The World According to Cosmos – Poetry and Rants

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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.

     

    Poetry Soup Poems 2016-2019 

    Index

    April 2019 Poems

    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

    pastedGraphic.png

    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

    wiki on Paula White

    Paula White Web Site

    God’s Letter to Michelle Baachman

    Dear Paula.

    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.

    donald trump the anti-Christ?

    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”

    end Letter to Paula White

     

  • 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.

    poetry soup link

    cosmic Haiku and other short poems

    Guns KIll People

    2017 April Poems

    April 2018 Poems

    April 2019 Poems

    Vietnam Poems

    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

    pastedGraphic.png

    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

    pastedGraphic_1.png

     

    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

    pastedGraphic_2.png

    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

    pastedGraphic_3.png

    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

    pastedGraphic_4.png

    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

    socialist/communist/fascist/anti-American/anti-Christian nonsense

    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

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    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.

    Because the NRA said 

    the solution to gun violence

    aIs more guns

     for everyone in the world

    Everyone should be able

     to buy American made weapons

    The best in the world after all

    And everyone in the world 

    needs what the US 

    Wants to sell

    The shift,

     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.

     “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 

    .

    “The world of firearms exports 

    is full of questionable, dubious characters.”

    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.

    But the NRA

    They don’t care

    More guns for all

    Is the solution to all gun violence

    And sadly,  our President 

    Has sold his soul

    To the NRA

    Who offered him 

    Millions of dollars

    In blood money

    more guns for everyone

    based on following article

    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

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    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

    pastedGraphic_7.png

    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

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    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

     

    pastedGraphic_9.png

    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

    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.

    — 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

    hitching a ride

     

    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_origfake things_orig
    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

    Thus, it went

    Years after ever melancholy year

    Days after ever gloomy days

    Nights of self-induced torture

    Months of nightly rancid beer

    There it went

    Now

    I am sitting and thinking

    Thoughts so gloomy

    I still don’t know

    Life belongs to the living

    Not to the morbid mystic dreamers

    Nor the poets dying

    depressed morbid nights

    One of these depressed, depraved, morbid nights

    I shall awake to the God damned game of life

    And sit under the graying light

    Of the foolish full moon

    And laminate upon my luminance

    And chew up the garments of past lives

    And cry my soul

    But no one will hear the plight of my mind

    On strike for better wages

    And more love

    Thus, I will sit, and think and dream

    Dreams that no one ever before dreamt

    It is so very lonely being a foolish lunatic

    But then as I drink to oblivion

    I begin to think

    Of all those things that I have not experienced

    And wonder with a vengeance

    Why God hates me so

    Or is it only an illusion?

    When will I awake

    Or do we just sit waiting for more beer

    To cover up

    The stench of putrid rotting flesh

    Waiting for death to take us away

    To the Cosmic garbage dump in the sky

    Trying to communicate across a gap

    That is light years’ long

    And will never close

    For man was not made to know

    The real thoughts of another

    Man was made to suffer, cry and wait

    For the party in Hell afterwards

    , let’s us die and be done with it

    Or live without our God damned dreams

    Running our thoughts

    Into pits of depraved madness

    Hell is Here to Stay

    The angel of the lord

    Appeared on TV sets

    All over the world

    src=”https://mlhqp2oqtail.i.optimole.com/cb:a-R0.45b/w:auto/h:auto/q:mauto/ig:avif/https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/god-picture-for-Hell-is-Here-.jpg” alt=”” width=”255″ height=”198″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-1229″ />

    People woke up

    Expecting to see

    The usual suspects

    Talking heads

    Talking drivel

    Talking trash

    Instead

    A stern visage

    A stern old man

    In a dark suit

    He had a salt and pepper beard

    And long, dark black hair

    And piercing blue eyes

    Staring out

    From his stern face

    The eyes

    Piercing the soul

    Of all who listened

    The voice

    Of the angel of the lord

    Was like thunder

    And all over the world

    People tried to turn off

    Their TV sets

    To no avail

    Twilight light Zone

    Prevailed

    The angel of the lord

    Stopped swearing

    And said

    In a calm

    Deadly voice

    People of earth

    You know the lord

    By a billion names

    I am his spokesman

    We’ve realized

    There is the age of the TV

    And we must be able to reach

    You directly

    Before one or a million

    Could understand

    Now no one hears us

    For you are convinced

    We are dead

    Irrelevant

    Washed up

    A fraud

    Frankly speaking

    You all can go to hell

    And an evil grin

    Appears on his face

    As he says

    Can a fraud do this?

    And outside

    Thunder and lightening

    A star comes down

    And houses were blown away

    And everyone was

    Outside

    The TV set

    Was in the sky above

    The voice of the angel

    Of the lord

    Proclaiming

    Repent

    The end is near

    And now

    No more TV

    No more booze

    The rights to you

    Have been sold

    For to quote Frank Zappa

    You are all assholes

    You are all assholes

    All of you

    Little, mean little assholes

    Let me introduce

    My new business partner

    satan

    Satan, also known

    As the prince of darkness

    God and Satan

    Have agreed on a deal

    A thousand year Reich

    A thousand year of slavery

    For you

    My little human assholes

    For your sins, your arrogance

    Your foolish pride

    After a thousand years

    Of pure torture

    We will return

    To judge the living and the dead

    Most of you will remain in hell

    Some will be redeemed

    And allowed into heaven

    And now, back to your usual station

    Welcome to hell

    Satan said

    And laughed and laughed and laughed

    And the usual crimes resume

    The usual lies and deceits and shames

    For most people

    It made no difference

    They had been in hell

    For centuries

    For some

    It mattered

    fake eggs

     

    Eggs

    I love real eggs

    From real chicken

    Preferably free range

    Vegetarian fed,

    No antibiotic feed

    No hormones added

    Non-caged chickens,

    allowed to roam about

    As God intended

    them to do

    Not locked up

    In chicken coop hell

    But now

    We have so many choices

    We can have fake eggs

    Without any cholesterol

    Or yoke

    Tastes like real chicken eggs

    At least they claim

    But who knows what’s real

    Any more

    Can you trust

    The chicken is real ?

    Fake bread

    Now a days

    Most of the time

    I eat fake bread

    GF bread

    For health reasons

    My wife can’t tolerate the real thing

    And so,

    I eat fake bread

    Fake pasta

    Fake pizza

    But every so often

    I want the real deal

    I crave bread

    Made with wheat

    And a real pizza

    And real pasta

    And real donuts

     

    Fake Booze

    I never real understood

    The concept of alcohol free booze

    Alcohol free beer

    Alcohol free wine

    I don’t get Mocktales

    And I don’t get fruit beer

    And coffee beer

    And other the other weirdo drinks

    That people drink these days

    I mean when you drink booze

    You want the alcohol

    You want the buzz

    You need the booze

    And you want it now

    And frankly fake booze

    Just does not do it for me

    So please no fake beer

    No mocktails

    No fake wine for me

    As the song puts it

    One scotch, one bourbon

    And one beer

    So, either give me the real deal

    Or give me a cup of tea

    Or coffee or water or juice

    Or whatever

    But don’t serve me fake booze

    fake fish

    fish market

    Every where in the world

    When you eat fish

    In a restaurant

    The restaurant owners

    Claim it is salmon or tuna

    Or other delicious fish

    But the sad reality

    60 percent of the time

    You are eating fake fish

    The fish may be fish

    Or may not be fish

    But if it is indeed fish

    It is probably tilapia

    Or some other cheap

    Bottom feeding scumbag fish

    Filled with toxins

    And possibly tape worms

    And other parasites

    And as you eat your delicious fish

    You are eating the fake fish

    And helping the fish industry

    Continue this con game

    But there is nothing you can do

    Except for catching your own fish

    And preparing it yourself

    So, when you eat fish

    Pretend if you must

    That you eating salmon or tuna

    While you eat your tilapia

    And pay the salmon/tuna premium price

    fake vegan meat

    When I go to a vegetarian restaurant

    I often encounter fake meat

    Often called mock meat

    Made out of soy beans, and other things

    And I wonder

    Why bother with the façade

    I mean if you are a vegan

    Be a vegan

    Don’t eat or make fake meat

    You don’t need it

    You really don’t like it

    And it is somehow

    just wrong to me

    So please no more fake meat

    No more tofu turkey for me

    Either give me my meat

    Or give me my vegan delight

     

    Fake coffee

    I used to be a big coffee drinker

    Had to have my four or five cups

    Of real fresh brewed coffee

    Not for me the weak instant coffee

    Of decafe coffee or herbal fake coffee

    But over time coffee caught up to me

    And now I can not handle the real deal

    And I am forced to drink decafe coffee

    Which is a kind of fake coffee to me

    Or herbal coffee

    Which is entirely fake

    Designed to taste like the real thing

    But without that caffeine kick

    That true coffee drinkers crave

    Since we are all caffeine addicts at heart

    Just need that rush to get going

    And keep going

    And the fake coffee

    Just does not do the trick

    And so, I am doomed

    To drink decafe coffee

    And fake coffee

    Missing my real cup of coffee

    Until the I enjoy the last drop

    Fake Food

    fast food

    in this world of fake things

    Nothing is more fake

    Than the food we eat

    Most of the fake food crap we eat

    Is nothing but chemicals

    And flavorings

    Added to a small amount

    Of real food

    All packaged and sold

    And marketed

    Scientifically designed to taste good

    So we eat the poisoned food

    And get sicker and sicker

    While the food industry giants

    Make obscene profits

    Selling us poison

    fake smiles

    photo of fake people laughing
    fake people laughing

    The old soul classic

    Smiling faces got it right

    “Smiling faces sometimes

    Pretend to be your friend

    Smiling faces show no traces

    Of the evil that lurks within (can you dig it?)

    Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes

    They don’t tell the truth

    Smiling faces, smiling faces tell lies and I got proof

    Oh, oh, yeah

    Let me tell you

    The truth is in the eyes ’cause the eyes don’t lie, amen

    Remember, a smile is just a frown turned upside down my friend

    So, hear me when I’m saying

    Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes, yeah

    They don’t tell the truth

    Smiling faces, smiling faces tell lies and I got proof

    (Beware) beware of the handshake

    That hides the snake (can you dig it, can you dig it?)

    I’m a-tellin’ you beware of the pat on the back

    It just might hold you back

    Jealousy, (jealousy) misery (misery) envy (envy)

    I…”

    Boy did the singer get it right

    In this world of fake things

    Where the market rules us all

    The art of the fake smile

    Has been perfected

    They say that many people

    Have mastered the art of the fake smile

    Where you smile

    and pretend to like someone

    your victim

    does not suspect

    that the smile

    is because you are thinking

    of stabbing them in the back

    oh yes in a world of fake people

    beware, beware of smiling faces

    fake friends

    In this world of fake things

    Where nothing is real

    Nothing is authentic

    And the market rules us all

    There is no room

    For real friendship

    We are all using each other

    To get ahead

    So we pretend to be friends

    All the time

    Plotting against our so called friends

    To get ahead

    The market rewards the most vicious

    Sociopathic values rule the market

    Friendship is for wimps

    And losers

    Those winners end up

    Alone all alone

    For they have no real friends

    But boy do they have real enemies

    For in this fake world of ours

    Perhaps hate is the one real emotion

    That has survived

    fake relationships

    In this modern world

    Where everything seems fake

    There are few genuine relationships left

    Most relationships are market driven

    How can this person help me

    In my career or in life

    What can I get from them

    How can I use them for my advantage

    And what do they want in return

    And we are all nothing but personal brands

    Competing all the time for the next gig job

    And  romance

    Has been reduced  to sexual lust

    And nothing more

    And few people want babies

    Any more

    Babies are expensive

    And limit your ability

    To compete for your next bed partner

    And being real, telling people what we really think

    Is usually a CLM – career limiting move so to speak

    So, everyone hides their true feelings

    And are resigned to living this fake life

    In a world filled with fake people

    I wonder if there are any real people left

    fake Jake

    Many years ago

    I proclaimed to the world

    I was Jake

    And I was not a fake

    But I was the real deal

    But over the years

    I too have become fake

    And yes Jake

    Is also nothing but a fake

    Fake  Souls

    In this hyper materialist era

    We find ourselves in

    Is there such a thing as a true soul?

    Or have we all become

    Nothing but fake souls

    The rights to our souls

    Long ago sold

    To the evil masters of the universe

    The secret programmers

    Of this cosmic video game

    We all live in

    And our dear leader

    Donald Trump

    Has a fake soul

    As he acts like he is robot

    Trying to fake real human emotions

    And usually failing miserably

    Fake Calls

    Every day I get woken up

    As the sun comes up

    By my phone ringing

    With a fake call

    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 die

    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 money

    The 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…..

    Walls Divide Us

    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

    sandwich choices

     

    Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

    Choices

    There are so many choices to be had

    When ordering a sandwich

    What kind of bread

    What kind of meat or any meat

    What kind of cheese or any cheese

    Whether to have sprouts or not

    Whether to have a pickle or not

    Whether to go with a classic peanut butter

    And something sandwich

    I loved peanut butter sandwiches

    As a kid

    Peanut butter and sweat pickles were my favorite

    Peanut butter and banana is good also

    Peanut butter and strawberry jam

    What a delightful memory

    My current favorite

    Is a BLT with sprouts, avocado, and kosher dill pickles?

    Heirloom red tomatoes one slice per each half

    Avocado one half per each half

    One half pickle on each half

    Bacon cooked just right – well done but not black

    Sprouts and lettuce just right

    Timamook Yellow smoked cheder cheese

    On each half

    On Gluten Free bread

    with chipotle mayo

    And Dijon mustard

    Cut in half

    Truly a sandwich made in heaven

    And bacon makes everything

    Taste so damn nice

    And God if you are reading this poem

    You had better prepare them for me

    Or Heaven will not be worth it

    Does Satan serve BLT sandwiches

    I wonder

    Probably not

    Probably you become the bacon

    In his hell sandwiches

    published in Duane’s Poetree

    looking out my window

    Looking Out My Window

    In Incheon

    What did I see

    The neighboring apartment buildings

    Obscured by the April rains

    And yellow dust of early Spring

    And in the distant the mountains

    Aflame with spring colors

    Beckoning me outdoors

    Looking out my window

    In Oregon

    What did I see

    Green trees

    Silently watching me

    And the cats gamboling along

    Looking at me

    While I look at them

    Each wondering what sort of weird creatures

    The other is

    And who is the real alien species?

    In Washington DC

    Looking out my window

    What did I see

    I saw the squirrels in the trees

    And the peaceful trees

    Of Capitol Hill

    Near the seat of power

    Yet somehow

    I felt It all far away

    In Suburban Virginia

    Looking out the window

    What did I see

    I often looked out my window

    At the trees and the jungle

    In my back yard

    And heard the distant roar

    Of traffic on the busy suburban street

    As people rushed to get to the freeway

    In the early morning hours

    In Madrid Spain

    Looking out the window

    What did I see

    I looked out at our Spanish neighborhood

    Seeing the beautiful Madrid ladies

    Walking down the street

    Secretly admiring them from afar

    In Barbados

    Looking out the window

    What did I see

    The monkeys in the trees

    Looking at me

    Contemplating raiding my garden

    As soon as I went away

    In Seoul

    Looking out my window

    What did I see

    The neighborhood

    Alive outside my window

    For so many years

    In Seattle

    Looking out my window

    What did I see

    I saw the ever changing green

    Sea of trees

    that is Seattle’s true color

    The city is so lush and green

    And alive with life’s endless possibilities

    In Stockton

    Looking out the window

    What did I see

    The traffic moving

    Through the dense fog

    That often fell upon the city

    Obscuring everything in its embrace

    And growing up in Berkeley

    Looking out my window

    I saw nothing

    +But the dirt and trees

    And shrubs

    Of my ancestral home

    And felt nothing

    But loneliness

    And a desire

    To leave my home

    As soon as I grew up

    That is what I see

    When I look out my window

    Even to this day

    I see where I have been

    And wonder where I am going

    As I stare out the window

    Knowing that my life

    Will surely come to an end

    As I stare out at the world

    Waiting waiting waiting

    For my fate to unfold

    Watching three cats

     

    Watching three cats

    gamboling along

    Looking at me

    While I look at them

    Each wondering what sort of weird creatures

    The other is

    And who is the real alien species?

    three cats ready to go

    three cats

    at play

    they look out at the world

    and they are ready

    they are born hunters

    they are hungry

    they are restless

    and they want

    to escape

    from the house

    to chase birds

    squirrels

    and other cats

    That’s the cat’s life after all

    they tolerate us humans

    only because we feed them

    But at heart

    they are wild things

    and wild things

    need to be free

    Looking Out My Window at the Cat

    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

    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

     

    I Often Wonder About Cats

     

    wonder about cats download

    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

    Cat Fight in Incheon

     

    Watching two cats

    Fighting alongside the sidewalk

    In suburban Incheon New Airport Town

    Completely indifferent

    To the humans walking around them

    And the humans were indifferent to the cats

    As they stood there fighting

    And screeching at each other

    One orange one

    One half black half white one

    Both middle age in cat years

    As I sat there watching the cats

    really getting into it

    I wondered what they were arguing about?

    But since I don’t speak cat

    I really didn’t know

    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

     

     

    bottles of korean liquor soju
    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.

    Her and they moved to

    a the final inspection went well

    with E wall

    back to the apartment

    and brown

    we had left the keys

    are in the car

    but fortunately

    we ran two

    are rules that TV does not

    ruin were bought

    baby by Jews

    they’ll be able to see you

    and your evening

    we win

    two Home Depot and Costco

    and then who can free pizza

    for dinner we want to eastern market

    and shot the movie

    dress report to the berber

    back home

    and went to bed

    about the nine

    the dictation is working up

    from 50% of the time

    cue-card will keep

    the hope that the difference

    in win over to

    in the meantime

    I will keep brokerage

    and user to ride

    bay from all working

    you in this

    is Trevor Rowe junior middle school?

    Microsoft did tuition

    continues two 50%

    of the time

    one the visual dictation data

    his sometimes schuler’s

    shall I am sure

    even when you shoot a film,

    today we’ll meet with Perot’s

    to turn over the key

    and then paid the porch

    and weather permits

    and then maybe have dinner

    with more drivers

    wore see the movie

    Mama Mia

    should be a good

    if I have time

    High-level

    also do some solutions all

    Still having problems with my group

    saw fit to Asia

    still very strange

    each results

    it’s well as run

    the south: today in that age

    bus ride across America

     

    Photo by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi on Pexels.com

    the Bus – Travels Through America’s Underbelly

    I am a bus rider

    That makes me unusual

    For a white male

    From an upper middle class family

    Our people are not bus riders

    Though some are subway riders

    Bus riders are other people

    The poor, minorities, immigrants

    People who don’t drive

    Because they are blind

    Or have a DUI

    And in my case

    I don’t drive

    Because I have bad vision

    And bad coordination

    Just never got the hang

    Of the whole driving thing

    Fortunately for me

    My wife does the driving

    But I still take the bus

    From time to time

    I rode the AC buses in Berkeley

    As a child

    Line 67, line 51, line 43 F bus

    Rode them long before BART came along

    And afterwards as well

    As an adult seldom rode the bus

    But when I did so

    I was always impressed

    By the sheer diversity

    Of the bus riding property

    Hundreds of languages

    All sorts of sexual orientation

    Some were white

    Most were not

    Most of my fellow passengers

    Were nice enough

    Some were friendly

    And some were lost

    In their own thoughts

    And a few

    Were scary looking dudes

    With the look

    Of someone who had done time

    And were capable of more violence

    I also rode the bus

    In Seattle as a graduate student

    A lot of fellow UW students

    And the usual immigrants

    Minorities etc

    And some white people

    Commuting

    And in DC

    Over the years

    I rode a lot of buses

    Mostly to and from the metro

    But I got to know

    And love the DC buses as well

    I also took the greyhound bus

    Across the country

    Several times over the years

    All over the U.S.

    From Bay Area to Stockton

    From Bay Area to Clear Lake

    From Bay area to NYC

    NYC to DC

    All over the USA

    Taking the Greyhound

    Was always an an adventure

    Met a lot of interesting people

    As people on long distant bus rides

    Tend to open up and talk

    To pass the time away

    Overseas I took the bus

    All over

    In India, in Barbados

    In Spain and in Korea

    The Korean buses

    For many years

    Were difficult for foreign visitors

    As the signs were all in Korean

    Most have signs

    Now in English, Chinese and Korean

    And are much more foreigner friendly

    Riding the bus

    In America

    Allows one access

    To the underbelly of American society

    The poor, the marginalized

    The immigrant communities

    That many middle-class white people

    Just never see

    And for that reason

    I am glad

    That I am a bus rider

    Hitch hiking Tales

    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

    Slowly coming to life with the dawning sun

    Surrounded by the sounds of chaos, disorder

    Dark, dangerous despairing thoughts

    Of dangerous terrible acts to come

    All around me in this strange era we live in

    This orange alert perpetual fearful times

    Constant fear, and overwhelming dread

    Mad crazed Islamic bomb throwing terrible terrorists

    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

    1. Brother, Keep Preaching

    Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 07, 2009. Man evangelical preacher explains God’s Word in Se Square in downtown Sao Paulo
    Sao 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

    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.

    the End 

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Elizabeth Warren Go Bold or Go Home

    Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!
    Go Bold or Go Home!
    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions

    elizabeth Warren’s web page

    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.

    In short,

    Elizabeth

    GO BOLD OR be forced to retire and go home.

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    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)

    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.

    enjoy

    April 2018 Poems

    2017 April Poems

    April 2019 Poems

    haiku wiki

    Japanese short poetry forms

    Trump

    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 Fate  Haiku

    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 Fate  Haiku

    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 —

    Love Endures

    the longer I live

    the more I learn 

    that nothing endures in life

    other than the love 

    I share with you

    The Future of NYC

    In the distant future

    the world will end

    with a massive flood

    and NYC will slowly sink

    beneath the waves

    and mankind will die 

    Best Friend for 55 years    

    I have known Robert S since the first grade

    over 55 years sharing life’s journeys 

    introduced me to demon rum and weed  

    Was there when I dreamt of my wife  

    and there during my 14 operations 

    My Memory Bank

    Matt and I met in Latin class in the 9th grade

    he managed my first election as BHS president

    He knows most of my secrets 

    and reminds me of my past misdeeds 

    keeping me humble and alive 

    Best Friend in the Universe

    I met my best friend, my soul mate 

    in a dream in high school

    eight years later she walked off a bus

    and entered my life 35 years ago

    Still, my best friend I ever had 

    26 Alphabetical Haiku

    A

    The Love of My Life

    A is for Angela

    Love her Forever

    B

    B is for breathing

    Sometimes I forget to do so

    And will pay the price 

    C

    C is for Charlie

    All the Charlies in the world

    Every last one of them

    D

    D is for my Friend

    Demel Tucker was his name

    He died way too soon

    E

    E is for ever green

    The Eucalyptus.  trees

    That cover the East Bay

    F

    F is for friendship

    All my friends in the world

    I remember you

    G

    G is for golfing

    Sometime I never could do

    But always wanted

    H

    H is for Hotels

    The best and the worst everywhere

    Here there and in SF

    I

    I is for Indians

    Indian and American

    And the Cherokees 

    J

    J is for Japan

    Japanese Food and Sake

    Hot Sake tonight

    K

    Best Korean Food

    K is for Korea

    Soju Malkali

    120 L

    L is for Latin

    The language I struggle with

    Latina lovers

    M

    M for your mama

    My crazy Mother as well

    Everyone’s mothers

    N

    N is for never

    Ever ever use the N Word

    Even amongst friends

    O

    for Ohio

    Okaholma City too

    And Oregon

    P

    Pennsylvania

    Pittsburg and Phillie Cheese Steaks

    True Decadece

    R

    R for Russia

    The Russian gate

    Scandal de jour

    Q

    Q is for Queers

    My best LGBT friends

    Where ever they live

    127 S

    S for Satanic

    I don’t believe you exist

    Powers and spells

    T

    T is for Turkey

    The country and bird

    The Thanksgiving feasts

    U

    U is unwarry

    So Unfriendly

    So very un-cool

    V

    V is for victory

    V is for vegan veggies

    Very green smoothies

    132 W

    Whatever will be

    Whoever you want to be

    Whatever  you want

    133 X

    X marks the spot here

    Burried treasures and loot

    Or just mad dreams

    134 Y

    Y is for saying Yes

    Yes to everything under the sun

    And throughout the night

    136 Z

    Z is for the show Zoo

    Still haunts my every night mare

    The animals kill

  • 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.

    Go Bold or Go Home!
    gun violence in America

    Another Mass Shooting to Start the Day

    here then are my gun poems

    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

    socialist/communist/fascist/anti-American/anti-Christian nonsense

    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

    more guns for everyone

    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?

    Based on following article
    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/world/americas/mass-shootings-us-international.html

    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

    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.

    Read more at Ryan blames secular left for gun violence

     

  • 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)

    A Tale of Two Metros

    Go Bold or Go Home!
    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions

    seoul metro expansion plans

    worst transit system in the world?

    seoul metro

    dc metro

    dc metro wiki

    Seoul and DC opened their subways in 1974. I rode both for the first time in 1979.  Both had about the same number of stations five or six stations on one line.  What a  difference 45 years has made. Seoul has build a world class subway system with over 600 stations stretching over 200 miles, while DC has build five lines and many people consider it to be among the worst subway systems in the world.  I rode both for the first time in 1979 and I have been riding both ever since.  I love the Seoul Metro and am glad that it has become one of the best subways in the world and I am very disappointed at the deterioration of the DC subway system and concur in the opinion that is now one of the worst mass transit systems in the world.


    Seoul World Class System in 45 Years

    45 years later since opening in 1974, the Seoul city subway has grown to be one of the biggest subway system in the world with 19 lines over 600 station stretching over 200 miles connecting many outlining cities too so as part of one integrated mass transit system. it is fast efficient cheap safe and most people in the soul metro area live within a half a mile of  a station.  there are five more lines being planned and build. By 2025 there will be over 700 stations. The signs are bilingual and all announcements are in four languages and are very clear. Each subway station has a has a TV screen for stop announcements in four languages – Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English  The fair machines operate in four languages as well.  The subway attendance all speak some English and are very helpful and friendly. Every subway stop has clean restrooms. Every station has services and restaurants   a number of stations featuring long underground shopping malls. The metro system makes so much money in renting shops and services  and advertising that the fares are heavily subsided. You can pay by phone, credit card or T transit card. The trains are very clean and people can eat on the train without fear of being arrested. Close to 70% use the train frequently . The trains are safe, violent crime is unheard of, and there has never been a derailment or serious accident. and the trains are repaired quickly, maintenance is never neglected.  Foreign visitors love the system and use it frequently as it is quite foreigner friendly. Ridership at night is quite strong due to newly imposed strict drunk driving laws.

    DC Metro a Broken System

    Contrast that with the DC Metro.  The DC Metro has five lines about 125 stations and will finally connect to the Dulles Airport next year, 50 years after first planning to extend to the airport. the system was planned before the dramatic development of suburban Virginia and Maryland and the system does not serve the suburban areas very well as the majority of the train stations are in DC, or Arlington county.   Because there is only one tunnel under the river trains to Virginia are forced to use one tunnel making it difficult to schedule trains.  The train are expensive, overcrowded, dangerous and only about 25% of the region are within a one mile walk to the a train stations. there have been a number of derailments, fires, and violent attacks on the subway.  It takes months to repair the escalators which are frequently broken. The stations do not have restrooms or any service and is against the law to eat or drink on the train.  The Subway has just added Wifi,  You can not pay by phone, or credit card.  The loudspeaker system is very poor and most of the time you cannot hear the announcement; announcements are only in English, and occasionally Spanish. The subway fare machines are also only in English.  The cost to use the metro is about 10 times the cost of using the Seoul Metro, in recent years, a number of stations have been taken off-line for repairs.  The attendants are not friendly or helpful. Only ten percent of the public use the metro but half of tourists use the metro. and the metro is confusing and foreigner unfriendly.

    What Accounts for the Difference in Outcomes?

    What accounts for these different outcomes for systems that were build in the same year?

    Political Will to Construct a World Class System in Seoul

    First and foremost the Korean government put money, effort and political will into building  a modern world class transportation and infrastructure most of the cost of the metro comes through rental revenues and advertisement income.  Less than 10 % comes from fares because the government subsidizes fares to keep  the cost of using the system very reasonable to ensure larger ridership.

    Second in Korea public domain laws are very strong and it is almost impossible to block extensions of either subways or freeway system and there would be no support for blocking construction. In fact there is strong support for continuing expanding the system and five more lines are under planning or construction when the system is completed in a few years it will be perhaps this second largest system in the world.

    Third there is no requirements for environmental impact assessments or other regulatory burdens that make it difficult to build public infrastructure in the United States

    Forth there is broad public support for Government investment in infrastructure.

    Fifth the subway system is managed very efficiently. There are actually four Corporation involved but coordination it’s very well-done and the user does not even know that there are four corporations involved, for the user there is only one system.  Transfers between different lines is easy as there are always underground passageways connecting the different lines.

    Finally and most importantly, everyone uses the metro, even the wealthy use the system from time to time,  It is truly a mass transit system for the benefit of the public.

    Contrast this with the DC Metro Experience – lack of political will to construct and maintain a world class system

    The DC Metro generates about half of revenues through fares,  There is no rental income, but some advertisement income and parking fee income as well. . Keeping fares low was never a priority for the system. There is no dedicated funding.  The system is run jointly by DC ,Virginia, Maryland and the federal government and they don’t often agree on fundamental issues, and no one is really in charge. Lack of funding especially no rental income and marginal ad revenue and parking revenues, has always meant that the system neglected maintenance to the point that they have to rebuild the system station by station  at a very high cost.  The constant construction has resulted in many riders fleeing the system, leading to decreased revenues and the need to increase fares due to the shortage of fare income.  In many respects the DC metro system is a perfect case study of how not to manage a large transit system whereas the Seoul system is a poster child for proper transit system management.

    Second although there is support for the Metro among residents of DC there is not that much support in the outer suburbs and congressman from rural areas are hostile to spending tax dollars to support public transit improvements as it does not benefit their constituents.  Due to Gerrymandering and the requirement that each state has two Senators, rural interests are vastly over represented in congress.  Related to this is the widespread feeling that all government spending is somehow bad, and that the private sector will and should solve all problems. The Republican party is also committed to keeping taxes as low as possible especially for the rich donor class, and starving the federal government of needed funds for such things as infrastructure improvements. and will not consider raising taxes today for infrastructure especially mass transit.  There is a wide spread feeling that transit systems should be funded entirely through fares, while freeways should be kept free to users. 

    Only Losers Use Public Transit

    Since so few people actually use the system, and there is a widespread feeling that only lower class people use the system, there is little political support for the system which is used by other people.  Or as Homer Simpson said once, “only losers ride the bus.” Unfortunately the view is widespread in the U.S.  As a result, US infrastructure has been consistently rated a D- grade by the American Association for Civil Engineering. a

     Government Quit Investing in Infrastructure Starting in the late 70’s 

    Related to this the government starting in the 1980s quit making investments in public infrastructure and the cost to rebuild  American infrastructure will exceed $3 trillion. There is no political well to cut bloated defense and national security spending to devote to rebuilding infrastructure nor is there any willingness to raise taxes to pay for infrastructure investments.

    Third environmental regulations, legal restrictions and the NIMBY ( Not in my backyard) feeling makes planning and funding infrastructure very difficult.

    Fourth the system was not planned out very well there’s no equivalent to the number two line circular line and transferring between stations is difficult . There is one station where two lines come together about a half a mile apart but there is no underground passageway connecting the two lines. When the system was planned in the late 60’s, most people commuted to jobs in the district or in Arlington county.  No one anticipated the rapid development of Fairfax, London and Prince William counties in Virgina and suburban Maryland as well. Thus the stations no longer go where people need to go.

    Kissinger Moved the Metro from the State Department Fearing  Some One Would Bomb the State Department

    An interesting anecdote is that the original plan  was for a Metro stop under the State Department with an underground passageway to the Kennedy Center .Kissinger felt that someone might blow up the State Department ordered the line to be relocated 3/4 mile away, and  an underground passage way to the Kennedy center was never built. 

    The plan station in Georgetown  was block by opposition from mostly white locals who were afraid too many black undesirables would be able to easily get to Georgetown.

    Finally because the metro is divided between three states  and the federal government and no one is really charge it is very difficult to manage the system.  This is compounded by the lack of dedicated funding and no rental income. All of which makes it difficult to keep up on maintenance or to expand the system which needs to be done.  The DC metro area has grown to over 7 million people and is close to NYC in population density without the transit and other infrastructure  to support such a large population.

    Recommendations for DC Metro

    My recommendations to the DC metro system is to ask for dedicated funding, to open retail services in all stations in order to the increase revenues and ridership.  Add restrooms to each station.  Lift the ban on eating and drinking on the trains.  Fix the announcement system and make all announcements in English, Spanish and perhaps Chinese?  make the fare boxes trilingual as well.

    Reorganize the system to become the Metropolitan Metro authority with authority over the trains, the bus systems and the commuter railroads. An advisory committee consisting of representatives of DC, Maryland, Virginia, the Federal Government, riders and employees would advise the board.

    Expand or Die

    The DC metro needs to dramatically expand the number of stations, doubling the number of stations within ten years and expanding the system all the way to Quantico in Virginia and all the way to Baltimore where it would connect to the Baltimore transit system. They also need to construct another tunnel under the river.

    the Metro system needs to develop an ambitious plan to double the number of station within ten years including building a new tunnel underground river under the Potomac River and building  two Circular lines, an inner line and an outer line,  perhaps on top of 495, 395 and 295,  (Note: Seoul needs to build an outer circular line as well end note)

    . One line would go down to Quantico, going through Ford Belvoir, another line should connect Springfield to Tysons and  a final line should be constructed along Columbia Pike and Little River Turnpike. in Maryland I would build a line along Rockville Pike, and build a line connecting Colombia to Baltimore connecting with the Baltimore metro system.

    Visit Seoul for Inspiration and to Learn How to Do it Right

    I would recommend sending a team to the  Seoul City metro system to study how they created such a world class metro system and learn from their success. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel and I’m sure the Seoul Metro staff would love to give you the benefit of their success.

    the writer, a retired US diplomat living in  Yeongjongdo first rode both systems in 1979 and has used both systems over the years.  He is very pleased at the development of the Seoul system into one of the best in the world, and very disappointed in the deterioration of the DC Metro over the same time period.

    additional comments November 22, 2019

    Dream 10,236 Metro pet Peeves

    My top pet peeves for the DC metro are

    1. not enough stations should be at least double 
    2. no restrooms 
    3. no services.  In Korea, Japan, China the metro pay for themselves out of rental income as every station is  mini-shopping mall, or has offices and housing built on land owned by the metro  A major source of revenue. In DC metro only a few stations are build that way. 

    4.   No food or drink on the station

    5.   discriminatory enforcement of this rule seems only black and brown teenagers are arrested, white people and foreign visitors are warned

    6.   lack of signage advising people to stand on the right, walk on the left

    7.   people who don’t stand on the right, walk on the left

    8.  lack of connections between nearby stations.  why Farragut West and Farragut North don’t have an underground connection is beyond me.

    9. serious lack of signage throughout the system

    10. loudspeakers that no one can hear

    11. inaccurate signage re next train coming

    12.  total lack of communication where they is a problem

    13.  constant repair work

    14.  why does it take months to repair the escalators?

    15.  Why don’t they get rid of the escalator except in a few stations?

    16.  total lack of planning for planned disruptions.  Last summer it took four hours to get home from a base ball game because Metro had not provided enough shuttle buses at the Pentagon station.  

    17.  total lack of planning for unplanned disruptions.  when that occurs, lots of luck getting on the proverbial shuttle bus that never come

    18 god help us if there is a terrorist incident

    19. violent disruptive passenger everywhere

    20.  muggings at night 

    21. coyote attacks 

    22.  lack of coordination between different transit providers – it should be one system

    23. too damn expensive 

    24. too slow

    25.  Does not go everywhere

    Dream  10, 237 Seoul Metro Pet Peeve

    top pet peeves for Seoul metro?

    why does the ARA stop at Geoman station only why not go to the airport every time? Makes no sense. 

    same thing for the other lines. why not just run them to the end stations? would be a lot easier to do

    deceptive signs for bathrooms – indicating that they are on the other door of the elevator only to find that there are no restrooms there

    restrooms only available inside the paid area

    Dream DC 10,238 Metro Expansion Plans

    the DC metro system needs to be expanded perhaps doubled in size.  Here are some of the proposed extensions all of which have considerable merit and should be expedited

    One thing that metro should consider and I am amazed that they are not is building on every site commercial establishments making each station a mini-shopping destination.  this would provide Metro with tremendous rental income allowing Metro to pay for most of its expansion without incurring additional costs or tax subsidies and would allow Metro to keep fares low.

    such mini-station developments are a key feature of the success of the Korean, Japanese and Chinese metro systems.

    Future expansion[edit]

    WMATA expects an average of one million riders daily by 2030. The need to increase capacity has renewed plans to add 220 cars to the system and reroute trains to alleviate congestion at the busiest stations.[189] Population growth in the region has also revived efforts to extend service, build new stations, and construct additional lines.

    Silver Line[edit]

    Main article: Silver Line (Washington Metro)

    pastedGraphic.png

    The new Tysons Corner station under construction next to Virginia State Route 123 in July 2012

    The most prominent expansion is the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, dubbed the Silver Line, a 23-mile (37 km) extension from the Orange Line into Loudoun County, Virginia, by way of Tysons Corner and Washington Dulles International Airport. Rail to Dulles has been discussed since the system opened in 1976. The current Silver Line project was formally proposed in 2002 and initially approved by the Federal Transit Administration in 2004.[190] After several delays, federal funding for Phase 1 was secured in December 2008[191] and construction began in March 2009.[192] The line is being constructed in two phases; the first phase to Wiehle–Reston East in Reston, Virginia opened July 26, 2014,[193] and the second phase to Ashburn, beyond Dulles Airport, is projected for completion in 2020.[194]

    Potomac Yard station[edit]

    See also: Potomac Yard station

    In 2008 officials began to explore the possibility of adding an infill station called Potomac Yard in the Potomac Yard area of Alexandria, on the Blue and Yellow Lines between the National Airport and Braddock Road stations. In 2010 the Alexandria City Council approved a portion of the proposed $240 million construction of the station. Construction would start in 2019 and the station is expected to open in 2021.[195]

    Unbuilt projects[edit]

    Line extensions[edit]

    The original plan called for ten “future extensions” on top of the core system. The Red Line would have been extended from the Rockville station northwest to Germantown, Maryland. The Green Line would have been lengthened northward from the Greenbelt station to Laurel, Maryland, and southward from the Branch Avenue station to Brandywine, Maryland. The Blue Line initially consisted of a southwestern branch to Backlick Road and Burke, Virginia, which was never built. The Orange Line would have extended westward through Northern Virginia past the Vienna station, and northeastward past New Carrollton to Bowie, Maryland. Alternatively, the Blue Line would have been extended east past Largo Town Center to Bowie. The future Silver Line was also included in this proposal.[16]

    In 2001, officials considered realigning the Blue Line between Rosslyn and Stadium–Armory stations by building a bridge or tunnel from Virginia to a new station in Georgetown. Blue Line trains share a single tunnel with Orange Line and Silver Line trains to cross the Potomac River. The current tunnel limits service in each direction, creating a choke point.[196] The proposal was later rejected due to cost,[197] but Metro again started considering a similar scenario in 2011.[198]

    In 2005 the Department of Defense announced that it would be shifting 18,000 jobs to Fort Belvoir in Virginia and at least 5,000 jobs to Fort Meade in Maryland by 2012, as part of that year’s Base Realignment and Closure plan. In anticipation of such a move, local officials and the military proposed extending the Blue and Green Lines to service each base. The proposed extension of the Green Line could cost $100 million per mile ($60 million per kilometer), and a light rail extension to Fort Belvoir was estimated to cost up to $800 million. Neither proposal has established timelines for planning or construction.[199][200]

    The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced on January 18, 2008, that it and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) had begun work on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the I-66 corridor in Fairfax and Prince William counties. According to VDOT the EIS, officially named the I-66 Multimodal Transportation and Environment Study, would focus on improving mobility along I-66 from the Capital Beltway (I-495) interchange in Fairfax County to the interchange with U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County. The EIS also allegedly includes a four-station extension of the Orange Line past Vienna. The extension would continue to run in the I-66 median and would have stations at Chain Bridge Road, Fair Oaks, Stringfellow Road and Centreville near Virginia Route 28 and U.S. Route 29.[201] In its final report published June 8, 2012, the study and analysis revealed that an “extension would have a minimal impact on Metrorail ridership and volumes on study area roadways inside the Beltway and would therefore not relieve congestion in the study corridor.”[202]

    In 2011 Metro began studying the needs of the system through 2040. WMATA subsequently published a study on the alternatives, none of which were funded for planning or construction.[198][203] New Metro rail lines and extensions under consideration as part of this long term plan included:

    • a new line which parallels the Capital Beltway[203]:7
    • a new Brown Line from the Friendship Heights station to White Oak, Maryland, which would pass through the District and Silver Spring[203]:6
    • rerouting the Yellow Line to either a new alignment, or a new tunnel parallel to the Green Line, in the District north of the Potomac River[203]:4
    • a 5-station spur of the Green Line to National Harbor in Maryland[203]:9
    • re-routing the Blue or Silver Lines in the District and/or building a separate express route for the Silver Line in Virginia[203]:5
    • extensions to existing lines, including:[203]:8–9
      • Red Line northwest to Metropolitan Grove (2 stations)
      • Orange Line east to Bowie (3 stations) or west to Centreville or Gainesville (3 or 5 stations, respectively)
      • Yellow Line south to Lorton (8 stations)
      • Green Line northeast to BWI Airport (6 stations) or southeast to White Plains (6 stations)
      • Blue Line east to Bowie (5 stations) or southwest to Potomac Mills (4 stations)
      • Silver Line northeast to Leesburg (3 stations)
    • four inter-line connections to allow greater service flexibility[203]:10
    • several infill stations on existing lines[203]:11

    Individual and infill stations[edit]

    Before construction on Metro began, a proposed station was put forward for the Kennedy Center. Congress had already approved the construction of a station on the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines at 23rd and H Streets, near George Washington University, at the site of what is now Foggy Bottom station. According to a Washington Post article from February 1966, rerouting the line to accommodate a station under the Center would cost an estimated $12.3 million.[204] The National Capital Transportation Agency‘s administrator, Walter J. McCarter, suggested that the Center “may wish to enhance the relationship to the station by constructing a pleasant, above-ground walkway from the station to the Center,” referring to the soon-to-be-built Foggy Bottom station. Rep. William B. Widnall, Republican of New Jersey, used it as an opportunity to push for moving the Center to a central, downtown location.[205]

    The 2011 Metro transit-needs study identified five additional sites where infill stations could be built. These included Kansas Avenue and Montgomery College on the Red Line, respectively in Northwest D.C. and Rockville, Maryland; Oklahoma Avenue on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines near the D.C. Armory in Northeast D.C.; Eisenhower Valley on the Blue Line in Alexandria, Virginia; and the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus on the Green Line in Southwest D.C.[203]:11

    Related non-WMATA projects[edit]

    pastedGraphic_1.png

    Proposed route of the Purple Line

    A number of light rail and urban streetcar projects have been proposed to extend or supplement service provided by Metro. Like the Silver Line in Virginia, the proposed Purple Line has been in planning since the 1980s.[206] The project was originally envisioned as a circular heavy rail line connecting the outer stations on each branch of the Metrorail system, in a pattern roughly mirroring the Capital Beltway.[207] The current proposal would create a light rail system in Maryland between the Bethesda and New Carrollton stations by way of Silver Spring and College Park. Such a plan would connect both branches of the Red Line to the Green and Orange Lines, and would decrease the travel time between suburban Metro stations.[206][208]

    The Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) is a proposed 15-mile (24 km) bus rapid transit line that would link Clarksburg, Maryland, in northern Montgomery County with the Shady Grove station on the Red Line.[209] Assuming that the anticipated federal, state, and local government funds are provided, construction of the first 9 miles (14 km) of the system would begin in 2018.[210]

    In 2005, a Maryland lawmaker proposed a light rail system to connect areas of Southern Maryland, especially the rapidly growing area around the town of Waldorf, to the Branch Avenue station on the Green Line.[211]

    The District of Columbia Department of Transportation is building the new D.C. Streetcar system to improve transit connectivity within the District. A tram line to connect Bolling Air Force Base to the Anacostia station and was originally expected to open in 2010. Streetcar routes have been proposed in the Atlas District, Capitol Hill, and the K Street corridor.[212] After seven years of construction, the Atlas District route, known as the H/Benning Street route, opened on February 27, 2016.[213]

    In 2013, the Georgetown Business Improvement District proposed a gondola lift between Georgetown and Rosslyn as an alternative to placing a Metro stop at Georgetown in its 2013–2028 economic plans.[214] Washington, D.C and Arlington County have been conducting feasibility studies for it since 2016.[214]

    Dream 10,239 Seoul Metro Expansion Plans

    Some possible metro extensions I’d love to see

    extending the gold line to Ganghwa island

    extending a line down Ganghwa and over to the airport

    extending the Maglev across Yeongjongdo and linking Changha international city and Songdo 

    the  uijeongbu LRT Should be extended to Nowon

     

     A line should be built between Songdo and the International Airport, and Kimpo airport as well

    the maglev around the island project needs to be accelerated

    the maglev in Incheon city should be operated as a rapid transit line not just as a novelty for tourists.

    the ARA should be extended to Muido with the terminus the beaches at the end of the island with two other stops on the island and one stop before Youngju station. The maglev should be extended to the beaches

    the maglev should be extended to Songdo. In the meantime a RTB  line should be set up

    the planned bridge to Change should be accelerated and include a subway line or Maglev line

    the planned bride to Ganghwa should be expanded to include maglev or subway lines

    the gold line should be extended to Ganghwa 

    Line 3,4,5,6.7, 8 and 9 lines should be extended on both ends

    Other possible extensions include extending a line south to Sejong City and Taejon.

