Religion vs Science

Suppose religion and science views were both right. Science has worked to answer the question on “how” while religion looked to answer the question of “why”. Two different views of the same coin as both refuse to acknowledge the others views of the creation of life.

The religious version, mainly Christianity, did the most damage to themselves by making themselves and their views more predominate that the Hebrew teachings. Every book, or scroll as the early Hebrews and Christians called them, were written in the Hebrew language. When the scrolls were translated to Latin, they faced many obstacles.

The Christians, working to create a book of their teachings that became known as the Bible, were mainly anti-Hebrew. Many books or scrolls were not included in the bible or were altered.  Because these recorded documents showed the Hebrews in a better light than the Christians. Even the scrolls from other disciples who traveled with Jesus were left out. They told of Jesus’s true purpose of his role as the Messiah and why God choose the Hebrew people.

It should be noted that in Revelation 22:19 it is referring to the Book of Revelations. Not the bible as a whole. The Book of Revelations was written between 60 and 90 AD.  In 315 AD: Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture. The first manuscripts were not produced that contained all 80 books (scrolls) until 382 AD that later became known as the bible.

The early Christian leaders wanted to virtually erase all true purpose of the Hebrew people. But the biggest mistake that the early Christians made was in translating Hebrew into Latin. An example of this is about Mary, Jesus’s mother. In the Hebrew version she is described as a young girl. But in a Latin speaking country, a “young girl” means “virgin”.

Another one is in Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” That is the translation from Hebrew to Latin to old English and finally to the English version. But if you translate the original version from Hebrew to English you get “You must be as mature as your Heavenly Father is mature.”

Simple errors in translation throughout the bible have caused a lot of confusion throughout the 400 denominations of the 2,000 years of Christian history. But the biggest one that keeps science and religion from joining is the days of creation. In Genesis it states the seven days of creation. But the correct translation is really called the seven stages of creation.

Early Christians had a motive to promote themselves as a legitimate religion and not as a cult while at the same time make the Hebrews appear lesser important to Gods plan of salvation. They accomplished this by poor translation, omission of facts or simple denial and lies.

Science has done a great job at answering the questions of how we are here. But in doing so they sacrificed the religious view of it. Listening and reading what science has learned, you get the impression of an atheistic viewpoint.

Georges Lemaître was a Belgian priest who came up with the idea of an expanding universe as well as the Big Bang theory. But the scientific community including Albert Einstein refused to accept his ideas. Ideas that were later proven correct.

Science teachings have removed the soul. It removes the purpose of our life. To many scientists it is dumb luck that there is life on this planet by calculated odds that are impossible for us to recreate ourselves. Albert Einstein once said “science without religion is blind and religion without science is crippled"

Imagine getting a toy. The scientist will examine it. Telling you where it came from. How old it is. What it’s made of down to its DNA and atomic levels. A religious person will tell you why you were given it and how you should use it correctly.

In time I see both sides seeing eye to eye. When that happens mankind will surly expand their intelligence and lifestyle. Knowing our full purpose in life and the life all around us. Living with core values as we explore all the different worlds around us.

Evolution (part 4)

Note: Recently I found an old journal of mine. But due to the way I wrote things down I’m not sure if it was a story idea of mine or something I read or saw on TV. Either way I will write a four part story based on what I had written in the journal.

Evolution

(Part 4 of 4)

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. - Lao Tzu

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. - Confucius

The passing of a day repeated over a thousand years is only the beginning. For the Shigai it has been that way for a very long time. Once they populated the planet. Unknowingly used as food for the newborn of a conquering race called the Nikushoku-Konchu. Had their DNA changed and modified along with their stolen offspring that was turned into a monstrous form called Pinku Ushi that was used as a primary food source. Then later having their offspring genetically altered again into its new and permanent form called the Nakajinagu.

The Shigai worship the Nikushoku, believing them to be the next step in their own evolution. But for a long time that changed greatly due to the Nakajinagu. They permanently replaced the Shigai in every way possible. They multiplied in larger numbers than those on the planets Konchu no-Su and Aka-Kasei combined as they were carried to other parts of the Universe to fulfill their purpose in life; as food.

Every Shigai stopped going through their so-called evolutionary changes. They were growing old with no ability to fend for themselves against the natural wildlife that was dominating the planet. With no clothing or survival techniques many simply died from their first winter or starvation. Only those who were located near the equator of the planet had a better chance for survival. And many of them barely survived as well.

All over the world, the abandon cities were being reclaimed by nature. As plant life covers them up, weather systems torn them down. With all the technology these cities held, the Shigai had no knowledge of how to repair or replace worn-out parts. But how could they when their whole species had been treated like cattle, never educated on the simplest of things such as fighting a common cold.

It would appear that the Shigai was brushed to the side, forgotten or simply a joke of the Nikushoku to watch them all die a slow death. They would retell stories of the days of greatness and glory of their people and the Nikushoku. Before they were caste out from what they considered Heaven. Leaving many to believe they live a life of hell. Never realizing they were really free.

As time went on, these people survived the best way they could. They copied other animals on how to survive, at times losing their own identity in the process. They were truly at the bottom of the evolutionary scale. Even as the years passed by from generation to generation, they were still affected from the DNA alterations the Nikushoku had performed on their ancestor’s centuries before. But that was about to change.

If a body is sick or injured, it will start working to repair the damage. A baby can be born a drug addict if the mother kept using illegal drugs during her pregnancy. The type of damage the human race went through as they were being turned into the Shigai took untold years for the biological damage to repair itself. Imagine the first children born to the Shigai looking totally different from everyone else. The skin is thicker while giving better protection from the sunlight. Muscle tone for better running and fighting. Their brains more developed to adapt for surviving in the environment around them.

The stories passed down from parent to child over the years convinced the Shigai that these children have evolved into a higher being. These children were looked upon as the savior of their race. Like a Messiah to bring a better world for all their people. But it would take a long time just for the human race to even form a collective society. But these humans did adapt to their environment much better than the Shigai, leading to a division between the two groups. The humans were advancing at a great rate of prosperity while the Shigai surviving by living much like the other animal around them.

In time the human race outnumbered the Shigai who were still unable to adapt and change as the humans has. They were unable to think on the spot when it was time to hunt big game animals, realizing the changing of the seasons or knowing how to improve their way of life. The Shigai were dying out for they lost their identity, their purpose in life. They didn’t want to or couldn’t see a future, only surviving with the dream of returning to the way their life use to be like.

The humans, living longer and healthier, growing in large numbers and knew their purpose in life. And they lived it. The spark of life had returned to them as they believed they were living in a heaven on earth. They saw and understood how nature worked and used it wisely as they built a world for themselves and for their future generations. The human race was on their way to reclaiming their world again. But what of the Nikushoku-Konchu?

They fell into near extinction due to their own hubris. They acted and treated themselves like Gods; failing to realize they could easily be taken out by something so microscopic. The Nakajinagu still roam many parts of the planet but many more were also carried off to other worlds by the Nikushoku-Konchu. For many years the Nakajinagu feasted on any and everything around them. Even though the Nikushoku made sure the Nakajinagu stayed strong and healthy, they failed to take into account of tiny larvae eggs living that were able to live dormant within them.

