Author Richard Bach, whose Jonathan Livingston Seagull was a 1970s best-seller, thought that he understood the true nature of reality but when he suffered a near-fatal crash in his seaplane in 2012, everything changed. After seven days in a coma, the former USAF fighter pilot awoke to discover that his memory of the crash was far different from the reality. He recalled a gentle landing rather than his plane slamming into the ground which is what actually occurred. He shared his revelations on his journey among angels, and spirits during his near-death state.

During the coma state, Bach experienced floating in a dirigible about 1500 ft. above a beautiful land. Curiously, there was a door inside the craft which had a sign on it that said 'Do Not Open This Door.' He later realized that if he had gone through the door, he wouldn't have been able to return to the world of the living. One thing he learned from the experience was that "there is love that does not have anything to do with space and time at all-- it is an absolutely perfect love that sees us, knows us, and guides us," and that's all one needs.

One of the meanings behind Jonathan Livingston Seagull is that "we are creatures of enormous powers...if we want to, we can learn anything," he remarked. A touchstone of the bestseller was that it was a "whisper of our spirit, saying you don't have to live a life that you don't like. You can change-- it's going to cost you, you may not have quite the money...but you're going to have a very difficult but very happy life," he explained. For more, check out this video clip in which Bach addresses his writing process.

China & the Military

First hour guest, Senior Editor of the Washington Free Beaon, Bill Gertz, commented on Chinese military technology, and the possibility of future conflicts between China and the US. China seeks to drive the United States out of Asia, "and to assume hegemonic power in Asia, and ultimately in the world," he declared. China has tested both anti-satellite missiles and a hypersonic glide vehicle, which would give them the ability to attack the United States or aircraft carriers at sea, he continued. Gertz believes that America has perennially underestimated China's strategy, intentions, and military capabilities. More here.

News segment guests: Ty Bollinger, Peter Breggin, Robert Zimmerman