Raoul’s 2 Cents. October 2, 2026

Fork in the Road

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

In a few days I will be walking in the industrious little country that attempted to conquer East Asia and had the audacity to declare war against the largest, most powerful country in the world – the fabled land of the samurai. Yup, I’m going to Japan.

The last (and only) time I was there was decades ago when I was still single. I was working for my Dad mining 5 ton marble blocks in Bulacan (a province in Northern Philippines). At one point, our little company was the number one Philippine marble exporter to Nagoya, Japan. Ken Y*, the president of Sekigahara (our Japanese customer) invited us to visit his factory which was/is arguably the largest stone installation company in the world. Sekigahara supplies polished stone tiles, tables and sidings for prestigious buildings all over the world. The company specializes in a “book ending” technique which meant installing beautiful veined marble tiles side by side to look like it was one continuous piece.

Ken was a pudgy, cultured, chain-smoking gentleman. It was his frail elderly father who started the company from scratch right after the war. The perfect host that he was, he assigned a young pimpled employee who spoke broken English to pick us up at the airport and to guide us around. Ken even invited us to sleep over at his cozy home. I saw how the rich Japanese lived … and they lived elegantly but simply.The next morning Dad and I woke up to fresh snow flakes fluttering down the picturesque peaceful garden … a scene that I will never forget. The scene was similar to the sword fight scene in the “Kill Bill” movie.

AT THE FACTORY

There were giant horizontal rock-sawing machinery chugging like trains alongside another set of mechanisms with circular diamond blades. A constant flow of water cooled the blades. Water sprayed in a mist as workers in raincoats and knee-high rubber boots scurried the premises to supervise the operation. One particular metal double-door caught my artistic interest. It opened up to a department of sculptures. Inside this huge warehouse were 3-D masterpieces … including an exact marble replica of Michelangelo’s David. I had to pick up my jaw that dropped on the floor. Surprisingly, this department was the least profitable branch of the business.

In retrospect, I think my Dad wanted to show me all of this to whet my appetite to take over his lucrative business. He was willing to teach me the ropes. It was inviting but it meant long hours and a huge responsibility for the lives of several families. It meant wheeling and dealing with big businesses, competitors, laborers and succumbing to endless legal requirements of a corrupt Philippine government and its international trading partners. This was a career fork on the road for sure. The path to wealth was clear but did I really want to be a slave to the money? Even then (thanks to my Mom), money was never my driver. I was young, naive and maybe even lazy but I knew that my calling was somewhere else. I’m sure my Dad was disappointed but (to his credit) he never forced me to reconsider. Eventually, no one had the fortitude nor the desire to continue the business and it died a slow death. I wasn’t even around when it did.

A LESSON

Given the opportunity, which path would you have taken? As I type this article in my Los Angeles office, I imagine what life would have been like if I took over the business. 

I would not even be here in the U.S.. I would not have met my wife and have kids. I would not have relatively good health because I would have kept on smoking and drinking. I would have been rich but corrupted … bribery would have been second nature. Greed and prestige would have been embedded in my character. My understanding of God would have been that of a mythical super being demanding never-ending rules and rituals as a prerequisite to the saving of my soul. I would have measured people’s worth by their wealth instead of their character. I would have been entitled … never understanding the profundity of grace. I would have considered kindness as weakness. What would have happened to all those people whose lives I’ve touched? Most importantly, I would not have found my faith in Christ. I know some of you think this is weird … and that’s okay. But it’s true. Christ changed me. I would not have the assurance and peace knowing that heaven is waiting for me … peace, not because I deserve it or earned it but because it was a free gift that was offered — and I took it. Completely changed me for the better. No regrets.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“I speak of the old Japan, because out of the ashes of the old Japan there has risen a new Japan.”

— Shigeru Yoshida

“Japan is quite weird because they wait for you to say something before they respond. You can literally hear a pin drop, they don’t make a sound until you say something to the crowd.”

— Kelly Jones

“I went to Japan and learned that politeness is not just a virtue, it’s a weapon.”

— Anonymous

“I asked a Japanese man for directions, and he walked me there himself. I think I accidentally activated the ‘helpful ninja’ protocol.”

— Anonymous

“The Japanese bow so much, I’m starting to think they’re practicing for a limbo contest.”

— Anonymous

“In Japan, silence is golden. Unless you’re trying to order food, then it’s just awkward.”

— Anonymous

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

— Mark 7:12

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

— Philippians 2:3

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Ding of Vancouver, BC, Art of Sierra Madre, CA, Jason of Eagle Rock, Jan of Alhambra, and Debra of Sydney.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Epiphany appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Ralph of San Francisco, CA

Survivor

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder. (Tired and sleepy as I write this)

Relaxing after a long week, flipping through a list of boring channels, I stopped at an old familiar addiction — the Survivor TV series. The scene was the Tribal Council — where the emotions ran high as the contestants justified their backstabbing to the jury of their peers. Many shows have come and gone but this live-action drama series has been around since May 31, 2000 and its 51st season just started this week. The million dollar prize to the lone survivor is still the same.

SHORT CHANGED

A million back in 2000 is actually worth $1.9 million today. That means these adventure seekers of today are battling for the buying power of just about half of the first season … yet there is still a waiting list of contestants. Why? Money isn’t the only perk. Many of the losers proclaimed they joined for the adventure … to discover who they are and what they are made of. It’s therapeutic.

I met one of the crew members in church a while back. He was isolated from the world along with the contestants for more than 39 days. People don’t realize how much planning goes behind the scenes. (Did I tell you, I have relatives who own beach houses not too far away from some of those barren islands? Growing up, our ships used to pass those islands.)