As the Nakajinagu eats, they inevitably consume fecal matter. Growing inside this decade matter are tiny eggs waiting to hatch. The eggs are located here because their mother lives inside the intestines of many wild animals. She could lay 2,000 to 10,000 eggs a day, making their way outside of the body with the fecal matter where unsuspecting animal would consume it. Other animals can be infected by eating an infected dead animal. And the Nakajinagu are great at eating any and everything.

The Nikushoku never cooking their food as they eat the Nakajinagu. Eventually every Nikushoku became infected by these eggs hatching inside their bodies, growing and multiplying. Eventually they would burrow right through into other body parts. Death was usually followed. By the time the Nikushoku could do anything to stop the infestation, it was already too late. Even the Nikushoku offspring growing and maturing inside the Nakajinagu would be attacked and consumed by these parasitic beings.

By this time the entire landscape of both worlds had been changed dramatically. The humans had repopulated the planet Konchu no-Su (Earth) again but as two completely different species; their original human self and as the Nakajinagu. Their DNA is similar but yet different as it was the DNA taken from the Shigai that created the Nakajinagu. The Shigai had died out by now as they were unable to change or adapt to the world around them.

All the facilities on Aki-Kasei (Mars) were covered in dust by now. The Pinku Ushi was quickly consumed by the Nikushoku and the Nakajinagu leaving all the facilities to completely shut down operations. As they remained unused for so many years, the equipment and computer systems simply corroded away. Without these systems, the constant sand storms simply buried every facility.

A few Nikushoku who did manage to return to this world could not reclaim their past glory. They were looked upon as monsters throughout the world. Cast in different characters throughout time as they all meet the same fate.  In Europe they were the vampires and werewolf monsters. In the Himalayas they were the abominable snow beast, Big Foot in the North Americas and the Chupacabra in Central and South America and in different forms of the Chimera throughout all of Asia.

The Nikushoku with all their power and knowledge lived as if they were Gods. Looking for a way to simplify their life at the expense of others, never realizing until it was too late that they had created their own death. The power to create and alter life comes with a great responsibility. To misuse this blessing only rewards the opposite effect; death. 

The End

Evolution (part 3)

Note: Recently I found an old journal of mine. But due to the way I wrote things down I’m not sure if it was a story idea of mine or something I read or saw on TV. Either way I will write a four part story based on what I had written in the journal.

Evolution

(Part 3 of 4)

You are what you eat. - Victor Lindlahr

Never complain about farming with your mouth full. – A Farmer

A Nikushoku ship that had been orbiting a planet called Aka-Kasei begins its decent to the surface. It makes its way to one of the largest dome structures of the planet that is thousands of miles across and containing a most precious commodity, the main food source for the entire Nikushoku-Konchu and Shigai species.

The ship connects up to the landing structure as robots and machine units connect passageways and cargo areas to the main loading area. As containers are carried to and from the ship, several Nikushoku-Konchu make their way to an office area where others of its kind are waiting for them. After formal greetings the Nikushoku show their guest around the facility.

A facility that is located on a barren planet with a thin atmosphere and not enough air to even breathe properly. As they move around the area, they see the machinery and robots basically running the whole place. Their presents are basically to maintain them and to calm their livestock if they got out of hand, which rarely happens. But mainly to conduct experiments to increase their food stock.

In a huge warehouse area that could house the largest city of the known world, contains a population of over 40 million species the Nikushoku call Pinku Ushi. The whole dome structure contains six such warehouses on a planet that has nineteen more such dome structures on it. In one of these structures is a research facility that these Nikushoku have come here to see the results of an experiment.

They travel pass many caged rooms that look very similar to a Shigai apartment. But instead of Shigai there are several large Pinku Ushi that are well fattened up. Looking over test result, quality and the equipment used to create this breed of Pinku Ushi, going so far as even eating one of them. Seemingly please with the results they continue their tour of the dome facility. A question never asked was how does something so big are able to have offspring. Unable to reproduce on their own, they are given a helping hand from the Shigai people.

Every Shigai females on their home world has one of their ovaries removed by a certain age. The eggs are fertilized by a supply of sperm also taken from the male Shigai. Making sure every egg develops and then grown inside chambers for a certain time. During that time of development, the Nikushoku change the DNA around to increase the body mass and structure. Making sure the best meats of the body develop properly.

Over the years of DNA modification, if a newborn Shigai shows signs of a future defect later on in its life, the Nikushoku will take it to this planet for detail study. Several Shigai babies are collected from time to time for experimental studies at this facility or from some of the Nikushoku who are simply hungry.  The parents are never suspicious due to the nature of their upbringing. They firmly believe the Nikushoku will always protect the Shigai with their life and never harm them in any way. Little do the Shigai know that they are food for the Nikushoku.

A population passing 5 billion at times on this world making sure the Nikushoku and the Shigai population are well fed. Whatever scraps are left over from the newborn Nikushoku along with the bio waste from both species are sent back here to feed the Pinku Ushi. Even some of the Pinku Ushi are processed to feed their own kind if needed.

To describe the Pinku Ushi is a sight to see. Barely able to stand up due to their size, they huddle together for warmth. The Pinku Ushi are unable to properly use the bathroom so they simple pee or poo with no moral thought about where they are. Others of its kind simply eat the waste including whatever foods are placed in their cell off of each other. The Nikushoku breed only females for the extra breast meat.  Also to make sure that no offspring are accidently created.

Their average weight before they are processed is around 1,400 pounds (635 kg). They share a space with about six to eight others of its kind. Water is placed in small pool-like area that is big enough for only one Pinku Ushi.  Even as the water is constantly refreshed and clean, it quickly becomes very filthy as food and waste are constantly mixed in with it while the Pinku Ushi take turn drinking from it.

Their arms and legs are so huge that they only make an effort to move around when they are hungry. To do so, they use their elbows and knees to crawl around on the floor. Their fingers are so huge that they bend together as one. You cannot even see the vagina area due to the extra body mass blocking its view. They have no hair due to side effects of their DNA alterations. As they are all breed to be only females, their breast can weigh as much as 35 pounds (16 kg). Only the high ranking Nikushoku have the pleasure of enjoying these types of meat.

When all the Pinku Ushi in a cage reaches their desire weight, a robot will appear to activate a sensor implanted in their brain that will kill them instantly. The robots then guide the bodies to the part of the floor with a built in conveyor belt that will move them to the passageway conveyor belt that carries them to a processing center in that area. In a short period of time, this group of Pinku Ushi is cleaned, processed and ready for transport to their final destination. Any scraps left over are fed back to the rest of the Pinku Ushi.

The cage is sprayed clean as a new group of Pinku Ushi are brought in and deposited into their new home. They have been age accelerated to look the age of 10 but mentally the age of a newborn. Weighing around 190 pounds (86 kg) they speak in forms of grunts and facial expression as they are not educated but breed for only one purpose in life; as food.

Nearly everything of this species is used. All the blood and fluids are cleaned, processed and packaged with added drug mixtures for the Shigai to drink. The best meats are sent to the Nikushoku-Konchu home world. The bones, ligaments and internal organs are all turned into different forms of food. Even the skin is processed as food or as clothing for the Shigai children to wear. And just like the Nikushoku, the Shigai do not cook their food. They eat it raw.

