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It’s now three weeks since both Blinkedin and Biden held face-to-face meetings DEMANDING that China needs to immediately start sanctioning Russia and stop being their friend, or else immediate and severe consequences would occur.
China refused and said NO!
And as far as I can see, there are only two events that occured that could be considered as “immediate and severe” repercussions.
[1] Coronavirus outbreaks. Simultaneous COVID outbreaks hitting major cities throughout China. Resulting in lock-downs and quarantine measures.
[2] The crash of a Chinese domestic airliner. It was an American Boeing craft and it drove straight towards the ground with throttles set at full.
Let’s look at the big picture…
There are events going on that are CLEAR. The United States has provoked Russia, and is now engaging in war against Russia in all ways; including kinetic via proxy.
What is also CLEAR is that the clock is ticking, and the timetable is in place. First, one Asian nation and then the other. First it is Russia, then China. Everything is following towards the strategies mapped out by RAND. This is publically known as a “pivot to Asia” (once Russia is suppressed.)
The RAND plan specifies a 2025 conflict conclusion with China.
It will be initiated by a provocation (a “Red Line” crossing) with Taiwan. And America will benefit substantially while China will be a quivering wreck, and ripe for CIA sponsored “regime change” via “color revolution”.
RAND details a 1-2 year war with China aimed at [1] destroying its trade network, [2] destroying its resource access, [3] collapsing its economy, and of course, [4] regime change.
The United States still seems to be following this plan. I see no evidence otherwise.
The window of opportunity for realizing these 2016 plans was originally given as ending in 2025; that may be much sooner now. Perhaps moved up to just before the November midterm elections, for the added “rally around the President” domestic effect.
I am not at all saying the US is destined to succeed, but it would be foolish not to note their telegraphed plans, and foolish to dismiss either their destructive power or their desperation.
What we can note is that both China and Russia have taken these telegraphed plans to heart, and have substantially and systemically disassembled all their components.
Let’s take a look at what has transpired since Obama funded this plan, four years of Trump, and now into the second year of the Biden administration…
[1] Destroying China’s trade network.
The Chinese BRI is continuing to plan.
The interruptions in SE Asia have all failed.
The “Color Revolutions” in Kazakhstan were prevented.
The “Color Revolutions” in Belarus were prevented.
The USD is substantially weakened and there are now other trade currencies.
There ARE interruptions in American domestic trade.
[2] Destroying China’s resource access.
Agreements between Russia for resources.
Agreements with South America and Latin America for resources.
Agreements with Africa for resources.
They are interruptions for America, and the EU for resource access.
[3] Collapsing China’s economy.
After attempts at inducing famine in China, China recovered.
New rules and controls have been implemented.
China is at DEFCON 2, and carefully monitoring everything.
USD entry into China is tightly controlled.
Both the American and EU economy is under collapse.
[4] Regime change inside of China.
COVID bioweapon attack failed.
Color revolutions in HK were suppressed.
Color revolutions in Tibet were suppressed.
Color revolutions in Xinjiang (Uighur) were suppressed.
The Chinese are more patriotic than ever. With near 95% approval.
Unrest in the United States is growing, with massive inflation.
Obviously, the plans to seize and destroy China have failed.
However, this fact appears to be ignored by the American “leadership”. In fact, President Biden has “doubled down” and is proceeding as if everything is still on track and to plan
So what is also CLEAR is that the United States is not adjusting its strategy in regard to it’s plans for global domination, given its failures. That is suggestive of many things. But most notably, that “no one is at the helm”. The leadership; the Captain is absent.
Instead of adjusting leadership strategies as events change (known as “structural leadership”), it appears that the actual “Leadership” are continuing to follow the previously approved script in every detail. They are doing so mindlessly, or (as we used to say in the United States) “on automatic pilot”.
This is unusual, disturbing, and problematic.
On one hand, it means that the actions of the United States are easily predicted. Russia and China can well anticipate, plan, and modify the events, in effect, tailoring the outcomes.
On the other hand, it means that the worst case scenarios as defined by the RAND study will manifest. Now, the RAND study assumed that political realities would limit nuclear MAD responses, what I see at this time is that the nuclear MAD reality is a real objective outcome.
Bummer.
Ok, as is my preference, we will provide elements of Geo-political news, interspersed with other subjects. I have to tell you all, troll attacks, and ‘bot attacks have dropped to zero. It works like a charm.
Chinese Girl in a store
Yes. This is pretty much how girls in China are, and what stores in China look like. video 3.6MB
She’s really nice. Don’t you think?
A Polish general has an eye on Kaliningrad.
“Warsaw should seek to “claim” the Kaliningrad region from Russia, General Waldemar Skrzypczak has said.
The region has been “under Russian occupation since 1945,” the ex-commander of the Polish Land Forces claimed on the TV show ‘Super Express’ on Friday.
“It might be worth asking for it, as it used to be with the Regained Territories,” Skrzypczak said, referring to the Eastern German territories incorporated into Poland after the defeat of Nazi Germany. “It might be worth asking for this Kaliningrad region, which, in my opinion, is part of the territory of Poland.””
That would be pretty difficult, as the United States has sanctioned Russia and is waging war with them. Poland is one of the proxies involved in this effort.
The United States DEMANDS that China obey sanctions against Russia
I came across this excellent TASS article summarizing the 4 February 2022 Russia/China Joint Declaration. It’s a helpful reminder, on just how far-reaching the Declaration is and the principles it’s based upon. These are some the many, many key paragraphs, although there are more:
"This declaration formalizes the de facto established union of Russia and China. We have been talking a great deal about strategic interaction. This is a real embodiment of this interaction," Maslov said.He stressed that in their joint statement Russia and China described the principles they would rely on in developing global cooperation."These principles are absolutely not new ones," he remarked. "In fact, the statement heralds a return to the original UN principles that were laid down back in the 1940s and 1950s."The expert believes that the document is a clear sign the countries "share common values, a common understanding of democracy and the idea of the national nature of this democracy, pool together many international projects, the EAEU and the One Belt-One Road and also discuss interaction in the Arctic."Maslov stressed that the security issues mentioned in the statement were the most important of all. "A whole list of new types of security was determined there, including cybersecurity, on which the countries will cooperate," he said.
Given the rejection by the West of everything Russian and Chinese, it actually seems probable that the Declaration went unread by American “high officials”, meaning Blinken, Austin and Sullivan, since they already had formalized their escalation plans.
They are still following their check-lists and scripts.
But the reality is something very different. Russia and China have unified. They are as one singular nation, and they coordinate as one singular nation.
It’s not just a treaty. It is the de facto union of Russia and China together.
It is the formation of a new POWER BLOCK.
It is equivalent to when the 13 American states formed the “United States” of America in 1776. It is equivalent to when the European Union was formed, and NATO was created. It is really, really BIG news.
Therefore…
Sanction demands by the United States is an automatic NO!
This new arrangement renders the RAND plans out-of-date and inert.
The lack of strategy, reaction, or modification to this change is, as I have stated early, suggestive of brainless abeyance to decade-old obsolete plans, goals and strategies.
Zhuhai, China
This is where MM lives. Morning near my home. Zhuhai, China. video 6 MB
The world doesn’t understand.
The reality is that there is a massive block that has formed.
Now you can also include India to this block. This is substantive. As just about the entire Asian group is now unified.
Don’t allow the nation’s shown in white fool you. They are all aligned by one of the major powers in Asia on multiple levels.
President Biden told the 82nd airborne that they’re going to Ukraine
"... and you're going to see when you're there (Ukraine)...."
Imagine President Trump had inexplicably told U.S. troops they were deploying to fight Russia. Really imagine it! All we’d be hearing is that he’s mentally unfit and must be removed under the 25th Amendment.
Joe Biden did exactly that (same thing) today.
Are you being the best you can be?
Rufus is all about being the best that you can be to your own standards. You don’t blame others. You take control over your life. You adapt. You see things as they are, and not as you want them to be. Be the Rufus. Make your parents proud. video 10MB
China and Russia announcement
Rumor has it that Russia and China are going to make a ‘religious announcement’ for the markets, sometime around Monday 28-3, to the 1st of April.
This link to a ruble/gold/oil based currency system may explain why the Saudis, etc, have been so detached from the US of late, not taking phone calls, etc.
There is huge panic going on in the West, at the moment, this cannot be denied.
This girl lives in my town. She’s nice and fun. Yeah, and this is what China is like. video 3MB
Cheese Ball
Do you remember seeing a cheese ball on your grandparents’ Thanksgiving table and wondering what it was? We have good news: Cheese balls are delicious, easy to make, and perfectly delicious all season long, not just at the holidays.
Here’s what you do; you by some crackers, make a cheese ball, and get a case of beer. Then you get on your phone and call folks over to chat, play cards, or a board game, or watch a movie. What’s not to love?
Chinese second grade military training
Cool video. Everyone in China participates. Everyone has a role, and many skills are learned early on. video 11MB
City Chicken
City Chicken (aka, Fake Chicken) is a traditional Polish-American dish that is beloved by many. The most curious thing about this dish is that it doesn’t actually contain any chicken. Rather, your featured protein here is actually pork and/or veal. So, why is it be called a “City Chicken” in the first place?
What is City Chicken?
City Chicken is a traditional dish of Polish-American heritage and it has a very interesting story of origin.
Apparently, during the time of the Great Depression, the chicken was scarce and way more expensive than other cuts of meat, like pork or veal.
It’s believed that this dish originated among Polish immigrants who decided to place pieces of pork and veal on skewers and then bread and fry them so it would resemble chicken legs (leave it to my people). This dish is also known as ‘fake chicken’ for obvious reasons, and it has been very popular in many states throughout the US.
In fact, a lot of Polish restaurants carry it on their menu. Being born and raised in Pittsburgh, I can assure you that this dish didn’t come from the old land. Actually, its a United States creation found in the Polish-AMerican communities in the Great Lakes region.
I beleive that it is now the time to embrace this tradition and on occasion serve fake chicken to your friends and family.
What Kind of Meat is Best for City Chicken
Traditionally City Chicken involves pork and veal. You can put 2 cubes of each on a skewer or two pork pieces and one veal in the middle or vice versa (get creative).
Nowadays the veal is more expensive than pork and chicken, and it can be difficult to find cut into cubes. So, if you choose to just use pork, rest assured that your city chicken will still be super delicious.
I highly recommend to use pork tenderloin and cut it into cubes. It’s very tender and cooks super quick. Any other cut of pork could become dry or chewy.
What else is needed to make this dish
This is a very simple dish. To make city chicken you’ll need:
Pork and/or veal;
Wooden skewers;
Ingredients for breading:
Flour,
Egg,
Bread Crumbs;
Seasoning:
Ideally seasoned salt (but if you don’t have it, just use regular kosher salt),
Pepper; and
Cooking (light) oil for frying.
How to Make “Fake Chicken”
To make the City Chicken you’ll need to follow a few simple steps. For exact measurements and instructions please scroll down to the printable recipe card.
Assemble the skewers: cut your meat into 1.5-inch squares and add 2 or 3 pieces onto a wooden skewer (cut off the skewers to fit the meat); season the meat on each side and prepare for breading.
Breading: prepare 3 prep-dishes: one for flour, one for beaten eggs and one for breadcrumbs. Starting with the flour, cover the meat on each side (shaking off the excess), then place it into the egg mixture and cover on each side. Then finish it up by rolling it in breadcrumbs, on each side. Continue with all the remaining skewers.
Frying: heat up your cast iron (or another heavy pan) skillet. Add cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add breaded skewers into the skillet (don’t overcrowd them, cook in batches if needed). Fry the skewers on each side until golden brown and then transfer to a 350 F hot oven to finish up cooking (covered for 20 minutes and uncovered for 5 minutes). Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with City Chicken
Some people prefer to eat City Chicken without any additions but some have their toppings preferences. Among the most popular is a homemade gravy. If this is you, check this recipe for a super easy gravy.
Here are some online suggestions for what to serve Fake Chicken with:
Look at the picture. The tablecloth, the purse on the credenza; the style of the credenza. Look at the jars of condiments. The solid panel door, the off white walls, with the white trim. Look at the kitchen. How many of these images and scenes can be found in a modern home.
A beautiful Chinese girl
Chinese people, men and women, tend to be slim due to the diet and living within an active society. Dancing, singing and social activities are normal, and encouraged. Thus, they treasure their bodies and they tream them well. Such as with this woman. video 4MB
Australia gives “cold shoulder” to China
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flatly rejected suggestions he should have met with China’s new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, arguing that doing so would have been a “demonstration of weakness”.
And Mr Morrison said there was great concern across the “Pacific family” about a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands that could lead to a potential base for Chinese naval vessels on Australia’s doorstep, over which Canberra, Washington and Wellington have all expressed concern.
He pointedly noted that Australia respected the Pacific islands’ sovereignty and that Australia “haven’t sought to influence them, or interfere with them in any way”.
I have constantly stated that (by law) EVERYONE inside of China MUST take military training. There are NO exceptions.
It starts in Kindergarden, with marching and basic disipline taught in first and second grade. Weapon assembly and dissassembly and mortar training by third grade. Small arms and squad tactics perfected by sixth grade.
Fine and dandy. But I haven’t spent much time discussing Middle School.
While many operations are coed, there are “fast track” programs for exceptional students. These are usually “Pioneers”, but there are others as well. Here’s a group of 9th grade GIRLS undergoing training in small arms training in live-fire environments.
Rise in Non-Covid-19 Deaths Hits Life Insurers – WSJ
Vaccine side effects? Maybe it’s only a coincidence.
Rise in deaths
.
Here’s one groovy kitchen
It’s from Ebony. You can shake your “groove thang” right here.
This link is indian punchline from today… a quote
"The takeaway from the US President Joe Biden’s European tour on March 25-26 is measly. Dissenting voices are rising in Europe as western sanctions against Russia start backfiring with price hikes and shortages of fuel and electricity. And this is only the beginning, as Moscow is yet to announce any retaliatory measures as such.
SIMPLETON’S PRIMER ON THE LONG WAR THE US AIMS TO WAGE AGAINST RUSSIA
“National Security Adviser Sullivan (above) said: “The president will join our partners in imposing further sanctions on Russia and tightening the existing sanctions to crack down on evasion and ensure robust enforcement… This war will not end easily or rapidly…[Biden’s trip] will send a powerful message that we are prepared and committed to this for as long as it takes”.
The US declaration that “this war will not end easily or rapidly”, and that the US and its allies “are prepared and committed to this for as long as it takes” cancels whatever negotiations or terms Zelensky claims to have announced on Ukrainian television for an end to the war.”
Personally, I find this girl to be a fine looking woman, and would most certainly make a fine girlfriend. video 7MB
She’s a nice girl, don’t you think?
China says everyone knows who is to blame for the Ukraine war
The US and UK planned the Ukrainian war for years, while simultaneously trying to force a “quagmire” for Russia in Syria (another war deliberately created by NATO countries: the US, UK, and France). But it’s looking like NATO’s planned proxy war in Ukraine is backfiring on the West spectacularly, with the West, not Russia, becoming ostracized from the international community as a result.
Over the years leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West pre-emptively applied wave after wave of sanctions on Russia, to make Russia as weak and vulnerable as possible in preparation for this eventuality. Western governments and media worked hard to pre-condition Western publics into assuming that any of the very-true reports of rampant Nazism in Ukraine, including in Ukraine’s government that’s led by a Jew, were “Russian disinformation”, when that narrative was actually the West’s disinformation against Russia to conceal the Nazi problem in Ukraine, while Western governments were training and arming Ukraine’s Nazis.
Western governments also planned 1,001 false stories to feed through our media, and ways to cynically frame Russia not accomplishing in 30 days in Ukraine what NATO collectively couldn’t after 20 years in Afghanistan, which was and is a far, far weaker, worse-equipped, worse-trained country than Ukraine (not to mention NATO is flooding advanced arms to Ukraine). The West even tried to frame war in Ukraine as unique atrocious on the basis that it was blonde-haired, blue-eyed white people who were being killed, instead of those apparently-lesser Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, Libyans, and Palestinians, and Yemenis.
The West plotted ways to threaten and incentivise key international market players to pressure them to conform to Western demands of solidarity against Russia. They planned a mountain of the most extreme sanctions against Russia with the aim being to completely destroy its economy and topple Putin. The West also prepared how they would apply widespread collective punishment (which is illegal under international law) against Russians in sporting, music, video gaming, and in seizing their assets in Western countries.
But what they didn’t plan for was the world to see through the charade, lay significant blame for the war in Ukraine on NATO, and refuse to support the West’s measures against Russia but instead stick by Russia, resulting in the West itself becoming isolated from the international community in a way that hasn’t happened before, despite the West’s many previous much more destructive wars.
A lot can still change, and the West is going to become more desperate, apply more pressure, and become more aggressive as its goals behind creating the Ukraine war fail to materialize. But, at least so far, things have very much not been going according to NATO’s plan.
Best Tweet ever
The Narrative is that China is just an army of conscripts…
Untrained, poor, poorly motivated, starving and using cheap poor quality hand-me-down Russian weapon systems.
All bullshit.
China is a heavy and serious military force. video 2MB
Seven girls a dancing
Welcome to China. You see these kinds of things going on all the time. video 11MB
1983 Movie “The Day After” Shows How Fast a War with Russia can Escalate to ICBM Nukes – Watch it free in the story below
This two hour made-for-TV-movie was produced by the ABC Television Network and broadcast in 1983. I well remember when it came on. It scared the living daylights out of me.
To put the time period in perspective, in the early 1980’s Ronald Reagan had become President and he wasn’t taking any shit from the Soviets. He referred to them as “An Evil Empire” (Here) and joked publicly during a radio show “mic check” that “I have just signed Legislation outlawing the Soviet Union, We begin bombing in five minutes.”(Here)
The left-wing went absolutely nuts over Reagan dealing so forcefully with them and many feared the tough stance would result in actual nuclear war.
When ABC-TV made this movie, the special effects were not nearly what they have become nowadays. Frankly, the special effects wouldn’t even make it into a “b” horror movie nowadays. But back then, it was horrifying to the general public.
In the first 32 minutes, you get to see regular Americans living regular lives, while TV news broadcasts report escalating tensions between the US/NATO and the Soviet Union.
Large numbers of Soviet Troops began massing on the border of East Germany. The next half hour sees the borders of the Soviet Union sealed, aircraft strikes by the Soviets upon western targets, and then-within hours (in the show) invasion troops cross into NATO terrirtory.
Tactical nukes had to be used to try to slow down the Soviets. They failed.
As a result of tactical nukes being used, NATO HQ in Brussels takes a Soviet Nuke hit, and within a few more minutes, the ICBM’s are coming out of their silos. In movie time, the whole thing kicked off within 48 hours!
That’s the takeaway you should pay attention to — how fast it all escalated.
Because right now, the way things are going with Ukraine, NATO’s meddling is taking us in precisely the same direction and when it goes, it’s gonna go off FAST. People will be utterly blind-sided.
So watch and see the very real similarities between the movie version of events, and wht is actually taking place right now.
Do you want more?
You can find more articles related to this in my latest index; A New Beginning. And in it are elements of the old, some elements regarding the transition, and some elements that look towards the future.
I come from a generation that had phones that were stuck on walls, and the idea of a cell phone was a science fiction adventure on Star Trek. In fact, our house had a rotary dial phone that was stuck on the wall in the kitchen.
It was yellow.
It fit in the orange decour with the olive colored refrigerator, and stove, and the red countertops.
Back in those days, I didn’t use the phone often. My sister was the one hogging up the phone all the time.
Oh, did she have a gift for chatting away. It got to be so bad that my father bought an extra one for her to use so that “she would get out of our hair” in the kitchen all the time.
She treated the telephone as her own private kingdom. Outside our local township, the phone rates were extremely enormous (this was before the breakup of “Ma Bell”) and to call a girlfriend in Pittsburgh (around a 2-hour drive away) would cost me more than what I could make a week in the mines and the grocery store combined.
So it was special.
Indeed, the two most important items in the household were the telephone and the television.
We got five channels on the television!
We were fortunate.
In Pittsburgh, my grandparents were lucky to get two. Or course, as a growing boy, the refrigerator and microwave fought for those top spots.
I must have eaten my weight in food many times a week. I was always scrounging in the ‘fridge for some leftover pot roast to make up a sandwich with cheese and microwave it in the “microwave oven” as we called it then.
Then later, when I was around 16 years old or so, I discovered girls, FM music, cars and alcohol.
Not all at once, mind you, but all within months of each other. (Truth be told, I had an interest in the old throwaway Playboy magazines that I scrounged in the garbage cans since I was five years old, but it wasn’t until when I hit 16 did everything “come together”.)
My life has never been the same since.
You know, or should rightfully assume, I was a pretty groovy guy.
I had bell bottom pants, a choker necklace, a MIA braclet, and a big belt buckle with my astrological sign on the front. I had longish hair, and rockstar shoes.
Anyways, if we wanted to place a telephone call from outside our home, we would use these tiny little rooms called “phone booths”.
And they would frequently have this big yellow book inside. Where you could find the telephone numbers of everyone in the city that you were calling from.
And if you were attending college, or were in a Navy barracks, you would use the line-up of phones at the end of the hallway.
Privacy was obtained by these little foot-sized dividers to provide the illusion of privacy.
They didn’t do anything more than that and often had graffiti on them colored by bored college students.
Times came and went. I began my teens with “muscle cars” and boy oh boy do I miss my GTO, but things merged in the haze of the 1970s.
We still drove those cars around, but we were starting to complain about the high cost of gas, and we were all afraid that it would break the $1 gallon ceiling.
Ah… When cars were cars!
It was a time when people would take off all their clothes and go a “streaking” in public areas. It was a time whenpeople asked if President Jimmy Carter dropped acid, and if the cost of coffee would go back to being five cents a cup.
As time moved on, my GTO was replaced by an AMC Pacer (due to finances) and then that too was replaced with a 1974 Dodge tradesman minivan. I was so hip and so cool.
My van was carpeted in lime green shag carpeting, and had a couple of sky roofs. I was proud of my pumped up shocks on it, and the state-of-the-art cassette player with FM radio!
No phone though.
I had a CB.
CB Radios
Mention ‘CB Radio’ to most people and they will instantly mime holding a mic and spew phrases like ‘breaker-breaker-9’, ‘big 10-4 rubber duck’ in a bad US accent or even start singing the theme tune to ‘Convoy’. Interestingly for a craze that burned out over 30 years ago, the social and linguistic paraphernalia of the CB world continues to live on strongly even today.
The CB radio was invented in 1945 by Al Gross, the inventor of the walkie-talkie and owner of the Citizens Radio Corporation.
The radio became popular with small businesses and blue collar workers like carpenters, plumbers, and electricians who used the radio as a tool to communicate with coworkers.
By 1960, the costs to produce the 23 channel radio were low enough that everyday Joes could afford to buy one.
By 1973, coinciding with the onset of the oil crisis, the CB Radio craze erupted.
FCC opens up CB radio channels to the public
When Al Gross invented the CB radio in 1945, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) quickly opened up radio services for personal users of the radio.
Most countries have similar radio services. In the United States, Citizen’s Band Radios operate on the 27-Mhz band whereas in Canada it is known as General Radio Services and operates on the 26 Mhz and 28 Mhz bands.
Unlike amateur radio, CB radio does not require a license (although at one time, they did require a license to operate). CB radio channels are shared by many users at the same time and other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel to be available.
By the 1960’s, the CB radio was popular with businesses and radio hobbyists. By the late 1960’s, advancements in solid state electronics allowed the size of the radio to be greatly reduced as well as the cost.
Suddenly, the general public had access to a communications medium that previously had only been available to specialists. CB radio clubs were formed and hobbyists developed their own unique CB slang language along with 10-codes similar to the codes used by emergency services.
The CB Radio Craze
By 1973, the oil crisis caused the cost of gasoline to skyrocket and shortages quickly developed. In response, the United States government issued a 55 MPH nationwide speed limit.
This caused an angry fury in the ‘States. “How dare the government tell us how to drive!”.
Drivers quickly learned that CB radios could be used to communicate with other drivers to inform them of gas stations that had gas and to notify speeders where police (smokeys) had speed traps set up.
The CB radio became so popular, by 1977 additional channels were opened up and 40 channel radios were introduced to the market.
Newsworthy events related to CB radios further added to the excitement. Truck drivers used the radios to organize convoys ( huge lines of trucks that travelled down the nation’s highways).
In several instances, blockades were organized using CB Radios where trucks would fill all available highway lanes in protest of the high gas prices and new trucking regulations.
CB Radios began to play prominent roles in movies such as Smokey and the Bandit and Movin’ On. Novelty songs about the new electronic toy, such as CW McCall’s Convoy and Cletus Maggard’s White Knight (see lyrics below), were played regularly on the radio.
During the CB radio craze, citizens of Great Britain began illegally using American made CBs.
We deserve to live like Americans they demanded! The British government told its citizens that the CB radio would never be legalized on the 27 Mhz wavelength and instead, proposed a different technology on the 860 Mhz “open channel” instead.
The citizens of the United Kingdom took to the streets in high profile public demonstrations and UK government officials bent to the will of the people. Al Gross made the first British ceremonial CB radio call from Trafalgar Square in London.
Later the United Kingdom added more than 40 channels giving UK citizens 80 CB radio channels to work with.
Handles
Years prior, CB radios required a licensed to operate. The license cost about $20 in the early 1970’s and was reduced to $4 in the late 1970’s.
In addition, there were many rules and regulations concerning antenna height, distance restrictions, allowable transmitter power, and call sign rules. People ignored the laws and to hide their identity, developed “handles” or fake names to identify themselves on the radio.
After the FCC started receiving over 1,000,000 license applications a month, the license requirement was dropped entirely but as the culture had already developed, people continued using handles such as “Big Mama” or “Timberwolf” to identify themselves while on the air. Some famous celebrity handles include:
Betty Ford, a former First Lady of the United States, whose CB handle was “First Mama”.
Voice actor Mel Blanc , an active CB Radio operator, often used the CB handles Bugs or Daffy and talked over the air in the Los Angeles area using his many voices.
Channels
Channels evolved to fill specific purposes. For instance, channel 9 was kept open for emergency use and channel 19 was used for highway communication west of the Mississippi River.
Eventually channel 19 became the “trucker’s channel” and was used for highway communication all over the United States.
In the early days of the CB radio craze, channel 11 was used solely for the purpose of initiating communications (after which the two radio callers switched to a mutually agreed upon channel).
Towns that were close together often adopted a specific channel as their “home” channel so that they could communicate with each other.
Talking the Talk
CD etiquette developed and evolved during the craze. CB radios were intended to be used to warn other drivers of Smokeys up the road or to report roadside emergencies.
Chit chatting with other CB radio users is ok but it is not considered courteous to hold up a channel for more than a few minutes. Cursing is also frowned upon. It is common for CB radio operators to use hidden code or unique slang to communicate.
For instance, when giving a warning that a police officer is running a hidden speedtrap, they might say “smokey in the bush” or to warn truckers to watch out for a broken down school bus they might say “watch out for the kiddy car at mile marker 200″.
Many of the CB slang from the 1970’s hung around and became slang that continued to be used outside the realm of CB radio communications. Below is a large list of CB radio slang used during the 1970’s CB radio craze.
CD Radio slang from a to z
ACE – an important or well known CB radio operator
Apple – a person who is addicted to the CB radio
AF -Audio Frequency
Afterburner – Linear amplifier
ALERT – Affiliated League of Emergency Radio Teams
All the good numbers – good luck and best wishes to all
Alligator – shredded tread from the tires of an 18 wheeler truck
Amigo – friend or good buddy
ANL – Automatic noise limiter
Ankle biter- a little kid
Antenna Farm- a CB radio ase station with many antennas strung up in the air
Antler Alley – an area known for deer crossings
Appliance Operator – degrading term for a non-technical person who barely knows how to turn on their radio
AM -Amplitude Modulation
Ancient Mariner – someone who uses AM radio
Baby Bear – a rookie police officer
Backdoor – vehicle behind the one who is ahead of it.
Backdoor closed – the rear of a convey with trucks stacked across the lanes to keep the Smokeys out
Back em up – slow down or reduce speed
Back off the hammer – slow down or reduce speed
Backslide – return trip from a trucker’s run
Bad scene – a crowded CB radio channel
Ballet Dancer – a CB radio antenna that sways and bends in the wind
Base Station – a CB radio installed at a fixed location such as a house
Beast -a very good CB radio rig
Beam – Directional Antenna
Bean House Bull – trucker conversation carried on at a truck stop
Bear Bait – a speeding car
Bear Cage- police station or jail cell
Bear Cave – police station
Bearmobile – police car
Bear Trap – stationary police car running a radar trap
Bear in the air- police in their helicopter
Bear – police officer
Beat the bushes – driving ahead of the other truckers in an effort to draw the police out of hiding
Beaver – good looking female
Beaver Bear – female police officer
Beaver Fever – missing the wife or girlfriend
Beaver Palace – a club or bar known for loose female patrons
Beaver Patrol – looking for a good looking woman to spend time with
Big Charlie or Big Daddy – the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Big Mack – Mack truck
Big Slab – freeway or highway
Big 10-4- hearty agreement.
Bit on the seat of the britches – pulled over and issued a speeding ticket
Black and White – police car
Black Ice – patch of iced over blacktop road
Bleeding/Bleedover – strong signals from a base station on another channel that interferes with another channel’s reception
Blew my doors off – car passed by at high speed
Blue Slip- speeding ticket
Boast Toastie – CB expert
Boat Anchor – an old, broken radio that can no longer be repaired
Bodacious- Awesome
Boy Scouts – State Police
Box -Tractor Trailer
Break (or breaker, break for) – request to use the channel
Breaking Up – CB radio reception is poor
Breaking the “˜ol needle – very strong CB radio signal
Bring it back – answer the question that was posed
Brown paper bag – unmarked Police car
Bubble gum machine- police car with flashing lights
Bucket Mouth – obnoxious radio operator or someone who cusses a lot on the air
Bug Out – signing off or leaving the radio channel
Bumper Lane – the left most passing lane
Button Pusher – another CB radio operator who is trying to breakup your communication with another station by keying the microphone
Camera -police radar
Candy Man – Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Casa – house
Cash Register – toll booth
Catch you on the flip-flop – will talk to you on my return trip
Channel 25 – the telephone
Charlie – Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Chew and choke – Restaurant or truck stop eatery
Checking My Eyelinds For Pin Holes – I am tired or sleepy
Check the seatcovers – look at that passengers in the passing car
Chicken Coup – weigh station
Chicken Coup is Clean – weigh station is closed.
Chicken Inspector – weigh station inspector
Chopped Top- a very short antenna
Christmas Card – speeding ticket
Chrome Dome – a mobile radio with a dome antenna on top of the car
Clean Cat – a unmodified CB radio
Clean Shot – the road ahead is free of obstructions, construction, and police
Cleaner channel – CB radio channel with less traffic on it
Clear – Final transmission “This is 505 and I’m clear”
Clear after you – you are ending transmission after the other person finishes signing off
Coffee Bean – Waiter or waitress
Cold Rig – 18-wheeler pulling a refrigerated trailer
Collect Call – call for a specific CB radio operator
Colorado Kool Aid – beer
Come again – repeat your last transmission
Come Back – answer my call
Comic Book -truckers log book
Coming in Loud ‘n Proud – loud and clear signal
Concrete Blonde – prostitute
Convoy – 2 or more vehicles traveling the same route in a row
Cooking – driving
Cooking Good – reached desired speed.
Copy – receiving a message
Copying the mail – listening to the communications on the channel
County Mountie – county police or sheriff
Covered Up – transmission was blocked by interference
Crack ’em Up – traffic accident
Cradle Baby – radio operator who is afraid to ask someone to stand by
Cup of Mud – cup of coffee
Cut Out – leaving the channel
Cut Some Z’s – get some sleep
Cut The Coax – turn off the radio
Daddy-O – Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Dead Pedal – slow moving car or truck
Dead Key – keying the mike without talking
Decoy – empty or unmanned police car
Diesel Digit – cchannel 19
Diesel Juice – truck fuel
Dime Channel – channel 10
Dirty Side – Eastern Seaboard
Dixie Cup- female operator with southern accent
Doing the Five-Five- traveling at 55mph
Doin’ it to it – Full speed
Doing our thing in the left-hand lane – full speed in the passing or left-hand lane
Do it to me – answer back
Do you copy? – Do you understand?
Don’t Tense – calm down
Don’t Feed The Bears – don’t get a ticket
Double key – two radio operators talking at the same time
Double L – telephone call
Double Nickel – 55mph (the speed limit during the 1970’s CB radio craze)
Down “˜n Out or Down and gone – signing off
Down and on the side – through talking but will continue listening
Drag Your Feet – wait a few seconds before transmitting to see if someone else wants to break in
Dream Weaver – sleepy driver who is weaving across the lanes
Dress For Sale – prostitute or dressed like a prostitute
Drop Out – fading signal
Drop Stop Destination – where freight will be dropped off
Drop the Hammer – drive fast
Dropped it off the shoulder – ran off the shoulder of the road
Dusted your britches – keyed up at the same time
Dusted my britches – passed me very fast
Dusted Your Ears- transmission interrupted
DX – Long Distance
Eager beaver – anxious young woman
Ears ON – CB radio turned ON
Eights or Eighty-eights – love and kisses
Eights and other good numbers – love and kisses, and best wishes
Eighty-eight’s around the house – good luck and best wishes to you and yours
Eyeball- Personal meeting
Everybody must be walking the dog – all channels are busy
Evil Knievel – motorcycle policeman
Fake brake – driver riding with his foot on the brake
Fat load – overweight or big truck load
Feed The Bears – paying a speeding fine
Fender bender – traffic accident
Fifty Dollar Lane – passing lane
First Sargent – wife
Flag waver – highway repair crew
Flaps down – slow down
Flappers -ears
Flip flop – return trip
Flip-Flopping Bears – police reversing direction or turning around
Flop it – turn around
Flop box – motel or room in truck stop
FM – Frequency Modulation
Follow the stripes home – have a safe trip
Footwarmer – Linear amplifier
Forty weight – coffee
Four Wheeler – cCar
Four lane parking lot – highway with traffic backed up
Four legged go-go dancers – ugly women
Fox – pretty female
Fox Charile Charlie – FCC
Fox hunt – FCC hunting for illegal operators
Fox jaws – Ffemale with nice voice, but not necessarily a body to match
Free Ride – prostitute
Freight Box – trailer for the truck
Friendly Candy Company – FCC
Front Door – the lead in a convoy
Full of vitamins – running all out
Full Bore – driving fast as you can
Full Throttle – driving fast as the truck will let you
Funny Candy Company – FCC
Funny channels – channels that are outside the legal band
Gallon – 1000 watts of power
Garbage – too much small talk on a channel
Gas Jockey – gas station attendant
Gear – overnight bag or supplies
Get horizontal – go to sleep
Get Trucking – start driving
Girlie Bear – female police officer
Give me a shout – call me on the radio
Glory Card – Class D License
Go Breaker – OK to go ahead and break into the channel
Go Ahead – your turn to talk or reply
Go Juice – truck fuel
Go to channel 41 – a joke to get someone off the radio (there is no channel 41)
Going Horizontal – going to sleep
Gone – leaving the channel
Gone 10-7 – permanently dead
Good Buddy – friend (modern day means homosexual)
Goon Squad – persons who do not share the channel
Got my shoes on – Switched the linear ON
Got your ears on? – are you listening on this channel
Got my eyeballs peeled – looking hard
Got my foot in it – speeding up
Go to 100 – go to the bathroom
Green Stamps – cash money
Green Stamp Collector – police with radar
Green Stamp lane – passing lane
Green Stamp Road – toll road.
Grease monkey – mechanic
Greasy Spoon – restaurant with bad food
Ground Clouds – fFog
Gypsy – trucker who drives for an independent company
Hack – taxi cab
Hag Feast – group of female CB radio operators on the channel
Haircut palace – bridge or overpass with low clearance
Hairpin – sharp curve
Hamburger helper – Linear Amp
Hammer – gas pedal
Hammer Off – slow down
Hammer Down – speed up
Hang it in your ear – that was a stupid comment
Handle – CB radio code name
Hay Shaker – truck transporting a mobile home
Heading for a hole – about to head into a low spot where radio transmission may not be possible
Heater – Linear amplifier
Hell bent for leather – driving fast
Hiding in the grass – police parked on a median strip
Hiding in the bushes, sitting under the leaves – hidden police car
Highball – drive non-stop to the destination
High Rise – large bridge or overpass
Hippie Chippie – female hitchhiker
Hip Pocket – glove box
Hit the cobblestones – hit the road
Hog – Harley Davidson
Home Twenty – location of your home
How tall are you? – How tall is your truck?
Hundred mile coffee – very strong coffee
Ice Box – Refrigerated trailer.
Idiot Box – TV set
In a short – soon
In a short-short – very soon
In the mud – noise on the channel
In the Pokey with Smokey – arrested
Jack – good friend
Jack Rabbit – police officers
Jam – deliberately interfere with another station.
Japanese toy – CB
Jargon – CB lingo
Jaw Jacking – talking, talking needlessly
Jewelry – lights on a rig
Jingle – call on the telephone
Johnny Law – police officer
Juke Joint – small or out-of-the-way place to eat
Jump Down – switch to a lower channel
Jump Up – switch to a higher channel
Keep “˜em Between the Ditches – have a safe trip
Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down – drive safely
Keep the wheels spinning – drive safely
Keep your noise between the ditches and smokey out of your britches – drive carefully, lookout for police
Keying the mike – activating the microphone without speaking
Kicker – Linear amplifier
Kiddie car – school bus
Knock the stack out – speed up
Knuckle Buster – fight
Kojak – police officer
Kojak with a Kodak – policeman with a radar
Lady Bear – female police officer
Lady Breaker – Ffemale CB operator asking for a break.
Lame – broken down vehicle
Land Line – telephone
Land Yacht – mobile home or camper
Lane Flipper – car or truck that keeps changing lanes
Lane Lover – driver who will not get out of the lane
Latrine Lips – radio operator who cusses
Let the channel roll – it’s ok to break in and request use of the channel
Legal Beagle – person who always follows the rules
Lettuce – money
Lights green, bring on the machine – road is clear of police and other slowdowns
Linear – RF amplifier
Little Bear – local police officer
Little Beaver – daughter
Little Bit – prostitute
Little Brother – friend
Local Bear – local police officer
Local Yokel – small town police officer
Log some Z’s – get some sleep
Loot Limo – armored car
M20 – place to meet
Magic Mile – the end of a trip
Mama – girlfriend or wife
Mama Bear – female police officer
Man in White – doctor
Mashing the mike – keying the mike (usually without talking)
Meatwagon – ambulance.
Modulate – talk
Modulating – talking
Money Bus – armored truck
Motion Lotion – fuel
Motorcycle Mama – woman riding on a motorcycle
Muck Truck – cement truck
Nap Trap – hotel or other place to sleep
Negative – no
Negative Copy – did not hear
Neon, Freon, Ion Jockey – truck driver with many lights on his rig
Nightcrawlers – many police in the area
Niner – channel 9
Ninety Weight – alcohol
Oil burner – diesel truck
On the by or on the standby – listening but not talking.
One foot on the floor, one hanging out the door, and she just won’t do no more – driving as fast as I can
Other Half – girlfriend or wife
Out – through transmitting
Over – your turn to transmit
Over modulation – talking so loud that audio is distorted
Pack it in – ending transmission
Pair of sevens – no contact or answer
Papa Bear – state trooper with CB radio
Paper hanger – police giving ticket
Parking Lot – traffic jam
Pavement Princess – prostitute
Peanut butter in his ears – is not listening
Pedal to the metal – drive fast
Peeling Off – getting of the freeway
Plain Wrapper – unmarked police car
Play Dead – stand by
Picture taking machine – radar
Pit Stop – stop for a bathroom break
Popcorn – hal
Porcupine – cr with a lot of antennas on it
Pounding the pavement – waking
Press some sheets – slep
Pull the hammer back – slow down
Pull the plug – signoff and turn the radio off
Put an eyeball on him – saw or see
Put it on the floor and looking for some more – trying to drive as fast as possible
QSL Card – Personalized postcard sent to confirm a conversation
QSK – break
QRM – nise or interference
Q-R-Mary – nose or interference
QSY – changing channels/frequency.
QRT – signing off
QRX – wait
QSB – nise
QSO – conversation
QTH – location
Quasar – female
Radio Runt – child breaking in on a channel.
Rain Locker – shower
Rake the leaves – last vehicle in a convoy
Ratchet-Jaw – non-stop talker
REACT – Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams
Rebound – return trip
Red Lighted – pulled over by police
REST – Radio Emergency Safety Teams
RF – Radio Frequency
Road Jockey – truck driver
Road Ranger – police officer
Rock – slang for crystal
Rockin’ chair – car in the middle of a convoy
Roger – O.K.
Roller Skate – car
Rolling – driving
Rolling Bears – police officers driving
Rugrats – children
Rubberneckers – onlookers
Running Barefoot – using a radio at the legal output
Running on rags – driving a vehicle with little to no tread on the tires.
Running Shotgun – driving partner
San Quentin Jailbait – under age female hitch hiker
Seatcover – good looking female
Shaking the windows – loud and clear reception
Shim – illegally amplified transmitter
Shoot the breeze – casual conversation
Shovelling coal – speeding up
Show-off lane – passing lane
Skip – atmospheric conditions that cause signals to travel much farther than they normally would
Skippers – radio operators talking long distance
Sidedoor – oassing lane
Sitting in the saddle – middle truck in a convoy
“S” Meter – meter on your radio which which indicates the signal strength
Smokey – State Police
Smokey Bear – State Police
Smokey report – police location report
Smokey Dozing – police sitting in a parked car
Smokey’s thick – police are everywhere
Smokey with a camera – police with radar
Smokey with ears – policeman with CB radio in their car
Somebody stepped on you – someone transmitted while you were talking
Splatter – bleedover from another channel
Squelch – control on radio which silences the speaker until a signal of a certain strength breaks through it
Three’s and eights – signing off, best wishes
Thin – very weak signal
Twelves – I have company present
Twenty – Location
Two Stool beaver – very fat woman
Uncle Charlie – FCC
Walking on you – someone talking over you
Wall-to-wall and treetop tall – strong, clear signal
Wall-to-wall and ten feet tall – strong clear signal
Warden – girlfriend or wife
Watch the pavement – drive safely
Water hole – truck stop
Wear your bumper out – following too close
Wearing socks – has linear amplifier
What am I putting on you? – how strong is my signal
What’s your twenty? – what is your location
Whip – long cb antenna
Who do you pull for? – who do you work for?
Wooly Bear – female
Z’s – Sleep
In addition to CB radio slang, CB radio operators used a series of “10 codes” similar to the codes used by emergency radio operators.
The Complete CB 10 codes
10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-2 Receiving Well
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy, Stand By
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air
10-8 In Service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By
10-11 Talking too Rapidly
10-12 Visitors Present
10-13 Advise weather/road conditions
10-16 Make Pickup at…
10-17 Urgent Business
10-18 Anything for us?
10-19 Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 My Location is ……… or What’s your Location?
10-21 Call by Telephone
10-22 Report in Person too ……
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact …….
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message/Ignore
10-27 I am moving to Channel ……
10-28 Identify your station
10-29 Time is up for contact
10-30 Does not conform to FCC Rules
10-32 I will give you a radio check
10-33 Emergency Traffic at this station
10-34 Trouble at this station, help needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Correct Time is ………
10-38 Ambulance needed at ………
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune to channel ……..
10-42 Traffic Accident at ……….
10-43 Traffic tie-up at ………
10-44 I have a message for you
10-45 All units within range please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-62 Unable to copy, use phone
10-62sl unable to copy on AM, use Sideband – Lower (not an official code)
10-62su unable to copy on AM, use Sideband – Upper (not an official code)
10-65 Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at …….
10-73 Speed Trap at …………
10-75 You are causing interference
10-77 Negative Contact
10-84 My telephone number is ………
10-85 My address is ………..
10-91 Talk closer to the mike
10-92 Your transmitter is out of adjustment
10-93 Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 Please give me a long count
10-95 Transmit dead carrier for 5 sec.
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to take a break
10-200 Police needed at ……….
How to operate a CB radio
There it an etiquette that CB radio operators follow in order to be “polite” and courteous to the other CB radio users. The following rules should always be followed.
When two or more people are talking on a channel they are said to “own the channel”. FCC regulations require they give other users an opportunity to use the channel so they should not hold the channel hostage for more than several minutes.
CB radio users should not “step on” other units. “Step on” means to transmit at the same time another radio operator is transmitting. They should also never key over someone else.
If you hear one unit break for another unit, give some time for the unit to respond before you say anything yourself. It may take a radio user time to grab the mic or get from the kitchen to the living room radio unit.
After your break has been acknowledged, keep the next transmission short. For example, a break might go something like this: “Break one-nine for Super Trooper. Super Trooper, do you have your ears on?”. if Super Trooper does not answer after a minute or so, it is nice to acknowledge that you are finished by saying something like “thanks for the break”.
If you are carrying on a conversation and someone “walks over” you, you have one of two options. You can ask the person you were speaking to to repeat. For example, “10-9, you were stepped on. Please repeat”. Alternatively, you can hand the channel over to the breaker.
If your break is not acknowledged, wait several minutes before attempting to contact them again.
Enough of the CB craze in the 1970s in the USA…
Of course, today is quite different. There are all sorts of systems competing for our telecommunication needs. They vary from Skype to zoom, and everything in between.
But I live in China, and EVERYONE uses WeChat.
Man oh man!
WeChat is far more than I ever realized it was, and I have to tell you all that I am just blown away by some of the many features and functions that it has. And you all must realize that I have been using it for many, many years.
Over a decade.
So whether you have the APP, or are considering the APP, check out this “discovery tour” of WeChat.
First off, it’s a handy communication platform.
Duh! In fact, I will tell you that it is an all-in-one phone, instant messaging, video conference, and teleconference package.
All for free.
No costs to use.
You see, in China, the government has decreed that communication is a basic right and need. It should not be part of a for-profit model.
Sure, in the “old days” you used to have to pay for landlines, and maintenance, but now, since the infrastructure is in place, the costs to use this (and other applications) this APP is free to communicate with.
While my cell-phone certainly has telephony (telephone access), I find that it is often far easier to just communicate back and forth with people using WeChat.
You just select your contact… and you can call, text, video immediately with zero charges anywhere in the world…
But it’s more than that. You see you can have family, business, or friends groupings.
And while I am sure that it is available on other APP platforms, it’s just so deliciously easy to use on WeChat. You set up a group call, a group chat, a group message board, or a group video. Oh, and did I say that it’s all free?
Now, these two aspects of the entire WeChat platform are reason enough to have it on your phone. If that’s all that you ever use your phone for, then it is most certainly worth it.
But there’s so much more.
You see, there’s all kinds of things that you can do when you are chatting on the phone using WeChat. It’s more than just chatting away.
You can text while chatting, video while chatting, translate things while chatting, read a text in Icelandic and have it instantly translated into English.
You can point your phone at a strange road sign in Afghanistan and have it instantly translated, and if you are unable to see the translation, it will read the translation out to you in English for you.
Translate Text
Sometimes you will get messages in Chinese and, unless you can read Chinese characters fluently, this can be a problem.
So, WeChat has added this feature that will translate messages for you. Press and hold on the message you want to translate and then select the right arrow and then press ‘Translate’ and it will automatically translate the message.
So there’s a message.
You click on it, and select translate.
And low and behold, it will translate to your assigned default language on your phone. Pretty cool. I will tell you that living inside of China, I use this feature extensively. But also when I travel to Thailand, Japan, Korea, or Saudi Arabia it most certainly comes in handy.
Scan
One of the most used applications inside of China is the scan function. You scan for everything. You scan to enter buildings.
You scan to pay.
You scan to get information.
You scan to visit internet and government websites. All you need to is go to the top of the APP and click on Scan QR Code…
.
And then scan the code. It’s just like this…
Now…
Here’s a power tip.
Scan and Translate
Can’t read the instructions or menus in China?
China’s most popular social platform offers AR-based real-time translation.
This feature can be accessed from the scan feature in the upright corner, which is regularly used to scan QR codes.
To use the real-time translator, simply capture an image of anything with either Chinese or English text in it, operating on a point and translate model.
First, go to the + sign > Scan > Translate, Then take a photo to translate or select a photo from your gallery. Finally, wait for the text to be translated and understand the text in English.
The default is on the lower left. It will scan the QR code. However, if you click on “Translate”, something else happens… [1] You are prompted to take a photo.
[2] It is translated for you.
Currently, WeChat Translate only supports Chinese and English, it works similarly to the Waygo App, which was designed to help non-Chinese speakers translate food menus and signs. An indication that WeChat wants to appeal to foreign users and tourists living in China.
WeChat’s trend of taking successful features from apps and integrating the technology into their platform shows their ambition to grow and compete with US tech giants: Google, Snapchat and Instagram.
However, WeChat still has a long way to go to reach the levels of Google Translate augmented reality feature, which now supports 30 languages.
Translate Image Text
“Translate Image Text” is another cool hidden feature that you will want to know. Instead of scanning and translating, you can now choose any image that you have in either your phone gallery or chat and long-press until the menu appears with the option of translate image to text. [1] Pull up the image. [2] Long press until the menu comes up. [3] Translate. Now, all this is really cool, but that all isn’t the really great stuff. Let’s get to some of the really cool things…
Voice messages to text
I use this all the time. It’s a dictation feature on the text messaging section of WeChat. You just click on the button and dictate. What you speak is automatically converted from voice to text, and you can send the message so easily. It sure beats the singular thumb method of typing on a little screen.
This voice input function allows users to speak into WeChat and immediately convert their words into text. All you have to do is to long-press the voice message button, say what you want to be translated to text and just before letting go, swipe up and right and let go when you reach the bubble on the right side.
Shazam
Want to find the name for that TV show you’re watching? Under the Shake feature you can also select ‘TV show’ and, when you shake, WeChat will act like Shazam and tell you the name of the TV show you’re watching.
It is also useful for Douxing videos, music and many other things. This is a great way to identify music you like on a video. Because when the answer comes up, a link is provided to the QQ application that allows you to put that particular song in your play list.
More, more and MORE!
There is so much more that you can do. From sharing videos to creating facebook like environments, to group collaborating to dressing up and editing presentations.
It’s an all inclusive complete platform. But I am really not up to go through all the nuiances of it. Others have, and they have been doing a better job than I.
Let me just say that time has changes, and the advances in technology are truly wonderful.
Let’s appreciate what they are and use them to the fullest, so that we can benefit from their use.
Becuase sooner or later they will go away and be replaced with something different. And you will long for the days that you have RIGHT NOW.
Enjoy what you have and eat it all up!
It’s a new world
As some of these meme’s attest to… Great cat, by the way. Some of these are just funny… I suppose there are many more… As I said. Some are really spot on…
Well all this talk about communicaiton makes me hungry…
Maybe something simple delicious and easy to make. Maybe something a little bit like this…
It’s better than fast food, I’ll tell you what. However, if you really are in the mood, why not make a home made pizza? It’s not all that hard, and it’s cheap. If you make the dough from scratch a entire pizza is only a few dollars tops. Maybe something like this…
Of course, while you are a smunching, you can go forth and invite some friends over to your porch and “shoot the breeze”… you know, talk a bit. It doesn’t matter what you talk about. Just chat. Everyone has things to say. Just listen. Maybe you can impress them with your local knowledge. Maybe something like this… .
Maybe if they are some neighborhood kids, you can teach them how to whittle, or something similiar.
Most kids these days need some real uncle-like behaviors in their neighborhoods.
Don’t wait for others to take action.
You go ahead and do it yourself. Whittle.
Just take the time and make friends.
.
And you know, it doesn’t hurt to smoke a cigarette, drink a beer, or share a pizza with some neighborhood friends.
Do you want more?
I have more posts in my Happiness Index here… Life & Happiness .
Articles & Links
Master Index . You’ll not find any big banners or popups here talking about cookies and privacy notices. There are no ads on this site (aside from the hosting ads – a necessary evil). Functionally and fundamentally, I just don’t make money off of this blog. It is NOT monetized. Finally, I don’t track you because I just don’t care to.
There’s been a bunch of big earth-shattering changes going on Geo-Politically and domestically. And Though I try to be topical, it’s really freaking out a lot of my MM readership. So I’m going put the brakes on that stuff. Sort of, and get back to some easier stuff to sooth our souls.
And this post is dedicated to Michelle. The stress of moving to a new area, and caring for family has been taking it’s toll. It’s time for a cool look and reminder of whence we came from.
You probably picture everyone dressed in bell-bottoms, their shirts unbuttoned down to their navels and their perfectly coiffed shag haircuts not budging as they boogie-woogied all night long.
And while that may be a fairly accurate snapshot—especially the bell-bottoms—it’s by no means the complete picture.
For those who came of age during the grooviest decade in history, memories run deeper than Donna Summer (Ohhhh I love to love ya baby.) and questionable fashion choices. LOL.
But seriously folks…
The best parts of your childhood probably involved things today’s kids will never know
From an article that I picked up and chopped up out of my unedited stash slush box...
The endless stretch of a lazy summer afternoon. Visits to a grandparent’s house in the country. Riding your bicycle through the neighborhood after dark. These were just a few of the revealing answers from more than 400 Twitter users in response to a question: “What was a part of your childhood that you now recognize was a privilege to have or experience?”
That question, courtesy of writer Morgan Jerkins, revealed a poignant truth about the changing nature of childhood in the US: The childhood experiences most valued by people who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s are things that the current generation of kids are far less likely to know.
That’s not a reference to cassette tapes, bell bottoms, Blockbuster movies, and other items popular on BuzzFeed listicles. Rather, people are primarily nostalgic for a youthful sense of independence, connectedness, and creativity that seems less common in the 21st century.
The childhood privileges that respondents seemed to appreciate most in retrospect fall into four broad categories:
[1] The ability to take risks
“Riding my bike at all hours of the day into the evening throughout many neighborhoods without being stopped or asked what I was doing there,” was one Twitter user’s answer to Jerkins’ question.
Another commenter was grateful for “summer days & nights spent riding bikes anywhere & everywhere with friends, only needing to come home when the streetlights came on,” while yet another recalled “having a peaceful, free-range childhood.”
Countless others cited the freedom to explore—with few restrictions—as a major privilege of their childhood.
American children have less independence and autonomy today than they did a few generations ago.
For many of today’s children, that privilege is disappearing.
American children have less independence and autonomy today than they did a few generations ago. As parents have become increasingly concerned with safety, fewer children are permitted to go exploring beyond the confines of their own backyard.
Some parents have even been prosecuted or charged with neglect for letting their children walk or play unsupervised.
Meanwhile, child psychologists say that too many children are being ushered from one structured activity to the next, always under adult supervision—leaving them with little time to play, experiment, and make mistakes.
That’s a big problem.
Kids who have autonomy and independence are less likely to be anxious, and more likely to grow into capable, self-sufficient adults.
In a recent video for The Atlantic, Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise an Adult, argues that so-called helicopter parents “deprive kids the chance to show up in their own lives, take responsibility for things and be accountable for outcomes.”
That message seems to be gaining traction. The state of Utah, for example, passed a “free-range” parenting law in 2018 meant to give parents the freedom to send kids out to play on their own.
[2] Lots of time with family
Another privilege cited by many Twitter respondents was regular time with their parents—around the dinner table, on weekends, on vacation—and access to meaningful interactions with other family members, especially grandparents.
One respondent wrote “My paternal grandparents were my daycare and their house in the country was my playground.”
Another said, “my Italian grandparents lived on a street with a slew of their brothers and sisters. Nobody had any money. Everyone’s doors were open all day. Coffee always on, something on the stove. Endless stories and laughter. The happiest world.”
In an email to Quartz, Jerkins said that many of the respondents “were talking about having their grandparents around, which I thought was incredibly heartwarming.”
Spending time with grandparents is also an important part of child development: Close grandparent-child relationships have significant mental health benefits both for kids and for grandparents, and encourage prosocial behavior in children.
That’s especially true of dads, 63% of whom say that they spend too little time with their kids.
[3] Reading books
Reading is good for children. It makes them more literate, better at math, and more academically successful in general.
So it’s no wonder that a large majority of the respondents to Jerkins’ Twitter question answered cited time for reading as a major privilege of their childhood.
“Books. Hundreds and thousands of them moving through our house—from libraries, bookstores, passed from friends and coworkers of my parents.
No idea too frightening or taboo to discuss or analyze,” one Twitter user wrote. “Books saved my life,” another said.
Today’s teens, however, are reading significantly less than their predecessors. In 1984, 8% of 13-year-olds and 9% of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read for pleasure.
In 2014, that number had almost tripled, to 22% and 27%. And entire cities have now become “book deserts,” wherein the chances that kids in low-income urban neighborhoods finding children’s books for loan or purchase are slim to none.
[4] A screen-free existence
Gratitude for a childhood free of Facebook and smartphones was another common thread.
Another user answered: “A childhood without social media, tablets, mobile devices, apps, etc.” “I am so happy and blessed,” she continued, “that I can reflect on a childhood filled with books, board games, Razor scooters, and VHS tapes.”
Freedom from the constraints of an online presence is something that not a lot of US kids get to experience these days.
The latest research from Pew shows that 95% of teens report owning a smartphone or having access to one, and that 45% of teens say they are online on a “near-constant” basis.
That’s a marked change from even three years ago, the last time Pew conducted a survey of teens’ technology use, and found that 24% of teens went online “almost constantly.”
With the technology habits of today’s kids comes an increased risk of isolation, depressoin, and other mental health issues, along with the rise of cyber-bullying. A recent study in the journal Emotion showed that “the more hours a day teens spend in front of screens, the less satisfied they are.”
Reinventing childhood…
It’s only after we grow up that we’re able to recognize all the factors that made us into the people we are today.
Jerkins tells Quartz that she’s grateful for many privileges she was afforded: “Private tutoring. Flute lessons. Tap lessons. Dance and gymnastics lessons. Overnight summer camps. Regular summer camps. Books. Travel. Frequent trips to Disney World.” “I was very lucky,” she wrote.
A safe, healthy childhood is a privilege that far too few children in the US and around the world ever get to experience.
But even children who are lucky enough to grow up in a stable environment may not have the kind of adventurous, family-oriented, independent childhoods that the Twitter users who responded to Jerkins’ question describe.
Kids seem to be all the more unhappy for it. Maybe it’s time for a change.
A time for change…
And with the current state of the world as bizarre and challenging as it is right now, who could blame you for having some serious reappraisals on your life and the lifestyles of your family.
When I moved to China, I was stunned how community oriented it was, how the children were all out playing, or working with their parents, or spending time with their grandparents. These were things that I grew up with back when I was young, but that is wholly absent today.
Now, I’m not saying that suddenly everyone needs to get a pet rock, or put on some earth shoes, but maybe we all need to be a little less serious and a little more accommodating.
Let’s look at what it was like when I was growing up…
Taking care of Pet Rocks
.
So…
In the ’70s, we begged our parents for $4 so that we could buy… a rock. Sure, this makes it sound like ’70s kids were the victims of the biggest con in history—and we were.
But we have no regrets.
I almost bought one as a Christmas gift for my “secret Santa” at work. But I was fortunately persuaded to buy something else. So I bought a gallon (about four liters) of a very, very, very cheap perfume. He he. Well, I was, after all, only 16 years old.
We got to feed our Pet Rocks, take them for walks, and even clean up after them, just like a real pet. Call us fools if you must, but we loved our Pet Rocks.
The 1970’s was a a place; a “state of mind”. It really was “dazed and confused.
Like going to a movie theater and being traumatized for months afterwards…
Being afraid to go in the ocean after Jaws
Yikes!
All it took was one seriously terrifying movie—Steven Spielberg’s 1975 shark fright fest Jaws—to keep an entire generation of children out of the ocean. All of us ’70s kids would scan the water for signs of a shark fin, hearing da-dum, da-dum, da-dum in our heads as we did.
And let’s not forget Linda Blair in the movie “The Exorcist”.
The Exorcist
Yeah. I was on a date with a girl when I watched it, I had to carry her in my arms to the car afterwards. BTW, my old GTO, don’t you know.
My GTO. Sigh.
I do miss my GTO.
Schoolhouse Rock
I myself didn’t like it, but my younger brother and sister did. I guess that is how they ended up learning math and grammar. You know, from Schoolhouse Rock.
Schoolhouse Rock
These educational animated shorts popped up amid our usual Saturday morning cartoon line-up. And their songs were so darn catchy that we didn’t even mind that they were tricking us into learning.
With educational hits like “Conjunction Junction” and “Three Is a Magic Number,”Schoolhouse Rock probably taught us more than our actual teachers did. Ask anybody who grew up in the ’70s to explain how laws are made in our country and they’ll likely start singing “I’m Just a Bill.”
Oh yeah.
We all wore them…
Tube Socks
Everyone wore tube socks.
.
Everyone.
Tube Socks.
No self-respecting ’70s kid would ever walk out for gym class without a pair of tube socks, preferably one long enough to reach their knees. We all suffered from the same delusion that tube socks made us look athletic and not incredibly silly.
At least we weren’t alone, though. Everyone from Farrah Fawcett to Kareem-Abdul Jabbar made a very convincing case that tube socks were cool.
Yuppur.
Real cool beans.
Worshipping Fonzie
Everyone was into the Fonz.
The Fonz looks at Richie.
Kids didn’t tune in to the sitcom Happy Days because they were nostalgic about the ’50s. They did it to see the Fonz, the coolest character on TV. All across the country, kids would be practicing their Fonzie thumbs up and saying “Ayyyy” with the perfect Henry Winkler inflection.
Then, they would go off and ride their bikes.
Having Tupperware pride
Tupperware
Of course, people still use Tupperware today, but it’s nothing like it was in the ’70s. Our Tupperware was colorful and bold, something that you actually wanted to show off when you opened your lunch at school.
The generation before us even had Tupperware parties to sell these much sought-after storage containers. In the 1970s, you’d have an easier time walking into somebody’s house and stealing a lamp than leaving with their Tupperware. Seriously, we loved it that much.
Using the 8-track player in your car
An 8-track player.
Nobody actually liked 8-track tapes—they were simply the only thing available in the ’70s for recording and listening to music before the cassette came to town. They were incredibly complicated, with four “programs” instead of sides. You had to toggle from program to program, making the whole enterprise hugely annoying and clunky.
In my “neck of the woods”, we had an 8-track player when I was 16 years old and dating my 14 year old girl friend. An FM adapter came when I was 18 years old, and then when I was 19 came the cassette.
Witnessing TV go off the air at night
Then dead air and static. No problem, though. We would just put a few albums on the turntable.
Television station went off the air.
Television wasn’t available 24/7 during our childhood. At around 1 or 2 a.m., most TV stations signed off for the night, playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before leaving us with a test card of color bars. Anyone suffering from insomnia didn’t have a lot of options in those days.
Seeing Star Wars in theaters for the first time
I watched it with another girl. It was her idea, and after a successful date watching “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, we went to Butler, PA and watched this gem. She drove. Not me. She had a silver Chevy Chevelle.
Those were the days.
Hot cars. Fun girls.
A large pizza for a $1.
I guess it was in a galaxy a long, time ago. Sigh.
Star Wars
When George Lucas’s space opera first hit movie theaters in 1977, it was unlike anything the world had ever seen. If you ask anyone who saw the original Star Wars in theaters about their experience, they’ll be able to tell you every little detail, right down to how long they waited in line. For a ’70s kid, it’s easy to get goosebumps just thinking about it.
Yeah. I do remember getting on the phone and talking for hours about the movie.
Chatting on the phone for hours.
Practicing the Hustle
Everyone did it. Though many of us deeply regretted it in the morning.
Dancing the Hustle.
Before there was the Macarena, there was the Hustle. When Van McCoy implored us in his 1975 hit to “do the Hustle,” we all knew we had to learn this dance or we’d be left behind.
Sinking our feet into shag carpeting
God. You all have no idea.
Shag Carpeting.
Shag carpets looked hideous, almost like the hair on the head of a gigantic Muppet. And yet, they were also surprisingly cozy on bare feet. The material felt so soft to the touch that it made an entire generation overlook its heinous appearance.
When Marcia Brady moved out of the house, it was probably to an apartment like this…
Groovy.
With enough black laquer, your den would be fit for a villain from Kung Fu.
They just don’t make houses this way any more.
The perfect kitchen for spilling tomato sauce.
Perfect.
Laughing at Saturday Night Live
Went great with beer.
The crew of Saturday Night Live.
If you weren’t old enough to stay up late and watch Saturday Night Live when it first launched in 1975, you probably had an older sibling or a parent who was—and did. The morning after, you’d beg them to recount every hilarious moment, even if you didn’t always understand all the jokes. If nothing else, the merciless torture of a clay figure named Mr. Bill felt like the most brilliant bit in the world.
Doing the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” dance
Yeah. People danced back then.
The Village People.
The Hustle was hardly the only iconic dance to come out of the ’70s. You can immediately tell if somebody came of age during the decade by whether or not they reflexively spell out the letters “Y,” “M,” “C,” and “A” with their arms whenever this Village People song is played.
Growing up with Sesame Street
Sesame Street.
Every child born in the last 50 years has likely been influenced by Sesame Street in some way. But for ’70s kids who got to experience the PBS show from the beginning, the program was a revelation. We were the first generation to fall in love with Big Bird, Grover, Bert, and Ernie, the fictional characters who taught us everything we needed to know growing up.
For me, I was busy watching Mary Harman, Mary Hartman.
Mary Harman, Mary Hartman.
Expressing ourselves with mood rings
It was very cool.
Mood Ring.
This ’70s fashion accessory was also a liquid crystal thermometer, which is how it could “recognize” your emotional state. Blue meant you were calm or relaxed, amber meant you were nervous or anxious, and black meant you were angry. For ’70s kids, showing someone the color of their mood ring was much easier than talking about feelings.
And who can forget…
Smashing clackers together
Clackers.
What’s surprising isn’t that ’70s kids loved this toy, which consisted of two heavy acrylic balls attached to string intended to be banged together at full force—it’s that it took years before somebody noticed that clackers produced a lot of shrapnel. In 1976, the United States government finally deemed the toy a “mechanical hazard,” and they were taken off store shelves.
Well.
Well.
It was a different time and a different place. And it’s fine to remember the good, the bad and the truly messed up. But you know, the things that we miss today are the things that we took for granted back then.
If something is going well for you; put it in your affirmations so that it keeps supplying you with good and happy memories. Don’t take it for granted. Things taken for granted often disappear.
To underline and appreciate what you appreciate in your affirmations. It’s not just about your future. It’s also about keeping intact things that matter to you.
You know if more people do this, we would still have $1 pizza pies everywhere, we’d be zooming around in GTO’s, and listening to “real” music.
You’ll not find any big banners or popups here talking about cookies and privacy notices. There are no ads on this site (aside from the hosting ads – a necessary evil). Functionally and fundamentally, I just don’t make money off of this blog. It is NOT monetized. Finally, I don’t track you because I just don’t care to.
I am more than a bit “burnt out” on all the Geo-political bullshit. When I read an article about “containing China”, and how “America is roaring back” I just exit the browser tab. I’ve have enough. I am “toast”.
America is so full-on crazy right now, and they treat us “citizens” as slaves, and dumbed down nincompoops. It’s just an insult to see what constitutes “news” these days.
Instead, what I want to do do is relive a simpler time when I was a boy. And for me, that meant chilling out with my dog, and my cat in my tree house. It meant riding all over town and going on “hikes” and all-day-long “bike rides” and exploring old abandoned bridges, trestles, tunnels, and long abandoned rural homes. It meant lazying around eating home-made sandwiches, and sprawling out upon the couch as I read one of my hundreds of boyhood paperback books.
Rural Pennsylvania.
And one of the books that I loved then, and still love today, is the “Mad Scientist’s Club” series of short stories.
I still remember the book fair as one of the highlights of my elementary school year. For a half hour or so the teacher would take us down the long hall to the multipurpose room. I lived in rural Western Pennsylvania, and my school was too small to have a separate gym. Though it did have a basement cafeteria and a library on the nearby High School. There, in the gym where table after table had been set up with stacks of books arranged by interest and age level.
I loved books as a kid and I always looked forward to the event.
As a boy, I used to hang out in the tree house with my cat and read. But other times my friends would come up and we would read comic books together, and do other things that kids are forbidden to do.
Some of the books I purchased there would shape my reading habits for the rest of my life. I still remember taking the two dollars my mom gave me for the fair and investing it in Chariots of the Gods. It was astounding to me, and I found it impossible to put down.
Since then I have collected a small mountain of paperbacks. With science fiction and history being my favorites. I also had some war literature, some “how to” books, and Marmaduke comics paperbacks.
Another book fair introduced me to yet another author: Bertrand R. Brinley.
Few of you will recognize his name, though some will fondly remember series he authored: The Mad Scientists’ Club (referred to as MSC among fans).
His initial work consisted of two volumes of short stories and a novel. A second novel written by Brinley but not really published until after his death completes the set. In my opinion his stories rank as one of the best young people’s reading series ever created.
I mean…
…the BEST.
Dinky Poore didn't really mean to start the story about the huge sea monster in Strawberry Lake. He was only telling a fib because he had to have an excuse for getting home late for supper. So he told his folks he'd been running around the lake trying to get a closer look at a huge, snakelike thing he'd seen in the water, and the first thing he knew he was too far from home to get back in time.
His mother and father greeted the tale with some skepticism. But Dinky's two sisters were more impressionable, and that's how the story really got out. They kept pestering him for so many details about the monster that he had to invent a fantastic tale to satisfy them.
That's one of the troubles with a lie. You've got to keep adding to it to make it believable to people.
It didn't take long for the story to get around town, and pretty soon Dinky Poore was a celebrity in Mammoth Falls. He even had his picture in the paper, together with an "artists conception" of the thing he'd seen. It was gruesome-looking -- something like a dinosaur, but with a scaly, saw-toothed back like a dragon. Dinky was never short on imagination, and he was able to give the artist plenty of details.
It was the artists' sketch in the newspaper that got Henry Mulligan all excited. Henry is First Vice President and also Chief of Research for the Mad Scientists' Club and is noted for his brainstorms. Neither Henry nor anyone else in the club actually believed Dinky had seen a real monster, but we were all willing to play along with the gag -- especially when Henry suggested that we could build a monster just like the one shown in the newspaper ...
Bertrand R. Brinley
Bertrand Brinley was born in Hudson, New York, in 1917. As a child he moved with his family from place to place, eventually living in West Newbury, Massachusetts as a teenager where he graduated from the local high school.
West Newbury, Massachusetts. Small town America.
He worked at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in California as a systems analyst during the early years of World War II and joined the army in 1944. His tour with the army allowed him to see much of the world.
He left the army for a short time, then reentered it during the Korean War.
Much of his work with the army involved public relations and in the late 50’s, right after the Sputnik launch, he was put in charge of a program to instruct amateur rocketeers in safety.
This lead to his first book published in 1960, Rocket Manual for Amateurs.
1960, Rocket Manual for Amateurs.
This book taught young boys, and maybe High School teenagers, how to make their own rockets from scratch. Not just the shape; nose cones, and fins, but also how to make solid rocket propellant motors, firing systems, and parachute escape and retrieval devices.
Sigh.
You would never see that today.
This is ancient history – even to me – but the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 sent the United States into a crisis.
The successful orbiting of a satellite by America’s rival after the failure of several of our own rockets created the impression of a scientific gap between the two countries.
In 1958 the U.S. would orbit its own satellite, Vanguard, but by then the idea that America was behind the USSR in science and technology was firmly planted in the public’s mind.
To close this supposed “gap,” money was poured into education for the next decade or so. Not just funding for schools, and extra courses, but real STEM courses for everyone.
Everyone, all over America, were training to be engineers, designers, and scientists.
The introduction of new curriculum – such as the so-called New Math designed to promote engineering and science-was common. While it is doubtful that New Math really turned ten-year-olds into rocket engineers, it is indisputable that these events had Americans thinking about science and technology.
Elementary textbooks for fourth through six grade doesn’t resemble anything being taught in America today.
It was in this atmosphere that Brinley conceived his stories.
In 1961 the first of Brinley’s tales was published in Boy’s Life. Boy’s Life was, and remains, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts.
Boy’s Life magazine.
The story, The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake, told of a group of small-town teenagers whose genius for technology gets them both into and out of trouble when they build a fake sea serpent.
The story of the club was continued in two more stories that year in Boy’s Life. In 1965 the first seven of the short stories were gathered into book form and published under the title The Mad Scientists Club. It was a paperback copy of this I came across and purchased at a book fair several years later.
The crew in their tree-house. Plotting and scheming.
To say that I liked this book would be quite an understatement.
I read the seven tales contained in it over and over again.
Each, while involving the same characters and setting, were very different and engaging.
My personal favorite is The Secret of the Old Cannon, where the club probes the mystery of what is in the breech of a giant civil war cannon in the local park.
Mammoth Falls
A strange sea monster appears on the lake...a fortune is unearthed from an old cannon ...a valuable dinosaur egg is stolen.
Watch out as the Mad Scientists turn Mammoth Falls upside down!
Take seven, lively, "normal" boys -- one an inventive genius -- give them a clubhouse for cooking up ideas, an electronics lab above the town hardware store, and a good supply of Army surplus equipment, and you, dear reader, have a boyhood dream come true and a situation that bears watching.
In the hands of an author whose own work involved technological pioneering, the proceedings are well worth undivided attention, as the boys explore every conceivable possibility for high and happy adventure in the neighborhood of Mammoth Falls.
To the unutterable confusion of the local dignitaries -- and the unalloyed delight of Bertrand Brinley's fans -- the young heroes not only outwit their insidious rival, Harmon Muldoon, but emerge as town heroes.
The stories were told in first person by character Charlie Finckledinck (who didn’t have a last name until the first novel came out) but clearly the club’s most prominent member was the bespeckled teenager Henry Mulligan.
Henry, the group’s resident science genius, was just as likely to come up with some outlandish prank as a legitimate experiment or invention.
Other MSC members included Jeff Crocker, the president (by virtue of the club meeting in his father’s barn), Homer Snodgrass and Mortimer Dalrymple (experts in electronics and radio).
The club membership was rounded out by Freddy Mulldoon and Dinky Poore, the group’s Mutt and Jeff pair.
A couple of points about the characters: Freddy Muldoon was originally called Fatso Brown, and his cousin, the notorious Harmon Muldoon, Skinny Brown, in The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake. My father changed the names in the version that was published in Boys' Life and subsequently in The Mad Scientists' Club. Charlie Finckledinck, the narrator, did not have a last name until The Big Kerplop!
-The Mad Scientists Club
The adults of the mythical town of Mammoth Falls where the stories were set found themselves forever involved in some scheme or prank the club had thought up.
These, for example, took the forms of a fake monster in the local lake, an electronically-haunted house at the city limits and a mad balloonist in the town square.
When the boys weren’t giving Mayor Scragg, Police Chief Putney or Constable Billy Dahr problems, they often found themselves at odds with a rival gang formed by Harmon Mulldoon who had been a MSC member but had been thrown out for activity unbecoming of a scientist.
It always amazed me how the characters in the books were so clearly and finely drawn. Unfortunately Bertrand Brinley is no longer with us, but his son, Sheridan Brinley, explained how his father had come up with the characters.
Like many authors, Bertrand Brinley’s own personality found its ways into the people he created. “Henry is my father through and through,” said Sheridan. “A guy who thinks before he speaks, has an unusual perspective on things, has a vivid imagination, secretly feeds the dog at the table, is late to dinner because he is thinking about something, etc., etc.”
“Dinky Poore, I have always thought, was in part me, as I was small and skinny as a child and a bit of a whiner,” said Sheridan. “The Poore name is a family name in Westbury, Massachusetts, which is the source of a number of the names and places in the stories. For example, Billy Dahr is based on the constable in West Newbury in the ’30s. He was a bumbling sort of cop, as is Dahr.”
At least some of the events in the stories were inspired by real incidents that would have appeared in the news at the time. The accidental loss of a nuclear device off the coast of Spain in 1966 surely provided inspiration for the first novel, The Big Kerplop!, where an atomic bomb splashes into Mammoth Fall’s Strawberry Lake.
The Air Force’s Project Blue Book, which investigated UFO sightings, may have also been material for Brinley’s imagination to chew on. “The Unidentified Flying Man of Mammoth Falls was, I think, a parody of the Air Force program spending taxpayers’ dollars to trace down UFO sightings,” muses Sheridan.
“What a great joke: create a flying mannequin that makes fools of the town elders and police and scrambles the planes from the nearby Air Force base. Some of the same stuff is in The Flying Sorcerer.“
Engineers and Scientists
I’ve heard a lot of stories over the years about how the original Star Trek TV show in the 60’s influenced people to become scientists and engineers, and as a longtime Treker myself, I believe it is true.
However, I think there may quite a few people who made their career choices based on Brinley’s work. A gentleman named Mark Maxham runs a MSC tribute site and has collected some quotes from anonymous fans including this one:
I have had at least 5 copies of the Mad Scientist's Club over the years. I just gave away my only duplicate set. [...] They too were my favorites when I was younger. I am now a spacecraft flight engineer (worked with NASA controlling the Magellan Spacecraft to Venus) thanks in part to those books.
I suspect that this sentiment is widespread. There aren’t as many MSC fans around as Trekers, but those that exist seem to cherish their memories of the stories just as much as episodes of that seminal TV series.
I even suspect that my own choice of career as an Aerospace engineer hearkens back to Brinley’s tales of crazed boys tinkering around with electronics, rockets, and machinery. Sure there were many other influences. But only Brinley translated that love for gadgetry and messing around with machines that I so very love today.
Like all my books, I eventually lost my old tattered book. My best guess is that it lies at the bottom of some landfill inSanLuisObispo California.
By the way, do you know what I could use right now?
I could use a thin-crust cheese pizza with a goodly amount of salt on it. Maybe with a icy Coke. Not a beer. My doctor is telling me that my beer-drinking days are over. Beer is a “cold” food. I can only drink “warm” foods; like red wine and 53% alcohol. Sigh.
Anyways. For some reason, when I would plop myself and read these books, it was always with either sandwiches or pizza. I guess that I am just that kind of a silly guy. Eh?
What I liked about the thin crust pizza was that you could fold it up, and eat it like a gooey taco. I would plop myself down on this big sprawling 1940’s chair inherited from my grandparents, or our La-Z-boy and chill out. Smunching on a pizza, book about other kids like you, a nice breeze though the window, and a television or radio playing softly in the other room was what my boyhood was like.
Anyways, I had two books. They actually had a second volume that I had bought. It was titled The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists’ Club. I thought that it was even better than the first!
Unfortunately a novel entitled The Big Kerplop! Came out that I was unaware of, and so I never had the opportunity to read it.
Trying to get all these books has been a herculean task over the years. Not only due to the lack of availability, but also to the fact that I am in China. And obscure books in English are not readily available.
Unfortunately all of them had been out of print for many years and were almost impossible to find. This was bad news as I desperately wanted to get a hold of them for both myself and all the kids.
Purple House Press Reprints
Sheridan Brinley had been trying to get his father’s works republished for a number of years without success.
No publisher wanted to risk the money necessary to run off several thousand copies of the books no matter how ardent the small fan base might be.
Fortunately, Brinley came in contact withPurple House Press (PHP), a new publisher formed by a woman named Jill Morgan. Morgan had been locating and collecting out-of-print children books and had come to realize the cost of these original volumes were being driven through the roof.
Parents who wanted to share their favorite children’s books with their own kids were priced out of the market.This is that profit-greed based society that I always lament about. People in America do not care about society. They care about themselves; as a nation driven by psychopathic personalities, those of us with a different value system are often left out in the cold.
Morgan started contacting authors and their heirs and arranging for these works to be reprinted in small volumes. The company now has thirty-two books in its catalog including the original Mad Scientists’ Club, The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists’ Club and The Big Kerplop!
In fact for MSC fans there was perhaps an unexpected bonus from this alliance with PHP. Bertrand Brinley had written a second MSC novel, but it had never been published in the United States. After some editing, The Big Chunk of Ice – the story of the Mad Scientists entangled in a mystery in Austria – became available for readers for what was probably the first time.
I truly believe that one of the secrets of getting your kids to be great readers is not just to read to them, but to read to them stories you yourself are in love with.
The kind of excitement you radiate can’t be faked and kids pick up on it. That is one of the reasons why I am so happy to see efforts like Purple House Press succeed.
As a Rufus I’ve had the opportunity to not only share MSC stories with my kids, but my nieces and nephews as well.
From a technical point of view the stories show some signs of age – the radios, model rockets and remote controls the MSC kids used aren’t exactly cutting edge technology anymore (one can only wonder what trouble Henry and friends could get into using computers, the Internet and various wireless devices), but the stories are still great and worth sharing with a new generation.
Author’s Legacy
Bertrand Brinley died in 1994, but not without having left a significant mark in a lot of people’s lives.
I still can’t see more than two hot air balloons together without thinking of The Great Gas Bag Race.
I was ecstatic a few decades ago when I visited Fort McHenry in Baltimore and found they had a 15-inch Rodman cannon (the same one featured in The Secret of the Old Cannon).
I stood there pondering, could Homer Snodgrass really have wiggled his way down that barrel to find out what was inside?
In a way I like to think of this website, The Museum of UnNatural Mystery, as partly a tribute to Brinley’s work. I’m sure his stories inspired my interest in weird science.
I’d like to think that the halls of the museum are a place where the spirits of Henry Mulligan and Jeff Crocker, embodied into the children of today, can still find some adventure, or at least some mischief, to get into that would vex Mayor Scragg and the citizens of Mammoth Falls.
The Mad Scientist’s Club Series
The Mad Scientists’ Club – Seven Short Stories
– The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake – The club decides to shake up the town with a fake lake monster, but things go frather than they ever envisioned.
– The Big Egg – The kids find a dinosaur egg and it hatches, or does it?
– The Secret of the Old Cannon – What is hidden in an old civil war cannon up on Memorial Point?
-The Unidentified Flying Man of Mammoth Falls – A mad ballooner upsets the town’s Founder’s Day celebration.
– The Great Gas Bag Race – The club enters a balloon in the annual race and find themselves up against their old rival, Harmon Mulldoon.
– The Voice in the Chimney – The old house on Blueberry Hill is haunted, or is it just peoples’ imagination?
– Night Rescue – The club tries to rescue a downed jet pilot.
The New Adventures of the Mad Scientists’ Club – Five Short Stories
– The Telltale Transmitter – The club goes up against bank robbers.
– The Cool Cavern – The kids try to rescue Harmon’s gang from a cave in.
– Big Chief Rainmaker – The club tries to bring an end to a devastating drought.
– The Flying Sorcerer – A UFO seems to be visiting Mammoth Falls.
– The Great Confrontation – Harmon Mulldoon’s rival gang goes too far.
The Big Kerplop! – A full length novel that tells the story of the formation of the club during a scare when an atomic bomb is lost in Strawberry Lake.
The Big Chunk of Ice – A full length novel that tells the story of the club as it goes on a scientific expedition to Austria and gets entangled in the mystery of a lost diamond.
Do you want more?
You can go through the index page and explore. A lot of gems there. Have fun.
December 2020 is almost upon us. This entire year has been shit, and I want to gallop away from it as fast as my two legs can carry me. I tire of the SHTF stuff about the United States and all the Trade stuff regarding China and international Geo-political issues. Instead, I just want to munch, chill and cozy up with some wine and a loved one. (Rent-a-loved one, a much beloved pet, or a favorite family members are all acceptable.)
I have been musing about how different things are today than they were when I was a young ‘un. And indeed, it does seem that time has completely rewrote reality. Whether it is my experiences in hopping crazy world-lines, or that the world has indeed moved on, who actually knows? I don’t. Not really, and I really don’t wanna think about it any more. One thing for certain is that it sure is different.
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Here, I want to chat about some of the things that I “miss” from my past. Well, nope “miss” isn’t exactly the right word. Say, “muse about”. You know change is a part of life, and good change is wonderful and bad change isn’t all that great. Truth this. And don’t tell me that you don’t agree.
Here’s one thing everybody who was alive during the 1970s can agree on: The entire decade still feels like it only happened yesterday. Seriously, how can the ’70s be five decades in the past? Really?
It’s just not possible that the era ruled by bell-bottom jeans and 8-track cassettes was half a century ago. For those of us who lived through it—and survived that groovy yet perilous time—it will forever be a part of our souls. That and the roach burns in our jeans, the stain of bong water on our shag carpets, and the earth shoes in our closets. Let go to the max! and realize that not everyone reading this is a space cadet. Some might be out to lunch, but you know, it’s all cool beans!
So take a chill pill, and I’ll give you the skinny on what’s going on. Who knows? Maybe I’ll catch you on the flip side.
Waiting for the phone
Having a phone full of APPs where you can call anyone, at any time, and share Social media did not exist and was unheard of. It was Science Fiction. For us, our telephones were hard-wired to the house. And that was that.
A scene from the televisions show “The Brady Bunch”. Having cords attached to the house when dealing with telephones was a normal event.
Everybody in the ’70s had just one phone in their house. It was a rotary phone that stayed in some central location, with a cord that could only be stretched so far. If someone was on that phone, you just had to sit and wait for them to finish. Family members hogging the phone were the cause of many sibling battles during this era. And I would have to say that the leading culprits were the young high school females in the household.
Telephones have come a long way from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Most homes back then only had one phone for the entire family whether there were three people or twelve people. That’s right… people had to get in line to get on the line! It wasn’t uncommon for the cord to be stretched out of shape since the user could only hope for privacy by getting as far away from the other family members as possible.
Pretending to be “bionic”
No body ever does this today. But, back in the day, it was a “thing”.
The Six Million Dollar Man.
If you truly are a ’70s kid, we don’t need to explain what’s involved in pretending you’re bionic. But for those who aren’t, you simply start running in slow motion, and then you make a sound with your tongue that sounds vaguely robotic. Decades after The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman were canceled, trying to imitate Steve Austin or Jaime Sommers still makes us feel powerful.
Today, if they tried to remake this series it would be called “The 6 Trillion Dollar Person”.
Playing Simon
This game came out as I was entering University. At that time I was heavily into beer, and girls. But my younger brothers and sisters were addicted to this little piece of electronic wizardry.
Simon.
So simple, and yet so addictive. When this electronic game came out in 1978, every kid had to have one. The gameplay wasn’t too involved—you just had to tap on the right series of four colored buttons to repeat a sound pattern—but we played it with the intensity and focus that kids play Fortnite today.
Gas station lines
At the time of the “Oil Crisis”, my father was commuting a three hour drive back and forth from our home to his new job. The petrol-political situation just made everything tougher. And I well remember having to ride to the gas station and collect all sorts of plastic containers of gas that I would fill up and then siphon back into my dads car.
Did you know that the thick PE containers would crack if you stored gasoline in them in sub-zero temperatures? Guess how I found out? Yeah. Let me tell youse guys icy below freezing gasoline at -20F is still liquid and freezes the cockles of your mouth.
Terrible national management brought this disaster to the door-steps of America.
The 1973 oil crisis (and the second oil crisis a few years thereafter) caused a nationwide panic resulting in around-the-block gas station lines that never seemed to move. Some stations even started posting color-coded flags: Green indicated they still had gas, while red alerted customers that they were out. Every car trip you took with your family in the ’70s felt like it might be your last.
Boogie life! Roller disco parties
Don’t laugh. Whether you lived in the city or in the country, there were always parties at the local roller rink. They installed flashing strobe lights, a DJ, some neon, and before you knew it, we were all boogieing on down!
Party on! So very groovy!
All the fun of a discothèque with the extra awkwardness of having wheels on your feet. We might all remember these parties fondly, but it’s a miracle we didn’t break any bones trying to dance along to a Bee Gees song while skating at frightening speeds.
Love Train
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Teenagers at the time, just like now, couldn’t get enough of their favorite artists including Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith just to name a few. All bets were off though at the roller rink. When the lights went down low and the sparkling disco ball shined on the wooden floor, tacky organ music was just fine!
After getting inside the roller rink, the next thing to do was to go stand in another line to get a pair of skates. Of course, to use a pair of skates that belong to the rink, you had to turn your own shoes in as place holders for the borrowed skates. You got your street shoes back only when the skates were returned. I can still see the wooden wheels and smell the disinfectant spray used on the skates between sessions.
We roller-boogied everywhere. And when we did it on the street, we wore appropriate attire, don’t you know. Such as this…
Ready to boogie!
Yikes!
“Free skate” time was awesome. Everyone would go around and around that floor. It was a time to show off your cool moves. The fancy skaters whizzed, by skating backwards, leaving you in their dust. The skaters with extraordinary skills would show off their abilities in the center of the rink. They were the ones that had their own skates and didn’t use the rented ones. Often, they would stroll into the rink with their skates hanging around their necks like a piece of jewelry.
Roller Skate Rentals
Ai! Now this is something you don’t see any more…
Rollerskate Rentals.
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By the end of the evening, the borrowed roller skates were sweaty and had caused at least one blister on the skater’s feet. That was just part of the deal. A person knew when they got there that they would get that blister. Hopefully, it would heal in time for the following weekend.
After taking off the roller skates and putting your own shoes back on, it took a few minutes to get your legs used to being off of the skates. It was a weird feeling being 2 inches shorter, although that’s how tall you were when you got there. It is something everyone should experience at least once.
The 70’s really were a time like no other.
Coveting an Atari video game console
Atari console
No, you may not have owned an Atari console during the ’70s, but at the very least you knew somebody who did and you made sure to do everything in your power to win their friendship. The very idea of playing video games in the comfort of our own homes without ever worrying if we had enough quarters seemed unfathomably futuristic.
Annoying (or being annoyed by) your sibling on road trips
I don’t know if this happens or not. In the days before electronic media, all that you could do when you were trapped inside an automobile is either listen to the AM radio or pester the heck of your siblings.
A Brady Bunch Living Room.
But that didn’t stop you from going on road trips! When a family piled into the station wagon for a long trek across the country in the ’70s, kids didn’t have the distractions they enjoy today.
There were no iPads or smartphones to keep us occupied. The only way to pass the time was to see how much we could torture our brother or sister sitting in the backseat with us. It was either annoy or be annoyed, the latter of which required constantly demanding justice from your oblivious parents trying to ignore you both in the front seat.
Waiting until Saturday for cartoons
Well, this isn’t exactly true. There were after-school cartoons that we would watch. Namely “The Flintstones”. But for a real marathon of cartoon gluttony, it’s Saturday Morning non-stop comic-thon.
All I can say is “Yabba Dabba Doo!”.
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If you wanted to watch Bugs Bunny or Fred Flintstone or any of your favorite cartoon characters, you had only one chance to catch them—Saturday morning. If you missed it, you missed it, and those precious few hours of animated bliss were gone forever (or at least until the next Saturday). It taught us important lessons about delayed gratification. It just wasn’t possible back then to see every cartoon ever made with the press of a button.
The Watergate hearings
It was a simpler time. President Nixon was impeached for erasing 18.5 minutes of personal tapes. Today, the government vacuums up every item of your life in 3D, indexes it, and sells it off to the highest bidder, and then bills you for it in the form of higher taxes.
President Nixon, remember him?
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Even if you didn’t give a hoot about politics, everyone was at least vaguely aware that something bad was happening in Washington. It was the topic of every dinner party conversation, and the evening news reported each new detail like the Watergate scandal might very well be the downfall of democracy.
Seeing the disgraced Richard Nixon leave the White House forever (with his iconic two handed peace symbol hand wave) and get into a helicopter was one of the most unforgettably surreal moments of TV viewing for just about everybody in the country in the ’70s.
Living in a world without Darth Vader
Darth Vader.
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The ’70s was the last decade when a person could wake up one day having no idea who Darth Vader was—and by dinner that night their head would be spinning with thoughts of the Dark Side and black helmets and lightsabers. The world was suddenly divided between “before Star Wars” and “after Star Wars,” and nothing would be the same for us again.
Suddenly true and real “evil” stopped being Hitler and his evil Nazi horde, and it became a large Empire. One with tentacles in everyone’s business, in every corner of the known world, and one led by indescribably evil people.
Being oblivious to “stranger danger”
In the 1970’s we were innocents. We lived life, and while there were bad people about, we didn’t have them thrown into our faces 24-7. We didn’t see missing kids on milk cartons, Amber alerts, screeching television shows and exposes of predators. We were insulated from all that.
Kids were allowed to be kids.
The world was no less dangerous for kids in the 1970s than it is today—our parents just weren’t as freaked out about it. Many of us weren’t warned that every unfamiliar face might mean us harm. So we made friends with just about everyone, even random adults that we didn’t recognize.
For me, it was cranking “The immigrant song” by Led Zeppelin at 100, and playing games with my buds. While “Pee Eck” or “Joe Piney” had an record album open and was using it to separate the stems and seeds out of a five dollar bag that we had bought. Heh heh.
Memorizing the lyrics to “Rubber Ducky”
LOL. How true is this?
Rubber Ducky…
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There was a limited amount of quality TV for kids in the ’70s, so when something came along that resonated with us, it burned into our subconscious. Sesame Street provided many of those pivotal memories.
Rubber Ducky
Rubber Ducky, you're the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you;
(woh woh, bee doh!)
Rubber Ducky, joy of joys,
When I squeeze you, you make noise!
Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true!
(doo doo doo doooo, doo doo)
Every day when I
Make my to the tubby
I find a little fella who's
Cute and yellow and chubby
(rub-a-dub-a-dubby!)
Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of you.
(repeat chorus)
Rubber Ducky, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber ducky, I'm awfully fond of -
Rubber ducky, I'd like a whole pond of -
Rubber ducky I'm of -
Rubber ducky I'm awfully fond of you!
(doo doo, be doo.)
Even today, long past the age when we’re regularly taking baths with toys, we can recall Ernie’s ode to his rubber duckie in its entirety.
Bell bottoms
Bell Bottom Jeans. (“Elephant bells” shown.)
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You cannot say “the 70’s” without mentioning the iconic “bell bottom jeans”. They were everywhere. And they were awesome! Most especially when worn with Rock-star platform boots, or earth-shoes.
A lot of completely groovy adults thought bell bottoms looked stylish in the ’70s, and they were right-on! And you know, it’ the cool kids have historically always been eager to imitate the best of adults’ instincts. So obviously, we all had these fantasticly stylish attire.
Short shorts and tube socks
Yes. And it does seem… obscene, now doesn’t it?
Tube socks, bikes and skateboards.
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Rarely in the history of fashion has a clothing style been universally accepted by both men and women. But that was the case in the ’70s with short shorts and tube socks, even though nobody looked especially good in the getup. In hindsight, tube socks that stretched up to your knees and shorts that were way too tight wasn’t the most flattering combo. But at the time, we all thought we looked cool.
The girls looked better in Tube Socks than the guys.
Do you feel like we do?
Perhaps nothing says 1970’s as the Peter Frampton (live) ode to that period in time. It’s… well, what if all felt like. And if you don’t understand… well… you needed to be there and live that lifestyle.
The 1970’s for us was like this kind of soft fog. Like walking in a fluffy pillow everywhere, and it was really, really surreal.
Do you feel like we do?
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The 1970’s for us was like this kind of soft fog. Like walking in a fluffy pillow everywhere, and it was really, really surreal.
Oh, did I say that? Oh.
Well. I mean that. You know. Like I REALLY mean that. Yeah.
Oh. What was I saying?
Oh yeah…
I’d give you the original song for free here, but apparently it’s all monetized right now. So I’ll just give you the link…
Hitchhiking
True hitchhiking is just as dangerous as it ever was, but we did it anyways. Back then, we were not a fearful as people are today. We are not blasted with stories of the gruesome things that can happen to young folk on the road. And even if that were to happen, many of us would probably try to fight back with our pocket knives or fists.
Cute girls hitchhiking.
No car? No problem! Just stick out your thumb and wait for a kind stranger to pull over and offer you a ride. It seems unthinkable today, but for a ’70s free spirit who didn’t have the bread to buy their own car (or was too young for a license), hitchhiking seemed like the best option when your own two feet couldn’t get you there.
You could hitchhike anywhere, and the police wouldn’t bother you. You could even hitchhike down town!
Having a favorite Charlie’s Angel
We all did. Don’t be silly.
Which brings up a song from the 1970’s. I don’t know why I have this connection of the song to the TV show. I attribute it to me coming home from a long day of partying and listening to Manfred Mann, and then settling down and watching Charlie’s Angels on the tube. I guess that; that is as good as an explanation as anything else.
Manfred Mann’s earth band – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band Blinded By The Light..mp3
Oh, and here’s the gals…
Charlie’s Angels.
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Some kids were always rooting for Jaclyn Smith, and some only had eyes for Kate Jackson. The vast majority of us, however, were smitten with Farrah Fawcett, and not just because she had the most iconic poster of the ’70s (and, arguably, of all time). Whatever your preference, they were the coolest crime-fighting trio on TV, and proof that ladies could kick as much criminal butt as the boys.
Woo Woo!
Farrah Fawcett was everywhere.
Going outside without sunscreen
Oh. Of course we knew about sunscreen. We could go ahead and use it. “Tans don’t burn with a Coppertone tan”. It’s just that we didn’t care…
California, 1977
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These days, most health-conscious people won’t even leave the house on a winter day without slathering their exposed skin in sun protection. But in the ’70s, you could walk around shirtless on a blazing hot summer day and nobody would think to ask if you’d applied any sunscreen.
Wait, sorry, we mean suntan lotion.
There was limited sun protection in the ’70s, just lotion to help you get some color. And when you didn’t get a tan, you got a sunburn—which nobody took all that seriously. There’s a lot we didn’t know about the long-term consequences.
We used suntan lotion to give our burns a bronze hue. Not to protect the skin.
Chase-lounges
This was just about the only way to hang out outside. You get a flimsy aluminum frame with the cheap nylon ribbing and plop down and pop a beer. That is what the 1970’s was all about.
Relaxing outside with the family.
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Do you want to hear a story about a date where I was tripping balls, it was a hot and humid evening, I sat in a chase lounge chair that fit like a glove. My icy cold PBR was next to me, and Traffic, Robin Trower, and Led Zeppelin played all night. After the beer was quaffed, my date and I rode on the foggy river at 3am in a small speedboat. Oh, and her brother couldn’t speak. He was deaf and dumb. So the entire event was in slow motion, sign language.
The 70’s. Youse kids have no idea.
It’s how we rolled
No helmets, knee or elbow protection, and no one recording it to post on Social Media. It’s how we rolled.
It’s how we rolled.
It’s how we rolled.
Then, when we were old enough to get our driver’s license, we started to terrorize the neighborhood righteously…
Scene from Dazed and Confused. Driven by Ben Affleck’s character Fred O’Bannion, this commanding Plymouth Duster was nicknamed the “Grey Ghost.” This beautiful car was driven by an unsavory character in the film, and thus the body paint was something resembling very opaque primer.
Wood Paneling
There isn’t anything that says 1970’s than a house with interior wood paneling. My own parents installed it in our television room around 1973. You simply cut it to size and then glue it to the walls.
Paneled den.
The metric system
Learn the metric system.
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Thanks to the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, we were all prepared to start measuring things in meters, liters, and grams rather than feet, pounds, and quarts. It’s hard to overstate how big a deal this was in the late ’70s, especially if you were a kid. In school, we were inundated with pro-metric system films, which tried to win us over with the adventures of the Metric Marvels. You couldn’t find a kid today stressed out about metric conversion, but in the ’70s, we all lived with the fear that we’d have to be metric-ready at a moment’s notice.
Drinking beer
It’s true that there were laws about drinking alcohol. But they weren’t really enforced. The min-age to drink was 18, and even 16 in some states. And in states where you could work (with parent’s permission) at 14, and drive as well, no one gave a rat’s ass about whether your were drinking alcohol or not. It wasn’t a big thing.
Not like today.
Drinking was no big thing.
If the police caught you drinking underage, they would probably pour it out and tell you to drive home safely and go to bed.
Which happened on more than a few occasions.
Today… well, let’s be real. You’d spend the night in Jail and probably need to fork out a few thousand to a bail bondsman to get out so that you can go to work.
Some things never change
Ah. When going through some of these photos, I see things that could have very well been taken today…
Drive-by “mooning”.
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Some things never change.
Though, you might get arrested for sexual indecency and become a “Sex Offender” for the rest of your life.
Brutal playground equipment
Playgrounds in the ’70s were about as user-friendly as modern-day adult obstacle endurance races. Sure, there wasn’t as much barbed wire, but the equipment was just as unforgiving and brutal.
Two story slide was the norm in the 1970s.
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Monkey bars were made of cold steel that could break bones without mercy. Everything—from the slides to the seesaws, the swings to the merry-go-round—was built to withstand military strikes, and no ’70s kid would use them without anticipating at least the occasional bloody injury.
Modern safe playground. No taller than one yard high.
Being terrified to go in the water
Not everyone was, but enough of my friends were that I thought that they were really too-caught-up. I strongly believed that they needed to “loosen up” a bit.
Jaws
When Steven Spielberg’sJaws first hit the theaters in 1975, it’s hard to quantify exactly how big an impact it had on our collective psyche. We weren’t just scared of getting into the ocean—even lakes and ponds and wading pools seemed to disguise shark fins. We looked for sharks virtually everywhere, certain that their ferocious fangs were just waiting to bite down hard on our toes and pull us underwater.
Smallpox vaccine scars
It’s a sign of being a “Baby Boomer”.
Smallpox vaccine
Before most doctors stopped routinely giving smallpox vaccines in the early ’70s, every kid had the same familiar scar on their upper arm, caused by the two-pronged needle that punctured our skin with all the delicateness of a staple gun. Yeah, it was scary, but smallpox was eradicated. And the fact that we all had the same scars almost felt like a badge of honor.
Being tricked into learning by Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
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Saturday morning is supposed to be about eating sugary cereals and vegging out in front of the TV, watching animated shows with no educational content whatsoever. But the Schoolhouse Rock! shorts tricked us, teaching us about multiplication, history, and the differences between conjunctions and interjections without our even realizing it.
Thanks to their catchy songs, we knew all about the different branches of government and what carbon footprints are without ever cracking open a book.
Having the Oscar Mayer commercial stuck in your head
That Oscar Mayer commercial with the cute kid fishing while eating bologna played so often—and was so catchy—we could hear the familiar melody reverberating around our brains over and over and over.
Oh, I’d love to be an Oscar Meyer weiner
That is what I’d truly like to be
‘Cause if i were an Oscar Meyer weiner
Everyone would be in love with meOh, I’m glad I’m not an Oscar meyer weiner.
That is what I’d never wanna be
‘Cause if i were an Oscar Meyer weiner
there would soon be nothing left of meAnother variation is:I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner
That is what I’d truly like to be
‘Cause if i were an Oscar Meyer weiner
Everyone would be in love with meOh, I’m glad I’m not an Oscar meyer weiner.
That is what I’d never wanna be
‘Cause if i were an oscar meyer weiner
Everyone would take a bite of me.
The only thing worse was when it got replaced by that “I’d like to teach the world to sing” Coca-Cola commercial! (We’re sorry.)
School assignments printed on ditto machines
And oh they smelled so good!
In 1960s and '70s-era classrooms, it was an olfactory treat whenever the teacher passed out fresh-off-the-machine purple print “ditto” sheets to the class. Virtually every student immediately held the page to his face and inhaled deeply.
-11 Smells That Are Slowly Disappearing | Mental Floss
Personal anecdotes from family members tell of the time when teachers would ask a student to head down the hall. That student would walk on over to the room housing the mimeograph. From there, he or she could get the many copies of that day’s worksheet, printed in that unique, pretty purple ink.
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When I was in elementary school in the 1960s and into the early 1970s, teachers gave homework and classroom assignments, quizzes and tests on Ditto worksheets. We wrote on them so often that my classmates and I became intimately familiar with the aniline purple color of the Ditto—as well as the mesmerizing smell that emanated from the freshly printed sheets.
Making Dittos was a two-step process. The first step was to prepare the master, a two-ply form that had an easy-to-write-on paper sheet on top and a wax-coated sheet on the bottom. Our teachers would either hand write or typewrite the schoolwork onto one of these typically letter-size Ditto master forms. The pressure of the pen or the typewriter would transfer wax from the bottom sheet onto the back of the top sheet.
The second step—after discarding what was left of the bottom sheet—was to mount the master, bottom side up, onto the Ditto duplicating drum. The wrong-reading wax image contained the “ink” that was progressively broken down by the chemical spread across the drum as it was rotated—often by cranking the cylinder manually—and came into contact with the paper. Several dozen Ditto sheets could be easily produced within minutes.
Any worksheet or homework assignment passed out to students in a ’70s classroom was likely created using either a ditto or mimeograph machine. Who could forget the way they left purple ink on your fingers, or that unmistakable odor?
Using Silly Putty to preserve newspaper comics
Sillyputty
We felt like geniuses for discovering that Silly Putty could be rolled over the comic section in a newspaper and perfectly reproduce our favorite Garfield strip. Today, most newspapers use non-transferable ink, so any kids wanting to try this experiment are out of luck. Sigh.
Slide Rules
Call me a nerd, but I loved my slide-rule. Unlike my fellow classmates, who embraced their new fangled calculators that were just coming out, I used mine for all sorts of engineering and science subjects.
Slide Rule
There is even an application for a slide rule for your Windows Computer. You can go ahead and get it HERE. Or better yet, check out these links…
Not at all useful, but a joy to behold and quite beautiful in it’s own way.
Pencil cases with attached slide rulers and sharpeners
Pencil box. We all had one.
It was an essential school supply back in the ’70s, the epitome of high-tech pencil gadgetry. Pulling one of these out of your backpack meant you were serious about learning—or at least looking like the coolest student in your class. Pencil cases have become as extinct as… well, pencils. But the plastic pencil case in 1975 was the iPhone of its era.
Never consuming Pop Rocks and soda at the same time
Pop Rocks Candy
Every ’70s kid had heard that terrible rumor about Mikey, the picky eater in the Life cereal commercial. Apparently, despite the warnings of his friends, he had consumed the deadly combo of Coca-Cola and Pop Rocks, and the carbon dioxide had caused his stomach to inflate to a lethal degree. What happened next? Well, his stomach exploded, of course, and poor Mikey died on the spot! The rumors were, of course, completely false. But that didn’t stop us from believing them. In a world without Internet, we had no choice but to trust what the smartest kid on the playground was telling us.
Moving the TV antenna for better reception
We called them “rabbit ears”.
And we used them is “complete” systems like this…
1970s Audio-visual entertainment.
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TV reception in the ’70s was unreliable at best. If the picture was distorted with zig-zag lines—or, worse, the dreaded “snow,” where everything was fuzzy—the only way to fix the problem was to adjust the antenna, otherwise known as “rabbit ears.”
This involved twisting and turning until slowly, so slowly, you captured a better signal and the picture started to come into focus. But even then, just removing your hands might cause the picture to disappear yet again. It was a long and arduous process to get the kind of visual consistency that TV audiences today take for granted.
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But, on the other hand, television was FREE.
You didn’t need to subscribe to cable, to a television satellite service, or some kind of streaming internet service. And it is still free, too. It’s just one of those way-under-reported elements of life that exists today in a world full of gigantic multimillionaires ruling over a land where everything has a price tag.
...don't knock tv antennas. use them and you'll still get plenty of channels and save lots of money and not be a slave to the cable company. shame on saying it's something you're glad to get rid of
-x60hz11RonaldFelder
Typewriters
Before Microsoft Word were Word Processors, and before them were typewriters.
Electric Typewriter.
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Decades before email or texting existed, if you were writing to a friend or family member, you either did it by hand—a long and excruciating process, especially if you had a lot to say—or you used a typewriter. The unmistakable metallic clang of typewriter keys pounding on paper is something that few of us who lived through the ’70s will ever forget.
Secondhand smoke everywhere
And the freedom was glorious.
Smoking on an airplane.
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Smoking wasn’t just acceptable in the ’70s—it was ubiquitous. In offices, restaurants, airplanes, homes, and most public buildings, everybody was puffing away on their cigarettes without a care in the world. No busybody is going to tell you to go outside in the rain to smoke near the gutter or trashcan. No one even cared.
People smoked everywhere. Restaurants, parks, in taxi’s, on the train,at work and on airplanes.
Secretary smoking at her desk in the office.
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People smoked. It was as natural as drinking Pepsi and eating a hamburger. The prices for cigarettes were very cheap, and no one had the nerve to tell you what to do with your own body. It was unheard of. And if you did, the response probably would be “Hey Man! What’s your fucking problem?”
Smoking in the kitchen of a tiny apartment at 7:35 PM. Notice the brown refrigerator, the rabbit ears for the television, the tumbler of beverage on a table on top of a napkin, and the enormous salt and pepper shakers.
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And those wooded crate that her books were in, those are crates for eggs. I used them for my record album collection. In those days they were real wood. Flimsy things, but they did the job all rightly.
Headsets for the Stereo
Well, we have headsets today, but they are used differently. Back in the 1970’s if you had a stereo, you also probably had a pair of headsets. And while your parents might have bought them for you so that they could have some peace and quiet, the chances are that you probably used them while the stereo was blasting through the speakers. You know, for the “full effect”.
Wearing headsets on your bed.
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This is what we pretty much did. Here’s a scene from the iconic movie “Dazed and Confused”.
Dazed and Confused.
Debating what “American Pie” was all about
Don McLean’s American Pie.
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What was going on in Don McLean’s 1971 hit? Nobody knew for sure, but plenty of kids had a lot of theories about who the jester was and why he was stealing the king’s thorny crown, and if “Jack” was supposed to be Mick Jagger or Bob Dylan or somebody else entirely. Was the whole song really about Buddy Holly dying in a plane crash and McLean feeling sad about it? In those pre-internet days, your guess was as good as anybody else’s.
Macramé home décor
Macramé home décor was especially popular in the ‘70s. A lot of different home decorations were macramé including curtains and plant hangers, but nothing was more popular than the macramé owl.
An ideal 1970’s home.
The groovy pop-culture era is a phenomenon that stands out among many others. Sometimes it seems like it was a million years ago and sometimes it seems like just yesterday. Check out this “far out”, very cool kitchen…
1970’s kitchen.
Shaking “instant” Polaroid photos to help them develop faster
Polaroid.
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As Outkast reminded the world with their 2003 hit “Hey Ya!,” the ’70s taught us how to “shake it like a Polaroid picture.” Or at least, that’s what we all believed. The moment a new picture slid out of a Polaroid instant camera, we pinched it between two fingers and shook it vigorously, as if air drying was the only way to get the clearest image. It wasn’t until 2004 when we finally learned it was all bogus. As Polaroid helpfully explained, “shaking or waving has no effect.”
Bicycle helmets not being required
It’s pretty silly that a government that doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the people, would require them to do all sorts of things “for their safety”. But that’s America for you.
Freedom is not having to wear a motorcycle helmet.
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If you wore a helmet while riding a bike during the ’70s, it meant either that you were recovering from a serious cranial injury or you were terrified of even the most minor of accidents. We just weren’t as safety-conscious back then.
In those days, freedom actually meant something. it wasn’t confused with “safety” or “cleanness”, like it is today.
Clackers
Everyone had these.
Clackers.
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So simple and yet so entertaining. Consisting of two heavy acrylic balls attached to a string, you basically knocked the two balls together as fast as you could… and that was it. Somehow it kept us entertained for hours, or at least until some kids started overdoing it with the clacker enthusiasm and the balls shattered and caused shrapnel-related injuries. Clackers were deemed weapons of mass destruction and officially pulled from stores.
Me. Well, I put them in an oven and baked them. LOL.
Aluminum can tabs
The 1960’s was known as the time where you needed a triangular “can opener” to open up your favorite can of beer. You would do so with the heavy gauge steel can, and make two triangular indentations. One large one to drink from, and one small one for the air to get in.
Then, in the 1970’s the pull-tab was invented, and life was forever changed.
Pull tab history.
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Opening a soda in the ’70s required pulling a ring that tore open a small wedge shape on the top of an aluminum can. Then the ring would be thrown away, usually on the ground where somebody would invariably step on it and hurt themselves. Injuries from those metallic tabs became a nationwide epidemic.
One 1976 New York Times report remarked that a large percentage of beach injuries “were due to cuts inflicted by discarded pop tabs,” Slate noted. Getting a tetanus shot was the only way to survive in a world littered with soda can tabs.
Fixing mistakes with Wite-Out
Correcting mistakes.
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The “delete” button of the ’70s came in a little jar full of white liquid, which could be painted across anything in a letter or school assignment that we wanted to make disappear. It wasn’t quite as magical as it sounds, since you had to wait for what felt like forever for Wite-Out to dry, and sometimes you had to blow on the paper, which just made you feel ridiculous. By the time it was ready to put back in the typewriter, you’d have completely lost your train of thought.
Sea-Monkeys
Sea Monkeys
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Those ads in the back of comic books were too irresistible for most kids. Why would we not want to have our own anthropomorphic sea creatures, living in a tank and looking reverently out at our bedrooms like we were gods?
But when the Sea Monkeys arrived, we learned the hard lesson that you shouldn’t always believe advertising.
The creatures didn’t look anything like tiny humans at all, because they were actually a type of brine shrimp, the most boring aquarium pet a kid could ever ask for.
Station wagons with wood trim
Ohhhh baby!
So very groovy.
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Why so many people were drawn to cars that looked as if they were made at least partly out of wood is anybody’s guess. Maybe they were responding to some residual hippie influence, and they couldn’t resist a car that was seemingly constructed from biodegradable materials harvested in pesticide-free gardens. It was all bunk, of course—the wood texture, more often than not, was just vinyl siding—but especially in the ’70s, appearance was more important than reality.
Parents thought it was perfectly safe to let kids make their own artsy crafts by putting plastic in the oven. Totally cool. We were able to mix chemicals, and bake them in ovens and crate all sorts of wondrous dangers. Thingmaker came with it’s own oven. It was glorious!
It introduced me to molds, plastic injection molding and hardware design.
The concept of the Thingmaker was first introduced in 1963, as an extension of Mattel’s “Vac-U-Maker” line. Thingmaker Creepy Crawlers by Mattel was by far my absolute favorite toy as a kid and I got my first one in 1968.
I spent hours in my room playing with this and spilling plastic goop on my carpet. I loved overfilling the metal molds just slightly so I could peel off the excess. I burned myself more than a few times and have the scars to show. I also had Creeple People and Incredible Edibles, but neither of these was as cool as the original Thingmaker. I cannot believe I played with this toy totally unsupervised starting at the age of 10!
There have been several revivals of the Thingmaker – the first in 1978 was called the Thingmaker II and employed safer technology. This toy used a totally different type of goop and plastic molds, into which the heated Plastigoop was poured.
The reformulated Plastigoop did not work well, the bugs and insects were shoddy, and the process was painfully slow, so it went kaput fairly quickly. In 1992, ToyMax reintroduced the Thingmaker with much stricter safety regulations. This new version of the Creepy Crawlers set once again used metal molds and a goop similar to the original.
ToyMax went out of business around 2002, and yet another company, Jakks Pacific started producing a similar toy starting in 2006.
The Vac-u-Form, also called Vac-u-Former, was a toy manufactured by Mattel in the 1960s. Using an industrial process called vacuum forming, a rectangular piece of plastic was clamped in a holder and heated over a metal plate. After the plastic softened, the holder was moved to the other side, over a mold of the object to be formed. Pressing a handle on the side of the unit created a vacuum, which caused the plastic to be sucked down over the mold and form a shape. When the plastic cooled it solidified, creating a little model of the item, such as a car, boat, or tiny log cabin
-Consumer Grouch
The Pacer
My first car after I wrecked my GTO. Sigh! I loved that car.
But the Pacer, or the Pacer-rooo as we liked to call it was perfect for the era. It was like riding in this big quiet glass bubble, and we would listen to tunes and watch the world go by…
…slowly. Very slowly.
My grandmother loved my Pacer. She thought it was a robust, well built car.
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Pink Floyd – Sheep
Drinking tons of Tang
My personal formula was 50% of the glass filled with Tang powder, and the remaining part water.
Tang advertisement.
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The makers of Tang drove home the idea that their instant beverage, which tasted vaguely of oranges, was the nutrition of choice for astronauts everywhere. And that was enough for us to believe that just drinking Tang for breakfast put you in the same intellectual company as the brave astronauts of NASA. Even though Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, once famously said he was not a fan of Tang, that wasn’t the popular opinion in the ’70s.
Relating to one of the Brady Bunch kids
The Brady Bunch.
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Whether it was ambitious ladykiller Greg or awkward middle child Jan or young dreamer Bobby, there was somebody among The Brady Bunch that resonated with just about every ’70s kid. The oversized family that was too perfect to exist in the real world somehow still managed to reflect our individual quirks and idiosyncrasies.
Metal lunch boxes
1970s Lunch Boxes
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A plastic lunch box? That would’ve seemed inconceivable to a ’70s kid, who proudly carried around a lunch box sturdy enough to protect bologna sandwiches from an air strike. The characters featured on the front of these lunch boxes, whether Evel Knievel or Strawberry Shortcake, said a lot about our personalities.
48 Hassocks
Round ottoman seats.
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These round ottoman seats became weirdly popular during the ’70s, and always in the most outrageous colors—like avocado green or neon orange. They were meant as foot stools but kids knew they were perfect for stretching out, or curling up on for cat naps, or even spreading out on stomach-first and pretending we were flying like Superman. Ah, those were the days.
Taping songs off the radio
Not every bedroom was so well equipped, but indeed, once we figured out that we could tape the music that we heard on the radio, it was only a matter of time before the high priced sales of record albums would crash.
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The music piracy of its day! When you had a new favorite song but there wasn’t enough in your piggy bank to buy the album or 45 rpm single, you would sit next to the radio with your portable cassette recorder and wait… and wait… and wait… until finally that song you loved so much started playing, and you immediately pressed down on the record button, capturing those beautiful sounds for free.
A chopper bike with a banana seat
Oh baby, I had a burnt orange bike. Tall handle-bars. White banana seat. Red reflectors, and drag-strip rear tire.
A chopper bike with a banana seat.
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You didn’t even have to pop a wheelie when you owned a chopper bike. All you had to do was sit there, tapping your fingers on the handlebars like you were revving a throttle, and you looked like Evel Knievel getting ready to jump over a canyon.
Stretch Armstrong
I didn’t have this, but my brother did, and the tortures that he put this poor toy through were the stuff of legends.
Stretch Armstrong
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This elastic hero was like a stress ball for prepubescents. Just how much torture could Armstrong endure at your hands? Plenty of kids were willing to find out, pulling his limbs like they were trying to get a confession. The secret to Stretch’s durability—the goo inside his body that made him so elastic—was nothing but plain ol’ corn syrup.
Frisbee
Yeah. You can go on all the retro 1970s websites on the internet, and not one single one will mention the iconic Frisbee. This was the most prolific and versatile tools in used during the 1970’s.
Not only could you toss it about, but you could clean out your bag of weed with it. It was portable, convenient, light weight, and came in a wide selection of colors and designs. I well remember my glow in the dark scooby-doo Frisbee. What fun was that!
A fun game of Frisbee on the QUAD.
Shag Carpeting Throughout Your House
This was so 70’s.
I used the left over pieces to carpet my GTO, and then later, my Pacer, and even later than that, my Dodge Tradesman 400.
Shag carpeted home.
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Covering your floors wasn’t as simple as popping into Pottery Barn and picking up a rug in the 1970s. Your house—apart from the patterned linoleum in your kitchen—was covered in shag carpeting in a variety of earthy tones, from moss to pumpkin to, of course, leopard.
Not all homes had carpet during the groovy era. Some still preferred their hardwood floors, but you can be sure that any respectable modern and hip household that did have carpet had shag carpet. Some shag carpet was so shaggy that you could lose the family hamster in it for days.
Having Every Dish Served Out of Patterned Pyrex
Pyrex. An awesome invention and completely under appreciated.
Modern kitchen 1975.
Fancy china has its place, but as a ’70s kid, you know that the true height of sophistication is enjoying your mom’s tuna noodle casserole straight from the Pilgrim-patterned Pyrex it was baked in.
A tuna noodle casserole
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But truthfully, you haven’t lived until you made a “swamp” pizza (Chicago style deep dish pizza) from a Pyrex dish.
Basement Den
Up until the late ‘60s/early ‘70s, basements were a place for the hot water heater, furnace/boiler, and washing machine. Basements were also a great storage area. Basements were stacked with boxes full of things that wouldn’t ever be used again but the owner couldn’t live without!
During the groovy era, “finishing” basements for living space became a popular craze. It wasn’t called a finished basement… it was called a club room; complete with the old TV set and fake wood paneling. It was a classic look.
Many a night would be spent quaffing beers, playing cards, darts, and chess while listening to Neil Young. I’ll tell you what.
Basement Den.
Water bed
This type of bed is pretty cool, and not at all what one would think. If you go on the internet, you might find someone who has never slept on one of these beds writing derogatory statements about them. (It’s a very common thing on the internet these days… you write about what you know nothing about for a hand full of change.)
These beds are really super comfortable. They are heated, and it is like sleeping inside the soft bosom of a giant woman. The sides envelope around you and you feel completely embraced.
Water Bed.
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All jokes aside, this is a super comfortable way to sleep. When I slept on my water bed, I was usually out within two minutes.
Now, for some important notes. Firstly, if the power goes off, in the dead of winter, you can rest assured that you will be sleeping on top of an icy pile of slush. And secondly, you need to constantly add anti-bacteria chemicals. Otherwise algae will grow and your water bed would spring about a zillion super tiny, impossible to locate, leaks.
Lava Lamps
Technically the oddly hypnotic lava lamp was made popular in the 60s, but it continued on strong through almost the end of the 1970s. I actually had two of them, and they really added a nice effect in my bed room.
Lava Lamp.
TV Dinners
We had these little metal folding tables, and a place where we wold put them behind the door. When we were too busy to eat a “real” meal, out came the TV dinners, and we would eat in front of the television learning about the world on the “news”.
TV Dinners.
Do you want more?
I have more posts that are similar to this in my Life and Happiness Index here…
I miss my Orange GTO. In the movie “Dazed and confused”, This car was driven by Kevin Pickford, played by Shawn Andrews. Two vehicles were used for this film, and they were acquired from GTO collectors through the local classified ads. One of the GTOs in Dazed and Confused was powered by a 455 High Output (H.O.) V8, and the entire film crew and cast members were delighted at the car’s ease in burning rubber. Cinematographers love tire smoke, and the GTO in this film delivered plenty of it.
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Can you believe that this is only part one?
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I’m not going rehash what has happened since the late 1960’s to the present. It’s pretty obvious. Everyone in America started to monetize everything. Nothing was off limits, and now today, you have to pay for everything. Everything in America comes with a price and nothing is free any longer. It happened in America and the other Western “democracies” followed America’s lead. The UK, Canada, Australia all became enraptured towards money… money… money. All with zero thought going towards how the society would change in the process.
Here, I am just going to remind everyone about some things about everyday life before Americans were turned into “cash cows” for others to profit from.
Introduction
I am minding my own business when I came across this comment…
It wasn't all that long ago that you could come out of High School, get a job, start a family, and the two of you could raise the kids with one staying home to do so while the other went off to work. It might not be glamorous but you could make it work in a decent little 3br, 1ba house. Four people, three bedrooms, a couple sharing one and one for each kid. Television was free over the air, not $100 a month for a "package" from DISH or a cable company. I grew up in one of those houses; there was no A/C, the phone was on a desk with a cord going into the wall and long-distance calls were $2/minute -- and that was when $2 would buy you a pound of high-quality steak!
Well, I have been musing about this for some time.
I have mentioned this to others, and they just laugh at me.
My conservative friends tell me that it’s simply because of inflation. But that is a good thing because look at all the cool things we have today. Like ATM’s, computers, cell phones, and the Internet. Inflation is a sign of progress.
My liberal friends tell that this is a sign of change. Change is good. We don’t want women to be oppressed and toiling alone in the kitchen all day, being barefoot and pregnant. We need things to be higher cost to make the world a better place.
Um.
I think that are both rationalizing everything.
But it did get me to thinking. And I started to think about my boyhood days growing up in Western Pennsylvania. Ah. It’s certainly a beautiful place. let me tell you.
Typical Pennsylvania with hills and meandering rivers and streams, with old railroad lines that followed the rivers through the large wooded lands.
Here’s some of the many things that we pay for without even thinking about it…
Water was free!
When I was young, water was free. No shit! It came out of the tap in these mechanisms known as “drinking fountains”. You would be able to walk up to one and press the lever and a nice stream of ice-cold, refrigerated, water would come out for you to have.
Public drinking fountain in Dallas Texas. It is quite popular and creates quite the sensation.
When I was young, these drinking fountains were everywhere, and contrary to the contemporaneous narrative about “racism”, I never saw a “white” only drinking fountain. That was something reserved for the Southern States like Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama. I grew up in the mid-West. Our water fountains were either white ceramic or sheet metal affairs.
There weren’t any signs about color.
It was very common to grab a quick drink from one of these contraptions. It wasn’t until I was in High School that the school district allowed vending machines to be installed in the school. The Senior Class would be able to make money from these vending machines to collect money for various school activities. This would be supplemented by such things as school dances, parades, bake sales, and candy bar drives.
Drinking from a school water fountain.
When growing up, we would drink from the water hose. It was always very warm from the sun, and tasted like plastic. It had a bronze contraption at the end like a miniature fireman’s hose. You could twist the mechanism by turning it. It would change the water from a spray into a tight laser-beam that you could use to water distant parts of the yard with (and clean away tough debris).
When I was in sixth grade or so, my father hooked up this micro mini water fountain to the water faucet at the side of the house. It was identical to that of drinking water from the lawn hose. Except that it didn’t taste like like plastic. It was just room temperature water that came straight from the tap. It was nearly identical to that of drinking from the kitchen sink.
It was identical to this…
The house side water fountain.
Boyhood adventures
When we were out hiking or riding our bikes, we would drink from our canteens, or from a hand-pump well. These hand pumps were large metal contraptions that were placed all over the rural covered wells. This happened sometime around the 1940’s I guess. As children and folk had a tendency to fall down the sides of these wells. Not a good thing, don’t you know.
Most of the time the hand-pump would be a cast steel mechanism that sat on top of a cement platform. We would, as kids, pump the handle furiously, and after about five to eight pumps water would start gushing out. One person would pump the water while the other person would try to drink from the fountain. We would either use cupped hands or put our open mouth under the spigot. We would also use this fountain to fill up our army surplus canteens, or boy scout canteens.
Cast iron, or cast steel, hand water pump.
Now, along side the rural roads of Western Pennsylvania were all sorts of natural mountain springs. Here, you really didn’t need a pump at all. You would just dip your hands into the cool water and take a drink, or a gulp of ice cool refreshing water. The water came from a multitude of artesian wells. Some of which had access in the back yards of many a home and farm, but many were also right there along side the roads.
In almost every case, these wells came from a rusty pipe that was shoved into the side of a hill. It would pour out a continuous flow of water and would empty into an old galvanized tub or other such arrangement. Sometimes it would be an old massive kitchen sink, while other times it would be something else. At all times the tub would be murky with moss and other plants associated with it. It would also be mostly overgrown with the typical shrubbery of back road Pennsylvania, such as blackberry bushes, and elderberry vines.
Pennsylvania roadside spring.
Many rural folk, who lived far away from the towns would make weekly trips to these springs and fill up as many buckets and bottles that they could fit in their truck. They claimed that the water tasted much better than the purified tap water. I would tend to agree with them. The minerals in the water certainly made the water taste nice.
The only problem of course, was thirty years later when I ended up with kidney stones from drinking all that hard water. But, as you can guess, that’s another story for another time. And no, it’s not directly traced back to the Pennsylvania springs.
Coke-Cola
Oh, and yes…
There were coke machines. A bottle of coke ran you ten cents, but you needed to drink it right there, and put the bottle back in the wooden box besides the machine. But, I’ll tell you that the glass bottle was really thick and heavy. It felt good in your hand. It fit it well.
Coke machine that dispensed in bottles. The cost was ten cents per bottle, and you had to replaced the used bottle in a wooden crate next to the machine.
Also, it was cold. Ohhh man! So very cold. No, I’m not talking about a refrigerator temperature, I am talking about frosty cold, like borderline freezer temperatures. These were fine memories when you would be able to drink a frosty ice-cold coke for a dime, and relax a spell.
When I got my first job, we had a soda dispensing machine. In it were cans of soda. But none of them had pull up tabs until the mid 1970’s. Instead you needed to use this pointed can opener that hung by the side to punch a triangular hole in the top of the can to drink from.
It would hang on the side of the soda machine by a dirty white string. No one ever took it, or stole it or anything like that. No one even thought about doing so. It was a different time, and people thought differently.
The opener had a sharp pointy side for opening cans, and a blunt rounded end for opening bottles and popping the tops off…
Vintage Vaughn USA 58 Bottle Opener Can Opener, 3.5″ Long
This was used for sodas and just about everything else. This was true with beer as well. When those pull up tabs were introduced, it revolutionized everything! Let me tell you!
A special Event
But really, and quite seriously, drinking soda (or pop) was really a “special” occurrence. For the most part we drank water, milk or Kool-Aide. This was a powder that our mothers would mix with water and put in the refrigerator for us to drink. It came in different flavors like cherry, strawberry and orange. You heat up some water, add the powder, and then add a ton load of white sugar. Stir. Place in the refrigerator.
Easy peasy. Lemon squeezy.
At Supper, we would have a big glass of milk or water. Both would be very cold. Winter or Summer. Cold beverages was considered a good thing. In fact, if we had water at the table, you can guarantee that it was served with ice cubes. Frosty. Oh, so very frosty.
But the soda, well that was for visits to our grandparents.
Typical Pittsburgh basement. Our grandparents would store cases of beer and soda on the stairs leading down to the basement.
Prior to every visit, our grandparents would go to the “State Store” and buy some cases of beer and soda for us kids. These cases would sit in the cool basement, and while we were visiting, we would be able to drink all the soda that we were capable of.
Now, in Pennsylvania the only place your could buy alcohol is though a “State Store”. These are government stores that enable you to buy booze. They had the distinction of being open during government hours, and tended to be inconvenient. So what we all would do is make a “beer run” prior to the weekend to stock up on the libations for the weekend.
Pennsylvania State Liquor Store.
Now of course, things are different.
You can buy beer in convenience stores, and other places that are so authorized. But in those days the government had a complete monopoly on the distribution of alcohol. Why? Well, it was for the children, don’t you know.
Today…
I would say that most people who drink soda would probably get it as part of a fast food meal. My guess is that this would be the greatest revenue generation source. Aside from that they would purchase these huge… HUGE… bottles of mega-cola from Walmart or some other retailer.
Judging from the appearance of most Americans, I would guess that they drink a lot of sugary drinks.
They also might like to buy a bottled water from a 7-11 or some other convenience store. They come in all sizes and shapes. They are pretty cheap.
But…
But…
Not as cheap as in “free”. Don’t you know.
Which is where I will make this important point. Most expensive bottled water is nothing more than plain tap water put in a nice bottle and assigned a heavy price. Just like this picture so clearly indicates…
Students at Humboldt State University created this display to educate peers on the perceived ills of bottled water, ahead of a campus-wide ban.
And we know that most bottled water is simply repackaged tap water. Because we have tested the water and that is exactly what it is…
So why am I ranting on so? What is the point that I am trying to make? Why does this matter? And what is the point of all of this?
When did we reach this point where we all thought it was fine to start paying for things that were free? When did we start tearing out the water fountains, and buying plastic bottles of water?
Not only that…
When did we stop getting free packs of stick matches at the restaurant counters everywhere, to buying disposable lighters? At what point in time did we think that paying for a disposable lighter was a more attractive option than a free package of matches?
Or…
When did the transformation from a blue plate meal in a unique family restaurant be replaced with a fast food pre-packaged burger in a styrofoam package? What ever happened to the heavy white plates? The thick (bang on the counter) mug of coffee, and the sprig of parsley at the side of the plate?
Or…
At what point in time were washable linen tablecloths replaced with plastic tabletops, cloth napkins with paper tissue, and silverware replaced with disposable plastic cutlery? Why did everyone switch from reusable linens, to disposable plastic? Why are only the establishments that cater to the wealthy retaining the old ways?
Or even worse…
When did buying a tea, or a decaffeinated coffee at a fast food restaurant equate a hot paper cup of water and a package of mix? What’s the point?
Ah. But no one asks these questions. No one does.
But they should. You should.
Why do we line up to the “self service” pump to pump our own gas? Why not have the Gas Station Attendant take care of it for us? Is it really about saving money like we have been led to believe…?
Why do Americans still pay using paper checks instead of QR code?
If cigarettes, cigars, beer, and alcohol can be banned from the workplace “for the children”, then why not unhealthy food, candy, and coffee? And why the workplace, I thought that children couldn’t work until they were of age?
Which makes you wonder…
At what point in time did we allow someone to place the dividing line between what is allowable and what is illegal and give up our own personal decision making process? Since when are there others who can decide what is best for us? Who assigned them to be better than us…
Who?
In 1913, a group of oligarchs decided that everyone must pay taxes and report all their financial transactions to the federal government.
Well, it is 2020. How did it all work out?
In the 1970’s glass fibers were banned from use. This resulted in most buildings (above the first floor) in the small cities and towns of America being empty and uninhabitable. This in turn, contributed to people moving outside and away from these community centers. Thus creating sprawling suburbs and a decay of down-town community life.
Who was the genius that thought this all up?
Everything is interconnected
Everything is interconnected. You change one thing, and other things will change. Often the smallest change might result in a great deal of massive changes. Changes that might alter the fabric of society.
You make a law that trash can only be collect on Thursday, and the trash from the weekends will pile up in big heaps on the sidewalks.
Thus making children walk on the streets to avoid the refuse.
Thus creating a dangerous situation for the children and the drivers of the cars.
Eventually, someone will get hit.
All because someone made a law by proclamation.
Now, it’s very difficult to pin-point singular changes.
There were other contributing factors.
In the case of the banning of asbestos glass fibers, there were studies that pointed to dangers. And yes, there were other changes going on at the same time. Such as changes in the work-place, and others all within society. And yes, all of these contributed to the end results. And, to be honest, no one could actually predict what the long term consequences would be of their decision making.
But no one cared. All they cared about was the short term impacts. Or, as we like to say in the USA, “the bottom line for the fiscal quarter”.
The United States might officially pretend to work in one way. However, the United States functionally operates pretty much like this;
Someone wants a change.
Money exchanges hands.
One person gets very rich.
The public accepts the changes.
Time passes…
Consequences of these changes are felt.
More money exchanges between different hands.
New laws and rules are made.
The public accepts the new changes on top of the old changes.
After over two centuries of this, America is [1] a nation of rules, and laws, on top of [2] rules and laws, on top of [3] rules and laws, on top of [4] rules and laws…
It’s a mess.
And the people are upset. And they are starting to lash out.
This is not how to run anything. Not a business. Not a sports team. Not a game. Not a town. Not a factory. Not a school. Not a train. Not an airplane. You cannot run ANYTHING in this way. Things cannot operate in a sustainable manner if you conduct business this way.
Just imagine operating a business like this. Just imagine.
You run a restaurant. A customer comes in give you $1000 to stop serving bacon. You stop serving bacon. Half of the customers stop coming in.
Another gives you $500 to play advertisements at rock-concert levels.
Another gives you $750 to house livestock in the kitchen.
Two years of this, and the restaurant would be a complete and total wreck.
You just cannot.
Which is why the United States is in such a mess right now.
China used to be like this
Yup. China used to be like this.
The Beijing leadership would act like autocratic king, and make proclamations. Much like is being done in America today. This is America today…
You MUST have permission to fish.
Tiktok is banned. No American is permitted to own, use or have it on their phones.
WeChat is banned. Don’t even think about having anything to do with it.
Chinese students are banned from Attending American universities.
You are forbidden to eat sunny-side-up eggs.
You are forbidden to drink jumbo-sized cokes and soft drinks.
China was like this too.
Then, after a great deal of turmoil, China changed. This received scant reports in the American media, but it was earth-shattering in China. It was called “The Cultural Revolution”, and it forced the government to come up with new ways of doing things. Maybe you heard about it, eh?
Here, a proposal is made…
A trial run is conducted.
Results are weighed in pros and cons.
A pilot run is conducted with the improvements.
Results are again weighed in pros and cons.
Implementation phase on a local / state level.
Again results are monitored over set period of time.
A go / no go decision is reached. To either scrap the process, or improve it, or leave as is.
Since this has been implemented in just about every level within China, the implementation of changes has become rapid and successful. Bad ideas are quickly discarded, while good ones are retained.
Of course, no one in the West knows any of this. To them, China is a “regime” run by the evil communist party who makes rules and laws and squashes the helpless citizenry yearning for “freedom” and “democracy”. Ah. All so that America can gin up support for world war III.
Nonsense.
America needs to step up to the plate and up it’s game.
It’s probably too late to do so in any meaningful way.
But…
It’s better late than never.
Oh where was I…
Oh, yeah.
Water.
Water is your most essential consumable. If you do not have fresh potable water, you will die. We have become accustomed to getting water at will. Whether it is from a water fountain, or from a bottle that you pay for in a store, it is something that we take for granted.
Were I to be an evil person, I would secure access to water. So that only those whom I wanted could drink and use it. The rest of the water would be of questionable quality. For all it takes is to drink some bad water and you get a bacterial or viral infection. And if you don’t have antibiotics…
…you will die.
Water is something that we take for granted. We see shelves and shelves of bottled water. We assume that they are good and potable. We see water run out of the tap and take long luxurious showers in it. We never stop to think what it would be like were we to be forced to collect water from a nearby muddy stream or from catch basins.
Conclusion
Water is good, and a valuable part of life. We, in our comfort, have taken it’s availability for granted. We really shouldn’t. back one hundred years ago baths were once a month activity. Water, potable water was a treasure, and all farms and communities husbanded their water supplies.
While I greatly lament the monetization of nearly everything in the United States, we must realize that that this is an artificial reality. Water, like air, and shelter are necessary to life. Those that try to profit from these basics are those that do not care about your life, your family or your well being.
And any government that allows this, should be replaced with one that does.
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This is a very stressful time that we are all enduring. many stores and factories are closed, and many people are locked inside their homes. No one is sure when the prohibitions will be lifted, or what they will do to catch up with their bills.
It’s the COVID-19 SHTF event.
The thing is, that when we try to turn on the internet for escape we are blitzed with a combined narrative; it’s either [1] hate-China or [2] fear-the-corona-virus. I mean can’t we get a break? Why does the US government feel the need to constantly and incessantly manipulate the media and try to control us all. Can’t they just take a holiday, or something?
Jeeze!
Well, I am not the government, and I do have some suggestion of what you all can do. So, here I provide some thoughts on what you can do to escape from this nightmarish assault.
Let’s start with a list of some movies and television shows. Shows that you can use to pull up interesting escapist entertainment to look at.
Now, rather than list well known movies, or the latest in special effects, instead I have decided to put together a list of 1980’s feel-good movies, and 1960’s – 1970’s forgotten comedies. The key driver here is “overlooked” and / or “forgotten”. (With the first one being “unknown” to anyone under 50 years old.)
I do hope that at least one movie or show listed here will remind you of some pleasant memories . And that maybe… maybe, you would use my suggestion as a seed to take you on a trip. A trip far away from the current frustrations of modern locked-up life.
We start with a pretty well-known movie. At least well-known to my generation.
The newer generations not so much.
Though, you would be surprised at how many people under the age of 30 never heard of it. Which is a shame. The movie is a classic and it’s all about growing up with your first heart-pounding crush…
Sixteen Candles (1983)
Climax of the movie when Samantha gets her birthday wish.
The tale is classic. American teenager Samantha (Molly Ringwald) is despondent that her entire family has forgotten her sixteenth birthday. You know, being so caught up are they in the wedding of her sister. Now, Samantha has a crush on a classmate of hers. He’s Mr. Bo-Hunk; Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), and she wrongly thinks he has no interest in her.
Oh, but we do find out what happens…
This John Hughes film is one of the best romantic teen comedies in history.
Starring 2 of the Brat Packers, Molly Ringwald, playing the lovesick Samantha, and Anthony Michael Hall who plays "The Geek", he practically stole the entire movie with his one-liners.
His friends were the best, it's funny to see John Cusack as one of his geeky friends, and I just noticed Joan Cusack makes a small appearance in this as the girl with the neck brace on. That's funny.
I recommend this classic to anyone who likes romantic teen comedies.
Oh and whoever said that "Sixteen Candles" was perverted, all i have to say is WHAT? What is perverted about this movie, American Pie was perverted, this movie is a classic. There was ONE scene of nudity and it lasted about 3 seconds. I give "Sixteen Candles" 10 out of 10!!!!
- LittleRascal-15
Matters are not helped by a party that evening at school, at which much mayhem breaks out, nor by the chaotic wedding day itself.
"They Fucking forgot my birthday!!!"...
These are the immortal words spoken by SIXTEEN CANDLES heroine Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) in the ultimate 80's teen comedy.
This movie has become a classic to those born in the 70's, like myself, and I now consider it a "guilty pleasure". Its a movie we all grew up with.
Didn't we all know a person like 'Farmer Ted', or a hot queenie like the blonde he hilariously gets. It was every young freshman's fantasy. This funny flick is also a relic of the 80's that is not all that dated.
The jokes still work (as long as you see it uncut) and it is neat seeing things of the not so distant past be on display. Floppy disks, headgears, leotards, etc...
Time has not been so good to the featured stars. Ringwald and Anthony-Michael Hall, who was born to play this role, and this one only, have all but disappeared. The biggest stars now are blips on the screen here: Joan (in a headgear) and John (a geek) Cusack. The film is like a toy you can't put away.
Some situations are beat, but at least Paul Dooley adds an extra dimension to the father. Too many of John Hughes' teen-angst comedies of the era feature tissue-thin parental figures.
This was the first and best of the so-called "brat pack" movies, and will always hold a place in 1980's filmmaking history. Girls learned never to lend their underwear to a geek and we all learned that high school is just a phase, easily forgotten as time goes on.
-Don-10229 March 1999
Now, maybe you have already seen that movie ten or twenty times and do not care to re-watch it. No problem.
Seriously.
No problem.
Maybe get yourself a nice bag of chips. Pour it into a nice big bowl and grab yourself some beer, or like me… a nice glass of wine. (Just a reasonably cheap red will do.)
Relax.
Stop allowing the “news” and those that control it and the internet to control you.
Some Lays potato chips that I bought. The Chinese really like all these odd kinds of flavors. This particular flavor is a white grape soda drink flavor. Who figures? Eh? For me it was a cross between Korean style barbecued squid with Hunan spices or plain “American style” potato chips.
So, now that you have some fine tasty chips… a nice beverage of your choice, and (hopefully) a companion or two (can be a loved one, a trusted pet, or some children), settle down to some friendly escapist enjoyment.
I'm drinking red wine, so I think that it could be paired quite nicely with a white grape soda flavored potato chip.
With that being said, how about a feel-good television show.
I really like the world of Mayberry RFD. Nothing ever seems to go wrong in it. Seriously, nothing bad or really serious ever happens in it short of a cat getting stuck in a tree, or an arrest for a broken tail light.
It’s all just good, safe escapist enjoyment.
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith show.
This sitcom was spun-off from an episode of The Danny Thomas Show. In that show, Danny Thomas was arrested in a small North Carolina town. The character of the small town sheriff turned out to be so popular that they made a complete show around him.
Of course, named “The Andy Griffith Show”, and focused on Sheriff Andrew Jackson Taylor in the small town of Mayberry.
Andy Taylor was a widower with a young son (Opie) and the pair of them lived with Andy’s Aunt Bee – famous for her most excellent pies.
Andy’s Aunt Bee was famous for her most excellent pies.
Crime in Mayberry was of the distinctly petty variety and much of the comedy centered around Andy, his family life and working life especially with his somewhat stupid deputy (and cousin) Barney Fife.
Andy wouldn’t allow Barney to load his weapon for fear he would shoot his own feet off! He allows him to carry a solitary bullet (usually in his left shirt pocket).
Throughout the show’s run, Andy had two love interests – the first was druggist Ellie Walker, and then later schoolteacher Helen Crump whom Andy ended up marrying in 1968.
Sheriff Andrew Jackson Taylor
When Andy Griffith decided to call it quits with the show it was still popular and the network decided to carry it on under the new name of Mayberry RFDwith Ken Berry in the lead as councilman Sam Jones.
Also a most excellent show.
Griffith helped with the change over by appearing in the first episode (it was in this episode that he married Helen and the pair then moved away from the town).
A typical day in Mayberry with Andy and councilman Sam Jones.
I know. I know.
Mayberry RFD is more about hotdogs and hamburgers instead of potato chips. It’s a show about mowing lawns on hot July afternoons, pitchers of icy lemonade on shady porches, and tree-houses that hide in the back yard. It’s about comic-books, airplane models that hang from the bedroom ceiling, and classmates that you play baseball with. It’s about watermelons and fresh buttered corn on the cob.
And I really do emphasize. I really do.
Maybe something along these lines, eh?
What’s life without a nice tasty home-cooked hamburger? Not much, I’ll tell you what. Notice the cheese! (No tomatoes, though. Bummer.) But hey! How about taking notice of that nice beer in the background…
Oh, and speaking of hamburgers and beer…
F Troop
This is just a fun silly television series that I used to watch when I was in elementary school. LOL.
But now, after decades of the rigors of Life, I have come to appreciate it’s silliness. And yes, silliness has an important role in our lives. If you disagree with me, then leave. You can go ahead and split up your time between CNN and the weather channel.
As an aside, American Airports have non-stop CNN coverage, or the Weather Channel. Chinese airports have silly light slapstick entertainment, Mr. Bean style. Why do you think that the two philosophies are so different?
F Troop
This show is a military farce about the gallant incompetents of F Troop. It all takes place at “Fort Courage” way back in 1866 Kansas. This was an interesting time period, being the final days of the Civil War.
The CO was the wide-eyed, bumbling Captain Wilton Parmenter (Ken Berry). You see, he had been promoted from Private during the last days of the war. Imagine that! Private to Captain. What did he do, you ask? Well, he accidentally led a charge towards the enemy with a sneeze that sounded like “Charge!”
The episodes were fun and creative.
V Is for Vampire
Count Sforza, an emigrant from Transylvania, arrives in town. He comes in a hearse, has pale skin and has a crow he calls "Brother." The men of F-Troop suspect he may be a vampire, given the count's tendency to say, "Good evening," regardless of the time of day. When Jane can't be found, O'Rourke, Agarn and the Captain decide to check out Sforza's spooky mansion.
—Bill Koenig
Reveille is played at 10 am “because of the three hour time difference” and that even though rations and pay allotments are drawn for 30 men, only 17 are stationed at the fort (the other 13 are allegedly “Indian scouts out on patrol”). LOL.
Perhaps the United States government were taking notes, eh?
Unbeknownst to the captain, Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke (Forrest Tucker) had already negotiated a secret – and highly profitable – treaty with the Hekawi Indians. These Indians were led by Chief Wild Eagle (Frank De Kova) from whom he also had an exclusive franchise to sell their souvenirs to tourists via O’Rourke Enterprises.
The treaty benefited both sides. This is because it permitted the Indians to trade and upgrade their living conditions, and the troops to maintain the illusion that they were involved in a deadly land war. While all the time no one was actually in danger.
The only flaw in this otherwise happy arrangement was the troublesome Shugs, a genuine war-mongering tribe (with whom there was no peace treaty) who occasionally went into action.
F Troop is a happy, go-lucky television comedy that would NEVER be permitted to air in today’s modern progressive America.
Corporal Randolph Agarn was O’Rourke’s chief aide and assistant schemer and Wrangler Jane the hard-ridin’, fast-shootin’ (and very scrumptious) cowgirl who ran the post office and was out to marry Parmenter.
Other soldiers in the troop included Hannibal Dobbs, the troop’s bugler – who couldn’t play the bugle – and Troopers Duffy and Vanderbilt.
A lot of colourful Indians passed through the Fort in one-time special appearances. Some of those included Wise Owl (Milton Berle); Roaring Chicken (Edward Everett Horton); 147-year-old Flaming Arrow (Phil Harris) and Bald Eagle (Don Rickles).
LOL.
Other special appearances included Sgt. Ramsden (Paul Lynde) and Wrongo Starr (Henry Gibson).
F Troop was an entertaining enough production which, in similar dubious taste to Hogan’s Heroes made light of a deadly serious period of history.
Let’s look at a movie.
Maybe television shows aren’t your thang, eh?
Well, let’s go and check out a teenaged boy science fiction movie from the 1960’s. It’s got all the elements of boyhood dreams. the title says it all… adventure, shipwrecked, on a lone desolate place… Mars!
And it’s got a monkey!
But first, movies like this remind me of food. They really do. Often, as a boy I would go raid the refrigerator and heat up some leftovers that were sitting inside. I would use the microwave rather than the stove, and there were always some good delicious leftovers. Back then, in the 1960’s the US dollar was still worth around twenty five cents, and middle class families could afford to eat. Not like today where it’s actual value is a fraction of a penny.
I would often make up a sandwich from scraps that I would pull out of the refrigerator.
Anyways, I would pull out some pork-chops and applesauce, or maybe some meatloaf (and make a sandwich from it), or perhaps some left over lasagna. I would hurriedly scramble and whip up a quick meal with the commercials were rolling…
Of course, more often than not, I would just end up making a “Dagwood” or a hoagie out of all the fixings in the fridge.
Anyways, back to the movie…
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
"Special-effects wunderkind and genre master Byron Haskin (The War of the Worlds, The Outer Limits) won a place in the hearts of fantasy film lovers everywhere with this gorgeously designed journey into the unknown."
Robinson Crusoe on Mars tells the story of US astronaut Commander “Kit” Draper who must fight for survival when his spaceship, Elinor M, crash-lands on the barren wastes of Mars.
Oooh…
The story begins with the Elinor M orbiting Mars on the first official probe to test the planet’s gravity. Aboard are Draper, Colonel Dan McReady (Batman‘s Adam West) and Mona (The Woolly Monkey), a monkey, space suited for medical research.
The perfect mix of period science fiction for pre-teen boyhood dreams.
McReady and Draper suddenly realize that their craft is on a collision course with a giant meteor. Yikes!
In a split-second evasive action, the spacecraft swings too far off course and is dragged inexorably down by the gravitational pull of Mars.
McReady and Draper separately abandon ship with McReady taking charge of Mona.
Despite its retro rockets, Draper’s ejection capsule crashes on landing, wrecking the craft and leaving food and water for only a few days. Exhausted, Draper falls asleep only to wake up suffocating for lack of air. Without oxygen, he can sleep only an hour.
The true hero of the movie; the space-suited monkey Mona.
Draper sets out to find McReady but in his search only locates Mona. With no more than a few hours oxygen, Draper seems doomed.
Lightheaded, he passes out but is miraculously saved when little yellow rocks, burning and giving off bursts of gas, revive him. This gas is pure oxygen and Draper devises a method to feed the oxygen into his regular tank.
