Böcker av John Hartig

The War of 1812 is sometimes called a forgotten war because it was a side-line event of the Napoleonic War which was happening in Europe. It was a bunch of skirmishes on the Great Lakes, a few towns in Upper and Lower Canada and also on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Some historians also called it the second fight for independence of the former British colonies, though this did not have as much success. Had it been a successful invasion of Canada, Canada would be part of the United States now.This book compares the modern tourist region of Niagara to the situation of the fighting forces in the three-year battle from 1812 to 1815. Nine main battles are investigated: On the waterInvasion of Quebec or Lower Canada.The Siege of Detroit.Storming of Fort York.Battle of Fort George.Queenston Heights.Battle of Beaverdams.Siege of Fort Erie.Battle of New Orleans. The U.S. threw itself into this war because Britain used force to "impress" or kidnap Americans who became unwilling sailors on British ships. The first American attacks were disjointed and failed. Detroit was surrendered to the British in August 1812.British Major General Robert Ross marched into Washington on August 24, 1814 and had his men set fire to various government and military buildings, including the White House, called the Presidential Mansion at that time. It was a retaliation for the American destruction of Port Dover in Upper Canada. The Burning of Washington is the only time a foreign power has captured and occupied the capital of the United States. President James Madison, military officials and his government fled the city to a small town in Montgomery County, Maryland, known now as "the United States Capital for a Day." He spent the night at the house of Caleb Bentley and his Quaker family. The house still exists, known as the Madison House.Luckily, a heavy thunderstorm put out the fires in Washington putting weight to the argument that God was on the American side. The occupation of Washington lasted about 26 hours.The Treaty of Ghent was signed by British and American delegates on December 24, 1814, ending the War of 1812. One wonders what would have become of Britain's Canadian territory in North America had the Americans indeed won the War of 1812.

My last publication of pictures was 500 pages long. I decided to split that book, Some of My Best, in half and publish two books under the new name of My Choicest Picks, to make the books less lengthy. Book 1 deals with the Niagara Peninsula, its towns, and its seasons of spring and autumn. Book 2 of My Choicest Picks deals with Fair Havens, a Christian campground, near Orillia, where we took our holidays at our trailer for almost 3 decades. I loved taking sunset and flower pictures there, although I also contributed people pictures and submitted them to Darryl Chapman, the senior photographer of the grounds, so he could make his weekly slideshow presentations for visitors. Both he and his wife, Glenda, have volunteered at Fair Havens for many years. By the way, I used the silhouette sunset picture of Darryl focusing on something with his telephoto lens, as the book cover for Book 2. For Book 2, I consciously balanced my people photos in the first half and put my sunset, flower and landscape photos in the second half. If people get a copy of My Choicest Picks Book 2, I'm sure they want to see people in it first and not the landscapes and pretty flowers!

My last publication of pictures was 500 pages long. I decided to split that book, Some of My Best, in half and publish two books less lengthy under My Choicest Picks. Book 1 of My Choicest Picks deals with the Niagara Peninsula, its towns, and its seasons of spring and autumn. I also included sunsets and flowers. Book 2 deals with Fair Havens, a Christian campground, near Orillia, where my wife and I took our holidays at our trailer for almost 3 decades.I concentrated on towns in the Niagara Peninsula, in Book 1, including notable landmarks. I drove my Hyundai Accent hatchback car, a mint-green 2007, to Morningstar Mill, Port Dalhousie, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Queenston Heights, Niagara Falls, Ball's Falls and after parking, I also hiked along the Bruce Trail. I hope you enjoy the tour of the Niagara Peninsula in My Choicest Picks here in Book 1.

I've taken photographs of everything under the sun over the past three decades. My specialties are sunsets and flowers, and spring and autumn. I concentrate on these two main areas: The Niagara Peninsula and the Christian campground, Fair Havens, near Orillia. Recently, I decided to create a collection of some of the best from all these categories. It was a undertaking of happy reminiscences, a good way to celebrate my photographic achievements from the past, over the past number of decades. From the Niagara Peninsula I included pretty photos of spring and autumn, as well as flowers and sunsets. I've produced photobooks in the past of Morningstar Mill, Port Dalhousie, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, Ball's Falls and the Bruce Trail. What makes this new book unique is that I included some of my poetry in among my pretty photos. I suppose it's not only a collection of some of my best pictures but also a preservation. I hope you enjoy the result. Happy looking and happy reading.