In time, this new crop of Pinku Ushi will be ready for processing in less than 10 years’ time. And harvest time is every day, somewhere on this planet. Food processed and packaged, loaded up and delivered to two different worlds on a clockwork schedule. Even if the Shigai knew where their food source was coming from, there was nothing they could do. Even though both groups are of the same race, they already looked completely different. The Shigai are slender, healthy and strong while the Pinku Ushi looked more like a mutated pig than an offspring of a Shigai.

In one research lab they are testing a group of Pinku Ushi on how quickly they can shorten their growth cycle. In this group, they were able to speed up their growth in just under five years’ time. They watch their growth even at the cellular level to make sure there will be no abnormalities. If all goes well, the twenty more domes currently under construction will provide a more permanent food source for the Nikushoku-Konchu.

The Nikushoku do have a twisted since of humor. They will place a Pinku Ushi and a male Shigai in a cage together to watch them interact with each other. The male Shigai, who is driven to reproduce, will try to mate with the Pinku Ushi, just as the Pinku Ushi will try to eat the Shigai. As a more twisted sense of fun is whatever the outcome of the game, the Shigai and Pinku Ushi are both left to be eaten by the other Pinku Ushi. Games like this provide the Nikushoku with a more God-like superiority over the whole Universe.

They celebrate their talents of recreating a species into two different life forms. They marveled of the many worlds they have conquered. Their species, with a rather long life span are living on more and more worlds. The Pinku Ushi is the perfect food source for them. And as this planet is used as a food processing planet, they are creating facilities like this on other worlds. But in order to do this the Shigai would have to multiply as well. Or do they?

The visiting Nikushoku enter a test lab where the Shigai race are recreated using a new genetic engineering process. They have finally learned to reprogram the egg and sperm of the Shigai to multiply upon fertilization. From a simple fertilized egg, eight to twelve newborn Shigai can be created.  Plus they are able to rewrite the genetic code of the Shigai to make it into any shape or form they choose it to be. Looking at this new creation inside its cage was a sight

The Nikushoku created both sexes of this new species, giving it a different way of self-reproducing. More breasts were located along the belly. Its arms and legs were made shorter and stronger to easily move around. The face was elongated so they can easily reach the food and water.  This gave it a flat nose connected to its upper lip or jaw. You cannot see the neck as it was part of the upper shoulder and the head. A side effect covers their entire body with short thick hair. The Nikushoku called this new species Nakajinagu.

The Nakajinagu grew well in lab conditions. They would eat anything that it was given. The rottenness of meat to a live Shigai, the Nakajingu didn’t care what it ate. If approved by their leaders they plan to take a few of them to the Shiga home world of Konchu no-Su to see if they can survive there. The Nakajinagu’s DNA had been altered so much so that they look nothing like the Shigai. Plus the area they plan to do their test on the Nakajinagu will be on a series of islands in the northern hemisphere of the planet, far away from the containment cities of the Shigai.

If all goes well, in a short time this new breed will be carried to other worlds to eat anything the Nikushoku will let it eat. In a short time they can multiply there numbers greater than all the Pinku Ushi on Aka-Kasei. In a short time they can replace the Shigai as food for their offspring. In a short time the Shigai, once the human race that considered their species the top of the food chain, will be permanently placed at the very bottom.

(End of part 3)

Evolution (part 2)

Note: Recently I found an old journal of mine. But due to the way I wrote things down I’m not sure if was a story idea of mine or something I read or saw on TV. Either way I will write a four part story based on what I had written in the journal.

Evolution

(Part 2 of 4)

Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead – Benjamin Franklin

A lie is only part of the truth - Unknown

Far above the planet orbits a series of space stations. Strategically places apart to have a complete view of the planet below. On one of these space stations a newborn Nikushoku-Konchu has just been beamed aboard. Surprised by its new surroundings, other Nikushoku are there to properly greet it and directs it and many other newborns to one of many waiting rooms.

A Nikushoku fly’s above them as the room is by now completely filled up and begins to lecture them on what is in store for their future.  As he settles on a platform above the crowd, the ceiling area starts showing a virtual image slideshow of pictures and videos that correlate to what the lecture is saying.

Boastfully speaking. We are the most powerful, intellectual and superior in every way. Below on this planet we are worship like Gods. And what I am about to tell you if one of the best kept secrets to the Shigai population.  The Shigai believe that we are the next stage of evolution of their species. That we have raised them to a new level of life from the hellish one they use to suffer through. We, in fact, conquered this species centuries ago of their own free will.

Centuries ago we found these people from all forms of electronic signals they transmitted out into space. Watching their world the way it was, we had many options on how to confront them. In the end we decided that the best course of action was a cautious and slow takeover of the planet. We used an array of sabotage tactics to weaken their government systems and controlled many of their kind by using those in key power positions. 

We took control of their internet and computer systems as we decreased many of the planets population through a series of medical epidemics and wars. Selecting what we wanted them to know, who was elected. We also decided what technologies should or should not be developed. We brought them to a point where they couldn’t trust their leaders and were looking for a change. Then we begin our invasion.

 We planned for a series of losses on our side to begin with. Our kind needs a host body in order for the seedlings to grow and consume nutrients while providing protection. We began by planting our seedlings into a few people across the planet. In time the local governments would try to hide this but we would continue on using more host bodies. As they conducted their experiments on our people, we did the same to theirs but on a much grander scale. In time we exposed their world what their government was doing, driving the populous of the planet towards use.

As we increased our program of implanting, we showed these primitive creatures how intelligent we are by creating many new technologies for them to enjoy. We gave those in positions of power, as a way to win their support, the means to control more of their kind. Eventually we used them for host bodies as well once they served our purpose of moving the populous of the planet to accept us as the next form of evolution of their kind.

It took over three centuries for them to get used to our presence and except us as their own. As we took control of the planet, we constructed new cities to contain them, gave them medicines to end all their diseases and technologies to keep them occupied. Eventually we openly handle many of the things that they took for granted in life. We became what they thought to be was us being their personal servants.

Wars and crime between them dwindled to nothing. We removed their orbital satellites, weapon systems and other forms of their technologies. We removed their cities, monument structures. Everything that connected them to their past was ripped away from them without them even knowing it. By now they were using our technology and the way of life we wanted them to have.  We rewrote their history with each generation of their species.

There were debates among their kind in regards to their species dying out and wanted to fight this extinction by any means necessary.  An idea we planted among them and convinced them easily to do what they thought was their own solution. And with that they removed all concepts of age limits for their female species to start giving birth. They finally increased their population for our offspring to feed off them.  

After 700 years from our first encounter with these people, we were in complete control of the planet. With our space stations orbiting the planet with nearly daily ship travels between this planet and our own, we were just getting started with the Shigai. And with the establishment of a more abundant food source, we were able to feed them in greater numbers, thereby increasing our numbers as well. Not to mention feeding our people as well.

