Independence Day

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.

And no matter what storm comes (like many of you) I know God will see us through. Happy birthday America!

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Raoul

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” — The U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionist. “ — Frankllin D. Roosevelt

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Benny of Chicago

Thanks to Vincent of New Jersey

Thanks to Sharon of Connecticut

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:
These are just so silly I couldn’t help laughing.

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

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Observations of the Debate

WARNING: Political Topic. Move on to the jokes if you’re not interested.

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.

For me, this is a perfect example of why America is such a great country. To witness polar opposites verbally slug it out yet still being relatively civil to each other is impressive. Few countries have the forum nor the political stamina to stage this.

In the main stage was a battle of ideas, name-calling and lying. But the setting of the battleground itself was beautiful to behold. I think we should be conscious of the forces that try to divide us. That is the real enemy. America, despite all the craziness in today’s politics, is still an amazing country to live in.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Raoul

” Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” — Romans 12:14

” The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” — Sun Tzu

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,” – Proverbs 24:17

“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” — James Madison

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Benny of Chicago

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

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Balancing World Views

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.

The monk said that there is a perpetual balance. The sun goes up, the sun goes down. We inhale 50% of the time and we exhale the other 50% of the time. Our heart sucks in the blood 50% of the time and releases the blood 50% of the time. It’s always 50/50. There is ALWAYS the exchange — up and down, right and left, bright and dark, in and out, success and failure. It’s about giving and receiving. It’s about relaxing and doing. It’s about constant change. Exchange coming from the word “change” means there is a transformation.

What I realized is the difference of world views. (Yup! Here we go again with world views.) His world view reminds me of life in an ecosphere. Everything is self-contained and goes in a cycle: the plant is eaten by the animal, the animal poops, the poop feeds the plant — hakuna matata! Everything is balanced. Perhaps this explains why Buddhist monks (at least the stereotypes that I know) rarely show much emotion. They live a life of constant meditation that leads to contentment. Even keeled Mr. Spock would have made an excellent Buddhist. Have you ever heard of a Buddhist standup comedian? A Buddhist drama queen? Neither have I.

So I ask myself, how do you explain miracles? Where is the exuberant joy of receiving a gift or a blessing that keeps on giving? How do you account for a mother’s love that has no bounds? Life is full of spikes that spill out of the balance scales. How do you explain that?

Something about world views — two people may look at the same situation but their difference in attitude determines their joy in life. Life is either half empty or half full. Life is confined or life shatters the glass ceiling. It’s Eeyore vs. Tigger.

The Christian world view is so different. Christians are supposed to give and not expect anything in return. We make mistakes but through Christ, we enjoy grace and blessings we do not deserve. And we are supposed to extend grace as well — we are to forgive and not expect an apology. We love with no limits. As a friend who studied Buddhism told me — “In Buddhist literature, the absence of love is striking.” Yeah, yeah, most of us struggle to do these thankless good deeds but that’s our goal because Jesus told us to follow his example. Instead of meditation we pray and strive for attainment. The best among us never reach perfection but the beautiful adventure is towards the maturity of our faith. We are encouraged to climb that mountain of faith because there is a hope of an indescribable heavenly final destination.

I admit I’m no expert when it comes to Buddhism but these are just my simple observations and I welcome your corrections. Did I miss something?

Again. this is just me. TGIF people!

Raoul

“There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.” — Jim Lovell

“From now on we live in a world where man has walked on the Moon. It’s not a miracle; we just decided to go.” – Jim Lovell

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre

Parting Shots

Thanks to Benny of Chicago

Thanks to Bob of Placentia, CA

Thanks to Thomas of Australia

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

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Worlds Apart

WARNING: Very political article. Move on to the jokes if you’re not into this.

And now the Unbelievable Headline News:

• NPR Chief, Katherine Maher, in a TED Talk in 2021, essentially believes there is no such thing as truth and that we can make up our own truth.
• The illegal refugees in New York are demanding better accommodations despite the $77 Million that has already been allocated for them.
• Former CBS News Reporter, Katherine Herridge, tells Congress she endured ‘A Journalistic Rape’ when fired for pursuing Hunter Biden Allegations
• Did Biden really fly 33K migrants ‘straight to New York’?
• Denver Migrants who are already getting 6 Months of Free Rent complained it was still ‘Insufficient’

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.

What are the consequences of a person’s World View?

You can google what it means but this is my simple explanation: A person’s world view blinds him to critical facts. It explains why a mother only sees the good of a child who is a serial killer. Or why they say love is blind — when a boy only sees the goddess in the woman he adores.

I think it’s egotistical of the NPR Chief to refuse to believe a truth because it requires adjusting her reality. And to force others to accept her insecurity is a desperate attempt to affirm her sanity.

Some people say “You need to believe my obesity is healthy and beautiful” — nope! Not buyin’ it. Sorry lady, you’re fat and you’ve got major health and mental issues.