Imagine that! Little yellow rocks…
Several weeks later, a spacecraft appears over Mars and then lands.
Draper, sure he is being rescued, runs to the ship only to discover that it is not from the USA or even the Earth. Watching the ship, Draper suddenly sees a figure detach himself and run in his direction. The two face each other warily.
A stranded astronaut recording his audio diary within a martian cave. Wait until you see the alien. He looks like something out of pre-Aztec Mexico. LOL.
Gradually, Draper allays the fears of the newcomer and they settle down for the night.
With the arrival of the newcomer – who Draper jokingly dubs Friday – his worst problem, loneliness, has gone. Slowly, over the months, Draper teaches Friday English, and together, wondering if they will ever be rescued, set out to explore the Martian terrain.
Not a movie that will leave you wondering about life. Not so much.
It’s just a silly enough pre-adolescent movie for young boys that was written int he 1960’s. But, you know what? Maybe that’s what we need right now. Maybe we need to “escape” and forget our life for a spell. To give us a break and to relax our minds somewhat.
Now, as a man, I prefer other (ahem) more adult pleasures.
Manly adult pleasures.
Beer, wine and VSOP can help. But you know, if you don’t watch out it could consume you instead. So I would recommend just some lighthearted escapist shows and movies. Nothing too serious or upsetting.
Oh, and enjoy with something delicious to eat.
Newhart
If you have lived through the 1980’s then you knew all about Newhart. This show as a hoot!
The cast of the television show “Newhart”.
In this series, Newhart played Dick Loudon, a writer of “how-to” books who moved from New York to Norwich, Vermont to realise his dream of running a country inn. His smart, funny, and sexy wife was named Joanna (played by Mary Frann).
As with Newhart’s previous comedies, there were numerous quirky supporting characters. Tom Poston (who had been a frequent guest on the earlier show) was the inn’s unhandy handyman, George Utley, and Julia Duffy played the vain and spoiled Stephanie Vanderkellen (an heiress working as a maid at the 200-year-old Stratford Inn – Stephanie replaced her less interesting cousin, Leslie, after the first season).
Stephanie’s boyfriend, Michael Harris (Peter Scolari), was an insufferable 1980s yuppie and producer of a local TV show, Vermont Today, which Dick began hosting a few years into Newhart’s run.
Perhaps the most memorable, and certainly the most unusual, characters were three bizarre backwoodsmen, of whom only one ever spoke (until the final episode).
Larry, and his brother Darryl, and his other brother Darryl.
“I’m Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl,” was their stock introduction. They could always be counted upon to enjoy any activity that would disgust most people.
The trio of backwoodsmen known as Larry, Darryl, and Darryl actually made their first appearance in the series’ second episode. Dick hired their “company,” Anything for a Buck, to unearth the 300-year-old body of a woman buried in the Stratford Inn’s basement. The audience’s reaction to the brothers did not go unnoticed by Newhart and co-creator Kemp, and they were one of the first additions to the regular cast when Newhart underwent a makeover after season two.
-13 fun facts about the Newhart show.
William Sanderson, who played Larry, graduated from Memphis State University with a BBA and JD, but the acting bug bit him before he sat for the bar exam. Despite this educational pedigree, Sanderson remained very much a good ol’ Memphis boy at heart. While working on Newhart he sipped Jack Daniels and read the Bible in his dressing room between takes, and he constantly chewed tobacco. He had a habit of leaving his spittle cups all over the set, to the disgust of his co-workers.
Tony Papenfuss (First Darryl) and John Voldstad (Second Darryl) are both classically trained actors who had years of stage experience on their resumes when they landed their Newhart parts. Both actors’ agents actually advised them against accepting the roles, since they were non-speaking parts.
Newhart is a classic piece of 1980’s television. It described America leading up to the Bill Clinton Presidency and thus was free of all the political correctness mumbo-jumbo that followed it.
Everyone in town sold their property to a Japanese corporation, and the finale included a parody of Fiddler on the Roof, and ended with Newhart waking up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette and explaining that he’d had a very strange dream (a tongue-in-cheek reference to the famous 1986-87 season of Dallas.)
Best Episode - Season 6
Episode 121: “Take Me To Your Loudon” (Aired: 10/26/87)
It's Halloween, and the townspeople believe the town is about to be invaded by aliens.
A beloved excursion, many fans cite this installment as their very favorite of the entire series. They’re also likely to use it in evidence of the show’s supposed bent towards the surreal.
You see, this story doesn’t totally forsake logic — it just asks that we find it in the broad, heightened, and not all together relatable depictions of some of the characters. That‘s the reason that it’s hard to believe and thus seems “surreal.”
It's Halloween and the Stratford is having a costume party, Michael has the station run the film "War Of The Worlds (1953)" on TV and the townsfolk believe they are being invaded by aliens from outer space.
A hilariously funny episode, in the top five best in the series. The laughs are non stop, George is the Cowardly Lion from "Wizard Of Oz', Dick the Tin Man, Joanna is Vampira, Michael dresses as a Canadian Mountie and Stephanie (naturally) is a princess. Harley shows up and tells about the invasion when he sees the movie on TV. Michael sees a chance for the same kind of panic Orson Welles caused with his radio version of "War Of The Worlds". Dick tries to be the voice of reason to the wacky towns people but they just accuse HIM of being from outer space! And Larry, Darryl and Darryl show up with their funniest introduction ever.
I think it represents the era most accurately, and, as such, is the most valuable.
And now, while we are at it, for another classic 1980’s movie…
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller takes a day off from school.
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is a born con artist. When he’s not talking a mile a minute to his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), he’s stepping aside, facing the camera and addressing the audience.
In his dedication to the joy of loafing, Ferris convinces his parents he’s ill, the student body starts raising money to save his life with a kidney transplant, and the dean of students thinks all sorts of people are dying.
But Ferris isn’t dying. He’s just lying, and it’s the ninth time in the same semester.
He convinces Cameron to ‘borrow’ his father’s irreplaceable 1961 red Ferrari, and then swing by school to kidnap Sloane.
A large part of the film (directed by John Hughes) is then devoted to elaborate schemes designed to keep Ferris and his pals out of school: Answering machines are fixed, a fake body run by strings attached to a doorknob rolls around in Ferris’s bed to fool concerned and nosy parents, a sickbed message is recorded through a loudspeaker to answer the doorbell and deter inquisitive truant officers.
While the kids are bulldozing their way into an expensive restaurant, catching a ball game at Wrigley Field, and staging their own musical production number from Grease in the middle of a mysterious parade the principal – determined to catch Ferris red-handed – slinks around like a CIA agent on secret manoeuvres.
Hold the phone . . . if it’s a holiday, with floats and marching bands and 10,000 extras, why does anyone need to play hooky from school in the first place?
Brat-packer Charlie Sheen appears in a side-splitting cameo role as a drugged-to-the-eyeballs boy that spiteful sister Jeannie encounters at a police station. To get the necessary spaced-out effect, full method acting would have been a step too far, but Sheen did keep himself awake for 48 hours before the scene was shot. LOL.
If life is far too serious for you now with the COVID-19 pandemic a raging, perhaps some good old-fashioned Ferris Bueller wisdom might be in order.
I do believe that we all need to take a lesson from Ferris Bueller in today’s day and age.
Oh, and while I am on a 1980’s bender…
Weird Science (1985)
Weird Science (1985)
Triumphant geeks have always been a common theme of writer/director John Hughes, but that triumph was never achieved as raucously as it was in 1985’s Weird Science – a screenplay which took the high school movie guru just two days to write.
Among the feats of sex-starved no-hope geek boys Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith): vanquishing a psycho older brother, gaining popularity and acceptance at school, and best of all, getting the girls – both the computer-generated kind and the real kind.
With a little Frankenstein-type mission on the brain, Gary convinces Wyatt to sit down at his souped-up computer and go to work on an interactive onscreen lady friend.
But with the lightning brewing outside, the bras atop their heads and the Barbie doll hooked up to the hardware, it’s inevitable the boys take things a little too far . . .
Lisa, the Frankenstein creation of two 1980’s nerds.
Behold Lisa (Kelly LeBrock). Named after the computer (the Apple Lisa) on which she was designed, she is beautiful, brilliant and capable of some treacherous hocus-pocus. She also does their washing, cleaning and cooking – feminists will loathe this film.
Lisa fast becomes the boys’ well-needed mentor of cool. She brings them to a steamy nightclub, where they’re instant hits with the regulars; she hosts a whopper of a party at Wyatt’s house, where her duties include freezing Wyatt’s absurd grandparents and dealing with the gang of killer mutants who crash the festivities.
Weird Science (1985)
But most importantly, she teaches Wyatt and Gary how to stand up for themselves – which in this case, means facing off against the gun-toting, wedgie-bestowing older brother Chet (Bill Paxton), and, as if that’s not bad enough, a beastly biker type (played by Vernon Wells, reprising his Mad Max 2 role).
It’s enough to say that in the end, everyone gets what they deserve.
With that geek-dream-come-true premise and a quirky, catchy theme song from Oingo Boingo, Weird Science quickly became a favorite of the timid and nerdy. It is all 1980’s and it WILL carry your back to another time and place.
I know, I know…
Too many 1980’s flicks.
You all probably thought that I was going to give you REAL GENIUS (1985), and indeed I was. Nothing quite says the 1980’s more than this movie. For some reason it just carries me back… way back to that time. The music. The fashion. The “feeling”. Man, if you want to escape, nothing is better…
Ahhh Heck.
Real Genius (1985)
Female geniuses have bowl-cuts, no social boundaries and never sleep…
You can tell how dated this movie is. Instead of having a creme frappichino latte at a coffeehouse, the gang goes ahead and drinks some beer and hamburgers together. man! Don’t you just love it?
As a child of the 80s, I have a soft spot in my heart for creatively-executed movies from this period. At their worst, 80s movies become dated more quickly than films from nearly any other period in film history. At their best, 80s movies reflect the cultural undertones of an exciting time where humor and optimism were rampant in films despite the specter of cold war, the advent of AIDS and a rocky economy.
Oh, and did you know, dorm room closets are a fine place to put an entrance to a secret lair…
Terrific nostalgia trip down 80s memory lane - loved it!
by heisenberg8313 November 2005
Had very fond memories of this film as a kid in the 80s. Still holds up even today. DVD widescreen format shows off how well directed this movie is. Val Kilmer is terrific as the genius slacker hero. The whole cast gel well together, and the dialogue is very sharp and well-written (reminded me of TV show Scrubs in places). Had me laughing out loud in many places - rare for a modern version like American Pie. Lots of tasty 80s musical montages scattered throughout. Something really likable and positive about this movie, leaves you feeling really good at the end. Highly recommended - really hasn't dated at all. An enjoyable trip down 80s memory lane!
Real Genius takes the happy, go-lucky optimism of the 80s and superimposes it on the grim topics of military research, cold war espionage and assassination. The movie is set in a west-coast college (see Caltech, Berkeley, Stanford) and makes full use of the hyper-intelligent, eccentric dialog you might expect in elite California academia.
Yup.
And eating hamburgers gives you very large breasts!
The sound track from Thomas Newman (Less than Zero, American Beauty and many others) is technically complex and involving and fits the movie perfectly.
In this classic 1980’s movie, our heroes get to play with lasers and other cool things like popcorn.
At times, the movie suffers from the usual poor depiction of science (see lame computer applications and some bad blue screen work on aircraft) and unbelievable scenarios (see water slide in lecture hall and ice sledding in dormitory). But we all know that top secret military computers use 6-character passwords…
Despite these forgivable breaches, the Neal Israel’s unique dialog is truly brilliant, the situational comedy is eccentric, and the humor is uplifting.
Getting even is a moral imperative!
Val Kilmer is outstanding in his portrayal of Chris Knight and I lament his departure from this odd and extremely intelligent form of comedy (See Top Secret) – Though Kilmer has been involved with “better” movies since, I don’t think he has ever been more genuinely entertaining.
One of the all time best 80's college movies
by thirdi 3 November 2001
Val Kilmer is hilarious as a college genius on par with Einstein, but is more interested in partying and chasing girls. A new arrival to the campus, Mitch, is a brilliant 15 year-old whom Val takes under his wing and tries to get to loosen up and have a good time.
There are probably some important themes and ideas to analyze within this movie, but for me it's just an old-school personal favorite that I've seen about 100 times. Great 80's music soundtrack and funny performances. William Atherton is perfect as the self-important, snobby professor, and another highlight is Robert Prescott, who plays his butt-kissing, nerdy assistant "Kent".
A movie that asks the question, isn't life experience just as important for education, as classrooms and books? A very funny, fine film that is up there with "Animal House" in my opinion.
The bad guys get “their’s”. I love it. It’s a good feel-good escapist movie that take you back to pre-Clinton America.
I think this movie is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys science, comedy and the 80s genre, or for anyone who is planning on attending a technology school on the West coast. This movie may not depict reality, but it communicates a hopeful spirit we could all use more of in today’s world of harsh reality. Besides, Any problem can be solved with a catchy 80’s pop song and a montage.
Oh, and don’t forget, Jesus wants you to stop playing with yourself.
Ah, what can I say. The 1980’s was “the shit”. It’s great escapist clap-trap as it occurred at a time that predated all the political correctness nonsense of the Bill Clinton years, and the Military Empire building of the Bush years. It’s just a nice time capsule that will take you back to a time when people were not so easily offended and when people were ok with just being ok.
With that being said, I am going to offer up just one more 1980’s movie. This movie is a tad bit more obscure. Indeed finding it is near impossible, but OMG is it awesome.
Water (1985)
Water is a funny satire about West Indies-style politics and the decline of British colonialism. It is also a kind of raw smack in the face of commercialism and the media.
British comedy-writing legends Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais wrote this funny satire about West Indies-style politics and the decline of British colonialism in the Thatcher Era. Elements of the story were also inspired by the 1982 Falklands conflict (when Argentina invaded the British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean).
An extremely funny filmsxct16 June 2004
I am quite disappointed with the average for this film. I found it to be one of the funniest films I have ever seen.
The cast is superb and the script, although not one of the best written, is filled with humor that was was made even better by the acting. It was filmed on the island of St. Lucia.
It's a story of a company drilling for oil and accidentally discovers mineral water, a substance that is even more valuable than oil. But it is important to keep it a secret. Jimmie Walker, who I don't particularly like, plays the part of a radio dj and does it wonderfully. Michael Caine and Brenda Vaccaro are fabulous as is everyone else.
Please give this film a chance. I think it might be one of those little surprises that come along every once in a while.
Set on a fictional Caribbean island (Cascara) owned by Britain but largely left to its own devices, the story centers around the discovery of a lucrative resource – the natural mineral water of the title – and the reaction of people on the island and other nations.
Location shooting for the fictional British Caribbean colony of Cascara took place in the real former British Caribbean colony of St. Lucia in the West Indies.
Water has a plot that is all over the place, but I have to admit the fact that the personal fights between the governor and his wife being broadcast all over the island really cracked me up.
...of Houston Texaslavean on 13 December 2001
I thought this movie actually had some very funny and memorable lines...The characters are so stereotyped that they have all become caricatures...from the French Commandos on the beach who when they are breaking out their emergency rations are having the menu read to them by a Sergent who informs them that it will be "accompanied by an unpretentious St Emillion which will amuse even the most cynical palate"...the American Colonel who can't see the target for the Limbo dancers...when the guerilla mets the oil man he calls him a "Yankee capitalist imperialist...of Houston Texas", says the oil man extending his hand.
It was produced by George Harrison and has Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and a lot of other name musicians involved in the soundtrack.
It has a nice way to spend an hour and a half.
No it has no deep hidden meaning nor will it change your life or make a social statement...but then I watch movies as a bit of escapism...this is one I sought out to own and when it comes out on DVD will buy it in that format as well.
The stand-out cast features Brits Leonard Rossiter, Billy Connolly, Maureen Lipman and Fulton Mackay and Americans Valerie Perrine, Fred Gwynne, Ruby Wax and Jimmie Walker.
Jimmie Walker, everyone…
Jimmie Walker plays the sole radio DJ in the sole radio station on the tiny island. He’s hilarious.
The charity rock band featured at the end of the movie – The Singing Rebels – features George Harrison (whose Handmade Films produced the movie), Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Jon Lord (of Deep Purple).
OK.
Maybe you don’t have the attention span for a movie. So let’s look at a nice 1980’s television show. Something that will take you to a land far, far away.
Maybe a little too far…
Let’s look at the classic…
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
A small-town housewife struggles to cope with the increasingly bizarre and violent events unfolding around her. It’s a way that the media was preparing America for the Bill Clinton years.
Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman.
Set in fictional Fernwood, Ohio, this deliriously demented serial focused on the beleaguered heroine Mary Hartman, an average American housewife. In the first season, Mary suffered the travails of mass murder, adultery, venereal disease, homosexuality, religious cults, and UFO sightings, before she finally succumbed to a nervous breakdown on a syndicated talk show.
Then, things start to get crazy…
Wow, what a bizarre show
7 July 2000 | by A-Ron-2
This was one of those seminal moments in television history, because the 70s seemed to be more open to experimentation and strangeness than certainly the 80s and definitely the 90s.
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman was a show that was unclassifiable by any standard of TV today. Now, I haven't seen the show in about 15 years (I watched the whole series on tape at a friend of mine's back in the mid or late 80s), but I am sure that it would be just as bizarre and wonderful today as ever.
Martin Mull was brilliant as the psychopathic wife beater, Barth Gimble. I hope that TV Land or some other such channel will pick this show up, because I would really love to see it again.
A more insightfully absurd and comically astute series has not been made. Mix the daily grind of ALL MY CHILDREN, the experimentation of MONTY PYTHON, the self-absorbed and urbane existentialism of WOODY ALLEN and the offbeat quality of BLUE VELVET and you have MARY HARTMAN MARY HARTMAN.
Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman.
I grew to love Mary Hartman’s kitchen (and other Fernwood locales) as if they were an extension of my own town and home. Too bad the show couldn’t have lasted longer than it did.
Candide in a consumer societymelvelvit-1 written on 31 May 2008
A sharply satirical soap opera about a modern-day "Candide" (Louise Lasser) and the dysfunctional pre-fab Americana she inhabits.
In the opening episodes (beginning 1/76), Mary has to contend with her impotent husband, indifferent daughter, pervert grandpa, hot-to-trot sister, and the massacre of a local family (along with their 2 goats and 8 chickens) but it seems the waxy yellow build-up on her kitchen floor subliminally affected the mass media-influenced Mary more than all the domestic drama combined.
The absence of a canned laugh track can make viewers feel they're either losing their mind or experiencing a darkly comedic, penetrating pop-culture parody. Possibly both. I loved it then and I love it now!
For a brief period of time, somewhere around 9-11, I was fortunate enough to have viewed, for the first time in 20 years, the first episodes in which Mary is held captive by the guy who “killed the whole Lombardy family, two goats and six chickens”. And thus, from the vantage point of my 40s, I was finally able to really “get it.
Mary Hartman is one of the great emblems of the distress of the mid-20th century American woman. Her hair in childish pigtails while wearing those little girl dresses, Mary was an example of the overly-consumered, growth-stunted American housewife trying to function while in a semi-daze.
...The other thing that makes this tough on reruns is that Mary Hartman was so much a part of the 70's. What's hard to explain to people who weren't there, is how weird the 70's were.
The whole country was in this very odd mood, partly giddy, partly freaked out, partly numb.
I don't know if I can explain how Mary Hartman fit in to that, but it did and maybe not enough time has passed where it won't seem dated.
The other thing is that the show had a whole parallel life running at the same time in the live soap opera of Louise Lasser's sudden fame. Her personal trajectory towards a nervous breakdown tracked Mary Hartman's.
Do I need to remind everyone of her bizarre interviews in Rolling Stone, her bust for cocaine, and her appearance as the host on SNL, in which she also had a nervous breakdown.
Years later it came out that this was not faked, that she was ready to refuse to appear on the show minutes before curtain time, and only agreed to appear once Chevy Chase convinced her that if she didn't go on, he'd go on in her place wearing a wig.
-outnaway 9 March 2009
Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman.
Her confrontations with adultery, contemporary feminism, and countless other social issues (often found within her own family) while trying to be the perfect little housewife and mother makes her eventual nervous breakdown more than just another crazy plot twist.
In actuality, it was an inevitable progression.
Compare her and her friends and neighbors to Carol Burnett’s Eunice and other 70s television characters like Edith Bunker and you’d have a rather fascinating college course, I think. Perhaps I need to put one together!
Remember when Loretta came over to bring Mary Jell-O with Cracker Jacks suspended in it?
So, for those of you who have a similar fondness for this groundbreaking, offbeat series and to those who have never seen it, here’s to bringing Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman back in reruns.
A demented,glorious, masterpiececoop-1616 February 2002
Truly one of the greatest-and least remembered -TV shows of all time.I loved this show back in the seventies. It was a rich tapestry of comic-and touching- characters, exemplified by the naive heroine, Mary Hartman,and her friends, perhaps most unforgettable of whom was would be Country Music queen,Loretta Haggers, played by the sadly underused -and brilliant-Mary Kay Place.
But then this show was rich in fine acting-Dabney Coleman, martin Mull, and Marian Mercer, among others.If the Comedy channel can rerun "soap" why cant they rerun this masterpiece?
I know that it is tough to decide.
Just go hop in the car, and go through a drive through and get a burger. Then on the way ponder which movie or television show to watch. I always find it easier to think on a full stomach. So have the burger and then settle down and choose one…
Burger King’s Whopper.
Conclusion
When you are living in a stressful and uncomfortable situation, it is time to sit back, enjoy a frosty beer and disconnect. It will relax your mind and permit you to recover. Nothing is better than reliving times that pre-dated the chaotic life that Americans now live.
Pick your “poison”;
Sixteen Candles
The Andy Griffith Show (Mayberry RFD)
F-Troop
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Newhart
Ferris Bueller’s day off
Weird Science
Real Genius
Water
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Pick one. Rent it, torrent it, or Netflix it.
Get some food and drink.
Take care, and enjoy life. The coronavirus will pass. America will be changed and a new “normal” will manifest. In the meantime, relax.
I do hope that you enjoyed this post. I have more in my Movie Index here…
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This is the full text of the story "R is for Rocket" by Ray Bradbury. It is not only a classic, but it is also a story that held particular meaning to me. For it was how I felt about my dreams to become that mystical "Spacemen". For us, back then, those of us who were "bitten by the bug" of space travel were fixated and driven by the one singular goal... to leave the Earth and explore "Outer Space".
I hope that you, the reader, will find this lovely story as wondrous as I have. Please enjoy it, and again, many thanks to the great master Ray Bradbury for composing this masterpiece.
R is for Rocket
There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go. . . .
Yet we were boys and liked being boys and lived in a Florida town and liked the town and went to school and fairly liked the school and climbed trees and played football and liked our mothers and fathers. . . .
But some time every hour of every day of every week for a minute or a second when we thought on fire and stars and the fence beyond which they waited . . . we liked the rockets more.
The fence. The rockets.
Every Saturday morning . . .
The guys met at my house.
With the sun hardly up, they yelled until the neighbors were moved to brandish paralysis guns out their ventilators I commanding the guys to shut up or they’d be frozen statues for the next hour and then where would they be?
Aw, climb a rocket, stick your head in the main-jet! the kids always yelled back, but yelled this safe behind our garden I fence. Old Man Wickard, next door, is a great shot with the para-gun.
This one dim cool Saturday morning I was lying in bed thinking about how I had flunked my semantics exam the day before at formula-school, when I heard the gang yelling below. It was hardly 7 a.m. and there was still a lot of fog roaming in off the Atlantic, and only now were the weather-control vibrators at each corner starting to hum and shoot out rays to get rid of the stuff; I heard them moaning soft and nice.
I padded to the window and stuck my head out.
“Okay, space-pirates! Motors off!”
“Hey!” shouted Ralph Priory. “We just heard, there’s a new schedule today! The Moon Job, the one with the new XL3 motor, is cutting gravity in an hour!”
“Buddha, Muhammad, Allah, and other real and semi-mythological figures,” I said, and went away from the window so fast the concussion laid all the boys out on my lawn.
I zippered myself into a jumper, yanked on my boots, clipped my food-capsules to my hip-pocket, for I knew there’d be no food or even thought of food today, we’d just stuff with pills when our stomachs barked, and fell down the two-story vacuum elevator.
On the lawn, all five of the guys were chewing their lips, bouncing around, scowling.
“Last one,” said I, passing them at 5000 mph, “to the monorail is a bug-eyed Martian!”
On the monorail, with the cylinder hissing us along to Rocket Port, twenty miles from town — a few minutes ride — I had bugs in my stomach. A guy fifteen doesn’t get to see the big stuff often enough, mostly every week it was the small continental cargo rockets coming and going on schedule. But this was big, among the biggest . . . the Moon and beyond. . . .
“I’m sick,” said Priory, and hit me on the arm.
I hit him back. “Me, too. Boy, ain’t Saturday the best day in the week!?”
Priory and I traded wide, understanding grins. We got along all Condition Go. The other pirates were okay. Sid Rossen, Mac Leslyn, Earl Marnee, they knew how to jump around like all the kids, and they loved the rockets, too, but I had the feeling they wouldn’t be doing what Ralph and I would do some day. Ralph and I wanted the stars for each of us, more than we would want a fistful of clear-cut blue-white diamonds.
We yelled with the yellers, we laughed with the laughers, but at the middle of it all, we were still, Ralph and I, and the cylinder whispered to a stop and we were outside yelling, laughing, running, but quiet and almost in slow motion, Ralph ahead of me, and all of us pointed one way, at the observation fence and grabbing hold, yelling for the slowpokes to catch up, but not looking back for them, and then we were all there together and the big rocket came out of its plastic work canopy like a great interstellar circus tent and moved along its gleaming track out toward the fire point, accompanied by the gigantic gantry like a gathering of prehistoric reptile birds which kept and preened and fed this one big fire monster and led it toward its seizure and birth into a suddenly blast-furnace sky.
I quit breathing. I didn’t even suck another breath it seemed until the rocket was way out on the concrete meadow, followed by water-beetle tractors and great cylinders bearing hidden men, and all around, in asbestos suits, praying-mantis mechanics fiddled with machines and buzzed and cawwed and gibbered to each other on invisible, unhearable radiophones, but we could hear it all, in our heads, our minds, our hearts.
“Lord,” I said at last.
“The very good Lord,” said Ralph Priory at my elbow.
The others said this, too, over and over.
It was something to “good Lord” about. It was a hundred years of dreaming all sorted out and chosen and put together Ito make the hardest, prettiest, swiftest dream of all. Every line was fire solidified and made perfect, it was flame frozen, and lice waiting to thaw there in the middle of a concrete prairie, ready to wake with a roar, jump high and knock its silly fine great head against the Milky Way and knock the stars down in a full return of firefall meteors. You felt it could kick the Coal Sack Nebula square in the midriff and make it stand out of the way.
It got me in the midriff, too — it gripped me in such a way I knew the special sickness of longing and envy and grief for lack of accomplishment. And when the astronauts patrolled the field in the final silent mobile-van, my body went with them in their strange white armor, in their bubble-helmets and insouciant pride, looking as if they were team-parading to a magnetic football game at one of the local mag-fields, for mere practice. But they were going to the Moon, they went every month now, and the crowds that used to come to watch were no longer there, there was just us kids to worry them up and worry them off.
“Gosh,” I said. “What wouldn’t I give to go with them. What wouldn’t I give.”
“Me,” said Mac, “I’d give my one-year monorail privileges.”
“Yeah. Oh, very much yeah.”
It was a big feeling for us kids caught half between this morning’s toys and this afternoon’s very real and powerful fireworks.
And then the preliminaries got over with. The fuel was in the rocket and the men ran away from it on the ground like ants running lickety from a metal god — and the Dream woke up and gave a yell and jumped into the sky. And then it was gone, all the vacuum shouting of it, leaving nothing but a hot trembling in the air, through the ground, and up our legs to our hearts. Where it had been was a blazed, seared pock and a fog of rocket smoke like a cumulus cloud banked low.
“It’s gone!” yelled Priory.
And we all began to breathe fast again, frozen there on the ground as if stunned by the passing of a gigantic paralysis gun.
“I want to grow up quick,” I said, then. “I want to grow up quick so I can take that rocket.”
I bit my lips. I was so darned young, and you cannot apply for space work. You have to be chosen. Chosen.
Finally somebody, I guess it was Sidney, said:
“Let’s go to the tele-show now.”
Everyone said yeah, except Priory and myself. We said no, and the other kids went off laughing breathlessly, talking, and left Priory and me there to look at the spot where the ship had been.
It spoiled everything else for us — that takeoff.
Because of it, I flunked my semantics test on Monday.
I didn’t care.
At times like that I thanked Providence for concentrates. When your stomach is nothing but a coiled mass of excitement, you hardly feel like drawing a chair to a full hot dinner. A few concen-tabs swallowed, did wonderfully well as substitution, without the urge of appetite.
I got to thinking about it, tough and hard, all day long and late at night. It got so bad I had to use sleep-massage mechs every night, coupled with some of Tschaikovsky’s quieter music to get my eyes shut.
“Good Lord, young man,” said my teacher, that Monday at class. “If this keeps up I’ll have you reclassified at the next psych-board meeting.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied.
He looked hard at me. “What sort of block have you got? I It must be a very simple, and also a conscious, one.”
I winced. “It’s conscious, sir; but it’s not simple. It’s multi-tentacular. In brief, though — it’s rockets.”
He smiled. “R is for Rocket, eh?”
“I guess that’s it, sir.”
“We can’t let it interfere with your scholastic record, though, young man.”
“Do you think I need hypnotic suggestion, sir?”
“No, no.” He flipped through a small tab of records with my name blocked on it. I had a funny stone in my stomach, just lying there. He looked at me. “You know, Christopher, you’re king-of-the-hill here; head of the class.” He closed his eyes and mused over it. “We’ll have to see about a lot of other things,” he concluded. Then he patted me on the shoulder.
“Well — get on with your work. Nothing to worry about.”
He walked away.
I tried to get back to work, but I couldn’t. During the rest of the day the teacher kept watching me and looking at my tab-record and chewing his lip. About two in the afternoon he dialed a number on his desk-audio and discussed something with somebody for about five minutes.
I couldn’t hear what was said.
But when he set the audio into its cradle, he stared straight at me with the funniest light in his eyes.
It was envy and admiration and pity all in one. It was a little sad and it was much of happiness. It had a lot in it, just in his eyes. The rest of his face said nothing.
It made me feel like a saint and a devil sitting there.
Ralph Priory and I slid home from formula-school together early that afternoon. I told Ralph what had happened and he frowned in the dark way he always frowns.
I began to worry. And between the two of us we doubled and tripled the worry.
“You don’t think you’ll be sent away, do you, Chris?”
Our monorail car hissed. We stopped at our station. We got out. We walked slow. “I don’t know,” I said.
“That would be plain dirty,” said Ralph.
“Maybe I need a good psychiatric laundering, Ralph. I can’t go on flubbing my studies this way.”
We stopped outside my house and looked at the sky for a long moment. Ralph said something funny.
“The stars aren’t out in the daytime, but we can see ’em, can’t we, Chris?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Darn rights.”
“Well stick it together, huh, Chris? Blast them, they can’t take you away now. We’re pals. It wouldn’t be fair.”
I didn’t say anything because there was no room in my throat for anything but a hectagonal lump.
“What’s the matter with your eyes?” asked Priory.
“Aw, I looked at the sun too long. Come on inside, Ralph.”
We yelled under the shower spray in the bath-cubicle, but our yells weren’t especially convincing, even when we turned on the ice-water.
While we were standing in the warm-air dryer, I did a lot of thinking. Literature, I figured, was full of people who fought battles against hard, razor-edged opponents. They pitted brain and muscle against obstacles until they won out or were themselves defeated. But here I was with hardly a sign of any outward conflict. It was all running around in spiked boots inside my head, making cuts and bruises where no one could see them except me and a psychologist. But it was just as bad.
“Ralph,” I said, as we dressed, “I got a war on.”
“All by yourself?” he asked.
“I can’t include you,” I said. “Because this is personal. How many times has my mother said, ‘Don’t eat so much, Chris, your eyes are bigger than your stomach?'”
“A million times.”
“Two million. Well, paraphrase it, Ralph. Change it to ‘Don’t see so much, Chris, your mind is too big for your body.’ I got a war on between a mind that wants things my body can’t give it.”
Priory nodded quietly. “I see what you mean about its being a personal war. In that case, Christopher, I’m at war, too.”
“I knew you were,” I said. “Somehow I think the other kids’ll grow out of it. But I don’t think we will, Ralph. I think we’ll keep waiting.”
We sat down in the middle of the sunlit upper deck of the house, and started checking over some homework on our formula-pads. Priory couldn’t get his. Neither could I. Priory put into words the very thing I didn’t dare say out loud.
“Chris, the Astronaut Board selects. You can’t apply for it. You wait.”
“I know.”
“You wait from the time you’re old enough to turn cold in the stomach when you see a Moon rocket, until all the years go by, and every month that passes you hope that one morning a blue Astronaut helicopter will come down out of the sky, land on your lawn, and that a neat-looking engineer will ease out, walk up the rampway briskly, and touch the bell.
“You keep waiting for that helicopter until you’re twenty-one. And then, on the last day of your twentieth year you drink and laugh a lot and say what the heck, you didn’t really care about it, anyway.”
We both just sat there, deep in the middle of his words. We both just sat there. Then:
“I don’t want that disappointment, Chris. I’m fifteen, just like you. But if I reach my twenty-first year without an Astronaut ringing the bell where I live at the ortho-station, I — “
“I know,” I said. “I know. I’ve talked to men who’ve waited, all for nothing. And if it happens that way to us, Ralph, well — we’ll get good and drunk together and then go out and take jobs loading cargo on a Europe-bound freighter.”
Ralph stiffened and his face went pale. “Loading cargo.”
There was a soft, quick step on the ramp and my mother was there. I smiled. “Hi, lady!”
“Hello. Hello, Ralph.”
“Hello, Jhene.”
She didn’t look much older than twenty-five, in spite of having birthed and raised me and worked at the Government Statistics House. She was light and graceful and smiled a lot, and I could see how father must have loved her very much when he was alive. One parent is better than none. Poor Priory, now, raised in one of those orthopedical stations. . . .
Jhene walked over and put her hand on Ralph’s face. “You look ill,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
Ralph managed a fairly good smile. “Nothing — at all.”
Jhene didn’t need prompting. She said, “You can stay here I tonight, Priory. We want you. Don’t we, Chris?”
“Heck, yes.”
“I should get back to the station,” said Ralph, rather feebly, I observed. “But since you asked and Chris here needs help on his semantics for tomorrow, I’ll stick and help him.”
“Very generous,” I observed.
“First, though, I’ve a few errands. I’ll take the ‘rail and be back in an hour, people.”
When Ralph was gone my mother looked at me intently, then brushed my hair back with a nice little move of her fingers.
“Something’s happening, Chris.”
My heart stopped talking because it didn’t want to talk any more for a while. It waited.
I opened my mouth, but Jhene went on:
“Something’s up somewhere. I had two calls at work today. One from your teacher. One from — I can’t say. I don’t want to say until things happen — “
My heart started talking again, slow and warm.
“Don’t tell me, then, Jhene. Those calls — “
She just looked at me. She took my hand between her two soft warm ones. “You’re so young, Chris. You’re so awfully young.”
I didn’t speak.
Her eyes brightened. “You never knew your father. I wish you had. You know what he was, Chris?”
I said, “Yeah. He worked in a Chemistry Lab, deep underground most of the time.”
And, my mother added, strangely, “He worked deep under the ground, Chris, and never saw the stars.”
My heart yelled in my chest. Yelled loud and hard.
“Oh, Mother. Mother — “
It was the first time in years I had called her mother.
When I woke the next morning there was a lot of sunlight in the room, but the cushion where Priory slept when he stayed over, was vacant. I listened. I didn’t hear him splashing in the shower-cube, and the dryer wasn’t humming. He was gone.
I found his note pinned on the sliding door.
“See you at formula at noon. Your mother wanted me to do some work for her. She got a call this morning, and said she needed me to help. So long. Priory.”
Priory out running errands for Jhene. Strange. A call in the early morning to Jhene. I went back and sat down on the cushion.
While I was sitting there a bunch of the kids yelled down on the lawn-court. “Hey, Chris! You’re late!”
I stuck my head out the window. “Be right down!”
“No, Chris.”
My mother’s voice. It was quiet and it had something funny in it. I turned around. She was standing in the doorway behind me, her face pale, drawn, full of some small pain. “No, Chris,” she said again, softly. “Tell them to go on to formula without you — today.”
The kids were still making noise downstairs, I guess, but I didn’t hear them. I just felt myself and my mother, slim and pale and restrained in my room. Far off, the weather-control vibrators started to hum and throb.
I turned slowly and looked down at the kids. The three of them were looking up, lips parted casually, half-smiling, semantic-tabs in their knotty fingers. “Hey — ” one of them said. Sidney, it was.
“Sorry, Sid. Sorry, gang. Go on without me. I can’t go to formula today. See you later, huh?”
“Aw, Chris!”
“Sick?”
“No. Just — Just go on without me, gang. I’ll see you.”
I felt numb. I turned away from their upturned, questioning faces and glanced at the door. Mother wasn’t there. She had gone downstairs, quietly. I heard the kids moving off, not quite as boisterously, toward the monorail station.
Instead of using the vac-elevator, I walked slowly downstairs. “Jhene,” I said, “where’s Ralph?”
Jhene pretended to be interested in combing her long light hair with a vibro-toothed comb. “I sent him off. I didn’t want him here this morning.”
“Why am I staying home from formula, Jhene?”
“Chris, please don’t ask.”
Before I could say anything else, there was a sound in the air. It cut through the very soundproofed wall of the house, and hummed in my marrow, quick and high as an arrow of glittering music.
I swallowed. All the fear and uncertainty and doubt went away, instantly.
When I heard that note, I thought of Ralph Priory. Oh Ralph, if you could be here now. I couldn’t believe the truth of it. Hearing that note and hearing it with my whole body and soul as well as with my ears.
It came closer, that sound. I was afraid it would go away. But it didn’t go away. It lowered its pitch and came down outside the house in great whirling petals of light and shadow and I knew it was a helicopter the color of the sky. It stopped humming, and in the silence my mother tensed forward, dropped the vibro-comb and took in her breath.
In that silence, too, I heard booted footsteps walking up the ramp below. Footsteps that I had waited for a long time.
Footsteps I was afraid would never come.
Somebody touched the bell.
And I knew who it was.
And all I could think was, Ralph, why in heck did you have to go away now, when all this is happening? Blast it, Ralph, why did you?
The man looked as if he had been born in his uniform. It fitted like a second layer of salt-colored skin, touched here and there with a line, a dot of blue. As simple and perfect a uniform as could be made, but with all the muscled power of the universe behind it.
His name was Trent. He spoke firmly, with a natural round perfection, directly to the subject.
I stood there, and my mother was on the far side of the room, looking like a bewildered little girl. I stood listening.
Out of all the talking I remember some of the snatches:
“. . . highest grades, high IQ. Perception A-1, curiosity Triple-A. Enthusiasm necessary to the long, eight-year educational grind. . . .”
“Yes, sir.”
“. . . talks with your semantics and psychology teachers — “
“Yes, sir.”
“. . . and don’t forget, Mr. Christopher . . .”
Mister Christopher!
“. . . and don’t forget, Mr. Christopher, nobody is to know you have been selected by the Astronaut Board.”
“No one?”
“Your mother and teacher know, naturally. But no other person must know. Is that perfectly understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Trent smiled quietly, standing there with his big hands at his sides. “You want to ask why, don’t you? Why you can’t tell your friends? I’ll explain.
“It’s a form of psychological protection. We select about ten thousand young men each year from the earth’s billions. Out of that number three thousand wind up, eight years later, as spacemen of one sort or another. The others must return to society. They’ve flunked out, but there’s no reason for everyone to know. They usually flunk out, if they’re going to flunk, in the first six months. And it’s tough to go back and face your friends and say you couldn’t make the grade at the biggest job in the world. So we make it easy to go back.
“But there’s still another reason. It’s psychological, too. Half the fun of being a kid is being able to lord it over the other guys, by being superior in some way. We take half the fun out of Astronaut selection by strictly forbidding you to tell your pals. Then, we’ll know if you wanted to go into space for frivolous reasons, or for space itself. If you’re in it for personal conceit — you’re damned.
If you’re in it because you can’t help being in it and have to be in it — you’re blessed.”
He nodded to my mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Christopher.”
“Sir,” I said. “A question. I have a friend. Ralph Priory. He lives at an ortho-station — “
Trent nodded. “I can’t tell you his rating, of course, but he’s on our list. He’s your buddy? You want him along, of course. I’ll check his record. Station-bred, you say? That’s not good. But — we’ll see.”
“If you would, please, thanks.”
“Report to me at the Rocket Station Saturday afternoon at five, Mr. Christopher. Meantime: silence.”
He saluted. He walked off. He went away in the helicopter into the sky, and Mother was beside me quickly, saying, “Oh, Chris, Chris,” over and over, and we held to each other and whispered and talked and she said many things, how good this was going to be for us, but especially for me, how fine, what an honor it was, like the old old days when men fasted and took vows and joined churches and stopped up their tongues and were silent and prayed to be worthy and to live well as monks and priests of many churches in far places, and came forth and moved in the world and lived as examples and taught well. It was no different now, this was a greater priesthood, in a way, she said, she inferred, she knew, and I was to be some small part of it, I would not be hers any more, I would belong to all the worlds, I would be all the things my father wanted to be and never lived or had a chance to be. . . .
“Darn rights, darn rights,” I murmured. “I will, I promise I will . . .”
I caught my voice. “Jhene — how — how will we tell Ralph? What about him?”
“You’re going away, that’s all, Chris. Tell him that. Very simply. Tell him no more. He’ll understand.”
“But, Jhene, you —”
She smiled softly. “Yes, I’ll be lonely, Chris. But I’ll have my work and I’ll have Ralph.”
“You mean . . .”
“I’m taking him from the ortho-station. He’ll live here, when you’re gone. That’s what you wanted me to say, isn’t it, Chris?”
I nodded, all paralyzed and strange inside.
“That’s exactly what I wanted you to say.”
“He’ll be a good son, Chris. Almost as good as you.”
“He’ll be fine!”
We told Ralph Priory. How I was going away maybe to school in Europe for a year and how Mother wanted him to come live as her son, now, until such time as I came back. We said it quick and fast, as if it burned our tongues. And when we finished, Ralph came and shook my hand and kissed my mother on the cheek and he said:
“I’ll be proud. I’ll be very proud.”
It was funny, but Ralph didn’t even ask any more about why I was going, or where, or how long I would be away. All he would say was, “We had a lot of fun, didn’t we?” and let it go at that, as if he didn’t dare say any more.
It was Friday night, after a concert at the amphitheater in the center of our public circle, and Priory and Jhene and I came home, laughing, ready to go to bed.
I hadn’t packed anything. Priory noted this briefly, and let it go. All of my personal supplies for the next eight years would be supplied by someone else. No need for packing.
My semantics teacher called on the audio, smiling and saying a very brief, pleasant good-bye.
Then, we went to bed, and I kept thinking in the hour before I lolled off, about how this was the last night with Jhene and Ralph. The very last night.
Only a kid of fifteen — me.
And then, in the darkness, just before I went to sleep, Priory twisted softly on his cushion, turned his solemn face to me, and whispered, “Chris?” A pause. “Chris. You still awake?” It was like a faint echo.
“Yes,” I said.
“Thinking?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
He said, “You’re — You’re not waiting any more, are you, Chris?”
I knew what he meant. I couldn’t answer.
I said, “I’m awfully tired, Ralph.”
He twisted back and settled down and said, “That’s what I thought. You’re not waiting any more. Gosh, but that’s good, Chris. That’s good.”
He reached out and punched me in the arm-muscle, lightly.
Then we both went to sleep.
It was Saturday morning. The kids were yelling outside. Their voices filled the seven o’clock fog. I heard Old Man Wickard’s ventilator flip open and the zip of his para-gun, playfully touching around the kids.
“Shut up!” I heard him cry, but he didn’t sound grouchy. It was a regular Saturday game with him. And I heard the kids giggle.
Priory woke up and said, “Shall I tell them, Chris, you’re not going with them today?”
“Tell them nothing of the sort.” Jhene moved from the door. She bent out the window, her hair all light against a ribbon of fog. “Hi, gang! Ralph and Chris will be right down. Hold gravity!”
“Jhene!” I cried.
She came over to both of us. “You’re going to spend your Saturday the way you always spend it — with the gang!”
“I planned on sticking with you, Jhene.”
“What sort of holiday would that be, now?”
She ran us through our breakfast, kissed us on the cheeks, and forced us out the door into the gang’s arms.
“Let’s not go out to the Rocket Port today, guys.”
“Aw, Chris — why not?”
Their faces did a lot of changes. This was the first time in history I hadn’t wanted to go. “You’re kidding, Chris.”
“Sure he is.”
“No, he’s not. He means it,” said Priory. “And I don’t want to go either. We go every Saturday. It gets tiresome. We can go next week instead.”
“Aw . . .”
They didn’t like it, but they didn’t go off by themselves. It was no fun, they said, without us.
“What the heck— we’ll go next week.”
“Sure we will. What do you want to do, Chris?”
I told them.
We spent the morning playing Kick the Can and some games we’d given up a long time ago, and we hiked out along some old rusty and abandoned railroad tracks and walked in a small woods outside town and photographed some birds and went swimming raw, and all the time I kept thinking — this is the last day.
We did everything we had ever done before on Saturday. All the silly crazy things, and nobody knew I was going away except Ralph, and five o’clock kept getting nearer and nearer.
At four, I said good-bye to the kids.
“Leaving so soon, Chris? What about tonight?”
“Call for me at eight,” I said. “We’ll go see the new Sally Gibberts picturel”
“Swell.”
“Cut gravity!”
And Ralph and I went home.
Mother wasn’t there, but she had left part of herself, her smile and her voice and her words on a spool of audio-film on my bed. I inserted it in the viewer and threw the picture on the wall. Soft yellow hair, her white face and her quiet words:
“I hate good-byes, Chris. I’ve gone to the laboratory to do some extra work. Good luck. All of my love. When I see you again — you’ll be a man.”
That was all.
Priory waited outside while I saw it over four times. “I hate good-byes, Chris. I’ve gone . . . work. . . . luck. All . . . my love. . . .”
I had made a film-spool myself the night before. I spotted it in the viewer and left it there. It only said good-bye.
Priory walked halfway with me. I wouldn’t let him get on the Rocket Port monorail with me. I
just shook his hand, tight, and said, “It was fun today, Ralph.”
“Yeah. Well, see you next Saturday, huh, Chris?”
“I wish I could say yes.”
“Say yes anyway. Next Saturday — the woods, the gang, the rockets, and Old Man Wickard and his trusty para-gun.”
We laughed. “Sure. Next Saturday, early. Take — Take care of our mother, will you, Priory?”
“That’s a silly question, you nut,” he said.
“It is, isn’t it?”
He swallowed. “Chris.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be waiting. Just like you waited and don’t have to wait any more. I’ll wait.”
“Maybe it won’t be long, Priory. I hope not.”
I jabbed him, once, in the arm. He jabbed back.
The monorail door sealed. The car hurled itself away, and Priory was left behind.
I stepped out at the Port. It was a five-hundred-yard walk down to the Administration building. It took me ten years to walk it.
“Next time I see you you’ll be a man — “
“Don’t tell anybody — “
“I’ll wait, Chris — “
It was all choked in my heart and it wouldn’t go away and it swam around in my eyes.
I thought about my dreams. The Moon Rocket. It won’t be part of me, part of my dream any longer. I’ll be part of it.
I felt small there, walking, walking, walking.
The afternoon rocket to London was just taking off as I went down the ramp to the office. It shivered the ground and it shivered and thrilled my heart.
I was beginning to grow up awfully fast.
I stood watching the rocket until someone snapped their heels, cracked me a quick salute.
I was numb.
“C. M. Christopher?”
“Yes, sir. Reporting, sir.”
“This way, Christopher. Through that gate.”
Through that gate and beyond the fence . . .
This fence where we had pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go . . .
This fence where had stood the boys who liked being boys who lived in a town and liked the town
and fairly liked school and liked football and liked their fathers and mothers . . .
The boys who some time every hour of every day of every week thought on fire and stars and the fence beyond which they waited. . . . The boys who liked the rockets more.
Mother, Ralph, I’ll see you. I’ll be back.
Mother!
Ralph!
And, walking, I went beyond the fence.
The End
What an absolutely wonderful story.
It means a lot to me.
And people, that's exactly how it was like for me to leave university as an Aerospace Engineer and enter NAS, NASC Pensacola Florida as an AOCS Aviation Office Candidate.
I well remember arrival at the airport and proceeding to the lobby where there was this enormously huge arrow pointing to this ridiculously tiny phone set in the wall. Telling me to pick up the phone and call the base.
Fictional Story Related Index
This is an index of full text reprints of stories that I have
read that influenced me when I was young. They are rather difficult to
come by today, as where I live they are nearly impossible to find. Yes,
you can find them on the internet, behind paywalls. Ah, that’s why all
those software engineers in California make all that money. Well, here
they are FOR FREE. Enjoy reading them.
Movies that Inspired Me
Here are some movies that I consider noteworthy and worth a view. Enjoy.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are
reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly
impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal
library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come
and enjoy a read or two as well.
My Poetry
Art that Moves Me
Articles & Links
You’ll not
find any big banners or popups here talking about cookies and privacy
notices. There are no ads on this site (aside from the hosting ads – a
necessary evil). Functionally and fundamentally, I just don’t make money
off of this blog. It is NOT monetized. Finally, I don’t track you
because I just don’t care to.
When I was a youth, in the 1960’s and 1970’s, one of the biggest treats that my father would give us would be a trip to one of the nearby “Army and Navy” stores.
We would hop in the car, and then ride for a spell (depending on the direction) from a half an hour to an hour and a half drive. We would stop along the way to get a soft-serve cone at Dairy Queen, and then spend an hour or so in the store.
They all looked pretty much the same no matter where you went. The nearest ones to us, at that time, were in other towns. We would actually have to cross the country line to get to them. At that time, I frequented a store in Butler, Pa., and another one further up North in Erie, Pa.
I guess that they are a fading American cultural fixture today. They can still be found. However, they are mere shadows of what they used to be. Today, surplus stores can be found in strip malls in the rough part of town or as stand-alone warehouse-style buildings. In the later case, they might be a metal pole building with a huge “Army and Navy” sign in huge letters (often black on yellow) with corrugated metal roofing and very few windows.
For a boy growing up, the world of the Army and Navy store was the first stop and a doorway to adventure. When we entered the building we encountered the world that we dreamed about. here were places with maps, treasures and tools. We loved going through the boxes and exploring the nooks and crannies of the store.
Of course, today they might not advertise themselves so openly. With all the politically correct nonsense, it makes sense to downplay your presence else an army of enraged “water buffalo” BLM females, or black clad SJW types might burn the establishment down.
Anyways, it’s true.
The Big Treat!
When I was a boy, one of the biggest treats that my father would provide for we was a trip to a “Army and Navy Store”. We would drive to the store and park on the street. A quarter would allow us to park the car for the entire day, so usually my father would just put a nickel in the parking meter. That would give us two hours of adventure. That was more than enough time for exploration.
Who knew what surprises awaited us?
Swiss army phone dialer. This was a portable unit, obviously. Don’t ask me how it worked as I haven’t a clue. We can only assume that it was used in conjunction with other gear of some type.
Today, there are still Army and Navy stores, and they still have the same layout and ambience.
When you walk in, your nose is met with that distinct army surplus smell: musty canvas mixed with metal and rubber. Flags hang from the ceiling — an American flag, flags from the different branches of the military, and of course a fine yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. There was always a “Confederate” “American Stars and Bars” flag, as well as the mandatory black MIA flag.
There will be racks and racks of clothing. Mostly uniforms and coats. There will be bins of shoes and socks. Webbing and just brick-a-brack that defies description.
Who knows what discoveries that await you at an Army and Navy surplus store/ You can find anything from Vietnam era boots to radio sets fight out of a B-52. It’s all yours for a price. It’s a boyhood adventure.
The Army and Navy Store
Every conceivable space in the store is filled with product. You’ll see bins scattered throughout the floor filled with gas masks, canvas duffle bags, canteens, and nylon combat belts. The shelves are jam-packed with combat boots, cargo pants, and helmets. And the coat racks are stuffed with pea coats and camo as far as the eye can see.
You would find racks upon racks of military clothing. Then, tucked in every imaginable nook and cranny, were boxes of unsorted clothing. Some in disarray, as if they came from a flea market. Others, nicely folded, but never used, as if they came directly from a warehouse or factory inventory.
Near the door would always be a glass counter and a display of the more valuable items. Inside the glass case, you’re likely to find antique military items like Nazi paraphernalia, guns used during WWI, and a plethora of knives. I always liked the “trench knives” that had a built-in set of brass knuckles.
Sometimes the Army and Navy store would be alone in it’s own house, while at other times it would occupy a store front in a seedy section of town. These stores were always quite unique and special.
You could always find compasses, maps, various metals, and all sorts of smaller brick-a-brack in these counters. There also, would be some fine cigarette lighters. Some old. Some new. Many would have military sayings or logos, but Harley Davidson, and the Southern “stars and bars” were always present and popular.
For decades, the army-navy surplus store was the go-to place for individuals looking to find a good deal on products to outfit themselves for camping or hunting. It was the place prepare for the apocalypse on the cheap, or simply pick up a stylish pea coat at a bargain price. For me and my classmates, it was a place of adventure.
For there, we could outfit ourselves for our next big exploratory adventure. Who doesn’t remember how the explorer’s outfitted themselves in the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth”? For us, the Army and Navy store was THE place to outfit ourselves for our next adventure.
While I don’t recall wheels and piles of hemp rope, they did have rope in smaller quantities. This would include nylon and various other woven types aptly suited for a Naval excursion on the high seas, or perhaps useful for constructing a tree-house ladder. You know, to keep the girls out of the “He Man Woman Haters Club”.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (also called Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth) is a 1959 adventure film adapted by Charles Brackett from the novel of the same name by Jules Verne. Göteborg’s widow, Carla (Arlene Dahl), who initially believed Lindenbrook was trying to capitalize on the work of her deceased husband, learns the truth of his secrets from her husband’s diary. She provides the equipment and supplies Göteborg had gathered, including much sought after Ruhmkorff lamps, but only on condition that she go along. Lindenbrook grudgingly agrees, and the four explorers and the pet duck are soon journeying into the Earth.
With the United States fighting in just about every obscure nook and cranny of the world (for reasons unrelated to National Security… but that’s a discussion for another time) there was such a glut of military surplus clothing and gear that Army and Navy stores were everywhere. It almost seemed like you could practically throw a rock in any direction and hit an army surplus store. They were prolific and played a vital role in distributing an over-abundance of government-issued supplies that accumulated during the last ten or so wars.
Outfitters for War!
After World War Two, the extreme excess of government-issued equipment (produced by America’s “arsenal of democracy”) combined to explode the growth and popularity of surplus stores. Indeed, huge amounts of wartime leftovers flooded the market.
Army and Nay surplus stores were filled with all sorts of military gear. You could get everything there. It was a boyhood dream.
Thanks to the United States’ significant involvement in the Vietnam War, army surplus stores were able to restock their dwindling WWII inventory with updated military surplus. If you visited a surplus store as a kid in the 1980s or early ‘90s, a lot of the stuff you saw was probably from Vietnam.
I know that that was the case with what I experienced. There would be a mixture of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War gear. In addition there was often a mixture of foreign military gear. I was able to pick up an Africa Korps pith helmet from World War II, and a French paratroop jumper camo cape.
Here is a military surplus desk combo. It includes a chair, a desk writing surface and some fine drawers. All designed for easy transport and quick storage.
To many, the period from after WWII and until the early 1990s could be considered the “Golden Age of Army Surplus Stores.” There was just so much stuff available, and it was so widely dispersed and easily accessible to the public. Instead of ordering something from a catalog, you just had to drive a few miles to one of the many surplus stores in your city.
You could get just about anything there. My brother picked up a World War two Morse code kit in a green canvas carry bag. Who knows the stories that it could tell? Was it dropped behind enemy lines and used by the French resistance? Was it a training device for British Naval saboteurs? Was it used to communicate the successful retaking of the Philippines? Ah, such secrets…
Typical selection of army and nay gear that you could get from a Army and Navy surplus store. One thing, you the reader probably don’t realize, is that these stores are common all over the world. They are available here in Communist China. You can get some great clothes dirt cheap, I’ll tell you what.
My good buddy ended up getting a trench shovel, and a flashlight that had a red lens cover on it. His younger brother picked up this set of dust google that looked like it belonged on the set of the “Rat Patrol” (a television show from the 1960’s). He wore them to the school, and for about a week he wore them every day (supposedly) in class until his teacher had to put his foot down and tell him enough was enough.
Tactical Parachute Shoulder Bag with Latch. Have a fashion-minded daughter? Give her this and see what she might do with it.
Speaking of fashion…
The “Bell Bottom” fad in the late 1960’s came in being precisely due to the popularity of the navy flared (bell bottom) jeans available in the Army and Navy. This was also true for the “Pea Coat” fad that floated up and around in the middle 1970’s.
For the longest time I wore a pair of “aviator glasses that I picked up when I was twelve. My brother, not to be outdone, bought some yellow shooter’s glasses. He still has them. I still go visit the establishments to pick up some cargo pants and gloves with the fingers cut off.
Who knows what vintage discoveries await the boy within the confines of an Army and Navy store. What is there? What elements of history awaits the boy who is ready for discovery?
Yeah. Army surplus stores still exist. You probably have one in your city. But it’s probably not the same kind of army surplus store you may have visited back when you were a kid. It might still have the smells and have the same kind of over all clutter, but something is missing…
If you’ve been to one recently, you likely noticed that fewer of the products they carried were actually “military surplus.” Sure, the stuff might look military-ish, but it was likely bought from a foreign company that manufactures military-ish products instead of from the U.S government, or even a foreign government.
Here is a nice German army shirt. You can tell by the tiny flag on the sleeve as well as the camo pattern. You can find all sorts of military gear in today’s army and navy stores.
Other stuff…
You’ll also see product in the store that you probably wouldn’t consider “military surplus” like work pants and shirts, consumer camping gear, etc. In short, what I am trying to say is that in today’s army surplus stores there’s less army surplus.
Two big factors are contributing to the decline of true military surplus products in the marketplace. These were, or course, [1] the changing nature of war in the late 20th century and [2] the advent of online shopping.
Polish field switchboard. It’s amazing what finds that be discovered when you venture forth into an Army and Navy surplus store.
While the United States is indeed busy fighting all over the world, how we do it has changed. (The US Military is currently fighting seven wars! Thanks to Barrack Obama.) No longer do we throw legions of troops in an engagement. Instead we use selection. We use skilled soldiers. We use drones.
Indeed, war has changed dramatically since Vietnam.
Instead of engaging in large-scale conflicts that require a draft with many millions of soldiers fighting on the ground, the U.S. military (in all branches) has shifted to a much more streamlined and surgical approach to battle — one that involves a smaller, well-trained, all-volunteer force.
Whether you purchase American military surplus gear or foreign military surplus gear, the finds will certainly surprise. Who knows what little jewels can be found amoungst the clutter?
For example, there were over 10 million American soldiers who served in Vietnam, while only 2.5 million served in the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because our most recent conflicts have required fewer soldiers, the military has required less equipment. Because the army requires less equipment, there’s less military surplus to go around to all the army surplus stores around the country.
But there are other reasons…
Companies that make military gear for the various alphabet agencies (IRS, CIA, FDA, FAA, ICE, DHS, etc…) supply Army and Navy stores as well. There, you can outfit your gear to include FBI tactical vests, light jackets emblazoned with the IRS logo, and all sorts of related gear.
That being said, 9-11 was a boon to the militarized police forces, and armed alphabet agencies. Now, every one from the NSA, FAA, FDA, IRS to the DHS and ICE require state of the art uniforms and gear. So while it might look like there as a dearth of “pure” military hardware, and a glut of cheap-Chinese knock-offs, that is just a reflection of the changing nature of the American government.
Today the emphasis is NOT on a large military force fighting in a far off land. Instead it is on a militarized collection of government agencies whose charter is on controlling the American population. It sounds harsh, but it is true. You just need to open up your eyes and take a gander. You can see this emphasis in the Surplus stores.
You can also read about how the United States government is busy stocking up on riot gear. You can read about it HERE.
Much of the gear found in Army and navy stores are representative of urban police forces and crowd control. Obviously all black uniforms are suitable for either the Nazi SS and Gestapo, the American IRS or the DHS. When fighting in a military theater, the best uniforms possess a camouflage pattern.
Compounding the shortage due to smaller, more limited military engagements is that — thanks to the internet — army surplus stores now have to compete with the government itself in selling surplus military inventory.
The U.S. government has an online store where the public can buy military surplus direct, thus cutting out the army surplus middleman and saving the buyer some money. Thanks to competition from the government’s direct-to-consumer sales, army surplus store owners have had to slash retail markups on their products from a plump 100% to a smaller 30-50%.
You can equip yourself and your loved ones with some pretty fine riot-gear. All you need to do is go to your friendly Army and Navy store and get some of their surplus population control gear. There are some great deals in batons, and protective padding.
The New World of Army and Navy Stores
Because of these two changes, the [1] streamlined wars and [2] the internet, the once robust army surplus store industry has taken a hit. There’s just less inventory to go around, and less money to be made in the business.
Who can forget the scene where Bruce Willis is in the Army and Navy store (or was it a pawn shop?) and decides to go after his tormentors. Ah, what a scene. As with the Kill Bill movie, the victor gets the truck (Pussy Wagon), or in this case the chopper.
To keep shelves stocked with military goods, even though there’s less government-issued military surplus available, stores have taken to importing military surplus “knockoff” products — stuff that looks like military surplus, but really isn’t. Instead it is equipment for urban riot control and police force use.
Some stores have shifted their focus from being military surplus dealers to antique military dealers. 20th-century military gear — once considered ordinary surplus — is now considered “vintage,” and collectors are willing to pay top dollar for these antiques. Army surplus stores that have been in business for awhile have used their networks developed over the years to become savvy peddlers of 20th-century military collectibles.
Never the less, if you’ve visited an army surplus store lately, you probably noticed they just aren’t what they used to be — that the quality and quantity of the selection of products isn’t the same.
But still…
These places are just fine for exploration and discovery. This is most especially true if you are a boy in your early teens. It’s an experience that all boys should be exposed to. (That and hardware stores, but that is a discussion for another time.)
Serbian Military Surplus Leather Magazine Pouches, 4 Pack, Used
These stores still exist, and the desire of boys to explore and go on adventures hasn’t at all diminished. I argue that we should feed this latent need of boys. As such, the exposure to an Army and Navy store is a must stop for all young Americans.
Conclusion
Time has a way of changing things. One of the treasures that existed when I was growing up was the presence of Army and Navy stores. I urge everyone to spend some time and enjoy a visit to one of the few remaining stores that exist in the United States. Who knows, maybe you can relive some forgotten boyhood dreams and share the experience with some close friends and relatives.
While today, I have little need for such items, I cannot help but be intrigued by them and coveting of many an odd item or two. I can’t help it. It’s the “pack rat” inside of me, not to mention the “Boy Scout” in me that screams “Be Prepared!” I am sure that one or two plastic mortar round cases might make a nice waterproof storage item for…
…things. I’ll find a use for them. You just wait and see.
Life & Happiness Related Index
Here is where you, the reader, can quickly go through key posts
related to the things that make our lives complete. This is an index. I
have arranged it so that the subjects can be easily searched for items
of interest. Of which “happiness” is the dominant theme. A tiny iconic
representation of the article is provided along with a short, sweet
summary. It is my hope that the reader find this of value.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this
post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss
growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with
the society within communist China. As there are some really stark
differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified
about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that
are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a
personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome
to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
Here, I would like to relate a little about what it was like growing up as a boy in Pennsylvania. For, I am a native born American who lived through the 1960’s and through the 1970’s. I am pretty typical for my generation. The 1970’s was the decade of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. It ended on a whimper with Jimmy Carter at the helm. Here we talk about the 1960’s and 1970’s and what it was like growing up at that time.
School
I attended elementary school. First I attended a private Catholic school in Connecticut, and then when my father was promoted we moved and I attended a public school in Western Pennsylvania.
This picture is pretty typical. It is not of my school, but could have well have been. Our teachers were from the 1950’s and 1960’s, and in hindsight, certainly looked the part. Most everyone in my class where white. Our favorite television shows included the Brady Bunch and the Flintstones.
Allowance
Before I started work, I was permitted an allowance. My sisters both received an allowance with no strings attached. Mine was contingent upon my successful completion of my chores, and usually meant that I would get “paid” after I mowed the grass on Saturday (shoveled the drive in the Winter).
We had a push lawn mower. My job was to push it. We had apple trees in the back yard, and I would gleefully mow right over those suckers, making apples sauce of many of them. The hornets did love those apples, though. You had to mow quickly or suffer the consequences. Yikes! The picture depicts a boy and girl working on the lawn. Nice picture, but my sisters never helped with my chores. I was taught that they were the “weaker” sex, and that I was the one that had to work.
As a kid, my allowance of $1.00 per week was given to me every Saturday afternoon after the grass was successfully mowed. The hardest part was deciding how to spend it and get the very most out of every penny. Of course, a trip to the corner store for candy always figured into the picture!
One of my favorite treats was Dubble Bubble – a hard piece of pink bubble gum that included a tiny printed comic tucked between the gum and the outer wrapper, all for just a penny. I remember my first experience with inflation – the day when the cost of a piece of my beloved gum increased to 2¢.
Oh, the tragedy!
Another treat was Dixie Cups. These were little plastic containers of vanilla ice cream accompanied by a small, flat, wooden spoon. They had a flat circular cardboard lid that I would pull off and lick the inside top off. They were available at the local candy store (an old soda fountain that was re-purposed as a kind of local Quickie-mart) called Swede’s. They were tiny – not more than a few bites, really – but we loved them.
I used to love eating Dixie cup ice cream. Here is an advertisement from the 1970’s.
The store was small. It had two counters. One, the main counter was were the 1950’s soda fountain was. It was all covered in canvas and unused. At least for maybe ten years. There was an old manual cash register there, and he sold cigarettes, and sundries there at the glass-topped counter.
On the other side was a long counter that resembled the kind of glass counters that you see today at butcher shops. There were shelves and shelves of candy there. We would go and point out this candy, and that candy. He would dutifully get then item, and put it in a small brown paper bag. Then he would carry it to the other counter and ring it up for us.
I will admit that the first thing that we did when we walked out the door was open up that little bag and start eating the candy inside. Heck, by the time we managed the walk home (from the store) most of the candy would be gone. Ha!
Toys & Sports
In the summer we would play softball on the side street (the traffic was really sparse in our town), and tackle football in any one of our many back yards. Basketball was also pretty popular, though I couldn’t dribble for the life of me. Sigh! We had a few class mates that had a hoop in their driveway. We would go there and play.
When I wasn’t playing sports, or “goofing off”, I liked to play “Spaceman” or “Army” with my other friends. I had a plastic “tommygun” that I would “shoot” the other kids with. We also had numerous toys that we would play with. Does anyone remember Spirograph, Silly Putty, Etch-A-Sketch, Doodle Art, Lite-Brite, Tinkertoys, or Magic Slate? How about Sorry!, Battleship, Clue, or Payday?
I used to play with Clackers (Klackers), but they were banned because they broke your wrist. I also used to play with Jarts, but they were banned because some kids got hurt with them. I used to play with Slinky, but they never lasted more than a few days as we would eventually twist and turn them into unusable junk.
Today you have fidget spinner gadgets, back in the 1970’s we had Clackers. We would go back and forth making such a racket with these bad boys. Not to mention using them to hit each other on the head with. Ouch!
Klackers came on the market in the late 60s and lasted into the early 70s.
They were constructed of two acrylic balls on a string with a ring or small handle in the middle.
The point was to get the two balls clicking against each other. If you got really good you could do fancy tricks with them, like build up momentum until they were hitting on the top and bottom in an arc . . . and make a hugely annoying racket.
Kids loved them and they became THE craze of
the summer of 1971. But doctors and teachers weren’t so impressed after a
frightening succession of serious Klacker accidents.
Unfortunately they allegedly had a nasty
habit of shattering or exploding in a shrapnel-like shower and were
promptly banned from every school in the western world – but kids all
knew it was really a conspiracy from grown-ups because they hated the
sound they made!
The similarity between this supremely popular toy and a South American hunting weapon called a bolo did not escape most teenage boys. In this capacity they proved extremely effective. After a nation outbreak of badly bruised arms and black eyes they were pretty much withdrawn from sale. – Nostalgia Central
Hair Styles
My mother sported large “bee hive” style hair, as did just about every mother. I was always trying to wear my hair long. You know, “Beatles” style. But, my father would have none of that. As a result my middle school popularity had it’s highs and lows determined by whenever my father hauled me off to get a haircut. When my hair was long, and thus fashionable, I was popular. When my hair was short, and thus unfashionable, I was ignored.
A selection of hair styles from the 1970’s.
I once mentioned this to my uncle who made fun of me and my cousins. Saying that we (snort!) would only care if the girls thought we were cute or not. Well, at our age, it really was important.
In Pittsburgh, where there was a population of negro folk, the hair was in various types of “Afros”. These tended to look like huge balls. Some were quite enormous. I always thought that it was pretty cool to have. They liked to drive these HUGE cars, Lincolns or other high-end vehicles, and would take extra care not to mess up their hair as they went inside the car. LOL.
Bottle Collecting
My favorite thing to do when I was around eight or nine would be to go “bottle collecting”. Here I would go into the local “woods” to dig for “old bottles” (in long disused trash dumps, often 100 years old) that I would then clean and collect.
We had a couple of “dumps” that we frequented. One of the best, with the most impressive bottles, was near the river next to an old railroad spur. It was the home of many a “whittle marked” bottle, old time bitters, and about a hundred thousand Lydia Pinkham bottles. (I guess that the local woman folk must have had a lot of “womanly” problems.)
Our parents let us kids go out and play.
“I used to puzzle over a particular statistic that routinely comes up in articles about time use: even though women work vastly more hours now than they did in the 1970s, mothers—and fathers—of all income levels spend much more time with their children than they used to.
This seemed impossible to me until recently, when I began to think about my own life.
My mother didn’t work all that much when I was younger, but she didn’t spend vast amounts of time with me, either. She didn’t arrange my playdates or drive me to swimming lessons or introduce me to cool music she liked. On weekdays after school she just expected me to show up for dinner; on weekends I barely saw her at all.
I, on the other hand, might easily spend every waking Saturday hour with one if not all three of my children, taking one to a soccer game, the second to a theater program, the third to a friend’s house, or just hanging out with them at home.
When my daughter was about 10, my husband suddenly realized that in her whole life, she had probably not spent more than 10 minutes unsupervised by an adult. Not 10 minutes in 10 years.”-The Overprotected Kid
As a kid, I would collect all kinds of junk. Not just bottles but all sorts of things.
Ah. My bedroom was a collection of old colorful bottles, scale models of tanks on shelves (and planes hanging from strings from the ceiling), as well as a quite a large collection of paperback books and comics. I had stacks and stacks of magazines. Magazines included “Lost Treasure magazine”, “Men’s Adventure”, “The Good Old Days”, “Mechanics Illustrated”, “Popular Science”, “Popular Mechanics”, “Mad Magazine” and “Analog”. In fact, the upstairs bathroom had a closet, and the bottom two shelves were devoted to all sorts of magazines and comic books.
Money and Costs
Things were cheaper then.
In fact, most things could be paid for using coins. If you ate at a
restaurant, you would rarely need to use any bills. Just a handful of
coins (from a coin purse) was all you would need. Indeed, my father
carried a coin purse and a money clip. Wallets didn’t really become
popular until the 1970’s. (When inflation had jacked up food prices to
obscene levels.)
Another picture from my graduation year. This is a group of strangers, but they could have well been from my High School. The photo was taken in October of 1977. Mid October in Pennsylvania was a breath taking environment. All the trees were changing color and the weather was perfect.
Clothing
I wore bell-bottom slacks and (butterfly collar) polyester shirts in very 1970’s colors. I also had a couple of striped v-neck velour shirts. Every September, at the start of the new school year, my folks would troop us kids into the car and we would get new clothes for school. My mother wanted us to have the most fashionable clothes. My father, being very conservative, wanted traditional and practical clothing.
My sister wore “Gypsy” skirts (brown cheesecloth with crocheted lace at the bottom), Maxi skirts, those jeans with two front zippers, elephant bells, and had both hats and purses made out of recycled jeans. She was a big fan of Donny Osmond as well as David Cassidy and the Partridge family.
Here is a more or less typical scene at a High School in the middle 1970’s. The only difference from this picture and my memories is that our school buses were yellow.
Polyester was the material of choice and bright colors were everywhere. Everyone in my class were wearing very tight fitting pants and platform shoes. By the time my senior year in High School rolled around in 1977, I was walking around I in a pair of rock-star high-heeled (side zip-up) stage boots.
Meanwhile, most of the girls wore these white high cut boots and low cut (hip hugger) pants. I did absolutely love the hip hugger jeans and the tight, tight, tight fit. This was, of course before the invention (or better yet) popularity of spandex.
Here is a photo of some High School girls taken in 1975. They are very typical. The photo was by their teacher who recorded school life during that time period.
By the time I graduated, in 1977, most of my teachers were sporting leisure suit and track suit attire. In pale greens, oranges and yellow flavors, of course. This fashion continued while I continued attending university.
I had a professor of the course “Man and the Natural Environment” who always wore the same light lime green leisure suit, day after day. It was a great class. We discussed how man is using up all the resources this planet has, and that unless we get control of our actions, a world-wide global cooling would result. Yikes! I, for one, did not want to spend my future life in the middle 1980’s inside a giant snow-cone. Burrrrr!
While the more “fashionable” and liberal professors were sporting trendy clothes, my Engineering Professors sported more traditional attire, with wide striped ties and polyester slacks.
The movie “Dazed and confused” accurately depicted what life was for the class of 1977 at the end of the Junior year in 1976. The clothing, styles and behaviors were spot on accurate.
Sandals were starting to be popular. Though my father refused to allow us to wear them unless we wore them with socks. I was constantly belittled for this. As all of my socks were white. So at the first opportunity, I got my self a pair of “earth shoes” and didn’t look back.
A lot of men were sporting large sideburns. I tried to grow some, but it looked terrible on my 15 year old face.
Fashion of the 1970’s. Here the girls wore a great variety of clothes from tight fitting jeans to long billowy dresses.
Mad Magazine
Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of my childhood was the Mad Magazines that I would collect. This was a satire magazine that I would absorb. It was filled with all kinds of articles, comics and things that would interest me (as a kid in the 1970’s). It contained things such as lick and glue stickers.
Mad Magazine. This was a satire magazine that I would absorb. It was filled with all kinds of articles, comics and things that would interest me (as a kid in the 1970’s).
Who can forget the “Spy vs. Spy”, and the gap-toothed idiot mascot Alfred E. Neuman, who famously shrugs and asks “What—me worry?”
I was of the generation of pimply atomic-age readers, and yes they were almost all boys, as I recall, and we absolutely loved this magazine. We ate up everything this magazine put out. We lapped up the “Spicy Abridged Book Club,” with its highlighted editions of God’s Little Acre and Heidi alike.
We roared upon learning that Beetle Bailey wore his Ridgeway cap over his eyes to conceal GET OUT OF VIET NAM! scrawled on his forehead. And, being from Western Pennsylvania, we completely howled with laughter over “Some Really Dangerous Jobs for George Plimpton,” e.g., swimming Lake Erie, his body smothered not with grease but penicillin.
Other Reads…
Depending on my age, I read voraciously. I would read everything from comic books to paperbacks, to magazines. My uncle gave me a huge stack of “Treasure Magazine” and his related collections of Argosy, True West, and Men’s Adventure.
I would sit there and read (for hours) about the discovery of buried treasures, found discoveries, and the history behind the lost treasures. Some stories concerned stagecoach robberies, other stories told about how Southern families would bury their family wealth to hide it from the Union troops during the Civil War. Yet, other stories would be concerned about how bankers would stealthfully steal gold from the locked vaults in their charge. Yet, not everything was about money.
Other stories concerned the discovery of guns and firearms found under a sagebrush, or the long discarded chest found in an attic or garage. My favorite stories were about the finds that a young kid such as myself would discover in a garage sale or antique store. This might vary from a lost ruby ring to a rare automobile worth millions.
Hiking in the Woods & Bikes
At that time in my life I spent a lot of time hiking in the woods. I would often ride my bike all over town and up and down the back roads and railroad spur lines. In the Spring the air would be fresh with the smells of lush forest canopy. In the Fall, it would be a time of warm “Indian Summers” with red and yellow leaves that would blow in the light breezes.
We would hike and explore the woods all around us. Often we would use railroad tracks, but any road would do. We would often use the old logging access roads where possible, and an occasional abandoned road that was no longer used.
We rode day and night. And, no, we did not wear head-gear, arm pads, knee pads or sunscreen. We were wild and free. If there was a loose board, we would prop it it up and race on the board so that we and our bikes would fly off into the sky. If there were any parents or adults nearby they would stand there and nod approvingly.
That’s how we were.
This style of bicycle was very popular with my generation. This is the “chopper” variant. Note the large rear tire, and the small front tire. Note the hand brakes, and the nice “monkey bar” handles.
I rode a gold Schwinn “banana seat” bike with “high bars” and a “drag strip” (non-tread) rear tire. Every one of my friends owned a bicycle. My sister had one with a white plastic basket in the front. My bike had these long streamers of plastic that plugged into the handles. I eventually tore those things off. But I would put a card (from a deck of cards) and attach it to the bicycle with a wooden clothes pin. That way my bicycle would make some “cool” sounds when I rode fast. It had a huge red circular red reflector on the back, right under the white “banana seat”. Like the GTO I would later drive when I was in High School, the bicycle was an orange color.
We would all ride bicycles when we grew up. Which is different than kids today. Instead, today their parents drive them from event to event, instead of expecting them to get there on their own. A 1970s childhood. (Image Source)
My bike was a personal selection. When my father took me to a store to pick it out, I chose a really simple and rugged model. There were no front or rear brakes on the handlebars. To brake, you would just use the pedals. There also weren’t any gears. There was one gear only. It came with a rear view mirror, that soon broke off, and that was about it. My friends all had more complicated bicycles, and over the years, they were perpetually repairing their bikes and trying to fix them. For me, I never had that problem.
We would ride these bikes. Ride and ride them all day. If, in the event we did not have a canteen with us, we would stop and get a drink out of a nearby well or lawn hose.
It’s true, I often drank from a lawn hose in the summer when I was thirsty. It tasted like warm plastic.
If I was off away on a farm, or near a dirt road we would stop at a
well and get a drink of spring water. At sometime in the 1960s all wells
in Pennsylvania had to be covered up (so that no one would fall into
them). Instead the placed these large iron hand-pumps (often painted red
of green) that you could pump the water up and drink. The water was
free to whomever needed it. Which is so unlike today where even common tap water is bottled by Walmart for a profit.
All the hills around Pittsburgh, Pa. were mined for their coal, and iron ores. Additionally, the hills were treated as renewable resources and logged. Often, as a boy, I would ride the railroad tracks that would be used to transport coal up and down Western Pennsylvania. I would also hike and ride on the logging roads that existed all over Pennsylvania.
I was typical, and not a “bad boy” at all. When my friends started to
smoke cigarettes, I refused. When I started to work, and was offered
beer by the older boys, I drank and soon discovered that I was a “light
weight” and numerous embarrassing events ensued. My friends chewed tobacco and often had a can of “chew” in the back pocket of their jeans (often creating a round circle of wear). I didn’t do this.
Cub Scouts
I was a cub scout up until I entered my teenage years. Every week we would attend meetings in the homes of one of the scout mothers (called “Den Mothers”), and they would help us work on our “badges”, and get ready for the various events. These events included picnics, hikes, plays and social get togethers.
We would proudly wear our uniform during parades, or on holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. We would salute the flag in school and lead the Pledge of Allegiance at school in the mornings. (Big change from today, when you have multi-millionaire NFL stars refusing to stand for the US Flag. I find it completely reprehensible and disgusting. But, then I am from the “old school”.)
One of the first things that I got when I joined the Cub Scouts was a
blue uniform. I well remember my mother teaching me how to put on my
yellow scarf. In addition, I got to have my very own hand axe. It was a
Rite of Passage for me. Here at seven years old, I could carry a hand
axe. I was taught how to use it to cut trees, and how to throw it (just in case I might come across some desperate Indians…).
My
first axe was given to me when I was a cub scout. I used it throughtout
the 1960s and 1970s. I learned how to throw it, and how to use it. It
was a rite of passage of all young boys. A boy’s first axe. (Image Source.)
While I went to elementary school in the 1960’s, it was my
experiences during the 1970’s, which influenced my personality. Indeed,
it is my feelings and experiences that reflect that period in time.
My Sister would Skip Rope
While I was doing all this, my sister would spend hours… and I do mean HOURS. Yes, hours, upon hours, upon HOURS were spent playing what Wikipedia calls Chinese jump rope but which my cohorts and I knew as Chinese skipping.
This was a game played mostly by girls – each of whom had their own set of elastics – though I do remember that every now and then some neighborhood boys might joining in on occasion.
Chinese skipping involved an elaborate set of routines and rules, some of which were made up as they went along (“tag, tag, no erasies!”). I could never figure out all the rules. Also, apparently the presence of “good elastics” (not too thick, not too thin, and just the right amount of tension) were highly coveted treasures.
Walking the Train Tracks
One of the big hobbies at that time was to follow the various spur-lines that snaked in and out of the hills. I grew up in the hills of Western Pennsylvania and there were rail lines all over the area to support the transport of iron, coal, and iron ore. Along each road was typically an access road.
We would often explore the surrounding countryside by riding our bikes or hiking in the woods. The easiest way to access the woods was to follow the train tracks.
The lines would typically follow the valleys and rivers of Western Pennsylvania. They would snake along the curves of the hills and dash in and out of tunnels that were cut in the many hillsides.
We would often place coins on the tracks and let the trains flatten them into a long oval.
Typically, we would hike with a branch that we had chopped using our trusty cub scout hatchet, or cut clean using our blue cub-scout knives. We would walk on the top of the rails and sometimes use the walking stick to support us. We’d kind of get attached to that hiking stick and bring it home with us. However, it was soon discarded and rarely used again.
Scene from the movie “Stand by me”. It accurately depicted our boyhood adventures in the 1960’s and 1970’s. We would often explore the countryside by following the train tracks.
My one friend Dino always carried a boy scout canteen. It was a circular affair. It looked like two pie tins welded shut, with a black plastic cat at the top. It was typically draped over his shoulder and hung off his back. I, on the other hand, had a surplus World War II canteen. I got it at the local Army and Navy store. It was an aluminum canteen and it did leak. But it held a lot of water, and I certainly needed it. Drinking from the acid-laden streams wasn’t really an option.
Rail line in Plum township near Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania. The rail lines all around my “stomping ground” looked much like this. The lines often followed the water.
Scale Models
One of my favorite hobbies was the building of plastic models. These were often of ships, airplanes and military hardware. I made a few models of cars, but my favorites were of military tanks and figurines.
I had a desk in my bedroom. It was an old desk inherited from my father with four drawers. I used a fold-up “card table” chair to sit at it with. On it was a 1940’s style desk lamp that my parents must have pulled out of the garbage at some time. I had books on the desk, a “multiband” radio where I could listen to FM radio, and a pencil holder made out of a decorated metal coffee cup tin.
At that desk, I would assemble, build and paint my models. It was an enjoyable pursuit. The desk faced the window in the bedroom, and I would often have the windows open, but the shade drawn down about half way. The shades were in the old 1960’s style and were meant to last. They had this kind of “life preserver” style ring hanging on a string that you could pull down to raise or lower the shade.
I needed the fresh air, as the odor from the glue was toxic and would tend to get me all flustered when I used it. I remember once, that my sister was watching her television show and they were really pushing the Rigley Chewing Gum-gum-gum… Rigley chewing gum-gum-gum commercial. It must have been running every ten minutes. I was about going out of my mind with the combination of the toxic glue odor and the subliminal programming of the chewing gum. Ugh!
The airplanes I would hang from the ceiling with string. I would display my collection of tanks and military equipment on shelves alongside my collection of centuries-old bottles. (I was an avoid junk collector and was always on the lookout for discarded bottles that I would collect from ancient trash dumps in the nearby forests.)
I collected Tamiya 1/35 scale military hardware models. I had quite a collection of German vehicles and tanks. At that time, the Japanese model maker Tamiya made the best quality models. They had an innovative introduction process that added new model to the collection every few months.
This is a model of the German Tiger I tank. I had numerous models of this massive beat in various scales. I even had one so complete that the interior was all detailed.
Alas, when I graduated from university I discovered that my mother had thrown away all of my models. She didn’t want all the clutter in the house. I guess one person’s treasure is another person’s trash.
Slang
If you were fortunate you could get a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Mine always seemed to be at a different school district. Good thing…in hindsight. Here’s a groovy couple chillin’ out.
We used a lot of slang that has since become obsolete. The terms “groovy” was mostly used by kids only a few years older than us. As it was being phased out by the time I started to attend High School.
There was a tendency to say “you know” at the end of every sentence, and that just about drove my father off the wall.
Some examples are below…
Dig it – Means you really liked it. It was super groovy.
Groovy – Means very cool.
Cool – Means very nice.
Nice -Means very good.
Good – means “meh”.
Far Out – Means that you dig it and then some.
Outta Sight – Means that it was so far out that you couldn’t see it any more.
Zonked – Means that you are very tired.
Munchies – Means that you are very hungry.
Sock it to me! – Means give me some more.
Catch you on the flip side. – Means I will see you when I get back.
Bogart.‘Bogart’ meant to hold on to a joint too long without passing it– the origin comes from the actor, Humphrey Bogart, who had an iconic style of performing an entire scene with a cigarette dangling from his lower lip for an extraordinarily long time with ‘cool’ effect.
It was a much simpler time. We were all permitted to spend time out of the house. In fact, it was expected. It was a rare person indeed that spent a lot of time at home with their parents. They not only encouraged us to “go out”, but expected it.
So, as a result, we ran a little loose and crazy. We did things that would give parents today heart-attacks, and would probably get people arrested. Those goofs in the movie “Dazed and Confused”, breaking mail boxes, or throwing bowling balls were all part and parcel of growing up. That’s how we rolled.
We were a very care free generation. We were not policed. We had a substantial amount of freedom compared with kids today. We just had fun, played around and got into trouble. That was what it was like.
I’d guess that it was pretty non-politically correct. However, we were just kids. We got into all sorts of trouble. Yet, it was just harmless fun. Today, things have ratcheted up to such a level that just being a white male can get you thrown in jail. Legions of BLM and SJW’s patrol the social media, and people are afraid to be themselves. I guess that is a progressive “paradise” for you.
Me, however, I just want to be left alone with my family. I want my cat on my lap and my dog by my side. I just want to eat my burger and drink my beer in peace.
Anyways… I am the direct result of my childhood. If you don’t like it, you can write a protest blog entry and post it up on Facebook so you and your metro-sexual friends can commiserate together.
Scene from the movie “Dazed and confused”. This film took place in 1976 and described accurately the life in High School at that time. For I too, was a graduate of the class of 1977.
Our Idols
When I was younger, I followed the adventures of Man from Uncle, and watched Gilligan’s Island. As I got older, I started to find new interests in such role models as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. (Arnold Schwarzenegger did not become a movie personality until the 1980’s.)
Eventually, I started to get really interested in girls.
My bedroom was decorated as any boy of my my age would have. It was festooned with models and collections of brick-a-bract and posters on the wall.
I had a poster of Farah Faucett on my wall. She was smiling with this amazing smile, and her huge hair. We all had a crush on her. That as well as Loni Anderson and Rachael Welch . Look at her!
How can you not smile?
Farah Faucett was every 1970s boy’s dream. Just about everyone had a poster of her on our wall or doors in our bedrooms. Farah Faucett was every boys’ dream. (Image Source.)
I had numerous posters on my wall. One was the mandatory “black light” poster on velvet. (It glowed under UV light.)
One was a picture of Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) performing a guitar solo. (I had super imposed a F-14 on it for combined imagery. After all, space and high-performance aircraft and rock n’ roll was my dream.) I, at that time, was a big Robin Trower fan. I liked Traffic, Uriah Heep (come on! Someone must remember them) and Three-dog Night. Of course, Alice Cooper was the top star of my generation. The songs “18” and “School’s Out” ring a bell?
Raquel Welch was another popular actress that graced the bedrooms of many a boy during the 1960s and 1970s. (Image Source.)
Let’s not forget other television personalities. I had a real liking for Loni Anderson. She was the blonde haired secretary at the radio station WKRP in Cincinnati.
WKRP
I became a fan of Loni Anderson in her role in the television sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”. I think many of my friends did as well. We loved her and watching her on the show was always a highlight. That and the clueless manager who ran the office.
Loni Anderson played the role of the attractive secretary in the American sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”.
The Cars
Eventually, I was able to drive. Oh baby, that was a turning point in my life, I’ll tell you what.
This photo was taken in 1977 on High School property by Joseph Szabo. Obviously the guys had a special attachment to their cars.
This was at the age of 16. As such, I like many of my friends, would get a job. With a job came responsibilities and privileges. For instance, while the law said that I was too young to drink, my parents permitted me to do so. Because, once I obtained a job, I was a man.
Along with that benefit, I now obtained a paycheck. For me, along with many of my friends, took the paycheck and spent it on our car(s). (As well as a portion towards college, beer, and social-herbs…heh heh.) Ah, not to forget the gasoline for the car.
Gasoline prices were raising. It was so frustrating. While we were used to 25 cents for a gallon of gas, it soon climbed up to 30 cents, and then keep on raising. We were very upset about that. I well remember my father writing a letter to our Congressman to “do something” about it. (As if it would have made a difference.)
My first car was a GTO. I spent all my money on it. My other friends had other vehicles. We would get tires, mufflers, carbs, and decorate the interior with shag carpeting, and a “kick ass” sound system.
Conclusion
This was just some stories about my life growing up. Unfortunately there are very few related stories on the internet. In contrast we can find all sorts of stories about the “hardships” of growing up in the 1960’s. We can read about the injustices against minorities, and about how the nation was broken and needed to move “left” to straighten it out.
It’s a comfortable narrative for the uneducated. However, it isn’t even remotely true. The true realty is something completely different. This is my story. Like it, or hate it. This is the way it was.
No, we didn’t wear helmets, and arm pads when we rode our bikes. yes, there were bruises and an occasional broken arm. Yes smoking was against the law if you were under 14 years old, but we did it anyways. We didn’t die from it, though many had to either quit or seek medical attention. It was our choice. We defined our life.
We defined our life. We did so on our terms. It was our bodies and our lives. We did not need someone to tell us how to behave or act. Though there were hawk nosed busybodies that tried. We made the decisions on our own lives. Not some elected overseer who told us what we could or could not do. And that, boys and girls , is the true lesson of this narrative.
Americans used to be free. It is in our nature. We deserve liberty and freedom. We are the generation that knows what freedom meant. Maybe, judging from the current state of affairs, the LAST generation that experienced it. And, this was our story.
Thank you.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this
post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss
growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with
the society within communist China. As there are some really stark
differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified
about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that
are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a
personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome
to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
Here I would like to discuss a long standing dream that I have had since I was a small boy; the possession of a large roll-top desk complete with a multitude of tiny drawers, cubby-holes, and spaces for all my personal junk and treasures. I have had this dream for a long… long… long time. With that in mind, let’s discuss this work of art; this magnificent idea and concept of the roll-top desk.
During the last century, the idea of a Roll-Top desk was appealing and very popular all over America. Many American homes had these styles of desks and throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s they faded into obscurity. There was a brief revival of Roll-Top desks in the 1980’s and then they have been forgotten as overly expensive and extravagant items of furniture. This is unfortunate, because every man should have a Roll-Top desk.
Here’s a fine roll-top desk. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. It’s a beautiful work of art.
The first time that I encountered a roll-top desk was a very long time ago. One of my friends had inherited it from his father. It was in his bedroom and he would work on his various projects at the desk. He had this kind of glue with a rubber top that you could use to spread glue on paper and make scrap books with .
"I believe that glue is called muslage; I don't see it for sale anymore. Really dates me, eh? if I know what *muslage* is. LOL"
During my childhood, we all used this kind of glue. My friend had it in his desk. We made posters with this. It was fun.
He also had a punching bag in his basement and we would try boxing. Ai! At such an early age! Heck! We were only in second grade, for goodness sakes. It was kinda goofy at the time, but our fathers both thought that boxing was something that all boys had to learn.
What is a Roll-Top Desk?
A roll-top desk is a large desk with drawers and a top compartment that possessed a rolling cover that could cover and lock the contents of the desk in place. This desk was made out of wood, with the vast majority of the wood being hardwood. Under the protected roll-top working area, there were all sorts of smaller drawers, and compartments for the user to store things in.
Antique roll-top desk from the 1930’s. Instead of a modern reproduction, this desk sports small handled mini-drawers, pigeon holes, top, pencil drawers, and ledger spaces. Note the four drawers on both sides of the pedestal base, and the central desk drawer.
History of a Roll-Top Desk
The roll-top desk appeared just as the industrial revolution was getting started. At that time, small armies of clerks and office workers were needed to support the various duties of the factory. This included everything from managing inventor to handling the large number of workers at the factory.
The desk was designed in such a way that the top could be pulled down and protect the work from being disturbed. At that time, the office workers would be engaged in work that involved large numbers of papers and documentation. It was impractical to put every thing away at the end of the day and pull them out at the start of a new day. So the roll-top desk was invented.
Here is another antique roll-top desk. Again, please pay attention to the mini drawers and pigeon hole compartments. The rolling cover and it’s path is clearly shown. What is not shown is the most excellent swivel chair that would go with the desk.
Further, there was a need for specialized compartments to hold various office stamps, pens and papers, and folders. This created the various styles that had miniature drawers, shelving, compartments and side pockets.
A roll-top desk is the perfect place to store such things as drafting supplies. here is a nice set of drafting supplies that hadn’t made it’s way (yet) to the trash heap. With a roll-top desk, it could be stored safely and elegantly.
This item of furniture was the mainstay of the small or medium-sized office at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
Antique Roll Top Desk made sometime between 1900 and 1950. I personally think that there is an over abundance of drawers in the desk. They are mostly all of the same size. However, different people have different needs. Aside from that, this desk has a leather mat writing surface, and some very small mini-drawers for keys and minor items. Note that this desk has sides that are on hinges. They can be swiveled out of the way for an unobstructed work area.
In the working industry, it eventually was phased out and replaced by more durable and cheaper (mass produced) steel desks. Additionally, the idea for filing cabinets, and “flat files” came into being that would (firstly) augment the compartmentalized sections and ledgers of the roll-top desk, and secondly the determination that the roll-top desk did not fit in the modernized image of the state of the art 1930’s Art Deco decor.
These desks could often be found in various small offices, and homes throughout the 1970’s. Over time they were often left to fall apart and rot. Today they are generally rare, with some small-build reproductions floating around here and there. You can find them occasionally at antique dealers and in selected flea-markets. Aside from that, they have pretty much disappeared from the social scene.
This antique roll-top desk has some nice compartments and nice style. It fits the grand criteria for a roll-top desk. I especially like the “mail box” slatted chubby-holes in the center.
Features
These desks had numerous features that made these desks very special. I personally believe that these features are often overlooked in our modern society – one that has an over reliance on cloud computing and storage.
While there are world-wide variations of this desk. Most roll-top desks are strictly American in design and function. Here we can see some of the important elements labeled and identified for the reader.
These features are;
Large, deep, and wide pedestal drawers, with compartment slats.
Pull-out “bread board” panels on both the left and right sides.
Wide and deep working area.
A selection of small “square” pigeon-hole areas.
Some desks would have small cabinets or closets (some with windows).
A man needs a drawer to place his little treasures in. He can store the things that matter to him, and the papers and documents that he must maintain.
A number of horizontal pigeon-holes for papers.
A number of vertical pigeon-holes for journals and log-books.
Small mini drawers, each with a metal knob and a slot for a label.
A slat for holding rulers, drafting triangles, or cardboard folders.
Here’s a nice vintage desk drawer. Notice that it has a movable tray compartment, and is made out of good solid hardwood. No fake plywood or particle-board construction here. Also note the beautiful grain of the wood and the overall appearance. Wonderful!
Medium size mini-drawers, often with a plain knob for pens, and miscellaneous tools. Sometimes lined with green felt backing.
The roll-top top, often made out of slats that can be locked in place for privacy and security.
A grand “middle drawer” that would have a wooden carved “tray” for pencils, erasers and paperclips and the like.
Here are some details that can be found on various roll-top desks. I particularly like the leather mat writing surface, though many people simply would purchase a felt mat and place it on the surface. Note also the side pull-out “bread-board” feature. Often people would place lists of important phone numbers, addresses or codes on these boards, and pull them out when they needed to refer to something.
Accouterments
These desks would often be paired with this low swivel chair. Often with a cushion and wooden arm-rests. It would also be paired with a nice desk mat. Some desks had a leather writing surface, while many did not. In that case, a person would go to the hardware store and purchase their own writing mat.
Here are some interesting details that can be found on certain roll-top desks. This includes compartments inside the writing surface and pencil trays in one or more of the main desk drawers.
The writing mat was often leather with a felt surface. The most popular was green. A “banker’s” lamp, with a green shade, and a brass base was also often employed. Though, Tiffany lamps, and lamps with cast designer bases were often employed.
Here is a fine vintage oak wood office chair. It is on a swivel base and has wheels to move around in. Note that it has a small leather cushion, though many chairs did not have this feature. It’s a fine chair just about made for ta roll-top desk.
Material
Early roll-top desks were built of heavy woods such as black walnut, and small local companies might choose from a variety of local hardwoods. There are many hardwoods that were used.
This roll-top desk has a working and writing surface that can be pulled out and makes for a larger working area. Notice the top of the desk as well. It can support lamps and even a shallow cabinet or bookcase.
Most popular toward the end of the 19th century, close-grained oak was often quarter-sawn, or cut to promote a particularly even grain, reducing the possibility of warping and increasing durability.
At one time, these desks were made with care and concern for the overall appearance of the desk. Wood was selected carefully and cut with care and precision. the end result was a work of art.
Mahogany, teak and cherry also appear in old desks, but from 1900 on, most desks were oak. A desk made from cherry after 1900, for example, would have been a special order or the work of a local craftsman.
Here is an antique “Banker’s lamp” with a Tiffany Art Deco inspired shade (instead of the traditional green glass shade). It’s certainly beautiful.
Why a Man Should Have a Roll-Top Desk
I well remember the exact moment when I fell in love with roll-top desks. My father needed to get or renew his insurance for the car. This was in the late 1960’s. At that time we had a Buick Electra. And, we were trading it in for a 1966 Lincoln Continental.
Man! I sure wish that I had this car today. I’ll tell you what. This is a 1966 Lincoln Continental. It was black with a black interior. (So hot in the Summer.) But we loved that car.
So he went over to the local insurance agent in the town. We lived in a small town at the time, and he was a friend of a friend. So dad went into his office. It was a cluttered office next to a tire dealership.
We walked in. There was centuries of dust and clutter there. Inside was this amazingly enormous man. He was built like an elephant and existed there in a state of decay and confusion. He seemed to blend in with all the clutter, piles of paper, stacks of dusty junk, dusty Venetian blinds, and the ancient Art Deco fan that was providing the much needed air flow in that tiny cramped and cluttered office.
He sat there smoking a cigar, with a largish (green plastic) AM radio playing a baseball game in the background. Next to him was a cigarette stand. You know the type, it was a metal pedestal with a handle and a large glass tray in the center. The ash tray was filed with the ashes of many a well smoked cigar.
He sat at this enormous roll-top desk, and offered me a “Orange Crush”. When I said “sure”, he flipped me a quarter and told me that there was a pop machine around the corner…
There is a certain beauty in a roll-top desk. It is a place where a man can put his stuff. As a boy, I enjoyed the idea of a place where I could put my stuff and collectables at. At that time, I had a a small wooden cigar box that I held my “treasures”. But an entire desk…now that would be awesome.
In his office was a roll-top desk. This was not just any roll-top desk. It was enormous. I am not at all exaggerating. I haven’t seen anything like it since. This desk was easily the size of our dining table. Not only that, but that tiny office had two of them. They dominated the room, and on them was the clutter of years.
I just sat there amazed. I just looked at the amazing array of cubby-holes and mini-drawers. I loved that desk. I just sat there and soaked it all in. I listened to the baseball game and sipped on my soda.
The meeting lasted maybe two hours. My father signed some papers and then we left. On the way out, I asked my father if we could have a desk like that. He just chucked.
A roll-top desk is the ideal place to store your much needed desk supplies and paperwork. Instead of all the clutter, it can be positioned within easy reach for the user of the roll-top desk.
“Why do you want such a broken down piece of junk?” he asked. I just shrugged.
We walked to the car and then went and got an ice cream. But, while I never mentioned it again to my father, secretly inside, I always wanted to have my own roll-top desk.
Much later…
I was in Ridgecrest, California. I was in training at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center for my MAJestic role. At that time, I was living on Dolphin Avenue, in a small housing development. My neighbor, who also worked on the base as a contractor, just happened to have a roll-top desk that his girlfriend bought him.
I loved that thing. Sure, it was a reproduction. And, it was not a full-size desk. But, it still was pretty darn cool.
I think that the reason why I have always liked the idea of a roll-top desk was the idea that it had spaces and compartments for all my stuff. I would, over the years collect junk, papers, writings and bits of flotsam that had meaning to me, but would eventually get lost in the detritus of the house. Probably eventually collecting in dusty boxes in remote corners of the garage. Sigh.
But, if I had a roll-top desk… well, now it’s a whole new ball-game. I could store my prized fishing lures in one place, and my precious treasures in other spaces. Of course… being much older, my desk might look a little bit like this rather than my boy-hood dream ever was…
As a man get’s older his tastes change. I lost many of my boyhood treasures over time. Now my needs and passions are much simpler. So, yes, I probably don’t NEED this kind of desk. yet, wouldn’t it be grand to have it to keep some prized whiskey or smokes?
Conclusion
A personally think that having a big roll-top desk would be awesome. It would be a place for my brick-a-brack and clutter. I can well imagine a selection of pens and pencils in the various drawers, and indexed compartments full of my various treasures. I could some of my few remaining baseball cards, and my small collection of bottle openers. Not to mention a fine jewelers loupe and electricians scissors. With them I could place my small nine inch metal rule, and a few calipers.
What ever. All men need a place to keep their personal junk and a roll-top desk fits the bill quite nicely.
Free Republic Posting
This article was published on Free Republic on 16DEC18. The posting and the comments can be found HERE.
"I have one of these steelcase desks that I got from a VA hospital that was dumping them. I love this thing but my wife hates it. In a nuclear detonation or earthquake you could hide under it."
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this
post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss
growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with
the society within communist China. As there are some really stark
differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified
about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that
are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a
personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome
to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
From the late 1990’s until around 2001, the Internet was “rocked” by the sudden appearance and subsequent disappearance of a Mr. John Titor. This person claimed to be a “time traveler” by using inter-dimensional travel.
He posted his thoughts and opinions on numerous time travel BBS.
He was rapidly dismissed as a hoax, in unity, by all the major debunking organizations, and his posts mysteriously disappeared off the Internet. Since then, all the sources that he posted on all found that their files related to John Titor were all corrupted and could not be reclaimed.
That was the case for over a decade.
Then, in 2014, a number of private individuals managed to piece together independently saved dialogs relating to John Titor. They constructed numerous websites that hosted these reclaimed dialogs, and posted them on the Internet for others to view.
Presented here are recovered posts from the Internet collected in 2014. This posting concerns the TTI BBS board. As John Titor posted on numerous “time travel” boards. Metallicman posts 5, 6 and 7 concern a different BBS.
It is not known if any posts have been deleted or altered. They are presented as they were found by the author. These posts are independent from the other collections presented on this website previously and includes information not presented elsewhere.
Important Warning
The information within this series of posts are speculative. I have no factual information if this John Titor is what he claimed to be. It is presented herein as the only (or maybe, one of the only) sources that claim to be associated with the vehicles that pop in and out of our reality from time to time.
He was, as far as I know, never associated with MAJestic in any way.
Original John Titor Posts – Part 8 – Transcripts D
Here are the original John Titor posts from the TTI Board. Obtained from HERE.
This thread has been saved from the TTI board. It no longer exists on that board because the administrator said it became corrupted and they had to delete it. This thread it is here only for archival and historical purpose and for your reading enjoyment.
TimeTravel_0 is John Titor.
John Titor dialog is in normal text, text by others are italicized. Metallicman corrected spelling and some punctuation to make the text easier to read and understand. For unedited text, please refer to the source.
John Titor dialog is in normal text in brown color, text by others are normal.
When referencing other non-Titor questions, green color is used.
Purple color is for non-related text.
Metallicman comments are in red color.
TTI Board Introductory Statement(s)
This is the introductory statement on the TTI board. As the reader can tell, it makes all kinds of interesting statements in accordance with conventional understandings of reality. However, reality is not as what is conventionally understood. Therefore, most of what is presented is just simply nonsense.
Time-travel Paradoxes!
Author Topic: Time-travel Paradoxes!
Paul (Paul Member posted 23 October 2000 05:14)
THE PARADOXES…
If you went back in time and visited your granny during her ninth birthday don’t kill her! Because if you put a gun to her head and pull the trigger she could not have given birth to your mum. YOU certainly were never born…
Therefore you could not have killed anyone as you never existed. Now this means your granny couldn’t have been killed by you. She didn’t die nine years old. This permits you to be born.
If you were born could you go back and kill your granny? No, not your real granny. This general idea has been used in Back to the future. Marty nearly stops himself from being born when he prevents his parents from falling in love.
[The reader can plainly see that this entire scenario is based on the single premise that there is only ONE reality, and that it is SHARED. As such, there is an "arrow of time" that flows in one direction.
This premise is terribly flawed as that is not how the universe works.
However, for archival purposes, we will elect to continue to follow this narrative to see how Mr. John Titor jumps in and enters in this dialog.- Metallicman]Solving The Problem
1, You simply can’t change history meaning if you go back in time you have no free will (as shown in Twelve Monkeys, Crime Traveler etc.) Events will get in your way if you try to kill your granny. YOU CAN’T DO IT.
2, When you so-called change history you’re actually moving up a different branch in time into another universe. The previous universe (where you were born) still exists. When you fire the gun you’re really killing another version of your grandmother.
3, Any actions you make in the so-called past has no affects on the present. It’s a different time-line universe.
The laws true solutions don’t present real time-travel as you go into another world.
Conclusion
We can’t simply use the grandmother paradox to rule out time-travel claiming it causes logical inconsistencies. We need to look at all the possibilities.
The author, Paul, then goes forward with his ideas on building a “time machine”. So that a person who inhabits a “shared ultimate reality” can move forward and backward along the entropic path…
How could we build a time machine?
The mathematics of general relativity suggest that under extreme conditions space-time might become so warped it would be possible to travel back in time. There is also the possibility of tunnels in time created by negative mass.
[1] Very long rotating cylinders of matter-proposed by Frank Tipler
[2] Kerr’s spinning black-holes since most stars spin this becomes worth looking (proposed by Roy Kerr).
[3] Cosmic strings-(as Richard Cott suggested)
[4] Traveling faster than light – would take us back in time(as suggested by solutions to relativity). Wormholes might allow us to outpace light (if you walk through the short cut quicker than light through conventional (normal) space.
[5] Tachyon -are sub-atomic particles which always travel faster than light and therefore move back in time constantly. They have not yet been found and remain hypothetical.
[6] Contracting Universe- Time might then be running backwards but since everything else also would it’s unsuitable.
[7] Macro-wormholes(Kip Thorne showed how we could use it as a time machine).
Now, of course, all these “solutions” are ingenious and curious. But they are all faulted. As they rely on a universe the DOES NOT EXIST. There is no such thing as a shared universe. There are actually individual realities that are occupied by an individual consciousness.
Never the less, let’s continue with this fiction…
time – paradox
Paradoxes
Grandfather paradox
Suppose you could go back in time, lets say several decades and found your grandfather when he was two years old. In his house you could grab a knife and stab him to death.
He doesn’t get the chance to have children with your grandmother.
Therefore either your mother or father doesn’t get born.
Your parents can’t give birth to you because one of them don’t exist.
You could never have been born and don’t even exist.
But could your grandfather have been killed by someone who doesn’t exist? He must have lived through his childhood. This would allow you to exist if this is the case. Seemingly you can go back in time to commit the murder if you are born but then you would never have been born. And so on and so on. This situation is not consistent with itself. It doesn’t make sense and can’t possibly happen.
So, then the author; Paul, continues and offers solutions to this faulted narrative. Since the basis of his understanding is terribly in error, the solutions seem to be problematic and contentious.
Solutions
1, You simply can’t change the past. Time will stop you limiting your freedom while you’re in the past from your point of view. This puts the concept of freewill in serious danger especially if you tell people what’s going to happen to them in their future. If you believe when you go back in time you are from one possible future from everyone else’s point of view they can simply go up any root in time they want.
According to quantum physics Many Worlds theory there are a huge amount of universes where every possibility occurs between them all. In some you’re the opposite sex. In some you won the lottery etc.
[It's things like this that drive me so frustratingly crazy. Yes, the MWI (the Multi-Worlds Theory) does exist and it is a reality. However, don't use it and apply it to your falted understanding of the universe. It replaces what you consider the universe to be.
Instead of one shared universe with a direction arrow of time, that somehow the MWI offers alternatives to...
We have the MWI alone. A consciousness sits within one of an infinite number of realities. Using the proper techniques, you can move about these realities. To the consciousness it may appear that we are traveling in and out of time and in and out of alternative universes. -Metallicman.]
You might be heading towards the universe you originally came from before you traveled back in time. Everything will happen the way you remember it. But all the people you meet are free to decide what they want to do and enter a different universe. Since it’s not possible for you to be there you disappear from their lives. Meeting a time traveler from your future could therefore be very strange.
2, A parallel universe might be created when you seem to change the past. Imagine if time itself was just like a tree. The different branches show different ways events could have happened. Every time we decide to do or not to do something time splits. Even if we are not aware we decided something it have affects. Quantum physics reveals a many worlds theory like this.
In the movie series “Back to the future” this situation is illustrated plainly. Here, we see the Doctor explaining this kind of divergence on a blackboard to Marty.
He continues using this faulted reasoning…
Conclusion
Since this parallel universe is not really your past (despite it’s first appearance) anything you do there does not affect you. You can prevent a version of yourself from being born because you are not really related to anyone there. They just look very like your family and friends. You are not home! You may be somewhere that looks like the place you live but a different universe in quantum physics is a completely different reality.
[Yes, it is not really your past.
Firstly, you are in a new world-line. If you occupy a new body that conforms to that reality, you would inherit the new scars, hair styles, aches and pains, and memories of the new "you". Right?
As such, you would have no memories of your prior world-line.
But that is NOT what happens.
Firstly, memories are retained in the quantum sphere that lies OUTSIDE of our reality. Thus, your consciousness can occupy any new body and look and act the same, but your old memories would be retained. So if you enter a world-line where everyone speaks Russian, and you came from a world-line where everyone spoke English, you would be in for a big shock. You would not be able to speak Russian.
Now, the good thing is that the migration from one reality to another is natural. It is the way our universe actually works. We consider it the "arrow of time". Every moment we move from the "old" reality to a "new" reality depending on our thoughts. (As well as the thoughts of nearby consciousnesses.)
My MAJestic ELF and EBP machinations through the Oxia Palus facility artifice operated this way, except it utilized seventh dimensional egress technology. MAJestic empowered the <redacted> to have autonomous control over my reality switches in exchange for advanced technology.
My consciousness occupied a new body and inherited a new situation that my old memories would have to adjust towards.
Now, the 5th dimensional egress portal operated differently. Here, we have a transport device that perfected time and geographical transport. Through utilization of this device, it would be possible to enter new world-lines where you could conceivably meet yourself, and alter that timeline.
While this is the entire argument that the John Titor saga, and this particular section of the narrative is all about, it has been my experience that meeting yourself (two "you's" in one reality) is a trivial condition and easily avoided.
As such, it lends me to disbelieve the John Titor story... Except his description of his machine is indicative of a fairly crude mechanism. Which then leads me to reconsider... Oh, well. -Metallicman]
3, No matter what you do in what is really a parallel universe you will do back to your previous universe which is not affected by your previous actions. A space-time wormhole could lead you back to your original unaffected universe.
What came out of the wormhole if the ball never went into it?
Another common example of a paradox is a ball that goes through a wormhole connected with a moment in the past. Therefore it comes out of the other space-time wormhole mouth actually before it went in! Then what might happen? If the ball then hits it’s younger self out of the way of the mouth then it never goes in. But if the ball never did go in the wormhole then how can it ever come out. The existence of the older version of the ball is destroyed i.e. it never falls back in time. But then this version certainly can’t hit the younger version out of the way. So it must go into the wormhole as a collision with it’s older self is evidently the only force that could and did stop the ball from entering the wormhole. This of course is unexplainable and is logically inconsistent.
[Which should tell you a lot about the faulted understanding of our universe. But NO! It is just ignored as a "problem" with the logic in the understanding. People, we need to listen and think.
The first thing we need to do is throw away the outdated and obsolete understanding of what our universe it. Our assumptions are wrong and results in many dead-ends for scientific pursuit. -Metallicman.]
Continuing with the TTI introduction…
But the situation could happen differently to allow it to become self consistent.
1, What if after the ball comes out of the wormhole at an earlier time it does hit it’s previous self but this collision is what makes the ball fall into the mouth in the first place! It hits the other version into the mouth. This would imply that the past or present is affected by the future. In fact in this case the past is dependent on the future.
2, The ball might simply hit it’s other self only slightly so the direction of the ball is not altered enough to cause a paradox.
3, The ball might just miss it’s younger self.
Nature might protect time and prevent paradoxes. From theories and many stories it’s clear that paradoxes cannot happen in the real world.
[This is getting silly. Paradoxes are what occurs when our understanding of reality does not match the true reality. -Metallicman.]
The author continues…
Other types of paradoxes
In the terminator movies John had something important to tell Sarah. Thank her for her help through the hell. Tell her not to give up or he will never exist.
Who wrote the speech?
John certainly didn’t write it. He was told it since he was a kid from Sarah who could remember it. Sarah just recalls what Kyle told her in 1984. Kyle just remembered what John told him to say.
Obviously there are many misunderstandings of what our universe is, what reality is, and how our soul and consciousness interacts with Heaven.
Conclusion
No one wrote it. It exists somehow but not by John, Kyle or Sarah being creative. No one had to write it because it was created by the affect the future on the past had on each other.
If I in 2000 study the history of work done in a private factory and learn about the development of a time machine! Their scientists worked from designs and plans noted in a book (never published)they used. They had no idea how to achieve such technology until they read it.
Then to experiment with temporal(time) paradoxes I am sent back to 1983. The entire building has not even been built as I arrive. Later accidentally I meet one of the scientists and talk to him. When I hear how excited he is I hand him that book which he uses future success. The answers! He is more than willing to read and use the book.
But who came up with the idea of how the time machine is built?
Not any of the scientists as they just followed instructions in that book.
Not me as all I did was hand a scientist a book. No one actually wrote the book and no one had to work it out.
Is this allowed by physical laws?
No one really knows…
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Paul Curran from Co Derry, Ireland
[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 12 January 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 23 January 2001).]
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After that introduction by Paul Curran from Co Derry, Ireland, we see the activity on the TTI BBS…
NoTime unregistered posted 23 October 2000 13:06
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There is no grandfather paradox in the multiverse scenario. In a multiverse, your grandfather’s multiple histories included many in which he was not murdered and many in which he was murdered.
Those many histories in which he was murdered included some involving different male or female murderers who killed him. It’s possible that you were one of those murderers in one of your previous lifetimes or incarnations.
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SHADOWshadow unregistered posted 24 October 2000 22:37
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Paradox can’t hold a candle to “twinadox”. That's when you time travel back and MARRY your grandmother and become your own grandpaw. What if you had a twin brother and the THREE of you all show up one day, wich one is the other you? How do you know that there shouldn’t be four of you and somebodys missing? Cheesh man!! I’m going to get some sleep, and try not to read this thread next time…er wait a minute, on the other hand………the me in a paralell reality may infulence me to change my mind………….
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1.21 Jiga-watts unregistered posted 25 October 2000 16:05
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Let’s get away from traveling to the past for a moment. Let’s look at what was made popular in Back to the Future pt 2, where Marty sees his son, or his girlfriend sees herself.
It cannot happen!
If you left time, you would be considered ‘missing’, or dead. The truth is, you don’t exist from the point in which you lept forward in time. You therefore cannot see yourself, or your son, because you stopped existing at that point in the past where you left.
Is this a proper paradox? Is there any reasoning I am missing that says you can see your future self?
Look forward to responses.
1.21 Jiga-watts
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NoTime unregistered posted 25 October 2000 16:32
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True. If you leave this time, you will not be here until you return. But, if you are alive in the future as you were alive in the past, then you could visit yourself because you are there. Your present self is different from your past or future self. This definitely applies to the past because you know you lived in the past and if you can go there, then you can visit yourself.
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Crono Member posted 25 October 2000 17:52
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I think there is two ways to look at this Jiga Watts. The first one is where you can actually change the past so it effects the future. If you were presumed dead in the future, then you could go back to the time right after you left and nothing would have been changed. However if you leave again, it will just be the same as before.
The second one is where you can’t change the past, and you’ll only be creating a parallel universe. What used to be your future is now your present, and since what used to be your present is now your past, you can’t change the past, so you’ll still be presumed dead at when you left off. And so you can still go back in the past and live there as usual, you won’t be changing the future.
I think that’s how those theories go.
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Paul Member posted 26 October 2000 06:27
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It is very interesting what would happen if you left the present and reached the future. In The Time Machine the time travelers asks about himself and people claim he went missing when he left on his journey through time.
It seems like an BTTF2 Marty was taken away in 1985 so his kids and everything couldn’t exist in 2015…
But the existence of his kids might just be evidence that they will later return to 1985 to do all those things! This would imply that everything they are going to do have already been decided!
It became clear the the future is NOT set as Doc claimed the future hasn’t been written yet. So how could they travel into what does not exist? Even when Marty went to 1955 he must have been from the future from some people’s point of view?
The future they traveled to might just have been one possible future! In the quantum many worlds theory there are an infinite amount of futures where every possibility occurs…
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Paul Curran
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Cocurious unregistered posted 26 October 2000 08:16
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In response to 1.21 jiga-watts. If you go into the future and see yourself, then by rights you will succeed in whatever you are doing in the future, and make it back to the present. If you don’t see yourself, then one could assume that you never made it back to your own time in the present.
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NoTime unregistered posted 26 October 2000 13:22
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In some probabilities, you traveled to the future and made it back, in others you did not make it back. In some probabilities you are alive in a future time and in others you are not alive. A multiverse contains all possibilities and all combinations of possibilities.
If you can travel to the future, you can meet a future self or not, depending on which probable future you go to.
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NoTime unregistered posted 26 October 2000 13:27
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…also, in a multiverse containing all possibilities, you can’t change anything because whatever changes you try to make are already there as one of the possibilities.
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1.21 Jiga-Watts unregistered posted 30 October 2000 09:53
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Thank you all for your responses. It’s a fascinating discussion, to be sure, and one that seemingly has endless possibilities.
I’m pretty set on the paradox I raised, however. It just doesn’t seem possible that you can see your future self.
I’ll check in every now and then. Continue in your hypothesizing!
1.21 Jiga-Watts
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OK. Here’s where John Titor popped in to join in the discussion…
TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 02 November 2000 01:16
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Wow! Paul is right on the money. I was just about to give up hope on anyone knowing who Tipler or Kerr was on this world-line.
By the way, #2 is the correct answer and the basics for time travel start at CERN in about a year and end in 2034 with the first “time machine” built by GE.
Too bad we can’t post pictures or I’d show it to you.
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No Problem!!…….”Wherever you go, there you are, and I’ll be waiting.”
p)’i4q4
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[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 19 November 2000).]
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Pamela Member posted 02 November 2000 05:48
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TimeTravel_0-
Guess what? You can put pictures on Doc’s board… we would like to see it.
here is the URL: http://pub2.ezboard.com/bmagisystems
Im sure he would be more than happy to post the picture for you. He is the moderator for the montauk section on this web site.
Look forward to seeing your picture!
thanks,
pamela
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 02 November 2000).]
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 02 November 2000 08:55
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Is there a site where I don’t need to register personal information to post pictures?
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Pamela Member posted 02 November 2000 12:26
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Time travel_0-
I am registered on Doc’s site.
you can send it to me and I will post it for you.and if you want you can always set up a new e-mail account and only use it once.
There may be a site where you could post the picture with no info but I personally don’t know of any. because of what people would put up with no accountability.
any other info you give will remain confidential . besides your IP address is already logged on this forum when you post. I’ll help you out if you want. or you could just e-mail Doc yourself I'm sure he would put it up for you without registering. just explain the situation to him. I feel he is very trustworthy. Actually he posted someone else's picture anonymously that claimed he built a time machine. his name was “director”. that's it.
sincerely,
pamela
pamela2@raex.com
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Dymenzionz Moderator posted 02 November 2000 14:53
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What the Hell’s a jiga-watt?
(gigawatt)
🙂
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 02 November 2000 18:27
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I’ll be happy to send them to you and answer any questions you may have.
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Pamela Member posted 02 November 2000 19:09
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Time Travel_0- “confirming”.
Dymenzionz- HI!!!!! Good to see ya back!
sincerely,
pamela
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Pamela Member posted 04 November 2000 05:24
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TimeTravel_0-
your pictures are posted as promised and can be found here:
http://pub2.ezboard.com/bmagisystems
click on the topic- timelords anonymous
and it is titled: anonymous gravity/time device pictures.
sincerely,
pamela
THANKS DOC!
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 04 November 2000).]
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Pamela Member posted 05 November 2000 03:29
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Questions for timetravel_0 with permission to post.
Pamela:
by the way can you tell me what it feels like to time travel? when you are in the process of doing it what does it feel like and what do you see and hear. you made mention that you had to get use to the fields. Do you see a bright flash of light?
Timetravel_0:Interesting first question. The unit has a ramp up time after the destination coordinates are fed into the computers. An audible alarm and a small light start a short countdown at which point you should be secured in a seat.
The gravity field generated by the unit overtakes you very quickly.
You feel a tug toward the unit similar to rising quickly in an elevator and it continues to rise based on the power setting the unit is working under. At 100% power, the constant pull of gravity can be as high as 2 Gs or more depending on how close you are to the unit. There are no serious side effects but I try to avoid eating before a flight.
No bright flash of light is seen.
Outside, the vehicle appears to accelerate as the light is bent around it. We have to wear sunglasses or close our eyes as this happens due to a short burst of ultraviolet radiation. Personally I think it looks like your driving under a rainbow.
After that, it appears to fade to black and remains totally black until the unit is turned off.
We are advised to keep the windows closed as a great deal of heat builds up outside the car. The gravity field also traps a small air pocket around the car that acts as your only O2 supply unless you bring compressed air with you. This pocket will only last for a short period and a carbon sensor tells us when it’s too dangerous.
The C204 unit is accurate from 50 to 60 years a jump and travels at about 10 years an hour at 100% power.
You do hear a slight hum as the unit operates and when the power changes or the unit turns off. There is a great deal of electrical crackling noise from static electricity.Pamela:
1. what are some of your memories of 2036?
Timetravel_0:I remember 2036 very clearly. It is difficult to describe 2036 in detail without spending a great deal of time explaining why things are so different.
In 2036, I live in central Florida with my family and I’m currently stationed at an Army base in Tampa. A world war in 2015 killed nearly three billion people. The people that survived grew closer together.
Life is centered around the family and then the community. I can not imagine living even a few hundred miles away from my parents. There is no large industrial complex creating masses of useless food and recreational items. Food and livestock is grown and sold locally. People spend much more time reading and talking together face to face.
Religion is taken seriously and everyone can multiple and divide in the heads.Pamela:
2. can you send me more of the manual?
Timetravel_0:I will considering it but I do not expect they are worth anything to most people except as a curiosity.Pamela:
3.what would happen if you would meet yourself on another world line?
Timetravel_0:It has always surprised me why that concept is so hard for people to imagine and accept. Nothing would happen.
The universe would not end and there are no paradox problems that threaten existence.
Temporal space-time is made up of every possible quantum state. The Everett Wheeler model is correct.
I have met and/or seen myself twice on different world lines. The first was a training mission and the second is now. I was born in 1998 so the other “me” is 2 on this world line.
There is a saying where I come from….Every possible thing that can happen or will happen has already happened somewhere.Pamela:
4.How is this world line different from your own?
Timetravel_0:For starters….the fact that I’m here makes it different.
I’ve also noticed little things like news events that happen at different times, football games won by other teams…things like that.
I would guess the temporal divergence between this world line and my original is about 1 or 2 percent. Of course, the longer I am here, the larger that divergence becomes from my point of view.[You start with 1-2% divergence, and stay for three years, are involved in Y2K, and post on an Internet chat forum or TWO. Yeah, you will really cause some divergences. You can bet on it. - Metallicman]Pamela:
5.Is the vehicle a jeep?
Timetravel_0:No…its a 1967 Chevrolet..Pamela:
6.Are you having normal dreams right now? any out of body experiences? drawing you to different times? Do you dream you wake up in other places and other times?
TimeTravel_0:No strange dreams or other experiences. Everything is pretty much the way I expected it.Pamela:
7.are you able to control where you go or is it random?
Timetravel_0:Yes, it can be controlled. However, the distortion unit has operational limits.
Imagine your path through time is through a cone. The farther away from the center of the cone, the more differences you will see in the world line.
The C204 begins to “break away” at about 60 years. This means the level of confidence drops rapidly after 60 years of travel and the world line divergence increases.
In other words, if I wanted to go back 2000 years and meet Christ, there is a better than average chance I would end up on a world line where he was never born.
The computer units and gravity sensors “record” your trip and you are quite easily able to return to your point of origin. I am aware that research is being done on faster units with more accurate clocks. I imagine that they will be able to go back farther with a higher degree of divergence confidence.Pamela: 8.
are you feeling drawn back to your own time or are you stable in this world?
Timetravel_0:I’m not sure what you mean by stable. If you mean mentally…there are many things that bother me here but being with my parents right now is important to me. Physically, the only thing really wrong is the number of colds I get.Pamela:
9.Are you able to go back to your own world line?
Timetravel_0:Yes.Pamela:
10.how are you protecting yourself from radiation? it alters DNA if you dont.
Timetravel_0:I’m not sure what radiation you mean. If you mean from the unit, you can see it vents X-rays and Gamma radiation out of the rear. As long as you stay away from that, you should be okay. I keep a radiation detector with me to check my environment and make sure the unit isn’t “leaking”.Pamela:
11.How long would you say that ultraviolet radiation lasts? about 10 seconds? and when you are in that light can you see anything around you or does the light kind of “fill up” everything and that is all you can see at then time?
Timetravel_0:The light bending only lasts a second. Its like driving under a tunnel and being in total black.Pamela:
12.Do your people know where you are right now? Can you communicate with them? do you have a biological implant?
Timetravel_0:No. They do not know where I am and I can not communicate with them.
Interesting idea though. From their point of view, I will return almost exactly at the same moment I left. From their viewpoint, I will only have aged more than expected.Pamela:
13. after the flash of light is gone are you then in another time? What does it look like as the new time unfolds? Is it just there? or does it slowly come into view? does it fade in and out for a time?
Timetravel_0:While the machine is on. Everything is black. When the machine is turned off, it is the reverse affect. It appears you are driving out from a bridge. To tell you the truth, I’m usually sleeping when the unit turns off but yes…it does appear that the world fades in from black.Pamela:
14. what happens if the device messes up? Do you end up in space? if it goes offline and shifts ? does a hole open elsewhere?
Timetravel_0:Good question!!! That one almost never comes up.
The hard part of traveling through time is not the bending of gravity but the plotting of your course and holding to the basic “position” in your environment.
This is done through a system called VGL (variable gravity lock).
Basically, the unit takes a reading of the local gravity and samples it during the “trip” in pulses. If the gravity is too far off, the unit stops or reverses itself to the last sample period where the readings were correct.
If there is some sort of failure, the unit shuts down and drops out to where ever you may be.Pamela:
15. what affects are caused on the immediate area where the gravity has been distorted after you leave it and when you arrive? are there permanent effects left on the land such as electromagnetic disturbances in that area?
Timetravel_0:Another good question!!! The only real physical trace is a large chunk of ground missing from the point of origin and a large pile of dirt at the destination. The gravity field surrounds a small portion of the earth under you and takes it along for the ride. There is really no way around this.
Please feel free to post these if you wish.
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Shadow unregistered posted 05 November 2000 20:08
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Pam, did you ask about going forward in time? Do you need an invite from a future traveler? Where did MR. 0 get the ’67 chevy?
Bringing chunks of ground along with you as you casually rewrite the history of entire worlds? I guess that's why Docs’ Delorian was fitted with levitation equipment, to make a fast get away from angry property owners having to fill and grade every time he time jumps.
TimeLine 2015; STOP THE PRESSES!! 3 Billion Killed!!! Oh the presses are already stopped? Now if he time traveled *before* the planet was pulverized it would be a bit more believable.
Does Mr. 0 work for GE? Maybe he owns some GE stock. Speaking of stocks we could all use a hot tip from the guy that already knows who’s going to be the next Cisco, Coke or Microsoft.
Most importantly why would Mr. 0 want to talk the likes of us?
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Draco2 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 08:59
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Hey TIMETRAVEL_0!!
That’s a very interesting experience you are describing!! I have one question for you, and that is in regards to the climactic of the earth in 2034, had the polar ice caps melted, as they are now doing at an accelerated rate in this current time.
[This poster is asking about Global Warming. - Metallicman.]
Sincerely, Draco
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 09:04
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In response to Shadow:
Perhaps it’s a bit easier to understand why time travelers do not revel themselves.
Yes, you can travel forward in time. No, you do not need an “invite” from the future. I first saw the car in 2036. The idea was to find a vehicle that would not draw too much attention for the time period. Unfortunately, there were not very many suitable vehicles around in 2036 and I sold the car when I arrived in 2000.
You do not rewrite history.
I can only affect what happens here just as easily as you can. Why do people in this time period worry so much about time traveler’s destroying their world line when they have no problem doing it themselves every day?
My goal is not to be believed.
Most people do not take news of the war very well but I find that everyone believes it’s inevitable. Even in your own history, are not great inventions and discoveries made during a time of war in your effort to kill and main in new and more efficient ways?
No, I do not work for GE or any other company.
Are “stock tips” really the first thing you want to know about in the future? As a representative of your time period, do you realize what that says about you? You should probably know that this time is not remembered for its selflessness, charity or ability to work together.
Why would I want to talk to you?
Why don’t you believe you have something interesting or worthwhile to say to someone in the future?
Mr. “O”
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 09:08
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To Draco:
No, the ice caps are not melting any faster than they are now. There is also far less smog and industrial waste in 2036.
[In his home world-line, there is no evidence for Global Warming. - Metallicman.]
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Draco2 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 10:28
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Hey TimeTravel_0!!!
So then what you’re saying is that our current computer models are wrong about Glacial and Polar Ice Cap melting, even though they are going by our current emissions rate and projected emissions of the growth of fossil fuels consumption??
While Global Warming is factually happening and even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today and stopped destroying the rain forests today, the impact that is already altered our planetary climate would not stop today as the ball is already rolling.
The toxins in the ozone layer and the earths lessening inability to create oxygen, due to the catastrophic daily destruction of the rain forests that give us most of our oxygen, would take longer than beyond the year 2036 to repair itself, even with our help.
I find it amazing that if you throw a WWIII into the equation, one devastating enough to cause the death of 3 Billion people, would not add to the acceleration of Global Warming and raise the sea level to the point where in 2036 most of Florida will be underwater. Help me understand what reversed this impending climatic catastrophe..
Sincerely, Draco
[This poster has fully bought into the Global Warming hoax. He laid out his concerns and reasoning. He is asking for an elaboration on the answer from John Titor. - Metallicman.]
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Janus Member posted 06 November 2000 14:01
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Ok, Mr. 0 . First things: you have to realize that people will be hostile toward you when you make such a big claim. What reason have we to believe you? But, enough thought experiments occur here anyways, so…
I don’t think any era in history has been particularly noted for its compassion or selflessness. Why should we be any different?
Ok, so why not give us stock tips? You said you weren’t worried about polluting the timeline, right?
As for rewriting history, the normal objection is causality. But, if you use multiple-universe theory, then it’s all good. My question is, how do you get back to your proper universe – you said you’re very close to your family – how come another jump wouldn’t just send you into some third, different universe?
And, finally: what happens if you go back in time to a time when, right where you were standing, there was a giant cement block? Do you just appear inside of it and die? Or do you get pushed away?
Thanks,
Janus.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 16:43
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To Draco:
You asked about the North Polar ice pack. I never said the environment wasn’t a problem. Doesn’t water expand when it freezes? If the polar ice cap melted, wouldn’t sea level go down? I don’t know if there’s enough ice for this to make a difference and I’m not an expert on global warming.
Mr. “0”
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 06 November 2000 17:26
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To Janus:
Yes, I realize people become hostile. I don’t expect anyone to believe me and I have nothing to sell. I take no offense by it. Just out of curiosity, if you were a time traveler, what do you think it would take to get people to believe you?
I suppose we could agree that no particular era in history is famous for its development of humanity but just once I would like to hear questions like,
What is family life like in the future?
How does society deal with poverty?
Is AIDS, abortion and drug use still a problem?
Why don’t I give you a stock tip? The money you make would dilute the intelligence and forethought that a smart person had in picking the stock all by themselves. If I told you how to get rich, I would be taking money from them and giving it to you.
Getting back to my “proper” universe is tricky but possible. Yes, another jump would take me to a different family.
Cement block…good question. The hard part of traveling to other world lines is just that. There is a system of clocks and gravity sensors that sample the environment before dropping out. Its called VGL, (variable gravity lock). If a cement block were there, the machine would “backtrack” until it sensed relative congruity to the original gravity sample. A great deal of time and effort goes into picking just the right spot since you can not physically move during a displacement.
Mr. “0”
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Pamela Member posted 06 November 2000 22:13
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posted with permission:
TimeTravel_0-Greetings:
Please keep in mind a couple of points as I answer your questions. First, I am not a physicist. “Time travel” is only a tool that allowed me to do my job 1975. Most airline pilots are probably not aerospace engineers.
Second, let me give you an example of the position we are in. Imagine you live in the year 1900 and a “time traveler” attempts to explain how a jet engine works. Even though the invention of the airplane is only a decade in the future, he would have to find some frame of reference to explain the basics of flight. Then, he would have to outline the mechanics of how the engine works. As amazing as it would sound, the jet would be invented about thirty years later.Pamela:
1. can you explain to me in detail the basic physics and mathematics behind how the machine operates? and exactly how it distorts gravity.
Timetravel_0:1) Time travel is achieved by altering gravity.
This concept is already proven by atomic clock experiments. The closer an observer is to a gravity source (high mass), the slower time passes for them. Traveling at high speeds mimics this effect which = the twin paradox of faster than light travel. However, this type of gravity manipulation is not sufficient to alter your world line.
The basic math to alter world lines exists right now. Tipler first described a working “time machine” through his theory of massive rotating spheres. I apologize for the web site but it was the only one I could find quickly.
http://www.geocities.com:0080/Area51/Station/5763/time.html
Certain types of black holes also exhibit the “time travel” abilities of Tipler cylinders. Kerr was one of the first to describe the dual event horizons of a rotating black hole. As with Tipler’s cylinders, it was possible to travel on a “time-like” trip through a Kerr black hole and end up in a different world line without being squished by the gravity of the singularity.
http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall98/ast1002/section4/blackholes/fig11-13/fig11-132.htm
http://qso.lanl.gov/~bromley/nu_nofun.html
http://www.leonllo.freeservers.com/blackworm.html
http://www.astro.ku.dk/~cramer/RelViz/text/geom_web/node4.html
(deleted)……………………………………………….
The mass and gravitational field of a microsingularity can then be manipulated by “injecting” electrons onto its surface. By rotating two electric microsigularities at high speed, it is possible to create and modify a local gravity sinusoid that replicates the affects of a Kerr black hole.
For those asking how come a microsingularity doesn’t swallow the Earth or want to know details about the size, stability, mass, temperature and resulting Hawking radiation from such a thing.. those details I must keep to myself.Pamela:
2. can you travel to the future as well as the past? my understanding of the machine is the trip is recorded so you can get back to your original time line but what about a future beyond your time line are you able to access it as well? or does it have to be open by a future chrononaunt?
Timetravel_0:Yes, you can travel into the future and it takes less energy than going into the past.Pamela:
3.I don't see the computer in the device. is it the hand held device on the side of the larger device? If so what kind of power supply does the computer work off of is it the battery as well or some type of crystal?
Timetravel_0:The computer system is connected to the unit through an electrical bus. There are actually three computers linked together that take the same signals from the gravity sensors and clocks. They use a Borda error correcting protocol that checks the integrity of the data and trips the VGL system.Pamela:
4.Is your DNA remaining stable in this world or does it shift? does time traveling affect your body or aura or spirit in any way you know of?
timetravel_o:4) I am not aware of any physical change to my DNA or “aura”. I do however seem to be more susceptible to colds.Pamela:
5. when you go back to the future will we remember you?
Time travel_0:Yes, you will remember me if you want to. World lines do not change that way and I will only become a insignificant part of your history.
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 06 November 2000).]
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Fast Member posted 07 November 2000 15:42
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mm..General Electric built a time machine for the government?
or are time machines so common in the future that there makes and models are as commonly varied as our age’s car models..?
Fast Out
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 07 November 2000 17:18
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I would equate the “future” GM distortion units to their current jet engines. The first one worked great but they can always make it better.
The C204 unit uses 4 cesium clocks. The C206 uses 6 cesium clocks but they use an optical system to check the oscillation frequency. This makes the world line divergence confidence much higher.
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Shadow unregistered posted 07 November 2000 21:01
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Time Traveler-0
If you could bring some material thing back to your time in 2036 what would it be?
Could I travel to a future that was, say 0.5 seconds ahead of now? In the same vein, if you just happened to arrive at “the year 2000″ a fraction of a second in my past, or future would I ever know that you just ‘landed soon by”? In other words, what makes this time line be ‘now’ at any given moment versus being any other time. We exist as A point on a time LINE, what is it that defines that point?
As far as how wonderful your people are in the time after the war I’m very happy for you. Maybe they succeeded in wiping out the RIGHT 3 billion people. Something that could not be done with the nuclear sledge hammer. Perhaps the enemy released a killer virus that zeros in on only those who carried the Idiot gene?
2036 is not impossibly far off, what is your street address then? I’ll stop in and swap tales from days of old…assuming I live that long.
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Pamela Member posted 07 November 2000 21:23
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what will the year 2036 be like?
pamela:
1.I will ask you about your environment then and I want to know about the family life and also about your religion. what religion has survived? Do you believe in Jesus Christ or someone else. Do people still pray to God? Do you still have churches?
timetravel_0:Yes I believe in Jesus Christ and we pray to God in churches. There are some differences you may be interested in. Religion is a major part of peoples life in 2036. Pain and change tend to bring people together and closer to God. However, religion is far more personal than it is now.
There are no huge, centralized religions and people talk openly about their beliefs. It might also interest you to know that the day of worship is Saturday, the day God meant to be the Sabbath and the 10 commandments have been restored to the “10” that God gave us.pamela:
2. what kind of jobs do people do and do they still work long hours? whats the majority of job types in the future?
timetravel_0:
Life is much more rural in the future but “high” technology is used to communicate and travel. People raise a great deal of their own food and do more “farm” work.
Yes, compared to now, we do work long hours. After the war, my father made a living selling oranges up and down the West coast of Florida. My closest friend raises horses and another works for a company that maintains “wireless” internet nodes.pamela:
3.what is a typical day like for someone in your time? do you still have the internet? has it advanced to all virtual reality yet? what type of diseases are you currently dealing with? are there still advances in science?
timetravel_0:
A typical day…hmmm. Life has changed so much over my lifetime that it’s hard to pin down a “normal” day. When I was 13, I was a soldier. As a teenager, I helped my dad haul cargo. I went to college when I was 31 and I was recruited to “time travel” shortly after that. Again…I suppose an average day in 2036 is like an average day on the farm.pamela:
4.Is there still a post office? how do you receive messages from one another? you said most people talk face to face.
timetravel-0:Yes…there is a post office. The internet is still alive and well in the future. People spend more time talking because life is more centered around the community. I’ve noticed the same type of effect here when the power goes off. People tend to come out of their homes and actually spend time with their neighbors. There is a lot more personal trust and less paranoia.pamela:
5.what type of housing do you live in?
timetravel_0:
When I’m with my parents, I live in a community made up of “tree houses” on a large river in Florida. The river floods sometimes and we have access to the Gulf. Most of our neighbors make a living off the sea or in moving cargo by boat.
pamela:
6.what started the war? and who fought in it? who won?what countries were destroyed and what survived?
timetravel_0:
Wow…that’s a big question.
There is a civil war in the United States that starts in 2005. That conflict flares up and down for 10 years.
In 2015, Russia launches a nuclear strike against the major cities in the United States (which is the “other side” of the civil war from my perspective), China and Europe.
The United States counter attacks.
The US cities are destroyed along with the AFE (American Federal Empire)…thus we (in the country) won. The European Union and China were also destroyed.
Russia is now our largest trading partner and the Capitol of the US was moved to Omaha Nebraska.pamela:
7.did you ever discover what aliens were and ufos?
timetravel_0:
No new information there. I find that an interesting subject myself. Personally, I think “UFOs” might be time travelers with very sophisticated distortion units. But that might be a bit wacky.pamela:
8. what type of environmental problems do you know of that exist? do you have pure water to drink? are you mostly vegetarian-seems how most people are going that way today.
timetravel_0:
One of the biggest reasons why food production is localized is because the environment is so screwed up with disease and radiation. We are making huge strides in getting it cleaned up. Water is produced on a community level and we do eat meat..that we raise ourselves.
pamela:
9. are they still messing around with genetics? and altering the food and animals?
timetravel_0:
Yes…genetic engineering is used but it’s like any other technology. It can be good and bad. One thing we did not do was create more hybrid seeds. What are people thinking???pamela:
10.what do you believe about life after death?
timetravel_0:
I am a Christian Agnostic. I do not believe faith alone is enough to get us back to God. I’m not sure what happens when we die but I’m pretty sure it’s not a walk in the park.pamela:
11. do you have an advances in spacetravel or exploration?
timetravel_0:
No. We are working on it.
pamela:
12. what new inventions do we have to look forward to?
timetravel_0:
Hmmm….I hesitate to answer but I’ll give a bit. Hydrogen fuel cells and more efficient solar cells are big deals. Computer technology and software gets MUCH better.pamela:
13. what brings you the greatest joy on Earth? what are some things you and others do for entertainment and fun?
timetravel_0:
I like this question. My greatest joy is sailing. For fun, I enjoy swimming, playing cards, reading, playing games on the net and talking with people who live in other countries. As a community, we celebrate much more and have bon fires and dances. My hobby is sorting through old magazines and videos of life before the war.
pamela:
14. what are your schools and universities like?
timetravel_0:
After the war, early new communities gathered around the current universities. That’s where the libraries were. I went to school at Fort UF which is now called the University of Florida. Not too much is different except the military is large part of people’s life and we spend a great deal of time in the fields and farms at the “University” or Fort.pamela:
15. what are some of your fondest memories growing up? what kind of cameras do you have now to take pictures of the family? did they ever invent a hologram camera?
timetravel_0:
Most of my memories growing up are not fond. Life was very hard. Simple things make me happy like hugging my mother and father. Yes, we have cameras. More digital. Film is used like painting is today. No hologram camera though.pamela:
16. do you still have telephones? what is your major source of energy that you use? solar power? electricity? have you discovered new energies.
timetravel_0:
Yes we have phones but the service is through the web. Most power generation is localized. It amazes me how much power is wasted now. Yes, solar is big. There is thought that a singularity generator could also be used but most people are against it.[Another John Titor PREDICTION. - Metallicman.]pamela:
17. how do you take care of your elderly? and your poor and your orphans? and the ones who cannot work?
timetravel_0:
The elderly are highly revered and looked after on a community level. So are orphans. There is always something people can do now matter what. The idea of avoiding work is looked down on. Everyone pulls together to keep the COMMUNITY strong.pamela:
18. what is the dress style of the time what do you wear on your bodies as a style?
timetravel_0:
Hats are more common in the future and flashy colors are less common. Dress is much more functional and we “dress up” when ever we get a chance. I have noticed that no one in this time dresses for occasions even when they have the clothes. Why do people wear shorts to church?pamela:
19. do people wear their hair differently than we do?every generation has a different style what is the style of your time? what is popular for kids to wear? for adults to wear?
timetravel-0:We do not spend nearly the amount of time on our hair as people do now. Women like to wear their hair longer and men have it much shorter. Both sexes shave it all off when they’re in active military service.pamela:
20. are surgeries mostly performed by lasers? or were there new technologies developed?
timetravel_o:
Far less medical treatment in the future even though its more advanced. People die when they now its time to die. No lasers. Genetic medicine and cloning organs are the obvious new techs in the future.pamela:
21. do you still have the current form of government, presidents and vice presidents like we do?
timetravel_0:No. The Constitution was changed after the war. We have 5 presidents that are voted in and out on different term periods. The vice president is the president of the senate and they are voted separately.pamela:
22. how do you get from one place to another with not many cars around.do you teleport from one place to another?
timetravel_0:
We have cars…just not a whole bunch of them. There is public transportation from city to city.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 07 November 2000 22:18
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If I could bring some material thing back to your time from 2036…it would be a copy of the new US Constitution.
Yes, you could travel to a future that was 0.5 seconds ahead of now but not with my machine. The C204 uses the second as the basic unit of measure. The C206 may be capable of .05 sec.(In the same vien, if you just happened to arrive at “the year 2000″ a fraction of a second in my past, or future would I ever know that you just ‘landed soonby”?)No “you” would not. But the “you” on that world line would.(In other words, what makes this time line be ‘now’ at any given moment versus being any other time. We exist as A point on a time LINE, what is it that defines that point?)It is believed there are some sort of measurable quantum differences in world lines. I am not an expert on that so I can offer little information.(As far as how wonderful your people are in the time after the war I’m very happy for you. Maybe they succeeded in wiping out the RIGHT 3billion people.)Yes, we did.(2036 is not impossibly far off, what is your street address then? I’ll stop in and swap tales from days of old…assuming I live that long.)You would be welcome in my home.
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Pamela Member posted 08 November 2000 11:47
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Timetravel_0-
1.Without going into detail what you are here specifically for can you please explain what the primary purpose of time travel is in the future?
2.Why it is used and how often to your knowledge it is used.?
3.Are there specific time periods time .travelers go to most?
4.you stated there were several time machines available are they all active at this time to your knowledge?
5.What kind of car are you going to go back in since you sold the Chevy?
6.Are you able to take people with you in the same car back to your time or another time?
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 08 November 2000 22:27
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(1.Without going into detail what you are here specifically for can you please explain what the primary purpose of time travel is in the future?)
In 2036, a great deal of effort is going into “repairing” our environment. I was sent to 1975 to get a computer system and take it back to 2036. Time travel is not a secret in 2036 and I expect it will become more common.
(2.Why it is used and how often to your knowledge it is used.?)
Right now, its used to get information or “items” that would be helpful in getting a post WWIII world back to a normal condition. There are 7 other time travelers in my unit.
(3.Are there specific time periods time .travelers go to most?)
Right now, most of our practical missions are from 1960 to 1980. There is a great deal of research into later and future periods but the farther you go, the lower the divergence confidence of the world line.
(4.you stated there were several time machines available are they all active at this time to your knowledge?)
Yes.
(5.What kind of car are you going to go back in since you sold the Chevy?)
It’s a 1987 4WD. The vehicle needs a strong suspension system to handle the weight of the distortion unit.
(6.Are you able to take people with you in the same car back to your time or another time?)
Yes.
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Curious unregistered posted 09 November 2000 12:41
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Timetravel_0, I have a couple of tech questions. If you change “vehicle” do you have to re-calibrate the unit? (Does mass effect the field strength or power level needed to travel?) What kind of coils are used to contain, and maintain the singularity? (tri-coil, or quadrature coil, etc.) Can your unit also dimensionally travel? (can it move laterally in time as well as forward/reverse)
Curious
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Shadow unregistered posted 09 November 2000 09:35
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To TimeTravel_0
Have you seen the movies ‘Terminator’ and ‘Terminator 2’? We have a lot of good movies in this time but it is hard to pick them out from the huge piles of “trash movies”.
Movies are contemporary liturature.
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Shadow unregistered posted 09 November 2000 11:01
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TT_0,
If your conveyence is accurate to one second then you must have a reason for picking the particular second or at least particular day or week, you did.
Let me guess, you are here NOW to look at the unusual hung election we have going on. Or maybe this is the trigger event in the coming world wide economic meltdown? Some other pivot point in history? Fess up. Why now?
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Fast Member posted 11 November 2000 12:34
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TT0-
if you journeyed here from 2036(i think) to get a computer system,why is it you are posting on a time travel message board information as to how you arrived here?
treason!
a VW Bus would make a fine time machine
Fast Out
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Got light? Make matter.
pamela2@raex.com
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Posts: 985 | From: U.S.A | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
Pamela
Moderator
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to TT0:
“–The C204 unit is accurate from 50 to 60 years a jump and travels at about 10 years an hour at 100% power. –” 10 years an hour?
from 2036 wouldnt that take three+ hours??
how could you survive with merely the pocket of air you caught in your vehicle’s field??
Fast Out
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 11 November 2000 18:46
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To Curious:
(If you change “vehicle” do you have to re-calibrate the unit?)
Yes. But its a function of the VGL system. A gravity baseline is taken and rechecked every time the unit is used. A new vehicle would alter the gravity signature.
(What kind of coils are used to contain, and maintain the singularity?)
I am not a physicist so I can not answer that to your level of sophistication. The singularities are held in an enclosed magnetic field.
(Can your unit also dimensionally travel?)
No. However, the longer the unit is on past a safe divergence confidence, the “stranger” the world line becomes. The unit I have is safe to about 1% for every sixty years at max power.[Which is why I often consider his "time machine" to be rather crude. It only senses gravitational deviations, and travels up and down similar time-lines.
