Homework from the Future

A few weeks ago, a friend on facebook posted a video on their timeline. It was called Overview from the Planetary Collective. I watched it and while I did electrons pulsed through my brain and gave me a glimpse into the future by means of a seventh grader’s homework assignment.

The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit or from the lunar surface.

It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality of the Earth in space, which is immediately understood to be a tiny, fragile ball of life, hanging in the void, shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere.

After learning about the Overview Effect. I wrote this short story…

Quadrant D

By Jacquelyn Fedyk

The following is Alex Anne Lively’s  OOEP (Outreach Overview Experience Project) journal entries for the year 2068. Alex is a 13 year old female, Quadrant D Citizen, the first in her neighborhood to experience the Overview Tour.

April/18/2068

Alex Lively Age 13

Mrs. Quincy 7^th Grade Class

Mitchell Jr. High

 

Outreach Overview Experience Project Journal Questionnaire

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Alex (short for Alexandra) Lively and I live in Quadrant D. My Dad says QD is the last of the wild frontier. We’re the last of the poor and uneducated in the New Global Society; at least that’s what they say about us in the news. Every state has a Quadrant D. We live in Washington’s QD, in a small town called Miller.

My Dad wants a better life for me. Ever since I can remember it’s been just me and Dad. My mother died when I was a baby, I never knew her.  My Dad is overprotective of me but I don’t mind it. Most of my friends have parents who hardly care for them at all. It‘s just the way it is out here, Quadrant D has a bad reputation.  It can be scary but I’m used to it.

This year I was chosen to participate in The Overview Experience Project.  I will be one of the first Global Citizens of Quadrant D to be able to have the experience.  I was chosen because I am regarded as an “at risk-youth.”  I’m not really at risk if you ask me. I think I was chosen because of where I live, how I dress and who I hang out with. My friends get into a lot of trouble but I’m usually home with Dad before it even gets dark outside so I don’t get in trouble as much as they do.  I get good grades, I don’t skip school and I’ve never done drugs. My Dad would kill me.

Explain what The Outreach Overview Experience Project is and what it means to you:

The Overview Experience Project is a government outreach program to educate and create a shift of consciousness to promote empathy and unity in the youth of the Quadrant D Educational Systems. (I got that right off the pamphlet). Basically the government is forcing me to blast off into space so I can look at the Earth. Supposedly this is going to change my views on the world and help me to become a more peaceful, happy and productive citizen.  I was reading in the pamphlet that Quadrant D citizens only make up 25% of the Earth’s population and that 40 years ago it was 75%. After experiencing the Overview Effect I am supposed to have a shift in consciousness. I do not understand how this works but I believe that it works. In history class we’ve been learning that the first people to ever have the Experience were Astronauts who went into space 100 years ago. Our school is named after one of those Astronauts, Edgar Mitchell.  Mostly they were scientists who were doing studies in outer space and once they blasted off they looked out the window of their craft and saw our planet from a new perspective. This experience changed their lives.

Explain what the Quadrants are and how they were formed:

Now a days, most of the world’s population has taken the Overview Tour. Quadrant A citizens have been taking the tour since the year 2017. The first to blast off in a commercial tour craft were government officials from all over the world including the first female president of the United States.  Once the world’s leaders had the Experience they formed the Global Citizen Alliance and that was when Quadrant B was formed in 2026.

The next people who went into space were mostly wealthy or very important people in early world culture, land owners, CEO’s of important companies, movie stars, film makers, poets, writers and musicians.  Once these people had the Overview Experience our world culture began to change. That was when we first began to see ourselves as separate parts of one system a system that we are all a part of.  Land owners became more interested in preserving our planet whereas before they were mostly interested in money and often misused their land for capital gain. Artists created work to express their experiences with the Overview Effect. Musicians wrote songs. Film makers and animators created movies about it, poets and writers wrote books on the subject and soon the rest of the global population became interested in it and that was when Quadrant C was formed in 2040.