Would I want to subject myself to the heat, the cold, the mosquitoes, the back-biting, the starvation for a million dollars? Are you kidding? Of course I would … NOT!!! Well, maybe in my younger years I would have.

Now if they come up with a “Survivors Senior Edition: Outlast, Outplay, Drop Dead,” maybe then I’d consider it. Wouldn’t that be fun? Old people with wrinkled tattoos running in their flabby underwear, checking their blood pressure before a physical challenge; jumping over hoops with their oxygen tanks; playing chess instead of solving puzzles; going through a maze without their glasses; shouting their instructions because everyone is deaf; fence-fighting with their canes; and eating without their dentures.

Kidding aside, the show is a microcosm of our real “game of life.” Just like the contestants, we are born in different circumstances and exposed to different opportunities. Some of us blame, give up early and pout in isolation while others face challenges head on. Alliances and friendships are developed, deeper relationships turn romantic and families are born. It’s the circle of life.

It’s fascinating how Survivor breaks the stereotypes. The good-looking ones aren’t as attractive without their makeup. The “uglies” have beautiful compassionate souls. The athletes have more than just muscles. The strategists are untrusthworthy opportunists. The homosexuals are tough as nails. The “gorillas” are playful chimpanzees … and they cry. Indeed, the show teaches us not to judge the books by their covers.

One big beautiful difference? In Survivor only one person gets the grand prize whereas in life, everyone has the opportunity to get to heaven. And it isn’t based on social status, gender, race or any of these trivial things. It isn’t even about how many “brownie points” one has accumulated in one’s lifetime. It’s based on grace and one’s faith in Christ.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”

— African Proverb

“I didn’t win; I just outlasted everyone else’s bad luck!”

— Anonymous

“Today’s win was brought to you by caffeine and a sprinkle of audacity!”

— Anonymous

“Winning isn’t just about crossing the finish line first; it’s also about crossing it with a funny victory pose.”

— Anonymous

“Winning may not solve all your problems, but it sure does make them funnier.”

— Anonymous

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

— Esther 4:14

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

— Deuteronomy 20:4

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

— 2 Timothy 4: 7

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Jason of Eagle Rock, Drake of LA, CA, Donovan of Ireland, and Debra of La Habra.

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Silent Weakness appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thanks to Garie of Manila, Philippines

Raoul’s 2 Cents. September 18, 2026

Repair Nightmare

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

These past few weeks have been a Repair Nightmare for me. My computer broke down; so my old programs had to be reinstalled and some of them were no longer compatible with my new operating system — so I had to search for alternative programs and learn how to use them; then my colored monitor lost its red and everything looked blue and green; my cell phone stopped ringing and I missed several calls; then my car tires began to wobble; then my clock radio died; (and while all these were happening, I was suddenly flooded with work). Sanity was hanging by a thread.

And here’s a big one: the spring of my garage door snapped and I’ve been trying to fix that baby for 2 days now. I was a repairman by day and computer geek by night. Hardly slept. The repairman asked for $900 and I haggled it all the way down to $650. I told him I’d fix it myself. If you read my article about fixing my garage door remote, you’ll understand my confidence. Big mistake? Maybe. The jury’s still out because I have one more day to make a complete idiot of myself before a professional will have to step in.

Thanks to YouTube University, I learned a lot about the wonderful world of garage door repairs. I know the cheapest place to buy the parts, the tools you need and the procedure to uninstall and reinstall this marvelous piece of 21st century headache. Total cost is just over $100. So why have I not yet fixed my garage door? Because I’m stupid. Why? I tried to do shortcuts when YouTube videos already warned me not to do so. It’s true. We men never read the instructions.

EXHAUSTED

What I didn’t expect was how out of shape I am. Climbing up and down the ladder, bending down to pick up my tools and tightening the overhead industrial-strength garage spring was the real killer. It was like pumping iron in the gym. By the end of the first day, I was completely spent. I could barely walk. I couldn’t even cook dinner. I was forced to eat dry leftovers — or die! I was parched and I talked like Brando the Godfather even without the cotton balls in my mouth.

CONCLUSION

As always, I try to find lessons in life. What is God teaching me now? The lesson here is “relevance.” When work overcomes us, it’s easy to lose our patience — but the silver lining is to realize that without us, some things would never get done (or at least done properly). Without me, my wife would spend a fortune to fix the garage.

When the coach places Michael Jordan in the game during the last few minutes, it’s because he is the only one who can make that final shot. When parents over-extend themselves and burn the midnight oil, it’s because no one can take care of their families better than they can. When your boss calls you in the middle of your vacation, it’s because he can rely on nobody but you. In many instances God prepares us “for such a time as this.” You are important.

I know of someone who retired and was depressed because he missed his co-workers and there was nothing to look forward to. He was no longer relevant. He shot himself … not realizing how much he was loved by friends and family.

I know a few people who looked forward to retirement so they could travel and spend more time with their family. The traveling bug quickly came and went. And families … well, most of the time grown-up children have their own lives already and (sadly) we are not part of that. There’s a reason why entrepreneurs like Joe Coulombe (Trader Joe’s) and Dave Gold (99 Cents Only Stores) came out of their retirement and started brand new businesses. They loved the challenge. They wanted to be relevant again.

So do I enjoy fixing the garage and my desk job? Actually, I do. I really do.

TGIF people!

ADDENDUM: I was finally able to fix the garage door this morning. None of the Youtube videos explained how to balance both sides of the door but I figured it out myself. One needs to loosen the cables on both sides and make sure they are equally taut and the door should be flat down on the ground before tightening the springs. I had to use observation and logic to see my mistake. DIYs rule!

Oh another thing to remember: my garage spring was a “Wayne Dalton” TorqueMaster Plus — which was designed for DYI people. The other (older) garage door torsion springs are pushed by the “professional” repairmen because they carry the spare parts and are harder to install — which is good for their business. So it you have a Wayne Dalton, don’t believe them when they say their torsion spring system is better.

