Garage Door Repair

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Today’s topic is a little bit different because I put on my repair hat and I think it’ll be good for you (who own a home with a garage door) to know what is involved in its expensive repair. Hopefully, I will save you some time and money.

THE DO-IT-YOURSELF PHASE
My garage door suddenly died. I clicked on the remote — nothing! I clicked on the wall switch — nothing! No lighting … no sound … nothing! That began my adventure to the wonderful world of garage door repair.

Off the bat, I knew it had to be the circuitry … ie. an electronic problem (and not a mechanical problem) because if it were mechanical, the light would have turned on and I would have heard the motor running. I stared at the garage circuit box overhead for a long time. “How do I open you up? Where will I find the circuit board and will I be able to pinpoint the defective diode (resistor or capacitor)?” I’m hoping it’s just a simple fuse. And then I reminded myself that I’m a senior citizen now and falling off a step ladder would most certainly bring death by a thousand slings of arrows of outrageous fortune. In plain terms, “do I really want to do this?”

A neighbor recently had to replace her garage door remote and it cost her $800. Shock! Being the legendary cheapskate that I am, I boldly went where no cheapskate had gone before. I accepted the challenge! I mean, how hard could it be?

My Dad inspired me to fix things ever since I was a kid. I was his reluctant weekend assistant whenever our blue Chevrolet station wagon broke down. Our garage was full of opened radios,TVs and broken electronic trophies that I tinkered with to discover their inner workings. I also went to the Don Bosco Technical Institute (a private High School for boys) and took vocational mechanics – I learned how to arc weld and acetelyne torch … how to operate a lathe machine and a milling machine. I learned drafting and understood schematic diagrams — so I knew a thing or two about repairs. With all my illustrious technical achievements, no garage door apparatus was going to scare me.

It was a strain on my aging muscles to unscrew that overhead case but I finally got that circuit board out — a marvelous piece of wired-up, worthless junk. I did a visual and sniffed for anything burned — nothing! But I was dead certain it was the culprit … it was the only logical explanation. I got the model number and surfed the web but that part was “discontinued.” I called numerous repair shops but nobody carried it and there were even some hostile garage companies that dropped the phone saying: “We don’t sell parts! We only replace garage doors!” For ordinary DIYs (Do It Yourself-ers) that would have been enough discouragement. But not stupid ol’ me. No, I am of a different breed of stupidity!

My last hope was Ebay and suddenly, there in this lonely shop 10 miles away from me, was the illusive part! The model number checked out. The picture was identical … and all for $50! That looked like a real bargain! I purchased it and drove to a dinky grage room in a motor home. The Mexican owner was an electrician with his own cluttered trophies of opened TVs and electronics. “No hablo ingles, pero aqui tiene su Circuit board!” I made sure there weren’t any snooping federal agents, dug into my trench coat and handed him the cold cash. The “drug deal” was complete.

Back home, I slid the new circuit board in and voila! When I hit the remote, the light turned on and the motor started turning, I imagined a parade of angels started marching down the garage, a clarion of trumpets played “Oh When the Saints Come Marching in” … but the fanfare stopped when I noticed that the gate was still not moving up. Something else was wrong!

I figured (this time) it was a moving part. Searched Youtube University for other desperate souls that shared their garage nightmare and came to the conclusion that the culprit was a white plastic gear the size of a top that was worn out. Unfortunately, my internet search proved once again that the part was also “discontinued.” Alas, that was the end of the road. Even though I had the energy to continue the repair, the gods of garage parts no longer smiled at me. Reluctantly, I called the one shop that would send over a technician right away.

THE PROFESSIONAL
Ivan came with a red truck carrying all sorts of parts. I sized him up. He did the same. “I’ll charge you $700.” I said “$500.” He said “no.” I said “see ya!” He pondered and said he didn’t come all the way here for nothing. So we shook at $600. Later, I searched for the price of the garage kit and it was less than $300. Doing the math, this guy’s 2 hour labor was going to cost me $350. For a cheapskate like me, that’s a lot but I was desperate to get it done. (Commentary: Why go to college for a non-existent job to eventually get paid $20 an hour to flip burgers and straddle a student loan when you can learn a trade and get paid $150 an hour? Think about that!)

The repair was so simple. You replace everything but the side rollers. You replace the wall control, the two side sensors, the horizontal belt drive, the 2 remote controls and the garage circuit box. I could have done it myself … maybe not as fast but I could have figured it out. It was done in 2 hours.

REAL TIPS:
Next time your garage door malfunctions, learn from my mistakes. Don’t even try finding parts (they make new models ever so often) so they do not stock up on discontinued parts. Just buy the garage door opener kit which costs $250. Fix it yourself or buy the kit and haggle for labor cost. You’ll sleep better, you’ll keep the missus happy and you won’t die a Shakespearean death.

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“Measure twice, cut once, swear silently.” — Anonymous

“When in doubt, use more duct tape.” — Anonymous

“No Worries, I watched the safety video.”— Anonymous

“The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.” — Thomas a Kempis

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” — Luke 14:28

“The masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the LORD, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.” — 2 Kings 12:12

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, California

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Jacob of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post A Gilligan Question appeared first on Traveling Boy.

My Japanese Friend

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes. Today’s article is sublime.

I have a breakfast meeting every Monday morning at a fast food restaurant. It’s supposed to be a business meeting where we exchange referrals but it has evolved to more of an excuse for us to get out of our daily routine and unwind. We’ve known each other for over 15 years. When we solve all the world’s problems we separate to our own lives. Dan was one of us.