We created what they thought were medical collars to monitor if they were about to “evolve” but in reality we were not only monitoring them but our seedlings within them and when it was time to collect them. We could easily pinpoint the best location to beam our seedlings into them without their knowledge. As an added bonus we could tap into their brain to keep them in a mellow mood. Making sure their anger or doubts towards us were kept at bay.

We increase their breeding cycle by giving them medicines mixed in with their food that made the women more fertile and shortened their menstrual cycle to only a day. We also increase the men’s sperm output to insure the women became pregnant. As the life expectancy was shorten to around 40 years of age, we also increased their growth cycle to mature quickly than ever before. A Shigai is normally fully grown by its 20th birthday, but now they are fully grown by the time they are 14 years of age with the women giving birth by this the time as well.

We were able to eliminate their family units for a more casual approach. One male could easily impregnate several women multiple times every year. So we made sure that there were at least one male and six females in every dwelling unit. We achieved this by altering the DNA to make sure more women than men are born. Thereby making sure their population continues to increase as they are driven by a desire to keep their species alive and growing. Not to mention the drugs we fed them to maintain the desire to have sex all the time.

They have been trained from birth to have as many offspring as possible. We have eliminated all forms of modesty they once had.  They beg for sex with whomever of the opposite sex they can find even to the point of teaching their children how to reproduce. Now a Shigai woman will fill ashamed if she does not have an offspring by the time she is 15 years old or a male Shigai will begin to impregnate the Shigai women by the time he is 12 years old.

By this time we had been teaching them our language while listening and learning our form of entertainment. This was done to further eliminate even more of their true identity. To eliminate their confusion or doubts of why there were so many languages on this planet and to make it more easy for the whole Shigai population to follow orders on the true voice and meaning of their masters without the hassle of translating everything for their own comfort. They are to comfort us, not the other way around.

 An idea that for once we didn’t have to tell them to do without was the wearing of clothing. Seeing as we do not wear any form of clothing, the Shigai over time began to copy us.  They worship us as the next stage of their normal life. They saw us as perfection and they wanted to live their life in the image of us. Being naked didn’t damage our offspring nor for the other processes we had planned for them. They willingly gave us their modesty and vanity.

Even when they asked about their history, we told them the truth; but from our point of view. They even surrendered their true God and beliefs for the life of a lie. How they crawled about the ground looking for food and shelter. Creating wars and destroying their own kind because of different viewpoints. We told them how they were chosen by a “Higher Power” to create a super race of being to go out into the Universe and conquer it. They were becoming us as we protected them from all the dangers on this planet.

Sixteen hundred years since we first arrive, we have removed all traces of this species place on this planet. We took their body, sprit and soul. Their language, culture, all forms of their creations and achievements and replaced it with ours. Even if they revolt against us, they have no idea on who they really are. They fully believe that we, Shigai and Nikushoku, are the same species; making them one of the biggest jokes of the Universe.

Soon all of you will be boarding a ship for the trip to your true home. You will stop off at another planet to connect up with a second ship that will be carrying food and supplies for our home world. And with that a young Nikushoku asked a question of wanting to know the name of the planet they were born on is called. The lecturer stated that the planet is called Konchu no-Su. But at one point the Shigai used to call it Earth.

(End of part 2) 

Evolution (part 1)

Note: Recently I found an old journal of mine. But due to the way I wrote things down I’m not sure if was a story idea of mine or something I read or saw on TV. Either way I will write a four part story based on what I had written in the journal.

Evolution

(Part 1 of 4)

In all the worlds across the sea of space, a story of a species that has faced its evolution, raising it to a level of great heights yet realizing how low they really are.

On any planet crowded with cities full of millions of people, a family has gathered for a special event. A 34 year old mother has her six children, ranging from 16 to 3, gathered together to tell the tale of their origins and future. A story the kids have been hearing every night since their father began to change into his new life. Behind them on the floor he lays there naked in the fetal position with a broad smile across his face as rigor mortis has virtually petrified his outer body.

The excitement from the sound of their mothers’ voice leads them to huddle together even more. The children are happy and excited as they hear the many blessing on what the future hold for them and their father.

With the exception of a stylish collar band around their necks, only the younger children are clothed in a loose fitting gown. The older ones from the teenage years and up are completely naked. But as in our world with the image of nudity leading to promiscuity and sex, in this world, it’s a time of preparation for the body preparing itself for the next stage of their natural evolution.

 A long time ago these creatures called the Shigai crawled upon the ground foraging for food and protections from other wild animals a wonderful thing began to happen. During the night they would huddle together for warmth. Then the older member started to become as hard as a rock. Days would go by as the rest of the family would continue their normal routine of trying to stay alive as their eldest members laid exposed to other predators.

But on this night years later, after 7 days’ of lying there, the body began to move about all on its own. The lifeless body was bulging in a few areas; much like a half inflated balloon that was being squeezed. But the main cause for excitement was the skin pulling apart as a new creature emerged from within this person who a week ago was alive and healthy. The only thing left of this individual was an empty husk of a body with the smell of death filling the air around it.

The creature that crawled out of this body continued to stretch out to it’s newly form shape. Slender in shape with soft white texture skin much like the underbelly of a snake. Peach fuzz covers the entire body. Two antennae just above the honeycomb set of compound eyes. The nose area has one long tube that seems to curl up when not in use.

With two pincers-like mandibles covering the mouth area. The creature opens his mouth to reveal a series of razor like teeth. Unlike a humans mouth where the lower jaw moves up and down as the food is being chewed, the lower and upper set of teeth can rotate in a semi-circle motion. Like a spinning saw blade slicing up a piece of meat.

The legs are long and skinny. Bulging muscles at the top with the lower area connecting to what looks like a lower abdomen. The feet, if they can be called that, were slightly bent but appeared very strong as this new life form stood on them with ease. The arms were attacked to the middle abdomen. Much like the legs: muscular by the shoulder area but becoming skinnier as they branched off to form fingers.

After the creature wings had dried, they would cover his body, giving the impression that he was wearing a robe. But as he opened them up, they covered the area around him easily. All white with the veins and framework easily to be seen. Standing about three feet tall he flexed every muscle of his body as if waking from a very long sleep.

As he made his way to the balcony, he looked upon this group of individuals who were in awe and wonder of the being that came out of their loved ones body.  The creature began to make a rather squalling noise as if to try and speak. The mother spoke to it and after an exchange of words; the creature was met at the balcony by a much older version of itself. And with a flash a white light, the entity that came out of the man’s body had vanished from their sights.

The creature that had appeared to them said nothing but simply looked them over and flew away as many more of these creatures were seen flying about in the sky. The mother and two of her kids gather the remains of the body and carried it to a special trash chute for bodies in this condition. Returning to their apartment, the surviving family began to eat their meal and enjoy the entertainment provided for them by their superior forms.

An evolution is taking place on this world that at first was difficult to explain or understand. Many of those that evolved first were killed out of fear and from those trying to stop it. But as time went on, the new life form proved to be full of major advances that pushed the boundaries of understanding in the fields of science, religion, medicine and more.

As more and more of these new life forms began populating the planet, wars dwindled to a non-existent, diseases were eliminated and the understanding of physics created a utopia society free of pollutants, crime, diseases, hunger and many other things that in our world we experience every day.  

