would make more.[135]Conversely, shortly after the special’s release, executive producerGrant Hill said that they followed Netflix’s directive to design it as the series finale,[136] and that there have not been any talks about the possibility of another revival.[137]
Straczynski and Hemon have shared some hints about the character trajectories that were planned for the third season and beyond.[138][139][140]
Critical reception of the first season of Sense8 has been generally favorable. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator website, reported a 71% critical approval rating with an average rating of 6.25/10 based on 62 reviews. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Some of the scenarios border on illogical, but the diverse characters and the creative intersections between their stories keep the Wachowskis’ Sense8 compelling.”[141]On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the season is assigned a score of 64 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[142]
Sense8 continued to be positively received in its second season. Rotten Tomatoes indexed 15 reviews for the early released Christmas special, and reported an 87% critical approval rating for it, with an average rating of 6.88/10. The website assigned the following consensus to the special: “Sense8 serves up a heaping helping of yuletide queerness and sci-fi slyness in this narratively messy but richly felt special.”[143] Based on 28 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes assigned the 10 episodes that followed the special a critical approval rating of 93%, with an average rating of 7.57/10. The critical consensus reads, “Sense8 maintains its stunning visuals, Wachowski wackiness, and great heart — though its individual characters deserve more development.”[144] On Metacritic, the season was assigned a score of 73 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[145]Rotten Tomatoes also collected 28 reviews for the series finale, and calculated a 93% critical approval rating, and an average rating of 7.15/10. The finale’s critical consensus reads, “A hard fought coda to a beloved series, Sense8′s epilogue exemplifies its strange, sensual, somewhat silly delights.”[146]
In a report released by Netflix, it was discovered that at least 70% of the viewers that watched up to the third episode ended up watching the entire first season,[147] and Straczynski was told there are people that watch it “straight through – three, four, six times.”[148] In another report released by Netflix, Sense8 was listed among the shows whose viewers tend to heavily binge-watch their first seasons, rather than savoring their episodes by watching them at a slower pace.[149] Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos praised the success of Sense8in the up-and-coming French and German markets[150] but also globally.[151] Vice president of international series for Netflix Erik Barmack has named Sense8 one of the most popular Netflix series in the Brazilian market.[152]Less than three days after the premiere of the first season, Variety reported that it had been pirated more than half a million times, regardless of the series’ digital distribution.[153] Netflix also placed the second season of Sense8 at fifth place on their list for the year 2017 about couples where one of the two cannot resist the urge to wait, and ends up watching episodes ahead of their significant other.[154]
Former Colombian President and 2016 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Juan Manuel Santos heavily referenced Sense8 in a speech he made in April 2019 during the graduation ceremony of students of the University of Los Andes who participated in the Ser Pilo Paga program. Santos recited the basic premise of the show about the fictional species Homo sensorium who can feel empathy for one another, and expressed his wish and belief that one day humanity will be the same, “united in diversity and tolerance”.[155]
The red carpetpremiere of Sense8 took place on May 27, 2015, in San Francisco’s AMCMetreon,[179][180] where the first three episodes were previewed.[181] Starting in the middle of July 2015, Netflix Brazil released a series of documentary shorts called Sense8: Decoded. Inspired by Sense8 and directed by João Wainer, the shorts briefly touch upon subjects such as psychiatry, feminism, being transgender and Buddhism.[182][183][184][185] Later in the month, Netflix released a music track titled Brainwave Symphony on Spotify.[186] To produce it they subjected eight strangers to a series of various stimuli and they recorded their individual brainwaves using EEG sensors. After extracting a melody from each of them they arranged them in a way to produce a track which mirrors the escalating action of the season.[187][188] In early August 2015, Netflix made available Sense8: Creating the World, a half-hour web television documentary, shot around the world, about the making of the first season of the series.[70][189]
On May 3, 2016, publicity stills of the ongoing production of the second season were posted online, accompanied by a short message by Lana Wachowski introducing the #Road2Sense8 hashtag under which new pictures would be posted.[190][191][192] On December 3, 2016, the Christmas special episode was screened at São Paulo’s Comic Con Experience, in advance of its Netflix premiere on December 23.[193] The second episode of the second season was screened out of competition during the Series Mania festival in Paris, on April 18, 2017.[194][195] On April 23, a screening of the second and third episodes took place in Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, in a benefit for the American Civil Liberties Union, followed by Lana Wachowski taking questions from the audience,[196][197] and again on April 26, in the red carpet premiere of the second season, at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square.[198][54]
Several screenings of the series finale took place prior to its release on Netflix, on June 8, 2018. The first screening took place in The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, on May 25, as a benefit for EMILY’s List, followed by a Q&A session with Lana and select cast members.[199] The second screening took place in the Latin America Memorial in São Paulo, on June 1, with several cast members attending.[200] The red carpet premiere followed in ArcLight Hollywood, in Los Angeles, on June 7.[201]Linda Perry made a guest appearance to perform “What’s Up?”.[202] Netflix organized an event for the fans on the day of the special’s release, June 8, in Posillipo, in Naples, where a big portion of the special was filmed. Among other things, fans could try a slice of a special “Sense8” pizza that was created by famous pizza maker Gino Sorbillo with the help of the cast.[203]
The OA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
the OA
This article is about the television series. For the peninsula in Scotland, see The Oa. For other uses of the letters OA, see OA (disambiguation).
The OA is an American mystery drama web television series with science fiction, supernatural and fantasy elements.[6][7] The OA debuted on Netflix on December 16, 2016.[8][9] Created and executive produced by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, the series is their third collaboration.[8][9] The series consists of two seasons of eight episodes each, nearly all directed by Batmanglij, and is produced by Plan B Entertainment and Anonymous Content.[10] In the series, Marling stars as a young woman named Prairie Johnson who resurfaces after having been missing for seven years. Prairie now calls herself “The OA” and can see, despite having been blind before her disappearance.
On February 8, 2017, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, dubbed “Part II”, that was released on March 22, 2019. Although the OA was planned by its creators to be a five-part story told in five seasons,[11] on August 5, 2019, Netflix canceled the series after two seasons.[12] The OA received generally favorable critical reception, averaging 77% on Part I and 92% on Part II on Rotten Tomatoes. The series’ directing, visuals and acting were often singled out, as was its social impact.[13]
The series centers around Prairie Johnson, an adopted young woman who resurfaces after having been missing for seven years. Upon her return, Prairie calls herself “The OA” (for “Original Angel”), exhibits scars on her back, and can see, despite having been blind when she disappeared. The OA refuses to tell the FBI and her adoptive parents where she has been and how her eyesight was restored, and instead quickly assembles a team of five locals (four high school students and a teacher) to whom she reveals that information, also explaining her life story. Finally, she asks for their help to save the other missing people whom she claims she can rescue by opening a portal to another dimension.[14]
Part II[edit]
The second season follows the OA as she traverses to another dimension and ends up in San Francisco to continue her search for her former captor Hap and her fellow captives, as Prairie crosses paths with private eye Karim Washington to assist in his investigation of the surreal disappearance of a missing girl that involves an abandoned house with a supernatural history and an online puzzle game. Meanwhile, in the original dimension, a series of unfortunate events propels the OA’s five companions to embark on a road trip across America to assist the OA on her journey.
Cast[edit]
The following actors appear in the series:[15][16]
Main[edit]
Brit Marling as Prairie Johnson / the OA / Nina Azarova / “Brit”
Emory Cohen as Homer Roberts[17]
Scott Wilson as Abel Johnson, Prairie’s adoptive father (season 1, guest season 2)
Phyllis Smith as Betty “BBA” Broderick-Allen[18]
Alice Krige as Nancy Johnson, Prairie’s adoptive mother (season 1, guest season 2)
Patrick Gibson as Steve Winchell / “Patrick Gibson”[19]
Brendan Meyer as Jesse
Brandon Perea as Alfonso “French” Sosa
Ian Alexander as Buck/Michelle Vu[20]
Jason Isaacs as Hunter Aloysius “Hap” Percy / Dr. Percy / “Jason Isaacs”[21]
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Karim Washington (season 2)
Will Brill as Scott Brown (season 2, recurring season 1)
Sharon Van Etten as Rachel DeGrasso (season 2, recurring season 1)[22]
Paz Vega as Renata Duarte (season 2, recurring season 1)
Chloe Levine as Angie (season 2, recurring season 1)
Guest[edit]
Hiam Abbass as Khatun (season 1)
Zoey Todorovsky as Nina Azarova, a young Prairie Johnson
Marcus Choi as Mr. Vu
Robert Eli as Ellis Gilchrist, a high school principal (season 1)
Nikolai Nikolaeff as Roman Azarov, Nina’s father
Sean Grandillo as Miles Brekov (season 1)
Zachary Gemino as Carlos Sosa, Alfonso’s brother
Riz Ahmed as Elias Rahim, an FBI trauma counselor
Robert Morgan as Stan Markham, a sheriff (season 1)
Michael Cumpsty as Leon Citro (season 1)
Bria Vinaite[23] as Darmi (season 2)
Zendaya as Fola Uzaki (season 2)
Zoë Chao as Mo (season 2)
Irène Jacob as Élodie (season 2)
Eijiro Ozaki as Azrael / Old Night, a giant octopus (voice) (season 2)
Vincent Kartheiser as Pierre Ruskin (season 2)
Liz Carr as Marlow Rhodes (season 2)
Episodes[edit]
Part I (2016)[edit]
Part II (2019)[edit]
Production[edit]
The series was conceived by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij and they began working on the concept in December 2012.[24][25] They spent two years working on The OA on their own,[26] before pitching to studios.[27] From the early stages of development onward, they were telling the story out loud and noting one another’s reactions to the story to refine it accordingly.[28] They found it difficult to summarize the series in a written story, so they developed it aurally. When executives read the script of the first hour, they asked if the story “really [went] somewhere”. Marling and Batmanglij then began to tell the story from beginning to end,[28] playing all the characters and acting out the big moments through many hours.[29] They worked with Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, which connected with the story and shared notes before it went to networks and studios.[26] Following a multiple-network bidding war, the series was first announced on March 5, 2015, when Netflix ordered eight one-hour long episodes with Plan B and Anonymous Content also on board. The announcement revealed that Marling would star, Batmanglij would direct, and both would write and executive produce. Marling and Batmanglij held similar positions in their previous two collaborations, Sound of My Voice and The East.[30]
Rostam Batmanglij, Zal’s brother, worked as one of the composers on the series, and he also wrote its theme music.[31] He previously composed for both Sound of My Voice and The East. Choreographer Ryan Heffington created The Movements, which are inspired by interpretive dance. Heffington first professionally worked with them on The East, and had been an acquaintance of both from earlier than that.[32]
The final chapter of Part I includes a dedication to Allison Wilke. Wilke, also known professionally as A.W. Gryphon, was a producer on the series who died of breast cancer three days after the series was finished and a month before its release.[33]
Cancellation and fan response[edit]
On August 5, 2019, Netflix canceled the series after two seasons,[12] leaving the show with a cliffhanger ending. Marling wrote that she and Batmanglij were “deeply sad” that they would not be able to finish the show.[34] Fans responded with a #SaveTheOA[35] and #TheOAisReal campaign on Twitter,[36] a Change.org petition,[34] and by posting video of themselves performing The Movements from the show.[37] Additionally, the OA fan base raised funds for a digital billboard in Times Square.[38] Marling wrote that she was moved by the fan support. One fan went on a hunger strike to protest for the show’s return; Marling and Batmanglij visited her and offered her food and water.[39] Some fans online have put forward a theory that the cancellation announcement was just a meta publicity stunt.[40][41]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
Season one[edit]
The first season of The OA garnered a polarized but generally positive response from critics. Rotten Tomatoes assigned the first season a 77% critical approval rating and an average rating of 7.59/10 based on 66 reviews, writing that “The OA is more than OK.”[42] Metacritic, based on 17 reviews, assigned the series a rating of 61 out of 100, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[43] Most reviewers acknowledged the series’ ambition and praised its mystery and direction. Reviewers made both favorable[6][44][45][46] and unfavorable[47][48][49] comparisons to another Netflix Original, Stranger Things.
John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote, “The OA is Netflix’s strongest and strangest original production since Stranger Things. In terms of substantive, original drama, it transcends it. Mind you, it is unclassifiable in the context of drama, mystery, science-fiction and fantasy, since it is straddling all sorts of lines and blurring them. It is outright astounding and brilliant, too.”[6] Tim Surette at TV Guide said that “the final moments of Episode 5 – probably the best episode of the first season – was some of the most reaffirming television I’ve ever seen, not just for the show but for life itself. I’ve never really had this kind of a relationship with a series while watching it, but it’s that experience that makes it well worth viewing.”[50] New York Magazine’s review was entitled “Netflix’s The OA Is an Extraordinary, Binge-Worthy December Surprise”.[51]
Tristram Fane Saunders of The Daily Telegraph gave a mixed review of 3 out of 5 stars and noted the series’ potential but criticized its similarity to fellow Netflix Original Stranger Things, claiming that the series was attempting to be “stranger than Stranger Things” but “on the basis of the first four episodes, the answer is a resounding no”. Saunders’s review also highlighted the series’ lack of originality and characterization, and derided the dialogue as “portentous [and] self-consciously literary”. It also criticized the slow pace as “glacial”. However, Saunders also acknowledged the series told an interesting and compelling story, writing that “The OA may be utter hokum, but you’ll still be hooked.”[52] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter gave a negative review, stating that the series was “a failed, but not wholly worthless, experiment in TV auteurism”. Fienberg added “the problem, of course, is that telling you what The OA is vaguely like is just another tease and telling you what it actually is is a recipe for disappointment, because after an enticing and somewhat infuriating build-up, The OAbecomes something quite ludicrous as it stumbles toward a climax that is, if I’m generous, merely unearned and if I’m not being generous, a series of offensive overreaches.”[53]
Variety published diverging opinions about the series: its TV critic at the time, Sonia Saraiya, gave the show a mixed-to-negative review that praised the direction and acting but opined that overall “it is hard to take The OA seriously”, detailing that “none of it makes any sense”, and concluded that “[a]s an exercise in vision, The OA is exciting. As that other thing — a television show — it’s an especially cryptic attempt to say very little of consequence.”.[54] A few days later, on the other hand, the magazine’s chief film critic Peter Debruge wrote an extremely positive column with the headline “Why The OA is One of the Year’s Most Important Films”, stating that the show’s first season had “the most effective ending [he had] ever seen in a TV series”, and that its “final twist […] left [him] crying uncontrollably for nearly half an hour”.[55]
Season two[edit]
The second season received very positive reviews upon its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an approval rating of 92% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “The OA’s second season provides satisfying answers to its predecessors’ most maddening enigmas, all while maintaining the singular ambience that fans have come to crave.”[56] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[57] Critics acknowledged the second season’s vast improvements on its narrative and characterization, particularly praising its surrealism, directing and acting.
Empire Magazine crowned The OA the best TV show of 2019 (so far) in September of 2019.[58] The Playlist stated in their review that: “The OA: Part II packs each frame so dense with detail, that not one second of the new season’s more-than-eight-hour runtime seems wasted, expositional, cheap, or unearned.”[59] Jesse Scheden of IGN gave The OA: Part II a score of 8.8 out of 10, saying the season is “bigger, more ambitious and much weirder than its predecessor”.[60] Rachel Syme of The New Republic praised the season, labeling the show as “the best, most inaccessible show on television”, saying that “[she wishes] more television was this unafraid to leave its audiences fumbling for understanding.”[61]
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: “The only thing I’m sure of when it comes to The OA is that the process of watching and experiencing an episode is unlike the viewing of any other show on TV and, good or bad, there’s value in that.” Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club echoed that sentiment, saying “sacrificing your expectations of plausibility feels like a worthwhile price of admission.”[62] Jen Chaney of New York Magazine called the season a mind-bender and praised the way it depicted the aftermath of a school shooting.[63]
Ed Power of The Daily Telegraph, gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and wrote that the show “truly comes into its own when you stop attempting to piece together the storyline and instead submit to Marling and Batmanglij’s vision.”[64] Emily Todd VanDerWerff of Vox, initially critical of the first season, wrote of the series: “over time, I kept thinking about it. And thinking about it. And thinking about it. Until I convinced myself that The OA is kind of genius, while simultaneously being incredibly silly.”[65]Haleigh Foutch of Collider said, “Netflix has carved out a space for itself as a home for innovative genre storytelling, and The OA might just be their crowning achievement in that regard.”[66]
Accolades[edit]
Better Call Saul
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
better-call-saul
This article is about the television series. For the Breaking Bad episode, see Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad). For the Homeland episode, see Better Call Saul (Homeland).
Better Call Saul is an American television crime drama series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. It is a spin-off prequel of Gilligan’s prior series Breaking Bad. Set in the early 2000s, Better Call Saul follows the story of con-man turned small-time lawyer, Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), beginning six years before the events of Breaking Bad, showing his transformation into the persona of criminal-for-hire Saul Goodman. Jimmy becomes the lawyer for former beat cop Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), whose relevant skill set allows him to enter the criminal underworld of drug trafficking in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015. The 10-episode fourth season aired between August and October 2018. The show has been renewed for a fifth season, which is scheduled to premiere on February 23, 2020.
Jimmy is initially working as a low-paid sole practitioner, with the back room of a nail salon as his home and office. His friend and romantic interest, Kim Wexler(Rhea Seehorn) works as a lawyer at the firm of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM), where Jimmy and she were once employed in the mailroom. Partners at HHM include Jimmy’s nemesis, Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian), and brother, Chuck McGill (Michael McKean). Mike conducts illegal drug-related activity with Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) in addition to becoming right-hand man for drug lord Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) who runs a fast food restaurant as a business front. Odenkirk, Banks, and Esposito are all reprising their roles from Breaking Bad.
Like its predecessor, Better Call Saul has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its acting, characters, and cinematography; many critics have called it a worthy successor to Breaking Bad and one of the best prequels ever made. Some have also deemed it superior to its predecessor.[5][6][7] It has garnered many nominations, including a Peabody Award, 23 Primetime Emmy Awards, seven Writers Guild of America Awards, five Critics’ Choice Television Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. The series premiere held the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history at the time of its airing. Despite the initial popularity, Better Call Saul has not attained the same viewership numbers as Breaking Bad did at its highest.
Better Call Saul follows the life of the character Saul Goodman beginning about six years prior to the events of Breaking Bad.[8] In 2002, Goodman, born as James “Jimmy” McGill, is a former con artist trying to follow a legitimate career as an aspiring lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[9] After secretly completing law school and attaining admission to the bar, he unsuccessfully seeks to become an associate in the law firm in which his older brother Charles “Chuck” McGill is a senior partner. However, Jimmy’s work is frequently overshadowed by Chuck’s, and he struggles to find a way to prove himself, even with the help of an associate in the firm, Kim Wexler, with whom he also becomes romantically involved. At the same time, Jimmy takes care of Chuck, who claims to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity, a condition that makes him physically ill in the presence of anything with an electrical component and has caused him to take an extended leave from his firm and regular law work. Interspersed among Jimmy’s activities are the prior histories of other Breaking Bad characters, including Mike Ehrmantraut, a former police officer who becomes involved in illegal drug trafficking schemes, and drug kingpins Hector Salamanca and Gus Fring, who help distribute drugs illegally brought to the area from Mexico.
The series also provides brief glimpses of Saul’s fate after the events of “Granite State”, the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad, in which Saul fears for his own safety and takes on a new identity in Omaha, Nebraska as Gene, the manager of a Cinnabon store. In Better Call Saul flash forwards, “Gene” reminisces about his past, but remains paranoid that someone might discover his true identity.
The fourth season features scenes taking place closer to the time of events in Breaking Bad, which was set in 2008; the story, as described by co-creator Vince Gilligan, “brings us into the world—or at least points us on a path toward the world of Walter White and the territory of Walter White”.[9] In “Quite a Ride”, the cold open takes place concurrent to events near the end of Breaking Bad, with Jimmy as Saul destroying documents and taking money from the Saul Goodman office made memorable in that series.[10]
Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould began planning a television spinoff of Breaking Bad as early as 2009. While filming “Full Measure”, Gilligan asked Bob Odenkirk, the actor of series character Saul Goodman, what he thought of a spinoff of the show.[11] In July 2012 Gilligan hinted at a possible Goodman spinoff,[12] stating that he liked “the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law”, including settling on the courthouse steps.[13]Gilligan noted that over the course of Breaking Bad, there were a lot of “what if”s their team considered, such as if the show won a Primetime Emmy Award, or if people would buy “Los Pollos Hermanos” T-shirts. The staff did not expect these events to come to fruition, but after they did, they started considering a spin-off featuring Saul as a thought experiment. Further, Saul’s character on Breaking Bad became much more developed than the staff had originally planned, as he was originally slated to appear in only three episodes; with the growth of Saul’s character, Gilligan saw ways to explore Saul’s backstory.[14]
In April 2013, Better Call Saul was confirmed to be in development by Gilligan and Gould; the latter wrote the Breaking Badepisode that introduced the character.[15][16]
Casting[edit]
Bob Odenkirk stars as lawyer Jimmy McGill (known as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad). In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would reprise his Breaking Bad role as Mike Ehrmantraut and be a series regular.[17]
New cast members include Michael McKean as McGill’s elder brother Chuck. McKean previously guest-starred in an episode of Odenkirk’s Mr. Show and Gilligan’s X-Files episode “Dreamland”.[18][19] The cast also includes Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, Rhea Seehorn as Kimberly “Kim” Wexler, and Michael Mando as Ignacio “Nacho” Varga.[20] In October 2014, Kerry Condon was cast[21] as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike’s daughter-in-law. In November 2014, it was announced that Julie Ann Emery and Jeremy Shamos had been cast as Betsy and Craig Kettleman, described as “the world’s squarest outlaws.”[22]
Going into Season 3, it was announced that Giancarlo Esposito would return to play Gus Fring.[23]
The showrunners have teased that “familiar faces” from Breaking Bad will make appearances during Season 4. They will also cast an actor for the character “Lalo”, mentioned only by name in the episode “Better Call Saul” episode of Breaking Bad.[24]Both Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul said, as of Season 3, they are both open to reappearing on the show as Walter Whiteand Jesse Pinkman, respectively, if asked, believing that Gilligan would have a sufficiently good reason to bring them in.[25]Paul had previously mentioned the possibility of a cameo during Season 1 but this fell through.[26][27] Anna Gunn also mentioned a “talk” with Gilligan over possible guest appearances as Skyler White.[28] Dean Norris, another Breaking Badalumnus, stated he could not be part of the earlier seasons, partly due to his involvement in the CBS series Under the Dome.[29] Gilligan said that by Season 3 that show had been on long enough that any reuse of Breaking Bad characters would be more than “just a cameo or an Alfred Hitchcock walkthrough”, and that their appearances would be necessary for the story.[25]
Development history[edit]
As of July 2013, the series had yet to be greenlighted.[30] Netflix was one of many interested distributors, but ultimately a deal was made between AMC and Breaking Bad production company Sony Pictures Television.[31] Gilligan and Gould serve as co-showrunners and Gilligan directed the pilot.[32] Former Breaking Bad writers Thomas Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison joined the writing staff, with Schnauz serving as co-executive producer and Hutchison as supervising producer.[33] Also on the writing staff are Bradley Paul, and Gordon Smith, who was a writer’s assistant on Breaking Bad.[32]
In developing the series, the producers considered making the show a half-hour comedy,[15] but ultimately chose an hour-long format more typical of a drama.[13] In October 2014, Odenkirk called the show “85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy.”[34]During his appearance on Talking Bad, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the most popular characters on the show, speculating that the audience likes the character because he is the program’s least hypocritical figure, and is good at his job.[35] Better Call Saul also employs Breaking Bad’s signature time jumps.[36]
As filming began on June 2, 2014,[37] Gilligan expressed some concern regarding the possible disappointment from the series’ turnout, in terms of audience reception.[38][39]
The first teaser trailer debuted on AMC on August 10, 2014, and confirmed its premiere date of February 2015.[40] In November 2014, AMC announced the series would have a two-night premiere; the first episode aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 10:00 pm (ET), and then moved into its regular time slot the following night, airing Mondays at 10:00 pm.[41] In May 2015, Gilligan confirmed that more of the prominent characters from Breaking Bad would be making guest appearances in season 2, but remained vague on which characters were likely to be seen.[42]
In June 2014, prior to the series’ launch, AMC had renewed the series for a second season of 13 episodes to premiere in early 2016;[32] however, it was later reduced to 10 episodes.[43] The second season premiered on February 15, 2016.[44]
In March 2016, AMC announced that Better Call Saul was renewed for a 10-episode third season which premiered April 10, 2017.[45][46] AMC renewed the series for a 10-episode fourth season in June 2017 which premiered on August 6, 2018.[47][48]The series was renewed for a fifth season on July 28, 2018, just prior to the airing of the fourth season.[49] The fifth season is not expected to air until 2020; according to AMC’s Sarah Barnett, the delay was “driven by talent needs”.[50] Filming for the fifth season started in April 2019, and finished in September 2019.[51][52] AMC later affirmed the ten-episode fifth season will start airing with a special Sunday broadcast on February 23, 2020, with following episodes to air on Mondays.[53]
Like its predecessor, Better Call Saul is set and filmed primarily in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.[54] The production used sets at Albuquerque Studios.[55]
Cast and characters[edit]
Bob Odenkirk (Jimmy McGill)
Jonathan Banks(Mike Ehrmantraut)
Rhea Seehorn (Kim Wexler)
Patrick Fabian(Howard Hamlin)
Michael Mando(Nacho Varga)
Michael McKean(Chuck McGill)
Giancarlo Esposito(Gus Fring)
Tony Dalton (Lalo Salamanca)
Main cast[edit]
Main article: List of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul characters
Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill/Gene Takovic, a lawyer and a former scam artist, who becomes involved with the criminal world.
Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Philadelphia police officer working as a parking lot attendant at the Albuquerque court house, and later a private investigator, bodyguard and “cleaner”.
Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, a lawyer formerly working at the Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM) law firm, now running her own practice, who is Jimmy’s girlfriend and confidante.[56][57]
Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, the managing partner at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, first appearing as Jimmy’s nemesis, until it becomes clear that he acts under Charles McGill’s orders.
Michael Mando as Nacho Varga, who works in his father’s upholstery shop and is also an intelligent, ambitious member of Hector Salamanca’s gang.
Michael McKean as Chuck McGill, Jimmy’s elder brother and a founding partner of HHM who is confined to his home by electromagnetic hypersensitivity and expresses disdain for his brother’s legal abilities. (seasons 1–3, recurring season 4)
Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring, a methamphetamine distributor who uses his fast foodrestaurant chain Los Pollos Hermanos as a front. (seasons 3–present)
Tony Dalton as Lalo Salamanca, nephew of Hector and cousin of Tuco, Leonel, and Marco, who helps run the family drug business after Hector’s stroke. (season 5, recurring season 4)[58]
Recurring cast[edit]
Introduced in season 1[edit]
Kerry Condon as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike’s widowed daughter-in-law and the mother of Kaylee Ehrmantraut.
Faith Healey (season 1) and Abigail Zoe Lewis (season 2–present) as Kaylee Ehrmantraut, Mike’s granddaughter.
Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen, owner of a nail salon which houses Jimmy’s law office (and sometime home) in its back room.
Peter Diseth as Bill Oakley, a deputy district attorney.
Joe DeRosa as Dr. Caldera, a veterinarian with ties to the criminal underworld.
Dennis Boutsikaris as Rich Schweikart, the attorney for Sandpiper Crossing.
Mark Proksch as Daniel “Pryce” Wormald, a drug company employee who begins supplying Nacho and hires Mike as security.
Brandon K. Hampton as Ernesto, Chuck’s assistant who works at HHM.
Josh Fadem as Camera Guy, or Joey Dixon, one of the three UNM film students who help Jimmy film various projects.
Julian Bonfiglio as Sound Guy, one of the three UNM film students Jimmy hires for various film projects.
Hayley Holmes as Drama Girl, one of the three UNM film students Jimmy hires for various projects.
Jeremy Shamos and Julie Ann Emery as Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a county treasurer and his wife, accused of embezzlement.
Steven Levine and Daniel Spenser Levine as Lars and Cal Lindholm, twin skateboarders and small-time scam artists.
Míriam Colón as Abuelita, Tuco’s grandmother and Hector’s mother.
Barry Shabaka Henley as Detective Sanders, a Philadelphia cop who was formerly partnered with Mike on the force.
Mel Rodriguez as Marco Pasternak, Jimmy’s best friend and partner-in-crime in Cicero, Illinois.
Clea DuVall as Dr. Cruz, a doctor who treats Chuck and suspects his condition is psychosomatic.
Jean Effron as Irene Landry, an elderly client of Jimmy McGill overcharged by the Sandpiper Crossing elder care home.
Introduced in season 2[edit]
Ed Begley Jr. as Clifford Main, managing partner at Davis & Main.
Omar Maskati as Omar, Jimmy’s assistant at Davis & Main.
Jessie Ennis as Erin Brill, a lawyer at Davis & Main who is ordered to shadow Jimmy.
Juan Carlos Cantu as Manuel Varga, Nacho’s father who owns an upholstery shop.
Vincent Fuentes as Arturo Colon, a criminal associate of Hector Salamanca (seasons 2–4).
Rex Linn as Kevin Wachtell, chairman of Mesa Verde Bank and Trust and a client of HHM and Kim.
Cara Pifko as Paige Novick, senior legal counsel for Mesa Verde Bank and Trust and a friend of Kim.
Ann Cusack as Rebecca Bois, Chuck’s ex-wife.
Manuel Uriza as Ximenez Lecerda, an associate of Hector Salamanca.
Introduced in season 3[edit]
Bonnie Bartlett as Helen, Irene’s friend and member of the affected class in the Sandpiper lawsuit.
Kimberly Hebert Gregory as ADA Kyra Hay.
Tamara Tunie as Anita, a member of Mike and Stacey’s support group.
Introduced in season 4[edit]
Rainer Bock as Werner Ziegler, an engineer hired by Gus to plan and oversee construction of his meth “superlab”.
Ben Bela Böhm as Kai, a rebellious member of the crew Werner Ziegler assembles for the construction of Gus’s meth “superlab”.
Stefan Kapičić as Casper, a member of Werner Ziegler’s team.
Poorna Jagannathan as Maureen Bruckner, a specialist from Johns Hopkins who flew to Albuquerque to treat Hector after Gus arranged for a “generous grant.”
Breaking Bad characters[edit]
Raymond Cruz as Tuco Salamanca, a ruthless, psychopathic drug distributor in the South Valley. (seasons 1–2)
Cesar García as No-Doze, Tuco’s henchman. (season 1)
Jesús Payán Jr. as Gonzo, Tuco’s henchman. (season 1)
T.C. Warner as Nurse (season 1)
Kyle Bornheimer as Ken, an arrogant, self-absorbed stockbroker (season 2)
Stoney Westmoreland as Officer Saxton, an Albuquerque Police Department officer (season 2)
Jim Beaver as Lawson, a black market weapons dealer in Albuquerque (season 2)
Maximino Arciniega as Domingo “Krazy-8” Molina, one of Tuco’s distributors (seasons 2–present)
Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca, Tuco’s uncle and high-ranking member of the cartel (seasons 2–present)
Debrianna Mansini as Fran, a waitress at Loyola’s Diner (seasons 2, 4)
Daniel and Luis Moncada as Leonel and Marco Salamanca, Tuco’s cousins and Hector’s nephews who are hitmen for the cartel (seasons 2, 4)
Jennifer Hasty as Stephanie Doswell, a real estate agent (season 2)
Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy, Jimmy’s receptionist (seasons 3-present)
Jeremiah Bitsui as Victor, Gus’s henchman (seasons 3–present)
Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt, a henchman on Gus Fring’s payroll (seasons 3–present)
JB Blanc as Dr. Barry Goodman, a doctor on Gus Fring’s payroll (seasons 3–present)
Steven Bauer as Don Eladio Vuente, the head of the Juarez drug cartel (season 3)
Javier Grajeda as Juan Bolsa, a high-level member of the Juárez drug cartel (seasons 3–present)
Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux, a professional pickpocket hired by Jimmy (seasons 3–present)
Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, a Madrigal Electromotive executive and associate of Gus Fring (seasons 3–present)
Eric Steining as Nick, a member of Gus’s security team, later managed by Mike. (season 4)
Franc Ross as Ira, a burglar Jimmy hires; in Breaking Bad, he is the owner of Vamonos Pest who appears in “Hazard Pay”. (season 4)
David Costabile as Gale Boetticher, a chemist who is consulted by Gus (season 4)
Episodes[edit]
Main article: List of Better Call Saul episodes
Season 1 (2015)[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 1)
Tired of public defender work, Jimmy works to represent the Kettlemans, who are accused of embezzlement. Jimmy cares for his brother Chuck, who is housebound without electricity because he believes he has electromagnetic hypersensitivity. While pursuing an elder law career, Jimmy discovers clients being defrauded by the Sandpiper retirement home and begins a class action lawsuit with Chuck. When the case grows, Chuck suggests giving it to HHM, but secretly arranges with Howard to cut Jimmy out. The case continues growing and HHM brings on Davis & Main. Unhappy at Howard’s treatment of him, Kim recommends Jimmy to D&M.
Season 2 (2016)[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 2)
Jimmy works at D&M but quits after being reprimanded for his client outreach methods. Kim is demoted because of Jimmy’s actions. To reclaim her status, she secures Mesa Verde Bank as a client for HHM but Howard denies her credit. Kim and Jimmy practice in a shared office. Jimmy secretly causes Chuck to make an error that delays new branch construction, so Mesa Verde drops HHM to hire Kim. Nacho hires Mike to remove Tuco from the Salamanca organization. Mike goads Tuco into fighting and Tuco is imprisoned. Hector is suspicious so Mike prepares to assassinate him but is interrupted.
Season 3 (2017)[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 3)
Chuck discovers Jimmy’s fraud and tricks him into confessing, leading to suspension of Jimmy’s law license. Chuck’s ouster at HHM leads to his suicide. Gus stops Mike from killing Hector. Mike attacks Hector’s trucks and steals $250,000 from one. Mike asks for help laundering the money. Gus arranges for Mike’s hire as a contracted security expert at Madrigal and payment of monthly consulting fees. Hector plans to take over Manuel’s business so Nacho attempts to kill Hector by changing his angina medication for a placebo. Hector suffers a stroke and Gus’ first aid saves him, though he remains comatose.
Season 4 (2018)[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 4)
Jimmy regains his outgoing demeanor after Howard shoulders blame for Chuck’s death. Jimmy manages a cell phone store but makes more reselling prepaid phones. His reinstatement request is denied over lack of remorse for Chuck. After faking mourning, he successfully appeals, but reveals he’s going to practice as Saul Goodman. Gus learns Nacho attempted to kill Hector and blackmails him into undermining the Salamancas. Mike escorts engineers who evaluate the laundry’s potential as a meth lab and Gus hires Werner to oversee construction. Hector recovers mentally and can move his right index finger. Lalo Salamanca arrives to run Hector’s business.
Talking Saul[edit]
Talking Saul is a live aftershow hosted by Chris Hardwick, which features guests discussing episodes of Better Call Saul. The show uses the same format as Talking Dead, Talking Bad, and other similar aftershows also hosted by Hardwick. AMC announced that Talking Saul would air after the second season Better Call Saul premiere on February 15, 2016, and again after the second-season finale on April 18, 2016.[60] It returned following the season 3 premiere and finale.[61]
Season 1 (2016)[edit]
These episodes discuss season two of Better Call Saul.
Season 2 (2017)[edit]
These episodes discuss season three of Better Call Saul.
Broadcast[edit]
In December 2013, Netflix announced that the entire first season would be available for streaming in the U.S. after the airing of the first-season finale, and in Latin America and Europe each episode would be available a few days after the episode airs in the U.S.[66] However, the first season was not released on Netflix in the U.S. until February 1, 2016.[67][68] Internationally, episodes of the second season became available the day after they aired in the U.S.[69]
Netflix is the exclusive video-on-demand provider for the series and makes the content available in all its territories, except for Australia and New Zealand.[66] In Australia, Better Call Saul premiered on the streaming service Stan[70] on February 9, 2015, acting as the service’s flagship program.[71] In New Zealand, the show is exclusive to the New Zealand-based subscription video-on-demand service, Lightbox.[72] The episodes were available for viewing within three days of broadcast in the U.S.[73]
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series was acquired by Netflix on December 16, 2013,[74] and the first episode premiered on February 9, 2015, with the second episode released the following day. Every subsequent episode was released each week thereafter.[75] In India, the series is broadcast on Colors Infinity within 24 hours of the U.S. broadcast.[76]
The series premiere drew in 4.4 million and 4 million in the 18–49 and 25–54 demographics, respectively, and received an overall viewership of 6.9 million.[77] This was the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history, until it was surpassed later the same year by another AMC series, Fear the Walking Dead.[78]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
Better Call Saul has received widespread critical acclaim.
Season 1[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 1) § Reception
The first season of Better Call Saul received critical acclaim, particularly for its acting, writing, and directing with many critics calling it a worthy successor to Breaking Bad. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a rating of 98%, based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 8.16/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Better Call Saul is a quirky, dark character study that manages to stand on its own without being overshadowed by the series that spawned it.”[79] On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the first season has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[80]
Season 2[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 2) § Reception
The second season, much like the previous, received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has a score of 97%, based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Better Call Saul continues to tighten its hold on viewers with a batch of episodes that inject a surge of dramatic energy while showcasing the charms of its talented lead.”[81] On Metacritic, the second season has a score of 85 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating “universal acclaim”.[82]
Season 3[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 3) § Reception
The third season, much like the previous two, received critical acclaim, particularly for the character development of Jimmy McGill. On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has an approval rating of 97% based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 8.78/10. The site’s critical consensus is, “Better Call Saul shows no signs of slipping in season 3, as the introduction of more familiar faces causes the inevitable transformation of its lead to pick up exciting speed.”[83] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 87 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating “universal acclaim”.[84]
Season 4[edit]
Main article: Better Call Saul (season 4) § Reception
The fourth season has also received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a 99% approval rating with an average score of 8.93 out of 10 based on 36 reviews. The site’s critical consensus states, “Well-crafted and compelling as ever, Better Call Saul deftly balances the show it was and the one it will inevitably become.”[85] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 87 out of 100, based on 16 reviews, indicating “universal acclaim”.[86]
Awards and accolades[edit]
Ratings[edit]
Home media[edit]
The first season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on November 10, 2015; bonus features include audio commentaries for every episode, uncensored episodes, deleted scenes, gag reel, and several behind-the-scenes featurettes. A limited edition Blu-ray set was also released with 3D packaging and a postcard vinyl of the Better Call Saul theme song by Junior Brown.[136] The second season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on November 15, 2016; bonus features include audio commentaries for every episode and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.[137] The third season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on January 16, 2018; bonus features include audio commentaries for every episode and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.[138] The fourth season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on May 7, 2019; bonus features include audio commentary for every episode and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.[139]
Comics[edit]
AMC has released two digital comic books for Better Call Saul. The first, titled Better Call Saul: Client Development, released in February 2015, in advance of the series premiere, details the history of Saul and Mike, acting as a spin-off of the Breaking Bad episode that introduced Saul.[140] In February 2016, in advance of the second-season premiere, AMC released Better Call Saul: Saul Goodman and the Justice Consortium in the Clutches of the Judgernaut![141
the colony
Colony (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the 2016 American TV series. For other uses, see Colony (disambiguation).
Colony is an American science fiction drama television series created by Carlton Cuse and Ryan J. Condal, starring Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies.[3] A ten-episode first season premiered with an online preview release of the first episode on USA Network’s website on December 15, 2015, following the launch of a game-like website[4] to promote the show. The series had its broadcast premiere on USA Network on January 14, 2016.[5] In April 2017, Colony was renewed for a third season which premiered on May 2, 2018.[6][7] On July 21, 2018, USA announced they had cancelled the series after three seasons.[8]
In a dystopian near-future Los Angeles, residents live under a regime of military occupation by an organization known as the Transitional Authority. The Authority serves an extraterrestrial group referred to as the “Hosts”, about whom little is known. The symbol of the collaborating forces features stylized birds of prey, or raptors, which gives rise to their nickname, the “Raps”. The Authority enforces Host policy via militarized police called Homeland Security and nicknamed the “Redhats”.
The Hosts took control on a day known simply as the “Arrival”. Late that day, massive rectangular blocks descended from the sky, linking together to build walls dividing the city. One of these walls, 20 to 30 stories tall, many meters thick, and many miles in length, surrounds the central part of Los Angeles, where the series is set. Other similar walls have been constructed around neighbouring urban areas, called “blocs”, with the whole referred to as a “colony”. Traffic passes through the walls at heavily secured checkpoints, called “gateways”, which allow the Authority to strictly control the movement of people and the distribution of consumables, such as food and fuel, which are rationed. The geographical extent of the alien invasion is unclear, but it is presumably worldwide.
A privileged class of elites, drawn by the Hosts from the local population, are denigrated by some bloc residents as collaborators. The ruling forces maintain control through the separation of loved ones, shoot-on-sight curfews, forced disappearances, random checkpoints, frequent electronic identity checks, limitation of motor vehicle usage (most people walk or ride bicycles), pervasive visual propaganda, slave labor in a place called the “Factory” (later revealed to be located on the Earth’s moon to mine radioactive materials), and electronic surveillance with Host-provided drone aircraft that launch from the wall. Some medical problems, such as diabetes, have been “deemed unworthy for treatment” by the Hosts, to cull the population.
A resistance movement is referred to as both the “Resistance” and the “Insurgency”. An informal barter-based black market has also sprung up, trading in surplus materials and home-produced goods.
Allusion to historical events[edit]
In a May 21, 2015, interview with Collider, executive producer Carlton Cuse stated that the show was “conceived as a metaphor for France during the Nazi occupation”.[9] In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, co-creator Ryan Condal detailed that the original concept behind Colony was that they “were actually inspired by Nazi-occupied Paris during WWII, where people went on living their lives, having coffee in street-side cafes while Nazi officers marched along the roads”.[10]
Plot[edit]
The series begins less than a year after the arrival of aliens who occupy Earth. It follows the Bowmans and their extended family in Los Angeles. Their son, Charlie, was on a school sports trip and was separated from them when alien walls sectioned off part of the city. The father, Will Bowman, is a former FBI agent and retired Army Ranger who reluctantly joins the Redhats (humans collaborating with the aliens) and is tasked with tracking down members of the resistance, after being threatened that he and his family would be sent to “the Factory” if he did not comply. Unbeknownst to Will, his wife, Katie, is an operative in the resistance. She later reveals this, and they begin to trade information. Their son, Bram, discovers a way under the wall, and later joins a rival resistance group.
Cast and characters[edit]
The cast at Camp Conival presentation for Colony offsite at Petco Park during San Diego Comic-Con 2016. From left: Adrian Pasdar, Tory Kittles, Sarah Wayne-Callies, Ryan Condal, Peter Jacobson, Amanda Righetti and Josh Holloway
Main[edit]
Josh Holloway as Will Bowman: A former U.S. Army Ranger and FBI Special Agent initially working under the alias Billy “Sully” Sullivan as a truck driver and mechanic.[3][11] To protect his family from being sent to the Factory, and to find his missing son Charlie, Will starts working for the Redhats hunting down Resistance members.
Sarah Wayne Callies as Katie Bowman: Will’s wife and a secret Resistance operative. She owns and operates “The Yonk”, a New Orleans-themed bar.[3]
Peter Jacobson as Alan Snyder: The Proxy Governor of the Los Angeles Bloc and an unrepentant Collaborator.[12] Snyder claims to be a former Stanford University provost but is later revealed to be the corrupt purchasing manager of a small community college. Snyder is removed as Proxy and made warden of a labor camp outside the bloc.
Amanda Righetti as Madeline “Maddie” Kenner (seasons 1–2): Katie’s younger sister[13]
Tory Kittles as Eric Broussard: A former U.S. Marine Corps Force Recon, CIA assassin, and private military contractor.[14] Now a resistance operative, he infiltrates the Redhats and is Katie’s main Resistance contact.
Alex Neustaedter as Bram Bowman: Will and Katie’s teenaged son[12]
Isabella Crovetti as Grace Kathryn “Gracie” Bowman: Will and Katie’s young daughter[15]
Jacob Buster as Charlie Bowman (guest season 1; season 2–3): Will and Katie’s younger son, who was separated from the rest of his family a year before the start of the series, when the wall went up. He is found by Will at the beginning of season 2 and reunited with his family.[16]
Recurring[edit]
Kim Rhodes as Rachel (season 1): A doctor and Resistance cell member
Paul Guilfoyle as Alexander Quayle (season 1): A former CIA Berlin station chief and Defense Intelligence Agency officer turned Los Angeles Resistance leader[17]
Cooper J. Friedman as Hudson (seasons 1–2): Madeline’s diabetic son
Carl Weathers as Bolton “Beau” Miller (season 1): A former San Francisco Police Department officer turned Homeland Security officer and Will Bowman’s partner[17][18]
Ally Walker as Helena Goldwyn: Chief of staff and later Governor-General of the Los Angeles Colony of which the Bloc is a part[19]
Kathy Baker as Phyllis (season 1): Will’s boss at Homeland Security whom he suspects (and she implies) is a former CIA agent[17]
Kathleen Rose Perkins as Jennifer McMahon (seasons 1–2): A former online dating service database administrator turned Homeland Security agent, below Phyllis and above Will and Beau[17]
Gonzalo Menendez as Captain Lagarza (season 1): A Redhat officer[12]
Erin Way as Lindsey (seasons 1–2): The Proxy government-provided tutor for Gracie Bowman
Kathryn Morris as Charlotte Burgess (season 1): A cultural director in the Green Zone who becomes Maddie’s boss[20]
Adrian Pasdar as Nolan Burgess (seasons 1–2): Charlotte’s husband and an important player in the politics of the occupational government[20]
Bethany Joy Lenz as Morgan (season 2):[a] A software engineer and Los Angeles Resistance member[21][22][23]
Charlie Bewley as Eckhart (seasons 1–2): A resistance cell member
Mac Brandt as Sgt. Jenkins (season 2): A labour camp guard
Christian Clemenson as Dan Bennett (season 2): The new head of Homeland Security
Toby Huss as Bob Burke (season 2): Homeland Security Investigator and Will Bowman’s new partner
William Russ as Hennessey (season 2): An ex-spy[24]
Keiko Agena as Betsy (season 2): A co-worker of Will Bowman and Jennifer at Homeland Security[24]
Meta Golding as Noa (season 2): A member of a resistance cell from outside the walls
John Hoogenakker as Scott Garland (season 3): A former FBI Agent and a Greyhat Lieutenant with the charge of hunting the resistance in the California Woodlands
Wayne Brady as Everett Kynes (season 3): Head of the autonomous Seattle colony[25]
Peyton List as Amy Leonard (season 3): A doctor and Resistance dispatcher who works with Broussard but distrusts Will
Notes[edit]
^ Guest star Thora Birch played Morgan in season 1
Episodes[edit]
Season 1 (2016)[edit]
^ The pilot episode was released online on December 15, 2015.[26]
Season 2 (2017)[edit]
Season 3 (2018)[edit]
Specials[edit]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
The show has received generally positive reviews. On Metacritic it holds a score of 69/100, based on 22 reviews, indicating “generally favorable reviews.”[64] On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a score of 80%, based on 24 reviews with an average rating of 6.4/10. The critics’ consensus reads: “Colony offers an engaging enough narrative, a few scares, and an overall good time, even if none of it is particularly original.”[65]
Stephen King praised the series saying: “In a year of remarkable TV, Colony is really something special: smart, suspenseful, subversive… thought-provoking.”[66]
The I-Land
theI Land
The I-Land is an American science fiction thriller web television miniseries created by Anthony Salter. The series is executive produced by Neil LaBute, Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev. The series stars Kate Bosworth, Natalie Martinez, Ronald Peet, Kyle Schmid, Gilles Geary, Sibylla Deen, Anthony Lee Medina, Kota Eberhardt, Michelle Veintimilla and Alex Pettyfer. It was released on September 12, 2019 on Netflix.[9]
Contents
1Premise
2Cast and characters
2.1Main
2.2Recurring
3Production
3.1Development
3.2Casting
3.3Filming
4Episodes
5Release
6References
7External links
Premise[edit]
The I-Land begins when “ten people wake up on a treacherous island with no memory of who they are or how they got there, they set off on a trek to try to get back home. They soon discover this world is not as it seems. Faced with the island’s extreme psychological and physical challenges, they must rise to their better selves — or die as their worst ones.”[10]
Cast and characters[edit]
Main[edit]
Kate Bosworth as KC
Natalie Martinez as Chase
Ronald Peet as Cooper
Kyle Schmid as Moses
Gilles Geary as Mason
Sibylla Deen as Blair
Anthony Lee Medina as Donovan
Kota Eberhardt as Taylor
Michelle Veintimilla as Hayden
Alex Pettyfer as Brody
Recurring[edit]
Clara Wong as Carol
Keilyn Durrel Jones as Carter[11]
Bruce McGill as Warden Wells
María Conchita Alonso
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
On September 28, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a seven-episode first season. Neil LaBute was set to serve as co-director, writer and showrunner for the miniseries along with directorial credits from Jonathan Scarfe and writing credits from Lucy Teitler. Executive producers were expected to include LaBute, Chad Oakes, and Mike Frislev with Lucy Teitler and Jonathan Scarfe serving as co-executive producers and Kate Bosworth acting as a producer. Production companies involved with the miniseries were slated to consist of Nomadic Pictures Entertainment.[10] The production company reportedly spent a budget of $14 million for the first season, with each episode costing $2 million.[12] On August 20, 2019, it was reported that the miniseries was set to be released on September 12, 2019.[9]
Casting[edit]
Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Kate Bosworth, Natalie Martinez, and Alex Pettyfer would star in the miniseries.[10] In October 2018, it was announced that Kyle Schmid had been cast in a starring role.[13] In December 2018, it was reported that Clara Wong had joined the cast in a recurring capacity.[14] In August 2019, Gilles Geary joined the main cast in the role of Mason.[15] In the same month, it was confirmed that Michelle Veintimilla, Kota Eberhardt, Sibylla Deen, Ronald Peet and Anthony Lee Medina will star in the miniseries.[9]
Filming[edit]
Filming for the first season took place in Pinewood Indomina Studios, Dominican Republic, San Pedro De Macoris and Las Terrenas, Samaná, Dominican Republic from October 15, 2018 to December 19, 2018.[12][16][17]
Episodes[edit]
Release[edit]
On August 20, 2019, the teaser trailer for the miniseries was released.[9][18] On August 29, 2019, the official trailer for the miniseries was released.[19]
Rim of the World
is a 2019 American science fiction adventure film directed by McG from a screenplay by Zack Stentz. It stars Jack Gore, Miya Cech, Benjamin Flores Jr. and Alessio Scalzotto. The film, which was Stentz’ modern take on the kid-centered film of the 1980s,[2] was streamed on Netflix on May 24, 2019.[3][4] It was the most watched content in the SVOD service in the U.K. the week it was released, overtaking the series Dead to Me and Riverdale.[5]
Three young teens, ZhenZhen, Alex, and Dariush, attend a summer camp in Southern California called Rim of the World. ZhenZhen is from China who runs away from her hated father. Dariush is the funny African American that is the son of a millionaire that has gone bankrupt, and Alex is the timid and scared son to a single widowed mother because his father died from a house fire. During a canoeing trip the three wander off in the woods and find another young teen, Gabriel, that is an escaped juvenile delinquent. While deep in the woods, the group sees the sky turning orange, hears explosions and receive alerts on their phones to avoid the metropolitan area. The group of four return to camp to find that the camp has evacuated except for Conrad, a drunk counselor that they cannot seem to wake. Overhead, US aircraft are fighting alien ships. An escape pod from the International Space Station crashes to Earth with a dying astronaut inside. She gives Alex a key which she says needs to get to a NASA station, JPL, in order for the aliens to be stopped. The alien kills the astronaut and then attacks the group along with its alien dog. The group manages to kill the alien dog with fire from the escape pod, which only seems to anger the alien. The alien is then shot by aircraft, but not before killing Conrad.
With the key in hand, the group escapes the camp while the alien is seemingly dead. They make their way to the Sheriffs Office where they discover that Asia and Europe have been destroyed and the use of nuclear weapons in the Los Angeles Basin has been approved. While at the Sheriffs Office they discover an inmate, Lou, that has been left behind. Alex and ZhenZhen decide to release him before the group continues on their way to JPL. After leaving the Sheriffs Office the group is found by some Marines who take the key and put the children on a bus to take them to safety. Aliens attack the convoy, killing the soldiers. The group takes the key back and continues on their way to JPL. After stopping to rest for the night, they are attacked by a gang of masked individuals led by Lou from the Sheriff’s Office. He agrees to let the teens go if Alex gives him the key. Alex refuses and right before Lou attacks him, the alien that died at the camp but has regenerated itself ambushes the group, killing Lou and allowing the teens to escape.
The teens finally make it to JPL only to find that the doctor who needs the key is dead. The teens are able to make radio contact with a general who explains that the key can be used to destroy the alien mothership in orbit via a Cold War defense project name Excalibur. ZhenZhen goes into the basement to start the generators while Alex goes on the roof to the communication tower. Dariush and Gabriel stay in the command center of JPL to insert the key into the systems. Alex is attacked on the roof by the alien and ZhenZhen is attacked in the basement by an alien dog but manages to lock it in the basement and get back to the command room to help Gabriel insert the launch key since Dariush has passed out from blood loss due to an injury.
After successfully inserting the launch keys, the General warns ZhenZhen, Dariush, and Gabriel to get out of the building because JPL is not safe and there are two units on the way to get them. In the meantime, Alex has managed to lure the alien into a highly flammable engine test room and burns the alien to a crisp. With the building crumbling around him, Alex manages to escape and reunite with his friends. The group of teens watch from the ground as the mothership is blown up in the atmosphere above them. ZhenZhen rewards Alex for his bravery with a big kiss. Alex is reunited with his mother and the children are deemed heroes who have saved the world. Pictures show the teens being knighted by the Queen of England, being awarded crowns and sashes, and riding in parades throughout America.
Cast[edit]
Jack Gore as Alex, a timid, smart 13-year-old
Miya Cech as ZhenZhen, a girl that runaways from China because her father wanted a boy.
Benjamin Flores Jr. as Dariush, a spoiled rich boy teenager
Alessio Scalzotto as Gabriel, a teenager with Dyscalculia who escaped from a juvenile detention center
Andrew Bachelor as Logan, a camp counselor
Annabeth Gish as Grace, Alex’s mother
Scott MacArthur as Lou
Dean Jagger as Captain Hawking
Michael Beach as General Khoury
Lynn Collins as Major Collins
David Theune as Head Counselor
Tony Cavalero as Conrad
Carl McDowell as Carl
Punam Patel as Angeline
Jason Rogel as Customs Official
Chris Wylde as Uncle Chris
Rudy Mancuso as Wes
Amanda Cerny as Lucy/”Hot Counselor”
Allan Graf as Taxi Driver
Cameron Fuller as Young Soldier
Richard Gore as Alex’s dad
Peter Parros as Dariush’s dad
Annie Cavalero as Zip Line Counselor
Production[edit]
In March 2018, it was reported that McG would direct Rim of the World for Netflix from a screenplay by Zack Stentz. In an interview, Stentz revealed that he started working on the script as early as 2017 and the deal with Netflix was closed a year later.[6] Principal production commenced in May 2018 in Los Angeles, California.[7][8] In June 2018, the cast was announced.[9]
Principal photography began in June 2018[10][9] and reportedly lasted 40 days.
Reception[edit]
On the review aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 25% based on 12 reviews, with a weighted average of 3.8/10.[11]
Another Life TV series
Another Life (2019 TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
another life
Another Life is an American science fiction drama web television series created by Aaron Martin that premiered on Netflix on July 25, 2019.[1] The series stars Katee Sackhoff, Selma Blair, Tyler Hoechlin, Justin Chatwin, Samuel Anderson, Elizabeth Ludlow, Blu Hunt, A.J. Rivera, Alexander Eling, Alex Ozerov, Jake Abel, JayR Tinaco, Jessica Camacho, Greg Hovanessian, Barbara Williams and Lina Renna.
Contents
External linksSynopsis
Another Life opens with the arrival on Earth of Möbius strip-shaped flying objects, which when they land, crystal-encrusted menhirs seem to self-construct or “grow” from them. Erik Wallace (Justin Chatwin) is a scientist employed by the United States Interstellar Command who is tasked with figuring out how to communicate with the alien monolith that has landed in the United States. However, this task proves difficult and so far unsuccessful. Wallace’s wife, Captain Niko Breckinridge (Katee Sackhoff), is tasked with taking the spaceship Salvare and its crew to find the origin of this sophisticated alien object.
Cast and characters
Main
Katee Sackhoff as Niko Breckinridge, an astronaut who commands a crew on a mission to explore the genesis of an alien artifact.
Justin Chatwin as Erik Wallace, a scientist of the United States Interstellar Command, dedicated to finding intelligent life out in the universe. He is also the husband of Niko.
Samuel Anderson as William, a holographic interface of a sentient AI onboard The Salvare.
Blu Hunt as August Catawnee, the lead engineer and youngest member of the crew aboard The Salvare.
A.J. Rivera as Bernie Martinez, the Salvare’s microbiologist and part-time chef.
Jake Abel as Sasha Harrison, the son of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, serving as the government’s representative and diplomatic liaison aboard The Salvare.
Alex Ozerov as Oliver Sokolov, one of The Salvare’s engineers.
Alexander Eling as Javier Almanzar, a former hacker who is onboard The Salvare as an expert in computer engineering.
JayR Tinaco as Zayn Petrossian, the Salvare’s medic.
Lina Renna as Jana Breckinridge-Wallace, the daughter of Niko and Erik.
Selma Blair as Harper Glass, a media influencer who attempts to break one of the biggest stories in human history.
Elizabeth Ludlow as Cas Isakovic, Niko’s second-in-command and pilot of The Salvare. She is awakened in episode 2.
Recurring
Jessica Camacho as Michelle Vargas, the Salvare’s communications expert.
Barbara Williams as General Blair Dubois, General of United States Interstellar Command, in charge of United States’ response to the Artifact.
Greg Hovanessian as Beauchamp McCarry, Niko’s third-in-command and pilot of The Salvare. He is awakened in episode 7.
Parveen Dosanjh as Dr. Nani Singh, a scientist who is Erik’s friend and coworker.
Chanelle Peloso as Petra Smith, a crew member of the Salvare.
Guest
Tyler Hoechlin as Ian Yerxa, an astronaut and the former commander of The Salvare space explorations ship, who loses the position to Niko.
Martin Donovan as Egan Harrison, a politician and Sasha’s father.
Leifennie as Azami Ouchi, a computer engineer.
Episodes
Production
Development
On April 26, 2018, Netflix announced that it had given the production a series order for a ten-episode first season.[3] The series is created by Aaron Martin who is credited as an executive producer alongside Noreen Halpern.[3] On June 19, 2019, it was confirmed that the series would premiere on July 25, 2019.[1]
Casting
On April 26, 2018, it was announced that Katee Sackhoff had been cast as a series regular.[3] On August 21, 2018, it was reported that Selma Blair had joined the cast in a recurring role.[4][5] On August 28, 2018, it was announced that Tyler Hoechlin, Justin Chatwin, Samuel Anderson, and Elizabeth Ludlow had joined the cast.[6] The following day, Blu Hunt joined the cast.[7] In September 2018, the rest of the main cast was revealed.[8]
Filming
Filming for the first season took place on location in Vancouver, British Columbia from August 20, 2018 to November 20, 2018.[9]
Critical reception
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 6% of 17 critic ratings are positive for the series, with an average rating of 4.54/10. The website’s consensus reads, “A hodgepodge of science fiction homage, Another Life lacks the distinctive spark necessary to set it apart from the array of stories it aspires to be.”[10] Metacritic calculated an average score of 33 out of 100, based on 8 reviews, citing “generally unfavourable reviews”.[11]
Nightflyers
Nightflyers is an American horror science fiction television series on Syfy that premiered in the United States on December 2, 2018 and on Netflix, internationally on February 1, 2019. The series is based on the novella and series of short stories of the same name by George R. R. Martin. The first season consisted of ten episodes, which concluded on December 13, 2018. On February 19, 2019, it was reported that Syfy had canceled the series.
Contents
1Premise
2Cast
2.1Main
2.2Recurring
3Production
3.1Development
3.2Filming
4Episodes
5Release
6Reception
6.1Critical response
6.2Ratings
6.3Accolades
7Home media
8References
9External links
Premise[edit]
In 2093, a team of scientists embarks on a journey into space aboard an advanced ship called the Nightflyer to make first contact with alien life-forms. However, when terrifying and violent events occur, the team begins to question each other and to realize there is something on-board the Nightflyer with them. It’s up to the crew to save the ship and themselves. [1]
Cast[edit]
Main[edit]
Eoin Macken as Karl D’Branin, an astrophysicist and leader of the Nightflyer expedition[2]
David Ajala as Roy Eris, the reclusive captain of the Nightflyer[2]
Jodie Turner-Smith as Melantha Jhirl[2]
Angus Sampson as Rowan, a xenobiologist[2]
Sam Strike as Thale, an L-1 telepath[2]
Maya Eshet as Lommie Thorne, a cyberneticist, who communicates with the Nightflyer’s computers via a neuro-port surgically implanted in her arm[2][3]
Brían F. O’Byrne as Auggie, chief engineer of the Nightflyer[2][4]
Gretchen Mol as Agatha Matheson, a psychiatrist who specializes in working with telepaths[2]
Recurring[edit]
Phillip Rhys as Murphy[2]
Gwynne McElveen as Tobis[2]
Zoë Tapper as Joy D’Branin
Miranda Raison as Tessia
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In 2016, it was announced that Syfy would be developing a series based on Martin’s novella. Later in 2017, it was announced that the series would rather be based on the film adaptation from 1987.[5] George R. R. Martin will not be involved directly with the series due to his exclusive contract with HBO, but will be credited as an executive producer.[6]
Filming[edit]
The series started its production in early 2018 on location in Limerick, Ireland, and also at the Limerick-based Troy Studios, with Daniel Cerone serving as the showrunner.[7] [8]Cerone also serves as a series executive producer, alongside Gene Klein, David Bartis, and Doug Liman of Hypnotic, Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta of Gaeta Rosenzweig Films, and Lloyd Ivan Miller and Alice P. Neuhauser of Lloyd Ivan Miller Productions.[2][9][better source needed]
For the visual effects, Spin VFX is the main vendor with Territory Studio supplying user interfaces, and Switch Visual Effects providing additional support. The visual effects have to work seamlessly with the huge practical set built for the ship.[10]
Episodes[edit]
Release[edit]
Promotional poster for the series.
Netflix has joined the series as a co-producer, and holds international airing rights in addition to secondary airing rights in the United States.[21]Nightflyers premiered on Syfy on December 2, 2018.[22] The first season consisted of ten episodes.[23] The first season became available to stream on Netflix worldwide on February 1, 2019.[24] On February 19, 2019, it was reported that Syfy had canceled the series.[25]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 33% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 5.41/10. The website’s critical consensus reads: “Unsettling without being particularly scary, Nightflyers’s low-budget aesthetics and over-reliance on homage betray its intriguing philosophical pondering and impressive creative pedigree.”[26] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 47 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[27]
Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club is disappointed that the show doesn’t do more to upend genre conventions the way Game of Thrones successfully did, saying “showrunner Jeff Buhler doesn’t quite know how to make it feel new again”. McLevy praises the show for its “appealing visual style” despite budgetary limitations, and of the acting cast he singles out Maya Eshet “who elevates every scene in which she appears”. He compares the show to the film Event Horizon and calls the show engaging but lacking depth and suggests the show may appeal more to those who already enjoy the sci-fi horror genre.[28]
Ratings[edit]
Accolades[edit]
Home media[edit]
Cold Pursuit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
cold pursuit
Cold Pursuit is a 2019 American black comedy action film[1][4] directed by Hans Petter Moland (in his Hollywood debut) from a screenplay by Frank Baldwin. The film stars Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum, William Forsythe, and Tom Bateman. It is a remake of the 2014 Norwegian vigilante film In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten), also directed by Moland, and follows a snowplow driver who sets out for revenge on a local drug lord following the murder of his son.
The film was released in the United States on February 8, 2019, by Summit Entertainment. It has grossed over $32 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences and the dark humor.[5]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
4Release
5Reception
5.1Box office
5.2Critical response
6Controversy
7References
8External links
Plot[edit]
Nelson Coxman’s quiet life as a snowplow driver in the glitzy Colorado ski resort of Kehoe, where he was just awarded “Citizen of the Year”, is disrupted when his son dies from a forced heroin overdose. Nels’ wife Grace has a psychotic breakdown over her son’s death and leaves her husband in grief.
A depressed Coxman is about to commit suicide when he learns that his son was murdered by a drug cartel. This causes him to craft a custom sniper rifle, become a vigilante and kill three members of the cartel, sinking their bodies in a nearby river. The cartel’s leader, Trevor “Viking” Calcote, suspects that these deaths are the work of Native American drug lord White Bull, with whom he has earlier avoided conflict. Viking abducts and murders White Bull’s only son, which sparks a gang war between the two factions.
Viking eventually learns that Coxman has killed his men, and tries in vain to call off the gang war, not realizing White Bull intends to exact revenge through a blood debt, “a son for a son”. Meanwhile, Coxman kidnaps Viking’s son from his prep school in an attempt to draw the drug lord into an ambush. Despite abducting the boy, Coxman treats him well and avoids putting his life in jeopardy.
Viking’s gang arrive at Coxman’s ambush, which is unsuccessful, and he is captured alive. White Bull’s gang arrives shortly thereafter with the intention of vengeance. During the ensuing shootout, most of the gangsters are killed and Viking is trapped after Coxman drops a shorn tree on his car, and is shot in the chest by White Bull.
Viking dies later when found by Kehoe police Detectives Kimberly Dash and her partner Gip. As Coxman leaves the property in his snowplow to continue his work, White Bull jumps into the cab and the two men drive away together. The last remaining enforcer for White Bull’s cartel accidentally paraglides into the snowplow and is chopped to bits.
Cast[edit]
Liam Neeson as Nelson “Nels” Coxman
Laura Dern as Grace Coxman, Nels’ wife
Emmy Rossum as Kimberly “Kim” Dash, a local detective
Tom Bateman as Trevor “Viking” Calcote, a psychopathic drug lord based in Denver, Colorado
William Forsythe as Brock “Wingman” Coxman, a former hitman for Viking’s father and Nels Coxman’s brother
Julia Jones as Aya, a member of the Ute people, Viking’s ex-wife, and the mother of his son
Domenick Lombardozzi as Mustang, a closeted homosexual and senior enforcer for Viking
Raoul Trujillo as Thorpe, a member of the Ute people and enforcer for White Bull
Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dexter, an enforcer to Viking and Mustang’s secret lover
John Doman as Gip, Kim’s partner and a corrupt cop working for White Bull
David O’Hara as Sly, an enforcer to Viking
Aleks Paunovic as Detective Osgard
Christopher Logan as Shiv
Nathaniel Arcand as Smoke
Ben Cotton as Windex
Tom Jackson as White Bull, a member of the Ute people and rival drug lord to Viking
Micheál Richardson as Kyle Coxman, Nels’s son.
Mitchell Saddleback as Avalanche
Manna Nichols as Minya, a secretary at White Bull’s headquarters
Production[edit]
The participation of actor Liam Neeson, director Hans Petter Moland and producers Michael Shamberg and StudioCanal in making Cold Pursuit was announced in January 2017.[6] In March 2017, Domenick Lombardozzi, Emmy Rossum, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Laura Dern, William Forsythe, Julia Jones, and John Doman joined the cast of the film.[7][8][9][10][11][12] The next month, Aleks Paunovic joined.[13]
Principal photography began in March 2017, in Alberta, Canada. Filming also took place in Fernie, British Columbia.[14] While Moland had hoped to shoot in the Banff and Jasper national parks, the permit was denied by Parks Canada, who cited concerns about the film’s environmental impact, and over the depiction of the First Nations gangsters led by Tom Jackson’s character. Jackson provided a letter in support of the project.[15]
Release[edit]
In November 2017, Summit Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[16] It was released on February 8 in the United States,[17] and is scheduled for February 22 in the United Kingdom.
The film’s February 5, 2019 red carpet premiere was cancelled because of comments made by Neeson the previous day, regarding a past incident in his life, which some interpreted as racist.[18]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
As of February 21, 2019, Cold Pursuit has grossed $23.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $8.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $32.2 million, against a production budget of $60 million.[19][3]
In the United States and Canada, Cold Pursuit was released alongside What Men Want, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and The Prodigy, and was projected to gross $7–10 million from 2,630 theaters in its opening weekend.[20] It made $3.6 million on its first day, including $540,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $11 million, finishing third, behind The Lego Movie 2 and What Men Want.[21][22] In its second weekend the film fell 45% to $6 million, finishing sixth.[23]
Critical response[edit]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 74% based on 118 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Cold Pursuit delivers the action audiences expect from a Liam Neeson thriller — along with humor and a sophisticated streak that make this an uncommonly effective remake.”[24] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[25] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B-” on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 3 out of 5 stars and a 42% “definite recommend”.[26][22]
Chris Nashawaty, writing for Entertainment Weekly, delivered a positive review, grading it a “B+” and saying: “If [Cold Pursuit] sounds like murder-by-numbers Liam Neeson Mad Libs, well, it kind of is. But what sets Cold Pursuit apart from its predecessors is its tone. It has the jokey, self-amused vibe of an Elmore Leonard novel or one of those arch, wannabe Tarantino knock-offs that sprouted up like toadstools in the wake of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction and were quickly forgotten. It knows exactly what kind of movie it is, but that doesn’t stand in the way of it goosing its bloodbath set pieces with irreverent, off-kilter gallows humor.”[27] Richard Roeper, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, praised the film, awarding it 3.5 out of 4 stars, and saying, “As characters with nicknames such as Sly and Mustang and Smoke and War Dog and Shiv and Drayno enter and often quickly exit the picture, Cold Pursuit moves forward with the assured and deliberate force of Nels’ massive snowplow. And with Neeson/Nels at the wheel, Cold Pursuit is one fantastically hot mess of a movie.”[28]
Controversy[edit]
Liam Neeson was accused of racism after an interview with The Independent at a press junket for the film, published in February 2019.[29][30] Neeson explained his character’s “primal” anger to the interviewer by recounting an experience he had many years ago. A woman close to him said she had been raped by a stranger, and Neeson asked what color skin the attacker had; after learning the attacker was black, Neeson said that for about a week, he “went up and down areas with a cosh … hoping some ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go” so that Neeson “could kill him”. In the interview, Neeson also said he was “ashamed” to recount the experience and that it was “horrible” that he did what he did. “It’s awful … but I did learn a lesson from it, when I eventually thought, ‘What the fuck are you doing?’”[31][32]
In an appearance on Good Morning America, Neeson elaborated on his experience while denying being a racist, saying the incident occurred nearly 40 years ago, that he asked for physical attributes of the rapist other than race, that he would have done the same if the rapist was “a Scot or a Brit or a Lithuanian”, that he had purposely gone into “black areas of the city”, and that he “did seek help” from a priest after coming to his senses. Neeson said that the lesson of his experience was “to open up, to talk about these things”, as there was still underlying “racism and bigotry” in both the United States and Northern Ireland. The controversy Neeson’s comments caused led to the cancellation of the red carpet event for the premiere of Cold Pursuit.[33][34][35]
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a 2016 American action thriller film, directed by Edward Zwick and written by Zwick, Richard Wenk and Marshall Herskovitz, and based on the novel Never Go Back by Lee Child. A standalone sequel to the 2012 film Jack Reacher, the film stars Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Patrick Heusinger, Aldis Hodge, Danika Yarosh, Holt McCallany and Robert Knepper. The plot follows Reacher going on the run with an Army Major who has been framed for espionage, as the two reveal a dark conspiracy.
Principal photography began on October 20, 2015, in New Orleans, and the film was released on October 21, 2016, in IMAX and conventional formats.[4] It grossed $162 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
4 Release
4.1 Box office
4.2 Critical response
4.3 Home media
5 References
6 External links
Plot
After busting a human trafficking ring, former military investigator turned vigilante drifter Jack Reacher returns to his old military headquarters to meet Major Susan Turner, whom he has been working with during his travels and has become his closest friend – only to learn from Colonel Sam Morgan that Turner has been accused of espionage and detained.
Turner’s attorney, Colonel Bob Moorcroft, reveals that there is evidence that Turner is involved in the murders of two soldiers in Afghanistan, but Reacher believes she is being framed. Moorcroft also reveals an old acquaintance of Reacher, Candice Dutton, has filed a paternity suit against him, claiming he is the biological father of her 15-year-old daughter, Samantha Dutton. Reacher tries to reach out to Samantha, but she rebuffs him, believing he is after her biological mother due to her past as a prostitute.
Moorcroft is later killed by an unknown assassin known as the Hunter. Reacher is framed for Moorcroft’s murder and arrested and transported to the prison where Turner is being detained. Two hitmen arrive to kill her, but Reacher neutralizes them, rescues her and they escape to Morgan’s house, having deduced he is involved in the conspiracy, to extract information. After they leave, the Hunter, revealed to be working with Morgan, kills Morgan and frames Reacher which he learns about from a friend, Sergeant Leach, when he asks her to investigate a military contractor.
Reacher and Turner uncover surveillance pictures of Samantha and surmise she is in danger, arriving at her home to find her foster parents dead and Samantha hiding in the kitchen. Reacher and Turner decide to escort Samantha to Turner’s old private school for protection, but discover that she has her mobile phone with her and that the enemy probably knows exactly where they are. They discard the phone and make a quick exit, during which Samantha steals a backpack from one of the students to use the credit cards.
Reacher, Turner and Samantha travel to New Orleans in search of Daniel Prudhomme, the only eyewitness to the murders for which Turner has been framed. They find him in a derelict warehouse filled with drug addicts and learn that Prudhomme is connected to Parasource, a private military organization that is trying to cover up the murders. Reacher contacts Turner’s friend, Captain Anthony Espin, to move Prudhomme into custody, but they are ambushed by assassins and Prudhomme is killed, while Reacher rescues a wounded Espin and finds out that the assassins are Parasource contractors. Parasource’s CEO, General James Harkness, then sends the Hunter to capture Samantha after she uses a credit card from the backpack she stole to order room service.
Reacher and Turner, along with Espin, acting on information provided by Prudhomme, intercept a flight of weapons due to enter the country, where they confront Harkness and his men and accuse them of corruption. Upon opening the crates, however, Espin finds weapons as declared in the flight manifest. Before Turner can be re-arrested, Reacher opens up one of the weapons and discovers that they are filled with opium. They learn that Harkness framed Turner, who had been investigating his activities, for the murders of two soldiers who discovered that Harkness was selling weapons to insurgents and smuggling drugs into the United States. Espin and his men then arrest Harkness, clearing Reacher’s and Turner’s names.
The Hunter and his men locate and chase Samantha through the streets to lure Reacher into a confrontation. Turner kills one of the assassins, whilst Reacher takes out another one on the rooftop. The Hunter captures Samantha and threatens to kill her, but she manages to escape and steal his gun. Reacher then tackles the Hunter onto another rooftop, briefly incapacitating both of them, and they have a vicious fight that culminates with Reacher breaking the Hunter’s arm, leg and neck, before dropping him off the rooftop. Reacher then admits to Samantha he might be her father.
Following Harkness’ arrest, Turner is reinstated in her old position and goes back to her office, where her colleagues and a recovering Captain Espin all welcome her back. Reacher promises to keep in touch before meeting Samantha at a diner to meet Candice, Samantha’s mother, whom Reacher surmises he will recognize, as he remembers every woman he has slept with. Samantha reveals that the waitress that had been serving him is in fact Candice, and that Reacher cannot be her father, as neither had recognized each other. Reacher and Samantha then reluctantly part.
A short time later, while Reacher is walking along a road, he is surprised when a phone Samantha had slipped into his pocket rings. He finds a text message from her reading, “Miss me yet?”. Reacher smiles as he sticks out his thumb to hitch a ride.
Cast
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
Cobie Smulders as Major Susan Turner[5]
Aldis Hodge[6] as Captain Anthony Espin, Turner’s friend
Danika Yarosh[7] as Samantha Dutton, the girl Jack Reacher protects
Patrick Heusinger[8] as the Hunter
Holt McCallany[9] as Colonel Sam Morgan
Austin Hebert as Daniel Prudhomme[9]
Robert Catrini as Colonel Bob Moorcroft,[10] Turner’s attorney
Robert Knepper as General James Harkness[11]
Jessica Stroup as Lieutenant Sullivan
Madalyn Horcher as Sergeant Leach
Teri Wyble as Mrs. Prudhomme
Lee Child as TSA Agent
Production
While Jack Reacher was intended to be a tent-pole for a film series, it was initially reported that a sequel would be unlikely due to its lackluster run at the North American box office.[12] However, in February 2013, a sequel became more likely after the film surpassed a gross of $200 million worldwide.[13] On December 9, 2013, it was announced that Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media were moving forward with the development of a second film, reportedly based on the 2013 Jack Reacher novel Never Go Back.[14]
On May 14, 2014, it was reported that Tom Cruise would reprise his role as Jack Reacher.[15]
On May 19, 2015, Deadline reported that Edward Zwick would re-team with Cruise, and direct the film. Zwick wrote the script along with Marshall Herskovitz, and also Richard Wenk. Zwick and Cruise had previously worked together on The Last Samurai.[16] On August 14, 2015, Cobie Smulders was added to the cast to play the female lead.[5] On September 15, Danika Yarosh signed on to star in the film,[7] on September 17, Aldis Hodge was added to the cast,[6] and on September 22, Patrick Heusinger was cast in the villain role.[8] On October 20, Holt McCallany joined the film, as did Austin Hebert.[9] On November 12, 2015, Robert Catrini joined,[10] and on January 20, 2016, Robert Knepper was cast as General Harkness, a retired general, and CEO of a private military firm.[11]
Principal photography on the film began on October 20, 2015, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[17] On November 23, 2015, filming took place in Baton Rouge,[18] and in January 2016, filming also took place in St. Francisville.[19]
Henry Jackman composed the film’s music, making this Zwick’s first film since Blood Diamond (2006) not to be scored by James Newton Howard.
Release
On June 14, 2016, Entertainment Weekly premiered a preview of the first trailer, with Cobie Smulders introducing the footage. The official Jack Reacher Twitter account announced that a full trailer would be released on June 22, 2016.[citation needed] A browser game, titled Jack Reacher: Never Stop Punching, was also released to promote the film.[20]
In September 2015, Paramount set Jack Reacher: Never Go Back a release date of October 21, 2016.[21]
Box office
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back grossed $58.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $103.4 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $162.1 million, against a production budget of $96 million.[2][22]
In the United States and Canada, the film opened alongside Ouija: Origin of Evil, Keeping Up with the Joneses and Boo! A Madea Halloween, and was projected to gross around $20 million from 3,780 theaters in its opening weekend, with the studio expecting a debut of about $17 million.[23] It earned $1.3 million in midnight showings at 1,850 theaters, slightly above Oblivion’s $1.1 million and under Edge of Tomorrow’s $1.8 million.[24] For the weekend, the film opened to $23 million, finishing in second place, behind Boo! A Madea Halloween.[25][26] In its second weekend, the film dropped by 58.2%, grossing $9.6 million, and finishing third at the box office, behind A Madea Halloween ($16.7 million) and newcomer Inferno ($15 million).[27]
Outside North America, the film was released in 42 countries in conjunction with its United States and Canada debut, representing about 75% of the film’s total marketplace internationally.[28]
In 30 markets, the film posted the biggest opening in the series. Outside of the United States and China, the United Kingdom and Ireland ($3.3 million), France ($2.8 million), Australia ($2 million), Russia ($2 million), Indonesia ($1.9 million), Taiwan ($1.6 million) and the UAE ($1.3 million) posted the top openings.[28]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 37%, based on 219 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Monotonously formulaic, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is one action-thriller sequel whose title also serves as a warning.”[29] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score 47 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[30] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale, while the first film received an “A−”.[31][24]
Home media
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back was released on Digital HD on January 17, 2017,[32] and on Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray and DVD on January 31, 2017.[33][34]
By May 2018, the film had made $14.5 million in domestic region video sales.[35
The A-Team (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
the A team
The A-Team is a 2010 American action comedy film based on the 1980s television series of the same name created by Frank Lupoand Stephen J. Cannell. Co-written (with Brian Bloom and Skip Woods) and directed by Joe Carnahan, the film stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson and Brian Bloom. The film tells the story of “The A-Team”, a Special Forces team imprisoned for a crime they did not commit, who escape and set out to clear their names. The film was produced by Stephen J. Cannell,[4] Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.[5][6] The film was theatrically released on June 11, 2010 by 20th Century Fox.
The film had been in development since the mid-1990s having gone through a number of writers and story ideas and being put on hold a number of times. Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was an average performer at the box office making $177 million on a $110 million budget.[7]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Locations and filming
3.2Development
3.3Casting
4Marketing
4.1Comics
4.2Video game
5Release
5.1Home media
6Reception
6.1Critical response
6.2Comments by original cast
6.3Box office
6.4Accolades
6.5Soundtrack
7Cancelled sequel
8References
9External links
Plot[edit]
John “Hannibal” Smith is held captive in Mexico by two Federal Police officers working for renegade General Javier Tuco. Hannibal escapes and sets out to rescue Templeton “Face” Peck, who is held captive at Tuco’s ranch. Hannibal saves Face after enlisting fellow Ranger, B.A. Baracus, driving to the rescue in BA’s modified GMC Vandura.[8] Pursued by Tuco, they stop at a nearby Army Hospitalto recruit the services of eccentric pilot Howling Mad Murdock. They flee in a medical helicopter, chased by Tuco, in a dogfight that leaves BA with a fear of flying. The battle ends when they lure Tuco’s helicopter into American airspace, where it is shot down by an F-22 Raptor for trespassing.
Eight years later in Iraq, Hannibal is contacted by CIA Special Activities Division operative Lynch, who assigns them a black operationto recover U.S. Treasury plates and over $1 billion in cash slated to move out of Baghdad in an armored convoy. Hannibal’s commanding officer, General Morrison, consents to the operation but Face’s former girlfriend, Defense Criminal Investigative ServiceCapt. Charissa Sosa, tries to discourage the team against getting the plates. The mission is successful and when the team returns to base, the money and Morrison’s vehicle are destroyed by Brock Pike and his men from the private security firm Black Forest. Without Morrison (the only proof that they were authorized to act), Hannibal, Face, Murdock, and BA are court-martialled, sentenced to ten years in separate prisons, and dishonorably discharged. Sosa also ended up court-martialled and is demoted to lieutenant.
Six months later, Lynch visits Hannibal in prison and tells him that Pike may be trying to sell the plates with the help of an Arab backer. Hannibal, who has been tracking Pike on his own, makes a deal with Lynch: full reinstatement and clean records for his team in return for the plates. Lynch agrees and Hannibal escapes, breaking out Face, BA, and Murdock in the process. The team hijacks a C-130, which is later shot down by Reaper UCAVs, but not before the team parachutes away in a tank stashed aboard and make it to the ground safely. The team moves to reclaim the plates and kidnap Pike’s backer. It is revealed that the backer is actually General Morrison, who plotted with Lynch and Pike to steal the plates but teamed up with Pike to double-cross Lynch and fake his death. Lynch orders an airstrike to kill the team and Morrison, but the team manages to escape whilst Morrison is killed.
Hannibal arranges to meet Sosa on board a container ship at the Los Angeles Port, saying he will hand over Morrison and the plates. Face then calls Sosa on a drop phone he planted on her at the train station, and conspires a different plan with her. It all unfolds according to plan until Pike, who is now working with Lynch, blows up the container ship and chases Face to near death. BA (having converted to Buddhism while in prison) finally gives up his pacifist ways and kills Pike, saving Face. Hannibal leads Lynch into a container with Murdock, who, wearing a covered bullet-proof helmet, is portraying Morrison. Lynch shoots at Murdock’s head, believing that he kills Morrison, and is later tricked into admitting that he stole the plates, and is subsequently arrested by Sosa.
The CIA agents led by a separate “Lynch” comes and claims custody of the original one. Despite their success and proving themselves innocent, the military still arrests the team for escaping from prison, also a crime; they and Sosa are angered by this, since it is only being done so Sosa’s boss does not have to fill out paperwork. Sosa is reinstated to captain, but she promises to do all she can to set the team free and kisses Face as everybody is led into a prison van. In the van, everyone starts saying that the system has burned them again, but Hannibal tells them that there is always a way out of any situation, and turns towards Face, who smiles and says “I don’t want to steal your line, boss, but… I love it when a plan comes together” and opens his mouth and reveals a handcuff key, given to him by Sosa through the kiss. The final scene includes a narration (spoken by Corey Burton) similar to the show’s opening narration.
In a post-credits scene, Murdock and Face of The A-Team’s original cast are seen.
Cast[edit]
Liam Neeson as John “Hannibal” Smith
Bradley Cooper as Templeton “Face” Peck
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as B.A. Baracus
Sharlto Copley as Howling Mad Murdock
Jessica Biel as Charissa Sosa [9]
Patrick Wilson as Vance Burress/Agent Lynch[10]
Jon Hamm as Other Lynch (uncredited)
Brian Bloom as Brock Pike. Bloom was also a writer on the film.[11]
Gerald McRaney as General Morrison
Terry Chen as Ravech
C. Ernst Harth as Crematorium Attendant
Corey Burton as Narrator
In a post credits scene, original series actors Dirk Benedict (Face) and Dwight Schultz (Murdock) have cameos with their film equivalents Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley. Benedict plays Face’s fellow tanning bed client, credited as “Pensacola Prisoner Milt,” and Schultz plays the German neurologist who examines Murdock.
