WELCOME ESMERALDA ARELY GAMBOA

My granddaughter, Esmeralda Arely Gamboa, was born on Monday, August 3, 2009. You can imagine the joy and excitement in the maternity waiting room as I received a text message from Marlon asking that we all reamin there because the baby is about to be born. What we didn't expect was a beautiful doll of a baby girl. All along Marlon and Glenda had been told by their doctor that they were giving birth to a boy. A name was already selected and shower gifts were a sea of blue. So when Esmeralda entered this world the surprise made the moment even that much more memorable. I am overcome with a feeling of pure love.

Where are you from?

You've Got To Be Kidding

It's been a year and four months since I've been hitting the job boards looking for full-time employment. I've sent out countless resumes and cold calls to potential employers and not once have I received a 'Thanks, but no thanks' email or postcard. I understand the job market is rough but what I've been seeing lately makes me want to scream. While browsing job postings I've looked at everything from entry-level to experienced positions and am finding the qualifications from candidates to be outrageous. Okay, take this for example: Receptionists are now required to have a BA and are being compensated with a mere $8 an hour salary; I found one job listing for an Editor to an online music magazine who MUST have a degree in journalism in order to earn $24K annually. WHAT! I don't get it. I've always looked at myself as someone who earned below what I was worth but as I'm beginning to find out my salary range is above what's being offered out there to those who actually went to college. Something isn't right here.

WEDDING WISHES

Glenda Arely Cruz & Marlon Gamboa-Martinez are to be married this Saturday (9/15/2007) - That's my boy and future daughter in-law. CONGRATULATIONS!

MAY DAY MAYDAY

It's all over the news and press these days. The barbarous actions of the LAPD at Tuesday's May Day rally in MacArthur Park. How many of us who live in Los Angeles and have been witness to such behavior are really all that surprised? I'm not. What gets me about all this is the amount of air time being given to news reports about this single incident and the swift response by the city's police chief.

Over the past 37 years I have found myself in the midst of protest and peace rallies for a number of wars and countless human rights issues so I know of the intimidation tactics used by LAPD and LA Co Sherrif's Dept. I am also quite aware of provocateurs who infiltrate peaceful gatherings to stir up confrontation taking an opportunist approach to address their own agenda regardless if it has any relevance to the issue at hand. I have been witness to unprovoked uses of force and wonder why it is that I can't find a single news report willing to air the days events even though I saw network news crews on the scene with cameras on and rolling.

No one likes being treated with disregard. The fact that the press found themselves at the receiving end of rubber bullets and/or a clubbing makes a world of difference for how this will all play out. It's all unfortunate and I wish it never took place but if this is what was needed to finally bring the ongoing and ever increasing level of police brutality in Los Angeles to the forefront then sobeit. Let the press not forget Ruben Salazar and how one of their own was taken out on August 29, 1970 at the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Viet Nam War in East Los Angeles.

Let us not forget the fact that Chief Bratton is vying for another term of office which plays a key role in his determination to appease the public and press with his investigations.

Iraq War -- 4 Years (too many)

It's been four years since this bloody war began and I haven't changed my views one bit. I am not alone in believing this is wrong. Here are a few photos from the protest against the war in Iraq which was held in Hollywood, CA on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

100 Mile Limit - continued

Ok, I had full intention on Sunday of driving out to PCH via Wilshire Blvd. but I hit a brick wall at Westwood and could go no further. Well, I didn't psychically hit a wall but it sure felt that way -- actually my car's thermostat reached the 'pushing it' level. To be honest, my tolerance to the heat reached it's peak when I first got into my car to head out in the first place so I really didn't mind calling it quits. Either way it felt good to get out and I was able to relieve myself of the frustrated feeling I was experiencing.