    Finally an outer loop ring line should be consorted as well linking the end lines of many of the lines

     

     

     

     

  • 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)

    Yeongjongdo redevelopment  proposals

    bike rail trail in Yeongjongdo

    The Korean government has ambitious plans for developing Youngjongdo where I live.   Here are my proposals for how I would develop the island.  I hope someone from the Incheon government is reading this and will take these proposals seriously,

    yeongjongdo

    Expand the Maglev all around the Island and link it to Incheon, Gangwhado, Muido, Jangbongdo islands

    airport maglev

    wiki on yeongjongdo

    casinos

    expand the Maglev

    First dust off the plan for extending the maglev train  around the island  ensuring that the maglev train connects sky city, Midan, Youngjong Unseo stations Cheonga international city, Geoman, and new KTX station being built in Gyeyang station, and ensure that the maglev links the new city casinos the waterfront development, the pier to WolmiDo, the Pier to Change island, and the beaches and to Muido. extend the Maglev to Songdo, and link it to the abandoned Asian games Maglev and extend it to Incheon station which would be the terminus.

    Build a cross island Maglev train connecting Jangbongdo, World Peace Forrest, Unseo station, Youngjong station, Midan, Casino complex, Sky City, a water park, and Wolmido where it would connect with the other Maglev line.

    Build Bridges with Maglev trains on them to Jangbongdo, and Ganghwa Islands

    Build bridges to Jangbongdo island, Wolmido, and Ganghwa Island, and have the maglev train and subway trains run on the bridge.  The terminus for the Maglev would be Incheon Station, Jangbongdo station, Ganghwa city station, and Gyeyang stations.

    Finish building a bridge/maglev train to Jangbongdo Island and to Ganghwa island with the terminus of the maglev being Ganghwa city.  the Maglev would connect to the gold line extension to Ganghwa island.  stop the policy of stopping some ARX trains at Geoman station, all trains should go to the terminus which will be Muido.

    Install mandatory solar power, solar water heaters, rooftop gardens, mini-wind turbines and water Harvesting systems on all buildings five story tall or taller

    Second provide a tax incentive to property owners to install solar water heating Solar power panels, rooftop gardens and trees and water harvesting systems for all buildings over five stories.  Installation of such systems would be mandatory for buildings taller than five stories, strongly encourages for all other buildings. I would feed all excess into the power grid and most buildings should be self-sufficient water. The garden products would be given to residents as a perk of living in the building.  I would also add mini-wind turbines on the top of call buildings. The incentive would be offered to all property owners but only mandatory four buildings over five stories. This would be a pilot project, if successful, they would roll it out nationwide starting in Incheon, and Seoul. Putting solar panels, solar water heaters, rooftop gardens and trees, mini wind turbines and water harvesting systems on top of all top buildings is something that is long overdue. 

    world peace forest

     

     

     

    Redevelop World Peace Forrest, turn old salt mines and Quarries  into parks

     


    Redevelop the world peace Park and promote it, running free shuttles from the Airport and  local subway stops and Maglev stops with a Maglev stop near the lake.  This would involve constructing a stream connecting the lake and the Lotus pond stocking the lake and the stream with fish, building a fishing pier in the lake for fishing and a restaurant/Snack bar big shop at the lake which would cook up any fish people caught.  Allow swimming at the lake.  Run free shuttle buses from subway stations and the airport and put a maglev train stop near one entrance to the park near the lake. Promote spending time at the World Peace Forrest parks for international visitors who have long overlays. Build a stream park from the World Peace Forest Park to the airport as an extension of the world peace forest. Stock the stream with fish. and extend it to the beaches.

    Turn the old abandoned salt mines and quarries into a park, and stock the lake with fish, and build a restaurant/snack bar and bait shop at the lake.  allow swimming at the lake.

    Connect the scream park by the cultural center to the steam park to the airport and to the world peace force, extend the stream park all the way to the Wolmido pier through Sky City., Extend the stream park past the airport to the beaches.  creating a walking trail between the beaches and the world peace forest and Paekdusan mountain, and to the Wolmido pier via Sky City stream  Extend the free shuttle from the airport and subway stops to the new Parks which should also have maglev Subway stop on them. Build walking trails in Kumsan mountains and link the other mountains together in an integrated walking trail.

    build island wide walking trails

    Build a walking bike trail all around the coast of the island as well with links to the World Peace Parks, the Quarry park, the salt lake park, and the mountain parks.  Build a walking trail linking the mountains on Muido to the other trail.  add a link to the Jangbongdo island trails once the bridge is connected.. Build a network of trails on Ganghwado including a coastal trail and like them to the Yeongjongdo trail network.  Build restaurants and bike rental shops along the walking trails,

    build regional fish market at wolmido Pier

    Rebuild the fish market at the Wolmido pier into a regional fish market destination and include a farmers’ market with locally grown produce.  add restaurants and a night market.

    More badminton and Tennis courts

    Build a badminton court and tennis courts at the park by the library I’m in the new Parks including at the piece of world peace parts

    turn Jangbongdo into Korean equivalent of the Hamptons

    Turn  Jangbongdo island into the Korean equivalent of the Hampton Islands as a weekend and summer vacation Second home for the upper middle class and business expat communities and offer land for diplomatic retreat housing as well.

    Allow Koreans to Gamble at least once a week

    Allow Koreans to gamble at the Paradise and the new casinos, perhaps limiting entry to one 24 period per week to minimize damage

    casino planss. 

    These casinos will not make it if they are foreigner only.

    Enactment of these proposals would go a long way to making  Yeongjongdo into one of the nicest places in Korea to live and work.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Truth Shall Set You Free, But True Knowledge Kills

    Short Story

    By Jake Cosmos Aller

    Ever since that fateful night when I was indoctrinated into the “True Knowledge,” I have looked at the world in a different light. It all went down so fast. After learning the secret history of the last five thousand years, I saw everything in a different, more sinister and dark light. The list of people who have been brought into the conspiracy reads like a list of the most prominent political and business leaders of world history. Trump was on the list as well as Pence and most of the Senate, and most members of the media. It seemed like everyone who matters was not whom they seemed to be but were part of this evil cabal.

    Was Lydon LaRouche RIght?

    I work for the government, just one of the army of govbots who float in and out of the Metro system every morning commuting to their jobs with the government and back home to their suburban townhouses. The day my world came crashing down on me began as I picked up a brochure from the “Lyndon LaRouche Group” at the Foggy Bottom Metro in downtown D.C. I commented to my colleagues on the way home that I enjoyed reading it, although I did not believe most of his conspiracy theories he had a point, a lot of good points. We laughed it off as a big joke.

    A few days later I was getting on the train, when a middle age nondescript white man, with brownish hair, about 6 feet tall, dressed like any other middle age white suburban federal employee in a conservative suit and tie – probably on his way home to his suburban home in Virginia, bumped into me. He apologized and slipped me the following note. I saw the note when I got home and connected it with the strange incident at the subway.

    The note read, “Lyndon used to work for us. He knows most of the truth. We left him alone because we are able to ensure that no one takes his writings seriously. My job is to prevent knowledge of the truth; the so-called “true knowledge” gets out. Anyone who appears to be taking his stuff seriously has to be followed and either brought into the game or neutralized. Be very careful. Our agents are watching you like a hawk and have your internet connections under constant surveillance. Your phone and house are tapped. We have enough already to get you into serious trouble with your bosses as we know you are an internal dissenter. And we know that you like pornography and we know about several of your affairs and we have copies of e-mails you sent to various women with shall we say suggestive comments that could be misconstrued. We have even faked a few photos and videotapes of you engaging in some of your fantasies. By the way, you are a good writer!

    Next time we contact you, make sure you come to the meeting spot. I will meet you and explain further. Momentous events are about to happen and you can either be on the inside on the winning team or on the outside or probably end up dying like most of your fellow human beings. It will be your choice, my friend. We believe that you could be an asset, – you can write and speak persuasively, you have lots of loyal friends and most importantly you are probably intelligent enough to know that being on the winning ticket is usually the right choice to make for you and your family. Remember tell no one about this – not even your wife. Do not try to contact us through the La Roche Group – they have been compromised. We will be in touch.”

    Agent Spartacus X

    I said that this could not be happening must be some sort of vicious joke. In any event, I am intrigued enough to get out the Lyndon pamphlet from the trash and read it.

    Lyndon posits a grand conspiracy of British and American big bankers working together since the 15th century to continue to secretly dominate the world. The roots of the conspiracy date back to the Knight Templars of the middle ages which morphed into the Freemasons, then the fabled Illuminati. Most recently, they have been associated with the Council on Foreign Relations, The Bohemian Club, and The Project for a New American Century. They are often now often called the Vulcans or the Neocons. But the Neocons are just a small American inner circle of a much broader interrelated international conspiracy.

    They had almost succeeded in their plans when the Great Depression came along and laid waste to their plans. Lyndon argues that the Great Depression was engineered by them – others disagree. But all of the paranoid writers I read agreed that in response to the Great Depression, they took advantage of the chaos and engineered the rise of Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo and were working to bring Britain and the U.S. into the fold.

    Their goal – a Pan Germanic-Anglo dominated world fascist system to fight against the evils of Communism and Socialism. The Birchers and others thought that Communism was also part of their master plot, others disagree. They thought that the U.S. would fall into place and eventually Hitler would unite the Germanic and Anglo worlds into a grand empire that would control the world forever. They would run the Empire through charismatic fools like Hitler. They would have continual wars which are good for business and they would have periodic depressions to ensure that they can continually buy up their competitors. Franklin Roosevelt disrupted their plans, as did Truman, Kennedy, Carter, Clinton and Obama. Nixon, Ford and Bush 1, Cheney, was part of the Conspiracy as was Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton was not. Reagan and Bush 11 were merely useful puppets. Obama had fought against them but was constrained by the entire deep state which is filled with members of the cabal. Donald Trump and Pence were merely their latest puppets, although Pence was part of the inner circle, Trump was not trusted to be “disciplined” enough to be let in on the truth.

    One day I see Agent Spartacus on the subway. I go up to him and ask him how is doing, acting as if he is a fellow employee that I have not seen in a while.

    He responds, “Just fine.”

    He then whispers, “Check your phone for a message in 10 minutes.”

    He jumps on the Orange train and I wait for the Blue train. At King Street station, my phone beeps with a message.

    “Meet me Friday night at “Coyote Ugly” at 6 pm. Be on time. We will have a drink there and then find someplace we can talk quietly. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours. Your wife will be out of town on business. Remember we are watching you and monitoring you. Spartacus.”

    I was freaked out after reading the message. My wife had not mentioned any business trip. I go home and she tells me she has to go out of town on Friday for a weeklong trip to Ft Hood on TDY. My wife was in the military, I was used to her constant TDY’s on short notice, and I knew that sometimes she could not tell me what she was really up to as her clearances outranked mine by an order of magnitude. But how Spartacus knew bothered me. Was my wife part of the conspiracy? I knew that I had to meet him. What he was hinting was monstrous. And the possibility that my wife was involved even more horrible. I knew if I told her my suspicions, she would laugh it off and tell me to lay off the Science Fiction novels for a while. The possibility that she could be working with them also entered my mind and stayed there like a stubborn weed that would not die.

    And if she were part of this conspiracy would she tell me or them? I thought that I could not go to the authorities because it seemed clear that many of the senior officers were part of this dark conspiracy and no one would believe me. I would be dismissed as a nut case, possibly hauled to a psychiatric hospital or just made to disappear, at the very least, my security clearance would be yanked, and I would be unemployed if not unemployable. And since they have also strongly warned me to be quiet I knew the risks would be pretty high so, despite my burning desire to talk things over with my wife, I kept quiet.

    The Honey Pot Is Laid Out

    Friday night I go to Coyote Ugly. I sit down. Spartacus is not there. A beautiful Korean woman wearing skintight blue jeans, showing off her great ass, a tank top with long black hair running down her back and lovely almond-shaped eyes, and a cute face sits down unasked and tells me that Spartacus sent his regards but could not make it. She would go to dinner with me instead. I am suspicious that some sort of honey trap was being set up against me. I looked around for cameras and surveillance but realized that they would probably be hidden. I resolve to keep my wits about me, not drink and not give into temptation, although when she went off to the restroom her luscious ass tempted me.

    The old blues standard by Junior Wells, “Everyone Getting Some But Me” starts playing on the jukebox. I listen to my favorite line, “A girl in skin-tight pants walk on by, with an ass so fine my eyeballs hurt” and I said to myself. “Damn. They are good. They even know that I am an ass man, love the blues and this song in particular, and I love Asian women. Damn.”

    I pay my bill and we enter a nearby sushi place. She seems to be a regular. We order some sushi and soju to drink. A message pops up

    “Jake. Could not make it. Miss Lee works for me. She will give you a letter. Read it and leave or stay and have fun with her. She will do anything and everything you ever wanted from a woman sexually. She has been instructed to seduce you as a honeypot approach.

    Not my idea, but my superiors. I would rather play you straight up with the facts. But if you do go with her know that it will be recorded and used against you if you step out of line. But on the other hand, she is good and we know what you like as we have read your sex fantasies. You are a good writer, my friend. So if you do it, enjoy. We will meet next week after you read the letter and survive this first test. Spartacus”

    I ask Miss Lee in Korean

    이씨에게 무슨 일이 있는지 아십니까?
    issiege museun il-i issneunji asibnikka?
    Do you know what is going?”

    She laughs and said

    나는
    나에게 편지를주고 나에게 좋은 시간을 보여달라고 들었다. 그녀는 또한 그녀가 내가 좋아하는 것을 들었고 그녀가 원하는 방식으로 그녀를 원한다고 말했습니다. 나는 당신의 Assman 이야기를 좋아했습니다.”
    naneun na-ege pyeonjileuljugo na-ege joh-eun sigan-eul boyeodallago deul-eossda. geunyeoneun ttohan geunyeoga naega joh-ahaneun geos-eul deul-eossgo geunyeoga wonhaneun bangsig-eulo geunyeoleul wonhandago malhaessseubnida. naneun dangsin-ui Assman iyagileul joh-ahaessseubnida.” “

    I was was told to give me a letter, and then to show me a good time. She also said that she was told what I liked and wanted me to have her any way I wanted her, “Including my ass as I know you are an Assman. I loved your Assman stories”.

    I thanked her and asked her for the letter. I take the letter and decide to read it on the train home. I decided to not go forward with the rest of the planned events as I thought showing a little independence might be a good insurance policy.

    I apologize to Miss Lee.

    She asked me
    왜 나를 원하지 않니? 그게 내 감정을 상하게한다는 걸 알아
    wae naleul wonhaji anhni? geuge nae gamjeong-eul sanghagehandaneun geol al-av
    Why don’t I want her. ?

    I told her that
    나는 그녀와 죄책감을 느끼고 집에 가야했다.
    naneun geunyeowa joechaeggam-eul neukkigo jib-e gayahaessda.
    I feel guilty about being with you.”

    걱정하지 마십시오. 모두 준비되었습니다. 내가 어리석은 인간에 대해 화를 내기 전에 지금 나를 집으로 데려가십시오. 전형적인 인간은 그들이 정말로 원하는 것을 알지 못하고 죄책감을 느낍니다. 마치 신이 당신에게 섹스를 주듯이
    geogjeonghaji masibsio. modu junbidoeeossseubnida. naega eoliseog-eun ingan-e daehae hwaleul naegi jeon-e jigeum naleul jib-eulo delyeogasibsio. jeonhyeongjeog-in ingan-eun geudeul-i jeongmallo wonhaneun geos-eul alji moshago joechaeggam-eul neukkibnida. machi sin-i dangsin-ege segseuleul judeus-i
    Don’t worry about it. It has all been arranged. Now take me home now before I get angry at you for being so foolish a human man. Typical humans Don’t know what they really want and then feel guilty about it. as if God gives a fuck you who you fuck.

    I ended up kissing her and taking her phone number and e-mail address.

    She told me

    “내가 아무도 거절 한 적이없고, 적어도 인간은 아무도 없기 때문에 나를 유혹하는 데 성공할 것입니다 ..
    “naega amudo geojeol han jeog-ieobsgo, jeog-eodo ingan-eun amudo eobsgi ttaemun-e naleul yuhoghaneun de seong-gonghal geos-ibnida ..”알겠습니다. 아무도 내 매력에 저항하지 않았습니다. letter 편지를 읽고 결정하십시오.”
    “algessseubnida. amudo nae maelyeog-e jeohanghaji anh-assseubnida. letter pyeonjileul ilg-go gyeoljeonghasibsio.”
    “I know that I will succeed in seducing me as no one has ever turned her down before.
    “You’ll see. No one has ever resisted my charms. Read the letter and then decide.”

    I leave the restaurant and read the letter on the yellow line subway home:

    “By now you should be aware of our power and reach. Your wife is not yet a member of the inner circle but we will approach her if you decide to join. We think she would be also an excellent choice. But each approach is different as you can well imagine. By now, you either have decided to have a good time with Miss Lee or have decided to decline in a mistaken impression that showing a little independence would be a good move. Either way would result in the same thing – either you will have some great sex which we will film or we will take pictures of you and Miss Lee and morph them into a nice ” deep fake ”  porn movie which we will send to your wife, your boss and your security folks one week from today unless you agree to the following:

    “Meet me Sunday night at the sushi place. Bring flowers for Miss Lee. If you turn her down, she will be miffed, as she does not take rejection lightly. She is determined to seduce you, you know. You were the first to turn her down. Took a lot of guts to do that. Oh well. When we meet, I will then tell you the whole story.

    You can then go with Miss Lee or not. Your choice but remember the video is already being produced so you
    might as well enjoy her while you can. We have lots of work to do soon so I have to bring you in sooner than we usually do. Consider Miss Lee as a reward for joining. First of many as the members of the inner circle can have anything they want and will after D-day. Join us in being masters of the universe. D day is coming soon.”

    Spartacus

    I get off the subway, take a taxi home. I call my wife and resist the impulse to tell her everything and wonder if she has already been approached. And what would be the approach they would use on her?
    Sunday evening I meet Miss Lee at the restaurant. I give her flowers and we have dinner. She is flirting up a storm and I find my resistance melting. I figure that was part of the plan and have decided to go with the flow. I think, “why not fool around? After all the video has already been made? Right? ”

    Spartacus shows up and the mood turns serious. Miss Lee is now totally professional and serious. Spartacus looks tired. He takes me into the back room and begins his tale of woe. I listen and don’t want to believe any of it. It was so monstrous and evil but I knew he was telling the truth. And boy the truth did not set me free let me tell ya.

    Spartacus Drops the True Knowledge Bomb

    Spartacus starts off,

    “Lyndon was one of our human operatives. He was a rising star, but had an attack of guilt and left us. We debated whether to kill him or not. I suggested that we let him go, discredit him but use him as bait. Anyone who reads his stuff can be identified and those who show signs that they believe it and might be persuaded to join us we could recruit. The others can be eliminated. So we persecuted Lyndon, made him look like a paranoid idiot and we kept feeding him disinformation which he would disseminate.

    What he writes about is only part of the truth and is the most visible, most documented part of the story and mostly true with some disinformation in it. For example, Lyndon misunderstood Hitler’s rise to power. Hitler was a stooge, a “useful fool” in Lenin’s phrase and Lenin and Stalin were part of our inner circle as was Mussolini and Tojo. Roosevelt was our enemy as has been most of the Democratic leadership. That’s why we are hard at work to destroy the Democratic Party and install a right-wing republican one party state under our control but with “useful fools” like Trump as figureheads. Donald was not one of us, but we control him because the Neocon cabal is all part of our inner circle. Most are human, but some are fellow Sirians. Cheney, Pence, Mattias and Wolfowitz are Sirian as well, most of the rest of the Neocons are humans. Putin and Xi are Sirians as are the entire North Korean leadership. Stalin and Hitler were Sirians. Trump is just another one of the useful fools that we Sirians have been manipulating for decades. His son through is a Sirian who we recruited to join his family to keep under control as we knew that he could be useful to us some day. The Clintons are humans as is Gore. and most of the democrats are human, the republicans are mostly half breeds or like Trump useful idiots.

    The aim of our plot? Total domination of the world, then a planned destruction of the world-wide civilization through nuclear, and biological warfare where 90 percent of humanity will be destroyed. We will clean up the pieces and establish a worldwide dictatorship. Then the invasion begins and humanity is enslaved forever to the power of the master race, the Sirians.

    Most of the people who work with us do not know that they are working for the Sirians. But it does not matter. If you are with us, you will be rewarded with power, wealth, and access to Sirian medical technological wonders, allowing you to live to 5,000 years or more like us Sirians. If you oppose us, you will be thrown out into the world to be destroyed along with most of the rest of your dismal race.
    I am a Syrian. We came to your planet ten thousand years ago. We set up a colony, which you know as Atlantis. It was destroyed in a nuclear war between two factions of our race – the progressives who wanted to establish their version of democracy and what you might consider fascists or realists, as we like to think of ourselves. When you see the real me you will see that the progressive and fascist groups are actually different races of Sirians. We are red in color and much more muscular and frankly more intelligent and realistic. They are green in color and smaller and filled with useless compassion. They still exist and occasionally cause us trouble. We are always watching to make sure that they do not try to approach our human agents and corrupt them with pernicious “liberal or progressive” ideas – to use the current phrases – nonsense.

    But I digress. The Fascists won the war but Atlantis was destroyed. Most of the Sirian race on earth was killed in the war. Those of us Fascists left formed a tight little group and decided that we would bid our time, build out forces, take over the planet, and when the earth had achieved sufficient levels of technology contact our home world, and await instructions.

    The progressives formed their own group and disappeared spending their time trying to enlighten humankind. What a load of crap. They just were misunderstood and killed for their troubles. Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed, Confucius, Sai Baba – all Sirian democratic losers every one of them.

    Some of the progressive Sirians disappeared into the wilderness and their descendants gradually intermarried with the natives and their descendants became the Cherokee and other civilized tribes. None of the Cherokees knew that they were actually descended from aliens from Sirius and native people. Although the Cherokee and Hopi have legends that their ancestors came from the Stars. Thus in a way you are part Sirian as we know your mother is half Cherokee. We actually tested your DNA and yes, you have traces of Sirian DNA in you. Which is one of the reasons we decided to recruit you after all you part of our race about 10 percent. but that is enough for us., although your Sirian racial background is green which could be a problem if you decide to oppose us.

    The question of what to do about humans became the key issue dividing the Sirian race – then and now. Our red group thought that you earth people were hopelessly backward, superstitious and barely capable of intelligence. We felt that we should kill most of you off, then enslave the rest. That is still our plan. Besides, on our home world, we rose to power by killing off a rival species that were humanoid looking. Ever since then Sirians have had it in for humanoids and primate species. All part of the master plan for total domination of the galaxy.

    Well, as you can imagine, it was very difficult hiding amongst your people for all of these thousands of years. Most of us are now what you would consider early middle age.

    Until very recently, we were limited by your technology as our spaceships and most of our technology had all been destroyed in Atlantis. Only 100 of our race survived, most of the Fascist side. We lost track of the progressives who have gone deep underground. We have managed to reproduce and now there are about 10,000 of us scattered around the world, most in senior levels of government and business. And we estimate that there are several thousand Progressives mostly working in religious or academic institutions.

    Among other difficulties, we are hidden within human bodies that are artificially created skins. Our real appearance is not human at all. We look like birds or reptiles in our real selves. Few humans have ever seen us as we really look. We have the ability to manipulate thoughts and thus few are able to see us as we really look, even when we are out of the suits.

    We wear the suits whenever we are around humans as maintaining thought control is very tiresome. HP Lovecraft saw us and he went mad and wrote his “Cthulu” stories about us. Others have seen us on our retreats in the woods and we have been called many names through the years, ‘” werewolves, vampires, ghouls, ghosts, demons, goblins, trolls, Satan, the devil, witches – you name it we’ve been called it. Bad for our self-esteem don’t ya think. “The damn progressives get better press and are often seen as “angels”.

    We have tried intermarriage with your race and have found for the most part it does not work too well as our two DNA structures are incompatible. But, nonetheless, there have been successful offspring of such interspecies sex. Thus, there are thousands of part-Sirian people as some of our people intermarried with your species. Interspecies sex is highly discouraged at least among the realist faction; although sex with part sirians is the norm, and we have been influenced by the fact that you humans are a very randy species, much more that is the norm among civilized species. The progressive faction has largely assimilated into your race.

    Those stories of alien abductions etc. are true for the most part as are stories of UFO’s. We have been able to rebuild spaceships but they are not interplanetary, as we do not have technological resources to do so since most of our technology had been destroyed and those technicians who knew how to maintain the ships and build them all died in the war anyway. Besides our Sirian, leaders back home do not trust us. They want us to stay here and do their bidding whether than return home. they want us to take over and add Earth to the Sirian Empire.

    Our leaders will then be allowed to return home after being here for thousands of years. The Sirian race being very long lived is also very conservative, not much has really changed back home since we left. We were outcasts then as most Sirians who leave the mother planet and not trusted back home any more. So for us we end up exiled from home with little contact with the mother planet. Interstellar travel is possible – it is expensive and slow -takes about a year to go back home.

    We communicate with each other in Sirian through secure communications and now through the internet. The NSA and other government snoops keep picking up strange language chatter on the internet but since we control the spooks, they never follow up.

    We finally managed to established contact with the Mother Planet. Our instructions are to set off Armageddon and destroy the planet. The invasion begins after the nuclear war is over and most people have been killed and your technological infrastructure destroyed. We will then take over , rebuild our own technology and enslave humanity.

    Those humans who helped us will be given top jobs in the Sirian administration and eventually given full citizenship rights for them and their families. Most people will be killed or enslaved. Think what happened to the Indians? That was a Sirian plot from the beginning. We wanted to kill off all the Indians but particularly wanted to destroy the so-called civilized tribes, as we knew that the Progressive faction had intermarried with the Indians.

    Most of human history has been the result of Sirian plots. The problem we have is that you humans are so hard to predict, rule, control etc. And our biggest problem is with intellectuals. Once they know the full story either they go mad, or they try to warn their fellow humans, or they kill themselves. The 10 percent who survive after hearing the true story usually join our movement. And on course the damn progressives are always watching us, trying to warn humankind of the impending danger. But as you know few will ever believe the truth. So your choice today:

    Join us, or resist us and die. We are launching WW111 very soon. Once the war has been launched, nuclear winter will ensure and most of the earth will enter an ice age. We will then invade and take over the habitable areas and use slave labor to mine for minerals etc under the ice. Sirians like cold icy planets as that is like our home planet. Your planet is too hot for our liking anyway.”

    I stopped him and ask lots of follow-up questions. Finally, I tell them the only way they could prove they were telling the truth was to reveal themselves as they really were.

    Spartacus Reveals His True Self

    Spartacus said,

    “Very well. Agent Lee is only part human. She is one of the few successful hybrids. She looks human but a blood test would reveal alien DNA. I am pure Syrian and have l long opposed the inter-species experiments
    being anti-natural and degrading to the Sirian race. I really don’t give a rat’s ass about you humans. Follow me and you will see. But you do take a risk that you will freak out and become a madman.”

    We walk into the back room. Agent Spartacus removes his skintight clothing.

    Underneath it laid a hideous, repulsive ugly reptile like biped creature minus a tail. Dark red with black strips on both sides. His face looked like a bird’s face with sharp beaks,
    beady red eyes, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. The top of his head had horns on it. He laughs, and said,

    “See why most humans believe in a real devil?”

    I could see why most people would freak out at the sight. He was just hideous to look at. Must be something inbred in humans to instantly fear and loathe their real appearance. I am having a hard time coping and want to throw up.

    Agent Lee had also stripped revealing an even more alluringly beautiful woman that I had imagined. I was tempted but knowing that she was half-alien and in league with these evil creatures turned my stomach.

    I tell agent Spartacus and Agent Lee that I had to think about it and went home. I wrote this all down and sent it off to my best friends and of course my wife. I hope that this does not result in a death sentence for me, but so be it. I have to do the right thing. I have resolved to search out and join the resistance led by the progressive Syrians. I hope there is still time to derail “Armageddon” but I fear that time is running out.

    Jake Lee

    for further reading,

    wiki on Lyndon La Rouche
    anicent sirian alien visitors
    wiki on alien shape shifters
    The Cthulu Masonic Conspiracy
    The Cthulu Masonic Conspiracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “The Cthulhu Masonic Conspiracy”

    By

    Jake Cosmos Aller

    Comment:  I am a big fan of Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos.  This is my latest attempt at writing a Cthulhu story.  It is based on a dream.  I revised it today March 9 2020 and submitted to Flame Tree Publishing Cthulhu contest. End comment

    Wiki on Cthulu


    Wiki on Freemasonry

    Cthulhu’s Revenge and Other Stories Published

    “The Cthulhu Masonic Conspiracy”

    To those who are reading this manuscript, I would forgive you for thinking that this is nothing more than the ravings of a lunatic, or as the result of a drug trip gone horribly wrong.  But, rest assured, every word is true.  I wish that it were otherwise, and I wish that I were simply an unhinged lunatic foaming at the mouth and howling at the moon thinking he was a werewolf.

    It would be so easy to dismiss this horrid tale of grand, evil, ancient conspiracies, but unfortunately it is a true story.  A man once wrote in a novel about the Knights Templar that you always know you are dealing with a lunatic if within the first few minutes of meeting him he begins talking about the Knights Templar.  I will spare you the Knights Templar although they do play a role in the story.  I will also spare you a tale of the fabled illuminati, or the Jewish-communist plot, or the Trans-Atlantic Council, or the evils of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the myriad of other conspiracies dating back centuries.  But, you may have noticed, I did not mention the grand dandy of all secret societies, the Masons.  Perhaps you have now guessed that I have some mad insane fixation on the Masons.

    Perhaps you have the same misconception of the Masons that I did when I joined them 25 years ago.  I thought at the time that the Masons were an adult fraternity of rich, educated upper class males that helped each other out in their careers, and enjoyed play acting ancient mysteries.  Sort of an international Skulls and Bones so to speak.   In fact, many Masons I learned started out as Skulls and Bones members.  The Skulls and Bones were in fact a Masonic recruitment club at Yale and similar clubs, not as infamous, wer

    [themoneytizer id=”– Choose location –“]

     

    e found at many colleges around the U.S. and even around the world.  Those members who showed leadership potential after college were usually recruited to join the Masons.

    I graduated from Yale convinced that I would make it big time.  I had a famous father, had lots of money, had good grades,  Harvard had accepted me for a MBA paid for by my new employer JP Morgan, and I had connections through my father who was a family member of the Morgan family and I had a famous name, Sam Adams named after my great great grandfather.   I was mostly WASP although had some Jewish ancestry as well.  I had graduated a few years after President Bush so I did not have those connections but I knew a lot of people through my father and his connections.  And I had the right pedigree, and looked the part – upper class white bread man who looked like he could be a movie star, tall, handsome, physically fit, with intense blue eyes and dark hair.  I was good looking, funny, arrogant and ambitious, a great tennis and golf player played on both my prep school teams and at Yale as well, and a champion debater as well.    And I was a bonesman through and through.  And I had many rich lady friends as well who adored me and were always willing to help out when I called them. When the Masons came a knocking, I seized the opportunity and eagerly join them.

     

    My first night was a typical introduction.  My buddy, Paul Simon , who worked with me in Wall Street at JP Morgan had one night recruited me over drinks into joining the Masons.

    Paul was a tall athletic man from a proper family as well, but was a Harvard man. We had hit off when we met at the JP Morgan executive leadership program we attended before going to our respective MBA programs.  During our MBA programs we would all intern at Headquarters and then upon graduation become JP Morgan management trainees.

    One night while drinking and snorting coke in the back rooms of a private club (a Masonic recruitment center I later found out) he asked me,

    “Say Sam what do you know about the Masons?”

    “Not much.  Just a club for rich white guys who like to play ancient mystery stories and help each other out.”

    “Well it is much more than that but you can find out as I can sponsor you. If you want”

    “Sure why not”

    And that decision sealed my fate.

    At first I thought it would be a lark, and a way to meet a lot of influential people that could help me when I decided to get into the political game.  I met him in front of the Wall Street Masonic Lodge.  He would pledge me and I would meet the members.  If they voted me in, I would be given a rank of 1 and given reading material to study.  One year later I would be given the opportunity to advance if I passed the test.  There were 10 ranks, and only the 7th rank and above knew the real secrets.  Most members never rose above the first five ranks as being a Mason was not just fun and games.  There was a serious purpose – promoting the fraternity and the members within being perhaps the most important for most members.  Masons had a code of honor – they would not lie, cheat or tolerate those that did.  And they would honor other Masons and give their life on behalf of the orders of senior members.  Paul concluded his little speech on the steps of the lodge by saying,

    “Sam, you know, this is not just a game.  There is serious business happening in the Masonic world, and the Masonic world goes back to the time of the Bible.  You’ll soon learn the history, and if you get as far as the 8th degree you will learn the true history of the Masons and their role in guarding and guiding the world. You may be asked to play a big role in the future.  I hope you will be up for it.”

    I responded, “Of course, Paul.  I’ve done some reading on the Masons and am glad to be invited to join in.”

    I entered the room and met the Membership committee.  They were all titans of Wall Street and the government too.  All men in their late 50’s or 60’s and all at the peak of their professional game.

    The Initiation Pledge

    They introduced me , then I took pledge.

    “I, Sam Adams V111, descendant of President Sam Adams, do hereby swear that I will be a faithful member of the Masonic lodge, follow the instructions of my senior officials, never upon penalty of death reveal to a non-mason what transpired in the temple, never lie or tolerate lies among the Masonic faithful, and always recruit new members to the masonic brotherhood. I swear this on the bible and before God and the masonic brotherhood assembled. “

    I have just signed my own death warrant with what I am about to reveal as I am going to reveal the secret history of the world that the Masons so jealousy guard. If you are reading this after my body is found, be forewarned I told you it was coming.  I learned latter that the Masons did take this pledge deadly seriously.

    I also agreed to never lie, or cheat another Mason, although I would be free to lie to or a cheat a non-Mason if ordered to do so in furtherance of Masonic goals.  Leader Smith, a  tall strange looking elderly white man who did not blink,  congratulated me.

    “Sam Adams V111, welcome to the brotherhood.  I pledge to you that we will promote your carrer, help you in everything you do provided you attended Masonic Temple meetings at least once a month and study and promote your self up the Masonic ranks.  You are member Sam 9975 and will be referred to that name only as we don’t use our real names for operational security reasons.  Your home lodge will always be Wall Street Lodge number 1 the oldest Masonic lodge in North America. You may attend any masonic lodge anywhere in the world when you travel and you can stay for free at Masonic funded secret hotels worldwide – one of the perks of membership.  I have an eye on you and you will do just fine as long as you follow the rules and remain faithful to the masonic brotherhood.”

    Later I asked Paul 7959 what the number meant and was told that it had some numerological component to it and the senior astrologist came up with.  I was surprised,

    ” Senior Astrologist?”

    Paul 7959 responded, “Sam 9975, there are many things in the world you don’t know, the astrologists are the ones who study the ancient mysteries and histories and try to extract some guidance for us.  It would be best if you did not reveal your ignorance anymore.”  I was a bit peeved but kept my mouth shut.

    And yes,  Paul 7959  taught me the secret handshake that would whether someone was a Mason and what degree he was.  The Masons were very rigid in their hierarchy.   After the initial meeting, I was taken to the dining room for the lower ranks.   I met about 25 men there that night.  Everything were like me, fresh from college or graduate school and new to their careers in Wall Street or the Government.

    All eager to get ahead and full of good cheer and delighted to be there.  We ate prime rib, drank some fine 30 year old scotch, smoked some fine cigars, and played poker until 12 midnight.  At midnight, the more senior leaders came in and led us in chanting some of the ancient writings of the Masons which made no sense – they were in Latin, Hebrew, Greek and some totally obscure ancient language.  I went home, happy that I had been accepted and determined to rise through the ranks.

    Over the next decade I attended the monthly meetings, got to know the members well, became good friends with many of them, and received invaluable career advice.  I was constantly reminded of one of the Simpsons parodies of the Masons, “the Stone Cutters. That episode incidentally was much beloved by the Masonic fraternity and Home Simpson and crew were granted honorable membership by the Hollywood Masons, much to the amusement of the Wall Street Masons, who were a more serious crew.

    In any event, the song from that episode had quickly become an unofficial Masonic drinking song and we sang it at every meeting while drinking our fine wine and whisky.  I still get Goosebumps when I sing the song, and realize the secret meaning behind this very subversive song, which of course was written by a Mason and inserted into the Simpsons episode as part of the Masonic conspiracy to lay the ground for the total enslavement of mankind, but I get ahead of my story.

    Homer Simpson Stone Cutter Song

    homer simpson stone cutter song

    “Who controls the British crown?

    Who keeps the metric system down?

    We do!  We do!

    Karl: Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?

    Lenny: Who keeps the Martians under wraps?

    Alien: We do!  We do!

     

    All: Who holds back the electric car?

    Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?

    We do!  We do!

    Skinner: Who robs cavefish of their sight?

    Homer: Who rigs every Oscar night?

    All: We do!  We do!”

    And each Masonic lodge added their own verses to this song which had become our unofficial motto.

    After many years participating in the Masons on my 20th anniversary or in Masonic speak my 20th Masonic birthday,  they held a secret ceremony where they promoted me to the 7th rank and I became aware of  some of the inner secrets, but as a 7th rank, I only knew the very outer story, much of which is well known, although distorted.

    To know and understand the horrid events that are about to unfold you must know the real history, which only 9th rank holders know and understand.  I finally realized this a year ago when the Masonic Order welcomed me to the 9th level and revealed most of the rest of the secret history and that led to the dilemma that has haunted me to this day.  Do I remain loyal to the alien Masons, who have been my friends, and have helped in so many ways over the years or do I remain loyal to humans and betray their monstrous conspiracy?

     

    I am writing this because when I joined the 9th rank, Leader Wilson who had not aged a bit since I knew him 20 years ago told me,

    “Sam 9975 you are here because big events are in the works and you will play a crucial role in carrying out our final stages of the masonic world wide revolution. But you will have to pledge loyalty to the Master Plan which we will explain to you later tonight. Do you swear undying loyalty to the Masonic brotherhood? Upon pain of instant death?     ”

    “Of course”

    The Secret History of the World

    Let me backtrack and tell you the true history, and then you’ll see my horrid dilemma.  I wonder what you would do in my shoes, dear reader?

    For millions of years an epic battle raged across the galaxy between the followers of Cthulhu and the followers of Ashura Mazda.  Both would best be described as god like creatures.  The whole universe is in effect a cosmic battle between the forces of good, the light side of the force and the forces of evil, or darkness, the dark side of the force, the two sides of the force existed in an constant state of flux, the Taoists  knew this as the battle between Yin and Yang.   Cthulhu was simply a manifestation of the evil forces of the universe and was worshiped as the Dark Lord.  He was a hideous monster about 10 feet tall, looks like a giant octopus with eight legs, and intense red eyes.  He is an ancient God, one of the founders of the universe.  His supporters were found across the universe.  Those who followed him gained tremendous power as they were vicious, corrupt, and evil and knew how to harness the dark forces of the universe – many of them became immortal as they would eat the bodies of their defeated enemies gaining their life force or soul and extending their life.

     

    Ashura Mazda was the god of light and wisdom.  He had no corporeal form but manifested himself as a beam of light and filled his followers with love and happiness.  He and his followers were always at a disadvantage because well frankly most sentient creatures, like most human beings, are neither good nor bad, and are easily swayed by greed and fear, the dark side of the force.  Cthulhu and his followers have an easier time of it than Ashura and his followers as the darkness corrupts and once corrupted one is lost to the light forever.  There is no turning back from the dark side.

    This battle went on for countless centuries.  Most people were unaware of it as few people could understand or perceive the world as it really is.  Only a select few were chosen as their followers and champions.  Worlds chose sides and the battle was on.    Cthulhu and his followers were defeated.  Cthulhu and his top aides were banished to a world at the end of the Galaxy that was lost and unknown as it had not yet developed civilization.   Cthulhu and his top followers who were all of the same evil race of giant octopus like creatures were buried deep in an fortress deep under ground lost in an inter-dimensional zone. Escape was thought impossible.

    Cthulhu’s followers were scattered far and wide and all knowledge of Cthulhu was banned.  The galaxy went on its way, with several galactic empires rising and falling.  Earth was still undiscovered.

    Ten thousand years ago followers of Cthulhu, mostly from the planet Sirius, came to earth convinced that Cthulhu was buried in a prison deep under the earth.  However, their ships failed to work and they were unable to contact their headquarters and realized they were stranded on Earth in a back water of the Galaxy.   They decided they had no choice but to found a civilization on earth and bid their time until they could contact their home world.  The civilization they founded was called Atlantis.

     

    For four thousand years they lived on Atlantis, forming a powerful kingdom.  They had enslaved the local population they found in Europe and found that the Sirian race and humans, both being humanoid, could intermarry.    Over time, few true blood Sirians remained.  The Sirian leadership realized that they were in danger of dying out as a race, unless they formed a secret society to keep their mission and history alive.  Thus, the Masons were formed.  Their goal was to build themselves up, take over the world, enslave mankind, then free Cthulhu and establish his headquarters openly on the Planet Earth, which will be also the center of galactic terrorism, with the long-range goal of finally banishing Ashura once and for ever and establishing the reign of Cthulhu forever.

    The followers of Ashura tracked the Sirians down and attacked Atlantis in a surprise nuclear attack and sank Atlantis.  Few survived the resulting flood caused by a sudden melting of the arctic ice and a short lived global warming and fire.    The followers of Ashura ended up in ancient Persia and Greece where they were gods.  They did they best to impart knowledge but the locals were unable to truly comprehend them.  Thus, the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism was founded.