True exploration of alternative world-lines is not that hard, once you have this basic level of technology. You can modulate the fields and inject various particles in various ways to achieve striking changes in destination world-line composition.
Not that I am an expert, but the variables enable the traveler to pick and choose, to a limited degree, certain aspects of the destination world-line. Such as technology level, cultural variations, population, and though specifically (pre-determined) manifestations. -Metallicman.]
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 11 November 2000 18:56
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TO Shadow:
(Have you seen the movies ‘Terminator’ and ‘Terminator 2’?)Yes. I’ve seen those movies. Very entertaining.(If your conveyance is accurate to one second then you must have a reason for picking the particular second or at least particular day or week, you did.)My goal was to reach a certain date and time which is converted into seconds for the computer to make its calculations. I do not pick the second. Its more important to have a low divergence confidence number.(Let me guess, you are here NOW to look at the unusual hung election we have going on. Or maybe this is the trigger event in the coming world wide economic meltdown? Some other pivot point in history? Fess up. Why now?)I would use the word “elections” a bit cautiously. Perhaps its easier now to see a civil war in your future?[From John Titor's point of view, a civil war is brewing.
Also, he seemingly has some strong views on what constitutes an "election". It makes me suspect that elections aren't really what they seem to be. Eh? -Metallicman.]
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 11 November 2000 19:07
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To Fast:
(if you journeyed here from 2036(i think) to get a computer system,why is it you are posting on a time travel message board information as to how you arrived here? treason!)Why would it be treason?
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 11 November 2000 19:11
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To Fast Out:
(10 years an hour? from 2036 wouldn't that take three+ hours?? how could you survive with merely the pocket of air you caught in your vehicle’s field??)Yes…that’s about right but my initial trip was to 1975, not 2000. I guess its a question of how many technical details you really want or you feel I’m making up. We do take additional 02 and the air pocket is a bit larger than you might think.
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Curious unregistered posted 11 November 2000 20:09
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Timetravel_O I am surprised they went with the VGL system over the “time lock” system. It must be more accurate as far as timeline devergance. No direct lateral travel huh? That means some places are not easily accessible.(there is a safe place to hide, LOL)
One last question, Can anybody operate the 204 unit? Or is it safe guarded by a “key of some kind? Thanks for answering. Yes, you would be welcome at my home.
Curious
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Fast Member posted 11 November 2000 20:28
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TT0:
the Chinese were said to threaten death by torture to those who gave away the secret of silk making…why not time travel also?
i now understand the oxygen part,thought i found a slip in your trip (to coin a phrase) to our (or 1975…) time…
why is it you traveled to 1975 anyway??
Fast Out
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Searcher of Truth unregistered posted 12 November 2000 13:22
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Time travel_0,
I followed the link to your pictures and if time travel is not a secret in your “time” then why do the top of your pictures say “restricted file”??
restricted file means LIMITED TO AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.
Have you considered the possible adverse consequences the person might face that you had post them for you since you remain covert? or don’t you care since it is not your world-line. what about the people that read the information and attempt to build one? what if they get injured in the process because they are not knowledgeable enough to handle the forces they are playing with at this “time”.
what is your true purpose for posting assumingly “restricted” government documents on a public bulletin board where everyone can see it?
Did your Unit Commander authorize such a thing or is it something you decided to do completely on your own?
Have you considered your actions and probable outcome carefully?
-SOT
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Curious unregistered posted 12 November 2000 14:06
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To Seeker of Truth. The chances of one of us building a C204 are slim to none. (and Slim’s dead) Who’s to say that someone that will read this board, will be the one to actually invent the means for the C204 (or other units) to be operational? The divergence factor is so low, everybody will forget about this in a short time.
I wouldn’t worry about it When Timetravel_0 goes back, this will be nothing but a memory…
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 12 November 2000 16:41
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(Have you considered the possible adverse consequences the person might face that you had post them for you since you remain covert? or don’t you care since it is not your world-line. what about the people that read the information and attempt to build one? what if they get injured in the process because they are not knowledgeable enough to handle the forces they are playing with at this “time”.)
Yes, I have considered it but it is very easy to remain hidden behind a veil of disbelief.
The people who understand what they are seeing are not aggressive. Everyone else just finds them entertaining.
The obvious first answer is that the only world-line of consequence is my own and I don’t care what happens here. That however, is not the case. I have shown these documents in order that people might consider the possibility.
I do not expect people to believe them.
(what is your true purpose for posting assumingly “restricted” government documents on a public bulletin board where everyone can see it?)
The restricted nature of the documents I posted refers to the departmentalized nature of the technical information. The manual is supposed to remain with the unit. The current F-16 fighter jet probably has an operations manual. All the information in it is not secret but no one wants it to “walk” away from the plane.
(Did your Unit Commander authorize such a thing or is it something you decided to do completely on your own?)
I am here for personal reasons.
For a few months now, I have bee trying to alert anyone that would listen to the possibility of a civil war in the United States in 2005.
Does that seem more likely now? Actually it’s quite amazing to see what’s happening. I have been trying to get people to pay attention for the last few months but to see it unfold is very interesting. Before I leave, I’ll try and post my report.
I am curious… will anyone be upset if Florida’s votes are not counted in the Electoral College because of the current “confusion”?
(Have you considered your actions and probable outcome carefully?)
Yes.
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Curious unregistered posted 12 November 2000 17:22
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Timetravel_0, People have been “warned” of the upcoming events (or high probability of) for sometime. The date seems to move up and down the timeline a little, but the out come seems to be the same. Some of the “new age crackpots(?)” have already said this. A few have even given an estimate of when (some have been close to the year you stated). From what I understand, it is coinciding with a natural disaster (or cosmic event). I hope not be around then. Have a safe trip. Good luck.
Curious
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Pardon my intrusion on your post, I thought it would be more suitable to include the following information here, as it is synonymous with your post, and placing it at the end of this thread where the conversation has taken a different direction altogether would not be in sync with the current flow of thought.
p)’i4q4—————–
Flood forthcoming
Monday, November 27 2000 @ 03:26 AM EST
Contributed by: Porfiry
Global warming could be on the verge of triggering a rise in sea levels that would flood huge swathes of the Earth’s most densely populated regions, says an unpublished report from the world’s top climate scientists. Caused in large part by the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, this process would take a thousand years or more but would be “irreversible” once under way.
The report, due to be published next May by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is being read by the world’s governments. The final draft seen by New Scientist suggests that dozens of the countries meeting this week to agree on global warming limits through the Kyoto Protocol may face being wiped off the world map.
Four years ago, the IPCC forecast that sea levels could rise by half a metre in this century and by a maximum of between 1.5 and 3 metres over the coming 500 years. The new assessment suggests an eventual rise of 7 to 13 metres is more likely. This is enough to drown immense areas of land and many major cities. These rises will occur even if governments succeed in halting global warming within the next few decades, the report says.
Two factors are causing the rise: the slow spread of heat to the ocean depths and the destabilising of major ice sheets. It will take about a thousand years for warming in the atmosphere to reach the bottom of the oceans. The resulting thermal expansion “would continue to raise sea levels for many centuries after stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations”. Even if global warming is halted within a century, thermal expansion will eventually raise the oceans by between 0.5 and 4 metres.
Even more alarming is the fate of the ice that covers Greenland. Among all of the world’s ice sheets, this is now thought to be “the most vulnerable to climatic warming”. It contains enough snow and ice to raise sea levels by about 7 metres if it melts. And this looks increasingly likely to happen.
Models show that after any warming above 2.7 °C, “the Greenland ice sheet eventually disappears”. Nearly all predictions show Greenland warming more than this, says the report, and the faster the warming, the faster the melting. An extra 5.5 °C would cause sea levels to rise by 3 metres over a thousand years. An 8 °C warming would cause a 6-metre rise in sea levels in the same time.
The report’s authors are not allowed to discuss their findings until publication. But Jonathan Gregory of Britain’s Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in Bracknell, who co-authored the chapter on sea level, told New Scientist recently that once under way, the disintegration of the Greenland ice sheet would be “irreversible this side of a new ice age”.
The fate of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which is perched on submerged islands, remains controversial, says the report. If it melted, it would raise sea levels by a further 6 metres. Some experts quoted in the report predict that the sheet could entirely disappear within 700 years. Others, supported by the authors, expect that the sheet will contribute “no more than 3 metres” to sea level in that time.
If sea levels were 10 metres higher than today by the year 3000, it would cause the inundation of a total area larger than the US, with a population of more than a billion people and most of the world’s most fertile farmland.
Fred Pearce
From New Scientist magazine, 25 November 2000.
[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 27 November 2000).]
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Pamela Member posted 12 November 2000 17:44
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TimeTravel_0-
is there some reason you are not responding to any of my e-mails lately?
I have deleted all of your e-mails from my computer to protect you. no one will ever know your e-mail address. that is my promise to you.
if your not going to reply to me can you just answer me one question….was that you I seen? or you can e-mail me if you still can.
sincerely,
pamela
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Pamela Member posted 12 November 2000 20:53
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timetravel_0-
1
your friend,
pamela
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daViper unregistered posted 13 November 2000 23:04
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Contrary to popular belief, and certain speculations here, the plain simple fact is, there ARE no paradoxes. There never have been and there never will be. The term itself is an oxymoron and an invention of the intellect of the human mind, in search of creative thought and outright fantasy. The Universe exists without either the need for, or possibility of them.
[He is correct. - Metallicman]
Once one comes to this simple realization, one can then put the concept of “Time Travel” in IT’S proper perspective. Namely, that as is usually thought of, it doesn’t exist. Never has, never will. For the simple reason that our invented concept of time itself is fundamentally flawed. Time is not an entity. It is a unit of measurement invented by man, to define the interval between cause and effect. Like Meter. Or Yard. Or Foot. Or pound. Can we “Meter” travel? or “Foot” travel? Or perhaps “Acre” travel? Gets silly doesn’t it. Why does anyone think you can actually “Time” travel?
[He is correct. - Metallicman]
Interesting that the so called “Twins Paradox” was not discussed in depth here, but then it’s really not a paradox at all. It is only beleived to BE one by people who do not understand the simple laws of physics and the Theory of relativity.
If anyone is interested, I can show you how it CANNOT be a paradox. Unless you already know. In which case you wouldn’t be here speculating on the “how” of something that doesn’t exist in the first place.
It isn’t that Time Travel is not possible, it’s that there is NO SUCH THING in the first place. Never has been. Never will be. Like the Gods of MT. Olympus. Or the Fire Breathing Dragons of old. And Pegasus. Or the Earth as the Center of the Universe. It’s mythology. Based on INNOCENT ignorance. It’s a skewed concept created by a lack of understanding of the fundamental Theories of relativity (General and Special), in the first place.
[He is correct. - Metallicman]
And it doesn’t require “Multiple” Universes to solve. If there are multiple universes, than there MUST be an INFINITE number of them. In which case, all things that have ever happened, will happen, are happening Now. If THAT’S the case, what makes anyone think they have anything resembling free will at all?
[He is correct. - Metallicman]
Alas, I’m afrid even THIS attempt to resolve the so called “paradoxes” of Time Travel is also a pursuit in search of what is a non-existant problem in the first place. Another lapse into inventing a new mythology.
[He is correct. - Metallicman]
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Shadow unregistered posted 13 November 2000 23:24
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TimeTravel_0
Checked out the picture and documents (Pamala?) posted. Your ’67 Chev looks remarkably new…….hmmmm
If the manual is legit and that's a real working time machine in your front seat, the OBVIOUS conclusion, if not the correct conclusion, is that you are either in the employ of the US Army or you stole the friggen thing. I hardly think you picked it up for 20 bucks at the surplus store.
Looks like you’ve got a little baby field model there, the owners of which would surely have bigger and badder ones to come and collect it with. But you would know all about that. What you might not know is that the people who actually run things around now, will snatch you right out of your shoes at the first possible instant they get wind of you and your ah……. thing.
The one thing that you are REALLY REALLY NOT supposed to do is show up with something that might be perceived to be “dangerous”. You had better hide real good or get lost, one.
Been nice ‘talking’ to ya. Why not just spill the *entire* pan of beans before you split? Anything to piss off the rich folks, I say.
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Janus Member posted 14 November 2000 15:25
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I hope ‘Mr. 0′ is still there…
I’d like to believe you. What I need is one more prediction – you’ve predicted an American civil war in 2005; in order to fully believe you, I need one more unambiguous prediction like that. Something like, maybe, who will win the 100m in Salt Lake City. Really, anything like that, if I see two predictions like that come true you will have my unwavering belief. I’m a rationalist but not an idiot – the problem with most people who claim to time travel is that they have no evidence to back it up. What I ask for would be enough evidence for me, and probably most people.
[This message has been edited by Janus (edited 14 November 2000).]
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 15 November 2000 13:56
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Mr. DaViper,
A broken clock tells the right time twice a day.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 15 November 2000 14:12
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To: Shadow
If this shows up twice, I apologize.
(Your ’67 Chev looks remarkably new…….hmmmm)
Thanks. I sold it when I arrived here. It attracted a great deal of attention. Perhaps that’s why it was still around in 2036.
(…you are either in the employ of the US Army…)
More or less correct.
(Looks like you’ve got a little baby field model there, the owners of which would surely have bigger and badder ones to come and collect it with.)
Why would they come looking for me? I’m expected back but I will only have been gone a few seconds from their point of view.
(What you might not know is that the people who actually run things around now, will snatch you right out of your shoes at the first possible instant they get wind of you and your ah……. thing.)
Stupidity and greed are fairly predictable for a period of time.
(The one thing that you are REALLY REALLY NOT supposed to do is show up with something that might be percieved to be “dangerous”.)
Have you considered that your society might be better off if half of you were dead?
(Why not just spill the *entire* pan of beans before you split? Anything to piss off the rich folks, I say.)
I’m thinking about it. I’m waiting for my family to buy up all the good stuff cheap first…(joke).
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 15 November 2000 14:20
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To Janus:
(I’d like to believe you. What I need is one more prediction – you’ve predicted an American civil war in 2005; in order to fully believe you, I need one more unambiguous prediction like that.)
I appreciate the position you are in but you must realize that I am not affected in the least if you believe me or not.
(Something like, maybe, who will win the 100m in Salt Lake City.)
Off the top of your head, can you tell me if it rained in Atlanta this time last year? Do you think time travelers carry a sports reference with them?
In the movie “Back to the future II”, there is a scene where Marty goes tot he future and buys a sport’s almanac from an antique store to take back with him to the past.
(Really, anything like that, if I see two predictions like that come true you will have my unwavering belief.)
It is a mistake to give anyone your unwavering belief…but you will find that out yourself in 2005.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 15 November 2000 14:33
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To: Curious
(One last question, Can anybody operate the 204 unit? Or is it safe guarded by a “key of some kind? Thanks for answering. Yes, you would be welcome at my home.)
The unit has two security systems to protect it from “most” people. One, it has a code that must be entered correctly. Second, and probably more effective now, the unit can not be used by anyone who can’t add and subtract.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 15 November 2000 14:41
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To Fast:
(i now understand the oxygen part,thought i found a slip in your trip(to coin a phrase) to our(or 1975…) time… why is it you traveled to 1975 anyway??)
The first “leg” of my trip was from 2036 to 1975. After two VGL checks, the divergence was estimated at about 2.5% (from my 2036). I was “sent” to get an IBM computer system called the 5100. It was one the first portable computers made and it has the ability to read the older IBM programming languages in addition to APL and Basic. We need they system to “debug” various legacy computer programs in 2036. UNIX has a problem in 2038.
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Shadow unregistered posted 15 November 2000 20:29
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For totally selfish reasons I would like to know how one would communicate across time periods? Think of the grief one could save themselves by simply by calling yourself at 6AM from 6PM and getting the lowdown on the days pitfalls.
It is tough for me to visualize how, from our perspective, the future is frozen solid such that you could knock around here for a week or two and yet scarcely a blink of an eye has passed in 2036.
If you want to get peoples attention, it seemes to me that a pocket full of real US currency and coins dated 2001 and up would cause a stir.
Here is a nickel from 2067. I have been unable to find any strong information on to the lineage of this coin. I suspect that it is a fake, but who knows. Eh? A person with reasonable casting skills could make a reasonable copy out of lead or another metal. Photos would not be able to determine the difference.
It could be used as a standard test to see who is braindead and who can add 2+2.
You speak of 1 & 2 % “divergence” as being unimportant. I don’t get it. Like for example if OUR IBM5100 is 1% different than the code you have to run on it, it ain’t gonna work right. One percent in the FL vote count would be important. If I could see only 99% of the cars on the road it would be important to me. So, what exactly is X% divergent, and why is it not a major problem?
Janus is a Scientist. Don’t mess with him!
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Shadow unregistered posted 15 November 2000 21:39
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Oh, sorry Janus, forget I said that. I must have gotten your post mixed up with somebody eleses.
To TimeTravler_0
The trouble with having the “half the population dead” is that before the fact, one cannot tell to which half ones’ self belongs. The politics of who gets thrown out of the lifeboat and who gets to stay is not topic for polite conversation. So lets ask the question in the affirmative. ” What does one have to do in order to stay on the lifeboat?”
I don’t imagine you have much a fondness for the CJD (mad cow) prion. Any advise on how to defeat or avoid this plague?
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mokrie dela Member posted 16 November 2000 12:35
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_0 —Just popped in for a minute. If your on the level could you be so kind as to drop me off in 1880. No, I’m not kidding. If you pick up hitch hikers I’d really like a ride. Also, I’ve missed you Pamela and Time and the ever evasive Doc.
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Pamela Member posted 16 November 2000 12:43
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Mokrie!!!!!!!
{{{{{HUG}}}}}}
I missed you to. I was wondering what world you fell into ( heheheh.)
hey now…only so many of us can fit into the 4×4! I asked first! I get the front seat!!!! heheh.
Doc if you are out there somewhere you need to respond! we are worried about you. alot of people have written you and you have not responded. your friends care about you!
sincerely,
pamela
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daViper unregistered posted 16 November 2000 16:42
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Shadow:
There is only ever one “time period” to communicate in. This one. The “now”.
In the classic so called “twins paradox”, the two are always in the same time line.
Visualize the traveling twin doing this travel always in sight of Earth. Orbiting the Sun at near the speed of light. He is always visible from Earth via telescope and radio. Although there will be some doppler shifting in his image and radio signals, communication is nevertheless still possible.
Just difficult.
He is traveling for what seems to be his Earth bound twin’s span of 50 years. During his voyage, he ALSO counts the Earth rotating around the Sun 50 times! Yup. That’s the way it works. Yet when he finally lands back on Earth, he has aged only 5 years!
Relativity has slowed his BIOLOGICAL clock, relative to his twin. Not time itself. Just like it slows the atomic clock on the moving jet plane, relative to the one left on the ground. Gravity has little or nothing to do with it.
It is the difference in RELATIVE velocity that produces what gets measured as time dilation. The same is true for the twins. Actually, neither twin left the other’s time line. Both were always in the same one. Both counted 50 revolutions of the Earth around the Sun, but the travelers biological CLOCK ran slower. That’s all.
There is no paradox. And communication across “time periods” is only ever communication across the same time period.
Where I am now, it’s 11:30 AM. But in Japan, it’s 4:30 TOMORROW MORNING. But me and the Japanese are still in the same time line, time period (in the greater sense), and can communicate with each other just fine.
The past has gone by. The future hasn’t happened yet. And all the near light speed travel or power sources that alter matter can’t change that. It’s a rather fundamental law of the universe.
Even Einstein only ever said time running backwards during faster than light travel, MIGHT be possible. He NEVER said for sure that it was true or for certain WOULD occur. And even withdrew further and further from this original position as he got older.
In the pure scientific sense, we need to always be vigilant as to the difference in what constitutes hypothesis, and what constitutes theory.
Good science always tries to DISPROVE hypothesis. Not prove it. Failure to DIS-prove it is what then results in what becomes evolving theory. And still only theory at that.
Enjoy.
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Pamela Member posted 16 November 2000 23:33
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DaViper…biological clock ran slower?
Can you explain this concept further?
sincerely,
pamela
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 17 November 2000).]
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 17 November 2000 09:34
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It is thought that being close to a gravitational field has a biological effect on all matter including cells. The effect is to slow the movement of electrons in the orbits of their nucleus which thus slows the mechanical and bilological functions of the observer close to the gravity.
Thus the passing of time is a local phenomenon depending on how close you are to a gravitational source.
This is one example of a theory involving “time shells” progressing in size and intensity around a gravitational point from all matter. The more massive the object, the larger and more influencial the time shells around it (like an onion). Another offshoot of this theory is that kinetic energy is actually the conversion of stored energy in the atom as it passes through time shells in a gravitational field.
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Pamela Member posted 17 November 2000 12:01
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Time travel_0-
Would this serve a purpose to put cloned or donated organs in a field to keep it as fresh and un-aged as possible until ready to transplant into the new recipient patient?
In response to your last e-mail…
you never know what my future will hold.
maybe I’ll be visiting YOU. (maybe in one of those advanced distortion units.)
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Shadow unregistered posted 17 November 2000 19:12
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To daViper
Here’s the way I see it if I want to “foot travel or acre travel” or even frothing at the mouth mad dog banana split travel then I will just get on with it. I don’t need you to tell me I can’t. Heck if I want to pretend that I’m Superman and fly around the sun 50 times to save Lois Lane……..oh excuse me THAT ONE was YOUR idea.
We got a guy on here whom I believe to be an actual time traveler, somebody that knows about gravic shells. artificial singularities, computers and the history of the next 36 years. Somebody who has “been there done that” and I don’t really want to hear you spouting off about what you learned in 6th grade science class. I took the same class 35 years ago. Here is a news flash for you; Einstein was out of date 60 years ago.
You say there is no possibility of any time paradox ever occuring. How in heck would you know? Even if you are right on this one, its a lucky guess on your part. You don’t know. I don’t think you could think your way out of a paper bag.
You said that it is “tommorrow in Japan”. Does that mean that it is yesterday in Spain? Good grief, get a grip. If you would think a little more yourself, maybe you would be less inclined to tell everybody else how to do it.
I do advise however, that you could stick around and learn something.
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Pamela Member posted 17 November 2000 21:11
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Shadow,
I have to hand it to you that was funny! banana split travel…hehheh
your a good person I can tell.
I personally cannot understand why someone posts on a time-travel web site that does not believe time travel is or ever will be possible. but I'm glad they do because I do learn things from them.
I think it a little humorous….. although it would be foolish to believe everyone that says they are a time traveler that shows up on here, and we have actually disproved several fake attempts.
I believe if a real time traveler actually showed up… nobody would even believe them. there is only a couple of people on here who even asked this guy questions. even though this web site gets an average hit of about 98 people in a 12 hour period.
how could you ever come to the knowledge of the truth if you dont ask questions?
my question is….do we really believe time travel is possible or do we have to be one who experiences a little of it first before we will even consider it?
Is time travel ever going to be a possibility in our future? if the answer is yes but not for thousands of years… well if they travel back to our time then it now becomes a possibility in our time as well.
DaViper? why is it you have not attempted to Disprove why the diagrams could not work?
why have you not argued against the use of singularities? or why it could not be possible for him to be here? Is it because you don’t understand what it is you are seeing? I want to hear the arguments why nobody believes this could be a possibility …don't any of you people have an opinion?
In our current view of things The possibility of it not being true is pretty high for a time traveler to openly expose himself in this manner..but..what if in his world time travel is not a secret?
In relating to a time traveler from a future time may be like relating to an alien from another country,another dimension or even another world. you first have to understand the environment from which they came. depending on how far in the future it would be.. their thinking would not be the same on certain issues because of how they were raised in their environment.
I think it is as he has said though that some people would not believe it even if the machine was right in front of them.
Just consider for a moment…. what if it was true? what a great opportunity you have all lost.
sincerely,
pamela
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 18 November 2000).]
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Curious unregistered posted 17 November 2000 23:22
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My opinion is that there is a high probability that he (Timetravel_0) is as he has represented him self. And to add to that, what makes anybody so sure there hasn’t been others? How would you know? Do you think they will show you a time travel visa? It is sometimes amazing how great the human mind is able to except new ideas. The (energy field) diagram in the manual looks very similar to some diagrams that were purported to be from the Philadelphia Project. (from an Al Beilek video tape) Just my opinion, I could be wrong………..
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Dr Light unregistered posted 19 November 2000 06:15
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Now then..
If i go back to the year 1960 and give the scientist community there a book on advanced electronics in computers , would it not be that they would READ this book and design say, a pentium 3 chip in 1960 that would forward our technology advances 40 years?
if that is so how would this timeline be like? Would we have far better microproccessors here in 2000?
The materials needed to produce a chip like the P3 for example were available (to an extent) in 1960. So it would not be unheard of for me to jump back in time , give a book on microprocessors to IBM and see what they come up with…
A thought…
Did anyone witness the giant computer “boom” of the late 60’s? Computer technology went from basic 286 processors to great big polygon crunchers in the early 90’s. In the space a short 10 years microprocessor speeds have doubled every six months…
Technology is advancing at an incredible rate which leads me to think that perhaps we were visited by time-travelers in the 60’s or thereof, in order to further the advancement of the human race. How does one explain the massive technology jumps from the moon landing to our present time?
Seems to quick to go from a 286 to a 1 GHZ…
I think we had help , but that's my opinion.
Insights? Opinions?
Thank you.
Dr Light
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Fast Member posted 19 November 2000 19:35
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according to TT0,our technology would not change in the least..you would return you your original dimension and the book would (POSSIBLY) advance some other dimension’s technology…
[Actually, since there is no single "correct" world-line, and that all of our individual consciousnesses occupy our own very unique realities, then the thoughts of others on other world-lines will influence our world-line.
I call this the "reality template", or over-riding tends that most of our consciousnesses follow within a given time (a given state of entropy). - Metallicman.]
Fast Out
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Dr Light unregistered posted 20 November 2000 12:14
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But if the parallel worlds theory is true , that would make the book in question be relevant to ALL worlds including the one i just came from…
Therefore that would make technology jumps for all of the worlds, not just every dimension besides mine.
Perhaps it would evolve differently for my dimension but there is still the fact that it WOULD evolve because i went back and changed history for every world.
But….
that’s my opinion…
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Time02112 Member posted 20 November 2000 12:20
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I still say “Something” of a very peculiar High Strangeness did occur in Roswell in the forties, and whatever it was, it had something to contribute to our current Time-Line, which altered it indefinitely.
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Dr Light unregistered posted 20 November 2000 12:35
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A few words..
i just finished reading the whole two pages and i have come to this conclusion.
Pamela…your a champion…no really…and thank you for the links.
and Mr_0….good luck my friend…see you in 2036.
Light
Thanks you
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Dr light unregistered posted 20 November 2000 05:39
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You sold your 67′ when you got here?
how do you expect to get back?!
Also, how have you overcome the problem of housing , food , job ,social security number , tax…or perhaps you are not here for that long.
Also how did you get on the net and have access to a scanner to reproduce your work on the net?
So many questions and things to do in this time..yet you have the time to post your C204 manual on the web.
I am not trying to disprove you Mr _0, but the people in power (pamela) urges us to ask relevant questions surrounding your existence in this time. This world is run on the economical side of things and i am just curious to how you happened to blend in to “our” way of living.
The way i see it..is that you MAY be a T.Traveler judging by your grasp on quantum mechanics and your vivid picture of the future but……
This world is run on the basis of “guilty until proven innocent” Myself..i would like to believe and your diagrams and schematics seem to confirm this. BUT there are skeptics out there who might think your a loony as you have seen.
I myself believe in time travel and as the theory goes..” if , at any point in history we will be able to T.T , we are being visited by others right now , from the future.”
If it makes no matter that you are here telling us about your revolutionary new T.T device…what would happen if we SUPPOSEDLY built a prototype …as my argument would state about the P3 and the 286..we would fast forward events in time…..36 years or so , with the development of a prototype c204 right NOW , using the schematics you have given us.But as pamela said…”..don't any of you people have an opinion?”
I am not out to shatter your reputation on this forum.. but i just want simple answers.
Thank you
Dr Light
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 20 November 2000 17:16
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To: Dr. Light.
(You sold your 67′ when you got here? how do you expect to get back?!)
The unit is portable between vehicles. It is very heavy and requires a “stiff” suspension. The unit is currently in a 4WD.
(Also, how have you overcome the problem of housing , food , job ,social security number , tax…or perhaps you are not here for that long.)
I am currently living with my parents on this world line. They know exactly who I am and how I got here.
(Also how did you get on the net and have access to a scanner to reproduce your work on the net?)
There are numerous ways to do that. Any local printing shop allows you access to a computer system.
(So many questions and things to do in this time..yet you have the time to post your C204 manual on the web.)
What suggestions do you have?
(This world is run on the economical side of things and i am just curious to how you happened to blend in to “our” way of living.)
You don’t think you could blend into 1970? What difficulties would you expect to have that couldn’t be overcome?
(BUT there are skeptics out there who might think your a loony as you have seen.)
I have nothing to sell nor do I want anyone to believe in me or take some action. What other people think of me does not affect me in the least.
(If it makes no matter that you are here telling us about your revolutionary new T.T device…what would happen if we SUPPOSEDLY built a prototype …as my argument would state about the P3 and the 286..we would fast forward events in time…..36 years or so , with the development of a prototype c204 right NOW , using the schematics you have given us.But as pamela said…”..don't any of you people have an opinion?”)
What you do on your world line is your own business. I can’t think of any better way to start a war than for someone to figure out how to make a time machine. Go for it.
(I am not out to shatter your reputation on this forum.. but i just want simple answers.)
I will be happy to answer “almost” any question you have.
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Time02112 Member posted 20 November 2000 23:07
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TT_0
I STRONGLY urge you to contact me before you leave us! I must make contact with you before you go.
[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 20 November 2000).]
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Got light? Make matter.
pamela2@raex.com
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Posts: 985 | From: U.S.A | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
Pamela
Moderator
Dr Light unregistered posted 21 November 2000 01:10
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So Mr_0
Perhaps you would like to explain to me how your parents fully understand HOW you got here , since you are a T.T, you showed them you c204 and they believed you totally?
I do not know your age so i am assuming that you would be over 40 years old.
How would your parents react to seeing you in 2000 as a 40 year old man? That would surely be enough evidence to show you are a true time traveller…
What exactly does the year 2000 have for you?
If you say the year 2005 is the war where 3 billion people die..you only have 5 years left then you will merely whisk off to 2036 with your IBM 5100 p.c,leaving our timeline in ruins and you would only be away for a few seconds…
What we do on our timeline IS our own business ,but we would appreciate it if you do not jeopardize our position here by giving someone the information/schematics to build a time machine that you say would “start a war”.
So what your saying is that the development of the C204 is the reason the “war” started?
So why are you trying to put us through your timeline and kill us too? Or are you trying to change history here and hope it will work on the parallel worlds theory and turns out well for you in the end?
As Pamela said you have an obligation to this world line. We may be in infinitely spaced world lines but that does not mean you should put us through your problems too.
What if you never showed up and gave us the schematics? Are you trying to AVOID or START a war of massive consequences?
Your argument is taken entirely out of context when i compare it to my previous argument about the P3 and the 286 processor
“What we do is our business” but you are here causing controversy and “hoping?” perhaps someone does create the c204?
So you are willing to sacrifice billions of lives and hope that everything is fine and dandy when you get back.
If events DO change here…they will change for you too.
BUT…
that's my OPINION.
Remember just answers please..
Thanking you,
Dr P.Light
(p.s pamela ,your opinion please)
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Shadow unregistered posted 21 November 2000 10:29
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Dr. Light,
There is a thin line between question and accusation. I’m pretty sure TT-O DOES NOT check in here seeking abuse or accusal.
The reason this board is here is to determine the the plausibility and possible usability of time travel. If there is no such thing, or even the perception that there is no time travel and no time travelers then we need to unplug this board and for all of us to ‘go home’.
The point is not is Mr. TT-O for real but rather is what we THINK we are doing here for real.
As TT-O says how we take care of our own time line IS OUR BUSINESS. Doing so in stark ignorance can lead to problems for those who put a priority on getting through the day alive.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 21 November 2000 10:41
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All of the questions asked by Mr. Light have been answered in one way or another. I believe Pamela has that information if she has not released it already.
You assume I am here to start a war?
Consider this: You are a time traveler who wishes to go back in time to 1941 because your grandparents live close to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. You realize you can’t stop the war but you may be able to help them prepare for it. Strangely, December 7th comes and goes with no sneak attack. As the war in Europe rages on, Japan fails to join the axis power, there is no war in the Pacific and the United States remains neutral. Then, you watch as Germany begins to develop the atomic bomb… all by themselves.
For a change, I have a question for all of you. I want you to think…think very hard. What major disaster was expected and prepared for in the last year and a half that never happened?[He's telling the audience his true purpose and intention in 1998 to 2000. It's Y2K. -Metallicman.]As far as war goes, I have faith you are quite capable of starting one all by yourself. I am hard pressed to accept any criticism on my outlook on that subject.
Growing up might have been a vastly different experience for me than it was for most of you. Personal responsibility, determination, honor, friendship and self-reliance are not just words we try to live up to or fantasize about.
On my world line, life is not easy.
We live in a world recovering from years of war, poison, destruction and hate. All of it, courtesy of the thinking and actions of people that live right now in the same world you do, worrying about which stocks to buy or whether or not a stranger is lying to them on the internet.
Destroyed Washington DC. The world as depicted by John Titor is not pleasant. In fact it is terrifying. The civil war fighting the DHS does not sound like fun either.
I believe that hardship and challenge develop character and community.
My first experience with war came when I joined a shotgun infantry unit at the age of thirteen. In the 4 years I served as a “rebel”, I watched hundreds of people get shot, burn and bleed to death.
I know exactly where I was and every detail of the exact moment the first nuclear warheads began falling on Jacksonville. I know the pain and regret of not acting soon enough to enjoy a relationship as a loved one dies of brain cancer from a war that gained nothing.
How can you possibly criticize me for any conflict that comes to you? I watch every day what you are doing as a society. While you sit by and watch your Constitution being torn away from you, you willfully eat poisoned food, buy manufactured products no one needs and turn an uncaring eye away from millions of people suffering and dying all around you. Is this the “Universal Law” you subscribe to?
Perhaps I should let you all in on a little secret. No one likes you in the future. This time period is looked at as being full of lazy, self-centered, civicly ignorant sheep. Perhaps you should be less concerned about me and more concerned about that.
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Shadow unregistered posted 21 November 2000 13:17
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Think, think, think, what major disaster didn’t happen last year. No y2k computer meltdown! Are you intimating that your people fiddled with time and saved us from that one? If so how could I complain other than to say that MY y2k preperations in themselves have turned into a MAJOR PERSONAL disaster that continues to this day. Ky-sur-sur-rah, ay?
Reading your posts I get conflicting ideas about what effect our timeline has on yours. Didn’t you say that “another you” was here now as a two year old child? Is the ‘Everret Many Worlds’ interpretation of quantum mechanics it the correct one then? You seem to look at us as represenative of your ACTUAL predicessors. There is something a bit unnerving about that. In fact the main reason why I think you might be genuine is that I have trouble thinking LIKE you do. I would expect this of an encounter with a “Chrono-alien”.
It seems to me that there would be some effect from one parallel world to another. Therefore what you do in this time line would have at least INDIRECT consequences in all future lines. The idea of many time lines I can ‘get’, but infinite ones? Perhaps on the parallel axis they just keep getting more different until they are seen as completly different alien worlds.
Is it possible to communicate between times and parallel worlds without physically going to them? Im getting a little sick of talking to myself…ha ha ..(.I think).
So we are all lazy and selfish around these times. Not exactly a news flash bud. Oh, did I leave out ignorant too? Hey it fits the profile. The word you are looking for however is POWERLESS. That is why we now, in general don’t give a flying crap about what goes on. There ain’t nothing we can do about it aside getting out teeth kicked in for trying.
Let me put it this way. The wrong people got all the money……already.
The rest of us are mostly concentrating on not starving or freezing to death. What do you want anyway? The disaster you have suffered in your time (and ours to come I suppose) got its start long long before today. We were warned decades ago……yeah now I see your point.
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Shadow unregistered posted 21 November 2000 13:37
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To: TimeTravel_0
Refer to post above…….forgot to stick your name on it again.
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Shadow unregistered posted 21 November 2000 13:47
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To: TimeTravel_0
Has the mystery of UFO’s been solved by 2036? Crop circles? I figure it is all “paralell worlder” stuff but is anything specific been determined?
BTW
The one way questioning going on here is mosty because you already know lots more about us than we can ever know about you. Let us know when you plan to check out.
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Time02112 Member posted 21 November 2000 14:41
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A.) Russia has “ALWAYS” been considered the first Country, to be suspect of a probable Nuclear Attack against the USA, and I, for one have NEVER relinquished the thought that inevitably, this will happen while I remain alive to witness this unfourtunate trajedy come to fruition.
*Why have they been stockpiling Nuclear arms purchased from their Diplomatic relations with China, and protesting our “Star-Wars” defense systems during this plot?
We never seen it comming?
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 21 November 2000 21:31
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There have been a great many questions piling up that I do plan to get to. If anyone sees a question I have answered before, please feel free to repeat the answer.
I do not plan on leaving this world line for a while yet. I very much enjoy spending time with my family.
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Curious unregistered posted 21 November 2000 23:01
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To TT_0, How is it, that in the future they can produce and contain an artificial singularity, by complex computer systems, but can’t reproduce a basic pc (IBM 5100). Or is it easier to just “borrow” these items from an alternate time line? Or did you use the lack of a computer system as an excuse to vist your family?
Curious
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Dr Light unregistered posted 22 November 2000 12:57
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To T.T_0,
So if we are a bunch of sick lazy ignorant stupid etc etc’s……what are YOU doing among us?
Do you like our artificial foods? Or is it the meaningless piles of “junk” we churn out year after year? Perhaps it is the choked atmosphere? And we also turn an “uncaring eye” away from the millions suffering too?
Perhaps this time is just like yours……
We still have war , hate and all the above.
Humph. I didnt know that what we think is so technologically advanced and superior ( myself excluded)is looked upon as ,for want of a better word, “Sh*t”
I agree with Shadow.
Can we help but to eat these foods , drink this water? Survival is the key word here.
But another question arises..
Do you think i am accusing you? I meerly went and posted a message about my opinions on the subject.I happen to strongly believe in Time travel and i also believe YOU.They are only QUESTIONS as i have stated Mr_0. I also dont think you are here to start a war, of all things. if it was for my family, i would go though time too.
Or else what would i be doing here?
As soon as anyone here on this forumn starts talking in terms of “not believing you” you get aggravated? I dont wish for that to be.
These are questions , and nothing more. Tell me if i have hit a soft spot. Im not trying to but it might seem that way.
Life here in 2000 is not at all easy for us here too. A handfull of people run this timeline….
(Sigh)
Regards,
Dr. P.Light
(P.S) There are a few questions (not accustaions as you out them) i would like to ask about the workings of the C204 unit before you leave us. I will post them up later.
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Lllllllll unregistered posted 22 November 2000 14:32
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What Can we do to help you here in this time line.
Who is responcible for the disaster to come?
Can you tell us if the world has been unified under one single goverment in your time?
Do you have the means to calculate interactions over the range of the universe so that to enable which alterations need to be made at which points in the present universe at given times in order recreate an optimal time period for yourself when you return?
Remember this no matter what generation one goes to there is always trechory for it is sin in the human race that enables such degradation?
What do you think about our time period?
Have you tried any of our fast food?
What technologies were lost as a result of the war?
Who won the war?
My favorite junk food is M&M’s.
What ebergy source did you use for your traveling technique?
Did you use acceleration or compression as a stabilizing force?
How did you overcome the temperal turbulence caused by the affects of time dilation?
Was topology a big part of it?
Are you seeking to return to a parallel dimension?
In the present. Has anyone actually created a true interdimensional device. Or has only parrellel frames past frames been abtained within the worldline of the negative universe?
What do you need to fix your ship?
Has your resurfacing in the past resulted in the creation of a parallel entity as a result of the transfer of a phantom point of entity equivalence across the intersimensional barrier resulting in the abstraction of an existant entity out of the fractional entity less then zero?
Have you figured a way to counter this energy?
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Time02112 Member posted 22 November 2000 16:44
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11/20/00 – Mon/Tue
Guest: Dr. Eugene Mallove
Dr. Mallove, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Infinite Energy Magazine will discuss cold fusion and new energy technology. Dr. Mallove holds a Master of Science Degree and Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT and a Science Doctorate in Environmental Health Sciences from Harvard University.
Book: Fire from Ice: Searching for the Truth Behind the Cold Fusion Furor
Website: www.infinite-energy.com
(Click on the Windows media icon above, to listen to the pre-recorded broadcast.)
I posted this elswhere, however I wanted to ensure that TT_0 would review this, and post his comments accordingly…
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Pamela Member posted 22 November 2000 20:58
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Pamela: 1.What exactly would an observer see as they saw you arriving in this time? and exactly what would they see as you departed? would you just appear suddenly or slowly? would you look like a heat mirage for awhile? Any light effects? or hazy misty shimmering distortion?
Time travel_0- The observation of time travelers “appearing” suddenly in a world line do not happen very often. There are two cases and two points of view to consider. In the first case, the time machine does not move as it goes from one world line to another and then returns. The people watching on the original world linewould wave good bye and watch as the machine is turned on.
There would be a static discharge and the air would appear to “ripple” as if it were getting denser. Then, it would stop and the machine will have appeared to have gone no where. If the machine doesn’t move its position from world line to world line, the observer would not see it disappear at all.
In the second case, if the machine is moved, it would disappear from the viewpoint of the observer and return in a different location based on where it was moved and turned on from the destination world line.
In that case, the rippling seems to dissolve the machine and it disappears. If that happens while you are watching it leave and you expect it to return, you know it was moved or had a serious malfunction.
It is actually quite dangerous to get too close to a distortion unit as it enters or leaves a world line. It vents radiation and has a very strong localized gravity field. Personally, I worry about that a great deal.Pamela:2.What is the dimension of the field around the car? How many feet out from the car would you say it goes?
Timetravel_0-It can be adjusted to some degree. The CG (center of gravity) is adjustable within about 4 feet and the unit is effective about 10 to 12 feet in either direction from there. The vertical distance is quite a bit shorter and is determined by sensors in the unit.Pamela:3.approximately in inches how much of the ground is taken with you in one trip?
timetravel_0-Depending on weather or not you are going forward or backward, the footprint of the unit is different. I wouldn’t quite say it “scoops” up the ground cleanly. It sort of vibrates it loose and takes it along for the ride. It looks like someone raked the ground an inch or so deep with a small hand hoe or shovel.
The negative ergosphere “scoops” up the front and back areas of the field. The positive ergosphere leaves a longer area near the center of mass. Its about a cubic foot of dirt spread out over six square feet or so.Pamela:4.If they put the device in a house and turned it on what do you think would happen?
Timetravel_0-It might not be as destructive as you think. Depending on how close any object is to the field, it might not do any damage at all except for the floor.Pamela:5.what would happen to a bird or small animal that ran across the field right when it was producing the field to travel?
Timetravel_0-It would be quickly spread out over the lateral length of the gravity field. Imagine being squished and stretched at the same time. I would imagine anything left after that would be vaporized and generate static electricity.Pamela:6.how hot would you say the temperature gets on the outside of the car while in operation?
Timetravel_0-Very! hot. Depending on the power setting, 100 to 120 degrees is average.Pamela:7.is the car in drive mode when the device is activated or is it totally turned off?
Timetravel_0-The car is off and the brake on.Pamela: 8.has the device been tested on ships and airplanes?
Timetravel_0-Not that I’m aware of. Its important that it remain as still as possible so the gravity sensors can get a good lock. The divergence confidence would be way off if the vehicle was moving.Pamela:9.do you wear special uniforms when you time travel? what do they look like and does your group have a timetravel emblem or group name?
Timetravel_0-I wear a standard civilian service uniform during instruction and training. Its sort of a cross between an army uniform and overalls.
We do have a quarter master who distributes clothing appropriate to where ever we are going.
There is a patch. It is round and has a graphic of a Kerr singularity (sort of looks like an eye with gravity waves around it) with two spiral paths running through it’s center. One path represents the “safe” way and the other is the path to God. The bottom of the patch has my unit number along with “Temporal Recon” printed on it.
However, we remove any identification and patches before we go anywhere.Pamela:10.Can you tell us what you know about the famous Philadelphia experiment?
timetravel_0-I am aware of the basic story but I don’t have any other information to prove or disprove it.Pamela:11. How long do we have to talk to you before you leave?
timetravel_0-I’ll be around for a while yet.
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Shadow unregistered posted 22 November 2000 22:13
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Leader of a troup of time traveling Irish Army ants:
Corporal_O’Kerrants.
If you see him
It ain’t ’em, but “EM”
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TimeMaster 1a Member posted 23 November 2000 06:10
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TimeTravel_0:
I have been looking over your time displacement unit and find it interesting.
This is a list of the basic components as I see it.
[1] Singularity drive housing.
[2] Singularity magnetic field coil.
[3] Magnetic field generator / regulator.
[4] Electron mass injection manifold.
[5] Electron regulator.
[6] Electron condenser.
[7] Singularity ??? sensor.
[8] Singularity cooling housing.
[9] Singularity cooling pump.
[10] Singularity cooling supply.
[11] Gravity sensor unit.
[12] Battery supply.
Can you verify these components? What type of sensor is number seven? Why are the four atomic clocks not shown?
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 25 November 2000 09:10
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(Can you verify these components?)
That looks correct. I must apologize for the poor quality of the information. There’s a running inside joke about the technical issues. If the unit has a serious problem its not as if anyone can use those drawings to take the electron manifold off the singularity housing with a flat head screw driver.
(What type of senser is number seven?)
That sensor detects various parameters from the singularity.
(Why are the four atomic clocks not shown?)
There is another page that depicts the computer and clock systems. That technology is not new and not very interesting. There is a cut-a-way drawing of the entire unit that I will probably post before I leave. I’ll send it to Pamalea.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 25 November 2000 13:57
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To Shadow:
UFOs are as much as a mystery to me as they are to you. Would you be surprised to know that there are a great many people who don’t believe in time travel on my world line? I do believe UFOs are a real mystery but I also know that chaos theory dictates that no matter what technology or knowledge we have, there are always unknowns.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 25 November 2000 13:59
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To: Curious
On my world line, it is known that the 5100 series is capable of reading all the IBM code written before the widespread use of APL and Basic. Unfortunately, there are none left that anyone can find on my world line.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 25 November 2000 14:01
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To: Dr. P.Light
It is quite difficult to get used to some of the communication patterns I have come across here. Confusing conversational conflict for anger seems to be a common and typical problem. Why does the expression of differing emotion seem to threaten so many people? I do not feel accused nor was I trying to accuse anyone. Your opinions are as valid as anyone’s and I do not suggest you change them because of anything I say. I never said I was here to start a war although I have strong opinions about what a war would do for you. I am not aggravated by words.
Imagine you are Jewish and you are able to travel back in time to Germany in 1935. All around you are the patterns of thinking and action that will lead to a great deal of harm, death and destruction in just a few years. You have the advantage of knowing what will come but no one will listen to you. In fact, they think you’re insane and the situations you describe could never happen.
What I feel is not anger, it is sadness that you can not see what I see.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 25 November 2000 14:03
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To: IIIIIIIIII
I appreciate your offer for help but I am quite alright. The responsibility for the “disaster” is your own but I do not consider it a disaster. Rebirth is often painful. My world line is not unified under a single government but I would say it is closer to a unified purpose. Isn’t that what you want anyway? No, I do not have the ability to make calculations that would effect world lines to my advantage. Besides the fact that manipulating people for personal gain is wrong, I am of the belief that it is best to make the world line you are on now better.
I like the incredible freedom you have on this world line but I see it as a trap and I fear the cost is the loss of your sense of connection with family and community. Yes, you can self actualize your ambitions but at what cost to the people around you…or yet to be born? The incredible availability of art, literature and limitless resources is hardly taken advantage of as I imagine the number of people sitting in front of their TVs.
No, I have not tried any fast food. Thinking about where the food came from, how it was shipped and treated absolutely terrifies me. I have tried to tell people about CJD disease and it seems to be “catching on” in Europe.
Technologies themselves are not lost but some of the older tools and techniques have been lost. I think there is more detailed information about the war posted earlier.
The energy stored in the singularity is used to create the distortion fields. That energy is created in a particle accelerator. I’m not sure what you mean by “temporal turbulence”. What effect would that have that would need to be overcome?
When I leave, I will return to 2036. The computer I have is expected there. I am unaware of any “true” inter-dimensional device available on this world line now. I would image the effects of such a device would be hard to hide.
My “ship” is not broken. I am here by choice. Don’t you find current events interesting? Again, I’m not sure I understand your last question. Perhaps we should agree to the definitions of a few terms and basic physics before I try to answer that.
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Time02112 Member posted 25 November 2000 17:08
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I am unaware of any “true” interdimensional device available on this world line now. I would image the effects of such a device would be hard to hide.
TT_0 I recommend that you read the following archived posts. Although there are some interesting information about “Existing” portals that traverse the Space-Time continuumn, Time~Travel capability is just one ability that these devices are capable of, and the most interesting factor resides with the fact that they may even pre-date mankinds own history? (perhaps.)
The fact that better equipment is supposed to get the reverse-time traveler closer to their actual past indicates that there is an ACTUAL SPECIFIC past that he is aiming for. So if in practical application the traveler ends up 2% divergent upon arrival in the past and if he stays in that line he finds that it is not a line at all, but that going forward, divergence approaches infinity. If this is so, the only way to get back to ones’ original future is to have left some kind of specified object or condition there as a marker. Reverse time divergence is an artifact of the machine you use and not a built in natural law of physics.
In this idea the past is exactly behind you and the future is always and literally “right around the corner”, It also suggests that the self is fractionalized over several to many parallel time lines even though we may only *realize* one line at once. Organic psyche may be what LIMITS divergence (of time lines). Also if this theory is correct we may be 2% divergent from TT_0 but going forward in this time line he is 98% divergent from us. My logic is pretty good here, how’s my facts?
BTW Someone just gave me a working IBM 5160. Should I save it or toss it?
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Pamela Member posted 26 November 2000 16:32
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To the reader: feel fortunate you are reading this I had a hard time posting it hopefully it will appear this time. More questions from me to Timetravel_0 and his answers.
(can you tell us which of our foods are poison and why?)(What can we do to prepare ourselves for the coming war.)
I tried to consolidate your questions into a basic list. I hope this helps.
[1] Do not eat or use products from any animal that is fed and eats parts of its own dead.
[2] Do not kiss or have intimate relations with anyone you do not know.
[3] Learn basic sanitation and water purification.
[4] Be comfortable around firearms. Learn to shoot and clean a gun.
[5] Get a good first aid kit and learn to use it.
[6] Find 5 people within 100 miles that you trust with your life and stay in contact with them.
[7] Get a copy of the US Constitution and read it.
[8] Eat less.
[9] Get a bicycle and two sets of spare tires. Ride it 10 miles a week.
[10] Consider what you would bring with you if you had to leave your home in 10 min. and never return.
(Can you tell us exactly what event started the war? Is there any way we can stop it?)
The war is a result of faulty politics and desperation from Western leadership during the US civil war. Yes, I suppose you could stop it.
(Are some states or countries safer than others?)
Take a close look at the county by county voting map from the last elections.
(Did they use biological and chemical weapons in the war besides nukes? Did they use mind control weapons?)
Yes there were bio and chem weapons used. No mind control weapons but there are new “non-lethal” weapon systems that turn out to be quite lethal.
( Have you discovered the cure for cancer or aids yet?)
Aids…no. Cancer…some progress.
(If our leaders of this world line were reading this posting and believe who you say you are……..what would you say to them right now?)
Revel in your confidence today because you will not win tomorrow.
(What is the main message you want to convey to us at this time?)
Please, please wake up. Look at the sign posts around you now.
(Can you explain this further when you talked of your patch and the two spirals one was the “safe” way and one was the way to God. Can you expound on that I didn't quite understand it.)
The safe way is the one calculated to take you in time where you want to go, the other path will take you to God (death). Both are equally accepted and anticipated before each trip.
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 26 November 2000).] IP: Logged
Fast Member posted 26 November 2000 17:51
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ive been gone for 4 days and i get back and TT0 is leaving and there are people in doubt over his story??
I have been reading that around 2011 there is some new world order-type government in place…TT0,can u verify?
Also,a while back(page 2 of the posts) you said something was wrong with UNIX in your time…what is wrong?
Fast Out
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Fast Member posted 26 November 2000 18:01
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“–Perhaps I should let you all in on a little secret. No one likes you in the future. This time period is looked at as being full of lazy, self-centered, civicly ignorant sheep. Perhaps you should be less concerned about me and more concerned about that.”
who’s to say that in your own time-line’s future,your not considered barbaric and immature in your own arrogance with the notion that ‘yes we survived…we can handle another war…now lets use the technology that STARTED the bloody war and go back into someone else’s time-line and start a war there too…perhaps then we will have parallel companions with the same motives?’
War is the darkest of all Arts.The Age which follows includes those who practice another of the darkest:arrogance.
Fast Out
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Dr. Light unregistered posted 27 November 2000 01:37
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To: T-T-0
Just a quick question before i jet,
Does the events happening in the Middle east concerning the Arabs and Jews have anything to do with the coming war? I mean to say that since the Jewish population seems to have quite considerable power now in 2000, would they mount a force against other countries or am i under the belief that the war will result from the U.S government election?(among other things).
On another previous note,
You must understand that we cannot just willingly give in our skepticism just because a person comes onto a bulletin board and announces that he/she is from 2036?
Tell me T-T_0, when you first typed a message here announcing your arrival…did anyone believe you? We have had proven “false” time travelers here before as you may have heard. But your considerable grasp of quantum physics and distortion fields seems to justify you.
Seems like your the …”real deal”
P.S–I KNEW that particle acceleraton technology would be part of time travel!!!
Makes sense doesn't it!
P.P.S– Singularity cooling pump?
What do you cool the singularity with?
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Dr .P Light unregistered posted 27 November 2000 04:01
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To TT-0
Just an afterthought i forgot to add to my previous post..
How much more advanced are the computer hardware and software systems in the future?
Are we looking at 110Ghtz computers with stamped silicon system technology as opposed to 200 million microtransistor configurations?
Or do we have the usual “crawling along with hardware advances every 6 months?”
Please feel free to go into details.
Dr P.Light
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Time02112 Member posted 27 November 2000 16:03
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pamela
Member posted 08 April 2000 18:23
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This is interesting: http://www.damanhur.org/time/html/kindred_spirit_s_article.htm
click on “interview with a timetraveller.”
“tales of the unexpected” is his recall of his travels.
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Do you remember this one Pamela? http://tectime.cjb.net
[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 27 November 2000).] IP: Logged
IIIIIIIIII unregistered posted 27 November 2000 22:57
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Dear Time0,
if one found a method to pry apart a magnetic field would this result in a containable release of energy. Would the energy channeled through the tear be in the form of a tachyon field with the forward edge of the tachyon field at a velocity of light. Would the internal tachyons within the tachyon field have a velocity greater then light even though existing in the present subliminal time frame?
inquisitively.
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Time02112 Member posted 28 November 2000 01:29
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TT_0
What can you tell us about
“Space Time Transposing” ?
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Time02112 Member posted 28 November 2000 01:51
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Originaly posted from the coast to coast forum by: Alan Troidl http://post.coasttocoastam.com/showthread.php?threadid=355
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Time travel has been taking place for thousands of years. The foremost device used was the pyramids around the world used by ancient civilizations. This was for time travel and not so much as a burial site as commonly believed. The physics behind this is the sacred geometrics of the pyramid shape.
The geometric shape of the pyramid allows for the concentration of “White Light” as well as “Dark Light”. The dark light was conducted from the area in the pyramid know as the “well” which no one could understand its use as it is a hole that suddenly stops with no apparent purpose or use.
Above the King’s Chamber are huge layered stones with air spaces. One side shiny and smooth and the other side dark and rough. This is a capacitance machine for the separate collection of the 2 light sources.
These 2 light sources, one coming from the earth and the white light from the cosmos above criss crossed but did not intersect each other at the point of the sarcophagus. This technology allowed for time travel and the opening of the “third eye”.
As well, the design of 2 pyramids intersecting base to base to give you the design of the 6 point star, (or the star of david), is the sacred symbol and geometry to enter into zero point time or Christ Consciousness. There are modern day devices that impliment these principals for time travel.
By having your own brain operating at the same harmonic frequency as obtained through man made devices, can give you the same ability to do conscious time travel.
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Time02112 Member posted 28 November 2000 02:01
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There is a fortelling of a significant Time Divergence that is believed to occur during the year 2012 according to the ancient Mayans, yet you claim to be from 2034, and posses a working Time Travel device…
What can you tell us would happen to you, or anyone else who were to use your device, or another one similar in capabilities to travel to the yr. 2012???———–
(also I would like you to tell us what you know, or have been told what takes place in “2112”)
incidentally, since it is common knowledge that many events within our cosmos are cyclical, interesting enough the “Photon Belt” returns to our solar system every 26,000 yrs. and in the given Time frame since it’s last presence in our solar system, that would place it’s peak convergence upon us again at 2012 coincidence?
[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 28 November 2000).] IP: Logged
Time02112 Member posted 29 November 2000 02:22
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TT_0 so many questions, yet you seem to have more “Time” than most to address them, so while I await your replies to my other posts, here goes another….
I’ts no big secret among thos who are “In the Know” of our current worldline’s attempts to control the weather i.e. HAARP & Chemtrails, so What can you tell us about the future of weather control such as the following…
bronze flying globes that float in the air over the earth, and are aligned in grid formations, and lasers joining them together in the air, churning out snow storms, rain, or whatever else they decide to induce,to be created in the given space provided???
——BTW; I traveled to the past, and grabbed an earlier comment you posted.
Does anyone remember this one?
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 02 November 2000 01:00
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I saw the posting requesting the basic systems for a gravity distortion system that will allow time travel. Here they are:
[1] Magnetic housing units for dual microsignularities. [2] Electron injection manifold to alter mass and gravity of microsingularities. [3] Cooling and x-ray venting system [4] Gravity sensors (VGL system) [5] Main clocks (4 cesium units) [6] Main computer units (3)
[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 29 November 2000).] IP: Logged
Shadow unregistered posted 29 November 2000 09:29
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I hate to sound sarcastic but didn’t you some what gloss over the most critical piece of time-travel equipment? I don’t see the $10,000,000+ dollars listed anywhere, that it would take to buy and fabricate all that other stuff.
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Pamela Member posted 30 November 2000 19:43
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time 02112:
this web site from Nov. 1, 2000 at 10:00pm till Nov. 30, 2000 at 7:38pm has been accessed: 4026 times.
I was curious how many hits it got in about a month. well there it is… heheheh
if it continues it will be well over 48,312 a year.
I thought it was interesting. there seems to be a lot of people interested in time travel but few post.
-pamela
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 30 November 2000).] IP: Logged
Perhaps it is better to understand if one understands that all fractional entities less then one is equal to zero spatially and less then zero temperally when measuring the temperal fractional entity in terms of spacial fractional entity known as a plancs length. Of course I could be misinterpreting the definition of a plancs length. Please feel free to correct me if I am incorrect in assuming that what I have gathered as the definition of a temperal zero, and a spacial zero; and the plancs temperal length, and a plancs spacial length as being the same conscept: is wrong. Otherwise the ofore mentioned point of view ought to be considered. (If there is any confusion as to what I am talking about please have a look see under rgrunts time travel posting in order to acquire the basic train of thought behind the above mentioned statement.)
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Pamela Member posted 01 December 2000 23:04
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timetravel_0 said he would be back he is just a little busy right now.
patience is a virtue. time takes… time.
-pamela
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[This message has been edited by Time02112 (edited 02 December 2000).] IP: Logged
Thanks for the knowledge Pamela. I really think that the design or basic model that Time-o gave sounds legit but I think that if he could replace the particle accelerator with a an electromagnetic device that uses only one kind of particle-a magnetic photon- that the energy would be much more stable and easier to control. I also believe that such a replacement would require much less accuracy and would be at the minimum as efficient if not more efficient then the energy production that he is intent on using. A gravity generator would also be just as effective in extracting the necessary energy required to power the device. This will require alot more effort such as discovering how to make a gravitational generator.
sincerely,
Edwin G. Schasteen
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 06 December 2000 21:36
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(What is the popular music like?)
Most of the same music you enjoy is available on archive. However the days of mega-stars playing multiple track studio produced music and lip synching on a huge stage are pretty much isolated to your time period. Like everything else, music is much less centralized. The general trend is away from “computer generated” music and more toward real people playing real instruments. Music is much more of a personal experience. More people know how to read music and play together in small groups.
(Are there any social prejudices)
Yes there are. However, as odd as it may sound, it serves a useful purpose in my time. First, you must realize that your experiences with “prejudice” and mine are different. I would characterize the intolerance you have here as a result of ignorance and fear. I have observed that people with unfounded and irrational fears about their fellow man in this time have the luxury of not having their beliefs tested.
After the war, much of the prejudice you have now was swept away by simple necessity. People had to work and fight together just to survive. This has a way of opening a person’s eyes as to the value of fellow human beings.
What difference does the color of a man’s skin make when you are both fighting against the same enemy to survive or find water or grow food? On my world line, if a man doesn’t pull his weight in the community, then we feel prejudice towards him as a burden to us. This feeling of shame he experiences then makes him realize his responsibilities.
(What is the health care system like)
You would probably not like it at all. I would compare it to what you see in Western movies. We do have hospitals but there are more family doctors and house calls as compared to what you are used to. There is no real organized health care. If you get a serious disease, you die. This however has had a tendency to strengthen the general genetic pool. Doctors are more concerned about things like broken legs, snake bites and delivering healthy babies.
(What is the entertainment industry like, movies, tv, radio, internet?)
Again, entertainment is less centralized. There are “movies” and “tv” but everything is distributed over the net and more people produce their own “shows”.
(How difficult is it for someone to start from nothing and get a job and make a living for themselves?)
Very easy. If you can work with your hands and get along with other people, you will always find work.
(If a group of people were to travel forward in time to avoid a situation, would they be still be able to live in relative peace? Or would they be looked down on for that? Should they just keep that a secret to make things easier?)
From a physical standpoint, I suppose that would work if you were trying to escape a natural disaster. But you must consider that trying to “escape” by time traveling has it’s own problems. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by being looked down on.
(I have been reading that around 2011 there is some new world order-type government in place…TT0,can u verify?)
On my world line in 2011, the United States is in the middle of a civil war that has dramatic effects on most of the other Western governments.
(Also,a while back(page 2 of the posts) you said something was wrong with UNIX in your time…what is wrong?)
Yes… and with your’s too. I have to believe there must be a UNIX expert out there someplace that can confirm that. I’m not exactly sure what the technical issue is but I believe some sort of UNIX system registry stops in 2038.
(Does the events happening in the Middle east concerning the Arabs and Jews have anything to do with the coming war? )
Yes.
(I mean to say that since the jewish population seems to have quite considerable power now in 2000…)
I’m not sure what power you are referring to.
(Tell me T-T_0, when you first typed a message here announcing your arrival…did anyone believe you?)
I don’t know if anyone believes me now. But you must realize that I don’t expect anyone to believe me or does it affect me one way or the other. I enjoy these conversations too. What would you expect a time traveler to say or do in your time?
(What do you cool the singularity with?)
Very highly technical, cooling stuff. [sorry, I don’t get much of a chance to be a wise guy ]
(How much more advanced are the computer hardware and software systems in the future? )
Good question! I would say the biggest difference is in the reliability of the hardware and software. It absolutely amazes me how willing people are here to accept computer and software failures on such a regular basis.
I was very surprised to see how prolific it is. You can look forward to very stringent manufacturing parameters and programming discipline. Think back to the early days of the computer and how much work and cleverness it took to fit those programs into such small areas of memory.
Has more and cheaper memory brought better programs or just more programs?
As far as technical specifics, I’m afraid I can not go into too much detail. However, I will tell you that processor speed and memory size take dramatic leaps forward.
(if one found a method to pryapart a magnetic field would this result in a containable release of energy. Would the energy channeled through the tear be in the form of a tachyon field with the forward edge of the tachyon field at a velocity of light. Would the internal tachyons within the tachyon field have a velocity greater then light even though existing in the present subluminal time frame? inquisitively.)
Hmmm… I afraid my notebook on Maxwell’s equations isn’t with me and I must say again that I am not a physicist. As far as tachyons goes, it’s my understanding that they can not exist at all unless they are created and “traveling” faster than light. As far as time travel goes, I’m afraid tachyons are merely useful for describing various quirky effects of strange matter.
Time 02112 has asked me some questions that I must give further thought to. I will post again as soon as I get a chance.
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Pamela Member posted 08 December 2000 01:08
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Timetraveler_0-
I thought people might be interested in seeing the drawing of the patch you sent me that you wear on your uniform. minus the unit number and the name TEMPORAL RECON.
I know you said you didnt care if i posted it or not. for anyone who would like to see it Doc has posted it on his site here:http://pub2.ezboard.com/bmagisystems then click on “timelords anonymous” and it is after your other pictures on the “anonymous gravity/time device pictures” I tried to do a direct link but it didnt work.
…and another one, (Cleaned & Enlarged) version here:> http://www.egroups.com/files/tapten/TAP-TEN/TT_0/T-T+Insignia.jpg
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Roby unregistered posted 10 December 2000 12:07
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I was just wondering who won the Super Bowl in the year 2001?
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Tiger Cohen Junior Member posted 10 December 2000 09:24
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Hello TT_O!
I have read some of the concourse up to the end of this topic’s dialogue. I find your answers to questions posed, quite … um, shall we say … creative. To say the least you are a very imaginative person.
I am not here debunking your travels or to discount your stated technology, but I do have just one question.
If your machine is capable of traveling back through time from future earth to now, I wonder how your vehicle landed on this earth at all? You obviously know that this earth and your earth do not occupy the same quadrant of space. Our earth is rotating along it’s axis at 1600kph and moving on an elliptical orbit around a sun in a solar system which itself is circling and expanding the galactic center of our galaxy which is itself ever-expanding outward. In truth your machine should (but doesn’t) also have some kind of ‘warp’ capability incorporated in it in order to go back in space to the point where we are now. It’s a wonder that your vehicle didn’t end up in deep space or caught in the gravity well of some other stellar mass. You would also need a life support system to sustain you until you were within earth’s atmosphere.
Oh, I know that you may claim to have access to galactic stellar cartography from this period of space and time, but how would you account for the earth’s rotational speed as well as the moon’s gravitation effect and lastly the avoidance of man made structures which are not totally mapped even by our geosynchronus comsats of this day?
I’m not worried about pieces of dirt within your temporal field or even the odd stray cat being dispersed by your resulting static electricity, but I am curious as to how you overcome all of these obstacles from the contoured seat of what you claim is just a time machine?
Pamela seemed concerned with the ‘go nowhere ripple effect’ that might occur when a time machine left and then returned, but I find even that logic flawed. I maintain that a time machine would imprint itself spatially upon a certain time period. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity would dictate that even if you left in such a machine for two minutes, this time would continue to advance and this world would still move through space and rotate. Therefore a time machine would NOT appear to stand still but rather would (depending upon the time interval) appear to suddenly defy gravity as it disappeared and then, free of the gravitational momentum, would reappear in near or far space. If you think my logic is faulty, then try jumping high in the air from the back of a flatbed truck while it moves along at freeway speeds.
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 10 December 2000 11:00
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I will try to answer all of your questions however, I have noticed that there seems to be a difficulty in entering a conversation in the middle. Most of the following questions I have answered at length in previous posts. I understand how important it is to have these answers when new people read portions of the posting but I find it tiring to keep repeating myself. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
(I was just wondering who won the Super Bowl in the year 2001?)
I do not answer questions like this. Although I don’t really know the motivation for the question…I can guess. If a time traveler had knowledge of your future, and you could only ask one question, would this be it? Besides, can you tell me if it rained in New York on June 4th 1932? You are from their future so should you know that?
(I have read some of the concourse up to the end of this topic’s dialogue…. 1. If your machine is capable of traveling back through time from future earth to now, I wonder how your vehicle landed on this earth at all? You obviously know that this earth and your earth do not occupy the same quadrant of space…. You would also need a life support system to sustain you until you were within earth’s atmosphere… and lastly the avoidance of man made structures…)
This is actually a very good question that parts and pieces of the answer are scattered around in previous postings. I am often surprised that it is not the first one asked.
You are correct, this problem is actually the most difficult part of time travel. Although some of your assumptions about matter displacement are a bit off, the problem is real. Inside the displacement unit are a series of very sensitive clocks and gravity sensors.
This system is called the VGL (variable gravity lock).
In simple terms, before the unit “leaves” a world line, it takes a base reading of the local gravity and adjusts the Tipler sinusoid to “lock” into that position. Although the tmporal physics of this statement are wrong, in effect, it holds you to the “Earth”. During travel, it periodically checks to see that the field has not varied. If it does, it stops and reverses course or drops out at that point. Buildings and other terrain features are avoided in the same way.
Yes, we do bring oxygen in the vehicle with us but we do not lose atmospheric pressure.
(Pamela seemed concerned with the ‘go nowhere ripple effect’ that might occur when a time machine left and then returned, but I find even that logic flawed. I maintain that a time machine would imprint itself spatially upon a certain time period.)
I’m not sure what you mean by imprint?
(Einstein’s Theory of Relativity would dictate that even if you left in such a machine for two minutes, this time would continue to advance and this world would still move through space and rotate.)
Yes that is correct.
(Therefore a time machine would NOT appear to stand still but rather would (depending upon the time interval) appear to suddenly defy gravity as it disappeared and then, free of the gravitational momentum, would reappear in near or far space.)
Please see VGL system above. Also, please be aware that from the viewpoint of the time traveler, the displacement unit actually left and then returned. The viewer does not experience this. Think of it as a Gosub statement in a computer program.
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Pamela Member posted 10 December 2000 11:32
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from an e-mail to timetraveler_0 and his answers. (TTO-If any of this is different from what you sent me please let me know.this is copied and pasted.)
>1. what type of money system do you have on your world line? meaning how do you buy and sell things? Do you have the same type of money or do we have a cashless society? such as smart cards, credit cards or ID biochips.
Its not very different than it is now. Yes, we have money and credit cards. However, like everything else, the monetary system is decentralized. Banking is based mostly around the community structure. There are no multinational banking or computerized economic systems. There are also no income taxes.
>2. do you still use radio transponders to ID your cattle and other farm animals?
Some of the larger farm communities use electronic markers and fences. I am not a farmer so I don’t have very many details about that.
>3.Is the Global Positioning Satellite system still in place around the Earth?
Oh yes! In fact, the unit I have with me works here. I’m not sure why that surprises me. here are also a great many communications and internet satellite systems.
>4.Do you still have the American Flag as your flag? does it look different or is there a new flag?
Yes, we still have the flag. There is a debate about changing it from 50 stars to 5.
>5.Is there some states or areas that have new names ? is there a NewDenver, Kansas by any chance?
Not that I can think of… No major cities anyway. I am aware that some smaller towns changed their names after the war and most universities have the word “fort” before them on my world line.
>6. How many weeks of training is required before you timetravel? to what extent does the training involve? Are you able to make basic emergency repairs to the unit?
I started training on the recommendation of my PS officer when I got out of school in 34. I graduated in March of 35. Actual hands on training started soon after that and I left 2036 in April. No, there are not very many repairs I can make to the unit. The unit is built very well but the tolerances are very small. I could probably repair the electrical systems and it will accept inputs from older computers.
>7.Are you able to fish or are the waters polluted from fallout from the war?
Yes, we can fish. There are some areas that are still too dangerous to spend a lot of time in so we can’t fish in those areas.
>8.Are you aware of any time travelers from our time or other world lines that have entered your world line? Have you spoke to any of them?
No I am not aware. But I accept the possibility.
>9.What type of public transportation is used to get around in your cities?
A high speed train system connects the larger cities. Roads are still used for cars and many people ride horses and bikes.
>10. What things do you think you will take back with you from this time?
Books! I’m also taking copies of family photos that were lost during the war.
>11. How many weeks have you been in this world line? when did you arrive?
That I must keep to myself right now.
>12. What kind of books do you like to read? What kind of music do you like? do you play a musical instrument?
I read a great deal of history. I like piano classics and some older rock and roll. (why did that type of music go so far down hill?) No, I don’t play any instruments myself.
>13.Are you concerned about our government investigating you or trying to seize you or your device?
Not really. In order to find me, they would have to believe time travel is possible.
>14. are you videotaping or taking pictures of the events going on here to bring back with you to your time?
Oh yes.
>15. what is your favorite food to eat? here and in your world line.
Its very hard for me to find food here. It all scares the Hell out of me. I’ve found a couple of local farms where I am resonably sure the raw food is safe and my mother started a garden for me.
>16.does the cure for cancer have any thing to do with genetics?
Again…I’m no expert. I believe there is a great deal of progress in treating the cancer cells with modified viruses. So I guess the answer is yes.
>17.Do you have an increase in tornados and earthquakes than what we have now? is the average temperature in Florida in your time about the same as it is here? or is it different?
That’s one area I’ve decided not to talk about…sorry. The average temperature worldwide is a bit cooler.
>18. are any of the other 7 time travelers with you in this world line or are you by yourself?
No. They are off doing something else I’m sure.
>19. are there time travel web sites in the future? does this one still exist?
Time travel is a major point of social discussion. I’ll have to check when I get back. Most of the larger servers that were in the major cities were lost or destroyed. I’ll try to bring a copy back with me. Perhaps you can check that in your 2036.
>20.do you feel any connection at all to your other 2 year old self on this world line? does it seem like you or someone totally different? who does he think you are when you talk to him?
He calls me uncle. Yes, there is a connection. He feels like a younger brother. Sometimes I get mixed emotions watching him and realize I’m watching the origins of my personality. I tend to playfully criticize my father about that.
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djayr42 Member posted 10 December 2000 13:00
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Time Travel_0, some more questions for you. What is the education system like? For children? For adults? Is there more home schooling then there is now. What are the class sizes like? Is there any emphasis on a subject or subjects that are don’t exist now?
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Rgrunt unregistered posted 10 December 2000 13:10
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Are you going to take your family away with you to protect them from the coming events. Is this a temptation for you? Aren’t you worried about somebody finding your ship?
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Pamela Member posted 11 December 2000 12:58
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Reflecting upon the words timetravler_0 has shared with me personally and what I have posted of some of our conversations and watching the news everyday seeing what is happening now in Florida and the courts has made me think deeply upon the United States and the US constitution. What the US was founded on originally.
I found a web site that has the US constitution and the bill of rights here:
http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/charters.html
for anybody interested in reading it.
I printed out the whole constitution including the bill of rights and then sat down and read the whole thing out loud to myself thinking deeply on the rights our founding fathers were trying to protect.
For those of you U.S. citizens who cant remember the constitution beyond the words, “we the people.” its probably time to take another look. You never know what the future will be like. or how it will change.
The future is up to us…..
At the beginning of the constitution the first three words “WE THE PEOPLE..” was written in large letters on purpose.
sincerely,
pamela
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Dr Light unregistered posted 11 December 2000 05:27
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TT-O,
Could you elaborate on my previous questions..
I.E
How and why do the arabs/jews become entangled in the civil war of the U.S.A?
Also, about my previous question.. If you would look around you may notice that jewish poeple seem to hold “considerable” power concering major political positions both in America and Israel. For instance the latest technology concerning “defensive” technology
which you might think is reserved only for the superpowers, somehow made its way into Israel’s hands…
My point is that they seem to be an “underhand” world power that no-one seems to recognize,(or so it seems)
Also about the Arab side of affairs, they seem to be holding Biological weapons and thermonuclear weaponry. Do they end up launching these weapons against America or any other power?
I hope that cleared up my points somewhat.
Thanks,
Dr.P.Light
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Shadow unregistered posted 12 December 2000 20:36
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To TT-0
“Show me the money!” More impressive than the pix of your TT machine would be a clear photo of your post 2000 pocket change and paper currency.
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Fast Member posted 12 December 2000 21:01
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yes,im with shadow.show me the money
i remember reading somewhere online that somebody met their future self and got a dollar’s worth of quarters from the future… did they ever finish the 50 State Quarters,or did war break out and they halted it??
Fast Out
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Time02112 Member posted 13 December 2000 03:15
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Count me in on that on also (Good point)
while your at it, why not give us all a video, and provide us with a Link that would allow us to watch online, demonstrating your machine in use?
(perhaps as a parting gift.)
I still (patiently, patiently, PATIENTLY) await answers to several previous questions.
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Trintius unregistered posted 13 December 2000 08:17
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TimeTravel_0 a few questions,
– Just wondering who actually wins the US election, it’s fair question and im assuming they have Encyclopedia’s in the year 2036 so you have no excuse for not knowing the history of your own country?
– Secondly, thanks to national pride I must ask what becomes of Australia during and after the war?
Thanks for your time.
P.S – Dr Light stop peppering the poor time traveler with monotonous questions about Arabs and Jews, we all know you guys are gunna take over the world one day so there's no need to rub it in
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TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 13 December 2000 12:44
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Well…it looks like the election is almost over. I have been quite busy in the last few days and I appreciate everyone’s patience. I should be thanking you for listening and even if everything I have said before means nothing, I expect it has at least been entertaining. I went through the postings looking for questions I have not addressed yet. I hope I got to all of them. I get my email remotely through about three different systems and I use one of your hand-held computer units to write with. In a few days, I would like to send Pamela a list of questions of my own. As you know, one of my areas of expertise is in history and the information I have gathered has been invaluable. Although I am not leaving right away, I would like to include some of your thoughts in my report.
(Who’s to say that someone that will read this board, will be the one to actually invent the means for the C204 (or other units) to be operational? The divergence factor is so low, everybody will forget about this in a short time. I wouldn’t worry about it When Timetravel_0 goes back, this will be nothing but a memory…)
This statement is quite insightful. One of the reasons I have been communicating this way is so that others that do not post who I have directed here can see some of the information I have shared with you.
(You speak of 1 & 2 % “divergence” as being unimportant. I don’t get it. Like for example if OUR IBM5100 is 1% different than the code you have to run on it, it ain’t gonna work right. One percent in the FL vote count would be important. If I could see only 99% of the cars on the road it would be important to me. So, what exactly is X% divergent, and why is it not a major problem?)
The divergence measurement refers to the local gravitational field as compared to the point of origin. It is mearly an empirical indicator of overall change in a world line. Some things that are quite different on one world line have very little effect as time passes and the world lines appear to “converge” again and look very similar. World line changes are not exponential, they act more like chaotic attractors with varying effect depending on their size and location.
(Reading your posts I get conflicting ideas about what effect our timeline has on yours. Didn’t you say that “another you” was here now as a two year old child? Is the ‘Everret Many Worlds’ interpretation of quantum mechanics it the correct one then? You seem to look at us as representative of your ACTUAL predecessors. There is something a bit unnerving about that. In fact the main reason why I think you might be genuine is that I have trouble thinking LIKE you do. I would expect this of an encounter with a “Chrono-alien”.)
You are correct in your thinking. This world line is not mine but it looks very similar. It may be compared to reading two books that are the same. I can jump back and forth between them and still see the same story. I do not consider you true representatives of my world line but I do know something of how the story ends. In consideration of Everret-Wheeler, the reason we don’t know if Schrodinger’s cat is dead is because it might have had a time machine.
(Russia has “ALWAYS” been considered the first Country, to be suspect of a probable Nuclear Attack against the USA, and I, for one have NEVER relinquished the thought that inevitably, this will happen while I remain alive to witness this unfortunate tragedy come to fruition.)
You are also correct but I want to add a twist to your thinking. Russia’s enemy in the United States is not you, the average person. Russia’s enemy is the United States government.
(The fact that better equipment is supposed to get the reverse-time traveler closer to their actual past indicates that there is an ACTUAL SPECIFIC past that he is aiming for. So if in practical application the traveler ends up 2% divergent upon arrival in the past and if he stays in that line he finds that it is not a line at all, but that going forward, divergence approaches infinity.)
Yes, this is true. If I go forward on this world line, the future will not be my future. I get home by going back to 1975 before I arrived and then going forward to 2036.
(Also if this theory is correct we may be 2% divergent from TT_0 but going forward in this time line he is 98% divergent from us. My logic is pretty good here, how’s my facts?)
Your deductions are quite accurate. (I’m not stating yet that I did… but) what if I told you I did go forward to “your” 2036 and it looks nothing like mine. It is quite possible.
(BTW Someone just gave me a working IBM 5160. Should I save it or toss it?)
Toss it. The 5100 is the interesting machine.
(Does the events happening in the Middle east concerning the Arabs and Jews have anything to do with the coming war? I mean to say that since the Jewish population seems to have quite considerable power now in 2000, would they mount a force against other countries or am I under the belief that the war will result from the U.S government election?(among other things).)
Real disruptions in world events begin with the destabilization of the West as a result of degrading US foreign policy and consistency. This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. The Jewish population in Israel is not prepared for a true offensive war. They are prepared for the ultimate defense. Wavering western support for Israel is what gives Israel’s neighbors the confidence to attack. The last resort for a defensive Israel and it’s offensive Arab neighbors is to use weapons of mass destruction. In the grand scheme of things, the war in the middle-east is a part of what’s to come, not the cause.
(What can you tell us about “Space Time Transposing” ?)
Perhaps you could describe what you mean? It appears to be space travel or the effect of similar atomic particles that seem to be related over great distances. Again, please forgive my ignorance, I am not a trained physist.
(There is a foretelling of a significant Time Divergence that is believed to occur during the year 2012 according to the ancient Mayans, yet you claim to be from 2034, and posses a working Time Travel device… What can you tell us would happen to you, or anyone else who were to use your device, or another one similar in capabilities to travel to the yr. 2012???———-also I would like you to tell us what you know, or have been told what takes place in “2112”)
In my 2012, I was 14 years old spending most of my time living, running and hiding in the woods and rivers of central Florida. The civil war was in its 7th year and the world war was three years away. Yes, there are unusual events in 2012 but they do not cause the world to end. Unfortunately, I have decided not to discuss events that you or I can do anything about. It is important that they be a surprise. Perhaps you are familiar with the story of the Red Sea and the Egyptians?
(It’s no big secret among those who are “In the Know” of our current world line’s attempts to control the weather i.e. HAARP & Chemtrails, so What can you tell us about the future of weather control such as the following… bronze flying globes that float in the air over the earth, and are aligned in grid formations, and lasers joining them together in the air, churning out snow storms, rain, or whatever else they decide to induce, to be created in the given space provided???)
I must admit I am unfamiliar with most of what you have asked here. I am aware of the Harp system but I don’t know how they would control weather with it.
(What is the education system like? For children? For adults? Is there more home schooling then there is now. What are the class sizes like? Is there any emphasis on a subject or subjects that are don’t exist now?)
The education system has been through many changes. School in 2036 is no longer a political indoctrination system and students “learn how to learn”. Since community activity varies from place to place, the emphasis on basic reading, math and language is augmented with skills particular to the community. One school may emphasis farming while another teaches woodworking.
Having children is a bit different and less common in 2036.
A typical school day involves a setting very much like it was 100 years ago with smaller classes and few administrators to teachers. Other areas of study that are less common now are history, citizenship and personal economics.
(Are you going to take your family away with you to protect them from the coming events. Is this a temptation for you? Aren’t you worried about somebody finding your ship?)
No I am not taking them with me but I am trying to prepare them for the future as a promise to my Grandfather in 1975. I am not really that concerned about the “time machine”. It is quite safe.
(How and why do the Arabs Jews become entangled in the civil war of the U.S.A?)
They are not directly involved but political situations are dependant on Western stability, which collapses in 2005.
(Also about the Arab side of affairs, they seem to be holding Biological weapons and thermonuclear weaponry. Do they end up launching these weapons against America or any other power? )
Not against America but they are used against each other.
(“Show me the money!” More impressive than the pix of your TT machine would be a clear photo of your post 2000 pocket change and paper currency.)
I am disappointed that you feel I am trying to impress you. Why would I bring money from 2036 with me? Besides, isn’t that something that could easily be faked? Now if I told you I was your cousin’s brother and I knew about that scare on your left leg…that would convince you.
(while your at it, why not give us all a video, and provide us with a Link that would allow us to watch online, demonstrating your machine in use?(perhaps as a parting gift.)
That is an interesting idea. I will look into how to do that.
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Time02112 Member posted 13 December 2000 18:12
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While your at it TT_0, don’t forget to place a v-cam inside with you, so we can observe the video images that appear through your eyes as you travel, as well as another observing yourself, and a third one outside of the field, observing you depart, and return.
I’m talking 3 V-Cams, to give us these different observations with, which means you have to leave & return to us, to deliver the images.
This would be more valuable than giving us picture of future money, also it would really be way cool, if you could send us video images of the earth below, while observing from an aircraft, what this future landscape of yours looks like, after this great flood of the East & Western U.S. coastal areas that is supposed to take place.
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Time02112 Member posted 13 December 2000 18:19
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BTW TT_0, whatever you can arrange would be appreciated, if you cannot get access to an aircraft, you “DO” have access to remote Sattalight imagery, so either way, you must be capable of this permitting you have the free will to leave & return as you wish.
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Curious unregistered posted 13 December 2000 19:03
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TT_O, an easy example (or proof) would be to video tape the jump to 1975 and give the video recorder and tape to your self (the you that has already been there/just arrived). That way you don’t have to jump back and fourth. The video tape and recorder would then be available to you now. you could send the tape to someone (when you leave, we don’t need any more time-loops).That way there is no danger of divergence in this time-line. Just a thought.
Do you believe in the lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior?
Would it be safe to assume that the substance of time itself might be classified as the sum of two equal opposite forces acting in direct cancellation?
If the person or persons responsible for the development of time travel technologies were posting on this sight would you let them know that they were or are responsible. If so would you do so directly or would you hint it only. Or would you use a third option that is to be careful not to say anything that would point out the person or persons responsible neither to the persons responsible themselves nor to the other persons that are on this forum?
In short will you say something a coded message that the person or persons responsible only will be able to pick up on or recognize to know that they are the ones responsible for the development of the technologies.
It can be anything that the person or persons will recognize as indisputable evidence not as your being valid but as them being the ones responsible for the development?
If you are not willing to answer this please just be straight forward about this and answer that you are unwilling to let the persons no who they are.
If you have any questions as to my identity ask pamela for she knows who I am and is free to oblige you the information. If you wish to answer this privately even if the answer is no fill free to e-mail me at rgrunt@yahoo.com . I believe that is all the questions I have for know please have a good trip back and thanks for visiting our time line it has been an honor. On behalf of us all I welcome you to return any time you wish. Goodluck and Godspeed. Live long and live well.
sincerely,
Lcpl Edwin Gary Schasteen U.S.M.C. Active
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Pamela Member posted 13 December 2000 23:52
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(Here are Timetraveler_0’s questions to everyone on the forum that he sent to me. )
TTO:
Sure thing, here are your questions. my answers follow.
sincerely,
pamela
Dear Pamela,
In my last posting, I said I would come up with questions of my own and send them to you to post. I would appreciate it if you would do that and answer them yourself. I would like to include the opinions of the people I have met in my report when I return home.
Thanks for the help.
[1] According to the Constitution, who do you think has the final word on choosing a President and why? [2] Do you think the Electoral College should be continued? [3] Why do you think the Bill of Rights was written? [4] What is your opinion of the second amendment to the Bill of Rights? [5] Does anyone know what industry is the largest US political contributor? [6] Does anyone know who owns the majority of the solar power research and development companies? [7] Imagine you have all the money and power you desire. What do you see yourself doing? [8] What is the longest distance you ever ran and/or walked at one time without stopping? [9] What is the longest period of time you went without food? [10] Do you know what Cholera is and how to avoid getting it?
TTO:
To tell you the truth politics never really interested me that much…until now. As I can see now how the corruption of it can ruin an entire nation.
So I don’t really have a lot of info in that area.
My interests were more in Medical research and other areas of science. In fact I only became interested in time-travel and quantum physics because of the many experiences I started having as I have shared some of those with you. But I will answer the best I can.(good thing I printed out the constitution and the bill of rights! )
(1. According to the Constitution, who do you think has the final word on choosing a President and why? Do you think the Electoral College should be continued?)
I think the people should have the final word on who should become president. whoever has the most votes should win. (I had to go back and add this…I think every last vote should count. absolutely none thrown out.a system should be in place to eliminate ballots that cannot be read such as if the chad is not fully pierced you should see a light blink and maybe a small beeping sound heard to redo it. I think a whole new voting system is needed.)
(3. Why do you think the Bill of Rights was written?)
To protect the rights of the people and to keep them free.
(4. What is your opinion of the second amendment to the Bill of Rights?)
I beleive it is to keep the government from becoming corrupt and taking over and enslaving the people under tyranny.
(5. Does anyone know what industry is the largest US political contributor? Does anyone know who owns the majority of the solar power research and development companies?)
sorry, I dont know the answer to these two questions.
(7. Imagine you have all the money and power you desire. What do you see yourself doing?)
Hmmm, Im not really a power, money hungry person. but if I had more money my heart will still be in helping other people. The greatest joy is knowing you’ve made a difference in someone elses life. That you played a part in creating a ripple of good that ripples out from generation to generation. every time you help someone you not only help them but every person they touch from that moment on. I’d probably be more free to do more research. and make new and exciting discoveries. Id spend more time doing things that mattered for eternity and not just to pay bills and taxes. Id also be more free to learn,explore and grow. as well as helping others do so.
one thing I would get though…I would DEFINETELY get a new computer!! (HEEEHEE) mines a piece of crap! I could stay on longer before it crashed or freezed up on me with an error message!
(8. What is the longest distance you ever ran and/or walked at one time without stopping?)
hmmm without stopping at ALL? I dont know. I walked a 20 mile walkathon once. (I think for cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy) I dont think we stopped much but we stop at the little boothes they had set up along the way to get water to drink.
(9. What is the longest period of time you went without food?)
4 days.
(10. Do you know what Cholera is and how to avoid getting it?)
Cholera is an acute bacterial infection of the small intestine. The disease is caused by water and food that have been contaminated by feces of persons previously infected. The symptoms are caused by toxic substances produced by the infecting organism which mostly causes watery diarrhea and depletes the body of fluids and minerals.
How to avoid getting it? There is currently a cholera vaccine available for people traveling to areas where the infection is endemic. Other preventive measures you could take would include drinking only boiled or bottled water and eating only cooked foods.
Treatment includes administration of antibiotics to destroy the infecting bacteria and to restore the fluids and electrolytes with intravenous solutions.
sincerely,
pamela
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 14 December 2000).] IP: Logged
Shadow unregistered posted 14 December 2000 10:01
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If an advertisement is a snow job then public education is a fullblown blizzard. We are for example tought in high school that there are *THREE* branches of government. There are *FOUR* branches of government in the US. The fourth being “We the People*. To say that that fact gets “glossed over” would be quite the understatement. Every citizen of the US is an official part of the the Official Government. HOWEVER we get to vote only once every two years and it seems that even then our overlings have a bit too much trouble “counting” the votes.
What was the catch word last election? “Disenfranchised”. Don’t they friggen wish. The People will be heard from…..sooner or later.
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TimeMaster 1a Member posted 14 December 2000 10:54
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There is an article in Discover magazine that express physicist Julian Barbour theorizes of time. Anyone searching for an understanding of the true nature of time would do well to read this article. Barbour is a theoretical physics that has devoted nearly 40 years to the study of time. There are also links to his home page at discover.com, look under current issue.
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Shadow unregistered posted 14 December 2000 21:13
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Question #7 What would I do with plenty of money & power? First I build a bomb shelter, then think about it.
Oh yeah, TT-0, just supposing I do have a scar on my left leg, *exactly* where would it be located? And wouldn’t my cousins’ brother just be another cousin?
You got me on the pocket change. If one were not trying to prove anything I guess they would have left their wallet in the future. But doesn’t that mean that you would have to bring some antique money back here with you? Like when I go to France I can buy Franks when I get there. But if one were to exchange 2036 dollars for 2000 dollars ….. well lets just say they wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while.
Ok, so gold is gold and that would solve the exchange problem.
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Earthship Junior Member posted 15 December 2000 02:26
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TT 0
Time – I don’t believe it actually exists. Or rather, it exists as a series of “now moments” for eternity (that’s a paradox if i ever saw one).
My question is; SHOULD we try to avoid this pending calamity (ww3) in our future? It seems that to bring about true change, some growing pains are needed to be experienced.
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Dr Light unregistered posted 16 December 2000 02:48
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To- Trintius
…..Damn straight…!!!
(laughs)
Operation Domination is in action!!
P.S—-To any American posting here…
Exactly how many Americans voted for the president out of the entire U.S.A?
Thanks for your…(ahem)…”time”
Dr.P.Light
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Pamela Member posted 16 December 2000 03:56
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Hey! Hows come nobody but me has taken the time to answer timetraveler_0’s questions?
Do you really think that is fair?
He has tried to answer all of our questions.
he only asked ten. we have asked him alot.
shadow answered one.
sincerely,
pamela
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djayr42 Member posted 16 December 2000 17:08
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Some answers for TT_0:
[1] According to the Constitution, who do you think has the final word on choosing a President and why?
I would say that the senate could use article 1 section 3 and appoint a president pro tem. or they can use the 20th amendment section 3. this could have been used in the recent case and a run off election could have been done.
[2] Do you think the Electoral College should be continued?
Yes, it can disagree with the popular vote. I thought the popular vote was more democratic.
[3] Why do you think the Bill of Rights was written?
To preserve order and protect the people and to give them a sense of participation in the formation of policy in government.
[4] What is your opinion of the second amendment to the Bill of Rights?
It seems as though I suffer from being myopic as well, the right to bear arms is all I ever heard. I think it has been taken out of context as an excuse to have a gun and do anything you want with it. I think there should be some sort of responsibility amendment.
[5] Does anyone know what industry is the largest US political contributor?
I thought it was the tobacco industry.
[6] Does anyone know who owns the majority of the solar power research and development companies?
Other major power companies, P.G.+E, Con Edison. Dow Chemical also is in there.
[7] Imagine you have all the money and power you desire. What do you see yourself doing?
Two things. Manufacturing electric cars – the right way. Research in my own lab.
[8] What is the longest distance you ever ran and/or walked at one time without stopping?
Along time ago, 15 miles – a walk-a-thon for muscular dystrophy. More recently, 1 mile to and from work. I like to see the stars in the early morning while going to work
[9] What is the longest period of time you went without food?
7 days, just to see if I could. 24 hours no water no food, 168 hours no sleep. Not in that order and not all at once 🙂
[10] Do you know what Cholera is and how to avoid getting it?
Not sure on this one. I think it has something to do with un-purified water. You would need to boil the water or add a purifying agent to it.
Hows that Pam? :-))
[This message has been edited by djayr42 (edited 16 December 2000).] IP: Logged
Pamela Member posted 16 December 2000 21:04
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djayr42,
Ok,.. I feel a little better now. )
-pamela
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Trintius unregistered posted 16 December 2000 23:10
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quote:
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Originally posted by Dr Light
Exactly how many Americans voted for the president out of the entire U.S.A?
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Shouldn’t be ‘how many Americans voted for the correct president
Amazing country though, they’ve proved –
– They can’t design ballot papers
– They can’t read ballot papers
– They can’t use ballot papers
– They can’t count
– They don’t want to count
– They file law suits against each other because they can’t count
– It takes them 2 months to elect a head of state
– Their head of state can’t read ballot papers or count
– etc etc etc
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Time02112 Member posted 17 December 2000 17:21
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What ever happened to “Exentuate The Positive” ??
Frankly, I’ve heard enough negativity as to what we “Cannot” do, or what others have “Failed” to do. Why not discuss what we “Can” do, or what we can attempt to do that may lead to success in spite of all these failures?
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Pamela Member posted 17 December 2000 20:24
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Trintius:
America may have some problems ,as all countries do, but its still a great country. its a beautiful country. I always liked this popular song:
“I am proud to be an American
where atleast I know Im free
and I honor those that fought
to give that right to me.
And I’d gladly stand up next to them
and defend her still today,
There aint no country like it,
God bless the USA!”
Its unethical to down someone elses country infront of them. Almost everybody is proud of their own countries. no matter what has happened in the past.Iam sure you are proud of Australia. Changes may need to be made here but I still love America.
I agree with you Time02112 I would much rather think on the positive.
sincerely,
pamela
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Shadow unregistered posted 17 December 2000 20:40
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TT-0
I think you know very well the answers to the questions you have asked. You just want to guage the quality of our replies, or just remind us that we SHOULD be up to speed on our constitutional rights and responsibilities.
A young person should want to survive and live for better days ahead. At some point, however, an older person will realize, especially in the face of disaster, that better days are NOT on the horizon…….ever. What you are forcasting for 95% of the present population is 20 years of hell followed by survivors in the rubble. I’ve already put in my 40 year shift of work and worry. Why should we fret over politics on our way to slaughter? Isn’t that like telling the Captain of the Titanic, that all he has to do to save the ship is to back up really fast after the collision?
It was obvious 5 to 10 YEARS ago that we’ve been SOLD OUT. For us, the game is over. I should offer an excuse for apathy? It should do for a reason at least. Actually TT-O, maybe in you we can see that eventually SOMEBODY finds their friggin guts and puts an end to the madness.
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Pamela Member posted 17 December 2000 23:38
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Don’t give up shadow. even in the midst of caos there is always hope. our end doesnt have to be like his end.
there are some people even as we speak that are actively making a time machine.
If this outcome for us would actually be true we have time on are side now.
the outcome of this time is UNKNOWN.
If there is one timetraveler.. there are many.
we can change the future, Shadow.
next comes the brave souls that are willing to try.
as he said when he uses his machine that going to another time line or dieing is both equally accepted.
How brave are we? I am not afraid of dieing.
I have done it before.
When the time comes….I will go.
I will be willing to go and make it right.
[This message has been edited by pamela (edited 18 December 2000).] IP: Logged
Dr Light unregistered posted 18 December 2000 01:23
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To Trintius,
You do not realize how long i laughed after reading that post but let me assure you I found it…. mildly amusing.
Thank you.
I will be back with more questions for T-T0 later in the week
Dr.P.Light
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Fast Member posted 19 December 2000 09:53
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for all we know,it was TT-0 who indirectly started the war.perhaps the TT-0 who traveled to HIS timeline was captured and they assimilated his General Electric Time Machine which spurred the war?
when did he say the war started,btw.
Fast Out
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Shadow unregistered posted 19 December 2000 11:28
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Pamela,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I do lean to the dark side. It comes from hours, days, and years of “partial successes”.
I’m sorry to hear that you keep dieing all over the place. Fortunately I haven’t had a lot of practice at it lately. But do keep up the good work, you are the heart & soul of this board. I rank no higher than jestser and deservedly so.
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Pamela Member posted 19 December 2000 15:12
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Shadow,
I know you are much more than that! I have read your postings on this forum. They are very intelligent and insightful.
I don’t keep dying over and over but I have had a near death experience. And it has erased my fear of death. I know there is much more to this world than what we can see.
sincerely,
pamela
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Pamela Member posted 20 December 2000 01:24
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I think it was interesting as I was reading my NEWSWEEK I received today on page 55. in the article “36 days:The Fallout” were these words in a box amongst all the little boxes of pictures.
“After this story, what could come next to keep the spoiled media beast interested? civil war? ”
just had to share that with you.
sincerely,
pamela
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Fast Member posted 20 December 2000 19:50
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last night i felt terrible,and had a fever.i fell asleep at 9PM and slept until 2PM this afternoon.
during my sleep,i had a dream of me,in my English Class.my english teacher brought her child to school.her child had been a government experiment gone wrong.they had tried to combine oranges and a baby to make an orange baby.her baby had orange hair with a blue stripe down the middle,and had orange skin and orange-blue spiral eyes.my grandmother was also in the dream and she said we had all came from potatos anyway.my mother was there too and she said ‘why are there still potatos here if we came from them,and why would we be eating them?’
then i woke up…
is it possible to have acid flashbacks while your asleep??
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mokrie dela Member posted 21 December 2000 01:44
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Yes
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DaViper unregistered posted 21 December 2000 04:00
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“Paradox”, as an English word, has it’s origins in Latin and Greek.
But alas, it is still just a word in any language, regardless of how it is spoken, ancient or modern. And thus a verbal utterance that represents the conveyance of a concept. As all words are.
Generally, it refers to the “idea” of the existence of a problem that has no solution.
But again alas, this is nothing but an invention of the mind of man. Nothing that actually occurs in the Universe.
There are no paradoxes in the Universe.
The so called “grandfather” paradox has not, does not, and cannot ever occur simply because the situation that defines it is not possible in the first place. There is no past where/when your “grandfather” is “alive” for you to ever encounter. Any more than there is a future where your “grandson” travels back from to encounter you.
If there is “Time Travel”, it requires much more sophisticated concepts than this simple non-existant “problem”.
And…
The so called “twins” paradox is actually not a paradox at all once one understands the idiosyncrasies of Relativity. Many think they do, but few actually do. Those who consider the “twins” paradox to actually BE a paradox, are among those who don’t.
Hint: Think about what constitutes a “year”, as opposed to watching the hands of your wristwatch move. Remember, “year” is again a word that conveys the concept of a single revolution of the Earth around the Sun.
Both “twins, the Earthbound one AND the travelling one will still have lived in a Universe where the Earth went around the Sun the SAME number of times.
The traveler’s BIOLOGICAL clock would run slower, as do physical clocks under the circumstances, but the Earth will have orbited the Sun the SAME number of times from BOTH of their points of view! Even while the traveler’s watch ran slower.
Time dilation, as a proven effect of differing relative velocities may be an unusual idiosyncracy inherent in the properties of relativity, but…
There is no paradox here.
And it most certainly does not constitute Time travel in and of itself.
There is no paradox ANYWHERE in the Universe for that matter.
How could there be?
The very concept is itself absurd. A mind game. A modernist mythology. Right up there with Jupiter governing the Universe from Mt. Olympus, or Noah’s Ark.
You believe in the “Great Flood” perhaps. Gee, where did all the water come from? (Descended from nowhere out of space?) Where did it go? (Evaporated back into nothingness into space?) Do you have any idea how much water it would take to cover the Earth up to the top of Mt. Everest and beyond? Or how thick the cloud cover would have to be that contained the water that constituted the rain that had to have fallen to make a flood THAT big?
About as much as it takes to drown the idea that “paradoxes” actually exist, from my calculation.
TimeTravel_0 unregistered posted 21 December 2000 10:59
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DaViper
Very interesting argument but I have a couple of questions. You described the word paradox as, “…it refers to the “idea” of the existence of a problem that has no solution.” Actually, the #1 definition I read in the American Heritage Dictionary is “…a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true”,
Also, what exactly is your definition of “time travel”? I was taught that time travel is strictly a local observation that can only be measured by the experience of an individual or single particle. Under that definition, the “twin paradox” (time dilation due to acceleration or gravity) and even sleeping can be considered time travel. You appear to be arguing against dematerialization and/or spacelike trips under the limits of special relativity in a single worldline.
I do agree that the “grandfather paradox” is not possible simply because the classic problem is presented as an observer’s issue magnified to a universal issue. Your statements about observation are correct when you isolate the experiences to a single worldline. However, the reason there are no paradoxes is because the universe doesn’t care how we react to its handy-work. In a Universe made up of infinite worldliness (superuniverse), everything is possible and has a 100% probability, therefore…no paradoxes.
“You believe in the “Great Flood” perhaps. Gee, where did all the water come from?”
I believe the explanation for the “great flood” stories originate with the changes that occurred near the Mediterranean at the end of the last ice age. Even on this world-line, there is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that sea levels did change radically in isolated areas worldwide. I also heard someplace that if the ice mass on Antarctica melted today, sea level worldwide would rise about 100 feet. I’m not exactly sure that’s true but still… Mt. Everest might be a bit of a stretch.
I do however agree with you that there are no physical paradoxes but for the opposite reasoning.
Peace to you also.
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mokrie dela Member posted 21 December 2000 18:42
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Also flooding could easily occur with monsoon rains lasting anywhere past 5 days in a region of low ground. And don’t forget in those days, “the world” was defined as that small region only. These people had never been to Switzerland! (Hi Time, missed you you ole rattle snake.)
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Time02112 Member posted 22 December 2000 12:06
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Anyone ever heard of “Pangia”
it referrs to when the earth, or “Gia” was once pne singl large body of land.
when I find more info on this latter, I will edit this post, and include the links. meanwhile if anyone else wishes to make any additional comments about pangia, and how the water vovered the remaining 3/4 of the land mass around the geosphere, please by all means, share with us what you have to offer.
What do you suppose would happen during the next “Great Flood” now that the former Pangia is broken into the current continetal land structures of today’s earth?
~just a thought~
p)’i4q4
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mokrie dela Member posted 22 December 2000 15:28
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That’s right Time, I also heard that originally the continent of Africa was connected to America by a connecting land mass. I believe that’s part of the Atlantis theory, that it was the connecting land. I know there are some incredible things underwater off of Bimini. (can’t spell it or find it) There are huge Greek columns with huge hands at the top holding some sort of ball. Also what looks like roads made of hand cut flat stones that would break a fork lift. What I wouldn't give to time travel to before that sunk and see it it all it’s glory. It’s must have been beautiful beyond comprehension.
IP: Logged
Eighth of multiple Posts
This post is the eighth of a series of posts related to John Titor. The other posts are;
Commentary
Again, there are elements of sublime truth in the words of “John Titor”, as well as evidence of a hoax. Certainly, some of what he said rings true to my experiences in MAJestic, but the elements of falsehoods are disturbing to me.
As it stands, he is the only other person who is able to suggest and describe a system of operation, purpose and objective of all the many people and vehicles that seemingly pop in and out of our reality. This alone has merit. Thus, this is why he is placed herein in this blog.
Conclusion
Our reality is not what we think it is. I am not the only person who has disclosed that there are others, and other organizations that can enter and leave our reality at will. Another person who made this claim went by the name John Titor.
Only where as, I claim to be part of MAJestic and was employed as part of human sentience management, John Titor claimed to be a person who was part of another world-line. Together, we both claim that the MWI is real, and we utilize it to perform dimensional egress for our own purposes.
I claim that it is a tool that is used to manage human sentience evolution.
John Titor claims that he utilized the time variable to conduct acquisition activities in the past.
He claimed that on that world-line, the United States was fundamentally different after a rapid series of events in the late 1990’s. He claimed that he needed to perform some acquisition of certain technical devices through the use of the time-variance option in dimensional travel.
Take Aways
John Titor claimed to be a time traveler.
He utilized dimensional travel to move in and out of the baseline reality.
As such, he visited our world-line to acquire some technology needed on his world-line.
That technology was produced in “our” past. Thus the idea that it involved “time travel”.
MAJestic Related Posts – Training
These are posts and articles that revolve around how I was recruited for MAJestic and my training. Also discussed is the nature of secret programs. I really do not know why the organization was kept so secret. It really wasn’t because of any kind of military concern, and the technologies were way too involved for any kind of information transfer. The only conclusion that I can come to is that we were obligated to maintain secrecy at the behalf of our extraterrestrial benefactors.
MAJestic Related Posts – Our Universe
These particular posts are concerned about the universe that we are all part of. Being entangled as I was, and involved in the crazy things that I was, I was given some insight. This insight wasn’t anything super special. Rather it offered me perception along with advantage. Here, I try to impart some of that knowledge through discussion.
Enjoy.
MAJestic Related Posts – World-Line Travel
These posts are related to “reality slides”. Other more common terms are “world-line travel”, or the MWI. What people fail to grasp is that when a person has the ability to slide into a different reality (pass into a different world-line), they are able to “touch” Heaven to some extent. Here are posts that cover this topic.
John Titor Related Posts
Another person, collectively known by the identity of “John Titor” claimed to utilize world-line (MWI egress) travel to collect artifacts from the past. He is an interesting subject to discuss. Here we have multiple posts in this regard.
From the late 1990’s until around 2001, the Internet was “rocked” by the sudden appearance and subsequent disappearance of a Mr. John Titor. This person claimed to be a “time traveler” by using inter-dimensional travel. Here is the john titor post history.
He was rapidly dismissed as a hoax, in unity, by all the major debunking organizations, and his posts mysteriously disappeared off the Internet. Since then, all the sources that he posted on all found that their files related to John Titor were all corrupted and could not be reclaimed.
That was the case for over a decade.
Then, in 2014, a number of private individuals managed to piece together independently saved dialogs relating to John Titor. They constructed numerous websites that hosted these reclaimed dialogs, and posted them on the Internet for others to view.
Metallicman is one such website.
Presented here are recovered posts from the Internet collected in 2014. It is not known if any posts have been deleted or altered. They are presented as they were found by the author.
Due to the large size of the transcripts, I have broken it down into multiple pages. Here is the second group “Transcripts B”. Within it are some very interesting tidbits that many enthusiasts of the John Titor issue are unaware of.
Important Warning
The information within this series of posts are speculative. I have no factual information if this John Titor is what he claimed to be. It is presented herein as the only (or maybe, one of the only) sources that claim to be associated with the vehicles that pop in and out of our reality from time to time.
He was, as far as I know, never associated with MAJestic in any way.
Original John Titor Posts – Part 6 – Transcripts B
Here are the original John Titor posts from the Post2Post Art Bell Forum. Obtained from HERE. This is the second group of the john titor post history.
John Titor dialog is in normal text in brown color, text by others are italicized.
When referencing other non-Titor questions, green color is used.
Purple color is for non-related text.
Metallicman comments are in red color.
Metallicman corrected spelling and some punctuation to make the text easier to read and understand. For unedited text, please refer to the source.
I also added some commentary to liven things up somewhat. Enjoy.
Posted by Bob Marz on 02-22-2001 09:14 AM
John Titor:It’s comforting to know miracles still occur in the future as well as the distant past. I refer to your report on the Aussies repelling a Chinese invasion.How come it doesn’t bother you that people may die through your inaction yet you find it “morally wrong” that you might affect lives by active involvement?
Isn’t it just as morally wrong to affect lives through inaction as it is through action? Hint: The answer is YES.One of the issues that runs throughout your posts is this moral ambiguity. You’ve thought it through enough to decide it boils down to personal decision (which should liberate you from further qualms) yet you still say you dare not decide who “deserves” to (live or) die.
In other words you’ve made the intellectual realization but it hasn’t yet trickled down into your everyday life/actions. IE, Since good/evil are subjective/relative, depending on circumstance and viewpoint, you aren’t required to possess precognition to discern all present or future ramifications of any lives you may save either by action/inaction.
Your immediate decision, in itself, is its own authority.
In the basic life versus non-life equation you should choose to support life. Further confusion, such as (as you said) whether you’re qualified to determine who deserves to live or die, is outside your sphere of influence, therefore you’re not responsible for such a decision. But, here’s the crux, rather than decide to simply remain uninvolved, you should simply move in the direction of life-affirming action.
If good and evil achieve a balance in the larger picture, as you suspect, and all life is “God” experiencing physical manifestation, the question of you being required to decide who lives or dies is moot.
What should motivate you is that which promotes this life process, a subset of which is experience/information/knowledge viability.
The fact that I couldn’t restrain myself from telling you this because I see you bumping your head against it constantly means, sadly, it’s non-experiential for you and probably obstructs your embracing this idea rather than facilitates it.“If you have not lived it, it is not true.
“The only real sin is that which obstructs the acquisition of knowledge.”
“Friend, listen. The God whom I love is inside.”Thanks for the ride, you’ve done a great job here.[Edited by Bob Marz on 02-22-2001 at 09:22 AM]
Posted by James R.Quayle III on 02-22-2001 09:51 AM
Thumbs upGuierdjeff,Ouspensky spoke of how humans will eventually need to go back in time and bring every wrong to right ,every hitler to moot.
Through tech or mind one will eventually give into the good,if one can travel through time then fixing things would be the new prime directive.
I would think,to take it upon oneself to right the wrongs if one can to protect the beautiful thing which is the fragile human life experience,to be loyal to this experience all we humans reading this go through(To nurture humans in what ever time one finds oneself into).
To awaken in a utopia because men and women went back and hinted and helped some who were to be swayed by evil to be strong and do what we all know is right.
Eventually we all have to get along on the planet.
Languages and culture/customs should not divide but unite through the randomness and difference in the others.
Perhaps telepathy would be a better communicational tool ,then what is currently being used on the planet.agentq3i would give my life to such a cause if i had a way to time travel consistantly and safely,through tech or Will(Magick),or doorways.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-22-2001 10:01 AM
John,I know some won’t like me for saying this, but like I said before in the other forum, I’m not here to be liked.I just wanted to say that there have been a few complaints from some who think your not answering their questions to their satisfaction. Now, before you would just say it’s me, and that I have these expectations in how you answer my questions.But as you can see, that was not the case, nor is it now with others.More people nowadays are coming forward that besides the technical questions being answered, your showing signs of just being general, vague, contradictive or just plain not knowledgeable in these other areas. Where as you say, you being a Time Traveler from the year 2036, you should know this.Just wanted to make it known to you, before you use your manipulative ways to make it seem like if you answered the question. But in fact, you haven’t. You reverse alot of what you answer. And you know it.Sincerely,Javier C.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-22-2001 10:08 AM
James R.Quayle III,
Yeah that’s the way to do it. That’s way better then doing it as something mankind should come together in an agreement on. Better then over coming our problems on our own, when there is an instant fix for it. Just change the past without them knowing it, for a future hidden agenda.(In case you had no idea, I was being sarcastic).-Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 02-22-2001 10:44 AM
I will get to all the questions. I’m trying to comment on them in order. I’m posting the names before all the questions so if you feel I missed something just bring it up again.
I saw something last night that I want everyone’s opinion on. Its concerning two television commercials advertising the same cellular phone product. The first commercial I didn’t understand right away but the second was obvious.
In the first commercial, a man dressed in cold weather gear appears to be in a snowstorm. He’s on a cellular phone saying goodbye to his family as if he was going to die in the storm. We then see he is standing in front of a snow machine at a ski resort area.
In the second commercial, another man dressed in cold weather gear is talking on a cellular phone. We see a young women inviting him to a romantic evening. He seems a bit stunned and excited, hangs up the phone and runs off. We then see he has abandoned an unconscious person he was giving emergency medical treatment to.
What do you think of these commercials?
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-22-2001 10:49 AM
John – I think you live in an area that is being aimed because of a demographic profile. They would never run those kinds of ads in abig city. People would get fired up too easily.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-22-2001 12:14 PM
Spare us John, just say what your point is. Or is your point having people’s opinions on these commercials? And if so, would that fall under one of your agendas?
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-22-2001 12:17 PM
John,
At the risk of asking too many questions and taking up more than my share of cyberspace, please respond to one more train of thought. You refuse to give advice that might actually allow someone to dodge the bullet. I postulate that you actually do not have any more of an advantage or responsibility than the person who grabs someone who is about to step off the curb and get hit by a bus.
I would not stop and think ‘gee, I don’t know, do they deserve to be saved from the fate of a roadkill?’
A doctor or priest does not take it upon himself to decide who should be helped.
A jet pilot doesn’t stop to think “Hey, air travel is pretty unnatural, these people should have to walk and row their way to Paris.
I am messing with the way time and space is perceived and the nature of reality with this form of transportation.” Time travel is just another form of transportation in one sense. Our possible new ability to time travel in the future may not seem any more exotic than our ability to access other cultures is now.
Anyway, I think maybe your reluctance to elaborate is unwarranted.
What happens, happens and everything is experience. I have come to the place that there is no such thing as a bad experience just painful crash courses in personal growth.Lola
Lola
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-22-2001 12:25 PM
Bob,I did not see your post before I got my last one on. Seems we have similar attitudes about choice and responsibility. Also, about religion as experiential.John,Most ads are sick panderings to people’s insecurity, sex drive or greed. If it’s a really good ad it hits all three.Lola
Posted by Jim Houlahan on 02-22-2001 12:41 PM
John – Are you posting on other (non time travel related) boards without revealing your status as a time traveler? Is the conversation as interesting? What are your conclusions so far?
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-22-2001 12:45 PM
Lola and Bob – Very interesting. By the same token, why do we take the Prime Directive from Star Trek, for granted? It seems to have something to do with being able to operate with an unfair advantage. What is this about technology that seems to put the users at odds with natural law?What if John were to rescue someone who was about to be hit by a bus, and this person then went out to a bar that night and killed someone? That’s a general idea, I wonm’t load it up with more scenarios and examples.I’ve really enjoyed this thread guys. I would like to get a little closer to the buzz I first had, that this could be possibly true.John – I think you have answered this – are, or were, you in contact with TTs in 2036, and if so, what percentage of the people accept it as possible? After the flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, it took 10 plus years for people to accept it as anything more than just an urban myth.[Edited by Craig Cuthbert on 02-22-2001 at 12:52 PM]
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-22-2001 01:09 PM
Craig,
Maybe I missed your point, but mine was “how is John saving someone any different from our doing so?” I do not see him having an “unfair” advantage.
He did not time travel to kill Hitlers mother after all.
I guess that would be out of the 60 year limit but I imagine there is some bad guy that would fit the bill. Scientists and others are always making knowledgeable predictions but Southern California is still occupied. I doubt that John telling us what he sees coming would change very much of our behavior no matter how dire the information.
Although, I have seen some Star Trek episodes in the past I am not a Trekkie and am not familiar with Prime Directives.
Lola
Posted by Doug Beauchamp on 02-22-2001 01:28 PM
The Prime Directive in Star Trek is to explore space without interfering with any cultures not fully advanced in the area of space exploration. In short, it’s there to protect other cultures. Imagine if people from space came to our planet and gave us the secret of space exploration. Likewise, imagine if a time traveler from the future came to this time period and told us the secret of time travel.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-22-2001 02:02 PM
Did everyone forget that John has a secret agenda? No body knows if he’s killed anyone. So what if he seems like he’s not capable, because of the way he sounds. He is a soilder, a person trained to kill.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-22-2001 02:28 PM
Lola – Sorry it was a quick post and it jumped across some of the mental references.What is the difference between someone like John saving somebody and someone like me saving somebody? (BTW I have saved somebody, LOL).The difference, of course is that John has (theoretically) come from the future with the assistance of some technology that is not native to our time. That’s where the correlation to the Prime Directive derives.
The real interesting question is the one you two raised. Why is this an issue? To me personnaly, its intrinsically poignant. It revolves around the same questions of technology that you could apply if you tried to go back in time with some modern weaponry and alter a particular battle.
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-22-2001 04:02 PM
Why is it different than using a jet to go to a primitive tribe and give them, say, antiobiotics. (never mind the problems with antibiotics)It is a high tech way of interfering with a culture. Who cares what time zone. Ethically isn’t it the same?[Edited by Lola Montez on 02-22-2001 at 04:27 PM]
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-22-2001 06:16 PM
I don’t think there are a lot of differences in that analogy. Though you have to ask whether going into a tribe and innoculating them would have unintended consequences, not the least of which would be – which has happened in real life – soldiers coming in and amputating the innocualted limb. That wasn’t just a story from Apocalypse Now.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-22-2001 11:05 PM
Hey John,Haven’t heard much from you today. You care to comment on what we’re talking about? I know it might be a bit far from your line of expertise, but your from the future. You should have something insightful to say about this, No?Well I can understand if you wish not to comment. I know the pressure in answering questions like this can really impose on your persona. Always selective and reserve in what you answer huh ?-Javier C.P.S. So are you going to have spectators watching you leave, or not? If so, can I come by with a few of my friends ?
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 02-23-2001 07:42 AM
Javier- I wasn’t really trying to be inspirational, only point out that sometimes for any understanding to occur, there needs to be a kid of base-line on where we begin an investigation. That is, we can postulate all we wish, but a theory must be in place, and several aspects of the experiment must be given a kind of non-variance in regards to belief. That is, if we do not believe ANYTHING we see or hear, we can never honestly learn, since nothing is believeable!That is my take on this. Sure, I don’t necessarily believe John is a time traveler, and I do understand that a debate (or argument if you prefer the term) prevents stagnation. Folks who blindly believe in anything that comes along are the same people that PT Barnam spoke about (ie “There’s a sucker born every minute”). I am certain no one here is a sucker, but, folks tend to want to go with the crowd. I don’t. You don’t. And John obviously doesn’t.I would suggest that if you asked 100 people about time travel 80% or more would say they think it is possible in SOME MANNER. 99% of them won’t have a clue about science either. So… given that we have a wide range of people and talents here, I give everyone his and her due where it comes to “believing”. If they wanna believe, that is THEIR perogitive. We really don’t need some hero to come along and “save us”.Expose the truth, yes. So keep up the good work. hahaJohn – commercials. They are ignorant commercials. In fact, almost every commercial on television these days are either totally stupid (so they come out funny), or they are aimed at people whose humor suffers from being “in the black” a lot. Black humor seems to be the way things go these days. I don’t much care for it.Javier – a comment about soliers. You’re correct. *I* am a solider first. I’ve been in the military 26 years now. I’ve been everything from an electronics teacher, to a team chief at the White House Communications Agency. I’ve seen combat (though not what most people think of as combat – fire fights in Central America). My “real job” as a reservist is the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of a communications flight for a tactical airlift wing. I have computer, radio and cryptographers working for me. Our job.. main job is to make communications work.Every one of us have traveled someplace dangerous, and done jobs that most people wouldn’t DREAM of doing. In our civilian lives, we are all in computers or some other “less than dangerous career”. Every person that works for me can climb, run, survive, shoot… and kill. They all know how to do it from the newest Mom in our group to the oldest man (me). My 18 year olds are just as deadly in their jobs as the oldest guy (which is me).If I’m sent to do my job, I will. And killing is one part of it. Some people forget that a military member’s job is killing sometimes. It isn’t always their main job, but it is part of what goes with being a soldier, sailor, airman and marine. Many might balk when told they have to do it… but, they WILL do it when the time comes.
Anyone know why? Because it is called survival.If there is to be a war in our future, every man, woman and child now alive will become involved if it comes to OUR HOMEFRONT. That is, more than anything, what John has been saying I believe.Whether it will come or not is a different story.
It is MY duty to prevent a war. Even though I might be told to fight one, even against my own people – I won’t kill Americans. Nor will any other military member in the US Armed forces.So – to John… this is a kind of an answer to something you said earlier on. No, military people are not asked to sign anything saying they will kill anyone. It is either an urban legend that has been perpetuated in the past few years, or it really happened with one Marine platoon in 29 palms. I’ve had two men tell me they participated, and both say it happened, but it was NOT a military-wide thing.I’ve researched this. NO ONE HAS ANY DOCUMENTATION ON IT! That’s the facts. The fiction is what my side (the progun people) are pushing about the UN. But, that is another discussion for another time – and perhaps another place.
[I researched this (never take anyone's word for it.). There are more than just a few articles. Snopes, of course "proved" that this is not the case. Never the less, who believes SNOPES? They have been unmasked as a propiganda arm of the oligarchy.
"Former Navy SEAL Ben Smith warns that the Obama administration is asking top brass in the military if they would be comfortable with disarming U.S. citizens, a litmus test that includes gauging whether they would be prepared to order NCOs to fire on Americans." Read it HERE.
Original text, highlighted by Metallicman]Suffice it to say, the US Military will never turn on the people, we are sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic … and to obey the laws of the President and the Officers appointed above (us) me. That means the orders have to be LAWFUL. Think on that folks, as you consider your future actions.Rick Donaldson
Posted by John Titor on 02-23-2001 08:08 AM
((So – to John… this is a kind of an answer to something you said earlier on. No, military people are not asked to sign anything saying they will kill anyone. It is either an urban legend that has been perpetuated in the past few years, or it really happened with one Marine platoon in 29 palms.
I’ve had two men tell me they participated, and both say it happened, but it was NOT a military-wide thing.))
I agree the details are very important. My statement ended with a question mark. I made no difinitve statement.
“I’m not positive but don’t they sign a small piece of paper now asking them if they would have a problem with that?”
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-23-2001 08:25 AM
Rick,Wow, I had no idea you were in the Military. You don’t come off as an NCO. Well most of the ones I met were A-Holes. It’s good to know some nice people are in the Military after all .What branch and what rank, if you don’t mind me asking?-Javier C.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-23-2001 08:33 AM
Atleast we know John is here reading these. He’s just not answering .I have a question for you. Since your here, you won’t mind answering it.What did you anticipate when you came to these boards? What reason could you have to come here and spill your guts to the whole world who you are? I mean, did you think you would get people to listen to you. I think you knew you would…But I am picking up, that you have encountered a few things you didn’t anticipate. And it’s only becoming more apparent as the days go on.Now Military knows about you. Worried?What are your thoughts as you see your perfect little world you created with lies shatters into pieces?-Javier C.P.S. Answer my others questions too.[Edited by Javier Cortez on 02-23-2001 at 08:58 AM]
Posted by Filip Sandor on 02-23-2001 10:31 AM
QuestionI don’t see the need to bring out any BS o’meter; what are we going to prove? That it is not worth thinking seriously about what our time traveler friend has come to share with us? What is it going to change if we KNOW FOR CERTAIN whether John is really from the future? It will definately change SOMETHING (different for all of us), I know that much for sure, but I don’t think we need that sort of distraction at this point.Honestly, I believe that even if John answered all your questions correctly, Mike, it would change nothing of the essence of John’s message. I really think he is trying to tell us something; more than the fact that he is a time traveler. Now, if we could just pin-point what it is that he is trying to tell us; I literally mean, pin-point, or focus on. The message is clear, but we like to create lots of fog.Time travel is REAL.
Anyone who knows physics well or has listened to Art’s guest, Mr. David Anderson about a week ago, knows this.
[Some background for the reader...
DavidAnderson'sSpaceTimeTravelTheoryMoreAboutDavidAnderson - YourTimeTravelExperienceDr. David Lewis Anderson and timetravel., page 1
-Metallicman]The truth is we can run, but we can’t hide (from own actions). So why even bother, why not face what we are faced with? Even if we managed to get a knavish grip on a ‘magical’ time machine, what would it really change for us… unless we knew what to use it for?
It is irrelevant for us to have access to a time machine or to know which time John has come to visit us from when there are really more important things for us to think about, at least some of the time.
I am not saying we have to BELIEVE John to be a time traveler, that is irrelevant, but I think we should listen to his ideas about what we might be able to do in order to prevent our own greeds from consuming us whole.John, I appreciate you being here and I think most of us do, even if your presence only means a good debate, which some of us evidentally enjoy. Debates are good!I would like to finish this post with a question (for John): Is spiritual awakening a difficult process; if yes, then why is it so difficult, and are we all capable of it?
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 02-23-2001 11:06 AM
(Javier Wrote...
Rick,
Wow, I had no idea you were in the Military. You don’t come off as an NCO. Well most of the ones I met were A-Holes. It’s good to know some nice people are in the Military after all . What branch and what rank, if you don’t mind me asking?
-Javier C.Hahaha is that how folks see us military guys? There is a saying a buddy has who was an officer in the Air Force. He tells me that his job as an officer was really to be “diplomatic” to get a job done (including war fighting) but when diplomacy fails it is the NCO’s ‘kick @$ and take names'”Mostly, I see where time travel if is becomes a real thing in our ‘time line’ would indeed be handled by the US Space Command and then eventually would off shoot to a US Time Command or something like that.Remember that todays NCOs and Sargents are not like they were in times past. Today, some of the enlisted personnel in the United States military are as educated (if not more so) than most of the officers.Also, Javier – about me personally, remember, I’m an active duty RESERVIST, so I am a civilian most of the time. Also, remember that military people, are no different from any one else except in certain attitudes they might maintain. In other words, we are just as curious, just as intelligent and just as politically savvy as any civilian out there. The difference being we are sometimes limited on our avenues of voicing our opinions.The military in general is “conservative” about social, economic and even political idealisms. You can not honestly be a “liberal minded” person in the military and expect to last long. Why? Because you tend to beliefs that are contridictory to military life.That isn’t saying we do not have things like gays, and non-religious people. That isn’t saying we don’t have out and out anti-“Republican” “forces” in the military. But, they are few and far between.Anyway… I know this is less about time travel than it should be, and semi-iff topic, but in a way, it does relate to the over all scheme of things in this “time line”.Take care all… see you all on the other side (of the weekend).Rick
Posted by Randy Empey on 02-23-2001 11:19 AM
John —
Here is some cut&paste to put this in perspective:
((
((I believe that faith AND good works will get one to God. There are other things, but they can arguably be included under the headings of ‘faith’ and ‘good works’.
I believe there is an organized force of evil that works against God’s plan for men’s souls. It’s all part of the plan. Your next question may be “Why do you believe that?” ))
Please don’t think me so cynical. I would never insult or degrade someone’s religious views. My next questions would be “what about knowledge?” I am a firm believer that faith (and good works) is not enough to get to God. There is a mystery we must solve first. ))
Imagining cynicism where it is not is a hobby of mine, please excuse me if I sound too paranoid for your tastes.
What about knowledge?
There are plenty of great mysteries, but if your only aim its to ‘get to God’, it is not neccesary to solve them.
Faith and good works is enough. Its got to be the right kind of faith and good works of course, but you don’t have to be a wise old monk to get into heaven. .
But what about knowledge? That is where the fun begins . . .
If ones aim is to become like God, or be able to cooperate with him in his future endeavors, or self betterment, then spending ones life questing after knowledge is a good recipe. There are plenty of mysteries to be discovered. But the rewards are not at the end so much as they are in the journey.
Learning is what we are here to do.
At the same time, there is still a ‘light side’ and a ‘dark side.’
I look forward to further conversation here.
Another question has just hit me — What do you see for the future of TT in your world-line?
Posted by John Titor on 02-23-2001 11:31 AM
RANDY:((You mention gathering written material here . . . so I assume you do a lot of reading — before this trip, in your spare time, did you read much fiction? If so, what genre? Any books from this century?))I am a big fan of Conrad, Twain, London and any type of religious apocryphia.((What brought you to this bbs in the first place?))When I decided to present or revel myself as a displacement driver I had been watching similar boards for quite a while. I believe the only way to accept what I have to say as being remotely possible requires an open mind able to temporarily suspend major portions of the belief and logic system. In his own strange way, even Javier falls into this category. I would much rather talk to him than a straight line, give me the equations physicist. I don’t gain any insight that way.((And here is another character-o-meter question I’d like you to answer: Have you seen George Lucas’s Star Wars Trilogy (bonus points for any of the prequels or sequels)?))Yes I have seen them. I like the first one the best and the “next one”, in my opinion, isn’t that great either. That’s a heck of a battery those light sabers.JOE:
((1: What happens to Bill Clinton between now and 2036 ))I don’t really know.((2: What happens to Bill Gates between now and 2036))This I do know but I won’t discuss.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-23-2001 09:22 PM
John you opportunist, why don’t you answer my questions? Why so selective and silent? Did I scare you off or something, why you backing off? I must have told you the truth, and now you must be thinking it over .You’re like a vulture, in the sense that your just waiting to find a question to bring up your popularity back up. While avoiding those that would bring it down. Cause you know your afraid. I told you it was only a matter of time.I’m lucky, I don’t fear anything, and I stick to my word.The TimeTravelActivist say’s, “Any question, any time, JUST BRING IT!”http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/9822/shades1.jpg-J.C.[Edited by Javier Cortez on 02-23-2001 at 09:42 PM]
Posted by Jeanette Foresta on 02-24-2001 07:05 AM
I had met someone, a year or so ago, who said he was from the year 2036 also. He said something happened to make this travel all the more possible.
He gave me some details, I wonder if they are the same as yours.I printed out and read the article at the site you wrote.The five presidents? He gave me a breakdown of the government in 2036, I would like to know if there is something called the DNE? Democracy of a New Earth? In which the world is broken into 5 sections. I won’t elaborate here. Yet. I may write it into an article, but then I would feel guilty, (as you say)for being money hungry, and not just contributing. I will think about what I will do according to if I hear from you personally.
Posted by John Titor on 02-24-2001 12:37 PM
LOLA:((Why are orphans an issue? It seems war orphans would be pretty old by now.))Problems with the environment still have lasting affects on all people, which cause the average life span to lower. In addition, people are more susceptible to accidents. Family life and children are very highly valued and the community takes the responsibility for raising children if their parents die.((What is your biggest or gravest environmental issue?))Water. You need it for everything and there is very little left in the world that is positively safe to drink.((Does distillation remove radioactivity from water?))It removes the dust and dirt particles that are radioactive.((Do people still watch TV?))Yes but it isn’t broadcast anymore.[This is yet another one of those often overlooked PREDICTIONS of John Titor. The decision to stop broadcasting television and switch from analog broadcasts to digital communication occurred in 2009 under President Obama. - Metallicman.]((Are there any women on your travel team?))Not that I’m aware of but I would assume there are women who are either trained or are training for the same type of work. I don’t know why there wouldn’t be.((What is the status of women in your time?))I understand the question but I have nothing to relate it to in 2036. The status of women is the same as men. Equality issues disappeared during the war.((Do they hold office?))Yes.((Work outside the home?))Women are not expected to stay home and be “barefoot and pregnant” if that’s what you mean.
((Get equal pay?))Yes.((Are they safe on the streets at night?))There is still crime but people do not attack each other the way they do here.((What do women wear for the most part?))Clothing is more functional. Women wear very similar clothing as men when working or training. In our free time or with our family and friends, clothing is much more individualized. Long dresses, knitted sweaters and pants are still quite popular. You’ll have to forgive me; I’m not very good at describing women’s clothing.((Are the Amish alive and well?))Yes, I believe they are.((What is the birth rate?))I don’t know the exact figures but having children is radically lower than it is now. It is the one thing I wish we had that you enjoy here.[The rapidly declining birthrate in the Western nations was not noticed or an issue until the Obama Presidency. It was precisely because of this that the EU has opened it's borders to migrants from Africa. This is another PREDICTION by John Titor, that was way off the radar screen in 1998. -Metallicman]((Is there an unusual rate of birth defects and if so what kind?))
Yes. Mostly stillborn.
((You said that your culture was centered around the Universities. Weren’t they wiped out in the war? They are in cities after all. ))
Not all major universities are in large cities.
((Do you use cell phones?))
Yes, we use a form of cell phone.
[Another PREDICTION by John Titor, though this one could have been predicted by just about anyone on the planet. He was right. Cell-phones were phased out and replaced by smart-phones. During the time of this dialog, the cell-phones resembled a phone with only one function which was to place telephone calls. The ability to do texting on a phone was not yet implemented. The ability to list to music on a cell-phone did not occur until 2004, and movies and internet access did not occur until after that. While we still use "cell phones" they do not at all resemble the cell-phones of that time period. We use "smart phones". - Metallicman.]((Eat allot of red meat?))
Yes but not as much as you do.
((Drive cars?))
Yes but they are not produced in nearly the same numbers or used the same way.
((Are airlines in operation?))
Yes but again, not nearly as many.
((Internationally?))
Yes, but most people don’t get really want to go overseas.
((Are people pressured (subtle or otherwise) to adhere to a Christian doctrine?))
Not at all.
((Do police make drug busts?))
No.
[This is another interesting reply. Arresting people for drugs did not occur until the 1920's, and then went out of control during the 1960's. It was all part of the new society that was trying to be implemented. His statement indicates a strong return to constitutional principles where the government no longer polices people's behavior and protects them from themselves. - Metallicman.]</span]
((Are there many jails? What kind of criminals are in them?))Yes there are jails. Mostly theft, fraud, rape and murder.((What kind of public punishment is there?))Hard labor, community service, banishment (you must move to another community), public execution.((Sounds like New England during religious persecution and intolerance. ))How do you define intolerance? We don’t really have the energy or desire to waste time being intolerant. If you produce and help the community than you can do pretty much think and do anything you want within the law.((Are there Wholistic healers? Herbal medicines? Alternative life styles? ))Yes.((Is there personal freedom?))Yes, the same freedoms you enjoy under the Constitution.((Is there an IRS and a need to keep a lot of receipts and paperwork around to justify yourself?))Yes, we pay taxes. Sounds like you don’t enjoy keeping track of your personal income taxes. I don’t think anyone does.[On another post he states that there are no income taxes. That implies an IRS. Here, he states that there are taxes. Putting the two together statements together, we can conclude that there are local and state taxes, but no federal income tax. - Metallicman.]((Is the same type of currency used? Is ours today good in say 2010 or 2020?))Yes, we use money. That’s a good question. I don’t see why you couldn’t use your current bills in the future.((Other than time travel how do most people get around the country? Do people tend to travel much? ))There is a high-speed train system, horseback, bike, walking. Automobiles are used mostly for sport and some transportation.[America has some (so called) "high-speed" rail. However, they really aren't high speed. They are just called that. Elsewhere in the world "high speed" means services at or above 250 km/h (160 mph). As of 2017, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is working on the California High Speed Rail project and construction is under way on sections traversing the Central Valley. Phase I will be completed in 2029, and Phase II will likely be completed before 2040.-Metallicman]((Are people suspicious of strangers or all you one big happy family now?))There is still conflict and mistrust. Yes, I am suspicious of strangers. I think that’s an instinct we are given to help us stay alive.((How do most people die during the war? Radiation, starvation? bullet wounds?))Correct…but in this order: Starvation – Disease – Bullet Wounds – Radiation.
Posted by Richard Lina on 02-24-2001 01:24 PM
ArrowJohn,thank you for sharing,I find this fascinating.
wanted to ask, has California,had”the Big” earthquake,in your time and has any of the north Coast disappeared?
..also, I really do wish that you could be a guest on Art’s show,I am sure it would be enjoyable…thanks again…..Richard
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-24-2001 02:22 PM
How hard is it for you to come up with a one sentence answer to people’s questions? That’s what you just did, though you might say it took you a whole day to come up with what to say.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-24-2001 02:49 PM
I hope my last couple of posts weren’t too off the wall. Just wanted to say that I understand why someone assisted by advanced technology, would have reservations about interfering with the status quo here.
The law of unintended consequences.So John, c’mon man (do people still say that?), let’s hear what kind of culture you live in.>What music do 20 year olds listen to.>What’s the future of cloning.>Any more on Bill Gates?>Do people wear chips yet?>Are you a marked man?BTW, Which hand are you not supposed to take it on (hint: its not the left) and why?
Posted by Randy Empey on 02-24-2001 03:04 PM
Javier —Keep up the crusade, but . . . .Bear in mind that your expectations seem unjustified to us less concerned about John’s veracity.Some times I go for days without even reading posts, but should my critics hassle me about it?I know . . . I know . . . . extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof . . . . but that's only to prove them, not to talk about the ramifications of their possibility or the ideas involved.
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-24-2001 04:02 PM
John,Thanks for taking the trouble. I would still like to know what population makes a city big.
Your time sounds grim. Are you tempted to deliver your computer to 2036 and then retire in the 1970’s?
What did you think about those commercials?Lola
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-24-2001 04:49 PM
Timetraveler_0~When it is beginning to rain….it is time to go rainbow gazing.~pamela
Posted by John Titor on 02-24-2001 05:24 PM
Its been pointed out to me that the links to the pictures are all down for some reason.
If anyone has a public site I can post them again, I will be happy to see that they get to you.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-24-2001 05:32 PM
Craig,John is here reading these posts. Only answering when it’s convenient for him (i.e. the nature of the question doesn’t entitle him being exposed). So as you can see, it’s not like he’s been away for quite a while, he’s making him self-known to us, and avoiding to answer my questions.Do you not see that?a
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-24-2001 07:14 PM
No word on why the pics are down?
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-25-2001 12:44 AM
Problems with the pictures:I have got in contact with Doc, where the pictures are located-Doc is having some technical difficulty with the site.Where geocities has suddenly restricted some of his images.
[Photos posted by John Titor were classified as restricted by geocities with no explaination. - Metallicman.]He should be able to correct the problem he said.and if not he can easily move them to a site that can not be touched.sincerely,pamela[Edited by Pamela Moore on 02-25-2001 at 01:10 AM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-25-2001 01:36 AM
Pamela,Since you have appointed your self as John’s personal representative. Perhaps you can assist in shading some light into who he real is. Tell us, is he fearful of what he has done and how things have turned out here in these message boards? Notice how silent he’s gotten, and only answering specific questions.What’s your opinion on that?Oh yeah, busy archiving, but still able to read these posts and post when convenient.Do you personally think he’s for real? I can understand if you wish not to tell me. I respect you for keeping it a secret, if he asked you not to tell.Either way, I will still keep asking John questions, and others will too. Until… well I don’t want to break it to you, how will you feel if he is exposed as a fraud? I know you believe into his story quite a bit, I’d hate for you to feel betrayed and deceived by him. It’s a terrible feeling, trust me. I once had a friend who I thought I could trust, until I found out the truth.Well I hope this doesn’t upset you. I understand that people are always going to be looking for answers. But they shouldn’t take short cuts in finding them (i.e. Time Travel). And everyone is always going to need someone to look up to and to acknowledge. But John here, has a secret agenda, and is being praised like a God. Now doesn’t that just strike you as wrong? It does to me.Sincerely,Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 02-25-2001 07:31 AM
RICK:((John, do they have anything to do with the “future” of time travel, as YOU know it?))There are numerous people and organizations that contribute to the practical application of physical time travel. I think you would be surprised how much real work is being done right now.((About video taping the departure… Let us assume you do this, and your agents (family?) in Florida send the tape to the Sci Fi channel, or to Art Bell… how would this affect you in the future?))It wouldn’t affect me on my home world-line in the least. I would only be concerned how it would affect the “me” here. Of course it may be a large part of my secret agenda and I have no choice but to do it anyway.((Theoretically speaking, I doubt that anyone could determine that you actually time traveled, but it would certainly make a very good show.))I wonder what it would have been like to see a plane break the sound barrier before the jet engine was invented?PHILLIP:((You said that there will be a big war right? And that Russia will nuke some of our major cities, right? Can you at least tell us which cities will be nuked?))No I won’t do that.
However, I submit to you that when the moment comes it will be absolutely plain as day that you are unsafe in the cities. The millions people that stay will choose to stay. That’s what comes as a surprise.((Are we traveling in space in 2036?))Not yet but they are working on it.((Has first contact with an alien race occurred?))Not that I’m aware of.
Posted by John Titor on 02-25-2001 08:00 AM
DOUG:((1) You say your machine has roughly a 60 year limit. Is it possible to go back 60 years and then another 60 years? ))Yes, that is possible but the divergence grows exponentially as you move farther away from your world-line of origin. I could make 50-year jumps to go back and see what the world looked like 2000 years ago but there is a strong chance it would look nothing like what I expect. There are larger distortion units that are more accurate and have a larger window.((2) Have the people of your time proved the “world-line theory?” If they have, is there any information you can share with is that proves it?))The Many Worlds theory seems to wrap up very nicely into current string theory. Unfortunately, we have not solved string theory yet either but (n-10) seems to be the best working model we have in 2036. As you are probably aware, the “big equation” does not need the final solution in order to take advantage of the smaller parts that do work in the real world.((3) Ever hear the story of Oedipus? To make a long story short, after being told he will kill his father and marry his mother he moves far away. On the road he accidentally killed his father and ended up marrying his mother. Thus, the prophecy is what caused him to fulfill it. You say you don’t want to effect anything too much by giving out information, but you could drastically change this world-line just by talking about the war, or anything for that matter.))I see your point but do you think Oedipus would not have taken those actions if he didn’t know the prophecy? I don’t believe that knowing a possible future makes it happen. You are capable of changing your world-line for the better right now. None of the things I have said will be a surprise. They were set in motion ten, twenty, even thirty years ago. Are you really surprised to find out that Iraq has nukes now or is that just BS to whip everyone up into accepting the next war?STEPHEN:((If you’re interested in posting some more photos and (pending your decision) the video of your departure, I would be happy to display them on my site. I’ve only got 5 meg storage, but I’m not using it at the moment.))I appreciate that. It looks like the previous issue has straightened itself out.
Posted by James Dvorak on 02-25-2001 01:00 PM
Exclamationi cant spell too good, hehe. But someone asked john about AIDS and cancer in 2036 and he said no cure for aids, and Cancer that there was some progress. but haven't you been listening to art bell lately John??? we are on the literal brink of finding cures, even if its not this year, we will still find cure in under 30 years.
I also find it hard to believe that our planet would want to do time travel and than let anyone use it??? But you'll probably say you are government or something.
Don't you think government would be more concerned with getting other things taken care of than A time machine??? why you need an old ass computer from the 70s anyway????
I'm sorry you might be an actually time traveler but no way in hell do i believe you without any proof.
Here's a question maybe you can answer without “upsetting ” the time line…
There was a show on Fox very recently presenting evidence that we didn't land on the moon, I really believe this because of evidence presented, now this wont prove to me that you are TmTrvlr, but Just tell me if we actually did or not.
I really was hoping we would have found a way to live on other planets by 2036, also how about flying cars. you should know what GINGER “is”, you knew it was some kind of mobile personal transit system, but you don't know exacts??? open minds people, open minds (don't trust this one!)
Posted by John Titor on 02-25-2001 03:54 PM
JAMES:((John Titor ,i posted to you before and would like to let you know that i would love to come along for the ride to the future if you need a sidekick,i am able to fly hot air balloons,a good shot,physically strong and quick,smart on my feet in case a odd event occurs and I would not mind leaving this time to go to yours.))I appreciate the offer but I’m not sure you would like the year 2036.CHRIS:((There have been many movements in music…rock, disco, and hip hop are some of them. Though most people probably can’t rifle out names of musical groups from 35 years ago, they probably would have a basic awareness of what musical influences prevailed at the time. So my question is…what is the NEXT big movement in music that will take place here in the US, specifically?))I appreciate your frustration and quite a few people have asked me questions like this. The expected answer is that I don’t want to break my personal code of “time travel ethics”. The real answer is, I just don’t know. I was not prepared for the year 2001, I was prepared for 1975. I don’t suppose it would be very impressive if I told you Disco would be big until 1980.MEL:((Am I getting this right? You load up all the people who want to go with you in the back of your Chevy pickup…))Actually, the requests were rhetorical. No one is going back with me.((…drive from Florida to Minnesota. Sell that truck in Minnesota, buy another truck older than 1975…)
Doesn’t have to be a truck but I get your point.
((…load everyone back in that truck, drive back to Florida and then depart back to the future. Sounds like it will be quite a sight to behold. If you can, swing by Ohio and give me a honk. Your welcome to stay at my place. ))Thanks. One thing I do find interesting about time travel tech is the expectation that we can pretty much go anywhere at anytime. These systems are quite complicated and they do have limitations. Are you going to be around in 1975?
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-25-2001 05:38 PM
I find it interesting how now, after all the deliberation of attempting to convince others of your story, you are now backing out.Did someone here do it for you?In the last few replies, you commented on not wanting to break your code of ethics. But as we have seen now for the past few months with you is that you have broken ethics to go out of your way of proving to us what you are.Here is a sample of what was just said:((The expected answer is that I don’t want to break my personal code of “time travel ethics”. The real answer is, I just don’t know. I was not prepared for the year 2001, I was prepared for 1975. I don’t suppose it would be very impressive if I told you Disco would be big until 1980.))That above example not just shows how irresponsible you are, but how ignorant as a Time Traveler you are as well: “I just don’t know. I was not prepared for the year 2001.” Good choice, 2036.And here, we see you backing out of a jam, with something like:((Actually, the requests were rhetorical. No one is going back with me.))Nice revision to your story, but you lied to everyone. Some people actually took your request seriously.Right?What, no public apology?Don’t you feel that you done a bad thing, making people believe you, only to tell them it’s not true?You mentioned you would take people back with you on more then one occasions. Did people think you sounded serious? YES. Did people believe you, YES.Think about that…Truly,Javier C.[Edited by Javier Cortez on 02-25-2001 at 05:46 PM]
Posted by James R.Quayle III on 02-25-2001 10:41 PM
Thumbs upIt’s not that one believes one truth,It is more like i leave my options open and I have learned from my experiences that anything can happen.
But that is my life,not yours,I bet John is from somewhenelse,time to me is just like a distance to get to,sometimes we find a ride to where we never thought we were going,and when offered a chance to time travel why not?
Peace to you javier and John Titor,James,And JOhn Titor
I would like it in 2036,because if you knew of my life experiences ,anywhere ON earth is good,and I bet it can’t be all that bad?
Simplicity is good i was a good boy scout who can camp,and hike forever.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-26-2001 01:42 AM
James,You said:((It’s not that one believes one truth,It is more like i leave my options open and I have learned from my experiences that anything can happen)).You responds in the beginning is neutral to either side. But towards the end you clearly contradict your self and side with John. Talk about not wanting to believe one truth.Still waiting for you to answer John, and Pamela.Truly,Javier C.P.S. I meant no disrespect to you James, I just felt obligated to point out the truth, as what I am doing questioning John.Btw, what kind of experiences have you had? If you don’t mind taking about them.[Edited by Mary Rowland on 02-26-2001 at 09:06 PM]
Posted by Angel Lynnn on 02-26-2001 04:14 AM
QuestionHello, John.Can you tell us if reverse speech is used in the future for business or even pleasure?
Also, can you talk about earthquakes in California or Nevada?
Thanks, John, for starting this topic and sharing your time with us. We are really enjoying it and you!Angel Lynnn
Posted by Mel Reckling on 02-26-2001 08:13 AM
John,I will be around in 1975, I guess.
That would be a very good year to miss for me. I do have a 1972 Porsche, but it hasn’t been started in 15 years.
Maybe if I could go back to 1985 when I last drove it I could do a few things different, not just with that car, but maybe buy some of that Microsoft stock.
Posted by Randy Empey on 02-26-2001 08:20 AM
I think the strongest argument for time travel not being easy or possible at all is the greed factor.Warping time and space takes lots of energy . .. making finding out if or how TT works hard . . . is this because of some accidental way the universe turned out, or is it a fundamental law written in by the Creator?Any thoughts on that side of things, John T. or Javier?