And since we’re talking shop, you can figure out what spring part to purchase by looking at the label on the horizontal bar. Purchase both left and right parts in Amazon from Door-Parts. AI can help you figure out the pair. Just give it one part number and it will find the match. 7-day shipping is free but a 2-day rush is $20.

Quotes of the Week

“You must add value to yourself to be relevant ”

— Sunday Adelaja

“Being unforgettable means being known for what matters, by the people who matter, so your work, your ideas, and your impact become undeniable.”

— Kinga Bali

“You have to bring relevance to people before teaching them the ways of Christ.”

— Sunday Adelaja

“Relevance isn’t about constantly running to stay ahead. It’s about adapting with purpose, knowing when to learn, when to lead, and when to let your strengths do the talking.”

— Janani Srikanth

“The main purpose of a church is to bring relevance to people and make sure everyone discovers their calling”

— Sunday Adelaja

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

— Esther 4:14

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

— 1 Peter 2:9

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

— Philippians 1:9-11

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Drake of LA, CA, Doug of La Habra, CA, and Dan of Philadelphia.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Left and Right Brain appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thanks to Jun of New Jersey for sending this joke.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. September 11, 2026

Imagineering

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

This week I worked on an article (you can see it here at TravelingBoy.com) about a famous Imagineering artist named Sam McKim. I never knew the artist’s name but I recognized his style in several books and movies released by Walt Disney. Boy, did this project take me back to my childhood.

When I was a scrawny kid in the Philippines, there was a classified ad section in the Manila Times called “American Leaving.” It was code for bargain hunters that an American family was moving away and they were selling their stuff. It’s similar to the Estate Sale signs we see here in America. My family would buy second hand goodies like books, magazines, toys, vacuum cleaners, etc. One particular item that I treasured was a colorful Disneyland pamphlet that announced the upcoming Tomorrowland, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. I was mesmerized by the artwork of Sam McKim. How did this artist create this dreamworld? What medium did he use? Oils? Watercolor? And how did he get the perspectives accurately? Was there a team behind this? How did he decide what colors to use? For a kid who only drew stick figures, Sam was an artist god. At that point, I prayed for an impossible wish to visit Disneyland and see this fantasy land for myself.

I read countless books and watched videos of Walt Disney and his imagineering team. I drew their characters in my sketch books. I sang their songs. I wanted to be an imagineer. I wanted to learn animation. By some miracle, I wound up studying in Washington DC … on the East coast! Nobody taught animation on the East coast of America! So near and yet so far.

But my wish to go to Disneyland would come true when Bernie, one of my best friends, needed to take a road trip from Washington DC to Los Angeles and asked me to come along. No one warned me of the long lines but that was fine. I enjoyed watching all these excited people. So many people from all over the world lining up in the heat. Mickey Mouse and the other mascots brought smiles to everyone they met. It was indeed the happiest place in the world. Decades later, I moved here to California and my Mom and Dad treated my family to another Disneyland trip and I shared the wonder from the eyes of my children.

When I was looking for a job in my early years in CA, I saw a Disney ad in the LA Times beckoning artists who wanted to be imagineers. I applied but I never got a response. My training was in desktop publishing and graphic design (illustration was strictly a hobby) so the “no response” was expected. I had seen the videos of Walt Disney brainstorming with his imagineers so I was disappointed that I didn’t get an interview just to see the inner workings of Disneyland.

Around that time, my young son was taking violin lessons. Somehow my wife mentioned to his teacher that I was interested in working for Disney. The teacher happened to be the niece of one of the imagineers and that led to my actually going for an interview in the Disney studio. Such was the power of an imagineer. The interviewer looked at my portfolio and showed me around during the lunch break. There were rows and rows of cubicles. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was just released and I could see color swatches of violets and greens and sketches of the characters. (That was pretty wild!) The interviewer said he was looking for someone who drew the “Disney-way.” We both knew that wasn’t me. And that was that. Didn’t get the job but I was more than satisfied.

Later I found out that Disney paid minimum wages. It was the law of supply and demand at work — Disney knew people were willing to work there for the adventure and not for the money. Sad but true. So I was glad I didn’t get the job after all.

Side comment: I may not have ever worked for Disney but my daughter is living my dream. She specializes in foley — background sounds for animations. She and her team won an Emmy for the Netflix TV series Arcane last year. You think I’m proud of her? You bet I am!

Back to the present. Richard (the author of the TravelingBoy article) told me he lived directly across the street from Sam McKim. He said Sam was a good friend. Often, film crews from all over (including far-off Paris and Japan) would come for an interview. If Sam were still alive, Richard said he would have easily arranged an interview through Sam. (Oh, woudn’t that have been the thrill of a lifetime.)

Today is the anniversary of the horrific attack of 9-11. Like you, my heart grieves for all those lives that were rudely interrupted by evil. Yet here we stand in the land of the free (so far). Sure, we have major problems. Sure, we have enemies who have come to destroy our lifestyle. And we can be obsessed with the politics but let’s not lose sight of the blessings and who provides those blessings. We serve a loving God who remembers our childhood prayers long after we have forgotten them. And He has many more gifts for us if we remain faithful. Funny how a piece of artwork (just like old music favorites) rekindles childhood memories and reminds us of blessings we take for granted.

TGIF people!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Joshua 29:11

Quotes of the Week

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

— Walt Disney

“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.”

— Walt Disney

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you..”

— Walt Disney

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.”

