January 26, 2018
Frozen
Just got back from the New York last night. It’s almost midnight. I just have enough time to share my comparison of California vs. New York life.
Walk, walk, walk. Unlike Californians, New Yorkers walk to the subway, walk to their jobs, walk up and down stairs. No wonder they are more trim and healthier.
Cold, cold, cold. It wasn’t freezing like I had expected but it was pleasantly chilly. I kinda liked it. I might even consider living there.
Food, food, food. New York, like Los Angeles, is a melting pot of different cultures and the variety of food can attest to that.
Ethnic, ethnic, ethnic. California has more Mexican Latinos while New York has more Cuban and Puerto Ricans. Ambos hablan Espanol. Both places have lots of Chinese and Filipinos. California has more Koreans.
Gay, gay, gay. New York is as gay as San Francisco.
Strange, strange, strange. Lots of weird people there. They board subways and announce their godforsaken lives and how you need to support their lifestyle. Passengers are immune to their sob stories and usually look away.
Trains, trains, trains. Noisy, old but functional — the subway should be listed as a living historical phenomenon. With all its intricate connections, these babies transport millions every single day. Amazing. I love it!
Ads, ads, ads. The Ad agencies are as clever as ever with strategic campaigns on subway walls, billboards and magazines. But the Grand Daddy location of them all is and always will be Times Square. (BTW, one of your fellow readers is a photographer of one of these humongous ads.)
Trash, trash trash. At the end of the day there are piles of garbage in plastic bags along each corner. By morning they miraculously disappear.
Read, read, read. In Californians are visual. New Yorkers are readers. Lots more books here.
Apartments, apartments, apartments. Most New Yorkers live in old apartments. Californians do too but there are plenty more who live in houses.
Shows, shows, shows. Broadway is king. No other city can compare with the talent in Broadway.
People, people, people. Oh, the lonely people … where do they all belong? Californians sit in the freeway parking lots and share car emissions. New Yorkers sit in their subway spaces and share cough viruses. Surprisingly both people seem very alone.
Do you agree or disagree with my assessment?
TGIF people!
Super Bowl Tickets
Contributed by Tom of Pasadena, CA
TGIF Video
What Does it Mean to Be a Child?
Sent by Jun of Quezon City, Philippines
More creative than funny. Wouldn’t it be great to be a child again? To be able to leap tall buildings and stop an oncoming locomotive? This kid seems to be doing it all.
Parting Shots
Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who provided this photo
People from all over the world send him jokes and Raoul sends those jokes back with his original sketches. 
TGIF Reader
March 2, 2018 at 5:24 pm
I love, love, love NYC. When I was employed, I spent a week each year at corporate headquarters in Connecticut, just a train ride from the Big Apple, so friends and I would always take in a play or two “on Broadway” (it doesn’t sound right to me to say “in Broadway” – maybe it’s because of the song). You said you might consider living there. That was my feeling every time I visited. I dreamed of living over a deli within walking distance of my job. Speaking of walking, you suggested that Californians don’t. When I had jury duty in L.A., I was amazed at the amount of walking people do there. One typo – in the read section.
Lois
TGIF Reader
March 2, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Hi Raoul,
You’re right , we were in NYC a few years ago and people are strange! Best pizza I tasted though. I think it was on 54th av, John’s pizzeria?
Art
TGIF Reader
March 2, 2018 at 5:25 pm
I love it and you’re completely right on about the big apple.
Heather
TGIF Reader
March 2, 2018 at 5:26 pm
I wouldn’t leave SoCAL for Minneapolis Feb 4 if I was given the tickets Free!! It’s too cold there!!
Ray