Everything comes to an end. My wife and I have had nearly 20 good years, as season siters, at Fair Havens Christian Camp, near Orillia.We've got good memories of the many Augusts spent there, and I certainly have amassed a great databank of excellent flowers, sunsets and autumn photographs. This special book in John's Photobook Series gives an overview of the grounds and landscapes around Fair Havens. It also highlights my flower photography, sunsets and my past autumns there. While reminiscing, I explain the special effects I use [FX] and the advice on Eureka moments in picture-taking.Since my wife and her sister co-own the trailer, the sister and her husband have gotten July while we took August.This August, however, has been the last month for us at Fair Havens because we are selling the trailer. We've had a good run and I cherish the excellent photographs I've gotten there, and of course, the friends we've made.

There are splendid sights in the Niagara Peninsula. It is a pretty area in which to live, especially for a scenery photo-buff like me. I've put in a lot of mileage over the past 20 years during my spring and autumn photo jaunts. Winters are okay too, but I like spring and autumn photography the best because I do not have to keep my camera under my coat. Oh, and before I forget, I like spring and autumn the best because they are the most colourful times of the year. However, properly dressed, I've also gotten some pretty nice winter scenery shots.Let me start with a brief Overview of some of the significant landmarks and scenery within Niagara.Highlights include Ball's Falls, a hidden wonder near Vineland off Hwy 24, Jordan Village with quaint shops, Port Dalhousie with its two lighthouses and marinas, Morningstar Mill with the Decew Falls and the working pioneer gristmill, Niagara-on-the-Lake, voted the prettiest town in Canada in 1996, Queenston Heights, famous for the War of 1812 and now a lovely picnic site, and of course, Niagara Falls, a very loud and awe inspiring sight, and the seventh wonder of the world, and honeymoon capital.

Ball's Falls is a focal point to start hiking on the Bruce Trail. Plus, you can take in the historic buildings around Lower Ball's Falls.Actually, Ball's Falls is comprised of two falls. There is Lower Ball's Falls which is easy access to most people. And only a 15-to-20-minute hike, there is Upper Ball's Falls. The park is run by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The property was originally owned by the Ball family. Manly Ball sold it to the Conservation Authority in 1962. I like the trails in this area because it's a part of the Bruce Trail; you don't have to trek the whole 550 miles of the Bruce Trail from Queenston Heights to Tobermory to enjoy a good hike. Lower Ball's Falls has old barns, a white pioneer church and a couple of pioneer cabins for the photographer's interest...and of course, there's the cascading Lower Ball's Falls itself, just a 5-minute walk across the road from the parking lot. Lower Ball's Falls is 90 feet high. Upper Ball's Falls is 35 feet high.The Twenty Mile Creek cuts through Ball's Falls, creating the second largest gorge in the Niagara Escarpment. It is designated as an Historical Park in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The Park is restored and maintained by the Niagara Peninsula Conservations Authority. It's a great place to picnic and of course, to go hiking on the well-marked trails there. The Bruce Trail itself has trees along the path called "blazes". John Hartig, scenery photographer, hopes you enjoy his Photobook on Ball's Falls, a true gem in the Niagara Region. He collected a huge number of pictures of Ball's Falls and the Bruce Trail over the years because he lives in Vineland, just down the hill from Ball's Falls.

The usual position for taking photos by most people is straight ahead, maybe with a little crouch. Most people just point and shoot. The best they can do is imagine what a picture might look like framed like a painting.But what about with a little effort, you might take a picture of a flower from the bottom up? Lying down, or kneeling? Pointing upwards, so you catch a slice of the blue sky. How about the low perspective?Photographer, John Hartig, includes samples of his photos which were taken with that orientation in mind, from the bottom up, especially of his flowers. There are some interesting and noteworthy results which he is proud of."From the Bottom Up" is one of John's Photobook Series. John Hartig is a Canadian scenery photographer, who is known for the orientation, bright colours and paint worthy framing in his pictures. John's photos have been used by several painters to whom he has given permission to copy. John feels that art should be shared and passed on for others to emulate. Novice or professional, enjoy the tour of his photos!

Port Dalhousie is actually a suburb of St. Catharine's. This quaint little town is renowned for its 2 lighthouses, 2 piers, lots of sailboats...and of course, craft shops.Port Dalhousie hosts the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta inviting rowers from all over the world. This event has been happening for almost 100 years! The Port is a great place to picnic, to watch sailboats, bicycle, take long walks along the pier and photograph the two lighthouses there. There's also a great beach on the north side and a carousel for families with kids. The carousel might be on hold for a while because the town is undergoing renovations. It would be a shame to lose the carousel which has entertained families since 1921. The piers themselves are under construction. But don't worry; there is still lots to see while the town is getting a new facelift.John Hartig hopes you enjoy this Photobook of Port Dalhousie, a labour of love which shows some of the choice photos of the Port that John has gathered over the past two decades.