— Walt Disney

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”

— Walt Disney

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

— Proverbs 22:6

“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'”

— Matthew 10: 13-16

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”

— Proverbs 17:6

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Jason of Eagle Rock, CA, Donovan of Ireland, Debra of La Habra, CA and John of Connecticut.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Two More Truths appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thanks to Jun of New Jersey for sending this joke.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. September 4, 2026

Truth

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

We are close to the tragic anniversary of September 11. There seems to be a growing number of people who believe the conspiracy theories that the Twin Towers imploded because of planted explosives. Scientists say that the levels below the crash site were sturdy enough to prevent the continuous downward internal collapse. Some claim there were no traces of the airplane parts. Did you know that there was a third building (WTC 7) that also collapsed? Why? No plane hit it. Sure it caught fire but why did it implode just like the twin towers? What other burning building in history behaved that way? And what about American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon? How could a plane hit just one side of the building? Why not in the center which was a bigger target? Blurry video footage shows an object moving horizontally like a missle. If it were a plane shouldn’t it have been moving at a downward angle? Again, reporters on the scene said there were no airplane parts. No passenger body parts. Hmmm.

The news media’s credibility has never been so low … and justifiably so. They are guilty of spreading lies they never apologized for and omitting the truth. Are you aware of the billions of dollars allegedly stolen by corrupt politicians this year alone? From Day Care to Medicare, from NGOs to UFOs, from vaccinations to assassinations — we live in a world of confusion.

Looking at the crowd entering his circus tent, P.T. Barnum said “there’s a sucker born every minute.” (What if I told you that Barnum never actually said that?) Still, in today’s Tik Tok world of AI inventions, there really are suckers born every minute … just as there are non-believers dying like flies. (Hey, I’m beginning to sound like a Yin Yang monk who balances every reaction with an opposite reaction.) Who to believe? What to believe?

There used to be a saying that “crime doesn’t pay.” Nobody says that anymore. Why? Because it isn’t true. Too many criminals have (and still) “get away.” More and more I am seeing the importance (but the disappearance) of truth. Without it, we lose our sense of justice and morality. Without a true scale, anyone can shortchange what we purchase .. what we believe. Society seems to put more weight on feelings than in factual evidence. OJ Simpson’s DNA didn’t prove he was guilty. Bill Clinton didn’t really smoke pot … he didn’t inhale. The Weapons of Mass Destruction were there … we just couldn’t find it. Did LBJ kill JFK? What’s the relation between Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, King Kong, Burger King and the Lion King? I don’t know. I’m just messing with you. 😀

Life can be confusing but I find comfort knowing that there are actual truths … undeniable truths such as death and taxes. Then a “train ride” to either heaven or hell. All you need is the right ticket to board it — Jesus Christ. “No one comes to the Father but through me,” (John 14:6) he said.

“But it’s your truth not mine.”

“But truth has no preference. It just is. I don’t have to defend it.”

“But I don’t believe it.”

“In other words, you choose NOT to believe it. It doesn’t change the truth that it exists.”

“Prove it!”

“If I give you a ton of evidence, will you then believe?”

“It depends.”

“… on whether you want to accept the evidence, right? So what’s the point in showing any evidence?”

“Okay, historically, I admit, Jesus existed. He was a good man. Yeah, even a prophet. Sure, he conjured miracles: turned water into wine, made the blind see, the deaf hear … but I don’t believe he is God.”

“But Jesus himself said he was/is the son of God. Either this “good man” was a liar, a lunatic, or told the truth ”

“Well, so am I … so are you! We ALL are God’s children!”

“Ah, so now you believe God exists!”

“Well, IF there is a God, why is there suffering?”

“I beg your pardon. God never promised you a rose garden! He did promise that, IF we believe in him, he would help us through our suffering.”

“But if I were God, I’d do things differently.”

“So you’re better than God?”

“Perhaps. Anyway, I’ve got more important things to do. Thanks for the lecture, professor!”

“Don’t worry about it. Even if you have time to really think about this, only the Holy Spirit can change a person’s heart. If you were not meant to believe then there’s nothing anyone can do about it. I can give you an apple but I can’t force you to eat it.”

“But I don’t like apples.”

“Exactly!”

And that’s when the fist fight started.

Conclusion

The truth no longer spoken accurately gives birth to doubt which leads to conspiracy theories and grey areas. Fifty shades of grey turn into black. But a candle of truth in heavy darkness can light up the way to more candles of truth. But one must choose to light the first candle.

TGIF people! The sermon has ended. Go in peace! Run along now.

Quotes of the Week

“Just because something is on Facebook doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.”

— William Shakespeare

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”

— Winston Churchill

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”

— Soren Kierkegaard

“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.”

— John F. Kennedy

“Hell is truth seen too late.”

— Thomas Hobbes

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

— 1 John 3:18

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

— 2 Timothy 2:15

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:6

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Art of Sierra Madre, Larry of Buena Park, CA, Donovan of Ireland, Agnes of VA and John of Connecticut.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Two Truths appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 28, 2026

Hot Hot August Week

Please move on to the jokes if you’re not interested in my week.

This has been a super busy, physically-draining week and the heat here in Los Angeles didn’t help any. I spend most of my time indoors so last Saturday I got my first taste of the heat. I helped represent the La Habra Art Gallery and rode an SUV “float” at the weekend-long Corn Festival (which was sponsored by the local Lion’s Club). There was a good crowd all throughout the mile-long route. I waved like a king at the happy faces although I would have enjoyed watching the parade instead. I wasn’t able to enjoy the actual parade. All I saw were the backs of the Boy Scouts and the Marching Band in front of us. If you ever rode a horse-driven buggy, you know what I mean.