This new evolutionary life form began calling themselves, Nikushoku-Konchu. What’s more, they developed their own language. Over time they began teaching this language to all the Shigai on their planet. Uniting them in one language and preparation for the coming days when more would be selected to evolve to a new life form more superior to them.

At first only certain families would go through the evolution change. But as time went on more and more people would change. At one point it appeared that the entire population of the planet was going to disappear altogether, sending both races to extinction. But a re-education program was enacted to protect the Shigai and the Nikushoku from extinction.

People were encouraged to married young and have as many children as possible. With the advance technologies that the Nikushoku has developed, trivial matter of foraging for food or finding a home was a thing of the past. There was an abundant food supply the Nikushoku created that both species could consume and maintain a healthy body.

The people on this planet didn’t have to work or do anything. The Nikushoku took care of them and treated the Shigai like royalty. Whatever the Shigai wanted, the Nikushoku provided for them. The only thing the Nikushoku asked was for the Shigai to live a long and productive life.

The neck collars were created as minicomputer systems to monitor the changes in their body and as an early warning system for those about to evolve to their new form.  The other Shigai could move the body to a better place of preparation while the Nikushoku could monitor the evolution changes and be present when a new Nikushoku appeared.

This is why the people wore little to no clothing; to prevent damage to the Nikushoku when they were emerging from their old body. Plus as a side effect to the new food source, their skin became more resilient to the weather conditions on their planet. As even their own body temperature was 10 degrees hotter than it used to be.

As the family finishes their meal and prepares for sleep, the collar on the mother’s neck begins to beep as the band appears to turn reddish in color. As the family excitedly gathers together the mother informing her oldest child who was just turning 16 that he was in charge of the family now as she begins to start her change.

She begins by feeling a searing pain in her lower neck. As it slowly goes away, she is overcome with a since of light headedness, feeling happy and mellow as if she was heavily medicated.  Unable to feel any form of pain or discomfort she positions herself in a fetal stage and as she falls asleep, her skin begins to become ridging and hard to move or bend. 

The surviving children are all excited and joyful that their mother and father will be reunited together. They go to bed late that night, sleeping together as one while their mother who moments ago was alive and well is placed in the corner of the room and begins to experience her new way of life.

(End of part 1)

Nixon Saves China

Many years ago I heard this story from a few Koreans while I was in Korea. And then again from a few military personnel I had met right after Former President Nixon’s death.  Both stories were basically about the same with only a few differences here and there. So please bear with me as I try to type out something that I’m recalling from almost 20 years ago.

During the time of the Nixon Administration, winter time was approaching the Korean people. Separating the Northern and Southern parts of the peninsula was a long series of fences and land mines. All except for one area where a huge lake (or river) which ran across part of the line. This area was patrolled but saw no real action as the water was very deep and in no way could be used as a military target. Except during the winter time.

On many occasions, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il wanted to restart the war but China was becoming more reluctant in supporting another war especially with the threat of nuclear weapons being used by the Americans if they should support the South Koreans. After getting no were with China, North Korea turned to the Soviet Union for help.

After a few meetings a plan was put together for a winter assault where the Americans would be too late to mobilize any form of real counter attack including the South Koreans as well. When the winter weather freezes the water almost all the way to the bottom, North Korean forces would drive across the frozen water and take out any opposition, working their way down towards the southern peninsula.

The Soviet Union would send their troops in behind the North Koreans to secure the area and establish outpost in case of counter attacks from other nations. But the Chinese government was unaware of these plans. And when the Soviet forces came across the Chinese boarder, they would do so without the blessing or support of the Chinese government. But someone was watching these two countries plan their attack on South Korea.

As spy planes and satellites were takings pictures while monitoring the communication traffic between North Korea and the Soviet Union, the U.S. Government knew that something was about to happen.  They saw Soviet troops what looked like an invasion force lining up with the Mongolia and Chinese boarders close to the North Korean border. They also watch North Korean forces move their men and equipment moving towards the South Korean border.

President Nixon was briefed of the situation and decided to notify the Chinese government. But there was a problem. There was no real diplomatic relations with China. And as soon as word got out about their knowledge of what was being planned, the Soviets could easily cancel their plans, making America look like idiots of trying to cause problems between the Soviet Union and Chine. Basically make Nixon look like he wanted another Vietnam War in Korea.

President Nixon decided to try another approach. He had all the reports; pictures, recordings all sent on using multiple planes to meet with the Chinese officials. The currier was non-other than the Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He presented all the evidence of what the North Korean and the Soviet Union were planning. At first the Chinese officials didn’t believe him but as they sent their own people to investigate, they were surprised at what they had discovered.

The North Koreans were moving all their forces to the area near the border zone as well as seeing Russian troops massing their forces along the Chinese borders. An army so large that they could easily occupy all of Korea but what scared the Chinese leaders was that a section of those forces was angle to go through the capital of Beijing. And then all hell breaks loose.

The Chinese military is called out to the border along the Soviet Union as the Chinese officials make phone calls to the Soviet and North Korean Leaders. As war was about to break out something else happened that caused to Soviets and North Koreans to cancel their invasion plans; warm weather.

The body of water that was to freeze solid so trucks, tanks, armor personnel vehicles as well as troops could cross over never froze. In what many Koreans had called a very unusually warm winter. It was the first time in many years that the Korean people had a warm winter. And with that none of the North Koreans could launch their attacks. Plus US forces was moving their forces near the border being described as training exercises.

Soviet forces leave the Chinese borders as word get to the Soviet leader that the American forces are stepping up their military presence in South Korea as was the Chinese and South Korean forces were on high alert. This was the final chance for North Korea to take over South Korea using their military. After that day, U.S. and South Korean military increased their patrol of the Korean border zone. And the Chinese began increasing their military forces as well for a possible Soviet attack.

Not long afterwards President Nixon was able to go to China and be known as the man who saved China. A trade agreement was made between both nations that are still in place today. For good or bad, a war was averted as nuclear options were suggested to be used on Korean and Chinese soil. And the relationship between the Soviet Union and America were more opened up as the Soviet leaders were fearful of having China and America working together against the Soviet Union.  And to this day the Chinese government still does not trust Russia.

Results of War

I wrote this very quickly so please excuse the grammar errors.

The negative parts of war being death, dismemberment, loss of love ones and property is the most that everyone can agree with. Hollywood has promoted it, rap music glorified it as reporters use it as a stepping stone for their career. But the positive parts of war are often missed until enough time has passed to see the results of it.

As with the traditions of warfare in Europe and Asia, the victory takes everything as the loser becomes subject to a new ruler. As the Kingdom of Israel was conquered and absorbed into the Babylonian Empire. Even as the Roman Empire conquered other nations they set up puppet governments to handle the local subjects. Much like how Communist Russia controlled the bordering communist countries.

Many kingdoms have been absorbed into another country. China is one example of this as small kingdoms were combined into one nation through war. Even Great Britain and Japan are another examples of small kingdoms united into one Nation.

But that changed in the 20^th century as the major countries involved were powerless to stop it. Not even 170 years old as America changed the course of warfare and forgiveness in Europe and Asia. Long ago in Europe, England and France were always at war with each other for centuries. Each new ruler of these countries would plan out warfare that went on for over a hundred years. Or they would trade relatives off in marriage to ease tensions between one another.