The Morningstar gristmill was built in 1872 to process wheat, oats, barley and rye. It is located above the Decew Falls at 2710 Decew Road in St. Catharine's. There are two main structures noticeable off the road: the red building which is the maintenance building and the beige stone gristmill itself.There's a little park for picnicking before you get to the gristmill. The property also has a turbine shed, the miller's house in the back, the icehouse, the sawmill and the barn. There's a blacksmith's shop in the barn. It should be noted that the gristmill and the miller's house are heritage sites."Friends of Morningstar Mill" are volunteers that keep the grounds and the gristmill operating for tourists and school groups. These volunteers started reconstruction of the gristmill in the year 2000.Now the mill is the only water powered gristmill in the entire Niagara Peninsula. The mill is officially open from May 1 until Thanksgiving weekend.School tours can be arranged for a Tuesday or Thursday, by phoning Gary Konkle 905-384-2530.Wedding photography can also be arranged by phoning "The Recreation and Community Services Office of St. Catharine's" at 905-688-5601 ext. 1925.

Scenery photographer John Hartig's two favourite seasons for pictures are Autumn and Spring. Spring because of the emerging life and colour, the flowers, the orchards, the birds and the sun. Autumn because of the dying colours, the splendid hanging onto life, going out in a colourful blaze of glory, and again the warming sun before winter blows in. I love taking pictures during these times of year.John lives in the Niagara Region, known for its orchards in springtime and its flowers. Autumn too makes its colourful presence felt by the time October comes around, again with magnificent browns, reds and yellows.John doesn't ignore Winter and Summer. In Winter I wear my heavy jacket and snuggle my camera inside my coat ready for the next snowy picture. In Summer, I am inspired by the greenery and the heat of the sun and often sit in the back yard or near a bright beach watching boats go by and children play in the sand.Even with the comfort of the warmth, I anticipate autumn and its magnificent change of colours to reds, greens, yellows and browns. Then there is only the Winter to sleep through, so I can awaken for more picture-taking in Spring for another bout of beautiful flower and orchard photos. It's grand to be alive during this digital age when the camera can do so much! Autumn and Spring are indeed my favourite seasons for "John's Photobook Series".

Niagara-on-the-Lake is often described as the prettiest town in Ontario. In fact, it was voted so in 1996. It is a historical site, having been settled at the close of the American Revolution by Loyalists coming to Upper Canada [Ontario] to start a new life as British subjects.Now-a-days, the town is buzzing with lots of things to see and do for tourists and locals alike. There's Fort George, an actual fort from the War of 1812 [which was fought against the Americans]; there's the Shaw Festival, the marina, the golf course, picnic areas, resplendent huge houses [especially along the Niagara Parkway] and several world-famous wineries. There are also great bed and breakfasts, restaurants, hotels, craft shops galore and places to walk along the river, or if you prefer to travel in style, you can ride in the horse-drawn carriages, usually parked in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel.Photographer, John Hartig, has explored Niagara-on-the-Lake with his camera and created another of his John's Photobook Series, showing his love of what the Niagara Peninsula offers in terms of scenery.

The Bruce Trail cuts through Ball's Falls, actually on both sides. The trail is great for hiking around the local area of Vineland. I've taken some terrific photographs of the Upper and Lower Ball's Falls and the trees along the Bruce Trail within the park.Ball's Falls is a focal point to start hiking on the Bruce Trail. Plus, you can take in the historic buildings around Lower Ball's Falls. I like the trails in this Conservation Area because it's a part of the Bruce Trail with easy access; you don't have to trek the whole 550 miles of the Bruce Trail from Queenston Heights to Tobermory. Lower Ball's Falls has old barns, a white pioneer church and a couple of pioneer cabins for the photographer's interest...and of course, there's the cascading Lower Ball's Falls itself, just a 5-minute walk across the road from the parking lot. Lower Ball's Falls is 90 feet high. Upper Ball's Falls is 35 feet high.The Twenty Mile Creek cuts through Ball's Falls, creating the second largest gorge in the Niagara Escarpment. It is designated as an Historical Park in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The Park is restored and maintained by the Niagara Peninsula Conservations Authority. It's a great place to picnic and of course, to go hiking on the well-marked trails there. The Bruce Trail itself has trees along the path called "blazes". John Hartig, scenery photographer, hopes you enjoy his Photobook, The Bruce Trail: in and around Ball's Falls. He collected a huge number of pictures of Ball's Falls and the Bruce Trail over the years because he lives in Vineland.

