1. What are some of the “things” or activities that Pismo Beach residents do for fun?

ANSWER: Many Pismo Beach residents enjoy wine tasting at our 4 local tasting rooms. There are many wineries within a 10-minute drive to savor as well. Shopping at the Premium Outlets is popular with residents – 40 top-brand stores with great “outlet prices.” Beachfront volleyball courts offer a view of the pier, cool ocean breezes, and great exercise for residents and visitors. Our 1,200 foot pier is the perfect spot to view colorful sunsets and whale migration.

2. What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Pismo Beach?

ANSWER: For many years, Pismo Beach was known as the “Clam Capital of the World”. However, when the sea otter was introduced to the area, sizeable clams were reduced drastically. Today, clam digging has been replaced by the famous “clam chowder bread bowls,” offered at many restaurants. The 1900s were wild times in Pismo Beach. Pismo Beach was also known to be a place to find booze during the Prohibition Era. Pismo was also noted for having many saloons, along with several notorious brothels.

3. What has Pismo Beach contributed to the world?

ANSWER: Pismo Beach has the largest populated Monarch Butterfly grove in the Western United States. Annually, docents and volunteers are available for FREE tours and presentations. The grove is open daily from November 1 – February 28. Visitors from all over the world visit this incredible migration site each year.

For further information about Pismo Beach, click-on: www.ClassicCalifornia.com

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It was April in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern area of Belgium, and two weeks of cold and rain suddenly came to an end. Warm skies dried the soaked fields, drawing daffodils, narcissus and poppies from the ground, birdsong filled the air and the university students and general population of Ghent, Bruges and Leuven flocked to the riverbanks and city parks to bake in the warm air and enjoy Belgium’s favorite product — not chocolate, waffles, sprouts nor fries, but beer.

More than 800 types are produced in Belgium, most served in their own beer glass shape, from fruit flavored lambics, to high-alcohol Trappist ales and hoppy lagers like Stella Artois, whose parent company just purchased Anheuser-Busch, becoming the world’s largest brewer. Belgium doesn’t have the soil to produce good wine, but who needs dirt when you’ve got the world’s best beer.

Chocolate is a close second in consumption, and there are more than 2,200 shops in Belgium. I visited as many as I could. I also have a fondness for waffles and fries (called “frites” in French), but brussels sprouts, not so much.

Bruges is about an hour train ride northwest of Brussels, lying near the North Sea. It is a beautifully preserved, cobblestoned medieval town of about 120 thousand, where 3 million tourists converge every year

The city has the feel of a film set and became a main character of the film “In Bruges.” Now it is even more of a travel destination, crowds are abundant and can cause claustrophobia in the summer. It is the most visited medieval city in Europe.

Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson collaborated on three animated 3-D movies featuring Belgium’s favorite comic strip, adventuresome boy reporter Tintin. The film took advantage of photogenic Belgium during filming. The Tintin Shop, 3 Streenstraat, stocked every imaginable related item.

You might also be familiar with the Smurfs, another Belgian creation, and Smurf shops are abundant throughout Belgium.

Navigable concentric canals give Bruges the nickname “Venice of the North.” Take the 30-minute boat cruise (6 Euros) to get a real feel for the town. The horse-drawn carriage rides take you on a street tour and are very popular (30 Euros for 35 minutes).

The main market, or “Markt,” is dominated by the 259-foot belfry, whose 47-bell carillon entertains every half-hour during the day. If you are hale and hearty, you can climb the 366 steps to the observation area for a grand view of the city. If you prefer to stay on the ground, in its shadow on the right lies the best Belgium “frites” shack in town. Try them with the garlic mayonnaise (2.5 Euros).

Don’t miss the Friet Museum for the history of Belgian fries and nearby is the Choco-Story chocolate museum, both under the same management.

The best chocolate shops I savored in Belgium are Chocolate Line in Bruges, which has experimental chef Dominique Persoone creating new masterpieces for international competitions. Daskalides of Ghent, Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer in Brussels and Raets-Putseys in Leuven are also artisan Belgian chocolate-makers of great skill and worth a visit.

When you are thirsty, try the oldest bar in Bruges, De Garre, hidden in a narrow — only wide enough for two people to pass — cul-de-sac between the Markt and Burg squares. Ask for the house beer, the best in all of Belgium according to many aficionados, made exclusively for this pub and available nowhere else. Open since 1856, De Halve Maan brewery provides tours and a glass of beer in the tasting room.

Lying halfway between Bruges and Brussels, Ghent is a university town with a population of 230,000 and 60,000 students, most of whom descended to the riverbank of the Leie and enjoyed the warm spring weather and the local beer favored by students, Jupiler. It was in Ghent that I discovered my favorite Belgian beer Orval, a full-flavored Trappist ale with a hoppy finish.

A new brewery, the first since 1976, opened while we were visiting. Gruut will produce five types of beer that will be available in the United States. I took the tour and sampled the beer. They’ll do well.

For sustenance, visit Butcher’s Hall, or “Groot Vleeshuis” in Dutch, and try the air-dried ham, sausages and cheeses. If you need a little mustard for your meat, sample some of the 30 different varieties prepared by Tierenteijn-Verlent, 3 groentenmarkt, founded in 1790. Best cheese market was Petite Normandie and don’t miss the Vismarkt to see the daily catch on sale.

Belgium’s most prestigious university town is Leuven, pop. 90,000. Lying nine miles east of Brussels, the lively student population of 30,000 supports a number of clubs and bars, mostly situated around the city square, and there are a number of warm and inexpensive bistros and restaurants that feed them.

Most of the city was burned by the Germans in World War I, but it has been restored and some medieval areas have been preserved as university housing.

It is also the home of Stella Artois beer, and tours in English are given regularly. The 10 Euro fee includes two glasses of beer and a beer cookbook.

If You Go:

Family run Chez Leon in the heart of Brussels famous restaurant lane, on the cobblestone walking street Rue des Bouchers, is known for its mussels and fries, the national dish of Belgium. The restaurant had hosted Hilary Clinton and TV travel writer Burt Wolf just days before moi; but they didn’t ask for my signed photo to place on the wall of fame.

Cantillon Brewery in Brussels produces the traditional sour lambic fruit beers and gives tours and tastings. De Bier Temple had 600 beers and 300 glasses on its shelves in Bruges and nearby Bierbrasserie Cambrinus featured 400 beers and 325 glasses. Choices, choices.

