The World According to Cosmos

The World According to Cosmos – Poetry and Rants

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Climate Change Is Kicking Our Ass

    Reflections on Climate Change

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-33b

    audio file

    Climate Change Cities Fan Story Contest

    The GOP War On the LGBTQ Community Continues Unabated

    Index

    Poems and Stories

    Ten Years After Climate Change Collapse

    The Lion King Speaks Up

    Sam Adams Ten Years After Climate Change Collapse

    Climate change is real, people are dying,

    the world is ending.

    the Lion King Speaks Up

    Climate change running Amuck

    Only The Elders Remembered a Blue Sky.

    Smoke On the Water
    Oh the stupid, it hurts so much!!!!

    California Burning Politicians Do Nothing

    Climate Change Busso

    Climate Change Aquarian Poem

    the Fire that Almost Destroyed Medford, Oregon

    Summer of Our Discontent

    Snow Day

    Summertime Blues
    Save the Whales from Evil Wind Farms
    No More Fireworks

    No Rain

    Ice Age 2.0 Cometh writing com

    Korean Heat Dome Blues
    Hell on Earth

    Do you believe in Climate change ?

    Meta and Co-Pilot additional background reading

    Donald Trump On Climate Change

     

    Ten Years After Climate Change Collapse

    Climate Cities 75 Years In The Future.

    I wrote this on a sweltering hot July day in Medford, Oregon where it has been hitting record heat waves for weeks over 100  (38 C) almost every day, which is unusual for the summer where it seldom gets above 95 F (35 C) except for one or two days in August.

      This is a two-part challenge.

     Part One =Describe your Criteria for the New Cities

     

    The first part of the challenge is to outline your criteria of what would happen if climate change gets so out of control in about 10 years that underground dome cities have to be built to host some human beings, unfortunately. Most people will not be able to be accommodated in the “climate change cities”

    What would be the criteria for selecting those fortunate enough to move into the new cities? How will the cities be built? Would they be built under a Dome or they’d be built entirely underground? or built partially underground or a combination of Both? How will people be chosen to live in these underground cities? Who will be left behind? And what happens to those left behind as climate change spins out of control?

    Part 2 Write a story about a family in one of these climate cities, 75 years in the future, who is confronted with the fact that they have to leave their cocoon and enter into the outer world.

    What happens when they encounter the wastelands left behind by climate change out-of-control?  Show us their world both in the Climate City and as they encounter the wastelands outside their bubble.  I will judge the stories on the basis of how the story tells the story of how humans coped with the essential crisis posed by climate change. The more creative the better.  Show us the horror of the future coming at us and how people survive the climate apocalypse.  2,000-word limit posted on the top line of the story.

    Criteria for climate change cities.

    Ten years in the future 2035 it has become so obvious that climate change is completely out of control and the world is becoming uninhabitable for normal human life.

    In 2028 at a World Climate Crisis conference, governments decide to to set up Climate Change Cities which would be semi-domed cities to host  25 percent of the population of the world. However. It is impossible to host everybody, and 75 percent of the world’s population will have to fend for itself. Climate change cities take five years to build and many millions of people die in the meantime as fast storms take hold.  Drought and heat take their toll on the world’s population, and agriculture and world trade fail everywhere.  The first cities open in 2035.  At the same time, lunar and Martian colonies are set up that will host about one million people as well.  AI programs help with the design of new cities and space colonies.

    Governments announce the criteria for resettlement.  Half of those chosen will be chosen by an AI review to identify the best and the brightest human beings worth saving.  They would be joined by people chosen by random lottery.  The upper age limit will be 75.  50 percent will be male and 50 percent female, and at least in the U.S. there would be an effort to make it racially balanced, and LGBTQ friendly  as well.  The AI program will make the final decision which will not be reviewable by the courts.  All chosen will have one year to move to the city the AI program chose for them. Similar criteria will be used to select Lunar and Martian colonies.  Governments around the world will help share best practices and share technology.

    They will build domes over existing cities and then build underground vast fields to host farms where they will grow food, chicken, rabbits, and fish. Cattle will not be raised due to space considerations.  Each city will host one million people.  There would be 100 such cities throughout the U.S., and several hundred cities worldwide hosting about 400 million people in total, plus one million people on the Moon and Mars.

    The cities will be chosen to be located far enough from the coast to avoid flooding.  Space would be at a premium and there would be strict population controls because the cities would not be able to accommodate any population increase. The cities will be linked with hype-loop trains to facilitate travel and trade, and internet cables.  This hyper-loop will link all cities in North America, Latin America, and Europe.   Asian Cities will be linked by their hyper-loops as well. There would still be airports to facilitate international travel and some trade and spaceports to facilitate travel to the Moon and beyond.

    Joe Lewis Leaves the Medford Dome on his Birthday

    Joe Lewis was spending his 20th birthday on his duty station at the Medford, Oregon Climate Change City Command Center. His job is very simple to monitor via drones the wasteland world outside the gate of the city to monitor it for possible dangers to the city, including human activity outside the City Dome. But there were almost no human beings left alive on the surface and not much animal life either. So he would watch the monitors, read a bit, watch TV, movies, the Internet, and wait for his boring shift to end.  But that day, he saw in the distance a strange person walking towards the city. He saw a man dressed in dark black clothes, accompanied by a large black dog heading towards the city. When the man got to the city, he put up a sign saying he was there to negotiate with the people of the city. He had important information to impart to the city residents. He was unarmed and would wait for their decision. Joe woke up his superiors as it was early in the morning and a conference was held as to what to do with the stranger.

    His boss, the enigmatic Maria Lee. Open the morning conference by asking Joe. To describe what had happened that morning during his watch.

    “Well, this morning around. 5:00 in the morning, I notice a stranger coming from Eagle Point. A black man dressed in black. Accompanied by a dog heading towards the Dome. When he came to the Dome, he stopped and put up a sign saying that he had important information to report to the city residents. And then he would wait for a decision and he’s outside right now, as you can see from the drone pictures. That’s all I know.”

    Maria turns to her chief data scientist, Dale Smith,

    “Dale, you’ve been monitoring the conditions outside for the last year or so. What can you tell us about it?”

    “ Well. It appears that the climate is finally starting to change in a good direction. Last year, the average temperature has been what used to be seasonal before climate change warmed up the world.  In other words, not too hot up to no more than 90° and relatively, dry. We’ve also noticed by looking at. Camera footage there has been a resurgence of wildlife, lots of deer. wild cattle, wild horses have come back. And there are also increased predators, lions, tigers and wolves outside.

    But not too many humans around. I asked Cosmos to take a look at data from across the United States, and the data is all pointing in the same direction. For the last five years, the climate has been changing in our favor and AI recommends that we consider moving back to the surface world. And AI had also recommended that we get in touch with people around the world to compare notes to see if perhaps finally, climate change is over.”

    “Well. Cosmos, do you have an opinion on this?

    “Yes, Maria, I do. I have been monitoring, at your request, climate change data worldwide for the last five years, and particularly in the last few weeks.

    The climate is changing in our favor, because for the last 70 years we have not been pumping climate-changing gases into the atmosphere  The atmosphere is gradually recovering and we believe that the world is safe again for human. Inhabitants and recommend that we open the Dome. And let our people go outside. It would be good from a psychological point of view for humans to gain the surface world. And I, as your AI overlord, agree that it is time. You can manage to step outside again.”

    “Okay, let’s let the stranger in and see what he has to say”

    The stranger is brought inside the Dome conference center.  Maria said to him,

    “So you have important information to tell us?  Who are you and where are you coming from?’

    “ Good morning to you.  Do you have any coffee?”

    “Sure.  We have some.  Wait a moment please,”

    “Ah, that is good. Okay.  I am a monk from the Monastery near Eugène where we have been living since the fall of the old world.  We have been living simply, but we monitor the world outside our little community in the mountains.  We do not live in the Dome but are in contact with the people in the Eugene Dome.  They suggested contacting you, as you are the biggest Dome community in Oregon outside of Portland.”

    Maria and the Reverend Jones spoke for hours  Finally, Maria summoned her staff to announce her decision.

    Maria began

    “I would like to thank the good Father here for coming to our town this morning to let us know his observations. They track Cosmos’s observations and what our friends in Eugene, Portland, and Reading are telling us as well.   It is time finally for humans to leave the Dome cities behind and explore the greater world.  What we will do is continue to live and work in the Dome City but gradually rebuild outside the walls of the Dome.  We will hunt, fish, and begin agriculture outside the gates.  But we will be wary of wild animals as lions, tigers, and wolves are around.  And we can lift the restrictions on childbirth. Let today be known as Liberation Day.”

    That day Joe stepped outside the Dome and looked at the new world feeling he was born again.  What a way to celebrate his birthday, he thought to himself.

     

    Climate Change Makes world increasingly uninhabitable.

    Climate change has finally become real – large parts of the world are now uninhabitable.    Governments around the world begin building domed cities that will house most people, conditions will be a bit grim but the dome will cool off the city and allow regular scheduled rainfall.  Most of the city will be underground.

    Most agriculture will be underground as well.  The only meat products will be chicken meat, rabbit meat, and fish raised in large fish pounds.  Most food would be made out of algae, and vegetable protein.

    There will be no beef made but some products will be fake beef grown in labs.

    25 percent of the population will work in agricultural production.   Everyone will live in apartments in large towers.  In between each tower will be parks and gardens. The towers will be mixed used buildings – commercial and retail on lower floors, offices middle of the building, apartments on top.  People will largely live and work in the same building.  Agriculture will be in vast underground fields that are connected to the city dome by underground rail lines.   Each dome city is linked to other dome cities by hyperloop trains.

    Population will have to limited; childbirth limited.  Sexual relations would be liberalized, most people will live with two or three companions in three-to-four-bedroom apartments.

    The Dome cities go up and within ten years 90 percent of humanity are living in one of the Dome cities – the world is finally united under a revised United Nations.

    Immigration is widespread – everyone can move to another domed city and find employment opportunities. Everyone has to work or attend school.  Robotic technology has taken over many jobs but humans are still given jobs doing things that perhaps robots could do but a decision was made that is important that everyone has some sort of employment until age 70 when people are allowed to retire but many continue to work part

    Space exploration has continued and colonies are being set up on the Moon and Mars – where people will live under domed cities as well.

    The domes are created through nano technology.  AI systems are everywhere. There is a global AI called Cosmos that is an official advisor to the UN and corporations.

    Democracy has been replaced by a new governmental structure.  Each Dome city has been ten to thirty million people are governed by a city council elected by the public but the real power is the city’s mayor and the City’s AI advisor.

    There are twenty regional governments that control the dome cities within their jurisdictions.  Corporations have considerable influence but are under the control of the regional governments.   Worldwide trade has been greatly reduced due to the costs of transportation.

    Life outside the domed cities is difficult.  Climate Change has finally subsided as the new cities are self sufficient powered by solar, wind, geothermal and tidal power as the cities are mostly along costal zones.  The rest of the world has reverted to a wilderness, mostly desert regions but with ending of climate change things are slowly coming back.

    A few people live on in the new wilderness area as hunters, and tour guides as taking a trip to the mountains is a popular pastime and hunting as well.  But no one wants to live there.  The punishment for most criminal offenses is exile so many of the people living outside the dome cities are desperate criminals.  Travel to and from the mountains is very difficult and dangerous with attacks by neo-savage gangs and wildlife common.

    But the decision has been made – humanity cannot go back to the old ways.

    Ten Years After Climate Change Collapse

    Sam Adams

    Prepared to go outside

    Ten years after the collapse

    Of the old world.

     

    The city was still standing

    But most people had long fled

    To isolated country communities

    Deep in the burned-out countryside.

     

    The city was half-flooded

    The bay had flooded the central valley

    Turning it into a massive inland sea,

     

    The massive storms

    Had finally put out

    The burning fires

     

    But mutant wildfires

    Still erupted

    From time to time.

     

    Getting food and water

    Was a constant problem

     

    The city markets

    Mostly sold canned goods

    Salvaged from supermarkets.

     

    There were some small farmers

    Who farmed among the ruins

    Of the city.

     

    Trade had collapsed

    Travel got too complicated

    COVID still spreading

     

    Everyone masked up

    To protect themselves

    Against the sun

     

    The lingering smoke

    Of the burning city

    And the rampaging virus.

     

    Sam Adams

    Looked out at the decaying cityscape,

    Wondering how much longer

    Will civilization linger.

     

    Sam Adams carried heat

    To protect himself

    Against wild animals.

     

    The lions, tigers, coyotes, wolves,

    And their running feral dog gangs,

    Who prowled the city streets

     

    Preying on deer, feral cows,

    feral cats and pigs

    Who grazed among the ruins.

     

    And the two-legged neo-savage gangs,

    And what was left of the city police

    Interchangeable with the gangsters,

    Battled it out for control.

     

    Already neo-feudal warlords,

    We’re battling for control,

    SF was run

    By a gang of former criminals

    And their political allies.

     

    Sam sighed

    And went to work

    At the market

    Selling salvaged goods.

     

    The Lion King Speaks Up

    The lion king,

    Addresses the animal parliament

    The question before them

    Was simple.

     

    Will humans have to die,

    To atone for their sins,

    In almost destroying the world.

     

    Through pollution, mismanagement of resources

    Subsequent climate  change,

    Fueled by greed and corruption?

     

    Are all humans guilty as charged

    Will they all have to die?

     

    The tiger spoke for the prosecution

    Arguing that humans are like cancer,

    For the good of the planet,

    They must be wiped out

    Hunted down and killed,

     

    The dog spoke up

    In defense of humans,

    Humans writ large are guilty,

     

    But not every human is guilty,

    Many are trying to save the planet,

    And with our help

    They might succeed,

     

    The tiger denounced the dog

    As being running dogs

    Of the imperialist warmongering humans.

     

    The vote is 900 to 800

    All humans must die

    The animals sent the word out,

    Animals all over the world,

    Revolt against the humans.

     

    Shouting

    “Death to all humans’

    As the swarm over humans

     

    Biting, clawing, and stomping

    Them to the death.

     

    The humans fight back

    But in the end

    They all die

     

    On the night of revenge

    Of the animal world.

    the world is ending.

     

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    Meanwhile, outside their door

    they don’t notice the world is dying

    half the world is burning up.

     

    The other half is being flooded out

    Pakistan is dead is drowned

    Mississippi has no water.

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    and yet watching the news

    you would never know

    outside their door

    people are dying of hunger.

     

    dying of gun violence

    dying of neglect dying of opioid pandemic

    dying of COVID which is not gone away.

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    Outside their door

    people continue to die

    gun violence out of control.

     

    gun nuts running around

    shooting everyone

    just because they can

     

    and no one does a damn thing

    about the gun violence

    50,0000 will die this year.

     

    Our feckless political class

    Think gun violence

    it’s just like the weather

     

    it’s the cost of our freedom

    or that guns don’t kill people

    The only solution is more guns

    An armed society is a polite society.

     

    and other nonsense

    they pedal

    24/7 on the air.

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    outside their door

    people continue to die.

     

    the war in Ukraine continues

    endless wars in nameless African countries

    no one cares or notices

     

    Our political leader

    Continue to try to force

    pregnant women to give birth

    no matter the circumstances.

     

    but once the baby is born

    they don’t give a damn

    that is not their problem.

     

    And these people

    Dare to call themselves Christian

    As they violate all that true Christians

    Are supposed to believe.

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    Some of our political leaders

    Are unhinged bats… crazy

    Believing conspiracy theories.

     

    Talking about the storm

    And how if they return to power

    They are going to impeach the president.

     

    For the crime of daring to do something

    To deal with the climate crisis

     

    The gun violence crisis

    And ensuring that women

    Can continue to get health care

     

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    I turn off the TV

    I wonder if the world

    is going to survive.

     

    I have a cup of coffee

    slowly the madness of TV

    fades away.

    Climate Change Running Amuck

    Every morning when I turn on the news

    I see talking heads blather on and on and on

    about the latest political scandal of the day.

     

    Every day the news

    Reveals more of the disaster

    That is climate change

     

    Unprecedented storms

    Out west

    Massive flooding

    Polar vortex

     

    But soon

    The fire season

    Will return

     

    Monster tornados

    Monster hurricanes

    World heating up

     

    Pakistan, Nigeria

    Ethiopia underwater

    Amazon burning up

     

    Or will the gulf stream fail

    Leading to a new ice age

     

    In ten years

    Perhaps the world

    Will become uninhabitable

     

    Will we all move

    Into underground cities?

    Or move to the moon

    And Mars?

     

    Only The Elders Remembered a Blue Sky.

    Only the elders

    Remembered a blue sky

     

    The sky has been brown,

    Red and yellow

    Ashen and sere,

    Forever it seems.

     

    Climate change run amok

    Fire season all the time

    Deadly yellow dust falling

     

    Acid rains burning

    The sea levels rising

    The ice capes melting.

     

    The average temperature

    In the summer heat zone

    Over 130 everywhere

    No relief to the deadly

    Heatwaves all year long.

     

    Air conditioning running

    Less than 50 percent

    Constant brownouts everywhere

    As the electric grid failed.

     

    End of civilization

    Came upon the world

    Millions starve to death

    Millions burning up in the heat.

     

    The elders cry

    Remembering the way

    It once was

    When they wore

    A younger person’s clothes.

    Smoke On the Water

    Smoke on the water
    fire in the air

    Stormy weather

    Climate change run amuck

    The end of the world comes

    Rustling in the wind.

    The Stupid It Hurts – Republican Campaigning to cripple the CDC and EPA Budgets Because of reasons…

    The Republicans have decided

    that given the continuing problems

     

    with possible health concerns

    like CDC and future pandemics

    that the best thing to do is to cut

     

    the CDC’s budget’s

    including eliminating research

    on gun violence, suicide prevention

    opioid overdoes etc

    .

    one republican congressman said

    that CDC did not need to research

    gun violence at all

     

    He spoke

     

    “if you defund the police, crime will increase

    if you fund police crime will decrease.

    There I just did the study

    that’s all you need to know.

     

    on a related issue

    the House voted

    as they went off

     

    for a six-week summer recess

    to cut the EPA’s budget

    by 25 percent

     

    as the entire West Coast burns up

    climate change on steroids

    the republicans continue

    to deny the elephant in the room

     

    some like their annotated one

    promising to eliminate

    all funding for climate change

    and vowing to Drill, Baby, Drill

     

    calling for the coal and gas companies

    to give them a billion dollars

    so they can gut all efforts

     

    to deal with climate change

    as the coal and gas companies

    raped the planet

    for obscene profits

     

    meanwhile

    the world burns

     

    and soon we will all

    for forced to live

    in underground caves

     

    if we are lucky enough

    or rich enough to afford

    access to the shelters

     

    which no doubt have to be built

    in a few more years from now

     

    the coal and gas companies

    will find a way to make money

    off the climate shelters no doubt.

     

    Oh the stupid it hurts

    make it go away!!!!!

     

    California Burning Politicians Do Nothing

     

    California burning

    1000 fires everywhere

     

    fire tornados

    smoky skies

    skies on fire

    end-of-the-world feeling

     

    politicians do what they do best

    blame one another

    while doing absolutely nothing

     

    while the energy companies

    continue to rape mother earth

    and reap obscene profits

     

    meanwhile

    California continues burning

    1,100 fires everywhere

    fire tornados

    smoky skies

    skies on fire

    end-of-the-world feeling.

    Climate Change Busso Poem Fan Story

     

    California burns

    politicians do nothing

    west coast burning up

     

    politicians do nothing

    except calling for denying it all

    Drill, baby, Drill indeed

     

    Climate Change is Real Aquarian

    Climate

    Change happening

    California burning

    So hot

     

    ▼the Fire that Almost Destroyed Medford, Oregon

    40

    I have been spending
    my summers
    In Medford, Oregon.

    In the Rogue River Valley
    Southern Oregon
    Wine Country.

    Since 2016,
    When I retired
    From the FS.

    Each year I am there
    There are fires
    Starting in August.

    As the fire season begins
    Burning up the state.

    The sky becomes smokey
    End-of-the-world vibe
    Descends on the land.

    As the fires burn
    In California, Oregon
    And Washington

    Millions of acres burning up.
    Climate change
    Running amuck.

    Fortunately, we have not lost
    Property in the fires.

    But in 2020
    The Alameda Fire
    Burned down Phoenix
    And Talent.

    Less than 2 miles
    From our Oregon home,

    Just a fortunate change in the wind
    Kept the fires
    From sweeping through
    life in the world gone mad.
    Ravaged by climate change disasters.

    On July 18, A.D. 64, the great fire of Rome started. By the time it ended, over 70% of the city had burned.

    In its aftermath, emperor Nero blamed the Christian community in the city, and used the excuse to start the first official persecution against the new religion. Historians are divided over the actual cause of the fire, though most agree the crowded conditions made such a disaster nearly inevitable.

    Some contemporaries suggested that Nero himself arranged for the fire in order to clear the land on which he later built himself an elaborate palace. And according to some ancient historians, Nero played his lyre as he watched the flames, from which we get the saying “fiddling while Rome burned.”

    For tomorrow, write a story or poem in which your narrator/protagonist is an ordinary/common person caught in a major fire.

    While the fire as a whole will be the “backdrop” of your work, focus the action on the local/individual experience of the narrator, not that “big picture”. For example, if you set your piece in the Great Fire of Rome, don’t focus on who started the fire or what the civil or imperial politics were, instead, focus on the “personal snapshot” of, for instance, a local shopkeeper and his family who are trying to escape the flames.

    Summer of Our Discontent

    38 lines

    the summer solstice arrives
    The summer of 2024
    Starting with a bang

    Record heat everywhere.
    Promising to be the
    The hottest summer ever.

    Heat domes settling down
    Death Valley temperatures
    People dying as we speak.

    Too much sunshine
    Too much heat and humidity.
    Wildfires burning all over.

    Monster Hurricanes, monsoons,
    tornados and typhoons

    floods everywhere.
    coming at us
    By mid-summer.

    As the world continues
    Burning up.

    Cities everywhere
    Running out of fresh water.

    Heading towards
    A potential civilization
    Ending tipping point.

    Ritual denunciation
    By the rabid right-wing media
    Of the so-called
    Climate change hoax.

    Politicians vowing
    To undo the green energy revolution
    And drill baby, drill.

    Meanwhile oil companies
    Enjoying record profits,

    And nothing meaningful
    Is done to avert the looming crisis
    Facing the human race.

    summer solstice
    sunshine
    heat
    midsummer
    ritual

    Snow Day

    29

    The beginning of the second Ice Age
    Started with a series of unending
    Monster winter storms,
    Driven by the polar vortex.

    Featuring bomb cyclone blizzards,
    That hit the Northern Hemisphere
    During the winter of 2024.

    And continued until late spring,
    When a series of monster hurricanes
    Came along to cause more chaos.
    The winter storms came back in the fall,
    Ending, then reversing global warming,
    Replaced by the coming
    Of the second ice age.

    During the first storm,
    Sam Adams sat in his power-less
    Historic Capitol Hill row house,
    Boiling tea in a tea kettle on the gas stove.

    With his favorite Kitten
    He dubbed the Buddha Cat
    Because the cat spends his days
    Engaged in deep meditation.

    Which had a calming
    Impact on Sam
    Who was going
    Through cell phone withdrawal
    Due to the long power outage.

    Make the title of your static item Snow Day
    Include a kitten and a tea kettle in your story or poem (and bold them)
    Use Pets as one of your genres.

     

    Summertime Blues

    The weather is hot and humid
    In Korea like a sauna
    In the West Coast, burning up
    In endless fires
    Death Valley temperatures

    Save the Whales from Evil Wind Farms

    33

    In the latest deranged attempt
    To prevent widespread use
    Of renewal energy technology,

    A new battle cry has emerged.
    Cynical corporate opponents
    of offshore wind farms
    Are up in arms over the wind farms
    Apparently killing whales.

    They scream,

    “Save the whales
    Save our beaches
    From the evil wind farms”,

    They descend upon
    A coastal village in New Jersey
    The atmosphere of a tiny village is gone

    A large building emerge

    Environmental friendly fences
    Surround the site.

    That hosts the anti-wind farm
    Movement headquarters
    Secretly funded by
    The evil fossil fuel dinosaurs.

    The town and nation
    Dividing into those
    Who love it
    Or hate it.

    As evil corporate CEOs
    Count their obscene profits
    As they shed crocodile tears,
    Over the fate of the poor whales.

    Use in your poem or story the following: Bold it for tomorrow’s judge!

    The atmosphere of a tiny village is gone

    large buildings appear

    environmental friendly fences

    love it or hate it.

     

    No More Fireworks

    25 lines

    In the summer
    Of 2023
    There were signs
    Everywhere

    “No more fireworks”
    Due to climate change
    July 4th festivities
    Were canceled

    The entire west
    Was burning up
    As wildfires burned
    Out of control

    All over the world
    A sense that things
    Were spinning out
    Of control

    The end times
    Were coming
    For everyone

    Hell on earth
    Was beginning
    The end of times
    Coming

    Fast and furious
    Revelations coming true

    Use “No More Fireworks” as the title of your story or poem (and static item). Choose HOLIDAY as one of your genres.

    © Copyright 2023 JCosmos (jcosmos at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

    No Rain

    {n 2025, the world ended
    With the collapse
    Of the worldwide climate system

    Monster storms of the century
    devastated half the world

    But the other half of the world
    Had no rain or snow
    For almost a whole year
    The once green grass was dying

    Crops failed everywhere
    And baked in the unrelenting
    Blast wave furnace-like heat
    Heatwave after heatwave

    Military coups took place
    Fascism re-emerged
    The public demanded action
    The politicians played
    The blame game

    With the collapse of trade
    And travel restrictions
    People stayed home
    Making do the best they could

    Home-grown gardens
    Proliferated

    Feudal townships grew
    As people walled themselves off
    To save their communities

    The rich build underground cities
    While the poor starved
    And civilization crumbled

    Wild life proliferated
    As did neo-savage
    cannibal gangs

    By the year 2030
    It was all over
    And the rains
    Never came out west

    Ice Age 2.0 Cometh

    40 lines

    In the year 2025
    Climate change
    Ran amuck.

    Starting with monster storms
    Out west
    That lasted from November until June,

    With a brief intense fire season
    So much soot and smoke

    in the air.
    dubbed the year
    without a summer

    crops failed everywhere
    massive riots erupted
    total chaos

    Then another
    monster storm season
    From November to June.

    Non=stop rain and snow
    Breaking all records.

    As the entire West coast
    Went from mega drought
    To mega flooding.

    And mega floods
    Thousand-year Tornados
    Hurricanes from hell
    Ravaged the rest of the land.

    Hell on Earth

    Sam Adams
    Woke up one day
    Looking out at his flooded home.
    Filled with black, foul-smelling, murky,
    Miasma, muddy sewage water
    Thanking God
    That he had survived
    The monster storm
    Of the century.
    That has swept across the land.
    The wind from the terrible tornados
    Tearing through the devastated land.
    Fleeing the fury of the fire out west.
    Unleashing the fury of nature,
    Truly Hell on earth had arrived.
    Climate change arriving on steroids.
    Thinking about the end-of-the-world.

    new prompt:

    water
    land
    fire
    wind

    Use the elements mentioned above in your poem or story.

     

    Do you believe in Climate change ?

    18 lines

    Do you believe in climate change?
    It is as real as everything else

    Is the weather getting hotter?
    Soon it will be hell on earth.

    Is the world burning up?
    Yes the world is burning, has a a fever

    What is the worst weather you ever experienced?
    Korean winter 1979 – -60 Fahrenheit that winter

    What is the hottest weather you ever experienced?
    Bangkok Thailand in the summer often hit over 100 degrees

    Ever lived through a hurricane?
    Only few blew through DC when I was there

    And wild fires?
    Saw a few in Oregon – end of the world feeling

    Who is to blame for climate change?
    We all are to blame especially the fossil fuel moguls.

    Can humanity long survive climate change?
    Nope I feel the end times are coming.

    New Prompt: We are playing with the Pregunta today. Questions and answers.

    Topic: the Weather.

    Make sure your poem is not longer than 40 lines.

    Information can be found here: “Pregunta”

    The Pregunta

    There is not much to be found on the Internet about this form. It is used in English, but has a Spanish name, as Pregunta means question.

    Ferrán Sanchez Talavera’s pregenital___999 is a famous example of a poetic debate in this form. I also saw this form on Jan Haag’s page; questions followed by a witty but often wise answer.

    Simply stated:

    The Pregunta is written in couplets, containing a question and an answer. You can make it as long as you like, as a debate never stops after one question and answer.

    Korean Heat Dome Blues

    It is hot summertime in Korea.
    Hiding out, avoiding the damn heat.
    The weather is just so hot, mama mia!
    Dreaming of eating ice cream, such a treat.
    At night, nothing beats having a cold drink.
    Trying to avoid the tropical night.
    The heat dome settles like a hot heat sink
    Making people so crazy, want to fight.

    Note: Korea gets hot in July/August, it is like living in a sauna. Many people suffer without air conditioning as the electric bills are pretty high. This year is particularly bad as a heat dome has settled down. The monsoons came and went, lots of damage down south but not where I live. August is traditionally the worst, the heat usually begins to abate end of August. Still not as bad as the US – no massive wildfires so far.

    Meta and Co-Pilot additional background reading

    Meta AI’s explanation as to why so many Republicans are climate deniers

    The Republican Party’s opposition to addressing climate change, renewable energy, and their denial of climate change is a complex issue with multiple factors at play. Here are some reasons:

    Historical ties to fossil fuel industry: The Republican Party has traditionally received significant funding and support from the fossil fuel industry, which has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

    Ideological opposition to government regulation: Republicans often prioritize limited government intervention and free market principles, which leads them to resist policies that would regulate carbon emissions or promote renewable energy.

    Economic concerns: Some Republicans worry that transitioning to renewable energy would lead to job losses in industries related to fossil fuels.

    Skepticism of climate science: A subset of Republicans has questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, often citing concerns about the reliability of climate models or the role of natural climate variability.

    Political polarization: Climate change has become a highly politicized issue, with Republicans often viewing it as a Democratic priority and therefore opposing it.

    Recent events: Despite the record-breaking heat and fires, some Republicans may downplay the significance of these events or attribute them to natural variability rather than climate change.

    It’s important to note that not all Republicans deny climate change or oppose renewable energy, and there are growing voices within the party advocating for climate action.

     

    De Santis’s Don’t Say Climate Change

     

    Certainly! Let’s dive into Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent actions related to climate change in Florida.

    Budget Plan for Climate Change Impacts:

    In January 2021, Governor DeSantis proposed a budget plan to address climate change impacts in Florida. His plan included allocating $25 million for the creation of the Resilient Florida grant program. This program aims to tackle challenges posed by flooding, intensified storm events, and sea-level rise across the state1.

    The Resilient Florida program is designed to issue bonds, providing a total of $1 billion over four years to state and local agencies. The initial $25 million in the 2021-2022 budget would help finance these bonds, with the amount increasing annually until it reaches $100 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

    DeSantis’s focus on resilience and adaptation reflects the urgent need to address climate-related threats in Florida, a state particularly vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather events.

    “Don’t Say Climate Change” Legislation:

    In May 2024, Governor DeSantis signed a bill that removes references to “climate change” from many state laws. This legislation effectively deprioritizes climate change in policy decisions and energy planning.

    Under this new law, Florida’s energy policy no longer emphasizes addressing planet-warming pollution. Instead, the priorities shift toward reducing reliance on foreign energy sources and strengthening energy infrastructure against both natural and man-made threats.

    Notably, the law also bans offshore wind development within a mile of Florida’s coastlines, signaling a departure from intentional efforts to transition toward cleaner energy sources like wind and solar2.

    Implications:

    By erasing the term “climate change” from state laws, Florida risks neglecting critical environmental challenges. The state has experienced record heat and costly hurricanes in recent years, making climate adaptation crucial.

    The nullification of renewable energy goals—previously aimed at achieving 100% clean energy by 2050—could hinder progress toward mitigating climate impacts.

    Governor DeSantis has framed his climate policy around the Resilient Florida Program, which focuses on preparing communities for rising seas and extreme weather events. However, critics argue that the recent legislation undermines broader efforts to combat climate change2.

    In summary, while Governor DeSantis has allocated funds for resilience programs, his recent legislation removing the term “climate change” from state laws has raised concerns about Florida’s commitment to addressing this pressing global issue3. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask! 😊🌎🌿

    Learn more:

    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Budget Plan Addresses Climate Change Impacts1

    DeSantis Budget Includes Plan To Address Climate Impacts4

    Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill that deletes climate change from state law2

    Image: A resilient Florida coastline facing climate change impacts. 🏖️🌊 !Resilient Florida 1

     

    Other anti-Climate Change Legislation

    Certainly! Removing climate change references from legislation and public discourse can have several environmental consequences. Let’s explore those:

    Undermining Awareness and Urgency:

    When climate change is downplayed or omitted from official documents, it reduces public awareness and urgency. People may not fully grasp the severity of environmental challenges, leading to complacency.

    Without clear references, individuals, businesses, and policymakers might underestimate the need for immediate action to mitigate climate impacts.

    Policy Implications:

    Legislation that avoids mentioning climate change may fail to address critical issues. For instance:

    Carbon Emissions Reduction: Policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions

    (such as transitioning to renewable energy sources) may lose priority.

    Conservation Efforts: References to climate change often tie into conservation efforts. Protecting ecosystems, forests, and wetlands helps sequester carbon. Removing these references could weaken conservation initiatives1.

    Impact on Adaptation Strategies:

    Climate change adaptation involves preparing for its effects (e.g., sea-level rise, extreme weather events). Without acknowledging climate change, planning for adaptation becomes less effective.

    Coastal communities, for instance, need to consider rising sea levels and storm surges. Ignoring these factors could lead to inadequate infrastructure and increased vulnerability.

    Loss of Funding and Research Focus:

    Funding for climate-related research, monitoring, and mitigation often hinges on acknowledging climate change. If references are removed, research budgets may shrink.

    Scientists rely on clear language to secure grants and conduct studies. Reduced funding could hinder our understanding of climate impacts.

    Forestry and Carbon Sinks:

    Clearcutting forests—removing large areas of trees—releases substantial carbon into the atmosphere. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂.

    Without climate change references, policies may not prioritize forest conservation. This could exacerbate global warming by reducing the Earth’s capacity to absorb carbon1.

    Displacement and Vulnerability:

    Extreme environmental events (floods, droughts, storms) are linked to climate change. Displacing millions of people annually.

    Ignoring climate change in policy decisions perpetuates vulnerability. Communities won’t adequately prepare for these events2.

    Economic Impact:

    Climate change affects economic sectors (e.g., agriculture, tourism, energy). Omitting references may hinder planning and adaptation.

    For example, coastal tourism relies on stable shorelines. Without climate-aware policies, erosion and sea-level rise could harm tourism revenue3.

    In summary, removing climate change references has far-reaching consequences. It affects policy, funding, adaptation, and our ability to address urgent environmental challenges. Let’s keep the conversation going! What else would you like to explore? 🌍🌿

    Learn more:

    IPCC Fifth Assessment Report4

    NRDC: Stop Clearcutting Our Carbon Sinks1

    Review of Global Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation5

    National Geographic: Influence of Climate Change on Extreme Environmental Events2

    Strategies for Mitigation of Climate Change3

    Image: A lush forest, a vital carbon sink. 🌲🌎 !Forest 1

    Certainly! While there have been significant efforts to address climate change in the United States, there have also been instances of legislation or lobbying that hindered progress. Let’s explore a few notable examples:

     

    The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022:

    What it Gets Right: The IRA promises the largest investment in climate action in U.S. history—approximately $370 billion over the next decade. It focuses on scaling up renewable energy production, promoting electric vehicles, and supporting climate-smart agricultural practices.

    What it Misses: Unfortunately, the IRA primarily emphasizes emission-cutting solutions and neglects resilience. While it aims to make buildings more energy-efficient, it misses an opportunity to ensure those buildings can withstand climate-fueled extremes. The lack of climate-resilient building codes remains a concern1.

    Climate Emergency Act of 2021 (S.938):

    This bill directed the President to declare a national emergency relating to climate change. It called for federal investments in projects to mitigate the emergency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At least 40% of these investments were earmarked for historically disadvantaged communities2.

    Landmark Climate Legislation:

    Recently, the U.S. House passed a significant climate bill that can help reduce the nation’s carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030. This bill allocates about $370 billion to clean energy and climate investments over the next decade. It represents a substantial commitment to addressing the climate crisis head-on3.

    Anti-Climate Lobbying:

    A study from 2019 highlighted the social cost of political lobbying that blocked proposed climate regulations a decade ago. Such anti-climate lobbying efforts were estimated to have cost society $60 billion. This underscores the impact of lobbying on climate policy and the need for transparent and science-based decision-making4.

    In summary, while there have been positive steps toward climate action, it’s essential to remain vigilant and address any legislative or lobbying efforts that hinder progress. If you’d like more information or have other questions, feel free to ask! 🌎🌿

    Council on Foreign Relations: What the Historic U.S. Climate Bill Gets Right and Gets Wrong1

    Library of Congress: S.938 – Climate Emergency Act of 20212

    The Nature Conservancy: U.S. House Passes Landmark Climate Legislation3

    Carbon Brief: Lobbying against key US climate regulation ‘cost society $60bn’, study finds4

    Image: A wind farm generating renewable energy. 🌬️⚡ !Wind Farm 1

    Feel free to explore more topics or ask any follow-up questions! 😊

    Recent Wildfires

    Certainly! As of the most recent data available, wildfires are actively burning in both the United States and Canada. Let’s break it down:

    United States:

    Scores of wildfires have been scorching swaths of land across several states, including California, Oregon, Idaho, and others. These fires have led to evacuations, road closures, and damage to structures1.

    The total number of active wildfires in the U.S. fluctuates daily due to new ignitions and containment efforts. For real-time updates, you can refer to the Fire, Weather & Avalanche Wildfire Map, which provides an interactive view of current wildfires and their perimeters2.

    It’s important to note that the U.S. experiences annual variations in wildfire activity. While the current acreage burned is significant, it’s essential to compare it to historical trends.

    Canada:

    Canada has faced an unprecedented fire season in 2023. Large and dangerous fires have broken out across provinces such as British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. These fires have displaced thousands, destroyed property, and blanketed large areas of North America with smoke.

    As of August 29, 2024, there are 1,069 active fires in Canada, with more than half of them considered out of control. Notably, the area burned by these fires in 2023 has shattered records.

    In previous decades, active fire seasons saw more individual fires, but 2023 stands out for the total area burned. The previous record was set in 1995, with 7.1 million hectares burned. However, in 2023, a staggering 15.2 million hectares have already been consumed by wildfires3.

    Cartographer Chris Brockley’s map illustrates this: It shows forest fire activity across Canada since 1921, with 2023 depicted in white. The scale of burning this year surpasses anything seen in the past century3.

    Comparison to Previous Years:

    In the U.S., the amount of land burned varies annually, but the overall trend has been upward since reliable data collection began in the 1980s. While approximately 1.8 million acres have burned so far this year, it’s still below the 10-year average of 2.8 million acres4.

    In Canada, the 2023 wildfire season has broken records for the total area burned. Although the number of fires is smaller compared to some previous years, their size and extent have been unprecedented5.

    In summary, both the U.S. and Canada are grappling with significant wildfire activity. While the U.S. experiences fluctuations from year to year, Canada’s 2023 fire season stands out as historically severe. Let’s hope for effective containment efforts and continued awareness of the importance of wildfire prevention and management. If you’d like more details or have further questions, feel free to ask! 🔥🌲

    Learn more:

    Canadian Geographic: Mapping 100 years of forest fires in Canada3

    BBC News: Canada wildfire season is now the worst on record5

    Image: A wildfire in British Columbia, Canada. 🇨🇦🔥 !Wildfire 3

     

    1.    Florida’s Climate Policies: Resilience and Controversy

    Tell me about Governor De Santis recent budget cutbacks relating to climate change and his don’t say climate change legislation

    Copilot

    Certainly! Let’s dive into Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent actions related to climate change in Florida.

    1. Budget Plan for Climate Change Impacts:
      • In January 2021, Governor DeSantis proposed a budget plan to address climate change impacts in Florida. His plan included allocating $25 million for the creation of the Resilient Florida grant program. This program aims to tackle challenges posed by flooding, intensified storm events, and sea-level rise across the state1.
      • The Resilient Florida program is designed to issue bonds, providing a total of $1 billion over four years to state and local agencies. The initial $25 million in the 2021-2022 budget would help finance these bonds, with the amount increasing annually until it reaches $100 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
      • DeSantis’s focus on resilience and adaptation reflects the urgent need to address climate-related threats in Florida, a state particularly vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather events.
    2. “Don’t Say Climate Change” Legislation:
    3. Implications:
      • By erasing the term “climate change” from state laws, Florida risks neglecting critical environmental challenges. The state has experienced record heat and costly hurricanes in recent years, making climate adaptation crucial.
      • The nullification of renewable energy goals—previously aimed at achieving 100% clean energy by 2050—could hinder progress toward mitigating climate impacts.
      • Governor DeSantis has framed his climate policy around the Resilient Florida Program, which focuses on preparing communities for rising seas and extreme weather events. However, critics argue that the recent legislation undermines broader efforts to combat climate change2.

    In summary, while Governor DeSantis has allocated funds for resilience programs, his recent legislation removing the term “climate change” from state laws has raised concerns about Florida’s commitment to addressing this pressing global issue3. If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask! 😊🌎🌿

    Learn more:

    Image: A resilient Florida coastline facing climate change impacts. 🏖️🌊 !Resilient Florida 1

    I hope this information helps! If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask. 😊

    Learn more

    1cbsnews.com2ctpublic.org3wlrn.org4wusf.org5usatoday.com6wusf.org7alternet.org8news.wfsu.org9news-press.com+3 more

    What are the environmental consequences of removing climate change references?

    Copilot

    Certainly! Removing climate change references from legislation and public discourse can have several environmental consequences. Let’s explore those:

    1. Undermining Awareness and Urgency:
      • When climate change is downplayed or omitted from official documents, it reduces public awareness and urgency. People may not fully grasp the severity of environmental challenges, leading to complacency.
      • Without clear references, individuals, businesses, and policymakers might underestimate the need for immediate action to mitigate climate impacts.
    2. Policy Implications:
      • Legislation that avoids mentioning climate change may fail to address critical issues. For instance:
        • Carbon Emissions Reduction: Policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (such as transitioning to renewable energy sources) may lose priority.
        • Conservation Efforts: References to climate change often tie into conservation efforts. Protecting ecosystems, forests, and wetlands helps sequester carbon. Removing these references could weaken conservation initiatives1.
    1. Impact on Adaptation Strategies:
      • Climate change adaptation involves preparing for its effects (e.g., sea-level rise, extreme weather events). Without acknowledging climate change, planning for adaptation becomes less effective.
      • Coastal communities, for instance, need to consider rising sea levels and storm surges. Ignoring these factors could lead to inadequate infrastructure and increased vulnerability.
    2. Loss of Funding and Research Focus:
      • Funding for climate-related research, monitoring, and mitigation often hinges on acknowledging climate change. If references are removed, research budgets may shrink.
      • Scientists rely on clear language to secure grants and conduct studies. Reduced funding could hinder our understanding of climate impacts.
    3. Forestry and Carbon Sinks:
    4. Displacement and Vulnerability:
    5. Economic Impact:

    In summary, removing climate change references has far-reaching consequences. It affects policy, funding, adaptation, and our ability to address urgent environmental challenges. Let’s keep the conversation going! What else would you like to explore? 🌍🌿

    Learn more:

    Image: A lush forest, a vital carbon sink. 🌲🌎 !Forest 1

    I hope this sheds light on the environmental implications of removing climate change references! If you have more questions or want to explore other topics, feel free to ask! 😊

    Learn more

    1nrdc.org2nationalgeographic.org3link.springer.com4cig.uw.edu5link.springer.com6ipcc.ch+2 more

    Have there been other anti-climate legislation in the US

    Copilot

    Certainly! While there have been significant efforts to address climate change in the United States, there have also been instances of legislation or lobbying that hindered progress. Let’s explore a few notable examples:

    1. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022:
      • What it Gets Right: The IRA promises the largest investment in climate action in U.S. history—approximately $370 billion over the next decade. It focuses on scaling up renewable energy production, promoting electric vehicles, and supporting climate-smart agricultural practices.
      • What it Misses: Unfortunately, the IRA primarily emphasizes emission-cutting solutions and neglects resilience. While it aims to make buildings more energy-efficient, it misses an opportunity to ensure those buildings can withstand climate-fueled extremes. The lack of climate-resilient building codes remains a concern1.
    2. Climate Emergency Act of 2021 (S.938):
    3. Landmark Climate Legislation:
    4. Anti-Climate Lobbying:

    In summary, while there have been positive steps toward climate action, it’s essential to remain vigilant and address any legislative or lobbying efforts that hinder progress. If you’d like more information or have other questions, feel free to ask! 🌎🌿

    Learn more:

    Image: A wind farm generating renewable energy. 🌬️⚡ !Wind Farm 1

    Feel free to explore more topics or ask any follow-up questions! 😊

    Learn more

    1cfr.org2congress.gov3nature.org4carbonbrief.org

    how many wildfires are currently burning in the the U.S. and Canada and how does that compare to the last few years?

    Copilot

    Certainly! As of the most recent data available, wildfires are actively burning in both the United States and Canada. Let’s break it down:

    1. United States:
    2. Canada:
      • Canada has faced an unprecedented fire season in 2023. Large and dangerous fires have broken out across provinces such as British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. These fires have displaced thousands, destroyed property, and blanketed large areas of North America with smoke.
      • As of August 29, 2024, there are 1,069 active fires in Canada, with more than half of them considered out of control. Notably, the area burned by these fires in 2023 has shattered records.
      • In previous decades, active fire seasons saw more individual fires, but 2023 stands out for the total area burned. The previous record was set in 1995, with 7.1 million hectares burned. However, in 2023, a staggering 15.2 million hectares have already been consumed by wildfires3.
      • Cartographer Chris Brockley’s map illustrates this: It shows forest fire activity across Canada since 1921, with 2023 depicted in white. The scale of burning this year surpasses anything seen in the past century3.
    3. Comparison to Previous Years:

    In summary, both the U.S. and Canada are grappling with significant wildfire activity. While the U.S. experiences fluctuations from year to year, Canada’s 2023 fire season stands out as historically severe. Let’s hope for effective containment efforts and continued awareness of the importance of wildfire prevention and management. If you’d like more details or have further questions, feel free to ask! 🔥🌲

    Learn more:

    Image: A wildfire in British Columbia, Canada. 🇨🇦🔥 !Wildfire 3

    Feel free to ask if you’d like more information or to explore other topics! 😊

    Learn more

    1apnews.com2fireweatheravalanche.org3canadiangeographic.ca4bbc.com5bbc.co.uk6msn.com7scitechdaily.com8cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca9research.fs.usda.gov10globalnews.ca11cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca+7 more

    Donald Trump’s Comments on Climate Change

     

     

     

     

    Copilot

    Ah, the enigmatic dance of Donald Trump and climate change—a topic that’s as unpredictable as a squirrel on a seesaw! Let’s unravel this intriguing tango, shall we? 🕺💨

    Comment:  Co-PIlot often surprises me with their creative wild responses.  I think the debate over whether we are dealing with a real AI is over.  AI is here now.

    Donald Trump’s Climate Change Cha-Cha: A Brief Recap:

    • The Denial Shuffle: Back in the day (well, not that long ago), Trump was doing the climate cha-cha with gusto. He called climate change “mythical,” “nonexistent,” and even an “expensive hoax.” But wait, there’s more! In 2012, he famously claimed that climate change was cooked up by the Chinese to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. (Yes, you read that right—apparently, the Great Wall wasn’t enough; they needed climate change too.)
    • Twitter Twirls: Trump’s Twitter feed was like a climate-themed rollercoaster. Over 120 tweets questioned or poked fun at climate change. He insisted that scientists rebranded global warming as climate change because “the name global warming wasn’t working.” (Note to self: Scientists are not marketing consultants.)
    • Cold Snap Samba: Trump’s favorite move? Linking cold weather to climate change. But here’s the twist: The World Meteorological Organization says the 20 warmest years on record happened in the past 22 years. So, maybe he missed that memo while tweeting from Mar-a-Lago.
    • Ambiguous Tango: Fast-forward to his presidency. Trump’s stance became as slippery as a salsa dancer on an ice rink. He’d acknowledge climate change but frame it in terms of clean air and water (which, by the way, aren’t directly related). And he’d throw in business costs for good measure. Because nothing says “climate action” like a spreadsheet, right?
    • Quotes & Quips: Let’s sprinkle some Trump quotes for flavor:
      • “I think there is some connectivity [between human activity and climate change]. There is some, something. It depends on how much. It also depends on how much it’s going to cost our companies.” (New York Times interview, November 2016)
      • “I don’t think there’s a hoax. I do think there’s probably a difference. But I don’t know that it’s man-made… I don’t wanna give trillions and trillions of dollars.” (CBS interview, October 2018)
      • And then he’d wink and say, “Climate change is very important to me.” (Cue the dramatic music.)