CEO’s of global companies started the Outreach Project. They built more and more commercial crafts and stations all over the world. Then they began sending their employees into space. It was the first time the average citizen was able to have the experience. Quadrant C is made of the average citizens who have had the experience and the rest of the population became Quadrant D.

Quadrant D is the  population of global citizens who have not had the Overview Experience yet. Some of Quadrant D has been refusing the Experience. There are conspiracy theories about global government brainwashing and things like that.  I personally don’t believe in conspiracy theories, mostly because all of the violence in the world now happens in Quadrant D neighborhoods and never in other Quadrants unless a QD citizen is involved. I know because I see this every day.  Before the Overview Experience tours people didn’t care as much about one another. Countries went to war with themselves and other countries; mostly they fought over politics, religion and money.

Even though Quadrant D is considered poor and uneducated we are far better off than we were 40 years ago. We have a much healthier environment to exist in.  There is food and healthcare and clean decent housing.  I’ve seen digitals of what underprivileged neighborhoods looked like back before the OEP, back in the early 2000s. Our QD neighborhoods are way better in comparison.

My dad says a lot of QD citizens think that the other Quadrants look down on us and that they are against us. We don’t believe the other Quadrants are against us; a lot of QDs see it that way and separate themselves from the other Quadrants, but we don’t.  My best friend Lucy is in Quadrant C and I’ve been to her neighborhood lots of times. There’s less drama in QC neighborhoods. I’ve never been to a Quadrant A or B neighborhood but my friend Lucy has. She says Quadrants A and B are not that different than Quadrant C.  I know lots of QA and QB citizens. My teacher Mrs. Quincy is a QA citizen and everybody in school loves her, she’s wonderful and helps us all so much.

My dad says the only thing separating the other Quadrants from Quadrant D is having or not having the experience. He thinks most QD citizens are not ready for the experience emotionally and that’s why some even refuse it. He says they’re frightened because they are uneducated, by choice and that they are afraid of change. He encourages me to embrace change and learn as much as I can. I’m looking forward to blasting off next week.  Now it’s my turn to have the Overview Experience and I get to bring my Dad with me.

I’m extremely excited and I’m already packed.  This time next week Dad and I will be Quadrant C citizens!

 

I Sent Out 46 Postcard Adventures!

Wanna participate in my Social Experiment? You can read about it (here.) If you email me your name and address I will send you a Vintage DC postcard with a ridiculous adventure recounting an experience that the two of us never had. So far I’ve sent out 46 postcards out of a box of 100! Almost half way through the box.

 

 

Daryl,

I would like to arrange a meeting with you about the bureau’s latest case. We would like to hire you as a consultant. I’m sure you are aware of the Havisham’s Mystery House; it’s been in all the papers. My colleagues and I have been turned onto some new evidence by an anonymous source. I can’t give you all the details until we meet in person. However the clues do involve: a wilted garlic pickle, a can of kerosene, a folk doll made of human hair, a glass eye, six prism-cut diamonds and briefcase containing 17 pairs of identical white silk gloves. What do you make of all this? Call me at the bureau.

You Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Linda,

It’s been too long and I wish we were to meet under better circumstances.  I’ll cut right to the chase; something must be done about Mr. Cliff’s behavior.  You hired him at your division and sent him to headquarters. We are very pleased with his work ethic, all the depositions have been out on time, and the office is in perfect working order.  However he has some strange habits. He insists on working in the office alone and only after midnight. He will only work in the nude and with a night’s supply of raspberry filled pastries. Florence, our cleaning lady of the past 25 years, dropped dead of heart failure last Monday. She found Mr. Cliff at his desk in natures own with a raspberry smeared face.  I forgot to warn her about him when she returned from vacation. Please help.