If you want to see a clash between 2 world views, go to John 8:12 which starts a passage I call the Great Debate. Jesus declared that he was the Son of God and the Pharisees would not accept it. If you follow the debate, you will see how Jesus is speaking spiritual truths while the religious leaders were speaking from their limited understanding. Both sides gave convincing declarations but since he could not convince them by word, then Jesus did it by performing a miracle in His defense — he made a blind man see. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was so revealing because they refused to believe the evidence of the blind man that was standing right in front of them: “It’s Impossible! You’re impossible! You do not exist! My world view will not allow me to believe you can now see.”

A wise man said: “You don’t have to defend the Truth. It just is.”

The next time someone fails to understand something so obvious, it may not be because he’s stupid or has evil intentions. Chances are, he is coming from a different world view. And don’t try to convince him. If a miracle couldn’t convince the Pharisees, do you think your logic will?

But this is just me.

TGIF people!
Raoul

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

Thanks to Bob of Placentia, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Drake of Washington, DC

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

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The post Eucalyptus Street 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.

Love and Football

When I picked up my mail today, I noticed a young lady sporting a fresh hairstyle and a hint of makeup. Hovering around her was a neatly dressed gentleman about the same age. Both obviously dumped their school clothes for this occasion. They were in their early teens and this was probably their very first encounter after school. Twitterpated molecules of testosterone went flying. The bait and the chase was on. With Valentines just a few days away, love is definitely in the air.

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?

Actually, if my wife gave me a rose, I wouldn’t know what to do with it … I’d probably eat it. I mean, what’s this fascination with a flower? You put it in vase. You show it off. You smell it; and then what? Wait for it to wilt? I’ll take a cold bottle of beer instead of watching a plant die in slow motion.

Well, this is an unusual year. This is the year, just before V-day, you women can prove your love because Sunday is macho day! It’s the Superbowl! I propose that women demonstrate their eternal devotion to their men every Superbowl day by preparing the cold beer and the reprehensible junk food that go with it! Learn the rules! Ask questions as if you’re really interested and pretend to enjoy the game. For one time in the year, spoil your man. Let them be sloppy, let them scream and yell and bring out the gorilla inside them. Let’s make it official! Sounds like a plan? Good!

Some of you men are already spoiled rotten every Superbowl day. You lucky bastards! Invite me to your home now! Just kidding! I’m not really into football. I’m not a gorilla. I don’t even know all the rules. But I do love to watch the reaction of people who are so into it. Basketball is my game.

Anyway, Tom of Pasadena sent this video of best-animal-friends (see below) and I rehashed it with new music and a poem. (Be sure to turn on the closed caption so you can read the poem.) I transformed it into a Valentines Video which I dedicate to my wife. Men, I’m doing you a favor — you can pass this video off to your own wives. Send this video along with your roses and shock her with your sensitive side. And you women … I guess you can share this video too. 😉

TGIF people! Enjoy the Superbowl and get in the mood for l’amour, l’amour. 😀

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena for this Valentines Day joke.

Valentine Video of the week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for this video of animal friends. I changed the background music and added a poem. Feel free to send this video to your friends and especially to someone you love. (hint! hint!). TURN ON CAPTION to enjoy the poem.
My langga, this is for you.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Brad of Burbank, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

The post Superbowl Valentines Special appeared first on Traveling Archive.

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 simple folk who have taken a wrong turn in their lives and wind up in the show.
• There are several spectators who laugh, smile, but never speak and are in suspense for the dramatic conclusion.
• The clean wooden settings never change.
• It’s a reality TV where real people hang their dirty laundry for the world to see in order to get justice done.

Have you guessed the show yet? If you guessed Judge Judy (or Judy Justice), you’re correct.

Judge Judy has x-ray vision and can see through the charm and the lies. She should be a Supreme Court Justice. Maybe even President. Imagine her deciding on contemporary cases:

• Rapists, pedophiles? Off with their “heads!”
• Murderers, your life will replace the life you stole till your dying days. And in jail you will have less freedom than the saddest person who isn’t a criminal. If a free person has only 2 meals a day, you get only 2 meals a day. If they sleep on the floor, you sleep on the floor. If they have no health care, you don’t have health care. Suck it up butter cup!
• Hackers, swindlers, ponzi schemers, you return all the money you stole with interest and your family (who enjoyed your ill-gotten wealth) will help pay for that bill. Lock them up!
• You reporters that spread fake news, your faces will be stamped beside your lies on billboards so everyone knows you are not to be trusted and you will never get a job in journalism again. No more internet access for you!
• Greedy Politicians, you are not exempt from the laws that you pass. Your children have to go to public school, ride public transportation, have the lowest free insurance benefits, walk the same street where the criminals you released walk. If you tell us to wear a mask, you wear a mask. If you are caught not following your own rules, you DIE!!!