In Asia, Japan and China/Mongolian would always rage war with each other. Majority of the time Korea would be caught in the middle of it. The last time China tried to evade Japan, they used Korean slave labor to build the Chinese sailing fleet using Korean natural resources. With the trade routes opened with America, Japan began to embrace Western technology. The main reason was to be better prepared for the next Chinese invasion.  

America was still young. So young in fact that a civil war broke out. Two different forms of thinking of leadership and respect of human life were played out as being declared the bloodiest war ever recorded in human history. The winner of this war decided the course of thinking and lifestyle of America. The Northern side won leading to a huge expansion as a nation and people. The country grew even larger as the Industrial Revolution fully embraced the nation in creating a huge economic boost.

The 20^th Century

At the beginning of the 20^th century two nations continued the age old quest of warfare. Germany and Japan. Germany basically tricked two other countries into the 1^st world war just to claim land and resources for their own. Japan, having learned Western warfare tactics, began subjugating weaker countries like Korea to build up Japans military forces. Eventually both nations joined together to combine their strengths and intelligence.

The lessons learned from battles between England and Germany help Japan prepare for their 1^st battle with America at Pearl Harbor. This battle took America truly by surprise as years before Japan gave America many Cherry Blossom trees that were planted throughout Washington DC. A thriving trade route between both nations leading many politicians, military officials and people well educated to considered Japan an ally of America.

Japan’s military leaders were trained and well prepared. They planned their battle with America as they have with other wars in the past. A hit and run attack thinking America would be too afraid to counter it or attack back at them. But the ruling Japanese leaders didn’t count of two things. One, they could have been half way to the Mississippi River before the U.S. government could counter an attack. American was an agrarian nation transitioning to an industrial production nation.  American didn’t have a strong military force nor wanted one.

Second, America became extremely pissed. Japan was viewed as a friendly nation to America. Doing what has been called a cheap shot, a hit and run tactic. An act of vandalism looked upon as a sick joke. At least when Germany attacked America they stayed around. Honor in wartime is important and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was viewed as dishonorable.

America was at war. An unproven nation of cocky people experiencing war, outside of their borders. England had to help the American forces at first. But as time went on the American military grew up very quickly. To the point the United States were leading other nations. In providing soldiers, money, mass production of food, weapons and war supplies while housing prisoners of war. And as the war in Europe and Asia both came to an end America stood as a super power nation.

Civil War  

With the victor goes the spoil. Unlike many other nations in history past, America didn’t do what was expected to happened Germany and Japan. Germany was broken into four different sections with each section controlled by America, England, France and Russia. America made it clear that Germany would stay as one country as it was being rebuilt. Only Russia refused and kept control of their section of Germany. Their rule over what became known as East Germany ended when the Berlin Wall came down in 1990.

Japan was to have a similar fate as well. China was to get Hokkaido. Korea was to get everything from Kyushu to the Okinawan Islands as America acquired the middle section of what was left of Japan. General MacArthur went against having a trial for war crimes on the Emperor of Japan and his family and instead used the Emperor to rebuild Japan into a nation that would never repeat those crimes again. The Emperor went along with this not only for the future of a better Japan but because the Japanese military were months, if not days, from transitioning over to a communist form of leadership with plans to kill the Japanese Royal family.

The reason America went this way towards two nation that were killing millions of people, conquering so many weaker nations was due to the lessons America learned from the Civil War. A time that the American people were killing fellow Americans, neighbor’s even family members for what they believed was right for the nation. Americans on both sides of the Civil War were very religious. The Southerners that lost the war were told by General Grant to go home and care for their families. Even allowing them to take their weapons with them. And when President Lincoln was killed, many Southerners who considered him an enemy mourned his death as a great tragedy to the nation. The Christian values that were very strong then were still present after World War Two.  

America still looked towards these two nations as friends. Making sure that each nation could stand on their own, even improving their way of life. Japanese girls could finally go to school for the first time. America sent plane after plane into Berlin during the Berlin Blockade making sure the people there were well supplied with food and other provisions.

Even during the Korean War after the cease fire was proclaimed, America stayed and helped to rebuild the Korean society. After years of Chinese and Japanese occupation the American Government could have easily taken over the southern part of Korea as a military position towards communist China and Russia but they didn’t. They gave everything they could to help the Koreans to stand back on their feet stronger than ever.

These three nations; Germany, Japan and Korea became Superpower Nations. Leading the whole world with new technologies that we take for granted now. Cars, electronic gadgets, medicines; the list is a mile long. But they would never be able to achieve any of this without the support and love of a nation that went against the established norms. America viewed the people of these countries as equals.

If England and France had their say, Germany would be nonexistent with Great Britain having lands bordering France. The Japanese language would be a dead language as the people there would all be speaking Chinese now. As well as Korea would be a lost nation where China rules completely there now. That is the established norm of warfare when the victor goes the spoils.

Unlike World War 1 &2 and the Korean War, Vietnam was a political war controlled by Congressional politicians to abandon it later by taking away all the money going to the war.  Leaving nothing to save the missing and dead servicemen still held prisoner there.

The Gulf War was simply liberating a country that was taken over by its neighbor. The Afghan and Iraq War is still being fought out even though it’s officially over but America is doing what it has done so in the past; rebuilding those countries so they can stand on their own. Even against the wishes of those like the Taliban that want to continue to dominate and oppress the people there.

What came out of these nations so far has spread to other countries in that region. People now have a voice and a vote in their political process. Countries like Egypt, Libya and Syria are fighting against their oppressed government to have the freedoms that they never had before.

In all these wars people have died and sacrificed a lot. But where America was able to truly do what it has done so in the past has created new Nations stronger and better than ever before. Mistakes were made as that is part of being human. But never giving up until the job is done is what America has done best. In time if that influence was to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan like it had in Germany, Japan and Korea then in years’ time these two nations could be the next super power nations of the world with a government, religion and lifestyle of their own choosing. 

Strange But True

The Grocery Store

This could be any grocery store or at least parts of it that people can relate to. It’s full of rather odd characters to some but may be normal to other people.

The Dairy manager is a chain smoker of biblical proportions. Before entering the store each morning he finishes off a cigarette he just lit while getting out of his truck. He is a busy worker who is great at his job but nearly every hour he can be found standing in the front of the store smoking a cigarette. Doesn’t matter he has a pallet of dairy items sitting out on the sales floor or having the dairy cooler wide open, his nicotine fix comes first.

And Lord help the person who takes his cart out of the cooler. He will literally complain to everyone in the store about his cart being stolen. He even wrote his name on the cart so as to quickly identify it in case the overnight stock crew uses it without his permission. Which he would never give. Again friendly to all the customers but cross him and he wouldn’t give you the time of day if your life depended on it.

The stock crew is still alive. The majority of them are drug addicts who only work to earn enough money to buy drugs.  During the night they play gangster rap music over the stores PA system using a cell phone. It’s ease to know when they will go on break. While the music is playing, the phone will chime in notifying them of a text message. A minute later about three of them are heading outside to take a break as a car pulls up to talk with them. Something is exchanges between them as the car leaves and they come back in after they have a smoke.

