Raoul’s 2 Cents
The Enemy
Art called me yesterday and told me he had just returned from the Keck USC Hospital in East Los Angeles. He expected to encounter a mob of Covid-infected people. Instead, the hospital was quiet. Hardly anyone there. He visited several floors and there was no sign of a pandemic. The news has been painting a very dire situation so what’s going on?
Maybe that hospital is an exception. But I can’t help wonder if we are getting fake news. Let’s face it. We live in a world of political, greedy and evil opportunists. You won’t see them if you join the noise of the parade, You need to step back and watch the parade from afar.
I remember when I joined a demonstration against the establishment back in my wild college years. I was in the middle of an angry picket. Since I was pretty tall, I could see the beginning of the line about a hundred feet away. I could see a police regiment with clubs blocking the procession. Then people started to scream in terror. The parade started to split right down the middle. I told my friends who were with me to move to the side. In a few minutes the regiment had reached our spot bashing the heads of the demonstrators. Seeing us standing on the side, they assumed we were just spectators and they left us alone. “That could have been me,” I thought. And for what? I didn’t really understand why I even joined the movement. My friends said it was for a good cause. They said it would be safe. They said so many things that I never bothered to check. I was so sure yet I was so foolish.
Whose news do you follow? Who do you believe? Have you listened to the “dark side?” You may have your set of facts but have you heard their set? Some people are blinded with hate and so sure of themselves that anyone who holds a different viewpoint is labeled as an enemy. I believe intelligent people disagree because they are not fed the same information and ego gets in the way of honest discovery. That’s when we all lose.
But this is just me.
Keep safe and hold on to your faith. TGIF people!
Raoul
Joke of the Week
Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena for sharing this joke.
Video: Diego Gets Coffee
Thanks to Mario of Manila for this funny interaction between Diego and the overly-accommodating barista.
Video: The Craziest Bus U-Turn Ever
Thanks to Mike of New York for showing us this insane bus driving test.
Video: A Call From a 13-Year Old
Thanks to Mario of Manila who shared this video. In light of all the suffering many are facing today, there is hope when you see the world in a young man’s eyes.
Video: Mine’s Better Than Yours
Thanks to Jeff of Arcadia, CA for this friendly neighborly competition.
Don’s Puns
Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns. This isn’t really a pun but it’s still a play of words.
Parting Shots
Thanks to Maling of Caloocan City, Philippines. A clever idea gone bad.
Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. Don’t be frightened. It’s just me!
People from all over the world send him jokes and Raoul sends those jokes back with his original sketches. 
Heather
May 16, 2020 at 8:07 am
Figuring out what’s true is difficult when so many networks, newspapers and people are not giving us “the facts” but someones SPIN on things. I personally do not no anyone who got this virus, but I know it’s real and it’s killing our country more and more each day. No.matter when we open up our economy, people will die. I pray we can get to some sort of normal SOON!
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:27 am
I agree. It’s very confusing. Even Fox is sensationalist sometimes. One America News has been pretty consistent. Trump praises it a lot.
I have quite a few people 3 degrees apart who have had Covid so it’s real for sure.
I just heard a troubling news about the aviation industry (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=106454994235165&story_fbid=166692934878037). It only comes from one source so far so I cannot vouch for its legitimacy. But it’s easy to believe it can be true. It says there are 90,000 unemployed pilots right now. That does not even count the ground crews and peripheral industries.
Time to get down on our knees and pray.
At least it’s Friday.
TGIF!
Lee
May 16, 2020 at 8:08 am
Yes, indeed Raoul—and Booker T. was right! It is amazing how prejudice and preference does color how we view the same information. Scholars do it all the time and write remarkably different books on the same subject. I have seen several who disregard everything another scholar says because they disagree with him/her on one issue. I have found that very few people are 100% wrong on everything they have to say. Occasionally I find even I have discovered something new and important in the work of a scholar that I dismissed completely because of other things he has said.
You make a good point here. It is difficult to find news today that I have complete confidence in. We are indeed in tough times.
Many blessings to you!
Lee
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:26 am
The human race is an interesting specimen, huh? God must have had fun creating us. I remember he said it was “good.” Looking at the mess we are in, I wonder if He still thinks so. No need to answer that.
I’ve had conversations with people who are politically opposed to me, One of them accused me of being biased. To which I responded: “I admit I am biased. But at least I am honest. Don’t tell me you aren’t biased.” And he could not respond to that. Some people don’t realize they are. Some people cannot see the bias in media … even when proof is presented. They cannot see the hypocrisy with the way they treated Kavanaugh vs the way they treat Biden. They do not see the hypocrisy when Trump gets away with Stormy Daniels.
TGIF!
Jeff
May 16, 2020 at 8:08 am
Really good. That Manilla shot was terrific, I’m still laughing.–Jeff
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:23 am
The shot with the slippers? Yes.
I liked the bus doing the U-turn the best.
TGIF!
John
May 16, 2020 at 8:09 am
For objectivity, I watch NHK News from Tokyo.