Some memorable restaurants where I dined in Flanders included three Michelin-starred restaurants; the chic one-star Belga Queen in Brussels, two-star Comme Chez Soi in Brussels, where I dined at the chefs table in the kitchen, and in Bruges at the three-star De Karmeliet. Den Dyver restaurant in Bruges features dishes made with beer sauces. Patrick Devos in Bruges brought us into his kitchen for a cooking lesson. In Leuven Tres Luxe is a chic restaurant with an experimental young chef and Pakhuis in Ghent has a high-vibe industrial feel.

The Tourist Office of Flanders in New York (www.visitflanders.us; 212-584-2336) publishes a number of free pamphlets and maps, information on special events, festivals, museums, self-guided tours, and places to stay, from hostels to five-star hotels. I stayed at the Dominican in Brussels, the Marriott in Ghent and the Kempinsky Hotel, former residence of the Duke of Burgundy, in Bruges.

Originally published July 2013.

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Raoul’s 2 Cents. November 6, 2026

Blue Wave

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

Congratulations to the Democrat party for the bloodbath at the mid-term election. It’s a sober lesson for the Trump administration. They miscalculated their approval from their right-wing base. It’s going to be an interesting two years before the next presidential elections.

Japan’s economy is sinking and my recent trip there showed me why Trump is not a popular man. In his mission to make America great again, he has managed to isolate America from the rest of the world. Let’s be honest, he’s a shrewd businessman you’d want to be on your side but he’s also a bully with all the economic leverage and dangerous military toys at his disposal. It’s understandable why he’s experiencing so much backlash from even long-time friendly countries. But, in his defense, he’s facing insurmountable challenges because he’s the only president who dared to challenge the deeply embedded secret international establishments. He underestimated the combined forces of all of his enemies. Knowing all the conflicts he has to correct from the previous administration, can you blame him? He’s dealing with 12 million plus illegal immigrants, rogue judges who free criminals to do more damage, an entrenched media bias, sub-operatives within the military, FBI and CIA, corrupt elected officials who are stealing trillions of dollars from the taxpayers, etc. Now that the Democrats hold considerable political clout, they will surely focus on bringing him down. Watch out Trump family! Watch out Elon Musk! Watch out Israel! Welcome Illegal aliens! Welcome communism! Welcome Sharia Law!

ALLEGORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS

At the edge of a wide blue sea, an elephant and a donkey stared at a distant island where the grass was greener and the coconuts were, according to the elephant, “the biggest anyone’s ever seen.”

“We need an ark,” said the elephant. “A tremendous ark. The best ark. Nobody’s ever seen an ark this shipshape. I know arks. I’ve talked to arks. Some very smart arks say I’m a natural.”

The donkey interrupts with his own ideas. “Building an ark is a shared project. Everyone should have a place aboard, and we should make sure the animals who need help aren’t left behind. We’re all in the same boat—or we will be, once we build one.”

“First,” said the elephant, “we need to choose the strongest rowers. Big oars for the big animals. They can be foremen, too. I’m great at choosing foremen. The best.”

“Before that, we need an inclusive boarding plan,” said the donkey. “Room for every kind of animal, accessible ramps, family bunks, and a welcoming sign. We shouldn’t rock the boat before we’ve heard everyone’s concerns.”

“How can we do all that given the short time frame?” asked the Elephant.

“I don’t care if it’s not practical as long as it sounds right and let’s not jump ship into construction,” said the donkey. “We need a framework.”

“Exactly,” said the elephant. “And a captain. I’d make a fantastic captain. The ark would be shipshape in no time.”

“Let’s stay on course,” said the donkey. “We can’t just let one animal take the helm. Let’s create an NGO to establish a health plan … you gotta have a health plan in case somebody falls into the sea … and let’s make sure they can choose any doctor they want to … ”

“Right,” said the elephant. “And we shouldn’t hand him the whole ship. What if he sails off with it?”

So the elephant and donkey debated the budget, the oars, the captain, the boarding plan, and who would get credit for keeping the ark afloat.

By the time the elephant called for another meeting to keep everyone rowing in the same direction, a quiet beaver who was an expert in building dams and boats had finished the ark. “Everything’s shipshape,” the beaver said, and opened the gangplank. The animals boarded. The beaver took the helm, and the ark set sail for the green island.

The elephant looked up from his plans. “Hold on. Who gave the beaver the ship?”

“CNN never said anything about it, how can that be true?! I guess he built it,” said the donkey.

“But we hadn’t settled who was in charge!”

The elephant and donkey watched the ark disappear over the waves. “I suppose we should have paid more attention to the work.”

The elephant stared at the empty shore. “We missed the boat!”

“Technically,” said the donkey, “it was an ark.”

“Don’t rock the boat,” said the elephant. “I’m already having a sinking feeling.”

Moral: When the struggle for power takes over, people can lose sight of the task at hand. To get anywhere, we have to work together—and listen to the one who actually knows how to build the ark.

A Future Bigger Than One Election

An election can feel like a door closing to some and an opening to others. For Republicans who are hurting, disappointment is real—but it’s just a wake-up call to assess if the party is still headed in the right direction and to improve their PR to the public.

For Democrats who are celebrating, victory is a moment to be grateful for. It’s wishful thinking that they will lead with humility and care for people who feel left behind but their threats were clearly spoken even before the elections.

No election settles everything. The next chapter is built in everyday choices: listening across disagreement, protecting one another’s dignity, and doing the patient work of building a better future for the next generation. There is room for grief, gratitude, and renewed hope—all at once.

God is still in control so we need to accept this is part of His plan. We need to pray for discernment for our role in it.

Of course, this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.”

— George Bernard Shaw

“ Those who have been intoxicated with power … can never willingly abandon it.”

— Edmund Burke

“There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”

— Will Rogers

“The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God..”

— Romans 13:1

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

— Acts 5:29

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

— 1 Timothy 2:1-2

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 Chuck of Palm Springs, CA, Ed of San Francisco, John of Sierra Madre, and Dana of Pasadena

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.
Raoul’s TGIF Joke

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Photographer Allan Troy Smith spent three-years documenting daily life in China. His photographs focus on the world’s most populated nation in October, 2007 which was the time of great transition. The photographs are intended to speak for themselves.

Below are copyrighted photographs by Allan Smith. You can look but you may not steal.

Originally published in 2010.

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The Old Town Clock sits on a grassy bluff, overlooking Halifax’s historic downtown waterfront. Erected in 1800 for the British garrison at the Citadel, it is the most important symbol of Halifax’s rich historical past. As I rested on the lawn below the octagon tower, I could see a hybrid city of elegant 18th-century architecture alongside modern buildings of glass and steel. Groups of tourist, locals and laughing school children strolled past me, while ships glided in the distance on the world’s second largest natural harbor. As the September sun shone down, I realized I could sit there forever, or at least for the next four days – which was the short time allotted for my visit to this pristine part of Atlantic Canada – but this was not that type of trip, for my plan was to see as much of Nova Scotia as four days would allow me. Tomorrow I would rent a car and head north, but the rest of today would be devoted to exploring Halifax, the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. As the clock on the tower hit 2 pm, I realized it was time to get moving.

