Battle of the Stars

WARNING: Heavy stuff.

Have you HEARD the in-DEPP rumors of Johnny and Amber? As Sean Connery would say: “He shed, she shed the biggest bullSHED.” Surprisingly there’s a lot of interest in the lives of this Hollywood couple.

HOLLYWEIRD

It defies logic why anyone would want to become an actor. It’s a profession of pretensions. With a little makeup you are called to pretend to be someone you’re not. You pretend to be handsome or beautiful on stage and you need to keep appearances with wigs and plastic surgery off stage. To be true to your image, you pretend to be rich and successful so you buy into this extravagant lifestyle and feed the parasites around you. Because you are in a position of influence, you give endorsements and opinions about topics you know nothing about. Who cares what Bill Nye thinks about global warming? He’s not a real scientist. Who cares if celebrities threaten to leave for Canada if their candidate doesn’t win? And talk about privacy! — paparazzi stalk you in your most private moments. You are no longer a person but a property that can be exploited. Hollywood is a breeding ground for narcissists.

Such is the sad case with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard who parade their dirty laundry from the gossip columns and YouTube podcasts to your living room. Instead of settling their squabbles in private, their egos force a public showdown — a drama better than any fictitious telenovela.

A MIRROR OF SOCIETY

What is more interesting to me is the reaction of their fans. Most people I know have already made up their minds as to who is the bigger creep. With celebrity trials like this, the best actor with the best sound bites usually wins. (“If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit!”). The minute they decided to go to court, they essentially kissed their careers goodbye. Who would want to work with such prima donas? Who would want to work with a narcissist?

I am not saying I have all the answers nor that I am above all of this. Hey, who doesn’t want to peer inside the silly, useless lives of the rich and famous? I’m just saying we should watch ourselves — for the standards we pose on them (if fairly applied) should be the standard that we impose on ourselves. Are we better than them or is the log in our eyes bigger than the speck in their eyes?

More than any time in history, I believe we live in a society of narcissists. Narcissism is a learned behavior. It’s not genetic. It’s good that you are aware of this toxic personality disorder so you can protect yourself from the frustration of dealing with the narcissists around you. They will push you down into believing you are worthless. And most of all, don’t turn into one yourself. Many cannot change because they do not see the need for change to begin with. Can we see the narcissist that is inside us? Unfortunately, true narcissists never realize they are one. (If you need help in this matter, I know some people who can help.) How do you know if you are one? I found this definition of a narcissist:

“Narcissists can never be wrong. Their opinions are facts. Their feelings are valid. Their views are always right. This does not apply to others. Everything others think, feel or say is wrong. Point out a hole in the narcissists illogical thinking and you’ve just started a never-ending war. Narcissists will slander you behind your back because to them their lies are the only truth.”

CONCLUSION

Whatever the outcome of this trial, unless humility, grace and forgiveness is offered, they both lose. We all lose. And the fans will miss out on a golden opportunity to learn an important lesson and the great divide of opinions in our society will continue to isolate us.

“There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” — 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

But this is just me.

TGIF people!

Raoul

LEARN MORE ABOUT NARCISSISM
Dr. Ramani is not a Christian Psychologist but most of her studies about narcissists do not conflict with my beliefs. Here is a video about how to spot the narcissist.

And here is a link to her channel. CLICK HERE.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Videos of the week

ENTERTAINING: Tinikling is a traditional Filipino dance with bamboo. My Mom was good at this. The Filipino students in Georgia Tech jazzed it up a bit.Thanks to Manolette of Canada for sharing.

FUNNY: Art of Sierra Madre shared this video about a bulldog and 2 cats.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Lee of Bakersfield, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to John of Connecticut

The post The Itch appeared first on Traveling Archive.

To the Loyalists Among Us

Warning: Heavy political stuff. Move on to the jokes if this sickens you. I’ll try to be funny next time.

Can’t believe the price of gas in America. The average price is over $4 per gallon but in Los Angeles (where I live), it’s over $5.50. And I hear in San Francisco it’s over $7. The price has tripled since just a year ago. I’m worried that the regular minimum wage earner won’t be making enough to survive. When that happens, they will join the homeless. When that happens, crime will escalate even more. I believe this blunder is the straw that will break the camel’s back.