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:22 am
Thanks John.
NHK happens to be my favorite channel. The news used to be more objective until recently. I noticed that they are somehow affiliated with the political leanings of ABC. Not sure why I drew that conclusion — I think they’ve always quoted ABC — interviewed George Stephanopolus. They have not quoted other news organizations. I’ve never heard them praise Trump not like they did with Obama.
TGIF!
Chuck
May 16, 2020 at 8:09 am
Hi Brother Raoul,
I already shared with you how my Grandmother Jesucita died in 1918 due to the Spanish Flu, but in looking up the history you read as bad as it was in 1918 it came back worse in 1919. Really there is no such thing as Fake News – It is either the Truth or Lies, that in addition to just being someone’s point of view. That is why it is important to know who is reporting. Some 650,000 U.S. Citizens died from the epidemic of 1918-1919. We should have learned much from that. One of the consequences of my grandmother dying was that my, mother, about 5 years old barely knew her dear mom, my Uncle Fermin who died shortly after she gave him life was raised without a mother. My poor grandfather, Ignacio, bless his heart brought the family from Mexico due to the Mexican Revolution. He came with six beautiful children, one -aunt Mary died at 16 years old in Los Angeles, and the rest of my mom’s brothers and sisters lived to have successful lives. My poor grandfather never re-married. Being poor, and with six children he was not too attractive to women I imagine. Plus he was supporting his sister and her 4 children, my aunt Antonia, her husband was killed in the Mexican Revolution.
My point is this; California has controlled the spread of Corona much better than New York. That is one comparison between U.S.C. Keck and New York General Hospital The main news to watch is the number of the death count in the U.S. as compared to other countries. Just one death due to someone’s impatience of wearing a mask or eating out, or going to a bar is something to pray about. The one I feel the most sadness for is my grandfather. ( My Great Grandmother Herculana, who I was blessed to have met – lived to 103, was an absolute born again teetotaler and would have thought one good thing out of all of this was the closing of bars to be a good thing) Grama Jesucita was at rest and in a much better place years before he passed away in Lincoln Heights. My Mom became a great Mom and loved by all her family – because she loved us first; even without being raised by her Mom. Next time I will tell you about Grama Wright.
Blessings,
Brother Chuck
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:11 am
Wow you have a very rich family history. You should write a book.
I think one main reason why CA is doing better than NY is because CA is
a sprawling community (ie. homes are disjointed and so are the
buildings) and we do not share mass transportation like NYC.
The news media is extremely biased on both sides of the fence. That’s
why when pictures and videos and eye witnesses step up with proof, the
fake reporters have no defense.
TGIF!
Chuck
May 16, 2020 at 8:18 am
Hi Raoul,
Thanks. Actually I have started to write my memoirs down for my family. I think that you are correct about New York. However remember that we are also a hub for overseas travel too. The other thing is that New Yorkers are so downright cocky that the Corona wanted to take them down first. Doesn’t mean that it won’t double back and get the nice good looking Californians too – as it did in 1919 when it came back with the second wave and devastated San Francisco. So keep your mask on!
You are correct about any media. That is why I watch and listen to many news sources. I also watch some of the Mexican News channels from Mexico. I learned from a Bible teacher years ago, that if you spoke more than one language you should read the Bible in both for a richer prospective. I am sure Tagalog much like Spanish , that it is difficult, no matter how well-meaning you are to translate one to another sometimes just doesn’t work. How about Hebrew to English? Jokes in English and Spanish just don’t translate often one to another. You have to be an insider. For instance, the teacher spoke and read French.” Jesus said blessed are the meek”. The French Bible “ Jesus says,” Blessed are the Debonair.” I looked it up in a French Bible I have, and there it was! Kirkegaard wrote, that “Christians should always read the Bible and the Newspaper side-by-side and never one without the other.”
I have a problem using the term fake news, like alternative facts – it is too political. It is either True or False. Ask some politicians to answer Yes or No. See how that works!
Fun stuff, we’re off to Rosarito in the morning.
Lois
May 16, 2020 at 8:10 am
Raoul, I have to tell you that I was disappointed in the video “Mine’s Better Than Yours,” which suggests that a woman who is slim is “better” than a heavy woman. It could very well be possible that the overweight woman is a much nicer, hence “better,” person. We certainly can’t tell by appearance. I know it was just an innocent video meant to get a laugh, but I didn’t find it funny. Lois
Raoul
May 16, 2020 at 8:28 am
Sorry to disappoint you Lois.
I think the word “better” is an assumption you made. Most people see the word “attractive” instead. Of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so I guess any kind of comparison would not be universally accepted. So no comparative jokes would be humorous in all eyes.
But the point is, you didn’t like it. Sorry about that.
Hope your Friday was still a good day.
Alvin
May 16, 2020 at 8:10 am
Raoul,
See attached report.
Wish your friend Art took photos.
Blessings.
Alvin
Rick
May 16, 2020 at 8:12 am
Thanks Bro, enjoyed the TGIF!Have a good, safe weekend.Rick