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Danielle,

I’m writing to ask you a very important question. Will you be my maid of honor? Professor Wiggins and I have finally decided to tie the knot! As you know we have been using each other as “lab rats” for our shape shifting and cloning research for the last six years. We have finally made a tremendous breakthrough and have sold some patients to World Corps Mega Industries. We have enough money to buy that remote island in the Pacific now and we’re ready to settle down and make some clones of our own.  I hope you have nothing planned on June 1^st! If you say yes I can send a helicopter to pick you up. Sorry they will have to blindfold you for your trip. The island’s location is Top Secret but we’re going to have Karaoke at the wedding reception so it should be a hoot! Bring your underwater scuba gear!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Vicky,

I am so happy. Thank you so much for introducing me to Beauregard. He’s everything a girl could want in a man. Each day with him is like a poetic spring morning and each night is like stargazing into a galaxy of unearthly enchantment. When he holds me in his arms I feel as though the sun itself is burning new life across the universe inside me. He spoils me too. My apartment is filled with white roses and fabulous priceless furs! This weekend he’s taking me to Paris to see an Opera and next week it’s off to Venice. How can a man this wonderful not be taken? Tell me Vicky, can I fall in love with Beauregard or is this all too good to be true?

Whimsically Yours, Jacquelyn

 

 

 

Bobo,

Thank you for trying to cure me with hypnotherapy. I’m sorry to say that the nightmares have returned. Every night it’s the same dream. I’m walking down a dark corridor; the blue leprechaun enters through a glass door. He takes a bite of a red mushroom and then offers the rest to me. When I take a bite of the mushroom the floor opens underneath my feet and I fall into a beautiful garden breaking both of my legs. They don’t hurt really, however I can’t walk on them. Ronald Regan comes to me dressed as a hospital orderly and wheels me to a Victorian Hospital on a rusty old gurney. I am put into a hospital bed and told to wait for the nurse who turns out to be Vincent Price in drag. He prescribes horse tranquilizers. Then a horse in a nurse’s uniform comes in with a Victrola and plays Barry Manilow records until I wake up screaming covered in sweat. I think we need to move onto phase two. I have to get rid of these nightmares that plague me so!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

I’ve sent out 46 postcards and I’m all caught up, as of right now I have no more names on the list. A reader who has participated in this experiment has asked me if I will turn the project into a book. I’m looking into that…

In the meantime I need more adventure volunteers  If you’d like to have a fake adventure with me mailed to your home or PO Box on a Vintage DC Comic postcard, then drop me a line with your name and address. You never know, our adventure may be transformed into a coffee table book!

Agatha Hattie at Arcane Comics in Ballard May 4th, 2013 12pm-2pm!

I’m taking a little break from postcards to go sign books at Arcane Comics in Ballard, WA! If you’re in Seattle on May 4th come down to Free Comic Day where Leslie Nan Moon and I will be selling and signing our new book Agatha Hattie, Queen of the Night!

 

 

 

Wacky Postcard Adventures Across the USA…

Wanna participate in my Social Experiment? You can read about it (here.) If you email me your name and address I will send you a Vintage DC postcard with a ridiculous adventure recounting an experience that the two of us never had. So far I’ve sent out 46 postcards out of a box of 100! Almost half way through the box.

Here’s the latest…

Jay,

OMG! Life is going to be very different since our hiking trip last Saturday. I took the boulder that we rolled down the mountain to Professor Langley. It’s out of this world, literally! The Professor says it’s a meteor, but not like any other that they have found so far. Our giant rock is a brand new mineral that no one has ever seen before. They cracked it open and inside were the most beautiful ruby colored crystals. The Professor says that the crystals are harmless and gave two small ones to me as a memento, one for me and one for you. I made mine into a necklace and strange things have been happening to me since I’ve been wearing it. Meet me at Archie’s and I’ll tell you all about it.