Posted by Luis Gonzalez on 02-26-2001 09:16 AM
ArrowJohn,I would like to speak to you in private. Please email me at the following addresswiccanism@hotmail.comluis
Posted by John Titor on 02-26-2001 03:39 PM
JAVIER:((Better then being a fanatic, who believes in people so blindly.))fa.nat.ic (n.) A person possessed by an excessive zeal for an uncritical attachment to a cause or position.JAMES:((Hello John I was wondering if you could respond to my post, I was serious…))If I didn’t get to something, please feel free to ask again. I’m going in order of the postings and trying to get to everything that seems worthwhile and/or productive.DOUG:((Many people asking about the dangers of the war are asking about cities being nuked. During school today I was thinking about this, and nuclear warfare doesn’t seem to be the biggest form of fighting in the future.))Nuclear war will be very effective at destroying an enemy’s economy and the people’s will to fight.((Other than the small countries, I doubt nuclear warheads are going to be shot from each end of the globe.))I would caution against that. That’s exactly what “they” want you to think while they continue to develop smaller and more accurate MIRV’s. Have you ever seen a neutron bomb the size of a basketball?[Today, we know that the major military powers have miniaturized nuclear weapons, including neutron bombs, cruise missiles, and hyper-glide technology. The submarine launch capability is quite mature, and WMD is an issue because it is a real threat. -Metallicman.](( John, you say one of the hardest things to do in 2036 is find clean water. You also say you only trust food you’ve grown. Is any of this a result of your experiences with biological warfare? Is biological warfare a major threat in this war you speak of?))Yes and no. Yes, biological warfare and accidents do cause a great deal of problems but the lack of a working infrastructure also hinders the continuation of the food manufacturing you depend on now.((This is definitely the least serious of my questions, but is there anymore background information you can give (What city you were born in, etc)? I understand if you can’t but after this thread is over I may get a little bored and see if I can find any information on the John Titor of “today,” assuming that’s your real name. ))Once I leave, I would not want any attention to come to my family here.JIM:((I’m guessing the date of your return to the future is April 19th. Is this correct?))That is a day to remember but I was thinking more along the lines of March 21.ERNIE:((My mention of Joseph Campbell was a rebuttal to someone who claimed that your General story was un-original. In fact the most likely leader of a movement like the one you describe would most likely be a Farmer since being a Farmer would provide much of the scenario required.))Throughout history, farmers have often been a target of oppression because they are absolutely necessary to civilization but too busy to defend themselves. If you push a farmer too far, they stop growing food and have nothing to do but hide in the woods and shoot back.((My asking you if the mention of CERN going on-line and discovering this and that, was a prediction was a genuine question completely un-related to “making a Buck”. I wondered if it was just a hint you were giving as to something that could be verified after the fact with little chance of you mentioning it having an effect on it.))Please do not be offended by my “making a buck” remark. I say it with a wink to help other people form their questions. Yes, some very interesting things will be going on at CERN in the near future.((For me what is interesting is the type of questions that are being asked, and the apparent hostility that someone like you can be subjected to for no “good” reason.))Yes, I find that interesting too. Sometimes I wonder what people are really angry about and I have come to the conclusion that frustration is better directed at the messenger. But then again, that’s history.((I’m sure even in 2036 there is a tendency to tease one’s detractors if they make themselves available.))I have no intention of teasing anyone but I do grow tired of the same cycle over and over again. Eventually, the people who do not like me or what I have to say (real or not) will win. I will either leave or grow tired of answering the same questions.((John is “playing you” Javier. It’s an old trick, if your most vociferous detractor continually puts on weak attacks; it takes attention away from the really challenging questions.))Again, please do not confuse my inability to answer the same questions over and over with a desire to make someone upset. I gain nothing by angering Javier or making him look foolish.
((He knows “make a buck” and “more power to you”, and “off the cuff”.He is unaware or dislikes “buy in” or “buy that”
Does that prove anything? not really. Given enough text you can profile him and make a good guess.))I know my English isn’t perfect but I blame my parents for most of the phrases I pick up (wink). It’s different sometimes seeing them in print than hearing them. It took me quite a while to shake off “sock it to me baby”. “Cool” seems to be the longest lived phrase I’ve heard so far and “peace” seems to be making a comeback.[John trained for the 1970's. Not for the year 2000. - Metallicman.]((What 82 page book written in England in 1884 is required reading for all physics students? I admit it’s possible you may not know in 2036, but highly unlikely. The same reason that makes it so important for physics students would make it just as important to understanding Time travel. Secondly why is this little book so important. If he doesn’t know this it lends more circumstantial evidence to your side. But he could ask someone and then how do you prove that?))Well, I’m pretty sure it’s not the Principia and it looks more like something to do with Maxwell but to make your point, I did find this.http://www.livingarchive.uk.com/LA.htmls/manchester.history.htmlJust about anything can be looked up.((How about this? Let John make a recording of himself saying he is from the future and whatever other part of his story he wants. We could submit that to voice stress analysis. Is that enough? no again, since a well trained person can beat a voice stress analysis by using self-hypnosis or having someone hypnotize them prior to recording. Again no proof.))I’ve heard a tack in the shoe works. It throws off the baseline “no stress” readings. Also, if you speak slowly enough, you can beat those programs.
Posted by James R.Quayle III on 02-26-2001 04:42 PM
Thumbs upJohn Titor,what if something happens to your device to get back,let us say inoperable,would you then change the world by announcing warnings,and also what if you got a flat tire in betwwen times would you have to pull over to fix it in a wrong time?
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-26-2001 04:47 PM
John,I congratulate you on your restraint and good humor in responding to some of the posters who are as tireless as an old turntable in playing the same old song.
(I include myself in this group as I know I keep asking you specific questions regarding safe ground during the possible trouble ahead).
I still have some questions you have not responded to but hate to ask again in the event you do not wish to respond or just have not made your way to them yet. Could you let me know which? I will wait to hit you with more until I know the status.If any of you missed Dr. David Anderson on Art’s show you should go to the archives and listen. It is about time distortion going on in New York.Kind regards,Lola
Posted by Brad Brown on 02-26-2001 05:31 PM
John I’m curious.
You’ve expressed a want to experience the world as it was.
However you seem to spend a great amount of time talking about TT.
Why aren’t you traveling and telling us about your latest trip to the pyramids instead of talking about specifics you should be bored from in your awareness to them? Are the Great Pyramids still standing in 2036?
If you wish to experience society as it was, admitting yourself to be a time traveler is counter-productive.
How’s communication around the world in 2036?
Do you still have literature widely available?
What’s the latest book you’ve read that you were only able to hear about in your own time?
Is new literature also so available?
Is the English language beginning to segment into sects and accents with less influence from tourists? Or is tourism still strong and thriving in 2036.
You wanted questions not in relation to stock, here you go.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-26-2001 07:01 PM
John,Just 1 sentence is all I get for waiting for another 5 days? Even then, it’s nothing more then some discombobulated definition in your own words. What dictionary did you use? Is it the dictionary you learned English in, in the future ?Try Oxford next time.Why don’t you give it up John, you know this little experiment of yours went more out of hand then you wanted it to go. Now look at you, you’re attempting to lay-low until your window of opportunity to leave… Am I right?Try answering this, instead of something that was said almost 2 weeks ago.I’m sure lots of people would like to hear you explaining your self. After all, I did expose some of your lies.But then again, there are those here who are “fanatic” about your cause that they still believe your from the future. Quite sad isn’t it?What do you say to something like that? Look at all these people, completely taking your word for it. Doesn’t that just do something for you? You can answer too Pamela if you wish.-Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 02-26-2001 09:07 PM
CRAIG:((IS your sense of “timing” off, in new time environments? I’ve heard people who have “out-of-body-experiences” find that it sometimes takes a day or two to regain a sense of normalcy in their minute interactions with the physical world.))No, my timing isn’t off. I do however find myself stopping in mid-stride and paying extra attention to my environment when I forget “when” I am.
When I was a child, my mother would tell me stories about angels. She told me that angels found it hard to communicate with man because man could remember his past but couldn’t see the future.
Angels, acting as the eyes and servants of God, had no memory of the past but had infinite knowledge of the future.
Although I am no angel, I often thought about that story after I left 2036. Besides that, I do get a lot of colds.((John – You were born about halfway into this cycle. BTW, GenXers would be about 40-50 years old in 2036. How they doin’? Were they pretty resourceful scrappers?(Fighters/Survivors))In my opinion, the Gen Xr’s ended up in two categories.
There were the ones who had learned to be independent by breaking away from tradition and societies expectations and the others who had no idea how to take care of themselves and just wanted the trains to run on time.
The ones in the first group feel very guilty about “letting” the world go to Hell and the ones in the second group are dead.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 02-26-2001 10:52 PM
John – I can understand that. Being from the end of the Boomer Generation myself, I can say that GenXers may feel that way (those who are left) though it always appeared to me that they were abandoned young by Boomer parents off doing “their own trip”. GenXers were the original “latchkey kids”.I’ll repeat this link, as I really enjoyed the book.http://www.timepage.org/time.htmlI hear their new book, forecasting the next 10 or 15 years, is also pretty interesting.http://www.fourthturning.com/html/fourth_turning.htmlShort of holding seminars, is there anything else you’d like to do while you’re here, with respect to your interaction with us?
Posted by James Dvorak on 02-27-2001 01:42 AM
Coolcan you tell me what year the police will stop busting people for smoking weed???
after the war right??
in 2015?
do they start pushing for legalization earlier than the war???? this is the ****!
I'm still working for the community though……………………
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 02-27-2001 06:59 AM
John – about voice stress analysis… No, you can’t “beat” a combination of voice stress and body language analysis. You can, under certain circumstances, beat a polygraph, but only if the examiner is very inexperienced. I’ve been through a few myself.I suggest that you do your video tape of the departure. Here is why:1) An impromtu video tape will give you an opportunity to say some things to us as a kind of “final farewell” which we can all observe. Then you can step into your time traveling truck and vanish for the camera. That will give us something to think about.2) You will be gone from our time line, and we can examine the video tape, using voice stress and body language analysis to determine if you were being honest to us about your trip back to the future.3) You do not have to worry about the ramifications of the tape because of time line divergence – and because of several things you’ve lead us to believe you here, will not be affected in the least – nor will your time line be affected in your time.4) If there is any doubt in your story now (and there is apparently with Javier’s continued chipping away at the story and your own attitude toward him) then you can clear it up with such a tape.5) Some of us would really like to believe, have hope for, or even be shown that time travel is not only possible, but practical and already (somewhere/sometime) going on. You can prove it to me, beyond a shadow of doubt with a video tape.Now… you’ve offered to do so. I have the resources to place said tape up online. When our web site comes back online we will have plenty of space to do so. (Some of you might be familiar with the site already – anomalies.net). In any case, we will be more than willing to put up all the photos, manual scans, video tapes and anything else you would be willing to show us. I would even be willing to fly to whatever place you want and film it myself, at my cost, as long as you give me a bit of a heads up.(and for those of you wondering, NO I am NOT doing this for the government. I’m as curious as anyone else here, nothing more, nothing less. I’m not in this for money, I’m not in this for personal gain – except the knowledge that the “truth is out there”)John… you can reach me privately through my email address on this board. I urge you to do so, if not for yourself or us… for the future.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-27-2001 07:14 AM
To The Board:Doc’s site is still not fixed and I have no doubt in my mind that he will eventually move the pictures to his other site.But in the meantime I have all of John’s pictures and anyone who wants them can email me and I will send them to you.My email is in my profile.Also John and I have talked and anybody who wants to forward anything to John can do so through my email address and I will make sure that John receives it.I will do this as long as I am able.sincerely,Pamela[Edited by Pamela Moore on 02-27-2001 at 07:31 AM]
Posted by Abe Figer on 02-27-2001 08:58 AM
hey I´m very interested in john titor story.. but I have some question for him……
what is going to happen to Mexico in 2035?
is going to be safe going south after de war starts?…..
depending on his answer i will give me an idea of how real his story is…
Posted by Luis Gonzalez on 02-27-2001 10:15 AM
SmileJohn, email me…
Posted by John Titor on 02-27-2001 05:25 PM
LOLA:((You say you were in the militia fighting the US Army. I would think that civilians would have a snowballs chance in hell of successfully fighting the military.))You must realize that why people are fighting is more important that what they are fighting with. The conflict was not about taking and holding ground it was about order and rights. They were betting that people wanted security instead of freedom and they were wrong.[This was written BEFORE 9-11, the "War on Terror", the TSA, the DHS, the perpetual snooping by the NSA, and everything that came with it. Yes. John actually PREDICTED all of this. And no one believed him. Crazy nonsense they said. -Metallicman.]((What does this look like? Is it a stalemate with the resistance/militia hiding out until the cities are wiped out allowing them to surface?))The cities were not isolated because of them; they were isolated because of us.((You site the approximate number of cities and military bases intact before the nuclear attack. Are they ALL hit?))Nuclear weapons and guidance systems are less than perfect. Most targets receive more than one warhead but some of them were more accurate than others. I would estimate the overall accuracy was around 60 to 70 percent.((Three days walk from where? The nearest city? Again, though, what population makes a city a city and not a town?))In my experience, a motivated starving person is only capable of walking about three days. The more distance you put between yourself and anyone who is likely to be hungry, the better.((Does any one or any group stay neutral during all of these years of fighting?))Some try to.((Does anyone just lead a reasonably normal life during the civil war?))No.((You say the civil war lasts from 2004 to 2008 and then the short big one in 2015. What do the years from 2008 to 2015 look like? How long does WWIII last.))I’m not sure I said that exactly. By 2008, I would say the civil conflict is pretty much at everyone’s doorstep. Western instability during the conflict leads to the attack in 2015. WWIII is very short with a longer period of mop up.((You mention the nature of Canadians but I don’t think you mentioned the impact of all of this on that country. Would you?))There’s not a great deal I know about Canada except to say they were pretty much in the same type of conflict. They did have the Dew Line you know.((Oh yeah, one more thing that is rather haunting is your allusion to the position of women as being controversial and conservative in 2036. Yikes! What is that supposed to mean?))It certainly isn’t disrespectful. I apologize if it sounded that way. It’s one of those areas I realize will be difficult to discuss because we may lack similar experiences.
In 2036, there is not a desire to “have it all”.
With factors such as the difficulty in conceiving and the decentralization of production and industry, there is not an unrealistic scramble to have a “career” and a family.
Out of necessity and circumstance, family life has become more traditional. However, there are many families where the wife / mother is the main breadwinner and the husband / father remains “home” with the family.
The difference is in the method of decision-making. People do not have children (if they are able) unless they can devote the required resources to maintain it.
Posted by Jeff Borgus on 02-27-2001 05:39 PM
(Actually, the requests were rhetorical. No one is going back with me.))Just like your whole story is rhetorical.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-27-2001 10:28 PM
John,Many movies that take place in the future show an Earth under ruin, war and famine. You have been buying into that fear people have in some corner of their minds from the very start. Creating, what we have here a John Titor worship board.
No longer a place to discuss views of Time Travel, and gain knowledge. More like a handout of knowledge. In other words John, you have become these people’s prophet. You are now deeply involved in their belief system.My only problem with that is that it’s on a wide scale.
Tell me something, is that why the civil war started? To many people take people like you and put them on pedestals? Lots of people can no longer think on their own, they depend solely now on what you have to say. How pathetic, and your future culture finds no flaw with prolonging it. Instead, they gave one of their Time Traveler (meaning you) a device to come to the past and exploit the chance to take and do as you and they see fit.That’s very nice. You’ve managed to convince a lot of good people, honest sincere people. That your genuine, the real McCoy. That however, may be okay with you, but not by me, not by a long shot.Someone once brought up the example of some of these people being sheep. At first that might have been an unfair presumption, but now that I think about it, it’s true. And you still haven’t commented on my request to answer my statements. What’s wrong? Why don’t you?Let’s face it John, I’m one of the very last ones you have not corrupted with your story. It has been your straightforward effort to say you are from the future, and convince others of it as well. But just look at you, look at how unprepared you were. The lies you were caught in. And trying to recover only makes you look phonier in my eyes.I swear, I will expose you John. My passion and conviction in this matter is unquestionable. Your friend Pamela can attest to that.People like you, who use this to benefit from unknowing people, make me sick. Time Travel is an evil means to get what you want; I wouldn’t be surprised if your world is Satanic.The fight is not over between you and me John. Nor will it be over any time soon. I will continue to pursue in exposing you as a fraud, there is no doubt about that. I don’t fear you John, I do however fear a world that has followers like your fans. That only entices me more to continue the fight.If others find that silly and funny, I feel sorry for you. You’ve lost your sense of passion for doing what’s right. You openly accept the flaws of this world, and succumb deeper to them. Creating what we have now, a delusional world solely dependent on everyone’s individual beliefs. That saddens me. Call me old fashion, but that kind of mentally is only asking for trouble. That’s the sort of mindset that causes wars. Confusion, uncertainty, fear in the truth.But in the end, there is no escaping what you all are. In the end, we will all get judged, and see that instead of laughing at me, and thinking I was a nut job, you all should have known better. It’s like the Metaphor of the Ant and the Grasshopper. Just think about that.Sincerely,Javier C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 02-27-2001 11:45 PM
All very interesting, but one nuclear bomb hitting around Colorado would do the entire food belt in by the wind blowing.
Russia’s power plant went 1500 miles away because of the wind.
I guess the wind blows here too.
Now, how far does the Earth move in 36 years traveling along with the Milky Way Galaxy at 33 miles/second. Quite far, so how do you manage to not space travel? The Universe is always moving.
From 1975, add another 25 + 36 years and around 61 years is where you went too. Now the Earth has even traveled further, I suggest you all look up at the Universe, a Supreme Being might just be praying for all of us on the Spaceship Planet Earth.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 02-28-2001 01:30 AM
John,When you get a chance can you post an answer to my question regarding the “30 second” scenario that I asked about a week or so ago? Thanks.I’ve also been wondering about how you have manage to overcome the simultaneity problem in maintaining common world-line references between yourself and the two micro-singularities that travel with you. As you know, bodies under acceleration lose their initial constant velocity world-line reference with respect to each other – the Twins Paradox.
Given that you have a possible 2.5% divergence from your own world-line (5% on a round trip?)on a 60 year trip and the micro-singularities (each having their own world-line) are subject to the same divergence, how do you keep them in phase?
Does the divergence extend into N-dimensions? Is the 2.5% the total error or is each dimension subject to the 2.5% divergence individually?I understand that you’re a tech (a bus driver as it were) and not the physicist, but how did you manage to overcome the problem of gathering sufficient power to artificially create a micro-singularity in such a short time (sometime prior to 2036)? I believe that it would theoretically take the total energy output of the Sun since the time of Richard the Lionhearted (about a thousand years) to form one micro-singularity, let along two.
Posted by John Titor on 02-28-2001 05:55 AM
((When you get a chance can you post an answer to my question regarding the “30 second” scenario that I asked about a week or so ago? Thanks.))Please take a look at page 18. If I didn’t get to everything, please expand your question.
Posted by Bob Marz on 02-28-2001 06:17 AM
I haven’t seen an answer to my issue concerning moral turpitude through action or inaction. Did I miss it?Javier: You’ve worked yourself into a tizzy over John’s spontaneous whim. He started this forum with a joke about coming back from the future with the old computer and noticed people taking him seriously so kept up the gag. I think he’s done a great job, it’s just for fun.
John has never been inflammatory, in fact he’s maintained a good-natured witty sci-fi scenario, urging people to play along.
What gives the gag a nice dynamic impact is the fact that John stays in character and takes every question seriously, giving us realistic answers. ala Orson Welles War of the Worlds or Blair Witch Trial. The more John stays completely in character the better the experience for us.[Edited by Bob Marz on 02-28-2001 at 06:26 AM]
Posted by John Titor on 02-28-2001 06:51 AM
In order to assist in where I am in the questions, I will post the page and person I left off with. It would also help if you could do the same when asking when I will get to yours. Since my time is growing short, I will be unable to answer questions that have already been asked in some form or another and I will make a note when I come across one.
Unfortunately, it has also come to my attention the proposed email system for sending out the pictures is not working out. Apparently, people on the receiving end of the requesting email are starting to have problems with their computers. They suspect it’s coming from the “asking” email. Before I leave, I do plan to send out a few more pages of the manual and a video of my departure. I’m sure a method of will be developed to do that.
Currently, I am on page 18 right before Rick’s questions.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-28-2001 09:13 AM
SmileI am still getting some email in-between the attacks. Anybody wishing to email John in private please use my email address and I will forward it to him. and send you a confirmation that your letter has been forwarded to John.
I delete your mail right afterwards. so if any attack happens to get past my security system your email will not be there for anybody to see it. several people have the pictures already. (keep them safe!)If you can’t get to my email please post on the board your desire for the pictures and I will make sure you receive them.Anybody wishing to forward a private letter to John, you don’t have much time left.while your at it…say Hello to the future! these pages(according to John) will be archived and posted on a web site in the future.
actually that is quite interesting..how would you prove to someone reading this in 2036 that you are really from 2001???PEACE TO ALL!!-pamela
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-28-2001 10:21 AM
Earth to Pamela,Yeah, you’re gone. What happened to being skeptical? Hypocrisy I tell you. And that’s not an attack, that’s the truth.If people do read these in the future, they’ll see how foolish you all were to fall for his story so easily. No wonder the future looks down on us, look at our culture, our attitudes. You have this blind faith in a man who you all know for only 3 months.Why not have a dialogue with me Pamela, instead of just being his supporter.Before you would state your own thoughts. But now, your completely at his disposal, and nod at whatever he says. And you find that normal? It appears more like brainwashing to me.You know I won’t attack you, I will however tell you the truth. So accept my request, since you speak for John, you shouldn’t be afraid to answer for him as well.I await you.-Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 02-28-2001 11:14 AM
Actually, Pamela is quite quick to catch many possible discrepancies in what I’ve said over quite a few sites in the last few months. For example:
PAMELA ASKS: >1. What type of money system do you have on your world line? meaning how do you buy and sell things? Do you have the same type of money or do we have a cashless society? such as smart cards, credit cards or ID biochips.I RESPOND: Its not very different than it is now. Yes, we have money and credit cards. However, like everything else, the monetary system is decentralized. Banking is based mostly around the community structure. There are no multinational banking or computerized economic systems..there are also no income taxes.
QUESTION ON THIS SITE: ((Is there an IRS and a need to keep a lot of receipts and paperwork around to justify yourself?))I RESPOND: Yes, we pay taxes.. Sounds like you don’t enjoy keeping track of your personal income taxes. I don’t think anyone does.
MY RESPONSE TO PAMELLA: I had considered going into more detail about the tax system but I didn’t have a great deal of time. Currently, I am watching my father go over all his taxes and he doesn’t look like he’s having a very good time. My comment referred to the collective misery I see around me during this time of year.
Posted by Bridget Talarico on 02-28-2001 11:23 AM
Red faceOh John, who am I to say “nay”, this guy’s a nut?
But let me ask you one simple question: instead of sitting at your computer, why not present yourself to George W, proof in hand?
THAT would throw quite a monkey wrench into the government’s coverup machine, don’t you think?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 02-28-2001 11:45 AM
John,Thanks for the answer to the original questions. Here are some follow-ups for you to ponder.<<Q: What is the result of the duplicates arriving simultaneously at the same place?
A: Psychological confusion and a few fist fights.>>John, I think that you missed the point here. The problem that needs to be addressed is what happens to the duplicates as they simultaneously arrive at virtually the exact same location. Given that their masses will occupy the same space, what prevents a naked singularity from forming? (Black holes seem to be the only constructs that can violate the Exclusion Principle. And unless the duplicates were drunk they shouldn’t be spinning <wink> – thus a naked singularity.)<<Q: How long will it take for the loop to decay? Will it decay? Is it a loop?
A: The chances of hitting the precise world-line where all the other duplicates are arriving is almost zero. It’s possible but increasingly less probable with each arriving duplicate. The divergence decays and the world-line is “less available” for new “yous” to arrive on.>>It’s a nice creative answer, but it didn’t address the question. The question was is it a loop; will it decay and how long will it take to decay? Divergence won’t decay, unless you’re saying that the divergence decreases (which I don’t believe is what you were indicating). Its true that each duplicate has a decreasing probability of arriving on the same world-line – but its an infinite number of duplicates. Any subset of that infinity is simply a less intense infinity, but an infinity none-the-less. The implication is that an infinite number of duplicates will appear simultaneously. What prevents this from happening?<<Q: What happens if the experimenter, upon seeing his duplicate, decides not to continue the experiment?
A: He can always leave the room on his own world-line or put a desk full of books in the position where the time machine is arriving every 30 seconds. That will probably trip the VGL system and stop the time machines from arriving.>>Again, nice try on the answer. But these duplicates aren’t arriving every 30 seconds. They are all arriving simultaneously 30 seconds before the experiment begins apparently violating Causality if the experimenter decides to cancel the trip.This question was a follow-up to your 2.5% world-line error problem. On your 60-year journey you have a problem if the error is 2.5% in N-dimensions. If your error is in the ‘t’ dimension you have a chance to arrive back home as early as 2034 and as late as 2038. If the error is cumulative for each leg you could arrive as early as 2032 and as late as 2040. Arrive too early and the boss won’t have a clue as to why you brought him a 1975 vintage computer. Arrive too late and your haven’t helped solve the problem in a timely (excuse the pun) manner.You’re also faced again with the Twins Paradox. In this case the twin is you: The “you” in 2036 and 2001. Each of you is a body in motion and under acceleration (the velocity of Earth, the Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy and Vegan Local Group and the general expansion of the universe are not constant.) Moreover, the distance between each “you” is increasing at 54 km/sec. The 2036 Earth is approximately 60 billion kilometers from where it is today. The 2.5% divergence error is not constant. The longer you stay here in 2001 the greater the distance between the two Earths thus the degree of error increases. The physicists in 2036 aren’t able to help you as they don’t know where you are and as you aren’t a physicist you’re probably not going to be able to make the corrections from this end. How are you going to get home safely?John, you’re actually doing a credible job of handling this thread. I personally don’t believe that you’re a time traveler but that’s not the point. I have to put some thought into asking these questions. SO, you make me think and that’s always good. Thank you.
Posted by John Titor on 02-28-2001 12:28 PM
EMMETT:I do enjoy the questions and I appreciate the interest.
I suppose there is a difference between a thought experiment and the real world. It appears we have our virtual laboratories confused and I’m not sure I understood all the rules to your experiment and then it occurred to me that in your position, this is all just a thought experiment anyway. I will try to be more literal in my explanation.((In this experiment the traveler only goes 30 seconds into the past to appear in his lab. It seems that 30 seconds before his experiment was to begin he saw himself appear in the lab. There would now be two travelers and two time machines. It doesn’t appear that it ends that simply as the “second” time traveler says that he saw a duplicate self appear in the lab thirty seconds before he started the trip. It would appear that its a time loop and an infinite number of duplicates see a duplicate self appear in the lab thirty seconds prior to the start of the trip. ))I’m not positive but I don’t see anything that indicates the time traveler would remain in the same spot once he arrives. 30 seconds is almost long enough to get coffee in your thought experiment.
If that were true, and they all kept moving, than the experiment could go on for quite a while until the planet filled with time travelers.
You also stated, “it would appear” as a time loop.
If it only appears that way, than the natural divergence may stop the experiment when three or four time travelers arrive and the others end up on different world-lines.((The problem that needs to be addressed is what happens to the duplicates as they simultaneously arrive at virtually the exact same location.))Again, you use the world virtually, which to me means not exactly the same spot. Under the laws of physics, I don’t personally know what happens if it were on exactly the same spot but I do know it’s possible.
Under the operational limits of the distortion unit, as soon as the VGL sensors pick up an unexpected mass in the target world-line, it would shut down and drop off in a world-line where your experiment is not occurring.((Given that their masses will occupy the same space, what prevents a naked singularity from forming?))
I see, now they are in the same space. I suppose that’s a possibility. If so, than the as soon as the experiment started, a singularity would form under the infinite mass and swallow the planet.
Perhaps they tried this on Cygnus?((It’s a nice creative answer, but it didn’t address the question. The question was is it a loop; will it decay and how long will it take to decay?))Well, I think it’s a nice creative question too. Under your example, the “loop” would terminate as soon as the singularity forms and would be constantly fed by all the arriving time travelers.
Thanks again, I’ll follow up on the rest in a bit.
Posted by John Titor on 02-28-2001 01:05 PM
After taking a quick shower and listening to the quiet hum of my archiving hard drives, I decided that Emmett and I may have made bad second impressions on each other. I find it ironic because it’s people like Emmett that will actually solve those physical issues and make it possible for people like me to go back in time and argue with them. So I hope, no hard feelings Emmett.
It also reminds me of a short story between a bicycle maker in the 1900s and a man who could fly faster than sound.BICYCLE MAKER: Well Mr. Mach, if your plane can go faster than the speed of sound, how did you solve the compressibility problem that would tear your flimsy craft to pieces?
MR. MACH: First off, the aircraft are much more stable and made of metal instead of wood and fabric. Second, it is possible to pass the sound barrier by designing the wings and body to move the shock wave down the plane as you surpass the speed of sound.
BICYCLE MAKER: Really? Planes made of metal? Well, if your plane can fly faster than sound then why don’t you just fly to the moon?
MR. MACH: It doesn’t work that way. You need air to make the engine function.
BICYCLE MAKER: I see. Your plane can go faster than sound but needs air to function. That’s convenient and it all sounds like a penny-book fantasy to me.
MR. MACH: Perhaps… perhaps not
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-28-2001 02:03 PM
Give me a break John, your so full of it. Your pathetic attempts to crawl out of a tight hole our becoming narrower and narrower to get passed these days. Not just are you being broken down, but being exposed as a fraud.More discrepancies. Your a lair, you really didn’t plan on taking anyone back with you. Yet people believed you. Still waiting for you to apologize to everyone.And don’t say your busy going in order trying to answer everyone’s questions. You just skipped the rest and went straight to the most current. How considerate you are. Others have been waiting for much longer time, and you found it convenient to seize the opportunity to answer something that would make you look good in the eyes of your followers.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 02-28-2001 02:15 PM
Not that I believe you, but would not the vintage computer from 1975 be bigger than the time machine to haul back to the future?
It handles 3 people, personal computers were really not out then, only a very few people were trying to make a personal computer, and they only had kits to put together. I mean 4kB of memory is nothing like the current crop of computers with up to about 1gB of memory one can put in the computer.
Just some thoughts about what you are saying?
It does not fit quite right with me. If there was a War, then it seems reasonable to me that you were not even born until all of the Wars were over.
That would make you about 21 years old from 2015 or just about 29 from 2008. It does not add up if millions of people died from these happenings. I just add things up logically, and from my perspective, the story does not seem real.
Oh, well, we all have to do something with our time, I guess. I think I’ll be 90 in 2036 and right now you appear to be younger than I am now and have not developed the critical thinking skills that come with age on Spaceship Earth.
Posted by David R Ferguson on 02-28-2001 02:29 PM
I have finally read all of the posts in this thread and I have come to one conclusion…it is definitely been more entertaining than anything currently on television, except, of course, for the televised Illinois basketball games!Thanks to everyone for your posts. It has certainly been very educational.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 02-28-2001 02:58 PM
John,My friend, I have absolutely no hard feelings. To the contrary, this thread is quite enjoyable.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-28-2001 04:43 PM
WinkHOLD ON JAVIER!!! IM COMING!!!!I am grasping the tether on the front ofmy outerspace suit.attached somewhere down thereto earth…I'm pulling…..myself……………right hand…over left hand…over right hand…I'm pulling myself into Earth’s atmosphere…a little further…a little further…..(hahhah)Ok..Javier what kind of dialogue do you want to have?….I'm here.No, I have not lost all my skepticism and you areconstantly acting on your own assumptions and fears.I don’t speak for John, I simply helped him out on a couple of questions he already had answered earlier.Am I brainwashed? Of course not. That is silly!I have talked to John for hours and hours about things.and I know some things you don’t. John is a highly intelligent man and he is very interesting to talk to.People are not stupid, Javier. and you know I am not.Can’t you just enjoy the conversation in this thread?it’s probably not going to last much longer…pretty soon John will be gone and you won’t have to worry about him anymore.(he’ll either drop off of the board if he is fake, or go back to future if he is real.)the truth may not possibly come until after he is gone.I know you have a good heart. but you get a little carried away sometimes.I have an email address you know if you want to talk further…sincerely,pamela
Posted by Angel Lynnn on 02-28-2001 07:10 PM
ExclamationJohn,Are people using “reverse speech” in courts, etc. or even recreational?Can you talk about earthquakes in California and Nevada?Thanks.Angel Lynnn
Posted by Lola Montez on 02-28-2001 07:59 PM
Angel,What’s reverse speech?Lola
Posted by Javier Cortez on 02-28-2001 08:02 PM
Pamela,No need to be sarcastic ya know, but thanks for finally answering one of my questions.However, the dialog will mainly be question/answer. I said that, because it seemed to me that I was the only one talking. You weren’t responding to any of my questions. Neither was John.And since your John’s little helper, you can assist him in answering for him. Make sense?But since you said your only posting answers to questions already asked, I fail to see how you will be of any help to me and the rest.Yes, John maybe smarter and more interesting then me, but that doesn’t make what I do know, any less important. Thanks for be little-ling me . Nonetheless, you know I can’t just stand idly by while he preaches and others bow at his feet. I can’t stand for that, nor will I allow it. Others must hear another side, not just his.So if I am criticized as being afraid and acting on my own assumptions, I don’t care. I’m not here to win the best personal image award. I am here to speak the truth.And you say your still skeptical; well actions speak louder then words. I guess we won’t find out all the truth, until she leaves. Will you be telling us more details about him, or will you conceal it still in fear of them finding out the whereabouts of his younger self?Your taking quite a risk trusting someone with your secrets John. Didn’t your mom teach you to be weary of a pretty face?Just the facts though…-J.C.
Posted by Stephen McKay on 02-28-2001 09:24 PM
Javier,Why are you so defensive about this whole thread? I may be mistaken, or perhaps you have a different definition of preach, I don’t remember John _ever_ preaching.
Nor any of us “worshiping” him.
The way I see it, John has made a claim which may be true or may not be. The possibility of it being true interests some of us, so we have questions. John’s doing his best to answer us. Maybe he’s full of it, but I enjoy science fiction as much as the next UFO nut.Just because we ask questions, does not mean we are shouting from the rooftops “This man speaks the truth, he is the Messiah”. It simply means we are willing to accept the possibility that he is telling the truth.
If he is, great, we can learn from him and look back on these posts when we reach his time. If not, what have we lost? A few moment of time, which, in the grand scheme of things, amount to little.My question for you is this: If John is a fraud, what do you personally stand to lose? What is the reason for your conviction? Whether it’s the truth or not, it’s interesting. For my part that’s reason enough to continue. If you don’t believe John, leave. If you’re not interested, leave. It’s your choice. What I think is important is that none of us are really sure whether John is telling us the truth or not, but we’re willing to entertain the possibility.An open mind is an important thing.Steve
Posted by Pamela Moore on 02-28-2001 11:41 PM
Javier,“Yes, John maybe smarter and more interesting then me, but that doesn’t make what I do know, any less important. Thanks for be little-ling me .”I'm sorry you misinterpreted my words in this manner.“And you say your still skeptical; well actions speak louder then words. I guess we won’t find out all the truth, until she leaves. Will you be telling us more details about him, or will you conceal it still in fear of them finding out the whereabouts of his younger self? ”I won’t be doing or saying anything that could possibly jeopardize or bring harm to John or his family.sincerely,pamela
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-01-2001 12:31 AM
What interests me is the need for time travel in the first place?
I think by rational thinking that time travel is impossible.
[I don't know about all this John Titor stuff, but I do know what I have experienced. For what ever it is worth, I conducted my first MWI world-line egress in the Spring of 1981. It was on an American Navy base, and I was part of a SAP called MAJestic. As far as I understand, MAJestic has had this technology since the 1970's. - Metallicman]
Do I care that people tell me to be open-minded? I am open-minded. What bothers me is that people will go through so much trouble to bother with a technology that will only occur in the very far future.
I suggest that John talks to Dr. Fred Bell, who has traveled forward in time, according to him when he was a guest on the show, and that John tells him how they have solved the problem of disorientation from time travel.
Now every thing is nifty with time travel, and there is no ill effect?
I like fantasy as much as the next person, but I see no Civil War on the horizon.
[I am editing this in December 2018. An American civil war seems a distinct possibility. Sorry. -Metallicman.]
Only the people who would want to see a Civil War start actually see a Civil War on the horizon.
My, if I were John, I buy a TV and a VCR player and take back the episodes of Star Wars. Try to transcend above this physical plane of existence, and you will see that the Force is actually a reality.
Time-travel, well, its a grand idea, but like all ideas, when rational thinking is done on the subject instead of emotional turmoil, time-travel is so far into the future that as I the only one who can see that?
This leads to the freedom not to be influenced by the very type of people that always are seeking the wrong truths.
People should look up at night. In the beginning there was nothing. How long can you have nothing? Forever! A unit of measurement has been invoked, call it forever. A yardstick, a ruler called forever. And time was just created. Then something was made out of the nothingness, being a potential, and here the Universe exists in God’s Glory. God does not leave this chance.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 12:32 AM
Red faceStephen & Pamela,I have a good responds for both of you. But it’s passed 12 right now, and I have to get up early for work. Maybe during work, I will reply to you.Good night,Javier C.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-01-2001 07:17 AM
Albert wrote:” All very interesting, but one nuclear bomb hitting around Colorado would do the entire food belt in by the wind blowing. Russia’s power plant went 1500 miles away because of the wind. I guess the wind blows here too. Now, how far does the Earth move in 36 years traveling along with the Milky Way Galaxy at 33 miles/second. Quite far, so how do you manage to not space travel? The Universe is always moving. From 1975, add another 25 + 36 years and around 61 years is where you went too. Now the Earth has even traveled further, I suggest you all look up at the Universe, a Supreme Being might just be praying for all of us on the Spaceship Planet Earth.”Albert, for the record, our government does not push the “nuclear war survivability scenario” for a reason – they simply do not care.
Anyone who builds a bomb shelter is considered a kook. I don’t think they are kooks. I don’t think anyone who believes in survival is a kook.
Now, why I mention that is your “wind blows” theory.
Yes, you’re correct that the wind blows generally west to east and if a ground blast occurs there will indeed be fallout. However, understand a good number of nuclear weapons will be air burst weapons. There will still be fall out, but considerably less than if the weapons are ground burst.
There will be a lot of little weapons that will miss their targets. I LIVE in Colorado, believe me I’ve studied the what-ifs carefully, for the sake of my family. There isn’t an easy survival answer either. (Which is why I CARRY NBC protective gear with me everywhere I GO and my home is being slowly set up to protect us against nuclear fallout. Won’t protect us against a direct strike, but even in my area, I think an atomic attack will be survivable.)The moving earth situation has been discussed at length several times, and John’s explanation was “gravity sensors”.
While I’m not aware of anything called a gravity sensor in this day and age, I wouldn’t discount such a thing. Physics has a way of surprising us.
Already we are sure (in physics) that there are such things as “gravity waves” – similar in fact, to radio, light or even x-rays – all of which are “waves”. If this is correct, and I believe it is, then there will be very shortly a way to measure them, and therefore “sense” gravity waves. Doing calculations and measurements could compensate for the “movement through time” of a time ship.Javier – Man you’re obviously taking this way too seriously.
Especially when you start insulting everyone on the list. Now, I don’t usually take things personally, but you and I have discussed this offline already a couple of times. While I understand your reasoning for trying to prove John a fake time traveler (Or even if a real one, he shouldn’t be here – if I understand your web page correctly) some of the comments about people being sheep, followers and “believers” is a little bit harsh.Let me explain. I’m not a “believer” in the sense you’re implying. That is, if John were a time traveler here and now, and was doing what he is doing (as a REAL TIME TRAVELER) then I would have no qualms about listening to his story.In fact, I have no qualms about listening to it now. Regardless of whether he is real or not, the idea of time travel, science fiction and a ****ed good story is something I’m always “into”.In other words, what Pamela and some others have called “attacks” by you, might not, by you be considered such – but the rest of us do. Basically, you insult the intelligence of everyone on this list by saying we “are sheep”.
I personally am not, and I’m sure you weren’t referring to me personally – however, even if I DID totally believe John, and was taken in by him, and believed he was telling the total truth – who are you to come rescue me?People in this world have free will.
This is something SO MANY Of us forget all to often. I protect my children and grandchildren from bad things, because they are young and might not have the wisdom of age to get themselves out of a situation. But, as adults, we have the free will to believe, or disbelieve whatever we wish.An open mind is very important in science – something a lot of scientists even forget. Skeptism is important, but at the same time, if you do not have an open mind to what “may be” you will never get past the arrogance of your own mind and you might just miss the most important discovery of all time.About Today’s World:In the place I work, we look at many different things, including intelligence reports, terrorism, war in other places and in general the “state of the world”. I study many things, related and unrelated to my job, but most importantly we in the DoD and military tend to examine everything, even the smallest, insignificant incidents in the world, looking for those things that might ignite an all-out war.If any one has been following global intelligence at all (and you can do as good a job as the CIA on your own, if you simply know where to look) you will see that in the United States an “awakening” of sorts has occured regarding our personal freedoms.
There are these anti-gun nuts out there trying to ban guns – using the children as the catalyst. Without examining the reason we have for owning guns (and it isn’t a last week thing, this is a HISTORICAL THING) then they do us all a disservice. America is on to them. We are on to those who would take our freedoms and we aren’t going to let it happen without a fight. Hence the possibility of “civil war” DOES exist today. If you’re not close to the subject you might not see it. Those of us who are protecting our freedoms DO SEE IT.Russia has been “feeling it’s oats” lately… doing attack runs on our ships, rattling their sabers (i.e. “We’ll pull our support of the internation space station if you even THINK of continuing with National Missile Defense – just one example). Russia has not disassembled several nukes they said they did. Satellites show it. They just move them now. China has linked up with Iraq – assisting them in repairing their weapons systems – hence the attacks recently on Baghdad.There are reports of Cubans, Chinese and perhaps North Koreans in and around the Sonora desert (think about this to understand what it means – basically, that is our weakest border. If *I* were going to put a force against america, I’d come in that way).These are just SOME of the little things. We have a kind of unrest in America now. It could very well lead to a civil war of sorts.Russia, China, N. Korea, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, France – and you can add quite a few others to this list – would just love to see America on her knees and will do whatever it is they can to help us down there. NEVER EVER UNDERESTIMATE enemies – especially FORMER enemies (like Russia).What I am trying to say, without being able to do so in a short note, is that even if John is “fake” his scenarios are absolutely POSSIBLE and even PROBABLE at this point in our time line. Those of us who spend time checking intelligence reports can CONFIRM his social theories about “what might be”.In short, even if John is fake – his possibile future is accurate for us, even now. I hope he (and I) are wrong, and I hope it won’t come to a civil war in this country, but I have been seeing it coming for a few years now. The thing with Russia and nuclear war – well… it is so much more a possibility NOW than it was in the Cold War that *I* am considering building that bomb shelter once again.Rick
Posted by Angel Lynnn on 03-01-2001 08:06 AM
ExclamationSome employers are using this to help them with hiring employees. They record the interviewee talking then they reverse their speech to see if they were telling the truth, etc. Whatever comes out in reverse is what was on the persons mind while speaking.
I’m curious if they are using reverse speech in courts etc. in the future. Maybe it will be a good thing to get into and learn more about.Angel Lynnn[Edited by Mary Rowland on 03-01-2001 at 03:10 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 08:24 AM
Well Rick, you seem to have a passionate belief in something as well. Yet you blame me for having the same zest. You accuse me of being harsh; yeah maybe I was just a tad. But you call these people who want to take away the second amendment “nuts,” how do you think they will feel about you saying that? So I see it as something one in the same.I am only trying to get the message out that we shouldn’t give our selves to easily to someone claiming to know the truth. I want freedom too, I’d hate for it to be taken away. That’s why I’m working towards not having that future.Except my way, no one seems to understand. They call me crazy or going to far. Perhaps, but if you’ve gone through the things I have, you’d also protest. You’d want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.As for everyone being sheep’s, I didn’t mean you. I meant those that stick to John like glue who can’t see another side but his. Forgive me if I offended you, I can get pretty worked up in my campaign.Stephen,You sound like your new here. Why don’t you visit my site first? I think that’s probably the best way I can answer your questions. Learn a little about my cause, and me and if you still have questions I’ll be more then happy to answer them. Critical or not, I don’t run away from questions.Pamela,Like I said before, I respect you for keeping what John told you in confidence secret. I would do the same. Nor would I want his younger self in a government facility being tested on. Because I know the feeling of being exploited, and no body deserves that fate.Even John…If there is anything I hate more then liars, are people who take advantage of others. People who exploit those to gain an advantage in some hidden goal. Makes me sick…Hence my hatred towards Time Travel, and Time Travelers.Someone’s got to do something. Who here has the guts to stand up for justice in the matter of temporal violators?I volunteer, for as long the threat shall exist.Javier Cortez[Edited by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 at 08:30 AM]
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-01-2001 09:19 AM
Javier,I did check out your website and find it funny that you are possibly the only one on this board who claims to BELIEVE in time travel wholeheartedly yet you are the one who spends all of his board time trying to convince us sheep that John is a fraud. You may be the only one who isn’t skeptical.
You are truly the only fanatic, so far, on this board.
John has hooked you good. The rest of us keep an open mind (something you should consider), learn what we can and have a good time in the process. You seem on the point of a nervous breakdown.
I have also considered the possibility that you just want as much attention as possible and are jealous of the position John holds on the board. This stance gets you more feedback than you would otherwise get. This may be a subliminal motive. Isn’t there something else you want to do here just in case time travel is as real as you think it is?I’ll take a fraudulent time traveler over an evangelist anyday.Baa BaaLola[Edited by Lola Montez on 03-01-2001 at 09:34 AM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 09:58 AM
Lola,Your last post smells like revenge to me. This must be for what I said to you last time. Sorry, but it was the truth. And people say I’m harsh and hostile. I think you just took that title away from me.I don’t care about the attention, like I said before I can care less what others think about me. And I have no subliminal motive, because that would go against everything I stand for.Since my birth I have gone through experiences that cannot be explained by psychologist. Ever see “The Sixth Sense.” Notice how angry he gets and writes those hateful words. Well maybe you wouldn’t think it’s so funny if you stand on the opposite end of something like that.And as for me being jealous of John, that’s not likely. Why would I be jealous of a Time Traveler? I hate Time Travelers. And despite all his intelligence and fans, I still manage to out wit him now and then, and post questions that he can’t answer. I’m very happy being who I am . Even though the visions and manifestations get out of hand at times, I’m fortunate to have this life, a good family and friends.
Posted by John Titor on 03-01-2001 11:31 AM
BOB (from 18):
I must preface the following with a bit of melodrama. I feel a bit unqualified to answer the next few questions for the following reason. The way you and I look at life and death and its relative value is radically different.
As any other soldier can tell you, once you watch a man’s arm come off from a bullet you just fired or have been close enough to feel someone’s last breath on your face, it changes you.
I can only describe it in two distinct waves. The first feeling is power. You won when it counted and survived. All the personal shortcomings and faults you’ve carried with you your whole life just melt away in a savage euphoria.
If there’s time to think about it, the next wave comes shortly after and is underlined by overwelming guilt. You just killed someone and now God might be ticked off.
Fortunately, the second feeling goes away quickly when the shooting starts again and gets shorter and shorter after every battle. After all, why would God put you in this situation?
The point is, I personally do not like going through that cycle and the decisions I make about life and death might not be the ones you would expect me to make.
((How come it doesn’t bother you that people may die through your inaction yet you find it “morally wrong” that you might affect lives by active involvement?))
I’m not sure I said it didn’t bother me, I only stated I won’t interfere on purpose.
Again I refer to a historical example. Before Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, a small group of US soldiers were experimenting with a new technology called RADAR. As the Japanese planes were flying toward the island, they actually picked them up in time to thwart the surprise attack.
Unfortunately, they were unfamiliar with the equipment and figured it wasn’t working correctly. As you are aware, the ruthlessness of the Japanese “sneak” attack galvanized the US people into entering WWII.
As a time traveler it would be easy for me to take a short hike up that hill where the RADAR operators were and point out to them that indeed the equipment was working just fine and they should probably call it in.
Assuming they believed me, it is arguable that my lone single action could start a chain of events that would allow the US to meet the Japanese planes and stop them from attacking the battleships. As a result, the US people would still be angry but not motivated to enter the war fully since the Japanese were not a precieved threat.
Thus, you don’t begin research on the atomic bomb until well after Hitler has already dropped a couple on London.
I could save thousands of men on the Arizona at the cost of millions in London. I just don’t know how one life will affect another. However, if I were standing next to a soldier who was about to be shot by a passing Japanese plane, I would push him to safety. I realize this is inconsistent on a small scale but I am tired of watching people die in front of me. If there is a price to pay for that than so be it.((Isn’t it just as morally wrong to affect lives through inaction as it is through action? Hint: The answer is YES.))Why are you concerned about what I might do to corrupt your world-line when you have no problem letting other people do it around you every day? Do you blame yourself for not taking any action right now to “save” people living on your streets or suffering from poverty and disease? Besides, how exactly would you propose I decide who to tell and who not to tell? (provided I knew anything at all).((Your immediate decision, in itself, is its own authority.))What God judges about my decision is the only authority. Again, all the things you claim I can do you are capable of also.((If good and evil achieve a balance in the larger picture, as you suspect, and all life is “God” experiencing physical manifestation, the question of you being required to decide who lives or dies is moot.))It’s not moot to me. To tell you the truth, I’m afraid.
I don’t want the responsibility of being expected to know who lives and who dies. I know it would change me for the worse.
Besides, how can you be sure my “inaction” now isn’t a result of something I’ve already screwed up and I’m trying to fix it? Javier might be right after all. Thanks for the good questions.
I am on Lola’s question at the top of 19.
Posted by Stephen McKay on 03-01-2001 05:23 PM
Javier,I’ve been following this thread from the start, but only posted once or twice. I had a read of your site. Let me see if I can get this straight – It’s not so much that you don’t believe John is a Time Traveller, you just wish to uncover his secret agenda? I don’t mean to sound sarcastic, from what I read on your site you seem to believe in Time Travel, you’re just not a fan of it.
I’ll make sure that this is where you’re coming from before I comment on it…Steve
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 07:49 PM
Stephen, or do you prefer Steve?Yes, I do strongly believe in time travel. And it’s not so much that I believe John is a time traveler as well, but yes I like uncovering people’s lies when they make grand accusations like that. So far, I have to say John is very clever. But personally I don’t like Time Travelers, so I can’t be like you or the rest and listen to him.Basically like I said, I’m a paradox. My way of thinking may at times be inconsistent, but that’s how I have always been. It’s my curse. To believe in something, and experience it first hand, and to then shake it off and say it’s not real.Sorta like a double personality, but not really. But I’m not crazy , I can however get really angry at times.I guess I’m just following in the footsteps of my great great great great great great great great ancestor. I’m someone with conviction, just how he was. And if it weren’t for him, there would be no Mexico. Not that he was a good man, and not that he was a bad man either. He was a man with great conviction.I try and do as I see morally right with my conviction. And I always choose integrity above all else.Javier C.
Posted by Daniel Kirkbride on 03-01-2001 09:42 PM
Javier,I am curious as to what drives you to so passionately need to “save” people from what they want. To over simplify things for the sake of brevity, some are following this thread in the pursuit of entertainment and their own curiosity, and others are willing to buy whatever snake oil is closest at hand to make their lives more interesting.
Exploring possibilities and boundaries is both healthy and fun. On the occasion that it becomes unhealthy and obsessive, well that’s just natural selection. At least in this situation those more prone to get carried away are free to choose their own poison in whatever dose they see fit. You yourself being a perfect example.
Besides, if everything john says is absolutely true, what harm has been done? Any changes in this particular world line are specific and inevitable and alterations are only alterations to those with the perspective of light cones dipped a couple of degrees off the beaten path.
For those naturally in our specific world line the only change made is the change that was going to be made anyway.
For john any change does not affect his own world line for the same reasons. The only change is in the degree of difference between these two lines, which is only evident from an outside perspective, but that variance is absolute.
In short, it is possible to go back in time and kill you parents, but only by traveling to the world line where that is what happens. You can then decide out of remorse to go back and kill yourself to save your parents, but only by going to the world line where you do that.
However this does not change the world line where you successfully commit parricide, because in that line they did die. Future and past within a specific world line is absolute.
Time travel merely grants the traveler the unique ability to recognize variances between world lines.
Therefore, any changes to our world line are actually not really changes, because our tomorrow will be what it is going to be and will not change when looking at it from the perspective of the day after tomorrow. So no matter how insidious or innocuous johns “secret agenda” is, he cannot affect any changes that he is not going to affect anyway.
It’s a battle that can’t be won because in our future it already has or has not been. I know this all sounds a little convoluted, but the mathematics behind it all are actually rather simple. Which brings me to a question for John.John,I don’t mean to suggest that I accept any of what you claim, but I do have a technical question.
Are the singularities in your machine supposed to be offsetting the light cones of particles within it’s sphere of influence allowing the world lines of these particles to appear to loop form the perspective of particles outside the effected area?
I don’t mean to insult you by spelling out the obvious to you so basically, but that seems the most obvious need of a singularity.
If so, how can you account for generating a gravity well deep enough to create such a disparity between light cones without sucking the planet through the eye of a needle?
Also, this requires motion through the space immediately influenced by the mass, yet you claim travel is accomplished while the traveler is stationary. I look forward to your response….
Posted by Stephen McKay on 03-01-2001 10:02 PM
Javier,Probably prefer Steve, but it doesn’t really bother me. As far as I can see John is not making accusations but claims. I also think it is important to uncover deception, but I’m not sure what makes you so sure that John is lying.He may slip up, but he’s only human, as are we all. I just don’t think the point lies in whether or not John is from the future. He’s made his claim and unfortunately there is no proof either way. As much as you may believe it, I don’t think you can use his posts to disprove his claims, nor can they be used to prove them.The point is that what he says is fascinating. Millions of people go to see psychics and fortune tellers, not because they believe they are seers and everything they say is true, but because they are curious. I think that is the same attitude of most people asking questions of John. If John did tell us of a company whose worth jumps drastically in the next few years, I honestly doubt that anyone on this thread would invest their savings in that company.They’re not devoting their lives to John’s words, they’re just interested. As I said earlier, if John’s telling the truth, then we all get a sneak peek and preparation for the future; if not, then all we get is an entertaining story. If we read this thread in that light, then we have nothing to lose.Steve
Posted by Michael E. Hendrickson on 03-01-2001 10:32 PM
Regarding your 2-21-01 comments on my first post,i.e.,
that I should view the video “Waco,The Rules Of Engagement” to get a better understanding and appreciation(I suppose)for federal law enforcement personnel acting criminally beyond the pale. And ,you asked rhetorically,( I may be paraphrasing somewhat) “if the allegations made in this piece were proven to be true, what would you hope would happen, nothing?”My answer to that is that if these allegations were proven to be true I would not have hope, but rather every confidence that our criminal justice system would prosecute and convict whoever the criminal perpetrators turned out to be, whether federal cops, or otherwise(thereby obviating the need for citizen uprisings).
The ATF,followed by the FBI, clearly blundered at Waco, causing the needless deaths of some 80 of our citizenry. However, to charge these federal officers with criminal violations of the law either directly orimpliedly as is done in this video, simply doesn’t accord with the real facts. Actually, there’s some evidence now to suggest that not only the FBI, but other federal as well as state and local law enforcement agencies have learned something from the Waco tragedy, and will take great care not to repeat it.
[Really? Such an optimist. - Metallicman.]This, of course, goes directly against your predicted scenario for the next 11 years, which posits a series of Waco type events crescendoing ,finally, in a full blown civil war, with honest citizenry from the heartland (with shotguns, I suppose) battling the evil forces of our federal governmentBaloney! This is the typical paranoid militiaman mentality which manifests itself often in your writings,in references to federal policemen conducting illegal searches and engaging in other depredations against innocent citizens. I guess all these things happen after our Constitution is suspended, and our republlican form of democratic government, now 225 years old, all comes crashing down in less than a dozen years, under your projected scenario. More nonsense.
Perhaps, your mentor and guide is that goofball from West Virginia (I can’t recall his name)who has written and sold a militiaman’s manual of sorts,and which I think makes many of the same kinds of predictions which you have been making. I know that I previously wrote that I thought,perhaps, the inspiration for your story of our near future was a science fiction novel. However, now that I’ve given the matter some further thought,I beleve a good part of it may come from this militiaman’s manual. MH[Edited by Michael E. Hendrickson on 03-01-2001 at 11:11 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-01-2001 11:43 PM
I can save you all a bunch of rhetoric. It’s a matter of principal that drives me.I don’t believe John is a Time Traveler. It’s the principal behind it all that motivates me to question him though. It’s what makes my blood boil; it’s my outlet to speak out. And like I said before, maybe if you’ve gone through what I have, you’d also want to protest Time Travel.Time Travel = Exploitation
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-01-2001 11:45 PM
I’ll be gone soon. I really do not have time for this.
First of all, to Rick, everyone wants to protect their family. The reason I can not buy into this is: if John is making up a story, it is a very wrong thing to do.
The interests of the day are the same ones from back in the ’50s.
People were building bomb shelters, and by the 1960’s, I was there, everyone thought that no one would survive a nuclear war. It is self-evident.
The US alone has more nuclear weapons that would blow up this Planet a 100 times over. I had 32 nuclear missiles aimed at me every second of every minute of every hour of every day for the thirty years this Cold War was going on.
By the 1970’s smiling Pres. Jimmy Carter said, “Its MAD”, Mutual Assured Destruction. If we are to have a War, we will not stop until everything is utterly completely destroyed for we can not win a Nuclear War.
Carl Sagan came out in the 1980’s and said if too many nuclear missiles are released in even a limited nuclear war that it would cause a nuclear winter. If anyone survived, there would be no food, and like in the past when the dinasours disappeared, humans would just die off. No one wins in a Nuclear War.
In the 1980’s Pres. Reagan said exactly that, “If you launch, we launch, if we launch, you launch”. “NO ONE WINS”. Everyone dies. We will start Star Wars, to protect ourselves.
Of course Star Wars the movie was out in 1980 and told us about something new, a new way of looking at things, yes, the Force. Use the Force. What do you think people have been doing? It commonly referred to as a Relaxation Response Method.
You block out negative thoughts coming into your head, by conscious effort, and say something like “Cancel, cancel.”
This takes practice and effort to reprogram your brain. What we have now in the US is people who do not know these techniques. We have been doing this since about 1985. Star Wars Reagan began a process that nuclear weapons would be reduced.
Now in the 1990’s, Saddem was not going to get by with his “Naked Agression” and thats exactly what Pres. Bush meant.
Now Pres. Clinton signed an Accidental Nuclear Release Treaty with Pres. Boris Yelstein. If terrorists get ahold of a nuclear device, we will call first, to avoid an all out exchange of nuclear missiles.
Some in the US, as some in Russia, think a Nuclear War is winable, IT IS NOT.
This has been proven time and time again.
Yet minor countries like North Korea or major countries like China or India or Pakistan want to continue on with developing longer ranged nuclear missiles. They already have them.
The point is the SDI defense, making nuclear missiles obsolete. How? That’s easy. It’s still the same with the US. We have more nuclear weapons than Russia. If anyone launches a all out War, the US will literally destroy this entire Planet. AND WE MEAN IT.
We have lived it, so when someone comes and says I am from the future, and there is a Nuclear War and a Civil War, I say “Bull”.
Every country in this world knows that the US will destroy this entire Planet if it needs too. There will not be a limited Nuclear War in my estimation.
Having all lived through this 50 years of crap, makes us not be interested by annoying people claiming this or that after having a Cold War with Russian leaders. We are not amused at this type of behavior.
This will not cause a Civil War, or a Nuclear War, got it.
[Oh so very sure. So very sure. Well, the year is 2018, and look at who is in charge of America. - Metallicman.]
Here are the people who operate the enormous buracracy in the United States. You know, the ones that say one things and do the other. John Brennan. James Clapper, and their ilk.
Posted by John Titor on 03-02-2001 05:46 AM
DANIEL:((Are the singularities in your machine supposed to be offsetting the light cones of particles within it’s sphere of influence allowing the world lines of these particles to appear to loop form the perspective of particles outside the effected area?))
No, that’s not how it works.
The singularities are used to manipulate gravity around the observer.
The singularities do not interact with any matter except the electrons that are injected onto its event horizon.
The hazardous areas of gravity are quite small and exist only around the inner singularity ring and another area created in the gravity sinusoid outside the vehicle.
((I don’t mean to insult you by spelling out the obvious to you so basically, but that seems the most obvious need of a singularity.))
No insult taken.
I would imagine we both agree that standing behind an operating jet engine is an unhealthy thing to do also.
((If so, how can you account for generating a gravity well deep enough to create such a disparity between light cones without sucking the planet through the eye of a needle?))
The gravity well created by the singularities is not that large.
The portion of the field that is felt by the operator is about the equivalent of 2 Gs.
I would urge you to examine a Penrose diagram for a Kerr black hole.
As you are probably aware, the singularity is donut shaped and exhibits two event horizons.
The singularities are used to “simulate” a path through the center of one of these singularities which is what takes the observer to an alternate worldline.
Earlier in the thread I did go into this in a bit more detail.
((Also, this requires motion through the space immediately influenced by the mass, yet you claim travel is accomplished while the traveler is stationary.))
The unit must be stationary during operation due to the sensitivity of the gravity sensors. Any motion with an acceleration component would throw the gravity measurement from the singularities off.
Posted by Joe Applebaum on 03-02-2001 06:12 AM
I’m new and I didn’t get a chance to read every post up to this point, so I’m sorry if my questions are repeats.1. Could you explain your theory about world-lines? Are there infinite world-lines? Are all world-lines separate or connected to each other in some way?2. Where did you attend High school and what year did you graduate? Was it difficult?3. What college did you attend, what year did you graduate? Would you estimate that your college life was similar to ours in our world-line?4. Hypothetically: If you fell in love with someone here (lets say Pamela) and you took her “back to the future” with you in your timex machine, wouldn’t that act upset both of our world-lines especially if she were pregnant? Or all of the world-lines,assuming time travel is possible? Conversely, If you were gay and you took a gay man back with you, would that disrupt the world-lines less, assuming the both you could not bear offspring.5. Have you had a chance to watch a movie here that you had already seen in your 2036 word-line? If so, did they have the same endings?Thank You, looking forward to your replies.
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-02-2001 06:45 AM
John: Thanks for your response.
I understand the dilemma and paradoxes involved in the moral questions. I’m still not convinced, though, that of the two basic choices of involvement/non-involvement when faced with an immediate moral dilemma, you find inaction okay but action (active intervention) suspect. I don’t see why you don’t regard them equally.
Example: I’m at a blind intersection and I see a bus barreling down on a man who’s crossing the street. Would God condone me staying out of it because I feared the moral ramifications of the myriad future scenarios?
This kind of second-guessing would prevent any immediate action.
Lifeguards, firemen and cops would be rendered obsolete. With such a standard I could leave a kitten up a tree, a wandering child outside on a cold night, a blind woman headfirst in a snowbank, on and on, because I really don’t know what affect these living beings will have on future events.
How can a God expect you to be omniscient, that’s His job. Since you’re not omniscient you’re not responsible, which is what I meant by “moot.”There are an infinite amount of variables. Therefore the Pearl Harbor scenario is ambiguous. You don’t know that involvement of a time-traveler would prevent a nation’s motivation. Or that it wouldn’t. Or that your inaction is any more moral than involvement.What concerns me is that your reasoning endorses any sort of non-involvement in day-to-day events – yes, even cowardice. All the lives that Schindler saved, for example? He should have simply stayed out of it because one of their descendants might someday become a second Hitler? I’m sure those he saved would have a different opinion.
I need to think about this more.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-02-2001 08:01 AM
Javier: [Well Rick, you seem to have a passionate belief in something as well. Yet you blame me for having the same zest. You accuse me of being harsh; yeah maybe I was just a tad. But you call these people who want to take away the second amendment “nuts,” how do you think they will feel about you saying that? So I see it as something one in the same. ]Javier, I do have a passionate belief in something – the Constitution. But, you misunderstand a bit. I’m not BLAMING anyone for anything. Let me see if I can say this simply… we all want to learn something.
By you (or anyone) denying outright the existence of something – or attacking it directly as a “bad thing” without listening to both sides, you deny the chance for observation, and therefore, learning.
Nothing against your methods, but, to put the problem into the perspective that “this is simply wrong” without back up justification for it being wrong – other than your own perception (which some of us might not understand) makes it hard for anyone to follow the story.
I just have a problem with anyone lumping EVERYONE that doesn’t have the same beliefs as that person (doing the ‘lumping’), in the same category.As for your example of my calling the anti-gun people “nuts” – it isn’t the same thing.
We do not know the “history of time travel” but we DO know the history of Europe and America and that many, many times history has shown that tyrants take arms from the people to keep themselves in power.
This has been repeated over and over throughout history.
Our history, our time line.
So, I could care less if they are “upset” by me calling them nuts. They are, plain and simple, ignorant people who do not know or understand their own history – and who use emotionalism to take something away. They are wrong and by my defination they are nuts.
You are calling everyone sheep who are going along with the story line here, because they are curious, wish to learn, understand or perhaps even believe that there is some truth to the story. There is nothing wrong with someone following along or playing along with the story, it certainly does not make them sheep.The difference is, we do not know for certain Time Travelers can affect the world time line of ourselves.
If they can and do, we WOULDN’T KNOW IT! If, as in John’s example, he goes up the hill and helps the Radar folks (and I’m very familiar with not only this particular story, I’m familiar with various historical changes that MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED because I’ve written a paper on that VERY subject many years ago in college) – then there might have been changes that would have prevented us from entering the war, developing the bomb before Hitler and perhaps we would all be speaking German today.
So if that happened because of a time traveler… would we know it? How do we know that someone DIDN’T interfere already ALLOWING US TO WIN THE WAR? We do not know this.Michael E. Hendrickson: Just a couple quick comments, because I am not sure I understand where you’re coming from. Apparently you have a problem with “militia” people.
I’ll tell you this from my point of view, with 26 years of military and goverment service, having sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. I have been on both sides of this fence.
The Constitution is first. Before anything else.
Militia people – those who fancy themselves as protectors of the Constitution – are. They are very keen on what is going on in the world today. They will be backed up by military members should a “civil war” ever occur in this country.
The military will protect the Constitution first.
You see, the government is by, of and for the people – meaning that people run it. People are part of this country and people are corruptable, regardless of your belief that they aren’t.In the past six months, several illegal raids by the BATF have occurred in Mesa, Arizon.
I will give you the opportunity to look up the information yourself, because you won’t find it in the normal media. But you will find that people like the Right to Keep and Bear Arms organizations have been tracking these things.
So, the government, run by people who make mistakes DO MAKE MISTAKES. And they need to get their act together before a lot more people become aware of their mistakes.
I don’t care if you’re anti-gun or not, that’s fine. But if you are (not you personally, but “you” in the generic sense) then you are unaware of the GOOD that guns can do – or simply do not care (this is not directed at you Michael, but the general anti-gun people who say things similar to what you did).And for the record – just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean people ARE NOT OUT TO GET YOU! Remember that. A little paranoia goes a long way to keeping people honest. That is a fact. In my current position, if I WEREN’T paranoid, I couldn’t get my job done!!!!!!!!!!!!Albert Cattoir: Albert, I’m not sure if you were trying to teach me something or not. You didn’t tell me anything I did not already know and understand.
Let me tell you something… I have lived in Detroit Michigan, Oklahoma City, Washington, DC and Colorado Springs – among other places. All of those places had dozens of nuclear warheads pointed at them during the cold war. Some STILL have nukes aimed at them (specifically where I live now, at NORAD. So, like you I’ve lived under that shroud as well.I was there with Reagan and Bush.
I wear a belt buckle George H. W. Bush gave me just prior to his inaguration – not that it has bearing on this conversation, but it shows at least to me and my family that I’ve been there through some of the most important moments of history in the 20th century.
I was there when the wall fell.
I was there when the Iranian rescue mission failed.
I was there, and shot at several times, during the contra days in the late ’70s.
I understand and fully aggree with the old SDI projects, and now NMD. That’s my job… I want it to succeed and work. I would love nothing more than to see nuclear weapons become an obselete, even archane and useless weapon.So, please do not assume that because you were there, the rest of us were not. As to your last comments….[There will not be a limited Nuclear War in my estimation. Having all lived through this 50 years of crap, makes us not be interested by annoying people claiming this or that after having a Cold War with Russian leaders. We are not amused at this type of behavior. This will not cause a Civil War, or a Nuclear War, got it.]In your estimation – opinion, there will not.
In MY estimation – it CAN happen and will if the opportunity presents itself to those who wish to see American fall.Denial, however, is a symptom from which we all suffer from time to time. We do not want to see bad things come to pass and therefore deny it can possibly happen.
Civil war can be caused by many things.
In our country – a place considered by us Americans to be the best place in the world to live, it hasn’t happened since the 1870s… a barbaric time in history.
Now, we believe we are above that.
I hope we are. However, look around you. Examine the distrust people have for a growingly powerful government that can arrest you for even THINKING bad thoughts today.
The so-called “Hate Crimes” bills they keep trying to pass are a good example.
Who cares what you and I think about each other, or someone else? Only those who feel “threatened” by our thoughts. Why should I bow down to someone who believes I SHOULD NOT THINK A CERTAIN WAY?
Civil war is not only POSSIBLE in this country, if trends in social behavior continue, and government continues to grow at an exponential rate, taking more and more of YOUR MONEY then more and more people will become dissatisfied.Limited nuclear war is NOT impossible and under some circumstances, very probable.
You seem to forget that our national policy is to use nuclear weapons if attacked by anyone with any weapons of mass destruction. That is, if some city in the US, or military personnel (or embassy) were attacked with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, our response would be swift, and severe.
A nuclear strike on the perpetrators WILL happen.
At that point it becomes a limited nuclear war. (If something I saw yesterday has any truth, then we were so close to a nuclear war during the Kursk incident, you people will pee your pants!)John’s being on this forum and making the claims he makes points out that there are indeed social problems today with which we all live. Those social problems, indeed the world problems we observe all around us from Israel to Russia, from Central America to Washington DC show that we live in an unstable world, in the 21st Century.
Our actions – those actions of individuals – touch the lives of many, many others around us. People we know and do not know will be touched by one thing you do today.If John is a time traveler, out of his own time line, then he exists here today because of something some scientists did some time ago, just as some people, perhaps entire families DO NOT EXIST TODAY because of the actions of some other scientists in 1945 at the Trinity site in New Mexico.Today might be the day that a new Einstein is born, or dies due to an accident. Today might be they day aliens land and make first contact. I doubt that any of these things will happen, but that doesn’t make it impossible. Keeping our minds open to the possibilities of WHAT MIGHT BE only helps us to prevent the evil things that might befall the human race.
To deny that evil can happen, denies good the chance to defend itself.
Posted by John Titor on 03-02-2001 08:07 AM
I plan to address the previous questions in more detail but I thought this was interesting and might add something.
Lola States:((I postulate that you actually do not have any more of an advantage or responsibility than the person who grabs someone who is about to step off the curb and get hit by a bus. I would not stop and think ‘gee, I don’t know, do they deserve to be saved from the fate of a roadkill?’ A doctor or priest does not take it upon himself to decide who should be helped. A jet pilot doesn’t stop to think “Hey, air travel is pretty unnatural, these people should have to walk and row their way to Paris. I am messing with the way time and space is perceived and the nature of reality with this form of transportation.” Time travel is just another form of transportation in one sense. Our possible new ability to time travel in the future may not seem any more exotic than our ability to access other cultures is now.))
I agree with this also.
((Why is it different than using a jet to go to a primitive tribe and give them, say, antiobiotics. (never mind the problems with antibiotics)It is a high tech way of interfering with a culture. Who cares what time zone. Ethically isn’t it the same?))JIM:(( Are you posting on other (non time travel related) boards without revealing your status as a time traveler? Is the conversation as interesting? What are your conclusions so far?))
Not really, there are a number of science rooms and other chats I do visit and just sit and watch.
I have discovered that people who frequent this board and some others have the most open and creative minds.
I realize no one actually believes me but they are still able to look past that and ask some very important and interesting questions.
CRAIG:((… are, or were, you in contact with TTs in 2036, and if so, what percentage of the people accept it as possible? After the flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, it took 10 plus years for people to accept it as anything more than just an urban myth.))
The general public was informed about time travel around 2034.
Yes, I have had conversations with other time travelers on my home worldline.
Your insight on the public is more or less correct. I would say 60% of the people realize what it is and the possible implications, 20% of the people don’t care, 10% don’t believe it and another 10% see it as something that should be banned and stopped.
DOUG:((Likewise, imagine if a time traveler from the future came to this time period and told us the secret of time travel.))
Yes, imagine that. Do you think that would be a good thing or a bad thing?
RICK:((John – commercials. They are ignorant commercials. In fact, almost every commercial on television these days are either totally stupid (so they come out funny), or they are aimed at people whose humor suffers from being “in the black” a lot. Black humor seems to be the way things go these days. I don’t much care for it.))
Back in the 50s and 60s, television commercials were pretty straightforward. Usually along the lines of, “Cheese! It’s good! Buy cheese.”
In the 70s, there was more identification with a producer or trademark but the commercials were still pretty easy to understand. “Buy this beer, it tastes great!”
Today, I have no idea what some commercials are advertising until they show the logo at the end. Do you find this more effective?
Only recently have I seen this move toward dark humor. I’ve never seen anything like it before, even in “your” archives in 2036.
FLIP top of 20
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-02-2001 12:01 PM
Rick,
Your post brought to mind a conversation I had with a woman from Yugoslavia several years ago just a few months before the war started there. She was very adamant that there could be no real civil strife. Everyone got along very well, there were mixed marriages, mixed neighborhoods and in general everyone and everything was very civilized.
Not a year later they were in a full civil war and doing unimaginable things to one another.
This woman was a University philosophy professor who had spent her entire life in Yugoslavia.
As you say, anything can happen.
People are the same EVERYWHERE. It is foolish to imagine that things that happen in Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Africa and have happened here are now no longer possible because we are now so evolved and civilized.
History has the most important lessons for us yet we are unable to learn from them (or maybe it is truly impossible for us to change). But one thing is for sure-History repeats itself.Lola
At that comment, I would like to post a comment that I found on Free Republic on 4DEC18. Ths comment is in regards to the huge number of non-citizens that get free benefits in America and the fact that Americans themselves cannot qualify for those benefits.
The U.S. is like a sick animal covered with ticks.-10 posted on 12/4/2018, 6:43:13 AM by SpaceBar
Civilizations, nations and people all follow a natural process of birth, growth, stagnation and decay.
Meanwhile, back to the the archives…
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-02-2001 01:13 PM
Lola… you’re right, and I think you said what I was trying to say in a short note. Thanks.In America, we look around us and see a civilized society – where gangs, criminals and hoodlums carry guns illegally every day, and USE THEM – but law-abiding, non-violent people are denied the ease of obtaining or carrying weapons with which to defend themselves.Obviously, this is not everywhere. I think 37 states now have Right to Carry laws now. Colorado, where I live has limited issue licenses for concealed weapons.The point here is that LITTLE things like this challenge us every day. People somehow feel that “a new law” will fix a problem, when really, only common sense – and an understanding of previous laws would really fix the problem. I bring the weapons situation up, because it is a daily concern in my life, as well as the lives of many around me. It is a “hot button” issue for a LOT of people. You either want gun control or you want no gun control.There are those who want to be in the middle (like a certain Congressman who hears from me weekly anymore) and concern yourself with “common sense gun laws” – which still ban guns to some extent.These hot button issues cause people to get upset and DO SOMETHING about the situation. Sometimes one side takes it futher than the other side, which then escalates the situation.No… there is no reason to believe that we will never have another civil war in this country, and there is definately no reason to believe there will never be a nuclear strike on ourselves or another country. Whether or not either of these scenarios would be survivalable is debatable but moot – since the possibilities exist that civil war, and/or nuclear war (whether limited or all-out) still exist.The American or Western culture to which most of us posting here belong, are different in some ways than other countries. But, we are all still human. Humans make mistakes, misinterpert information, and humans simply in large numbers have differences of opinions. Humans… kill their own kind too.Sorry for getting a bit off topic, but I’m still stuck on the Time Traveler Predictions John has given us. While John might not be a real time traveler, I can see merit in his statements.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-02-2001 01:29 PM
Don’t get me wrong. I like the topic of time travel.
Its been known that every civilization that has had something new given to them, say antibiotics, new medicine, or a new belief, has been known to eventually destroy themselves.
The same way if we ever met a alien not from our Planet.
This supposedly has happen, so has time travel. So, the end result is because we were exposed to this, this civilization as we know it, destroys itself. The same question in a form is still asked today:
If a human walks outside and there is a dark cloud overhead, the human says “I think I will grab an umbrella, it may rain”.
The other human walking outside with the first human, says “You will not need an umbrella, if no human exists, then no human will know that there was a dark cloud overhead.”
Which type of human are you, either one or both, or most important, to answer to yourself, why?
If we think that humanity will destroy itself, then maybe our prophecy will fulfill itself, if we think the other way, then John may be already be in an alternate reality in a parallel universe in which case, the future as he knows it never happens.
It reminds me of the show with Jonathan Burke about the book, “Connections”.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-02-2001 03:11 PM
Typing of “Connections”:How can John assume that as dangerous humans on this Planet, we won’t kart off his 500lbs. time machine, so we develop time travel by the year 2036?How can anyone go to jail for stealing a toy that was made in the future?Do not worry, John, we will help get you back to your own reality and own real parallel Universe, so you can travel back in time by the year 2036.
You may have to go through a few alternate realities and parallel Universes, but you will get back to the future.
Any second of any minute of any hour of any day before you leave, we may interfere with your plans?
Do we fulfill any future prophecy by doing this, afterall we assume that we really are dangerous humans on this Planet?
I do not assume that it will be me who does this, it may be someone else, who can tell?
Posted by John Titor on 03-02-2001 03:14 PM
FLIP:((Is spiritual awakening a difficult process; if yes, then why is it so difficult, and are we all capable of it?))Personally, I believe spiritual awakening is difficult. Why? I think God wants us back but the road we have to haul is no picnic. Maybe he’s a little angry for some reason.I think the world is seductively clever in its presentation. “It” wants us to stay here and it distracts us from God by creating want, greed and four or five other motivations. Our goal should be to; yes, have faith and do good deeds but also look past that and have the wisdom and knowledge to realize that this place, this world, this universe is not really our home. The question I ask myself is not can I get to God, it’s am I prepared for what will it be like when I get there.RANDY:((There are plenty of great mysteries, but if your only aim its to ‘get to God’, it is not necessary to solve them.))I mean mysteries not of this world. For example: I suspect that the final thing we will have to give up to get to God is our free will. Do you think many people will be standing at the pearly gates saying “yes” to that one if they had a choice to come back here?[It's statements like this that puts me in the pro-John Titor is a "time traveler" column. -Metallicman]((What do you see for the future of TT in your world-line?))That’s a good question. I am hopeful that one day when we get the planet cleaned up it will be a nice place to live on again and no one will want to leave it. On the other hand, if time travel were commonplace right now, I think a great many people would leave and perhaps never return. There is also a suggestion that time travel might make an interesting punishment. However, I don’t think we have the right to force criminals on unsuspecting worldlines and sending them to the Stone Age might be a bit much.
“All Our Yesterdays” is a third season (and the penultimate) episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek, first broadcast March 14, 1969, and repeated on August 5, 1969. It is episode #78, production #78. In this scene McCoy and Spock are saved by Zarabeth, a beautiful woman who takes them to a sheltered cave. As McCoy recovers from severe exposure, Zarabeth explains to Spock that she too is from Sarpeidon’s future, but a tyrant banished her to this era after some of her relatives were implicated in an assassination plot.
JEANETTE:((I had met someone, a year or so ago, who said he was from the year 2036 also. He said something happened to make this travel all the more possible. He gave me some details, I wonder if they are the same as yours.))Although not impossible, I doubt there is another time traveler here from 2036.
I have been chatting on and off for quite a while and in other chatrooms.
I have also seen and heard about other people who have taken a creative license with some of the things I’ve said and posted. It might have been me but I’ve never heard of the DNE.RICHARD((John,thank you for sharing,I find this fasinating.wanted to ask, has California,had”the Big” earthquake,in your time and has any of the north Coast disappeared?..also, I really do wish that you could be a guest on Art’s show,I am sure it would be enjoyable…thanks again…..Richard.))The big one? As you are experiencing now, there are earthquakes, storms and other unfortunate surprises from Mother Nature that have impacts on your society and future history. That is one reason I won’t go into detail.
However, don’t worry too much about major portions of coastline slipping under water.I do enjoy Art’s show very much and I must admit I’ve been surprised more than once by some of the things I’ve heard.
I’ve seen reference to other “time travelers” that Art has spoken with and I realize his credibility (and ability to have an entertaining program) is at stake when he talks to someone making such extreme claims. As you all know, I think skepticism is good.I enjoy talking to you too. Thanks for the enlightenment.CRAIG on page 20:
Posted by Barbara Clements on 03-02-2001 07:51 PM
John, all kidding aside, an extremely important thing; do they ever get around to making any new Aeon Flux episodes?
Posted by Lynne Lynch on 03-02-2001 07:57 PM
Just a couple of questions for you,1. Can you say if the Geon will be ever be revealed at all in the future?2. What do Guinea Pigs eat in your time frame?
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-03-2001 12:07 PM
SmileJohn,I was thinking about what you wrote here in your previous thread: “”…There is also a suggestion that time travel might make an interesting punishment. However, I don’t think we have the right to force criminals on unsuspecting worldlines and sending them to the Stone Age might be a bit much. “”Whoa! now there is a thought.putting criminals back in time for punishment.What if you put a repeat offender rapist back in the stoneage, or even further….before man.And he started mating with everything he could find.His first target would probably be the apes since there would be no other humans around.He might even create a half-ape/half-man being.Which might alter entire belief systems when they dug up the bones later. Leading people to believe we came from apes.How’s that for creative thinking???? hahahaWhat if he left footprints? or worse yet…a shoe print?Putting angry criminals back in time is probably not a good idea. could you imagine the consequences??hmmmm, I think I know what you mean now by no absolute truths when dealing with time travel….things could always change.sincerely,pamela
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-03-2001 03:12 PM
Okay, the US has social problems. Every country does, including Russia.
Its not a debate to be that War in any form can be avoided. Let’s take the scenarios that John lays out.
A Civil War needs a leader first.
How is this done? By groups hanging out in the invisible. Maybe. The Congress and President drafts everyone it can, the military takes over at first, marshall law can be declared.
What happens, leaders take over, and the President is still left free to perform other duties like monitering Russia.
Russia supposedly attacks.
How limited is the nuclear war.
First it must be defined. Any kind of debate concludes that you are assuming that some form of life exists when it is all over. How many missiles is limited? 150 missiles. How many get through? Einstein used a thought experiment, or imagined relativity. We shoot most of the missiles down, so does Russia, China does not.
Little wars start all over the World. North and South Korea, India and Pakistan. Use nuclear missiles.
The US may bomb Iraq. Now how many missiles are flying totally. Over 500 about. That may be just enough to end life on this Planet. The oceans heat up, the water recedes from ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The Polar Caps start melting, the oceans go up. The magnetic pole of the Earth shifts, it goes too far. The Earth starts moving off it spin axis, resulting in more destruction. Earthquakes now take place, the atmosphere depletes letting water vapor out into space. The land starts going under the water level. Animals turn on humans.
Elephants drop over, trample things. On and on, all because humans could not imagine what the result would be of even a limited nuclear war. Would humans survive this? I do not want to find out.
There’s seem to be an emotion about having a limited nuclear war, that humans would survive, it still takes thought processes. Whatever they are feeling for that emotion is nothing that I want to be around. I am not their slave. The result, life ends even if it takes just a little longer.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-03-2001 09:35 PM
Pamela,Banishing criminals to the past – an interesting thought.I’m glad that there seems to be no evidence that that has happened. As it happens, “criminals” are my business and have been so for the past thirty-three years.I’d have some very strong objections to sending them into the Stoneage (or any other prior age for that matter). As it happens, there truly isn’t a strong correlation between low intelligence and criminal behavior. Criminals tend to be less educated but do possess at least average intelligence.
If we were to send them into the past we’d create a timeline where “modern” ingenuity and “modern” man appear in (circa) 10,000 BC…thus no Stoneage.
Even with a limited education the banished would introduce the technical skills of their chosen trades into that age (criminals really do have work skills – even skills that qualify as “expert” by our standards.) It gets worse if you send them into a “pre-human” era. By fiat you have re-defined “pre-human” to exclude that period from being “pre-human.”OT area:I still see no practical applicability for time travel to our experience.
If it turns out that string or bubble theory is true then time travel is possible – but the “place” traveled to has no connection to our reality. And a successful return trip from another bubble or string is tenuous at best. One would have no way of verifying that the timeline to which they returned was the same timeline from which they left.
If it turns out that there is but one unified timeline, then any meddling with the past (i.e. time traveling) ends causality on the timeline from the instant of the Big Bang and renders the timeline untenable – that is, it precludes the formation of our universe. (The reason for positing that causality ends at the instant of the Big Bang is the result of contamination.
If time travel is possible in a non-string/bubble reality then the time line has the entirity of eternity for time travelers to contaminate the whole of the time line.
Causality fails at all instants on the time line and it collapses before it forms. A macro-singularity of mass-energy & space-time, as it were.)Frankly, I’m probably no different than anyone else who logs onto the Time Travel threads. Thinking about, fantasizing about and pondering the significance of time travel is fascinating. This facet of modern theoretical physics and philosophy is the cutting edge of critical thought.I suppose that time travel is so fascinating for me because everyone who poses an opinion is potentially correct – without exclusion. If time travel can be accomplished then it will be accomplished. Because our timeline appears to be one where cause and effect are directly related then it would appear that string-bubble reality is proved in that context. Our four dimensional view of reality is one (of an infinite array of possibilities) where cause precedes effect. That may not be true of other timelines.
[One of the on-going themes in this "time travel" business is the blank assumption that we all share the same reality; that there is one "world-line" that we all occupy, and from time to time, a person travels from it. In reality, there are multiple realities, and one reality per consciousness. When you look at everything from that point of view all these arguments against time travel collapse. -Metallicman.]
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-04-2001 06:51 AM
RE: Getting back to one’s own timeI assume as we get to the final touches of engineering time travel we will devise a system to ensure a return trip. Analogous to bringing along a ball of twine and letting it out, or, as Hansel and Gretal did, drop breadcrumbs along the way to follow back, or, as spelunkers do sometimes, tie down an anchor point and explore on the tether.There will have to be a fixed starting point that the electronics can follow back. Or some sort of electronic marker or “fix” will be referenced before the trip starts. This means, of course, more sophisticated computers than that old IBM box that John uses (or gear that works in conjunction with it).
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-04-2001 02:54 PM
Thumbs upGot a message back from Doc. John’s images are back up.He said he did some study on the problem, and it seems that Geocities is blocking links from other servers that attempt to access their database.He said he put tto’s images on his comteck server for right now until he can find another one. The pics work on the forum now despite interferance from geocities.magisystemstimelordsanonymusI knew Doc would find a way! hurray DOC!sincerely,pamela[Edited by Mary Rowland on 03-05-2001 at 12:07 AM]
Posted by E. Robert Gonzalez on 03-04-2001 03:35 PM
QuestionI have been a temporal researcher for at least two years now and mostly studied radionic forms of time travel. I personally have not yet used one of the devices but have heard stories and evidence leading me to think they work.
I was also wondering if you have heard of any of the radionic and Steven Gibbs devices.
I have had a possible encounter with my future self that I can only characterize as being very strange. He knew all my most personal thoughts and convinced me over a period of about a year that he was me or atleast someone who knew me very well.
Apparently he came from an alternate time line like you, and his motive seemed more like an informational one to me. It appears at some point in time I might time travel although I’m not sure.
What he told me somewhat corresponds to what you say and that’s what scares me.
[Yikes! - Metallicman.]
I was hoping maybe it was just a future in another universe much different from ours and that my future would be some what peaceful and good to live in.
I now see a picture of a world that is war torn and hard to live in. At first I was skeptical and then accepted you as being a true time traveler with all the evidence and stories you put forth. I hope to maybe send a comment to my future self and ask a couple of questions.
I would like to tell my future self this message: “Never forget Echelon Group and the ones you love you most, keep strong and don’t give up.”
If his time line is anything like mine, he’ll know what I mean. It’s just something to keep his spirits up.
Now for some questions, is it possible that I somehow help any areas of time travel or get noticed in the future (Maybe recognize my name)? Do most of the people of that time die out, especially ones that currently have health problems?
Is it possible that sometime in your future or in your present time that time travel will be common place?
Have any of the scientists of your time discovered any new planets, possibly ones with life?
Has the bandwidth of the internet increased greatly? And finally, one last question…how did Texas fare during the war (If you can answer)?
Thanks for your time…I hope maybe I can e-mail you or maybe I can e-mail you some how and talk for awhile.[Edited by E. Robert Gonzalez on 03-04-2001 at 03:41 PM]
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-04-2001 03:44 PM
– – – “Craig on Page 20” ….What comes after that??? LOL
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 02:02 AM
E. Robert Gonzalez,I take it by your last name that your Spanish, am I right? I noticed from your post that you believe John’s claims, that he’s actually a bona-fined Time Traveler. You know, once I asked John a very similar question to the one you just asked him. “Am I deeply involved in a Time Travel project?” Knowing already the answer to that question, he answered me by saying that he didn’t know me. And that if he did, he wouldn’t tell me.To everyone:I just wanted to emphasis to the whole public viewing these posts that John still has not made it clear what his secret agenda is. To allow our minds to accept what he says to be true, we accept the very immorality of his secret agenda, whatever it may be.He is a Time Traveler, most of you people believe. Do most of you also believe that he is sincere in everything he says? Yet you forget that he said he would take people back with him.I know that some of you wanted to volunteer. Yet John lied, and now your faith in him is still strong, adjusting accordingly to keep his ideals true. Why am I the only one bringing this up, questioning him? Maybe because I don’t believe him, and because I won’t be disappointed like some of you if I find out he isn’t a Time Traveler. Reminds me of the Heaven’s Gate movement all over again.That’s pathetic isn’t it? I know that some of you want to admit it; you’re in the closet, thinking it over. Whether he truly is, or isn’t. You still have that doubt that refuses to answer. You have a voice… don’t be afraid of using it and taking leadership.Somebody has to be on the opposing side, am I to believe that I am the only one?John has many followers on his side; there is no doubt about that. But do you know what you are actually following?He has put his younger self in danger of someday being found out and exploited by our government. He has exploited the opportunity of using the past to rowdy up events for some secret agenda he claims to have. Saying he will video tape his departure, completely irresponsible of its repercussions. Just to name a few.The choice is ours people; our future is what we want it to be. Do most of you want a future where Time Travel is a way of life? I know I don’t, because how would you feel knowing that your life is not yours to dictate, but mainly what the future wants it to be.I wouldn’t dare think of exploiting the past, to benefit in some event in the future. That goes against my ethics. Obviously, some of you will have no problem with that, and ruin it for the rest of us. Gee, thanks a lot.Sincerely yours,Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 03-05-2001 06:06 AM
((He is a Time Traveler, most of you people believe. Do most of you also believe that he is sincere in everything he says? Yet you forget that he said he would take people back with him.))Could you do me a favor and point out exactly where I made that offer? I do recall a few people asking what it would be like but I don’t believe I ever offered to take people back.
J.C., a few days ago on Art’s show, I heard Art make refrence to someone named J.C. who was very persistant in calling the show when ever the subject of time travel came up. If it’s you, I admire your dedication.
Also, what happened to your “time cop” thread?
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-05-2001 07:18 AM
Gooten Tag – one and all.I’ve just spent the worst weekend. Wish I could go back in time and correct it.Albert: First I want to address some things you said, but not your entire message. I’ll try to keep my comments brief.“Let’s take the scenarios that John lays out. A Civil War needs a leader first. How is this done? By groups hanging out in the invisible. Maybe.”There are already very, very large militia groups that formed around the time of the last elections. In fact, the NRA is being considered a ‘militia group’ by some now. It grew by millions prior to the elections – mainly due to direct attacks on the right to keep and bear arms. Organizations such as the Militia of Montana have gained hundreds of members in recent weeks. There are others, that are larger. There are leaders, there are invisible groups that even I don’t know about (and I keep track of who’s who in the militia arena – for personal reason, nothing related to my job).“The Congress and President drafts everyone it can, the military takes over at first, marshall law can be declared. What happens, leaders take over, and the President is still left free to perform other duties like monitering Russia. Russia supposedly attacks. ”If and when Martial Law is declared – that will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. The current President KNOWS this, and CLinton knew it too. I surmise from his last actions (the pardons for instance) that he felt the timing wrong for declaring martial law and would have if he thought he could have remained in office. Many of the groups I mentioned before were braced for precisely that event. They are braced for martial law. The biggest thing is that if martial law is declared, some believe UN forces will be brought in to suplement US forces. Why? Because foreigners do not have qualms about shooting americans. Keep that in mind if things start looking like they are moving toward that sort of thing.John – can you… confirm from your point of view any of that? (Nothing specific there obviously).“How limited is the nuclear war. First it must be defined. Any kind of debate concludes that you are assuming that some form of life exists when it is all over. How many missiles is limited? 150 missiles. How many get through? Einstein used a thought experiment, or imagined relativity. We shoot >most of the missiles down, so does Russia, China does not. Little wars start all over the World. North and South Korea, India and Pakistan. Use nuclear missiles. The US may bomb Iraq. Now how many missiles are flying totally. Over 500 about. That may be just enough to end life on this Planet. The oceans heat up, the water recedes from ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The Polar Caps start melting, the oceans go up. The magnetic pole of the Earth shifts, it goes too far. The Earth starts moving off it spin axis, resulting in more destruction. ”Obviously, all of this is supposition on both our parts. However, I agree with you about the “smaller wars”. As far as how many get through… right now, all of them. Life will exist when it is all over. You know why? Because there have been many, many “Ice Ages” throughout our geological history. There have been at least 5, (I believe 6) major extinctions already in the history of our planet. Each time a major extinction has occurred the dominate life forms were destroyed, and yet life continued to survive, then thrive and finally a new, dominate life form took over. Each obviously more intelligent than the last.The last two involved dinosaurs and other higher lifeforms, and man is the latest incarnation of dominate lifeform on this planet. Man is capable of total destruction of this world if man does so.“There’s seem to be an emotion about having a limited nuclear war, that humans would survive, it still takes thought processes. Whatever they are feeling for that emotion is nothing that I want to be around. I am not their slave. The result, life ends even if it takes just a little longer.”Emotion is the main ingredient in any war, regardless of whether or not it is nuclear or conventional. People get mad, they fight, they argue and eventually they go to war as a group/country/nation/race/religion/etc. The thought processes change radically from “let’s get along” to “those BASTARDS” to “let’s kill them all” and then back to a very organized thought process of how best to kill the enemy.But, the part that precipitates a war takes very little effort or thought on the part of the antagonists. They simply let their emotions take over. When it gets too far, war starts and after the beginning of the war – the thoughts turn to killing, not how to get out of the war.Nuclear weapons are the ultimate device with which to put a stop to a war. As such they won’t be used until they are deemed absolutely necessary. But, once a war begins, the possibility exists, and as low as the probabilities might seem, they are always much higher than any of us believe.As we can see from this forum alone, the human mind grabs hold of ideas that are on the fringe and believes them. But thoughts that are scary, deadly and even point to the real truth about humanity (how bad and evil people can be if they want) we try to deny those possibilities. We do not wish to believe that the human race is capable of some of the evil that we’ve seen in the past.So – we try to deny it. My point throughout this forum, to everyone including you and Javier is that even if you do not BELIEVE in something, do not believe it can happen, you STILL MUST keep your mind open to the possibilities because then you are forewarned. Forewarned is forearmed.Rick
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 08:38 AM
John,That didn’t stop you from having people believe it. You could have come forward and made a public announcement to get it straight with people the first time. And now finally you say you never said it. What not say that the first time I brought it up too?My guess, is that I out-witted you, and now you finally found a come back .Your guess is as good as mine on the thread. I have no idea where it went to. Perhaps it’s the J.C. that’s calling Art’s show. Maybe it’s a future me, who took it down to minimize speculation.Knowing how I am, I know that I will not rest until I bring Time Travel Violators to justice. So maybe there is a high chance that it could be me. Why, scared John? You sounded nervous to me.-J.C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-05-2001 09:20 AM
I leave the Mr. Time Traveler, and all, a parting gift. The meaning of life is explicit, the questions are not. Whether John’s future is true or not, whether any possibility exists, whether foreigner will kill citizens of the US. The answers were always there, written by other people long ago thinking about life.Written by Thomas Jefferson, June 1776, :When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.The thinking has all been done, still the questions will always be asked. What is the meaning of life? There a glimpse of it from Thomas Jefferson.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-05-2001 09:39 AM
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. ”My point was, and still is that because of this document, because our government is self-governing, because the people control the outcome and not some entity called “government” there is and always will be, as long as the Constitution exists in its present form… the possibilities that those “in power” will make mistakes, either accidently or purposefully, and those accidents will lead to nodes in time.
[Reading comments like this, especially from the point of view of someone in 2018 is amusing...and sad. Yes, people actually believed that we were self-governing. We believed that our votes mattered and not some oligarch. We believed that wars were only fought when necessary, and our taxes would fix the roads. And that the laws were to protect us. What a bunch of dupes we were. - Metallicman.]This “node in time” is what I call the various crossroads where, if a certain incident had not occured then other, larger events would not have occurred.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 10:21 AM
Very nicely put Albert.
I agree with Thomas Jefferson. We must do something. The way things are going, lots of people are just letting the government do things to us. No body takes enough of a stand anymore in matters of the government taking away our rights, our freedom.
Look at the picture our resident Time Travel painted for us.
We can’t do jack in his Time Line. And to make matters worse, Time Travel is a way of life to their government and people, and for what hidden agenda?I’ll bet you’ll have some very interesting stories to tell your government about us when you go back John . What will your report entitle?
That you weren’t prepared for the year 2001, and that you had information about your time device leak out?
It’s true; you stated you weren’t ready for the year 2001, who knows what things you could have done different had you been ready.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-05-2001 11:23 AM
And in conclusion, Thomas Jefferson wrote:In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.
We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.The US is backed by NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
I think its safe to assume that the people who bought and paid for these weapons of mass destruction may well know what to do with the Devil as soon as I get there, or him, or her.
No, these weapons do not make the World safe, but I do know where I might be going, afterall: “How can God allow a person into Heaven even if that person is praying for forgiveness while still socking it to that place when whoever shows up down there, well maybe?
Is a further question maybe, are humans ever at Peace?
Posted by John Titor on 03-05-2001 11:32 AM
CRAIG:((What music do 20 year olds listen to.))People listen to all types of music. A great deal of it is available over the web. I would also add that people spend much more time making their own music.((What’s the future of cloning.))Cloning full people has been determined to be medically and ethically unsound. We do have research and progress in cloning body parts and creating more viable sperm and egg production.((Any more on Bill Gates? ))Not really. Just curious, why is he of such interest?((Do people wear chips yet?))No. People value their personal independence and ability to take care of themselves.((Are you a marked man?))Not that I’m aware of.LOLA:((I would still like to know what population makes a city big.))Cities become targets because of their military and economic value. Any large area supported by a civil infrastructure is likely to be on that list.((Your time sounds grim. Are you tempted to deliver your computer to 2036 and then retire in the 1970’s? ))
Not at all. I’m anxious to get home.((What did you think about those commercials?))I think those commercials capitalize on other people’s misery and misfortune in an attempt to sell a product. I can understand coming up with an idea like but what confuses me is how does it get past that stage? How do people sit in a room around a large conference table and agree that leaving a critically injured person lying in the snow is funny and will sell cell phones?Page 21
Posted by Chester Ward on 03-05-2001 12:15 PM
I’m new to the forum as of today and having just read the older discussions, I can tell you when you “invited” people to time-hop with you. Although your post of February 9th wasn’t truly an invitation to join you when you travel back, I can see how it could have been taken by some as being such.I’d love to go back to the funkier times of the ’70s; every day I feel more out of step with today’s world. If there’s room for me and you are amenable to it, could you really drop me off in 1975? If so please reply. Thank you.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 12:24 PM
SmileAhh haa. Busted John.See you did lie, and you kept it going. So your just as guilty whether or not you implied it directly or not. The point is, people believed you, and you did nothing to stop that.Way to go John, still waiting for that public apology.
Posted by John Titor on 03-05-2001 12:52 PM
((Although your post of February 9th wasn’t truly an invitation to join you when you travel back, I can see how it could have been taken by some as being such.))I’m sure many things by many people are taken in many ways. I find this an interesting point because I think its important to have implied agreements on words and meanings before you can talk with another person. If it wasn’t an invitation (by your own acknowledgement), am I responsible for what people think? If I am, how would you propose that I double check that? Are there really that many people out there upset about this?((Way to go John, still waiting for that public apology.))I publicly apologize for confusing you J.C. and anyone else who is packing their old bell-bottoms and shalls for a trip back to 1975.
Just curious J.C. Can you think of anything I could do to prove to you that I’m not a time traveler?
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 01:06 PM
Smile((Just curious J.C. Can you think of anything I could do to prove to you that I’m not a time traveler? ))I’m confused… what do you mean? I don’t think you are. Just wanted you to get your own story stright that’s all.It’s not my fault I found some discrepancies. You didn’t get upset with Pamela when she did too. All I did was pointed them out to you. Just how she did. Right?Hypocrisy, I tell you.-J.C.P.S. Now don’t you feel better now after you apologize? It wasn’t so hard after all, I don’t see why you waited so long to do so ?[Edited by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 at 01:29 PM]
Posted by Barbara Clements on 03-05-2001 01:14 PM
John;Since Heaven’s Gate was mentioned, I would like to say those involved in Heaven’s Gate were seeking a meaning for their lives. They wanted the easy way out, to hand thinking over to someone else, and follow with the implication they were now endowed with that meaning. I think they must’ve had a feeling of lack of meaning in the first place. Maybe people wish to believe in a time traveler in order to feel the same way. That they have meaning to their lives, proved by the fact that they are under the surveilance of someone ‘important’.Perhaps you are a time traveler, perhaps you are Whitley Streiber under a pen name, who knows? Thomas Jefferson wrote with thoughts that mattered not if he ever transcended his own time bodily, his mind did it for him. The beauty of his soul came from his ability to think in relation to his fellow human beings with empathy for their plight. If time travel is possible, someone please give him a bus ticket, because we need him in every time available.[Edited by Barbara Clements on 03-05-2001 at 01:44 PM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-05-2001 01:21 PM
Now that we have the “What If Scenarios”.If it happens, it happens.
Similiar to questions asked here, another forum discussed some possibilities in the form a a Forum Story Googolplex. That was at http://www.sidgames.com/forums in the topic class: Off-Topic.
The story came down to the question “Can humans with run-on sentences increase the total mass of the Universe, at which point, it buldges at it seams, and we cause a split, or a duality, of the Universe with all of this Information Age, or that the Universe is destroyed, (blows up) from the increase in mass due to run-on sentences?”If it happens, well, I guess, it happened.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 01:22 PM
Thumbs upBarbara,That was beautifully put . I hope though, that your post actually reach some people.
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-05-2001 01:47 PM
Barbara,Thomas Jefferson owned 2,000 slaves.Lola
[And your point is...? -Metallicman]
Posted by Chester Ward on 03-05-2001 01:48 PM
…about returning to ’75.I’m not in any way trying to jump on the “let’s trip John up” bandwagon here. I’m sorry if that’s how you took it. You asked if someone would point out the “invitation” and, as the post was fresh in my mind, I did, and also clarified it as “not exactly an invitation”. I asked if you’d consider taking a hitch-hiker, as I’ve no reason to doubt you’re being who you say you are, I absolutely believe time travel happens and have, for the past decade, dreamed of going back to simpler times. Since you’re stopping there anyway….
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-05-2001 02:15 PM
Javier —Actually, I have a question (which is along very simular lines as what I think John is getting at) that I want to see you answer: Can you prove or disprove anything? And if your answer to that is ‘Yes.’ then I’d also like to have you prove it.[Edited by Randy Empey on 03-05-2001 at 02:24 PM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-05-2001 02:28 PM
Here is a link to Russia, http://allnews.ru , did I just prove it?
Posted by Barbara Clements on 03-05-2001 02:32 PM
Lola, those were the times.
Posted by E. Robert Gonzalez on 03-05-2001 02:45 PM
I probably worded it wrong when I talked about believing John. I am now leaning towards the possibility that he is a time traveler for alot of personal reasons as well.
I hope I can get my questions answered by John and further understand your apparently grim future. Apparently the more visible mission of my “future-self” was to save my future and that of my family’s. I am very worried about the future and would do my best to protect the ones I love.
If I can atleast be prepared for it, then maybe I’ll fare well.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 02:50 PM
Randy,Prove what? All I did was point out John’s discrepancies. I think it’s proof enough, if you can see what he’s said in past post, and what he says now. It doesn’t match up.
Posted by John Titor on 03-05-2001 05:49 PM
ANGEL:((Can you tell us if reverse speech is used in the future for business or even pleasure?))I’m not very familiar with reverse speech but what I saw on the web leads me to conclude it’s a bit objective. I’m not sure if its been proven scientifically to be very accurate. Are you aware of any research that shows that?((Also, can you talk about earthquakes in California or Nevada?))No I can’t.
Besides, I see others predicting earthquakes and very few people pay any attention to them.((Thanks, John, for starting this topic and sharing your time with us. We are really enjoying it and you!))I appreciate that a great deal. Your future will be fine.RANDY:((Warping time and space takes lots of energy))Yes it does. A nuclear aircraft carrier and a space shuttle main engine also take a great deal of energy.((. .. making finding out if or how TT works hard . . . is this because of some accidental way the universe turned out, or is it a fundamental law written in by the Creator?))Hawking believes it’s possible to build a time machine but a mysterious energy will destroy it if anyone tries to use it.
In my opinion, manipulating gravity is not the hard part of time travel. Also, with great power comes great responsibility. If man has a limitation, that’s it.JAMES:((John Titor,what if something happens to your device to get back,let us say inoperable,would you then change the world by announcing warnings,and also what if you got a flat tire inbetwwen times would you have to pull over to fix it in a wrong time?))No, I wouldn’t do anything different if my machine broke. I would still be a stranger and a guest here. My opinions and “announcements” would also be the same as anyone else’s. I may however offer advice to my younger self.LOLA:((I still have some questions you have not responded to but hate to ask again in the event you do not wish to respond or just have not made your way to them yet. Could you let me know which? I will wait to hit you with more until I know the status.))If I missed something feel free to bring it up again.BRAD(( Why aren’t you traveling and telling us about your latest trip to the pyramids…))Yes, that would be fascinating but the unit I have is unable to go back that far accurately.((instead of talking about specifics you should be bored from in your awareness to them?))Not at all, I find the subject fascinating. There are two real issues I hope people think about when I’m gone.
One, how will you react when another time traveler shows up and two, how are we going to handle the responsibility of time travel when its invented.((Are the Great Pryamids still standing in 2036?))Yes, although one of them was severely damaged.((If you wish to experience society as it was, admitting yourself to be a time traverler is counter-productive.))Yes, if I was here for that purpose and if you believed me I suppose that would be an issue.((How’s communication around the world in 2036. Do you still have literature widely available?))Yes, books and other literature are available but most of the distribution is via the net.[Yet another John Titor prediction. Keep in mind that this dialog is from 1998.- Metallicman.]((What’s the latest book you’ve read that you were only able to hear about in your own time?))
The latest book I read was the autobiography of the Red Baron compiled from letters to his mother. Yes, I was aware of it in my own time but finding an original copy there was almost impossible.((Is new literature also so available?))Yes.((Is the english language begining to segment into sects and accents with less influence from trourists? Or is tourism still strong and thriving in 2036.))I would say the English language is pretty much the same as it is now. There are differences in slang and figures of speech but it’s nothing you couldn’t pick up. Yes, I suppose we do have “tourism”.CRAIG:Thanks again for the book reference.JAMES:((can you tell me what year the police will stop busting people for smoking weed???))It happens about the same time they stop coming to your house when you dial 911.((do they start pushing for legalization earlier than the war????))It’s not really an issue of the government letting you do something, It’s more like they have other things to worry about.
Don’t you feel you’re capable of taking care of yourself? If you want to take mood-altering drugs, why should my opinions stop you from that? They don’t stop you from taking alcohol, tobacco or fast food.[Written and penned in 1998 before President Clinton (and his minions) banned cigarettes all over the workplace, public parks, being near children, etc. This was before super-sized cokes were banned by the Democarats in power in NY and NJ. This was before the limitations placed on mnay of the vices that were taken for granted. - Metallicman]
In any case, it also lets Darwin take over. One of the reasons drug abuse isn’t a major problem in 2036 is because no one wants to die from it and everyone else who did is dead.
RICK 22
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-05-2001 06:25 PM
TalkingJohn,Hypothetically speaking, what will make your trip to the future impossible? And if you do go back, what here can change it?Even superman has weakness, and I am sure there is something or someone (hehe ) in this world that can change your future.Some Yang will always exist to oppose some Ying.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-05-2001 07:43 PM
Javier,You make the statement that you do not believe John is really a time traveler…..what is all of this then????(all from this thread..”Iam from 2036″)page 21:“That above example not just shows how irresponsible you are, but how ignorant as a Time Traveler you are as well: “I just don’t know. I was not prepared for the year 2001.” Good choice, 2036″page 22:..”and your future culture finds no flaw with prolonging it. Instead, they gave one of their Time Traveler (meaning you) a device to come to the past and exploit the chance to take and do as you and they see fit.Time Travel is an evil means to get what you want; I wouldn’t be surprised if your world is Satanic. ”page 24:“Hence my hatred towards Time Travel, and Time Travelers. ”“Someone’s got to do something. Who here has the guts to stand up for justice in the matter of temporal violators?”“And as for me being jealous of John, that’s not likely. Why would I be jealous of a Time Traveler? I hate Time Travelers”page 25:“I have to say John is very clever. But personally I don’t like Time Travelers, so I can’t be like you or the rest and listen to him. ”page 26:“Look at the picture our resident Time Travel painted for us. We can’t do jack in his Time Line. And to make matters worse, Time Travel is a way of life to their government and people, and for what hidden agenda?”“I’ll bet you’ll have some very interesting stories to tell your government about us when you go back John . What will your report entitle? That you weren’t prepared for the year 2001, and that you had information about your time device leak out? It’s true; you stated you weren’t ready for the year 2001, who knows what things you could have done different had you been ready”“knowing how I am, I know that I will not rest until I bring time Travel Violators to justice. So maybe there is a high chance that it could be me. Why, scared John? You sounded nervous to me.”“He has put his younger self in danger of someday being found out and exploited by our government. He has exploited the opportunity of using the past to rowdy up events for some secret agenda he claims to have. Saying he will video tape his departure, completely irresponsible of its repercussions. Just to name a few.The choice is ours people; our future is what we want it to be. Do most of you want a future where Time Travel is a way of life? I know I don’t, because how would you feel knowing that your life is not yours to dictate, but mainly what the future wants it to be. ”Javier,With all things considered, Is it not possible that people could misunderstand you as well?for anyone listening to these statements might just come to the conclusion that you may be the biggest believer of all.John said: ((Just curious J.C. Can you think of anything I could do to prove to you that I’m not a time traveler? ))sincerely,pamela“Prove what? All I did was point out John’s discrepancies. I think it’s proof enough, if you can see what he’s said in past post, and what he says now. It doesn’t match up. ”[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-05-2001 at 08:34 PM]
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-05-2001 08:09 PM
Barbara those were nice thoughts though isn’t it a bit presumptuous to imagine you know how the Heaven’s Gate people felt? It is my understanding that the majority of them had lived together for some 20 years and had spent a lot of time directly confronting the difficult issues of their own and each other’s lives, in an exciting, supportive and sometimes uncomfortably confrontive way.
People who wanted to leave were given $1000 to help get back into the swing of normal life. Most testimonials talked about how deep their experience of life had been on their path. People here in San Diego who had contact with them spoke of what a joy it was to just be around them.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-05-2001 11:04 PM
A future Russian leader starts a conversation answered by the American leader in the future:Dah!Duh!Dah, Dah, Dah, dah, dah, Dah!Duh! Duh!, Duh!, duh, duh, duh, duh, Duh!Dah! Dah!Duh, duh, duh, duh duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duhDah! dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah,dah dahDuh! duh, duh, duh,duh,duh,duh,duh Duh!Dah!Duh!
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-06-2001 03:43 AM
Well, I been reading more, now I’ll lose some sleep.
It seems that the Civil War part, is what I question.
If I went by what you say John, then, if I’m not too tired, then it would be the Police that start acting weird?
Well, a lot of people seem to be bent towards hate these days. Want to hand out orders, be in control.
But still I just find that the Police are trying to do their job.
Now the lastest is thermal imaging of houses where drugs may be grown. Is that a real loss of a freedom, or should they have the right to (spy) on people with high-tech devices?
A laser that shines on a window can record the conversation going on in the house.
Since I mainly listen to talk radio, this is where I get my info, from a talk-show host that seems to have a nack for finding out things going on in this time.
I guess this is the question that we now have to answer, high-tech equipment helping out law-enforcement?
I still think if people are not doing anything wrong, then these problems can be solved peacefully, not at the expense of human-life?
Others may conclude that it means a loss of rights.
Many people would not like to admit their madness in this day and age. I find that usually fighting for things that may not change to be the biggest problem with people, they want to instantly fight over all things.
It’s this pettyness that drives people now. Road rage, not allowing for other people to think, others not being concerned with what they are doing, causing problems, but a deep un-relaxed feeling that everyone is against them.
Are we blooming flowers or dying wilting flowers?A lot of people scare themselves into thinking doom.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-06-2001 07:36 AM
Pamela,You out of all people, should know that I speak hypothetically. Or if anyone claims to be something, I make it sound if he were, what would he do if he were. Haven’t you noticed? Everytime I question him, it’s to make it seem that if he were a Time Traveler, why is he messing up so much? I don’t believe he is though, you took what I said and attacked me without knowing all the facts. And you know me better then these people, so that makes it even more difficult to understand why you would be so much against me.He didn’t get mad at you when you brought forward his mistakes, but when I bring out his mistakes he gets mad at me, and you support him everytime. That’s just not fair.How many times must I tell you that it’s the principal that drives me. If he is, or isn’t a Time Traveler, he claims he is. I don’t believe him though. You do though, and so do alot of other people here.Excuse me for being on the opposite side of things, but it needs to be known.Have a nice day,Javier C.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-06-2001 08:43 AM
Javier,I am trying to make you aware of something. I am trying to point something out to you.“you took what I said and attacked me without knowing all the facts.”I have only done with your words what you have done with John’s. If you consider this an attack…you might want to consider what you are doing to John.“I don’t believe him though. You do though, and so do alot of other people here.”you are assuming this but have no idea what people believe on this forum unless they have stated it openly. even then….people can change their minds.You, yourself have no proof whatsoever that John is or isnt a time traveler. people have the right to beleive or not believe whatever they want to. Most people just want to hear what John has to say. let them make up their own minds.I am not against you, Javier. I am just trying to make you aware of some things. what you are doing to others, you do not like yourself. And talking about not being fair…I don’t think you are being very fair to John.sincerely,pamela
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-06-2001 09:44 AM
Pamela,Well talk about streching the truth. John was direct in claims of being a Time Traveler, everyone knew I was intentive in exposing him. If that method is to give the example of “What if you were a Time Traveler” “what would you do if” and so on, does not mean I believe he is, if it gave you and him the impression that I believed him. I think that’s where you misunderstood me and all this started.I can do very well without bringing up what you said, I know what you mean. People can make up their own minds. But you must let them choose. Not just let them have 1 side of a subject to choose.Me being quiet, will just leave 1 side. Your side. And that is what I have been trying to make you be aware of for almost a year now.Moreover, did you think I cared what John has said to you about me. NO! Have I ever asked you, NO! What makes you think I care?Just because I said it wasn’t fair, does not mean I want others to feel sorry for me because you think you turned it around on me. I just said that to point out how hypocritical some people can be.-J.C.
Posted by James N. Dickey on 03-06-2001 11:17 AM
WinkLet’s just say for now Ok. I take it the big corporate giants are still around(GE, GM, GF and the like) is the World of 2036 still Money Driven or has that changed.
Does it still Squelch the little Guy with a better Mouse Trap(Free Energie) or more Produtive means of producing Power(Like H2O2 Receprecating Rocket Engine) or the Burk 2-Stroke which was demonstrated in the 60’s and was able to run an 18-whlr with only 60cc engine size.
Did the Perpetual Thermal Steam Disk ever take off in mass Use. or did it preaty much stay the same as it has been(Exploite the Non Renuable Resorcess) and their By Products. Just a few Thaughts for Now. James
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-06-2001 11:37 AM
CoolJohn and all, I have been reading with fascination this thread for a few weeks now. Are you a Time Traveler, John? I do not know. You make an interesting and compelling case, regardless of whether I or anyone else believes that you are.The whole concept of time travel — with its myriad possibilities due to an action occurring in one brief moment — is mind-boggling. To imagine for a moment that a single event sets off unforeseen consequences, and knowing that this happens in infinite numbers at all times, can be quite humbling.Take, if you will, a chain of events which happened to me within the past day. While proceeding to get my two year old a cup of milk last evening, I somehow managed to lose the cap off of the milk carton. My wife then poured the milk into a pitcher and placed it back inside the refrigerator. This morning my two year old went to help himself to another cup of milk, and you guessed it, he dropped the pitcher spilling the contents all over our kitchen floor. This made me 10 minutes later beginning my commute to work, and possibly saved my life as I was not involved in a car accident that occurred where I normally would have been had I left at my normal time.I only mention the above because it seems that even the fact of my encountering this thread on this website seems to all be interconnected somehow.This brings me to another point. I have been very moved by some of John’s accounts, as well as others, in relation to the projected upcoming strife and war. I said I have a two year old boy, which means he is the approximate same age as John. If these prognostications are true, then I certainly do not like what is foreboded for my children.I, personally, am not surprised at this picture because I have foretold this scenario myself, not by implementing any time traveling means, but through observation and analysis. A person only needs to look at the recent presidential election to see that a war is a distinct possiblitiy involving rural America versus the cities. Look at how the electoral college played out. Al Gore carried the heavily populated east and west coasts, with the rural areas between basically favoring George W. Bush.
The mainstream media tried to portray this as proving how close to the “center” the electorate is.
[My have times changed! Eh? - Metallicman]
I, however, hold an opposing viewpoint in that I believe it shows just how polarized we have become. The rural areas want more of a traditional America with traditional family values. I predicted an imminent violent uprising even before the election, and I still hold to this belief. I hope I am wrong.Do I own a gun? No, but I certainly support the Second Amendment and a person’s right to do so.Take care all of you, and God bless America!
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-06-2001 12:30 PM
All very interesting David up previous.
I really do not see rural America really interested in starting an uprising. What is bothering people to me, is constant lay-offs and the changing of life in the Information Age. Some refuse to need this new kind of thinking, ushered in by people using computer more.
This grand thing called the computer to make life easier has also had its drawbacks.
I wish that America would look into a Think Tank type of operation for thinking about issues and quality first, but then I guess that would not be America anymore.
People I guess, feel that they are shoved around, but that is nothing different than previous management from the past. The social problems are a relatively few individuals, whom other people hear more about on the news.
I suggest everyone listen to talk-radio more, only a few shows on TV are worth watching.
As one person put it, greed is driving America, and some feel at the loss of interaction between people. People have their opinions, but like arse-holes, everyone got one, and for the most part, opinions are just a form of belief system held by the individual. People see panic where there may be none.
I put it this way, upper management looks at America and the way individuals are acting and says “I put the operation overseas”, well, at least to me.
Its all concerned with how much of the moola people can have. That may not lead to anything. Combined with taxes and people talk about change.
The best way is still the old way, write your Congress People and keep at it. Most people complain but that is ordinary too.
Life could be a lot harder, we have become slack for saying lack of money to spend on anything. People have no fear, if they do something wrong, they will not suffer the punishment that is needed to correct the situation.
I got the opinion that baby-boomers were treated too good, for some of them, and afterall, I am a baby-bummer, like some of the rest.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-06-2001 02:40 PM
Not much was mentioned about the Middle East (Arab Countries). What happens there? Wiped mostly out like Europe? (WWIII)
Posted by Barbara Clements on 03-06-2001 09:12 PM
Craig;So it doesn’t matter that the Pied Piper is leading you off the cliff? Only that you have a smile on your face as you go down. Well then, all I have to say to you is have a nice trip.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-07-2001 12:04 AM
We live in this world. Not to misuse anyone or site or thing:Here’s a few, I use to have more, now who’s looking?England, and BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/Ireland and the Internet: http://www.nua.ie/ wrote the book about the upcoming digital age for the US. Government.Antarctica through Australia: http://www.antdiv.gov.au/Australia: http://www.newaus.com.au/Russia: http://allnews.ruItaly: http://www.publinet.it/Switzerland: http://www.pubblinet.it/The Constitution: http://www.constitution.org/
Congress but through another website:http://www.freerepublic.com/congress.htmNow China can also be reached, 16 million on Internet, HongKong, Japan.The world got small, so when we assume that America with Canada with Brazil are the only ones on the Internet,
I always wonder who looking at what on the Internet.Well, that my speech, that all you’ll hear. Who may care anyway?
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-07-2001 09:07 AM
Albert Cattoir: “All very interesting David up previous. I really do not see rural America really interested in starting an uprising. What is bothering people to me, is constant lay-offs and the changing of life in the Information Age. ”If you can’t see this (rural America, for one) then you are not looking. It is as plain as your image in the mirror.“People I guess, feel that they are shoved around, but that is nothing different than previous management from the past. The social problems are a relatively few individuals, whom other people hear more about on the news. ”People are being shoved around.
I have been having some serious family problems this past week. I won’t go into details, but, let us say that someone can make an accusation against another in todays society and the person being accused is arrested, held for up to 72 hours without seeing a judge (thereby missing work, school, perhaps getting fired or failing classes) all because someone made a FALSE ACCUSATION!
This actually happened so dont come back telling me it DOESN’T happen.
The social problems we see on the news are indeed the most news-worthy, at least in the sense of the media.
However, a LOT of people are having problems in society, from taxes to government intervention where there should be neither.People, in short, in America are FED UP with government intervention. They are fed up with people attacking their rights because of a few bad apples.Your suggestion of talk radio is right on the mark. Folks really should be listening to alternative news sources. They are accurate, truthful and most importantly, cover things and facts that the main-stream media does not cover.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-07-2001 09:47 AM
Rick,It’s refreshing to hear someone besides me taking a passionate stand on something. Keep it up buddy .
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-07-2001 09:48 AM
Yes, that has happened to me also.Sense of humor?Well, would you look at that? What is that suppose to be?An ET. No, just a crazy human running around with his arms wavering over his head. Oh!
Posted by Dan Richardson on 03-07-2001 10:03 AM
Before I pose my questions to John, I would like to take this opportunity to point out to all participants in this thread that regardless of whether one believes in the validity of John’s claims, it is wonderful to see people engaging in a discussion that pushes participants to present their opinions and questions based on ones individual experiences, philosophies, and knowledge.
What worries me most about our future is that we, as a civilization, seem to be more interested in being spoon-fed our opinions on any given issue because it is much easier to take another’s word for it, rather than ask questions and come to our own conclussion.
I apologize if I am rambling on, but I felt it necessary to point out that if we don’t ask ourselves and each other the hard questions and participate in discussions, we will always have to take someone else’s word it.Now, my question for John:
How does time travel affect our future(no pun intended) exploration of the universe?
It seems that the geatest obstacles in our way right now are a matter of energy (propulsion technology) and economic feasibility. It seems to me that time travel technology could neatly takes care of both.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-07-2001 10:31 AM
Hope things work out, Rick.Maybe its a rememberance as a child, but the closet I ever came to having a distinct feeling of helplessness, and maybe hopelessness, was during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Now, Pres. Kennedy was not going to allow Russia to move missiles into Cuba, at any time by any means. When broadcast on TV, his speech was so that many may have thought that the end of the World just might occur.Back then, no one even thought of the possibility of what a War meant, just that it may happen.
Hopefully everything works out, and the future does not have this really occuring.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-07-2001 11:18 AM
I still like the topic time travel, well at least in this minute.Last dreadful reply.
1) It occurs sooner now, it occurs later, it does not occur at all. I am telling you the future.
2) Missiles come in from some other country. Hit cities.
How many cities hit around Washington D.C.?
Does the President or anyone in Congress, or any leader escape in Air Force One? Only 12 or so minutes before dead. Out to Andrews Air Force base, very fast in helicopter, 5 minutes, ususally takes 10 minutes. Jet lifts off, climbs up, oops, caught in blast. All leaders dead. No, maybe a Senator is alive. Goood! Go fine Senator, leader at moment. Why?
What are the nuclear silo people doing?
Will the country launch another attack?
Are their nuclear silo people still alive?
Both are, stay down there for months. No contact with any civilization. Who got authority to tell them not to launch another attack?
I do not know. Waving arms at all nuclear silo bunkers, with radiation suit on. Please do not launch another attack. Humans stll exist. I do not know if through their camera, they can even see me. Who got authority?
Did that person communicate with these trained personnel? How?
All communication may be down. How do we contact these trained personnel with orders that may include, “Launch all missiles if no sign of life after a certain period of time?
My scenario, all life ends, some life may exist?, it never happens.
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-07-2001 11:44 AM
TalkingRick:I, too, wish and hope that things work out for you. I have also seen too many times when just the false accusation has ruined peoples’ lives.People in this country are tired of the Constitution being trampled upon by those in power, and it does seem to be that those in the predominantly rural areas of the country are the most upset about the continued erosion of personal freedom by an increasingly intrusive federal government.
John’s description of the future in the relative short term does appear highly plausible.John:My oldest son wanted me to ask if you have any siblings. I apologize in advance if you have already answered this previously, but I do not recall you mentioning anyone other than yourself and your parents in your prior messages.Also, are you still planning on broadcasting your departure via a broadcast over the Internet? That would be quite interesting.Is there still an NCAA basketball tournament in 2036, and if so, has it expanded from its current 64 team format?Please answer at your earliest convenience.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-07-2001 04:48 PM
John,Hello, again.I’ve been pondering you and the philosophy that you’ve printed here and it occurred to me:John Titor – anagram “I John Trot”Is this possible? In 18th Century pantomime Clown was also known as John Trot,Clodpole and Clodpate. This character often played opposite Harlequin and Columbine. In the Frederic Bastiat economic sophism “The Tax Collector” Clodpate played the tax collector who was extracting tax from vintner James Goodfellow. James asks of Clodpate how he will benefit from paying an extortionate tax:James: And what benefit do I derive from it today?Clodpate: The satisfaction of saying:How proud I am to be a FrenchmanWhen I behold the triumphal column!James: And the humiliation of leaving to my heirs an estate burdened with a rent that they will have to pay for all time to come. Still, one really must pay one’s debts, however foolishly the money may have been spent.Is it true? Is your nom de plum an anagram telling us that you are Clown poking fun at both the government and us?
Posted by John Titor on 03-07-2001 06:24 PM
((Is this possible? In 18th Century pantomime Clown was also known as John Trot,Clodpole and Clodpate. This character often played opposite Harlequin and Columbine. In the Frederic Bastiat economic sophism “The Tax Collector” Clodpate played the tax collector who was extracting tax from vintner James Goodfellow. James asks of Clodpate how he will benefit from paying an extortionate tax))Unfortunately, I’m not that well read. But it does look like an interesting story and I will be sure to pick it up if it sparks a connection between it and me. Madam I’m Adam…that’s the only one I know.
Questions coming…
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-07-2001 07:12 PM
((Unfortunately, I’m not that well read.))Nah fa real? Your to modest .
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-07-2001 10:14 PM
John,I know…it was stretch. But your political humor would be appreciated by Clodpate in any case.And: dios mio, Javier. Calmete. Whether John is real or not, he hasn’t asked me for any money, hasn’t tried to sell me anything and isn’t “pumping & dumping” penny stocks. I happen to like the John Trot anagram because John Trot is humorous as is John Titor.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-07-2001 10:36 PM
Hey Darby, tu habals Español too? I’m more of Spanglish then Spanish and English. But I can still roll my “R’s” as good as the best of them. I’m a real motoRrrrrrrr .-J.C.P.S. I know John is humorous, that’s why I gave a little smile at the end.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-07-2001 11:04 PM
WinkJavier,Thanks for confirming that you too can see the humor in this thread. For me its a bit like coming home to my favorite TV program. We post one evening, go to bed and then when I get home from work the next day I can’t wait to see the next chapter in the story.Oh, yeah. I do speak Spanish…I even pick up my bi-lingual allowance every payday. Growing up in Santa Barbara County it was a must…my friends spoke Spanish at home. Little did I know “way back when” how much money I’d make because I took those classes just because I enjoyed them. (Sorry Mary & Keith – I know…OT)
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-08-2001 12:37 AM
John,This evening I was involved in following up on your reference material from your postings on another site. And guess what? As I was following the Frank Tipler/Tipler sinusoid material I landed on the “Ultimate Bulletin Board” Time Travel thread.There were the Big Three from this thread: You as TimeTravel_0, Pamela, Javier and one other fellow on page 11…Trott.I believe that I nailed the anagram. And I swear, I didn’t peak at the Ultimate Bulletin Board first. I nailed Trot last night and found Trott tonight.
Posted by Barbara Clements on 03-08-2001 03:39 AM
Tried to find this Ultimate Bulletin Board, but am not allowed in, because one must be a member. Can you list the site? Am I at the right site address?
Posted by John Titor on 03-08-2001 07:32 AM
((There were the Big Three from this thread: You as TimeTravel_0, Pamela, Javier and one other fellow on page 11…Trott. ))
((I believe that I nailed the anagram. And I swear, I didn’t peak at the Ultimate Bulletin Board first. I nailed Trot last night and found Trott tonight.))I find this interesting because it gives me a very tempting easy out. I could now rest assured that someone had “figured me out” and I can relax before I leave.
However, I am not Trott and this name and TTO are the only names I’ve used online. After looking at my name here, have you considered its origin from another word-play standpoint? For example, TITOR could equal TIme-Travel-OR.
After looking at your name Mr. Darby, I can pull out “MEET ME TAR BABY” which I’m assuming is a reference to the Song of the South. In that case, are you telling us in a secret way that you are trying to distract us by fooling us in the bre’r patch?
I would not insult your collective intelligence by leaving a hook out there for you to discover while I was making sport of you. Whether I’m a time traveler or not, I think we’ve spoken about many important things I would not want to diminish.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-08-2001 08:22 AM
One of John’s messages is one of impending Civil War (or some kind of war)If you haven’t noticed, this generation is Ready to RumbleDELTONA — A fifth-grade boy on Tuesday threatened to bring a gun to Sunrise Elementary School, one day after a school shooting in Southern California left two people dead and 13 others injured.… With the nation on edge over a deadly school shooting in San Diego, more incidents of school violence were reported Wednesday, but no one was killed. In Pennsylvania, police commended a teen-ager who, after a classmate was shot inside their crowded cafeteria, persuaded the alleged shooter to drop her gun.…In the jittery two days after the deadly shootings at Santana High School, at least 11 California students were arrested and several more suspended for reportedly making threats against classmates or bringing real or fake weapons to schools.…Authorities in Washington state arrested a student Wednesday for allegedly bringing a gun to Kentwood High School in suburban Seattle.…Three junior high school students in San Bernardino County were arrested Tuesday for threatening to place a bomb on a teacher’s desk
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-08-2001 08:26 AM
Hey John,I don’t know about you being well read, but I do know your well taught in matters of not wanting to apper manipulative to your fans .
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-08-2001 11:05 AM
Javier —Me, earlier:quote:Actually, I have a question (which is along very simmular lines as what I think John is getting at) that I want to see you answer: Can you prove or disprove anything? And if your answer to that is ‘Yes.’ then I’d also like to have you prove it.Javier, earlier:quote:Randy,Prove what? All I did was point out John’s discrepancies. I think it’s proof enough, if you can see what he’s said in past post, and what he says now. It doesn’t match up.First things first: Prove what? Well, that you can prove anything, for starters.Discrepancies in written material isn’t proof enough of anything.It certainly is important information, and thanks for pointing out what you have.But please stop pretending it is proof of anything.There still is room for AT LEAST a reasonable doubt, both ways, here . . . and the generally accepted norm is to assume an individual not-guilty of a crime until they can be prooven guilty without a reasonable doubt.Timetravel ain’t a crime, I’m fairly certain.But lying certainly seems like one.So lets assume John not-guilty of lying about being a time-traveler until you can prove to us that he isn’t without a reasonable doubt.You still won’t be able to prove it absolutely though, so don’t pretend you can.And, just so you know, I don’t think the above is a proof, but I do think it elliminates many reasonable doubts about my argument.Lets let John and my fellow ‘lemmings’ talk philosophy, physics and about the human condition, and cut down a bit on the evil-timetraveler rhetoric, OK?
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-08-2001 01:47 PM
Let’s see, John, you are a time-traveler or not.Your story is true or not.Interesting anyway, hoped you used some of the links.Thanks.
Posted by Jay Richards on 03-08-2001 02:20 PM
John, I want to be sure to get this Q out before you might stop posting here. I’ve read a number of posts, but I’ll go back and read the entire thread afterwards, so sorry if this has been adequatly covered already.From your perspective of posting as a time traveller from 2036, please tell if any significant theistic events occur between now and then and if so, please describe.(That question does not directly pertain to religion)
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-08-2001 03:10 PM
<<However, I am not Trott and this name and TTO are the only names I’ve used online. After looking at my name here, have you considered its origin from another word-play standpoint? For example, TITOR could equal TIme-Travel-OR.After looking at your name Mr. Darby, I can pull out “MEET ME TAR BABY” which I’m assuming is a reference to the Song of the South. In that case, are you telling us in a secret way that you are trying to distract us by fooling us in the bre’r patch? >>Actually, John, I did consider Time-Travel-OR based on the moniker TimeTravel_O elsewhere. I didn’t consider that as a possibility as it begs the question, “Time Travel-OR what?”It’s never been my motivation to attack your veracity. Whether you are an actual time traveler or not doesn’t concern me. I did consider that you might have opted to create your own foil in Trott (or even Javier) to create a sophistic dialogue through which your message is delivered. You and Trott – Phaedo and Echerates of Phlius: instead of discussing the four arguments of immortality while lamenting the suicide of Socrates, you discuss the possibility of time travel and the society of our not too distant future. I still find you to be humorous and thought inspiring.Oh, the anagram of my name: Emmett is my first name and “Darby” is a nickname taken from my last name, Darbyshire. I hope that my Gaelic ancestors didn’t play a joke on me by giving me that last name and having my parents give me that first name.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-08-2001 07:34 PM
Randy,So am I to assume that there is no way of truly answering your prove it question? Especially here in a forum, where anyone can fabricate anything and try to pass if off as the genuine truth.So I guess however you put it, we can’t prove anything here. And in the end, we’ll still be asking the questions, “Was John telling the truth” “Was he a real Time Traveler”?I personally don’t believe him, but you and others may think other wise. I only trust what I can feel inside my guts. They have never steered me wrong before. I got a Spidey Sense .Can’t prove that either, but I’m not here to convince you of anything. I just call’em how I see’em, that’s all.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-08-2001 09:28 PM
John – Could you give us your reaction to the following. It is from another folder on these school shootings. And BTW, what are your thoughts on what’s happened this week throughout the country. We had a kid run over four college students in Sta. Cruz and a rash of weapons related inceidents in High Schools throughout the country.Here’s an excerpt. I hope Mr. Hamner does not mind“I was talking to a dear friend of mine last night. He seemed very upset so I asked what was up and if I could help.He related that his 14 year old son was now in the custody of the police. I asked what had happened. He then told that his son and some other boys had just gotten into paintball. On the school bus they’d talk about the games they were playing. The bus driver understood that it was only paintball.
Anyway, the bus driver told the boys that “they were just plain evil” at that my friends son told the bus driver “no, if I was evil I’d shoot you” (not smart in todays enviroment), this happen monday afternoon. On Tuesday night the sheriff’s department showed up and arrested his son, took him to the juvenile detetion center. As of last night my friend had been unable to talk to his child. He has met with the school officials, the principle was unaware of the incident.”
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-08-2001 10:50 PM
Craig,If you don’t mind me asking, what are you hoping to accomplish by having John answer this?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-09-2001 12:19 AM
Craig,I’m with Javier on this one. Other than being just another guy on the street what difference does it make what John feels about the four incidents (count ’em, four) you referred to?There wasn’t a rash of incidents. There was one major incident at a school followed by editors running as lead stories anything that involved a kid and a weapon nationwide. No San Diego incident = no “rash” (the wire services wouldn’t pick up on the stories) And a small correction. Unless UC Santa Cruz ALSO had four students run over, it was UC Santa Barbara (actually in Isla Vista) where the students were run over – about two miles from my home and 250 miles from Santa Cruz.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-09-2001 01:18 AM
According to a talk-show host that looked all over the country and was talking about it on his show, there was a “rash” of incidents with school kids. Let’s see, Thursday.I think the kids think its “cool” to be able to talk to their other peers and tell them about what they do. Well, something has to be done about this. I would tell you what the talk-show host and others blame it on, but that would probably start a debate that never ended. Some parents were acting strange also.
Parents taking a base-ball bat to school to, I guess, be arrested. Strange people.
Try the relaxation response. It takes time to work, maybe a month, be when you feel deeper relaxed, you will know. Concentrate on your breathing and quiet your brain activity so you dwell on no one thought, let them pass just out without dwelling on life’s problems.
Negative thoughts you have to consciously do, it takes practice, say cancel, cancel to yourself should one come in. In a quiet place, and undisturbed for about 20 minutes.
Something else needs to be taught to kids in school.
What has all this to do with time travel?
This thread has a life of its own, traveling itself through time. It may end up in the year 2036, before its done.
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-09-2001 05:58 AM
Not to get too morbid, though its interesting to me, as the premise of John’s situation is that in 2012 the world is at war. Not hard to see why, with a whole generation of kids wondering if they’re next to see a friend go postal.There’s more to this topic, ten year olds become 20 year olds and carry the day etc. Its not a stretch to believe a civil war is imminent. That’s all
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-09-2001 06:53 AM
“There wasn’t a rash of incidents. There was one major incident at a school followed by editors running as lead stories anything that involved a kid and a weapon nationwide. No San Diego incident = no “rash” (the wire services wouldn’t pick up on the stories) And a small correction. Unless UC Santa Cruz ALSO had four students run over, it was UC Santa Barbara (actually in Isla Vista) where the students were run over – about two miles from my home and 250 miles from Santa Cruz.”Actually… there was a rash of incidents. I’m aware of seven different things that happened here in Colorado yesterday, alone. I’m certain there were dozens of other such incidents throughout the country yesterday.Here we had 2 bomb threats, 3 “civil disturbances” at other schools in other areas, and there was a kid here that placed a “fake bomb” in a school in Colorado Springs. There was reference to something else like a gun being found in another school somewhere, but I didn’t catch the location.So.. that was just MY state. How about other states?
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-09-2001 07:03 AM
I need to continue this thought here. First of all, we have in most of our school systems something called a “Zero Tolerance Policy”. This equates to a “Zero Common Sense Policy” based upon the busdriver incident alone. Anyone listing to the kids talk would understand the kid didnt make a threat, he made a statement.We have a society where political correctness (read: Thought Control) is the norm. Kids aren’t allowed to carry a pocket knife (I carried a HUNTING KNIFE on my belt when I was in grade school, in Kentucky… as I walked through the woods to school. No one ever said ANYTHING to be about it.)Anything that can be construed as a weapon is banned, even if it isn’t a weapon.The media has the attitude that banning this or that is newsworthy (i.e. guns, kids getting in to fights in school etc).So, what we really have (all of this above, plus all the other little things that nag at us every day) is a society waiting for something bigger to trigger something else.Now, I’m not saying that we’re waiting for that civil war, but I AM saying that we have placed ourselves in a very sensitive, precarious position by making everything so “hair-trigger” likely to put something else into motion.Time moves forward for us, and those nodal points of change can be anywhere in our future.
Posted by Lee Heggy on 03-09-2001 07:11 AM
Judging by the endurance of this thread if Mr. Titor is a time traveler or not will be a moot point. When this topic is done he will be in his own time.
Posted by John Titor on 03-09-2001 07:52 AM
____________________________________________________________
I think the day when animals are born, raised on a farm, slaughtered within 15 to 50 miles of that farm, and sold in the area, is just about OVER. This outbreak is, in my opinion, the swan song for local farming. I can hear the very large lady warbling in the background…
If, the virus was released because of the bombing of Iraq in Feb., then there is ONE more Country that remains to be punished. The US. If the UK was an act of agraterrorism, then what hell awaits the US?
Of course, please keep in my, this is pure speculation…there is no hard data in to support this theory…YET.
____________________________________________________________
Greetings everyone. I do plan to get to the questions soon. I have been quite busy lately so I apologize for being a bit slow.
In my travels over your web, I came across this section of a speculative news article. I would urge you all to take a good hard look at this idea and consider the possibility that it is true. And…..no, I did not make this up nor am I trying to tell you something in a left-handed way.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-09-2001 08:36 AM
John,A comment from “the intel department”. I follow global intelligence extremely closely. Some of us in my security community believe that Mad Cow disease is not speculative terrorism, it is fact. No proof, but many, many talking points on the subject can show it. I’ll give you some examples.1) The west uses more beef/red meat products than ANY OTHER COUNTRY – in fact more than most other countries put together.
[Correction. The consumption of Beef was over taken by China around the early 1990's. This statement was false at the time it was made, and is certainly incorrect today. - Metallicman.]
A comparison of the consumption of meat by China and by the Untied States. Data compiled from 1960 to 2012. Granted the statement concerned beef, but the idea is the same.
2) Eco-terrorism, by some of the anti-meat eaters has been considered, but at the same time, it is not conducive to them to kill animals, because the majority of non-meat eaters in western culture believe “animals have rights” and would consider such a thing a type of genocide.3) Biological warfare is indeed the greatest threat to our society. It is cheap, easy to produce, easy to release, and most importantly… biological warfare is “Stealth Warfare”. Biological agents can be released as an aerosol, into water, into food.4) What better way to destroy a country than to screw up their food sources. By creating a messed up animal supply, you thrust the prices of meat skyward, quickly. You cause the production to drop, loss of wages, loss of profit, loss of food supplies. You put a strain on several other food sources to take up for the lost portion of production.5) A sudden and deadly resurgence of a disease that hasn’t really been a problem for decades is a very obvious attack. This is the very reason people believe things like AIDS is a biological agent that got loose on society. It appeared quickly in the 80s. It could not be traced, and what little tracing they showed, claimed it came from “monkeys” or apes or something (I don’t recall the specifics at this point). However, AIDS like other such diseases can not simply “begin to exist” without mutations or some other intervention. Mad Cow disease, as well as Hoof and Mouth disease (what we call it in America – they call it Foot and Mouth in the UK) has suddenly appeared with a vengence. The former is a relatively new disease. The latter is very old, but, was pretty much wiped out. Suddenly, it is back.So, we have two things specifically in the UK that are attacking hoofed creature. Both of which are either new or resurgences of old diseases. These diseases came about at roughly the same time, and spread rapidly.I believe (and I’ve not had a lot of time to research it, but then, I’m betting it will be very difficult right now to track it precisely) that this most recent outbreak occured in several places simultaneously. If so, it was definately a planned and probably well carried-out attack.America is NEXT. But, not only will it be something like Hoof and Mouth, Mad Cow something else will likely be introduced as well. Swine flu, something that attacks chickens and perhaps some kind of wheat blight. That would hit MAJOR portions of our food supplies, causing all the aforementioned problems, plus more.A major economic crash is likely. THis would weaken the US to a great extent opening us up for other types of attacks.Currently America is under attack by several former states of the Soviet Union, many arab states and terrorist organizations already. They are coming in through computers and networks, probing constantly, looking for weaknesses, testing our defenses and looking for the proper time and place to make a major attack.Things to watch:A) Increased internet attacks.B) A MAJOR attack on the internet.C) Sudden outbreak of any sort of weird animal diseases.D) Increased readiness of the military in the US.E) Increased movements of the military in the US.F) Increased public awareness of police force training, particularily in computer attacks, raids finding “illegal guns”.G) Attacks on “militia groups” again.When the latter occurs, be prepared for the Pro-Consitution forces to get loud, and “in-your-face” attitudes. They will not stand for more attacks on the Second Amendment.Anyway – those are from my point of view. Whether I am completely accurate or not, remains to be seen. However, I believe my data is accurate, and I am not usually wrong on the “big picture”.Rick
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-09-2001 08:53 AM
John, busy? You mean you have other things to do on your vacation besides talk to us?Darby mentioned a few posts ago that he thought possibly the Javier personna might be a “sophisticated dialogue” construct of our time-traveller for self dialogue. Eh? We need to examine your definition of “sophisticated.”[Edited by Bob Marz on 03-09-2001 at 09:06 AM]
Posted by John Titor on 03-09-2001 03:27 PM
((Darby mentioned a few posts ago that he thought possibly the Javier personna might be a “sophisticated dialogue” construct of our time-traveller for self dialogue. ))Had you considered the possibility that Javier is the one who made me up? But, as we both know Bob, I am YOUR alter ego.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-09-2001 08:37 PM
John,Do I sense some covert hostility in that last remark?Just keeping you honest, how you said I do .
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-09-2001 09:32 PM
SmileHave you considered the possibility that I made up both Javier and John?
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-09-2001 10:38 PM
Hahaha . Right Pamela. That’s really funny.And everyone is just a figment of my imagination after all just like I always suspected.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-09-2001 10:53 PM
The moral implications for the future are real enough. Ever since the US had to construct the atom bomb, moral questions of what we are doing now seem to last longer.
Take that we, as people, as humans, are getting into enough gray areas with human cloning, using human embryos, and such topics of the day, I think the moral questions will be around longer than they were in the past. Never before this time had we had to ask ourselves the morality of civilization. Nuclear weapons are still not really solved, we seem as humans to be digging a hole ourselves with these questions which can seem to imply that the probability of future events being grim becomes more real as we grapple with these questions.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-10-2001 11:51 AM
Albert,But you think Time Travel is Okay?Just want to make sure I’m understanding where you stand. Because there is so much hypocrisy in the world these days. Where some people claim they are against something bad, but not against something else that’s bad. Which when you look at it, there one in the same. See what I’m saying?Javier C.
Posted by Joe Applebaum on 03-10-2001 02:16 PM
Question for John:You say that you wear some kind of flight suit like coveralls when you are time traveling and that you experience 2 g’s for 6-8 hrs. How is it possible to withstand that kind of g-force for such a long period without the use of an anti-g suit? If not to keep you from blacking out, at least to make your time travel safer and more confortable? I know you must be physically trained for space travel, but you should also have the benefit of equipment to help you out.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-10-2001 04:27 PM
Javier,Being in a free country dictates that certain people will do certain experiments(?) without regard to who complain’s about it. The rest of us are left to decide other alternative actions to prevent these leaps of technology from interferring with humanity on (as) a whole.
I had little choice in the making of a atom bomb.
If the US did not do it, than it is probable that Hilter would have. With that, things in the future would be indeed different.
So, as with anything, we are (forced, as in War) to do a certain number of things.
In peace, we are still (forced) to see what other countries are up to.
The fear of America is that if we fall behind, then someone someway will take control of us.
In the case of the Middle East, I suppose that would be Saddam. In the case of a time traveler, I doubt he could achieve such a possibility unless he knew every “connection” to change the events of history. That part was described in that book by Jonathan Burke in the book “Connections”.
I make no commitment as to the morality of time travel.
Someone will do it, if it’s possible, someday. Otherwise, we have no freedom. We are left to change things in the future should enough people agree that time travel is a “bad” thing.
But then there might be “bad” people time traveling and “good” people time traveling in a kind of “time travel war”.
Posted by John Titor on 03-10-2001 07:26 PM
Dear Fellow Time Travelers:
In about 30 days, I will be leaving this worldline to return home to 2036. I first want to say thank you for the wonderful conversation and insight into your society. I have learned a great deal and my opinion on quite a few things has changed dramatically.
I will finish the questions that have been posted on this site up to this date. Unfortunately, I must now spend my spare time preparing to leave and I will not be on the computer very much. I do however want to repeat my offer and add a slight twist.
After going over my flight plan home, I have discovered my VGL holdover period is a bit longer than I expected. I will be spending at least three weeks in April of 1998 as I make my way back to 1975. Therefore, I not only offer you the chance to leave a message to yourself in 2036 but I offer you the chance to leave yourself a message in 1998. I will take any compiled messages and email addressees you provide and send them on the net when I get to 1998.
Granted, this will not affect you on your worldline now but you make take some comfort that another “you” on another worldline has the advantage of knowing something you wish you knew three years ago. Based on the earlier questions I’ve seen, I’ve decided a day-to-day record of the Dow a day in advance should convince you that the messages are real in 1998.
In addition, I am hopeful a series of photocopies and photographs will be available for you that may give you more insight into the technology of the distortion unit. I will let you know the address of the site when it is available. I also plan to have my parents videotape my departure. If they succeed, it will also be posted after I leave.
I look forward to these last few weeks with my family and I will check in periodically to check this site.
Live in Peace 2001,
John
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-10-2001 09:19 PM
Maybe Moe Howard is a “sophisticated dialogue” device for Steven Hawkings?Well, Johnny, you’ve been entertaining for the most part. Nevertheless, I find it rather depressing that time travel, the most exciting and profound accomplishment of man, is being put to such banal and frivolous use. The most wonderful invention possible in all of human history and they apparently can’t figure out what to do with it other than arrange for you to amuse us few idjits here on the Art Bell message board. Kinda makes ya proud. (thniff)[Not edited by the future Bob Marz on 03-10-2036 at 09:21 PM – message being sent back to 2001] [Edited by Bob Marz on 03-10-2001 at 09:27 PM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-10-2001 11:35 PM
Good luck in whatever worldline you return to.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 01:10 AM
Albert,Well I had a hard time getting through what all your rhetoric was about. And still didn’t see you actually answer my question. “Where do you stand?” Well that’s not important now, as I see that you believe John Titor, A.k.a. TT_0 is for real. So thank you for proving my point correctly.Hypocrisy I tell you.First you came off as inspirational, speaking with convictions about right and wrong. But in the end, you’re only as much a hypocrite as the rest of us are.I however do not tolerate immoralities on any level, and I live my life according to basic human law. Compassion and principal our my guiding truths. “We the people” should realize this, and not accept what is basically wrong. There have been to many compromises, too much acceptation. But the truth is clear, that despite all of what we are trying to accomplish, of becoming an advance civilization and people, we are failing in the worst possible way. And that is by following our principles.Just think about that…John,I see you finally made your big pre-farewell speech. Very nice, you almost made me feel sorry to see you go. Then I remembered what you are. An opportunist.Well wherever you go, just remember me! And know that wherever you stand, that somewhere someone with enough guts exists to change the entire face of Time Travel someday. Your days are numbered…30 more days huh John? You know that’s a very interesting number. Because I’m going to FL in 30 days also, coincidence huh?Let’s see in 1998, I was 18 years old. I graduated high school that year good year. Except for some personal problems. I wrote a story that year about my new experiences, I think you read it before Pamela. Remember “Displacement?”Catch-ya on the flip side,Javier C.[Edited by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 at 01:13 AM]
Posted by Stephen McKay on 03-11-2001 02:37 AM
John,These messages to oneself in 1998 sound very interesting.Is there somewhere I can e-mail it to rather than post it on the board?