Sunday, I decided to help some friends who were selling barbecue in one of the food booths. The deal was, if you purchased food from them, I would make you a free caricature. Even in the shade it felt like I was baking in a sauna. Due to the heat, even though we were there early, the crowd didn’t start to come until much later. Still, I was able to do some 35 portraits. I did so many of these sketches that I ran out of ink and had to use pencil at the end of my stint. Got to converse with a lot of nice people. I had fun, they had fun and the sun had fun displaying its energy. Boy was I thirsty! In mid-drawing I needed to take a drink.

Maybe it was the heat or maybe I’m just gettin’ old, but my brain got fried and I still have not fully recovered as I write this article. Dead tired when I got home. Flopped into bed. Morning came. Dragged myself out of bed, printed and laminated parking signs for our community because I promised I would. Plastered them around the area and again the heat sucked out energy like a vampire.

I was in the middle of work when I realized it was time to pick up my grandson from school. Didn’t shut down my computer correctly … simply pulled the plug. When I got back, the dark screen of death was laughing at me. My backup didn’t work. Spent the most of two days putting my computer back in shape. Even now, still tweaking the settings to function the way I want. It’s true: almost every program is designed to track your habits. I guess, in this day and age, Big Brother looking over your shoulder is unavoidable. They also want me to upgrade and spend money … not if I can help it!

Wife asks me why I’m so lethargic. Told her I’ve got the Steam Roller Blues. Now she’s got me started on some wholeness program to shoot me full of rhythm and blues.

This morning, I took a deep breath. I looked outside of my lazy situation and prayed. A good friend died of cancer, another friend trips and smashes his face during his vacation in London, thousands died in Nepal from a muddy flood, and Dolly Parton passed away. The world moves on. Who am I to complain? Putting things in perspective helps a lot.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“Iced coffee on a hot day can perform miracles.”
— Anonymous

“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.”
— Jane Austen

“Thank goodness it’s finally hot enough to justify my laziness.”
— Anonymous

“Dear summer, stop showing off. We get it. You’re hot!”
— Anonymous

“Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window.”
— Steve Wozniac

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33

“It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”
— Isaiah 4:6

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
— Matthew 8:26

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Jerry of Idaho, Brian of San Francisco, Natalie of Miami and John of Connecticut.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

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The post Empty Threat appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 21, 2026

Hollywood Blues

A few months ago, Ben Affleck gave an interview where he said the movie industry was in deep financial trouble. He said (on the average) a good movie costs at least 25 million dollars to produce. They need another $25M for marketing. Then $50 million goes to the outlets like movie houses and streaming platforms (like Amazon Prime, Apple +, Disney +, YouTube, Netflix). That’s 100 million dollars just for a movie to break even. Very few movies make that much. Many Hollywood movies currently operate in the negative.

My take: The Good the Bad and the downright Ugly

My first inclination was to save the Hollywood industry that we all grew up with: remembering the wonderful fairy tales that inspired our young minds … stories that made us fall off our seats with laughter … stories that made us afraid of the dark … stories that dug up conspiracy theories and made us aware of social injustice. Sadly, this same institution also influenced our taste for violence, illegal drugs, pornography and other addictions. There was good and bad.

Hollywood propped up screen idols to be worshiped. Despite their many intellectual and moral deficiencies, just because they identified with our emotions, we thought we knew them. They dictated what was cool and what was beautiful. We valued their opinions about the silliest things. When they said this soda pop was the “real thing” we just had to taste it in “real life.” The egos got the better of some of them. When they threaten to leave America if their political candidate loses … shouldn’t we just insist that they do leave us alone?

Remind me again why we need to preserve the movie industry? Is it worth rescuing the royal infrastructure of filmdom? If you find yourself flipping through a gazillion movie choices streaming online, perhaps not. Are you frustrated with the explosion of low creativity and formulaic productions brought to you by a committee of businessmen? How many Star Wars episodes do we really need? Good movies are hidden like needles in a haystack. Even award-winning movies have lost their glitter.

I recently watched the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi, Total Recall and boy, did I have a total recoil at the terrible acting and laughable special effects — “Git aut! Git aut of hear!” You could tell when the plastic faces replaced human skin. Eyes popping out and stop-motion animated bodies melting into bones were downright amateurish. But thirty six years ago, we believed it and it won Best Visual Effects. We wanted to believe it just as the audience of the 30s wanted to believe in King Kong climbing up the Empire State building. Simple effects for simple times. Film making is constantly changing.

The reasons for the fall

I already mentioned streaming platforms like Netflix. That’s one big factor. Humongous TV screens with their souped-up audios make eating popcorn and watching at home more comfortable and convenient than going to the movies. Plus, if the movie sucks, you don’t have to agonize until the end. You can simply switch to another movie. Don’t think Paramount gets paid enough when you rent their movie. Keep in mind they still have to pay a percentage to Netflix to compete with the same movie currently showing at the movie house.

Good or bad, ABC/Disney tried to sell the WOKE mentality to us. It didn’t work. They lost millions. The president was replaced. They now know we are not a captive audience. They are not as powerful as they thought.

Today’s technology has allowed the couch potato (yes, that one!) to create his own movies in the living room. We all know it’s nearly impossible to distinguish AI from actual footage. Sorry celebrities, sorry studio set designers, sorry miniature prop men, sorry stunt men, sorry makeup artists, sorry movie theme musicians, sorry extras … we don’t need your services anymore.

“You mean we actors, don’t need to ‘kiss up’ to the movie moguls anymore?”

“Nope!”

“Doesn’t the union protect us?”

“Who needs the Union? They don’t have the monopoly anymore.”

“But I’m unique! My voice, my looks, my …”

“Nah! AI can mimic all of that. You can’t copyright your talents. And, even if you can, we’ll just create a BETTER you.”