Your Pal, Jackie

Braden,

These are dark times brother. The group has broken up and gone their separate ways. I got news today that Bunnycakes is back in action and I think it is time we reassemble! I still have the components from the original time machine and if we get the gang back together I think we’ll be able to defeat Bunnycakes and his band of thugs. I’m coming to pick you up; it’s time to collect the others. Windy and Blaze are living in the 1880’s somewhere. We’ll have to run the Quantum Flux to find them. Ralph, Phoenix, Quasar and Kevin are spread out between 500bc and 1979. This is gonna take a while. See you soon.

Your Pal, Jackie

Chris,

I loved hanging out on the Bayou. I’ve never eaten so much delicious crab in all my life. I think it tastes even better catching it ourselves. I like your idea about training the gator to perform with us in our Vaudeville act. I took our crab traps and reworked them into a make-shift gator trap with all the fix’ns. Last night I took the swamp mobile out to set the trap. I caught something. It’s not a gator but I think you’re gonna like it better. I think it’s a male so I’ve been calling it Jodie Foster on account it really seems to like that movie Freaky Friday. Jodie Foster is a whole lot bigger and more interesting than a gator and may be good at dancing. Come over and meet him!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

Harley,

That weird Hawk-man came back to the shop today. He left me a package to give to you, actually his hawk left it. I guess he has that thing trained pretty well. Hawk-man’s hawk is named Falcon and Falcon can carry 2, 40lbs bags of groceries for up to 20 miles. So I hired him to take your place as delivery boy, sorry. But don’t get too sad. I peeked at your package and it turns out you just inherited 7 million dollars from an estranged rich uncle.  It gets even better; Hawk-man may actually be your long lost brother and he has a hawk for you too. This hawks name is Eagle and it can bench press 150lbs. This is gonna be the best summer ever!

Your Pal, Jackie

Kathy,

Where were you last Saturday? Carlos was looking for you and he’s really mad. He wants his money! He had two of his chisel crested thugs with him. They trashed the place! I hope you can sell all of those Sham-Wows by Thursday cause if you don’t Carlos is gonna get angry and it’s never any good when Carlos is angry. Anyways, the mayor says that all this rain is gonna flood the valley again. He’s looking for a creative way to “absorb” the flood waters. I think I have a buyer for you 500,000 Sham-Wows! Call me.

Your Pal, Jackie

I am almost halfway through the box. Help me mail out 100 Vintage DC Comic postcards and request your own one-of-a-kind adventure today!

We Had a Fake Adventure…

Wanna participate in my Social Experiment? You can read about it (here.) If you email me your name and address I will send you a Vintage DC postcard with a ridiculous adventure recounting an experience that the two of us never had. So far I’ve sent out 41 postcards out of a box of 100! Let’s see if I can send them all out!

Latest adventures with people across the country…

 

Campbelle,

I can’t believe our team won first prize at Periwinkle’s Amazing Obstacle Race! I have to say you were brilliant at the giant pancake toss; you hit the most rabbits, great job! I guess all that training in Switzerland paid off. My favorite part was the underwater mermaid race. Those mermaids were fast but they didn’t stand a chance against my rocket powered windmill fins!  Nobody was faster than you at the banana peel bobsleds; thanks to you we finally brought home the trophy! What a great weekend, see you next year!

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

 

Christian,

 I had so much fun on our road trip. You were right, we needed to stop and smell the roses and visiting America’s famous roadside attractions was the perfect way to spend spring break! I loved meeting Gladys, the 87 year old woman who lives in the 3 story house made of jelly beans and chewed up gum, I can’t believe she built that place all by herself! I will also never forget the world’s largest grasshopper. I can’t believe you put a saddle on that thing and rode it all the way to the gas station. You looked just like a cowboy from a sci’fi movie.  Till next time my friend!