    The Sirians infiltrated the ancient Roman republic and began to edge the Romans on, encouraging them in their imperial ambitions seeing the rise of the Roman Empire as their best bet to reestablish themselves.   The Masonic Lodges remained their secret service and secret lodges.  Throughout the ancient world, the Sirians based in Rome did battle with the Persians and the followers of Ashura.

    This battle was never won by either side.  And few humans ever knew the real history behind this ancient battle.  Few knew that buried deep under the North American continent the evil dark lord slumbered in his cosmic prison.

    The followers of Ashura were also losing their culture and history and few of the ancient ones were alive, and most had intermarried.  They were also a humanoid race from a star system in the center of the galaxy.  Only a few true-blue bloods remained.  Jesus, was the son of one of the last surviving lines.  Jesus knew the truth and tried to tell the world but to no avail.   Buddha also was a descendent of the Ashura followers, and knew the truth and he too failed to communicate the truth to the world.

    To bring the story up to the present day, the Masons were behind many of the events of the past thousand years including the founding of America, the development of the British and Spanish Empires, WW1 and WW11 (Hitler they hoped would bring about the world government that they so needed so they could then take over once Cthulhu was released.). the rise of the Communist Soviet Union, 9-11, Islamic terrorism, various pandemics including the Spanish Flue. SAARS, MERS and Corona pandemic.

    The Ashura followers, never organized quite as well, managed to block and defeat many of the Masonic plots over the years.

    This is what I learned when I became a 7th rank Mason.  I was appalled and disgusted by it, and did not believe it at all.  Paul, and other 7th and 8th ranked Masons told me it was true and soon I will meet with the Sirian overlords.

    One day I get an urgent message to be at the lodge at 8 pm that night for a secret meeting.  I arrive and am ushered into the inner sanctum, which I had never been invited to before.  I was told I was being inducted that night into 9th rank as events were spinning out of control and I was needed to join the war council.

    The Vice President entered the room.   The Vice President was a tall elderly white man who had intense blue eyes that never blinked.  There were rumors that he and the President were mobbed up and had a violent shady past.

    Fellow masons.  Most of you know me but for those newly promoted to the 9th rank, I am Smith0595.  “Plan Armageddon”is a go. As some of you know, we are going to launch a nuclear attack on Iran and Syria led by the U.S. and Israel.  The pretext is that the Iranians are about to develop nuclear weapons and President Wilson – Wilson6595 has authorized the secret attack.  We have been planning it for weeks but have been able to manipulate the media to prevent any leaks through our superior mental powers. The markets and world economy will take a hit but once order is restored the markets will bounce back.  But if you know in advance, one could make a killing shorting certain stock and buying other stocks. Sam9975 would oversee the secret financial manipulation.  The money raised would be enormous and would be sent to a secret bank account, where the money would be used for off the record purchases of military equipment and to raise an unofficial secret army that would occupy Iran and Syria.

    A day before D day you and your family members will be moved into a secret location a few days before the start of the war where we would wait out the end of the war.  It was feared the world may erupt into nuclear war and that millions if not billions would die.  The Masons and their allies would be safe in our underground bunkers that would be set up all over the world.  10 million people were going to be saved, in all.  After the dust settled, we would impose worldwide martial law and establish the US as the sole governing body.  At that point, Cthulhu would be released from his prison and would rule the Earth under his own name.

    Smith 0595 turned to me and asked me point bank would I join them in their victory?

    Of course, I could not say no.

    Good here is the list of stocks you are authorized to buy and sell.  You have no credit limit and JP Morgan senior staff are aware of and approve all transactions will be done secretly along with some of your fellow masons.  You will meet tonight to discuss which stocks will be sold or bought by who and when and start execution tomorrow.  The military attack will be a carefully guarded secret.  All trades must be executed within  week.  D day commences once the final trade is completed and you are all in our secret headquarters.  Each of you have your mission. Cthulu will be pleased and reward each of with the gift of immortality.”

    That night I went home and recounted the story and realized the Vice President and most of the senior leadership of the US were both Masons and were also not humans.  The Vice President was one of the few pure blood Sirians left.  How could I tell he was not human?  His eyes. Humans blink, Sirians do not blink.  And Sirians saw the world differently than humans, they had infra-red capability and saw in the dark, and it was rumored that they had latent telepathic powers as well.  In any event they looked like humans except for the eyes not blinking and the strangeness in their eyes.

    Most of his henchmen were either part Sirians or were like me, humans that had been co-opted and seduced to serve their evil master plans.

    That is, it in a nutshell.  The war is about to be launched, and I am about to go underground to wait out the end of the world in our masonic secret lair underneath the Wall Street Lodge.  I am sending this out via the internet in the vain hope that someone somewhere can stop this madness from occurring.   As for me, if someone traces this back to me, I am a dead man.  I fear that I am already dead.  Good luck and Good night.”

     

    [themoneytizer id=”– Choose location –“]

     

    The End

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Escape from Hell
    By

    Jake Cosmos Aller

     

     

    Comment: This is based on a dream that I had.  Part of the story is true.  I did dream of meeting my wife eight years before I met her. see the following for more details, or buy the book, “Dreams and the Unexplainable” available through the Chicken Book for the Soul publishers. End Comment

    Duane Poetree Poems 2016-2019
    Dreamgirl re-published

    This is based on a true story. Jake Lee, my oldest friend told me this story and I went along with him to Hell and back to retrieve his wife.  My name is Matt J and I was the second in command of this operation. I have changed the names, places and some specific incidents to protect both the guilty and the innocent. To begin with, you must understand this. Hell is a real place, with real demons and real punishments.  It is a lot worse than any of us imagine and it is both more real and unreal at the same time. It exists and does not exist at the same time in a weird parallel universe., where time in Hell and time on earth don’t correspond.

    Once someone dies and goes to Hell he continues to live on in a manner of speaking; he does not really die but he cannot live in this world during the light of day. They become the undead and are like the vampires of legend (who do exist but that is another story). So, those condemned to hell, live on in eternal torture and turmoil and they also must work. Hell is full of workers working as slaves to keep the machinery going. And Hell is a growing place – most people on earth end up there. Running hell requires lots of workers. And being a slave in Hell is no picnic my friends.

    Despite its reputation as a lawless place, it is a very legalistic place. Satan employs an army of lawyers (no shortage of fresh lawyers) and bureaucrats to run his domain. Despite his rules and regulations and lawyers, hell is mostly a horribly run bureaucratic nightmare run by evil, mendacious, corrupt and incompetent demons. But, there are a few loopholes to the rules, and a few strange quirks to the law and even Satan obeys these special rules.

    One of them is rule number 214 B of the Galactic code. The code governs the operation of the universe and is a very legalistic document. Rule 214 B states that, if a sentient being, a human being, arrives in hell by mistake because of a screwup in the computerized system that runs both heaven and hell and the whole other computer systems that run this world, and someone from our world gets to hell and back out with their loved one in tow, both the falsely condemned and the lover who rescue them are entitled to live a long life in this world and then automatically arrive in heaven. This rule is almost never enforced because almost no one on our world has ever figured out how to get to Hell, and once there has never figured out how to get back out. Many have died trying and end up in hell for their pains.

    But there are ways, my friends. There are ways. Jake found the way and this is his story.

    Jake was a tall youthful-looking man for a man in his 60’s. He still had hair and intense blue eyes and although he walked with a bit of a limp, he was in fairly good shape and worked out every day. Jake had retired from a lifetime of government service and was living in SF as a pensioner. He had dreams of being a writer but was not getting too far with his various novels. One day his spouse went to the store and was blown up when a suicide bomber blew up the car in front of her. Just another victim of the constant terrorism that had bedeviled the world since before the second gulf war.

    Jake was devastated. He could not imagine life without his spouse. They had been married for almost 35 years by then and he was looking forward to the remaining years together. They had no children but still had lots of friends from around the world from their days in government service and from the old neighborhood that he had grown up in.

    Dreaming Angela Was In Hell

    That night, Jake had a dream that would haunt him the rest of life.  Every night the same image – his wife was in Hell and was screaming while being tortured by demons wielding whips and chains. She was yelling repeatedly that she was not supposed to be there. Her tormentors, five or six demons wearing red suits and white ties, laughed and said that she was right – it was a screw up in the computer programs that sent her there. She was due in heaven but hey once she was there what could they do about it? She might as well get used to the idea.

    The cost of fighting the screw up would be millions of dollars and where was she going to get the money, anyway?  Hell had no currency other than smuggled money and the loan sharks took most of the loan in interest.  There were lawyers in Hell but they had to be paid upfront, and all the various functionaries had to be paid off.  And God and Satan had a non-interference rule, once someone arrived they were entitled to stay.  and God’s lawyers did not offer legal aid.  There were just too many cases and so there was nothing to be done.  The devils said, and the torture started again and she faded away.

    Meeting Angela in a Dream

    The dream continued night after night. Jake believed the dream was real because this was the second dream of meeting his wife he had in his life. . When he was in high school he had fallen asleep in a physics class and had a dream where he saw standing next to him the most beautiful woman in the world. She disappeared from his dream and he fell down to the ground yelling “ who are you?” as the class erupted in laughter at Jake’s strange antics. He had the dream as he called it for seven years. When he had to decide where to go in the Peace Corps, Korea or Thailand, he had the dream again and knew she was in Korea waiting for him.

    A year after the Peace Corps ended Jake was preparing to return to the States for graduate school when he had the final dream. In the dream, she told him

    “. 걱정마, 자기야, 우린 영원히 함께 할거야
    geogjeongma, jagiya, ulin yeong-wonhi hamkke halgeoya

    Don’t worry, baby, we will be together soon forever.”

    They met that night and got married two months later. Jake always recalled the dream and therefore he knew that his wife was somehow trying to communicate to him and he knew that this second dream was as real as the first dream had been.

    Hell is Real

    is hell real

    Jake decided to do a little research into this hell business. He got on the internet and read as much as he could find as much as he could find out, and hit the occult bookstores in the City and in Berkeley, and even on the dark net. After a few weeks of reading everything he could find on the subject concluded that were three basic schools of thought:

    Hell was a myth and did not of course exist (majority opinion)

    Hell might have existed in ancient times but not in this enlightened modern era. (minority opinion)

    Hell existed and was real. Only problem was almost no one ever went there voluntarily and came back. (this was the majority belief among the occult writers and other assorted nut
    cases).

     

    Jake took to visiting all the various occult bookstores in the city and elsewhere. He became obsessive about finding out everything that had ever been written about hell. He continued haunting these stores and visiting all the various internet sites that he began to be well known as the “man who wants to rescue his wife from hell.” Jake will tell people the story repeatedly and most people thought he was a harmless old man gone batty because he had lost his wife in the terrorist bombing.

    Most of his friends advised him to forget about it and get on with his life. They told him to get back to work on his novels. Some tried to fix him up with women but he refused all such requests. He was truly a man obsessed.

    He finally found a few obscure references to the way to hell in some writings in the Necronomicon (Al Asif) by the mad Arab poetry, Abdul Aliased, and other longed banned occult texts as well as references in various occult publications and writers including Crowley and others, and Christian and Islamic writings. He also read the founder of the Church of Satan claimed he had been to hell and back. After consulting these references, Jake decided he could locate Hell. Jake sat down on Saturday night and did a final re-reading of all his many volumes of material on Hell. His apartment was filled to the rim with books, articles, print outs of web pages and the like. Jake worked all night and at last, he shut down his computer. He poured himself a cup of coffee and looked at what he had written.

    Entrances to Hell

    where is hell

    Jake decided he had a decent plan of action. He had learned from his readings of rule number 214 B and decided to pull it off. The last attempt that was successful was in the 19th century. Hell, it seemed had several portals that interconnected with this world. One theory was that hell existed in a parallel universe as did Heaven. There were several places where Hell interconnected with Earth. Quite a few sites came to mind, some of them were even listed on various internet sits as “gateways” to hell. What distinguished them all was they were in neighborhoods and regions of the earth where evil things seem to happen for no reason. In other words, the gates to hell ran through neighborhoods denounced as “hell holes.” And every big city had them. Some more than others.

    You see the demons and other lower-level functionaries of hell occasionally needed to get out of hell. The rules were that they could leave hell once a month on the full moon but had to be back in hell by sunrise.  They had to get special passes which were rewarded to the devil of the month as well as a form of leave.  If they did not make it back in time they were condemned to hell themselves as an ordinary inmate, not as demon functionary. And in hell you did not want to be a “defrocked devil” so to speak as the other inmates would make your life a living hell and of course your fellow demons would mock you forever as a looser.

    So, the devils would dress up as humans and leave hell and wander the dark corners of big cities, and engage in crime and random violence including rape, robbery, drunken brawls and the like. But they needed cash to do so. Hell did not run on currency; everything was paid for by the State. It was, in a way, a perfect communist society. and thus the devils were always looking for ways to gain illegal cash, most favored US dollars.

    Most hell holes ended up in the U.S. for some reason.  NYC, LA, SF, Las Vegas, Chicago, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manilla were the key hell holes of choice.  Las Vegas was highly sought out as the devils had some special abilities and could manipulate cards and machines without detection and return with lots of cash that they could loan out to the loan sharks for a pretty profit.

    One day Jake came upon a description of hell written by a man who had gone to Hell to find and locate his wife. He managed to get out of hell alive but without his wife. He had a very detailed map of hell. According to this book, published in the 40’s, Hell had a stop on the NYC City subway line, deep underneath the Hell’s Kitchen area of NYC.  That was probably the easiest access point as Satan and his henchmen often went to NYC to conduct business as Satan ran a number of businesses in the world.  The book, Hell is real, was a best selling occult/Christian book in the 40’s and 50’s but had long been out of print.  Jake found it at an occult book seller in Berkeley which specialized in books on Hell and the underworld.  The owner of the book store encouraged Jake in his mad quest.

    The author also described the details of Hell’s horrific, terribly corrupt bureaucracy. He said everything was for sale, and the currency of choice was US dollars. Many of the lower echelon officials dreamed of escaping Hell and many manage to bribe their way out for a weekend of fun in NYC or the other dozen hell holes in the world.  But NYC was the number one choice for the devils on a pass. That is why NYC and the other hell holes have always had very strange crimes reported now and then. The denizens of hell while on earth look like humans but are very wild, violent, and crazy, as if they are very high, and most of them are.  Most devils and demons were once human beings who received promotions to devil status while in Hell.  So they come out and commit horrific crimes and then disappear at sunlight, and they received bonus points for killing people who were due in hell anyway.   Most were given targets to kill while on their hell pass.

    He said that the first light of the sun instantly vaporized the undead unless they had taken special drugs beforehand.  Those vaporized arrived back in hell where they faced torture for failure to return on time. He said this accounts for the various stories about vampires, werewolves, devils, trolls, goblins, and monsters of all sort.  Most were devils out for a night of wilding in the big city.   But there were also agents of Hell on earth who took special drugs to prevent being vaporized.  These Hell demons worked for Satan in his various criminal enterprises and worked with the underground in furtherance of Satan’s plans. He also said that Satan and Hitler had both died and were brought back by the devil himself. Both Hitler and Stalin were working on a secret plot to open a permanent portal to the netherworld. But God and his secret police discovered the plot and told Satan that was in violation of numerous rules governing the operation of Hell.

    Denizens of hell could escape to the surface at night but must return to Hell at dawn. That was the rule. Satan had to abandon project 666 which would have brought Stalin and Hitler and an army of demons to the surface to rule the world ushering in Armageddon. God put a stop to that nonsense for now. For some reason, though Satan loved the 30’s and all his guards dressed in zoot suits and spoke 30’s English, German or Japanese. That is why in Hell all the guards wear 30’s gangster clothing as that was Satan’s favorite period of world history.

    Jake read another old legend dating back centuries that stated that there was only one known way to enter hell and come out alive. As an addendum to rule 214 B, rule 212 (A) 6 (c) provided that if rule 214 B otherwise applies, i.e. someone is in hell by mistake, and if their relative goes to hell to retrieve said lost relative and manages to return to the surface he will be given 50 years additional life as well as 50 years for his spouse, child or parent. But of course, if he fails to return to the surface he will join his spouse in hell forever. And only a few brave mortals had ever attempted the journey. This was a bylaw written by Satan himself as Satan appreciate such acts of selfless courage.

    Jake called together about 10 of his friends from all over the world and explained the situation to them. They all said that he was crazy but what the hell. It sounded like a lark so they were in. Jake told them that he believed Angela was there and he had to try to rescue her. Jake reminded them that he had met Angela in a dream when he was in high school, and his dreams often came true.

    So, they got everything together. Jake had bought ten zoot suites complete with fedora hats, and had managed to find some antique but serviceable Tommy guns through a friend of his who had contacts in the underworld.  The story was slowly making the rounds that there  was this crazed American who was convinced that Hell was real and his wife was there, and damned fool that he was he was going to rescue her.

    Of course, no one believed this story, including those human agents of Satan that lived everywhere lurking among the gangsters and criminal elements running various criminal enterprises supplying Satan and his top staff with luxury goods, especially fine whiskey and drugs. The agents of Satan, who called themselves” Hells’s Demons” all had a laugh, imagining a crazed old man trying to break into hell. But no one wanted to report that story through official channels as the paperwork would be well “Hellish” and no one wanted to be tasked with finding this crazy old man and bring him in for questioning. Satan and his demons had a soft spot for such tales.

    Several of the demons vowed secretly to help Jake out if he ever made it through the portal and send the word out unofficially to be on the lookout for this crazy old man and let him be and not report the incident. And thus Hell Central HQ never heard the story, officially, thank God.
 Finally the day came. Jake had consulted several astrologers, tarot card readers, mediums and they all agreed that the plan was audacious but doable. Jake had to crash through the subway gate, tell the guards that if they let him in he would bring them out and pay them in real currency. Jake thought that should work. He had the clothes, looked the part of internal inspectors (the feared Hell Secret Police, the Gestapo of the underworld). One of Jake’s occult book store contacts made up some official-looking identity cards that identified us as special agents undercover on the surface world who had to interrogate a suspect deep inside. Our cover story was that we had to bring her to the surface to identify a traitor to the satanic cause.  All my contacts in the occult world thought that might really work given Satan’s business enterprises in NYC, but no one really knew as no one had ever come back alive.

    Jake’s books advised taking millions of dollars with him so he could bribe his way into hell and back out again. Jake decided he needed two to four million dollars. He put up his property, liquidated his assets and had about 4 million in cash. It took some time to get all the cash together. Due to various anti-crime and anti-money laundering bills, it was very difficult to withdraw large amounts of cash. And Jake knew that if he told the true story, well no one would take him serious and the word might somehow reach Hell’s Demons and therefore Hell HQ might learn of the plot. Jake had to finally go to a loan shark and pay for his cash with cashier’s checks. But he finally had the cash in hand, in 20 dollar bills.


    Jake’s plan was simple – recruit 10 of his oldest and best friends to come with him on his rescue mission. He knew that none of them would believe him until they entered the gates of hell but he was sure they would stick with him to the bitter end. He figured that the immunity from future stays in hell would apply to them as well as to him. Jake started talking with his friends and eventually recruited ten people to his crusade. They, of course, thought he was crazy but perhaps he was telling the truth and besides it beat the hell of staying at home enjoying retirement.

    Jake called his gang of followers together for a planning meeting. 10 people showed up. General G. Patrick, ex-marine, was the first to show up. He thought that Jake was crazy and had been since high school, but hey if he wants to play a game, he was in.

    Bob, the retired actor, showed up next. He also was quite amused by the whole thing but thought what the heck. It might be fun.

    Keith came in next with his wife, Maggie.  Keith was a minor millionaire developer., ex-con man and ex-felon.   He was the one who had introduced Jake to the money launderer.

    Matt and his wife were there as well. Matt was a retired financial planner and was a logistics whiz. Jake planned on making him second in command.

    David S was also a real estate developer and planner.  He was also into the occult and had helped Jake find source materials.   Jim D was a computer wizard who also had studied Hell stories for a book he had written and was considered one of the word’s leading authority on the legends of Hell. He believed Jake and helped find the maps to Hell that they needed to relied upon.  Jim D had introduced Jake to his friend, Sara S, who ran the occult bookstore, and she rounded out the team.

    Jake started the meeting off.

    “Guys, thanks for coming. I know I have been boring the “hell” out of you, pun intended, for the last four or five months. But, what you don’t know is that I have found the gates to hell and have located where my wife is. I also know you don’t believe me when I tell you the dreams I have been having.

    I went to CAL  and had them record my dream onto a disk using the technology that they have just  developed.  I’d like to play it for you. Afterwards, you can decide if you wish to come along on the adventure of the century or not. For if we succeed in proving Hell exists, and come back alive we will be the most famous explorers in history and of course, we will also be exempted from ever having to go there again.

    Angela is in Pit number 572 Sector Bravo, Unit 524.”

    So, let me play the dream.”

    Jake puts the disk in the computer and plays the program. His wife appears in a pit of flames. There are four or five demons like creatures whipping her and telling her to work harder.

    She is mining something out of the wall. There are hundreds of people in the mines, most of them standing in a pit of burning flames. She is screaming, “I am not supposed to be here. There must be a mistake. I demand to see the manager.”

    The head demon walks over,

    and barks out, what is your name?

    “Angela Lee.”

    “I see” he says, consulting a palm-held computer.

    “Oh, here we are. Yeah, you should be in the other place. Must be one of those computer glitches. Well, it is too complicated to fix and too much paperwork. If you had some money on you, say 100,000 dollars perhaps I could fix it. But where in hell are you going to get that kind of cash?”

    He laughs and laughs.

    Angela turns and screams out “Help me. Save me from Hell. I am in Pit number 572 Sector Bravo, Unit 524.”

    The head demon laughs and the demons start whipping her again and again.

    The image fades away.

    Jake turns to his friends and says,

    “I have had that dream every night since she died. As you know I dreamt about meeting her for 8 years before I met her and so I believe she is telling the truth and that she is in hell in that pit and that if we can make it to hell and bribe her head demon we might make it back alive with her. So, whether or not you believe me, I want you to join me on this crusade. Are you in or not?”

    Entering Hell

    We set off on our big adventure one Friday afternoon at rush hour and entered the subway system. We assemble at the appointed spot in the subway system and chanted the mantra from one of the books of hell. A doorway opens in the air and we climb through.

    satanic rituals open at your risk

    The door closes behind us and we find ourself in a mirror image of the subway entrance. A bored booth attendant dressed in a gothic black suit, looks at us and comes to attention when he notices our attire.

    ‘“What can I do for you inspector? “.

    Jake tells them we are on a special mission and must locate an Angela Lee who was sentenced six months ago. He looks it up on the computer and hums and haws.

    “Well hells bells. There is a woman here by that name but the book also says she should be in the other place. Must be one of those infernal computer glitches. But what the hell can you do about that shit?”

    Jake turns to him and says,

    “Bernie, my friend. Here’s the deal. Here is 500 dollars and a pass to the outer world for you if you help us, and 500 more when we return. No questions asked or reported. Do we have an understanding. Nod if you agree. “

    He nods, grins and says

    “You got it my man. I heard about you and your quest.  Lots of us are secretly rooting for you.  Your outfits are good.   If anyone asks for paperwork, tell them the only paperwork they will see is green and show them the money.  That usually works.  If not, shoot them.  They will be out for a few days.  We can’t die as we are the undead . Good luck and all that shit. You will need it. Take the A train to Hell Central, get off and transfer to the B train and stay on to the central coal pit, then get off and tell the chief super there Kim the Korean dude in charge that Bernie – that’s me – says you  are okay. He will need to be paid 100 thousand in cash in 20 dollar bills. If you have the cash, go ahead otherwise come back tomorrow. He will help you find your lady but you got to know that if HE, the MAN downstairs, finds out you will all fry. I Ain’t putting my neck on the line for you guys not at all.”

    And her immediate pit boss, Mr. Black will need at least five G’s to look the other way and you may have to bribe a few others so I hope you have lots of cash and are serious dudes. If you ain’t you better leave now before I am required to report this shit. I will give you gents ten minutes to get the hell out of here. “…

    We thank Mr. Bernie and enter the next A train. The train leaves the station and we  gasp as we enter Hell passing through the central hell sign.

    Miles and miles of open pits with fires burning everywhere and sounds of people screaming in endless agony. All along the streets of the city are filled with desperate looking people, dressed in rags. Guys in zoot suits dressed like us walk about shooting people for fun. The dead die again but come back to life so to speak minutes later in even worst pain. There are bars on every corner selling all sorts of illegal drugs and prostitutes are everywhere promising all sorts of sexual delights for a price.

    Some of our company, the guys are talking about stopping off for a drink or two. Matt stop them and remind them of the mission and say that if they as much drink a drop of hell booze they will never be allowed to leave. That shuts everyone for a while.

    The train soon becomes a roller coaster and goes up and down up and down. People get on and off but everyone avoids looking at us as our attire convinces everyone that we are part of Hell’s feared internal security Gestapo, the Hell Secret Police, headed by Hitler and Stalin. Robert waives his Tommy gun in the air a couple of times when people get too close.

    They get off at Hell Central which is a mirror image of Grand Central but incredibly crowded, noisy, smoky and smelly as hell. They finally find a way out and transfer to the B line, and it takes them deep into the cavernous pits of hell.  Jake had heard a story that Satan had a deal with the coal companies where he mined coal using slave labor and export the coal to a mine somewhere in Pennsylvania coal country where it was brought to the surface. The coal companies sold it at market rates and kicked back the profits. The same person told Jake that Satan had lots of connections with politicians, businessmen and the like and his spies were everywhere on earth. Satan was plotting to take over but somehow never quite made it. The other side he said also had their angels on earth as well. Good and evil were ever in constant battle and good seemed to have more magical power than evil. But Satan was gaining his power. Part of it was that no one believed in him anymore which gave him plausible a deniablility, a phrase he had taught the CIA, which he had set up  as part of his secret army on earth.

    His agents, the Hell Demons were everywhere and had long ago bought off the political classes. 
 They kept going deeper and deeper into the bowels of hell. The stench was overpowering but they were all wearing masks infused with garlic which was supposed to prevent them from becoming overpowered by the demonic stench.  Finally, after two hours they entered the coal company site. They walk up and demand to see Mr. Kim the super and Mr. Black site supervisor of Sector 572.. Robert waives his Tommy gun around.

    The Negotiation

    Jake screams out and yells saying,

    “Get Mr. Kim and Mr. Black here right now, if you do there is a thousand dollars in unmarked bills waiting for you. If not, well you know what we can do to you. Mr….”

    “Barry White, sir. Right away sir.” He picks up a phone, and Jake’s snatches it away, saying

    “Get them in person, no phone calls. We are not here and you have not seen us. This is a top secret Q code word mission, you understand? So get them right now or I will report this unfortunate refusal to carry out a directive from the Central HQ.”

    ‘The super comes out, a big, burly Korean guy.

    Jake said

    ‘“Mr. Kim, Bernie from the Hell central station says hi and that you would be cool. We have something for your services after we conclude his business. We are on a top secret mission and your cooperation will be noted and rewarded. You catch my drift?”

    Yeah, Bernie’s cool. We were Hell mates came into together into the service. What can I do for you fine gentlemen and ladies?

    He leers at the ladies in our group.

    They glare back.

    Jake said,

    “Well it is very need to know. Q code word you know.  All I can tell you is we have secret orders to bring Angela Lee to the surface to identify a traitor to the Satanic mission on earth. This comes from HIM you know what I mean?”

    “HIM? Q level?  Well let’s see what I can find. Well let me see. I need some paperwork.”

    Jake points the gun at him, saying

    “This is urgent top-secret work, covert shit code word q level and all and we would pay you 100 g’s in Earth money if you bring the girl out and look the other way. We will need a 24 pass to cover her travel and keep you from getting into too much trouble.”

    He looks at Jake and says make it “150 g’s and you got a deal”

    . Jake  and Mr. Kim finally settle on 100 K for Mr. Kim, and 40 K for Mr. Black and 5 G’s for each of her cell mates.  a total of 160 K.  Jake says to Matt,

    “Bernie was right on mark. We need to take him with us in case we run into any problems exiting Hell”.

    Mr. Black calls an assistant and says take these gentlemen to sector 577. That is where we would find the lady. He turns to us and says,

    ““Look I can lose her for a day or so. You must have her back within 36 hours or all sorts of heads
    will roll. If she is not back within 36 hours, I will have to report this and will have to report this highly irregular action.. I ain’t being demoted to being one of them hell no. I ain’t. You understand me, Dude?

    He says,

    “You need to give me 10,000 more so I can bribe some more people so we can keep this on 2T.  No need for the MAN to know about it until you complete your “mission”.

     

    Breaking Out of Hell

    He then says he has some TV to watch and would give us 30 minutes to get her and get back on the train. I tell several of my group to stay behind with Mr. Black, and take the train after we leave.  Jake, Pat, Robert, Keith, and Matt, get on the mini-tram and go into the pits with the guard, Mr. Ramesh, a former Indian customs official

    He turns to Jake and says in gujarati,

    “હેય, હું તમને યાદ કરું છું. તમે બોમ્બેમાં રહેતા હતા વિઝા આપતા કોન્સ્યુલેટમાં કામ કરતા હતા. હા હું તમને યાદ કરું છું. Hēya, huṁ tamanē yāda karuṁ chuṁ. Tamē bōmbēmāṁ rahētā hatā vijhā āpatā kōnsyu lēṭamāṁ kāma karatā hatā. Hā huṁ tamanē yāda karuṁ chuṁ. Hey, did’nt you used to work in Bombay at the US consulate doing visas? I remember you.”

    Jake said

    “હા, હું ત્યાં deepંડા છુપાયેલા રહેતો હતો, તમને તેની સાથે સમસ્યા થઈ છે, મારા ભાઈ?
    Hā, huṁ tyāṁ deepṇḍā chupāyēlā rahētō hatō, tamanē tēnī sāthē samasyā tha’ī chē, mārā bhā’ī?yeah, I was undercover at the time poising as a US diplomat? You got a problem with that? “

    Jake slips him 2 g’s and he smiles and says

    “મારા ભાઈ, આ બધી સમસ્યાઓ હલ કરે છે. તમે કોણ છો તે હું પહેલાથી જ ભૂલી ગયો છું, અને મને કોઈ પરવા નથી. ગમે તે ડ્યૂડ.
    “Mārā bhā’ī, ā badhī samasyā’ō hala karē chē. Tamē kōṇa chō tē huṁ pahēlāthī ja bhūlī gayō chuṁ, anē manē kō’ī paravā nathī. Gamē tē ḍyūḍav.“My brother, This solves all problems. I have already forgotten who the fuck you are, and I don’t care. Whatever dude. ”.

    Rescuing Angela

    They find Angela staying in a pool of stagnant water. She is haggard, tired, and looks like shit. She is digging coal out with a shovel.

    They walk up to her , telling her to play along and not reveal she knew them. they were there to rescue her.

    Jake start yelling at the guards,

    “We need to take this prisoner for questioning.”

    One of the guards looks at them,

    “Back the fuck up right now or we shoot your ass. Your choice”

    He turns to pick up his intercom and Robert shoots him.

    He drops dead and we know it will take a day or so for him to recover. The four other prisoners in the work detail beg us to take them with us. I tell them my mandate was only bring out Angela for questioning, but we would give them each 5000 g’s to keep quiet and forget what they had seen.

    They take the money and say that

    “Angela was a great woman and was always talking about her husband. We could not figure out how she got here. Maybe just a screwup in the computer files. Happens all the time. And we know not to question you guys.  Just not a good thing to do at all. So, yeah, your top-secret mission shit is safe with us

    They get on the track to the main office. When they get there, they decide they should take out Ramesh and Mr. Black for the time being. They thank them and then shoot them saying it was for their own good.
 They get on the train and head back to Hell Central.

    When they get back to the exit they find Mr. Bernie waiting.

    “ Hey dude. There are some police men here who want to talk to you. Apparently there has been a disturbance back at the mine. Some guards were shot. “

    Jake decides to bluff.

    He walks up to the head police Sergeant and barks out

    “Sergeant listen carefully. I will only say this once. We are on a covert mission for the MAN downstairs. I do not have to answer to anyone other than the MAN downstairs. If you interfere it would be painful as I would have to shoot you first, then turn you over to our torture specialists, and I pointed out several of our more macho looking guys in the group.

    So what will it be?”

    “Well lets see some paperwork”

    Matt told them the only paper they would be given would be greenbacks. They demanded 5000 g’s a piece and were adamant. Matt gave them 5,000 apiece and then shot them dead.

    Jake turns to Bernie, “you coming?”

    He said “hell yes. Fuck this job”

    They say the mantra and find themselves in the NYC subway early in the morning.

    Jake tells

    “Bernie you have until dawn to get back. We have the special agent antidote. You need to take it now, otherwise when sun comes up you will be vaporized. Take it.”

    He said

    Yeah, I head of that shit,” and pops the bill. And he runs off in search of the nearest bar.

    Hell’s Reception Committee Clears Jake and Angela of all Charges

    When they leave the subway, they are faced with a reception committee. Two special agents from hell are standing there looking at us. They take us to a safe house in Harlem.

    Finally, they meet the agent in charge of NYC.

    He looks familiar,

    “I say, didn’t you used to work for the US government as a diplomat.”

    He said

    Yeah, I did. Back in the day when I was a human being before ending up in Hell working for Satan. He looks at me and says

    “Holly shit, I recognize the two of you. I always wondered what would happen to you. Okay, now that I know you are human beings you had better tell me the truth and you know I hate your guts. And I know you are a lying scumbag and should be in hell someday.”

    I said,

    “Okay, David here’s the God’s truth”

    and Jake tells him the whole story. When he finished, David gets on the computer, and looks up the special rules and says,

    “ Holly shit. You are right. You are your friends all are given 50 bonus years at your same age and you will all be going upstairs when you die. Listen, as a favor to us don’t publish this story. You know what kind of trouble that could cause us? Okay old friend?”

    Jake promised him that he would never publish this story, but hey he lied. They were never friends, more enemies than anything else. Jake hated David, and the feeling was mutual.

    Jake and Angela make it back out of hell and back to SF. His friends all made it out too, and Satan honored rule number 214 B.

    A few months later, Jake dies and find himself in heaven. He is met by at the gateway to heaven by Mike, a big, muscular, burly bouncer who serves as the gatekeeper to heaven. He has a big sign up saying welcome to Mike’s place the best bar in the limbo zone. The bar is filled with people waiting to determine whether they are going to go to heaven or hell. Mike says as Jake enters that it may take a few days before things are sorted out. Jake is directed to a table where he is given a choice of accommodations – i.e. simple, dormitory-style rooms outback, with meals and drinks included.

    Jake Becomes A Secret Agent for God

    Jake gets his bed organized and goes back to the bar and has a beer and sit down and chat with his fellow inmates. Some have been there for days, some weeks and some years. Apparently, it takes a long time to process the paperwork, and then you must go through a trial. Once the trial is over with you either go to heaven (10 percent) back to earth in a new life, 50% or to hell the remaining 30%. Most people get a second or third chance in life to learn how to be good. If you end up most of the time doing the right thing you end up in heaven, on the other hand, if most of the time you end up doing the wrong, evil thing you end up in hell. Most go back to do it again and again until they get it right. God is merciful but has his patience and the devil must get his due.

    Mike comes back and says,

    “Well, you are famous in these parts. God was most impressed with your work and Satan as well. So, we are sending you back to earth where you will be given 50 years at your current ages, to work for us as unofficial agents, doing uncover work working against the enemy now that you’ve been there.  You can go again as you have a get out of Hell free card.

    The End

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    outlaw poetry

    another mass shooting to start the day

    Today I was inspired to write some poetical rants about Guns, and God. America s a strange country, especially to an atheist like me. I grew up in Berkeley, California in an atheist household so I just don’t get people like Michelle Bachman at all. And especially how she and her ilk are so convinced that God wanted Donald Trump, the most ungodly of all recent politicians to be president.

    I also don’t get the NRA and their insistence especially on days like today that the solution to the mass carnage in our society is more guns for everyone. There is a sickness in our society that the gun violence is merely a symptom.

    I don’t have any answers to any of this just lots of doubts and questions about why if there is a God and God is all knowing and loving he permits such acts of evil. This is one of many reasons I am not a Christian believer.

    Can we please enact some sane gun control laws????

    Before getting to my rants on Guns and God, I’d like to offer my thoughts on a sane gun law policy. If Australia could do it and New Zealand could why or why can’t we do it?

    My proposal would be to require all gun owners to be licenses and insured just like we require for all drivers. If someone is involved in a fire arm offense they would be sent to prison for ten years. If someone is charged with domestic violence offenses they would be banned from owning a gun. There would be universal background checks of course as well and military assault weapon bans. And the CDC and others would conduct studies into how to prevent gun violence.

    90 percent of the public support these positions. So why do we tolerate such nonsense anymore?

    Any time the NRA makes an stupid statement like “Guns Don’t Kill people,” the public will simply say to the NRA -STFU and offer real solutions otherwise go to hell with your prayers for those shot by the guns you promote. Just STFU..

    That’s it in a nutshell. If you disagree that is fine with me. It is still a free country after all.
    Now to the rants!!!!

    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, flith
    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

    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 calls 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

    Another Mass Shooting at Shopping Center

    the Frank Zappa Song comes to mind
    as I contemplate the shopping scene massacre
    in El Paso

    Sadly, just another day
    in America these days
    You leave your house
    and enter a war zone

    with people
    who want to do you in
    because the color of your skin
    just does not agree with him

    And the Texas attorney general
    says that there is nothing they can do
    to prevent these outbreaks of mass violence
    just like the weather

    almost as if these things
    are like the proverbial acts
    of God

    but what kind of demented god
    would permit these daily outages
    these daily manifestations of evil?

    what is wrong with this country
    that we just accept
    that there is nothing we can do
    to stop the carnage in our streets?

    as more trouble comes every day
    Is there really nothing more to be done
    than to pray
    to a non-existent man in the sky?

    from relief
    from these trouble
    coming every day

    every day
    the same old story

    a man with a gun
    who shoots up a school

    a church a mosque
    a shopping mall
    a place of work

    and why
    why are they so consumed
    with hatred
    for their fellow humans

    that they can do this
    just start shooting people
    for no reason

    just pull evil
    came to town
    that day

    is there a god
    that we can pray to
    for relief from such evil?

    or has Satan
    come to rule
    us ?

    a thousand year of tribulation
    is this the beginning
    of the end of days?

    I have no answers at all
    other than that tomorrow
    will be another day
    of carnage

    another day of evil
    and there is no way
    to delay
    that trouble coming every day

    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
    Are White People
    killing other white people
    Not Islamic terrorists

    Most are in fact
    Self-proclaimed Christians
    Many of whom
    support you

    Like the killer
    In El Paso
    Texas

    who says
    he is a big fan

    So Mr. President
    When will you come
    to your senses

    And do what
    90 percent of the public wants

    Enact nationwide 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?

    Based on following article

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/world/americas/mass-shootings-us-international.html

    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 yes Guns killed them
    shot them dead

    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.

    Read more at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/11/07/paul-ryan-to-far-secular-left-after-mass-shootings-prayer-works/#lRoERftPWPR1Ocfe.99

    Dear Governor Abbot

    You say that you are a Christian
    Yet you have the gall
    to say that the proper response
    To the evil acts

    of the deranged gun man
    Who shot up a church

    Is to work closer with God
    And that evil people
    will find ways
    To commit evil acts

    And that there is
    nothing the government

    Can do to stop this madness
    It is the price of our freedom

    Why can’t you wake up
    And see that you can lead

    The way out of this madness?
    Thousands of people die
    Each year from guns in this country

    Turning everyone into prisoners
    Into their own homes
    Afraid to walk outside
    For fear that a nut job

    With a gun
    Will blow them away
    In Church, at the store
    In traffic
    at the neighborhood Walmart

    And you and your NRA buddies
    Think the answer

    Is to arm everyone to the teeth
    And I wonder how Jesus

    Would react to how
    You have so misunderstood his message?

    You Sir are not a Christian
    And you Sir are going to not like

    What God has to say to you
    On Judgement day

    We have evil that occurs in this world, whether it be a terrorist who uses a truck to mow down bikers in New York City, whether it be a terrorist who uses bombs or knives to stab people, or other terrorist who use vehicles, whether it be in Nice, France, or any other place in the entire world, who mow down people.

    And I’m going to use the words of the citizens of Sutherland Springs themselves, and that is, they want to work together for love to overcome evil, and you do that by working with God.

    http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2017/11/texas-governor-fight-gun-massacres-working-god/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=BRSS&utm_campaign=Nonreligious&utm_content=367

  • 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 Poem’s published on Duane’s Poetree.

    My friend, Duane Voorhes, who I have known for decades, has a great poetry site and has published a number of my poems. Here they are.

    The url is jake cosmos aller poems on poetree

    Duane Poetree Publishes Sandwich Choicese

    Enjoy

    The Shape of History

    Once I too had ambition
    I had the usual dreams of glory and grandeur
    All I wanted to be was to be a great creative genius

    Only I did not know
    How to kiss ass creatively

    Once I had dreams of greatness
    I would be glorious and free
    All would envy and admire

    This man so noble and great
    Now I am tied down in mirthless mire

    Once I hustled
    Once I took no shit from anyone
    Once I wanted the universe

    Now I am contented to shit
    And refuse to bustle
    Why bother anymore

    In the gathering gloom
    Of the foreseeable future

    One thing is certain
    I do not want a room

    On the scrap heap of society
    And yet that might be my fate

    Strong Wine

    One night
    I was staring
    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 doers 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 disappeared

    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

    Saturday, March 16, 2019

    The Revolution Is Coming

    A revolution is coming
    I can feel it in my bones

    A revolution is coming
    And it will wipe out
    The collapsing edifices
    Of the American Empire

    The masses are rising up
    To throw off their chains
    And demand justice

    The masses are coming
    For the masters of the universe
    Their days are numbered
    And they know it too

    One day
    The masses will rise up
    Storm the citadels of power

    Arresting the corrupt leaders
    In the name of revolutionary justice

    Stringing them up
    Executing them
    One by one

    As the revolutionary fires
    Consume the nation

    And I can’t wait
    For the revolution
    Is long over due

    Until I met the end
    Of my life

    Still wondering what it all meant

     

    Rambling Man – Where Do I Belong?