Dan was a quiet Japanese-American married to Jan. He and Jan were two peas in a pod — always together for 41 years. Long since retired, they decided to sell purified water, medicinal mushroom patches, and other alternative health supplements. They were walking samples of their ware because both looked very young for their age. They were the sweetest couple you would ever meet. No trace of hostility … always ready to help with beaming generous smiles. They would always share a Japanese treat to go with our coffee. Dan was hard at hearing so he struggled to keep up with our gossip. Jan used to interpret what we were saying until Dan decided to do his Day Trading hobby in another table while Jan mingled with the rest of us.

Dan and I would exchange stock trading tips every time. Thanks to him, I got out of Bitcoin with a good profit before Bitcoin tanked. Dan loved to fish … and I mean deep-sea Tuna fishing. He would go on an overnight boat trip with a group of guys with sophisticated fishing tackles and reel those silver monsters in. A few times, he would share a pound of fresh juicy red tuna strips with me. It was gastronomical heaven for my wife and I. Other times I would get these unexpected phone calls on Wednesdays: “Raoul, are you doing anything for lunch? It’s Taco Wednesday! Tacos only cost a dollar today!” Who could resist an invitation from this thrifty old man?

Dan was in the upstairs bedroom last Wednesday early morning (the same day I was having my colonoscopy) while Jan slept downstairs. He must have been tinkering with his laptop and doing his trading. It seems he got up and tripped on something. Jan woke up at her usual time at 7am and she found Dan mumbling on the floor. There was big gash on the wall where he probably hit his head. The paramedics came and the doctors guessed it was a stroke. Even if they revived him, his senses were already gone. They kept him alive with a machine for his children to say their goodbyes. Sadly, they pulled the plug on Thursday.

What a way to go. What a full life. What a loss for the rest of us. Dan was a believer. He loved the Lord. We prayed the last time we had our Taco lunch just a week before. We prayed for our Monday group. I know he is in a better place. I’m sure you have similar stories about friends and loved ones who died unexpectedly. Life isn’t a bed of roses, huh?

I imagine Dan reading his bucket list in heaven. Did he do all he said he would do? Was that expensive hearing aid worth the little time he enjoyed it? Should he have eaten more of those chocolate bars he avoided? Did he say enough for his family to know how much he loved them? Should he have fixed that squeaky door he promised Jan to fix? Should they have taken that trip to Alaska? Should he have cleaned up the junk collection (a pair for each useless item) instead of leaving them for Jan to clean? He must be glad he prepared that Living Trust and paid for burial expenses.

Last Monday our group listened to Jan as she shared what she was going through. She said they hardly had long conversations … his deafness didn’t help. She talked about the children and the arrangements for the cremation. I’m sure she had a lot more to say but the traffic of a thousand thoughts must have entered the room. Before we dismissed ourselves, we made a pact that none of us would die … at least not before next Monday.

Death brings so much unfinished business to the table. Dan’s passing reminds me of a lot of cleaning, a lot of paperwork and a lot of loving I need to do. What’s in your bucket list? Are you prepared to go?

My wife and I just watched the romantic masterpiece — “Pride and Prejudice.” After the movie I smothered my wife with kisses calling her “Mrs. Pascual … Mrs. Pascual … Mrs. Pascual.” (Watch the last scene of the movie if you don’t get it.)

TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades, especially if your teammates are bad guessers.” — Demetri Martin

“I don’t mind dying, the trouble is you feel so bloody stiff the next day.” — George Axelrod

“I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” — Woody Allen

“Either he’s dead or my watch has stopped.” — Groucho Marx

“I’m not ready to die. Period. To begin with, I cannot imagine a future without me in it. Can’t do it.” — Robert Schimmel

“If no one knows when a person is going to die, how can we say he died prematurely?” — George Carlin

“For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow … but phone calls taper off.” — Johnny Carson

“Having your whole life flash before your eyes as you die is basically the ultimate binge-watch.” — Bridger Winegar

“I have a long-standing friendship with death. When it comes, I will ask her to sit down and relax, then I’ll suggest to her champagne. Because, in fact, I’m a coward.” — Salvador Dalí

“I want to die like my father, peacefully in his sleep, not screaming and terrified, like his passengers.” — Bob Monkhouse

“Stop worrying about the world ending today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” — Charles M. Schulz

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’ Do you believe this?” — John 11:25-26

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” — Philippians 1:21-23

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Andre of South America

A paraprosdokian is a rhetorical device featuring an unexpected, often humorous twist at the end of a sentence, forcing the listener to re-evaluate the beginning.

This isn’t really new but I thought it was still funny.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
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The Joys of Colonoscopy

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Hoo Hah! I just had my insides probed by a staff of three. It was supposed to start at 3:30pm but it actually began 2 hours later. As soon as I get back in shape I’m going to chasten the scheduler in the gastroenterology department. I didn’t want to say anything before the procedure otherwise I would have been at the mercy of those guys. That’s one of the things I realized as I waited in that lonely cubicle: I felt so helpless. There I was lying in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out and prepped up for the operation, naked underneath the flimsy hospital gown. My biggest concern: what to do if there was a 9.5 earthquake or a fire alarm sounded or Godzilla were to attack — I would have to had run out butt naked and then interviewed by a CNN reporter.

I wondered how different things would have been if I were someone important like Elon Musk. I bet he’d go through the whole waiting and probing procedure in half an hour. But even he probably would have had to drink all that nauseating concoction to clear his intestines like us ordinary humans. (Unless of course, he’s really an alien from another planet.) Isn’t it reassuring that rich boys also grow old so one day they will also face the operating table? Think of all the aging celebrities — plastic surgery can fake the appearance but their clocks still tick to their appointment with agonizing, excruciatingly painful death — just like the rest of us.