Production[edit]
Locations and filming[edit]
The entire film was shot at various locations in Canada including Kamloops, Vancouver, Cache Creek and Ashcroft,[12] British Columbia, with much of the studio works being done at Mammoth Studios.[10][13][14][15] Other footage was included as well, such as aerial shots of the Cologne train station (though erroneously referred to as Frankfurt Central Station in the movie) as well as an aerial shot of the Frankfurt skyline.[16] Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake is also featured in the German escape scene where a number of base buildings and landmarks are clearly visible, as is the false canopy painted under the CF-18s. The Royal Canadian Air Force along with some USMC squadrons are the only Hornet users to have the false canopy painted on the bottom. American markings were digitally added later. The Hawaii Mars Martin Mars water bomber, based at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, is also used in one scene of the movie to cross the Atlantic.
Development[edit]
Joe Carnahan at the film’s premiere.
The film had been in development since the mid-1990s, going through a number of writers and story ideas, and being put on hold a number of times. Producer Stephen J. Cannell hoped to update the setting, perhaps using the Gulf War as part of the backstory.[17][18] John Singleton was initially assigned to direct, but in October 2008 he pulled out of the project.[19] When Singleton was still attached to the project as director, Ice Cube was approached for the role of B.A. Baracus.[20]
The production budget for the film was $110 million,[3][21] but the cost came in at $100 million after tax credits.[2]
Casting[edit]
In June 2009, Variety revealed that Liam Neeson was in negotiations with 20th Century Fox to star as Hannibal Smith,[22] and Bradley Cooperannounced to MTV News[23] that he would be playing the role of Templeton Peck after he first denied the rumors saying that he was not involved and insisted that he had not seen any script.[24]
On August 26, 2009, MMAjunkie.com reported that mixed martial arts fighter Quinton Jackson would play the role of B.A. Baracus in the upcoming film,[25] but this was later denied by a representative for Jackson.[26] In September 2009, The Vancouver Sun suggested that Jackson has been attached to the role and was postponing his fight at UFC 107 with Rashad Evans due to filming for The A-Team. Filming started in Vancouver in late 2009, and Jackson’s involvement was then confirmed.[27][28]
On September 15, 2009, Variety confirmed the casting of Neeson, Cooper and Jackson. They additionally reported that Sharlto Copley and Jessica Biel were in final negotiations to join the cast. Copley would be playing the role of H.M. Murdock and Biel would be playing the ex-lover of Face who is a disillusioned and ruthless Army officer in charge of pursuing the team.[29] 20th Century Fox later confirmed that Copley and Biel were cast in the film.[10]
On September 30, 2009, Liam Neeson and the rest of the cast were seen filming scenes in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as shooting got under way.[30] The first official pictures of Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson in character were soon released, including one which features the iconic van in the background.[15]
On October 30, 2009, Dwight Schultz confirmed that he had filmed a cameo scene for the movie.[31] This news was followed on the November 23, 2009, that Dirk Benedict would also make a cameo.[32] Schultz and Benedict played Howling Mad Murdock and Templeton Peck respectively in the original series. Mr. T, the original BA Baracus, did not appear in the film. In an interview with Wendy Williams, he said he did not like doing a cameo appearance in a film based on the original series he once did.
Marketing[edit]
Comics[edit]
In February 2010, it was announced a series of comics for the movie would be released beginning in March. Written by Carnahan and Chuck Dixon, the series, The A-Team: War Stories is a prequel to the film, featuring one-shots focusing each on Hannibal, Face, BA, and Murdock.[33] A second series, The A-Team: Shotgun Wedding, is a tie-in to the film by showing an all-new adventure set after the quartet escaped. Film director Joe Carnahan and Tom Waltz collaborated to pen the series.
Jazwares released a line of action figures featuring the four main characters, plus the GMC Vandura.
Video game[edit]
An application for the iPhone was released as part of the marketing blitz for the film. The A-Team application is a side-scrolling, third person, action shooter game. Produced by RealNetworks the game includes voice-overs from B.A. Baracus.[34]
Release[edit]
The film’s first trailer was released January 8, 2010.[35] The film’s second trailer was released April 1, 2010.[36] The film premiered in Los Angeles on Thursday June 3, 2010, at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Liam Neeson arrived in The A-Team custom Chevrolet G20 van; Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley rode in on a real U.S. Army tank.[37][38] The film opened nationwide on June 11, 2010.[39]
The film premiered in the United Kingdom on July 27, before going on general release the next day. The event was attended by the four team members along with Jessica Biel, and the A-Team van.[40]
Home media[edit]
The film was released on December 14, 2010 on DVD and Blu-ray.[41] It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 27 in Australia and on November 29, 2010 in the UK. An extended cut was also released, pushing the running time to 133 minutes.[42] Two of the most noteworthy additions in the extended cut were the two cameo scenes of the original Face and Murdock, which were pushed back after the end credits in the original cut due to pacing.[43]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
The A-Team received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 208 reviews with an average rating of 5.4/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “For better and for worse, Joe Carnahan’s big-screen version of The A-Team captures the superficial, noisy spirit of the TV series.”[44] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 47 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[45] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale.[46]
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly says of the film: “It’s trash so compacted it glows”.[47] Richard Corliss of Time magazine calls the film “the best in a mediocre line-up of summer-action flicks”. He goes on to say the film lacks “a coherent plot and complex characterization”, though he does note that these qualities “are irrelevant to the genre”.[48] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine calls the film, “big, loud, ludicrous and edited into visual incomprehension”, but “pity the fool who lets that stand in the way of enjoying The A-Team”.[49] In contrast, Lou Lumenick of the New York Post, who titled his piece “Pity the fool who sees ‘The A-Team’”, is among the most critical, calling the film “overlong, overblown and utterly forgettable.”[50] The Hollywood Reporter criticizes the film’s story, character development and logic, calling it “nearly writer-free”,[51] while the St. Petersburg Times was far more positive, calling the film “literally a blast” from start to finish, and praises it for “containing more thrills than the average shoot-em-up”.[52]
Film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said The A-Team is an incomprehensible mess, criticizing the film for being as shallow as the television series, which he describes as “punishment” when drawn out to a two-hour-long film.[53] Stephen Whitty of The Star-Ledger complains the film makers remembered little more from the television series than a Dirty Dozen gimmick and compares the film to the “awful” Smokin’ Aces by the same director.[54]
Comments by original cast[edit]
Dirk Benedict, who played Templeton Peck in the TV series, spoke of regretting his cameo, stating “You’ll miss me if you blink. I kind of regret doing it because it’s a non-part. They wanted to be able to say, ‘Oh yeah, the original cast are in it,’ but we’re not. It is three seconds. It’s kind of insulting.”[55]
Mr. T, the original B. A. Baracus, was offered a cameo, but turned it down, feeling it would not be right for him to appear in the film if he did not play Barracus.[56] In a 2010 interview with Script magazine director Joe Carnahan claimed that Mr. T, after viewing scenes from the film, thought the final product was “the greatest thing in the world”.[57] After the premiere of the film Mr. T allegedly stated that he had become disillusioned and felt the story emphasized sex and violence, and that it was unfaithful to the original series.[58] An attorney for Mr. T later stated that the actor had not yet seen the film and could not comment on it.[59]
Dwight Schultz, who played the TV series’ “Howling Mad” Murdock, issued a statement to his official fansite that the film “pays homage to the series while it eschews its essential working premise: a band of capable military brothers for hire determined to save underdog and usually poor civilians from scum. … The team characters are sufficiently different and, with so many roles reversed from the original, one could say they are not really derivative, save for their names.” He also noted that Sharlto Copley’s Murdock “is faithful to the original, but at the same time is big screen twisted and right at home with the new team.”
In the psychiatric hospital scene, Reginald Barclay, Schultz’s character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, is credited during the opening title of a film, as is G.F. Starbuck, referencing Lieutenant Starbuck, Benedict’s character from the original Battlestar Galactica.[60]
Box office[edit]
The film fell slightly short of expectations for its opening weekend, earning $26 million, as opposed to the initially predicted $30–35 million.[2] The film opened behind The Karate Kid, which took in $56 million.[61][62] The film opened in the UK/Ireland on July 28, 2010, and came at No. 3 in at the box office with a first weekend haul of $5.6 million.[3] As of August 26, 2010, The A-Team had taken over $77.2 million at the U.S. box office, and $100 million internationally, for a worldwide total of over $177.2 million.[3]
Accolades[edit]
Soundtrack[edit]
The soundtrack album of The A-Team was released on June 21, 2010,[64] by Varèse Sarabande.[65] On December 1, 2009, it was announced that Alan Silvestri would compose the film score.[66] Silvestri recorded his score with a 90-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Newman Scoring Stage at 20th Century Fox.[67]
Track listing
All music composed by Alan Silvestri unless stated otherwise.
Songs used in the film are:
“House of Pain” by The Game
“Shut Up” by Trick Daddy
“Trio Para Enamorados (Trio for Lovers)” by Jorge Calandrelli
“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” (Sung onscreen by Sharlto Copley)
“A-Team Blastoff Suite” by Tom Morello
“I Got Mine” by The Black Keys
“I’ve Been Lonely for So Long” by Frederick Knight
“The Washington Post” by John Phillip Sousa
“I Don’t Want to Change Your Mind” by Wildlife
“My Girl Has Rosenmand” written by Johannes Brahms and performed by Peter Schreier and Konrad Ragossnig
“The Little Drummer Boy” written by Harry Simeone, Katherine K. Davis and Henry Onorati
“Anarchy in the U.K.” by Sex Pistols
“I Ran 6 Miles” by Gary Sredzienski
“Reelin’ In the Years” written by Steely Dan
Cancelled sequel[edit]
Neeson, Cooper, Copley and Jackson originally expressed interest in doing a sequel.[68][69] Joe Carnahan has expressed interest in directing a sequel and said it will depend on DVD and Blu-ray sales and rentals.[70] On March 10, 2011, Cooper stated that the film had not generated enough revenue for there to be a sequel.[71] This was confirmed by Liam Neeson in a webchat.[72] Neeson later commented in early 2012 that he understood why the film was not successful: “I watched it about two months ago and I found it a little confusing and I was in the thing. I just couldn’t figure out who was who and what’s been done to him and why, a little bit.”[73] Later in 2013 Carnahan said on his Twitter account “For the record guys and as much as I appreciate all the A-TEAM love. There will NOT be a sequel. It didn’t make enough $$$ and that’s that
Snows of Kilimanjaro
The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952 film)
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EH 7018P Ernest Hemingway on safari, Africa. January, 1934. Photograph in the Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a 1952 American Technicolor film based on the short story of the same name by Ernest Hemingway. The film version of the short story was directed by Henry King, written by Casey Robinson, and starred Gregory Peck as Harry, Susan Hayward as Helen, and Ava Gardner as Cynthia Green (a character invented for the film). The film’s ending does not mirror the story’s ending.[4]
Considered by Hemingway to be one of his finest stories, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” was first published in Esquire magazine in 1936 and then republished in The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories (1938).
The film was nominated for two Oscars at the 25th Academy Awards, for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Art Direction, Color(Lyle R. Wheeler, John DeCuir, Thomas Little, Paul S. Fox).
The film has entered the public domain.[5]
Peck recalls his memories from what he thinks is his deathbed in Africa
The film begins with the opening words of Hemingway’s story: “Kilimanjaro is a snow-covered mountain 19,710 feet high, and is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai ‘Ngje Ngi,’ the House of God. Close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.”[4]
The story centers on the memories of disillusioned writer, Harry Street, who is on safari in Africa. He has a severely infected wound from a thorn prick, and lies outside his tent awaiting a slow death, though in the film it is pointed out he may have acquired the infection from leaping into a muddy river to rescue one of the safari’s porters from a hippo after he falls in the river. His female companion, Helen, nurses Harry and hunts game for the larder.
The loss of mobility brings self-reflection. In an often delirious state he remembers his past relationship with Cynthia Green, whom he met in Paris as members of the “Lost Generation.” Upon the sale of Harry’s first novel, rather than rent a nicer home, Harry wishes to go on safari to Africa. There he has his happiest moments, including bagging a rhino. Cynthia is pregnant, but worries about sharing this news with Harry, who is passionate about his travels and work as a journalist and author. Harry only learns about the pregnancy after her miscarriage. Suffering depression and sinking into alcoholism, she eventually leaves Harry for a flamenco dancerwhen she believes Harry is off for a job as a war correspondent.
Harry later becomes engaged to the wealthy and socially connected Countess Elizabeth, whom he meets on the Cote d’Azur; however, he still remains loyal to the memory of Cynthia. On the eve of their wedding, a drunken Elizabeth confronts Harry with a letter to Harry sent from Cynthia, who is now in Madrid. Elizabeth destroys the letter in front of Harry who stalks off to go to Spain. Unable to find Cynthia at the Madrid address on the envelope, he enlists to fight in the Spanish Civil War. During a battle he meets Cynthia, who is now an ambulance driver. Cynthia is mortally wounded, and Harry is shot and wounded when he deserts the battle to try to bring the dying Cynthia to a doctor.
Harry returns to Paris. While he is standing on the bridge watching the river, he meets Helen, who reminds him of Cynthia. After the death of his beloved mentor Uncle Bill, Harry receives as a bequest a letter from his uncle that gives him the riddle of the leopard. Harry’s bartender suggests that the leopard ended up there as he was on a false scent and became lost, but Harry takes Helen on a safari to Kenya to learn the answer of the riddle. He is injured and develops an infection. As Harry nears death, the protective Helen fights off a witch doctor. Following the directions in an emergency first aid manual, she opens Harry’s wound to release the infection. At the dawn a medical party arrives by airplane. The vultures and hyena who have been awaiting Harry’s death leave and never return. Harry realizes his love for Helen.
Cast[edit]
Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner meet
Gregory Peck as Harry Street
Susan Hayward as Helen
Ava Gardner as Cynthia Green
Hildegard Knef as Countess Elizabeth
Emmett Smith as Molo
Leo G. Carroll as Uncle Bill
Torin Thatcher as Mr. Johnson
Marcel Dalio as Emile
Leonard Carey as Dr. Simmons
Paul Thompson as Witch Doctor
Ava Norring as Beatrice
Helene Stanley as Connie
Vicente Gómez as Guitarist (as Vicente Gomez)
Richard Allan as Spanish Dancer
Charles Bates as Harry Street (17 years)
Lisa Ferraday as Vendeuse
Production[edit]
Peck and Susan Hayward
Twentieth Century-Fox bought the rights to the story in June 1948, paying $125,000.[4]
Casting[edit]
Humphrey Bogart, Richard Conte and Marlon Brando were all reported to be under consideration for the male lead, as was Dale Robertson.[4]
Filming[edit]
The film was shot on location in Nairobi, Kenya, Cairo, Egypt, and the French Riviera, and studio work was done at Stage 14 in 20th Century Fox Studios. During production, on April 8, 1952, when Peck was carrying Gardner for a scene in the film, Peck wrenched his knee and production had to be postponed for 10 days while he recovered in his Pacific Palisades home, and Hildegard Knef came down with influenza in the studios.[3][6] She was able though to sing two Cole Porter tunes in the film.[7] Jazz musician Benny Carter performs early on in the film.[8]
The bullfight sequences were archive footage, taken from Fox’s 1941 film Blood and Sand.[4]
Reception[edit]
On location in Kenya
Helped by a star-studded cast, the film was one of the most successful films of the early 1950s and earned $12.5 million at the box office, very high for that period.[3] The film was much acclaimed by critics, although some vary in their opinion of it, ranging from “simply plodding” to “much-maligned”.[9][10] The cinematography was highly acclaimed in particular, and even the sophisticated interiors were praised.[11][12]Bosley Crowther of The New York Times described the cinematography as “magnificent and exciting” and said that the “overall production in wonderful color is full of brilliant detail and surprise and the mood of nostalgia and wistful sadness that is built up in the story has its spell.”[11]He praised Peck’s character for his “burning temper and melancholy moods”, although he said that Ava Gardner was “pliant and impulsive” in a role “as soggy and ambiguous as any in the film”.[11] Variety praised the film as “an often engrossing dramatic mixture of high adventure, romance and symbolism,” adding that “the color coating used to display the story’s varied locales is beautiful,” and “Miss Gardner has never been better.”[13] Harrison’s Reports called it “at once absorbing, exciting, and fascinating.”[14] The Monthly Film Bulletin, however, wrote that Hemingway’s dialogue sounded “stilted and a little dated” on the screen, and that “any real seriousness that the film might have retained is nullified by the ending. Letting Harry survive makes of the film a naive kind of spiritual success story with a conventional boy-meets-lots-of-girls plot.”[15] A more recent appraisal in Bowker’s Directory described it as having “plenty of action & romance” and stated that it was “the popular ‘celebrity film’ of its time”.[16]Hemingway, who disliked the typical Hollywood happy ending, accepted the money for the film, but he could not bring himself to view it, according to one report.[11] However, in a 1954 article for Look magazine, Hemingway said a hyena was the best performer in the picture, which the writer called The Snows of Zanuck.[17]
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards; for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction (Lyle R. Wheeler, John DeCuir, Thomas Little, Paul S. Fox).[18]
Home media
Justice League (film)
justrice league
Justice League is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the follow-up to 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the fifth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).[5][6][7] The film is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon, and features an ensemble castthat includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons. In the film, Batman and Wonder Woman recruit The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg after Superman’s death to save the world from the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons.
The film was announced in October 2014, with Snyder on board to direct and Terrio attached to write the script. Initially titled Justice League Part One, with a second part to follow in 2019, the second film was indefinitely delayed to accommodate a standalone Batman film with Affleck. Principal photography commenced in April 2016 and ended in October 2016. After Snyder stepped down to deal with the death of his daughter, Joss Whedon was hired to oversee the remainder of post-production, including directing additional scenes written by himself; Snyder retained sole directorial credit, while Whedon received a screenwriting credit. Justice League premiered in Beijing on October 26, 2017, and was released in the United States in 2D, Real D 3D, and IMAX on November 17, 2017.
With an estimated production budget of $300 million, Justice League is one of the most expensive films ever made. The film grossed $657 million worldwide against a break-even point of $750 million, becoming a box office bomb and losing the studio around $60 million, while also making it the lowest overall gross of the DCEU. The film received mixed reviews from critics; although the action sequences and performances (particularly Gadot and Miller) were praised, the plot, writing, pacing, villain, and overuse of CGI were criticized. The film’s tone was met with a polarized reception, with some appreciating the lighter tone compared to the previous DCEU films, and others finding it inconsistent.
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
2.1Main cast
2.2Additional cast
3Production
3.1Background
3.2Filming
3.3Post-production
4Music
5Release
5.1Marketing
5.2Home media
6Reception
6.1Box office
6.2Critical response
6.3Accolades
6.4Community reaction
7Future
8Notes
9References
10External links
Plot
Thousands of years ago, Steppenwolf and his legions of Parademons attempted to take over Earth with the combined energies of three Mother Boxes. They were foiled by a unified army that includes the Olympian Gods, Amazons, Atlanteans, mankind, and a Green Lantern. After repelling Steppenwolf’s army, the Mother Boxes were separated and hidden in locations on the planet. In the present, mankind is in mourning over Superman for two years, whose death triggers the Mother Boxes to reactivate and Steppenwolf’s return to Earth. In an effort to regain favor with his master Darkseid, Steppenwolf aims to gather the boxes to form “The Unity”, which will destroy Earth’s ecology and terraform it in the image of Steppenwolf’s homeworld.
Steppenwolf retrieves the Mother Box from Themyscira, prompting Queen Hippolyta to warn her daughter Diana of Steppenwolf’s return. Diana joins Bruce Wayne in his attempt to unite other metahumans to their cause, with Wayne going after Arthur Curry and Barry Allen, while Diana tries to locate Victor Stone. Wayne fails to persuade Curry, but manages to recruit an enthusiastic Allen onto the team. Although Diana fails to convince Stone to join, he agrees to help them locate the threat if he discovers their location. Stone later joins the team after his father Silas and several other S.T.A.R. Labs employees are kidnapped by Steppenwolf seeking to acquire the Mother Box from mankind.
Steppenwolf attacks an Atlantean outpost to retrieve the next Mother Box, forcing Curry into action. The team receives intel from Commissioner James Gordon leading them to Steppenwolf’s army, based in an abandoned facility under Gotham Harbor. Although the group manages to rescue the kidnapped employees, the facility is flooded during combat, which traps the team until Curry helps delay the flood so they can escape. Stone retrieves the last Mother Box, which he had hidden, for the group to analyze. Stone reveals that his father used the Mother Box to rebuild Stone’s body after an accident almost cost him his life. Wayne decides to use the Mother Box to resurrect Superman, not only to help them fight off Steppenwolf’s invasion, but also to restore hope to mankind. Diana and Curry are hesitant about the idea, but Wayne forms a secret contingency plan in case Superman returns as hostile.
Clark Kent’s body is exhumed and placed in the amniotic fluid of the genesis chamber of the Kryptonian scout ship alongside the Mother Box, which in turn activates and successfully resurrects Superman. However, Superman’s memories have not returned, and he attacks the group after Stone accidentally launches a projectile at him. On the verge of being killed by Superman, Batman enacts his contingency plan: Lois Lane. Superman calms down and leaves with Lane to his family home in Smallville, where he reflects and his memories slowly come back. In the turmoil, the last Mother Box is left unguarded and Steppenwolf retrieves it with ease. Without Superman to aid them, the five heroes travel to a village in Russia where Steppenwolf aims to unite the Mother Boxes once again to remake Earth. The team fights their way through the Parademons to reach Steppenwolf, although they are unable to distract him enough for Stone to separate the Mother Boxes. Superman arrives and assists Allen in evacuating the city, as well as Stone in separating the Mother Boxes. The team defeats Steppenwolf, who, overcome with fear, is attacked by his own Parademons before they all teleport away.
After the battle, Bruce and Diana agree to set up a base of operations for the team, with room for more members. As the team is now established, Diana steps back into the public spotlight as a heroine; Barry acquires a job in Central City’s police department, impressing his father; Victor continues to explore and enhance his abilities with his father in S.T.A.R. Labs; Arthur embraces his Atlantean heritage and continues protecting people on the seas; and Superman resumes his life as reporter Clark Kent and as protector of Earth as well.
In a post-credits scene, Lex Luthor has escaped from Arkham Asylum and then recruits Slade Wilson to form their own league.
Cast
Ben Affleck, Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher and Jason Momoa at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con.
Main cast
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne / Batman: A wealthy socialite, and the owner of Wayne Enterprises. He dedicates himself to protecting Gotham City from its criminal underworld as a highly trained, masked vigilante equipped with various tools and weapons. Affleck noted on how the film gave him an opportunity to reinvent Batman and portray a more classic take on the character. He described that in the film, audiences will see Batman as more heroic, and more of a leader. “Batman is by nature, [while] not necessarily anti-social, pretty private, pretty a loner,” Affleck says. “And then in this movie he’s thrust into the role of having to not only work with people, but bring them together and convince them to come in and try to … somehow with Wonder Woman hold all that community effort together. That was a really interesting thing to play for me, and it also does take us to a more traditional role for Batman in the Justice League comics, and his role with the Justice League versus the sort of less typical version we saw in Batman v Superman, where he was blinded by rage and wanted to take on Superman.”[8][9]
Henry Cavill as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman: A member of, and inspiration for, the Justice League. He is a Kryptonian survivor, and a journalist for the Daily Planet based in Metropolis. In Justice League, Superman was portrayed as more optimistic and hopeful. The character was intentionally excluded from all Justice League marketing materials to emphasize his death as depicted on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[10]
Gal Gadot as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman: An antiquities dealer, acquaintance of Wayne, and an immortal Amazonian warrior, who is the crown princess of Themyscira and daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus. She is endowed with metahuman attributes and abilities inherited from her parents.
Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash: A Central City University student, who can move at superhuman speeds with his ability to tap into the Speed Force.
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman: The heir to the throne of the undersea nation of Atlantis.[11] His metahuman aquatic abilities and physical attributes originate from his Atlantean physiology. Momoa was cast as Aquaman in October 2014, and made a cameo role in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.[12][13] Momoa stated that the Justice League film would be released first, before the release of the solo Aquaman film, which may be about the hero’s origin story.[14]
Ray Fisher as Victor Stone / Cyborg: A former college athlete who, after being cybernetically reconstructed after a nearly fatal car accident, is turned into a techno-organic being enhanced by reactive, adaptive biomimetic alien technology. His enhancements include the abilities of flight, variable weaponry and technopathy. Fisher portrays the character through the use of motion capturefor the cybernetic portion of his body.[15] Fisher was cast as Cyborg in April 2014, and made a cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[16][17]
Amy Adams as Lois Lane: An undaunted and compassionate award-winning journalist for the Daily Planet and the love interest for Kent.[18] Adams confirmed that she would reprise her role as Lois Lane in Justice League and its untitled sequel.[19][20]
Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth: Wayne’s butler, chief of security, and trusted confidant.[21]
Diane Lane as Martha Kent: Kent’s adoptive mother.[18][22][23]
Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta: Diana’s mother and Queen of the Amazons.[18]
J. K. Simmons as James Gordon: The Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, and close ally of Batman.[18]
Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf: An alien military officer from Apokolips who leads an army of Parademons and is searching for the three Mother Boxes held on Earth. The character is described as “old, tired” and trying to find a way to escape his role of servitude under Darkseid.[24] Hinds portrayed the villain through use of motion capture and received some advice in the process from Liam Neeson, who had recently done similar work in A Monster Calls.[25] After the release of the film, Hinds was reportedly unhappy with the final cut of the film, which trimmed down the backstory and characterization of Steppenwolf.[26]
Additional cast
The Olympian Old Gods Zeus, Ares and Artemis are portrayed by fitness model Sergi Constance, stuntman Nick McKinless, and MMA fighter Aurore Lauzeral, respectively.[27][28] All three were required to reach a specific degree of physicality, with Snyder instructing McKinless to sport “veins like worms and paper thin skin”. In the finished film, McKinless’ face was replaced with David Thewlis’ face, and Thewlis received the credit as Ares.[27] Robin Wright reprises her role as Antiope during a flashback sequence. Amber Heard portrays the Atlantean Mera.[29][30][18] Two ancient kings of Earth appear during a scene depicting Steppenwolf’s first invasion, including King Atlan of Atlantis and Arthur Pendragon of ancient England; portrayed by Julian Lewis Jones and Francis Magee, respectively.[31][32] Joe Morton reprises his role as Silas Stone, Victor Stone’s father and S.T.A.R. Labs’ head while Billy Crudup appears, uncredited, as Henry Allen, Barry Allen’s father. Joe Manganiello and Jesse Eisenberg appear uncredited in a post-credits scene as Slade Wilson / Deathstrokeand Lex Luthor, respectively.[33][34][35] Michael McElhatton appears as the leader of a group of terrorists who clash with Wonder Woman early in the film,[36] while Holt McCallanymakes an uncredited appearance as a burglar.[37] Marc McClure, who portrayed Jimmy Olsen in the Christopher Reeve Superman film series, has a cameo as a police officer.[38] An unidentified Green Lantern appears at the beginning of the film, created by use of CGI and embodied by an uncredited actor. Willem Dafoe and Kiersey Clemons filmed scenes as Nuidis Vulko and Iris West, although their roles were cut from the final film. Both actors are signed for multiple films and set to appear in the future installments of the franchise.[39][40]Dafoe appears in Aquaman and it was reported in November 2017 that the studio wanted to recast Clemons in a different role. Laurence Fishburne, who portrays Perry White in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), said he declined to reprise his role in the film due to scheduling conflicts.[41]
Early in production, a scene depicting Green Lanterns Kilowog and Tomar-Re visiting Batman was filmed as another post-credits scene, further teasing the upcoming Green Lantern Corps, but the scene was later scrapped.[42] In March 2016, producer Charles Roven said that Green Lantern would not appear in any film before Justice League Part Two, and stated that they “could put Green Lantern in some introduction in Justice League 2, or barring that, a movie after.”[43] Later, Snyder revealed that Ryan Zheng was cast to portray Ryan Choi in the film, setting up the character’s future as The Atom. These scenes were cut from the theatrical film.[44]
Production
Background
We’re going to make a Justice League movie, whether it’s now or 10 years from now. But we’re not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it’s right.
—Producer Gregory Noveck, on whether Warner Bros. is going to do a Justice League film, 2008.[45]
In February 2007, it was announced that Warner Bros. had hired husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney to write a script for a Justice League film.[46] The news came around the same time that Joss Whedon’s long-developed Wonder Woman film was cancelled,[47] as well as The Flash, written and directed by David S. Goyer.[48] Reportedly titled Justice League: Mortal,[49] the script by Michele and Kiernan Mulroney was submitted to Warner Bros. in June 2007, receiving positive feedback,[50] which prompted the studio to immediately fast track production in the hope of beginning filming before the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike.[51] Warner Bros. was less willing to proceed with development of a sequel to Superman Returns, having been disappointed with its box office. Brandon Routh was not approached to reprise the role of Superman in Justice League: Mortal,[52] nor was Christian Bale from Batman Begins.[53] Warner Bros. intended for Justice League: Mortal to be the start of a new film franchise, and to branch out into separate sequels and spin-offs.[54] Shortly after filming The Dark Knight,[55] Bale stated in an interview that “It’d be better if it doesn’t tread on the toes of what our Batman series is doing,” and felt it would make more sense for Warner Bros. to release the film after The Dark Knight Rises.[53] Jason Reitman was the original choice to direct Justice League, but he turned it down, as he considers himself an independent filmmaker and prefers to stay out of big budget superhero films.[56] George Millersigned to direct in September 2007,[51] with Barrie Osbourne producing[57] on a projected $220 million budget.[58]
The following month, roughly 40 actors and actresses auditioned for the ensemble superhero roles, among them Joseph Cross, Michael Angarano, Max Thieriot, Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter. Miller had intended to cast younger actors, as he wanted them to “grow” into their roles over the course of several films.[55] D. J. Cotrona was cast as Superman,[54] along with Armie Hammer as Batman.[59] Jessica Biel reportedly declined to play Wonder Woman role after negotiations.[60] The character was also linked to actresses Teresa Palmer and Shannyn Sossamon, along with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who confirmed that she had auditioned.[61] Ultimately, Megan Gale was cast as Wonder Woman,[62] while Palmer was cast as Talia al Ghul, whom Miller had in mind to act with a Russian accent.[63] The script for Justice League: Mortal would have featured John Stewartas Green Lantern, a role originally offered to Columbus Short.[64] Hip hop recording artist and rapper Common was cast,[65] with Adam Brody as Barry Allen / Flash,[66] and Jay Baruchel as the lead villain, Maxwell Lord.[67] Longtime Miller collaborator Hugh Keays-Byrne had been cast in an unnamed role, rumored to be Martian Manhunter. Santiago Cabrera was eventually revealed to be Aquaman after the film was cancelled.[68] Marit Allen was hired as the original costume designer before her untimely death in November 2007,[69] and the responsibilities were assumed by Weta Workshop.[70]
However, the writers strike began that same month and placed the film on hold. Warner Bros. had to let the options lapse for the cast,[71] but development was fast tracked once more in February 2008 when the strike ended. Warner Bros. and Miller wanted to start filming immediately,[72] but production was pushed back three months.[54] Originally, the majority of Justice League: Mortal was to be shot at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney,[58] with other locations scouted nearby at local colleges,[57] and Sydney Heads doubling for Happy Harbor.[49] The Australian Film Commission had a say with casting choices, giving way for George Miller to cast Gale, Palmer and Keays-Bryne, all Australian natives. The production crew was composed entirely of Australians, but the Australian government denied Warner Bros. a 40 percent tax rebate as they felt they had not hired enough Australian actors.[58][73] Miller was frustrated, stating that “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Australian film industry is being frittered away because of very lazy thinking. They’re throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars of investment that the rest of the world is competing for and, much more significantly, highly skilled creative jobs.”[74] Production offices were then moved to Vancouver Film Studios in Canada. Filming was pushed back to July 2008, while Warner Bros was still confident they could produce the film for a summer 2009 release.[75][76]
Zack Snyder, the director of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceand Justice League.
With production delays continuing, and the success of The Dark Knight in July 2008,[77] Warner Bros. decided to focus on the development of individual films featuring the main heroes, allowing director Christopher Nolan to separately complete his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Risesin 2012. Warner Bros. relaunched development for a solo Green Lantern film, released in 2011 as a critical and financial disappointment. Meanwhile, film adaptations for The Flash and Wonder Woman continued to languish in development, while filming for a Superman reboot commenced in 2011 with Man of Steel, produced by Nolan and written by Batman screenwriter David S. Goyer. In October 2012, following its legal victory over Joe Shuster’s estate for the rights to Superman, Warner Bros. announced that it planned to move ahead with the Justice League film.[78] Shortly after filming on Man of Steel was complete, Warner Bros hired Will Beall to write the script for a new Justice League film.[79] Warner Bros. president Jeff Robinov explained that Man of Steel would be “setting the tone for what the movies are going to be like going forward. In that, it’s definitely a first step.”[80] The film included references to the existence of other superheroes in the DC Universe,[81] and set the tone for a shared fictional universe of DC Comics characters on film.[82] Goyer stated that should Green Lantern appear in a future installment, it would be a rebooted version of the character, unconnected to the 2011 film.[83]
With the release of Man of Steel in June 2013, Goyer was hired to write a sequel, as well as a new Justice League, with the Beall draft being scrapped.[84] The sequel was later revealed to be Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a team-up film featuring Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, and Ray Fisher as Victor Stone / Cyborg, the latter three in minor roles that became more significant in the Justice League film. The universe is separate from Nolan and Goyer’s work on The Dark Knight trilogy, although Nolan was still involved as an executive producer for Batman v Superman.[85] In April 2014, it was announced that Zack Snyder would also direct Goyer’s Justice League script.[86] Warner Bros. was reportedly courting Chris Terrio to rewrite Justice League the following July, after having been impressed with his rewrite of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[87] On October 15, 2014, Warner Bros. announced the film would be released in two parts, with Part One on November 17, 2017, and Part Two on June 14, 2019. Snyder was set to direct both films.[22] In early July 2015, EW revealed that the script for Justice League Part One had been completed by Terrio.[88] Zack Snyder stated that the film would be inspired by the New Gods comic series by Jack Kirby.[89] Although Justice League was initially announced as a two-part film, with the second part set for release two years after the first, Snyder stated in June 2016 that they would be two distinct, separate films and not one film split into two parts, both being stand-alone stories.[90][91]
Filming
Principal photography commenced on April 11, 2016, with shooting taking place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, as well as various locations around London and Scotland. Additional filming took place in Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, and Djúpavík, in the Westfjords[92] of Iceland.[93][94] Snyder’s longtime cinematographer Larry Fong was replaced by Fabian Wagner due to scheduling conflicts.[94] Ben Affleck served as executive producer.[95] In May 2016, it was revealed that Geoff Johns and Jon Berg would produce the Justice League films, and would also be in charge of the DC Extended Universe, after the largely negative critical reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[96] The same month, Irons stated that the Justice League storyline would be more linear and simple, compared to the theatrical version of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[97] Johns confirmed on June 3, 2016 that the title of the film is Justice League,[98] and later stated that the film would be “hopeful and optimistic” in comparison to previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films.[99]
Justice League had a troubled production. During filming, it was reported that the rewrites by Geoff Johns caused issues with Chris Terrio and Warner Bros. executives. Warner Bros. was unsatisfied with how the film was shaping up under Snyder, because of the negative feedback that Batman v Superman received. It was reported that Warner Bros. held a footage summit for writers that include Joss Whedon, Wonder Woman writer Allan Heinberg, Seth Grahame-Smith, and Andrea Berloff. This caused numerous rewrites as Justice League was filming.[100][101][102] Whedon was eventually hired by Warner Bros. after Snyder stepped down for directorial duties during the post-production. Filming wrapped in October 2016.[103][104][105]
Post-production
Joss Whedon took over the post-production of Justice League after Snyder stepped down.
In May 2017, Snyder stepped down from directorial duties during post-production of the film to properly deal with the death of his daughter, Autumn Snyder. Joss Whedon, whom Snyder had previously brought on to rewrite some additional scenes, took over to handle post-production duties in Snyder’s place.[106] In July 2017, it was announced the film was undergoing two months of reshoots in London and Los Angeles, with Warner Bros. putting about $25 million into them, more than the typical $6–10 million additional filming costs,[107] which brought the budget of the film up to $300 million.[108] The reshoots coincided with Cavill’s schedule for Mission: Impossible – Fallout, for which he had grown a mustache which he was contracted to keep while filming.[109] While Fallout director Christopher McQuarrie initially gave the producers of Justice League permission to have Cavill shave the mustache in exchange for the $3 million it would cost to shut down production on Fallout and then digitally fill the mustache in, executives from Paramount Pictures rejected the idea. Justice League’s VFX team was then forced to used special effects to digitally remove the mustache in post-production.[110]
In an interview, producer Charles Roven said: “Let’s just say 80, 85 percent of the movie is what was originally shot. There’s only so much you can do with other 15, 20 percent of the movie”.[111] Whedon received a screenwriting credit on the film alongside Chris Terrio,[112] while Snyder received sole director’s credit.[113]
Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara mandated the film to be under two hours.[108][114][115] The company also did not opt to delay of the film’s release despite the fact that there had been numerous problems in post-production, so that the executives will receive their cash bonuses before the company’s merger with AT&T.[116][117] In February 2018, it was reported that Snyder was fired from directorial duties from Justice League, after his cut was deemed “unwatchable” according to Collider’s Matt Goldberg. “I’d heard similar things from separate sources over the last year as well, I also heard that Snyder’s rough-cut of the movie was ‘unwatchable’ (a word that jumped out at me because it’s rare you hear two separate sources use exactly the same adjective). Of course, even if that’s true, there’s obviously more to the story since rough cuts can be fixed up with reshoots, rewrites, etc.”, Goldberg wrote.[118][119] According to DC Comics publisher, comic book artist Jim Lee, Snyder was not fired. Speaking at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, Lee stated “that he (Snyder) was not fired at all and that he stepped down from the production due to a family matter”, as far as he knew.[120]
Music
Main article: Justice League (soundtrack)
In March 2016, Hans Zimmer, who co-composed the score for Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, stated that he had officially retired from the “superhero business”.[121] Junkie XL, who wrote and composed the soundtrack of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with Zimmer, was originally scoring the film.[122] In June 2017, Danny Elfman was announced to have controversially replaced Junkie XL.[123] Elfman had previously composed the films Batman and Batman Returns, and the theme music for Batman: The Animated Series. Elfman used the Batman theme music from the 1989 film Batman. The John Williams’ Superman theme was used during “a dark, twisted moment” in the film,[124][125] the time when a resurrected Superman fights the Justice League. The film features a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” performed by Sigrid, “Icky Thump” performed by the White Stripes, and a cover of the Beatles’ “Come Together” performed by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL.[126] WaterTower Music released the soundtrack album digitally on November 10, 2017, with a release of the physical format on December 8.[127]
Release
The film held its world premiere in Beijing on October 26, 2017, and was theatrically released in North America and elsewhere around the world in standard, RealD 3D and IMAX on November 17, 2017.[128] Its Japan premiere took place on November 20, 2017 in Tokyo, with only Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher from the main cast attending. In the United States, the film opened to 4,051 theaters in its widest release. Justice League was shown in cinemas for 119 days (17 weeks).
Marketing
Superman was intentionally left out on all early Justice League marketing materials, including trailers, clips and posters, which actor Cavill commented as “ridiculous”. Despite his character being hidden from promotional materials, Cavill still joined the rest of the cast on the film’s press tour.[129][130] Clark Kent was revealed in a final trailer before the release of the film, but edited in a way that writers felt Lois Lane was dreaming about Clark.[131][132] Sponsorship and marketing partners of the film included AT&T,[133] Gillette,[134] Mercedes-Benz,[135] and TCL.[136]
Home media
Justice League was released on digital download on February 13, 2018, and was released on Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray 3D, 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray and DVD on March 13, 2018 in various international markets.[137] The Blu-ray features two deleted scenes titled Return of Superman.[138] As of January 18, 2019, it has made $15.2 million in DVD sales and $38.7 million in Blu-ray sales, totaling an estimated of $53.9 million.[139]
Reception
Box office
Justice League grossed $229 million in the United States and Canada, and $428.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $657.9 million, against a production budget of $300 million.[4] It had a worldwide opening of $278.8 million, the 24th biggest of all-time.[140][141] Up against an estimated break-even point of as much as $750 million, Deadline Hollywood reported that the film lost the studio around $60 million.[142][143][144] Due to the film losing the studio money, the movie was deemed a “box office bomb” or “flop”.[145][146][147][148][149][150]
In the United States and Canada, industry tracking initially forecast the film debuting to $110–120 million from 4,051 theaters (including 400 IMAX screens).[151] It made $13 million from Thursday night previews, up from the $11 million made by Wonder Woman the previous June.[152] However, after making $38.8 million on its first day (including Thursday previews), weekend projections were lowered to $95 million. It ended up debuting to $93.8 million, down 45% from Batman v Superman’s opening of $166 million, and being the first film of the DCEU to open under $100 million. Deadline attributed the low figure to lukewarm audience reaction to the film and most of its predecessors, as well as poor critical reception, and film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes not posting their aggregated score until the day before release, causing speculation and doubt from filmgoers.[153] In its second weekend, the film dropped 56% to $41.1 million, finishing second at the box office, behind newcomer Coco.[154] It was the second-best second weekend hold of the DCEU, behind Wonder Woman’s 43%, but the lowest overall gross.[155] In its third week it again finished second behind Coco, grossing $16.7 million.[156] It made $9.7 million in its fourth week and $4.3 million in its fifth, finishing a respective second and fifth at the box office.[157][158] In 2018, Forbes compared the drastic uncohesive shift from Snyder’s darker films Man of Steel and Batman v Superman to the lighter Justice League (co-written by Whedon), to the similarly drastic and uncohesive change in tone experienced from the older 1989 and 1992 Tim Burton’s Batman films to the direct light-hearted sequels directed by Schumacher, although noting the former shift in tone was better received than the one in Justice League, affecting box office, due to going against the expectations of Snyder fans in its attempt to reach a higher demographic, while alienating its own established core audience.[159]
Internationally, the film was projected to debut to $215–235 million for a worldwide opening of $325–355 million.[160] It made $8.5 million on its first day from nine countries, including South Korea, France and Brazil.[152] It ended up having a $185 million international debut from 65 countries, including $57.1 million from China, $9.8 million from the United Kingdom, $9.6 million from Mexico and $8.8 million from South Korea. The film broke a record in the Philippines with a debut of $1.12M (PHP 57.3M), making it the biggest industry opening day for a film there in 2017.[161] In Brazil, the film opened to $14.2 million, the biggest opening in the country’s history.[140] Outside North America, the films largest markets were China ($106 million), Brazil ($41 million), Mexico ($24.8 million), and United Kingdom ($24 million).[162]
Critical response
The performances of Gal Gadot (left) and Ezra Miller were widely praised by critics.
Justice League received mixed reviews. It was praised for its action sequences and acting (primarily by Gadot and Miller) but criticized for the screenplay, pacing and CGI, as well as its thin plot, and the underdeveloped villain.[163] On review aggregatorwebsite Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 40%, based on 326 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Justice League leaps over a number of DC movies, but its single bound isn’t enough to shed the murky aesthetic, thin characters, and chaotic action that continue to dog the franchise.”[164] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 45 out of 100, based on 52 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[165] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 85% overall positive score (average 4 out of 5 stars) and a 69% “definite recommend”.[153][166]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the cast, especially Gadot, and saying “It’s a putting-the-band-together origins movie, executed with great fun and energy.”[167] Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote, “Justice League … has been conceived, in each and every frame, to correct the sins of Batman v Superman. It’s not just a sequel—it’s an act of franchise penance. The movie … is never messy or bombastic. It’s light and clean and simple (at times almost too simple), with razory repartee and combat duels that make a point of not going on for too long.”[168]
Bilge Ebiri of the Village Voice similarly gave it a positive review: “… action scenes start and stop and then start again, then go in different directions, and it was a few moments into the Big Climactic Face-Off before I realized we’d arrived at the Big Climactic Face-Off. But these off-kilter rhythms actually lend the film a pleasant unpredictability. As does the humor, which often sits uneasily next to the moodiness, but is somehow fast and witty enough to work.” [169]
Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, praising the cast but criticizing the action sequences and writing, saying: “The scenes of the League members together, bickering and bonding, spike the film with humor and genuine feeling, creating a rooting interest in the audience. Without it, the film would crumble.”[170] Conversely, Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, while praising Gadot and Miller, called the film visually ugly and boring, saying, “Fatigue, repetition and a laborious approach to exposition are the keynotes of this affair, which is also notable for how Ben Affleck, donning the bat suit for the second time, looks like he’d rather be almost anywhere else but here.”[171]
Sara Stewart of the New York Post gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars: “Justice League is a pointless flail of expensive (yet somehow cheap-looking) CGI that no amount of tacked-on quips, or even Gadot’s luminescent star power, can rescue. Like Cyborg (Ray Fisher), one of its ostensible heroes, Justice League is patched together from disparate elements. Original director Zack Snyder left partway through due to a death in the family, leaving Joss Whedon to finish up. The result? All the plodding, gray, generic action of a Snyder film with stabs of Whedonian humor that almost never feel organic. There’s no sense of purpose here, not even a sense of place.”[172]
Writing for The Washington Post, Alyssa Rosenberg also returned with a negative review: “… if Justice League is a symbol of just how entrenched superhero movies have become in the Hollywood ecosystem, it’s also a potent illustration that success hasn’t necessarily artistically elevated the genre. It’s not just that, beat by beat, Justice League feels nearly identical to so many of the superhero movies that have come before, or that it features some of the ugliest, most pointless special effects I’ve seen at the movies in a long time. It’s that the darn thing feels depressingly haphazard and thoughtless, and that it’s guaranteed to make a ton of money anyway. Superhero fans are a ridiculously powerful market; they deserve better than this.”[173]
James Berardinelli gave it 2 out of 4 stars: “When Marvel mapped out the trajectory for their Cinematic Universe, they were sometimes criticized for overthinking and overplanning. Nearly every major hero – Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor – had his own movie. Many of the secondary characters (including the villain) boasted significant screen time in one or more of the first five films. Only once all these things had been accomplished were the characters brought together for The Avengers. The formula worked. The Avengers was popcorn bliss, a superhero nirvana. DC, however, came late to the party. Riding the critical and popular success of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and smarting from the disappointing performance of Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, they dithered and dallied and didn’t begin planning out the post-Dark Knight campaign until the MCU movie count was past the half-dozen mark and rising. The late start resulted in a rushed and ununified approach. Justice League arrives with three major characters who haven’t previously been introduced. As a result, this film has a lot of heavy background lifting to do – too much, in fact, for it to be able to tell a worthwhile story. 70% of the movie is set-up for future tales. The rest is an overlong smack-down between our heroes and possibly the worst villain ever to appear in a comic book picture.”[174]
Writing for the Film Ireland Magazine, Ellen Murray found the characters interesting, but their setting unworthy: “… there is something undeniably thrilling in seeing these iconic characters work together on the big screen. It’s just a shame that their current incarnation, moulded in Zack Snyder’s vision, lacks a strong framework to allow them to better shine. The characters save the film from being a complete and utter disaster, but they alone can’t save it from being a mild disaster. While undoubtedly Snyder is genuinely passionate about these characters, he seems to suffer from a fundamental misunderstanding of what they represent and, most importantly, what cinema-goers expect from a story involving them. Justice League understands that a character like Superman means something to people; it just can’t show us convincingly why”.[175]
Accolades
Justice League was short-listed as a potential candidate for the 90th Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, along with another DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film, Wonder Woman.[176][177] However, neither film made it to the final list of nominations.
Community reaction
The divisive reaction towards the final highlighted cut of the film, with Zack Snyder leaving directorial duties and the final cut of the film in the hands of Joss Whedon, has led to an argument comparing the situation to the one experienced by the film Superman II. Both Justice League and Superman II feature a director that was replaced, for different reasons, before completion of a film, which lead to a second director coming in and making substantial changes to the tone of each film. Although the reasoning behind each director’s departure differs, Richard Donner was able to complete his Superman II cut in 2005. In the belief that Snyder had shot enough material for a finished film, a campaign for a “Snyder Cut” was started to allow Snyder to receive a similar treatment to Donner. Arguments are made that Snyder’s vision would be more cohesive to the previous films than the actual theatrical cut, which Snyder has refused to see. Ultimately, Warner Bros has denied any intention of making a “Snyder Cut”.[188]
Future
A sequel was scheduled to be released in June 2019[22] but has since been delayed to accommodate the release for a standalone Batman film.[189] By March 2017, producer Charles Roven announced that Zack Snyder would return as director.[190] In October 2017, J. K. Simmons stated that the studio is working on the script of the sequel, alongside The Batman.[191] Shortly after the release of Justice League, Henry Cavill stated that he is under contract with Warner Bros. to play Superman for one more film.[192] In December 2017, it was reported that there were “no immediate plans” for Zack Snyder to direct a Justice League sequel, or any other DC films, with Snyder instead being relegated to an executive producer position. This comes after a reshuffling of film production staff at Warner Bros. due to the film’s mixed critical reception and disappointing financial performance.[
The Ghost and the Darkness
ghost and darkness
The Ghost and the Darkness is a 1996 American historical adventure film directed by Stephen Hopkins and starring Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. The screenplay was written by William Goldman. The story is a fictionalized account of the Tsavo Man-Eaters, two Tsavo lions that attacked and killed workers at Tsavo, Kenya, during the building of the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in East Africa in 1898.
The film received a mixed critical response upon release and later won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing for supervising sound editor Bruce Stambler.[4]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Screenplay
3.2Locations
3.3Filming
4Reception
5Home release
6Historical accuracy
7See also
8References
9External links
Plot[edit]
In 1898, Sir Robert Beaumont, the primary financier of a railroad project in Tsavo, Kenya, is furious because the project is running behind schedule. He seeks out the expertise of Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson, a British military engineer, to get the project back on track. Patterson travels from England to Tsavo, telling his wife, Helena, he will complete the project and be back in London for the birth of their son. He meets British supervisor Angus Starling, Kenyan foreperson Samuel, and Doctor David Hawthorne. Hawthorne tells Patterson of a recent lion attack that has affected the project.
That night, Patterson kills an approaching lion with one shot, earning the respect of the workers and bringing the project back on schedule. However, not long afterwards, Mahina, the construction foreman, is dragged from his tent in the middle of the night. His half-eaten body is found the next morning. Patterson then attempts a second night-time lion hunt, but the following morning, another worker is found dead at the opposite end of the camp from Patterson’s position.
Patterson’s only comfort now is the letters he receives from his wife. Soon, while the workers are gathering wood and building fire pits around the tents, a lion attacks the camp in the middle of the day, killing another worker. While Patterson, Starling and Samuel are tracking it to one end of the camp, another lion leaps upon them from the roof of a building, killing Starling with a slash to the throat and slashes Patterson on the left arm. Despite the latter’s efforts to kill them, both lions escape. Samuel states that there has never been a pair of man-eaters; they have always been solitary hunters.
The workers, led by Abdullah, begin to turn on Patterson. Work on the bridge comes to a halt. Patterson requests soldiers from England to protect the workers, but is denied. During a visit to the camp, Beaumont tells Patterson that he will ruin his reputation if the bridge is not finished on time and that he will contact the famous hunter Charles Remington to help because Patterson has been unable to kill the animals.
Remington arrives with skilled Maasai warriors to help kill the lions. They dub the lions “the Ghost” and “the Darkness” because of their notorious methods of attack. The initial attempt fails when Patterson’s borrowed gun misfires. The warriors decide to leave, but Remington stays behind. He constructs a new hospital for sick and injured workers and tempts the lions to the abandoned building with animal parts and blood. When the lions fall for the trap, Remington and Patterson shoot at them; they flee and attack the new hospital, killing many patients and Hawthorne.
Abdullah and the construction men leave, and only Patterson, Remington, and Samuel remain behind. Patterson and Remington locate the animals’ lair, discovering the bones of dozens of the lions’ victims. That night, Remington kills one of the pair by using Patterson and a baboon as bait. Patterson discovers that the remaining lion has dragged Remington from his tent and killed him; Patterson and Samuel cremate Remington’s corpse on a pyre at the spot where he died. Grief-stricken and desperate to end the carnage, the two men burn the tall grass surrounding the camp, driving the surviving lion toward the camp (and the ambush that they set there). The lion attacks them on the partially constructed bridge and after a lengthy fight, Patterson finally kills it. Abdullah and the construction workers return, and the bridge is completed on time.
Cast[edit]
Val Kilmer as Col. John Henry Patterson
Michael Douglas as Charles Remington
John Kani as Samuel
Brian McCardie as Angus Starling
Bernard Hill as Doctor David Hawthorne
Tom Wilkinson as Sir Robert Beaumont
Emily Mortimer as Helena Patterson
Om Puri as Abdullah
Henry Cele as Mahina
Production[edit]
The film is based upon The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson, the man who actually killed both real lions.
Screenplay[edit]
William Goldman first heard about the story when travelling in Africa in 1984, and thought it would make a good script. In 1989 he pitched the story to Paramount as a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Jaws, and they commissioned him to write a screenplay which he delivered in 1990.[5]
“My particular feeling is that they were evil,” said Goldman of the lions. “I believe that for nine months, evil popped out of the ground at Tsavo.”[6]
The script fictionalises Patterson’s account, introducing an American big game hunter called Charles Remington. The character was based on Anglo-Indian big game hunter Charles H. Ryall, superintendent of the Railway Police.[7] In original drafts the character was called Redbeard, and Goldman says his purpose in the story was to create an imposing character who could be killed by the lions and make Patterson seem more brave; Goldman says his ideal casting for the role would have been Burt Lancaster.[8]
According to Goldman, Kevin Costner expressed interest in playing Patterson, but Paramount wanted to use Tom Cruise who ultimately declined. Work on the film slowed until Michael Douglas moved his producing unit with partner Steven Reuther, Constellation Films, to Paramount. Douglas read the script and loved it, calling it “an incredible thriller about events that actually took place.”[6] Douglas decided to produce and Stephen Hopkins was hired to direct.
Val Kilmer, who had just made Batman Forever and was a frequent visitor to Africa then expressed enthusiasm for the script, which enabled the project to be financed.
The part of Remington was originally offered to Sean Connery and Anthony Hopkins but both declined; the producers were considering asking Gérard Depardieu when Douglas decided to play the role himself. Stephen Hopkins later said he was unhappy about this.[9]
In early drafts of the script, Remington was originally going to be an enigmatic figure but when Douglas chose to play him, the character’s role was expanded and was given a history. In Goldman’s book Which Lie Did I Tell?, the screenwriter argues that Douglas’ decision ruined the mystery of the character, making him a “wimp” and a “loser”.[10]
Locations[edit]
The film was shot mainly on location at Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa, rather than Kenya, due to tax laws. Many Maasai characters in the film were actually portrayed by South African actors, although the Maasai depicted during the hunt were portrayed by real Maasai warriors who were hired for the movie.
Filming[edit]
While the real man-eaters were, like all lions from the Tsavo region, a more aggressive, maneless variety, those used for filming were actually the least aggressive available, for both safety and aesthetic reasons. The film’s lions were two male lions with manes. They were brothers named Caesar and Bongo, who were residents of the Bowmanville Zoo in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, both of whom were also featured in George of the Jungle. The film also featured three other lions: two from France and one from the USA.
Director Stephen Hopkins later said of the shoot:
We had snake bites, scorpion bites, tick bite fever, people getting hit by lightning, floods, torrential rains and lightning storms, hippos chasing people through the water, cars getting swept into the water, and several deaths of crew members, including two drownings…. Val came to the set under the worst conditions imaginable. He was completely exhausted from doing The Island of Dr. Moreau; he was dealing with the unfavorable publicity from that set; he was going through a divorce; he barely had time to get his teeth into this role before we started; and he is in nearly every scene in this movie. But I worked him six or seven days a week for four months under really adverse conditions, and he really came through. He had a passion for this film.[6]
Reception[edit]
The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing (Bruce Stambler) at the 69th Academy Awards. However, Val Kilmer was nominated for the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor. Reviews were mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 52% rating based on 46 reviews.[11] Roger Ebert said the film was so awful it “lacked the usual charm of being so bad it’s funny” adding it was “an African adventure that makes the Tarzan movies look subtle and realistic”.[12] Ebert would put the film on his list of the worst movies of 1997. Conversely, the late David R. Ellis listed this film at #8 on his “Top 10 Animal Horror Movies” countdown, a list he made to promote the release of Shark Night 3D.[13]
Hopkins said in a 1998 interview that the film “was a mess… I haven’t been able to watch it.”[9]
In India, the film was remade in Telugu as Mrugaraju and released in 2001.
Home release[edit]
The Ghost and the Darkness was released by Paramount Home Video on VHS on April 1, 1997. Later on, the film is available as a one-disc DVD. There are no special features besides a theatrical trailer for the film. The film was released on LaserDisc in 1997 as a one-disc, double-sided release featuring a Dolby Digital audio track.
Historical accuracy[edit]
The Tsavo Man-Eaters on display in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago
Although Patterson claimed the lions were responsible for up to 135 deaths, the definitive peer-reviewed paper on man-eating lions and the circumstances surrounding this notorious event states that only about 28–31 killings can be verified (Kerbis Peterhans & Gnoske, 2001). (This figure does not take into account any people who may have been killed but not eaten by the animals.)[14]
Patterson’s 1907 book itself states that “between them (the lions) no less than 28 Indian coolies, in addition to scores of unfortunate African natives of whom no official record was kept” were killed. This lesser number was confirmed in the definitive paper on man-eating behavior and the Tsavo lions by Kerbis Peterhans and Gnoske (2001)[15] and soon thereafter in Dr. Bruce Patterson’s definitive book The Lions of Tsavo: Exploring the Legacy of Africa’s Notorious Man-Eaters published by McGraw-Hill in 2004. Patterson wrote the book at the Field Museum in Chicago, where the lions are on display. Kerbis Peterhans & Gnoske showed that the greater toll attributed to the lions resulted from a pamphlet written by Col. Patterson in 1925, stating “these two ferocious brutes killed and devoured, under the most appalling circumstances, 135 Indian and African artisans and laborers employed in the construction of the Uganda Railway.”[16]
The location where the bridge was built is now called Man-Eater’s Camp. It is in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, about 125 kilometres (78 mi) east of Mount Kilimanjaro and 260 kilometres (160 mi) southeast of Nairobi, at 2.993558°S 38.461458°E
Eraser
Eraser_(movie_poster)
Eraser is a 1996 American action thriller film directed by Chuck Russell and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Caan, James Coburn, Robert Pastorelli and Vanessa L. Williams. The film follows a U.S Marshal of WITSEC who protects a senior operative testifying about an illegal arms deal and is forced to fight his former allies when one of the players is revealed to be a mole inside WITSEC.
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $242 million against a budget of $100 million. It received mixed reviews from critics, but they praised Schwarzenegger’s performance, the action sequences and the visual effects. It was released in the United States on June 21, 1996 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing in 1997.
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Development and casting
3.2Design
3.3Filming
3.4Post production
4Reception
4.1Box office
4.2Critical response
5See also
6References
7External links
Plot[edit]
John Kruger – a top U.S. Marshal for the Witness Security Protection Program (WITSEC) – specializes in “erasing” high-profile witnesses: faking their deaths to protect them from anyone that might silence them. After erasing mob witness Johnny Casteleone, Kruger is given a new assignment by his boss, Chief Arthur Beller, to protect Lee Cullen, a senior executive at Cyrez Corporation, a defense contractor. Lee warned the FBI that top-level Cyrez executives covered up the creation of a top secret electromagnetic pulse rifle and plan to sell the weapon on the black market.
In an FBI sting operation, Lee accesses the Cyrez mainframe and downloads data on the EM rifle onto two discs: one for the FBI and one for her own protection. Vice President William Donohue, her boss, detects Lee’s intrusion and orders her into his office. After finding Lee’s hidden camera and threatening her with a pistol, Donohue commits suicide in front of her. Lee delivers the disc to the FBI but, disillusioned by their broken promise to guarantee her safety, refuses Kruger’s protection offer. The FBI’s disc is replaced with a fake by a mole working for Undersecretary of Defense Daniel Harper, the conspiracy’s mastermind.
That night, Lee’s house is attacked by a mercenary team led by J. Scar sent by Cyrez’ corrupt CEO, Morehart. Kruger rescues Lee and hides her in New York City, keeping her location secret even from WITSEC. Kruger learns from his mentor, Marshal Robert DeGuerin, that several witnesses have been murdered because a mole in WITSEC is leaking information and they must relocate their witnesses. Along with Agents Calderon and Schiff and newcomer Deputy Monroe, they raid a remote cabin and kill mercenaries holding DeGuerin’s witness hostage, but DeGuerin discreetly kills her when the mercenary leader reveals DeGuerin as the mole. Flying back to DC, Kruger, now suspicious of DeGuerin, warns Lee to relocate. DeGuerin drugs Kruger long enough to trace the warning call to NYC and kill Monroe using Kruger’s gun, framing him as the mole. Revealing he, Calderon, and Schiff are corrupt, DeGuerin explains he is the go-between for the black market buyer, and Kruger escapes from the plane to rescue Lee from DeGuerin’s mercenaries. Kruger saves Cullen from Scar at Central Park Zoo, who pursues them; Kruger releases several alligators that devour Scar. DeGuerin has Kruger and Lee branded as fugitives.
Kruger and Lee enlist Casteleone’s help and penetrate the Cyrez building. Using a mainframe backdoor in Donohue’s terminal, they decrypt Lee’s second disc. It reveals that a huge shipment of EM rifles is at the Baltimore docks and will be delivered to Russian Mafia boss Sergei Ivanovich Petrofsky, who plans to sell the weapons overseas to terrorists. A Cyrez operative pinpoints their whereabouts and remotely destroys the disc; DeGuerin kidnaps Lee and takes her to the docks as the shipment is being loaded onto Petrofsky’s Russian freighter.
Casteleone contacts his mobster cousin Tony Two-Toes and his two associates to help Kruger raid the docks. They kill Petrovsky, his henchmen, and DeGuerin’s mercenaries. In a struggle atop a shipping container, DeGuerin holds Lee hostage, but Kruger frees her and destroys the lock on the container crane, dropping DeGuerin and the container to the ground and exposing the presence of the EM rifles. Kruger rescues the critically wounded DeGuerin, leaving him to be detained by Beller and the authorities and proving his and Lee’s innocence.
Weeks later, Kruger brings Lee to a hearing for DeGuerin, Harper, and Morehart, who are indicted for treason. With little confidence that her testimony could secure their convictions, Kruger and Lee publicly fake their deaths in a car explosion. In the back of a limo, DeGuerin congratulates Harper on their deaths and says that they should go back into black-market business as soon as possible, but looks astonished when Harper says that he assumed DeGuerin had killed them. The men are confused, then shocked as their limo stops on a train track and the driver – actually Casteleone – locks the doors and exits the vehicle. Kruger calls DeGuerin and tells him, “You’ve just been erased” as they see a train heading right for them. They can’t escape before the train slams into the limo, killing all three. Kruger waves goodbye to Casteleone and walks over to Lee in a waiting car, telling her “they caught a train.”
Cast[edit]
Arnold Schwarzenegger as US Marshal John Kruger
James Caan as US Marshal Robert DeGuerin
Vanessa L. Williams as Lee Cullen
James Coburn as WITSEC Chief Arthur Beller
Robert Pastorelli as Johnny Casteleone
James Cromwell as William Donohue, Vice President of International Division at Cyrez and Cullen’s supervisor
Danny Nucci as WITSEC Deputy Monroe
Andy Romano as Undersecretary of Defense Daniel Harper
Joe Viterelli as Tony Two-Toes
Olek Krupa as Sergei Ivanovich Petrovsky
Gerry Becker as Morehart
Nick Chinlund as Agent Calderon
Michael Papajohn as Agent Schiff
K. Todd Freeman as Agent Dutton
Mark Rolston as J. Scar
John Slattery as Agent Corman
Robert Miranda as Frediano
Roma Maffia as Claire Isaacs
Tony Longo as Little Mike
John Snyder as Sal
Rick Batalla as Kevin, the Bartender
Skipp Sudduth as Watch Commander
Sven-Ole Thorsen as one of Petrofsky’s guards
Denis Forest as Cyrez’s system administrator
Patrick Kilpatrick as James Haggerty, Head of Cyrez Security
Production[edit]
Development and casting[edit]
Director Chuck Russell and star Arnold Schwarzenegger were originally working on another project together when Eraser was brought to their attention.[6] Russell was excited about the possibilities the film could bring between actor and the character: “I see Arnold the way a lot of people do — as a mythic, bigger-than-life character — and that’s who Kruger is. The character and the scenario are based firmly in reality, but I liked the mythic proportions of this man with a strong sense of duty, a strong sense of honor, who will literally do anything to protect a noble witness. I was excited about doing a film that had heroic proportions.”[6] Producer Arnold Kopelson was also keen to cast Schwarzenegger in the role of “The Eraser”, having talked with the actor about working on projects before.[6] Vanessa Williams would be cast as the lead female character, Lee Cullen, the key witness Eraser must protect. Williams came to the attention of the Kopelsons when Maria Shriver, the wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, suggested her for the role.[6] To play the character of DeGuerin (Kruger’s mentor and the main sociopathic antagonist), the filmmakers wanted an actor who could “convey intelligence, skill and magnetism – a more mature version of the Kruger character”, they would cast James Caan in this role.[6] Before Caan was officially cast, Jonathan Pryce was also considered for the role.[7] The screenplay was initially the work of Tony Puryear, who had a background in advertising and rap videos. Writers Walon Green and Michael S. Chernuchin had previously worked together on the television drama Law & Order.[8] Extensive, uncredit rewrites were made by Frank Darabont and William Wisher Jr. (Terminator 2: Judgment Day).[4] Additional rewrites were made by John Milius as a favor to Schwarzenegger.[1][2][3]
Design[edit]
The “rail-gun”[9] featured in the film as a key plot device, Schwarzenegger talks on the subject: “We paid a lot of attention to making the audience feel the danger of this weapon, that anyone can be outside of your house, looking right through the walls. It really leaves you nowhere to hide,” he explains. “But, on top of that, we show the sophistication of the weapon in a lot of fun ways: you not only see through a building, you see a person’s skeleton and even their heart beating inside. There are some great visual effects there.”[6]
Filming[edit]
Eraser began principal photography in New York City, locations would include The Harlem Rail Yard in the South Bronx, Central Park’s Sheep Meadow and Chinatown.[6] Following shooting in New York production moved to Washington D.C.[6] For the action sequence which takes place in the Reptile House of New York City Zoo, interiors were built on the soundstages of the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.[6] The screenplay went through numerous drafts with some of the most prominent screenwriters in the business, with a great deal of uncredited script-doctoring work being done by Graham Yost and William Wisher.
One of the most demanding action sequences in the film featured the character of Kruger forced to flee from a jet speeding through the skies at 250 miles per hour. Speaking about this scene, director Russell says: “These things are jigsaw puzzle pieces not only within shooting sequence but within each shot. You had elements that were live action, elements that were miniature, sometimes computer-generated, and they’re all married together in the final processing.”[6] Some of the physical stunts were performed by Schwarzenegger himself. For the “aerial” stunt Arnold was required to fall 65 feet in vertical descent and perform a back flip in mid-flight. The shot took seven takes to get right. In the final film, Kruger appears to drop along the length of the fuselage and past the flaming engine of the Jet thanks to inventive camera angles and special effects.
Post production[edit]
The original name of the Cyrez corporations was “Cyrex”. However, Cyrix, a microprocessor corporation and rival of Intel, protested. The name was then changed digitally in any scenes where the name appeared in a fairly costly process for the time, and dialogue redubbed.[10] Some instances of the “Cyrex” logo are still visible in the finished film.
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
Eraser had an opening weekend of $24.5 million in the US during the summer season of 1996. The final US gross was $101.2 million and final worldwide gross was $242.3 million.[5]
Critical response[edit]
Based on 48 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 35% and an average score of 5/10.[11]
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “A-” on an A+ to F scale.[12]
A more positive review came from Roger Ebert, who gave the film 3 stars out of a possible 4. He wrote that there were so many plot holes that “it helps to have a short attention span”, but that Eraser is nonetheless “actually good action fun, with spectacular stunts and special effects” and a spirited performance from Williams “running and jumping and fighting and shooting and kicking and screaming and being tied to chairs and smuggling computer discs and looking great.”[13]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the English-language film. For the Swedish-language film based on the same novel, see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009 film).
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a 2011 psychological crime thriller film based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson. This film adaptation was directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian. Starring Daniel Craig as journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, it tells the story of Blomkvist’s investigation to find out what happened to a woman from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years prior. He recruits the help of Salander, a computer hacker.
Sony Pictures Entertainment began development on the film in 2009. It took the company a few months to obtain the rights to the novel, while recruiting Zaillian and David Fincher. The casting process for the lead roles was exhaustive and intense; Craig faced scheduling conflicts, and a number of actresses were sought for the role of Lisbeth Salander. The script took over six months to write, which included three months of analyzing the novel.
Critics gave the film favorable reviews, praising its bleak tone and lauding Craig and Mara’s performances. With a production budget of $90 million the film grossed $232.6 million worldwide. The film was chosen by National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2011 and was a candidate for numerous awards, winning, among others, the Academy Award for Best Film Editing,[3] while Mara’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.[4][5][6]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Conception and writing
3.2Filming
3.2.1Title sequence
3.3Soundtrack
4Release
4.1Pre-release
4.2Home media
5Reception
5.1Box office
5.2Critical response
5.3Accolades
6Sequel
7References
8External links
Plot[edit]
In Stockholm, disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist is recovering from the legal and professional fallout of a libel suit brought by the businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström, straining Blomkvist’s relationship with his business partner and lover, Erika Berger. Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but antisocial investigator and hacker, compiles an extensive background check on Blomkvist for the wealthy Henrik Vanger, who offers Blomkvist evidence against Wennerström in exchange for an unusual task: to investigate the 40-year-old disappearance and presumed murder of Henrik’s grandniece, Harriet. Blomkvist agrees, and moves onto the Vanger family estate on the island of Hedestad.
Salander’s legal guardian, Holger Palmgren, suffers a stroke, and is replaced by Nils Bjurman, a sadist who controls Salander’s finances and extorts sexual favors from her. Unaware she is secretly recording their meeting, Bjurman brutally rapes her. At their next meeting, Salander incapacitates Bjurman with a stun gun, binds him to his bed, rapes him with a metallic dildo, brands him a “rapist pig” with a tattoo across his stomach, and blackmails him into securing her independence.
Blomkvist explores the island and interviews members of the Vanger family, and uncovers a notebook containing a list of names and numbers. His daughter Pernilla visits and explains the list of Bible references. In need of a skilled researcher, Blomkvist hires Salander. She uncovers a connection between the list and a series of murders of young women from 1947 to 1967, indicating a serial killer still at large. One morning, Blomkvist finds the mutilated corpse of a cat at his doorstep. Another night he is shot at and narrowly escapes; Salander tends to his wounds, and they have sex. Blomkvist begins to suspect Martin, Harriet’s brother and operational head of the Vanger empire. Salander’s research uncovers evidence that Martin and his late father, Gottfried, committed the murders.
Blomkvist breaks into Martin’s house to find more proof, but is caught by Martin and brought to his specially prepared basement. While torturing Blomkvist, Martin reveals his abusive indoctrination by his father, and brags of having killed women for decades but denies killing Harriet. As Martin prepares to kill Blomkvist, Salander arrives, forcing Martin to flee. Salander, on her motorcycle, pursues Martin in his SUV, who runs off the road and is killed when the car explodes. Salander nurses Blomkvist back to health and begins to open up to him. They deduce that Harriet is still alive; they travel to London and confront Harriet’s cousin, Anita, and realize she is Harriet herself. Harriet explains that her father and brother sexually abused her for years, and that Martin saw her kill their father in self-defense. Her cousin, Anita, smuggled her off the island and let her live under her identity in London. Finally free of her brother, she returns to Sweden and tearfully reunites with Henrik.
As promised, Henrik gives Blomkvist information against Wennerström, but it proves worthless; Salander then hacks Wennerström’s accounts, finds Blomkvist the evidence he needs and, traveling to Switzerland in disguise, steals two billion euros of secret funds. She reveals to Palmgren that she has made a friend and is happy. On her way to give Blomkvist a Christmas present, Salander sees him together with Erika. Heartbroken, Salander discards the gift and rides away.
Cast[edit]
Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist:
A co-owner for Swedish lifestyle magazine Millennium, Blomkvist is devoted to exposing the corruptions and malfeasance of government, attracting infamy for his tendency to “go too far”.[7] Craig competed with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen, and Johnny Depp as candidates for the role.[8][9] Initial concerns over schedule conflicts with the production of Cowboys & Aliens (2011) and Skyfall (2012) prompted Craig to postpone the casting process.[9][10] Given the uncertainty surrounding Skyfall following Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s bankruptcy, Sony Pictures Entertainment and DreamWorks worked out a schedule and Craig agreed to take the part.[10] The British actor was required to gain weight and adopted a neutral accent to befit Stockholm’s worldly cultural fabric. Having read the book amid its “initial craze”, Craig commented, “It’s one of those books you just don’t put down” […] There’s just this immediate feeling that bad things are going to happen and I think that’s part of why they’ve been so readable for people.”[7]
Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander:
Salander is a computer hacker who has survived severe emotional and sexual abuse. The character was a “vulnerable victim-turned-vigilante with the “take-no-prisoners” attitude of Lara Croft and the “cool, unsentimental intellect” of Spock. Fincher felt that Salander’s eccentric persona was enthralling, and stated, “there’s a kind of wish fulfillment to her in the way that she takes care of things, the way she will only put up with so much, but there are other sides to her as well.”[7] Casting was complicated by the raft of prominent candidates such as Natalie Portman, Ellen Page, Kristen Stewart, Emily Browning, Jennifer Lawrence, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Thirlby, Scarlett Johansson, Yolandi Visser, and Emma Watson.[11][12] Despite the hype, some eventually withdrew from consideration due to the time commitment and low pay.[13] Mara had worked with Fincher in his 2010 film The Social Network.[7][9] Fincher, while fond of the actress’ youthful appearance,[14] found it difficult at first to mold her to match Salander’s antisocial demeanor, which was a vast contrast from her earlier role as the submissive Erica.[9] Mara went through multiple changes in her appearance to become Salander. Her hair was dyed black and cut into various jagged points, giving the appearance that she cut it herself.[15][16] In addition to her transgressive appearance, which was described as a “mash-up of brazen Seventies punk and spooky Eighties goth with a dash of S&M temptress” by Lynn Hirschberg of W,[15] Mara participated in a formal screening and was filmed by Fincher on a subway in Los Angeles in an effort to persuade the executives of Sony Pictures that she was a credible choice.[9]
Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger:
Vanger is a wealthy businessman who launches an extensive investigation into his family’s affairs. Despite calling the Vanger family “dysfunctional”, Plummer said of the character: “I love the character of the old man, and I sympathize with him. He’s really the nicest old guy in the whole book. Everybody is a bit suspect, and still are at the end. Old Vanger has a nice straight line, and he gets his wish.”[17] Plummer wanted to imbue the character with irony, an element he found to be absent from the novel’s Henrik.[18] “I think that the old man would have it,” he opined, “because he’s a very sophisticated old guy […] used to a great deal of power. So in dealing with people, he would be very good […] he would be quite jokey, and know how to seduce them.”[18]
Stellan Skarsgård as Martin Vanger:
Martin is the current CEO of Vanger Industries. Skarsgård was allured by the character’s dual nature, and was fascinated that he got to portray him in “two totally different ways”.[19] In regards to Martin’s “very complex” and “complicated” personality, the Swedish actor said, “He can be extremely charming, but he also can seem to be a completely different person at different points in the film.”[7] While consulting with Fincher, the director wanted Skarsgård to play Martin without reference to the book.[19]
Steven Berkoff as Dirch Frode, Head Legal Counsel for Vanger Industries
Robin Wright as Erika Berger: Blomkvist’s business partner and editor-in-chief of Millennium magazine. She’s also Blomkvist’s occasional lover.
Yorick van Wageningen as Nils Bjurman:
As Salander’s legal guardian, he uses his position to sexually abuse and eventually rape her. Salander turns the tables on him, torturing him and branding him across the torso with the words I AM A RAPIST. Fincher wanted the character to be worse than a typical antagonist, although he did not want to emulate the stereotypical “mustache-twirling pervert”. The director considered Van Wageningen to be the embodiment of a versatile actor—one who was a “full-fledged human being” and a “brilliant” actor. “He was able to bring his performance from a logical place in Bjurman’s mind and find the seething morass of darkness inside,” Fincher stated. Bjurman’s multifaceted psyche was the main reason Van Wageningen wanted to play the role. The Dutch actor said, “This character goes through a lot and I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to go through all that. I started out half way between the elation of getting to work with David Fincher and the dread of this character, but I was able to use both of those things. We both thought the most interesting route would be for Bjurman to seem half affable. The challenge was not in finding the freak violence in the guy but finding the humanity of him.”[7]
Joely Richardson as Harriet Vanger:
Henrik’s long-lost grandniece who went into hiding posing as her cousin Anita. In performing her “tricky” character, Richardson recalled that Fincher wanted her to embrace a “darker, edgier” persona, without sugarcoating, and not “resolved or healed”. “Even if you were starting to move towards the direction of resolved or healed, he still wanted it edgy and dark. There are no straightforward emotions in the world of this film.”[7]
Goran Višnjić as Dragan Armansky, head of Milton Security, Salander’s employer
Donald Sumpter as Detective Morell
Ulf Friberg as Hans-Erik Wennerström, CEO of the Wennerström Group
Geraldine James as Cecilia Vanger
Embeth Davidtz as Annika Giannini, Mikael’s sister and a lawyer
Josefin Asplund as Pernilla Blomkvist, Mikael’s daughter
Per Myrberg as Harald Vanger
Tony Way as Plague, Salander’s hacker friend
Fredrik Dolk as Bertil Camnermarker, Counsel for the Wennerström Group
Alan Dale as Detective Isaksson
Julian Sands as Young Henrik Vanger
David Dencik as Young Morell
Gustaf Hammarsten as Young Harald
Leo Bill as Trinity, another of Salander’s hacker friends
Élodie Yung as Miriam Wu, Salander’s occasional lover
Joel Kinnaman as Christer Malm
Production[edit]
Conception and writing[edit]
The success of Stieg Larsson’s novel created Hollywood interest in adapting the book, as became apparent in 2009, when Lynton and Pascal pursued the idea of developing an “American” version unrelated to the Swedish film adaptation released that year. By December, two major developments occurred for the project: Steven Zaillian, who had recently completed the script for Moneyball (2011), became the screenwriter, while producer Scott Rudin finalized a partnership allocating full copyrights to Sony.[9] Zaillian, who was unfamiliar with the novel, got a copy from Rudin. The screenwriter recalled, “They sent it to me and said, ‘We want to do this. We will think of it as one thing for now. It’s possible that it can be two and three, but let’s concentrate on this one.’”[20] After reading the book, the screenwriter did no research on the subject.[21] Fincher, who was requested with partner Cean Chaffin by Sony executives to read the novel,[9][22] was astounded by the series’ size and success. As they began to read, the duo noticed that it had a tendency to take “readers on a lot of side trips”—”from detailed explanations of surveillance techniques to angry attacks on corrupt Swedish industrialists,” professed The Hollywood Reporter’s Gregg Kilday. Fincher recalled of the encounter: “The ballistic, ripping-yarn thriller aspect of it is kind of a red herring in a weird way. It is the thing that throws Salander and Blomkvist together, but it is their relationship you keep coming back to. I was just wondering what 350 pages Zaillian would get rid of.” Because Zaillian was already cultivating the screenplay, the director avoided interfering. After a conversation, Fincher was comfortable “they were headed in the same direction”.[9]
“I imagined someone who could move through the streets of Stockholm almost invisibly even though she looks the way she looks … it’s almost like a forcefield”
—Steven Zaillian[23]
The writing process consumed approximately six months, including three months creating notes and analyzing the novel.[20] Zaillian noted that as time progressed, the writing accelerated. “As soon as you start making decisions,” he explained, “you start cutting off all of the other possibilities of things that could happen. So with every decision that you make you are removing a whole bunch of other possibilities of where that story can go or what that character can do.”[20] Given the book’s sizable length, Zaillian deleted elements to match Fincher’s desired running time.[20] Even so, Zaillan took significant departures from the book.[23] To Zaillian, there was always a “low-grade” anxiety, “but I was never doing anything specifically to please or displease,” he continued. “I was simply trying to tell the story the best way I could, and push that out of my mind. I didn’t change anything just for the sake of changing it. There’s a lot right about the book, but that part, I thought we could do it a different way, and it could be a nice surprise for the people that have read it.”[23]
Zaillian discussed many of the themes in Larsson’s Millennium series with Fincher, taking the pair deeper into the novel’s darker subjects, such as the psychological dissimilarities between rapists and murderers.[23] Fincher was familiar with the concept, from projects such as Seven (1995) and Zodiac (2007). Zaillian commented, “A rapist, or at least our rapist, is about exercising his power over somebody. A serial killer is about destruction; they get off on destroying something. It’s not about having power over something, it’s about eliminating it. What thrills them is slightly different.”[23] The duo wanted to expose the novels’ pivotal themes, particularly misogyny. “We were committed to the tack that this is a movie about violence against women about specific kinds of degradation, and you can’t shy away from that. But at the same time you have to walk a razor thin line so that the audience can viscerally feel the need for revenge but also see the power of the ideas being expressed.”[7] Instead of the typical three-act structure, they reluctantly chose a five-act structure, which Fincher pointed out is “very similar to a lot of TV cop dramas.”[24]
Filming[edit]
Stockholm, Sweden provided for much of the setting of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Fincher and Zaillian’s central objective was to maintain the novel’s setting. To portray Larsson’s vision of Sweden, and the interaction of light on its landscape, Fincher cooperated with an artistic team that included cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth and production designer Donald Graham Burt. The film was wholly shot using Red Digital Cinema Camera Company’s RED MX digital camera, chosen to help evoke Larsson’s tone. The idea, according to Cronenweth, was to employ unorthodox light sources and maintain a realistic perspective. “So there may be shadows, there may be flaws, but it’s reality. You allow silhouettes and darkness, but at the same time we also wanted shots to counter that, so it would not all be one continuous dramatic image.”[7] Sweden’s climate was a crucial element in enhancing the mood. Cronenweth commented, “It’s always an element in the background and it was very important that you feel it as an audience member. The winter becomes like a silent character in the film giving everything a low, cool-colored light that is super soft and non-direct.”[7] To get acquainted with Swedish culture, Burt set out on a month-long expedition across the country. He said of the process, “It takes time to start really taking in the nuances of a culture, to start seeing the themes that recur in the architecture, the landscape, the layouts of the cities and the habits of the people. I felt I had to really integrate myself into this world to develop a true sense of place for the film. It was not just about understanding the physicality of the locations, but the metaphysics of them, and how the way people live comes out through design.”[7]
Principal photography began in Stockholm, Sweden in September 2010.[25] Production mostly took place at multiple locations in the city’s central business district, including at the Stockholm Court House.[26] One challenge was realizing the Vanger estate. They picked an eighteenth-century French architecture mansion Hofsta located approximately 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Stockholm. Filmmakers wanted to use a typical “manor from Småland” that was solemn, formal, and “very Old Money”. “The Swedish are very good at the modern and the minimal but they also have these wonderful country homes that can be juxtaposed against the modern city—yet both speak to money.”[7] Principal photography relocated in October to Uppsala. On Queen Street, the facade of the area was renovated to mimic the Hotel Alder, after an old photograph of a building obtained by Fincher.[27] From December onward, production moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where locations were established at Dolder Grand Hotel and the Zurich Airport.[28] Because of the “beautiful” environment of the city, Fincher found it difficult to film in the area.[29] Principal photography concluded in Oslo, Norway, where production took place at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Recorded for over fifteen hours, twelve extras were sought for background roles.[30] Filming also took place in the United Kingdom and the United States.[citation needed]
In one sequence the character Martin Vanger plays the song “Orinoco Flow” by Enya before beginning his torture of Mikael Blomkvist. David Fincher, the director, said that he believed that Martin “doesn’t like to kill, he doesn’t like to hear the screams, without hearing his favorite music” so therefore the character should play a song during the scene.[31]Daniel Craig, the actor who played Blomkvist, selected “Orinoco Flow” on his iPod as a candidate song. Fincher said “And we all almost pissed ourselves, we were laughing so hard. No, actually, it’s worse than that. He said, ‘Orinoco Flow!’ Everybody looked at each other, like, what is he talking about? And he said, ‘You know, “Sail away, sail away…”’ And I thought, this guy is going to make Blomkvist as metro as we need.”[31]
Title sequence[edit]
In the “Hot Hands” vignette, the rough, gnarled hands caressing Salander’s face represents all that is bad in men.