Day One

Established in 1749, Halifax was Canada’s first permanent British town. Due to its proximity to the British Isles and the Caribbean, it has been Canada’s leading port city ever since its founding. Even today, as I wandered down narrow streets, now lined with galleries, pubs and sidewalk cafes, all roads seem to lead to the waterfront, where 19th-century privateers’ warehouses have been transformed into boutiques and restaurants. An essential stop was the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which covers almost 140 years in the history of Nova Scotia. Special exhibitions are devoted to the Halifax Explosion of December 1917, the largest man-made explosion prior to the Atomic bomb; the sinking of the Titanic, which met her doom just 700 nautical miles east of Halifax; and the history of Sailing Ship Rigs

Dinner that night was on the waterfront for local scallops and a solid micro-brew. The whole city seemed to be out. Live music played from three different venues. It became obvious that this was a city filled with people who liked living here. Accommodations were at the elegant Lord Nelson Hotel, located across the street from The Victorian Halifax Public Gardens (circa 1867).

Day Two

Morning began with a tour of the Halifax Farmers’ Market, considered the oldest in North America. Once again it was a setting packed with happy Haligonians as well as the bounty of the season with items like local berries, fruit and maple syrup. I loaded my rental car with delicacies, knowing they would come in handy for the long day on the road.

The Town of Pictou is located on the stunning Northumberland Shore. Coined the “Birthplace of New Scotland,” it is here that the first Scottish immigrants landed in 1773. After a stroll through the quaint little town, I drove over to the historic Pictou Lodge Resort, a quintessential Nova Scotia oceanside resort that features log cottages and its own private beach.

It had been a scenic, but taxing two-hour drive from Halifax, so I decided to make camp at the resort and conserve my strength for the next two days of driving. Besides, I overheard that the lodge’s restaurant was serving local crab and halibut that night.

Day Three

Today, I would have to put the peddle to the metal. My goal was to make it to the legendary Keltic Lodge on the world-famous Cabot Trail (named for Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto) by nightfall. I knew, though, that I would have to make two important stops. The Alexander Graham Bell Museum is located in the very New England-like town of Baddeck, where Bell was to make his vacation home in 1885. The museum is devoted to the life of this inventor of the telephone and significant figure in the education of the deaf. The other stop was the Gaelic College; spread over 350 acres of woodland overlooking St. Ann’s Bay. Founded in 1938, it is the only college in the world devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic language, and Celtic arts and culture. The college is so renowned that once while visiting Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, I found a number of locals were sending their children there to study Gaelic language and culture, much of which had been destroyed in Scotland by the English in the 18th century. They were literally traveling to the New World to learn about their own history, culture and language.

After a few more hours back on the road – thank heavens for the snack at the college – Cape Smokey came rising out of the sea and soon I was at Keltic Lodge. Resting on a peninsula, overlooking Ingonish Beach, this is one of those historic resorts that feature its own 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, kayaking and hiking trails. After touring the grounds, it seemed logical that a full lobster dinner in the Purple Thistle Dining Room was the appropriate way to end the perfect day, plus regain my strength for tomorrow’s long drive.

Day Four

Cape Breton Highlands National Park consists of 366 square miles of magnificent highlands and rugged coastal wilderness. Established in 1936 as the first national park in the Atlantic Provinces, it is for many the highpoint of a journey to Nova Scotia. The Cabot Trail runs through the park, offering seemingly endless hiking opportunities. On foot, I spotted whales, bald eagles and even a moose, swimming across a lake. From the car I enjoyed picturesque valleys and unforgettable vistas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

On the other side of the Park is the Acadian town of Chéticamp. La Société Saint-Pierre is a cultural center whose main objective is to preserve Acadian heritage in Cape Breton. The French-speaking Acadians pre-dated the arrival of the English, but most fled the area after the defeat of France by the English in the French and Indian War. Many headed down to Louisiana to an area now known as Acadiana, where the Acadian name evolved into Cajun. The center features traditional crafts and food items. I made a note that Acadian chowder, unlike New England chowder, consists of a clear broth. I followed it with a cheese sandwich and a local berry pie, wisely knowing that nourishment would be required for me to make through the rest of the day.

My final night of accommodations would be at the Glenora Inn & Distillery, located on Nova Scotia’s spectacular Céilidh Trail. The Glenora Distillery is the first single malt whisky distillery in North America. The distillery rests on a rural 300 acre site with buildings housing malt, kiln, milling production, warehouses, bottling and lodging facilities, constructed in a traditional style, similar to distilleries found in Scotland. Tours are offered as well as a sampling of their 12-year old heather and honey tasting “uisge beatha” (Gaelic for “water of life”). Single malt is a whisky produced exclusively from malted barley that is not blended with another whisky. After my tour and hearty seafood dinner, I was told to expect something special for there was to be a céilidh in the distillery’s pub. A céilidh is a traditional Gaelic musical social gathering that originated in Scotland. Céilidhs flourished in Nova Scotia, where Scottish immigrants would meet with friends for an evening of song, dance and generally whisky. Everyone in the room is invited to participate. I was pleasantly surprised to see one of the men sharing my table standup and sing a song in Gaelic. It was the perfect setting to enjoy a wee dram of Glenora’s water of life. I decided it best to book a room for the night in Glenora’s inn. After all, I needed to conserve my strength for the long drive back to Halifax to complete my five-day journey of Nova Scotia.

For further information about travel to Nova Scotia, contact (800) 565-0000 or go to NovaScotia.com.

Originally published September 2013

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Raoul’s 2 Cents. October 30, 2026

Scary People

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

There are two big frightening events coming up in the next few days: Halloween and (if you’re an American) the mid-term elections.

I am not afraid of ghosts or any kind of monster created by Hollywood. In fact, horror movies are more comedic because I laugh at the silly makeup and the contrived silver bullet solutions to get rid of the bad guys. And (did you notice?) because of their heavy makeup and costume, the monsters always move ever so slowly? Yet, by some miracle, the poor damsel runs as fast as she can but somehow the monsters always catches up with her. I think the directors come from the same Film School and follow the same predictable template. What is it that makes people want to be scared in the first place? My first cousin grew up watching horror movies and she frightened very easily. But did that stop her from watching those movies? Nooooo! Of course not. In my neighborhood you can spot the Hispanic households by their front lawn Halloween skeleton decorations. And some of them spend a small fortune just to out-scare their competition. Some people really like the dark side.