This hospital does about 64 colonoscopies a day. Yesterday, when I had mine, they had been doing over 70 for several days. Ka-ching! No wonder the facilities can afford to look so clean. No wonder there were so many personnel bustling about. That place was a beehive of activities. It was like I was in the middle of the soap opera General Hospital TV show – there was the pretty receptionist doing nothing but answer phone calls, the unkempt guy with the ruffled haircut pushing carts here and there, the respected all-knowing surgeon with the gray hair and glasses, the sweet caring nurse, the serious nurse who carried the weight of the world on her shoulder, and there were the guest stars — patients like me.

“When was the last time you ate solid food? Why? Didn’t you read the instructions?” said Nurse Serious.

“I’m so sorry for the wait,” said Nurse Compassionate. “There is one patient ahead of you … well, actually two … but don’t you worry, we’ll get to you eventually … I hope. Think positive! Would you like an extra blanket?”

“Hi I’m Doctor Colonoscopy. No, I can’t shake your germ infested hand. See the gray hair? See the tired eyes? You’re my 70th patient today. Relax! I’ve had 20 cups of coffee so I’m good … just goooood! A little shaky but none of my patients have died … yet! We’ll wheel you in now – Nya ha ha!”

“Hello Mr. Raoul, welcome to the operating room. Please lie on your left side. Smile for the camera! No need to be shy, I’m the guy from Beta Phi … I’m certified or hope to die! I’m the practicing doctor and we’re gonna have a fun time tonight! Nurse, crank up that funky music! Yeah baby! Get down tonight! Get down … get down .. get down … get down tonight!”

“Hello, I’m your nurse for today. And I’m just going to start the anesthesia and …”

The next thing I know, my wife is with me and the nurses are pushing us out of the hospital because I’m the last patient and they are anxious to go home.

When I get home, the world is still spinning around and I crash to bed. I sleep soundly for 5 hours … best sleep I ever had! I can’t wait to do this again! Not!

SERIOUS COLONOSCOPY TIPS
I was given written instructions but (men aren’t good with instructions so) I had to call to make sure I was doing things right. If you are planning to have a colonoscopy soon, and you’re as confused as I was with the instructions to prepare for the procedure, here’s my unprofessional medical advice.

You will be given a list of medications to buy. But the only one you really need is the Miralax (or Purelax or any of the other laxative brands). The goal is to ingest something to make you empty your stomach. Anything else beyond that is just to make it easier on you. Before I had a whole gallon of this absolutely yucky “coconut juice” I needed to drink — made me throw up and poop. This new procedure is better tasting. I didn’t throw up.

In the morning before my colonoscopy scheduled for 3:30pm, I didn’t eat anything solid the whole day. In a pitcher, I mixed eight laxative powder caps (using the bottle cap as a measure) with 2 half bottles of Gatoraid (preferably with zero sugar and not the flavor with a red dye). I had to consume the pitcher within an hour. I drank 3 whole pitchers in 3 timed intervals. (For me it was from 4pm, then 7pm and then 10 am the next morning which was the day of the colonoscopy). There’s a recommendation for Laxative pills (to soften the stool) and Gas-x (to relieve gas pain) but I don’t think they were necessary. The Purelax was good enough to flush everything out.

On the day of the operation, wear comfortable clothing, bring your Driver’s License and insurance card. Leave your wallet, rings and jewelry. You can bring your cell phone. You cannot come alone using Uber. You need a responsible adult to bring you there and take you home — warn that person to wait 3 to 4 hours. The actual probe only lasts 20 to 30 minutes but the hospital may overbook (like they did in my case). When they say you have to be there at 9:10. Be there by 9:10 — the prep time and wait time are already taken into account (in other words, no need to be there too early).

I hope you find this helpful. TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“Laughter is the best medicine – unless you’re diabetic, then chocolate, insulin, crying, comes pretty high on the list.” — Jasper Carrott

“My doctor gave me two weeks to live. I hope they’re in August.” — Ronnie Shakes

“I was going to have cosmetic surgery until I noticed that the doctor’s office was full of portraits by Picasso.” — Rita Rudner

“Nineteen percent of doctors say that they’d be able to give their patients a lethal injection. But they also went on to say that the patient would have to be really, really behind on payments.” — Jay Leno

“After twelve years of therapy, my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said: ‘No hablo ingles.'” — Ronnie Shakes

“I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” — Psalm 117:17

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Major Accident appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Gene Pool

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Easter Sunday with the whole family was so much fun. All of my kids and grand kids were playing at the park — from my oldest kid to the youngest grand kid, they were running around like little children. This was just as I imagined and hoped to see when I reached this age. God is good.

And talk about genetics! I could see different strains of personality traits in each one. Do you also see that in your own family? Among my siblings, there are those who look more like my Dad’s family (slanted eyes, prominent chins, straight hair) and others who look more like my Mom’s family (almond eyes, rounder/softer features, wavy hair). My Dad could move facial muscles, move his ear, and tip his head horizontally from left to right like a Hindu dancer. I can’t jiggle my head like that. I tried but I just can’t. However, I do have a bit of a rubber face just like Jim Carrey … but my daughter can do all of that. I got the tall genes. Only one of my daughters got it. I got my Mom’s musical talents and creativity so does my youngest daughter. I see this love for music in 3 of my grand kids. My son got the analytic vibes of my wife and father. I also see my athleticism and energy in all my boys. Neither my Mom nor Dad, nor any of my other older relatives have dark brown skin … I do. Only my youngest has dark skin.