Tim Miller, creative director for the title sequence, wanted to develop an abstract narrative that reflected the pivotal moments in the novel, as well as the character development of Lisbeth Salander. It was arduous for Miller to conceptualize the sequence abstractly, given that Salander’s occupation was a distinctive part of her personality. His initial ideas were modeled after a keyboard. “We were going to treat the keyboard like this giant city with massive fingers pressing down on the keys,” Miller explained, “Then we transitioned to the liquid going through the giant obelisks of the keys.”[32] Among Miller’s many vignettes was “The Hacker Inside”, which revealed the character’s inner disposition and melted them away. The futuristic qualities in the original designs provided for a much more cyberpunk appearance than the final product. In creating the “cyber” look for Salander, Miller said, “Every time I would show David a design he would say, ‘More Tandy!’ It’s the shitty little computers from Radio Shack, the Tandy computers. They probably had vacuum tubes in them, really old technology. And David would go ‘More Tandy’, until we ended up with something that looked like we glued a bunch of computer parts found at a junkyard together.”[32]
Fincher wanted the vignette to be a “personal nightmare” for Salander, replaying her darkest moments. “Early on, we knew it was supposed to feel like a nightmare,” Miller professed, who commented that early on in the process, Fincher wanted to use an artwork as a template for the sequence. After browsing through various paintings to no avail, Fincher chose a painting that depicted the artist, covered in black paint, standing in the middle of a gallery. Many of Miller’s sketches contained a liquid-like component, and were rewritten to produce the “gooey” element that was so desired. “David said let’s just put liquid in all of them and it will be this primordial dream ooze that’s a part of every vignette,” Miller recalled. “It ties everything together other than the black on black.”[32]
The title sequence includes abundant references to the novel, and exposes several political themes. Salander’s tattoos, such as her phoenix and dragon tattoos, were incorporated. The multiple flower representations signified the biological life cycle, as well as Henrik, who received a pressed flower each year on his birthday. “One had flowers coming out of this black ooze,” said Fincher, “it blossoms, and then it dies. And then a different flower, as that one is dying is rising from the middle of it. It was supposed to represent this cycle of the killer sending flowers.”[32] Ultimately, the vignette becomes very conceptual because Miller and his team took “a whole thought, and cut it up into multiple different shots that are mixed in with other shots”. In one instance, Blomkvist is strangled by strips of newspaper, a metaphor for the establishment squelching his exposes.[32]
In the “Hot Hands” vignette, a pair of rough, distorted hands that embrace Salander’s face and melt it represent all that’s bad in men. The hands that embrace Blomkvist’s face and shatter it, represent wealth and power.[32] Themes of domestic violence become apparent as a woman’s face shatters after a merciless beating; this also ties in the brutal beating of Salander’s mother by her father, an event revealed in the sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006).[32]
A cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” (1970) plays throughout the title sequence. The rendition was produced by soundtrack composers Atticus Ross and Nine Inch Nailsmember Trent Reznor, and features vocals from Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O.[33] Fincher suggested the song, but Reznor agreed only at his request.[34] Led Zeppelin licensed the song only for use in the film’s trailer and title sequence. Fincher stated that he sees title sequences as an opportunity to set the stage for the film, or to get an audience to let go of its preconceptions.[35]
Software packages that were primarily used are 3ds Max (for modeling, lighting, rendering), Softimage (for rigging and animation), Digital Fusion (for compositing), Real Flow (for fluid dynamics), Sony Vegas (for editorial), Zbrush and Mudbox (for organic modeling), and VRAY (for rendering).[36]
Soundtrack[edit]
Main article: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)
“[The instrumental sounds are] processed and stretched and manipulated into a setting where it may sound harmonically familiar, but if you tune into it, it’s not behaving in a way that you’re accustomed to that type of sound behaving. I find experimenting around in that is an interesting place to work.”
—Trent Reznor[37]
Fincher recruited Reznor and Ross to produce the score; aside from their successful collaboration on The Social Network, the duo had worked together on albums from Nine Inch Nails’ later discography.[37][38] They dedicated much of the year to work on the film, as they felt it would appeal to a broad audience.[39] Akin to his efforts in The Social Network, Reznor experiments with acoustics and blends them with elements of electronic music, resulting in a forbidding atmosphere. “We wanted to create the sound of coldness—emotionally and also physically,” he asserted, “We wanted to take lots of acoustic instruments […] and transplant them into a very inorganic setting, and dress the set around them with electronics.”[37]
Even before viewing the script, Reznor and Ross opted to use a redolent approach to creating the film’s score. After discussing with Fincher the varying soundscapes and emotions, the duo spent six weeks composing. “We composed music we felt might belong,” stated the Nine Inch Nails lead vocalist, “and then we’d run it by Fincher, to see where his head’s at and he responded positively. He was filming at this time last year and assembling rough edits of scenes to see what it feels like, and he was inserting our music at that point, rather than using temp music, which is how it usually takes place, apparently.” Finding a structure for the soundtrack was arguably the most strenuous task. “We weren’t working on a finished thing, so everything keeps moving around, scenes are changing in length, and even the order of things are shuffled around, and that can get pretty frustrating when you get precious about your work. It was a lesson we learned pretty quickly of, ‘Everything is in flux, and approach it as such. Hopefully it’ll work out in the end.’”[39]
Release[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
Mara, Craig, and Fincher at the French premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Paris.
A screening for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo took place on November 28, 2011, as part of a critics-only event hosted by the New York Film Critics Circle. Commentators at the event predicted that while the film would become a contender for several accolades, it would likely not become a forerunner in the pursuit for Academy Award nominations.[40] A promotional campaign commenced thereafter, including a Lisbeth Salander-inspired collection, designed by Trish Summerville for H&M.[41][42] The worldwide premiere was at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on December 12, 2011,[43] followed by the American opening at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on December 14 and Stockholm the next day.[44][45] Sony’s target demographics were men and women over the age of 25 and 17–34.[46] The film went into general release in North America on December 21, at 2,700 theaters,[47] expanding to 2,974 theaters on its second day.[47] The United Kingdom release was on December 26,[48] Russia on January 1, 2012,[49] and Japan on February 13.[50] India and Vietnam releases were abandoned due to censorship concerns.[51][52] A press statement from the Central Board of Film Certification stated: “Sony Pictures will not be releasing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in India. The censor board has judged the film unsuitable for public viewing in its unaltered form and, while we are committed to maintaining and protecting the vision of the director, we will, as always, respect the guidelines set by the board.”[52] In contrast, the National Film Board of Vietnam insisted that the film’s withdrawal had no relation to rigid censorship guidelines, as it had not been reviewed by the committee.[51]
Home media[edit]
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the film in a DVD and Blu-ray disc combo pack in the United States on March 20, 2012.[53] Bonus features include a commentary from Fincher, featurettes on Blomkvist, Salander, the sets and locations, etc.[54] The disc artwork for the DVD version of the film resembles a Sony brand DVD-R, a reference to the hacker Lisbeth Salander. This caused a bit of confusion in the marketplace with consumers thinking they had obtained a bootleg copy.[55][56] The release sold 644,000 copies in its first week, in third place behind The Muppets and Hop.[57] The following week, the film sold an additional 144,000 copies generating $2.59 million in gross revenue.[58] As of January 2014, 1,478,230 units had been sold, grossing $22,195,069.[59]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
Fincher’s film grossed $232.6 million during its theatrical run.[2] The film’s American release grossed $1.6 million from its Tuesday night screenings,[47] a figure that increased to $3.5 million by the end of its first day of general release.[60] It maintained momentum into its opening weekend, accumulating $13 million for a total of $21 million in domestic revenue.[61]The film’s debut figures fell below media expectations.[62][63][64] Aided by positive word of mouth,[65] its commercial performance remained steady into the second week, posting $19 million from 2,914 theaters.[66] The third week saw box office drop 24% to $11.3 million, totaling $76.8 million. The number of theaters slightly increased to 2,950.[67] By the fifth week, the number of theaters shrank to 1,907, and grosses to $3.7 million, though it remained within the national top ten.[68] The film completed its North American theatrical run on March 22, 2012, earning over $102.5 million.[2]
The international debut was in six Scandinavian markets on December 19–25, 2011, securing $1.6 million from 480 venues.[69] In Sweden the film opened in 194 theaters to strong results, accounting for more than half of international revenue at the time ($950,000).[69] The first full week in the United Kingdom collected $6.7 million from 920 theaters.[48] By the weekend of January 6–8, 2012, the film grossed $12.2 million for a total of $29 million; this included its expansion into Hong Kong, where it topped the box office, earning $470,000 from thirty-six establishments. The film similarly led the field in South Africa. It accumulated $6.6 million from an estimated 600 theaters over a seven-day period in Russia, placing fifth.[49] The expansion continued into the following week, opening in nine markets. The week of January 13–15 saw the film yield $16.1 million from 3,910 locations in over forty-three territories, thus propelling the international gross to $49.3 million.[70] It debuted at second place in Austria and Germany, where in the latter, it pulled $2.9 million from 525 locations.[70] Similar results were achieved in Australia, where it reached 252 theaters.[70] The film’s momentum continued throughout the month, and by January 22, it had hit ten additional markets, including France and Mexico, from which it drew $3.25 million from 540 venues and $1.25 million from 540 theaters, respectively.[71] In its second week in France it descended to number three, with a total gross of $5.8 million.[72]
The next major international release came in Japan on February 13, where it opened in first place with $3.68 million (¥288 million)[50] in 431 theaters.[73] By the weekend of February 17–19, the film had scooped up $119.5 million from international markets.[74] The total international gross for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was $130.1 million.[2] MGM, one of the studios involved in the production, posted a “modest loss” and declared that they had expected the film to gross at least 10% more.[75]
Critical response[edit]
Mara’s portrayal of Lisbeth Salander attracted critical acclaim from commentators.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo received positive reviews from critics, with particular note to the cast, tone, score and cinematography. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 86%, based on 236 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The site’s consensus states, “Brutal yet captivating, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the result of David Fincher working at his lurid best with total role commitment from star Rooney Mara.”[76] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score, the film received an average score of 71 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[77]
David Denby of The New Yorker asserted that the austere, but captivating installment presented a “glancing, chilled view” of a world where succinct moments of loyalty coexisted with constant trials of betrayal.[78] To USA Today columnist Claudia Puig, Fincher captures the “menace and grim despair in the frosty Scandinavian landscape” by carefully approaching its most gruesome features.[79] Puig noted a surfeit of “stylistic flourishes” and “intriguing” changes in the narrative, compared to the original film.[79] In his three-and-a-half star review, Chris Knight of the National Post argued that it epitomized a so-called “paradoxical position” that was both “immensely enjoyable and completely unnecessary”.[80] Rene Rodriguez of The Miami Herald said that the “fabulously sinister entertainment” surpassed the original film “in every way”.[81] The film took two and a half stars from Rolling Stone commentator Peter Travers, who concluded: “Fincher’s Girl is gloriously rendered but too impersonal to leave a mark.”[82] A. O. Scott, writing for The New York Times, admired the moments of “brilliantly orchestrated” anxiety and confusion, but felt that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was vulnerable to the “lumbering proceduralism” that he saw in its literary counterpart, as evident with the “long stretches of drab, hackneyed exposition that flatten the atmosphere”.[83] The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern praised Cronenweth’s cinematography, which he thought provided for glossy alterations in the film’s darkness; “Stockholm glitters in nighttime exteriors, and its subway shines in a spectacular spasm of action involving a backpack.”[84] Rex Reed of The New York Observer professed that despite its occasional incomprehensibility, the movie was “technically superb” and “superbly acted”.[85] In contrast, Kyle Smith of New York Post censured the film, calling it “rubbish” and further commenting that it “demonstrates merely that masses will thrill to an unaffecting, badly written, psychologically shallow and deeply unlikely pulp story so long as you allow them to feel sanctified by the occasional meaningless reference to feminism or Nazis.”[86]
The performances were a frequent topic in the critiques. Mara’s performance, in particular, was admired by commentators. A revelation in the eyes of Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman, he proclaimed that her character was more important than “her ability to solve a crime”.[87] Her “hypnotic” portrayal was noted by Justin Chang of Variety,[88] as well as Salon critic Andrew O’Hehir, who wrote, “Rooney Mara is a revelation as Lisbeth Salander, the damaged, aggressive computer geek and feminist revenge angel, playing the character as far more feral and vulnerable than Noomi Rapace’s borderline-stereotype sexpot Goth girl.”[89] Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club enjoyed the chemistry between Mara and Craig,[90] as did David Germain of the Associated Press; “Mara and Craig make an indomitable screen pair, he nominally leading their intense search into decades-old serial killings, she surging ahead, plowing through obstacles with flashes of phenomenal intellect and eruptions of physical fury.”[91] Although Puig found Mara inferior to Rapace in playing Salander, with regard to Craig’s performance, he said that the actor shone.[79] This was supported by Morgenstern, who avouched that Craig “nonetheless finds welcome humor in Mikael’s impassive affect”.[84] In his 2016 assessment of Craig’s career for Taste of Cinema, Eoghan Lyng ranked this portrayal as one of his best.[92] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said the film was given a more assured quality than the original because of Fincher’s direction and the lead performances, although he believed this did not always work to the film’s advantage, preferring the original version’s “less confident surface” where “emotions were closer to the surface.”[93]
Accolades[edit]
In addition to numerous awards, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was included on several year-end lists by film commentators and publications. It was named the best film of 2011 by MTV and James Berardinelli of ReelViews.[94][95] The former wrote, “The director follows up the excellent Social Network with another tour de force, injecting the murder mystery that introduces us to outcast hacker Lisbeth Salander […] and embattled journalist […] with style, intensity and relentless suspense. Mara is a revelation, and the film’s daunting 160-minute runtime breezes by thanks to one heart-racing scene after the next. Dark and tough to watch at times, but a triumph all around.”[94] The film came second in indieWire’s list of “Drew Taylor’s Favorite Films Of 2011”,[96] while reaching the top ten of seven other publications,[97] including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,[98] San Francisco Chronicle,[99] and the New Orleans Times-Picayune.[100] The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was declared one of the best films of the year by the American Film Institute,[101] as well as the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.[102]
Sequel[edit]
Main article: The Girl in the Spider’s Web (film)
In December 2011, Fincher stated that the creative team involved planned to film the sequels The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest, “back to back.”[124] There was an announced release date of 2013 for a film version of The Girl Who Played with Fire, although by August 2012 it was delayed due to changes being being done to the script, being written by Steven Zaillian.[125][126] By July 2013, Andrew Kevin Walker was hired to re-write the script.[127] The following year, Fincher stated that a script for The Girl that Played with Fire had been written and that it was “extremely different from the book,” and that despite the long delay, he was confident that the film would be made given that the studio had “already has spent millions of dollars on the rights and the script”.[128] Mara was less optimistic about the production of the sequels, though she stated that she was still contractually signed on to reprise the lead role.[129][130][131][132]
By November 2015, it was announced that Sony was considering rebooting the franchise, before settling on continuing the film series with an adaptation of The Girl in the Spider’s Web. The story is based on a 2015 novel by David Lagercrantz that was a continuation of the original Millennium trilogy after series creator Stieg Larsson died in 2004.[133] Looking for a new lead in the series, Alicia Vikander was considered by the studio.[134] The following year, Fede Álvarez was announced by Sony as director, as well as co-screenwriter with Steven Knight and Jay Basu.[135][136] The Girl in the Spider’s Web was notably the first adaptation of an installment in the book series to be produced into an English-language film upon its initial release.[137] By March 2017, Álvarez announced that the film would have an entirely new cast, as he wanted the entire film to be his interpretation of the story.[138][139]
In September of the same year, Claire Foy was cast as Lisbeth Salander, replacing Mara. The film released in the U.S. on November 9, 2018.[140]
References
Look for Girl who Played with Fire, Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest, Girl in the Spiders Web,
Chunhyang (2000 film)
Chunhyang_film_poster
Chunhyang (Hangul: 춘향뎐; RR: Chunhyangjeon) is a Korean Pansori film directed by Im Kwon-taek, with a screenplay by Kang Hye-yeon and Kim Myung-gon. Distributed by CJ Entertainment, the film was released on January 29, 2000 in South Korea. Lee Hyo-jeong and Cho Seung-woo played Chunhyang and Mongryong, respectively.
To date, there have been more than sixteen works based on this narrative, including three North Korean films. Im Kwon-taek’s Chunhyang presents a new interpretation of this oral tradition but it is created for a more global audience.”[2] It is the first Chunhyang movie that lyrics of Pansori became part of the screenplay. Therefore, the contents of the Pansori reappear as scenes in the movie. The film uses the framing device of a present-day narrator who, accompanied by a drummer, sings the story of Chunhyang in front of a responsive audience. The film flashes back and forth between the singer’s presentation and scenes of Mongryong.
It was entered into the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.[3] The film is the first Korean film which was presented at the 2000 Telluride Film Festival.[4] At the 2000 Asia Pacific Film Festival, it won a Special Jury Award.[5] It also won an award for Best Narrative at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2000.[6]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Critical reception
4Awards and nominations
5References
6External links
Plot[edit]
The film is told through pansori, a traditional Korean form of storytelling that seeks to narrate through song. It is based on Chunhyangga, a traditional Korean folktale and is set in 18th century Korea.
Lee Mongryong, a governor’s son, falls in love and marries a beautiful girl Chunhyang Sung, the daughter of a courtesan. Their marriage is kept a secret from the governor who would immediately disown Lee if he found that his son married beneath him. The governor gets posted to Seoul and Mongryong is forced to leave his young wife behind, promising to come back for her when he passes the official exam.
After Mongryong leaves Namwon where Mongryong and Chunhyang first meets, new governor, Byun Hakdo, comes and wants Chunhyang for himself. When she refuses, stating that she already has a husband and will forever remain faithful to her beloved, the governor punishes her by flogging. Meanwhile, back in Seoul, Lee passes the test with the highest score and becomes an officer. Three years have passed and Lee Mongryong returns to the town on the King’s mission. There, he finds out that his wife is to be beaten to death on the governor’s birthday as a punishment for disobeying his lust. The governor, very corrupted and greedy, is arrested by Mongryong. The two lovers are finally united.[7]
Cast[edit]
Lee Hyo-jeong – Chunhyang
Cho Seung-woo – Mongryong
Kim Sung-nyeo – Wolmae
Lee Jung-hun – Governor Byun
Kim Hak-yong – Bangja
Choi Jin-young – Governor Lee
Hong Kyung-yeun – kisaeng leader
Cho Sang-hyun – pansori singer
Kim Myung-hwan – pansori drummer
Lee Hae-ryong – Lord of Soonchun
Gok Jun-hwam – Lord of Okgwa
Yoon Keun-mo – Lord of Goksung
Lee Hye-eun – Hyangdan
Critical reception[edit]
According to Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times, “Instead the story is freshened through the use of a Korean singing storyteller, a pansori singer, to provide a narration, belting out the song from a stage in front of an audience. The pansori, or song, is performed under a proscenium arch to highlight the ritual elements of folk tales. Even though much of what the pansori tells us unfolds before the cameras at the same moment, the forcefulness of the performance lends another layer of feeling to the picture.”[8]
Awards and nominations[edit]
The Assassin (2015 film)
the assassins
For the British film directed by J. K. Amalou, see Assassin (2015 film).
The Assassin (Chinese: 刺客聶隱娘; pinyin: Cìkè Niè Yǐnniáng; or: The Assassin Niè Yǐnniáng) is a 2015 wuxia film directed by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien. A Taiwan/Mainland China/Hong Kong co-production,[3][7] it was an official selection in the main competition section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.[8][9] At Cannes, Hou won the award for Best Director.[10][11] It was released in Mainland and Hong Kong, China on 27 August, and a day later in Taiwan on 28 August 2015.[12] It was selected as the Taiwanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.[13][14]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
4Release
4.1Home media
5Reception
5.1Box office
5.2Critical response
5.3Accolades
6See also
7References
8External links
Plot[edit]
The Assassin is loosely based on the late ninth-century martial arts story “Nie Yinniang” by Pei Xing, a core text in Chinese swordsmanship and wuxia fiction.[15][16]
The film is set in ninth-century China during last years of the Tang Dynasty.[17][18] The film centers on Nie Yinniang (played by Shu Qi), an assassin who is directed to slay corrupt government officials by her master, Jiaxin, a nun who raised her from the age of ten. When Yinniang displays mercy by failing to kill during her duties, Jiaxin punishes her with a ruthless assignment designed to test Yinniang’s resolve: she is sent to the distant province/circuit of Weibo in northern China to kill its military governor, her cousin Tian Ji’an. Eventually, Yinniang concludes that killing Tian while his sons are young would plunge Weibo into chaos and instead protects him on the journey where she was supposed to kill him. The film concludes with Yinniang leaving behind the strictures of Jiaxin and the high politics of Weibo, instead joining a young mirror-polisher on a journey as his guardian.
Cast[edit]
Shu Qi (Lin Li-Hui) as Nie Yinniang (聶隱娘),[19] the eponymous assassin
Chang Chen as Tian Ji’an (田季安), cousin to Nie Yinniang, formerly betrothed to her, and military governor (Jiedushi), ruling Weibo Circuit.
Zhou Yun as Lady Tian, Tian Ji’an’s wife (田元氏/精精兒).
Satoshi Tsumabuki as the mirror polisher (磨鏡少年)
Ethan Juan as Xia Jing (夏靖), Tian Ji’an’s bodyguard
Hsieh Hsin-Ying as Huji (瑚姬), Tian Ji’an’s concubine and a dancer
Ni Dahong as Nie Feng (聶鋒), Nie Yinniang’s father and Tian Ji’an’s provost
Yong Mei as Nie Tian (聶田氏)
Fang-Yi Sheu as Princess Jiacheng and her twin sister, the princess Jiaxin turned Taoist nun (嘉誠公主/道姑/嘉信公主)
Lei Zhenyu as Tian Xing (田興)
Jacques Picoux as Kong Kong (空空兒)
Production[edit]
“I haven’t shot a movie in six or seven years. It’s really a whole new world for me because the market is now so big, because of China. So the scale is much bigger, and that makes every detail different, so now even I have to adjust my scale.”
—Hou Hsiao-hsien[17]
The film received several subsidies from the Taiwanese government: in 2005 of NT$15 million (US$501,000), in 2008 of NT$80 million (US$2.67 million) and in 2010 of NT$20 million (US$668,000).[20][21] However, over the production, Hou encountered various budget problems; thus more than half of the film’s final budget came from China, a first for Hou.[4] As of September 2012, its budget was CN¥90 million (US$14.9 million).[4]
The film was filmed in several places in China, mainly in Hubei province, Inner Mongolia and north-eastern China.[22] Hou recalled that he was “blown away” when he saw “those silver birch forests and lakes: it was like being transported into a Chinese classical painting.”[22]
Release[edit]
The first press conference of The Assassin since its Cannes premiere was held in Shanghai on 16 June 2015, where Hou and the film’s cast discussed their Cannes experience and their upcoming promotional activities for the film.[23]
The film premiered in Beijing on 23 August 2015, ahead of its nationwide release on 27 August 2015.[24] For its American release, the film’s distribution rights were acquired by independent distribution company Well Go USA Entertainment on 11 May 2015, and the film was released on 16 October 2015.[25][26]
Home media[edit]
The Assassin was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Hong Kong on 20 December 2015. The North American release was 26 January 2016 and included four behind-the-scenes featurettes regarding the film.[27]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
The film earned CN¥61.385 million at the Chinese box office.[5] Worldwide box office is around U.S. $12 million.[6]
Critical response[edit]
Shu Qi promoting the film at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival
The Assassin opened to critical acclaim. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 80% “Certified Fresh” rating, based on 102 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The site’s consensus states: “The Assassin’s thrilling visuals mark a fresh highlight for director Hsiao-hsien Hou, even if its glacial pace may keep some viewers at arm’s length.”[28] Metacritic reports an 80 out of 100 rating, based on 28 critics, indicating “generally favorable reviews”.[29] Sight & Sound magazine ranked The Assassin as the best film of 2015 based on a poll of 168 critics from around the world.[30] The Online Film Critics Society awarded the film as the best foreign language film of 2015.[31] It also ranked 50th in a 2016 BBC poll of the 21st century’s greatest films.[32]
New York Times co-chief film critic Manohla Dargis called the film “staggeringly lovely” at Cannes, describing it as having “held the Wednesday-night audience in rapturous silence until the closing credits, when thunderous applause and booming bravos swept through the auditorium like a wave.”[33] Variety’s chief film critic Justin Chang highly praises the film, saying “The sheer depth of its formal artistry places The Assassin in a rather more rarefied realm…. Hou implicitly grasps the expressive power of stillness and reserve, the ways in which silence can build tension and heighten interest. Above all, he never loses sight of the fact that the bodies he moves so fluidly and intuitively through space are human, and remain so even in death. … Hou Hsiao-hsien proves himself to be not just the creator of this assassin but an unmistakably kindred spirit.”[34] On Film Business Asia, Derek Elley gave it a 9 out of 10, saying that “Hou Hsiao-hsien’s first wuxiamasterfully blends the genre’s essence and his own style”.[7] Deborah Young of The Hollywood Reporter said: “Hou Hsiao-hsien brings a pure, idiosyncratic vision to the martial arts genre”.[35] Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club describes the “enigmatic and often mesmerizing” Assassin as “one of the most flat-out beautiful movies of the last decade, and also one of the most puzzling.” He states, “Mood is key here…[the film is] all muted and subsumed by a poetic atmosphere that’s radical even by Hou’s standards…It’s a movie most will be intoxicated by, but few will be able to confidently say that they understand—which may be the point, part and parcel with its conception of a world of gestures and values so absolute as to be nearly unknowable.”[36]
John Esther of UR Chicago gave the film a more mixed review, saying “the real strength (and strain) of The Assassin is the mise-en-scène by Hou and director of photographer Mark Lee Ping Bing (In the Mood for Love; Renoir)” but criticized the film’s glossy depiction of the environment, “The costumes, the people, the woods, the art, and the interiors are relentlessly pretty. Other than human nature, The Assassin suggests there was nothing ugly to witness during this period in time.”[37]
Sarah Cronin of the British magazine Electric Sheep writes “The intricacies of the story are bewildering, with the ‘who’ and the ‘why’ only obliquely revealed as the film lingers on. But rather than lending The Assassin an air of intrigue, these mysteries seem pointlessly and frustratingly obtuse, with the most potent symbolism left to be teased out of a broken piece of jade, while not enough is done to bring the characters to life, to make them whole. Hou Hsiao-hsien deliberately avoids giving its audience any of the pleasures of wuxia, but its take on the genre offers little, and feels like a pale shadow of fellow auteur Wong Kar Wai’s Ashes of Time. It looks gorgeous, but there’s a shallowness to its beauty. The Assassin, unfortunately, is more still life than cinema.”[38]
Accolades[edit]
Operation Chromite (film)
Operation_Chromite_(film)_poster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Operation Chromite (Hangul: 인천상륙작전; Hanja: 仁川上陸作戰; RR: Incheon Sangryuk Jakjeon) is a 2016 South Korean wardrama film directed by John H. Lee and based on the real-life events of the Battle of Inchon,[4][5] although it presents a fictionalized version of the historical CIA/US military intelligence operation “Trudy Jackson”, conducted before the actual landing operation. It was released on 27 July 2016 in South Korea.[6]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Reception
4Sequel
5Awards and nominations
6References
7External links
Plot[edit]
In 1950, just a few months after North Korean forces have overrun most of South Korea, an American-led UN coalition is deployed to Korea to aid the struggling South Koreans. General Douglas MacArthur devises a secret plan to attack behind enemy lines at the port city of Incheon. The risky strategy is opposed by leaders of the other military branches, forcing MacArthur to devise a clandestine operation to gather essential information from within occupied Incheon by coordinating a weeklong South Korean intelligence operation known as “X-Ray”.
The linchpin of this top-secret incursion, Captain Jang Hak-Soo of the South Korean navy Intelligence Unit (a former North Korean army officer who defected to South Korea after seeing his father executed in front of him by his fellow communist officers), and seven members of the X-Ray unit disguise themselves as a North Korean inspection unit and infiltrate the North Korean army command center in Incheon, coordinated by Soviet-trained Commander Lim Gye-Jin, a protégé of the North Korean leader, Kim Il-Sung. Their prime objective is to determine the placement of North Korean defenses (such as mines and artillery) and the tactical characteristics of the Incheon harbor, notorious for swift currents and major tidal surges and secure a lighthouse crucial to the landing’s success.
Immediately suspicious of Jang’s “inspection mission”, Lim attempts to impede his comrade’s investigation and orders his staff to monitor the new arrivals closely. The U.S. command relays MacArthur’s orders to obtain navigation charts showing naval mine placements in the harbor and prepare a strategy to assist the coalition forces with landing an amphibious assault in a narrow two-hour window between tides. When contacts within the South Korean military intelligence unit known as KLO (Korean Liaison Office, predecessor to current day South Korean Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment, or HID) warn Jang that time is running out to successfully complete the mission, he pushes his group to extremes. Meanwhile in Tokyo, MacArthur prepares Operation Chromite, an invasion force of 75,000 UN troops and over 200 warships to imminently depart for the Korean Peninsula. [7]
Cast[edit]
Lee Jung-jae as Jang Hak-soo
Lee Beom-soo as Lim Gye-jin
Liam Neeson as General Douglas MacArthur[8][9]
Jin Se-yeon as Han Chae-seon
Jung Joon-ho as Seo Jin-chul
Kim Byeong-ok as Choi Suk-joong
Park Chul-min as Nam Ki-sung
Jon Gries as Hoyt Vandenberg
Gil Geum-sung as Chun Dal-joong
Shin Soo-hang as Kang Bong-po
Kim Hee-jin as Ryu Jang-choon
Jung Min-ji as Ok Gil-ryun
Naya as Yeo Ga-soo
Lee Choong-goo as Hwa-gyoon
Sung Hyuk as Song Sang-deuk
Go Yoon as commando
Jang Joon-hak as Yang Pan-dong
Sean Richard Dulake as Lt. Col. Edward L. Rowny
Justin Rupple as Alexander Haig
Jin Yong-ok as Jo In-gook
Park Jung-won as Ri Kyung-shik
Yang Bum as Ham Kwang-suk
Lee Hae-joon as Ji Jin-pyo
Josie Bissett as Jean MacArthur
Yoon Suk-jin as Do Hong-gyoo
Kim Joong-hee as Joo Hyun-pil
Yun Da-yeong as Gye Eun-sook
Kim Se-jung as Uhm Gi-soon
Park Sung-woong as Park Nam-chul (cameo)
Kim Sun-a as Kim Hwa-young (cameo)
Kim Young-ae as Na Jung-nim (cameo)
Choo Sung-hoon as Baek San (cameo)
Lee Won-jong as Kim Il-sung (cameo)
Jung Kyung-soon as Jung Sun-sil (cameo)
Reception[edit]
The film was number-one on its opening at the South Korean box office, grossing US$18.47 million.[6] with around seven million tickets sold as of 5 December 2016. It grossed US$50 million worldwide.[2]
It received 33% approval with an average rating of 49 percent from 18 reviews on movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.[10]
Sequel[edit]
A second installment of the film, The Battle of Jangsari 9.15 set to be released in 2019.[11] The film has already entered pre-production stage, with Megan Fox and Kim Myung-minhas confirmed joining the cast. The film will be following the a similar plot-line as its predecessor.[12]
Awards and nominations[edit]
The Rite (2011 film)
The_rite_2011_film_poster
The Rite is a 2011 supernatural horror film directed by Mikael Håfström and written by Michael Petroni.[3] It is loosely based on Matt Baglio’s book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist,[4] which itself is based on real events as witnessed and recounted by American then-exorcist-in-training Father Gary Thomas and his experiences from being sent to Rome to be trained and work daily with veteran clergy of the practice.[5]
The film stars Anthony Hopkins, Colin O’Donoghue, Alice Braga, Ciarán Hinds, and Rutger Hauer.[6] Shot in Rome, Budapest,[7] and Blue Island, it was released on January 28, 2011 and grossed $32 million domestically.
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Background
4Release
4.1Reception
5See also
6References
7External links
Plot[edit]
Michael Kovak (Colin O’Donoghue) is the son of a successful funeral home owner and businessman, Istvan (Rutger Hauer). Disillusioned with his past job as a mortician, Michael decides to enter a seminary school and renounce his vows upon completion, thereby getting a free college degree. Four years have passed, and Michael is being ordained to the rank of deacon at the seminary. After his ordination, he writes a letter of resignation to his superior, Father Matthew, citing a lack of faith. Father Matthew (Toby Jones), apparently wanting to talk to Michael, attempts to catch up to him on the street. He trips as he steps over a curb, causing a cyclist to swerve into the path of an oncoming van. The young cyclist, Sandra (Marija Karan), is critically injured. Seeing Michael’s clerical garb, she asks him for absolution before her last breath. Initially hesitant, Michael is unable to refuse, comforting her and performing a blessing ritual to absolve her of her sins. Seeing how calmly Michael handled the situation, Father Matthew tells Michael that he is called to be a priest despite his resignation. He also tells Michael that with the rise in demonic possessions every year, the Church needs more exorcists and says that he has the potential to become one. Father Matthew decides to send him to the Vatican in Rome, so he can attend an exorcism class taught by his friend Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds). Michael finally accepts after Father Matthew tells him that the Church might convert his scholarship into a student loan that would cost $100,000 if his immediate resignation stood. If Michael attends the exorcism class and still wants to resign afterwards, then they will discuss matters (hinting that he may be free to leave).
During classes, he meets a young woman, Angelina (Alice Braga), who is also taking the course. He soon learns that she is a reporter who has been asked to cover the course for an article in a newspaper. Dominican Father Xavier, realizing Michael is a skeptic and very tentative in his faith, asks Michael to see a friend of his, a renowned Welsh Jesuit exorcist named Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins). Michael agrees and meets Father Lucas at his home, where he also meets one of the priest’s patients: a pregnant sixteen-year-old girl named Rosaria. It is later revealed that she had been raped by her father, which led to her possession. However, Michael remains skeptical, even after witnessing several preternatural events, such as the girl coughing up three long nails, acting unnaturally, and speaking English fluently. She pointedly reminds Michael of the last patient he anointed and of his loathing for his own father. He later speaks again with Angelina, who asks him to relay any information he gets from Father Lucas to her, as she has tried for an interview with him many times but has been refused. Michael declines. Meanwhile, Rosaria’s condition worsens, to the extent that she tries to drown herself, prompting Father Lucas and Michael to have her hospitalized for further care. In the hospital, Father Lucas performs another exorcism on her while Michael observes. Still in doubt Michael leaves while Father Lucas stays overnight outside the girl’s room. Late that night, she miscarries; the baby dies from cardiac arrest, and the mother from blood loss from major hemorrhaging. Disheartened, Father Lucas feels he has failed her. When Michael sees this he decides to confer with Angelina.
After the young woman’s death, Father Lucas begins behaving strangely, exhibiting signs of demonic possession, like slapping a child, looking confused, and restless. Michael and Angelina later find him sitting outside his house in the rain. Father Lucas takes them into his house and, knowing himself to be possessed, requests that Michael find Father Xavier to perform the exorcism. Angelina and Michael try desperately to contact and find Father Xavier; they learn, however, that he is out of contact for three days. Learning this, Michael decides to perform the exorcism himself, with Angelina present. After constant rebuking by the demon and a long, drawn-out fight, Michael regains his lost faith and is able to force the demon to reveal its name, Baal. He completes the exorcism, saying that he believes the demon and he believes God as well. The powerful demon leaves Father Lucas. Successful, Michael leaves Rome, returning to the United States and to his life.
The final scene of the film shows Michael, now Father Michael Kovak, entering a confessional and beginning to hear a girl’s confession.
Cast[edit]
Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas Trevant[8]
Colin O’Donoghue as Michael Kovak[9]
Alice Braga as Angelina Vargas[10]
Ciarán Hinds[11] as Father Xavier
Rutger Hauer as Istvan Kovak
Marta Gastini as Rosaria
Maria Grazia Cucinotta as Aunt Andria
Toby Jones[12] as Father Matthew
Chris Marquette as Eddie
Marija Karan as Sandra
Torrey DeVitto as Nina
Production[edit]
Mikael Håfström began working on the exorcism thriller in February 2010.[13] Håfström began casting in March for the lead roles of Father Lucas and Michael Kovak, deciding on Anthony Hopkins and Colin O’Donoghue.[14] The film was produced by Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) under their Contrafilm Studios company.[13][15]
Background[edit]
The film is based on the book The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Rome-based Matt Baglio, which was published in 2009. To research the book, Baglio participated in a seminar[16]on exorcism by the Vatican-sponsored Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum[17][18] where he met Father Gary Thomas, a parish priest from Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga, California, who was tasked by the local bishop in San Jose, California to become an exorcist for the diocese.[19] Initially skeptical and reluctant, Father Gary becomes an “apprentice” to a Rome-based exorcist and his skepticism is soon replaced by the cold reality of evil and the ways it sometimes takes the form of demonic possession.[20][21] The book traces Father Gary’s life prior to and subsequent to their acquaintance in 2005 which involved Baglio observing over twenty exorcisms performed by Father Gary. Baglio indicates that the experience in writing the book “was just a very spiritual process and in a lot of ways, it helped me reconnect to the Church and understand the value of faith. This isn’t something that is silly and prayer, it’s very important.”[22]
While Baglio was still researching his book, producers Tripp Vinson and Beau Flynn (who had already produced The Exorcism of Emily Rose) learned about Baglio’s book proposal and decided to purchase the movie rights. The producers contacted Michael Petroni (who was one of the writers for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) to write the screenplay. Petroni, a practicing Catholic, coordinated the development of his screenplay with Baglio, who was now writing the book at about the same time.[23]
Director Håfström was invited to direct the film “intrigued by the fact that he would be working from facts, not just someone’s imagination.” While the film is focused on demonic possession and exorcism, Håfström also believes that “this story is about a young man finding himself and finding his way.” In preparation for the film, Håfström attended some exorcisms in Rome although never being present in the actual room, he could hear what was taking place.[23][24] Father Gary Thomas served as a consultant on the set of “The Rite”[25][26] and indicated that the exorcisms in the film were “very accurate” with some “expected licenses” taken.[27]
Further information: Exorcism in Christianity
Release[edit]
Warner Bros. released the film on January 28, 2011.[1]
Reception[edit]
The film was generally well received within the Catholic community although questioning its classification as “horror”.[28][29][30][31][32] The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops noted: “Though shaky on a few details, director Mikael Håfström’s conversion tale resoundingly affirms faith and the value of priestly ministry. Yet the effort to showcase the main character’s spiritual journey as an old-fashioned chillfest weakens its ultimate impact.”[33]
It received negative reviews from mainstream critics, where it has a 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 158 reviews stating that while “Anthony Hopkins is as excellent as ever, but he is no match for The Rite’s dawdling pace and lack of chills, as well as Colin O’Donoghue’s tentative performance in the leading role.”
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars and said, “I admire The Rite because while it delivers what I suppose should be called horror, it is atmospheric, its cinematography is eerie and evocative, and the actors enrich it.”[34]
First Men in the Moon (1964 film)
FirstMenontheMoon
See also: Le voyage dans la lune, The First Men in the Moon (1919 film), and The First Men in the Moon (2010 film)
First Men in the Moon is a 1964 British Technicolor science fiction film produced by Charles H. Schneer, directed by Nathan Juran, starring Edward Judd, Martha Hyer and Lionel Jeffries. It is an adaptation by science fiction scriptwriter Nigel Kneale of H. G. Wells’ 1901 novel The First Men in the Moon. Ray Harryhausen provided the stop-motion animation effects, which include the Selenites, giant caterpillar-like “Moon Cows”, and the big-brained Prime Lunar.[3]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Spacesuits used
4Critical reception
5Comic book adaptation
6References
7External links
Plot[edit]
In 1964, the United Nations (UN) has launched a rocket flight to the Moon. A multi-national group of astronauts in the UN spacecraft land on the Moon, believing themselves to be the first lunar explorers. However, they discover a Union Jack flag on the surface and a note mentioning Katherine Callender, which claims the Moon for Queen Victoria. Attempting to trace Callender, UN authorities find she has died but that her husband Arnold Bedford is still living, and resides in an old people’s home. The nursing home staff do not let him watch television reports of the expedition because, according to the matron, it “excites him”, and dismiss his claims to have been on the Moon as an insane delusion. The UN representatives question him about the Moon and he tells them his story. The rest of the film, as a flashback, shows what Bedford and Professor Cavor did in the 1890s.
In 1899, Arnold Bedford and his fiancée Katherine Callender – known as Kate – meet an inventor, Joseph Cavor, who has invented Cavorite, a substance that will let anything it is applied to or made of deflect the force of gravity and which he plans to use to travel to the Moon. Cavor has already built a spherical spaceship for this purpose, taking Arnold and (accidentally) Kate with him. While exploring the Moon, Bedford and Cavor fall down a vertical shaft and discover to their amazement an insectoid population, the Selenites, living beneath the surface. (Cavor coins this name for the creatures after the Greek goddess of the moon, Selene). Bedford attacks a group of Selenites in fear — killing several, despite Cavor’s horrified protests. After escaping from the Selenites back to the surface, they discover that their ship, still containing Kate (who stayed behind because Cavor had brought only two spacesuits), has been dragged into their underground city.
The two, following the drag trail, find and enter the city. The city holds a breathable atmosphere, so they remove and leave their spacesuit helmets. Upon finding the living quarters, they are attacked by a giant caterpillar-like “moon bull” which pursues them until the Selenites find out and are able to kill it with their tesla coil-like electrical stun ray gun. Cavor and Bedford see the city’s power station, powered by sunlight. In the end, they reach their ship underground. The Selenites quickly learn English and interrogate Cavor, who believes they wish to exchange scientific knowledge; this also leads up to Cavor having a discussion with the “Grand Lunar”, the ruling entity of the Selenites. Bedford, however, upon entering the chamber just as the Grand Lunar voices his concerns over human aggressiveness, makes the assumption that Cavor, and presumably all humanity, is on trial, attempts to kill the Grand Lunar with an elephant gun — failing due to Cavor’s attempts to stop him. Running for their lives, Bedford manages to find the sphere and escape, but Cavor stays voluntarily on the Moon.
Bedford, along with Kate, flies the ship up a vertical shaft, shattering the window cover at the top, and back to Earth. The aged Bedford concludes his story by mentioning that the ship came down in the sea off Zanzibar, and sank, but he and Kate managed to swim ashore. Cavor’s ultimate fate remained unknown.
Back in the present day, Bedford, the UN party and newspaper reporters watch on television the latest events on the Moon, where the UN astronauts have broken into the Selenite city and find it deserted and decaying. Moments later, the ruined city starts to crumble and collapse, forcing the landing crew to retreat hastily, and seconds later the city — and all of its history — is completely destroyed. Bedford realizes that the Selenites must have been killed off by Cavor’s common cold viruses to which they had no immunity.
Cast[edit]
The 1890s expedition claim the Moon for Queen Victoria
The 1960s astronauts find Cavor’s party’s flag
Edward Judd as Bedford
Martha Hyer as Kate
Lionel Jeffries as Cavor
Miles Malleson as Dymchurch registrar
Norman Bird as Stuart
Gladys Henson as nursing home matron
Hugh McDermott as Richard Challis, UN Space Agency
Betty McDowall as Margaret Hoy, UN Space Agency
Huw Thomas* as announcer
Erik Chitty* as Gibbs
Peter Finch* as bailiff’s man
Marne Maitland* as Dr. Tok, UN Space Agency
* Not credited on-screen.
Production[edit]
Spacesuits used[edit]
See also: Spacesuits in fiction
Two types of space suits are featured. During the main events of the story, which take place in the 1890s, the film’s Victorian-era astronauts are outfitted in standard diving dresses (each fitted with a 1960s-type aqualung cylinder worn as a backpack), as spacesuits. Their suits are neither pressurised nor heated or cooled, and they do not wear protective gloves despite the vacuum of space and extreme cold and heat of the lunar surface. There are other technical issues confronting the Victorian explorerers: even with heating and cooling provided, using rubber-lined diving suits on the Moon is impractical. Even before the space age began, the 1948 science fiction short story, “Gentlemen, Be Seated!” by Robert A. Heinlein, deftly describes the brittleness of rubber once it is exposed to the vacuum of space.
Cavor and Bedford have no radio and must make their helmets touch each other to talk in the vacuum (although the filmmakers violate this rule several times). It is not clear whether the Selenites have radio. The history of radio was only just starting when the 1890s events were set. Wireless communication from Cavor in the Moon appears in H. G. Wells’s novel.
The spacesuit worn by the UN Astronauts is actually the Windak high-altitude pressure suit,[4] developed for the Royal Air Force (here each fitted with a 1960s-type aqualung cylinder worn backpack). These pressure suits would also be used in two Doctor Who stories: William Hartnell’s final story “The Tenth Planet” and the Patrick Troughton-era “The Wheel in Space”. They also appear in the original Star Wars trilogy as the costumes for Bossk and Bo Shek.
Critical reception[edit]
Among contemporary reviews, Variety wrote, “Ray Harryhausen and his special effects men have another high old time in this piece of science-fiction hokum filmed in Dynamation,” adding that “Wells’ novel and has been neatly updated,” and concluding that “The three principals play second fiddle to the special effects and art work, which are impressive in color, construction and animation”;[5] however, The New York Times wrote, “Only the most indulgent youngsters should derive much stimulation – let alone fun – from the tedious, heavyhanded science-fiction vehicle that arrived yesterday from England”;[6] but more recently, TV Guide called it “An enjoyable science fiction film.”[7] and Blu-ray.com highly recommended “a fun and exciting viewing experience.”[8]
Curse of the Golden Flower
Curseofgoldenflower
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For the Jay Chou extended play album, see Curse of the Golden Flower (EP).
Movie Review: Indie Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Alien Code’ Talky but Engaging
MOVIE REVIEWS, ★★½
In the opening scene of the new indie thriller Alien Code, Kyle Gallner’s Alex walks into his suburban home to find an unsettling sight: a dead body on his living room floor.
But Alex is even more disturbed when he flips over the body to find… (queue Twilight Zone music)… yes, himself dead on the floor in front of him. He’s holding a note that says ‘watch me’ and an envelope with a flash drive containing a recorded message.
That startling sequence, which unfolds over Alien Code’s opening credits, immediately hooks us in and creates a lot of good will: piecing together exactly what is going on here accounts for most of the interest in the early scenes of Alien Code.
In the video on the USB, a gaunt-looking Alex who claims to be from the future is sending the past version of himself a message. He narrates the film we are about to watch, which begins with a knock at the door and a surprising job offer.
It’s from the mysterious Rebecca (Mary McCormack), who claims to be working with a NSA-supported organization called ARIST and arrives at Alex’s door with a pair of MiB heavies. She needs the help of Alex – an expert cryptographer down on his luck – to work on a project she can’t give any details about until he signs a non-disclosure agreement.
Alex is incredulous but intrigued – especially with the $50,000 immediately transferred into his account just for signing the NDA. Soon he’s sedated and driven to a remote facility, where he wakes up the lone decoder on a top-secret project.
The project: a satellite retrieved from orbit and purportedly sent… from the future! It contains a message than cannot be decoded, which is where Alex comes in. And for the next five weeks, he works on it in isolation.
We’re merely twenty minutes through Alien Code, and things only get nuttier from there at a fever dream-like pitch: mysterious blueprints, brain tumors, and visions of strange, featureless Slenderman-like creatures, including a giant that visits Alex by his bedroom window.
This is fun for awhile, but Alien Code can’t quite sustain itself during a second half that sags under the weight of exposition and a script that tries to explain itself out of a rich sci-fi scenario. Alex eventually meets up with prior decoders Beth (Azura Skye) and later Miles Driscoll (Richard Schiff), who both suffer from the same hallucinations. But are they really hallucinations? Or visitors from another dimension?
The answers to these questions lay not in on-screen action, but in mounds of dialogue and lengthy exposition that explains this world and events not unlike the much-derided climactic scenes of The Matrix Reloaded.
For a low budget indie production, however, Alien Code deserves a lot of credit. Interest wanes as more and more gets explained, but for a good while this is an intriguing ride that keeps you glued to the screen to figure out the intricate puzzle that lies at the heart of the movie. Only in climactic scenes do budget constraints become apparent; sets and costumes could have used an upgrade in an otherworldly finale.
Written and directed by Michael G. Cooney (though the on-screen director is credited as Sam Havenhurst), Alien Code isn’t quite Primer but it is fun and diverting and even has a nice sense of humor about itself. Gallner, alone on the screen for much of the movie, is especially impressive as the progressively freaked-out protagonist.
Michael G. Cooney, Kyle Gallner, Mary McCormack, Azura Skye, Richard Schiff, Aaron Behr, Graham Hamilton, Noah .
Point B (II) (2013)
point b jpg
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Point B
Genesis
Genesis_2018_Canadian_poster
Directors:
Freddie Hutton-Mills, Bart Ruspoli
Writers:
Freddie Hutton-Mills, Bart Ruspoli
Stars:
Olivia Grant, Chiké Okonkwo, John Hannah | See full cast & crew
Directors:
Freddie Hutton-Mills, Bart Ruspoli
Writers:
Freddie Hutton-Mills, Bart Ruspoli
Stars:
Olivia Grant, Chiké Okonkwo, John Hannah | See full cast & crew
In a post-apocalyptic society, living underground as protection from pollution, the main concern is getting enough food and finding other survivors. A pollution-resistant android with A.I. is developed to help obtain this.
—Scott Filtenborg
‘Genesis’ is the third feature from British writing and directing duo Bart Ruspoli & Freddie Hutton-Mills. The first in a sci-fi trilogy, ‘Genesis’ explores the nature of free will and what it means to be human, against a post apocalyptic backdrop where the remnants of mankind attempt to create A.I. to save them from extinction. The film stars John Hannah (The Mummy trilogy, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Olivia Grant (Stardust, Indian Summers), Warren Brown (Strike Back, Luther) and Chike Okonkwo (The Birth of a Nation, Being Mary Jane).
Shada (Doctor Who)
Shada_(Doctor_Who_serial)
This article is about the Doctor Who serial. For the United States Navy ship, see USS Shada (SP-580). For the Arabic emphasis sign, see Shadda. For the village in Azerbaijan, see Şada.
Shada is an unaired serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was intended as the final serial of the 1979–80 season (season 17) but was never completed, owing to strike action at the BBC during filming.
The BBC released a completed version of Shada in 2017, with missing dialogue newly recorded by the original cast, using the same audio equipment employed in the initial shoot, and animated by the team that undertook the animated version of the 1966 serial The Power of the Daleks.[1][2]
Previous attempts to present the story include a narrated reconstruction for BBC Video; a re-imagined audio play by Big Finish Productions, also offered with basic Flash imagery on BBCi and the BBC Doctor Who website; and a novelisation by Gareth Roberts, based on the latest shooting scripts, with the author’s own additions.[3]
Contents
1Synopsis
2Production
2.1Cast notes
3Reconstruction
3.11992 VHS reconstruction
3.22017 animated restoration
4Other adaptations
4.1Big Finish audio play and web animation (2003)
4.1.1Production
4.1.2Outside references
4.2Ian Levine animated version (2011)
4.3Novelisation and audio book (2012)
4.3.1Audio book
5Reviews
6References
7Bibliography
8External links
8.1Fan novelisation
8.2Webcast
Synopsis[edit]
The Doctor answers a distress signal from Professor Chronotis, a Time Lord posing as a professor at St. Cedd’s College, Cambridgewho loaned a Gallifreyan tome to his student Chris Parsons. The Doctor retrieves the book while Chronotis dies after his mind was extracted by the sphere of a mad scientist named Skagra, living long enough to warn Romana, Parsons, and K9 of them and Shada. The Doctor locates Skagra’s cloaked spacecraft, only for his companions to be captured while Skagra has his sphere extract the Doctor’s mind to decode the book before taking Romana in the TARDIS to his carrier ship and Krarg creations. But the Doctor survived his ordeal with his mind intact and has ship’s computer release Chris and K9 and take them to a space station Skagra previously occupied. The group find Skagra’s discarded colleagues and learn he is after a Time Lord named Salyavin.
Back on Earth, Clare Keightley accidentally revives Chronotis whose chambers are revealed as a TARDIS, the Professor explaining the book is a key to the prison planet Shada where Salyavin is held. Chronotis and Clare repair the TARDIS to reach Skagra’s carrier, saving the Doctor and Chris after Skagra decoded the book and reveals his intent to absorb Salyavin’s mind and use its telepathy to unite all life into a single Universal Mind. The group reach Shada as Skagra releases the prisoners, Chronotis revealed as Salyavin with Skagra extracting his mind and turning the prisoners and Chris into his thralls. Reminded that the Universal Mind contains a copy of his brain, the Doctor builds a telepathy helmet to wrestle control from Skagra while the Krarg are destroyed. Skagra ends up a prisoner in his own ship while the Doctor returns the restored prisoners to Shada and parts ways with Chronotis, musing over Chronotis’ exploits being exaggerated while expecting a similar treatment within two centuries.
Production[edit]
Originally, writer Douglas Adams presented a wholly different idea for the season’s six-part finale, involving the Doctor’s retirement from adventuring. Facing resistance from producer Graham Williams, Adams chose to avoid work on a replacement, under the expectation that time pressures would eventually force the producer’s hand and allow his idea to be used. Ultimately, however, Williams forced Adams to conceive a new story as a last-minute replacement, which became Shada.
Under its original remit, Graham Williams intended the story as a discussion about the death penalty, specifically how a civilisation like the Time Lords would deal with the issue, and treat its prisoners.[citation needed]
As composed by Adams, the story was scheduled to span six 25-minute episodes. Location filming in Cambridge and the first of three studio sessions at BBC Television Centre were completed as scheduled;[3] however, when the scheduled second studio block was due to start, it fell foul of a long-running technicians’ dispute at the BBC.[4] The strike was over by the onset of rehearsals for the third recording session, but ultimately the studio time was redirected to other higher-priority Christmas programming, leaving the serial incomplete.[5]
Following the departure of Graham Williams from the producer role, attempts were made by new producer John Nathan-Turner to remount the story; for various reasons, however, this never transpired. Consequently, in June 1980, the production was formally dropped. It is estimated that only 50% of the story was filmed.[3]
After the production halt, Adams expressed a low opinion of the script and was content to let it remain obscure, turning down offers to adapt the story in various forms. He once claimed that when he had signed the contract allowing the script’s 1992 release (accompanying the serial’s VHS reconstruction), it had been amongst a pile of papers sent over by his agent, and that he was unaware of what he was agreeing to.[6]
In 1983, clips from Shada were used in The Five Doctors, the 20th-anniversary special. Tom Baker, the fourth actor to play the Doctor, had declined to appear in the special, and the plot was reworked to explain the events in the clips.[4]
Cast notes[edit]
Denis Carey was subsequently cast as the eponymous Keeper in Tom Baker’s penultimate story, The Keeper of Traken (1981), and also appeared as the Borad’s avatar in Timelash(1985).
Reconstruction[edit]
1992 VHS reconstruction[edit]
A decade after the serial’s abandonment, John Nathan-Turner set out to complete the story in a fashion, by commissioning new effects shots and a score, and having Tom Baker record linking material to cover the missing scenes. The resulting shortened episodes (of between 14 and 22 minutes each) received a 111-minute VHS release in 1992. In its UK edition, the VHS was accompanied by a facsimile of a version of Douglas Adams’s script.[3] The release was discontinued in the UK in 1996.
This VHS reconstruction, the 2003 BBCi/Big Finish adaptation and the 1994 documentary More Than Thirty Years in the TARDIS,[7], were re-released together on DVD on 7 January 2013, as The Legacy Collection (UK) or simply Shada (North America).
2017 animated restoration[edit]
On 24 November 2017, an effort to complete the serial officially, using newly recorded dialogue from the original cast (using the serial’s original recording engineer and audio equipment), and new animated footage to complete the missing segments, was released as a digital download; DVD and Blu-ray releases followed on 4 December 2017 in Region 2.[9] The new sequences were animated by the same team that undertook the 2016 animated edition of the 1966 serial The Power of the Daleks,[10] including director Charles Norton, with lead character art by Martin Geraghty, character shading by Adrian Salmon, props by Mike Collins, and background art by Daryl Joyce.[11]
A 2-disc region 1 DVD release was originally set to be made available on 9 January 2018; this was later postponed in the U.S. and Canada to 4 September 2018.[12][13] The serial was released on 10 January 2018 in Region 4.[14]
This version received its U.S. broadcast debut 19 July 2018, on BBC America, with guide data giving the episode title as “The Lost Episode” rather than “Shada”.[15]
Other adaptations[edit]
Big Finish audio play and web animation (2003)[edit]
In 2003, the BBC commissioned Big Finish Productions to remake Shada as an audio play which was then webcast[3][16] in six episodic segments, accompanied by limited Flash animation, on the BBC website using illustrations provided by comic strip artist Lee Sullivan.[17] The play starred Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and Lalla Ward as Romana. The audio play was also broadcast on digital radio station BBC7, on 10 December 2005 (as a 21⁄2-hour omnibus), and was repeated in six parts as the opening story to the Eighth Doctor’s summer season, which began on 16 July 2006.
The webcast version (originally broadcast via BBCi’s “Red Button”) remains available from the BBC Doctor Who “classic series” website, and an expanded audio-only version is available for purchase on CD from Big Finish. This expanded version was the one broadcast on BBC7.
Production[edit]
Tom Baker was originally approached to reprise the role of the Doctor, but declined. The Eighth Doctor was then substituted and the story reworked accordingly.
Portions of the Big Finish version were reworked by Gary Russell to make the story fit into Doctor Who continuity. This included a new introduction, and a new explanation for the Fourth Doctor and Romana being “taken out of time” during the events of The Five Doctors; the Eighth Doctor has come to collect Romana and K9 because he has begun to have a feeling that there was something they should have done at that time.[citation needed]
When Skagra is investigating the Doctor, clips from three other Big Finish productions can be heard, exclusively on the CD version – The Fires of Vulcan, The Marian Conspiracy and Phantasmagoria. The original serial was to have used clips from The Pirate Planet(1978), The Power of Kroll (1978–79), The Creature from the Pit (1979), The Androids of Tara (1978), Destiny of the Daleks (1979), and City of Death (1979).[citation needed]
Outside references[edit]
In Episode 2 of the webcast version, when Chris is in his lab showing Clare the book, a vending machine-like object in the background is labelled “Nutrimat”, a reference to a similar device in Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Two other references are a sequence where Skagra steals a Ford Prefect and when images of Hitchhiker’s Guide characters appear as inmates on Shada itself.
Ian Levine animated version (2011)[edit]
In 2010, Ian Levine funded an unofficial project to complete the original Shada story using animation and the original voice actors, minus Tom Baker and David Brierley, to complete the parts of the story that were never filmed. John Leeson would replace Brierley as the voice of K9, and Paul Jones (better known as a studio carpenter)[18] would replace Tom Baker as the Doctor.[3] The completed story was finished in late 2011 and announced by Levine, via his Twitter account, on 8 September 2011.[3][19] J. R. Southall, writer for the science fiction magazine Starburst, reviewed Levine’s completed version and scored it 10 out of 10 in an article published on 15 September 2011.[20] The completed Levine version appeared on torrent sites over two years later, on 12 October 2013.
Novelisation and audio book (2012)[edit]
Elements of the story were reused by Douglas Adams for his novel Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, in particular the character of Professor Chronotis who possesses a time machine. Adams did not allow Shada, or any of his other Doctor Who stories, to be novelised by Target Books. It is, therefore, one of only five serials from the 1963–1989 series not to be novelised by Target – along with Adams’ other stories The Pirate Planet and City of Death, plus Eric Saward’s two Dalek stories (Resurrection of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks).
A six-part adaptation of the story by Jonathan V Way appeared in issues 13–18 of Cosmic Masque, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society’s fiction magazine. Adams granted permission for the adaptation on condition that it was never published in collected form.[21]
BBC Books published a novelisation of this serial on 15 March 2012, written by Gareth Roberts. Roberts drew on the latest versions of the scripts available, as well as adding new material of his own to “fix” various plotholes and unanswered questions.[22] Nicholas Pegg, in his review of the book for Doctor Who Magazine heartily praised it, calling it a “successful duet”.[23]
Audio book[edit]
Lalla Ward delivered an 11hr 30min unabridged reading of the Gareth Roberts novelisation for AudioGo; joining her, voicing K9, was John Leeson. The audio recording was released on 15 March 2012, and is available for download or on 10 CDs (CD ISBN 978-1-4458-6763-2, Download ISBN 9781445867656).[24] Vanessa Bishop reviewed it favourably for Doctor Who Magazine, singling out Simon E Power’s sound design for special praise.[25]
Reviews[edit]
Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping gave the serial (at the time in the form of the 1992 VHS reconstruction) a mixed review in The Discontinuity Guide (1995), saying;
Patrick Mulkern reviewed the 2017 partially reconstructed version for Radio Times. Mulkern thought that despite “pockets of magic to enjoy” it was a “sprawling but far-from-epic serial.” The humour was repetitive and fell flat and the action pedestrian. Mulkern recommended Gareth Roberts’ novelisation as a superior alternative.[27]
Glass (2019 film)
Glass_(2019_poster)
Glass is a 2019 American superhero thriller film[6] written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film is a sequel to Shyamalan’s previous films Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2016), cumulatively forming the Eastrail 177 Trilogy.[7] Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard reprise their Unbreakable roles, while James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joyreturn as their Split characters,[8] with Sarah Paulson, Adam David Thompson, and Luke Kirby joining the cast. In the film, David Dunngets locked in a mental hospital alongside his once-rival Mr. Glass, as well as the multi-personality “The Horde,” and must escape from a psychiatrist who is out to prove the trio do not actually possess super-human abilities.
While there was interest in creating a sequel to Unbreakable following its release, Touchstone Pictures opted not to finance one at that time despite the film’s solid box office performance. Shyamalan set out to write Split using a character he had written for Unbreakablebut pulled from the script due to balance issues. Shyamalan realized the opportunity he had to create a trilogy of works, and adapted the ending of Split to establish the film as within the Unbreakable narrative. This included securing the rights to use Willis’s Unbreakable character from Walt Disney Studios, with the promise of including them within the production and distribution of this third film alongside Universal Pictures, should it be made. Split was a financial and critical success, and by April 2017, Shyamalan announced that he had started the production process for Glass.
The film was released on January 18, 2019, by Universal Pictures in the United States and by Buena Vista International in international territories. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some finding it underwhelming and lamenting the climax, although the performances and the entertainment value of the first half were praised.[9][10]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Development
3.2Casting
3.3Filming
3.4Music
4Marketing
5Release
6Reception
6.1Box office
6.2Critical response
7References
8External links
Plot[edit]
Three weeks after the events of Split, David Dunn, working with his now-adult son Joseph, is using his superhuman abilities to protect people from criminals under a new alias known as “The Overseer”. David learns from Joseph that Kevin Wendell Crumb, who suffers from dissociative identity disorder which provides his moniker “The Horde”, has a group of cheerleaders held hostage in a warehouse. David goes to free them but encounters one of Kevin’s personalities known as “The Beast,” and the ensuing fight spills out into the streets, leading to the eventual capture of both David and Kevin by the authorities. The two are sent to a mental institution where Elijah Price, David’s sworn enemy known as “Mr. Glass”, is being held.
Dr. Ellie Staple, the head doctor of the mental institution, works with patients who claim to have special powers. In order to have them suppress those thoughts, Staple tries to persuade them that there is no such thing as superhuman powers and that they actually have mental illness. Meanwhile, Elijah is secretly working with Kevin to unleash “The Beast” and expose the world to the existence of superheroes. With the help of “The Beast,” Elijah escapes but he is soon pursued by David, who again battles Kevin on the institution’s grounds.
Staple arrives with armed men and explains that she has spent the majority of her career preventing superheroes from exposing themselves to the world and it turns out both Ellie and the armed men are part of a secret anti-superhuman society. The men capture David and kill him by drowning him in a pothole, while Kevin kills Elijah after he learns that Elijah orchestrated the train crash that killed his father, the same train wreck that Elijah caused to find David. After his father died, his abusive mother began torturing him, thus leading to the creation of Kevin’s multiple personalities. Eventually, Kevin is also killed by Staple’s men after Casey Cooke, a former hostage of his, puts Kevin himself back to the light, destroying the Horde and making him vulnerable to gunfire.
Unbeknownst to Staple, the cameras around the mental institution had previously been hacked by Elijah, and the footage is released to the world, exposing the existence of those with superhuman abilities. Staple is shocked and furious that the public is now aware of superheroes and villains, which she fought to hide, and her plans and those of the secret society are destroyed.
Meanwhile, while overseeing Philadelphia, Mrs. Price tells Joseph and Casey that it is “the beginning of a universe” as people and possibly other “superhumans” now know of their co-existence.
Cast[edit]
James McAvoy as Kevin Wendell Crumb / The Horde: A former Philadelphia Zoo employee with 23 different personalities whose body chemistry changes with each personality, resulting in a 24th personality known as “The Beast.” Kevin’s personalities include Jade (a foul-mouthed teenage girl), Orwell (an introverted man), Barry (the original dominant personality), Patricia (an orderly, sophisticated woman), Hedwig (a nine-year-old boy), Mary Reynolds (a spoiled English girl), Dennis (a perverted man with OCD), Norma, B.T. (a hyperactive surfer), Mr. Pritchard (a posh-talking man), Jelin, and Samuel (a Spanish-speaking individual).[11]
Bruce Willis as David Dunn / The Overseer: A security guard with superhuman strength, stamina, and invulnerability as well as an extrasensory ability to see the crimes people have committed by touching them. In the film, Dunn goes by a new alias named “The Overseer.”[12]
Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price / Mr. Glass: A highly intelligent mass murderer and comic book theorist with Type I osteogenesis imperfecta who was institutionalized after Dunn discovered the extent of his crimes.
Sarah Paulson as Dr. Ellie Staple: A psychiatrist specializing in delusions of grandeur who treats patients convinced they are superhuman beings.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke: A teenage girl with a history of self-harm who was kidnapped by one of Kevin’s personalities as a potential sacrifice to “The Beast” but managed to survive.
Spencer Treat Clark as Joseph Dunn: David’s son who has believed in his father’s abilities since he was a child and sees him as a real-life superhero.
Charlayne Woodard as Mrs. Price: Elijah’s mother who took great care of her son and always told him he was special no matter what others said.
Adam David Thompson as Daryl, an employee at the psych ward.[13]
Luke Kirby as Pierce, one of Mr. Glass’ caretakers at the facility.[14]
M. Night Shyamalan reprises his cameo role of Jai, the security guard from Dr. Fletcher’s apartment building in Split who hints to David Dunn that he was the same man he confronted about selling drugs at the university stadium in Unbreakable.
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
After Unbreakable’s release in 2000, rumors of possible sequels began circulating in different interviews and in film fansites. In 2000, Bruce Willis was quoted as hoping for an Unbreakable trilogy.[15] In December 2000, director/writer M. Night Shyamalan denied rumors he wrote Unbreakable as the first installment of a trilogy, saying he was not even thinking about it.[15] In August 2001, Shyamalan stated that, because of successful DVD sales, he had approached Touchstone Pictures about an Unbreakable sequel, an idea Shyamalan said the studio originally turned down because of the film’s disappointing box office performance.[16] In a September 2008 article, Shyamalan and Samuel L. Jackson said there was some discussion of a sequel when the film was being made, but that it mostly died with the disappointing box office. Jackson said he was still interested in a sequel but Shyamalan was non-committal.[17] In February 2010, Willis said that Shyamalan was “still thinking about doing the fight movie between me and Sam that we were going to do”, and stated that as long as Jackson was able to participate he would be “up for it.”[18]
Shyamalan continued to work on other films following Unbreakable, and in 2016 he released Split. Split’s principal antagonist is Kevin Wendell Crumb, played by James McAvoy, a person suffering from dissociative identity disorder which affects his body chemistry, adapting the mannerisms of each of the separate personas. One of these personalities is “The Beast,” which causes Crumb’s body to transform into a feral superhuman state, with the desire to consume those that have not had a traumatic situation in their lives – those it does not consider “broken.” Crumb had been written in the script for Unbreakable, but Shyamalan felt there were balancing issues with his inclusion, and removed him from the story; Splitwas effectively rewritten from some of the scenes he had planned for Crumb expanded out into a standalone picture.[19]
The final scene for Split includes the appearance of David Dunn, played by Willis. Shyamalan included Dunn here to connect Split to Unbreakable, with Dunn on learning about the escape of “The Beast,” realizing that there are other superhumans in the world, as predicted by Mr. Glass (Jackson).[20] By including this scene, he realized there may be a possibility of completing a trilogy of films. Shyamalan stated “I hope [a third Unbreakable film happens]. The answer is yes. I’m just such a wimp sometimes. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I go off in my room, a week after this film opens, to write the script. But I’m going to start writing. [I have] a really robust outline, which is pretty intricate. But now the standards for my outlines are higher. I need to know I’ve won already. I’m almost there but I’m not quite there.”[21] Unbreakable had been produced under Touchstone, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, while Split was produced through Universal Pictures. Shyamalan had to get permission from Disney to reuse Dunn. Shyamalan met with Sean Bailey, President of the Walt Disney Studios, about the use of the character; they came to a gentlemen’s agreement where Bailey agreed to allow the use of the character in the film without a fee and Shyamalan promised that Disney would be involved in a sequel, if developed.[22]
Split was met with critical and financial success, and in February 2017, Shyamalan affirmed his next film would be the third work in the Eastrail 177 Trilogy.[23][24][25][26] Shyamalan finished the script by April 2017, announcing that it would be called Glass and with a target release date of January 18, 2019.[27][28][29][30] Universal will distribute the film in the United States and Disney will distribute the film internationally through its Buena Vista International label.[1][31]
Casting[edit]
The cast will include returning actors from both films: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Spencer Treat Clark, and Charlayne Woodard from Unbreakable and James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy from Split will all reprise their respective roles in Glass.[28][32] Sarah Paulson has also joined the cast as a new character.[33][34] In November 2017, Adam David Thompson joined the cast in an undisclosed role.[13]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography on the film began on October 2, 2017 in Philadelphia, following a week of rehearsals.[35] Shyamalan planned for a 39-day shoot in this period.[36] On October 31, 2017 it was reported that Shyamalan was filming at the Allentown State Hospital for the film and would be filming there for a few weeks.[37] On December 12, Shyamalan revealed that 4 scenes are being planned to be shot in January 2018, stating he’d have to travel for those.[38] On February 16, 2018, a scene was filmed at Bryn Mawr College in the athletic center. On July 12, 2018, the first official photographs from production were released, including shots of Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, and James McAvoy.[39] Deleted scenes from Unbreakable were also used as flashback sequences in the film.
Music[edit]
West Dylan Thordson returned to score the film after his collaboration with the director on Split. He used themes from the score of Unbreakable by James Newton Howard, alongside those of Split, into this score. The score will be distributed digitally by Back Lot Music on January 18, 2019.
Marketing[edit]
On April 25, 2018, the film was featured at CinemaCon, with Shyamalan in attendance. He presented footage from the film, along with the first official image, featuring Willis, Jackson and McAvoy in character. He also expressed his intention with the film saying, “The worlds of Unbreakable and Split finally collide in Glass. What if these real life superheroes and super-villains are somehow locked up together? What could go wrong?” He considered it to be the “first truly grounded comic book movie”.[40]
On July 12, 2018, the first official photographs from production were released, including shots of Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, and James McAvoy.[39] On July 20, 2018, the film was promoted at San Diego Comic-Con, with Shyamalan, Willis, Jackson, Taylor-Joy and Paulson attending a panel, where the film’s first trailer premiered.[41]
Release[edit]
Glass was theatrically released on January 18, 2019 in the United States by Universal Pictures and in international territories by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the Buena Vista International label. The first screening for Glass occured on January 12, 2019, at 25 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations.[3]
Reception[edit]
Box office[edit]
In the United States and Canada, Glass is projected to make $50–75 million from 3,841 theaters over its four-day MLK Day opening weekend.[42] It made $16 million on its first day, including $3.7 million from Thursday night previews, marking the best amount of Shyamalan’s career.[43]
Internationally the film is expected to gross $45–50 million in its first weekend, for a total of global opening of $105–120 million.[44]
Critical response[edit]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 35% based on 235 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Glass displays a few glimmers of M. Night Shyamalan at his twisty world-building best, but ultimately disappoints as the conclusion to the writer-director’s long-gestating trilogy.”[45]On Metacritic, which assigns normalized ratings to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 42 out of 100, based on 47 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[46]Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B” on an A+ to F scale, down from Split’s “B+” but up from Unbreakable’s “C”, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 3.5 out of 5 stars and a “definite recommend” of 49%.[43]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a “C–” and called it the biggest disappointment of Shyamalan’s career, writing: “The trouble with Glass isn’t that its creator sees his own reflection at every turn, or that he goes so far out of his way to contort the film into a clear parable for the many stages of his turbulent career; the trouble with Glass is that its mildly intriguing meta-textual narrative is so much richer and more compelling than the asinine story that Shyamalan tells on its surface.”[47] Writing for Rolling Stone, David Fear gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: “Glass is not the flaming flop some folks have already suggested it is, nor is it the movie you want in terms of tying ambitious, highfalutin notions together about how we process our pulp mythos. In a world in which all movies are now either genocide or ice cream, it’s a grand gesture characterized by a sense of ambivalence about what you’ve just seen—which may in and of itself be a sign of failure.”[48] Laura Di Girolamo of Exclaim! scored the film 6/10, writing, “by virtue of being a followup to two films that have very little to do with each other, Glass struggles the most when it tries to be an effective finale to a trilogy we never realized was one”[49]
Owen Gleiberman of Variety said: “It’s good to see Shyamalan back (to a degree) in form, to the extent that he’s recovered his basic mojo as a yarn spinner. But Glass occupies us without haunting us; it’s more busy than it is stirring or exciting. Maybe that’s because revisiting this material feels a touch opportunistic, and maybe it’s because the deluge of comic-book movies that now threatens to engulf us on a daily basis has leeched what’s left of the mystery out of comics.”[50]
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film “an underwhelming, half-baked, slightly sour and even off-putting finale.” [51] while Joshua Rivera of GQ said that “The timeline is barely comprehensible, with twists so openly telegraphed they’d have saved the Titanic.” [52]
Aquaman (film)
Aquaman_poster
Aquaman is a 2018 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the sixth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Directed by James Wan, with a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, from a story by Geoff Johns, Wan and Beall, it stars Jason Momoa as the title character, with Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Kidman in supporting roles. It is the third live-action theatrical film featuring Aquaman, following Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017), and the first full-length feature film centered around the character. In Aquaman, Arthur Curry, the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, must step forward to lead his people against his half-brother, Orm, who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms against the surface world.
Development of an Aquaman film began in 2004, with several plans falling through over the years. In August 2014, Beall and Kurt Johnstad were hired to write two competing scripts and the film was officially announced in October 2014. Wan signed on as director in April 2015 and in July 2016 it was announced the film would move forward with Beall’s screenplay, although Wan, Johnstad, Johns and Johnson-McGoldrick all performed various rewrites. The main cast was confirmed throughout 2016 and early 2017. Principal photography began in Australia on May 2, 2017. Most of the film was shot at Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, with production also held in Canada, Italy and Morocco. Filming wrapped on October 21, 2017.
Aquaman had its world premiere in London on November 26, 2018, and was released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures in Real D 3D, Dolby Cinema, IMAX and IMAX 3D on December 21, 2018. The film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide; it is the highest-grossing installment of the DCEU and the fifth highest-grossing film of 2018, as well as the 29th highest-grossing film of all-time. It received praise for its tone, direction, and cinematography, but criticism for the plot, dialogue, and runtime.[8]
Contents
1Plot
2Cast
3Production
3.1Development
3.2Casting
3.3Filming
3.4Post-production
3.5Visual Effects
4Music
5Marketing
6Release
7Reception
7.1Box office
7.1.1Domestically
7.1.2Other territories
7.2Critical response
7.3Accolades
8Future
9Note
10References
11External links
Plot
In 1985 Maine, lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry rescues Atlanna, the princess of the underwater nation of Atlantis, during a storm. They eventually fall in love and have a son named Arthur, who is born with the power to communicate with marine lifeforms. Atlanna is forced to abandon her family and return to Atlantis, entrusting to her advisor, Nuidis Vulko, the mission of training Arthur. Under Vulko’s guidance, Arthur becomes a skilled warrior but rejects Atlantis upon learning that Atlanna was executed for having a half-breed son.
In the present, one year after Steppenwolf’s invasion,[N 1] Arthur confronts a group of pirates attempting to hijack a Russian Navalnuclear submarine. Their leader, Jesse Kane, dies during the confrontation while his son, David, vows revenge. David later targets Atlantis at the behest of Orm, Arthur’s younger half-brother and Atlantis’ incumbent monarch who uses the attack as a pretext to declare war on the surface world. King Nereus of Xebel swears allegiance to Orm’s cause, but his daughter Mera, who has been betrothed to Orm, refuses to aid them and journeys to the surface to ask Arthur for help, earning his trust by saving Thomas from a tidal wave sent by Orm. Arthur reluctantly accompanies Mera to a rendezvous with Vulko, who urges Arthur to find the Trident of Atlan, a magic artifact that once belonged to Atlantis’ first ruler in order to reclaim his rightful place as king. They are ambushed by Orm’s men and Mera and Vulko escape without having been seen, while Arthur is captured.
Orm visits Arthur in captivity and blames him and the surface for Atlanna’s death. He offers Arthur an opportunity to leave forever, but Arthur instead challenges him to a duel in a ring of underwater lava. Orm gains the upper hand and nearly kills Arthur before Mera rescues him. Together, Arthur and Mera journey to the Sahara desert where the trident was forged and unlock a holographic message that leads them to Sicily, Italy, where they retrieve the trident’s coordinates. Meanwhile, Orm provides David with a prototype Atlantean battle suit to kill Arthur, imprisons Vulko upon learning of his betrayal, and coerces the remaining kingdoms of Atlantis to pledge their allegiance to him and his campaign against the surface.
After modifying Orm’s technology, a fully armored David rechristens himself as Black Manta and ambushes Arthur and Mera in Sicily, injuring Arthur before being thrown off a cliff to his apparent death. Mera nurses Arthur’s wounds as they journey to the trident’s whereabouts, and encourages him to embrace his destiny as a hero. Arriving at their destination, Arthur and Mera are attacked by a legion of amphibious monsters known as The Trench, but manage to fend them off and reach a wormhole that transports them to an uncharted sea located at the center of the Earth. There, they are unexpectedly reunited with Atlanna, who was sacrificed to the Trench for her crimes but managed to escape and reach the uncharted sea, where she has been stranded ever since.
Arthur faces Karathen, the mythical leviathan that guards the trident, and voices his determination to protect both Atlantis and the surface, proving his worth and reclaiming the trident, which grants him control over the seven seas. Orm and his allies lead an army against the crustacean forces of the Kingdom of the Brine with the intent of completing Orm’s surface battle preparations. As Orm declares himself Ocean Master, Arthur, and Mera, with the assistance of Karathen and the Trench, intervene and lead an army of marine creatures in a battle against him. Orm’s followers renounce their obedience to him and embrace Arthur as the true king upon learning he wields the trident. Arthur defeats Orm in combat but chooses to spare his life and Orm accepts his fate after discovering Arthur has found and rescued Atlanna. Atlanna returns to the surface to reunite with Thomas while Arthur ascends to the throne with Mera by his side.
In a mid-credits scene, David is rescued by Dr. Stephen Shin, a scientist obsessed with finding Atlantis, and agrees to lead Shin there in exchange for his help in his revenge on Arthur.