Niagara Falls! The seventh wonder of the world! The larger Horseshoe Falls are about 790 meters (2,590 ft) wide, while the American Falls are 320 meters (1,050 ft) wide. The height of the Falls varies between 51 meters (167 feet) and 57 meters (188 feet). It's quite a drop! Niagara Falls is also the honeymoon capital of the world too! Niagara Falls has been the traditional, "Honeymoon Capital of the World" for more than 215 years.Niagara Scenery photographer, John Hartig, has collected photos of the Niagara Peninsula for 20 some years and has created several lovely Photobooks of the region in a series. Niagara Falls, Port Dalhousie, Niagara-on-the Lake and landmarks, like Ball's Falls, the Bruce Trail and of course, Niagara Falls itself. Welcome to John's Photobook Series.

The Niagara Peninsula with all its wineries and orchards is a pretty area in which to live, especially for a scenery photo-buff like me. I've put in a lot of mileage over the past 20 years during my spring and autumn photo jaunts. Winters are okay too, but I like spring and autumn photography the best because I do not have to keep my camera under my coat. I like spring and autumn the best because they are the most colourful times of the year.Let me give you a brief Overview, first of all, of some the significant landmarks and scenery within this splendid Niagara Region. Highlights include Ball's Falls, a hidden wonder near Vineland off Hwy 24, Jordan Village with quaint shops, Port Dalhousie with its two lighthouses and marinas, Morningstar Mill with the Decew Falls and the working pioneer gristmill, Niagara-on-the-Lake, voted the prettiest town in Canada in 1996, Queenston Heights, famous for the War of 1812 and now a lovely picnic site, and of course, Niagara Falls, a very loud and awe-inspiring sight.

MAiD was legalized in Canada in 2016, not so long ago. It's been contentious because there is a movement to include the irremediably mentally ill. Laws used to be narrow, only allowing euthanasia if the patient had a terminal disease like cancer and was in continual pain. I've had two close friends die through the service of MAiD. I understand that the procedure is professional and painless, no more than falling asleep. That was what my two friends wanted, to die peacefully and to end their pain. Matt Scholtz died through the help of MAiD on Monday June 15, 2023, at the age of 77.Adam, another friend, whose last name I will not mention, died with the assistance of MAiD on June 23, 2021, ten days after his 49th birthday. I've explained how MAiD came about and evolved in Canada, hopefully informing the public about this new right to die sooner than "normal". I explore the moral implications of this contentious issue in Canada, especially since MAiD's parameters will expand again in March 2024 to include the incurably mentally ill people. The Final Exit also includes the story of my brother-in-law, Ken Janzen, who died of lung cancer at the age of 37. In 2008, MAiD was not available then. I also include my sister's story, Renate Hartig, who died in 2016 of Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 67 just before MAiD was legalized.

Outer space has always been a fascinating topic in my mind. How big is the universe? How many stars and galaxies are out there? Are we alone? The new discoveries of exoplanets suggests that we are not alone. Chances are that life of some sort is out there, only the distances to other star systems is so immense that we, or they, will never cross interstellar space to meet. The Final Frontier: Outer Space Stories investigates these questions about possible life in interstellar space and where it might have come from. Are we alone in the entire universe? SETI, the organization involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has actively been looking for signals from space. We have also used Voyager 1, launched in 1977, to send evidence of ourselves into outer space: a golden record containing greetings in 59 languages and one whale language and 116 pictures of Earth's cultures and science, our music including songs by Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. There are 400 billion stars in the Milky Way alone. It may be that there are 100 billion Galaxies in the observable universe. Maybe civilizations arise and fall all the time, but the urge of intelligent beings is to leave some evidence of their existence behind. In 1964, Nikolai Kardashev suggested that civilizations might exist at three levels: Type 1 where beings use fossil fuels, like we do on Earth, Type 2 where beings tap energy from their star, and Type 3 where beings tap energy from their galaxy. Since that time, other scientists have speculated that civilizations might go all the way up to a Type 7 civilization where beings have become pure energy. Some scientists are conservative in their approach to discover if we there is other life out there in space. Why let them know that humans are here? They could be advanced beyond us and conquer us, colonize us for their own use. Michio Kaku says that this idea is absurd. If they are so advanced to get to us from interstellar space, then there is no reason to plunder Earth, since they have everything already. Other scientists are inquisitive to see if there is indeed life out there. Are we alone as an intelligent life species? Then again, when you are talking about the history of the universe in terms of billions of years, we as a species might be in our golden age. In 5 billion years, our sun will engulf us and we will be no more. At that time, another species in the Andromeda Galaxy may just be coming into its own golden age, and the two of us would have missed knowledge of each other. Yet, what Voyager 1 is doing is laudable. We may just be able to leave enough space junk in outer space to say that we once were here. Whoever recovers that evidence may just shed a tear for whatever we were. What a grand universe we are in! And who knows, it may be only one of a myriad of multiverses. Reality and existence are a wonderful thing!