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Beckett,

I had fun on our camping trip even though I had to fight that alligator to get my sleeping bag back. Your recipe for biscuits and gravy is simply the best. How amazing is it that you caught the mythical pink rabbit trout when we went fishing? You are so lucky and so am I. I talked to a man at the Genus Book of World Records. It turns out I am the only person alive who has been struck by lightning 26 times and has lived to tell about it. I’m gonna be famous! Yay! See you next year; maybe I can make it 40 times if we have another stormy season! Zap!

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Astra,

This is Captain Jackie of the Nebula Quadrant Fleet. I received your distress signal, I’m sorry to hear of your starship malfunction. My ship, The Venus Pod, is only seven light years away from the coordinates that you’ve specified. Once we set the quantum reactors into over-drive we will be able to reach you in no time. I do have concerns regarding your current location. You are in hostile territory unincorporated by the Galaxy Peace Tribune. Earth is a very volatile planet and its inhabitants can be dangerous. Please proceed with caution. Best of luck!

Captain Jackie NQF Galaxy 4

 

 

 

Sheri,

It wasn’t my idea, so don’t be mad! Madge said that you liked puppets! I had no clue about your Pupaphobia. Madge said it was your birthday and we should do something special for you this year. She told me that you loved “It’s a Small World” and she convinced me that we should decorate that way for your party. My uncle works for the puppet theatre so I asked if we could raid their warehouse for your party. I am so sorry we freaked you out. Madge is evil! I’ll make it up to you.

Your Pal, Jackie

 

Thanks to everyone who has participated in my experiment so far. I hope you enjoyed our adventure! As of today I still have 59 postcards left, 59 adventures yet to be had.

To be continued… 

Brand New Batch of Postcard Adventures!

Wanna participate in my Social Experiment? You can read about it (here.) If you email me your name and address I will send you a Vintage DC postcard with a ridiculous adventure recounting an experience that the two of us never had.

Here’s a brand new batch of adventures!

 

Jillian,

 The Batman guy was here again. He was looking for you. This time he had the full costume on and he even made a “bat belt” out those plastic rings from a six pack of root beer. I told you not to mess with that guy! You need to put those plastic flamingos back in his yard. He was pissed and next time he’s bringing that guy who dresses like Wonder Woman. I can’t have these guys here. Fix This!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Abraham,

 I have a problem. The monkey from the pier followed me home, the one with the fez, not the one wearing the Hawaiian shirt and the pink converse shoes.  He’s just sitting on the banister outside my apartment door smoking menthol 100s. Every time I open the door he jumps down and comes after me. My cell is dead, so I’m sending this postcard. Please call Hector to come get his monkey! Tell him I’ll do whatever he wants and to hurry. If my landlord sees this I will be evicted!

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Ingrid,

So now that training is finally over I guess we can call ourselves Astronauts! I am experiencing two things; the most intense excitement ever imagined and complete horror. In the name of Science we shall overcome our fears and realize our dreams! I can’t wait to feel 0-gravity but I wish we didn’t have to bring all these tarantulas! I guess we get the horrific assignments that nobody else wants cause we’re the rookies.  Oh well, outer space here we come, even if it is with 250 NASA Tarantulas! Somebody has to perform this study or we’ll never know if Dr. Willow’s Theory is valid! See you at lift off!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Sarah,

I had to get your address from Barnaby. I hope you’re not avoiding me after what happened at The Ladies Charity Fundraising Brunch. I’m sorry about my behavior but I told you I can’t hold my liquor, not even one mimosa let alone nine. I’ve already apologized to the mayor and the rest of the trusties. They weren’t too angry. Regardless of my nudity I did raise over $9000.00 for the cause and a lot of people thought that my performance was more artistic than inappropriate. So please don’t excommunicate me from The Ladies’ Welfare League. I promise I will behave myself next time.

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Nicole,

We are so lucky we made it out of Vincent’s BBQ Party in one piece. He needs to keep that alligator on a leash! I don’t care if it’s a trained pet. When that guy dropped his hotdog on my foot I thought that thing was gonna take my leg off.  Thank God that Mexican Wrestler came to my rescue! By the way there’s a rumor going around that you left with the Luchador. I liked that guy, he was sweet and he drives a yellow Camaro! So bitch’n! Call me with the details!

