Joke of the Week
Thanks to Wyne of Mandaluyong, Philippines
Raoul’s 2 cents
George
If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.
He did it again. Tonka, our Corgi did it again! He swallowed something that upset his system. He started throwing up several times during the day until there was just bile coming out. My wife rushed him to the hospital while I waited at home with Tinker, his sister corgi. My wife had to wait there for hours. And, when it was finally our turn, the veterinarian called with all sorts of questions about where Tonka went and what he ate.
Have you ever talked to a Vet before? Do they all talk like Kindergarten teachers? I felt I was in Sesame Street talking to Big Bird.
VET: “Do you really think it’s a good idea to see Tonka inside the back room? When he sees you and you say in English you’ll be coming back, he won’t understand why Mommy is leaving him again.”
ME: “Don’t worry Doctor Doolittle. It’s already too late. Tonka has been a nervous wreck ever since we snatched him from his real Mommy. He’s already a serial killer!”
I tell you, if you are contemplating getting a dog — don’t! Sure, they’re cute and adorable and they elevate your self-confidence to narcissistic levels BUT …
- they need to be fed,
- you need to give them a walk in the middle of your busy day so they can poop and pee,
- their fur and dog smell permeate your once beautiful home,
- veterinarians and pet food manufacturers get richer as you grow poorer,
- Annoying as they can be, you still develop strong emotional attachments
- and the worst part is — THEY DIE!
- 15 years max and — THEY DIE!
- All that dog food and dog toys suddenly useless because — THEY DIE!
- Guess who’s going to be the nervous wreck?
Dog-sitting Tinker was going to take hours so I decided to watch Youtube on TV while I prepared dinner. Somehow, a 3.5 hour documentary of The Boring Life of George Washington popped up. I realized that I didn’t really know that much about US history or Washington. I’ve heard bits and pieces about him like his chopping down the cherry tree and his wooden teeth … but I didn’t grow up in an American Grade School; so I let the video play — and boy was I blown away! No joke. I am so so amazed at President Washington.
I DIDN’T KNOW
- I didn’t know of his insecurities because his father favored George’s half-brother whom he groomed to be among the aristocracy in England.
- I didn’t know he was a successful cartographer, turned real estate mogul, turned farmer, turned international trader, turned local magnate, turned disillusioned entrepreneur, turned revolutionist, turned politician.
- I didn’t know Martha was a widow with 2 kids and that she was uber wealthy. (George was a Gold Digger)
- I didn’t know George was a towering six feet 3 inches tall. Hubba hubba! No wonder Martha fell for him.
- He suffered a few war losses which prompted him to read about war strategies.
- The Continental Army was composed of amateur soldiers who were mostly simple farmers. George had a knack for choosing the best officers to accomplish his vision and shape his ragtag army to battle the most powerful armada in the world.
- There were internal political factions because many were still loyal to the English crown. (So many parallels to today’s politics). His quiet, humble demeanor masked his calculating strategy that won the respect of his peers.
- Finally, he was offered the crown but he refused to be king.
The Youtube AI-generated video used annoying repetitious descriptions and strange painterly AI visuals, but I was captivated. One man probably put this together (the writing, the video editing, etc.) so bravo to his efforts. The video has definitely changed my admiration for George Washington. He deserves all those buildings, streets and schools that are named after him. What a perfect way to prepare me for America’s upcoming 250th Anniversary this July 4th.
I also watched short fun historical YouTube clips about the other heroes of that era produced by Prager University. (Full disclosure: The presentation is apolitical but the writers have a right wing viewpoint). America has much to be proud of thanks to the Judeo-Christian values and sacrifices of our forefathers. They gave everything (some lost everything) in the hopes that our generation will preserve this great political experiment. They gave us all the ingredients … we just need to follow the recipe.
AFTER THOUGHT 1
Of course, I’m aware other countries have their own stories of valor and I’m certainly interested to learn about them. What would be truly interesting is to compare perspectives from both the winning and losing sides — “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” I encourage you to watch these videos. It may inspire you to soar like eagles.