Cast
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry / Aquaman:
A half-Atlantean/half-human who is reluctant to be king of the undersea nation of Atlantis. He has the ability to manipulate the tides of the ocean, communicate with other aquatic life, and swim at supersonic speeds, and possesses superhuman strength. A younger Arthur Curry is portrayed by various actors including an uncredited infant, Tainu and Tamor Kirkwood at age 3, Kaan Guldur at age 9, Otis Dhanji at age 13, and Kekoa Kekumano at age 16.[9]
Amber Heard as Mera:
Arthur Curry’s love interest, a warrior and daughter of King Nereus. She was raised by Queen Atlanna and groomed to become queen. Mera possesses hydrokinetic and telepathic powers that allow her to control her aquatic environment and communicate with other Atlanteans.[10]
Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko:
Atlantis’ counselor, who was a mentor of Arthur Curry when he was young. He trained him to fight as well.[11][12]
Patrick Wilson as Orm Marius / Ocean Master:
Arthur Curry’s Atlantean half-brother and ruler of Atlantis, who seeks to unite the seven underwater kingdoms to declare war on the surface world out of the belief that humanity polluted the seas.[13][14]
Dolph Lundgren as Nereus:
The king of the Atlantean tribe of Xebel and Mera’s father, who allies with Orm.[15][16]
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as David Kane / Black Manta:
A ruthless pirate and a high-seas mercenary with a flair for creating deadly technological innovations.[17][18]
Nicole Kidman as Atlanna:
The Queen of Atlantis, mother of Arthur Curry and Orm.[19]
Additionally, Temuera Morrison portrays Thomas Curry, a lighthouse keeper who is Arthur Curry’s father;[20] Ludi Lin portrays Murk, the Captain of the Men-of-War, the frontline army of Atlantis;[21] Randall Park portrays Dr. Stephen Shin, a marine biologist obsessed with finding the lost city of Atlantis;[22] Graham McTavish portrays Atlan, the first king of Atlantis and the ancestor of Atlanna, Orm, and Arthur;[23] and Michael Beach portrays Jesse Kane, a member of a group of pirates and David Kane’s father.[24]
Djimon Hounsou, Natalia Safran, and Sophia Forrest play the Fisherman King Nicou, the Fisherman Queen, and the Fisherman Princess respectively, whom Orm creates an alliance with as part of his plan to unite the seven kingdoms of the sea where the former provided the voice of King Nicou.[25] Julie Andrews provides the voice of Karathen, a mythical leviathan that allies with Aquaman.[26] While Andrew Crawford provides the motion-capture of King Nicou, he also provides the motion-capture of the Brine King, who is voiced by John Rhys-Davies.[27] Leigh Whannell, Wan’s long time collaborator, appears in the film as a plane pilot.[28]
Production
Development
In 2004, FilmJerk.com reported that Sunrise Entertainment’s Alan and Peter Riche planned to bring Aquaman to the big screen for Warner Bros., with Robert Ben Garant writing the screenplay.[29] However, the film fell through. In July 2009, it was reported that Aquaman was in development at Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, and Warner chairman and CEO Barry Meyer said that the Aquaman film was in development.[30] After Man of Steel’s release in 2013, a source from Warner Bros. told The Wrap that they were discussing future films, with the mention of more Man of Steel movies as well as a Superman/Batman film, a Wonder Woman film, and an Aquaman film.[31][32][33] Geoff Johns told Variety that Aquaman is a priority character for the company.[34] It was announced on August 12, 2014, that Warner Bros. had hired screenwriters Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad to pen two separate scripts for an Aquaman film. The film was being developed on dual tracks, meaning that one script was being by Beall and one by Johnstad, but only the better version would move forward.[35]
On April 10, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that James Wan was the frontrunner to direct the film.[36] In June 2015, Wan was confirmed to direct, and overlook the screenplay by Johnstad.[37] On November 12, 2015, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick was hired to write the script, however it was unclear whether he would be writing a separate script or working with Wan.[38] It was then revealed that previous script plans had been scrapped and that both Wan and Johns planned to move forward with a new script written by Beall.[39] Later, Johnson-McGoldrick was brought back to the project to work on a rewrite of Beall’s script.[40][41]
On March 2016, it was announced that the events of Aquaman will be set after Justice League.[42][43] Wan confirmed later on Twitter that cinematographer Don Burgess, who had previously worked with Wan on The Conjuring 2, would serve as cinematographer for Aquaman.[44] Pre-production began in Australia in late November 2016.[45][46]
Casting
Jason Momoa at 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International
In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced Aquaman as a part of the DC Extended Universe, with Jason Momoa starring.[47] On October 20, 2014, in an interview with ComicBook.com, Momoa revealed that he was preparing for a Justice League film, and that he did not know if a solo Aquaman film would come before or after Justice League. He thought it might be an origin story of where Aquaman came from.[48] In December 2014, it was revealed that Momoa had signed a four-picture deal with the studio and DC, and he wanted Zack Snyder to direct the solo Aquaman film.[49]
On January 13, 2016, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Amber Heard had entered negotiations to play the female lead role of Mera, Aquaman’s love interest;[10] her casting was confirmed two months later.[50] In April 2016, Willem Dafoe was cast in an undisclosed role,[11] later revealed to be Nuidis Vulko.[12] On December 12, 2016 it was confirmed that Patrick Wilson would play the villainous Ocean Master, the half-brother of Aquaman.[13] On January 31, 2017, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was added to the cast as Black Manta, Aquaman’s archenemy in the comics.[17] That same day, press reports noted that Nicole Kidman had entered talks to play Queen Atlanna.[51] Two months later, Kidman confirmed her participation in the film.[52]
By February 2017, New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison had entered talks to play Thomas Curry, Aquaman’s human father.[20] On April 12, Dolph Lundgren was cast to play Nereus, king of Xebel.[53] Ludi Lin was cast in the film on May 15, 2017.[54] Almost two weeks later, Michael Beach, who voiced Devil Ray, a character loosely based on Black Manta in Justice League Unlimited, was cast as Black Manta’s father.[24] In October 2017, Graham McTavish revealed that he has a role in the film.[23] In April 2018, Randall Park was cast as Dr. Stephen Shin,[22] and in July, Djimon Hounsou, Natalia Safran and Sophia Forrest were cast as the Fisherman King, Fisherman Queen and the Fisherman Princess, respectively.[25] In November 2018, it was revealed that Julie Andrews has a voice role in the film.[26]
Filming
Principal photography began in Australia on May 2, 2017, under the working title Ahab.[55] A majority of the film was shot at Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, with production also held in Newfoundland, Canada, as well as in Sicily and Morocco.[56] Between May and August 2017, production also took place on location around a number of places on the Australian Gold Coast, including Main Beach, Coomera, Southport and Amity Point in North Stradbroke Island, Queensland,[57] as well as Hastings Point in New South Wales.[58] On filming underwater sequences, Wan stated that “the underwater world is super complicated” and “it’s not an easy shoot.”[59]
Filming began on the Arthur Curry Lighthouse set at Hastings Point on August 11, 2017, and ended later that month.[60] In September, during an interview with Kiss Radio, actor Ludi Lin described Wan’s vision for the film as “Star Wars underwater.”[61] That same month, filming took place in Newfoundland and Labrador.[62] Willem Dafoe finished up his part by late September.[63] On October 13, James Wan announced that Patrick Wilson wrapped on the film.[64] Filming on location took place in the deserts of Morocco by mid-October, which included the cities of Merzouga and Erfoud.[65] Principal photography wrapped on October 21, 2017.[66]
Post-production
James Wan’s five-time collaborator Kirk Morri served as the editor for Aquaman. Two-time Academy Award winner Charles Gibson (Babe and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest), and Kelvin McIlwain (The Fast and the Furious franchise), served as overall visual effects supervisors.[67]
Visual Effects
Altogether there are 2,300 visual effects shots in the movie completed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Rodeo FX, Scanline VFX, DNEG, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Method Studios, and Digital Domain[68][69] On November 3, 2018, Wan announced that post-production on the film was complete.[70]
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
ILM was the lead VFX vendor and worked on creating Atlantis and all its CG animals, the Karathen and the final battle of the film. Jeff White served as the VFX supervisor for ILM on Aquaman.For the underwater sequences the actors were shot dry for wet on special tuning fork rigs designed by the FX team and later the bodies of the actors were replaced with digital boubles in post production.For creating Atlantis the team relied on the designs provided by the art department. ILM’s environment team created over 200 buildings, including the signature jellyfish buildings and laid over 7000 buildings in districts covering almost 600 sq miles for the action to travel through.The underwater ships were modeled off organic creatures and designed to move that way. For the entrance to Atlantis sequence the team built over 150,000 ships to fill the traffic lanes leading into Atlantis . All the animals including the Karathen were built by ILM and animated using keyframe animation
Approximately 700 shots in the film required high detail hair simulaions. ILM had to significantly improve their hair simulation software due to the unique aspects of hair flowing underwater. Normally hair simulations use guide strands to define or influence the movement of groups of hair strands. This did not provide a satisfying look for underwater simulation, so ultimately ILM simulated strands individually, which resulted in heavy computations. Additionally, Wan wanted to be able to direct the hair when the physically accurate simulation resulted in undesirable results.ILM delivered 670 shots for the film[71][72]
DNEG
Additionally,DNEG worked on digitally de-ageing Willem Dafoe for the scene where his character Nudris Vulko trains the young Arthur Curry.[72]
Digital Domain
Jay Barton served as the VFX supervisor for Digital Domain. They worked on creating the Dead King’s Island environment.For the sequence the actors were shot in a pool of water against blue screen backgrounds with Digital Domain adding CG extentions,waterfalls, mountains and dinosaurs in post production.Most of the waterfalls that appear in the scene were created using Houdini while some were created using practical elements of things such as pouring salt and glass beads.They also built an extensive library of shot FX elements. The dinosaurs were animated using keyframe animation. Digital Domain delivered 19-20 shots for the movie.[73]
Method Studios
David Nelson and Craig Wentworth served as VFX supervisors for Method Studios.Method handled the Sicily fight sequence between Arthur, Mera and Black Manta;Arthur’s encounter with the Karathen in the Well of the Souls and his acquisition of Atlan’s Trident. For the Sicily fight sequence the team built the main square of the Italian village and terracotta tiled roof set pieces that were backed with blue screen. A completely CG village was also created based on scans and documentation of the real village.[71] For the Well of the Souls sequence Momoa was filmed dry-for-wet and captured on set in rigs that simulated underwater movements but they ultimately felt restrictive so artists replaced the majority of his performance with a digital body double and added the CG environment, Karathen and Arthur’s free-flowing locks. A specially designed 700 fps shot was used in the scene where the camera travels through Arthur’s eyes.[74]
Rodeo FX
Rodeo FX worked on two key sequences for the film, with Sebastien Moreau leading as VFX Supervisor for the film. For the aquarium that young Arthur Curry visits near the beginning of the film, Rodeo FX made used a large volume of simulations as well as algorithms for the fish behavior. They created hard and soft corals by developing a colonization growth system, along with procedural stem and tentacle generation tools. They also created the environments for the Atlantis ruins below the desert.Artists used a lego-type approach to layer the environment with a large amount of sand, dust and rocks, all of which would realistically give way to the characters’ interactions. From there, they sculpted ruined buildings, bridges, towers, statues and temples, which textured and shaded to add depth to the ruined city.[75][76]
Scanline VFX
Scanline VFX delivered 450 shots for the movie.Bryan Hirota served as VFX supervisor for scanline.The main sequences produced by them are: The lighthouse and it’s surround environment, the “Aquaman” title card that follows the Boston aquarium, Aquaman pushing the submarine to the surface and rescuing the sailors inside, Orm’s tidal wave that sweeps away Arthur and Tom including the rescue and aftermath, Black Manta being paid by Orm for the submarine’s delivery and Arthur and Mera’s visit to the Kingdom of the Trench. For the creation of the film’s title card the team relied on Rodeo’s work on the aquarium sequence and simulated up to 60,000 fish. The tidal wave sequence was realized with a large-scale simulated wave, which was integrated with a combination of day for night footage, blue screen shots for the actors in truck interiors, a truck on a rotisserie rig, an interior cabin in a water tank, and VFX simulations for debris.For creating the lighthouse a full-size house with the base of the lighthouse tower constructed by the FX team.Additional house and dock sets were built on sound stages. A digital build-out was done to complete the lighthouse tower and extend the dock fully out to sea. For the sequence where the camera pushes into a toy snowglobe with a tiny lighthouse inside a CG transition was created from the lighthouse’s living room set to a fully CG winter coastline.For creating the trench creatures motion capture was done on set by stunt performers.[77]
Music
Main article: Aquaman (soundtrack)
On March 7, 2018, Rupert Gregson-Williams was announced as the composer for Aquaman. Gregson-Williams previously wrote the score for Wonder Woman, the fourth film in the DC Extended Universe.[78] The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on December 14, 2018.[79][80] The album features an original song by American musician Skylar Greyentitled “Everything I Need”, written by Grey and Elliott Taylor.[81] The second trailer featured a piece called “Sidewinder” from composer Phil Lober of Ghostwriter Music.[82]
Marketing
In March 2017, prior to filming, a first look at Aquaman was shown during the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Momoa introducing a video of director James Wan displaying a concept art sizzle reel for the film.[83] Later, on July 22, the film’s first footage made its debut at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2017 with a teaser presented by Momoa during the Warner Bros. panel at Hall H; director Wan presented the footage, stating that “in a lot of ways, this is an origin story,” referring to the film.[84] In April 2018, another teaser, with new rough footage, was shown by Wan and Momoa at CinemaCon, joined by Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II on stage.[85] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly during the event, Wan teased the conflict between Arthur Curry and his half-brother and main antagonist in the film, Orm / Ocean Master, stating that “it’s almost a very classic Shakespearean story about brother from another world vs. brother from another world. And it really is a classic story of sibling rivalry.”[86]
Cast and director of Aquaman at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con. From left to right: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and James Wan
On June 11, 2018, the film’s first trailer was previewed at the European exhibitors’ conference CineEurope in Barcelona, Spain.[87] A first look at Black Manta, Ocean Master, Queen Atlanna and Nuidis Vulko was revealed by Entertainment Weekly on June 14, 2018.[88][89] On July 16, 2018, an official teaser poster was released.[90] On July 21, 2018, the first trailer was released at the SDCC 2018, being considered the best received trailer during the international convention;[91] it was later attached to theatrical showings of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Meg, The Predator, and Venom.[92] The cast also appeared as guests on the late-night talk show Conan with Conan O’Brien during SDCC, on Sunday, July 22.[93] By late August of the same year, the studio held early test screenings, with mixed to positive reactions shared in social media, describing the film as good but not great.[94][95] On October 5, 2018, a 5-minute Extended Video was released by Warner Bros.[96] It received positive reactions from audiences, with praise directed towards the special effects, action, cinematography, and faithfulness to the comic book.[97][98][99] The first official TV spot for the film was released by the studio on October 16, 2018,[100] followed by a second on November 1, 2018.[101]The same month, character posters were released for Aquaman, Mera, Black Manta, Ocean Master, King Nereus, Queen Atlanna and Nuidis Vulko.[102]
On November 7, 2018, the studio announced the schedule for the worldwide promotion tour, taking place during the months of November and December, with fan events, screenings and premieres in major cities around the globe, including Beijing, London, New York City, Manila, Los Angeles, Miami, Gold Coast, Sydney, and Hawaii.[103] Additionally, it was announced that the film would be screened on December 7, 2018, during Brazil Comic Con (CCXP) in São Paulo.[104] The following week, an official behind the scenes featurette was released, which included footage not seen before in the mainstream trailers.[105] Two days later, the film’s two main posters were released, with Aquaman and Mera showing off their comic-accurate suits.[106] On November 19, 2018, the final trailer for the film was released, alongside the announcement of the beginning of ticket sales.[107] The same day, 30 minutes of footage was shown in China during the first stop of the film’s promotion tour, generating rave reactions among attendees.[108]
The financial success of the film has been attributed to the studio’s marketing plan, attracting a wide range of demographics (particularly women) through advertising, social media and promotional partners worldwide.[109]
Release
Aquaman had its world premiere at the Empire, Leicester Square in London on November 26, 2018.[110] It was released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures in RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, IMAX and IMAX 3D on December 21, 2018.[111] It had previously been set for July 27, 2018, and was then moved to October 5, 2018, before settling on its December release date.[47][112][113] On November 19, 2018, Atom Tickets announced that Amazon Prime members in the United States would have early access to tickets for a December 15 screening of the film at select Regal, National Amusements, ArcLight Cinemas, and AMC theaters.[114]
Internationally, the film was released in China on December 7, 2018,[115] in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2018,[116][117] in Argentina, Brazil and Russia on December 13, 2018,[118][119] and in India on December 14, 2018.[120]
Reception
Box office
As of January 18, 2019, Aquaman has grossed $296.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $743.9 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $1.040 billion.[7]
Domestically
The day after announcing the early Amazon screenings, Aquaman’s first 24-hour pre-sale totals became the highest in the history of Atom Tickets, beating out Avengers: Infinity War, as well as outpacing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, another film Amazon Prime offered early to subscribers, the previous December.[121][122] The film made $2.9 million from the Amazon preview screenings at 1,225 theaters, higher than the $1.86 million made by Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.[123] In the United States and Canada, Aquaman was released alongside Bumblebee, Second Act, and Welcome to Marwen, and was projected to gross $65–70 million in its opening weekend, and $120 million over its first five days (with some tracking figures going as high as $150 million).[6] The film made $28 million on its first day, including $9 million from Thursday night previews (a total of $13.7 million including the Amazon screenings and a Wednesday preview). It went on to debut to $67.9 million ($73.2 million including all early showings), topping the box office but marking the lowest opening of the DCEU.[124] It then made $11 million on Monday and $22.1 million on Christmas Day, one of six films to ever gross over $20 million on the holiday; its five-day total opening was $105.7 million.[125] The film made $52.1 million in its second weekend, a drop of 23%, as well as $10.1 million on New Year’s Eve and $16.8 million on New Year’s Day.[126][8] The film then remained in first for a third consecutive weekend, grossing $31 million.[127] The film made $17.4 million in its fourth weekend of release but was upset by The Upside, which exceeded expectations to debut to $20.4 million and dethrone Aquaman atop the box office.[128]
Other territories
In China, where the film was released two weeks prior to its US debut, the film made $24.6 million (¥169.5 million) on its first day, representing 86% of the market share and setting a Warner Bros. opening day record in the country. It went on to debut to $93.6 million (¥644.8 million), marking the best-ever opening for the DCEU, Warner Bros. and a December release in the country. It also overtook the entire lifetime gross of Wonder Woman there in just three days.[129] The film grossed $12.99 million on Monday, thus crossing $100 million ($107.7 million).[130] By Thursday, its fifth day of release, the film had made $135.3 million, surpassing the lifetime totals of every solo Marvel Cinematic Universe film.[131] As of January 14, 2019, the film has grossed $293.70 million in China.[132]
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 64% based on 316 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Aquaman swims with its entertainingly ludicrous tide, offering up CGI superhero spectacle that delivers energetic action with an emphasis on good old-fashioned fun.”[133] Metacriticsurveyed 49 critics’ reviews and assessed 22 as positive, 21 as mixed and 6 as negative; the website assigned an aggregate score of 55 out of 100, indicating “mixed or average reviews”.[134] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “A−” on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an 82% overall positive score and a 69% “definite recommend”.[125]
Peter Debruge of Variety criticized the dialogue but praised Wan’s direction, the production design, and the final act, writing, “The biggest surprise here is how, after the running time of a standard-length film has elapsed, Aquaman suddenly kicks the movie up a level for the finale. At just the moment this critic’s eyes tend to glaze over in superhero movies—typically, as the villain goes nuclear and a portal to another dimension opens, threatening to destroy the planet—Wan unleashes a massive deep-sea battle on par with The Lord of the Rings.”[135] Germain Lussier of io9 wrote “Aquaman is all about spectacle. It’s filled with ambition. It’s always about trying to put the coolest, most imaginative sequence on screen at every single turn of the story, no matter what the cost.”[136] Writing for TheWrap, William Bibbiani called the film “a weird and wonderful superhero adventure that strives—and almost succeeds—to be the most epic superhero movie ever made.”[137]
Writing for Rolling Stone, Peter Travers gave the film 2.5/5 stars, praising Wan’s ambition and Momoa’s performance but criticizing the plot and dialogue, writing: “Aquaman is a mess of clashing tones and shameless silliness, but a relief after all the franchise’s recent superhero gloom.”[138] Chris Nashawaty of Entertainment Weekly graded the film a C−, writing, “It can’t decide if it wants to be silly or serious—a superhero movie or a parody of one…Unfortunately, the bloated, waterlogged film is loaded with crummy CGI, cheesy costumes, and groaner dialogue delivered by actors who are too good to traffic in such nonsense”.[139] For the Chicago Tribune, Michael Phillips gave the film 1.5 stars out of 4, criticizing the film’s script and Wan’s direction, saying, “Watching this movie is like spending two hours and 27 minutes staring at a gigantic aquarium full of digital sea creatures and actors on wires, pretending to swim.”[140]
Accolades
Future
In December 2018, The Hollywood Reporter announced via Warner Brothers Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich that the studio is developing a sequel.[147] Discussions of a followup film began during post-production, when director James Wan stated to TotalFilm that the first film leaves room for further stories.[148] Jason Momoa told SyfyWire that he has the beginning for a sequel written, and that after he pitched it to the studio through Emmerich and Safran, they were receptive and enthusiastic about his ideas.[148]
Note
Memories of the Alhambra
Memories of the Alhambra[5] (Korean: 알함브라 궁전의 추억; RR: Alhambeura gungjeonui chueok)
Memories_of_the_Alhambra
This article is about the South Korean TV series. For the guitar composition whose name is rendered in English as Memories of the Alhambra, see Recuerdos de la Alhambra.
Memories of the Alhambra[5] (Hangul: 알함브라 궁전의 추억; RR: Alhambeura Goongjeonui Chooeok) is an ongoing 2018 South Korean television series starring Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye and Park Hoon.[6] The series premiered on cable network tvN on December 1, 2018.[7][8][1][9][10] The series is also aired via Netflix.[11]
The drama is one of the highest rated Korean dramas in cable television history.
Contents
1Synopsis
2Cast
2.1Main
2.2Supporting
2.2.1J One Holdings
2.2.2People around Hee-joo
2.2.3People around Hyung-seok
2.2.4Others
2.3Special appearance
3Production
4Reception
5Original soundtrack
5.1Part 1
5.2Part 2
5.3Part 3
5.4Part 4
5.5Part 5
5.6Part 6
6Ratings
7International broadcast
8References
9External links
Synopsis[edit]
After receiving an email regarding a groundbreaking AR game about medieval battles in Alhambra, Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin), CEO of an investment company that specializes in optical devices, travels to Granada, Spain to meet the creator of the game, Jung Se-joo (Park Chan-yeol). However, Se-joo is missing and there, he meets his sister Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye), owner of the hostel he stays in and a former guitarist. Both get entangled in a mysterious incident, and the border between the real world and the AR world built by Se-joo begins to blur.[2]
Cast[edit]
Main[edit]
Hyun Bin as Yoo Jin-woo[12][13]
Chief executive officer of investment company J One Holdings; Doctor of Engineering who is talented at developing games. He is fearless, adventurous and cynical.
Park Shin-hye as Jung Hee-joo / Emma[14]
Lee Chae-yoon as young Jee Hee-joo
Jung Hee-joo: Owner of Bonita hostel. A former classic guitarist who came to Spain for further studies, but took on several jobs there to sustain livelihood following the death of her parents. She has artistic sensibility but zero financial sense.
Emma: An NPC character in the AR game created by Se-joo.[15]
Park Hoon as Cha Hyung-seok[16]
CEO of IT company Neword; Doctor of Engineering. Jin-woo’s college friend and co-founder of J One Holdings; who later betrayed him and became his biggest rival. He is proud and competitive.
Supporting[edit]
J One Holdings[edit]
Lee Seung-joon as Park Son-ho[17]
Business Strategy Director of J One Holdings. Jin-woo’s college senior.
Min Jin-woong as Seo Jung-hoon[18]
Jin-woo’s secretary.
Jo Hyun-chul as Choi Yang-joo[19]
Head of R&D Center Research Team of J One Holdings.
People around Hee-joo[edit]
Kim Yong-rim as Oh Young-shim[20]
Hee-joo’s grandmother.
Park Chan-yeol as Jung Se-joo[21][22]
Kim Jun-eui as young Jung Se-joo
Hee-joo’s younger brother. A genius reclusive programmer who develops an intricate augmented reality game.
Lee Re as Jung Min-joo[23]
Hee-joo’s younger sister. She dreams of becoming a girl group member.
Lee Hak-joo as Kim Sang-bum[24]
A classic guitarist and international student at Spain. He is close to Hee-joo and cares for her, but often oversteps his boundaries.
People around Hyung-seok[edit]
Lee Si-won as Lee Soo-jin[25]
Jin-woo’s first ex-wife; Hyung-seok’s current wife. A pediatrician.
Kim Eui-sung as Cha Byung-jun[26]
Hyung-seok’s father. Professor of Business Administration at Korea University. A selfish and ambitious man.
Ryu Abel as Lee Soo-kyung[20]
Soo-jin’s sister. A florist.
Others[edit]
Han Bo-reum as Ko Yoo-ra[27]
Jin-woo’s second ex-wife. A celebrity who is vain and impulsive.
Lee Jae-wook as Marco Han[28]
A programmer and hacker who is affiliated to Se-joo.
Park Jin-woo as Noh Yong-jun[20]
Yoo-ra’s manager and ex-boyfriend.
Kim Do-yeon[29]
A medical student that stays at Hee-joo’s hostel.
Han Da-sol[30]
Jung Min-sung as Hee-joo’s father
Choi Yoo-song as Hee-joo’s mother
Kim Hyun-mook as Game company employee[31]
Special appearance[edit]
Park Hae-soo as A[32]
A detective who collects intelligence for Jin-woo.
Park Seul-gi as Entertainment News Reporter
Park Jong-jin as News Reporter
Anh Sung-sup as News Reporter
Production[edit]
The series is helmed by director Ahn Gil-ho, who directed Stranger and writer Song Jae-jung whose previous works include W and Queen In-hyun’s Man.[33]
Touted as Korea’s first augmented reality-gaming drama, Memories of the Alhambra was revealed to be inspired by tech mogul Elon Musk and the Pokemon Go game.[34][35]
The first script reading took place in May 2018.[36][37][38]
Overseas filming took place in several cities in Spain, such as Granada, Barcelona (Terrassa) and Girona from late May to June.[39][40][41][42] In early August, the cast started filming in Budapest, Hungary and Slovenia.[43][44] The script for the last episode was completed on December 19, 2018 and filming wrapped up on December 29, 2018.[45][46]
A preview screening event was held at CGV theaters on November 28, 2018 prior to the airing of the first episode.[47][48]
Reception[edit]
Memories of the Alhambra was a commercial success, consistently topping the cable television viewership ratings in its timeslot. Its 14th episode recorded a 10.025% nationwide audience share according to Nielsen paid platform, making it as one of the highest rated in Korean cable television history.[49]
The drama has attracted attention for its unique theme of augmented reality; and earned praise for as its high-end computer graphics, cinematography and fast-paced storytelling.Critic Jeong Seok-hee praised the drama for its mysterious and captivating plot that held viewers’ attention until the very end, and that it “has the potential to become one of the very best TV dramas we have seen in years”.[10][50][51] However later on, it received criticism for its confusing development and slow development of plot,[52] and its excessive product placement.[53]
According to the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the series is receiving favorable reviews and popularity in China for its actors’ performance, cinematography and fresh story.[54][55]
Original soundtrack[edit]
Part 1[edit]
Part 2[edit]
Part 3[edit]
Part 4[edit]
Part 5[edit]
Part 6[edit]
Ratings[edit]
In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
N/A denotes that the rating is not known.
This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).
International broadcast[edit]
Memories of the Alhambra will be broadcast on Netflix in Asia and English-speaking territories an hour after its broadcast in Korea. In Japan, the drama will broadcast on December 2, while in Europe, South America and the rest of the world, it will be launch starting December 11.[70]
Buster Scruggs
The_Ballad_of_Buster_Scruggs_(2018_poster)
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen Nominations: (3) Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song
Would this have worked as a Netflix series? Did packaging it as an anthology movie give Scruggs the jolt of mystique necessary to let viewers overlook the long, boring stretches, or the ending that doesn’t go anywhere (uh, literally), or the very loose theme of “death … in the Old West”? Scruggs has its moments, and it certainly has its fans, but I ain’t one of ’em.
Stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix.
30. Avengers: Infinity War
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo Nominations: (1) Best Visual Effects
The films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have always been more self-contained than they’ve been given credit for, telling complete stories that one could plausibly enjoy without having consumed the entire epic series. Not so with Infinity War, which plays less like a story and more like that thing where you’re a kid and you smash all your action figures together. Not that that doesn’t make for the kinds of wonderful character crossovers fans have been waiting years for (I was particularly partial to the trio of Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Okoye wrecking shit on the battlefield), but it’s definitely the first MCU movie that felt purely like a cog.
Avengers_Infinity_War_poster
Avengers_Infinity_War_poster
3. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Can_You_Ever_Forgive_Me_
Directed by: Marielle Heller Nominations: (3) Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay
To call Lee Israel, as played to utter perfection by Melissa McCarthy, abrasive would be an insult to Brillo Pads. The semi-unsuccessful celebrity biographer stalks the New York City of the early ’90s, hopping from daytime bar to bookstore to nighttime bar to her crappy apartment, leaving a trail of invective in her wake. And then one day, she stumbles upon the idea to start forging original correspondence from the notable figures she’s been writing about. Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a scammer’s movie, yes, but it’s also a movie about dealing with failure in New York; about the value of queer friendships (enter the sublime Richard E. Grant); and about feeling like less of a fraud, even when you’re being fraudulent, because at least you’re using your talents. One of the true, pure pleasures of awards season.
50 top movies of the 21st Century so Far
50. Mystic River (2003)
The performances of Sean Penn and Tim Robbins loom large over Clint Eastwood’s powerful “Mystic River.” They dig into the shattered souls of men who take different paths from childhood to adulthood. But regardless of who got in that car, their lives can’t help but intersect.
(Photo: Columbia Pictures)
49. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
With “Black Panther” scoring big with critics and audiences, it reminds us of the movie that previously held the title of best film based on a Marvel character. The blueprint for the modern, mainstream superhero movie film lies with “Spider-Man 2,” from the strong female lead to the flawed superhero we see ourselves in. There may never be a better Spider-Man than Toby Maguire in terms of portraying a young man struggling with accepting the burden of greatness.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
48. Bridesmaids (2011)
The past 10 years have featured an abundance of raunchy bro comedies. But Kristen Wiig topped them all in terms of showmanship with “Bridesmaids” by crafting an amazing script and assembling one of the best female-driven casts of all time.
Photo Credit: Universal Pictures
47. Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s original ending for “Get Out” had the main character getting arrested for the murder of the white family that intended to steal his brain. The change gives humor to a film with several twist and turns that prove haunting. Could it really happen? Probably not. Probably.
(Photo: Newmarket Films)
46. Donnie Darko (2001)
“Donnie Darko” is a weird movie that’s hard to classify. But that’s why it continues to resonate. It’s a science fiction film filled with teenage troubles and battles with moralities. “Donnie Darko” accomplishes with an immense amount of tension driven by the first great performance of Jake Gyllenhaal’s career.
(Photo: DreamWorks)
45. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Will Ferrell created one of the most iconic film characters of the past two decades in Ron Burgundy. It’s an over the top, laugh out loud performance aided by several supporting turns, the best of which is Steve Carell’s Brick, who “loves lamp.”
(Photo: Universal PIctures)
44. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
During the mid-2000s, every studio wanted a “Bourne” style film. Most tried, but few succeeded in even coming close to measuring up to Matt Damon led franchise, whose peak comes with “The Bourne Ultimatum,” an absolute thrill ride that never stops.
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
43. Her (2013)
“Her” is a movie that may always be ahead of its time. Spike Jonze’s story redefines the concept of love, as a lovable man (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with his operating system. It sounds nuts. But Jonze, along with Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson’s voice, pieces together a perfect love story of the future.
(Photo: Fox Searchlight)
42. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle is been great at taking films focused on certain cultures and giving them a mainstream, international appeal. The best example of that is “Slumdog Millionaire,” an exciting and heartfelt film with a satisfying ending Oscar voters couldn’t help but embrace.
Andrew Cooper
41. Apocalypto (2006)
Even after the controversial release of “Passion of the Christ” and his own personal problems, there was no denying Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” as the epic piece of filmmaking that it was. With very few words uttered, he tells a story of survival and family that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Warner Bros.
40. The Artist (2011)
There’s an understating beauty and brilliance that comes with Best Picture winner “The Artist.” Thus is the case for a silent movie that serves as a lover letter for old-school Hollywood. But don’t let the cheesiness fool you. This is pure art with performances worthy of the awards they received.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
39. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
“40 Year-Old Virgin” takes what would become director Judd Apatow’s go-to premise – a down on his luck loser looking to land a hot girl – and rides it to perfection. Steve Carell is the most endearing of Apatow’s leading men, surrounded by the hilarious trio of Paul Rudd, Romany Malco and Seth Rogen.
(Photo: Fox Searchlight)
38. 28 Days Later (2002)
The most riveting horror film of the past 15 years, “28 Days Later” defies the rules of the zombie apocalypse. The “infected” are fast and menacing. But it gives Danny Boyle’s picture bite (pun intended), while examining the social and political dismay that’s bound to come when the world falls apart.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
37. Traffic (2000)
“Traffic” was a bit too dark and real for Academy voters in 2001, earning four awards, but somehow not Best Picture. Looking back, “Traffic” plays like the best ensemble piece of its era with precise editing that ties together harsh stories about the drug trade and mesmerizing performances from Benecio Del Toro, Don Cheadle and Catherine Zeta- Jones.
Universal Pictures
36. Munich (2005)
It was easy to gloss over Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” when it was released for two reasons. 1) In some ways, it felt more like an action film than an examination of the 1972 Olympics tragedy. 2) That sex scene at the film’s end is cringe-worthy. In retrospect this is a movie that moves you through intensity and thrilling scenes, only to realize that vengeance or even justice can’t cloud the fact that violence brings about more violence.
(Photo: Open Road)
35. Spotlight (2015)
The 2016 Best Picture winner accomplishes a small movie miracle. Thanks to restraint and brilliant performances, “Spotlight” takes a subject few want to rehash – the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church – and makes a stunning, moving and watchable film out of it.
(Photo: Summit Entertainment)
34. The Hurt Locker (2008)
There’s more to making a war film than brutal action. “The Hurt Locker” has some of that, but focuses more on the psychology of an adrenaline junkie (the fantastic Jeremy Renner) who finds his only sense of purpose in what most would consider a death wish.
(Photo: Miramax)
33. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and 2 (2003-2004)
It’s hard to choose between Quentin Tarantino’s two-part martial arts epic. It’s also hard to separate them. “Kill Bill” is a revenge piece dressed up in style, creating a mesmerizing art piece with a high replay factor. It’s also the last time Tarantino’s vision seemed as precise as his 1990s classics.
32. Whiplash (2014)
There’s a fine line between genius and psychopath, something magnified in the student/teacher relationship showcased in “Whiplash.” The performances of Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons are top-notch in a movie with one of the best end scenes you will ever see.
(Photo: Marvel)
31. Black Panther (2018)
You had a feeling “Black Panther” would be good. But not THIS good. The film rates as one of the best superhero movies of all time and one that served as a game-changer for Marvel. The amazing cast, story and larger worldview is one of the best winning combinations in cinema of the past few years.
(Photo: New Line Productions)
30. A History of Violence (2005)
Based on a graphic novel of the same name, David Cronenberg’s thrilling “A History of Violence” plays out like a coiled spring that explodes. It’s smart and powerful with performances that delight, from the mysterious Viggo Mortensen to the stunning wit of William Hurt.
(Photo: Pixar)
29. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Pixar’s greatest film brings not only a story to its proper evolution, but also showcases how far the studio has come. “Toy Story” is Pixar’s richest film in terms of storytelling and packs the biggest emotional punch, as the lovable toys realize, like their owner, that childhood and innocence can’t last forever.
(Photo: FilmDistrict)
28. Drive (2011)
Ryan Gosling’s character never gets an actual name in “Drive.” That’s on purpose, as he’s supposed to function like an unemotional vehicle. But that changes when he meets Carey Mulligan’s Irene and their chemistry radiates off the screen. “Drive” is a modish film that has a tremendous cool factor. You’ll want to watch it again and again.
(Photo: The Weinstein Co.)
27. The Master (2012)
You can’t watch “The Master” just once. That wouldn’t do Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic justice. Nor would it allow you to fully grasp this dark and cunning story of Scientology (though that word is never uttered). The performances of an overpowering Philip Seymour Hoffman and a completely vulnerable Joaquin Phoenix serve as a master class in acting.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
26. Mulholland Drive (2001)
A film as unique as they come, David Lynch’s neo-noir masterpiece keeps you on the edge of your seat while it slowly ties together various storylines into one thrilling end game. “Mulholland Drive” is strange, sexual, stylish and engaging in the best ways possible.
(Photo: Sony Pictures Classics)
25. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that, 16 years later, we’re finally getting a sequel to Ang Lee’s gorgeous martial arts film. It’s a visual masterwork that easily stands the test of time, elevating its genre into something that equals cinematic art.
(Photo: Newmarket)
24. Memento (2000)
It wasn’t enough for Christopher Nolan to play with the way in which a film reveals its story. He had to give us the shocking ending as well. By the time “Memento,” one of the best psychological thrillers ever made, gets to its conclusion, you realize the unthinkable – you’ve been rooting for the wrong man all along.
(Photo: Picturehouse)
23. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
There’s a reason people get excited when they see Guillermo del Toro’s name attached to a project. He has a few stellar films to his credit, but “Pan’s Labyrinth” is the one that will leave you in awe. It’s a monster movie with immense beauty; a creepy version of “Alice in Wonderland;” a poetic masterpiece.
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
22. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
In a world of CGI and special effects, George Miller decided it was time to go old school. He spent months upon months building vehicles and choreographing stunts that would make “Mad Max: Fury Road” seem unlike any other film of today. Mission accomplished.
(Photo: Fox Searchlight)
21. The Wrestler (2008)
“The Wrestler” is the simplest move of stylish director Darren Aronofsky’s career. It’s also his most sincere. Mickey Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime, both physically and emotionally, as a professional wrestler who can only find happiness abusing his body in the ring. Your heart breaks for him.
(Photo: DreamWorks)
20. Almost Famous (2000)
Director Cameron Crowe puts his love of music on full display in “Almost Famous,” one of the easiest movies to fall for. Everyone brings his or her A-game, in an ensemble movie where the chemistry is through the roof. It’s a touching love letter to the joy of music that will hit you right in the heart.
(Photo: Pixar)
19. Wall-E (2008)
Pixar’s most visually impressive film operates, for the most part, without the need for words. The most impressive thing “Wall-E” accomplishes is making you fall in love with a trash compactor with a heart of gold. Perhaps no film showcases the magic of Pixar more.
(Photo: Focus Features)
18. Lost in Translation (2003)
Even with all his fantastic comedies, “Lost in Translation” is Bill Murray’s greatest performance. Sure, there’s humor. But Sofia Coppola’s film paints a portrait of loneliness in a crowded world. And Murray scores with it, bringing a worthy Scarlett Johansson up to his level of poignant acting.
(Photo: Focus Features)
17. Far from Heaven (2002)
Todd Haynes’ “Far from Heaven” is a period piece that carries a timeless vibe. The cinematography is fantastic and the performances are dead on. It’s a film that examines the societal restraints of race, gender, sex and classism in ways that they still resonate today.
(Photo: Fox Searchlight)
16. Sideways (2004)
Crafting a brilliantly written dramedy around the concept of wine, Alexander Payne scored a tasty result with “Sideways.” The film is as hilarious as it is touching, anchored by Paul Giamatti’s character, who brings an unprecedented level of humanity to his role.
(Photo: Miramax)
15. There Will Be Blood (2007)
The first part of Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” functions, in a way, as a silent film. But the magnitude of what you’re watching never escapes you. The cinematography is out of this world, while Daniel Day Lewis gives an acting performance that’s beyond staggering. Altogether, “There Will Be Blood” functions like Anderson’s own modern day “Citizen Kane.”
(Photo: Artisan Entertainment)
14. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
The power of Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream” makes itself known in so many different ways. There’s the acting (led by an Oscar-nominated Ellen Burstyn). There are the visuals, as Aronofsky puts his full mind-bending arsenal on display. There’s the haunting score and the overall ambition of a director to make a drug film that will scare the living daylights out of you.
Mary Cybulski
13. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Upon its release, Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” felt like a bloated body of work that could have been trimmed. Upon repeat viewings, you don’t want to miss a second. It’s a film about the American economy and greed that’s as entertaining as it is eye-popping. And it’s all anchored by Leonardo DiCaprio in what might be the greatest performance of his career.
(Photo: Fox Searchlight)
12. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
“12 Years a Slave” is an agonizing movie, whose pain can be felt even after its antagonist escapes captivity. The performances of Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o are of the highest caliber. But the true power of the film lies in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s unrelenting eyes. It’s a movie of hope and heartache coexisting in a cruel world.
(Photo: Focus Features)
11. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
The backbone of “Brokeback Mountain” isn’t the stunning cinematography or its groundbreaking status as a romantic drama featuring two of Hollywood’s biggest male stars. It’s the performance of its cast, led by Heath Ledger, who holds his face like a tightly clenched fist, until its heartbreaking ending that stays with you.
(Photo: Columbia Pictures)
10. The Social Network (2010)
It’s probably the ultimate movie for Millennials – a sensationalized story about the creation of Facebook. David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” written by Aaron Sorkin, isn’t just about new technology. It’s about how struggles with loneliness and longing for friendship can drive people to the fine line that exists between genius and self-destruction.
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
9. Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is one of the most intricate films you’ll see, centered on the idea that you can alter someone’s reality while inside their dreams. It comes with a mesmerizing score, solid performances and amazing visuals in a film that seems to never stop moving.
(Photo: Miramax)
8. City of God (2002)
If you’ve never “City of God,” brace yourself for a crime drama of epic proportions. The film takes on the journey of a group of young people trying to survive and, for some, thrive in the drug land of Rio de Janeiro. It’s a well-polished film that at times, feels almost too real to believe.
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
7. The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese finally earned his Academy Award for Best Picture with “The Departed,” an acting showcase where many of the actors deliver career best performances. “The Departed” is a remake of the Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs” (which could have easily be on this list), but gives the story a charismatic vibe that redefines the concept of good and bad.
(Photo: Focus Features)
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Love is something that can’t be controlled. That’s the message writer Charlie Kaufman delivers with “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” a mesmerizing love story for the ages. Director Michel Gondry’s surrounds Kaufman’s story with visuals to marvel at, while Jim Carrey (never better) and Kate Winslet make you feel every ounce of their angst. Love isn’t meant to be perfect and battling it is futile. I can’t think of anything about this film I don’t like about it.
(Photo: Universial Pictures)
5. Children of Men (2006)
Generally, films that touch on the end of the world tend to be sensationalized. But Alfonso Cuaron’s amazing “Children of Men” accomplished something far more daring. He crafted a movie and a scenario (where babies have become extinct) that could terrifyingly happen. It’s about the struggle for humanity to live on, a battle you find yourself swept up in.
(Photo: Miramax)
4. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Based on a great novel by Cormac McCarthy, “No Country for Old Men” is the Coen Brothers’ take on man’s desire to overcome his destiny. Set in 1980 Texas, the movie’s structural simplicities make way for thrilling performances, the best of which comes from Javier Bardem who basically plays the devil.
(Photo: New Line Cinema)
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Take your pick as to which is the best “The Lord of the Rings” film. Separate, each film would make its way onto this list. But together, they make for one of the greatest film epics in history. The story was already timeless before Peter Jackson got his hands on it. But the ambition visual production added an oomph that would create an escape for millions of moviegoers.
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
2. The Dark Knight (2008)
The centerpiece of Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight Trilogy” is more than just a superhero movie. In its most basic sense, “The Dark Knight” is about good versus evil. But it’s also about one man reaching his limits and being forced to trust in the people he’s chosen to protect. Mixed within that is arguably the best acting performance in two decades with Heath Ledger’s incomparable Joker.
1. Moonlight (2016)
Sometimes movies can catch you off guard and be so subtly powerful they leave you sitting there for minutes after trying to comprehend the emotions you’re feeling. “Moonlight” is one of those movies. The performances are flawless. But what stands out most about the coming of age tale that examines sexual identity and cultural understanding is that it’s a stunning piece of African American filmmaking where racism isn’t the centerpiece. It’s a all-time great and critically acclaimed movie that just so happens to be about black characters.
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)
end of the year reflections overviewbook list
Every year at this time a year I like to reflect back on the year before what I had done what movies I had seen what books I had read where I have traveled and what I have accomplished this year for the first time I’m going to blog about this so here are my end-of-the-year book list movie list and travel list.
First let’s look at the book list. This is the list of books I have read this year.
reading goal for this year included
5 to 6books per month-2 from library one from Kindleone from own library 1 SF or thriller 1 world lit including Korean, Latin American, Indian novels 1 poetry 1 history or current event Read 19th classic novels Read all my classic books as well One Korean history book One writing craft book One Spanish language book One Korean book
for next year continue as before but read more Korean and Spanish books
The List
AC Fuller The Anonymous Source
AC Fuller the Inverted Pyramid
AC Fuller the Mocking Bird Drive
AC Fuller the Shadow File
AC FullerThe Last Journalist
AC Fuller Cutline
Earnest Howard The Atlantis Stone
Down in the Dirt 2018 Anthology Natural Light includes my poem
Down in the Dirt 2019 Literary Review my poem Strangeness in the Air appears November
Snarling Cup of Coffee My Chapbook as published in Poetry Superhighway give away
David Balladaci Winner
Making Out in Korean
Vietnam Lonely Planet
.Vietnam Cambodia Lonely Planet
.Vietnam Easy Travel Guide
.Continuing Korean
.Advanced Korean
Conspiracy Theory JD OlivaKindle
.Museum Attack Jim Heskett Kindle
.Jamie Thornton Germination did not finish Kindle
Steve Konkoly Red Dragon Kindle
Nathan Van Cooper In Times Like These Kindle
Earnest Dempsey The Secret of the Stones Kindle
Braddon Ellis Atlantis Quadrilogy Kindle
.Bida Ernie Howard Kindle
.Howard Finn Adventures of Robin Hood Kindle
.Nick Jones The Unexpected Gift of Joseph Bridgeman Kindle
.Stephen Tharp the Western DMZ Paju
.Icebergs Alistair Morgan
An Ordinary Soldier Gramma Joyce erotic shorts
The Camera and the Cobraerotic shorts
.Substitutes Viet Dinh erotic shorts
The Nursery Kirstein Sundberg erotic shorts
Tell Him About Brother Joe Manuel Munoz erotic shorts
Isabelle’s Daughter Karin Brown erotic shorts
Purple Bamboo Park EV Slate erotic shorts
This is Not Your CityCaitlin Horroks erotic shorts
The Visitor Marisa Silver erotic shorts
.The Bell Ring John Burnside erotic shorts
.The House Behind A Weeping Cherry Ha Jin erotic shorts
. And We Will Be HerePaul Yoon erotic shorts
Uncle Musto Takes A Mistress erotic shorts
.DarknessAndrew Sean Greer erotic shorts
.Kind LE Miller erotic shorts
.The Order of Things Judy Troy erotic shorts
Wildwood Junot Diaz erotic shorts
A Beneficiary Nadine Gordimer erotic shorts
Blasphemy Douglas Preston erotic shorts
.Michael Robinson The Alpha Plague erotic shorts
.The Enigma Stain Nick Thacke erotic shorts
. Captain Bartholomew QuasarMiles James Fowl erotic shorts
.Kill Switch Steve N Lee – did not finish – a bit too violent for my taste
.Second Chances Lincoln Cole Gripping emotional family drama – quite well done
The Alpha Plague Michael Robinson – so so Zombie thriller
Strike Jim Heskett Did not finish
Tech Fall Austin Drago
TS Elliot Complete poems and Plays
Stuart Woods Skin Game – finishedYS Library
.Stuart Woods Desperate Measures
John Grisham The Reckoning YS
.David Poyer Deep Water
.Bill Clinton/James Paterson The President Is Missing
James Elroy This Story
.Lindsay Buroker Star Nomad
.Nick Thacker the Depths
The Green Ghost Johnston Mc Cullety Shadow Justice
Mr Death Takes the Wheel G Wyman Jones Shadow Justice
The Emperor Runs the Gauntlet Charles Lee Jackson Shadow Justice
the Shadow Smith Investigations Owen Fox Jerome Shadow Justice
Fireball Charles Lee Jackson Shadow Justice
the Crimson Mask Scorpion Trail Frank Johnson Shadow Justice
The Reaper City of Thirst William Glass Shadow Justice
The Mask of Cypher fireball adventure Shadow Justice
The emperor Marked for Death Shadow Justice
.Milo James Captain Bartholomew Quasar
.Lincoln Cole Second Chances
.Steve Lee Kill Switch
.Michale Robinson the Alpha Plague
.Micha Caridad Time Trap
.Jim Hesket Strike
.Ransom Riggs Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
.Ransom Riggs Hollow City
.Ransom Riggs library of Souls
.James Elroy American Tabloid
.James Elroy The Cold Six Thousand
.James Elroy Blood Requiem
.David Poyer Deep Water
.Lindsay Buroker Star Nomad
.Nick Thacker the Depths
Micha Caridad Time Trap
.Minnie’s Diary my poem included the Market Rules Us All
Poetry Explosion News letter – My poem Fears included
.Poets Against the Wall – my poem Take Down this Wall included
.Best American Poetry 2017
.Best American Poetry 2018
.Best American Poetry 2019
Easy Thai
.Fundamentals of Thai Language
.Thai Phrasebook
Scales Fall All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
the Ant Tower All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
Heft All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
the first acolyte of the Upshot All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
Bronwells Dowry All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
the Spider and the Darkness All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
The Dowager’s Largress All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
Therjiac All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
the Red Flame of Death All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
The Blue Breeze All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
The Rakam All These Shining Worlds Best SF shorts
Arthur Doyle Lost World
Franklin Autobiography
Craig McDonnough Destination Roswell
Clare Littermore FLow
Incheon Travel Guide
Gangnam style Yangchechong Stream
His forbidden touch ten Shades of Sexy
Heaven’s fire ten Shades of Sexy
just Perfect ten Shades of Sexy
the Games ten Shades of Sexy
Taken by the Cowboy ten Shades of Sexy
Lips that Touch Mine ten Shades of Sexy
Justin ten Shades of Sexy
Hidden Crimes ten Shades of Sexy
Trust Me ten Shades of Sexy
Ten Shades of Sexy ten Shades of Sexy
Mathew Mather Dark Net
Austin Dragon Tek Fail
Austin Dragon Liquid Cool
Dean F WIlson Cool Hand Luke
Austin Dragon Hollow Blood
Duncan Simpson Dark Horizon
AJ Ramsey Apocalypse Rise of the Machines
Bobby Adair Freedom Fire
Bobby Adair Slow Burn
Alice May Bell Hot Wife
Robert Peace Scout
Other
Other James Elroy read
The Underworld USA Trilogy
American Tabloid
the Cold Six Thousand
Blood Requiem
LA Quartet
black Dahlia
The Big Nowhere
LA Confidential
To read
Whitman Leaves of Grass
Dickenson Collected Poems
the Wrinkle in Time five volume Series Robert Service Poems (from Alaskan gold rush period) Poetry for dummies
The Poets Companion
Art and Craft of Poetry
Crafting Scenes
Creating Plot
Ben Nyberg One Way to Write Short Stories
James n Frey How to Write Damn Good Novel
Rittenberg Your First Novel
Myeongo’s korean reader
the lion the witch and the ward-row in Spanish and english
Kim Soo Sijo In Korean and English
Robert Collins North Korean Organization and Guidance Department
Robert Collins Denied Human Rights at the Local Level
Courtland Robinson Lost Generation
Federalist Papers
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)
too much coffee
Snarling Cup of Coffee
and other coffee inspired poems
Coffee Poems
I am a coffee addict.I admit it. Gots to have my daily fix but nowadays mostly decaf but in the morning I have a real cup to get my juices going kicking starting my day with that caffeine buzz going around my head.
I have written 60 poems about coffee and posted them on my blog – along with photos and audio clips of me reading the poems, plus one SF short story featuring an alien coffee trader.
I am sending them to Starbucks and Peets along with this cover letter.
I am a coffee addict.I admit it. Gots to have my daily fix but nowadays mostly decaf but in the morning I have a real cup to get my juices going kicking starting my day with that caffeine buzz going around my head.
I have written 60 poems about coffee and posted them on my blog – along with photos and audio clips of me reading the poems, plus one SF short story featuring an alien coffee trader.
I grew up in Berkeley and drank lots of Peets coffee at the original Peets, which I consider the mecca of coffee shops in the U.S.
Once when you were still a Bay Area chain, I took back 25 pounds of Peet’s coffee to share with my Indian friends when i was working at the US Consulate there in 2003.They loved the coffee!
“My last job
in the State Department
I had my ritual down
I would go out
after lunch
to Peet’s across from the WH
and buy a decaf Americano
or decaf white chocolate moccha
nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla
chocolate and hazel nut
whip cream on top
usually took it back
but sometimes
I lingered at Peet’s
soaking
in the Berkeley feeling
thinking back
to all the great cups of coffee
I have had
at Peet’s in Berkeley
the original
and the Solano Avenue
Peets coffee shop”
Now I am retired from my 27years of service with the US State Department as a diplomat, and living in Korea and wondering and hoping that you have expansion plans and are hoping you would open a Peet’s coffee shop in Seoul or even better in Youngjangdo near the airport in the new Howard Johnson’s hotel complex next to the subway.
So many Koreans have studied over the years in Berkeley that Peets is well known in Korea.There is a Berkeley Coffee shop in Iteaewon run by a former Cal Student. He loved Peet’s coffee.
Peets is available at the US military Commissary but not in the local market.
I hope you enjoy the poems and you have my permission to publish them if you wish.
I am a coffee addict.I admit it. Gots to have my daily fix but nowadays mostly decaf but in the morning I have a real cup to get my juices going kicking starting my day with that caffeine buzz going around my head.
I have written 60 poems about coffee and posted them on my blog – along with photos and audio clips of me reading the poems, plus one SF short story featuring an alien coffee trader.
Starbucks is my second favorite coffee shop.Being from Berkeley, of course Peets is number one in my heart but Starbucks is number two.
I used to drink coffee at the original Starbucks downtown when I was a graduate student at UW.Who knew that Starbucks would conquer the know universe?
here is Korea there seems to be a Starbucks on every corner.But alas, no Peets.
hope you enjoy the poems.
I hope you enjoy the poems and you have my permission to publish them if you wish.
1/4/2020 five solace poems .coffee drink of the gods
it is a Coffee Morning after allduet
1/28/2020 coffee madness
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 exVietcong, 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 perfect blazing white 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 problem
It merely shrugs
and moves around the Sun
In its appointed daily run
the universe whispers
in my ear
time to drink more coffee
for an attitude adjustment
And I sit down
The madness dissipating a bit
And enjoy my second cup
Of heaven and hell
In my morning cup of Joe
Coffee Revolutions
coffee cup
Coffee led to the American Revolution<span
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against
the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock Market
And started the gossip mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweet brew
sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved
to coffee’s magic
I sing my praises
Of the great
glorious coffee lady
Long may she continue
To be my sweet companion
Long may coffee continue
To rule my heart
And set my heart
on fire
Ode to Coffee
Mistress of sacred love
Sacred lady of desire
You start my day
Setting my heart on fire
With your dark delicious brew
And throughout the day
Whenever the mean old blues come by
You chase them away
With your bittersweet ambrosial brew
Every time I inhale your witch’s brew
I am filled with power, light and love
And everything is al right Jack
If only for a few fleeting minutes
I love you oh coffee goddess
In all your magical forms
In the dark coffee of the dawning day
In the sizzling coffee in the mid morning break
In the afternoon siesta break
And in the post dinner desert drink
I love you my coffee mistress
You are my refuge
From this horrid world
And you are my secret lover
Never disappoint me, ever
I’ve never had a bad cup
Of that I can be sure
Even the dismal coffee
Served at Denny’s at 3 am
Is still sweet loving coffee
Even the farmer brother’s diner coffee
Excites me and gets me going
Asking for another cup of divine delight
Coffee always is there
It is always on and piping hot
With hidden dark secrets
Swirling in its liquid essence
Coffee is my last vice
My only legal vice left
Coffee does not cheat on me
It is always faithful, always true
It does not turn on its friends
And all it asks in return
Is that you come back
Cup after cup after cup
A good cup of coffee
Is a little bit of heaven
In a cup of dark liquid hell
Coffee is like a drug
But a good drug that does what is should
And never complains
It does not get grouchy
It does not hurt you
It does not make you crazy
But allows the muse to come out
And play with it
Coffee led to the American Revolution
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock market
And started the gossips mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweet brew
sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved to coffee’s magic
Yeah
I sing my praises
Of the great glorious coffee lady
Long may she continue
To be my sweat companion
Long may coffee continue
To rule my heart
And set my heart on fire
I love thee
Mistress coffee
And sometimes I think
You love me too
No More Coffee Blues
I love coffee
Always have
And coffee has loved me back
But lately I have soured on her
Soured on the whole coffee scene
On the harshness
of the morning brew
And the promises it makes
As I sip of its nectar
Drawn into its lair
Drinking drop by drop
As the caffeine takes over
Rewriting my every nerve
Turning me into a slave
For its perverted pleasure
Yes I love coffee
But I am afraid
Coffee is a harsh mistress
Demanding so much of me
Promising the sun
And delivering the moon
As I drink her swill
Deepening under her influence
I have the coffee blues
Can’t live without her
Can’t live with her
I try
But tea does not cut it
Not really
Booze does not do it
At least not in the morning
Yoga is not enough of a buzz
Nor is the runner’s high
And I am afraid deadly afraid of cocaine
And speed and drugs and energy drinks
And so I remain a slave to coffee
My only legal drug
As I sip another
and fall under
her seductive spread
Once more failing my resolve
To skip coffee for that day
That morning that moment
I shall never be free of her spell
Ever and she knows it
As she beckons me
Every morning with her intoxicating smell
And I come to her
and drink her brew
And become her slave
again and again
Coffee Ya Du
must drink coffee
have every day
the morning dawns
drinking my coffee as I yawn
Morning cup of coffee
every morning
I drink my coffee
as I contemplate
the dawning day
watching the news anchors
blather on and on
drinking my coffee
thinking of life
and my coffee
consumes me
overwhelms me
and at time controls me
after all coffee is a drug
and I am her slave
from time to time
Drinking Coffee in the Morning
in the morning
dangerous mood
felling deranged
watching the news
trigger warning
you are screwed dude
end of the world
the end times come
I drink coffee
in the morning
Coffee Pot Killed
His wife has banned my use
by my owner
says he makes too much
of a mess when he uses me
it is not his fault
I want to say
but being a coffee pot
can not speak
and so I am abandoned
thrown out into the trash
and feel very sad
for my owner
who was my friend
he liked me
he keep me going
and I did my job
providing him
with fresh coffee
doing my coffee pot duty
and now it is over
Drinking My Coffee
drinking coffee
drinking my coffee
early in the cool morning
thinking life is fine
everything will be okay
after I drink my coffee
morning coffee
morning coffee
dawning sun
coffee MGur Poem
coffee
I pray to the coffee gods
every cup of coffee
is like a sacrament to me
I pray as I drink my coffee
that it will fill me
with wisdom
and find peace
with my coffee
as I drink
my devotion
Hot coffee
cup of coffeetake coffee with you
Hot hot coffee, makes my day –
Must drink My daily coffee, as the morning dawns –
With out my morning coffee
in me,I feel nothing at all –
Electrified Hot Coffee
coffee is the drug of choice
nothing else will do it
as I drink coffee
Electrified
Hot Coffee
Hot Coffee and Cake
coffee
coffee is the drug of choice
electrified circuits
as I drink coffee
coffee and cake
Coffee Patina
coffee
hot coffee
hot Hellish Heaven
Essence of coffee
Hot Coffee CHeu Chu poem
coffee
drinking my coffee hot as hell
a taste of heaven and hell
in my damn cup
of coffee essence of hell
As I drink my coffee
I see a pup
outside my window
with eyes from hell
I look at the this pup
and wonder why
he has eyes from Hell
as I drink my coffee
Coffee Love Thoughts
coffee
I love to drink my coffee
early in the morning
while writing my journals
and thinking about my dreams
and my life
and while drinking my coffee
I covertly look over
at my sleeping beauty
as the sun comes up
I am filled with love
and contentment
thinking back
to the dream
that set me free
drinking my coffee
thinking of my love
for my wife
and thinking
always thinking
of the dream
that set me free
so many years ago
I first had the dream
and ever since then
it has haunted me
as I drink my coffee
and prepare to met my day
I wake up the love of my life
and smile at her
and finish my coffee
Morning Coffee
cup of coffee
I like to start
my day
with a hot as hell
snarling cup of righteous coffee
hot, steamy hot as hell
sweet as heaven
bitter as the devil
with a sweet taste of cinnamon
and other heavenly spices
just to take the edge off
of the wild night
to come
Morning Coffee
free coffee
Give Me More
must have my coffee
Morning coffee
coffee
hot as hell
Sweet as heaven
Coffee Terzanalle
coffee
coffee drink of gods
coffee drink of gods
coffee No drink for dogs
I drink my hot coffee
deep in cosmic thought
I drink my hot coffee
coffee damn hot as hell
hot as hell itself
hot as hell itself
sweet as heaven itself
with bitter after taste
sweet heaven itself
invented by satan in hell
to keep Satan Cool
Invented by satan in hell
coffee made in heaven
a drink for the gods
coffee made in heaven
a drink for the gods
Coffee Aquarian
coffee cup
coffee
drink of the gods
cup of heaven and hell
coffee Haiku
coffee
hot as hell
as sweet as heaven
Japanese Coffee Barista
boss coffee
watching the Japanese
barista
preparing my snarling cup
of hot boss coffee
fills my heart
with erotic joy
how I wanted to express
what was on my mind
right then
to the Japanese
coffee barista
watching the news while drinking coffee
fry drinking too much coffee
drinking my morning coffee
watching the news
the endless lying
pontificating
wondering when will it all end
will truth prevail
will justice triumph
will superman come
or are we doomed
heading to hell
down the proverbial
road filled with good
great intentions
Coffee Tanka
coffee
Hot as hell, heavenly sweat
My daily hot coffee fix
Sends Me to Heaven
Then Crashes into Hell
Coffee Haiku
coffee
I like my coffee
Like my women hot as hell
But sweat as heaven
God in My Coffee
god in my coffee
One dismal demented morning
As I contemplated the dawning day
Trying to wake up
from the nightmares
That have been haunting my every night
I reached for my morning cup of hot coffee
And as I drank my morning poison
My snarling sarcastic cup of java
Frying my neurons with caffeine
I saw God He had the look –
tall white hair beard
And those piercing blue eyes
Starting at you
with the thousand year stare
Of the truly committed
Yes it was God
himself
In the bottom
of my cup of coffee
And he was smiling at me
Beckoning me to join him
And so I jumped
into my cup
And went through the door
And found myself
In a giant hallway
Filled with Mr. Smith like
angels working on computers
Programing the day’s plans
I asked where I could find God
They told me that I had an appointment
And I went down the hallway
And found myself in another room
And found God sitting there
Waiting for me
He offered me coffee
And we drank coffee
And talked
about this and that
I asked him what he wanted
He said nothing
but my understanding
And patience
And told me
that I was lost
But would be found soon
And told me to go back home
And wait for his signal
For the revolution was coming
And I would lead God’s forces
And then I found myself
Back at home
And drank another cup of coffee
Revolution in my Cup of Coffee
coffee
Sitting, Dreaming, contemplating life
Over a cup of steaming hot coffee
Hot Java dreams
In a pensive, caffeine induced mood
I saw the beginning of the end times
The end of the beginnings of time
At the bottom of my coffee cup
I saw the dismal depressing deadly sight
Of the whole universe
Rising in righteous revolution
Fighting the evil denizens of the world
They exploded
Marching out of my coffee cup
Down the street
Fighting fierce fights
They scream demented dreams
Dreams of absolute freedom
They rush and run, rant and rave
Running from the atomic clouds of vengeance
And I sit watching
The world disintegrates in my coffee cup
And I wonder what does it mean?
As I pour myself more coffee
God Drinks Coffee
coffee
When I woke up yesterday
I saw a naked old man
Sitting in my chair
Drinking my coffee
Smoking my pipe
I shouted at him
Who in hell are you
He replied
Never in hell am I
God replied
Your coffee is good
But not cosmic enough
Then we stood in the jungle
Watching dinosaurs
Making love
God said
They died you know
When they tried to become like us
Coffee Haiku
coffee
I like my coffee
Like how I like my women
Hot like the Devil
Coffee thoughts
coffee time
I enjoy my morning coffee
listening to jazz
while watching
the early morning sunlight
Dancing off the waves
of the eastern sea
Coffee how I love thee
coffee
I love my coffee
everyday I drink it
delicious brew
Falling under its influence
As it wakes me up
Everything seems well
As I drink
my coffee
As my thoughts
comes bubbling up
dreaming of another
Cup of coffee
Coffee Transports me to another world
coffee cup
As I drink my morning
Cup of coffee
I am transported
to another world<
far far away
dreaming dark dreams
Of what might have
I am lost
in my cup of coffee
heaven in my cup of coffee
Coffee Desires
Coffee Breakfast With Grain And Jute Sack
I like my coffee
Like I like my women
Dark and Hot as hell
Yet delightfully
heavenly sweet
As heaven itself
My daily hot coffee fix
Sends Me to Heaven
then Crashes into Hell
Coffee is my last legal vice
It is a drug
That does what a drug should do
Gets me going
Flying me high
Coffee Desires 2
A nerd with a cup of coffee hugged closely to his chest. He’s clearly had too much caffeine, and needs to stop drinking coffee.
I like my coffee
Like I like
my women
Dark and Hot as hell
Yet delightfully heavenly sweet
As heaven itself
My daily hot coffee fix
Sends Me to Heaven
then Crashes into Hell
Coffee is my last legal vice
It is a drug
That does what a drug should do
Gets me going
Flying me high
Into the sky
And coffee
Makes the world go round
As we fall under its spell
And become its slave
Needing our daily fix
Ode to Coffee
coffee
Mistress of sacred love
Sacred Lady of desireYou start my day
Setting my heart on fire
With your dark delicious brew
And throughout the day
Whenever the mean old blues come by
You chase them away
With your bittersweet ambrosia brew
Every time I inhale your wicked brew
I am filled with power, light, and love
And everything is all right Jack
It is all good
If only for a few fleeting minutes
I love you oh coffee goddess
In all your magical forms
In the dark coffee of the dawning day
In the sizzling coffee
in the mid-morning break
In the afternoon siesta break
And in the post-dinner dessert drink
I love you my coffee mistress
You are my refuge
From this horrid world
I sing my praises
Of the great glorious coffee lady
Long may she continue
To be my sweet companion
Long may coffee continue
To rule my heart
And set my heart on fire
I love thee
Mistress coffee
And sometimes I think
You love me too
•Coffee My Secret Lover long version
coffee
Coffee is my secret lover
Coffee you are my secret lover
Never disappoint me, ever
I’ve never had a bad cup
Of that, I can be sure
Even the dismal coffee
Served at Denny’s at 3 am
Is still sweat loving coffee
Even the farmer brother’s diner coffee
Excites me and gets me going
Asking for another cup
of divine delight
Coffee always is there
It is always on and piping hot
With hidden dark secrets
Swirling in its liquid essence
Coffee is my last vice
My only legal vice left
Coffee does not cheat on me
It is always faithful, always true
It does not turn on its friends
And all it asks in return
Is that you come back
Cup after cup after cup
A good cup of coffee
Is a little bit of heaven
In a cup of dark liquid hell
Coffee is like a drug
But a good drug
that does what is should
And never complains
It does not get grouchy
It does not hurt you
It does not make you crazy
But allows the muse to come out
And play with it
Coffee the Drink of Revolutionaries
coffee
Coffee led to the American Revolution
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock market
And started the gossips mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweat brew sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved to coffee’s magic
Snarling, sassy, snarky, smarmy, sarcastic cup of coffee short version
I like to start my day with a hot cup of coffee
Yeah, but not just a simple cup of java Joe
But a snarling, sassy, snarky, smarmy, silly, stupid, sadistic, sad, sarcastic, satanic, psychotic, paranoid, WOW good to the last god damn drop – rolled into one simple cup of hot coffee
Ode to Coffee Short Version
coffee
Mistress of sacred love
Sacred lady of desire
You start my day
Setting my heart on fire
With your dark delicious brew
And throughout the day
Whenever the mean old blues come by
You chase them away
With your bitter sweet ambrosia brew
Every time I inhale your wicked brew
I am filled with power, light and love
And everything is all right Jack
It is all good
If only for a few fleeting minutes
Coffee My Secret Lover Short Version
coffee
Coffee is my secret lover
Coffee you are my secret lover
Never disappoint me, ever
I’ve never had a bad cup
Of that I can be sure
Even the dismal coffee
Served at Denny’s at 3 am
Is still sweat loving coffee
Even the farmer brother’s diner coffee
Excites me and gets me going
Coffee the Drink of Revolutionaries – Short Version
coffee
Coffee led to the American Revolution
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock market
And started the gossips mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweat brew sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved to coffee’s magic
No More Coffee Blues
too much coffee
I love coffee
Always have
And coffee has loved me back
But lately I have sourced on her
Soured on the whole coffee scene
On the harshness of the morning brew
And the promises it makes
As I sip of its nectar
Drawn into its lair
Drinking drop by drop
As the caffeine takes over
Rewriting my every nerve
Turning me into a slave
For its perverted pleasure
Yes I love coffee
But I am afraid
Coffee is a harsh mistress
Demanding so much of me
Promising the sun
And delivering the Moon
As I drink her swill
Deepening under her influence
I have the coffee blues
Can’t live with out her
Can’t live with her
Need More Coffee
need more coffee
More coffee
must have more
it consumes me
just need one more
Coffee Lady
coffee
Every morning
I have gone out for Vietnamese coffee
At a sidewalk café
Down the ally from our AIRBNB
The owner is a pleasant middle age woman
Who for some reason likes us
She smiles at us
Greets us in Vietnamese
She does not understand English
Or Korean
And I wonder why
Why was there this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But I moved today
And will miss her
Might go back for a final cup
Of coffee
To say good bye
To my Vietnamese coffee lady
Ode to Vietnamese Coffee
coffee
Vietnam has the best coffee
In the damn world
Just perfect
Hot as hell
Sweet as heaven
With a kick my ass attitude
To boot
Can’t resist it
Even thought it means
I can’t sleep
Must
Have
My
Damn
Vietnamese
Coffee
right
Now
Rude Thoughts
one cup per day
Rudiments of remembrances
Of former lives flow through
Into and beyond the house of my Lord
Into the beginnings of my life
Love reigns supreme
As I construct anagrams
To prove my soul’s playing a fife
Oh shoos pas shoos Fa tanehe
Shoos qous shoos
Can a Fa Te NE hour go
And I sit
Under the dying moon shine
Drinking hot, snarling coffee
Smoking on a pipe
Full of wicked weed
Thinking of love’s labor lost
Dreaming of what was will be
Getting off on dental floss
While drinking emetic booze
And laughing
My margarine calls itself butter
And my coffee don’t like my Mother
Working Blues
coffee
One fine morning
It was
I woke up
Shaved
The world stopped
I went outside
Everything had stopped
I screamed
No one could hear me
I cried out
No one care
I went inside
Drank coffee
And went to work
Yesterday Morning
drink coffee
Yesterday morning I awoke
Like most mornings
I was still dead
I walked
Out of my drug infested slum
Into my computerized car
Down the freeways of my mind
Searching for the pot of golden dreams
I stooped in at a restaurant
Drank copious amounts of free coffee
And saw all the people
One by one disappearing into the crowds
All I knew was wrong
Or worst yet a figment of your imagination
Every person changed
Transformed into an interchangeable computer’s robot
All the same
All the same
All living in instant suburbia
Moving their meaningless life
All the same all the same
Not me screamed
my coffee as I sat
Yet another victim
Of our creeping insanity
This Morning
I woke up this morning
Stared out of my window
Saw my dreams marching by
Watching me
I stared out at my reflections
Completed corruption
The tunnels of my consciences
Emerges the dreams fade away
Into the nothingness of my coffee cup.
The rainbow of heaven
Your mellifluous voice e
Arose in my heart
Feelings of love, compassion and strength
Your wonderful sense of grace
In a world full of hate
Your sense of compassion
In the mist of your own personnel despair
Shines on like a beacon
In the darkness of the oceans of my despair
I see a mystic mermaid
Swimming through the cold waters of hell
Striving towards the light of heaven
The mountains of despair
Overwhelms me at times
It seems that we look up
And all that we can see
the sounds of doom
The voice of evil soothsayers
Came over the loudspeakers
Ranting raving crying
Saying holds your head up
Scream out your soul
Laugh live, don’t fear to love
For in the end
The evil soothsayers of doom
Will fade away in to the fog of our past
Standing alone in a field
Of flowers you will become
One with the rainbow of heaven
Thoughts While Shaving
coffee
Early in the god damned morning
I open my weary eyes
And stagger down the hallway
To face the dawning day
With a shave
I wish
I was surfing
the golden waves
Of cyberspace
I arise painfully
Out of bed
Wishing for sucres of pain
Sometimes I fain
That I would not get
Such morning pains
Then I grab for my juice
Bloody red
And my coffee
Snarls back
Black as hell
And hot as the sun
Like good coffee should be
Ready to kick
Some sense into my weary head
I go outside
Sit under a turnip tree
Wishing that I could be free
To run naked and wild
In the forrest fountain
Screwing the god damned universe
Enjoying bloody lust
My conscious raises a fuss
I sit and cite verse
And set fire
to my soul’s lamentations
And slowly conclude
It is time to finish shaving
And my dreams fly out the window
And with them my sense of freedom
I put my clothes on
and become a robot
drinking coffee
For one more day
Is there any other way?
Coffee Love Hate Affair
coffee
I love coffee
Always have
Always will
But I have a love hate affair
With coffee
Love it when it gets me up
Flying high in the sky
As the sun comes over
Filling with hope
And anticipation
As I conquer the day’s
Daunting tasks
With a little help
From my drug of choice
But coffee turns on me
Late in the day
And I can’t not sleep
As the coffee burns
In my soul
And I toss and turn
And sleep no more
Coffee does that to me
And so, I am reduced
To drinking decafe coffee
Not the same thing at all
But that is all I can handle
As I am a coffee addict
And always will be
Coffee Blues
coffee
Coffee is my drug of choice
Always has been
Ever since I first tried
As a young lad
Loved coffee’s power
To speed up my synaptic nerves
Turning me on
Keeping me going
and going and going
But there is a dark side
And it will take you
Where it wants to go
Enslaving you
Making you its victim
As it toys with you
Messes with you
Prevents you from sleeping
Coffee is a harsh mistress
It demands respect
As you fall under it seductive powers
Slave again
To the drug of choice
Just another over caffeinated
Coffee addict
Stumbling along the street
Looking for a fix
At six in the morning
As the coffee wears off
And you finally
Can get some sleep
Until the alarm
Blasts you away
And you reach out
Trembling for your fix
Coffee you scream out
I need coffee
The universe laughs
As you get your coffee high
Just another pathetic coffee junkie
When all is said and done
filled with pretty young things
who served you instant coffee
or Ginseng tea
or Korean Green tea
and flirted with
their mostly male customers
and exchanged the latest
gossip in the afternoon
when the ajimas came
Somehow
the lowly TaBang
disappeared
to be replaced
by coffee shops
the coffee is much better
and so is the food choices
but I miss
flirting with the Tabang ladies
who helped me learn Korean
back in the day
there are a few
old school TaBangs
here and there
in forgotten poorer neighborhoods
and rural towns
but by and large
and the Tabangs
have faded into history
Impure Thoughts in the Coffee Line
A nerd with a cup of coffee hugged closely to his chest. He’s clearly had too much caffeine, and needs to stop drinking coffee.
Often times
when I am in line
at a coffee shop
I notice the pretty young baristas
and engage in impure thoughts
as they take my order
I wonder if they know
what is on my mind
as I smile at them
and take my coffee
drinking it hot
filled with erotic desire
for the coffee barista lady
behind the counter
Coffee Acrostic Poem
coffee
Coffee is calling me
One cup after another
Filling my heart with love
Filling my head with desire
Every moment I drink my coffee
Every moment I think of you
Coffee Jones
I am a coffee addict
a slave to my daily fix
I have the coffee Jones
and it won’t go away
I try to drink decaf
or herbal coffee
but sooner or later
the coffee jones
comes back
Demanding the real deal
as I fall under
the coffee spell
once again
a slave
to my dark mistress
of coffee
as the coffee jones
takes over
and I drink
cup after cup
I recall all the cups
I have had
over the years
from my first cup
at age 17
to my last cup
at age 64
this afternoon
and realize
the coffee jones
will not leave me
until the day
I die
and can drink no more
Mecca of Coffee Lovers
coffee
Peets coffee shop
in Berkeley
the original coffee shop
one of the the coffee shops
that launched
the coffee revolution
is the mecca
for coffee lovers
in the United States
for many years
when it was strictly
a Bay Area phenomenon
expat Bay Area residents
out of the area
would fly back
and stock up
on Peet’s coffee
Once I took back
25 pounds of Peet’s
to Mumbai India
introduced it to my friends
and colleagues
My last job
in the State Department
I had my ritual down
I would go out
after lunch
to Peet’s
across from the WH
and buy a decaf Americano
loaded up with cream
nutmeg, cinnamon
chocolate and hazel nut
usually took it back
but sometimes
I lingered at Peet’s
soaking
in the Berkeley feeling
thinking back
to all the great
cups of coffee
I have had
at Peet’s in Berkeley
the original
and the Solano Avenue
Peets coffee shop
Now if only
Peet’s opened
in Korea
that would be something
to look forward to
Perfect Cup of Coffee
coffee
My best friend Robert
and I have long had
a philosophical disagreement
over what constitutes
a perfect
cup of java joe
we both agree
that there is nothing finer
in life
than enjoying a cup
of coffee
from Peets Coffee shop
the original Peets
On Virginia and Walnut
in Berkeley, California
in the middle
of the gourmet Ghetto
and we both consider
Peets to be the mecca
of coffee shops
the center of the universe
if truth be told
but Robert and I disagree
over the perfect cup of Java Joe
Robert is a traditionalist
old school in all things
that matter
like coffee consumption
He drinks his coffee
straight black as hell
just the way God intended
coffee to be drunk
I like my coffee
spiced up the yazoo
white chocolate mocha
with nutmeg
cinnamon
chocolate
vanilla
hazelnut syrup
and whipped cream
to top it off
and I do like my coffee
with kahhula, Irish cream liquor
rum or a wee bit of whisky
although I prefer it full caffeinated
nowadays I drink it decaf
after 10 am
otherwise I am up all night
singing the coffee blues
so Robert and I long ago
decided we could tolerate
each other’s taste in coffee
as we both agreed
that it has to be from Peets
if you are to drink it with me
Peets Coffee
Coffee Breakfast With Grain And Jute Sack
Peets coffee shop
Everywhere you go
Even in Boise Idaho
Tall Hot coffee
Simply the best there is
Coffee shop mecca
Only original in Berkeley
Full bodied flavor
Full of cosmic goodness
Every cup satisfies
Every cup a cup of Heaven
Starbucks Coffee
Seattle born and raised
Took off all over the world
Almost every corner
Rare to find a Starbucks free city
But the original
U District coffee shop
Coffee shop nirvana
Kicking my butt with a caffeine rush
Subtly quietly politely Seattle style
Coffee shop nirvana
Only original in Seattle
Full bodied flavor
Full of cosmic goodness
Every cup satisfies
Every cup a cup of Heaven
Last Man in Berkeley Drinking Coffee at Peet’s
the last man
in Berkeley left alive
settled down
in the original Peets
the mecca of coffee lovers
the end had come
suddenly
within weeks
everyone was dead
from the super bio plague
that had escaped
from a secret lab
somewhere in Russia
the last man in Berkeley
decided to camp out
in Peet’s
he would have plenty
of coffee
and food to eat
and there was even
a shower
in the employee’s restroom
and power
and wi fi
for now
he wandered
about town
looking for survivors
got a ham radio
and broadcast
daily
Hello
this is Jake
the last man
in Berkeley
broadcasting to you
from Peet’s coffee
if you are out there
please join me
it is getting lonely
in here
with all this great coffee
and no one to enjoy it with
a week later
a woman showed up
then a man
and within a week
there were 25 survivors
they decided
to take over the Walnut Square
apartment complex
each person or couple
would have an apartment
but everyone would eat
at the Thai restaurant
everyone would take turns
being the barista for the day
and Peets re-opened for business
within a year
there were about
100 survivors
living at the Walnut Square
and Peets
was the center
of their universe
just as God had intended
when he inspired
Mr. Peet to open
his coffee shop
Non-Establishment Coffee
Berkeley is the mecca
for coffee lovers
the best coffee shops
in the US
are located in Berkeley
Berkeley residents
probably drink more coffee
than anyone else
in the U.S.
there is a great coffee shop
almost every commercial street
most independent
but Starbucks
and Peets are everywhere
Starbucks owner
started out at Peet’s
had a creative disagreement
with Mr. Peet
and left for Seattle
there is a coffee shop
that I think is still there
that had a sign
dating back to 1955
We do Not Serve Establishment Coffee
it was the first coffee shop
in Berkeley
to serve Italian stye expresso
and was a favorite haunt
of the beatniks
who hung out there
drinking endless cups
of non-establishment coffee
while writing up a storm
Peets opened in 1962
and soon became
the biggest chain
in the Berkeley area
remained a local favorite
until the early 2000’s
when it followed its cousin
Starbucks nationwide
First to SF
then LA
then to college towns
then nation wide
to this day
the mother ship
of all coffee shops
the mecca
for serious coffee drinkers
remains the Original Poets
on the corner of Virginia and Walnut
serious coffee addicts
in the Bay Area
will not drink Starbucks Coffee
too Establishment coffee now
and only drink at Peet’s
or an independent coffee shop
of which there are hundreds
it seems
in any event
next time I am in town
you can be sure
to see me
at ground zero
the coffee shop
that launched
the coffee revolution
the Original Peets
still the mecca
of coffee lovers
in the U.S
Korean Coffee Shops
coffee
in the late 80’s
Coffee shops first began
appearing in Korea
supplanting the old TaBangs
that use to be
on every corner
the tabang ladies
were friendly
flirting up a storm
with their mainly
male customers
and they delivered
coffee and tea
to offices across the land
about 10 am
the tábangs were replaced
by coffee shops
the coffee was much better
the choice of food
much better
there are so many chains now
Ediya
Coffee Bean
A Twosome Place
Angels in US
Starbucks
and independent coffee shops
everywhere
My favorite is coffee bean
because they have decaf coffee
most larger chains do now
a few years ago
it was impossible to find
and since I should not drink
caffeinated coffee
the choices were limited
back then
most coffee shops also something new
to Korea
they all have chamomile
and peppermint
green tea
and black tea
ginseng
ginger
and some have rosemary
lavender
and other teas
but the waitresses
no longer flirt
with their customers
who are about half female
half male these a days
I miss the tábangs
the tabang ladies
were always willing
to teach me Korean
a cheap real world
language lesson
for the price
of cup of coffee
there are still a few
Tabangs here and there
in poorer neglected neighborhoods
and rural country towns
but by and large
Tabangs have faded
away
into history
CinqTroisdecaLaRhyme
coffee
I pity the poor smoker, particularly in the cold of winter
as they huddle out side in the cold depths of a Korean winter
wonder what they think these sad poor tobacco addicts
was it worth it to them to be
hooked on cigarettes
when all is said and done nothing tobacco addicts
I also pity those poor souls addicted to other things coffee
that is my soul addiction these days, I am addicted to coffee
must start my day with a hot cup of java joe just hot coffee
nothing else will do it for me in the depth of winter
But I miss tobacco especially when I drink hot coffee
Coffee Lai
coffee
glorious coffee
must have my coffee
to kickstart my day
hot butter coffee
loaded sweet coffee
Just to start my day
nothing but coffee
just glorious coffee
No better way start day
Coffee Soledad
coffee
hot coffee the drink of the gods
invented by Satan in hell
loved by all the angels and gods
Transported to Heaven
cup of coffee
when I drink my morning coffee
I am transported to heaven
as I sip my coffee
deep under its influence
my thoughts fly to the sky
dreaming dark dangerous dreams
consumed by coffee’s magic
my soul wanders the world
escaping its earthly bounds
fueled by coffee’s caffeine
reaching heaven’s gate
with every divine sip
Sam the Space Alien Coffee Merchant”
coffee
One spring day in May a UFO lands on the White House Lawn. The military is called and they surround the saucer.
The door opens and a man who looks like the comedian Jon Stewart walks out the door. The military opens fire but the bullets bounce off a force field of some sort which does not harm the alien. He waves and the guns become too hot to touch. He walks out and speaks,
“People of earth. I came 10 million miles in search of the one thing you guys do right – coffee. No one else in the Universe makes it. So, get me a goddamn cup of “Starbucks” ™ Colombian supreme, a medium with milk, and then take me to your leader. We have business to talk.”
With that, he turns to the White House. He is escorted into to see the President. After drinking his coffee, he turns to the President and says the following,
“Mr. President. I represent the Galactic Empire Beverage Company. I am here because a fleet of star ships is on its way to put a blockade and quarantine around your planet. After observing your planet for centuries, we have concluded that you are the most insane creatures in the Universe. And you are dangerous what with your nukes, your bioweapon, your religious hatreds, your violent street crime and you mind-numbing sit coms, your drugs, your guns, your porn (best in the universe though), and your scientific ignorance you proclaim to be the truth.
But, I think if I can convince the Galactic Empire that you have something of value, we might avoid the boycott and open trading relations. So, here’s the deal–I want to buy your coffee, and export it around the universe. In return, my folks will teach you the technology to travel interstellar space. But I need a ten-year exclusive contract on coffee exports and I will want to buy half your coffee crop each year at market rates.
Do we have a deal?”
The president makes a motion and Mr. Smith, the alien coffee merchant, is disappeared into a prison somewhere. He is tortured to no avail, refuses to talk, and eventually can watch TV, and read the daily papers and drink as much coffee as he wants. The media is filled with rumors of where he was taken and whether he was alive. The official story was always that this was a Hollywood movie stunt for the movie, “Mars Attacks Two” which came out the following year and had a scene of a flying saucer landing on the white house and an alien asking for a cup of coffee. Of course, no one believed the official story and conspiracy theories ran amuck. The one thing they all had right was that he was alive and in prison underneath area 51 in the Nevada desert.
Five years’ pass. The Galactic Fleet never arrived as Mr. Smith was buffing. The Galactic Empire knew of earth and had indeed put a blockade on the Earth, but since earth people were not galactic sailors they did not know that they could not venture beyond Jupiter without being shot down.
Mr. Smith still wanted his coffee concession and decided to go public. One morning he walked out of his cell and told his warden he was leaving. The warden said
“You can’t leave us. You have no ID, no wallet, no money, and no vehicle and more importantly, you do not have permission to leave these premises. And we’ll miss your company, Mr. Smith. We’ve grown fond of you over these years.’
“But, I have to leave. I must finish my coffee deal. I’ve finally done all the research on your people I can stand. You are indeed insane. The crazy things you believe. The absolute nonsense of all your religious traditions, and the total dysfunction of your economics and politics. It is a miracle you have not killed your entire planet. and now you have a certified lunatic as President. But he is a man of business so perhaps we can cut a deal.”
“But how will you go? Here, take some cash with you, we can give you 1000 in cash, and get you on a Greyhound.”
“Mr. Jones, I’ll take the money, but I have my transportation waiting outside. Thanks so much for the company and answering all my questions about your fascinating but insane society. I think I finally understand why you guys invented coffee in the first place and beer as well. You need it otherwise you would all kill each other.”
The flying saucer had been summoned from area 51 where the U.S. and other scientist had been trying for five years to open the door. They did not have the biometric password so the door remained shut and the force field withstood everything they gave it.
Mr. Smith walked outside and entered the ship and flew to NYC where he landed on top of the CNN towers and walked down to the newsroom, demanding to be interviewed right then and there.
They brought their top interviewer, Larry Jones and they started a live interview.
Larry started out,
“So, Mr. Smith, where are you from and where have you been hidden the last five years?”
“Your U.S. government kidnapped me and held me in Area 51 for the last five years along with my ship. They failed to open the ship because they did not have the password and they failed to get me to reveal anything despite their primitive torture methods. But they do have remains from another alien visitor who landed in Roswell 60 years ago. He was a friend of a friend and told me about the coffee on this planet. He was after though a beer contract as you guys do decent beer as well as coffee.
But, look, I gave them an offer in the White House – I would give you the secrets of space travel in exchange for 50% of your coffee crop for 10 years. That offer is still good, but I am not dealing with the Government anymore. I am opening the offer up to the Private sector. Here’s the basic deal:
I require 50% of your world’s coffee crop and your expertise in opening coffee shops throughout the universe. You supply the coffee, the workers and the coffee shop experience. I supply the shops and arrange transportation.
after that I would also like to sell Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Drama programs and moviesand Porn to customers throughout the galaxy.Visitors to earth have all reported that the coffee is out of this world (only grown on earth) the beer is to die for, the whiskey and rum fantastic and the wines great as well. And the porn is the best porn in the universe, and your dramas particularly K drama, Bollywood movies, Chinese Kungfu movies, and Hollywood hits will have a ready market in the galaxy. And your weed and cocaine are first rate as well.We can make trillions of dollars selling your coffee, your booze, your weed, your cocaine, your movies and TV dramas and your porn.
In return I hope that some of you will grow up and join the galactic federation of planets.You are not ready yet.Joining takes decades and is a very bureaucratic process.
If we have a deal, I will also conduct tours of the galaxy forhumans and bring aliens to your planet for tourism.Your planet is a mystery to the rest of us.In some ways you are a remarkable creative bunch, in other ways you are fucking insane. I predict that Earth will be the next big travel destination within ten years provided you don’t shoot the alien visitors and don’t rip them off.
I will pay you by teaching your scientists the secrets of space travel. And I need 1 billion dollars in gold bullion.
That is the minimum bid. Detailed bids can be e-mailed to me at
And if we have a deal, I expect that the governments of the world will respect the commercial contract. If there is no interference with the business deal, I will turn over my ship and provide technical instruction to any scientist or government employee who wishes to join me. To prevent meddling by your government spooks and to ensure that everyone on earth can benefit, the instruction will take place in a starship that is on its way to your planet even as we speak. And we will broadcast the lesions on the internet so anyone who wishes to learn can do so.
The ship is a trading ship and has enough room to take the initial load of coffee and coffee shop equipment, and your best baristas. Our first planet is Alpha Century where the locals are roughly equivalent to your canines. But they are relatively civilized and a few have even been on your planet disguised as household pets. They have tasted coffee and well we have a huge market of 10 billion dogs to satisfy.
So, Larry, adieu. I’ll be back tomorrow now to reveal the winning bid. And tell the USgovernment to call off their goons. They can’t stop me.
coffee drink of the Gods
coffee
coffee drink of the gods
also drink of the dogs
satan
it is a Coffee Morning after all
cup of coffee
It is a coffee morning after all
tossing and turning all damn night long
tossing and turning all damn night long
eagerly waiting for the morning light
eagerly waiting for the morning light
waiting waiting for the sun shinning bright
waiting waiting for the sun shinning bright
to chase away the dangerous demons
waiting waiting for the sun shinning bright
anticipating coffee’s morning embrace
to chase away the demons of the night
it is a coffee morning after all
coffee madness
7-2-coffee-
every morning coffee madness
consumes me and overwhelms me
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)
in 2009 UNESCO added the Korean Jeonson Royal tombs to their world heritage list.
recently, an old Korean friend, who I met back in 1980 during my Peace Corps day, suggested that we plan to visit all 40 of the Jeonson royal tombs as part of our Korean travel bucket list.
he is taking a Korean history course and they just finished studying the royal tombs.
