Microwave Corn-On-The-Cob

Here's something quick and easy to do: microwave corn-on-the-cob! What's great about it, there is no shucking to do and the corn is silk-free. This is courtesy of the RVGeeks. This method can be used in a microwave-equipped recreational vehicle or at home.

I tried this out tonight and it really works great!

This video will show you how to do it:

Spending Dough

Above, comic books for sale at last year's Comikaze Expo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Great news was received today, and it comes at the most opportune time.

My Nebraska farm tenant told me this morning that he finished harvesting the corn crop grown on my land and the check from the buyer will be coming within the next week or so. As expected, although corn prices are down (what can you do?), we had an almost unbelievable high yield this year that will help to make up for it.

Above, a costume and t-shirt vendor at the 2012 Comikaze Expo. Photo be Armand Vaquer.

What I mean about "opportune" is that the crop check should be here before I go to Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo on October 31 for the Godzilla/Gamera anniversaries panel discussion. [Details here.] As one can imagine, Comikaze Expo (besides comic books, celebrities, panels and displays) has many vendors hawking their goods. With plenty of spending money on hand, I will be able to make some purchases there.

For the list of Comikaze Expo's exhibitors, go here.

Harvest Time

Harvest season is now upon us. This means that farmers across American are harvesting their 2014 crops and getting them to market.

Concerning corn, prices are down (about $3.47/bushel) thanks to a big supply, which places downward pressure on corn prices. Prices were also down last year, but since the crop yield was very good (this year will be about the same or even better than last year), this helped to make up for the low prices. It should be about the same this year. Two years ago, prices were about double of what they are now.

Next year, we have to contend with and make decisions on new Dept. of Agriculture programs that were enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill.

Farmers in Nebraska and around the country also have to contend with the Environmental Protection Agency's "Waters of the U.S." rule. Farm experts say that this rule will be harmful to the nation's farms and will “cause cost increases, confusion and uncertainty to agricultural producers.” See this article for more. That's what happens when left wing lunatics are in charge of the federal government.

Nation's Corn Crop Planting At 20%

AgWeb.com reports that the nation's corn crop planting is nearing 20%.

They show the agriculture states and the progress for each on the planting in this progress report:

Nebraska, the state where my farm land is located, is at 20%. Nebraska's 2009-2013 average for this date is 22%. 

Getting Stuff Done

Above, Akira Takarada and Armand with the poster at Son of Monsterpalooza.

There were several things I wanted to get done today, including some business with Toho's Los Angeles office and to get my farm tenant a nice box of assorted See's Candies for Christmas. This tradition was started by my mom years ago and I have continued it. It is a way of saying "thank-you" for a great corn production year on the farm.

I got my business with Toho done and headed off to See's.

Another thing I wanted to get done today was to get the Godzilla poster I had actor Akira Takarada sign for me at the Son of Monsterpalooza a couple of months ago framed. I figured I'd better get it done a.s.a.p. before it gets thrashed. No amount of professional framing would make a thrashed poster look good, would it? After my business with See's Candies was done, I headed off to get the poster framed.

So, I went to the local U-Frame-It and ordered the framing. It will be nicely framed with a black matte. It will be done (they said) this week. Once it is, I'll post a photo of the finished job.

Planning Ahead and Returning To Japan

Above, yours truly is heading back to the "Land of the Big G" early next year.

This year's crop check has arrived and now I can turn my attention to my planning for the next few months. Although corn prices are well below last year's, this years crop is the best in ages (I'm told) with a far better-than-average per acre yield, which made up quite a bit of the difference.

Since the "demise" of ComiXpress, I had to find another self-publishing house for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. I've decided to go with Ka-Blam Digital Publishing (catchy name, eh?). After deciding, this left me with two options:

1. Make slight modifications to the current edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and publish that way at Ka-Blam. Or,

2. To a complete revision/update of the travel guide and publish through Ka-Blam.

I've decided on option two. This decision requires that I head over to Japan for more material. I've no problem with this, as I have been "chafing at the bit" to make the trip. I will be going early next year. Since I will be doing so for the guide, I can write off most, if not all, of my travel expenses from my income taxes (just like I did three years ago). Since the dollar is performing much better against the yen in exchange rates and given the cheap airfare prices I've been finding lately, this is the perfect time to go. I hope to have everything done and having it published by Spring.