Who to blame? Have you noticed that so-called learned political debaters with all their social and moral theories have no defense against the stark disastrous realities of inflation, crime, terrorism, etc. that stare them in the face and hurt them in their wallet? It’s hard to admit one’s bad choices but honesty demands it. When we see gross incompetence (no matter what party), are we obliged to stay loyal to our politics? Why do we have to defend “those” people when their explanations make no sense? How dumb do they think we are?

I just saw the sentencing of disgraced actor Jesse Smolett (who planned his own mugging January 2019). Despite hard evidence and damning testimonies, he defiantly still claims his innocence. A poor actor and/or a classic narcissist … and there are many like him out there.

I hope you’re not one of them. Please don’t hate me if you are, because my war isn’t with you, friend. It’s against the well-paid fake news machinery. Shame on them for blinding intelligent, patriotic people like you. We all make mistakes and our goal shouldn’t be to shove those who have been misled down in disgrace but to help each other return to the truth. We should be fighting on the same side. I admire a few friends who had the guts to change loyalty when they figured out the deception.

The media and the late-night comedians are holding on to their precarious reputation. I’m surprised they still have an audience because the former don’t give out the real and important news while the latter haven’t been funny for a long time. They know the domino establishment their careers are built on has already started toppling down. The smart ones have already jumped ship. Who will be the last proud loyalist? Common sense has left the building and pride is their only friend.

Listen, if you disagree with all I’ve said. Write me. Let’s exchange ideas. I’d love to hear your side.

Let’s continue to pray for our family in Ukraine. So many senseless deaths because of one psychopath. I’m still praying for a miracle.

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:21

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA.

Videos of the week

FUNNY: Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena for this collection of very funny commercials

FUNNY: SNL video from Art of Sierra Madre, CA about seniors and Alexa.

ENJOYABLE MUSIC: Tom of Pasadena,CA sent this video of legendary movie soundtrack composer, John Williams.

Tom of Pasadena, CA used to be part of the Rose Parade organization. He said: “I hosted John Williams when he was Grand Marshall.” When asked what kind of a person John was, Tom said he was a “very regular nice guy, no put on or stand offish ways. He had members of his family with him and was interesting to talk to, responding well to questions and inquiries. Very cooperative in doing what was required and cheerful. He seemed to be enjoying the experience. I had other Grand Marshalls that were great but had personal body guards to ward off people but none I could see for John.”
— Tom of Pasadena

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Mike of New York City

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA
Can you read this?

The post The Offender appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Sandi

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since my last TGIF email. The week flew by quickly. I can’t believe it’s past mid-September. In a few more weeks, it’ll be the Christmas season.

I think the older we get, the easier it is to jumble events together. That’s when time flies. You’ve heard the saying — “it seems like just yesterday” — have the yesterdays been piling up in your world? Pretty soon we’ll be at the end of life and running life videos in our heads and counting our accomplishments. Such is the case with Sandi.

Yesterday, Sandi retired from a non-profit organization she started several years ago. The accolades she was honored with was rightly deserved. She didn’t want all the attention but somehow, the grateful audience couldn’t help themselves. It was such a delight to see her blush in unusual fashion. Knowing Sandi, I know she’ll just start climbing other mountains.

Sandi struggled with technology. She was no math whiz. But whatever she had she used effectively. One of the speakers said it was her ability to get personal and available to anyone. To be vulnerable is risky, time consuming, emotionally draining and can be very expensive. Sandi was all that … not to one person but many people. It was natural for her.

I believe God designed us with a purpose. What is your  purpose in life? Where do you go from here? To be honest, I don’t think I have all the answers either. Hey, I’m human too. I have a general idea of my purpose. I know for sure that if it’s for myself, I will never be satisfied. Pray about it. Maybe that’s enough for now. What do you think?

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

More Sad Than Funny

WARNING: This is a political topic
Students Support Socialism… Until It’s Applied To Their GPA

Shared by Tom L. of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shot

Thanks to Jackie of Southern CA who shared this.

The post Sister Mary Runs Out of Gas appeared first on Traveling Archive.