    I have been a rambling man
    All my adult life

    Grew up in Berkeley, California
    Went to college in Hayward and Oberlin

    During my lost year
    Lost in a fog of booze and pot

    Then I came back to reality
    And went to college

    In Stockton, California
    The Central Valley

    Ohio transplanted to California
    Then after four years in Stockton

    With extended weekends
    And breaks in Berkeley

    I became an expatriate wanderer
    Peace Corps worker in Korea

    Then taught ESL in Korea
    For four years

    Occasionally returning to my home
    But always wanting to be elsewhere

    Then back to Korea

    And then Seattle for four years
    Driving back and forth to the bay area
    Stopping off in Southern Oregon

    Eventually bought a house and duplex
    In Southern Oregon

    Vaguely thinking we would retire there
    Some day when my rambling ways were over

    Then back to Korea for three more years
    Then I joined the Foreign service

    And my wife the military
    And I wandered the world again

    Always somewhere
    Always dreaming of my next somewhere

    Never there
    As I was a permanent expat

    And a diplomat to boot
    Never a local

    But never really felt I belong there
    Or in the America
    That was becoming more and more
    A foreign land
    The longer I stayed away

    I stayed on in DC for almost ten years
    Off and on
    But never really felt that I belong there

    I was too West Coast in my heart
    And DC seemed to be

    Just a place to stay
    In between travels

    Stayed in Thailand
    Then later India
    And Eastern Caribbean
    And later Spain

    Traveled to 45 countries
    Lived in ten

    And now I am retired
    Still torn between

    living the expat life
    In Seoul, Korea

    And returning to the West Coast
    And occasionally back to DC
    And Florida as well

    And I wonder
    Where do I belong

    Where do I belong
    Other than wherever
    My wife and I end up

    Neither here nor there
    Half way there

    And so is that my fate
    Never to really belong

    Never to have roots in the ground
    Always wanting to be somewhere else

    Always a stranger in my native land
    And a stranger in my other home
    Across the sea

    There is no answer to these questions
    As the rambling urge comes again

    And I prepare to move yet again
    Hoping someday I will be

    Somewhere where I can stop
    These rambling blues
    And really be there

    More Coffee Blues

    One morning as I drank my fake coffee
    I needed to go out and get a cup of real coffee

    The fake coffee just did not do the trick
    It tasted almost like the real thing

    But just did not have that kick
    And I needed it bad
    I needed the real coffee buzz

    I realized that I was a coffee addict
    I tried to just drink decaf

    But it was boring
    And almost as bad as the fake coffee
    That I drank

    Caffeine was bad for me
    I knew it

    But I craved the rush
    Craved the intense buzz
    Craved the hyperactivity

    Kept me up all day
    And caused me nightmares

    Sometimes for days on end
    I knew I could not handle it

    But like all addicts
    I needed my coffee buzz

    And so, I once more
    Drank my drug of choice

    And entered the coffee zone
    As I fried my brain
    With caffeine

    The last legal drug
    In neo-puritan America

    And I smiled as I gave in
    To the intoxicating smell
    And flavor of my coffee
    And surrender my free will

    And drank my coffee
    Waiting for the nightmares to come

    Sandwich Choices

    Fake Food Poems

    There are so many choices to be had
    When ordering a sandwich

    What kind of bread
    What kind of meat or any meat
    What kind of cheese or any cheese
    Whether to have sprouts or not
    Whether to have a pickle or not

    Whether to go with a classic peanut butter
    And something sandwich

    I loved peanut butter sandwiches
    As a kid

    Peanut butter and sweet pickles were my favorite
    Peanut butter and banana is good also

    Peanut butter and strawberry jam
    What a delightful memory

    My current favorite

    Is a BLT with sprouts, avocado, and kosher dill pickles.
    Heirloom red tomatoes one slice per each half

    Avocado one half per each half
    One half pickle on each half

    Bacon cooked just right – well done but not black
    Sprouts and lettuce just right

    Tillamook Yellow smoked cheddar cheese
    On each half

    On gluten free bread
    with chipotle mayo
    And Dijon mustard

    Cut in half

    Truly a sandwich made in heaven
    And bacon makes everything
    Taste so damn nice

    And God if you are reading this poem
    You had better prepare them for me
    Or Heaven will not be worth it

    Does Satan serve BLT sandwiches
    I wonder

    Probably not
    Probably you become the bacon
    In his hell sandwiches

    The Decline of America

    Year of Chaos Finally Ends

    outlaw poetry

    You see it everywhere
    The unmistakable signs

    That the decline of America
    Is in full swing

    As our emperor in waiting
    Withdraws the US

    From the climate change agreement
    Giving the proverbial finger
    To 195 world leaders

    And ignoring the personal appeal
    Of the G7 and the Pope

    Making America Great
    By making America all alone
    In its growing irrelevance

    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

    On a bad day
    It is an accident that happens
    Over and over again
    Killing and maiming people

    The future of mass transit
    Its proponents said

    The interstate highway system
    Is falling apart day by day
    Our bridges are falling down
    Our transit is a world joke

    The cost of rebuilding America mounts
    And our politicians are afraid
    That it will cost trillions of dollars

    Just to prevent the US from collapsing
    Into third world irrelevance

    And our idiot president’s answer
    Is to sell our highways and bridges
    To the highest foreign bidder

    Treating the US as just another failed company
    Ready to be stripped for cash and profits
    By the vulture capitalists who took over the government

    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

    Will we be one country
    Or will we erupt into a civil war

    Can we survive
    Two nations divided
    Into the red and blue camps

    The coastal elites and multiethnic cities
    And Jesus land in the rural hinterlands
    And the deep south remains apart

    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

    A fight for the future of our country
    Will we go back to the mythical past
    When white men ruled the land
    And women and minorities knew their place
    And gays stayed in the closet?

    Or will we embrace a progressive future
    With an economy that works for all

    And a world in which there is no ethnic majority anymore
    And women and men are equal
    And the GLBT community has full rights

    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

    Suburban Laundromat
    – thanks to Don Teeter for the inspiration
    from a FB posting

    Suburban Laundromat Scenes

    Suburban laundromat
    Anywhere USA

    I often go to a suburban laundromat
    Near my suburban apartment

    I can sit in my car
    Listen to jazz, classical or blues
    On my car’s radio

    And watch my machine
    Doing its suburban laundry duty

    Just spinning and spinning and cleaning
    Doing its thing its laundry thing

    The neighborhood is anywhere USA
    Strip malls, apartment houses, townhouses

    A fire station, a police station
    Banks, cell phone shops

    Restaurants from around the world
    At the parking lot’s edge

    As I approach I notice
    Gentlemen of the off-grid class

    Sitting among their Hogs
    Stoned off the semi legal weed

    Smiling at me
    With an I don’t give a fuck attitude

    That is somewhat contagious
    They tell stories

    Paranoid ramblings
    Containing a kernel of truth

    As they watch their clothes
    Like a hawk

    The clothes spin and spin and spin
    As the laundry machine does its laundry thing

    The machines don’t care about what we humans think
    They just do their duty as the man says

    Across the old run down boulevard
    The light rail line uses a right of way
    That dates to the mid 1850’s

    An old Indian game trail perhaps
    That the white man turned into the first road
    In these parts

    People come and go
    Some in cars

    Some on foot
    People from all over the world

    Speaking languages from everywhere
    But all understand English to some extent

    And many understand Spanish to some extent
    I feel everyone is united

    Chiefly by their transience
    And think back on old Latin saying

    Sic transit Gloria mundi
    And wonder if these are the end days

    And ask the laundry machine
    What does it think

    The laundry machine pauses
    Seems to think

    And looks at me
    Almost saying

    WTF do you think
    A laundry machine knows?

    And so, I gather my items
    Nod to the regulars

    Who interrupt their endless paranoid arguments
    Acknowledging my existence

    And I stumble back
    To my suburban apartment
    Truly paradise on earth

     

    Where am I going to?

    Rambling man
    Where are you going to?
    When will you settle down

    Last summer I drove across the country
    31 States
    Ten national parks
    10,000 miles

    Saw fly over country
    DC
    Virginia spent the night at Ft Lee
    North Carolina
    South Carolina
    Georgia spent the night at naval base
    Florida spent five days at AFB in Tampa
    Florida Tallahassee spend the night
    Alabama spent the night in Birmingham
    Arkansas spent the night in Hot Springs
    lost
    money
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Oklahoma spent the night in Midwest city
    Texas spent the night in Amarillo
    New Mexico spent the night in Albuquerque lost money
    Arizona stopped by the side of the road in Winslow
    Drove part of route 66
    Nevada Las Vegas lost money
    Nevada Reno lost money
    Nevada Topanah lost money
    Northern California
    Oregon Ashland stayed a month
    Oregon spent night in small town
    Drove down highway 395 loneliest highway in the US
    Idaho spent the night in Burl
    Wyoming spent five days in Grand Tetons
    South Dakota Rapid City
    Minnesota spent the night in the twin city’s saw the Mall of America
    Illinois Chicago Yeah
    Indiana nowhere villa
    Wisconsin Madison nice town
    Ohio spent the night outside Columbus
    Pennsylvania Pittsburgh
    West Virginia
    Virginia
    DC
    Then back to Korea
    Next year will go to Washington State, Montana, Idaho and down to Zion Canyon

    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

    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

    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
    Losing 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 quiet 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 to 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

    Rapid City No Where

    Summer 2016
    We drove across the country
    Just the wife and me

    10,000 miles
    31 states
    Three months on the road

    I now know why people don’t live
    In South Dakota

    Hot, dry dusty
    Windy as hell

    Black Hills are nice
    But after seeing Mt. Rushmore
    There is not much left to do

    Rapid City did not impress me
    Nor did Sioux Falls

    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

    a million ways to say I love you

    They say
    There are a million ways
    To say I love you

    In this day and age
    I could only find
    In my computer’s brain

    The words to say I love you
    In 100 languages Spoken on this planet

    Someday I may be able
    To say the simple words

    I love you
    In all known languages

    This will have to suffice for a start
    So I will say it

    Loud, and clear
    Just so you understand:

    MandarinWǒ ài nǐ
    Spanishte amo, te quiero
    EnglishI love you
    Hindimain tumse pyar karta hoon
    Arabic Ahabak
    Portugueseeu te amo
    Bengali Āmi tōmāẏa bhālōbās
    Russian ya  lyublyu tebya
    Japanese watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu
    Punjabi maiṁ tuhānū pi’āra karadā hāṁ
    Germanich liebe dich
    Javanese Aku tresna sampeyan Wu
    (Shanghainese)(ngu eh nóng)Ngu long hushin long lahMalay
    Indonesia nsaya sayang awak
    Korean salanghae
    Telugu nēnu ninnu prēmistunnānu
    Vietnamese anh yêu em
    French je t’aime
    Marathi mī tujhyāvara prēma karatō
    Tamil nāṉ uṉṉai kātali kkiṟēṉ
    Urdu – (mein ap say muhabat karta hoon)
    farsi– (mein ap say muhabat karti hoon)
    Persian/Farsi(asheghetam) used in poetry and songs – (dūset dāram)
    Turkish seni seviyorum
    Cantonesengóh oi néih
    Italianti amo
    ThaiP̄hm rạk khuṇ
    GujaratiHuṁ tanē prēma karuṁ chu
    Basque maite zaitut
    Polish kocham Cię
    Pashto(za la ta sara meena kawom)
    KannadaNānu ninnannu prītisuttēne
    Malayalamñān ninne snēhikkunnu
    Sundaneseabdi bogoh ka anjeun
    ChamorroHu guiaya hao
    Hausa Ina son ka
    Burmese Main nkohkyittaal
    Oriyamu tumoku bhala paye
    ArmenianYes sirum yem k’yez
    Ukrainianya tebe lyublyu
    Bhojpurihum tohse pyaar kareni
    TagalogIniibig kita
    Yorubamo nifẹ rẹ
    Maithilihawm ahāṃ se prem karechi
    Sindhi Man tokhe prem karyan ti or Man tokhe prem karyan to
    Uzbek Men seni Sevaman
    AmharicEwedihalehu
    Fulami yidi ma
    Igbo a hụrụ m gị n’anya
    OromoSin jaalladha’
    Romaniante iubesc
    AzerbaijaniMən səni sevirəm
    Manipuri/Meiteiəi-nə nəng-bu nung-shi
    ChichewaNdimakukonda
    Ndi makukondani
    Cebuanogihigugma TIKA
    Dutchik hou van je
    KurdishEz hej te dikim
    Serbo-CroatianVolim te
    Malagasy tiako ianao
    Nepali Ma timīlā’ī māyā garchu
    Saraikimẽ tenū̃ piār kardā hā̃
    Santaliing aming sibilama
    Khmerkhnhom​ sralanh​ anak
    Sinhale semama oyāṭa ādareyi
    BambaraM’bi fe
    Assamese môi apunak bhal paû
    Madurese Kula tresna / panjengan
    Somali Waan ku jeclahay
    Magahi həm t̪oːraː seː pjaːr kərə hɪjoː/
    DogriMinjo tere naal pyar hega
    Marwari main tanne pyaar karoon
    Hungarian Szeretlek
    Chewandimakukondani
    Kinyar wanda Ndagukunda
    Greek Se agapó
    AkanTwiMe dor wo
    Khasii eit ieit
    Kazakhmen seni jaqsı köremin
    TswanaKe a go rata
    Hebrew(man to a woman) –
    “Ani Ohev Otach”
    (woman to a man) –
    “Ani Ohevet Otcha”
    (woman to a woman) –
    “Ani Ohevet Otach”
    (man to a man) –
    “Ani Ohev Otcha”
    Zulu Ngiyakuthanda
    CzechMiluji tě
    KinyarwandaNdagukunda
    Kokanihav tujo mog korta
    Haitian CreoleMwen renmen ou
    AfrikaansEk het jou lief
    Ilokano Ayayatenka, (ay-aya-ten kaw)
    QuechuaKuyayki
    KirundiNdagukunda
    Swedishjag älskar dig
    HmongKuv hlub koj
    ShonaNdinokuda
    HiligaynonPalangga ko ikaw
    Guina higugma ko ikaw
    Uyghur(Män sızni söyümän)
    Balochi Tu mana doost biyeh
    Belarusian ja ciabie kachaju
    Mossi Kei te aroha au ki a koe
    Xhosa ndiyakuthanda
    KonkaniHav tukka Mog Karta
    Gaelic Gra

    I love you in multiple language

    Angel Of Desire

    One day,
    A long, long,
    long long
    long time ago

    In a distant land
    and place
    There lived
    a lonely, wretched man

    He was filled with anger,
    hatred and despair
    All was lost,
    darkness and gloom

    He wandered
    the world
    Here
    and there

    Looking
    for something
    He knew not what
    he was looking for

    Then one fine evening
    He looked up and saw
    A vision,
    an angel of delight

    A woman of divine splendor
    A lady so fantastic
    He thought
    surely he was dreaming

    He did not know
    what to say
    He did not
    know what to do

    All he could do
    Was stare
    at this unearthly vision
    that had appeared before him

    He approached her
    He needed her
    He wanted her
    he desired her

    He knew that
    if he could
    not have her
    He would surely die

    His mind was aflutter
    His mind was filled
    With the vision of that beauty
    Overwhelming him with desire

    Soon he met her
    Wooed her,
    married her

    Life
    changed forever
    from that
    moment forward

    The gloom lifted
    The darkness
    was banished

    Sunshine
    filled his heart
    And music
    filled his ears

    Every time
    he looked at her
    His heart went aflutter
    He could not live without her

    Then one day
    This man
    was forced to live
    Another life of loneliness

    Despair and Darkness
    All around
    him yet again

    The lady of his dreams
    The angel of his desire
    Lives 10,000 miles away

    Leaving him
    in darkness,
    gloom and despair

    The only hope he has
    Is that soon,
    one day

    This separation will end
    Forever more

    And then
    he will be complete yet again
    With his Angel of Desire

    And the Darkness, gloom and anger
    Will be banished forever more
    In the brightness of her eternal smile

    So he lies down to sleep
    And sees
    his Angel in his dreams

    Wakes up with a smile
    Knowing soon
    he will be with her

    Forever more together
    With his Angel of Desire

    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
    Something to drive away
    The dark despair in my heart

    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
    Of rule by the body snatched
    Resident evil ones
    pawns of Hell

    Descendants of dread Cthulhu
    The ancient ones

    Yes the darkness
    That has descended upon the world
    One day
    Will be pierced by the light
    Of clarity and truth

    And the evil ones
    The body snatched aliens
    Inhabiting our leaders
    Will be banished

    Back to the hell hole
    They crawled out

    This much I know
    And it is enough

    To make me smile
    Laugh and hope
    Again

    coffee

    Hot as hell, heavenly sweet
    My daily hot coffee fix
    Sends Me to Heaven then Crashes into Hell

    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
    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

    Ode to Coffee

    Mistress of sacred love
    Sacred lady of desire

    You start my day
    Setting my heart on fire
    With your dark delicious flavor

    And throughout the day
    Whenever the mean old blues come by
    You chase them away
    With your bitter sweet ambrosial brew

    Every time I inhale your witches’ brew
    I am filled with power, light and love
    And everything is all 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 dessert 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 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

    Yeah
    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

    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 in 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

    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

    The 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

    The man yelled at the old man
    Old man, mocking fiend from hell
    Go to hell old man
    And never darken my mirror again

    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 man went up to some pretty young things
    And tried to pick them up
    They laughed at him
    Called him a dirty old man
    And told him to go home

    The man went home
    To bed alone
    And drank some more beer
    And dreamt of all of his past loves
    And failed dreams

    Of what he had done
    And failed to do
    And wondered whether his time
    Had come

    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
    An old black doctor came over
    Said sadly
    This white boy ain’t right in the head

    The man laughed insanely
    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

    Brother Keep Preaching

    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 Falwell
    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 us straight
    And send most of us straight to hell
    For eternal damnation and punishment

    God is particularly pissed off
    At all those politicians who have been
    Misusing his name and saying God is on their side

    God ain’t on their side God is God
    And he is angry at them all
    Particularly at our boy pretender President
    George Bush

    God has a score to settle with Mr. Bush
    You see God has spoken to Mr. Bush
    And to all of us

    But most of have forgotten how to hear
    The voice of god and we hear what we want to hear

    God told George
    George, don’t do that evil thing
    Don’t invade Iraq
    I will handle Sadam in my own way

    I want you to take care of your poor people
    Give away all your power and money
    And serve the poor
    That’s what I want you to do

    And poor George did not understand
    Did not get the message
    So George led the nation
    Into war against another land
    And thousands of people died
    And millions of dollars were wasted
    And nothing changed

    And God is angry at our poor misguided President
    And God is angry at the people of this earth
    Who have fucked up his paradise and his divine plans

    So, brother preacher
    Keep preaching the word
    I understand

    And someday soon maybe the rest of us
    Will understand as well

    Keep preaching the word
    My man

    God is coming to save us
    And will start by dispatching
    That fool of a pretender to the throne
    Straight to the hell he so richly deserves

    God is going to slap him upside the head
    And tell him to quit talking shit
    About God’s plan and God’s will

    Then God will smile
    As Bush is dispatched to Hades
    And joins all the other fools
    Who have proclaimed that God is on their side

    Oh yeah
    God does not like that shit
    Not one bit

    And the end times approach
    And the preacher man preaches
    And God is getting ready for the judgment day

    And I say bring it on
    Bring it on
    Brother preacher man
    Keep preaching the word
    And someday soon
    We will meet up
    Somewhere and God will decide
    Our fate

    But the fate of our pretender President is sealed
    And Satan has a nice room for him

    And God smiles
    At the thought of divine justice

    The Eye in the Sky

    The eye in the sky
    Knows all, sees all
    Hears all, understands all

    The eye in the sky

    Watches over us
    Everything we do
    Is monitored, controlled
    Under surveillance

    There is no privacy
    There is no private space
    The eye in the sky
    Knows all

    Everything we do
    Everything we see
    Everything we think

    Recorded by the unseeing
    Uncaring eyes
    The cameras, the videos
    The computers that control
    Our lives

    Ever watchful
    Ever diligent

    Nothing escapes
    The cold, calculating glares

    Freedom is nothing
    But an illusion

    To the free man
    There is no freedom
    Except in one’s inner mind

    Only there
    Can one escape
    The eyes in the sky

    No one monitors our thoughts
    Except our own thought police

    The rest of the world
    Is controlled, monitored
    Under constant surveillance

    The eyes in the sky
    The camera in the sky
    Watches over us

    All the time
    All the time
    24/7

    Never stopping
    Never on strike
    Never on break

    All day long
    All night long
    24/7

    Total control

    The eye in the sky
    Is the same

    As the eye
    In the dollar bill

    All the same
    All the same
    Watching us
    No one can escape
    Its baleful glances
    No one is free

    Aye the eye
    In the sky
    Is always upon you

    As you become
    A mere number
    In the cosmic game
    Of life

    Up behind
    The eye in the sky

    Big Brother is watching
    You and me

    And big sister too
    And crazy Uncle Tom

    And wild auntie Em
    God, and the Devil
    Rama, Ganesh, Laxmi

    The Buddha bar gang
    Jesus is there as well
    Mary as well

    And you must be knowing this
    That even Saint Nick,
    Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny

    And Father Time himself
    Are there

    Zeus and the Jupiter gang
    And all the demons and spirits
    And the big spirit
    And Brahman, Gabriel, Allah
    Mohammad the prophet too

    And the CIA, Mafia, KGB
    And spies and counter spies

    All are watching us
    Spy Vs Spy

    The tooth fairy is there too
    She gets her 10 percent

    All the same
    Watching us
    Forever and ever

    But the eye
    In the sky

    Does not care
    Does not notice

    What we think or feel

    The eye
    Watches us
    All the time

    Recording our movement
    And reporting it to its masters

    Its job is to watch
    Us

    You and me
    And the billions of others
    On this asylum called Earth

    The question came to mind
    That has no answer

    Who is the eye in the sky
    Is it God
    Is it the devil

    Only time will tell
    The difference

    The eye in the sky
    Smiles at us
    And watches and watches

    And watches
    All the time

    Long Live the Great and Powerful One

    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

    Slowly coming to life with the dawning sun
    Surrounded by the sounds of chaos, disorder
    Dark, dangerous despairing thoughts
    Of dangerous terrible acts to come

    All around me
    in this strange era we live in
    These orange alert perpetual fearful times
    Constant fear and overwhelming dread

    Mad crazed Islamic bomb throwing terrible terrorists
    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

    Chanting – Peace is War, War is Peace
    Truth is a Lie, Lies are Truth
    The Truth will set
    All Hail the Great and Powerful One

    The head gargoyle looks at me,
    and says “Watch this!”
    And jumps up and rides a rainbow sunbeam
    Into the bloody red light of the dawning rising sun

    The other gargoyles follow suit
    Dancing, naked,
    making wild passionate love
    While laughing and riding the light

    And the gloom lifts from my shoulder
    And I laugh
    and realized
    – “It don’t mean shit”

    And then my soul is free
    and I fly with the gargoyles
    To join my buddy the sun
    and as we sit high up above the earth

    Smoking dope
    and drinking booze
    and looking down at the teaming mess
    Of what was left of humanity

    I realized
    the ultimate
    reality of life
    “It don’t mean shit”

    And the terrorists
    are nothing
    but delusions
    Put in our heads and our hearts

    By the depraved master programmer
    of the universe
    In service
    to the Great and Powerful One

    The true Master of Creation
    As long as we are not afraid our souls will be free
    And so I laugh and laugh and the sun comes up
    The dark mists disappear

    The Great and Powerful One
    is overthrown
    The terrorists go home,
    and I return to earth

    Thinking
    that the long nightmare was over
    Believing that we had won the war
    And kept our souls from going to hell

    But I did not understand
    that the Great and Powerful One
    Had banished the terrorists,
    and conquered us all

    In the name of freedom
    we had became slaves
    To his awful power
    and dark demands

    God is indeed great,
    but the Great and Powerful One
    Has more power than mere God,
    and so we deserve our fate

    Long live
    the Great and Powerful One
    Whom we love
    forever and ever,

    Just an Unhinged Lunatic Howling At the Moon

    O

    n 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 woman
    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
    GOD SPEAKS TO ME IN A BAR

    One day while I was sipping a beer
    In a God forsaken bar
    Heading to Hell just as fast as I could drink it down

    Twenty drinks too sober
    On the dismal wrong end
    Of a Friday Night booze run

    While I was half listening to some righteous
    Funkified new age music
    With a cosmic beat

    And some bad assed ghetto attitude
    Leaking out from the mellowness
    It proclaimed the lie

    God came up to me in that bar
    I did not know him
    From Adam

    He looked like any other
    Jesus god crazed bum
    Looking for a handout

    And peddling a little salvation
    On the side
    For his benighted soul

    Just another god crazed
    Loser dude
    Too much acid in the past

    No brain cells left
    Nothing but Jesus will
    Save his cosmic butt

    So I blew off
    The god dude
    Told him off

    I did not want
    No salvation crap

    To interfere
    With my beer

    My new age crap music
    And my vision of carnal delight

    Waiting for me Next door
    In the next dismal strip club
    On the wrong edge of society

    Dancing naked
    Waiting for me

    And every other loser dude
    To drop by
    And see her in her naked glory

    I told God
    Make an appointment

    My people will get in touch
    With your people

    We do lunch some day, dig

    God looks at me
    And says

    God don’t do no lunch, dude
    Don’t you know

    Who the Jesus I am?
    Insect, maggot?

    No, I said
    I don’t know your royal butt
    From Adam, Sir

    God is getting angry
    He yells

    I am God
    You drunken moron

    I need you to pay
    Attention to me

    I looked up
    At a 100 foot
    Burning bush

    God’s voice
    Is everywhere

    Thunder and lighting
    Light up the sky

    And I know
    I am dealing
    With the real deal

    So I say,
    God, Dude
    What it is!

    I did not know it was you
    I did not recognize you

    God, mollified,
    Says

    That is better
    Here’s the deal

    Judgment day is at hand
    I need an arrogant, tough
    Son of a bitch of a sinner

    To help judge
    The good, the bad and the ugly

    I need help
    In knowing where to send
    People to heaven or to hell

    I say, God, Dude
    I believe I know

    Where I am going
    Hell yes

    So what do you
    Need me for

    Your royal dudeship?

    God replies`
    Well, son

    I need a man
    Who’s been there

    Done that
    Seen that

    And knows in his heart
    Whether a man

    Can be redeemed
    To join the celestial kingdom

    So you see
    I need
    Someone like you

    Someone from the lowest
    Depths of society

    Someone who has sunk down
    So low it looks like up to him

    You dig, you capish? Araso?

    Oh yeah,
    Dude, I do

    And you got you man
    Let’s do it

    Let’s do this judgment day

    Broken 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
    life on the cruel streets

    They make do
    They beg
    They steel
    They con their way

    Living the life
    Living death
    Broken Souls
    on the street

    You have two minds
    One part of you
    the fearful part of you
    Conditioned to ignore

    Conditioned to walk by
    Ignoing the tragic wounded lives
    The broken souls
    all around you

    But part of you knows
    That you can’t do that
    You can’t walk away
    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
    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

    One Night In Bombay

    One night
    In Bombay, India

    I walked into a bar
    20 drinks too sober

    On the wrong end
    Of a Friday night booze run

    On the bad side
    Of the Moon

    Over by where the Martians
    Sat drinking their Martian whisky
    Ogling the maidens from Venus

    Leering at the earth women
    Who were walking by

    Wearing skin tight pants
    Made their eyeballs hurt

    I gave into the spirit
    Went over to the Martian dudes

    And got drunk on the Martian madness
    Smoking some good old Mars dust

    And flew off to the planet Jupiter
    Just to have me some fun

    With a lady
    Said she was from Saturn

    I did not know
    She was from the planet Pluto

    Until I woke up
    The next day

    Naked, under the alien Sun
    In Jail

    On the Planet Alpha Centauri
    Light years from home

    A million miles away
    A thousand years in the future
    And I had no money

    No honey
    And no way home

    Still 20 drinks too sober

    So I sat down
    In that jail
    And started drinking away my time

    And so one day
    I woke up

    And found myself
    Back in that evil bar
    Back in Bombay

    Over by the Martian whorehouse
    Down by the Gate of India

    And I walked up to the Venus babe
    And said, man that was some bad shit
    Let’s do it again some day

    She smiled and I had my way
    Knew the day would come again

    When I would be drinking with the Martians
    And something wicked my way would come

    Just another night
    Of wicked fun
    On the wrong side of the Moon

    On the right night
    In the mean streets of Bombay

    Gateway of India, Bombay, 1911
    Monday, September 28, 2015

    Mozart Blues

    One morning
    I woke up
    And walked out

    I saw a brilliant rainbow
    Erupting out of the dark
    Soil of dark dismal 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
    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

    An 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 naked 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

    God’s Confession

    I was sitting along
    In a god forsaken bar
    Somewhere on the lunatic fringes
    Of society

    On the bad part of town
    Over by railroad tracks
    Heading to hell
    As fast as I could drink it down

    Enjoying my lonely drink
    Drinking by my lonesome self
    With my partners
    Jimmy Beam and the Walker brother

    And 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

    He begins
    Muttering to himself
    Nutty nonsense
    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
    And said
    So what’s your game
    Anyway

    The short little dude
    Stopped his insane prattle
    Staring 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

    And said
    Since you asked

    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
    Any more
    No one cares
    They think I am irrelevant

    They think I am dead
    They think I am a fairy tale
    From some olden, ancient time

    Some say I am dead
    Others think I should be dead
    That my work is done

    I looked at him
    Carefully now
    And what did I see

    An old man
    With that lunatic look
    But there was something else

    He was crazy
    Sure yes
    But perhaps he was the real deal

    I mean why not
    Why would not God be
    A lunatic wandering around loose

    Talking to low lifes like me
    In a bar
    On the way to hell

    So I looked at him
    And invited him to share
    His tale of woe

    God tells me
    Well, it’s like this

    Many a year ago
    People believed in me

    But one day
    They quit believing in me
    And they went on without me

    As they left me
    My powers got weaker and weaker

    And so eventually I became
    What you see today

    A broken down drunk
    Hanging out
    Looking for a hand out

    Looking for some company
    Or at least a free dinner

    And he laughed and laughed
    And I looked at him

    And saw the beginnings of the end
    And the ends of the beginnings

    I saw a million planets
    Flash by
    A billion people

    A trillion sentient beings
    Thinking all at once

    Thoughts filled my head
    Lights flashed

    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
    Profoundly sadden by what I had seen

    God was dead
    And we had all conspired
    To kill him

    Long live God

    The End

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    letter to kamala harris
    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions
    wiki on Joe Biden 2020

    uncle Joe is back

    Joe,

    I am writing to you to offer you my advice for winning the nomination and the Presidency. While I had hoped that you would have decided to retire from politics and let a new generation challenge Donald Trump, I understand why you chose not to do so. But I am afraid that you are about to commit the same fundamental mistake that Hillary Clinton did and in the end will end up retiring after losing to Donald Trump.

    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 49 out of 50 states (minus Alaska) and 45 countries, including two visits to Jamaica.

    My advice, in a nutshell, 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.

    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 destructed so much. 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.

    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.

    GO BOLD OR BE RETIRED

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. You have two strikes against you. First, your age and your experience. Can’t do anything about either but you can run as a can do moderate progressive who knows how to get things done. Then resist the temptation to campaign against Donald. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future.

    Here are my suggested policy proposals.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME!!!!

    I would put forth a series of comprehensive bold future-oriented policies and reiterate them every chance you get. You could call them Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or something along those lines. Maybe

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    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.

    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 grads, 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.

    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.
    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. That is what great nations do, lead the world in embracing change, in embracing the promise of the future. We can do no less.

    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 prefect 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 you and Obama 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.
    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.

    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 Trans Pacific Partnership.

    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 reposted along our borders and serve as adjunct border patrol agents and first responders as part of their mandatory new national service.

    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.

    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 woman

    I think that 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.

    In short,

    Joe,

    GO BOLD OR be forced to retire and go home.

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    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)

    April 2018 poems

    In 2017, I I participated in my first April Month of Poetry poetry challenge. The goal, write one poem per day during the month and post them.  i completed a bit more than 30 and posted them on triferet journal @ http://tiferetjournal.com and on a special community facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/tiferetapril2018poemathon/ .
    I also posted them on All Poetry, https://allpoetry.com/Jake_Aller#t_main and

    https://allpoetry.com/group/14865-National_Poetry_Month_at_Allpoetry

    Poetry Soup  https://www.poetrysoup.com/me/jakecosmos | edit

    I followed up in 2018, also on Triferet journal

    journal @ http://tiferetjournal.com, and on a special community Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/TiferetApril2018Poemathon/

    and All Poetry, and Poetry Soup.

    This year, 2019 I changed focus a bit and wrote them mostly following links in Writers Digest,  https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/2019-april-pad-challenge-day-28

    Creative Talents Unleashed, (add link)

    https://creativetalentsunleashed.com/

    *and Writing.com poetic forms forum. (add link)

    https://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/jcosmos

    as well as posting them daily on all poetry, writers digest and on my blog (which I did not have in 2017 and 2018.

    I tried this year to experiment with more formal verse forms which is one of my creative goals this year.  Writers Digest has a great list, as does All poetry, poetry Soup, Magnum Poetry Opus.  For more info on formal verse forms see

    https://allpoetry.com/

    https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/resources/

    https://www.writersdigestshop.com/writers-digest-guide-to-poetic-forms-ebook?utm_source=writersdigest.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wd-rlb-bl-190329-guidetopoeticforms

    http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/forums/forum/23-explore-the-craft-of-writing-poetry/

    I also added images and audio clips. For 2017, and 2018 I have gone back and revised them slightly adding in images and audio clips.  I intend to turn these poems into my first published book of poetry.

    Comments and feedback greatly appreciated.  I intent to make this an annual creative project and keep going as long as I can.

    Now to the 2018 Poems:

    Index

    • published

    April 01  Thank God For Angela
    April 02, 2018  Angela Haiku
    April 03, 2018  2007 How Much I Despise You
    April 03 Trump’s Wall Against Reason
    April 04  It Has been Done Before
    April 05  Walls Divide Us 
    April 06 Mr. Trump Tear Down this Wall
    < Aril 09 Trump
    April 10 Haiku
    April 11 Hiking in the Spring time Snow
    April 12  Learning I am Part Jewish
    April 13 There is Nothing More to be Said *
    April 14  Hiking the Hills of My Youth Hanibun
    April 15 Living with Pain Hanibun
    April 16  Five Signs of the Apocalypse
    April 17  Emperor Surveys the Eastern Sea
    April 18  The General Unleashes the Kraken
    April 19  Plead to the Computer Gods
    April 20  Number of the Beast 
    April 21  The Neo-Fascists are Let loose
    April 22  Life In Between  *
    April 23  the Light Will Prevail April
    April 24 April 19   Samonka for Angela
    em>April 25  62 Years Young

    April 26  Married Girl of My Dreams *
    April 27  The Darkness Grows
    April 28 It was God’s Will They Say
    April 29  Looking Out My Window
    April 30 In Search of America – Hitching the USA in 1975 

    Audio Clips

    April 1 to April 5

    April 6  to April  10

    April   15 to April 20

    April 20 to April 29

    April 30 Hitchhiking Tales

    April 1

    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 the 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

    April 02 –

     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 land

    As our mad demented senile
    dotard king wannabe
    Struts about the world’s stage
    Ushering America’s inevitable decline

    April 03 –

    Angela Haiku

    Every day I wake up
    To the love of my long life
    And say Thanks to God

    April 04,-

    Trump’s Wall Against Reason

    The President wants to build a wall
    Against the southern hordes
    Another great wall
    To keep the barbarians out

    He wants to build a wall
    Against reason
    Against science
    Against the modern world

    Hiding behind the wall
    On the southern border

    Desperately trying to keep them out
    The unwashed masses
    The undocumented
    The illegals

    Streaming across the border
    Seeking to wreck the pure land

    Murderous hordes
    Rapists, drug dealers
    Coming to take our land over

    As he stands on the border
    Trying to stop the hordes himself

     

    April 05th

    It Has Been Done Before

    Before Trump’s Wall
    There were many other walls

    The Berlin Wall
    The Great Wall
    Hadrian’s Wall

    All the walls

    of the ancient world
    All failed
    To keep the enemies out

    The enemies of freedom
    The enemies of the state
    Still came across the border

    To loot, steal, rape and plunder
    And nothing could stop
    The flood of history

    April 06

    Walls Divide Us

    In Modern America
    We all live in gated communities
    Trying desperately to keep them out

    Out of sight
    Out of mind
    And out of our lives

    And yet we fail
    Fail to accept the others
    Are human beings

    Are our fellow creatures
    As we wall ourselves off
    Into our separate communities

    We lose our humanity
    And we lose ourselves
    As we hide in our walls
    Hide in our bubbles

    April 07

    Mr. Trump

    Please tear down this wall
    Please open up your heart
    Please stop this madness

    We are all Americans
    We are all one people

    And your wall
    Will not stop us
    From becoming one people

    Please tear down this wall
    Please build bridges to the future
    Please open your heart
    And let the love shine through

     

    April 8

    Angela

    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

    April 9

    Trump

    The President of the United States
    Republican Leader of the Free world
    Uber ales nations
    Muttering insanities
    Preposterous Nonsensical tweets

     

     

    April 10th,

    Putin

    Post Modern Leader
    Uniting all the Russians
    Triumphant against all enemies
    Including the Great Satan
    Nevertheless always living in fear

    April 11

    Hiking in the Spring Time Snow

    Talking a walk in the mountains
    In the spring time snow
    Snow falling down all over the trail

    As I wander through the hills
    Breathing the early spring smells
    And seeing the world covered in white magic
    The last remnants of the winter’s touch

    Before the spring time gambol of flowers
    Overwhelms nature once again
    Preparing for the summer’s hellish heat

     

    April 12

    Met My Fate Haiku

    I met my late fate
    In a bar room face one night
    My fate started that date

     

     

    April 13 -,

    Learning I am part Jewish

    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 not heard
    Never again will we live through that pain

     

     

    April 14 –

    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

     

     

    April 15 –

    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 wandering  in 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

     

     

    April 16,-

    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

    April 17th

    Five Signs of the Apocalypse

    One

    Watching the evening news
    Spin forth
    the latest scandals de jour

    The fake news and spin

    The daily propaganda
    And the utter destruction
    of common sense
    And reason

    The thought comes to mind
    Are we living in the end of times
    Is the Apocalypse drawing neigh?

    Two

    The signs of the coming
    of the end times
    Have been endlessly debated

    Among the
    Christian right wing blog sphere
    Ever since Israel was reborn

    Apparently
    triggering the cosmic count down

    “According to Revelation 12, a pregnant woman will be hunted by a satanic seven-headed dragon eager to eat her unborn child. The woman will be clothed with the “sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. The Scripture continues to explain that the “woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”

    But the pending eclipse is
    another astronomical sign
    the end is near
    and that the Rapture is fast approaching.

    ….the image will be created in the sky on Sept. 23. …..Virgo represents the woman

    in Revelations 12 who will be clothed in sunlight.
    She will be in position over the moon
    and under the nine stars and three planets.

    ….More importantly, to trust

    the right God,” he reported to the publication. “If people want to be ready, the one thing you can do is accept what He has offered, which is the gift of grace and forgiveness. That’s all we have to do to be ready.”

    Yet September 23 end
    and the world is still here.
    Are there other signs
    that the end is near?

    All of this

    is speculation as Jesus said He didn’t know the date or hour when the Almighty would close the final chapter on mankind. Scripture clearly states in Mathew 24:36 that no one knows when the end will be. “But of that day and hour, no one

    knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

    Three

    Yet the fear persists in my heart

    As I watch the news
    The days grow darker

    Moment by moment
    The light of reason
    Seems to be replaced

    By famines, rumors of war
    and false prophets galore

    All in according
    to revelations
    the false prophets claim

    Gods plan
    unfolding as we speak

    “Things like wars, earthquakes, famine and technology (implanted microchips in our bodies already have been tested by BioNyfiken in Sweden) all point that we are moving toward Jesus’ return.

    “The prophecy of Daniel 2 alone shows we are in the time of the end and all the other evidence proves we are in the very end times,” the site reported. They

    indicated that the world was going to a 100 percent cashless system and how the “powers of this world are now trying to make cash obsolete, and are actively pushing pure electronic forms of payment, like PayPal and Google Wallet for instance. Take a look at the news and you will see this being reported in different countries of the world.”

    Yes this has occurred already.
    In India they wiped out the 100 rupee note

    in an attempt to go cashless all at once !
    and it failed.

    Yes the signs are all about us
    If only we have eyes to see
    And ears to hear
    And minds to understand

    Four

    “Non-Christians will find it hard to believe we are living in the last days of earth’s history. It’s in the Bible,

    II Peter 3:3-4, TLB.

     

    “First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of, and laugh at the truth. This will be their line of argument: ‘So Jesus promised to come back, did He? Then where is He? He’ll never come! Why, as far back as anyone can remember everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation.’”

    Yes, why has not Jesus come back?

    Is that yet another sign the end is near?
    They all say the coming of the Antichrist

    is a sign of the end.

    “It’s in the Bible, I John 2:18, NKJV. “

    “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”

    What moral conditions will be characteristic of society in the last days? It’s in the Bible, II Timothy

    3:1-5, NIV.

    “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

    And this is so true in the era of Trump
    and the new oligarchs who have taken over

    The swamp monsters have come out
    of the dark slimly corners of America

    Proclaiming
    it is their time to come out
    And openly
    rule the world

    And the bible confirms
    this dire prophecy

    Five

    “Talk of peace and safety are a sign of the last days. It’s in the Bible, I Thessalonians 5:2-3, NIV.

    “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

    The gospel will go to the whole world and the end will come. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 24:14, NIV. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

    Yes, I say on to you

    When talk of peace in the world is upon us
    When the Korean lions lay down their weapons

    And proclaim their new found brotherhood
    Perhaps the end times are finally coming to pass

    “We have seen how seven biblically prophesied circumstances could not have come to pass until recent times. In fact, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 was clearly a major turning point in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, as was the acquisition of the hydrogen bomb by the two superpowers of the 1950s that led to the period of mutually assured destruction.

    All has now become possible. This, in turn, makes it much more likely that our generation will live to see Jesus Christ return and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. After all, Jesus Himself said that once these things begin, the generation alive at that time “will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34).”

    And so, we close
    Where we began

    Fearing
    that the end of the world
    is coming

    How it will end
    is beyond anyone’s guess

    Perhaps
    the zombie apocalypse
    will end civilization

    More likely
    nuclear war
    and nuclear winter
    Will doom us all

    Perhaps a super volcano
    Will blow us all to hell

    Perhaps alien invaders
    will take us over

    Exterminating us
    as we try to do
    to the Native Americans

    Perhaps
    an AI will
    take us over

    Leading us
    To terminator Land

    Perhaps
    the rapture will occur

    And the grim events
    In revelations
    will come to pass

    And perhaps
    nothing will happen

    We will somehow survive
    The end times

    But I am afraid
    That the end times are coming
    Sooner than we think

    And so, the world ends
    Much as it began

    With a big bang
    Or a soft whimper

    God only knows
    And he is silent as usual

    April 18th

    Emperor Surveys the Eastern Sea


    The Emperor of the known world
    Stood out on his balcony
    In the eastern sea palace

    Surveying the wilds of the Eastern Sea
    Wondering who
    or what lived across the sea

    Or if there were lands there
    As rumored by all

    Lands ruled
    by nameless
    bearded ape like men

    The Emperor of all the Lands
    Ruled all the known world

    From the imperial capitol
    He had build in the dessert

    He ruled all he could see
    From the Eastern Shore

    To the wild waste lands
    Beyond the great wall

    The Emperor had fought hard
    Over the years

    To unify the people
    Under one banner

    Fighting against the wild ones
    Of the Western wastes

    And their allies the witches
    Of the inner world

    And yet he was not satisfied
    He knew that

    he would have to lead
    And expedition to the lands
    Beyond the eastern Sea

    And he could rest
    Until he had finally
    Conquered the known universe

    Bringing it
    under imperial control

    That was his destiny
    To rule the known
    and unknow universe

    As foretold by imperial soothsayers
    And the prophetic books of ancient days

     

     

    April 19 –

    The General Unleashes the Kraken

    General Lee
    Stared out at the Eastern Sea

    Wondering what was out there
    On the other end

    But today he had a mission
    He was going to show
    The Emperor

    That his sailors had captured
    The dreaded kraken sea monster
    And had figured out how to ride it

    And they were going
    to release the kraken

    As they put down
    the latest rebellion
    Among the restive folks
    of the Eastern Shore

    Who were resisting
    becoming part of the Empire
    The general ordered
    Release the Kraken

    And the kraken
    A huge sea dragon

    Came out of is dark dungeon
    And two sailors climbed on board

    And the Kraken
    went into the ocean
    And attacked the fishing
    crafts of the villagers

    Killing everyone in a few minutes
    Of frenzied violence

    The kraken came back
    And the sailors
    climbed off its back

    And the kraken attacked them
    Killing them
    in a frenzied act of further violence

    The emperor turned to the general
    Very impressive

    But needs a bit of work don’t you think?

    The kraken looked up at the general
    And screamed out curses

    Saying
    that the kraken

    worked for no man

    And that other kraken would be summoned
    To revenge the attack on the kraken’s honor

    And he leaped up
    Grabbed the general and the Emperor
    And dove into the ocean —

     

     

    April 20, –

    Plead to the Computer Gods

    Today I woke up
    As I usually do

    To yet another mystifying morning
    Of unspecified computer errors

    Could not get the computer to work
    Then when I finally got it to work
    After an half an hour

    Microsoft word did not load
    And when it did

    I finally located my work
    From yesterday

    I had to find it in the roaming file
    Why?

