Thank you all for reading my journal.




Video created by Masyon featuring my art work.
[link] video with music of my art work.
Masyon


Overcoming Bee Rock




Anna Robb joined my POWER hike Thursday evening from 7 to 9 PM. We work together at City of Hope. Well, more accurately, she works, I volunteer. (Anyone have paying work for me?? ha ha) Although Bee-Rock scared the bejezuz out of her and she no longer has a bejezuz in her, she was very proud of overcoming her fears. The trick is to not look down.


Unemployment Sucks



When I initially left my last job, I was happy and relieved. I needed a rest after many years of working hard and stressing myself out. It was fun. When I finally decided to begin searching for new work, I was shocked. I used to be able to find new work within one or two interviews. Now, no one even responds. And, if they do respond, it's by a computer. It's hard to believe no one wants the talents of a person who can make their medical research costs or hospital administrative procedures to be more efficient. It can't be outsourced to India or can it?


Stocked Rallied in July


As a consolation prize, Stocks rallied in July, giving me hope where the job search does not. Root for Dow 12,000 !


Job Scam

Be careful when applying for jobs which tell you all you have to do is open a bank account and collect checks to "process" them. It is a scam. You will be given checks and you will deposit them and then write checks to the fake employer. However, all the checks sent to you will be bogus. You will be left holding the bag. Never accept such a role. Each time I receive a response from such a person, I forward it to the FBI. And send a note to the fake employer saying "This has been forwarded to the FBI asshole."


Wife's birthday



Barbara insisted she didn't want a party or luxurious presents. All she wanted was for me to visit her at her office, have lunch, then prepare a picnic and go to an outdoor concert in the park in the evening. And, I got her a dozen red roses.


Cat Sitting



I did some photo manipulations and took photographs for my pal, Natalia, who is creating a web site to advertise her skills in interior decorating. In return, she will be cat-sitting my cats when I go away on holiday. As of this writing, the website has not been updated yet. [link] Link to her web site. When she finally updates it using my photos, I'll upload it again.


Fate or Coincidence


Two journals ago, I reported that Los Angeles City Councilman, Tom LaBonge, connected me with a City Fire Chief Kenneth Cassidy to chat about a map of Griffith Park. Tom told me Cassidy has been working on a map for search and rescue purposes. He thought it might be mutually beneficial for both of us to meet. My map is also of Griffith Park. It is a satellite map which has all the fire hydrants, roads, trails and water tanks in it. When I finally met Captain Cassidy on Saturday, we were both surprised. As it turns out, the starter map which some park rangers let me borrow was the map Captain Cassidy made for the rangers. It looks like a street map with no terrain. I overlaid the hydrants onto the satellite map and named all the trails. Now, we're collaborating and helping each other on our maps. Hopefully, this map may save lives in the future.


Adventure on Rainbird and Goat Trails



On Sunday morning, it was clear and warm. Carl, Robin, Patrick, Kathy, and I climbed up Rainbird trail to view an old rusty car which long ago had fallen into the ravine. Julie was going to join us, but her allergies attacked her. No one knows the fate of the occupants. It looks like an old 1950's Chevy. After this, we climbed straight up Goat trail to Dante's. Carl was a real trooper despite the fact he turned blue and became dizzy. We took good care of him.


Helped a Friend on Two Essays



I helped my friend, Maria (center), on two school essays. One was on the movie, "Dr. Strangelove," whose main character was based on Dr. Edward Teller, the inventor of the hydrogen bomb, and on Dr. Henry Kissinger, who was Nixon's National Security Advisor. His Ph.D. thesis was on nuclear warfare. The other essay I helped her on was on the USA's National debt. It's 14 trillion Dollars big. However, the GDP of the USA is also 14 trillion. So, this puts it in line with many other country's national debt as a ratio of debt to GDP. Far right wing wack jobs have been saying we should not extend unemployment benefits because it might raise the debt. But these same people never complained about raising the debt when they were cutting taxes for the rich and increasing war spending.


Features

Regret by ~Hypnoticell

A Dark Comedy by `girltripped

Cant Stand The Rain by *AussieSteve1961

Haruhi Gothic Lolita Version by *blackmage9

Your Perfume in The Waves by *PhilippeGaravel

Komos Beach by *GiorgosMaravelakis

my moment by =FikreesProjects

Strahov Monastery Prague HDR by *lesogard

Before sand spout by ~mkinanc

Heavens no, Hell yeah 2 by `Bakanekonei

golden sisters by =hentai-kitty

A Japanese Birthday Dinner by *takeru-san

The Wind and The Sea by =ChrissieCool

witch L4D cosplay by ~BabeNana