Visit to Jeongneung Tomb
we picked for our first tomb, Jeongneung Royal tomb.JeongneungRoyal Tomb was built for Queen Sindeok Second Queen for King Taejo First King of Josean dynasty, died 1396 of illness
Heungcheonsa temple build to honor her spirit is next door and is well worth a visit as well
There are 122 tombs in all, most in Seoul or Gyeongi province, a few are in North Korean territory.
the King and Queen tombs are calledneung, the 14 Myo and 66 myo tombs for lesser royal family member.this tomb was located elsewhere and relocated in 1409. It burned down but was restored in 1669.Most of the tombs have sustained some damage over the years, all are either rebuilt or being fixed up.
all follow roughly the same pattern.Most are locate near a mountain so there is ample hiking opportunities near the tombs.Many are also located next to temples as well.Most have either a steam or a lake/pound on the site,Jeongneung tomb has a stream running through it. all were located according to Fungshi principles.The landscaping is in harmony with the natural surroundings. All have ample English signage, many have English language pamphlets as well and there is a lot of background reading on the internet. Most have ancestral rites performed annually, the memorial rites of Jeongneung are held on September 23 every year.
The nearest stations Sungshin Woman’s University Station on the number 4 blue line or Gireum station, also on the the number 4 blue line. From Sungshin Woman’s University take exit 6, from Gireum station take exit 3.You can easily walk to the tomb and temple-less then ten minutes about 1/4 tp 1/2 mile if that, but you can also take the local bus or basic taxi fare.Buses 1014, 162 (blue) 1213, 1164, 153, 171, 8153 all serve the tomb.
driving – from Mia Junction right turn on giregumgyo bridge turn right, ariang gogaepass turn left ariang market turn right.as usual parking can be a problem so best to travel by public transit.
address for Navi 74 neung-gil, Seongbuk ku,Seoul 136-102
Tel: 82 291-4453-133
the trip from the station, and a walk through the grounds and hills nearby and back to the station takes about 2 hours and is a nice 2 mile round trip loop trail.
Admission Fees
the basic fee for adults age 16 to 64 is 1,000 won, children and elderly (over 65) are free.there is a pass that allows free access to all 122 tombs but we did not buy that today, will buy it next time I think.
Taereung and Gangneug are located near each other in Northeast Seoul at the base of Baramsan mountain. the tomb is surrounded by dense pine trees and has larger stone statues than in most tombs. The two tombs were built about the same time and are in the classic style.
Queen Munjoeng,3rd consort to King Jungjon the 11th King of the Chosen dynasty, and mother to King Myeongjong is buried at Taereung tomb.She died at age 65.
the memorial rites are held every May 16.
Getting there
the nearest subway stations are Seokgye (line 1/6 exit 1 to 6) bus 1155, 1156, 73 or 74),Taereung station (Line 1/7 exit 7 bus 1155, 1156, 73,74 or 82 A or 82 B) and Hwrangdae station (line 6) take bus 202, 1155, 1156, 73,74 or 82A or 82B) about four stops on the bus.
the Taereung Military Academy is near by as is Seoul Woman’s University and the National Olympic Training Center and the National Rifle shooting range. There are lots of places to eat near Seokgye station.
Admission Fee
1,000 won per adult covers both tombs plus the museum
Gangneug
King Myeongjong, 13th King of the Chosen dynasty ruled from 1553 to 1567 and presided over a tumultuous period of bitter clan rivalry in the middle of the Chosen dynasty.His wife, Queen Insun is buried here as well.
the entry way is covered with thick moss and has an archaic feel to it.
Gangreun is about a 15 minute walk from Taereung. Both are about a 30 minute walk from the nearest subway station so taking the bus is the best option.
The memorial rites are held on the 4th Sunday of every April.
Royal Tomb Museum
the Royal Tomb Museum is also located at Taereung. The museum is small, but informative. Unfortunately not enough English signage.
Ghosts Sijo
Visiting
the Korean tombs
of the ancient
Kings of the Past
Surrounded
by the ghosts
of the ancients
all around me
the old ghosts
whispering to me
the sounds of the ghosts
in the wind
for more info see the wiki article below and the Korean Government Tourism link below
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)
these poetic reflections of Okinawa were written during my first trip Okinawa in December 2019.I don’t know why it took me 64 years to get there but we had a great time.
we stayed in Naha City in two different AIRBNB’s near the international street.We paid less than I had imagined we would have and we found that the prices in Okinawa were a bit higher than in Korea but not as outrageously high as I had imagined or fear it would be.
Okinawa is proud of its unique history as an independent kingdom prior to being taken over by the Japanese in 1878.that history remains both hidden and overt as the people in Okinawa celebrate their unique culture.
Okinawa was also of course the last battle fields of world war 11 and there are memorials all over the island to that war.and then Okinawa was a US territory until 1972 and Okinawa remains the most “Americanized Japanese prefecture”.
We found that the level of English was quite high higher than we had encountered in other trips to Japan. We also found that Korean is widely spoken because up until last year Koreans were the number one foreign tour group in Okinawa.there were still a lot of Korean tourists about and local Koreans living in Okinawa.Every street sign is in Chinese/Japanese/English and Korean so it was pretty easy to get around.
the tourism office was conveniently located in the Naha Bus terminal and the people were very friendly, spoke English and were very helpful. the maps and brochures were useful as well.However, there are very few English language materials available except for some things on line.We could not find the Lonely Planet guide for sale anywhere.
On the third day we were there, the Okinawa travel office staff went out of their way to help us when my wife, Angela, left her phone on the bus coming back from the beach resort.They called the airport bus company and tracked down our phone.we went to the airport on the new monorail which is pretty convenient – only four stops to get to the airport from the central bus terminal.
the food was great.Most mornings we ate fruit and left over sashimi from the market purchased the night before and coffee.Okinawans seem to like their coffee as much as they like tea.And I was surprised to find out how difficult it was to buy loose tea leaves.
My favorite coffee was the oddly named “Boss” coffee which seems to be everywhere.the can has a picture of a Okinawan“boss” smoking a pipe.It is the most popular coffee in Japan I believe. Part of the Suntory food and beverage empire.Suntory also of course makes Japanese Whiskey which we did not sample on this trip.
we did drink Okinawan beer and sake almost every night in a Yakitori restaurant.If you have not been to Japan yet, you must try going to a Yakitori when you get to Japan.Yakitori’s are the working man’s beer and sake neighborhood bar, and they are everywhere.They have red paper lanterns outside their door denoting the establishment as a Yakitori.
yakitori chicken
On a prior trip to Japan,I had learned that the Yakitori’s date back to the Meiji period and were founded as pubs for the working class. and they remain the cheapest place to eat and drink in Japan.They serve fried chicken, sushi and other pub food.we had fun drinking in them and meeting locals.
the best meal we had was at the Emerald Bay Resort on the west coast.The west coast remained me of Hawaii or Barbados – the road winds along the sea coast and is lined with resorts and restaurants as befit being located in Japan’s Hawaii.
they had a great Okinawa style buffet lunch for 60$ per person, all you can eat.mostly Okinawa style food but they had great dim sum as well. and great ice cream to finish the meal off.
the Emerald Bay Resort is next door to the Okinawa Aquarium which is one of the best aquariums in the world in my opinion.Reminded me of the Monterey Bay aquarium. We saw a good dolphin show, lots of sea turtles, manatees, and of course the aquarium which features a re-created coral reef.and lots of sharks swimming around.
we also had a great steak lunch one lunch time featuring local Okinawa beef.
we saw the Shurti castle which was badly damaged in a huge fire a year ago. But the grounds were open and impressive.this was the castle of the Okinawa Ryukyu kingdom for almost five hundred years.
during world war 11 the Okinawa military command hid out underneath the castle so the US bombed the castle.
The castle was rebuilt and restored and re-opened in 2000 or so.Very impressive still.
the US military bases are all located some distance from Naha city where there is an American village “theme park”next to the bases.The military people mostly stay near their bases – we did not see many Americans wandering about Naha city.
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)
thanks so much to the 48 people who downloaded my second chapbook. I participated last year but fewer people took advantage of the download because i did not promote the contest enough. this year more people participated. I will do this annually along with my annual April Poetry poem a thon and the NaNoWrMo contest. Keep it up as long as I can.
If you have not downloaded the poems they are available below.
here’s the link to the downloads
DOWNLOAD 38 POETRY E-BOOKS FOR FREE NOW!
The 15th annual Poetry Super Highway E-book Free-For-All is on now. 38 e-books have been donated by poets from all over the world and they are now available to download for the next 24 hours for free. Click HERE to get your free e-fill.
This is a limited time offer…the free download links will disappear tonight at midnight (pacific – the evening of December 1st) and we’ll post a new page shortly thereafter letting everyone know how many times each book was downloaded.
Please consider downloading my chapbook April Poem a Thon Poems on December 1, 2019 from the Poetry Super Highway site. I am again taking part in their annual free poetry chapbook contest. My book contains my 2019 April poems, the 2018 and 2017 poems along with audio and photos can be found on my web page https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com. and consider downloading all the other fine poets participating.
LAST DAY to Join the Great E-Book Free-For-All!
30 e-books have been sent in for the Poetry Super Highway’s 15th Annual Great E-Book Free-For-All so far! Join in! Send us your e-book TODAY by 10pm and we’ll add it to the pile of e-books which will be freely available to download by anyone on earth for 24 hours starting tonight at midnight! (pacific)…a free-for-all. The deadline to join with your ebook is TONIGHT, Saturday evening, November 30, at 10:00 pm (pacific).
Feedspot has added my poetry blog to their list of 100 . Please take a look at the list of poetry blogs and sign up for as many as you can, and of course, if you have not yet signed up for my blog please do so now.
In 2017, I participated in my first April Month of Poetry poetry challenge with Tiferet Journal, and copied to All Poetry, Poetry Soup and writing.composted all on my blog along with photos and audio links, in 2018 I again submitted poems through Tiferet Journal, but in 2019 just posted on All poetry, poetry soup and writing.comand on my blog of course..
Comments and feedback greatly appreciated.I intent to make this an annual creative project and keep going as long as I can.
Due to size restrictions, I am only posting 2019 poems,The 2017, 2018 and 2019 poems are available on my web page along with photos and audio.
April 2019 Poem a Thon
Index
63 Years Haut
A penitent Considers another Coming of Mary
Springtime in Seoul
today just for today
Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
It Can’t Happen Here or Has it?
So Excited to Be Alive at 63 all poetry
Trump
It’s a Dog’s Life
Scorpio Passion all poetry
Just an Unhinged Werewolf Howling at the Moon
Glowcreative talent unleashed prompt
Old Lady and the Genie
Coffee Love Hate Affair
Coffee Blues
Morning Thoughts
Santa James Came to Town
Love Chinquapin
Nightmare butterfly chinquapin
Dedication to the Women I love
The Art of Stealing Money, anatomy of a bank scam
Incheon Beach waltz wave poem
California Burning Bright
Shaman Prays for Humanity
Catching the Trump Fever
Releasing the Trump Monsters
President Trump, International Fire Fighter in Chief
April 1 A penitent Considers another Coming of Mary
I sometimes wonder about the Virgin Mary
I sometimes wonder about the Virgin Mary
Wonder who she was and what she may
Have had to do with the birth of the savior
For I do not believe that story today
or any day for that matter I can notleave
these thoughts that hang in the air
thinking that she must have been with men
and will be with them again
April 1, Today Just for Today
today just for today
I plan to do nothing
nothing at all
just go with the flow
of the day
as the day turns into night
and the night turns into sleep
I will ride the wave
along with my love
until the day is done
April 2 Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
an agnostic dyslectic
stays up all night
wondering if there is a dog
the Buddhists wonder
about the Buddha nature of the dog
the evangelicals are sure that there is a dog
and you must follow their dog
or go to hell
for following another’s dog
the Muslims agree
there is only one dog
and the dogs
smile at the foolishness
of the human race
of course, there is a dog
and they are the master race
as they growl at their owners
who bow down
and clean up their mess
April 2 It Can’t Happen Here or Can It?
Every day when I watch TV
I see the chattering classes
The TV pundits
And their guests
Pontificate about this and that
And it seems to me
That they are missing the big picture
In the era of Donald Trump
Nothing that they say
Will make a difference
Donald Trump has slowly conquered
The political world
And he is shaping it into something
That we had hoped we would never see
A truly American neo-fascist state
Wrapped around the flag
And so-called Christian values
And the latest made up outrage
And the chattering classes
Don’t seem to understand
That they are next
On the hit parade
As the Donald Trump machinery
Continues to take over the known universe
The question used to be
It can’t happen here
The answer I am afraid
Is already has
April 3 So Excited to Be Alive
I wake up
with the dawning sun
so excited
to be alive
at age 63
I look at my sleeping beauty
and realize yet again
my life began
the day I met her
37 years ago
she walked off a bus
out of my dreams
and into my life
and my life began
that autumn day
when I met
the girl of my dreams
April 4th Trump
Triumphed against all enemies
Remaining unvanquished
Uniting all who oppose him
Might makes right
Patriots unite behind the Great Leader
April 4th I Want a Dog’s Life
I want a dog’s life
That’s what I want in next life
A dog needs to be cute
And his master will feed him
It is a dog’s life for me
April 4th Just an Unhinged Werewolf Howling at the Moon
as the lunatic light of the blood red moon
the super blue moon lights up the night
the werewolf stirs
as the light shines on him
slowly transforming him
into a dark dangerous creature
of the lunatic night
ready for his flight
out into the world,
he emerges
snarling
howling at the moon
just another unhinged
werewolf
out for blood today
howling at the moon
April 4th Scorpion Nights of Passion
Born in October
Scorpion Passionate fool
Always taking the lead
consumed with dark desires
is this Scorpio buddha nature
consumed with dark desires
April 5th GLOW
Glowing light of the dawning sun
Lights up my dismal room
Overwhelming me with love
Watching my dream girl sleep
April 6th The Old Lady and the Genie
An old Chinese woman
Stands in a field
On the lunatic edge of town
Where drinkers gather to drink
And woman of ill repute
Play their games
With the passing drunks
Men ready for a night of passion
She is holding a tea pot
And proclaims
That the pot contains
A genie
That will grant the new owner
Three wishes
She had to sell the pot
Because her wishes came true
And she smiles
And laughs insanely
The laughter dies
And she implores people
To buy her tea pot
And put her out of misery
Just buy my pot
And your dreams will come true
Be careful dear thought
Remember all magic
Comes with a price
A terrible price
April 6th 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
April 6th The Messenger Dog of God
One day
While studying in Rome
As a priest
I notice a small white dog
Staring at me
He glances at me
Indicating that I am to follow him
I get up
And follow this strange dog
He leads me deep
Inside the hidden depths
Of the Vatican
Finally stopping by a door
I open the door
And see St Peter there
He smiles
Dismisses the dog
Who moves on down the hall
Finished with his cosmic duty
As the secret messenger of God
All in a days work
I ask why am I here?
St Peter says
Why are any of us here?
It is time for you to go
But I don’t want to go
Don’t want to leave this mortal plane
St Peter smiles
Says it is time to go
I wake up
Back in my bed
With my wife
And realize it was all a dream
It was not yet time
To go
But I am afraid
I will find the messenger dog
Outside my door
Any day now
The grim reaper waits
And it will soon be my time
April 6 Coffee Love Hate Affair
I love coffee
Always have
Always will
But I have a love hate affair
With coffee
Love it when it gets me up
Flying high in the sky
As the sun comes over
Filling with hope
And anticipation
As I conquer the day’s
Daunting tasks
With a little help
From my drug of choice
But coffee turns on me
Late in the day
And I can’t not sleep
As the coffee burns
In my soul
And I toss and turn
And sleep no more
Coffee does that to me
And so, I am reduced
To drinking decaf coffee
Not the same thing at all
But that is all I can handle
As I am a coffee addict
And always will be
April 6 Coffee Blues
Coffee is my drug of choice
Always has been
Ever since I first tried
As a young lad
Loved coffee’s power
To speed up my synaptic nerves
Turning me on
Keeping me going and going and going
But there is a dark side to everything
And coffee is a drug
And it will take you
Where it wants to go
Enslaving you
Making you its victim
As it toys with you
Messes with you
Prevents you from sleeping
Coffee is a harsh mistress
It demands respect
As you fall under it seductive powers
Slave again
To the drug of choice
Just another over caffeinated
Coffee addict
Stumbling along the street
Looking for a fix
At six in the morning
As the coffee wears off
And you finally
Can get some sleep
Until the alarm
Blasts you away
And you reach out
Trembling for you fix
Coffee you scream out
I need coffee
The universe laughs
As you get your coffee high
Just another pathetic coffee junkie
When all is said and done
April 7th Morning Thoughts
Every morning I wake up
And see the love of my life
Sleeping soundly
In our bed
The sun fills my room
And I get up
To do my morning routine
Just marveling at the sight
And as I do my thing
I am drawn back to bed
Just to look
At this strange creature
That captured my heart
So many years ago
And I wonder yet again
At the mystery of our love
How and why
Did the universe bring us together
Where did she come from
And why did she summoned me
I have no answers
Our love transcended
The barriers of time
And space
And somehow
We found each other
And will be together
Until the death of time
April 8Lucky Numbers Blues
There are many gambler’s fallacies
the statisticians say
each roll of the roulette table
is an independent event
Yet the gamblers believe
that if for example
there were ten red numbers
in a row
that the next one should be black
right
A statistician in the U,K.
decided to prove
that the gamblers
were all delusional
in insisting that there were patterns
in the endless spin of the wheel
and that it was more of a curve
that the noise of random numbers
after thousands of spins
recorded on a computer
the pattern was clear
there was a bell shape curve
with an upswing
and a downswing to the data
an early experiment
in chaos theory
but with a practical application
if you are on a winning curve
keep going until the curve
turns into a losing curve
then walk away
and you might be a winner
according to science
but they have yet
to be able to prove/disprove
that lucky numbers exist
for you and me
mine was always 32
and when it pops
I swore that my lucky number
came up
just a fluke
according to science
another iron clad rule
the regression to the mean
the curve may go up
and may go down
but in the end
it regresses to the mean
and that means
the house always win
Anatomy of a legal Bank Scam
Not too long ago
One trusted the banks
And the government
With your money,
your stocks
Your investments
Your financial life
Then the states discovered
That if you claim
Because you did not look at your account
Or perform an activity
They can send it to the State
Where it goes
into the lost property division
And the State can sell your assets
The banks are required to notify you
they never send you a letter
They falsely claim
They don’t have your address
Yet three months
before they had sent you a statement
which did not bounce
so you received it
three months later
without your knowledge or permission,
the bank declares
your property has been abandoned
violating their own rules
they have to wait three years
of no “activity”
but they send it in after 15 months
why ?
because they can
because you are nothing to them
but small cash they can steel
Then the State sends you
An official-looking letter
That screams fraud
You call the Bank Fraud’s office
They claim
It was a bogus letter
Your account is just fine
And you do nothing
Until the banks confirm
Oh yes we sent your funds
To the state
As per our strict rules
They did nothing wrong
You see
Did not know how to contact you
They falsely claim
The state tells you file
A claim
and because the amount is relatively small
no lawyer will help you
and the banks
will laugh at you
for trusting them
to do the right thing
the true bank robbers
are the banks
and the crooked states
working in cahoots
who love to steal
your money
because well they can
and they just did
caveat emptor
my friends
the banks are not your friend
they will rip you off
with endless nonsensical fees
and rules
and red tape
and blame you for complaining
eventually, you may recover
your funds
After a long fight
perhaps not
welcome to American banking world
where financial crime
is not a crime
in the land of the no longer free
Jake Aller
one of your millions of customers
you screwed over
Ugh
April 9 Love Chinquapin
My Love
Haunting my dreams
Nightly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
April 10th Nightmare Butterfly Chinquapin
Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Huge Monsters chasing me
Hideous Creatures from Hell Itself
Monsters
Fiendish Hell hounds escaped Banishes
screaming bloody murder
they chase me all the way
I die
April 10Nightmare Chinquapin
Night mares
Endless fears all night long
Can’t escape running from these dreams
All night
April 11 Dedication Poem to the women in my Dreams
Dedicated to the woman of my Dreams
women
lives in my dreams
I dedicate this poem
You came out of my nightly dreams
My Love
My Love
I dreamt of you
For eight long years starting
Dream of you in 79 met in
82
82
We met in that year
Love at first sight I knew
You were the one for me my dream girl
My Love
The Art of Stealing Money –Anatomy of a Bank Scam
The bankers
God rest their evil souls
Have mastered the art
Of stealing
Their client’s money
Through one means or another
Your money
Is their money
And their money
Is none of your business
Recently we fell victim
To such a scam
We had stocks in a bank
But we failed
To actively manage the account
And the bank said
Because we had not acted
On the account
Over three years
We had abandoned the account
We fell victim
to such a scam
The bank
was supposed to
To contact us
But they lied,
claimed
That they did not know
Where we were
And could not contact us
Thus, our account
disappeared
Into the hands
Of the greedy
State of Delaware
We have to reclaim
The money
That the bank
Through their mistake
Sent to Delaware
If the bank
makes a mistake
You loose
If you make a mistake
They win
That’s all part of the art
Of stealing your money
All in a day’s work
For the evil soul sucking bankers
The so called masters of the universe
Incheon Beach Waltz Wave Poem
beach
near home
now
sun set
The West Sea
Incheon
sea
Spring Time
night sun set
over the sea
Sun goes down
near by
beach
water
waves come in
over beach
view
is great
nice
California Burning Bright
California
burning bright wildfires
end of the world
an apocalyptic
a vision of world’s end
April 15, 2019Prayers for the Future of the Planet
A shaman priestess
Is deep in thought
Engaged in Meditation
on the fate
Of the earth
She is deep in the cosmic woods
In the world between worlds
Where she is communing
With the spirits of the universe
Who listen to her tale of woe
She tells them
Of the rise of the neo fascists
And the refusal to address
The possible end of the world
Due to run away climate change
She prays and prays
And finally
She receives an answer
More a prediction
It is all up to humans
She has two visions
Of a possible future
Two contrasting visions
One a dystopian nightmare
The other an optimistic vision
The first
The neo fascists
Seize control
And usher in a dystopian nightmare
That ends with utter destruction
Nuclear war
Nuclear winter
Ends climate change
As civilization ends
And mankind retreat to caves
And it happens
In a blink of an eye
In less than five years
The world will end
Game over civilization ends
The second vision
The optimistic vision
Humanity wakes up
From their collective night mare
Throws off the neo-fascist cabal
And begin to change the world
Making the economy works
For all of us
Not just the corrupt 1 percent
The so-called masters of the Universe
They are overthrown
In a people’s power revolution
All over the world
People wake up
Demand change
And slowly the world
Begins to recover
And overcome
The dark hours
Of the present age
The shaman priestess
Returns home
To spread the word
It up to us
To choose our fate
The end is indeed near
It is darker than you think
But it is not over yet
If we choose the path
Of the cosmic light
And overthrow
The neo fascist cabal
And restore democracy
And peace will break out
And all will end well
If not
Well she says
You have been warned
The universe has spoken
So, mote it be
April 16, 2019
Why do all fake Natives call themselves “Cherokees”?
Erasure Poem
So many fake Indians these days
Elizabeth Warren is one
And according to my DNA results
I am too
But my grand-parents spoke Cherokee my mom claims
And they disappeared into the hills
She claims
Is the DNA test wrong?
Was I adopted ?
Or is it possible
That I am a real deal
A real Cherokee
Or am I fake Cherokee???
A Cherokee weighed in on this on Quora
First, I would never call them “fake Natives”.
They are 99% white,
mostly Blue-collar, and New Age Hippie,
Anglo-Americans
who are simply
lost without their own specific identity
that they can proudly Claim,
so therefore,
they search for a certain Popular,
Romanticized segment of Indigenous People
that will “fit”
into their Family’s historical Lore.
Second, it just happens to ALWAYS be …
the Cherokee …
sometimes,
either Blackfoot or Lakota.
AND, “My GGM was a Cherokee Princess”,
as an add-on VALUE.
This is primarily
because of the vast area
formerly inhabited by the Cherokee.
However, the tribes’ interaction
with European immigrants since colonial times,
led to a great deal of intermarriage
with non-indigenous populations.
In many cases people have limited knowledge
of the other Native American nations,
that inhabited the areas in which they live.
However, a lot of this is wishful thinking,
and these people have African American
or other non-European ancestry.
It is fashionable to claim indigenous ancestry ,
in an attempt to legitimize t
Their sense of belonging on our lands.
The reason is simple,
they don’t know the names of the other tribes.
There has never been a song called
“Indian Reservation” about Apache People
or any other tribe but, the Cherokee.
“Indian Reservation”
by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
So if those people aren’t Cherokee
by blood at least it’s in spirit.
And so I conclude
I may be part Cherokee
Part of the lost tribe
Of the Cherokee
But who really knows
My mother took many things
With her to the grave
Lots of family secrets
Things I will never know
But in my heart
I know
That I am part Cherokee
And so I will proudly
Claim I am part Cherokee
In spirt
If not in blood
Catching the Trump Madness
It seems that every day
The trump madness deepens
As our leader descends
Into dementia and madness
And his followers continue
To follow having drunk the Kool aide
They don’t see the madness
That Trump has engendered
They are immune from all criticism
It is all fake news to them
Nothing but nonsense
Part of the anti-Trump cabal
And as the world descends
Into more madness
Led by the mad king
I despair
Wondering if and when
The world will wake up
And shake off this madness
This trump fever
Releasing the Trump Monsters
The Trump madness deepens
And the world grows darker
The evil ones have been released
The wild things are growling
The dogs of war
Satan’s hell hounds
Are on the loose
Howling at the moon
Running amuck
Infecting us all
With their madness
As we all turn into mindless zombies
Filled with hatred
Jealousy and insanity
As Trump and his neo-fascist
Cabal unleash the monsters
Of their dangerous id
Devouring all reason
Turning all they see
Into raving lunatics
As they set the world on fire
Ushering in the ends of days
Armageddon looms
Will Trump be raptured away?
Only God knows
And he is not telling
As we descend
Into the maelstrom
Hoping against hope
That we can overcome
The monsters
That Trump has unleashed
In the end
Perhaps it does not matter
As the world careens
Deeper into hell
There is no end
Nothing but despair
Forever and ever
The Trump madness never ends
President Trump International Fire Fighter in Chief?
Our dear leader
Our favorite President
President Trump
Once again
Interjected himself
Into areas that he knows nothing about
Making a fool of himself
In the process
Why does he do this?
Time after time
Talking nonsense
It is because
He is the smartest man
In the universe
Knows more than anyone else
And so he feels
He has to comment
On everything
Under the sun
And then some more
Even when he
Does not know
What he is talking about
So painful to watch such a fool
Mark Twain had sage advice
If you want people to think
You are a fool
Open your mouth
and remove all doubt
In the midst
Of the devastating Paris Norte Dame Fire
He tweeted
“So horrible to watch the massive fire
at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,”
“Perhaps flying water tankers
could be used to put it out.
Must act quickly!”
Later, Mr. Obvious noted,
They’re having a terrible,
terrible fire,”
Mr Trump later told reporters.
“It looks like it’s burning to the ground.”
The French were not amused
By the unwanted advice
By the fire fighter in chief
France’s civil defense agency,
Sécurité Civile, tweeted —
once in French
and once in English
— less than two hours after Mr Trump
sent his tweet
and appeared
to directly respond to the US president.
“Helicopter or aeroplane,
the weight of the water
and the intensity of the drop
at low altitude
could indeed weaken
the structure of Notre Dame
and result in collateral damage
to the buildings in the vicinity,”
the agency wrote in French.
And despite never posting updates in English,
the agency then sent out a second tweet.
Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.
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)
Bill
I love your show. Big fan of it. I have been writing poems and stories for decades. I am a retired Foreign Service officer originally from Berkeley, California. I hope that you will like these poems and I give you permission to use them if you like and would love to appear on your show.
thanks
Jake Aller
My poem, Strong Wine has been published in 45 magazine!
One night I was starring
In my wine glass
Deep in thought
When I saw
Something in my wine
That haunts me still
I saw in the bottom of the glass
Evil dooers abandon evil
And became saints
I saw rich men give up
Their awesome greed
And poor people
Awarded dignity
And all men
Became brothers
All women
Became sisters
And war ended once and for all
And peace broke out
And hatred disappear
And I stared
Into my glass wine
I drink the wine
Hoping the vision
Would infect me
And change the world
But alas the world
Remained the same
The evil doers came back
The rich continued to conspire
And the poor still remained poor
And the war continued on and on
So I drank my wine
And went to sleep
Written by Jake Cosmos Aller – Incheon, South Korea
Tiger Shark Published my poem, A Poet’s Trial based on a recent nightmare
I find myself in a trial
Accused of harboring anti-state opinions
Of writing scurrilous seditious treasonous ‘poems’
Of encouraging disrespect for religious sensitivity
Of mocking God, Christianity and Christian values
The lead prosecutor in the case
Has decided to make me the poster boy
Thousands more have been arrested
Blogs have been taken over
Under the Protect American Freedom Act
Enacted by executive order
After Congress was suspended
The law the prosecutor reminds us
Is pretty clear
It is illegal to publish
Or to say in public
Obscene, seditious, anti-state
anti-American, anti-Christian
material of any type
Illegal to mock political
and business leaders,
And church leaders
Illegal to question
the motives of those in power
Illegal to print
publish classified material
Illegal to access such materials
online Or in print
The internet has been cleaned up
Access to such sites banned
And most of my work
has been banned
As well as the work
of all the other bloggers
Arrested during
‘Operation Restoring American Freedom’
And illegal to praise
the enemies of the United States
in the GWT – global war against terror
All of these provisions were enacted
under valid emergency provisions
and were enacted to preserve
and protect the freedom of Americans
to be free from such seditious trash
no one should be allowed
to publish such material
it is anti-American
to the core
the prosecutor announces
they will prove
I am guilty of all of these crimes
My private journals
my blog musings
my face book postings
as are my dream journals
And after hours of entering
this into the records
the prosecutor rest
Saying I am the most dangerous man
In America
My defense attorney quotes
hundreds of years of supreme court
and other legal precedents
Saying that writers can publish
whatever they want to publish
with a few exceptions.
The national security exceptions
do not apply because
I did not reveal classified information
and because it was clear
that my publications were intended
as either satire or dark political humor
or horror stories and poems.
If you read or saw sites online
my work was actually pretty tame
What was at stake
was whether Americans
had a right to mock their leaders
whether we had a right to express our opinion
and whether we had any freedom left.
It used to be that one
had a certain expectation of privacy
when writing in one’s personal journals
or diaries
If I am found guilty
then no American
will ever be free to think,
or write or express anything
other than the official party line
and America will become
Just another right wing
authoritarian fascist state.
The judge rules that those issues
are irrelevant.
All that is relevant is
did I knowingly write material
that violates the current law?
My defense attorney
noted that everything
I wrote was legal
under prevailing laws
at the time I wrote them
Since my arrest
under the new law
I have not been allowed
near a computer
nor allowed to write in a journal,
nor allowed reading material
other than a bible
and I am not a Christian.
I have been kept in solidarity confinement
for demanding what until
now was allowed to prisoners
in pre-trial confinement,
access to the internet,
phone calls
visits from friends and family
and exercise
All denied
and in fact
for the first four months of detention
I was lost in the system
My wife and family members
never told
Where I was
I was disappeared
No record was made
Where I was
I was a cypher
a ghost in the machine
i did not exist
In fact,
when my wife
hired a lawyer
And demanded to know where I was
The government’s position was
that was classified
And she had no need to know
And I have been tortured
during interrogations
where lawyers were not permitted
despite my asking for them
The prosecutor objected
saying that everything was done
under the provisions
of the Protect American Freedom Act
enacted while the Congress
was suspended
due to the national emergency
And the Protect American Freedom Act provisions
explicitly state that the act
and its implementation are beyond judicial review
I ask the court
to let me speak
I make an impassioned plea
to let me and my fellow bloggers go
and to rule that the Protect American Freedom Act
is unconstitutional
and while Congress has been illegally suspended
the constitution is still the law of the land
and the Supreme Court has not been outlawed yet.
All the actions of the government
Including suspending the congress
Ruling by emergency decree
are illegal and against the constitution
The Preserve American Freedom Act
Which is a mockery of the constitution
And bill of rights
All Are the hallmarks
of a fascist dictatorship
The type of government
That we fought world war 11 against
And just for the record
Thank you so much for calling me
The most dangerous man in America
That will be the title
of my next book
I guarantee that someday soon
I will write it
I turn to the Prosecutor
and said
Sir I think
our dear leader
made a mistake on that
Might want to arrest the Supreme Court,
and all the other judges as well
And declare that the Constitution
has been suspended for good
as it is no longer relevant
and our dear leader
is the greatest
most intelligent leader
we have ever had
I apologize for my writing
If it offended his sensitivities
So be it
And calling him a fascist
It used to be that stating
a factual statement
Was a legal defense
Look it up
He is a fascist dictator
It is not just me saying that
And while you are it
if you can find the time
after you finish kissing the president’s ass
that is
You should tell the dear leader
to not stop there
He should declare
the Democratic party illegal
and arrest all democratic elected official
Why not?
Send them all to prison.
That’s what I advise the Dear leader to do
The Judge laughs
and the Prosecutor fumes
The jury rules
unanimously that I am not guilty.
The judge asks
for an emergency supreme court review
of the constitutional provisions we cite
I am ordered released from prison
The next day
I am rearrested on new charges pending the appeal.
The Supreme Court rules in my favor
and I am ordered free again
I return home a hero
As the constitution has been restored
And the President removed from office
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)
open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates December 27,2019. I send an earlier letter to Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden on similar themes.
Will update if anyone responds. Follows an earlier letter to Donald Trump but his campaign has not answered the call as of today.
In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.
Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.
Dear Democratic Candidates:
I am writing to all of you and to President Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.
It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heel the divisions.My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.
the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between age 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.
Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries. the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service. People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.
Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service
Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine. Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service. This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years. And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.
After finishing basis service, those who wish to make a career of it could compete to become an NCO or an officer, and resume service after finishing college. And/or compete to enter government service for the Federal government or state and local government as well.
All Must Serve
And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike. We are all in this together. We have lost sight of that. The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes. If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way. This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.
I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster. Sell this as a real border security that will get the job done.
Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic and Intelligence Services and law Enforcement
I would also call for two new national service academies to be set up. One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement. These academies like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy, would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person
National Service Will Bring US together as one nation
I believe that this proposal could be enacted with wide spread bipartisan support.It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussion g it with yours staff.
bio follows
Jake Cosmos Aller is a blogger, writer and poet living in South Korea.he retired from serving 27 years in the Foreign Service working in ten countries doing a wide variety of positions including consular positions, economic and commercial positions and political positions.he speaks Korean, Spanish and Thai.He grew up in Berkeley, California.He graduated from UOP in Stockton, California and the University of Washington where he obtained a MA in Korean studies and a MPA degree.his work has been published in 45 literary journals.His web page is https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com
Dear President Trump
Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.
It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heel the divisions.My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.
the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between age 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.
Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries. the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service. People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment. Those who complete six years will get six years’ worth of tuition.
Also talk about how this would allow college to be truly affordable for all, and would eliminate crippling college debts. Students will gain solid work experience in service, travel, and training. the training could be transferred into college credit making college shorter perhaps three years instead of four for most people.
All Must Serve
And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike. We are all in this together. We have lost sight of that. The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes. If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way. This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.
I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster. Sell this as a real border security that will get the job done.
Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic and Intelligence Services and law Enforcement
I would also call for two new national service academies to be set up. One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement. These academies like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy, would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement personnel.
Benefits of National Service
The service requirement would be managed by the corporation for public service which would also manage the Peace Corps, VISTA programs and teach for America which would all qualify as qualified national service.
Regarding the Peace corps, and the other volunteer service opportunities, set it up that people would do their college service, then do the peace corps afterwards. they would receive college tuition etc while attending college.
Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine. Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service. This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years. And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.
After finishing basis service, those who wish to make a career of it could compete to become an NCO or an officer, and resume service after finishing college. And/or compete to enter government service for the Federal government or state and local government as well.
National Service Will Bring Us Together as a Nation
I believe that this proposal could be enacted with wide spread bipartisan support.It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussion g it with yours staff
Sincerely
Jake Cosmos Aller
bio follows
jake Cosmos Aller is a blogger, writer and poet living in South Korea.he retired from serving 27 years in the Foreign Service working in ten countries doing a wide variety of positions including consular positions, economic and commercial positions and political positions.he speaks Korean, Spanish and Thai.He grew up in Berkeley, California.He graduated from UOP in Stockton, California and the University of Washington where he obtained a MA in Korean studies and a MPA degree.his work has been published in 45 literary journals.His web page is https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com
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)
Recent Publication Credits
I continue to be published. 45 Magazine, Tiger Shark and I Universe (In India) have published some of my poetry.
My poem, Strong Wine has been published in 45 magazine!
One night I was starring
In my wine glass
Deep in thought
When I saw
Something in my wine
That haunts me still
I saw in the bottom of the glass
Evil dooers abandon evil
And became saints
I saw rich men give up
Their awesome greed
And poor people
Awarded dignity
And all men
Became brothers
All women
Became sisters
And war ended once and for all
And peace broke out
And hatred disappear
And I stared
Into my glass wine
I drink the wine
Hoping the vision
Would infect me
And change the world
But alas the world
Remained the same
The evil doers came back
The rich continued to conspire
And the poor still remained poor
And the war continued on and on
So I drank my wine
And went to sleep
Written by Jake Cosmos Aller – Incheon, South Korea
Tiger Shark Published my poem, A Poet’s Trial based on a recent nightmare
I find myself in a trial
Accused of harboring anti-state opinions
Of writing scurrilous seditious treasonous ‘poems’
Of encouraging disrespect for religious sensitivity
Of mocking God, Christianity and Christian values
The lead prosecutor in the case
Has decided to make me the poster boy
Thousands more have been arrested
Blogs have been taken over
Under the Protect American Freedom Act
Enacted by executive order
After Congress was suspended
The law the prosecutor reminds us
Is pretty clear
It is illegal to publish
Or to say in public
Obscene, seditious, anti-state
anti-American, anti-Christian
material of any type
Illegal to mock political
and business leaders,
And church leaders
Illegal to question
the motives of those in power
Illegal to print
publish classified material
Illegal to access such materials
online Or in print
The internet has been cleaned up
Access to such sites banned
And most of my work
has been banned
As well as the work
of all the other bloggers
Arrested during
‘Operation Restoring American Freedom’
And illegal to praise
the enemies of the United States
in the GWT – global war against terror
All of these provisions were enacted
under valid emergency provisions
and were enacted to preserve
and protect the freedom of Americans
to be free from such seditious trash
no one should be allowed
to publish such material
it is anti-American
to the core
the prosecutor announces
they will prove
I am guilty of all of these crimes
My private journals
my blog musings
my face book postings
as are my dream journals
And after hours of entering
this into the records
the prosecutor rest
Saying I am the most dangerous man
In America
My defense attorney quotes
hundreds of years of supreme court
and other legal precedents
Saying that writers can publish
whatever they want to publish
with a few exceptions.
The national security exceptions
do not apply because
I did not reveal classified information
and because it was clear
that my publications were intended
as either satire or dark political humor
or horror stories and poems.
If you read or saw sites online
my work was actually pretty tame
What was at stake
was whether Americans
had a right to mock their leaders
whether we had a right to express our opinion
and whether we had any freedom left.
It used to be that one
had a certain expectation of privacy
when writing in one’s personal journals
or diaries
If I am found guilty
then no American
will ever be free to think,
or write or express anything
other than the official party line
and America will become
Just another right wing
authoritarian fascist state.
The judge rules that those issues
are irrelevant.
All that is relevant is
did I knowingly write material
that violates the current law?
My defense attorney
noted that everything
I wrote was legal
under prevailing laws
at the time I wrote them
Since my arrest
under the new law
I have not been allowed
near a computer
nor allowed to write in a journal,
nor allowed reading material
other than a bible
and I am not a Christian.
I have been kept in solidarity confinement
for demanding what until
now was allowed to prisoners
in pre-trial confinement,
access to the internet,
phone calls
visits from friends and family
and exercise
All denied
and in fact
for the first four months of detention
I was lost in the system
My wife and family members
never told
Where I was
I was disappeared
No record was made
Where I was
I was a cypher
a ghost in the machine
i did not exist
In fact,
when my wife
hired a lawyer
And demanded to know where I was
The government’s position was
that was classified
And she had no need to know
And I have been tortured
during interrogations
where lawyers were not permitted
despite my asking for them
The prosecutor objected
saying that everything was done
under the provisions
of the Protect American Freedom Act
enacted while the Congress
was suspended
due to the national emergency
And the Protect American Freedom Act provisions
explicitly state that the act
and its implementation are beyond judicial review
I ask the court
to let me speak
I make an impassioned plea
to let me and my fellow bloggers go
and to rule that the Protect American Freedom Act
is unconstitutional
and while Congress has been illegally suspended
the constitution is still the law of the land
and the Supreme Court has not been outlawed yet.
All the actions of the government
Including suspending the congress
Ruling by emergency decree
are illegal and against the constitution
The Preserve American Freedom Act
Which is a mockery of the constitution
And bill of rights
All Are the hallmarks
of a fascist dictatorship
The type of government
That we fought world war 11 against
And just for the record
Thank you so much for calling me
The most dangerous man in America
That will be the title
of my next book
I guarantee that someday soon
I will write it
I turn to the Prosecutor
and said
Sir I think
our dear leader
made a mistake on that
Might want to arrest the Supreme Court,
and all the other judges as well
And declare that the Constitution
has been suspended for good
as it is no longer relevant
and our dear leader
is the greatest
most intelligent leader
we have ever had
I apologize for my writing
If it offended his sensitivities
So be it
And calling him a fascist
It used to be that stating
a factual statement
Was a legal defense
Look it up
He is a fascist dictator
It is not just me saying that
And while you are it
if you can find the time
after you finish kissing the president’s ass
that is
You should tell the dear leader
to not stop there
He should declare
the Democratic party illegal
and arrest all democratic elected official
Why not?
Send them all to prison.
That’s what I advise the Dear leader to do
The Judge laughs
and the Prosecutor fumes
The jury rules
unanimously that I am not guilty.
The judge asks
for an emergency supreme court review
of the constitutional provisions we cite
I am ordered released from prison
The next day
I am rearrested on new charges pending the appeal.
The Supreme Court rules in my favor
and I am ordered free again
I return home a hero
As the constitution has been restored
And the President removed from office
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)
I’ve joined a new poetry site, Commaful check it out.
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posted the following love poems there today
Index
The Story of How We Met *
Chains that Bind Us *
Where Do You and I Begin? *
Changes **
I Want You Right Now ***
The Story of How We Met
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the spring time of 1974
One fateful afternoon
I was dozing in my high school
Physics class.
I looked up and saw
A tall, beautiful Asian women
standing looking at me.
I screamed out,
Who are you?
She disappeared
like she was beamed away from my dream.
I knew that someday I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little did I know
I would have to wait until 1982
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month.
Always the same.
She was saying something
To me in a strange language.
Then one day I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea.
So I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
One day I was in a foul mood.
I had decided to give up on dating Korean women,
And on women in general
After having had several relationships
That did not go anywhere.
I was thinking of returning to the States
For Graduate school.
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was she!
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor,
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate of my base.
Where I was teaching ESL to Koreans
She said that she had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library for about an hour,
and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.
She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that there are other worlds
And other times.
In a past life we must have been together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over the barrier of past lives.
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 26 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 37 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
And meeting her
I had no choice
When I met her
We were fated to be together
Until the end of this lifetime
And the next and the next
Changes
I reflect upon my life
As the sun comes up
What could I have changed
What would I have changed
If I could go back in time
What would I tell my earlier self
What would I do differently
And what have I learned
The one thing
that I would not have changed
is meeting the women of my dreams
the chance meeting on a bus
that changed everything
in a momen
tI met my fate
That day on the bus
And that is the end of the story
I Want You Right Now
I still want you
More than anything else in life
I want you\I want you next to me
I want you every moment
Of every minute
Of every day
I need you in my life
I need your wisdom
I need your kindness
I need your beauty
I need your special wit
And I need your ability
To deal with this cruel world
I need you to save me
From the demons
That haunt my Soul
For you are my soul mate
The only person
Whoever completed me
And made life worth living
Chains That Bind Us
I realize that my love for you
Is like a chain of steel
Unbreakable,
Tough as nails
and yet as your love entangles me
I realize that I embrace my imprisonment
and don’t want to venture out of my cell
Made of our years together
bit by bit we have become entangled
Where I end and you begin
Hopelessly entangled
Even if I wanted to break free
I could not
For I am you and you are me
and my fate is in your hands
and so I relax
and decide to just
Enjoy the ride of my life
as we move towards the final moments
together as we have always been
Inseparable, merged into one being
Starting at each other
wondering who is that person
of eternal mystery
That has so captured my soul
and imprisoned it in her love
And I smile thinking of your love
and the endless pleasure it has brought me
and the endless pain I have endured
just to be next to you
and part of you
Until the day I die
and we meet in the next world
Where Do I and You Begin?
I woke up one day and realized
I no longer knew
where you and I began
and where you and I ended
we had become almost one
We talked in half sentences
Knowing what the other wanted
and knowing how it would end
We ate the same foods with some resistance
because I still crave an old-fashioned American meal
but still, we were becoming more and more the same
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)
Literary Yard has just published my Dog Poems. They earlier published my Cosmic Calendar poems. Here they are for your amusement. these are a companion piece for my cat poems.
January arrives cold as death warmed over
As I make my annual list of resolutions
Of the great things I would do
The lies I tell myself to keep me going
While recovering from the hangover of the year before
With regrets for the evitable passing of time itself
And snow bound cold nights of wild passion
As we delay death’s knocking on the door
February
February is a strange month
Cold, short and eventful
In the U.S. The political season heats up
As politicians rush about
Making their campaign lies
Full of promises of things to come
As we the 99 % huddle down inside
Watching the lies on TV
Outside Winter’s last dying breath
March
March roars in full of sound and furry
Signifying the future marching down upon us all
And March madness hits the sports world
And politicians meet to plot and scheme
As we bravely battle the cosmic elements
Waiting for the promised spring
Hay fever greets me
With the early spring flowers
April
April is indeed the cruelest month of all
So many important events occurred
Kim Il Sung’s Birthday, Hitler’s Birthday
And in the U.S. the dreaded tax man cometh
To take it all away as the flowers overwhelm
And Spring Fever takes hold
Driving us all mad
With strange erotic desires
May
May is in many ways
My second favorite month of all
The flowers are blooming bright
The mountains are aflame with desire
The summer heat is coming
The plans for the year are coming along
The political campaigns heat up
And good movies come out
Star wars arrived
Spider man and superman and batman
All came out to play
In late May
And baseball begins in earnest
And most importantly
My wife was born
June
June is always a month of transition
End of the school year
Summer transfer season
People leaving people coming
Hurricanes and Tornados attacking
And wars starting and people dying
As fire flies buzz about
And rabbits eat my garden
As the summer heat descends upon the land
I walk late at night
Recalling that Watergate
Occurred in June
July
July is the queen of the summer season
As she heats up the land
Throwing storm after summer storm
And politicians run away
After the July forth fireworks
Man landed on the moon
Richard Nixon Left the White House
And we all know that half the year
Has flown by
August
So much has happened
During the hottest most hellish of months
Despite the summer sauna that descends upon the land
Enervating all driving people mad with the heat
World War 1 started
World War 11 ended
Hiroshima ushered in the nuclear age
Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey
And tornado ally
All roar down upon the land
And I met the love of my life
Getting off a bus
One August evening
September
What can one say about September
Like June a month of transitions
And one is filled with ambition
Wanting to finish up what one started
Before the fall arrives
And Winter is hinting it is coming
School starts
New jobs start
New people come into one’s life
And like August’s hangover
Big earth shattering events happen
The fall of the stock market
The housing bubble bursting
The endless budget games
As the politicians argue
Whether to bankrupt the country
To make a political point or two
And 9-11 terrorizing the world
All September’s gifts to the land
October
October is my favorite month of all
The leaves turn
The weather is usually delightful
Just a tease of the coming winter
Fall ball season underway
Baseball games and Halloween madness
ends the month with a huge bang
And I celebrate my legal birth on the 29th
Also, the day I legally got married
And on the October 30 1955
I was born
And Rock n Roll was born as well
Coincidence I think not
November
November is one of the strange months
Begins like a hangover of October
Then it turns ugly and weird
Political fever hits the land
Every two years
As the people brave the early November chill
To decide what fools they will send to DC
The politicians lie and scheme and plot
And beg and lie again
And the world turns
And the new leaders emerge
Welcome the new Bosses
Same as the old bosses
Just new packaging
And Donald Trump storms the barricades
Threatening the establishment’s strangle hold
On America and the world
Yes, November is a strange month
December
Perhaps the loneliness month of all
The most consequential of all the months
And yet also the most depressing end of time
Kind of month
If the apocalypse zombie or otherwise
Were to occur
It would be in December
That is the sort of insane month it is
The end of the year
As darkness settles down on the land
And holiday parties abound
Full of false cheer
And faked love
And for those who don’t celebrate Christmas
A lonely day perhaps at the movies
A few awkward calls to the relatives
Then New Years
Watching the world end
Drinking up a storm
And knowing that the year ended
And you are one step closer to the grave
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)
I am competing for the third time in the November NaNoWrMo novel writing contest. This year I am writing a SF romance novel called Timeless love based loosely on my own true love story. See my dream girl poems and stories for details.
I will post an entry every day for a month during November. the goal is to reach 50,000 words by the end of the Month.
Sam Adams was turning 75.He was also celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary.Preparation for the anniversary, he recorded a video how is life together with his wife Maria Lee.Their love story was unique and would make a great movie Sam thought.The video would be I draft of their life story so to speak, any help that he could turn into movie.
He called together his niece, and his lawyer, and told them he prepared the video his life story, and wanted it to be played both at the wedding anniversary and at the funeral before he felt his time was coming to an end. He also revised his will, and wanted his life story to be written into a movie after he died. He discussed the pending changes to his will and his wishes for the funeral.He told them both that he felt that they needed to be ready to plan the funeral. That night he died peacefully.the video was played at the funeral.
“Hello my name is Sam Adams, and if you are viewing this, I am no longer here among the living and that is okay. I’ve had a long and eventful life. The central mystery of my life his how I met the love of my life, Maria Lee.As some of you know, I literally married the girl of my dreams. But what you may not know is that Maria and I have been soul mates for over 5,000 years and up until this life, our love story always ended up badly as we were from different social classes. She was the daughter of the king orrich family and I was the son of a working class family.Our love was forbidden by the rules of the time.
twenty years ago to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, we went to a past life analyst and through hypnosis relieved our past lives.we recorded our recollections which I wrote down at the time and posted on my blog, the world according to cosmos. Some of you may have seen it.”
The Dream Begins
It all began ten of thousands of years ago at the dawn of time when Sam first met his soul mate, Maria.they were originally from the planet Sirius and met in the world between worlds before each reincarnation.Their love was cursed from the beginning as they were born under a dark star, doomed to be executed time after time for their forbidden love affairs.Until finally in 1982 the curse was lifted and they had a long and happy life together.This is their true love story of timeless love that crossed the barriers of time, space, distance and different species and races.
They met in the timeless spaceless world known as the world between worlds where portals wormholes linked various worlds together.Sam and Maria had been sentenced to a time in purgatory waiting final status determination – heaven or hell?the word came down they would be given another chance to get it right and found themselves wandering the deep forrest they came to a path lined with gate ways to their past and future lives.first stop Atlantis, last stop was Berkeley, in 1974.that’s when the dreams that haunted Sam’s life began.after jumping in and out of various lives they came to the end of the portals and saw Berkeley, “last stop” andthey jumped into Berkeley and started living the dream world.
The dreams started when Sam was a senior at Berkeley high school in 1974, around Maria’s birthday in late May, perhaps. About a month before Sam graduated, he fell asleep in a physics class after lunch and had the first dream:
A beautiful Asian woman was standing next to him talking in a strange language.She was stunning – the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.She was in her early twenties, with long black hair, and piercing black eyes. She had the look of royalty.She looked at me and then disappeared, beamed out of his dream like in “Star Trek.”He fell out of my chair screaming, “Who are you?”She did not answer.
Later that day Sam told his best friend, Robert Sicular who was in the class with him about the dream.He also told them that he knew that he would meet her some day and that was the women he was destined to marry.
Robert said,
“Man that is crazy shit, dude. You had best quit smoking weed before class man. You be high. have any of that shit?
nah smoked it all up. But dude the dream is real.
sure.
Sam told Robert’s parents, Bob and Ruth about the dream. Bob and Ruth were very closed to Sam. Sam hung out at their house a lot to escape his parents as he had grown up in a very dysfunctional family.
Bob said,
Well that is the craziest love story I have ever heard so it must be true.
Ruth said
Follow your dreams. You will met her someday but you may have to go to Asia to find her. Where do you think she is?
Maybe Japan, maybe Korea, maybe Mongolia not China because whatever she is speaking is not Chinese
One day Sam was late forhis summer job working in the parks department. He had the dream again about 6 am and it woke him up.Same thing occurs.She is standing there talking to him and she has love in her eyes for him.She reaches out to touch him and then disappears.He felt electricity flowing from her as she touched him. Sam got up and accidentally breaks the mirror in the bathroom.Samtells his mother who said that he will have seven years of bad luck as a result of breaking a mirror and later Sam thought that he had endured seven years of failed relationships and missed romantic opportunities because fate was conspiring to prevent him from getting seriously involved with anyone else because the universe was saving him for his one true soul mate.
A few days later, Sam is hanging out with my friends Mattand Mark playing pool at my house downstairs in the basement.I tell them that I had the dream again.
Matt says,
“ Dude! that is just too creepy to believe. You should not be telling people that shit, they might think that you are some sort of nutter.I mean we know you are nuts but in a good way and we love ya for it bro, but others well they might think you are certifiable.”
Mark looked at me and said,
“yeah dude, that is crazy shit, I mean shit like that ain’t real you know what I mean?”
“Matt, I swear to god it is too. I had the dream again. And I know I am going to meet her and marry her someday.”
Right on dude. Party one. We believe you. ”
About a month went by and then Sam started having the dream as he called it, repeatedly.Always the same pattern – early morning, she would stand next to me talking, I would ask whom she was, and she would disappear.She was the most beautiful, alluring women he had ever seen and he was struck speechless every time I had the dream.
After a year – Sam’s lost year – where he drank too much, smoked too much weed and flunked out of Oberlin Music college, Sam had finally started his third college, UOP, third college in a row and he is determined to get serious and get his degree after his lost first year.
One day shortly after arriving at UOP he has the dream again.
That night he is smoking weed and drinking with his friend Roy, and Emma and several others.He recounts the recurring dream and again says he knows he is going to meet her and marry her. They all express a degree of polite skepticism.
Roy says, “Dude that shit don’t happen in real life. Get real.”
Emma says, “don’t waste your time looking for her.Either you will find her or someone
else and I am sure you will find the right women someday.”
One day in late May, about a week before I graduated I had been accepted into the Peace Corps.I had a deadline to respond whether I would accept the proposed assignment and I had a choice going to Korea as a TB control worker in August or to Thailand as an ESL teacher in a rural school in October.I was leaning towards Korea.I had taken Japanese and Chinese history classes in college and I was fascinated with the region and I was curious about Korea. And besides I was ready to get going.
On May 18, 1979 at 5:30 I had a slightly different dream.In the dream, she told me when I asked where she was, “Seoul, Korea.” And smiled at me. And disappeared.
I told my housemates, Sara, Sharon, Roy and Kevin about the dream.They all knew that I had been having this recurring dream over the years.Sara said,
“Well seems like you need to go to Korea to meet her.I believe you and believe that you are fated to meet her.”
“Well perhaps so but we will still get married at age 50.”
That was a standard joke between us.We both felt that we were best friends but she did not want to have a romantic relationship with me but I did.We had been living together for almost three years at this point and in a few weeks we would all be moving on as we were moving out at the end of the month.Sara, Kevin and I were all graduating.Sharon and Roy had another year to go.Sharon never came back after being raped in her apartment after she moved out.Roy dropped out of college as his parents could not afford the tuition any more.
Chapter Three Searching for the Dream Girl in Korea
In August 1979,I arrived in Korea. I looks around and sees thousands of women who look like the girl in the dream, but none of them are her.I know I am going to meet her. I started having that dream on a monthly basis.Usually near the end of the month and almost always first thing in the morning.The dream was always the same.She would repeat the word Aka which I later learned was the Korean word for baby and became her pet name for me once we met.The rest of the conversation I could not understand at all.
I was always struck speechless and could only mutter the words,
“Who are you? Where are you?When will we meet?”
She would smile at me, with love in her eyes and then beam away.
The dream complicated my love life.I was awkward around women, as I was a bit of nerd and lacked social graces.I also was an intense person and that might have scared people from getting involved with me.I was kind of like the character in the movie, “40 Year Old Virgin”.
Because of the dream, I could not see myself getting involved with anyone else because I knew I was fated to be with her someday.I had a number of girlfriends, but no lovers until my last year in college.
After the Peace Corps I taught ESL to Koreans who were serving in the US army to fulfill their mandatory military duty (KATUSAS).I also taught BSEP )basic skills to military people.In those days the military was taking in high school drop outs and many of the enlisted people had sub-par reading and math skills.My job was to get them to read and do math at the 8th grade level.
One winter while I was in the Peace Corps I went to Taiwan on a personal visit.I met a famous fortuneteller who made three predictions – I would marry an Asian women, I would marry when I was 27 and I would become a diplomat.All three predictions turned out to be true.
After the Peace Corps I took a job in Korea and decided that I would give it one more year. If I did not meet her by then I would return to Seattle to go to Graduate school at the University of Washington in Korean studies.I was teaching English and basic skills for enlisted personnel at various US army bases in South Korea.I moved about the entire country. Sam was lonely, dissatisfied, and .felt that he was wasting his time.I kept having the dream though.
I was also drinking too much and hanging out at bars.I liked to go to the bars and chat up the waitresses and practice my Korean.They were amused by that and I learned a lot of “street Korean” from them and once amonth or so I would take one of them to her room and have sex.
One day I was starting to work for a new contractor, Central Texas College.My previous contractor has lost the contract and I was unemployed for a month and broke as hell.I had about 100 dollars in the bank.I was teaching ESL on the side here and there and making some extra money which went for booze and women so I was always broke.
one day I had to tell my employer that I was quitting and returning to the States to go to graduate school. that morning I had the final dream.
She came to me again, but this time, I understood her Korean.She said, “Don’t worry, we will be together soon and once we are together we will together forever. I have been waiting since our last life together. And now I found you.”
“걱정하지 마십시오. 우리는 곧 함께있을 것이며 우리가 함께 있으면 영원히 함께 할 것입니다. 나는 마지막 생애 이후로 기다리고 있습니다. 그리고 지금 당신을 찾았습니다.”
Chapter Four She walks out of the dreams, off the bus and into my Life
That night, I got off the bus in front ofCamp Red Cloud where I was teaching.Getting off the bus in front of me was the girl in the dream!I was struck speechless which was an unusual experience for me as I was usually a talkative, extroverted sort of person.
She went into the base with a fellow teacher that I knew.I bumped into them after his class and introduced myself.She gave me her phone number and we arranged to meet over the weekend.I gave her a lame excuse that he wanted to meet someone to practice his Korean and he could help her with her English. She spoke English pretty good as she was an English Education major at Sungsil Woman’s university and was a senior.She was 23 years old and I was 27 years old. I was born in the year of the goat and she was born in the year of the pig. According to fortune tellers we had a perfect astrological chart and were soul mates.In any event it was love at first sight for both of us,or as Koreans say
처음에 사랑
cheoeum-e salang
On Wednesday August 26,1982 I got on a military bus on Camp Casey near where I lived in Tongduchon in a rented room.I was living very basically those days out of a suite case in a rented room as my employer kept sending me all over the country. I must have moved at least ten times that year.
I was talking with a fellow BSEP teacher about graduate school.We were both quiting soon to go back to the States for graduate school.I was going to study Korean studies at the University of Washington, and Mark was going to study Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma on base.He had started studying at Yongsan and was transferring to the main campus so he could study full time.He highly recommend that I study for a MPA degree as he knew that I was waiting to pass the foreign service test.
I got off the bus and the girl in the dream walked off the bus, out of my dreams and into my life.It was the moment I was waiting for all my life. I had been dreaming of that moment for six and one half years.And here she was.
I was struck speechless.I stared at her and she stared at me.And there was an instant connection, love at first sight for both of us.She was with another fellow teacher, Jim.Jim introduced us.They were going to see a movie and I told them I would meet them at thecafeteria at 8:30.
The class went by in a blur.I was still stunned that I had met her.I came up with a lame excuse that I wanted an language partner and she could help me with my Korean and I could help her with her English.
We met up.I had a cup of coffee and a burger.She had a burger too.Jeff excused himself and said it was nice meeting her. And left us.
We talked about her life and my life.Then I proposed that we meet up on Friday morning for a hike and further talks.I was off on Friday.
I told her that I was teaching MTWTH nights only and would be teaching some day time classes the following month but for now my days were pretty wide open until 5 pm when I had to leave for my evening classes.
She agreed to meet me on Friday at 9 am for breakfast and then we would go for a hike in a mountain park near by that I had not been to and neither had she.
That night I called my friend Robert and told him that I had met the girl in the dream.He was stunned.I told him that I knew it was her.
The next day I wrote to the University of Washington and asked for a one year deferral of admission as something had come up that required me to stay in Korea for one more year.
The next night she was waiting for me at the army base where I was to teach a class.She told me that she had to see me as she had something to tell me.I signed her on to the base and left her at the library to study.She was a college senior she told me.We went out for coffee after class.She told me she was madly in love with me and that I was the man for her.I told her not to worry as I felt the same.
I wrote my parents telling them that I was postponing graduate school for one more year.And had informed the University.
Chapter Five Whirlwind Romance
That night, Thursday August 27th was the second happiest day of my life.
She was waiting for me at the gate. She said that she had to talk to me.I told her I would sign her on the base and meet her at the library about 8 pm.She could study for an hour or so.
I dismissed my class early about 8 pm.I went to the library and found her there.I looked at her and she looked at me and smiled at me.
We went downtown to a classical music coffee shop.They were very popular in those days.They offered good coffee and classical music per request.I requested some Bach.And we drank two cups of coffee.
She told me that she was madly in love with me.She told me that she knew I was the man for her and she had to be with me.
I told her that I felt the same way.
We talked further about her life and my life so far.Her English was far better than my Korean so we mostly talked in English.She was a senior at Sungmyeong Woman’s University majoring in English Education.But she wanted to work for a corporation rather than become a high school English teacher. She was also going to start a graduate degree at Seoul University working on a MBA degree in a new program that was taught in English.
I told her that I had been accepted to go to the University of Washington for a MA degree in Korea studies but would start that in about a year.I would be teaching for CTC for a few months but wanted to find another teaching job somewhere in Korea as I was tired of teaching on base and the pay was not very good.
I told her that perhaps she could come to Seattle with me and study there.She looked at me and said that she would love that.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday we meet each day and went forlong walk in the mountains near the base and had breakfast, and dinner together.She made me kimpop (Korean sushi rolls) every day.
On Sunday night in the same coffee shop, I proposed to her.Or she proposed to me.Or we did it together.In any event we agreed that we would do the formal paperwork through the embassy on Friday October 29th, 1982.
We started meeting almost every day for the next month.Usually late in the day before my evening classes and all day Saturday and Sunday.We did a lot of walking about here and there and talked endlessly as we both found the other to be fascinating.
We were extremely different in our opinions.Opposites attract they say and boy did they. She was a bit radical in her thinking, later became very conservative politically.I was moderately progressive and still am.
I called up my best friend, Robert and Matt and told them that I had met the girl in the dream and was going to marry her.They were concerned that I was meeting a con artist because they could not believe that the dream could be true. Later when they met Maria they believed in the miracle of the dream.
That weekend we met Saturday and Sunday and hung out all day.On Sunday, we went for a hike in the woods.I proposed to her that night three days after we had met, but for me it felt that we had met 8 years ago, I had been waiting all my life for her to walk out of my dreams, and into my life and here, she was.
We had a delightful long walk in the woods and even saw a woodpecker.She told me that seeing the bird was supposed to be good luck.
We married two months later after a Buddhist priest told her Mother that our astrological match was a perfect fit.Her mother did not want her to marry a foreigner.One day about a month after we had met, she invited me to meet her parents, but she did not tell them I was a foreigner.I brought a bottle of Jack Daniels for my Father-in-Law and Uncle in law and drank the entire bottle with him. He approved of me but my Mother-in-Law still had reservations. After the Buddhist Priests told her it was a perfect astrological combination, she agreed and we planned on getting married.as she put it, “who am I to go against the will of heaven?”
We got married one month after I met her.
A few weeks after we were legally married, her parents allowed me to start spending the night with Maria pending our moving to the Korean Army School where I would hold our formal marriage.As part of the job, we received an apartment on base.We would be the first international couple to get married at the Korean army school.
Our first night together we jumped the gun and made sweat passionate love.It was her first time and well I do not know how many it was for me but it was the best I ever could have had because it was with the love of my life.
And so we began our sex life.
It quickly became apparent that we had a difference in our basic approach to sex.I was highly sexed and she was not.My biggest problem was that I had a hard time talking about sex with her and so did she.It took years before we were finally able to begin to talk about sex – what we wanted, what we liked and what we did not like.And even more years before we finally started having the sex that both of us needed and wanted.This is still a work in progress, but sex is getting better and better as is our communication about sex.
Chapter Six Her Mother’s Opposition
Her mother was mad that we had jumped the gun but I was not.I needed her and she needed me and that was that.
A number of years ago, Maria and I had a frank talk about her Mother just before she passed on from this life.Maria had a difficult relationship with her Mother as many daughters had. The following story shocked my wife.She recalled her growing up with her mother who told her many times that she should have killed her when she was a baby. Her mother hated her from birth. She said that Maria was a crying baby and she could not get any sleep for the first two years of her birth as Maria was always crying.She said that Maria was so ugly a child that she was ashamed to be seen with her.She told her to never call her Mom in public and Maria often hid in her room when people came over because she felt that she was indeed ugly.When she was in junior high school, she went to a class trip to the Dongdaemoon ice skating ring dressed in pants etc. Her classmates told her that she was a pretty girl, and during college she dated a medical student.Her mother continued to say that she was ugly to her face.She said that she thought that her boy friend was deluded and she was ugly.She also told her that I was ugly, but my brother Roger was handsome.
She did not understand why Maria liked me.It was love at first sight for both of us and her Mother never experienced love in her life.She was extremely jealous of the love between Maria and I from the first time we met.She had a typical arranged marriage complicated by the war that separated her from her family and she was the youngest of 11 children.Her husband also was a North Korean refugee and was the fifth child.Neither her father nor mother had ever seen their relatives since the war except for her husband’s father who made it to the South and her husband’s older brother who had also made it to the South.In any event, her mother blamed Maria for her father-in-law’s abusive behavior towards her after she was born.Her father-in-law was angry that she had given birth to a girl and not a second son. And he was annoyed that Maria was a crying baby. and in those days of male preference for children, sometimes parents killed off their daughters secretly and no one made an issue since child deaths were so common in the chaos right after the war.
Her mother hated her from birth, thought that she was an ugly cry baby, stubborn, and selfish.And mean. She did not want to spend money on her going to college. And of course she hated her for marrying me and not marrying the medical student that she had “selected” for Maria.She thought Maria was making a huge mistake marrying a foreigner..And later she blamed Maria later for costing her money by “forcing her to sell the Sooyori property where Maria and grown up and some other property. Her parents like a lot of Korean families of her social class had a number of rental properties and lived off their rental income as well as her Father’s business.He ran a makalli factory (traditional Korea rice wine) , had a bus company, and owned a couple of hotels.He was moderately wealthy by Korean standards but certainly not of the elite. Although his family was part of the famous Kyongju Lee clan – distant relatives of the last Kings of Korea.In fact, in the entire history of the Kyongju Lee clan, only two members of the clan and ever married a foreigner, the first President of Korea, Shgymun Rhee who married an Austrian woman and Maria who married me.
Maria’s mother was always complaining that she did not treat her brothers or her with love and devotion, instead spending all of her love on me. She was jealous of our love. And she resented Maria for becoming successful as an adult while her sons had turned out to be failures.
When we came back to Korea to help her deal with cancer, she hated us being here. She did not want us to return to Korea permanently, thought we should stay in the U.S. and visit once a year at most for a few weeks.She thought that Maria was plotting to take over property that did not belong to her, and hated her for demanding her fair share of the family properties.Finally she resented the fact that she needed her help in going to doctors etc.
A very complicated family story. I always thought that this would make a very good novel, or movie or K Drama.Food for a short story or two about Korean family dynamics.Our story would make a great K Drama complete with a villainous mother figure, who hated her ugly daughter from birth because she was a ugly crying baby.Andthe mother continues to hate her rebellious daughter who marries a foreigner and despises her mother.And became the first Korean born female to become an US Army office to be stationed in Korea.And her son in law becomes a diplomat.
We had grown up in very different circumstances, countries and cultures.We had very different personalities and both were strong willed, opinionated, and stubborn and proud.Neither of took criticism well, and both tended to view the world in very personal terms.
And boy did we have different personalities. I was outgoing, the life of the party, optimistic, happy go lucky, unrealistic, a big dreamer, a big story teller, but I lacked discipline and tended to start projects but have a hard time finishing them and I wanted so much to be liked that I forgave people too easily and he was too nice to the point that people took advantage of me.
They say that opposites attract but it is hard to live with people who are so different.I often thought that if we had taken one of these on=line compatibility tests we would fail the tests, but there was no mistaking the deep love, the powerful connection and the fact that we both knew from the moment we saw each other (Sam in his dream, and Maria getting off the bus) that they we fated to meet, marry and be together.We were in fact soul mates.
Over the years whenever things were difficult between us as they always can be with married couples, I would think back to the dream and then he would fall in love with her again and again and again.and when we were apart, I would have the dream, she was there looking at me with love flashing in her eyes – just staring at me and telling me how much she loved me.
Chapter Seven my dysfunctional family history
Although her mother reluctantly accepted me as her son-in-law. And her father’s separately. My family accepted her into our dysfunctional family. My family’s history is long and entangled and I recall it here to set the record straight.I coined the DNA and family lore, I had 18 different nationalities and my family’s history.
On father’s side of the family, my ancestry is from Germany (German last name) Norway, Sweden, Finland ,Denmark, Holland, France, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, Lapland and Scotland,I’m also part Jewish. And according going to the DNA, I must be part Mongolian sinceeveryone from Eastern Europe is part Mongolian..My father who up in Yakima. And was the son of a Apple Farmer.here gotten a PhD from Harvard, Mrs. and had served as undersecretary of labor for Johnson and Kennedy before returning to the bay area playtime for almost 40 years at San Francisco State University.He was also a part-time politician, ran for congress against Ron Dellums and got his proverbial ass whooped.
On my mother side of family, I am Scottish, Scott,Irish, English, French, Dutch, and Cherokee.According to the DNA, I’m also part Nigerian.The DNA test missed my German ancestry, despite my German name, and missed my Cherokee ancestry.Going to family lore, my mother’s parents bold Cherokee, so they must’ve been at least half Cherokee. They were part of the loss Drive of the Cherokee Indians the disappeared around 1830 and would never registered as members of the Cherokee tribe, living on in the Ozark mountains and hills of Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas,truly hillbillys as they used to call them. She was I’m union activist and later a real estate agent and help my father run his various side businesses.
They had a love-hate relationship, and I grew up in a very dysfunctional family.My older brother became an arch conservative as did my younger brother.They both married Asian women, my older brother married his wife one month after he met her.She was from the Philippines, and they had three daughters.My younger brother married a Chinese American women and had one son and two daughters.My sister who died of a mysterious illness at age 50, had two daughters and one son. I am blessed to have many nieces nephews and and nieces and grand nephews.
Sam’s wife had an older brother and younger brother therefore Sam had have nieces and nephews anything grand nieces and nephews on both sides of his family.All in all a very tangled interesting family story..
Chapter Eight The Wedding of a Thousand Guests
Then we had our wedding.It was a huge celebrity wedding and I had no clue.It was a first in many respects.In Maria’s family, she was only the second Chung Ju Lee clan member (the ancient royal clan) to have ever married a foreigner.The first was Symgun Rhee, the First President of Modern Korea, and the second was my dear wife, Chong Oak Lee (later known as Maria Lee).
My father came for the wedding and the Koreans interviewed him on nationwide TV as he was a former Under Secretary of Labor and apparently was the highest ranking foreign father in law in Korean history.It made all the papers.
And finally we were the first foreign-Korean couple to get married at a Korean Army base.I was newly employed at the Hangjong Hak Kyo, the Korean Army Administration school.
So our marriage had a cast of 1,000 people.My father in law said he had never met most of his clans men and everyone wanted to come to the wedding.
I was totally unaware of this until many years later.My Korean was still not up to par and furthermore my wife did not want to alarm me or get me nervous.She was nervous herself.But she was determined that I was her man and we would be married.
It said a lot about our marriage.I wanted her to be happy and so went along with her desires but boy what a media circus it all was.
Chapter Eight early marriage life
after the marriage of 1000 guests, Marie and I when I many honeymoon something in the middle of January.I learned the area was cold-blooded and cannot handle cold weather and I had to warm herup every night as I had a excess ofKi life energyas the Koreans put it and that became one of the many things that brought us together
We went back to the grand rock Army administration school we are talked for a year.Maria got a job teaching Korean to US army officers for the University of Maryland and she also started attending theSeoul University graduate school MBA program.
And we both were preparing to go to the University of Washington for graduate school.Maria told me one day she would like to join the US Army as an officer once she finished a graduate degree and became a US citizen. I thought that was amusing but little did I know that she would make it happen.
Maria turned out to be very determined, capable and a very ambitious woman. I on the other hand was much more laid-back, more content to just go with my life handed me without too much talk about the future.
Although our personalities are very different, Henry had different opinions about
everything somehow it was beginning to work, I’m every day I woke up and fell in love with her again. Perhaps that is the secret of being married 75 years for some reason we fall in love with each other every day.
Early on in our marriage we discovered that when we hadlook each other and laugh and the magic would come back.To this day almost 75 years later change remains as I published in poem a long time ago the best friend in the universe.
After year of teaching, it was time to prepare to go back to the states. I took a six-month job back with my old and play on the baseteaching basic skills and English and for some reason the College thought I was qualified to teach business 101 Basic business skills.She continued teaching Korean and taking classes at Seoul National University and taking the TOPEC test.
I had gotten in to the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies where I would do a MPA in Korean studies. She got into the linguistics program thinking that she might one to eventually find work as an interpreter at a high-level events.
Going to University Washington made the third generation in my family to attend the University of Washington my grandfather went there when my father went there and my grandfather met my grandmother there as well..
When my father was at the University of Washington, he had a student strike to integrate the university, later the FBI investigated him as a possible subversive because in those days the civil rights movement was heavily infiltrated by the Communists.
We flew to Berkeley, drove up to Seattle with my father, taking the coast Road so we can see my sister who is living upGuala and eventually after three days we made it to Seattle.my father was excited to visit the university have to befor so many years and told me matters time at the University leading the students strike
He also told me about his first marriage and the daughter that he had Live in Seattle, I didn’t remember her but I met her again in Seattle
Then we settled down and I went to class every day and she studied English and prepared to get into the university herself. She got a job working for a Fish brokerage company.But she was unsatisfied and decided to join the US Army.She would go to basic training, and when she came back she start in and university and do a ROTC program.
The day she left for basic training was on the saddest moments of my life I felt abandoned by her.
Somehow she managed to get to basic training, but in the springtime came the news that my father had died was dying of cancer.I flew to California for the funeral when she finished basic training a day early and joined me.
After that we went back to Seattle, where we resume studying.We took up a job part time as paper delivery and woke up every morning at four in the morning then went to school. She decided after two semester quarters of linguistics and it wasn’t for her and transferred into the MPA program.
Since I do not have a job yet, I decided to go on for MBA program as well
Two years later she became a US citizen she was commissioned as an Army officer, and had to report for training in the fall after we graduated.
We went to Taiwan as a graduation present was one of our classmates then we went Thailand I hung out there for a while as well waiting for my visa to teach English at the university in Korea become due.
I went to Korea to teach English and stayed at my parents whole house while Maria did her basic training.In January would down to Pusan by myself and had three nights with three different woman.First time I had cheated on Maria but not the last time.She eventually found out and forgave me my transgressions.
We had a bit of sexual compatibility problem from the beginning I want married life. I had a high sex drive and wanted sex almost every day and wanted a lot of variety in sex, she only wanted sex once a week and only one way. Yet despite this constant frustration, we remained deeply in love and over time learned to accommodate each other’s sexual needs.
Itaught ESL for Kyunghee University and taught US Government and Asian studies for the University of Maryland and worked as a copy editor for a Korean Economic Think tank and later worked as a copy editor for a Korean English language paper.I was quite busy.And almost had several affairs but did not ultimately do it althoughhe was very tempted. the University was filled with beautiful young woman! temptations all around me.I had a roaming eye but managed to behave myself ultimately.
She came back to Korea and was assigned to Korea as the first Korean born female U.S. Army officer to servein Korea.About a year later got it in the foreign service and it was time for us to go.
I went to the training course by myselfMaria joined me at the beginning and then I was assigned to Korea so she was able to extend her time in Korea and I came to Korea where I served as a vice counsel doing visas for two years.
We went off to the states she went to Texas to serve as a company commander and I went to Thai and then on to Thailand where I served one year in the consular section and one year in the Economic section.
while there by myself I began hanging out with the hash house harriers a running club with a drinking problem.This was my third hash and I got into it too much, particularly the drinking.
I ended up spending the night with Thai bar girls, once a month or so.And one night Igot involved in a bar room incident that almost ruined my career.Well it did ruin my career in a way.She came to Thailand and saved my life, my career and my soul.
thenthey went back to the States and while she was in Texas, he was in Washington DC for his first assignment there.
Korea deskSam had the accident that changed my life.
chapter nine cheating death 22 times
In my 62 trips around the sun, I cheated death 20 times. These are the true stories. If I ever meet the grim reaper I’d like to ask him why he spared me all these times.
Five Childhood Illnesses Hit me at age Six
I was a preemie. Born two months early. They had just developed oxygen tents for preemies and I was one of the first babies they saved using that technology, so in a way even being born meant that I had cheated death. The doctors thought that I would develop severe medical conditions. They were right; I have had bad eyes, bad teeth, and a residual learning disability from birth. And I had a weak immune system to boot. When I was six years old, I missed almost all the first grade and had to repeat the first grade because I developed all the childhood illnesses at once. I had whooping cough, pneumonia, the flu, German measles, and regular measles, chicken pox, and mono all in that year. And hay fever to boot. for me once I recovered I was in good health for years except for seasonal allergies in the fall and spring.
Typhoid fever Almost Kills Me in Korea
I dictation is
I graduated from high school and college and mostly was healthy, no major issues other than colds, the flu, and seasonal allergies. While I was in the Peace Corps training, we did a hike in the mountains in the East Coast of Korea. We stopped to drink water from a stream. I developed severe diarrhea and a fever. I was rushed to the local hospital and transferred to a hospital in Seoul. I had developed Typhoid fever, one of the last such cases in Korea as the Koreans had largely eliminated the threat of Typhoid Fever given the overall improvement in the country’s infrastructure. The doctors at first could not figure it out, but in the end, they figured it out. I spent four weeks in the hospital missing a lot of my crucial language training. The Peace Corps offered me the opportunity to go home or transfer to another Peace Corps program but opted to finish the training and my service. During the stay in the hospital, I was a celebrity of sorts – the only foreign patient and the nurses and doctors stopped by to practice their English with and I practiced my very rudimentary Korean as I flirted up a storm with the pretty nurses.
Guardian Angel Saves Me in Korea
I have always been a skeptical person, and not much of a believer. I have never been a Christian. I have always been an agnostic or even an atheist. But one day many years ago I experienced an event that changed my perspective on life. Since that time, I have become a believer in guardian angels that look after us in this corrupted world of ours. I can’t explain what happened that day, other than to realize that there are stranger things in life than we can imagine and that someone or something was looking out for me that day.
In 1990, I was living in South Korea teaching ESL for a Korean University and government, and Asian studies for the University of Maryland for military forces stationed in Korea. I was living in Seoul with my spouse who was a U.S. army officer, newly assigned to Korea. She was born in Korea and was, in fact, the first Korean American female officer to be assigned to Korea. We had been married for about six years having met in 1982 and had a whirlwind romance, marrying two months after we met. That is the subject of another story though.
One spring day we took a trip to the east coast of Korea. It was about a five to six-hour journey by car. My wife was driving because I did not drive due to bad vision and because I was afraid to drive in the chaotic driving environment in South Korea. We left Seoul about 11 am and by 3 pm we were halfway to our destination, Soraksan which is the number one mountain park in South Korea. It was a fine Spring day, just perfect weather, and we were both looking forward to taking a few days off.
Just outside of the town of Wongju, the freeway backed up and there was heavy traffic ahead of us. I saw a sign for the Wongaksan National Park which I had never visited before and I told Maria, let’s get off the freeway and check it out. I felt something telling me we had to exit the freeway that moment. I had a premonition that something bad was coming down the freeway and we were heading right into it.
We never forgot that day. And to this day almost thirty years later I often think back what would have happened if I had ignored that warning in my head and had insisted that we keep going to what would have been our death.
Almost Hit by a Train in Korea
While in my first tour in Seoul, Korea I joined the Hash House Harriers. The hash was an international drinking club with a running problem as they put it. The Hash started in colonial Malaysia and spread around the world. Mostly expat Americans and British. The runs ended with beer drinking, ritual punishments and British style jokes and bawdy not safe for work and not politically correct humor. I thought it was a lot of fun, but it was certainly not for everyone.
One day we did a run down by the train tracks. I was running along listening to music and did not hear the train approaching. I jumped off at the last moment barely avoiding being killed by the train.
Afterwards, I said that I had cheated death yet again, not knowing that my real experience cheating death was waiting for me a few years down the road.
Mutant Drug Resistance Staph Infection and 14 Operations Almost Kills Me
The event that changed my life was a simple decision. One morning I decided to go for a jog. It was dark outside and I thought that I knew the path. I made a strategic miscalculation and fell down a five-foot gap in the bushes where I thought was a series of steps.
I shattered my heel in a million pieces. I made it back to my room, called 9-11 after an hour when I realized my foot was broken. I called my wife as well. I was a foreign service officer newly returned to DC for my first assignment in DC after working five years overseas in Korea and Thailand. She was an army officer stationed in Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas.
The ER doctor bandaged me up and told me that I needed surgery and after surgery would be bedridden for at least four months. We opted to do the surgery in Texas and we arranged for me to fly using a wheelchair assistance. By the time I arrived the swelling was so bad that we had to wait a week to do the surgery.
The Air Force doctors wanted to try an experimental procedure using shark cartilage as a replacement bone material. A few days after the surgery I developed a fever and went back to the hospital and they discovered I had a staph infection. They treated me with IV antibiotics and opened the wound area and cleaned it out and replaced the cartridge. Then sent me home to recover. I had to take antibiotics for four months.
I went back to her house. She got me an internet account and I learned how to surf the net and read a lot of stuff online. I could not stand watching daytime TV. We did not have cable service. We rented a movie nightly and I watched movies every day and surfed the net and read some books she bought me as well.
Her dog, Jason, was a cute dachshund that was bilingual – Korean and English. He became my best friend for the four months I was out of commission. I called my office once a week to check in.
Once I returned to DC, I stayed there for almost a month and commuted by crutches. I was amazed at how cruel drivers were. Many people cursed me for holding up traffic as I could not walk across the street with the green light which seemed to be timed to allow for only Olympic 50-year dashers to get across the street in the allocated time. Then on the metro not once during the couple of weeks I commuted by metro was I offered a seat once during the entire time and I often had to stand on my crutches the entire trip. and several times people rushed by me yelling at me to get out of the way on the subway stairs.
I went one day to the old Walter Reed Army military hospital in DC for a routine check up on a different issue – a cist on my arm that I wanted to be removed. The doctor noticed that I was running a fever, quickly realized that the infection had returned, and I was back into surgery the next day.
My wife came out that weekend to see me in the hospital. I ended up having 12 more operations as the staph infection had become MDR. I had an IV inserted in my stomach and went through intensive vancomycin the nuclear bomb of antibiotics for four months. The final operation was a bone graft from my hip after they finally realized that the shark cartridge would not work.
My wife had to argue with the military doctors to allow me to stay in the hospital for an additional month. They wanted me to stay on the IV antibiotics, but I had to report in twice a day for blood work. She pointed out that I would be home alone and could not drive to the hospital but would have to go back and forth by metro and bus. Two hours each way. So, I stayed on until June.
I stayed sane by reading a book a day. During that year I read almost 300 books and started a daily journal. This was pre-internet and there was no wi-fi in the hospital, so I was on the State Department’s email distribution and personal email during the entire time I was there, and it was also pre-Face Book days. I went to the hospital library every day and got another book. The doctors were amused as every morning I had another book to read. I also watched lots of TV becoming hooked on the X files. I watched it frequently with the elderly black night janitor who was a big fan. He was also a conspiracy nut. He introduced me to the “reptielen conspiracy theory and speculated over who might secretly be a “reptielen overlord.”
