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December 15, 2001

“ONCE UPON A FUTURE … “

This report comes to you from the future as a ‘Holiday Greeting’ and at a time when flights of fancy are abroad… The year is 2135, another year of peace and abundance, of daily shuttles to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and, that still rather risqué destination … Venus. Oh yes, these are rewarding times in which to live and soon we will celebrate ‘Reindeer Days of Giving’, one of our three Universal 14 day holidays.

Presidents of large ‘Supply Station Centres’ ( once called Corporations ), jugglers of Law (Lawyers?) and those troublemakers of yesteryear … Politicians … have all been replaced by Micro Hard computers fitted with ‘Answer’ software,

computers that are never too greedy, never supply answers according to your wealth and Universal station …AND …never answer a question with a worthless answer or to benefit themselves.

Oh my how , as I study the past, I realize how our current ‘Circuitry Wizard’ computers have leveled the playing field … even if I am unsure just what a playing field is! Now the common drive and reason for being, throughout the planets, is … creativity.

No longer are we burdened with being ‘politically correct’ in all we say, or write, or think. The elimination of politicians, whether they were operating under the guise of Public Service or Private Enterprise, automatically created true ‘free speech and free thinkers’, which as it turned out, was the beginning of honest dialogue again. Of course that started back in about 2075.

Today, December 7th 2135, religion still plays a role, particularly since Mars and Venus joined our ‘Planet Panacea Program’ (PPP). However, the number of ‘religions’ has decreased significantly. This came about when, through ‘open’ dialogue, many religions or branches of religions, found they really all believed the same thing. It was love and respect for a ‘higher power’ that only wanted men and women ( notice we no longer say ‘persons’) to help and love one another , achieve understanding of their environment and an intelligent respect for all other forms of life about them.

AND SO, my research has shown that through the changing years, at least one thing has remained constant over the past 130 years, it is the GRAND ORDER of TRAVEL AGENTS (GOTA’s).

When the former Corporation Giants were divided more equally into efficient ‘Supply Station Centres’, computers replaced people in huge numbers, but in time systems and lifestyles evolved and embraced these people. Yes, there was a period of adjustment, felt as usual by the ‘older people’ ( in those days those over 55 ) most of all, but the end result was beneficial to more people than before, and the quest for true creativity began.

Never-the-less, there proved to be one segment worldwide, that could not easily be replaced … it was the travel agents or GOTA’s.

Upon examination it was found that they had kept something called the ‘Airlines’ afloat … so to speak… as long as was possible in those bygone days. After the airline’s demise the agents utilized every ( then ) known means of transportation just so that the public could continue to explore the world, visit their families, teach their children and continue the ability of different lands to trade with one another.

Today, travel agents still solve problems, cater to all who need their assistance, and … unlike those past days of darkness … Grand Masters of Travel … reap their just rewards through our Universal Bartering economy.

Did I forget to tell you that paper money and coins were eliminated back in 2089? Had to of course, everyone at the time wanted their particular monetary system to be adopted by all, it simply wasn’t feasible!

Today ‘Rocket Ships’ leave for our sister planets every hour on the hour ( we of course only use the 24 hour clock…and times have been standardized ) and Local Rocket Buses follow a grid pattern across Earth … based loosely, I might add, on routes followed by those bygone airlines within the United States before their catastrophic ‘De-regulation’ period.

Of course, if you need scheduling times, ‘Barter’ criteria, Rocket Rendezvous Rest Resorts, connections with localized ‘Air Hover Movers’, weather reports, local customs ( way of life that is!), oh you know, those 1001 questions that travelers have, be they bound for a weekend in Sydney or a Love Adventure to Venus ... we call a GOTA.

Travel Agents now study for three years and attend quarterly reviews. With a Universe Wide clientele in this day and age the demands are still as great as they ever were. GOT computers … which were designed by travel agents … translate all voice and written communications into the language of the agent, and their replies are automatically translated into the language of the receiver.

Speaking of innovative, the travel agents are now working on , and expect to have ready soon, a pocket size computer that can be rented by travelers so that they may be able to converse with those they meet … Universe wide!

Rumour has it, that when introduced next year, 2136, it will be in celebration of holidays past and recall those early pioneer days of travel when travel agents proved their worth, by simply calling the computer … a TIN.

David (THE TIN MAN) Bond

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