Start with Laughter

It’s the weekend of Father’s Day and I wish I had more time to write my thoughts but today was especially busy and this is another photo-finish TGIF edition. I’m not going to even have time to edit so please bear with me.

I have avoided getting into Twitter because I knew it would occupy too much of my time if I ever got addicted. One of the headlines accused Twitter of unfair and unbalanced censorship. So this week I decided to check what all the fuss was about. I decided to follow different political persuasions. What I discovered was a large disparity of media coverage. One persuasion talked extensively about CHAZ or CHOP (the so-called autonomous 6-city block zone) and the other persuasion had avoided any mention of it. One persuasion talked about the Rayshard Brooks killing in Atlanta (where a white cop shot a black man running away with the cop’s stolen taser) while the other persuasion defended the police. Both sides talked about defunding the Police but they both had different meanings of the word “defund.” Of course politicians were playing to the cameras by kneeling (or not kneeling), accusing, blaming, sympathizing, ridiculing — leaving the rest of us confused and more and more distant from each other. After almost a week I realized that it’s true — Twitter is everything I want to avoid.

I understand these are all serious topics but I couldn’t help but  laugh at the silliness. I’m hoping both sides can find common ground. May I suggest we start by laughing at the absurdity?

I decided I’d give you a little test. The first video may upset Conservatives and the last joke may upset Liberals. They’re both clever and funny. If you can’t laugh at them, then may I suggest you’re too serious?  Think about it. We need to unite and help each other create a better world. If you can’t even laugh at these jokes, how do you expect to get there?

Keep safe, keep healthy and don’t forget to greet Dad this Sunday. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

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

Video: Asian Son Thinks He’s White

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

It’s a political stand-up comedy. He’s obviously not a fan of Trump so if you are sensitive about this, move on. Otherwise, I think he’s very creative and funny. Lighten up!

Video: Lie Detector Wedding

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA.

Hope you understand Spanish. Sorry, I couldn’t find an English translation.

Video: Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Video: “Be Thou My Vision” Sung by 300 Irish Churches

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA for sending this strange Father’s Day greeting from a famous Conservative, C’mon, lighten up!

The post Talking Dog appeared first on Traveling Archive.

This week we have a rare contribution from one of my subscribers/friends:

“I dreamed it and couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I swear I was inspired (which is how many of my poems come to me) so I put my dream into verse.” — Lois McKinney

I Had a Dream

(With appreciation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I don’t think I will soon forget
A dream I had the other night.
I dreamed I was caring for six little boys.
Three were black and three were white.

The smallest boy kept running off,
With the biggest, happiest grin.
He thought he and I were having a race,
And he was determined to win!

I picked him up by the back of his shirt
And as he squirmed and wiggled,
He became a suitcase as I carried him,
And plopped him on the grass as he giggled!

Then a little black boy fell to the ground.
His white playmate said “You’ll be okay.
Come with me; I have some games
That I think you and I should play.”

The white boy helped his new friend
To sit under a nearby tree,
And then got a pail of water
To wash the injured knee.

The two of them talked and laughed
At riddles, and silly things that rhyme.
It seemed as though these two little boys
Had been good friends for a very long time.

The other four kids found a ball
And tossed it all around.
They’d cheer each boy who caught the ball
Before it hit the ground!

Such sportsmanship warmed my heart.
It made me feel so good
To see that love for everyone
Was something these kids understood.

Six little boys hadn’t known each others’ names –
Timmy, Ralph, Satchel, Sam, Stu, and Wade –
But later that day they knew all the names
Of the new friends they had made.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful
If assumptions didn’t get in our way,
And we’d think the way the kids did
On that really special day?

We’d judge people by the things they do
And not by the way they look.
If that could happen, all lives would matter,
And prejudice would be a closed book!

Lois McKinney
June, 2020

Thank you Lois for sharing that beautiful poem. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Chuck of Whittier, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Chinese Social Distancing

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C and Art of Sierra Madre, CA.

Video: Therapeutic Horse

Thanks to Mike of New York City.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA.

Thanks to Ernie of Manila, Philippines.

The post The Fottle appeared first on Traveling Archive.