It’s vacation time here in America.. I enjoy looking at travel pictures but you know what? I bet nothing can compare with a video I watched recently about the pictures taken by twin travelers way way past our atmosphere.

I’m talking about Voyager 1 and 2. These glamorized robotic space photographers were only supposed to transmit deep space images for 4 years but it’s already been 4 decades since its launch in 1977 and it’s still sending images. Pretty cool for a machine equipped with a computer with 2,400 times less memory than our cell phones. Traveling 38,000 miles an hour, they estimate it is currently midway between our sun and the next sun (Alpha Centauri) which is 4 light years away. Now that’s what you call traveling!

What do the closeup images from Voyager tell you? For me, it shows how insignificantly small we are and how magnificently awesome God is. I think this is how God is kinda showing off.

John the Baptist (remember him?) said “He (Jesus) must increase , but I must decrease.” I think we should do the same — recognize this disparity between who we are and who HE is.

Of course, some may disagree. Despite all those incredible lessons of creative genius in pictures, some believe these mind boggling celestial bodies are a consequence of an impersonal Big Bang. They laugh and say believers of an intelligent being that orchestrated this dance of gravitational pull between planets requires a lot of faith. But the evidence from my neck of the woods tells me these scoffers may be the ones brainwashed in their brand of faith. In fact, it may not even be FAITH but a simple case of DENIAL. What do you think?

But you know what’s even more amazing than all those pictures? It’s realizing all of that was made for you and me. Makes you feel special doesn’t it?

Of course, this is just me.

“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”
— Psalm 147: 4-5

TGIF people!

Murder Mystery at the Golf Course

Shared by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Here’s a classic:

Candid Camera: Scratched Car
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

“Sorry, I hit your car.”
Different reaction from men and women.

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Removing the Cast
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

The patient meets her handsome doctor. Short and funny.

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Gordon Ramsey’s Perfect Burger
Sent by Sam of Los Angeles County

Gordon’s really enthusiastic about teaching you how to make his “perfect” burger. I admit it looks delicious … gi-normous may be a better term. Then he starts bragging about his famous neighbors.

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Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this photo

The post Deadly Golf Gun appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Today is Atticus’ birthday. That’s not his real name but people close to him know who I am talking about.

As many of you have guessed, that name comes from the book/movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Atticus Finch was the steadfast lawyer who defended a black man who was accused of raping a white woman in the deep south. Despite racial peer pressure, he stuck with his principles of justice. In the midst of the turmoil, his young daughter could not understand why people whom she considered friends were now hostile towards her. In a poignant scene a mature neighbor consoles her about the character of her father: “There are some men in this world who are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us … your father is one of them.”

The movie left an indelible mark on “Atticus the 2nd” when he watched the movie as a child. From the little I know of him, he grew up to be a lawyer and a scientist. And he reached a lofty position at the EPA in Washington, DC … doing research and traveling the world to educate local leaders about the environment. Like the original Atticus he showed integrity as he contended with the politics in the government. Early this year he left his government job to work for a large urban planning firm in the Philippines. I can only imagine the good he is doing.

(To be honest, I have had major differences with Atticus II. Our debates are legendary. But I never lost respect for him. Disagreeing with people doesn’t negate the value of their position. We can and we should learn from each other.)

If you were ever in doubt about how much we are influenced by movies and the media as a whole, the story of Atticus II is a reminder of a life redefined by a single movie. What a daunting responsibility writers and movie makers have on our subconscious.

Garbage in … garbage out. Let’s choose wisely what we watch … choose who we listen to. Let it be love and grace that we trickle down to friend and foe. Our world could use a lot more Atticuses.

But this is just me.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
— Abraham Lincoln

TGIF people!

Golden Arm

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Candid Camera: License Plates
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

How would you react if you were issued an insulting car license plate? Would you take it? Pretty funny reaction — especially from the young lady.

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Getting Out of a Sports Car
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

What was this guy thinking? Just because you signed up with the NFL, it doesn’t mean you have to buy a Lamborghini. There are other ways you can show off without looking stupid.

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Eco-Friendly Washing Machine from Junk
Sent by Joel of Singapore

Creative Filipino creates a washing machine from junk and starts a new business.

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Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this photo

The post The Quarterback appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Two personal friends of mine, R & O,  ran for office at the primary elections held this week here in California. They both had very limited funding but they still decided to run because they believed they could make a difference.

Their competitors had oodles of money and had TV ads, direct mail ads, radio and social media ads. What chance did my friends have?

I cringed every time I watched those expensive  TV ads portraying their political rivals as the saintly answer to all our problems. “Vote for Mr. Slick because he understands and cares for YOU. His impeccable record shows he shares your same value. Look at these organizations that support him, blah blah, blah …” — that was basically the message of all their ads. Of course if you weren’t familiar with the issues you’d vote for this well-packaged political Messiah. So, next time, how would one choose the best candidate for the job when one doesn’t have the time to do the research? I would ask someone knowledgeable and whose values I trust.

Allow me to provide my 5 shortcut bullet points of Voting Discernment. See if you agree with me.