But there is one thing I’m scared of the most. And that is a politician.

I’m constantly perplexed how some of the stupidest people in the planet are elected into office. And, almost guaranteed, they come equipped with the loudest built-in megaphone in their mouths. Media outlets love them because they are entertainment at its best (because they’re funny) and its worst (because they are dead serious). Incredibly, there are people who believe their lies — now that’s even scarier!

POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS
Like most of you, I don’t trust the political ads. In fact, the classic law of diminishing returns applies here: the more ads I see of a particular candidate or proposition, the more I tend to believe they’re paid for by some rich, corrupt and desperate politician. So I rely on friends who have done the research. My point is, don’t trust the ads. They think we’re that gullible. Those ads may be witty and entertaining (if not downright nauseating) but many are not substantive. I suggest you find the person you trust who’s really into politics, ask him/her for his list and vote accordingly.

In all transparency, I don’t trust any of the incumbents. Living here in Los Angeles, California, where there is so much corruption and ridiculous laws, why vote for the same people who helped cause the trillion dollar failure? Rather than listen to what they say, look at what they did. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Politicians should retire!

You know what would be really scary? — movies about the monsters in politics! Here are some potential titles:

• The Swear Wolves of the Capitol
• The Phantom of the Vanishing Budget
• Close Encounters: The Illegal Alien Invasion
• Swamp-Dwellers and Loving it
• The Ghosts of the Ballot Box
• The Return of the Dead Voters
• The Narcissists Next Door
• Born Outside the USA

Grab your popcorn! Send in your ballots! Let’s hope we have a safe Halloween and an honest election!

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon‘s that is dreaming.”

— Edgar Allen Poe

“There is something at work in my soul which I do not understand.”

— Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

“Evil has only the power that we give it.”

— Ray Bradbury

“When shall we meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”

— William Shakespeare, Macbeth

“He’s not like us. He smiles a lot. But I think there might be worms inside him, making him smile.”

— Stepehn King, The Stand

“I’m not afraid of werewolves or vampires or haunted hotels, I’m afraid of what real human beings to do other real human beings.”

— Walter Jon Thomas

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

— Isaiah 41:10

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

— 1 John 4:18

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

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 Dana of Santa Fe Springs, CA, Ralph of San Francisco, Brian of Sierra Madre, and Blake of South Pasadena

I found these:

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

SUBSCRIBE

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Everyone remembers Elvis in the 50s wearing his Army fatigues, but I was fascinated to find that both Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson spent their active duty days in Air Force khakis. It’s pretty well-documented that during the early 60s, guitarist Jimi Hendrix was an Army paratrooper with the 101^st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) at around that same time, Kris Kristofferson was flying helicopters as a Captain in the Army Rangers. If you’re a long-time fan of Jazz and Blues you probably knew that the legendary sax player, John Coltrane wore Navy bellbottoms during World War II. But did you know that bluesman Chester Burnett also served during the war? Burnett not only served, but spent a large portion of his military time with the Army’s historic 9^th Cavalry Regiment. Sir, Yes Sir! Howlin’ Wolf was a Buffalo Soldier!

As a journalist, you get to ask people a lot of questions. The ‘Who, Where and How’ things happen usually include early influences, family, friends and the occasional chance meeting or lucky break. But it’s the Why’s and the ‘What the…?’ of a person’s journey that can leave you slack-jawed and direct you down a completely different path. Military service-whether voluntary or the surprise postal “Greetings!” from your local Draft Board-certainly qualify for the latter.

In conversations with musician friends and artists over the years, I’m often awestruck by revelations of past military experiences. B.B. King is one of my personal favorites. When I asked him about serving in the Army during WWII, he laughed and shook his head. “Only a short time…Let me tell you this and I have to apologize to all the service people. I only served when I went into basic training and at that time I was on the plantation. So when you’re on the plantation like I was, we were raising produce and things for the Armed Forces. They told us at that time that what we were doing was equally important. But if we left and stopped doing it, we’d be re-classified. So a lot of us kept doing it. I went in for basic training in ’43. I became 18 in ’43 and short of the full basic training which was usually 3 months, we did 2½ months. Then they re-classified us and they sent us back and I started driving my tractor again. And I drove it till the war was over…when the war was over, that’s when I left and went to Memphis.” I commented that everyone knows the Army runs on its stomach, so in essence you were essential personnel. “Even if I died tomorrow,” B.B. shook his head and started to laugh, “I wouldn’t get a flag!” (Service Commendation Award)   

In the 1940s World War II instantly spread blues music to International shores. When you think about it, it’s impossible to not experience ‘the blues’ when you’re far from home, missing the ones you love and then there’s that little matter of having a country full of people you don’t even know, trying to kill you! That pretty much is an ultimate mood breaker.

James ‘Snooky’ Pryor – United States Army

Chicago harp legend, James ‘Snooky’ Pryor witnessed war up close and personal when serving in the South Pacific. “I was on Noumea, New Caledonia. I was on Saipan, Tinian; I was on Guam and Eniwetok.” Pryor was assigned to the “362^nd Engineers and 267th QM Company, and was attached to the 24^th Infantry when I came home.” Headds, “I was a bugler.” He starts to laugh when he told me after TAPS every night “and not too close to the front line” they would leave the Army PA system hot and he would break out his harmonica and blow some of those mournful, moaning deep blues through the dense, jungle battle lines. You just know, that had to create a major pucker factor for the enemy fighting forces. Sitting in total darkness, on an island in the middle of nowhere and hearing the electrified wail of blues drifting through the banana trees and coconut palms. Amplified harmonica! Snooky said, “That’s where I got the idea from.” Got those mean old, low down, you better duck blues, AGAIN! …another military ‘blues’ first. And I still can’t listen to Snooky play ‘Judgment Day’ without thinking about that story.  

John Mayall – British Corps of Royal Engineers

John Mayall talked about hearing American music and blues over Armed Forces Radio when he was stationed near U.S. troops during the Korean War. Mayall served as a uniformed member of the Corps of Royal Engineers in the British military. He remembers spending almost as much time at sea with the Royal Navy as he did on land. “In the British Army I think you were only allowed to be there (Korea) for a total of, I think, 14 or 15 months because of the extreme winters. It took two months to get there on the boat and two months to get back, so 18 months…about half of my three year service.”   

Mayall’s ‘Memories’ album released in 1971 gives you a little personal perspective of John’s time in uniform with the songs, ‘The Fighting Line’ and ‘Back from Korea.’