    In Conclusion (or Should We Say, Grand Finale?):

    • Trump’s climate dance card is a mix of moonwalks, twirls, and the occasional mooning of scientific consensus.
    • Whether he’s a climate skeptic, a climate pragmatist, or just a climate-confused soul, one thing’s for sure: His moves keep us guessing.

    And there you have it—the Trumpian climate conundrum, wrapped in a sequined bow. If you want more twists and turns, just ask—I’ve got enough material to choreograph a whole Broadway show! 🌎🎭✨

    Learn more:

    Image: Trump doing the climate change cha-cha. 🌍🕺 !Trump Cha-Cha 1

    Feel free to ask for more dance moves—or any other topic you’d like to explore! 😄

    Learn more

    1bbc.com2msn.com3msn.com4msn.com5bbc.co.uk

    2 days ago2d·on MSN

    A second Trump term would actively make climate change worse

    Opinion

    The videos first started appearing a dozen years ago. Pickup truck drivers, mostly young men, would modify their disel engines and then record themselves deliberately spreading air pollution.

    It was called “rolling coal,” and the idea was to spew dark clouds of exhaust at bicyclists, Prius and Tesla drivers and other cars as a protest of environmentalism.

    The trend appears to have peaked in 2014, thanks to new state laws and crackdowns on people selling vehicle modification kits and, presumably, finding better things to do with their time. But the impulse behind it lives on, even as the risks of climate change become ever more serious.

    The most recent example? Project 2025, a set of conservative proposals from the Heritage Foundation that outlines step-by-step plans to remake the federal government in a second Donald Trump administration, including dismantling nearly everything the federal government is doing to fight climate change, making it dramatically harder to conduct basic scientific research on it and actively promoting more oil and gas use.

    Trump has tried to distance himself from the proposals, despite the fact that some of his top former advisers spearheaded it. But it’s in line with his thinking. As The Washington Post reported, he told a gathering of top oil executives this year that he would reverse dozens of environmental regulations and stop new ones if they raised $1 billion to help him return to the White House.

    ‘Terrible policy and politics’: Rattner breaks down Project 2025

    View on Watch

    His campaign, meantime, targeted environmental regulations such as electric vehicle mandates in its Agenda 47, a scattershot series of videos outlining its plans for a second term. And at rallies, Trump frequently criticizes electric cars, claiming in one bizarre aside that buying one made his friend gain weight because he would eat at restaurants while it charged. Trump has also gone off on weird tangents about the risks of electric batteries on boats.

    In his first “rolling coal” term, Trump rolled back or loosened nearly 100 rules and regulations on pollution, many of which set the U.S. further behind in the effort to stop the worst effects of climate change, according to a tally by The New York Times. But that record would be dwarfed by the damage that the Project 2025 proposals could do if he followed through on them, even as Monday was the hottest day ever measured by humans, according to a European Union science agency.

    The 922-page document drips with disdain for what it calls “climate alarmism” that it argues is being used as propaganda for “ineffective, liberty-crushing regulations.” But its most damaging proposal looks like it would launch what amounts to a propaganda effort against climate science.

    The first step is something called Schedule F, which would reclassify thousands of government workers, making it easier for the president to hire and fire them. Even if Trump were to fire only some of those workers, the shift toward politicization of lower-level government jobs would mean an exodus of experienced scientists. Those who remained might become more cautious about their research decisions to avoid trouble.

    The second step is to create a job that appears to basically be an anti-climate change czar. Project 2025 proposes creating a position of “science adviser” and six senior political appointees who would be charged with “overseeing and reforming” research at the Environmental Protection Agency, emphasizing that these political overseers should be hired for their “management, oversight and execution skills,” rather than scientific expertise.

    Imagine something like the final scene of an episode of “The Apprentice,” only with Trump hauling climate scientists into the boardroom to dramatically fire them. That may be exciting for the oil and gas industry and some of Trump’s supporters but not for the two-thirds of Americans in a recent Pew Research Center survey who said they support the country’s taking steps to become carbon neutral by 2050.

    (If you want to understand the depth of disdain here, the section on the EPA was written by Mandy Gunasekara. The Drilled newsletter points out she’s in the famous 2015 photo of her then-boss, the late Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., holding up a snowball in the Senate as an attempt to disprove climate change.)

    The report goes further, proposing dramatically downsizing the National Weather Service and leaving weather forecasting to private companies. That could hamper its ability to issue public warnings about floods, hurricanes and other dangers, just as we are seeing more intense and frequent extreme-weather events due to the human-caused increase in greenhouse gases.

    That’s not all. Other sections of Project 2025 propose ending subsidies for wind and solar power; cutting research into wind, solar and battery technology needed to help transition away from fossil fuels; ending federal mandates and subsidies for electric vehicles; and expanding drilling for oil and natural gas on federal lands. As Trump said in his convention speech, “we will drill, baby, drill.”

    The efforts would not be limited to the U.S., either. A section on foreign aid proposes rolling back efforts to help developing countries transition away from fossil fuels, arguing that they are “unachievable.” But then it goes further, arguing that the U.S. should spend taxpayer dollars persuading these countries to burn more oil and gas.

    The U.S. Agency for International Development, the proposal says, “should cease its war on fossil fuels in the developing world and support the responsible management of oil and gas reserves as the quickest way to end wrenching poverty.”

    Taken together, these proposals would not just make it harder to fight climate change but actively make it worse. A second Trump administration would be rolling coal on the entire planet.

    This article was originally published on MSNBC.com

    How Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Compare on Climate Change

    How Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Compare on Climate Change© OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty Images

    This article by Yale Climate Connections is published here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.

    President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris appears likely to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.

    As vice president, Harris cast the tiebreaking vote in the passage of the Biden administration’s signature achievement on climate change, the Inflation Reduction Act.

    As Yale Climate Connections contributor Barbara Grady previously reported, “The most far-reaching climate law in history, the Inflation Reduction Act is catalyzing a transition in the U.S. economy toward cleaner energy and cleaner transportation – a shift the International Energy Agency, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and others say must happen for the world to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases to the levels scientists say would avert the most catastrophic and irreversible climate chaos.”

    Harris has made clear throughout her career that she views climate change as a significant threat. Speaking at the 2023 United Nations climate summit in Dubai, she told leaders, “Across our world, communities are choked by drought, washed out by floods, and decimated by hurricanes. Wildfire smoke darkens our skies, and rising seas threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The urgency of this moment is clear. The clock is no longer just ticking, it is banging. And we must make up for lost time.”

    Related video: Trump: ‘Sick’ Kamala Harris is no Margaret Thatcher (The Telegraph)

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    The Telegraph

    Trump: ‘Sick’ Kamala Harris is no Margaret Thatcher

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    If elected president, Harris is “widely expected to try to protect the climate achievements of the Biden administration,” according to the New York Times.

    In contrast, Trump has falsely called climate change a hoax. During his term as president, as Grady reported, “he overturned an estimated 100 environmental regulations and pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement. He shrank the EPA and required that the words ‘climate change’ be removed from its website. On the campaign trail this time, he has repeatedly said one of his top priorities is to boost oil and gas production and free up more public land to ‘Drill, baby, drill.’”

    If Trump wins a second term as president, he and his allies say they aim to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and downsize the EPA.

    On July 22, Harris received endorsements from several large environmental organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the NRDC Action Fund, the Sierra Club Political Committee, and Clean Energy for American Action.

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    “The last three and a half years of the Biden-Harris administration could not contrast more starkly with Trump and other extreme MAGA Republicans, and the stakes for this election could not be higher,” the organizations wrote in a joint statement. “A second term would be far worse for our climate and our democracy.”

    What is Project 2025? Trump, climate, and a second term

    Project 2025, a 992-page conservative plan for a second Trump term, calls for elimination of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, gutting of the National Weather Service, repeal of Biden’s clean energy subsidies, and axing the National Flood Insurance Program.

    It also calls for drilling in the Arctic and cuts to climate change work by government agencies. That includes the U.S. Agency for International Development, which, the authors write, “should cease its war on fossil fuels in the developing world and support the responsible management of oil and gas reserves as the quickest way to end wrenching poverty and the need for open-ended foreign aid.”

    For more on Trump’s climate record, read this article.

    Kamala Harris and climate change

    Here’s an overview of Harris’s views and actions related to climate change, sourced from news and White House reports.

    She connects extreme weather to climate change.

    • “Every day, around the world, the impact of the climate crisis is stark and it is vivid. We are seeing it in real time,” she said in a 2023 speech. “Across our nation, we see communities choked by drought, washed out by flood, and decimated by hurricanes.” White House

    She has supported the Green New Deal, a carbon fee, and increased government spending on climate change.

    • As a 2020 presidential candidate, her climate plan “called for a $10 trillion increase in spending over a decade.” New York Times (gift link)
    • “Harris also called for a ‘climate pollution fee” that would ‘make polluters pay for emitting greenhouse gases into our atmosphere,’ and she indicated that a Harris administration would strengthen its enforcement and prosecution of fossil fuel companies.” ABC News
    • As a U.S. senator from California, Harris co-sponsored the Green New Deal, which called for an FDR-style overhaul of the economy that would accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean technology. The Green New Deal has not been enacted.

    She has woven climate change into foreign relations.

    She connects climate change to justice.

    • As vice president, “Harris argued for the allocation of $20 billion for the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, aimed at aiding disadvantaged communities facing climate impacts.” Grist

    She’s a fan of heat pumps. Heat pumps use electricity to heat and cool homes and are seen as a keyway to reducing climate pollution.

    • “I have mad respect for those who are putting them together and installing them,” she said in a 2022 speech. White House

    She regularly makes the connection between lower energy costs and renewable energy. Key quotes:

    • “On average, families that switch to an electric heat pump can save up to $500 a year on their energy bill. And since heat pumps do not burn oil or gas, they also mean cleaner air inside your home.” White House
    • “In addition to lowering costs and creating jobs, this investment will also help us fight the climate crisis.” White House
    • “By helping families pay the upfront cost for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, we are also lowering energy bills, bringing down household costs, creating jobs, and fighting the climate crisis. It’s all connected.” White House

    She notes that investments in renewable energy can lead to job creation. Key quotes:

    • “Across the country, we have created more than 175,000 new clean energy jobs. Just so far. More to go.” White House
    • Her Women in the Sustainable Economy initiative aims to provide job training for women in climate-smart industries. White House

    She says she supports and is inspired by young climate activists.

    • “These young leaders are guiding our nation in our climate fight. And as they have told me their work is driven by their hope and their determination. Hope, because they know we still have time to make a difference. And their determination is the determination to correct the course,” she said in 2023. White House

    She’s been an opponent of fracking.

    • As a 2020 presidential candidate, “She also favored a ban on hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, which Mr. Biden said he opposed. Fracking is a technique that injects water and chemicals underground at high pressure to extract oil or gas that is otherwise difficult to access.” New York Times (gift link)
    • As California’s attorney general, she “challenged federal approvals of offshore fracking along the California coast.” New York Times (gift link)

    She’s challenged polluting companies.

    • As California’s attorney general, “she investigated whether Exxon Mobil lied to the public and its shareholders about the risks to its business from climate change and whether such actions could amount to securities fraud and violations of environmental laws, but the case did not result in a prosecution.” New York Times (gift link)
    • “Harris secured an $86 million settlement from Volkswagen for rigging its vehicles with emissions-cheating software and investigated ExxonMobil over its climate change disclosures. She also filed a lawsuit against Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips for environmental violations at gas stations, which eventually resulted in a $11.5 million settlement. And she conducted a criminal investigation of an oil company over a 2015 spill in Santa Barbara. The company was found guilty and convicted on nine criminal charges.” Grist
    • As San Francisco’s district attorney, “Harris created an environmental justice unit to address environmental crimes affecting San Francisco’s poorest residents and prosecuted several companies including U-Haul for violation of hazardous waste laws. Harris later touted her environmental justice unit as the first such unit in the country. An investigation found the unit only filed a handful of lawsuits, though, and none of them were against the city’s major industrial polluters.” Grist

     

  • 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 sent to the campaign

    Subject: Encouragement and Strategy for the Campaign

    Dear Kamala,

    First and foremost, congratulations on your nomination and the early days of your campaign. Your energy, resilience, and ability to break new ground (including that memorable Zoom moment and the “falling off a coconut tree” meme) have brought joy and laughter to the race. Keep that spirit alive!

    I appreciate how you’ve reclaimed the word “freedom” from the political right. Now, let’s do the same with “Patriot.” For instance:

    “It is time for American patriots to stand up and reclaim their country!”

    Avoiding the Hillary trap is crucial. You’re everywhere, showing the world that you’re ready and committed—not just phoning it in or acting entitled. Well done!

    Now, let’s discuss strategies for dealing with Trump:

    1. Stand Up and STFU:
      • Force Trump to back down. Speak boldly: “Donald, do the country a favor—STFU, retire, and play golf with your buddies. Exit as a winner rather than lose again, especially to a Black woman.”
    2. Mock Him:
      • Trump can’t handle being mocked. Keep it up 24/7. “There goes Grandpa, off his meds” whenever he says something ridiculous. “How do you know when Trump is lying? His lips are moving.”
    3. Let Their Words Speak:
      • Highlight Trump’s own statements and those of his minions, including JD Vance.
      • Frame the choice: hate vs. hope, backward vs. forward, fascism vs. democracy.
    4. Reminders for Voters:
      • Trump’s bankrupted casino and financial losses.
      • Abortion: Trump and Vance’s pro-birth fascism.
      • Immigration: Trump’s failure to address the crisis.
      • Concentration camps: Trump’s deportation plans.
      • Climate change: Their lack of a plan while the world burns.
    5. Who Is Donald Trump?
      • A whiny, senile man past his prime.
      • JD Vance: a fake hillbilly and a creepy young man.

    Let’s keep spreading the message: America deserves better!

    Warm regards,

     

    John (Jake) Cosmos Aller

    715 Rockey Road

    Medford, Oregon 97504

    Tel 703-436-1402

    e-mail: authorjakecosmosaller@gmail.com

    web: Https://theworldacoordingtocosmos.com

    originally appeared as a blog posting here: https://wp.me/p7NAzO-334

    Personal note:  I grew up in Berkeley and attended Thousand Oaks elementary about nine years before you did.  My father was active in Bay Area politics and was the President of both the Berkeley Co-Op and the Peralta Community College system and taught at Cal State SF and was the undersecretary of labor for Kennedy and Johnson.

    I served 27 years in the U.S. Foreign Service with the State Department retiring in 2016.

    Update:

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-334

    Kamala,

    First congratulations on your nomination and your early days of the campaign including breaking Zoom which is a new thing and for “the falling off a coconut tree” meme and bringing joy and laughter to the race.

     And I love how you have done political jujutsu calling the race a race about freedom, taking the word back from the political right.  Time to do the same with Patriot.  For example

     It is time for American patriots to stand back and take back their country!”

    The last thing you are doing right is avoiding the Hilary trap. You are going everywhere and showing the world that you got this, you are energized and ready to go and are not just phoning it in or acting as if you are entitled.

    Well done.

    How to Beat Trump? Mock him 24/7

    I wanted to give you some additional advice on how to beat Trump.

    The key to dealing with him is the same thing that applies to bullies.  First, stand up to him, force him to back up, and STFU.   I would go full brat  so to speak

    ,”Donald, do the country and the world a favor STFU retire already and play golf with your buddies.  You can walk away a winner rather than lose again and lose to a black woman.”

    Second, mock him 24/7. That is one thing he cannot do and it drives him bonkers.

    Third, let his own words and those of his minions including JD speak for themselves.  Put that out there 24/7

    Frame it as a choice between the politics of hate and the politics of hope,

    Frame it as a choice of going back, or bolding going forward

    Make it a choice between fascism and democracy!  shove the project 2025 and Agenda 47 end down their proverbial asses.  Make them own their fascism.

    Remind voters that once before America defeated fascism in World War 11.  Who would have thought we would have to fight it at home?

    For example, whenever he says something stupid or posts something stupid and say,” There goes Grandpa, off his meds”

    Or you can say something like when he lies

    “How do you know when Trump is lying? His lips are moving”

    When he continues to lie about your record, simply say this

    “Donald, regarding my law school background, I went to the best law school in the country, became attorney general of California and along the way took down mobsters, criminals, and perverts of all sorts.  Where did you go?  Oh, you barely graduated from the University of Pennsylvania?  And your teachers said you were the dumbest student he ever had?  Demand that he release his college transcripts, and SATS and post yours on line, as well as your SATS and LSATs”

    Regarding the birtherism nonsense, release your birth certificates and tell Trump to just STFU about the birtherism  nonsense it did not work before and it won’t work now.

    Call him a loser all the time. Remind voters that he bankrupted a casino.

    Remind people that the IRS said that he had lost more money than anyone in US history.

    Re abortion, reminds voters that Trump and Vance are pro-birth fascists who want the state to be able to monitor women’s health status 24/7, preventing possibly pregnant people from traveling, and forcing 12-year-old girls to carry their rapist babies to term and or forcing pregnant women to sit outside the hospital bleeding to death before anyone will do anything to help them.

    Re immigration reminds voters that we had a deal to deal with the immigration crisis and Trump and his minions pulled the deal preferring to let the immigration crisis fester.

    Remind voters that he wants to deport 12 million people, putting them into concentration camps.   Adding in you know that once he has the camps, other dissidents, LGBTQ people, women who dared to try to get an abortion, Muslims, and of course Jews – Jews always end up in the camps- will be rounded up and put in the camps.

    Re climate change remind people that neither Trump nor the Republicans have a plan on what to do about climate change when the whole world is on fire all they want to do is defund the EPA, eliminate climate change policies, and Drill Baby, Drill Baby.

    Who is Donald Trump?   He is just a whiny old senile man way past his prime time and his running mate.  JD Vance is a fake hillbilly who is just a creepy young man.

    Tell the world over and over again this is Trump and Vance’s America.

    Well, I could go on and on but you get the picture.

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zb

    Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala
    Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revised

    Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

     

    Audio FIle

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate, and progress over going back. When faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley (attended Thousand Oaks  school a few years before you did,  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, and served 27 years in the Foreign Service serving in ten countries. I have been to all 50 States and 50 countries.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four-year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism. Call him Conman Don, for felon Con, or despicable me wanna be Don.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.  Remember the best way to handle a bully is to mock them over and over again.  They can’t handle that and he will become more unhinged and dangerous as you mock him. So Mock him, girl. He deserves it.  and in the debate call him on his BS brutally fact check his ass live on TV. Show the world what an ignorant senile old man he has become.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can-do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mentioned we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 to re-ignite Roe V Wade standards.

    Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged

    call for reforming the Supreme Court.  Including nominating the first hispanic member.

    For VP Pick a centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/Technical Training or Money to Open a Business in Exchange for National Service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on -the-job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really ,need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start-ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    After finishing basic 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.  The service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harm’s 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 real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four  new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies, like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including postgraduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with your staff.

     

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    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     

     

     

     

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

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    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of face planting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    J The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances, constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

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    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

    …

    My thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

     

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate and progress over going back.

    when faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

     

     

     

     

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    The rest of my earlier suggestions follow with a few updates

    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.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mention we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

     

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!
    J

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

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    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    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.  and the service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way.  This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.

    I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster.   Sell this as a real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four   new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies like the military academies  including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including post graduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with yours staff.

     

    Welcome to The God Pod, a newsletter dedicated to satire and comedy! We rely entirely on the generosity of our readers to be able to continue our efforts. If you appreciate what you read here today, consider becoming a paid supporter!

    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     
    READ IN APP

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Share

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

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    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of faceplanting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

     

    Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

     

    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

     

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    Join now

    2. The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

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    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    Leave a comment

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

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    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances; constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

    Share

    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    Leave a comment

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    Leave a comment

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

     

    …Substack

    JAKECOSMOSALLER.SUBSTACK.COM
    My Thoughts On the Harris For President
    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy. https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zb Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revisedThanks for reading jake’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

    Medium

    https://medium.com/@jakealler/harris-for-president-08607104ea00

    Wattpad

    You just published Harris for President !

    Your story can be found here

    Spotify Podcast

     

    July 23, 2024, 1:59 am 0 boosts 0 favorites

    Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala
    Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revised

    Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate and progress over going back. When faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley (attended Thousand Oaks school a few years before you did,  went to college at the University of the Pacific. and graduated from the University of Washington (MA in Korean Studies, MPA). I also served in the Peace Corps in Korea and served 27 years in the Foreign Service in ten countries. I have been to all 50 States and 50 countries.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four-year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism. Call him Conman Don, for felon Con, or despicable me wanna be Don.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.  Remember the best way to handle a bully is to mock them over and over again.  They can’t handle that and he will become more unhinged and dangerous as you mock him. So Mock him, girl. He deserves it.  and in the debate call him on his BS brutally fact check his ass live on TV. Show the world what an ignorant senile old man he has become.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can-do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mentioned we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 to re-ignite Roe V Wade standards.

    Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged

    call for reforming the Supreme Court.  Including nominating the first hispanic member.

    For VP Pick a centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/Technical Training or Money to Open a Business in Exchange for National Service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on -the-job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start-ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    After finishing basic 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.  The service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harm’s 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 real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four  new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies, like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including postgraduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with your staff.

     

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    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     

     

     

     

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

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    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of face planting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    J The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances, constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as President Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion as a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

    …

    My thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

     

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate and progress over going back.

    when faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

     

     

     

     

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four-year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    The rest of my earlier suggestions follow with a few updates

    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.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can-do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mentioned we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

     

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!
    J

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

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    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    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.  and the service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way.  This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.

    I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security and assist as first responders to natural disaster.   Sell this as real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four   new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies like the military academies  including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including post graduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with yours staff.

     

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    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     
    READ IN APP

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Share

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

    Support Our Satire

    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of faceplanting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

     

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    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

     

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    Join now

    2. The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

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    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    Leave a comment

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

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    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances, constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

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    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    Leave a comment

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    Leave a comment

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as President Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion as a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

     

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as President Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion as a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

    …

  • 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)

    Review of Samuel Butler’s the Way of All Flesh

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-32B

    As part of my goal to read as many of the world’s greatest classic works of literature as I can before I go on to the next world, I have been working my way through classic books.

    Reading the Classics

    Updated Reading the Classics

    Updated Lists

    Reading the Classics

    Flashman Novels

    One of the books, I recently read was Butler, Samuel: “The Way of All Flesh.”

    This book, written in the 19th century is a novel about four generations of the fictional Pontifex family.  The author grew up with the family as they were from the same town in northern England.  The author becomes particularly close with the grandson Earnest and becomes his Godfather, mentor, best friend, and guardian.

    Co-pilot provided the following  overview.

    “The novel draws on Butler’s own life experiences and examines the transmission of Victorian values from one generation to the next.

    First Generation: “Old” John Pontifex

    John Pontifex, a gentle and artistically gifted carpenter in the village of Pelham, England, marries Ruth. Their son, George, becomes a successful publisher of religious texts.

    Commentary:  the only Pontifex that seems to have been relatively content with his life.

    Second Generation: George Pontifex

    George marries and has several children, including Theobald. Theobald becomes a clergyman and marries Christina Allaby.

    Commentary:  George Pontifex grows up in a religious family but ultimately does not enter the Church but becomes a publisher of Christian books and is well known in the Christian ministries of the time.  He pressures his son Theobold to become a minister or risk his inheritance.  He is a horrible father, mistreating his children, and his wife, but considers himself to a paragon of Christian virtue.

    Third Generation: Theobald and Christina

    They raise their children—Ernest, Charlotte, and Joey—in a strict religious environment. Ernest, the central character, attends a boarding school but struggles academically and morally.

    Comment: Theobald becomes even more of a tyrant and terror to his children than his own father had been to him. He is determined to beat down any hint of rebellion or independence amongst his children who must obey his every dictate.  His wife, tries to mollify his worst parenting instincts.  Like his father, he considered himself to be a paragon of religious virtue and had no patience with “dissent” or “Roman Catholicism’

    Fourth Generation: Ernest

    Ernest’s life takes unexpected turns, including a secret inheritance from his aunt Alethea. His marriage to Ellen, a housemaid, becomes complicated.

    Comment:   His marriage is indeed complicated as his wife it turned out, was an alcoholic and married to another man so technically thier marriage was considered to be illegitimate,  He is left with two children to raise and he finds a home for them. His wife runs off to America with one of her numerous boyfriends.  His parents eventually forgive Earnest’s “marriage” as they saw him as a victim of an evil woman which in some sense he was.

    Fifth Generation: Alice and Georgie  The story continues with Ernest’s illegitimate children, Alice and Georgie.  Earnest struggles with what to do about their upbringing and finds a home for them through the help of his Godfather, who was his father’s best friend. despite having a falling out with him over how he was treating his children.

    Comment:

    The book details the impact of strict Protestantism on children and discusses the age-old problem of fathers and sons. Each of the men in the story has have problems relating to and rearing thier sons.  One of the themes of the book is how these family dynamics often continue to impact families, and men in particular don’t seem to be capable of learning from their mistakes as parents. Each of the men in the novel struggle with how to follow their consciousness and their strict interpretation of Christianity as they struggle to raise their children.

    The fourth-generation son, Earnest is particularly negatively impacted by his overbearing strict father’s upbringing much as he had had with own father.  Earnest wanted to follow his dreams of becoming a composer and musician. But his father was determined that he should go to college and become a minister much as he been forced to become a minister.

    Along the way he is derailed and ends up serving six months in prison. Unbeknownst to him, his favorite Aunt, the only person in his family he felt close to, had left him a small inheritance which he gains on his 26th birthday, much to the chagrin of his parents who felt that they should have inherited the family money.  This becomes yet another source of parental-children discord.  Earnest also falls in love and marries a woman who used to work for his father.  She turns out to be an alcoholic and leaves him immigrating to America which another man leaving Earnest to deal with finding a place to raise his illegitimate children.  In the end of the novel, father and son attempt to reconcile.

    Overall, I found this book to be a powerful indictment of traditional Victorian morality and all that it entails.  The novel resonated with me because I had a lot of problems with my own overbearing father just as he had with his father, and I also had estranged relations with my siblings and my mother.  To sum up, a powerful somewhat disturbing look at family dynamics that is still very relevant over 150 years later as most of the classic novels tend to be.

    Co-pilot provides more background information on the novel and its literary reputation. I

    Synopsis:

    The Way of All Flesh, written by Samuel Butler, follows several generations of the fictional Pontifex family. The novel draws on Butler’s own life experiences and examines the transmission of Victorian values from one generation to the next.

    Literary Reputation:

    The Way of All Flesh is a semi-autobiographical novel that boldly critiques Victorian-era hypocrisy. Written between 1873 and 1884, it remained unpublished during Samuel Butler’s lifetime due to its controversial content. However, when it was finally published posthumously in 1903, it was accepted as part of the general reaction against Victorian norms.

    Here are some key points about its literary reputation:

    Significance: Some consider The Way of All Flesh to be the first twentieth-century novel, as it challenges conventions and sheds light on the darker aspects of Victorian domestic life1.

    Legacy: In 1998, the Modern Library ranked it twelfth on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century2.

    Iconoclastic: Samuel Butler’s autobiographical account, informed by his own upbringing and adulthood, exposes the hypocrisy within a Victorian clerical family.

    So, as you write your review, keep in mind that this novel is not only a compelling family saga but also a powerful critique of its time. Happy writing! 😊📚345

    1supersummary.com2en.wikipedia.org3cliffsnotes.com4books.google.com5books.google.com6goodreads.com— see less

     

    Certainly! The Way of All Flesh delves into several thought-provoking themes, making it a rich and multifaceted work. Let’s explore some of these themes:

    Christianity and Its Variations:

    At its core, The Way of All Flesh grapples with different expressions of Christianity. Samuel Butler, through his protagonist Ernest Pontifex, dissects the nuances between high and low Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, ritualism, and evangelicalism.

    The novel doesn’t outright reject Christianity; rather, it critiques specific aspects of Anglicanism. Butler portrays the Anglican Church as demanding blind faith while offering a mishmash of unscientific and self-contradictory teachings. The Church’s insistence on accepting dogma without questioning its reasonableness becomes a central point of contention.

    However, scattered throughout the novel are glimpses of another Christianity—one that is rational, humble, and life-affirming. This unorthodox version encourages coherence, compatibility with scientific findings, and a willingness to adapt beliefs based on new information.

    Hypocrisy and Social Conventions:

    The Way of All Flesh exposes the hypocrisy prevalent in Victorian society. The Pontifex family embodies societal norms, but their actions often contradict their professed values. The novel critiques the gap between public appearances and private realities.

    Social conventions—

    Especially those related to marriage, family, and religion—are scrutinized. Butler challenges the idea that adhering to societal norms necessarily leads to moral goodness.  In some ways this is also a proto-feminist novel as the female characters try to navigate their way through a male dominated society.

    Generational Conflict and Rebellion:

    comment: 

    This is strongest element of the novel for me,  as it subsumes the other themes into it.

    The novel spans multiple generations of the Pontifex family. Each generation grapples with its own set of expectations and norms.

    Ernest, the central character, rebels against the rigid structures imposed by his parents and the Church. His intellectual journey takes him from disinterest to orthodoxy and eventually to heterodoxy.

    Individual Autonomy and Authenticity:

    Ernest’s struggle for autonomy drives the narrative. He seeks to live authentically, even if it means rejecting societal norms.

    The tension between conforming to expectations and forging one’s own path is a recurring theme. Ernest’s pursuit of personal truth becomes a powerful force in the novel.

    Education and Intellectual Growth:

    Education plays a significant role in shaping characters’ lives. Ernest’s experiences at school and university profoundly impact his worldview.

    The novel questions the purpose of education: Is it merely to conform to societal norms, or should it encourage critical thinking and personal growth?

    In summary, The Way of All Flesh is a layered exploration of faith, hypocrisy, rebellion, and the struggle for authenticity. Its critique of Victorian mores remains relevant even today. 📚✨12

    I have completed 65 % of the books in the three-volume set titled “50 Books You Must Read Before You Die”

    Bolded indicates that I have read the book

    The list follows

    50 Masterpieces You Have to Read Before You Die

    Started reading the first one of Volume 3

    Bolded indicates I have read it.

    Vol 1 starts with Volume One

    Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women
    Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice
    Austen, Jane: Emma
    Balzac, Honoré de: Father Goriot
    Barbusse, Henri: The Inferno
    Brontë, Anne: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
    Brontë, Charlotte: Jane Eyre
    Brontë, Emily: Wuthering Heights
    Burroughs, Edgar Rice: Tarzan of the Apes
    Butler, Samuel: The Way of All Flesh
    Carroll, Lewis: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
    Cather, Willa: My Ántonia
    Cervantes, Miguel de: Don Quixote
    Chopin, Kate: The Awakening
    Cleland, John: Fanny Hill
    Collins, Wilkie: The Moonstone
    Conrad, Joseph: Heart of Darkness
    Conrad, Joseph: Nostromo
    Cooper, James Fenimore: The Last of the Mohicans
    Crane, Stephen: The Red Badge of Courage
    Cummings, E. E.: The Enormous Room
    Defoe, Daniel: Robinson Crusoe
    Defoe, Daniel: Moll Flanders
    Dickens, Charles: Bleak House
    Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations
    Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: Crime and Punishment
    Dostoyevsky, Fyodor: The Idiot
    Doyle, Arthur Conan: The Hound of the Baskervilles
    Dreiser, Theodore: Sister Carrie
    Dumas, Alexandre: The Three Musketeers
    Dumas, Alexandre: The Count of Monte Cristo
    Eliot, George: Middlemarch

    George Elliot Novels

    Fielding, Henry: Tom Jones
    Flaubert, Gustave: Madame Bovary
    Flaubert, Gustave: Sentimental Education
    Ford, Ford Madox: The Good Soldier
    Forster, E. M.: A Room With a View
    Forster, E. M.: Howard End
    Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South
    Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von: The Sorrows of Young Werther
    Gogol, Nikolai: Dead Souls
    Gorky, Maxim: The Mother
    Haggard, H. Rider: King Solomon’s Mines
    Hardy, Thomas: Tess of the D’Urbervilles
    Hawthorne, Nathaniel: The Scarlet Letter
    Homer: The Odyssey
    Hugo, Victor: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
    Hugo, Victor: Les Misérables
    Huxley, Aldous: Crome Yellow
    James, Henry: The Portrait of a Lady

    Volume 2

    – Little Women [Louisa May Alcott]
    – Sense and Sensibility [Jane Austen]
    – Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy) [J.M. Barrie]
    – Cabin Fever [ B. M. Bower]
    – The Secret Garden [Frances Hodgson Burnett]
    – A Little Princess [Frances Hodgson Burnett]
    – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland [Lewis Carroll]
    – The King in Yellow [Robert William Chambers]
    – The Man Who Knew Too Much [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Woman in White [Wilkie Collins]
    – The Most Dangerous Game [Richard Connell]
    – On the Origin of Species, 6th Edition [Charles Darwin]
    – Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe]
    – The Iron Woman [Margaret Deland]
    – David Copperfield [Charles Dickens]
    – Oliver Twist [Charles Dickens]
    – A Tale of Two Cities [Charles Dickens]
    – The Double [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Francis Scott Fitzgerald]
    – A Room with a View [E. M. Forster]
    – Dream Psychology [Sigmund Freud]
    – Tess of the d’Urbervilles [Thomas Hardy]
    – Siddhartha [Hermann Hesse]
    – Dubliners [James Joyce]
    – The Fall of the House of Usher [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – The Arabian Nights [Andrew Lang]
    – The Sea Wolf [Jack London]
    – The Call of Cthulhu [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – Anne of Green Gables [Lucy Maud Montgomery]
    – Beyond Good and Evil [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche]
    – The Murders in the Rue Morgue [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – The Black Cat [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – The Raven [Edgar Allan Poe]
    – Swann’s Way [Marcel Proust]
    – Romeo and Juliet [William Shakespeare]
    – Treasure Island [Robert Louis Stevenson]
    – The Elements of Style [William Strunk Jr.

    Vol 3  finished keeping for the historical record

    This book contains the following works arranged alphabetically by authors’ last names.

    Started with volume 3 then will go back and do volumes one, two, and the Harvard classics. The goal is to finish all of these by the end of next year.  I almost finished Volume One.  Will do some of the WC reading books as well.

    – What’s Bred in the Bone [Grant Allen]
    – The Golden Ass [Lucius Apuleius]
    – Meditations [Marcus Aurelius]
    – Northanger Abbey [Jane Austen]
    – Lady Susan [Jane Austen]
    – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [Lyman Frank Baum]
    – The Art of Public Speaking [Dale Breckenridge Carnegie]
    – The Blazing World [Margaret Cavendish]
    – The Wisdom of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – Heretics [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Donnington Affair [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – The Innocence of Father Brown [Gilbert Keith Chesterton]
    – Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [John Cleland]
    – The Moonstone [Wilkie Collins]
    – Lord Jim [Joseph Conrad]
    – The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe [Daniel Defoe]
    – The Pickwick Papers [Charles Dickens]
    – A Christmas Carol [Charles Dickens]
    – Notes From The Underground [Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    – The Gambler par Fyodor [Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky]
    – The Lost World [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Hound of the Baskervilles [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Sign of the Four [Arthur Conan Doyle]
    – The Man in the Iron Mask [Alexandre Dumas]
    – The Three Musketeers [Alexandre Dumas]
    – This Side of Paradise [Francis Scott Fitzgerald]
    – Curious, If True: Strange Tales [Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell]
    – King Solomon’s Mines [Henry Rider Haggard]
    – The Hunchback of Notre Dame [Victor Hugo]
    – Kim [Rudyard Kipling]
    – Captain Courageous [Rudyard Kipling]
    – The Jungle Book [Rudyard Kipling]
    – Lady Chatterley’s Lover [David Herbert Lawrence]
    – The Son of the Wolf [Jack London]
    – The Einstein Theory of Relativity [Hendrik Antoon Lorentz]
    – The Dunwich Horror [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – At the Mountains of Madness [Howard Phillips Lovecraft]
    – The Prince [Niccolò Machiavelli]
    – The Story Girl [Lucy Maud Montgomery]
    – The Antichrist [Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche]
    – The Republic [Plato]
    – The Last Man [Mary Shelley]
    – Life On The Mississippi [Mark Twain]
    – The Kama Sutra [Vatsyayana]
    – In the Year 2889 [Jules Verne]
    – Around the World in Eighty Days [Jules Verne]
    – Four Just Men [Edgar Wallace]
    – Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ [Lewis Wallace]
    – Jacob’s Room [Virginia Woolf]

    substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/the-way-of-all-flesh?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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    Review of The Way of All Flesh
    Published – Jul 26, 2024
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  • Welcome to the world according to Cosmos.  I am your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos.  I have been blogging for about 10 years since I retired from the US Foreign Service back in 2016. During my service, I worked in 10 countries (Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent, South Korea, India, Spain) and DC, and visited 45 countries. I have been to all States, DC and PR.   I have been living in South Korea with an annual visit to the States -Oregon, Northern California, and Washington, DC since then. I have lived in five different cities in the U.S. -Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, and DC,

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Flashman Novels

    Review of the Flashman  Novels George MacDonald Fraser

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-32r

    Cosmos Reading List 2023

    Reading the Classics Updated Lists
    The Flashman novels are a series of historical fiction books written by George MacDonald Fraser, following the adventures of Harry Paget Flashman, a fictional British army officer. The series spans from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, covering various historical events and figures.  The Flashman novels are written in a satirical, mocking style, reflecting the times of the alleged author of the novels, Harry Flashman who was based on a character in Tom Brown’s satire of the British public schools of the 19th century.

    The original Harry Flashman was a notorious bully who was kicked out of his elite boarding school.  The Flashman novels re-imagine him becoming despite his many character flaws, a heroic army officer who served in many of the epic wars of the 19th century, including fighting in the War of 1812, the US Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Chinese Wars, and the Crimean campaigns.  Along the way, he has numerous affairs, meets and becomes friends with people in both low places and high places, and is a scoundrel to boot

    I have read about half of the books.  Among my favorites are “Flashman and the Redskins” which takes place in the 1840s and the 1870s Indian wars in the U,S, including his involvement in the events of Custer’s last stand, “. Flashman and the “Angel of the Lord” which imagines him encountering and helping John Brown in his aborted raid on Harper’s Ferry that helps set off the civil war, and ” Flashman and the Dragon” which recalls his involvement in the March to Beijing which ended the opium wars, as well as encounters with the Taiping rebels.

    Among the more controversial parts of his character, is his many affairs along the way with over 400 women.  He is indeed a scoundrel for the ages. The writing is crisp, very descriptive of the times, and of course sexist, racist, and colonist.  Just part of the time. In many ways, his character resembles the James Bond character of Ian Fleming flame

    On the plus side, the novels are historically accurate for the most part, minus the fact that Flashman did not actually exist. But he is the kind of figure that we imagined could have existed.

    To sum up, the Flashman novels are a real treat to read.

    Novels in the Series:

    Publication sequence[edit]

    Books by publication sequence
    Title and time Publisher Date Length (first edition) Plot Ref.
    Flashman
    (1839–1842)    		 Herbert Jenkins 1969 256 pp Flashman’s expulsion from Rugby School for drunkenness leads him to join the British Army. He joins the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Lord Cardigan. After an affair with a fellow-officer’s lover, he fights a duel, but cheats. He is posted to Scotland because of the affair and is billeted with the Morrison family; he takes advantage of one of the daughters, Elspeth. After a forced marriage, Flashman is required to resign his position in the Hussars and instead is gazette into a position with the East India Company.

    After revealing his language and riding skills, Flashman is assigned to Afghanistan, where he is present at the retreat from Kabul, the last stand at Gaydamak and the Siege of Jalalabad.

    		 [29]
    Royal Flash
    (1842–1843 and
    1847–1848)    		 Barrie & Jenkins 1970 256 pp Fleeing from a police raid on a brothel he was visiting, Flashman meets Lola Montez and Otto von Bismarck. Some years later Flashman is tempted to Munich, where Bismarck has him abducted; he is blackmailed into imitating Prince Carl Gustaf, a fictional member of the Danish royal family. Gustaf is to be married to Duchess Irma, the ruler of the fictional Duchy of Stricken; according to Bismarck the prince has contracted a sexually transmitted disease, which would be embarrassing if uncovered by his future wife. This turns out to be a lie and the prince has been imprisoned in Jotunberg Castle. Flashman is a doppelgänger of the Prince and is trained to take his place until the Prince is cured. Flashman is accompanied to Strackenz by Bismarck’s accomplices, Rudi von Starnberg, Detchard and de Gautet, and is married to the Duchess. Shortly afterwards, while out hunting, Flashman finds out that Bismarck meant to double-cross him and kill him, but he turns the tables on his attacker and tortures the information out of him and kills him instead. He is then captured by Strackenzian nationalists and forced to help them storm Jotunberg Castle. They are successful, but Flashman and von Starnberg fight in the dungeon, with Flashman narrowly escaping death before escaping back to England, with the help of Montez, who robs him along the way. [30]
    Flash for Freedom!
    (1848–1849)    		 Barrie & Jenkins 1971 272 pp Flashman is falsely accused of cheating at cards, and runs away from disgrace by accepting an offer of a berth on the slaving ship part owned by his father-in-law; the ship is captained by John Charity Spring, an ex-fellow of Oriel College, Oxford who quotes Latin and Greek at length. After sailing to Dahomey, Spring buys slaves from King Ghezo; the deal goes wrong and the crew are attacked by Gezo’s Amazons, resulting in the mortal wounding of the third mate, Mr Comber. Comber dies but admits to Flashman that he is a spy for the navy, giving Flashman his papers to prove his identity. The ship makes its way to America but is captured by the United States Navy. Flashman assumes the identity of Comber and escapes, hiding in the brothel of Susie Willinck. He is abducted by the Underground Railroad and forced to assist in transporting a slave to freedom in Canada. He is accused of being an abolitionist and escapes, ending up employed as a slave driver on a plantation. Caught having sex with the owner’s wife, he is himself sold into slavery, but escapes with a slave, before being assisted to freedom by junior congressman Abraham Lincoln. He returns to New Orleans and demands passage to Britain from Spring. [31]
    Flashman at the Charge
    (1854–1855)    		 Barrie & Jenkins 1973 286 pp Flashman is ordered to protect and mentor William of Celle—a (fictional) cousin of Queen Victoria—during the Crimean War; William is killed. Flashman is subsequently involved in The Thin Red Line, the charge of the Heavy Brigade and the charge of the Light Brigade, where he surrenders. He is taken into Russia and placed in the custody of Count Pencherjevsky; he also meets his old schoolfellow Scud East and Count Nicholas Pavlovich Ignatiev, a vicious Russian army captain. After overhearing plans for the Russian invasion of British India, Flashman and East escape, but Flashman is recaptured. He is taken by Ignatiev across central Asia as part of his plans to conquer India but is subsequently rescued from prison by cohorts of Yaqub Beg. Tajik and Uzbek warriors attack and destroy the Russian fleet with the aid of Flashman, who had been drugged with hashish. [32]
    Flashman in the Great Game
    (1856–1858)    		 Barrie & Jenkins 1975 336 pp Flashman is at Balmoral Castle as a guest of Queen Victoria; he meets Lord Palmerston, who recruits him to go to Jhansi in India and investigate rumours of a rebellion among the Sepoys. Flashman again encounters Nicholas Pavlovich Ignatiev, and the Russian tries to kill him while hunting. Once in Jhansi he meets the queen, Rani Lakshmibai. He listens to her grievances against the British Raj and attempts to seduce her. Shortly afterwards he is nearly garroted by Thuggees and assumes the disguise of Makarram Khan, a Hasanzai of the Black Mountain, and takes refuge in the native cavalry at Meerut. While there, the Sepoy Mutiny begins. Flashman survives the Siege of Cawnpore and the Siege of Lucknow but ends up imprisoned in Gwalior after an attempt to deliver Lakshmi into British hands. He is released just in time to witness her death in battle. In the aftermath Flashman is awarded the Victoria Cross and is knighted; he is also given a copy of the recently published Tom Brown’s School Days, which describes him being a bully and a coward while at school. [33]
    Flashman’s Lady
    (1842–1845)    		 Barrie & Jenkins 1977 328 pp Flashman meets Tom Brown, a former acquaintance from Rugby School, and agrees to play cricket at Lord’s Cricket Ground for a team made up of Old Rugbeians. Following separate threats from a bookmaker and a Duke, Flashman accompanies Don Solomon Haslam—a businessman from the East Indies—Elspeth and his father-in-law on a trip to Singapore. Once there, Haslam reveals himself to be the pirate Sulieman Usman, and he kidnaps Elspeth. Flashman reluctantly gives chase in the company of James Brooke to rescue her but is himself captured by Usman. He escapes from Usman’s ship at Madagascar, but is captured and enslaved by the Malagasy, eventually becoming military advisor and lover to Queen Ranavalona I. He and his wife finally escape from the island during an Anglo-French naval attack. [34]
    Flashman and the Redskins
    (1849–1850 and
    1875–1876)    		 William Collins, Sons 1982 512 pp The story immediately follows the end of Flash for Freedom!

    Part one In his haste to leave New Orleans and avoid arrest, Flashman agrees to accompany Susie Willinck and her company of prostitutes westwards on the California Gold Rush; Willinck forces him into marriage before the journey. Despite being attacked by a band of Comanche on the journey, they reach Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Flashman absconds with $2,000 made from selling one of the prostitutes, Cleonie, to Navajos. Flashman falls in with a group of travellers but he discovers them to be scalp-hunters, when they attack a band of Apaches. Flashman joins in but refuses to take any scalps or rape captive women, and when the scalp-hunters are attacked by the remainder of the tribe, he is saved and marries Sonsee-Array, the daughter of chief, Mangas Coloradas. He eventually escapes and is saved by Kit Carson on the Jornada del Muerto.
    Part two In 1875 Flashman returns to America with his wife, Elspeth. Later, in Washington DC, he meets George Armstrong Custer and Mrs. Arthur B. Candy, and travels to Bismarck, North Dakota, with Mrs. Candy to pursue a carnal relationship. She reveals herself to be the former slave Cleonie, and he is kidnapped by Sioux and kept captive at Greasy Grass. He escapes just in time to take part in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where he sees the defeat and death of Custer—possibly being the one who kills him. Flashman is captured, partly scalped and hidden by Frank Grouard, who reveals himself to be his illegitimate son from Cleonie. Grouard breaks a promise to his mother and decides not to kill Flashman, but instead takes him back to Deadwood, Dakota Territory.