AFTER THOUGHT 2
I was never a fan of history until I started reading the Bible. (True story!) It started me pointing at maps and imagining what it would have been like to live in those arid places, to talk to these spiritual legends and to look under the rug for hidden lessons. It made me appreciate the blessings we have and wonder why God put us where we are today.
AFTER THOUGHT 3
Well, I guess there is one good reason to have a dog after all. Tonka forced me to watch a boring history of the great President George Washington.
TGIF people!
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Quotes of the Week
“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.” — George Carlin
“If we must die, we die defending our rights.” — Chief Sitting Bull
“America is a country of inventors, and the greatest of inventors are the newspaper men.” — Alexander Graham Bell
“America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.” — Oscar Wilde
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” — Abraham Lincoln
“Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” — Psalm 37:27-29
“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
“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” — Zechariah 7:9
Memes of the Week
Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA
Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA
Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA
Thanks to Jamie of La Habra, Ca
Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA
Thanks to Doug of Boston, MA
Thanks to Carlos of San Diego, CA
Thanks to Estella of Manila, Philippines
I found these
My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:
I hope I got you to smile.
Larry
June 26, 2026 at 5:08 pm
My Dog Patches was my best friend growing up. He was my 10th birthday present.
My parents got him at an animal shelter called Orphans of the Storm. He had been at different places before.
All the people brought him back. He was 10 months old when I got him. He was a mix of a Hungarian Sheep Dog (Comondor) and Standard Poodle.
He was certainly a sheep dog. Hair covered his eyes. He was a bit wild. My Father built a chain device in our backyard so he could go out and play and poop and pee, but many times he broke the chain and my brother or myself would have to track him down as he ran with a chain around his neck.
He impregnated one of our neighbors dogs. There was discussion how my family was going to have to pay our neighbors for the puppies.
We were close friends of ours neighbors so it was handled.
When my Parents divorced. There was a big issue about Patches. My Mom and I looked at apartments, but none would take dogs.
My Mom bought a condo.
We had Patches fixed. His manhood taken away. Something my Father would never allow.
It calmed Patches down. I think I have told you before about how devastated I was by my parent’s divorce. Contemplated suicide.
Patches and I would take long walks around a lake that was near. Patches was so smart. If I would get lost, he knew the way home.
When my Mother decided to move to California after my high school graduation and my knee injury, she decided to take Patches back to Orphans of the Storm to put him to sleep.
I remember watching my Mom drive away and Patches sitting in the back seat. Broke my Heart.
I have never had a pet since and never will.
On History. I watch many documentaries. I watched one on the rise of Hitler.
Did you know that the Swastika is actually an old Sanskrit symbol that Hitler turned into the blood cross?
American reparations after World War 1, led to the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. American banks had to be paid.
American history. Hoover was wrongly blamed for the depression of 1929 and the stock market crash.
It was American greed and foolish behavior that led to the collapse. Hoover was an engineer from Stanford.
After the crash, the called homeless shelters, “Hoovervilles.”
I do not admire America as much as you do. Maybe it’s the 60’s counterculture still in me.
You know the Bible is my favorite book. It’s not just a book. It’s life and truth and my salvation.
I am going to attach pictures of Patches to this email.
TGIF
Noel
June 27, 2026 at 3:05 am
hahahaha another good one.
Speaking of dogs, my friend who lives in Belmont, sanfo had spent a lot of money in vet bills. They really love their fur babies..had a short break bec of the new apo , but now back to running the dogs in Funston by the sea. Many Pinoys are becoming like that (or you)lalo na they have these cute imported breeds..Spend a lot of money in grooming and vet and pati mga outfits etc..SO I just have an askal..nothing that will sleep on my bed, curl up with me in a sofa and kiss me all over the face (di ba you can get some bacteria when the dog licks your face lalo na if they just finished licking their balls or pussy or another dog’s behind LOL!!)