Doug MacLeod – United States Navy

Doug MacLeod is the ultimate storyteller/songwriter and bluesman. Doug was active duty Navy during Vietnam from 1964 through 1968. His job was as an Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician. He said he eventually ended up working on airborne electronic systems and surface search radar. “I took a lot of pride in fixing the radars. When they left my shop they were good to fly.” Doug is the first to admit. “I was not the perfect sailor by any means. Shoes weren’t shined, white hat on the back of my head…but I took my job very seriously.” When asked if the military had an impact on the music he plays, he told me “not directly, but it taught me to be responsible for what I do and who I am…and to be on time!” And about the music? “I did meet an old country bluesman, Ernest Banks in Toano VA. I learned from him.”

Doug was stationed at NAS Norfolk for almost 3 1/2 years and I asked if he was able to play music during his time on active duty? “Yes I did.” he says. “I got my start in the coffeehouses in Norfolk and VA Beach.” I’m almost afraid to ask, but any memorable stories from your Navy time? “Yeah, this one. When I first got to NAS Norfolk, I was an E3 so I had head duty a lot. I remember one day mopping up the deck when a Marine Gunny and my First Class PO came in. I stopped mopping and waited for them to finish at the urinals. The Gunny finished first and went to the sink to wash his hands. The 1st Class after he was done just started to walk out of the head. The Gunny saw him and said, ‘Hey Squid! Don’t they teach you to wash your hands after you piss in the Navy?’ The 1st Class came back with, ‘In the Navy they teach us, don’t pee on your hands’.” 

Shane Hall – United States Marine Corps

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Shane Hall joined the Marines right out of high school. “My first assignment was to Okinawa, Japan. The first couple of months were hard, but after that… In ’99 I got back to California, Camp Pendleton…from there I went to Italy. I served four years in Rome. I’m 22, I go to Rome and am attached to the Navy but there’s no base. I didn’t play music very much then… I was still figuring it out. I knew I still needed to work on stuff.” Eventually, that changed. “I started playing more and joined a couple of duo groups, so that’s where I learned to play my first leads. And it was all acoustic up to that point.”

Still in uniform, Shane came back to California from Italy and music became a constant. “I started a duo and gigged around here and we played everything from open mics to coffee shops. We’d do whatever we could to just play. It was called the Side Project because we couldn’t come up with a good name.”

Being in the military created a few inconveniences. “Also during that period I deployed to Iraq twice.” Shane says. “I recorded CDs both times I was out there.” You have music that you recorded in Iraq? “Yeah!” (laughing) “They’re both…not good!” (laughing) “It was just a microphone and a laptop and I didn’t know what I was doing. Just lame songs I recorded in shacks.” (laughing).

Not quite finished with his military commitment, Staff Sgt. Hall was reassigned back to Asia. This time stationed in Iwakuni, Japan. “That was like Music College for me. My first night I went off base, it was my birthday and I went in one bar called Underground, run by an American guy who used to be in the Navy. He owned a couple of bars in town. His name was Dudley, a cool guy, a rock guy from the ’80s and he was a really good drummer, too. I played him a couple of my demos from Iraq and California and he said, ‘Is this you? Is this you singing and playing guitar?’ He said, ‘Come back next week.’ I came back and the bar was closed and he had a band there–bass player and a drummer, Japanese guys. We started a band and it became the house band for his bar. There was a bar in Hiroshima and we were invited by Japanese bands to play with them. It was cool; we did Tokyo and military bases down south, on some islands. I performed on AFN (American Forces Network) because they had an affiliate station in Iwakuni. Iwakuni was also where the blues thing came out. My default is blues. If I strip down and go to my comfort zone, it’s the blues. I think it’s just because it’s comfortable…the time and the feel. I’m an ear and feel player.”

One final tour, “I went to Wilmington, North Carolina, which is a huge music town. That’s where I cut my teeth gigging. I played four or five times a week, still in the military and stationed at Camp Lejeune. The commute was crazy, but worth it. There were a lot of musicians in Wilmington and national acts came through there, so I heard a lot of music, played a lot of music, and it made me realize I could make money at it. And that’s when I decided to get out of the Marine Corps. I got lucky.”

Dennis Jones – United States Army

Dennis Jones is a prolific singer/songwriter and constantly touring bluesman. He’s currently in the studio working on his 9^th album. Dennis tells me, “I was in the Army, from 1977 to 1980…13 Bravo. I was in field artillery then transferred to Special Weapons after 4 months of service. I only did one 3 year stint in Germany and was acting Sergeant for a year. I had more good times than bad and made quite a few German friends.”

Were you playing at the time and did living overseas have an impact on your music? “Yes it did. I was 18 and was performing in a band in the States. So, I formed a band with a few GI’s and we did a few originals, but mainly popular covers of the time. We played in Hohndorf, a local town about 4 kilometers from the base. The German people loved us. We played there as much as possible. Living in Europe opened my eyes to different cultures, food and music. It was a great education for a young man trying to escape the boredom of country living. From 18 to 21, it definitely shaped my life forever.”

Was there a family history of military service? “My Uncle, Richard Jones was in Vietnam. We were pen pals. I still have a few letters that he sent me.”

Do you have any favorite memories from your military time? “I was one of only a few privates that owned a car. I would leave base at 5pm every day and either go to Nuremberg or Furth and be back on base in the morning before 5am role call. Music, girls, nightclubs and parties! That’s what I did when I was 18. I was a bit of an outcast. A lot of things were black and white but because of the music and where I grew up, I blurred the lines. Caught a lot of flak from both sides but I was cocky, confident and didn’t care. I got tired after about a year but I’d signed up for it, so I was determined to make the best of it and I did.”

Ed Croft – United States Navy

Singer, Songwriter, Producer and Sax man, Ed Croft did Navy time in the late 80s enlisting as a Cryptologic Technician Interpretive (CTI) “I took the Defense Language Aptitude Battery DLAB test, passed and enlisted for 5 years with a sign on bonus. Only later did I learn what a CTI actually does, which was not what I was told…however, fate was on my side in boot camp. They had a recruit band, and I was selected to be the Drum Major based on my music background. I had played professionally prior to my enlistment. The Chief Musician asked why I didn’t enlist as a musician. I explained my recruiter said I needed a college degree to be in the Navy Music Program…which also wasn’t true, so he immediately got me an audition. I was selected, dropped my CTI rank and bonus, and became a Navy Musician.”