But they too are hard workers. They spend at least eight hours working on the same isle all night. So by morning as the store opens up they are quickly walking out the door leaving a few others to finish the rest of the stocking. The remaining members of the stock crew consist of former assistant managers who got busted down for not brown-nosing enough or they didn’t fit into the company model of “doing what they are told to do even if it’s wrong”.

The Scan Analyst has just returned from maternity leave. She just gave birth to another child for this year. I’m not saying she has a lot of kids but the last time she took her family grocery shopping they had to use a school bus to get everyone to the store. She is still unmarried but dating when she has any free time. After all, her oldest kids can babysit the younger ones.  As for her job skills, let’s just say she always have plenty of tags left over at the end of the day as with no signage on a majority of the displays.

The Produce Department and the Meat Department is about the only sane area of the whole store. It’s also the ESPN center as well as the gossip corner for all manner of conversation.  If someone did something wrong or there was a sport related event, these guys would know all the details before anyone else would.

The Deli Department can be summed up with this. The Deli manager needs to shave her beard and mustache.  And don’t ever eat the food. Ever.

The Frozen department is currently run by an assortment of employees. There is one guy on it but the area is so heavily shopped that he can’t keep it full stocked up.

The cashiers are the run of the meal type. Elderly ladies, young teenager girls or teenage boys hoping to get off the registers and on with the stock crew. One cashier in particular is still having a real up and down life. He was on the stock crew and then became the dairy manager. He got so lazy at it while bragging about his girlfriend that he was demoted to cashier. His girlfriend dumped him for being as she put it, “A total loser”. He’s paying child support and dreams of making it to the big time as a musician while playing his harmonica in front of the store at night.

The receiver is great to work with. She gets along with all the vendors and store personnel. She works a second job at night at a local diner. And to hear her life stories comes with a NC17 rating. Let’s just say she use to have lots of boyfriends and she can hold her liquor. Her life story could make an interesting TV show on the white trash/playboy channel.

And Management, well they’re trying. The store manager just left the store. Gave up and went back to becoming an assistant manager at another store. But while he was the manager he nearly killed everyone else there. He would always micro-manage everyone. He goes around and writes down everything he wanted done in that department for that day, and then checks to make sure it‘s completed before they went home for the day. All the while he would stay in his office or hang out in the Produce department talking like a motivational speaker on one of those infomercials.

The assistant manager who recently came to the store feels like he is in way over his head. He has to cleanup a backroom full of grocery items that has yet to be stocks, build displays and fill up end-caps of items that was to have been built days ago. All the while finish everything on the manager’s to-do list and take care of the normal store activities.

There is a temporary assistant manager who came to the store when the manager left. He is trying as hard as he can to get out as quick as he can. Too much work and is already stressed out for the amount of work he has to do every day.

The night time manager is basically trying to date every young female cashier that he can. At the same time he is trying to do as little work as possible. He does hang out with members of the stock crew at night as he joins them from time to time for a quick break in front of the store.

This could be every grocery store someone had or is currently working in. These people are real and there are more stories about these people but not for underage kids to read.

Korean Sightseeing

So there I was minding my own business when I encountered a sight like no other. I was in a grocery store in Apex, NC on a Friday afternoon. As many people were preparing to leave for the weekend getaway, the day was going by rather peacefully. I was finishing up for the day when I noticed this Korean lady doing some grocery shopping. I knew she was Korean because of her cell phone conversation plus the fact, contrary to stereo types; Koreans have a certain aura about them that is different from other Asian people. It’s hard to explain so let’s move on with the story shall we?

As she ended her phone conversation she continued her shopping while dressed in a most beautiful dress outfit. It looked similar to a spring time dress with lots of flower designs imprinted on it and a long slit going up the side of the dress. She looked somewhere in her late 30’s, early 40’s with a slender built, average chest size with long clean shaven legs and other body parts going with her 5.5 foot height built. With her long hair going well pass the waist line and wearing two inch high heel shoes.

It seems that while she was doing her shopping she didn’t take into account the dress of hers kind of lifted itself up a bit more than she knew whenever she squatted down to look at an item. It was evident later on that she was going commando or to be more precise, no underwear. But being the gentleman that I am I continued to carry on with my job until I became involved in helping her in a small crisis she was having by now.

She had bent down to pick up a rather large item and while trying to manage it and place it into her shopping cart, her dress became trapped with the item. As she was able to get the item in her shopping cart, she also got part of her dress. She quietly called out to me for assistance. As I quickly came to her aid as she was standing naked from the waist down while her torn dress was lying under a very heavy grocery item. Lifting the item she retrieved she dress and tried to see how badly her dress was ripped.

As she asked for my advice, it became apparent that her dress was seriously ripped. I also noticed her private area very clearly from front and back as we tried to adjust her dress so she could leave the store with some dignity. Before she left she did apologize for creating a scene given that if someone had come around to the grocery isle we were on, it would look like I was sexually attacking her or that she was a nudist exhibitionist. But as luck would have it for the both of us, the store was particularly empty.

She quickly left the store with no one noticing her ripped dress being held by one hand while the other hand keep it from opening up from the side and giving everyone a view to remember. About 30 minutes later I was heading home for the day. And about an hour and ½ later after making it through the traffic I made it home. I have been to Korea many times but I will always remember this as my favorite Korean sightseeing adventure.

Free Power

While staying in Berkeley I was sharing a house with a few other people. One of the joys of living with co-workers. Life was going great as most of our time was watching, for a lack of better word, a group of hippies that grew their own clothing from their over grown yard of weeds as the smell of marijuana drifted from their rented house. The neighbors on the other side of our place were more normal. During the Summer time we would get together at our place for a cook-out while the hippie’s called us murderers for eating meat. Ah, good times.

Our normal neighbors, Max and Raquel had been renting the house from a Real Estate agency for about ten years by the time I moved into the neighborhood. They were able to get a great deal on it when they first moved in. The house had been vacant and was in need of major repairs. They made an agreement with the agency to deduct the price of repairs from the rent. Needless to say they were able to live there for a little over three years before they even began to pay any form of rent.

When they first moved into the house, the back yard was over grown with untrimmed trees and vines covering all parts of the house, rusted plumbing as with the electrical system requiring a huge upgrade. The house needed painting as with several floor boards and crack drywall in need of replacement. A huge task but this was what this couple loved to do in their spare time. Even the real estate agent was impressed with the remodeling that they returned the couples security deposit. These people made Bob Villa look like Mr. Bean.

One side of the house was left almost untouched. The trees still appeared overgrown with a few vines clinging to the house. They kept thick curtains on all the downstairs’ windows which most people did on this side of the street due to the strong sunlight during the afternoon time. But the real reason for the over growth and thick curtains was due to a more money saving effort. But over time as the remodeling had come to a finish they became bored with little to do so as they always did, they planned to find another fixer-upper to move into. In time their luck worked with them as his job required them to move to another state where they were able to find several house to choose from.