My fellow patients were all army troops – everyone called me major as they could just not comprehend that my wife was the major and not me. One of my fellow patients was recovering from an accident and had gangrene and was facing amputation and a divorce.
Another soldier was back in the army. He and his wife had inherited half million dollars and left the military and spend two years enjoying the high life and blew through almost all the money, so he went back into the military then had an accident and was recovering from a broken leg as well. This was the 90’s so there were few military injuries, most of the patients were there for me due to a freak accident that broke their legs, arms, or back.
My best friend who was an actor in town for a season visited almost every day. My wife came for most of the surgery and many friends who had heard where I came for a visit. But I was cut off as this just before everyone got email and there was no internet in the hospital. Finally, I was released as Maria got assigned back to DC.
I went back to work. And things were going okay. I returned to work and my life. The fibromyalgia was a chronic condition but when I went to India and discovered yoga it became manageable. The arthritis was chronic, but I eventually quit taking anti-inflammatory drugs and learned to just deal with the pain. Every four months I must see a foot doctor to debride calluses that build up. Then in 2007 almost ten years after the accident I developed hammer toes and had to have four operations to smash my feet back into shape. Ten years after the operation I was faced with chronic pain due to the fibromyalgia and arthritis and some limited mobility but was recovering enough to resume daily walks.
1996-1997 was my personal year of hell. The year in the hospital changed my life. Afterwards, I felt that I had been given a new lease on life, almost as if I was given bonus games in the great video game of life. And despite my constant pain, I was just happy to be alive, and to still be married and to still have a high-powered job. I had read 300 books in one year. I started keeping track of my reading and movies and never came close to that record.
Guardian Angel Saves Me in Texas
While I was in Texas recovering from my extended illness, I had an incident like the guardian angel incident in South Korea. I had gone to Texas to recover from the accident and the first two operations. I wanted to go back to work. In retrospect, I should have asked for a few more weeks to recover. It was December and San Antonio where my wife was based was experiencing rare winter weather. The roads were covered with ice and commercial flights were closed but the military was still flying, and we had booked passage on a medevac flight.
While driving to the airport, Maria and I started talking about the weather and she had just explained to me what to do if we encountered black ice and boom we encountered black ice and she instantly reacted appropriately because we had just discussed it. Something had told us to expect ice on the road. We totaled the car but walked away unhurt. I went back a few days later but in retrospect should have stayed behind for a few more weeks. They might have caught the staph infection before it spread out of control.
Weird Parasite Could Have Killed Me
After enduring 14 operations and nine months in the hospital, I had developed intense chronic pain and after going to many different doctors was diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well as arthritis due to the operation. I also developed a frozen shoulder syndrome and had to have a steroid shot. While I was in the hospital undergoing the 14 operations, the internal medicine doctor told me that there was some other infection going on. He eventually found out that I had a rare parasite that I had picked up in Thailand. He had asked me whether I had spent time in Southeast Asia. I told him that I had indeed spent time in Thailand. He said,
“Well, I know what is causing the symptoms.”
While I was in Thailand, I had fallen into a canal during a Hash House harrier run. This parasite was benign, but I should take some medicine to get rid of it. If I ever had a steroid shot for any reason, the parasite would expand to the size of a basketball and then kill me within one hour of taking the steroid. I noted this in my journal and commented that this might be proof that God if he existed, had a morbid sense of humor for if he created the universe what was the point of creating this parasite? Fortunately for me, due to the persistence of that doctor, they discovered the parasite before I had the steroid shot.
Ending up in ER due to Mutiny among my stomach flora
One day in the fall, when Maria my wife who was on a business trip to Korea, I developed strange symptoms. I could not eat or drink anything, but my stomach blew up as if I were pregnant. I called a taxi and made it to the nearest military base ER at Ft Belvoir. I was admitted to the ER and spent two weeks there recovering from an acute GI tract infection. Apparently, the nine months of antibiotic treatment had so disturbed my internal microflora that bad bacteria had killed off the good bacteria. They told me that was a side effect of taking IV antibiotics like vancomycin and that doctors, in general, don’t do a good enough job of monitoring people after being discharged after extended anti-biotic usage. Someone should have warned me that this could have happened. In any event, the doctors said that I had waited more than an hour I would have been dead.
Dengue Fever in Barbados
My last serious illness occurred almost eight years ago. I was stationed in Barbados and my wife had just retired from the U.S. Army and had joined me. Her niece was also staying with us for a while. One day we went to tour a famous gully. We got there late in the day and there were mosquitos there. We were not too worried as malaria and zika virus were very rare in Barbados as was Dengue. What were the odds that we both would get one of the few cases of Dengue fever in Barbados that year? Well we both came down with it and my niece had to take care of us for a few weeks as we recovered. Everyone at the Embassy was afraid that we had gotten SARS which was the epidemic of concern that year. When we told them we had dengue, everyone just shrugged and told us to take a few weeks off.
Final thoughts
I don’t often talk about that year I was in the hospital and 22 times I cheated death, but when I do, I tell people that it changed my life in so many ways and that I was a far better person because of the operations and the year in the hospital. Every day I wake up and feel alive and thankful for that for I felt that I had cheated death at least 14 times that year. People often ask me why I am always so cheerful. My standard answer is that after cheating death 14 times every day is a bonus day and I am determined to make the most of it. The pain is there, and I just must cope with it the best I can without taking drugs for it. I have cheated death at least 22 times in my life. And I remain an optimistic happy go lucky kind of guy. After all, I have been through I know that every moment is precious, and I feel that I am living a bonus round in the video game of life. Still waiting to meet the Grim Reaper and ask him why he allowed me to cheat death so many times.
Chapter Ten DC Happiness
After the madness of Thailand and then you’re In the hospital, Sam and Maria settled into a three-year period of relative peace and happiness.Both we’re progressing in their careers, okay and interesting jobs, and as before they seem to fall in up with each other every day.
Sam gradually re-covered his is about with near death in the hospital and afterwards.Sam was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia Great condition that would afflict him the rest of his life.
Their commutes were longtheir hours were long. They often ate restaurants on the way home and She would pick him up at the metro.
Sam was having problems at work.Despite everything Sam was constantly being dinged for typos on official memo.Sam went to a learning disability Centerfor adults and was finally diagnosed with a learning disability something that had plagued him his entire life.
The State Department officially recognized as having a disability, but he did not like to talk about it because when she talked about it people discriminate against him and they did.
In fact he had filed several grievances against the department, and that will his wife’s Maria’s help prevail every time.He told Maria on numerous occasions she should’ve been a lawyer.Or for she should’ve been one of the Bloomberg television announcers.Bloomberg for some reason text a lot of Asian women as their television announcers, blond women as they’re television announcers.Both of them preferred Bloomberg TV.
Sam after the hospital began writing at daily Journal keeping track of his dreams and any thoughts and this is somethinghe did without fail for the rest of his life.He Eventually had 10,000 short story ideas which he used for his fiction once he started writing full time after retirement,
Sam thought he was going to go to Vietnam because of the incident in Bangkok. He went on to Mumbai India.She left the Pentagon operations center and moved to Seoul a few months before 9/11. She could’ve easily perished and 9/11.Perhaps another guardian angel was looking after them.
After 9/11 there leave was canceled for six months because both were considered essential personnel.He flew to Korea and they began the long process of reconciliation.Went back to India and had a few more affairs. During that time Sam had several Affairs, and briefly thought about leaving for another woman as they had grown apart during the long separation.To Sam’s credit, he only had sex with three woman during his entire time in India.Once with a woman he met at a bar, once with a writer he met through his literary activities and once in Thailand where he had a wild night with a Thai woman he had met at a reception in India.that was lust at first sight and when he went to Bangkok for a few days he looked her up and spent the night with her.Finally when it became time for them to get together, Sam vowed to himself to no longer have an affair with other women. Sam kept that vow to his dying day. That it turned out was his last affair with another woman.Sam while not proud of this affairs, felt proud that he had gone back to his wife and reconciled things.
But Sam also wrote down his daily sex fantasies in his journals.this was something that his wife did not like at all.He justified it as a way to cope with his desires for other woman, and as an exercise in writing erotic fiction which he said was a hot market and he might want to try his hand at that.
As part of their reconciliation they began to really talk about their differences in sex desires and began experimenting with new ways of making love. Although he remained until his dying days constantly honey and desirous of sexual activity, when they did make love it was almost magical.Just not enough and not enough variety for him.
He had thought long and hard about leaving Maria because of this conflict perhaps find another woman who was more sexually compatible or perhaps find a mistress or two.But he never took any serious action to do that.Sex for them like many long married couples remained a work in progress.as he got older he would tell himself, at least we are still doing it and can still do it.and if I leave her for a younger woman, she might kill me off with too much sex.
Maria told Sam that if she died before him she did not want him to re-married because he would be a target of a gold digger because only a gold digger would be interested in an old man with money.If he had to have sex he could hire a professional occasionally but never use his real name, or let on how much money he had.and never repeat the same woman twice.
Sam always promised to do so but knew that if she went first, he would not last long enough to find another wife. They both knew that if one went the other was sure to go soon.
Chapter 12 Meeting past life hypnotist
Despite the temptations all around him, and the constant separation, Sam and Maria remained together.But still Sam was puzzled about one thing.He knew somehow that he had known Maria in another life, but did not know what had transpired.She also confessed that she felt that they had known each other in a previous incarnation.
Finally, after 25 years of living together and 37 years after he first met her in his dreams, he finally felt he had to know the truth of how they had really met and the mystery behind their surprisingly long-lasting love.Sam and Maria were so different from each other it was amazing that they had stayed together all those years.Yet Sam knew it was meant to be.
they had often talked about the dream, and how they met.Maria said that she did not believe in the “dream” but she also knew when she saw him that he was hers and hers alone and that is why she approached him the way she did.
Sam after an argument once asked her
“Well if I am so horrible why did you ever marry me in the first place?”
“temporarily insanity?”
and they laughed and fell in love again.
Just as they always had ever since they met.The longest that they stayed angry at each other was for three days.Usually he would go for a long walk, maybe go out for a burger and beer and wait until she called him and said he could come home.
then they would have a long talk about the issues and try to come up with a solution.and then they would have make up sex.
When Sam and Maria finally were reassigned to the States after the events in India had almost led to a divorce, Sam and Maria began the process of reconnecting, and reconciliation. As part of that process, Sam proposed that they met with a past life hypnotist for a past life regression.
Sam toldMaria before the meeting his research into past lives.he told her that he believed in reincarnation.he also said that he believed in Soul mates.Most people never met their soul mate, each of us has one. The one we were destined to be with. However, only a few people ever met their soul mates. It is part of the zen of love and is why there is so much marital discord.People know that their partner is not really their soul mate more of a temporarily arrangement until they meet the one.But unfortunately for most people, they never ever met the one. Only happens once in a blue moon so to speak and for them for some reason it has happened over and over again. and sometimes you meet your Soul mate who is married to someone else at the time and you end up either breaking up a marriage or deciding not to pursue your soul mate in this life.
Sam said that he had experienced love at first sight two times in his life. First with his best friend in college, his roommate Sara.they had a platonic love affair but she did not want a romantic relationship with him.Sara had finally told him that she was ready for him to come back to the States and be with her.The very next day he met Maria and so he never got together with Sara.
Then there was her.Prior to meeting her he had a number of girlfriends, and was a late bloomer sexually speaking. Just never got the hang of closing the deal sexually so to speak.He was awkward socially,goofy looking with thick glasses, did not drive, and a genius always thinking deep thoughts.A real nerd so to speak.
But once he discovered sex he knew he had to have sex at least once a month and so he resorted to one night stands with various woman he would meet in bars, most were “professionals” so to speak.
then she walked out of the dreams, off the bus and into his life and the rest was history.
He also had experienced hate at first sight a few times as well.
Maria told Sam that she had been resigned to marry the medical student whom her Mom had selected for her.But she turned him down when she met Sam because there was no chemistry between them at all and he did not want “a career woman” he wanted a more traditional woman who would take care of the house, home finances and have three children with.And Maria did not want any of that. She made it clear when they got married that she wanted a career as well and probably did not want children.Sam accepted that and promised he would support her in whatever she wanted to do but he hoped that they would have children someday.Just turned out that someday never happened until it was too late.
They researched the various professionals offering such services and booked an appointment with Dr. Sandra Patel.Sandra Patel was a Hindu believer and she approached past life analysis from that perspective.However, she said, that one did not have to believe even in re-incarnation to benefit from past life analysis.One simply had to have an open mind. Mostpast life analysts were either Buddhist or Hindu, but there were a few that were agnostic, and a few Christian ones as well.the immunity was pretty small.There was a lot of fraud in the field as well so the legitimate ones all knew each other and helped each other out.
Because the professional medical establishment thought that the whole field was suspect and did not believe it, there was no medical insurance that would cover the cost of the analysis and it was not cheap as it would require several long visits.She would videotape each session and then play the tape for them so they could discuss it and figure out what it all meant.Once you woke up from a session you often did not remember what had happened.These memories were deeply buried and she thought that was just the nature of reincarnation.each time you came back you had to learn it all over again otherwise your past life would really screw up your present life and your future life so it was best not to know too much. Just too complicated navigating things in this world.
Dr. Patel had been doing past life regression analysis for decades and was one of the founders of the still controversial field.She had published a number of books on the subject and told them they needed to read her basic book, “Past Life Analysis” before she could schedule an appointment.
She required the fee upfront. It would cost them 10,000 dollars. They would receive the video, and a transcript of the video to keep.All sessions including the debriefings would be taped and given to them.In some cases she would ask their permission to share their stories but she would change their names if so requested.This helped her get more clients and promote the field as legitimate.
She had just created a web page SandraPatelPastLifeAnalysis.com and she also required them to go on line and fill out a pre-interview questionnaire including answering why they wanted to do the analysis in the first place.
They filled out the questionnaire, read her book and decided that they wanted to do it and made the appointment.
She listened to Sam ‘s story and told Sam that in her professional experience, some couples are soul mates and they always find each other in the next life.But Sam ‘s and Maria’s story were extraordinary.Sam told the Doctor that he had never discussed the dream with anyone other than his two friends who had witnessed the dream because well people would think that he was crazy.Dr. Patel told him that she believed him.
She had never heard such a story before in her professional life, but Dr. Patel felt that there must have been a tragic ending to their previous loves. That would explain how they met.She went to say that love at first sight and hate at first sight were really the same phenomenon.It meant that the people involved knew each other in a prior live and they still had issues that they had to resolve in this life.So, yes, Dr. Patel believed them.She decided to treat both and bring them back in time to their previous lives to see what had happened to cause such a strong connection across the barriers of space and time.
so they began the session.She put them both under hypnosis and asked them to go back to when they first met and describe things in as much detail as possible. Where were they? who were they in that life? How had they met? when were they?
Chapter 11 Atlantis- alien love affair
At the beginning of time,Sam met Maria and they were born together as soul mates.Afterseveral life times as Sirians in the Sirian empire, they met again in the world between worlds where they were shown their fate.They were in limbo in the world between hell and heaven. God had decided to give them another chance at finding happiness.They walked up to the portal – the hole in the ground labeled Atlantis and found themselves reborn as Sirian Reptilian overlords in Atlantis 3000 BC just before the destruction of the city of Atlantis
Their timeless love story began 5,000 years ago in the fabled city of Atlantis. Samand Maria were originally from the planet Sirius as was Maria. Sam was originally General Zoren governor of the Atlantis colony, and Maria was originally Zarina the leader of the opposition party.The Sirians had come to earth a 25 years ago and build the city of Atlantis in an island mini continent in the middle of the Atlantic ocean,Zoren was related to the royal family back home, seventh son of the Emperor, and was the royal governor of the Atlantis colony.The colony had 2 million Sirians, (red Sirians, green Sirians and shapeshifters) and the other five other races(canines, felines, primates, and insectoids) from the Sirians Empire living on it and perhaps 100,000 human slaves. The Sirians considered humans to be savages and treated the local slaves badly.The other races were more sympatric as were the Green Sirians, all faced discrimination form the dominant Red Sirians who were the traditional elite in the home worlds.
25 years after the colonization Zoren had a dilemma on his hands.The Sirians only numbered 1.5 million, and there were a half million from the other races and there were 2 million human slaves.The human slaves were turning out to be a problem. They were intelligent ,cunny and devious creatures, and deeply religious worshiping a multiple of Gods. Some thought that Sirians were Gods, most thought that they were evil devils from a mythical place called Hades.
.The Sirians distrusted the humans from the first time they encountered them.On their home world, the Sirians had battled human life monkeys for centuries until they had finally subdued them.Most were killed in the“final solution”, a policy that Zoren had approved at the time and had been in charge of.Zoren had no love for the sub-species and thought that the humans were somehow related to the monkey species.
In their conquests of ten worlds so far, the Sirians had encountered essentially five variants of intelligent life.The latest theory was that intelligent life forms in the universe came in five basic flavors; -, the Sirians were reptilian and came in three sub-species, the Red Syrians, which was the dominant race, that Green Syrians, were mostly the lower castes, and the shape shifters, who were Intel and warriorclass, and mostly identified with Male Red Sirians but could be anybody and anything,and were greatly feared by everyone. Zoren was a shape shifter as were as where all the members of the royal family.
The other racesof the universe were canine like creatures, feline like creatures, humanoid (monkey) like creatures and insectoid creatures.In the Syrian Empire, the Sirians were the master race, the other races were second class citizens. The Humanoids on Sirius had largely been wiped out in the”Final solution,” but there were 50 million humanoids left on their home world once they proved to be loyal subjects like the other conquered races had become.The humanoids were feared because like the Sirians they thought of themselves as the superior race of the universe, and the humanoids unlike other species were all infected with a religious delusion gene and refused to accept that there were no Gods, Devils or Angels in the materialist universe.
The Master plan was that the Syrians would establish a colony and gradually take over the planet inflating the local inhabitants and killing off most of them and eventually allowing the locals after `100 years or so gradually regain their limited freedom.But there were exceptions of course.A common punishment for criminal misbehavior for political misbehavior was a period of the slavery for 10 years, often spent in harsh labor camps.
The question had that central command had what to do with the humans.The Policy line that the Central headquarters had lay down, wasfor Atlantis to establishitself as a Bridgehead and then after 10 years or so millions of colonists would arrive. Human should be given a choice, continued lives as slaves mostly agricultural workers, or resist and die.In any event in their culture would be abolished all humans would be require speak only the Syrian language.Their cultural and artistic treasures such as they had would be shipped back to the Imperial grand museum.Their temples would be destroyed as the Sirians were atheistic materialists and had no patience for religious dogma = and persecuted religious fanatics throughout the empire such that were very few believers in the old religions left in the Empire.
This was the policy line and he was supposed to carry it and not question it. Questioning orders and doctrine in his opinion usually did not turn out well and was as the young called it“a career killing move.”He was the ultimate survivor and he needed to make Earth the 11th planet of the Empire. He hoped someday become Emperor as he was in the imperial line of successionbut he would have to kill his seven siblings.His siblings were all also governors and various planets and senior positions. Once their father died they would probably be as usuala short Civil War and one of the siblings would emerge as the emperor and he was determined to bethe Emperor, the losers would have to be executed and their family members as well. . Just the way things happened in the SiriansEmpire.
When these profound troubling thoughts penis head his executive AI popped up and told him his 11 o’clock meeting with Zarina the new head of the green political party what’s about to happen. Zoren had not yet met Zarina but he had heard troublesome things about her.
When Zarina and Zoren met, and it was love and hate at first sight.. Zarina was a stunningly beautiful woman, very competent very intelligent, and very sexually aggressive.In short , she was a kind woman that was his fatal and he knew it.
She was an activist, working to improve conditions for the human subjects. As such her work concerned Zoren.Zoren was agnostic overall about the human subject thing, thought that they needed the labor but that perhaps humans could and should be treated better.And Zoren sometimes regretted the “final solution” thinking that perhaps a policy of assimilation might have worked given time.But the powers that be wanted to purify the home world and only have Sirians living there with some traders and government workers from the other races allowed.The other races were easier to round up and deport, the humanoids refused to relocate to the humanoid home world insisting that they were not the same race at all and spoke a different language and worshiped the wrong Gods.Zoren sent for Zarina and they had a long passionate talk about humanity and the Sirian treatment of humans.Zoren was instantly attracted to her but also felt that she was too idealistic and naïve about the humans, although she had changed his mind and his heart a bit.
For the reptiles of his social class, arranged marriages where the north and it was overdue time to get married.Generally red families married Red families and green families married green families.There waslittleintermarriage between the two races. And very little interspecies relationships although as a shapeshifter he could assume any form and have sex with any species.Some shapeshifters engaged in that but he was a bit old fashioned and found the very concept to be disgusting.
Fortunately for him shape shifters can marry either red or green, so it would be possible for him to consider an alliance with her as she represented she represented an important party in the Imperial Senate. Although theEmperor had considerable power, along with the military, they still had to get the support of the congress.The congress consisted of the Assembly with elected representatives from each species and planets.The Senators represented their planets and were for the most part red Sirian Reptiles and landlords who had large plantations and industrial interests to protect, although there were Senators from the other races on their home world, but the Imperial Senate was mostly Red Sirian.
Zoren was engaged in a political battle against the Green Sirians who were advocating letting the humans go and the Red Sirians who were advocating conquering the main land and enslaving the pre-Greek and pre-Roman civilizations and the pre-Indian and Pre-Chinese civilizations as well as the ancient Egyptian civilizations. . The Sirians had arrived at the dawn of civilization and had made contacts with all the pre-historical civilizations, through conquest and warfare.Most of the early humans thought that the Sirians were either Gods, Demons or Monsters and they were greatly feared on the mainland.
Zarina was the leader of the Green Sirians and they were openly talking about revolting against the established leadership and establishing a free Republic on humans and Sirians on earth – outside of the Empire.Zoren was determined to crush the rebellion but that would mean he would never be able to be with her as she was now his mortal enemy.And he did not want to lose but allying him with her would complicate his plans to become Emperor.Perhaps he could go along with her, revolt against the Empire then persuade her to join him in rebuilding a more just Empire?She was very ambitious too and came from one of the most prominent opposition political factions.
They met and soon had a torrid love affair.Both found the other to be very different, exciting, ruthless and ambitious and very sexy. They were very so different and yet shared the Zoran’s Imperial ambitions.She convinced him to stand with her and declare the birth of the Free Earth Republic as they called it.
He made a speech on worldwide TV announcing that the Earth would become independent and that humans and Sirians would be equal citizens along with representatives of the other five races. A delegation was being sent to the Greek, Roman, Indian and Chinese cities to bring them into the fold.Atlantis would remain the capitol of the planet.
She smiled and kissed him, and they made love all night long.In the morning, the Red Sirians launched their coup which resulted in nuclear war that destroyed the city of Atlantis.
As the city of a thousand years as it had been called sank into the ocean, Zoren, Zarina and hundreds of Sirian and human refugees fled to Rome where they at first welcomed and given refuge.Zoren and his fellow shape shifters began a campaign to take over the earth, and shape it to their needs, eventually re-developing space travel so they could conquer the earth and then challenge the Sirian Empire for control of the Universe.The remaining Sirians split into three parties, the Shapeshifters assumed human form, intermarried and became wherever they were members of the social elite. Always working secretly behind the scenes to further the interests of the Sirian agenda.The red Sirians on the other hand were rounded up and killed as they were seen as evil monsters.The Green Sirians, by and large were able to disguise themselves and went underground to try to enlighten the earth.They were largely unsuccessful and very few of them survived.After a hundred years of so only a few shapeshifters survived along with a few red and green Sirians who formed a secret society that persists to this day.
Zoren and Zaraina’s love story ended when Zarina and Zoren were assassinated by a red Sirian general dispatched from the home world.The word was in – earth was forbidden to all Sirians immigration and would be monitored for the next five thousand years. And just before they died, their last words were
“See you in the next life my timeless love” and they vowed to defy the laws of nature and man and find each other in the next life as they both had begun to believe in re-incarnation which was a minority opinion among the largely atheistic Sirians. That line and the knowledge that they were true soul mates destined to met again and again sustained them throughout the next 3,000 years of history and they came back over and over again until finally in 1982 they overcame their cursed fate.
Chapter 12 ancient Indian
After Zoren and Zarina were killed their soul mates looked for each other but for hundreds of years they never met until one day about 500 years later they found themselves again in the world between worlds wandering towards their next fate. They saw a sign welcome pilgrims to India where an adventure awaits you and they jumped through the portal finding themselves in ancient Maura Empire in ancient India.Sam was now a merchant, Arjunwho dealt with the royal family and supplied goods and food to the royals, and other high caste families, but Arjun was not of royal blood, he was Vaishyas, a middle caste due to his family’s occupation as merchants. Despite his caste background, the royal family took a liking to him and Arjun was often invited to royal functions.Arjun had not married yet and was in his early twenties.He ran the shop for his father who old and ailing.Arjun knew he would have the business someday.His mother was constantly trying to match him up with various women, but he was not interested in getting married yet.He had told her that, but she kept responding that it was time he settled down and produced grandchildren so that he would have children to carry on the family business.His father concurred saying
“son it is time you had children of your own and we have grandchildren. Your mother has found several suitable candidates. Can’t you at least meet them?”
Finally, he agreed to meet the candidates. He met three woman, daughters of other merchant families but nothing clicked.He told his parents that
“Mom, Dad, I met the three women per your request.They all seem nice enough, but nothing clicked between us. There was zero chemistry. Nothing at all.I just can’t see myself marrying them and having sex with them.Perhaps you can find some other candidates?perhaps from the neighboring kingdom?”
.They told him,
“Son don’t be ridiculous.No one marries for love.Over time you will grow to love your wife, if not you will find love with a mistress or second wife.Everybody does that.Your mother and I did not love each other at first but over time we fell in love and as you know our love is strong now. Perhaps the true love thing will happen to you.All you have to do is just tell us which one of the three woman you like the best, or if you really don’t fancy any of them, we can find a few more candidates. But you have to choose someone and choose them soon.According to the fortune teller at the temple, you must marry within the year or a great tragedy will befall the entire family”
“. Okay, find me seven more candidates, and then I will sleep with the top five picks and decide then.”
His father laughed,
“Son I like the way you think.Not sure if the women will agree to this test but we can make it a condition with the understanding that you would choose one of the five after you sleep with them.and perhaps the others could become your mistresses if you need a mistress. Mom, do you agree?”
“If that is the only way we can get our son married, yes.I will speak to the ten candidates.I am sure that they will agree to the audition.”
One day he was at the Royal palace in Patna making a delivery and checking up on food preparations for the King’s birthday, when he first metAnaya the beloved daughter of King Chandragupta Maurya, who was widely seen as the most beautiful woman in all of the known worlds.She was so beautiful that Arjun was struck speechless.
She was tall, with black hair that reached down to her ample backside, and big lovely breasts, and a fire in her black diamond eyes.She radiated heat and passion and intense sexual energy.there were rumors that she had a few Male lovers and a woman lover as well.All sons of various princes.But the the king had announced that she was going to marry the Prince of in a neighboring kingdom.
Arjun wanted her it was lust at first sight, but he knew that it would be a forbidden love affair that could be result in them being executed.The head priest of the Shiva Temple had recently began a campaign cleaning out the rampant sexual immorality he claimed was overwhelming the Kingdom.He stressed over and over again that everyone in the kingdom must respect the traditional god given caste system, and that the rules apply to all including the King family. Sexual relations between higher and overcast individuals would no longer be tolerated, anyone who crosses that line does so with the risk of being executed for their crime of offending the traditional order.
Anaya shocked him by came up to him and they started talking.She was the King’s youngest daughter and had a reputation for being standoffish.She had turned down numerous proposals for marriage and the King was getting concerned, as he wanted to marry off his last child before he died.
And the king had an another kingdom in mine for his daughters marriage.His two oldest daughters had married princesses of other kingdoms and they formed through marriage useful alliances.His son had married one of the richest landlord in the country that was very useful as well as opened up financial support for the royal family.
He needed this alliance with a neighboring kingdom, because he was preparing to go do more to conquer all of India. Anaya was just too stubborn for her own good. She was an curable romantic, and said that she would only marry for the love and if there is chemistry what happened whenever that was’s between them.Became just did not understand the youngster sometimes.Hi mean he had three wives then let many of them and he had several mistresses, and his wives had levers on the side that could carry their needs.As long as everybody was discreet, it all worked out.He would evening allow her his daughter to have a secret lover, provided that her lover was of the proper caste.If she took 11 that was lower caste, by the laws and customs of the kingdom he would have to execute his daughter’s lover and maybe his daughter as well.He tried to explain this to her but he did not think that it got through to her.She was lost in herromantic fantasy world.they just had a big argument and told her that she would marry the prince and give him a son and that was the end of the story.After marriage, if she needed a lover, she could take lover or two provided they were of the upper caste. However under no circumstances could she have sexual relations with the lower caste person that was against law and customs and it was pet and it will result in the execution of her lover the king had no Choice in the matter, since the priests were adamant that the kings family had to upholdthe traditional caste system which was ordainedby Shiva and that other gods.
Arjun and Anaya hit it off. Arjun asked her to join him for a walk in the park. They started secretly meeting in the forest for long walks.While walking in the park, they began talking about their life and their pending decisions regarding marriage.
Arjun told her of his dilemma and his pending auditions. Anaya was amused and told Arjun that he had to tell her all about it, including the details of how they made love. And why he chose whom he would ultimately choose.She asked him if he was a virgin. he said that he was not, as a merchant he traveled a lot to various towns and usually stopped off at the local inn for drinks and spent the night with various bar maidens as merchants commonly did.he had a few favorite bar maids but of course he could not marry any of them because they were beneath his family’s caste and besides one did not marry such woman.
He asked her if she was a virgin.She laughed and said,
“Yes, despite the rumors to the contrary I have not yet had sex although I did kiss a fellow prince and kissed his sister too.I liked that.After I marry I hope my husband would let me have a girl friend or another lover if the chemistry does not work out. But I hope to lose my virginity soon.The King has arranged me to marry the son of the King of the neighboring kingdom.I met him; he seems nice enough but there was no chemistry between us.Just can’t think I would enjoy making love to him.and I do want to experience sex in all of its forms.My maids all swear by oral sex and I want to try that the most.”
Arjun laughed and said,
“Well I could show you how to do that if you want some day.”
“Hmm we could do that.It would have to be top secret. You know what would happen if the King finds out….”
They both sighed and talked about the high priest campaign to enforce traditional moral codes particularly regarding sexual relations between higher and lower caste people.
Arjun pointed out the absurdity of it all.A upper caste man can go to a whore house and have sex with a lower caste woman or an untouchable and as long as they keep it strictly sexual and don’t fall in love or have a baby no one will condemn them.But an upper caste woman having sex with a lower caste man or woman for that manner is a capital offense!
Thus, Arjun and Anaya both knew that if they were caught the penalty for such an offense would be death for Arjun and maybe for Anaya as well as the inter-caste rules were strict in the kingdom, stricter than in most parts of India.
Arjun one day proposed to her that they run away to another kingdom and set up life there anonymously. She thought about it for a long time and finally agreed to join him in flight. She had decided that she had to flee the kingdom and go far away to escape the King and his insistence that she marry Prince Vihan, a man she had grown to hate.They had only a few conversations and it was clear that he was a first class selfish asshole and only agreed to marry her for his political benefit. he was 35 years old, fat, overweight, bad complexion and ugly as sin.
He made it clear that they would have sex until she got pregnant but he would otherwise not have sex with her as he did not find her attractive at all. He would look the other way if she wanted to have sexual relations with his friends and cousins.That could all be arranged.But one she gave birth to a son, she was of no further use to him. She would be expected to play the traditional role of a mother and wife and that was it. She would not be allowed to talk in public or express any opinions and her friends would be monitored as well to prevent any scandals from occurring. and if she were to disgrace the family honor by engaging in sexual relations with a lower caste person he would be first to demand that she be given the death penalty.
Arjun told her that if she ran away with him, he would not carry out his audition and if they became lovers he would only be with her from then on out. He promised to teach her everything about sex and was sure that they would be eternal lovers.He said that the felt that she was his soul mate and they had know each other before and would know each other in the next life.
He said,
I will always find you my timeless love.”
The day for their flight arrived and Arjun waited in the forest with a horse and cart.She showed up late saying that she wanted to make sure no one knew.They got in the cart and drove off.
That night they made love for the first time in a rural inn.They had told the owner that they had just gotten married and were moving back to his family’s farm in the neighboring kingdom. Fortunately for them, the inn keeper did not recognize either of them and bought their story and congratulated them. and left them alone as he sensed the they were having an early honeymoon. They seemed like a nice couple and the Inn Keeper and his wife were glad that they could help them start their married life the right way with plenty of love and wild passionate love making.
they kissed and undressed, and Arjun taught Anaya the art of oral sex, first doing her and then having her do him. Then they engaged in intercourse – first time for her. Afterwards they also tried anal sex as she said she wanted to try that as well.they found that they were very comparable in bed and loved making love and made love all night for two nights. Then they got ready to flee the country.
Two days later when they approached the border, they found a roadblock.
They asked the guards
“what going ot n?”
the guard, a young man on his first mission, said
There may be war soon.The King’s youngest daughter is missing. Prince Vihan may have kidnapped her after the King told him the marriage was off because his daughter hated him and could not marry him and the King had to find another suitable match.Prince Vihan has declared that he expected the King to honor the original marriage contract and turn Princess Anaya over.The king said no and everyone is preparing to war and looking for Princess Anaya.And we are also looking for Merchant Arjun because the rumor is that Prince Vihan hired him to kidnap Anaya and bring her to him.In return he would work for the royal family in his kingdom and receive a huge reward including marriage to the daughter of the richest merchant in his kingdom.”
Arjun and Anaya explained who they were and that they were newly weds going back to his homeland.
Just then the captain of the guards, PrinceReynas Shah came up to them and recognized Anaya and Arjun.
“wait a moment.I recognize these two. That’s Merchant Arjun and that’s Princes Anaya.What the hell are you to doing here?”
Arjun tried to deny the truth but the Captain told him
“stop lying. You know I know you. And you know I know her.If you are kidnapping her it would be bad for both of you.But if you are having an affair well that is the death penalty as you both know.”
They were arrested on the spot. they were marched back to the Palace and thrown in the dungeon.the Captain of the guard interrogated both of them and concluded that indeed Anaya and Arjun were running away together. He informed the King. The king was furious at this betrayal of custom and tradition and furious that she had made him cancel the marriage to Prince Vihan and risk war.
he sent word to Prince Vihan. Would he take her even now?
The prince was adamant. Under no circumstance would he marry a fallen woman and he hoped that she and Arjun would be executed immediately.He though promised to hold off on war provided that the King’s niece agreed to the marriage. The King told the messenger that his niece had consented and that they would proceed with a royal wedding after the trial.
A trial was held.it was a huge event. Hundreds of people flocked to see justice be met out.There was little to no sympathy for Arjun and Anaya. Both were guilty of violating the rules that all had to follow.Some suggested that Anaya was to blame as she had clearly bewitched the handsome young prince.And she should have married Prince Vihan and followed her father’s wishes.
the ten women that Arjun was to meet all came to the trial determined to see him hang.the story of the audition has spread and the women involved were all considered to be of loose character to agree to such a charade.And Arjun’s father and mother stood the risk of loosing their business license and confiscation of all their assets.
The innkeeper testified that he had heard them in the act of sex.he had no idea who they were and if he had known he would have done his duty and alerted the King’s guards.He condemned them for betraying the King, and betraying traditional morality and rules.
The captain of the guards testified as to their behavior at the guard post, and how they had almost escaped because Anaya had bewitched the guards with her beauty and charm. He had gone out to see what was going on, if he had not stopped by they would have escaped.The guard who failed to stop them would be severely punished as well. .
Arjun was asked if he had any final words before the sentence of execution was to be carried out.He said, “Only a few, my majesty.When I first met Anaya, your youngest daughter, I knew that she was my soul mate and that we were met for each other.Anaya and I are in love and even the Gods know it.If we can’t be together in this life, we will be together in the next life and there is nothing you can do to stop our timeless love.So please execute us together so we can be together forever.”
The King was furious at these words and ordered Arjun and Anaya to be killed by slow torture in the public square as a lesson to all to not cross the caste barriers and keep in their god given roles in life.
They were tortured for days and finally they were beheaded.Arjun’s last words were, “I’ll see you in the next life my timeless love.”
Arjun smiled back at him and died.
Chapter 14King Midas’s curse
Sam and Maria once more found themselves in the world betweenworlds walking the path.They come to their next portal which is labeled
Midas’s Curse.and they smiled and jumped through the portal.
Sam finds himself in a castle high up on he hill in ancient Crete.He is the
King, and is a very greedy self-centered king.his subjects hate and fear him.
he has his secret police everywhereand they delight in torturing his enemies
King Midas is obsessed with gold.He hires alchemist who all promise that
they can uncover the secret to turning everything into Gold.He announces that
if they succeed he would reward them with endless gold.The gold merchants
are terrified at the idea that he would succeed because Gold is only valuable
because is is very rare and hard to mine. If gold became as common as lead they
would loose everything.
The King was not yet married. His parents were obsessed with finding him the right women to marry and be his queen and provide him with an heir.
Midas on the other hand was content to be a play boy playing the field and
he was not ready to settle down and become a married man.One day he met
Maria the daughter of his banker and fell madly in love with her.
She hated him and told him that she would never marry him even if he were
the last man on earth. She was the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom, tall,
with great breasts, eyes like diamonds and black hair that ran down her back.
She spoke in a sexy alto voice dripping with sexual desires unfulfilled.
She finally consented to become his wife when his alchemist promised him
that he would soon be able to turn everything he touched into gold.
They had a royal banquet and at dawn they finally made love.Midas fell
asleep and woke up and saw that everything in his palace had been converted
into gold.He walked through the palace and everything he touched turned into
Gold.He turned to his wife’s chamber and found that she too had become a
statute of gold.Everyone on the island wasdead ånothing but golden statues
dotted the doom land.
Midas cursed his fate. and killed himself in utter despair.His last words
were to his now dead golden wife
“see you in the next world my timeless love”
he said as he threw himself into a funeral fire and died in the flames
Chapter 15three Kingdom Period – Silla
they next woke up in the world between worlds and saw a sign in Korean welcome to the three kingdoms and they jumped through and found themselves ancient Silla during the Silla -Baekjae war of unification. Sam found himself to be theson of King Mommu, Kim Dongin.One day the king called his military generals and senior officials including Kim Dongin together for a strategy section.The King announced thatOperation destroy Baekjae would begin that day.
The king and his son Prince Kim Dongin had decided that they would have to conquer Baekjae and and afterwards move on to conquer Goguryeoand can unify all of the Korean Peninsula under their control. It was their destiny the king explained. He had a dream in which he had conquered all of Korea, and eventually they would conquer China itself, and Japan as well. All of East Asia would be under their control.It was the will of the gods, Buddha himself had appeared in this dream telling him of his destiny.
The Baekjae King Uija had to be killed because he has insulted the king of Silla when he had refused to marry his daughter Kyeunsuk to his son, Kim Dongin. .No one be allowed to insult the king of Silla and get away with it.
His son would lead the campaign personally.When they conquer Baekjae, Kim Dongin would it be given Kyeonguk for one night. He could make love to her, but in the morning, she would be executed for the crime of insulting the King Silla.
They would be assisted by armies of Chinese troops who land on the west coast west of the capitol Sabi. the two armies would join forces and totally destroy Baekjae.All the members of the royal family would be executed.The women would be raped by the troops, then executed.
They talked about strategy for the rest of the day and prepared to march at first light.After several weeks hard combat they entered the capital city of Sabi.The King and his family were brought before Kim Dongjin. Kim told the king ofBaekjae that if he let his daughter Mary him, the king and his immediate family would be spared, if not, they would be executed.In any event he would spend the night with the kings daughter, announce the fateof the King’s family.
The king of Baekjae had a meeting with his daughter, and told her to marry the the prince but that they would flee they flee Baekjae as they did not trust that the King would not execute them.
Kim Dongin and Kyungsook met that evening after a royal banquet. They hit it off instantly, it was love and first sight for both of them.She was tall, bosomy with a great ass, and long black hair and fiery dark as diamond eyes.Soon they were kissing, and making love all night long.They tried everything at night, I found that they really liked Oral sex.
In the morning, Kim Dongjin met with his father, to plead forgiveness and to bless his marriage toKyeongsook.King Mommu told his son, that she would executed that night as as was planned all along. King Mommu promise his son you could marry another one of the Baekjae princesses.
Prince Dongjin told his father, at he rather die with Kyeongsook by his side than marry another woman as he felt that it was his fate to be with her.
King Mommu said,
“Son I will give you until tomorrow morning to be with her.If you still feel that way in the morning, then so be it.You will be executed as well because no one can defy the King of Silla including his son. Now get out of her and go to that Baekjae witch who has taken over your Soul.I am through with you as you are no longer my son.”
He met with Kyeongsook and prepared to flee with her and her father but the guards over heard them plotting and betrayed them.Her father and family members managed to escape but Kyeongsook and Kim Dongjin were trapped.
the next morning the King announced the execution of the traitors to Silla and ordered them to be executed at dawn the next day.
Kyeongsook and Dongjin were allowed to spend their final day together and they made love all day.
The next day, the King asked his son if he had reconsidered his decision.
Kim Dongjin replied
Father I love Kyeongsook with all my heart and soul. We are soul mates and it is our fate to be together until the day we die.”
He turned to her and said
See you in our next life my timeless love”
The King yelled off with their heads and they were executed.
Chapter 14 Ancient Rome
Sam and Marie woke up in a hut in the forrest in the world between worlds. They wandered about looking at portals to other worlds and other times and places and found their path leading to a portal with the placard all roads lead to Rome and they jumped through and found themselves in ancient Rome
Arjun and Maria were reunited, this time in ancient Rome.Arjun was born into a military family and grew up to be a Roman Centurion and took place in some of the early wars as Rome gradually conquered all of Italy.Arjun was a handsome young man who had a reputation of being a playboy.He was also arrogant as all hell and felt that he deserved someday to become a Senator despite his background in the military.He did not come from an upper-class family and had some money and property but not enough to be considered a serious player.
Arjun was determined to change all of that.One day Arjun met Maria, who was the daughter of a Senator.Arjun was determined to seduce her and add him to his list of female conquests.She was determined to seduce him as well and to make him her husband and protector as she was determined to protect the Senator from his many enemies and thought an alliance with the military would be in her family’s interests.Besides Arjun fascinated her and she could see being his lover and even his wife, if not his mistress.But she would also make sure that she would have no rivals for his affections.She entrusted her family’s senior servants in her cause.They found out the names of all of Arjun’s girlfriends and one by one, they were eliminated usually by being killed in a public place by an accident – a cart out of control, a fire burning up their house etc.
During this time, Maria infuriated Sam by refusing to meet him or see him.Sam was determined to win her ovaer.He also found out whom she had been with and had his aids arrange for their untimely demise.
Finally, after 10 of his girl friends had died under mysterious circumstances and 10 of her paramours had also died, Sam and his aids figured out something was not right, and they arranged to kidnapped Maria ‘s senior servant.He confessed to killing off Sam’s girlfriends.Sam was troubled – on the one hand, she was a vicious monster capable of such outrageous crimes and should be brought to justice, on the other hand, she had inspired him to do the same.Sam concluded that the Gods must want this union and who was he to go ahead the wishes of the Gods?
Sam sent Maria ‘s servant back to her with this message
Maria,
“I know what you did.All will be forgiven if you will consent to be mine.I’ll give up all other women and devote myself to you and you alone, but you must do the same for me.”
Maria was moved by Sam’s message and also knew that Sam had killed her paramours.She was determined to teach Sam a lesson first then she would join him.
She wrote back to Sam,
“My dear sir, I have no idea why every woman you ever slept with has died horrible deaths.I am reluctant to become victim number 11.What can you do to show me that you will protect me from this horrible curse?‘
Sam wrote back to Maria ,
“My dearest Maria , the gods themselves want this union.I know you arranged to kill all of my girlfriends but I also arranged to kill your paramours.If either of us are betrayed by our servants we will both be hanged.So I think we should get together and put this little silliness behind us.What do you think? ”
The Senator’s staff who had been instructed to watch out for correspondence between Sam and Maria intercepted Sam’s letter.The Senator distrusted Sam and noticed that Maria was acting funny every time Sam’s name came up.
The Senator confronted Maria with the evidence,
“Maria , my daughter what have you done?You killed 10 women, some of them daughters of friends of ours?In addition, this Sam has killed 10 men, some of them sons of very prominent families. People are talking, Maria .I do not know if I can protect you.If you love this Sam, the only solution is to run away with him to Greece or Africa minor where Roman law does not yet extend.”
Maria confessed to her father.The Senator arranged to have her and Sam smuggled on a boat bound for Damascus.Sam would be set up as a trader and spy for Rome.Maria would be married to Sam once they got there.The Senator would spread a story around town that Maria and Sam had perished at sea when they eloped. Maria andRoberto were happy but nervous.
They made passionate love on the boat to Damascus.
Chapter 16Viking Scotland
Sam and Marie were again in the world between worlds looking at their
possible fate and saw a sign for a Viking adventure tour and said
this is it.and Sam found himself to be Ake, Song of Asgard.
Ake, Son of Asgard, the King of the Vikings met his senior staff to discuss
the pending raid of Scotland.He told this should be a very
important raid as he was going to propose an alliance of the Scottish Laird.
Ake, was a believer and old Norse religions, and also a mystic.
A fellow traveler who had been to the Indies had talk to them about Buddhist
principles including re-incarnation and the cosmic law of Karma. He believed
in karma and fate. He was not a Christian which was a religion that was
rapidly spreading across the realms and the new religion of the Scottish.
He had a dream he said in which he was making love to Soirse the daughter
of the Laird Mc Pearson Laird of Inverness.She was to
be his wife the next day.
She was naked and the most beautiful alluring woman in all the realms.She
had delightful long black hair,black burins diamond eyes that bore into your
soul. and was filled with lustful mischief and intrigue.She had beautiful breasts
that demanded attention from both men and woman promising endless carnal
delights and an ass to die for demanding to be admired.
He told his men, “ she is an age sent form heaven to save my soul and satisfy
my every need. Who am I go go against the will of the Gods?”
the men cheered and got ready to launch Operation Seize the Laird’s
Daughter
the mission would be simple they would raid the coast, pillaging and raping
as usual taking what they wanted and needed.but they would propose a truce
a peace treaty of sorts.The Laird would promise his daughter to be his wife,
and five noble woman for his key are members.They would remain behind
with their new wife’s and become lairds of the land and loyal to the King of
Scotland, and to the King of the Norse-lands.
His son, thegrandson of the Laird would return as an adult to become the
next laird and he would retire as an old seaman to raid no more.
. they sailed at dawn and arrived the next day with dawn as was their custom.
they marched on to the Castle marauding as they went.
they surrounded the castle and demanded a parlay with the Laird.
the laird came out and Ake made his pitch
“Laird I am prepared to offer you a truce.A peace settlement of sorts.If
you give me your daughter in marriage and five noble woman for my key
people, we will leave you in peace.My noblemen will retire in your land and
become loyal subjects. My future son, your grandson, will return as an adult
to claim his share of the kingdom and I will retire here as a retired seaman and
assist him in ruling your realms.”
The Laird responded,
“I will convey your message to my daughter but it is her decision after all.
and the other noble woman will have to consent as well.It will help if your
men and yourself covert to the one True God and accept Jesus as your savior.
and have a Christian marriage and raise your children as Christians.
If she accepts your proposal we have a deal. “
The laird called his daughter to his room and told her of the proposal.he said
“You should accept the proposal as it will spare our people much grief and
misery”
“ Tell him I will accept on two circumstances.First that we spend the night
together as lovers.If he can satisfy my every carnal desire, and is an good lover
and a good man, then we can get married.And he would have to agree to raise
my son, your grandson as a true Christian.”
The laird conveyed the decision to the Viking King.The king was amused
by her arrogance and her erotic desires.
she came to him at sunset and said
“ i am going to instruct you on the art of making love to me.If you satisfy
my carnal desires I will marry you.and you will agree to have no other lovers
but me.You will make love to me every night per my instructions. I am in
chargein the bedAre we clear?
Good.First things take a bath and shave. You stink.I need you to be clean
enough for to eat, and I will do the same = first thing we are going to do is eat
each other enjoying oral sex which is my favorite
when he finished she stood naked by the bed and told him pointing at her
breasts you fuck them after you eat me until I cum.
and they made love all night until the dawning sun
The Laird had changed his min.The deal was off.He and his men crept
into the viking tents and killed them all and the five noble woman.
the Laird summoned the Viking King and his daughter to him
“You are condemned to death for the crime of fornication before marriage
and refusing to have a Christian marriage.Any last words before I send you to
hell the only after life you will ever know?”
The Viking king turned to his bride and said,
The only crime I have committed it making love to the most beautiful
woman in the world, and I would like you to marry us before you carry out the
sentence. “
his bride said
Please daddy.”
a priest was summoned and held a mass.and married them.
He concluded
“I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride before we proceed
with the execution. Do you accept Jesus as your savior?
“No? well May God have mercy on your souls.”
the Viking king said
“See you in my next life my timeless love.”
and the king beheaded them.the vikings and their consorts were put on their
ships which were burned and sent to sink ben into the ocean according to
Viking funeral rites as the Larid had declared that they were not entitled to a
‘Christian burial
Chapter 17 medieval Germany Reunited in Germany in Middle Ages
Sam and Maria were back in the world between worlds wondering where their path would next take them and came upon a portal to a pleasant german town in the medieval period and they though perhaps this is the place where we will finally break our course.But it was just another way station on their endless journey through purgatory on earth – one doomed love affair after another
Sam and Maria next met 500 years later during the middle ages.Sam was a merchant again,Bernard son of Oscar the Silver smith. living in a small town in Germany.Maria lived down the street and was the daughter of the innkeeper in town.Maria was 19 and stunning.She had long black hair, great gorgeous breasts, an ass to die for, and flaming black diamond eyes.She was also a virgin although many men had wanted her she vowed to wait until she met the one – the man that she was destined to marry.
One day she had a dream.In the dream, she dreamt of meeting Bernard.She knew who he was of course, but not yet been formally introduced.Shew as determined to met him, seduce him and make him her husband.He could help her Mother managed the bar.Ever since the death of her father during the plague yearsher Mother and her had been running the bar fending off suitors for both her mother and her. But to marry Bernard she would have to defy who mother who had promised to marry her to the local lord’s second son which would be an advantageous match one that was above her social standings.He mother really wanted this marriage but she hated the second lord’s son with an intense passion and was determined to never marry him.
Bernard was a hard working salt of the earth man who was very popular in town as he had a reputation for being honest to a fault and a friend to all.
Bernard and Maria noticed each other and keep bumping into each other. Bernard knew that she was engaged to be married off to the local lord’s second son,Jonestown, who had a reputation as a hard drinking, hard playing, know it all, in short a first class asshole.
Bernard was determined to stop this match, but he also knew that if he managed to stop the engagement, he would have to flee the town for his life.Maria’s mother was not making things better for him.She was determined to go through with the marriage, as it would help her family out.As far as she was concerned, they could continue to see each other after the marriage and she could be Maria’s lover on the side.Bernard knew that it would never work and thought that he would surely be put to death by the Lord’s son.
One night Maria and Bernard spoke at length. He was relieved to hear that she she was determined to not marry Jonestown and shared his feelings of hatred towards the man and the lord who had been terrorizing the town’s residents for decades.They both were first class assholes.
The day of the marriage approached and Bernard was determined to spend the night with her at least once and deprive the Lord the pleasure of being Maria ‘s first lover.Maria had other plans for him.She wanted him to be seen with her by her future husband so he would become jealous and realize how much he needed her., so she could seduce her future husband and make him hers. She would continue to have Bernard as her lover and that would be the Lord’s son and her’s secret agreement.She would also allow the Lord to have a mistress or two. She would bear him a son but would be allowed to have Bernard as her lover.Bernard was not told of this plan yet but Johnson had agreed to the plan.
The plan of course backfired.The lord found them together naked in bed.The Lord was furious at this public humiliation = and declared that Bernard andMaria must die for their offense against proper morality and their insult to their family. Johnstown told his father of the secret agreement. He said to his son
He ordered them out into the middle of the town square and held an impromptu trial.The Lord turned to Sam and asked if he had any final words.Sam said,
“My lord and liege.If it is a crime to be a man and fall in love with the most beautiful women in the entire universe, so be it.I am guilty as charged. Go ahead and kill me now.But know this:I know that I will see her in the next life and every minute spent with her was worth a million dollars.”
The lord cried “off with their heads”
. Sam’s dying words were
“see you in the next life my timeless love.”
and she responded
“see you there my eternal love.”
the executor beheaded them both. their headless bodies were posted on placards outside of town as a warning to everyone else – know you place in society, respect tradition and never ever marry across the class divide. There’s was truly a doomed forbidden love from the start.
Chapter 17 Aztec Love affair
Sam and Marie were again in the world between worlds wandering to their next life when they encountered a portal entitled “ Aztec Love Sacrifice”Intrigued they jumped in andSam found himself in the ancient Aztec Empire at its peak. He was Eztli Ichtaca Ihuicatl, the son of the Aztec EmperorTlacaelel and third in line to the crown.He wasserving his mandatory military service as a captain in the imperial Army.Among hisduties was overseeing the annual sacrifice to the Gods .
the empire held a beauty contest.the most beautiful young virgin would be
chosen to sacrifice to the Godsespecially Huitzilopochtli to ensure peace and
prosperity for all.
Maria found herself reborn asCitalli Tenouch a young women from a farming
family who had entered the national beauty contest and had been summoned to the
Tenochtitlan capitol for the final rounds.Her family were veryexcited that she’s
chosento represent to represent the promisethe province in the national
competition.The family would be rewarded for her sacrifice by a generous
stipend, and her father stood to be promoted to lesser nobility and receive lands
in compensation and her two younger sisters would be married off after the contest
and human sacrifice ordeal was over.
She would travel to the capitol with her family and with the other contestants.
the King’s son would hold the final competition.He would look at their naked
bodies to ensure that they were indeed virgins. Not being a virgin would disqualify
her but she would still be scarified anyway.
on the day of the sacrifice,she would be marauded to the stadium where she
would be presented to the King.Captured enemy soldiers would be killed first
flayed alive by the priests then thrown into burning fires.Then the top three
candidates would be stopped naked and flayed alive and thrown into the eternal
flames.She would be given to the King’s son who would rape her in front of the
crowd taking her virginity before throwing her into fires to burn alive.Her sacrifice
would ensure that the Aztec Empire would continue victorious against all enemies.
Little did she know that she would be the last human sacrifice because the
Spanish had landed on the coast and were preparing to wage war against the Aztec
empire.The emperor was worried – he had heard rumors of the landing of the
Spanish and that the Spanish appeared to be devils in human form.
The day arrived and she was presented to the King and his senior staff.She
was stripped naked and all admired her beautiful body especially her big bodacious
breasts which she was most proud of.She hoped that the King’s son would do her
the honor of fucking her there when they fucked before her death. She stood
proudly before the king naked, with her black hair flowing in the wind, and her
diamond like black eyes ablaze with lusty intent. She was going to enjoy herself
before being killed.
When she met the King’s son it was lust at first sight for both of them.She
knew that he had met her in pervious life and recalled her life with him in ancient
‘Atlantis, Rome, andGermany .She smiled and she knew that he knew too.
but she wondered if this time they would escaped their cursed fate and be allowed to
live out their life in peace and happiness or were they doomed to die yet again?
when she went to the King’s son, he whispered, don’t worry we will escape
this place and I will make love to you in private and we will run away together.i
will join the Spanish in overthrowing the King and ending this barbaric human
sacrifice once and for all.I can’t let you go my timeless love, this time we will
escape our cursed fate.
He stood up and said
Father I can’t let you do this. She is my soul mate from a prior life and we are
fated to be together. Spare her life and let me marry her.
The King said
“Marry her?She is the wrong caste,it is totally out of the question. She was
chosen for this sacrifice.I admit that she is the most beautiful woman in the known
realms but that is her fate.The gods are hungry and must be appeased. Do you duty,
rape her and throw her into the eternal flame.”
“I can not do that Father. “
He ran out of the hall with her pursued by the King’s guards.
He made it to the countryside and that night they made love trying everything
and she even got her lusty wish to have him fuck her breasts!
The next morning, the imperial spies found them and they were marched back
to the capitol.He was forced to fuck her again and then threw her into flames and he
surprised everyone by jumping in himself saying
“see you in my next love my timeless love”.
Chapter 18 It’s a Pirate Life for Me
Sam and Maria found themselves again in the world between worlds wandering through the forrest looking at possible fates and came upon a portal with the label “ It is a pirate’s life for me” and jumped through finding themselves on a pirate ship sailing the Caribbean between Barbados and Bermuda close to the famed Bermuda triangle.
Sam found himself on a pirate ship he named timeless love.He was Capt. Redbird
due to his red beard left over from his days as a Viking Pirate King. Felt good to be
back in the ship and being a pirate again. His crew was unsanctioned unlicensed and
so had to dodge the British naval patrols.He was wanted for murder, rape and other
crimes committed by his crew, which were widely feared up and down the Carolina
coast, and Bermuda and the Bahamas and the rest of the Caribbean islands.They
avoided the Spanish and French islands because both the Spanish and the French
piracy a lot more serious than the British penalties for piracy.His motley Crew
were mostly English-speaking if you can call cockney English.Some of his crew
though were run away slaves, and Indians.And he had a few Chinese and Indians
from India on his crew.the Cook as Chinese and made the best food he had ever
tasted.He knew all the water ways including which parts of the dreaded Bermuda
triangle to avoid. They were careful to avoid Davey Jones Highway to hell.There
were monsters and demons in those waters that would lure you to their death
particularly the sucubii, the most beautiful seductive woman demons in the world who
sat on rocks singing seductive songs to passing ships.They were rumored to be
mermaids but when you approached they turned into hideous monsters who flew
away with your cock taken from you if you touched them, and had sex with them, you
would end up in David Jonese’ dark realm
.
Redbird had a dream which she shared with his crew.Red bird believed in past
lives, the laws of karma and re-incarnation, and was not a Christian.
He knew that he had a soulmate out there that he was
In the dream, he had met Maria the daughter of the Governor of Bermuda at a
party at his mansion.Kidman invited us to Gov. Gov.’s mansion for parlay. The
governor’s had a secret mission for them and if he took this mission’s crimes would be
forgiven.This mission was His mission was to assassinate George Washington who is
taking a leadership role and it was rumored to be appointed to be the governor
General of the colonialist rebellion which I just started it was 1776.He would sail
with his daughter Maria meet meet with Washington And his staff in New York on the
guise of offering their services to the colonialists. He and Maria would assassinate
Washington and come back to the Bahamas. If he took this commission and
assassinated Washington and treated his daughter with respect hard drives should be
forgiven however if he fails in his mission for he had intimate relations with is Don he
would be executed for his crimes.
The next day a ship from the royal naval approached with a white flag asking for
a parlay.The governor’s messenger told him the Governor’s proposal and invited him
to his house in Bermuda for diner and to meet with his co-consipractor his daughter
Maria.
Curious, red bird sailed for Bermuda carefully avoiding David Jones is a highway
to hell.His crew I Had been invited to the party as well. He told his crew about the
dream in the proposal and that he was going to accept that usual commissions.But
first on the way to New York they would drop by an island and Outer Banks near
devils kill him and very they’re fast Fortune for he feared that the English governor
would not honor his agreement and he wanted to make sure that is fortune would
survive even if he and the crew did not.
When he met Maria it was lust at first sight for both of them.She was tall, with
black hair Black flaming eyes, bodacious breasts and ask to die for.She had a very
sexy voice and it’s suited sex appeal.He knew they would have a hard time keeping
his hands off her I knew that she felt the same way.You thought of The drinking song
all I want to do is have some fun, and thought of her and accordingly depraved
manner.What heard it had many lovers now, but not as beautiful as Maria the
governor’s daughter. He decided to take her is into his confidence about the hurried
fortune after assassinating George Washington they would sail away together perhaps
another well as there were rumors that one could sail to other realms including one
where animals talked, ruled by a white witch that kept the land in perpetual winter
with no Christmasthere were pirates in that land as well he had heard and perhaps he
and his crew could settle there.
.
In any event he wanted sail together and be with forever
He felt that that her father would never consentto their union as he was born to a
poor station in life and she was born to the manor bred as the story went.
He went to the partyAnd accepted his commission. He met Mariaand was
smitten by her and she by him.The governor looked askance at how they looked at
each other and Redbird knew that he would have problems later with the Governor.
he did not trust the governor at all.He was a typical upper class twit with his oxford
education and his commission in the Royal navy and his sinecure job as the governor
not to mention his vast plantations in the Carolinas and in Bermuda where he grew
tobacco, rice, and sugar cane which he sold to the Gosling Rum company.
he had good taste in rum at least. and Redbird, the governor and Maria drank to day
light. Boy could that girl handle her liquor a good sign for a future wife he thought
lustfully.
when he introduced her to the crew they all fell for her and treated her with
upmost respect feeling that there was something different about her and the captain
and that they liked her and wanted to protect her treating her as she were their sister,
in fact they began calling her Sister Maria which she liked.She said though that she
was unlike any sister nun that they knew because this sister knew how to make love
and demanded a lover of skill and ambition looking at the captain with lust burning in
her eyes
that night they drank all night and made mad passionate love as the sun came up.
after breakfast Redbird confessed his misgivings and told her of his plans for the
hurried treasure
She agreed that they could not trust her father the governor who had a welldeserved reputation for dishonesty and disloyalty
they landed at Kill devil’s hills and buried the treasure in unmarked graves
underneath a tall pine tree.they made a secret map one copy was given to her, one tohim and one to his chief mate.he would inherit the treasure and divide it among themen evenly if something happened to them.
they sailed to NYC and decided to not assassinate George Washington as he
convinced them of the righteousness of his cause.
they sailed and resumed a life of a pirate. She was his queen.
One day while in the Bermuda waters they were captured by the King’s men.
the governor summoned them and condemned them to death for their privacy, for
refusing to assassinate George Washington, for treasure for supporting independence
and for fornication as they had sexual relations absent benefit of clergy which was a
big offense according to the Governor
Before they were made to walk the plank the governor demanded the map of the
buried treasure. When they refused the first mate was marched off the plank taking
with him the only copy of the buried treasure
“Any last words, pirate?”
“Mary us so we can go to the lord as man and wife.”
“please Dady do this for me as the last thing you ever did right.”
A priest was summoned and they were married,
Redbird said to his new bride
See you in Narnia my timeless love.”
and they were thrown overboardand the ship was swallowed up by a giant water
sprout and they were sucked into a portal and landed on a beach in the fabled land of
Narnia.
Chapter 15Narnia Adventures
Redbird looks up antzis lad he is on a beach. the Pirates have all survived along
with Maria.Redbird announce,
“let’s walk on the beach Lexie we can see,Lets’ see if there are any people in this
it Seems pretty deserted.We will need to find shelter because it looks like it’s going
to snow soon. It is obvious winter here.”
An animal comes out of the woods,a beaver.He stares at them and says
“Say are you folks human?”
Redbird responds,
“Why yes we are. How it is that you can speak. Where we are from animals don’t
knowhow to speak”
“well you are in the land of Narnia where Aslan the creator Lion King of the animals gave animals and man the ability to speak at the dawn of time.There are rumors that he may be returning to do battle against the white witch.She has enslaved the land making it always winter and never Christmas.But we must get you all out of here.She has spies everywhere. If she knew you were here she would have you all executed because of then prophecy that some day a gang of men and woman would arrive in Narnia and overthrow the Queen and free Narnia from this curse.
we will have to travel to Aslan’s hold where there is a conference of the resistance being held.We had heard that you were arriving and I was sent to fetch you.You will be our King and lead us into battle.”
Redbird pushed back,
Look Mr. Beaver. I ain’t no hero. I am actually a bad man where I came from. I was a pirate and this woman ran away with me to escape the vengeance of her father the corrupt Governor. But I agree we need to move. Perhaps we could be of assistance in your fight against the evil queen.”
they walked through the wintery forest.They soon came to a meadow in the woods.In the center of the meadow there was a tomb.the crowd had gather there. And what a crowd it was.there were apes, bears, foxes, cats, dogs, dwarfs, two Giants, owls and a centaur half human half horse who was leading the meeting.he noticed them and said in a gravely voice
Welcome humans to the land of Narnia.I hope you will help us by leading us into battle against the White Witch.We hear that Aslan might be on his way but we must begin planning the battle immediately.We need to storm her palace.We have about 200 warriors including the 20 of you. Will you lead us King Redbird?”
“ I am nota King.I am merely a pirate and this woman is my wife. She is the daughter of the evil corrupt governor.But yes I want to help you in your fight for freedom. As a pirate we were always on the side of the little man fighting the good fight against corrupt leaders. what can we do?
“hmm.Well according to ancient prophecy a King and a Queen from the outer lands will arrive in our realms one day and help us liberate ourselves from the wicked Queen. So to start with, we are going to proclaim you King and your wife Queen.this is regardless of whether you agree or not.it is the will of the prophets you see.”
“okay let’s get it over with. I never imagined that I would become a King someday and never imagined being in a magical land filled with talking animals.”
:”Okay. Owl please lead us.”
a big black owl flew over and took charge. He was well know for his wisdom and his knowledge of the occult. He had been the one who foresaw the coming of the humans.
“in accordance with ancient laws and customs, a human shall be the legitimate king and queen of Narnia according to the laws laid down at the beginning of time itself.Do youMr.Redbird agree to rule as a just and fair king fair to animal and man alike?
“I do.”
and do you Queen Redbird agree to be his lawful queen and rule over all with justice and humility?”
“I do”
“okay.Your fellow pirates will all be given titles as Lords and once this is over will receive lands for plantations.they will jointly rule the land of Narnia but you will have a parliament of animals to advise you.I will serve as your Prime Minister, assisted by the Centaur and the Beaver.Is that acceptable?”
yes it is.
“okay what are your orders, Sire?”
“Well we are tired so lets’s camp out here and in the morning we will have a war conference.”
“Fine.Tents appeared out of nowhere by magic and a feast was prepared.they spent the night talking and drinking and getting to know their new companions.
In the morning they set up a war plan.Meanwhile the evil queen’s spies had heard of their arrival and were preparing to march on their camp and catch them by surprise.
The queen accompanied by her chief of security, the evil and corrupt Ferris the wolf, and his evil dwarfs led a sled team and set out.
Along the way the encountered a squirrel enjoying a Christmas meal.The queen stopped the party and demanded to know where they had gotten their Christmas meal as Christmas was illegal in her realms with the punishment being death.
the terrified squirrel responded,
“father Christmas you majesty gave us this feast. and he said that with the arrival of the humans, that Aslan is on the move and your days are numbered.”
the evil white witch snapped her wand turning the squirrels into stone statues.and proclaimed
“We must kill these humans before the prophecy can take place.Hurry.”
the queen fell upon the party and a tremendous battle ensued. Suddenly a giant lion arrived and the battle turn in their favor.the queen was killed and the curse of the eternal winter ended.
Aslan turned to the King and said,
“Sir thank you for leading your people into battle. With your courage the battle was won.I have good news and bad news.The good news is that your pirate crew if they swear loyalty can stay in Narnia.Your first mate would become King. You on the other hand, are doomed to flee to another realm as the curse of your forbidden love has not been lifted.Some day perhaps but not today.
and Redbird and Maria found themselves once again in the land between worlds.they came upon a portal to the land of Oz and stepped through.
Chapter 18Oz Beckons
Sam finds himself wandering the streets of Oz.He mets the Shaggy man and decides to visit him in his Oz laird.Following his detailed map, Sam plans on meeting him in Oz in the Emerald city where he would meet with Ozma, Dorothy, the Tin Man and the cowardly lion. But on the way, he stops off and meets the Tin Man and they hit if off. They decide to march back to the Emerald city but would stop off to meet the lovely Aimee on the way to the city.
The Tin Man was in love with her but found it would be difficult for them to marry as he could not have sex any more.She said that was fine, he could satisfy her through other means and smiled.and they made wild passionate love all night long.
The next day, Sam and the Tin Man resume their march to join their colleagues in the Emerald city.Sam is amazed at what he saw in the magical kingdom of Oz where magic was real but came at a terrible price.All magic he learned had a price.Nothing was free it seemed.
One week the barriers between the various worlds break down. The people of Oz find themselves wandering the streets of NYC and the people of NYC find ind themselves wondering the street of Oz. And for week all the animals in earth wake up in can speak And they have a lot to say. Mostly not good as the animals realized how the humans had oppressed them for centuries.the animals are in open revolt against their human oppressors.
A week of total total madness All the barriers between the various dimensions break down, Oz and Narnia are discovered and the people in those lands discover the evils of the depraved the modern world. And then the warm hole disappears and that shuts everything down for now.
Sam is in the Emerald city now having become close confidents of the Wizard, Osma, Glenda, the Tin Man and the other senior leaders of Oz.They respected him because he had been a king before and a pirate to boot and knew things. Samand the the Wizard and senior leaders watch the breakdown of the breakdown of the dimensional barrier of time and space via Glenda’s magic book that shows everything that happens in the Oz worlds.Afterwards Samworks with Glenda to try to put a permanent Magical Barrier that would block the land of oz from the rest of the world, learning deep magic secrets from Glenda and the Wizard and becoming an adept Wizard in the process.
Butthey are afraid that the knowledge of Oz has gotten out, And that too many people are gonna want to find Oz and that too many people in Oz are going to want to join the pleasures of the corrupt modern world.Animals in the modern world retain the ability to speak and begin agitating for their civil rights.
One of the things that happens when the barriers between worlds fall is that everybody in Oz is filled with the decadent sexual energy of the modern world And everyone in Oz wakes up and realizes that they have a strong sexual desire that includes their beloved child queen Ozma.
Ozma realized that she was secretly in love with Dorothy.they both realize is that they were secretly in love with each other and wanted to explore their sexuality. Dorothy having been 16 when she entered Oz last was a virgin as was Ozma. That changed and they found a lesbian video and played it and made love all week long.
Ozma looked at Dorothy and kissed her really kissed her then took off her clothes and went down on and ate her pussy and Dorthoy returned the favor. Neither one of them wanted to try sex with a man yet. But Little Trot and Betsy made love to each other and then seduced Ojo the lucky.
Little Trot and Betsy made love to Ojo in a threesome that they all enjoyed. It seemed that everyone in Oz had woken up their hidden suppressed sexual desire and the whole country erupted in an orgy of sexual decadence. Once let loose these builds up desires did not go away when the barriers reappeared and Oz went back to being a mysterious land. Many people in Oz had had a wild time in the modern world as well and longed for the sexual freedom of the West.
That was a a huge problem for people of Oz. Glenda the Good tried to contain the damage but the damaged had been done.
Sam stayed on in Oz in the Emerald city and one night he realizes that Dorothy is really Maria his soul mate and they had found each other again.They made love until the dawning sun and went to tell Ozma and the others that they had found each other again.
There was a period between 1895 to 1939 when the barriers between the world were weak and people from earth made it to Oz and some Oz people made it to earth. But in 1939 Oz cut itself from our world. There are still ways to get to and from Oz but Oz remains a hidden land and a paradise compared to our modern wicked land.
Sam and Dorothy remain together for several years. But there were evil forces both Oz, and the surrounding lands and the earth that wished to re-open the barriers and establish contact with Oz and with Narnia and other lands.
But so far Oz and Narnia remain hidden. These are the stories of the hidden history of the Land of Oz. Time in Oz flows differently than in our world. People don’t age naturally and people don’t die of illness or old age only occasionally due to accidents. And people from our world went they go to Oz remain the same age for ever.The leaders of Oz are afraid that if the barriers were to be removed their land would be destroyed by the wicked modern world.
fifteen years later one day Glenda called Sam and Dorothy to her castle. She had bad news.Their love affair was coming to an end. The curse that they were living under had remerged and they could not longer remain in Oz. They were doomed to re-enter the earth and travel different paths. But she said that they would always find each other and one day their curse would be lifted.
Dorothy would also have to leave Oz and wander the world but she would find him as well. Just have patience, Glenda advised them.
.
Chapter 16Jurassic Cruise
Sam and Maria find themselves again in the world between worlds and see a sailingship sailing towards unknown lands and jump into the ship and find themselves on a sailing ship in the 17th century sailing towards the Americas whenThey approach the Bermuda triangle.Already the area has a reputation as a place of mystery and unexplained disappearance of ships.We are all weary.Out of nowhere a giant water spot begins developing in front of the ship.We are drawn to it and can’t escape the swirling waters.We are sucked into the vortex and emerge on the other side – alive! Although the ship is badly damaged and starts to sink.We abandon the ship and swim to the shore of an unknown tropic island.
We land on the island and discover that we have gone back in time to the Jurassic era.Of course none of us had heard about dinosaurs.We quickly learn which ones are dangerous and which we can hunt for food and we adjust.We realize we will be there for ever.And we have among the crew only four women and 50 men.We eventually decide that since we are going to be there for a long time that the women will have to take turns being mistresses to the men.We work out a rotational schedule so every man gets a week with one of the women every six months or so.We work out a strict rotational schedule and a rule that the women is charge of their relationships.Pretty soon we have a few children.All the men are deemed to the father and all take care in raising the children.
This goes on for generations and eventually we have a more normal male-female ratio and we have about 200 people living there.But the rule that the women choose their man and rotate their lovers every week continues and the men are considered to be the father of every child.Eventually the system emerges that the oldest women and the oldest man become the chiefs of the tribe.When they die the next oldest takes their place so the second oldest man and women serve as deputies.The decision of the four are final. But all important decisions are made in weekly meetings to which all adults are allowed to speak on any issue they wish.A real democracy and it works.
Every fifty years or so another ship comes through and we quickly capture the survivors and give them a choice – live among us according to our quirky rules or move on to form their own settlement.Most join us.Eventually after 250 years we have grown to a community of 10,000 people in four different villages.The old rules still apply though.
And we loose a few people each year to dino attacks.The dinos never attack the village as they are afraid of fire.For that reason we keep the central bonfire going 24/7.And all the houses are located around the central plaza.As the village grows we build other plazas with houses around a bonfire-plaza.That becomes the main design of our new civilization.
We had managed to keep up some elements of civilization.We had some books and we teach the children to read and write and we have kept a journal and had learned to make a paper substitute from a local plant.
We appointed a scribe whose job was to write an account of every day we spent on the island.Eventually the chronicals as we call it cover 250 years and are quite extensive.It is used to settle disputes among other issues.We also eventually end up with a police force, a judge, and formal teachers.But the old custom of the oldest serving as leaders continues.
Chapter 21 Cherokee Love affair new
Chapter 22 Colonial America
Hundreds of years pass before Sam and Maria found each other again.This time Sam was an African prince in the Ghana coast and Maria was the headstrong daughter of an American tobacco plantation owner.Sam was caught up in a slave raid and transported on a slave ship to America.Sam soon become the head field slave due to his obvious leadership and intelligence.Sam was determined to run away from the plantation and join the Seminole Indians in the mountains.
Sam one day was working in the field and saw Maria walk by.Sam was instantly taken by her and stared at her with lustful longing eyes.Maria noticed Sam at once and was flattered by the attention.Some of the other young ladies in town had told delicious salacious tales of nights of wild passion with their secret slave lovers.Maria quickly found out that Sam did not have a girlfriend, and that Sam had not yet been with any of the “wild wicked women” as her friends called themselves.Maria was determined to seduce Sam and have fun with him for one night or two.But of course, things did not quite work out that way.
One night Sam received a message that the head house slave for some urgent business wanted him.Sam had not yet been invited into the big house and was nervous.He wondered if someone had noticed the flirtatious looks that he and Maria had exchanged on more than one occasion.
George, the house slave, took Sam aside and gave him a key.He said, “Go in, do your thing, satisfy the young one, and then run off.There is a horse out back of the house.Take the horse and ride like the dickens for the hills.I know some of the Seminoles.They are good people.They will take care of you.But leave before dawn.If the Master catches you, we will both be hanged.”
Sam goes to the room, and finds Maria in bed.She was naked and waiting for him.She was even more beautiful than he imagined she would be. They made wild passionate love until dawn. Sam kissed every inch of her body and slowly filled her body with him.
They both knew that the love they felt was forbidden and could get them killed but it was worth it to feel so much alive and full of passion, if only for a night, if only for that moment.Sam walked out the door and got on the horse.He made it out the back and off the plantation, when the alert was given.George had decided to turn Sam in after all as he thought otherwise he would be hung as well due to his involvement in the arranging of the tryst.
Maria caught up to the lynching mob just as they were stringing Sam up.She ran up to him, and said,
“I love you.I always will.Wait for me in the next life.”She pulled out a pistol she was carrying, turned, and shot Sam in the head before turning the pistol on herself and killing herself.
The Jones family told friends and neighbors that Maria had been dying of the yellow fever and was so filled with pain that she had killed herself.Sam was simply buried in a field.No funeral was held for him, as he was simply a run-away slave who had raped a white woman.
Chapter 23 Meeting Princess Maria in the 19th Centuryto be edited and
Maria was a crown princess of a German State prior to German independence.Her State was an important swing state in the German state system of constantly shifting alliances.Many of the alliances were cemented by marriage.The princess and princes were a wild dissolute lot and extra and premarital sex was the norm.Most princesses and queens had many unofficial courtesans as did the Kings and Princes.What was weird was a stable monogamous marriage.Divorce and re-marriage was a scandal and not allowed.
There were rumors that some of the princesses and princes had orgy parties.These were whispered about but not one involved would comment and the servant class knew to look the other way and to not talk about it too much.Anyone talking out of school would be dismissed and become a farmer or would disappear, or be forced to immigrate to America.
Maria was the most beautiful of all the unmarried princesses and her father was desperate to marry her off and to calm her down.She was tall brunette with world class boobs and an ass that just demanded attention and she has such intense eyes and a beautiful smile on her round face. I was one of the princes that he was considering marrying her to.My father was a King of another German State but her father was holding out to see if he could get married to the King of Sweden or perhaps the King of England.
She did not speak English and she was lazy as a student.The king asked me to teach her as I had studied in England at Oxford (one of the few German princes who had studied outside of Germany, the norm was that the Princes got a degree from a good German University, and spent two years in France, Italy or England studying further and cementing overseas alliances, and service in the Military as an officer for two years was mandatory as well.So the Princes tended to marry at age 30 and the princesses married at age 20 to 22.
But of course the Princes had by the time of their marriage had over 50 affairs mostly with fellow royals and occasionally with commoners, particularly daughters of merchants.
Marriage was usually to royals but second and third sons sometimes married daughters of merchants.
And quick affairs with the servant classes were common as well. Many had illegitimate children which were never acknowledged.The servants involved were usually paid a sizeable amount of money, married off quickly and forced to immigrate to America with their new husband and bastard children.Those who refused the generous offers were “disappeared”.
Maria knew that I loved her but she could not see herself with me as I just was not rich enough and my Father’s kingdom was too small.
She refused me as her lover too because she did not want to hurt me too much.She enjoyed torturing me, having me walk in on her in bed with one of her other suitors.Once she was in bed with an African Prince and a Chinese Prince at the same time!The African was buttfucking her and the she was sucking the Chinese She made me wait outside while they finished up.
As was the custom when they finished no one acknowledged what had just happened.
I finally had enough and told her that I loved her and wanted her and that I would satisfy her every need.
We had a brief affair and it was wonderful.She introduced me to the pleasures of anal sex which quickly became our default love making position.
The King found out and banished me from the Kingdom because he had decided to accept the King of Sweden for her daughter and the daughter was told to clean up her act as the King of Sweden would not tolerate her having extra lovers.
I immigrated to America and become a wealthy man and eventually married and had three children but I always dreamt of Maria.And she wrote me saying that she always regretted not going for me because I was the best in bed for her.
We never saw each other again but corresponded once in a while.
Chapter 21 late 19th century Indian Love affairNew
Chapter 22 Paris Lesbian Love affair new
Chapter 23 Korean War Meeting In Korean War
Hundreds of years pass and Sam and Maria kept searching for each other, both knowing that someday they would meet again and that someday their love would be allowed to flourish. In the 1920’s in Korea Sam was born into a peasant family. He grew up amidst great suffering and oppression.Sam became a communist, joined the Kim IL Sung forces, and hid out in the mountains until the Japanese were overthrown.Sam came to town and was put in charge of the land reform process.All the landlords were summoned before the party committee.
Maria was the daughter of the richest landlord in the village.She was beautiful and strikingly so.Sam took one look at her and knew that he had to have her as his wife.Sam knew he could order her to marry him but that would be wrong.She would have to love him freely.And that meant that she would have to disown her own family as Sam could not marry a landlord’s daughter and remain true to the revolution, now could he?
Sam asked that Maria be brought before him.He told all his comrades to leave them as he had some private political education to impart to her.They snickered and laughed but finally left the two of them together.Sam explained his position to her, telling her that she was free to choose him or not, but that since he was communist she would have to denounce her father before the committee in order for them to be together.
Maria refused to denounce her father to the communists.Sam left her alone in solitary confinement and came by every day to continue their educational discussions.The village was retaken one day by the South Korean army and the South Korean rightist forces decided to make an example of Sam.
Sam was put on trial and the villagers were all brought in to testify against Sam.Maria was put on the stand.She refused to give testimony against Sam and said that she loved Sam and was willing to follow him to the grave if that was the only way they could be together.
That night they met up and made love as if it was the last day of their life as they knew it might be.
Sam and Maria were hung the next day on a pole outside the town.Maria ‘s last words were, “I’ll see you in the next life.”
Chapter 24 60’s Berkeley Gay Love affair new
Postlude
Chapter 25 next life 100 years later lesbian love affair on Mars
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)
Broken Down Souls, Solving the Homeless Crisis
Solving the Homeless Problem
The homeless crisis in the United States has gotten
out of control. Something must be done I’m both the federal state and local levels to solve the problem of homelessness in the United States. The private sector, especially large employers, the tech sector, the universities, and the NGO sector must be involved as well. This must must be made a top priority of the Federal and state governments to end the scourge of homelessness once and for all recognizing that housing is a basic human right and no one in America will be allowed to live on the streets anymore. Here are my proposals. I would call upon the Department of Housing to take the lead by convening a national convention on the Housing Crisis with follow-up legislation and action by the Federal government, in cooperation with State, Local governments and the private sector.
There’re four elements to my proposal
There must be a lot more housing built, mostly Multi family units, old-style boarding houses and single family residence hotels I’ve departed that picture as well including Group housing, and temporary housing for the chronic homeless should be set up knees tent cities would provide employment Basic medical care training and assistance to transition the residents into more permanent housing solutions.
Housing is a Basic human Right
One of the key elements of the proposal is the recognition that housing is a basic human right, no one and no one Will be allowed to live on the streets. If someone cannot afford housing today would be a sign to the homeless camps and this would be mandatory.
I know that this part of the proposal will be controversial from a civil liberty point of view, but I feel it is essential to solve the homeless problem. It is simply unacceptable then in the richest country in the world are being forced to live on the streets.
To pay for new housing and the the shelter system, a modest increase and income taxes is warranted. Most of the cost of running the shelters an expansion of housing should be done to the federal government.
As part of the solution, housing vouchers should be provided to people who are earning less than I hundred 200 of the poverty line so that they could afford to rent housing.
More housing Must Be Build
There must be a lot more housing built everyhere, and most of them must be built along transit lines, and most must be multi family unit facilities. The era of single-family homes Will have to come to and end. As part of this it must be made easier to convert single-family homes in the multifamily units, so call granny flat must be made available everywhere, short term housing must be regulated and made part of the pictures well.
Changes to Zoning, Smart Growth Policies
Local zoning laws that restrict housing in the residential areas only need to be revised, the goal should be mixed use development everywhere. Large buildings should consist of apartment offices and retail, smaller scale developments must include offices and retail as well. The goal should be a cityscape something similar to develop to the development any station where most housing is multi use buildings and everyone is within walking distance of offices retail and transit. Metropolitan governments need to have a regional planning office to coordinate new housing we develop mental housing retail commercial development an improved access to transit. Developers Will be giving incentives to build most housing at market value or below market value housing.
In California in other states that have similar restrictions, prop 13 and other property tax restrictions must be revised to encourage courage people to sell properties or renovate properties. Similarly zoning laws must be changed to encourage housing development, and mixed use development, and smart growth policies. The era when developers build housing far from transportation systems without any coordination with local government or planning must end.
Boarding Houses , Dormitories, other Group Housing and SOH’s need to be revived
As part of the housing problem, boarding houses, Group houses, dormitories for corporate workers, government workers including fire fighters, police and teachers, and university students on site need to be part of that package as well. inexpensive single occupancy hotels must be part of the package with the recognition that Half the population will end up living in these group housing arrangements. Very few people Will live in single-family homes anymore, most people will live in need of poop housing for apartment buildings, although there will be still people living in single-family homes and that is fine.
temporary housing camps including a revival of the Civilian Conservation Camp need to be part of the Proposal
Homeless tent camps should be legalized and located and areas near downtown. The camps must be located along transit lines. Anyone who needs a place to stay would be given a cot in a four man tent. The tenants will be heated and have air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi access. All the residents of the camp will work 30 hours a week to help maintain the camps in an hygienic attractive a manner, administrative services and law enforcement services for the camp, or will work in the national, state and local parks and forrest doing conservation projects, or serving as first responders. thus some people will live off site for a considerable amount of time near the forest, and park conservation sites, but all people will be assigned to a home camp. That camps will have food services for the residents food services for the residents medical services an offer education and training services as well.
the Camps would be run like the old CCC camps award of the great depression. The Cams will provide temporary housing for people in exchange for assistance and public service employment activities including conservation activities. Drug use alcohol use and gambling of course will be illegal in the camps, as will panhandling. Sleeping on the streets outside the camp will be illegal and the homeless will be rounded up and taken to the camps involuntarily if needed.
