Raoul’s 2 Cents
No Contest Contest
I didn’t think it was possible. There is a reality TV where the judges are as nice and genteel as can be and still manage to keep the pressure on; where the contestants help each other to do their best even if helping the other person eats up their own time; where there is no prize money and yet the contestants give it all they’ve got for a mere recognition. There is tension. There is drama. There is comedy. And there is clean fun.
I was having this ordinary conversation with Peggy, a classmate in church, and somehow the discussion led to this TV show. Suddenly her eyes sparkled and she got really excited sharing it. Another person overheard our talk and she too joined in with excitement.
Who would have thought that people would be so excited about such a subject? It turns out that more and more people I talked to were also “secretly” watching this show in Netflix. I couldn’t believe it. It actually has a cult following.
So I decided to check out what the fuss was all about. Wouldn’t you know it? I started watching one episode after another. I got hooked! Imagine — a macho man like me, enjoying this “sissy” activity — hard to believe, huh? I rarely bake and I am not familiar with some of the jargon (ie. “over proofed” or “more savory than salty”) — yet, I was glued to the show. I got into the different personalities of the contestants. I was sad when people were cut off from the winning circle. And I love the creativity.
And this is my point: With all the sex, violence, horror, decrepit and shallow drama that Netflix dishes out, this refreshing show gives me hope for Netflix. Here we have congenial personalities and clean witty humor. What a nice escape. Perhaps a downside to watching this is you get really hungry even though you can’t smell, touch or taste the food. If you’ve got a diet problem, move on. This show may not help.
By now you should know the title of the show, right? Right? Good.
TGIF people!
Psssst! … it’s the Great British Baking Show.
Joke of the Week
Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.
Rodney’s Puns
Funny Video
The Future Politician
Shared by Vanessa of Whittier, CA
Parting Shot
Thanks to Naomi of N Hollywood, CA who shared this:
People from all over the world send him jokes and Raoul sends those jokes back with his original sketches. 
Chuck
December 13, 2019 at 9:29 am
Thank you Brother and Amigo,
Yes, they mean more to me as time moves on.
Blessings,
(:>}) – Chuck
Chuck
December 13, 2019 at 9:30 am
Happy Friday Raoul,
Interesting observations. Hollywood has of course – not all
but most than how Christians see or are supposed to see the world. A while
back they were showing a series of Comedy movies starting with # 10 and
working up to what they considered to be the # 1 Comedy movie of all time. I
love a good comedy. Starting with Laurel and Hardy; very funny and good
clean comedy that you could take the kids along with you to enjoy. Some new
ones that I see the humor in even if the language is very vulgar, but not to
overdone, after all we are living in today’s world. However we are taught
in – Ephesians 4:29
/www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4:29&version=NABRE>
No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good
for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. You
could say my folks were old fashioned, as kids we were raised and taught to
use the words, urinate instead of Pee or Piss, Bowel movement instead of
crap or shit; buttock instead of ass or butt; not cock but penis.
I only once recall my Dad using a questionable term – and that was the last
day he drank a beer! As far as I can recall before that he wasn’t much of a
drinker – accept maybe at family parties. I was just a kid and he was
explaining to me how you could tell the difference between a 6-cylinder
engine and an 8-cylinder engine. He was working under the hood on our family
car when we lived in Echo Park area. He said, this is how you can tell the
difference, if it has 6 sparkplugs it is a 6 cylinder motor. “If someone
tries to tell you difference he doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the
ground!” I think it made him feel real uncomfortable that he said that to
me. Growing up with him was such a blessing, but mainly I learned more from
his actions and my Mom’s that guide me to this day. I knew that if they said
or promised something, that they would do everything in their power to keep
their word. Last week we lost his youngest little brother – Tio Samuel at 90
years of age. Also a gentle soul. I had two Uncle Sam’s.
When I see posts with a lot of obscenities, I don’t even bother to open or
pay attention to them or the purveyor of such. I write them off as Junior
High School boys trying to impress and not having a sufficient command of
the “Kings English” as t ‘was said back when I was growing up. Anyway. back
to the movie list. I was stunned in what they listed as the # 1 all-time
comedy, a movie I had seen and had a really catchy song attached to it –
“Hello Mrs. Robinson.” The Graduate. Comedy? Not through my eyes! It was a
tragedy. The ending was not enough to make it a comedy. Imagine if that was
your son and your business partners wife? But that is how some in the Movie
industry saw it. Ugly. Planes, Trains and Automobiles had a few rough scenes
in it, and not good for small children – but funny. Slap humor and great
dialogue.
As my friend says, That’s only my opinion; but it should be everybody’s,
Thank you,
Brother Chuck
Tom
December 13, 2019 at 9:30 am
Good one Raoul, you made me smile and keeping those in fire areas in my prayers Tom
Melanie
December 13, 2019 at 9:31 am
Of course, they’re polite, they’re British! (my peeps!)
Always a fun read, thnx!
All the best,
Melanie
Lee
December 13, 2019 at 9:34 am
Hi Raoul!
Greetings my very talented friend! We are looking forward to moving to CA before long. Perhaps we can get together sometime after that. there is so much we have to leave behind that has considerable memories attached, but that is the case for most of us in the latter time of life.
As we enter this life we often have everything we own in one room and often share it with a sibling. As we leave this life, it is quite common these days to have everything we own in one room! Life has an interesting cycle attached to it! I suspect that heaven will be so great that we will not remember all of those incidentals that made life special while we were here.
Keep up the good work and good comments at the beginning. I try to read each Friday edition.
Many blessings to you both!
Lee