Posted by Michelle Esposito on 03-11-2001 03:59 AM
John, I’d like to take you up on your offer for the 1998 message to myself. I assume your instructions will appear on this thread . . .
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 04:15 AM
Geeeez Louise… See now that’s what I’m talking about, right there.Talk about being a lost soul.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-11-2001 06:10 AM
John has asked me if I wouldnt mind collecting the emails for him again and forwarding them to him.
anybody who wants to can write me using my email address found in my profile and I will forward your letters or “messages to 1998″ ,”messages to 2036” to John.
All messages I receive I will keep confidential and they will be forwarded right to John.sincerely,Pamela[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-11-2001 at 06:17 AM]
Posted by LaMar Prince on 03-11-2001 06:23 AM
Thumbs upI would like to E-Mail You. I would like to Leave message. Like the the Poster said I’m sure You will leave instructions?………Peace! L>P>
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-11-2001 07:08 AM
Javier —Didn’t you ever play ‘pretend’ as a child?Also, why do you feel that you have such a firm grasp on reality right now that you can say such things with such certainty?I find that, usually, those who shout ‘hypocrisy’ from the rooftops are trying to draw attention from thier own.Their are so many untruths and myths that bombard us daily, either through design or simply the uncertain nature of communication, that we ALL swallow hook-line-and-sinker that most the things you think you know are wrong.Since there is no firm basis to rate new experiences about, generalizing from past experiences can be a dangerous game of darts.Reserving judgement and thinking things through is warranted.Quite being so loud the rest of us “can’t” think.Everybody has an agenda. Everybody has shortcomings.BBSes are fantasy worlds by nature, and nothing you try can change that.Let the people who still remember how to pretend play thier games without too much trouble and you won’t get called names on the ‘playground’.Life’s all a big play anyway. (Probably a play within a play . . .)Let the guy play out his ‘final scene’ if he wants . . .. .. wait, maybe I’m infringing on your pretending .. .… if I am, my sincere apologies.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-11-2001 08:45 AM
John,So long and have a good trip home.As I’ve pondered your experience of being here it ocurred to me that I should cover my bases and at least try to make a living from the information that you’ve given us. So…I’m in the process of filing copyright protection in my name for the following terms:Temporal Displacement UnitVariable Gravity LockVGLVariable Gravity Lock Model C204VGL C204Model C204Variable Gravity Lock Model C206CGL C206Model C206Singularity Magnetic Field CoilElectron Mass Injection Manifold
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 09:58 AM
Javier,First, I’ll keep the social demise in mind.
Second, I do not believe.
Third, I do not think TT will be solved in my lifetime, therefore I do not have to have any morals about it.That will be for some future person.
Fourth, from my viewpoint, it is just one of many possibilities that could occur in the future.
Fifth, if TTler is true, then wishing anything to him is just something that I wish upon myself also.
Sixth and most important. There have been problems associated with the theory presented that neither the TTler or I can resolve at this time, in my estimation, and I am usually right. So, for the other people, I leave them also with their thoughts.
I would discuss this in more detail about the problems associated but I really have got other things to do and these other things are really more important.
Seventh, to me it has been just an exercise in thought, and I think humankind have more immediate problems facing us now, that I see on other websites like the BBC in England and Talking Point or some of their news articles.
Eighth, that’s all I can do now. I can not solve the technical problems associated with building a time machine.
Ninth, I getting close to the end of my post.
Tenth, when all else fails, count to ten.
Posted by E. Robert Gonzalez on 03-11-2001 10:19 AM
Hopefully you can answer my past questions before you leave and send that message out.
It really has been enjoyable watching this thread and getting to know you John.
There is a part of me that wants to believe and another that says your not a time traveler. But right now I believe you, and you being here means one way or another time travel is real.
I only hope all my alternate selves are doing well.
I was thinking though, if all these alternate timelines are so similar… Then shouldn’t another “you” be doing the samething in another timeline, possibly in infinite time lines?
Because if that is so, then another “you” would go back to our timeline in 1998 per se and we’d actually get the messages that people are sending. Now, I’m not sure if that is possible or not.
But, in my understanding it seems likely with what you said about alternate universes.
[A common misconception is that people look at time-travel and dimensional travel in the terms of a physical reality. Instead they should look at it in terms of the consciousness as established by soul. That would clear up so many of the dead-ends and misconceptions that everyone seems to have. - Metallicman.]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 10:31 AM
Javier,First, Good luck to you in your worldline.
Second, The things the TTler is talking about in the near future will not occur in your lifetime, to me.
[not if he died five years after writing this. Indeed many, many of the things that John Titor (sans the nuclear war) has occurred. - Metallicman.]Third, Have you visit this website, http://www.nist.gov/There you will find a picture of an atomic clock at present.
Fourth, Our Solar System is near the edge on an arm of the Milky Way Galaxy.
[No it is not. - Metallicman]
Fifth, There may be a Black Hole at the center of our Galaxy.
Sixth, I think humankind will have to worry if the Sun, Sol, burns up first in 5,000,000,000 years or the Solar System gets sucked into the Black Hole at the center of our Galaxy.
Seventh, Still its nice to dream, or have a fantasy wish.
Eighth, I must really really go now.
Ninth, I will just say that social problems have been around forever on this Planet, and it is still traveling in space along with the Milky Way Galaxy, at what I think is, at about 33 miles/second. No need to be space-sick.
Tenth, Ever since I became, I been traveling through space and time. Just trying to have a little fun in the great demise of things, all past, all present, all future, all, all.Best wishes to everyone on this forum and the world and “Just say No”.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 10:49 AM
While, I probably get in trouble: specific links:http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/wwv.htmlGood luck All![Edited by Mary Rowland on 03-11-2001 at 10:55 AM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 10:51 AM
Oops, the other link, while I’m getting in trouble.http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/tour.html
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-11-2001 12:41 PM
John –In 2036 I will be in the mountains in Colorado. Somewhere west of where Colorado Springs used to be. Not sure if I will have access to the internet at that point, but I WILL have access to radio equipment. Somewhere around January 1-10th, 2036 I will be broadcasting on 28390 Khz, USB. I will look for you there on that frequency in the middle of the day.I will 77 years old – and will turn 78 that year.I expect to hear from you then.RickPS – I AM one of the “farmer generals” John mentioned. Perhaps not the most famous… but, I will be there.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 12:42 PM
Randy,Obviously you must not have been listening to what I been saying from the start.And people blamed me for speaking for everyone.((Quite being so loud the rest of us “can’t” think.))Is it perhaps because I make you think of what your doing, thus spoiling what you what you want to believe him as real?Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-11-2001 12:46 PMAck!I forgot to mention that I’ve also listed “John Titor” on the copyright application – just in case I want to write a book using that name as a character.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-11-2001 12:58 PM
After spending the last few days working on family business and keeping my mind busy thinking about time traveling, from John’s point of view, I have come to a sudden and surprising conclusion.John is perhaps what he says he is… however, I don’t think he is a “TIME TRAVELER” – I think he is a world-line, or for lack of a better word, a dimension traveler.I say this based on a couple of assumptions. His machine uses gravity calculations/measurements to maintain his “physical position”.But, he claims there is up to a 2.5 % divergence from his reality.That means to me that:1) He is NOT on his ‘reality” but on ours.2) He will be going back to his reality – or at least pretty close to it.3) Our reality is not precisely his reality.4) There are multiple worlds, multiple time lines if you will and he is no longer on his orginal one.5) Anything he does here on our time line will NOT EFFECT OUR TIME LINE EXCEPT locally (time related). That is, if he were to kill someone’s grandparents here, they would NOT cease to exist on HIS time line. They would here though. If he goes back to 1975 and does this, OUR grandparents will be JUST FINE. It is the ones on the time line where he stopped.6) John’s machine uses tipler cylinders – somehow. I believe it would be very possible to create a tipler cylinder using singularities. A physcist I know confirmed my suspicions on Friday-last. He stated that such a machine could be built now. He said that it would take some strong scientific work on the part of linear accelerator scientists though, and so far as he knew, it hasn’t been accomplished YET, but will be in the very near future.7) If microsingularities are made, they can be held in ‘statis’ or in a magnetic field in a vacuum. According to my physcist that is. If so, it would be possible to effect them with magnetic fields in such a manner as to allow them to interact with each other (on that micro scale).8) If so – then it might be very possible to speed up, slow down or even STOP time altogether. In fact, he believes it possible to reverse time altogether.9) The effects of using such a machine would be that “high gravitational fields would be present around the machine”. However, at this point, neither myself, him nor other folks we talked to could come up with a way to measure gravity fields with any reliable method. (Scales, things like that work, but… that is rather crude I think).10) Anything within the field of a tipler cylinder would be carried along with the device… the method of “travel” would or could be based on voltages applied to the magentic fields in some manner as to cause a change in the rotation of the field.11) John’s machine will not take him back in time. It takes him to a diffent time LINE, in a different world, on a different plane of existence.Anyway, that’s my 2-cents worth. Perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps I’m right. No matter if John is a real TT or not is moot at this point.John… take this message back in time to 1998 and … how do you propose to see that we get these messages anyway????I will post it on my web site, which is already up in 1998.Rick
Posted by Jim Houlahan on 03-11-2001 01:51 PM
Albert,Although laboratory standard atomic clocks are huge, commercial standard atomic clocks are the size of a suitcase today. Given 35 years of future development, I can imagine four of them fitting into John’s device. Here’s a picture of the “suitcase atomic clock”…http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/cesium.html
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-11-2001 02:15 PM
Javier —Since I seldom sub-vocalize as I read, I don’t think it matters whether I was listening or not . .. . I have been reading and trying my darndest to understand… from the start.As to this question:quote:Is it perhaps because I make you think of what your doing, thus spoiling what you what you want to believe him as real?My answer is simply, “Of course not.”But you can pretend so if you wish. Pplease understand that delusion is often a team sport. Or is it that non-delusion is often a team sport?Actually, I just have to wonder why you feel you have such a firm grasp on this reality that you feel confident in many of the things you have asserted.But I guess I don’t expect an answer, since I am merely a figment of someone else’s imagination.Either play by ALL the rules or throw them ALL out — no middle of the road please, I am already confused.John —Seems your journey will be forking from some of ours — watch out and don’t forget to smell the roses.That said, lets disregared the sentimental stuff and keep up the philosophizing. How about a few more monologues from the main character here? The stage has been set, and your ques have been uttered.(Javier — if it sounds like I speak for more than just myself, please just chalk it up to schizophrenia or simmular talents.)[Edited by Randy Empey on 03-11-2001 at 02:21 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 03:35 PM
You know what Randy?I’d expect that kind of a responds from a John Titor supporter.The only difference between you and me is, is that when I make a statement like that, but of speaking about morals and principles? I get an angry rowdy crowd who believes I’m waking them up from their fantasy. Hence the attacks.And the difference is Randy, is that there are more of you then they are of me out there in this world. So no one will ever complain to you about being hostile, or not being open-minded. Your perfect, you fit right in the norm of things in society. You’re perhaps the majority of people who voted for Bill Clinton the second time around. The kinds of people that support same sex marriages. You’re also the kind of people that are waiting in line to get genetically engineered, or to clone your self. Or to just try every “New Fad” that comes into the market.How low can this countries morals get? I’d hate to find out.So yes I do have a firm grasp on reality. I’m not blind, I can see very clearly. And I know what needs to be fixed. Do you?-Javier C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 04:42 PM
Thanks, Jim, I saw that page.John, if you come back from the past or from the future,can you call yourself “Power Time Traveler Ranger” in the “Way-back Laid-back Time Machine”.By the way, is there a way that a yellow school bus can be included in the time field as a way of travel?That might scare anybody from the past or the future.Just a thought.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-11-2001 05:04 PM
WinkJavier,For your sake, lets hope when you get discussed in the future, all of John’s time travel buddies in his unit are as nice as he is…………. hehe[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-11-2001 at 05:06 PM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-11-2001 05:09 PM
Craig,Can you tell them to speed up the development of that device by the year 2014, and bring it down in price so that I can buy one?I am not joking.Just a thought.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 05:20 PM
Pamela,What’s that suppose to mean? Sounded like a threat to me. Care to clearify?
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-11-2001 05:40 PM
Seems pretty clear to me.“Darby”: Good stuff!
Posted by Anthony Reed on 03-11-2001 05:56 PM
That seems clear to me too. I’m just sorry I’m late to this board. And why would you be worried anyway Javier? I thought you did not believe him anyway.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-11-2001 06:10 PM
Well Anthony,Like you just said, your late to this board. Of course some details will be unknown to you. But rest assured, if you read back I answer that question.
Posted by Donnie Smith on 03-11-2001 08:44 PM
WinkRick, you are absolutely right. And, what John Titor has said reflects exactly that.
John is from the end result of a reality shifting movement that is being given birth to now.
They have recognized that time does not exist in the fashion that many believe in today, only infinite parallel realities in the same or different stages of history or alternative history. The term time travel is, however, the closest thing that humans of this period can relate to.[Emphasis by Metallicman. This is actually spot on and very poignant. - Metallicman.]
In the future, it has been adjusted to refer to the illusion of traveling to the past or future. Those realities are mere reflections of where we have been and where we are going, but are by no means the real mc coy!
Carry on John Titor, Peace from the Eye of Harmony of the Matrix of this Reality. Have a safe trip.
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-12-2001 08:41 AM
WinkJohn:Good luck to you. I do hope you make a visual record of your departure. Thank you for the interesting thread. And did you ever answer whether or not you have any siblings?I have not decided whether or not you are a Time Traveler, but I do believe the near future you have described is a real possibility, if not even a probability. Let’s all be prepared and pray for the best.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-12-2001 12:55 PM
David,Earlier in posts, if I understand it right, he said he was single. Many stillborn in the future because of the War according to him.He will probably check back.Just thought that I include that.
Posted by Ron Polesky on 03-12-2001 01:31 PM
Wow! I have just spent the better part of an entire day reading EVERY message within this thread and I must complement everyone on a fine job!
This has been some of the most entertaining and thought provocative writing that I have read in a long time. Great job everyone! I extend my sincerest thanks, a hearty cheer and (as a first time poster) a warm hello.To John Titor I reserve a special thanks for starting this thread!
Your consistency in conjunction with an entertaining narrative complete with motive, ethics, physics, and general openness is amazing and enlightening to say the least. However, above all of that, your calm in facing some staunch and intelligent critics is an inspiration and something rarely found on message boards when one is met with the fire of emotion based in disbelief. If I take nothing else from this thread, your steady coolness under such adverse criticism will be fondly remembered and hopefully emulated.Now, onto the crux of this posting:Whether John is or is NOT a time traveler is moot, based upon my own personal beliefs and experience.
Simply put, the most powerful component of ANY interaction or activity involving humans is the human will. Because humans make hundreds or thousands of decisions everyday, most very minor and immediately forgettable, the possibilities of potential outcomes to ANY situation in which one is involved is subject to randomness (chaos?). Our own personal decisions are influenced by a multitude of factors such as mood, health, weather, stress, intelligence, finances, family, interactions with other people, past experience, future expectations, hopes, personal and societal myths…the list could be endless.And, of course, we are subjected not only to the outcomes of our OWN decisions but also to those of others.
For example, one poster noted that a simple and common occurrence with a child potentially helped him avoid a tragedy. If one accepts that my statements are true, then it requires no giant leap of faith to also agree that this randomness prevents anyone from EVER predicting a future event that involves the decisions of humans.Let us assume for the moment that John is indeed a traveler from 2036 and that all his statements are 100% fact. Within his own timeline, these major occurrences of a civil war and a nuclear holocaust have occurred and, based on a randomness factor of 2.5% one could speculate that the same could occur here. We do, after all, have the SAME people involved. However, 2.5% is a HUGE variable given the already incalculable odds that a small decision by a child, for instance, could change the whole scenario or outcome.History is rife with stories of decisions that seemed meaningless at the time averting or causing major disasters or occurrences.
We even have several words and terms to describe these things: luck, misfortune, angel on my shoulder, God watching over me, wrong place/wrong time, caught a break, etc.
In fact, one of our favorite pastimes as humans is “what if”.
Given these factors, it is little wonder that John will not give short-term “hard facts”…because he doesn’t really KNOW! And, I speculate he knows he doesn’t know. Just because Duke, for instance, won the NCAA tournament in 2001 in his timeline is no assurance the same will happen here (if they and their opponent score 150 points total in the championship game, nearly 4 points or 2.5% are going SOMEWHERE..add decision making under stress and there is simply no WAY that an outcome could be predicted with certainty).Regardless, whether OUR future is the future that John “remembers” or not, the randomness of human will and the factors impacting it will insure a different outcome, for better or worse, in this timeline.
Different decisions cause different actions which nearly always render different results.
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-12-2001 02:30 PM
Ron Polesky:Very good post. I wish you had been able to be here all the time. You have drawn some conclusions that are thought provoking regarding John’s or anyone’s ability to predict the future.I, for one, take what many many find to be a simplistic view of time travel theory, and that is that should time travel become available, there is nothing any time traveler can do to change or alter anyone’s timeline because it already has happened. I guess I would add that if my theory is true, Javier, then you have nothing in which to worry regarding John or any other Time Traveler.Just my two cents worth….
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-12-2001 02:46 PM
ExclamationJavier —There is a difference between a John Titor supporter and a person who believes John Titor is a time-traveller.I support John Titor in his effort to have a discussion in this thread.I’ve reserved judgement about his veracity because there is simply no way of knowing, and very little to be gained by guessing, even if I guess right.Frankly, I don’t think it matters whether he is hoaxing us or not.It is the interaction and exchange that occurs here that matters.Why is it that the moment I question the nature of reality and ask you to do the same, I become a nazi-lovin’ liberal-satanist wannabee in your eyes?Javier, I am unique, friend. There are only one ‘of me out there in this world’. As such, I can’t out number you.People will complain about anything and everything, as you now are proving.I am not perfect, nor do I pretend to be.Norms do not exist.I never voted for Bill Clinton — your wrong on that one too.Same sex marriages are just plain sick and wrong, IMO.I don’t see how you can know how I stand on genetic engineering and human cloning when haven’t even decided for certain — you really are amazing.Next time you chose to share a diatribe with us, please don’t engage in character assassination as you do so. It makes it hard to see that much of what you say agrees with the way I see things.If you really are against John Titor and rational discussion in this thread, calling names is the best way to declare your alignment.Once again Javier, I must ask you (and I direct this at everybody else too): Why are you so certain that you do have a firm grasp on reality? Are you sure you see and understand all things very clearly? How do you know what you know?Indeed, do I know what needs to be fixed?At times I feel I do, and I often act upon my beleifs and impulses in an attempt to ‘fix’ the world . . . but, at other times, I wonder whether its me or the world that needs fixing . . .Proving things is impossible in this realm.But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.It means the reward is in the trying.The idea is to keep learning (ad infinitum) until you finally do know everthing. And not to stop when convenient and declare that the end has been reached..Lets talk about the possibilities, since there are no certainties.Excuse this outburst, it just felt right at the time.Its not over till the fatlady sings John.— Randy E.
Posted by Kevin Spooner on 03-13-2001 04:10 AM
Red faceThere have been almost 19,000 views of these posts since its inception and that alone gives credit to the number of people who are interested in this topic.Given the extreme interest (and it is extreme) and the number of people who no doubt repeatedly visit here (as I do) even if not to always post, but to READ… that is incredible.John has stated he is ‘leaving’ in about 30 days. Someone else is critical of that. If John said he was going on a two month Time travel excursion for a particular reason, someone else would be critical. If John said he’s making some kind of adjustment to his devices, someone would be critical. Hmm.Given that there is in my view no problem in relating information by John – given the odds that his timeline deviates from ours by around a possible 2.5%, it would seem fair to this threads viewers for John to provide a thorough discourse on what his timeline offers (afterall John, there’s no way you can be judged on that given your noted deviance.)It seems most of us are acting as if its the last goodbyes – but don’t forget he gave us 30 days (or given himself the same.) Can we not make use of that (whether he is or is not a TT is irrelevant.)Perhaps final concrete questions could be answered at this time? We’ll see. There’s nothing to loose is there?
Posted by John Titor on 03-13-2001 06:32 AM
I’m going to try and get to the remaining questions today. Pamela has been collecting the email and forwarding them to another address. In respect for your privacy, I am not reading them. I am only planning to forward them.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-13-2001 07:28 AM
Randy,((It is the interaction and exchange that occurs here that matters. ))Even if that interaction is generating a group of people following him, praising him, looking up to him as this perfect role-model? It could all just be a front, but they don’t care. They should however be made aware of this. Just look at how those people in “Heaven’s Gate” felt towards their founder? Mighty similar to what is happening here, and it makes me sick to see it.I am reminded of this quote. I don’t know who said it, just got it out of some book with quotes: “Use your eyes. Sometimes those who offer us eternal salvation surround themselves with dead plants.”How many people here wish they could go with John in to the future?How is that any different then those people who wanted to get on the Hale-Bop spaceship to Heaven?((Why is it that the moment I question the nature of reality and ask you to do the same, I become a nazi-lovin’ liberal-satanist wannabee in your eyes?))Because you and lots of people are 1 sided individuals, who can’t conceive the possibility that I can actually be right about John and Time Travel.((I am not perfect, nor do I pretend to be. ))I agree, I’m not either.((I never voted for Bill Clinton — your wrong on that one too. ))I said: “You’re perhaps the majority of people who voted for Bill Clinton the second time around” I didn’t say you did.((If you really are against John Titor and rational discussion in this thread, calling names is the best way to declare your alignment. ))Is there something wrong in what I am trying to accomplish here? Am I not trying my hardest too?I am also reminded of this quote: “Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.”((At times I feel I do, and I often act upon my beleifs and impulses in an attempt to ‘fix’ the world . . . but, at other times, I wonder whether its me or the world that needs fixing . . . ))So your uncertain, I’m not. I know what needs to be fixed. I’ve seen it, I still see it. If you only knew…And for the last time, yes I do have a firm grasp of reality. But if you wish not to accept that answer, because it’s not to your expectation, then I ask you to please stop asking it, for I will not answer it again. Because there will not be a good enough answer for you, no matter what I say.((Proving things is impossible in this realm.))I can prove things in this realm. Something’s are harder then others though.((The idea is to keep learning (ad infinitum) until you finally do know everything. And not to stop when convenient and declare that the end has been reached. ))The end will come when justice is served. I am merely trying to see that justice gets served in the mean while. Cops do it all the time; do you blame them for doing their job? I see something wrong, I have to help. I can’t let someone down, especially if there is something I can do about it.((Lets talk about the possibilities, since there are no certainties. ))Say’s you. But I don’t think I will take your word for it.-Javier C.
Posted by Mel Reckling on 03-13-2001 07:40 AM
I will certainly miss this post when Johns gone . Maybe we can keep it alive until 2036! If you’ve followed this thread you’ll notice I’ve tried to keep a lighter side to my responses, mostly stupid comments meant to break up the intense scrutiny some people have put John under.As far as the most verbal of John’s critics, Javier Cortez, if I’m not mistaken he has posted his age on the birthday thread as being 21 years old. That could explain a lot. Now age is not that relevant, but maturity rarely comes at that age. He is not a “Time Cop” as he states, rather he probably harbors that fantasy. This is not an attack or threat or anything of the sort. Just a statement of fact.As far as John goes, it would be great if he is who he said he was. I cannot pass judgement on him. All I can do is thank him for this most interesting thread and wish him “God Speed” and tell him to keep the Chevy out of the ditch.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-13-2001 08:01 AM
Mel,The Time Cop statement was hypothetical. And I am very mature for my age, thank you very much.Good-day,Javier C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-13-2001 08:41 AM
I belong in a cave.Well, not yet. We (what do you mean we, human?) have lived through some difficult times (from the past). But still the fact remains that somehow, humans have gotten through it.
One could say that the probability of having a War increases since we have had nuclear weapons around for a long time. If it comes to pass, then what will you do?
I see no problem with being concerned about the future, maybe it becomes a good thought question.
What can anyone do about it? Meaning that the interaction of humans may have a nullifying effect. Maybe John’s purpose is simple, maybe it is complex. Still from leaders in the world, we still have posturing. Here’s an example:General Ivashov: Russia insists on preservation of 1972 ABM Treaty
12.03.01. 18:29Russia’s position on the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems is unchanged: it is necessary to preserve the Treaty, strictly observe its standards, and perform all obligations the sides took upon themselves, Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, chief of the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation at the Defense Ministry of Russia, was reported as making an official statement at a press conference in Moscow March 12.He also stressed that “Russia regarded and regards NATO’s progress east as a threat to its security and the Russian position in this matter has suffered no changes either.”In his opinion, the Russian proposals on the creation of a European non-strategic antimissile defense system, which were handed to NATO Secretary General George Robertson in the course of his February visit to Moscow, “are diametrically opposite to the U.S. intentions of creating a national missile defense system.”The Russian proposals “are not leading to breaches of some obligations or other treaties in this sphere,” he explained. The U.S. intentions at the same time are leading to the disruption of the 1972 ABM Treaty, he said.Russia’s proposals are based on the idea of creating “international mobile forces for relocation to directions of missile threat, whereas the U.S.A. intends to cover only its national territory with a protective umbrella,” he said.In this connection, in his view, the Russian proposals, as opposed to the U.S. ones, “will not cause an arms race but rather may reverse it.”Creating an U.S. national missile defense system, on the contrary, “will lead to a competitive process between creators of strategic defense and attack systems,” he claimed.In accordance with his statement, Russia will never agree to having the United States unilaterally disrupt the foundation of international security such as the ABM Treaty is.Russia’s proposals on the creation of a European non-strategic antimissile system are “diametrically opposite” to the U.S. plans to create a national missile defense system, he said.“Our proposals do not breach any agreements and will not lead to an arms race whereas the U.S. program will assist a competitive process in the area of strategic defense and attack systems,” he stressed.He also mentioned the fact that in the UN Security Council 89 countries spoke against the U.S. national missile defense system and only four in support of it. “The majority of countries are on our side and this frightens the U.S.A.,” he concluded.He also said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell would soon discuss the U.S. plans and the Russian proposals in this area.“For our part, we will try to convince the U.S.A. that the implementation of their plans will have ruinous consequences for the world community,” he said.(It just seems right when a talk show host around where I live still says that Russia still has people that react the old way, (as a Communist) when discussing anything about these treaties.) As of 3/12/01, this article from a Russian newspaper (on-line) is still what they are trying to convince their people of.
Posted by John Titor on 03-13-2001 08:46 AM
EMMETT:((As you know, bodies under acceleration lose their initial constant velocity worldline reference with respect to each other – the Twins Paradox.))I’m not sure that’s accurate. Twin Paradox time travel only suspends your perspective on a local level as the “world” around you goes on. You do not change worldlines.
((Given that you have a possible 2.5% divergence from your own worldline (5% on a roundtrip?)on a 60-year trip and the micro-singularities (each having their own worldline) are subject to the same divergence, how do you keep them in phase?))
Good thinking but that’s not exactly the way they work and divergence is not cumulative.
((Does the divergence extend into N-dimensions? Is the 2.5% the total error or is each dimension subject to the 2.5% divergence individually?))
Yes, that’s a little closer. You should perhaps change the “N” to and “X” to avoid string theory confusion.
((…but how did you manage to overcome the problem of gathering sufficient power to artificially create a micro-singularity in such a short time (sometime prior to 2036))
The “machine” with the energy to do it will come on-line very soon. The “method” for doing it has already been “mostly” perfected in the Z machine at the National lab in New Mexico.
((I believe that it would theoretically take the total energy output of the Sun since the time of Richard the Lionhearted (about a thousand years) to form one micro-singularity, let along two.))
Not that much.
BOB:((I haven’t seen an answer to my issue concerning moral turpitude through action or inaction. Did I miss it?))
If I missed something, please repeat it.
BRIDGET:((But let me ask you one simple question: instead of sitting at your computer, why not present yourself to George W, proof in hand? THAT would throw quite a monkey wrench into the government’s cover-up machine, don’t you think?))
Please take a look at the front cover of this month’s Popular Mechanics because it’s a great example of your legacy to 2036 after the war. One side of the cover it describes in great detail how your government is ready spying on you. On the other side (and just as important) it tells you how to install a hot tub.
In March of 2001, Popular Mechanics released the “April” issue of Popular Mechanics. This is the issue that John Titor was referring to.
The reason time travelers do not revel themselves is because your society scares the hell out of us. We do not want to end up in a cement room on a permanent supply of sodium prenatal as men with lab coats poke at our machine with a screwdriver.ALBERT:((…but would not the vintage computer from 1975 be bigger than the time machine to haul back to the future?))Not at all. The 5100 series will fit on a tabletop.ANGEL:((Are people using “reverse speech” in courts, etc. or even recreational?))Not that I’m aware of.RICK:((…and John’s explanation was “gravity sensors”. While I’m not aware of anything called a gravity sensor in this day and age, I wouldn’t discount such a thing.))http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa_abstracts/sbir/other/monana/warburto.htmlFor a second there, I thought 2.5% took a big chunk out of this worldline. I found this site and I’m sure there are others out there.((Russia, China, N. Korea, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, France – and you can add quite a few others to this list – would just love to see America on her knees and will do whatever it is they can to help us down there. NEVER EVER UNDERESTIMATE enemies – especially FORMER enemies (like Russia).))Didn’t North Korea just break off some sort of talks with South Korea?MICHEAL:((WACO…with criminal violations of the law either directly or impliedly as is done in this video, simply doesn’t accord with the real facts. Actually, there’s some evidence now to suggest that not only the FBI, but other federal as well as state and local law enforcement agencies have learned something from the Waco tragedy, and will take great care not to repeat it.))A large point of contention seems to be the “flashes” of light that appear to be gunfire that were recorded from the aircraft flying over the compound. The FBI has stated that these flashes were sunlight reflections. I find that rather interesting since the camera was not a visible light camera, it was a thermal camera. If the federal forces learned anything from WACO it was to install more reliable suppressors on their automatic weapons and don’t use flash grenades that leave shell casings after the fire.JOE:Sorry for the short answers.((1. Could you explain your theory about worldlines? Are there
infinite worldlines? Are all worldlines separate or
connected to each other in some way?))Yes, worldlines are infinite. Yes, they are separate but can be traversed through certain large gravity anomalies.((2. Where did you attend High school and what year did you
graduate? Was it difficult?))No, I did not have a “high school” experience.((3. What college did you attend, what year did you graduate? Would you estimate that your college life was similar to ours in our worldline? ))I was educated at the University of Florida. I entered a military sponsored program in 2029 and graduated between 2033 – 34. No, it was not very similar.((4. Hypothetically: If you fell in love with someone here (lets say Pamela) and you took her “back to the future” with you in your timex machine, wouldn’t that act upset both of our worldlines especiall if she were pregnant? Or all of the worldlines,assuming time travel is possible? Conversly, If you were gay and you took a gay man back with you, would that disrupt the worldlines less, assuming the both you could not bear offspring. ))No, it would not disrupt anyone’s worldlines.((5. Have you had a chance to watch a movie here that you had already seen in your 2036 wordline? If so, did they have the same endings?))Interesting question. If I watch enough of them I should see a difference somewhere but I haven’t seen one yet.BOB 25
Posted by John Titor on 03-13-2001 08:52 AM
EMMETT:((I’m not sure that’s accurate. Twin Paradox time travel only suspends your perspective on a local level as the “world” around you goes on. You do not change worldlines.))After reading this, it occured to me that our definition of worldline may not be the same.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-13-2001 09:18 AM
John,(This may seem like a stupid question, since I am not familiar with any of this in my reality.)Can world-lines converge closer together every so many years?
(Something like world-lines coming closer together during the time Jesus was on Earth, and now in the future, with the awesome power (nuclear) we have, an ebbing or flowing of the convergence and divergence of world-lines.)
((I must add that if this is true, then morals of all world-lines are tilted towards a certain aspect (good or evil) at these times, (causing the outcome of many, many, many worldlines to be similiar at those times)).
Just a thought.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-13-2001 12:26 PM
John,At one time I asked you about the mass of your singularities but didn’t receive an answer. From other information gathered here it appears that your machine heats to about 100 degrees (approx. 400 kelvin).The Hawking Radiation of a singularity with a mass of 3 x 10^20 kg of mass would have a temperature of approx. 400 kelvin.Hawking radiation in kelvins=(6 x 10^-8/M) where M is Solar masses. The smaller the mass the greater the temperature.The mass of 3 x 10^20 kg is equilalent to a slice of the Earth 1.2 miles wide at the equator, extending from pole to pole to the depth of the center of the Earth. (The mass of the Earth is 5.98 x 10^24 kg.) Your society isn’t involved in space travel (according to earlier posts) so it appears that your singularities are madfe from the Earth itself. Ouch! Your society is killing the world. Eco-terrorists as it were.Where is the mass coming from?
Posted by John Titor on 03-13-2001 12:43 PM
EMMETT:((Where is the mass coming from?))E=MCsquared can be solved for mass too.
Posted by John Titor on 03-13-2001 12:49 PM
EMMETT:This appeared to be the same question from the other site so I just copied my old response.((For instance, he has stated that his society is not involved in space travel. He’s also stated that the temperature in and around his device while in use is approximately 100 degrees (approx 375 kelvin). ))I’m not sure I understand the connection between no space travel and the temperature around the device.((If the Hawking Radiation of a black hole stated in Kelvins is…))The singularities are not unstable; therefore, uncontrolled evaporation is not possible. In addition, there is no extemporaneous matter near the singularity that would cause it to give off radiation or heat.((Or – he’s taken a slice of the Earth about 1.2 miles wide at the equator from pole to pole down to the center of the Earth and compressed it into a singularity. And his machine has two of them, GE has a larger unit (C206) and there are multiple machines of each model (C204 & C206). ))A singularity about the size of an electron would only require the mass of a large mountain. The singularities inside the C204 are much small than that. And no, I didn’t make them.((If his society doesn’t space travel – then they are gobbling up the Earth to make their singularities.))You know… E = MC squared can be written to solve for mass too.
Posted by Don Berg on 03-13-2001 04:44 PM
John Titor, would you consider having your departure from this time period be video taped for Art Bell? What would you expect to be seen during that event from the outside perspective? I remember that Art wanted to do this when MadMan Markham was going to attempt time travel, so I would expect Art would be interested. Please email and fax Art about this proposal if you accept.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-13-2001 05:01 PM
SmileDear Don,He is planning on having someone video tape his departure.What it will look like:((Pamela: 1.What exactly would an observer see as they saw you arriving in this time? and exactly what would they see as you departed? would you just appear suddenly or slowly? would you look like a heat mirage for awhile? any light effects? or hazy misty shimmering distortion?Time travel_0- The observation of time travelers “appearing” suddenly in a world line do not happen very often. There are two cases and two points of view to consider. In the first case, the time machine does not move as it goes from one world line to another and then returns. The people watching on the original world line would wave good bye and watch as the machine is turned on.
There would be a static discharge and the air would appear to “ripple” as if it were getting denser. Then, it would stop and the machine will have appeared to have gone no where. If the machine doesn’t move its position from world line to world line, the observer would not see it disappear at all. In the second case, if the machine is moved, it would disappear from the viewpoint of the observer and return in a different location based on where it was moved and turned on from the destination world line. In that case, the rippling seems to dissolve the machine and it disappears. If that happens while you are watching it leave and you expect it to return, you know it was moved or had a serious malfunction. It is actually quite dangerous to get too close to a distortion unit as it enters or leaves a world line. It vents radiation and has a very strong localized gravity field. Personally, I worry about that a great deal.))sincerely,pamela[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-13-2001 at 05:14 PM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-13-2001 10:20 PM
Actually John,You really do not have to answer my questions. I saw the computer on a webpage after I asked that question. I was under the assumption that IBM only had larger computers back then at that time. I do not think any other questions I asked are even that relevant. I was also under the assumption that space travel would come first, now I have my doubts, and as one person put it:
Space is big. I saw some of the other webpages also.
Time is big. I will be thinking about all of this more in the summer, too much to do right now.Well, certainly I wonder what humans will be doing in the future as to the wisdom that may be needed with certain aspects of technological breakthroughs. I really wonder if humankind has the wisdom in some of these pursuits.I really wonder.Here’s hoping we did not step on your toes too much.
Posted by Raxamon Bathory on 03-14-2001 02:05 AM
ExclamationGood evening to all of you, and John. I wont start this off by displaying whether I fully believe you or not, other than I’d love to believe you, perhaps even love the fact that I’d love to believe you, but not whether I concretely do, or not.I am not very good grammatically, or even at organizing my thoughts in a cohesive list of things, so please bear with me as I struggle to manipulate an unweildly and cumbersome form of communication to the best of my ability. First and foremost I am inquisitive about religious belief systems you seem to make many references to a obviously Male Dominated religious system, perhaps even the religion I loathe so much, known as Christianity.
Being that you claim to be from 2036, you must forgive my arrogance but I will assume for you to be a representative of people in that time, and that world-line.
Am I, a faithful Witchcraft Practicing Neo-pagan to believe that Christianity is still the dominant form of religion in whats left of a post-cataclysmic United States?
And that mankind is still aspiring towards a rather unbalanced religion, responsible for a lot of the sorrow, misery, torture, death, and narrow mindedness of this world-lines past, and in some ways present, and none actively seek reunification with the old ways, seeking to come closer to the bosom of earth based religion?
Or is it that Neo-paganism is such a minority in your time and world-line that you have yet to mention it in any form?
I am sorry to sound rather bitter, but with regards to most of Christianity and its followers, all I have seen and experienced is narrow mindedness, hatred, and malevolent intent towards anything remotely different from themselves (Holy War is a good example, Salem Witch trials is another, and down here in the deep south you can find it anywhere simply by walking into a southern baptist church on Sunday wearing a pentagram and wearing black).
If neo-paganism is not a viable and accepted religion or tolerated much amongst the christian counterparts in your communities, I should think I know where I’ll be aiming my guns when, and if such a war arrives. It is my deep seated belief that if all religions don't wake up and unify and realize all religious (and spiritual) belief leads to the same sources, there may well be uprisings from pagans (I should think after so many centuries of hatred we’re quite fed up by now, and its showing in the Black Metal musical underground movement occurring presently in Norway, and some of Europe in which angry fans are quite literally burning centuries old catholic churches to the ground sometimes with followers inside).I wont leave anything aside in saying I’m a Gen X individual, only difference instead of not caring, I’m angry, Not only am I angry, I’m rather overjoyed to hear the possibility of Mutually Assured Destruction for all mankind, because for the most part, most people dont deserve the life given to them, I’ll be cheering from the sidelines when the bombs start dropping, waiting for an opportunity for an anarchistic environment wherein I could easily inact revenge upon Governmental officials, and Religious Zealots with deadly force.However, the image you produce of mankind drawing inward upon itself, and becoming….more holistic in a sense, caring more about the community as a whole, and the well being of the mass body, than the greed of the self I must admit is a heartening one, perhaps a step towards spiritual enlightenment, for all parties, in which Christian, Pagans, Muslims, Buddhists and the like can all sit down and break bread with each other and be as brothers.
If such is the case I would indeed think, even through the hardships, I’d be more than willing to live through that. Furthermore the possibility for daily bloodshed from water raiders and the like would thrill me, a more earth based, rather than economy, or rather Capitalistic based life would seem more than an enjoyable experience.Personally many seem to think of the fact of millions of dying as a bad thing, I don't.
I think getting rid of the mass populace would be a wonderful thing, and rest assured if it happens, I’ll be doing my part to weed out the morons that slipped through the cracks of devastation with the point of a gun, of that you have my oath.At any rate, I have a favor to ask of you, if you don't mind.
You stated earlier, you would post this information up on the net in your world-line when you arrived back at your destination (or rather as close as you can get to your original world-line).
I have two children who I should hope will be smart enough to live through the devastation (perhaps though it would however be a kinder gesture that they did not however, considering possibility of nuclear winter, fallout, mutation, cancer, morons freely toting guns etc).
Please do me a favor and look up if you can Celeste Electra Watson, and Damon Caine Watson, and tell them their father loves them deeply, and wishes them the best in all that they achieve, and that I wish the light grace and love of the Lord and Lady to shine upon them always and in all that they do.
I have no message for myself, as in truth its not me, and even if it was, I should be 57 by this time, and possibly A. Dead or B. a doddering old fool. And also how would the other me with a different time-line know to even look myself up. which means only that the message would never get to me. Which is why I ask you the favor of directly looking up my children if they still live and telling them such.On another note, out of curiosity, say one turned on a Tesla coil nearby the machine you use to travel, emitting the emp dreaded by anything with transistors, and then attempted to utilize the time machine? is it shielded against the effects of EMP or would you then be sitting, staring at a now useless piece of machinery stuck in a time period you were unfamiliar with?
Furthermore, also electromagnetism I should think would be slightly different from our time to yours, considering massive worldwide global thermonuclear war would destroy most power grids *snicker* in your time period, do other electromagnetic fields such as those produced from surrounding power lines, and such in any way hamper the proper utilization of the machine? or make it more difficult to take accurate “snapshots” so that you remain “stuck to the world” ?Also on a further note…considering you’ll never actually get back to your own world-line, why go back?
I dunno bout you, but I’d say FuX0R that, and not care anymore and slide further and further back in time (or forward) as far as I possibly could, expecting cumulative divergence from my point of origin, seeking out and exploring the many possibilities of the multiverse.
I should think a world where Hitler won would be on the side of the amount of divergence I’m talking about, or a World Where the Egyptian Empire was never beaten by the Persians and Alexander the Great, thusly resulting in a superpower of the same might of Rome by the time of Cleopatra's reign (or lack of reign, lol we are talking massive divergence here are we not?) and why settle for the efforts of petty human civilization?
go back, keep going back, Millions of years, grab up specimens of the Triassic era, then have fun hopping back into the future with your specimens then gleefully set loose say, hell a pack of raptors onto the populace of New York? then laugh as you warp off to another point in time, in another world, where any possibility could be reality. (only thing I’d be really worried about is hopping into a world where the Russians did not back down from the Cuban missile crisis, under the Kennedy administration).
After all who is gonna stop you?
the multiverse is now your playground, and who cares about your time period and their problems, as you said others would step through from other world-lines to take your place in your concurrent world-line, perhaps one of them will decide to go back with the machine so they get what they want, and you get a free ride on one of the greatest adventures I could imagine.I dunno, but that's what I’d do, I mean you just took a mission where in essence quite simply there is NO return, so why give a flip about the issues of humans, your now above all that with the multiverse being your playground.Anyways that's just a few ideas and questions and whatnot I figured I’d toss your way. Sounds like fun were it real, and if it isn’t **** man write a book. I’d pay just to read it LOL
Posted by John Titor on 03-14-2001 08:12 AM
Departure Video for Art Bell
((John Titor, would you consider having your departure from this time period be video taped for Art Bell? What would you expect to be seen during that event from the outside perspective? I remember that Art wanted to do this when
MadMan Markham was going to attempt time travel, so I would expect Art would be interested. Please email and fax Art about this proposal if you accept. ))
Earlier in the thread I had said I would be willing to videotape my departure and Pamela copied a much earlier post describing it. There are a few technical and logistical problems but I do plan to have it done. (i.e. the videotape recording has static and interference if it’s too close to the unit.) At this point, the videotape would be for pure entertainment value. It won’t prove one way or another if I’m a time traveler but I feel you deserve just a tad of bread and circuses.
When I approached my grandfather in 1975 it took me quite a while to convince him I was who I said I was. He said something I’ve never forgotten and I’ve heard some of you allude to it also. After looking at the unit he turned to me and said, “Either you’ve escaped from an insane asylum or you’re a time traveler.” As the weeks went on, it occurred to me that both were just as threatening and dangerous to him and I’m not sure he ever decided which one was worse.
Based on my own experiences on the web and a few comments some of you have made, I suspect Art is growing weary of people claiming to be time travelers for the same reason. As we have discussed, there is really no way to prove it and I would imagine Art is tired of putting himself at risk by entertaining the idea. He does have a responsibility to his listeners and I respect that. I suppose it goes back to the old question you’ve all asked yourselves. What is proof of time travel?
Posted by Joe Section on 03-14-2001 08:59 AM
John Titor,I am confused by one of your actions. Why is it NOT ok to give us information about our near future in detail, but it IS ok to take back detailed emails and totally modify that time line?I would like to know the next AOL on this time line, not another
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-14-2001 09:23 AM
Well what a way to play the crowd John. But what are you truly trying to say?Often times you have hidden meanings in your statements. And I know that this time is no acceptation. Why are you now emphasizing trying to say something about proving to us if you are real or not?As a way out perhaps?That video of your departure, are you afraid that it will be proven fraudulent?And you just want to spare people the disappointment?Well if my guesses are correct, I think we found something we agree on. We both wouldn’t like to see people suckered into believing you as a fraud.-Javier C.
Posted by John Titor on 03-14-2001 10:09 AM
((Why is it NOT ok to give us information about our near future in detail, but it IS ok to take back detailed emails and totally modify that time line?))I’m not saying anything in your messages. You are. Are you suggesting I edit your emails? Are you unable to weigh the consequences of your opportunity and I am now responsible for what you might say to yourself? Now that you have the chance to put your own morals to the test do you feel you’re incapable of living up to your own standards?
Is it wrong to say one thing and not something else? If you feel you should tell yourself to buy a certain stock than I suppose you are willing to take the risk that “your” advice doesn’t prove wrong in the next few days.
What ever I might do, I would consider the fact that someday you will have to address this question again as an entire society.
J.C. Why would I offer to make the video if I thought it would “expose” me? If it makes you feel better, I doubt it will change your mind anyway but it will give you something to talk about when I’m gone. I think that’s the greatest gift I could give you.
Posted by Joe Section on 03-14-2001 10:48 AM
John T,It is not against my morals to give myself a financial edge with some information from the future, but it does seem to be against your morals as you won’t give any of us a stock tip or any specific information from the future.Why would you allow all kinds of information to make it’s way back in time, yet give no information on this time line? The exchange of information would not be possible without your help.I am sure if you asked the future me, he would give permission to give the current me some useful information>>I’m not saying anything in your messages. You are. Are you suggesting I edit your emails? Are you unable to weigh the consequences of your opportunity and I am now responsible for what you might say to yourself? Now that you have the chance to put your own morals to the test do you feel you’re incapable of living up to your own standards?<<
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-14-2001 10:57 AM
Greatest gift for me? How do you know what the greatest gift for me is? I’d take it you didn’t mean just me when you said that.
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-14-2001 10:57 AM
WinkI am not going to be sending an e-mail to myself in 1998 because I am sticking to my belief that since I did not receive an e-mail from myself in 1998, then it never happened.I would, however, like to receive an e-mail message from myself in the future. I would now how I would be able to prove to myself that it was legit.Have fun, all, and I look forward to seeing your departure, John.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-14-2001 11:19 AM
John,I know that you don’t understand…which is sad. Its the Hawking Radiation that you can’t overcome. This radiation is seperate from any other radiation given off by extemporaneous matter falling into the singularity. It is part of the description of a singularity per se absent any other matter. A singularity emits Hawking Radiation.A simple “E=Mc^2” isn’t the answer here. You have to form the singularity for your machine to work and that takes mass – real, not virtual mass. You have to get the mass for the singularity from somewhere and if you can’t or don’t travel in space (to grab the mass from somewhere other than Earth) then you have to be gobbling up the planet itself.The truly faulty part of your description of your device involves the Hawking Radiation. You can’t overcome it and you can’t ignore it. Its not the size of the singularity that matters – its solely the mass involved that determines the temperature of the radiation.400 kelvin or 100 degrees C emitted as Hawking Radiation from the singularity requires a mass of 3 * 10^20 kg. Lert’s assume that the mass of the singularity is “about the mass of a large mountain”. Let’s say that the mass of the singularity is 1/1,000,000th (5.98*10^18 kg)the mass of the Earth. The Hawking Radiation temperature around your singularity will be approximately 20,000 degrees kelvin. The surface temperature of the sun is about 5,600 degrees kelvin. That’s a sunburn that you won’t forget for a while.So, the reparte has been fun. But your device, as described, simply won’t work.Its too bad that this has occurred. People want to believe in the future and future technology but get confused by bad science. As I’ve said before, it doesn’t particularly bother me that you don’t really have a time machine. Its fun to ” jus’ ‘spose” it was true. The problem comes when people really are convinced that its true based on bad science. In any case, there’s plenty of evidence available for people to check on their own so they can make informed decisions and learn what the true state of the science is. Where we are in physics today is truly exciting without making it up.20,000 degrees…ouch, ouch, ouch!
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-14-2001 11:20 AM
SmileJohn, I just want to clarify my last post: I am not looking forward to your leaving in the sense that I want you to go, I meant it that I am looking forward to seeing your departure from an observational perspective. This has been an enjoyable, educational, and thought-provoking thread.[Edited by David R Ferguson on 03-14-2001 at 11:41 AM]
Posted by John Titor on 03-14-2001 11:55 AM
((I know that you don’t understand…which is sad.))Perhaps you are just having a hard time making yourself clear? I will admit you are a little out of my ballpark but I do understand what you are referring to.((It’s the Hawking Radiation that you can’t overcome. This radiation is separate from any other radiation given off by extemporaneous matter falling into the singularity. It is part of the description of a singularity per se absent any other matter. A singularity emits Hawking Radiation.))Yes, that is true. If you firmly believe that Hawking radiation cannot be controlled or goes on even without the presence of virtual particles forever until the singularity explodes than you are correct.((A simple “E=Mc^2” isn’t the answer here.))You asked where the mass comes from. I simply pointed out that mass and energy are interchangeable in the same equation. One of my Stanford pals tells me there is a running gag about the chances a VW Beetle spontaneously appearing inside the accelerator. It could only come from the transfer of energy to mass.((You have to form the singularity for your machine to work and that takes mass – real, not virtual mass.))That is incorrect.((The truly faulty part of your description of your device involves the Hawking Radiation. You can’t overcome it and you can’t ignore it. Its not the size of the singularity that matters – its solely the mass involved that determines the temperature of the radiation.))You seem to be quite upset and I understand your argument. I do however think it is important to gather the facts and probabilities before expelling emotional energy on them. Please keep in mind that I have not shared all the technical details of the machine with you. So an easy out would be for me to just make something up.
However, and as I’m sure you are aware, Stephen Hawking admits that his own equations support the “possibility” that microsingularities may not totally disappear as they evaporate in a sea of virtual particles and in fact may leave behind a very stable naked singularity. I’m sure you can look that up. I suppose the difficult part is believing that we’ve taken advantage of it, not that it’s impossible.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-14-2001 11:58 AM
My.Back to my reality.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-14-2001 12:47 PM
Inherently, freedom from responsibility, is not evidenced in this Universe, this is why humans are so small.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-14-2001 01:32 PM
Darby, I simply do not have time to get into details right now – but, if you take some time to do some internet searches you will find that not only is is POSSIBLE to create a microsingularity, it is possibly to do so NOW with a linear accellerator. In fact, there was an article recently (about 5-6 months ago I think, which is why I can’t remember the exact source right now) that stated there is a distinct probability of it happening.I THINK if you do a search on the discovery channel, or discovery magazine, you should find this information yourself.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-14-2001 08:49 PM
Questionspeaking of time, i am on page 18 and have spent hours contemplating, reading, going to links etc. Facinating stuff. Great Discussion.I do have a question or two, and please forgive me if they were addressed and I have not reached them yet.In the years leading to the civil war in the US and ww3, when searches are being conducted in homes, what is being searched for specifically? I can assume weapons, but that seems too simple.Also, John, can you elaborate on recognizing who the enemy will be domestically? You had stated sometime back in the thread that it would be those who had the most to lose..(paraphrasing) I may be taking this out of context, but maybe not.I am on the fence post, but intrigued by this topic. I cannot obviously say you are a TT, but that is not the issue for me. I need no proof. At the least, this discussion has been a laymans guide to understanding Time Travel theory. At most, you are “visiting”. Either way, Thanks
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 11:41 AM
Who’s going to remember this thread in the future?Have you made a poster about something like “I am from 2036” to jog your memory?If these events come to pass, have you made plans about what you will do?No need to answer me, but in a couple of years, no one may remember this thread, due to life events of the yous or you.I find the events mentioned as incredible, I also find that most people could look forward and describe certain events that might take place in the future. These possibilities have always been with us.I, myself, and I have a lot of meetings with myself, self, and I am having another meeting with myself, dictate that the 50 me-s that are all having meetings with myself may get confused from time to time. This leaves 50 or more me-s in every world-line with more me-s showing up possibly all the time.
With all of you doing all the same, then these parallel worlds are all busy with all the you-s and me-s.
We all only take up one space on the game-board still in the world.
Further thoughts on all of these meetings may be forthcoming, soon I hope.In the near future, I know what I have to do, due to obligations of all the me-s that had meetings with all the other me-s, I guess.
Well, that leaves all of the me-s tied up at the moment.Anyone else feel this way?
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 11:48 AM
If it seems that I may be howling at the Moon, Ah~~~~~~Ow, would you might think of it as a form of March Madness?After all, all of the me-s holding all of these me-s meetings may have nothing to do, if not howling at the Moon, leaving the other me-s to say, what a pity, that some of the me-s are howling at the Moon. I also have to assume that all of the other world-lines are having quite a time also with this.
I can not decide when I had the time to do all of this, though.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 12:03 PM
Also, one could write a paper describing this action as a Class, perhaps even putting it in a computer, with a programming language to describe this Class. Making a Object of the Class and referencing it, would instansiate this Class. This would give the computer a Busy Class Object that describes the methods, events, and properties of the Busy Class Act.
I must be a Busy Class Object Act.
Is this part of the Future events?Fitting at this time, I must include a Prayer:Now, I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep.And if I should die, before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 12:15 PM
I leave to go into the Future, moment by moment, step, by step.What awaits me there?There was another forum where a topic was created. Oxuma, a Brailizan, came up with this: (Give credit where credit is due).
What has someone said to you that was stupid at some time in your life?Some of the replies given back by people who responded could be made into a sort of conversation that would go like this:Space is big.The idea is good, but the forum is not.There’s grass on the lawn.Is that all there is to talk about?The seashore is where the sea and the shore meet.If I taught you everything I know, you still would not know anything.Can someone go out and get me a monkey sandwich?The winner was given some sort of symbolic prize: The Golden Grass Award.And the winner, was: There’s grass on the lawn.I leave you to your thoughts.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-15-2001 01:17 PM
John,Honestly, I’m not upset about any of this…and the only emotion involved for me is joy. This is fun! It really is. And the energy expelled (other than the Hawking Radiation <poke> is intellectual. Back to the didactic…I realize that you haven’t given “all of the technical details” of the device. If it (the device) exists, the details aren’t yours to give in any case.
The details of the device, as intellectual property, belongs to GE and its shareholders (of which I am one).
The details that you have posted publicly may actually be in violation of copyright and patent law relative to the rights of GE in 2001.
Did the Board of Directors of today’s GE authorize you to publicly post their technical drawings? (Did GE in 2036 for that matter give similar authorization?)
The reason that I ask this question is that we don’t know that GE isn’t, in fact, working on this device as we speak.
The technical drawing that you have posted, if it reflects a reality, has some implications that you may not have taken into consideration. You see a time machine. I see a very powerful weapons system – an x-ray emitter with directional control. It’s there in the drawing.X-rays will be emitted if matter is pumped into the device (which you say isn’t happening) and the engineers are concerned about where to vent the x-rays – a mismatch.
The drawing indicates in Detail #5 “X-Ray Venting Zone”. It details x-rays being focused and vented directionally. It has applications as a weapons system and today’s DOD & GE would not want any details of the system publicized.
Posted by John Titor on 03-15-2001 02:11 PM
EMMETT:I too enjoy these conversations.((I realize that you haven’t given “all of the technical details” of the device.))Actually, I’m hoping the cut-a-way drawing from the manual will be available to you very soon.((If it (the device) exists, the details aren’t yours to give in any case.))…smiling… So let me get this straight, John please prove you’re a time traveler but don’t show us any copyrighted material?((The details that you have posted publicly may actually be in violation of copyright and patent law relative to the rights of GE in 2001.))No, I am not breaking any of “my” laws but I suppose that’s something else you and your world-line will have to deal with when time travel comes.((The reason that I ask this question is that we don’t know that GE isn’t, in fact, working on this device as we speak.))They might be now.((You see a time machine. I see a very powerful weapons system – an x-ray emitter with directional control. It’s there in the drawing.))Yes I suppose that is one thing you could do with it. I could also cut my hand off with a power saw or heat up a crowd of people with a microwave. However, I believe Teller already came up with an X-ray laser that destroys itself after going off.((X-rays will be emitted if matter is pumped into the device (which you say isn’t happening) and the engineers are concerned about where to vent the x-rays – a mismatch.))Actually, I thought we were focusing on the degree of radiation and temperature. I don’t believe I ever said it didn’t give off radiation. Yes, the device does give off x-rays.((The drawing indicates in Detail #5 “X-Ray Venting Zone”. It details x-rays being focused and vented directionally. It has applications as a weapons system and today’s DOD & GE would not want any details of the system publicized.))As you said, it’s interesting that I see a time machine and you see a weapon. Maybe it’s a sign of the “times”. However, it is a good point. If the Chinese or Russians thought you had one of these what do you think they would do?
Again, maybe you should ask yourself if you’re sure you want me to prove I’m a time traveler. Maybe that’s what makes a time traveler “evil” in that he would be willing to share everything with you. If that were true, does J.C. have a good point after all?
Posted by Craig Cuthbert on 03-15-2001 02:30 PM
John – This has been fascinating.John – IF you (or other TTs), were to lose – a way to get back – would there be a rescue team? Your story would not go over really well here in 2000, if you were in need of assistance – probably lock you up with the other time travelers. No, I’m sure of it. Though I understand you have family. Are there interesting stories of TTs who have had to wing it through tough missions? What would you do. Get a job? Freelance engineering?Another thing, if you were to take back a carload of shopping items, would they make it?Sounds like your heading back soon. Did I hear that correct?Does the “you” in the other time line, have to “absorb” you back? How do you keep from having two “yous”, back home?Can you e-mail us from the future and tell us how we’re doing there? No, guess not.[Edited by Craig Cuthbert on 03-15-2001 at 02:51 PM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-15-2001 04:24 PM
Darby,you are so funny.“The details of the device, as intellectual property, belongs to GE and its shareholders (of which I am one). The details that you have posted publicly may actually be in violation of copyright and patent law relative to the rights of GE in 2001. Did the Board of Directors of today’s GE authorize you to publicly post their technical drawings? (Did GE in 2036 for that matter give similar authorization?) The reason that I ask this question is that we don’t know that GE isn’t, in fact, working on this device as we speak. The technical drawing that you have ..”If John’s device is real .it belongs to another world altogether. another GE, therefore it would violate no known copy right laws here.or patent laws here.
In fact with a 2.5 divergence how do you know the patent numbers or the device would be the same?
Besides as of now the patent doesn't even exist here. technically it would not be THIS GE’s pictures. It would not be THIS GE’s device. it belongs to another world line. since it hasn't been invented yet how would you say he got the pictures??
Now THAT would be an interesting case indeed. would they have to prove him to be a time traveler? Is there known laws at this time that states this as a criminal offense to share technology from other world lines? what if it is NOT an offense in John’s world?
The Burden of proof would fall on YOU, not on John.…..Wouldnt want THAT case! Would any lawyer actually TAKE that case??? hehehhmmm…noticed Doc’s board is down again…-pamela[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-15-2001 at 04:51 PM]
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-15-2001 08:47 PM
Just to change the subject for a minute; doesn’t it seem strange that this board has been hit so much? I checked and most don’t get over 500 or so. (this one over 19,000!!!)This has had more than any other. The only other ones that come close are two discussions about c2c guests. What do you think of that, if anything?Lola
Posted by John Titor on 03-15-2001 09:33 PM
((If John’s device is real .it belongs to another world altogether. another GE, therefore it would violate no known copy right laws here.or patent laws here.))Any government document can not be copyrighted. I could also argue that the manual “could” be from a future where it has become public domain but then again, it would mean proving I am a time traveler.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-15-2001 09:41 PM
CoolLOLA: Hi, I agree that it is amazing how many views have been done on this discussion. Well, maybe not. It is a topic that does not itself generate tons of controversy it seems, but as evidenced by the many exchanges, it can get heated. I wish I had been here for the whole discussion instead of reading up.No matter if John is a real TT or not. He started and kept up with a wonderful and informative discussion. In a way I will be a little sad when this thread stops altogether. It was truly the best thread I have read in a long *time*. I am not a PhD, but I did get a good laymans view on the theories surrounding Time Travel. It has been an interest for as long as I remember.Question: Anyone else acutely conscious of the word *time* in daily speech? I am now. Just my focus I guess.To All who Participated:Thanks for the great read! Everyone. There are many well thought out parties on this sys.Rick: You really DoD Intel?
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-15-2001 10:31 PM
John,So what do you have to say about what you started here? Have you no idea that some of these people are following you like the Pie Pipper?I don’t know about you, but I call that taking advantage of buying into people’s fascination with Time Travel, using that as leverage for perhaps your “Secret Agenda.”Wherever you go in 3 weeks John, you’ll find someone with enough guts to stand up to people like you, and oppose your exploitation. Remember ME!-Javier C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 10:57 PM
I still do not see how anyone can be from a future when that has not happened as far as I am concerned yet.
No doubt the answer is here in this thread.
I will have to go over it again.
For a moment, I was thinking that a microsinglularity might just eat energy, and mass just gets in the way, (it’s not needed), making a microsinglularity a kind of energy generator that can move mass with its energy field, (skirting around its edge horizon event).
I have to look that up, again.
If so, then building this thing may not be all that difficult, except for a few engineering problems.
Should of listened to the Prof in Thermodynamics, after all he wrote the answers for the test on the blackboard.
At the time, I guess I was interested in something else, I could tell you what, but I’ll keep it to myself for now.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-15-2001 11:14 PM
Oh, I see you invented a new machine here. What do you call this thing?
I call it a ‘Time Travel’ machine.
Well, what do you hope it does when you turn it on?
I hope it doesn’t blow up the entire Solar System.
Interesting.Well , I think it be more interesting if humans waited until we can take the whole entire Universe along.
Well, what do you mean?
Well, if we had antimatter, and could blow up the whole entire Universe, we could call it, “The Big Bang”.
Posted by Al Ryder on 03-15-2001 11:17 PM
Do you have a Timex Sinclair in your collection ??
Posted by Jim Houlahan on 03-16-2001 12:22 AM
Hi John,You’ve mentioned (and it makes sense that) computers get much better by your time. Considering the vast difference between that 1975-vintage IBM 5100 you’ve picked up and the computer I have sitting on my desk, I can’t imagine what computers will be like in 2036. Are they even still called “computers”?
Are you carrying a computing device from your time?
Have you had to use our ancient technology for all this posting? I think I’d like to use my 1978 TRS-80 Model 1 again for nostalgia’s sake, but 10 minutes of that and I’d have to stop from frustration. How are you coping with our “stone-knives and bear-skins” technology? That’s a Star Trek reference. Have you watched Star Trek?What can you tell us about future computing technology without conflicting with your “temporal prime directive”? We could guess some things based on Moore’s Law concerning storage, speed, etc. It would be nice for computer-geeks like me to hear some specifics though – especially about form, function and interface.Thanks for spending time giving us all great stuff to think about!
Posted by Jay Richards on 03-16-2001 12:36 AM
John, you never addressed my question posted several days ago. Would you address it?Also, I noticed a post from you on a different thread where you said something to the effect that everything that can or could have ever happened has happened, and thus there’s an infinite number of realities.If there were an infinite number of realities, then there would necessarily arise a reality that somehow causes there to be no other realities. In fact, an infinite number of such realities would have to arise that cause there to be no other realities.It’d also necessarily give rise to a reality that somehow causes there to be only one single reality. In fact, it would necessarily give rise to an infinite number of such realities that somehow cause there to be only one reality.It’d also necessarily give rise to a reality that somehow causes there to no realities at all. In fact, it would necessarily give rise to an infinite number of such realities that somehow cause there to be no realities at all.One might desire to argue that such realities could arise in the future, from our perspective, and we simply haven’t encountered the effects of that yet but we might in our future. But if that where the case, then there would necessarily arise an infinite number of realities that somehow causes there to have never been any other reality from any perspective.Etc.There seems to be a bit of a problem with any sort of “infinite reality” concept (or infinite Universes, for that matter), doesn’t there?So furthermore, if there’s a limit to the quantity of realities (or Universes, for that matter), which logic clearly dictates that there must be, what is the limiting factor?Is it the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin? I don’t think so. There can be only one.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-16-2001 06:31 AM
ArrowAL: The Timex Sinclair…I had one. I was 10 and it was incredible! At that time I remember getting the expansion pack for the RAM, it came stock with 2k i think. All Basic code on hot keys. Thanks, never thought anyone else used one. Seems to me the Sinclair was as useless as the Altair though. (that was b4 my start in comps.)JOHN:
I agree with Jim. I to am interested in your thoughts on the future of computers and their interface etc. Any new types of peripheral devices?Also,if the WTO protesters in Seattle had been at the time of the future civil war, would they be at all similar to the victors of the war?And 1 more thing, I know you have commented about your puzzlement at questions regarding Bill Gates. Well, Bill Gates has an interesting story in how he became the wealthiest man (monetarily) on earth. Obvious, however if what you suggest of the future is true, I see Mr. Gates as a becoming a pinata for the amusement of those opposed to his iconical representation of wealth.
Hmmm. Being that his company has been (arguably unfairly) chased by anti-trust issues..does he become a financial force behind the Constitutional defenders?
Just wonderin’
Posted by Mel Reckling on 03-16-2001 07:04 AM
Sounds like the computers of the future will be much like the kind found in the Monty Python movie” Brazil” with their ancient typewriter keyboards and those hilarious screen magnifiers. Can anyone tell me what a “Pie Pipper” is?
Computer from the odd-ball movie Brazil. I love the retro keyboard, and the micro screen enlarger.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-16-2001 07:09 AM
Phil: “Rick: You really DoD Intel? ”My background is in intel. Communications, electronics, intelligence. Currently I work in the computer security field. I work in a national research facility. I keep my hands in intelligence – though no longer professionally. Once you’re a part of that, you never really leave it.I am a very patriotic person. I joined the military when I was younger because of patriotism, not for college, not for the fun of it, and certainly not because I HAD to do it. I did it because I believe in the Constitution of the United States.At the same time – I believe, apparently like John, that our society, and indeed our government, has taken a turn for the worst.
See… we the people, ARE the government.
When a society’s morals break down, the government isn’t far behind. We’ve got this “entity” called “government” now, that has grown massively in power, while losing all common sense.
In order for American citizens to take control of their government, two things must occur. Firstly, the secret societies that operate in Washington DC must be eliminated. This “swamp” must be drained. Secondly, the American government must put the needs and interests of American first before everything else. This goes in direct opposition of what the global oligarchs desire.
The truth is a non-existent entity can’t HAVE common sense.
It can only have bureaucratic ‘thoughts’ – the collective thoughts, and actions of a group of people controlling the purse strings, controlling everything, even down the people of the country.The problem with this is – people like me still exist and probably always will. We sit within a system that we view as corrupt, and believe we can change it within the system itself. We try, hitting brick wall after brick wall.I still believe that our greatest achievements are yet to come – and yet, a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach has been telling me that something is going to happen, and soon. I’ve felt this for about 5-6 years now. I can not put my finger on it, but, it all comes back to your question… Intelligence.We watch foreign governments and wonder what they will do next, even predict what they will do next. We see things like Mad Cow disease – and more recently a suddenl virile outbreak of hoof and mouth disease. It didn’t hit just one farm, it hit most of England at the same time. I believe – along with others, that this was a biological attack (what better way to get away with murdering millions of people without getting caught? You reduce their food supplies, and they die slowly. You’re never caught because no one knows where you released the disease).Sitting here, reading this forum – and seeing what someone else saw – that there were 19K hits or more makes me wonder about the future. John may or may not be “for real” – but I will reserve my final judgement for the upcoming video – even so, he has sparked an intelligence, well thoughtout discussion on the part of each and everyone writing here. We all are going to come away with a heightened sense of our own reality, mortality and perhaps even our own future.If John has been accurate on even a small portion of his future predictions (which by the way, he has made several, you simply have to carefully read the notes here) then my own thoughts follow along on the civil war, and even nuclear war. MY family will have a fallout shelter within a few months.I already am a ‘survivalist’.
My web site has been online for years and contains a lot of information about nuclear war, disasters, storms, earth changes… you name it, it’s there. If anyone wants the URL, write me privately (Not sure if I can post it here). In the mean time – I personally will be keeping my eyes on the intel side of things. Many others will be too.
Posted by John Titor on 03-16-2001 07:55 AM
To my knowledge, there are no other sites where these pictures can be seen and is stable. A few of them have not been posted before. I suspect they will generate more questions which I will try to address.
John
http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=get_album&ID_Topic=2&ID_Community=MyTimeMachine
Posted by David R Ferguson on 03-16-2001 08:28 AM
SmileMel:I believe you are referencing a comment made by Javier a few posts earlier, and I believe “Pie Pipper” was just misspelled…I believe he meant “The Pied Piper,” the legendary character and exterminator from the German fairy tale of the same name who first led rats out of a village by playing his magic pipe. Later he led all the children of the village away when the town folk refused to pay him for ridding their village of the rat infestation.
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-16-2001 09:10 AM
No No No. The Pied Piper was a mere facsimile of our future Lord, the Pie Pipper. A poseur. An interloper. All hail and bow to the Lord of the Future! The Pie Pipper. Mothers shalt bake the pies, even shalt they include the apple, the strawberry-rhubarb and the chocolate silk. Baker’s Square shalt become places of worship. And the pies shall be the symbol we shalt follow. Heretics and infidels who shalt mock and ridicule the Pie Pipper shall be cast into a cherry pit.I (vaguely) remember a book by Joe Haldeman where one of the characters says, “With all these infinite moments, the future must get pretty crowded, eh?”That time traveller answered, “You can’t crowd infinity!”
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-16-2001 09:34 AM
We’re going to die.At least while you are here, John, have you visited some of the people’s leader, at Disneyland, “Mickey Mouse”?Who’s the leader of the land, whos made for you and me?M–i–c–k–e–y, M-o-u-s-e,Mickey Mouse, Mickey MouseForever will he lead us to the end.Who’s the leader of the land, whos made for you and me?M–i–c–, k–e–y, M-o-u-s-e.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-16-2001 09:37 AM
Thumbs upMEL: I think what John actually said was that typewriters are in use in the future because it requires no electricity. Makes sense to me. Consider what a waste it is to use a computer (electric) to type a single note that will be simply thrown away after it is read….hmmmAs for the “Pie Pipper”, I am not sure what is meant except perhaps it is really the Pied Piper, a fictional character that led rats out of a European town by use of a flute?RICK: I identify closely with all you stated above.“I keep my hands in intelligence – though no longer professionally. Once you’re a part of that, you never really leave it.”I believe that. I have done skip tracing for an attorney and am glad I developed those skills. Helps me now in searching for truth and reality. I knew a fella who claimed to be retired CIA. One night we had a couple drinks..well I did, he had more than a few.
Anyway, he proceeded to tell me a lot of really intense stuff and some less intense but still interesting as far as discussion.
About a year later some things he talked about were coming to light in media and the net….he had been retired for several years.
What was really sad in his case was that he was obviously an intelligent man, but he was so burnt out mentally and physically, and very aggressive.“At the same time – I believe, apparently like John, that our society, and indeed our government, has taken a turn for the worst. See… we the people, ARE the government. When a society’s morals break down, the government isn’t far behind. We’ve got this “entity” called “government” now, that has grown massively in power, while losing all common sense. The truth is a non-existent entity can’t HAVE common sense. It can only have bureaucratic ‘thoughts'”I agree with that statement as well, but I see a further influence in this. Media attempts to entertain instead of inform and so skews the focus of life in our country. Seems to me that a properly managed info show is entertaining. Hmmm, Art may have some far out people on sometimes, but he does inform > entertain.“a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach has been telling me that something is going to happen, and soon. I’ve felt this for about 5-6 years now. I can not put my finger on it,”For a long time I have interpreted a feeling that I am supposed to DO something (maybe better prepare for eventualities), but as of yet do not know what for sure. I too sense a shift somehow and there is at times a feeling of massive change on the horizon. I have learned to embrace change as good though. I have stagnated in my personal life before and even the downside to change can be welcome for everything seems to balance in the end result.“We see things like Mad Cow disease”Me too. I posted an opinion here on the bbs at Predictions>Terrorist Attack in US. I would like you opinion on this over there if you could be so kind.“John may or may not be “for real”… he has sparked an intelligence, well thought out discussion on the part of each and everyone writing here. We all are going to come away with a heightened sense of our own reality, mortality and perhaps even our own future.”I could not have said it better.“If John has been accurate on even a small portion of his future predictions (which by the way, he has made several, you simply have to carefully read the notes here) then my own thoughts follow along on the civil war, and even nuclear war. MY family will have a fallout shelter within a few months. ”At the least John seems to develop plausible, nay…probable analysis. I have this sometimes annoying habit of catching things based on the way they are phrased and I too caught several cue phrases that suggest predictions. I am not so fortunate as to have a shelter. I live 35 miles from downtown LA in a suburb. I would be atomized in a surprise attack. I plan to abandon the southland for someplce else if imminent attack occurs. I know a place that is likely not targetted for its non usefulness in a strategic strike. I plan to survive. Afterall, that would be a change and tragicaly facinating.Also Rick, in playing catch up in the posts two days ago, I did come across your link, just have to go check it out further.JOHN: That link you provided does indeed show pictures that were not on Doc’s page. Actually its better, Doc’s page has that annoying Comet Mouse thing that stalls my browser. It is interesting to note, for me anyway, that you use “archive” as a task label. I have used that myself over the years, but it is not a common phrase. Is it a label you use because of research?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-16-2001 02:24 PM
((If John’s device is real .it belongs to another world altogether. another GE, therefore it would violate no known copy right laws here.or patent laws here.))(((Any government document can not be copyrighted. I could also argue that the manual “could” be from a future where it has become public domain but then again, it would mean proving I am a time traveler)))John,I like the way the thread is going here.I brought up the patent/copyright ideas because time travel does pose some interesting threats to intellectual property rights. We could argue that the future GE has no problem with the release of intellectual property into the public domain in 2036 and that they have no connection with our timeline. However it could still impact the present GE. It’s an interesting area to explore.How do the two Boards of Directors protect their company(s) and their shareholders? For the doubters, again, let’s “jus’ ‘spose” that the research is ongoing today. It will not be cheap even if underwritten by the government. Shareholders have a right to expect a return on their investment and that includes protecting the company from disclosure of “secret” documents. John has released post-R&D materials. They are details of a working model. But their release is at a time while the R&D is in process. GE would not want potential competitors (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Westinghouse, etc.) to have access to any such material.What, if any, standing does a potential plaintiff have and how do they assert their rights? Where do they assert their rights (in what time and what court of law)?John, I still have my doubts about your machine based on the science – but there’s always the chance that I’m wrong. So, I’m not changing-up on you but posing some questions for you and everyone else to consider. If we view the two worldlines as separate nations that have contact with each other and to some extent affect each other, then the political-legal implications have some validity. How do we resolve these issues as we move forward?BTW – Government documents actually can be and are copyrighted. Here’s one example. The “California Building Standards” portion of the California Code of Regulations (Title 24) is copyrighted. This not only a government document, but it’s also the law of the State of California (go figure).Taken from: http://www.oal.ca.gov“Why is Title 24 (the California Building Standards) not included as part of this CCR Website?Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, known as California Building Standards, contains copyrighted materials under the ownership of several model code publishers and cannot be provided here. The eleven parts of Title 24 that comprise California’s Building Standards are available for review at depository libraries, or for purchase in paper format from the copyright holders…”When private companies are contracted by the government to do research there are contractual agreements between the parties as to which, if any, items discovered, written, produced, etc. are the property of the government and which are the property of the private company
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-16-2001 02:31 PM
I find Rick’s attitude supportable as well. I think the youth are indeed ready to rumble. They are an angry and aggressive group to a large degree. It probably hasn’t helped to watch the love and peace generation turn into the biggest, most hypocritical sell outs of all time.As long as members of the 60’s generation take a yoga class once in a while they feel free to consume and pollute without a backward glance at the ideals they once held. (I am describing a good number of my friends. And, God help me, maybe myself as well)It must look obvious to the kids now that had we paid our ideals more than lip service the United States might be in better shape.It must make them bitter and also instill a good measure of hopelessness. My nephew is in a band that travels internationally and he comments on how the European youth do not have this hostility so present in all of the US cities he plays. So many of us are insulated in our little realities we just don’t feel those currents.One comment on infinite realities. Infinity is something we can’t wrap our brains around. We just don’t know what it means. We dismiss infinite realities as an impossible situation because it is as yet beyond the scope of the human brain. Mathematicians work on it as a “problem to solve”. Mathematically, finite is as impossible as infinite. Go figure!Lola
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-16-2001 03:14 PM
SmileDARBY: Indeed it is interesting you bring up the possible problems of the R&D phase of a project being affected by post R&D documents. One thing you overlooked is that while GE is in direct competition (in some areas)with the other companies you list, I cannot recall a single project that was soley developed by a single contractor in recent time. Even various projects for NASA are Boeing/Lockheed products if I am not mistaken.For Example: The B2 Bomber is a Northrop creation, they are Prime contractor….with sub-contracted systems developed in partnership with Lockhead and Boeing and scads of smaller companies as suppliers to these larger systems.What I am suggesting is that while GE may be the Prime Contractor for the C204, it is unlikely they manufacture the entire unit in house. Certainly most of the research will encompass GE solely, but Lockheed is the only one I can think of that can come close to producing useable products *almost* by themsleves through skunk works. My assertion here as it relates to your question is that even if these docs ‘from’ 2036 are genuine, the impact is unlikely to alter anythink based on copyrighted status, for many companies will have had a hand in the process.Besides, being that this is a separate world line from John’s, the point is moot. At worst the development of the C204 is accellerated. No problem there for me. Also, maybe in John’s world line a man introduced documents in 2001 that enabled the development of TT by 2034…hmmmLOLA: Hypocrisy, that is what you described in relation to many 60’s folk that sold out for the cash. I do not remember the 60’s very well…..I was not alive yet.
Posted by John Titor on 03-16-2001 05:28 PM
((BTW – Government documents actually can be and are copyrighted. Here’s one example. The “California Building Standards” portion of the California Code of Regulations (Title 24) is copyrighted. This not only a government document, but it’s also the law of the State of California (go figure).))My fault. It’s Federal documents.“”Federal documents and publications are not copyrighted, and therefore are considered to be in the Public Domain.””
http://www.benedict.com/basic/public/public.htmCourtesy of your web.
Posted by John Wade on 03-16-2001 08:21 PM
WinkI didn’t have time to read through all of John Titor’s statements. I do find it interesting that a high technology person from the near future who is into the dynamics of moving objects through space and time doesn’t even know the correct date for the Wright Brothers first motor powered heavier than air aircraft flight which is 1903.
He said 1910 which is way off.
Its only the most important date in the history of aviation and flight other than 1969, the date for Neil Armstrong’s touch down on the moon. The 1903 date is in all the encyclopedias and history of aviation books.To get the date wrong, and so totally wrong, to me is absolute proof that this person is a fraud. John
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-16-2001 10:47 PM
I do not know what the 60’s folks sold out of. Since I was around then, you had two choices, either go to Vietnam or go to college.
Take your pick, you had no other.
What I see out of the young generation is more time for the future to take hold since I lived through very turbulent times. I wonder how really mad the young folks would be if they were drafted, or well, go to college. Seems younger people we tried to make the world better for, do not appreciate it.
How about they do something better, before they find out that life doesn’t have to be nice!
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-16-2001 11:02 PM
Exactly, some enlisted because they knew otherwise they would be drafted. Excuse us if we decide to change our minds again and decide that drafting people would solve some problems in this country. Probably not, they are still convinced that the cure is college.
Certainly Norway or Denmark did not, they rescinded their Constitution for a couple of months last year or the year before because of problems I guess, then re-instituted it again. That has not happened in the US yet.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-17-2001 01:07 AM
John, Got up this morning and checked the web sites and where you posted your new pictures yesterday is this message:“Sorry, MSN Web Communities is temporarily unavailable while we update our service.
Our improved site will be up and running again as soon as possible.We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and encourage you to try back later.Thank you! ”hmmm….Is there NO WHERE safe???? hhehehehewhat a coincidence…huh?good news: Doc got his board back up and working…again.[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-17-2001 at 01:16 AM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-17-2001 01:26 AM
John,I just checked the site again because I couldnt beleive it was down. you better check it…some of your pictures are gone and they have a little box with a red X in it……………………just like Doc’s board had.wow…that IS weird.
hmmm….oh well…I am sure it will be fixed soon.
when you click on the pictures that are still there you get this message:“The server is temporarily unavailable. Sorry, the server is maxed out now. Please try again later when the pressure lets up.”Nothing like being there at the right time and right place huh?? heheeh well, got to go…[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-17-2001 at 01:32 AM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-17-2001 01:38 AM
hahahahah…went back again before I logged off and all the pictures are back up again.well…I guess they were just updating their systems.
Posted by Andrew Hubbard on 03-17-2001 03:55 AM
1) How big is your time machine?2) Is it possible that this world line ends at a different time to yours?3) Does the bible code foretell any events that happen between now and 2036?4) Is it possible to have a war between two different world-lines? for instance, mine and yours?5) Couldn’t you be the person single handedly responsible for not saving the man who finds the cure for cancer, or the person who finds out how to filter the sea water of nuclear pollution, by not giving us advice on survival? There has been a lot more people who have done great deeds for mankind than people that have nearly destroyed it.6) How fast is the average connection to the internet in the future? is it all broadband?
Posted by John Titor on 03-17-2001 05:23 AM
((heavier than air aircraft flight which is 1903. He said 1910 which is way off. Its only the most important date in the history of aviation and flight other than 1969, the date))I suppose its impossible to defend every possible combination of what people want to see. I don’t believe I said anything about the date for the first flight. All I did was pick a moment in history.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 11:40 AM
Dear John,Well, it had to have a ‘Dear John’ reply sometime.
Simply putting us in this multiple world-lines ‘theory’ to us is not known. Therefore, I can only relate to how the me in this world-line thinks about this multiple world-lines.
I am the boss of myself here, if anything, then the other mes in other world-lines that act worse than the me in this world-line do not have a chance. They can complain about it all they want, but since I am the boss here of me in this world-line, then I simply imply that I am killing off (those mes are actually killing themselves) those other world-lines where the me is worse, simply the me here will not put up with it.
Then the me here is creating new world-lines where the mes bosses all think that we edge slowly towards a coherent whole before most of the mes ‘goodly-mes’ die, leaving the dead mes in the other morally bad world-lines to not have any choice in the say of it ( and they should now know to repent).
Now, this is about as much sense as this multiple world-lines multiple realities means to me, here in this me world-line, and if no one including me can understand this new theory, than I have achieved my objective, understanding that the me in this world-line is still not sure that all this is happening at any given moment of time. This is the way to the ‘Source’ and all of the world-line mes can fight all we want to, but it will not do all of the infinite mes any good, I guess.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 12:04 PM
I will now try to refine the previous post.
Since in the energy flux of the mes, we are all blinking in and out of existence at the energy level of existence. Since most humans are not aware of this sub, sub, sub-atomic energy level, where we all form into a sorta one energy flux, the infinite mes are always having meetings for a brief energy moment of all mes.
Therefore, information of all of the mes can change world-lines at those moments of blinking in and the blinking out of existence of all the world-lines. This may lead to different part of mes exchanging with the exact same me that left this previous one world-line.
The reason that most of the time this will not occur is because the information is retained by the me in the world-line that briefly left for this microscopic energy meet of all the mes, and usually the same me that left one particular world-line will still usually be the same me that comes back to the same world-line.
This is why we would all try to fight if meeting for the other mes know that this is going on also, and most of the time they cannot interfere with the good mes in the good world-lines and are left to travel back to their other world-lines where they take it out on those world-lines.
Thus all of the mes can never be sure that part of some of the mes just did not happen to change minutely even if just for a moment. This all goes on continually, as a way of interaction of all mes in all world-lines.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 12:16 PM
Oh.Dissertion of RealityIt implies that the Universe and everything in the Universe of all universes in the superverse is nothing more than an form of energy. That the mass you imply that you see is nothing more at the sub, sub, sub, atomic level than energy, given form to appear to make it more appealing to us as a reality. This was discussed in books in the mid 80’s and I doubt if you will find anything about this subject on the Internet. Dealings about reality.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 12:34 PM
Also, since everything everywhere is energy, this has allowed communication between these different energy ‘states’ and has allowed the creation of self ‘consciousness’ or self ‘awareness’ by the constant filtering action of the now energy ‘states’ left to determine how these energy ‘states’ dealt with determining the best way to develop these concepts and all concepts in all dimensions of all time. I guess one could call this the “All”.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 12:47 PM
Now if no one is getting tired of this discussion. I will leave with the final thoughts and you can have all of your own thoughts.
Through the energy ‘states’ all meeting at all times, it is left to these moments of meetings to determine the most appropriate ways of getting to the “All-knowing” God figure we subscribe to. This does not imply that evil does not have its share of these moments, but simply in the end of the “All” if there is an end, then the figure of “God” has already won, and should evil still have its moments than it has been a bad decision on their parts of these energy ‘meetings’ of information.Well, something like that.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 01:00 PM
This implies the “soul” as being a self-healer, that may or may not correct itself, on the journey to the “All-knowing”.This implies that the journey can perhaps be as long and as knowing as it allows itself to be and that we are left with a “Wonderful God” and the “All” is of good design.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 01:24 PM
Not to ‘hog’ this thread, for I am busy, very busy.<b> I do not see the need for bomb shelters. Did I not state that it may do you no good.</b>
The fact that underground water sources, that exist, may be at least be partly shielded from such a blatant exchange of radioactive fallout, including the lead in it and other parts that may have to be filtered out, may leave a source of water, but that would depend on where you set up camp, when the stupidness ends if the radioactive event should happen.I leave you with your own thoughts about this.
Next:Petersen Guide to Wild Berries.Petersen Guide to Mammals on the North American Continent.Petersen Guide to Birds of the North American Continent.etc, etc, the end.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 02:58 PM
Conclusion of the “Perfect Symmetry of All”.As an example:In Einstein’s Equation there are four possible ‘states’ of reality.These four would be:+E = +(MC^2)-E = +(MC^2)+E = -(MC^2)-E = -(MC^2)The two middle results are of an imaginery numbering system.The signs are not minus, but negative.The two middle equations cancel out, forming a “nonexistence”. The other two equations form “existence”.E = MC^2-E = -(MC^2).Both exist.Now we must venture in to the imaginery worlds of existence.I leave you to your own thoughts.As Einstein stated “God does not play dice with the Universe”.To do other, may lead to irrational and implausible ‘states’ for existence, that can not ever be as been defined.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 03:05 PM
Oh, I beg for your pardon with all of this existence.It is all contained in the Chocolate Sandwich Cremes filled cookies or in a slice of Apple Pie or with a scoop of Ice Cream of your choice.This leaves anyone to deal with the anti-dimensions. We all conclude that dealing with anti-dimensions may be a waste of time, for we break down the “set” of mathematics (existence) to suit our own purposals.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 03:16 PM
Oh, I concluded with a new word “proposals”. Its a combination of “purpose” and “proposals”. I just did not know that I did that, but now I do.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 03:54 PM
Therefore, there is “infinite world-lines where morals equal zero” and a “anti infinite world-lines where morals equal zero”, which we do not use in the reality we subscribe to; and the two imaginary existence that does no good or evil to prove.
Therefore, there are more “All of yous” in existence, that can be proved mathematically, for to define “Mathematics”, you have to reduce every equation for its proof to zero equals zero. Equations must pass that test or you have no “Mathematics”. It would be reduced to absurtium.I beg for your pardon with all of the yous in all of existence.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 04:09 PM
Yous are left free, free, free, free, to receive, receive, receive, receive with all of “This”.
You have permission to receive.Yous may put yours “Evil Eyes” along with yours “anti-Evil Eyes” and yours “Imaginary Evil Eyes” along with yours “anti Imaginary Evil Eyes” to all of “This”.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-17-2001 04:21 PM
There is then the possibility of “surround protection” that protects these clumps of energy, although I suppose, that if allowed to break down, that can happen also.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-17-2001 05:28 PM
John,Away the political-legal palaver and back to science for a bit…A few of our posts back in reply to my comment, “A simple E=Mc^2 is not the answer…you need real, not virtual mass” to form the singularity” you said “Not True” or close thereto.You’re still missing it, John, as we talk about singularities, Hawking Radiation and General Relativity.The universe that you described, that is, one where mass is accelerated to light speed and forms a singularity doesn’t exist. If that were so you have some really bad problems:
1. As you accelerated to light speed in your machine you and your machine formed a black hole2. From your perspective as you accelerated to light speed every other object in the universe formed a black hole due to your relative velocitiesOf course neither event occurred. The problem is the comic book view of General Relativity and the definition of mass in E=Mc^2.The word “mass” has two distinct and very different definitions:Mr = relativistic massMo = invariant mass (rest mass)Invariant mass is independent of v velocity.You are stating your singularity forms as a result of Mr = E/c^2…The formula is correct. The statement is not.The definition of rest mass is Mo = sqrt (E^2/c^4 – p^2/c^2)p=momentum! Momentum…motion…kinetic energy! Its not there in E=Mc^2.The comic book view that General Relativity somehow suggests that a if a body is accelerated to light speed that it will form a singularity is based on the formula “2GM/c^2”. That is, if the body is squeezed small enough by acceleration its radius will be smaller than the Schwarzschild radius surrounding it…it falls inside of the event horizon. This comes from very early interpretations of General relativity which ignored momentum and angular momentum…it was a static solution. Einstein himself stated that it applied to kinetic energy – not rest mass. There are many places where this can be verified. American Journal of Physics, 55, 739 (1987) which quotes from a 1907 interview with Dr. Einstein; “Out of My Later Years”, Einstein, Albert (1950), Philosophical Library, NY, Chapter 11 (“E=Mc^2”) note: I’m proud to possess a very nice copy of this tomb.Your science is still very wrong, John. (And the baseball players at Stanford should know better than to suggest that a VW would form in the accelerator – it would be an Audi)
Posted by John Titor on 03-17-2001 06:04 PM
EMMETT:((..where mass is accelerated to light speed and forms a singularity doesn’t exist.))I can’t find where I said that. Could you point that for me?
Posted by Anthony Reed on 03-17-2001 06:37 PM
Hi John,I went to see your pictures, the one is a bit dark. The red light arc. I liked the cutaway view but, will you be posting the picture of the key or legend that goes with the cut away view? Let us know when or if you will, please. thank you.A Reed.
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-17-2001 08:04 PM
John: You didn’t say “..where mass is accelerated to light speed and forms a singularity…” but you did chide Emmitt a few pages back saying “E=MCsquared can be solved for mass too.”[Edited by Bob Marz on 03-17-2001 at 08:07 PM]
Posted by John Titor on 03-17-2001 08:31 PM
((You didn’t say “..where mass is accelerated to light speed and forms a singularity…” but you did chide Emmitt a few pages back saying “E=MCsquared can be solved for mass too.”))
The speed of light squred is a constant number used to represent the variation between energy and mass. It does not imply that acceleration is required to change or represent the other.
Posted by Michael E. Hendrickson on 03-17-2001 08:36 PM
Hey, Cattoir, enough of your “cybernoise”. (How’s that for a neologism?) Get thee to an abattoir!,( metaphorically speaking, of course.) MH[Edited by Michael E. Hendrickson on 03-17-2001 at 08:38 PM]
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-17-2001 11:21 PM
John,The accelleration to light speed is implied in your reference to virtual mass. Virtual particles travel at light speed. I tried to give you an out there but you insisted that the mass was virtual.OK…here goes:John was born sometime between 1954 and 1956. He attended a west coast university, UC Davis, UC Berkeley or Stanford. He has an IQ of about 120 but was never a physical science major. His major was either cultural anthropology or general sociology. He may have dropped out in his senior year but his expected year of graduation was between 1975 and 1977. He took, as an elective, cosmology, introduction to astronomy or both. He did not take any upper division physical science. Neither of his parents graduated from a university but managed to provide a very stable life for him.His understanding of physics is based on 1970’s emerging physics but he didn’t keep abreast of the advances in the field until about six months ago. His new knowledge since that time is based on cursory internet searches so that he can respond to inquiries. He is very intelligent and a deceptively good debater even though his knowledge of physics is limited and a quarter of a century out-of-date.John, I laud your effort to have tried to take on such an onorous task as to debate both the social issues of futurism and the scientific debates of physics. Next time, though, bite off a small slice.[Edited by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-17-2001 at 11:27 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 01:01 AM
Splendid work Emmett .Hey John,Took a look at your pictures of your Supposed “Time Travel Device” on the other message board.And usually I can pick whether it’s outwardly or just an ordinary piece of technology.(Partial Psychic remember )And I couldn’t pick up anything, no hidden impressions, no memories, all I could see was something just put together with no real purpose.Well in a way I did pick up something, maybe just 2 Army soldiers.Purpose unknown??Btw, Where did you steal it from ?Lately I have not had any Time Travel dreams. But visions I have. And non show you as a Time Traveler. Sorry .-J.C.
Posted by John Titor on 03-18-2001 05:57 AM
((The accelleration to light speed is implied in your reference to virtual mass. Virtual particles travel at light speed. I tried to give you an out there but you insisted that the mass was virtual.))The word implied is not a very stable platform to come up with a profile for my parents education but I applaud your attempt.
Well at least we aren’t seeing any more thermal and mass stabs in the dark. Interesting profile but you couldn’t slide me just 10 more points on the I.Q.?
Are you suggesting that in all cases there must be an acceleration component in the conversion of energy to mass or mass to energy?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 07:37 AM
<<<Are you suggesting that in all cases there must be an acceleration component in the conversion of energy to mass or mass to energy? >>>No. Just the present case.The bigger question is why you weren’t aware of the difference between relativistic mass (M sub-r) and invariant mass (M sub-o). You’ve consistently misapplied relativistic mass in situations where invarient mass is to be used. This isn’t new information…its a century old. Its a common mistake among pop-science buffs to misapply the terms. Michio Kaku wrote “Hyperspace” and Steven Hawking wrote “A Brief History of Time”. These were wonderful books so far as pop-science is concerned. They aren’t, nor are they intended to be, the foundation for PhD level physics discussions. You’re understanding of physics is at the level of those two books and I’m assuming that they are heavily drawn upon by you as source material.To continue…John has held several jobs during the past 25 years, but hasn’t held any one for more than about 8 years. He interviews well and has no problem getting hired. He annoys his co-workers and especially his supervisor. He’s a 60’s Northern California child and has a problem with authority. He works best when he works alone. He’s taught before, probably at the Community College level (Palomar Commuity College?) and maybe even at the State College level (SF State?). He still lives in the Bay area.[Edited by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 at 08:11 AM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 08:51 AM
Smileok Darby,heres my profile on John,(guessing on some of course!)hehehJohn is a 38 year old male. who has roughly around the same IQ I do and could probably pass a Mensa exam .He is a kind and caring individual who was chosen to go on a mission based on who he was related to and how easily he could get the person to cooperate.and his skills obtained at his university.He is able to work alone and under great pressure he is very calm. although he has a great sense of responsibility and morals he will defend himself and others when confronted to the point of taking a life if needed. He believes strongly in peoples rights and freedoms and his community.he cant stand lazy people who dont work.he is a good samaritan and will not pass by the wounded man laying on the side of the road. He feels accountable to God for his actions.He has the basic knowledge to operate and control his machine .although he is not a physicist he understands the basics in the way his machine operates and can make minor repairs if needed and he greatly exceeds in the area of mathematics.his favorite food is oranges.and he loves to sail.and read old magazines and books of life before the war.he likes to communicate with other people on the internet and gets joy out of just the communicating experience.sharing ideas and learning of history.and his parents are just as kind and wonderful as he is.-pamela
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-18-2001 09:19 AM
Hey, let me try this too!Re: PamelaPamela is a loyal person (with dark hair) who (while having an overly inflated opinion of Mensa) greatly admires John Titor and has been actively involved or consulting in the Titor memoirs on the ArtBell BBS message board, mainly on the posts concerning social issues.Pamela had a black and white Teddy Bear and though she’s passed through San Rafael many times has never stopped there. She once ate Chinese food in a small town called North Salinas, CA.My name is Bob, I have an IQ of 60, on a good day, and I am a member of Densa. And even I sensed there was a problem on the acceleration/mass singularity issue.[Edited by Bob Marz on 03-18-2001 at 09:23 AM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 09:28 AM
SmileBob-HEHEHEHE you are funny!sincerely,pamelap.s. that chinese food was good too! heheh[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 at 10:22 AM]
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-18-2001 10:46 AM
Emmit —Now, are you arriving at these ‘facts’ through the written word equivalent of phrenology — or have you actually played amateur detective and tracked our storyteller here down?If it is textual-phrenology, I would be interested in knowing what you’ve deduced from my words here.If its amateur detective work, I’m not certain how you are going to get people here to believe you.Lets assume for a moment that all john has said is true or at least accurate to his knowledge.They didn’t send back a physics professor, but a more down to earth type guy whose experience in the field would help with survival. Of course, he mentioned that having family in the right area was a major factor, but — there is a number of good reasons they wouldn’t send their equivalent of Stephen Hawkin back here.If you don’t know how your time machine works, you are pretty much stuck to the game plan — less improvision, less hotwiring, more possibility that the objectives will actually be achieved.I’d be suspicious if John’s concept of the physics involved made much more sense than it does now.Currently, there are two main possibilities from my POV — he is fake and is a gifted story teller (his tale is self-supporting in it incompleteness, a hard thing to achieve on purpose), or he is real and definitely not a top of the line 21st century physicist.Basically, tell us where you got your most recent profile for him — textual-phrenology, amatuer detective work, imagination? Where?[Edited by Randy Empey on 03-18-2001 at 10:53 AM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-18-2001 11:57 AM
If it helps the ‘dogma’ of this forum topic, “they” have found traces of antimatter in this Universe.Even Enstein would know that both views of his equation is real.+ (E) = + (MC^2)and the anti-Universe– (E) = – (MC^2)Both exist.And I might add “just as expected by proven mathematics”.While we’re dicussing life and death, here is something playful:Death be with us and with us all.Ever lurking near or far.Death may be lurking just around the corner.Death, Death, Death.Its a wonder we are still all alive on this Planet, maybe it should read.Live be with us and with us all.Ever lurking near or far.Life may be lurking just around the corner.Life, Life, Life.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 02:34 PM
Hey Pamela, that profile you made for John sounds just like me too . Except I’m not that Old, I am Anti-Time Travel, and I have a high keen sense in picking things up that are flawed, especially when someone claims to be from the future. Other then that, it’s just like looking right in the mirror .
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 04:27 PM
Randy,Its not related to “written phrenology”. Its associated with linguistics and statistical modelling of the use of English words in this case. (And any detective work would definitely not be amateur <wink>Language, written or spoken, is broken down into regional dialects and even temporal dialects. That is, when and where you learned to speak and write a language will determine how you tend to use it (patterns, word frequency, colloquialisms, idioms, “buzz words” etc.) Someone born in the late 1920’s (my parents for instance) speaks the language differently than I…that is: upon very close inspection a distinct difference is seen.You can analyze the written word of a target and make some very reliable guesses about what, when and where they are (were). With a sufficiently large volume of written words you can even determine who the writer is (maybe). One use is to help validate newly discovered historical documents that are associated with an historical figure: is the document a forgery or real?John’s use of the English is very (and I mean VERY) baby-boomer typical. Give that a degree of confidence of 90%+. There is absolutely nothing in his use of the English language that is atypical of someone born in the United States between 1945-1975 (degree of confidence 99%).[Edited by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 at 05:49 PM]
Posted by John Titor on 03-18-2001 05:33 PM
EMMETT:((John’s use of the English is very (and I mean VERY) baby-boomer typical.))I actually worked quite hard on that. It appears the physics questions have come to a hault but at least you’re not insulting about my mother anymore. Thanks.((There is absolutely nothing in his use of the English language that is atypical of someone born in the United States between 1945-1975 (degree of confidence 99%).))Perhaps you could raise your confidence level to 100% by going from 30 to say… 100 years; maybe 1930 – 2030?
The tools you use to have that much faith in my profile must be pretty good. I’m interested in what you compared me with. How exactly does a person born in 1998 who traveled across world-lines from 2036 use the English language?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 06:02 PM
The use of the language isn’t something you can practice so that you can change it. The linguistic synapses were formed by the time you were three years of age – by age 12 they were fully developed (which is why aphasic children over the age of 11 or 12 rarely learn to talk). Much like a polygraph, the analysis would reveal the forced use of the language via inconsistencies. There is no such anomaly in your syntax, frequency, idiomatic usage, etc. Northern California baby-boomer American Standard English with a slight Depression Era southeastern U.S. “accent” from your parents.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-18-2001 06:18 PM
The answer to the question, “How does a person born in 1998 use the language…?” is – who knows? Those persons are three years old today and just learning to speak. What we do know, however, is that during the course of their life they will learn how to talk by age 12…and the common usage of the language will be statistically different than what we use today.Everyone knows this instinctively. We can listen to a movie made in the 1960’s, for instance, and there is no doubt that we are listening to a movie made in the 60’s based on the dialogue. We also have a pretty good chance of figuring out that the script for a recently made 60’s style movie was written in the 90’s – the words seem forced, contrived, unnatural. The untrained person may not be able to put his or her “finger on it”, but they can tell the difference. It’s also possible to quantify the difference.Your new name is John “Boomer” Titor
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 06:21 PM
Well now John, Golly! I would take that there as a compliment.oh nelly!yes siree! by george! You studied that area and I would say you “passed with fly’in colors!” “your as smart as a whip!”oops! excuse me not using terminology from my generation.WHATZZZZ UPPP??? (heheheeheheh)Gee wizz! Im so confused I almost forgot what generation I came from! what letter are we now? “X” “Y” “D”????-pamela
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 06:51 PM
Come now Pamela, I think you shouldn’t take John’s defeats to personal. I mean there is a difference when you defend a friend, and when you stand up for someone because of devotion to a cause. I’m sure John can fight his battles just well on his own.After all, who else here has a cheerleader on the side supporting anyone in particular?No one, just you…So this question is for you John, do you feel like you need to be defended?-J.C.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 07:01 PM
TalkingCome now Javier, I was just having fun with Darby!!But as for my cheerleading….Give me a “J”Give me an “O”Give me a “HN”whats it spell? JOHN!!! GO JOHN GO!heheheheh[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 at 07:21 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 08:30 PM
SmileMy bad Pamela, but I just call’em how I see’em .You know, just like actions speak louder then words.[Edited by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 at 08:34 PM]
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 08:46 PM
Good thing your not an umpire.
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 09:15 PM
John,Darby said:”Your new name is John “Boomer” Titor.”you might have to take this name since he COPYRIGHTED your other name! (snicker..heehehheeh.. I know you are laughing John!)[Edited by Pamela Moore on 03-18-2001 at 09:27 PM]
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-18-2001 09:53 PM
Nah, I’ll give John something to really laugh about .“Johnny has a girlfriend, Johnny has a girlfriend.”I know I’m LOL, heehe-Javier C.
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-18-2001 10:10 PM
Well, hopefully the Russians do not screw up the total eclipse in the year 2017 passing through around the center line by Cleveland, Ohio.In fact, what can you do at the end of March of any year?Well, you can visit your local astronomical society and view all 110 Messier object in the sky at night.Only time during the year around when you can do this.Don’t worry, your eyes will adjust to the dark.Hooray, for the dark.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-19-2001 07:07 AM
Red faceAlthough I can appreciate the study of language and the determination of locality based on that, I would suspect that IF John is from the future, language pattern would have changed and in some ways not progressed too much insofar as patterns. John painted a picture of a world in distress for many years, and indeed our US. Looking back in my studies to WW2, there were many things that changed and progressed, but what did not change was language…..except slang terms.I have not noticed too many slang terms from John, but I have noticed some (real or not) difficultly with certain phrasing. I refer you back to earlier in the thread when questions arose from phrases involving ‘sell out’ type of things. I am not an expert on language, but aspire to be so I am not saying I am correct. I am just guessing that if John is from the future, and less focus is applied to money and greed, as he implied, phrases implying the selling and buying of goods as slang, would be confusing. That remains consistent.I am all for being skeptical, but approaching the language factor is not, to me, proof John is from our time. Conversely, it does not imply he is from the future either. His story actually supports the idea he is from the future when subtleties such as what I mention are look at. Go figure, we are still at the point of maybe-maybe not.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-19-2001 07:29 AM
John Wade: To get the date wrong, and so totally wrong, to me is absolute proof that this person is a fraud. JohnActually John, that doesn’t prove anything except he got the date wrong, and that he is human. Even historians do not remember every single, important date in history.For instance… can you tell me the exact date and time that the Lusitania was sunk? Can you tell me the exact day and time of D-Day? Can you tell me what day Louis Pasteur came up with the “vaccination”?I mean… think about it. You can certainly look those things up if you’re so inclined – and answer them, BUT, do you know them RIGHT NOW, without looking them up?Rick
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-19-2001 07:36 AM
Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire: Darby I liked your take on John’s background. Please do mine now.Rick
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-19-2001 08:12 AM
Red faceI mean, this hole talk iz gettin’ perty intense, dude.Any guesses? Where is that lingo from? Written language is interesting, but if I were to go in the past, I would study the language and customs. Much as one might study language and customs before travelling abroad. Sounds like I am defending John, but I need not do so. Here is the excerpt from Johns post on page 40:>EMMETT:>((John’s use of the English is very (and I mean VERY) >baby-boomer typical.))>I actually worked quite hard on that.John stated he worked on talking our talk. At the least, his story is still plausible and consistent. May I urge people to quote the phrases being used when being critical of them. Page numbers help. I am enjoying the speculation, but linguistics in this case are also subject to interpretation. My interpretation supports Johns assertion he is in florida and a native of there.Peace, Man.
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-19-2001 08:13 AM
Interesting this “language” thing Darby came up with. I’m certain he is correct in his assessment of listening to a movie made in the 1960s, or ’50s. I know that I can personally tell you from the dialect of a movie without having seen the video running approximately which year the movie was made. Of course, there is a degree of inaccuracy in doing so.As far as dialect changes go, I’m sure that from decade to decade there are obvious changes and some not so obvious changes. There are terms I remember from when I was a kid that are used even now. There are things I’ve seen in movies made before I was born, that also are in use, even now.I do not see that this placing someone based on their language is an exact science.John/Pamela – Pictures. I have plenty of web space, and I expect the site to remain online (though is has gone down on and off over the past couple of years due to weird problems). My web site http://survival.anomalies.net and another site I assist in managing http://www.anomalies.net are both available for the video, as well as the pictures. I have the pictures already and will try to get them up on my site tonight – under the heading of “Time Travel”.If and when there is a video made available – I would be happy to convert that into a format (or several formats) for the computer and place it online for download. I would be more than willing to come film it independently myself – if John wishes (besides which, I would love to be there to see it for myself – if only to know for myself that it is real).So – John, you’re welcome to contact me privately and I will personally arrange my own travel, and bring my cameras and video the whole thing – with complete confidence that I will not reveal location, time, date or anything else until after your departure.About Albert Cattior… I’m wondering if Albert himself isn’t a time traveler as well.. and is suffering some sort of time dysphasia or something. <chuckles>Speaking of that – John, if you have time before you go.. are there any known mental disorders that are associated with time travel?Lastly: Someone mentioned (Sorry, can’t remember who now, or where I read it, but it was this forum) something about “shelters won’t be needed”. If I understood the gist of this statement, it was meant in the terms that if a nuclear attack becomes a reality, a shelter will be useless.That can not be further from the truth. I can tell you I am accutely aware of what atomic/thermonuclear weapons are capable of doing – and what they are NOT capable of doing. I also know that depending on the attack and the type of weapon, not only is an attack survivable, placing yourself and your loved ones, as well as a few weeks worth of food in a fallout shelter will protect you from fallout radiation.My web site has survival information on it regarding such things, and believe it or not, it comes from the US Government. So, even they believe nuclear strikes are survivalable. They just do not press that publicly, because 1) they do not want to panic people (because if the government says you should have a shelter, conspiracy theorists suddenly become convinced the government is trying to warn us without warning us, it upsets natives of other nuclear powers into believing WE will start a war – etc). 2) Doing so legitimizes the use of nuclear weapons to everyone, thus making it more of a possibility they will be used without a second thought to doing so. 3) It will raise the price of land throughout the United States. Precived “safe zones” would go up in value – especially with pre-existing shelters. I’m sure there are other reasons I haven’t thought of, but suffice it to say that the government DOES believe nuclear war is survivable. Just not by everyone.I believe it as well. I’m not one of those guys that wants to be around for the blast. With my luck I would get blinded and blown around, but not killed outright, leaving me blinded and crippled and not able to fend for myself, left to die miserably. I’d prefer a fighting chance. Give me a basement, some water and a little food and I will make due. Don’t count the human race off as defeated the minute the nukes start flying. We’ve been around a long time, and will continue to be around for many more centuries.The question is not, can or will the human race survive. The question is how WELL will they survive?Rick[Edited by Rick Donaldson on 03-19-2001 at 08:18 AM]
Posted by Mel Reckling on 03-19-2001 08:32 AM
A total eclipse in Cleveland in 2017? WOW!! Finally something our fair city will be famous for. By the way, we put out our “Flaming River” back in 1969 for those of you who think it is still on fire.We better get busy writing out invitations if we only have 16 years left.
Posted by Bob Marz on 03-19-2001 09:04 AM
Darby, As brilliant as I think you are, I just can’t buy it that your linguistic analysis is all THAT comprehensive and precise. You have no voice inflection, no body language or handwriting patterns to supplement the analysis. Only his printed texts. And I think a smart person, intuitively aware of the more common giveaways, could take care to maintain a neutral linguistic demeanor. I suspect, if you do have a high success rate with your method, it’s because you yourself have psychic abilities (that are being sublimated through your more mundane rationalization). Your leftbrain is doing a wonderful job explaining what your rightbrain is doing. The breadth of your insights suggest, otherwise, an external source of information.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-19-2001 09:07 AM
Rick,You haven’t submitted enough written material to use statistically. Boomer has submitted materials all over the net – thousands and thousands of words. Its not magic or para-psychology. Its simply statistics. Sorry.
Posted by Randy Empey on 03-19-2001 10:20 AM
Question:quote:Basically, tell us where you got your most recent profile for him — textual-phrenology, amatuer detective work, imagination? Where?Answer:quote:Its not related to “written phrenology”. Its associated with linguistics and statistical modelling of the use of English words in this case. (And any detective work would definitely not be amateur <wink>Of course I am leaving out a lot, but I’d like to shine the hypothetical laser pointer at these two things.So … its not phrenology of the written word, and not amatueur detective work, and we are led to think that it is not imagination or non-amatueur detective work.In fact, it is heralded as an off-shoot of modern linguistics and statistical modelling of the usage of English words.If that is not at least simmular to textual-phrenology, I am misunderstanding things.Which is completely possible.But it involves statistics, which I’ve always had a superstitious disbelief in.You have to be very careful to qualify your results. Can you establish a one to one relationship between certain subsets of attributes and certain subsets of people? Not absolutely. But you may be able to come close enough to make your 90% probable guesses — but the amount of work that would really take would be staggering.If you undertook it, then I salute you. But still respectfully choose to view this as only one of many possibilities here, with no special status.The sample sizes involved (that I am aware of) are simply not large enough to lend the confidence levels you are implying.It would take the analysis and comparison of billions of words from millions of reasonably ‘representative’ individuals, and then a relativily large number of words from the target.At least thats my intuition, and I’ve yet to see proof or convincing evidence hinting strongly enough to the contrary.John simply hasn’t written enough words here. Perhaps you’ve dug through his trash and analyzed his snail-mail correspondence . .. making your sample size bigger, and more representative … but would it be big enough?Way too many variables to play with here, even for the mythic strengths of ‘statistics’.Language usage is mutable. Upbringing and other factors of environment have effects. But so do conciouis decisions while composing, the nature of the form of communication, the subject’s emotional state at the moment, the proximity of a thesaurus, etc..At the moment, ‘he’ could be a accidental persona who is the results of thousands of chimpanzees in a labs across the usa, involved in a program that posts the results from their typing on gov. issued typewriters onto the internet, when it seems to make sense. The timing, and appearant ‘on topic’-ness is then just a weird coincidence.That is just as likely as any of the profiles presented so far.Explain why this isn’t phrenology of the written word — or diff. enough from phrenology that we should pay attention to it.Maybe we should devote a thread to such ‘profiling’ … where gurus like yourself analyze all comers ….—–http://www.dictionary.com says:quote:phre·nol·o·gy
Abbr. phren.
The study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal character and mental capacity.—–How many days left here John?If they started a ‘countdown’ would it embarrass you or feed your ego?[Edited by Randy Empey on 03-19-2001 at 10:50 AM]
Posted by Lola Montez on 03-19-2001 11:25 AM
I thought Darby’s observations interesting. Since I read his post I have tuned into a couple of old movies; 40’s or 50’s stuff. The differences can be subtle but they are there. I will now be listening for those linguistic time bubbles whenever I hear conversation or a movie. It is especially fun listening to my nephews in their early twenties. I agree that during crisis those sorts of changes may happen more slowly (with less media input) but I should think John’s phrases and slang would more resemble that of my nephew’s than my own. Also, I don’t understand why it would have been important to study the nuances of the time for John’s particular mission. Certainly, a turn 1900’s era gentleman could carry on a conversation today without being suspected of being a time traveler.This is an interesting and educational way to view John’s claims. Far superior to mindless bashing or searching for stock tips. I bet John enjoys this scrutiny as well. After all, what does he have to loose if we believe him or not. This board is hardly big time exposure.Darby, do you mind saying what you do for a living? It seems your background must be varied to have insight into both linguistics and physics. How about a profile of yourself.Lola[Edited by Lola Montez on 03-19-2001 at 11:30 AM]
‘Darby’:I’m not really saying your linguistic-phrenology, or whatever you call it, has no validity — just that its validity is yet to field-proven to the masses here, or at least myself.Why don’t you share the specifics and your reasoning, as you share the results?Where does your data come from, exactly.What expertise do you draw upon?Is this like Javier’s intuition — which would be perfectly fine, as long as your honest about the source of your knowing, and don’t expect us to believe you implicity with out a good ‘track record’.Or is this some scientific method you’ve troubled yourself to learn — which would also be perfectly fine, as long as you share your work, if you expect to be believed.Question to John:Does this linguistic phrenology type ‘technology’ have a prominent existance (that you know of, of course) in your native time?[Edited by Randy Empey on 03-19-2001 at 11:54 AM]
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-19-2001 01:00 PM
Red faceHere’s a couple of hyperlinks:http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~jpierre/strings/links.htmhttp://www.treasure-troves.com/physics/about.htmlComputer: Security retina scan complete.……..Dr. Carol Markus: Project Genesis … A Proposal to the FederationSpock: Carol MarkusKirk ……YesDr. Carol Markus: Exactly what is Genesis? Put simply, Genesis is life from lifelessness. It is a process whereby molecular structure is reorganized at the subatomic level into life-generating matter of equal mass.……Spock: It literally is Genesis.Kirk: The power of creation!……Bones: Dear Lord, do you think we’re intelligent enough to, suppose, what if this thing was used where life already exist?Spock: It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix.Bones: This new matrix! Do you have any idea what you’re saying?Spock: I was not attempting to evaluate its moral implications, Doctor. As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.Bones: Not any more! Now we can do both at the same time. According to myth, the Earth was created in six days, now watch out, here comes Genesis, we’ll do it for you in six minutes!Spock: Really Doctor McCoy, …you must learn to govern your passions. They will be your undoing. Logic suggests….Bones: Logic?! My God, the man’s talking about Logic, we’re talking about Universal Armageddon! You green blooded, inhuman.Bridge to Admiral Kirk: Admiral, sensors indicate a vessel in our area, closing fast.Kirk: What do you make of her?Bridge: Its one of ours, Admiral, its Reliant!Spock: Reliant?Kirk: Try the emergency channels…….Picture Mr. Sajvek.Kahn: Slow to one half impulse power, lets be friends.Movie: 1982, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
Posted by Rick Donaldson on 03-19-2001 01:26 PM
What’d that have to do with anything? Unless you were talking about the moral implications of time travel.Linquistic phrenology.. I think it is a crock.Tell you what my friend, since I haven’t written enough here, please, feel free to use my web site as your model. There are literally gigabytes of my writing there. Articles, news, views, op-ed… even a biography. But, it doesn’t tell all. I suggest though, you not read the bio if you have any propriety regarding this so-called ability to predict where people have been in their lives using their words as a guide.
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-19-2001 01:43 PM
Lola,Some very brief notes on my background would contain reference to a degree in Experimental Psychology (including psycholinguistics and neuro-physiology). Psycholinguistics is the study of the psychology of speech – phonetics (This is Noam Chomsky’s work). Professionally the notes would include work in the intelligence community including de-briefing.Phrenology, the work of the German scholar Franz Joseph Gall (very early 19th Century), is a word that has too many negative connotations that have little to do with Herbert Spencer’s work in evolutionary biology. It dredges up pictures of Gestapo “scientists” seeking out Jews based on skull and facial knots, ridges and shapes or 19th Century English detectives “identifying” criminals by similar methods.
Posted by Phil Fiord on 03-19-2001 01:51 PM
Thumbs upJohn is a White male of 38 years who may or may not be a time traveller. He shows a well worked knowledge of Time based technology. He claims to not be a scientist, and understands how his machine is supposed to work.By his own claim, he has more documentation, but chooses not to share it. This makes sense to me, for if I were a TT, I would not give out more than I chose to. In fact, here on the bbs, we each can simply give just the details of what we want others to know. In subtle ways John has given predictions and even 1 date that I came across. This does not validate Johns status, but in the coming days to years we all shall see.In a nutshell, methods such as linguistic phrenology may have some credit, but no evidence of how that ‘science’ was utilized in the ‘john model’ has been given. That leads itself to be just as known as Johns real status as a TT or not.I suggest that those with the gutteral umph to do it, go back. Read ALL of Johns statements. Put them together. Analyze what was written. Not for Regional specificity, but for the small details that were scattered about. If not read carefully, one might miss things stated.Bash me if you like, but I am at a point were I sincerely HOPE John is a TT. None of us can say yeah or nay really as a point of fact, and if at this point John said, ” Oh, btw, I am just a fella from Little Rock Arkansas “, can that really be absolved as true? Not really.Fun Ain’t It?
Posted by Albert Cattoir on 03-19-2001 02:09 PM
Spock: Admiral, scanning an energy source on Reliant, a pattern I’ve never seen before.Kirk’s Son, David: Its the Genesis Wave.Kirk: What?David: They’re on a build up to detonation.Kirk: How soon?David: We encoded four minutes.Kirk: We’ll beam aboard and stop it.David: You can’t.Kirk: Scotty, I need warp speed in three minutes or we’re all dead!Uhara: No response, Admiral!Kirk: Scotty, ….. Mr. Zulu, get up out of here, best possible speed.……..Bones: Are you out of your Vulcan mind! No human can tolerate the radiation that’s in there!Spock: As you are so fond of observing, I am not human.Bones: You’re not going in there!Spock: Perhaps, you’re right. What is Mr. Scott’s condition? …… I’m sorry, Doctor, I have no time to discuss this logically! ……..Remember!Movie: Star Trek II, The Wrath of Kahn
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-19-2001 05:45 PM
Anyone notice how quiet John has become in the recent days? It happened just around the time Darby was commenting on his use of his supposed 2036 language .Just call’em how I see’em.John you’ve done this Machiavellian routine so much, it’s predictable now. Whenever anyone comments on anything you don’t know how to answer or that might expose you, you go quiet and answer back in a few days. And make the excuse of being busy archiving, when you do fine an answer to it.If that doesn’t spell fraud and opportunistic traits, then a lot of people are blind and can’t obverse the obvious.-Javier C.
Posted by Anthony Reed on 03-19-2001 06:06 PM
Javier,John said he would be leaving in the spring, that officially is only 2 days away. If you were packing to go somewhere (time travel or not) you have to get things ready don’t you?And you are on the internet, there is no such thing as obvious.Reed
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-19-2001 06:34 PM
Are you new here Anthony?John said on March 10th, that he would be leaving in 30 days. That would make it about April 10th or 11th.I will be leaving at around the same time, and may return in about a month or so hehe.
Posted by Kevin Spooner on 03-19-2001 06:44 PM
ArrowAnd now we know why the christ-force had to return three days after bodily death. Maybe, just maybe he came back to his apostles not owing to some predestined miracle, but because he was getting such a heavenly headache…And perhaps thereafter said to them “Listen here you sqaubling bunch of know-it-alls, you-too Judas! Stop infighting amongst each other about who’s right, who’s wrong, what your instinct or intellect is telling you, just get out there. You’ve got all you need now to get on with the job.”Or maybe the christ force said, Hey! Is not cool dude. Watzup da matter? Gotta cold ur sumtink? Getcha out mun! Catch ya de later!Who, and I mean, WHO really really cares.More the point, if I was JT the TT person, I would be thinking What the H*LL – I’ve tried but right now I just don’t care. Off to catch my broomstick and that’s all that matters right now.Later (dude. hehe).
Posted by Pamela Moore on 03-19-2001 06:56 PM
Javier,Did John really say that?((John said on March 10th, that he would be leaving in 30 days. That would make it about April 10th or 11th.)))Hey! that is MY vacation week too! we could like all have a big party or something down there!!! heheheh
Posted by Tom Young on 03-19-2001 08:41 PM
QuestionLast week I was looking at the images that JT had uploaded onto MSN and noticed a simple typo in the operations manual page showing a diagram of the Tipler sinusoid field produced by his device where in the diagram, item 10 (Negative Time Event Horizon) had been transposed as item 11 in the diagram, though the item value was printed correctly in the legend. I didn’t think anything of it until I looked at the same page as found on Ricks site and saw that the typo was gone from the page. I’m not trying to play pixel person or anything, but unexplained edits to the images that have been posted do lead me to wonder what other changes are being made. (Then again, a time machine might just turn out to be a copywriters best friend!)
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-19-2001 09:55 PM
Bob,Really – its a lot more mundane than that (psychic ability). The profile is truly based on what Boomer has written and posted. Its statistics, analysis and interpretation.Voice stress, handwriting analysis, non-verbal communication (body language) isn’t part of this. Those criteria are generally used for truth testing. I don’t have any interest in directly challenging Boomer’s veracity. He and I are having fun with a battle of wits. Cat-and-mouse rhetoric as it were.I’m getting ready for the next round…Major Boomer,What was the elapsed time (indicated on your machine’s internal chronometer) for the trip back to 1975?
Posted by Emmett “Darby” Darbyshire on 03-19-2001 10:47 PM
Tom,Good catch. We’ll make you a questioned documents tech yet.Look even closer. Upper left hand corner legend: you can still see the faint cut-and-paste edge outlined on the paper (not computer cut-and-paste, literal scissors and glue cut-and-paste) and a finger smudge where the ink ran onto the paper when the pasted section was smoothed. Same-same for the center title – which is also warped.Take a close look at the technical drawing. Look especially at the left and right end perspectives. Not the same – very poor quality CAD for a billion dollar project.
Posted by Javier Cortez on 03-19-2001 11:03 PM
Hey Pamela, where’s your buddy Johnny? Can’t he come out and play?Darby is calling for him too . You go Darby.It’s not me this time John, so you’re going to have to try a whole new approach. With that said, I am sure we are to expect something new from you in about a day or so .See you real soon ,Javier C.P.S. Sure, where should we all take our vacation? Me, you, and John “I wanna be a Time Traveler someday” Titor, wanna go off to?Oh and John btw, I suggest you leave that piece of junk you made in your garage at home, cause I’ll break it if I see it . Have a nice day.
Final Comments
I went through and edited for readability and for content. I have to tell you all, the sniping and picking on the John Titor character soon grew old. It made me just want to give up and toss all this away.
I really don’t know if John Titor is real or not. However, what I do know is this…
Vehicles and people enter and leave our reality all the time.
The only (admitted) report of one such traveler (that I am aware of, at this time) is this John Titor character.
I am unfamiliar with his technology.
Though I can follow and understand the theory behind it.
He is also the only one who seemingly understands the true nature of reality in the MWI.
This information, as tiresome as it is, is placed her for others to peruse and study.
Sixth of multiple Posts
This post is the sixth of a series of posts related to John Titor. The other posts are;
Conclusion
Our reality is not what we think it is. I am not the only person who has disclosed that there are others, and other organizations that can enter and leave our reality at will. Another person who made this claim went by the name John Titor.
Only where as, I claim to be part of MAJestic and was employed as part of human sentience management, John Titor claimed to be a person who was part of another world-line. Together, we both claim that the MWI is real, and we utilize it to perform dimensional egress for our own purposes.
I claim that it is a tool that is used to manage human sentience evolution.
John Titor claims that he utilized the time variable to conduct acquisition activities in the past.
He claimed that on that world-line, the United States was fundamentally different after a rapid series of events in the late 1990’s. He claimed that he needed to perform some acquisition of certain technical devices through the use of the time-variance option in dimensional travel.
This is a multi-part post.
Take Aways
John Titor claimed to be a time traveler.
He utilized dimensional travel to move in and out of the baseline reality.
As such, he visited our world-line to acquire some technology needed on his world-line.
That technology was produced in “our” past. Thus the idea that it involved “time travel”.
MAJestic Related Posts – Training
These are posts and articles that revolve around how I was recruited for MAJestic and my training. Also discussed is the nature of secret programs. I really do not know why the organization was kept so secret. It really wasn’t because of any kind of military concern, and the technologies were way too involved for any kind of information transfer. The only conclusion that I can come to is that we were obligated to maintain secrecy at the behalf of our extraterrestrial benefactors.
MAJestic Related Posts – Our Universe
These particular posts are concerned about the universe that we are all part of. Being entangled as I was, and involved in the crazy things that I was, I was given some insight. This insight wasn’t anything super special. Rather it offered me perception along with advantage. Here, I try to impart some of that knowledge through discussion.
Enjoy.
MAJestic Related Posts – World-Line Travel
These posts are related to “reality slides”. Other more common terms are “world-line travel”, or the MWI. What people fail to grasp is that when a person has the ability to slide into a different reality (pass into a different world-line), they are able to “touch” Heaven to some extent. Here are posts that cover this topic.
John Titor Related Posts
Another person, collectively known by the identity of “John Titor” claimed to utilize world-line (MWI egress) travel to collect artifacts from the past. He is an interesting subject to discuss. Here we have multiple posts in this regard.
This is a walk down “memory lane” as I relate what it was like growing up as a young boy in the early 1970’s. I was in my early teenage years. I went to school, watched a lot of television, and played with my friends. Enjoy…
Introduction
As strange as it seems, there is very little on the internet about what it was like growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It’s almost as if it was scrubbed from existence. In it’s place we now have the Obama narrative of a racist nation and terrible injustices. That narrative has nothing to do with reality. It is a scripted lie intended to manipulate people into believing something that just isn’t true.
Here, in my own little way, I would like to relate some stories of what it was like for me growing up as a kid. For “shits and giggles” I have chosen the year of 1971. It was the last year that I had as a kid before I had to go out and work at 14 in the coal mines.
This narrative takes place in Western Pennsylvania. We lived in a small town about a two hour drive from Pittsburgh. It was a hilly and tree shaded world, with railroad spur lines that snaked in and out of the hills and crossed over viaducts and into tunnels. I well knew those lines as I would often walk along them with my friends on hikes and adventures.
The Allegheny mountains are very beautiful. I miss the beauty of them in the fall, and the joys of canoeing on the river and fishing in the streams.
Visiting my Aunties
Many weekends my parents would drive into Pittsburgh to visit my relatives. Both were from Pittsburgh, though from different areas. We would take turns visiting the families. In the morning we would visit my father’s family, and in the afternoon we would visit my mother’s family.
A evening scene from Polish Hill. Polish Hill is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is a community that was founded by Polish immigrants that went to Pittsburgh to find work in the Steel Mills there.
Often times, there would be other relatives that would come and say hi. I would see my grandparent’s brothers and sisters, my great aunts and uncles, if you will. And I might be persuaded to go with them to their homes. For some reason, the homes always smelled like bacon and cabbage.
There was always a pot of coffee on the stove. If it was cold they would either reheat it or make a fresh pot. The coffee pot was a percolator design. The water would start to boil and would be forced up through a metal straw into a container that held coffee grounds. You could control how strong the coffee was by the amount of ground in the upper container and how long your brewed the coffee. There was this glass bubble on the top of the coffee pot that you could watch to tell if the coffee was ready or not.
This is a very common way of making coffee in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Every family seemingly had a percolator. This particular picture is very similar to the one that we used at home.
They would almost invariably offer me a cup of coffee and a bowl of what ever is cooking on the stove. There was something always cooking. Sometimes it was spaghetti sauce, sometimes it was chili. Sometimes it was “pigs in a blanket” (pork wrapped up in cabbage). Sometimes it was chicken soup. I could always eat my fill when I visited my aunties.
Of course, every single relative had this painting of “the last supper” on the wall in the kitchen / dining room.
During my childhood every family had a painting of the Last Supper on their wall. My relatives all had it hanging in the kitchen, but many of my friends had it in the living rooms or the dining room instead.
Everyone also pretty much listened to the same radio station as well. Each kitchen had this little plastic radio (of vintage electronic tubes) that was perpetually tuned to the AM radio station KDKA. Popular Music would often be heard while we were visiting.
Pop Songs
While I was pretty much listening to Jefro Tull, Traffic and other rock groups, my relatives and classmates enjoyed the popular music of the time. In 1971 we were listening to the following. Notable songs are highlighted in BOLD.
Three Dog Night
Joy To The World
Rod Stewart
Maggie May / (Find A) Reason To Believe
Carole King
It’s Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move
Osmonds
One Bad Apple
Bee Gees
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Raiders
Indian Reservation
Donny Osmond
Go Away Little Girl
John Denver
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Temptations
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
Dawn
Knock Three Times
Janis Joplin
Me And Bobby McGee
Al Green
Tired Of Being Alone
Honey Cone
Want Ads
Undisputed Truth
Smiling Faces Sometimes
Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose
Treat Her Like A Lady
Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar
James Taylor
You’ve Got A Friend
Jean Knight
Mr. Big Stuff
Lee Michaels
Do You Know What I Mean
Joan Baez
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Marvin Gaye
What’s Going On
Paul and Linda McCartney
Tom Jones
Bill Withers
Ain’t No Sunshine
Five Man Electrical Band
Signs
Tom Jones
She’s A Lady
Free Movement
I Found Someone Of My Own
Murray Head and The Trinidad Singers
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jerry Reed
Amos Moses
Grass Roots
Temptation Eyes
Carpenters
Superstar
George Harrison
My Sweet Lord / Isn’t It A Pity
Donny Osmond
Sweet And Innocent
Ocean
Put Your Hand In The Hand
Daddy Dewdrop
Chick-A-Boom (Don’t Ya Jes’ Love It)
Carpenters
For All We Know
Gordon Lightfoot
If You Could Read My Mind
Sammi Smith
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Carpenters
Rainy Days And Mondays
Cher
Gypsy, Tramps And Thieves
Jackson 5
Never Can Say Goodbye
Lynn Anderson
Rose Garden
Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
Don’t Pull Your Love
Ringo Starr
It Don’t Come Easy
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Mr. Bojangles
Fuzz
I Love You For All Seasons
Dramatics
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
Carly Simon
That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be
Stevie Wonder
If You Really Love Me
Aretha Franklin
Spanish Harlem
Helen Reddy
I Don’t Know How To Love Him
Osmonds
Yo-yo
Aretha Franklin
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Partridge Family
Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted
Tommy James
Draggin’ The Line
Ike and Tina Turner
Proud Mary
Chicago
Beginnings / Color My World
Bells
Stay Awhile
Stampeders
Sweet City Woman
Lobo
Me And You And A Dog Named Boo
Paul McCartney
Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why
Bread
If
Marvin Gaye
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Brewer and Shipley
One Toke Over The Line
8th Day
She’s Not Just Another Woman
Freda Payne
Bring The Boys Home
Rare Earth
I Just Want To Celebrate
Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
Never Ending Song Of Love
Freddy Hart
Easy Loving
Three Dog Night
Liar
Honey Cone
Stick-up
Mac and Katie Kissoon
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
Andy Williams
Love Story (Where Do I Begin)
Cat Stevens
Wild World
Jerry Reed
When You’re Hot, You’re Hot
Beginning Of The End
Funky Nassau
Olivia Newton-John
If Not For You
King Floyd
Groove Me
Bobby Goldsboro
Watching Scotty Grow
Matthews’ Southern Comfort
Woodstock
Judy Collins
Amazing Grace
Dave Edmunds
I Hear You Knocking
Bee Gees
Lonely Days
Fortunes
Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again
Who
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Denise Lasalle
Trapped By A Thing Called Love
Jackson 5
Mama’s Pearl
Buoys
Timothy
Partridge Family
I Woke Up In Love This Morning
Isaac Hayes
Theme From “Shaft”
Gladys Knight and The Pips
If I Were Your Woman
Neil Diamond
I Am..I Said
Paul Stookey
Wedding Song (There Is Love)
Wilson Pickett
Don’t Knock My Love, Pt. 1
Doors
Love Her Madly
Richie Havens
Here Comes The Sun
Wadsworth Mansion
Sweet Mary
Brenda and The Tabulations
Right On The Tip Of My Tongue
Fifth Dimension
One Less Bell To Answer
Doors
Riders On The Storm
Perry Como
It’s Impossible
The song “Maggie May” was played to death, and radio stations in central Indiana were still playing that song long into the 1990’s. Ugh!
Donny Osmond was terribly popular with my sister and all of her girl friends at the time. Her bedroom was covered in pictures of Donny, and she had her class room textbooks covered in “lunch paper” covers decorated with Donny Osmond related praises.
I first heard “The night they drove ol’ Dixie down” when I was riding with my dad in our car. He was involved in technical sales at the time. I would wait in the car and listen to the radio while reading the “Last Whole Earth Catalog“.
The Last Whole Earth Catalog was a cultural landmark in the 1970’s. Kevin Kelly, who was editor-in-chief at Whole Earth was looking at an old Whole Earth Catalog came to the realization that it was a 1970s version of a blog.
Tom Jones was very popular with my mother and the mothers of my friends. He had a kind of sex appeal that really appealed to them.
Jesus Christ Superstarhit my generation hard. I cannot express how big an impact this movie made at my church and at my school. It seemed like every family had the album. I went and saw the play and it was really moving.
I saw Jerry Reed sing “Amos Moses” on “Laugh In” or “Sonny and Cher” I don’t remember which. Both were shows that hosted a mixture of singing, dancing and comedy routines that were quite popular in the day.
The song “Gypsy, Tramps And Thieves” was a big hit by Cher. Most people have forgotten about her today. You hear some blurb on the news every now and then, but she was a big thing back in the day. She was super popular.
The song “Don’t Pull Your Love” was very popular and got a substantial amount of airtime. You probably couldn’t get by a day without hearing that song at least once. Other heavily air-played songs included “Mr. Bojangles“.
Everyone in my school watched the Partridge Family . This was a television show about a family that toured schools all over the country and sang at them. Well, they also had a number of hits, as well as a had a following of fans.
How can one talk about the 1960’s and 1970’s without mentioning the television show The Partridge Family?
The idea and concept of freedom to explore, of adventure and travel was very popular. The ideals of the 1960’s were fading away, and the 1970’s was a time where people wanted to just go forth and explore the world. The song “Me And You And A Dog Named Boo” was representative of this dream.
If there is one iconic song from that year (heck, for that decade), it is “One Toke Over The Line“. Everyone was listening to it, and everyone related to it. Even my mother who would make the “sigh” and gesture while saying “I guess I’m just one toke over the line…”.
This song “Never Ending Song Of Love” has fallen into obscurity. Yet it reflected the reality of the small town bars and the culture of friendship and love that was indicative of the era.
The song “Riders On The Storm” continued to be popular with me and my classmates long into our college years.
Barbershop
Next to my Father’s parents house was a barbershop. The shop was run by an old man, probably in his 90’s. He lived upstairs above the shop. The barbershop itself was a museum and probably hadn’t changed since the 1940’s.
A barbershop was a place and refuge for men to be men. We could talk about things that interested us , we could talk about sports, girls and life. All barbershops were smoker-friendly places where men could be themselves, free of political correctness and progressive rules.
My father would take me to the barber there and I would get a haircut. I really didn’t want to go because at that time, long hair was fashionable. I would go there and then pout the rest of the day. But, I’ll tell you what, those trips to the barbershop were some of the best memories that I have.
The barbershop was a “men’s only” establishment. On the tables were magazines about hunting, guns and adventure. On the walls were pictures of deer and ducks. There was a full length mirror on the wall that faced two very huge and ornate barber chairs. The barber wore an apron and wore his hair in a style that probably went obsolete in the 1950’s.
When we went to the barbershop we would read the men’s adventure magazines that would lie there, as well as the Playboy magazines that would be interspersed with the newspapers and the standing ashtrays.
The chairs were big and comfortable. He would often have friends hang out while he worked. They would sit there smoking cigarettes and watching him cut hair. A small radio would be on and often it would be tuned to a baseball or football game.
The place had it’s own kind of unique smell to it. It was a cross between aftershave and and old house. The barber lived alone as his wife passed on a decade earlier. He just ran the shop until he died. After he passed on, the place was boarded up and then demolished.
Hiking in the Woods
At that time in my life I spent a lot of time hiking in the woods. I would often ride my bike all over town and up and down the back roads and railroad spur lines. In the Spring the air would be fresh with the smells of lush forest canopy. In the Fall, it would be a time of warm “Indian Summers” with red and yellow leaves that would blow in the light breezes.
I lived in a small town in Pennsylvania. The hills all around us were wooded and access to them was via back roads and rail lines. As a boy, I would spend a lot of time walking on these tracks and exploring the world around me.
I rode a gold Schwinn “banana seat” bike with “high bars” and a “drag strip” (non-tread) rear tire. Every one of my friends owned a bicycle. My sister had one with a white plastic basket in the front. My bike had these long streamers of plastic that plugged into the handles. I eventually tore those things off. But I would put a card (from a deck of cards) and attach it to the bicycle with a wooden clothes pin. That way my bicycle would make some “cool” sounds when I rode fast. It had a huge red circular red reflector on the back, right under the white “banana seat”. Like the GTO I would later drive when I was in High School, the bicycle was an orange color.
We would all ride bicycles when we grew up. Which is different than kids today. Instead, today their parents drive them from event to event, instead of expecting them to get there on their own. A 1970s childhood. (Image Source)
My bike was a personal selection. When my father took me to a store to pick it out, I chose a really simple and rugged model. There were no front or rear brakes on the handlebars. To brake, you would just use the pedals. There also weren’t any gears. There was one gear only. It came with a rear view mirror, that soon broke off, and that was about it. My friends all had more complicated bicycles, and over the years, they were perpetually repairing their bikes and trying to fix them. For me, I never had that problem.
Television Shows
At that time the only television channels that we could watch were CBS, NBC, and ABC. We also had “channel 13” which was a government channel. All of our news, and our entertainment came from these three sources. Since we never had the kind of selection that we have today, we didn’t find anything wrong with it. It was normal for us.
Here is the complete television selection for Friday night viewing in 1971. It is pretty sparse isn’t it. This is where all American got their news and found out about the world around them.
As sparse as the selection was, we were perpetually glued to the television set. There was usually a movie a night. They were often a few years old, after being shown in the movie theaters. If the movie wasn’t shown in the theaters it would be called a “World Premiere Movie”.
Television was rather primitive.
While we did have a color television, we still needed to walk across the room to change the channel. Imagine that! Remote controls were not available until the mid-1970’s. On top of it were “rabbit ears” until we were able to subscribe to cable in the late 1970’s. My grandmother had her “rabbit ears” with aluminum foil wrapped around it. She said that it improved her reception. Maybe it did. I don’t know, her reception really sucked, so it must have been really, really terrible.
I would watch the news reluctantly. For me it was pretty boring.
However, I did follow the news about space. You couldn’t miss it. Everyone was talking about space, and the moon. That is all you heard about as a child of the 1960’s. The television shows also helped to maintain this theme.
As the news that played on the radio concerned our exploration of space and the Vietnam War. Of course I didn’t know what was going on. It was a takeover of the United States government by dark forces embedded deep inside the United States government. When JFK was shot, my father insisted that I watch the television. He kept telling me that this was the most important thing to happen to the United States since the Civil War. He was a lifelong Democrat and he had real concerns that there was more to the story than what the government was saying. Later, after he died and President Trump released the transcripts, it turned out that my father was right after all.
The “Deep State” murdered our President.
“This fucker, johnson should be dug up and pissed on, and torn apart. Every modern ill can be traced to him.”
-sowhat1929
On Sunday we watched Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom”, and “The FBI” (Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr) after the Walt Disney hour. If I wasn’t watching television, I was building plastic scale models, or experimenting on my Gilbert chemistry (and electrical) sets.
The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set to the marketplace. A chemistry set is an educational toy allowing the user (typically a teenager) to perform simple chemistry experiments.During the Bill Clinton presidency (D) all sales of chemistry, electronics, and mechanical kits were put under investigation as possible routes for “home grown” terroristic activities, and were subsequently suppressed, if not outright banned. Over the Bush years (R), they resurfaced and eked out a small living. However, by 2017 most hobby kit suppliers went out of business. Ramsey electronics, Heithkit electronics RIP.
At that time in my life, I like the rest of my classmates, watched shows like the Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch. These shows were about “us”. It was how we interacted with each other, and our families and our communities. This all began to change when the television media decided to change their programming towards minorities in urban areas. Television began a slow phase away from white families living in suburbia and began to concentrate on poor urban minorities.
The Brady Bunch. The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family with six children. Considered one of the last of the old-style family sitcoms, the series aired for five seasons and, after its cancellation in 1974, went into syndication in September 1975. While the series was never a critical or ratings success during its original run, it has since become a popular staple in syndication, especially among children and teenaged viewers.
“The "rural purge" of American television networks (in particular CBS) was a series of cancellations in the early 1970s of still-popular rural-themed shows with demographically skewed audiences, the majority of which occurred at the end of the 1970–71 television season. In addition to rural themed shows, the purge also eliminated several high rating variety shows that had been on CBS since their beginning of television broadcasting. One of the earliest efforts at channel drift, CBS in particular saw a dramatic change in direction with the shift, moving away from shows with rural themes and toward ones with supposedly more appeal to urban audiences.”-Wikipedia
The shows we watched were funnier than what you see on television today. And, maybe, just maybe a little more innocent. “The Bob Newhart Show” was typical. The humor involved day to day situations and NEVER mentioned race (compare that to today), and had a real twisted surrealistic sense of humor. Consider “Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman”, or “Green Acres”. You can find out more here.
Iconic characters from the Bob Newhart show that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Hi! I am Larry, and this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl. (Image Source.)
Ah, you’ve got to hear about the three yokel brothers in the (very surrealistic) 80’s “The Bob Newhart show”. I loved these guys. They might have been the highlight of the show. Heck, they could have had their own show (hint. Hint.)
“…discovering that a witch is buried in the basement of their Vermont inn. They want to find out who she was, but they also want her 300-year-old grave dug up and removed.
The silly-from-next-door tells him he knows some guys who`ll do anything for a buck.Next thing, three goofy-looking, backwoods brothers from the genetically weak side of Vermont show up. “Oh, Lord!” says Bob, getting a whiff. Larry--the only brother who ever talks--hands Bob their card.“We`ll do anything for a buck,” it says.”- Larry, Darryl And Darryl Are `Newhart` Hits
They were quite good hearted, and obviously lived a strange, strange life. Afterall, clubbed weasel was their idea of good eatin’. Larry’s totally deadpan delivery of some very bizarre lines was always a highlight of any Newhart episode. “We went to the bakery ’cause they were advertising ‘bear claws’, but it turned out to just be a come-on.”
Ah. Good times. Good times.
Movies and television portrayed westerns (with “white men” taming the wilderness), war adventures (mostly involving world war II fighting the evil Nazi army), space exploration (such as Lost in Space, Star Trek, Fireball XL-5, Thunderbirds are Go and Land of the Giants), and Spy Adventures (against the Soviet Union or against fictional organizations such as T.H.R.U.S.H.).
Scale Models
One of my favorite hobbies was the building of plastic models. These were often of ships, airplanes and military hardware. I made a few models of cars, but my favorites were of military tanks and figurines.
I had a desk in my bedroom. It was an old desk inherited from my father with four drawers. I used a fold-up “card table” chair to sit at it with. On it was a 1940’s style desk lamp that my parents must have pulled out of the garbage at some time. I had books on the desk, a “multiband” radio where I could listen to FM radio, and a pencil holder made out of a decorated metal coffee cup tin.
At that desk, I would assemble, build and paint my models. It was an enjoyable pursuit. The desk faced the window in the bedroom, and I would often have the windows open, but the shade drawn down about half way. The shades were in the old 1960’s style and were meant to last. They had this kind of “life preserver” style ring hanging on a string that you could pull down to raise or lower the shade.
I needed the fresh air, as the odor from the glue was toxic and would tend to get me all flustered when I used it. I remember once, that my sister was watching her television show and they were really pushing the Rigley Chewing Gum-gum-gum… Rigley chewing gum-gum-gum commercial. It must have been running every ten minutes. I was about going out of my mind with the combination of the toxic glue odor and the subliminal programming of the chewing gum. Ugh!
I would build the models and paint them. Then, I would carefully hang them from the ceiling. My room was filled with models of various sizes and shapes.
The airplanes I would hang from the ceiling with string. I would display my collection of tanks and military equipment on shelves alongside my collection of centuries-old bottles. (I was an avoid junk collector and was always on the lookout for discarded bottles that I would collect from ancient trash dumps in the nearby forests.)
I collected Tamiya 1/35 scale military hardware models. I had quite a collection of German vehicles and tanks. At that time, the Japanese model maker Tamiya made the best quality models. They had an innovative introduction process that added new model to the collection every few months.
This is a model of the German Tiger I tank. I had numerous models of this massive beast in various scales. I even had one so complete that the interior was all detailed.
Alas, when I graduated from university I discovered that my mother had thrown away all of my models. She didn’t want all the clutter in the house. I guess one person’s treasure is another person’s trash.
Science Fiction
I started reading Science Fiction avidly. With one of the first books being the “Mad Scientist Club”.
The Mad Scientist Club is a series of stories (and books) written in the 1960’s which fueled the imagination and adventures of us children in the 1970’s. (The son of the author has a website. You can visit the website HERE.) These stories inspired me. They inspired my dreams and led me down the path towards technical excellence.
The cover from the first book of “The Mad Scientists Club”. This is a classic book for all young children entering their early teens.
The boys in the stories used science to create all sorts of pandemonium and mayhem in their little town. They applied themselves to using science to make devices and gadgets. They played pranks. The books showed how a boy could engineer a device from techniques that they learned in school. They made balloons, talked on ham radios, devised electronics, and they did it all on their very own.
The beauty about all this was that they never asked for help or permission. They took the initiative and did it on their own. They applied themselves.
Indeed, these stories are special. But, don’t take it from me. Read what others have to say.
“This is the best kids book ever.… In a way it saddens me when I re-read it. I don't think our kids today have as much freedom as these did (or my generation). I remember staying out until dark, riding my bike EVERYWHERE, clubhouses on vacant lots...Or maybe it's responsibility. Kids today have freedom but little responsibility. I'm getting off my soapbox now. but this is a cool book and it will make your kids fall in love with science. I imagine the Mythbusters grew up like this- or maybe their dads did!! ”-Holly commentary on the book. Found at Goodreads.
I am afraid that Holly is correct. American children (and adults) don’t have as much freedom as we all used to. (It’s our fault, you know.) These books are for kids and inspires them to accomplish things through study and action. These books are not about getting a group together and finding a group consensus. It’s not about how to cautiously speak so as not to offend anyone. Nope. It is about getting things done and raising hell in the process.
It’s books like these that inspired many of us to study science and engineering. It certainly affected me. It also affected others. I am not the only one who studied about rockets and space…
“This was simply a great childhood book for any inquisitive kid who likes science, haunted houses, dinosaurs, flying machines, etc. I read this book in about seventh or eighth grade and actually a couple of times since. I believe this book helped me on my career to being a rocket scientist but it also gave me many ideas as I was growing up.Brinley managed to capture the perfect mid-west US town and the guys in the book were great caricatures of fun loving, science minded boys with a bit of good natured mischief up their sleeves. Then Brinley took this setting and boys and produced a series of wonderful stories capturing so many things that so many boys growing up find so intriguing.I bought a copy recently for a nephew and he was enraptured by it. The follow-ups while good never really reached the level of this first book but were fun in their own right. It will always hold a special memory of growing up back in the '60s.”-Robert commentary on the book. Found at Goodreads.
He’s right you know. The stories certainly inspired me.
I like to think that there is inspiration in stories where you find adventure, freedom and independence. These are things that are absolutely missing in the modern realm of politically correct stories. Which, by the way, is a very important point. By following a “Politically Correct” narrative, you retard the growthof young boys. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood, you turn men into pussies.
“We live in more of a pussy generation now, where everybody's become used to saying, "Well, how do we handle it psychologically?" In those days, you just punched the bully back and duked it out. Even if the guy was older and could push you around, at least you were respected for fighting back, and you'd be left alone from then on.”-Clint Eastwood
A parent has a responsibly to PREPARE their children to venture out and grow. They need to go forth and carve a life out of the wilderness. But that is not what is happening today. Instead we have children that never leave the nest. Young men, in the United States, live at home until they are in their 30’s. Instead of investing their time in building, workings, making, and creating, they are too busy looking at cat videos on the Internet while they post their latest latté on Facebook. Boys must be taught to aspire to be Men, not to be a woman’s version of a sensitive man.
Pussies.
No amount of tattoos, unique hair or beard, or cool urban clothing style is going to make you into a Man. It comes from within. Education alone won’t do it. Money and wealth won’t do it. Polite conversation won’t do it. It comes from inside. It comes from deep down inside. It comes from a place that says “you can, and must do what you need to do”. You don’t ask for permission, or consensus. You go out and carve your life out. Alone.
By clutching on to your children like over protective mothers, the children don’t grow up. Physically they might age, but the brain and the emotions are still that of a young child. How else can you explain the SWJ mentality that demands a protective overseer? Which is what they want, you know. They demand to be coddled and taken care of by a big parental government Bernie Sanders style. Because, that is all that they know. They don’t know how to be independent. We don’t teach that anymore.