For those who can't wait for the second edition, do not fret as I have plenty of copies of the current edition available. Go here for ordering details.

This trip will be combined with assisting Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga producer/director Jonathan Bellés as he gathers material for his documentary. We will be deciding on the trip dates and make plans accordingly.

Once I return, work will begin on the "second edition" of the travel guide.

The trip will be something to look forward to as 2013 ends and 2014 begins.

Harvest In Progress

Just got word from my tenant that the corn crop at the Nebraska farm is now being harvested today through Saturday and it looks very good!

He said, "Yield-wise, probably the best ever or close to it!" This is great news, considering that corn commodity prices are down this year. The high yield will help make up for it.

I have been reading reports for the past two weeks that the corn yield is exceptional around the country this year.

Corn & Comikaze Expo

As I predicted, the federal government shutdown (or slowdown, as 83% of the government was still operating) would cause a delay in Department of Agriculture farm program payments. The "shutdown" ended on October 17.

I predicted during the "shutdown" that it would cause a delay of about two weeks before payments would be made. Sure enough, my bank account is much bigger as the Department of Agriculture payment made it in (I have direct deposit) yesterday. So it took 12 days for it to make into my account. Not too bad, all things considered.

At least the Department of Agriculture has their act together!

************

Day after tomorrow, I will be participating in a discussion panel on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The show opens at 1:00 P.M. (according to the schedule when I last saw it) and the panel starts at 2:00.

As I did at last year's Comikaze Expo, I will have available copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan following the panel. It will be available at a 20% discount off the cover price of $15.00. So, instead of $15.00, it will be available for $12.00. If you would like it signed, I would be happy to do so at no extra charge.

Hope to see you at the Los Angeles Convention Center at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo!

First Crop Report

Above, the farm during the winter of 1977.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first report on this year's corn crop at the farm in Nebraska came in this morning.

According to my tenant, "Crops look good!  [It is] very dry again, so very busy."

Even if there are drought conditions in the area, I am not worried as we have a good irrigation well on the property.  The only worry is possible wind or hail storms between now and harvesting (about three months from now).

Great Crop Year!

This year's crop check arrived yesterday and just as I hoped, it was nearly 40% more than last year's!

The corn crop came through in fine shape (no drought problems) and the yield was great.  Plus, the corn commodity prices were high.

This allows me to pay off many bills and still have plenty left over.  

Harvest Time!

Good news greeted me this morning.

I received the following email from my farm tenant:

Corn looks great and price is very high. Should get corn picked in a week or so will sell and get check coming your way. Elevators are very slow in getting checks out again this year, will let you know when done picking so can watch for check.

This amounts to roughly half of my annual income.  Naturally, this is my favorite time of the year.

Corn Status

With all the media talk about the country-wide drought floating around with corn being hit hard, I started getting somewhat concerned.

That concern was mitigated by the fact that we have a good well on the farm property that my parents put in back in the late-1970s.

My tenant in Nebraska reported that the "corn crops look great" and "not to read too much into what the news is saying."  Our water situation is "good."

He also reports that the "price is very good."  We have "about one week of irrigation to go" before harvest time.  The price is very good due to the demand for ethanol and that some corn growing areas have been hit by the drought, thereby cutting into the supply.

This all comes as a relief and confirmation that we're in great shape this year.  This should be an excellent crop year.  Just hope we have no hail or wind storms coming through before harvesting.

Corn Prices At Record High

Drought conditions may be bad in some areas, but price-wise, it can also be beneficial.

CNN Money reports:

Corn prices surged to a new record high Monday, as the worst drought in more than 50 years continues to plague more than half the country.

Almost 90% of the United States' corn crops are in drought ravaged areas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and nearly 40% are situated in the hardest hit spots.

Corn prices have soared more than 50% during the past six weeks as the crops continue to shrivel in relentless dry heat throughout the Midwest. They jumped another 3% Monday to a record high of $8.17 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Fortunately, the corn crop on the Nebraska farm is doing great and we have a water well for irrigation. The well was dug in the late 1970s.

