Wrinkled Wisdom

Drake asked me to speak on Artificial Intelligence at the Rotary Club of West Covina last Wednesday. I spoke on a similar subject last month and I was hoping to use the same material but the rapid growth of the technology in just a month forced me to rewrite my presentation. As expected, there were a lot of questions and a lot of concerns about the future among the audience. What I didn’t expect was who my friend Drake (not his real name) really was.

I met Drake only once, several years ago, in a Rotary meeting where we discussed launching an entrepreneurial program. Sadly (as in many brainstorming sessions) the project never materialized. But I did gain a new friend in Drake. He has been a devoted subscriber of my blog ever since (I bet he’s reading this right now). He would send me calendars and encouragement through the years. And when he heard of my interest in AI, he asked me to speak to his chapter.

As we conversed, I admit it was strange putting a face to a friendship born from emails over the years. I didn’t know he championed so many NGOs and continues to be so energetic even now in his sunset years. He’s the quintessential billion-dollar-deal-maker who knows how to get things done. Like many quiet heroes, he made his money years ago and he volunteered (and still does) most of his services. His 5 kids and 12 grown grand kids are successful in their own right. What an amazing individual. I wish I had more time to learn from him.

A Treasury of Old Friends

You see them everywhere — the Silent Generation and the Boomers. Many walk with arched backs and canes or wheelchairs … way past their prime, dealing with numerous aches … yet carrying treasures of wisdom from decades of experience. It’s a real treat conversing with them. If I were smart, I should write their stories to fit a TV series that will never run out of material. Some of them have passed away but there are still a few who are still influencing my life:

• Every week I hear tales and practical lessons from a joyful widow whose heart is as big as Chicago where she learned to work hard through life’s ups and downs and is blessed with so many wonderful memories of her loving parents and husband. She provides support for grieving families who lost their loved ones —- no charge!
• My business partner (and professor of history) teaches me about Property Management, history and faith. Every once in a while I dip into his pool of facts to help me understand the craziness in our world.
• Another Rotarian shares his adventures growing up as a Mexican American who loves his heritage and ballroom jazz. His wife goes everywhere he goes. Hard to believe that they still organize mission trips to Rosarito — a poor Mexican village they adopted years ago.
• Another widow (with the spunk of a teenager) whom I met at an event at the local Historical society allowed me to help with a children’s book based on a story she made up for her kids when they were still toddlers. She still writes and helps me out with my grammar because she used to edit manuals for USC (University of Southern California).
• I am inspired even as my heart breaks for another couple who both have an incurable disease. For years they have pioneered and assisted people (primarily kids) with their visual problems through the simple use of colored overlays. I asked them to stop working and start enjoying life in their last days but, apparently, this is what they enjoy doing.
• A former pastor (and now a dear friend) loves Christian history and Biblical exegesis. He’s written volumes of scholarly books about Biblical inerrancy. We banter about his perspective on politics and faith. We get into a lot of heavy stuff.
• My long time buddy (back from my early days as a born-again Christian) from Tennessee is a fireman-turned-missionary. He has a joke about everything and an infectious laughter that brightens my day. He is a man of action. In the mid-80s he introduced me to a new program called Adobe Photoshop. This started my path towards the computer graphic arts industry. We’ve made several books together. He’s a cancer survivor who is still writing, designing and producing Bible study materials.
• The last (that I can think of now) are three older friends who live in different ends of America and opposite ends of the political spectrum but they all send me jokes and inspiration that keep me going during the week. Two have volunteered at the Rose Bowl event for decades. The other has encouraged me with my business by sending me documentaries of graphic designers and photographers. He is a proud Dad who shares his daughter’s photographic work for Time, Rolling Stone, GQ and other national magazines.

If you know me, you know that I interfere with other people’s lives — I help wherever I can even when help is afraid to ask. Many have thanked me and wondered why I do what I do. They don’t know that I’m just passing on what my older friends have shared with me. Paying forward — that’s what it’s all about.

Old people: Some people call them the Silent Generation but I call them the Unselfish Generation. They may not say much, they may not look like much … but boy, much can we learn from them. Take a bite of their wisdom before it’s too late.

TGIF people!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
— Proverbs 1:7

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Alex of San Juan, Philippines

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Chito of Quezon City, Philippines

Thanks to Raffy of Mandaluyong, Philippines

Parting Shots

Thanks to Dean of Vancouver, B.C.

Thanks to Garie of Paranaque, Philippines

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre. CA

Thanks to Jun of Reseda, Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

I found these

The Traveling Boy

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

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There used to be a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. To steal was wrong. To fight for your country was right. To kill a child was wrong. To save a mother was right. Premarital sex was wrong. To come to the country illegally was wrong. Smoking and Coca Cola was right. The cops were good and the criminals were bad. Trust the priests and the teachers because they will protect your child. To be a lawyer and a politician you had to lie … well I guess not all things have changed.

Tom of Pasadena sent me this meme. I didn’t know if it was supposed to be funny but I realized how, just seeing this, would stir up strong emotions from anyone familiar with the Rittenhouse trial.

There are many reasons for this great divide in opinions. There are too many voices in mainstream and social media. We have become the angry voices that we listen to. And I think the 4 questions that run in many minds are these:

1) Who is talking?
2) Is he/she on my side?
3) What’s in it for me?
4) If I admit I was wrong will they call me stupid?

It’s a stark contrast from the Rotarian Four Way Test which is recited in the beginning of every meeting:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

It is no longer TRUTH that we are seeking but fulfilling our self-interest and protecting our rights under the guise of the “greater good.”

But I guess I’m stating the obvious. You already knew this was happening. Is there any hope for us? Or are we doomed to destruction?

We are doomed!

Nah, just kidding. Of course there is hope. There is always hope. When the big scary balloon comes for us, we have a pin of truth to burst that over-rated bubble of hot air. Just make sure you have the truth. To be mature is to admit our mistakes and to be humble in triumph.

There is an important declaration in the 1st Chapter of the book of James. He said:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Did you get that? James says we are going through an elaborate Boot Camp that will prepare us for battle. (And you thought THIS was the battle … the real battle is coming, kiddo!).

The 1st century church was in deep doo doo; we are in 21st century doo doo. And James’ advice is just as timely. I encourage you to read the 1st Chapter of James. It has words of wisdom that are way too much to fit in this email. James tells us to pray for wisdom, listen more, not lose our cool, check our mirror for hypocrisy, etc. because if we do all that, we will be blessed no matter the circumstance.

Let’s have compassion for one another, seek the truth in humility (no matter where it may lead) and, by golly, the truth shall set us free.

But this is just me.

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

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

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA. for these sad/humorous commentaries about the rising price of gas.
(If you will notice these toons were done back in 2004. They had no idea about gas prices now).

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA. for this family photo.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena

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