Where were you assigned? “After my music ‘A’ school in Norfolk, VA, I was asked for my top 3 duty stations. Of course, I wanted to go abroad so I picked Japan, Italy and Guam. I joined the Navy to see something else. The Master Chief asked how does New Orleans sound. I said perfect, so my next 3 1/2 years were spent in the fabulous city of New Orleans with the Navy Band of the South.”

Do you think your military experience had an impact on your music? “Absolutely! You have to be able to play, read and write all styles of music from Military marches, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Country, Pop etc. Being able to adapt and play extremely diverse styles of music has carried me all these years later. It also taught me I had the discipline and focus to play music. After my 4 years were up, this still continues to this day.”

Was there a Croft family history of service? “I come from a big military family on both my father and mother’s side of the families. My Grandfather Croft served in the Navy in WWI and WWII, and my Grandfather Peters served in the US Marines in WWII and was in the first landing troops at Guadalcanal. Then my dad and stepfather served, along with many of my uncles and cousins.”

Last call, any favorite memories? “My favorite memory was my very last Mardi Gras Parade in 1991 riding in the Zulu Parade. BB King was The Grandmaster and at the end of the parade route I ran into Dr. John. I had a bit of a fan boy moment, but he agreed to take a picture with me, which I still have.”  

Caron Sugaray Rayford – United States Marine Corps 

Sugaray Rayford is a Grammy-nominated and multiple Blues Music Award winning musician and he told me, “I was E-6 Staff Sergeant 2141 Amphibious Assault Mechanic. I was with the Amphibious Assault Force (AMTRACS!) I had deployments to Okinawa (during Desert Shield) and a few other places, but always back to Camp Pendleton. Good tours? “I would say I actually enjoyed Okinawa.”

Did your family have a history of military service? “Yes, I have several great Uncles, Uncles, my brother and I, we all served.” Any takeaways from your time in uniform/lessons learned? “Yes, the discipline to be on time and where I’m supposed to be…most of the ‘lessons’ were from my Grandma, but the Corps taught me to be a man.” Did you write or play music when you were on active duty? “No! The funny thing is, I didn’t sing or play for over 13 years.” You certainly seem to be making up for lost time now. Your working on I think, your 7^th album and your songwriting reflects some of the toughest social issues in our world today. Tell us about the track “Invisible Soldier’ from your album, ‘In Too Deep.’ “I hadn’t really spoken about any of the military stuff, or PTSD in my other albums, but you get to a certain age and I’m not sure what that age is; but when you get to a certain age you get a real bad case of I don’t give a damn what people think. Don’t ask me if you don’t really want to know. So I’m at that age. I feel comfortable now, where I am musically and who I am…to talk about it. And I’ve talked to a lot of other Vets, and they’ve all told me, ‘talk about it, it’s cool because it might help somebody else.’ And I’ve always like putting things to music. When it’s hard to speak about a difficult issue, I wrap them in a real nice, funky tune. When you’re tapping your feet and listening to the music…but if you listen to the lyrics and hear what I’m actually singing about you’ll maybe think a little about our Vets.”

Any memorable experiences you could share from your military days? “I’m not sure if your audience is old enough to hear some of those stories, but I will share this one. I remember doing my first fuel excursion (AMTRAC) here in California. I think we were near Camp Pendleton and I was sleeping on top of my AMTRAC vehicle and I thought someone started it up, but it wasn’t being started…It was my first earthquake!” 

Tony Tomlinson – United States Navy

Tony Tomlinson is a long time Southern California guitarist and bassist who currently fronts ‘TA Tomlinson & Co’ and for more than 20 years has performed with the award-winning San Diego band ‘the Fremonts.’His music career definitely has military roots. “My enlisted service not only shaped my musical journey, it enabled it.” Tony says. “I was enlisted in the Navy from 1989 – 1992. As soon as I signed the dotted line, I decided I would buy a guitar when I got to my first duty station. In January of 1990, I got orders to NSGA Naples, Italy. Right around that time, I was listening to a lot of Texas blues in the form of T-Bone Walker, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In August of that year, Stevie died so I went down to the exchange and bought a black Fender Stratocaster and a small solid state amp.

My first paid gig was at the Enlisted Club in Naples. It was with a pickup band consisting of the sailors and marines stationed in Naples. I don’t remember much from that gig other than there were quite a few people there and we played ‘Smokestack Lightning’ at least three times!

A few years later, I was stationed in Misawa, Japan and played some great gigs and met some terrific musicians. One of our first gigs in Misawa was opening for Eddie Money. I also had a weekly gig with a friend and great guitar player/songwriter named Len DiGiovanna. We played at this cool British Pub for beef stew, tips, and free drinks. It was great. The Navy deposited me back in San Diego in 1995. Soon thereafter, I met Tomcat Courtney and my real relationship with the Blues began in earnest. The late 1990s were a great time to be in Southern California. On any given night, you could catch James Harman and Those Dangerous Gentlemens, Johnny Dyer, Billy Bacon, Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets, Billy Watson and his amazing lineups, Big Sandy and his Fly-Right Boys, the Paladins, and many great local bands.” 

What was your job on active duty and any memorable tours? “I was a CTO3 (crypto logic technician operator) when I got out. Right before I got out, I had begun the process of converting to intelligence specialist and did a brief stint in the Reserves. But my most memorable tour was onboard the USS Austin (LPD-4) in support of Desert Shield/Storm.  Due to the nature of my work, I was able to pick up some great radio stations out of France that broadcast wonderful blues programming.”

Was there a Tomlinson family history in the military? “My grandfathers and great uncles were in WWII, my Dad was in the Navy, and my uncles served in the Army in Vietnam.”

I know you recently retired after 30 plus years of combined service with the Navy, any lasting rewards? “The Navy gave me structure and taught me professionalism; and enabled me to buy more guitars, amps…” 

As these memories convey, everyone’s life experiences are unique to the individual, including time spent in uniform. In blues parlance – The Key to the Highway apparently is based on how you choose to navigate the terrain. For the musicians who graciously shared their journeys on this Veterans Day, the common thread seems to center on both service and giving back. Not only of their memories and the miles they’ve endured, but through the artistry and music they continue to share with all of us. Truly, they are the gifts that keep on giving. So, do me a favor…if you know a veteran or just see someone in uniform, be sure to look them in the eye, shake their hand and really mean it when you say, ‘Thank You for your Service.’

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Flying into Prague, the city lies below, red tile roofs fanning over white and yellow buildings sprawling in no apparent pattern around the Vltava River, the result of a natural process of undisturbed development over centuries. Undeterred by city planning, it is what makes this city of spires so surprising, charming and rare.

Prague is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world having never suffered the full brunt and devastation of war and reconstruction.