Did you know that Adam lived to be 930 years old? (There is no record of Eve’s age. I guess even then, you never ask a woman’s age.) In fact, Noah was born when Adam was still alive (at least that’s what some say). Imagine what must have gone through Adam’s mind observing the variety of personality traits running around his yard. Sadly, he bred rotten kids that forced God to wash them away and start from scratch with 8 people on the ark. Pretty wild, huh?

I can see this scenario:

Adam: Look at all our kids, Eve. Hard to believe all these wild kids came from us. When God told us to procreate, we sure did, didn’t we?

Eve: The wild ones come from YOUR line of the family! I heard Nimrod played with fire again … almost burned down the tool shed Seth built. I’m tellin’ ya, you better start disciplining those kids or we’ll have another Cain in the making.

Adam: I tried to teach them, but they wouldn’t listen. Kids ain’t got no respect! The minute they turn 100 years old, they think they know everything! I’ve long given up! Well, at least we’ve got Noah … always building something creative.

Eve: Yeah, but did you hear? He’s building a boat!

Adam: A boat? What’s a boat?

Eve: Something that floats!

Adam: Well, isn’t that amazing? (laughing) A boat that floats! I knew that kid would invent something useful one day.

Eve: “Useful?” … he’s building it in the middle to the desert!

KIDS
We hope and pray the best for our children but with the challenges of life we never know how our kids will turn out. Of course, teach them while they’re still impressionable but realize there’s no guarantee they will always make the right decisions. Adam’s “sin nature” passed on to all of us. I believe there are good and bad genetic strains in all of us.

TWO WOLVES
You’ve heard the old Cherokee story: A father tells his son that we all have 2 wolves growing inside us — a good wolf and a bad wolf who are constantly battling for dominance. Which wolf wins will depend on who we feed the most. Needless to say, we should strive to be the good wolf. Why? The good wolves become dogs. Dogs become man’s best friend. They’ve get a roof on their head and play all day and they get spoiled rotten. The bad wolves? They’re still out there hunting their own food.

Three things I know: When life gives us lemons, we make lemonade. When life gives us a box of chocolates, we never know what we are going to get. But when life gives us chocolate lemons, we will have indigestion!

So be a good wolf and stay away from chocolate lemons!

This is just silly ol’ me. TGIF people!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

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Quotes of the Week

“When you keep criticizing your kids, they don’t stop loving you. They stop loving themselves.”
– Unknown.

“There are two gifts we should give our children: one is roots and the other is wings.”
– Unknown.

“Behind every young child who believes in themselves is a parent who believed first.”
– Matthew Jacobson

“When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” – Erma Bombeck

“Why don’t kids understand their nap is not for them, but for us?” -Alyson Hannigan

“If evolution works, how come mothers only have two hands?” -Milton Berle

“Having one child makes you a parent. Having two kids makes you a referee.” -David Frost

“One day I’ll be thankful that my kid is strong willed but that will not be today, not in this grocery store.” – unknown

“Silence is golden…unless you have kids, then silence is just suspicious.” – unknown

“Like all parents, my husband and I just do the best we can, and hold our breath, and hope we’ve set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” – Michelle Pfeiffer

“Based on the amount of laundry, I’m going to assume there are people living here that I’ve never seen.” – unknown

“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” — Proverbs 29:17 (ESV)

“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” — Luke 11:11-13

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” — Ephesians 6:4

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Jonathan of S Pasadena, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this post.

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The post Honest Apology appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Thoughts for Palm Sunday

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and next Friday I will be quiet. No jokes next Friday because it is Good Friday (the day when Jesus was crucified on the cross) and it’s been our tradition (here in my emails) not to bring humor on such a sacred day. I hope you understand. And I hope you don’t mind that this edition will be more spiritual in context. If it bothers you, please move on to the jokes.

I’ve been doing research on the Ethiopian Bible and it’s fascinating. In a nutshell, the Ethiopian Bible has the same books as our regular Bible except that it has a few more books (about 15 more) that were tossed aside by the Bishops (during the Council of Nicea during the 3rd century). They doubted these other books were God-inspired and were not worthy to be among the collected scriptural books.

(Note: A reader corrected me on my information. See comments below.)

DANIEL

For example, the book of Daniel had an interesting additional Chapter 13 which was about Susanna, a beautiful woman who was lusted by two elders (ie. supposedly righteous men) who hid in the bushes as she bathed. They pounced on her and threatened to spread a scandal if they did not get their way. She chose the scandal instead of giving in. She prayed to God that justice would be served. The accusation spread as expected and the people were about to stone her to death but Daniel, a godly wise man, intervened and requested to interrogate the 2 elders. He separated the two and asked each of them under which tree they saw her having an affair. They gave different answers and that proved they were the ones guilty of fabricating a lie. And the elders were executed.

Cool story, huh? I wonder why they didn’t include that in the Bible.

There was another book about Adam and Eve that explained what they did after their fall from grace — how they wanted to get back to Paradise and how Satan tried to deceive them time and time again. The story reminded me of Greek mythology and, intriguing as the stories were, I think these were more fable than authentic.

DISCERMENT DILEMMA

Since time immemorial, we have been flooded with truth and fiction. It is understandable why people find it hard to believe the claims of scripture. Even now we have fake news. Yet truth has always existed between the chatter. Sometimes it’s just harder to find.

On the first Palm Sunday when Jesus rode a donkey inside Jerusalem, He fulfilled a series of unmistakable prophecies. Religious scholars either missed all the signs or denied they were taking place. Today we have an array of irrefutable archeological evidence that Jesus was/is the Messiah.

I asked Grok (the AI of X) about Jesus and it admitted that Jesus definitely existed:

“Jesus was real. His core ethical teachings contain profound, practical wisdom that has improved human life on balance – they reward curiosity about goodness, self-examination, and love over power. They align with a humanist impulse: treating people as ends, not means, and seeking truth beyond raw survival or greed.