Johann Joachim Quantz did not have the makings of a blacksmith like his father. Johann was born skinny and frail in 1697. His father, Andreas, was disappointed in the fragile little bundle which was presented to him as his son. He had hoped for something more robust.It was fortunate, in a way, that Andreas died, shy of his son's 11th birthday. Young Johann was destined for something more than the dark and grimy shop of a blacksmith. Had he assumed his father's trade, he might have been called by his birth name of Hanss [a familiar rendition of Johann], but since his uncle Justus Quantz took him in, the little boy's destiny would shine brightly in the annals of flute playing, as Johann Joachim Quantz. He was one of the greatest flautists of the Baroque Era during the 18th century. He was a Baroque flute prodigy. ***** My research on Johann Joachim Quantz yielded about 35 pages of a biography with interesting dates and tidbits on the man. Not enough for a book on Johann Joachim Quantz! I had to come up with a plan to stretch my writings on the man to get a book out of my effort.I acknowledge taking license then, in mixing the facts in his life with the fiction of my imagination and inserting anecdotes on how things might have transpired in his private life. Quantz never really revealed anything about his private life in his autobiography which was written as a prim and proper account, listing his achievements, his progress and his increase in salaries. The autobiography was published in 1755 by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg. There was also a continuation in 1762 for Padre Martini. [source: Feike Bonnema website 2016]His life can be divided into four sections: his youth, life in Dresden, his tour of Europe, and his life in Berlin.I make no claim to accuracy in all details in my book, since I said, my book was stretched out with my imagination to create little anecdotes as fillers to qualify as the length of a real book. However, most of the dates and the run of Quantz' life is correct.Quantz set an example when he wrote his Versuch or Attempt in how to play the flute, published in German and French in 1752. Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach published something similar on how to play the keyboard in 1755 and Agricola followed, in 1757, with his proper method of singing.It is hoped that the reader will be able to tell when my book goes into flights of fancy and that the reader will appreciate my fabricated little anecdotes. Therefore, there is valuable historical information in my book, as well as evident fiction to make it a more fanciful read.John Hartig, Canadian author

Book 2 is a book of redemption. The villains in Book 1 actually become good guys in Book 2. At first, Little Jimmy and Big Mac look for revenge by chasing the Sasquatch family into the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. However, as they settle down in Stewart, B.C., find jobs and girlfriends, they have a change of heart about continuing their chase. It is at that time, that aliens from another world, Enkidu, come to rescue their kindred because they look like Sasquatches. They save groups not only of Sasquatches, but also Yeti, the Yowie and Otang of South Africa. Captain Ghi of the starship Faraway is able to teleport refugees of his kindred to his home planet. Little Jimmy and Big Mac create respectable lives for themselves. They have change of heart in hunting the Sasquatch. They are known simply as Jim and Mac to their girlfriends and to the community of Stewart, B.C. where they settle down.

My research on Johann Joachim Quantz yielded about 35 pages of a biography with interesting dates and tidbits on the man. Not enough for a book on Johann Joachim Qantz! I had to come up with a plan to stretch my writings on the man to get a book out of my effort. I acknowledge taking license then, in mixing the facts in his life with the fiction of my imagination and inserting anecdotes on how things might have transpired in his private life. Quantz never really revealed anything about his private life in his autobiography which was written as a prim and proper account, listing his achievements, his progress and his increase in salaries. The autobiography was published in 1755 by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg. There was also a continuation in 1762 for Padre Martini. [source: Feike Bonnema website 2016] His life can be divided into four sections: his youth, life in Dresden, his tour of Europe, and his life in Berlin. Quantz was a true Baroque flute prodigy. He taught Frederick the Great! ***** Jean-Marie Leclair was one of the best 18th century violinists. He was also a respected composer who rightfully earned the title of "founder of the French school of violin" during the great Baroque Era of music. Sadly, he was stabbed to death either on October 22nd late at night, or October 23rd early morning, in 1764, when it was still dark. His body was found in the vestibule of his home which was located on the seedy side of Paris. Leclair was 67 years old. No one was ever accused or arrested in the case, despite strong suspicions. His murder was such a terrible tragedy, to snuff out the life of one of Baroque's finest violin prodigies.