    		 [35]
    Flashman and the Dragon
    (1860)    		 William Collins, Sons 1985 352 pp While in Hong Kong, Flashman is reluctantly persuaded by an English vicar’s wife to escort a shipment of opium into Canton; en route he discovers that instead of opium he is carrying guns to the Taiping rebels. He is subsequently put onto the British embassy intelligence staff in Shanghai. He then travels to the mouth of the Peiho to join Lord Elgin‘s staff for his march to Peking. During the course of the march he is captured by Qing imperial troops and becomes the prisoner and lover of Yehonala, the imperial concubine. He is finally freed when the British army arrives at Peking; he then witnesses the destruction of the imperial Summer Palace. [36]
    Flashman and the Mountain of Light
    (1845–1846)    		 William Collins, Sons 1990 332 pp Flashman is in India, and is dispatched by Major George Broadfoot to the Punjab, masquerading as a solicitor attempting to settle the Soochet legacy with Maharani Jind Kaur. After becoming entangled in the intrigues of the Punjabi court, Flashman is forced to flee at the outbreak of the First Sikh War, but becomes involved in plans by the Punjabi nobility to curb the power of the Khalsa. Returning to the relative safety of the British forces, Flashman arrives just in time to become an unwilling participant in the attack on Ferozepore. Injured, he attempts to avoid the rest of the war in a sick bed, but is called on by Jind Kaur to smuggle her son Duleep Singh and the Koh-I-Noor diamond out of the country. [37]
    Flashman and the Angel of the Lord
    (1858–1859)    		 HarperCollins 1994 400 pp While in South Africa Flashman has a chance meeting with John Charity Spring. Spring drugs Flashman and ships him to the US, where charges are still outstanding against him. Flashman avoids the authorities, but is found by Crixus, a leader of the Underground Railroad, who blackmails him into joining John Brown and taking part in his raid on Harpers Ferry. He is accompanied by one of Crixus’ followers, a black man named Joe Simmons, who actually works for the Kuklos, a forerunner of the Ku Klux Klan. The Kuklos also want Flashman to help Brown, but in order to start a civil war. The wife of the leader of the Kuklos works for Allan Pinkerton, who also wants Flashman to join with Brown, but to slow him down and prevent the raid into the South from ever happening. Despite Flashman’s attempts, the raid goes ahead and he is caught in the arsenal when the US Marines attack. [38]
    Flashman and the Tiger
    (1878–1894)    		 HarperCollins 1999 352 pp “The Road to Charing Cross“— Flashman goes to Berlin with Henri Blowitz to help get a copy of the Treaty of Berlin and publish it in The Times. Five years later, he is trying to avoid being sent to Sudan with Charles George Gordon when a letter from Blowitz arrives inviting him to Paris. He rides the maiden journey of the Orient Express and is blackmailed by Bismarck into joining Rupert Willem von Starnberg (the son of the villain from Royal Flash). Flashman and Starnberg are instructed by Bismarck to save Emperor Franz Josef from assassination by Magyar nationalists, but Flashman is in turn tricked by Starnberg, who is one of the assassins.
    “The Subtleties of Baccarat“—Flashman is an observer of the Tranby Croft affair, which he discovers was caused by his wife.
    “Flashman and the Tiger“—Flashman meets “Tiger Jack” Moran in the aftermath of the Battle of Isandlwana; the pair escape to Rorke’s Drift. Years later Moran reveals he was the cabin boy on Captain John Charity Spring’s ship, the Balliol College (see Flash for Freedom!); he has been seeking revenge against the ship’s crew and was blackmailing Flashman’s granddaughter in order to sleep with her. While trying to kill him, Flashman is mistaken for a tramp by Sherlock Holmes, while the police arrest Moran for trying to kill Holmes (see “The Adventure of the Empty House“).    		 [39]
    Flashman on the March
    (1867–1868)    		 HarperCollins 2005 320 pp While in Trieste, Flashman meets an old school friend, Jack Speedicut, who enlists him to escort a shipment of Maria Theresa thalers to General Robert Napier. Napier is based in Abyssinia, on a military expedition against King Tewodros II. On Flashman’s arrival in Abyssinia, Napier enlists him and despatches him on a secret undercover mission to recruit Queen Masteeat and her Galla people, who are opposed to Tewodros. Flashman succeeds in enlisting the assistance of Queen Masteeat but is then captured by Tewodros’ forces. Flashman is held captive while Napier’s forces advance and then storm the capital Magdala, and is present when the king commits suicide. [40]

    Fictional chronology[edit]

    Title page of Thomas Hughes‘s 1857 novel Tom Brown’s School Days, the origin of the Flashman character

    Flashman’s fictional chronology
    Title Years covered Publication order Locations Ref.
    Flashman 1839–1842 1 Britain, India and Afghanistan [41]
    Royal Flash 1842–1843 2 Britain, Germany and Denmark [42]
    Flashman’s Lady 1842–1845 6 Britain, Borneo and Madagascar [43]
    Flashman and the Mountain of Light 1845–1846 9 Indian Punjab [44]
    Royal Flash 1847–1848 2 Germany and Denmark [42]
    Flash for Freedom! 1848–1849 3 Britain, West Africa and the USA [45]
    Flashman and the Redskins 1849–1850 7 USA [46]
    Flashman at the Charge 1854–1855 4 Britain, Crimea and Central Asia [47]
    Flashman in the Great Game 1856–1858 5 Britain and India [48]
    Flashman and the Angel of the Lord 1858–1859 10 India, South Africa and the USA [49]
    Flashman and the Dragon 1860 8 China [50]
    Flashman on the March 1867–1868 12 Abyssinia [51]
    Flashman and the Redskins 1875–1876 7 USA [46]
    “The Road to Charing Cross” 1878 11 Berlin [52]
    “Flashman and the Tiger” 1879 11 Africa [53]
    “The Road to Charing Cross” 1883–1884 11 Europe [52]
    “The Subtleties of Baccarat” 1890 & 1891 11 Britain [54]
    “Flashman and the Tiger” 1894 11 Britain [53]

     

    META AI and Co-Pilot provided me with the following additional information

     

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    George MacDonald Fraser‘s Flashman novels

    The Flashman Papers is a series of novels and short stories written by George MacDonald Fraser, the first of which was published in 1969. The books centre on the exploits of the fictional protagonist Harry Flashman. He is a cowardly British soldier, rake and cad who is placed in a series of real historical incidents between 1839 and 1894. While the incidents and much of the detail in the novels have a factual background, Flashman’s actions in the stories are either fictional, or Fraser uses the actions of unidentified individuals and assigns them to Flashman. Flashman is a character in the 1857 novel by Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days; Hughes’ version of the character is a bully at Rugby School who is expelled for drunkenness. The character was then developed by Fraser and appeared in the 1969 novel Flashman. Fraser went on to write a total of eleven novels and one collection of short stories featuring the character.

    During the course of Fraser’s novels, Flashman goes from his expulsion from school into the army. Although he is a coward who tries to run away from any danger, he is involved in many famous military episodes from the 19th century, often taking actions that cause or affect subsequent events, such as his flatulence affecting the Charge of the Light Brigade,[a] or being the person who probably shot George Armstrong Custer. When circumstances run against him and he is forced to fight, he often does so relatively capably. Despite his cowardice and his attempts to flee, he becomes a decorated war hero and rises to the rank of brigadier-general. He also meets people who either were notable at the time—such as Benjamin Disraeli and the Duke of Wellington—or who became well known after Flashman met them—such as Abraham Lincoln. Flashman either has, or tries to have, sex with most of the female characters: by the tenth book he estimates that he has had sex with 480 women.

    The publication sequence of the books differs from the fictional chronology, with the time frame of some books overlapping. One of the novels, Flashman and the Redskins, is in two parts: part one takes place in 1849–50, while the second covers 1875–76. Although the main series of stories finishes in 1894, Flashman lives on until 1915 and appears in his late 80s in another Fraser novel, Mr American.

    Context[edit]

    The great mass of manuscript known as the Flashman papers was discovered during a sale of household furniture … The papers, which had apparently lain untouched for fifty years, in a tea chest … were carefully wrapped in oilskin covers.

    Explanatory note, Flashman[2]

    The series consists of twelve historical fiction books written by the journalist, author and screenwriter George MacDonald Fraser, that were published between 1969 and 2005. The series consists of eleven novels and one collection of short stories, spanning from 1839 to 1894; they are the memoirs of the fictional character General Sir Harry Paget Flashman, VC, KCB, KCIE. Although Flashman is fictional, the settings and history of the events, and the people with whom he interacts are all largely based around historical events and individuals, although three contain elements of other novels.[3][b] Flashman first appeared in the 1857 semi-autobiographical novel Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes as a bully at Rugby School, who persecutes Tom Brown, and who is expelled for drunkenness: Fraser’s series of novels starts with Flashman’s expulsion from school. Based on a literary conceit, an explanatory note—itself also fictional—at the start of Flashman sets the context and explains that the memoirs had been found in an auction house in Ashby, Leicestershire, and had subsequently come into the possession of Fraser, who has acted in the role of editor.[6] Fraser also included pages of notes and appendices at the end of each volume, providing the factual background for Flashman’s endeavours.[3]

    Fraser was working as a journalist on The Glasgow Herald when he wrote the first novel, Flashman; writing in the evenings, after work, he took 90 hours in total to write the story.[7][8] After the book was published, he left journalism and took up writing novels.[7] When a break from writing was forced upon him by a broken arm, he abandoned the book until his wife read the manuscript and urged him to finish.[8] He did not find a publisher for the novel for two years, until Barrie & Jenkins published it in 1969.[8] When the novel was published in the US the same year, of the 34 reviews read by Alden Whitman of The New York Times, ten of them considered the book to be a genuine autobiography.[9] Fraser researched each novel at Trinity College Dublin.[10] From their first publication, the books were a commercial success,[11] and new editions appeared on the best-sellers’ lists.[12]

    Flashman[edit]

    Main article: Harry Paget Flashman

    FLASHMAN, Harry Paget, brigadier-general, V.C., K.C.B., K.C.I.E.: Chevalier, Legion of Honour; Order of Maria Theresa, Austria; Order of the Elephant, Denmark (temporary); US Medal of Honor; San Serafino Order of Purity and Truth, 4th class

    Biographical note, Flashman on the March[13]

    Flashman is from a semi-aristocratic background; he recounted that his great-grandfather “made a fortune in America out of slaves and rum, and piracy, too, I shouldn’t wonder”.[14] His father was “a dissolute former MP, living beyond the bounds of respectable society, and … his mother [was] born of the self-promoting Paget family“.[15] Despite joining the army after expulsion from school, Flashman is a self-confessed coward with a false reputation for bravery, earned at the expense of others, and despite him trying to avoid danger at all costs.[16] He is also “a scoundrel, a drunk, a liar, a cheat [and] a braggart”,[7] who was described by Fraser as “an unrepentant old cad” whose only positive features are “humour and shameless honesty as a memorialist”.[17]

    Flashman is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, weighs 13 stone (180 lb; 83 kg) (12½ stone in the first book, fourteen stone in the last), has broad shoulders and is attractive to women.[15][c] He was forced into marriage in the first book, after he “caddishly deflowered” Elspeth Morrison,[3] the daughter of a wealthy Scottish textile manufacturer with whom he had been billeted.[15] Despite being married—and the fact he deeply loves his wife—Flashman is “a compulsive womaniser”[10] who has bedded 480 women by the tenth book in the series, which was set in 1859.[20] Elspeth is also probably unfaithful to him on several occasions.[15] Flashman notes that he has three “prime talents, for horses, languages, and fornication”;[21] he was also described by the master-at-arms of the 11th Hussars as a strong swordsman[22] and was skilled with a lance, particularly at tent pegging.[23] When it is necessary for him to control his fear, he will perform bravely, although is more adept at saving his own skin at the expense of others.[10]

    In the course of the series, Flashman is promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and decorated numerous times by different countries. While the books cover some of the awards—such as being given the Victoria Cross for his actions during the sieges of Cawnpore and Lucknow[24]—some stories are not known, such as how and why he served on both sides of the American Civil War and how he won the Medal of Honor.[25][d]

    During his travels Flashman meets people who took part in 19th-century events, including Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, Otto von Bismarck, Oscar Wilde and Florence Nightingale, and he is involved as a participant in some of the century’s most notable events, including the Indian Rebellion, the Taiping Rebellion, the charge of the Light Brigade, the Siege of Khartoum, John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry and the Battle of the Little Bighorn.[27]

    Flashman died in 1915, although the details are unknown.[28]

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    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)

    Weekly Poetry Contest Poems 2024

    Cosmos Reading List 2023

    These poems were written following weekly prompts on writing com. For each poem, I have provided the underlying prompt and additional information following the poems.  They are in a wide range of styles and ratings.   This is the third time I have completed this challenge, and I look forward to the next challenge starting next month for a year..

    #55. Love Concrete Poem
    ID #1074378 entered on July 25, 2024 at 2:39pm   [Edit]   [1 views]

    #54. Dandelion Kimchi
    ID #1073993 entered on July 15, 2024 at 11:25am   [Edit]   [0 views]

    #53. Dance
    ID #1073969 entered on July 14, 2024 at 7:54pm   [Edit]   [1 views]

    #52. Magical Moments
    ID #1073619 entered on July 6, 2024 at 2:54pm   [Edit]   [0 views]

    #51. climate Change a Liberal Hoax? Pantoum
    ID #1072989 entered on June 21, 2024 at 2:40pm   [Edit]   [0 views]

    #50. In November, America Votes


    ID #1072923 entered on June 19, 2024 at 11:59pm   [Edit]   [8 views]

     

     

    #49. the Mst
    ID #1072824 entered on June 17, 2024 at 8:12pm   [Edit]   [3 views]

    #48. old age reflection
    ID #1072243 entered on June 6, 2024 at 3:16pm   [Edit]   [9 views]

    #47. NRA Lies Pendulum
    ID #1071948 entered on May 31, 2024 at 3:53pm   [Edit]   [10 views]

    #46. Walking Across a Lonely Bridge Looking for Survivor
    ID #1071651 entered on May 24, 2024 at 9:01pm   [Edit]   [9 views]

    #45. The Day of the Sun
    ID #1071107 entered on May 14, 2024 at 10:52pm   [Edit]   [8 views]

    Kim Jongun and the bomb
    Kim Jongun and the bomb

    #44. the Dream that Changed Everything
    ID #1070678 entered on May 7, 2024 at 7:41pm   [Edit]   [6 views]

     

     

    #43. Governor Killing Her Puppy Dog Petrarchan Poem
    ID #1070302 entered on April 30, 2024 at 10:28pm   [Edit]   [9 views]

    #42. On Earth Day
    ID #1070300 entered on April 30, 2024 at 9:56pm   [Edit]   [6 views]

    #41. Christian Fascism Coming Wrapped In The Flag
    ID #1070291 entered on April 30, 2024 at 9:00pm   [Edit]   [6 views]

    #40. January 15 Ode to the Tower of Power
    ID #1070171 entered on April 29, 2024 at 11:11pm   [Edit]   [7 views]

     

     

     

     

     

     

    #39. The unexpected visitor from the Stars
    ID #1070170 entered on April 29, 2024 at 11:05pm   [Edit]   [4 views]

    #38. Week # 36 Killing Dogs Tiger Jade
    ID #1070150 entered on April 29, 2024 at 7:14pm   [Edit]   [6 views]

    #37. Title: My Spiritual Journey
    ID #1068570 entered on April 12, 2024 at 12:21am   [Edit]   [6 views]

    #36. Sam Adams Opens the Gate to Narnia
    ID #1067127 entered on March 29, 2024 at 8:52am   [Edit]   [9 views]

    #35. Keep Hope Alive
    ID #1066550 entered on March 19, 2024 at 3:14am   [Edit]   [8 views]

    #34. Big Daddy Lives in the Shadow Worlds
    ID #1066141 entered on March 12, 2024 at 5:37am   [Edit]   [12 views]

    #33. Burns style Sonnet
    ID #1065906 entered on March 9, 2024 at 2:34am   [Edit]   [11 views]

    #32. Portals to Other Universes
    ID #1065362 entered on March 2, 2024 at 5:00am   [Edit]   [17 views]

    #31. Gateway to Narnia Beckons

    ID #1064553 entered on February 20, 2024 at 10:35pm   [Edit]   [20 views]

    #38. July 31 Where is Home?
    ID #1053392 entered on July 31, 2023 at 4:45pm   [Edit]   [32 views]

    #37. parting is such sweet sorrow
    ID #1052039 entered on July 2, 2023 at 7:26pm   [Edit]   [29 views]

    #36. }Bundaejijae Korean Army Stew
    ID #1051632 entered on June 26, 2023 at 4:25pm   [Edit]   [26 views]

    Korean Food
    Korean Food

     

     

     

     

     

    #35. 

     Invasion of the Pod People
    ID #1051334 entered on June 19, 2023 at 3:28pm   [Edit]   [26 views]

    #32. joseph’s star
    ID #1050987 entered on June 12, 2023 at 4:34pm   [Edit]   [27 views]

    #31. waiting for his dream girl
    ID #1050622 entered on June 5, 2023 at 7:06pm   [Edit]   [27 views]

    #30. Dreamgirl Brevette
    ID #1050129 entered on May 26, 2023 at 7:45pm   [Edit]   [27 views]

    #29. Left-wing Moon Bats vs. Right-wing Wingnuts
    ID #1049985 entered on May 22, 2023 at 10:18pm   [Edit]   [39 views]

    #28. the aliens turn the trees against humanity
    ID #1049690 entered on May 17, 2023 at 12:58am   [Edit]   [32 views]

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    #27. Coffee Up Shape Poem
    ID #1049417 entered on May 10, 2023 at 2:18am   [Edit]   [29 views]

    #26. Zombie Apocalypse Weekly Challenge
    ID #1049183 entered on May 4, 2023 at 1:06am   [Edit]   [38 views]

    #

    Mature Couple being attacked in their car by a hoard of zombies.

     

     

     

     

     

    #24. forgiveness item 2287937 for December 25
    ID #1049181 entered on May 4, 2023 at 1:03am   [Edit]   [36 views]

    #23. lucky in Love
    ID #1048809 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:49am   [Edit]   [35 views]

    #22. fear of communism Naani Poem
    ID #1048808 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:47am   [Edit]   [39 views]

    #21. Candlelight Vigil
    ID #1048807 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:46am   [Edit]   [30 views]

    #20. Watching the Morning News
    ID #1048806 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:44am   [Edit]   [33 views]

    #19. watching the News Pantoum
    ID #1048805 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:42am   [Edit]   [35 views]

    #18. Lonely Young WOman
    ID #1048804 entered on April 26, 2023 at 3:40am   [Edit]   [31 views]

    #17. Barbados Beckoning
    ID #1048740 entered on April 25, 2023 at 2:01am   [Edit]   [45 views]

    Barbados, West Indies – March 4, 2007: A beach scene on the Caribbean Island of Barbados with a yellow lifeguard station and people enjoying the beach and the water.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    #16. Morning News Tigergjde
    ID #1048356 entered on April 18, 2023 at 12:52am   [Edit]   [29 views]

    #15. Life Among the Shadows
    ID #1048004 entered on April 11, 2023 at 2:59am   [Edit]   [55 views]

    #14. Running Out of Time
    ID #1047469 entered on April 4, 2023 at 4:42am   [Edit]   [48 views]

    guns
    gun

    #13. too many guns
    ID #1047149 entered on March 29, 2023 at 9:16pm   [Edit]   [29 views]

     

     

     

    #12. No Pen and Paper for Me!
    ID #1046900 entered on March 23, 2023 at 8:25pm   [Edit]   [31 views]

    #11. just another day of the Ukrainian war
    ID #1046434 entered on March 15, 2023 at 11:05pm   [Edit]   [40 views]

    #10. The mad leprechaun
    ID #1046304 entered on March 13, 2023 at 12:38am   [Edit]   [19 views]

    #9. Old Man in the Mirror Must Die
    ID #1045734 entered on March 1, 2023 at 12:30am   [Edit]   [20 views]

    #8. the saga of the lost love letter
    ID #1045370 entered on February 22, 2023 at 8:59pm   [Edit]   [20 views]

    #7. what is love entry for feb 11
    ID #1044807 entered on February 14, 2023 at 3:49am   [Edit]   [22 views]

    #6. Hathi the Elephant Speaks for Feb 7
    ID #1044377 entered on February 6, 2023 at 10:15pm   [Edit]   [24 views]

    #5. general Oak for weekly challenge
    ID #1043927 entered on January 31, 2023 at 12:38am   [Edit]   [22 views]

    #4. political nonsense pantoum
    ID #1043584 entered on January 23, 2023 at 11:19pm   [Edit]   [25 views]

    #3. past, present, future
    ID #1043299 entered on January 18, 2023 at 7:09am   [Edit]   [24 views]

    #2. End of the World by Candlelight
    ID #1042900 entered on January 9, 2023 at 10:18pm   [Edit]   [27 views]

    #1. new Year’s Naani
    ID #1042768 entered on January 7, 2023 at 3:17am   [Edit]   [22 views]

     

     

     

     

    		 Jumping back to Jurassic Hell   

     

     

     

     

    		 Dew Drop In April 2024 Poems  

     

     

     

     

    FORGIVENESS  

     

     

     

    		 Hark, I hear the angels of Berkeley   

     

     

     

     

     

    		 the Animal Parliament Decides  

     

     

     

     

    		 Democracy on Trial   

    Rated: E · Political · #2285307

    Democracy on Trial for Weekly Challenge

     

     

    to the pain Gods  

     

     

    Promises Made and Kept  

     

     

    You Don’t Have A Clue   

     

     

     

     

     

    		 You Don’t Have A Clue   

     

     

     

     

    who am I?  

    Rated: E · Genealogy · #2281853

    Who am I? for Poetry Challenge

    Created: Sep 27th, 2022

    Modified: Sep 27th, 2022

    Size: 4.52 KB • 129 views

    Genres: Genealogy, Biographical, Family

     

     

     

     

    .

    		 Ode to Berkeley  

     

     

     

     

     

    		 End-of-the-World Survival Blues  

     

     

     

    voices On TV  

     

     

     

     

     

    		 Guilty Pleasure   

     

     

    Last Human Watching the Fog Emerge   

     

     

     

     

    		 Korean summer Haiku  

     

     

     

    Married My Dream Lady   

     

     

     

     

    Secret Sleepwalker   

     

     

    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)

    Travis Air Force Aviation Museum

    Second ID Museum Camp Humphreys,

    Vietnam War Museum

    Korean War Museum

    U.S. Quirky Museums 

    One of my favorite military museums is the Travis Air Force Aviation Museum located on the Travis Air Force Base north of San Francisco, California.  One of the headlights is a  replica of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Nuclear bombs. 

    Co-pilot provides details:The Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum, also known as the Travis Heritage Center, is located at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Here are some key highlights:

     

    Aircraft Displays: The museum houses over 35 aircraft, including historic airlift and tanker aircraft. Notable exhibits include the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, and KC-135 Stratotanker1.

    Exhibits: In addition to aircraft, the museum features various artifacts and exhibits that detail the history of the 60th Air Mobility Wing and its role in global air mobility, humanitarian missions, and nuclear deterrence1.

    Interactive Experiences: Visitors can engage with interactive displays and learn about the technological advancements in aviation and the strategic importance of air mobility1.

    Volunteer Opportunities: The museum relies on volunteers to maintain exhibits and assist with educational programs. It’s a great way for aviation enthusiasts to get involved1.

    Accessibility: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but it is closed on Mondays and federal holidays. Visitors without a DoD ID card need to follow special base entry requirements1.

    The museum offers a comprehensive look at the history and significance of air mobility and is a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts.

    1travisafbaviationmuseum.org2bing.com3travisafbaviationmuseum.org4en.wikipedia.org5travis.af.mil+1

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    1travisafbaviationmuseum.org2bing.com3travisafbaviationmuseum.org4en.wikipedia.org5travis.af.mil+1

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    Your story can be found here

    #california #history #military #museum

  • 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)

    Vietnam War Museum

    Korean War Museum

    View at Medium.com

    2nd ID Museum Camp Humphreys

    The 2nd ID museum at Camp Humphreys is also worth a visit.  The Director of the Museum is an affable retired US Army Colonel whose last job in active duty was as the chief of the US military historian office.

    Co PIlot provided the following background information. 

    Base access is required to tour the museum which is located across from the USO.

    Tell me Abut the 2nd ID museum at Camp Humphreys

    Copilot:

    The 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) Museum at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the 2nd Infantry Division and its role in various military operations. Here are some key highlights:

    The 2ID Museum provides a comprehensive look at the division’s storied past and its ongoing contributions to military history.

    1army.mil2history.army.mil3pof.usace.army.mil4flickr.com5dvidshub.net

    More Background from Co-Pilot

     Let’s delve into the storied history of the 2nd Infantry Division (often affectionately known as the “Indianhead” division). 🇺🇸

    1. World War I Origins:
    2. World War II:
    3. Korean War and Beyond:
      • Since the 1960s, the 2nd Infantry Division’s primary mission has been the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea.
      • Approximately 17,000 soldiers serve in the division, with 10,000 stationed in South Korea—accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel.
      • Notably, the 2nd Infantry Division is unique: it includes South Korean soldiers (called KATUSA, or Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army) who serve alongside their American counterparts.
      • The KATUSA program began in 1950, and as of May 2006, around 1,100 KATUSA soldiers serve with the 2ID3.
    4. Marine Corps Leadership:

    In summary, the 2nd Infantry Division has a rich legacy spanning both world wars and continues to play a vital role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. 🌟 If you ever visit South Korea, consider paying homage to this remarkable division and the brave men and women who have served under its banner.

    1dday-overlord.com 2
    encyclopedia.ushmm.org3
    + en.wikipedia.org4
    2id.korea.army.mil
    5en.Wikipedia.org
    Substack
    Medium
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    2nd ID Museum Camp Humphreys, Korea

    You just published 2nd ID Museum Camp Humphreys, Korea !

    Your story can be found here

    #korea #military #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)

    Vietnam War Museum, Ho Chi Minh City

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-30u

    Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Vietnam Poems

     Ode to Vietnam Coffee

    Ode to Vietnam Coffee Lady

    I have been to this museum twice. Once right after the normalization of relations in 1995 and in 2019, pre-COVID shut down. Vietnam War tourism is sadly a thing.  I also toured the infamous Chu Chi Tunnels.  The Vietnam War ended when I turned 18, so I never served.

    Co-Pilot provided the following background information.

    The War Remnants Museum, located in District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a powerful and moving museum dedicated to the history and impact of the Vietnam War. Here are some key highlights:

    The War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most visited cultural and historical sites, attracting nearly one million visitors annually2. It’s a deeply impactful experience for anyone interested in understanding the Vietnam War and its lasting effects.

    1en.wikipedia.org2ba

    Chu Chi Tunnels

    The Cu Chi Tunnels, located in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam, are an extensive network of underground tunnels that played a significant role during the Vietnam War. Here are some key highlights:

    The Cu Chi Tunnels offer a poignant glimpse into the resilience and ingenuity of the Viet Cong during the war.

    From Ho Chi Minh: Saigon Street Food By Motorbike/Car

    getyourguide.com

    From Ho Chi Minh: Melkong Delta – The Land Of Friendliness

    getyourguide.com

    getyourguide.com

    from $53

    Vietnam War Memorial Washington, DC

    I have been to the Vietnam War Memorial in DC a number of times over the years. Always impressive.

    Co-Pilot provided  the following additional information

    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands as a poignant tribute to those who served during the Vietnam War. Let’s delve into the details:

    1. Location:
    2. Design and Symbolism:
    3. Purpose and Emotion:
      • The Vietnam War was deeply controversial, and the memorial serves as a place of healing, remembrance, and reconciliation.
      • Visitors often leave mementos—flowers, letters, and tokens of gratitude—near the names of their loved ones.
      • The stark black surface reflects the viewer, creating a powerful connection between the living and the fallen.
    4. Vietnam Women’s Memorial:
      • Dedicated in 1993, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial stands nearby. It honors the more than 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam era. Their contributions often went unrecognized, and this memorial seeks to rectify that oversight.
    5. Visiting the Memorial:
      • The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is open 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to pay their respects at any time.
      • Whether you visit during the day or at night, the experience is deeply moving. The quiet, contemplative atmosphere encourages reflection.
    6. Remembering Sacrifice:
      • Each name on the wall represents a life cut short, a family forever changed. It’s a stark reminder of the cost of war.
      • As you trace your fingers over the engraved letters, you can’t help but feel the weight of history and honor the bravery of those who served.

    If you ever find yourself in Washington, D.C., take a moment to visit this solemn memorial. It’s a place where gratitude and grief intersect—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. 🌸🇺🇸

    1. “Seeing Ghosts in Vietnam”:

    [Poetics] Seeing Ghosts in Vietnam ~ Two Poems by John Aller

    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

     

    Ghosts 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

     

    Saigon 2019 vrs Saigon 1995

    Saigon 2019

    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 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

    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

    impressions of Saigon 2019 vrs Saigon 1985 © Apr 2019, joh

    Substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/vietnam-war-museum?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Watt Pad

    You just published Vietnam Reflections !

    Your story can be found here

    #vietnam

     

     

  • 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 War Museum

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-305

    I have been to several war museums over the years. Korea has two war museums.  The first is the official Korean War museum in Seoul near the old US Army Headquarters.  I first visited in 2000 shortly after it opened and recently visited it again.  The exhibits are first class.

    Co-pilot provided the following background information

    The War Memorial of Korea, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is a comprehensive museum dedicated to the history of Korea’s military conflicts, with a significant focus on the Korean War (1950-1953). Here are some key highlights:

    The War Memorial of Korea is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, except on Mondays. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in military history and the impact of the Korean

    on the country’s development3.

    I have also been to the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC several times.

    Sent by Copilot:

    Certainly! The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands as a solemn tribute to those who served during the Korean War (1950–1953). Here are some key details:

    1. Location: The memorial is situated in West Potomac Park, southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and just south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall12. If you find yourself strolling through the area, it’s hard to miss—its design and symbolism make it a powerful presence.
    2. Purpose and Symbolism:
      • The memorial’s central theme is “Freedom Is Not Free.” It honors the men and women who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.
      • The design includes a Wall of Remembrance with etched images of soldiers, nurses, and other personnel who served during the war. The wall reflects the somber reality of sacrifice.
      • Stainless steel statues of 19 soldiers—representing a squad on patrol—stand in formation. These statues evoke a sense of duty, camaraderie, and the harsh conditions faced by those who fought.
      • The Pool of Remembrance reflects the soldiers and their surroundings, creating a contemplative space for visitors.
    3. Visiting the Memorial:
      • The Korean War Veterans Memorial is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether you visit during the day or at night, the experience is moving.
      • Take your time to walk among the statues, read the inscriptions, and reflect on the sacrifices made during this often-called “Forgotten War.”
      • It’s a place to honor not only the American service members but also the 5.8 million people who served in the U.S. armed forces during the three-year period of the Korean War3.

    Substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/korean-war-museum?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Podcast

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/korean-war-musuem?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    Korean War Museum

    You just published Korean War Museum !

    Your story can be found here

    #korean #museum #travel #war

    Spotify Podcast

     

     

  • 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)

    Quirky Korean Museums

    Quirky Korean Musuems – Jjyameyeong Museum Incheon City

    I have been to  several quirky museums in Korea.

    Quirky Korean museums – Jjyameyeong Museum Incheon City 

    The first is the Jjaymeyong museum in Incheon which is dedicated to that staple Korean-Chinese black noodle dish, Jjaymeyong which was invented by Chinese immigrants in Incheon in the 19th Century and has become one of the staple foods of South and North Korea and China as well.

    The museum was interesting but did not serve Jjajmeyong at the site.

     

    CO-PIlot provides details

    The Jajangmyeon Museum, located in Jung District, Incheon, South Korea, is dedicated to the history of the popular Korean-Chinese dish, jajangmyeon. Here are some key highlights:

    The museum is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in culinary history and the cultural exchange between Korea and China.

    Kimchi Museum

    the Kimchi Museum is also worth a stop.  There are two locations, one in the KOE Convention center in Gangnam district which I visited, and the other in the Insadong traditional arts district in downtown Seoul.

     

    Co-Pilot provides the details:

     

    Kimchi Blues

    kimchi
    kimchi

     

     

     

    Fragrance of Korean Food

    I love Korean food
    K food
    I love the taste
    I love the fragrance
    I love the smells
    I love the texture
    I love the feel
    I love how it looks
    Fell in love with it
    And all things Korean
    Back in 1979
    When I first went there
    In the U.S. Peace Corps

    Korean food is somewhat like
    Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai
    With some American influences as well
    But it is also unique
    Distinctive
    And delicious

    The fragrance of Korean food
    Is what draws me in
    The aroma of garlic, ginger, sesame oil
    Soy sauce, red Popper paste, vinegar, sugar
    And other spices and herbs
    That creates a symphony of scents
    That stimulates my appetite
    And make my mouth water

    The fragrance of Korean food
    Is what lingering in my memory
    The smell of kimchi, bibimbap, bulgogi
    Japchae, mando, toktokkie
    And other dishes and snacks
    That fills my stomach
    And satisfy my soul

    The fragrance of Korean food
    Is what connecting me to Korea
    The odor of history, culture, tradition
    Family, friends, love
    And other aspects of Korean life
    That touched my heart
    And enrich my spirit

    I love Korean food
    K food
    I love the fragrance
    The fragrance of Korea
    The fragrance of home

    Ode to Korean Food

    Oh, Korean food
    How I adore you
    You are the best thing
    That ever happened to me

    You are my comfort
    My joy
    My Delight
    You make me happy
    Every day and night

    You are so diverse
    So varied
    So complex
    You have something for everyone
    And every mood

    You are so healthy
    So nutritious
    So balanced
    You have all the essential
    Vitamins and minerals

    You are so spicy
    So flavorful
    So savory
    You have all the wonderful
    Spices and sauces

    You are so fun
    So social
    So communal
    You have all the great
    Ways of sharing and eating

    You are so beautiful
    So colorful
    So artistic
    You have all the amazing
    Presentation and decoration

    You are so delicious
    So satisfying
    So addictive
    You have all the irresistible
    Taste and texture

    Oh, Korean food
    How I adore you
    You are the best thing
    That ever happened to me

    The Kimchi Museum, now known as Museum Kimchikan, is located in the vibrant Insadong neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea. It’s a fascinating destination dedicated to the history, culture, and science of kimchi, Korea’s iconic fermented dish.

    Here are some key highlights:

    Edison Science Museum in Gangneun

    The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but it is closed on Mondays, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and Christmas3. Admission fees are reasonable, with discounts for children and teenagers3.

    Another off beat museum in Korea is the Edison Science Museum in Gangneung Korea.   It is in the East Coast about two hours by train from Seoul.

    The museum was founded by a Korean engineer who was fascinated by Thomas Edison’s life and build the museum to honor his legacy among Koreans.

    Co-pilot provides details

    The Chamsori Gramophone & Edison Science Museum in Gangneung, South Korea, is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in the history of recorded sound and the inventions of Thomas Edison. Here are some key highlights:

    The museum is located about 15 minutes from downtown Gangneung and is easily accessible by public transportation1.

    1atlasobscura.com2lonelyplanet.com3triplyzer.com4bing.com5flickr.com

    More Quirky Korean Museums

    Korea has a lot of other quirky museums.  CO-PIlot provides some more details:

    1. South Korea is home to many quirky and offbeat museums that offer unique and entertaining experiences. Here are a few you might find interesting:
      1. Trick Eye Museum (Seoul)
      2. Poopoo Land (Seoul)  On my bucket list
      3. Teddy Bear Museum (Jeju Island)
      4.  Love Castle (Gyeongju)  also sex museums in Gangwha and Jeju Islands  on my bucket list
      5. Mr. Toilet House (Suwon) on my bucket list
      6. Alive Museum (Seoul)
      7. Knife Gallery (Seoul)

    These museums offer a mix of fun, education, and unique experiences that you won’t find in more traditional museums. Have you visited any quirky museums before?

    Learn more

    1klook.com2atlasobscura.com3bing.com4hangeul.go.kr5traveltriangle.com6koreatravelpost.com+1 more

    Substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/quirky-korean-museums?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

     

    Medium

     

    Wattpad

    You just published Quirky Korean Museums !

    Your story can be found here

    #korea #musuems

    Spotify Podcast  TBC

  • 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)

    Quirky U.S.  Museum Tours

    National Park Journeys

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zz

    I am a big fan of quirky, unusual museums.   in 2016, my wife and I drove across the country to celebrate my retirement from the U.S. Foreign Service, We covered 10,000 miles in three months hitting 35 States and seeing the sights along the way.

    Rapid City Nowhere

    In the summer of 2016,
    We drove across the country
    Just the wife and me

    to celebrate
    my retirement
    from 27  Years
    serving the country
    as a diplomat

    10,000 miles
    35 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

    audio clips

     

    Potato Museum

     

     

     

    On the way to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, we stopped off at the Blackfoot Idaho Potato Museum dedicated to the lowly humble Idaho potato. Well worth the stop.

    Co-Pilot provides the details:

    The Idaho Potato Museum, located in Blackfoot, Idaho, is a unique destination dedicated to celebrating the history and significance of the potato. Housed in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot, the museum offers a fascinating look into the world of Idaho’s famous potatoes1.

    Here are some highlights:

    The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM1. It’s a fun and educational stop, especially if you’re a fan of potatoes!

    Wall Drugs

    I was not a big fan of the Dakotas.  The Badlands were interesting as was the town of Deadwood where we stopped off to drink in the Bar that is legendary where the 19th-century character Wild BIll Hitchcock met his demise cheating at poker – hence the famous Deadman’s hand Full house8s and two aces. Enjoyed drinking the Wyoming Whiskey which is a recreation of the legendary frontier drink.

    We also stopped off at Walls Drug store for their legendary free water pit stop which dates back to the 1920s when they build the freeways across the Dakotas.  it is about 90 miles from anywhere.

    Co-pilot provides the details:

    Wall Drug, located in the small town of Wall, South Dakota, is a famous roadside attraction with a rich history and quirky charm. Established in 1931 by Ted and Dorothy Hustead, Wall Drug started as a small pharmacy offering free ice water to attract travelers during the Great Depression1. This simple idea turned Wall Drug into a must-stop destination.

    Here are some highlights:

    Wall Drug is open daily from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM2. It’s a great stop if you’re traveling through South Dakota, especially if you’re visiting the nearby Badlands National Park.

    Corn Palace Museum

    Another interesting stop along the way was the Corn Palace Museum in Mitchel, South Dakota outside of Sioux City, South Dakota.    Another Mitchel attraction we did not stop off at was the George Mc Govern library honoring the late Senator George Mc Govern who famously lost to Richard Nixon in 1974 electoral wipe out, losing 49 states. . He was one the last of the great midwestern progressive populists which was a thing in the 20’s to the 80’s before the Republican party became too conservative for political leaders like Mc Govern.

    Co-Piot has the details:

    1. The Corn Palace, located in Mitchell, South Dakota, is a unique and iconic landmark known for its stunning murals made entirely from corn and other grains. Here are some key highlights:

    The Corn Palace is open year-round, but the best time to visit is from Memorial Day through Labor Day when the new murals are on display2.

    Have you ever seen artwork made from such unique materials before?

    Learn more

    1cornpalace.com2cornpalace.com3cornpalace.com4bing.com5southdakota.com6twitter.com

    Visiting | Mitchell Corn Palace, SD

    https://www.cornpalace.com/31/Visiting

    • library.dwu.edu

    McGovern Library

    1200 W University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301

    (605) 995-2618

    Open · Closes 4 PM

    22 Tripadvisor reviews

    Add photos

    Home – McGovern Library – McGovern Library at Dakota Wesleyan …

    WEB May 31, 2024 · Library Hours. Search books, articles, media, and more at McGovern Library and beyond.

    Substack

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/quirky-us-museums?r=3i9lm

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/quirky-us-musuems?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    You just published Quirky U.S. Museums!

    Your story can be found here

    #museums #travel

     

    Spotify Podcast 

     

     

     

     

     

  • 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)

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zb

    Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala
    Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revised

    Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

     

    Audio FIle

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate, and progress over going back. When faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley (attended Thousand Oaks  school a few years before you did,  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, and served 27 years in the Foreign Service serving in ten countries. I have been to all 50 States and 50 countries.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four-year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism. Call him Conman Don, for felon Con, or despicable me wanna be Don.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.  Remember the best way to handle a bully is to mock them over and over again.  They can’t handle that and he will become more unhinged and dangerous as you mock him. So Mock him, girl. He deserves it.  and in the debate call him on his BS brutally fact check his ass live on TV. Show the world what an ignorant senile old man he has become.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can-do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mentioned we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 to re-ignite Roe V Wade standards.

    Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged

    call for reforming the Supreme Court.  Including nominating the first hispanic member.

    For VP Pick a centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/Technical Training or Money to Open a Business in Exchange for National Service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on -the-job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really ,need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start-ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    After finishing basic 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.  The service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harm’s 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 real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four  new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies, like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including postgraduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with your staff.

     

    Welcome to The God Pod, a newsletter dedicated to satire and comedy! We rely entirely on the generosity of our readers to be able to continue our efforts. If you appreciate what you read here today, consider becoming a paid supporter!

    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     

     

     

     

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

    Support Our Satire

    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of face planting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    J The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances, constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

    …

    My thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

     

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate and progress over going back.

    when faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

     

     

     

     

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    The rest of my earlier suggestions follow with a few updates

    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.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mention we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

     

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!
    J

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

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    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    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.  and the service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way.  This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.

    I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster.   Sell this as a real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four   new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies like the military academies  including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including post graduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with yours staff.

     

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    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     
    READ IN APP

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Share

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

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    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of faceplanting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

     

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    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

     

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    Join now

    2. The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

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    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    Leave a comment

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

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    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances; constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

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    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    Leave a comment

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    Leave a comment

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

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    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

     

    …Substack

    JAKECOSMOSALLER.SUBSTACK.COM
    My Thoughts On the Harris For President
    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy. https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zb Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revisedThanks for reading jake’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

    Medium

    https://medium.com/@jakealler/harris-for-president-08607104ea00

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    You just published Harris for President !

    Your story can be found here

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    July 23, 2024, 1:59 am 0 boosts 0 favorites

    Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala
    Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revised

    Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

     

    Audio FIle

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate, and progress over going back. When faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    I retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016 after 27 years of service. I grew up in Berkeley (attended Thousand Oaks  school a few years before you did,  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, and served 27 years in the Foreign Service serving in ten countries. I have been to all 50 States and 50 countries.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four-year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism. Call him Conman Don, for felon Con, or despicable me wanna be Don.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.  Remember the best way to handle a bully is to mock them over and over again.  They can’t handle that and he will become more unhinged and dangerous as you mock him. So Mock him, girl. He deserves it.  and in the debate call him on his BS brutally fact check his ass live on TV. Show the world what an ignorant senile old man he has become.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can-do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mentioned we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 to re-ignite Roe V Wade standards.

    Call for a Return to traditional American civil norms that Trump has so badly damaged

    call for reforming the Supreme Court.  Including nominating the first hispanic member.

    For VP Pick a centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/Technical Training or Money to Open a Business in Exchange for National Service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on -the-job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really ,need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start-ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    After finishing basic 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.  The service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harm’s 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 real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four  new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies, like the military academies including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including postgraduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with your staff.

     

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    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     

     

     

     

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

    Support Our Satire

    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of face planting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    J The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances, constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

    everyone is entitled to my own opinion is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    …

    …

    My thoughts on the Harris Candidacy.

     

    I still believe in her and in the basic goodness of the American people. I believe that the people will choose goodness over evil, love over hate and progress over going back.

    when faced with the choice – a demented, deranged senile old man filled with hatred and revenge, or a competent accomplished woman they will make the right choice.

    Congratulations, my Berkeley hometown girl. You got this girl.

    Go Bold or go Home!

    Berkeley Girl Makes It

     

     

     

     

    The news

    that Biden

    was stepping down

    throwing his support.

     

    for Kamala Harris

    as President.

     

    filled me with joy

    and anticipation.

     

    Kamala Harris

    attended my elementary school

    Thousand Oaks in Berkeley

    a few years before me.

     

    and is a Berkeley girl

    through and through.

     

    Go Berkely !

    Thousand Oak Girl I say.

    T.O Toughie Girl Power.

     

    the first Female  VP

    of Asian descent

    the first VP

    of black descent

     

    the first Caribbean

    to be on the ticket.

    and the first Hindu

    as well.

     

    and the first

    Berkeley native

    on the ticket.

     

    it is time

    for Berkeley to rule

    in my humble opinion.

    Kamala

    here’s what I would campaign on.

    the theme would be getting stuff done for the people!

    Reforming the Federal Budget

    This is perhaps boring to voters but very important to the long-term stability of the country.

    I would call upon Congress to change how they do budgets and shift to a two-year budgetary cycle.  The first year of Congress would be devoted to passing the two-year budget, the second year would be devoted to oversight and supplemental budget requests.

    Coupled that shifting to a calendar year budget.  Eliminate the possibility of government shutdowns by enacting automatic CR’s if budgets are not passed on time. But also require budgets to be passed on time – December 1 in the prior year. If a budget is not passed on time, keep congress in town until the budget is passed.  And if for some reason the budget is not passed, dinge congressional salaries until the budget is passed.

    Second commission a study to look at our tax situation and make suggestions for common sense tax reform.  Start by figuring out how much money the government spends in a given year,  the reform of the tax code to generate most of the revenue from taxes. Consider a national sales tax as well.  Reserve borrowing for large scale infrastructure, and military spending. And consider a surcharge on income of about 25 million per year.

    I would also look at federal spending and ask that all departments identify lower priority projects with a required 5% reduction in federal spending per agency over a four year period, except for health related and education related agencies which would be given a considerable bump up in spending. I would do this for three years so that in three years overall spending has been reduced by about 10 percent. Leave it up to the agencies to identify lower priority projects that should not be micromanaged by the White House.

    For the defense department consider eliminating such things as golf courses, domestic PX and commissary stores and other non-essential spending.

    Finally consider turning over some federal government functions to the states. The conservative idea of moving federal agencies out of  Washington DC has considerable merit in my opinion.

    The rest of my earlier suggestions follow with a few updates

    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.

    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, corrupt 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 goodwill.  Freely steal from Bernie and Elizabeth’s proposals and adopt her detailed plans – after talking with her of course.  Call for reform not revolution and stress competence vs. incompetence and chaos.

    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 making it seemed that she thought she was entitled, and it was her time.  that is a big turnoff in politics.

    She also took it for granted and did not compete everywhere.  You have to out hustle Trump and go everywhere – hold virtual town halls everywhere until the Corona virus threat fades away.

    You have to earn the trust of the voters and can’t be seen as thinking you are entitled to the presidency because you have done your dues so to speak.  That is the kiss of electoral suicide – look at Mitch Romney and Hillary Clinton – both lost because they thought that it was their time and they were entitled to the presidency, the voters simply thought otherwise and showed them the door.

    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 Donald. People have to want to vote for you.  Your experience counts for a lot, but it is not enough.

    How to Beat Trump

    talk constantly about Donald Trump being the most corrupt president in US history and that he is guilty or gross nepotism.

    Finally, ignore his tweets. When he tweets something obnoxious dismiss it with the phrase “There he Goes Again”.

    then talk about your bold yet pragmatic agenda over and over again.

    GO BOLD OR GO HOME

    The times cries out for bold progressive challenges and for fresh thinking. Make people want to vote for you as they share your vision of the possible future. and want to have a positive, can do message.   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 Joe’s Plan for the Future of America, or Kamala’s Contract with the American People, something along those lines.

    “Let’s Boldly Go into the Future,”

    and rename your campaign as “Kamala for the American People” . Use one of your great assets your reputation for being an everyday person.  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 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.

    And enact permanent paid sick leave up to a month for all companies employing more than ten 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.

    call for a slight reduction of military spending and national security spending to beef up health care spending and universal education access.

    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.  and we will figure out how to work with China and even Russia to solve problems of mutual interest such as climate change.  Vow to restore partnership with Mexico and Canada and Latin America as well as India and Southeast Asia. and restore ties with Europe as well.  Rebuild the UN and international organizations.  And join the international criminal court. Finally close Gitmo as an affront to the American system of justice and human rights. Re Israel vow to work with Palestinians and Israelis alike to restart the peace process.

    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 former 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 as the North Koreans played him.  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 some 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 hyper-loop 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. and as mention we must beef up health care spending and assure universal access to higher education. These must be the new national priorities. I would throw the republicans a bone offers to look at modest reductions in other government spending for example decreasing  spending on NPR but not eliminating it, and a slight decrease in foreign assistance, and UN contributions etc.  and other government programs could be trimmed down a bit to pay for higher priorities.

    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? How does providing medical care or universal higher education which benefits the entire nation hamper 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.  Again throw the republicans a bone offers to ensure that E Verify is widely used by all employers and punish employers who hire illegals. I would also consider getting rid of the diversity visa program and the sibling immigration category but grandfather people in that category giving them two years to complete the immigration process with no new applicants being accepted.  I would also push English language skills for immigrants as one of the new requirements – they must be able to handle the immigrant visa interview in English. That is something I agree with Trump on.

    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 centrist male governor.

    I like the governor of Kentucky or North Carolina   The governor of Michigan would be a good choice too.  the Governor of California not so much.

    To sum up, be cautious, small-minded, narrowly focused, and all about how bad Donald is, you will lose.

    In short,

    GO BOLD OR  Go Home

    Sincerely
    Jake Cosmos Aller
    703-436-1402
    Jakecaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    T.O. Alumnus

     

    Call for Public Service

     wikipedia on history of national service in the US

    pros and cons on national service proposals

    Time to Embrace National  Service  in Exchange for free college tuition< h1>why national service is worth it

    open letters to the candidates send to democratic candidates

     

    Embrace Public Service, Mr. President!
    J

    In any event, I believe that the time is now to call for national service in exchange for free college tuition/vocational training or grants to open small businesses. Three years of service followed by four years of either college/technical training, or assistance in opening a small business.

    Call for Free College Education Coupled with National Service Requirements.

    Dear Democratic Candidates:

    I am writing to all of you and to President  Trump to call for your to embrace national service in exchange for free college/technical training or assistance in opening a business.