Whether the full Christian story (divinity, atonement, eternal life) is literally true is a question of personal faith, evidence evaluation, and worldview. Billions find deep meaning and transformation in it. Others see it as beautiful myth carrying moral truth. I respect both. I’m here to explore the universe with honesty – historical, scientific, and philosophical – without dogma.

If the teachings resonate with you, they’re worth living by, whether you see Jesus as fully divine, a great moral teacher, or something in between.”

Good diplomatic answer, huh?

PERSONAL STORY

When I was searching for God/truth decades ago, a young pastor volunteered to spend time with me at his humble home every Monday at six o’clock. No question was off limits. I had so many questions — among them were: the existence of UFOs, yetis, evolution, déjà vu, the silliness of tithing, ghosts, stonehenge, etc. After months of me hammering and hoping to find a crack in his faith, I overheard his wife calling out to him to come to dinner (she didn’t know I was in the patio with her husband). I suddenly realized this patient little man had been skipping dinner with his family every Monday just to listen to my silly banter. I felt so small. I realized I wasn’t there to learn. I was there to ridicule his faith. Even though he was willing to continue our sessions, I told him that I wasn’t coming back to bother him. He left the door open.

Even though the logic made sense, I was a stubborn mule who didn’t want to accept anything to change my lifestyle. I continued to investigate this Christian counter-culture and, a few months later, I became a born-again Christian. In retrospect, it wasn’t the facts presented, but the changed lives I saw, that made me take the leap of faith. It’s been over 40 years and I have never regretted that leap. They say no one comes to faith except through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. If you really want to know, pray about it. May you be blessed beyond your wildest dream. Thank you for reading this far. If you have questions, let’s talk. I’ll skip my dinner for you.

Of course, this is just me. TGIF people!

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Quotes of the Week

“Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.” — Terry McAuliffe

“The lion and the calf shall lie down together but the calf won’t get much sleep.” — Woody Allen

“The great advantage about telling the truth is that nobody ever believes it.” — Dorothy L. Sayers

“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” — Winston Churchill

“Half a truth is often a great lie.” — Benjamin Franklin

“The most common lie is that which one lies to himself; lying to others is relatively an exception.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“Sometimes the point isn’t to make people believe a lie – it’s to make people fear the liar.” — Anne Applebaum

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.” — Proverbs 19:5

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” — Revelations 21:8

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Norm of Encino, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

Thank you Chuck for creating an icon that sprouted so many laughable memes. R.I.P.

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

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CPAP-A-LuLa She’s My Baby

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Do you sleep well? I don’t. How I envy you. There are days (or nights) that are better than others but it’s always a struggle especially now that I’ve grown older. My subconscious/hyperactive brain solves multiple puzzles all the time. It doesn’t know that it’s supposed to quit for bedtime. If you’re like me, hopefully, what I share will help you with your sleep problem.

When I joined a Men’s retreat months ago, I was so conscious about waking up my roommates with my snoring that I didn’t get to sleep well. I wished I had a CPAP machine. I used to have one ten years ago but the mask was cumbersome and I didn’t get the rest I needed. So, I ditched it

I heard the technology had improved so I got myself a new Resmed CPAP machine. The machine is quieter. The mask is softer and fits better. (There was a little instruction booklet. Did I read it? Of course not! Men don’t read instructions!) Without hesitation, I wrapped the gear around my head. I felt like an astronaut blasting off into space:

“Houston I just locked my mask on. Am I clear for take-off?”

“Roger that, captain. All systems go! 3 – 2 – 1, blast off!
See you on the other side, sir!”

I closed my eyes, air rushed in the tube and into my nostrils. I dreamed I was hibernating in space. I was hopeful that I would reach Dreamland. But only two hours later, I was wide awake again. I tossed and turned and soon it was morning. The beam of sunlight snuck inside my bedroom. I heard the cars headed for work. My dogs barked at the people passing by. I flipped through the news on my phone — the earth was still rotating around the sun and the terrorists had not blown up the world yet. It was going to be a good day. And here I was in bed … still tired. I wondered if the machine was defective. That was when I read the instructions. But that didn’t help.

I called an expert — my good old friend, Bernardo, who had been using a CPAP machine for years. He convinced me that what I had was top of the line. Maybe I just needed to get used to this contraption. I decided to give it another try. The following evenings, I went through the same routine. The next morning (and the mornings after) I woke up still not rested. I was frustrated.

I was reading the gospel of Mark where Jesus healed lots of people. He healed a blind man, restored the dead to life, etc. (Say, if you aren’t convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, read the action-packed book of Mark.) I noticed Jesus never healed a man with sleep apnea. Maybe this is an incurable disease … maybe they didn’t have CPAP machines in the first century.

CONCLUSION

Would I recommend a CPAP machine? So far, not yet. I still wake up in the middle of the night. I think my real problem is insomnia and not apnea.

I haven’t given up. I’m doing more research. I’ve cut down on my screen time. Trying to read more. I’ll start taking melatonin. I watched a video about the sleeping techniques used by soldiers at war. If you have any suggestions, please share.

My sleeping may not have improved but at least I don’t snore anymore. And that’s still a good thing.

TGIF people! I’m going back to sleep … at least I’ll try.