When you see the big stars advertising for small companies, you know they are desperate for a job. When you see the Hollywood reporters hype innocuous scandals, you know the reps are struggling for relevance in order to survive. I have good news and bad news for you Hollywood folk. First the bad news: you will be replaced by AI. The good news: you don’t need the big studios anymore because, with a little training, now you can create your own movies!

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

— Henry Ford (allegedly)

Time to let the horse go

Although Ben Affleck and I may paint a dark picture of Hollywood, I believe there is a Yellow Brick Road to the MODE of storytelling. The old factories will soon die but the imagination among millions of new creators will eventually replace and improve exponentially as AI technology matures. That one amazing movie done by a little kid is waiting ’round the corner. Indeed, when you wish to become a star, makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.

Hollywood served its purpose but it’s time to grow up. Let the creativity begin!

Of course, this is just me.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“We need Storytelling. Otherwise, life just goes on and on like the number Pi.”
— Ang Lee

“Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.”
— Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)

“The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder”
— Alfred Hitchcock

“We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.”
— Walt Disney

“LA, the city where everyone’s constantly waiting for their phone to ring, and I’m part of it.”
— Daniel Ruczko

“A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that order.”
— Jean-Luc Godard (French film director)

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
— Proverbs 22:9

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
— Collosians 3:23-24

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Norm of Encino CA, Barbara of Colorado, Brian of San Francisco, Ben of Georgia and Wally of Colorado..

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Interview Test appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Poetry Night

I listened to poetry readings at an art gallery in a predominantly Mexican community. It was curiosity that pushed me to attend because I had never been to a poetry session before. However, I didn’t expect to be immersed in so much Mexican culture. I saw a side of Mexican Americans I had never noticed before. Their pride for their humble roots reminded me of the Filipino culture which (like Mexico) was greatly influenced by cruel Spanish colonialism for 300 years.

The emcee was a tall 300 pounder who announced it was his birthday to the cheers of the crowd: “Since it’s my birthday, I can do anything I want.” He wasn’t kidding. He started the ball rolling with 20 minutes of his own poetry … at least that’s what he called it. In fact, 75% of the evening’s so-called “poets” put words together that didn’t sound like poetry to my critical mind. They were thought patterns in prose disguised as poetry. Maybe I’m old school but poems (in my book) should rhyme or should follow a certain discipline … a pattern or a cadence. Edgar Alan Poe, Robert Frost, Shakespeare — their works are poetry. The disciplined 17-syllabled Japanese Haiku is poetry. Even song lyrics can be poetry — just like the works of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Sondheim. Poems should tickle my creativity and make me marvel at the craftsmanship of word combinations. Do you agree? Amateurs should call it “prose” but not “poetry.” No need to elevate their word collection to what it is not.

It was mostly amateur night for 3 hours. One reader after the other recited their favorite original poems in their vastly different styles and personalities. Quite a few of these “closet writers” never even made eye contact with the audience. You could tell they pushed themselves to go up on stage. I do applaud their determination.

It wasn’t a total loss. There were some good presenters.

• One lady who had lived in Indonesia for 2 years danced Indonesian style as she delivered her piece about losing her favorite sandals. I confess I was mesmerized by her gracefulness.
• Another guy, a young father, talked about his name. He got his name from his Dad whom he had never met. He could have changed his insignificant name but he was determined to make something of himself so his name would begin a new meaning for generations to come. (Sounds like an article I wrote a few weeks ago — he even had the same title).
• There was an accomplished author who had written a few self-published books. Her poems were in English and in Spanish. It was obvious she had command of the language. Her final piece was political. She hated the establishment and especially how ICE was snatching her people. I may not fully agree with all she said but I can certainly empathize with her frustration.
• A bald-headed homosexual shared the prejudices and the difficulty of coming out. He is happy that there is less hostility now. He enjoys celebrating in gay parades but he knows he will never be fully accepted. He believes that full acceptance will only come when he gets to heaven. Hmmm.
• One young lady said she attends a Protestant church. In her next breath she said she had a live-in partner. Another hmmm.
• “And now a word from our sponsor!” — An elderly muralist went onstage. But instead of reciting a poem, he bragged about landing a mural job. Hmmmm.

Note to self: Never give the mic to an emcee celebrating his birthday. This guy shared more than I cared to hear. He called his whole family to go up on stage and introduced each one (including his mother). Nice family but … really? Well, at least he was proud of his family.

Then it dawned on me that I was an outsider in a private party. Everyone was familiar with everyone else. I was a gate-crashing snob! Who was I to criticize their culture? Who was I to impose my standards on them? These people were sharing their creativity in their own way. They understood each other. I was viewing America from their vantage. Suddenly, the dreary black and white movie switched to an admiration for the marvelous colors of their culture as the Pocohontas song played in my head.

As this mini-AGT (America’s Got Talent) was coming to a close, I thought it was time to leave. But the emcee told me that a band was the finale of the evening. Music! Oooh … I stayed for that.

Three men went up on stage dragging their instruments – a huge stand up bass guitar, a regular guitar, and a washboard percussion thingamajig. The lead singer introduced the band in his deep guttural voice. Then they sang some old obscure country song which reminded me of Johnny Cash. Not really my style but they were good. After their first rendition, they said (since we loved it so much) they would be doing more songs from the 40s and 50s. Excuse me? Country Music Oldies in a Mexican Cowboy style?!?! No way, Jose! That’s when I darted out the exit. There’s only so much diversity lessons a stranger can take in one day. Hasta la vista, baby!