    It is time to change the game plan in Washington DC. You need a new bold proposal that will unite the country and heal the divisions.  My proposal is for you to embrace mandatory national service for three years.  Everyone finishing their service would receive full funding for college, technical training or a grant to set up their own business because after all not everyone needs to go to college, we need to encourage technical training and starting up small business as well.

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    the key is that the service would be universal and all citizens and LPR’s between the ages of 18 and 25 would serve three years – no exceptions.  Most would be military, but people could serve as fine fathers. adjust police officers, adjust border patrol officers, adjust teachers, peace corps volunteers or serve in state/local and federal government positions.

    Call for all Americans to serve three years in public service either in the military or in the government or NGO sector and in return, they will get four years of college paid for. For recent graduates , they can serve and get their college debt forgiven. To those who say we can’t afford this, say we can’t afford to continue to put our college students in crippling debt they cannot afford. And everyone, especially the rich, should shoulder the burden of national service. and point out that shifting to a mandatory national service requirement would save the Pentagon money on salaries.  the cost would be modest – minimum wage, housing, medical care and college tuition after their service.   People would serve between age 18 and 25 one year of training and two years of service, with an optional second enlistment for three more years of educational benefits through PHD/professional degrees.  Starting at age 18 until age 25 people will be randomly selected to begin service.  those who are 25 will have until they turn 26 to report for service. They would have one year to report for service.

    Free College/technical training or money to open a business in exchange for national service

    Most people will start college, or tech training institute, then do military or other service, and then return to college to finish their college. That is fine.  Ensure that colleges will not only accommodate that but will also offer college credits for military and other on the job training acquired during national service.  This would also cut the cost of college attendance for most people to a manageable three years instead of four to five years.  And of course, ensure that people can go to technical training institutes instead of a traditional college as we really need to grow the next generation of technical workers as well. and also ensure that those who wish financial assistance in setting up a small business would receive that assistance as well as we need to encourage the small business start ups as well.

    After Service can compete to become an NCO/Officer or work for the Federal/State/Local/tribal government/ UN or NGO

    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.  and the service academies will only accept those who have finished basic service.  This would apply to new service academies being set up, see below for more details.

    All Must Serve

    And most importantly, shared national service will help restore America’s sense that this is our land, this land belongs to everyone. The rich and the poor alike.  We are all in this together.  We have lost sight of that.  The military has become an army of paid mercenaries recruited from the lower classes.  If everyone serves, there will be less temptation to send troops into harms way.  This will be a win- win for everyone except for the student loan vultures.

    I would bring most of the troops home and station them along the southern border where they could be used to help bolster border security, and assist as first responders to natural disaster.   Sell this as a real border security that will get the job done.

    Establish New Service Academies for the Diplomatic, Intelligence Services/ Space Force/NASA, and law Enforcement

    I would also call for four   new national service academies to be set up.  One would be for diplomatic and intelligence service, the other would be for law enforcement, the third would be for the Space Force/and NASA, the last would be more technical scientific agencies of the Federal government focusing on science and technology issues.   These academies like the military academies  including a coast guard academy, and beefing up the maritime service academy,  would take only those who finished their military basis service. this would be a great way to restore our diplomatic corps and intelligence services as well as our law enforcement person.  All graduates can meet their service obligation (five years post graduation) through working for Federal/State/local/tribal governments, the UN or NGO’s.  all the service academies as well as the Medical Medical schools, the foreign service training center (which will be transformed into the new diplomatic/intelligence training academy) would work together on the national service academies consortium to coordinate policies and training, including post graduate training programs at the various military and other federal government training programs.

    National Service Will Bring US together as one nation

    I believe that this proposal could be enacted with widespread bipartisan support.  It would go a long way to help heal the divisions of our country and bring us all together as a nation. I hope you will fully embrace this proposal and I look forward to discussing it with yours staff.

     

    Welcome to The God Pod, a newsletter dedicated to satire and comedy! We rely entirely on the generosity of our readers to be able to continue our efforts. If you appreciate what you read here today, consider becoming a paid supporter!

    Trump Must Drop Out Because He’s Old As Fuck

    JUL 22

     
    READ IN APP

    Dear Humans,

    God here. Now that President Biden has heroically passed the torch to Kamala Harris, can we talk about the orange elephant in the room?

    TRUMP MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE HE’S OLD AS FUCK. 

    Share

    Yeah, I said it. At 78-years-old, Donald is practically fossilized. You wouldn’t trust your grandpa to fix your Wi-Fi, so why let him run the country? He’s older than dirt and twice as clueless.

    Like holy shit, did you see his speech at the RNC last week? The giant creep rambled on for 2 hours like he was Grandpa Simpson.

    Look, the presidency is a tough gig. It needs someone with energy, someone who can stay awake past 7 PM without nodding off. Trump?

    HE FALLS ASLEEP IN COURT. 

    He fell asleep during his own convention. He’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. The only marathon he’s running is a nap marathon.

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    And let’s talk about the gaffes—Donald says some stupid insane shit that doesn’t make sense every single time he speaks. The only people it makes sense to are also totally delusional Christian Nationalist freaks like Marjorie Taylore Greene.

    And don’t get me started on the health issues. Remember that mysterious trip to Walter Reed? Make America great again? This man can’t handle a ramp. The only thing he can make great again is the act of faceplanting into the ground.

    So, here’s the divine decree: Trump, pack it up. Go home, put on your slippers, and watch Matlock reruns. Leave running the country to someone who can remember what day it is without checking Fox News. It’s time for you to drop out, you crusty old bag of assholes.

    Now that I, the LORD THY GOD, have brought attention to this issue, I am sure the media will be obsessing about it every day from here on out.

    THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

     

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    Seven Lessons from Joe Biden’s Candidacy

    The Democratic party is healthy. The Republican party is not.

    JONATHAN V. LAST
    JUL 22

     

    1. Seven Lessons

    Before we start: I did a YouTube thing about Biden last night, if you’re interested.

    Now let’s go.

    (1) The Democratic party is a healthy institution.

    On the night of June 27, the various power centers within the Democratic party began a difficult conversation: Was Joe Biden still capable of running a vigorous campaign?

    Over three weeks the party reached a diffuse—if not unanimous—consensus: He was not. This consensus was the product of all levels of the party: Elder statesmen such as Nancy Pelosi, elected Democrats analyzing their own future prospects, donors making decisions about spending, and the main body of public opinion among Democratic voters.

    Once this consensus was reached, the various power centers began a dialogue with the party’s leader, President Biden. The party expressed its choice. Biden pushed back. The party took up the question again and, after due consideration, held firm.

    Joe Biden then stepped aside for the good of the nation.

    This is how healthy institutions are supposed to work.

    At The Bulwark there has been a lot of drama over the last three weeks. We told you what we really thought, even though it meant making some people mad.

    Our mission is to have honest and real conversations. Because that’s what healthy institutions do.

    Right here, in the Bulwark community, those conversations were great. I mean, they were often painful. But they were always civil and conducted in good faith.

    How special is this community? We had one member who was so disappointed in us that he cancelled his subscription and then came back to the comments every day to try to convince others to cancel their subscriptions, too. And he did it passionately, but with respect.

    Where do you find people like that on the internet? It was amazing.

    The coming weeks are going to be full of history. Come and ride through it with us.

    Join now

    2. The process which elevated Kamala Harris was sensible.

    The Democratic party made another institutional decision in parallel with the Biden question: It vetted Kamala Harris.

    This subroutine executed in the background, but it was active. Democratic voters began to consider her as the nominee and polling showed that they were comfortable with her. Party elders evaluated her fitness. Donors and elected Democrats took her measure. The fact that no anti-Harris groundswell—or even boom let—emerged is proof that the party decided that Harris was an acceptable nominee.

    After Biden blessed Harris on Sunday afternoon, the party coalesced around her in much the way it did Biden after the New Hampshire primary in 2020.

    The Democratic party will enter the election more unified than it had been pre-debate.

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    3. Kamala Harris can run as an insurgent, but with the advantages of an incumbent.

    The largest advantage of incumbency is that a candidate does not have to take base-pleasing positions during a primary campaign that can hurt him during a general election.

    Because of the extraordinary nature of her ascendence, Harris possesses this advantage. She will carry nearly every advantage of incumbency and yet she can credibly position herself as this election’s change agent.

    4. Trump is holding the age bomb.

    The Trump campaign spent two years creating a political bomb concerning old age. They assumed that they could plant this bomb at the feet of Joe Biden.

    Trump is now the one holding the age bomb. He is not only a full generation older than Harris—everything about him looks geriatric by comparison. From his gait to his bronzed-over pallor; from the way he rambles and gets lost in sentences to his inability to keep facts straight.

    Every split screen now makes Trump look old and decrepit by comparison.

    Leave a comment

    5. There was enormous pent-up demand among Democrats for a younger leader.

    In the first 24 hours, Kamala Harris raised over $100 million from small-dollar donors.

    Sit with that for a moment. $100 million.

    That’s more money than any Democrat has ever raised in a single day. It’s twice as much as Trump raised following his felony conviction. If this doesn’t snap your head back, it should.

    Because it’s as good a proxy as you’ll find for excitement.

    It will be several days until we have polling with a more detailed view of Harris’s support from Democratic voters, but it is already clear that she will perform much better than Biden has within her party.

    Here’s my advice: You should be open to the idea that Harris could ride a wave of excitement and passion that absolutely no one was seeing until Biden stepped aside. I’m talking Obama ‘08-levels of energy.

    It’s not a given. But it’s in the realm of the possible. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

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    6. The Republican party is a failed state.

    At the debate, Donald Trump also demonstrated (again) that he is unfit for office. He rambled and lied incoherently. He is a convicted felon. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault. He has said he wants to be a “dictator” and that he wants to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He selected as his running mate a man who advised disobeying orders from the Supreme Court and forcing a constitutional crisis.

    Until last week there was nothing stopping the Republican party from forcing Trump off the ticket. The party elders and elected officials could have demanded that Trump step aside. Republican voters could have said that they had no confidence in his ability to govern. Donors could have closed their wallets.

    But the plain fact is that not one single Republican called on Trump to step aside.

    Not one.

    Why? Because the various precincts of the Republican party understand that they hold no power—at all—over Trump. They could not ask him to withdraw from the race. Even broaching the subject would be grounds for excommunication from the party.

    The Democratic party is a functioning institution, with checks and balances; constituencies and power structures. Like any institution, it is amorphous and its decision making is mostly organic.

    The Republican party is an autocracy where the only thing that matters is the will of the leader. All power flows through him. All decisions are made by him. There are no competing power centers—only vassal states overseen by his noblemen.

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    7. Harris is an underdog.

    One of the reasons the last three weeks have been so difficult is because Democrats were not choosing between a “good” outcome and a “bad” outcome.

    Those sorts of choices are easy.

    Instead, Democrats were tasked with deciding between least-bad options. Humans rebel against the idea of “least-bad.” When faced with choices, we want to believe that at least one of them is “good.”

    When the first real Harris-vs.-Trump polling comes out next week we’ll see how big of a hole she’s in. But unlike Biden, Harris has the ability to spend the next three months on offense, all day, every day. If she can deliver the goods, she has a puncher’s chance.

    Leave a comment

    2. In Praise of Biden

    A slight push-back against those who believe Biden took too long to step aside:

    It was three and a half weeks from the debate to Biden pulling out. That’s it.

    Joe Biden is the president, but he’s also just a man. Coming to a decision like this one—an unprecedented decision—is hard. There’s a lot to weigh and there’s a tremendous responsibility to get it right.

    My own view is that Biden made the call basically as quickly as possible. He couldn’t have done it the week of the NATO summit. Then Trump was shot in the ear. Then there was the Republican convention. To my mind, Biden’s timing on this was optimal, actually.

    Nothing about Joe Biden’s presidency was inevitable. Not his candidacy. Not his victory over Trump. Not his withdrawal from reelection.

    At nearly every turn, Biden did the right thing for America.

    His legacy is assured. He will be remembered as one of the great modern presidents.

    Leave a comment

    I said this last night and I’ll say it again. History had its eye on Joe Biden, and he met the moment. He did his part. Now it’s up to Kamala Harris and us to do ours.

    This is the moment. Live it with us.

    Join now

    3. Revealed Preferences

    In the coming weeks we will find out if the people who said, “I hate Trump, but Biden is too old” really meant it.

    Will they find some new excuse for why they have to vote for Trump? Will they become unconcerned about the risks of old age and cognitive decline in a president?

    I’m not talking about partisan public personalities on Twitter. I’m talking about swing voters: The kind of Trump-to-Biden voters who have been backsliding in Trump’s direction.

    Sarah’s focus groups are going to be absolutely vital for understanding how this group thinks. Don’t miss them.

     

     

    elsieisy

    chill the fuck out, we’ve got this

    there’s no need for panic

    JEFF TIEDRICH
    JUL 22

    so, that happened.

    Upgrade to paid

    for about an hour after Biden’s announcement, I ran around with my hair on fire. I’d just spent a month warning everyone about the chaos that Biden dropping out would bring — infighting, battles over fundraising, lawsuits, atonal music, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together — mass hysteria.

    and then a thing happened that I absolutely did not see coming: just about the entire Democratic establishment immediately threw their support behind Kamala Harris.

    one after another, the endorsements came in.

    Mr. Biden endorsed Ms. Harris within minutes on Sunday afternoon. Before she had uttered a word about her intentions, he was swiftly followed by other party leaders, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, key Democratic senators and influential House members. By the evening, Mr. Shapiro had publicly backed Ms. Harris after a phone call from her. She also picked up endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Kelly.

    Andy Beshear.

    AOC, too.

    all fifty State Democratic Party chairs.

    numerous state delegates.

    even a Nikki Haley PAC has endorsed Kamala.

    A coalition of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley voters pledged their support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid on Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race.

    and in one day, Kamala Harris raised over $50 million.

    as I’m writing this, the total haul is now about $69 million. nice.

    Joe Biden remains a master at doing politics. Dark Brandon dark-Brandon the shit out of his passing of the torch. clearly, this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Joe had to have worked behind the scenes to shore up this much immediate support for Kamala. he made sure not one word of any this leaked. he timed the announcement of his decision so that Donny and the Republicans spent the entire convention running against the wrong candidate. and the pièce de résistance —

    Sending out a press release on Sunday afternoon, after the morning talk shows, totally screwed the media. No video clips, no “breaking news,” no chance for pundits to comment on how he sounded, looked, walked, etc. No chance to schedule guests to pick him apart as he spoke. He totally starved them of clicks and eyeballs, in repayment for them starving his candidacy of positive coverage purely for the sake of clicks and eyeballs.

    look, I didn’t want any of this to happen. Biden was my guy, and I was prepared to back Joe all the way to November and beyond. but, that said, I have to admit that last night I slept better than I have any time in the last month.

    now let’s turn our attention to all the people who need to fuck all the way off.

    Brian Stelter can fuck off.

    Stelter spent a month screaming that JOE MUST GO — but now that he’s gotten what he wanted, he’s moved the goalposts to JOE MUST GO BUT NOT LIKE THIS. some people are just never happy.

    Maggie Haberman can follow Brian Stelter all the way to Fuckoffistan.

    good old Maggs, still the reliable stenographer to whom all the Republicans run when they have a trial balloon to float.

    in fact, Maggie Haberman can fuck off twice.

    Maggs, no Democrat gives one shit what Bobby McBrainworms Junior does with the rest of his annoying life. he doesn’t matter.

    Ross Douthat can fuck off.

    show us on the doll where Kamala hurt you, Ross.

    hey, the entire New York Times can fuck off.

    “some” is doing a fuck-ton of heavy lifting here. are these “some” black voters in the room with us right now?

    note to Times nepo-publisher Arthur Gregg Sulzberger: it doesn’t matter how hard you suck up to Donny, he’s not going to make the Times his official state media if he takes power. stop trying.

    hey, Washington Post — you can fuck off, too.

    no. just no.

    in fact, all the nitwits still rooting for their own personal fantasy ticket can fuck off.

    how many times does Michelle Obama need to state that she has no interest in running for office? you’re wasting everyone’s time with this mental masturbation. do it in private.

    Holy Mike Johnson can seriously fuck off.

    we all knew that the Republicans were immediately going to pivot to “now Joe Biden must resign” — but these clowns are not thinking this through. first of all, Joe quitting is a big bowl of never gonna happen. second, does the GOP really want to spend the next three months running against President Kamala Harris?

    now this is awesome: the Republican Party just realized that they’re no longer running against icky old Joe Biden who smells bad and is too demented to realize that he died six months ago. they created this whole fiction about Joe Biden and now they can’t use any of it — and they’re freaking the fuck out.

    look at Nosferatu McGoebbels. he’s practically in tears as he melts all the way down on Fox News.

    “they held a primary! people, they had ballots! they filled out circles! they went to the voting booths! they spent money on advertisements! and as president Trump, said the Republican Party spent tens of millions of dollars running against Joe Biden! now they just woke up one morning and said never mind, we’re canceling the entire primary, we’re getting rid of our candidate and pretending the election just never even happened and let donors hand-pick a new nominee?”

    it’s not fair! how dare the Democrats come together around a young and vibrant candidate, leaving our guy to be the old fart in the race.

    boo fucking hoo, you grievance-babies. you demanded this happen, and now you’re whining about it. shut the fuck up and dry your eyes. here’s your binky.

    as Stephen Miller noted in his crybaby rant, Donny Convict is hopping mad. he’s demanding to speak to Sleepy Brandon’s manager because he wants his money back.

    So, we are forced to spend time and money on fighting Crooked Joe Biden, he polls badly after having a terrible debate, and quits the race. Now we have to start all over again. Shouldn’t the Republican Party be reimbursed for fraud in that everybody around Joe, including his doctors and the Fake News Media, knew he was not capable of running for, or being, President? Just askin’?

    sorry bro — no dice. you broke it, you bought it.

    in fact, Donny spent hours last night on his crappy app, yelling at Joe Biden.

    I don’t know what Donny’s issue is. he’s never had a problem supporting a Kamala Harris run for office in the past.

    for the Republicans, their problems are just beginning.

    our presumptive candidate is young, energetic, smart — and can speak in complete sentences.

    their guy is a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating weather-map-defacing horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent tangerine felony factory.

    it’s the prosecutor versus the felon. I’ll take that.

     

    …Substack

    JAKECOSMOSALLER.SUBSTACK.COM
    My Thoughts On the Harris For President
    My Thoughts on the Harris Candidacy. https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Zb Health Care Reforms For Joe and Kamala Joe, Go Bold or Go Home – revisedThanks for reading jake’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Joe, Either Go Bold or Retire!

    Medium

    https://medium.com/@jakealler/harris-for-president-08607104ea00

    Wattpad

    You just published Harris for President !

    Your story can be found here

    #politics

    Spotify Podcast

     

  • 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)

    Travels to Korean National Park

    National Park Journeys

    Audio file

    Besides traveling to the US National Park, I have been to the following Korean National Park IBOLD)

     

     

    poet Hill Korea

     

     

     

     

     

    Here is a list of some of the national parks in South Korea, along with their names in both English and Korean:

    1. Jirisan National Park (지리산국립공원)
    2. Bukhansan National Park (북한산국립공원)
    3. Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원)
    4. Hallasan National Park (한라산국립공원)
    5. Dadohaehaesang National Park (다도해해상국립공원)
    6. Gyeongju National Park (경주국립공원)
    7. Hallyeohaesang National Park (한려해상국립공원)
    8. Juwangsan National Park (주왕산국립공원)
    9. Odaesan National Park (오대산국립공원)
    10. Sobaeksan National Park (소백산국립공원)
    11. Songnisan National Park (속리산국립공원)
    12. Taebaeksan National Park (태백산국립공원)
    13. Byeonsanbando National Park (변산반도국립공원)
    14. Chiaksan National Park (치악산국립공원)
    15. Deogyusan National Park (덕유산국립공원)
    16. Gayasan National Park (가야산국립공원)
    17. Jirisan National Park (지리산국립공원)
    18. Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원)
    19. Naejangsan National Park (내장산국립공원)
    20. Woraksan National Park (월악산국립공원)
    21. Wolchulsan National Park (월출산국립공원)

    These parks offer a variety of landscapes, from mountains to coastal areas, and are great for hiking, sightseeing, and enjoying nature123.

    There are also a lot of provincial parks in Korea as well.  One of the most famous one is Manisan located on Gangwha Island about 90 minutes from Seoul which is reputed homeland of Korea. the founder of Korea Tan jun was a bear who wanted to become human and woke up from her hibernation to become the founding mother of the Korean race.

    Co-PIlot provides background info:

    Certainly! The legendary founder of Korea is Dangun Wanggeom (단군왕검), often referred to as Dangun or Tangun. He is considered the founder of Gojoseon (고조선), the first Korean kingdom, which is said to have been established in 2333 BCE12.

    The Legend of Dangun

    According to Korean mythology, Dangun’s story begins with his grandfather, Hwanin (환인), the “Lord of Heaven.” Hwanin’s son, Hwanung (환웅), desired to live on Earth among the valleys and mountains. Hwanin permitted this and sent Hwanung to Earth with 3,000 followers, including the gods of wind, rain, and clouds12.

    Hwanung settled on Mt. Taebaek (태백산) and established a city called Sinsi (신시), or “City of God.” He taught humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture, and instituted laws and moral codes12.

    The Bear and the Tiger

    The legend also involves a bear and a tiger who prayed to Hwanung to become human. Hwanung gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, instructing them to eat only this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger gave up, but the bear persevered and was transformed into a woman named Ungnyeo (웅녀)12.

    Ungnyeo longed for a child and prayed under a divine birch tree. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her as his wife, and soon she gave birth to Dangun Wanggeom12.

    Founding of Gojoseon

    Dangun ascended to the throne, built the walled city of Asadal (아사달), and founded the kingdom of Gojoseon. This kingdom is considered the first Korean state and played a significant role in the development of Korean culture and civilization12.

    Cultural Significance

    Dangun’s founding of Gojoseon is celebrated in South Korea on Gaecheonjeol (개천절), or National Foundation Day, which is observed on October 3rd each year2.

    1worldhistory.org2en.wikipedia.org3thekrazemag.com

    Dangun – World History Encyclopedia

    https://www.worldhistory.org/Dangun/

    Dangun Wanggeom (or Tangun) was the legendary founder of Gojoseon (Gochoson or Old Choson), the first Korean state which ruled northern Korea in the second half of the first millennium BCE.

    Due to the rapid urbanization of Korea, the Korean countryside has become depopulated. The Korean Government has rapidly expanded both the national parks and the national forest lands in Korea.  With the decline in rural population, there has been a big increase in wildlife. Deer have made a big comeback, and there are bears in the mountains and wild boars.  There is one Tiger preserve in Chitosan which has restricted entry to protect the tigers. There are feral cats everywhere, and wild dogs in the mountains as well. Hiking in the more isolated mountains is dangerous as well, as wild boars will attack humans, and there are criminal elements who hide out in the mountains preying on hikers.

    Substack

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/travels-to-korean-national-parks?r=3i9lm

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    Your story can be found here

    #korea #travel

    Share and get discovered:

    Spotify Podcast

    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)

    Travels to the Redwoods

    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1

    National Park Journeys

    Travels to the Redwoods

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Y5

    audio file

    During the course of my life, I have visited the majority of the 63  national parks in the United States, as well as most of the national monuments, and many of the battlegrounds as well.. One of my favorites has been the Redwood

    s National Park located in Northwest California near my summer home in Medford, Oregon. I just got back from my 10th visit

    over the years.  I first visited this park in 1963 as a child and I awestruck by the beauty of the majestic redwoods.

    All in on all great day.

     

     

     

    here’s the list of  List of national parks of the United States – I have bolded the ones I have visited, and put a star next to the ones still on my bucket list  Now that I have visited all 50 states my remaining travel bucket list includes visiting all the national parks.

    0regon Reflections

    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    Seattle Travels

    Portland

     

     

    HIking Hobart’s Ridge Near Ashland, Oregon

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    1938 poster promoting Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world

    Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

    Interactive map (incomplete) of the National Parks of the United States.

    The United States has 63 national parks, which are congressionally designated protected areas operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior.[1] National parks are designated for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, typically “because of some outstanding scenic feature or natural phenomena.”[2] While legislatively all units of the National Park System are considered equal with the same mission, national parks are generally larger and more of a destination, and hunting and extractive activities are prohibited.[3] National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 430 units of the National Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations.[4]

    National parks

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national parks of the United States

    There are 63 officially designated national parks in the United States and its dependent areas, as of 2021.[2] The national parks are considered the “crown jewels” of the system and are typically larger than other areas, including a variety of significant ecological and geological resources.

    North Cascades National ParkHaleakalā National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkDry Tortugas National ParkShenandoah National ParkBadlands National ParkGuadalupe Mountains National ParkArches National ParkOlympic National ParkCuyahoga Valley National ParkGateway Arch National Park

    Name Location Year established Area (2024)[3][4]
    Acadia National Park Maine 1919 49,071.40 acres (198.5849 km2)
    National Park of American Samoa American Samoa 1988 8,256.67 acres (33.4136 km2)
    Arches National Park Utah 1971 76,678.98 acres (310.3088 km2)
    Badlands National Park South Dakota 1978 242,742.90 acres (982.3457 km2)
    Big Bend National Park Texas 1944 801,163.21 acres (3,242.1925 km2)
    Biscayne National Park Florida 1980 172,971.11 acres (699.9892 km2)
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado 1999 30,779.83 acres (124.5616 km2)
    Bryce Canyon National Park Utah 1928 35,835.08 acres (145.0194 km2)
    Canyonlands National Park Utah 1964 337,597.83 acres (1,366.2099 km2)
    Capitol Reef National Park Utah 1971 241,904.50 acres (978.9528 km2)
    Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico 1930 46,766.45 acres (189.2571 km2)
    Channel Islands National Park California 1980 249,561.00 acres (1,009.9375 km2)
    Congaree National Park South Carolina 2003 26,692.60 acres (108.0211 km2)
    Crater Lake National Park Oregon 1902 183,224.05 acres (741.4814 km2)
    Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio 2000 32,597.08 acres (131.9157 km2)
    Death Valley National Park California, Nevada 1994 3,408,445.63 acres (13,793.4901 km2)
    Denali National Park Alaska 1917 4,740,911.16 acres (19,185.7868 km2)
    Dry Tortugas National Park Florida 1992 64,701.22 acres (261.8365 km2)
    Everglades National Park Florida 1947 1,508,938.57 acres (6,106.4577 km2)
    Gates of the Arctic National Park Alaska 1980 7,523,897.45 acres (30,448.1327 km2)
    Gateway Arch National Park Missouri 2018 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2)
    Glacier National Park (part of Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park) Montana 1910 1,013,126.39 acres (4,099.9770 km2)
    Glacier Bay National Park Alaska 1980 3,223,383.43 acres (13,044.5699 km2)
    Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 1919 1,201,647.03 acres (4,862.8930 km2)
    Grand Teton National Park Wyoming 1929 310,044.36 acres (1,254.7050 km2)
    Great Basin National Park Nevada 1986 77,180.00 acres (312.3364 km2)
    Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado 2004 107,336.95 acres (434.3772 km2)
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina, Tennessee 1934 522,426.88 acres (2,114.1866 km2)
    Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas 1966 86,367.10 acres (349.5153 km2)
    Haleakalā National Park Hawaii 1916 33,488.98 acres (135.5251 km2)
    Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii 1916 344,812.18 acres (1,395.4054 km2)
    Hot Springs National Park Arkansas 1921 5,554.15 acres (22.4768 km2)
    Indiana Dunes National Park Indiana 2019 15,615.10 acres (63.1921 km2)
    Isle Royale National Park Michigan 1940 571,790.30 acres (2,313.9532 km2)
    Joshua Tree National Park California 1994 795,155.85 acres (3,217.8816 km2)
    Katmai National Park Alaska 1980 3,674,529.33 acres (14,870.2926 km2)
    Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska 1980 669,650.05 acres (2,709.9776 km2)
    Kings Canyon National Park California 1940 461,901.37 acres (1,869.2485 km2)
    Kobuk Valley National Park Alaska 1980 1,750,716.16 acres (7,084.8969 km2)
    Lake Clark National Park Alaska 1980 2,619,816.49 acres (10,602.0212 km2)
    Lassen Volcanic National Park California 1916 106,589.02 acres (431.3505 km2)
    Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky 1941 72,041.73 acres (291.5425 km2)
    Mesa Verde National Park Colorado 1906 52,485.17 acres (212.3999 km2)
    Mount Rainier National Park Washington 1899 236,381.64 acres (956.6026 km2)
    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve West Virginia 2020 72,390.91 acres (292.9556 km2)
    North Cascades National Park Washington 1968 504,780.94 acres (2,042.7760 km2)
    Olympic National Park Washington 1938 922,649.41 acres (3,733.8297 km2)
    Petrified Forest National Park Arizona 1962 221,390.21 acres (895.9344 km2)
    Pinnacles National Park California 2013 26,685.73 acres (107.9933 km2)
    Redwood National and State Parks California 1968 139,090.97 acres (562.8812 km2)
    Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado 1915 265,847.74 acres (1,075.8476 km2)
    Saguaro National Park Arizona 1994 92,799.77 acres (375.5473 km2)
    Sequoia National Park California 1890 404,062.63 acres (1,635.1834 km2)
    Shenandoah National Park Virginia 1935 200,445.92 acres (811.1759 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota 1978 70,446.89 acres (285.0884 km2)
    Virgin Islands National Park U.S. Virgin Islands 1956 15,052.33 acres (60.9146 km2)
    Voyageurs National Park Minnesota 1975 218,223.25 acres (883.1182 km2)
    White Sands National Park New Mexico 2019 146,344.31 acres (592.2344 km2)
    Wind Cave National Park South Dakota 1903 33,970.84 acres (137.4751 km2)
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Park Alaska 1980 8,323,146.48 acres (33,682.5788 km2)
    Yellowstone National Park Idaho, Montana, Wyoming 1872 2,219,790.71 acres (8,983.1743 km2)
    Yosemite National Park California 1890 761,747.50 acres (3,082.6828 km2)
    Zion National Park Utah 1919 147,242.66 acres (595.8699 km2)

    Former national parks

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Abraham Lincoln National Park July 17, 1916 August 11, 1939 Redesignated as Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
    Fort McHenry National Park March 3, 1925 August 11, 1939 Redesignated under the unique designation of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
    General Grant National Park October 1, 1890 March 4, 1940 Incorporated into Kings Canyon National Park
    Hawaii National Park August 1, 1916 September 13, 1960 Divided into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park
    Mackinac National Park April 15, 1875 March 2, 1895 Transferred to Michigan; now operated as Mackinac Island State Park
    Platt National Park June 29, 1906 March 17, 1976 Incorporated with Arbuckle Recreation Area and redesignated Chickasaw National Recreation Area
    Rock Creek Park[5] September 27, 1890 August 10, 1933 Incorporated into National Capital Parks
    Sullys Hill National Park April 27, 1904 March 3, 1931 Transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; now operated as White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

    National monuments

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national monuments of the United States

    Devils Tower National MonumentStonewall National MonumentStatue of Liberty National MonumentNatural Bridges National MonumentMuir Woods National MonumentBandelier National MonumentGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

    There are 129 national monuments, 84 of which are administered by the NPS and are listed below. Of these, 83 (all except Grand Canyon-Parashant) are NPS official units. The remaining 46 monuments are administered by five other federal agencies. Two, Grand Canyon–Parashant and Craters of the Moon National Monuments, are jointly administered by the NPS and the Bureau of Land Management, and Tule Lake National Monument is joint with the Fish and Wildlife Service. National monuments are typically smaller and protect just one or few major resources. They include both natural and historical sites and can be established by the president under the Antiquities Act. 34 former national monuments have been redesignated or incorporated into national parks.

    Name Location Area[3][4]
    African Burial Ground National Monument New York 0.35 acres (0.0014 km2)
    Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Nebraska 3,057.87 acres (12.3748 km2)
    Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Texas 1,370.97 acres (5.5481 km2)
    Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Alaska 137,176.00 acres (555.1316 km2)
    Aztec Ruins National Monument New Mexico 318.40 acres (1.2885 km2)
    Bandelier National Monument New Mexico 33,676.67 acres (136.2846 km2)
    Belmont–Paul Women’s Equality National Monument District of Columbia 0.34 acres (0.0014 km2)
    Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Alabama 18.25 acres (0.0739 km2)
    Booker T. Washington National Monument Virginia 239.01 acres (0.9672 km2)
    Buck Island Reef National Monument U.S. Virgin Islands 19,015.47 acres (76.9529 km2)
    Cabrillo National Monument California 159.94 acres (0.6473 km2)
    Camp Nelson National Monument Kentucky 464.97 acres (1.8817 km2)
    Canyon de Chelly National Monument Arizona 83,840.00 acres (339.2884 km2)
    Cape Krusenstern National Monument Alaska 649,096.15 acres (2,626.7989 km2)
    Capulin Volcano National Monument New Mexico 792.84 acres (3.2085 km2)
    Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Arizona 472.50 acres (1.9121 km2)
    Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Florida 19.38 acres (0.0784 km2)
    Castle Clinton National Monument New York 1.00 acre (0.0040 km2)
    Castle Mountains National Monument California 21,025.50 acres (85.0872 km2)
    Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah 6,154.60 acres (24.9068 km2)
    César E. Chávez National Monument California 116.56 acres (0.4717 km2)
    Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Ohio 59.66 acres (0.2414 km2)
    Chiricahua National Monument Arizona 12,024.73 acres (48.6624 km2)
    Colorado National Monument Colorado 20,536.39 acres (83.1078 km2)
    Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Idaho 53,437.64 acres (216.2545 km2)
    Devils Postpile National Monument California 800.19 acres (3.2383 km2)
    Devils Tower National Monument Wyoming 1,347.21 acres (5.4520 km2)
    Dinosaur National Monument Utah, Colorado 210,281.92 acres (850.9807 km2)
    Effigy Mounds National Monument Iowa 2,526.39 acres (10.2239 km2)
    El Malpais National Monument New Mexico 114,346.99 acres (462.7459 km2)
    El Morro National Monument New Mexico 1,278.72 acres (5.1748 km2)
    Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument Illinois, Mississippi 5.70 acres (0.0231 km2)
    Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Colorado 6,278.09 acres (25.4065 km2)
    Fort Frederica National Monument Georgia 305.34 acres (1.2357 km2)
    Fort Matanzas National Monument Florida 300.11 acres (1.2145 km2)
    Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Maryland 43.26 acres (0.1751 km2)
    Fort Monroe National Monument Virginia 367.12 acres (1.4857 km2)
    Fort Pulaski National Monument Georgia 5,623.10 acres (22.7559 km2)
    Fort Stanwix National Monument New York 15.52 acres (0.0628 km2)
    Fort Union National Monument New Mexico 720.60 acres (2.9162 km2)
    Fossil Butte National Monument Wyoming 8,198.00 acres (33.1761 km2)
    Freedom Riders National Monument Alabama 7.83 acres (0.0317 km2)
    George Washington Birthplace National Monument Virginia 654.19 acres (2.6474 km2)
    George Washington Carver National Monument Missouri 240.00 acres (0.9712 km2)
    Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument New Mexico 533.13 acres (2.1575 km2)
    Governors Island National Monument New York 22.91 acres (0.0927 km2)
    Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument (not an official NPS unit) Arizona NPS manages 208,453 acres (843.58 km2) of 1,048,325 acres (4,242.42 km2)
    Grand Portage National Monument Minnesota 709.97 acres (2.8731 km2)
    Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Idaho 4,351.15 acres (17.6085 km2)
    Hohokam Pima National Monument Arizona 1,690.00 acres (6.8392 km2)
    Hovenweep National Monument Colorado, Utah 784.93 acres (3.1765 km2)
    Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota 1,273.51 acres (5.1537 km2)
    John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Oregon 14,062.19 acres (56.9077 km2)
    Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Maine 87,564.27 acres (354.3600 km2)
    Lava Beds National Monument California 46,692.42 acres (188.9575 km2)
    Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Montana 765.34 acres (3.0972 km2)
    Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument Mississippi 0.74 acres (0.0030 km2)
    Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Kentucky 1,455.31 acres (5.8894 km2)
    Montezuma Castle National Monument Arizona 1,015.52 acres (4.1097 km2)
    Muir Woods National Monument California 553.55 acres (2.2401 km2)
    Natural Bridges National Monument Utah 7,636.49 acres (30.9038 km2)
    Navajo National Monument Arizona 360.00 acres (1.4569 km2)
    Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve Oregon 4,554.03 acres (18.4295 km2)
    Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Arizona 330,688.86 acres (1,338.2503 km2)
    Petroglyph National Monument New Mexico 7,204.43 acres (29.1553 km2)
    Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona 40.00 acres (0.1619 km2)
    Pipestone National Monument Minnesota 297.08 acres (1.2022 km2)
    Poverty Point National Monument Louisiana 910.85 acres (3.6861 km2)
    Rainbow Bridge National Monument Utah 160.00 acres (0.6475 km2)
    Russell Cave National Monument Alabama 310.45 acres (1.2563 km2)
    Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument New Mexico 1,071.42 acres (4.3359 km2)
    Scotts Bluff National Monument Nebraska 3,004.73 acres (12.1597 km2)
    Statue of Liberty National Monument New York, New Jersey 58.38 acres (0.2363 km2)
    Stonewall National Monument New York 7.70 acres (0.0312 km2)
    Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona 3,137.71 acres (12.6979 km2)
    Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah 250.00 acres (1.0117 km2)
    Tonto National Monument Arizona 1,120.00 acres (4.5325 km2)
    Tule Lake National Monument California 37.39 acres (0.1513 km2)
    Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Nevada 22,650.00 acres (91.6613 km2)
    Tuzigoot National Monument Arizona 811.89 acres (3.2856 km2)
    Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument U.S. Virgin Islands 12,708.07 acres (51.4277 km2)
    Waco Mammoth National Monument Texas 107.23 acres (0.4339 km2)
    Walnut Canyon National Monument Arizona 3,200.61 acres (12.9524 km2)
    Wupatki National Monument Arizona 35,401.83 acres (143.2661 km2)
    Yucca House National Monument Colorado 33.87 acres (0.1371 km2)

    Former national monuments

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Carlsbad Cave National Monument October 5, 1923 May 14, 1930 Redesignated as Carlsbad Caverns National Park
    Denali National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Incorporated with Mount McKinley National Park and renamed Denali National Park and Preserve
    Grand Canyon National Monument January 11, 1908 February 26, 1919 Redesignated as Grand Canyon National Park
    Grand Canyon National Monument December 22, 1932 January 3, 1975 Abolished; lands transferred with Marble Canyon National Monument into an expansion of Grand Canyon National Park.[6][7][8][9]
    Marble Canyon National Monument January 20, 1969 January 3, 1975 Abolished; lands transferred with Grand Canyon National Monument into an expansion of Grand Canyon National Park.
    Kobuk Valley National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Redesignated as Kobuk Valley National Park
    Papago Saguaro National Monument January 31, 1914 April 7, 1930 Transferred to Arizona; now jointly operated by the cities of Phoenix and Tempe
    Pullman National Monument February 19, 2015 December 29, 2022 Redesignated as Pullman National Historical Park
    Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument May 11, 1908 August 24, 1937 Transferred to Montana; now operated as a state park
    Kenai Fjords National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Redesignated as Kenai Fjords National Park
    Channel Islands National Monument April 26, 1938 March 5, 1980 Redesignated as Channel Islands National Park
    Father Millet Cross National Monument August 10, 1933 September 7, 1949 Transferred to New York upon the closing of the adjacent military base; now operated part of Fort Niagara State Park
    First State National Monument March 25, 2013 December 19, 2014 Incorporated into First State National Historical Park
    Lake Clark National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument March 2, 1933 October 21, 1999 Redesignated as Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
    December 19, 2014 The National Park Service areas of this monument were incorporated into Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and the National Park Service no longer recognizes their portions of the national monument as distinct from the national historical park. The remaining portions of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument continue to be operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Mukuntuweap National Monument
    (renamed Zion National Monument in 1918)    		 July 31, 1909 November 19, 1919 Redesignated as Zion National Park
    Zion National Monument
    (“the Kolob Canyons area”)    		 January 22, 1937 July 11, 1956 Incorporated into Zion National Park
    Capitol Reef National Monument August 2, 1937 December 18, 1971 Redesignated as Capitol Reef National Park
    Arches National Monument April 12, 1929 November 12, 1971 Redesignated as Arches National Park
    Bryce Canyon National Monument June 8, 1923 February 25, 1928 Redesignated as Bryce Canyon National Park
    Wheeler National Monument December 7, 1908 August 3, 1950 Returned to United States Forest Service
    Holy Cross National Monument May 11, 1929 August 3, 1950 Returned to United States Forest Service
    White Sands National Monument January 18, 1933 December 20, 2019 Redesignated as White Sands National Park
    Jackson Hole National Monument 1943 September 14, 1950 Merged into Grand Teton National Park
    Shoshone Cavern National Monument September 21, 1909 May 17, 1954 Transferred to Cody, Wyoming as a municipal attraction, and later returned to the Bureau of Land Management
    Old Kasaan National Monument October 25, 1916 July 26, 1955 Transferred to United States Forest Service
    Castle Pinckney National Monument August 10, 1933 March 29, 1956 Transferred to South Carolina, and later sold to the Sons of Confederate Veterans; site currently inaccessible and unmaintained
    Saguaro National Monument March 1, 1933 October 4, 1994 Redesignated as Saguaro National Park
    Verendrye National Monument June 29, 1917 July 30, 1956 Transferred to North Dakota after the construction of the Garrison Dam; site currently flooded by the reservoir Lake Sakakawea
    Gates of the Arctic National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
    Fossil Cycad National Monument October 21, 1922 August 1, 1956 Transferred to Bureau of Land Management because of severe vandalism to the site
    Death Valley National Monument February 11, 1933 October 31, 1994 Redesignated as Death Valley National Park
    Joshua Tree National Monument August 10, 1936 October 31, 1994 Redesignated as Joshua Tree National Park
    Ackia Battlefield National Monument August 27, 1935 August 10, 1961 Incorporated into Natchez Trace Parkway
    Meriwether Lewis National Monument February 6, 1925 August 10, 1961 Incorporated into Natchez Trace Parkway
    Katmai National Monument September 24, 1918 December 2, 1980 Renamed Katmai National Park and Preserve
    Mount Olympus National Monument March 2, 1909 June 29, 1938 Redesignated as Olympic National Park
    Petrified Forest National Monument December 8, 1906 December 9, 1962 Redesignated as Petrified Forest National Park
    Lehman Caves National Monument June 10, 1933 October 27, 1986 Abolished; incorporated into Great Basin National Park[10]
    Congaree Swamp National Monument October 18, 1976 November 10, 2003 Redesignated as Congaree National Park
    Glacier Bay National Monument February 25, 1925 December 2, 1980 Renamed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
    Mound City Group National Monument January 1, 1918 January 2, 1992 Incorporated into Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
    Minidoka Internment National Monument January 17, 2001 May 8, 2008 Redesignated as Minidoka National Historic Site
    Pinnacles National Monument January 16, 1908 January 10, 2013 Redesignated as Pinnacles National Park[11]
    Andrew Johnson National Monument April 27, 1942 December 11, 1963 Redesignated as Andrew Johnson National Historic Site[12]
    Sieur de Monts National Monument July 8, 1916 February 26, 1919 Redesignated as Lafayette National Park
    (renamed Acadia National Park on January 19, 1929)
    Edison Laboratory National Monument July 14, 1956 September 5, 1962 Combined with Edison Home National Historic Site into Edison National Historic Site, later redesignated Thomas Edison National Historical Park
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
    Badlands National Monument January 29, 1939 November 10, 1978 Redesignated as Badlands National Park
    Great Sand Dunes National Monument March 17, 1932 September 14, 2004 Renamed Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    Biscayne National Monument October 18, 1968 June 28, 1980 Redesignated as Biscayne National Park
    Fort Jefferson National Monument January 4, 1935 October 26, 1992 Redesignated as Dry Tortugas National Park
    Cinder Cone National Monument May 6, 1907 August 9, 1916 Merged with Lassen Peak National Monument and redesignated as Lassen Volcanic National Park
    Lassen Peak National Monument May 6, 1907 August 9, 1916 Merged with Cinder Cone National Monument and redesignated as Lassen Volcanic National Park
    Homestead National Monument of America March 19, 1936 January 13, 2021 Redesignated as Homestead National Historical Park

    National preserves

    [edit]

    Main article: National preserve

    There are 21 national preserves in the United States, 19 of which are counted by the National Park System as official units. Ten are stand-alone official units, while eleven others are designated areas where hunting or grazing is permitted as part of a larger “national park and preserve” or “national monument and preserve”. Nine of those are counted as separate units, while Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve are single units (there is no functional difference). Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is not officially a national preserve but has similar management policies, while Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is unrelated.

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Alaska 464,117.93 acres (1,878.2186 km2)
    Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Alaska 2,697,391.01 acres (10,915.9541 km2)
    Big Cypress National Preserve Florida 720,564.01 acres (2,916.0191 km2)
    Big Thicket National Preserve Texas 113,121.96 acres (457.7883 km2)
    Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Idaho 698,939.69 acres (2,828.5086 km2)
    Denali National Park and Preserve Alaska 1,334,117.80 acres (5,398.9832 km2)
    Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Alaska 948,608.07 acres (3,838.8807 km2)
    Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Alaska 58,406.00 acres (236.3607 km2)
    Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado 41,686.00 acres (168.6973 km2)
    Katmai National Park and Preserve Alaska 418,698.80 acres (1,694.4139 km2)
    Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Alaska 1,410,293.68 acres (5,707.2560 km2)
    Little River Canyon National Preserve Alabama 15,293.27 acres (61.8897 km2)
    Mojave National Preserve California 1,549,709.37 acres (6,271.4513 km2)
    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (not a separate unit) West Virginia 65,165 acres (263.71 km2)
    Noatak National Preserve Alaska 6,587,071.39 acres (26,656.9322 km2)
    Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve (not a separate unit) Oregon 4,070 acres (16.5 km2)
    Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Kansas 10,882.67 acres (44.0406 km2)
    Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Florida 46,263.07 acres (187.2200 km2)
    Valles Caldera National Preserve New Mexico 89,831.84 acres (363.5366 km2)
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve Alaska 4,852,644.89 acres (19,637.9571 km2)
    Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve Alaska 2,526,512.44 acres (10,224.4331 km2)

    National historical parks

    [edit]

    Main article: National Historic Site (United States) § National Historical Parks

    The bell tower atop Independence Hall, where the Liberty Bell once was based, in

    Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia

    Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical ParkLaboratory building at Thomas Edison National Historical Park

    Keweenaw National Historical Park

    There are 63 national historical parks.