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Quotes of the Week

“We have met the enemy and he is us.” — Walt Kelly, from his Pogo comic strip

“Happiness is waking up, looking at the clock, and finding that you still have two hours left to sleep.” – Charles M. Schulz

“I finally got eight hours of sleep. It took me three days but whatever.” – Unknown

“Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.” – Anthony Burgess

“I’m so good at sleeping that I can do it with my eyes closed.” – Unknown

“Legend says that when you can’t sleep, it’s because you’re awake in someone’s dream. So if everyone could stop dreaming about me, that would be great.” – Unknown

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Donna of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Tony of Hacienda Heights, CA

Thanks to Richard of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Obsessed With You appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Club AI

This article may be too nerdy for you. If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Doctor K gave me a grand tour of his hi-tech business-incubator-office located within the University of California Irvine complex last Wednesday. He is one of the pioneers in AI technology whose thesis was on multi-Agent AI in Tokyo back in 2011 before the world was even aware of AI technology. He’s the real deal when it comes to AI. He develops apps using AI. As you probably know, I have been interested in AI for some time and I have a lot of questions. It was pure joy to be able to pick the brains of an AI expert.

Dr. K, is an optimist. He assured me that AI will not take over the world. He reminded me that, just as man learned to ride a horse (and increased travel and communication by leaps and bounds — pun intended), AI is just another jump in technology. Mankind will eventually learn to adjust. A human will always be needed at the helm to control AI — no such thing as the scenario depicted in the Terminator movie.

He went under the computer hood and explained how AI is programmed. He let me in on a little secret — there is no such thing as an objective AI. AI shifts its opinions about so-called truths all the time. A prompt (ie. a question or a command) starts at one end, filters through an extensive network of data (data that is constantly updated) and comes out with an answer that may not look anywhere near the expected answer. So, just like surveying opinions, we should still weigh the accuracy of AI answers.

A VARIETY OF AI
According to this guru, AI models are built differently and some are better than others in different fields. There are even bad AI models. He studied all the AI programs out there and he said:

• ChatGPT is good for text, image and video
• Claude is the leader in structural reasoning, research and coding agents
• Perplexity.AI is best for real-time search and deep research
• Einstein.AI is a strong AI entry into the CRM market
• Fin.AI is great at customer support with a 65% resolution rate
• Otter.AI is good for voice to business value
• And Universal AI is the best for AI-native business productivity (whatever that is).

When I asked him why GROK (Elon Musk’s AI) wasn’t in his list, he gave a long pause. Then he said he doesn’t support any of Elon’s products because Elon is his future competitor. He was dead serious. He isn’t comfortable with Elon having a monopoly of the tech industry. I agree with him.

Dr. K warned me of bad AI:

• Builder.Ai was a fraudulent business. Venture capitalists pumped in millions of dollars into the company but instead of any AI technology, behind the façade, there were hundreds of Indian technicians (humans and not robots) calculating and researching the solutions.
• Apple Intelligence (Siri), Canva AI, Zoom AI, Google Sheets AI — are either using outdated technology or they just rebrand real AI companies to give the impression that they are in the cutting edge.

Is all this information above your paygrade? Relax, I’m not that far ahead. Dr. K was spitting tech lingo that didn’t make sense to me either. But it was exciting to breathe the same air as Dr. K and all the other tech wizards. There was so much potential for technical greatness in those rooms. I felt I had walked into the middle of the set of a sci-Fi movie.

We had lunch at the canteen where I saw brainiacs lost in their laptops … and clumps of CEOs, Venture Capitalists and programmers brainstorming over their meal. Elon Musk or Steve Jobs could have been there and they would have blended in nicely. You could feel the energy and witness sparks jumping out of their nerdy brain cells.

Dr. K’s final word about AI: after all the pieces finally fall in place, mankind will realize that love (not intelligence) is the key to our survival.

CONCLUSION
In recent years, I have been disillusioned about the future after seeing spoiled-brat-college students demonstrating and causing havoc in their campus — fighting for all the wrong reasons … unable to defend their politics. (You’ve seen the newscast videos, haven’t you?) But after seeing this technical haven, I have new hope that there is a future for mankind … a future that will be even brighter than expected.

TGIF people!

x x x

• In case anyone is interested, I will be teaching how to create music using AI this Sunday, March 15, 2 pm at the La Habra Gallery.
• Tuesday is Saint Patrick’s Day. Do people still celebrate it? It’s like a wanna-be event that never made it to the big times. Anyway, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
• In case you are interested to read more about AI, here’s an article about the future of AI which Norm sent me.

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

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Quotes of the Week

“Robots will do everything better than us. I’m still looking for the instruction manual.” — Elon Musk

“The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers.” — Sydney J. Harris, Journalist.

“My AI assistant knows everything about me, except where I left my keys.” — Anonymous

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” — Proverbs 2:6

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” — James 1:5

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Richard of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Colleen of Washington State

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Man vs Computer appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Intimate Friends

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

John, my partner in my property management business, is about to undergo a bypass operation in a few hours. I called him up and made sure he was ready for whatever may happen. He was in good cheer. John is a born-again, Bible thumping Christian. He knows that his faith in Christ and not any good deed is his ticket to heaven. He’s ready for anything. We said our goodbyes … hopefully, not the last one.

I remember John’s phone call in 2017: “Raoul, me and other Rotarians are going to Nigeria to teach the locals about entrepreneurship … would you like to join us?” A week later I found myself alone in the humid Nigerian airport — the lone foreigner in a sea of dark-skinned natives. Through a series of unforeseen events, I was separated from the rest of my Rotarian teammates and somehow arrived at the airport hours ahead of the others.

It was only then when I realized that I was completely detached from my world. If some bandit decided to kidnap and murder me, feed my body to wild hyenas … no one would ever know what happened to me. I must have looked like a lost puppy because an airport security guard approached me. “Where are you from? China?” “No,” I said (not wanting to invite a kidnap), “I’m from the Philippines.” “Filipinas! Oh, Pacquiao!” he laughed. This boxing enthusiast in faraway Nigeria knew Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino champion.