I was drawn to this landlocked nation in Central Europe by the promise of unspoiled medieval cities and towns preserved like no others in Europe, but I was not prepared for the stunning diversity and grace of the architecture and the lyrical natural beauty of the land. I’d also heard about the glass, porcelain, textiles and other decorative arts, but was most intrigued by the promise of the greatest beer in the world.

Shaped somewhat like a dumpling, the Czech Republic is surrounded (clockwise) by Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria and has a population of only 10.3 million. It is roughly the size of Pennsylvania and its countryside is reminiscent of the rolling green hills, mountains and forests of the Pocono region. The economy is strong with only about three percent unemployment.

I explored the western two thirds of the country known as Bohemia. The region is divided into North, South, East, West and Central Bohemia. The Capital of Prague is in Central Bohemia and contains 10 percent of the nation’s population, with the rest scattered about in pristinely preserved small cities, towns and villages.

Bohemia has nothing to do with the artistic life on the Left Bank of Paris or the Beat Generation. It was the name of the Celtic tribe that inhabited the land before the coming of the Slavs in the 5th century.

In Prague, driving is really not an option in much of the city. Its cobblestoned streets were designed for exploration by foot. It has an excellent rail and bus system that will transport you around for 18 Czech Crowns (Koruna), about a dollar. There are lots of walking streets with only the occasional automobile snaking through the crowded, meandering lanes. A circular highway is currently in construction around the outside of the city to funnel truck and auto traffic away from the inner city.

It is useful to learn a few phrases in Czech that will go a long way with locals when asking for help. Most speak some English, but appreciate you taking the time to learn words and phrases like Dobry den (dobree den) hello, dekuji (dye qui) thank you, prosim (proseem) please and pivo is beer. I found pivo prosim quite handy.

The Czech’s drink more beer per capita than anywhere else in the world (adults consume about 80 gallons per year) and it’s cheaper than Coca Cola, costing about $1.25 a glass. Brewpubs are everywhere and, as in Ireland, the centers for social and intellectual life.

If you’re not imbibing, make sure to visit the numerous ornate churches, many of which have been converted to concert halls and offer performances on a daily basis, and the numerous museums, from the puppet and torture museums in the city of Cesky Krumlov to the Mucha, Mozart and National museums in Prague.

You must also climb the never ending steps leading to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, which loom above the city; cross the heavily statued Charles Bridge which links the Old Town with the Little Quarter, explore the hundreds of years of architecture on display in the Old Town Square and wait on the hour for the Astronomical Clock to whirl its figures as hundreds of tourists look on, visit the Jewish Quarter and Cemetery and the whimsical Dancing houses which guard the Jirasek Bridge over the river. Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, they are also nicknamed Fred and Ginger after the dancing duo.

I also sampled quite a bit of the hearty cuisine, which includes lots of pork, dumplings, cabbage and potatoes.

While in Prague I took a cooking class at the Culinary Institute taught by one of the country’s top chefs, Vaclav Fric, who helped us make a spectacular lunch that included crispy roast duck, a delicious cream chicken dill soup with poached egg, the best chewy dumplings I’ve ever tasted and a fruit filled pastry for dessert. He was off to Galway, Ireland following class to participate in the Annual World Oyster Shucking Contest, where he finished 12th last year.

And did I mention the beer? It is worth making a pilgrimage to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in the town of Plzen, about 50 miles southeast of Prague. Also try the original Budweiser Budvar beer, which began brewing in 1785 in South Bohemia and is nothing like its insipid American cousin. Na Zdravi (nazzdravee – to your health).

Renting a car is the best way to see the countryside, but can be expensive with gas costing between $6-$7 a galloon. Plan your excursions wisely. I visited the beautiful and wealthy spa town of Karlovy Vary, close to the German border and about 60 miles northeast of Prague. Here you can take the cure from the healing mineral waters, if you can get past the vile and noxious taste of iron ore, magnesium and potassium. Most people sip the scalding hot waters from little porcelain teapots, but I’d rather drink the local liqueur Becherovka, an herbal digestive served chilled. Visit the Becherovka Museum of Liqueur at the far end of town for a tour and a taste.

Nearby is the world famous Moser glass factory, where you can tour and view the artisans spinning hot glass into delicate and colorfully etched masterpieces, while cooling themselves with up to five bottles of pilsner a day, provided by the company. Cold beer and hot molten material seemed an odd combination, but why fool with success.

Just a few kilometers from the factory is the medieval town of Loket, encircle by the Ohre River, which forms a natural moat. According to locals this was Goethe’s favorite town in Bohemia. Be sure to climb the castle tower for a grand view of the area, and see why Goethe was so enamored. The town is also famous for its porcelain and as a setting for the 2006 James Bond film “Casino Royale.”

The South Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its photogenic narrow streets, monumental castle, cobbled lanes, tiny shops and inviting riverside restaurants make it second to Prague in tourism. Ballooning over the city in the early morning is a popular and entertaining way to see the sights. In the summer canoeing and rafting down the encircling river is also widely enjoyed.

In the town of Ponesice I visited the local distillery, which makes fruit liqueurs and spirits (Slivovitz). The award-winning Walnut Liqueur is worth the visit. First shot free, others a dollar. I spent a few.

Heading back towards Prague, I stopped in the historic town of Pisek, which has the oldest stone bridge in the Czech Republic.

When You Go:

There are a number of housing and dining options from country inns and local eateries to world-class hotels and restaurants. Every hotel I stayed in had free Internet service. In Prague at the Holiday Inn outside the city and the modern designer hotel Andel’s in the city

I had delicious chewy potato pancakes and a huge roasted pork leg at U Provaznice, a traditional restaurant on a side ally in the city ($12). I also dined on Matylda, one of the elegant riverboats.

In Loket I had lunch at Cisar Ferdinand, a local restaurant that served huge portions at reasonable prices (a recurring theme). In Karlovy Vary I stayed at the Hotel Resort Sanssousi and Hotel Imperial. In Plzen I ate at the Brewery restaurant Na Spilce, a large underground dining hall converted from a fermentation cellar, and stayed at the Hotel Angelo Pilsen. In Cesky Krumlov I dinned at the historic Hotel Ruze and stayed at the Old Inn. In Pisek at the Hotel Biograf.

For brochures, housing, spa and restaurant information and lists of events and festivals, contact the Czech Tourist Office in New York, 212-288-0830, ext. 101, in******@**********sm.com. Website: www.czechtourism.com

Czech please!

Orinially published in 2017.