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Kentucky 344.50 acres (1.3941 km2)
    Adams National Historical Park Massachusetts 23.82 acres (0.0964 km2)
    Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Virginia 1,774.60 acres (7.1816 km2)
    Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Rhode Island, Massachusetts 1,489.00 acres (6.0258 km2)
    Boston National Historical Park Massachusetts 43.82 acres (0.1773 km2)
    Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Kansas, South Carolina 3.15 acres (0.0127 km2)
    Cane River Creole National Historical Park Louisiana 205.50 acres (0.8316 km2)
    Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Virginia 3,707.70 acres (15.0045 km2)
    Chaco Culture National Historical Park New Mexico 33,960.19 acres (137.4320 km2)
    Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia 19,633.28 acres (79.4531 km2)
    Colonial National Historical Park[13]

    ·       Cape Henry Memorial

    ·       The Colonial Parkway

    ·       Green Spring Plantation

    ·       Most of Jamestown Island

    ·       Swann’s Point (Across the James River from Jamestown Island)

    ·       Tyandall’s Point Park (Across the York River from Yorktown)

    ·       Yorktown Battlefield

    		 Virginia 8,675.04 acres (35.1066 km2)
    Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia 24,546.83 acres (99.3375 km2)
    Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Ohio 110.53 acres (0.4473 km2)
    First State National Historical Park Delaware, Pennsylvania 1,409.22 acres (5.7029 km2)
    Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park South Carolina 232.52 acres (0.9410 km2)
    George Rogers Clark National Historical Park Indiana 26.17 acres (0.1059 km2)
    Golden Spike National Historical Park Utah 2,735.28 acres (11.0693 km2)
    Harpers Ferry National Historical Park West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland 3,668.55 acres (14.8461 km2)
    Harriet Tubman National Historical Park New York 31.50 acres (0.1275 km2)
    Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Maryland 480.00 acres (1.9425 km2)
    Homestead National Historical Park Nebraska 210.45 acres (0.8517 km2)
    Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Ohio 1,775.78 acres (7.1863 km2)
    Independence National Historical Park

    ·       Germantown White House

    ·       Independence Hall

    ·       National Constitution Center (partner site)

    ·       Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

    		 Pennsylvania 44.87 acres (0.1816 km2)
    Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

    ·       Chalmette National Cemetery

    		 Louisiana 25,875.86 acres (104.7159 km2)
    Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Georgia 78.35 acres (0.3171 km2)
    Kalaupapa National Historical Park Hawaii 10,778.88 acres (43.6206 km2)
    Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii 1,163.05 acres (4.7067 km2)
    Keweenaw National Historical Park Michigan 1,870.00 acres (7.5676 km2)
    Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (part of Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park) Alaska, Washington 12,996.49 acres (52.5949 km2)
    Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Oregon, Washington 3,409.28 acres (13.7969 km2)
    Lowell National Historical Park Massachusetts 143.65 acres (0.5813 km2)
    Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Texas 1,571.71 acres (6.3605 km2)
    Manhattan Project National Historical Park New Mexico, Tennessee, Washington 113.61 acres (0.4598 km2)
    Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Vermont 643.07 acres (2.6024 km2)
    Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Georgia 39.17 acres (0.1585 km2)
    Minute Man National Historical Park Massachusetts 1,027.76 acres (4.1592 km2)
    Morristown National Historical Park New Jersey 1,710.72 acres (6.9230 km2)
    Natchez National Historical Park Mississippi 120.88 acres (0.4892 km2)
    New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Massachusetts 34.00 acres (0.1376 km2)
    New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Louisiana 5.13 acres (0.0208 km2)
    Nez Perce National Historical Park Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington 4,564.93 acres (18.4736 km2)
    Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Georgia 3,431.17 acres (13.8855 km2)
    Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Texas 3,426.87 acres (13.8681 km2)
    Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park New Jersey 51.34 acres (0.2078 km2)
    Pecos National Historical Park New Mexico 6,885.87 acres (27.8661 km2)
    Pullman National Historical Park Illinois 203.48 acres (0.8235 km2)
    Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Hawaii 419.80 acres (1.6989 km2)
    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park South Carolina 64.99 acres (0.2630 km2)
    Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park California 145.19 acres (0.5876 km2)
    Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park New Hampshire 190.75 acres (0.7719 km2)
    Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Missouri 17.47 acres (0.0707 km2)
    Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve U.S. Virgin Islands 989.42 acres (4.0040 km2)
    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Texas 990.28 acres (4.0075 km2)
    San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park California 49.86 acres (0.2018 km2)
    San Juan Island National Historical Park Washington 2,145.56 acres (8.6828 km2)
    Saratoga National Historical Park New York 3,607.59 acres (14.5994 km2)
    Sitka National Historical Park Alaska 116.29 acres (0.4706 km2)
    Thomas Edison National Historical Park New Jersey 21.25 acres (0.0860 km2)
    Tumacácori National Historical Park Arizona 360.32 acres (1.4582 km2)
    Valley Forge National Historical Park Pennsylvania 3,468.54 acres (14.0367 km2)
    War in the Pacific National Historical Park Guam 2,030.30 acres (8.2163 km2)
    Weir Farm National Historical Park Connecticut 74.20 acres (0.3003 km2)
    Women’s Rights National Historical Park New York 7.44 acres (0.0301 km2)

    Authorized national historical parks

    Name Status
    Coltsville National Historical Park Connecticut (pending acquisition of property)

    National historic sites

    [edit]

    Main article: National Historic Site (United States)

    Harry S Truman National Historic SiteKnife River Indian Villages National Historic SiteLower East Side Tenement National Historic SiteFort Union Trading Post National Historic SiteCastillo San Felipe del Morro at San Juan National Historic SiteSaint-Gaudens National Historical Park

    There are 86 national historic sites, of which 76 are NPS units, 9 are affiliated areas, and one, Grey Towers National Historic Site, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (not listed here).

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Pennsylvania 1,284.27 acres (5.1973 km2)
    Amache National Historic Site Colorado 472.59 acres (1.9125 km2)
    Andersonville National Historic Site

    ·       Andersonville National Cemetery

    		 Georgia 515.61 acres (2.0866 km2)
    Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

    ·       Andrew Johnson National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee 16.68 acres (0.0675 km2)
    Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site Colorado 798.54 acres (3.2316 km2)
    Blackwell School National Historic Site Texas
    Boston African American National Historic Site Massachusetts 0.59 acres (0.0024 km2)
    Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site North Carolina 268.49 acres (1.0865 km2)
    Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.15 acres (0.00061 km2)
    Charles Pinckney National Historic Site South Carolina 28.45 acres (0.1151 km2)
    Chicago Portage National Historic Site (affiliated area) Illinois 91.20 acres (0.3691 km2)
    Chimney Rock National Historic Site (affiliated area) Nebraska 83.36 acres (0.3373 km2)
    Christiansted National Historic Site U.S. Virgin Islands 27.15 acres (0.1099 km2)
    Clara Barton National Historic Site Maryland 8.59 acres (0.0348 km2)
    Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site Pennsylvania 0.52 acres (0.0021 km2)
    Eisenhower National Historic Site Pennsylvania 690.46 acres (2.7942 km2)
    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site New York 180.50 acres (0.7305 km2)
    Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site California 13.19 acres (0.0534 km2)
    Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site (affiliated area) Ohio 185.00 acres (0.7487 km2)
    First Ladies National Historic Site Ohio 0.46 acres (0.0019 km2)
    Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.30 acres (0.0012 km2)
    Fort Bowie National Historic Site Arizona 999.45 acres (4.0446 km2)
    Fort Davis National Historic Site Texas 523.00 acres (2.1165 km2)
    Fort Laramie National Historic Site Wyoming 873.11 acres (3.5334 km2)
    Fort Larned National Historic Site Kansas 718.39 acres (2.9072 km2)
    Fort Point National Historic Site California 29.00 acres (0.1174 km2)
    Fort Raleigh National Historic Site North Carolina 515.73 acres (2.0871 km2)
    Fort Scott National Historic Site Kansas 20.08 acres (0.0813 km2)
    Fort Smith National Historic Site Arkansas, Oklahoma 75.00 acres (0.3035 km2)
    Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Montana, North Dakota 440.14 acres (1.7812 km2)
    Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

    ·       Fort Vancouver

    ·       McLoughlin House

    ·       Vancouver National Historic Reserve

    		 Washington, Oregon 208.39 acres (0.8433 km2)
    Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 8.57 acres (0.0347 km2)
    Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site Massachusetts 7.21 acres (0.0292 km2)
    Friendship Hill National Historic Site Pennsylvania 674.56 acres (2.7298 km2)
    Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church National Historic Site (affiliated area) Pennsylvania 3.71 acres (0.0150 km2)
    Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Montana 1,618.43 acres (6.5496 km2)
    Hampton National Historic Site Maryland 62.04 acres (0.2511 km2)
    Harry S Truman National Historic Site Missouri 13.67 acres (0.0553 km2)
    Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Iowa 186.80 acres (0.7560 km2)
    Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site New York 838.43 acres (3.3930 km2)
    Honouliuli National Historic Site Hawaii 154.46 acres (0.6251 km2)
    Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Pennsylvania 848.06 acres (3.4320 km2)
    Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site Arizona 160.09 acres (0.6479 km2)
    James A. Garfield National Historic Site Ohio 7.82 acres (0.0316 km2)
    Jamestown National Historic Site (affiliated area) Virginia 21.99 acres (0.0890 km2)
    John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site Massachusetts 0.09 acres (0.00036 km2)
    John Muir National Historic Site California 388.50 acres (1.5722 km2)
    Kate Mullany National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 0.06 acres (0.00024 km2)
    Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site North Dakota 1,751.00 acres (7.0860 km2)
    Lincoln Home National Historic Site Illinois 12.24 acres (0.0495 km2)
    Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Arkansas 28.22 acres (0.1142 km2)
    Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site Massachusetts 1.98 acres (0.0080 km2)
    Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 1.20 acres (0.0049 km2)
    Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Virginia 1.29 acres (0.0052 km2)
    Manzanar National Historic Site California 813.81 acres (3.2934 km2)
    Martin Van Buren National Historic Site New York 284.93 acres (1.1531 km2)
    Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.07 acres (0.00028 km2)
    Minidoka National Historic Site Idaho 396.30 acres (1.6038 km2)
    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site South Dakota 43.80 acres (0.1773 km2)
    New Philadelphia National Historic Site Illinois 123.19 acres (0.4985 km2)
    Nicodemus National Historic Site Kansas 5.61 acres (0.0227 km2)
    Ninety Six National Historic Site South Carolina 1,021.94 acres (4.1356 km2)
    Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 17.61 acres (0.0713 km2)
    President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Arkansas 0.68 acres (0.0028 km2)
    Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Hawaii 86.24 acres (0.3490 km2)
    Sagamore Hill National Historic Site New York 83.02 acres (0.3360 km2)
    Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site New York 6.13 acres (0.0248 km2)
    Salem Maritime National Historic Site Massachusetts 9.02 acres (0.0365 km2)
    San Juan National Historic Site Puerto Rico 75.13 acres (0.3040 km2)
    Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Colorado 12,583.34 acres (50.9230 km2)
    Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Massachusetts 8.51 acres (0.0344 km2)
    Springfield Armory National Historic Site Massachusetts 54.93 acres (0.2223 km2)
    Steamtown National Historic Site Pennsylvania 62.48 acres (0.2528 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site New York 0.11 acres (0.00045 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site New York 1.18 acres (0.0048 km2)
    Thomas Cole National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 3.40 acres (0.0138 km2)
    Thomas Stone National Historic Site Maryland 328.25 acres (1.3284 km2)
    Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (affiliated area) Rhode Island 0.23 acres (0.00093 km2)
    Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Alabama 89.68 acres (0.3629 km2)
    Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site Alabama 57.92 acres (0.2344 km2)
    Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site Missouri 9.60 acres (0.0388 km2)
    Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site New York 211.65 acres (0.8565 km2)
    Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Oklahoma 315.20 acres (1.2756 km2)
    Whitman Mission National Historic Site Washington 138.53 acres (0.5606 km2)
    William Howard Taft National Historic Site Ohio 3.64 acres (0.0147 km2)

    National battlefield parks

    [edit]

    Main article: National Military Park

    Malvern Hill, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Virginia

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Georgia 2,913.63 acres (11.7910 km2)
    Manassas National Battlefield Park Virginia 5,073.44 acres (20.5315 km2)
    Richmond National Battlefield Park Virginia 8,143.26 acres (32.9546 km2)
    River Raisin National Battlefield Park Michigan 42.18 acres (0.1707 km2)

    National military parks

    [edit]

    See also: National Military Park

    Vicksburg National Military Park

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Georgia, Tennessee 9,523.48 acres (38.5402 km2)
    Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park

    ·       Fredericksburg National Cemetery

    		 Virginia 8,405.46 acres (34.0157 km2)
    Gettysburg National Military Park

    ·       Gettysburg National Cemetery

    		 Pennsylvania 6,037.06 acres (24.4311 km2)
    Guilford Courthouse National Military Park North Carolina 254.90 acres (1.0315 km2)
    Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Alabama 2,040.00 acres (8.2556 km2)
    Kings Mountain National Military Park South Carolina 3,945.29 acres (15.9660 km2)
    Pea Ridge National Military Park Arkansas 4,440.82 acres (17.9714 km2)
    Shiloh National Military Park

    ·       Shiloh National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee, Mississippi 9,318.63 acres (37.7112 km2)
    Vicksburg National Military Park

    ·       Vicksburg National Cemetery

    		 Mississippi, Louisiana 3,049.15 acres (12.3395 km2)
    Moore’s Creek National Military Park June 2, 1926 September 8, 1980 Redesignated as Moores Creek National Battlefield
    Monocacy National Military Park June 21, 1934 October 21, 1976 Redesignated Monocacy National Battlefield; previously Monocacy National Battlefield Site (1929 to 1934)

     

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Antietam National Battlefield

    ·       Antietam National Cemetery

    		 Maryland 3,287.63 acres (13.3046 km2)
    Big Hole National Battlefield Montana 975.61 acres (3.9482 km2)
    Cowpens National Battlefield South Carolina 841.56 acres (3.4057 km2)
    Fort Donelson National Battlefield

    ·       Fort Donelson National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee, Kentucky 1,319.25 acres (5.3388 km2)
    Fort Necessity National Battlefield Pennsylvania 902.80 acres (3.6535 km2)
    Monocacy National Battlefield Maryland 1,646.88 acres (6.6647 km2)
    Moores Creek National Battlefield North Carolina 87.75 acres (0.3551 km2)
    Petersburg National Battlefield

    ·       Poplar Grove National Cemetery

    		 Virginia 9,598.68 acres (38.8445 km2)
    Stones River National Battlefield

    ·       Stones River National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee 709.49 acres (2.8712 km2)
    Tupelo National Battlefield Mississippi 1.00 acre (0.0040 km2)

    National memorials

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national memorials of the United States

    Lincoln MemorialBenjamin Franklin National MemorialPerry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

    There are 31 national memorials that are NPS units and five affiliated national memorials.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    American Memorial Park (affiliated area) Northern Mariana Islands 133.00 acres (0.5382 km2)
    Arkansas Post National Memorial Arkansas 757.51 acres (3.0655 km2)
    Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial Virginia 17.12 acres (0.0693 km2)
    Benjamin Franklin National Memorial (affiliated area) Pennsylvania 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Chamizal National Memorial Texas 54.54 acres (0.2207 km2)
    Coronado National Memorial Arizona 4,830.22 acres (19.5472 km2)
    De Soto National Memorial Florida 30.00 acres (0.1214 km2)
    Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Washington, D.C. 3.39 acres (0.0137 km2)
    Father Marquette National Memorial (affiliated area) Michigan 52.00 acres (0.2104 km2)
    Federal Hall National Memorial New York 0.45 acres (0.0018 km2)
    Flight 93 National Memorial Pennsylvania 2,262.65 acres (9.1566 km2)
    Fort Caroline National Memorial Florida 138.39 acres (0.5600 km2)
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Washington, D.C. 8.14 acres (0.0329 km2)
    General Grant National Memorial New York 0.76 acres (0.0031 km2)
    Hamilton Grange National Memorial New York 1.75 acres (0.0071 km2)
    Jefferson Memorial Washington, D.C. 18.36 acres (0.0743 km2)
    Johnstown Flood National Memorial Pennsylvania 177.76 acres (0.7194 km2)
    Korean War Veterans Memorial Washington, D.C. 1.56 acres (0.0063 km2)
    Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Indiana 199.96 acres (0.8092 km2)
    Lincoln Memorial Washington, D.C. 7.29 acres (0.0295 km2)
    Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac Washington, D.C. 17.00 acres (0.0688 km2)
    Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Washington, D.C. 2.74 acres (0.0111 km2)
    Mount Rushmore National Memorial South Dakota 1,278.45 acres (5.1737 km2)
    Oklahoma City National Memorial (affiliated area) Oklahoma 6.24 acres (0.0253 km2)
    Pearl Harbor National Memorial Hawaii 21.64 acres (0.0876 km2)
    Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Ohio 25.38 acres (0.1027 km2)
    Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial California 5.00 acres (0.0202 km2)
    Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial (affiliated area) Virginia 1,000.00 acres (4.0469 km2)
    Roger Williams National Memorial Rhode Island 4.56 acres (0.0185 km2)
    Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial Pennsylvania 0.02 acres (8.1×10−5 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial Washington, D.C. 88.50 acres (0.3581 km2)
    Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, D.C. 2.18 acres (0.0088 km2)
    Washington Monument Washington, D.C. 106.01 acres (0.4290 km2)
    World War I Memorial Washington, D.C. 1.39 acres (0.0056 km2)
    World War II Memorial Washington, D.C. 8.25 acres (0.0334 km2)
    Wright Brothers National Memorial North Carolina 428.44 acres (1.7338 km2)
    Name Law
    Authorized by Public Law 107-62
    Authorized by National Defense Authorization Act 2015[16]

    National recreation areas

    [edit]

    Main article: National recreation area

    Lake Mead National Recreation AreaDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    There are 18 national recreation areas administered by the National Park Service.[2] Another 22 national recreation areas are administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Amistad National Recreation Area Texas 62,945.15 acres (254.7300 km2)
    Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Montana, Wyoming 120,296.22 acres (486.8215 km2)
    Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Massachusetts 2,230.71 acres (9.0274 km2)
    Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Georgia 12,416.75 acres (50.2488 km2)
    Chickasaw National Recreation Area Oklahoma 9,898.63 acres (40.0583 km2)
    Curecanti National Recreation Area Colorado 43,590.56 acres (176.4047 km2)
    Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    ·       Middle Delaware National Scenic River

    		 New Jersey, Pennsylvania 68,708.88 acres (278.0550 km2)
    Gateway National Recreation Area New York, New Jersey 26,610.45 acres (107.6887 km2)
    Gauley River National Recreation Area West Virginia 11,483.44 acres (46.4718 km2)
    Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Utah, Arizona 1,254,116.62 acres (5,075.2299 km2)
    Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    ·       Alcatraz Island

    ·       Presidio of San Francisco

    		 California 82,136.12 acres (332.3931 km2)
    Lake Chelan National Recreation Area Washington 61,939.15 acres (250.6588 km2)
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    ·       Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument

    		 Nevada, Arizona 1,495,855.53 acres (6,053.5126 km2)
    Lake Meredith National Recreation Area Texas 44,977.63 acres (182.0180 km2)
    Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Washington 100,390.31 acres (406.2652 km2)
    Ross Lake National Recreation Area Washington 117,574.59 acres (475.8075 km2)
    Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area California 153,121.09 acres (619.6591 km2)
    Whiskeytown National Recreation Area California 42,503.25 acres (172.0046 km2)
    Shasta Lake Recreation Area May 22, 1945 July 1, 1948 Transferred to U.S. Forest Service

    National seashores

    [edit]

    Main article: List of United States national lakeshores and seashores

    Wild horses on Assateague Island National SeashoreCape Hatteras National Seashore

    There are 10 national seashores.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Assateague Island National Seashore Maryland, Virginia 41,311.27 acres (167.1808 km2)
    Canaveral National Seashore Florida 57,661.69 acres (233.3486 km2)
    Cape Cod National Seashore Massachusetts 43,615.34 acres (176.5050 km2)
    Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina 30,350.65 acres (122.8247 km2)
    Cape Lookout National Seashore North Carolina 28,243.36 acres (114.2968 km2)
    Cumberland Island National Seashore Georgia 36,346.83 acres (147.0904 km2)
    Fire Island National Seashore New York 19,580.65 acres (79.2401 km2)
    Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida, Mississippi 138,306.64 acres (559.7071 km2)
    Padre Island National Seashore Texas 130,434.27 acres (527.8488 km2)
    Point Reyes National Seashore California 71,053.38 acres (287.5428 km2)

    National lakeshores

    [edit]

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Main article: List of United States national lakeshores and seashores

    There are three national lakeshores, located in Michigan and Wisconsin.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin 69,377.43 acres (280.7605 km2)
    Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan 73,235.97 acres (296.3755 km2)
    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Michigan 71,318.57 acres (288.6160 km2)

    Former national lakeshores

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore November 5, 1966 February 15, 2019 Redesignated Indiana Dunes National Park

    National rivers and national wild and scenic rivers

    [edit]

    The Buffalo National River, the first National River established in the United StatesSaint Croix National Scenic Riverway

    There are four national rivers (marked with an asterisk) and ten national wild and scenic rivers administered as distinct units of the National Park System.[2] There are many more national wild and scenic rivers that run through other units.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Alagnak Wild River Alaska 30,664.79 acres (124.0960 km2)
    Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area* Kentucky, Tennessee 123,702.05 acres (500.6044 km2)
    Bluestone National Scenic River West Virginia 4,309.51 acres (17.4400 km2)
    Buffalo National River* Arkansas 94,300.82 acres (381.6219 km2)
    Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River New Jersey 43,311.42 acres (175.2751 km2)
    Middle Delaware National Scenic River New Jersey, Pennsylvania 1,973.33 acres (7.9858 km2)
    Mississippi National River and Recreation Area* Minnesota 53,775.00 acres (217.6197 km2)
    Missouri National Recreational River Nebraska, South Dakota 48,456.55 acres (196.0967 km2)
    Niobrara National Scenic River Nebraska 29,088.57 acres (117.7173 km2)
    Obed Wild and Scenic River Tennessee 5,489.85 acres (22.2166 km2)
    Ozark National Scenic Riverways* Missouri 80,784.30 acres (326.9225 km2)
    Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River Texas 13,123.39 acres (53.1085 km2)
    Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Wisconsin, Minnesota 68,738.95 acres (278.1767 km2)
    Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River New York, Pennsylvania 74,999.56 acres (303.5125 km2)

    Former national rivers

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    New River Gorge National River November 10, 1978 December 27, 2020 Redesignated New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    National reserves

    [edit]

    City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho

    National reserves are partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities. Within the boundaries of the three national reserves are combinations of federal land (Park Service or National Wildlife Refuges), state parks and forests, local public lands, and private properties. Two national reserves are currently managed as official units.

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    City of Rocks National Reserve Idaho 14,512.27 acres (58.7291 km2)
    Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve Washington 19,333.51 acres (78.2399 km2)
    Pinelands National Reserve (affiliated area) New Jersey 1,164,025 acres (4,710.64 km2)

    National parkways

    [edit]

    Main article: National Parkway

    Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina

    Ten roadways and surrounding scenic areas are managed by the NPS as parkways, four of which as official units and five as part of other units.

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Baltimore-Washington Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Maryland, Washington, D.C.
    Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia, North Carolina 101,128.20 acres (409.2513 km2)
    Colonial Parkway (part of Colonial National Historical Park) Virginia
    Foothills Parkway (part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park) Tennessee
    George Washington Memorial Parkway (In 1989, the Maryland and DC portions of the parkway were renamed Clara Barton Parkway to overcome motorist confusion).

    ·       Claude Moore Colonial Farm

    ·       Glen Echo Park

    ·       Great Falls Park

    ·       Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

    		 Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. 6,719.21 acres (27.1917 km2)
    John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway Wyoming 23,777.22 acres (96.2230 km2)
    Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee 52,380.46 acres (211.9762 km2)
    Oxon Run Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Washington, D.C.
    Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (part of Rock Creek Park) Washington, D.C.
    Suitland Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Maryland

    National historic and scenic trails

    [edit]

    Main article: National Trails System

    These National Park Service trails are part of the larger National Trails System. Only six of the trails are considered official units of the park system.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Hawaii
    Appalachian Trail (official unit) Maine – Georgia 243,733.06 acres (986.3527 km2)
    Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Tennessee and Missouri – California
    California National Historic Trail Missouri – California
    Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Delaware – District of Columbia – Maryland – Virginia
    Chilkoot National Historic Trail Alaska – British Columbia
    El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Louisiana – Texas
    El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail New Mexico
    Ice Age National Scenic Trail (official unit) Wisconsin 235.16 acres (0.9517 km2)
    Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Arizona – California
    Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Illinois – Oregon
    Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail Illinois – Utah
    Natchez Trace Trail (official unit) Mississippi – Tennessee 10,995.00 acres (44.4952 km2)
    New England National Scenic Trail (official unit) Connecticut – Massachusetts 196.04 acres (0.7933 km2)
    North Country National Scenic Trail (official unit) New York – North Dakota 281.94 acres (1.1410 km2)
    Old Spanish National Historic Trail New Mexico – California
    Oregon National Historic Trail Missouri – Oregon
    Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Virginia – Tennessee – North Carolina – South Carolina
    Pony Express National Historic Trail Missouri – California
    Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (official unit) Virginia – Maryland – Pennsylvania – Washington, D.C. 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Santa Fe National Historic Trail Missouri – New Mexico
    Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Alabama
    Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail District of Columbia – Maryland – Virginia
    Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Tennessee – Oklahoma
    Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Massachusetts – Virginia

    National cemeteries

    [edit]

    Gettysburg National Cemetery

    Most national cemeteries are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, although a few are managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army. None of the cemeteries are considered official units of the system; they are all affiliated with other parks.

    Name Location
    Andersonville National Cemetery Georgia
    Andrew Johnson National Cemetery Tennessee
    Antietam National Cemetery Maryland
    Battleground National Cemetery Washington, D.C.
    Chalmette National Cemetery Louisiana
    Custer National Cemetery Montana
    Fort Donelson National Cemetery Tennessee
    Fredericksburg National Cemetery Virginia
    Gettysburg National Cemetery Pennsylvania
    Poplar Grove National Cemetery Virginia
    Shiloh National Cemetery Tennessee
    Stones River National Cemetery Tennessee
    Vicksburg National Cemetery Mississippi

     

    Other NPS protected areas and administrative groups

    [edit]

    National MallRoosevelt Campobello International Park (affiliated area)Acadian Landing Site at Maine Acadian Culture (affiliated area)

    There are 11 NPS units of other designations, as well as other affiliated areas. The National Mall and National Capital Parks have many sites, some of which are also units of other designations.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Aleutian World War II National Historic Area (affiliated area) Alaska 134.94 acres (0.5461 km2)
    Catoctin Mountain Park Maryland 5,890.92 acres (23.8397 km2)
    Claymont High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Constitution Gardens District of Columbia 39.23 acres (0.1588 km2)
    Eutaw Springs Battlefield (affiliated area) South Carolina
    Fort Washington Park Maryland 345.05 acres (1.3964 km2)
    Greenbelt Park Maryland 1,175.98 acres (4.7590 km2)
    Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site (affiliated area)[17] South Carolina 107.00 acres (0.4330 km2)
    Hockessin Colored School #107 (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Howard High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Ice Age National Scientific Reserve (affiliated area) Wisconsin 32,500.00 acres (131.5228 km2)
    International Peace Garden (affiliated area) North Dakota/Manitoba 2,330.30 acres (9.4304 km2)
    Inupiat Heritage Center (affiliated area) Alaska 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    John Philip Sousa Junior High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) District of Columbia
    Kettle Creek Battlefield (affiliated area) Georgia
    Maine Acadian Culture (affiliated area)[18] Maine
    National Capital Parks-East

    ·       Anacostia Park

    ·       Baltimore-Washington Parkway

    ·       Capitol Hill Parks

    ·       Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Fort Dupont Park

    ·       Fort Foote Park

    ·       Fort Washington Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Greenbelt Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Harmony Hall (Fort Washington, Maryland)

    ·       Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

    ·       Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm

    ·       Oxon Run Parkway

    ·       Piscataway Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Suitland Parkway

    		 District of Columbia/Maryland 8,703.80 acres (35.2230 km2)(excludes those counted in other units)
    National Mall and Memorial Parks (formerly National Capital Parks-Central)

    ·       African American Civil War Memorial

    ·       American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

    ·       Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument (also an official unit)

    ·       Constitution Gardens (also an official unit)

    ·       District of Columbia War Memorial

    ·       East Potomac Park

    ·       Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       George Mason Memorial

    ·       Jefferson Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       John Ericsson National Memorial

    ·       Korean War Veterans Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       Lincoln Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       National Mall

    ·       Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Old Post Office Pavilion

    ·       Ukraine Independence Park (Taras Shevchenko Memorial)

    ·       United States Navy Memorial (part of Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site)

    ·       Vietnam Veterans Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       Washington Monument (also an official unit)

    ·       West Potomac Park

    ·       World War I Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       World War II Memorial (also an official unit)

    		 District of Columbia 155.84 acres (0.6307 km2)(National Mall only)
    Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield (affiliated area) Tennessee
    Piscataway Park Maryland 4,620.06 acres (18.6967 km2)
    Prince William Forest Park Virginia 16,060.25 acres (64.9935 km2)
    Robert Russa Moton School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Virginia
    Rock Creek Park

    ·       Dumbarton Oaks Park

    ·       Battleground National Cemetery

    ·       Meridian Hill Park

    ·       Old Stone House

    ·       Peirce Mill (part of Rock Creek Park)

    ·       Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway

    		 District of Columbia 1,754.70 acres (7.1010 km2)
    Roosevelt Campobello International Park (affiliated area) New Brunswick 2,721.50 acres (11.0135 km2)
    White House/President’s Park District of Columbia 18.07 acres (0.0731 km2)
    Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (affiliated area)[19] Washington 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Virginia 130.28 acres (0.5272 km2)

    In addition, there are sites where the NPS is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance to local authorities for interpretive or educational purposes, but do not have the right to acquire land or have a say in land use or zoning. These include the 55 National Heritage Areas, as well as National Commemorative Sites such as Quindaro Townsite or the Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site. There are also various administrative groups of listed parks, such as Manhattan Sites, National Parks of New York Harbor, and Western Arctic National Parklands. The NPS also owns conservation easements (but not the land itself) for part of the area called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.

    In the 1930s and 1940s, the NPS developed dozens of recreational demonstration areas, most of which eventually became national or state parks.

     

    A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”[5] Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park is New River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park is National Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS),[6] and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR),[7] with eight national parks in both programs.

    Thirty states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 52.4 million acres (212,000 km2), for an average of 833 thousand acres (3,370 km2) but a median of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2).[8]

    The national parks set a visitation record in 2021, with more than 92 million visitors.[9] Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee has been the most-visited park since 1944,[10] and had almost 13 million visitors in 2022.[11] In contrast, only about 9,500 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska in 2022.[11]

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    audio file

    During the course of my life, I have visited the majority of the 63  national parks in the United States, as well as most of the national monuments, and many of the battlegrounds as well.. One of my favorites has been the Redwood

    s National Park located in Northwest California near my summer home in Medford, Oregon. I just got back from my 10th visit

    over the years.  I first visited this park in 1963 as a child and I awestruck by the beauty of the majestic redwoods.

    All in on all great day.

     

     

     

    here’s the list of  List of national parks of the United States – I have bolded the ones I have visited, and put a star next to the ones still on my bucket list  Now that I have visited all 50 states my remaining travel bucket list includes visiting all the national parks.

    0regon Reflections

    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    Seattle Travels

    Portland

     

     

    HIking Hobart’s Ridge Near Ashland, Oregon

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    1938 poster promoting Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world

    Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

    Interactive map (incomplete) of the National Parks of the United States.

    The United States has 63 national parks, which are congressionally designated protected areas operated by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior.[1] National parks are designated for their natural beauty, unique geological features, diverse ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, typically “because of some outstanding scenic feature or natural phenomena.”[2] While legislatively all units of the National Park System are considered equal with the same mission, national parks are generally larger and more of a destination, and hunting and extractive activities are prohibited.[3] National monuments, on the other hand, are also frequently protected for their historical or archaeological significance. Eight national parks (including six in Alaska) are paired with a national preserve, areas with different levels of protection that are administered together but considered separate units and whose areas are not included in the figures below. The 430 units of the National Park System can be broadly referred to as national parks, but most have other formal designations.[4]

    National parks

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national parks of the United States

    There are 63 officially designated national parks in the United States and its dependent areas, as of 2021.[2] The national parks are considered the “crown jewels” of the system and are typically larger than other areas, including a variety of significant ecological and geological resources.

    North Cascades National ParkHaleakalā National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkDry Tortugas National ParkShenandoah National ParkBadlands National ParkGuadalupe Mountains National ParkArches National ParkOlympic National ParkCuyahoga Valley National ParkGateway Arch National Park

    Name Location Year established Area (2024)[3][4]
    Acadia National Park Maine 1919 49,071.40 acres (198.5849 km2)
    National Park of American Samoa American Samoa 1988 8,256.67 acres (33.4136 km2)
    Arches National Park Utah 1971 76,678.98 acres (310.3088 km2)
    Badlands National Park South Dakota 1978 242,742.90 acres (982.3457 km2)
    Big Bend National Park Texas 1944 801,163.21 acres (3,242.1925 km2)
    Biscayne National Park Florida 1980 172,971.11 acres (699.9892 km2)
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado 1999 30,779.83 acres (124.5616 km2)
    Bryce Canyon National Park Utah 1928 35,835.08 acres (145.0194 km2)
    Canyonlands National Park Utah 1964 337,597.83 acres (1,366.2099 km2)
    Capitol Reef National Park Utah 1971 241,904.50 acres (978.9528 km2)
    Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico 1930 46,766.45 acres (189.2571 km2)
    Channel Islands National Park California 1980 249,561.00 acres (1,009.9375 km2)
    Congaree National Park South Carolina 2003 26,692.60 acres (108.0211 km2)
    Crater Lake National Park Oregon 1902 183,224.05 acres (741.4814 km2)
    Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio 2000 32,597.08 acres (131.9157 km2)
    Death Valley National Park California, Nevada 1994 3,408,445.63 acres (13,793.4901 km2)
    Denali National Park Alaska 1917 4,740,911.16 acres (19,185.7868 km2)
    Dry Tortugas National Park Florida 1992 64,701.22 acres (261.8365 km2)
    Everglades National Park Florida 1947 1,508,938.57 acres (6,106.4577 km2)
    Gates of the Arctic National Park Alaska 1980 7,523,897.45 acres (30,448.1327 km2)
    Gateway Arch National Park Missouri 2018 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2)
    Glacier National Park (part of Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park) Montana 1910 1,013,126.39 acres (4,099.9770 km2)
    Glacier Bay National Park Alaska 1980 3,223,383.43 acres (13,044.5699 km2)
    Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 1919 1,201,647.03 acres (4,862.8930 km2)
    Grand Teton National Park Wyoming 1929 310,044.36 acres (1,254.7050 km2)
    Great Basin National Park Nevada 1986 77,180.00 acres (312.3364 km2)
    Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado 2004 107,336.95 acres (434.3772 km2)
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina, Tennessee 1934 522,426.88 acres (2,114.1866 km2)
    Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas 1966 86,367.10 acres (349.5153 km2)
    Haleakalā National Park Hawaii 1916 33,488.98 acres (135.5251 km2)
    Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii 1916 344,812.18 acres (1,395.4054 km2)
    Hot Springs National Park Arkansas 1921 5,554.15 acres (22.4768 km2)
    Indiana Dunes National Park Indiana 2019 15,615.10 acres (63.1921 km2)
    Isle Royale National Park Michigan 1940 571,790.30 acres (2,313.9532 km2)
    Joshua Tree National Park California 1994 795,155.85 acres (3,217.8816 km2)
    Katmai National Park Alaska 1980 3,674,529.33 acres (14,870.2926 km2)
    Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska 1980 669,650.05 acres (2,709.9776 km2)
    Kings Canyon National Park California 1940 461,901.37 acres (1,869.2485 km2)
    Kobuk Valley National Park Alaska 1980 1,750,716.16 acres (7,084.8969 km2)
    Lake Clark National Park Alaska 1980 2,619,816.49 acres (10,602.0212 km2)
    Lassen Volcanic National Park California 1916 106,589.02 acres (431.3505 km2)
    Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky 1941 72,041.73 acres (291.5425 km2)
    Mesa Verde National Park Colorado 1906 52,485.17 acres (212.3999 km2)
    Mount Rainier National Park Washington 1899 236,381.64 acres (956.6026 km2)
    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve West Virginia 2020 72,390.91 acres (292.9556 km2)
    North Cascades National Park Washington 1968 504,780.94 acres (2,042.7760 km2)
    Olympic National Park Washington 1938 922,649.41 acres (3,733.8297 km2)
    Petrified Forest National Park Arizona 1962 221,390.21 acres (895.9344 km2)
    Pinnacles National Park California 2013 26,685.73 acres (107.9933 km2)
    Redwood National and State Parks California 1968 139,090.97 acres (562.8812 km2)
    Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado 1915 265,847.74 acres (1,075.8476 km2)
    Saguaro National Park Arizona 1994 92,799.77 acres (375.5473 km2)
    Sequoia National Park California 1890 404,062.63 acres (1,635.1834 km2)
    Shenandoah National Park Virginia 1935 200,445.92 acres (811.1759 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota 1978 70,446.89 acres (285.0884 km2)
    Virgin Islands National Park U.S. Virgin Islands 1956 15,052.33 acres (60.9146 km2)
    Voyageurs National Park Minnesota 1975 218,223.25 acres (883.1182 km2)
    White Sands National Park New Mexico 2019 146,344.31 acres (592.2344 km2)
    Wind Cave National Park South Dakota 1903 33,970.84 acres (137.4751 km2)
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Park Alaska 1980 8,323,146.48 acres (33,682.5788 km2)
    Yellowstone National Park Idaho, Montana, Wyoming 1872 2,219,790.71 acres (8,983.1743 km2)
    Yosemite National Park California 1890 761,747.50 acres (3,082.6828 km2)
    Zion National Park Utah 1919 147,242.66 acres (595.8699 km2)

    Former national parks

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Abraham Lincoln National Park July 17, 1916 August 11, 1939 Redesignated as Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
    Fort McHenry National Park March 3, 1925 August 11, 1939 Redesignated under the unique designation of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
    General Grant National Park October 1, 1890 March 4, 1940 Incorporated into Kings Canyon National Park
    Hawaii National Park August 1, 1916 September 13, 1960 Divided into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park
    Mackinac National Park April 15, 1875 March 2, 1895 Transferred to Michigan; now operated as Mackinac Island State Park
    Platt National Park June 29, 1906 March 17, 1976 Incorporated with Arbuckle Recreation Area and redesignated Chickasaw National Recreation Area
    Rock Creek Park[5] September 27, 1890 August 10, 1933 Incorporated into National Capital Parks
    Sullys Hill National Park April 27, 1904 March 3, 1931 Transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; now operated as White Horse Hill National Game Preserve

    National monuments

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national monuments of the United States

    Devils Tower National MonumentStonewall National MonumentStatue of Liberty National MonumentNatural Bridges National MonumentMuir Woods National MonumentBandelier National MonumentGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

    There are 129 national monuments, 84 of which are administered by the NPS and are listed below. Of these, 83 (all except Grand Canyon-Parashant) are NPS official units. The remaining 46 monuments are administered by five other federal agencies. Two, Grand Canyon–Parashant and Craters of the Moon National Monuments, are jointly administered by the NPS and the Bureau of Land Management, and Tule Lake National Monument is joint with the Fish and Wildlife Service. National monuments are typically smaller and protect just one or few major resources. They include both natural and historical sites and can be established by the president under the Antiquities Act. 34 former national monuments have been redesignated or incorporated into national parks.

    Name Location Area[3][4]
    African Burial Ground National Monument New York 0.35 acres (0.0014 km2)
    Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Nebraska 3,057.87 acres (12.3748 km2)
    Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Texas 1,370.97 acres (5.5481 km2)
    Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Alaska 137,176.00 acres (555.1316 km2)
    Aztec Ruins National Monument New Mexico 318.40 acres (1.2885 km2)
    Bandelier National Monument New Mexico 33,676.67 acres (136.2846 km2)
    Belmont–Paul Women’s Equality National Monument District of Columbia 0.34 acres (0.0014 km2)
    Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Alabama 18.25 acres (0.0739 km2)
    Booker T. Washington National Monument Virginia 239.01 acres (0.9672 km2)
    Buck Island Reef National Monument U.S. Virgin Islands 19,015.47 acres (76.9529 km2)
    Cabrillo National Monument California 159.94 acres (0.6473 km2)
    Camp Nelson National Monument Kentucky 464.97 acres (1.8817 km2)
    Canyon de Chelly National Monument Arizona 83,840.00 acres (339.2884 km2)
    Cape Krusenstern National Monument Alaska 649,096.15 acres (2,626.7989 km2)
    Capulin Volcano National Monument New Mexico 792.84 acres (3.2085 km2)
    Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Arizona 472.50 acres (1.9121 km2)
    Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Florida 19.38 acres (0.0784 km2)
    Castle Clinton National Monument New York 1.00 acre (0.0040 km2)
    Castle Mountains National Monument California 21,025.50 acres (85.0872 km2)
    Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah 6,154.60 acres (24.9068 km2)
    César E. Chávez National Monument California 116.56 acres (0.4717 km2)
    Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Ohio 59.66 acres (0.2414 km2)
    Chiricahua National Monument Arizona 12,024.73 acres (48.6624 km2)
    Colorado National Monument Colorado 20,536.39 acres (83.1078 km2)
    Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Idaho 53,437.64 acres (216.2545 km2)
    Devils Postpile National Monument California 800.19 acres (3.2383 km2)
    Devils Tower National Monument Wyoming 1,347.21 acres (5.4520 km2)
    Dinosaur National Monument Utah, Colorado 210,281.92 acres (850.9807 km2)
    Effigy Mounds National Monument Iowa 2,526.39 acres (10.2239 km2)
    El Malpais National Monument New Mexico 114,346.99 acres (462.7459 km2)
    El Morro National Monument New Mexico 1,278.72 acres (5.1748 km2)
    Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument Illinois, Mississippi 5.70 acres (0.0231 km2)
    Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Colorado 6,278.09 acres (25.4065 km2)
    Fort Frederica National Monument Georgia 305.34 acres (1.2357 km2)
    Fort Matanzas National Monument Florida 300.11 acres (1.2145 km2)
    Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Maryland 43.26 acres (0.1751 km2)
    Fort Monroe National Monument Virginia 367.12 acres (1.4857 km2)
    Fort Pulaski National Monument Georgia 5,623.10 acres (22.7559 km2)
    Fort Stanwix National Monument New York 15.52 acres (0.0628 km2)
    Fort Union National Monument New Mexico 720.60 acres (2.9162 km2)
    Fossil Butte National Monument Wyoming 8,198.00 acres (33.1761 km2)
    Freedom Riders National Monument Alabama 7.83 acres (0.0317 km2)
    George Washington Birthplace National Monument Virginia 654.19 acres (2.6474 km2)
    George Washington Carver National Monument Missouri 240.00 acres (0.9712 km2)
    Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument New Mexico 533.13 acres (2.1575 km2)
    Governors Island National Monument New York 22.91 acres (0.0927 km2)
    Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument (not an official NPS unit) Arizona NPS manages 208,453 acres (843.58 km2) of 1,048,325 acres (4,242.42 km2)
    Grand Portage National Monument Minnesota 709.97 acres (2.8731 km2)
    Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Idaho 4,351.15 acres (17.6085 km2)
    Hohokam Pima National Monument Arizona 1,690.00 acres (6.8392 km2)
    Hovenweep National Monument Colorado, Utah 784.93 acres (3.1765 km2)
    Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota 1,273.51 acres (5.1537 km2)
    John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Oregon 14,062.19 acres (56.9077 km2)
    Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Maine 87,564.27 acres (354.3600 km2)
    Lava Beds National Monument California 46,692.42 acres (188.9575 km2)
    Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Montana 765.34 acres (3.0972 km2)
    Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument Mississippi 0.74 acres (0.0030 km2)
    Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Kentucky 1,455.31 acres (5.8894 km2)
    Montezuma Castle National Monument Arizona 1,015.52 acres (4.1097 km2)
    Muir Woods National Monument California 553.55 acres (2.2401 km2)
    Natural Bridges National Monument Utah 7,636.49 acres (30.9038 km2)
    Navajo National Monument Arizona 360.00 acres (1.4569 km2)
    Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve Oregon 4,554.03 acres (18.4295 km2)
    Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Arizona 330,688.86 acres (1,338.2503 km2)
    Petroglyph National Monument New Mexico 7,204.43 acres (29.1553 km2)
    Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona 40.00 acres (0.1619 km2)
    Pipestone National Monument Minnesota 297.08 acres (1.2022 km2)
    Poverty Point National Monument Louisiana 910.85 acres (3.6861 km2)
    Rainbow Bridge National Monument Utah 160.00 acres (0.6475 km2)
    Russell Cave National Monument Alabama 310.45 acres (1.2563 km2)
    Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument New Mexico 1,071.42 acres (4.3359 km2)
    Scotts Bluff National Monument Nebraska 3,004.73 acres (12.1597 km2)
    Statue of Liberty National Monument New York, New Jersey 58.38 acres (0.2363 km2)
    Stonewall National Monument New York 7.70 acres (0.0312 km2)
    Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Arizona 3,137.71 acres (12.6979 km2)
    Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah 250.00 acres (1.0117 km2)
    Tonto National Monument Arizona 1,120.00 acres (4.5325 km2)
    Tule Lake National Monument California 37.39 acres (0.1513 km2)
    Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Nevada 22,650.00 acres (91.6613 km2)
    Tuzigoot National Monument Arizona 811.89 acres (3.2856 km2)
    Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument U.S. Virgin Islands 12,708.07 acres (51.4277 km2)
    Waco Mammoth National Monument Texas 107.23 acres (0.4339 km2)
    Walnut Canyon National Monument Arizona 3,200.61 acres (12.9524 km2)
    Wupatki National Monument Arizona 35,401.83 acres (143.2661 km2)
    Yucca House National Monument Colorado 33.87 acres (0.1371 km2)

    Former national monuments

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Carlsbad Cave National Monument October 5, 1923 May 14, 1930 Redesignated as Carlsbad Caverns National Park
    Denali National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Incorporated with Mount McKinley National Park and renamed Denali National Park and Preserve
    Grand Canyon National Monument January 11, 1908 February 26, 1919 Redesignated as Grand Canyon National Park
    Grand Canyon National Monument December 22, 1932 January 3, 1975 Abolished; lands transferred with Marble Canyon National Monument into an expansion of Grand Canyon National Park.[6][7][8][9]
    Marble Canyon National Monument January 20, 1969 January 3, 1975 Abolished; lands transferred with Grand Canyon National Monument into an expansion of Grand Canyon National Park.
    Kobuk Valley National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Redesignated as Kobuk Valley National Park
    Papago Saguaro National Monument January 31, 1914 April 7, 1930 Transferred to Arizona; now jointly operated by the cities of Phoenix and Tempe
    Pullman National Monument February 19, 2015 December 29, 2022 Redesignated as Pullman National Historical Park
    Lewis and Clark Cavern National Monument May 11, 1908 August 24, 1937 Transferred to Montana; now operated as a state park
    Kenai Fjords National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Redesignated as Kenai Fjords National Park
    Channel Islands National Monument April 26, 1938 March 5, 1980 Redesignated as Channel Islands National Park
    Father Millet Cross National Monument August 10, 1933 September 7, 1949 Transferred to New York upon the closing of the adjacent military base; now operated part of Fort Niagara State Park
    First State National Monument March 25, 2013 December 19, 2014 Incorporated into First State National Historical Park
    Lake Clark National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument March 2, 1933 October 21, 1999 Redesignated as Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
    December 19, 2014 The National Park Service areas of this monument were incorporated into Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and the National Park Service no longer recognizes their portions of the national monument as distinct from the national historical park. The remaining portions of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument continue to be operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Mukuntuweap National Monument
    (renamed Zion National Monument in 1918)    		 July 31, 1909 November 19, 1919 Redesignated as Zion National Park
    Zion National Monument
    (“the Kolob Canyons area”)    		 January 22, 1937 July 11, 1956 Incorporated into Zion National Park
    Capitol Reef National Monument August 2, 1937 December 18, 1971 Redesignated as Capitol Reef National Park
    Arches National Monument April 12, 1929 November 12, 1971 Redesignated as Arches National Park
    Bryce Canyon National Monument June 8, 1923 February 25, 1928 Redesignated as Bryce Canyon National Park
    Wheeler National Monument December 7, 1908 August 3, 1950 Returned to United States Forest Service
    Holy Cross National Monument May 11, 1929 August 3, 1950 Returned to United States Forest Service
    White Sands National Monument January 18, 1933 December 20, 2019 Redesignated as White Sands National Park
    Jackson Hole National Monument 1943 September 14, 1950 Merged into Grand Teton National Park
    Shoshone Cavern National Monument September 21, 1909 May 17, 1954 Transferred to Cody, Wyoming as a municipal attraction, and later returned to the Bureau of Land Management
    Old Kasaan National Monument October 25, 1916 July 26, 1955 Transferred to United States Forest Service
    Castle Pinckney National Monument August 10, 1933 March 29, 1956 Transferred to South Carolina, and later sold to the Sons of Confederate Veterans; site currently inaccessible and unmaintained
    Saguaro National Monument March 1, 1933 October 4, 1994 Redesignated as Saguaro National Park
    Verendrye National Monument June 29, 1917 July 30, 1956 Transferred to North Dakota after the construction of the Garrison Dam; site currently flooded by the reservoir Lake Sakakawea
    Gates of the Arctic National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
    Fossil Cycad National Monument October 21, 1922 August 1, 1956 Transferred to Bureau of Land Management because of severe vandalism to the site
    Death Valley National Monument February 11, 1933 October 31, 1994 Redesignated as Death Valley National Park
    Joshua Tree National Monument August 10, 1936 October 31, 1994 Redesignated as Joshua Tree National Park
    Ackia Battlefield National Monument August 27, 1935 August 10, 1961 Incorporated into Natchez Trace Parkway
    Meriwether Lewis National Monument February 6, 1925 August 10, 1961 Incorporated into Natchez Trace Parkway
    Katmai National Monument September 24, 1918 December 2, 1980 Renamed Katmai National Park and Preserve
    Mount Olympus National Monument March 2, 1909 June 29, 1938 Redesignated as Olympic National Park
    Petrified Forest National Monument December 8, 1906 December 9, 1962 Redesignated as Petrified Forest National Park
    Lehman Caves National Monument June 10, 1933 October 27, 1986 Abolished; incorporated into Great Basin National Park[10]
    Congaree Swamp National Monument October 18, 1976 November 10, 2003 Redesignated as Congaree National Park
    Glacier Bay National Monument February 25, 1925 December 2, 1980 Renamed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
    Mound City Group National Monument January 1, 1918 January 2, 1992 Incorporated into Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
    Minidoka Internment National Monument January 17, 2001 May 8, 2008 Redesignated as Minidoka National Historic Site
    Pinnacles National Monument January 16, 1908 January 10, 2013 Redesignated as Pinnacles National Park[11]
    Andrew Johnson National Monument April 27, 1942 December 11, 1963 Redesignated as Andrew Johnson National Historic Site[12]
    Sieur de Monts National Monument July 8, 1916 February 26, 1919 Redesignated as Lafayette National Park
    (renamed Acadia National Park on January 19, 1929)
    Edison Laboratory National Monument July 14, 1956 September 5, 1962 Combined with Edison Home National Historic Site into Edison National Historic Site, later redesignated Thomas Edison National Historical Park
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Monument December 1, 1978 December 2, 1980 Renamed Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
    Badlands National Monument January 29, 1939 November 10, 1978 Redesignated as Badlands National Park
    Great Sand Dunes National Monument March 17, 1932 September 14, 2004 Renamed Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    Biscayne National Monument October 18, 1968 June 28, 1980 Redesignated as Biscayne National Park
    Fort Jefferson National Monument January 4, 1935 October 26, 1992 Redesignated as Dry Tortugas National Park
    Cinder Cone National Monument May 6, 1907 August 9, 1916 Merged with Lassen Peak National Monument and redesignated as Lassen Volcanic National Park
    Lassen Peak National Monument May 6, 1907 August 9, 1916 Merged with Cinder Cone National Monument and redesignated as Lassen Volcanic National Park
    Homestead National Monument of America March 19, 1936 January 13, 2021 Redesignated as Homestead National Historical Park

    National preserves

    [edit]

    Main article: National preserve

    There are 21 national preserves in the United States, 19 of which are counted by the National Park System as official units. Ten are stand-alone official units, while eleven others are designated areas where hunting or grazing is permitted as part of a larger “national park and preserve” or “national monument and preserve”. Nine of those are counted as separate units, while Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve are single units (there is no functional difference). Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is not officially a national preserve but has similar management policies, while Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is unrelated.