    Who knows?

    Only to find
    That most of what I wrote
    Had vanished into the ether

    No explanation no warning

    It was there saved yesterday
    And now gone for ever

    Once I did an experiment

    Tracking computer errors for a week
    75% of the time I encountered errors

    Most of the time simple
    Screen freezes
    no response message

    Then when I recovered
    the program
    The data was gone

    Microsoft has yet to respond
    to my e-mail

    I suppose I need to do it again

    But today I will close with a prayer
    To the Computer Gods

    Just once I would like
    You to do what you are supposed to do

    Open my documents
    Save my work

    And not give me any errors
    Crashes or other unspecified problems

    Is that too much to ask

    Oh, Computer Gods

    Just once
    Do what you are supposed to do

    That is all I ask of you

     

    April 21

    Number of the Beast

    Behold a vision
    A nightmare

    The legendary beast of revelations
    Comes alive
    Sniffs the air

    Assuming the mantel of leadership
    Turning into the Orange man
    With unnatural hair

    Spewing forth sweet sounding nonsense
    Spraying hate with every word
    Inciting the world into madness

    He continues
    into the halls of power
    Walks down the street
    Unleashing hell on earth

    Soon all know
    the number of the beast

    666

    As he prepares the world
    To accept the anti-Christ

    And all bow down
    To worship their new master

    As he leads the world
    to hell itself

     

     

    April 22nd

    The Neo Fascists are let loose

    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

     

     

    April 23 -,

    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

     

     

    April 25

    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

     

     

    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

     

    April 24

    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 —

    April 26

    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

     

     

    April 27 –

    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

     

     

    April 28,

    It is God’s will they say

    It is God’s will they say
    The neofascists 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

    April 29—

    Looking Out My Window

    Looking out my window
    In Incheon

    What did I see
    The neighboring apartment buildings

    Obscured by the April rains

    And yellow dust of early Spring
    And in the distant the mountains
    Aflame with spring colors

    Beckoning me outdoors
    Looking out my window
    In Oregon

    What did I see
    Green trees

    Silently watching me

    And the cats gamboling along
    Looking at me

    While I look at them
    Each wondering
    what sort of weird creatures

    The other is
    And who
    is the real alien species?

    In Washington DC
    Looking out my window

    What did I see
    I saw the squirrels
    in the trees

    And the peaceful trees
    Of Capitol Hill

    Near the seat of power
    Yet somehow

    I felt It all far away
    In Suburban Virginia

    Looking out the window
    What did I see

    I often looked out my window
    At the trees and the jungle
    In my back yard

    And heard the distant roar
    Of traffic on the busy suburban street
    As people rushed to get to the freeway

    In the early morning hours

    In Madrid Spain
    Looking out the window
    What did I see

    I looked out at
    our Spanish neighborhood
    Seeing the beautiful Madrid ladies

    Walking down the street
    Secretly admiring them from afar

    In Barbados
    Looking out the window

    What did I see
    The monkeys in the trees
    Looking at me

    Contemplating raiding my garden
    As soon as I went away

    In Seoul
    Looking out my window

    What did I see
    The neighborhood

    Alive outside my window
    For so many years

    In Seattle
    Looking out my window
    What did I see

    I saw the ever changing green
    Sea of trees
    that is Seattle’s true color

    The city is so lush and green
    And alive with life’s
    endless possibilities

    In Stockton

    Looking out the window
    What did I see

    The traffic moving
    Through the dense fog
    That often fell upon the city
    Obscuring everything in its embrace

    And growing up in Berkeley
    Looking out my window
    I saw nothing

    But the dirt and trees
    And shrubs
    Of my ancestral home

    And felt nothing
    But loneliness

    And a desire
    To leave my home
    As soon as I grew up

    That is what I see
    When I look out my window
    Even to this day

    I see where I have been
    And wonder where I am going

    As I stare out the window
    Knowing that my life
    Will surely come to an end
    As I stare out at the world

    Waiting waiting waiting
    For my fate to unfold

     

     

    April 30

    In Search of America 1975 – Hitch hiking Tales

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

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

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

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

    I said
    Go ahead
    But I am
    so out of here

    Wondered about Salt Lake City
    Went to a bar
    Found I had to buy my booze
    Next door

    And they would
    mix it for me

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

    I walked about town
    Saw the Mormon Temple

    Finally about 3 pm
    It was time
    to hit the road

    Did not look back
    Ended up in Cody Wyoming
    Got a room shower
    Steak beer
    Using my rapidly
    depleted cash

    Spent 25 dollars
    Money really went far
    Back in those days

    A band of professional
    Communist agitators
    Gave me a ride

    To Des Moines
    Lots of weed, booze
    And politics later
    Got off the road

    Slept outside

    Next day
    A beautiful woman

    Drove me to near Chicago
    In a red mustang

    Might have been
    The girl in the song

    Took it easy
    Digging her vibe

    She invited home
    But was not sure

    If her estranged husband
    Would welcome me

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

    And always regretted
    That I had lost
    My chance that day

    Then on to Chicago
    Several rides later
    Visited friends

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

    And a week later
    I ended in New York City

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

    Always moving
    Always going

    None stop talking
    And lots of free weed

    And beer
    And conversation

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

    A middle age
    creepy looking man
    Picked me up

    In a brand new Cadillac

    He was
    he said
    a dynamite deliverer

    For the Mafia
    Went to various places
    To blow up shit

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

    Looking at me to confirm
    That I was both

    I told him
    that I lived in New York

    And had never been
    to California

    And although
    I might looked Jewish

    As I had
    what was called
    back in the day

    A “Jewfro”

    I was not Jewish

    Many years later I discovered
    That I am indeed part Jewish

    But then I did not know
    And I felt a bit of
    strategic misinformation
    Might keep me alive

    Then I realized
    that he was just
    jiving with me

    And we relaxed
    And he pulled
    out some weed

    And beer
    And we mellowed out

    But I believe
    that he really
    was with the mob

    Perhaps not a dynamite dealer
    A real made Italian
    made mafia member

    By Chicago
    I had enough
    I called my Dad

    Told him what had happened

    Wanted a ticket home
    And he sent me a ticket

    And 500 dollars
    And I went home

    I told him I would tell him
    My tales some day

    But never did

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

    And now it is too late
    But I wanted to finally

    Tell the world

    Of my hitchhiking tales
    In search of America 1975

     

  • 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)

    April 2017 poems

    April 2017 Poem a Thon Poems

    in 2017, i participated in my first April month of poetry challenge.  the goal, write one poem per day during the month and post them.  i completed a bit more than 30 and posted them on Triferet journal @ http://tiferetjournal.com and on a special community Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/tiferetapril2018poemathon/ .
    I also posted them on All Poetry,

    https://allpoetry.com/Jake_Aller#t_main and

    https://allpoetry.com/group/14865-National_Poetry_Month_at_Allpoetry

    Poetry Soup (add link). https://www.poetrysoup.com/me/jakecosmos | edit

    I followed up in 2018, also on Triferet journal

    journal @ http://tiferetjournal.com, and on a special community Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/TiferetApril2018Poemathon/

    and All Poetry, and Poetry Soup.

    This year, 2019 I changed focus a bit and wrote them mostly following links in Writers Digest,  https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/2019-april-pad-challenge-day-28

    Creative Talents Unleashed https://creativetalentsunleashed.com/

    *and Writing.com poetic forms forum. https://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/jcosmos

    as well as posting them daily on all poetry, writers digest and on my blog (which I did not have in 2017 and 2018.

    I tried this year to experiment with more formal verse forms which is one of my creative goals this year.  Writers Digest has a great list, as does All poetry, poetry Soup, Magnum Poetry Opus.  For more info on formal verse forms see

    https://allpoetry.com/

    https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/resources/

    https://www.writersdigestshop.com/writers-digest-guide-to-poetic-forms-ebook?utm_source=writersdigest.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wd-rlb-bl-190329-guidetopoeticforms

    http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/forums/forum/23-explore-the-craft-of-writing-poetry/

    I also added images and audio clips. For 2017, and 2018 I have gone back and revised them slightly adding in images and audio clips.  I intend to turn these poems into my first published book of poetry.

    Comments and feedback greatly appreciated.  I intent to make this an annual creative project and keep going as long as I can.

    Now to the 2017 Poems:

    Index

    1. April 1 Berkeley California
    2. April 2 Lithia Springs
    3. April 3 Walls
    4. April 4 Changes
    5. April 5 Facing Life’s Challenges Together
    6. April 6 Wagontire, Oregon
    7. April 7 Watching Cats Hunt *
    8. April 8 Landlord Blues
    9. April 9 Pane e circus 2017 Redux
    10. April 10 Long Live Emperor Donald the Ist
    11. April 11 3 Am Nightmares
    12. April 12 Zombie Apocalypse
    13. April 13 Spring Doositsu for Angela Poem a Thon
    14. April 14 Love Jones
    15. April 15 Kim Vs. Trump Twitter War
    16. April 16 Why I am not a Christian Easter Thoughts
    17. April 17 Love Haku *
    18. April 18 Coffee Haku *
    19. 18 Spring Time in Oregon
    20. April 19 Cats *
    21. April 20 Secret Agency Man
    22. April 21 COSTCO People Watching
    23. April 22 The Dogs of War are Howling
    24. April 23 Suburban Laundromat
    25. April 24, I Want You Right Now
    26. April 25 The Decline of America
    27. April 27 Life is Wonderful
    28. April 28 Sandwich Choices *
    29. April 29 More Coffee Blues *
    30. April 30 Rambling Man -Where Do I Belong?
    • Published

    Audio Clips

    April 1 to April 5

    April 6 Wagontire

    April 7 to April 12

    April 10 to April 15

    April 17 to April 20

    April 20 to April 30

    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
    The center of my universe

    April 2

    Lithia Springs</strong 

    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

    April 3

    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
    And time takes us

    Back to another world
    Soul mates, together forever

    April 6

    Wagontire, Oregon
    wagontire wiki entry

    1975

    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
    in Washington
    waiting for us

    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

    nothing on the radio
    but country music

    and talk radio
    from KGO in SF

    my father and I bonded
    Learned a lot about his past

    What he liked
    And did not like

    He hated country music
    But loved news radio

    And we talked about politics
    And life in general

    Just a father and son
    Enjoying a rare

    Father son
    Bonding moment

    We usually did not
    get each other

    I inherited too much
    Of my Mother’s
    wild Irish personality

    To suite his dour Norwegian
    Germanic personality

    Then we saw the sign

    Wagontire Oregon

    100 miles ahead
    Burma shave

    We counted down the signs
    Miles after miles
    As we drove
    into the gathering dusk

    along with the wagon tire
    countdown

    were other signs
    last gas for x miles

    and the Burma Shave
    road side signs

    with their classic
    cowboy poetry
    slogans

    which in 1975
    were already

    becoming
    a thing of the past

    had not seen those
    since this road trip

    but on this road
    they still had them

    every mile
    Burma Shave signs

    We speculated
    that Wagontire

    Must be a giant truck stop
    In the middle of no where

    And we drove on
    Counting down the signs

    Listening to dreadful country music
    And endless political news

    Wagontire 100 miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 99 miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 98 miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 97 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 96 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 95 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 94 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 93 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 92 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 91 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagon tire
    Last gas 90 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagon tire 89 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 88 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 87 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 88 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 87 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 86 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 85 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

    Wagontire 84 Miles ahead
    Burma Shave

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    Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon

    Population 2 ½ humans 10 dogs, 50.000 sheep

    We pulled into the town
    Nothing there
    but a gas station
    Motel and café

    We decided to stop
    Last gas for 200 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 two hundred miles

    Until the next town
    John Day I believe

    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

    first time for her
    in Eastern Oregon
    Idaho, Montana
    Wyoming and many other states

    last time I had visited
    was during my epic road trip
    with my father
    summer of 1975

    10,000 miles
    31 states

    in three months
    to celebrate my retirement

    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

    and the Burma shave signs
    long ago

    faded into lost
    Americana

    On the radio
    Nothing but country

    Right wing talk shows
    And Christian radio

    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

    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 8

    Landlord Blues

    I am a landlord
    Owner of property

    Here there
    and elsewhere

    Have been for years
    Since 1989

    When I bought my first duplex
    I have tenants

    and tenant
    issues galore

    I receive rent from the tenants
    it seems money grows
    on the proverbial tree

    but at times
    from time to time
    I hate being a landlord

    I suppose in my heart
    I am a socialist
    with a blending heart

    But my wife
    is comfortable
    as a landlord

    She calls me a hypocrite
    And a wild romantic goat

    Born under the sign of the goat
    And I call her a capitalist pig

    Born
    under the sign of the golden pig

    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 Emperor

    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
    renamed New Rome
    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

    April 11 3 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 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

    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

    April 15 Kim Vs. Trump Twitter War –

    in memorial of Kim Il Sung’s the Great Leader’s Birthday

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves from a balcony of the Grand People’s Study House following a mass parade marking the end of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang on May 10, 2016.
    North Korea kicked off a massive parade in the centre of Pyongyang on May 10 to celebrate a just-concluded ruling party congress that was seen as a formal coronation for supreme leader Kim Jong-Un. / AFP / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

     

    President Kim, it is time that we cut the shit and cut a deal #Real Trump

     

    President Trump, it is impossible for us to cut a deal unless you agree to me keeping nukes # Kim Jong-un the Great

    President Kim, you know that if I want I can just make you disappear.  You can be wiped off the earth in a moment.  We know where you live #real Trump

    President Trump, we have a nuke with your name on it on a boat sailing up the Potomac and it will blow your ass up any day now so don’t fuck with us. #Kim Jong-un the Great

    Kim, your stupid Asian gook.  Let me break it down for yah You threaten the US you die and all the North Koreans go to hell. Is it worth it? #real Trump.

    Trump, you are so stupid. You are the worst excuse for a human being ever $ Kim Jong-un the Great

    Kim, you are the stupid mother fucker. I mean what’s up with that idiot haircut of yours?  $real Trump

    Trump, I would not talk about hair, your orange haired mutant mother fucker.  #Kim Jong-un the Great

    Kim, it is all real baby and so are my wife’s boobs… #real Trump

    Trump, let’s cut the crap and get down to business.  How much will you pay us to get rid of the nukes?  #kimJongun the Great

    Kim, lets meet manor a mano and get it out on the table.  No nukes no chems no bioweapons and no more political prisoners to start with #realTrump

    Trump, we can discuss. If I can stay in power the rest is negotiable #Kim Jong un the great

    Finally, the two of you are talking sense. About time #Xi the President of China

    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 each other
    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

    April 18

    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

    April 19

    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

    April 20

    Secret Agent Man

    Secret agent man
    Where are you going?

    What do you know?
    And when did you know it?

    What dark secrets do you hide
    In your inner soul?

    Do you even have a soul anymore?
    Or has it been so compromised
    That there is nothing left?

    But lies, within lies with lies
    Do you even know the truth?
    Does the truth set you free?

    Or is the truth just another lie?
    That you tell yourself

    I’d like to know
    My secret agent man

    Perhaps someday you well tell me
    Your deepest darkest secrets

    And reveal what the government is hiding
    But perhaps I can’t handle the truth

    So, keep you secrets to yourself
    And let them die with you

    As you go to your grave
    Your secrets buried deep within
    Your corrupted soul

    Until the end of time
    Reveals all

    April 21

    COSTCO People Watching


    I love my COSTCO
    I love going there to shop
    But most importantly

    I love people watching
    Looking at people as they walk by
    Wondering what their stories are

    And covertly checking out
    the beautiful girls
    As they walk on by

    And when they smile at me
    It makes my day

    Yes, I love my COSTCO
    And COSTCO Loves Me back

    Extracting my money
    From my wallet

    I go in for one simple thing
    And walk out
    having spent 500 dollars

    Yes, COSTCO has my number
    And loves me too
    Long Live COSTCO

    April 22

    The Dogs of War are 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

    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

    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

    April 23

    Suburban Laundromat – thanks to Don Teeter for the inspiration from a FB posting

    Suburban Laundromat Scenes

    Suburban laundromat
    Anywhere USA

    I often go to a suburban laundromat
    Near my suburban apartment

    I can sit in my car
    Listen to jazz, classical or blues
    On my car’s radio

    And watch my machine
    Doing its suburban laundry duty

    Just spinning and spinning and cleaning
    Doing its thing its laundry thing

    The neighborhood is anywhere USA
    Strip malls, apartment houses, townhouses

    A fire station, a police station
    Banks, cell phone shops
    Restaurants from around the world

    At the parking lot’s edge
    As I approach I notice

    Gentlemen of the off-grid class
    Sitting among their Hogs
    Stoned off the semi legal weed

    Smiling at me
    With an I don’t give a fuck attitude

    That is somewhat contagious
    They tell stories

    Paranoid ramblings
    Containing a kernel of truth

    As they watch their clothes
    Like a hawk

    The clothes spin and spin and spin
    As the laundry machine does its laundry thing

    The machines don’t care about what we humans think
    They just do their duty as the man says

    Across the old run-down boulevard
    The light rail line uses a right of way

    That dates to the mid 1850’s
    An old Indian game trail perhaps
    That the white man turned into the first road
    In these parts

    People come and go
    Some in cars

    Some on foot
    People from all over the world
    Speaking languages from everywhere

    But all understand English to some extent
    And many understand Spanish to some extent

    I feel everyone is united
    Chiefly by their transience

    And think back on old Latin saying
    Sic transit Gloria mundi
    And wonder if these are the end days

    And ask the laundry machine
    What does it think

    The laundry machine pauses
    Seems to think
    And looks at me

    Almost saying
    WTF do you think
    A laundry machine knows?

    And so, I gather my items
    Nod to the regulars

    Who interrupt their endless paranoid arguments
    Acknowledging my existence

    And I stumble back
    To my suburban apartment
    Truly paradise on earth

    April 24,

    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

    April 25

    The Decline of America

    You see it everywhere
    The unmistakable signs

    That the decline of America
    Is in full swing

    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 interstate highway system
    Is falling apart day by day

    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

    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

    Will we be one country
    Or will we erupt into a civil war

    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

    A fight for the future of our country
    And so, it goes
    The decline of empires

    And I pray
    That I may survive
    The end of times

    April 27

    Life is Wonderful

    This morning I woke up
    Always a good thing
    At age 61

    I looked out my window
    And saw a bright blue sky

    Nice Spring time weather
    Not a frown in the sky
    Not a cloud to hide
    The bright late April Sun

    I looked over
    And saw her there

    As always
    The nighttime anxieties fade away

    And I realize once again
    Everything will be okay

    If she is with me
    And I said to myself
    What a wonderful day

    April 28

    Sandwich Choices


    There are so many choices to be had
    When ordering a sandwich

    What kind of bread

    What kind of meat or any meat
    What kind of cheese or any cheese

    Whether to have sprouts or not
    Whether to have a pickle or not

    Whether to go with a classic peanut butter
    And something sandwich

    I loved peanut butter sandwiches
    As a kid

    Peanut butter and sweat pickles were my favorite
    Peanut butter and banana is good also
    Peanut butter and strawberry jam
    What a delightful memory

    My current favorite

    Is a BLT with sprouts, avocado, and kosher dill pickles?
    Heirloom red tomatoes one slice per each half
    Avocado one half per each half
    One half pickle on each half
    Bacon cooked just right – well done but not black
    Sprouts and lettuce just right
    Timamook Yellow smoked cheder cheese
    On each half
    On Gluten Free bread
    with chipotle mayo
    And Dijon mustard
    Cut in half

    Truly a sandwich made in heaven

    And bacon makes everything
    Taste so damn nice

    And God if you are reading this poem
    You had better prepare them for me
    Or Heaven will not be worth it

    Does Satan serve BLT sandwiches
    I wonder

    Probably not
    Probably you become the bacon
    In his hell sandwiches

    April 29

    More Coffee Blues

    One morning as I drank my fake coffee
    I needed to go out
    and get a cup of real coffee

    The fake coffee just did not do the trick
    It tasted almost like the real thing

    But just did not have that kick
    And I needed it bad

    I needed the real coffee buzz
    I realized that I was a coffee addict
    I tried to just drink decafe

    But was boring
    And almost as bad as the fake coffee
    That I drank

    Caffeine was bad for me
    I knew it

    But I craved the rush
    Craved the intense buzz
    Craved the hyperactivity

    Kept me all day
    And caused me nightmares
    Sometimes for days on end

    I knew I could not handle it
    But like all addicts

    I needed my coffee buzz
    And so, I once more

    Drank my drug of choice
    And entered the coffee zone

    As I fried my brain
    With caffeine

    The last legal drug
    In neo-puritan America

    And I smiled as I gave in
    To the intoxicating smell
    And flavor of my coffee
    And surrender my free will

    And drank my coffee
    Waiting for the nightmares to come

    April 30

    Rambling Man -Where Do I Belong?

    I have been a rambling man
    All my adult life

    Grew up in Berkeley, California
    Went to College in Hayward and Oberlin
    During my lost year
    Lost in a fog of booze and pot
    Then I came back to reality

    And went to college
    In Stockton, California

    The central Valley
    Ohio transplanted to California

    Then after four years in Stockton
    With extended weekends
    and breaks in Berkeley

    I became an expatriate wanderer
    Peace Corps worker in Korea
    Then taught ESL in Korea
    For four years

    Occasionally returning to my home
    But always wanting to be elsewhere

    Then back to Korea
    And then Seattle for four years

    Driving back and forth to the bay area
    Stopping off in Southern Oregon

    Eventually bought a house and duplex
    In Southern Oregon

    Vaguely thinking we would retire there
    Some day when my rambling ways were over
    Then back to Korea for three more years

    Then I joined the Foreign service
    And my wife the military

    And I wandered the world again
    Always somewhere
    Always dreaming of my next somewhere
    Never there
    As I was a permanent expat

    And a diplomat to boot
    Never a local

    But never really felt I belong there
    Or in the America

    That was becoming more and more
    A foreign land

    The longer I stayed away
    I stayed on in DC for almost ten years

    Off and on
    But never really felt
    that I belong there

    I was too West Coast in my heart
    And DC seemed to be
    Just a place to stay
    In between travels

    Stayed in Thailand
    Then later India
    And Eastern Caribbean
    And later Spain

    Traveled to 45 countries
    Lived in ten

    And now I am retired
    Still torn between

    living the expat life
    In Seoul, Korea

    And returning to the West Coast
    And occasionally back to DC
    and Florida as well

    And I wonder
    Where do I belong

    Where do I belong

    Other than wherever
    My wife and I end up

    Neither here nor there
    Half way there

    And so is that my fate
    Never to really belong

    Never to have roots in the ground
    Always wanting to be somewhere else

    Always a stranger in my native land
    And a stranger in my other home
    Across the sea

    There is no answer to these questions
    As the rambling urge comes again
    And I prepare to move yet again
    Hoping someday I will be

    Somewhere where I can stop
    These rambling blues

    And really be there

    The End

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Go Bold or Go Home

    kamala harris

    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions

    Dear Kamala,

    I am writing to you to offer you my advice for winning the nomination and the Presidency.  I believe you have the potential to be our next President and I hope you take this advice to heart.  I would love to discuss it with you or your staff at an appropriate time.

    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 49 out of 50 states (minus Alaska) and 45 countries, including two visits to Jamaica.

    My advice, in a nutshell, is to make this a generational change election like in 1960, and in 2008.  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 I would also call upon Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren to retire from the field and let the next generation battle it out to become the nominee.

    You are the product of the 21st Century and proud of it. Embrace your multicultural roots and embrace the wonderful diversity of your home town Oakland.  Embrace Californian values as American values for the 21st century.

    Then regarding policy proposals

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME!!!!

    I would put forth a series of comprehensive bold future-oriented policies and reiterate them every chance you get.   You could call them

    Kamala’s Plan for the Future of America, or something along those lines.

    Maybe

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    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.

    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 grads, 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.

    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.

    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. That is what great nations do, lead the world in embracing change, in embracing the promise of the future. We can do no less.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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 Trans Pacific Partnership.

    Offer a New Deal to North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela  

    We will continue to negotiate with the North Koreans, offering them a way towards reunification with South Korea and rejoining the world economic community.

    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 reposted along our borders and serve as adjunct border patrol agents and first responders as part of their mandatory new national service.

    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.

    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.

    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

    call on Trump to retire to Florida to play golf

    regarding how to deal with Trump, gentle mockery is in order.  it drives him crazy.  just respond,

    “there he goes again”.  or, “time to retire, Old man.”  “I hear that golfing is fun once you are retired.”

    For VP Pick a Man

    To get elected you need to appeal to men as well as women and to appeal to white people as well as minorities.  So, for your VP pick, I’d be a bit cautious and go with a white man, perhaps a Hispanic man.  I’d pick a governor from the Midwest. Perhaps the governor of Colorado?   Picking Mayor Pete would be a bold move.

    I think that you get my point by now. Be bold, inventive, optimistic, full of hope and energy and you will prevail.

    Stay away from the professionals. Don’t play it safe. Be real, in your face, and authentic East Bay. Groove to Tower of Power on the campaign trail!  Keep it real, my dear.  100 percent real you.

    More Soul Power for You!

    Be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused and you will lose.  In short,

    Kamala, GO BOLD OR GO HOME.

    Sincerely

    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com

    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)

    Cosmos’s 2025 Predictions

     

    I have been thinking about the future of the world recently.  I read a lot of articles on Open Culture summing up the predictions of the future written by various SF writers.  Hence this blog posting.  I’ve included those comments below with my own comments afterwards.


    Making American Sports Great Again

    Reflections on the Passing of the Years

    In  1945 when the Far East Asia Review was launched in Hong Kong they commissioned a study to predict how Asia would look like in 50 years in 1985.  In 1985 they reprinted that article. I wished I had saved it. But I recall the basic conclusionTon 1985 the most important countries in Asia would be

    top five countries in Asia in 1985 according to FEER in 1945

    Burma,

    the Philippines,

    India,

    Indonesia

    Malaysia.

    If any one reading this has access to the original article, I’d greatly appreciate receiving a copy.  Send me a FB message or leave a comment on the blog….

    UN list of top economies in Asia in 1950

    Japan

    Philippines

    Taiwan

    South Korea

    Indonesia

    China

    Pakistan

    India

    Bangladesh

    Burma

    Comment:  this is an anachronist entry  Bangladesh did not exist when the original report was written.

    the source is an historical look back at the rankings of economies in 1950 according to UN Statistics from 1950,  but edited with today’s spelling etc added in.

    Curiously Singapore is not listed although one could just as easily make a case it should have been included if Bangladesh was included.   Hong Kong is also not listed separately.

    South Korea was highly ranked but according to conventional wisdom at the time South Korea was considered a hopeless basket case heavily subsidized by the U.S.

    1950 rankings

    The World’s Top 10 Largest Economies in 2019
    • United States. Despite facing challenges at the domestic level along with a rapidly transforming global landscape, the U.S. economy is still the largest in the world with a nominal GDP forecast to exceed USD 21 trillion in 2019. …
    • China. …
    • Japan. …
    • Germany. …
    • United Kingdom. …
    • India. …
    • France. …
    • Italy.

    top economies in Asia in 2019

    u tube top ten asian economies in 2019

    China

    Japan

    India

    South Korea

    Russia

    Taiwan

    Indonesia

     

     

    Thailand

    Hong Kong

    Malaysia

    Singapore

     

    Philippines

    Bangladesh

     

    Vietnam

     

    China would not be economic power house it is now and would not be communist country. Korea would be unified as would Vietnam.  Japan would not be the second largest economy in the region.  There would be no US troops in Korea, or Japan. The Korea war and the Vietnam war would not have occurred.

    They missed the growth of the internet; the rise of consumer electronics and automobiles as major export products and they missed the rise of the East Asia tigers.

    They felt that Asia would be a marginal factor in the world economy except for India, the Philippines and Burma.

    They did for see the independence of India, but thought that Pakistan would be part of an unified India.  They missed completely the Chinese revolution and the rise of Taiwan.

    They also foresaw the decolonization of Asia.

    Most missed the rapid immigration of Asians to the US, and Canada.

    The editors concluded that they got about 20 percent of it accurate.   they asked the original writers left to comment on what they were thinking, and how they got it so wrong.

    With that sobering statistic in mind let’s turn to my predictions first, then look at the CIA predictions and finish with looking at what famous SF writers had to say.

    But before I get to their comments,  I’d like to offer my own predictions for the year 2025.

    Here there are my predictions for 2025.

    And I hope to revisit this in 2025 to see how accurate I was.

    I would like to see other predictions. Send them to me and I will revise this list accordingly.  let’s have an interactive conversation.  what do you think?  agree, disagree? have other predictions?  Send them to me, please and share them with my readers…

    Korea is reunified, US troops return home except for marine security guards.

    Climate Change is Out of Control but US finally gets serious

    40 percent of energy produced worldwide is produced with renewables.  And that figure is rapidly increasing as both markets and governments finally begin to convert to a green energy economy. The West Coast is almost 100 percent there, and Kansas of all places is also close due to wind power.  Appalachia is lagging behind but King Coal is no longer King in Appalachia or Wyoming.  Cost of coal mining has just become too much.

    Japan becomes the fifth economic power in the world down from number 2

    China becomes the world’s largest economy, with India number 2 and the U.S. number 3.  Germany is number 4 and the UK is number 5.

    the rest of the top ten are Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Mexico, and Italy.

      As an independent country California is number 4.  the West Coast Federation is number 3.  Texas is number 8. 

    The EU after Brexit is disbanded.  A new European community called the European community emerges as a common market but with no central authority and no common currency.  The UK reluctantly re-joins the European community as does Canada.

    Democrats sweep the 2020 elections – with a woman President and an Hispanic VP.  The house and Senate are under Democratic control, and half the States as well, the democrats are reelected in 2024 but loose the Senate. .

    Trump leaves office but only after considerable pressure as he and his supporters refuse to concede the election until December.

    The corrosive impact of Trumpism continues unabated. Trump and the Republicans vow to resist the incoming Democrats who they accuse of being dangerous socialists.  40 percent of the public believe that to the true, 60 percent are ready for the Democrats to restore democratic norms and reverse the worst Trumpian policies.  Trump becomes head of Fox News and remains influential in Republican circles.

    A new epidemic of super bugs breaks out killing millions of people around the world

    There is a nuclear terrorist incident in the U.S and in Europe

    ISIS continues to cause global problems

    right wing nationalist terror attacks are also common

    bombings become common in the US.  Why that has not occurred is beyond me. Coordinated attacks on shopping malls and churches become increasingly common with gun men mowing down survivors and first responders.

    gun violence continues but at much reduced rate as finally some gun laws are enacted including banning people on the no fly list from buying guns and universal background checks coupled with a week off cooling off period, and a yearly limit of ten guns per person.   California and other West Coast states now require a license to buy a gun.  The license is run by the hunting and fishing license division not the DMV.  the requirement to buy a gun include a clean record, no domestic violence history, passing a gun law test, demonstrating that one can fire the gun, and a simple statement as to why one wants to buy a gun.  and one has to buy personal liability insurance that covers you in case your gun is used in commission of a crime.  one can only be turned down if one fails the background check.  the essay is more to understand why people are buying guns but will only play a role in a denial if some one threatens to kill someone in the essay.

    The national security state continues to grow in power and strength

    There are 20 new states.    DC, PR, VI, Guam, and to appease Republicans, Illinois is split into Chicago, (with its suburbs) and Southern Illinois, New York split into NYC (with all the suburban areas) and New York State, and California is split into six new States,  Jefferson (NE California, eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington), Northwestern California, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco, Monterrey and the Central Coast, Los Angeles, San Diego which includes TJ, and the Inland Empire, the Indian nations receive state hood as well.

    There are Four new regional governments that emerge.

    One is the West Coast Alliance, and the Other is the East Coast Alliance.  Both came about in resistance to Trump and to solidify democratic votes. They are federations and the leaders are demanding a constitutional convention.  These two federations also contain Canadian provinces and Mexican provinces.

    Texas declares itself to be a new federation and like the other three will stay in the US pending a constitutional convention.

    The Southeast Alliance revives the old confederacy.

    Civil war was narrowly avoided in the U.S. after the 2020 election, and the emergence of the four regional governments.

    Resolving this conflict is the biggest issue in the 2022 midterms and the 2024 elections.

    The constitutional convention is set for July 2025.

    Mandatory public service has been established and all young people serve three years. In return they receive 4 years of free tuition.

    Most US Troops have been returned and are stationed along the Southern Border where the troops serve as adjunct border patrol agents and first responders for natural disasters.

    Marijuana is legal in all states. Cocaine is legal in 25 states.  Other drugs remain illegal.

    Prostitution is legal in 25 states; trafficking is illegal everywhere .

    Abortion is illegal is 30 states after the Supreme Court abolished Roe V Wade

    Homosexuality is illegal in 30 states after the Supreme Court reverse earlier court cases.

    Same sex marriage is illegal again in 30 states after the Supreme Court reverses earlier court cases.

    Finally, there is a new sexual revolution that for the first time reveals that close to half of sexually active adults are now bisexual and oral sex is the number one sexual position. Demands to recognize plural marriages grow, as the west coast and east coast alliances recognize plural group marriages.

     A New norm has appeared called the California consensus.  It requires affirmative of sexual activity before commencing, woman take the lead in initiating sexual activity and either party can terminate consent by saying Stop at any point.  As a result of this change sexual harassment and sexual complaints become very rare.

    The Pope ends celibacy for priests, and nuns and gets married.  He also allows nuns to be ordained as priests, cardinals and bishops.

    Buddhist orders also end celibacy rules.

    a new implant connecting people to the internet becomes the latest rage

    driverless vehicles become common – DUI becomes very rare,  alcohol and drug uses increase 

    contraceptive implants become widespread

    First lunar colony launched

    first contact with another civilization rocks the world

    CIA  Predictions mostly On the Money

    Now let’s look at the CIA predictions, shall we? As part of their global trends the CIA has been putting out assessments every couple of years.

     And they constantly go back and revisit them to see what they have gotten right and what they have gotten wrong.  I sat in on a panel discussion once with people from the agency where they discussed these global trend analyses. Fascinating stuff. The CIA has also hired thriller writers to participate in these threat analyses and many of the most famous thriller writers have been CIA consultants but they are forbidden from discussing their role with the CIA.  If the CIA is listening in, contact me I’d love to participate!

    Overall I think they get most of it right.  I think though that they are downplaying the risks of climate change which threatens the entire world political economy and should have been addressed in much more detail.  Otherwise it seems that they spot on.

    Executive Summary

    Introduction: A Transformed World More Change than Continuity

    Alternative Futures 1 3 3

    Chapter 1: The Globalizing Economy Back to the Future

    Growing Middle Class

    State Capitalism: A Post-Democratic Marketplace Rising in the East?

    Bumpy Ride in Correcting Current Global Imbalances

    Multiple Financial Nodes

    Diverging Development Models, but for How Long?

    Chapter 2: The Demographics of Discord Populations Growing, Declining, and Diversifying—at the Same Time

    The Pensioner Boom: Challenges of Aging Populations Persistent Youth Bulges

    Changing Places: Migration, Urbanization, and Ethnic Shifts Demographic Portraits:

    Russia, China, India, and Iran

    Chapter 3: The New Players Rising Heavyweights: China and India

    Other Key Players Up-and-Coming Powers

    Global Scenario I: A World Without the West

    Chapter 4: Scarcity in the Midst of Plenty?

    The Dawning of a Post-Petroleum Age?

    The Geopolitics of Energy Water, Food, and Climate Change

    Global Scenario II: October Surprise

    Chapter 5: Growing Potential for Conflict A Shrinking Arc of Instability by 2025?

    Growing Risk of a Nuclear Arms Race in the Middle East

    New Conflicts Over Resources?

    Terrorism: Good and Bad News

    Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq: Local Trajectories and Outside Interests

    Global Scenario III: BRICs’ Bust-Up

    Chapter 6: Will the International System Be Up to the Challenges?

    Multipolarity without Multilateralism How Many International Systems?

    A World of Networks

    Global Scenario IV: Politics is Not Always Local

    Chapter 7: Power-sharing in a Multipolar World

    Demand for US Leadership Likely to Remain Strong,

    Capacities Will Shrink

    New Relationships and Recalibrated Old Partnerships

    Less Financial Margin of Error

    More Limited Military Superiority

    Surprises and Unintended Consequences

    Leadership Will Be Key

    Executive Summary The international system—as constructed following the Second World War—will be almost unrecognizable by 2025 owing to the rise of emerging powers, a globalizing economy, an historic transfer of relative wealth and economic power from West to East, and the growing influence of nonstate actors.

    By 2025, the international system will be a global multipolar one with gaps in national power2 continuing to narrow between developed and developing countries. Concurrent with the shift in power among nation-states, the relative power of various nonstate actors—including businesses, tribes, religious organizations, and criminal networks—is increasing. The players are changing, but so too are the scope and breadth of transnational issues important for continued global prosperity.

    Aging populations in the developed world; growing energy, food, and water constraints; and worries about climate change will limit and diminish what will still be an historically unprecedented age of prosperity.

    Comment:  my biggest critique is the downplaying of Climate Change.  I believe that Climate change will by 2025 be one of the key driving factors in world politics due to the extreme weather patterns that emerge throughout the world.  Two to three Katrina like storms per year becomes the new norm and the Siberian express  in the shorter but much more intense and colder winters become the norm as well.

    Historically, emerging multipolar systems have been more unstable than bipolar or unipolar ones. Despite the recent financial volatility—which could end up accelerating many ongoing trends—we do not believe that we are headed toward a complete breakdown of the international system, as occurred in 1914-1918 when an earlier phase of globalization came to a halt.

    However, the next 20 years of transition to a new system are fraught with risks. Strategic rivalries are most likely to revolve around trade, investments, and technological innovation and acquisition, but we cannot rule out a 19th century-like scenario of arms races, territorial expansion, and military rivalries. This is a story with no clear outcome, as illustrated by a series of vignettes we use to map out divergent futures.

    Although the United States is likely to remain the single most powerful actor, the United States’ relative strength—even in the military realm—will decline and US leverage will become more constrained. At the same time, the extent to which other actors—both state and nonstate—will be willing or able to shoulder increased burdens is unclear. Policymakers and publics will have to cope with a growing demand for multilateral cooperation when the international system will be stressed by the incomplete transition from the old to a still-forming new order.

    Comment:  The U.S. will clearly be number 2 or 3 economically by then.  and number 5 in population. Still the most advance military in the world but with a much reduced global foot print. Instead of stationing troops overseas for extended deployments, most  troops will rotate as a unit for a six month deployment overseas during a three year military service.  Many troops will opt for a second tour  including an a second overseas deployment so that they can go through graduate school on the government dime. end comment

    Economic Growth Fueling Rise of Emerging Players In terms of size, speed, and directional flow, the transfer of global wealth and economic power now under way—roughly from West to East—is without precedent in modern history. This shift derives from two sources. First, increases in oil and commodity prices have generated windfall profits for the Gulf states and Russia. Second, lower costs combined with government policies have shifted the locus of manufacturing and some service industries to Asia.

    Growth projections for Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRICs) indicate they will collectively match the original G-7’s share of global GDP by 2040-2050. China is poised to have more impact on the world over the next 20 years than any other country. If current trends persist, by 2025 China will have the world’s second largest economy and will be a leading 2 National power scores, computed by the International Futures computer model, are the product of an index combining the weighted factors of GDP, defense spending, population, and technology. vii military power. It also could be the largest importer of natural resources and the biggest polluter. India probably will continue to enjoy relatively rapid economic growth and will strive for a multipolar world in which New Delhi is one of the poles.

    China and India must decide the extent to which they are willing and capable of playing increasing global roles and how each will relate to the other. Russia has the potential to be richer, more powerful, and more self-assured in 2025 if it invests in human capital, expands and diversifies its economy, and integrates with global markets.

    On the other hand, Russia could experience a significant decline if it fails to take these steps and oil and gas prices remain in the $50-70 per barrel range. No other countries are projected to rise to the level of China, India, or Russia, and none is likely to match their individual global clout.

    We expect, however, to see the political and economic power of other countries—such as Indonesia, Iran, and Turkey—increase. For the most part, China, India, and Russia are not following the Western liberal model for self-development but instead are using a different model, “state capitalism.”

    my prediction top 20 countries economically in 2025

    China
    India
    US
    Germany
    Japan
    UK
    France
    Italy
    Unified Korea
    Brazil
    Russia
    Mexico
    South Africa
    Saudi Arabia
    Vietnam
    Thailand
    Indonesia
    Nigeria
    Canada
    Australia

    State capitalism is a loose term used to describe a system of economic management that gives a prominent role to the state.

    Comment:  Glad that the writers recognized the obvious, many countries are following a different economic model as the old Washington consensus neo-economic models fall out of favor.  They got this right I think… I never accepted that there are universal economic laws that govern all countries regardless of history and culture.   I also believed that East Asian Capitalism is different from Anglo American capitalism, and European capitalism, and some what similar to Russian Capitalism.

    the basis of East Asian capitalism is a sort of fascist system where corporations and governments work hand in hand to achieve economic and political goals designed to further the economic and political wealth of the country with the government being the senior partner.

    So many American writers looking at East Asia write utter nonsense about the so called economic freedom of the societies.  The reality is anything but ….  the big companies dominate the economy, work with the government, and smaller companies and foreign invested companies are screwed over all the time.

    End comment

    Other rising powers—South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore—also used state capitalism to develop their economies. However, the impact of Russia, and particularly China, following this path is potentially much greater owing to their size and approach to “democratization.” We remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for greater democratization, even though advances are likely to be slow and globalization is subjecting many recently democratized countries to increasing social and economic pressures with the potential to undermine liberal institutions.

    Many other countries will fall further behind economically. Sub-Saharan Africa will remain the region most vulnerable to economic disruption, population stresses, civil conflict, and political instability. Despite increased global demand for commodities for which Sub-Saharan Africa will be a major supplier, local populations are unlikely to experience significant economic gain. Windfall profits arising from sustained increases in commodity prices might further entrench corrupt or otherwise ill-equipped governments in several regions, diminishing the prospects for democratic and market-based reforms.

    Although many of Latin America’s major countries will have become middle income powers by 2025, others, particularly those such as Venezuela and Bolivia that have embraced populist policies for a protracted period, will lag behind—and some, such as Haiti, will have become even poorer and less governable.

    Overall, Latin America will continue to lag behind Asia and other fast-growing areas in terms of economic competitiveness. Asia, Africa, and Latin America will account for virtually all population growth over the next 20 years; less than 3 percent of the growth will occur in the West. Europe and Japan will continue to far outdistance the emerging powers of China and India in per capita wealth, but they will struggle to maintain robust growth rates because the size of their working-age populations will decrease. The US will be a partial exception to the aging of populations in the developed world because it will experience higher birth rates and more immigration.

    The number of migrants seeking to move from disadvantaged to relatively privileged countries is likely to increase. viii the number of countries with youthful age structures in the current “arc of instability” is projected to decline by as much as 40 percent. Three of every four youth-bulge countries that remain will be located in Sub-Saharan Africa; nearly all of the remainder will be located in the core of the Middle East, scattered through southern and central Asia, and in the Pacific Islands.

    New Transnational Agenda Resource issues will gain prominence on the international agenda. Unprecedented global economic growth—positive in so many other regards—will continue to put pressure on a number of highly strategic resources, including energy, food, and water, and demand is projected to outstrip easily available supplies over the next decade or so. For example, non-OPEC liquid hydrocarbon production—crude oil, natural gas liquids, and unconventional such as tar sands— will not grow commensurate with demand. Oil and gas production of many traditional energy producers already is declining.