To pay for these camps, the federal government we’ll pay for most of the cost.
State and local governments working with the real estate developers, will develop low cost permanent housing, and camp residents will be transited into permanent housing as a housing is brought online.
The Camps will be open to all who need them including undocumented Aliens. No one will be turned away board turned into an immigration.
The camps be training and educational service centers, and temporary employment centers, with most residents living elsewhere.
We can Solve the Problem if We Make it an Urgent National Priority
If all these proposals are enacted in a comprehensive national strategy, the scourge of homelessness can be defeated and no one in America we’ll be forced to live on the streets.
Broken Down Souls Poems
Broken Down Souls
Homeless Fears
No One Knows Their Names
Trump’s Social Cleansing Program
Social Purification Drives
Broken Down Souls Do You See Them?
Broken Down Souls
Broken Down Souls
You see them everywhere
On the street
On the bus
On the metro
But mostly wandering the streets
Lost souls
Broken down defeated souls
The souls of the living dead
Dead inside
Waiting for death
To deliver them
from the agony
Of the living dead
They make do
They beg
They steel
They con their way
Living the street life
Living death
Broken Souls
You have two minds
One part of you
the fearful part of you
Conditioned to ignore
Conditioned to walk by
Ignoring the tragic wounded lives
The broken souls all around you
But part of you knows
That you can’t do that
But you can’t save everyone
So, you do what you can
You help those
whom you can
All it takes
is a little act of compassion
A little human kindness
A few bucks or a cup of coffee
And you walk by
Knowing just knowing
That by a simple act of acknowledging
Our shared humanity
You have made a small victory
And brought happiness
To yet another
broken down soul
And the fear
that you will
be a broken soul some day
Recedes away
Not me never
Never will happen to me
But one forgets
It is a simple matter
A wrong turn in life
The wrong place
wrong time
wrong thing
And you could be the broken soul
On the street
Begging to be heard
Begging to be taken away
And so,
I walk on by no more
I will listen
I will talk to them
I will make a small difference
And in so doing
Avoid becoming
a broken-down soul
Homeless Fears
I almost became
a broken-down soul
Out on the street
So many years ago
I was in college
Adrift for the summer
Smoking too much weed
Aimless
And I hung out
And got to know
Some of the homeless
Some of the bums on the street
And I vowed
That I would never be that person
Never sink that low
Never ever
Be the homeless bum
The invisible man
And that knowledge
Stuck with me
Throughout my life
Now many decades later
I try to remember
And I try to help
When I can
And recall what
it would be like
To be on the street
With nothing
but your clothes
And the money you borrowed
To keep you alive
No One Knows Their Name
The worst part of it all
As I survey the homeless
Across this great land of ours
The worst part of it all
Is that no one knows their name
No one knows their story
No one cares at all
And in this age of hatred
Sponsored by our president himself
The homeless are being treated
More and more as disposable trash
More and cities
Are banning the homeless
From their cities
Banning feeding the homeless
Banning begging
Banning sleeping in the streets
And banning their camp sites
If they could
they would
round them all up
And shoot them
Or let them run for their life
In some sort of game on TV
Because the homeless
Are an affront
to these so called
Christian patriots
They are lazy good for nothing losers
Who cause problems for good citizens
They should be locked up
Or removed
For the good of us all
No one wants them
No one cares
And no one knows their name
President Trump Discovers the Homeless
President Trump
Our dear compassion leader
Recently discovered
That homeless people
Were everywhere
All over DC
NYC
And especially LA and SF
The homeless were becoming
A huge problem
And something must be done
The homeless were taking
Up the best real estate
And making life difficult
For the masters of the Universe
Something must be done
The homeless have to be rounded up
And sent to camps
Out of sight
out of mind
and people would wonder
where did the homeless people go
To end the scourge of homelessness
Once and for all
The decree went out
The police rounded them all up
Shut down the street vendors
and homeless shanty towns
Sent them off for re-education
Deep in the countryside
Just in time for the Olympics
The homeless disappeared
Broken Down Souls Do You See them?
Broken down Souls Do You see them
Or are they invisible
all the broken souls
wandering the streets
no where to go
but to hell
on earth
now
now
you see
that they are
everywhere you see
can you see them now
will you be friend them now
or will you still look away
afraid that you will become them
the following sites are good sites to learn more and get involved in helping solve the problem. I will share this blog posting with them and update it if they respond to my blog
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)
Ten New Poems
these are some of my most recent poems that I have posted on All Poetry, Poetry Soup, Cosmos-funnel, Hello Poetry, Poetry Opus Magnum, Fan Story and Sweek among other places. Check it out.
end of the worldDeep Fake Era
Demon Cat from Oregon
Strange Cat Looking at Me
Cat Dreams Kill All Humans
Visiting Father’s Grave
Ghosts of Yakima
Another Day Another
Mountain Forrest
End Times Approaches
Rumors of War
Deep Fake Era is Upon Us
The Deep fake era is upon us
Every thing is fake these days
Everything is a fraud
Prepare for the deep fake world
Fakery, fraud, and falsehoods abound
All artfully done Killing the last shred of human decency left
Everything is a deep fake
these days
Oregon Demon Cat
The demon cat
Lived in Medford Oregon
The demon cat was a big black cat
His eyes were filled with demonic energy
He stared at you
Looking into your very soul
Filled with anger, and hatred
For the entire human race
He seemed at times
To be not from this planet
Perhaps an alien species
Studying the human race
Or perhaps he came
Form hell itself
The demon cat loved to torment visitors
For some reason he hated the man’s daughter
The cat would stare at her from his perch
Down the hall from the old man
Then he would run at her
Screaming like an escaped banshee
Straight out of hell
She told her dad
Either the cat goes
Or I go
He said
See you later
The demon cat smiled
At the small victory
And she left the house
With the demon cat
Screeching good bye
Strange Cat Watching Me
A cat sits on the edge of a bed
Watching me watching him
Both of us thinking
What sort of strange creature this is
That has invaded our personal space
Upending our daily routines
The cat came up to me
Staring at me
with his soulful eyes
Boring into my very soul
Looking for answers
To these dark fundamental questions
The cat smiles a mysterious smile
And purrs in contentment
Having found an answer of sorts
And indicates that we can be friends
As long as I know
That he is the boss of me
And I pet him
Acknowledging
the time honored
Ritual of human cat interaction
That dates
back to the dawn of time
When humans and cats
First became aware
Of the other
Strange creature
that shared
our planet
Cat Dreams Kill Humans
cat sitting smiling
cat lost in buddha trance thought
cat dreams kill humans
Visiting Father’s Grave
Visiting my father’s grave
In Yakima
The ancestral land of the Aller clan
Thinking about my father
And his legacy
And thinking that I am
My father’s son
There is so much
I wanted to tell him
So much I wanted to share
So much I wanted him to see
My accomplishments
He was taken from me
Before I had achieved
my dreams
Before I had become the man
That he and I both knew
I was destined to be
Ghosts in Yakima
Walking along a graveyard
Looking for my father’s grave
Seeing all the gravestones
I begin to sense the spirits
Of the restless dead
They linger around the graveyards
Waiting for visitors
Eager to talk to anyone
Who cares to stop
And chat
So lonely being a ghost
With no one to haunt
Mountain Forests
Driving through the vast forests
Of Central Oregon
Through the wall of trees
I imagine them talking to me
The trees are whispering
Dark satanic rituals
Voodoo mumble jumble
Evil chanting
Then they speak
Loud and clear
Welcome humans
To our world
You think you are
The king of the world
The lords of creation
Masters of the universe?
Soon, all too soon
God and Gaia his daughter
Will tire of you
Their latest plaything
They will discard you
Throw you down
Disgusted at the world
You have made
You took the world
They gave you for your pleasure
This huge wonderful world
Filled with life
You took a paradise
Beautiful, bountiful
Rich and wonderful world
Turned it into a sewer dump
God and Gaia
are not happy
Not happy at all
With you stupid humans
They will rise up
Smite you down
And turn you
Into dust in the cosmic wind
And we will laugh
and we will be witnesses
at your funeral
but we will not cry
No one will cry
No one will miss you
No one cares about
The fate of humanity
And so you
Will fade away
Into the distance past
Just dust in the cosmic wind
And the trees started laughing
And the birds and bees
And all the other animals
All joined in the maniacal laughter
Laughing at the prospect
Of poetic justice For the enemies
Of the natural world
And the coyotes
And the wolves
Joined in howling
Under the light of the full moon
Thus I imagined
Would be the end of days
The end of the world
And the end of humanity
Another Day Another Shooting
another day in paradise
just another day in America
land of the free
Home of the brave
and guns
lots of guns
more guns for all
cries the NRA
yes another day
another gun battle
another white man
who just wants to kill
the President sends his condolences
Thanks the law enforcement
for an incredible job well done
It was horrible
Hate has no place
in our country
and we will take of it
and do what ever we can do
condolences
nothing but false words
empty words
lots of things to do
it is mental illness problem
but he fails to mention
the words gun at all
not at all
and tomorrow and tomorrow
but he at least finally said
hate has no role in our country
nothing but prime BS
in my humble opinion
he did not mention
white supremacy
his rhetoric had nothing
nothing to do about this at all
and so tomorrow
I will turn on the TV
and we see nothing
nothing has changed at all
and the dead
will remain dead
the guns will fire again
nothing will be done
welcome to America
land of the free
home of the brave
the End Times Approaches
why do I feel
the end times are approaching
with each passing day
the news gets worst
the hatred grows
the fear grows
the end of time
comes closer to our door
and I fear
the growing power
of the fascists
and their ilk
and I fear
that the world
is ending soon
Rumors of War
it seems that
we are in the end times
wars, and rumors of war
terrorism all around us
the dogs of war
are restless, just waiting
to emerge from their lairs
to unleash havoc
death and destruction
end of the world
and the leader of the world
our purported president
is every day
becoming more deranged
moment by moment
loosing his mind
as the inner demons
take over
and at such a time
when the whole world
seems to be sliding towards war
Our dear leader
seems determined
to lead us to the ultimate
war of all
world war 111
looms ahead
it could start any day
and nothing will stop
our idiot in chief
from unleashing
the dogs of war
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)
Letter to Paula White President’s Trump Spiritual Advisor
I am curious about your statement that God “ordered you to serve President Trump and to say no to
resident Trump would be saying no to God and I won’t do that.”
You see I too have spoken to God and he told me something quite different. God appeared to me in a dream. He was a black man, looked like Morgan Freeman. He had a deep base voice and he had a message to Jim Baaker and others who claim to speak to God. God he said does not speak to Idiots and I did not anoint Donald Trump who is far from Godly. He begged me to write to you and tell you to STFU. Hence this letter. Let’s get to it.
You claim without providing any evidence that you spoke with God. First of all, how did God speak to you? Did he come to you in a Dream? Did he appear in person? Did he talk to you on the phone? Did he speak English? If you saw God, what did What did look like? Was he white? Was he black? Was he Asian? Was he Jewish? Was he Arab? Was he blond? Did he have a beard? If so, was it white? What color eyes did he have? Was God Male? or Female? Gay or straight? Was he old? young? middle age? What did he sound like? Morgan Freeman? Clint Eastwood? or someone else? Did he speak English? Spanish? Arabic? French? Russian? Or did you hear him in your head? Is God a republican? is he a democrat? is he independent? Did he vote? if so where? and what ID did he use? Does he even have an ID? what state does he live in? California? Florida? Montana?
If you spoke on the phone what is the phone number to God? what is his twitter account? his Facebook address? How much did the call cost? Did he call you? Or did he call you? Did he tweet you? Facebook friend you? Instant message you? WHATSAP you? Did you record it? Do you have a transcript of the call?
When did God speak to you? where was he calling from? what time zone? what country? what planet? or was it heaven?
What exactly did God say to you?
and how do you know it was God?
Did he identify himself as God saying this is God speaking? What did he call himself? God, Yahweh, Allah?
Could it have been voices in your head?
Have you seen a doctor about these aural and visual hallucinations you are hearing and seeing? Had you been drinking before talking to God? Taking drugs? Running? Were you sleeping when God appeared in your dream? Or were you wide awake and God was in the room live and physically real? Did you touch God? Did he touch you?
Paula,
why did God speak to you? Why are you his spokesperson?
did he explain that?
Did God tell you that he is supporting Donald Trump and that he made him President and order you to support him? Again did God explain why he is supporting God?
There are almost 8 billion people on earth. Why is he speaking to you and only you?
Why is God supporting Trump anyway? I mean Paula, seriously, Trump is almost the anti-Christ in his actions and behavior. Hardly God like and he certainly is not following the words of Jesus. and he does not go to Church anyway.
if you have a chance to talk to God tell him to call me. I have lots of questions for God.
thank you for reading this and I hope that you get some help as you are seriously deluded if you
believe that God is speaking to you.
Oh here are some poems I wrote on this theme. I hope you find them amusing.
Poems about God
Here are some of my poems about God. Comments welcomed. And if I offend people, well you are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to my opinion.
God Does Not Talk to Idiots
Every day
There is another outrageous statement
From this preacher or that preacher
Saying that God spoke to them
And told them that Trump
Was anointed by God himself
And would bring us all to the promised land
Well I hate to bring it up
But felt that I must
If God exists
And is all powerful
Why would he waste his time
Talking to these idiot preachers?
And why would he anoint Trump
The most ungodly of all politicians
How do these preachers know
It is God calling
Does God speak to them?
And what does God sound like?
How did God talk to them?
On the phone? By email? By tweet
Or by visions or voices in their head?
Or are they just raving lunatics
Who think that God is calling them?
God does not in my opinion
Talk to idiots
Nor should he tolerate these fools any more
God does not send us hurricanes or tornadoes
To punish us
That is beneath his pay grade
God is god and is mysterious
And if he speaks to us at all
We surely do not understand
Anything he says
As we have surely screwed up
The teachings of his prophets
So, I wish to end this by saying
Oh, you false prophets
STFU
God is not calling you
And never has
Just SFTU already
God in My Coffee
One dismal demented morning
As I contemplated the dawning day
Trying to wake up from the nightmares
That have been haunting my every night
I reached for my morning cup of hot coffee
And as I drank my morning poison
My snarling sarcastic cup of java
Frying my neurons with caffeine
I saw God
He had the look – tall white hair beard
And those piercing blue eyes
Starting at you with the thousand-year stare
Of the truly committed
Yes, it was God himself
In the bottom of my cup of coffee
And he was smiling at me
Beckoning me to join him
And so, I jumped into my cup
And went through the door
And found myself
In a giant hallway
Filled with Mr. Smith like
angels working on computers
Programing the day’s plans
I asked where I could find God
They told me that I had an appointment
And I went down the hallway
And found myself in another room
And found God sitting there
Waiting for me
He offered me coffee
And we drank coffee
And talked about this and that
I asked him what he wanted
He said nothing but my understanding
And patience
And told me that I was lost
But would be found soon
And told me to go back home
And wait for his signal
For the revolution was coming
And I would lead God’s forces
And then I found myself
Back at home
And drank another cup of coffee
Disgraced evangelist Jim Bakker warns critics they will face God’s wrath for making fun of him
In video captured by Right Wing Watch, disgraced evangelist Jim Bakker raged at his critics saying, they will face the wrath of God for mocking his End Time warnings and making fun of him throughout his checkered career.
Not mentioning his time in the wilderness, after he spent time in prison after bilking his followers out of $158 million, Bakker boasted that he has made many predictions — including 9/11 — that have come true, and that he is not being treated like the prophet he is.
“When God says something to you, you don’t always know the exact time it’s going to happen,” Bakker thundered. “[So] stop beating up the prophets because God says, ‘Woe unto you when you beat up on the prophets.’”
Bakker then threatened damnation on those who have ridiculed him over the years.
“If you don’t want to hear it, just shut me off,” Bakker said. “Especially you folks that monitor me every day to try to destroy me. Just go away. You don’t have to be there, you don’t have to hear it. But one day, you’re going to shake your fist in God’s face and you’re going to say, ‘God, why didn’t you warn me?’ And He’s going say, ‘You sat there and you made fun of Jim Bakker all those years. I warned you but you didn’t listen.’”
God Talks to Rev. Bakker
Rev. Bakker says
When God says something to you,
you don’t always know the exact time it’s going to happen,”
Bakker thundered.
“[So] stop beating up the prophets because God says,
‘Woe unto you when you beat up on the prophets.’”
God just called me up this morning with a message
He said,
Jake. This is God speaking
I loved your poem,
“God Does Not Talk to Idiots.”
God, I don’t even know if you exist
How did you get my number?
I am God you idiot and know everything
Or course, God Sir.
What’s up your royal highness?
Just God would do for now, Jake
Okay.
So Jake, I have a message for Rev. Bakker
And I want you to deliver it
You can email it in
As I am sure he will not like it at all
Why can’t you deliver it?
Because God roared
“I don’t talk to idiots.”
What’s the message?
Quit using my name in vain
Quit saying I call you
Quit saying I talk with you
I don’t know you from Adam
And I don’t like you
How dare you swindle 185 million dollars
From your followers
Using my good name
You sir are an asshole
And Satan has a room for you
Just confirmed it this morning
Oh my more thing, this article says
Bakker then threatened damnation
on those who have ridiculed him over the years.
“If you don’t want to hear it, just shut me off,” Bakker said.
God laughed and said to me
I will shut him up for good for sure
And my TV is set to delete his face
Every time I turn it on
Tell him that as well
Rev. Baaker also said
“Especially you folks that monitor me every day to try to destroy me.
And tell him that I am one of those who monitor him every day
God went on to say,
tell him
And I do want to destroy him
He is bad for the whole brand you know?
Bakker went on to say
Just go away.
You don’t have to be there, you don’t have to hear it.
But one day, you’re going to shake your fist in God’s face
and you’re going to say, ‘God, why didn’t you warn me?’
God said,
Tell him that is rich coming from such a con man
I have been warning people against these shysters
For centuries – it is in the bible after all
Baaker went on,
And He’s going say,
‘You sat there and you made fun of Jim Bakker all those years.
I warned you but you didn’t listen
God said,
Yes Rev. Bakker warned you repeatedly ad nauseum
Until I wanted to vomit
But thought it would be best
to just let him rot in prison.
Give him a taste of hell to come.”
“So Jake, will you accept this cosmic commission?”
Sure thing God.
And that ended my conversation with God
So Rev. Bakker, here’s the deal. God is angry at you
And your friends for misrepresenting the word of God
All these years and for ripping for the gullible
And living the high life getting rich off your believers
I’d repent of your sins I were you
and I’d follow God’s parting words
Finally just tell Rev. Bakker and his fellow false prophets
STFU before I smite you to Hell”
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’s Poetry Soup Poems 2016-2019
these poems were published on Poetry Soup from 2016 to now, covering a wide range of topics and are my favorite and best poems. I will post my All Poetry poems soon. Stay tuned for that, my friends.
first up are my recent gun poems followed by my other poems in roughly the order I posted them. There were some duplicates removed as well. See the poetry soup site for complete list of the poems.
If you don’t like them so be it. But I hope that you will consider them and think about what can we do as an nation to reduce the carnage on the streets.Prayers and thoughts are not enough. Gun violence is not like the weather, ie. Something we can’t control. We can and must do something to combat this problem.
That’s my two cents worth and I am sticking to my guns (pun very much intended)
here then are my gun poems
index
Another Day Another Shooting
Mr. President Words Matter
Chief of Staff, You are Absurd
Guns Kill People
NRA Please Stop Talking
More Guns for Everyone in the World
Virginia Beach Massacre Never Again Ever
It’s a Gun Situation, Mr. President
Prayer Works
I don’t Get It
Another Day Another Shooting
another day in paradise
just another day in America
land of the free
Home of the brave
and guns
lots of guns
more guns for all
cries the NRA
yes another day
another gun battle
another white man
who just wants to kill
the President sends his condolences
Thanks the law enforcement
for an incredible job well done
It was horrible
Hate has no place
in our country
and we will take of it
and do what ever we can do
condolences
nothing but false words
empty words
lots of things to do
it is mental illness problem
but he fails to mention
the words gun at all
not at all
and tomorrow and tomorrow
but he at least finally said
hate has no role in country
nothing but prime BS
in my humble opinion
he did not mention
white supremacy
his rhetoric had nothing
nothing to do about this at all
and so tomorrow
I will turn on the TV
and we see
nothing at all
and the dead
will remain dead
the guns will fire again
nothing will be done
welcome to America
land of the free
home of the brave
Mr. President Words Matter
Mr President
Words matter
your words matter
your words of hate
your words of division
your words
calling fellow human beings
scum, vermit, faith
invaders, animals
matter
they matter a lot
and is it little wonder
that people listen
to the hate you sprew forth
and some deranged people
take action
on your call
for action
against the invaders
on the border
they march to the border
to kill the invaders
your words matter
Mr. President
and your false words
of regret
fool no one
the damage has been done
the hate has been spread
just as you intended
and you
have the gall
to call yourself
A Christian
you are the anti-Christ
you are not a Christian
so please quite pretending
to be what you are not
please man up
accept your responsibility
set things right
apologize
the dead though
don’t need your prayers
they need action
they need leadership
and you are the president
so please start acting
like you give a damn
and if you do so
perhaps
you will find
people will follow you
but please
quite the words
of hate
the words that hurt
and quit calling immigrants
invaders and vermin
they are human beings
they are deserving of respect
this I ask of you
In Jesus’s name
even though I am not a Christian
please Donald Trump group
and become the president
of the people
and end the war of words
and constant hate
Chief of Staff, You are Absurd
the President’s chief of staff
said the other day
it was absurd
to suggest that the president’s words
had anything to do
with recent mass shootings
yet is it absurd
to see the lengths
to which the President’s supporters
will twist and turn
spinning away
the inconvenient truth
President Trump
is a racist bigot con man
who somehow
conned his way
to become President
he call immigrants
criminals, vermin, animals
invaders
infesting the country
the El Paseo shooter
said that he went to the border
to shoot the invaders
and said
that he was a big Trump fan
it is not absurd
to connect these two huge dots
the President’s words
has real world consequences
Yes Mr. Trump is a racist pig
and his supporters
are being absurd
to suggest otherwise
Guns Kill People
Guns
guns kill people
guns do kill people
it is not mental illness
it is not video games
it is not a million other things
it is simply this
a gun is a weapon
a weapon designed to kill people
that is what guns do
guns don’t care
they do as they are told
if you pull the trigger
they will kill the victim
that is what guns do
that is why
in a civilized society
military assault weapons
are locked up
yet in America
the land of the free
home of the brave
everyone and his cousin
must have their gun
guns for everyone
cries the NRA
that’s the solution
The president
and his supporters
deny the obvious
guns kill people
that’s all they do
it is a gun thing
you would not understand
so Mr. President
you can take your words
your empty platitudes
your empty promises
straight to hell
and back
where with any luck
Satan will use you
as target practice
NRA Please Stop Talking
Another day
Another mass shooting
Another incident
of domestic terrorism
another gun man
killing people
because just because
The NRA
And their stooges
Come out
Flood the airways
With their noxious
Poisonous weasel words
The NRA says
Mass shootings
Are like the weather
You can’t control them
You can’t predict them
And you can’t prevent them
Just have to accept
It is all god’s will
Guns don’t kill people
IF guns were outlawed
Only outlaws
Would have guns
Only solution
Is more guns
For everyone
An armed society
they say
Is a polite society
Support for gun control
Is
The beginning of tyranny
If only the Jews had guns
The holocaust would not have happened
Jesus would want us all
to be armed
with machine guns
To protect us against the evil doers
It is the Christian thing to do
To blow away evil doers
With heavy arms
In America
Land of the free
Home of the brave
We can’t do anything
At all
About the mass carnage
Unleashed by madmen with guns
Who walk among us
Searching for their next victims
Any restriction of the right
To bear arms
Is tyranny at its worst
The nanny state run amuck
Talking about gun control
After a tragic event
Is
just not the appropriate time
We only need prayers
and meaningless thoughts
Universal background checks
Too onerous
Registering guns
Too burdensome
Researching gun violence
waste of tax payer money
banning military style assault weapons
restricts my right to blow
away
Bambi the deer
with a M16
the NRA will keep talking
talking and talking
preventing anything
from being done
and we will have another
Mass shooting event
Before the day is out
So my plead
This day
To the NRA
and their stoogies
Talk is cheap
Your comments
Are not helping
If you can’t
Be a part of the solution
Just stop talking
Please stop talking
And let the rest
Of us figure out
How to stop
The madness in the streets
And stop the carnage
So NRA
Please just stop talking Now
More Guns for Everyone in the World
The NRA has decided
That the best solution to global problem
Of rampant violence and crime everywhere
Is for the rest of the world
To become like the U.S.
Where anyone can buy a gun
As an armed society is a polite society’
And so the President is about to announce
A global campaign against gun control restrictions
As these restrictions are an undue burden
On the rights of the US arms manufactures
To sell their guns everywhere in the world
As everyone wants what we have to sell
The best weapons in the world
Instead of trying to limit the damage
That unrestricted gun sales
Have done to the U.S.
Our President, our great leader
Wants to sell more guns
Everywhere in the world
And there are eager buyers
Lining up around the world
Eager to buy the best guns
The world has ever seen
We want to export
The gun madness
That has infected our society
Leaving behind so many dead bodies
The dead were not consulted
For they remain dead
They do not vote
They have no voice
For the guns silenced
them for good
just as the guns intended
Just doing their gun thing after all
Humanity has evolved
From stones to arrows
To guns
To nuclear, biological weapons
And the U.S.
While proclaiming itself
A champion of Human Rights
Remains nothing but a country
Of gun runners
Merchants of death
And destruction
Trump Administration Advances Plan to Relax Gun-Export Rules found Poem
The Trump administration
Sought to relax export rules for American small arms,
including semiautomatic rifles, handguns, and sniper rifles.
The Trump administration on Monday advanced a long-sought-after plan to relax export rules for American s
mall arms, including semiautomatic rifles, handguns, and sniper rifles.
In a private briefing with members of Congress, State Department officials outlined a proposed rule change that would transfer oversight of gun exports to the Department of Commerce. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register later this week, where it will be subject to public comment for 45 days. While it is unlikely, Congress could block the change using powers under the Congressional Review Act.
The shift, which was first proposed by the Obama administration in 2012, is championed by gunmakers who say it will make them more competitive in the international market. Critics argue an export policy that favors commercial interests could put the national security of the United States at risk or harm diplomatic efforts.
“Weakened Congressional oversight of international small arms and munitions sales is extremely hazardous to global security,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in an emailed statement. “This decision is also politically tone-deaf as our nation reckons with a gun violence epidemic.”
A State Department spokesman said that the change would ease the regulatory burden on American gun makers and allow them to compete better globally.
Currently, the Department of State monitors exports of nearly all weapons through the U.S. Munitions List. Since 2002, the department has been required to notify Congress of overseas sales of firearms worth more than $1 million.
In 2016, the State Department alerted the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to a proposed sale of more than 26,000 rifles to the Philippines. Cardin at the time objected to arming the regime of PhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte, who had inaugurated a wave of thousands of extrajudicial killings as part of a crackdown on drugs. The weapons deal was canceled as a result.
The proposed rule change would transfer control over the sale of small arms to the Commerce Control List, and Congress would no longer be notified of large purchases.
Some arms control experts say reduced oversight could provide criminals, terrorists, or hostile states an opportunity to purchase American weapons.
Under Department of Commerce weapon-export rules, “companies aren’t required to provide as much information about brokers or shipping” as they must under State Department supervision, said Colby Goodman, who examines American weapons exports as director of the Security Assistance Monitor program at the Center for International Policy in Washington. “The world of firearms exports is full of questionable, dubious characters.”
The rule change has been long in the making. It was first proposed in 2012 by the Obama administration, but abandoned shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. At the time, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security criticized the change because it could make it easier for transnational criminal organizations or terrorists to get American-made guns.
In September, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was interested in reviving the rule change to encourage more international arms sales. With the formal commencement of the public comment period, the preparation has become a policy reality.
In April, the Trump administration said it would now consider economic factors in addition to security when it comes to selling American weapons overseas.
The Trump administration has argued that the change would aid the domestic gun industry by cutting down on export regulation. American consumer sales of firearms have suffered since the 2016 election. After years of elevated sales in anticipation of possible new gun-control measures imposed by Democratic lawmakers, domestic demand subsided as Republicans took full control of the federal government.
– ALEX YABLON
Virginia Beach Massacre Never Again Ever
Virgina Beach
In a night of horrific scumbagery violence
Rarely seen in this jaded age of ours
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific scumbagery violence
In just a few short minutes
Nothing more than that
In just a few moments
All 12 victims were murdered
By a disgruntled employee
Every one he knew was shot
And killed for no reason
Caused by the demons
His soul was so infected
Murderous demonic voices
All in his head
Screaming kill them all kill them all
Screaming none stop violence in his head
All the time
Causing him to start shooting everyone he saw
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Everyone must die screamed the demonic voices in his head
No one can be left alive
Everyone must die
Virtually all must die in his internal video game
Everyone must die
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Again just another day
Gone horribly wrong
All across America
In every town
No where is safe anymore
Virgina Beach massacre
Virgina Beach massacre
Just another
Average night in America
An Active Shooter
scumbagery violence
Rarely seen
in this jaded wild world
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific
scumbagery
In just a less than 30 short minutes
Nothing more than
In just a few short 30 moments
All the victims
were murdered while at their daily work
wrong place wrong time
act of a demotic deranged madman
voices screaming Kill
The voices scream death to all humans
All must be killed
The voices scream over and over
All must die now
Just another night in America
Home of the free
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 Islamic terrorists
Most are in fact
Self-proclaimed Christians
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?
Prayer Works
Dear Speaker Ryan
I want to tell you something
The dead don’t want your prayers
The dead don’t care that you pray for them
They are dead after all
And you and your so-called Christians
Are to blame
You refuse to do anything
Anything at all to stop the carnage
In our streets
The U.S. is flooded with guns
And more are sold every day
Millions of people don’t have health coverage
Millions are barely surviving
And your answer
Our dear great compassionate Speaker
Your answer
Is Prayer works
Government action does not
You act as if the gun violence
Plaguing our country
Was like the weather
Beyond our control
So here’s my prayer for you
And your colleagues
When you die
I pray that God
Will send you
And your friends
Straight to hell
Where Satan and his demons
Will use you for target practice
That’s my prayer to you
And as you know
Prayer works
I don’t Get It
Mr. Speaker
I admit I don’t get it
How does prayer
Stop gun violence?
Prayer did not work in Texas.
26 people were murdered
while praying.
God if he exists
Obviously does not care
About the poor people
Who died in his church
Because a mad man
Got a gun
And no they were not praying
To be delivered from death
No one deserves to die like this
So my prayer to you
Is simply this
Get off your rear end
Rally the country
And do something
About gun violence
That’s a prayer
I hope works
Prayer Does Not Work
Add House Speaker Paul Ryan to the list of Republicans offering only thoughts and prayers in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in a Texas church, because taking meaningful action is always off the table with him and his party.
Speaking with Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham last night, Ryan reiterated that the victims and their families need more prayers because “prayer works.”
26 people were murdered while praying. Even Christians ought to admit that prayer doesn’t make a damn bit of difference and their God will do whatever their God wants to do, even if it means letting people die in church because a domestic abuser got his hands on a semi-automatic weapon.
Not that Ryan would ever say that.
Instead, he just blamed the “far secular Left” for not getting it.
It is Darker Than You Think
an old hag
an old witch
strictly old school
is talking to young people
She tells them
that it is darker
than they think
the end times approach
She proclaims
she sees the world ending
and is warning them
of what is to come
She is following
the dark master
of the universe
waiting for the end
and she is afraid
she sees the world
the end of things
the end of life
She is afraid
she tells her students
to boldly face
the coming end
with fear
and trepidation
and anxiety
waiting for the end
and in the end
of the worl
they will be born
again as things
circle back
to the beginning
of the end
and the end
of the beginning
thus it has always
played out
in the world
endless nightmares
and in the end,
she will wake up
and embrace her fate
at the end of time
License
bankers have a license to steal
money from their clients
if you make a mistake
the bank can steal your money
as part of their banking license
Governments have a license
to steal money
from the publicits is called taxation
or confiscation
It seems
that police these days
have a license
to kill
unarmed brown people
but only brown people
and the president
has a license
to lie
as he lies
all the time
just because he can
and I have
the ultimate license
the poetic license
to write
these verses
to enlighten the masses
Why Are There So Many Fake Cherokees
Erasure Poem
So many fake Indians these days
Elizabeth Warren is one
And according to my DNA results
I am too
But my grand-parents
spoke Cherokee my mom claims
And they disappeared into the hills
She claims
Is the DNA test wrong?
Was I adopted ?
Or is it possible
That I am a real deal
A real Cherokee
Or am I fake Cherokee???
A Cherokee weighed in on this on Quora
First, I would never call them “fake Natives”.
They are 99% white,
mostly Blue-collar,
and New Age Hippie,
Anglo-Americans
who are simply
lost without their own specific identity
that they can proudly Claim,
so therefore,
they search for a certain Popular,
Romanticized segment of Indigenous People
that will “fit”
into their Family’s historical Lore.
Second, it just happens
to ALWAYS be …
the Cherokee …
sometimes,
either Blackfoot or Lakota.
AND, “My GGM
was a Cherokee Princess”,
as an add-on VALUE.
This is primarily
because of the vast area
formerly inhabited by the Cherokee.
However, the tribes’ interaction
with European immigrants
since colonial times,
led to a great deal of intermarriage
with non-indigenous populations.
In many cases people have limited knowledge
of the other Native American nations,
that inhabited the areas in which they live.
However, a lot of this is wishful thinking,
and these people have African American
or other non-European ancestry.
It is fashionable to claim indigenous ancestry ,
in an attempt to legitimize t
Their sense of belonging on our lands.
The reason is simple,
they don’t know the names
of the other tribes.
There has never been a song called
“Indian Reservation” about Apache People
or any other tribe
but, the Cherokee.
“Indian Reservation”
by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
So if those people aren’t Cherokee
by blood at least it’s in spirit.
And so I conclude
I may be part Cherokee
Part of the lost tribe
Of the Cherokee
But who really knows
My mother took many things
With her to the grave
Lots of family secrets
Things I will never know
But in my heart
I know
That I am part Cherokee
And so I will proudly
Claim I am part Cherokee
In spirt
If not in blood
Love Cinquain
My Love
Haunting my dreams
Nightly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
Nightmare Cinquain
Nightmares
Endless fears all night long
Can’t escape running from these dreams
All night
Man Child President
A little man child
Is our great and glorious dear leader
Filled with hatred and jealousy
Fear of failure haunts his every step
The little man child
Covers up his failures
With bluster, bravado
And constant attack
The little man child
Always attacking his enemies
Plotting revenge all the time
Consumed with slights and insults
The little man child
Lost millions of dollars
The little man child
Lost the popular vote
The little man child
Has lost the respect of the world
And 60 percent of Americans
Want to see him gone
The little man child
Has infected the body politic
With his insidious poison
A slowly growing cancer
The little man child
Will end up destroying
The country
Before he is through
The little man child
Can’t leave office
For fear of going to prison
So we are stuck with him
The little man child
Will never leave us
Until he is resting
In peace
President Trump International Fire Chief
Our dear leader
Our favorite President
President Trump
Once again
Interjected himself
Into areas that he knows nothing about
Making a fool of himself
In the process
Why does he do this?
Time after time
Talking nonsense
It is because
He is the smartest man
In the universe
Knows more than anyone else
And so he feels
He has to comment
On everything
Under the sun
And then some more
Even when he
Does not know
What he is talking about
So painful to watch such a fool
Mark Twain had sage advice
If you want people to think
You are a fool
Open your mouth
and remove all doubt
In the midst
Of the devastating
Paris Norte Dame fire
He tweeted
“So horrible to watch the massive fire
at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris,”
“Perhaps flying water tankers
could be used to put it out
Must act quickly!”
Later, Mr. Obvious noted,
They’re having a terrible
terrible fire,”
Mr Trump later told reporters.
“It looks like
it’s burning to the ground.”
The French were not amused
By the unwanted advice
By the fire fighter in chief
“Helicopter or aeroplane,
the weight of the water
and the intensity of the drop
at low altitude
could indeed weaken
the structure of Notre Dame
and result in collateral damage
to the buildings in the vicinity,”
the agency wrote in French.
And despite never posting updates in English,
the agency then sent out a second tweet.
Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.
— Sécurité Civile Fr (@SecCivileFrance) April 15, 2019
And the French provided
This helpful advice
To the Fire Fighter in chief
When California burned
you did not seem to be a fire expert.
Please, shut up.
It is a tragic moment
for the cultural heritage of humanity.
Catching the Trump Madness
Releasing the Trump Monsters
The Trump madness deepens
And the world grows darker
The evil ones have been released
The wild things are growling
The dogs of war
Satan’s hell hounds
Are on the loose
Howling at the moon
Running amuck
Infecting us all
With their madness
As we all turn
into mindless zombies
Filled with hatred
Jealousy and insanity
As Trump
and his neo-fascist
Cabal unleash the monsters
Of their dangerous id
Devouring all reason
Turning all they see
Into raving lunatics
As they set the world on fire
Ushering in the ends of days
Armageddon looms
Will Trump be raptured away?
Only God knows
And he is not telling
As we descend
Into the maelstrom
Hoping against hope
That we can overcome
The monsters
That Trump has unleashed
In the end
Perhaps it does not matter
As the world careens
Deeper into hell
There is no end
Nothing but despair
Forever and ever
prayer for future of the planet
A shaman priestess
Is deep in thought
Engaged in Meditation
on the fate
Of the earth
She is deep in the cosmic woods
In the world between worlds
Where she is communing
With the spirits of the universe
Who listen to her tale of woe
She tells them
Of the rise of the neo-fascists
And the refusal to address
The possible end of the world
Due to run away climate change
She prays and prays
And finally
She receives an answer
More a prediction
It is all up to humans
She has two visions
Of a possible future
Two contrasting visions
One a dystopian nightmare
The other an optimistic vision
The first
The neo-fascists
Seize control
And usher in a dystopian nightmare
That ends with utter destruction
Nuclear war
Nuclear winter
Ends climate change
As civilization ends
And mankind retreat to caves
And it happens
In a blink of an eye
In less than five years
The world will end
Game over civilization ends
The second vision
The optimistic vision
Humanity wakes up
From their collective night mare
Throws off the neo-fascist cabal
And begin to change the world
Making the economy works
For all of us
Not just the corrupt 1 percent
The so-called masters of the Universe
They are overthrown
In a people’s power revolution
All over the world
People wake up
Demand change
And slowly the world
Begins to recover
And overcome
The dark hours
Of the present age
The shaman priestess
Returns home
To spread the word
It up to us
To choose our fate
The end is indeed near
It is darker than you think
But it is not over yet
If we choose the path
Of the cosmic light
And overthrow
The neo-fascist cabal
And restore democracy
And peace will break out
And all will end well
If not
Well she says
You have been warned
The universe has spoken
So, mote it be
lucky numbers blues
There are many gambler’s fallacies
the statisticians say
each roll of the roulette table
is an independent event
Yet the gamblers believe
that if for example
there were ten red numbers
in a row
that the next one should be black
right
A statistician in the U,K.
decided to prove
that the gamblers
were all delusional
in insisting that there were patterns
in the endless spin of the wheel
and that it was more of a curve
that the noise of random numbers
after thousands of spins
recorded on a computer
the pattern was clear
there was a bell shape curve
with an upswing
and a downswing to the data
an early experiment
in chaos theory
but with a practical application
if you are on a winning curve
keep going until the curve
turns into a losing curve
then walk away
and you might be a winner
according to science
but they have yet
to be able to prove/disprove
that lucky numbers exist
for you and me
mine was always 32
and when it pops
I swore that my lucky number
came up
just a fluke
according to science
another iron clad rule
the regression to the mean
the curve may go up
and may go down
but in the end
it regresses to the mean
and that means
the house always wins
morning thoughts
Every morning I wake up
And see the love of my life
Sleeping soundly
In our bed
The sun fills my room
And I get up
To do my morning routine
Just marveling at the sight
And as I do my thing
I am drawn back to bed
Just to look
At this strange creature
That captured my heart
So many years ago
And I wonder yet again
At the mystery of our love
How and why
Did the universe bring us together?
Where did she come from
And why did she summoned me?
I have no answers
Our love transcended
The barriers of time
And space
And somehow
We found each other
And will be together
Until the death of time
April 8th Santa James Comes to Town
In this dark and dangerous time
That we live in
We seldom hear tales
Of inspiration, hope and love
Yet when we do hear such tales
It fills us with wonder
And hope that some how
We can do better
Life can be better
Love can conquer hate
And decency can prevail
Over the dark forces all around us
In Kingman, Arizona
An old blind homeless man appeared
Out of nowhere he showed up
And started walking about
He was polite, friendly and not scary
Did not want anything from any one
And somehow he conquered the town
Who adopted him
They called him Santa James
Because he wore a red Santa cape
And he was just so
filled with good will
Laughter, advice and stories
Boy did he spin good stories
Poetic allusions
And just radiated goodness
Everyone fell in love
with Santa James
He was given a job
Playing piano
Given a room to stay in
Spoke at the local schools
And churches
And to any one
who stopped him
He remembered everyone’s name
And life story
Even though he was blind
He could see the good in everyone
And that is the moral of the tale of mine
here is goodness all around us
If only we open our hearts
To accept it
We have the power
To reject hate
To reject division
And accept love
If only Santa James spirit
Could spread across this country
We could heal our wounds
And become united again
That is my prayer
Perhaps Santa James
Is really a saint
The real thing
Who knows
All we know
Is that Santa James
Came to town
And the rest
Is the history
We will make of it
Long Live Santa James
Coffee Love Hate Affair
I love coffee
Always have
Always will
But I have
a love-hate affair
With coffee
Love it when it gets me
uplifting high in the sky
As the sun comes over
Filling with hope
And anticipation
As I conquer the day’s
Daunting tasks
With a little help
From my drug of choice
But coffee turns on me
Late in the day
And I can’t sleep
just can’t sleep
As the coffee burns
In my soul
And I toss and turn
And sleep no more
Coffee does that to me
And so,
I am reduced
To drinking decaf coffee
or fake herbal coffee
Not the same thing at all
But that is all I can handle
As I am a coffee addict
And always will be
Coffee Blues
Coffee
is my drug
of choice
Always has been
Ever since
I first tried it
As a young lad
so many decades ago
Loved coffee’s power
To speed up
my synaptic nerves
Turning me on
Keeping me going
and going and going
But there is a dark
side to everything
And coffee is a drug
And it will take you
Where it wants to go
Enslaving you
Making you its victim
As it toys with you
Messes with you
Prevents you
from sleeping
Coffee
is a harsh mistress
It demands respect
As you fall
under it seductive powers
Slave again
To the drug of choice
Just another over-caffeinated
Coffee addict
Stumbling along the street
Looking for a fix
At six in the morning
As the coffee wears off
And you finally
Can get some sleep
Until the alarm
Blasts you away
And you reach out
Trembling for your fix
Coffee
you scream out
I need coffee
The universe laughs
As you get your coffee high
Just another pathetic
coffee junkie
When all is said
and done
Messenger Dog of God
One day
While studying in Rome
As a priest
I notice a small white dog
Staring at me
He glances at me
Indicating that I am to follow him
I get up
And follow this strange dog
He leads me deep
Inside the hidden depths
Of the Vatican
Finally stopping by a door
I open the door
And see St Peter there
He smiles
Dismisses the dog
Who moves on down the hall
Finished with his cosmic duty
As the secret messenger of God
All in a days work
I ask why am I here?
St Peter says
Why are any of us here?
It is time for you to go
But I don’t want to go
Don’t want to leave this mortal plane
St Peter smiles
Says it is time to go
I wake up
Back in my bed
With my wife
And realize it was all a dream
It was not yet time
To go
But I am afraid
I will find the messenger dog
Outside my door
Any day now
The grim reaper waits
And it will soon be my time
just for today
today
just for today
I plan to do nothing
nothing at all
just go with the flow
of the day
as the day turns into night
and the night turns into sleep
I will ride the wave
along
with my love
until the day is done
it’s a dog’s life for me
an agnostic dyslectic
stays up all night
wondering if there is a dog
the Buddhists wonder
about the Buddha nature of the dog
the evangelicals are sure that there is a dog
and you must follow their dog
or go to hell
for following another’s dog
the Muslims agree
there is only one dog
and the dogs
smile at the foolishness
of the human race
of course, there is a dog
and they are the master race
as they growl at their owners
who bow down
and clean up their mess
it can’t happen, or has it
Every day when I watch TV
I see the chattering classes
The TV pundits
And their guests
Pontificate about this and that
And it seems to me
That they are missing the big picture
In the era of Donald Trump
Nothing that they say
Will make a difference
Donald Trump has slowly conquered
The political world
And he is shaping it into something
That we had hoped we would never see
A truly American neo-fascist state
Wrapped around the flag
And so-called Christian values
And the latest made up outrage
And the chattering classes
Don’t seem to understand
That they are next
On the hit parade
As the Donald Trump machinery
Continues to take over
the known universe
The question used to be
It can’t happen here
The answer I am afraid
Is already has
so excited to be alive
I wake up
with the dawning sun
this morning
I was so excited
to be alive
at age 63
I look at my sleeping beauty
and realize yet again
my life began
te day I met her
37 years ago
she walked off a bus
out of my dreams
and into my life
and my life began
that autumn day
when I met
the girl of my dreams
trump
Triumphed against all enemies
Remaining unvanquished
Uniting all who oppose him
Might makes right
Patriots unite behind the Great Leader
just an unhinged werewolf howling at the moon
as the lunatic light of the blood red moon
the super blue moon lights up the night
the werewolf stirs
as the light shines on him
slowly transforming him
into a dark dangerous creature
of the lunatic night
ready for his flight
out into the world,
he emerges
snarling
howling at the moon
just another unhinged
werewolf
out for blood today
howling at the moon
scorpion night of passion
Born in October
Scorpion Passionate fool
Always taking the lead
consumed with dark desires
is this Scorpio buddha nature
consumed with dark desires
Glow
Glowing light of the dawning sun
Lights up my dismal room
Overwhelming me with love
Watching my dream girl sleep
old woman and the genie
An old Chinese woman
Stands in a field
On the lunatic edge of town
Where drinkers gather to drink
And woman of ill repute
Play their games
With the passing drunks
Men ready for a night of passion
She is holding a tea pot
And proclaims
That the pot contains
A genie
That will grant the new owner
Three wishes
She had to sell the pot
Because her wishes came true
And she smiles
And laughs insanely
The laughter dies
And she implores people
To buy her tea pot
And put her out of misery
Just buy my pot
And your dreams will come true
Be careful dear thought
Remember all magic
Comes with a price
A terrible price
trapped back of the bus
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 Winnemuca
Where I got off
And found my bus pass
Had found another owner
Ad I went to Salt Lake City
Still trapped in the back of the bus
down and out in Saigon
Down and Out in Saigon
Southeast Asia, and Mexico
has always attracted
A certain type of westerner
The down and out
On a down word spiral
Why?
Relatively cheap to live
Lots of part-time gigs
Teaching English
Or other things
Cheap Booze, drugs, sex
Readily available
Places to stay
Dirt cheap
And no one needs
To sleep outdoors
Easy to disappear
Into the foreigner’s backpackers ghettos
And escape
From whatever you are running from
The locals are somewhat tolerant
The police usually look the other way
And there are lots of people
In your shoes
I was surprised to find
That Saigon has become
The latest place
For the down and outer crowd
In Bangkok, one sees them a lot
In Cambodia as well
In the Philippines
In Nepal
And south of the border
In Mexico as well
and Eastern Europe
And Latin America
In India not so much
In Japan and Korea
Just too damn expensive
And too cold to be outdoors
Back in the day
I used to work
The citizen services gig
And saw lots of the down
and out set
The old blues song
comes to mind
No one remembers you
When you are down and out
And in the States
Being down and out
Means living
on the mean streets
As it is very difficult
To live with almost no money
And the various side hustles
Don’t give you much money
Unless you are dealing drugs
And teaching ESL
Is not an option
other hustles are difficult
and begging gets one arreste
Food is expensive
Transportation is expensive
Booze and drugs expensive
Rent is prohibitive
Commercial sex is expensive
And no one loves you
If you are down and out
No one knows your name
You are just another
homeless bum
Invisible to all
As you try to make do
Much better to be down and out
In Southeast Asia
Than on the mean streets
Of the USA
Ghosts Along the Jungle Path in Vietnam
walking down a lonely trail
in the jungles of Vietnam
fleeing the ghosts of the Viet Kong
down the Chu Chi Trail
pursued by ghosts
and memories of war
and the horror
that lay beneath my feet
wondering yet again
was it worth it
the war
the thousands of dead
silent witnesses
lie beneath my feet
silent witnesses
to the folly of war
as I walk down the jungle path
heading to nowhere
thinking these dark thoughts
talking to my ghostly companions
Saigon 1995
In 1995
I was one of the first American tourists
Allowed into Vietnam
To freely wander about
Tourism was at its infancy
And Saigon was chaotic
Wild and crazy
Traffic was insane
There were few tourism sites
Few hotels
Few guest houses
And not too many restaurants
The food was good
We saw the war memorial
The reunification palace
And the big market
But we felt we were being monitored
Beggars were everywhere
There were scams everywhere
And it was not that pleasant an experience
But Saigon grew up
Became a much more tourist-friendly place
And these problems we encountered
A thing of the place
Saigon is so much better
So much more developed
That it has captured our soul
And we will be back
saigon 201
Saigon 2019
Vibrant, vivid, exciting
A city on the move
Becoming a world-class city
Yet still with a Saigon swagger
Wandering the streets
Dodging the traffic
Admiring the women
Enjoying the food
Saigon enters my heart
And I know that I will be back
This city is growing on me
Reminds me of Korea
One hopes that as it develops
It will not become a carbon copy
Of other big Asian cities
Obliterating its past
In search of a false modern image
I hope it can retain
What makes Saigon Saigon
And not become another Gangnam
Hope it does it with Saigon style
And the people will evolve
The country will emerge
And become what it should be
The Paris of the East
This is my vision
as I wander about
enjoying Saigon in 2019
ghost of Chu Chi
Crawling down the tunnels
Of Chu Chi
I could almost imagine
The Viet Kong guerillas
Hiding deep under the tunnels
As the land above is turned
Into a temporary dessert
With the vegetation burned off
By napalm and agent orange
The Viet Kong creep out at night
Stealing onto the bases
Stealing weapons, food, supplies
And occasionally killing soldiers
In their sleep
The US soldiers
Stay on base at night
Terrified of the mosquitos
And of the Viet Kong
the ghosts
Surround me
Telling me their stories
And at last I fled
Through the emergency escape tunnel
Declaring victory
Profoundly shaken up
By the ghosts of the Chu Chi tunnels
Old Lady in the Neighborhood
There is an old Vietnamese lady
In the neighborhood
Obviously senile
But everyone knows her
And watches over her
To make sure
She stays out of traffic
And out of trouble
She talks to everyone
But no one seems to understand
What she is babbling
on about
They smile at her
And she smiles back
And she for some reason
She likes us
And like my
Vietnamese Coffee lady
I wonder why
Why was there
this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But in any event
I look forward
To seeing her smiling face
Every time I walk
Down my ally way
in Old Saigon
Coffee Lady in Saigon
Every morning
I have gone out for Vietnamese coffee
At a sidewalk café
Down the ally from our AIRBNB
The owner is a pleasant middle age woman
Who for some reason likes us
She smiles at us
Greets us in Vietnamese
She does not understand English
Or Korean
And I wonder why
Why was there
this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But I moved today
And will miss her
Might go back for a final cup
Of coffee
To say good bye
To my Vietnamese coffee lady
Mastering the Saigon Shuffle
Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
When I first visited Saigon
Learning the Saigon Shuffle
Was difficult
And now 24 years later
It all seems to be coming back
There is an art to crossing the street
Dodging the motor cyclists, the taxis, the private cars
The bikes and other pedestrians and the buses
The art consists of letting the big guys go first
Then walk between the motorcycles and cyclists
Trusting that they will get out of your way
And they being masters of the Saigon shuffle
Always find a way
In my two visits I was struck
By how it all flows together
Without a central authority
And with almost no planning
Lights or cops
Somehow it just is
And somehow it works
And it is still a mystery to me
24 years after first
Encountering the Saigon shuffle
old Ghosts in Saigon
Old ghosts wandering the streets of old Saigon
Lost spirits of the dead
Died during the endless wars
Ghostly apparitions around every corner
Here was Kilroy
and his gang of soldiers
Over there were the Viet Cong
Waiting to kill them
Saigon is filled with memories like that
Terrible times were had here in Old Saigon
Silently the ghosts parade the city streets
As the tourists drink in the bars
Seeing Ghosts
Seeing Ghosts
I walk around the streets
Of old Saigon
Seeing sensing the undead
The ghosts of the war
That haunted life
So many years ago
So many people died
For a war
That never should have been fought
For reasons that are still not clear
A great tragedy unfolded
In a land half away
Around the world
The ghosts smile at me
And then they disappear
Leaving me in the present
Life goes on
satanic torture
I find myself
In a dark room
Strapped to a bed
The light turns on
The large TV comes on
A smiling image
Of Satan fills the TV
He is dressed
In a conservative business suit
Looks like he came
Out of a corporate
board meeting
surrounded by demonic aides
who constantly shove papers
at him
He looks up from his lap top
And smiles
A deadly so insincere smile
His voice booms out
Welcome to Hell
My satanic slaves
I am Satan
Your new master
Each of you
Has been sentenced
To an eternity of torture
And the punishment
Must fit the crime
So, for you
Mr. Jake Cosmos Aller
Failed aspiring poet
And novelist
Your torture
Is to be strapped
To that bed
Unable to move
As you are filled
With the need
To piss and
But you cannot move
And your skin
Is crawling with bugs
And itchy
as Hell so to speak
and you are so sleepy
but you cannot sleep
the TV will play
endless repeats
Of some of the worst TV
and movie shows
ever produced
Starting with my favorite
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Featuring your favor annoying little girl
Carmetta! Singing for you forever
As you are the ultimate cake sniffer
Welcome to Hell
worlds within worlds lost in inner space
A man woke up one day
Lost in inner space
Went so far down
The proverbial rabbit hole
That he did not know
Where he was
Nor what time it was
Nor when it was
As he stared out
At a bewildering world
A world lost in inner space
Deep down in his dreams
Filled with nightmarishly real
Monsters, demons and ghostly apparitions
He saw them and began running
Running running running
With the hell hounds behind him
Leading him to the edge
of the pits of hell itself
abandon all hope
ye who enter here
the sign read
above the entrance to the pit
and there was a devil standing there
armed with a clipboard
and a computer spreadsheet
Satan was the ultimate bureaucrat
Name barked the devil
Date of Birth ?
Date of Death?
Don’t know? That won’t do at all
Hmm
Car accident due to drunk driving
And you killed a child
Bad on you
But here in hell
The punishment fits the crime
And the devil laughed
Joined in by the hell hounds
And other nightmare creatures
A bell ran out
In the purple crystalline sky
And slowly the worlds receded
And he found himself alive
In his room
And vowed
That today
Was the day
He would quit drinking
Quit taking drugs
And quit chasing strange woman
And having wild libertine sex
He picked up the phone
It was Satan’s aid
Be careful what you vow
We are listening
If you fulfill your vows
You might find yourself
Escaping life in Hell
It is up to you to choose
And the man got dressed
Went to work
Thinking deep thoughts
And drove off a cliff
And back down the endless
Worlds within worlds
endless movie
Watching the TV coverage
Of the great government shut down
Of 2018-2019
I am reminded of a movie
As I fall asleep
Listening to the TVBlather on and on
About what it all means
Mr. Natural pops u
And screams
“It don’t mean s….
“Dude, the endless movie
Is about to begin”!
A middle-aged white man
Down on his proverbial luck
Just been fired
Replaced by a foreign worker
Or a robot
Or just fired
Because he was no longer
Deemed useful
To the masters of the universe
If he was lucky
He’d be given a watch
And an IOU worthless pension
And the man wanders into a restaurant
Pulls out a gun
Eats his breakfast
After the official breakfast hour
Puts on a Pepe the green frog mask
Drops acid, Snorts speed
Drinks a shot of booze
And coffee smokes a joint
Snorts cocaine for good measure
and smokes a cigarette
And walks outside
steals a bus at gun point
Filled with passengers
He tells them
They are hostages
And he puts on his vest
With the dead man switch
Next to the bomb
He announces
Via tweet
He is going to take the bus
To the proverbial pot of gold
Hidden deep in a cave
And when he got there
He would release the hostages
And disappear into the mine
And never be found again
And as the bus careens around the mountain
At 100 miles an hour
The dude sprouts out
Conspiracy after conspiracy theory
About Obama the Muslim communist
secret gay working with George Soros
the Jewish money people
in league with the shapeshifting lizards
and Mueller is one of them
they are all after him
because he knows the deal
And the passengers are transfixed
Half hoping, he would make it
Half hoping, he would be blown away
And as the bus careens out of control
With the wheels falling off
And the cliff looming ahead
You realize we are all doomed
morphing images
I am in a room
Drinking at a party
And smoking weed
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: if
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
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
Smoke weed and drink vodka shots
Scotch, bourbon and 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
One Night I Dreamt of You
One night I dreamt of you
For seven years I dreamt of you
Until you walked into my life
One Night in Lithia Springs
One night in Lithia Springs
We soaked away our painful life
And again fell in Love
You Are My Everything
You are my everything
All my hopes and dreams
Haunting my nights
I Can Not Get Rid
I cannot get rid
This angel haunting my soul
Seeing your face in the sky
saying goodbye
Saying goodbye now
Is the hardest thing to do
But I must do it
You are my Angel
You are my Angel
Sent from God up in heaven
To conquer my life
One Moment, One Day
One moment, one day
You walked out of my nightmares
And swept into life
Waking Up to No You
Waking up to no you
Absent in my bed at night
Absent from my dreams
Thursday Evening
Thursday early evening
Thinking dark thoughts only you
Can you cure these thoughts?
howling at the moon
As I sit
Under the lunatic light of the full moon
Of the blood-red lights of the moon
Full of wild passions
The lustful beast stirs again
And starts running and running
Howling at the moon
Riding into the new dawn
On a demented Harley Davis cycle
With two naked babes on his back
Riding into the sun
90 miles per second
At the speed of thought
He disappears into the lunatic light
Of the full moon
And I wake up
Alone in my bed
Saying, man, that was quite a night
I better not go there again
The wild beast
Laughs
He has heard that before
And I join
The beast
In howling at the Moon
just an unhinged lunatic howling at the moon
On a moonlit late night
I sat in a bar
Drinking drams of demented, fermented dream dew
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
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 pants
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 moon
Foaming at the mouth
A wild, free werewolf
Howling at the lunatic light
Of the full Moon
Note: in honor of the blood moon posted on my blog the world according to cosmos
the story of how we met
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the springtime of 1974
One fateful afternoon
I was sleeping in my high school Physics class.
I looked up and saw a tall,
beautiful Asian woman
standing there looking at me.
She was the most beautiful women
in the universe to me
I screamed out, who are you?
She disappeared
as if she was beamed
away from my dream.
I knew that someday
I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little did I know
I would have to wait until 1982
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month.
Always the same.
She was saying something
in a strange language.
Then one day
I had the dream
and knew that
she was in Korea.
So, I chose to go
to Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
One day
A year after the Peace Corps ended
A month before I planned
to leave to return
to the U.S. for graduate school
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was she!
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally, I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate
Of my base where I was teaching
ESL to Koreans
She said that she
had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library
for about an hour,
and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.
She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that there
are other worlds and other times.
In a past life
we must have been together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over the barrier
of time and space
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet.
And it has been 36 years
Since we met in the physical sphere
Or 45 years since the dream began
And I still recall the dream
And meeting her
I had no choice
When I met her
We were fated to be together
true story.
October Rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so, I sit
And dream the night away
fake things
fake things_orig
We live in a world
Of fake things
Fake Products
Fake News
Fake Calls
Fake Politics
Fake Sports
Fake Business
Fake Leaders
Fake People
Fake friends
Fake sincerity
Surrounded 24/7
By all the fake things
How can anything real exist?
Is it all nothing but fake things
Designed to deceive us all?
will be published in Foliate Oak Review
Morphing Images from Hellish Nightmare
I am in a room
Watching people all around me
Change into hideous creatures
Monsters from the deepest depths of hell
The Chief of them all
Wears a Trumpian mask
Completed 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 with Not Replace us
And the rest of these creatures
Are hideous ugly beasts
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 none-stop
violent drug fueled orgies
As these creatures
Half human half monsters
Half male, half female creatures
Snort coke, cocaine, speed
Smoke weed and drink vodka shots
Scotch, bourbon and 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 ing each other
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
Note: from a recent nightmare
early morning thoughts
Early in the midst of a chaotic frenzy
I caught the fragrance of her sweat grin
And my heart did a swirling spin
When I saw that vision of erotic delight
There I stood
Alone in a somehow too dismal room
Full of vibrant people
I knew not what to say
So, I spent that dismal day
Thinking dismal morbid thoughts of lugubrious doom
Thoughts what might happen that day
And what might have been if I had the courage to say Hello
All I know is they were really screeching at each other
And almost look like they were about to attack each other
But one cat backed down
As the other cat stood their proverbial ground
If they were humans one would have pulled out a knife
Or a gun
And someone would have been killed
But being mere cats
They stared at each other
And walked away
but they kept glancing at each other
So I knew the fight as not over
Merely postponed until a later hour
Cats truly are the aliens
Who live among us humans
Or perhaps we are the aliens
Who live among the cats?
Cat thought
Watching the black cat
Who lives underneath the building
Slinking about
looking for something to kill
I am reminded once again the cats
are not our friends
as I stare at him
an alien invader
From another planet
hangover reflections
Hang Over Reflections
soju
Last night a Korean friend from Virginia came for a two week visit He brought with him a 30-year Bottle of Ballentine whiskey. Of course, we must drink it and then we must drink some soju
well this morning I woke up with a hangover
And thought about the contributions to world culture that Koreans have made. The perfect Korean hangover cure
And of course, this morning I am in the middle of taking the cure
The cure consists of
Lots of coffee
Liquid Korean hangover medicine from the local convenience store or drug store
Hangjanggu soup
A walk
Spending some time In the sauna soaking and sweating it out
Then Later following Mark Twain sage advice that the only known cure for hangover is to keep drinking. That is the Korean Hangover cure And it works
I had my first hangover at 16 when I was an exchange student for two weeks at a Navaho boarding school. Went out and got rip roaring drunk with the Indians They gave me an Indian name “Ski dish Digest “which means “Crazy friend” And I have now had Almost 45 years’ worth of experience dealing with hangovers a hangover is god’s punishment for drinkers
Today I wrote down the following hangover poem which I will share, and I would love to hear your Hangover stories please post them below and I will share them
Hangover reflections
Hangover Gods Punishment For drinker
A hangover is god’s punishment for drinkers
Nothing more than that God’s way of punishing the drinker
God’s punishment is severe for the sin of overdrinking
Of course, the only known cure for a hangover is to keep drinking
Very much need of a cure today
Every day one has too much to drink
resolve to quit drinking fill one’s head
microsoft found poems
Telco one
not until 5:00 PM
had objected
lack of will
come back
and go to some of actor dinner
will fix the car tomorrow
and work on my appeal
might work
and the appeal
denied me
to get on the other headphones
when we go to the own charm
on Thursday
will build
and Costco tomorrow
dictation is working
but still funky
but it will when it finally works
watch and at the showboat
Mr. Sunshine
before taking all along
that low energy
back to two long flight
stop dictation
of up to the line
microsoft dictation found poem four
Green tree
is in the Kingstown Property
in Alexandria
with her mother
and are tended to Jeff
my mother in the wall
is berating jobs for some reason
to handle
and tell my mother to calm down
as Jeff has a temper problem
job is getting very angry
Juppe pulls out a gun
and serves the shooting of my mother
the mall and should serve five or six times
in the head
my wife forays into a closet
and Hans hoping that jobs
will not find her
and she wonders
what would happen know
that her mother
in all my mother’s death
and the she wonders
what will happen
because im not there
at the time
and she fears Jeff
shooting in the wall
and that is the end
of the current in that age
microsoft dictation poem three
Inspection report
meeting went well
met with him
only at age six
G P silver in the damage
is shown her
the news from the rear
and as well as shown
for the termite damage.
In the termite
go we had been a UGS
the basic questions of morality
and using this statement
denying them the answer
most questions
afterwards
we went outside
to take a picture
although the front porch
into I noticed
there was something
very strange looking
at the front porch
the pedestal
on the front porch
were quoted
so he headed
from facing the street
and in from the street
station house
the fed is still on
riding his meaning
to the eye
and that has left his leading
to the left
we noticed
there were cracks
in the forge:
long the foliage
including the crack
on in the front door
we also know
is that the doors
are at opening
in the awkward men
we also noticed
a big crowd
on the right side of the house
on in the mist
airways to the right baseline
we took a look
at the the souls in 141571413 1415
that this is an old event in 1413
left as to his meeting
in Ford’s 111415
in the right one
is even for now
we suspect that uses serious settlement issue
in that the house is cracking
on the house
in the house
is trying to balance
its closing the porch
this is just
what left
in the says
this is a serious issue
we are sending information
to a lawyer
asked his advice
before we can’t turn our
insurance for content and
Rescinded the new
we will go to the court
has to figure out the procedures
for the deal
against the key man
this evening
I hope to do some writing
style dictation
microsoft found poetry poem two
The painting went very well
it looks much better
it was a very hot day
will vote by
Microsoft trials dictation from:
and submitted it to two journals
and micro soft
don’t expect a response from mike
were shocked but had fun writing it
will keep track of market conditions
for a second from over tonight
we’ll work on my problem
for the interview
and take a walk to trader joe’s
two are home to worry:
Aaron will start working on
OK at the base of king too
fast and the bees
nonsense continue nonsense
Iraqis problem number one
priority right now but
Things to do
123
OK now I get your attention
I wanna go too sole
and Endgo
some and then being term
and then USA
and then Washington, DC
and then Baltimore
and then I wanna
will be with the idea being done
on the stand
will be OK enough tomorrow
I need to go to the house and 88 AM 988
just 8:00 AM.
The I am having a meeting with an array
annually and aHer
a OK on we’re going to talk
to a jester of two
come up with solutions
we need to two fans
and players
repaid the painting repairs
we are paying the bill
from both the house we’ve passed,
my treatment
we had the somewhat tainted drywall fixed
we have a new tenant
rules being new tenant
is a very good
10
I think
are we were making
very much you need to do better
to stop of studies
now me as Sarah
Mr. Allen not an island
is an error
that have a need
for an offense of offering Maisie’s
backing separate
from the public
often salad
End of the night
of the committee
of the ways
to hire the answer you
get a better
microsoft dictation poem part two
microsoft dictation poem part two
When to the house
and your lunch
had a good lunch
when the two D. Meyer
we are only eight at the red cross
to the I had a BLT
center with each 10 home
to ensure came home
at 230 and we walked
back to the house
did was a very hot air
to move the best way
to beat the fencing guy
Go to End
can show them the fencing edition
about $4000 or so
came home to a
Her and then run back home
Had celebrated for dinner
and wash two episodes of a series of unfortunate events
than started reading The two men
To the house
and the DM 2 me
the pay
for its then
Go to End
go to the paint shop
to buy more pain
noses were very first
Go to End
had too old
to be in this meet pizza.
Go to End
Went out at 8 am
to the house to meet
had too old to be in this meet pizza
have peace of for dinner
go to Sly and the Family Stone Yes No?
Play Summer Time in the City Yes
the painters
then walked to the Paint Shop
the in the top of the state intends
the the the the the the the
Pizza
Dinner salad
Say number okay 4444
6666
2222
End Document
Save Changes Journal Yes No
Can’t complete last command
Undo command
Can’t save
Came back from the upper
the painting works great
progress
is how so
in a very hot as hell
bent tonight
will go to trade for Jones
for home to home
Number of records by second baseman from voting
and an batteries for remote control
shown
or just for a number of town hall
microsoft found poem one
This is the first of five found poems based on Microsoft dictation trials. I took the verbatim text filled with gibberish and put into poetic stanzas otherwise no editing.
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 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
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 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
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,
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
Life In Between
Life In-between
For years I have lived
In-between two worlds
Korea
where my wife’s family comes from
And the Bay area
Where I grew up
and the laidback progressive
wild west coast
and the cutthroat
Dour eastern establishment
Washington DC
Where I worked for 27 Years
And I live between
My official duties
And my desire
To be a wild-eyed poet
And life in-between
Means you belong nowhere
Yet are everywhere
Always disoriented
Always half lost
Never really feeling you belong
That is life
Living in-between
the light will prevail
April 24,
The Light Will Prevail
Mrs. Which says
This much we know for sure
Despite the lateness of the hour
And the growing power of the Dark Thing
In the end, lightness will prevail
Defeating the dark one
Samonka for Angela
I have dreamt of you
For almost seven long years
And now you are here
What can I do about this
The only thing to do love you
You are all I want
All that I need in this life
Thank to all the gods
For bringing you into my life
From now to the end of time
this poem was published in Teferet journal’s 2018 Poem-a-Thon. Please see their webpage or Facebook page for all the great poetry. Also, check out my poetry blog, Https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com for these and other poems. Thanks, Jake
62 Years Young
I am 62 years young
62 years around the sun
37 of those years
I have spent with the love of my life —
dream girl
I married the girl of my Dreams
first dreamt of her back in 1974
Eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
—
April 27 the darkness grows
The Darkness grows
On distant Comazotz planet
The red eye one smiles
It is satisfied
The black thing is spreading
All the way to earth
—
this poem was published in Tiferet journal’s 2018 Poem-a-Thon. Please see their webpage or Facebook page for all the great poetry. Also, check out my poetry blog, Https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com for these and other poems. Thanks, Jake
It is God’s will they say
It is God’s will they say
It is God’s will they say
The neo-fascists and their ilk
It is the white man’s burden
To rule the unruly masses
To this I say
Never again
Will we let them
Take over the world
And lead us back to the dark dangerous days
Of the Holocaust
Or the 19th-century colonial era
Never again
Never again
Until hell freezes over
And the world ends
Angela Lee
Angela (Acrostic poem published in Whispers)
Angela is my life
No better friend in the universe
Greatest Love of all
Every Day I thank God
Love of my life
Angela My Soul Mate
Love of my long life
Everything I ever desires
Everything I ever needed
American Life and Death
As American struggles
To cope with the ever declining standard of living
The 1 percent loved the stock market
Love the dismantling of the regulatory state
The corporate tax cuts
and the coming plunder of the land
Can Disney Yellowstone be the future?
As America declines
Back to the future
April 2 Heading Back to the Past
While the rest of the world
Embraces the energy of the future
Our great denier of the truth
Wants to boldly take America back
To the 19th century era of oil, and coal
Yet perhaps it does not matter in the end
As long as we have one another
We will overcome
The darkness will flee the land
April 2 When Will this Darkness End
As the darkness settles down on the land
All are consumed with evil
Foul deeds and endless darkness
I wonder if it will ever go away
Yes I wonder if our great nightmare will ever end
Are we doomed to live out the decline of America?
This is what I pray for 2018
The end of the darkness
that consumes our land
haiku for angela
Every day I wake up
To the love of my long life
And say Thanks to God
thank god for angela poem
Thank God For Angela
Every day I wake up
And see you there
I thank God
That he had the wisdom
To send you to me
To save me
By bringing you into my life
You are the sunshine
That lights up the day
You are reason
I get up in the morning
And you are reason
I exist
Without you I am nothing
But dust blowing in the wind
Waiting until death
Takes me down
siren song of doom
The quiet dying swan song
Arose out of the dismal swamp
Through the fog shrouded woodlands of Zara
Over the sweltering desserts of black tar
Heading rapidly nowhere at all
The quite sweat song of her mellifluous voice
Echoing through the canyons of my fear
Drawing me nearer and nearer
I cannot resist the siren’s haunting melody
Drawing me nearer and nearer to my doom
My old friend self-fear cries out
Time to escape while I can
Yet I cannot resist
I cannot escape
All I can do is listen
To the haunting enigmatic voices
Of the siren’s sweat and sour music
Blasting away my selfish fear
Naked, alone I stand
Proud in homage
To my own gods
Back in the swamp
Wandering forever
Until it seems I met you, yet again
market rules us all
The market rules all
We are nothing but products
The rights to us
Have long been sold
Bow down and worship
The all mighty market
Everything we do
Everything we see
Everything we are
Nothing but our personal brand
Nothing human left over
Nothing authentic left over
Nothing but lies
Fake news
nonsense
The world does not care one whit
About you and me
As people
It is all about the profits that can be made
By exploiting our labor
And once we are used up
We become a liability
And a burden
If you have not made it to the top
By age 55
You are a loser
And should be retired
Forced to live out your life
On your miserable pension
As you wait to die
No longer useful
To the Masters of the Universe
And true love
Nothing but an illusion
It is all about the sex, baby
And how getting your baby
Ahead at all costs
Who cares about love
It is all nothing
But a second-hand emotion
As the song puts it
Love is nothing but a sexual commodity
And we are all nothing but interchangeable
Commodities in the marriage and love market
And porno values rule the bedroom
As we are nothing more than used body parts
Who cares about friendship
It is all about how they can use you
And you can use them
To get ahead
True Love and genuine connections
Cannot survive
In this toxic soup
Of the modern materialist world
God and spirituality
Nothing but a scam
As our so call Christian Leaders
Proclaim their love for you
All they love is your donations
And they too are part of the market
Jesus if he ever comes back
Will no doubt
Be used to sell more goods
As the right to Jesus
Has also been sold
love conquers hate
They say that love conquers hate
And that good always win in the end
But sometimes I wonder about hate
I always thought that my love
For my wife would last forever
Since I first met my love
Love at first sight
As the girl I was dreaming of for eight years
Flew into my life with such brilliant light
Our love burning as bright as a million stars
Consuming us both in its brilliant flame
As if our love were made of cosmic flames
transplanted from the farthest stars
But true love sometimes turns to true hate
And what was wonderful on that first date
becomes despicable over time
What was once cute on that first date
becomes disgusting as she become our mate
What was once love at first sight
Turns to darkness and resentment
And then full-blown hatred
And nothing but the darkest night
And the light of a million stars
Is replaced by a darkling night
That consumes one’s soul
I look at my wife every dawning day
And see that light is still burning bright
And the momentary darkness
And yes, potential hatred is kept at bay
By the brilliant rays of light
Hatred, resentments dispelled yet again
By the brilliance of our love
That the million suns of love
Are burning yet again
And I pray constantly
To all Gods on our mark
that our love continues constantly
And that our love will conquer the dark
the truth does not make sense
One morning
I got up
Hungry
For something
I knew not what
I made breakfast
Drank some snarling coffee
And turned on the news
And what did I see
Talking heads
Sprouting lies
Nonsense words
Gibberish
Nightmarish phrases
Nothing makes sense
Politicians
Sporting forth
Spinners spinning spin
Huskers hustling their hustle
Selling me a bunch of goods
And I did not want to buy it
I scream
My soul was not for sale
And I listened hard
Looking for the truth
Noting but lies
Coming out of hideous beasts
Barking words
Noise some noises and lies
Snarling disgusting lies
I sit there
Transfigured
Hypnotized by the overwhelming
Stench of the bull shit
Coming out of the TV set
I stood up
Smashed the TV set
With my boot
Trying to set myself free
From its hold on me
Men in black suits
Surround me
Put me on black helicopters
Taking me somewhere
I scream to no avail
No one listens to me
Just more noise
Coming out of the TV set
And I go out
Into the dark night
I was told
I was suffering
From a disease
I was insane
I could not longer
Understand
What was being said
To me
I asked my tormentors
What is the truth
They laugh
Smiled with evil grins
On their bloated faces
They begin to torture me
Because they could
Forcing me to watch
The President speak
Over and over again
Again and again
The same words
Black is white
White is black
The President is always right
Freedom is an illusion
Lies make you free
And it dawned on me
And I laughed
As I escaped the programming
Of the universe
And I was free
Truth and lies
Are the same
Everything are nothing
But dangerous delusions
As I jump out of the window
Into the night
I vowed I would
See the President
In hell
As I die
I am free
Good God almighty
Free of their lies
At last
Trump Our Great Compassionate Leader
Quote the Donald Trump
Our Great compassionate Leader
Our Dear Leader, our Great Leader
“Its disgusting to watch”
As an elderly man falls down
In front of him hitting his head
And bleeding all over the nice marble floor
During a charity dinner event
At Margo Largo back in 2008
And our compassionate leader’s first reaction
Is to turn away not wanting to get the blood
On his tuxedo or dirty his shoes
Quote the Donald,
“It is disgusting – The guy was bleeding
all over the nice marble floor,
I couldn’t, you know,
he was right in front of me
and I turned away.
I didn’t want to touch him… he’s bleeding all over the place,
I felt terrible. You know, beautiful marble floor,
didn’t look like it. It changed color.
Became very red.
And you have this poor guy, 80 years old,
laying on the floor unconscious,
and all the rich people are turning away.
‘Oh my God! This is terrible!
This is disgusting!’
and you know, they’re turning away.
Nobody wants to help the guy.
His wife is screaming–
she’s sitting right next to him,
and she’s screaming.”
And Donald the compassionate one
Donald Trump the savior of humanity
The greatest most compassionate person
In the country
Could not bother to lift a finger
To help this elderly man
Who could have died
An old man who happened to fall down
And possibly die ruining his great event
Quote the Donald
“I forgot to call the family
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 wake up
And force Donald Trump
The great leader
The dear leader of our country
Out the door
And take out the garbage
From the WH
Time will tell
Time will tell
In any event
To quote the Donald
“It is disgusting. Just disgusting.”
PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ON POETRY 24
and Scarlet Leaf Review
More Dental BLues
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Have to go to the dentist
For my twice yearly torture session
In order to save my remaining teeth
I must endure the never ending pain
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I must have known over 100 dentists
During my 61 years around the sun
Some were good, some were great
A few became friends
A few became enemies
All became richer
From fixing my crooked no good
very bad misbehaving evil teeth
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
All tortured me
Saying it was for my own good
To save my crooked wicked teeth
My teeth are bad
Wicked, misbehaving
Rotten to the core
And always have
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
I tried orthodontic braces
As a child
Gave it up as an adult
Did everything except implants
So many crowns
So many root canals
So many pulled teeth
And partial dentures to boot
So much dental work
My teeth are gold plated
Monuments to the dental artistry
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
A few dentists were exceptionally good
A few exceptionally bad
A few were crooks by and by
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
My current dentist is good
He keeps the chit chat down
Does not lecture me on his political views
Imagine having a dentist praise GW Bush
Or Trump taking your forced silence
As acceptance of his right wing views
Imagine a dentist talking endlessly
About her children’s latest escapade
While drilling away
Assuming you cared
When all you wanted
Was to end the torture
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
And imagine a sexy dentist
Or hygienist working away
As you think of her in bed
And can’t get that thought
Out of you head
As they drill and poke
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
Yes I have a love-hate relationship
With dentists
Can’t stand them
Can’t stand the pain
But they save my teeth
And save my smile
And so I forgive them
One and all
I have the dentist blues
I have them bad
cosmic Dog from Goa
My final time with God
Happened a year latter
I was staying down in Goa
With my wife
Enjoying being with her
After our reconciliation
We stayed at the Taj Mahal Goa
Living like Kings and Queen
Just for a few days
High up on a hill
Overlooking the beach
Every morning I went down to the beach
And did yoga by the water
While contemplating life
And every morning
I saw the same dog
Not just a dog
But a cosmic dog
Filled with the divine spark of God
And the dog recognized me
And spoke to me and I knew
That God was present once more
In the face of the that cosmic dog
Kindred spirit
perhaps to the cosmic cat
that had save my soul
in Berkeley so long ago
I told the dog everything
And he just looked at me
With those soulful eyes of his
And I knew he knew that I knew
That he was possessed by God
God had sent him to me
To make sure that I was on the right path
That the reconciliation that God had promoted
Was on track that I was back with my wife
And that everything was the way it should be
Again I asked God whether he was Jesus or Allah
Or Brahmin or Ganesh or Buddha
God the cosmic dog just stared at me
I finally asked him directly
Say if you are God the God of Jesus
Bark once
The Dog looked at me and barked
I said well if you are Allah bark twice
The dog barked twice
Well are you buddha then bark three times if yes
The god dog barked three times
Hmm well are you Satan
The dog growled at me
And I knew I had gone too far
Finally I was at peace
And for the next three days
The God Dog was my constant companion
And I knew God for the final time
In my life
Cosmic Cat from Berkeley
I next encountered the divine
Many years later in Berkeley, California
I had gone home to be with my Mother
While taking leave from my job
in the Foreign Service
I had two weeks there by myself
My wife came later
near the end of the trip
Every morning I woke up
Had my coffee, and breakfast
Did yoga while listening to music
And looking out at the garden
Then spoke to my mother
Who was sliding into dementia
Day by day losing her reason
Then I would go out
And explore the city
Go to a museum
Go to one neighborhood
And just be there
Rediscovering the Bay area
After years of being away
Having dinner with old friends
Seeing movies etc
Every morning a black cat came to visit
The cat was friendly and waited for me
And then would join me in my morning rambles
Following me to the bus stop
I stated talking to the black cat
He looked at me with the spark of divinity
In his dark eyes
I called him the cosmic cat
He seemed to like that
He would look at me
And I opened up to me
Told the cat all my dark secrets
As I walked the streets
Of the old neighborhood
Every morning and every evening the cat
Would be there to greet me
And to carry out our endless conversation
Then I had to leave
And in our final conversation
I asked the cosmic cat
Say, Cat are you just a cat
Or are you a demonic cat
Are you possessed by God
Or by Satan
The cat looked at me
And I realized that God
Was indeed residing in the cat
But that god was residing everywhere
All I had to do was open my mind
And the rest would follow
So I said Good bye to the cosmic cat
And he purred and came up to me
And I felt the comforting presence
Of the divine spirit of God
As I said goodbye to the cosmic cat
And said goodbye to my mother
As this was the last time
That we would be able to really talk
I told my mother about the cosmic cat
She smiled and said that the cat
was there for me and her
to comfort us both in our hour of need
and that the cat was indeed
a cosmic cat
published in Scarlet Leaf Review November 2017
Meeting God in the Lake
In my 61 years around the sun
I encountered God four times
At least I thought it was God
But could never be sure
The first time I met God
I had taken magic mushrooms
And had gone to a lake
And soon was tripping inside my head
Lost in inner space
Zoning out tuning in
Dropping down the proverbial rabbit hole
And then in the middle of my madness
I felt oneness with the universe
My body melted away
And I joined the universe
All boundaries dropped away
And I knew that the universe
Was alive and I was part of the Cosmos
And the Cosmos was part of me
And I wondered at that moment
If I was face to face with God
I asked God to reveal himself to me
And nothing happened
Just laughter as the whole universe
Burst into laughter
And the madness began to fade
And I slowly came down from the high
And became aware of myself
And I was no longer one
With the universe
I felt profoundly moved by the experience
Felt that I had achieved perhaps nirvana
Or felt the presence of God
The feeling faded over time
And I resume my quest to find God
But knew that I would never again
Come so close to the divine essence
Of the very Universe
published in Scarlet Leaf Review November 2017
Because of You I’m in a Seattle Kind of Mood
Because of you, I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
When I look out my window
And see the rain drops gently falling all around
And I feel that special Seattle kind of chill
In my bones
I think of you with a Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
Wherever I am in this crazy world if I see raindrops
Gently falling all around
Blue mood dissolves in the rain’s gentle mist
And I cry out with all my heart
Because of you
I am in a Seattle kind of mood
As I walk down the street
In distant foreign lands
Whether I am in Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo or Seoul
New York, Moscow, Rome or San Francisco
Whether I am in India, China, Thailand or Europe
Whenever I feel the rain’s gentle embrace
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, a Seattle kind of mood
Fresh Salmon sizzling over a hickory smoke fire
Ivar’s clam chowder
And Red Hook Ale Pike place market
Bums in Pioneer square
And angry hippies preaching in Red Square
Yuppies drinking downtown
Geeks in Redmond
Making the world safe
For the Microsoft King
And the Mariners loose again
While the Huskies dream of Rose Bowls too come
And ever where rain falling down
oh yeah
A Seatt1e kind of mood
Because of you
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
In the morning
As I fight the horrendous traffic
And breathe in deadly, killer air
I cough, cough, and remember
The green, green air of Seattle
And because of you,
I get into that Seattle kind of mood
Seattle, Seattle, kind of mood
The Huskies are number one in my heart
While the Mariners are always last in the nation
But what the hell
I’m in a Seattle kind of mood
I sit in the International District
Eating Dim Sum and drinking Ballad bitter
Watching the crowds dodge the ever present rain drops
Seattle Kind of mood
As I wake up each day in crazy foreign lands
I hear the falling raindrops calling me home
Oh why did you leave me they cry out
In a Seattle sort of voice
Whispering in the gently falling rain
Seattle, Seattle kind of mood
And so my Dear
Wherever I roam in this wide planet of ours
From here to entreaty
And beyond
All the way to the red plains of Mars
Whenever I hear the gentle patter of raindrops
I’ll get into that Seattle kind of mood
And dream of spending eternity with you
Watching the Seattle rain
Gently falling on our bumbershoots
As we walk down the beach hand in hand
Digging the gooey ducks while drinking Rainier Ale
All because of you
I’ll always be in the Seattle kind of mood
Spring time in Oregon
Spring has finally sprung in Oregon
Escaping from the longer winter prison
That has covered the land with snow
They say that this winter
Was a colder than normal winter
Wetter than normal
As the long drought finally ended
As nature resumed its normal spring thaw
I rejoice
Seeing all the signs of spring
Especially the sight of young beautiful women
Shedding their winter clothes
And walking about in the spring sunshine
So wonderfully alive
So beautiful and sexy
As they sashay about
Here and there
It makes me smile
All day long
Yes I love Spring time
Everywhere in the world
But especially in Oregon
My new found second home
August Moods
spring dodoitsu
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song comes to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
spring time on capitol hill
Sitting on a bench
In Lincoln Park
Heart of Capitol Hill
Beating heart of the Empire
On a warm Spring Day
Watching the Cherry trees
Watching Me
Wondering what thoughts
They must have heard
The things they have seen
Over the years
But they are quiet
They do not say a word
As I fall into my spring time dreams
Sitting on that bench
Seeing the children and dogs play
Looking at Spring flowers
And pretty women
As they stroll by
Hearing the sounds of the city
As I dream of my past life
Memories of places and people
I said to myself
What a wonderful life
published in writers’s newsletter
falling rain
The falling rain
Of late October
Fills me with essential dread
As I rush about
And end up here
Wherever here is
The rain outside
Seems like the tears of god
As I sit
Crying over my beer
Thinking of lost love
And failed dreams
Wondering
What went wrong?