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Alaska 464,117.93 acres (1,878.2186 km2)
    Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Alaska 2,697,391.01 acres (10,915.9541 km2)
    Big Cypress National Preserve Florida 720,564.01 acres (2,916.0191 km2)
    Big Thicket National Preserve Texas 113,121.96 acres (457.7883 km2)
    Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Idaho 698,939.69 acres (2,828.5086 km2)
    Denali National Park and Preserve Alaska 1,334,117.80 acres (5,398.9832 km2)
    Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Alaska 948,608.07 acres (3,838.8807 km2)
    Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Alaska 58,406.00 acres (236.3607 km2)
    Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado 41,686.00 acres (168.6973 km2)
    Katmai National Park and Preserve Alaska 418,698.80 acres (1,694.4139 km2)
    Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Alaska 1,410,293.68 acres (5,707.2560 km2)
    Little River Canyon National Preserve Alabama 15,293.27 acres (61.8897 km2)
    Mojave National Preserve California 1,549,709.37 acres (6,271.4513 km2)
    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (not a separate unit) West Virginia 65,165 acres (263.71 km2)
    Noatak National Preserve Alaska 6,587,071.39 acres (26,656.9322 km2)
    Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve (not a separate unit) Oregon 4,070 acres (16.5 km2)
    Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Kansas 10,882.67 acres (44.0406 km2)
    Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Florida 46,263.07 acres (187.2200 km2)
    Valles Caldera National Preserve New Mexico 89,831.84 acres (363.5366 km2)
    Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve Alaska 4,852,644.89 acres (19,637.9571 km2)
    Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve Alaska 2,526,512.44 acres (10,224.4331 km2)

    National historical parks

    [edit]

    Main article: National Historic Site (United States) § National Historical Parks

    The bell tower atop Independence Hall, where the Liberty Bell once was based, in

    Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia

    Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical ParkLaboratory building at Thomas Edison National Historical Park

    Keweenaw National Historical Park

    There are 63 national historical parks.

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Kentucky 344.50 acres (1.3941 km2)
    Adams National Historical Park Massachusetts 23.82 acres (0.0964 km2)
    Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Virginia 1,774.60 acres (7.1816 km2)
    Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Rhode Island, Massachusetts 1,489.00 acres (6.0258 km2)
    Boston National Historical Park Massachusetts 43.82 acres (0.1773 km2)
    Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Kansas, South Carolina 3.15 acres (0.0127 km2)
    Cane River Creole National Historical Park Louisiana 205.50 acres (0.8316 km2)
    Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Virginia 3,707.70 acres (15.0045 km2)
    Chaco Culture National Historical Park New Mexico 33,960.19 acres (137.4320 km2)
    Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia 19,633.28 acres (79.4531 km2)
    Colonial National Historical Park[13]

    ·       Cape Henry Memorial

    ·       The Colonial Parkway

    ·       Green Spring Plantation

    ·       Most of Jamestown Island

    ·       Swann’s Point (Across the James River from Jamestown Island)

    ·       Tyandall’s Point Park (Across the York River from Yorktown)

    ·       Yorktown Battlefield

    		 Virginia 8,675.04 acres (35.1066 km2)
    Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia 24,546.83 acres (99.3375 km2)
    Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park Ohio 110.53 acres (0.4473 km2)
    First State National Historical Park Delaware, Pennsylvania 1,409.22 acres (5.7029 km2)
    Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park South Carolina 232.52 acres (0.9410 km2)
    George Rogers Clark National Historical Park Indiana 26.17 acres (0.1059 km2)
    Golden Spike National Historical Park Utah 2,735.28 acres (11.0693 km2)
    Harpers Ferry National Historical Park West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland 3,668.55 acres (14.8461 km2)
    Harriet Tubman National Historical Park New York 31.50 acres (0.1275 km2)
    Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Maryland 480.00 acres (1.9425 km2)
    Homestead National Historical Park Nebraska 210.45 acres (0.8517 km2)
    Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Ohio 1,775.78 acres (7.1863 km2)
    Independence National Historical Park

    ·       Germantown White House

    ·       Independence Hall

    ·       National Constitution Center (partner site)

    ·       Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

    		 Pennsylvania 44.87 acres (0.1816 km2)
    Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

    ·       Chalmette National Cemetery

    		 Louisiana 25,875.86 acres (104.7159 km2)
    Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Georgia 78.35 acres (0.3171 km2)
    Kalaupapa National Historical Park Hawaii 10,778.88 acres (43.6206 km2)
    Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii 1,163.05 acres (4.7067 km2)
    Keweenaw National Historical Park Michigan 1,870.00 acres (7.5676 km2)
    Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (part of Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park) Alaska, Washington 12,996.49 acres (52.5949 km2)
    Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Oregon, Washington 3,409.28 acres (13.7969 km2)
    Lowell National Historical Park Massachusetts 143.65 acres (0.5813 km2)
    Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Texas 1,571.71 acres (6.3605 km2)
    Manhattan Project National Historical Park New Mexico, Tennessee, Washington 113.61 acres (0.4598 km2)
    Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Vermont 643.07 acres (2.6024 km2)
    Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Georgia 39.17 acres (0.1585 km2)
    Minute Man National Historical Park Massachusetts 1,027.76 acres (4.1592 km2)
    Morristown National Historical Park New Jersey 1,710.72 acres (6.9230 km2)
    Natchez National Historical Park Mississippi 120.88 acres (0.4892 km2)
    New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Massachusetts 34.00 acres (0.1376 km2)
    New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Louisiana 5.13 acres (0.0208 km2)
    Nez Perce National Historical Park Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington 4,564.93 acres (18.4736 km2)
    Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Georgia 3,431.17 acres (13.8855 km2)
    Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Texas 3,426.87 acres (13.8681 km2)
    Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park New Jersey 51.34 acres (0.2078 km2)
    Pecos National Historical Park New Mexico 6,885.87 acres (27.8661 km2)
    Pullman National Historical Park Illinois 203.48 acres (0.8235 km2)
    Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Hawaii 419.80 acres (1.6989 km2)
    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park South Carolina 64.99 acres (0.2630 km2)
    Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park California 145.19 acres (0.5876 km2)
    Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park New Hampshire 190.75 acres (0.7719 km2)
    Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Missouri 17.47 acres (0.0707 km2)
    Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve U.S. Virgin Islands 989.42 acres (4.0040 km2)
    San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Texas 990.28 acres (4.0075 km2)
    San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park California 49.86 acres (0.2018 km2)
    San Juan Island National Historical Park Washington 2,145.56 acres (8.6828 km2)
    Saratoga National Historical Park New York 3,607.59 acres (14.5994 km2)
    Sitka National Historical Park Alaska 116.29 acres (0.4706 km2)
    Thomas Edison National Historical Park New Jersey 21.25 acres (0.0860 km2)
    Tumacácori National Historical Park Arizona 360.32 acres (1.4582 km2)
    Valley Forge National Historical Park Pennsylvania 3,468.54 acres (14.0367 km2)
    War in the Pacific National Historical Park Guam 2,030.30 acres (8.2163 km2)
    Weir Farm National Historical Park Connecticut 74.20 acres (0.3003 km2)
    Women’s Rights National Historical Park New York 7.44 acres (0.0301 km2)

    Authorized national historical parks

    Name Status
    Coltsville National Historical Park Connecticut (pending acquisition of property)

    National historic sites

    [edit]

    Main article: National Historic Site (United States)

    Harry S Truman National Historic SiteKnife River Indian Villages National Historic SiteLower East Side Tenement National Historic SiteFort Union Trading Post National Historic SiteCastillo San Felipe del Morro at San Juan National Historic SiteSaint-Gaudens National Historical Park

    There are 86 national historic sites, of which 76 are NPS units, 9 are affiliated areas, and one, Grey Towers National Historic Site, is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (not listed here).

    Name Location Area (2024)[4]
    Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site Pennsylvania 1,284.27 acres (5.1973 km2)
    Amache National Historic Site Colorado 472.59 acres (1.9125 km2)
    Andersonville National Historic Site

    ·       Andersonville National Cemetery

    		 Georgia 515.61 acres (2.0866 km2)
    Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

    ·       Andrew Johnson National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee 16.68 acres (0.0675 km2)
    Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site Colorado 798.54 acres (3.2316 km2)
    Blackwell School National Historic Site Texas
    Boston African American National Historic Site Massachusetts 0.59 acres (0.0024 km2)
    Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site North Carolina 268.49 acres (1.0865 km2)
    Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.15 acres (0.00061 km2)
    Charles Pinckney National Historic Site South Carolina 28.45 acres (0.1151 km2)
    Chicago Portage National Historic Site (affiliated area) Illinois 91.20 acres (0.3691 km2)
    Chimney Rock National Historic Site (affiliated area) Nebraska 83.36 acres (0.3373 km2)
    Christiansted National Historic Site U.S. Virgin Islands 27.15 acres (0.1099 km2)
    Clara Barton National Historic Site Maryland 8.59 acres (0.0348 km2)
    Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site Pennsylvania 0.52 acres (0.0021 km2)
    Eisenhower National Historic Site Pennsylvania 690.46 acres (2.7942 km2)
    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site New York 180.50 acres (0.7305 km2)
    Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site California 13.19 acres (0.0534 km2)
    Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site (affiliated area) Ohio 185.00 acres (0.7487 km2)
    First Ladies National Historic Site Ohio 0.46 acres (0.0019 km2)
    Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.30 acres (0.0012 km2)
    Fort Bowie National Historic Site Arizona 999.45 acres (4.0446 km2)
    Fort Davis National Historic Site Texas 523.00 acres (2.1165 km2)
    Fort Laramie National Historic Site Wyoming 873.11 acres (3.5334 km2)
    Fort Larned National Historic Site Kansas 718.39 acres (2.9072 km2)
    Fort Point National Historic Site California 29.00 acres (0.1174 km2)
    Fort Raleigh National Historic Site North Carolina 515.73 acres (2.0871 km2)
    Fort Scott National Historic Site Kansas 20.08 acres (0.0813 km2)
    Fort Smith National Historic Site Arkansas, Oklahoma 75.00 acres (0.3035 km2)
    Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Montana, North Dakota 440.14 acres (1.7812 km2)
    Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

    ·       Fort Vancouver

    ·       McLoughlin House

    ·       Vancouver National Historic Reserve

    		 Washington, Oregon 208.39 acres (0.8433 km2)
    Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 8.57 acres (0.0347 km2)
    Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site Massachusetts 7.21 acres (0.0292 km2)
    Friendship Hill National Historic Site Pennsylvania 674.56 acres (2.7298 km2)
    Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church National Historic Site (affiliated area) Pennsylvania 3.71 acres (0.0150 km2)
    Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Montana 1,618.43 acres (6.5496 km2)
    Hampton National Historic Site Maryland 62.04 acres (0.2511 km2)
    Harry S Truman National Historic Site Missouri 13.67 acres (0.0553 km2)
    Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Iowa 186.80 acres (0.7560 km2)
    Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site New York 838.43 acres (3.3930 km2)
    Honouliuli National Historic Site Hawaii 154.46 acres (0.6251 km2)
    Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Pennsylvania 848.06 acres (3.4320 km2)
    Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site Arizona 160.09 acres (0.6479 km2)
    James A. Garfield National Historic Site Ohio 7.82 acres (0.0316 km2)
    Jamestown National Historic Site (affiliated area) Virginia 21.99 acres (0.0890 km2)
    John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site Massachusetts 0.09 acres (0.00036 km2)
    John Muir National Historic Site California 388.50 acres (1.5722 km2)
    Kate Mullany National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 0.06 acres (0.00024 km2)
    Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site North Dakota 1,751.00 acres (7.0860 km2)
    Lincoln Home National Historic Site Illinois 12.24 acres (0.0495 km2)
    Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Arkansas 28.22 acres (0.1142 km2)
    Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site Massachusetts 1.98 acres (0.0080 km2)
    Lower East Side Tenement National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 1.20 acres (0.0049 km2)
    Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site Virginia 1.29 acres (0.0052 km2)
    Manzanar National Historic Site California 813.81 acres (3.2934 km2)
    Martin Van Buren National Historic Site New York 284.93 acres (1.1531 km2)
    Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 0.07 acres (0.00028 km2)
    Minidoka National Historic Site Idaho 396.30 acres (1.6038 km2)
    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site South Dakota 43.80 acres (0.1773 km2)
    New Philadelphia National Historic Site Illinois 123.19 acres (0.4985 km2)
    Nicodemus National Historic Site Kansas 5.61 acres (0.0227 km2)
    Ninety Six National Historic Site South Carolina 1,021.94 acres (4.1356 km2)
    Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site Washington, D.C. 17.61 acres (0.0713 km2)
    President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Arkansas 0.68 acres (0.0028 km2)
    Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site Hawaii 86.24 acres (0.3490 km2)
    Sagamore Hill National Historic Site New York 83.02 acres (0.3360 km2)
    Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site New York 6.13 acres (0.0248 km2)
    Salem Maritime National Historic Site Massachusetts 9.02 acres (0.0365 km2)
    San Juan National Historic Site Puerto Rico 75.13 acres (0.3040 km2)
    Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Colorado 12,583.34 acres (50.9230 km2)
    Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Massachusetts 8.51 acres (0.0344 km2)
    Springfield Armory National Historic Site Massachusetts 54.93 acres (0.2223 km2)
    Steamtown National Historic Site Pennsylvania 62.48 acres (0.2528 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site New York 0.11 acres (0.00045 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site New York 1.18 acres (0.0048 km2)
    Thomas Cole National Historic Site (affiliated area) New York 3.40 acres (0.0138 km2)
    Thomas Stone National Historic Site Maryland 328.25 acres (1.3284 km2)
    Touro Synagogue National Historic Site (affiliated area) Rhode Island 0.23 acres (0.00093 km2)
    Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Alabama 89.68 acres (0.3629 km2)
    Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site Alabama 57.92 acres (0.2344 km2)
    Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site Missouri 9.60 acres (0.0388 km2)
    Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site New York 211.65 acres (0.8565 km2)
    Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Oklahoma 315.20 acres (1.2756 km2)
    Whitman Mission National Historic Site Washington 138.53 acres (0.5606 km2)
    William Howard Taft National Historic Site Ohio 3.64 acres (0.0147 km2)

    National battlefield parks

    [edit]

    Main article: National Military Park

    Malvern Hill, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Virginia

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Georgia 2,913.63 acres (11.7910 km2)
    Manassas National Battlefield Park Virginia 5,073.44 acres (20.5315 km2)
    Richmond National Battlefield Park Virginia 8,143.26 acres (32.9546 km2)
    River Raisin National Battlefield Park Michigan 42.18 acres (0.1707 km2)

    National military parks

    [edit]

    See also: National Military Park

    Vicksburg National Military Park

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Georgia, Tennessee 9,523.48 acres (38.5402 km2)
    Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park

    ·       Fredericksburg National Cemetery

    		 Virginia 8,405.46 acres (34.0157 km2)
    Gettysburg National Military Park

    ·       Gettysburg National Cemetery

    		 Pennsylvania 6,037.06 acres (24.4311 km2)
    Guilford Courthouse National Military Park North Carolina 254.90 acres (1.0315 km2)
    Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Alabama 2,040.00 acres (8.2556 km2)
    Kings Mountain National Military Park South Carolina 3,945.29 acres (15.9660 km2)
    Pea Ridge National Military Park Arkansas 4,440.82 acres (17.9714 km2)
    Shiloh National Military Park

    ·       Shiloh National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee, Mississippi 9,318.63 acres (37.7112 km2)
    Vicksburg National Military Park

    ·       Vicksburg National Cemetery

    		 Mississippi, Louisiana 3,049.15 acres (12.3395 km2)
    Moore’s Creek National Military Park June 2, 1926 September 8, 1980 Redesignated as Moores Creek National Battlefield
    Monocacy National Military Park June 21, 1934 October 21, 1976 Redesignated Monocacy National Battlefield; previously Monocacy National Battlefield Site (1929 to 1934)

     

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[4][15]
    Antietam National Battlefield

    ·       Antietam National Cemetery

    		 Maryland 3,287.63 acres (13.3046 km2)
    Big Hole National Battlefield Montana 975.61 acres (3.9482 km2)
    Cowpens National Battlefield South Carolina 841.56 acres (3.4057 km2)
    Fort Donelson National Battlefield

    ·       Fort Donelson National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee, Kentucky 1,319.25 acres (5.3388 km2)
    Fort Necessity National Battlefield Pennsylvania 902.80 acres (3.6535 km2)
    Monocacy National Battlefield Maryland 1,646.88 acres (6.6647 km2)
    Moores Creek National Battlefield North Carolina 87.75 acres (0.3551 km2)
    Petersburg National Battlefield

    ·       Poplar Grove National Cemetery

    		 Virginia 9,598.68 acres (38.8445 km2)
    Stones River National Battlefield

    ·       Stones River National Cemetery

    		 Tennessee 709.49 acres (2.8712 km2)
    Tupelo National Battlefield Mississippi 1.00 acre (0.0040 km2)

    National memorials

    [edit]

    Main article: List of national memorials of the United States

    Lincoln MemorialBenjamin Franklin National MemorialPerry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

    There are 31 national memorials that are NPS units and five affiliated national memorials.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    American Memorial Park (affiliated area) Northern Mariana Islands 133.00 acres (0.5382 km2)
    Arkansas Post National Memorial Arkansas 757.51 acres (3.0655 km2)
    Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial Virginia 17.12 acres (0.0693 km2)
    Benjamin Franklin National Memorial (affiliated area) Pennsylvania 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Chamizal National Memorial Texas 54.54 acres (0.2207 km2)
    Coronado National Memorial Arizona 4,830.22 acres (19.5472 km2)
    De Soto National Memorial Florida 30.00 acres (0.1214 km2)
    Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Washington, D.C. 3.39 acres (0.0137 km2)
    Father Marquette National Memorial (affiliated area) Michigan 52.00 acres (0.2104 km2)
    Federal Hall National Memorial New York 0.45 acres (0.0018 km2)
    Flight 93 National Memorial Pennsylvania 2,262.65 acres (9.1566 km2)
    Fort Caroline National Memorial Florida 138.39 acres (0.5600 km2)
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Washington, D.C. 8.14 acres (0.0329 km2)
    General Grant National Memorial New York 0.76 acres (0.0031 km2)
    Hamilton Grange National Memorial New York 1.75 acres (0.0071 km2)
    Jefferson Memorial Washington, D.C. 18.36 acres (0.0743 km2)
    Johnstown Flood National Memorial Pennsylvania 177.76 acres (0.7194 km2)
    Korean War Veterans Memorial Washington, D.C. 1.56 acres (0.0063 km2)
    Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Indiana 199.96 acres (0.8092 km2)
    Lincoln Memorial Washington, D.C. 7.29 acres (0.0295 km2)
    Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac Washington, D.C. 17.00 acres (0.0688 km2)
    Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Washington, D.C. 2.74 acres (0.0111 km2)
    Mount Rushmore National Memorial South Dakota 1,278.45 acres (5.1737 km2)
    Oklahoma City National Memorial (affiliated area) Oklahoma 6.24 acres (0.0253 km2)
    Pearl Harbor National Memorial Hawaii 21.64 acres (0.0876 km2)
    Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Ohio 25.38 acres (0.1027 km2)
    Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial California 5.00 acres (0.0202 km2)
    Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial (affiliated area) Virginia 1,000.00 acres (4.0469 km2)
    Roger Williams National Memorial Rhode Island 4.56 acres (0.0185 km2)
    Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial Pennsylvania 0.02 acres (8.1×10−5 km2)
    Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial Washington, D.C. 88.50 acres (0.3581 km2)
    Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, D.C. 2.18 acres (0.0088 km2)
    Washington Monument Washington, D.C. 106.01 acres (0.4290 km2)
    World War I Memorial Washington, D.C. 1.39 acres (0.0056 km2)
    World War II Memorial Washington, D.C. 8.25 acres (0.0334 km2)
    Wright Brothers National Memorial North Carolina 428.44 acres (1.7338 km2)
    Name Law
    Authorized by Public Law 107-62
    Authorized by National Defense Authorization Act 2015[16]

    National recreation areas

    [edit]

    Main article: National recreation area

    Lake Mead National Recreation AreaDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    There are 18 national recreation areas administered by the National Park Service.[2] Another 22 national recreation areas are administered by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Amistad National Recreation Area Texas 62,945.15 acres (254.7300 km2)
    Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Montana, Wyoming 120,296.22 acres (486.8215 km2)
    Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Massachusetts 2,230.71 acres (9.0274 km2)
    Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Georgia 12,416.75 acres (50.2488 km2)
    Chickasaw National Recreation Area Oklahoma 9,898.63 acres (40.0583 km2)
    Curecanti National Recreation Area Colorado 43,590.56 acres (176.4047 km2)
    Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

    ·       Middle Delaware National Scenic River

    		 New Jersey, Pennsylvania 68,708.88 acres (278.0550 km2)
    Gateway National Recreation Area New York, New Jersey 26,610.45 acres (107.6887 km2)
    Gauley River National Recreation Area West Virginia 11,483.44 acres (46.4718 km2)
    Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Utah, Arizona 1,254,116.62 acres (5,075.2299 km2)
    Golden Gate National Recreation Area

    ·       Alcatraz Island

    ·       Presidio of San Francisco

    		 California 82,136.12 acres (332.3931 km2)
    Lake Chelan National Recreation Area Washington 61,939.15 acres (250.6588 km2)
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    ·       Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument

    		 Nevada, Arizona 1,495,855.53 acres (6,053.5126 km2)
    Lake Meredith National Recreation Area Texas 44,977.63 acres (182.0180 km2)
    Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Washington 100,390.31 acres (406.2652 km2)
    Ross Lake National Recreation Area Washington 117,574.59 acres (475.8075 km2)
    Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area California 153,121.09 acres (619.6591 km2)
    Whiskeytown National Recreation Area California 42,503.25 acres (172.0046 km2)
    Shasta Lake Recreation Area May 22, 1945 July 1, 1948 Transferred to U.S. Forest Service

    National seashores

    [edit]

    Main article: List of United States national lakeshores and seashores

    Wild horses on Assateague Island National SeashoreCape Hatteras National Seashore

    There are 10 national seashores.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Assateague Island National Seashore Maryland, Virginia 41,311.27 acres (167.1808 km2)
    Canaveral National Seashore Florida 57,661.69 acres (233.3486 km2)
    Cape Cod National Seashore Massachusetts 43,615.34 acres (176.5050 km2)
    Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina 30,350.65 acres (122.8247 km2)
    Cape Lookout National Seashore North Carolina 28,243.36 acres (114.2968 km2)
    Cumberland Island National Seashore Georgia 36,346.83 acres (147.0904 km2)
    Fire Island National Seashore New York 19,580.65 acres (79.2401 km2)
    Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida, Mississippi 138,306.64 acres (559.7071 km2)
    Padre Island National Seashore Texas 130,434.27 acres (527.8488 km2)
    Point Reyes National Seashore California 71,053.38 acres (287.5428 km2)

    National lakeshores

    [edit]

    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Main article: List of United States national lakeshores and seashores

    There are three national lakeshores, located in Michigan and Wisconsin.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wisconsin 69,377.43 acres (280.7605 km2)
    Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan 73,235.97 acres (296.3755 km2)
    Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Michigan 71,318.57 acres (288.6160 km2)

    Former national lakeshores

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore November 5, 1966 February 15, 2019 Redesignated Indiana Dunes National Park

    National rivers and national wild and scenic rivers

    [edit]

    The Buffalo National River, the first National River established in the United StatesSaint Croix National Scenic Riverway

    There are four national rivers (marked with an asterisk) and ten national wild and scenic rivers administered as distinct units of the National Park System.[2] There are many more national wild and scenic rivers that run through other units.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Alagnak Wild River Alaska 30,664.79 acres (124.0960 km2)
    Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area* Kentucky, Tennessee 123,702.05 acres (500.6044 km2)
    Bluestone National Scenic River West Virginia 4,309.51 acres (17.4400 km2)
    Buffalo National River* Arkansas 94,300.82 acres (381.6219 km2)
    Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River New Jersey 43,311.42 acres (175.2751 km2)
    Middle Delaware National Scenic River New Jersey, Pennsylvania 1,973.33 acres (7.9858 km2)
    Mississippi National River and Recreation Area* Minnesota 53,775.00 acres (217.6197 km2)
    Missouri National Recreational River Nebraska, South Dakota 48,456.55 acres (196.0967 km2)
    Niobrara National Scenic River Nebraska 29,088.57 acres (117.7173 km2)
    Obed Wild and Scenic River Tennessee 5,489.85 acres (22.2166 km2)
    Ozark National Scenic Riverways* Missouri 80,784.30 acres (326.9225 km2)
    Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River Texas 13,123.39 acres (53.1085 km2)
    Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Wisconsin, Minnesota 68,738.95 acres (278.1767 km2)
    Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River New York, Pennsylvania 74,999.56 acres (303.5125 km2)

    Former national rivers

    [edit]

    Name Established Disbanded Result
    New River Gorge National River November 10, 1978 December 27, 2020 Redesignated New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    National reserves

    [edit]

    City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho

    National reserves are partnerships between federal, state, and local authorities. Within the boundaries of the three national reserves are combinations of federal land (Park Service or National Wildlife Refuges), state parks and forests, local public lands, and private properties. Two national reserves are currently managed as official units.

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    City of Rocks National Reserve Idaho 14,512.27 acres (58.7291 km2)
    Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve Washington 19,333.51 acres (78.2399 km2)
    Pinelands National Reserve (affiliated area) New Jersey 1,164,025 acres (4,710.64 km2)

    National parkways

    [edit]

    Main article: National Parkway

    Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina

    Ten roadways and surrounding scenic areas are managed by the NPS as parkways, four of which as official units and five as part of other units.

    Name[2] Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Baltimore-Washington Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Maryland, Washington, D.C.
    Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia, North Carolina 101,128.20 acres (409.2513 km2)
    Colonial Parkway (part of Colonial National Historical Park) Virginia
    Foothills Parkway (part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park) Tennessee
    George Washington Memorial Parkway (In 1989, the Maryland and DC portions of the parkway were renamed Clara Barton Parkway to overcome motorist confusion).

    ·       Claude Moore Colonial Farm

    ·       Glen Echo Park

    ·       Great Falls Park

    ·       Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

    		 Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. 6,719.21 acres (27.1917 km2)
    John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway Wyoming 23,777.22 acres (96.2230 km2)
    Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee 52,380.46 acres (211.9762 km2)
    Oxon Run Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Washington, D.C.
    Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (part of Rock Creek Park) Washington, D.C.
    Suitland Parkway (part of National Capital Parks East) Maryland

    National historic and scenic trails

    [edit]

    Main article: National Trails System

    These National Park Service trails are part of the larger National Trails System. Only six of the trails are considered official units of the park system.[2]

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Hawaii
    Appalachian Trail (official unit) Maine – Georgia 243,733.06 acres (986.3527 km2)
    Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Tennessee and Missouri – California
    California National Historic Trail Missouri – California
    Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Delaware – District of Columbia – Maryland – Virginia
    Chilkoot National Historic Trail Alaska – British Columbia
    El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Louisiana – Texas
    El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail New Mexico
    Ice Age National Scenic Trail (official unit) Wisconsin 235.16 acres (0.9517 km2)
    Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Arizona – California
    Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Illinois – Oregon
    Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail Illinois – Utah
    Natchez Trace Trail (official unit) Mississippi – Tennessee 10,995.00 acres (44.4952 km2)
    New England National Scenic Trail (official unit) Connecticut – Massachusetts 196.04 acres (0.7933 km2)
    North Country National Scenic Trail (official unit) New York – North Dakota 281.94 acres (1.1410 km2)
    Old Spanish National Historic Trail New Mexico – California
    Oregon National Historic Trail Missouri – Oregon
    Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Virginia – Tennessee – North Carolina – South Carolina
    Pony Express National Historic Trail Missouri – California
    Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (official unit) Virginia – Maryland – Pennsylvania – Washington, D.C. 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Santa Fe National Historic Trail Missouri – New Mexico
    Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Alabama
    Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail District of Columbia – Maryland – Virginia
    Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Tennessee – Oklahoma
    Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Massachusetts – Virginia

    National cemeteries

    [edit]

    Gettysburg National Cemetery

    Most national cemeteries are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, although a few are managed by the National Park Service and the U.S. Army. None of the cemeteries are considered official units of the system; they are all affiliated with other parks.

    Name Location
    Andersonville National Cemetery Georgia
    Andrew Johnson National Cemetery Tennessee
    Antietam National Cemetery Maryland
    Battleground National Cemetery Washington, D.C.
    Chalmette National Cemetery Louisiana
    Custer National Cemetery Montana
    Fort Donelson National Cemetery Tennessee
    Fredericksburg National Cemetery Virginia
    Gettysburg National Cemetery Pennsylvania
    Poplar Grove National Cemetery Virginia
    Shiloh National Cemetery Tennessee
    Stones River National Cemetery Tennessee
    Vicksburg National Cemetery Mississippi

     

    Other NPS protected areas and administrative groups

    [edit]

    National MallRoosevelt Campobello International Park (affiliated area)Acadian Landing Site at Maine Acadian Culture (affiliated area)

    There are 11 NPS units of other designations, as well as other affiliated areas. The National Mall and National Capital Parks have many sites, some of which are also units of other designations.

    Name Location Area (2024)[3][4]
    Aleutian World War II National Historic Area (affiliated area) Alaska 134.94 acres (0.5461 km2)
    Catoctin Mountain Park Maryland 5,890.92 acres (23.8397 km2)
    Claymont High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Constitution Gardens District of Columbia 39.23 acres (0.1588 km2)
    Eutaw Springs Battlefield (affiliated area) South Carolina
    Fort Washington Park Maryland 345.05 acres (1.3964 km2)
    Greenbelt Park Maryland 1,175.98 acres (4.7590 km2)
    Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site (affiliated area)[17] South Carolina 107.00 acres (0.4330 km2)
    Hockessin Colored School #107 (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Howard High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Delaware
    Ice Age National Scientific Reserve (affiliated area) Wisconsin 32,500.00 acres (131.5228 km2)
    International Peace Garden (affiliated area) North Dakota/Manitoba 2,330.30 acres (9.4304 km2)
    Inupiat Heritage Center (affiliated area) Alaska 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    John Philip Sousa Junior High School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) District of Columbia
    Kettle Creek Battlefield (affiliated area) Georgia
    Maine Acadian Culture (affiliated area)[18] Maine
    National Capital Parks-East

    ·       Anacostia Park

    ·       Baltimore-Washington Parkway

    ·       Capitol Hill Parks

    ·       Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Fort Dupont Park

    ·       Fort Foote Park

    ·       Fort Washington Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Greenbelt Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Harmony Hall (Fort Washington, Maryland)

    ·       Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

    ·       Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm

    ·       Oxon Run Parkway

    ·       Piscataway Park (also an official unit)

    ·       Suitland Parkway

    		 District of Columbia/Maryland 8,703.80 acres (35.2230 km2)(excludes those counted in other units)
    National Mall and Memorial Parks (formerly National Capital Parks-Central)

    ·       African American Civil War Memorial

    ·       American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

    ·       Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument (also an official unit)

    ·       Constitution Gardens (also an official unit)

    ·       District of Columbia War Memorial

    ·       East Potomac Park

    ·       Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       George Mason Memorial

    ·       Jefferson Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       John Ericsson National Memorial

    ·       Korean War Veterans Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       Lincoln Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       National Mall

    ·       Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site (also an official unit)

    ·       Old Post Office Pavilion

    ·       Ukraine Independence Park (Taras Shevchenko Memorial)

    ·       United States Navy Memorial (part of Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site)

    ·       Vietnam Veterans Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       Washington Monument (also an official unit)

    ·       West Potomac Park

    ·       World War I Memorial (also an official unit)

    ·       World War II Memorial (also an official unit)

    		 District of Columbia 155.84 acres (0.6307 km2)(National Mall only)
    Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield (affiliated area) Tennessee
    Piscataway Park Maryland 4,620.06 acres (18.6967 km2)
    Prince William Forest Park Virginia 16,060.25 acres (64.9935 km2)
    Robert Russa Moton School (affiliated area of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park) Virginia
    Rock Creek Park

    ·       Dumbarton Oaks Park

    ·       Battleground National Cemetery

    ·       Meridian Hill Park

    ·       Old Stone House

    ·       Peirce Mill (part of Rock Creek Park)

    ·       Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway

    		 District of Columbia 1,754.70 acres (7.1010 km2)
    Roosevelt Campobello International Park (affiliated area) New Brunswick 2,721.50 acres (11.0135 km2)
    White House/President’s Park District of Columbia 18.07 acres (0.0731 km2)
    Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (affiliated area)[19] Washington 0.00 acres (0 km2)
    Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Virginia 130.28 acres (0.5272 km2)

    In addition, there are sites where the NPS is authorized to provide financial and technical assistance to local authorities for interpretive or educational purposes, but do not have the right to acquire land or have a say in land use or zoning. These include the 55 National Heritage Areas, as well as National Commemorative Sites such as Quindaro Townsite or the Kennedy-King National Commemorative Site. There are also various administrative groups of listed parks, such as Manhattan Sites, National Parks of New York Harbor, and Western Arctic National Parklands. The NPS also owns conservation easements (but not the land itself) for part of the area called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.

    In the 1930s and 1940s, the NPS developed dozens of recreational demonstration areas, most of which eventually became national or state parks.

     

    A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, followed by Mackinac National Park in 1875 (decommissioned in 1895), and then Rock Creek Park (later merged into National Capital Parks), Sequoia and Yosemite in 1890. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”[5] Many current national parks had been previously protected as national monuments by the president under the Antiquities Act or as other designations created by Congress before being redesignated by Congress; the newest national park is New River Gorge, previously a National River, and the most recent entirely new park is National Park of American Samoa. A few former national parks are no longer designated as such, or have been disbanded. Fourteen national parks are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS),[6] and 21 national parks are named UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BR),[7] with eight national parks in both programs.

    Thirty states have national parks, as do the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The state with the most national parks is California with nine, followed by Alaska with eight, Utah with five, and Colorado with four. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. Elias in Alaska: at over 8 million acres (32,375 km2), it is larger than each of the nine smallest states. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at 192.83 acres (0.7804 km2). The total area protected by national parks is approximately 52.4 million acres (212,000 km2), for an average of 833 thousand acres (3,370 km2) but a median of only 220 thousand acres (890 km2).[8]

    The national parks set a visitation record in 2021, with more than 92 million visitors.[9] Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee has been the most-visited park since 1944,[10] and had almost 13 million visitors in 2022.[11] In contrast, only about 9,500 people visited the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska in 2022.[11]

    Substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/visting-us-national-parks?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/travels-to-the-redwoods?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    Your story can be found here

    #california #oregon #redwoods #travel

    Spotify Podcast 

  • 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 the DMV Retirement Friendly !

    A Tale of Two Metros

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2XQ

    Audio File

    Dear Governor Wes Moore, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Governor Glenn Youngkin,

    Throughout the District, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) capital area, there are hundreds of thousands of retirees (federal, state, and local government employees, public school and university staff, and private sector workers). Yet, the region is considered retiree-unfriendly by most people, leading many retirees to relocate to more retiree-friendly states such as Arizona, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, or Texas. Retirees should be encouraged to retire in place as they have considerable disposable income and can be a vital resource in the region. It is time for the governments of the DMV to enact retirement-friendly policies to encourage retirees to stay in the region, or to move back to the region. Many retirees are moving out of Florida for example.

    The easiest way to do this is to coordinate among the DMV governments to waive income taxes for residents over the age of 65. They would still be liable for sales taxes and government fees for services such as driver’s licenses. They could also be exempt from having to file state tax forms. Additionally, they should be given a 50 percent reduction in property taxes. To compensate for the lost revenue, the DMV governments could raise the income tax rates by 1 percent, which should cover the shortfall.

    By taking this coordinated, modest step, retirees would be encouraged to stay put, putting their disposable income to work and contributing to the communities in which they reside. Most such retirees would stay in place or move back if these policies were enacted.

    I retired from the US Foreign Service in 2016 and have been living in Korea and the West Coast since then. If the DMV were to enact this policy, I would move back to Virginia.

    It is time to make the DMV retirement-friendly.

    Sincerely,

    John (Jake) Cosmos Aller
    US State Department Foreign Service Officer, Retired
    703-436-1402
    authorjakecosmosaller@gmail.com
    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com

    Substack

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/make-the-dmv-retirement-friendly?r=3i9lm

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/making-the-dmv-retirement-friendly?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium 

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

     Making the DMV Retirement Friendly !

    Your story can be found here

    #dmv #retirement

    Spotify Podcast

     

  • 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 Seoul Vrs Washington DC Metro Systems

    Maps/ _ WMATA
    Venice in Korea More Updates

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Xi

    audio file

    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 50 years has made. Seoul has build a world class subway system with over  24 lines, and 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 50 Years

    50 years later since opening in 1974, the Seoul city subway has grown to be the biggest subway system in the world with 24 lines over 500 station stretching over 200 miles connecting many outlining cities too so as part of one integrated mass transit system connecting to subways in Eonjongbu, Incheon, Suwon and Taejon. it is cheap, efficient, fast. safe and  foreigner-friendly. Most people in the  Capital 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 600  stations.

    The GTX express subway lines are being built deep underground. When completed all parts of the capitol  will be reachable within 30 minutes as opposed to two hours now.  The first line opened in May this year, the remaining two lines open in 2028.   Cities around the world are looking at this innovative new way of building mass transit systems.

    The signs are and all announcements are in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, and are very clear. Each subway station has a has a TV screen for stop announcements in  the four languages. 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  almost unheard of, and there has never been a derailment or serious accident,  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. the system runs from 5 a.m. to  1 a.m.

    The bus system is equally impressive and some lines run 24/7.  They just rolled out a few driverless bus routes, and there are two driverless LRT systems in place.

    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,  The loudspeaker system is very poor and most of the time you cannot hear the announcement; announcements are only in English, and Spanish.   The transfer stations are few and far between.  In one instance there are two stations on two different lines about 1/8 of a mile apart with no underground connections like you find all over the Seoul metro system.

    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.  The bus system is also inadequate although there are a few quasi Bus rapid lines open.  Last year the system finally allowed one to pay by credit card or by phone, something that people have been able to do in Seoul for ten years. On the plus side, the metro has rolled out new cars, and completed repairs on many stations and opened a few in-filled stations like in Potomac Yards next to the new Amazon DC headquarters.   There is also a commuter rail line in Virginia and In Maryland -VRE and MARC.  Baltimore has its own metro line,

    What Accounts for the Difference in Outcomes?

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

    In Korea, there was widespread support for the government to build a world class subway system, a willingness to spend tax dollars on it, and everyone uses the system not just the lower classes as in the U.S.,  fewer environmental regulations, and few areas to block construction unlike in the U.S. where excessive regulation and ability to block construction make building transit systems particularly challenging not to mention the widespread hostility to government infrastructure spending using tax money.   Also given the low density nature of urban suburban sprawl in the U.S. metro areas, it is difficult to build out such a system. Although LA is doing a fantastic job  of doing so.

    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.  Much of the cost of the metro comes through rental revenues and advertisement income. Less than 50 % 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, including the GTX system which will make all areas of Seoul accessible within 30 minutes as opposed to the two hours it can sometimes take.  The first line opened this May, the remaining two lines open by 2028.

    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, and lack of hostility towards government spending.

    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.

    Sixth,  the metro system goes everywhere in the metro area. Everyone is within a half a mile walk from the nearest subway station.

    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.   Even with the passage of the infrastructure bill, the amount of money being spent on infrastructure is a fraction of what is needed and there is no political will to raise taxes or borrow trillion of dollars to rebuild America’s crumbling third-world looking infrastructure, particularly mass transit systems which are mostly used by the poor.

    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.  This corresponds with the rise of hostility to government spending on anything other than national defense, and the rise of the right-wing in the U.S. where hostility towards government, and government spending is the main motivational factor.. Not to mention, the strong desire to keep taxes as low as possible.

    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  1/8  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.  But he did not have that fear about the Pentagon station which goes right underneath the Pentagon and has become a major bus transit station as well.

    Georgetown Station Blocked by fear too many black people would use the system to go to Georgetown.

    The planned 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.

    No One In Charge Divided Responsibilities

    Finally, because the metro is divided between the District, Maryland and Virgina (DMV) 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 almost 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, staff members of Congress, Congressmen,  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

    The metro board should travel to East Asia and see not only the Seoul Metro, but also the Beijing, Bangkok,  Hong Kong,, Tapei,  and the new Jarkata metros as well as the  Calcuta, Dehli and Mumbai metro systems.  They should also go to London, Mexico City,  Madrid, Paris, Rome and Moscow to see what world class subways systems look like and how they were able to build these state of the art systems.

    ,The writer, a retired US diplomat living in Gimpo, Korea 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.

    the Seoul Metro system is divided up as follows:

    Seoul Metro

    Line 9 (Private Metro)

    Seoul Airport Express (AREX)

    Korail (Commuter Train System)

    Incheon City Lines

    • Line 1: Around 29 stations.
    • Line 2: Around 27 stations.
    • Total Ridership: Specific annual ridership data not readily available.

    Uijeongbu LRT

    Suwon LRT

    Gold Line – Gimpo 12 stations – driverless system – the system closest to my house. I live a 1/2 mile  walk away.

    Ilsang – Ansan system – newest system 30 stations

    Daejeon City Lines

    GTX Express Trains three lines one is operational the rest go on line in 2028

    1. METRO LINE MAP
    2. SEOUL METROPOLITAN SUBWAY MAP

    Seoul Metropolitan Subway

    The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a metropolitan railway system in Seoul, South Korea. This map includes the Incheon Metro system and the Shinbundang Line covering the Seoul metropolitan area. All together system consists of 24 lines and 580 stations. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway began operation in August 1974.

     

    Seoul Metropolitan Subway Map

     

    Metro Lines

    Incheon Subway Line 1 (Gyeyang – International Business District)

    • Incheon Subway Line 2 (Geomdan Oryu – Unyeon)

    e 1 (Soyosan – Gwangmyeong)

    Line 1 (Soyosan – Seodongtan)

    • e 2 Seongsu Branch (Seongsu – Sinseol-dong)

     

    Line 2 Sinjeong Branch (Sindorim – Kkachisan)

     

    Line 3 (Daehwa – Ogeum)

    • Line 4 (Danggogae – Oido)

     

     

    Line 5 Macheon Branch (Banghwa – Macheon)

     

     

    e 7 (Jangam – Bupyeong-gu Office)

     

    e 8 (Amsa – Moran)

     

    • Gyeongui–Jungang Line (Munsan – Yongmun)

     

    • Gyeongchun Line (Kwangwoon University – Chuncheon)

     

    Line (Hanyang Univ. at Ansan – Incheon)

    • Shinbundang Line (Gangnam – Gwanggyo)
    • Everline (Giheung – Jeondae – Everland)
    • U Line (Balgok – Tapseok)
    • Gyonggang Line (Pangyo – Yeoju)

     

    Metro system:

    Links

     

    Mtro systems in South Korea

     
    Busan Metro
    Daegu Metro
    Daejeon Metro
    Gwangju Metro
    Seoul Metropolitan Subway

    © 2024 http://www.metrolinemap.com

    metro system© Provided by TravelNoire

    Riding through some of the world’s most impressive metro systems will make your urban trip more than just traveling from point A to point B. These metro stations will provide you with efficiency and cleanliness, a pinch of local flavor, or a story that will stay with you forever. Also, these metro systems elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary, housing anything from underground art galleries to cutting-edge wonders that whiz past historic sites.

    1. Tokyo, Japan – A Timeliness System

    Tokyo’s metro system sets the gold standard if you’re looking for punctuality. With a network that feels like a living, breathing entity, it’s a marvel of precision engineering and courteous service. The trains are famously timely, and the stations are immaculately clean. Plus, it’s more than simply transportation; it’s a whole cultural experience, with each line narrating the city’s history.

    2. Seoul, South Korea – The Digital Dynamo

    A haven for techies, the Seoul Metro integrates modern conveniences with state-of-the-art amenities. It is a futuristic system with features like digital screens showing real-time travel information and trains equipped with Wi-Fi. You can easily navigate this extensive network with the T-money card. In addition, the cleanliness is top-notch.

    3. Moscow, Russia – An Underground Palace

    Stepping into Moscow’s metro stations is like walking into a wealthy art gallery. Decorated with mosaics, statues, and chandeliers, each station has its own theme and history, making your commute feel like a cultural expedition. Despite its grandeur, Moscow’s metro is also one of the most efficient, carrying millions of passengers daily with minimal fuss.

    4. London, England – The Historical Pioneer

    The London Underground, affectionately known as “The Tube,” is the world’s oldest metro system. Its iconic map and roundel are recognized globally. While it might not always boast the punctuality of its Asian counterparts, the Tube holds a special place in the heart of Londoners and travelers alike for its role in shaping the modern city and its resilience during adversity.

    5. Paris, France – The Artistic Commute

    Paris’s metro is as much a part of the city’s fabric as its cafés and boulevards. The art-nouveau entrances of certain stations and the modern art on display at others tell distinct stories. Enjoy a trip that echoes memories of Paris’s vivid past and dynamic present on this distinctively Parisian network.

    6. Singapore – The Clean and Green Express

    The MRT system in Singapore is an example of the city-state’s dedication to environmental preservation and cleanliness. It’s one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world, where eating and drinking are strictly prohibited to maintain its pristine condition. The system is also a ride through a garden, with many stations integrating natural elements and greenery.

    7. Hong Kong – The Compact Powerhouse

    In the densely packed city of Hong Kong, the MTR system stands out for its efficiency and ease of use. Trains and stations are spotlessly clean, and the Octopus card system makes navigating this metropolis a breeze. It exemplifies how a metro system can become ingrained in a city’s core and easily carry millions of people.

    8. Madrid, Spain – The Expansive Network

    Although it is one of Europe’s most extensive metros, Madrid’s system stands out for its efficiency and user-friendliness. The stations are spotless, brightly lit, and decorated with artwork, and the trains operate without a hitch. In keeping with the city’s kind and inviting vibe, the system manages to be both massive and personal.

    9. Berlin, Germany – The Historical Connector

    Berlin’s U-Bahn takes you on a journey through time. The network navigates through a city that has seen profound changes, and its stations often serve as mini-museums. These stops display photos and artifacts. Beyond its historical allure, the U-Bahn is known for its punctuality, comprehensive coverage, and spirited station art.

