It's July 4th as I prepare this email. Do you think I'd spend time away from my wife just to make you smile? Well do ya? I didn't think so. Seriously, I wish you and America a belated July 4th celebration. We've been celebrating this since 1941, the world was so different then. And in the bigger picture, Independence Day actually happened way way back in 1776. This great nation, this grand experiment of government, has certainly had its share of calamities but we're still here. Today we're facing yet another whirlwind of political, spiritual, social, economic drama. Will we survive? No one knows for sure but one thing I'm certain of: If we survive it will be because of God's grace --- even now we're blessed beyond what we deserve.

The great debate between Biden and Trump is history. You’ll know whose predictions were accurate. And the media will have their analysts massaging the truth to their liking. I dare not contribute to the confusion so I will just share a few observations about the event.

I watched a short video of a Buddhist monk explaining the cycle of success and failure. At the outset it sounded so accurate and profound but something bothered me. It was missing something.

I used to be so frustrated when highly intelligent people couldn’t understand why I opposed their political and religious positions. But that toned down when I understood the phenomenon of differing World Views. Now it’s easier for me to accept our differences.

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.

But it's not fair! Did you realize that women have 2 birthdays a year … and one of them is Valentine's Day? And for the married Mrs., they have a third birthday. What about us men? Don't we deserve a rose too? Why do we guys have to always (not only remember these special occasions but also) come up with a surprise to prove our undying love? Where's the equality? Where's the justice?

Raoul’s Two Cents: January 14, 2022 Common Sense WARNING: Some spiritual stuff Can you guess what my wife and I are watching nowadays? Clues: It’s a mystery between who’s good and who’s evil. Aside from 4 regular participants, each episode brings in a new set of prime characters — whose intelligence range from smart to real dumb. Most are just …

Raoul’s Two Cents: May 21, 2021 Stand By Me I was the new kid in high school and I desperately needed a friend. Three other teenagers — (not their real names) Teddy the Playboy, Nervous Bob and Lazy Lenny befriended me. They saw me eating my lunch and they asked me to hang out with them. Well, you know the …