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“Más vale llegar tarde que feo.”
Translation: Better to arrive late than ugly.
— Anonymous

“Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same. “
— Angelina Jolie

“When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”
— Ava DuVernay

“They laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because they’re all the same.”
— Kurt Cobain

“Some people are wise. Some people are … otherwise.”
— Anonymous

“So many people these days are too judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them.”
— Anonymous

“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”
— Isaiah 49:3

“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”
— Lamentations 3:32

Video of the Week : James Bond 0070

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I could share them with the rest of our TGIF family.
This week, we thank Art of Sierra Madre, CA, Norm of Encino CA, Barbara of Colorado, Kevin of Tennessee and Donna of NYC.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE to the TGIF Weekly email blast. Be the first to receive the Jokes of the week.

The post Guacamole Sauce appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Raoul’s 2 Cents. August 7, 2026

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

I am sorry if I will sound like an alarmist today but I need to share something seriously wrong in the world. I think this is necessary for the sake of protecting civilization as we know it. Of course, this is just my humble opinion. I invite criticism. Tell me why you disagree. Enlighten me. I welcome dialogue.

Unless you have been living in a cave, I’m sure you’ve heard of the invasion of 50,000 able-bodied male Sunni Cueta Muslim “migrants” (I think “terrorists” is the more apt word) who crossed from Morocco to a defenseless Spain a few days ago. How about the millions of unwanted immigrants into the rest of Europe these recent years? Notice that these migrants don’t “migrate” to the countries that have already established the failed form of government they are clamoring for. Instead, they want other countries to conform to their radical standard of government. This is a planned attack. And the longer we are indifferent to this uprising, the stronger they become.

It’s an organized, well-coordinated urban insurrection. Someone or some people are sponsoring this. Don’t be fooled just because they aren’t wearing war uniforms.

The U.S. is not exempt from this 11 million influx of illegal immigration. And politicians protect them. Deep-seated corruption has been exposed and the criminals have lost their funding and are desperate to weave out of prison and reclaim their position of power. They know this upcoming November election is their final bastion. If they lose the election, they are cooked. That’s why they are propping up ultra radical communists and jihadists. They have and will insert illegal ballots. They have nothing to lose. They are hoping you do nothing.

What set off my alarm were several people who voiced their concern and an article posted on Facebook which prompted a lot of questions. CLICK HERE for a copy of that article.

May I share my own guideposts?

• Don’t let the political party labels blind you. Corruption is in both sides. Dig deep and common sense will help you identify the better politicians from the scoundrels with selfish interests. Is it beneficial for all or just them? Notice the hypocrisy when they accuse others of their own crimes.
• Identify the lowly puppets who are just mouthing prepared lines. Be more watchful of the more sinister and dangerous puppet-masters.
• The billions of stolen dollars hurts everyone including the people who support the criminals. It behooves me why people protect the criminals who are stealing from their own people.
• Don’t rely on a single news outlet. Many news networks are filtered by management … some of them have been paid off — they suppress and omit the truth to fit their narrative. When cornered without a legitimate defense, they change the subject and think people are too dumb to notice the switch.
• Don’t take stories at face value. Some spread the news before confirming. Some spread conscious outright lies. Check the sources. Engage in constructive dialogue. The goal is not to belittle and prove one is right but to understand, clarify and (if possible) discover the truth together to preserve the friendship.
• What’s crystal clear to you may not be crystal clear to them. What’s crystal clear to them may not be crystal clear to you. Offer a lot of grace and patience.
• Lastly, after hearing both sides, vote for the lesser of the two evils. There is no perfect politician. Don’t get bogged down by personalities. He/she may be a narcissist but some narcissists may be the best person for the job. JFK was a womanizer but he was the best man to dismantle Russia during the Cuban crisis.

What I really don’t understand is how short-sighted some of these criminals are. They want power, they want money and they think the world will survive the destruction they will cause. They are like billionaire Mark Zuckerberg who built a multi-million dollar shelter to survive a holocaust. Listen, Zuck, what’s the point in being the lone survivor in a barren world? Looking further, what is the end game? What’s the point in destroying civilization? The puppets, the puppet masters, their money — none of that will survive. Guess who wins? Enter the spiritual world. It’s real.

3 Examples of Spiritual Warfare

In the book of 2 Kings, chapter 6, the King of Aram sent out chariots and horses at night to surround a city and capture Elisha the prophet. When Elisha’s servant woke up, he saw the hostile army and was afraid. But Elisha was not daunted. When Elisha prayed for the servant’s eyes to open up the spiritual world, the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around them. Look it up and revel at the peaceful ending.

Pastor T (from my first church) shared his story of his angelic encounter while he was visiting Russia back in the 80s. He sensed he was being followed and was about to be captured. Suddenly, a taxi driver pulled up beside him and told him to get in. Pastor T had no time for questions … besides, he had no other alternative. As they sped away, the driver told him he was sent to rescue the pastor. After he dropped him off in a safe place, the car vanished.

Mr. Y (a close missionary friend of mine) was in China. For about 3 months he was having problems breathing in the middle of the night. He thought it was a health issue. Then one night, he closed his eyes pretending to be asleep on his single bed. At 1 AM he felt someone come up on his back side. That entity started hitting his back. At first it felt like a good massage. Then it started to choke his throat. Immediately, he prayed and cast the demon out in Jesus’ name. The demon stopped and didn’t return. Many years later (2 years ago) Mr. Y was stationed in a new area. Exhausted, he forgot to pray so that first night he was attacked again by a similar choking demon. He prayed and he fasted and the demon has not returned. Mr. Y is encouraged knowing that his mission is important enough for demons to bother him.

Conclusion

The battle is not between political parties. It is the preservation vs. the destruction of civilization. Ultimately, it is a spiritual battle — which means prayer is essential for victory to happen. If we can open our eyes like Elisha’s servant, we will see that we are not alone.

“What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be successful against us?” — Romans 8:31

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“My girlfriend is an angel because angels don’t exist and neither does my girlfriend.” — Anonymous

“I wonder if my guardian angel and my future husband’s guardian angel are in a group chat trying to coordinate.”