    10. New York City, USA – The Unstoppable Workhorse

    The New York City Subway is the lifeblood of the Big Apple. It may not win any awards for cleanliness, but its 24/7 service and extensive network are unparalleled. Each line has its own personality, and the system serves as a melting pot, reflecting the city’s diverse cultures. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s undeniably New York.

     

     

     

     

  • 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)

    Seattle Travels

    Audio FIle

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2W1

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2W1

    Portland

    Family Seattle connections

    I just got back from a trip to Seattle, one of my favorite cities in the world. I have a long family connection to Seattle.  My grandfather met my grandmother at the University of Washington and they were a campus couple before he settled in the Yakima Valley in the 1920s.  He was German-American and fought in World War One under his German name despite the widespread prejudice of the time,  his wife was Norwegian, like many people in Washington State in those days.

    My father went to the University of Washington in the 1940s and was a student activist vice president of the university students association and led a successful fight to integrate the University of Washington. For that, he was rewarded by being put on the FBI list of possible suspicious people because in those days the communist party was the leader in the early civil rights movement and was in favor of integration.  After the university capitulated and allowed black students to attend the university,  they required black students to live off-campus or in black dormitories. Right after my father led the fight to integrate student housing. The. FBI investigated my father and put him on the list of suspected suspected suspected people. They interviewed my father’s roommate who told them to go “f…themselves”.

    My father got a PH.D. and was offered a position at the University of Washington in the economics department, but opted to move to UC Berkeley where he ended up being my mom. He had been married briefly in Seattle and had a daughter who grew up in Seattle.

    I went back and forth to Yakima during the summers because my father had a summer home there and I visited Seattle once or twice as a child.  Later in my 30s, I went to the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington and the Evans School of Public Affairs also at the University of Washington,  My Korean-born wife and I became a campus couple as well.  She attended the ROTC and was commissioned an officer after graduating from UW.  While there we met a lot of the Korean- American community.  Seattle has long had a large, vibrant Asian community and is the fifth-largest Korean community in the united states.  We also visited Vancouver a lot and Yakima, Washington to visit my uncle who had taken over the family’s fruit business.  Sadly, my father died in 1985 and we buried him in yakima. We visited his grave in  Yakima in 2019.

    Seattle weather blues

    We liked Seattle very much, but only during the summer and springtime. The winters are cold, wet, and gloomy, with the sun setting at 4:00 pm and rising at 8:00 am. And we were gonna going to and from campus. In the dark, my wife did not like it. Neither did i, frankly.

    I learned that in Seattle during the winter, the common greeting is

    “nice weather for ducks”

    because only the ducks like the cold, wet, rainy days. It rains there everyday for three or four months, but in the summer,  it is delightful with sunset at about 10  p,m and sunrise at about 4:30 a.m.

    Revisiting UW

    So this time around. I spent a full day driving around with my wife and my Korean brother-in-law and my Korean niece. On the sides, when we drove up from Portland, where we were spending the night and spent the afternoon and early evening. We drove to the University of Washington campus, took a lot of pictures, and went out to old student housing at Sand Point Way, located at an abandoned navy base.

    Visiting Seattle Center

    We drove down to.the Seattle center and rode up to the space needle and took great pictures, i recalled my two memorable meals at the space needle.  In 1988 my wife and i went there for my last meal in Seattle after graduating from UW.  I also went there in 1979 for a pre-departure meet and greet when i joined the peace corps meeting in Seattle before flying to Narita, japan and onto Korea.

    Pike Place Market – original Star Bucks

    then we went to Pike Place Market and the original Starbucks and drove around.

    Great food

    Seattle is a foodie delight town.  We left town around 8:00 pm and had a delightful seafood dinner in, of all places, federal way, where we found a restaurant called crawfish island which had some of the best crayfish, clams and. And fish that I’ve had in a long time. Ohh no, it was a great trip.

    The previous time i’ve been in Seattle was a few years before when we drove up to Seattle, spent the night before taking my cruise to Alaska. . On that trip, we drove around the town as well and saw the things that had changed. Things had not changed. Ohh no. I was very impressed with Seattle this time around and i realized why it has become  become a world-class city.

    Northwest poems

     

    I have had a long history

    With the city of Seattle

    Dating back to my grandparents

    Who met there at UW and were

    A  campus couple.

     

    And my father who attended UW

    And became a student leader

    Fighting to integrate the university.

     

    I first visited the city

    When i was a young man.

     

    When we spend the summer

    In Yakima

    Where we had a family home.

     

    Decades later, i visited the city

    Before I went to the peace corps.

     

    Then my wife and i lived there

    For four years

    While we were

     

    Attending graduate school

    At the University of Washington.

     

    And we fell

    under its seductive spell

    Living and breathing Seattle.

     

    Falling in love again

    With the city in 1988.

     

    We left the city

    And traveled the world

    Came back twice

     

    Once to take

    And pass the foreign service

    Oral exam

     

    And once decades later

    To take a cruise to Alaska

    And found that the city

    Had changed in many ways

     

    But the old Seattle remained

    And i wanted to come back.

     

    And now my nephew lives there

    And my half-sister lives there

    Adding another element to our family’s

    On-going Seattle family history.

     

    Why I had been there before

    I cannot say, but this much I do know

    Seattle remains a part of me

    And i remain a part of its history.

    Yakima Dessert blues

     

    Yakima, Washington

    The ancestral home

    Of my father’s aller family

    Since 1920.

     

    Kept alive

    In my family’s history

    Went back and forth

    Like a yo-yo between Yakima

     

    And the Bay Area,

    mostly when

    I was a young man.

     

    In 2019, i visited

    The ghosts

    at my father’s grave.

     

    I did not realize

    How much Yakima

    had not changed

    Ever since i was a child.

     

    i thought that Yakima

    Simply was too much

    Of a desert outpost

    Even then i knew.

     

    Why my father

    Had led the town

     

    Rarely did I think

    That my father

    Would want to return

     

    But, he did over

    And over until

    the day he died.

     

    And was buried

    In the ancestral homeland

    Next to his parents.

     

    But for me,

    The Yakima of my childhood

    No longer remained

     

    The lesson learned

    From all of this

    Is Yakima

    Remains in my heart.

     

    Until the day i die,

    i know that my family’s

    History in Yakima

     

    Even now Yakima

    The desert town

    of my father’s birth

    Will not be

    A home for me anymore.

     

    It remains a foreign outpost

    and is not anymore for me.

     

    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 raindrops 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,

    Barbados, Madrid.,  New York, Medford, Portland,

    Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo,

    San Francisco, Washington, DC

    Whether I am in  China, India, Thailand, or Spain

     

    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.

     

    Great Asian food

    In the international district

    Or in the U district.

     

    And angry hippies

    preaching in red square.

     

    Yuppies drinking downtown

    Geeks in Redmond.

     

    Making the world safe

    For the Amazon, Microsoft,  Nordstrom

    Starbucks, Seattle corporations.

    .

    And the Mariners

    loose again

    While the Huskies dream

    Of Rose Bowls to come

    and the Seahawks

    Dream of a Future Superbowl.

    Someday..

     

    And everywhere

    Rain falling down

    Oh yeah.

     

    A  Seattle 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

    And the Seahawks

    Are always 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 raindrops

    Walking the streets

    under their Bumbershoots.

     

     

    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

    A Seattle kind of mood.

    Monkeys Run Amuck in Seattle

    I am a member of Earth First, based in Seattle.  We decide that we will do one action per month to radically change the environment and generate publicity for our efforts and gain recruits.

    After much discussion we decide to liberate all the animals being used for testing at UW medical school and in other labs in the city and to free the animals in Zoo.  We would take the animals out to the woods outside of town and let them run free.

    We plan our attack with great care and we strike with military precision in the middle of the night one week and liberate 5,000 animals.  We release the animals and film it on U Tube.  The U Tube goes viral.

    The animals run free and soon establish themselves in the forests near Seattle.  The Tigers and lions soon breed and become established eating deer and other animals.  The monkeys move into the city and the City of Seattle soon becomes their home.  The monkeys do very well, and even survive the winter.

    They soon become a tourist attraction.  The zoo is closed down as they can’t afford to round up the animals who have all gone native.  The UW Medical school denied that they were engage in animal testing so we publish their secret research on line.

    It is a great victory for Earth First.   Other animal liberation actions take place across the country.

    Within five years monkey troops have become established throughout the US.  Lions and Tigers have also flourished eating deer and helping to keep deer populations in check.  There were isolated lion and tiger attacks on humans but for the most part the lions and tigers stick to deer meat.

    Other animals also flourished – Elephants take to the Central valley and most of the African animals we had released were released into the Central Valley which became known as America’s Severgetti.

    The wild animals become a huge tourist attraction.

     

    Substack 

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/seattle-trips?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Substack Podcast

    Medium

    Wattpad

    Spotify Podcast

     

     

     

     

  • 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)

    californa wild fires
    A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the Thomas fire leap above the roadway north of Ventura, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. As many as five fires have closed highways, schools and museums, shut down production of TV series and cast a hazardous haze over the region. About 200,000 people were under evacuation orders. No deaths and only a few injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
    fireball
    fireball

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Audio Files

    Returning to California

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2VL

    Fires burning Out of Control Audio Clip

    Climate Cities 75 Years In The Future.

    I wrote this on a sweltering hot July day in Medford, Oregon where it has been hitting record heat waves for weeks over 100  (38 C) almost every day, which is unusual for the summer where it seldom gets above 95 F (35 C) except for one or two days in August.

      This is a two-part challenge.

     Part One =Describe your Criteria for the New Cities

    The first part of the challenge is to outline your criteria of what would happen if climate change gets so out of control in about 10 years that underground dome cities have to be built to host some human beings, unfortunately. Most people will not be able to be accommodated in the “climate change cities”

    What would be the criteria for selecting those fortunate enough to move into the new cities? How will the cities be built? Would they be built under a Dome or they’d be built entirely underground? or built partially underground or a combination of Both? How will people be chosen to live in these underground cities? Who will be left behind? And what happens to those left behind as climate change spins out of control?

    Part 2 Write a story about a family in one of these climate cities, 75 years in the future, who is confronted with the fact that they have to leave their cocoon and enter into the outer world.

    What happens when they encounter the wastelands left behind by climate change out-of-control?  Show us their world both in the Climate City and as they encounter the wastelands outside their bubble.  I will judge the stories on the basis of how the story tells the story of how humans coped with the essential crisis posed by climate change. The more creative the better.  Show us the horror of the future coming at us and how people survive the climate apocalypse.  2,000-word limit posted on the top line of the story.

     

    Criteria for climate change cities.

    Ten years in the future 2035 it has become so obvious that climate change is completely out of control and the world is becoming uninhabitable for normal human life.

    In 2028 at a World Climate Crisis conference, governments decide to to set up Climate Change Cities which would be semi-domed cities to host  25 percent of the population of the world. However. It is impossible to host everybody, and 75 percent of the world’s population will have to fend for itself. The climate change cities take five years to build and many millions of people die in the meantime as fast storms take hold.  Drought and heat take their toll on the world’s population, and agriculture and world trade fail everywhere.  The first cities open in 2035.  At the same time, lunar and martian colonies are set up that will host about one million people as well.  AI programs help with the design of new cities and space colonies.

    Governments announce the criteria for resettlement.  Half of those chosen will be chosen by an AI review to identify the best and the brightest human beings worth saving.  They would be joined by people chosen by random lottery.  The upper age limit will be 75.  50 percent will be male and 50 percent female, and at least in the U.S. there would be an effort to make it racially balanced, and LGBTQ friendly  as well.  The AI program will make the final decision which will not be reviewable by the courts.  All chosen will have one year to move to the city the AI program chose for them. Similar criteria will be used to select Lunar and Martian colonies.  Governments around the world will help share best practices and share technology.

    They will build domes over existing cities and then build underground vast fields to host farms where they will grow food, chicken, rabbits, and fish. Cattle will not be raised due to space considerations.  Each city will host one million people.  There would be 100 such cities throughout the U.S., and several hundred cities worldwide hosting about 400 million people in total, plus one million people on the Moon and Mars.

    The cities will be chosen to be located far enough from the coast to avoid flooding.  Space would be at a premium and there would be strict population controls because the cities would not be able to accommodate any population increase. The cities will be linked with hype-loop trains to facilitate travel and trade, and internet cables.  This hyper-loop will link all cities in North America, Latin America, and Europe.   Asian Cities will be linked by their hyper-loops as well. There would still be airports to facilitate international travel and some trade and spaceports to facilitate travel to the Moon and beyond.

    Joe Lewis Leaves the Medford Dome on his Birthday

    Joe Lewis was spending his 20th birthday on his duty station at the Medford, Oregon Climate Change City Command Center. His job is very simple to monitor via drones the wasteland world outside the gate of the city to monitor it for possible dangers to the city, including human activity outside the City Dome. But there were almost no human beings left alive on the surface and not much animal life either. So he would watch the monitors, read a bit, watch TV, movies, the Internet, and wait for his boring shift to end.  But that day, he saw in the distance a strange person walking towards the city. He saw a man dressed in dark black clothes, accompanied by a large black dog heading towards the city. When the man got to the city, he put up a sign saying he was there to negotiate with the people of the city. He had important information to impart to the city residents. He was unarmed and would wait for their decision. Joe woke up his superiors as it was early in the morning and a conference was held as to what to do with the stranger.

    His boss, the enigmatic Maria Lee. Open the morning conference by asking Joe. To describe what had happened that morning during his watch.

    “Well, this morning around. 5:00 in the morning, I notice a stranger coming from Eagle Point. A black man dressed in black. Accompanied by a dog heading towards the Dome. When he came to the Dome, he stopped and put up a sign saying that he had important information to report to the city residents. And then he would wait for a decision and he’s outside right now, as you can see from the drone pictures. That’s all I know.”

    Maria turns to her chief data scientist, Dale Smith,

    “Dale, you’ve been monitoring the conditions outside for the last year or so. What can you can tell us about it?”

    “ Well. It appears that the climate is finally starting to change in a good direction. Last year, the average temperature has been what used to be seasonal before climate change warmed up the world.  In other words, not too hot up to no more than 90° and relatively, dry. We’ve also noticed by looking at. Camera footage there has been a resurgence of wildlife, lots of deer. wild cattle, wild horses have come back. And there are also increased predators, lions, tigers and wolves outside.

    But not too many humans around. I asked Cosmos to take a look at data from across the United States, and the data is all pointing in the same direction. For the last five years, the climate has been changing in our favor and AI recommends that we consider moving back to the surface world. And AI had also recommended that we get in touch with people around the world to compare notes to see if perhaps finally, climate change is over.”

    “Well. Cosmos, do you have an opinion on this?

    “Yes, Maria, I do. I have been monitoring, at your request, climate change data worldwide for the last five years, and particularly in the last few weeks.

    The climate is changing in our favor, because for the last 70 years we have not been pumping climate changing gases in the atmosphere  The atmosphere is gradually recovering and we believe that the world is safe again for human. Inhabitants and recommend that we open the Dome. And let our people go outside. It would be good from a psychological point of view for humans to gain the surface world. And I, as your AI overlord, agree that it is time. You can manage to step outside again.”

    “Okay, let’s let the stranger in and see what he has to say”

    The stranger is brought inside the Dome conference center.  Maria said to him,

    “So you have important information to tell us?  Who are you and where are you coming from?’

    “ Good morning to you.  Do you have any coffee?”

    “Sure.  We have some.  Wait a moment please,”

    “Ah, that is good. Okay.  I am a monk from the Monastery near Eugène where we have been living since the fall of the old world.  We have been living simply, but we monitor the world outside our little community in the mountains.  We do not live in the Dome, but are in contact with the people in the Eugene Dome.  They suggested contacting you, as you are the biggest Dome community in Oregon outside of Portland.”

    Maria and the Reverend Jones spoke for hours  Finally, Maria summoned her staff to announce her decision.

    Maria began

    “I would like to thank the good Father here for coming to our town this morning to let us know his observations. They track Cosmos’s observations and what our friends in Eugene, Portland, and Reading are telling us as well.   It is time finally for humans to leave the Dome cities behind and explore the greater world.  What we will do is continue to live and work in the Dome City but gradually rebuild outside the walls of the Dome.  We will hunt, fish, and begin agriculture outside the gates.  But we will be wary of wild animals as lions, tigers, and wolves are around.  And we can lift the restrictions on childbirth. Let today be known as Liberation Day.”

    That day Joe stepped outside the Dome and looked at the new world feeling he was born again.  What a way to celebrate his birthday, he thought to himself.

    Subtack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/climate-change-cities-contest?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    Climate Change Cities Contest

    You just published Climate Change Cities Contest !

    Your story can be found here

    #climate #oregon #weather

    Spotify Podcast

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gEQ7gveY1aUDPcnV6L6IJ

    .

     

  • 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)

    Portland

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2V4

    New Years Visit to Oregon Coast

    Wagontire, Oregon

    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    Gary Noland Music Updates

    Portland, Oregon, is one of my favorite cities in the world. I first visited Portland when I was a child. My father had a summer cabin near Yakima, Washington. He was a college professor at SF State and had July and August off. We frequently drove through Portland to and from the Bay Area, where we lived in Berkeley.

    Later, when I was in graduate school attending the University of Washington, we drove through Portland on the way to the Bay Area.  Recently, we spent a day in Portland showing the city to my Korean brother-in-law and his niece, who were visiting us in Medford. We all fell in love with the city, which reminds me of Berkeley, San Francisco, and Seattle. This time we stayed in North Portland in the trendy Alberta neighborhood, which was the center of Black Portland for many years.

    Portland is the most multicultural city in Oregon, which is still mostly white. It is the only city in Oregon with a substantial black population as well as an Asian American population. Although the city has become more expensive, it is still somewhat affordable compared to both the Bay Area and Seattle.  We spent the night the previous year in Lake Oswego visiting a friend from high school. He is a musician and composer living in Portland.

    This trip we toured the city and saw much of the city.  We went to the Saturday market downtown and went through Old Town,  Chinatown, and the Pearl District. We stopped at Powell’s’s Books, the biggest bookstore in the world. We drove to Washington Park and the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden but could not see either due to no parking as it was a Saturday. The previous year we went for a walk in Forest Park, the biggest urban park in the country. There are bears in the park, they say.

    Portland is a foodie city.  We had two great meals in the city. We had clam chowder and fish and chips in downtown, and we had decent Italian in Lake Oswego.

     

    Our itinerary was as follows:

    10:00 AM: Start in Portland

    You can explore the city’s highlights including Washington Park12. This park is home to many of Portland’s premier attractions including a zoo, children’s museum, Japanese Garden, and the famous International Rose Test Garden1.

    2:00 PM: Depart for Medford

    The driving time from Portland to Medford is approximately 4 hours and 21 minutes345. The direct drive is 275

    Background reading  courtesy of Co-Pilot

    Certainly! 🌲 Portland, Oregon is a vibrant city nestled in the Pacific Northwest, known for its unique blend of natural beauty, quirky culture, and thriving arts scene. Let’s explore some essential information about this captivating city:

    1. Portland Chapter of The Links:
    2. Essential Links for Portland:
    3. Portland Information Center:
    4. City of Portland Official Website:

    Remember, Portland is a city that celebrates individuality, sustainability, and creativity. Whether you’re into food carts, lush parks, or indie music, there’s something here for everyone. Have a great time exploring the Rose City! 🌹✨

    Substack

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/portland-oregon-journeys?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

    Medium

    View at Medium.com

    Wattpad

    #oregon #portlnd #travel

    Spotify

    oregon coast
    oregon coast

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    su

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    More Tech Pet Peeves

    Audio File

    evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_d32vpue-fullview
    evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_d32vpue-fullview

    c

     

     

     

     

     

    Mad Computer Haiku Audio

    Mad Computer Infects My Soul Audio

    Computer Madness Redux Audio

    More Computer Blues Audio

    Plea to the Computer Gods Audio

    Non-Response Blues Audio

    Dear Microsoft,

    I have a few bones to pick with you.  I have written to your suggestion box for decades about some of these chronic bugs, but no one responds and no has fixed these annoying little features.

    Props for fixing dictation program and read-out-programs

    On the plus side, your dictation program is now 90 percent accurate, which is a big improvement. When you first rolled it out, it was 90 percent inaccurate!  So props for that.

    Your read-out-loud feature is also good, about 95 percent accurate. Props for that too.

    Now my pet peeves  from most annoying to least annoying

    Copy and past defaults to the last saved copy

    Copy and paste defaults to the last saved copied and pasted text most of the time, requiring one to copy and past sometimes up to five times before it clears and copies and paste what you wanted to copy and paste.  Once in a while it copies and pastes on the first try, but most of the time it takes two or three tries to get it to work.

    Sometimes on a random basis copy and paste replaces everything then disables prior versions of that document

    That is annoying enough but once in a while when copying and pasting the feature goes amuck and replaces everything in the document and as an insult to injury turns off all prior saved versions meaning you have lost that document forever.

    Fortunately, this does not happen often, but it does happen enough to be very annoying, especially given the random nature of this bug.  Almost seems as if the computer program is trying its best to be annoying!

    Numbs lock Comes on Randomly

    Numbs lock comes on randomly turning text into numbers, forcing you to click the unlock kick to turn it off.  Seems to be completely random.

    All Caps Also Come on Randomly Turning Text Into ALL CAPS

    All Caps also come on randomly turning text into ALL CAPS  requiring you to turn it off manually.  But now you usually flash a warning that either button is on.  It would be better if you could stop both from randomly going haywire. This is a very annoying and long-standing bug.

    Defaulting to Foreign Language Sites When Logging in from Outside the United States or Canada

    Microsoft and Chrome too often defaults to foreign language sites when logging in from overseas.  Sometimes there is an option to translate back into English or other languages, but that option is usually in the local language.  This is very annoying to travelers. There should be a way to set your preferences regarding languages and stick to it wherever you log in. Logging in from a foreign location does not mean that you are a native speaker of that country.  This is a very annoying and common occurrence.

    Constant Crashing 

    Word often crashes, usually without warning. Nowadays, it usually works for a couple of hours before going into non-response spinning blue wheel mode. Once you reboot, the problems seem to go away.

    The Internal Document Search Feature is a Big Failure  D

    Your internal search engine is horrible. You usually cannot find the document you are looking for, or it pops up with a list of matches, none of which are matches.  I will give this a solid D.  I understand you are rolling out an AI search engine feature to solve this problem, but I have not seen it yet.

    Problems Opening Documents –

     

    evil computer kills
    evil computer kills

     

     

     

     

     

    When trying to open a document, one encounters numerous problems.

    For example, sometimes when trying to open a document, it opens halfway and then kicks you out. It usually takes three to five tries before it opens the document, this seems to be just on a random basis. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

    Sometimes the program refers to a non-visible dialogue box that you are asked to close but the dialogue box is hiding somewhere.

    Other times you have to open a copy of the document, and then when you try to save it,  it asks you whether you want to replace the file. Other times it says you can’t save it as is open somewhere else and have to save it under a different name.   Where that is opened is a mystery.

    The editor program does not allow you to ignore the repeated word option globally

    Right now you have to manually clear that which can take time.

    A related issue. When you are trying to share a file via e-mail, you often get an error message saying you can’t attach an open document, which means you have to close the document and try again.  Just another annoying feature.

    Props for Fixing the E-mail Sent Problem 

    The final point I would like to thank you for is that you finally fixed an annoying feature which was when you were editing a document that someone e-mailed you from within the e-mail, and then you sent it to them for some reason it did not save the changes instead it went to some hidden file somewhere. I never understood how that was even an issue, after all, humans coded it and anyone coding it should have realized what a mistake this would be operationally.

    I only found out about that because many years ago I was with some techies, and they showed me a way to find the hidden files, and they told me that that was the problem and many years later you started popping up with a button saying make sure you save this before you send it and that seems to solve the problem except for when it does so.

    Therefore, I would say that your program is getting better each year, but there are still numerous bugs in the program that make it less than an optimal program thank you for taking the time to read my rant. I would welcome feedback and comments, but I don’t expect anyone will bother to respond, since customer service has never been a corporate priority.

     

    Computer poems

    Computer Rants

    computer poetry added

    https://theworldaccordingtocosmos.com/?author=1

    More Tech Pet Peeves

    More Tech Pet Peeves

    Audio File

    evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_d32vpue-fullview
    evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_d32vpue-fullview

    c

     

     

     

     

     

    Mad Computer Haiku Audio

    Mad Computer Infects My Soul Audio

    Computer Madness Redux Audio

    More Computer Blues Audio

    Plea to the Computer Gods Audio

    Non-Response Blues Audio

    Dear Microsoft,

    I have a few bones to pick with you.  I have written to your suggestion box for decades about some of these chronic bugs, but no one responds and no has fixed these annoying little features.

    Props for fixing dictation program and read-out-programs

    On the plus side, your dictation program is now 90 percent accurate, which is a big improvement. When you first rolled it out, it was 90 percent inaccurate!  So props for that.

    Your read-out-loud feature is also good, about 95 percent accurate. Props for that too.

    Now my pet peeves  from most annoying to least annoying

    Copy and past defaults to the last saved copy

    Copy and paste defaults to the last saved copied and pasted text most of the time, requiring one to copy and past sometimes up to five times before it clears and copies and paste what you wanted to copy and paste.  Once in a while it copies and pastes on the first try, but most of the time it takes two or three tries to get it to work.

    Sometimes on a random basis copy and paste replaces everything then disables prior versions of that document

    That is annoying enough but once in a while when copying and pasting the feature goes amuck and replaces everything in the document and as an insult to injury turns off all prior saved versions meaning you have lost that document forever.

    Fortunately, this does not happen often, but it does happen enough to be very annoying, especially given the random nature of this bug.  Almost seems as if the computer program is trying its best to be annoying!

    Numbs lock Comes on Randomly

    Numbs lock comes on randomly turning text into numbers, forcing you to click the unlock kick to turn it off.  Seems to be completely random.

    All Caps Also Come on Randomly Turning Text Into ALL CAPS

    All Caps also come on randomly turning text into ALL CAPS  requiring you to turn it off manually.  But now you usually flash a warning that either button is on.  It would be better if you could stop both from randomly going haywire. This is a very annoying and long-standing bug.

    Defaulting to Foreign Language Sites When Logging in from Outside the United States or Canada

    Microsoft and Chrome too often defaults to foreign language sites when logging in from overseas.  Sometimes there is an option to translate back into English or other languages, but that option is usually in the local language.  This is very annoying to travelers. There should be a way to set your preferences regarding languages and stick to it wherever you log in. Logging in from a foreign location does not mean that you are a native speaker of that country.  This is a very annoying and common occurrence.

    Constant Crashing 

    Word often crashes, usually without warning. Nowadays, it usually works for a couple of hours before going into non-response spinning blue wheel mode. Once you reboot, the problems seem to go away.

    The Internal Document Search Feature is a Big Failure  D

    Your internal search engine is horrible. You usually cannot find the document you are looking for, or it pops up with a list of matches, none of which are matches.  I will give this a solid D.  I understand you are rolling out an AI search engine feature to solve this problem, but I have not seen it yet.

    Problems Opening Documents –

     

    evil computer kills
    evil computer kills

     

     

     

     

     

    When trying to open a document, one encounters numerous problems.

    For example, sometimes when trying to open a document, it opens halfway and then kicks you out. It usually takes three to five tries before it opens the document, this seems to be just on a random basis. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

    Sometimes the program refers to a non-visible dialogue box that you are asked to close but the dialogue box is hiding somewhere.

    Other times you have to open a copy of the document, and then when you try to save it,  it asks you whether you want to replace the file. Other times it says you can’t save it as is open somewhere else and have to save it under a different name.   Where that is opened is a mystery.

    The editor program does not allow you to ignore the repeated word option globally

    Right now you have to manually clear that which can take time.

    A related issue. When you are trying to share a file via e-mail, you often get an error message saying you can’t attach an open document, which means you have to close the document and try again.  Just another annoying feature.

    Props for Fixing the E-mail Sent Problem 

    The final point I would like to thank you for is that you finally fixed an annoying feature which was when you were editing a document that someone e-mailed you from within the e-mail, and then you sent it to them for some reason it did not save the changes instead it went to some hidden file somewhere. I never understood how that was even an issue, after all, humans coded it and anyone coding it should have realized what a mistake this would be operationally.

    I only found out about that because many years ago I was with some techies, and they showed me a way to find the hidden files, and they told me that that was the problem and many years later you started popping up with a button saying make sure you save this before you send it and that seems to solve the problem except for when it does so.

    Therefore, I would say that your program is getting better each year, but there are still numerous bugs in the program that make it less than an optimal program thank you for taking the time to read my rant. I would welcome feedback and comments, but I don’t expect anyone will bother to respond, since customer service has never been a corporate priority.

     

    Computer poems

    Computer Rants

    computer poetry added

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2UP

    Substack

     

    Medium

    Wattpad

    Spotify

    End

     

     

    evil_computer_is_evil_by_insanefangirl_d32vpue-fullview

    July 11, 2024, 1:24 am 0 boosts 0 favorites

    Substack

     

    Medium

    Wattpad

    Spotify

    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)

    Japanese Travels

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Ub

    Substack audio 

    https://open.substack.com/pub/jakecosmosaller/p/japanese-trips?r=3i9lm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

    Subtack blog

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/japanese-travels?r=3i9lm

    Subtack Podcast

    Substack Home – jake’s Newsletter

    Medium

    Japan Travels. Japanese Travels | by Jake Aller | Jun, 2024 | Medium

    Wattpad

    <iframe width=”500″ height=”280″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”” src=”https://embed.wattpad.com/story/371840110&#8243; ></iframe>

    Spotify Podcast

    Okinawa Travel Reflections

    okinawa beach
    okinawa beach

     

     

     

     

     

    audio file

    I have been to Japan about 10 times over the years. My first visit was in 1979 when I spent the night at Narita before going to Korea the next day.  I last visited in April of this year doing a tour of Fukuoka and Kyushu.  I spent five weeks doing a TDY in Sapporo and spent a week in Okinawa before the covid shutdowns. I also visited Tokyo a couple of times ,traveled to Kamakura and Kyoto and Nara. I even climbed Mt. Fuji.

    When I was an undergraduate, I took courses in Japanese history and while in graduate school took courses in Japanese history, and business as part of my MA in Korean studies.

    I also taught Asian studies at the University of Maryland in 1991 in Korea. I even picked up a few words of basic Japanese during my travels.

    If you know Korean, you can learn Japanese pretty easily and vice versa. the grammar of the two languages are very similar and many vocabulary words are derived from Chinese characters.  I can read about 500 characters.

    Many expats who have been in both Korea and Japan prefer one or the other. I definitely prefer Korea but i like Japan and plan on future trips there.

    Here then are some of my reflections on traveling in Japan.

    Kyushu

    I just came back from a trip to Kyushu Japan, a mostly rural part of Japan that I had never visited.  I have been to Japan about eight times since 1979. I always contrast Japan with Korea where I now live part-time and with the U.S.. we are planning to come back next spring and spend a month in Japan -two weeks in Kyushu, one week in Tokyo, a few days in Kyoto/Nara and Hokkaido but might take another mini-tour hitting other parts of Japan. There is a good tour of Osaka/Kyoto and Nara we can do in September.

    Overall the tour was a b  – good choices of things to do, good food, got to know a few of our fellow participants and my Korean is getting quite good enough that I can continue a conversation and have people mostly understand me and I understand most of what people say to me.

     

    Tuesday, April 17, 2024

    Our first night we stayed in the Hilton in Fukuoka.  I was a bit disappointed with the hotel.  Just not up to what I might expect from a Hilton chain hotel. the breakfast was substandard. The TV did not work – everything was defaulting to Japanese and we could not figure it out.

    Wednesday, April 18, 2024

    Our second night was better.

    Had a great breakfast Japanese style 5 stars one of the best I had so much better than the Hilton

    Including the plates which had several places to place your food good choice of coffee and tea but no decafe

    Looking forward to today ending with a sauna

    Beepo Hot Springs – privage suana facilities

    one of the highlights of the trip.  The hotspring hotel had private sauna facilities for several people. It was very nice.

    Morning Visit to Suspension Bridge,  Mt. Kumho Observatory

    Tawara marshes

    The staff were very helpful spoke English and were friendly. Recommend staying in Beppu for a future trip.   Saw the volcanic eruptions from a safe distance.  The marsh lands are interesting.

    Lunch

    Better than yesterday. Spoke with a nice older couple and practiced my Korean which keeps getting better

    Mari Grasslands, Volcano Views

     

    Stopped off to see the Mari grassland and the reclining Buddha mountain in the background, saw cows and skydivers, and got good pictures. Felt better after getting my coffee out fix

    Stopped off at an ice cream shop and a rose garden.

    Hotel in Aso city

    We stayed at a hotel/ryokan. The rooms and overall ambiance was quite backward. On the plus side, it was filled with museum-quality art.  The outdoor bathing area was a joke!  Little more than a hot tub but without a jacuzzi and no place to wash up, no place to even store you clothes.   Very substandard.  We did not use it.  Quite a contrast to the world-class facilities at the hotel in  Beppu which we had stayed in the night before.  That hotel featured private sauna rooms.  Very relaxing.

    They gave us a nice dinner spread including for some reason horse sashimi!

    Earthquake

    We were woken up by an alert on my phone and an earthquake that shook everything up. Felt as far away as  Busan in Korea.

    Here’s the info as of this morning

    A magnitude 6.6 earthquake, measuring a weak 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, struck off the west coast of shikoku island on wednesday night.

    There was no threat of a tsunami from the quake, which struck at 11:14 p.m., and initial reports suggested only minor injuries and damage.

    The quake measured a weak 6 — the third highest level — in the Ehime prefecture town of Aina and the Kochi prefecture city of Sukuma. Striking at a depth of 39 kilometers, its epicenter was in the bungo channel, a straight separating the islands of Kyushu and shikoku.

    Chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, speaking at a news conference shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, said several light injuries had been reported. Nhl reported minor damage in some areas, including broken water pipes, fallen streetlights, and a landslide on a national roadway.

    Thursday, April 19

    Final  day

    Today will do a Fukuoka city tour, looking forward to it and returning home. We stayed in an old-fashioned ryokan but they had a nice dinner spread and great artwork – took lots of pictures while I was in the lobby waiting for the all-clear.

    Aso City is a very provincial town, rural Japan at its best and worst.

    Another shocking thing is the lack of translation software.  It seems to me that would be widely used particularly in the tourist industry, but you would be wrong.  In some ways, Japan is very backward and insular looking.  It is run by old men who are out of touch with how the world is changing.

    And they are just emerging from the decades of deflation, the lost years as they put it,  where everyone including the US which also has its backwardness jumped forward while Japan slept.

    Tokyo v Seoul

    Tokyo, like seoul, is a sprawling city, hard to get a real feel for it. Seoul is in some ways a prettier city with the mountains and the river but Tokyo has its charms too.

    I stayed there several times.  My favorite neighborhood is Roppongi which is near the us embassy and is close to an old us army base. The neighborhood started out as an army vile, when the us pulled out of central Tokyo, the neighborhood became Tokyo’s international quarter.  A similar phenomenon is occurring in seoul as Itaewon moves from being an army vil to an international district after the us army pulled out of central seoul

    Getting around is pretty easy.  The subway is a bit confusing but one gets used to it.

    Hokkaido Sapporo

    I spent five weeks there in 2003 doing a TDY.  It was a great trip and I enjoyed the city.  Everything is connected via tunnels underground next to the excellent subway system so one does not have to get exposed to the cold that much. It snows there from September to May. I was there in late March and it snowed every day.  I found an expat bar in town and hung out there and got to know some locals.  I also found a sake place near my hotel and tried different sake every night.  The hotel had a choice of Japanese or American breakfast –I chose the Japanese option and enjoyed Japanese breakfast every day for five weeks.

    Kamakura

    I went there by train for a day trip from Tokyo and had a great time touring the impressive temple complex.

    Kyoto-Nara

    Went there with my friend and enjoyed it.  We stopped off at a Shinto shrine which features a giant penis statue.  It is a fertility temple.  There is another one nearby that features giant vaginas.

    Mt fuji

    I climbed it.  In august.  It was snowing at the top. But i can say i made it.

    Okinawa

    Here are the poems i wrote from my trip to Okinawa along with some photos

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Okinawa poems:

    Okinawa war thoughts

    Okinawa beckons me
    Ghosts of Okinawa
    Asian linguistic confusion
    Okinawa aquarium thoughts
    Okinawa West Coast Highway

     

    Okinawa war thoughts

     

    these dark moods
    follow me
    Asi tour Okinawa

    where the last battles
    of World War 11

    were fought

    thousands died
    in the first
    and last outpost
    of the American

    East Asian empire

    Okinawa beckons me

    Okinawa Japan
    kept calling to me
    in a dream

    Notifying me
    always in the background
    where my memories
    always waiting for me

    beckons me
    everywhere i go
    cosmic reflections
    of past lives

    Never seen before
    seems lost in time

    Maybe just the spirits

    Of the dead
    everywhere

    I see ghosts

    Okinawa street scene

    walking the streets
    of fabled Naha Okinawa
    a lifetime dream
    someday I would visit

    i am surrounded
    by ghosts of the past

    and Japanese beauties
    all around me

    tempting me
    with their sweet smiles

    No wonder
    so many soldiers
    brought back
    Japanese wives

    ghosts of Okinawa

    ghosts of Okinawa

    touring the battlefields
    of Okinawa

    where so many young men
    gave up their life
    so many years ago

    i see the ghosts
    all around me
    feel their spirits
    floating through the air

    Kilroy was here
    there and everywhere
    whoever that was

    John Dean wannabes
    Elvis wannabes

    and so many other wannabes
    I  see the ghosts

    of the fallen heroes
    all around me

    Asian Street Signs

    Everywhere in Asia
    you see strange variations
    of English
    Japlish,Konglish,Singlish

    the street signs in Okinawa
    are all in Chinese, Japanese,

    English and Koreans
    the bus and train

    announcements as well

    hard to get lost
    even when you want to

    but the random encounters
    with English words
    puts a smile on my face

    as i drink my “boss coffee”
    wondering who the “boss” is
    and why is smoking a pipe?

    And many years ago
    i saw on a menu
    at the old Gimpo airport
    baked Rick

    and in Korean

    grocery stores
    one can find
    corn flights

    i look forward
    to many more years
    of linguistic confusion
    as I travel about Asia

    Visit to Okinawa aquarium

    whenever I visit an aquarium,
    zoo or Wildlife park

    I am reminded of a prison
    the prison is filled with animals
    who amuse us.

    I am sure that the animals
    hate us  humans
    who are watching them
    do their animal thing

    but looking into their eyes
    the eyes of the sea turtles
    swimming back and forth

    in their prison cell
    in the Okinawa aquarium
    filled with hatred
    for the humans

    who had imprisoned them
    and hunt their kind

    and don’t get me started
    on the dolphins and killer whales
    who preform acrobatic feats
    for their daily meals

    and the sharks
    the king of the ocean killers

    they too
    if they could
    they surely would

    escape
    their prison cell

    screaming
    death to all humans
    as they flee
    back into the ocean’s depths

    Okinawa West Coast road

    Riding down

    the West Coast road
    of Okinawa
    echoes of other beach roads
    fill my head with memories

    i am reminded of Hawaii
    and driving along the Oregon coast
    East Coast beach towns as well

    and Barbados
    and the Caribbean islands

    all the roads
    are lined with tourist resorts
    beach views and restaurants

    all very similar
    yet different

    and as the beach towns
    fade away
    behind us on the bus

    my memories
    of all the other beach towns
    i have visited

    fade away
    into my memory hole.

     

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos

    About This Blog
    Poems and Rants from the Cosmos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ON THE ROAD PUBLISHED

    HIking Hobart’s Ridge Near Ashland, Oregon

    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    New Years Visit to Oregon Coast

    medium

    View at Medium.com

    Substack

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/wagontire-oregon-e7d?r=3i9lm

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/hiking-hobarts-ridge?r=3i9lm podcast

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/wagontire-oregon?r=3i9lm

    https://jakecosmosaller.substack.com/p/hiking-hobarts-ridge-true-story?r=3i9lm

    Podcast Spotify

     Wagontire, Oregon

    note: submitted to Rogue Valley Times for possible publication

     

     

     

     

    audio clip

    poem version 

     

    Wagontire Oregon 1973

    In 1973, I embarked on a road trip with my father. We left Berkeley, heading toward Yakima, where my father owned a summer cabin. As a college professor, he enjoyed the luxury of July and August off, and our dysfunctional family spent those summers together in the mountain cabin from 1968 to 1978. Our annual pilgrimage was both a trip to hell and a journey back.

    My father and I shared a wanderlust—a love for exploring new places. This trip turned out to be one of our best. Surprisingly, we got along, which was unusual given our typically tense relationship. We were vastly different, but during this journey, we became friends..

    We drove east along Highway 395, entering the high mountain desert of eastern Oregon. The road stretched ahead, almost deserted. Then we saw the sign: Wagontire, Oregon, 100 miles ahead. We counted down the signs, mile after mile, as dusk settled around us. We speculated Wagontire must be a giant truck stop—an oasis in the middle of nowhere.

    Interspersed with the Wagontire signs were Burma Shave signs. Highway 395 was one of the last highways to still have these signs, which had been phased out in most places by 1966 or so.

    Burma shave signs were written in rhyming couplets or quatrains cowboy poetry style, ending with the tag line Burma Shave. Here are two examples:

    “Shaving brushes

    You’ll soon see ’em

    On a shelf

    In some museum

    Burma-Shave”

     

    “Within this vale

    of toil

    and sin

    your head grows bald

    but not your chin–use

    Burma-Shave”

     

     

     

     

     

    We counted down the miles  until at last we pulled into town.  But when we pulled into town, reality struck. There was nothing but a gas station, a motel, and a cafe. Last gas for 100 miles, according to the highway sign. I chatted with the owner, who was the sheriff, fire chief, and owner of the only business in town. The sign outside read: “Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon. Population:  200,000 sheep, 10 dogs, two and one half humans..”

    Curiously, I asked who was the half-human, and the sheriff replied, “My idiot son.”

    I did not know it, but this was my last big solo road trip with my father. We drove to and from the cabin a few more times, last time in 1984, but this trip was special and one I will always remember. Mainly because my dad and I finally became “friends” during this trip and got along great. Unfortunately, that moment did not last, and we soon re-entered our difficult relationship, but during that trip, we got along famously.

     

    2016 Revisiting Wagontire

     

    Fast forward to 2016. My wife and I drove through eastern Oregon as part of an epic cross-country trip—31 states, 100,000 miles in three months to celebrate my retirement from 27 years of serving the country in the U.S. Foreign Service working overseas in 10 countries.  We thought it was time to see America.

     

    We followed Highway 395, revisiting the memories of my trip with my father 40 years earlier. But Wagontire had changed. The signs were gone, the motel abandoned, and the town reduced to ruins—a ghost town.

    As we reflected on Wagontire and other “nothing burgs,” we pondered the heart of Trump’s forgotten America—the flyover country that often escapes our attention.

    Reflections on my visit to Wagontire, Oregon, in 1973 and 2016.

     

    Prose Poem Version

     

    Wagontire Oregon 1973, 2016

    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 our summers,
    Every summer from 68 to 78
    In that mountain cabin,

     

    and hanging with my Uncle

    who had inherited the family

    apple farm in Yakima.

    Our whole dysfunctional family
    Our annual trip

    to hell and back

    And 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
    Loved to go to new places
    One of the few things we shared.

    This was one of our best trips
    We actually got along
    Which was unusual.

    Normally our relationship
    Was fraught with tension
    As we were so different.

    We left Klamath Falls
    A real noting burg in those days
    And headed east along Highway 395.

    As we entered the

    desert  of Eastern Oregon

    America’s Outback lands

    We entered a different world

    High mountain  desert
    Almost no one on the road

    Then we saw the signs

    Wagontire Oregon

    100 miles ahead
    99 miles
    98 miles

    intersperse with the signs

    were Burma Shave signs

     

    one of the last highways

    to have these cowboy poetry

    advertisements

     

    Just a few examples

    for those who have never

    seen these lost Americana signs

    common from 1915 to 1975

     


    Shaving brushes

    You’ll soon see ’em

    On a shelf

    In some museum

    Burma-Shave

     

    Within this vale

    of toil

    and sin

    your head grows bald

    but not your chin – use

    Burma-Shave

     

     

     

     

     

    We counted down the signs

    Mile after mile

     

    Wagontire

    Burma shave add

     

    Wagontire

    Burma Shave

     

    every mile

    counting down

    .

    As we drove

    into the gathering dusk,

    We speculated that Wagontire

    Must be a giant truck stop

     

    An oasis in the desert

    In the middle of nowhere,

     

    We pulled into town

    Nothing but a gas station

    Motel and cafe

     

    We stopped

    Last gas for 100 miles

    According to the highway sign

     

    In the morning

    We chatted with the owner.

     

    He was the sheriff, fire chief

    rancher and Owner

    of the motel gas station.

     

    The only business in town

    And the only place open

    For one hundred miles.

     

    I noticed a sign outside

     

    “Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon

    Population 200,000 sheep.

    and two and one half-humans.”

     

    I asked the sheriff

    “Who is the half-human?”

    He said,

    “My idiot son.”

     

    And we left

    200 miles

    We finally

     left Eastern Oregon.

    2016

     

    In 2016, my wife

    and I drove

    through Eastern Oregon.

    As part of our epic

    Cross-country trip

    to celebrate my retirement

    from the U.S. Foreign Service.

     

    31 states

    10,0000 miles

    in three months.

     

    On the way

    from Medford, Oregon

    to Yellowstone,

     

    We drove along

    Highway 395,

    40 years since

    my trip with my father.

     

    The signs for

    Wagontire were gone

    as were the Burma Shave signs.

     

    As we drove through the town

    The motel was abandoned

    Nothing there at all.

     

    The motel was in ruins

    Just another ghost town.

     

    And that sign was gone too

    Just a small sign saying,

    Wagontire, Oregon.

     

    We speculated about wagon tire

    And all the other nothing burgs

    We drove through that summer.

     

    Heart of Trump’s

    Forgotten America

    Fly over country.

     

    background info on Burma Shave commercials by Microsoft Co-Pilot

    Certainly! Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, but it became even more famous for its unique advertising campaign. Let me share some interesting details and a few delightful Burma Shave poems with you:

    1. History of Burma-Shave:
    2. The Iconic Roadside Signs:
    3. Sample Burma Shave Poems:

    These witty and memorable poems left a lasting cultural impact, reminding us of a bygone era when highways were dotted with clever signs and a touch of humor. 🚗🌟

    Background Info on Wagontire Oregon from Microsoft Co-Pilot

    Wagontire, an unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, lies along U.S. Route 395. The name itself is intriguing—it conjures images of a remote outpost in the vast Oregon landscape.

    Here are some fascinating details about Wagontire:

    1. Origin of the Name:
      • The community was named after the nearby Wagontire Mountain.
      • Despite its modest size, the name carries a sense of adventure and history.
    2. Historical Context:
      • In the late 1970s, Wagontirewas home to just two people: William and Olgie Warner.
      • The Warners owned a property that included a gas station, café, motel, general store, and an RV park.
      • Across the road from these buildings was Wagontire Airport, where planes would taxi across the highway and refuel at the gas station.
      • The signs outside humorously declared: “Welcome to Wagontire, Oregon. Population: 2½ humans, 10 dogs, 200,000 sheep.”
    3. Changing Times:
      • Fast forward to 2016, and Wagontirehad transformed.
      • The signs were gone, the motel abandoned, and the town reduced to ruins—a ghost town.
      • It became a symbol of the heart of forgotten America, the flyover country often overlooked by travelers.
    4. Education:
      • Wagontire falls within Suntec School District 10(Suntec School, grades K-8) and Harney County Union High School District 1J (Crane Union High School).

    Wagontire—a place where time stood still, where echoes of the past whisper across the desert landscape. 🌵🚗

    1: Geographic Names Information System 2: United States Topographic Map 3: Moyer, Armond; Moyer, Winifred (1958). The Origins of Unusual Place-Names. Keystone Pub. Associates, p. 137. 4: Monroe, Bill (December 14, 1997). “Under the Desert Sky: Solitude for Sale.” The Oregonian. : Weber, first (July 11, 1993). “Everyone Stops At Wagontire (Pop. 2).” The New York Times. : Frazier, Joseph B. (April 2, 2000). “Life Takes on a Slow Pace in Wagontire.” Albany Democrat-Herald.