I know it’s simplistic but I’m not Judge Judy (and everyone said: “thank God!”). Truth is, I’ve been discouraged lately by the absurdity of many in Congress who seem to have no understanding of a budget and how to stop this runaway inflation. I don’t think they’re that ignorant. I think they believe we are. We could really use Judge Judy’s common sense law.

Arthur of Sierra Madre sent me a somber video (see below) about why evil will win over good almost all the time. You should watch it. The great philosopher, Billy Joel, explained it well — “only the good die young.” There is actually a best-selling book that encourages people to be mean and demanding in order to succeed. Who would want their hearts turn cold like that? Greedy, immature, self-absorbed people that’s who. And there are lots of them … especially at the top.

But wait! Do you really think stricter laws will change society? It may help (maybe for a short time) but it’s not the real solution. Case in point: Glamorous Singapore has very strict laws but beneath their glitzy lifestyle, there is an oppression rarely spoken of. In fact, every model nation has their secret skeletons dangling in their closets too.

We can strive to have a perfect society but it will never happen. Evil prowls like a roaring lion waiting to devour. Oooooo weeeee — It’s Twilight Zone time again … wish it weren’t real. That’s why I take comfort in the promises of scripture:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” — Ephesians 6:12-13

There is hope. There is always hope.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

When something’s wrong in the neighborhood, who you gonna call? Judge Judy? Don’t be silly.

Pray!

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” — James 5:13

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Lois of Oregon for this joke.

Videos of the week

Thanks to Lois for this cute video.

Thanks to Arthur of Sierra Madre, CA for this thought-provoking video.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Belen of Cerritos, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for these cartoons.

The post Food for Thought appeared first on Traveling Archive.

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 story — lost boy meets other lost boys and they form a bond. If you watched the movie “Stand By Me” that’s what it was like.

I was the tallest and Teddy was the shortest. Bob and I had acne riddled all over our faces. Lenny always looked sleepy but he was secretly the spoiled rich kid whose father ran a small factory. Teddy was the care-free, good looking joker who was the only one who would have the guts to approach a girl and not get tongue-tied. If there were a pretty woman in front of me, I would run away. Bob would giggle first and then run away. Lenny … well Lenny would walk away slowly and disappear … never again to be seen by man or beast. The four of us discovered LIFE outside the regiments of school work. Other than sharing our misunderstanding of the mysteries of women, we had nothing else in common. But we enjoyed being foolish togther. The following school year I was placed in another section. I never got to hang out with them anymore. Decades passed.

* * * * *

Last year, I got a call from a quivering voice who claimed he was a friend: “It’s Teddy, do you remember me? We used to hang out in high school.” He was apologetic he didn’t want to call but he was at the end of his rope and desperation forced the phone call. I comforted him saying I was glad he called. He said he lost his job because of Covid, had no friends nor family, but he was going to train to be a forklift operator in San Francisco. He had dried up his resources and had not eaten for days.

“Could you spare some money?” he asked.

Would you have fallen for a line like that? All those years and now he begs for money. I did. In fact, my wife and I agreed to help him out with a sizeable chunk. I told him he should go to a Bible-believing church and seek refuge. Maybe God will meet him there. He said that he was familiar with a church and said that he would. I prayed with him on the phone.

* * * * * *

I got a shock early this week. I heard through the grapevine that Teddy had contracted Covid. He was gone. I was distraught. A part of my childhood died. Poor poor Teddy.

The next day, I got a text from another old friend. This time it was Bob. He wanted to tell me about Teddy. They had been very close. Teddy had been homeless since 2016 and he suffered with severe malnutrition, was hospitalized and diagnosed with depression, lung cancer and blood clot in his brain. His suffering has ended. I guess It was a good time to go.

Bob and I mourned in our texts. We apologized to each other for not keeping in touch. And then Bob mentioned he accepted Jesus as his saviour in 2018. Unless you are a believer, you will probably not understand this, but I was overjoyed. This is the main thing we have in common now. We hope to meet the next time he comes around in Los Angeles. What a beautiful day that will be.

I reflect at the different paths the 4 of us took. One path led to suffering and an early death. Two other paths split and then converged with Christ. (Teddy might have wound up on the same path but we will never know this side of heaven.) I never heard what happened to Lenny. I pray that he too will wander and meet us at same path.

Where are your friends? Are you in the right path? Are you waiting for them to join your path or are they waiting for you?

TGIF people!
Raoul

“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”
— C.S. Lewis

Joke of the Week

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

Video of the Week 

Thanks to Ed of Makati, Greater Manila, Philippines for this amusing video. I didn’t know Warren Buffet could sing.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Mel of Washington DC for these Herman jokes which made me laugh out loud.

The post The Shower appeared first on Traveling Archive.