— Anonymous

“I firmly believe that at this point my guardian angel is just eating popcorn and watching the drama.” — Anonymous

“We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have now done so much for so long with so little, we are now capable of doing anything with nothing.” — Unknown

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” — Napoleon Bonaparte

“Do not be afraid… those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then Elisha prayed… ‘Open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and Elisha saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around him.” — 2 Kings 6: 16-17

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against spiritual forces of evil.” — Ephesians 6:12

Memes of the Week

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

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The post The Angelic Wife appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Raoul’s 2 Cents. July 31, 2026

What’s in a Name?

I had to fill out a waiver form at the Red Cross before I was allowed to donate my blood. There was a question about my gender. Was I male, female or would I rather not say? If I had the option not to say, then why ask it in the first place? When will we get over this silly interpersonal questioning? I was also asked about my choice of pronouns. I wonder if this inspired Hamlet’s “To be or not to be?” retrospective. These questions opened the rabbit hole to the fascinating world of names.

Do you like your name? Don’t be too hard on your parents if you don’t. Naming a person can be very confusing and challenging. I think first time parents over-think naming their child. They buy books about the history of names and consult hundreds of people who really don’t care what these parents name their kid. If they had a choice, parents don’t usually want a common name. Hate to break it to you, but if you do have a common name, you’re probably not the first kid. You’re just an “after-thought.” (Suck it up, butter cup!) Imagine a crowd of people and you shout a common name and half of the people respond to your call — all of them probably NOT the first born either.

Of course, most kids are named after their parent’s most favorite person in the world. Like Abraham (Lincoln) or (Queen) Elizabeth … good Christian names. But if you’re named after your father or mother, your parents didn’t lack creativity — you were just an “after-thought” as well.

Speaking of creativity, I know of two Chinese parents (last name is Pe) who were a little too creative. They named their son Edgar Allen. Poor kid. In the Philippines, many family members share the same first letters. I know of a family with 10 kids — all their names start with “R.” The parents constantly rattle off several names before they remember the right name.

One of my earliest battles for recognition had to do with my baby name. They called me Peewee. Whoever started it should be tarred and feathered! I heard one reason was because I was too darn cute — tiny eyes, big puffy veined cheeks and a disarming smile. I guess I looked like a pot bellied baby Buddha. But when I grew taller than my parents and they still called me Peewee; well that was pretty humiliating. I remember demanding I be called by my proper name and I refused to be called Junior. Yeah, you guessed it — I wasn’t the first born. I too am an “after thought.”

During the old days, a family’s trade was passed on to the children. The local blacksmith was named Mister Blacksmith. The baker was Mister Baker and all of his kids were destined to be bakers. Even Jesus was known as the carpenter’s son. But I doubt his last name was Carpenter – Jesus H. Carpenter – nah! That doesn’t sound right. And I doubt his brother was named Richard who played the piano and a sister named Karen who sang. In poor countries I think this line of name choice is still being practiced but they may be transitioning due to exogamy (marriages outside the family/lineage). For instance, I have a friend whose father ran a candy factory. No, he wasn’t Willie Wonka and neither was my friend’s name Candy. His name is Shoemaker and he’s a musician. Hard to put his face with his name.

Isn’t it strange that there isn’t a Miss Real Estate? Aren’t you glad there isn’t a Doctor Epidemiologist nor a Professor Microscopist … Oh, but isn’t there a Mister Hannibal the cannibal? And how many McDonalds are out there to remind you of hamburgers?

What if we get rid of pronouns altogether and just address people by their full names … would that simplify this branding problem? The South Koreans do it all the time (at least that’s what I read in the closed captions of their movies) — they always address each other by their full names. It could be worse. How would you like to be a Smith? … a Mister John Smith? If that’s your name, you must feel pretty anonymous: “Hey look it’s John Smith!” And everybody would look around and you’re right in the middle and nobody even sees you.

Random Thoughts
Or how about having one of those incomplete names like Lee. When you meet a potential wife named Norma, she’d have to think twice about how her new name would sound if she marries you. Did you know Bruce Lee’s Dad’s name? I don’t know about you but It’s always been a Mister Lee to me. Did you know that Stephen King named his son Joe? How many lawyer daughters are named Sue? How about Ben Dover or Constance Noring? My friend Bernie was named after a saint … a dog saint … Saint Bernard!

I noticed there aren’t any more Hitlers or Judases. Does Santa Claus have a real first name? And I know of only one Engelbert Humperdink — thank god!

Of course, with the influx of people migrating from different parts of the world, complex names have multiplied tenfold. In Africa there is a tribe that prides itself with the most complex sounding names — full of guttural sounds and clicks. But I bet if you call them “Hey you!” they will still respond to that.

Conclusion
Joking aside, we live with identifiers we call names. The minute we are born, our names separate us from the rest of the world. Each name has the potential for greatness. Each of us is special in God’s eyes. Names celebrate who we are supposed to be, whose family lineage we come from but it’s up to us to make our names inspire the next generation.

TGIF people!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.” — Bill Cosby

“Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names.” — Japanese Proverb

“I don’t remember anybody’s name. How do you think the “dahling” thing got started?” — Zsa Zsa Gabor

“I’d be stupid not to take into consideration that there are certain things people will not consider me for because my name is Lopez. And I know I can do any kind of role. I don’t want anybody to say, Oh, she can’t pull this off. So those are barriers that you have to overcome.” — Jennifer Lopez

“Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.” — Thomas Haliburton

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” — Proverbs 22:1

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12

“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.” –Genesis 2: 19-20

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Norm, Jennifer, Dan and Art.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

The post What’s in a Name? appeared first on Traveling Boy.