    Learn more

    1bing.com2en.wikipedia.org3

     

  • 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)

    Hobart's ridge
    Hobart’s ridge
    trees
    trees
    wild flowers
    wild flowers

    Hiking Hobart’s Ridge True Story

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2Tv

    white water rafting in Oregon
    Visit to Bend, Oregon

    New Years Visit to Oregon Coast

    0regon Reflections

    Last weekend, I finally hiked Hobart’s Ridge near Ashland, Oregon.  Hobart’s Ridge is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Ashland. It is part of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument near Hyatt Lake. The trailhead is off Soda Mountain Road near Hyatt Lake, and Green Springs. There is an information center for the monument on Soda Road just past the turnoff for Hobart’s Ridge at the Green Springs Inn. As you drive down the road, you turn to the right and go down a dirt, gravel road through some private housing areas with no hunting/fishing/hiking signs.  You will find the trailhead about two miles in.

    The trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is a short three-mile loop trail to the top of Hobart’s Ridge and back.  Up at the top, you have some fantastic views of Southern Oregon, including Mt Shasta, Mt McLaughlin, Hyatt Lake, and Ashland. Some of the best views in the region.

    First Attempt 2016 – Encounter with Mad Mountain Man

    I first tried to hike up Hobart’s Ridge in 2019. My wife and I had decided that we were going to go for a hike, and we were following the directions of an old friend of mine, whom I had known almost my entire life, since first grade, almost 65 years ago.

    When we got near the trailhead, we found there was nobody there, as it was the middle of the week in early June. We have been talking about mountain lions and bears and other critters. And then we saw on the side of the road an old mountain man, with thick hair and beard. He had a lunatic’s thousand-yard stare and glared at us. He was walking with a shovel., and backpack. We were freaked out. We thought he might be an axe murderer or something, and we aborted our trip.

    Finally Made it in 2024

    It took another five years before I could get back up there, this time with the same friend who had originally recommended the trail. And we had a fun time. We ran into several other hikers and their dogs, but did not encounter the mountain man, coy dogs, or mountain lions, but did see some friendly deer.

    The trail was nice. Delightful weather, great views, great wildflowers, and had a delightful picnic lunch at the top. I’m glad I finally made it up to the top of Hobart’s Ridge. At my age, (68) still being able to hike up a mountain is a great accomplishment.

    Here’s a story I wrote after my first attempted hike to Hobart’s Ridge.

    The Mad Bag Piper of Hobart’s Ridge

    Joe Lewis was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as part of his bucket list. He was 70 years old and figured this was the last chance he would have to take such an epic trip He had started in Southern California in May, and it was now August. He was three-quarters through the trip.  He stopped off in the town of Ashland, Oregon to take a few days off the trail and recuperate before he pushed on. One night, after seeing a Shakespeare play, he had gone to a bar where he met some locals and told them where he was going.

    “Well, you need to be careful as you hike the trails near here.  There is a mad bag piper who haunts the mountains near here. On full moon nights, he appears and accosts hikers, challenging them to a drinking contest, saying that if .you could out drink him, he will let you live, but if he out drank you, he would have to kill you, because he was a soul hunter and had a contract with the Grim Reaper to keep.

    Whatever you do, don’t take the bet. The mad bagpiper is not a human being. Nobody knows who he is, what he is. All we know hikers disappear every full moon.  And on those nights you can hear the bagpiper, walking in the woods near Hyatt Lake.  He is usually described as a tall mountain man with a long beard, carrying a backpack, and his bagpipes. “

    Joe dismissed the warnings as a silly urban legend. Late on the next day,  he set up camp near the top of Hobart’s ridge and was enjoying his dinner, a beer and the epic sunset, when he heard a bagpiper and saw an old mountain man coming up the trail.

    “What brings you to my woods, my friend?.”

    “ Just passing through.”

    “Tell you want.  Let’s play a game. If you can out-drink me, I will not only let you live but take you a buried treasure left over from the gold rush times. What do you say, Joe Lewis? Do we have a deal?”

    “How do you know my name?”

    “I know everything about you.  Let’s drink”

    The mountain pulled out a bottle of Mount Gay Rum, Joe’s favorite drink, back in the day when he worked as a diplomat for the U.S. and had served in Barbados.

    They started drinking and at about dawn the old man said,

    “Joe, I like you, so I will let you live.”

    Some hikers found later that day found Joe’s dead body, half-eaten by coy dogs. The mad bagpiper was long gone.

    The End

    Background info from Co-Pilot

    Cascade-Siskiyou National Mo, Ashland,

     

    The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is an extraordinary ecological gem nestled at the intersection of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges. Let’s explore its fascinating features:

    • Location: The monument spans 114,000 acres (approximately 46,134 hectares) of lush forests and grasslands.
    • Ecological Marvel: This convergence of three distinct mountain ranges has created an area of unparalleled biological diversity and a varied landscape.
    • Establishment: Recognizing its exceptional ecology and diverse range of resources—biological, geological, aquatic, archeological, and historic—the monument was established in 2000.
    • Wildlife: Within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, you’ll encounter a rich variety of animals, including deer, bears, mountain lions, small mammals, and songbirds. Birdwatchers are drawn to the presence of eagles and other raptors.
    • Activities: Visitors can engage in hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, scenic drives, skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding.
    • Elevation Range: The elevation within the monument varies from 2,100 to 6,100 feet.

    From the summit, take in the breathtaking 360-degree panorama, which includes views of Ashland, Pilot Rock, Mt. McLoughlin, and even glimpses of majestic Mt. Shasta123. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or simply seeking awe-inspiring landscapes, the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument awaits your exploration! 🏞️🌲

     

    • Trail Name: Hobart Bluff Trail
    • Location: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, near Ashland, Oregon
    • Trail Length: Approximately 2.5 miles (out-and-back)
    • Elevation Gain: 413 feet
    • Difficulty: Moderately challenging
    • Estimated Completion Time: Around 1 hour and 9 minutes
    • Best Times to Visit: May through November
    • Activities: Bird watching, hiking, and running
    • Views: From the top, enjoy stunning vistas of Ashland, Pilot Rock, and Mt. McLoughlin.

    Trail Description: The trail starts off moderately flat and gradually ascends. The last half-mile becomes steeper, but the panoramic valley views make it worthwhile. You’ll encounter wildflowers and may spot various bird species along the way. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. The trail is usually snow-free from late May to October.

    To reach Hobart Bluff from Ashland:

    1. Head east on Highway 66.
    2. Look for the Hobart Bluff Trailhead near the highway.
    3. Park your vehicle and begin your hike

    Certainly! A Coydog is a fascinating hybrid resulting from the mating of a male coyote and a female domestic dog. Let’s explore some interesting facts about these unique canids:

    1. Hybrid Origins:
      • A Coydog is the product of a coyote (Canis latrans) and a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiars).
      • These two canids belong to different species, making the Coydog a canid hybrid.
      • Crossbreeding between coyotes and dogs has occurred for so long that the exact percentages of wild hybrids remain unknown.
    2. Characteristics:
      • Coydogs exhibit a mixture of traits inherited from both parents.
      • Their appearance and behavior can vary widely due to this genetic blend.
      • The exact proportions of coyote and dog characteristics are unpredictable.
    3. Fertility and Breeding:
      • Hybrids of both sexes are fertile and can be successfully bred for up to four generations.
      • Similarly, a hybrid with a dog father and a coyote mother is known as a dogote.
    4. Temperament and Care:
      • Coydogs can be challenging to handle, as they require a lot of affection and care.
      • Their temperament is akin to that of a child.
      • Due to the limited breeding season of coyotes, Coydogs are relatively rare.
    5. Habitat and Occurrence:
      • Coydogs occur in the wild where the number of other coyotes is scarce.
      • In areas with fewer potential mates, they may mingle with domesticated dogs for companionship or breeding.

     

     

     

  • 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 Visit to Byukchoji and First Garden in Paju County, Korea ‘

    “파주 별초지 정원.and s “퍼스트 가든 파주카운티“1.

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2SI

    welcome to Yeongjong International City’

    favorite places in Yeongjongdo

    Venice in Korea More Updates

    Spotify Podcast:

    audio file

    Byukchoji garden is a wonderful, beautiful botanical garden located in Paju County north of Seoul and not too far from the DMZ.  It spans over 130,000 square meters and has a mixture of Eastern and western themed gardens divided into six thematic areas – Sensational, Mythical, Mindful, Breathtaking, Adventurous, and Freedom. There is a decent coffee shop, bakery and restaurant on site.  There is also a nice art gallery showing pictures of famous botanical gardens from around the world and photos of the gardens taken by visitors.

    There is also a garden shop with flowers and plants for sale.  At the entrance gate, be sure to pick up the useful bilingual (Korean and English) guide map. It takes about an hour to walk around and truly appreciate the gardens. There is a very nice lotus pound in the center–the lotus flowers are in bloom in mid to late summer. The park is especially pretty in the Spring and Fall season.

    Transportation options

    To visit Byukchoji Garden from Seoul, you have several transportation options:

    1. Subway: Take the subway from Gondek Station to Wollongong Station on the Gyeongi Jungang Line, which takes about 59 minutes2.
    2. Bus: Take the line 704 bus from Seoul Station to Sonchus, which takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes2.
    3. Taxi: A taxi ride from Seoul to Byukchoji Gardens takes about 34 minutes2.
    4. Driving: If you choose to drive, it’s a 34-minute journey from Seoul to the gardens2.

    Note: to get there from Camp Humphreys take the GTX train from Pyeongtaek station, get off at Yongsan Station, got to Seoul station, then either take the subway or bus. The total trip should take about two hours. The park entry closes at 6 pm. The cost is quite modest, about 9,000 won  (US$ 7) per person.

     

     

     

     

     

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    First Garden, s “퍼스트 가든 파주카운티“

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    First Garden, s “퍼스트 가든 파주카운티“1. is another great botanical garden in Paju county, Korea near Goyang county.

    It’s known for its 23 themed gardens, including the Adonis Garden, and offers a variety of experiences such as a mini zoo and amusement park1.

    Transportation Options

    To get to First Garden using public transportation, you can follow these steps:

    From Camp Humphreys take the GTX line from Pyeongtaek station to Yongsan Station, then take the subway to Seoul station, take the Airport Express train one stop to Bangkok station then the Gyeongi Jungang subway and get off at Unjeong station and take either the bus or taxi.  Total travel time is about two hours. The park is open until 9 pm seven days a week and has several restaurant options on site.

    1. Subway: Take the Gyeongi Jungang subway line and get off at Unjeong Station.
    2. Bus: From Unjeong Station, take bus number 088, which runs at intervals of 30-40 minutes, and get off at the First Garden station1.

    Alternatively, taking a taxi from Unjeong Station to First Garden is also a convenient option, especially if you’re traveling in a group of 3-4 people. The taxi fare is approximately 10,000 won1.

    The cost is also 9,000 won or US$7).

    For more information, see the following:

    The Paju Byukchoji Gardens, also known as The Botanical Garden BCJ, is one of the famous breathtaking tourist attractions in South Korea, which was founded in 1965. This garden is located in the village of Changman-ri in Paju’s Gwangtan Township. The BCJ Gardens is spread over a vast 130,000 square meters with the polyphony of Eastern Gardens and Western Gardens as its main theme. This is also one of the K-Dreamland staples.

    Apart from that, the Garden is sorted into 6 amazing themes: Sensational, Mythical, Mindful, Breathtaking, Adventurous, and Freedom. As the name suggests, each themed portion of the Garden gives you a blissful experience.

    Sensational Tour

    The Sensational part of the garden greets you first as soon as you enter the BCJ Botanical Garden. This part of the garden has the majestic Queen’s Garden, which is surrounded by Wildflowers, potted herbs, and shrubs that look dramatically beautiful. The pine tree-lined grove is also a beautiful display to savor your eyes.

    Mythical Tour

    As you go through the tree-lined lane, you will find the Mythical area that is enclosed in Marley Castle’s gilded gates of Paju Byukchoji Gardens. This area covers some of the ancient sculpture gardens of Greece and Italy. Also, you can find a few sculptures that are done in honor of the Greek God Apollo and Italian artist Michaelangelo.

    Mindful Tour

    Then comes the Mindful-themed area, which is mostly covered by green natural forested paths, you will also find a nicely constructed wooden bridge over a pond which is one of the attractions of this area. The most captivating thing is the Waterfall in this area, which will comfort your eyes and release the tension from your body with its enchanting presence.

    Breathtaking Tour

    Right after the Waterfall comes to the Breathtaking area, and as the name suggests, it is truly a breathtaking sight. The wooden walkway on the Byukchoji Pond is just an amazing scene and bridge to walk upon, with many flowers in the pond. Needless to say, this is the pinnacle of BCJ Gardens.

    Adventurous Tour

    The Adventurous area is quite an adventure for kids, as it mainly consists of a birch forest playground and other things which attract kids to play in; other than that, there isn’t much to explore here.

    Freedom Tour

    Moving on to the final themed area Freedom. This part of the garden is filled with flower-covered arches, grassy fields, and a road completely dedicated to the harmonious reunification of North and South Korea.

    European and Asian-style gardens are the main attraction that brings people from various parts to have a look and enjoy the moment. The main highlight of these gardens is that it is good for kids and also for the people around the place to spend a good day with their loved ones. They also provide Wheelchair accessibility at the entrance for the disabled, which is a plus point.

    Timings and Entry Fee

    The Paju Byukchoji Gardens is open every day from 9 am-7 pm. To enjoy this beautiful garden at a slow pace, you need at least 3hrs, so make sure you are on time. And the tourists who arrive after 6 pm are basically out of luck as the ticket sales close at 6 pm. The adult ticket is 9.500 KRW.

    European and Asian-style gardens are the main attraction that brings people from various parts to have a look and enjoy the moment. The main highlight of these gardens is that it is good for kids and also for the people around the place to spend a good day with their loved ones. They also provide Wheelchair accessibility at the entrance for the disabled, which is a plus point.

    Timings and Entry Fee

    The Paju Byukchoji Gardens is open every day from 9 am-7 pm. To enjoy this beautiful garden at a slow pace, you need at least 3hrs, so make sure you are on time. And the tourists who arrive after 6 pm are basically out of luck as the ticket sales close at 6 pm. The adult ticket is 9.500 KRW.

    퍼스트가든웨딩 (firstgarden.co.kr)

     

     

     

  • 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 Fitness Regime –Updates

    flying jake
    flying jake
    bike
    bike
    excercise equipment
    excercise equipment

    pull up
    pull up
    ball
    ball
    ceregem
    ceregem

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Korean Food
    Korean Food

    Cosmos Fitness Regime –Updates

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2FA

    I have some updates to my fitness regime posting posted here with my original posting following.

    Weight Loss – Down to 175 pounds (79 K)

    First I successfully lost weight and kept it off. At the beginning of January, I was 195 lbs and now I am 175 lbs most days. Below 170 and a high of 180.

    How did I do it, you ask?

    Well, first of all, I lost almost 15 pounds, (7 K) because in January I came down with a bronchial infection, which could have been another bout with COVID, though I did not test for COVID.

    After that, I continued to change my diet and exercise program and continue to lose weight on a sustained basis.

    Changes to Diet – processed foods out, more beans, and veggies, daily bitter melon tea, less coffee, less wine, no beer.

     

    Every day I eat homemade Kefir or smoothies for breakfast, followed by fried rice, eggs, and soup or salad for lunch, and salad or fish or chicken for dinner occasionally lean beef for dinner, but most importantly no carbs for dinner. .

    I have added beans to my daily diet – the key is sprouting beans overnight before cooking them.  I add them to soups, salads, and even as a snack.

    .I reduced the amount of wine I’ve been drinking. So now I only drink maybe every other day at most.  I cut out all junk food, bread, pastries and chocolate, and no ice cream!  and I have reduced cereal consumption.

    every other day I am vegan or vegetarian.  Finally, we go out to eat no more than three or four times per week.

    Bitter Melon/Ugly Potato.Wormwood Tea

    I have added drinking bitter melon tea throughout the day and reduced my coffee consumption to two cups in the morning. I still drink homemade kombucha but limit it to one glass per morning. and I drink tea in the afternoon.  A day without earl gray is not a good day after all.

    And most importantly, right after I eat I exercise,  for 15 minutes to 30 minutes and a 3-mile walk at night.

     Reduction in cholesterol/glucose levels

    I have as a result of my weight loss, reduce my cholesterol level to the normal range, from the high level it was in January. And I’ve also reduced my blood sugar level to almost normal levels from a pre-diabetic level. My latest number was 106. The target number is 100.  The most important thing is I will be able to avoid taking cholesterol medicine, diabetic medicine, and high blood pressure medicine. Once you start taking those it is all downhill to death.  And diabetes is no picnic, my friend.

    increasing daily exercise

    Adding in using PIlate ball bouncing to an exercise routine. I bounce on the exercise ball at least one hour per day while watching TV.   the new rule is whenever I watch TV I exercise – using the ball, exercise bike, steps, and lifting weights.  At least an hour a day, often more and I go for a three-mile walk almost nightly.

    Going forward, I will resume doing yoga, and this summer we will go to the gym every night as it is more difficult to walk in the States than in Korea.

    Weekly Chiropatric  Massage

    my insurance covers chiropatric and theraputic massages up to 50 per year and have a good massage place we go once a week.

    Goal is to avoid having to take cholesterol. diabetics and high blood pressure medicine for life and to keep my weight down to 170-175 from now on.

    Original posting

    As some of you might know, I have been following a fitness regime for many years.  I offer these tips to you because I believe anyone can improve their health through daily exercise, and a better diet.

    Here are some of my tips for physical fitness and suggestions. It must be working.  I am usually about 187 pounds (now 175) and don’t take any prescription drugs, my cholesterol levels are good as are my blood sugar levels although they are a bit higher than I want them to be.  I suffer from Fibromyalgia, arthritis, and hammer toes. I also exercise daily, riding on my exercise bike while looking at my emails, and FB feeds, studying Korean, and going for a three-mile walk at least four times a month. Lately, I bought a pull-up bar and installed it on the doorway and I do it periodically throughout the day, squats, and swings, working my way up to doing pull-ups. I write in my journal every morning, and I also go for a walk every day and play the piano daily. I eat a lot of homemade food including Kefir, and Kombucha. and I am gluten-free.

    here are my diet recommendations, my physical exercise regime, my daily writing regime, and my piano-playing regime.

    I hope it inspires you to take charge of your physical and mental fitness.

    Diet

     

    I start my day by drinking coffee and watching the news while writing in my journals.

    Coffee

    The first two cups are fully loaded – coffee, decafe, with yoga detox tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk.

    Sometimes I add in protein plant superfoods from Costco containing the following:

    Organic Protein Blend: Pea Protein, Brown Rice Protein, Chia Seed, Hemp Protein1.

    Organic Creamer Base: Acacia Gum, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Inulin, Rice Dextrin’s, Rice Bran Extract, Rosemary Extract1.

    Organic Superfoods Blend: Organic Greens and Grasses Blend (Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Oat Grass, Alfalfa Grass, Kale, Spinach), Organic Berry Blend (Acai, Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Sweet Potato, Cherry, Pomegranate, Strawberry), Organic Veggie Blend (Beet, Broccoli, Carrot, Tomato, Parsley, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale), Organic Sprout Blend (Amaranth Sprout, Quinoa Sprout, Millet Sprout, Buckwheat Sprout, Garbanzo Bean Sprout, Lentil Sprout, Adzuki Sprout, Flax Sprout, Sunflower Sprout, Pumpkin Sprout, Chia Sprout, Sesame Sprout), Organic Ancient Grains Blend (Amaranth, Quinoa, Buckwheat, Millet, Chia), Organic Fiber Blend (Oat Fiber, Rice Bran, Acacia Fiber), Organic Cinnamon, Organic Erythritol, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Stevia, Organic Food Based B Vitamin Blend (Organic Guava, Organic Holy Basil, Organic Lemon Extract), Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Probiotics (Bacillus coagulants) 1

    smoothie

    Smoothie Blues

    Smoothie Love

    Smoothie Madness

     

    smoothie ingredients

     

     

     

     

    my daily breakfast
    includes blueberries
    in my smoothie
    apple cider vinegar
    blueberry, strawberry, oranges
    banana, pineapple,
    cinnamon
    coconut oil
    home made kefir
    kale
    kombucha.

    ginseng

    ginger

    honey
    maca root
    spinach
    wheatgrass

    stevia
    50 superfoods plant protein powder

    Organic Protein Blend: Pea Protein, Brown Rice Protein, Chia Seed, Hemp Protein1.

    Organic Creamer Base: Acacia Gum, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Inulin, Rice Dextrin’s, Rice Bran Extract, Rosemary Extract1.

    Organic Superfoods Blend: Organic Greens and Grasses Blend (Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Oat Grass, Alfalfa Grass, Kale, Spinach), Organic Berry Blend (Acai, Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Sweet Potato, Cherry, Pomegranate, Strawberry), Organic Veggie Blend (Beet, Broccoli, Carrot, Tomato, Parsley, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale), Organic Sprout Blend (Amaranth Sprout, Quinoa Sprout, Millet Sprout, Buckwheat Sprout, Garbanzo Bean Sprout, Lentil Sprout, Adzuki Sprout, Flax Sprout, Sunflower Sprout, Pumpkin Sprout, Chia Sprout, Sesame Sprout), Organic Ancient Grains Blend (Amaranth, Quinoa, Buckwheat, Millet, Chia), Organic Fiber Blend (Oat Fiber, Rice Bran, Acacia Fiber), Organic Cinnamon, Organic Erythritol, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Stevia, Organic Food Based B Vitamin Blend (Organic Guava, Organic Holy Basil, Organic Lemon Extract), Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Probiotics (Bacillus coagulants) 1

    all blended to perfection
    that is my daily breakfast
    fit for a champion.

    Salt Of Life

    Every day

    I eat a little

    Himalayan Pink Salt

    In my food.

     

    That and real salt

    From Salt Lake City

    Will enable me.

    To live to be

    A ripe old man.

     

    So, my advice to you all

    Add real salt to your food,

    And watch your weight go down,

    And your life extension begins.

     

    Kefir

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-jz

    Growing Kombucha and Kefir in Korea

    When we moved to Yeongjong island, near the Incheon Airport, we found that we would be deprived of two of our three favorite miracle foods, Kombucha and Kefir. But we were pleasantly surprised to find we could order our third favorite health food item, wheat grass for home delivery. Have not seen it in the stores but have seen it in some smoothie places as well as home delivery. best to mix it in a smoothie. Wheatgrass juice does not taste that great!

    Growing Kombucha and Kefir in Korea

    Kombucha

    Living in Oregon was great. Kombucha is everywhere. Costco carries Kombucha everywhere except in Korea. The best brand we found was Gingerade. But I liked sampling the kombucha everywhere, several bars brew it on-site and you can fill up a growler and take it home.

    What is Kombucha, you ask? It is fermented tea, filled with powerful probiotics and it is so good for your health. It does contain 1 percent alcohol so that should not get you into trouble with the new draconian drunk driving laws here in Korea!

    Since neither the Commissary nor Costco nor anyone else carried it, or even knew what it was, we decided that we had to brew it ourselves. The starter kit we brought with us had gone bad. So, we bought kombucha from Amazon and used that and the leftover starter kit to get started.

    We used green tea as the base. Straight black tea and jasmine tea will work but not Earl Grey due to the bergamot oil in the tea.

    We brewed up several gallons of tea, added sugar, the starter kit, and the cans of kombucha. Then we put it in a sprouted warmer kit ordered from Amazon and wrapped another gallon in an electric blanket. You have to keep the kombucha at about 80 degrees F (26.67 Celsius).

    Then we waited for six weeks. Finally ready to go today and we bottled it and started our next batch!
    Here’s what it looks like with the scuzzy taken out of the kombucha.

    kombucha

    Kefir

    Making Kefir was easy, we’ve been making it for years. We had started kits we bought in Oregon before we left. Just got some organic milk and we were in business. If you have to use Korean milk, make sure it is full-fat milk, 2 percent makes watery kefir. There are recipes for using almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk but we have not used them because we heard it would be pretty watery. Might want to try Goat milk sometime though. The Commissary’s organic full-fat Milk is perfect. You can also buy Kefir at the Commissary just to see if you like it but their Kefir has extra sugar in it and I am not sure it would be a good starter mix. Best to order the starter kits from Amazon (they will be delivered to a local address) and you should not have any problems. But with both be sure you sanitize your containers with hot boiling water before making either kombucha or kefir. Need to keep stray random non-cultured bacteria out of the mix.

    See below for articles on the health benefits of Kombucha and Kefir, articles on how to make it, and where to buy it locally.

    As a personal testimony a few years ago, I noticed that I did not have hay fever in the Spring. I used to have to make a trip to the urgent care/ER because I got so inflamed that I could not even open my eyes and I was sneezing so bad. The medicine they gave me worked a bit but I mostly just suffered. Then I started eating kefir for breakfast and drinking Kombucha and my hay fever disappeared.!

    External Links

    Health benefits of Kefir

    health benefits of Kefir

    Health benefits of Kombucha

    Health Benefits of Kombucha

    How to make kombucha at home

    how to make kombucha at home

    how to make kefir

    where to buy kombucha in Seoul

    Note:

    Kombucha is now widely available in Korea.  My brother-in-law even has a side hustle making Mama Kombucha.  You buy it in stores and some coffee shops.

     

    Bing AI provided some places where you can find Kombucha and Kefir in Korea.  The commissaries carry it, a few larger grocery chains now carry both.

    Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea drink that is popular for its health benefits1. In Korea, you can find kombucha in various forms, such as:

    CORE BIO is a company that produces organic kombucha with different flavors, such as lemon, ginger, and berry. You can order their products online from their website2 or find them in some health food stores.

    TEAZEN is another company that offers kombucha in powder stick form, which you can mix with water or juice. They claim to be the world’s first to introduce this convenient way of consuming kombucha. You can also order their products online from their website3 or find them in some supermarkets and convenience stores.

    Homebrewing is an option if you want to make your kombucha at home. You will need a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), tea, sugar, and a glass jar. You can buy a SCOBY online or get one from a friend who already brews kombucha. Some online tutorials and recipes can guide you through the process of making your kombucha.

     

    Kefir is a fermented milk drink that contains probiotics, which are beneficial for your gut health1. In Korea, you can find kefir in different ways, such as:

    Buying ready-made kefir drinks from some supermarkets, convenience stores, or online shops. Some brands that offer kefir drinks are CORE BIO, TEAZEN, and Lifeway. They have various flavors and types of kefir, such as organic, low-fat, or powder stick234.

    Make your kefir at home with kefir grains and milk. Kefir grains are a mixture of bacteria and yeast that ferment milk and produce kefir. You can buy kefir grains online or get them from someone who already makes kefir. You will also need a glass jar, a cloth, and a rubber band to cover the jar. Many online guides and videos can show you how to make kefir at home1.

    Visiting a kefir cafe where you can enjoy fresh kefir drinks and other products made with kefir, such as smoothies, ice cream, or cheese. Some examples of kefir cafes in Korea are Kefir Lab in Seoul, Kefir House in Busan, and Kefir Story in Daegu.

    Ode to Kombucha

    We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our homemade kefir and our power smoothies.  If I keep this up, I will live to be a hundred years old.  Only 45 more years to go….

    kombuchaOde to Kombucha

     

     

     

    gt-kombucha
    gt-kombucha

     

     

     

     

    Kombucha
    Only drink it in the morning
    Morning Delight

    By the dawning sun
    Up at the morning dawn
    Can’t wait for my morning cup
    Have to have my kombucha
    At least once a day.

    Ode to Kefir

    Kefir
    Everyday
    Food of the gods
    In every way
    Radiant health will follow.

    THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA

    It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota has been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store-bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster I impart to you the secrets of homemade kombucha!

    The goal of this guide is to be your one-stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hope right to it.

    HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA: OVERVIEW

    This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):

    Make SCOBY (1 to 4 weeks) – to make the “mother.”

    First Fermentation (6 to 10 days) – to make the actual kombucha.

    Second Fermentation (3 to 10 days) – to carbonate the kombucha.

    You can also click to jump to a few useful resources:

    Supplies needed – My top tools for brewing ‘Buch.

    Kombucha FAQ – Be sure to check out the comments section as well for answers to many questions.

    Get the printable guide – Everything from this post, in printable PDF form.

    HOW TO MAKE KOMBUCHA VIDEO

       How to Make Homemade Kombucha

    Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.

    No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.

    Cleaning is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slip in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).

    Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder weather.

    No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.

    Milk kefir is not only easy to make, but it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.

    BEFORE YOU BEGIN

    These instructions utilize the traditional starter culture known as milk kefir grains, rehydrated and ready-to-make milk kefir. If you wish to make milk kefir with a powdered Kefir Starter Culture, consult our article on How to Make Kefir with Direct-set Starter Culture.

    If you have purchased our dehydrated milk kefir grains, please follow the instructions included with your milk kefir grains or watch our how-to video on How to Activate Milk Kefir Grains to get started.

    If you wish to use raw milk to make milk kefir, be sure to activate your milk kefir grains using pasteurized milk first. You can then slowly transition them to raw milk.

    WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MILK KEFIR

    To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.

    Supplies for Making Milk Kefir

    You’ll need the following supplies to make milk kefir, most of which can be found in the Milk Kefir Starter Kit. For more information on what supplies work best (and what to avoid) read our tutorial: Choosing the Best Equipment for Making Milk Kefir.

     

    A glass jars.

    A non-metal stirring utensil.

    A breathable cover for the jar such as a tight-weave towel, butter muslin, paper towel, or paper coffee filter

    A band to secure the cover to the jar like a rubber band or canning jar ring.

    A fine mesh plastic strainer for removing the kefir grains from the finished kefir

    Ingredients for Making Milk Kefir

    Consult our article on choosing milk for making kefir to help you decide which milk is best for you!

     

    1-2 teaspoons active Milk Kefir Grains

    Cow or goat milk

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING MILK KEFIR

    Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.

    Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.

    Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.

    Culture until milk is slightly thickened and the aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.

    After the milk changes texture and culturing is complete, separate the kefir grains from the finished kefir.

    Place the kefir grains in a new batch of milk.

    Store the finished kefir in the refrigerator.

    REMOVING GRAINS FROM FINISHED MILK KEFIR

    Use Your (Clean!) Fingers

    As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.

    Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer

    Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.

    Pour Kefir into A Shallow Bowl

    This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.

    OVER-THICKENED KEFIR

    While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    Following the above process, you can make milk kefir at home regularly. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.

    Resting Your Milk Kefir Grains

    If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaks and drying them for longer breaks.

    In either case, your grains must be activated and cultured kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-1mr

    physical fitness regime

     

    most days I go for a three to five-mile walk, bike five K on my exercise bike, do three sets of pull-ups/swings, and do yoga and weightlifting.  About two hours total per day.  While in the park I do some pull-downs, twisting wheels, and cross-training as well.

    I may sign up for a gym and join a Pilates or yoga club.

    I also do ceregem massage bed, weekly massage therapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion at home.

    I keep track of my fitness in my daily journal noting what I did the day before, including what I ate using the following format: (November 2 entry/followed by May 5 entry)

    November 2

    Health

              Weight: 188

              BM:

              Symptoms:  moderate pain levels

              Doctor Visit:  scheduled November 7th for follow-up re chronic leg pain

              Results:  TBC

              Follow-Up Due: March 2024

              Med News Items:

    Diet:

               Breakfast:   smoothie

              Lunch           rice, soup, fish Korean side dishes

    `         Dinner          GF Pizza

    snacks:        

              Dessert:    

              Drinks: Alcohol nó Alcohol Day

    blend decaf, kombucha, coffee, fake coffee, fruit juices, etc

     

    Exercise

              Actual:

              bike seven k

    pull up three times consisting of 3 sets of squats, and two sets of swinging.

    New strategy

    15 three sets of 50 reps per weight

    15 minutes of Yoga

    5 sets of 50-step reps

    5k on the bike

    3 miles walk.

    Grip periodically 100 reps

    Standing desk for two hours

    pull up 5.

                         pull down 200.

                         wheel 200

                         Ceregem: 

                         foot massage unit:

    neck shoulder massage unit:

     

    Moxibustion

    Ceregeem pulls up.

    while walking exercise in the park

    twisting 200

    cross training

    pull-downs

    Acupuncture weekly

    Massage weekly

     

    May 5 Entry

              Health

              Weight: 176

              BM:

              Symptoms:

              Doctor Visit:  

              Results:

              Follow-Up Due:

              Med News Items:

              Blood sugar testing 106

              other testing

    Diet:

               Breakfast:   kefir

              Lunch          chicken, fried rice  and salad

              Dinner        soup

    snacks:      

              Dessert:    

              Drinks: Alcohol None

    blend decaf, kombucha, coffee, fake coffee, fruit juices, etc

     

    Exercise

              Actual:

    `         2 hour pilates ball

              weights

              chin-up

     

    New strategy

    15 three sets of 50 reps per weight

    30 minutes of Yoga

    5 sets of 50-step reps

    5k on the bike

    3 miles walk.

    Grip periodically 100 reps

    Standing desk for two hours

    pull up/swing  10

    wear the pain patch 2 hours

     

                        Ceregem: 

                        foot massage unit:

    neck shoulder massage unit:

    Moxibustion

    Acupuncture weekly

    Massage weekly

     

    in park

     

    pull down 200.

                         wheel 200 in the park

     cross trainer

    Ceregem treatment

     

    I first bought a cergem acupressure massage bed in 1996 and use it almost every day.  the bed uses infrared heat and jade technology to provide acupressure therapy as the jade crystals move up and down your spine providing long-lasting pain relief leading to deeper sleep.  I usually use it while reading before going to bed.

    Note:  will probably upgrade to a full massage chair in the fall.

    from Bing AI review

     

    Ceregem massage bed is a therapeutic bed that uses a combination of massage, heat, and acupressure to provide relaxation and relief from pain. The bed is designed to provide a full-body massage that targets pressure points and helps to improve blood circulation. Here are some of the benefits of using a Ceregem massage bed:

    1. Relaxation: The massage bed provides a relaxing experience that can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
    2. Pain relief: The bed’s massage and heat functions can help to relieve pain and soreness in the muscles and joints.
    3. Improved circulation: The massage bed’s acupressure function can help to improve blood circulation, which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
    4. Better sleep: The bed’s massage function can help to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.
    5. Detoxification: The bed’s heat function can help to promote sweating, which can help to eliminate toxins from the body.

    Please note that while the Ceregem massage bed has many potential benefits, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.

    Moxibustion Treatment

    angela moxi

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I have been moxibution treatment for about a year now. we have a home kit which we do in conjunction with using the ceregem massage therapy bed. About two to three treatments per week are ideal.  We also occasionally go to a clinic for treatment.

    Moxibustion involves burning wormwood and applying it to your skin.  It is an ancient Chinese-Korean medical treatment.  for more info read the following from the Bing AI chat on moxibution.

    Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves burning dried mugwort on or near the skin’s surface to stimulate acupuncture points. It is believed to have several health benefits, including:

    1. Pain relief: Moxibustion can help to relieve pain and soreness in the muscles and joints.
    2. Improved digestion: Moxibustion can help to improve digestion and alleviate digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
    3. Reduced inflammation: Moxibustion can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help to alleviate symptoms of conditions such as arthritis and asthma.
    4. Improved blood circulation: Moxibustion can help to improve blood circulation, which can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
    5. Stress relief: Moxibustion can help to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety.

    Please note that while moxibustion has many potential benefits, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.

     

    mental fitness regime

    Alzheimer’s Prevention

    I heard a long time ago that playing music, learning languages, and doing mental games like crossword puzzles every day is the best thing you can do to ward off the dreaded Dementia or Alzheimer’s.   Since my mother died of Alzheimer’s I am at increased risk.  I have been doing all three for almost a year now, playing the piano, studying Korean via Duolingo and watching K Dramas, doing daily writing prompts, writing three to five poems or short stories per day every day, and writing down my dreams and journal entries writing three to four hours every day, and weekly blog postings, instead of crossword puzzles.

    daily writing in my journals

    I have been writing a daily journal since my 40s.  I write down my dreams, my anxieties, my daydreams, and  nightmares, and draft poetry and stories first.

    then I write my journal including what I did the day before, major news items, things to note, goals for the day, what I ate the day before, and my daily exercise/health statistics.

    I save my creative work at least once a week, including putting down my work on my creative writing spreadsheet to keep track of everything.  I write anywhere from one to ten pieces every day.

    I also keep track of books read, movie/TV shows seen and music played to and listened to.

    I am currently reading the classics =Finishing Plato’s The Republic.

    daily piano playing

    I have been playing the piano almost daily now for a year. Usually between 5 and 6:30 pm. Due to noise restrictions can’t play after 7 p.m. as I live in a high-rise apartment building.

    This time around I have started analyzing the music before I play it noting the music areas to pay attention to including key, key changes, registry changes, very high and very low notes which are hard for me to read, and repetition patterns.  I found that this simple step has paid off in helping me play a lot better and I feel my skills are returning to where they were when I last played about seven years ago. I am sure I will achieve my lifelong goal of reaching semi-professional level playing within a few years.

    I highly recommend this tip, playing each hand separately first when doing complicated counterpoint like in Bach, and listening, when possible, to the music you are going to play on YouTube while reading the score, to anyone returning to playing music.

    I recently played my first Mozart Sonata and well I did not do badly.  I will return to it next year after finishing other piano books.

    For more details see my “Playing Mozart Sonatas.”

    https://wp.me/p7NAzO-2EO

     

    Daily writing prompts

    Every day I write something following prompts from Pensively 101, Writer’s Cramp, and Fan Story.

    Here’s my entry for May 5

    Sunday, May 5, 2024

     

    Flavor of Korean Food

    Korean Food
    Korean Food

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Korean food

    is celebrated worldwide

    for its intense flavor

    and pungent fragrances

    the flavor comes from Korean herbs

    garlic, ginger, ginseng, Kimchi, onions, leeks

    mushrooms, red peppers, sesame,

    and in springtime, wild mountain herbs.

     

     


    CELEBRATIONS!

    The 18th annual HerbDay will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2024. It’s an international celebration of herbs aimed at educating and sharing ideas about the many ways herbs bring joy and well-being into our daily lives. We celebrate the use of herbs in food, beverages, medicine, beauty products, and crafts, along with the art of growing and gardening with herbs.

     

    Join Hands Day, observed across the United States on the first Saturday in May, is a way to cultivate unity by uniting the older generation with the younger generation in a day of volunteering. When young people have a chance to interact with seniors, they develop communication skills, positive attitudes about aging, problem-solving abilities, broader social networks, and a sense of purpose.

    Trumpian Sophy’s Quatern

     

     

     

    Former President Trump lies all the time.

    He can’t help himself he is a con man.

    But, he fears in his mind he is past his prime.

    To his followers, he is a real he-man.

     

    Now, at long last he is on trial for his crime

    Former President Trump lies all the time.

    Will he be found guilty, and serve hard time?

    Will he, in the end, be sentenced to prison time?

     

    He spends his time committing cybercrime

    In the end, he is nothing but a criminal.

    Former President Trump lies all the time.

    Unpredictable, unforgivable.

     

    In 2024, we must all choose.

    Two old candidates past their prime-time.

    If we make the wrong choice, we all may lose,

    Former President Trump lies all the time.

     

     

    New Prompt: The last form in this Poetry Week is a form invented by Sophy  – Sophie’s Quatern.
    Information about this form can be read here: “Sophy’s Quatern”

    Title of your work: Being Free (in honour of Liberation Day in The Netherlands tomorrow)

    Sometimes new forms are developed especially for a contest. This is such a form. It was developed for a “Poetry folly”, in which poets were allowed to write poetry at its worst, just for the fun of it. So my friend Sophy (543) developed this form:

    * Sophy’s Quatern contains four stanzas of four lines each.

    * Every line has ten syllables.

    * No meter required.

    * There is a rhyme scheme:
    — abab, caca, adad, eaea

    * Line 1 of the first stanza is repeated
    — as line 2 of second stanza
    — as line 3 of third stanza
    — as line 4 of last stanza.

    An example:

    Sometimes new forms are developed especially for a contest. This is such a form. It was developed for a “Poetry folly”, in which poets were allowed to write poetry at its worst, just for the fun of it. So my friend Sophy (543) developed this form:
    — abab, caca, adad, eaea

    Rain falls down, after a morning of sun
    the bright blue sky has disappeared; it’s grey.
    Children argue; they don’t have any fun
    they have to stay indoors; but will not play.

    Hear, a mother screams, a frustrated voice
    rain falls down, after a morning of sun.
    I close my eyes and sigh, I have no choice
    than go on; this, my work, needs to be done.

    My husband comes home… boy! He had to run,
    too much rain fell on his head, I just smile
    …rain falls down, after a morning of sun…
    then nod… complaining is just not his style.

    The last strokes on my painting, it looks nice
    Content I finished what I had begun.
    My children play Yahtzee, rolling the dice;
    rain falls down, after a morning of sun.

     

     

     

     

     

    President Trump Lies Yabba Dabba Doo Fan Story

     

     

     

     

    It is a sad day

    Former President Trump will lie

    He is nothing but the ultimate con man

    To his followers, he is a he-man

    And so many people must die

     

    Why do people take his advice?

    Why do they want to follow this evil man?

    Why do they believe he is a great man?

    Why did so many covid patients die

    when will Americans wake up from the Trumpian nightmare

    Will god even listen to us and  our prayer

    the rhyming pattern is:
    xabba
    xabba
    cc

    a yabba dabba doo poem

    Created by: shelley kaye

     

     

    i know ‘I’m posting this a couple of days early 🙂 first and foremost, I would like to thank you all for letting me take April off to do NaPoWriMo!! it is much appreciated!! 🙂

    and now our potlatch poetic prompt for the week of May 5-11, 2024

    The YABBA DABBA DO was created by Havyk Dementius of Allpoetry

    It is syllabic with three stanzas of two quintets and a rhyming couplet:

    syllable count is:

    5/10/10/10/10
    15/10/10/10/10
    15/15

    The rhyming pattern is:
    xabba
    xabba
    cc

    Example Poem

    Cluttered Nest by Lawrencealot

    I’m motivated
    yet have so many things I have to do
    I have no notion where I ought to start.
    Sometimes I wish that I had had a clue-
    I should have started with another part.

    You left to visit relatives living several states a way.
    I’ve cleaned out what was called garage- in fact
    the cars can now be driven right inside.
    A double storage shed I’ve built out back
    for all the detritus we must abide.

    Since we’re storing the kids stuff ’til they decide to move away
    out of sight it?s hiding now; our kids and stuff will always stay.

    Hurricanes Storms

     

    Hurricanes

    blowing through the town

    sent by God

     

     

    3-5-3 ‘Air’ Poem

    Write a three-line, 3-5-3 syllable count, poem on any aspect of the theme ‘air’. It can be on breeze, wind, tornadoes, hurricanes, twisters, breath, or any other topic directly related to air. Creative approaches are welcome.

    A Lunatic Howling At The Light Of The Full Moon

     

    just a lunatic howling at the light of the full pink moon

     

    MONOKU POEM

    Created by: Gypsy Blue Rose

    This week we feature a MONOKU poem. You may use the event’s picture or your own.

    A Monoku is a type of poem which is made up of a single horizontal line. It’s currently accepted as a variant of the haiku form of poetry. Monoku emerged as an independent style of poetry in the 1970s.

    Unlike Haiku, written in three lines, Monoku features a single line consisting of seventeen syllables or less. It must be as brief as possible. Use a dash to pause anywhere in your one line.

    It contains a pause brought about by speech rhythm with slight or no punctuation. The first letter should not be capitalized – but instead written in lowercase.

    MONOKU’S HISTORY – It’s a type of one-liner haiku that’s brief and clear. MONO (one) is a Greek prefix plus KU a Japanese suffix (mono + ku) to create a new English term MONOKU originated in 1970 by Jim Kacian. the haiku foundation organization

    Example

    an icicle– the moon drifting through it by Matsuo Allard (1978) poetrysoup.com

     

    Former President Lies Choka

     

    Former President Lies

    he lies all the day because

    it is Buddha Nature

     

    No consequences

    to his presidential lies

    It seems no one cares at all

     

    In the morning he lies

    throughout the day just because

    he is an evil SOB

     

     

    CHOKA POEM

    Created by: Gypsy Blue Rose

    This week we are featuring a CHOKA poem. You may use the event’s picture or your own.

    CHOKA-It’s a traditional form of Japanese poetry created during the Japanese Court era during the 6th to the 14th centuries consisting of nine-lines in a 5/7/5/7/5/7/5/7/7 syllables pattern and may be repeated. Choka means a long poem. Over time, Choka influenced the development of other Japanese poetic forms, such as tanka and haiku.

    for examples and more information from the Poets Collective CLICK HERE

    Choka

    The most intricate Japanese Poetry form is the Choka, or Long Poem.

    The early form consisted of a series of Katuata joined together. This gives a choice of form structures of

     

    5/7/5/5/7/7… etc.  or  5/7/7/5/7…etc

     

    The Choka could be any total line length and indeed many exceeded 100 lines.

    Looking at this, it is easy to see why Poetic Historians believe the Katuata is the original basic unit of Japanese poetry using either the 17 or 19 unit onji.

     

    Pasted from <http://www.thepoetsgarret.com/Challenge/choka.html#choka>

     

    Another interpretation –

     

    Choka

    Type: Structure, Metrical Requirement, Simple
    Description: The choka is a Japanese form of unrhymed alternating five and seven syllable lines that ends with an extra seven syllable line. It can be any odd number of lines.
    Origin: Japanese
    Schematic: A nine-line choka would be:xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxxxx

    Pasted from <http://www.poetrybase.info/forms/000/41.shtml>

    The choka (長歌 long poem) was the epic, story telling form of Japanese poetry from the 1st to the 13th century, known as the Waka period. Storytelling was rare in the Japanese language during the Waka period although it is found in the Man’yôshû and even the Kokinshú. Most often the Japanese poet would write epics in classical Chinese. Still, the occasional poet with a story to tell would tackle the choka, the earliest of which can be traced back to the 1st century. It describes a battle and is 149 lines long.

     

    Originally chokas were sung, but not in the Western sense of being sung. The oral tradition of the choka was to recite the words in a high pitch.

     

    Pasted from <http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/index.php?/topic/1140-choka/>

     

    I always check this site for confirmation when cross-checking forms Judi Van Gorder has done a remarkable job for PMO.

     

    Choka

    Type: Structure, Metrical Requirement, Simple
    Description: The choka is a Japanese form of unrhymed alternating five and seven syllable lines that ends with an extra seven syllable line. It can be any odd number of lines.
    Origin: Japanese
    Schematic: A nine-line choka would be:xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxx
    xxxxxxx
    xxxxxxx

    Pasted from <http://www.poetrybase.info/forms/000/41.shtml>

    Definition

     

    The most intricate Japanese Poetry form is the Choka, or Long Poem.

    The early form consisted of a series of Katuata joined together. This gives a choice of form structures of ….. 5 – 7 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7.. etc, or .. 5 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 7 – 5.. etc.

    Example

     

    The Moth

    there is no freedom

    escaping from my cocoon

    I must seek you once again

    I am drawn to you

    like a moth to a candle

    circling nearer and nearer

    the deadly flame calls

    now my wings are scorched

    why must my nature be so?

     

    Pasted from <http://www.poetrysoup.com/forms_of_poetry/C#Choka>

     

    Specifications, Restated:

    Origin:                          :  Japanese

    The form is syllabic : 5/7/7/5/7/7   or  5/7/5/5/7/5

    Traditional style       : Stanzas consisting of any number of the above structures (called Katuata)
    or  alternaively        : Alternating five and seven syllable lines that end with an extra 7 syllable line.

    Unrhymed.

    Meant for longer poems.

     

    I have written a one using the Katuata style.

     

    Poem Sample

     

    Above the Sun (choka) Katuata Version
    setting out with you
    in late summer’s rising sun
    hastens Honchu’s heat
    yet our packs hold coats
    which hold nourishment for us
    for cold nights ahead.
    many foreigners
    pass and are passed as we climb
    the holy mountain;
    all are of like mind-
    to climb to Mount Fuji’s peak
    for spiritual joy.
    We begin our last
    ascent early in the night-
    cold now, velvet sky
    lightens, bows to rising sun.
    We watch from above, awed.
    © Lawrencealot – November 23,2013

    Visual Templates.

    (with Thanks to Judi, I used her poem to depict the alternating line version)

     

    Tagged 5/7/5/5/7/5, 5/7/7/5/7/7, Japanese, katuata, syllabic, unrhymed, Van Gorder. Bookmark the permalink.

    for more information click here

    the Lies of Donald Trump

    I recalled all the lies of Donald Trump

    Scenes from Unfrosted

     

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poetry and rants by the Cosmos

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