Before their departure, we had a huge party that even their real estate agent came. Due to the work they did on the house and their friendship with the Realtor they were able to get another couple that Max worked with to move into the house. And so as Max and Raquel moved on with their life, the new neighbors, Kevin and Masako became close friends with us with summer cook-outs as with outings to different places. Max and Raquel did inform the new couple in on their big secret so as the years marched on, Kevin and Masako’s family grew to include a son.

In time Kevin and his family had moved on as well. As with the hippie family, they were arrested due to an electrical short circuited causing a small fire leading the police to find the entire basement covered with marijuana plants. Another couple, Henry and Sonoko eventually moved into the house after Kevin and Masako left but they kept mostly to themselves. They were never told Max and Raquel’s big secret. Over time they began cleaning up the side of the house with the overgrowth and discovered something rather interesting.

Upon clearing the overgrowth away they found a window that over the years was not visible from inside the house. It seemed that Max had built a book case that covered the whole window area that from inside the room you would never have known a window was there. On the outside window was a place card declaring the building to be vacant. Near the newly discovered window was the power meter. And then the real entertainment began. It seems that when Max and Raquel were fixing up the house they discovered the power meter as well as the vacant place card.

They decided to try something that apparently worked pretty well. As the power company came around to check the meter, they would instinctively go to where the meter is located at. Putting thick curtains on the nearby window as well as building a book case around the window to not only block the inside lighting but sound as well. The Meter Reader would see the Vacant building sign before trying to make their way through the overgrowth to reach the meter. Naturally as it was proven, they would simply give up trying to get to the meter and would simply record the last reading from the meter. No power used so no power bill to pay.

As the Meter Reader made his rounds had discovered the newly trimmed area and successfully recorded an accurate reading from the meter. And as the couple received their first power bill were understandably shocked. I was told that it was over $100,000. Needless to say the new tenants challenge the bill and they were able to clear themselves of having to pay the total amount which was passed on to the Rental Agency. They tried to locate the former tenants with no results. Max and Raquel had already moved a few times over the years and couldn’t be found.

Kevin and Masako were contacted but seeing as they were now living in Connecticut chooses not to talk to the Realtors about it. Max and Raquel were located and threatened to appear in court and forced to pay the total amount. This led to an interesting development of sorts. When Max made a written agreement to deduct the cost of repair to the house from the rent there was a much worded clause to cover any future expenses relating to the house’s up-keep. In layman’s terms, the Realtor was stuck paying the full power bill.

So as unlikely that this will ever happen again, it’s great hearing these kinds of stories from old friends. An occasional letter from time to time eventually paints a masterpiece.

Bypassing The Border Guard

The following story is true. Nothing has been changed in any way. Unless you're the police then I know nothing, I see nothing.

I was leaving Korea and returning to California at the end of August, 1995. A friend of mine who was traveling with me couldn’t return due to the fact he was kicked out of the country twice already. He had to return to California a much different and longer way that I found out is still being used today.

My friend is originally from England. While on vacation he decided to stay in America. What he did on the advice from others was to quickly get a Social Security Card. He received his card that had printed on it ‘Not for Employment’. Didn’t really matter for with the card, he was able to get a California driver’s license. A driver’s license that is renewed through the mail as he has been doing for a very long time. Giving him ID for employment and for all intended purposes; prove of citizenship.

Seeing as he had been kicked out of the country before, his name was on a list of people not allowed to enter the country. And as we are at the Seoul airport in Korea he made changes to his flight schedule. We said our goodbyes as I returned to California and he flew to Toronto, Canada. I must point out that while at the Korean airport I carried his belongings with me as he carried the basic essentials in his backpack. And arriving at the International airport in Toronto, he took a bus ride to Niagara Falls.

From there he strolled around like a tourist and as he crossed over to the American side he simply showed the border guard his California driver’s license who then allowed my friend on through without a second thought. My friend then continued on to Greyhound bus station to where he simply traveled back to California. Picking him up at the bus station, we got something to eat as he went over his travels across country. The next day, his vacation was over as he went back to work.

After September 11th many changes have been made but the loop holes still remain the same.

Anniversary of a New Life

She walked into the room. In a tight fitting dress she showcased her new body after enduring weeks of diets and exercise, just for this one night. The dress was as if it had been painted upon her form that rivaled all imagination as she clearly could turn the heads of many men and women for that matter. Earlier she spent hours at a spa, nail salon, hair stylist even visiting a tanning facility to even out her skin tone just so as not to wear too much makeup. This was her moment to feel like the Queen of the world.

He walked by her side dressed as if he was about to meet the President of theUnited States. A pressed and clean tailored suit covered his once masculine body. A body at one time drove women to their knees for a chance in being carried off for a night of passion and romance. As his riches were to ensure that breakfast the next morning would include a view of the Eiffel Tower from their balcony window.

They were a couple commanding the room as all eyes were upon them as if they were gods. They were not out classed and definitely were entitled to a better audience than those in their presents. But never the less this was their night to rule. For after years of being together this was the one night, every year to celebrate the bonding of their relationship that no one could ever take away. A ruby anniversary.

As they stopped at a counter to converse with the attendant on duty who quickly took their order and after payment proceeded to a booth to enjoy their banquet dinner at this local fast food restaurant. A couple who first encounter each other at this very place with just enough money for a small meal on a cold night. When neither one knew what the future held for each of them but were guided to meet at this one spot.

He had lost his job to a downsizing economy with plans to move to another city to find work but not before having what could be his last meal for a while. Saving money was never his strong point and now he realized it was killing him before he could feel the death blow. She ran away from home due to one too many drunken encounters with her father who wanted to make an example of her womanly features had entered his life as a trucker dropped her off to pick up someone else more willing to please.

She sat alone drinking a cup of coffee looking terrified as if her past was hunting her down. He asked if she was OK in trying to figure her out and to hear her story. There was nothing he could do to help her but wanted to feel that someone was worse off than what he was feeling at this moment. Two hours later they were still talking as the place was closing up for the night. He was spending the night in his car at a rest area miles from there. She thought she would sleep in a park or behind a dumpster for the night in hopes of not being seen. But as they continued their talk in the parking lot something was becoming clear.

The night air was cooling down quickly as they talked through the night in the comforts of his car. Awaking in the morning holding each other’s hand in a bond they still carry to this day. With no money or place to stay they began to build a life together. Finding a job at a local grocery store they lived in his car for a while until he could rent a spare room for them to share. Eventually over time he became the store manager as she was the assistant manager at the department store next door. They saved enough money for the next stage of their life together.

They had a simple wedding with a few friends on hand but the party afterwards was attended by everyone they worked with. Within a year he was asked to work on the town board eventually holding the position of Mayor for three terms until a heart attack forced him to an early retirement. She stood by him the entire time. Encouraging him on through his terms in public office as with his recovery from surgery and returning an active life.

She handled all the money they had earned over the years to where they could retire comfortably but also she had been investing some of their money into the stock market. They had built up their world together from just a simple meal with everything they owned in the truck of a car to living in a huge house with many cars and millions of dollars. Separate they were dying but together they started to live. 

As the evening continued on for this couple celebrating their time together, many of their friends showed up with gifts and stories to tell. For it wasn't the anniversary of their wedding day that was being celebrated but rather the anniversary of the first time they met.