These books break us out of that mold…
“A gem. Almost unknown; but one of the most hilarious and memorable laugh-out-loud books you could ask for. It's never mentioned by anyone; it's never recommended, placed on book lists or chosen by reading-groups. This just might be because it's a series of books, which represents a 'philosophy-of-parenting’, which has fallen out of favor. That's my suspicion, anyway.I mean, just think about it. These stories are about kids who are unmonitored; who are allowed to just go off on summer afternoons and hang out on their own; and do whatever they want.... because they are trusted by their folks. Today, this is the last thing parents want to hear. No one in today's control-freak, micro-managing America wants to imagine that children can be trusted like this.Books for very young children ('Little Prince' or 'Giving Tree') are in abundance on Goodreads. They're sweet and harmless. There's also a new genre called 'YA' ('young adult'). But guess what? They're all very sanitary, careful, cautious, and timid. Antiseptic. Content-supervised and Content-controlled. They always instruct youngsters on the 'correct' thing to do, the 'sensitive' thing to do, the 'courteous' thing to do...blah blah blah.'Mad Scientists' is different. Instead of caution, the author praises problem-solving, solidarity, daring, and initiative. It's a book written for kids illustrating how NOT to follow the rules. It’s a book, which shows that rules are made to be flouted.These stories are from a time when today's endless complexities and anxieties just weren't around. It’s a book that deals with kids just... having fun. I say, there need to be a LOT MORE books like this.The gang of boys in Brinley's tales are pre-teens; somewhere between 11 and 14. This is a strange interval in a boy's matriculation, when they need to figure out a lot of things about life (and it’s also a time when adults have the least relevant advice to offer). This is the space Brinley plays in: the theme of personal responsibility.Teens NEED to create a few genuine catastrophes in order to learn the weight of 'cause' vs 'effect'. 'Intention' vs 'outcome'. 'Actions' vs 'harm'. They need to learn the ins-and-outs of friendship and loyalty and paying-one's-dues.The 'Mad Scientists Club' (this is the name carved on their clubhouse door) demonstrate these themes grandly. These young scamps are precisely in that age where you learn how to make a mess and how you clean it up afterwards. By yourself!The crazy scenarios which afflict these affable 'troublemakers' reminds us--should remind everyone-- that this process can be fun. Making mistakes and learning from them. The best way --nay, the ONLY way--to shape character.Far cry from today, huh? Yeah. Today, we don't let kids have 'secret clubs', 'hideouts', codewords, or 'mysterious friends'. We don't let them play with equipment or tools. They must not 'wreck' anything of ours. They're certainly not allowed to 'gallivant all over creation' (love that phrase).Modern parents are rule-mongers and control freaks. When our kids want to play, we take them to 'Sesame Place' and we monitor their nutrition and we deck them in flashing sneakers and put them in helmets and on leashes. We place them in soccer, swim class, softball, karate, dance, gymnastics.The result? Modern kids have no idea what real 'freedom' means. We never give it to them. They turn out to be vegetables.But Brinley's kids show the other way it can be done. This boy's club makes their own fun. They don't 'ask for permission' to do stuff--they just do it! They embrace wildness, zaniness, and unpredictability. The outcome? Well, they aren't brought up on charges from the Department of Homeland Security, for the trouble they cause. That's for sure. This is a part of small town-Americana we've let slip away.Just one example: in one of the adventures undertaken by the Mad Scientists, they build their own hot-air balloon (using scraps from a local junkyard) and they enter it in the town's annual homemade hot-air balloon race. With no adult supervision at all. Once aloft, (!!) they engaged in an air-battle with their arch-foes and fire potato-cannons and slingshots back'n'forth in mid-air. Finally, they manage to send the enemy gang's balloon into the lake! Can you stand it? I can't friggin' stand it, can you?This book reminds us that children used to be perfectly capable of taking care of themselves if we let them...if we weren't all scared out of our wits by molesters and semi-automatic weapons and drugs and porn and stalkers and computers, we'd still remember the kind of America found in this hilarious read. It's to our shame that we can't.”-Feliks commentary on the book. Found at Goodreads.
Let me simply posit this; to all those men (not to intentionally exclude women, but I am a man addressing myself to other men) who have made something of their life. Maybe you are a barber, a motorcycle mechanic, a car salesman, or a cook, isn’t it true? To make it in this world, you need to stretch your neck out. You need to take risks, bend the rules a little. You need to apply yourself.
The cover to the book “The New Adventures of the Mad Scientist Club”. This is the sequel to the first book. It is also good, though personally, I really prefer the first book overall.
Those times when life got tough, did you go and get permission? Did you go and ask for consensus? Did you politely ask for others opinions, or did you just go out and do whatever it took to achieve your goals? Was it easy? Nope, I’ll wager that it was hard, or at least uncomfortable. You might have to make sacrifices. Right? Right???
Part of the need to accomplish these tasks were goals. These goals were like this golden orb that lay there, just out of reach that you needed to obtain. You would work towards those goals. You would keep those goals in mind while you fought and persevered. A goal might be a car. A goal might be the love of your life.
A man is nothing without a goal.
A goal might be something more honorable and important, like saving the world. As everyone can’t be an evil villain like George Soros. Or, a wealthy trillionaire like Bill Gates. Someone needs to wear the mask of a hero…
The Idols
My bedroom was decorated as any boy of my my age would have. It was festooned with models and collections of brick-a-bract and posters on the wall. I had a poster of Farah Faucett on my wall. She was smiling with this amazing smile, and her huge hair. We all had a crush on her. That as well as Loni Anderson and Rachael Welch . Look at her!
How can you not smile?
Farah Faucett was every 1970s boy’s dream. Just about everyone had a poster of her on our wall or doors in our bedrooms. Farah Faucett was every boys’ dream. (Image Source.)
I had numerous posters on my wall. One was the mandatory “black light” poster on velvet. (It glowed under UV light.) One was a picture of Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) performing a guitar solo. (I had super imposed a F-14 on it for combined imagery. After all, space and high-performance aircraft and rock n’ roll was my dream.) One was a Roger Dean poster (anyone remember the group “Yes”?).
Raquel Welch was another popular actress that graced the bedrooms of many a boy during the 1960s and 1970s. (Image Source.)
I became a fan of Loni Anderson in her role in the television sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”. I think many of my friends did as well. We loved her and watching her on the show was always a highlight. That and the clueless manager who ran the office.
Loni Anderson played the role of the attractive secretary in the American sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”.
Telephones
There were no cell phones; indeed most phones hung on the wall, and fully 50% of them had dials instead of push buttons. Our home had two phones. One was an old Bakelite black phone from the 1920’s hidden away in the basement. I loved the feeling of it. There was a weight to it that you just couldn’t get during the 1970’s. We also had a “main” phone in the kitchen. It had an extra-long cord. My sister was always “hogging it up”. So one year they bought her a phone for her room. She still spent most of her time on the phone, it’s just that she wasn’t talking in the kitchen all day.
Sunday mornings were very much the same during the 1960s and 1970s. This included the children in PJ’s, the coffee, and the pets. Sunday mornings were stereotypical.(Image Source.)
In the house we wore “house clothes” also known as PJ’s, with a robe. Mother would make sure that there was always a pot of coffee brewing, and us kids would always fight over who would get to read the comics section of the paper first. Of course, our dogs and cats merrily participated in the morning ritual. Picture above is not the ideal, it was the actual.
Global Cooling and the “Green Movement”
We were terrified of the global cooling. Thousands of experts were constantly informing us of the up coming global ice age that would turn Florida into a Siberian wasteland.
In our schools we would go on field trips to clean up the environment. We would go on “collection drives” to collect money for our environment, and we ended up with absolute bushels of money. (Don’t know where it all went, though…) We attended classes on the environment and school rallies to lecture us on the up-coming global cooling that would soon turn the world into a snow cone.
We were terrified!
Every cold day was a sign that the world was plunging into another great ice age. Magazines, the media, and the news all had stories about the coming cold period and the need to raise taxes to save our environment. Experts were paraded on television to teach us the need to raise taxes, and fund more research.
Here’s a selection of some covers from Time Magazine during the 1970’s. The big concern was about “global cooling” and ho that taxes had to be increased to fund studies so as to stop it.
The “Love Canal” fiasco acted as a terrible “kick start” to the “environmental movement”. Americans began to wake up that we had been really abusing our environment. As such, immediate action had to be taken. And thus the government took action in the only way that it knew how…
It set up the EPA, and…
Raised taxes.
Which was the entire purpose of the decade long propaganda push; To [1] increase the size and scope of the government, and [2] to raise more taxes to go to Washington D.C..
“What’s it mean, anyway? Do 97% of #Scientists agree that the climate is changing? Actually, everyone agrees with that – that the Earth’s climate changes over time is why we had an ice age. Well, we had an ice age a long time ago. We did not have one after the #Science people promised an ice age in the 1970s. But shhhh! We’re not supposed to mention that.
Want to know what the proposed solution for the ’70s ice age that never arrived was? Give the liberal elite more money and power. Overpopulation was another big crisis in the ’70s too. It never arrived either. The solution to that was to give the liberal elite more money and power. And when they were warning us about acid rain destroying us in the ’80s? The solution to that crisis was also to give the liberal elite more money and power. The ozone hole? Yep, more of our money and power to the liberal elite. Back in the 1990s, the Al Gores of the world were warning us that we had just 10 years left to save the Earth unless … wait for it … we gave the liberal elite more money and power.
Sense some themes?
Each of these crises all had two things in common. Thing One was that none of these doomsdays ever produced the promised doom. Thing Two was that each was a demand to give the liberal elite more money and power.”
One of the things that I have come to appreciate the most was the family meal that we had when I was growing up as a child. During my early childhood we would hold formal “sit down” meals in the Dining Room. Us children each had our own roles / chores in regards to this. On Sunday we would have the largest and most elaborate meals. Mealtime was the opportunity when we could all talk about our day, our hopes and dreams, and things that interested us.
At the time, I didn’t realize how important it was.
Then, during the 1970’s everything changed. Both of my parents had to work. (You can thank the American Federal Reserve for the decline in the value of the dollar that necessitated the breakup of our families.) A formal family meal was replaced with “help yourself” fix your own meals, out of a pot on the stove, or “make yourself a snack” out of the refrigerator. We would then scrounge something up, and eat it alone watching television.
Communication was via notes on the refrigerator.
Now that I am much older, I can see clearly the value of a family meal as well as a community meal. As such, I now dictatorially enforce an observance of this tradition within my own home.
Fishing with my Father
I will conclude with this little narrative of my experiences in 1971 talking about my father. He used to spend the time and take me and my siblings out to the river to fish. He had a couple of rods and a tackle box that he inherited from his (favorite) uncle. Using it, he taught me how to fish, and how to gut and clean the fish.
While it is a great memory of mine, the best part, and the part that remember most clearly is how he would drive out to the lake or stream, and we would then troop down to the area to fish. He was always on the lookout for isolated and secluded areas to fish in. He yearned for the “perfect spot”. One with deep water and plenty of overhanging limbs and trees that fish can hide in.
Oh, I would go fishing with my friends. They had an assortment of remote cabins, canoes and secret places that always provided us a great deal of pleasure. But, it was the times with my father that mattered the most to me. My friends were always up to something.
I once had a friend who placed plastic sheeting on his garage floor and dumped a dump truck full of soil on it. He, at age 13, had constructed a worm farm, and he somehow had this crazy idea that he would get “filthy rich” selling worms to the local bait and tackle shops. He did actually manage to sell some. I think he might have made $5 or so. Eventually, he gave up the idea and paid some one to haul the dirt away. His dream of instant millions went bust.
I never became an expert at fishing. I was, I guess you could say, an enthusiastic hobbyist. For me, the time with my father fishing were some of the best moments of my life, and moments that I will treasure until I too, will die.
Conclusion
This was just a little narrative that I wrote about what it was like for me in 1971. It’s a far cry from the United States today. The USA today saddens me. Every time I read the news, I get either depressed or angered. There’s not really too much that I can do about the slide into open civil strife that America is plunging towards, all that I can do is take care of myself and think good thoughts.
This includes what it was like growing up as a boy.
Take Aways
Global Cooling was a sham designed to trick Americans into permitting a larger government and giving away more of their money.
There were only four television channels that we American had access to in the early 1970’s.
The family meal is the most important part of having a family. It is important to nurture and cultivate relationships.
Television shows used to focus on American culture instead of bastardized urban minority culture.
My favorite memories of my father was when we were fishing together.
This is how we rolled. We were allowed to experience life in all it’s ugly and beautiful glory. Life is about living.
Posted On Free Republic
This article was posted on Free Republic in the chat section and collected a number of interesting comments. Many of which, I really do need to write about. Particularly what it was like for my sisters at that time, the cars that we drove, and the cultural things going on in society at that time. You can read the comments HERE.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
There are often things that inspire us. This is most especially true when you are young and looking for direction. In my case, I was greatly influenced by the books that I read. My favorites were short-length science fiction “pulps”. These were often paperback books that I could shove in the rear pocket of my bluejeans. I would read them, and often reread them. The authors of these stories varied, but my favorites included Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinlein.
Here is one such story.
This story illustrates that sometimes, it take one person to take a necessary action. Often that person doesn’t want the role. However, there is no one else who can do it. So that person, out of necessity, must become the hero. He must do the difficult and uncomfortable job because he is the only one who is available.
This story holds special meaning to me.
Introduction
This story was written appeared in the December 1949 American Legion Magazine by Robert Heinlein, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law.
“The Long Watch” is a science fiction short story by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. It is about a military officer who faces a coup d’état by a would-be dictator.
John McClane: Do you know what you get for being a hero? Nothin'. You get shot at. Pat on the back, blah blah blah. 'Attaboy.' You get divorced... Your wife can't remember your last name, kids don't want to talk to you... You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me kid, nobody wants to be that guy. (I do this) because there is nobody else to do it right now. Believe me if there was somebody else to do it, I would let them do it. There's not, so (I'm) doing it. That's what makes you that guy."
Enjoy.
The Long Watch
Nine ships blasted off from Moon Base. Once in space, eight of them formed a globe around the smallest. They held this formation all the way to Earth. "The small ship displayed the insignia of an admiral-yet there was no living thing of any sort in her. She was not even a passenger ship, but a drone, a robot ship intended for radioactive cargo. This trip she carried nothing but a lead coffin and a Geiger counter that was never quiet." —from the editorial After Ten Years, film 38, 17 June 2009, Archives of the N. Y. Times
I
JOHNNY DAHLQUIST blew smoke at the Geiger counter. He grinned wryly and tried it again. His whole body was radioactive by now. Even his breath, the smoke from his cigarette, could make the Geiger counter scream.
How long had he been here? Time doesn’t mean much on the Moon. Two days? Three? A week? He let his mind run back: the last clearly marked time in his mind was when the Executive Officer had sent for him, right after breakfast—
“Lieutenant Dahlquist, reporting to the Executive Officer.”
Colonel Towers looked up. “Ah, John Ezra. Sit down, Johnny. Cigarette?”
Johnny sat down, mystified but flattered. He admired Colonel Towers, for his brilliance, his ability to dominate, and for his battle record. Johnny had no battle record; he had been commissioned on completing his doctor’s degree in nuclear physics and was now junior bomb officer of Moon Base.
The Colonel wanted to talk politics; Johnny was puzzled.
Finally Towers had come to the point; it was not safe (so he said) to leave control of the world in political hands; power must be held by a scientifically selected group. In short—the Patrol.
Johnny was startled rather than shocked. As an abstract idea, Towers’ notion sounded plausible. The League of Nations had folded up; what would keep the United Nations from breaking up, too, and thus lead to another World War. “And you know how bad such a war would be, Johnny.”
Johnny agreed. Towers said he was glad that Johnny got the point. The senior bomb officer could handle the work, but it was better to have both specialists.
Johnny sat up with a jerk. “You are going to do something about it?” He had thought the Exec was just talking.
Towers smiled. “We’re not politicians; we don’t just talk. We act.”
Johnny whistled. “When does this start?”
Towers flipped a switch. Johnny was startled to hear his own voice, then identified the recorded conversation as having taken place in the junior officers’ messroom. A political argument he remembered, which he had walked out on . . . a good thing, too! But being spied on annoyed him.
Towers switched it off. “We have acted,” he said. “We know who is safe and who isn’t. Take Kelly—” He waved at the loud-speaker. “Kelly is politically unreliable. You noticed he wasn’t at breakfast?”
“Huh? I thought he was on watch.”
“Kelly’s watch-standing days are over. Oh, relax; he isn’t hurt.”
Johnny thought this over. “Which list am I on?” he asked. “Safe or unsafe?”
“Your name has a question mark after it. But I have said all along that you could be depended on.” He grinned engagingly. “You won’t make a liar of me, Johnny?”
Dahlquist didn’t answer; Towers said sharply, “Come now—what do you think of it? Speak up.”
“Well, if you ask me, you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. While it’s true that Moon Base controls the Earth, Moon Base itself is a sitting duck for a ship. One bomb—blooie!”
Towers picked up a message form and handed it over; it read: I HAVE YOUR CLEAN LAUNDRY—ZACK. “That means every bomb in the Trygve Lie has been put out of commission. I have reports from every ship we need worry about.” He stood up. “Think it over and see me after lunch. Major Morgan needs your help right away to change control frequencies on the bombs.”
“The control frequencies?”
“Naturally. We don’t want the bombs jammed before they reach their targets.”
“What? You said the idea was to prevent war.”
Towers brushed it aside. “There won’t be a war—just a psy-chological demonstration, an unimportant town or two. A little bloodletting to save an all-out war. Simple arithmetic.”
He put a hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “You aren’t squeamish, or you wouldn’t be a bomb officer. Think of it as a surgical operation. And think of your family.”
Johnny Dahlquist had been thinking of his family. “Please, sir, I want to see the Commanding Officer.”
Towers frowned. “The Commodore is not available. As you know, I speak for him. See me again—after lunch.”
The Commodore was decidedly not available; the Commodore was dead. But Johnny did not know that.
* * *
Dahlquist walked back to the messroom, bought cigarettes, sat down and had a smoke. He got up, crushed out the butt, and headed for the Base’s west airlock. There he got into his space suit and went to the lockmaster. “Open her up, Smitty.”
The marine looked surprised. “Can’t let anyone out on the surface without word from Colonel Towers, sir. Hadn’t you heard?”
“Oh, yes! Give me your order book.” Dahlquist took it, wrote a pass for himself, and signed it “by direction of Colonel Towers.” He added, “Better call the Executive Officer and check it.”
The lockmaster read it and stuck the book in his pocket. “Oh, no, Lieutenant. Your word’s good.”
“Hate to disturb the Executive Officer, eh? Don’t blame you.” He stepped in, closed the inner door, and waited for the air to be sucked out.
Out on the Moon’s surface he blinked at the light and hurried to the track-rocket terminus; a car was waiting. He squeezed in, pulled down the hood, and punched the starting button. The rocket car flung itself at the hills, dived through and came out on a plain studded with projectile rockets, like candles on a cake. Quickly it dived into a second tunnel through more hills. There was a stomach-wrenching deceleration and the car stopped at the underground atom-bomb armory.
As Dahlquist climbed out he switched on his walkie-talkie. The space-suited guard at the entrance came to port-arms. Dahlquist said, “Morning, Lopez,” and walked by him to the airlock. He pulled it open.
The guard motioned him back. “Hey! Nobody goes in without the Executive Officer’s say-so.” He shifted his gun, fumbled in his pouch and got out a paper. “Read it, Lieutenant.”
Dahlquist waved it away. “I drafted that order myself. You read it; you’ve misinterpreted it.”
“I don’t see how, Lieutenant.”
Dahlquist snatched the paper, glanced at it, then pointed to a line. “See? ‘—except persons specifically designated by the Executive Officer.’ That’s the bomb officers, Major Morgan and me.”
The guard looked worried. Dahlquist said, “Damn it, look up ‘specifically designated’—it’s under ‘Bomb Room, Security, Procedure for,’ in your standing orders. Don’t tell me you left them in the barracks!”
“Oh, no, sir! I’ve got ’em.” The guard reached into his pouch. Dahlquist gave him. back the sheet; the guard took it, hesitated, then leaned his weapon against his hip, shifted the paper to his left hand, and dug into his pouch with his right.
Dahlquist grabbed the gun, shoved it between the guard’s legs, and jerked. He threw the weapon away and ducked into the airlock. As he slammed the door he saw the guard struggling to his feet and reaching for his side arm. He dogged the outer door shut and felt a tingle in his fingers as a slug struck the door.
He flung himself at the inner door, jerked the spill lever, rushed back to the outer door and hung his weight on the handle. At once he could feel it stir. The guard was lifting up; the lieutenant was pulling down, with only his low Moon weight to anchor him. Slowly the handle raised before his eyes.
Air from the bomb room rushed into the lock through the spill valve. Dahlquist felt his space suit settle on his body as the pressure in the lock began to equal the pressure in the suit. He quit straining and let the guard raise the handle. It did not matter; thirteen tons of air pressure now held the door closed.
He latched open the inner door to the bomb room, so that it could not swing shut. As long as it was open, the airlock could not operate; no one could enter.
Before him in the room, one for each projectile rocket, were the atom bombs, spaced in rows far enough apart to defeat any faint possibility of spontaneous chain reaction. They were the deadliest things in the known universe, but they were his babies. He had placed himself between them and anyone who would misuse them.
But, now that he was here, he had no plan to use his temporary advantage.
The speaker on the wall sputtered into life. “Hey! Lieutenant! What goes on here? You gone crazy?” Dahlquist did not answer. Let Lopez stay confused—it would take him that much longer to make up his mind what to do. And Johnny Dahlquist needed as many minutes as he could squeeze. Lopez went on protesting. Finally he shut up.
Johnny had followed a blind urge not to let the bombs—his bombs!—be used for “demonstrations on unimportant towns.” But what to do next? Well, Towers couldn’t get through the lock. Johnny would sit tight until hell froze over.
Don’t kid yourself, John Ezra! Towers could get in. Some high explosive against the outer door—then the air would whoosh out, our boy Johnny would drown in blood from his burst lungs—and the bombs would be sitting there, unhurt. They were built to stand the jump from Moon to Earth; vacuum would not hurt them at all.
He decided to stay in his space suit; explosive decompression didn’t appeal to him. Come to think about it, death from old age was his choice.
Or they could drill a hole, let out the air, and open the door without wrecking the lock. Or Towers might even have a new airlock built outside the old. Not likely, Johnny thought; a coup d’etat depended on speed. Towers was almost sure to take the quickest way—blasting. And Lopez was probably calling the Base right now. Fifteen minutes for Towers to suit up and get here, maybe a short dicker—then whoosh! the party is over.
Fifteen minutes?
In fifteen minutes the bombs might fall back into the hands of the conspirators; in fifteen minutes he must make the bombs unusable.
An atom bomb is just two or more pieces of fissionable metal, such as plutonium. Separated, they are no more explosive than a pound of butter; slapped together, they explode. The complications lie in the gadgets and circuits and gun used to slap them together in the exact way and at the exact time and place required. .
These circuits, the bomb’s “brain,” are easily destroyed—but the bomb itself is hard to destroy because of its very simplicity. Johnny decided to smash the “brains”—and quickly!
The only tools at hand were simple ones used in handling the bombs. Aside from a Geiger counter, the speaker on the walkie-talkie circuit, a television rig to the base, and the bombs themselves, the room was bare. A bomb to be worked on was taken elsewhere—not through fear of explosion, but to reduce radiation exposure for personnel. The radioactive material in a bomb is buried in a “tamper”—in these bombs, gold. Gold stops alpha, beta, and much of the deadly gamma radiation but not neutrons.
The slippery, poisonous neutrons which plutonium gives off had to escape, or a chain reaction—explosion!—would result. The room was bathed in an invisible, almost undetectable rain of neutrons. The place was unhealthy; regulations called for staying in it as short a time as possible.
The Geiger counter clicked off the “background” radiation, cosmic rays, the trace of radioactivity in the Moon’s crust, and secondary radioactivity set up all through the room by neutrons. Free neutrons have the nasty trait of infecting what they strike, making it radioactive, whether it be concrete wall or human body. In time the room would have to be abandoned.
Dahlquist twisted a knob on the Geiger counter; the instrument stopped clicking. He had used a suppressor circuit to cut out noise of “background” radiation at the level then present. It reminded him uncomfortably of the danger of staying here. He took out the radiation exposure film all radiation personnel carry; it was a direct-response type and had been fresh when he arrived. The most sensitive end was faintly darkened already. Half way down the film a red line crossed it. Theoretically, if the wearer was exposed to enough radioactivity in a week to darken the film to that line, he was, as Johnny reminded himself, a “dead duck.”
Off came the cumbersome space suit; what he needed was speed. Do the job and surrender—better to be a prisoner than to linger in a place as “hot” as this.
He grabbed a ball hammer from the tool rack and got busy, pausing only to switch off the television pick-up. The first bomb bothered him. He started to smash the cover plate of the “brain,” then stopped, filled with reluctance. All his life he had prized fine apparatus.
He nerved himself and swung; glass tinkled, metal creaked. His mood changed; he began to feel a shameful pleasure in destruction. He pushed on with enthusiasm, swinging, smashing, destroying!
So intent was he that he did not at first hear his name called.
“Dahlquist! Answer me! Are you there?”
He wiped sweat and looked at the TV screen. Towers’ perturbed features stared out.
Johnny was shocked to find that he had wrecked only six bombs. Was he going to be caught before he could finish? Oh, no! He had to finish. Stall, son, stall! “Yes, Colonel? You called me?”
“I certainly did! What’s the meaning of this?” “I’m sorry, Colonel.”
Towers’ expression relaxed a little. “Turn on your pick-up, Johnny, I can’t see you. What was that noise?”
“The pick-up is on,” Johnny lied. “It must be out of order. That noise—uh, to tell the truth, Colonel, I was fixing things so that nobody could get in here.”
Towers hesitated, then said firmly, “I’m going to assume that you are sick and send you to the Medical Officer. But I want you to come out of there, right away. That’s an order, Johnny.”
Johnny answered slowly. “I can’t just yet, Colonel. I came here to make up my mind and I haven’t quite made it up. You said to see you after lunch.”
“I meant you to stay in your quarters.”
“Yes, sir. But I thought I ought to stand watch on the bombs, in case I decided you were wrong.”
“It’s not for you to decide, Johnny. I’m your superior officer.
You are sworn to obey me.”
“Yes, sir.” This was wasting time; the old fox might have a squad on the way now. “But I swore to keep the peace, too. Could you come out here and talk it over with me? I don’t want to do the wrong thing.”
Towers smiled. “A good idea, Johnny. You wait there. I’m sure you’ll see the light.” He switched off.
“There,” said Johnny. “I hope you’re convinced that I’m a half-wit—you slimy mistake!” He picked up the hammer, ready to use the minutes gained.
He stopped almost at once; it dawned on him that wrecking the “brains” was not enough. There were no spare “brains,” but there was a well-stocked electronics shop. Morgan could jury-rig control circuits for bombs. Why, he could himself—not a neat job, but one that would work. Damnation! He would have to wreck the bombs themselves—and in the next ten minutes.
But a bomb was solid chunks of metal, encased in a heavy tamper, all tied in with a big steel gun. It couldn’t be done—not in ten minutes.
Damn!
Of course, there was one way. He knew the control circuits; he also knew how to beat them. Take this bomb: if he took out the safety bar, unhooked the proximity circuit, shorted the delay circuit, and cut in the arming circuit by hand—then unscrewed that and reached in there, he could, with just a long, stiff wire, set the bomb off.
Blowing the other bombs and the valley itself to Kingdom Come.
Also Johnny Dahlquist. That was the rub.
All this time he was doing what he had thought out, up to the step of actually setting off the bomb. Ready to go, the bomb seemed to threaten, as if crouching to spring. He stood up, sweating.
He wondered if he had the courage. He did not want to funk—and hoped that he would. He dug into his jacket and took out a picture of Edith and the baby. “Honeychile,” he said, “if I get out of this, I’ll never even try to beat a red light.” He kissed the picture and put it back. There was nothing to do but wait.
What was keeping Towers? Johnny wanted to make sure that Towers was in blast range. What a joke on the jerk! Me—sitting here, ready to throw the switch on him. The idea tickled him; it led to a better: why blow himself up—alive?
There was another way to rig it—a “dead man” control. Jigger up some way so that the last step, the one that set off the bomb, would not happen as long as he kept his hand on a switch or a lever or something. Then, if they blew open the door, or shot him, or anything—up goes the balloon!
Better still, if he could hold them off with the threat of it, sooner or later help would come—Johnny was sure that most of the Patrol was not in this stinking conspiracy—and then: Johnny comes marching home! What a reunion! He’d resign and get a teaching job; he’d stood his watch.
All the while, he was working. Electrical? No, too little time. Make it a simple mechanical linkage. He had it doped out but had hardly begun to build it when the loudspeaker called him. “Johnny?”
“That you, Colonel?” His hands kept busy.
“Let me in.”
“Well, now, Colonel, that wasn’t in the agreement.” Where in blue blazes was something to use as a long lever?
“I’ll come in alone, Johnny, I give you my word. We’ll talk face to face.”
His word! “We can talk over the speaker, Colonel.” Hey, that was it—a yardstick, hanging on the tool rack.
“Johnny, I’m warning you. Let me in, or I’ll blow the door off.”
” wire—he needed a wire, fairly long and stiff. He tore the antenna from his suit. “You wouldn’t do that, Colonel. It would ruin the bombs.”
“Vacuum won’t hurt the bombs. Quit stalling.”
“Better check with Major Morgan. Vacuum won’t hurt them; explosive decompression would wreck every circuit.” The Colonel was not a bomb specialist; he shut up for several minutes. Johnny went on working.
“Dahlquist,” Towers resumed, “that was a clumsy lie. I checked with Morgan. You have sixty seconds to get into your suit, if you aren’t already. I’m going to blast the door.”
“No, you won’t,” said Johnny. “Ever hear of a ‘dead man’ switch?” Now for a counterweight—and a sling.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“I’ve rigged number seventeen to set off by hand. But I put in a gimmick. It won’t blow while I hang on to a strap I’ve got in my hand. But if anything happens to me—up she goes! You are about fifty feet from the blast center. Think it over.”
There was a short silence. “I don’t believe you.”
“No? Ask Morgan. He’ll believe me. He can inspect it, over the TV pick-up.” Johnny lashed the belt of his space suit to the end of the yardstick.
“You said the pick-up was out of order.”
“So I lied. This time I’ll prove it. Have Morgan call me.”
Presently Major Morgan’s face appeared. “Lieutenant Dahlquist?”
“Hi, Stinky. Wait a sec.” With great care Dahlquist made one last connection while holding down the end of the yardstick. Still careful, he shifted his grip to the belt, sat down on the floor, stretched an arm and switched on the TV pick-up. “Can you see me, Stinky?”
“I can see you,” Morgan answered stiffly. “What is this nonsense?”
“A little surprise I whipped up.” He explained it—what circuits he had cut out, what ones had been shorted, just how the jury-rigged mechanical sequence fitted in.
Morgan nodded. “But you’re bluffing, Dahlquist, I feel sure that you haven’t disconnected the ‘K’ circuit. You don’t have the guts to blow yourself up.”
Johnny chuckled. “I sure haven’t. But that’s the beauty of it. It can’t go off, so long as I am alive. If your greasy boss, ex-Colonel Towers, blasts the door, then I’m dead and the bomb goes off. It won’t matter to me, but it will to him. Better tell him.” He switched off.
Towers came on over the speaker shortly. “Dahlquist?”
“I hear you.”
“‘There’s no need to throwaway your life. Come out and you will be retired on full pay. You can go home to your family. That’s a promise.”
Johnny got mad. “You keep my family out of this!”
“Think of them, man.”
“Shut up. Get back to your hole. I feel a need to scratch and this whole shebang might just explode in your lap.”
II
Johnny sat up with a start. He had dozed, his hand hadn’t let go the sling, but he had the shakes when he thought about it.
Maybe he should disarm the bomb and depend on their not daring to dig him out? But Towers’ neck was already in hock for treason; Towers might risk it. If he did and the bomb were disarmed, Johnny would be dead and Towers would have the bombs. No, he had gone this far; he wouldn’t let his baby girl grow up in a dictatorship just to catch some sleep.
He heard the Geiger counter clicking and remembered having used the suppressor circuit. The radioactivity in the room must be increasing, perhaps from scattering the “brain” circuits-the circuits were sure to be infected; they had lived too long too close to plutonium. He dug out his film.
The dark area was spreading toward the red line.
He put it back and said, “Pal, better break this deadlock oryou are going to shine like a watch dial.” It was a figure of speech; infected animal tissue does not glow—it simply dies, slowly.
The TV screen lit up; Towers’ face appeared. “Dahlquist? I want to talk to you.”
“Go fly a kite.”
“Let’s admit you have us inconvenienced.”
“Inconvenienced, hell—I’ve got you stopped.”
“For the moment. I’m arranging to get more bombs—”
“Liar.”
“—but you are slowing us up. I have a proposition.”
“Not interested.”
“Wait. When this is over I will be chief of the world government. If you cooperate, even now, I will make you my administrative head.”
Johnny told him what to do with it. Towers said, “Don’t be stupid. What do you gain by dying?”
Johnny grunted. “Towers, what a prime stinker you are.
You spoke of my family. I’d rather see them dead than living under a two-bit Napoleon like you. Now go away—I’ve got some thinking to do.”
Towers switched off.
Johnny got out his film again. It seemed no darker but it re-minded him forcibly that time was running out. He was hungry and thirsty—and he could not stay awake forever. It took four days to get a ship up from Earth; he could not expect rescue any sooner. And he wouldn’t last four days—once the darkening spread past the red line he was a goner.
His only chance was to wreck the bombs beyond repair, and get out—before that film got much darker.
He thought about ways, then got busy. He hung a weight on the sling, tied a line to it. If Towers blasted the door, he hoped to jerk the rig loose before he died.
There was a simple, though arduous, way to wreck the bombs beyond any capacity of Moon Base to repair them. The heart of each was two hemispheres of plutonium, their flat surface polished smooth to permit perfect contact when slapped together. Anything less would prevent the chain reaction on which atomic explosion depended.
Johnny started taking apart one of the bombs.
He had to bash off four lugs, then break the glass envelope around the inner assembly. Aside from that the bomb came apart easily. At last he had in front of him two gleaming, mirror-perfect half globes.
A blow with the hammer—and one was no longer perfect. Another blow and the second cracked like glass; he had trapped its crystalline structure just right.
Hours later, dead tired, he went back to the armed bomb. Forcing himself to steady down, with extreme care he disarmed it. Shortly its silvery hemispheres too were useless. There was no longer a usable bomb in the room—but huge fortunes in the most valuable, most poisonous, and most deadly metal in the known world were spread around the floor.
Johnny looked at the deadly stuff. “Into your suit and out of here, son,” he said aloud. “I wonder what Towers will say?”
He walked toward the rack, intending to hang up the hammer. As he passed, the Geiger counter chattered wildly.
Plutonium hardly affects a Geiger counter; secondary infection from plutonium does. Johnny looked at the hammer, then held it closer to the Geiger counter. The counter screamed.
Johnny tossed it hastily away and started back toward his suit.
As he passed the counter it chattered again. He stopped short.
He pushed one hand close to the counter. Its clicking picked up to a steady roar. Without moving he reached into his pocket and took out his exposure film.
It was dead black from end to end.
III
Plutonium taken into the body moves quickly to bone marrow. Nothing can be done; the victim is finished. Neutrons from it smash through the body, ionizing tissue, transmuting atoms into radioactive isotopes, destroying and killing. The fatal dose is unbelievably small; a mass a tenth the size of a grain of table salt is more than enough—a dose small enough to enter through the tiniest scratch. During the historic “Manhattan Project” immediate high amputation was considered the only possible first-aid measure.
Johnny knew all this but it no longer disturbed him. He sat on the floor, smoking a hoarded cigarette, and thinking. The events of his long watch were running through his mind.
He blew a puff of smoke at the Geiger counter and smiled without humor to hear it chatter more loudly. By now even his breath was “hot”—carbon-14, he supposed, exhaled from his blood stream as carbon dioxide. It did not matter.
There was no longer any point in surrendering, nor would he give Towers the satisfaction—he would finish out this watch right here. Besides, by keeping up the bluff that one bomb was ready to blow, he could stop them from capturing the raw material from which bombs were made. That might be important in the long run.
He accepted, without surprise, the fact that he was not unhappy. There was a sweetness about having no further worries of any sort. He did not hurt, he was not uncomfortable, he was no longer even hungry. Physically he still felt fine and his mind was at peace. He was dead—he knew that he was dead; yet for a time he was able to walk and breathe and see and feel.
He was not even lonesome. He was not alone; there were comrades with him—the boy with his finger in the dike, Colonel Bowie, too ill to move but insisting that he be carried across the line, the dying Captain of the Chesapeake still with deathless challenge on his lips, Rodger Young peering into the gloom. They gathered about him in the dusky bomb room.
And of course there was Edith. She was the only one he was aware of. Johnny wished that he could see her face more clearly. Was she angry? Or proud and happy?
Proud though unhappy—he could see her better now and even feel her hand. He held very still.
Presently his cigarette burned down to his fingers. He took a final puff, blew it at the Geiger counter, and put it out. It was his last. He gathered several butts and fashioned a roll-your-own with a bit of paper found in a pocket. He lit it care-fully and settled back to wait for Edith to show up again. He was very happy.
He was still propped against the bomb case, the last of his salvaged cigarettes cold at his side, when the speaker called out again. “Johnny? Hey, Johnny! Can you hear me? This is Kelly. It’s all over. The Lafayette landed and Towers blew his brains out. Johnny? Answer me.”
When they opened the outer door, the first man in carried a Geiger counter in front of him on the end of a long pole. He stopped at the threshold and backed out hastily. “Hey, chief!” he called. “Better get some handling equipment—uh, and a lead coffin, too.”
* * *
"Four days it took the little ship and her escort to reach Earth. Four days while all of Earth's people awaited her arrival. For ninety-eight hours all commercial programs were of} television; instead there was an endless dirge—-the Dead March tram Saul, the Valhalla theme, Going Home, the Patrol's own Landing Orbit.
"The nine ships landed at Chicago Port. A drone tractor removed the casket from the small ship; the ship was then refueled and blasted off in an escape trajectory, thrown away into outer space, never again to be used for a lesser purpose.
"The tractor progressed to the Illinois town where Lieutenant Dahlquist had been born, while the dirge continued. There it placed the casket on a pedestal, inside a barrier marking the distance of safe approach. Space marines, arms reversed and heads bowed, stood guard around it; the crowds stayed outside this circle. And still the dirge continued.
"When enough time had passed, long, long after the heaped flowers had withered, the lead casket was enclosed in marble, just as you see it today."
Conclusion
When George Soros offers you millions of dollars and a lifetime of service by prostitutes as long as you do his bidding, would you do it? Don’t laugh. It happened. Check this out here;
What if you could get a nice pension for not teaching High School students the United States Constitution? Or looking the other way, when bills are passed that violate the Bill of Rights? What if by not taking any action, you would get enormous lumps of money and prestige? All you need to do is “be a team player” and “go with the flow”? What if?
Well it has happened. Go here…
What if you could get a position in government and collect all the top secret documents, and sell them to the highest bidding foreign nation? What if you could get away with it, and have all of the government support you? What if you could get away with it/ Would you do it?
It’s happened. Go here…
Ultimately the life we live is do to what we do, or what we do not do. The world that we live in today is a direct consequence of our actions, or (in the case of many Americans) our inaction. I think it is high time that we reverse this trend and start standing up for ourselves.
Take Aways
Fictional stories are enjoyable to read, but have meaning in important ways.
This story was written after World War II, when the idea of a tyrannical government was fresh in the minds of Americans.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This story was written right after World War II by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law.
“A Sound of Thunder” is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury, first published in Collier’s magazine in the June 28, 1952, issue and Bradbury’s collection The Golden Apples of the Sun in 1953.
Ray Bradberry is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
Introduction
“There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go…”R is for Rocket
Ray Bradbury
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
A small collection of well worn, well read and well appreciated Ray Bradbury books. My collection looked a little something like this, only I think the books were a little more worn, and a little yellower.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “A Sound of Thunder” on the Ray Bradbury library portal in Russia, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the Ray Bradbury Library for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it.
A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury
The sign on the wall seemed to quaver under a film of sliding warm water. Eckels felt his eyelids blink over his stare, and the sign burned in this momentary darkness:
TIME SAFARI, INC.
SAFARIS TO ANY YEAR IN THE PAST.
YOU NAME THE ANIMAL.
WE TAKE YOU THERE.
YOU SHOOT IT.
Warm phlegm gathered in Eckels' throat; he swallowed and pushed it down. The muscles around his mouth formed a smile as he put his hand slowly out upon the air, and in that hand waved a check for ten thousand dollars to the man behind the desk.
"Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?"
"We guarantee nothing," said the official, "except the dinosaurs." He turned. "This is Mr. Travis, your Safari Guide in the Past. He'll tell you what and where to shoot. If he says no shooting, no shooting. If you disobey instructions, there's a stiff penalty of another ten thousand dollars, plus possible government action, on your return."
Eckels glanced across the vast office at a mass and tangle, a snaking and humming of wires and steel boxes, at an aurora that flickered now orange, now silver, now blue. There was a sound like a gigantic bonfire burning all of Time, all the years and all the parchment calendars, all the hours piled high and set aflame.
A touch of the hand and this burning would, on the instant, beautifully reverse itself. Eckels remembered the wording in the advertisements to the letter. Out of chars and ashes, out of dust and coals, like golden salamanders, the old years, the green years, might leap; roses sweeten the air, white hair turn Irish-black, wrinkles vanish; all, everything fly back to seed, flee death, rush down to their beginnings, suns rise in western skies and set in glorious easts, moons eat themselves opposite to the custom, all and everything cupping one in another like Chinese boxes, rabbits into hats, all and everything returning to the fresh death, the seed death, the green death, to the time before the beginning.
A touch of a hand might do it, the merest touch of a hand.
"Unbelievable." Eckels breathed, the light of the Machine on his thin face. "A real Time Machine." He shook his head. "Makes you think, If the election had gone badly yesterday, I might be here now running away from the results. Thank God Keith won. He'll make a fine President of the United States."
"Yes," said the man behind the desk. "We're lucky. If Deutscher had gotten in, we'd have the worst kind of dictatorship. There's an anti everything man for you, a militarist, anti-Christ, anti-human, anti-intellectual. People called us up, you know, joking but not joking. Said if Deutscher became President they wanted to go live in 1492. Of course it's not our business to conduct Escapes, but to form Safaris. Anyway, Keith's President now. All you got to worry about is-"
"Shooting my dinosaur," Eckels finished it for him.
"A Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Tyrant Lizard, the most incredible monster in history. Sign this release. Anything happens to you, we're not responsible. Those dinosaurs are hungry."
Eckels flushed angrily. "Trying to scare me!"
"Frankly, yes. We don't want anyone going who'll panic at the first shot. Six Safari leaders were killed last year, and a dozen hunters. We're here to give you the severest thrill a real hunter ever asked for. Traveling you back sixty million years to bag the biggest game in all of Time. Your personal check's still there. Tear it up."Mr. Eckels looked at the check. His fingers twitched.
"Good luck," said the man behind the desk. "Mr. Travis, he's all yours."
They moved silently across the room, taking their guns with them, toward the Machine, toward the silver metal and the roaring light.
First a day and then a night and then a day and then a night, then it was day-night-day-night. A week, a month, a year, a decade! A.D. 2055. A.D. 2019. 1999! 1957! Gone! The Machine roared.
They put on their oxygen helmets and tested the intercoms.
Eckels swayed on the padded seat, his face pale, his jaw stiff. He felt the trembling in his arms and he looked down and found his hands tight on the new rifle. There were four other men in the Machine. Travis, the Safari Leader, his assistant, Lesperance, and two other hunters, Billings and Kramer. They sat looking at each other, and the years blazed around them.
"Can these guns get a dinosaur cold?" Eckels felt his mouth saying.
"If you hit them right," said Travis on the helmet radio. "Some dinosaurs have two brains, one in the head, another far down the spinal column. We stay away from those. That's stretching luck. Put your first two shots into the eyes, if you can, blind them, and go back into the brain."
The Machine howled. Time was a film run backward. Suns fled and ten million moons fled after them. "Think," said Eckels. "Every hunter that ever lived would envy us today. This makes Africa seem like Illinois."
The Machine slowed; its scream fell to a murmur. The Machine stopped.
The sun stopped in the sky.
The fog that had enveloped the Machine blew away and they were in an old time, a very old time indeed, three hunters and two Safari Heads with their blue metal guns across their knees.
"Christ isn't born yet," said Travis, "Moses has not gone to the mountains to talk with God. The Pyramids are still in the earth, waiting to be cut out and put up. Remember that. Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler-none of them exists." The man nodded.
"That" - Mr. Travis pointed - "is the jungle of sixty million two thousand and fifty-five years before President Keith."
He indicated a metal path that struck off into green wilderness, over streaming swamp, among giant ferns and palms.
"And that," he said, "is the Path, laid by Time Safari for your use,
It floats six inches above the earth. Doesn't touch so much as one grass blade, flower, or tree. It's an anti-gravity metal. Its purpose is to keep you from touching this world of the past in any way. Stay on the Path. Don't go off it. I repeat. Don't go off. For any reason! If you fall off, there's a penalty. And don't shoot any animal we don't okay."
"Why?" asked Eckels.
They sat in the ancient wilderness. Far birds' cries blew on a wind, and the smell of tar and an old salt sea, moist grasses, and flowers the color of blood.
"We don't want to change the Future. We don't belong here in the Past. The government doesn't like us here. We have to pay big graft to keep our franchise. A Time Machine is finicky business. Not knowing it, we might kill an important animal, a small bird, a roach, a flower even, thus destroying an important link in a growing species."
"That's not clear," said Eckels.
"All right," Travis continued, "say we accidentally kill one mouse here. That means all the future families of this one particular mouse are destroyed, right?"
"Right"
"And all the families of the families of the families of that one mouse! With a stamp of your foot, you annihilate first one, then a dozen, then a thousand, a million, a billion possible mice!"
"So they're dead," said Eckels. "So what?"
"So what?" Travis snorted quietly. "Well, what about the foxes that'll need those mice to survive? For want of ten mice, a fox dies. For want of ten foxes a lion starves. For want of a lion, all manner of insects, vultures, infinite billions of life forms are thrown into chaos and destruction.
Eventually it all boils down to this: fifty-nine million years later, a caveman, one of a dozen on the entire world, goes hunting wild boar or saber-toothed tiger for food. But you, friend, have stepped on all the tigers in that region. By stepping on one single mouse. So the caveman starves. And the caveman, please note, is not just any expendable man, no! He is an entire future nation. From his loins would have sprung ten sons. From their loins one hundred sons, and thus onward to a civilization. Destroy this one man, and you destroy a race, a people, an entire history of life. It is comparable to slaying some of Adam's grandchildren. The stomp of your foot, on one mouse, could start an earthquake, the effects of which could shake our earth and destinies down through Time, to their very foundations.
With the death of that one caveman, a billion others yet unborn are throttled in the womb. Perhaps Rome never rises on its seven hills. Perhaps Europe is forever a dark forest, and only Asia waxes healthy and teeming. Step on a mouse and you crush the Pyramids. Step on a mouse and you leave your print, like a Grand Canyon, across Eternity. Queen Elizabeth might never be born, Washington might not cross the Delaware, there might never be a United States at all. So be careful. Stay on the Path. Never step off!"
"I see," said Eckels. "Then it wouldn't pay for us even to touch the grass?"
"Correct. Crushing certain plants could add up infinitesimally. A little error here would multiply in sixty million years, all out of proportion. Of course maybe our theory is wrong. Maybe Time can't be changed by us. Or maybe it can be changed only in little subtle ways. A dead mouse here makes an insect imbalance there, a population disproportion later, a bad harvest further on, a depression, mass starvation, and finally, a change in social temperament in far-flung countries. Something much more subtle, like that. Perhaps only a soft breath, a whisper, a hair, pollen on the air, such a slight, slight change that unless you looked close you wouldn't see it. Who knows? Who really can say he knows? We don't know. We're guessing. But until we do know for certain whether our messing around in Time can make a big roar or a little rustle in history, we're being careful. This Machine, this Path, your clothing and bodies, were sterilized, as you know, before the journey. We wear these oxygen helmets so we can't introduce our bacteria into an ancient atmosphere."
"How do we know which animals to shoot?"
"They're marked with red paint," said Travis. "Today, before our journey, we sent Lesperance here back with the Machine. He came to this particular era and followed certain animals."
"Studying them?"
"Right," said Lesperance. "I track them through their entire existence, noting which of them lives longest. Very few. How many times they mate. Not often. Life's short, When I find one that's going to die when a tree falls on him, or one that drowns in a tar pit, I note the exact hour, minute, and second. I shoot a paint bomb. It leaves a red patch on his side. We can't miss it. Then I correlate our arrival in the Past so that we meet the Monster not more than two minutes before he would have died anyway. This way, we kill only animals with no future, that are never going to mate again. You see how careful we are?"
"But if you come back this morning in Time," said Eckels eagerly, you must've bumped into us, our Safari! How did it turn out? Was it successful? Did all of us get through-alive?"
Travis and Lesperance gave each other a look.
"That'd be a paradox," said the latter. "Time doesn't permit that sort of mess-a man meeting himself. When such occasions threaten, Time steps aside. Like an airplane hitting an air pocket. You felt the Machine jump just before we stopped? That was us passing ourselves on the way back to the Future. We saw nothing. There's no way of telling if this expedition was a success, if we got our monster, or whether all of us - meaning you, Mr. Eckels - got out alive."
Eckels smiled palely.
"Cut that," said Travis sharply. "Everyone on his feet!"
They were ready to leave the Machine.
The jungle was high and the jungle was broad and the jungle was the entire world forever and forever. Sounds like music and sounds like flying tents filled the sky, and those were pterodactyls soaring with cavernous gray wings, gigantic bats of delirium and night fever.
Eckels, balanced on the narrow Path, aimed his rifle playfully.
"Stop that!" said Travis. "Don't even aim for fun, blast you! If your guns should go off - - "
Eckels flushed. "Where's our Tyrannosaurus?"
Lesperance checked his wristwatch. "Up ahead, We'll bisect his trail in sixty seconds. Look for the red paint! Don't shoot till we give the word. Stay on the Path. Stay on the Path!"
They moved forward in the wind of morning.
"Strange," murmured Eckels. "Up ahead, sixty million years, Election Day over. Keith made President. Everyone celebrating. And here we are, a million years lost, and they don't exist. The things we worried about for months, a lifetime, not even born or thought of yet."
"Safety catches off, everyone!" ordered Travis. "You, first shot, Eckels. Second, Billings, Third, Kramer."
"I've hunted tiger, wild boar, buffalo, elephant, but now, this is it," said Eckels. "I'm shaking like a kid."
"Ah," said Travis.
Everyone stopped.
Travis raised his hand. "Ahead," he whispered. "In the mist. There he is. There's His Royal Majesty now."
The jungle was wide and full of twitterings, rustlings, murmurs, and sighs.
Suddenly it all ceased, as if someone had shut a door.
Silence.
A sound of thunder.
Out of the mist, one hundred yards away, came Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"It," whispered Eckels. "It......
"Sh!"
It came on great oiled, resilient, striding legs. It towered thirty feet above half of the trees, a great evil god, folding its delicate watchmaker's claws close to its oily reptilian chest. Each lower leg was a piston, a thousand pounds of white bone, sunk in thick ropes of muscle, sheathed over in a gleam of pebbled skin like the mail of a terrible warrior. Each thigh was a ton of meat, ivory, and steel mesh. And from the great breathing cage of the upper body those two delicate arms dangled out front, arms with hands which might pick up and examine men like toys, while the snake neck coiled. And the head itself, a ton of sculptured stone, lifted easily upon the sky. Its mouth gaped, exposing a fence of teeth like daggers. Its eyes rolled, ostrich eggs, empty of all expression save hunger. It closed its mouth in a death grin. It ran, its pelvic bones crushing aside trees and bushes, its taloned feet clawing damp earth, leaving prints six inches deep wherever it settled its weight.
It ran with a gliding ballet step, far too poised and balanced for its ten tons. It moved into a sunlit area warily, its beautifully reptilian hands feeling the air.
"Why, why," Eckels twitched his mouth. "It could reach up and grab the moon."
"Sh!" Travis jerked angrily. "He hasn't seen us yet."
"It can't be killed," Eckels pronounced this verdict quietly, as if there could be no argument. He had weighed the evidence and this was his considered opinion. The rifle in his hands seemed a cap gun. "We were fools to come. This is impossible."
"Shut up!" hissed Travis.
"Nightmare."
"Turn around," commanded Travis. "Walk quietly to the Machine. We'll remit half your fee."
"I didn't realize it would be this big," said Eckels. "I miscalculated, that's all. And now I want out."
"It sees us!"
"There's the red paint on its chest!"
The Tyrant Lizard raised itself. Its armored flesh glittered like a thousand green coins. The coins, crusted with slime, steamed. In the slime, tiny insects wriggled, so that the entire body seemed to twitch and undulate, even while the monster itself did not move. It exhaled. The stink of raw flesh blew down the wilderness.
"Get me out of here," said Eckels. "It was never like this before. I was always sure I'd come through alive. I had good guides, good safaris, and safety. This time, I figured wrong. I've met my match and admit it. This is too much for me to get hold of."
"Don't run," said Lesperance. "Turn around. Hide in the Machine."
"Yes." Eckels seemed to be numb. He looked at his feet as if trying to make them move. He gave a grunt of helplessness.
"Eckels!"
He took a few steps, blinking, shuffling.
"Not that way!"
The Monster, at the first motion, lunged forward with a terrible scream. It covered one hundred yards in six seconds. The rifles jerked up and blazed fire. A windstorm from the beast's mouth engulfed them in the stench of slime and old blood. The Monster roared, teeth glittering with sun.
Eckels, not looking back, walked blindly to the edge of the Path, his gun limp in his arms, stepped off the Path, and walked, not knowing it, in the jungle. His feet sank into green moss. His legs moved him, and he felt alone and remote from the events behind.
The rifles cracked again, Their sound was lost in shriek and lizard thunder. The great level of the reptile's tail swung up, lashed sideways. Trees exploded in clouds of leaf and branch. The Monster twitched its jeweler's hands down to fondle at the men, to twist them in half, to crush them like berries, to cram them into its teeth and its screaming throat. Its boulderstone eyes leveled with the men. They saw themselves mirrored. They fired at the metallic eyelids and the blazing black iris,
Like a stone idol, like a mountain avalanche, Tyrannosaurus fell.
Thundering, it clutched trees, pulled them with it. It wrenched and tore the metal Path. The men flung themselves back and away. The body hit, ten tons of cold flesh and stone. The guns fired. The Monster lashed its armored tail, twitched its snake jaws, and lay still. A fount of blood spurted from its throat. Somewhere inside, a sac of fluids burst. Sickening gushes drenched the hunters. They stood, red and glistening.
The thunder faded.
The jungle was silent. After the avalanche, a green peace. After the nightmare, morning.
Billings and Kramer sat on the pathway and threw up. Travis and Lesperance stood with smoking rifles, cursing steadily. In the Time Machine, on his face, Eckels lay shivering. He had found his way back to the Path, climbed into the Machine.
Travis came walking, glanced at Eckels, took cotton gauze from a metal box, and returned to the others, who were sitting on the Path.
"Clean up."
They wiped the blood from their helmets. They began to curse too. The Monster lay, a hill of solid flesh. Within, you could hear the sighs and murmurs as the furthest chambers of it died, the organs malfunctioning, liquids running a final instant from pocket to sac to spleen, everything shutting off, closing up forever. It was like standing by a wrecked locomotive or a steam shovel at quitting time, all valves being released or levered tight. Bones cracked; the tonnage of its own flesh, off balance, dead weight, snapped the delicate forearms, caught underneath. The meat settled, quivering.
Another cracking sound. Overhead, a gigantic tree branch broke from its heavy mooring, fell. It crashed upon the dead beast with finality.
"There." Lesperance checked his watch. "Right on time. That's the giant tree that was scheduled to fall and kill this animal originally." He glanced at the two hunters. "You want the trophy picture?"
"What?"
"We can't take a trophy back to the Future. The body has to stay right here where it would have died originally, so the insects, birds, and bacteria can get at it, as they were intended to. Everything in balance. The body stays. But we can take a picture of you standing near it."
The two men tried to think, but gave up, shaking their heads.
They let themselves be led along the metal Path. They sank wearily into the Machine cushions. They gazed back at the ruined Monster, the stagnating mound, where already strange reptilian birds and golden insects were busy at the steaming armor. A sound on the floor of the Time Machine stiffened them. Eckels sat there, shivering.
"I'm sorry," he said at last.
"Get up!" cried Travis.
Eckels got up.
"Go out on that Path alone," said Travis. He had his rifle pointed, "You're not coming back in the Machine. We're leaving you here!"
Lesperance seized Travis's arm. "Wait-"
"Stay out of this!" Travis shook his hand away. "This fool nearly killed us. But it isn't that so much, no. It's his shoes! Look at them! He ran off the Path. That ruins us! We'll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it. Oh, the fool! I'll have to report to the government. They might revoke our license to travel. Who knows what he's done to Time, to History!"
"Take it easy, all he did was kick up some dirt."
"How do we know?" cried Travis. "We don't know anything! It's all a mystery! Get out of here, Eckels!"
Eckels fumbled his shirt. "I'll pay anything. A hundred thousand dollars!"
Travis glared at Eckels' checkbook and spat. "Go out there. The Monster's next to the Path. Stick your arms up to your elbows in his mouth. Then you can come back with us."
"That's unreasonable!"
"The Monster's dead, you idiot. The bullets! The bullets can't be left behind. They don't belong in the Past; they might change anything. Here's my knife. Dig them out!"
The jungle was alive again, full of the old tremorings and bird cries. Eckels turned slowly to regard the primeval garbage dump, that hill of nightmares and terror. After a long time, like a sleepwalker he shuffled out along the Path.
He returned, shuddering, five minutes later, his arms soaked and red to the elbows. He held out his hands. Each held a number of steel bullets. Then he fell. He lay where he fell, not moving.
"You didn't have to make him do that," said Lesperance.
"Didn't I? It's too early to tell." Travis nudged the still body. "He'll live. Next time he won't go hunting game like this. Okay." He jerked his thumb wearily at Lesperance. "Switch on. Let's go home."
1492. 1776. 1812.
They cleaned their hands and faces. They changed their caking shirts and pants. Eckels was up and around again, not speaking. Travis glared at him for a full ten minutes.
"Don't look at me," cried Eckels. "I haven't done anything."
"Who can tell?"
"Just ran off the Path, that's all, a little mud on my shoes-what do you want me to do-get down and pray?"
"We might need it. I'm warning you, Eckels, I might kill you yet. I've got my gun ready."
"I'm innocent. I've done nothing!"
1999.2000.2055.
The Machine stopped.
"Get out," said Travis.
The room was there as they had left it. But not the same as they had left it. The same man sat behind the same desk. But the same man did not quite sit behind the same desk. Travis looked around swiftly. "Everything okay here?" he snapped.
"Fine. Welcome home!"
Travis did not relax. He seemed to be looking through the one high window.
"Okay, Eckels, get out. Don't ever come back." Eckels could not move.
"You heard me," said Travis. "What're you staring at?"
Eckels stood smelling of the air, and there was a thing to the air, a chemical taint so subtle, so slight, that only a faint cry of his subliminal senses warned him it was there. The colors, white, gray, blue, orange, in the wall, in the furniture, in the sky beyond the window, were . . . were . . . . And there was a feel. His flesh twitched. His hands twitched. He stood drinking the oddness with the pores of his body. Somewhere, someone must have been screaming one of those whistles that only a dog can hear. His body screamed silence in return. Beyond this room, beyond this wall, beyond this man who was not quite the same man seated at this desk that was not quite the same desk . . . lay an entire world of streets and people. What sort of world it was now, there was no telling. He could feel them moving there, beyond the walls, almost, like so many chess pieces blown in a dry wind ....
But the immediate thing was the sign painted on the office wall, the same sign he had read earlier today on first entering. Somehow, the sign had changed:
TYME SEFARI INC.
SEFARIS TU ANY YEER EN THE PAST.
YU NAIM THE ANIMALL.
WEE TAEK YU THAIR.
YU SHOOT ITT.
Eckels felt himself fall into a chair. He fumbled crazily at the thick slime on his boots. He held up a clod of dirt, trembling, "No, it can't be. Not a little thing like that. No!"
Embedded in the mud, glistening green and gold and black, was a butterfly, very beautiful and very dead.
"Not a little thing like that! Not a butterfly!" cried Eckels.
It fell to the floor, an exquisite thing, a small thing that could upset balances and knock down a line of small dominoes and then big dominoes and then gigantic dominoes, all down the years across Time. Eckels' mind whirled. It couldn't change things. Killing one butterfly couldn't be that important! Could it?
His face was cold. His mouth trembled, asking: "Who - who won the presidential election yesterday?"
The man behind the desk laughed. "You joking? You know very well. Deutscher, of course! Who else? Not that fool weakling Keith. We got an iron man now, a man with guts!" The official stopped. "What's wrong?"
Eckels moaned. He dropped to his knees. He scrabbled at the golden butterfly with shaking fingers. "Can't we," he pleaded to the world, to himself, to the officials, to the Machine, "can't we take it back, can't we make it alive again? Can't we start over? Can't we-"
He did not move. Eyes shut, he waited, shivering. He heard Travis breathe loud in the room; he heard Travis shift his rifle, click the safety catch, and raise the weapon.
There was a sound of thunder.
Comments
And that was that.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This story was written right after World War II by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law.
“Kaleidoscope” is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It describes the last few moments of a space ship crew that survives a terrible explosion in space.
Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
Introduction
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “Kaleidoscope” on the “Scary for Kids” website, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the “Scary for Kids” website for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it themselves.
Kaleidoscope by Ray Bradbury
The first concussion cut the rocket up the side with a giant can opener. The men were thrown into space like a dozen wriggling silverfish. They were scattered into a dark sea; and the ship, in a million pieces, went on, a meteor swarm seeking a lost sun.
“Barkley, Barkley, where are you?”
The sound of voices calling like lost children on a cold night
“Woode, Woode!”
“Captain!”
“Hollis, Hollis, this is Stone.”
“Stone, this is Hollis. Where are you?”
“I don’t know. How can I? Which way is up? I’m falling. Good God, I’m falling.”
They fell. They fell as pebbles fall down wells. They were scattered as jackstones are scattered from a gigantic throw. And now instead of men there were only voices-all kinds of voices, disembodied and impassioned, in varying degrees of terror and resignation.
“We’re going away from each other.”
This was true. Hollis, swinging head over heels, knew this was true. He knew it with a vague acceptance. They were parting to go their separate ways, and nothing could bring them back. They were wearing their sealed-tight space suits with the glass tubes over their pale faces, but they hadn’t had time to lock on their force units. With them they could be small lifeboats in space, saving themselves, saving others, collecting together, finding each other until they were an island of men with some plan. But without the force units snapped to their shoulders they were meteors, senseless, each going to a separate and irrevocable fate.
A period of perhaps ten minutes elapsed while the first terror died and a metallic calm took its place. Space began to weave its strange voices in and out, on a great dark loom, crossing, recrossing, making a final pattern.
“Stone to Hollis. How long can we talk by phone?”
“It depends on how fast you’re going your way and I’m going mine.”
“An hour, I make it.”
“That should do it,” said Hollis, abstracted and quiet.
“What happened?” said Hollis a minute later.
“The rocket blew up, that’s all. Rockets do blow up.”
“Which way are you going?”
“It looks like I’ll hit the moon.”
“It’s Earth for me. Back to old Mother Earth at ten thousand miles per hour. I’ll burn like a match.” Hollis thought of it with a queer abstraction of mind. He seemed to be removed from his body, watching it fall down and down through space, as objective as he had been in regard to the first falling snowflakes of a winter season long gone.
The others were silent, thinking of the destiny that had brought them to this, falling, falling, and nothing they could do to change it. Even the captain was quiet, for there was no command or plan he knew that could put things back together again.
“Oh, it’s a long way down. Oh, if s a long way down, a long, long, long way down,” said a voice. “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, if s a long way down.”
“Who’s that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stimson, I think. Stimson, is that you?”
“It’s a long, long way and I don’t like it. Oh, God, I don’t like it.”
“Stimson, this is Hollis. Stimson, you hear me?”
A pause while they fell separate from one another.
“Stimson?”
“Yes.” He replied at last.
“Stimson, take it easy; we’re all in the same fix.”
“I don’t want to be here. I want to be somewhere else.”
“There’s a chance we’ll be found.”
“I must be, I must be,” said Stimson. “I don’t believe this; I don’t believe any of this is happening.”
“It’ s a bad dream,” said someone.
“Shut up!” said Hollis.
“Come and make me,” said the voice. It was Applegate. He laughed easily, with a similar objectivity. “Come and shut me up.”
Hollis for the first time felt the impossibility of his position. A great anger filled him, for he wanted more than anything at this moment to be able to do something to Applegate. He had wanted for many years to do something and now it was too late. Applegate was only a telephonic voice.
Falling, falling, falling…
Now, as if they had discovered the horror, two of the men began to scream. In a nightmare Hollis saw one of them float by, very near, screaming and screaming.
“Stop it!” The man was almost at his fingertips, screaming insanely. He would never stop. He would go on screaming for a million miles, as long as he was in radio range, disturbing all of them, making it impossible for them to talk to one another.
Hollis reached out. It was best this way. He made the extra effort and touched the man. He grasped the man’s ankle and pulled himself up along the body until he reached the head. The man screamed and clawed frantically, like a drowning swimmer. The screaming filled the universe.
One way or the other, thought Hollis. The moon or Earth or meteors will kill him, so why not now?
He smashed the man’s glass mask with his iron fist. The screaming stopped. He pushed off from the body and let it spin away on its own course, falling.
Falling, falling down space Hollis and the rest of them went in the long, endless dropping and whirling of silence.
“Hollis, you still there?”
Hollis did not speak, but felt the rush of heat in his face.
“This is Applegate again.”
“All right, Applegate.”
“Let’s talk. We haven’t anything else to do.”
The captain cut in. “That’s enough of that. We’ve got to figure a way out of this.”
“Captain, why don’t you shut up?” said Applegate.
“What!”
“You heard me, Captain. Don’t pull your rank on me, you’re ten thousand miles away by now, and let’s s not kid ourselves. As Stimson puts it, it’s a long way down.”
“See here, Applegate!”
“Can it. This is a mutiny of one. I haven’t a damn thing to lose. Your ship was a bad ship and you were a bad captain and I hope you break when you hit the Moon.”
“I’m ordering you to stop!”
“Go on, order me again.” Applegate smiled across ten thousand miles. The captain was silent. Applegate continued, “Where were we, Hollis? Oh yes, I remember. I hate you too. But you know that. You’ve known it for a long time.”
Hollis clenched his fists, helplessly.
“I want to tell you something,” said Applegate. “Make you happy. I was the one who blackballed you with the Rocket Company five years ago.”
A meteor flashed by. Hollis looked down and his left hand was gone. Blood spurted. Suddenly there was no air in his suit He had enough air in his lungs to move his right hand over and twist a knob at his left elbow, tightening the joint and sealing the leak. It had happened so quickly that he was not surprised. Nothing surprised him any more. The air in the suit came back to normal in an instant now that the leak was sealed. And the blood that had flowed so swiftly was pressured as he fastened the knob yet tighter, until it made a tourniquet.
All of this took place in a terrible silence on his part. And the other men chatted. That one man, Lespere, went on and on with his talk about his wife on Mars, his wife on Venus, his wife on Jupiter, his money, his wondrous times, his drunkenness, his gambling, his happiness. On and on, while they all fell. Lespere reminisced on the past, happy, while he fell to his death.
It was so very odd. Space, thousands of miles of space, and these voices vibrating in the center of it. No one visible at all, and only the radio waves quivering and trying to quicken other men into emotion.
“Are you angry, Hollis?”
“No.” And he was not. The abstraction has returned and he was a thing of dull concrete, forever falling nowhere.
“You wanted to get to the top all your life, Hollis. You always wondered what happened. I put the black mark on you just before I was tossed out myself.”
“That isn’t important,” said Hollis. And it was not. It was gone. When life is over it is like a flicker of bright film, an instant on the screen, all of its prejudices and passions condensed and illumined for an instant on space, and before you could cry out, “There was a happy day, there a bad one, there an evil face, there a good one,” the film burned to a cinder, the screen went dark.
From this outer edge of his life, looking back, there was only one remorse, and that was only that he wished to go on living. Did all dying people feel this way, as if they had never lived? Did life seem that short, indeed, over and done before you took a breath? Did it seem this abrupt and impossible to everyone, or only to himself, here, now, with a few hours left to him for thought and deliberation?
One of the other men, Lespere, was talking. “Well, I had me a good time: I had a wife on Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Each of them had money and treated me swell. I got drunk and once I gambled away twenty thousand dollars.”
But you’re here now, thought Hollis. I didn’t have any of those things. When I was living I was jealous of you, Lespere; when I had another day ahead of me I envied you your women and your good times. Women frightened me and I went into space, always wanting them and jealous of you for having them, and money, and as much happiness as you could have in your own wild way. But now, falling here, with everything over, I’m not jealous of you any more, because if s over for you as it is for me, and right now if s like it never was. Hollis craned his face forward and shouted into the telephone. “If s all over, Lespere!”
Silence.
“If s just as if it never was, Lespere!”
“Who’s that?” Lespere’s faltering voice.
“This is Hollis.”
He was being mean. He felt the meanness, the senseless meanness of dying. Applegate had hurt him; now he wanted to hurt another. Applegate and space had both wounded him.
“You’re out here, Lespere. If s all over. It’s just as if it had never happened, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“When anything’s over, it’s just like it never happened. Where’s your life any better than mine, now? Now is what counts. Is it any better? Is it?”
“Yes, it’s better!”
“How!”
“Because I got my thoughts, I remember!” cried Lespere, far away, indignant, holding his memories to his chest with both hands.
And he was right. With a feeling of cold water rushing through his head and body, Hollis knew he was right. There were differences between memories and dreams. He had only dreams of things he had wanted to do, while Lespere had memories of things done and accomplished. And this knowledge began to pull Hollis apart, with a slow, quivering precision.
“What good does it do you?” he cried to Lespere. “Now? When a thing’s over it’s not good any more. You’re no better off than I.”
“I’m resting easy,” said Lespere. “I’ve had my turn. I’m not getting mean at the end, like you.”
“Mean?” Hollis turned the word on his tongue. He had never been mean, as long as he could remember, in his life. He had never dared to be mean. He must have saved it all of these years for such a time as this. “Mean.” He rolled the word into the back of his mind. He felt tears start into his eyes and roll down his face. Someone must have heard his gasping voice.
‘Take it easy, Hollis.”
It was, of course, ridiculous. Only a minute before he had been giving advice to others, to Stimson; he had felt a braveness which he had thought to be the genuine thing, and now he knew that it had been nothing but shock and the objectivity possible in shock. Now he was trying to pack a lifetime of suppressed emotion into an interval of minutes.
“I know how you feel, Hollis,” said Lespere, now twenty thousand miles away, his voice fading. “I don’t take it personally.”
But aren’t we equal? he wondered. Lespere and I? Here, now? If a thing’s over, if s done, and what good is it? You die anyway. But he knew he was rationalizing, for it was like trying to tell the difference between a live man and a corpse. There was a spark in one, and not in the other – an aura, a mysterious element.
So it was with Lespere and himself; Lespere had lived a good full life, and it made him a different man now, and he, Hollis, had been as good as dead for many years. They came to death by separate paths and, in all likelihood, if there were lands of death, their kinds would be as different as night from day. The quality of death, like that of life, must be of an infinite variety, and if one has already died once, then what was there to look for in dying for good and all, as he was now?
It was a second later that he discovered his right foot was cut sheer away. It almost made him laugh. The air was gone from his suit again. He bent quickly, and there was blood, and the meteor had taken flesh and suit away to the ankle. Oh, death in space was most humorous. It cut you away, piece by piece, like a black and invisible butcher. He tightened the valve at the knee, his head whirling into pain, fighting to remain aware, and with the valve tightened, the blood retained, the air kept, he straightened op and went on falling, falling, for that was all there was left to do.
“Hollis?”
Hollis nodded sleepily, tired of waiting for death.
“This is Applegate again,” said the voice.
“Yes.”
‘I’ve had time to think. I listened to you. This isn’t good. It makes us bad. This is a bad way to die. It brings all the bile out. You listening, Hollis?”
“Yes.”
“I lied. A minute ago. I lied. I didn’t blackball you. I don’t know why I said that. Guess I wanted to hurt you. You seemed the one to hurt. We’ve always fought Guess I’m getting old fast and repenting fast I guess listening to you be mean made me ashamed. Whatever the reason, I want you to know I was an idiot too. There’s not an ounce of truth in what I said. To hell with you.”
Hollis felt his heart begin to work again. It seemed as if it hadn’t worked for five minutes, but now all of his limbs began to take color and warmth. The shock was over, and the successive shocks of anger and terror and loneliness were passing. He felt like a man emerging from a cold shower in the morning, ready for breakfast and a new day.
“Thanks, Applegate.”
“Don’t mention it. Up your nose, you bastard.”
“Hey,” said Stone.
“What?” Hollis called across space; for Stone, of all of them, was a good friend.
“I’ve got myself into a meteor swarm, some little asteroids.”
“Meteors?”
“I think it’s the Myrmidone cluster that goes out past Mars and in toward Earth once every five years. I’m right in the middle. If s like a big kaleidoscope. You get all kinds of colors and shapes and sizes. God, if s beautiful, all that metal.”
Silence.
“I’m going with them,” said Stone. “They’re taking me off with them. I’ll be damned.” He laughed.
Hollis looked to see, but saw nothing. There were only the great diamonds and sapphires and emerald mists and velvet inks of space, with God’s voice mingling among the crystal fires. There was a kind of wonder and imagination in the thought of Stone going off in the meteor swarm, out past Mars for years and coming in toward Earth every five years, passing in and out of the planet’s ken for the next million centuries. Stone and the Myrmidone cluster eternal and unending, shifting and shaping like the kaleidoscope colors when you were a child and held the long tube to the sun and gave it a twirl.
“So long, Hollis.” Stone’s voice, very faint now. “So long.”
“Good luck,” shouted Hollis across thirty thousand miles.
“Don’t be funny,” said Stone, and was gone.
The stars closed in.
Now all the voices were fading, each on his own trajectory, some to Mars, others into farthest space. And Hollis himself… He looked down. He, of all the others, was going back to Earth alone.
“So long.”
“Take it easy.”
“So long, Hollis.” That was Applegate.
The many good-bys. The short farewells. And now the great loose brain was disintegrating. The components of the brain which had worked so beautifully and efficiently in the skull case of the rocket ship firing through space were dying one by one; the meaning of their life together was falling apart. And as a body dies when the brain ceases functioning, so the spirit of the ship and their long time together and what they meant to one another was dying. Applegate was now no more than a finger blown from the parent body, no longer to be despised and worked against. The brain was exploded, and the senseless, useless fragments of it were far scattered. The voices faded and now all of space was silent. Hollis was alone, falling.
They were all alone. Their voices had died like echoes of the words of God spoken and vibrating in the starred deep. There went the captain to the Moon; there Stone with the meteor swarm; there Stimson; there Applegate toward Pluto; there Smith and Turner and Underwood and all the rest, the shards of the kaleidoscope that had formed a thinking pattern for so long, hurled apart.
And I? thought Hollis. What can I do? Is there anything I can do now to make up for a terrible and empty life? If only I could do one good thing to make up for the meanness I collected all these years and didn’t even know was in me! But there’s no one here but myself, and how can you do good all alone? You can’t. Tomorrow night I’ll hit Earth s atmosphere.
I’ll burn, he thought, and be scattered in ashes all over the continental lands. I’ll be put to use. Just a little bit, but ashes are ashes and they’ll add to the land.
He fell swiftly, like a bullet, like a pebble, like an iron weight, objective, objective all of the time now, not sad or happy or anything, but only wishing he could do a good thing now that everything was gone, a good thing for just himself to know about.
When I hit the atmosphere, I’ll burn like a meteor.
“I wonder,” he said, “if anyone’ll see me?”
The small boy on the country road looked up and screamed. “Look, Mom, look! A falling star!”
The blazing white star fell down the sky of dusk in Illinois. “Make a wish,” said his mother. “Make a wish.”
Comments
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a little sad when we know that people have died in space and that space is really very unforgiving. If the reader enjoyed this story, then I would suggest reading “The cold equations”.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This story was written right after World War II by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law.
“Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It was originally published in the magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories in August 1949, under the title “The Naming of Names”. It was subsequently included in the short-story collections A Medicine for Melancholy and S is for Space. The story takes place in the near future on Mars, as is the case with many of Bradbury’s stories.
Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
Introduction
“There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go…”R is for Rocket
Ray Bradbury
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
A small collection of well worn, well read and well appreciated Ray Bradbury books. My collection looked a little something like this, only I think the books were a little more worn, and a little yellower.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “Dark they were and Golden Eyed” on the Ray Bradbury library portal in Russia, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the Ray Bradbury Library for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it themselves.
Dark They were, And Golden Eyed (The Naming of Names).
By Ray Bradbury
The rocket's metal cooled in the meadow winds. Its lid gave a bulging pop. From its clock interior stepped a man, a woman, and three children. The other passengers whispered away across the Martian meadow, leaving the man alone among his family.
The man felt his hair flutter and the tissues of his body draw tight as if he were standing at the centre of a vacuum. His wife, before him, trembled. The children, small seeds, might at any instant be sown to all the Martian climes. The children looked up at him. His face was cold. "What's wrong?" asked his wife. "Let's get back on the rocket." "Go back to Earth?" "Yes! Listen!"
The wind blew, whining. At any moment the Martian air might draw his soul from him, as marrow comes from a white bone.
He looked at Martian hills that time had worn with a crushing pressure of years. He saw the old cities, lost and lying like children's delicate bones among the blowing lakes of grass.
"Chin up, Harry," said his wife. "It's too late. We've come at least sixty-five million miles or more."
The children with their yellow hair hollered at the deep dome of Martian sky. There was no answer but the racing hiss of wind through the stiff grass.
He picked up the luggage in his cold hands. "Here we go," he said - a man standing on the edge of a sea, ready to wade in and be drowned.
They walked into town.
Their name was Bittering. Harry and his wife Cora; Tim, Laura, and David. They built a small white cottage and ate good breakfasts there, but the fear was never gone. It lay with Mr.Bittering and Mrs.Bittering, a third unbidden partner at every midnight talk, at every dawn awakening.
"I feel like a salt crystal," he often said, "in a mountain stream, being washed away. We don't belong here. We're Earth people. This is Mars. It was meant for Martians. For heaven's sake, Cora, let's buy tickets for home!"
But she only shook her head. "One day the atom bomb will fix Earth. Then we'll be safe here." "Safe and insane!"
Tick-took, seven o'clock sang the voice clock; time to get up. And they did.
Something made him check everything each morning - warm hearth, potted blood-geraniums - precisely as if he expected something to be amiss. The morning paper was toast-warm from the six a.m. Earth rocket. He broke its seal and tilted it at his breakfast plate. He forced himself to be convivial.
"Colonial days all over again," he declared. "Why, in another year there'll be a million Earthmen on Mars. Big cities, everything! They said we'd fail. Said the Martians would resent our invasion. But did we find any Martians? Not a living soul! Oh, we found their empty cities, but no one in them. Right?"
A river of wind submerged the house. When the windows ceased rattling, Mr.Bittering swallowed and looked at the children.
"I don't know," said David. "Maybe there're Martians around we don't see. Sometimes nights I think I hear 'em. I hear the wind. The sand hits my window. I get scared. And I see those towns way up in the mountains where the Martians lived a long ago. And I think I see things moving around those towns, Papa. And I wonder if those Martians mind us living here. I wonder if they won't do something to us for coming here."
"Nonsense!" Mr.Bittering looked out of the windows. "We're clean, decent people." He looked at his children. "All dead cities have some kind of ghosts in them. Memories, I mean." He stared at the hills. "You see a staircase and you wonder what Martians looked like climbing it. You see Martian paintings and you wonder what the painter was like. You make a little ghost in your mind, a memory. It's quite natural. Imagination." He stopped. "You haven't been prowling up in those ruins, have you?"
"No, Papa." David looked at his shoes.
"See that you stay away from them. Pass the jam."
"Just the same," said little David, "I bet something happens."
Something happened that afternoon.
Laura stumbled through the settlement, crying. She dashed blindly on to the porch.
"Mother, Father - the war, Earth!" she sobbed. "A radio flash just came. Atom bombs hit New York! All the space rockets blown up. No more rockets to Mars, ever!"
"Oh, Harry!" The mother held on to her husband and daughter.
"Are you sure, Laura?" asked the father quietly.
Laura wept. "We're stranded on Mars, for ever and ever!"
For a long time there was only the sound of the wind in the late afternoon.
Alone, thought Bittering. Only a thousand of us here. No way back. No way. No way. Sweat poured from his face and his hands and his body; he was drenched in the hot-ness of his fear. He wanted to strike Laura, cry, "No, you're lying! The rockets will come back!" Instead, he stroked Laura's head against him and said, "The rockets will get through, some day."
"In five years maybe. It takes that long to build one. Father, Father, what will we do?"
"Go about our business, of course. Raise crops and children. Wait. Keep things going until the war ends and the rockets come again."
The two boys stepped out on to the porch. "Children," he said, sitting there, looking beyond them, "I've something to tell you." "We know," they said.
Bittering wandered into the garden to stand alone in his fear. As long as the rockets had spun a silver web across space, he had been able to accept Mars. For he had always told himself: 'Tomorrow, if I want, I can buy a ticket and go back to Earth.'
But now: the web gone, the rockets lying in jigsaw heaps of molten girder and unsnaked wire. Earth people left to the strangeness of Mars, the cinnamon dusts and wine airs, to be baked like gingerbread shapes in Martian summers, put into harvested storage by Martian winters. What would happen to him, the others? This was the moment Mars had waited for. Now it would eat them.
He got down on his knees in the flower bed, a spade in his nervous hands. Work, he thought, work and forget.
He glanced up from the garden to the Martian mountains. He thought of the proud old Martian names that had once been on those peaks. Earthmen, dropping from the sky, had gazed upon hills, rivers, Martian seas left nameless in spite of names. Once Martians had built cities, named cities; climbed mountains, named mountains; sailed seas, named seas. Mountains melted, seas drained, cities tumbled. In spite of this, the Earthmen had felt a silent guilt at putting new names to these ancient hills and valleys.
Nevertheless, man lives by symbol and label. The names were given.
Mr.Bittering felt very alone in his garden under the Martian sun, bent here, planting Earth flowers in a wild soil.
Think. Keep thinking. Different things. Keep your mind free of Earth, the atom war, the lost rockets.
He perspired. He glanced about. No one watching. He removed his tie. Pretty bold, he thought. First your coat off, now your tie. He hung it neatly on a peach tree he had imported as a sapling from Massachusetts.
He returned to his philosophy of names and mountains. The Earthmen had changed names. Now there were Hormel Valleys, Roosevelt Seas, Ford Hills, Vanderbilt Plateaus, Rockefeller Rivers, on Mars. It wasn't right. The American settlers had shown wisdom, using old Indian prairie names: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Ohio, Utah, Milwaukee, Waukegan, Osseo. The old names, the old meanings.
Staring at the mountains wildly he thought: 'Are you up there? All the dead ones, you Martians? Well, here we are, alone, cut off! Come down, move us out! We're helpless!'
The wind blew a shower of peach blossoms.
He put out his sun-browned hand, gave a small cry. He touched the blossoms, picked them up. He turned them, be touched them again and again. Then he shouted for his wife.
"Cora!"
She appeared at a window. He ran to her.
"Cora, these blossoms!"
She handled them.
"Do you see? They're different. They've changed! They're not peach blossoms any more!"
"Look all right to me," she said.
"They're not. They're wrong! I can't tell how. An extra petal, a leaf, something, the colour, the smell!"
The children ran out in time to see their father hurrying about the garden, pulling up radishes, onions, and carrots from their beds.
"Cora, come look!
They handled the onions, the radishes, the carrots among them.
"Do they look like carrots?"
"Yes... No." She hesitated. "I don't know."
"They're changed."
"Perhaps."
"You know they have! Onions but not onions, carrots but not carrots. Taste: the same but different. Smell: not like it used to be." He felt his heart pounding, and he was afraid. He dug his fingers into the earth. "Cora, what's happening? What is it? We've got to get away from this." He ran across the garden. Each tree felt his touch. "The roses. The roses. They're turning green!"
And they stood looking at the green roses.
And two days later, Tim came running. "Come see the cow. I was milking her and I saw it. Come on!"
They stood in the shed and looked at their one cow.
It was growing a third horn.
And the lawn in front of their house very quietly and slowly was colouring itself, like spring violets. Seed from Earth but growing up a soft purple.
"We must get away," said Bittering. "We'll eat this stuff and then we'll change - who knows to what. I can't let it happen. There's only one thing to do. Burn this food!"
"It's not poisoned."
"But it is. Subtly, very subtly. A little bit. A very little bit. We mustn't touch it."
He looked with dismay at their house. "Even the house. The wind's done something to it. The air's burned it. The fog at night. The boards, all warped out of shape. It's not an Earthman's house any more."
"Oh, your imagination!"
He put on his coat and tie. "I'm going into town. We've got to do something now. I'll be back."
"Wait, Harry!" his wife cried.
But he was gone.
In town, on the shadowy step of the grocery store, the men sat with their hands on their knees, conversing with great leisure and ease.
Mr.Bittering wanted to fire a pistol in the air.
What are you doing, you fools! he thought. Sitting here! You've heard the news - we're stranded on this planet. Well, move! Aren't you frightened? Aren't you afraid? What are you going to do?
"Hello, Harry," said everyone.
"Look," he said to them. "You did hear the news, the other day, didn't you?"
They nodded and laughed. "Sure. Sure, Harry."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"Do, Harry, do? What can we do?"
"Build a rocket, that's what!"
"A rocket, Harry? To go back to all that trouble? Oh, Harry!"
"But you must want to go back. Have you noticed the peach blossoms, the onions, the grass?"
"Why, yes, Harry, seems we did," said one of the men.
"Doesn't it scare you?"
"Can't recall that it did much, Harry."
"Idiots!"
"Now, Harry."
Bittering wanted to cry. "You've got to work with me. If we stay here, we'll all change. The air. Don't you smell it? Something in the air. A Martian virus, maybe; some seed, or a pollen. Listen to me!"
They stared at him.
"Sam," he said to one of them.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Will you help me build a rocket?"
"Harry, I got a whole load of metal and some blueprints. You want to work in my metal shop, on a rocket, you're welcome. I'll sell you that metal for five hundred dollars. You should be able to construct a right pretty rocket if you work alone, in about thirty years."
Everyone laughed.
"Don't laugh."
Sam looked at him with quiet good humour.
"Sam," Bittering said. "Your eyes -"
"What about them, Harry?"
"Didn't they used to be grey?"
"Well, now, I don't remember."
"They were, weren't they?"
"Why do you ask, Harry?"
"Because now they're kind of yellow-coloured."
"Is that so, Harry?" Sam said, casually.
"And you're taller and thinner -"
"You might be right, Harry."
"Sam, you shouldn't have yellow eyes."
"Harry, what colour eyes have you got?" Sam said.
"My eyes? They're blue, of course."
"Here you are, Harry." Sam handed him a pocket mirror. "Take a look at yourself."
Mr.Bittering hesitated, and then raised the mirror to his face.
There were little, very dim flecks of new gold captured in the blue of his eyes.
"Now look what you've done," said Sam, a moment later. "You've broken my mirror."
Harry Bittering moved into the metal shop and began to build the rocket. Men stood in the open door and talked and joked without raising their voices. Once in a while they gave him a hand on lifting something. But mostly they just idled and watched him with their yellowing eyes.
"It's supper-time, Harry," they said.
His wife appeared with his supper in a wicker basket.
"I won't touch it," he said. "I'll eat only food from our deepfreeze. Food that came from Earth. Nothing from our garden."
His wife stood watching him. "You can't build a rocket."
"I worked in a shop once, when I was twenty. I know metal. Once I get it started, the others will help," he said, not looking at her, laying out the blueprints.
"Harry, Harry," she said, helplessly.
"We've got to get away, Cora. We've got to!"
The nights were full of wind that blew down the empty moonlit sea-meadows past the little white chess cities lying for their twelve-thousandth year in the shallows. In the Earthmen's settlement, the Bittering house shook with a feeling of change.
Lying abed, Mr.Bittering felt his bones shifted, shaped, melted like gold. His wife, lying beside him, was dark from many sunny afternoons. Dark she was, and golden, burnt almost black by the sun, sleeping, and the children metallic in their beds, and the wind roaring forlorn and changing through the old peach trees, violet grass, shaking out green rose petals.
The fear would not be stopped. It had his throat and heart. It dripped in a wetness of the arm and the temple and the trembling palm.
A green star rose in the east.
A strange word emerged from Mr.Bittering's lips.
"Iorrt. Iorrt." He repeated it.
It was a Martian word. He knew no Martian.
In the middle of the night he arose and dialled a call through to Simpson, the archaeologist.
"Simpson, what does the word 'Iorrt' mean?"
"Why that's the old Martian word for our planet Earth. Why?"
"No special reason."
The telephone slipped from his hand.
"Hello, hello, hello, hello," it kept saying while he sat gazing out at the green star. "Bittering? Harry, are you there?"
The days were full of metal sound. He laid the frame of the rocket with the reluctant help of three indifferent men. He grew very tired in an hour or so and had to sit down.
"The altitude," laughed a man.
"Are you eating, Harry?" asked another.
"I'm eating," he said, angrily,
"From your deep-freeze?"
"Yes!"
"You're getting thinner, Harry."
"I'm not!"
"And taller."
"Liar!"
His wife took him aside a few days later. "Harry, I've used up all the food in the deep-freeze. There's nothing left. I'll have to make sandwiches using food grown on Mars."
He sat down heavily.
"You must eat," she said. "You're weak."
"Yes," he said.
He took a sandwich, opened it, looked at it, and began to nibble at it.
"And take the rest of the day off," she said. "It's hot. The children want to swim in the canals and hike. Please come along."
"I can't waste time. This is a crisis!" "Just for an hour," she urged. "A swim'll do you good." He rose, sweating. "All right, all right. Leave me alone. I'll come."
"Good for you, Harry."
The sun was hot, the day quiet. There was only an immense staring burn upon the land. They moved along the canal, the father, the mother, the racing children in their swimsuits. They stopped and ate meat sandwiches. He saw their skin baking brown. And he saw the yellow eyes of his wife and his children, their eyes that were never yellow before. A few tremblings shook him, but were carried off in waves of pleasant heat as he lay in the sun. He was too tired to be afraid.
"Cora, how long have your eyes been yellow?" She was bewildered. "Always, I guess." "They didn't change from brown in the last three months?"
She bit her lips. "No. Why do you ask?" "Nevermind." They sat there.
"The children's eyes," he said. "They're yellow, too." "Sometimes growing children's eyes change colour." "Maybe we're children, too. At least to Mars. That's a thought." He laughed. "Think I'll swim."
They leaped into the canal water, and he let himself sink down and down to the bottom like a golden statue and lie there in green silence. All was water, quiet and deep, all was peace. He felt the steady, slow current drift him easily.
If I lie here long enough, he thought, the water will work and eat away my flesh until the bones show like coral. Just my skeleton left. And then the water can build on that skeleton - green things, deep-water things, red things, yellow things. Change. Change. Slow, deep, silent change. And isn't that what it is up there!
He saw the sky submerged above him, the sun made Martian by atmosphere and time and space.
Up there, a big river, he thought, a Martian river, all of us lying deep in it, in our pebble houses, in our sunken boulder houses, like crayfish hidden, and the water washing away our old bodies and lengthening the bones and -
He let himself drift up through the soft light.
Tim sat on the edge of the canal, regarding his father seriously.
"Utha," he said.
"What?" asked his father.
The boy smiled. "You know. Utha's the Martian word for 'father'."
"Where did you learn it?"
"I don't know. Around. Utha!"
"What do you want?"
The boy hesitated. "I - I want to change my name."
"Change it?"
"Yes."
His mother swam over. "What's wrong with Tim for a name?"
Tim fidgeted. "The other day you called Tim, Tim, Tim. I didn't even hear. I said to myself, That's not my name. I've a new name I want to use."
Mr.Bittering held to the side of the canal, his body cold and his heart pounding slowly. "What is this new name?" "Linnl. Isn't that a good name? Can I use it? Can I, please?"
Mr.Bittering put his hand to his head. He thought of the rocket, himself working alone, himself alone even among his family, so alone.
He heard his wife say, "Why not?" He heard himself say, "Yes, you can use it." "Yaaa!" screamed the boy. "I'm Linnl, Linnl!" Racing down the meadowlands, he danced and shouted. Mr.Bittering looked at his wife. "Why did we do that?" "I don't know," she said. "It just seemed like a good idea."
They walked into the hills. They strolled on old mosaic paths, beside still-pumping fountains. The paths were covered with a thin film of cool water all summer long. You kept your bare feet cool all the day, splashing as in a creek, wading.
They came to a small deserted Martian villa with a good view of the valley. It was on top of a hill. Blue-marble halls, large murals, a swimming-pool. It was refreshing in this hot summer-time. The Martians hadn't believed in large cities.
"How nice," said Mrs.Bittering, "if you could move up here to this villa for the summer."
"Come on," he said. "We're going back to town. There's work to be done on the rocket."
But as he worked that night, the thought of the cool bluemarble villa entered his mind. As the hours passed, the rocket seemed less important.
In the flow of days and weeks, the rocket receded and dwindled. The old fever was gone. It frightened him to think he had let it slip this way. But somehow the heat, the air, the working conditions - he heard the men murmuring on the porch of his metal shop.
"Everyone's going. You heard?"
"All right. That's right."
Bittering came out. "Going where?" He saw a couple of trucks, loaded with children and furniture, drive down the dusty street.
"Up to the villa," said the man.
"Yeah, Harry. I'm going. So is Sam. Aren't you, Sam?"
"That's right, Harry. What about you?"
"I've got work to do here."
"Work! You can finish that rocket in the autumn, when it's cooler."
He took a breath. "1 got the frame all set up."
"In the autumn is better." Their voices were lazy in the heat.
"Got to work," he said.
"Autumn," they reasoned. And they sounded so sensible, so right.
"Autumn would be best," he thought. "Plenty of time, then."
No! cried part of himself, deep down, put away, locked tight, suffocating. No! No! "In the autumn," he said. "Come on, Harry," they all said.
"Yes," he said, feeling his flesh melt in the hot liquid air. "Yes, the autumn. I'll begin work again then." "I got a villa near the Tirra Canal," said someone. "You mean the Roosevelt Canal, don't you?" "Tirra. The old Martian name."
"But on the map -"
"Forget the map. It's Tirra now. Now I found a place in the Pillan mountains -"
"You mean the Rockefeller range," said Bittering.
"I mean the Pillan mountains," said Sam.
"Yes," said Bittering, buried in the hot, swarming air. "The Pillan mountains."
Everyone worked at loading the truck in the hot, still afternoon of the next day.
Laura, Tim, and David carried packages. Or, as they preferred to be known, Ttil, Linnl, and Werr carried packages.
The furniture was abandoned in the little white cottage.
"It looked just fine in Boston," said the mother. "And here in the cottage. But up at the villa? No. We'll get it when we come back in the autumn."
Bittering himself was quiet.
"I've some ideas on furniture for the villa," he said, after a time. "Big, lazy furniture."
"What about your Encyclopedia! You're taking it along, surely?"
Mr.Bittering glanced away. "I'll come and get it next week."
They turned to their daughter. "What about your New York dresses?"
The bewildered girl stared. "Why, I don't want them any more."
They shut off the gas, the water, they locked the doors and walked away. Father peered into the truck.
"Gosh, we're not taking much," he said. "Considering all we brought to Mars, this is only a handful!"
He started the truck.
Looking at the small white cottage for a long moment, he was filled with a desire to rush to it, touch it, say goodbye to it, for he felt as if he were going away on a long journey, leaving something to which he could never quite return, never understand again.
Just then Sam and his family drove by in another truck.
"Hi, Bittering! Here we go!"
The truck swung down the ancient highway out of town. There were sixty others travelling the same direction. The town filled with a silent, heavy dust from their passage. The canal waters lay blue in the sun, and a quiet wind moved in the strange trees.
"Good-bye, town!" said Mr.Bittering.
"Good-bye, good-bye," said the family, waving to it.
They did not look back again.
Summer burned the canals dry. Summer moved like flame upon the meadows. In the empty Earth settlement, the painted houses flaked and peeled. Rubber tyres upon which children had swung in back yards hung suspended like stopped clock pendulums in the blazing air.
At the metal shop, the rocket frame began to rust.
In the quiet autumn, Mr.Bittering stood, very dark now, very golden-eyed, upon the slope above his villa, looking at the valley.
"It's time to go back," said Cora.
"Yes, but we're not going," he said, quietly. "There's nothing there any more."
"Your books," she said. "Your fine clothes."
"Your Illes and your fine ior uele rre," she said.
"The town's empty. No one's going back," he said. "There's no reason to, none at all."
The daughter wove tapestries and the sons played songs on ancient flutes and pipes, their laughter echoing in the marble villa.
Mr.Bittering gazed at the Earth settlement far away in the low valley. "Such odd, such ridiculous houses the Earth people built."
"They didn't know any better," his wife mused. "Such ugly People. I'm glad they've gone."
They both looked at each other, startled by all they had just finished saying. They laughed.
"Where did they go?" he wondered. He glanced at his wife. She was golden and slender as his daughter. She looked at him, and he seemed almost as young as their eldest son.
"I don't know," she said.
"We'll go back to town maybe next year, or the year after, or the year after that," he said, calmly. "Now - I'm warm. How about taking a swim?"
They turned their backs to the valley. Arm in arm they walked silently down a path of clear running spring water.
Five years later, a rocket fell out of the sky. It lay steaming in the valley. Men leaped out of it, shouting.
"We won the war on Earth! We're here to rescue you! Hey!"
But the American-built town of cottages, peach trees, and theatres was silent. They found a half-finished rocket frame, rusting in an empty shop.
The rocket men searched the hills. The captain established headquarters in an abandoned bar. His lieutenant came back to report.
"The town's empty, but we found native life in the hills, sir. Dark people. Yellow eyes. Martians. Very friendly. We talked a bit, not much. They learn English fast. I'm sure our relations will be most friendly with them, sir."
"Dark, eh?" mused the captain. "How many?"
"Six, eight hundred, I'd say, living in those marble ruins in the hills, sir. Tall, healthy. Beautiful women."
"Did they tell you what became of the men and women who built this Earth settlement, Lieutenant?"
"They hadn't the foggiest notion of what happened to this town or its people."
"Strange. You think those Martians killed them?"
"They look surprisingly peaceful. Chances are a plague did this town in, sir."
"Perhaps. I suppose this is one of those mysteries we'll never solve. One of those mysteries you read about."
The captain looked at the room, the dusty windows, the blue mountains rising beyond, the canals moving in the light, and he heard the soft wind in the air. He shivered. Then, recovering, he tapped a large fresh map he had thumb-tacked to the top of an empty table.
"Lots to be done, Lieutenant." His voice droned on and quietly on as the sun sank behind the blue hills. "New settlements. Mining sites, minerals to be looked for. Bacteriological specimens taken. The work, all the work. And the old records were lost. We'll have a job of remapping to do, renaming the mountains and rivers and such. Calls for a little imagination."
"What do you think of naming those mountains the Lincoln Mountains, this canal the Washington Canal, those hills - we can name those hills for you, Lieutenant. Diplomacy. And you, for a favour, might name a town for me. Polishing the apple. And why not make this the Einstein Valley, and further over... are you listening, Lieutenant?"
The lieutenant snapped his gaze from the blue colour and the quiet mist of the hills far beyond the town.
"What? Oh, yes, sir!"
Conclusion
I do not remember when I first read this story, but I am pretty sure that I was in my early teens. Sometime around 1972 or so, I picked up a paperback without a cover and started to read it. I became enraptured with the book, and brought it home where I scarfed up every juicy morsel inside of it.
I later, cut the brown cardboard backing from a note pad and taped it to the front of the book, making an ugly, but functional cover. Carefully, I wrote the the title of the work “The Martian Chronicles” using a very yellow Bic Banana pen on the cover. Under it, I printed “By Ray Bradbury”.
Bookstores would often get credit for books that they could not sell. To do this, they would tear off the front covers and send them back to the publisher for credit. Behind the bookstores would be bins full of discarded paperback books. Though finding one that you would be interested in was remarkably difficult. You had to go through a couple of hundred books that could represent anything from romance novels, to Westerns, to books on the surviving the future snowball earth as a consequence of global freezing.
During the 1970’s there was a big push to fund efforts to prevent global cooling. I would attend school and we would go out and clean up the neighborhood, and go on fund raising drives to collect money for the cause. The money would be collected in huge apple baskets. There was so much money collected. Baskets and baskets of donated money to prevent global cooling. Now, I don’t know what ever happened to the money. But, I am sure that someone took it and spent it in some way. Anyways, afterwards, we would eat hotdogs at a barn-fire, and sing songs. Typical songs were “If I had a hammer”, and kumbaya.
What I would do is crawl up and into the huge metal dumpster, and dig through boxes and debris to get to the books.
You could get an inkling of what the book’s content would be by looking at the back cover, but it was typically a difficult endeavor. However, for a young boy, who liked to read, climb in and out of dumpsters and get into trouble, it was like mining a treasure trove.
I would typically find four or five books of interest and throw them into my backpack / satchel (that I got at an Army Surplus store) and ride my banana-seat bicycle home. Once at the house, I could read the books at leisure, and out of the collection, I might end up keeping two or three and tossing the rest.
I was the perpetual scavenger. From lost golf balls at the local golf club to digging through the rocks at the nearby pool to look for fossils. My bed room was a collection of all sorts of junk that I would lug home. I had everything from arrowheads to piles of “Mad Magazine”, and “Treasure Magazines” stacked up in the corner. My room had model airplanes hanging from the ceiling by string, to old maps that I liberated out of the ceiling rafters of an old car garage.
I was a typical boy, and Ray Bradberry was a major influence on my life.
Take Aways
Ray Bradbury wrote the short story “Dark they were and golden eyed”.
His works greatly influenced me was a young boy into my early teens.
He contributed to my desire to study aerospace engineering, become a pilot in the Navy, and join MAJestic.
His stories are not to be studied, they are to be enjoyed.
FAQ
Q: What would you do after you read science fiction stories?
A: Typically, I would read at the house. I was a big fan of reading while I was in the bathroom. I would read on both the toilet and while soaking in the tub. I would read in my tree house, or on my bed, or in the living room. I would read on the porch, or in the car while my father was driving us about. I read everywhere.
However, when I wasn’t reading I was typically out walking or hiking. We had various spur lines for the coal-hauling railroad all around us. They would wind in and out of the hills. I would walk those railroad tracks. Often I would walk on top like a balance beam. If a train was near, I would pull out a penny to squash on the track. I would also pick up some of the millions of little black marble-sized dirty balls that were everywhere and throw them into the bushes or into the nearby river. Sometimes I would take out my trusty (blue) cub-scout knife and cut some branches off of a beech tree and chew on the branches as I walked.
I often would walk alone and ponder my life. I might go with a friend or two, or my trusty dog Belle (she was a Siberian Husky). We would walk the spurs and climb the hills. We would talk about televisions shows, the local football game, and things that mattered to us.
Q: Should Ray Bradbury and his works be taught in school?
A: Yes and no. Stories by Bradbury are not something that can used to achieve grades. It is something that has to be absorbed. Therefore, I believe that everyone should be exposed to his work, but it should not be used as a study aid. It’s like pizza. Many people like it, but not everyone. You can study how to make a pizza, but the best thing and the best utility for pizza is to eat it.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This story was written right after World War II by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law.
“The Rocket” is a Science fiction short story (initially published under the name “Outcast of the Stars”) by American writer Ray Bradbury. It is also included in The Illustrated Man, a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury.
Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
When Ray started out, the field of science fiction lacked respectability, to say the least. It was the province of the pulps: magazines printed on cheap paper, with lurid covers designed to catch the attention of immature boys.
He was often dismissed, if not outright ridiculed, by mainstream writers, but quickly learned to ignore his critics. If they didn’t think rockets and dinosaurs were suitable subjects for literature, to hell with them.
Ray loved that stuff, along with Martians and witches and things that go bump in the night, so that’s what he wrote about. His unique imagination was harnessed within vivid, lyrical prose, and after the publication of The Martian Chronicles in 1950, the literary elite were forced to acknowledge a striking new talent.
As Ray’s stories became more widely published and read, they fueled the imaginations of millions of young people over several generations, many of whom went on to cite his influence as a major reason they became scientists and engineers.
His stories practically shouted that it wasn’t just okay to dream of rockets and space travel, it was wonderful, mythic, imperative—the highest accomplishment the human race could aspire to.
-The Space Review's tribute to Ray Bradbury
I will ride up into space, into the stars…someday.
Introduction
“There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go…”R is for Rocket
Ray Bradbury
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
A small collection of well worn, well read and well appreciated Ray Bradberry books. My collection looked a little something like this, only I think the books were a little more worn, and a little yellower.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradberry books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “The Rocket” on the Ray Bradbury library portal in Russia, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the Ray Bradbury Library for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it.
The Rocket by Ray Bradbury
Many nights Fiorello Bodoni would awaken to hear the rockets sighing in the dark sky. He would tiptoe from bed, certain that his kind wife was dreaming, to let himself out into the night air. For a few moments he would be free of the smells of old food in the small house by the river. For a silent moment he would let his heart soar alone into space, following the rockets.
Now, this very night, he stood half naked in the darkness, watching the fire fountains murmuring in the air. The rockets on their long wild way to Mars and Saturn and Venus!
"Well, well, Bodoni."
Bodoni started.
On a milk crate, by the silent river, sat an old man who also watched the rockets through the midnight hush.
"Oh, it's you, Bramante!"
"Do you come out every night, Bodoni?"
"Only for the air."
"So? I prefer the rockets myself," said old Bramante. "I was a boy when they started. Eighty years ago, and I've never been on one yet."
"I will ride up in one someday," said Bodoni.
"Fool!" cried Bramante. "You'll never go. This is a rich man's world." He shook his gray head, remembering. "When I was young they wrote it in fiery letters: THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE! Science, Comfort, and New Things for All! Ha! Eighty years. The Future becomes Now! Do we fly rockets'? No! We live in shacks like our ancestors before us."
"Perhaps my sons -" said Bodoni.
"No, nor their sons!" the old man shouted. "It's the rich who have dreams and rockets!"
Bodoni hesitated. "Old man, I've saved three thousand dollars. It took me six years to save it. For my business, to invest in machinery. But every night for a month now I've been awake. I hear the rockets. I think. And tonight I've made up my mind. One of us will fly to Mars!" His eyes were shining and dark.
"Idiot," snapped Bramante. "How will you choose? Who will go? If you go, your wife will hate you, for you will be just a bit nearer God, in spare. When you tell your amazing trip to her, over the years, won't bitterness gnaw at her?"
"No, no!"
"Yes! And your children? Will their lives be filled with the memory of Papa, who flew to Mars while they stayed here? What a senseless task you will set your boys. They will think of the rocket all their lives. They will lie awake. They will be sick with wanting it. Just as you are sick now. They will want to die if they cannot go. Don't set that goal, I warn you. Let them be content with being poor. Turn their eyes down to their hands and to your junk yard, not up to the stars."
"But -"
"Suppose your wife went? How would you feel, knowing she had seen and you had not? She would become holy. You would think of throwing her in the river. No, Bodoni, buy a new wrecking machine, which you need, and pull your dreams apart with it, and smash them to pieces."
The old man subsided, gazing at the river in which, drowned, images of rockets burned down the sky.
"Good night," said Bodoni.
"Sleep well," said the other.
When the toast jumped from its silver box, Bodoni almost screamed. The night had been sleepless. Among his nervous children, beside his mountainous wife, Bodoni had twisted and stared at nothing. Bramante was right. Better to invest the money. Why save it when only one of the family could ride the rocket, while the others remained to melt in frustration?
"Fiorello, eat your toast," said his wife, Maria.
"My throat is shriveled," said Bodoni.
The children rushed in, the three boys fighting over a toy rocket, the two girls carrying dolls which duplicated the inhabitants of Mars, Venus, and Neptune, green mannequins with three yellow eyes and twelve fingers.
"I saw the Venus rocket!" cried Paolo.
"It took off, whoosh!" hissed Antonello.
"Children!" shouted Bodoni, hands to his ears.
They stared at him. He seldom shouted.
Bodoni arose. "Listen, all of you," he said. "I have enough money to take one of us on the Mars rocket."
Everyone yelled.
"You understand?" he asked. "Only one of us. Who?"
"Me, me, me!" cried the children.
"You," said Maria.
"You," said Bodoni to her.
They all fell silent.
The children reconsidered. "Let Lorenzo go - he's oldest."
"Let Miriamne go - she's a girl!"
"Think what you would see," said Bodoni's wife to him. But her eyes were strange. Her voice shook. "The meteors, like fish. The universe. The Moon. Someone should go who could tell it well on returning. You have a way with words."
"Nonsense. So have you," he objected.
Everyone trembled.
"Here," said Bodoni unhappily. From a broom he broke straws of various lengths. "The short straw wins." He held out his tight fist. "Choose."
Solemnly each took his turn.
"Long straw."
"Long straw."
Another.
"Long straw."
The children finished. The room was quiet. Two straws remained. Bodoni felt his heart ache in him.
"Now," he whispered. "Maria."
She drew.
"The short straw," she said.
"Ah," sighed Lorenzo, half happy, half sad. "Mama goes to Mars."
Bodoni tried to smile. "Congratulations. I will buy your ticket today."
"Wait, Fiorello -"
"You can leave next week," he murmured.
She saw the sad eyes of her children upon her, with the smiles beneath their straight, large noses. She returned the straw slowly to her husband. "I cannot go to Mars."
"But why not?"
"I will be busy with another child."
"What!"
She would not look at him. "It wouldn't do for me to travel in my condition."
He took her elbow. "Is this the truth?"
"Draw again. Start over."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" he said incredulously.
"I didn't remember."
"Maria, Maria," he whispered, patting her face. He turned to the children. "Draw again."
Paolo immediately drew the short straw.
"I go to Mars!" He danced wildly. "Thank you, Father!"
The other children edged away. "That's swell, Paolo."
Paolo stopped smiling to examine his parents and his brothers and sisters. "I can go, can't I?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yes."
"And you'll like me when I come back?"
"Of course."
Paolo studied the precious broomstraw on his trembling hand and shook his head. He threw it away. "I forgot. School starts. I can't go. Draw again."
But none would draw. A full sadness lay on them.
"None of us will go," said Lorenzo.
"That's best," said Maria.
"Bramante was right," said Bodoni.
With his breakfast curdled within him, Fiorello Bodoni worked in his junk yard, ripping metal, melting it, pouring out usable ingots. His equipment flaked apart; competition had kept him on the insane edge of poverty for twenty years. It was a very bad morning.
In the afternoon a man entered the junk yard and called up to Bodoni on his wrecking machine. "Hey, Bodoni, I got some metal for you!"
"What is it, Mr. Mathews?" asked Bodoni, listlessly.
"A rocket ship. What's wrong? Don't you want it?"
"Yes, yes!" He seized the man's arm, and stopped, bewildered.
"Of course," said Mathews, "it's only a mockup. You know. When they plan a rocket they build a full-scale model first, of aluminum. You might make a small profit boiling her down. Let you have her for two thousand -"
Bodoni dropped his hand. "I haven't the money."
"Sorry. Thought I'd help you. Last time we talked you said how everyone outbid you on junk. Thought I'd slip this to you on the q.t. Well -"
"I need new equipment. I saved money for that."
"I understand."
"If I bought your rocket, I wouldn't even be able to melt it down. My aluminum furnace broke down last week -"
"Sure."
"I couldn't possibly use the rocket if I bought it from you."
"I know."
Bodoni hunked and shut his eyes. He opened them and looked at Mr. Mathews. "But I am a great fool. I will take my money from the bank and give it to you."
"But if you can't melt the rocket down -"
"Deliver it," said Bodoni.
"All right, if you say so. Tonight?"
"Tonight," said Bodoni, "would be fine. Yes, I would like to have a rocket ship tonight."
...
There was a moon. The rocket was white and big in the junk yard. It held the whiteness of the moon and the blueness of the stars. Bodoni looked at it and loved all of it. He wanted to pet it and lie against it, pressing it with his cheek, telling it all the secret wants of his heart.
He stared up at it. "You are all mine," he said. "Even if you never move or spit fire, and just sit there and rust for fifty years, you are mine."
The rocket smelled of time and distance. It was like walking into a clock. It was finished with Swiss delicacy. One might wear it on one's watch fob. "I might even sleep here tonight," Bodoni whispered excitedly.
He sat in the pilot's seat.
He touched a lever.
He hummed in his shut mouth, his eyes closed.
The humming grew louder, louder, higher, higher, wilder, stranger, more exhilarating, trembling in him and leaning him forward and pulling him and the ship in a roaring silence and in a kind of metal screaming, while his fists flew over the controls, and his shut eyes quivered, and the sound grew and grew until it was a fire, a strength, a lifting and a pushing of power that threatened to tear him in half. He gasped. He hummed again and again, and did not stop, for it could not be stopped, it could only go on, his eyes tighter, his heart furious. "Taking off!" he screamed. The jolting concussion! The thunder! "The Moon!" he cried, eyes blind, tight. "The meteors!" The silent rush in volcanic light. "Mars. Oh, God, Mars! Mars!"
He fell back, exhausted and panting. His shaking hands came loose of the controls and his head tilted back wildly. He sat for a long time, breathing out and in, his heart slowing.
Slowly, slowly, he opened his eyes.
The junk yard was still there.
He sat motionless. He looked at the heaped piles of metal for a minute, his eyes never leaving them. Then, leaping up, he kicked the levers. "Take off, damn you!"
The ship was silent.
"I'll show you!" he cried.
Out in the night air, stumbling, he started the fierce motor of his terrible wrecking machine and advanced upon the rocket. He maneuvered the massive weights into the moonlit sky. He readied his trembling hands to plunge the weights, to smash, to rip apart this insolently false dream, this silly thing for which he had paid his money, which would not move, which would not do his bidding. "I'll teach you!" he shouted.
But his hand stayed.
The silver rocket lay in the light of the moon. And beyond the rocket stood the yellow lights of his home, a block away, burning warmly. He heard the family radio playing some distant music. He sat for half an hour considering the rocket and the house lights, and his eyes narrowed and grew wide. He stepped down from the wrecking machine and began to walk, and as he walked he began to laugh, and when he reached the back door of his house he took a deep breath and called, "Maria, Maria, start packing. We're going to Mars!"
"Oh!"
"Ah!"
"I can't believe it!"
"You will, you will."
The children balanced in the windy yard, under the glowing rocket, not touching it yet. They started to cry.
Maria looked at her husband. "What have you done?" she said. "Taken our money for this? It will never fly."
"It will fly," he said, looking at it.
"Rocket ships cost millions. Have you millions?"
"It will fly," he repeated steadily. "Now, go to the house, all of you. I have phone calls to make, work to do. Tomorrow we leave! Tell no one, understand? It is a secret."
The children edged off from the rocket, stumbling. He saw their small, feverish faces in the house windows, far away.
Maria had not moved. "You have ruined us," she said. "Our money used for this - this thing. When it should have been spent on equipment."
"You will see," he said.
Without a word she turned away.
"God help me," he whispered, and started to work.
Through the midnight hours trucks arrived, packages were delivered, and Bodoni, smiling, exhausted his bank account. With blowtorch and metal stripping he assaulted the rocket, added, took away, worked fiery magics and secret insults upon it. He bolted nine ancient automobile motors into the rocket's empty engine room. Then he welded the engine room shut, so none could see his hidden labor.
At dawn he entered the kitchen. "Maria," he said, "I'm ready for breakfast."
She would not speak to him.
...
At sunset he called to the children. "We're ready! Come on!" The house was silent.
"I've locked them in the closet," said Maria.
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
"You'll be killed in that rocket," she said. "What kind of rocket can you buy for two thousand dollars? A bad one!"
"Listen to me, Maria."
"It will blow up. Anyway, you are no pilot."
"Nevertheless, I can fly this ship. I have fixed it."
"You have gone mad," she said.
"Where is the key to the closet?"
"I have it here."
He put out his hand. "Give it to me."
She banded it to him. "You will kill them."
"No, no."
"Yes, you will. I feel it."
He stood before her. "You won't come along?"
"I'll stay here," she said.
"You will understand; you will see then," he said, and smiled. He unlocked the closet. "Come, children. Follow your father."
"Good-bye, good-bye, Mama!"
She stayed in the kitchen window, looking out at them, very straight and silent.
At the door of the rocket the father said, "Children, we will be gone a week. You must come back to school, and I to my business." He took each of their hands in turn. "Listen. This rocket is very old and will fly only one more journey. It will not fly again. This will be the one trip of your life. Keep your eyes wide."
"Yes, Papa."
"Listen, keep your ears clean. Smell the smells of a rocket. Feel. Remember. So when you return you will talk of it all the rest of your lives."
"Yes, Papa."
The ship was quiet as a stopped clock. The airlock hissed shut behind them. He strapped them all, like tiny mummies, into rubber hammocks. "Ready?" he called.
"Ready!" all replied.
"Take-off!" He jerked ten switches. The rocket thundered and leaped. The children danced in their hammocks, screaming.
"Here comes the Moon!"
The moon dreamed by. Meteors broke into fireworks. Time flowed away in a serpentine of gas. The children shouted. Released from their hammocks, hours later, they peered from the ports. "There's Earth!" "There's Mars!"
The rocket dropped pink petals of fire while the hour dials spun; the child eyes dropped shut. At last they hung like drunken moths in their cocoon hammocks.
"Good," whispered Bodoni, alone.
He tiptoed from the control room to stand for a long moment, fearful, at the airlock door.
He pressed a button. The airlock door swung wide. He stepped out. Into space? Into inky tides of meteor and gaseous torch? Into swift mileages and infinite dimensions?
No. Bodoni smiled.
All about the quivering rocket lay the junk yard. Rusting, unchanged, there stood the padlocked junk-yard gate, the little silent house by the river, the kitchen window lighted, and the river going down to the same sea. And in the center of the junk yard, manufacturing a magic dream, lay the quivering, purring rocket. Shaking and roaring, bouncing the netted children like flies in a web.
Maria stood in the kitchen window.
He waved to her and smiled.
He could not see if she waved or not. A small wave, perhaps. A small smile.
The sun was rising.
Bodoni withdrew hastily into the rocket. Silence. All still slept. He breathed easily. Tying himself into a hammock, he closed his eyes. To himself he prayed. Oh, let nothing happen to the illusion in the next six days. Let all of space come and go, and red Mars come up under our ship, and the moons of Mars, and let there be no flaws in the color film. Let there be three dimensions; let nothing go wrong with the hidden mirrors and screens that mold the fine illusion. Let time pass without crisis.
He awoke.
Red Mars floated near the rocket.
"Papa!" The children thrashed to be free.
Bodoni looked and saw red Mars and it was good and there was no flaw in it and he was very happy.
At sunset on the seventh day the rocket stopped shuddering.
"We are home," said Bodoni.
They walked across the junk yard from the open door of the rocket, their blood singing, their faces glowing.
"I have ham and eggs for all or you," said Maria, at the kitchen door.
"Mama, Mama, you should have come, to see it, to see Mars, Mama, and meteors, and everything!"
"Yes," she said.
At bedtime the children gathered before Bodoni. "We want to thank you, Papa."
"It was nothing."
"We will remember it for always, Papa. We will never forget."
...
Very late in the night Bodoni opened his eyes. He sensed that his wife was lying beside him, watching him. She did not move for a very long time, and then suddenly she kissed his cheeks and his forehead. "What's this?" he cried.
"You're the best father in the world," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Now I see," she said. "I understand."
She lay back and closed her eyes, holding his hand. "Is it a very lovely journey?" she asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Perhaps," she said, "perhaps, some night, you might take me on just a little trip, do you think?"
"Just a little one, perhaps," he said.
"Thank you," she said. "Good night."
"Good night," said Fiorello Bodoni.
Some Thoughts
Today, I get curious glances from the youth that often ask me “why did you want to go into space?”. To them, it is dull and uninteresting. It is the realm of satellites to measure global warming. To them, it is a racist and bigoted environment that favored “white people”. To them, is is a big void that holds nothing of interest.
But they are wrong.
The future of mankind lies in space.
This story, and others, amply the describe the strong yearning that I had for space exploration, science and solving the mysteries of the universe. I didn’t want “someday” to go into space. No. Every single fiber of my body screamed the need. I could live, sleep or do anything without thinking of space, and the huge rockets that would someday carry me there.
No. Today it is a different time with different role models. I grew up in a world where Ronald Reagan was president. Today, children grow up in a world where Barrack Obama is president.
The presidents change with the culture. While I grew up and graduated (and entered MAJestic) under President Reagan, the youth of today have different role models to follow. Instead they follow President Obama as a role model. Everyone wants to be a Social Justice Warrior and correct the illusions that seem to hurt everyone’s feelings.
So it should be no surprise that an anarchism like myself would be misunderstood.
Conclusion
This story fed my dreams when I was a young boy. Sometime in my early teens in the 1970’s I first read this story. I am sure that I read it in one complete sitting. Perhaps it was on my bed with my cat Sedwick, or chilling in my tree-house next to the kitchen. In any event, I completely loved the story, and every few years or so, I crack up the story and read it again.
Perhaps one day, my sons will ride off into space. Perhaps. One day.
This story meant a lot to me, and still does. I sincerely, hope that you, the reader, have derived as much pleasure from it as I have.
Take Aways
This story is about a father providing an experience for his children so that they can realize that it is possible to obtain their dreams.
No one wants to hear that something is impossible or beyond their ability.
Subsisting is not living.
Humans are creatures that must grow and advance.
FAQ
Q: Did you study about Ray Bradbury in school?
A: No. Instead I took hard science courses, language classes including Latin, and mathematics. My goal and dream was to become a spaceman. I wanted to be a Rocket Jockey. I had friends in university that took classes in English and Literature that studied Bradbury. I could not. I had a very heavy class load.
So, for recreation, around 12:00 midnight or later, after I would finish up my homework, I would read short stories in bed for a spell so that I could decompress and fall asleep.
Q: What significance does this story hold?
A: It depends on who reads it. People take different meanings from different experiences. For instance, my sister thought Robert Heinlein was a pompous chauvinist. However, I liked to read his stories. My mother thought that while it was good that I was reading, I should have instead read the “classics” and become a more rounded person. While I did actually read many “classics”, it was the stories of science fiction and prose that influenced me substantially.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
“The Fog Horn” is a 1951 science fiction short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, the first in his collection The Golden Apples of the Sun. The story was the basis for the 1953 film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.
This story was written by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law. Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
When Ray started out, the field of science fiction lacked respectability, to say the least. It was the province of the pulps: magazines printed on cheap paper, with lurid covers designed to catch the attention of immature boys.
He was often dismissed, if not outright ridiculed, by mainstream writers, but quickly learned to ignore his critics. If they didn’t think rockets and dinosaurs were suitable subjects for literature, to hell with them.
Ray loved that stuff, along with Martians and witches and things that go bump in the night, so that’s what he wrote about. His unique imagination was harnessed within vivid, lyrical prose, and after the publication of The Martian Chronicles in 1950, the literary elite were forced to acknowledge a striking new talent.
As Ray’s stories became more widely published and read, they fueled the imaginations of millions of young people over several generations, many of whom went on to cite his influence as a major reason they became scientists and engineers.
His stories practically shouted that it wasn’t just okay to dream of rockets and space travel, it was wonderful, mythic, imperative—the highest accomplishment the human race could aspire to.
-The Space Review's tribute to Ray Bradbury
Introduction
“There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go…”R is for Rocket
Ray Bradbury
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
A small collection of well worn, well read and well appreciated Ray Bradbury books. My collection looked a little something like this, only I think the books were a little more worn, and a little yellower.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “The Fog Horn” on the Ray Bradbury.RU website (in Russian; Рассказ Рэя Брэдбери), and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the Ray Bradbury Library for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it.
The Fog Horn
By Ray Bradbury
Out there in the cold water, far from land, we waited every night for the coming of the fog, and it came, and we oiled the brass machinery and lit the fog light up in the stone tower. Feeling like two birds in the gray sky, McDunn and I sent the light touching out, red, then white, then red again, to eye the lonely ships. And if they did not see our light, then there was always our Voice, the great deep cry of our Fog Horn shuddering through the rags of mist to startle the gulls away like decks of scattered cards and make the waves turn high and foam.
"It's a lonely life, but you're used to it now, aren't you?" asked McDunn.
"Yes," I said. "You're a good talker, thank the Lord."
"Well, it's your turn on land tomorrow," he said, smiling, "to dance the ladies and drink gin."
"What do you think, McDunn, when I leave you out here alone?"
"On the mysteries of the sea." McDunn lit his pipe. It was a quarter past seven of a cold November evening, the heat on, the light switching its tail in two hundred directions, the Fog Horn bumbling in the high throat of the tower. There wasn't a town for a hundred miles down the coast, just a road which came lonely through dead country to the sea, with few cars on it, a stretch of two miles of cold water out to our rock, and rare few ships.
"The mysteries of the sea' said McDunn thoughtfully. "You know, the ocean's the biggest damned snowflake ever? It rolls and swells a thousand shapes and colours, no two alike. Strange. One night, years ago, I was here alone, when all of the fish of the sea surfaced out there. Something made them swim in and lie in the bay, sort of trembling and staring up at the tower light going red, white, red, white across them so I could see their funny eyes. I fumed cold. They were like a big peacock's tail, moving out there until midnight. Then, without so much as a sound, they slipped away, the million of them was gone. I kind of think maybe, in some sort of way, they came all those miles to worship. Strange. But think how the tower must look to them, standing seventy feet above the water, the God-light flashing out from it, and the tower declaring itself with a monster voice. They never came back, those fish, but don't you think for a while they thought they were in the Presence?"
I shivered. I looked out at the long gray lawn of the sea stretching away into nothing and nowhere.
"Oh, the sea's full." McDunn puffed his pipe nervously, blinking. He had been nervous all day and hadn't said why. "For all our engines and so-called submarines, it'll be ten thousand centuries before we set foot on the real bottom of the sunken lands, in the fairy kingdoms there, and know real terror. Think of it, it's still the year 300,000 Before Christ down under there. While we've paraded around with trumpets, lopping off each other's countries and heads, they have been living beneath the sea twelve miles deep and cold in a time as old as the beard of a comet."
"Yes, it's an old world."
"Come on. I got something special I been saving up to tell you."
We ascended the eighty steps, talking and taking our time. At the top, McDunn switched off the room lights so there'd be no reflection in the plate glass. The great eye of the light was humming, turning easily in its oiled socket. The Fog Horn was blowing steadily, once every fifteen seconds.
"Sounds like an animal, don't it?" McDunn nodded to himself. "A big lonely animal crying in the night. Sitting here on the edge of ten billion years calling out to the Deeps, I'm here, I'm here, I'm here. And the Deeps do answer, yes, they do. You been here now for three months, Johnny, so I better prepare you. About this time of year," he said, studying the murk and fog, "something comes to visit the lighthouse."
"The swarms of fish like you said?"
"No, this is something else. I've put off telling you because you might think I'm daft. But tonight's the latest I can put it off, for if my calendar's marked right from last year, tonight's the night it comes. I won't go into detail, you'll have to see it yourself. Just sit down there. If you want, tomorrow you can pack your duffel and take the motorboat in to land and get your car parked there at the dinghy pier on the cape and drive on back to some little inland town and keep your lights burning nights, I won't question or blame you. It's happened three years now, and this is the only time anyone's been here with me to verify it. You wait and watch."
Half an hour passed with only a few whispers between us. When we grew tired waiting, McDunn began describing some of his ideas to me. He had some theories about the Fog Horn itself.
"One day many years ago a man walked along and stood in the sound of the ocean on a cold sunless shore and said, 'We need a voice to call across the water, to warn ships; I'll make one. I'll make a voice like all of time and all of the fog that ever was; I'll make a voice that is like an empty bed beside you all night long, and like an empty house when you open the door, and like trees in autumn with no leaves. A sound like the birds flying south, crying, and a sound like November wind and the sea on the hard, cold shore. I'll make a sound that's so alone that no one can miss it, that whoever hears it will weep in their souls, and hearths will seem warmer, and being inside will seem better to all who hear it in the distant towns. I'll make me a sound and an apparatus and they'll call it a Fog Horn and whoever bears it will know the sadness of eternity and the briefness of life.'"
The Fog Horn blew.
"I made up that story," said McDunn quietly, "to try to explain why this thing keeps coming back to the lighthouse every year. The Fog Horn calls it, I think, and it comes...."
"But - "I said.
"Sssst!" said McDunn. "There!" He nodded out to the Deeps.
Something was swimming toward the lighthouse tower.
It was a cold night, as I have said; the high tower was cold, the light coming and going, and the Fog Horn calling and calling through the raveling mist. You couldn't see far and you couldn't see plain, but there was the deep sea moving on its way about the night earth, flat and quiet, the colour of gray mud, and here were the two of us alone in the high tower, and there, far out at first, was a ripple, followed by a wave, a rising, a bubble, a bit of froth. And then, from the surface of the cold sea came a head, a large head, dark-coloured, with immense eyes, and then a neck. And then - not a body - but more neck and more! The head rose a full forty feet above the water on a slender and beautiful dark neck. Only then did the body, like a little island of black coral and shells and crayfish, drip up from the subterranean. There was a flicker of tail. In all, from head to tip of tail, I estimated the monster at ninety or a hundred feet.
I don't know what I said. I said something.
"Steady, boy, steady," whispered McDunn.
"It's impossible! "I said.
"No, Johnny, we're impossible. It's like it always was ten million years ago. It hasn't changed. It's us and the land that've changed, become impossible. Us!"
It swam slowly and with a great dark majesty out in the icy waters, far away. The fog came and went about it, momentarily erasing its shape. One of the monster eyes caught and held and flashed back our immense light, red, white, red, white, like a disk held high and sending a message in primeval code. It was as silent as the fog through which it swam.
"It's a dinosaur of some sort!" I crouched down, holding to the stair rail.
"Yes, one of the tribe."
"But they died out!"
"No, only hid away in the Deeps. Deep, deep down in the deepest Deeps. Isn't that a word now, Johnny, a real word, it says so much: the Deeps. There's all the coldness and darkness and deepness in a word like that."
"What'll we do?"
"Do? We got our job, we can't leave. Besides, we're safer here than in any boat trying to get to land. That thing's as big as a destroyer and almost as swift."
"But here, why does it come here?"
The next moment I had my answer.
The Fog Horn blew.
And the monster answered.
A cry came across a million years of water and mist. A cry so anguished and alone that it shuddered in my head and my body. The monster cried out at the tower. The Fog Horn blew. The monster roared again. The Fog Horn blew. The monster opened its great toothed mouth and the sound that came from it was the sound of the Fog Horn itself. Lonely and vast and far away. The sound of isolation, a viewless sea, a cold night, apartness. That was the sound.
"Now," whispered McDunn, "do you know why it comes here?"
I nodded.
"All year long, Johnny, that poor monster there lying far out, a thousand miles at sea, and twenty miles deep maybe, biding its tune, perhaps it's a million years old, this one creature. Think of it, waiting a million years; could you wait that long? Maybe it's the last of its kind. I sort of think that's true. Anyway, here come men on land and build this lighthouse, five years ago. And set up their Fog Horn and sound it and sound it out toward the place where you bury yourself in sleep and sea memories of a world where there were thousands like yourself, but now you're alone, all alone in a world not made for you, a world where you have to hide.
"But the sound of the Fog Horn comes and goes, comes and goes, and you stir from the muddy bottom of the Deeps, and your eyes open like the lenses of two-foot cameras and you move, slow, slow, for you have the ocean sea on your shoulders, heavy. But that Fog Horn comes through a thousand miles of water, faint and familiar, and the furnace in your belly stokes up, and you begin to rise, slow, slow. You feed yourself on great slakes of cod and minnow, on rivers of jellyfish, and you rise slow through the autumn months, through September when the fogs started, through October with more fog and the horn still calling you on, and then, late in November, after pressurizing yourself day by day, a few feet higher every hour, you are near the surface and still alive. You've got to go slow; if you surfaced all at once you'd explode. So it takes you all of three months to surface, and then a number of days to swim through the cold waters to the lighthouse. And there you are, out there, in the night, Johnny, the biggest damn monster in creation. And here's the lighthouse calling to you, with a long neck like your neck sticking way up out of the water, and a body like your body, and, most important of all, a voice like your voice. Do you understand now, Johnny, do you understand?"
The Fog Horn blew.
The monster answered.
I saw it all, I knew it all - the million years of waiting alone, for someone to come back who never came back. The million years of isolation at the bottom of the sea, the insanity of time there, while the skies cleared of reptile-birds, the swamps dried on the continental lands, the sloths and saber-tooths had their day and sank in tar pits, and men ran like white ants upon the hills.
The Fog Horn blew.
"Last year," said McDunn, "that creature swam round and round, round and round, all night. Not coming too near, puzzled, I'd say. Afraid, maybe. And a bit angry after coming all this way. But the next day, unexpectedly, the fog lifted, the sun came out fresh, the sky was as blue as a painting. And the monster swam off away from the heat and the silence and didn't come back. I suppose it's been brooding on it for a year now, thinking it over from every which way."
The monster was only a hundred yards off now, it and the Fog Horn crying at each other. As the lights bit them, the monster's eyes were fire and ice, fire and ice.
"That's life for you," said McDunn. "Someone always waiting for someone who never comes home. Always someone loving some thing more than that thing loves them. And after a while you want to destroy whatever that thing is, so it can't hurt you no more."
The monster was rushing at the lighthouse.
The Fog Horn blew.
"Let's see what happens," said McDunn.
He switched the Fog Horn off.
The ensuing minute of silence was so intense that we could hear our hearts pounding in the glassed area of the tower, could hear the slow greased turn of the light.
The monster stopped and froze. Its great lantern eyes blinked. Its mouth gaped. It gave a sort of rumble, like a volcano. It twitched its head this way and that, as if to seek the sounds now dwindled off into the fog. It peered at the lighthouse. It rumbled again. Then its eyes caught fire. It reared up, threshed the water, and rushed at the tower, its eyes filled with angry torment.
"McDunn!" I cried. "Switch on the horn!"
McDunn fumbled with the switch. But even as he flicked it on, the monster was rearing up. I had a glimpse of its gigantic paws, fishskin glittering in webs between the fingerlike projections, clawing at the tower. The huge eye on the right side of its anguished head glittered before me like a caldron into which I might drop, screaming. The tower shook. The Fog Horn cried; the monster cried. It seized the tower and gnashed at the glass, which shattered in upon us.
McDunn seized my arm. "Downstairs!"
The tower rocked, trembled, and started to give. The Fog Horn and the monster roared. We stumbled and half fell down the stairs. "Quick!"
We reached the bottom as the tower buckled down toward us. We ducked under the stairs into the small stone cellar. There were a thousand concussions as the rocks rained down; the Fog Horn stopped abruptly. The monster crashed upon the tower. The tower fell. We knelt together, McDunn and I, holding tight, while our world exploded.
Then it was over, and there was nothing but darkness and the wash of the sea on the raw stones.
That and the other sound.
"Listen," said McDunn quietly. "Listen."
We waited a moment. And then I began to hear it. First a great vacuumed sucking of air, and then the lament, the bewilderment, the loneliness of the great monster, folded over and upon us, above us, so that the sickening reek of its body filled the air, a stone's thickness away from our cellar. The monster gasped and cried. The tower was gone. The light was gone. The thing that had called to it across a million years was gone. And the monster was opening its mouth and sending out great sounds. The sounds of a Fog Horn, again and again. And ships far at sea, not finding the light, not seeing anything, but passing and hearing late that night, must've thought: There it is, the lonely sound, the Lonesome Bay horn. All's well. We've rounded the cape.
And so it went for the rest of that night.
The sun was hot and yellow the next afternoon when the rescuers came out to dig us from our stoned-under cellar.
"It fell apart, is all," said Mr. McDunn gravely. "We had a few bad knocks from the waves and it just crumbled." He pinched my arm.
There was nothing to see. The ocean was calm, the sky blue. The only thing was a great algaic stink from the green matter that covered the fallen tower stones and the shore rocks. Flies buzzed about. The ocean washed empty on the shore.
The next year they built a new lighthouse, but by that time I had a job in the little town and a wife and a good small warm house that glowed yellow on autumn nights, the doors locked, the chimney puffing smoke. As for McDunn, he was master of the new lighthouse, built to his own specifications, out of steel-reinforced concrete. "Just in case," he said.
The new lighthouse was ready in November. I drove down alone one evening late and parked my car and looked across the gray waters and listened to the new hom sounding, once, twice, three, four times a minute far out there, by itself.
The monster?
It never came back.
"It's gone away," said McDunn. "It's gone back to the Deeps. It's learned you can't love anything too much in this world. It's gone into the deepest Deeps to wait another million years. Ah, the poor thing! Waiting out there, and waiting out there, while man comes and goes on this pitiful little planet. Waiting and waiting."
I sat in my car, listening. I couldn't see the lighthouse or the light standing out in Lonesome Bay. I could only hear the Horn, the Horn, the Horn. It sounded like the monster calling.
I sat there wishing there was something I could say.
Conclusions
I spent much of my childhood being inspired by science fiction works. My favorite authors included Ray Bradberry and Robert Heinlein. The works of Robert Heinlein suited my juvenile belief structures at the time, but Ray Bradberry evoked my emotions.
While I cannot recall when I first encountered this story, I can positively state that my father wanted me to read it. He gave me a collection of Ray Bradberry short stories and told me to read this one in particular. And, so I did. I went into the living room, plopped myself down on the chair (not a lazy-boy) and started reading. I think that I read it non-stop and then went into the kitchen and made a “Dagwood” sandwich, and a big glass of ice-cold milk.
As a young boy I readily consumed every science fiction story that I could get my hands on. I loved reading about spaceships, rockets, strange adventures, time travel and dinosaurs. These were the things that shaped my life. These were the things that made me who I am today.
Take Aways
The short story “The Fog Horn” was written by Ray Bradberry.
While the story is about the confrontation of a sea beast and a fog horn, it is about much more that that. It is about loneliness and frustration.
FAQ
Q: Why does the sea monster come to the lighthouse?
A: The lighthouse calls to the monster. Somehow it hears the call, and somehow it answers the call. We do not know why it comes forth, nor do we know the motivations of the monster. We can only guess.
Q: What appeal does this story have for the reader?
A: Everyone has experienced loneliness. Everyone has experienced frustration and rejection. Thus, everyone can find compassion and understanding in the emotions of the sea monster.
Q: What makes this story so different from the Godzilla monster movies of the 1960’s?
A: Godzilla, and other monster stories, while they would often have a back-story to explain what they were doing and why, they typically did not explore the emotional aspects of the creature. This story does. In comparison, instead of being a story about destruction of Tokyo or the collapse of a light-house, this story is one of raw emotion. It is a story that haunts.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
“The Long Rain” is a short story by science fiction author Ray Bradbury. This story was originally published in 1950 as “Death-by-Rain” in the magazine Planet Stories, and then in the collection The Illustrated Man. The story tells of four men who have crashed on a planet where it is always raining. As they try to reach the safety of the Sun Domes, they end up being driven insane by the endless rains.
The story was republished in several collections and was incorporated into a film also titled The Illustrated Man.
This story was written by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law. Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
When Ray started out, the field of science fiction lacked respectability, to say the least. It was the province of the pulps: magazines printed on cheap paper, with lurid covers designed to catch the attention of immature boys.
He was often dismissed, if not outright ridiculed, by mainstream writers, but quickly learned to ignore his critics. If they didn’t think rockets and dinosaurs were suitable subjects for literature, to hell with them.
Ray loved that stuff, along with Martians and witches and things that go bump in the night, so that’s what he wrote about. His unique imagination was harnessed within vivid, lyrical prose, and after the publication of The Martian Chronicles in 1950, the literary elite were forced to acknowledge a striking new talent.
As Ray’s stories became more widely published and read, they fueled the imaginations of millions of young people over several generations, many of whom went on to cite his influence as a major reason they became scientists and engineers.
His stories practically shouted that it wasn’t just okay to dream of rockets and space travel, it was wonderful, mythic, imperative—the highest accomplishment the human race could aspire to.
-The Space Review's tribute to Ray Bradbury
An artistic rendering of the sun dome in the distance. Venus in this story, is a planet of continuous rain, dark and deep clouds, and lightening storms. Humans have tried to colonize Venus, but they can only do so in safe enclosures called “sun domes”. There, they survive and live safe against the rainy onslaught of torrential and never-ending water.
Introduction
“There was this fence where we pressed our faces and felt the wind turn warm and held to the fence and forgot who we were or where we came from but dreamed of who we might be and where we might go…”R is for Rocket
Ray Bradbury
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
A small collection of well worn, well read and well appreciated Ray Bradbury books. My collection looked a little something like this, only I think the books were a little more worn, and a little yellower.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
As an side, I would sometimes help Chinese students with their English. At times, I would "assign" them a book to read. One student bought the book, and waited two full months before it arrived, and the first story that he read was this one; "The Long Rain".
When I asked him to describe what it was like, he was all over himself trying to describe an impossible world; a wet world where everything you do was soaked and wet. It was a world where you had to trudge through water, currents, mud and bog to find this elusive sun dome. To this day, years later, he still talks about this story.
I have found this version of the story “The Long Rain” on the wiki.spaces website in PDF format, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at the Ray Bradbury Library for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it.
The Long Rain
Ray Bradbury
THE rain continued. It was a hard rain, a perpetual rain, a sweating and steaming rain; it was a mizzle, a downpour, a fountain, a whipping at the eyes, an undertow at the ankles; it was a rain to drown all rains and the memory of rains. It came by the pound and the ton, it hacked at the jungle and cut the trees like scissors and shaved the grass and tunneled the soil and molted the bushes. It shrank men’s hands into the hands of wrinkled apes; it rained a solid glassy rain, and it never stopped.
“How much farther, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t know. A mile, ten miles, a thousand.” “Aren’t you sure?”
“How can I be sure?”
“I don’t like this rain. If we only knew how far it is to the Sun Dome, I’d feel better.” “Another hour or two from here.”
“You really think so, Lieutenant?” “Of course.”
“Or are you lying to keep us happy?” “I’m lying to keep you happy. Shut up!”
The two men sat together in the rain. Behind them sat two other men who were wet and tired and slumped like clay that was melting. The lieutenant looked up. He had a face that once had been brown and now the rain had washed it pale, and the rain had washed the color from his eyes and they were white, as were his teeth, and as was his hair. He was all white. Even his uniform was beginning to turn white, and perhaps a little green with fungus.
“Don’t be crazy,” said one of the two other men. “It never stops raining on Venus. It just goes on and on. I’ve lived here for ten years and I never saw a minute, or even a second, when it wasn’t pouring.”
“It’s like living under water,” said the lieutenant, and rose up, shrugging his guns into place. “Well, we’d better get going. We’ll find that Sun Dome yet.”
“Or we won’t find it,” said the cynic. “It’s an hour or so.”
“Now you’re lying to me, Lieutenant.”
“No, now I’m lying to myself. This is one of those times when you’ve got to lie. I can’t take much more of this.”
They walked down the jungle trail, now and then looking at their compasses. There was no direction anywhere, only what the compass said. There was a gray sky and rain falling and jungle and a path, and, far back behind them somewhere, a rocket in which they had ridden and fallen. A rocket in which lay two of their friends, dead and dripping rain.
They walked in single file, not speaking. They came to a river which lay wide and flat and brown, flowing down to the great Single Sea. The surface of it was stippled in a billion places by the rain.
“All right, Simmons.”
The lieutenant nodded and Simmons took a small packet from his back which, with a pressure of hidden chemical, inflated into a large boat. The lieutenant directed the cutting of wood and the quick making of paddles and they set out into the river, paddling swiftly across the smooth surface in the rain. The lieutenant felt the cold rain on his cheeks and on his neck and on his moving arms. The cold was beginning to seep into his lungs. He felt the rain on his ears, on his eyes, on his legs.
“I didn’t sleep last night,” he said.
“Who could? Who has? When? How many nights have we slept? Thirty nights, thirty days! Who can sleep with rain slamming their head, banging away. . . . I’d give anything for a hat. Anything at all, just so it wouldn’t hit my head any more. I get headaches. My head is sore; it hurts all the time.”
“I’m sorry I came to China,” said one of the others. “First time I ever heard Venus called China.”
“Sure, China. Chinese water cure. Remember the old torture? Rope you against a wall. Drop one drop of water on your head every half-hour. You go crazy waiting for the next one. Well, that’s Venus, but on a big scale. We’re not made for water. You can’t sleep, you can’t breathe right, and you’re crazy from just being soggy. If we’d been ready for a crash, we’d have brought waterproofed uniforms and hats. It’s this beating rain on your head gets you, most of all. It’s so heavy. It’s like BB shot. I don’t know how long I can take it.”
They crossed the river, and in crossing they thought of the Sun Dome, somewhere ahead of them, shining in the jungle rain. A yellow house, round and bright as the sun. A house fifteen feet high by one hundred feet in diameter, in which was warmth and quiet and hot food and freedom from rain. And in the center of the Sun Dome, of course, was a sun. A small floating free globe of yellow fire, drifting in space at the top of the building where you could look at it from where you sat, smoking or reading a book or drinking your hot chocolate crowned with marshmallow dollops. There it would be, the yellow sun, just the size of the Earth sun, and it was warm and continuous, and the rain world of Venus would be forgotten as long as they stayed in that house and idled their time.
The lieutenant turned and looked back at the three men using their oars and gritting their teeth. They were as white as mushrooms, as white as lie was. Venus bleached everything away in a few months. Even the jungle was an immense cartoon nightmare, for how could the jungle be green with no sun,with always rain falling and always dusk? The white, white jungle with the pale cheese-colored leaves, and the earth carved of wet Camembert, and the tree boles like immense toadstools— everything black and white. And how often could you see the soil itself? Wasn’t it mostly a creek, a stream, a puddle, a pool, a lake, a river, and then, at last the sea?
“Here we are!”
They leaped out on the farthest shore, splashing and sending up showers. The boat was deflated and stored in a cigarette packet. Then, standing on the rainy shore, they tried to light up a few smokes for themselves, and it was five minutes or so before, shuddering, they worked the inverted lighter and, cupping their hands, managed a few drags upon cigarettes that all too quickly were limp and beaten away from their lips by a sudden slap of rain. They walked on.
“Wait just a moment,” said the lieutenant. “I thought I saw something ahead.” “The Sun Dome?”
“I’m not sure. The rain closed in again. Simmons began to run. “The Sun Dome!” “Come back, Simmons!”
“The Sun Dome!”
Simmons vanished in the rain. The others ran after him.
They found him in a little clearing, and they stopped and looked at him and what he had discovered. The rocket ship. It was lying where they had left it. Somehow they had circled back and were where they had started. In the ruin of the ship green fungus was growing up out of the mouths of the two dead men. As they watched, the fungus took flower, the petals broke away in the rain, and the fungus died.
“An electrical storm must be nearby. Threw our compasses off. That explains it.” “You’re right.”
“What’ll we do now?” “Start out again.”
“Good lord, we’re not any closer to anywhere!” “Let’s try to keep calm about it, Simmons.” “Calm, calm! This rain’s driving me wild!”
“We’ve enough food for another two days if we’re careful.”
The rain danced on their skin, on their wet uniforms; the rain streamed from their noses and ears, from their fingers and knees. They looked like stone fountains frozen in the jungle, issuing forth water from every pore. And, as they stood, from a distance they heard a roar. And the monster came out of the rain.
The monster was supported upon a thousand electric blue legs. It walked swiftly and terribly. It struck down a leg with a driving blow. Everywhere a leg struck a tree fell and burned. Great whiffs of ozone filled the rainy air, and smoke blew away and was broken up by the rain. The monster was a half mile wide and a mile high and it felt of the ground like a great blind thing. Sometimes, for a moment, it had no legs at all. And then, in an instant, a thousand whips would fall out of its belly, white-blue whips, to sting the jungle.
“There’s the electrical storm,” said one of the men. “There’s the thing ruined our compasses. And it’s coming this way.”
“Lie down, everyone,” said the lieutenant. “Run!” cried Simmons.
“Don’t be a fool. Lie down. It hits the highest points. We may get through unhurt. Lie down about fifty feet from the rocket. It may very well spend its force there and leave us be. Get down!”
The men flopped.
“Is it coming?” they asked each other, after a moment. “Coming.”
“Is it nearer?” “Is it nearer?” “Nearer?” “Here she is!”
The monster came and stood over them. It dropped down ten blue bolts of lightning which struck the rocket. The rocket flashed like a beaten gong and gave off a metal ringing. The monster let down fifteen more bolts which danced about in a ridiculous pantomime, feeling of the jungle and the watery soil.
“No, no!” One of the men jumped up. “Get down, yon fool!” said the lieutenant. “No!”
The lightning struck the rocket another dozen times. The lieutenant turned his head on his arm and saw the blue blazing flashes. He saw trees split and crumple into ruin. He saw the monstrous dark cloud turn like a black disk overhead and hurl down a hundred other poles of electricity.
The man who had leaped up was now running, like someone in a great hall of pillars. He ran and dodged between the pillars and then at last a dozen of the pillars slammed down and there was the sound a fly makes when landing upon the grill wires of an exterminator. The lieutenant remembered this from his childhood on a farm. And there was a smell of a man burned to a cinder.
The lieutenant lowered his head. “Don’t look up,” he told the others. He was afraid that he too might run at any moment.
The storm above them flashed down another series of bolts and then moved on away. Once again there was only the rain, which rapidly cleared the air of the charred smell, and in a moment the three remaining men were sitting and waiting for the beat of their hearts to subside into quiet once more.
They walked over to the body, thinking that perhaps they could still save the man’s life. They couldn’t believe that there wasn’t some way to help the man. It was the natural act of men who have not accepted death until they have touched it and turned it over and made plans to bury it or leave it there for the jungle to bury in an hour of quick growth.
The body was twisted steel, wrapped in burned leather. It looked like a wax dummy that had been thrown into an incinerator and pulled out after the wax had sunk to the charcoal skeleton. Only the teeth were white, and they shone like a strange white bracelet dropped half through a clenched black fist.