    Comment:  They are missing the rapid growth of renewable energy everywhere and leapfrogging  of technology in many countries as for example countries by pass land lines and go to 5 G (7 G by 2025). End Comment

    Elsewhere—in China, India, and Mexico—production has flattened. Countries capable of significantly expanding production will dwindle; oil and gas production will be concentrated in unstable areas. As a result of this and other factors, the world will be in the midst of a fundamental energy transition away from oil toward natural gas, coal and other alternatives.

    comment: at least they acknowledge the transition is happening. End comment

    The World Bank estimates that demand for food will rise by 50 percent by 2030, as a result of growing world population, rising affluence, and the shift to Western dietary preferences by a larger middle class. Lack of access to stable supplies of water is reaching critical proportions, particularly for agricultural purposes, and the problem will worsen because of rapid urbanization worldwide and the roughly 1.2 billion persons to be added over the next 20 years.

    Comment:  world population is slowing and our predictions are way out of date. End comment

    Today, experts consider 21 countries, with a combined population of about 600 million, to be either cropland or freshwater scarce. Owing to continuing population growth, 36 countries, with about 1.4 billion people, are projected to fall into this category by 2025. Climate change is expected to exacerbate resource scarcities. Although the impact of climate change will vary by region, a number of regions will begin to suffer harmful effects, particularly water scarcity and loss of agricultural production. Regional differences in agricultural production are likely to become more pronounced over time with declines disproportionately concentrated in developing countries, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural losses are expected to mount with substantial impacts forecast by most economists by late this century.

    For many developing countries, decreased agricultural output will be devastating because agriculture accounts for a large share of their economies and many of their citizens live close to subsistence levels. New technologies could again provide solutions, such as viable alternatives to fossil fuels or means to overcome food and water constraints. However, all current technologies are inadequate for replacing the traditional energy architecture on the scale needed, and new energy technologies probably will not be commercially viable and widespread by 2025. The pace of technological innovation will be key. Even with a favorable policy and funding environment for biofuels, clean coal, or hydrogen, the transition to new fuels will be slow. Major technologies historically have had an “adoption lag.”

    Comment:  insect based food especially protein powders will become part of daily food consumption. End comment

    In the energy sector, a recent study found that it takes an average of 25 years for a new production technology to become widely adopted. ix Despite what are seen as long odds now, we cannot rule out the possibility of an energy transition by 2025 that would avoid the costs of an energy infrastructure overhaul.

    Comment: oh it is really and happening baby. End comment

    The greatest possibility for a relatively quick and inexpensive transition during the period comes from better renewable generation sources (photovoltaic and wind) and improvements in battery technology. With many of these technologies, the infrastructure cost hurdle for individual projects would be lower, enabling many small economic actors to develop their own energy transformation projects that directly serve their interests—e.g., stationary fuel cells powering homes and offices, recharging plug-in hybrid autos, and selling energy back to the grid. Also, energy conversion schemes—such as plans to generate hydrogen for automotive fuel cells from electricity in the homeowner’s garage—could avoid the need to develop complex hydrogen transportation infrastructure.

    Comment: and the holly grail hydrogen fusion plants.   they also downplay geothermal and tidal power which I think will emerge as key elements in world energy production. End comment

    Prospects for Terrorism, Conflict, and Proliferation Terrorism, proliferation, and conflict will remain key concerns even as resource issues move up on the international agenda.

    Terrorism is unlikely to disappear by 2025, but its appeal could diminish if economic growth continues and youth unemployment is mitigated in the Middle East. Economic opportunities for youth and greater political pluralism probably would dissuade some from joining terrorists’ ranks, but others—motivated by a variety of factors, such as a desire for revenge or to become “martyrs”—will continue to turn to violence to pursue their objectives. In the absence of employment opportunities and legal means for political expression, conditions will be ripe for disaffection, growing radicalism, and possible recruitment of youths into terrorist groups.

    Terrorist groups in 2025 will likely be a combination of descendants of long established groups—that inherit organizational structures, command and control processes, and training procedures necessary to conduct sophisticated attacks—and newly emergent collections of the angry and disenfranchised that become self-radicalized. For those terrorist groups that are active in 2025, the diffusion of technologies and scientific knowledge will place some of the world’s most dangerous capabilities within their reach.

    One of our greatest concerns continues to be that terrorist or other malevolent groups might acquire and employ biological agents, or less likely, a nuclear device, to create mass casualties. Although Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons is not inevitable, other countries’ worries about a nuclear-armed Iran could lead states in the region to develop new security arrangements with external powers, acquire additional weapons, and consider pursuing their own nuclear ambitions. It is not clear that the type of stable deterrent relationship that existed between the great powers for most of the Cold War would emerge naturally in the Middle East with a nuclear-weapons capable Iran. Episodes of low-intensity conflict taking place under a nuclear umbrella could lead to an unintended escalation and broader conflict if clear red lines between those states involved are not well established.

    We believe ideological conflicts akin to the Cold War are unlikely to take root in a world in which most states will be preoccupied with the pragmatic challenges of globalization and shifting global power alignments. The force of ideology is likely to be strongest in the Muslim world—particularly the Arab core. In those countries that are likely to struggle with youth bulges and weak economic underpinnings—such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Yemen—the radical Salafi trend of Islam is likely to gain traction. x

    Comment: Why no mention of right wing white nationalism terrorism?  I think that the 2025 world will feature terrorism threats from both Islamic groups as well as white nationalist groups.  About equal in terms of impact.  I also foresee the development of white nationalist enclaves and cities in the mountain states and in the deep south.  End comment

    Types of conflict we have not seen for a while—such as over resources—could reemerge. Perceptions of energy scarcity will drive countries to take actions to assure their future access to energy supplies. In the worst case, this could result in interstate conflicts if government leaders deem assured access to energy resources, for example, to be essential for maintaining domestic stability and the survival of their regimes. However, even actions short of war will have important geopolitical consequences.

    Maritime security concerns are providing a rationale for naval buildups and modernization efforts, such as China’s and India’s development of blue-water naval capabilities. The buildup of regional naval capabilities could lead to increased tensions, rivalries, and counterbalancing moves but it also will create opportunities for multinational cooperation in protecting critical sea lanes. With water becoming scarcer in Asia and the Middle East, cooperation to manage changing water resources is likely to become more difficult within and between states.

    The risk of nuclear weapon use over the next 20 years, although remaining very low, is likely to be greater than it is today as a result of several converging trends. The spread of nuclear technologies and expertise is generating concerns about the potential emergence of new nuclear weapon states and the acquisition of nuclear materials by terrorist groups. Ongoing low-intensity clashes between India and Pakistan continue to raise the specter that such events could escalate to a broader conflict between those nuclear powers.

    The possibility of a future disruptive regime change or collapse occurring in a nuclear weapon state such as North Korea also continues to raise questions regarding the ability of weak states to control and secure their nuclear arsenals. If nuclear weapons are used in the next 15-20 years, the international system will be shocked as it experiences immediate humanitarian, economic, and political-military repercussions. A future use of nuclear weapons probably would bring about significant geopolitical changes as some states would seek to establish or reinforce security alliances with existing nuclear powers and others would push for global nuclear disarmament.

    comment:  North Korea and South Korea will unify as a nuclear power much to the annoyance of the U.S., Japan, Russia and China.

    the Saudis  and the Iranians will both become nuclear powers as perhaps Brazil and South Africa

    and there is a 90 percent certainty that there will be a nuclear terrorist incident somewhere in the U.S. and in Europe before 2025. end comment

    A More Complex International System

    (Comment: a  bit Mr. Obvious to me. End comment)

    The trend toward greater diffusion of authority and power that has been occurring for a couple decades is likely to accelerate because of the emergence of new global players, the worsening institutional deficit, potential expansion of regional blocs, and enhanced strength of nonstate actors and networks. The multiplicity of actors on the international scene could add strength— in terms of filling gaps left by aging post-World War II institutions—or further fragment the international system and incapacitate international cooperation. The diversity in type of actor raises the likelihood of fragmentation occurring over the next two decades, particularly given the wide array of transnational challenges facing the international community.

    The rising BRIC powers are unlikely to challenge the international system as did Germany and Japan in the 19th and 20th centuries, but because of their growing geopolitical and economic clout, they will have a high degree of freedom to customize their political and economic policies rather than fully adopting Western norms. They also are likely to want to preserve their policy freedom to maneuver, allowing others to carry the primary burden for dealing with such issues as terrorism, climate change, proliferation, and energy security. xi Existing multilateral institutions—which are large and cumbersome and were designed for a different geopolitical order—will have difficulty adapting quickly to undertake new missions, accommodate changing memberships, and augment their resources.

    Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)—concentrating on specific issues—increasingly will be a part of the landscape, but NGO networks are likely to be limited in their ability to effect change in the absence of concerted efforts by multilateral institutions or governments. Efforts at greater inclusiveness—to reflect the emergence of the newer powers—may make it harder for international organizations to tackle transnational challenges. Respect for the dissenting views of member nations will continue to shape the agenda of organizations and limit the kinds of solutions that can be attempted.

    Greater Asian regionalism—possible by 2025—would have global implications, sparking or reinforcing a trend toward three trade and financial clusters that could become quasi-blocs: North America, Europe, and East Asia. Establishment of such quasi-blocs would have implications for the ability to achieve future global World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. Regional clusters could compete in setting trans-regional product standards for information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, intellectual property rights, and other aspects of the “new economy.”

    On the other hand, an absence of regional cooperation in Asia could help spur competition among China, India, and Japan over resources such as energy. Intrinsic to the growing complexity of the overlapping roles of states, institutions, and nonstate actors is the proliferation of political identities, which is leading to establishment of new networks and rediscovered communities. No one political identity is likely to be dominant in most societies by 2025.

    Comment:  they are missing the unification of Korea. End comment

    Religion-based networks may be quintessential issue networks and overall may play a more powerful role on many transnational issues such as the environment and inequalities than secular groupings.

    The United States: Less Dominant Power By 2025 the US will find itself as one of a number of important actors on the world stage, albeit still the most powerful one

    duh

    Even in the military realm, where the US will continue to possess considerable advantages in 2025, advances by others in science and technology, expanded adoption of irregular warfare tactics by both state and nonstate actors, proliferation of long-range precision weapons, and growing use of cyber warfare attacks increasingly will constrict US freedom of action.

    A more constrained US role has implications for others and the likelihood of new agenda issues being tackled effectively. Despite the recent rise in anti-Americanism, the US probably will continue to be seen as a much-needed regional balancer in the Middle East and Asia. The US will continue to be expected to play a significant role in using its military power to counter global terrorism.

    On newer security issues like climate change, US leadership will be widely perceived as critical to leveraging competing and divisive views to find solutions. At the same time, the multiplicity of influential actors and distrust of vast power means less room for the US to call the shots without the support of strong partnerships. Developments in the rest of the world, including internal developments in a number of key states—particularly China and Russia—are also likely to be crucial determinants of US policy. xii 2025—

    What Kind of Future? The above trends suggest major discontinuities, shocks, and surprises, which we highlight throughout the text. Examples include nuclear weapons use or a pandemic. In some cases, the surprise element is only a matter of timing: an energy transition, for example is inevitable; the only questions are when and how abruptly or smoothly such a transition occurs.

    An energy transition from one type of fuel (fossil fuels) to another (alternative) is an event that historically has only happened once a century at most with momentous consequences. The transition from wood to coal helped trigger industrialization. In this case, a transition—particularly an abrupt one—out of fossil fuels would have major repercussions for energy producers in the Middle East and Eurasia, potentially causing permanent decline of some states as global and regional powers. Other discontinuities are less predictable. They are likely to result from an interaction of several trends and depend on the quality of leadership.

    We put uncertainties such as whether China or Russia becomes a democracy in this category. China’s growing middle class increases the chances but does not make such a development inevitable. Political pluralism seems less likely in Russia in the absence of economic diversification.

    Pressure from below may force the issue, or a leader might begin or enhance the democratization process to sustain the economy or spur economic growth. A sustained plunge in the price of oil and gas would alter the outlook and increase prospects for greater political and economic liberalization in Russia. If either country were to democratize, it would represent another wave of democratization with wide significance for many other developing states. Also uncertain are the outcomes of demographic challenges facing Europe, Japan, and even Russia. In none of these cases does demography have to spell destiny with less regional and global power an inevitable outcome.

    Technology, the role of immigration, public health improvements, and laws encouraging greater female participation in the economy are some of the measures that could change the trajectory of current trends pointing toward less economic growth, increased social tensions, and possible decline.

    Whether global institutions adapt and revive—another key uncertainty—also is a function of leadership. Current trends suggest a dispersion of power and authority will create a global governance deficit. Reversing those trend lines would require strong leadership in the international community by a number of powers, including the emerging ones. Some uncertainties would have greater consequences—should they occur—than would others.

    In this work, we emphasize the overall potential for greater conflict—some forms of which could threaten globalization. We put WMD terrorism and a Middle East nuclear arms race in this category. The key uncertainties and possible impacts are discussed in the text and summarized in the textbox on page vii. In the four fictionalized scenarios, we have highlighted new challenges that could emerge as a result of the ongoing global transformation. They present new situations, dilemmas, or predicaments that represent departures from recent developments. As a set, they do not cover all possible futures.

    None of these is inevitable or even necessarily likely; but, as with many other uncertainties, the scenarios are potential game-changers. •

    For the rest see their web site

    https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/94769/2008_11_global_trends_2025.pdf

    Nostradamus predictions for 2019

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    Nostradamus’ prophecies foresee that 2019 is going to be a year of justice, and earthquakes and hurricanes will be possible in many states of America (Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, but also Texas), especially in the Earth months of the year (January, April, July, and October).

    The year lacks financial prosperity, but this only encourages us to design strategies that could improve things. Like stated in the 2019 horoscopes , it is indicated to work harder, it is necessary to adopt new strategies, to avoid taking risks and to be well informed, but also to attract prosperity using the right remedies.

    Socially, we will more open, we will socialize more and we will extend our circle of friends very carefully though because the flower of outside love can bring a third person in, who can destabilize the couple.

    The stock market is going to be more profitable in the summer and especially in the fall months and 2019 is going to be a year of new discoveries health-wise, a year that encourages us to be more careful about any possible issues related to heart and circulatory system, stomach, pancreas and this is why it is recommended to take into consideration a balanced diet and relaxing activities, but also to avoid sleeping in the west sector (especially the pregnant women and the elders) and stress.

    Over the last decade, the global economic crisis had a strong impact in Europe, but also in certain regions of the US. European Union helped many countries to deal with the economic difficulties and to set the foundation of the so-called “bank union” in order to make the banking sector more secure and reliable.

    Over the course of three years, Nostradamus has written over 900 of quatrains and centuries in which he foretold the future. In these works, Nostradamus presages the future of the world, 70% of them being fulfilled to date.

    He predicted Napoleon’s reign, the World War II, the rise of Hitler, John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the moon landing. In one of the quatrains, Nostradamus talks about the “sky on fire”, “the new city”, “huge lightning” and “two brothers torn apart by chaos”.

    Many scientists who have analyzed this quatrain concluded that it talks about the 9/11/01 attacks.

    Nostradamus Predicted the Notre Dame Fire

    The dreadful Notre Dame Fire in Paris on Monday 15th April at 5.50pm local time, was predicted by Nostradamus. A quatrain written 500 years ago by the French astrologer anticipated it.

    “The head of Aries, Jupiter and Saturn,
    God eternal, what changes can be expected?
    Following a long century, evil will return
    France and Italy, what emotions will you undergo?”

    Given that Nostradamus was writing in the mid 1500’s, his use of the word ’emotions’ is bizarre, not only because as we saw earlier, Macron used it – but also because UNESCO used it too. This are the words from Twitter:

    “Notre-Dame is engulfed with flames. Emotion of the whole nation. Thoughts are with Catholics and all the French. Like all citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn.”

    “Deep emotion in the face of this dramatic fire at the cathedral.”

    Also, Macron declared:

    “We will rebuild Notre-Dame because that’s what the French people want,” said Macron, who was visibly moved. “That’s what our history deserves, because that is our destiny.”

     April 15 is a black day, a day that marks many sad and unfortunate events. Things that have happened on April 15:

    • The Titanic sank – 1912
    • Lincoln died – 1865
    • Boston marathon bombings 2013
    • Notre Dame burned – 2019

    Comment:  Kim Il Sung and Hitler were both born on April 15.   The US Foreign Service evaluation system has a April 15th deadline as well.  Coincidence?  I think not….End Comment

    Here are Nostradamus predictions for 2019:

    1. 1. According to Nostradamus’s quatrains, in 2019, some European countries will deal with floods of extraordinary magnitude. Among others, the countries that will suffer the most damage are Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic, but also Great Britain.
    2. Globally, both the European countries and the US will deal with issues regarding not only the dilemma of managing the immigration but also with the increased number of terrorist attacks.
    3. According to Nostradamus’s prophecies, the increased religious extremism in the Middle East and in different countries and regions of the world will lead to disorder and wars, which will force many people to leave their country and to try and find refuge in Europe.

    “From a place though to bring famine
    From here will come relief.
    The eye of the sea like a greedy dog,
    For the one shall give oil and the other wheat.”

     

    Here, the text doesn’t refer to organic famine, but to a spiritual famine, considering the migration of so many Christians to other religions and sects, out of the desire to know the religious truth.

    It is about the spiritual hunger. The sea of people will decide to embrace Christianity.

    1. Nostradamus predicts that the climate changes will continue to affect the planet, and the political leaders will come to an agreement regarding the reduction of air pollutant emissions.

    “We shall see the water rising, and the earth falling under it” portended the prophet for 2019.

    1. 5. The climate changes are common, and the hurricanes that will occur in different regions of America will shape the dreary landscape described by Nostradamus. There will be many category 1 hurricanes, which will hit the US during 2019, bringing winds of 40 mph.

    The Americans living in Florida, Texas and New Orleans must be prepared to face the bad weather. As Andrew Como, the Governor of New York, also declared:

    “Extreme weather is a reality. We face storms of an unseen severity”. The global warming will cause many armed conflicts. Through a strategic move, China will become the new world leader.

    1. World War III will involve two superpowers and will last 27 years. It is believed that World War III will start after the death of the last Pope (the one that will follow after the death of Pope Benedict XVI), who will be assassinated by the antichrist.

    “Mount Aventine will be seen to burn at night:
    The sky very suddenly dark in Flanders:
    When the monarch will chase his nephew,
    Then Church people will commit scandals.”

     

    Here it could be a reference to Saint Aventine, who is considered the protector of those who suffer from mental illnesses, but also Aventine, one of the Seven Hills of Rome.

     

    Also, a (total) Sun eclipse will occur on July 23 of 2019, which is possible to mark the beginning of the disaster that will envelop the Catholic Church, but also all others Christian churches.

    Comment:  mark you calendars!!!! End comment

    The assassination of the leader of the Catholic Church will bring chaos all over the world, and this event will take place in the following period.

    1. The people from the USA must get ready for the “Big Earthquake”. With a length of more than 500 miles, the subduction area covers the entire distance between California, US and Vancouver Island, Canada.
      Here, two tectonic plates meet, and one slides beneath the other (subduction) slowly but surely. If only an area from Cascadia slips, the magnitude of the earthquake will be between 8.0 and 8.6 degrees on the Richter scale.
      If the entire cleft splits open, we will witness an earthquake of 8.7 to 9.2 degrees, “The Big Earthquake”. In that region, 225,000 square miles will be unrecognizable. From Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Salem (the capital of Oregon), to Olympia (the capital of Washington). Over 7.000.000 people live in that area.
      They will be affected by the greatest natural disaster in the history of UnitedStates.
    2. The prophet also predicted that people will be able to speak to animals. He claimed that the animals will be closer and more loyal to people than their fellow men.

    “The pigs will become brothers to man”, wrote the prophet for 2019. Some think this means that the humans will stop scarifying animals. Others believe this means that the technology will allow us to talk to animals.

    1. Medicine will advance a lot. New discoveries will help extend people’s lives. Those who read Nostradamus prophecies claim he predicted that people will get to live up to 200 years.

    Also, “After a new engine will appear, the world will be as in the days before Babel.” Many believe that the engine he refers to is the Internet and that the technology will eventually create a new global language. Others say it is about the social networks that continue to develop every day.

    Nostradamus – Bio, Facts

    As e medic fascinated by occultism, Nostradamus risked provoking the wrath of the Catholic Church when he predicted the future for the next twenty centuries. Was he a true visionary or maybe his legendary accuracy is just a myth amplified by time?

    The short and lively individual, with a long and thick beard, was a freak of nature at the Renaissance Court of king Henry the Second of France. Being known as the son of converted Jews, passionate by astrology and other occult sciences, Nostradamus was invited to Paris in 1556 mostly as a source of entertainment.

    But his prophecies about the king will bring him international fame. One of these seemed to be true, but absurd nonetheless, suggesting that a “blind man” will soon become king. Another one, cryptic and interpretable in its nature: “The young lion will defeat the older one on the battlefield, in a single fight.

    It will pierce his eyes in the golden cage, two wounds in one, and then he will suddenly pass away.”

    On June 1st, 1559 when the king was taking part in a tournament, by accident, the lance of his friend, who was his adversary, pierced the royal golden helmet and continued into his eye. The horrified culprit, Count of Montgomery, was younger than the sovereign.

    A splinter from the broken weapon caused a secondary injury, and the king suffered greatly for ten days straight, after which he passed away.

    The words of Nostradamus were duly remembered. Because of their strong opposition against magicians and wizards, the leaders of the Romano-Catholic Church would have preferred to burn this dangerously exact prophet alive.

    The peasants, on the belief that the prediction was actually a curse, burned him in effigy. Only due to the now widowed queen, Caterina de Medici, did he manage to avoid execution.

    Secluded in shadow

    Being on the brink of civil war, France represented an ideal environment for the dark and cryptic prophecies of Nostradamus, published in 1555 – the first 100 out of the almost 2000 which he will release until 1557.

    These Belts were immediately successful and so represented the grounds for the author’s acceptance in Court.

    Recognizing that he intentionally went for a “cryptic way of expression”, Nostradamus wrote in an obscure language, originating from his contemporary French, but full of Italian, Greek, Hebrew and Latin phrases and words.

    Each prediction was made of four verses, a quatrain, but none resembled a poem. The visionary claimed this style defended him from the punishment of the powerful, who weren’t exactly delighted by his words.

    Some of the more skeptical observants agree on the fact that the vague style is consciously adopted so as to develop open for interpretation pieces of writing. As a result, there probably are almost 400 different interpretations of the Belts, each of them trying to reveal the secrets of the prophecies dating to 3797.

    Nostradamus becomes a royal councilor

    On the grounds of the internal disturbances, many people in France, like queen Ekaterina, didn’t feel the need to have history confirm the words of the medic. His prediction regarding the death of her husband was sufficient.

    Without any shadow of doubt, she stands behind his promotion as leading medic of her son, Carol IX.

    According to a well-known tale, Nostradamus once called for an angel, named Anael, and asked him to use a magic mirror and reveal to him the fate of the queen’s children. The mirror had showed the three sons as rulers, but only temporary, while her disgraced son in law, Henric de Navarra, was bound to rule for 23 years. Scared, the queen demanded the finalization of that unpleasant show.

    Actually, Nostradamus probably visited her in Court only to create the horoscope for her and the children. It’s highly likely that Nostradamus was capable enough to envelop his unpleasant visions in ambiguous phrases, given the fact that monarchs – no matter how kind initially presented themselves to clairvoyants – were renowned for punishing the messengers because of their message.

    Predicting a bloody century

    For many interprets of Nostradamus’ Belts, the text is full of prophecies regarding extremely violent contemporary events – from the rising of Hitler to power, to the assassination of both John F. Kennedy and his little brother, Robert.

    In Germany people strongly believed in the sayings regarding the Third Reich. Actually, both in England and in Germany, they falsified a series of quatrains, thus making them more favorable to their cause, and threw them from an airplane as means propaganda.

    On the other hand, one of his authentic quatrains was considered by many to be the foreteller of the war: “A live fire and death hidden in globes will be horribly unleashed. By nightfall, the enemy forces will obliterate the entire city.”

    The interest manifested towards the renaissance prophet was reborn following the dramatic events in Iran, when the Shah was banished by the followers of the ayatollah Khomeini, who had been previously exiled in France.

    According to a translation, Nostradamus wrote: “Rain, famish, and war will not cease in Persia. A belief too strong will betray the monarch. What began in France will finish there, a secret sign will be put away.

    “An accurate prediction or an altered interpretation? Could it provide credibility to another prophecy meant to come true in the future, one of the few with a precise date?”

    He announced his own death

    One of the biggest poets of France, Pierre de Ronsard, wrote about his contemporary: “Like an antique oracle, for many years he predicted a large part of our destiny.” Obviously, the prophet dwelled in the respect of the royal family and an increasing fame, up until his death, in 1566.

    Inevitable, many remained extremely skeptical regarding his work, or worse, they thought he was a simple intelligent con man who took advantage of the credulous.

    Per some researchers, Nostradamus even predicted his own death: “Beside the bench and bed I will be found dead.” After which, one evening he announced he will not survive the following night, he died because of his gout and was found cold the next morning in the bedroom, beside his working table.

     SF Writers Predict the Future – with Mixed Accuracy

     And let’s look at the predictions made by SF writers over the years.  Open Culture recently collected a number of such predictions.

    Jules Verne Accurately Predicts What the 20th Century Will Look Like in His Lost Novel, Paris in the Twentieth Century (1863)

    in Sci Fi | January 25th, 2016 Leave a Comment

    Science fiction, they say, doesn’t really deal with the future; it uses the setting of the future as a way to deal with the present. That would explain all the standard preposterous tropes you regularly see in the genre’s less gracefully aging novels and films: jetpacks, flying cars, holo-phones, that sort of thing. So when you look into sci-fi’s back pages and do come across the occasional accurate or even semi-accurate prediction of the future — that is, an accurate prediction of our present — it really jumps out at you. Many such predictions have jumped out at readers from the pages of Jules Verne’s lost second novel, Paris in the Twentieth Century.

    Originally written in 1863 but not published until found at the bottom of a vault in 1994, the book’s scorecard of seemingly bang-on elements of the then-future include the explosion of suburban living and shopping and large-scale higher education; career women; synthesizer-driven electronic music and a recording industry to sell it; ever more advanced forms of ever cruder entertainment; cities of elevator-equipped, automatically surveilled skyscrapers electrically illuminated all night long; gas-powered cars, the roads they drive on, and the stations where they fill up; subways, magnetically-propelled trains, and other forms of rapid transit; fax machines as well as a very basic internet-like communication system; the electric chair; and weapons of war too dangerous to use.

    You may sense that the young Verne did not see the future, which takes its form in the novel of Paris in 1960, as a utopia. In fact, he went a little too far in using the setting and its story of an artistic soul adrift in a culturally dead, progress-worshiping technocracy to express his own anxieties about the 19th century and its rise of conglomeration, automation, and mechanization — or so thought his publisher, who believed the book’s bleak predictions, even if accurate, would fail to win over the common reader. “My dear Verne,” he wrote in his rejection letter to the author, “even if you were a prophet, no one today would believe this prophecy… they simply would not be interested in it.”

    But over 150 years later, the predictions of Paris in the Twentieth Century do interest us, or at least those of us who wonder whether we’ve handed too much of our humanity over to the realms of technology, finance, and entertainment. Even if Richard Bernstein, reviewing the novel in The New York Times when it finally saw publication, found its satire “weak, innocent and adolescent in light of what actually happened in the 20th century,” it has given us more than ever to talk about today. To get in on the conversation, have a listen to the episode of the Futility Closet podcast on the book just above. Do you think Verne accurately foresaw our current condition — or does his dystopia still lie in wait?

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    Walter Cronkite Imagines the Home of the 21st Century … Back in 1967

    The Internet Imagined in 1969

    In 1900, Ladies’ Home Journal Publishes 28 Predictions for the Year 2000

    Philip K. Dick Makes Off-the-Wall Predictions for the Future: Mars Colonies, Alien Viruses & More (1981)

    Nikola Tesla’s Predictions for the 21st Century: The Rise of Smart Phones & Wireless, The Demise of Coffee, The Rule of Eugenics (1926/35)

    In 1968, Stanley Kubrick Makes Predictions for 2001: Humanity Will Conquer Old Age, watch 3D TV & Learn German in 20 Minutes

    In 1911, Thomas Edison Predicts What the World Will Look Like in 2011: Smart Phones, No Poverty, Libraries That Fit in One Book

    Mark Twain Predicts the Internet in 1898: Read His Sci-Fi Crime Story, “From The ‘London Times’ in 1904”

    Future Shock: Orson Welles Narrates a 1972 Film About the Perils of Technological Change

    Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities and culture. He’s at work on a book about Los Angeles, A Los Angeles Primer, the video series The City in Cinema, the crowdfunded journalism project Where Is the City of the Future?, and the Los Angeles Review of Books’ Korea Blog. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.

    Mark Twain Predicts the Internet in 1898: Read His Sci-Fi Crime Story, “From The ‘London Times’ in 1904”

    in Literature, Sci Fi | November 11th, 2014

    Most people know that Mark Twain wrote about Jim and Huckleberry Finn navigating down the Mississippi. Less well known is that he occasionally dabbled in the burgeoning genre of science fiction. His 1898 short story “The Great Dark” is about a ship that sails across a drop of water on a microscope slide. His novel Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of the first to explore time travel. And, in a short story called “From The ‘London Times’ in 1904,” Twain predicted the internet. In 1898. Read it here.

    Set five years into the future, the story starts off as a crime mystery. Clayton, a quick-tempered army officer, is accused of murdering Szczepanik, the inventor of a new and promising device called the Telelectroscope. The tale’s unnamed narrator describes it like this:

    As soon as the Paris contract released the telelectroscope, it was delivered to public use, and was soon connected with the telephonic systems of the whole world. The improved ‘limitless-distance’ telephone was presently introduced and the daily doings of the globe made visible to everybody, and audibly discussable too, by witnesses separated by any number of leagues.

    That sounds a lot like social media. Mark Twain dreamed up Twitter and Youtube during the Grover Cleveland administration.

    Facing the hangman’s noose, Clayton asks for, and receives, a telelectroscope for his cell. As the narrator describes Clayton’s telelectroscopic revelry, it sounds uncannily like a bored cubicle dweller surfing the web at work.

    …day by day, and night by night, he called up one corner of the globe after another, and looked upon its life, and studied its strange sights, and spoke with its people, and realized that by grace of this marvelous instrument he was almost as free as the birds of the air, although a prisoner under locks and bars. He seldom spoke, and I never interrupted him when he was absorbed in this amusement. I sat in his parlor and read, and smoked, and the nights were very quiet and reposefully sociable, and I found them pleasant. Now and then I would hear him say ‘Give me Yedo;’ next, ‘Give me Hong-Kong;’ next, ‘Give me Melbourne.’ And I smoked on, and read in comfort, while he wandered about the remote underworld, where the sun was shining in the sky, and the people were at their daily work.

    The story itself is an admittedly minor work by the master of American fiction. In its last third, the story abruptly turns into a surprisingly sour satire about the sad state of our legal system. As Clayton is getting marched to the gallows, the narrator spots the guy Clayton supposedly murdered on the telelectroscope screen, standing in a crowd for the coronation of the new “Czar” of China. Even though no crime took place, Clayton is still sentenced to hang.

    “From The ‘London Times’ in 1904” contains two long-running themes in Twain’s work and life. One is the absurdity of the courts – see, for example “The Facts in the Great Landslide Case.”

    And the other is a fascination with technology. In spite of his folksy image, he was, as they say now, an early adopter. He was the first in his neighborhood to get a telephone. He may or may not have been the first major author to use a typewriter to write a novel. He lost his shirt investing in a Victorian-era start up hawking an exceedingly complex printing press called the Paige Compositor. And he allowed himself to be filmed by Thomas Edison in 1909, a year before his death.

    One wonders what he would have thought of his telelectroscope in action.

    Note: The character Szczepanik mentioned above was clearly named after a Polish inventor, Jan Szczepanik, who talked about creating a “telectroscope,” in the late 19th century.  However, if you read a report in The New York Times in 1898, it becomes apparent that Szczepanik’s “telectroscope” wasn’t as visionary as what Twain had in mind.

    Aldous Huxley Predicts in 1950 What the World Will Look Like in the Year 2000

     

    I’ve been thinking lately about how and why utopian fiction shades into dystopian. Though we sometimes imagine the two modes as inversions of each other, perhaps they lie instead on a continuum, one along which all societies slide, from functional to dysfunctional. The central problem seems to be this: Utopian thought relies on putting the complications of human behavior on the shelf to make a maximally efficient social order—or of finding some convenient way to dispense with those complications. But it is precisely with this latter move that the trouble begins. How to make the mass of people compliant and pacific? Mass media and consumerism? Forced collectivization? Drugs?

    Readers of dystopian fiction will recognize these as some of the design flaws in Aldous Huxley’s utopian/dystopian society of Brave New World, a novel that asks us to wrestle with the philosophical problem of whether we can create a fully functional society without robbing people of their agency and independence. Doesn’t every utopia, after all, imagine a world of strict hierarchies and controls? The original—Thomas More’s Utopia—gave us a patriarchal slave society (as did Plato’s Republic). Huxley’s Brave New World similarly situates humanity in a caste system, subordinated to technology and subdued with medication.

    While Huxley’s utopia has eradicated the nuclear family and natural human reproduction—thus solving a population crisis—it is still a society ruled by the ideas of founding fathers: Henry Ford, H.G. Wells, Freud, Pavlov, Shakespeare, Thomas Robert Malthus. If you wanted to know, in the early 20th century, what the future would be like, you’d typically ask a famous man of ideas. Redbook magazine did just that in 1950, writes Matt Novak at Paleofuture; they “asked four experts—curiously all men, given that Redbook was and is a magazine aimed at women—about what the world may look like fifty years hence.”

    One of those men was Huxley, and in his answers, he draws on at least two of Brave New World’s intellectual founders, Ford and Malthus, in predictions about population growth and the nature of work. In addition to the ever-present threats of war, Huxley first turns to the Malthusian problems of overpopulation and scarce resources.

    During the next fifty years mankind will face three great problems: the problem of avoiding war; the problem of feeding and clothing a population of two and a quarter billions which, by 2000 A.D., will have grown to upward of three billions, and the problem of supplying these billions without ruining the planet’s irreplaceable resources.

    As Novak points out, Huxley’s estimation is “less than half of the 6.1 billion that would prove to be a reality by 2000.” In order to address the problem of feeding, housing, and clothing all of those people, Huxley must make an “unhappily… large assumption—that the nations can agree to live in peace. In this event mankind will be free to devote all its energy and skill to the solution of its other major problems.”

    “Huxley’s predictions for food production in the year 2000,” writes Novak, “are largely a call for the conservation of resources. He correctly points out that meat production can be far less efficient than using agricultural lands for crops.” Huxley recommends sustainable farming methods and the development of “new types of synthetic building materials and new sources for paper” in order to curb the destruction of the world’s forests. What he doesn’t account for is the degree to which the overwhelming greed of a powerful few would drive the exploitation of finite resources and hold back efforts at sustainable design, agriculture, and energy—a situation that some might consider an act of war.

    But Huxley’s utopian predictions depend upon putting aside these complications. Like many mid-century futurists, he imagined a world of increased leisure and greater human fulfillment, but he “sees that potential for better working conditions and increased standards of living as obtainable only through a sustained peace.” When it comes to work, Huxley’s forecasts are partly Fordist: Advances in technology are one thing, but “work is work,” he writes, “and what matters to the worker is neither the product nor the technical process, but the pay, the hours, the attitude of the boss, the physical environment.”

    To most office and factory workers in 2000 the application of nuclear fission to industry will mean very little. What they will care about is what their fathers and mothers care about today—improvement in the conditions of labor. Given peace, it should be possible, within the next fifty years, to improve working conditions very considerably. Better equipped, workers will produce more and therefore earn more.

    Unfortunately, Novak points out, “perhaps Huxley’s most inaccurate prediction is his assumption that an increase in productivity will mean an increase in wages for the average worker.” Despite rising profits and efficiency, this has proven untrue. In a Freudian turn, Huxley also predicts the decentralization of industry into “small country communities, where life is cheaper, pleasanter and more genuinely human than in those breeding-grounds of mass neurosis…. Decentralization may help to check that march toward the asylum, which is a threat to our civilization hardly less grave than that of erosion and A-bomb.”

    While technological improvements in materials may not fundamentally change the concerns of workers, improvements in robotics and computerization may abolish many of their jobs, leaving increasing numbers of people without any means of subsistence. So we’re told again and again. But this was not yet the pressing concern in 2000 that it is for futurists just a few years later. Perhaps one of Huxley’s most prescient statements takes head-on the issue facing our current society—an aging population in which “there will be more elderly people in the world than at any previous time. In many countries the citizens of sixty-five and over will outnumber the boys and girls of fifteen and under.”

    Pensions and a pointless leisure offer no solution to the problems of an aging population. In 2000 the younger readers of this article, who will then be in their seventies, will probably be inhabiting a world in which the old are provided with opportunities for using their experience and remaining strength in ways satisfactory to themselves, and valuable to the community.

    Given the decrease in wages, rising inequality, and loss of home values and retirement plans, more and more of the people Huxley imagined are instead working well into their seventies. But while Huxley failed to foresee the profoundly destructive force of unchecked greed—and had to assume a perhaps unobtainable world peace—he did accurately identify many of the most pressing problems of the 21st century. Eight years after the Redbook essay, Huxley was called on again to predict the future in a television interview with Mike Wallace. You can watch it in full at the top of the post.

    Wallace begins in a McCarthyite vein, asking Huxley to name “the enemies of freedom in the United States.” Huxley instead discusses “impersonal forces,” returning to the problem of overpopulation and other concerns he addressed in Brave New World, such as the threat of an overly bureaucratic, technocratic society too heavily dependent on technology. Four years after this interview, Huxley published his final book, the philosophical novel Island, in which, writes Velma Lush, the evils he had warned us about, “over-population, coercive politics, militarism, mechanization, the destruction of the environment and the worship of science will find their opposites in the gentle and doomed Utopia of Pala.”

    The utopia of IslandHuxley’s wife Laura told Alan Watts—is “possible and actual… Island is really visionary common sense.” But it is also a society, Huxley tragically recognized, made fragile by its unwillingness to control human behavior and prepare for war.

    In 1964, Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Internet, 3D Printers and Trained Monkey Servants

    “If by some miracle some prophet could describe the future exactly as it was going to take place, his predictions would sound so absurd, so far-fetched that everyone would laugh him to scorn.”

    That was Sir Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction author best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, describing the inherent folly of predicting the future in a 1964 BBC documentary. Of course, he then goes on to do exactly that – with remarkable, unnerving accuracy. Part one of the documentary is above. Part two is below.

    The piece opens with a generic narration that describes a diorama of future society at the GM pavilion at the 1964 World Fair. Perhaps because it was a more innocent time or maybe because it was sponsored by an automaker, this vision of the future is touchingly oblivious to anything related to climate change. Machines with laser guns will clear jungles in hours flat and people will live in domed communities on the ice caps. (Ice caps in the future. Hilarious.)

    Then the reedy, bespectacled author appears and starts to describe how he thinks the world in fifty years (i.e. 2014) will look. And this is where the movie starts to feel uncanny. He talks about how the advancement of transistors and satellites will radically alter our understanding of physical space.

    These things will make possible a world in which we can be in instant contact wherever we may be. Where we can contact our friends anywhere on earth, even if we don’t know their actual physical location. It will be possible in that age, possibly 50 years from now, for a man to conduct his business from Tahiti or Bali just as well as he could from London.

    For the record, I’m writing this post in a coffee shop in Los Angeles, hundreds of miles from the massive Open Culture headquarters in Palo Alto, but I could just as easily be writing this on a beach in Sri Lanka or a hotel room in Dubrovnik. Clarke sounds here less like some pie-in-the-sky futurist than an aspirational lifestyle guru like Tim Ferris.

    Clarke then describes how medicine might change. “One day, we might have brain surgeons in Edinburgh operating on patients in New Zealand.” The long-distance virtual surgery first was pioneered back in 2001 and it continues to improve as internet speeds increase.

    And he predicts that at some point science will invent a “replicating device” that would create an exact copy of anything. That sounds an awful lot like a 3D printer. Clarke warns that this invention might cause massive societal disruption. “Confronted by such a device, our present society would probably sink into a kind of gluttonous barbarism. Since everyone would want unlimited quantities of everything.” In other words, 3D printers might turn the world into Black Friday at Walmart.

    Some of his other ideas are just weird. Clarke proposes to tame and train armies of chimpanzees to cook, clean and do society’s grunt work. “We can certainly solve our servant problem with the help of the monkey kingdom. “ Planet of the Apes wouldn’t come out for another four years so Clarke could be forgiven for not realizing that that is one terrible idea. On the other hand, it’s hard to see how hiring monkeys could possibly make the customer service at Time Warner Cable any worse than it already is.

    Sci-Fi Writer Robert Heinlein Imagines the Year 2000 in 1949, and Gets it Mostly Wrong

    in History, Sci Fi | September 19th, 2013

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

    Two giants of 20th century science fiction: Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov (see them together above, with L. Sprague de Camp in-between). Like every young sci-fi geek, I read them both assiduously, got lost in their dizzying universes that stretched across novels and significant teenage milestones. Even as an awkward kid, I could clearly identify an essential difference in tone between their forecasts of the future. Heinlein, the Navy man forcibly retired from service by tuberculosis, had the darker vision, in which the brute force of mass militarism continued to thrive and heroic men of action carried the day. Asimov, the practicing scientist—whose “Norby” series of kids books might be the cutest introduction to sci-fi ever written by an American—favored a future that, if still quite dangerous, was managed by robots and their creators, the technocrats.

    As we can plainly see, we are no less a bellicose species than when these two authors wrote of the future, but Asimov seems to have had it right. The technocrats came out on top; too many battles are fought not by massed battalions but by deadly flying robots making (so we’re told) “surgical” strikes. A few weeks ago, we brought you a series of technocratic predictions of the year 2014 from Asimov, many of them surprisingly accurate. Today, we have a list of predictions from Heinlein, this time of the year 2000, and written in 1949 and published in 1952 in Galaxymagazine. How does his predictive ability stack up against his contemporary? Well, I’d say that 2 (stripped of some exaggeration), 8, and 11 either hit the mark or come pretty damn close. 19 is self-evidently true, and 15 is arguably not terribly far away, though it may not have seemed so in 2000. 4 is painfully ironic. The rest? Eh, not so much. Take a look and try to imagine yourself in Heinlein’s shoes in 1949. Not an easy task? Try to imagine what the world will look like in 2063. Which version of IOS will you be running then?

    1. Interplanetary travel is waiting at your front door — C.O.D. It’s yours when you pay for it.
    2. Contraception and control of disease is revising relations between the sexes to an extent that will change our entire social and economic structure.
    3. The most important military fact of this century is that there is no way to repel an attack from outer space.
    4. It is utterly impossible that the United States will start a “preventive war.” We will fight when attacked, either directly or in a territory we have guaranteed to defend.
    5. In fifteen years the housing shortage will be solved by a “breakthrough” into new technologies which will make every house now standing as obsolete as privies.
    6. We’ll all be getting a little hungry by and by.
    7. The cult of the phony in art will disappear. So-called “modern art” will be discussed only by psychiatrists.
    8. Freud will be classed as a pre-scientific, intuitive pioneer and psychoanalysis will be replaced by a growing, changing “operational psychology” based on measurement and prediction.
    9. Cancer, the common cold, and tooth decay will all be conquered; the revolutionary new problem in medical research will be to accomplish “regeneration,” i.e., to enable a man to grow a new leg, rather than fit him with an artificial limb.
    10. By the end of this century mankind will have explored this solar system, and the first ship intended to reach the nearest star will be a-building.
    11. Your personal telephone will be small enough to carry in your handbag. Your house telephone will record messages, answer simple inquiries, and transmit vision.
    12. Intelligent life will be found on Mars.
    13. A thousand miles an hour at a cent a mile will be commonplace; short hauls will be made in evacuated subways at extreme speed.
    14. A major objective of applied physics will be to control gravity.
    15. We will not achieve a “World State” in the predictable future. Nevertheless, Communism will vanish from this planet.
    16. Increasing mobility will disenfranchise a majority of the population. About 1990 a constitutional amendment will do away with state lines while retaining the semblance.
    17. All aircraft will be controlled by a giant radar net run on a continent-wide basis by a multiple electronic “brain.”
    18. Fish and yeast will become our principal sources of proteins. Beef will be a luxury; lamb and mutton will disappear.
    19. Mankind will not destroy itself, nor will “Civilization” be destroyed.