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October draws to a close with a melancholy air. Days are colder, dead leaves flutter to the ground after a last burst of color, before finally drifting away to be tossed by the winds in all directions. Something about this image that inspires vintage, romantic songs like “Autumn Leaves”… and brings memories of a Love, once held close.

How fitting therefore that the world we know, lets go of October with a celebration of the spirit gone into another realm. In many western worlds, they call it Halloween. Adults dress up like ghosts, zombies, etc. and go about trying to scare each other. Later, though, as an influence of Christianity, the affair has graduated to a more convivial , fun thing. It has become like a children’s costume party with lots of angels, demons, princesses, pirates, cowboys, fairy tale characters, witches, etc. Candies and chocolates greet those who come to the door of houses decorated with lighted pumpkins. “Trick or Treat!”

But in the Philippines, there is the tradition of “All Saints Day” (Todos los Santos or “Undas”) which is a way of remembering dead loved ones by prayers, bringing flowers, and lighting candles at their grave. This custom of going to where loved ones are laid to rest, is a hold-over from the Philippine history of being under Spanish rule hundreds of years ago. In Latin American countries, they call this custom, “Dia de los Muertos,” or Day of the Dead. But again, as in the celebration of Halloween, the solemnity of the day of the dead has become a fiesta of sorts.

People still go to cemeteries primarily to visit the graves of loved ones. But over population has turned cemeteries into cities of the living, for at least a day or two. Grave yards are invaded with bright lights, music blaring from boom boxes, food vendors, balloons, relatives and friends turning the visits into private parties. Nothing wrong with this, as long as you do not disturb others around you. People must honor their dead in their own way. I don’t think the dead mind.

Above (photo) the din of celebration, the underlying theme of recalling those who have gone ahead, has endured. This is what makes Todos los Santos a significant part of the Philippine culture. That no matter how busy the lives of people, Filipino tradition takes time to pause and set aside a day for remembrance. It is said that no one is really gone for good, if those left behind continue to think of them. In the Broadway play of “Les Miserables” there is a beautiful song that expresses this yearning for those who have journeyed ahead:

“There’s a grief that can’t be spoken
There’s a pain goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone…”

Relationships continue beyond death like love waves reaching out, holding on to each other through the mystical distance. In Corinthians 13, it says, “Love endures.” So, in a practical sense, this day of remembering is a way for the living to cope with the reality that life on earth ends, to continue to another level of forever. It helps to see that you are not alone in facing this reality. The idea of Dias de los Muertos is to see others, thousands of others, who feel what you feel. Above all, it strengthens the belief that there is an after-life. For how can you stand facing the pain of missing someone, if there is not the reassurance that “someday in heaven, we will meet again?” The candle you light represents that faith, your hopes, your trust in that faith. When you truly believe that there is a God and a heaven above, you can cope with the left-over sadness of a good bye. There is always a morning that awaits you…beyond the evening of Dia de los Muertos.

Interesting Factoid

In a cemetery in Malabon, Philippines, is an infamous tomb that displays a statue of Satan standing above St. Michael. Many people wanted to tear it down but this ominous edifice was erected at the request of Don Simeon Bernardo, the man who was buried there, in 1934. In order to appease the neighborhood that lived in fear of this demonic presence, the townsfolk decided to enclose the characters in a steel cage somewhere around 1970.

There is a blog in Tumblr.com called Philippine Urban Legends that gets into this in more detail.

click on image for enlargement

Orinially published in 2009.

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Raoul’s 2 Cents. October 23, 2026

The Favor

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.
WARNING: Serious stuff today.

I had a strange and very vivid dream last night: I had just parked my van outside the arrival area of an airport in a third world country. There was a mess of tourists who had just arrived and they were looking for a ride to their hotel. One of the expats asked me if I knew anyone who could drive them to their destination. And I said “sure, I can do that … I can take 6 of you and your luggage in my van … just wait here.”

As I walked towards my van, I noticed a guard at the entrance. He was making sure no unauthorized taxi was able to come in. “So that’s why there’s a shortage of taxis or Uber drivers … they had to be authorized!”

The guard pointed me to the airport security office to get permission and lo and behold, the head of security was an old friend-of-a-friend. I asked him if I could be allowed to pick up some people in the waiting area. He was extremely friendly and helpful. He understood it would be a lucrative job because I could charge up to $500 because these tourists were desperate. Dollar signs appeared in my eyes. Then in the privacy of his office, he whispered “there’s price for this favor. I want 20 percent of what you make.” I was staring at corruption in the face. This sleazy government official with his slick hair, manicured nails and thousand dollar suit must have the same deal going with a short list of drivers. The moral man in me said “No!” but the hundreds of thousands of dollars of huge potential profit was hard to resist.

Justification: I thought of my family and all of the things we could do with that money. Besides, other people were already doing it. No one would know of our secret agreement. It was a difficult decision.

Then I woke up.

My first question to you: What would you have done? Stop and think. Be honest.

MY TAKE AWAY

This scenario helped me understand the tangled web of corruption in government. I suppose you’ve heard of the billions of dollars paid to the Somalis in Minnesota … the billions of dollars already spent on the High Speed Rail System in California with hardly any track installed, the Daycare and Medicare scams, the payments made by Venezuela and China to several senators and congressmen, etc (the list is long and includes corruption in both parties). If one of these people (who was sworn to secrecy) flipped, the dominoes will start to fall.

My dream helped me see how easily anyone could fall into that trap, how deeply entrenched they are and why they are so desperate to bury the investigation. It’s too late to turn back. They’ve already sold their souls.

I grew up under the Marcos dictatorship. I have met some of these evil powerful people who unashamedly demanded kickbacks from our company. I know people who were “eliminated”. I recognize corruption. I’ve heard the sob stories of those who were sorry … that they were caught … indifferent to the lives they ruined.

This November election, the powerful and worried people at the top of the food chain will bank on their subordinates to be too busy to research the facts. They have manipulated media to spread their lies. Blind fools will trust their party to have their best interest in mind so they will vote along party lines (even though the party has long deviated from its original noble mission).

My second question to you: Will your vote be for your party or will your vote be for the good of the country?

Of course, this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”

— Mahtma Gandhi

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”

— Carl Sagan

“The guilty always scream the loudest.”

— Anonymous

“A man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.”

— Teddy Roosevelt

“If absolute power corrupts absolutely, where does that leave God?”

— George Deacon

“It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”

— Mark Twain

“When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads.”

— Ron Paul

“If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.”

— Proverbs 29:12

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

— Romans 12:19

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 Brenda of Oklahoma, Norm of Encino, Don of Los Angeles, Art of Sierra Madre, and Colleen of Arizona.

I found these:

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

SUBSCRIBE

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