“He shouldn’t have jumped up.” They said it almost at the same time.
Even as they stood over the body it began to vanish, for the vegetation was edging in upon it, little vines and ivy and creepers, and even flowers for the dead.
At a distance the storm walked off on blue bolts of lightning and was gone.
They crossed a river and a creek and a stream and a dozen other rivers and creeks and streams. Before their eyes rivers appeared, rushing, new rivers, while old rivers changed their courses—rivers the color of mercury, rivers the color of silver and milk.
The Single Sea. There was only one continent on Venus. This land was three thousand miles long by a thousand miles wide, and about this island was the Single Sea, which covered the entire raining planet.
The Single Sea, which lay upon the pallid shore with little motion . . . “This way.” The lieutenant nodded south. “I’m sure there are two Sun Domes down that way. “While they were at it, why didn’t they build a hundred more?” “There’re a hundred and twenty of them now, aren’t there?”
“One hundred and twenty-six, as of last month. They tried to push a bill through Congress back on Earth a year ago to provide for a couple dozen more, but oh no, you know how that is. They’d rather a few men went crazy with the rain.”
They started south. The lieutenant and Simmons and the third man, Pickard, walked in the rain, in the rain that fell heavily and lightly, heavily and lightly; in the rain that poured and hammered and did not stop falling upon the land and the sea and the walking people.
Simmons saw it first. “There it is!” “There’s what?”
“The Sun Dome!”
The lieutenant blinked the water from his eyes and raised his hands to ward off the stinging blows of the rain. At a distance there was a yellow glow on the edge of the jungle, by the sea. It was, indeed, the Sun Dome.
The men smiled at each other.
“Looks like you were right, Lieutenant.” “Luck.”
“Brother, that puts muscle in me, just seeing it. Come on! Last one there’s a son-of-a-bitch!” Simmons began to trot. The others automatically fell in with this, gasping, tired, but keeping pace.
“A big pot of coffee for me,” panted Simmons, smiling. “And a pan of cinnamon buns, by God! And just lie there and let the old sun hit you. The guy that invented the Sun Domes, he should have got a medal!”
They ran faster. The yellow glow grew brighter.
“Guess a lot of men went crazy before they figured out the cure. Think it’d be obvious! Right off.” Simmons panted the words in cadence to his running. “Rain, rain! Years ago. Found a friend. Of
min. Out in the jungle. Wandering around. In the rain. Saying over and over, ‘Don’t know enough
to come in outta the rain. Don’t know enough, to come in, outta the rain. Don’t know enough –‘ on and on. Like that. Poor crazy bastard.”
“Save your breath!” They ran.
They all laughed. They reached the door of the Sun Dome, laughing.
Simmons yanked the door wide. “Hey!” he yelled. “Bring on the coffee and buns!” There was no reply.
They stepped through the door.
The Sun Dome was empty and dark. There was no synthetic yellow sun floating in a high gaseous whisper at the center of the blue ceiling. There was no food waiting. It was cold as a vault. And through a thousand holes which had been newly punctured in the ceiling water streamed, the rain fell down, soaking into the thick rugs and the heavy modern furniture and splashing on the glass tables. The jungle was growing up like a moss in the room, on top of the bookcases and the divans. The rain slashed through the holes and fell upon the three men’s faces.
Pickard began to laugh quietly. “Shut up, Pickard!”
“Ye gods, look what’s here for us—no food, no sun, nothing. The Venusians—they did it! Of course!”
Simmons nodded, with the rain funneling down on his face. The water ran in his silvered hair and on his white eyebrows. “Every once in a while the Venusians come up out of the sea and attack a Sun Dome. They know if they ruin the Sun Domes they can ruin us.”
“But aren’t the Sun Domes protected with guns?”
“Sure.” Simmons stepped aside to a place that was relatively dry. “But it’s been five years since the Venusians tried anything. Defense relaxes. They caught this Dome unaware.”
“Where are the bodies?”
“The Venusians took them all down into the sea. I hear they have a delightful way of drowning you. It takes about eight hours to drown the way they work it. Really delightful.”
“I bet there isn’t any food here at all.” Pickard laughed.
The lieutenant frowned at him, nodded at him so Simmons could see. Simmons shook his head and went back to a room at one side of the oval chamber. The kitchen was strewn with soggy loaves of bread, and meat that had grown a faint green fur. Rain came through a hundred holes in the kitchen roof.
“Without food, sir?” Simmons snorted. “I notice the sun machine’s torn apart. Our best bet is to make our way to the next Sun Dome. How far is that from here?”
“Not far. As I recall, they built two rather close together here. Perhaps if we waited here, a rescue mission from the other might——”
“It’s probably been here and gone already, some days ago. They’ll send a crew to repair this place in about six months, when they get the money from Congress. I don’t think we’d better wait.”
“All right then, we’ll eat what’s left of our rations and get on to the next Dome.”
Pickard said, “If only the rain wouldn’t hit my head, just for a few minutes. If I could only remember what it’s like not to be bothered.” He put his hands on his skull and held it tight. “I remember when I was in school a bully used to sit in back of me and pinch me and pinch me and pinch me every five minutes, all day long. He did that for weeks and months. My arms were sore and black and blue all the time. And I thought I’d go crazy from being pinched. One day I must have gone a little mad from being hurt and hurt, and I turned around and took a metal trisquare I used in mechanical drawing and I almost killed that bastard. I almost cut his lousy head off. I almost took his eye out before they dragged me out of the room, and I kept yelling, ‘Why don’t he leave me alone? why don’t he leave me alone?’ Brother!” His hands clenched the bone of his head, shaking, tightening, his eyes shut. “But what do I do now? Who do I hit, who do I tell to lay off, stop bothering me, this damn rain, like the pinching, always on you, that’s all you hear, that’s all you feel!”
“We’ll be at the other Sun Dome by four this afternoon.”
“Sun Dome? Look at this one! What if all the Sun Domes on Venus are gone? What then? What if there are holes in all the ceilings, and the rain coming in!”
“We’ll have to chance it.”
“I’m tired of chancing it. All I want is a roof and some quiet. I want to be alone.” “That’s only eight hours off, if you hold on.”
“Let’s eat,” said Simmons, watching him.
They set off down the coast, southward again. After four hours they had to cut inland to go around a river that was a mile wide and so swift it was not navigable by boat. They had to walk inland six miles to a place where the river boiled out of the earth, suddenly, like a mortal wound. In the rain, they walked on solid ground and returned to the sea.
“I’ve got to sleep,” said Pickard at last. He slumped. “Haven’t slept in four weeks. Tried, but couldn’t. Sleep here.”
They lay out full, propping their heads up so the water wouldn’t come to their mouths, and they closed their eyes.
The lieutenant twitched. He did not sleep.
There were things that crawled on his skin. Things grew upon him in layers. Drops fell and touched other drops and they became streams that trickled over his body, and while these moved down his flesh, the small growths of the forest took root in his clothing. He felt the ivy cling and make a second garment over him; he felt the small flowers bud and open and petal away, and still the rain pattered on his body and on his head. In the luminous night—for the vegetation glowed in the darkness—he could see the other two men outlined, like logs that had fallen and taken upon themselves velvet coverings of grass and flowers. The rain hit his face. He covered his face with his
hands. The rain hit his neck. He turned over on his stomach in the mud, on the rubbery plants, and the rain hit his back and hit his legs.
Suddenly he leaped up and began to brush the water from himself. A thousand hands were touching him and he no longer wanted to be touched. He no longer could stand being touched. He floundered and struck something else and knew that it was Simmons, standing up in the rain, sneezing moisture, coughing and choking. And then Pickard was up, shouting, running about.
“Wait a minute, Pickard!”
“Stop it, stop it!” Pickard screamed. He fired off his gun six times at the night sky. In the flashes of powdery illumination they could see armies of raindrops, suspended as in a vast motionless amber, for an instant, hesitating as if shocked by the explosion, fifteen billion droplets, fifteen billion tears, fifteen billion ornaments, jewels standing out against a white velvet viewing board. And then, with the light gone, the drops which had waited to have their pictures taken, which had suspended their downward rush, fell upon them, stinging, in an insect cloud of coldness and pain.
“Stop it! Stop it!” “Pickard!”
But Pickard was only standing now, alone. When the lieutenant switched on a small hand lamp and played it over Pickard’s wet face, the eyes of the man were dilated, and his mouth was open, his face turned up, so the water hit and splashed on his tongue, and hit and drowned the wide eyes, and bubbled in a whispering froth on the nostrils.
“Pickard!”
The man would not reply. He simply stood there for a long while with the bubbles of rain breaking out in his whitened hair and manacles of rain jewels dripping from his wrists and his neck.
“Pickard! We’re leaving. We’re going on. Follow us.” The rain dripped from Pickard’s ears.
“Do you hear me, Pickard!”
It was like shouting down a well. “Pickard!”
“Leave him alone,” said Simmons. “We can’t go on without him.”
“What’ll we do, carry him?” Simmons spat. “He’s no good to us or himself. You know what he’ll do?
He’ll just stand here and drown.” “What?”
“You ought to know that by now. Don’t you know the story? He’ll just stand here with his head up and let the rain come in his nostrils and his mouth. He’ll breathe the water.”
“That’s how they found General Mendt that time. Sitting on a rock with his head back, breathing the rain. His lungs were full of water.”
The lieutenant turned the light back to the unblinking face. Pickard’s nostrils gave off a tiny whispering wet sound.
“Pickard!” The lieutenant slapped the face.
“He can’t even feel you,” said Simmons. “A few days in this rain and you don’t have any face or any legs or hands.”
The lieutenant looked at his own hand in horror. He could no longer feel it. “But we can’t leave Pickard here.”
“I’ll show you what we can do.” Simmons fired his gun. Pickard fell into the raining earth.
Simmons said, “Don’t move, Lieutenant. I’ve got my gun ready for you too. Think it over; he would only have stood or sat there and drowned. It’s quicker this way.”
The lieutenant blinked at the body. “But you killed him.”
“Yes, because he’d have killed us by being a burden. You saw his face. Insane.” After a moment the lieutenant nodded. “All right.”
They walked off into the rain. It was dark and their hand lamps threw a beam that pierced the rain for only a few feet. After a half hour they had to stop and sit through the rest of the night, aching with hunger, waiting for the dawn to come; when it did come it was gray and continually raining as before, and they began to walk again.
“We’ve miscalculated,” said Simmons. “No. Another hour.”
“Speak louder. I can’t hear you.” Simmons stopped and smiled. “By Christ,” he said, and touched his ears. “My ears. They’ve gone out on me. All the rain pouring finally numbed me right down to the bone.”
“Can’t you hear anything?” said the lieutenant. “What?” Simmons’s eyes were puzzled. “Nothing. Come on.”
“I think I’ll wait here. You go on ahead.” “You can’t do that.”
“I can’t hear you. You go on. I’m tired. I don’t think the Sun Dome is down this way. And, if it is, it’s probably got holes in the roof, like the last one. I think I’ll just sit here.”
“Get up from there!” “So long, Lieutenant.”
“You can’t give up now.”
“I’ve got a gun here that says I’m staying. I just don’t give a damn any more. I’m not crazy yet, but I’m the next thing to it. I don’t want to go out that way. As soon as you get out of sight I’m going to use this gun on myself.”
“Simmons!”
“You said my name. I can read that much off your lips.” “Simmons.”
“Look, it’s a matter of time. Either I die now or in a few hours. Wait’ll you get to that next Dome, if you ever get there, and find rain coming in through the roof. Won’t that be nice?”
The lieutenant waited and then splashed off in the rain. He turned and called back once, but Simmons was only sitting there with the gun in his hands, waiting for him to get out of sight. He shook his head and waved the lieutenant on.
The lieutenant didn’t even hear the sound of the gun.
He began to eat the flowers as he walked. They stayed down for a time, and weren’t poisonous; neither were they particularly sustaining, and he vomited them up, sickly, a minute or so later.
“Another five minutes,” he told himself. “Another five minutes and then I’ll walk into the sea and keep walking. We weren’t made for this; no Earthman was or ever will be able to take it. Your nerves, your nerves.
He floundered his way through a sea of slush and foliage and came to a small hill. At a distance there was a faint yellow smudge in the cold veils of water.
The next Sun Dome.
Through the trees, a long round yellow building, far away. For a moment he only stood, swaying, looking at it.
He began to run and then he slowed down, for he was afraid. He didn’t call out. What if it’s the same one? What if it’s the dead Sun Dome, with no sun in it? he thought.
He slipped and fell. Lie here, he thought; it’s the wrong one. Lie here. It’s no use. Drink all you want. But he managed to climb to his feet again and crossed several creeks, and the yellow light grew very
bright, and he began to run again, his feet crashing into mirrors and glass, his arms flailing at diamonds and precious stones.
He stood before the yellow door. The printed letters over it said THE SUN DOME. He put his numb hand up to feel it. Then he twisted the doorknob and stumbled in.
He stood for a moment looking about. Behind him the rain whirled at the door. Ahead of him, upon a low table, stood a silver pot of hot chocolate, steaming, and a cup, full, with a marshmallow in it. An beside that, on another tray, stood thick sandwiches of rich chicken meat and fresh-cut tomatoes and green onions. And on a rod just before his eyes was a great thick green Turkish towel, and a bin in which to throw wet clothes, and, to his right, a small cubicle in which heat rays might dry you instantly. And upon a chair, a fresh change of uniform, waiting for anyone—himself, or any lost one—to make use of it. And farther over, coffee in steaming copper urns, and a phonograph from which music was playing quietly, and books bound in red and brown leather. And near the books a cot, a soft deep cot upon which one might lie, exposed and bare, to drink in the rays of the one great bright thing which dominated the long room.
He put his hands to his eyes. He saw other men moving toward him, but said nothing to them. He waited, and opened his eyes, and looked. The water from his uniform pooled at his feet and he felt it drying from his hair and his face and his chest and his arms and his legs.
He was looking at the sun.
It hung in the center of the room, large and yellow and warm. It made not a sound, and there was no sound in the room. The door was shut and the rain only a memory to his tingling body. The sun hung high in the blue sky of the room, warm, hot, yellow, and very fine.
He walked forward, tearing off his clothes as he went.
Some Considerations
This story, like most of the science fiction works that I read in the 1960’s and 1970’s greatly influenced my life. I believe that I first read this story on a lazy fall weekend in late September. The leaves were crisp and just beginning to fall. It was warm, but not hot. It was calm and I was enjoying reading this story on a porch glider that we had on our porch. I just laid there, swinging back and forth, reading this masterpiece.
I spent my boyhood in the hills of Western Pennsylvania. It was a place of hills, forests, rivers, and coal mines. I came from a small town. It was peaceful and quiet and everyone knew everyone else.
Conclusions
Today, students pay tuition at colleges and universities to read these stories. They pay enormous amounts of money, and are given tests and handouts to analyze the work. It seems like a fool’s errand to me.
You read for enjoyment, and if it evokes emotions within your very being then it is a work of art. Cherish it.
That’s never going to happen if you read a cliffs notes version so you can get a grade on a test. Life is about living. You can live, or you can follow the herd. I would suggest that you make the most out of your life. I would suggest you start doing it now.
Take Aways
The Long Rain is a short story by Ray Bradbury.
It is classified as Science Fiction.
It takes place on a fictional Venus where it is continuously raining.
The story evokes feelings of desperation, strife, fear and longing. Finally culminating in relief.
FAQ
Q: What is this story “The Long Rain” about?
A: The story takes place on a fictional Venus where there is a continuous rain. However, that is not what the story is about. It is about emotions that play when situations are encountered. When I read the story, I am reminded about a time when I was in second grade and walked home from school in the rain. I came home and my mother dried me off, and set me to the table and got me a big hot cup of coca with marsh-mellows in it and a nice warm bowl of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. The story, by Ray Bradbury, evokes those same feelings.
Q: Why is this story in your blog?
A: I used to bookmark websites that I liked, and I would return to them periodically to read and enjoy. Over time, the websites would disappear, or turn into something else. The search engines, such as Google, would prioritize other (often profit motive) websites before the ones I was interested in. They would also block others that I enjoyed. China blocks many websites, and slows internet traffic to a crawl on others. I no longer have the luxury to simply bookmark something I like. I need to preserve it’s access. Thus I place it herein for my own personal use.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This story was copyrighted in 1951 by Ray Bradbury, and presented here under Article 22 of China’s Copyright Law. Ray Bradbury is one of my personal heroes and his writings greatly influenced me in ways that I am only just now beginning to understand.
Introduction
For years I had amassed a well worn, and dusty collection of Ray Bradbury paperbacks that I would pick up and read for pleasure and inspiration. Later, when I left the United States, and moved to China, I had to leave my treasured books behind. Sigh.
It is very difficult to come across Ray Bradbury books in China. When ever I find one, I certainly snatch it up. Cost is no object when it comes to these masterpieces. At one time, I must have had five books containing this story.
I have found this version of the story “Here There be Tygers” on The Mother Earth News, and I have copied it here exactly as found. Credit to the wonderful people at Mother Earth News for posting it where a smuck like myself can read it within China. And, of course, credit to the great master; Ray Bradbury for providing this work of art for our inspiration and pleasure.
Full Text
Here is the full text of the masterpiece. I will let the reader read it and enjoy it.
Here There Be Tygers by Ray Bradbury
"You have to beat a planet at its own game," said Chatterton." Get in and rip it up, kill its snakes, poison its animals, dam its rivers, sow its fields, depollinate its air, mine it, nail it down, hack away at it, and get the blazes out from under when you have what you want. Otherwise, a planet will fix you good. You can't trust planets. They're bound to be different, bound to be bad, bound to be out to get you, especially this far out, a billion miles from nowhere, so you get them first. Tear their skin off, I say. Drag out the minerals and run away before the nightmare world explodes in your face. That's the way to treat them."
The rocket ship sank down toward planet 7 of star system 84. They had traveled millions upon millions of miles; Earth was far away, her system and her sun forgotten, her system settled and investigated and profited on, and other systems rummaged through and milked and tidied tip, and now the rockets of these tiny men from an impossibly remote planet were probing out to far universes. In a few months, a few years, they could travel anywhere, for the speed of their rocket was the speed of a god, and now for the ten-thousandth time one of the rockets of the far-circling hunt was feathering down toward an alien world.
"No," said Captain Forester."I have too much respect for other worlds to treat them the way you want to, Chatterton. It's not my business to rape or ruin anyway, thank God. I'm glad I'm just a rocket man. You're the anthropologist-mineralogist. Go ahead, do your mining and ripping and scraping. I'll just watch. I'll just go around looking at this new world, whatever it is, however it seems. I like to look. All rocket men are lookers or they wouldn't be rocket men. You like to smell new airs, if you're a rocket man, and see new oceans and islands."
"Take your gun along," said Chatterton. "in my holster," said Forester.
They turned to the port together and saw the green world rising to meet their ship."I wonder what it thinks of us?" said Forester.
"It won't like me" said Chatterton "I'll see to it 'It' won't like me. And I don't care. you know, I'm out for the money. Land us over there, will you. Captain; that looks like rich country if I ever saw it."
It was the freshest green color they had seen since childhood.
Lakes lay like clear blue water droplets through the soft hills; there were no loud highways, signboards or cities. It's a sea of green golf links, thought Forester, which goes on forever. Putting greens, driving greens, you could walk ten thousand miles in any direction and never finish your game. A Sunday planet a croquet-lawn world, where,you could lie on your back, clover in your lips, eyes half shut, smiling at the sky, smelling the grass, drowse through an eternal Sabbath, rousing only on occasion to turn the Sunday paper or crack the red-striped wooden ball through the wicket.
"It ever a planet was a woman, this one is/"
"Woman on the outside, man on the inside," said Chatterton. "All hard underneath, all male iron, copper, uranium, black sod. Don't let the cosmetics fool you."
He walked to the bin where the Earth Drill waited. Its great screw-snout glittered bluely, ready to stab seventy feet deep and suck out corks of earth, deeper still with extensions into the heart of the planet Chatterton winked at it"We'll fix your planet, Forester, but good"
"Yes, I know you will," said Forester, quietly,
The rocket landed.
"It's too green, too peaceful," said Chatterton. "I don't like it" He turned to the captain. "We'll go out with our rifles."
"I give orders. If you don't mind"
"Yes, and my company pays our way with millions of dollars of machinery we must protect; quite an investment."
The air on the new planet 7 in star system 84 was good. The port swung wide. The men filed out into the greenhouse world.
The last man to emerge was Chatterton, gun in hand.
As Chatterton set foot to the green lawn, the earth trembled. The grass shook. The distant forest rumbled, The sky seemed to blink and darken imperceptibly, The men were watching Chatterton when it happened.
"An earthquake!"
Chatterton's face paled. Everyone laughed.
"It doesn't like you, Chatterton!"
"Nonsense!"
The trembling died away at last.
"Well," said Captain Forester." It didn't quake for us, so It must be that it doesn't approve of your philosophy."
"Coincidence," Chatterton smiled weakly, "Come on now, on the double, I want the Drill out here in a half hour for a few samplings."
"Just a moment," Forester stopped laughing. "We've got to clear the area first, be certain there're no hostile people or animals, Besides, it isn't every year you hit a planet like this very nice; can you blame us if we want to have a look at it?"
"All right," Chatterton joined them, "Let's get it over with."
They left a guard at the ship and they walked away over fields and meadows, over small hills and into little valleys. Like a bunch of boys out hiking on the finest day of the best summer in the most beautiful year in history, walking in the croquet weather where, if you listened you could hear the whisper of the wooden ball across grass, the click through the wicket, the gentle undulations of voices, a sudden high drift of women's laughter from some ivy shaded porch, the tinkle of ice in the summer tea pitcher.
"Hey," said Driscoll, one of the younger crewmen, sniffing the air, "I brought a baseball and bat; we'll have a game later. What a diamond!"
The men laughed quietly in the baseball season, in the good quiet wind for tennis, in the weather for bicycling and picking wild grapes.
"How'd you like the job of mowing all this?" asked Driscoll.
The men stopped.
"I knew there was something wrong!" cried Chatterton, "This grass: it's freshly cut!
"Probably a species of dichondra: always short."
Chatterton spat on the green grass and rubbed it in with his boot, "I don't like it, I don't like it. If anything happened to us, no one on Earth would ever know. Silly policy: if a rocket fails to return, we never send a second rocket to check the reason why."
"Natural enough," explained Forester, "We can't waste time on a thousand hostile worlds, fighting futile wars. Each rocket represents years, money, lives. We can't afford to waste two rockets if one rocket proves a planet hostile. We go on to peaceful planets, like this one."
"I often wonder," said Driscoll, "What happened to all those lost expeditions on worlds we'll never try again."
Chatterton eyed the distant forest,"They were shot, stabbed, broiled for dinner, Even as we may be, any minute. It's time we got back to work, Captain!
They stood at the top to a little rise.
"Feel," said Driscoll, his hands and arms out loosely, "Remember how you used to run when you were it kid, and how the wind felt, Like feathers on your arms, You ran and thought any minute you'd fly, but you never quite did."
The men stood remembering, There was a smell of pollen and new rain drying upon a million grass blades.
Driscoll gave a little run. "Feel it, by God, the wind. You know, we never have really flown by ourselves. We have to sit inside tons of metal, away from flying, really. We've never flown like birds fly, to themselves, Wouldn't it be nice to, put your arms out like this —" He extended his arms, "And run." He ran ahead of them, laughing out his idiocy. "And fly!" he cried.
He flew.
Time passed on the silent gold wristwatches of the men standing below, They stared up. And from the sky came a high sound of almost unbelievable laughter.
"Tell him to come down now," whispered Chatterton. "He'll be killed."
Nobody heard. Their faces were raised away front Chatterton: they were stunned and smiling.
At last Driscoll landed at their feet.
"Did you see me?" "I flew!"
They had seen.
"Lets get down, oh, Lord. Lord." Driscoll slapped his knees, chuckling. "I'm a sparrow, I'm a hawk, God bless me. Go on all of you, try it!"
"It's the wind, it picked me up and flew me!" he said, a moment later, gasping, shivering with delight.
"Let's get out of here." Chatterton started turning, slowly in circles, watching the blue sky. "It's a trap, it wants us all to fly in the air. Then it'll drop its all at once and kill us. I'm going back to the ship."
"You'll wait for my order on that," said Forester,
The men were frowning, standing in the warm cool air, while the wind sighed about them. There was a kite sound in the air, a sound of eternal March.
"I asked the wind to fly me." said Driscoll. "And it did!"
Forester waved the others aside. "I'll chance it next. If I'm killed, back to the ship, all of you."
"I'm sorry. I can't allow this, you're the captain," said Chatterton. "We can't risk you." He took out his gun.
"I should have some sort of authority or force here. This game's gone on too long; I'm ordering us back to the ship."
"Holster your gun," said Forester, quietly.
"Stand still you idiot."
Chatterton blinked now at this man, now at that.
"Haven't you felt it'! This world's alive, it has a look to it, it's playing with us, biding its time."
"I'll be the judge of that," said Forester. "You're going back to the ship in a moment, under arrest, if you don't put up that gun."
"If you fools won't come with me, you can die out here. I'm going back, get my samples, and get out."
"Chatterton!"
"Don't try to stop me!"
Chatterton started to run. Then suddenly, he gave a cry.
Everyone shouted and looked up. "There he goes," said Driscoll.
Chatterton was up in the sky.
Night had come on like the closing of a great but gentle eye. Chatterton sat stunned on the side of the hill. The other men sat around him, exhausted and laughing. He would not look at them, he would not look at the sky, he would only feel of the earth, and his arms and his legs and his body, tightening in on himself.
"Oh, wasn't it perfect!" said a man named Koestler.
They had all flown like orioles and eagles and sparrows, and they were all happy.
"Come out of it, Chatterton, it was fun, wasn't it?"' said Koestler.
"It's impossible." Chatterton shut his eyes, tight, tight. "There's only one way for it to do it; it's alive. The air's alive. Like a fist it picked me up. Any minute now, it can kill its all. It's alive."
"All right," said Koestler. "Say it's alive." "And a living thing must have purpose. Suppose the purpose of this world is to make us happy."
As if to add to this, Driscoll came flying up, canteens in each hand. "I found a creek, tested and found pure water, wait'll you try it!"
Forester took a canteen, nudged Chatterton with it, offering a drink. Chetterton shook his head and drew hastily away. He put his hands over his face. "It's the blood of this planet. Living blood. Drink that, put that inside and you put this world inside you to peer out your eyes and listen through your ears. No thanks!"
Forester shrugged and drank.
"Wine!" he said.
"It can't be!"
"It is! Smell it, taste it! A rare white wine!"
"French domestic." Driscoll sipped his.
"Poison," said Chatterton.
They passed the canteens around.
They had idled on through the gentle afternoon, not wanting to do anything to disturb the peace that lay all about them. They were like very young men in the presence of great beauty, of a fine and famous woman, afraid that by some word, some gesture, they might turn her face away, avert her loveliness and her kindly attentions. They had felt the earthquake that had greeted Chatterton, and they did not want earthquake. Let them enjoy this "Day After School Lets Out", this fishing weather. Let them sit under the shade trees or walk on the tender hills, but let them drill no drillings, test no testings, contaminate no contaminations.
They found a small stream which poured into a boiling water pool. Fish, swimming in the cold creek above, fell glittering into the hot spring and floated, minutes later, cooked, to the surface.
Chatterton reluctantly joined the others, eating.
"It'll poison us all. There's always a trick to things like this. I'm sleeping in the rocket tonight. You can sleep out if you want. To quote a map I saw in medieval history: 'Here there be tygers.' Some time tonight when you're sleeping, the tigers and cannibals will show up."
Forester shook his head. "I'll go along with you, this planet is alive. It's a race itself. But it needs us to show off to, to appreciate its beauty. What's the use of a stage full of miracles if there's no audience?"
But Chatterton was busy. He was bent over, being sick.
"I'm poisoned! Poisoned!"
They held his shoulders until the sickness passed. They gave him water. The others were feeling fine.
"Better eat nothing but ship's food from now on," advised Forester. "It'd be safer."
"We're starting work right now." Chatterton swayed, wiping his mouth. "We've wasted a whole day. I'll work alone if I have to. I'll show this infernal place!"
He staggered away toward the rocket.
"He doesn't know when he's well off," murmured Driscoll. "Can't we stop him, Captain?"
"He practically owns the expedition. We don't have to help him, there's a clause in our contract that guarantees refusal to work under dangerous conditions. So . . . do unto this 'Picnic Ground' as you would have it do unto you. No initial-cutting on the trees. Replace the turf on the greens. Clean up your banana peels after you."
Now, below, in the ship there was an immense humming. From the storage port rolled the great shining Drill. Chatterton followed it, calling directions to its robot radio. "This way, here!
"You fool."
"Now!" cried Chatterton.
The Drill plunged its long screw-bore into the green grass. Chatterton waved up at the other men. "Watch this!"
The sky trembled.
The Drill stood in the center of a little sea of grass. For a moment it plunged away, bringing up moist corks of sod which it spat unceremoniously into a shaking analysis bin.
Now the Drill gave a wrenched, metallic squeal like a monster interrupted at its feed. From the soil beneath it slow bluish liquids bubbled up.
Chatterton shouted, "Get back, you fool!"
The Drill lumbered in a prehistoric dance. It shrieked like a mighty train turning on a sharp curve, throwing out red sparks. It was sinking. The black slime gave under it in a dark convulsion.
With a coughing sigh, a series of pants and churnings, the Drill sank into a black scum like an elephant shot and dying, trumpeting, like a mammoth at the end of an age, vanishing limb by ponderous limb into the pit.
"Fool. Fool," said Forester under his breath, fascinated with the scene. "You know what that is, Driscoll? It's tar. The fool machine hit a tar pit!"
"Listen, listen!" cried Chatterton at the Drill, running about on the edge of the oily lake. "This way, over here!"
But like the old tyrants of the earth, the dinosaurs with their tubed and screaming necks, the Drill was plunging and thrashing in the one lake from where there was no returning to bask on the firm and understandable shore.
Chatterton turned to the other men far away. "Do something, someone!"
The Drill was gone.
The tar pit bubbled and gloated, sucking the hidden monster bones. The surface of the pool was silent. A huge bubble, the last, rose, expelled a scent of ancient petroleum, and fell apart.
The men came down and stood on the edge of the little black sea.
Chatterton stopped yelling.
After a long minute of staring into the silent tar pool, Chatterton turned and looked at the hills, blindly, at the green rolling lawns. The distant trees were growing fruit now and dropping it, softly, to the ground.
"I'll show it," he said quietly.
"Take it easy, Chatterton."
"I'll fix it," he said.
"Sit down, have a drink."
"I'll fix it good, I'll show it, it can't do this to me."
Chatterton started off back to the ship.
"Wait a minute now," said Forester.
Chatterton ran. "I know what to do, I know how to fix it!"
"Stop him!" said Forester. He ran, then remembered he could fly. "The A-Bomb's on the ship, if he should get to that . . . ."
The other men had thought of that and were in the air. A small grove of trees stood between the rocket and Chatterton as he ran on the ground, forgetting that he could fly, or afraid to fly, or not allowed to fly, yelling. The crew headed for the rocket to wait for him, the captain with them. They arrived, formed a line, and shut the rocket port. The last they saw of Chatterton he was plunging through the edge of the tiny forest.
The crew stood waiting.
". . . That fool, that crazy guy."
Chatterton didn't come out on the other side of the small woodland.
"He's turned back, waiting for us to relax our guard."
"Go bring him in," said Forester.
Two men flew off.
Now, softly, a great and gentle rain fell upon the green world.
"The final touch," said Driscoll. "We'd never have to build houses here. Notice it's not raining on us. It's raining all around, ahead, behind us. What a world!"
They stood dry in the middle of the blue, cool rain. The sun was setting. The moon, a large one the color of ice, rose over the freshened hills.
"There's only one more thing this world needs."
"Yes," said everyone, thoughtfully, slowly.
"We'll have to go looking," said Driscol. "It's logical, The wind flies us, the trees and streams feed us, everything is alive. Perhaps if we asked for companionship . . . ."
"I've thought a long time, today and other days," said Koestler. "We're all bachelors, been traveling for years, and tired of it. Wouldn't it be nice to settle down somewhere! Here, maybe. On Earth you sweat just to save enough to buy a house, pay taxes; the cities stink. Here, you won't even need a house, with this weather. If it gets monotonous you can ask for rain, clouds, snow, changes. You don't have to work here for anything."
"It'd be boring. We'd go crazy."
"No," Koestler said, smiling. "If life got too soft, all we'd have to do is repeat a few times what Chatterton said: 'Here there be tygers. Listen!'"
Far away, wasn't there the faintest roar of a giant cat, hidden in the twilight forests?
The men shivered.
"A versatile world," said Koestler dryly. "A woman who'll do anything to please her guests, as long as we're kind to her. Chatterton wasn't kind."
"Chatterton. What about him?"
As if to answer this, someone cried from a distance. The two men who had flown off to find Chatterton were waving at the edge of the woods.
Forester, Driscoll, and Koestler flew down alone.
"What's up?"
The men pointed into the forest."Thought you'd want to see this, Captain. It's eerie." One of the men indicated a pathway. "Look here, sir."
The marks of great claws stood on the path, fresh and clear.
"And over here." A few drops of blood. A heavy smell of some feline animal hung in the air.
"Chatterton?"
"I don't think we'll ever find him, Captain."
Faintly, faintly, moving away, now gone in the breathing silence of twilight, came the roar of a tiger.
The men lay on the resilient grass by the rocket and the night was warm. "Reminds me of nights when I was a kid," said Driscoll. "My brother and I waited for the hottest night in July and then we slept on the Court House lawn, counting the stars, talking; it was a great night, the best night of my life." Then he added, "Not counting tonight, of course."
"I keep thinking about Chatterton," said Koestler.
"Don't," said Forester. "We'll sleep a few hours and take off. We can't chance staying here another day. I don't mean the danger that got Chatterton. No. I mean, if we stayed on we'd get to liking this world too much. We'd never want to leave."
A soft wind blew over them.
"I don't want to leave now." Driscoll put his hands behind his head, lying quietly. "And it doesn't want us to leave."
"If we go back to Earth and tell everyone what a lovely planet it is, what then, Captain?' They'll come smashing in here and ruin it."
"No," said Forester idly. "First, this planet wouldn't put up with a full-scale invasion. I don't know what it'd do, but it could probably think of some interesting things. Secondly, I like this planet too much; I respect it. We'll go back to Earth and lie about it. Say it's hostile. Which it would be to the average man, like Chatterton, jumping in here to hurt it. I guess we won't be lying after all."
"Funny thing," said Koestler. "I'm not afraid. Chatterton vanishes, is killed most horribly, perhaps, yet we lie here, no one runs, no one trembles. It's idiotic. Yet it's right. We trust it and it trusts us."
"Did you notice, after you drank just so much of the wine-water, you didn't want more? A world of moderation."
They lay listening to something like the great heart of this earth beating slowly and warmly under their bodies.
Forester thought, I'm thirsty.
A drop of rain splashed on his lips.
He laughed quietly.
I'm lonely, he thought.
Distantly he heard soft, high voices.
He turned his eyes in upon a vision. There was a group of hills from which flowed a clear river, and in the shallows of that river, sending up spray, their faces shimmering, were the beautiful women. They played like children on the shore. And it came to Forester to know about them and their life. They were nomads, roaming the face of this world as was their desire. There were no highways or cities, there were only hills and plains and winds to carry them like white feathers where they wished. As Forester shaped the questions, some invisible answerer whispered the answers. There were no men. These women, alone, produced their race. The men had vanished fifty thousand years ago. And where were these women now? A mile down from the green forest, a mile over on the wine stream by the six white stones, and a third mile to the large river. There, in the shallows, were the women who would make fine wives, and raise beautiful children.
Forester opened his eyes. The other men were sitting up.
"I had a dream."
They had all dreamed.
"A mile flown from the green forest a mile over on the wine stream . . . ."
". . . by the six white stones," said Koestler.
". . . and a third mile to the large river," said Driscoll, sitting there.
Nobody spoke again for at moment. They looked at the silver rocket standing there in the starlight
"Do we walk or fly, Captain?"
Forester said nothing.
Driscoll said, "Captain, let's stay. Let's never go back to Earth. They'll never come and investigate to see what happened to us; they'll think we were destroyed here. What do you say?"
Forester's face was perspiring. His tongue moved again and again on his lips. His hands twitched over his knees. The crew sat waiting.
"It'd be nice," said the captain.
"Sure."
"But . . ." Forester sighed. "We've got our job to do. People invested in our ship. We owe it to them to go back."
Forester got up. The men still sat on the ground, not listening to him.
"It's such a fine, nice, wonderful night," said Koestler.
They stared at the soft hills and the trees and the rivers running off to other horizons.
"Let's get aboard ship," said Forester, with difficulty.
"Captain . . . ."
"Get aboard," he said.
The rocket rose into the sky. Looking back, Forester saw every valley and every tiny lake.
"We should've stayed." said Koestler.
"Yes, I know."
"It's not too late, to turn back."
"I'm afraid it is." Forester made an adjustment on the port telescope. "Look now."
Koestler looked.
The face of the world was changed. Tiger, dinosaurs, mammoths appeared. Volcanoes erupted cyclones and hurricanes tore over the hills in a welter and fury of weather.
"Yes, she was a woman all right," said Forester. "Waiting for visitors for millions of years, preparing herself, making herself beautiful. She put on her best face for us. When Chatterton treated her badly, she warned him a few times, and then, when he tried to ruin her beauty, eliminated him. She wanted to be loved, like every woman, for herself, not for her wealth. So now, after she had offered us everything, we turn our backs. She's the woman scorned. She let us go, yes, but we can never come back. She'll be waiting for us with those . . ." He nodded to the tigers and the cyclones and the boiling seas.
"Captain," said Koestler
"Yes."
"It's a little late to tell you this. But just before we took off, I was in charge of the air lock. I let Driscoll slip away from the ship. He wanted to go. I couldn't refuse him. I'm responsible. He's back there now, on that planet."
They both turned to the viewing port.
After a long while, Forester said. "I'm glad. I'm glad one of us had enough sense to stay."
"But he's dead by now!
"No, that display down there is for us, perhaps a visual hallucination. Under all the tigers and lions and hurricanes, Driscoll is quite safe and alive, because he's her only audience now. Oh, she'll spoil him rotten. He'll lead a wonderful life. He will, while we're slugging it out up and down the system looking for but never finding a planet quite like this again. No. We won't try to go back and rescue Driscoll, I don't think 'she' would let us anyway. Full speed ahead, Koestler, make it full speed."
The rocket leaped forward into greater accelerations.
And just before the planet dwindled away in brightness and mist, Forester imagined that he could see Driscoll very clearly, walking away down from the green forest, whistling quietly, all of the fresh planet around him, a wine creek flowing for him, baked fish lolling in the hot springs, fruit ripening in the midnight trees, and distant forests and lakes waiting for him to happen by. Driscoll walked away across the endless green lawns near the white stones, beyond the forest, to the edge of the large bright river . . . .
Conclusions
Often we are given opportunities that will transform our life. But, out of ignorance, fear, or habit, we ignore the opportunity. It passes us by. Once gone, it is gone forever. We end up regretting our life. We look back with nostalgia for what could have been.
This is the story of mankind and how we have abused the world we live in. This is the story of me, and you, who have passed up wonderful companions, opportunities and adventures, for some trivial reason or the other. This is the story of the bane of our educational system that focuses on goals instead of appreciation of the moments we live.
Appreciate what you have. Be aware of opportunities and take them when they present themselves to you. For only YOU can control your life. This reality is YOURS. Please don’t squander it.
Take Aways
"Here There Be Tygers" is a short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, originally published in the anthology New Tales of Space and Time in 1951. It was later collected in Bradbury's short story collections R is for Rocket and The Golden Apples of the Sun. It deals with a rocket expedition sent to a planet to see whether or not its natural resources can be harvested for the human race. They discover a paradise which seems to provide for them whatever they desire even as they think of it. They ultimately decide to leave the planet and report that it is hostile and of no benefit to humans.
-Wikipedia
The Wikipedia entry above is a pale reflection of the content of the story.
Cliff Notes should never be used for short stories. Just read the stories yourself and come to your own conclusions.
I hope that this story was as enjoyable for you the reader as it was for myself.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
Up until the 1980’s, the “hazing” of new employees was a time-honored tradition. Here, the new employees would be given the crappiest jobs, told to do the hardest things, and treated horribly. This all seemed to disappear in the middle 1980’s. This article is dedicated to all those older workers who had to endure the “hazing” period and what it was like…
Introduction
Today, little remains of the old days of Hazing. You can see it on College campuses and universities when people “rush” to join a sorority or a fraternity. That’s about it. The hazing during High School has pretty much been eliminated. With the only vestiges of it being the movie “Dazed and Confused“.
In the movie “Dazed and Confused”, High School Seniors were shown “hazing” middle school students who had graduated into High School.
People have forgotten that “hazing” was an important part of life. You went through it numerous times in your life, and one of the most harrowing was when you started work at a new job. Here, we look at this aspect of life. In it, I describe the hazing rituals that I experienced in Western Pennsylvania in the 1970’s.
Hazing in the Coal Mines
One of the first jobs that I had was in the coal mines when I was 14 years old. My father believed that the role of a man was to work, and to earn enough to provide for a family. That was what “being a man” was. Now, the law put limits on the hours and the conditions that I would work under. Never the less, I was introduced to work on the rock crusher at 14.
Here is a typical tipple in Pennsylvania. The trucks or trains would carry huge chunks of coal from the mine to the tipple. They would be dumped into a hopper that fed into a rock crusher. Then the broken coal would be scanned for debris and loaded into hoppers below. My first job was to stand over the rock crusher and make sure none of the coal would get hung up. I would have to crawl above the “jaws of death” and bash the rock with a hand sledge to break it up.
The job itself was pretty darn straight forward. I would stand above the rock crusher on metal slats. These were steel flat bars that formed a grid over the crusher. The goal was to stand on top of them, and not slip between them. They were spaced about a yard apart to left the huge chunks of coal to fall down below. I was given a large pole to help push the coal into place, and a hand sledge to break up the rocks.
Many a time I would slip on the slippery mud covered slats. I would fall down between the slats and have to climb my way back up to the top again as the coal would be moving towards the crushing death below. I would often lose my helmet as it was ultimately ground up into tiny busted up flakes of plastic.
Coal miners Rodney Blankenship (L), Roger Vanatter (C) and an unidentified colleague prepare for the start of their afternoon shift in the locker room of a coal mine near Gilbert, West Virginia May 22, 2014. Blankenship, 53, a coal miner for 30 years, said “You go in there, hope to have good productivity on your shift, and get out safely.” With coal production slowing due to stricter environmental controls, the availability of natural gas and a shift to surface mining, the state’s coal country has been hit hard with job losses and business closures. Picture taken May 22, 2014.
That was my normal job. Now, let’s talk about the hazing aspect of it…
Sure, I took a lot of gruff from the older workers. Most people that I worked with were in their 20’s and 30’s. The real older men were over their 40’s and tended to work at other roles in the company. I was doing the “grunt work” that pretty much didn’t pay well, and that no one wanted to do.
There were “independent” haulers that would drive their dump trucks to the mine and dump the ore into the hopper. These tended to be grizzly old truck drivers, and they all wanted to give me a hard time while I weighed out their load (they were paid by weight). They would love to call me names like “fucking-dumb pollack” and “pecker dick-boy” all the time berating me for “cheating” them out of a few pounds of ore. All nonsense. It was just a bunch of harassment that I would have to endure as they would pull in and I would need to weigh their loads. Other than that it was harmless.
I grew up in the hills of Western Pennsylvania. Like nearby West Virginia, the area was amazingly beautiful and wooded, with small communities of homes and mobile homes along winding roads that went in and out of the mountains.
However, nothing was like the shit storm that I dealt with by the older kids, only slightly senior to me. There, they would steal my helmet and throw it into the hopper and I would have to dive in and retrieve it. You know, if I lost the helmet it would be deducted out of my salary.
They would, for instance, take my lunch and hide it in the tipple somewhere. Or, lock me in the outhouse, or out of it and put ex-lax in my coffee cup.
My supervisor would make me crawl into the trash cans and scrub them out with a hose and a brush. He would also try to cheat me out of my salary. In those days we were paid in cash. Sometimes, instead of the $45 that I was due, I would find a $5 and some change inside the envelope.
Other tricks of the trade included flattening my tires so that I would have to drive real slow to the nearest gas station, rolling down my windows (in the car) so that the inside would be soaked in an afternoon rain, and putting grease on the handle of the hand sludge so that it would slip out of my hand when I used it. The worst was putting an empty can of oil on the hood. After a 16 hour day in full sunlight, the ring impression it made could never be buffed out.
Hazing in the Steel Mills
The steel mills were a little bit different than the mines. Once I turned 16 years old, I was able to work full time. This meant that I could get a “starter job” at one of the local steel mills. I was fortunate. Edgewater Steel needed someone to stand under the ladle and hold the ingot molds in place while the hot steel poured into it.
Of course, I was given protective suits and equipment to wear. We worked a tough shift, where we were provided a rest area where we could cool down. The temperature near the steel was brutal, and the radiation burned our skin.
The work was necessary. You had to use these long poles to hold the ingot molds in place. If you didn’t do a good job, one of the sides of the ingot mold could come loose and the liquid could flow out, covering you and killing you instantly. We would work two people per ingot. Typically, we might be able to come up with ten ingots of steel from each poured ladle.
The work was hot, tiring and very dangerous. Never the less, it didn’t stop the older folk from “hazing” us newbies.
Here is a scene from the movie “The Deer Hunter”. It was filmed not too far from where I grew up. This is pretty much a snapshot of my youth.
I suppose it was all in good fun, but at the time I thought that it was mean and cruel. Some of the tricks included shitting into the boots that we had to wear on the shop floor, taking carbon dust and spraying it on to our lunch (sandwiches), turning off the lights (at the breaker) when we were getting set up under the ladle. Dangerous stuff this. Though, on the other hand, no one ever got really hurt. That I know of.
Here we see molten steel being pours into small ingots. Where I worked, we poured them in huge tower-like molds. They were about two yards tall and perhaps two feet in diameter. We held them in place with large hooked rods. And, we stood there while the liquid molten steel was being poured into them.
Other tricks included stealing our time (punch) card, dropping pallets (off of a fork lift) from three feet up, making a terrible racket and startling everyone. I’ve had my car keys dipped in paint, my motorcycle helmet (outside) filled with urine, and my locker door removed.
This kind of hazing would continue for months until the guys “felt” that you had “earned your place” in the “pecking order” and could be left alone. There were modifiers of course. Say you had an older relative working there, or you were close friends with some of your buddies. All of this would modify how long the hazing treatment would last. Though, in my case, they always called me the “token pollack” at the company. That never ended.
Hazing in the Grocery Stores
For a while, I worked as a stock boy for a local grocery store. The kind of work was quite different. I wore a short sleeved white shirt, with a bow tie and a large apron that I tied around my waist. As different as it was, the hazing continued unabated. In fact, each time you started to work at a new place, you would have to go through the hazing procedure all over again.
Here is a typical bagging station. We all worked as “bag boys” that would put the groceries in paper bags, and then load them to the cars of the people who shopped at the store.
The hazing depended on the person who did it. The other “bag boys” would play tricks and “jokes” on the new-comer. The department managers would give you a hard time, often assigning the most terrible and awful jobs for you to do. The female cashiers would pester you mercilessly and do little things that would make your life harder than it should have been.
Hazing tricks included hand delivery of groceries to the wrong house. Having you do the hardest clean up jobs in the store; like honey, or olive oil. It would include such things as constant call-ups to bag groceries, and not being able to get your core tasks assigned, which always resulted in a bitch-out session with the floor manager.
Some of the tricks seemingly got out of hand. Like fire extinguisher soak downs as you started a long day of work. Or, scrub downs of the inside of a freezer, while it was still running. We would have to do things like move the two ton safe, scrub the floor under it and then move it back. Other tasks included parking lot cleanup in the pouring rain or snowing blizzard. It was all harmless and innocent hazing for the most part.
As a grocery bag boy, we would perform the relatively easy job of bagging groceries, and carrying them out to the car for the customers.
Of course, everything would eventually die down. This was especially true when there were new employees to bear the brunt of all the hazing. Thank goodness.
Hazing on the Drag Lines
A drag line is a huge machine that eats into the earth, and processes it into rubble from which ore is then extracted. They are common all over Pennsylvania. They tear into the hills and extract the precious coal and ores from the land.
A dragline excavator is a piece of heavy equipment used in civil engineering and surface mining. The much larger type which is built on site is commonly used in strip-mining operations to remove overburden above coal and more recently for oil sands mining. The largest heavy draglines are among the largest mobile land machines ever built.
For a while, I worked on a dragline. Being the new kid on the block, I of course, became the “go-fer”. Which means “hey, kid! go fer that…”.
My first “go-fer” task was to get a hook brace located at the top end of the dragline boom. So, yeah you guessed it, I had to climb all the way up to the end of the boom and retrieve the part. Only to find that I got the wrong part, and had to go back up a second time and get it again. Being the “new kid on the block” really did suck.
There are many parts involved in a dragline operation. Each one needed to be cared for and maintained. This is a task that is usually reserved for the new kids working the mining site.
Conclusion
Many times I lament “the good old days”, but not with this. I am happy to say “good riddance”.
Hazing in High School.
I really do not know why humans require any type of “hazing” activities. I am sure that there must be scientist or two who can explain the phenomenon. I, for one, would like to hear why we all seem to utilize hazing as a passage into adulthood. I know that it is used in Zambia, China and Japan. What’s the point?
"In my research I've found that group benefits that could quickly accrue for newcomers –– automatic benefits –– predict people's desire to haze," he said."This isn't the only variable that matters –– there's some effect of age and sex, for example –– but the effect of automatic benefits suggests that potential vectors of group exploitation alter people's treatment of newcomers in predictable ways," -Cimino
Today, I think that most of this type of hazing is now absent in the work environment today. I haven’t seen it. However, it is possible that it has taken on new form, and has manifested in other ways, like at Google, for instance…
Take Aways
Hazing was an important part of American culture up into the 1980’s.
Schools hazed the new students.
Workers in industry hazed the new employees.
Since the 1980’s and into the 1990’s people stopped hazing the new employees at work.
Younger workers today have no idea or concept that hazing was a rite of passage that they would need to deal with when they started a new job.
FAQ
Q: Why isn’t hazing permitted in American industry any longer?
A: I really do not know. I think it is partly due to the rise of HR standardization of policy, the merging of government laws, and HR enforcement, and a rapid swinging volatile labor force. I would guess that any hazing today would be grounds for dismissal of an employee.
Q: Why you think that hazing was an important part of industry?
A: The work environment consists of a tiny microcosm of society. They structure themselves in a tribal manner and creature written and unwritten rules of behavior. New members to that society must prove their value prior to them obtaining membership in the group.
Q: Are there any formal policies against hazing?
A: Yes.
Posted on Free Republic on 10SEP18. The post can be found HERE. Some highlights…
I recall reading about how when Mario Lemieux was a rookie with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1984, even he did not escape that bit of hazing as when he fell asleep on an airplane in the midst of a road trip, a teammate snuck up and covered his head in shaving cream. And also the well known tale of Bobby Orr in about 1966 being dragged into the dressing room shower, covered in liniment oil, and shaved from head to toe.
- OttawaFreeper
The retired Naval aviation guys I work with tell stories about sending the noobies for a bucket of “prop wash”. lol
- V_TWIN
20+ years ago my daughter was in an award winning marching band that had a time honored "hell night" for new members. That was until one newbie went psycho and has stayed that way. The band director, school, and boosters are likely still paying off the seven figure judgement.
- buckalfa
There's no hazing at all in the Navy these days. I remember making 3rd and then 2nd Class Petty Officer and getting my crows "tacked" on (getting punched in the arm). My arm was black and blue but I wasn't any worse for the wear. I was proud. Of course, there's always some asshole who takes it too far and someone winds up LLD with a broken arm after his arm was jumped on.
Around 2010 or so, about the same time as DADT was repealed, the Navy cracked down hard on hazing. It had long been officially banned but still tolerated. The Navy sent a message in the form of several publicized career ending NJPs that the days of hazing were over. When I made First Class, there were no punches to my arm. We got the message loud and clear.
-Drew68
Steam blanket. Prop wash. Key to the sea chest. Metric crescent wrench. Fetch a henway. And on and on and on......
-rktman
There’s hazing, and then there’s hazing. When I stood my first messenger watch as a US Navy Seaman Apprentice, I was sent to a location on the ship to see a particular petty officer and obtain a container of red running light oil. That petty officer sent me to another location and another person, and so on for a number of contacts. Of course, there’s no such thing as running light oil...but the travels seeking it helped familiarize me with the ship’s layout and some of our senior petty officers.
Then there was the “Sea Bat” ploy. A number of sailors were gathered on the fantail around a cardboard box partly covered with a towel, and were peeking inside at it. A couple of others were doing some desultory sweeping nearby. One of my shipmates asked what was in the box and was told it was a Sea Bat. He bent over and lifted the towel to have a look, and one of the broom wielding swabbies swatted him on the rear as all the others yelled “SEA BAT”!
A new junior officer was the next victim; his swat was a bit less aggressive than the other received.
- JimRed
One of my first summer jobs was at an amusement park. The tradition there was to be sent to hunt for a bucket of steam. Some of them are still looking.
Then there was my first “real” job at a huge factory complex. I was taken to the remotest part of the place and left to find my own way back. Took all afternoon.
- Some Fat Guy in L.A.
Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
The article reinforces a notion that I have that “play is the work of children”. It is how they learn to become an adult. It doesn’t matter if you are a dog, a cat, an elephant, or a monkey, all animals learn from playing.
However, it is more than that, play is individualized free-roaming periods of children playing without supervision. They need to learn to be autonomous. They need to be able to use trial and error. They need to explore the idea of actions have consequences. When a child does not have this environment, they are often retarded in some fundamental areas.
The boy is a natural spectator; he watches parades, fires, fights, football games, automobiles and planes with equal fervor. However, he will not watch a clock.
A boy is a piece of skin stretched over an appetite. However, he eats only when he’s awake.
Boys imitate their Dads in spite of all the efforts to teach them good manners.
Boy’s are very durable.
A boy, if not washed too often and if not kept in a cool quiet place after each accident , will survive broken bones, hornet’s nests, swimming holes and five helpings of pie. Boys love to trade things. They’ll trade fishhooks, marbles, broken knives and snakes for anything that is priceless or worthless.
-Herbert Hoover
Introduction
In the United States today, I see a matriarchal tide that has emasculated men, and have pampered children to a point where they grow up spoiled without discipline. It does not matter if the child is a boy, or a girl, or considers themselves something in between. That is something that is not desirable for the children, families, and society as whole. Children are young and they need to learn basic rules to fit into society. After all, a puppy that is not litter trained, will deposit feces all over the house. A horse that is not “broken” will never let you ride it.
Parental Duty
A parent has a duty to teach their children and not outsource that responsibility to others. Whether it is a babysitter, a community government, or a church, a parent must provide adaptive skills and rules of behavior to their children. Otherwise, the child will become a “misfit”. They will not be able to fit into society.
Yet, a worrisome as this can be, too much supervision is just as dangerous. Too much protection is equally bad. When parents are overly protective of their children, they essentially outsource all of their offspring’s risk management to themselves. Part of growing is learning to judge risk behaviors.
Is that river to wide to swim across? Is the ice too thin to walk on? Is that tree too high to climb? Can I jump off the third story into a kiddy pool of water below?
Children need to be able to make these decisions on their own without reliance on others. Otherwise, the operating assumption is that mom and dad will always be around to keep them from harm. They will grow up expecting others to make those fundamental decisions for them. They will believe that society and the government, can best decide and tell them how to live.
Children need to be Self Reliant
Rather than making kids dependent on you to keep them safe, prepare them to face and manage risks themselves. This doesn’t mean totally shoving them into things without a safety net. Like how my old school mates learned how to swim – their father simply threw them into the pool. No. I don’t believe in that. Rather, they need a set a staged instructions.
In fact, this system was promoted by Gever Tulley.
Gever Tulley is an American writer, speaker, educator, entrepreneur, and computer scientist. He is the founder of the Brightworks School, Tinkering School, the non-profit Institute for Applied Tinkering, and educational kit maker Tinkering Labs.
His more recent work centers around the concept of students learning through building projects. He has delivered multiple TED talks on his work, published the book 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do), and has contributed articles for many online media outlets.
Gever refers to this system as a “scaffolding” of “planning, practicing by steps, and taking reasonable precautions.” Obviously, the robustness of this scaffolding should be adjusted to your children’s age and level of maturity. You certainly do not want a toddler who can barely stand up trying to cross a city street. As they grow, you (as the parent) can then progressively withdraw the support “scaffolding”. In this way, they can gain confidence and competence and become able to fend for themselves.
The great Mr. Rogers stated that “play was the work of children”. He was so correct about that. That is how youth learns. It is through play. Little girls learn how to raise babies through play. They play with dolls, they feed the dolls, they play “house”, and they hold “tea parties”. Little boys learn how to work together in group sports. They learn how to build cabins, tree houses, and “forts”. They tear things apart and put things together. Some girls like to do “boy activities”. Some boys like to do “girl activities”. That’s all both ok too.
The point is that play is how children learn.
The term “free play” is permitting children to learn under minimum supervision. Not only is there no supervision, but that the child knows that they are “on their own”. They know and realize that they can do what they feel like doing, but that if something goes wrong, they will be on their own. It is an adventure in risk…
“Free play has little in common with the “play” we give children today. In organized activities, adults run the show. It’s only when the grown-ups aren’t around that the kids get to take over. Play is training for adulthood.”-The Fragile Generation
You have to teach the children to be independent.
That is not going to happen with you sitting off to the side or within earshot. You need to teach them how to judge risks, and then the decision process on how to take them. I personally believe that the best way to do this is to take these little steps with them together, first. Then, over time, gradually let them take the risks without you being nearby.
Staged Risks
The keys to engaging in this process in a way that will not only benefit your children, but allay your own anxiety. After all, if you don’t teach your children well, you will get sick over the huge anxiety that you will need to endure. The solution is to introduce risk in graduated phases.
It’s a basic and simple process. The first step in allowing your kids to engage in a “risky” activity is to identify what exactly the risks are. For instance if you fall off of the first step in a ladder, the fall isn’t so bad. If you fall off the fourth step it is worse. They will not want to fall off anything higher. They will not WANT to. They have learned that risks have consequences.
That’s not going to happen, if you don’t allow your child to get on the ladder. It’s not going to happen when you are there to catch them. They need to experience the consequences. It needs to be visceral.
Once you’ve identified the risks of an activity, you can figure out how to mitigate them. It should be natural for most children. You fall down from skating on the ice; you will feel bruised and maybe have some torn skin. Let it happen!
My children do not wear arm and knee pads when they go ice skating (though, neither do the other Chinese children either). Let them fall down. Let them learn what happens and the consequences of it.
Falling down is an important part of growing up. Do not coddle and deprive. They must experience the benefits and risks together.
History
Know your history.
Up through the early 20th century, children, even very young ones, worked. They got up early in the morning and did their chores. They washed up and trudged off to work. Often they worked 12 hours a day in the mines and the factories. They hawked newspapers on grimy street corners, or like my father, shined shoes in front of businesses downtown.
The reader should not misunderstand. There’s nothing really romantic about such child labor. They were not learning. They were not engaged in play. They were doing what they needed to do to survive. They did what they had to do. It was dangerous.
It was dangerous, and yet they survived.
Imagine that!
Consider the youth of the past. When he was seventeen, Jack London (remember him? He wrote the book “The Call of the Wild”.) Signed on to sail with a gaff-rigged schooner bound for seal hunting in the icy Bering Sea. I dare say that if a child did that today, the parents would be locked up in jail. Imagine that! Not even old enough to shave. He walks down to a port, talks to the ship’s mate and gets a job bound for icy North! What balls! Yet those types of things are what build character and makes a parent proud.
Jack London, with his belongings in a satchel walked to the bay and got a job on a gaff-rigged schooner bound for points unknown. He shook hands with the master and signed on. He just did it. What moxie! That is what self-reliance is all about.
This was not someone who grew up around boats. This was not someone who’s father was a fisherman, and who’s classmates all knew how to sail. No. Not in the least. This young man knew absolutely nothing. He knew positively zero. Yet, he knew what he wanted to do. So one day, he packed his bags and left and did it.
It sure beats getting a trophy for coming in 10th place in a sack race.
When he was thirteen, Andrew Jackson (Remember him? He was a President, don’t you know?) served as a courier for American militias fighting in the Revolutionary War. He was thirteen years old. Yet here he was going back and forth between battles and regional headquarters. He carried messages, and if he was ever caught, he would have been tortured and killed. Yet, he did so. At the tender age of thirteen.
Here’s a scene from the movie “The patriot” that stunned many of the liberals in the audiences that watched it. They were surprised that small boys would be able to shoot and handle firearms. People, this is a natural rite of passage for young men. It is only recently that r-survivalist strategy has been adopted by the United States government. Boys are not girls. Treat them as the genetically programed humans that they are. Aim small, miss small.
Do you allow your thirteen year old to ride a bicycle unsupervised?
When he was twelve, Louis Zamperini left home to spend the summer living on an Indian reservation and running around in the mountains. He lived in a wood cabin with a friend the same age and killed his own dinner each night with a rifle.
Louis Silvie "Louie" Zamperini (January 26, 1917 – July 2, 2014) was a US prisoner of war survivor in World War II, a Christian evangelist and an Olympic distance runner.
Zamperini took up running in high school and qualified for the US in the 5000m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He finished 8th in the event.
In 1941 he was commissioned into the United States Army Air Forces as a Lieutenant. He served as a bombardier in B-24 Liberators in the Pacific. On a search and rescue mission, mechanical difficulties forced Zamperini's plane to crash in the ocean.
Louis Zamperini crashed in the South Pacific. he survived, but was captured by brutal Japanese forces. He survived the crash, and then he survived his imprisonment. He would have never been able to do so, were he coddled as a child and told not to take risks.
After drifting at sea for 46–47 days (island spotted on the 46th, and arrived on 47th) he landed on the Japanese occupied Marshall Islands and was captured. He was taken to a prison camp in Japan where he was tortured.
Following the war he initially struggled to overcome his ordeal. Later he became a Christian Evangelist with a strong belief in forgiveness. Zamperini is the subject of two biographical films, the 2014 Unbroken and the 2015 Captured by Grace.
Can your twelve year old child do the same? Do you dare let them live alone in a cabin in the woods? Do you dare let them have and use a gun? Do they know how to survive in the wilds?
If these kids can sail the oceans, serve on the war-front, and live by themselves, then our kids can ride their bikes to school. Maybe, you the reader, disagree with me. Maybe you think that it is just fine to raise your children as “pussies”. After all, I have heard the arguments; it is the new progressive reality. The society has changed, and I am but an old dinosaur. Never the less…
Unfortunately, the landscapes of play and exercise for children have been both literally and metaphorically flattened, if they exist at all in the United States. As many as 40% of schools have either eliminated one or all of their recess periods, not simply to gain more classroom and testing time, but also because of liability concerns. For the same reason, climbing ropes and dodge ball games have been removed from gym class. Can the reader believe this? It’s true! The risk of someone getting hurt is too high; the risk of physical ineptitude doesn’t rate, even though it’s correlated with the risk of obesity.
To prevent my children from turning into emasculated serfs being harvested by the American elite, let me present some things that I permit my children to do…
Take a Train
I really don’t know why I personally think this is a big deal. Yet, it is. Every single child that I know, get really excited when they are told that they are going to take the train. There is something far different and exciting about a train. Yes, I am aware about the excitement in taking an airplane ride for the first time. Yet, a train is something more than that. A train ride is special.
Look at this beauty. Observe the lines, the enormity of the great complex mechanical monster. Look at how small the workers look around it. Look at the environment. Absorb what it must have been like, the smells, the muggy air, and the hustle and bustle of the people on the platform in the early morning air.
From the point of view of a child, a train gives you the full (end) experience of travel. They can see what it is like. You buy a ticket, you ride in a seat, and you arrive in your destination. It is easy to understand. It is easy to conceptualize.
That isn’t so clear to a child when they fly. To a child, they have to wait in huge lines, often hours long, to pass through TSA. They have to sit on board, which at least in America is becoming more akin to herding cattle than it is to taking a trip.
Keep an eye on perspective. My father took a train to attend my nieces wedding in New York City. It had been nearly thirty years since he taken a train. His opinion? It was marvelous. They had wide and spacious seats. Plenty of legroom. They could read, play cards, and just nap. He loved it. His wife, enjoyed knitting and listening to the radio. It’s a different way of traveling.
If you, my dear reader, do not understand what I am discussing here then you obviously haven’t rode in a train lately.
Make a Fire
In China you can do just about anything, but finding a place in the woods to build a campfire is not all that easy. However, it can be done. Why is this important? Because building a making a fire is a fundamental requirement of all children since the age of written history.
Young girls learned how to keep the hearths burning. Not only to keep the household warm, but also to make sure that the food was prepared.
Young boys learned how to survive outside, far away from their home, and that included providing warmth and nourishment through cooking game that they caught.
In America, these are no longer considered important. As there just isn’t any such thing as gender. Alternatively, societal roles, or the need to live “off the grid” and away from society. The all-knowing American police state will take care of you, don’t you know…
I strongly disagree with the progressive direction of the Obama Presidential mandates. While every other child is being groomed for slavery (or at least serfdom), my children will have the necessary skills to survive away from the American Progressive madness.
For me, I let them play with matches and light candles when they’re really young. Indeed they are pre-school age. This can be done in your house. Buy a set of candles. It might set you back a whole $1. Then, let them practice lighting it. Do it until they are bored. Then try it again and again. Soon, they will tire of it, and not want to play with fire any more.
When you ask them, they will say “Awww, not again!”.
They’ll learn quite a bit. They will learn that fire indeed burns and it hurts. However, with a flame so small, it won’t hurt too much if it glances their skin. When they get to a little older, let them build a fire all by themselves (still with your supervision, of course). A campfire is the best, but if you are in an urban environment, teach them by making candle experiments.
Candle Experimentation
You take an old can; put corrugated cardboard inside so that the spaces (holes) in the can face up. Pack the cardboard in. I like to wrap them in a circular shape. Line the inner side (of the tin) and then add pieces until there just isn’t any room left. Then melt wax (very cheap) on a stove and pour it in the holes in the cardboard.
Let your child make this candle device. Then allow them to experiment with wax, with cardboard, with fire, with other discarded tins. The cost will be minimal, but if you allow them to do it in the safety of your supervision, it will be beneficial to them.
You can buy a DIY candle kit to start off with. You can get cardboard everywhere. You have scissors, and matches. Then all you need an open and airy place that is safe and secure. Then let the kids go to town.
Teach them by showing them. Then allow them to make their own. For a campfire, gather the wood. Cut the branches. Build up tinder. Get it started burning. Children can learn this. Teach them at an early age.
Campfires
Campfires are great, and I just cannot imagine a childhood without one.
Fire is a fundamental part of every human child’s life. We should teach and allow the child to explore this most important of elements. We need to take the time out of our day to help them to explore and learn. Let them smell the burning, hear the crackling embers, and enjoy the smoke and embers as they float upwards into the heavens.
Teach your children about how to make a fire. You gather wood. You gather tinder. You clean out a fire pit, and you surround it with rocks. You select the rocks carefully, so no “river rocks” are used. Then you arrange the wood, and start it by tinder. They can participate and help. In no time, they will be starting the fire on their own.
Let them add sticks and wood to the fire. Let them learn how to make the fire hot, and see the benefits of the hot embers.
It need not only be about making the fire. It can include such activities as cooking cut-up potatoes in aluminum-foil in the embers. (Easy to make and delicious. Cut up a potato (after washing it), and an onion. Add salt and pepper and a pad of butter. Wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil and place it in the embers and let it cook a spell. It is delicious.)
One of my fondest memories is roasting hotdogs over a evening fire. We did this often as a child. This included such events as cub-scouts, school outings, and trips with my parents. Childhood needs to include campfires as a fundamental element of growing up.
It can include roasting marshmallows on a stick, or hotdogs until they are black and crunchy (the best kind). My first roasted marshmallow occurred when I was six. It was before first grade. It can be earlier than that, but make sure that you supervise the youngster, as they do need training. Otherwise, they can burn their mouth, or fall into the fire. Yikes!
Fires are a great venue for bonding. It can include talking and telling stories, especially family lore, or hopes and dreams of the children. You can be a great parent or uncle in these events. Don’t let them pass away. Don’t let them fade into obscurity simply because there is a new app in your cellphone.
By the way. I strongly urge all campfires to be a cellphone free zone.
Let your children see how easy it is to make tea or coffee on the campfire. Show them how it is done. You can also open up a can of pork and beans and teach them how to cook it on a fire in the embers (opened up) of course. Let them feel some independence, and let them do all the work. This is their experience, don’t hog it all up.
Let them participate in stories, or just allow them to stare into the burning embers and daydream. Let your child know the differences between wet wood, and dry wood. Let them understand the differences between a pine and a hard wood. Let them see the difference in making tinder, and how coal can make a fire much hotter. Let them learn what happens to a hotdog on a stick when you cook it deep down inside the hot embers of a fire, and what happens when you don’t. Let them learn through experience.
I personally find it absolutely laughable that many American parents are so fearful that they will not allow their children to play with fire. Certainly, no one wants the children to burn up a house or set a field on fire. Yet, the knowledge of what a fire is, and how it can be controlled is an important learning exercise for children.
“If a 10-year-old lit a fire at an American playground, someone would call the police and the kid would be taken for counseling. At “the Land”, spontaneous fires are a frequent occurrence. The park is staffed by professionally trained “playworkers,” who keep a close eye on the kids but don’t intervene all that much. Claire Griffiths, the manager of the Land, describes her job as “loitering with intent.”
-The Land. The Land is an “adventure playground,” though it sounds a little too much like a amusement park.
In the U.K., such playgrounds arose and became popular in the 1940s, as a result of the efforts of Lady Marjory Allen of Hurtwood, a landscape architect and children’s advocate.
Allen was disappointed by what she described in a documentary as “asphalt square” playgrounds with “a few pieces of mechanical equipment.” She wanted to design playgrounds with loose parts that kids could move around and manipulate, to create their own makeshift structures.
But more important, she wanted to encourage a “free and permissive atmosphere” with as little adult supervision as possible. The idea was that kids should face what to them seem like “really dangerous risks” and then conquer them alone. That, she said, is what builds self-confidence and courage.
Although the play-workers almost never stop the kids from what they’re doing, before the playground had even opened they’d filled binders with “risk benefits assessments” for nearly every activity. (In the two years since it opened, no one has been injured outside of the occasional scraped knee.)
Here’s the list of benefits for fire:
“It can be a social experience to sit around with friends, make friends, to sing songs to dance around, to stare at, it can be a co-operative experience where everyone has jobs. It can be something to experiment with, to take risks, to test its properties, its heat, its power, to re-live our evolutionary past.”The risks?“Burns from fire or fire pit” and “children accidentally burning each other with flaming cardboard or wood.” In this case, the benefits win, because a playworker is always nearby, watching for impending accidents but otherwise letting the children figure out lessons about fire on their own.”-The Overprotected Kid
There is something primeval about fire, the smell of burning wood, and the weight of a metal lighter in your hand. (Disposable lighters are like paper cups of coffee; discardable and plain. To get the “full” experience, do it right.)
Teach them how to make a fire from tinder, and scraps.
I personally believe that every father should buy their son a nice traditional lighter. make it memorable and let the son choose the style that best fit’s their personality. This is an important part of growing up.
Show them how to make a fire pit, chop wood, and select the best wood. Let them know the difference between green-wood, soft-wood, and hard wood. Let them poke the fire and watch the sparks fly. Let them blow on the fire and watch the embers glow and grow.
Alternatives
One of the more memorable events in my life took place during my college years. I was out riding in the “boondocks” with a friend of mine (Sid Custer) in his pickup truck. We were having a great time, and we stopped in the middle of the dirt road for a smoke (not a cigarette) and pee. Neither of us had a lighter. So my friend siphoned some gas out of the tank, put it on a rag he scrounged out of the glove box, and used his pocketknife to create sparks, which quickly set the rag on fire. We lit up, and continued our merry way. Yes. Men, need to be able to adapt to survive. They need to know, that in a pinch, they can “make do” and adapt.
I never forgot that event.
Later on during other stages of my life, I saw interesting improvisations that enabled people the ability to light up cigarettes. Here are some additional ways to start a fire. I would suggest that the reader also make a point to their children that fire can be made easily and is not something to fear.
Teach them how to create fires on demand. Teach them how to control fires, and what to do, when a fire gets out of control.
Gum Wrapper Fire. This is a very easy method, and commonly used in prison. You take a pack of chewing gum. You remove the silver foil. Then you get a battery (any working battery, but I’ve seen type AA or AAA used effectively), and put the foil so that it touches both ends. Now the fire might start at any point along the foil, so you need to tear away some of the foil to make a narrow gap. That will focus the fire to start there. Make sure you have some tinder ready, as the fire will be short lived. It might last two to three seconds, tops.
Ramen Noodle Stove. Take a pack of Ramen noodles. (Remove it from the plastic wrapping.) Pour gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid on the uncooked noodles. Put it on a brick, a rock or other safe surface. Then light carefully (making sure that no gasoline is on anyone’s hands or splashed on the ground nearby). It will act like a “fire starter log”. As such, it will burn for a good spell. Maybe 20 minutes to a half an hour. It makes a great kindling or fire starter, but is also a very good exercise to expose your children to.
All of the suggestions that I have provided here come with a level of danger. There should be no doubt about that. However, the point is that danger should be a friend and as the child grows, they can become more familiar with danger and best be able to tame it. You need to teach your children how to confront life, and not shy away from it in fear.
To quote an age-old Peruvian saying; “A life lived in fear is a life not worth living”.
Also quoted in the movie “Strictly Ballroom” (1992). Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. If the reader is confused about why this quote is located here in this manuscript, and what it means in regards to raising children and exposing them to new ideas and skills, then you should watch the movie “Strictly Ballroom”.
Sail a boat
"There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it.
Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."- Spoken by Ratty to Mole in Wind in the Willows a children's book by Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932).
This might be a surprise to some readers. It need not be.
This is a nice photo of a gaff-rigged cutter. A cutter is a boat with a single mast. A gaff-rigged boat is one that has the mast broken into two sections; a top and a bottom. The top section has a smaller sail known as a top-sail. It is useful to get the smallest and tiniest breezes of wind on calm days.
Sailing introduces your child to art, beauty, nature, and teamwork. You will find them wanting to help furl the sails. You will find them steer the boat with pride. You will watch with pride as they point out when the sails are luffing. There is something very freeing about sailing. You glide along the water, it is almost like flying. It is soft, quiet and peaceful.
Sails on larger vessels are typically left in place, while it is easier to remove sails from the rigs of smaller vessels. Furling a sail simply means to put the thing away after use. Sails are commonly folded and covered, or rolled into a tubular shape by an onboard mechanism.
In sailing, luffing refers to when a sailing vessel is steered far enough toward the direction of the wind ("windward"), or the sheet controlling a sail is eased so far past optimal trim, that airflow over the surfaces of the sail is disrupted and the sail begins to "flap" or "luff" (the luff of the sail is usually where this first becomes evident). This is not always done in error; for example, the sails will luff when the bow of the boat passes through the direction of the wind as the sailboat is tacked.
A sailboat can also be "luffed" slightly without completely de-powering the sails. Often this occurs on the point of sail known as close hauled, this is sometimes referred to as pinching or "feathering" and is sometimes done deliberately in order to make a more direct course toward an upwind destination (see: "beating to windward"), or to "de-power" a sail on a windy day to maintain control of the sailboat. "Luffing" can also be used to slow or stop a sailboat in a controlled manner. To offset luffing at the top of the sail one should move the sail "lead" forward until the point where the "telltales" break evenly.
In comparison, a household with young children is a noisy and clamorous affair. There is always noise and contention. Young children cry and demand. Sugar and other children exacerbate this situation. However, on the ocean (or in a bay), there is none of this. The children will calm down and start to fit into the routine and the rhythm of the boat. Oh, they will get the “sea legs” soon enough.
“The sea hates a coward.”- Eugene O’Neill
If the parent is so inclined, they can help the child with sailing lessons. In each and every case, the parent should make sure that the child knows the basics of swimming (not included in this list, as it is a MAJOR fundamental requirement for all of my children. They learn how to swim early on.). When in the boat, all children wear life preservers, and all of them must know how to “turn a boat around” to rescue a person during a “man overboard” drill. Try it. Your children would love it!
Here we see a gaff-rigged schooner overtaking a cutter. A schooner is a vessel with two masts. The mast at the stern of the ship is the tallest. Therefore, the vessel has the largest sail area towards the stern of the ship.
Others have written about the beauty of sailing. Consider Christopher Cross for example.
For those readers who have never sailed, I would seriously suggest that you take the opportunity to do so. I am not talking about a little puddle boat, but a large sailing vessel with a decent beam and some real size. It is achievable, as many boat owners offer rides in their sailboats for a very reasonable price as a way to make extra money.
For those of you who have, let me suggest that you invest in a simple boat rather than a new cellphone. In my household, tools and clothing that helps the children learn hold far greater value than what everyone else is doing. You, dear reader, should realize that your High School days are over. Those who have succeeded in life, we NOT the ones who were average and “went with the pack”. Do not allow that temptation to mold your child’s thought process.
Here’s some great links for the convinced and interested reader;
The joy of sailing on the Britannia. Everyone should have the opportunity to sail. Everyone should be able to enjoy their life on the water, with friends and companionship.
“There is a special moment in sailing after clearing a harbor and setting the sails, when you turn off the engine and feel the boat lean into the wind and silently pick up speed. In that single quiet moment, all the joys of sailing come to me in a rush: freedom from the work-a-day life ashore, the thrill of travel, the challenge of pitting myself against the forces of the sea.”- Stephan G. Regulinski
Ride Your Bike Off a Ramp
This was something that I did when I was a kid, and something that horrified my mother. Never the less, I don’t know of anyone who ever died from it.
A forest bicycle ramp. Obviously a person using this ramp should have some practice and experience first. I have had many friends who would ride their dirt-bikes (motorcycles) in the abandoned strip mines and forests of Western Pennsylvania who had been in accidents, some of which required hospitalization.
It’s a thrill and a brush with danger that is still possible in this too-sterile world. Building and riding off ramps will teach your kids some basic physics and even some construction skills. Let them be kids, for goodness sakes. Don’t end up like that joke-of-a-President Obama who rides a bicycle with helmet and protective padding. Good God!
But…
But… Let’s not leave it at that. Riding a bike through the woods can be a great adventure. I certainly enjoyed it as a kid growing up. Today, in China, bike ride-share has taken the nation by storm, but these bikes are all for urban transport from one location to another.
That is not what I am writing about.
Instead I suggest aggressive bike adventures in the woods. If you are an American, there is no reason why you can’t explore the old trails and country railroad access trails. There is no reason why you can’t ride the deserted industrial sites and explore the “off the beaten” path adventures just waiting for there for you. There is no reason why you can’t ride along long disused railroad tracks, ride up and down abandoned urban complexes, or explore old sections of cracked highway.
“beginning in 2011, Swanson Primary School in New Zealand submitted itself to a university experiment and agreed to suspend all playground rules, allowing the kids to run, climb trees, slide down a muddy hill, jump off swings, and play in a “loose-parts pit” that was like a mini adventure playground.The teachers feared chaos, but in fact what they got was less naughtiness and bullying—because the kids were too busy and engaged to want to cause trouble, the principal said.”-The Overprotected Kid
Which brings up another subject…
Explore an Abandoned Building
Ouch! This is a painful admission. Abandoned sites are dangerous. You can get hurt or more. When I was five I walked on a rusty nail protruding from a board in an abandoned house near our place. I had to get some painful shots as a result.
Never the less, I explored many an abandoned building, and went in and out of local railroad tunnels throughout the Western Pennsylvania hills where I lived. I cannot say that I would promote my children doing so, but if I found out about it, I wouldn’t lambast them either. The key is preparation. The children need to know about the dangers before hand, and then with the basic tools and knowledge just let them explore a bit.
When I was in second grade I learned that if you jumped off the second floor of an abandoned building that your feet and legs would hurt. I learned that old pipes had water, but the water was thick and red with rust. I learned that nails were everywhere and if you weren’t careful you could step on one and need to go to the doctor and get an injection. I learned that broken glass is everywhere in an old building and you could get hurt if your touched it.
There is a sub-culture called urban-exploration where young adults enter into abandoned structures for the purpose of photography and exploration. They do not deface, steal or vandalize. I see nothing wrong with this as long as they are careful and not breaking any laws. I would encourage your children to explore…
A good parent allows the child to learn.
A good parent will rather have the child experience a bruise or two rather than live a life in fear, or worse yet, walk straight into danger unawares. As a child, I was petrified of spiders, snakes, frogs, and bees. Over the years, through close contact, I have learned not to be fearful of these things. Let your child learn early. Equip them with the knowledge to live and survive in an often-unfriendly world.
Climb a Rope
Climbing is one of the crucial physical skills everyone should develop. In America, from what I gather, climbing a rope is something that is frowned upon. As is climbing stairs higher than four feet. Have you looked at what constitutes a playground these days?
Now, if schools won’t provide the opportunity for a little physical exercise, then parents ought to. I am way too old to climb, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t make the effort to show how it is done.
In the old days (about 100 years ago), every community had a playground. These playgrounds consisted of “monkey bars”, swing sets, seesaws, and other simple outdoor childhood entertainments. Typically, they had sand at the bottom of the metal (and often concrete) structures to mitigate any cuts, scrapes or broken bones. There was sand at the bottom of the monkey bars, sand at the bottom and end of the slides, and sand below the swing sets.
Children playing on “monkey bars”. Now, pretty much banned throughout the USA by Democrat well-meaning busybodies.
This continued into my parents’ generation and mine as well. However, over time, the playground equipment became more standardized and mass-produced. By the time the 1980’s rolled around, there were small community organizations forming to make playgrounds “safer”, “better” and (perhaps) more “educational”. These “improvements” resulted in making the playgrounds nice and safe and very boring.
Often centering around a “community activist”. This “activist” often had no source of financial income except what manifested as a result of litigation. Litigation was the fruit that justified their activism. Many “well intentioned” changes were just creative ways for an individual or group of individuals to make money without physical labor. Don’t like my opinion? Prove me wrong.
Old American playground around 1900. Only the strong survived recess, obviously.
For instance, slides became lower. Instead of two stories high during my parents’ generation, and one story high (8 feet) in my generation, they became four feet high. “Monkey Bars” became smaller and lower to the ground. Even seesaws and swings became smaller, or eliminated all together. These “improvements” were welcomed by all the protective parents in their respective communities, or at least by the most vocal ones.
There was only one problem.
The structures were boring and did not challenge the children. They were instead only suitable for mentally retarded and handicapped children, infants under the age of two, and overweight mothers. My gosh! Children should be challenged while in a safe environment, not coddled until they become an adult.
Bubble wrap was intended for the protection of inanimate objects. Not for human beings. Protective attire is necessary for close combat, hazardous work, and working with tools. It should not be necessary for transportation, play or dining.
My experience, in life, has been that once the father leaves (dies or simply abandons the household); the mother tends to clutch on to the child. She becomes hyper protective. If the child is unable to go out on their own, this terrible behavior (and self-serving behavior) by the mother completely messes up the child. They become “retarded” in normal development.
Those of you readers who have accomplished anything know exactly what I speak of.
I strongly believe that children, like cats and puppies, should be encouraged to climb, fight, sing, dance, and do other tasks that involve a moderate level of risk. It is better to climb in a park near your house than on a mountain side hours from a nearby hospital.
All Chinese playgrounds are supervised to allow the children to play in safety.
I was reminded of this by an event in a local park here in China. There were some children being taught repelling and climbing skills by a small group of instructors. It turns out that many malls and store complexes in China have these huge climbing complexes of ropes, and netting that children are permitted to go “nuts” over.
They are very popular here, and are well maintained and monitored. They also offer excursions in local parks. I strongly advise all parents to utilize this resource.
Many Chinese malls have enormous gym arrangements that are supervised for safety. The children can climb and explore. They can climb rope ladders often going up seven or eight stories. They can rappel down ropes and swing from tires hanging by a rope.
These arrangements are a multi-colored mixtures of beams, ropes, hoops, ladders, bars, and free hanging containers. The maze towers upward. Often they are five or six stories high. There is one in GuoMao in the LouHu section of ShenZhen that towers seven stories high. There is one in the JiDa section of ZhuHai that goes all the way up to the fifth floor.
You can watch the children high up, five stories above, walking a balance beam. The only thing saving them is a tethered harness so if they lose their footing, they will not fall (and die). I have seen many a petrified first and second grader carefully exploring this maze of rope and bars. Too bad American parents are too fearful to expose their children to adventure.
In China, safety is always a concern. No one can enter these areas without supervision and protection. For this supervision, there is a small fee that needs to be paid.
The Chinese provide their children with a fine place to climb and explore. Sure there is an element of risk, but there are trained instructors and safety harnesses and helmets provided. Compare that to a modern American playgound. There isn’t any risk. There isn’t any opportunity to explore and have adventure. It is typically in one or two colors, it consists of a few fences and railings, and some stairs to climb up. It is also very safe. It is the opposite of what is available in China.
Safe American playground is suitable for the most incompetent children and retarded idiots that America can produce.
American playgrounds are designed for idiots. They are ridiculously safe. Soon, someone will complain (I am sure a SJW looking for a financial award) about rain, and demanding that they be shaded and protected from the weather. Maybe the metal components are too hard, and so they will now need to be completely padded, and let’s add a paid child monitor to the mix (paid for with your tax dollars).
Notice that there are no swings, seesaws, slides, monkey bars or merry go-rounds. Too dangerous the SWJ’s (busybodies) state.
Use a Pocket Knife
I never gave any consideration to the importance of a pocket knife. I was just something that I thought all boys had and used. That is, until I saw a Chinese boy looking at them in the (underground Zhuhai) mall…
Learning to use a pocket knife with grandpa. What a great opportunity to bond with your children, or grand children, or even great-great grand children. You go out. You sit on the porch. You pick up a twig or stick, and you start carving away.
Shortly afterwards, I read an article titled “The Complete guide to Pocket Knives”. That served as my inspiration, and cracked up a wallet just a little bit…
There’s something manly about your first pocket knife. It doesn’t have to have 100 blades and a corkscrew, but it should have at least two different blades and maybe a file.
My (second) pocket knife was a red Swiss Army knife with maybe five different blade combinations including a can opener, and rasp. It replaced my boy scout knife that I had, as well as just about every other boy in my school, one Christmas. It was a gift from my father.
“One day last year, a citizen on a prairie path in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst came upon a teen boy chopping wood. Not a body. Just some already-fallen branches. Nonetheless, the onlooker called the cops.Officers interrogated the boy, who said he was trying to build a fort for himself and his friends. A local news site reports the police then “took the tools for safekeeping to be returned to the boy’s parents.”-The Fragile Generation
What? A boy cannot cut up wood? What planet ware we on? And the Chicago police promptly relied him of the tools and escorted him to the safety of his parents? This is friggin’ unbelievable!
“Elsewhere in America, preschoolers at the Learning Collaborative in Charlotte, North Carolina, were thrilled to receive a set of gently used playground equipment. But the kids soon found out they would not be allowed to use it, because it was resting on grass, not wood chips. “It’s a safety issue,” explained a day care spokeswoman. Playing on grass is against local regulations.”-The Fragile Generation
Playing on the grass is against safety regulations!
Let me repeat as an underline; “Playing on the grass is against safety regulations.”
This is America.
“And then there was the query that ran in Parents magazine a few years back: “Your child’s old enough to stay home briefly, and often does. But is it okay to leave her and her playmate home while you dash to the dry cleaner?”Absolutely not, the magazine averred: “Take the kids with you, or save your errand for another time.” After all, “you want to make sure that no one’s feelings get too hurt if there’s a squabble.”-The Fragile Generation
By all means, protect the child’s feelings…(!)
“The principle here is simple: This generation of kids must be protected like none other. They can’t use tools, they can’t play on grass, and they certainly can’t be expected to work through a spat with a friend.And this, it could be argued, is why we have “safe spaces” on college campuses and millennial's missing adult milestones today. We told a generation of kids that they can never be too safe—and they believed us.“-The Fragile Generation
Ah, it’s a generation of wusses. But, my children will not be part of it. They are taught how to [1] measure the unknown, [2] put aside fears, and [3] utilize tools to accomplish their goals.
Pocket knives are great tools, and all children, boys and girls should learn to use one. Nothing is better than using it to cut up an apple, or pear. Use it to cut away branches to make a sling-shot, or make a fine walking stick (a teenage necessity).
If you give your child a knife with different blades, please remember to show them how each blade is used. Do not simply expect them to understand it by osmosis. (Like my father did.) Show them the screw driver, and the can-opener blade, and let them open a can or two of pork and beans and let it cook on a campfire once opened. The corkscrew won’t come in handy until they are in college.. heh, heh.
Knives have many benefits. This is an important point. Having a knife, being able to explore without fear, making a fire, and being able to climb a rope are things that all of our distant relatives did when they were children. These were things that they were allowed and permitted to do in a Free Society. Today, America is NOT a free society. It is a prison, increasingly populated with people and children bread to act and behave as cattle-serfs. I refuse to let my children become cattle for the oligarchy. Moo.
This being stated, I do not advise knives being brought into American schools. The days of cub scouts having a pocket knife and bringing it into class is long, long over. Incidentally, a cub-scout pocket knife would be an ideal knife for your child int his regard. I had one when I was a boy. I had it for a while until it was replaced by a red (maybe fake) Swiss army knife.
“As a kid in the 1970’s, almost every boy carried a pocket knife. It wasn’t a weapon or for showing off, unless it was new. Sometimes you had to actually cut something and scissors just wouldn’t do.When you were bored, you’d whittle a stick or a piece of wood with it. I have a simple walking stick carved by my great grandfather, and I recall the mystique of watching and helping as he sharpened his knife. In my keepsake box, I have a pocket knife of my father and grandfather. Interestingly, along with a Confederate $5 bank note, Lincoln had one in his pocket the night he was shot.”-CR Smyth
You do not need to get the biggest, or the most elaborate knife. A simple knife is the best thing. make sure that it is rugged. Children are difficult on things. Make sure that it has two to three blades that the child can master. Make sure that it fits well in his hand, and that it is beautiful enough so that he will want to carry it around with him.
Explore a Construction Site
China is filled with construction sites. While I don’t advocate kids climbing about on the 60th floor of some new skyscraper, many build sites offer great opportunity for exploration and adventure. That is fun. Moreover, dear reader, fun and play is HOW children learn.
While I was growing up, the subdivision I lived in was still under construction, so there were always plenty of partially-built houses to explore. After the construction workers left for the day, my boyhood pals and I would cruise down the street on our bikes to check out their work and poke around the skeletal structures rising from the muddy lots. The ones that were the most fun to explore were the two-story houses. You’d have to climb up the railing-less, unfinished stairs and when you got to the top, you were able to walk to the edge of the second story’s framing and throw stuff down on your buds. What great fun!
One of the first things I learned, I was in second grade at the time, was that if you jumped from the second floor to the ground, it hurt! Ouch!
In America today, kids are not permitted “free range” play. They are constantly under observation and supervision. They are coddled and are not given the opportunity to learn some “hard knocks”. I consider this a very troubling situation, and I do not allow my children to be coddled in this way. It wasn’t always this way. Children used to be permitted to play.
Here is a great write up on why public playgrounds became so sterile;
“In 1978, a toddler named Frank Nelson made his way to the top of a 12-foot slide in Hamlin Park in Chicago, with his mother, Debra, a few steps behind him. The structure, installed three years earlier, was known as a “tornado slide” because it twisted on the way down, but the boy never made it that far. He fell through the gap between the handrail and the steps and landed on his head on the asphalt.A year later, his parents sued the Chicago Park District and the two companies that had manufactured and installed the slide. Frank had fractured his skull in the fall and suffered permanent brain damage. He was paralyzed on his left side and had speech and vision problems. His attorneys noted that he was forced to wear a helmet all the time to protect his fragile skull.The Nelsons’ was one of a number of lawsuits of that era that fueled a backlash against potentially dangerous playground equipment.Theodora Briggs Sweeney, a consumer advocate and safety consultant from John Carroll University, near Cleveland, testified at dozens of trials and became a public crusader for playground reform. “The name of the playground game will continue to be Russian roulette, with the child as unsuspecting victim,” Sweeney wrote in a 1979 paper published in Pediatrics. She was concerned about many things—the heights of slides, the space between railings, the danger of loose S-shaped hooks holding parts together—but what she worried about most was asphalt and dirt. In her paper, Sweeney declared that lab simulations showed children could die from a fall of as little as a foot if their head hit asphalt, or three feet if their head hit dirt.A federal-government report published around that time found that tens of thousands of children were turning up in the emergency room each year because of playground accidents.As a result, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1981 published the first “Handbook for Public Playground Safety,” a short set of general guidelines—the word guidelines was in bold, to distinguish the contents from requirements—that should govern the equipment. For example, no component of any equipment should form angles or openings that could trap any part of a child’s body, especially the head.To turn up the pressure, Sweeney and a fellow consultant on playground safety, Joe Frost, began cataloguing the horrors that befell children at playgrounds.Between them, they had testified in almost 200 cases and could detail gruesome specifics—several kids who had gotten their heads trapped or crushed by merry-go-rounds; one who was hanged by a jump rope attached to a deck railing; one who was killed by a motorcycle that crashed into an unfenced playground; one who fell while playing football on rocky ground. In a paper they wrote together, Sweeney and Frost called for “immediate inspection” of all equipment that had been installed before 1981, and the removal of anything faulty. They also called for playgrounds nationwide to incorporate rubber flooring in crucial areas.In January 1985, the Chicago Park District settled the suit with the Nelsons. Frank Nelson was guaranteed a minimum of $9.5 million. Maurice Thominet, the chief engineer for the Park District, told the Chicago Tribune that the city would have to “take a cold, hard look at all of our equipment” and likely remove all the tornado slides and some other structures. At the time, a reader wrote to the paper:“Do accidents happen anymore? … Can a mother take the risk of taking her young child up to the top of a tornado slide, with every good intention, and have an accident? Who is responsible for a child in a park, the park district or the parent? … Swings hit 1-year-old children in the head, I’m sure with dire consequences in some instances. Do we eliminate swings?”But these proved to be musings from a dying age. Around the time the Nelson settlement became public, park departments all over the country began removing equipment newly considered dangerous, partly because they could not afford to be sued, especially now that a government handbook could be used by litigants as proof of standards that parks were failing to meet.In anticipation of lawsuits, insurance premiums skyrocketed.As the Tribune reader had intuited, the cultural understanding of acceptable risk began to shift, such that any known risk became nearly synonymous with hazard.Over the years, the official consumer-product handbook has gone through several revisions; it is now supplemented by a set of technical guidelines for manufacturers. More and more, the standards are set by engineers and technical experts and lawyers, with little meaningful input from “people who know anything about children’s play,” says William Weisz, a design consultant who has sat on several committees overseeing changes to the guidelines.The handbook includes specific prescriptions for the exact heights, slopes, and other angles of nearly every piece of equipment. Rubber flooring or wood chips are virtually required; grass and dirt are “not considered protective surfacing because wear and environmental factors can reduce their shock absorbing effectiveness.”“Reasonable risks are essential for children’s healthy development,” says Joe Frost, an influential safety crusader.It is no longer easy to find a playground that has an element of surprise, no matter how far you travel. Kids can find the same slides at the same heights and angles as the ones in their own neighborhood, with many of the same accessories.I live in Washington, D.C., near a section of Rock Creek Park, and during my first year in the neighborhood, a remote corner of the park dead-ended into what our neighbors called the forgotten playground. The slide had wooden steps, and was at such a steep angle that kids had to practice controlling their speed so they wouldn’t land too hard on the dirt. More glorious, a freestanding tree house perched about 12 feet off the ground, where the neighborhood kids would gather and sort themselves into the pack hierarchies I remember from my childhood—little kids on the ground “cooking” while the bigger kids dominated the high shelter.But in 2003, nearly a year after I moved in, the park service tore down the tree house and replaced all the old equipment with a prefab playground set on rubber flooring. Now the playground can hold only a toddler’s attention, and not for very long. The kids seem to spend most of their time in the sandbox; maybe they like it because the neighbors have turned it into a mini adventure playground, dropping off an odd mixing spoon or colander or broken-down toy car.”-The Overprotected Kid
Well-wishing “do gooders” “busy-bodies” with a profit angle and political influence ruined the educational benefits of pay for nearly two generations of American children.
There is not too much that I can do about it, except for what I do with my children. And, my dear reader, kindly note that they are permitted to play in a fundamentally non-sterile environment.
Shoot a Slingshot
In a time not too long ago, the archetypal boy had a handmade slingshot dangling from the back of his pocket. Today, most boys have never touched one. Which is a shame because slingshots can provide hours of fun and they’re a great way to introduce firearm safety to your young ones (e.g., only point at what you plan on hitting). Yes, you could just buy your kid a fancy manufactured slingshot on Amazon, but how about exposing them to even more positive danger by letting them make their own? They’ll learn how to handle a saw safely and get to practice some knife wielding skills to boot.
However, depending where you live, possession of a slingshot might be problematic.
Some busybody might call the ATF and insist that your child’s slingshot meets the all the regulations for a projectile weapon, such as barrel length, whether or not it has a “bump stock”, magazine size, and whether or not it appear paramilitary.
If you live in in an area where they shut down lemonade stands run by five year olds, then you might want to reconsider the activities that you permit your child to participate in. If you live in the USA, I would suggest moving to a place where there are not such idiotic regulations, like Communist China or Thailand. Here you can do anything you want within reason.
Georgia Girl Scout Troop’s Cookie Booth Shut Down By Police (VIDEO)
Here is an American police officer frisking a child on the television show “Cops” showing how important it is for Americans to obey the law.
This is Part 1 of a Two Part Post
This is part one of a two part post. You can go to the other post HERE. This post is rather long. I have exceeded the “industry norm” (Google SEO advisement) by a significant word count. As is my prerogative. You can visit the rest of this post HERE.
Conclusions, “Take Aways” and FAQ can be found on the second post.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
This post is a little rant that I composed after President Obama announced that he would redirect NASA funds towards Muslim “outreach”. I dusted it off, and updated it, and placed it herein as a launch board to my discussion on the realities of space exploration in the age of the “fourth turning”.
"When I became the Nasa administrator, he (Mr Obama) charged me with three things. One, he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math; (secondly) he wanted me to expand our international relationships;
and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering."
-Head of NASA, Charles Bolden.
That’s pretty bad.
NASA went from exploring space, and expanding our understanding of the universe, to becoming a political tool. It became a tool that would [1] pipe money to teacher’s unions, [2] be used to funnel money into the UN, and three [3] funnel money into Muslim nations.
But that wasn’t what I was so worked up about. What got me so riled up was the reaction that my various friends had to the announcement. In their minds, there was no benefit for humans in the exploration of space.
No benefit.
They parroted the public narrative that NASA is the sole and only mechanism for the exploration of space. They parroted the narrative that humans are only intelligent life in our universe, and that if there were anything of value in “outer space” that the government would truthfully announce it to the population…
I dusted this rant off, and posted it herein with revisions. Presented with the introductory comments and for reader enjoyment.
Introduction
“If the US does not stop their imperialist campaign to destroy our economy and keeps mingling in our affairs with China, we will be forced to reveal the truth about their secret moon program,…
… These classified documents will expose the campaign of delusion and lies the US government has played on behalf of the American people and the rest of the world for the past 60 years,”
-The supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un
Let’s look at this question for a minute…
All during the decade of the 1960’s America was geared toward space exploration. Every magazine, every article, every book was written about space exploration. Those of us whom lived through this period remember it well. Most of the television programs revolved around space exploration, and how one needs to study hard to become a scientist.
While NASA was busy trying to go to the moon, the rest of us were watching movies about exploring space. This included the television show Fireball XL-5.
As a much older and experienced man, I see now how this was manipulation on a grand scale. Through the media, through the magazines, through the movies, through the television, and through the educational system, Americans were programmed to study, excel and advance towards space exploration and conquest.
Everything was directed and focused to this end. Everything.
Don’t believe me? Then, go through the archives of Scientific American, National geographic, Life magazine, Mechanics Illustrated, Science Illustrated and other period literature of that time period.
The first American in space. Here is a photo on the deck of the aircraft carrier that retrieved him.
Yes. You need to do some research. You need to scan the old magazines and the articles and advertisements in their pages. You need to dust off old National Geographic and Life magazines. You need to go through old Boy’s Life magazines and go through all the magazines that were popular during the 1960’s.
Do your research.
Not on the Internet, that is a blackboard that is constantly being erased and rewritten. No. Instead, go into the old used book stores and read the actual paper tomes that lie there… forgotten and covered in dust.
Since the early 1970’s United States manned space exploration beyond the upper atmosphere abruptly ended. It came to a complete stop. The programs were shut down. Everything ended. Engineers were laid off. Blueprints were archived or discarded. Equipment was sold and auctioned off. Program managers were reassigned, and all manned space exploration beyond low-orbit ended. It all stopped. No one planned further manned space adventures and all the funding went towards more pressing concerns at that time; roads, bridges and infrastructure.
Apollo ran from 1961 to 1972, and was supported by the two-man Gemini program which ran concurrently with it from 1962 to 1966. Gemini missions developed some of the space travel techniques that were necessary for the success of the Apollo missions. Apollo used Saturn family rockets as launch vehicles. Apollo / Saturn vehicles were also used for an Apollo Applications Program which consisted of three Skylab space station missions in 1973–74.
Except that it didn’t go there. It did not end there.
Americans went to the moon. We had three additional spacecraft ready, completed with complete crews all ready to launch. However, all was put on hold. The crews disbanded. The rockets disassembled and scrapped. Why?
What happened?
The money just disappeared. It vanished! Poof! Gone! No bridge construction was funded. No new parks were created. No large-scale public works, dams, and projects occurred. Go ahead. Do your research. 1974 through 1977. Where were all the social public projects? You know, the ones that supposedly got all the funding that was transferred out from NASA?
The money didn’t go there. It went secretive. The funding went black.
Not only did America mothball and disassemble it’s space infrastructure, but the media support for space exploration evaporated. The number of television shows regarding spacemen and their adventures dropped to near zero. (Replaced by social situation comedies like Julia, and Three’s Company, and the Mod Squad.) Everything suddenly came to an end. It all ended.
Billions of dollars in investment… gone.
Thousands of very talented engineers, designers, and scientists laid off and unemployed.
Already completed spacecraft… discarded and scrapped out.
Large facilities, buildings, roads, bridges, and related infrastructure abandoned.
It is equivalent to a family spending their hard-earned money on a new swimming pool. Then completing the pool, filling it with water. Giving everyone swimming lessons. Then just when the first person decides to take a dive off the diving board… they drain the water. They padlock the gates, and tell all the neighbors that they no longer have a desire to swim.
If you were a neighbor, wouldn’t you think it was just a little strange, if not outright suspicious?
The countryside is strewn with all kinds of ruins and debris representative of when the United States was interested in publicly exploring space. Since then, many programs went deep black, and the population was dumbed down to an understanding that there was absolutely no benefit in space. That we needed to concentrate on the needs on this planet. The narrative was a change in focus. It went from explore the wondrous world around us to focus on the social issues of our neighbors.
What was the real story? What really happened?
If Facebook suddenly closed its doors and went off line, wouldn’t it be natural to ask why? What if it was Google, or Microsoft? NASA’s space exploration program in the early 1970’s was just that enormous, huge and well known.
Yet no one questioned the government’s excuses. At least no one that was provided a media voice. Indeed, the media suppressed all stories that questioned what was going on. In fact, if memory serves me right, they actually made fun of the laid off engineers who now, broken and unemployed couldn’t find work.
At that time it was easy to control the people. The government controlled most of the popular media. They could manipulate the population quite easily and readily.
When America was a first-class nation, we were involved in exploration of the universe for all of mankind. The direction towards scientific exploration with manned bases and outposts on other programs ended at the end of the Nixon Presidency. The final nails in the coffin were nailed shut by President Jimmy Carter.
Now consider what has happened in the last fifty years.
How have we, as a species, advanced in the last half of a century? Sure, we have computers, social media, and fast food. However, how have we grown as a species? Have we improved our habitat? Have we expanded outwards to new and interesting directions?
The only thing that the United States can show is trillions of dollars in a series of endless wars and conflicts, the need to tax Americans more and more, and a severely dumbed down population.
The Chinese plastics model company has made a model of the last time that man has set foot on another planet (officially). Their model of Apollo 17 is a sad reminder of how American politics can alter the future course of a nation.
What really happened?
Do you really believe that really happened?
That one minute we were on the verge of colonizing another planet, then suddenly everyone started to realize that we had no business in space at all. That suddenly manned space exploration must end. Money must be saved. Robots must be used.
That out of the blue we stopped everything.
It all came to a screeching halt. The rocket-ships, already made and ready for launch at their rocket pads, had to be torn down and sold for scrap. You actually believe that?
Some spectacular adventures on the moon, I would say. This was the last visit that Americans officially took to the moon, way back in 1972. That was a long, long time ago.
Do you believe that there was no further interest in space exploration at all? Are you trying to convince me that what the media tells us, and what the public budgets say is all true. That the ONLY benefit of manned space exploration is for propaganda and public relations purposes to further a geo-political agenda? That the programs were too expensive to maintain for mere political purposes. (That is the official line right now. Don’t believe me? Goggle it!) Moreover, you actually believe that?
The costs for just one aircraft carrier exceed $12.9 billion dollars. (USS Gerald R. Ford, first in its class of warships, cost $13 billion with a total program cost of and additional $37.3 billion. Total cost is around $50 billion.) The budget for NASA at the time of building this carrier (2005) was $15 billion. This was around one third the cost of just one aircraft carrier.
Consider comparative costs. The argument for having a base on the moon is that NASA's budget would double. Indeed, to maintain a manned presence on the moon would be a mere fraction of the cost of one of our many, many, many aircraft carriers.
The reader should consider the costs of other programs to put things into perspective. The argument that there is no money to fund manned lunar exploration is nonsense.
The USA as of 2016 had 12 aircraft carrier battle groups. (10 in use, 2 in reserve, and three in construction. As of 2016. This does not include the smaller, and more numerous, helicopter carriers.) Each one over $50 billion dollars in real costs plus operational costs for the battle group. Not to mention all the aircraft, manpower and supplies. The numbers do not add up. The accounting does not match the official pronouncements out of Washington, D.C...
The need to maintain a strong military is not the issue. The issue is whether we can sustain a military empire at the expense of scientific exploration. We need to really question the official narrative.
The last man to officially walk on the moon. Apollo 17 way back in 1972.
As now, as the veil is falling from the swamp that exists in Washington, D.C., we can truly see the massive crime, fraud and corruption that festers there.
Here is the official narrative that we have come to be convinced of…
“The levels of federal spending which NASA had received before 1966 had become untenable to a public which had become financially wary, particularly as they experienced a major oil crisis in 1973, which shifted the nation’s priorities."
-Andrew Liptak excerpt from “The Real Story Of Apollo 17... And Why We Never Went Back To The Moon”
Not true. Here is just another example of the rewriting of history. The Apollo space program was amazingly popular at the time. Read the newspapers from that time period. The termination of the program came as a shock to most Americans.
The reader should recognize that there was absolutely NO homegrown swelling of anti-space movements during the 1970’s. There were no campaigns against manned space exploration. The congressional offices were not flooded with letter campaigns demanding it be shut down.
The decision to abate the space exploration efforts were driven top down.
"Spending in space was something that could be done, but with far more fiscal constraints than ever before, limiting NASA to research and scientific missions in the coming years. Such programs included the development of the Skylab program in 1973, and the Space Shuttle program, as well as a number of robotic probes and satellites.”
-Andrew Liptak excerpt from “The Real Story Of Apollo 17... And Why We Never Went Back To The Moon”
Parroting the official Democrat party platform, no doubt. That, space exploration should be limited to near-earth observation for climate change, a focus on robotic missions, and termination of all manned exploration. This was done in favor of greatly expanded social programs and “blue ribbon” investigative panels.
Think people.
If this fellow is correct then, if fiscal realities are really the cause, then why did President Obama GIVE AWAY $7 billion to South Africa without any benefit to America? Wouldn’t he have saved it to help Americans? After all, it is our money. Seven billion dollars is one half of the entire NASA budget. Then he…
Come on! This has had nothing to do with “fiscal realities”. Rather it has to do with something else. Do not piss on my leg and tell me it is raining.
Pallets of $100 bills were flown to Iran in unmarked planes and given freely to them by President Obama. This was done without approval by Congress or the Senate, and without any signed agreement with Iran.
The Official Narrative
Do you really think that the United States [1] finds no military advantage in space; either strategic or tactical?
All one need do is read the military literature on strategy. Here’s a typical example;
“…what you can create is something like an air defense bubble; and one of the lessons the Chinese have taken away from the wars of the past twenty years – Desert Shield, Desert Storm, the Balkans, Afghanistan – is that air superiority is essential to winning modern wars.”.
You also need to understand our technical limitations... For instance, aside from launching an ICBM or SLBM, as these rockets do travel through low earth orbit to reach their assigned targets.
Do you really and honestly believe that the government [2] finds no technical or manufacturing advantage in space? Really is that what you believe? Do you honestly tell me [3] that the military sees absolutely no advantage in interplanetary capable transports.
The last mission (officially) to the moon was a long, long time ago in 1972. Here, Apollo 17 worked hard to justify their existence and NASA, all the time their fate was sealed by an uncaring political machine.
Do you believe that the military sees no advantage in [4] weapon delivery systems and [5] high technology outside the gravity well? Do you think that the military did not [6] employ everything in their ability to study the moon, and understand any mysterious objects discovered there?
Ah…
The mysteries of the moon.
So many mysteries.
"At the same time the last (public) manned Lunar Mission was leaving the Moon, a man named Ingo Swann was having a secret meeting with a group of scientists at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California. He had written to the researchers with a proposal to study a new discipline called Parapsychology.
Ingo Swann was a successful person capable in the field of remote viewing. He remote viewed locations on the moon for some researchers during the 1960’s. Ingo is the person at the end of the table on the right.
Swann successfully demonstrated his own abilities at locating objects at a distance and describing them with uncanny accuracy -- a talent we now know as Remote Viewing. As the research continued they discovered an unusual phenomenon that remains a mystery -- the ability of Remote Viewers to "see" a location when supplied their geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). The ability is remarkable even when the viewer has no knowledge of navigation or familiarity with the location. Ingo Swann seemed to be very good at this and was utilized by the CIA to describe certain secret locations inside the Soviet Union.In his book, Penetration, Ingo Swann described how he was asked by the government to remote view some coordinates on the Moon in 1975.After Swann had attained his mental state, the assistant Axel was told to say the word, "Moon", followed by the coordinates and he would then describe what he saw. After mentally "landing" on the Moon, at a precise coordinate, Ingo described a pattern he saw in the sand. What they actually look like are like rows of largish tractor tread marks. But I don't understand how this could be, so they must be something I don't understand. They are just marks of some kind. Strange, though. He was then directed to the next set of coordinates... but something seemed wrong.I'm sorry, Axel, I seem to have gotten back to Earth here... Well, there are ... some ... I have no idea. But whatever it was it couldn't be on the Moon. After a coffee break of about fifteen minutes, Ingo and Alex got back to the task of remote viewing the Moon. Alex gave the coordinates and Igor began to describe what he saw.Well I am in a place which is sort of down, like a crater I suppose. There is this strange green haze, like a light of some kind. Beyond that, all around is dark though. I am wondering where the light is coming from ..."Ingo suddenly jolted and wanted to stop. Alex asked him, "What else?"Well, you won't like this, I guess. I see, or at least I think I see, well... some actual lights. They are giving off a green light... I see two rows of them... yes, sort of like lights at football arenas, high up, banks of them.Up on towers of some kind... Well, Axel, I can't be on the Moon. I guess I have to apologize, I seem to be getting somewhere here on Earth. After being reassured that his viewing was indeed on the Moon, Ingo considered that he was being asked to remote view a Russian base of some kind and that they had established an outpost on the Moon ahead of America. He was asked to continue and given the coordinates again.There is a noise of some kind, like a thumping. I can see one of the light towers better now. Hey, it seems built of some very narrow struts of some kind, thin like pencils. Like some sort of pre-fab stuff right out of Buckminster Fuller's stuff. Let's see... hey, there are some of those tractor-tread marks everywhere. If I guess these are about a foot wide, well then, let's see, if I compute as correctly as I can, well... Well, tall -- about or let's say over a hundred feet. But?... Well, I got a glimpse of the crater's edge. On it I think I saw a very large tower, very high that is. Big, really big! Well if I compare it to something I am familiar with in New York, about as high as the Secretariat building at the United Nations -- which has thirty-nine floors in it.Ingo was then told that what he saw was real but that it was neither made by the Russians nor the United States. Without saying who made these structures, Ingo understood. Shocked, he asked for a break for the day before resuming the session the next morning.Again he was given coordinates and was asked to make sketches of what he saw. He described a mining operation with domes and tubes, bridges, nets and what looked like houses. In one house he saw a kind of people. I saw some kind of people busy at work on something I could not figure out. The place was dark. The air was filled with fine dust, and there was some kind of illumination -- like a dark lime-green fog or mist. The thing about them was that they either were human or looked exactly like us -- but they were all males, as I could well see since they were all butt-ass naked. I had absolutely no idea why. They seemed to be digging into a hillside or a cliff.They must have some way of creating a good environment, warm and with air in it. But why would they be going around naked? Ingo then had a strong feeling of fear. He wanted to run away. One of the humanoids he was viewing had looked in his direction, as if he had sensed that he was being watched. I think they have spotted me, Axel. They were pointing at me I think. How could they do that... unless... they have some kind of high psychic perceptions, too? At this point, Axel told Ingo to stop the session, saying that he didn't want to put him at any risk. Obviously, whoever these beings were, they were not friendly. This is why we have not been back to the Moon.
So, what is it? Choose one. [A] That we have discovered extraterrestrials on the moon, or [B] that we discovered that there was no benefit in exploring space? What is the answer?
Is it “A” or “B”?
Are you trying to tell me that our concerns are only related to what is defined by the borders of our country and it has nothing to do with spaceflight? (Especially with what we know about the CIA, NSA and other agencies of the American military state seem to be directed at both international and domestic objects of interest.) Do you really believe that?
One of the problems with such absolute secrecy that is maintained in government black-budget programs is that everything is questioned, and real purposes are often doubted. I myself, often find myself questioning the motives of the United States government.
Here is an example of what happens when there are so many secret programs that one can’t tell what is valid and what is not.
In an anonymous email, the whistle-blower claimed that 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko wasn’t a comet at all but something from which NASA started receiving signals 20 years earlier.
NASA scientists had noted that the comet seemed to be performing the impossible feat of changing trajectory in space by itself. The ESA scientific mission was merely a smoke screen for a military reconnaissance mission by American and European governments to find out what was going on.
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko photographed on 5AUG14.
The email explained the whistle-blower’s logic:
“Do not think for ONE MOMENT that a space agency would suddenly decide to spend billions of dollars to build and send a spacecraft on a 12-year journey to simply take some close-up images of a randomly picked out comet floating in space.”
Consider the numerous examples. For instance, in 1962, Secretary of Defense Robert Mcnamara authorized Project 112 (Project SHAD) involving years-long testing of chemical and biological weapons on unsuspecting civilians and American military personnel.
This was done in secret without consulting or informing President Kennedy.
Until 1998 the DoD (Department of Defense) denied the existence of Project-SHAD therefore test subjects who survived were unable to claim disability payments for health issues suffered as a result of the project.
Today, the project remains classified.
Do you really believe that for almost 50 years since we walked on the moon, that the government and the military had concluded that space exploration has no advantage at all? This is either from either a military, tactical, or political standpoint?
Next Generation Spacecraft Design
Can you really expect me to believe that the development of space technology is so slow that it takes 20 years to develop a replacement for Apollo? A spacecraft that started from absolute zero to putting men on the moon within nine years.
On January 14, 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush announced the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) as part of the Vision for Space Exploration.
The CEV was partly a reaction to the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. The CEV effectively replaced the conceptual Orbital Space Plane (OSP), which was proposed after the cancellation of the Lockheed Martin X-33 program to produce a replacement for the space shuttle.
This CEV eventually evolved through redirection of NASA under President Obama (on October 11, 2010, the Constellation program was cancelled by President Obama) and the crewed vehicle became the Orion MPCV.
The ORION MPCV was formally announced by NASA on May 24, 2011. The first mission to carry astronauts is not expected to take place until 2023 at the earliest. With functional missions to begin from one to three years later. 19 + 1 = 20 years.
The replacement is called the Orion. It is a four man crewed spaceship that is an identical clone to the three man Apollo spacecraft that was developed from scratch in less than nine years over 40 years ago.
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a planned, beyond-low Earth orbit (LEO) manned spacecraft that is being built by Lockheed Martin for NASA, and Airbus Defense and Space for the European Space Agency for crewed missions to the Moon, asteroids and Mars.
It is planned to be launched by the Space Launch System. Each Orion spacecraft is projected to carry a crew of 0–6 astronauts, though the expected crew manifest is to be limited to four; that is one person larger than the Apollo space craft.
Keep in mind that the Apollo spacecraft was designed nearly 50 years ago using very primitive technology and manufacturing processes. No CAD systems were used, nor hand held calculators, let alone computers. It was done using slide rules and drafting tables. They didn’t even have copying machines back then.
The slide rule was a device that was used before hand held calculators became available. The first calculators started to be available when I was in tenth grade.
Not everyone feels positive about NASA’s human spaceflight program during Obama’s presidency, but there are very few who offer unqualified praise for the president.
The truth is that he just never really showed much interest in space.
While Obama did propose bold changes early on to NASA, seeking to more closely align the agency’s goals to severely reduced funding levels, the Democrat controlled Congress objected and the president retreated almost immediately. He did not fight it. Instead, he focused in what Congress demanded, an expansion of social programs and an increase in taxes.
He chose to invest his limited political capital in other areas, effectively ceding most power over NASA’s human spaceflight programs to a Congress largely driven by parochial interests. And when an agency needs a unified purpose and the means to achieve it, this is rarely a formula for success.
Slow NPD
Why is the development of space technology so slow?
We went from sliderules & crude computers to handheld iPads with full media capability in less than 30 years. But we couldn’t do that for oxygen regeneration systems, transport systems or communication as well? Do you honestly believe that?
No matter how you look at things, and what you might believe, the following is undeniably true.
In the early 1970’s there were sudden [1] substantial and profound changes in the direction of space technology as perceived by the public. [2] All manned space exploration efforts came to a complete stop, with only [3] small public relations projects observed. (Apollo-Soyuz and the NASA Skylab.)
Is there any question concerning this first three points? Do you, the reader disagree with them? (Pause. Think about it. Think really hard.)
Jimmy Carter would address the American people from the White House in these televised productions called “fire side chats”. He would discuss the need for Americans to adjust to the new reality. Where the costs would increase for things, but that they must pay more money in taxes. He treated the American people like ignorant children.
The Black Project Explosion
Now, not well reported on was another truth.
Because at that same time, there was an [4] explosion of black-project funding. (This is undeniably true.) The black-projects were such that there were [5] no detailed congressional oversight, and no true and real accounting processes in place.
It should be painfully obvious to anyone who looks at these curious facts objectively that indeed something must have happened at that time. The truth be known; it is obvious. With the closure of all public space exploration efforts, came an explosion of black-budget efforts of unknown scope and value.
But what happened?
Certainly if something big had occurred there would be people who would be talking about it. There would be some evidence of something strange or unusual. But we just can’t seem to find any evidence.
No magazine articles were written about this. No true and real disclosures except for a mere handful were exposed. Not a peep came from anywhere. For decades the public was lulled to sleep. The public no longer focused on the sciences and technology but in more trivial matters; matters that the media can control.
When America left the moon, we turned our backs on Space.
NASA was redirected by President Carter to conduct some low earth orbit activities. He continued to finance the Space-Lab, but at a “life support” level, and killed it the very first chance he got. The Space-Lab fell to the ground after the orbit decayed and Carter payed Australia for the bother to clean up the debris left scattered all over the Australian desert.
The short-lived Skylab habitat that was killed by then President Jimmy Carter (D). It was permitted to crash into the remote Australian desert.
We focused on “Earth Shoes”, social justice, empowering women, and a reality that had television commercials singing “We are the World”. Space exploration was of no great importance. We needed to enact clean air legislation, clean water legislation, and healthy food legislation. We needed legislation, and lot’s of it! STAT!
Advertisement from the tail end of the 1970’s. It was a different time with different hopes, dreams and values. Of course, today you wouldn’t see this advertisement. You would have something totally different…
All of which would be managed by the federal government. Yessur! They will just tax the people more to support these great ideals. Universities were given generous grants and funding to prove “global cooling”. Then they were given more money to prove “global warming”. All the time, the most popular singers in the nation were paid to sing their hearts out “for the world”.
It was a non-stop liberal love-fest. All paid for by YOUR tax dollars.
We are the world – a globalist dream of sunny days, rainbows and unicorns. If only the people of America would give all their money to all the poor people in the rest of the world, everyone would be equal. Oh, how wonderful. Let’s focus on that! Everyone got in on the gig. Even Pepsi which had some notable commercials. Yuppur, we would scare away global cooling and the world will be a better place.
Instead of looking outward, we started to look at the world where we lived. At that time, the government told us that they could fix everything. All we needed to do was hand over all our money and let them do all the work.
We could trust them, don’t you know.
With the continuous prodding of the media, we did so. Taxes were raised on working class. Unable to save, they started using credit. When the industries failed, so did many families as well. The result, was an economic decline of enormous proportions.
From the ashes of that ruin arose President Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan was an avid outdoorsman who believed in individual liberty and self-initiative. He believed in the United States and for the potential for individual greatness. Could this program be his own individual brain-child?
But, through all this turmoil and change, one fact remains. We left space. We shut down all of our ambitious space exploration efforts. We shut everything down. Doors were closed, then padlocked, and abandoned completely.
We laid off the scientists and engineers.
In the process the “best and the brightest” that took humans to the moon lost their jobs and their careers. They were forced to work as “bag boys” in grocery chains, or flipping burgers in fast food restaurants. many lost their families as well. Their skills were used and discarded. Their contributions forgotten.
Scene from the movie Falling Down. The film stars Michael Douglas in the lead role of William Foster, also known as D-Fens, a divorced and unemployed former defense engineer. The film centers on Foster as he treks on foot across the city of Los Angeles, trying to reach the house of his estranged ex-wife in time for his daughter’s birthday party. Along the way, a series of encounters, both trivial and provocative, cause him to react with increasing violence and make sardonic observations on life, poverty, the economy, and commercialism.
There are no statues for these heroes that made the moon missions possible. There are no television documentaries regarding them. All is quiet.
Yet, we do give Al Gore millions of dollars and a prize for a Powerpoint presentation on “Global Warming” . Or was it “Global Cooling”? The excuse for taking our money away has swung back and forth so many times, I just can’t keep up with the narrative.
Frozen statue of liberty. There’s only one thing that we can do to stop the coming disaster… pay more taxes! That is the answer and that is the solution. We must do it to save the children.
Obama received millions, and a prize for…being a negro while being a President. No friggin’ shit. And the crew of idiots who gave him that award not only regretted it, but lost their jobs in the process. What a bunch of globalist activists…
Obama was granted the Nobel Peace prize within months of being elected. It surprised everyone, including himself. As he didn’t do anything yet to deserve it. Of course the committee later back-tracked on the reward and claimed that they were flush with the excitement of having a globalist socialist in office, and were drunk at the time they made the decision. They tried to “quietly” ask for it back, but they never got it back, nor the money that they gave Obama. Later on, they were fired and left the committee in shame.
In our world-line, the fox runs the hen-house. The fox is interested in eating the hens, and has no interest in anything other than that. Space be damned. There are no hens there!
The NASA Space Exploration Today
Here is a comparison on the 1960’s era Apollo module, and the Obama announced 2020’s era Orion spacecraft designs. We are told that there are substantial changes to the design. Most notably Wifi access, touch screens, and video cams. Other than that, it is almost identical. It is amazing how technology can advance in fifty years, isn’t it?
The Orion spacecraft is an identical design to that of the Apollo spacecraft. It is slightly larger and uses the latest state-of-the-art technology, but the basic major components are unchanged. It is still launched using a rocket with a gantry; it is not reusable, it still uses the same kinds of maneuvering thrusters, and the same kind of life support systems.
This is the replacement for the Space Shuttle; a reusable space plane that could be used to ferry things into orbit. It was replaced with this; a throw-away expensive one-shot clone of a nearly 50 year old design.
Why was the space shuttle retired without a (reusable) replacement, and why is this costly inefficient design the most advanced system that NASA can come up with? Why?
For those of you readers who do not agree with me; consider this argument. Is the United States government actually being truthful? Is the dialog and narrative from the President, and the rest of the political appointees truthful? Do you actually trust the United States government?
When President Obama opens his mouth and tells you that unemployment is in the lowest levels in a century, and that Americans have never seen such prosperity, that you believe him?
Do you really believe that those who are now running things have your best interests at heart? Do you really believe that the space program and NASA is real and used for the betterment of United States technology? Or is it just a colorful “smoke screen” designed to give the illusion of space exploration, when the actual programs (the hidden and secret programs) are much more robust and well-funded. Do you really believe that the United States government would never lie to the American people? Hah? That the United States government would ever lie to Congress or the American people?
“I have documents showing that the CIA invented the whole thing (Global Warming).. Global Warming was invented to both scare people, and divert their attention from other human-made dangers like nuclear weapons.
The CIA gave millions of dollars to any scientist who would confirm the theory, so many unscrupulous scientists did what they were told in order to get the money.
Now, there is so much fake data to confirm that Global Warming “exists”, that they actually convinced everyone that it was real.”
- Edward Snowden
I will tell you why this is the case. I will tell you why everything is so quiet; why it is so dark and silent. I will explain to you why there is an elephant in your living room, and why no one recognizes what it is doing there. I will tell you, but you won’t like the answer.
What happened
NASA equipment lies abandoned and rotting throughout the United States. When the decision was made to switch from manned space to robotic earth observation, many facilities were no longer needed, and so they were abandoned, sold off as scrap or junked.
What happened should be obvious to the reader now. Sometime during the late 1960’s and into the middle of the 1970’s there was a change in direction regarding space exploration. The public aspect of space travel was converted to a much scaled down federal program. While the non-public aspect of space travel went deep black.
“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.”
-Maximilien Robespierre
When the “dust settled”, President Jimmy Carter left the White House, and President Ronald Reagan took office. He immediately increased funding for BOTH the “white” (the public) efforts in space exploration and the “black” efforts in space exploration.
The “white” projects are well known. They include the “Freedom Space Station”, which was later scaled down and internationalized by Democrat President Bill Clinton. As well as the Space Shuttle program. (Later killed off by George Bush.). Not to mention, space-based laser research, the MX missile program, and next-generation spacecraft such as the X-30 NASP.
The space station Freedom was intended to be an American only habitat that would serve as a stepping stone to the moon. Other vehicles would then shuttle between it and the base on the moon. It was thus, intended to be much larger than what the ISS is today. All that this was killed by Democrat President Bill Clinton who re-purposed the station for near earth observation and monitoring.
The National Aerospace Plane, the X-30. It was an idea of then President Ronald Reagan, and was continuously mocked and ridiculed by the mainstream media as the “Orient Express”. It was wildly successful. It was so successful that it went “black”.
Consider that in 1960, a report entitled “Proposed Studies on the Implications of Peaceful Space Activities for Human Affairs” was prepared for NASA by the Brookings Research Institute.
The report contained a section entitled “Implications Of A Discovery Of Extraterrestrial Life” which was a 190-page report resulting from a one-year study which concluded that public knowledge of life on other planets could potentially cause the collapse of our civilization or, at least, cause profound changes.
Perhaps this, and other reasons, contributed towards stuffing all manned flight and technology research regarding extraterrestrials into the deep black.
The “black” programs are NOT well known. They are either completed, in process, or are being redeveloped into other efforts. I am not authorized, nor qualified to comment on them. Except to say that C.A.R.E.T. is a pretty good example of the work that was going on.
Of course… you all do realize that it was just a (wink, wink) internet hoax? Don’t ya know. Nothing to see here. Heh, heh.
PACL personal anti-gravity device that was being investigated and reverse engineered in 1984. Of course, this has already been debunked by all the MAJOR organizations with thousands of hours of thoughtful insight into how this could not possibly be a real disclosure. Don’t you know…
All programs that deal with extraterrestrials fall under the MAJestic jurisdictional umbrella. These are black programs, with all technologies that require “hands on” work regulated to deep-black carve outs.
In the case of the Dragonfly Drones, ‘they’ (agencies unknown and those protecting the truth of the drone presence here on Earth) went to a whole heap of trouble in their discrediting efforts. This involved creating and releasing multiple hoaxed CGI drone videos which were extremely unconvincing. They went to the trouble of setting up websites to try and convince a now intrigued public that the drones were just a marketing stunt or an outright hoax. ‘They’ also heavily utilised the services of bought and paid for trolls whose job it was to create confusion by interlacing the story with more falsehoods and layers of misdirection.These trolls have been, and still are, embedded deep within the UFO subculture. They operate within forums, blogs, social media as well as the traditional print media, radio and television. They conduct counter-intelligence efforts using every available avenue. These targeted and sustained campaigns to obfuscate the truth have been going on for a long long time and no doubt some of the perpetrators of spin have created a veil of respectability within their own sphere of influence such that they would never be accused of perpetrating disinformation.
-Truthfall
Some Insight
According to recent polling data, also suspect, the vast majority (over 80%) of Americans believes that the United States knows about extraterrestrials but is refusing to tell the American people about what they know.
Let’s go back to the middle 1960’s. Say around the time of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. At this time, the Beatles singing group was very popular. We were in Vietnam trying to “save it from communism”, and “It’s a small world after all” was a big hit all over America. We were looking at the world as a small place that needed unity through the United Nations. We were looking towards moving off this planet and establishing colonies on other worlds, with the moon as a first step.
Postcard for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The theme for the fair was global unity and togetherness. This all took place while the entire United Sates was trying hard to race to the moon.
Now, suppose, just suppose, that [1] some type of contact was made between one or two key extraterrestrial species operating within our sphere of influence. Further suppose, that [2] over time, a relationship developed in which they laid out some very basic ground rules;
Earth is permitted to be occupied by humans.
Space is the realm of our extraterrestrial benefactors.
This did not happen overnight. In fact, the initial relationship that was established in the 1960's had been cultivated after over a decade of contact in various forms.An organization, that was set up back in the late 1940's, became the only point of contact with these extraterrestrial creatures. This organization, otherwise known as MAJestic, had been very active during the 1950's. They had used reverse-engineered radar systems obtained from Operation "Paperclip" to de-cloak and disable the operational parameters of extraterrestrial vehicles.The wreckage and crew were then acquired and studied. Eventually culminating in negotiations and understandings between MAJestic and one of the key extraterrestrial species.
In this relationship, all space flight is monitored, and eventually controlled by MAJestic. That is out of necessity, as MAJestic is the organization that liaises with our extraterrestrial friends.
More Complications
Of course things are never that simple.
The more we got to know our new-found extraterrestrial friends, the more we learned. What we discovered was not what we really wanted to hear.
There were many, many extraterrestrial species all around us.
Our world, wasn’t really “ours”, it was “theirs”.
Our planet is a “sentience nursery”; a protectorate, a special preserve.
We are not the first species to evolve in this nursery, nor will we be the last.
Those extraterrestrials that monitor and police this nursery have been doing so for many, many, many years.
Those extraterrestrials are far more scientifically advanced than we could even hope to understand.
As such, certain deals and arrangements were worked out. The details of which can be found elsewhere and are considered contentious anyways. For now, let’s just keep everything really simple.
An agreement was reached.
We would support the policing and monitoring of this planet by working with the species assigned to this task.
This species is well known in conspiracy circles. They are known as “the greys”, or “the Pleiadians”, though they are neither grey nor from that particular solar system.
In exchange they would allow us to reverse engineer certain technologies.
Thus we have a system whereas humans participate in assisting of the biological monitoring of this planet. This might help explain such things as “abductions”, “cattle mutilation”, and similar events. And we have a situation whereas carve-outs operate within MAJestic in regards to technology and advanced sciences.
Even more complications
But, you know, things are not ever so simple. To begin with…
There are more than one species that is involved in this planet. While the “greys” might be involved in monitoring and policing this sentience nursery, other species have other purposes here. In fact, if I may be so bold, there is an arrangement where the “greys” work under the supervision or “understanding” of a much more powerful, and older species.
This older species is quite different in appearance. It is an invertebrate species. It also perceives our reality quite differently than we humans do.
While the “greys” police and monitor this reality…
This other species is involved in the construction of the reality that we inhabit.
They can move in and out of our reality as easily as we go up and down stairs.
They can also move in and out of other realities, such as “Heaven” at will.
Which of course is why I am involved in this disclosure in the first place. And, is why, my role was so important, but impossible for most humans to understand. (Sigh.)
Summary & Conclusions
Black Programs
There are elements within the United States that are active in reverse engineering technologies given to us by our extraterrestrial benefactors. There are also elements involved in sentience evolution of humans. All elements and members fall under MAJestic purview. These people, and the organization operate as carve-outs and are not part of the United States government.
Extracted from the fourth quarter report by an individual. C.A.R.E.T – Commercial Applications Research for Extraterrestrial Technology. The project was operated out of what was made to look like a normal Silicon Valley computer / tech office building, but inside, teams of scientists protected by intense security were attempting to reverse-engineer and understand the non-human technology – a process known as ‘extraction’.
White Programs
The United States government, instead, has it’s own space exploration program known as NASA. Currently, they are trying to duplicate 1960’s technology that was given up in the 1970’s. Since then, NASA has been re-purposed for robotic earth monitoring, and Muslim outreach. If current projections hold up, NASA might be able to have a clone of the Apollo spacecraft called Orion. This might happen in a little over a decade.
The big talk while Obama was President was to use the Orion spacecraft to go next to a chunk of rock in space the size of a dishwasher. Then move it to earth orbit where it can be studied. Woo woo!
The plan established by President Obama is to capture a rock the size of a dishwasher and then haul to to earth orbit where “scientists” can study it. Maybe he was thinking of making a music video to glamorize this rock -collection effort. Maybe having someone like Jay-Z rap about big rocks and such…
Take Aways
All American led space exploration came to an end in the 1970’s.
This was the result of direct contact with an extraterrestrial species.
From that moment on, all “actual” space exploration efforts went deep-black.
NASA was cut down in size to keep public perception intact.
Today, we have two space programs. They are a very active black program, and a token white (public) program.
MAJestic is the organization that handles all issues regarding extraterrestrials.
FAQ
Q: Why is the black side of space exploration kept secret?
A: It is kept secret for numerous reasons.
If it was out in the open and public, the United States government would try to gain control of it. That is unacceptable as the government would twist it and distort it into something different and dangerous. You see what Obama did to NASA, imagine if he had the power of teleportation, dimensional switching, MWI, invisibility, and space travel…
Other reasons include the fundamental need to keep humans ignorant of our situation and our place in the universe AT THIS TIME. Sentience growth is something that humans need to work out independently of any extraterrestrial intervention of knowledge. This is an extraterrestrial requirement.
The reverse engineering of technology is a national security issue, and there are many nations who would do whatever was possible to obtain access to some of the technologies that are locked within the confines and understanding of MAJestic.
Q: Why are you so critical of the Orion spacecraft?
A: The old-fashioned rocket ship design of the 1960’s was long ago determined to be unfeasible for active exploration of space. Instead other systems were devised, of which the Space Shuttle was but one. These solutions all worked towards the idea of making space affordable to humans. Orion does in the exact opposite direction. It is a disposable vehicle that is so expensive that it is often a unique and custom device for single-purpose use.
Q: Will man ever go to other planets other than the moon?
A: What gives you the idea that we haven’t yet? What gives you the idea that we don’t have other methods of transport aside from spacecraft? What gives you these assumptions?
MAJestic Related Posts – Training
These are posts and articles that revolve around how I was recruited for MAJestic and my training. Also discussed is the nature of secret programs. I really do not know why the organization was kept so secret. It really wasn’t because of any kind of military concern, and the technologies were way too involved for any kind of information transfer. The only conclusion that I can come to is that we were obligated to maintain secrecy at the behalf of our extraterrestrial benefactors.
MAJestic Related Posts – Our Universe
These particular posts are concerned about the universe that we are all part of. Being entangled as I was, and involved in the crazy things that I was, I was given some insight. This insight wasn’t anything super special. Rather it offered me perception along with advantage. Here, I try to impart some of that knowledge through discussion.
Enjoy.
MAJestic Related Posts – World-Line Travel
These posts are related to “reality slides”. Other more common terms are “world-line travel”, or the MWI. What people fail to grasp is that when a person has the ability to slide into a different reality (pass into a different world-line), they are able to “touch” Heaven to some extent. Here are posts that cover this topic.
John Titor Related Posts
Another person, collectively known by the identity of “John Titor” claimed to utilize world-line (MWI egress) travel to collect artifacts from the past. He is an interesting subject to discuss. Here we have multiple posts in this regard.
When we were young, we were taught how to act, and told how to behave. The opinions of our peers decided what we would do, who we would date, and how successful our life could be. For those of us who never left our home town, these demands have become forged as the tightest shackles that bind us to the demands and needs of others.
However, once we leave that environment, we find ourselves in a new place with new friends and a new life. We are thus given and provided the opportunity to reconstruct our life. We are provided with the chance for us to define our life for ourselves. We can break forth through the limits placed on us by others.
Not only is this desirable, but it is often necessary. For true growth, and to be the most that you can be, comes from you defining how you will live, and under which terms that you will define your life.
The 25th Law of power
Law 25Re-Create Yourself
Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.
The book “The 48 Laws of Power” is a classic work that defines methods and techniques by which a person may obtain power. Power can be defined many ways. It might be money, sex, relationships, ownership, control, or as pure military might.
The book goes into great detail on this subject, providing multiple examples that illustrate each technique.
The 48 Laws of Power is a world famous book that describes numerous techniques for obtaining power. The power can be used for good or bad, it is up to the user.
One of the laws, or techniques, of power is the ability to recreate your life on your terms. This is law #25. Indeed, it is a powerful technique. For unless you have lived a charmed life, humans need to grow and expand beyond themselves. We are like a snake that sheds it’s skin, or a caterpillar who undergoes chrysalis to become a butterfly. We need to constantly strive, adapt and grow. For that is how we obtain experience.
For example motivational speaker Les Brown was classified as developmentally disabled. He was told that the best he could do was to become a janitor or a field laborer. Yet, he refused to believe that. With everyone of his classmates laughing at him, and most teachers shaking their head in sorry distain, we went ahead and forged a new life for himself.
He took on a new role; a better role as a motivational speaker.
Or consider, another radio talk show host; Rush Limbaugh. Always controversial, and bombastic, he was constantly hired and fired from jobs. No one wanted to touch him. We was considered a “wild card” and uncontrollable. Yet, by honing his abilities, and working on his strengths, he preserved and became a very famous and a very rich talk show host.
Often times, we need to move away from the thoughts, ideas, concepts of what other people think of us. Do you want to be treated as a successful businessman and not the class clown? Then you need to move away from your school mates. Do you want to be considered to be a brilliant scientist? Then you need to move away from people who call you a “book worm with no common sense”. Do you want to become a suave and sophisticated “ladies man”? Then, you need to remove yourself from the women who make fun of you and who don’t appreciate you qualities.
Now, you shouldn’t become confused. It is often more than just moving away geographically. You have to learn and hone the skills that you desire. If you want to become a “world renowned doctor”, you will need to study and cultivate your presence globally. If you want to be a “Ladies Man”, you will need to hone your relationship skills, and work on your presentation. If you want to live the life on your terms, you will have to work at it.
Have a Dream
We all need an objective. This is something that we can visualize and conceptualize. It is something that we can embrace as a target and an ideal that we can achieve.
"Bronco Billy McCoy: I've got a special message for you little pardners out there. I want you to finish your oatmeal at breakfast and do as your mom and pa tell you because they know best. Don't ever tell a lie and say your prayers at night before you go to bed. And as our friends south of the border say, 'Adios, amigos.' "
Have a Plan
Without a roadmap we are just lost in the wilderness. We need a plan to follow with a set goal to achieve. So set a goal. Describe the person who you want to be. Go into great detail. List what you want to be and what you don’t want to be.
In the movie “Bronco Billy” all the members of his travelling fair were misfits. They were shoe salesmen, draft dodgers, and losers, who decided to step outside of their world and become something different. Here is a man who wanted to be an Indian chief.
You don’t need to use Microsoft Project to generate a plan, but you do need to take active steps. Get a notebook. It is cheap. Do not rely on your computer or cell phone to do this task. They are full of distractions. Go old school.
One cheap notebook. One pen (or pencil).
That notebook is your roadmap. Title it what ever you want, but in short it should be about one thing and one thing only; who you want to be.
Also note that it is going to be a journey. Right now you are NOT ready to be who you want to be. Some changes will be necessary. Indeed, you will need to change some things. Additionally, you will need to learn some things, and prepare some things as well. You will need to plan it out.
This rule applies to both men and women. It is not gender specific. In the movie “Bronco Billy”, a sad and unhappy, but filthy rich socialite ends up transforming her life into HER idea of what she wants.
For instance, using the “Ladies Man” example above, you will need to read books on how to seduce. You will need to subscribe to websites, forums and feeds with like minded people. You will need to establish goals and a training program. The training program will not only be about learning new things, but it will also be about unlearning old bad habits.
You will need to do daily positive affirmations. These are sentences that you repeat to yourself over and over to undo the programming that you have endured over the years. For instance;
I am calm, cool, and collected.
I am always happy, smart, know what to say.
I am lucky.
I dress right, my hair is perfect, and I know how to handle myself.
Positive affirmations need to be written down, and repeated daily. They work. Let them do their magic.
Work your plan
Once you map out your goal and how to get there; do it. In life, it is better to be 60% ready than wait forever to be 100% ready. You need to learn the basics and then plan on “faking it until you make it”. Close your eyes and make it happen.
Trust me, you won’t die.
"Bronco Billy McCoy: Now look! I don't take kindly to kids playin' hooky from school. I think every kid in America ought to go to school... at least up to the eighth grade.
Young kid: We don't go to school today, Bronco Billy. It's Saturday!
"
You will experience hurtles and problems. So what? That is life. For instance, let’s suppose your dream is to move to Bangkok, Thailand and become a go-go bar owner. It is obtainable, but it will be a lot of work. You might need to break your plan into smaller bite-sized bites and then work those pieces.
Let’s suppose your dream is to become a sheep rancher in New Zealand. It is possible, but you will need to know some basics about sheep herding, and you will need to work on the immigration paperwork.
In the pursuit of our dreams there will be setbacks and troubles. However, they will never end your dream. It will just put it aside for a spell. Do not give up. Never give up. Never, and I do mean NEVER let ANYONE ever steal or take your dream away from you.
No matter what you do, you will need to have a plan that not only covers the physical changes that you need and want to bring about, but also covers the emotional and behavioral ones as well. But you know what? You can do it, because it is in YOUR nature.
You do not need a machine to make the world-line switch. You can do this on your own.
It gets easier over time…
"Lorraine Running Water: Do you understand what Bronco Billy and the wild west show are all about? You can be anything you want. All you have to do is go out and become it! "
The longer you work towards your dream, the easier it becomes. You always become what you think about. But actuating your thoughts with physical and tangible actions you will be able to achieve your dreams, and trust me you will be amazed how successful you will become.
You can achieve your dreams. You only need to have a plan. Keep it simple and direct and work it relentlessly. It is the one thing for you and you alone. Never let anyone steal it away from you.
When I was planning on moving to China, I studied Chinese. I had no one to practice with. I had no one to listen to. So I did it on my own, while the people around me snickered and made fun of me. You will overcome the nay-Sayers and losers. You just follow your dream and stick with your plan.
Don’t let anyone steal that from under you.
Other Sources
In the movie “Bedazzled“, a man who is helplessly in love, signs away his soul for a change to spend life with the girl of his dreams. The devil gives him six opportunities to remake himself (all, of course, with a devilish twist). The point in the movie is that you can remake yourself to obtain objectives, but that there will be a tradeoff in the process.
I won’t go so far as to say that you cannot change because it will have undesirable effects. But, I will say that what ever the image that you want to become… make sure that it is an extension of WHO YOU ARE inside.
Only you can choose who you will be? Scenes are from the movie “Bedazzled”.
Conclusion
"Antoinette Lilly: Are you for real?
Bronco Billy McCoy: I'm who I want to be."
The movie “Bronco Billy” is a full embodiment of the lessons of Law #25 of the “48 Laws of Power”. All of the members within his little band of entertainers were redirecting their lives toward their dreams. While it is only a Hollywood movie, and received moderate praise by the “geniuses” in Hollywood, the lessons are important and valid.
It certainly deserves a second look. Especially today with the way things are in the world today.
Don’t give up.
You can recreate your own life in the form that you want it to be in. If you are tired and exhausted in living the life as it is today, you can exit it. You are not tied to anything. You really aren’t. You can bail.
Set a goal.
Make a Plan.
Follow the Plan.
Implement it.
Live your dream. Do not let anyone stop you.
Be like Bronco Billy. Live your dream. You don’t have to be a poor shoe salesman in New York city. You can recreate your life into something that appeals to you. Don’t be afraid. Follow your dream.
Takeaways
The 25th Law of the 48 Laws of Power suggests that we can create the life that we want to live. We should not accept the life that others want us to live.
This is attainable.
To achieve this dream, we need to set a goal, learn, and work towards that goal.
The movie “Bronco Billy” is all about the 25th Law of Power.
By watching the movie, you get a very good understanding of what the 25th Law of Power is and how it can be applied to your life.
FAQ
Q: Is my dream achievable, even if it sounds crazy or unobtainable?
A: Yes. However, it does need to be realistic. You cannot dream about being a turtle. However, you can dream about being a caretaker for turtles in Bora Bora.
Q: My spouse thinks it is a waste of time to pursue any dreams. What do I do?
A: This is a common problem. You have a choice. You can either enlist your spouse to share in your dream, or you will be forced to follow the dream without them. In any event, if you are forbidden to live your dream… that is not a life, no matter how anyone else tries to rationalize it.
Q: How can I find the time to do all that I need to do to obtain my dream?
A: If you do not find the time, your dream will never materialize.
Q: Where can I find the movie “Bronco Billy”?
A: Try Netflix or any decent torrent site. Torrents are free, and most movies can be downloaded in a few days. Rare movies might take weeks.
Life is too short to be unhappy. It is like a bowl of cold chili. It is up to you to make it the best best life that is possible. You need to set your foot down and take command of your life. Make your dreams happen.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
Many Americans have no idea that the SJW phenomenon is cyclic. It happens in cycles in many countries. It is never a new event. It is a cyclic event with new faces, new technologies, but age old objectives. It is a time when the youth makes an attempt to wrest control of the government by the “power of the mob” and makes an attempt to erase the past and construct a “new” world upon the ashes of the past.
Today, we are in the midst of a critical time when elements of a SJW movement is trying to gain control of the American government with help from other various malevolent political energy centers. This has happened before. In the 1960’s, SJW were useful pawns of the Democrat party. While they didn’t really change the government as they had hoped, when they became older they reformed the government from the inside. It is because of the 1960’s movement that we have people like Hillary Clinton, Louis Learner, James Clapper, and Jessie Jackson in government today.
In China, a nation larger and more populated than the United States, there have been numerous SJW movements. This includes the falungong movement, the Free Democracy Movement, and the Cultural Revolution. Most Americans are unaware of these movements. They are unaware of the impact that they have had on Chinese society, and why the Chinese strongly believe in the necessity of squelching each and every SJW effort, no matter how small or apparently harmless.
Let’s take a look at this issue, shall we…
Introduction
BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China's (CPC) official newspaper has condemned the Cultural Revolution 50 years after it began, calling it "a mistake... that can not and will not be allowed to repeat itself."
China has learned its lessons from the decade of tumult between 1966 and 1976 and is now determined to avoid any social unrest that would disrupt national progress, according to the commentary in Tuesday's edition of the People's Daily.
"The Cultural Revolution was a major detour in the development path of the Party and the nation," it said.
Since introducing the reform and opening-up policy more than 30 years ago, "the nation has been growing stronger and stronger and people's living standards have been improved markedly," according to the commentary.
"The historical lessons from the the Cultural Revolution must be firmly kept in mind" in this context, it said.
"The Chinese people have never been so close to realizing the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," it went on, urging the CPC and the public to "dispel all disturbances" to ensure the goal is achieved.
May 16 this year marked the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.
-Lessons of Cultural Revolution must be learned: People's Daily.
Ah, these are pretty strong words, especially when you know that it comes from the central government. The Chinese government “cannot and will not” permit any SJW activity in China. Not now, and not in any foreseeable future, if ever.
Man, you would think that United States would have such “big brass balls” and stand up to the SJW movement at home.
Background
There are many, many books and opinions on what caused the “Cultural Revolution”, but one thing is certain; there was a growing dissatisfaction with the Chinese government and culture especially across the youth. In order to shore up his control and the control of the government, Chairman Mao leveraged the youth movement to achieve his political objectives. The problem was that he lost control of it. It took on a life of it’s own…
SWJ is not about what they talk about. They are following the same formula. It is the overthrow of the status quo by powerful interested people who wish to remain hidden.
One of the hallmarks of any and all SJW movements is a distain for the past. They believe that the old must be destroyed and buried, so that a new order can manifest. In their youthful exuberance, they go about pillaging and purging the history and culture of society.
In China, one of the first things that they began to do was tear down monuments and statues. They viewed them as dangerous monuments to past folly and mistakes of the highest order. Even the names of the people and the heroes of the past needed to be purged and obliterated from all records.
Often, children would attend and there would always be someone singing or playing a musical instrument. All this clamor and excitement would bring hordes of on-lookers, some would clap and cheer, while most would look on helplessly. Eventually the SJW in their revolutionary zeal would start attacking the bystanders for their perceived lack of civil duty and attention to the destruction.
SWJ is not about what they talk about. They are following the same formula. It is the overthrow of the status quo by powerful interested people who wish to remain hidden.
The SJW would worship their leadership. In their mind, their leaders can do no wrong. They are above the common man. They deserve special considerations and special attentions.
Consider, today, with all the Obama “worship” by the SJW…
During the cultural revolution, many of the SJW would carry a little red book, a statue, or a picture of Mr. Mao. We see that same kind of behavior with other cult personalities such as Obama.