We became instant friends. He led me to a sit-down restaurant inside the airport where I was able to rest. He signaled to the waitress to make sure it was okay for me to sit there. As I watched people come and go, I decided to take out my sketchpad and draw people’s faces. I asked the waitress if she wouldn’t mind posing for me. She was surprised by the proposition but she finally gave in. After a few minutes, I handed her the caricature. She laughed. We laughed. People in the restaurant laughed. Somebody asked if I could do his sketch. Then another. Pretty soon, a crowd formed around my table. The restaurant started getting lots of customers because there was a long line of people laughing at my caricatures.

When my fellow Rotarians finally arrived, they had no trouble finding me in that vast airport. Of course, John was surprised to see all the trouble I had caused in such a short time. John partnered with me the whole time I was in Africa. We taught thousands of college Nigerians in standing-room school auditoriums about starting their own business (I believe about 40% were unemployed). It was between one of those sessions when John shared his idea of starting a partnership with me. That’s when our friendship blossomed.

I wrote more about this in my previous TGIF emails.

John was a lot healthier then. We’ve been through several adventures together (both in Africa and here in the States). As John faced this crucial challenge, I told him to make sure his operation is successful because I planned to visit him in Connecticut this year.

My deep connection with John isn’t unique. I have many intimate friends — friends who have gone below surface level relationships. Some of you who are reading this article know you are one of them. Friends are a true blessing. They make life fun and exciting. But did you notice — the deeper we get in a relationship, the deeper the pain when we lose them? Is that why some avoid the hurt and keep their distance? Have they been hurt so bad that it’s hard for them to trust? I hope this isn’t you. If it is, get in touch with me and I may be able to help.

When my older brother died, I remember my Mom telling me that her loss was so deep; but she learned to survive and carry on because her suffering taught her compassion and to love even deeper.

TGIF People!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

You can read my previous emails in TravelingBoy.com

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Quotes of the Week

“Friends don’t let friends do silly things… alone.” — Anonymous

“There’s nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” — Anonymous

“My friends and I are crazy. That’s the only thing that keeps us sane.” — Matt Schucker

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.” — Oscar Wilde

“I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell — you see, I have friends in both places.” — Mark Twain

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Bear with each other and forgive one another; if any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Donna of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Bev of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Don’t Eat Donuts for Breakfast appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Spring Cleaning

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Spring isn’t due till later next month but I’ve been thinking about cleaning up our garage already. I confess that I’ve got pack rat in my DNA. I come from a family of Philippine pack rats. My grandmother owned a warehouse located a few blocks away from our home that was full of junk. She collected different colored wine and medicine bottles — red, cobalt, green and violet. There were rows of old leather shoes, boxes of Perla laundry bar soap, Camay body soap and stacks of old newspaper. To add to her addiction, she even ran a pawn shop littered with typewriters, accordions, xylophones, adding machines – just stuff! When you realize that she survived the ravages of the Spanish-American war and the Japanese occupation, it all makes sense.

She was so thrifty that whenever anyone needed a new pair of slippers, she would repurpose old shoes — cut their sides and turn them into sandals. She even collected balls of string and wire that she picked up while walking in the street.

THE FIRE
My Mom woke us up in the middle of the night: “Wake up! Hurry! There’s a fire!” Half asleep and wearing our pajamas, we walked a few blocks away to our cousin’s house where we watched the flames rise high into the night. We had to close the windows because of the overpowering stench of smoke, burning wood and plastic. I could hear and see people who were like bees bustling about in a beehive — men were directing the exodus while others carried away their life possessions in boxes and bags. We could hear the sirens of the fire truck and the crackling sparks of the giant bonfire. It was a nightmare.

Come daylight, we were told that grandma’s ancestral Spanish-era home burned down to a crisp. Along with it burned her precious warehouse. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Sorting through the smouldering pile of ashes, I dug up her melted bottle collections. Surprisingly, some of the soap survived. Many were half burned. I remember washing my hands with half-sized bar soaps because grandma (true to form) cut out the burned portions and saved the good halves. She never rebuilt that warehouse … she started buying property instead.

WORLDLY POSSESSIONS
We all know that we can’t take our stuff with us when we die but, comparing the pile of stuff collected in our garage and my grandmother’s warehouse, I can see the same pattern rekindled: In my garage, I see piles of old artwork, favorite VHS tapes my kids grew up with … my kids’ toys, my son’s basketballs and volleyballs, board games and drawers of business paperwork. How do I sort these out? Where do I draw the line between heirloom and fire-hazard junk? I have no inspired solutions. Do you?

In her website, clutter expert, Marie Kondo, offers a “simple but effective organizing system that uses a transformative criterion: choosing what sparks joy; with her method, (she claims) you will learn to listen to your inner voice and make space for the life you want.” Hmmm….

I guess I have some heavy reading and belly button meditation to do. In the meantime, here’s a song written by Jim Webb and sung by Amy Grant. It’s called “If These Walls Could Speak.” The song explains my thoughts when I part with my sentimental clutter. This is why it’s hard for me. Like my grandmother, I too grew up with very humble beginnings.

Here are the first few verses of the song:

VERSE 1
If these old walls
If these old walls could speak
Of things that they remembered well
Stories and faces dearly held
A couple in love
Livin’ week to week
Rooms full of laughter
If these walls could speak

VERSE 2
If these old halls
If hallowed halls could talk
These would have a tale to tell
Of sun goin’ down and dinner bell
And children playing at hide and seek
From floor to rafter
If these halls could speak

CHORUS
They would tell you that I’m sorry
For bein’ cold and blind and weak
They would tell you that it’s only
That I have a stubborn streak
If these walls could speak

TGIF People!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

Mailchimp has been tampering with my email database so you might get cut off. If that ever happens, you can find me in travelingboy and resubscribe.