    Here are things we won’t get soon, if ever:

    — Travel through time

    — Travel faster than the speed of light

    — “Radio” transmission of matter.

    — Manlike robots with manlike reactions

    — Laboratory creation of life

    — Real understanding of what “thought” is and how it is related to matter.

    — Scientific proof of personal survival after death.

    — Nor a permanent end to war.

    Curiously, neither Heinlein nor Asimov foresaw that most terribly banal and ubiquitous phenomenon of reality TV, but really, what kind of monster could have imagined such a thing?

    via Lists of Note/i09

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    Walter Cronkite Imagines the Home of the 21st Century … Back in 1967

    in Design, TechnologyTelevision | February 8th, 2013

    Living room, 2001:

    In 1967, executives at CBS television made a bold move and changed the network’s long-running documentary series, The 20th Century, from a program looking back at the past to one looking ahead to the future. The 21st Century, as it was renamed, was hosted by Walter Cronkite and ran for three seasons. In one of the early episodes, “At Home, 2001,” which aired on March 12, 1967, Cronkite cites a government report predicting that by the year 2000, technology will have lowered the average American work week to 30 hours, with a one-month vacation. What will people do with all that free time? In the scene above, Cronkite makes a fairly accurate prediction of today’s state-of-the-art home entertainment systems. Although the knobs and dials look a bit archaic, the basic principle is there. But whatever happened to that 30-hour work week?

    Home office, 2001:

    “Now this is where a man might spend most of his time in the 21st century,” says Cronkite as he walks into the home office of the future, above. “This equipment will allow him to carry on normal business activities without ever going to an office away from home.” In envisioning the office of the future as a masculine domain, Cronkite makes the same mistake as Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke of imagining technological change without social change. (Remember the moon shuttle stewardess in 2001: A Space Odyssey?) But he otherwise offers a fairly prescient vision of some of the home computing, Internet and telecommunications advances that have indeed come to pass.

    Kitchen, 2001:

    Cronkite’s powers of prediction fail him when he reaches the Rube Goldbergian “kitchen of 2001,” which mistakes gratuitous automation for convenience. As one YouTube commentator said of the clip above, the only thing that resembles the kitchen of today is the microwave oven–and microwaves already existed in 1967.

    But “At Home, 2001,” is much more thought-provoking than a few “gee whiz” predictions about the gadgets of the future. Cronkite interviews the architect Philip Johnson and other leading designers of his day for a deeper discussion about the tension that exists between our deep-seated, basically agrarian expectations for a home and the realities of urban congestion and suburban sprawl. You can watch the complete 25-minute program at A/V Geeks. And to read more about it, see Matt Novak’s piece at PaleoFuture. “Can we find a compromise between our increasingly urban way of living and the pride and privacy of the individual home?” asks Cronkite at the end of the program. “It will take decisions that go beyond technology, decisions about the quality of the life we want to lead, to answer the question ‘How will we live in the 21st century?’”

    The Internet Imagined in 1969

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    The gender stereotypes might be backward-looking (we’ll make up for it later in the day), but the technological vision is on the mark, right down to email, e-commerce and online banking. Of course, these weren’t the only people imagining an electronic, connected world during the 1960s.

    In 1964, the futurist Arthur C. Clarke peered into the future and saw our connectedness coming. By 2000, he predicted, “We could be in instant contact with each other, wherever we may be,” and “it will be possible in that age … for a man to conduct his business from Tahiti or Bali just as well as he could from London.”

    And then Marshall McLuhan understood the trend too. He saw electronic media turning our world into a social one, a world where services like Facebook and Twitter would make complete sense. You can watch the prescient Marshall McLuhan right here.  H/T Sasa

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    The Internet Imagined in 1969

    Sci-Fi Author J.G. Ballard Predicts the Rise of Social Media (1977)

    in Literature, Technology | March 25th, 2016 4 Comments

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    Say you were a fan of Steven Spielberg’s moving coming-of-age drama Empire of the Sun, set in a Japanese internment camp during World War II and starring a young Christian Bale. Say you read the autobiographical novel on which that film is based, written by one J.G. Ballard. Say you enjoyed it so much, you decided to read more of the author’s work, like, say, 1973’s Crash, a novel about people who develop a sexual fetish around wounds sustained in staged automobile accidents. Or you pick up its predecessor, The Atrocity Exhibition, a book William S. Burroughs described as stirring “sexual depths untouched by the hardest-core illustrated porn.” Or perhaps you stumble upon Concrete Island, a warped take on Defoe that strands a wealthy architect and his Jaguar on a highway intersection.

    You may experience some dissonance. Who was this Ballard? A realist chronicler of 20th century horrors; perverse explorer of—in Burroughs’ words—“the nonsexual roots of sexuality”; sci-fi satirist of the bleak post-industrial wastelands of modernity? He was all of these, and more. Ballard was a brilliant futurist and his dystopian novels and short stories anticipated the 80s cyberpunk of William Gibson, exploring with a twisted sense of humor what Jean Lyotard famously dubbed in 1979 The Postmodern Condition: a state of ideological, scientific, personal, and social disintegration under the reign of a technocratic, hypercapitalist, “computerized society.” Ballard had his own term for it: “media landscape,” and his dark visions of the future often correspond to the virtual world we inhabit today.

    In addition to his fictional creations, Ballard made several disturbingly accurate predictions in interviews he gave over the decades (collected in a book titled Extreme Metaphors). In 1987—with the film adaptation of Empire of the Sun just on the horizon and “his most extreme work Crash re-released in the USA to warmer reaction,” he gave an interview to I-D magazine in which he predicted the internet as “invisible streams of data pulsing down lines to produce an invisible loom of world commerce and information.” This may not seem especially prescient (see, for example, E.M. Forster’s 1909 “The Machine Stops” for a chilling futuristic scenario much further ahead of its time). But Ballard went on to describe in detail the rise of the Youtube celebrity:

    Every home will be transformed into its own TV studio. We’ll all be simultaneously actor, director and screenwriter in our own soap opera. People will start screening themselves. They will become their own TV programmes.

    The themes of celebrity obsession and technologically constructed realities resonate in almost all of Ballard’s work and thought, and ten years earlier, in an essay for Vogue, he described in detail the spread of social media and its totalizing effects on our lives. In the technological future, he wrote, “each of us will be both star and supporting player.”

    Every one of our actions during the day, across the entire spectrum of domestic life, will be instantly recorded on video-tape. In the evening we will sit back to scan the rushes, selected by a computer trained to pick out only our best profiles, our wittiest dialogue, our most affecting expressions filmed through the kindest filters, and then stitch these together into a heightened re-enactment of the day. Regardless of our place in the family pecking order, each of us within the privacy of our own rooms will be the star in a continually unfolding domestic saga, with parents, husbands, wives and children demoted to an appropriate supporting role.

    Though Ballard thought in terms of film and television—and though we ourselves play the role of the selecting computer in his scenario—this description almost perfectly captures the behavior of the average user of Facebook, Instagram, etc. (See Ballard in the interview clip above discuss further “the possibilities of genuinely interactive virtual reality” and his theory of the 50s as the “blueprint” of modern technological culture and the “suburbanization” of reality.) In addition to the Vogueessay, Ballard wrote a 1977 short story called “The Intensive Care Unit,” in which—writes the site Ballardian—“ordinances are in place to prevent people from meeting in person. All interaction is mediated through personal cameras and TV screens.”

    So what did Ballard, who died in 2009, think of the post-internet world he lived to see and experience? He discussed the subject in 2003 in an interview with radical publisher V. Vale (who re-issued The Atrocity Exhibition). “Now everybody can document themselves in a way that was inconceivable 30, 40, 50 years ago,” Ballard notes, “I think this reflects a tremendous hunger among people for ‘reality’—for ordinary reality. It’s very difficult to find the ‘real,’ because the environment is totally manufactured.” Like Jean Baudrillard, another prescient theorist of postmodernity, Ballard saw this loss of the “real” coming many decades ago. As he told I-D in 1987, “in the media landscape it’s almost impossible to separate fact from fiction.”

    In 1968, Stanley Kubrick Makes Predictions for 2001: Humanity Will Conquer Old Age, Watch 3D TV & Learn German in 20 Minutes

    in Film, Sci Fi | March 25th, 2014

    Image by Moody Man, via Flickr Commons

    1. Revolution was in the air and the future seemed bright. That year, Stanley Kubrickreleased his masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey– a big-budget, experimental rumination on the evolution of mankind. The film was a huge box office hit when it came out; its mind-bending metaphysics resonated with the culture’s newfound interest in chemically altered states and in spirituality.

    In the September issue from that year, Playboy magazine published a lengthy interview with Kubrick. Even at a time when public figures were supposed to sound like intellectuals (boy, times have changed), Kubrick comes across as insanely well read. During the course of the interview, he quotes from the likes of media critic Marshall McLuhanWinston Churchill, and 19th Century poet Matthew Arnold along with a handful of prominent academics.

    Kubrick is characteristically cagey about offering any explanations of his enigmatic movie but he does readily expound on philosophical questions about God, the meaning of life (or lack thereof) and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. But perhaps the most interesting part of the 17-page interview is his vision of what 2001 might look like. It’s fascinating to see what he got right, what might be right a bit further into the future, and what’s completely wrong. Check them out below:

    “Within ten years, in fact, I believe that freezing of the dead will be a major industry in the United States and throughout the world; I would recommend it as a field of investment for imaginative speculators.”

    “Perhaps the greatest breakthrough we may have made by 2001 is the possibility that man may be able to eliminate old age.”

    “I’m sure we’ll have sophisticated 3-D holographic television and films, and it’s possible that completely new forms of entertainment and education will be devised.”

    “You might have a machine that taps the brain and ushers you into a vivid dream experience in which you are the protagonist in a romance or an adventure. On a more serious level, a similar machine could directly program you with knowledge: in this way, you might, for example, easily be able to learn fluent German in 20 minutes.”

    “I believe by 2001 we will have devised chemicals with no adverse physical, mental or genetic results that can give wings to the mind and enlarge perception beyond its present evolutionary capacities…there should be fascinating drugs available by 2001; what use we make of them will be the crucial question.”

    “The so-called sexual revolution, mid-wifed by the pill, will be extended. Through drugs, or perhaps via the sharpening or even mechanical amplification of latent ESP functions, it may be possible for each partner to simultaneously experience the sensations of the other; or we may eventually emerge into polymorphous sexual beings, with male and female components blurring, merging and interchanging. The potentialities for exploring new areas of sexual experience are virtually boundless.”

    “Looking into the distant future, I suppose it’s not inconceivable that a semisentient robot-computer subculture could evolve that might one day decide it no longer needed man.”

    For such a famously pessimistic filmmaker, Kubrick’s vision of the future is remarkably groovy – lots of sex, drugs and holographic television. He wasn’t, of course, the only one out there who thought about the future.

    Pioneering Sci-Fi Author William Gibson Predicts in 1997 How the Internet Will Change Our World

    in Books, LiteratureSci FiTechnology | February 5th, 2019

    “What’s the one thing that all great works of science fiction have in common?” asks a 1997 episode of The Net, the BBC’s television series about the possibilities of this much-talked-about new thing called the internet. “They all tried to see into the future, and they all got it wrong. Orwell’s 1984, Huxley’s Brave New World, Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: all, to some extent or other, wrong. And there’s another name to add to this list: William Gibson.” But then on strolls Gibson himself, fresh off the writing of Idoru, a novel involving a human who wants to marry a digitally generated Japanese pop star, to grant the interview above.

    In it Gibson admits that computers hadn’t gone quite the way he’d imagined thirteen years earlier in his debut novel Neuromancer — but in which he also offers prescient advice about how we should regard new technology even today. “The thing that Neuromancer predicts as being actually like the internet isn’t actually like the internet at all!” Gibson says in a more recent interview with Wired. “I didn’t get it right but I said there was going to be something.” Back in the mid-1980s, as he tells the BBC, “there was effectively no internet to extrapolate from. The cyberspace I made up isn’t being used in Neuromancer the way we’re using the internet today.”

    Gibson had envisioned a corporate-dominated network infested with “cybernetic car thieves skulking through it attempting to steal tidbits of information.” By the mid-1990s, though, the internet had become a place where “a really talented and determined fifteen-year-old” could create something more compelling than “a multinational entertainment conglomerate might come up with.” He tells the BBC that “what the internet has become is as much a surprise to me as the collapse of the Soviet Union was,” but at that point he had begun to perceive the shape of things to come. “I can’t see why it won’t become completely ubiquitous,” he says, envisioning its evolution “into something like television to the extent that it penetrates every level of society.”

    At the same time, “it doesn’t matter how fast your modem is if you’re being shelled by ethnic separatists” — still very much a concern in certain parts of the world — and even the most promising technologies don’t merit our uncritical embrace. “I think we should respect the power of technology and try to fear it in a rational way,” he says. “The only appropriate response” is to give in to neither technophobia nor technophilia, but “to teach ourselves to be absolutely ambivalent about them and imagine their most inadvertent side effects,” the side effects “that tend to get us” — not to mention the ones that make the best plot elements. Seeing as how we now live in a world where marriage to synthetic Japanese idols has become a possibility, among other developments seemingly pulled from the pages of Gibson’s novels, we would do well to heed even these decades-old words of advice about his main subject.

    Philip K. Dick Makes Off-the-Wall Predictions for the Future: Mars Colonies, Alien Viruses & More (1981)

    in Sci Fi | March 17th, 2015 

    Philip K. Dick died in 1982, but readers — more readers than ever, in all probability — still thrill to his daring, unconventional imagination, and how tightly he could weave the inventions of that imagination into mundane reality. (Sometimes they wonder, as in his meeting with God, to what extent he himself could tell the two apart.) And like many strong-visioned writers of what roughly fell into the category of science fiction, Dick got consulted now and again as something of a futurist.

    In 1980, David Wallechinsky, Amy Wallace, and Irving Wallace (the Book of Lists people) rounded up visions of the future from all manner of sages past and present, prescient and incompetent, in order to create The Book of Predictions. Dick’s contributions, republished in the September 2003 issue of fanzine PKD Otaku, go like this.

    • 1983: The Soviet Union will develop an operational particle-beam accelerator, making missile attack against that country impossible. At the same time the U.S.S.R. will deploy this weapon as a satellite killer. The U.S. will turn, then, to nerve gas.
    • 1984:The U.S. will perfect a system by which hydrogen, stored in metal hydrides, will serve as a fuel source, eliminating a need for oil.
    • 1985:By or before this date there will be a titanic nuclear accident either in the U.S.S.R. or in the U.S., resulting in shutting down all nuclear power plants.
    • 1986:Such satellites as HEAO-2 will uncover vast, unsuspected high energy phenomenon in the universe, indicating that there is sufficient mass to collapse the universe back when it has reached its expansion limit.
    • 1989:The U.S. and the Soviet Union will agree to set up one vast metacomputer as a central source for information available to the entire world; this will be essential due to the huge amount of information coming into existence.
    • 1993:An artificial life form will be created in a lab, probably in the U.S.S.R., thus reducing our interest in locating life forms on other planets.
    • 1995:Computer use by ordinary citizens (already available in 1980) will transform the public from passive viewers of TV into mentally alert, highly trained, information-processing experts.
    • 1997:The first closed-dome colonies will be successfully established on Luna and Mars. Through DNA modification, quasi-mutant humans will be created who can survive under non-Terran conditions, i.e., alien environments.
    • 1998:The Soviet Union will test a propulsion drive that moves a starship at the velocity of light; a pilot ship will set out for Proxima Centaurus, soon to be followed by an American ship.
    • 2000:An alien virus, brought back by an interplanetary ship, will decimate the population of Earth, but leave the colonies on Luna and Mars intact.
    • 2012:Using tachyons (particles that move backward in time) as a carrier, the Soviet Union will attempt to alter the past with scientific information.

    Cherry-pickers among us will fixate on Dick’s near-hits: the development of DNA modification, a 1985 nuclear accident in the U.S.S.R. (Chernobyl happened in 1986), and computer use by ordinary citizens (though our status as “mentally alert, highly trained, information-processing experts” admittedly remains questionable). Others might prefer to highlight the most improbable, such as the eliminated need for oil, the creation of artificial life, and not just the 21st-century existence but eventual time-traveling capabilities of the Soviet Union.

    Still, even in his fiction, Dick does have his moments of prophecy, especially for those who share his paranoia that we’ve unwittingly let ourselves slip into surveillance-state conditions. But I’ve always found him best, especially in the what-if-Japan-won-the-war story The Man in the High Castle, as a teller of alternate histories, whether of the past, present, or future. These predictions, stretching from just after the writer’s death to just before our time, strike me as nothing so much as the premises for the best novel Philip K. Dick never wrote.

    In 1964, Isaac Asimov Predicts What the World Will Look Like Today: Self-Driving Cars, Video Calls, Fake Meats & More

    in History, Sci FiTechnology |

    Painting of Asimov on his throne by Rowena Morill, via Wikimedia Commons

    Isaac Asimov’s readers have long found something prophetic in his work, but where did Asimov himself look when he wanted to catch a glimpse of the future? In 1964 he found one at the New York World’s Fair, the vast exhibition dedicated to “Man’s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe” that history now remembers as the most elaborate expression of the industrial and technological optimism of Space Age America. Despite the fanciful nature of some of the products on display, visitors first saw things there — computers, for instance — that would become essential in a matter of decades.

    “What is to come, through the fair’s eyes at least, is wonderful,” Asimov writes in a piece on his experience at the fair for the New York Times. But it all makes him wonder: “What will life be like, say, in 2014 A.D., 50 years from now? What will the World’s Fair of 2014 be like?” His speculations begin with the notion that “men will continue to withdraw from nature in order to create an environment that will suit them better,” which they certainly have, though not so much through the use of “electroluminescent panels” that will make “ceilings and walls will glow softly, and in a variety of colors that will change at the touch of a push button.” Still, all the other screens near-constantly in use seem to provide all the glow we need for the moment.

     

    “Gadgetry will continue to relieve mankind of tedious jobs,” Asimov predicts, and so it has, though our kitchens have yet to evolve to the point of preparing “‘automeals,’ heating water and converting it to coffee; toasting bread; frying, poaching or scrambling eggs, grilling bacon, and so on.” He hits closer to the mark when declaring that “robots will neither be common nor very good in 2014, but they will be in existence.” He notes that IBM’s exhibit at the World’s Fair had nothing about robots to show, but plenty about computers, “which are shown in all their amazing complexity, notably in the task of translating Russian into English. If machines are that smart today, what may not be in the works 50 years hence? It will be such computers, much miniaturized, that will serve as the ‘brains’ of robots.”

    “The appliances of 2014 will have no electric cords,” Asimov writes, and in the case of our all-important mobile phones, that has turned out to be at least half-true. But we still lack the “long-lived batteries running on radioisotopes” produced by “fission-power plants which, by 2014, will be supplying well over half the power needs of humanity.” The real decade of the 2010s turned out to be more attached to the old ways, not least by cords and cables, than Asimov imagined. Even the United States of America hasn’t quite mastered the art of designing highways so that “long buses move on special central lanes” along them, let alone forms of ground travel that “take to the air a foot or two off the ground.”

    But one advance in transportation Asimov describes will sound familiar to those of us living in the 2010s: “Much effort will be put into the designing of vehicles with ‘Robot-brains,’ vehicles that can be set for particular destinations and that will then proceed there without interference by the slow reflexes of a human driver.” Indeed, we hear about few reportedly imminent technologies these days as much as we hear about self-driving cars and their potential to get us where we’re going while we do other things, such as engage in communications that “will become sight-sound and you will see as well as hear the person you telephone,” on a screen used “not only to see the people you call but also for studying documents and photographs and reading passages from books.”

    Conversations with the moon colonies, Asimov needlessly warns us, “will be a trifle uncomfortable” because of the 2.5-second delay. But immediately thereafter comes the much more realistic prediction that “as for television, wall screens will have replaced the ordinary set.” Still, “all is not rosy” in the world of 2014, whose population will have swelled to 6,500,000,000 — or 7,298,453,033, as it happened. This has many implications for development, housing, and even agriculture, though the “mock-turkey” and “pseudosteak” eaten today has more to do with lifestyle than necessity. (“It won’t be bad at all,” Asimov adds, “if you can dig up those premium prices.”)

    Finally, and perhaps most importantly, “the world of A.D. 2014 will have few routine jobs that cannot be done better by some machine than by any human being. Mankind will therefore have become largely a race of machine tenders.” Asimov foresees the need for a change in education to accommodate that, one hinted at even in General Electric’s exhibit in 1964, which “consists of a school of the future in which such present realities as closed-circuit TV and programmed tapes aid the teaching process.” His envisioned high-school curriculum would have students master “the fundamentals of computer technology” and get them “trained to perfection in the use of the computer language.”

    But even with all these developments, “mankind will suffer badly from the disease of boredom, a disease spreading more widely each year and growing in intensity.” The “serious mental, emotional and sociological consequences” of that will make psychiatry an important medical specialty, and “the lucky few who can be involved in creative work of any sort will be the true elite of mankind, for they alone will do more than serve a machine.” Though Asimov may have been surprised by what we’ve come up with in the quarter-century since his death, as well as what we haven’t come up with, he would surely have understood the sorts of anxieties that now beset us in the future-turned-present in which we live. But even given all the ways in which his predictions in 1964 have proven more or less correct, he did miss one big thing: there was no World’s Fair in 2014.

    Isaac Asimov Laments the “Cult of Ignorance” in the United States: A Short, Scathing Essay from 1980

    in Education, PoliticsSci Fi |

     

    In 1980, scientist and writer Isaac Asimov argued in an essay that “there is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been.” That year, the Republican Party stood at the dawn of the Reagan Revolution, which initiated a decades-long conservative groundswell that many pundits say may finally come to an end in November. GOP strategist Steve Schmidt (who has been regretful about choosing Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate in 2008) recently pointed to what he called “intellectual rot” as a primary culprit, and a cult-like devotion to irrationality among a certain segment of the electorate.

    It’s a familiar contention. There have been critiques of American anti-intellectualism since the country’s founding, though whether or not that phenomenon has intensified, as Susan Jacoby alleged in The Age of American Unreason, may be a subject of debate. Not all of the unreason is partisan, as the anti-vaccination movement has shown. But “the strain of anti-intellectualism” writes Asimov, “has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’”

    Asimov’s primary examples happen to come from the political world. However, he doesn’t name contemporary names but reaches back to take a swipe at Eisenhower (“who invented a version of the English language that was all his own”) and George Wallace. Particularly interesting is Asimov’s take on the “slogan on the part of the obscurantists: ‘Don’t trust the experts!’” This language, along with charges of “elitism,” Asimov wryly notes, is so often used by people who are themselves experts and elites, “feeling guilty about having gone to school.” So many of the American political class’s wounds are self-inflicted, he suggests, but that’s because they are beholden to a largely ignorant electorate:

    To be sure, the average American can sign his name more or less legibly, and can make out the sports headlines—but how many nonelitist Americans can, without undue difficulty, read as many as a thousand consecutive words of small print, some of which may be trisyllabic?

    Asimov’s examples are less than convincing: road signs “steadily being replaced by little pictures to make them internationally legible” has more to do with linguistic diversity than illiteracy, and accusing television commercials of speaking their messages out loud instead of using printed text on the screen seems to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the medium. Jacoby in her book-length study of the problem looks at educational policy in the United States, and the resistance to national standards that virtually ensures widespread pockets of ignorance all over the country. Asimov’s very short, pithy essay has neither the space nor the inclination to conduct such analysis.

    Instead he is concerned with attitudes. Not only are many Americans badly educated, he writes, but the broad ignorance of the population in matters of “science… mathematics… economics… foreign languages…” has as much to do with Americans’ unwillingness to read as their inability.

    There are 200 million Americans who have inhabited schoolrooms at some time in their lives and who will admit that they know how to read… but most decent periodicals believe they are doing amazingly well if they have circulation of half a million. It may be that only 1 per cent—or less—of Americans make a stab at exercising their right to know. And if they try to do anything on that basis they are quite likely to be accused of being elitists.

    One might in some respects charge Asimov himself of elitism when he concludes, “We can all be members of the intellectual elite.” Such a blithely optimistic statement ignores the ways in which economic elites actively manipulate education policy to suit their interests, cripple education funding, and oppose efforts at free or low cost higher education. Many efforts at spreading knowledge—like the Chatauquas of the early 20th century, the educational radio programs of the 40s and 50s, and the public television revolution of the 70s and 80s—have been ad hoc and nearly always imperiled by funding crises and the designs of profiteers.

    Nonetheless, the widespread (though hardly universal) availability of free resources on the internet has made self-education a reality for many people, and certainly for most Americans. But perhaps not even Isaac Asimov could have foreseen the bitter polarization and disinformation campaigns that technology has also enabled. Needless to say, “A Cult of Ignorance” was not one of Asimov’s most popular pieces of writing. First published on January 21, 1980 in Newsweek, the short essay has never been reprinted in any of Asimov’s collections. You can read the essay as a PDF here.https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/WhctKJVRFzVKqkngRtWbJzqZxKpxVsbtcWmzMSWwmcFPFFbvtX

    asimov’s predictions

    In 1964, Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Internet, 3D Printers and Trained Monkey Servants

    “If by some miracle some prophet could describe the future exactly as it was going to take place, his predictions would sound so absurd, so far-fetched that everyone would laugh him to scorn.”

    That was Sir Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction author best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, describing the inherent folly of predicting the future in a 1964 BBC documentary. Of course, he then goes on to do exactly that – with remarkable, unnerving accuracy. Part one of the documentary is above. Part two is below.

    The piece opens with a generic narration that describes a diorama of future society at the GM pavilion at the 1964 World Fair. Perhaps because it was a more innocent time or maybe because it was sponsored by an automaker, this vision of the future is touchingly oblivious to anything related to climate change. Machines with laser guns will clear jungles in hours flat and people will live in domed communities on the ice caps. (Ice caps in the future. Hilarious.)

    Then the reedy, bespectacled author appears and starts to describe how he thinks the world in fifty years (i.e. 2014) will look. And this is where the movie starts to feel uncanny. He talks about how the advancement of transistors and satellites will radically alter our understanding of physical space.

    These things will make possible a world in which we can be in instant contact wherever we may be. Where we can contact our friends anywhere on earth, even if we don’t know their actual physical location. It will be possible in that age, possibly 50 years from now, for a man to conduct his business from Tahiti or Bali just as well as he could from London.

    For the record, I’m writing this post in a coffee shop in Los Angeles, hundreds of miles from the massive Open Culture headquarters in Palo Alto, but I could just as easily be writing this on a beach in Sri Lanka or a hotel room in Dubrovnik. Clarke sounds here less like some pie-in-the-sky futurist than an aspirational lifestyle guru like Tim Ferris.

    Clarke then describes how medicine might change. “One day, we might have brain surgeons in Edinburgh operating on patients in New Zealand.” The long-distance virtual surgery first was pioneered back in 2001 and it continues to improve as internet speeds increase.

    And he predicts that at some point science will invent a “replicating device” that would create an exact copy of anything. That sounds an awful lot like a 3D printer. Clarke warns that this invention might cause massive societal disruption. “Confronted by such a device, our present society would probably sink into a kind of gluttonous barbarism. Since everyone would want unlimited quantities of everything.” In other words, 3D printers might turn the world into Black Friday at Walmart.

    Some of his other ideas are just weird. Clarke proposes to tame and train armies of chimpanzees to cook, clean and do society’s grunt work. “We can certainly solve our servant problem with the help of the monkey kingdom. “ Planet of the Apes wouldn’t come out for another four years so Clarke could be forgiven for not realizing that that is one terrible idea. On the other hand, it’s hard to see how hiring monkeys could possibly make the customer service at Time Warner Cable any worse than it already is.

    Related Content:

    Arthur C. Clarke Narrates Film on Mandelbrot’s Fractals; David Gilmour Provides the Soundtrack

    Isaac Asimov Predicts in 1964 What the World Will Look Like Today — in 2014

    Free Science Fiction Classics on the Web: Huxley, Orwell, Asimov, Gaiman & Beyond

    Jonathan Crow is a Los Angeles-based writer and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Yahoo!, The Hollywood Reporter, and other publications. You can follow him at @jonccrow.

    Sci-Fi Writer Robert Heinlein Imagines the Year 2000 in 1949, and Gets it Mostly Wrong

    this is the end of my forecasting.    Would love to hear other’s predictions.  and again  if someone can find the FFER review article that would be awesome.

    April Poems for Poetry Month

  • 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)

    April 2019 Poems for Poetry Month

    April Poem a Thon Poems

    2017 Poems

    In 2017, I participated in my first April Month of Poetry poetry challenge.  The goal, write one poem per day during the month and post them.  I completed a bit more than 30 and posted them on Triferet journal

    @ http://tiferetjournal.com and on a special community Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/TiferetApril2018Poemathon/ .

    I also posted them on All Poetry, https://allpoetry.com/Jake_Aller#t_main

    and https://allpoetry.com/group/14865-National_Poetry_Month_at_Allpoetry

    Poetry Soup (add link). https://www.poetrysoup.com/me/jakecosmos | edit

    April 2018 Poems

    I followed up in 2018, also on Triferet journal

    journal @ http://tiferetjournal.com, and on a special community Facebook page @https://www.facebook.com/TiferetApril2018Poemathon/

    and All Poetry, and Poetry Soup.

    2019 Poems

    This year, 2019, I changed focus a bit and wrote them mostly following links in Writers Digest,  https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides/2019-april-pad-challenge-day-28

    Creative Talents Unleashed, (add link)

    https://creativetalentsunleashed.com/

    and Writing.com poetic forms forum. (add link)

    https://www.writing.com/main/portfolio/view/jcosmos

    as well as posting them daily on all poetry, writers digest and on my blog (which I did not have in 2017 and 2018.

    I tried this year to experiment with more formal verse forms which is one of my creative goals this year.  Writers Digest has a great list, as does All poetry, poetry Soup, Magnum Poetry Opus.  For more info on formal verse forms see

    https://allpoetry.com/

    https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/resources/

    https://www.writersdigestshop.com/writers-digest-guide-to-poetic-forms-ebook?utm_source=writersdigest.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wd-rlb-bl-190329-guidetopoeticforms

    http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/forums/forum/23-explore-the-craft-of-writing-poetry/

    I also added images and audio clips. For 2017, and 2018 I have gone back and revised them slightly adding in images and audio clips.  I intend to turn these poems into my first published book of poetry.

    Comments and feedback greatly appreciated.  I intent to make this an annual creative project and keep going as long as I can.

    Recent Publication Credits

    poem A thon 2018

    Poem a Thon 2017

    here are my 2019 April Poems

    April Poems for Poetry Month

    Audio Clips

    April 1 to 3rd

    howling at the Moon

    April 4 to 7th

     

    April 7th and 8th poems

    April 9th and April 10th poems

     

    April 11

    Valentine Girl and April 12  Evil Bankers

    April 13 Incheon Waltz

    Debussy Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun

    Debussy La Mer

    April 14  California Burning

    April 15 Shaman Prays for Humanity

    April 16

    Why are there So Many Fake Cherokees

    April 17th President Trump,  International Fire Chief

    April 18 Little Man Child President

    April 19  Old Hag Speaks

    April 20 License

    Berkeley balanced

     

    April 22 to April 27 Poems

    April 26th Walking the Frozen Path

    April 27th  Springtime in Youngjangdo Cheritas

    April 28th Living in the Far East

    April 29th Here We Go Again

    April 30th  NRA Stop Talking Now

    begin 2019 Poems

    Index

     

    April 1 63 Years Haut
    April 1 A penitent Considers another Coming of Mary
    April 1 Springtime in Seoul
    April 1 today just for today
    April 2 Agnostic Dyslectic Wonders if There is a Dog
    April 2  It Can’t Happen Here or Has it?
    April 3 So Excited to Be Alive at 63
    April 4 Trump
    April 4 It’s a Dog’s Life
    April 4th Scorpio Passion
    April 4th  Just an Unhinged Werewolf Howling at the Moon
    April 5th Glow
    April 6th  Old Lady and the Genie
    April 6th Coffee Love Hate Affair
    April 6th Coffee Blues
    April 7th Morning Thoughts
    April 8th Santa James Came to Town
    April 9th Love Cinquain
    April 10th Nightmare butterfly
    April 11th Dedication to the Women I love
    April 12th The Art of Stealing Money, anatomy of a bank scam
    April 13th Incheon Beach   waltz wave poem
    April 14th  California Burning Bright
    April 15  Shaman Prays for Humanity
    April 16  Catching the Trump Fever
    April 16 Releasing the Trump Monsters
    April 17 President Trump, International Fire Fighter in Chief
    April 18 Licenses
    April 19  Little Man President
    April 20th Darker Than You Think
    April 21st
    April22nd Berkeley Balanced
    April 23rd  Springtime in Yongchongdo
    April 24th Four Haiku and One Tanka
    April 25th Life of an Exiled Poet Wandering the Mountains
    April 26th Walking Down the Snowing Pathetic
    April 27th    
    April 27 Living in the Far East
    April 28th  Springtime in Yongchongdo Remix Cheritas
    April 29th  Here We Go Again
    April 30th NRA Stop Talking Now

    1 April 1, 2019

    63 Years Haut

     

    63 years old
    taught me a few things
    life is
    to short
    to carry a grudge
    live and love a lot

    A penitent Considers another Coming of 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 not leave
    these thoughts that hang in the air
    thinking that she must have been with men

    and will be with them again

    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

    It Can’t Happen Here or Can It?

    it can’t happen here

    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

    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

    So Excited to Be Alive

    sunrise cherita
    sunrise cherita

    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

    true story. See Dreams and the Unexplainable by the Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers for more details

    Dreamgirl re-published

    April 4th

    Trump

    president trump

    Triumphed against all enemies
    Remaining unvanquished
    Uniting all who oppose him
    Might makes right
    Patriots unite behind the Great Leader

    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

    Tanka contest entry

    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

     Just an Unhinged Werewolf Howling at the Moon

     

    dogs of war howling
    dogs of war howling

    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 5th

     Glow

    based on Creative Talents Unleased Prompt

    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

    based on Creative Talents Unleased Prompt

    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 though, Dearie
    Remember all magic
    Comes with a price
    A terrible price

    Back of the Bus

    based on a true strory

    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
    I went to Salt Lake City
    Still trapped in the back of the bus

    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 shrugs and 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

    Soon it will be my time

    Coffee Love Hate Affair

    I love coffee
    Always have
    Always will
    love my coffee

    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 up
    Filling with hope
    And anticipation
    as I drink my morning cup

    As I conquer the day’s
    Dauting 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
    just can’t sleep at all

    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 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 caffeinate
    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 awake

    You reach out
    Trembling for you fix

    Coffee

    you scream out

    I

    need

    coffee

    right

    now!

    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
    Finally 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

    Santa James Offers Hope

    In this dark and dangerous time
    that we live in
    We seldom hear tales
    To inspiration, hope and love

    Wet 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
    Just started waking 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 every one’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
    There 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
    Some may think that 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

    April 8

     Lucky Numbers Blues
    Writer’s digest prompt – write a poem about lucky numbers

    There are many gambler 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

    A statistician in the U.K.
    decided to prove
    that the gambler
    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 to the data
    and a downswing to the data

    an early experiment
    in chaos theory
    but with a practical application
    for the astute gambler

    if you are on a winning curve
    keep going until the curve
    turnes into a loosing curve
    then walk away

    and you might be a winner
    according to science
    but they have yet
    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

    April 9

    Love Cinquain

    My Love
    Haunting my dreams
    endlessly talking to me
    Then walked out of the dreams into
    my Life

    April 10

    Nightmare Cinquain

    Night mares
    Endless fears all night long
    Can t escape running from these dreams
    All night

    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 11

    Dedicated to the woman of my Dreams

    woman
    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

    based on a true story.  today’s WD prompt, write a poem starting with “the Art of…”

    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 according to the lying bankers,
    we failed To actively manage the account

     

    And the bank lied, saying
    Because we had not acted
    On the account
    Over three years

    We had abandoned the account
    The bank was supposed
    To contact us
    But they claimed
    That they did not know
    Where we were

     

    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

    based on writing.com poetic form challenge

    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

    April 14

    California Burning Bright

    California
    burning bright wildfires
    end of the world
    an apocalyptic
    a vision of world’s end

    April 15, 2019

    Prayers for the Future of the Planet

     

    based on creative talents unleashed photo prompt

    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
    the 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 17

    President Trump International Fire Fighter in Chief – Found Poem

     

    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 should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

    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.

    — 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.

    president trump on Norte Dame Fire

    April 18

    President Trump Little Man Child President

    today’s prompt write a poem starting with the words “little”

    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 in hell

    April 19

    Licenses

    Today’s prompt – write a poem about licenses

    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 public
    it 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

    April 20

    It is darker than you think

    Poem inspired by Creative Talent Unleashed photo prompt

    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 world
    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

     

    April 21, 2019

     

    Poetic Sketch of Springtime in Yongchongdo, Korea

    today’s prompt was to write a poetic sketch

    In the early morning dawn
    I like to go for a walk
    Down among the cherry trees
    And flowering plants

    Just to welcome
    Another fine spring day
    As the sun comes up
    Dispelling my dismal mood

    And filling me
    With love
    Hope and peace
    As I walk the path

    Of the world peace forest
    Near my island home
    Near the chaos of the airport

    Through the forest
    and over the mountain
    breathing the spring time air
    alive filled with life

    and I think to myself
    this moment
    is the moment
    that I am meant to experience

    life itself
    and nothing more
    nothing less
    Just breath in life

    April 22

    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

    April 24

    Hidden Jewels in Seoul

    In Seoul

    A vibrant thriving city
    Of a million stories

    Of a million tales
    There are hidden jewels
    All around the city

    The city is laced
    With secret mountain paths
    Only the locals know
    Where these paths go

    As the mountain paths
    Criss cross the city

     

    Every neighborhood
    Has their mountain

    At the top
    Lies the exercise equipment

     

    And old men and woman
    Perhaps the guardian angels
    Of the mountain

    Mountain spirits

    (Sanshin or sansin (Hangul: 산신; Hanja: 山神) are local mountain gods in Korean shamanism. They are often paired with tigers. In Korea, every Buddhist temple has a dedicated shrine called a sanshingak (Hangul: 산신각; Hanja: 山神閣) to the local sanshin, who is typically represented as an elder male figure surrounded by tigers.[1]

    The Japanese equivalent is the Yama-no-Kami (山の神; also pronounced as yamagami).
    )

    Stand guard
    At the top of the mountain

    Looking down
    At the teaming masses

     

    Old men and woman
    Walk about
    In the trails

    High in the mountains
    above the skyscraper
    apartment blocks

    The city is also laced
    With canals and stream beds
    Everywhere you wander
    You are not far from water ways

    The secret trails cover the city
    Yet the city does not seem
    To know how to promote
    These wonderous trails

    Yes, the city of Seoul
    Is filled with hidden treasures
    Hidden gems
    Deep in the mountains

    As I walk in the hills
    Lost in thought
    The cherry trees
    Snowing all around

    I reflect again

    On the hidden gems
    The hidden trails

    The hidden treasure of Seoul

     

    April 25

    Life of an Exiled Poet Wandering the Mountains

    today’s challenge -write a poem about exile

    I am living a lonely life
    Exiled from my home land

    A stranger in a strange land
    Far from where I grew up

    Searching for what I lost
    Just an exiled poet
    Wandering the mountains
    Deep in thought

    Wondering what
    Adventures wait me
    As I wander the mountain paths

     

    Wandering here and there
    Just searching for my lost life

    Wondering where my life
    Has gone so terribly wrong

    And why I am on this path
    I see on the mountain path
    A secret climbing cave

    And I enter the cave
    Hoping to find

    A portal
    Back to my lost world
    To my lost time

    To the beginning
    Of my journal

    The beginning
    Of my long exile

    But I can’t find
    My way back

    And am soon lost
    And so I become

    A ghost-like figure
    A lost soul
    of the damn

    Doomed to wander
    The world

    Wandering the mountains
    Lost in dark thoughts

    Forever exiled
    From my love

    April 26

    Walking Down The Frozen White Path

    failed attempt at writing a ballade

    walking down the frozen white path
    as the evening starts to falls
    as I walk in the snow and talk
    listening to the bird calls
    filling the air with the music of Bach
    I find myself getting lost
    as I continue my lonely walk
    death waits heading to the end of time

    As I walk the snowing cold path
    the dark evil evening continues to fall
    the very stars are on the war path
    lightening the up air as they fall
    littering the ground with their cosmic sprawl
    as the dying sun sets into the dark night

    I come upon an ancient ruined wall
    No one around as the end time approaches
    I continue my lonely dismal walk
    Rushing towards the end of time
    no more time for mere talk
    death waits heading to the end of time

    April 28

    today’s challenge -write a remix of an earlier posted poem

    Yongchongdo Remixed Cherita version

    In the early morning dawn

    I like to go for a walk
    Down among the cherry trees

    And flowering plants
    Just to welcome
    Another fine spring day

    As the sun comes up

    Dispelling my dismal mood
    And filling me

    With love
    Hope
    and peace

    As I walk the path

    Of the world peace forest
    Near my island home

    Near the chaos of the airport
    Through the forest
    and over the mountain

    breathing the spring time air

    alive filled with life
    and I think to myself

    this moment
    is the moment
    that I am meant

    to experience

    life itself
    and nothing more

    nothing less
    Just breath in life
    Waiting to die

    April 28

    Living in the Far East

    today’s challenge – write a direction poem

    When I graduated from college
    I joined the Peace Corps

    And ended up in the Far East
    And spend decades

    Wandering about East Asia
    Lived in Korea for ten years

    In Thailand for two years
    In India for three years

    Travelled to Taiwan twice
    Hong Kong and Macao

    Vietnam twice
    Japan four times

    Learned Korean
    Some Hindu
    A smattering of Chinese
    Japanese and Vietnamese

    Married a Korean woman
    And became half Korean

    A kimchi addict
    A true Korean foodie

    Along the way
    And now

    As an old man
    I live half the year

    In the east
    And half in the west

    But my heart
    Remains in the East

    Who knows where I will die
    If I die in the east

    That will be fine
    By me

    For by now
    I am half Asian

    In spirit
    And in East Asia
    If I may meet my final days
    that is fine by me

    April 29

    Here We Go Again

    April 29th WD prompt write a poem blank again       

    Here We Go Again

    In a few short months
    The political silly season
    Will be upon us

    As the nation
    And world
    Prepares to choose

    The next leader
    Of these disunited States
    Of America

    Will the people
    Wake up
    And toss

    The boy child president
    Out on his proverbial butt?

    Will sanity prevail
    And reason return
    To the body politic?