And I will remember not to use a toilet if one pops up in my dream LOL!! this reminds me of two old friends talking..\
guy 1 ….i find it hard to shit in the morning and in fact the whole day.. what about you?
guy 2 .. oh not at all..I am able to pee and shit at 7:30 am most days
guy 1…oh , that is great, what is there a secret ritual to it?
guy 2… I don’t really know because i wake up at 8:00 am
lois
June 29, 2026 at 10:30 am
Once again, I had to look into junk to find your newsletter. When you suggested watching this documentary, I tried to find it on the TV and ended up watching a documentary on Netflix called simply “Washington.” From the context of TGIF, I realize that there are a lot of things in the documentary you watched that aren’t in the one I began watching. I’ve watched one episode. I learned things I didn’t know. I wasn’t aware that he wanted to be an officer in the English army and their declining got him thinking about creating a sovereign nation. Anyway, I think I’ll watch the documentary on YouTube sometime soon. I love the dog cartoon. It reminded me of our dog. I hope Tonka is doing OK. Did they figure out what he swallowed?
Raoul
July 1, 2026 at 1:16 am
Tonka is fine. We suspect he ate food tainted with some form of salmonela. After a few injections and pills, he felt better. Regular poop is slowly coming back.
Donna
July 1, 2026 at 1:13 am
I saw this post in social media which might be related to your article on pets:
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
“Mary had a little lamb” wasn’t just a nursery rhyme—it was a real 9-year-old girl who saved a dying lamb, and that lamb’s wool eventually helped save a piece of American history.
You probably learned the rhyme as a child.
Maybe you’ve even sung it to someone else.
But Mary was real.
Her name was Mary Sawyer, and the famous poem began with a true act of kindness.
March 1815.
Sterling, Massachusetts.
Nine-year-old Mary was helping with morning chores when she discovered that one of the family’s sheep had given birth to twins.
One lamb was healthy.
The other lay weak, abandoned by its mother, and barely alive.
Without warmth and milk, it wouldn’t survive.
Mary begged her father to let her save it.
At first, he refused, believing the tiny animal had no chance.
But Mary wouldn’t give up.
Finally, he agreed.
She carried the freezing lamb inside, wrapped it in warm clothes, and stayed beside the fireplace through the night.
She fed it by hand and cared for it every day.
Against all expectations, the lamb recovered.
Soon it followed Mary everywhere she went.
Its loyalty became impossible to miss.
One morning, Mary secretly took the lamb to her one-room schoolhouse.
She hid it beneath her desk inside a basket.
Everything stayed quiet until Mary stood to recite her lesson.
Suddenly, the lamb jumped out, bleated loudly, and followed her across the classroom.
The children burst into laughter.
Even the teacher smiled before asking Mary to take the lamb outside.
Mary thought it would simply become a funny memory.
She was wrong.
A visitor named John Roulstone Jr. had witnessed the scene.
The following day, he handed Mary a piece of paper containing a poem inspired by what he had seen.
It began with four unforgettable words.
“Mary had a little lamb…”
Mary treasured that poem for years.
The lamb lived several more years before dying accidentally.
Its wool was carefully saved, and Mary’s mother knitted stockings from it.
Years later, writer Sarah Josepha Hale expanded the original verses and published them in *Poems for Our Children*.
The poem spread across America, becoming one of the best-known nursery rhymes ever written.
Then came an extraordinary moment.
In 1877, inventor Thomas Edison tested his new phonograph—the first machine capable of recording sound.
To demonstrate it, he recited one simple poem.
“Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Those words became the first audio recording in human history.
More than sixty years after Mary rescued one tiny lamb, her story helped mark the beginning of recorded sound.
In 1876, Mary publicly confirmed she was the girl from the famous poem.
She even donated stockings made from her lamb’s wool to help preserve Boston’s historic Old South Meeting House.
Mary Sawyer passed away in 1889, leaving behind a legacy few children could ever imagine.
The rhyme wasn’t just about a lamb following its owner.
It began with compassion.
One little girl refused to abandon a helpless animal when everyone else had already lost hope.
That single act of kindness became a poem.
The poem became history.
And history turned a little lamb into a legend remembered around the world.