Quotes of the Week

“Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.”— Anthony J. D’Angelo

“I hadn’t thought that I was generally a pack rat, but it turns out I am.”— Joan Didion

“There’s not a platinum record hanging in my house anywhere. It doesn’t exist here. I’m over it. They’re all in the garage, wrapped up in bubblewrap.” — Jon Bon Jovi

“And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'” — Luke 12:15

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:19-21

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Sharon of Oakland, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Donna of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Bev of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

Got any good jokes? Come share it with rest of us!
Know someone who enjoys a laugh? Share this website.

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The post Bold Claim appeared first on Traveling Boy.

Jury Duty

This story may be too religious for you so if you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

I need to phone in and report for Jury Duty today. Chances are, I will be going through the screening process at the courthouse on Monday. Most people dread being called to this uniquely American judicial tradition but not me. I hope the trial will last just a few days (5-7 days is the average). I do have a lot of responsibilities … I do have a life. Maybe I should just shout ”off with their heads!” and get it over with.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

I’ve never actually been to a trial before. I came close once but I was filtered out on the first day. Maybe I watch too many trial movies but I’d love to watch the drama of the lawyers badgering the witnesses – “You can’t handle the truth!” Will I display wisdom or idiocy during the closed-door huddle among “twelve angry men?”

Should I bring my laptop to do some work? Will I be able to write notes and do sketches — hmmm, can I do sketches?! Oh boy, I can put on my artist hat and do caricatures! Now you’re talking! This is definitely going to be a “fun” experience. Maybe I’ll be able to sell my sketches to the evening network news and launch a new career as a courtroom caricaturist who makes people laugh.

Kidding aside, I know this is serious business. People’s lives will be in my hands. Will it be a case of murder or some other horrific crime? Will I be able to understand the arguments with my poor hearing? Will I be able to remember the important evidence? Will I be able to determine truth from lies? Will I do my duty with integrity?

RAMON vs DIEGO: A TRUE STORY

Did I ever share my story about Ramon and Diego? This happened during a period when I was transitioning from being an atheist into a God-fearing Christian. My faith was still growing. I prayed that if God was real, He would give me a sign and show himself to me. And He was answering my prayers through little inexplicables.

I was a manager in my grandfather’s marble mining company back in the Philippines and I was in charge of the men in the warehouse. There was a basketball ring at the back of the facility and, after working hours, the men and I would usually do a round of basketball.

One day Ramon, my responsible foreman, confided to me that he was in trouble with Diego. I don’t remember exactly what the issue was but there was an exchange of words and Ramon was concerned about an ambush because Diego, the new hire, was part of a gang. Ramon would be an easy target on his way home. What to do? (What would you have done?)

SHADES OF SOLOMON THE WISE

I pondered this delicate situation. I remembered reading how King Solomon cleverly judged who was the real mother of a baby by offering to split the baby among the two Moms (1 Kings 3:16-28). How would King Solomon appease these two proud men? If I favor Ramon, Diego will murder him for sure. If I favor Diego, Ramon and all the other men would lose respect for me.

I still didn’t know who God was but I prayed. (Isn’t it so typical that atheists pray when they run out of options?) Somehow, I got an inspiration right out of the blue. I told them, I wasn’t going to decide who was at fault. I told them they would play one-on-one basketball at the end of the day. The winner would determine who was right. Surprisingly, they both agreed.

The rest of the day, the men were talking among themselves — some sided with Ramon and others were with Diego. I was dripping sweats of blood as game time approached … praying that this zany idea would work.

I officiated the match and I let them at it. Ramon and Diego banged their bodies like gladiators. No fouls called. In the process, Diego must have seen that Ramon was tough and determined. Ramon wasn’t afraid to die. Diego realized that Ramon was a husband, a father and a fellow human being. Ramon was fighting for his life. The match ended with cheers from the crowd. Ramon was victorious. Drenched in sweat, they looked each other in the eye and shook hands. The respect was evident. Then they all went home.

I was so happy to see Ramon alive and well the next morning. Diego was also in a good mood — they were bros. The crisis was over. Diego disappeared a few weeks later but Ramon stayed loyal to me until I left the company. No one really understood what happened in that game but everyone knew that it worked.

If I am chosen as a juror, I promise to weigh all the evidence and be fair. I pray that all parties involved will come out as better people. I know I may sound a little naive but if I were on trial, I’d expect the same thing from my jurors. Wouldn’t you?

Of course, this is just me.

In case you are interested, I wrote a somber song called Modern Justice (almost 10 years ago). I was inspired to write it because I was frustrated at the courts not dispensing justice as I saw it. It’s a bit dramatic but you may like it. I let AI put it into music just for you.

TGIF People!

If you like my emails, please do me a favor and spread them around. Thank you!

Mailchimp has been tampering with my email database so you might get cut off. If that ever happens, you can find me in travelingboy and resubscribe.

Quotes of the Week

“When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.” — Anonymous

“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” – Johnny Corcoran

“There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience.” — Anonymous

“Cases are won on closing arguments only on television, not in a real courtroom.” — Anonymous

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” – Luke 12: 11-12

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” — Matthew 18: 15-17

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. — Matthew 5: 38-42

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, California.

Parting Shots

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Donna of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Jennifer of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Fred of Long Beach, CA

Thanks to Bev of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

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My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

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