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Professor Jasper,

I was worried about inconclusive data with your Cute Kitty Serum. I went into your laboratory last night to check on some equations and I thought I figured out the algorithms. I adjusted the serum and administered it to subject A, the kitty named Ugly Phil. I am pleased to say Ugly Phil is indeed cute now and no longer ugly, however there was a defect with the serum and now Phil the kitty is two stories high and weighs as much as 3 elephants. I apologize for my rash decision to work on the experiment without you. Please accept my respectful resignation.

 All the best, Dr. Jackie 

 

 

Keep sending in those address and I’ll keep sending out fake adventures!

Exciting Postcard Adventures Sweeping the Nation!

Wanna participate in my Social Experiment? You can read about it (here.) If you email me your name and address I will send you a Vintage DC postcard with a ridiculous adventure recounting an experience that the two of us never had.

Check out these amazing adventures!

 

T.

It will be exciting, you said. It will be an adventure, you said. Well I was lucky to make it out of your friend Larry’s Potluck alive! When you first suggested that I audition to be Larry’s assistant I was flattered. I had no idea what kind of magician he was. It’s not your fault, you had no idea about my crippling chinchilla phobia, but you could have warned me about the toothless cobra. I nearly died of heart failure. I’ll call you in a few weeks, when I’m done being mad at you.

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Barbara,

I got the call! We can begin filming our documentary about local legend, The Batshit Crazy Lady of Moncton, right away. Our combined research has given me a few leads as to where she might be, if she actually exists. I’ll be filming on location at the area we discussed. When you’re finished researching the history of the victims, drive the jeep to our secret spot. I think we can debunk this myth! See you at sundown…in a remote part of the forest…with no cell phone reception. Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Echo,

If you thought meeting Robert Fuller was exciting then you’re gonna crap your pants when you hear who we get to meet this weekend! Get ready for it! ENGELBERT HUMPER(motherfreak’n)DINCK! I know right!? I can’t believe it either! The radio station is sending a limo to pick us up. We get front row seats and backstage passes! Guess who’s opening for him? Jim (Golmer-Friggin-Pyle) Nabors! It’s going to be a wild night my friend, a wild wild night! We’ll pick you up at your house!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

Aloha Jess,

I just want to let you know that the Robo Battle competition is steep this year. If we want to win we’re gonna have to kick it up a notch. I snuck into Dale’s lab and saw the bot that they’re been building. It is carnivorous! Our robot is fast and nimble but theirs is a windmill of death! I can’t face losing another battle to Dale and his thick skulled cronies! Meet me at Mcgillicutty’s Scrap Yard tonight. We have to modify “The Dream Catcher” into the “The Nightmare Machine!” We’ll be fighting fire with fire, literally.

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Lori,

I can’t believe we had tea with the Queen! So what if it was Queen Elizabert, New Orleans’ famous Cajon Drag Queen. I have never had so much fun in my whole life! I’m so glad we took that wrong turn when we were selling Avon and ended up at the block party. I loved our make-overs. I think I’m just gonna dress like this all the time now. I have a photo of you in the Conga line with that pile of fruit on your head, your smile is classic!

Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

 

Jon!

 Maude is coming over! We need to cover those hilarious/erotic murals that we painted in the conference room. She will not think that they’re funny and she will fire us if she sees them. I don’t want to paint over them though. The wall where you painted the board members as minotaurs makes me so happy. How about I’ll come down a few days early and we will use some money from petty-cash to by curtains at Bed Bath and Beyond? I’ll call you when I get in town.

 Your Pal, Jackie

 

 

Thanks to everyone who has participated so far. I still have postcards and adventures to share. Send me your name and address you won’t regret it, or maybe you will.