Scenery photographer, John Hartig's two favourite seasons for photographing pictures are Spring and Autumn. Spring because of the emerging life and colour, the flowers, the orchards, the birds and the sun. Autumn because of the dying colours, the splendid hanging onto life, going out in a colourful blaze of glory, and again the warming sun before winter blows in. I love taking pictures during these times of year. Of course, that doesn't mean I ignore Winter and Summer. In Winter I wear my heavy jacket and snuggle my camera inside my coat ready for the next snowy picture. In Summer, I am inspired by the greenery and the heat of the sun and often sit in the back yard or near a bright beach watching boats go by and children play in the sand. Even with the comfort of the warmth, I anticipate the autumn and its magnificent change of colours to reds, greens, yellows and browns. Then there is only the Winter to sleep through to awaken my yearning for more picture-taking in Spring for another bout of beautiful flower and orchard photos. It's grand to be alive during this digital age when the camera can do so much! Spring and Autumn are indeed my favourite seasons for "john's Photobook series". John Hartig, Author, Scenery Photographerand Web Designer

Outer space has always been a fascinating topic in my mind. How big is the universe? How many stars and galaxies are out there? Are we alone? The new discoveries of exoplanets suggests that we are not alone! Chances are that life of some sort is out there, only the distances to other star systems is so immense that we, or they, will never cross interstellar space to meet. SETI, the organization involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has actively been looking for signals from space. We have also used Voyager 1, launched in 1977, to send evidence of ourselves into outer space: a golden record containing greetings in 59 languages and one whale language and 116 pictures of Earth's cultures and science, our music including songs by Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. Will extraterrestrials in exoplanets be able to decipher what we've sent out there into space? There are 400 billion stars in the Milky Way alone. It may be that there are 100 billion Galaxies in the observable universe. Maybe civilizations arise and fall all the time, but the urge of intelligent beings is to leave some evidence of their existence behind. In 1964, Nikolai Kardashev suggested that civilizations might exist at three levels: Type 1 where beings use fossil fuels, like we do on Earth, Type 2 where beings tap energy from their star, and Type 3 where beings tap energy from their galaxy. Since that time, other scientists have speculated that civilizations might go all the way up to a Type 7 civilization where beings have become pure energy.

There are 400 billion stars in the Milky Way alone. The observable universe may have 100 billion galaxies in it. It is unimaginable how many planets which are habitable may be in such a system.In 1964, Nikolai Kardashev suggested that civilizations might exist at three levels: Type 1 where beings use fossil fuels, like we do on Earth, Type 2 where beings tap energy from their star, and Type 3 where beings tap energy from their galaxy. Since that time, other scientists have speculated that civilizations might go all the way up to a Type 7 civilization where beings have become pure energy.Maybe civilizations arise and fall all the time, but the urge of intelligent beings is to leave some evidence of their existence behind. There is also the urge to seek out new life, let alone other civilizations.The Cosmos: Origins and Aliens is a summary of thoughts of several noted physicists on YouTube, as well as some of their books, on topics like the Big Bang, string theory, multiverses, possibility of alien life and what created the whole business, including the possibility of God.My objective is to summarize and translate all these complicated ideas into layman's language, hoping to get the general public interested in the new discoveries in outer space. When the James Webb Telescope sent back the first 5 pictures from what it saw a million miles away from Earth on July 12, 2022, without space dust in its way, I was elated. The reach of its infrared eyes goes back 13.6 billion years, almost to the time of the Big Bang which itself has been estimated to have taken place a mere 13.8 billion years ago. Who knows what civilizations have come and gone since then in the life of the universe?Outer space has always been a fascinating topic in my mind. How big is the universe? How many stars and galaxies are out there? Are we alone?The new discoveries of exoplanets suggests that we are not alone! Chances are that life of some sort is out there, only the distances to other star systems is so immense that we, or they, will never cross interstellar space to meet. Too bad, or is it?