    One can only hope
    But I fear
    That the Trumpmeister

    And the dark shadow figures
    Behind him

    Have many cards
    Up their proverbial sleaves

    And they know
    That the game is rigged
    They know how it is played
    And they know

    Where the bodies are buried
    For they buried the bodies

    And are prepared
    To do
    Whatever it takes

    To ensure
    Their buddy

    Their clown show
    Enabler

    Will be reelected
    So that they can continue
    To rape, and pillage
    The earth

    Making gazzilons
    Of dollars
    As the world burns
    And civilization grinds
    To a halt

    They will find a way
    To escape
    They are the ultimate surviors
    After all

    And they never
    Get voted off the island
    Because they own the island
    The TV station
    And everyone’s soul

    And so here we go again
    And again
    Until the end of time itself
    A constant battle

    Against the dark evil forces
    Conspiring against common good

    To them
    We are just cogs
    In the machinery
    Mere inputs

    They don’t care
    About you or me

    All they care about
    Is how much they
    Money they can make
    Off of you

    Strap in
    Here we go again
    The ride will get bumpy
    Before it is all over

    [ NRA Please Stop Talking ]

    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
    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 socialist/communist/fascist/anti-American/anti-Christian nonsense
    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 amuk

    Talking about gun control
    After a tragic event
    Is just not the appropriate time

    We 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
    in the end

    the NRA will keep talking
    talking and talking

    preventing anything
    from being done

    and w 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

    Today’s final writers digest April Poetry Month’s challenge was to writers was to write a “stop” poem.  I wrote the first draft this morning with the news of San Diego, then as I was about to submit it news broke of a shooting in Hawaii.  The NRA and their stooges always come on the air sprouting nonsense afterward. Hence my plead for them to stop talking now! © 16 hours ago, john Cosmos Aller      

    the End

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Down in the Dirt magazine publishes Another Cosmos Poem

    One of my favorite sites, “Down in the Dirt” has published two of my personal favorite poems, “Howling at the Moon” and “Snarling Cup of Coffee”.

    Hi there… You are getting this letter because you are a contributor to the current issue (with writing or artwork) of Down in the Dirt magazine, and we wanted to let you know that a brand-new issue of Down in the Dirt was just released! The new issue of the March-April 2019 issue Down in the Dirt is v163, titled “Parallel Universe”!

    Now, there are a bunch of ways you can see this issue on line. You can go to the main scars page at http://scars.tv and see it not only in the text listing but also as one of the cover images on the main page (right frame). You can also go the home page of Down in the Dirt at http://scars.tv/dirt and click on the “see the current issue” link – and you can even go to the link for ALL of the issues and see this issue linked right at the top of the listing.

    And remember that until the next issue is released you can always see the current issue at

    http://scars.tv/dirt-new-issue.htm

    Currently this issue is only available online – it will take a few days before the print issue is available for sale through all of the amazon channels throughout the United States, the U.K. and Europe. After then the issue link, the links at this issues page AND the main page at http://scars.tv – and the books link at http://scars.tv/books and the CD/Book Sale page at http://scars.tv/sale will all have links to ordering the book through Amazon (though the scars site will only list it through the U.S. Amazon links).

    And if you look at any writing by any writer IN this issue in the writings section of http://scars.tv at http://scars.tv/cgi-bin/framesmain.pl?writers you will see links to the Internet (web page) issue (and eventually to the print issue of this magazine too).

    In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the new issue, and thank you for being a part of the Down in the Dirt community!

    Janet K.

    Down in the Dirt Magazine

    http://scars.tv/dirt

    Unhinged Lunatic Howling at the Full Moon

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

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

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

    Just an unhinged lunatic
    Dreaming of howling at the full moon

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

    Thinking wild, erotic thoughts
    Of endless wild libertine passions

    When into the bar
    That din of cosmic depravity

    Walked the most beautiful women
    In the Universe

    So wild, so free
    So wonderfully alive

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

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

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

    And she looked at me
    And instantly bewitched my soul

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

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

    Snarling Cup of Coffee

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

    Yeah, but not just a simple cup of java Joe, but a God damn snarling sarcastic smarmy cup of coffee

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

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

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

    I want to scream and shoot the TV and run out side Shouting “Stop the world.

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

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

  • 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)

    this is a companion piece to my earlier Cosmos Excellent Vietnam Adventures. Here are my Vietnam theme poems for your enjoyment.

    plus two poems on Cambodia based on a FB posting by my friend Bill DeFleuri

    Cosmos’s Excellent Vietnam Journeys

    updated to reflect publication in Kelp Journal October 1, 2019

    two vietnam ghost poems

    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

    Old Ghosts

    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

    Mastering the Saigon Shuffle

    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

    Coffee Lady

    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

    Old Lady in the Alley

    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

    Reminds me of the phrase
    From the hitchiker’s guide to the galaxy
    Mostly harmless

    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

    Avoiding the War Due to Two Birthdays

    I avoided being drafted
    Due to a fluke in my birth certificate
    In 1974 the last draft was held
    And some people were drafted

    But no one went to Vietnam
    The war was ending by then
    I avoided the draft though
    To no effort on my own

    My number came up on the draft list
    My real birthday was in the zone
    But then my mother pointed out
    That my legal birthday was different

    When I was born at 4 am
    The night clerk typed up
    My birth certificate
    With the wrong date

    My father pointed that out
    She said
    Once I typed it
    That is it

    His birthday will be
    What I typed
    Get use to it
    My father gave up

    And so, 18 years later
    That saved me
    From the last draft
    Never made it to Vietnam

    Many years latter
    I visited Vietnam
    Right after we opened relations

    Glad I finally got to see
    The country
    That so many Americans visited
    so many decades ago

    Buddha In Vietnam

    In Saigon I saw the buddha
    Buddha images are everywhere
    Temples are scattered about
    Here and there and everywhere

    Buddha lives on
    In the hearts and minds
    Of the Vietnamese soul

    The communists tried
    To get rid of Buddhism
    And other religious traditions

    But they failed
    And Buddhism has come back
    Still speaks to the Vietnamese people

    A different style
    A different vibe
    Than Korean Buddhism

    But still Buddhist thought
    Prevails in the tropical lands
    Of the South

    Mekong Dreams

    Traveling along the Mekong
    Back in time

    Seeing the river
    The people
    Imagining life on the river
    Imagining the war
    The past in the Mekong delta

    And the present tourist boom
    Yet life goes on
    With its own laid back rhythm

    As we traversed the river
    We were transported back
    To an earlier time

    Following the ancient rhythms
    Of the Mekong Delta

    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

    Booze, drugs, sex
    Readily available
    And cheap

    Places to stay
    Dirt cheap
    And no one needs
    To sleep out doors

    Easy to disappear
    Into the foreigners 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
    To gather together

    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

    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 outer set

    The old 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

    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 of Chu Chi Tunnel

     

     

    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

    Saigon 2019

    Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    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 back in the 1990’s

    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
    Saigon 2019

    Saigon 1995

    In 1995
    I was one of the first tourists
    Allowed in to 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 re-unification 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

    Ode to Vietnamese 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
    Vietnam
    Coffee
    Right
    Now

    VC2

    In Saigon
    One meets
    All sorts of strange characters
    VCQ

    VCQ he called himself
    He was filled with stories
    From the war
    And the revolution afterwards

    VC2
    Was a young man
    In Danang
    During the war

    15 years old
    Recruited into the VC
    Infiltrated into the base
    Just another street urchin

    Stole away at night
    Hiding on the big air base
    Stealing things
    To sell at the black market

    Just one of the army
    Of street urchins
    That became friendly
    With the enemy

    They called him
    VCQ
    And the nickname stuck
    That is what he called himself

    Said that he had become
    A VC Seal known as the VCQ
    Learned his English
    From his black marketing days

    He perfect the art
    Of wheeling and dealing
    As a street urchin
    In the mean streets of Danang

    After the war
    he rose through the ranks
    Retired as a general
    Became a college professor

    Later opened his own business
    An interior design business
    When Saigon became Saigon
    Once again

    Wheeling and dealing
    Around the world
    Always one step ahead
    Of the semi-communist authorities

    One day he came back with 25 bottles
    Of wine
    The customs guy said
    That is too much

    He said but I can’t drink them all
    And gave him 5 bottles
    Problem solved
    And VCQ laughed and laughed

    As the wine washed over us
    And we became drunk
    With his endless stories
    From the mouth of VCQ

    Just another night
    In Saigon
    Drinking the Night away
    With the VCQ

    Future VC

    Saigon is filled with interesting characters
    Filled with fascinating back stories
    One could write hundreds of stories
    About the people one encounters

    In a nail shop
    That caters to mostly Korean visitors
    We met a boy of 8 years old
    Who was a natural born hustler

    He had wonderful English
    Wonderful French
    And even some Korean
    And he wanted to show us around

    He spoke English
    Without an accent
    In an upper class British style
    As if he were born to the manor

    How and why he learned
    English so well
    Would be an interesting story

    His Mother was also
    An interesting character
    Been running the store
    For five years

    Amused it had become the Korean
    To Go place
    In Saigon
    Just one of those mysterious things

    They had another shop nearby
    A smoothie place
    And he offered to guide us there
    But were in a hurry

    As we left
    I thought to myself
    Here is a future VCQ
    The fascinating character

    That had wined and dined us
    Late into the night
    Beguiling us with his tales
    From his time in the VC

    Wonder what this future VCQ
    Will tell his future friends
    About his past life
    Living in a beauty saloon?

    1. just Another Morning In Phnom Penh

    When I was in Phnom Penh 
    I stayed 
    at the Riverside Hotel
     on 136th Street.

     Across the street 
    was Neil’s convenience store .
    .oddly named 
    since I had yet 
    space”>
    named Neil..

    There was also a slew 
    of sleazy as hell Thai style 
    girlie bars 
    outside of which 

    sat  naked pretty young things 
    Khmer girls dressed to the proverbial nines

    looking for a willing victim
    among the male flotsam 
    flowing along the naked streets
    Just another night in the big city

    these  women 
    I avoided 
    since they represented 
    the surest and quickest way
    to loose one’s honey
    and one’s money
    and one’s soul
    and dignity

    becoming just another
    ugly aging foreign male sex tourist
    way past his prime
    way past his due date

    Instead, 
    upon exiting the hotel 

    I turned right in the mornings.
     At the riverfront 

    I made a right 
    and walked 
    to a different convenience store

     where I purchased 
    two containers of strawberry yogurt 
    and a bottle of chocolate flavored soymilk.

     After completing the transaction 
    I went to an outdoor cafe 
    that charged $1.90 
    for a large ice coffee 
    with sweetened milk.

    just like I like it
    Vietnamese Style
    HCM Style

    like Even in the late morning
     there were already 

    quite a few foreign male tourists 
    drinking cold beer 
    in the hot sun .

    Some sat..
    like schoolboys 
    on first dates with young Khmer women 

    that they had undoubtedly 
    purchased the night before.
    ..seeking as far as I could tell.
    .. to impress the women
     with their bold and masculine characters 

    …many of these men 
    were older
     and grotesquely misshapen..
    .that is..not fit. 

    a true nightmarish
    vision 
    from the depths of hell

    playing out 
    every morning
    and every evening

    ..After eating the yogurt 
    and drinking the ice coffee 
    and looking again

    at the half naked women
    sitting all around me

    I paid my bill
     and hailed

     an open tuk tuk.
     The going rate for locals 

    for short rides 
    was one dollar or 4000 rial. 

    The going rate for foreigners 
    was double that..

    ..I always paid the local rate
     of one dollar 
    and said thank you in Khmer…

    .Akon.

    ..I quickly left
     giving the driver
     no opportunity 
    to haggle over the fare..

    ..my destination 
    each and every day 

    was the same…
    The Hotel Cambodiana…

    a plush expensive hotel 
    about two miles 
    down the proverbial road..

    .there I used the fitness club 
    which included a normally
     empty 15 meter pool ,

     a fitness center 
    with free weights
     and weight machines .
    .treadmills and a sauna.

    I began the workout
     each day with a swim of 90.lengths..
    that is 1.35.km
     or slightly more 
    than three quarters of a mile.

    ..the pool was embellished 
    with six golden statues 
    of Ganesh elephant Gods
    spouting 
    streams of cool water 
    from their inanimate trunks.

     I enjoyed swimming 
    under those Ganesh

     blessed streams.
    enjoying the good luck vibes

     There was a fully stocked bar

     in the pool area. 

    After the swim 

    I usually took a short break 
    in the hotel cafe 
    adjacent to the lobby.

     There I ate a delicious 
    blueberry muffin

     each day 
    at the cost of one dollar.

     One day .

    ..while enjoying just such a muffin
     I had the good fortune 

    to meet a fellow American
     from Iowa City Iowa. 

    He was an agricultural scientist
    He was of medium height .
    .had white hair 
    and blue eyes 

    ..and…..possessed an intelligence 
    that impressed me greatly .

    ..an intellect that
     was so obviously superior 
    that it rushed out at you 

    from his blue eyes .
    ..an amicable likeable intellect…
    a man you could not help but like..

    .we discussed the challenges 
    of supplying 
    food for a world population 
    that would soon exceed nine billion..

    .the serious threat 
    posed by human induced climate change …

    the resultant acidification of ocean waters 
    as more greenhouse gases 

    were being absorbed by them..
    .but he was optimistic 

    that solutions 
    to these problems could be had..

    ..this was indeed an impressive 
    and unexpected encounter 

    Just another morning 

    In Cambodia 

    Stung Treng Beckons

    After lunch I went to the bus station
    the town of Stung Treng 

    was calling me 
    for some reason

    always want to go there
    wherever that was 
    that is

    the Cambodian open road
    beconing me

    The bus fromStung Treng 
    to Phnom Penh 
    was actually

     a 9.passenger van..
    .neither new nor especially old..

    .Stung Treng 

    is a small dusty town 
    near the Laotian border 
    in northeast Cambodia. 

    The rural areas of Cambodia 
    are relatively depopulated 

    and automotive malfunctions 
    can be a tricky thing to deal 
    with when there are no mechanics
     let alone people in a given area..

    .I had gone to Stung Treng 
    to investigate a possible 
    opportunity teaching 
    at a small high school 

    run by a Presbyterian 
    pastor from Korea.

     An old friend of mine 

    from my Korea days
    decades in the past

    My friend was employed there 
    and lived on the premises 

    with his Korean born wife
    In a small apartment 

    provided by the school. 

    When I arrived in Stung Treng 
    there were no taxis 

    tuk tuks .
    or any form of transport available..

    it was a town 
    in which you 
    were simply deposited.

    with no idea 
    of where to go 
    or how to get there.

    ..at any rate .
    ..the job was not available

     until January..
    a fact I learned upon arrival.
    .

    due to shrinking enrollments 
    and a lack of funds 
    in general..

    .I stayed at
    the Mekong Hotel..

    .which 
    consisted of a series 
    of small air conditioned bungalows.

    ..behind the office 

    was a very large 
    and well-maintained pool..

    .which I used 

    twice during my brief visit

    not the same 
    as the Cambodian gym
    back in the city

    but I made do
    and did my morning swims
    and exercises 

    my friend told me stories
    out of school
     about the Korean pastor

     that made Captain Queeg 
    seem perfectly normal..

    .that he physically
     punished students .

    ..that he harshly criticized 
    Cambodia 
    while singing 
    the praises of Korea 

    and that he had 
    used child labor 
    to build his school..

    ..to be fair

     I did meet 
    a remarkable individual 
    at the Sekong fitness center..

    .an astonishing place 
    located 

    near the middle
     of nowhere 

    that contained 
    only new exercise equipment…

    it was there 
    that I met 

    Scott Sward 
    from Long Beach , California..

    a lost missionary 
    who had been in Stung Treng 

    with his American wife 
    for ten years..

    ..a kind and helpful man .
    filled with the grace of God

    ..it was my impression 
    that he brought much good 

    to the people of Stung Treng 

    although it is doubtful
     that many people 

    voluntarily abandoned 
    their practice of Buddhism 
    to adopt a new set of beliefs..

    . Scott gave me a ride 
    to the bus station 
    at which I purchased 

    the ticket for the nine passenger bus 
    that would painfully

     make its way back 
    to Phnom Penh 

    because 
    no one had bothered 
    to check the level of engine coolant.

    ..there was none..

    .and the engine repeatedly
     overheated 

    forcing the driver 
    to stop and pour water

     either into the coolant
     receptacle
     or over the engine itself..

    ..luckily

     I had struck 

    up a conversation 

    with a cute sweat Khmer female passenger
     that somehow rendered 

    the mechanical problems 
    less disturbing..

    .this conversation 
    could have led to other things 

    I am sure ..

    ..but when we arrived .

    .I simply went 
    my own way 
    and she hers…

    and I did not 
    become another 

    Pathetic looser American 
    Dude parading the streets
    with his recently purchased
    lady of the night

    such is life
    in Cambodia

    these days

     

  • 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)

    Korean Public Art updated with a few more examples

    Intro

    wiki article

    art is not for arts sake

    more on korean public art

    LA Times on Korean Public Art

    rel=”noopener”>Gyeansan Mountain is a Great Hike

    I love Korea public art. Due to a Korean law, building owners receive a sizeable tax deduction for displaying public art. As a result there has been a proliferation of public art all over the country. Some of it is quite good, some questionable, but most have a whimsical sense if not quirky sense of humor. I love walking about discovering public art in my daily walks across town. Here then are my favorite Korean public art pieces, followed by some articles on Korean Public Art. If any one has other examples they wish to share send them to me and I will update this article.

    The Art

    beer murals

    Berkeley in Seoul Coffee Shop


    Butterflies

    Miscellaneous sculpture

     

    Fish Mural Gyeopodae Beach

    Hongdae Street Mural

    Hongjae subway mural

     

    Horse statue Gyeopodae Beach

    Coffee motto

     

    Mullae Street Art

    Make A Wish

     

     

    Halloween

    Manakin

    Baseball fans

    Unseo Street Mural

    Korean Bull

    Blue River Demon

    Roman Statues

    KGB Vodka

    more public art

    these are taken from a mural at the Youngsan Army base of all places.

    Ys flag mural – jakecaller@gmail.com – Gmail

    Dog Image Near Sejong Cultural Center NEW

    Seated Man statute near Sejong Culture Center

    may 2019 updates

    Achasan mural

     

     

     

    Snoopy Pizza Hill Walker Hill Resort

     

     

     

    For more information look at the following articles

    The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it is looking for Seoul residents, including foreigners, to uncover public art in the city’s streets.

    Compared to cities famous for iconic and popular landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan and the 3-ton bronze sculpture Charging Bull in Wall Street, Seoul is relatively less known for public art and its landmarks.

    To build a city with more variety in culture, architecture and public art, Seoul City kicked off a project last year that allocated about 700 million won ($590,000) to construct public art and landmarks on par with those around the world.

    “We hope Seoul will serve as an artistic city for tourists,” said Yoo Hyun-ju, an official from Seoul City’s design policy department.

    (The Seoul Metropolitan Government)
    The project “Arts on Seoul’s street found by citizens” invites anyone living in Seoul to participate in uncovering art in the city. It will run from Aug. 19 to Oct. 18.

    Under 10 themes, participants are to find public art and landmarks in a group of 10, joined by field experts and art connoisseurs. Their promotions of Seoul’s public arts and introductions of iconic landmarks in the city can be viewed via Seoul City’s social media. After the list of public art is collected, there will be public vote in early November and the results of the most beautiful public art in Seoul will be displayed at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

    Those interested can sign up at http://sculture.seoul.go.kr/archives/73034. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 5. Foreign residents should send their name, age, gender, address, occupation and motivation for participating to jenifer@seoul.go.kr.

    By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)

    South Korea’s Public Art is Not for Art’s Sake
    February 08, 2011 7:00 PM
    ________________________________________

    Public art in Seoul, South Korea
    In recent years, cities have seen sculptures, paintings and all manner of artistic installations sprout like mushrooms, both inside and outside of office buildings. Many critics think the attempt at urban improvement is not a pretty picture.

    This is definitely not art for art’s sake. It is, rather, art for the law’s sake.
    A South Korean law requires owners of large buildings to set aside one percent of construction costs for art.

    But what qualifies as art? That is left up to design committees run by local governments.

    Hong Kyoung-han, the chief editor of “Public Art” magazine, says the result of the 15-year-old law is disappointing.

    “More than 90 percent of it is problematic. It has no relationship to the architecture and no form,” he said. “There is no artistic sense whatsoever. There are thousands of works of arts on display publicly in Seoul, yet most of them are viewed negatively.”

    Many critics say they hesitate to regard as art the similar chunks of metal, human-shaped sculptures and reflective orbs plopped in front of most big buildings. So ubiquitous, they generate little notice from passersby.

    A few are harder to ignore. A steel company paid nearly $1.5 million to famous sculptor Frank Stella to build “Amabel.” Some people have called for its removal, complaining that it quickly rusted.
    Oh Se-hoon is the mayor of Seoul. He is a big booster of urban design and the city beautification campaign begun under his predecessor.

    Mayor Oh says the one percent law initially deserved praise because it helped beautify cities. But, he says, the law is not achieving its aim.

    “Because it is enforced by law, people install art out of obligation without any passion or an eye for true art,” he said. “Thus we end up with art that hardly can gain public acceptance.”

    Magazine editor Hong, however, does not want to see government involvement disappear entirely.

    “If we just leave it to the developers of buildings, we cannot expect to see much in the way of cutting-edge, high-level art,” he said. “And only a small number of building owners would put art on public display. So, for now, government participation is necessary.”

    Oh presides over a city that, thanks to the law, has put on display 6,000 sculptures, 1,200 paintings, dozens of murals and hundreds of other items ranging from calligraphy to handicrafts.

    “Great art in the right place gives citizens a sense of relief and relaxation,” he said. “These days I’m into fun designs which will give people a smile or make them laugh among the hustle and bustle of city life. I want to see art installed here that gives people peace of mind.”

    To appease those who do not find peace of mind from the more questionable pieces of art, South Korea’s Culture Ministry wants a change of scene. It is proposing an art reform bill. Instead of placing art on their properties, owners could contribute a smaller amount of money to a public art fund.

    Hongdae Graffiti Alley (홍대벽화거리)

    The street art splashed across the sidewalks and walls of Hongdae adds to the energy of the vibrant ambiance of this favorite university neighborhood. Thought-provoking art leaves no space untouched. The messages in the works are deep. The pictures are gripping. The emotions of the artists are almost tangible. For some of the best murals, head to the alleyways surrounding Hongik University.
    94 Wausan-ro, Seogang-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82-2-1330

    Ihwa-dong Mural Village (이화벽화마을)

    A steep walk up the slopes of Naskan Mountain in northern Seoul will take you to Ihwa Mural Village, one of the country’s most famous moon villages. In the span of just a few years, the area has transformed from shanty town to tourist attraction thanks to government-run beautification initiatives. Along the streets that wind through the still-dilapidated homes is a collection of art installations, sculptures, murals and signboards created by over seventy artists. Perhaps the most famous of the works include paintings of flowers and fish cascading down steep stairways and giant portraits splashed across concrete underpasses.

    6-18 Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82-2-1330

    Ihwa-dong Mural Village | © travel oriented / Flickr
    Mullae Art Village (문래예술촌)
    This industrial area of Mullae-dong just south of the Han River is filled with a cacophony of drills and machinery, and is crowded with countless ironworks – not exactly the type of place once might associate with art. But this quickly gentrifying neighborhood is also home to a number of independent cafes, creative venues and hipster hangouts that are undeniably artsy. Each gritty street has its own charm, not to mention colorful murals, and the best way to experience them is by getting lost in the labyrinth of the neighborhood.

    Mullae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, +82-2-1330

    there are a lot more street art to be found all over Korea.  I will update this as I come across art that is noteworthy.

    comments appreciated.  And if you send me your photos I will add them to the list.

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Gyeansan Mountain Incheon
    Gyeansan Mountain is a Great Hike

    modern seoul on gyeyangsan

    korea tourism info on gyeyangsan

    info on mountain bike trails in gyeyangsan

    ARA Canal Incheon

    Visit to Poet Hill in Seoul

    Gyeansan san is a great mountain in Incheon not too far from the Incheon Airport, and about an hour from downtown Seoul.  There are multiple trails into the mountain.  The best trailhead starts a few  blocks from the Gyeansan way stop on Incheon Line 1 subway system.  You can also find trails starting at Gyean station on the Airport Express line (and soon on line 9 once that extension is finished).

    Hiking to the top takes no more than two hours depending upon where you start.  There is a nice pavilion on the top.  Multiple trail options so doing a loop trail, which I prefer, is quite doable.

    At the bottom of the trail, there are multiple restaurants though mostly Korean food.  There are CVS stores so it is easy to get snacks before hiking.  There is a fair amount of info in English online.  But no real good trail maps but then you don’t really need one as it is easy to follow – just go up!

     

    Elevation 395 m (1,296 ft) [1]
    Coordinates 37°33′11″N 126°42′54″ECoordinates: 37°33′11″N 126°42′54″E

     

    Hangul
    Hanja
    Revised Romanization Gyeyangsan
    McCune–Reischauer Kyeyangsan

     

    SONY DSC

    temple mother goose guarding Buddha

    Rose Garden

    For more information see the following travel blogs and wiki.

    Hiking Gyeyang Mountain in Incheon (계양산)

    Date: January 28, 2013Author: Modern Seoul 2 Comments

    Gyeyang Mountain (also called MT. Gyeyang, Mount Gyeyang, Gyeyang San or 계양산) is located in northern Incheon in the Gyesan-dong area of Gyeyang-gu. It stands 395m above sea level and is officially Incheon’s highest mountain. It is a very popular hiking trial and not just with people people from the Incheon & Seoul areas but people from all over South Korea enjoy climbing it.

    The Mountain is a pretty easy climb and depending on which trail you take only takes about an hour to reach the summit (2 hours round trip), while other trails can take close to 2 hours (4 hours round trip). There are nice views over Incheon and as well as the more countryside area of northern Incheon.

    After climbing the Gyesan-dong and neighboring Imhak-dong have plenty of restaurants to enjoy (although most are Korean style) as well as hiking and regular stores.

    Location and Links

    The best and easiest way to get to Gyeyang Mountain (계양산) is via subway. If you go to Gyesan Station (Incheon Line One) and then take either exit a or b and walk up the hill and to the foot of the mountain.

    Also here are a couple of useful links about Gyeyang Mountain (계양산):

    * Office of Gyeyang-Gu Page – Includes information on hiking trails as well as travel advice in English

    * Taylor’s Travels Blog – A nice story about climbing Gyeyang Mountain.

    Finally

    Hiking in South Korea is possible during the winter months but difficult, the best times to hiking Gyeyang Mountain (계양산) or any other in Korea is from March to November.

    If you have any questions please feel free to comment below.google linkstrip advisormodern seoul

    May 2019  Updates

    I have found several new trails to conquer Gyeansan.

    from Gyean station on the Airport railroad, go to the right and then to the left and follow the stream path until you come to the Gyeansan mountain trailhead (with map)

    from there you can take multiple trails to the top of the mountain, or around the mountain.  The trail to the top ends up with a lot of stairs.

    the trail around the mountain eventually leads to the Gyeansan Rose garden which is very pretty this time of year. there is also a nice Buddhist temple there.

    Dining Options for Western Expat Bars in Incheon

    For dinner, you can either take a bus or a taxi to Bupyeong market station.  There is a great burger joint there.  There is also an expat bar called Woodstock that has friendly English speaking waitresses.  Great place to end a hike.

    Grab a Burger

    212-13, Bupyeong-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon
    Phone Number 070-7778-2481
    Cuisine Brunch, Burger, Sandwich
    Price Range 10,000 ~ 20,000 Won
    Parking No Parking Space
    Business Hours Mon-Sat: 12:00 – 24:00
    Sun: 12:00 – 22:00
    Website Go to the restaurant’s homepage
    Menu

    Little Woodstock

    Friendly staff, decent beer near Bucheon Market station

     

     

  • 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)

    updated with information about two other stream bed walks I have discovered. One is near Kimpo airport, the other is near Kyunghee University, my old stomping ground. That one is one of the longest biking trail in Seoul stretching from Euijongbu to the Han River parks.

    ARA Canal Incheon provides 18 km of great walking/biking trail – great place for a walk/bike near Incheon Airport

    google link

    official ARA page

    ARA skywalk

    ARA Canal Incheon Great biking/walking trail near the Airport

    Gyeansan Mountain is a Great Hike
    Visit to Poet Hill in Seoul

    One of the things that amazes me about Korea is that no one in Korea seems to realize how great their bike and hiking paths are and they are not promoted at all. Very hard to find out anything about them.

    They have sprouted all over the country and are great. One of the nicer ones is the ARA walking path that winds along both sides of the ARA ship canal from the Han River to the Incheon harbor, about ten miles in length.

    I had driven by their many times admiring the waterfall and vowing that someday I would take a walk along the ARA.

    For this trip, I started off at Gyeyan station on the Railroad express (also line two Incheon Subway). From there we walked down country roads through the edges of mountain. One could easily go up into the mountain from there if one wanted to although that is not the major route to the mountain top, for that you need to go to Gyeansan station on the number two Incheon subway.

    After a three mile walk through the country roads, we came to the ARA waterway. It took a while to find an access road down to the trail along the waterway. But once we did it was a very nice walk. A bit windy but nice. When we got to Geoman station – nearest station to the ARA – we had walked 7 miles. We had lunch at a Café Le Mer which overlooks the waterway. It was too windy though to picnic.

    There are river cruise ships that go up and down the river way as well. But again, not promoted very much.

    I have three complaints about the ARA. First of course is the lack of promotion alluded above. This includes lack of signage from Geoman station which is the only train station that is walking distance to the ARA.

    Second, there is very limited access points to the walkway. There should be steps down to the walk way every half mile in my opinion. Most of the steps have been disabled as they are too dangerous to use. They should be maintained! And used.

    There are access points here and there – and they are wheel chair accessible which is a big plus. But not enough and too far apart.

    Third, there are only a few places to rent bikes – one by the Geoman station and the other two are at the ends of the trail.

    Fourth there are no maps available anywhere. The trail connects to the Han River walk so one could ride a bike all the way into Seoul and beyond. Why that is not promoted to a wider audience is beyond me.

    Fifth and this is beyond their control, it is windy as hell. Why they don’t line it with wind turbines is beyond me. They should. They have a couple of old wind turbines that are just for display.
    All in all, I’d give this an B – the lack of promotion and access is a serious flaw in my opinion.

    for more info see the following blog excerpts

    Gyeongin Ara Waterway (경인 아라뱃길)

    Wiki Article on ARA Canal
    • •
    The Ara Canal or Gyeongin Ara Waterway (Hangul: 경인 아라뱃길) is a canal in South Korea, linking the Han River to the Yellow Sea. It extends from Incheon district Seo-gu to Seoul Gangseo-gu. It was built in 2012. The purpose of the canal is to provide flood control and to facilitate leisure pursuits.

    Contents
    • 1History
    • 2Outline of the Ara Canal project
    • 3Controversy
    • 4Contents
    o 4.1Scenic views of Suhyang
    o 4.2Sport
     4.2.1Bicycle
     4.2.2Ara Marina
    o 4.3Cultural life
     4.3.1Gyeongin Ara Culture Festival
     4.3.2Hyundai premium outlet
    • 5Notes
    History[edit]
    Choe I, son of Choe Chung-heon, attempted to construct a canal in the Goryeo period. It failed as it was technologically unfeasible. One of the Joseon kings also tried and failed.
    The Gulpocheon river “waterproof road” project was started in 1992. Gulpocheon’s limitation was lack of water flow. In particular, there was a flood in the summer of 1987, resulting in six thousand flood victims in the Incheon area. To solve this problem, Gulpocheon waterproofing[clarification needed] was undertaken, starting with a five-year survey. In 1995, the Gyeongin canal project was planned, and controversies followed over the next 20 years.
    The project was started in 2009 and completed in 2012.[1]
    Outline of the Ara Canal project[edit]
    Division Contents
    Project Section Incheon Seo-gu Sicheon-dong – Seoul Gangseo-gu Gaehwa-dong
    Facilities Plan main Canal: total length 18 km (width: 80 m, depth of water: 6.3m)
    Incheon terminal: 244 million(㎡), door of lock: 2
    Gimpo terminal: 187 million(㎡), door of lock: 2
    Back complex: Incheon terminal back complex, Gimpo terminal back complex[2]

    Total cost ₩1.6 trillion (about US$1.4 billion at May 2012 exchange rates)
    Project period 2009–2012
    Controversy[edit]
    Controversy over the construction of the Ara canal can be traced back to 1995. The Gulpocheon waterproof project was examined according to several scenarios. One scenario was to dig the waterway in such a way as to discharge water into the Yellow Sea. Another was that the utility Gimpo develop the region for a reservoir. Though the latter is more economical, the government selected the former way in order to boost Korea’s economy.
    The waterway extended in the direction of the Yellow Sea (width: 40~80m, length: 14.2 km). They also constructed a 3.8 km length of waterway to the Hangang river. After long discussion, the government carried forward to private sector investment and Hyudai Engineering & Construction was selected as the main business operator in 1995.
    With no economic benefit[citation needed] and a negative effect on the ecosystem, public opinion turned against the project. Business operator and Ministry of Construction and Transportation submitted an ‘economic analysis’ and demand prediction report to demonstrate the project’s validity. As a result, eight reports were made for Gyeongin Ara canal. The cost-benefit report about Gyeongin Ara canal submitted by Korea water resources corporation gained 2.08 and 2.2 scores in 1996. However, when the IMFcrisis occurred, the project was cut.
    After the IMF crisis passed, the ministry of construction and transportation requested a KDI report of demand prediction and cost analysis in 2002. This time the score was 0.8166 and on reanalysis the score remained below 1. They rejected the report and delayed service cost to adjust report. The KDI resubmitted report by eight scenario including method of main traffic road and whether road charging or not. The result is 0.9223 to 1.2807. However, in 2003, the board of audit and inspection of Korea confirmed inflated result. So they stopped this project and requested disciplinary action.

    In August 2004, the ministry of construction and transportation assigned project’s report service to Netherlands company and got a 1.76 score in March 2007. In 2008, KDI investigated this report again and submitted score result 1.065. Also predicted the quantity of goods transported in 2011 was 290 thousand 4000 TEU related to container, 6.3 million ton related to sea sand, 5 million ton related to steel, 6 million related to passenger. At this point, 80 percent of container and 53 percent of sea sand are included the quantity of goods transported in yellow sea. Also the tailrace[clarification needed] which discharged water to hanyang river was completed in width 80 m. It was decision to consider Ara canal. The member of the national assembly of opposition party said that if government don’t consider the Ara canal, the width is enough to 40 m.[3]

    This controversy reappeared during the project period. In the summer of 2010, there was damage in the nearby Ara canal region, due to heavy rain. Environment groups insisted that this project has no effect to prevent disaster, like flood or heavy rain. Also they said that the Ara canal has no plan to build ‘rain water pump station’, ‘rain water pipe’ and so on. So they demanded that this project be reexamined. But Korea Water Resource Corporation insisted that if the Ara canal has not existed, this had great damage. This damage was due to lack of capacity in pipe conduit. The Ara canal help to prevent a great damage to flow rainwater. Also the Ara canal’s role is to flow rainwater to Yellow sea by preventing flood. So installing ‘rain water pump station’ and ‘rain water pipe’ and others are not related to this project.[4]
    Contents[edit]

    One of the parks on Ara Canal
    Scenic views of Suhyang[edit]

    There are eight scenic views of suhyang. First is “The Yellow Sea” , “Ara Incheon passenger terminal”, “Sicheon Riverside”, “Ara Waterfall”, “Suhyangwon”, “Duri Eco Park”, “Ara Gimpo Passenger Terminal” and “Ara Hangang Waterside”.[5][6]

    Suhyang 2 Ara light island
    Suhyang 3 Sicheon park resting place
    Suhyang 4 Ara maru / Ara waterfall
    Suhyang 5 Traditional palace
    Suhyang 6 Auto camping place
    Suhyang 7 The water’s edge square

    In “Ara Waterway”, there is a 41.3 km bicycle path[7]
    There are five bicycle rental shops in Ara Waterway.

    (Ara Incheon passenger terminal, southern Sicheon bridge, northern Gyeyang bridge, southern Gyeyang bridge, Ara Gimpo passenger terminal)[8]

    Marina port
    Ara Marina[edit]

    There are three facilities in the Ara Marina region.

    The yacht mooring facility accommodates 199 ships (water: 136, land: 58). The marina support facility has a “ship gas station”, “ship repair shop”, “crane”, “inclined plane”, “washing room”, “sewage disposal”. Also in the Ara marine center, there is a convention center, wedding hall and restaurant.[9] In late May, the Gimpo mayor yacht contest is held.
    Cultural life[edit]
    Gyeongin Ara Culture Festival[edit]

    ‘Gyeongin Ara Culture Festival’ was first held in October 2013. It is a nine-day festival.[10] The program has changed every year. The programs are divided by region, Incheon jeongseojin.
    Hyundai premium outlet[edit]

    The shopping mall opened in February 2015.[11] It is the largest shopping mall in the Ara canal region.

    Address
    41 Jeongseojin 1-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon
    경기도 김포시 고촌읍 아라육로270번길 74
    Type
    Amusement Parks/ Tourist Resorts
    Inquiries
    • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
    • For more info: +82-1899-3650,
    +82-31-999-7833~4
    Homepage
    http://www.giwaterway.kr
    (Korean only)
    http://www.waterway.or.kr
    (Korean only)
    Go to map
    • Information
    Introduction

    Ara Waterway flows downstream of the Hangang River to the West Sea.
    In the 13th century, King Gojong, the twenty-sixth king of the Korean Joseon dynasty started the waterway construction for the first time, but it was discontinued due to technical obstacles and the difficult state of the country.

    In 2011, Ara Wateway was finally completed. Along the main waterway are ports and water bridges. and people can enjoy the parkways and Ara-rium.

    Telephone
    +82-1899-3650, +82-31-999-7832

    Activity Information
    [Aramarina Yacht School]
    ㆍDinghy yacht class: 40,000 won – 300,000 won (varies by level)
    ㆍCruiser yacht class: 250,000 won for certificate training course / 170,000 won for long distance sailing
    * Inquiries regarding Yacht school: +82-70-4247-6730 (Gyeonggi-do Yachting Association)

    [Water Leisure Experience]
    ㆍCanoe, kayak, water bike – 7,000 won (30 minutes) per person
    ㆍBumper boat – 7,000 won (20 minutes) / per person
    ㆍYacht – 15,000 won (50 minutes) / per person
    ㆍPontoon boat – 15,000 won (30 minutes) / per person
    * Waterway + (plus): Inquiry +82-31-999-7895

    [Gyeongin Ara Waterway Cruise]
    ㆍIncheon pier ↔ Ara Waterway: 16,000 won for adults
    * Departure and arrival points are subject to change according to dinner
    ㆍYeouido Island ↔ Ara Waterway ↔ Deokjeokdo Island: 57,700 won for adults
    * Departure and arrival points are subject to change according to dinner
    * Inquiry to Hyundai Cruise: +82-32-882-5555

    [Amphibious Bus]
    ㆍAdults 30,000 won / Teenagers 25,000 won / Children 20,000 won
    * People with disabilities & Seniors: 20% discount
    * Early-morning discount: 20% discount
    * Inquiries to Aqua Tour Korea: +82-1670-3355, +82-32-747-3355

    [Bike rental]
    ㆍ4,000 won for 1 hour * Inquiry to Waterway + (plus): +82-31-999-7834

    Operating Hours
    [Ara Waterway Incheon Terminal]
    Ararium Culture Hall 09:00-18:00
    Ara Tower Observatory 09:00-22:00

    [Ara Maru]
    Round-observatory 09:00-22:00

    [Aramarina Yacht School & Yacht Activity]
    March-November 10:00-18:00
    * Reservation must be made in advance via website or phone.

    [Water Leisure Activity (Ara Gimpo Terminal)]
    April-October 10:00-18:00
    * Permanent operation / Closed on every Monday
    Pontoon boat (11:00-20:00)

    [Cruise Experience]
    * Schedule and course must be checked in advance as it is possible to operate irregularly depending on weather conditions and boarding numbers.
    * Hyundai Cruise: http://www.scruise.com, +82-32-882-5555

    [Amphibious Bus]
    10:00-18:00 / Intervals: every 1 hour
    * Check in advance for bus operations as it may subject to changes depending on weather conditions.
    * Aqua Tour Korea: +82-1670-3355, +82-32-747-3355

    Parking Facilities
    Available

    Available Facilities
    Main facilities
    Main Waterway
    Terminal (Gyeongin Incheon Port Terminal, Gyeongin Gimpo Port Terminal)
    Barrage (West Ara Barrage, Ara Hangang River Barrage)
    Bridges (Cheongungyo Bridge, Baekseok Bridge, Geyang Bridge, Baekungyo Bridge)

    Sightseeing facilities
    Ara-rium
    Barrage Control Center
    Lookout
    Fountain
    Ara Waterway Bridge

    Facilities
    Information center, coffee shop, observation deck, restaurants, rest areas, toilets, etc.

    Facility Utilization Fees
    [Duri Ecological Camping Site]
    Site A (for car): 25,000 won per night
    Site B & C (for general visitors): 20,000 won per night
    * Inquiries to Waterway+: +82-10-3824-0426

    Restrooms
    Available

    Korean Info. Service
    Available
    * Operating hours: 09:00-18:00
    * Inquiry for reservation of the service: +82-1899-3650

    Interpretation Services Offered
    Available in Chinese (09:00-18:00)
    * Inquiries: +82-32-561-1339

    Ara Waterway Canal – 경인아라뱃길 from Korean travel blog

    July 15, 2018

    After I moved to Line 9, I create a new objective to explore more places around this line area. This time I want to share a healing place near Incheon. The place called Ara Waterway, here is the official website.
    When I searched about this place, lots of beautiful pictures posted online. Most people posted about the transparent observation deck, where you can enjoy the waterway view from top of the deck. The deck floor is made of glass. Feel it yourself

    The deck named Aramaru Observation Deck (아라마루전망대)

    How to Go

    This is important. If you search in the naver map, the map will tell you to get off at Geomam Station, the airport railroad. Well its not wrong, but you are in trouble if your purpose is too visit the deck.
    If you get off at Geomam Station, go to exit 2 or 3, and walk around 200m to arrive at the Ara Waterway cruise ticket booth. This point is the start point if you want to enjoy the cruise. As I remember, the price is 16000 KRW for 1 adult. This place called Sicheon Bridge.

    You can take bus from here to the Aramaru deck, however last time I couldn’t find the bus stop and ended up walking for 1h to reach the deck ._. You can walk along the Bike Road. Once you arrived at Sicheon Bridge, you will find elevator beside a big statue. Take the elevator and cross the bridge to the opposite site. After that walk to the Gyeyang Station direction. If you walk from Geomam Station, you need to turn right and walk to that direction.

    However, if possible, I suggest you to get off at Gyeyang Station and take 597 bus from there. The bus will stop exactly in front of the observation deck HAHAHA The bus stop name is 둑실동아라마루전망대
    Aramaru Deck

    May Update

    I have discovered two other great steam bed walks in the Seoul area.

    Golden Walkway

    the first is out by Kimpo airport in Janggi station (Gold Line opening July, 2019)

    the Golden Walkway is a five k biking/walking path along a restored stream bed.  the path leads to a central park that is pretty nice.  Above the bike path are streets lined with restaurants and cafes.  this is a newly emerging hipster neighborhood not too far from Kimpo airport.

    Chungdechong Stream Bike Path (Eijongbu to Seoul Forrest)

    the other trail runs to the east of Kyunghee  University, and the University of Foreign Languages..   about a five minute walk from Hoeki station.  This stream runs from Euijonbu to the Han River trails and goes by the Seoul Forrest.  It is lined with bike rental stations.  5,000 won per hour.

    we went there during early Spring and it is a great place to see cherry trees.  The trail also links to Paekdusan mountain and Changonsan mountains to the west of the bikeway.  There are plenty of places to stop off to find a place to eat along the pathway which is one of the longest pathways in the 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)

    making American Sports Great Again

    What is Wrong with Professional Sports and how to Fix It

    books read during 2018

    NBA

    https://www.nhl.com/

    https://www.mlb.com/

    https://www.nfl.com/

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

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

    Making the game affordable!!!

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

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

    Expanding number of professional teams

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

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

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

    Expanding Overseas

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

    Real Super Bowl

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

    World Cup Baseball

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

    World Cup for Basketball

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

    World Cup for Hockey

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

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

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

    Adopting local schools and colleges

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller

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

    Letter to MLB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Aller
    Life time Golden State Warriors fans

The World According to Cosmos

poetry and rants by the Cosmos

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