1. The bigger the marketing budget, the bigger the lie. It takes more money to bury a scandal.
2. The more endorsement the candidate has from shady organizations, the shadier the candidate. The more favors he has to repay.
3. The more the candidate asks you to vote by party lines, the less intelligent they think you are.
4. The more desperate the candidate, the greater his lengths to cheat, lie, steal and even kill for the win.
5. The humbler the candidate, the more he will listen.

Some people exasperated me because they wouldn’t even vote. I asked some of my associates to vote for R & O, but they weren’t interested. They claimed they weren’t familiar with the issues or they didn’t think my guys were good enough (even though they couldn’t defend the other choices — as if only perfection would deserve their precious vote). Here were R & O,  who stepped out of their comfort zone, risked public ridicule and sacrificed time and money and yet my snotty associates wouldn’t even throw an appreciative vote. If the government does poorly, these apathetic souls would have no right to complain. And if the government does well, they would have contributed nothing.

BTW, O DID NOT WIN but I was proud of him because he came in 3rd out of 5 competitors … losing only by a size of a church. R DID WIN and is headed for the mid-term elections in November. Think about my 5 bullet points as you observe the coming ads. I hope to see you at the polls. I don’t care who you choose as long as you cast an educated vote.

But this is just me.

“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”
— These were God’s instructions to Moses on how to choose his officers. Exodus 18:21

TGIF people!

Secrets of Inner Peace

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Candid Camera: Raising Grocery Prices
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Here’s another episode of Candid Camera where the grocer is raising the prices just as his customers are about to purchase them.

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Priceless Stones
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

This video is pretty profound. If you’re in the deep philosophical mode, you will enjoy this.

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The Escherian Stairwell
Sent by Chuck of Whittier, CA

This video caused quite a stir when it first came out in 2013. This stairway is a brainchild of a Filipino architect. It can drive you crazy. There are several explanations if you do a simple search in case you are really seeking answers.

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Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Debbie of Moreno Valley, CA who shared this photo

The post Secrets to Inner Peace appeared first on Traveling Archive.

It’s been a very long week. I’m so tired and I have yet so much to do for my loyal clients. Love you guys. Tired but I’m happy.

It’s almost midnight (the time I should launch this email) and I have yet to put my thoughts together. I want to honor some people today. Here goes.

The enemy was in Joe’s sight. Hunched down to avoid detection, his disheveled foe is a trigger away from death. The man tinkers with his pouch for something. And then he freezes … as if he is suddenly aware of Joe’s presence. He turns around. Their eyes meet. Time stands still.

Since he was a kid, Joe watched action-packed movies about war. His parents bought him plastic soldiers that he would position in different parts of his backyard mountain. Then he would use his BB rifle and shoot each soldier down. He had guns of different shapes and colors and bullets made of sponges and plastic balls. His favorite cloth pattern? Camouflage. His favorite footwear? Army boots. Favorite haircut? Buzz. When he got older he would join his Dad to campfires in the wilderness and hunt deer. When they finally gunned one down, his Dad showed him how to carve the venison to preserve the trophy skin back to Mom in the city. By all accounts, little Joe was preparing for a career in the military.

Those days of pretend are over. Tucked in the shadows of the bushes in the evening forest, Joe now holds a stranger’s destiny in his hands. Does he pull the trigger? Does he grant him life? “Don’t do it. Don’t reach for your gun,” Joe pleads under his breath. But his foe instinctively pulls out the pistol from his pouch. Joe has no choice. A single shot blasts in the darkness. A body drops to the ground. Silence. Joe weeps for a life he has stolen. He steps out of his cover to look at his fallen adversary. Another shot rings out. Joe’s knees buckle. His lips kiss the dirt. His vision slowly fades. There is no pain only blood. And then there is darkness.

How many Joes have left us too soon?  How many parents will never know the story of their lost sons and daughters? An idealistic slogan labeled World War I as the “war that would end all wars” but no wishing star could grant this. As long as there are differences in the details of achieving happiness, fulfillment, and fairness, we will depend on our children to defend our freedom … knowing full well that they will be facing other children on the opposite side.

“Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”
— Psalm 120: 6-7

Monday is Memorial Day where we in America, honor our deployed soldiers who didn’t make it back home. Thank God for all the Joes who defended our Land of the Free. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

TGIF people!

Redneck Procedure

Shared by Tom of Pasadena

This joke is dedicated to my friend Jerry who got “fixed” last Wednesday. — Raoul

Candid Camera: Sitting Too Close for Comfort
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Did you ever have an intimate conversation in a restaurant while a curious stranger beside you heard every word? Awkward.

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Africa: The Music
Sent by Charlie of New Jersey

Toto’s popular song “Africa” rendered by Peter Bence — a one-man-band doing the piano and percussion in a pretty cool electronic way.

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‘Be Thou My Vision’ by Kaoma Chende
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Another one-man-band. This time he is from Zambia. CLICK HERE to read his story.

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Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shots

Thanks to Debbie of Moreno Valley who shared this photo

The post Redneck Vasectomy appeared first on Traveling Archive.