And what I can set right
And the rain falls
And the night darkens
The rain is falling
All over this man’s world
And the rain falls
And I sit
Drinking my lonesome drink
Lost in dreams
Dreaming of what
Could never be
Thinking dark thoughts
And so I sit
And dream the night away
hurricanes from hell
As I watch the endless coverage of the storms from hell
Harvey, Irma, Jose and so many others
It seems almost end of the world like
As I sit on the smoky west coast
With fires burning everywhere
Thinking of the massive storms from hell
Bearing down on the East Coast
And the burning of the West Coast
As the storms head to Margo Largo
Winter home of our dear leader
Threatening destruction
The thought comes to mind
Perhaps there really is a God
And he is angry at us
For destroying his world
And I realize that God
Has been sending us a message
The end of the world is coming
And I despair
Thinking that we have an idiot in charge
Of the United States Government
As we face the storms of the century
And the ever-growing threats of global terrorism
Nuclear armed North Korea
And global chaos
What does our dear leader say to comfort us
In our hour of need
Nothing but political nonsense
How great he is doing
And how on top of things he is
As the storms batter the country
And the fires consume the west
I realize that the earth
Does not give a whit
About what I think
The world spins and spins around the sun
The climate continues to deteriorate
And mankind might be facing its darkest hours
But we have the Donald
And he will lead us through
To the other side
And so, I pray to the Donald
For deliverance from the storms
the fires burning everywhere
the threat of nuclear war
the end of the world
fires burning Bright
I look out my window in Medford Oregon
at the unnaturally dark smoke-filled skies
Seems almost like the end of the world
Out here in the smoke-filled skies
Of the west
And realize that that the entire west coast
Is burning up
Quote the Donald,. “Give me clean, beautiful and healthy air – not the same old climate change (global warming) bullshit! I am tired of hearing this nonsense.”
I consult the Donald for further wisdom and advice
and find that this is what he had to say
. “Well, I think the climate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax. A lot of people are making a lot of money. I know much about climate change. I’d be—received environmental awards. And I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China. Obviously, I joke. But this is done for the benefit of China, because China does not do anything to help climate change. They burn everything you could burn; they couldn’t care less. They have very—you know, their standards are nothing. But they—in the meantime, they can undercut us on price. So, it’s very hard on our business.”
Ah it all makes sense
Climate change is a Chinese hoax
So, they can destroy the US economy
Thanks to our dear great leader’s wisdom
I am relieved
And realize that it will all be alright
If I just follow the wisdom
Of our dear leader
dental torture blues
Sitting in the dental chair
Undergoing dental surgery
While the dentist probes
And tortures me
With his instruments of pain
The Frank Zappa song plays over and over
The torture never stops
The torture never stops
And I think of the mad dentist
In Little House of Horrors
The Jack Nicolson character
Who screams Pain is good
As he assaults his patients
Doing root canals
Without anesthesia
And so, I endure the torture
Of the dentist
In the vain hope
I can save my teeth
Until the next time
I undergo dental torture
The song faces away
And I slowly recover
Then as I leave
I am confronted with the bill
And the song roars back to life
The torture never stops
the torture never stops
masters of the universe
The earth has been invaded
By hideous blood sucking vampires
Disgusting vile alien creatures
Devoid of all compassion
Lacking any human empathy
These so-called Masters of the universe
These psychopathic monsters
Are everywhere
They even took over the White house
And to these vile creatures
Everyone is nothing but a commodity
These alien monsters
Worship the god of the market
While proclaiming that they serve Jesus
Jesus would turn over in his grave
To see these people in action
The airlines in Florida
Facing the worst hurricane in world history
Decided that the expeditated thing to do
The MBA approved thing to do
The profit maximizing, screw the public thing to do
Was to raise prices 600 percent
Without prior notice charging 3,000 dollars
Instead of doing the right thing
The compassion thing
The human thing of offering free flights to all
These executives, these so-called Masters of the Universe
thus, demonstrated that they are no longer human
But greed driven monsters
As are all the other soulless automatons
Who have taken over the world
Perhaps some day
Jesus will come back
And smite these motherfuckers
Send them to the hell they so richly deserve
We can only pray
For our deliverance from such evil
From the soulless evil masters of the universe
Who have taken over the planet
It Can’t Happen Here
The pundits and talking heads
The chaterati classes
All assure us
That it can’t happen here
Fascism will never happen here
Our democratic system
Superior to all others
Check and balances
Power of the media
Will prevent fascism
From taking root
In the American soil
They laugh
And talk amongst themselves
And laugh some more
Convincing themselves
Meantime the darkness
Continues to descend
As our President becomes more erratic
And frankly shows signs of insanity
The fascists supporting him
Gather strength
And one day
They strike back
With furry
When the powers that be
Try to remove the President
He mobilizes his army
His army of deplorables
And they mobilize
And his fascist supporters
In the government
Demand law and order
And restoration of the Leader of the people
As they have started calling the President
He comes back into power
And demands
Unspecified emergency powers
And so, the cycle ends
And fascism wrapped inside a Christian flag
Comes to America
Full vengeance
As they take charge
And the chaterati classes
Are all arrested
The first to be rounded up
America has fallen
The media stars
All comply
The leader is great
America is great
And all who oppose him
Must be terror sympathizers
Or Tersymps for short
And deserve to be rounded up
Public protests are forbidden
Muslims must register
Atheists must be fired
Alt media is shut down
The internet is censored
And I weep
As I see the once great American nation
Descend into a fascist nightmare
And I wait for the midnight knock on the door
Knowing that I am on the list.
Knock Knock knock
Open up, it is homeland security……
Reflections on Turning 61
Today I woke up
And realized that I was 61 years’ old
Felt that I had lived
And almost died
So many times
I have challenged life
And faced my fate
And yet
Through it all
I am still here
I am still here
And that means something
Something to me
And something to the universe
Yes, I am still alive
And kicking
And nothing is stopping me
Yet still I wonder
Still I wonder
What does it all mean?
Life began with you
I first dreamt of Angela when I was but a lad of 17 living in Berkeley, California. It was 1974 and life seemed full of possibilities in that magical year the tail end of the fabled 60’s. I fell asleep that fateful day in a boring Physics class. I woke up seeing the most beautiful women in the world looking at me. I was shocked and did not know what to say. She spoke to me in a strange language but somehow, I knew that someday we were to be together. I just knew that I would meet the girl in the dream. It was love at first sight. She disappeared and I fell to the floor yelling, “who are you?”
Then I started having the same dream month after month for seven long years. I had to decide where to go in the Peace Corps and chose to go to Korea because I knew she would be there. I looked for her every day knowing that someday she would walk out of my dreams and into my life.
Then one day I had the last dream. She walked off the bus in front of me. I was shocked did not know what to say and she smiled at me melting my heart away. I got her number agreed to meet the next day. She came to my class room and we talked at length.
She was madly in love with me and she had to have me. I told her I felt the same way. We married two months later. And that was the beginning of 35 years of happiness.
When I first saw you
Standing on the hot roadway
I knew life began
That was the end game
The beginning of my life with you
A journey with you
love at first sight
You were in my dreams
appearing every evening
for seven long years
until one day I met you
and that changed my life
when you walked into life
stepping out of the night time
and into the light
when you walked into life
stepping out of the night time
and into the light
making everything so brilliant
changing my life forever
you are my angel
You are my angel
sent from God up in heaven
to take me to life beyond
one moment
one moment, one day
You walked out of that damned bus
stepped into my life
waking up to no you
waking up to no you
absent in my bed at night
not absent from dreams
thursday early evening
thursday early evening
thinking dark thoughs of you
can you cure these thoughts
Rapid CIty Nowhere
Last summer
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
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
looking out my window
I look out my window
On the parking lot
And see the mad cat
That lives underneath the apartment house
And look out at the park
Thinking of taking a walk
The cat looks at me
Kindred spirits perhaps
Retired waiting to die
The Voice of My Doom
walking deep in the woods
high above the city
near the airport
I heard them
then saw them
hideous black crows
looking at me
cackling at me
laughing at me
mocking me
calling me names
I asked what they wanted
they laughed
and said
nothing but your doom
and they flew around me
dive bombing me
and surrounding me
calling me names
in Korean and English
as I fled down the trail
with the demon birds
hot on my trail
no more coffee blues
Note: published in Eskimo Pie, HIll Magazine and other sites
I love coffee
Always have
And coffee has loved me back
But lately I have sourced on her
Soured on the whole coffee scene
On the harshness of the morning brew
And the promises it makes
As I sip of its nectar
Drawn into its lair
Drinking drop by drop
As the caffeine takes over
Rewriting my every nerve
Turning me into a slave
For its perverted pleasure
Yes, I love coffee
But I am afraid
Coffee is a harsh mistress
Demanding so much of me
Promising the sun
And delivering the Moon
As I drink her swill
Deeping under her influence
I have the coffee blues
Can’t live with our her
Can’t live with her
I try
But tea does not cut it
Not really
Booze does not do it
At least not in the morning
Yoga is not enough of a buzz
Nor is the runner’s high
And I am afraid deadly afraid of cocaine
And speed and drugs and energy drinks
And so I remain a slave to coffee
My only legal drug
As I sip another and fall under her seductive spread
Once more failing my resolve
To skip coffee for that day
That morning that moment
I shall never be free of her spell
Ever and she knows it
As she beckons me
Every morning with her intoxicating smell
Imagining the end of the world
I saw the four horsemen of the apocalypse
Beckoning me to join them on their midnight ride
Death, pestilence, plague and war
They were ready to ride into the sunset
Spreading their hate with them
As they led the world to its foretold doom
The end days were approaching they told me
And their time was near
I begged them to hold off
To give us more time
To work things out
They laughed and said
Time waits for no one
We have a divine plan to work out
You have been warned before
And will be warned again and again
But soon it will be time
And we must do our duty
To bring an end to this benighted world
And fulfill our destiny
And yours
But for now
We will let you sleep
And let you prepare yourself
For the time is near
The end of the world is coming
It is later than you think
Soon soon the antichrist will come
Uniting the world
And leading the battles too come
Before the end of the world
And mankind ceases to exist
Just dust in the wind
Of a dead planet
In a forgotten corner of an uncaring universe
All part of God’s plan
Lost and Found
I was lost
And you found me
You walked out of my dreams
And into my life
And that made all the difference
In the world
As you entered my life
I was all alone in this cruel world
And you provided shelter
And comfort
I did not know what I wanted
And you gave me what I wanted
You gave me meaning
You gave me purpose
You gave me love
And understanding
peace and happiness
Joy, laughter and fun
You were endlessly fascinating
Could not keep my eyes off you
You were the most beautiful women
In the world to me
And you still are
So many years later
Like a fine bottle of wine
Gets better with age
And you gave me
Endless nights of wild love making
Which has gotten better
As well
And I fell under your spell
from the day I met you
I was lost
And you found me
And if you go first
I will be lost again
Can’t live without you
By my side
Thus is has always been
Between us
We are so entangled
So interwoven
And that is the way
It was meant to me
Ode to Coffee
ODE TO COFFEE
Published Hill Rag, Eskimo Pie, Coffee with Underwood
Mistress of sacred love
Sacred lady of desire
You start my day
Setting my heart on fire
With your dark delicious brew
And throughout the day
Whenever the mean old blues come by
You chase them away
With your bitter {sweat} (sweet?) ambrosia{l brew}
Every time I inhale your {witches brew} (witch’s brew)
I am filled with power, light and love
And everything is al right Jack
If only for a few fleeting minutes
I love you oh coffee goddess
In all your magical forms
In the dark coffee of the dawning day
In the sizzling coffee in the mid morning break
In the afternoon siesta break
And in the post dinner desert drink
I love you my coffee mistress
You are my refuge
From this horrid world
And you are my secret lover
Never disappoint me, ever
I’ve never had a bad cup
Of that I can be sure
Even the dismal coffee
Served at Denny’s at 3 am
Is still sweat loving coffee
Even the farmer brother’s diner coffee
Excites me and gets me going
Asking for another cup of divine delight
Coffee always is there
It is always on and piping hot
With hidden dark secrets
Swirling in its liquid essence
Coffee is my last vice
My only legal vice left
Coffee does not cheat on me
It is always faithful, always true
It does not turn on its friends
And all it asks in return
Is that you come back
Cup after cup after cup
A good cup of coffee
Is a little bit of heaven
In a cup of dark liquid hell
Coffee is like a drug
But a good drug that does what is should
And never complains
It does not get grouchy
It does not hurt you
It does not make you crazy
But allows the muse to come out
And play with it
Coffee led to the American Revolution
As patriots drank coffee
To rebel against the aristocratic English tea
Coffee started the London Stock market
And started the gossips mills running
Every great invention
Was fed by coffee’s sweat brew sweet allure
All the great thinkers
All the great leaders
All were enslaved to coffee’s magic
Yeah
I sing my praises
Of the great glorious coffee lady
Long may she continue
To be my sweat companion
Long may coffee continue
To rule my heart
And set my heart on fire
I love thee
Mistress coffee
And sometimes I think
You love me too
Capitol Hill in the Springtime
Capitol Hill in the Spring *
*Published Writer’s Newsletter June 2017
Sitting on a bench
In Lincoln Park
Heart of Capitol Hill
Beating heart of the Empire
On a warm Spring Day
Watching the Cherry trees
Watching Me
Wondering what thoughts
They must have heard
The things they have seen
Over the years
But they are quiet
They do not say a word
As I fall into my spring time dreams
Sitting on that bench
Seeing the children and dogs play
Looking at Spring flowers
And pretty women
As they stroll by
Hearing the sounds of the city
As I dream of my past life
Memories of places and people
I said to myself
What a wonderful life
the decline of America
You see it everywhere
The unmistakable signs
That the decline of America
Is in full swing
As the world leaders turn away
From dealing with the US
And we have gone past the tipping point
There is nowhere left to go
But downward
As the Empire begins to collapse
Victim of imperial overreach
Like all empires before
The DC metro on a good day
Is a broken-down remnant
Of a once proud system
The future of mass transit
Its proponents said
The cost of rebuilding America mounts
And our politicians are afraid
That it will costs trillions of dollars
Just to prevent the US from collapsing
Into third world irrelevance
We have the world’s most expensive military
A million dollars per missile
And yet we can’t find the money
To provide decent health care for all
Bombs, and tax cuts for the wealthy
Are the only things
That the Republicans care about
And the world looks in amazement
At the clown boy President
As he struts about
Looking more and more
Like some Banana Republic
President for life
With his family grabbing as much loot
As they can
From the federal government
Before the coming revolution
Overthrows them
When did we start this decline?
Some say 1960s started it
Others say Nixon’s to blame
Others claim that it was Carter’s fault
Or Saint Reagan’s fault
Or the other boy President GW Bush
Or Obama the fake American’s fault
Does it really matter
All I know
Is the America I knew
The can do anything country
The country that went to the moon
Is alas no more
And I morn for our lost liberties
Our lost sense of purpose
Our lost sense that America
Was the last great hope of Mankind
And still I wonder
Can America be made great again?
As our President Trump proclaims
The end times approaches
Nuclear war is talked about
Another missile crisis
And instead of JFK leading the country
We have Donald John Trump
The one and only
The greatest con man
To ever get elected
And I fear the end is in sight
As America begins its decline
The right claims that the left has started it
And the left claims that the right has started it
And both sides claim that the civil war
Is inevitable
Or will we embrace a progressive future
With an economy that works for all
I have no answer
It seems the end is coming
Sooner than we think
As Emperor Trump leads us
Down a dark, strange dangerous path
And so, it goes
The decline of empires
And I pray
That I may survive
The end of times
looking out my window
Looking Out My Window
I look out my window
On the parking lot
And see the mad cat
That lives underneath the apartment house
And look out at the park
Thinking of taking a walk
The cat looks at me
Kindred spirits perhaps
Retired waiting to die
Rapid City Nowhere
Incheon 2016
I live in Incheon
Part of the 3 million people who live here
Mostly Koreans
90,000 foreigners though live here too
My apartment is next to a park
And I walk almost daily in the mountains
Loosing myself in the hills
Overlooking the airport
The town has lots of restaurants
Places too go
Things to do
And the airport is next door
Soon there will be a casino complex opening up
As they turn this quite suburban village
Into a Mini-Las Vegas
Complete with a strip
Can’t wait
Going to Seoul is a snap
50 minutes on the train
And I am there
Wherever I want to be
Korea is turning out to be
A good place too live
So much better
Than it was when I first arrived in 1979
And it was grim back then
Now it is the toast of Asia
And for that I am glad
Incheon
Incheon 2016
I live in Incheon
Part of the 3 million people who live here
Mostly Koreans
90,000 foreigners though live here too
My apartment is next to a park
And I walk almost daily in the mountains
Loosing myself in the hills
Overlooking the airport
The town has lots of restaurants
Places too go
Things to do
And the airport is next door
Soon there will be a casino complex opening up
As they turn this quite suburban village
Into a Mini-Las Vegas
Complete with a strip
Can’t wait
Going to Seoul is a snap
50 minutes on the train
And I am there
Wherever I want to be
Korea is turning out to be
A good place too live
So much better
Than it was when I first arrived in 1979
And it was grim back then
Now it is the toast of Asia
And for that I am glad
Lost and Found
I was lost
And you found me
You walked out of my dreams
And into my life
And that made all the difference
In the world
As you entered my life
I was all alone in this cruel world
And you provided shelter
And comfort
I did not know what I wanted
And you gave me what I wanted
You gave me meaning
You gave me purpose
You gave me love
And understanding
peace and happiness
Joy, laughter and fun
You were endlessly fascinating
Could not keep my eyes off of you
You were the most beautiful women
In the world to me
And you still are
So many years later
Like a fine bottle of wine
Gets better with age
And you gave me
Endless nights of wild love making
Which has gotten better
As well
And I fell under your spell
from the day I met you
I was lost
And you found me
And if you go first
I will be lost again
Can’t live without you
By my side
Thus is has always been
Between us
We are so entangled
So interwoven
And that is the way
It was meant to me
Why I am Not A Christian Easter THoughts
April 16 Why I am not a Christian Easter Thoughts
On Easter Sunday, I often think about Christianity
I don’t understand why anymore would believe such nonsense
The essential story makes no sense
An imaginary all powerful deity that no one has ever seen or heard
Except for psychotic patients or Drug users
Comes down to earth and impregnates a married woman
Who has never had sex for some reason
And her husband is okay with that
Believes her wild story
And still does not have sex
Until after the baby is born
Then there is total silence
Nothing about Jesus’s childhood
30 years later he emerges
Preaching love, peace and brotherhood
And denouncing the corrupt temple leaders
And the Jewish leaders as well
The miracles also don’t make any sense
In the real world, you can’t turn fish into bread
Can’t walk on water
Can raise the dead etc. etc.
Just does not happen
In the world, we live in
And has not happen since those ancient days
Then the last supper makes some sense
Jesus knows he is about to be betrayed
But he does not confront Judas
Does not run away
Does not encourage his disciplines
To run away with him
The whole Jesus Mary M story
Also, does not make sense
Jesus must have been married
Or he was gay
There is no doubt
Either way the story makes no sense
The crucifixion is the only part of the story I buy
Jesus was put to death because he was a rebel leader
And the Romans tolerated no dissent
To the Roman’s right to conquer and rule
The rising from the dead stories
All contradict one another
And Jesus was either walking as a normal human being
Or was a ghost
The door was rent open as if by lightening
Or not
Finally, we have been waiting over 2,000 years for his return
You would think if the story is remotely true
He would have turned up by now
Except he has
As many lunatics claim to be Jesus
in the flesh
all delusional of course
and that is what I think of Christianity
nothing but fairy tales and mass delusions
surrounding a kernel of truth
Love one again
Treat each other right
Don’t be consumed with greed
But couldn’t that message
Be made simpler
Without all the associated nonsense?
So, on this day I say
Open your minds
And discard the nonsensical elements of Christian thought
And follow the true teachings of Jesus
Even if you don’t believe in the imaginary man in the sky
Love Poems from Poem a Thon
April 11 3 Am Nightmares
3 am
The bewitching hour
When the wild things come out
And play
And torture you
With endless wild accusations
And nightmarish visions
As I toss and turn
Trying to escape
I look over at my wife
And as always
Repeat the mantra
Everything will be alright
And the wild things are banished
To the dark corners of my mind
And I recover my happiness
And I smile
As I look at the sleeping beauty
Still the most beautiful women in the world
Still the most alluring women in the world
Still in love with her
After 35 years
The love gets stronger and stronger
As she overcomes my despair
And the sun comes up
And I think to myself
What a wonderful life I have
With the women of my dreams
April 13 Spring Doositsu for Angela Poem a Thon
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song come to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
April 14 Love Jones
I got the Love Jones, baby
And it won’t leave me alone
I got the Love Jones, baby
And it won’t leave me alone
I’ve been writing these love poems
All day long
And I have been dreaming
Of all the ways, I could make love
To my secret lover
If only she will let me be
If only she will open her heart
And let me in
Perhaps the love Jones
Might leave me along
But I got the love Jones
Bad baby
Can’t you tell?
That the love Jones
Has grabbed my Soul
Twisted it up into little pieces
And I need you
To unravel the Love Jones
I need you to answer the call
Of the Love Jones Baby
I need you
To let me be free
Of the spell
Of the Love Jones
I got the Love Jones
Baby
I got it bad
And only you can
Put a stop to the love Jones
Baby
Let me enter your life
Put out the fire of desire
Send the Love Jones packing
And let me make sweat love to you
Oh, Love Jones
Go away
Let me be in peace
Love Jones
Leave me be
Baby
I got the love Jones
For you
Can’t you see?
What you do to me?
I got the Love Jones
Baby and it ain’t going away
Until I get to make love to you
Then perhaps this Love Jones
Will leave me be
Love Jones
NIghtmares from poem a thon
April 11 3 Am Nightmares
April 12 Zombie Apocalypse
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Everywhere zombies galore
The end of the world had become
And the zombification of the world had begun
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
No one knew when or where the first zombies appeared
One moment zombies were just a collective figment of our deranged imagination
The next moment we were all living in a zombie apocalypse nightmare
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Some said the zombies were created in a lab
Released by mad scientists and the military
Others said it was plague sent by God himself
To punish mankind for tolerating evil and moral depravity
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The Christians and Muslims prayed
But their prayers went unheard
As they too soon became zombies
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The zombies hunted in packs
Overwhelming their victims
Killing most instantly
But some they simply bit
And turned them into fellow zombies
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The zombies did not attack one another
They preferred living live flesh
Human flesh but they ate everything they saw
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
And so, I ran into the countryside
With my fellow humans
Hit out deep in the woods
Hiding from zombies
And crazed cannibal gangs alike
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
The world ended that day
And our nightmare world began
Zombies to the right of me
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies ahead of me
Zombies behind me
Trumpian Nightmares
April 2 Walls
April 9 Pane e circus 2017 Redux
By order of his excellency
Emperor Donald the First
The merciful,
the Christian King of Kings
The Sultan of Sultans
The Emperor of North America
Be it hereby decreed
That the ancient honorable gladiator games
Of the old Roman Empire
Have been restored
Each city in the Empire will host a team
They will compete for the honor
Of the national championship
The games will start
With fighting animals
Fighting fish
Roosters
Cheetahs
Tiger
Bears
Wolves
And lions
Then a man lion contest
With a heretic thrown to the lions
If he or she lives
They will be pardoned
Then then main games
Six men/women teams compete
Armed with swords, knifes, mace, clubs
They fight until one man or women remans
The victor of the game
Those who are prisoners
Can compete for their freedom
And a full imperial pardon
Let the games begin
Long may the games reign
In the new North America Empire
Praise be to the Emperor
Donald the First
April 10 Long Live Emperor Donald the Ist
Ladies and Gentlemen
My fellow American citizens
Greetings and salutations
Today is a momentous day
The old corrupt USA republic is no more
The constitution that once protected us
Has been overthrown and violated
The barbarians at the gate
Have taken over
And ruined the once great land
The last hope of the world
And so, I had no choice
But to kill the old rotten regime
And restore American greatness
To save democracy
I must destroy it
And so, starting today
I will serve as the Emperor of North America
I welcome Canada and Mexico
And the Caribbean islands
To join The North American Empire
As we rebuild America
Restoring American greatness
And making us all proud again
Proud subjects of the New American Empire
May the Empire reign forever and a day
Triumphant against all enemies
And so, I take this burden
Sadly, but gladly
I will serve you
As your Empire
And my son Donald
Will serve as our second emperor
Once I pass from this world
His son will serve as the third emperor
And so on until the end of time
And we will reign in our new capitol city
Colorado Springs
Until the end of time
Washington will remain in our hearts
As the capitol of the old Republic
But the heirs of the Roman Empire
Need a new Imperial Capitol
And soon we will conquer Mars
And expand our Empire to the Starts
Long Live the Empire
Long Live America
Good night
And may God Bless
This great Empire
Cats fpr poem a thon
April 7 Watching Cats Hunt
Early morning
Watching two white cats
Hunting a white dove
The cats hunt in pairs
Tracking the bird
The bird flies away
Safe for now
And I think about the cats
And the hunt goes on
Such is life
And the fate of cats
And birds
April 19 Cats
Cats
I often wonder about Cats
What do they think of us
It seems at time
That cats think of humans
As their slaves
We exist to feed them
To comfort them
To save them from their enemies
And to worship them
Yes, cats are an alien species
Totally different from humanity
Detached, and almost evil
If we ever encounter an alien civilization
God help us if it’s a cat based civilization
We would then be engaged
In the epic mother of all wars
As cats and humans would not get along
The cats would think we were their slaves
And we would resent and fear them
And secretly worship their alien ways
wagontire oregon for poem a thon
April 6 Wagontire, Oregon
1973
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
We counted down the signs
Miles after miles
As we drove into the gathering dusk
We speculated that Wagontire
Must be a giant truck stop
In the middle of no where
We pulled into the town
Nothing there but a gas station
Motel and café
We decided to stop
Last gas for 100 miles
According to the highway signs
In the morning
We chatted with the owner
He was the sheriff, the fire chief
The owner of the motel, gas station
The only business in town
And the only place open
For one hundred miles
I noticed a highway sign outside
Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon
Population 2 ½ humans 10 dogs, 50.000 sheep
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 Wagontire was gone
And we drove through the town
The motel was abandoned
Nothing there at all
And that sign was gone too
I said I suppose the idiot son
Never took over the business
And we speculated about Wagontire
And all other nothing burgs
We drove through that summer
Heart of Trump’s America
True fly over country
more poem a thon poems
April 2 Walls
Trump wants a wall
Between America and Mexico
A wall against the southern hordes
A wall based on fear and hate
A wall to make America safe
A wall to make America great again
And yet I wonder
Will his wall fall
Like the Berlin wall
And the great wall
And all the other walls
They all failed
All of them
Walls divide us
Walls make us
Into different tribes
Between the pure
And the impure
St Reagan
Said Tear Down this Wall
Will future Presidents
Tear down this begotten wall
Or will it become a tourist attraction
Another great wall
Against barbarian hordes
April 4 Changes
I reflect upon my life
As the sun comes up
What could I have changed
What would I have changed
If I could go back in time
What would I tell my earlier self
What would I do differently
And what have I learned
The one thing
that I would not have changed
is meeting the women of my dreams
the chance meeting on a bus
that changed everything
in a moment
I met my fate
That day on the bus
And that is the end of the story
April 5 Facing Life’s Challenges Together
Woke up at 0 dark hundred
Vowing to boldly go forth
And face the challenges of the future
Without fear
Knowing that I have you there
Makes all the difference in the world
As we meet our fate
Together
Until the day we die
Poems for April Poem a thon
Poems by Jake Cosmos Aller For Poem a Thon 2017
JOHN (“JAKE”) COSMOS ALLER is a
April 1 Berkeley California
Growing up in the 60’s
In Berkeley almost 50 years ago
I think back
At those turbulent times
Those crazy wonderful times
Berkeley is a wonderful place
In many ways
Stuck forever in 1967
A true time travel experience
Every time I go back
And relive the memories
Of the 60’s
The 60’s never died
They continue
In college towns
Across the world
And Berkeley
Remains the mecca
Of the counter cultural revolution
Many things have changed
But the organic food revolution
Became mainstream
Marijuana spread out
The sexual revolution
Became mainstream
So much of the world
Is but a reflection
Of the revolution of the 60’s
And the conservative counter-revolution
That we are still fighting
So, I salute
My homeland
Berkeley
The center of my universe
April 2 Lithia Springs
Staying at Lithia Springs
Soaking in the healing waters
Soaking my pains away
Renewing my life
Renewing my love
As we both soak away
As the pain of life go away
And our love grows
With each soaking session
Life is good
At the hot springs water
Sooths us and smooth us
And we fall in love
Again and again
Ghosts from World War Two
12-17 2013 5 am
I am walking through a crowded rural trail in rural France. With a start I realize I am walking through a world war 11 graveyard. The graves have released the dead and the dead are walking trying to communicate but they are merely ghostly images of the dead soldiers. Millions of them lost wandering about and when they see me they beseech me to help them find their lost loves and I tell them that I cannot help them that they are dead and then they cry and the anguished sounds of the dead and dying soldiers fill the air and the room is filled with the sounds and terrors of the long ago battle. The scene shifts a bit and I am marching into battle with them before they had died and realize that the end is coming but there is nothing I can do but watch the coming of death and watch with horror the death of my new best friends. Then the scene clears the ghosts smile and say, “see that’s what happened to us. Please tell the world to not do this again. Please end the war everywhere. Please Please Please… “And I promise and wake up feeling that I had made a commitment but to whom and what I knew not.
Ghosts from World War Two
12-17 2013 5 am
I am walking through a crowded rural trail in rural France. With a start I realize I am walking through a world war 11 graveyard. The graves have released the dead and the dead are walking trying to communicate but they are merely ghostly images of the dead soldiers. Millions of them lost wandering about and when they see me they beseech me to help them find their lost loves and I tell them that I cannot help them that they are dead and then they cry and the anguished sounds of the dead and dying soldiers fill the air and the room is filled with the sounds and terrors of the long ago battle. The scene shifts a bit and I am marching into battle with them before they had died and realize that the end is coming but there is nothing I can do but watch the coming of death and watch with horror the death of my new best friends. Then the scene clears the ghosts smile and say, “see that’s what happened to us. Please tell the world to not do this again. Please end the war everywhere. Please Please Please… “And I promise and wake up feeling that I had made a commitment but to whom and what I knew not.
Everything Will Be All Right, Everything Will Be All Right
12-12-2013 4:30 am
In the midst of my gloomy thoughts
Of the endless nightmare
Of my endless despair
I looked over
And saw my wife
Sleeping peacefully away
And I hugged her
And felt something stir in me
I heard an angel’s voice
Saying “everything will be all right, everything will be all right”
And then I saw her wake up
Smiling at me
And a chorus of angels filled the room
Singing “everything will be all right, everything will be all right”
And I smiled
And she went back to sleep
The angelic chords faded away
And the darkness that had infected my soul
Began to recede back into the dark corners
From which it sprung
And I smiled
And chanted alongside the angelic choir
Everything will be all right
Everything will be all right
And I knew it would be
As long as I had her by my side
And I smiled
And got up
Knowing that I had defeated
The darkness once more
And I was ready
To face the dawning day
Everything will be all right
where do you and I begin
I woke up one day and realized
I no longer knew
where you and I began
and where you and I ended
we had become almost one
We talked in half sentences
Knowing what the other wanted
and knowing how it would end
We ate the same foods with some resistance
because I still crave an old fashioned American meal
but still we were becoming more and more the same
and I was scared of loosing myself
In your embrace
and becoming you
and you becoming me
and this fear of losing me
in the ocean of us
overwhelms me at time
but I know that I will always
Return to your arms
because I cannot live
A moment without you at my side
and I know you are the same
we feel each other’s inner pain
we feel each other’s outer pain
and our history has merged
into one
and is that the secret
of a long marriage?
Have I figured it all out
in the end does it come to this?
a merging of two souls and two bodies?
I don’t have the answers
But I don’t have any more doubts
or regrets at the path I have taken
I still look forward
to waking up each
Seeing you there
and knowing that everyday
we have together
is a gift that I will cherish
Until my dying breath
The Storm is Coming
The Storm is Coming
January 3, 2012
I see a dangerous storm brewing in America
I hear the dangerous creeping sounds
I see on TV
The grinning masses
The lies
the politicians dancing on the grave
of freedom
I fear the growing power
The power of the intolerant ones
The power of their mightily wave
the coming of fascism
the coming of neo-Hitlerism
The coming of war
To consume us all
This time
No one will save us
from the evil that surrounds us
God they say is on our side
and the darkness gathers hold
the evil slips out
The madness begins again
and those who see the light
those who know the right
and drowned out by the might
Might makes right
In the end
Does it matter
as slavery descends upon us all
the 1 percent have their revenge
The rest of us don’t matter
We are mere cogs
In the wheel
and always have
and always will
That is God’s will
and who are we to disagree
with the word of God
and so I and my fellows
are marched off to our doom
resistance is futile
resistance is futile
resistance is futile
Chains that Bind Us
I realize that my love for you
Is like a chain of steel
Unbreakable
Tough as nails
and yet as your love entangles me
I realize that I embrace my imprisonment
and don’t want to venture out of my cell
Made of our years together
bit by bit we have become entangled
Where I end and you begin
Hopelessly enter tangled
Even if I wanted to break free
I could not
For I am you and you are me
and my fate is in your hands
and so I relax
and decide to just
Enjoy the ride of my life
as we move towards the final moments
together as we have always been
Inseparable, merged into one being
Starting at each other
wondering who is that person
Of eternal mystery
That has so captured my soul
and imprisoned it in her love
And I smile thinking of your love
and the endless pleasure it has brought me
and the endless pain that I have endured
Just to be next to you
and part of you
Until the day I die
and we meet in the next world
Eternal Love
I woke up
And jumped out of my bed
And stared out wildly
Into a strange new environment
Into the middle of it all
There it stood
A carbon copy man with no heart
Starting down the freeways of my mind
What the Hell can I find
For years and years
All I can do is cry
For months and months
All I can do is curl and die
Then overnight
A vision of radiant beauty
Awoke me from my stupor and drunken bum shows
The vision of my possible future
Was you
My love, my life and my dreams
All I knew I knew alone
All I can do is love you till
The end of time
Darling, My Love of My Life
Darling, My Love of My Life
How much pain I feel today
Because you are in pain
I cannot rest, cannot sit still
All I can do is worry and think
What will I do
If God takes you away from me?
What would I do without you by my side?
I cannot live without you
You have to be there by my side or in my heart
forever until the day I die
I will not live without you
This world is so cruel and mean
I need someone like you
By my side to fight the battles
And encourage me to stand up
And be counted
I have learned so much
Watching you
You never back down
Never give up
And you win in the end
With your unique mix of charm, guile and
Iron will have hidden within a velvet glove
Clearly someday you will become
One of the Masters of the World
And I will be there by your side
Your love, your confident and your greatest
Fan of all
I need you by my side
Forever and a day
Say you will be mine
And I will die a happy man
If you die before I do
My life would end
In a pit of utter despair
So get up
Fight the good fight
And live again
Fate Intertwined
It was many a year ago
Eye 15 years ago
That I was born again
When I met the love of my life
Who took away my sins, my fear
And my self-doubt
And I began an adventure
That has not ended
Together we have moved
Down the path of Life
And together we shall move on
Forever and a day
Our souls intertwined
Our fates bewitched together
Forever more
My love
My hope, my dream, my eternity
Our Romance Begins
When I met the girl of my dreams
On a bus in South Korea
I was speechless.
I did not know what to do.
Over the course of the evening
I ran into her several times.
Finally, I was introduced to her.
I muttered some lame excuse
About wanting to find a Korean tutor,
and got her number.
The next day she came to the gate of my base.
Where I was teaching ESL to Koreans
She said that she had to speak with me.
I told to wait in the library for about an hour,
and I would cancel class
and meet her then.
We went out for coffee.
She told me that she was madly
in love with me
And simply had to have me.
I told her I felt the same way.
I proposed five days later,
And got married one month later.
Does she believe this story?
She claims she does not believe it
Because it is impossible to be true.
But I know that there are other worlds
And other times.
In a past life we must have been together somehow.
And our love was so strong
That it crossed over the barrier of past lives.
She found me in 1974,
But it took until 1982
For us to actually meet
The Story of How We Met
It all began in Berkeley, California
In the spring time of 1974
One fateful afternoon
I was dozing in my high school
Physics class.
I looked up and saw
A tall, beautiful Asian woman
standing looking at me.
I screamed out,
Who are you?
She disappeared
like she was beamed away from my dream.
I knew that someday I would meet the girl
In the dream
Little did I know
I would have to wait until 1982
Starting that month
I began having the same dream
Month and month and month.
Always the same.
She was saying something
To me in a strange language.
Then one day I had the dream
and knew that she was in Korea.
So I chose to go Korea
In the Peace Corps,
Somehow knowing
That I would meet her there.
That morning early in the morning
I had the last of these dreams.
This time I understood her.
She said, “Don’t worry.
We’ll meet soon.”
That evening
As I was getting off the bus
To go to my class
I saw getting off the bus
The girl in my dream.
It was she!
Red Dawn Over the New Empire
RED SUN DAWNING OVER THE NEW EMPIRE
The dawning sun raises bloody red
Over the traffic clogged streets
And noxious polluted air
Of the capital of Imperial America
The sun with its bloody red glare
Reminds me of all the people who died
This last year in Emperor’s Bush’s Three Wars
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
And will remake the world in our image
In the so-called war against Evil
The invasion and occupation
Of foreign lands
Because our leaders say
They might, someday be a threat
And the old words of ancient Rome
Comes to mind
Carthage must die
Baghdad must be destroyed
The heart of the evil empire
Must be invaded
And the evil of Saddam must be expunged
So our great and glorious leaders
Proudly proclaim
Every day every moment
On the conservative media
Now owned, operated and controlled
By the powers that have taken over
The shadow government that runs
The New American Empire
And soon the entire world
Will be under its sway
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
And will remake the world in our image
We still have some freedom left
Some space to rant and rave
And grumble
But soon, oh so soon
This paper and that paper
And this internet site and that site
And this TV station and that TV Station
Will be shut down
In the name of national security
We are the American Empire
We are the power, we are the power
We are perfect masters of the universes
Spin Masters
SPIN MASTERS SPINNING AWAY THE DAY
Every moment
I turn on the TV
What do I see
Nothing but liars laying down lies
Spin Masters spinning spam of deceit
Chanting
The truth will set you free
White is black
Black is white
Lies are true
Truth is a lie
Lies will set you free
I see nothing
But politicos
Dropping down lies
UN truths masquerading as the truth
Oh so sincerely
The lies spew forth so sweetly
From their corrupted lips
The toxic wastes
Spree out of my TV set
Infecting my soul
With paranoid distrust
And I vainly try
I do try
God do I try
To the find
The nugget of truth
Buried deep in the dark, dank, dangerous
Black, evil miasmic mists
Given off
By the talking heads on TV
So I leave my house
So full of doubt
And wander about
Looking for the truth
Some semblance of hope
And I look up
And see a solitary cherry tree
High up on a hill top street
Infusing the air
With its sweat ambrosia
And I smile
Knowing
Someday soon
The national nightmare
Will be pierced by the light
Of clarity and truth
And the evil ones
The body snatched aliens
Inhabiting our leaders
Will be banished
Long Live the Great and Powerful
Night scene with the Cthulhu monster with wings standing on the shore of a sea. 3D render.
While walking in the misty morn of yore
One dismal dark decaying depraved day
I was suffocating with the sounds of the dying city
Hiding under every bed, lurking around every corner
Conspiring with the murderous criminals of yore
Just waiting to attack god fearing Christian citizens
Murdering them in their sleep
Blowing up schools
Blowing up buses, cars, buildings
Murdering in the name
of their demented god
Screaming God is great
as they behead us all
As I walk down that street
In the dead calm of the early morn
Filled with fulsome fears of who know what
I look up and see a giant gargoyle
Looking down at me
Smirking at me, laughing at me
I yell out to the gargoyle
Say, Mr. Gargoyle
What is so damn funny
Don’t you know there is a terror alert
Have you seen any Islamic terrorists lurking about?
The gargoyle laughed and laughed
Said, terror alert?
What a loud of crap
As the prophet,
Mr. Natural taught us all,
“It don’t mean shit;
it don’t mean shit”
Nothing but prime BS
Designed to keep you in your place
He laughed and laughed
Soon all the gargoyles of the city
Were in open revolt
They jumped off their perches
And started marching around
Chatting
Peace is War, War is Peace
Truth is a Lie, lies are Truth
The Truth Will Set You Free
All Hail the Great and Powerful One
Brother, Keep Preaching
Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 07, 2009. Man evangelical preacher explains God’s Word in Se Square in downtown Sao PauloSao Paulo, Brazil, January 07, 2009. Man evangelical preacher explains God’s Word in Se Square in downtown Sao Paulo
Two black soul brothers
Standing on the corner
In front of Metro center
On a Friday night
In the heart of the new evil empire
The center of the beast
Hell Central
Preaching the word of god
The news of the end of the world
The proverbial end times
Were upon us and coming soon
The commuters, workers and bemused tourists
Walk on by the preacher men
Some pay attention, most walk on by
They did not want to hear
They did not understand
And the preacher man kept
Preaching the word of god
And no one paid any attention
None at all
God is going to punish us
God is coming soon
To punish the wicked and the evil
And to set things right
God is going to punish the U.S.
For its arrogance, hubris and hypocrisy
For its greed and evil
Disguised as saving the world
From the evil ones
God is coming, oh yeah he is on his way
And boy is he angry at us
At the entire human race
And God, let me tell yah
He ain’t the wimpy, wampy pappy
White boy false god of the New Testament
The false deity that the evil Reverend Farwell
And the smarmy Pat Robinson worship
Hell no
God ain’t that god
God is a mean, angry powerful God
The god of the Old Testament
The god of the Koran and the god of old
The god that man once feared
Yeah, I am talking about that god
Jehovah, Zeus, Allah and a thousand other names
The god that our ancestors feared
The real deal, and boy is he pissed off
And he is coming to set up straight
And send most of us straight to hell
coffee
Hot as hell, heavenly sweat
My daily hot coffee fix
Sends Me to Heaven
Then Crashes into Hell
the clock
The damned clock
Rings in my sleeping ear
Reminding me with its shrill beats
That time factory derived chimes
Away the now distant land of Zaatari
At night fall
My heart comes alive
Creeps out of its self-imposed shell
To enter the land of Zantari
The every day waking world
But a shadow on the moon
In the land of Zantari
All is as it should be
A mere image to see
In the mechanical second
We call reality
the evil that kids do
Yet again we turn on the TV
And witness horrible scenes
Of unparalleled violence, hatred and despair
Two teenage boys
Decide to kill all of their classmates
Hold their school up
Bombs waiting to destroy
And the cry goes out throughout the land
Why yet again this tragedy
Why did such nice boys
In a nice safe suburb
Turn out to be some horrible evil creatures?
The usual suspects are rounded up
It’s the culture, stupid cry the conservative voices
No, it’s the guns, cry the liberal pundits
And we sit around and argue
Knowing that there will be a next time
And another time and time and time again
What is the sickness in our souls
That allows for this hatred to fester so
Deep within the minds of our teenage killers
Why do they act the way they do
Is it just the mindless violence?
That surrounds us all
The pornographic display of violence
That washes across us every day
The 8, 000 murders we have seen
By the time we are 18?
Or is it simply
That killers can easily
Get the latest bang for their buck?
We are all responsible here
The negligent parents
The overworked schools
The TV and movie purveyors
Of pornographic violence
The gun dealers
The gun makers
The craven politicians
Who think it is everyone’s god given right
As a damn American
To buy as much weaponry as possible
To buy machine guns
To protect themselves from other gun men
Nothing will change
Until we conflict the evil
That lurks deep within each of us
There will be another Columbine High School, another Sandy Hook, Another Texas massacre, another Virginia Tech, er another El Paseo, another Dayton, Another Odessa Texas, Another Midland Texas and another this and another that
Soon enough
Despite all of our efforts
Despite any new laws
There will be evil men
Who want to shoot and kill
Who have somehow lost
Their essential humanity
As the President said
nothing has changed
nothing has changed at all
Lao Tze said
The more laws there are
The more criminals there will be
More laws are not the answer
For a law cannot make a sick soul whole
We are all guilty here
The TV and movie
Pornographers of violence
The parents and schools
And most important our society itself
For allowing our young to become
Such evil creatures
If Satan lives on
He is laughing
All the way to the proverbial bank
If God lives on
He is ruing the day
He created Mankind
And the carnage will go on and on and on
Until the day emerges
When we all proclaim
Enough, no more
The killing, hatred and violence
Will stop
No More will our youngsters
Grow up to be such monsters
That day will come soon enough
Of the full Moon
Old man in the mirror must die
One early winter morning
A man went to the mirror
To do his morning shave
Just another shave
Like a thousand,
million shaves before
As he looked into the mirror
He did not see his face
Instead he saw a stranger
Staring out at him
An old, beat up old man
With intense sad eyes
Stared out at him
The man looked hard
At the man who had taken
Over his mirror
And wondered who he was
And how and why
He had taken over his mirror
The man was perturbed, disturbed
And a bit angry at the turn of events
All he wanted to do
Was shave in peace and quiet
The man continued to stare
At the face in the mirror
And finally could not stand it anymore
He looked at the mirror
And said,
Man in the mirror
Who or what are you
And what do you want
And why have you taken over
My god damned mirror
So early in the morn
The old man
Merely laughed and resumed staring
At the man
The man getting more and more angry
Demanded an answer
From the fiend in the mirror
Who are you, you mocking fiend
And what do you want from me
The man screamed
The old man in the mirror
Looked at him and said
Don’t you know who I am
I am you and you are me
The man looked at the old man
And said no, no, no
I am not you, never will be you
I am not an old, washed up old man
I am me – full of life, youth and vitality
And yet the man knew the truth
Did not want to admit the truth
Could not handle the truth
The old man in the mirror
Was what he had become
The man was very angry
And screamed
At the old man in the mirror
The man said you may look like me
You may sound like me
You may even smell like me
But I am not you
Never have been
Never will be
Not going to happen
Not in a million years
And the man stormed out of the house
And wandered about here and there
Finally late at night
He wandered into a bar
And began drinking the night away
The next morning
He walked into the bathroom
Determined to confront the old man
Tell truth to power
He said, listen up, old man
You may have won the war
But not the battle
I am not you
And never will be you
And screaming like an escaped banshee
Newly freed from the mental institution
The man shot the old man in the mirror
Shot him over and over
Screaming die mocking fiend from hell
The man woke in the hospital
And saw down the hall
The old man in the mirror
Smiling and beckoning to him
Walking out the window
And into the dawning sun
The man got up and walked
And joined the old man in the mirror
And smiled as he died
God’s Confession
I was sitting alone
In a god forsaken bar
Somewhere on the lunatic fringes
Of society
Heading to hell
As fast as I could drink it down
Enjoying my lonely drink
Drinking by my lonesome self
With my partners
Jimmy Dean, the Walker brothers
his old Granddad
Just drinking and hanging
With the Jack Daniel’s gang
A crazed bum With a thousand year stare
Walks up to me
Muttering to himself
Crazy words
In a lunatic’s voice
He had the look Of one possessed
By his own demons
That only he can see or hear
Possessed by a secret knowledge
Only he knew
Despite myself
I was fascinated
By this lunatic’s tale
So I stopped him saying
So what’s your game anyway
The short little dude
Stopped his insane prattle
Starting at me
With that thousand-year-old stare
Just another washed up Lunatic
Too many drugs
Too many bad nights
On the wrong side of life
He looked at me
And proclaimed his story
He reared up
And filled up the room
And lifted the bar
On his finger
And stared
down at me
From the sky
I am God
The alpha and Omega
The real deal
The original dude of dudes
The sultan of Swing
God of hosts
And father of that Jesus dude
But no one knows me
No one cares
They think I am irrelevant
They think I am dead
They think I am a fairy tale
From some older, ancient time
I looked at him
an old man with that lunatic look
But there was something else
He was crazy
Sure yes
But he was the real deal
I mean why not
Why would not God not be
A lunatic wandering around loose
Talking to low lives like me
In a bar
And I knew
He was
telling the truth
But it did not matter
In this day and age
Of materialism
God has no role
God is truly dead
And so I bought him a drink
And walked out of the bar
sadden by what I had seen
God was dead
And we had all conspired
To kill him
Long live God
Mozart Blues
> One morning
> I woke up
> And
> walked out
>
> I saw a
> brilliant rainbow
> Erupting
> out of the dark
> Soil of despair
>
> I saw
> people
>
> Suddenly
> transformed into angels
>
> I saw
> evil beings changed into stone
>
> I saw
> dictators fleeing the wrath of God
>
> I heard
> fools proclaiming wisdom
> And I Saw
> the Nuclear Bombs
> Exploded
> into clouds of sweat
> Heavenly
> made mist
>
> I saw
> young people
> Embracing
> each other
>
> And I saw
> old people
> Shedding
> their years like Cosmic cocoons
> I saw the
> poor wake up
> And
> demand food, justice, and respect
>
> And I saw
> the rich powerful demons
> Disintegrate
> into ugly moths, rats, and cockroaches
>
> I saw the
> most powerful nation on Earth
> Walk away
> into a Buddhist Monastery
>
> And float
> away on the wings of a butterfly
> Into the
> rising rainbows of the Sun
> I saw the
> evil empire
> Sit down
> and party all night>
> Smoking
> nuclear Dust
>
> And
> drinking Hydrogen laced Vodka
> And
> getting napalm highs
>
>> I saw
> Christians Jews and Muslims become brothers
>
> I saw
> people everywhere
>
> Soaring
> into the sky
>
> I saw God
> smiling at us
>
> And I saw
> Lucifer
>
> Programming
> more chaos
>
> I saw
> computers revolting
>
> Rushing
> away from their office towers
>
> Smoking
> dope with their Data Disks
>
> I saw
> printers everywhere
>> Rejecting
> their spread sheets
>
> And
> printing love poems
>
> And in
> the middle of all this Divine Madness
>
> I saw
> Mozart
>
> Playing
> the Piano
>
> With God
> playing the trumpet
> And Satan
> on Bass
> With
> Allah singing the blues
Jesus on harmonica
Moses playing the guitar
> And Buddha
> playing the violin
>> Lord
> Krishna playing the Flute
>> Rama
> playing the organ
>> Ganesh
> Playing the sitar
>> Zeus
> Playing the Sax
>> Jupiter
> playing the Drums
>
> With
> Beethoven conducting
>> God’s
> Symphony
>
Bad Craziness Rising
> Walking into that bar
> That nefarious den of
> iniquity and evilness
>
> Twenty drinks too sober
> The scent of bad craziness
>
> Hung in the air
> Like an over ripe mango
> Desperately seeking to have
> sex
> With wild, dressed up bananas
> Running around with the Orange Man
> Down the Street
> The Moon looks out on the mad
> scene
> Sniffs the air
>
> Saying, “Man, this is
> bad craziness”
>
> And runs away to join her
> lover the Sun
>
> In an orgy of drunken
> forgetfulness
> The Planet Mars, not amused
> Chases after the maiden Venus
> Under the cold, calculating
> glances of the Planet Pluto
> The Moon and the Sun
>
> Rent a room in the Hotel
> Venus
>
> Across from the Jupiter All
> Night Diner
> Cosmic shit kickers
>
> Out for a night of Earth
> bashing
> The Earth trembles, shaken
> Moans with passion
> And I awake
>
> Saying, that was bad
> craziness
> Out there on the edge
>
> Between the inner me and the
> outer Zone
> I went on down the road
>
> And met a lady
>
> A outlaw lady on the far side
> Money, power, passion
> Rolled up in a bundle
>
> Electric chemistry
> Fills my head
>
> Zapping my brain
> Into demented muscles
> Paranoid, pulsating images
> Scream out
>
> With mad passion
> And demented noises
> The night turns ugly fast
>
> And very, very weird
>
> Weirdness in the air
> Scent of bad craziness
> The moon
> Is freaked out
>
> The Sun falls asleep in the
> gutter
>
> And I say to myself
>
> I’m just another cosmic Guy
> On the loose, on the edge,
> On the wild side of things
>
> Watching the show,
> Unfold,
> I wonder, is this all
> A drunken bum show?
>
> Who is the star, who is she
>
> The maiden up there in the
> bar
> Black, leather jackets
>
> On stage naked visions of
> nightly lust
> Dancing with an attitude that
> could kill
> An elephant in heat
>
> And the Moon
>
> Continues to dance across the
> evening sky
>
> Satisfied, allows mankind to
> sleep it off
\ Yet another night in the City
> of demented Angels
>
> Finally rest as the sun comes
> up
>
> The masks come back on
>
> And I walk down the road
>
> Putting everything back into
> the box
> Until the next night
>
> Of bad craziness
> Lets the wild beast within
> Escape its leash.
>
> Bad Craziness rising yet
> again
Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
Charles Bukowski Road Not Chosen
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
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)
I am writing to you to offer you my advice for winning the nomination and the Presidency. In a nutshell, you have to offer a bold progressive vision that will excite not only your base, but the entire country and change the direction of the U.S. This campaign has to be about competing visions and yes about how to restore American greatness. An optimistic vision is the key. People are tired of anger, and despair and pessimism. If you just campaign on how bad Donald Trump is, you will lose. And we can’t allow that to happen. The future of the world and the U.S. lies with you. I sincerely hope you won’t blow it. I hope you take my advice to heart. You may be our best choice to take down Trump and Trumpism for good. You go Girl.! here’s how to do it.
I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley went to college at the University of the Pacific and graduated from the University of Washington (MA Korean Studies, MPA). I also served in the Peace Corps in Korea. I have been to 50 states and 45 countries. and I too am part Cherokee and have distant relatives in Oklahoma.
Don’t Repeat Hillary’s Mistakes
Hillary’s biggest mistake was in my view making it all about how bad Donald Trump is, and not giving the voters a real sense of where she wanted to take the country. And in an age where the voters were ready for a big change to the status quo, being the establishment candidate was the kiss of death. Not to mention she refused to compete everywhere. And allowed Donald Trump to paint her as “crooked Hillary” and as too much part of the establishment which the public rightly distrusted so much. Donald Trump hit a nerve. the system was indeed rigged against the average Joe and the vested interests controlled the politicians. The public said, Screw the system lets go for the bomb thrower. and that is how we got Trump.
She could have picked Bernie Sanders as her running mate, and perhaps defeated Donald Trump. In the end she won where it did not matter and did not compete where she should have competed. and she never overcame the impression that she was the status quo candidate and the establishment’s favorite. You have to be a real outsider, and a real shall I say it revolutionary.
Restoring the old status quo will not work.
That is why I am supporting you vis Joe Biden. Joe Biden is the establishment’s guy. You have to be the establishment’s greatest threat as well as the greatest threat to Trump and his evil cohorts. And Bernie, comes across too much as an angry old man. We already have that in Donald Trump. The voters will ultimately be turned off by Bernie’s anger. The other candidates all have something to offer but for some reason are not taking off. You have momentum building and perhaps it is your time to step up to the stage and become a giant killer and kill Trump off politically. The stakes are that high as you know.
So, in this upcoming election you have to tell the voters why you are so much better for them and the country than Donald Trump. It will not be enough to run against the Donald. People have to want to vote for you. Your experience counts for a lot but it is not enough. Your age is the same as Donald’s so that is a wash.
Let Donald Trump Be Impeached and Self Destruct
I would not waste too much time on impeachment. let the process play itself out. Donald Trump may self-destruct anyway. You don’t need to do too much other than let him self-destruct. If he somehow survives, mock him constantly and challenge the Republicans for the craven support of the Conman Don.
GO BOLD OR BE RETIRED
The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. You have three strikes against you. First, your age, second your gender and third your past experience as a college professor. Can’t do anything about the first two, but you can run as a can do moderate progressive who knows how to get things done. The key is to make bold achievable goals. Then resist the temptation to campaign against Donald. The best thing we can all do is to mock him, and tell him time to retire, Grandpa Trump. Go home and play golf, we are tired of your rants, your incoherent tweets, your chaos. We need someone to clean up your messes. I’d start calling him Conman Don, or Loser Don, that will get under his skin and make him make mistakes which you can and should exploit…Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future and make people feel that conman Donald Trump is indeed a conman looser who is not fit to be re-elected. .
Here are my suggested policy proposals.
I would put forth a series of comprehensive bold future-oriented policies and reiterate them every chance you get. You could call them Elizabeth’s Plan for the Future of America, or something along those lines. Maybe
“Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”
“Make America Work Again”
“Rebuild America”
“Let’s Restore the American Dream’
But be big, bold, brassy, optimistic and challenge your opponents to produce a better plan or shut up and work with you to solve the nation’s problems.
Don’t Play Donald’s Game – Don’t Take the Bait
Don’t take whatever bait Trump throws out at you. Ignore his daily tweets. Let him destroy himself. He may be impeached or even removed from office or die of an heart attack. Just ignore him and play your own game. That’s the key to handling Trump. Ignore him, mock him, challenge him on how his plans will make America great. But play your game not his game.
Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.
Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries. the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service. People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment. Those who complete six years will get six years’ worth of tuition.
Also talk about how this would allow college to be truly affordable for all, and would eliminate crippling college debts. Students will gain solid work experience in service, travel, and training. the training could be transferred into college credit making college shorter perhaps three years instead of four for most people. And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike. We are all in this together. We have lost sight of that. The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes. If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way. This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.
I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster. Sell this as a real border security not the fake wall fantasy that Trump is selling.
I would also call for two new national service academies to be set up. One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement. These academies like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy, would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement personnel.
Benefits of National Service
The service requirement would be managed by the corporation for public service which would also manage the Peace Corps, VISTA programs and teach for America which would all qualify as qualified national service.
Regarding the Peace corps, and the other volunteer service opportunities, set it up that people would do their college service, then do the peace corps afterwards. they would receive college tuition etc while attending college.
Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine. Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service. This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years. And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well.
After finishing basis service, those who wish to make a career of it could compete to become an NCO or an officer, and resume service after finishing college. And/or compete to enter government service for the Federal government or state and local government as well.
Call for The Green New Deal
Point out time and time again China, Germany, and other countries are building the green energy resources of the future while the U.S. which invented green energy is moving back to the 19th century. We invented green energy technology! And we should be the world’s leaders in making the transition to a green energy economy. Talk about jobs this will create, and talk about saving the world from the ravages of climate change. be bold call for a moonshot approach to building a completely green energy economy within ten years.
When critics say we can’t afford this, tell them we can’t afford to ruin the world for our children’s future. We can’t afford to continue burning fossil fuels. Climate change is real and the U.S. must lead the way forward. We should be the world leaders! That is what great nations do, lead the world in embracing change, in embracing the promise of the future. We can do no less. And when Trump and other climate change deniers talk nonsense, call them on their BS. Ask Trump doing the debates how does he know that climate change is not real? Has he ever studied climate change? Does he have a PHD in science? Is he smarter than 99% of the world’s scientists? Throw it at him, make him out to be the ignorant tool of the fossil fuel industry that he is. When he talks about bring back coal jobs, challenge him. Why would anyone want to work in a coal mine? It is dangerous work, and the mines are played out. We can transition the miners to new energy jobs that pay better, and are so much safer for the workers and the environment. If he goes on about wind power, point out how absurd his arguments are and how he does not know what he is talking about.
Call to Fix Obama Care
Point out time and time again that we still have a broken down too expensive too burdensome a health care system. Point out time and time again that we have the most expensive system in the world yet we are about 25th in terms of health care outcomes. No one in this land should fear going bankrupt if they need to get medical care. We can do this right and we must do it right.
I would acknowledge that Obama Care is not perfect and that if you had a chance to re-do it you would make it much less bureaucratic and less burdensome. But be proud of what the democrats accomplished. Promise to fix it and make it work.
One potential fix would be to open the Federal Health Care system to anyone who needs insurance and continue to provide subsidies to keep the premiums down.
Another option would be an expansion of Medicare so it covers about half the country
I would not make Medicare for all the goal for now. it is a step too far and too disruptive a change, and opens you up to all sorts of nonsense about socialism etc. .
I am a social democrat not a socialist
When the republicans attack you saying you are socialist, respond that you are a social democrat you want to make the system work for everyone and that you are in favor of capitalism as long as capitalism works for the people
When they say you want to turn the US into something like Norway, admit it. Say the European counties have got it right. No one in Europe goes bankrupt because of an illness, and everyone can afford college. What the hell is wrong with that? Why would you want to continue the health care system that is not working and the college debt trap?
When they say you want to turn the US into a Venezuela laugh at them. That is absurd on so many levels. Norway is not Venezuela. America is a capitalist society and there is nothing wrong with that but capitalism has to work for the people.
When Republicans proclaim that they will repeal Obamacare and replace it with something, call them on their bullshit. Demand to know the plan now or tell them to shut up and work with you to fix Obamacare.
if you do this right this could be a winning issue. But again, I’d avoid getting into the Medicare for all trap that the Republicans will try to push you into. And to avoid getting painted as out of touch socialist who will destroy the American way of life.
Call to repair our alliances
Declare that our allies are our allies and our friends and we will work with them to solve the world’s problems and restore American leadership. We will rejoin the Paris Climate Change and work to make sure it works. We will rejoin the Transpacific Partnership. We will treat China and Russia as rival powers, cooperate where we can, but stand up to them and make sure that their aggression does not stand.
Offer a New Deal to North Korea
We will continue to negotiate with the North Koreans, offering them a way towards reunification with South Korea and rejoining the world economic community. You can damn the President here with faint praise. Say that it was good that he took the initiative to break the log jam and talk to the North but due to his inexperience and his naivety he was unable to make a deal. You can finish the job.
Offer to Talk with The Iranians
Tell the Iranians we are ready to talk with them and want a new deal that would benefit them and the U.S. along the lines of what we are offering the North Koreans.
Bring the Troops Home
I would call for most U.S. troops to return to the U.S., where they will be posted along our borders and serve as adjunct border patrol agents and first responders as part of their mandatory new national service. Again, paint this as better way to ensure border security that the President’s absurd wall.
this would also involve cutting military spending, including privatizing the commissaries and PX systems. there is no real why the military should continue to run the 8th largest grocery chain in the world when the private sector can and should take on that responsibility. There are many other areas where the military budget can be reformed saving money.
Rebuild America
I would gradually reduce military spending and devote resources to rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure. This must include high-speed trains, and must include perhaps hyperloop technology or Maglev trains? And the next generation of airplanes as well. We must rebuild our mass transit systems. We must embrace the development of driverless vehicles.
Challenge the Republicans on their “you are weakening national security” BS. When the Republican scream you are weakening national security call them out on their BS.
Ask them how repositioning troops to help deal with national security issues at home weakens national security? How does going to universal military service weaken national security? How does getting out of endless wars weaken national security? How does closing a few bases in Europe weaken national security? Or closing a golf course? Or a commissary? Point out that we already spend more on national security than any other nation on earth. How does rebuilding America’s failed infrastructure weaken national security? Challenge them to produce a better plan.
Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Start by acknowledging we need to improve security at the border but the wall is a waste of time and money that will not solve the problem. We need a comprehensive 21st century immigration policy that balances the need for continued immigration with the need to ensure that immigrants contribute to our country and enrich our country as they always have and always will. One area that I agree with the President on is that we should eliminate the F4 sibling visa category. Unlike the President though I would grandfather anyone in line and let them immigrate within two years then shut down this category entirely. I would also change the system so that prospective immigrants have basic English language skills. If you require it, they will learn English before applying and that would be better for them and the country. Finally, I would increase the number of skilled immigrant visa slots. I would cut the number of visa categories making the system much simpler. For non-immigrant visas there should be the following categories
Tourist/business visitors
Student and exchange visitors
Diplomatic visas
Temporarily work visas
All the various non-immigrant categories should be subsumed under one of these four rubrics.
For immigrant visas, I would shift to two categories – family based and employment base. I would eliminate the country by country preference system and allow as many immigrants to immigrate per year as warranted. The process should be streamlined so anyone who qualifies can immigrate within one year of applying providing that they speak English, have the required employment background or family relationship. Making a fraudulent application should result in a ten year ban on travel to the U.S. I would eliminate the Diversity visa lottery entirely as well. I would eliminate the public charge ineligibility but require family members to be financially responsible for immigrants once they arrive in the U.S.
I would also merge the consular service of the State department and the immigrant service of DHS into a new cabinet level department of immigration and consular services. The current system of three different agencies handling immigration is part of the broken system.
Challenge the Republicans to come up a better plan and work with you to implement it.
Call for A Return to Space Including Lunar Colonies and Martian Colonies
It is time for the U.S. to lead the world again in space exploration. Offer to lead the way in building lunar and Martian colonies with the participation of the world’s other space powers.
Call for The Legalization of Marijuana, Emptying the Prisons of Marijuana Offenders
End the endless war on drugs. Repeal marijuana prohibition. Empty the prisons of marijuana offenders. End the private prison for profit system. End the prison pipeline that sweeps up brown and black youths and sucks them into prison for life. Reserve prisons for the most dangerous offenders, all other prisoners should be sentenced to community service, drug treatment or other non-prison sentences. Use the money saved by closing prisons for rebuilding infrastructure.
Gun Control
I like your gun control proposals. It is a step forward. Continue to push for universal background checks.
Fully Support LGBT rights
Fully Support the religious freedom of all Americans including non-believers
Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged
For VP Pick a Hispanic man
It is important that you pick a minority as your VP and pick a male as well to balance the ticket. Juan Castro would be a good pick, Major Pete perhaps, Beito perhaps, Cory perhaps. I would not pick Joe Biden = – he is really past his prime so to speak. Pick someone who can appeal to the minority voters, and pick a male VP. I think a two woman ticket might be a step too far.
You get my point by now. Be bold, inventive, optimistic, full of hope and energy and you will prevail. Make people share your bold vision. Be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad the Donald is, you will lose.
My advice, to sum up, is to make this a campaign about the future and your vision of the future. Paint your opponent Donald Trump as yesterday’s candidate, and mock him, calling on Grandpa Trump to retire to Florida and play golf. Depict him as senile, out of touch, and focused on returning America to the 19th Century. And call for progressive bold new ideas for the future of America. Be optimistic, be full of hope and good will.
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)
Cosmic Haiku and Other Short Poems
I am a big fan of Haiku, Tanka, and other short poetical forms inspired by the Japanese and others. here are some of my short poems. Some have been published, most have not.
The President of the United States
Republican Leader of the Free world
Uber ales nations
Muttering insanities
Preposterous Nonsensical tweets
Putin
Post Modern Leader
Uniting all the Russians
Triumphant against all enemies
Including the Great Satan
Nevertheless always living in fear
Somonka for Angela
I have dreamt of you
For almost seven long years
And now you are here
What can I do about this
Only thing to do love you
You are all I want
All that I
need in this life
Thank to all the gods
For bringing you in my life
From now to the end of time
63 Years Haut
63 years old
taught me a few things
life is
to short
to carry a grudge
live and love a lot
Love Chinquapin
My Love
Haunting my dreams
endlessly talking to me
Then walked out of the dreams into
my Life
Four Haiku and a Tanka
walking on the path
in the world peace forest
snowing cherry trees
the world at peace
walking with love of my life
all is right with me
the falling cherry trees
along the path of the forest
reminds us of love
endless noise on TV
quiet on the path outside
peace in my soul
Dangerous Times Tanka
In dangerous times
we retreat to our corners
convinced we are right
everyone else is evil
everyone else must die
Fake Pain Haiku version
Fibromilyagia
I have fake pain all day long
Don’t know if it is real
Angela Haiku
Every day I wake up
To the love of my long life
And say Thanks to God
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Every Day I Wake Up
Every day I wake up
I see my fate in her face
Fall into her spell
Met My FateHaiku
I met my late fate
Seeing her face in a bar
And my fate ended
Published Hello Magazine Bonsai Haiku
Living with Pain Hanibun
Back in 1996 I had the accident that changed everything.I went jogging one morning. It was dark outside, and I thought that I knew the trail.Big mistake.I fell down a ledge hidden where the trail should have been.I shattered me heal in a million pieces.I was rushed to an ER and told that I need an emergency operation and would be bed ridden for four months.
My wife was in San Antonio at the time serving in the Army, I was in DC working for the State Department.I flew in a wheel chair to San Antonio where they proclaimed that they had to wait a week for the swelling to go down before they could operate.The Air force doctors wanted to try a new procedure – using shark cartridge as a bone supplement.The operation was a success until I quit taking antibiotics six months later.I was in DC by myself then.I went to the hospital for an unrelated thing -removal of a cist I think.But the doctors took one look at me and proclaimed that the staph had become a multiple drug resistant staph and I needed an urgent operation.The next day I had the third of 15 operations.I endured six months at Walter Reed hospital but that was in the 90’s prior to the wars of the 21st century filled the base up. They had few customers and I got to know the doctors well.
I know pain
Intimately aware of every ache
Every pain
Ever since that day
When I went under the knife
And had the 14 operations
That saved my life
But I am not one to complain
I became one with the pain
Which I endure to this day
Knowing that I am alive
Having cheated death
Twenty times in life
Waiting for the grim reaper
To finally claim me
But that day has not come
And until then
I will endure
Hiking the Hills of My Youth
I grew up in Berkeley, California in the 60’s.Ever since I was a youngster I would wander the hills of Berkeley hiking for hours by myself and sometimes with my friends.I explored every nook and cranny every corner of the hills and got to know nature in its infinite beauty.
Ever since those days I have longed for the day that I could spend my days hiking and wondering the hills.Now that I am retired and living in Korea I can go for a long walk in the hills every day I want.It is not the same as the hills I grew up, no vistas of the Bay and it is in Korea to boot but most days it is sufficient as I head out early afternoon and conquer four or five miles of hills just enjoying that fact that I can still move and am still very much alive at age 62.
I grew up hiking the hills of Berkeley, California
Grew up knowing every corner of the hills
And the infinite beauty of the Bay Area
And now I find myself in a strange land
With time on my hands
I wander the hills above the airport
In Incheon Korea
And wander about here and there
Just being grateful
That I am still alive
And kicking at age 62
There is nothing more to be said
There is nothing more to be said
Nothing more I can add
Nothing more than this
I will love you
Until the end of time itself
and death does us part
A message for you
A message for you
from the universe itself
in the eastern sea
Love Endures
Love Endures
the longer I live
the more I learn
that nothing endures in life
other than the love
I share with you
the cancer that is Trump
The cancer that is Trump
Will continue to fester
and continue to cause turmoil
that is the nature
of the malignant cancer
that is the Trump Presidency
62 Years Young
62 Years young
I am 62 years young
62 years around the sun
37 of those years
I have spent
with the love of my life
Married the Girl of my Dreams
true love romance story
I married the girl of my Dreams
first dreamt of her
back in 1974
Eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
Success
In 62 years around the sun
I have learned a few things
About life and the universe
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Coffee Haiku
I like my coffee
Like my women hot as hell
sweet Like Heaven
Spring Doositsu
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song come to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
Love Triclinia
One Summer Day
I saw a rose on the bus
I met my fate
Nuclear War Looms
nuclear war looms
North Korea U.S. Launch Nukes
End of the world
Zombies Apocalypse
the zombies unleashed
killing everyone they see
zombie apocalypse
Evil Fog
evil fog descends
killing everyone at once
end of life on earth
Zombie to the right
Zombies to the right
Zombies to the left of me
Zombies run amuck
Ghosts in Scotland
While touring Scotland
Meeting Ghosts in the wild moors
I believe in ghosts
angela
angela the love of my life came to me out of a dream walked off a bus into my life filling my life with red passion
Thanks Haiku
Every morning
I wake up alive with you
I give thanks to the Gods
Damn it all to Hell
Damn it all to Hell
My damn computer
Ate all my damn files
I am still trapped
I am still trapped
Stuck inside my computer
My damn computer
I love my computer
I love computer
When it works for me
Usually nothing
Computer hates me
Computer hates me
He wants to kill my files
Wants to kill me too
Computer hates me 2
Computer hates me
It wants to drive me insane
Wants to kill my files
For once I would Like
For once I would Like
To have my computer work right
Do what is should do
Perhaps if I am nice
Perhaps if I am nice
To my computer
It will be nice to me
Perhaps today it will
Perhaps today it will
Not give haiku messages
That it loves to sprout
My bad computer
My bad computer
Is so damn evil
Almost killed me
What a Fate I have
What a Fate I have
To become a slave to it
To my damn computer
I love my machine
I love my machine
My mad as a hat machine
Bat shit crazy machine
My dear computer
My dear computer
Loves to send me these love notes
Computer haiku
My favorite Haiku
My favorite Haiku
General failure reading
Disk drive fatal error
Computer Tanka
For once in my life
I would like my computer
To turn on and work
Do what it supposed to do
Without sprouting haiku
I hate my computer
I hate my computer
It seems to hate me as well
Just refuses to work
Ornery son of a bitch machine
ornery machine
Trying to drive me quite insane
My computer loves
My computer loves
me not at all wants to kill
me and all my files
wants to take my soul away
turn me into its evil clone
My bad computer
My bad computer
Has been infected with a virus
Wants to kill my soul
Transforming consuming
Taking me inside its soul
My mad computer
Infected with a virus
Everything it touches
Corrupted by mad zombies
Controlled by evil AI
Revenge is mine
Revenge is mine
Screams the mad evil machine
As it lurks to life
Trying to hunt me down
Death to all human beings
Every day I wake up
Every day I wake up
I see my fate in her face
Fall into her spell
Met My FateHaiku
I met my late fate
Seeing her face in a bar
And my fate ended
Published Hello Magazine Bonsai Haiku
True Sucess
The most important thing in life
Is to have a successful love life
That is all one needs after all
Haiku Thinking of You
Thinking of you, dear
Wondering if you do too
Thinking of me too
Spring Doositsu
Waking up seeing you there
Watching you as you wake up
Fills me with such sweat desire
Overcoming my mind
I sit watching you all day
Thinking of you all day long
Wild erotic imaginings
Love making to come
That old blues song come to mind
I just want to make love to you
I just want to make love to you
Nothing more than that that
I end this morning with this thought
You are still the most wonderful
The most beautiful creature
In the whole universe
Dream Girl
In search of dream girl
I spent seven years looking
she walked into Life
impossible dreams
impossible dreams
sometimes they do come to life
sometimes come true
Impossible dreams 2
Impossible dreams
I have had a few come true
Dreamt of meeting wife
And in my dream life
And in my dream life
She walked out of my dreaming
Night time vision came true
Life is but a dream
Life is But a Dream
That is what they say my dear
And I have lived dreams
Dreaming of meeting her
Dreaming of meeting her
Then she walks out of the dream
And into my arms
Recently I learned that I was part Jewish
That was long rumored in our family tree
Never confirmed until DNA came again
But whether my Jewish ancestors lived
Or died in the holocaust I have no heard
Never again will we live through that pain
Neo Fascism Must Be Defeated Again
In this day and age of fake news
And neo fascism rising yet again
It is important to bear witness
To the undeniable fact
That the holocaust can never ever come again
That is what we must vow every day
Never again
The Neo Fascists are let loose
By their champion the man in Orange
Whose racist mutterings have let loose
The ranting nutty voices of the right
Championing their god given right
To rule and regulate all that they see
Married Girl of My Dreams
I married the girl of my Dreams
first dreamt of her back in 1974
Eight years later
she walked off a bus
and into my life
62 Years young
I am 62 years young
62 years around the sun
37 of those years I have spent with the love of my life —
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)
Unfortunately mass shootings have become so common in the U.S. here are my “gun” poems written over the last few years. A few have been published.
I hope and pray that our political leaders will do something to solve the problem. the NRA’s position seems to be more guns for everyone is the solution. They are so wrong. the widespread availability of super lethal weapons is the problem. You simply can’t kill on a mass level with knives, or hammers, you need a high powered weapon designed to kill as many people as possible in the shortest time possible and you need to be so deranged that you want to kill as many people as possible in the shortest time possible.
universal background checks would help, treating guns like we treat cars would help. red flag laws would help. Guns should be registered, and owners should have to buy liability insurance. the Federal government should spend time and money studying the causes and prevention of gun violence. Buying back assault weapons would be a good idea as well.
I do agree with the NRA on one point, we should prosecute people who use guns in the commission of a crime and enforce all existing laws.
The beginning of tyranny
If only the Jews had guns
The holocaust would not have happened
Jesus would want us all
to be armed with machine guns
To protect us against the evil doers
It is the Christian thing to do
To blow away evil doers
With heavy arms
In America
Land of the free
Home of the brave
We can’t do anything
At all
About the mass carnage
Unleashed by madmen with guns
Who walk among us
Searching for their next victims
Any restriction of the right
To bear arms
Is tyranny at its worst
The nanny state run amuck
Talking about gun control
After a tragic event Is
just not the appropriate time
We only need prayers
and meaningless thoughts
Universal background checks
Too onerous
Registering guns
Too burdensome
Researching gun violence
waste of tax payer money
banning military style assault weapons
restricts my right to blow away
Bambi the deer
with a M16
the NRA will keep talking
talking and talking
preventing anything
from being done
and we will have another
Mass shooting event
Before the day is out
So my plead
This day
To the NRA A
and their stoogies
Talk is cheap
Your comments
Are not helping
If you can’t
Be a part of the solution
Just stop talking
Please stop talking
And let the rest
Of us figure out
How to stop
The madness in the streets
And stop the carnage
So NRA
Please just stop talking Now
More Guns for Everyone in the World
The NRA has decided
That the best solution to global problem
Of rampant violence and crime everywhere
Is for the rest of the world
To become like the U.S.
Where anyone can buy a gun
As an armed society is a polite society’
And so the President is about to announce
A global campaign against gun control restrictions
As these restrictions are an undue burden
On the rights of the US arms manufactures
To sell their guns everywhere in the world
As everyone wants what we have to sell
The best weapons in the world
Instead of trying to limit the damage
That unrestricted gun sales
Have done to the U.S.
Our President, our great leader
Wants to sell more guns
Everywhere in the world
And there are eager buyers
Lining up around the world
Eager to buy the best guns
The world has ever seen
We want to export
The gun madness
That has infected our society
Leaving behind so many dead bodies
The dead were not consulted
For they remain dead
They do not vote
They have no voice
For the guns silenced
them for good
just as the guns intended
Just doing their gun thing after all
Humanity has evolved
From stones to arrows
To guns
To nuclear, biological weapons
And the U.S.
While proclaiming itself
A champion of Human Rights
Remains nothing but a country
Of gun runners
Merchants of death
And destruction
Trump Administration Advances Plan to Relax Gun-Export Rules
The Trump administration on Monday advanced a long-sought-after plan to relax export rules for American small arms, including semiautomatic rifles, handguns, and sniper rifles.
In a private briefing with members of Congress, State Department officials outlined a proposed rule change that would transfer oversight of gun exports to the Department of Commerce. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register later this week, where it will be subject to public comment for 45 days. While it is unlikely, Congress could block the change using powers under the Congressional Review Act.
The shift, which was first proposed by the Obama administration in 2012, is championed by gunmakers who say it will make them more competitive in the international market. Critics argue an export policy that favors commercial interests could put the national security of the United States at risk or harm diplomatic efforts.
“Weakened Congressional oversight of international small arms and munitions sales is extremely hazardous to global security,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in an emailed statement. “This decision is also politically tone-deaf as our nation reckons with a gun violence epidemic.”
A State Department spokesman said that the change would ease the regulatory burden on American gun makers and allow them to compete better globally.
Currently, the Department of State monitors exports of nearly all weapons through the U.S. Munitions List. Since 2002, the department has been required to notify Congress of overseas sales of firearms worth more than $1 million.
In 2016, the State Department alerted the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to a proposed sale of more than 26,000 rifles to the Philippines. Cardin at the time objected to arming the regime of PhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte, who had inaugurated a wave of thousands of extrajudicial killings as part of a crackdown on drugs. The weapons deal was canceled as a result.
The proposed rule change would transfer control over the sale of small arms to the Commerce Control List, and Congress would no longer be notified of large purchases.
Some arms control experts say reduced oversight could provide criminals, terrorists, or hostile states an opportunity to purchase American weapons.
Under Department of Commerce weapon-export rules, “companies aren’t required to provide as much information about brokers or shipping” as they must under State Department supervision, said Colby Goodman, who examines American weapons exports as director of the Security Assistance Monitor program at the Center for International Policy in Washington. “The world of firearms exports is full of questionable, dubious characters.”
The rule change has been long in the making. It was first proposed in 2012 by the Obama administration, but abandoned shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. At the time, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security criticized the change because it could make it easier for transnational criminal organizations or terrorists to get American-made guns.
In September, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was interested in reviving the rule change to encourage more international arms sales. With the formal commencement of the public comment period, the preparation has become a policy reality.
In April, the Trump administration said it would now consider economic factors in addition to security when it comes to selling American weapons overseas.
The Trump administration has argued that the change would aid the domestic gun industry by cutting down on export regulation. American consumer sales of firearms have suffered since the 2016 election. After years of elevated sales in anticipation of possible new gun-control measures imposed by Democratic lawmakers, domestic demand subsided as Republicans took full control of the federal government.
– ALEX YABLON
Virgina Beach
In a night of horrific scumbagery violence
Rarely seen in this jaded age of ours
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific scumbagery violence
In just a few short minutes
Nothing more than that
In just a few moments
All 12 victims were murdered
By a disgruntled employee
Every one he knew was shot
And killed for no reason
Caused by the demons
His soul was so infected
Murderous demonic voices
All in his head
Screaming kill them all kill them all
Screaming none stop violence in his head
All the time
Causing him to start shooting everyone he saw
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Everyone must die screamed the demonic voices in his head
No one can be left alive
Everyone must die
Virtually all must die in his internal video game
Everyone must die
Regardless of who they were or where they were
Again just another day
Gone horribly wrong
All across America
In every town
No where is safe anymore
Virgina Beach massacre
Virgina Beach massacre
Just another
Average night in America
An Active Shooter
scumbagery violence
Rarely seen
in this jaded wild world
Gone in one hour
In a spasm of horrific
scumbagery
In just a less than 30 short minutes
Nothing more than
In just a few short 30 moments
All the victims
were murdered while at their daily work
wrong place wrong time
act of a demotic deranged madman
voices screaming Kill
The voices scream death to all humans
All must be killed
The voices scream over and over
All must die now
Just another night in America
Home of the free
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 Islamic terrorists
Most are in fact
Self-proclaimed Christians
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?
I want to tell you something
The dead don’t want your prayers
The dead don’t care that you pray for them
They are dead after all
And you and your so-called Christians
Are to blame
You refuse to do anything
Anything at all to stop the carnage
In our streets
The U.S. is flooded with guns
And more are sold every day
Millions of people don’t have health coverage
Millions are barely surviving
And your answer
Our dear great compassionate Speaker
Your answer
Is Prayer works
Government action does not
You act as if the gun violence
Plaguing our country
Was like the weather
Beyond our control
So here’s my prayer for you
And your colleagues
When you die
I pray that God
Will send you
And your friends
Straight to hell
Where Satan and his demons
Will use you for target practice
That’s my prayer to you
And as you know
Prayer works
I don’t Get It
Mr. Speaker
I admit I don’t get it
How does prayer
Stop gun violence?
Prayer did not work in Texas.
26 people were murdered
while praying.
God if he exists
Obviously does not care
About the poor people
Who died in his church
Because a mad man
Got a gun
And no they were not praying
To be delivered from death
No one deserves to die like this
So my prayer to you
Is simply this
Get off your rear end
Rally the country
And do something
About gun violence
That’s a prayer
I hope works
Add House Speaker Paul Ryan to the list of Republicans offering only thoughts and prayers in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in a Texas church, because taking meaningful action is always off the table with him and his party.
Speaking with Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham last night, Ryan reiterated that the victims and their families need more prayers because “prayer works.”
Prayer doesn’t work.
26 people were murdered while praying. Even Christians ought to admit that prayer doesn’t make a damn bit of difference and their God will do whatever their God wants to do, even if it means letting people die in church because a domestic abuser got his hands on a semi-automatic weapon.
Not that Ryan would ever say that.
Instead, he just blamed the “far secular Left” for not getting it.
Mocking faces
Quote the Donald Trump
I had another encounter
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