In many parts of the United States, President Obama is worshiped like a God. It is silly, but those in power and in control of the government promote this.
There is a degree of reverence that SJW offer to their idols. In China, Mr. Mao became bigger than life. he could do no wrong. The militant SJW believed that they were acting on the behest of Mr. Mao and that everything that they did in his name was sanctioned. Thus, over time, the wilder and crazier their actions became, the more out of control the movement became.
What started as just the destruction of a few statues and a handful of book burnings, now expanded into a complete full-on conflagration. Museums and libraries were raided, looted and precious and unique art works were destroyed.
SWJ is not about what they talk about. They are following the same formula. It is the overthrow of the status quo by powerful interested people who wish to remain hidden.
It wasn’t just books and history that the SWJ went after. They went after individuals. They attacked successful businessmen, educators, and scientists. The sent millions to work in the poverty stricken rural fields, and set back the Chinese culture by centuries.
The would publicly shame and humiliate business owners. Often these people would have to endure torture and public scorn while wearing signs because they did not speak the “proper” politically correct phrases. At that time there were things that you could say and things that you could not.
Organizations started to set up offices to support these initiatives, and paid people to enforce the demands of the SJW armies.
SWJ is not about what they talk about. They are following the same formula. It is the overthrow of the status quo by powerful interested people who wish to remain hidden.
Today in America, many universities are implementing these exact policies that China today regrets. They have hired politically correct “police” and staff to implement “diversity” efforts. When in reality, all they are doing is enabling a disastrous monster that will eventually consume the school.
Today in the United States, SWJ are typing to enforce “diversity initiatives” through purposed speech controls by targeting “white privilege”. They are successful in controlled environments such as liberal universities and liberal strongholds. However they cannot do it outside of those areas because Americans have firearms.
If they try to implement these initiatives in public in “fly over America”, they will probably be punished pretty aggressively.
Top Party officials are denounced during an afternoon-long rally in Red Guard Square: Li Fanwu, (right), provincial Party secretary and governor of Heilongjiang, is criticized as a “careerist”. Harbin, 29 August 1966Anyone who did not agree with the SJW was denounced publicly. They were humiliated, and tortured. The youth ran the nation into the ground.The older generations were attacked by the youth of China. The SJW were whipped into a frenzy of emotion. They attacked anything and everything. Nothing was safe.In every city, and in every town, armies of SJW marched up and down the streets. They destroyed everything they could lay their hands on. They attacked books, history, art, families and culture.Chinese SJW would capture anyone who they disagreed with. They would shame them in public and destroy their life and their families. The poor person would suffer at their hands while emotion laden demands would be forced on the poor sap that had to endure their insults and tortures.
The damage that the SJW youth wrecked upon China was enormous. It wasn’t the history, books and art that was destroyed. But it was the entire society. Factories were shuttered closed. Educational institutions were closed. An entire generation of angry and emotional teenagers ran the nation into the ground.
For the SJW youth, it was a great time. They got to go out and sing and march and feel important and empowered. It was a time when it was “hip” to be a SJW. They were the cultural icons of their generation.
FILE – In this file photo taken Aug. 10, 1966, a young woman identified only as Ms. Zhou calls out to embolden her fellow Red Guards in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square at the start of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. On May 16, 1966, the Communist Party’s Politburo produced a document announcing the start of what was formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to pursue class warfare and enlist the population in mass political movements. Launched by leader Mao Zedong, it set off a decade of tumult to revive communist goals and enforce a radical egalitarianism. (AP Photo, File)Young Chinese women during the “cultural revolution” waving the SJW icon of the time; the little red book of Mr. Mao.
There are many writings on this interesting time in China. The reader is encouraged to explore other thoughts and opinions on this time. The only point that I want to make is that the American SJW efforts of today is identical to the SJW movement in China during the late 1960’s.
The End
Mr. Mao lost control of the “Cultural Revolution”. Things were getting increasingly untenable, and the military had to be called upon to restore order. By the time that order was restored, the damage was already done. It would take decades to reverse all the ruin and destruction that the SJW movement created.
Mr. Mao lost control of the youthful SJW that he tried to manipulate. They began to destroy China, and tear apart the fabric of Chinese society. The military had to be called in to restore order.
Postscript
Thirty years after the cultural revolution, another SWJ movement tried to wrestle control of China. This movement was the “Pro-Democracy Movement”. It garnered great Western press. They held mass meetings and demonstrations in Tiananmen. They made a miniature “statue of Liberty”, and the SJW would pose in front of the Western television networks like the BBC and CNN.
But, China knew that they could not ever allow a second “cultural revolution” to ever manifest.
They tried to reason with the SJW leadership. Yet, it was to no avail. The SWJ wanted everything and their list of demands was enormous. The government called in the military to frighten the SJW activists. But they wouldn’t budge. To them, it was some kind of a game. “Of course”, they thought, “The Chinese would NEVER use the military on their own people.”
A young SJW poses in front of a Chinese military tank while the Western Media films. The SJW realizes the importance of Western media support, but totally underestimated the actions of the Chinese government out of Beijing.
What they didn’t realize was that China was still suffering from the last SJW eruption. There was no way that another one would ever be permitted to come to fruition.
Use of Children
One of the most common techniques of government overthrow is to utilize children. It is in our inherent nature to protect our children. As such, we tend to protect them and ignore the damage that they are creating.
"Children across the country are deeply involved in an exciting game they call "Invasion". Their parents think of it as harmless fun until the invasion actually occurs."
-Wikipedia entry for "Zero Hour" from the collection of short stories known as the Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury.
Consider the Ray Bradbury story “Zero Hour”. Here, an alien invasion force is unable to breach the strong military might of the United States. So, they come up with a different plan. They utilize American children to invade the United States…
Zero Hour Summary
Seven-year-old Mink Morris tells her mother that they're playing "invasion". All the children under ten join the game, while the rest of the street's residents go on with their normal lives. Mink directs activities.
Mink tells her mother that Drill is waiting for her. Drill is one of the invaders, maybe not from Mars but from another planet. He's having trouble invading Earth, and thought of contacting children using the fourth dimension. Drill promised no more baths and that kids can stay up until 10:00 and watch two shows on Saturday.
The older kids make fun of the game, and Mink says they'll kill those kids first. Drill promises to let the young kids rule the world. Mrs. Morris hears from a friend in Scranton, that children there are also playing invasion.
Mink says that zero hour is five o'clock. Mr. Morris...
Links
Here are some interesting links in regards to the SJW situation;
There are periodic SJW eruptions that seem to occur every three decades or so.
The contemporaneous American SJW is just a rehash of the 1966 Chinese SJW event.
SJW are often used as pawns by interested political parties.
The Chinese “cultural revolution” was a SJW event that went terribly wrong.
In China, there is absolutely no tolerance for SJW.
Triggered Social Justice Warrior somewhere in the United States. Notice how they are acting like children, while the rest of the adults just sit by in incredulity.
FAQ
Q: What was the “cultural revolution”? A: A group of Chinese SJW was manipulated by the government for political purposes. The government lost control of the movement. As a result the SJW movement almost destroyed China.
Q: This time the SJW is different, there are new people, and new causes that are more important. So the latest SJW movement is something completely new and different. Right? A:Whatever you want to believe, is ok with me.
Q: How many people died during the cultural revolution? A: Over 30 million people died. Thirty million! The disruption caused by the youth was so enormous that the entire nation suffered. To put this into perspective, New York City has four million people. The Chinese government has never forgotten this. Any new SJW effort will NEVER be permitted to reoccur.
Q: What is the “Cultural Revolution” referred to, or called in China? A:The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (文化大革命).
Q: What started the “Cultural Revolution”? A: Many historians believe that the entire SJW mobilization began after the release of a document out of Beijing titled “May 16 Notification”.
Links about China
China and America Comparisons
The Chinese Business KTV Experience
This is the
real deal. Forget about all that nonsense that you find in the British
tabloids and an occasional write up in the American liberal press. This
is the reality. Read or not.
Learning About China
Contemporaneous Chinese Music
This is a
series of posts that discuss contemporaneous popular music in China. It
is a wide ranging and broad spectrum of travel, and at that, all that I
am able to provide is the flimsiest of overviews. However, this series
of posts should serve as a great starting place for investigation and
enjoyment.
Everything that I need to know about Democracy, I learned in High School. It’s true. By the time I started work at 14, I had a very good understanding about how democracy worked.
Now, this wasn’t by sitting down in Civics Class. It wasn’t by listening to a teacher instruct us. It wasn’t by reading a book on politics. No. It was by my experiences on Student Council.
You know, it is absolutely amazing to me that I received such a profound understanding at such an early age. Even my father, a staunch liberal democrat, couldn’t wrap his arms around my perception of it. He thought that they must have been teaching me some very strange things indeed. Yet, here we were. I would come home from school with a perception of governance that was alien to everything that he believed In.
Let’s spend some time and take a look at what I learned.
Student Council was Comprised of the Most Popular Boys and Girls
While I cannot speak for every single school in the 1960s and 1970s, I can most certainly state that at my school this was true.
The most popular boys and girls were always able to get elected to class office.
In my school, the members on the student council were primarily the most popular students. Gender had no bearing on this. If you were a popular football player, or a popular cheerleader, your entry into Student Council was near guaranteed. Those who were not major figures in school sports and activities were always attractive.
We can see this clearly in the United States federal elections.
Consider who the winners of the Democrat Party have been. Let’s go back to when I was a little boy and have a gander, shall we;
John F. Kennedy
Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
Barrack Obama
All were young and youthful when elected. All, with the exception of Jimmy Carter, was considered by the media as a sort of sex idol. The stories of the sexual escapades of John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton are all over the place.
If they were all attending middle school together, I could easily see them on Student Council together.
John F. Kennedy would be the Football quarterback who was always joking around. The same would be true for George Bush.Jimmy Carter would be the quiet one who would be the first one in the meeting, and the last one to leave. He would have a notebook, pencil and a pocket protector.
Bill Clinton would enter the room like a talk show host, with one girl on each arm.
Both Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan would be outside in the hallway getting their pictures taken and signing autographs.
Then, old Barrack Obama would arrive about fifteen minutes late. He’d smell of marijuana smoke. He would grab a seat at the table, lean the chair against the wall. He’d put dark sunglasses on and tip his hat to cover his eyes. He would sit there and not say anything.
Elections were Won by those who Gave Away Things
One of the first lessons that I learned was that you got elected by giving things away. As amazing as this it, it was my most important lesson. It is true.
The first rule of getting elected is that you buy your votes. You can provide tangible benefits or gifts. Barring that, you can provide promises.
My next door neighbor was always getting elected to office in her class. She was one grade below me, and she must have been President for six or seven years in a row. I remember well talking to her about this. That was when she told me her secret.
Before each election, her parents would buy her a bag of candy or lollypops. Then she would give everyone a candy of lollypop if they voted for her!
It’s true, and more than that, it actually worked. They would go vote with the candy in their mouths. They would fill out the ballot sucking on the tootsie-roll, or lollypop. If she won, they were guaranteed to get another candy or maybe two after the election.
We can see this today.
Everyone who runs for election promises things to their constituents. Look at Bernie Sanders, for instance. He wants everything to be free. Of course he doesn’t mention or detail how it will be paid for. Maybe it’s from a big magical Santa Claus, or more than likely form the “evil” rich people.
Socialists and communists always have support of the arts. That’s one surefire way to tell who and what they are; if they have artistic political posters.
Of course, one of the most important lessons that I learned was that a promise means nothing. No one ever kept their promises. Even when there were friends and classmates that kept on reminding them of their promises.
At best they would say that things were more complicated than they thought at the time before the election. Or, more often than not, simply did not respond to the accusations. Some of the smarter ones would say that they were “working on the issues”, but of course, they never produced any results.
Endorsements Worked
I noticed that when a popular person endorsed you, you would get votes. I also noted that if a hated person, or disliked person was your friend, you would lose votes comparatively.
Cheerleaders were always popular. An endorsement from one of them would just about guarantee election success.
One year my younger brother ran for office. To help him get elected, my sister came to his rescue. At the time she was (perhaps) the most popular girl in school. She was smart, attractive, the head cheerleader, and was going “steady” with the captain of the football team. Yeah, by High School measurements, she was pretty “hot” stuff.
So my sister went to my brother’s home room, not once but numerous times. She mingled with the boys and girls there and make friends. Then she would tell them that her kid brother was running for election and that she would REALLY appreciate it if everyone would give him their vote.
Needless to say, he ran and won.
Vote Stuffing was Common
Of course, we always needed to recount the votes. In fact we needed to have different people counting the boxes of votes. And they needed to be watched carefully. Every election had fraud.
One of the most common frauds was that in a class of 400 people, there would be 500 votes counted. People from other classes would vote. Some people would vote twice. And, some votes were counted twice by those counting the votes.
It’s not the people who vote that count. It is the people that count the votes. It is a great quote by Joseph Stalin.
Another thing was that sometime students would get to bring cousins or friends to school with them. This was not a common occurrence. However, during key elections there would be an increase in these visits, and often they would be able to vote right along with the rest of the class. Even when they didn’t know anyone, they still voted. Often time, they would be instructed on whom to vote for.
It was common that the class with the most voting fraud was also the ones who said that there wasn’t any vote fraud at all. It seemed like there was a direct correlation; if you were trying to rig an election, you would be the one to shout “discrimination” the loudest.
Today it has become so easy to rig an election. As many voting machines are electronic. A person with the right software can easily reset the machines to vote for anyone.
Followers went around People who had Something to Offer them Personally
Another thing that I noticed was that certain people had followers. I am sure that the reader has noticed this. Some people have followers. These people hang around them, and nod in agreement with every word that they say.
If the boy was a star quarterback, for instance, he would be surrounded by other popular football players. He would have some attractive cheerleaders around him as well. If the girl was particularly attractive, she might have other girls, not necessarily cheerleaders, who wanted to hand out with her.
Some people end up having followers or groupies. Anyone can be a follower. That can include newscasters. I am sure that this gal would do anything that this man asked.
These followers weren’t there because they were being paid. No. Instead they were there because the followers would gain something from latching and attaching themselves with the person. Plain girls would suddenly become more popular if they hung around with a popular and attractive girl. Guys might be invited to some get-togethers and parties. Some would benefit in other ways. For instance, one of my friends was always able to get a ride home from the school by hanging around with more popular kids with cars.
We can see that today.
Look at the Clintons, for instance. There is a term “the cult of the Clintons” that describe this phenomenon quite aptly. It is just like in High School, except on GMO-steriods.
“By the Cult of Hillary Clinton, I don't mean the nearly 62 million Americans who voted for her. I have not one doubt that they are as mixed and normal a bag of people as the Trumpites are. No, I mean the Hillary machine—the celebs and activists and hacks who were so devoted to getting her elected and who have spent the past week sobbing and moaning over her loss. These people exhibit cult-like behavior far more than any Trump cheerer I've come across.Trump supporters view their man as a leader "fused with the idea of the nation"? Perhaps some do, but at least they don't see him as "light itself." That's how Clinton was described in the subhead of a piece for Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter. "Maybe [Clinton] is more than a president," gushed writer Virginia Heffernan. "Maybe she is an idea, a world-historical heroine, light itself," Nothing this nutty has been said by any of Trump's media fanboys."Hillary is Athena," Heffernan continued, adding that "Hillary did everything right in this campaign… She cannot be faulted, criticized, or analyzed for even one more second."That's a key cry of the Cult of Hillary (as it is among followers of L. Ron Hubbard or devotees of Christ): our gal is beyond criticism, beyond the sober and technical analysis of mere humans. Michael Moore, in his movie Trumpland, looked out at his audience and, with voice breaking, said: "Maybe Hillary could be our Pope Francis."Or consider Kate McKinnon's post-election opening bit on SNL, in which she played Clinton as a pantsuited angel at a piano singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," her voice almost cracking as she sang: "I told the truth, I didn't come to fool ya." Just imagine if some right-leaning Christian celeb (are there any?) had dolled up as Trump-as-godhead and sang praises to him. It would have been the source of East Coast mirth for years to come. But SNL's Hallelujah for Hillary was seen as perfectly normal.”
-Reason.com
Followers surround a person or celebrity precisely because they will benefit from it in some way. Indeed, there are “groupies” that follow elected officials around. The gals will volunteer for any and all work, just to get near a noted personality. Of course, there are other activities that take place in private that involve these groupies and followers.
When I ran for student government, I would make banners, put up posters and go from room to room making speeches. Others, didn’t need to. It was almost like they didn’t need to do anything. They were elected automatically.
Some were elected because they were part of a dynasty. They had older brothers and sisters who were popular and attractive. When their relatives or younger brethren ran for government, they were often associated with the more popular children, even if they weren’t popular at all.
Some just had a reputation. If you were part of an unpopular group, you were always associated with that group. Even if you tried to distance yourself from it. No amount of posters, or speeches could change that fact.
Some were elected because a popular person had a relationship with them. One friend was elected because he had an ongoing relationship with the head cheerleader. He wasn’t anything special to look at, he wasn’t smart. He wasn’t popular. He wasn’t a football player. However, he had a very popular and attractive girlfriend. That was enough.
In short, none of these individuals were elected based on any tangible ability. They were elected on association. Either they had relatives that were popular, or they had friends that were popular. If they were associated with something unpopular or unattractive, they were shunned.
Governance had Nothing to do with Ability
At no time was anyone elected to school council based on ability. No one showed their report card. No one compared grades, sports scores, or participation in extra-curricular activities.
They were elected by mob rule based on the factors that appealed to the mob.
We see that today with many people in government, and most especially elected officials, completely ignorant of the law. They do not know even the basics of the United States and how it is structured. That includes Federal Senators that should know better.
How else can you explain the clowns that are constantly being elected to Congress today?
Power was Easily Abused
One of the first things that you learn in High School is that when you are elected, you get to make up the rules. As Class President, I was able to set aside meetings, and pronouncement. I could control whether or not a club could have money for a parade float, or how the Senior Prom would be constructed.
As a result, I discovered that I had many people coming to me asking for favors.
These favors could be given at will, or for a price. The bigger the request the larger the price I could ask. I quickly learned that I could trade favors for advantage. If I wanted to be popular with a group of girls (for instance), I could help them out in things that appealed to them. Once, there was a group of girls who I enjoyed study-hall square-dancing with, by granting them the freedom to decorate the “Home Room”, I garnered favor with them. That favor was translated into a positive reputation for all of their friends.
Heck, I even got a free pizza out of it! When a group of pretty girls take you out and buy you a pizza, that’s big news when you are 17 years of age!
Pizza is one of my favorite foods. I like the New York style pizza. It’s a nice and tasty think crust pizza. I also enjoy a nice Chicago “deep dish” style pizza. That is very delicious. I like sausage and pepperoni and olives. I also have to admit in enjoying hamburger on it was well.
Today, as an older man, I can easily see how power is constantly abused and misused. This can be anything from using government airplanes, to skimming off the top and getting kick-backs on funding.
Many Opportunities for Embezzlement
I well remember that when I became Class President, I inherited a class budget of $240 dollars that had been collected over the years. During the year, I make sure that no money was spent on anything. Which, to the distain of the cheerleaders, was quite a negative. Never the less, they were able to, somehow fund their sock-hops, dances, car-washes, and parades. However, at the end of the year we only had $25 in the till. The Class Treasurer had no idea where the money went. It just disappeared.
Obviously someone’s hand was in the till. But whos? We’ll never know.
Which makes me remember all through that particular year. Numerous groups in the school wanted me to raise class dues. At that time, the dues were an enormous $5/year. It might not sound like much today, but at that time, it was considered rather excessive. They wanted to increase it to $10/year. Later, I found out that they really just wanted it to be $8/year, but they were aiming high and negotiating downward.
They had stated that the increase was to take care of basic class materials that was not covered by the school. This included such things as disposable paper plates and plastic tablecloths for a planned outing and class trip. It also included such things as snacks and fixings for sandwiches.
I later noticed, when I went through the purchased groceries that many of the items were tagged “buy one get one free”, yet only one item was included in the package that I reviewed. For example, there was a large bag of Lays potato chips. On it was a sticker that said “two for the price of one” and a green piece of tape that was clear evidence that another bag was attached to it. Yet, the other bag was missing. Where did it go?
Obviously the person who bought the items kept some of the items for themselves. Also when reviewing the items, I noted that there were some items that were paid for, but that were not given to the class. These things included cigarettes, some candy bars, two bags of potato chips and some other minor items.
One can only imagine what these individuals would do if they had access to a multi-million dollar budget.
Pallets of $100 bills were flown to Iran in unmarked planes and given freely to them by President Obama. This was done without approval by Congress or the Senate, and without any signed agreement with Iran.
Friends were promoted to Positions of Power
Another thing that I noted had to do with friends and associations. If a task needed to be done, and it was a desirable task, friends were elected to do it. For instance, once we needed to take a ride out to a nearby town and buy some paint. The lucky people who were to do this had no time limit on getting the paint. As such, they could actually take the entire half of the day off to do that simple one hour task.
Obviously, friends were selected to assist them in these tasks.
Isn’t that the same way today. Look at the “deep state” that is dogging every single thing that President Donald Trump is trying to do. Yet, they had no problem implementing every program or task the President Obama was involved in. We can also well remember the fiasco with the “Travel Office” when Bill Clinton was in office. Of course, his presidency was not free of controversy. Consider the issues found HERE and HERE.
Ah. Just another day in politics. Yuck.
Perks of Office could be Expanded Upon Easily
Another thing that I learned was that I could create perks of my office. I could also expand upon those perks.
For instance, the class president did not get anything other than a title. Yet, I noticed that in a grade below me, somehow the class president was able to get to use an unused closet as a storage location. Using that as a precedent, I was able to convince the school to let “us” students on the school council have access to an unused room in the basement. They granted us that ability.
High School in the 1970s permitted us a lot of free time to get involved in various school activities.
Using that, we were able to decorate it. As I was the president of the oldest class, I discovered that I was able to “boss around” or influence the other class presidents. I was able to dictate how the room was to be decorated, and who got to use it and what times they could come and go. I soon discovered that only my class was the only class using that room.
Using our influence, we were able to convert that room into a class lounge. It was used for our class only, and none of the other students outside of our class could have access to it.
Blue-Ribbon Panels were set up to Justify the Status-Quo
Since we now had a class lounge, a method of being able to leave class and visit the lounge needed to be put into effect. So, in short order we created a series of automatic “get out of class” privileges which enabled us to go to the lounge provided the student met certain criteria.
Eventually we negotiated to get the criteria dropped, and we even set up a committee (a “blue ribbon” committee) to determine who could have access to these vaulted hallway privileges.
Of course, the entire game was rigged. Our friends and associates could access the hallways and roam at will. Others would need to provide us favors or pay a small fee to get let into the game. This could include cash, but more often or not it involved a pack of cigarettes or a six pack of beer.
Now, you can’t tell me that this doesn’t go on in Washington, D.C. can you?
Checks and Balances were Weak or Nonexistent
One of the great things that I discovered was that aside from the regular day-to-day student life, no one was policing our actions. With the understanding that we were members of the Student Council and that we had various student related “things” that we were involved in, we could leverage that knowledge to our advantage.
For instance, I could take time off and visit my friends at a vocational-technical school socially (and get them out of class). I would just make up an excuse and there we could meet. I could roam the halls at will. I could skip out of class early and arrive late. I could take long lunch periods and I could have access to forbidden areas of the school, such as the locker rooms, the weight room, the school yard, and the parking lot. All without trouble.
Having the title gave me privileges.
Even though there were other students who saw the scam, and enemies or jealous students tried to curtail my efforts, they were ineffective. For the school teachers point of view, as well as the administration, I had the right to do what I was doing. It did not matter how far I pushed the envelope, as long as it did not interfere in the education of the rest of the school.
As such, I did take full advantage of this.
My Father Didn’t Understand
My father was unable to understand why I was not a liberal democrat like himself. I think that he took it as a personal affront, or maybe he thought that I was “brainwashed” by the school. Yet the truth is that the school afforded me an education that no book-learning in Civics Class could ever do. It gave me the opportunity to see how governance worked within a democracy.
For that is exactly what was provided in school; democratic elections were each person got one vote.
It was mob rule by disinterested classmates. Many of which couldn’t care less who was going to be the class president or the class officers. They actually were (in some cases exactly) the “unwashed masses”.
Here’s to my father. He meant well, but he did not understand human nature very well. The United States is not a Democracy, it is a Republic. It is not, and should not ever be subject to mob rule.
Now my father was always trying to impress upon me that being in political office was a big responsibility. He wanted me to understand that I could do great things while in office. He wanted me to appreciate the opportunities that it gave me to help others and to better the lives of my fellow man.
Heck, I just needed the experience so that I could qualify for the United States Air Force Academy.
Take Aways
Human nature does not change when a person becomes an adult.
Democracy is actually organized mob rule.
The person who can best control the mob, can rule over them.
The United States is a Republic, not a Democracy.
The individual states that comprise the United States are set up as Democracies.
All of the problems that I experienced in student government, manifest in State and Federal governments.
Those whom enjoy money, power and fame gravitate to politics.
Most politics in America today is mostly as a specator sport.
RFQ
Does anyone have a better idea?
All my life, as an American I was taught the superiority of a republic. I was also taught how important (and great) that America was a democracy. That way, everyone had a (theoretical) say in the governing of their life. I was taught the dangers of socialism, and particularly communism. I was told the benefits of democracy in making America great.
However, as I have traveled, lived life, experienced life, and generally lived in places that were considered Hell-holes (when I was growing up), I have come to question this narrative. I am not the only one, either…
"Certainly there are more clever and nefarious, but the fact that imbeciles like Maxine are actually voted into policy making, authoritative positions, demonstrates that we have failed miserably."
-1981XLS Comment
In fact, I have come to ask some pretty blistering questions. These are questions that I would have never asked earlier.
Is “democracy” a superior way of governing a society? Obviously the founders of the United States didn’t think so. Read the Federalist Papers. They despised democracies.
Is a “republic” a superior way of governing a society? With all the ills that America has today, especially in light of it actually being a oligarchy for all practical purposes, perhaps it really isn’t.
Is “free market” communism a superior way of governing a society? It seems to be working quite well for China. At least, mind you, for now.
Is a “theology” a superior way of governing a society? After all, both the Vatican, and Iran are theologies. I never hear about starving children in either of those nations, nor do I hear about crime or any of the ills that seemingly plague America today.
Now, the reader should not misunderstand me. I am not throwing out the American constitution with the “bath water”. I am just questioning things that I have always (up to now) took as immutible truths.
"It is indeed a slow motion train wreck......there comes a point when the level of retardation has momentum of its own, not easy to turn around by any means. Such are the forces of history and crowd psychology. Another evolutionary cul de sac of yet more ideas that were hijacked and rammed into the ground by the same group of psychopaths, and their dumb followers.
The institutions mankind created with the birth of "civilization" a few thousand years ago, - namely the state, propaganda, banking, religion and military, have morphed into monstrosities, hijacked by sociopaths at every level. Mankind went from the tribal collective connected spiritually with the Earth, to a mass manufactured plantation farm, disconnected from its Earthly roots. There are bubbles of freedom here and there, for those of us who actually know what freedom means, but most are hopelessly enslaved zombies.
Freedom come with caveats, like, responsibility, - something most people wish to escape from. While the "leaders" invented the limited liability corporation to avoid accountability of their own actions, and forego skin in the game. Many of these institutions enable bad decision making.
Many people don't even know what to do with freedom, so they fall back onto the lame, default expectations of mainstream society and its stupefying culture."
-Brazen Heist Mon, 05/14/2018 - 18:16
Perhaps we need to take a good hard look at what America has actually turned into and what it is today. We need to see the influences on governance, and how they affect the bulk of Americans in society today. We need to really understand our global role as it is [1] ill defined, and [2] manipulated substantially for [3] the gains that do not benefit the average American.
We need a top-down rethinking of the American governmental structure.
We need to take in account;
The needs of the individual.
The global relationship of America to other nations.
The Rights all humans have, and a way of protecting them from elected officials.
Controls to prevent mob rule.
Controls to prevent tyrannity.
Controls to prevent the government to being an all-powerful entity.
The role of justices and courts and how to enforce universal fairness.
Controls to prevent rules, laws, bureaucracies, and out of control spending.
The individual need for privacy in our personal papers and day to day life.
I, myself, have no easy answers. What I do know is that older civilizations and cultures do not utilize democracies as stable vectors for long-term governance of their societies. I would like to hear your view on this.
FAQ
Q: Did you ever make a student council speech?
A: Yes. Of course I cannot remember it. I do remember that I spent about an hour on it, and I was amazed how well thought out it sounded. I also remember how it was delivered. It would have been fine except that there were audio problems at the time. Audio problems, I later found out was actually sabotage by a rival confederate.
Q: What were the student council positions available to you?
A: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Master at Arms, and archivist. I only ran for president when I was running for anything. My motivation was positions that looked best on school records.
Q: What were student council elections like?
A: Mimeographed sheets of those who were running for government was presented to all of us. Those who were running were not permitted to vote. So we stood outside in the hallway while the votes were in process. The voter would check off who they would want for each position. Only one vote per position was allowed.
Q: How often were the meetings for student council?
A: I seem to remember that they were held about once a month. However, they could have been easily head weekly. It all depended on who was in charge at the time.
Q: What were class elections like?
A: They were the same as the Student Council elections, only that everyone could vote. This would include the candidates. Prior to the vote there would be a chance for each of us to make a speech or a pitch as to why they would make a good candidate. When I ran for class President, I ran on a platform with a VP, treasurer, and a master of arms.
Q: Did you hold any elected position in your class?
A: Yes. I was the class President.
Q: What happened to your High School?
A: It was incorporated with another school in a bigger town in the 1990’s. The school building was abandoned for about five years, and then the town repurposed it for the town offices and civic storage.
Q: Do you think that State and Federal elections are the same as the elections that you had in school?
A: Yes. The only different is in scale. The rewards are greater, as is the potential for fraud.
Free Republic Posting
This post was introduced to Free Republic on 27JUL18. You can read the comments HERE.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.
Do you remember what it was like going to High School in the 1970s? I do. I most certainly do. In fact, the older I get the more removed that I am from it. As time passes, it starts to look like some kind of a scene from “The Twilight Zone”. The truth is that the kind of life that I had growing up is really alien to the way kids grow up today. That is worrisome, and it really concerns me.
When an American intern comes in to work for me, I am stunned just how absolutely helpless they are. They do not realize that they must go to work before the start of the working hours, and cannot leave until the workday is over. They don’t realize some of the most fundamentals regarding self-initiative is totally missing from them. American kids today are robots, or maybe zombies. They need and expect constant supervision. They are afraid to do anything.
Now this only pertains to my American interns.
The interns that I get from Germany, France, Singapore, and England are just fine. What is wrong with America? What are they teaching in schools there? Ugh. I think that I will devote another post to cover that subject. As it is truly alarming.
Whenever I berate an intern about something that they did wrong, I often use examples from my childhood. I use them to illustrate key points. Such as, [1] you need to eat breakfast at home before you come to work. [2] Showers are not optional. [3] Don’t check your Facebook when you are in a meeting with the boss. [4] Lunchtime is for one hour, and long lunches are not an option. As well, as a pet peeve of mine, [5] you must do the work assigned to you whether you want to do it or not.
Where in the Hell do they get this idea that they can argue or debate with the boss? A task is a task. You are assigned it and you must do it to the best of your ability. Unfortunately, many American interns think that they don’t have to do an assigned task, if they don’t want to. WTF?
When I was growing up, man we HAD to work. It wasn’t an option. Moreover, when I turned 18, I was on my own, or in college. And if I failed, I would be on the streets. This is literally. My family would be too ashamed to have me hide in their basement. A man needed to work.
Granted, I realize that not everyone had the same experiences that I had. My experiences were of a different time. I had the experience of fighting forest fires, working in coalmines, and laboring in steel. Today, they work as barristers in Starbucks, code games on laptops in “open work” environments, and drive uber taxis. Never the less, there is something very important about being able to earn your own money. There is something important about putting in a good, hard day’s labor. There is something very important about carving out your life by your own effort, alone.
To this end, let me talk a little bit what it was like for me growing up. I am sure that everyone has other experiences, and perhaps other ideas of what it was like. This is what it was like for me…
Growing up in Pittsburgh
I am a normal guy.
While I was born in the Connecticut Valley in Bridgeport, CT, I spent the bulk of my youth and High School years in the Pittsburgh area. Pittsburgh was, at that time, the center of steel manufacturing. Surrounding it were miles and miles of coalmines, and timber. America is a very big nation, and as such, it is culturally subdivided into regions. I was part of the Pittsburgh (or “Western Pennsylvania”) region. I was an “Iron Steel Baby” (So named because of the local “Iron City” beer and the steel mills up and down the major rivers in the region.).
America’s cultural enclaves. America is not a homogeneous society. It is a collection of social-economic regions. America’s cultural enclaves. (Image Source)
Over the years I have lived in many other areas. Each area was very different. I have lived in the Central Florida, the Rio Grande, the Los Angles, the Fresno, the Memphis-Little Rock, the Louisville, the Cincinnati, the Indianapolis, the Upstate NY and the Boston New England regional areas. I wonder what cultural enclave that you, the reader, is from?
When I was little
When I was little, my father worked in a steel mill. To improve our life, he would go to night school. Eventually, he was able to get his diploma and degree. With that, he was able to get a better job, and we moved into a house that he was finally able to buy. My mother was a housewife, and she watched us kids.
I played “cops and robbers” and “cowboys and Indians” when I was little. I played with fireworks, climbed cliffs and jumped off them into muddy water in the long hot summers. We would often put a penny on railroad tracks to watch the coal cars flatten it into a long oval copper plate. You can’t really do that with pennies today. That is because pennies are made out of plastic. Instead you can use a dime or a nickel. Both of these coins have a high percentage of copper in it.
I had a “tree house” that I would hang out in with my cat Sedgwick, and played “tug of war” under the willow tree with my pet husky and a big “bull rope” that hung down from one of the limbs. (This is an awesome tree that had flowing branches that fell to the ground. You could go inside the tree and it was like you were inside a tent. Though in the spring, it was filled with bees and other insects attracted to the flowers.)
I had a “fifth finger toy gun”. It looked like a pointing finger, and it shot this little plastic pellet. I also had this “joy buzzer” that you could “shock” your friends with (by giving them a handshake). Other toys included “Chinese handcuffs”, which was this woven contraption that you would stick on the ends of your fingers.
“let’s see, I slept outside in a tent almost every night during summer vacation, played lawn darts, shot arrows into the air and we would scatter like doves for the cover of a roof, sled riding down steep tree lined hills. Jumped ramps with our bikes (damn near lost one of my man marbles doing that though) climbed trees, built tree houses, floated down the swollen stream on a telephone pole after a 100 year rain storm. drove the flat bottom boat behind river barges to ride the wakes. Jumped off roofs with a homemade parachute (didn't work) played with matches, played with matches and gas, played with matches gas and fireworks, had a wrist rocket, bb gun, bow and arrow, went to a catholic grade school with hard ass nuns. I should be in kiddy Gitmo still.”- booboo Feb 2, 2018 9:55 PM Permalink
Quicksand
We played “quicksand”, usually holding on to tree limbs and trying to avoid touching the sidewalk. (It, like many other things, turned out not to be as serious a threat that we thought it was when we “grew up”.) Talk about a disappointment!
Yeah. When we grew up we were in for some surprises…
The world that we envisioned was nothing like what we saw on television. We never got to fight secret agents. The rocket ships to the stars never materialized. None of us ever got to tour the nation in a multicolored school bus and play musical numbers in different high schools . Our friends were never as organized as Spanky and his gang , and we never were able to harness a donkey with a carrot. That truly would have been awesome! The truth is, to this day, I have never come across a spot of quicksand. What a shame. What a true shame.
However, the reader need not give up hope on their childhood. There still is a Archie McPhee . Thank God for that!
Hats
I, like others of my generation, (in my pre-teens) usually wore a hat when we went outside. (The same was true for the ladies and the girls of that time.) There was even an entire set of rules and behaviors associated with these hats. The church pews even had these little spring-loaded contraptions to hold the hats in place when in church. (This pretty much fell into disuse in the early 1970’s, along with eating fish on Fridays.) Coat racks in offices, dental offices, and insurance offices all had a shelf along the top of the rack to place your hats on. For standing racks, there were also “pins” for holding one’s hat.
Take off your hat (civilian, that is) whenever you are indoors, except in a synagogue and except in places which are akin to public streets: lobbies, corridors, street conveyances, crowded elevators of non-residential public buildings (department stores, office buildings). Apartment house elevators and halls are classed as indoors, and so are eating places!
Take it off whenever you pray or witness a religious ceremony, as at a burial, outdoor wedding, dedication. Take it off whenever the flag goes by. And fergodsakes take it off when you have your photograph taken for the place of honor on her dressing table – and take it off before you kiss her!Lift it momentarily as accompaniment to courtesies when hello, goodbye, how do you do, thank you, excuse me or you’re welcome are expressed or understood. The gesture is to grasp the front crown of a soft hat or the brim of a stiff one, thus to lift the hat slightly off and forward, and simultaneously to nod or bow your head as you say (or smile) your say.Whenever you perform a service for a strange woman, or ask one—when, for example, you pick up something she has dropped on the sidewalk, or ask her (indirectly) to get her bundles the hell off that vacant bus-seat—you tip your hat to acknowledge her thanks or to give yours. Whenever you greet in passing or fall into step with a woman you know (your wife included), you tip your hat. In fact, the tip of the hat is a must for all brief exchanges with women, known or unknown.A man rates your hat-lift, too, when he has performed some service for the woman you’re with—when he’s given his bus seat to your wife, for instance (in which case you should give him a card to your psychiatrist, as well). And also when he has been greeted by your woman companion, you tip your hat whether or not you know him. If she stops and if she introduces you, your hat comes off—but this is because you are standing and talking with a woman.- From Esquire Etiquette: A Guide to Business, Sports, and Social Conduct, 1954
Boys and Girls liked to Play
When I was young, we all played together. Boys and girls played together. Boys would tend to want to play “army” or “sports”. Girls would tend to want to play “Barbie” or “house”. I really don’t think it was due to the way that we were raised. It was our interests at the time.
Anyways, we grew up normally. At that time, it was considered normal for boys to like girls, and girls to be interested in boys. But, apparently today, that view is not shared. Today there is a “zero tolerance” for anything deemed sexual harassment in young children. Which means that boys just cannot tell a girl he likes her. Today it is deemed “sexual harassment”. Sigh.
Please, why can’t you just let children be children?
We Played
If a boy wants to play with a toy gun, well then let him. If he wants to play with a Barbie doll instead, well then let him do that instead. If a girl wants to play football, I say go for it! If she wants to play house and dress up, good for her! Just let children be children. One of the things that has surprised me is the ever growing list of prohibitions that American children cannot do. Let’s see…
Can’t play with toy guns.
Can’t play with fireworks.
Can’t play knives.
Can’t play with slingshots.
Can’t play with tree-houses.
Can’t play with fire.
Can’t ride their bike alone through town.
Can’t stay out late after dark.
Can’t walk by themselves to school.
Can’t be in a playground without supervision.
Can’t go into a store without a parent.
This lack of play has had an absolutely devastating effect on the young millennials just now in college. Since they have never been on their own, and used their own self-guided imagination, they are retarded in certain significant cognitive abilities. It is truly worrisome.
Girls of the 1970s would play dolls with their friends. Girls liked to play with their barbie dolls, and hang out with their girl friends. (Image Source.)
My Kid Sister
Consider my kid sister.
I have a niece who is a girly-girl. She loves clothes. One Easter Sunday my mother bought her this really nice Easter dress. My sister, totally hated it, and did not want the girls (I have numerous nieces) to have anything to do with it. However, my nieces, being strong willed, went out and got the dresses out from the closet anyways. The oldest niece, well she was a “Tomboy”, and refused to wear the dress that was bought for her. However, the girly-girl niece grabbed her dress and ran through the house with it.
As she ran, her socks went off. Her shoes went off. Her pants came off, then her top. She shinnied on the dress and went running outside in the yard in bare feet. The dress flying in bright white, and pink with ribbons floating. She ran, jumped, and leaped. She was the happiest girl in the entire world at that moment. She was totally absorbed in living that moment.
You just had to see it. The sky was blue and clear. The air was cool but sunny. The grass was a fresh lush green and the girl with her rosy happy smile on her fantastic sunny face was a picture of the Sun itself. Ah, such a very wonderful time, and a wonderful day…
I first went to parochial school, and then later, attended public school. In parochial school we were taught how to write in cursive, memorized poetry, studied basic Latin, learned how to perform mathematics using only a paper and pencil, and studied our collective history. Indeed, when I attended school we learned history, and we were expected to understand it well enough to write a paper on it. In fact, one of the seemingly yearly events all through middle school into my high school years was writing a paper on history. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Ah, history can tell us so much, and can be a real joy to read about if taught properly.
History has continued to be one of my favorite interests. I personally think that many people don’t know anything about history because it is really not being taught properly.
Coffee
My childhood is a tale of coffee. Coffee was the cheapest thing that you could buy in America. As such, everyone had a coffee pot, and we all drank it 24-7. We would cook it in percolators, and the smell of coffee and the sound of percolating coffee was the way most American woke up to in the mornings. There was even a television commercial that had a jingle that sounded like a percolating coffee pot.
As a child, I didn’t really drink coffee. It wasn’t until I was around 12 or so when I started to share a cup with my parents. That was two full years before I started to work. It started to “put hair on my chest”.
The coffee was so cheap. In the movie, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” the main character is down on his luck in Mexico. To underline just how poor he was, he asks a passing stranger “Hey can you spare a dime for a cup of coffee”. That’s pretty down. Coffee was offered freely throughout the USA and Mexico. I’ll bet that the significance on that statement was pretty much lost on the reader when you watched the movie, eh?
I well remember the time when the coffee suppliers began to jack up their prices. It was insane. I was working as a stock clerk in a grocery store at the time, and the prices just getting higher and higher. It kept going up…up… and up. First, it was 20%. Then another 20%. Then another 50%. Then 200%. Then 1000%. There was no stopping it.
The customers were angry. Then frustrated. Then crying. Nevertheless, still they bought the coffee. By then, the entire United States was addicted to it. The coffee plantations in Columbia, and Venezuela, and Mexico saw profits, and just took advantage of it. Wow! With all the billions and billions of earnings that the companies (and owners) raked in, you would think that the nations would now be rich paradises. You would think…
I wonder why not…
Maybe it’s because they are all progressive socialist democracies, and only the rich get the money. Yup. We all know how that all works out. Look at all the wealthy and successful people in Cuba. Look at all the successful and wealthy people in Kenya. Look at all the wealthy and successful people in North Korea. Yuppur! Those progressive socialist paradises really know how to do things, now don’t they?
Not every potato chip came in a bag. In Pennsylvania they came in a tin can. The potato chips we ate while we were in 1970s middle school. (Image Source.)
Grandparents
Every weekend we would visit our grandparents. There, we would often sit on the metal porch glider and have bottled soda and cold-cut sandwiches. Both of my grandparents would buy a case of soda in large glass bottles, and I would spend my entire visit drinking it. It would normally be placed in the cellar. That was a cool spot in the house, and it kept the soda cool, but not cold. As is typical for the Pittsburgh area, the basement had a commode located smack dab in the middle of the basement. It’s a Pittsburgh thing that I could never quite figure out. (Same with the idea of putting chairs in front of the house to reserve a parking space.)
Many Pittsburgh homes have a commode in the basement. This seems to be native to Pittsburgh. While the story goes that the commodes were used by the workers to clean up and wash, when they came home from the steel mills, I do not buy into that. The reason is that a shower head is more important than a commode for cleaning up. The truth is that in Pittsburgh, typically the men had their own bathrooms. The women folk had their own bathrooms that they shared with the children. Thus, the basement was the domain of the men-folk. That is the real reason for the commodes in the basements of Pittsburgh.
Adults could drink their fill of beer. We always had beer in various old refrigerators, or boxes full of ice. When I started to work, at 14, my father figured that I was going to work like a man, then I could be treated as one as well. From that moment on, I was able to drink beer at all the family gatherings. Which was pretty cool. I was able to get tipsy, and then go to my room to sleep it off without making a scene.
My childhood was all about learning how to be a MAN.
The television was often on with a sports program or two in the background. They, of course, had a large picture of the “Last Supper” on the kitchen wall overlooking the table there. In fact, just about all of my friends had a similar picture. Today, I rarely see it, and absolutely NO television shows have this symbol of Americana displayed. We also had a painting of the “black Madonna” on the wall near the fireplace, and a statue of the Mother Mary in prayer inside a half buried cast iron bathtub in the back yard.
We ate well, and my mother insisted that we have fresh milk every day.
Fresh milk was delivered to our porch daily. It sat inside a small-galvanized metal box cooler specifically designed for that purpose. It was delivered early in the morning and one of the routines was for my mother to fetch the milk and put it in the refrigerator promptly. The bill (for the milk) was left in an envelope inside the metal cooler box, and my parents would put money in the envelope inside the box to pay for the milk. It was a system that worked well then. I wonder how it would work today.
In the 1970s, milk would be delivered to our house in a metal box that sat outside on our kitchen porch. Milk Box (Image Source)
Crime
We lived in a very safe neighborhood. I grew up in a small town. The town was big enough to have an elementary and a high school. Though, it was too small to have a middle school. It was a great place to grow up in.
Oh, we heard about the crime in the urban areas of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but that was a world that was way beyond our experience. We didn’t lock our house doors. No one did. In fact, the front door lock was often stubborn from disuse. That went for the cars as well. We left the car keys in the ignition. Everyone knew everyone else. All the mothers knew each other.
In the 1960 and 1970s, most people had a traditional family. In a traditional family, the husband works, and gives all of his earnings to the wife. The wife in turn, budgets the money, provides fresh and healthy meals, makes sure that the house is clean, and that everyone is happy. She is in charge of the education of the children, and supervises it and runs off to the school if anything does not pass her muster.
All of the men knew each other. Maybe they did not work together, but they were all members of the various social clubs like the Rotary, the Elks, and the Moose. (As well as the Polish Falcons.) There would be a meeting or two at the lodge each month and my father would attend. Because everyone knew everyone else, no one was trying to take from each other.
For us kids growing up, the entire town was like one big playground. It was most certainly like a scene out of Mayberry RFD. If you want to know what it was really like then read “The Mad Scientist’s Club”. It was exactly like that.
We would say “Hi” to our neighbors and play with their kids. “Hi, Mr. Baley.”, or “Hi, Miss Cambell.”. We all played baseball in the neighborhood ballpark, and rode our bikes all over the town. If someone bought a new appliance, then we would make “forts” out of the cardboard boxes it came in, and play with that.
Boyhood Essentials
I always carried a pocket knife with me, and used it to cut small branches and to chew on twigs from a birch tree (it tastes like root beer). It was a blue Cub Scout knife with three blades. I carried it everywhere. My father bought it for me when I was six years old. Ah, it was a male rite of passage.
One of the things that has surprised me is that NONE of the male interns that have worked for me (from the United States) ever owned their own pocketknife. Most have heard about it, and knew what it was, but none had ever owned one. It really stuns me. My male interns from France, England, and Germany all have owned pocketknives. I just cannot get over the fact how retarded that American boys have become. It is almost like they have turned into girls.
Anyways…
Bicycles
I was very shy with girls, and not so great at sports. However, I was a fantastic swimmer, an average golfer, and an active tennis player. I was a member of the cub scouts, and rode a gold Schwinn “banana seat” bike with “high bars” and a “drag strip” (non-tread) rear tire. Every one of my friends owned a bicycle. My sister had one with a white plastic basket in the front. My bike had these long streamers of plastic that plugged into the handles. I eventually tore those things off. But I would put a card (from a deck of cards) and attach it to the bicycle with a wooden clothes pin. That way my bicycle would make some “cool” sounds when I rode fast. It had a huge red circular red reflector on the back, right under the white “banana seat”. Like the GTO I would later drive when I was in High School, the bicycle was an orange color.
We would all ride bicycles when we grew up. Which is different than kids today. Instead, today their parents drive them from event to event, instead of expecting them to get there on their own. A 1970s childhood. (Image Source)
My bike was a personal selection. When my father took me to a store to pick it out, I chose a really simple and rugged model. There were no front or rear brakes on the handlebars. To brake, you would just use the pedals. There also weren’t any gears. There was one gear only. It came with a rear view mirror, that soon broke off, and that was about it. My friends all had more complicated bicycles, and over the years, they were perpetually repairing their bikes and trying to fix them. For me, I never had that problem.
Chores
Every Spring I would help my father take down the “storm doors” and put up the “summer doors”. These doors had mosquito mesh instead of glass. It allowed fresh air to get inside the house, but kept the bugs out. To swap the doors was an easy chore. All you needed was a large screwdriver. Once I proved my mastery of that task, my father made sure that I did it every spring and fall. (Whoops! Roped in to another chore again!)
In a traditionally run family, everyone had roles that they had to take on. For the boys, like myself, this meant chores. I was almost entirely responsible for all the outside chores, such as care and feeding of the animals, tending of the lawn and garden, and trash, and snow removal duties. My sisters were responsible for domestic matters, and learned how to cook and care from the clothing and the house from my mother.
Ice Cream
We ate “soft serve” ice cream from the local Dairy Queen stand, or had banana malt milk shakes. My father would always take us out for a ride on Sundays after dinner. (Sunday dinner was the most important dinner of the week, and the most elaborate.) We all would hop into the car and ride over to the local Dairy Queen stand. There I would get a large vanilla (soft serve) ice-cream cone. Everyone got one. Even our dog Belle who was a husky. She would get hers’ in a little plastic dish.
During the 1960s and 1970s we attended BBQ cookouts exactly like this. We would eat pork and beans, or bacon wrapped hot dogs. Corn and watermelon would be served as well. I attended family barbeques exactly like this.(Image Source.)
We ate plump, real ground beef hamburgers and bacon-wrapped hotdogs. We would eat a fine can of pork and beans, and let’s not forget the buttered corn on the cob, potato salad, and the macaroni salad as sides. Us kids would have an iced cooler full of all the soda we could drink and the parents drank all the beer they could muster. (Typically, Iron City, Bud, PBR, and Michelob.)
News
I would watch the news reluctantly. For me it was pretty boring.
However, I did follow the news about space. You couldn’t miss it. Everyone was talking about space, and the moon. That is all you heard aboout as a child of the 1960’s. The television shows also helped to maintain this theme.
As the news that played on the radio concerned our exploration of space and the Vietnam War. Of course I didn’t know what was going on. It was a takeover of the United States government by dark forces embedded deep inside the United States government. When JFK was shot, my father insisted that I watch the television. He kept telling me that this was the most important thing to happen to the United States since the Civil War. He was a lifelong Democrat and he had real concerns that there was more to the story than what the government was saying. Later, after he died and President Trump released the transcripts, it turned out that my father was right after all.
The “Deep State” murdered our President.
“This fucker, johnson should be dug up and pissed on, and torn apart. Every modern ill can be traced to him.”
-sowhat1929
On Sunday we watched Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom”, and “The FBI” (Starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr) after the Walt Disney hour. If I wasn’t watching television, I was building plastic scale models, or experimenting on my Gilbert chemistry (and electrical) sets.
The A. C. Gilbert Company was an American toy company, once one of the largest toy companies in the world. It is best known for introducing the Erector Set to the marketplace. A chemistry set is an educational toy allowing the user (typically a teenager) to perform simple chemistry experiments.During the Bill Clinton presidency (D) all sales of chemistry, electronics, and mechanical kits were put under investigation as possible routes for “home grown” terroristic activities, and were subsequently suppressed, if not outright banned. Over the Bush years (R), they resurfaced and eked out a small living. However, by 2017 most hobby kit suppliers went out of business. Ramsey electronics, Heithkit electronics RIP.
Little Treasures
I, like my contemporaries, had my little treasures. Some of my friends collected baseball cards. Others, collected Indian arrowheads, and still others collected comic books. I had one friend with quite an impressive collection of comic books, and Doc Savage paperback books. I ended up buying his entire collection for $10 when he moved out of state.
I owned (but rarely wore) a “mood ring” that I found in an old “mason jar” filled with old “Indian head” pennies, marbles, and campaign pins (I picked it up at a yard sale for twenty five cents.). I also wore a catholic ring of Saint Christopher that I picked up at a church sale on “Polish Hill” in Pittsburgh.
I was pretty stylish. I wore “Beatles style” hair with bangs that were always covering my forehead and falling in front of my eyes. My parents absolutely hated it.
Bottle Collecting
My favorite thing to do when I was around eight or nine would be to go “bottle collecting”. Here I would go into the local “woods” to dig for “old bottles” (in long disused trash dumps, often 100 years old) that I would then clean and collect. We had a couple of “dumps” that we frequented. One of the best, with the most impressive bottles, was near the river next to an old railroad spur. It was the home of many a “whittle marked” bottle, old time bitters, and about a hundred thousand Lydia Pinkham bottles. (I guess that the local woman folk must have had a lot of “womanly” problems.)
Our parents let us kids go out and play.
“I used to puzzle over a particular statistic that routinely comes up in articles about time use: even though women work vastly more hours now than they did in the 1970s, mothers—and fathers—of all income levels spend much more time with their children than they used to. This seemed impossible to me until recently, when I began to think about my own life. My mother didn’t work all that much when I was younger, but she didn’t spend vast amounts of time with me, either. She didn’t arrange my playdates or drive me to swimming lessons or introduce me to cool music she liked. On weekdays after school she just expected me to show up for dinner; on weekends I barely saw her at all. I, on the other hand, might easily spend every waking Saturday hour with one if not all three of my children, taking one to a soccer game, the second to a theater program, the third to a friend’s house, or just hanging out with them at home. When my daughter was about 10, my husband suddenly realized that in her whole life, she had probably not spent more than 10 minutes unsupervised by an adult. Not 10 minutes in 10 years.”-The Overprotected Kid
Ah. My bedroom was a collection of old colorful bottles, scale models of tanks on shelves (and planes hanging from strings from the ceiling), as well as a quite a large collection of paperback books and comics. I had stacks and stacks of magazines. Magazines included “Lost Treasure magazine”, “Men’s Adventure”, “The Good Old Days”, “Mechanics Illustrated”, “Popular Science”, “Popular Mechanics”, “Mad Magazine” and “Analog”. In fact, the upstairs bathroom had a closet, and the bottom two shelves were devoted to all sorts of magazines and comic books.
Money and Costs
Things were cheaper then.
In fact, most things could be paid for using coins. If you ate at a restaurant, you would rarely need to use any bills. Just a handful of coins (from a coin purse) was all you would need. Indeed, my father carried a coin purse and a money clip. Wallets didn’t really become popular until the 1970’s. (When inflation had jacked up food prices to obscene levels.)
I would fill up the air in my bicycle tires with air from the local gas station. (For free. Paying for air didn’t become vogue until the 1980’s.) It was a white building with two (gas) pumps outside, and an open garage bay where the owner would typically be fixing the cars of the local townspeople. Inside were dusty pin-up photos of sexy girls taken from magazines (like playboy, the “open spread” foldout format was well suited to wall-poster applications.) and industry calendars which always had a picture of a topless chick (or nearly topless) holding a wrench or hammer.
In a male dominated workplace, the most effective means of advertising tools is to utilize imagery that appeals to men. During the Bill Clinton (D) administration, there was a move to make everyone “equal”. In so doing, all efforts to appeal to a anything other than female or neutral gender was discouraged. Know your history.
I drank from a lawn hose in the summer when I was thirsty. It tasted like warm plastic.
If I was off away on a farm, or near a dirt road we would stop at a well and get a drink of spring water. At sometime in the 1960s all wells in Pennsylvania had to be covered up (so that no one would fall into them). Instead the placed these large iron hand-pumps (often painted red of green) that you could pump the water up and drink. The water was free to whomever needed it. Which is so unlike today where even common tap water is bottled by Walmart for a profit.
I was typical, and not a “bad boy” at all. When my friends started to smoke cigarettes, I refused. When I started to work, and was offered beer by the older boys, I drank and soon discovered that I was a “light weight” and numerous embarrassing events ensued. My friends chewed tobacco and often had a can of “chew” in the back pocket of their jeans (often creating a round circle of wear). I didn’t do this. For the most part, my serious engagement of vices occurred much later… after my retirement.
Television
Television was rather primitive.
While we did have a color television, we still needed to walk across the room to change the channel. Imagine that! Remote controls were not available until the mid-1970’s. On top of it were “rabbit ears” until we were able to subscribe to cable in the late 1970’s. My grandmother had her “rabbit ears” with aluminum foil wrapped around it. She said that it improved her reception. Maybe it did. I don’t know, her reception really sucked, so it must have been really, really terrible.
I had full toy replica M-14 with “action sound” back in the day. We would go around the neighborhood playing war with the other kids with their (own) toy guns. Let’s see, I had a toy M1, a tommy gun, a grease gun, a Beretta that shot projectiles with a suction cup at the end, and a large collection of cap guns and water pistols. Not one parent had an issue. Not one snowflake triggered. Not one police call. Even the girls loved it.
“I remember when toy trucks (Tonka) was made of metal. When automobiles were made of steel. When a carton of cigarettes cost $5, when there where phone booths, a gallon of gas was 45 cents, a postage stamp was 5 cents, a bottle of Coca-Cola was a dime, a nickel-bag of weed was $5, the Sun was yellow. I remember a time when you could find starfish and beautiful shells on the beaches of the Atlantic ocean. I remember when our skies where blue, not hazy white. I remember when slot machines paid out silver dollars. I remember a time when children could play safely outside.I remember when kids could sell lemonade without being arrested. I remember when you could crack your child's ass in public for being a brat and not being arrested. A lot has indeed changed.”-Hugh MannOct 21, 2017 1:34 PM
Lemonade Stands
Talking about selling lemonade, it was a method that introduced business techniques to children. The schools didn’t have any courses on how to start and run your own business. The boy scouts taught self-initiative and independence. If you wanted to know how to start your own business, and the basics on how it worked, your parents would teach you by allowing you to sell lemonade. It was a method by which a child could learn the basics of business management, and production.
Of course, during the Obama administration, this was forbidden. Moreover, a war on young children, their lemonade stands, and the parents who would teach children about work began. The result was a decimation of the understanding of the basics of industry to an entire generation of children. Read about some of the thousands of instances here;
Here is an American police officer frisking a child on the television show “Cops” showing how important it is for Americans to obey the law. American cop frisks child for breaking the law. (Image source.) You would never see this in the 1960s and 1970s.
Meals
We ate formal meals.
That is to say, that we ate in the “dining room” with a fully laid-out table with tablecloth (and undercloth), china dishes and silverware. My father sat at the “head” of the table, and my mother sat at the other end. Us kids, sat in the middle. Household meals always had a meat or a fish with sides of mashed potatoes, a salad, cooked vegetables and bread. Meats would include pot roasts, pork chops, Salisbury steaks, roast chicken, and ham. We ate fish on Fridays. We only ate pizza or hamburgers when we ate outside or at a restaurant. (We rarely ever ate pizza, or “junk food” at home. We ate “real” “sit down” formal meals.) With an intact family-centered life, we ate far better than Americans do today.
We acted like kids, and participated in the activities normal for that time. Most of our time was divided between school and play. Of that, we enjoyed playing the most. With our days filled with outdoor activities (such as hiking and bike riding) followed by evening television viewing. Whether it was “the Rat Patrol”, or “Chilly Billy Car dilly” on “Channel 11” showing low-grade “B” horror flicks, we watched them all.
In fact, I must say that I was a big “Ultraman” fan “in the day”. But, overall, I was Vincent Price fan.
During the 1970s one of my favorite Vincent Price movies was the Dr. Phibes series. Here he is with one of his pretty assistants. Valli Kemp with Dr. Phibes. (Image Source.)
I really liked all of the Vincent Price movies. These were often B-grade flicks made in the 1970’s which you would watch on a cold and snowy winter weekend afternoon. In fact, I would say that my all-time favorite movies are the Doctor Phibes series. I don’t know why that is. Maybe it’s because of the mechanical gadgets. Maybe it’s because of the tales of creative revenge. Or, maybe it’s because I always had a crush on his beautiful assistant(s). LOL!
There were two Dr. Phibes movies. Each one used a different assistant. I was in love with both. Yikes! Image credit to Metro Goldwyn Mayer for their promotional photo. Virginia North with Dr. Phibes. (Image Source.) We all loved these movies int he 1960s and 1970s.
I was a good kid, though a bit “nerdy” compared to my classmates.
Nerd
I had other interests, which tended to be on the nerdy side. For instance…
During the 1970s I used to play Avalon Hill’s board games such as Panzer Blitz and Squad Leader. Here are the counters from the Advanced Squad Leader game set. Advanced Squad Leader Counters (assorted). (Image Source.)
I played Panzer Blitz and Squad Leader board games. (But only with the handful of friends who actually knew how to play the complex games and enjoyed strategy.) Board games were popular, and it took the entire computer industry to demolish the stranglehold that strategy games held. Games would last hours, even an entire day.
“I was just over at ebay scanning the wargames (because of threads in this forum such as the demise of boardgames) and seeing AH Panzer Leader there brought back fond memories. I am sure I had one box at one time, have to find it. I remember in high school, my friends and I had three Panzer Leader and two Panzer Blitz games plus some made up boardmaps, put them all together for a massive tactical wargame that lasted throughout the summer. Our german opponent, stuck in the middle in a replay of 1945, was able to keep the Sov and US units from meeting. Amazing.”-AnimalAl
I also was very interested in the “computer revolution” that was just getting started. I had taken some basic programming classes, and excelled in them. However, my father thought that there would not be any kind of future in computers. So he STRONGLY recommended that I take something practical. He suggested that I go to university to study something that had potential. Engineering most certainly, but not anything related to computers. He felt that it was a passing fad that would soon go away.
We had a nice long “sit down” chat about my future, and he believed that I would be best served if I went to a military academy to reach my dream of being a spaceman. I believed in it. While it might sound crazy today, it was a reality during the 1960s. and 1970s. I tended to agree with him, and with that in mind I took High School classes that would be beneficial for me to attend the Air Force academy.
Telephones
There were no cell phones; indeed most phones hung on the wall, and fully 50% of them had dials instead of push buttons. Our home had two phones. One was an old Bakelite black phone from the 1920’s hidden away in the basement. I loved the feeling of it. There was a weight to it that you just couldn’t get during the 1970’s. We also had a “main” phone in the kitchen. It had an extra-long cord. My sister was always “hogging it up”. So one year they bought her a phone for her room. She still spent most of her time on the phone, it’s just that she wasn’t talking in the kitchen all day.
Sunday mornings were very much the same during the 1960s and 1970s. This included the children in PJ’s, the coffee, and the pets. Sunday mornings were stereotypical.(Image Source.)
In the house we wore “house clothes” also known as PJ’s, with a robe. Mother would make sure that there was always a pot of coffee brewing, and us kids would always fight over who would get to read the comics section of the paper first. Of course, our dogs and cats merrily participated in the morning ritual. Picture above is not the ideal, it was the actual.
Chores
From the time I was five years old I needed to pull my weight at the house. I had chores.
I would use a push lawn mower on the weekends to mow our grass (with no breaks until I was finished), and rake the leaves in the fall (with a break drinking apple cider). No respite during the seasons, as I even had to shovel the snow in winter (with a break drinking egg nog on Christmas Day). (Such was the life of a typical boy in the 1970’s.) Us boys all had chores that we had to finish before we could go out and “play”. When we became old enough, typically 16 years old, we went and got our first job working for someone else. It was what you did if you were a male boy. (Eh. I started at 14, as my father insisted that work would make me into a man.) So, I went to school until it ended, and then off to work from 4 to 9 every evening. Most of my life consisted of 12 to 14 hour shifts at work.
So, of course, I am going to take offense at the idea that I had “white male privilege”. And, I really get more than just a little hot under the collar when some female SWJ tries to make that point. There was no “white male privilege” in scrubbing out the filthy toilets in a coal mine, getting covered with dirty grease while you climb up a dragline, or being dressed down just because you are young and don’t know anything yet.
I was a typical boy. While many of my friends got to play football and other sports, I worked. I was bred to be a great work horse. That was the experience of boys of my generation. The experience of girls was quite different.
Girls were treated differently. My sisters all got weekly allowances. This enabled them to go out with their other friends and buy the latest fashions. They were all members of the various cheerleader organizations, and participated in all the local events sponsored by the school.
Poetry
In my early school years (grades 1 through 3), I attended private parochial (Catholic) schools. They offered and provided a superior education compared to the public schools that I attended afterwards. I learned the Latin language as well as my English grammar. In fact, one of my most significant “loves” was introduced to me in first grade.
Here we were told (forced) to memorize poetry. (Oh, and boy did I hate it at the time. I would cry and cry. My father would record my complaints and play them back to me. Oh, I hated it. I HATED it.) Now, today, I really appreciate that memorization. I memorized Robert Frost, and Taylor Coleridge.
These are poems that I have NEVER forgotten.
The Road Not Taken - Poem by Robert FrostTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claimBecause it was grassy and wanted wear,Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to wayI doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.
There is a certain timelessness about this poem. I always loved the sound of it, but it wasn’t until I was much older did I appreciate the meaning. You know, when you are in elementary school, you haven’t lived long enough to experience decisions and consequences. However, when you are older, that is something else altogether. Today, the poem speaks to me like no book or movie can. And that is what poetry is all about.
The poem speaks to me personally. I can well guess that it might speak to you (the reader) as well. We have chosen paths that other people didn’t. They took us to interesting places. They have altered our lives in ways… special and significant ways.
Here is another timeless poem by Robert Frost;
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I knowHis house is in the village, though;He will not see me stopping hereTo watch his woods fill up with snow.My little horse must think it queerTo stop without a farmhouse nearBetween the woods and frozen lakeThe darkest evening of the year.He gives his harness bells a shakeTo ask if there is some mistake.The only other sound's the sweepOf easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep,And miles to go before I sleep.
Poems are wonderful. Now that I am older I really appreciate all the effort that the nuns made to force me to learn these poems.
Girls never seemed to care that I could recite poems. So it really wasn’t an issue about getting chicks. The girls of High School seemed only to care about the football players, and hot cars. The poems made a difference in my life when I got older. Then, the complexities of live began to take its toll, and it was poetry that became my refuge when the world spiraled out of control.
Whenever I am stressed at work, and there is some just outlandish and power crazed manager spouting nonsense (remember I worked in a corporate environment during the 1980’s and 1990’s), I would stand off to the side and recite a poem or two. It calmed me down. Because, no matter what role my boss would have, and no matter if he controlled my income, I could recite poetry, and he simply could not.
That fact always put a smile on my face and comforted me.
It also ended up being a great way to “break the ice” in China. I would offer a toast. Then, I would recite a poem. The Chinese, especially the English speaking ones, are always absolutely amazed. As are the beautiful Chinese ladies. Chinese poetry is different, but just as beautiful.
Kubla Khan - Poem by Samuel Taylor ColeridgeIn Xanadu did Kubla KhanA stately pleasure-dome decree :Where Alph, the sacred river, ranThrough caverns measureless to manDown to a sunless sea.So twice five miles of fertile groundWith walls and towers were girdled round :And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;And here were forests ancient as the hills,Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.But oh ! that deep romantic chasm which slantedDown the green hill athwart a cedarn cover !A savage place ! as holy and enchantedAs e'er beneath a waning moon was hauntedBy woman wailing for her demon-lover !
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seethingAs if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,A mighty fountain momently was forced :Amid whose swift half-intermitted burstHuge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail :And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and everIt flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motionThrough wood and dale the sacred river ran,Then reached the caverns measureless to man,And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean :And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from farAncestral voices prophesying war !
The shadow of the dome of pleasureFloated midway on the waves ;Where was heard the mingled measureFrom the fountain and the caves.It was a miracle of rare device,A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice !A damsel with a dulcimerIn a vision once I saw :It was an Abyssinian maid,And on her dulcimer she played,Singing of Mount Abora.Could I revive within meHer symphony and song,To such a deep delight 'twould win me,That with music loud and long,I would build that dome in air,That sunny dome ! those caves of ice !
And all who heard should see them there,And all should cry, Beware ! Beware !His flashing eyes, his floating hair !Weave a circle round him thrice,And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,And drunk the milk of Paradise.
Not one American intern, boys or girls, could recite a poem. Any poem. What in the heck do they teach at schools today? Many times, but not all, they do not even know a poem or could name one. What a sad, sad, state of affairs. It is almost like a part of their life is missing…
How far American Education has Degraded
Just for fun, let’s see if you (the reader) can take a simple 8th grade level test from 1912. Now this is from 1912. This is the kind of test that our grandparents, or in some cases, our great-grandparents took. My parents were constantly harping on how the educational system was dumbing down. Moreover, that was in 1960! One can only imagine what they would think of schools today.
Now, I have passed this test on to my (senior-year university) interns, and they constantly fail it. They justify their failure. Which is something that I teach them NOT to do, and thus the reason for having the interns take the test. Their excuses range from “the computer spell checks for me”, “I don’t need to know trivia”, to “that’s why Wikipedia exists.” Sigh.
Let’s see how you, the reader, can do…
The test begins with a spelling exam. The teacher would recite each of the following words. They would recite it three times. The student taking the test would then need to spell the words correctly. There are forty words in total.
Exam for eight grade students in 1912, but even I could pass it in the 1970s.
Here is the reading and math sections of the 1912 eighth grade exam. Heck, even I could pass this in the 1970s.
Math and Reading questions from the 1912 eighth grade test.
Grammar portion of the 1912 test for eight grade students. While I could pass it in the 1970s, it is highly unlikely that anyone could pass it today.
Geography questions expected of eighth grade students in 1912. This was quite similiar to the kinds of tests that we were expected to pass in the 1970s.
Physiology test section of a 1912 test given to eighth grade students. I was able to pass similiar tests in the 1970s.
Civil Government test questions given to eighth graders in 1912. It is very similiar to the kinds of tests that I took during the 1960s and 1970s.
Civil Government questions given to eighth graders in 1912. Note the questions given to 11 year olds. Today, numerous liberal and progressive sections of the United States wish to make voting possible for 16 year old’s, yet not one could be able to answer any of these questions. Heck, not even our Senators could answer these questions. Can you imagine Senator Maxine Walters (D) answering them? Hah! In fact, I wonder if she slept through class or skipped school. Indeed, this exam is very similar to the kinds of tests that I took during the 1960s and 1970s.
History section of the 1912 exam for eighth grade students. It is very similar to the kinds of tests that I took during the 1960s and 1970s.
Conclusion of the 1912 exam given to eighth grade students. It is very similar to the kinds of tests that I took during the 1960s and 1970s.
We wrote in script, and printing out answers was discouraged (and frowned upon). A measure of one’s ability to communicate was penmanship. (Indeed, there is a scientific correlation between writing in script, poetry and improved thinking processes. This was something, I believe, that gave me advantage over my public-school educated peers.)
In the 1960s elementary school we were taught to write in script. This continued through into the 1970s. All of our written tests were timed, and thus the ability to write in script clearly and quickly gave us advantage over those who could not. We wrote in script. (Image Source.)
When the New Year was upon us, we would go out and buy a “Farmer’s Almanac”. It was filled with all sorts of interesting things. However, I believe that my mother would use it as a guide as to when we should till the earth, and plant our garden. It is still being printed. Thank God!
We wore bell-bottoms and nylon shirts with big-puffy sleeves, and wide collars. I also wore a tight collar around my neck made out of white beads. It was called a “choke collar”.
Hamper Migration
I was pretty much a typical boy, and got dirty a lot. When the clothes were dirty, we threw them into fashionable “hampers”, not the large super cheap polypropylene baskets that are sold in Wal-Mart today. In fact, we have seem many things go the same way as the “hamper migration” of the last few decades.
American hamper migration from high quality, long life articles to cheap and disposable furnishings. American Hamper Migration. Migration began in the 1960s and 1970s and persisted into the new century.
In regards to the function and design of the hampers. I suggest that the reader pay attention that there was a migration in overall quality, utility, and appearance over time. Indeed, this also translated into longevity as well. The older products were better made, lasted longer, and were designed for function AND appearance. Somehow, and we all know why, American products became obsessed with cost savings at the expense of everything else. Why? It was NEVER this way before.
The answer is simple.
It all is because of the passage of the Income tax and the Federal Reserve. Before the Federal Reserve was established, Americans ate quality food, bought quality clothes, furniture and housing. After the Federal Reserve was established there was a sudden drop in the value of the US dollar. This affected everything. Most notably the purchase power of American citizens.
With non-Americans controlling the American money supply, they could use it as they deemed fit. They ran the value of the US dollar into the ground. As a consequence, both parents needed to work. Families became dysfunctional. People could only afford the cheapest food. Butter became expensive, and so people bought margarine. As a result, people got fatter. Greed ruined the core of what made America great.
Inflation ensued.
As the US dollar lost its worth, people could no longer afford what they once could. Thus, stores that provided the cheapest products and solutions to home management dominated the industry. (Such as Wal-Mart, and the Dollar Store.) The devastation of the value of the dollar can be traced back to one and only one sole cause. That is one of the many consequences of the imposition of the income tax and establishment of the Federal Reserve…
Ah, but I digress (yet again.)
Partylines
The interns that I employ act as if everyone has a smartphone and it is a requirement to own one. Heck, it wasn’t until the 1990’s that companies started requiring their employees to have a phone. When I was growing up in rural Pennsylvania, many people shared a phone line. This was known as a “party line”. When you picked up the phone, if someone was using it, you would have to wait until they got off before you could use the phone. Seriously, that is the way it was.
Things are so different now.
The problem, as I see it, is that Americans only know what they know. Since many have never experienced furniture made out of real hardwoods, and real solid metals, they don’t think anything of it. They think that just because Walmart is popular today, that it has always been popular. They think that because they need to buy water at a supermarket today they you always needed to buy water at a supermarket. And, finally, they think that just because coffee at Starbucks is expensive that it always was expensive.
No it wasn’t. In fact, until coffee was monetized, coffee was THE cheapest thing that you could buy in America.
This trend towards higher prices and cheaper products is not a random occurrence. It is systematic and has been going on for a long time now. It’s just that you don’t really see it unless you have lived for a while. Then you can see the differences. You can see things changing and then you can compare your experiences with the changes and come up with conclusions.
I blame the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve and the Decline of the USD
As the value of the dollar decreased, both parents needed to work to support the family. Children no longer had parental guidance, and problems came about as a result. The dollar’s value continued to plummet. So people could only afford the cheapest products. Still, that was not enough. The dollar still continued to plummet. Soon, people had to purchase things in credit to just get their basic needs met.
But don’t believe me. Look at the graph yourself. It is obvious whoever is running the American monetary supply is doing a FUCKING PISS POOR JOB at it. This is an obvious fact. It means that the entire system must be scrapped and replaced with one that maintains it’s value over time. If our elected officials were actually doing their job, they would have noticed a problem at the very start of this fiasco.
The decline of the USD since the Federal Reserve was established. Today the value of a dollar (2018) is less than one cent compared to what it used to be.
The Value of the US Dollar since the establishment of the Federal Reserve. The performance of the first ten years should have told everyone what a huge fucking mistake that they made. The truth is for the last 90 years, the value of the USD has had an unstoppable downward vector.
Door to Door
It was a time when door to door salesmen would sell young couples a huge multi-volume encyclopedia that would take months to pay off. (One can come across the huge collections in yard sales and estate sales. Maybe on eBay. Perhaps one of the greatest influences of my childhood was an illustrated encyclopedia for children that I would spend hours perusing.) My father saw what an interest the illustrated encyclopedia had on me that he considered it to be a great idea to get a full “adult” set. This was a great set, however it wasn’t for elementary children to read. As such, I really didn’t touch it or have any interest in it until I hit my teens.
Today is so different.
Back then we could play in parks. We could climb trees there. We could play games on the “monkey bars”, and slide down the slide. We could ride on the “see-saw”, and splash in the pond. That was what their purpose was. It was for fun. Yet, today it is something else entirely. Today “playgrounds” are no longer about play, they are about being safe. They should be called “safegrounds”, or even better “safe spaces”.
This is how Americans have come to celebrate freedom and liberty on the one day that represents freedom and liberty. It is so sad. America today. Enjoy your holiday! (Image Source.) All of the things banned today were permitted in the 1960s and 1970s.
Porch Lights
It was a time of innocence. I wore a tee-shirt that had a big yellow smily icon, and the words “have a Nice Day” under it. My sister had a baton that she would practice twilling all day. (She also had a “Hula Hoop”. I could never get the hang of that thing. I guess that I just didn’t have the hips for it.
In the rural sections of the nation, porch lights were used to show “openness” to visitors. If you were lonely or just wanted to meet up with someone and talk, it would be pretty hard to do in the country. There just wasn’t any restaurants open, or places to gather around others. The roads were desolate and empty of cars at night. You could walk down them in total silence. It could be a little depressing.
So what people would do, if they wanted to be with someone else, is to turn on their porch light.
The porch light being on signified on of two things. Either [1] you were waiting for someone to arrive, or [2] you were open for visitors. It was a way to keep everyone in a closed-knit community together with face-to-face communication rather than relying on telephones. Of course, the first thing you would do, when a person knocked on your door, was to lead them into the kitchen and put a fresh pot of coffee on. It was the neighborly thing to do.
In the 1960s and the 1970s we rode our bicycles all over the town regardless of the rain or snow. Our parents did not cart us from event to event. Instead we were on our own. We all rode banana-seat bicycles even when it showed out. (Image Source.)
In a small community, everyone knew each other. It was a great way to meet up, make friends, and renew friendships and just chat. Other ways to do so included church, the various fraternities and clubs, and of course, the Scouts.
Cub Scouts
I was a cub scout up until I entered my teenage years. Every week we would attend meetings in the homes of one of the scout mothers (called “Den Mothers”), and they would help us work on our “badges”, and get ready for the various events. These events included picnics, hikes, plays and social get togethers. We would proudly wear our uniform during parades, or on holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. We would salute the flag in school and lead the Pledge of Allegiance at school in the mornings. (Big change from today, when you have multi-millionaire NFL stars refusing to stand for the US Flag. I find it completely reprehensible and disgusting. But, then I am from the “old school”.)
One of the first things that I got when I joined the Cub Scouts was a blue uniform. I well remember my mother teaching me how to put on my yellow scarf. In addition, I got to have my very own hand axe. It was a Rite of Passage for me. Here at seven years old, I could carry a hand axe. I was taught how to use it to cut trees, and how to throw it (just in case I might come across some desperate Indians…).
My first axe was given to me when I was a cub scout. I used it throughtout the 1960s and 1970s. I learned how to throw it, and how to use it. It was a rite of passage of all young boys. A boy’s first axe. (Image Source.)
While I went to elementary school in the 1960’s, it was my experiences during the 1970’s, which influenced my personality. Indeed, it is my feelings and experiences that reflect that period in time.
High School
Through most of my high school years, I wore “bell bottom” pants, and wide-collared polyester shirts. Our biggest source of entertainment was our television. We listened to the radio, and for me I would read or build plastic models in my bedroom while listening to FM radio on my “mult-band” radio receiver. At that time, listened to WYDD, which was the “alternative radio” of the day. I also had a “Lava lamp” that was given to my father by a drunk friend who stole it out of a bar and didn’t know what to do with it.
We drank Orange Crush soda, along with Tab, Sprite and 7up. Our parents would drive to the “State Store” or “Beer Distributor” to buy the booze for the week. In Pennsylvania, the government had a monopoly on the distribution of alcohol. I guess that they reasoned that it would better” protect” the people of the commonwealth, or maybe they justified it by promising to fix the roads (snort!). Still promising (from what I gather from friends and family). Yep. One day the “potholes” all over the Pennsylvania roads will get fixed. Yessur.
In the 1960s and 1970s, boys and girls were free to drink and smoke as they were growing up. This all changed when the Democrats took control of various state legislatures and enforced vice laws. Until Democrats took over the state legislatures,, children were able to drink and smoke with parenteral permission. (Image Source.)
Ashtrays and Chairs
Cars had cigarette lighters and ashtrays. In fact, even airplanes had ashtrays built into the armrests of the seats. (This all began to disappear during the Bill Clinton Presidency.) My grandparents both had standalone ashtrays that were their own piece of furniture. They consisted of a large glass ashtray on a metal pedestal that sat next to the “Man’s chair” in the living room. In my family, as well as the families of all my friends, the father always had “his” chair that he sat in. While us kids might manage to use it, we would always get off of it and defer to our father once we walked into the room.
By the way, if you are dating a girl who says that she does not see the need for a man to have his own chair, run like the wind. I once dated a girl like this. Man, did she have father issues. She eventually dyed her hair a bright sickly pink-orange, shaved the left side of her head, put a nose ring that belonged in an ox’s nose, and went full-on militant feminazi.
Everyone in a household should have their own “space”.
It might be a bathroom that is “hers”. It might be a chair that is “his”. It might a dog that might have his own “special” toy. When you meet someone who believes that everything is equal, and that there are no differences, and no privacy, then you know that the person is mentally ill. Everyone needs and deserves some privacy. Everyone. If you are with someone who does not understand this most basic human needs, then you must avoid them. Avoid them.
How can one talk about the 1960s and 1970s without mentioning the televisions show The Partridge Family? Everyone wanted to be a part of the Partridge Family.(Image Source.) Hey! Doesn’t the mother look a little like a younger version of Hillary Clinton? Maybe that’s part of her appeal? I will tell the reader that I did have quite a crush on Susan Dey. My Lord!
Work and Play
My sisters were cheerleaders in school. All my friends played High School football. I didn’t. I had to work. My parents were pretty unique in that regard. Most of my classmates got to have fun playing football, basketball, or baseball. However, my father strongly felt that I needed to be a man, and that meant that instead of playing after school, I should learn how to work and to provide for a family. Well, in a way he was right. But, in a way he was wrong too.
“The older I get, the more I realize how fortunate I was to grow up in the 70's (graduated HS in '78). It was just one simple, easy time. The stress of the 60's and all the racial/revolutionary crap that came with it was over. The greed of the 80's hadn't hit yet.There wasn't crap on TV, and no computers or video games, so we spent our time just hanging out with friends, listening to 8-tracks and drinking beer (was actually legal to drink and drive in Texas in the 70's). If we were underage and were caught by the cops with beer, they just made us pour it out and go home.Like an earlier post mentioned, "Dazed and Confused" really does capture those times well. I look at kids growing up today, with a federal government that's a a joke, police forces that nobody wants to trust, trillions of dollars wasted in "wars" we had no business fighting, college costs through the roof, and... well.. damn.. look at me.. I guess i turned into an old fart after all.”-Reddit quote
Anyways, to my father, sports were just a game. You couldn’t really make any money off of it. Though, a decade later, my classmate Jim Kelly sure as heck was raking in some real money being a football quarterback. Ah, but that’s a story for another time…
Sports were more about social interaction than play. And, work, well… my history strongly indicates a disconnect from the traditional working models in favor of a debt-slave relationship to a powerful person or group. But… more about that later…
Square Dancing and Weight Lifting
My favorite time during high school was during “study hall”. There, if we had finished our homework, we could participate in other activities. There wasn’t much at our school, but my two favorite activities were weight lifting (at the high school “Universal Gym”), and “square dancing”. There, believe it or not, the girls would come over and ask and invite me to join them dancing. It was great because there were only a precious few boys who would go dancing with the girls. LOL.
The Idols
I had a poster of Farah Faucett on my wall. She was smiling with this amazing smile, and her huge hair. We all had a crush on her. That, Loni Anderson and Rachael Welch as well.
Farah Faucett was every 1970s boy’s dream. Just about everyone had a poster of her on our wall or doors in our bedrooms. Farah Faucett was every boys’ dream. (Image Source.)
I had numerous posters on my wall. One was the mandatory “black light” poster on velvet. (It glowed under UV light.) One was a picture of Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) performing a guitar solo. (I had super imposed a F-14 on it for combined imagery. After all, space and high-performance aircraft and rock n’ roll was my dream.) One was a Roger Dean poster (anyone remember the group “Yes”?).
Raquel Welch was another popular actress that graced the bedrooms of many a boy during the 1960s and 1970s. (Image Source.)
Overall, I had a great childhood. I grew up in the 1960s and attended high school in the 1970s. It was a great time, and not at all what is portrayed in conventional American media today (as a time of “racism and bigotry”). It was a time of family values, productivity, and freedom. Black, white, yellow and red. We were all Americans.
All of us lived, more or less, the same lifestyle. (Don’t believe me? Go to your grandmother’s house and go through her family albums of photographs.) Our fathers worked. Our mothers stayed home and tended to the house, the budget, and us kids.
What? Do I feel a bitching sesson coming on…
During high school, bell bottom jeans were very popular in the 1970s. Elephant Bell-bottom style jeans. (Image Source.)
We were all Suffering through the Incompetence of Washington, D.C.
That was at a point in time before the Federal Reserve still hadn’t completely decimated the US Dollar. It was still worth around twenty cents. As the dollar kept on losing value, both parents needed to go to work. This fact, forced the breakup of the American family. The family had to break up, as the mother had to work as well as the father.
“I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country.A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men.
We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men."
- Woodrow Wilson. Quoted in “National Economy and the Banking System," Senate Documents Co. 3, No. 23, 76th Congress, 1st session, 1939. The origional quote was published in "The New Freedom" in 1913.
There is a lot of debate on this particular quote. You can look at watch the sparks fly as the debate a rages on. Oh, my goodness! It is all so silly! One side says “here is the quote”, and the other side goes “Oh, No no no. He never said it! It’s all revisionist history. The Income Tax was wonderful!” It really is silly.
Here is my take.
The value of the USD (United States Dollar) was pretty stable. It had it’s ups and downs, but for the most part it was pretty consistent. It was stable. Then, after the passage of the 16th Amendment, the value of the USD dropped like a stone. It plummeted to 50% of its value within a ten-year span of time. It dropped 50% in a decade. That is horrifying!
Only a fucking idiot wouldn’t regret the decision to establish the Federal Reserve.
You have a fairly stable dollar. Some “friends” and “associates” convince you to change the system that is working just fine, and replace it with a different system. So, low and behold, you put a new banking system in place. Then suddenly, right before your eyes, the value of the dollar collapses. It goes completely to shit. Every year it gets worse and worse!
So…
[1] So, ok, maybe the former President didn’t say that quote. If so, then he was a fucking idiot. He was evil and selfish and couldn’t read a simple chart. That is the only conclusion that you can come to, if this quote did not belong to him. Because that is, what the statists are arguing. They are saying that the President was just fine and dandy and happy with what happened with the imposition of the Income tax and the Federal Reserve. He saw the result of the change, he saw the value of the dollar collapse, and agreed that it was all good and well.
[2] If the quote is indeed accurate, then he is a normal person who is able to read charts, and ended up with regrets. This is what a normal and sane person would be. They would see that what they put in place went to complete shit. This would be what a normal person would do. Personally, I can live both concepts. And you, the reader, should as well.
Anyways, with the collapse of the USD, now everything became more and more expensive. Both parents now had to go to work.
The Breakup of the Family
Both parents now had to go to work. As such, there were periods of no parental supervision after school. That is how American society began to fracture. The parents were absent and replaced by the reality as portrayed by television, and narrated by the people in power.
As such, we LOST many of the important things that really mattered to families. We lost such things as “jobs for everyone”, the ability to save, and formal family meals.
At the end of the day we had formal “sit-down” meals where we would all gather around a multi-dish meal and discuss the events of the day. We kids would talk about the events in school, and our parents would talk about their day. My father would sit at the head of the table. Then, once the meal was complete, we would retire with some coffee and ice cream, and us kids would clean the table and do the dishes. Dinners were great. It was one of the things that I miss most from my childhood.
At that time, in both the 1960s and 1970s, it was important to participate in your family. It was important to participate in your school. It was important to participate in local events, and to become a meaningful participant in society. My, how quaint and outdated that seems today.
"Elephant-leg, hip-hugger pants, halters and platform shoes were the biggest fads.”-- Lori West, graduated in 1976 from West Forsyth High School in Winston Salem, NC
Fashions come and go. But I always had a fondness for tube-tops, bell bottoms, and those two zipper front jeans that the girls used to wear. The tube-tops showed off the soft curves , and the “painted on” jeans showed off why guys like to look at girls. For a while, platform shoes were very popular, and I ended up having a pair that made me feel like Richie Blackmore on the stage.
Guns
All my classmates owned guns, and many hunted. My father was a very liberal Democrat, and he forbade me from learning how to shoot. (Of course, today he would be considered a Right-Wing Conservative.) The attempts at disarming the American people dates way back, but it wasn’t until the very successful efforts in the 1990’s did Americans start to FEEL the repression of the Federal Government.
Back in the 1960s and into the 1970s, Americans used to be able to buy any kind of gun or rifle. The limits on weapons didn’t really start to take hold until the Democrats took control of the State Legislatures. Americans used to be able to buy all kinds of weapons. (Image Source.)
The second amendment was considered important. Mass shootings using firearms DID NOT occur until government started campaigns to take away guns. There are those who think that this is not really a coincidence. I, for one, KNOW that there is no such thing as coincidence. “Coincidences” are simply pre-positioned “signs” by others who have constructed elements of our fated existence. But then again, that is just MAJestic speaking.
Anyways… Know your history. Americans are being dumbed down to become cattle. (And you do DO know what happens to cattle, don’t you?)
In the 1960s and 1970s, gun safety was an important part of growing up to become an adult. In the High Schools we all learned gun safety. My first class on gun safety was in elementary school in the 1960s. Then, just about every year afterwards we would have courses on safety and hunting safety. The first classes on how to use a gun occurred in Middle School.
Ah, television then was geared towards “most” Americans. (When I refer to “most” Americans, I am actually referring to the MAJORITY of people. It was not focused on capturing a minority.) That is to say that this was prior to the reorientation of television programing in the 1970’s. The reorientation changed what was presented on television, and marketed directly to the black urban communities. Before that, television shows were about straight white males and reflected the world at that time. (As America was, and still is, a Caucasian majority nation.)
“The "rural purge" of American television networks (in particular CBS) was a series of cancellations in the early 1970s of still-popular rural-themed shows with demographically skewed audiences, the majority of which occurred at the end of the 1970–71 television season. In addition to rural themed shows, the purge also eliminated several high rating variety shows that had been on CBS since their beginning of television broadcasting. One of the earliest efforts at channel drift, CBS in particular saw a dramatic change in direction with the shift, moving away from shows with rural themes and toward ones with supposedly more appeal to urban audiences.”-Wikipedia
The shows we watched were funnier than what you see on television today. And, maybe, just maybe a little more innocent. “The Bob Newhart Show” was typical. The humor involved day to day situations and NEVER mentioned race (compare that to today), and had a real twisted surrealistic sense of humor. Consider “Mary Hartman. Mary Hartman”, or “Green Acres”. You can find out more here.
Iconic characters from the Bob Newhart show that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Hi! I am Larry, and this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl. (Image Source.)
Ah, you’ve got to hear about the three yokel brothers in the (very surrealistic) 80’s “The Bob Newhart show”. I loved these guys. They might have been the highlight of the show. Heck, they could have had their own show (hint. Hint.)
“…discovering that a witch is buried in the basement of their Vermont inn. They want to find out who she was, but they also want her 300-year-old grave dug up and removed.
The silly-from-next-door tells him he knows some guys who`ll do anything for a buck.Next thing, three goofy-looking, backwoods brothers from the genetically weak side of Vermont show up. “Oh, Lord!” says Bob, getting a whiff. Larry--the only brother who ever talks--hands Bob their card.“We`ll do anything for a buck,” it says.”- Larry, Darryl And Darryl Are `Newhart` Hits
They were quite good hearted, and obviously lived a strange, strange life. Afterall, clubbed weasel was their idea of good eatin’. Larry’s totally deadpan delivery of some very bizarre lines was always a highlight of any Newhart episode. “We went to the bakery ’cause they were advertising ‘bear claws’, but it turned out to just be a come-on.“
Ah. Good times. Good times.
Movies and television portrayed westerns (with “white men” taming the wilderness), war adventures (mostly involving world war II fighting the evil Nazi army), space exploration (such as Lost in Space, Star Trek, Fireball XL-5, Thunderbirds are Go and Land of the Giants), and Spy Adventures (against the Soviet Union or against fictional organizations such as T.H.R.U.S.H.).
Ah the 1970s
Kitchens had olive colored (baked porcelain steel sheet) appliances (at least in my family), not the brushed silver (aluminum) that is so fashionable today. Men wore polyester and nylon shirts with wide striped ties; carried briefcases not backpacks, drank soda instead of bottled water, and listened to the Air Supply and Firefall on the AM radio. We wanted Peter Frampton to “show us the way” because we (most certainly) “felt like he did”.
Today, bottled water is everywhere. You can go into a local 7-11 or similar store like circle-K and get a water. It is cheap. However it is STILL more expensive than the water that I had when I was growing up. Water was free, and we drank from water fountains. Today you can easily buy a bottled water it is often less than a dollar. That wasn’t the case when I was growing up.
Water was free.
Quickie Marts and other fast stores…
In fact, we didn’t even have convenience stores. When they first started to appear, everyone was making fun of them. Why anyone would want to pay so much money for the snacks and sodas that they offered there, we asked. We soon found out that they would offer low prices for gasoline, and we could get our pictures developed by filling out special packages that were right there on the counter. It was most certainly a different life and a different time.
The local hardware store actually possessed a “cigar store Indian” statue. Which was pretty darn cool. I wonder where the Indian from “Cambells Hardware Store” is today. High schools taught firearms handling and safety. You could purchase these huge plump-tire motorcycle tricycles and everyone was driving them about (Until a Democrat had them banned.). We saved “Green Stamps”. Schools taught FORTRAN. Calculators were just becoming available and our sliderules were starting to gather dust in our desk drawers. High school bands carried (fake) guns (painted white) when they marched.
The slide rule was a device that was used before hand held calculators became available. It was used extensively in the 1960s and 1970s. The first calculators started to be available when I was in tenth grade. Slide rule. (Image Source)
Drugs in the late 1970s
Drugs hit mainstream America in the middle to late 1960s and was all the rage in the 1970s. Ecstasy (MDMA) and other so-called “designer drugs” did not make their appearance until the 1980’s. During the 1970s the most popular drugs were weed (marijuana), LSD (blotter, and microdot), mescaline (or dried mushrooms), hash (processed marijuana), speed (tiny “white cross” pills) and Valium. (Cocaine did not hit the American culture until the 1980s.) All of this drug use (abuse) affected our culture. All one would need do is view the television shows at that time to appreciate this fact.
Why is marijuana against the law? It grows natural upon this planet. Doesn't the idea of making nature against the law seem to you a bit...unnatural? - Bill Hicks
Now there are all kinds of theories as to WHY a common enough weed was made illegal in the United States. I have my own theories. Here are my opinions.
Ah. What began in the 1920s and 1930s as a technique to imprison non-Americans and lower-society tier African-Americans (as most “typical” Americans did not enjoy these substances at that time) fully blew up into a nightmare. Moreover, thus began the downward slide of our culture, way of life, and everything that we believed in.
You take away the idea that the police are “on your side”, you will forever become an outlaw. Which was, if you think about it, the theme of the 1960’s and 1970s.
When I was growing up marijuana was highly illegal. It seemed crazy to me then. It was a “harmless” drug, surrounded by more dangerous, but legal drugs. I, like the rest of my generation, chalked it up to a stodgy previous generation. At that time, we all smoked it.
The movie “Dazed and Confused” very accurately portrayed what High School was like in 1976 and 1977. The vast majority of my 1970s generation used drugs. (Image Source.)
I would say that a full 80% of my High School class smoked the stuff. Some were habitual. Others were one-time users. Indeed, the television show “That seventies show” routinely depicted the lifestyle of our generation. There, they are shown sitting around a table and smoking marijuana. It was in every episode. However, for PC reasons, it was never shown where the smoke came from. I guess that there are some things that you cannot show on television…
This depiction is quite clear in the movie “Dazed and confused” as well. Both video presentations accurately depicted what it was like growing up for my generation.
It took 40 years, but it seems that that ban on one of the most common plants in North America is beginning to crack. I am not going to say whether or not the decision to do so is actually good or bad. What people do in California or Colorado is none of my concern, as I live on the other side of the world.
What I will say is that people deserve FREEDOM. That includes the freedom to stupefy yourself with drugs. My take is the decision to ban marijuana was a control method, put in place in the 1920s to make it easy to arrest and incarcerate blacks and Mexicans when other laws were not available. Truth this.
The “War on Drugs” was in full swing in the 1960’s and the 1970’s, but you couldn’t tell it by participating in youth culture. A sizable percentage of teenagers participated in the culture. The older generations were oblivious to that fact. In their minds, it was only a small minority of people who were smoking marijuana. They lived within their own bubble of reality. Much like many people do today about other things.
Our Grandparents believed that only Negros and (illegal) Mexican “wet-backs” (What “illegal aliens” were called before they became an important part of the Democrat strategy to win elections.) smoked the deadly demon “weed”. They believed that eventually the users would end up in the “crazy house”; locked up for life as the deadly poison worked its way through their brains. First in the mouth, and then in the brain. Before you knew it you became a crazed sex fiend always doing whatever it took to get your “fix” from the local “pusher”.
Our parents believed that only the rebels and the dregs of society smoked the illegal cigarettes. They felt that it was a given that the users would find themselves behind bars in jail. As this was characteristic of the behaviors of the misfits of society.
Well, what they failed to realize is that [1] you do NOT ban anything in a “free” society, and [2] times and people change.
What was just fine and dandy for the policing of Arizona in the 1920’s fell flat on its face during the 1960’s and 1970’s. What only made things worse was that very powerful people, including those in government started to use the “drug issue” for everything. They capitalized on it, and used it as a resource.
“So some people want to smoke some pot once in a while in the land of the free.”-knuklesKarl Marxist Jan 5, 2018 5:21 PM
Then, as now, older generations have problems understanding the youth that is slowing taking over their society. They just did not understand. (And, I must add, I can see why. Now that I am older, I too am having trouble with the youth of today. In short I find many terribly ignorant of history, devoid of basic work skills, interested in the most trivial of things, and basically very shallow.) Not everyone mind you. Just many of whom that I have come in contact with.
“The war on drugs to me is a war on liberty I concentrate on the issue of freedom of choice when doing things that are high risk. We permit high risk all the time. Generally we allow people to eat what they want. We do overly concentrate on what people put in their bodies,”-Ron Paul
Indeed, how can we actually say the USA is “free” if we are told what we can and can’t do with our very own bodies?
Being told what you can and cannot do is NOT freedom. I don’t care what the excuse is.
This was a fundamental disconnect that our parent’s generation, and (most especially) our grandparent’s generation (Those idiots that thought up the 16th amendment.) had with those people who founded America.
The belief structures of both our parents and our grandparents were not the same as those of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison. They were something else entirely. They, instead, possess a more “modern” and “progressive” point of view. One where “the smartest men” in the nations had the power to tell YOU how to live your life.
"People should have the right or responsibility of dealing with what is dangerous. Once you get into this thing about government is going to protect us against ourselves, there's no protection of liberty."-Ron Paul
You tell them, Ron.
Black People were a Minority
When I show these images of my life to young millennials today, I usually get a harsh response. They claim that it is nonsense, and that I am being racist for not having images of non-white people. Yeah. Really. WTF?
"Most foreigners are amazed there are not more blacks in the U.S. They assume there are black and brown people everywhere from watching our TV and commercials and that they are systematically kept down."
-Zero Hedge
At which I must remind everyone, that up until the 1980s, black African-Americans were a small MINORITY. That means, that they represented a very, very small segment of the population. When I grew up, the first time I saw a African-American was when I attended college. I did not meet a SA (Spanish-American) until after I left the US Navy and was in California. My first class with an Asian-American was in college.
In my 1970s High School we had no non-whites. We had one part Eskimo, and (of course) I was something like 1/10th Iroquois Indian. The vast majority of students were of white European lineage. My High School was all white, and there might have been less than 20 colored kids in the entire county. (Image Source)
While they weren’t common anywhere near where we all lived, we certainly were familiar with them. When I was growing up, I did see people from other races on television. In fact, one of my favorite shows was “Soul Train”, and I would really enjoy watching the American Negros dance and jive. They sure had “the moves”. I would try to get up and dance as well (as long as no one else was watching). It must have looked so silly. This gangly ten-year-old boy trying his moves to soul and disco music!
I have to admit the hair looked cool too.
Everyone was wearing “afros” which looked like a big ball on the top of their heads. Man, people had style back then. Some of the best dressed people were negro and they handled themselves with a way and manner that is rarely seen today.
In fact, one of my heroes of the Rat Pack; Sammy Davis Jr. was an absolutely AMAZING man. Let it be known that he would never allow his pants to fall down and show his butt-crack like some of the ethnic youth do today. He was cool, panache, and had real style.
Men of real class; “The Rat Pack”. Men who made no excuses for their behaviors. The Rat Pack (Image Source.) These were “the men” of the 1960s and 1970s.
When Disco started to become popular all of my friends hated it. But I actually loved it. I would try to do some of the fantastic dance moves that I learned from Soul Train, but I don’t think I was good enough. In any event, the girls liked the fact that I was brave enough to shake some body, and that was a good thing.
I lived in the rural hills outside of Pittsburgh. We never, and I do mean NEVER, talked about “niggers”, and race. We just did not. The closest I ever came to it was being called a “Pollack”. (A lot.) The “issue” about race is (today) a politically motivated narrative. And, as such, it was constructed over the last eight years or so with defined objectives. It’s a pile of manure that we are all expected to believe.
Frankly, I am pretty tired about hearing about it all. It’s NEVER been part of my life. To me, it just sounds like a bunch of wining babies complaining. Wahhh! Wahhhh! It really does. It’s irritating.
Here I am in China. I am always and forever an outsider. I am ALWAYS called by racist names (weiguren or laowei) and I don’t complain and use it as excuses, and you shouldn’t either. It’s below us. It’s stuff that little children do when they don’t want to eat their spinach.
“Our rulers don’t seem to understand just how tired their white subjects are with this experiment. They don’t understand that white people aren’t out to get black people; they are just exhausted with them. They are exhausted by the social pathologies, the violence, the endless complaints, the blind racial solidarity, the bottomless pit of grievances, the excuses, the reflexive animosity. The elites explain everything with “racism,” and refuse to believe that white frustration could soon reach the boiling point.”-FR comment
Listen up. Real men do not complain about their hardships. They keep quiet about it, and they fucking TAKE IT. If there is one thing that is attractive to women it is that men are strong and quiet. Remember the Johnny Fontane scene from the movie ‘The Godfather” when the singer was begging for the part in the movie and crying about it. Do you remember what the Godfather had to say about it?
Crying and whimpering about stuff that happened to others long before you are born, and using that as an excuse is…
…pathetic.
Just because the urban areas are NOW dominated by non-whites does not mean that it was ALWAYS that way. What you see today is a result of the decimation of the African-American household structure in the 1960s and the population explosion that resulted. Read. Learn. Understand. For goodness sake, read your history books.
And that’s all that I need to say about that.
Cruising in our “Rides”
We loved our cars.
Cars were a big part of life when you were a teenager in the 1970s. For us, our cars were everything. (Image Source.)
My buddies cruised around in (decked out) “shag carpeted interior” Camaro’s, old Ford and Chevy pickup trucks (Usually with a cooler full of beer in the back and empty beer cans rolling about on the deck.), and a (periodically) roofless International Harvester Scout. We drove around in my decked out GTO known affectionately as “the goat” that we might race on “the flats”.
My first car was a 1970s Pontiac GTO. It was passed down from my parents to me. I fixed it up and customized it for parties with my friends. Of course, it had a “kick ass” stereo and shag carpeting. My first car. Pontiac GTO. (Image Source.)
If the reader wants to know what it was like going to High School in that beast, watch the opening credits to the movie “Dazed and Confused”. Same. You’ll see my old car cruising into the High School parking lot. Otherwise listen to Kid Rock’s “First Kiss”.
Yeah, this was me…
Cruising in the “ride”, listening to music from Peter Frampton, Boston, Led Zeppelin, and Robin Trower. Smoking, drinking, and meeting up with friends. I owned a GTO that I would cruse in. Ah, life in the 1970s. (Image Source.)
My brother drove a Vega (the aluminum engine block nightmare) named the “solar boat” from a song of the same name by Ray Manzarek. He had the old engine removed and replaced it with a “sooped up” 360. I had friends who drove a Pinto (a plain but long lasting vehicle). And when my GTO died of a car crash (an icy Pennsylvania bridge in March), I replaced it with a AMC Pacer (it was like riding around in a big epic glass greenhouse). <smile>
It was a step sideways. Financially, I could only afford what I could buy with the insurance money. So, for a while I rode a Yamaha 250cc motorcycle (also orange!) and then got the pacer. (I needed money for college. It was a matter of priorities.)
My brother’s ride; “The Solar Boat”. He bought it off of my sister’s husband. He put a new engine in it, and customized it. My brother’s ride; a Vega with a retrofitted small block 360 engine. (Image Source.) He drove this car after I graduated in the 1970s.
Automobiles were a big part of our life back then. In fact, unless you had your own car, it would be pretty difficult to get a date. (It could happen, but it was much harder.)
We would typically work and use the money to buy a car and “fix it up”. Then, once the car was able to be driven, we would go “cruising”. At that time, We would travel the back roads and highways of Western Pennsylvania and the mountains of West Virginia.
Often we would do so with the music “cranked up” loud.
Perhaps the premium “cruising” music of the day was “Boston” (“More than a feeling”), Pink Floyd (“Another Brick in the Wall”, “Money“, and “Time”), Led Zeppelin (“Stairway to Heaven”) and Peter Frampton (“Do you feel like we do?”). The trunk was a mobile ice cooler. We would fill it with bags of ice, and put two or three cases of beer there. We drank anything that we could get our hands on. Most of my friends drank Miller (in eight-pack pony bottles), Budweiser, and Iron City Beer.
We used to fill the trunk of the car with ice and beer. Then we would go out drinking, smoking, partying with our friends. (Image source.) Oh, this scene was so typical during the 1970s. Today you could get arrested for it, and spend time in prison.
At the time I was in my Senior Year in High School, vans were just getting really popular. Here, we would fully deck out the interiors into these mobile party machines. They would have shag carpeting inside, red mood lighting, comfortable seats, a kick-ass stereo and a big cooler of beer. Dodge and Chevy vans were the most popular.
While movies might give the impression that, the youth of my generation went to discos all the time, and acted like John Travolta, that was not really the case. (That was the case for many urban youth, but it was not at all representative of the whole.) We pretty much worked part time jobs to support our on-going obsession with our cars. Each paycheck was devoted to a new “cherry bomb” muffler, or a custom carburetor, or some nice rims for our cars. Then, all fixed up, we would cruse the roads. We lived the life of the movie “Dazed and Confused”, as that was a very accurate portrayal of my generation.
This love of cars was not limited to white kids in the country. Everyone loved their cars. In the cities, such as Syracuse and Pittsburgh, urban blacks would spend all their hard earnings to buy the best and biggest Lincoln or Cadillac available. Then they would deck them out (or “pimp” them out) into the most elaborate super-cool riding coaches. They sure had style back then. Those were the days for certain.
Not to mention REAL music.
It was a time of funk. Let me tell you all, modern music just doesn’t have that kind of free wheeling happiness, and muscle moving music as the funk of the 1970s did. Indeed, it was a really sad day when people started to talk about the death of funk. Though there are those who somehow think that modern music is just an advanced style of funk. I happen to disagree.
And that is my opinion on this matter.
Guys and Gals
Role models for men included John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Charlton Heston, Burt Reynolds and Sean Connery. Men who were MEN! Men were manly; they worked, fought when necessary, and provided for their families. (Yeah, we would ride around in these “sooped up beasts” and talk about our heroes on television. If we weren’t cruising around listening to “tunes”, we were in the weight room “pushing iron”.)
In the 1960s and 1970s, many Americans lived in suburbia houses much like this. We pretty much thrived in that environment and it was safe and a pleasant lifestyle. With solid families all run in traditional households with the wives all keeping an eye out for all the neighborhood kids.
For me, I would lift weights in the High School gym. There was a “Universal Gym” that I could use. I wasn’t a member of the school football team as I had to work after school. Some of my friends owned real sets of “free weights”. They would have a weight bench outside in the back yard, and I might go out and lift with them. My parents had bought me a cheap set of “free weights”. These consisted of weights, not out of cast iron or steel, but rather of plastic disks filled with cement. They did not last as long as their more expensive steel counterparts, but they did do their purpose.
I kept them in our basement. They sat alongside the furnace. Next to it was my father’s old childhood shoebox (he used to go out and shine shoes for a buck or two when he was a boy). It still had his shoe polish, brushes, cloth and other tools of the trade. It was painted light green, for some reason now lost in the mists of time. On the top of it was a platform, tilted at a 45 degree angle, where the customer could place their shoe so that he can shine it.
Both my weights, and my father’s shoebox, sat in front of my great grandfather’s toolbox. He was a carpenter who would make furniture. Back in the “old days”, he would haul the toolbox out to the countryside. His potential customers would judge his skill at furniture making by looking at his toolbox. They would note the condition and craftsmanship of his tools. As such, if the tools were well maintained and clean, and the workmanship was of high quality, he would obtain work to make commissioned furniture. Back in his generation, at that time, most of his work was custom furniture to fit the needs of the local townspeople in Germany and Poland in and around the Bug river area.
There in the basement were three generations of male tools and brick-a-brack. Our female companions never cared too much for the emotional value and labor that these items represented to us men. They only appreciated the money that was derived from efforts using them. (And, for me, NOPE I just never became a famous body builder.)
“Beginning in the 1980s, American childhood changed. For a variety of reasons—including shifts in parenting norms, new academic expectations, increased regulation, technological advances, and especially a heightened fear of abduction (missing kids on milk cartons made it feel as if this exceedingly rare crime was rampant)—children largely lost the experience of having large swaths of unsupervised time to play, explore, and resolve conflicts on their own. This has left them more fragile, more easily offended, and more reliant on others. They have been taught to seek authority figures to solve their problems and shield them from discomfort, a condition sociologists call “moral dependency.”-The Fragile Generation
Roles for us men were different than roles for women. Because, after all, we are quite different.
(Quick recap for those of you who didn’t learn this in first grade. There are two genders. They are boys and girls. If there is a mixture of genitalia on a person, they have a rare condition known as a hermaphrodite. The construction of other genders beside these precious few is not biologically sound, and is used as a political construct for greedy people to get power. If you follow their narrative, you will eventually get hurt.)
Men and Women
Men and women are different. That is a good thing. Different is wonderful.
1960s and 1970s male roles models were men who acted like men. They carried guns, spoke what they felt, and worked hard. Male role models. (Image Source.)
Television role models for women were different.
Women had a different series of standards and interests. At that time, women were regarded and cherished as “different” from men. Men and women were not, never were, and never will be, equal.
In a traditional household, the woman of the house runs the financing, budgeting, and all aspects of the family life. She is totally and completely responsible for the family. She tells the man what to wear, and how to act. She will then budget out the money for him to carry in his wallet, and he will dutifully earn money for the family. She will be responsible for the health and education of the children. It is HER and her responsibly alone.
Heroines for women included Elly Mae, June Cleaver, Mary Anne, Anne Marie, Samantha, Lisa Douglas, and Jeannie. They were all women who acted like women and lived their lives on their own terms. From my discussions with women (Attribution below.), they all seem to agree that television promoted woman as strong leaders.
Consider Elly Mae from the television show The Beverly Hillbillies. She’s pretty but doesn’t know it and doesn’t care, can talk to animals and beat the living crap out of boys if she wants to.
Or, June Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver. From what I hear, June Cleaver was the perfect woman. “How fabulous were her clothes? Her little suburban life? Her shiny appliances? Her squeaky clean kids? Her “hunkahunka” husband? Her cocktail hour and her perfect little dinners?”
Mary Anne, from Gilligan’s Island was wholesome, nice, pretty, athletic, fab body, smart, and loyal.
Samantha from Bewitched was beautiful, magical, so in love with Derwood that she’d give up everything that makes her special, could get anything she wanted by wiggling her nose.
Fun and Games
One hobby that we loved to do was go “dirt biking” which involved a specialized motorcycle that was specifically designed for “off road” use. It would not have a head light or turn signals, and would be lighter. We would ride these “beasts” up and down all through the woods and the “boney dumps” (strip mined regions devoid of trees). Good times. We just “kicked it up in the sticks”. Why is everything so kid-safe today?
I had many friends who had pickup trucks. Typically they were older vehicles with many dents, dings and rusty panels. At that time, CB Radios were very popular. It would be on and we would listen for “Smokey Alerts” (Police Traps). Another fun activity was to go “mud slingin’”. Here, we would often take a “beater” truck and run through the local bogs and swamps with it. As one could expect, the truck would “sling mud” everywhere. We would often keep a cooler of beer in the back (Typically in cans. Our parents drank from bottles.), and drink and party to loud rock music, or (yes) country music.
Gas was cheap. Food was cheaper. A dollar could buy you five McDonalds hamburgers, while a music album would cost you $20 (though, it might only have eight songs on it).
Music and Television
Television was a big part of our life.
It is difficult for someone in this day and age to appreciate the grand influence of television had on society during the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Today we realize that everything is tied, one way or the other, to the Internet. Well, at that time period, everything (while not “tied”) was most certainly revolving around the television set. Oh, it was a much simpler time because the government controlled the media, there were only a handful of media companies, and no one knew about the ties between the two. It was an open secret.
Music and televisions were big.
In the 1970s and 1980s we used to go “Mud Slingin'” in the woods. Mud Slingin’. (Image Source.)
We watched Walter Cronkite on the evening news, enjoyed “Mary Hartman Mary Hartman”, “Three’s Company”, reruns of “It’s about time”, and weekly installments of “The Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island” on television. Also included such classics as “The Gong Show”, Reruns of “Adam-12”, and “The Brady Bunch” / “The Partridge Family”, and other retro-1960’s shows like ‘The Mod Squad”, “Julia”, and “Maude” were still getting air time. So we watched them along with other 1960’s and 1970’s era shows. Of course, we all loved The Three Stooges.
Honorable mention to television shows that influenced me personally at this time included “The Time Tunnel”, “Star Trek” (Of course), “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea”, “Supercar”, and “Fireball XL-5”. Finally, “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits” defined our generation at that time. The cold war influences were all blended together with the emerging post nuclear sciences that indeed really shaped our opinions and thoughts on life.
“I had a .22 Bolt Action Rifle and single shot .410 Shotgun when I was eight years old. I also rode my Schwinn Stingray without Wearing a Bike Helmet. I’m not even going to get into the many years my Parents drove me and my Brother around in a four wheeled death machine with no Seat Belts and a Dashboard made of steel. How I’ve lived to tell the tale is obviously a miracle.Did I mention the Chemistry Set I got for Christmas when I was ten years old? Isn’t Mercury fun to play with?’- 2/3/2018, 2:56:02 PM by Kickass Conservative
Television was a staple for my generation, but that was not the case for my parents’ generation. We absolutely lived off it. They used it to augment their personal activities. Whether it was knitting (my mother), or smoking a pipe and drinking a glass of red wine or cocktail (my father) my parents considered television to be a supplement to their lives.
Music was always playing and the televisions set was always on. My father would come home from work at the Steel Mill, and my mother would prepare him a cocktail while dinner was being made. We would have the “late edition” of the Pittsburgh Press (newspaper) delivered, and he would read it in “his” chair (all men need to have “their” chair) as he drank his preferred beverage. We kids would watch the television. When it was time to eat, we all would put what we were doing aside and go to the dining room. There we would have our daily meal together.
Yes, we collected albums, and listened to them on record players, or very expensive audio components known as “turntables”, “receivers”, “amplifiers”, and “tape decks”. (We would even buy an album containing 10 lousy songs because we liked one track.) Music, then as now, was a big part of our life.
Television was our primary source of entertainment. Everyone had one, and we all watched it. Many households had the television on most of the day. Though, for the most part, we only had access to from four to five channels of various quality. (This was before cable services.)
A well stocked 1970s album collection. In the time before CD’s we listened to albums on turntables. A well-stocked album collection. (Image Source.)
Is that a Chicago album I see? How many albums can you, the reader, identify? I see Alice Cooper’s Muscle of Love, Neil Young’s Harvest, and a Three Dog Night, a Boston with a BTO nearby.
Briefly, we had an “8 track” player installed in our family car. Here we could switch between four (4) locations in the “album” so we could rapidly listen to a different song if we did not like the one that was playing. We had a collection of these in the car. As I recall, we had a “Jesus Christ Superstar”, and an “America”, and an “Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. The problem was that the inside of the car got hot, and the “8 track” tapes were made out of ABS plastic, so sometimes they would melt in the heat of the car If you left them on the dashboard.
Belief
At that time, we believed the media. We believed what we saw. We believed in the government, and we believed in the promises that were made to us.
This was the style of the dining room furnishings that my parents had. They bought them sometime around 1965. During my entire childhood and 1970s teenage years we would have family meals at this table. My household furnishings. (Image Source.)
We believed the Democrats when they told us that our social security money (taxes) went into a “lock box” (actual term as they used) and would never be “touched” (used for other purposes). Then, right after they made those promises, they went around and started handing the money away to non-contributors like candy. Anyone could get it. Just like pensions. All gone. Bye bye.
WTF?
We believed that when we paid state taxes that they would go into fixing the terrible “pot holes” that littered Pennsylvania roads.
We believed that they would not go into the big unions of Philadelphia that operated like mob bosses of yore. But we were wrong. We were really, really, wrong.
Instead, the fat mob bosses just got fatter. The rich guys “on the Hill” (The Mayor and his toadies.) got richer, and our money seemed to get smaller and smaller. Every year the costs for things increased. Every year we were told that this was “normal” and we needed to accept things, but they “had a plan”. Always, the plan turned out to take more money from our wallets, and put it into theirs.
My father, a staunch life-long Democrat strongly believed that once the entire state was controlled by Democrats that the world would be pure, easy and everything would be perfect. He really believed in what they promised. Even when it was found that they had stolen his pension. Even when it was found out that his 401(K) was looted. Even when he found out that they “lost” the monies that they promised to fix the roads with. He still believed.
Pennsylvania “pot holes” still never got fixed.
A Simpler Time
We might have been “simple”, but at least we possessed some “common sense”. We at least knew what a boy was and what a girl was. That is unlike the confused children of today. (And, wow are they confused!) We knew that if you possessed a penis you were a boy. If you had a vagina, you were a girl. If you couldn’t tell the difference you were confused. Though at that time we would of simply called you a fucking idiot, and laughed at you until you ran home crying to your mother.
If you wore a mask to cover your face, you were a bad guy and doing something reprehensible. (Something, I might add, that you are ashamed to associate with your face.) This included Bank Robbers, Train Robbers, Stagecoach Robbers, the KKK, and the Black Panthers. They were not looked upon as righteous heroes such as what is being portrayed in the media today with the BLM, SWJ, and Antifa movements. They were considered criminals.
My First Job
I well remember the first time that I got a job. I had just turned 14. It was in the local grocery store, and I was hired at minimum wage to stock shelves and bag groceries. I used to wear a white short sleeved shirt and a red bow tie. Over this, I wore an apron. My hair must be over my ears and not touch my collar. No face hair was permitted.
I was ready for my first job. However, before I could work, I needed to get a “social security” number. Here is my experience about that event…
I asked my father, why do I need a social security number? His response was, you need it because you need to save some money away for when you get old. This will help you accomplish that.We were riding in the car, and as we crossed over the East Brady bridge I looked at him, and asked him; “OK, I understand. But, why does the United States government have to do this? Can’t I just save the money on my own?”He just shook his head. “This is the way it is son. You have to give part of your money away to the government. They know better than you do, and they will take care of you when you get older…”My trustworthy father told me the way things work in the United States. He said the United States government will take care of ME when I get older…
I AM older. My government ain’t doin’ JACK SHIT.
It was my father’s generation, and his father’s generation that got us in the financial position that the United States is in today. Reread his answer. At the time… he really…REALLY believed what he told me. He was a life-long Democrat, and to the day he died he could not understand why, with all the taxes being collected, that the government could not (or would not) help the common citizen.
Back then, taxes were much lower than they are today. Yet, I well remember my surprise when I received my first paycheck. I expected to be paid in full, and was surprised at the size of the amount deduced from my paycheck…
Getting the first paycheck and seeing the deductions of taxes, fees, contributions, and services from the paycheck. An American tradition: watching the expression on the face of someone getting their first paycheck and seeing all the taxes taken out. (Image Source.) I experienced this during the 1970s. I can only imagine what a shock it must be today.
It didn’t matter what job I was doing, the taxes always had to be set aside. No matter what the media said, I just never was able to get any of the “freebies” (reference law#40 on the 48 Laws of Power) and deductions that was promised to me.
I was 11 when I had my first job. Summer job working at a restaurant. I’d be out by 12:30pm and would head to the beach with my friends.
My first pay check was $236 for 40 hours. I’d figured around $280 and was expecting it. I took my paycheck to the manager. I explained to him there were several deductions on it which I felt deprived me of my due compensation for the work I’d done. He explained how it was normal and everyone had it on their paychecks. He even showed my his pay stub with much larger deductions. I was shocked. It was theft. How could all these people put up with this?
I concluded -who steals from an 11 year old?
This is the point at which I became a conservative.
-Justa on Free Republic
Later, when I worked in the coal mines, there was talk about credits for solar panels. Even President Jimmy Carter put solar panels in the White House. But, that credit was not for me.
Then, when I was working in the steel mills, our union steward told us that if we voted Democrat that we could pretty much guarantee a lifetime pension and a great future for ourselves and our families. That never materialized either. My father was particularly upset with this change of events. Sigh.
When we were on the Forest Fire Crew, we would discuss the “rebates” that were promised to us by (then President) Jimmy Carter. Nah. They NEVER materialized. Maybe some privileged group or major Democrat voting block got some, but we never saw anything. I guess that we weren’t important enough, or maybe it was because we just didn’t complain loud enough.
When I watch the news today, I can well see why those in power don’t want the youth of today to read and know their history. They want to keep them fat, dumb and stupid.
As I get older, I can plainly see the same old “bag of tricks” being recycled for use on an ignorant public. Yeah… yeah…. Vote Democrat and we will fix everything this time. You can trust us! Yah… yeah…
Oh, and the Republicans are just as bad. Don’t think that they are going to get a free pass from me. In my mind they are every bit as bad as the Democrats. But at least they are pretending to try. The fact is that both Republicans and Democrats are working from the exact same playbook; Rule # 31 & 32 of the 48 laws of power.
Families & Vices
In those days, parents were responsible for their children, and if a child misbehaves the entire family would lose face. Parents made sure that children behaved. This was before the coddling movements of the 1980’s where everyone gets a participation prize at school, and those that excel are punished.
In the 1960s and 1970s, children smoked with parental permission. This all ended when progressive democrats took over the state legislatures and began to re-engineer society to make it “better”. Childhood before social re-engineering efforts. (Image Source.)
The popular television shows reinforced this narrative. If you misbehave, your family would suffer. Consider the television shows “The Brady Bunch”, “The Partridge Family”, and Happy Days”.
Television commercials promoted both cigarettes and booze. The hard liquor ban has been in effect since 1936 for radio and 1948 for television. The ban on selling “soft liquor” (beer) has been a “darling child” of the progressive left since the days of Bill Clinton. At the time of this writing the fight is still active. Perhaps, by the time this gets read the liberal progressive Democrats will succeed in banning it.
The “vices” of the past were once considered unsavory habits. Today, they are considered to be serious crimes. Indeed, it was just simply “fine” to smoke, drink and have a cocktail at lunch. Though there were limitations; for instance only Management and Sales could go for a “three martini lunch”, the rest of us had to limit it to one or two beers.
The phrases “I’d walk a mile for a Camel.” Or, “I’d rather fight than quit” were famous catch phrases for cigarette advertisements on television at that time.
Cartoon characters smoke, drank, fought and were very politically incorrect. Being homosexual was frowned upon, and there were absolutely NO portrayals of them in the media. No one knew what a LGBT person was, nor cared about it either. I ask the reader this; have you seen a gay person on “The Jetsons”, “The Flintstones”, “Deputy Dog”, “Captain Kangeroo”, “Lost in Space”, “Petticoat Junction”, “Hee Haw”, “F Troop”, or “Ba Ba Black Sheep”?
Now, today, you cannot find a single one without one. Even the science fiction staples such as “Star Trek” and “The Orville” all have multiple characters presented.
If you got pregnant before getting married, it was frowned upon, and while abortion was available, its use was discouraged. The social norms were reinforced by the media. They were not trying to redefine them.
The Three Martini Lunch
I suppose that some explanations are in order.
For there are many things that I grew up that were normal, that is considered outrageous today. One of them is the three martini lunch. The three-martini lunch is a term used in the United States to describe a “leisurely, indulgent lunch enjoyed by businesspeople”. Back in the day, this was a common enough practice. If you were in management, part of a sales team, or even a supervisor, these kinds of lunches were quite common. Indeed, many times, the boss would come back after 3:30pm from a long lunch and be quite “sauced”.
Now, according to Wikipedia, it is ONLY a perception.
“It refers to a common belief that many people in such professions have enough leisure time and wherewithal to consume more than one martini during the work day.”
Ah. Nope, my dear clueless millennial. It was not a perception. It was a reality. Drinking at work was commonplace. At least in the steel, coal, and appliance industries it was. I don’t know about the other industries.
Now, since business matters are usually discussed at them, three-martini lunches can be considered a business expense. Of course (which includes travel, meals, etc.) and thus can qualify for a tax deduction. The people involved would remember to collect their receipts and turn them in at the end of the month for reimbursement. They would get money back, and the receipts were kept in a ledger to account for all the costs related to business expenses.
In those days, all managers, and of course sales staff, had an entertainment budget. The manager would have free latitude in determination of how to spend the money, and it was often considered a perk. The manager could spend it with employees to offer them incentives and to build up the working relationships, or use it for work related tasks with other companies and people.
Wikipedia does have it right in that the three-martini lunch is no longer common in the United States. However, it is, thankfully, quite common outside of it. Yeah! Baby!
“The three-martini lunch is no longer common practice for several reasons, including the implementation of "fitness for duty" programs by numerous companies, the decreased tolerance of alcohol use (Hum… speak for yourself), a general decrease in available leisure time for business executives, an increase in the size of the martini, and a decrease in the size of the tax deduction.”
America for the modern businessman certainly blows!
President John F. Kennedy (D) called for a crackdown on such tax breaks in 1961, but nothing was done at the time.
Then another democrat, Jimmy Carter (D) condemned the practice during the 1976 presidential campaign. Carter portrayed it as part of the unfairness in the nation’s tax laws, claiming that the working class was subsidizing the “$50 martini lunch”. (Of course, use the “class struggle” to divide Americans. It’s a time-honored Democrat tactic. The theory is because a “rich businessman” could write off this type of lunch as a business expense.)
By the time Bill Clinton (D) came to office, there wasn’t much that still needed to be done. So he concentrated in the elimination of all vices from the work environment (except for elected officials, of course) and the banning of cigarettes, and drinking proceeded apace.
Not to be outdone, Obama (D) started to tie health plans to tax breaks.
The only people who still had three-martini lunches were the “fat cats” in Washington, D.C.. They were “different” don’t ya know, and laws don’t apply to them. Most especially if they are Democrats.
Cigarettes
When I was a kid one of the most popular marketing brands was for Camel cigarettes. I can remember wanting to “walk a mile for a Camel” although I was too young to appreciate it’s meaning. This was a “dated” slogan, as it dated back to 1921. Everyone smoked, except me. LOL!
There were cigarette vending machines everywhere including the high school. It sat right next to the Coke machine in the school cafeteria. The vending machine had a long lever that you pulled outwards to discharge a pack of cigarettes. Matches were common everywhere, and many stores and restaurants gave away free matches with their address on it.
1960s and 1970s childhood icon Fred Flintstone smoking. Of course, smoking and drinking was commonplace until the social re-engineering efforts by democrats. Our cartoon heroes all smoked. (Image Source.)
In the 1990’s during the Bill Clinton presidency, it changed to the “Joe Camel” advertising promotion that became wildly popular. (Since the Democrat party had no way to skim off some of the huge profits that the advertising promotion generated, they went ”full on” to ban it. After all, if they couldn’t get their cut in the profits, no one could get anything. Oh, they promoted the ban to help “the children”. But of course, what we now know about the Clinton pay-for-play schemes, we know this to be painfully true. But, like everything else, this is just my opinion.)
I guess that I am full of “nonsense” opinions. Right? Well, look at this from my point of view then…
In March 1992, the “Coalition on Smoking or Health” (a Democrat Progressive social-engineering platform) petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to ban Joe Camel.
However in June 1994, the commission decided not to take action against R.J. Reynolds, because the record did not show that Joe was attracting kids to cigarettes. After all, if you want to ban something you have to show a reason behind it.
This need; to find reasons to ban things, all ended during the presidency of Bill Clinton. (And look at the nonsense it hath wrought.) Bill Clinton implemented law #33 of the 48 Laws of Power.
In May 1997, after a change in personnel (the Bill Clinton administration changed the staff at the FTC precisely because they did not do as he wished) but no change in the relevant evidence, the FTC reversed itself, voting to seek an order that would keep Joe out of children’s sight.
Yup, you throw out the people who are “not on the same team”, and put your guys in. This is true for all politicians, not just Democrats.
Though, President Trump is kind of slow in learning this political lesson…
Why did it get banned? The evidence did not show a connection. The change in makeup of the FTC was changed by Bill Clinton, that is a fact. Why? To “save the children”, from what? Where is the proof? I am not, will not and cannot buy those excuses. Especially related to a mega-rich uber-billionaire and his family who has no obvious sources of income except a presidential salary and well known for their famous “pay-me-money” for access and favors schemes.
Joe’s critics did not need evidence. Wasn’t it obvious that R.J. Reynolds was targeting children? Joe Camel was a cartoon, after all. To which R.J. Reynolds replied that Snoopy sells life insurance and the Pink Panther pitches fiberglass insulation, but no one assumes these products are aimed at kids. The company insisted that hip, irreverent Joe was designed to attract young adults who considered Camel an old man’s cigarette.
The demise of advertising for cigarettes on television, as well as banning cute advertisements aimed at youth (Joe Camel), was part of an anti-smoking initative initiated by the Democrat Party and specifically Bill Clinton (D) in the early 1990’s. I suppose they wouldn’t have gone so aggressively against the “big” tobacco companies if they contributed more money to the Democrat party election coffers. But that is a different subject for a different time.
The way this works is obvious to everyone. Especially today. If you want to keep the SJW, Antifa, BLM, and busybodies off your back, you pay them off.
In America you PAYOFF the busybodies.
Furniture
We had furniture that was made out of real hardwood. The cheap softwood furniture started to replace the long-lasting and durable (and very beautiful) hardwoods in the 1970’s. This lasted for a decade, and then the 1980’s hit. Everyone was trying to “make a buck”. As a result even cheaper furniture started to make it’s appearance. This consisted of plywood furniture. The plywood would have a laminated layer of nice attractive hardwood.
This lasted for about a decade, up until the decade of Bill Clinton. At that time, the uncontrolled spending by Congress reached new levels, and the resulting hit on the value of the worker’s dollar was substantial. Wal-Mart became very popular and powerful. As it offered the cheapest products for families trying to maintain their standard of living while the value of the dollar collapsed. This resulted in the cheap “sawdust and glue” furniture (Particleboard) that is so common today.
Changes in the use of materials in American furniture since the advent of the Federal Reserve. As the USD depreciated in value, Americans were forced to buy progressively cheaper and cheaper furnishings. THis trend accelerated during the 1960s and 1970s.
Lawyers didn’t yet advertise for class action law suits. Not until the Clinton presidency. That presidency implemented so many social revisions that are too numerous to mention. Some may argue that it was certainly for the best. But, I argue the oppose. All you need to do is look at what constitutes a playground in America today to see the fallout from this folly. All you need to do is take a bite out of a tomato that tastes like a cardboard box filled with bland water. All you need to do is try to speak your mind today and see the vitriol and hatred directed back at you.
Indeed, restrictions on one’s ability to do what they please is a restriction on FREEDOM, and is tyrannical in nature and substance. No matter what the (stated) intention was..
Anyways, while there were many things changing over the years, one of the most notable was the phone sex hot lines that were all the rage during late-night commercials. These things were just a passing fad that made some people enormously wealthy in a very… very short period of time.
The networks were dominated by the big three; NBC, CBS, and ABC and they controlled everything that we saw and many things that we read. There was no Internet, if we wanted to watch something out of the ordinary we would watch Public Broadcasting, or one of the small local startups that tended to appear and disappear after a few months. (Thanks to them, instead of the dominant American networks, I was introduced to Bennie Hill, Monty Python, and belly-dancing.)
“If you’re over 40, chances are good that you had scads of free time as a child—after school, on weekends, over the summer. And chances are also good that, if you were asked about it now, you’d go on and on about playing in the woods and riding your bike until the streetlights came on.Today many kids are raised like veal. Only 13 percent of them even walk to school. Many who take the bus wait at the stop with parents beside them like bodyguards. For a while, Rhode Island was considering a bill that would prohibit children from getting off the bus in the afternoon if there wasn’t an adult waiting to walk them home. This would have applied until seventh grade.”-The Fragile Generation
All of the interns that I get from the United States are walking progressive robots. Which is fine, as long as they do their work. Just do you job, eh? The problem is that they have no idea what work is. They think it is talking about their feelings over coffee. What the fuck has happened to America?
Here is what work is;
I tell you what to do, and you do it.
You do it to the best of your ability.
You ask questions if you are not sure.
Once your assignment is completed, you have someone review your work.
Then you ask for more work.
Then you are paid or rewarded for your efforts.
Somehow, the young folk out of the United States never learned this. Their ideas about what work is looks more a scene from the television show “Friends”, or the inside of a coffee shop. Maybe they feel at ease parroting Ellen Degeneres. Many are totally useless at work. It’s their education.
You know, the entire reason for this post was due to a young intern. She had the gall to suggest that I (her supervisors boss’s boss) was in my role because I was “privileged” growing up. She had the fucking gall to tell me that I didn’t know about their “struggles”. Her “struggles”…. Give me a fucking break will you!
Well, I didn’t hold back in my response. I’ll tell you what. She probably has nightmares about me now. (Sigh). Look, life is full of good things and bad things. But life is what YOU experience. It is not what you hear about, read about, or watch in a movie. It is what you personally experience. Unless you have gone through what I had to endure to be where I am today, then SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Politics are both silly and dangerous. I wouldn’t be so fearful except that politics is used to change governments. Here is the basic recipe;
They take a stable government and turn it into a “democracy”.
Then, they obtain power by manipulation of the people. (This has many facets.)
Finally, they devolve into tyrannical governments.
Once in power, these governments then turn on their own people. They turn against them.
The most important step towards tyranny; you disarm the people.
Then you separate the people into groups; favored and unfavored.
Which is why, those of us who actually READ, support the second amendment.
Those that want to change the government are often well-meaning, but easily manipulated by tricksters. Those “tricksters” often manipulate their followers to obtain their ultimate goals of power, control, wealth and fame. Then, once they have obtained power, they kill their top leadership and their top followers. This happens each and every time. It happened in Germany, in China, in North Korea, and in Cuba. The techniques are well known and well documented. If the reader is interested in this, maybe you too want to control your own nation someday, you can read about it in the book the 28 laws of Power.
Politics never reflect reality.
American politics is a very complex subject. Here is a simplified explanation. American politics explained. (Image Source.)
Politics were black and white. Democrats supported the governments of Communist Russia, and Communist China. (That is one of the reasons why all of the old symbols of the Democrats were red.) Even the Democrat / Confederate “battle flag” was red with the crossed bars. The KKK was, and for the most part still is, a Democrat organization. Let’s not forget that the Grand Kleagle (LOL!) was Senator Robert Byrd Democrat from West Virginia! I’ll wager a bet that you all didn’t know that.
My father, a life-long Democrat, constantly talked about how “one day” the Democrats will get in power and change things. Yessur! The people will rise up and the “little guy” (himself and all his white middle-class friends) would get a chance to “sit at the table”. Hah! Was he ever so disappointed in President Obama. I think it broke his heart.
Now, even though he is long dead and buried, he still, to this day continues to voteDemocrat…
Democrats were for free speech EVERYWHERE by EVERYONE. (Speech was more than just talk, but included behavior. Indeed, Democrats wanted to “let it all hang out”.) Yikes…! At that time, it helped further their agenda.
Which was, and still is, a phased plan to rewrite the Constitution.
First step…claim that the Constitution is a “living document” subject to change. Make it so that the rules are constantly and easily bent.
Second step… make changes to “improve” things. Put your own judicial interpeters in power. Have them implement rules to fit your narrative only.
Third step… repeat the narrative over and over and over. So that everyone calls it a Democracy. You know that you are “over the hump” when elected officials start to parrot this.
Then, fourth step… change a Democracy into a Social Democracy. Like the Nazi’s, or Communist China, or the Soviet Union.
Fifth Step. Make it nice and “Progressive”. Say you are doing it for just causes. Limit speech. Have a nice long list of things that you cannot say or talk about. Reference law #32 of the 48 laws of Power.
Sixth Step. Then the most important step… disarm the population. They can’t have their “pitchforks” and “torches” . That’s right, get rid of all those guns (then see what happens). Take every opportunity, get the children to march for it. Punish them if they don’t go along with the plan.
Seventh Step. Finally,… setup a rulership of the 1% presiding over a disarmed ignorant mass. Make sure the police have the latest in military technology. Call them something different, like “protectors”, “guardians”, or “peace officers”. Make the names fierce like the SS, or IRS. Use the military against your own people. Even if you are not permitted to, do it anyways.
Eighth and Final Step. Once you have control, you must RULE! Show everyone just who is Boss. Go full-on Negan!
Once, you obtain power, and you know that there is a large segment of the population that does not support you, you need to RULE. You need to show who is boss. You go full NEGAN. (Image source.)
Politics
Now politics is such a large part of American culture, that I just can’t leave it out.
Here’s the truth. It doesn’t matter if it is 1970 or 2010. Republicans were just sick and tired of all the political nonsense and wanted everyone to leave them alone and stop paying so much in taxes. However, since the Democrats controlled the media they controlled popular culture. No matter how one felt, the barrage of progressive indoctrination was incessant. Even the music that we enjoyed and listened to (at that time) was interspersed with progressive propaganda.
Democrats in the 1970’s followed time proved socialist techniques. They supported peaceful protests and “sit downs” for such things as labor unions (automotive, steel, government and education), and free access to the soft drink “Tab”. Republicans wanted to stop the apparently never-ending cycle of “walkouts”, “strikes” and “labor organization” (for substantial pay increases).
It was always attack, and Republicans defend.
Attack… defend. Attack… defend.
Attack… defend.
By the mid-1980’s, a union steel worker (high school graduate, with no subsequent post-education) with ten years in the union, would be able to make almost two times the salary of a degreed engineer with ten years’ experience. It was really outrageous. (Yeah, but for my generation, it wasn’t so great. After they worked ten years or so and were laid off, they were fucked.)
Fucked over…big time.
Hey! You “I always vote Democrat because they will protect me and give me a pension”, how’s that working out for you? Now that non-Americans can get your jobs? It feel really good? It feels like your have been vindicated? Eh?
Anyways, all of this was pretty hard for industry at that time, where the production line could shut down at a moment’s notice on the most trivial of reasons, and the factory couldn’t do anything about it (that was until globalism…) The Democrats used the unions because they represented a huge voting block. They always manipulated huge blocks of people. Now, here today we know exactly just how far that utility lasts. So, the lesson here is that the Democrats turned their backs on the unions so that they could take more, in bigger bundles from foreign governments. It was all in the name of “Globalism”.
My father could NEVER get over that harsh reality.
Democrats wanted to burn bras (which was something even my mother did) and I never had a problem with it either, and have free love with everyone (and everything). That also sounded good to me too. Who doesn’t like to look at pretty girls? Who doesn’t like sex? Sex is fun.
Things were so different then. It was a different time indeed.
For today, if you are not from an urban ghetto, or a member of one of the (approved) “oppressed minorities” you are maligned. And, for the record, we all think it’s terrible inaccurate and very, very unfair. So when you are trying to label and box Trump supporters into such things as “uneducated, white males”, or “deplorables”, we all take particular offense at that.
We are not. So shut the fuck up.
“The schools you send your kids to have been trying to inculcate your kids with all kinds of rotgut, perverted junk under the guise of enlightenment. And you’ve had to sit there and take it. You’ve had to sit there and listen to the never-ending, increasing profane rants and having all of this stuff pushed right in your face and down your throat. You’ve been forced to shut up. You’ve been forced to say nothing in reaction for fear of losing your job or being chastised, humiliated, or what have you, in social media.You’ve been forced to accept the cultural rot that the American left has imposed on you and your kids. You have to sit around and listen to your religion be mocked. Your religion is laughed at, your religion is made fun of and criticized, openly and with malice, and it is done with impunity. People who mock and applaud and insult you and your religion are praised as brilliant artists. You are called hicks. You’re called white racists.You’re called bigots. Sometimes they call you prudes. Sometimes they call you Bible thumpers. You’re an idiot. You’re small-minded. You’re a moral twit. And these are the people having a fit over Trump saying something? These people who have put themselves in charge of infiltrating crap throughout our culture and our society? These people who have been responsible for injecting drivel and bilge throughout our society claim to be upset and outraged and offended over the use of a word — slang for a toilet — by the president of the United States, in a private meeting?”-Rush Limbaugh
Anyways, all the seeds of political unrest was planted during the 1970’s. The seeds are sprouting up today, and they aren’t pretty. It is sad.
It’s sad, but you know what, I no longer live in the USA so it’s not my problem.
You’ve got Democrats and you’ve got Republicans. They are both identical creatures with similar objectives. They pretend to be ideological, but they really aren’t. They just act that way. When it benefits them, they simply switch political parties. That way their objectives are maintained.
Yeah. It’s not my problem.
College
Then, college was where an intelligent and scholarly person would migrate to after high school. At that time, only a few people could afford to go to college, and they were very picky as to whom they would select. At that time, the wealthiest, and the smartest went to college. Then, after the implementation of the G.I. bill, room was made for those who earned their “place at the table” through merit (risking their lives in war). Thus, obtaining a college degree was significant and factored large in the overall standard of living that one could hope for.
That is totally the opposite of what college is today, where EVERYONE can get a college degree. It is where the content of the degree is so watered down as to become meaningless. It is where those people whom graduate have to fight a flood of entry-level applicants for a scarce few positions. It hardly seems worth the time, and doesn’t seem to be worth the money, or the investment.
That is because, today, it just isn’t worth it. Looking at the big picture, it is almost like colleges and universities have become large institutions that turn young people into debt slaves – serfs. Unless they quickly obtain a high paying position, they might never leave that role.
Maybe that is the reason why President Obama made college so accessible… I wonder… Using it [1] as a propaganda machine, and [2] to turn the majority of the educated American masses into debt slaves.
I went to college, as that was what young upwardly mobile families did in the 1960’s and 1970’s. For me, I had always wanted to be an astronaut. My only way to become one was through hard discipline, a strong technical background, and a clear vision.
Leaving the Mines to Better Myself
I applied and came in second place for the Air Force Academy. My grades were outstanding, and our scores were tied. Exactly tied. However, my family apparently didn’t have enough political pull, I guess. So my friend Brian got the open slot. (You know, if you two take the same battery of tests every weekend for six months, you do eventually get to become friends.)
It was a disappointment. But, I picked myself up off the floor. Dusted myself off and went to plan “B”.
You can still do everything right, and still lose. It does not mean that you failed. It is just the way life is. It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose.
The reader should never take on the unrealistic belief that if they work hard, and be careful, and do everything right, and have everything go in their favor that things WILL work out to their advantage. There are no guarantees. Truth is that there are always things and aspects of any particular given situation that is beyond one’s control. These aspects may or may not be in your favor. Indeed it is quite possible to work hard, and make no mistakes and still lose. That is life.
I had been saving all the money that I earned in the coalmines and at the steel mills so that I could be able to afford to go to college. I knew that I didn’t have enough for a full four years, but I did have enough for the first two. I had hoped that maybe I could supplement it by working part time while I attended university. My plan was to sell my car, buy a motorcycle and work part time to fund my education.
I applied to MIT and was accepted. I was going to enter their aeronautical engineering program, but at the last minute changed my mind and went to Syracuse University instead. They had an innovative aerospace engineering program that really appealed to me. They also offered to employ me part time as well (which was something that was not available to me at MIT). The program that I would eventually enter was a joint mechanical / aerospace engineering degree, which would specialize in the thermodynamic properties of rocket engines, and spacecraft design. So, I went to Syracuse. I went orange.
My dream was not dead. Just dormant.
My plan was to attend college, become a Rocket Scientist, and then enter another branch of service to obtain a flight slot. That way I could then eventually become an astronaut. It was a simple plan. All I needed to do was study hard classes, with a degree of persistence, all would work out. I would need to keep my focus clear and then with the skills, training and discipline, I would then enter one of the rare flight slots.
Conclusion
Well, I did attend university, and I actually did become a “Rocket Scientist”. I graduated on a sunny May day in 1981. My class was the first graduating class within the “big Syracuse marshmallow” (as opposed to the”big glowing green caterpillar”.)
The reader should know, that I also was accepted by, and joined the US Navy and trained as a Naval Aviator. (I passed the testing for a NFO, but my scores were so exceptional that they opened up a pilot slot for me. Woo Woo!) Indeed, shortly after I graduated, I found myself in the middle of training for a Naval Aviator down in NAS Pensacola, Florida.
All of my goals after years of hard work and labor started to finally pay off.
These are stories for another time. However, let it be known that opportunities to go into space DID present themselves to me. And I, well, I TOOK the opportunities presented to me. It was my dream, and I would never let anyone steal my dream away from me. So, yeah, I did get to explore the outer reaches, it’s just not at all what I expected…
And, as I have stated earlier, that will be a story for another day.
Take Aways
What can we learn from my experiences growing up?
I have strong opinions based on my experiences.
Growing up in the 1960s and the 1970s does not match the current narrative as promoted by the American media. Cherish the thought!
People had more freedom than they do today.
People ate better than they do today.
People played better than they do today.
Furniture was made out of higher quality materials than they are today.
Water used to be free.
Democrats and Republicans are identical. Don’t let their verbal “policy positions” distract you.
I had a knife when I was six years old.
I had long hair, had a white “choker collar”, wore bell-bottom jeans and drove a orange GTO in my Senior Year.
I like pizza.
All this should indicate that my experiences are totally different from what young people experience today.
Which means that when I talk to an intern, I need to explain to them some basics that they should have learned while they were growing up. The fact that they did not learn them, and that the families and the schools have both failed them is a troublesome worry. For they are not equipped to compete globally for any work at all. Let alone basic janitorial work.
Outrageous Then.
Outrageous Now.
Being Gay, or LGBT.
Drinking cocktails at lunch.
Not working until you are thirty.
Working at 14 years old.
Getting ANY assistance from government.
Having a free glass of water with your meal.
Free condoms to students.
Cigarette vending machines in school.
Paid cable service.
Free Torrents.
Not having a Christmas Tree during Christmas.
Halloween costumes depicting black people.
Not punishing a child for screaming in a restaurant.
Punishing a child in public.
Paying more than $0.10 for a cup of coffee.
Paying less than $2.00 for a cup of coffee.
Not being a member of the local lodge.
Having your wife make you a cocktail after work.
Going to school on the first day of hunting season.
Smoking in a restaurant.
Having your parents watch you play.
Unsupervised play.
Pumping your own gas.
Full-service gas stations.
Manditory blood collections at work.
Refusing to carry a cell-phone on you.
Comments on Free Republic
In July 2018, this article was presented on Free Republic for comments. You can read the comments HERE.
FAQ
Q: Why is Senior Year important in High School? A: Senior Year is the last year that you can be a child. You are nearly an adult. You might have a girlfriend or boyfriend. You might have a car, a job, and some money. You have well established friends, and a future of some sort mapped out for you. You are in peak health, and are just ready to begin a new stage in your life.
Q: What was High School like in the 1970s? A: It was a blast. I would imagine that it was like school in other generations and at other times. The 1970’s, were boring we thought. However, looking back, we can see just how absolutely great they were. Someday, you too will write about your experiences in school like I have here.
Q: What are the differences between High School in the 1970s and today? A: Freedom. We could smoke outside the classrooms. We could drive our cars to and from the school. We could carry knives. Lunches were ok. We had a main dish, with two sides, a dessert and a drink. I see what constitutes a Michelle Obama school meal and I end up shitting my pants. What the hell was she thinking? Oh, and the music was awesome.
We often complained, back then, that the High School students in France got to drink wine during lunch time. Paid for, of course, by the school. We, us poor Americans, had to wait until we got home before we could drink. Looking back, the differences between then and now are astounding.
Q: What was segregation like in the 1970s? A: I just don’t know. No one was segregated in the counties where I lived. I heard that there was still some “unofficial” or underground segregation going on in the deep south. But, in my neck of the woods, it was unheard of.
Q: Did everyone in high school drive cool cars? A: Yes. I drove an orange 1970 Pontiac GTO. Many of my friends rode cool cars. My friend Clyde drove a Chevelle SS. Like the movie “Dazed and Confused”, where Wooderson drives a big-block Chevelle nicknamed “Melba Toast.” He had an Edelbrock intake on his 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454. Ohhh the 454, now that was an engine. Other cars included a Ford Mustang convertible, a Ford MACH 1, and a Plymouth Duster driven by the “Brackey Boys”. Heh heh.
Q: What was elementary school like in the 1960s and 1970s? A: We would play outside before school started. We would play hopscotch on the sidewalk. We would mark out the numbered blocks with a stone and scratch it into the cement. Then we would file in. First thing after roll call was the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we would have a pretty much typical class.
Though there was often some education about the upcoming Global Cooling that would change the earth into a solid ice cube.
We would then go out on organized field trips to collect donations for the cause, and help clean up the local streams and countryside. I don’t know who got to pocket all the money we collected. All I remember is that we used to raise buckets of money for the cause. Literally, they were buckets and boxes of money. Afterwards, the teacher would sing on the guitar with some songs typical of that era, like “If I Had a Hammer”, and “Kumbaya”.
Posts Regarding Life and Contentment
Here are some other similar posts on this venue. If you enjoyed this post, you might like these posts as well. These posts tend to discuss growing up in America. Often, I like to compare my life in America with the society within communist China. As there are some really stark differences between the two.
More Posts about Life
I have broken apart some other posts. They can best be classified about ones actions as they contribute to happiness and life. They are a little different, in subtle ways.
Stories that Inspired Me
Here are reprints in full text of stories that inspired me, but that are nearly impossible to find in China. I place them here as sort of a personal library that I can use for inspiration. The reader is welcome to come and enjoy a read or two as well.