To read more, go here.

Crop Report

Above, the farm during the winter of 1977.

The first report on this season's corn crop came in yesterday.  My Nebraska farm's tenant reported:

All's going good.  The crops look great and the price is very good.

Things should go well as long as there are no hail or windstorms to cause damage.

2012 World Ag Expo

When my mother passed away in January 2010, I inherited farm property in Buffalo County, Nebraska.

While I have an excellent tenant farmer working the property, it has been my desire to educate myself in the agriculture industry. Admittedly, I knew diddly-squat about the farming industry when everything fell into my lap. But nearly two years later, I now know a lot more than I did then about Dept. of Agriculture programs, crop insurance, property taxes, corn prices, etc.

But it would be wise for me to further educate myself on agriculture.

This coming February, the 2012 World Ag Expo will take place in Tulare, California (north of Bakersfield by about 60 miles). Former President George W. Bush will be participating at an event during the expo.

According to their website:

Located in California’s Central Valley, 45 miles south of Fresno and 60 miles north of Bakersfield, just off Highway 99. Airfields are located in Tulare, Visalia, Fresno and Bakersfield.

World Ag Expo is the largest annual agriculture exposition celebrating 45 years of innovative agriculture with:

1,600 exhibitors displaying the latest in farm equipment, chemicals, communications, and technology on 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space.

Free seminars on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals.

Cooking demonstrations by chefs from California’s top restaurants in the World Ag Women Pavilion.

This looks to be something that could provide useful information for the future. Couldn't hurt to check it out!

November Off To A Good Start

Above, Miki Hayashi with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

November is off to a good start.

First, corn crop in Nebraska was harvested last week. The check is en route. It'll be nice to have a big nest egg in the bank again.

Second, claim assignments are coming in. I attended to one this morning in Koreatown in Los Angeles.

Third, the first sale of the month came in yesterday at ComiXpress for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Others have come in directly to me (I have a supply on hand for faster service, go to the link in this paragraph for more details).

My roomie and I took a jaunt yesterday to Pasadena to see the culinary school facilities of Le Cordon Bleu. She is thinking about taking their (one-year) course. We were very impressed with their program and their cooking classroom facilities. They also have cooking programs for consumers who may want to take specialized cooking classes. The prices for these were so reasonable that I am even considering taking some for the fun of it!

And, the second rainstorm within the past seven days rolled in this morning. The local mountains have a nice dusting of snow. And, I got a free car wash out of the deal!

Before we know it, the holidays will be here. Actually, we stopped off at Macy's in Sherman Oaks on the way back from Pasadena and did some shopping. The place was packed with shoppers! We got some good deals on some items. The Christmas decorations were all out in full force.

Halloween, etc.

It is nice to wake up to some good news. And today I woke up to some good news.

I heard from my Nebraska farm tenant this morning and he said he "picked your corn this weekend. Corn was good for what it has been thru this summer. [We had some wind and hail damage. Fortunately, it was relatively minimal.] Will sell this week and get check headed your way."

The check will amount to roughly half of my annual income.


And, today is Halloween. That means that I will follow tradition (begun in the 1960s) and watch Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948).

Biofuel Policies and the Beef Industry

Harvest season is now here. I am looking forward to a nice infusion of cash from this year's sale of the corn crop from the farm in Nebraska.

I've been told that while we don't have a "bumper crop," the corn market prices will make up for any losses (we did have some hail damage several months ago).

Speaking of corn market prices, I saw an interesting article on beef prices in relation to the competing market for biofuel corn production from the Western Farm Press (I get regular reports from them via email). The article stated in part:

The question that often is asked is: What is the impact of changing biofuel policies on production agriculture? The answer requires solid data, and so does the question on evaluating production costs and herd performance for late-spring (early May) calving in contrast to the traditional spring (late-March, early April) calving in southwestern North Dakota.

Asking a question usually triggers a quick response that implies a simple answer is available. Seldom, if ever, is that true. Determining biofuel policy and its impacts on beef production systems is not simple.

Asking if increasing demand for corn by expanding market options would change prices is a simpler question than determining the biofuel policy impacts on beef production. Nevertheless, the questions are real.

As a participant on the producing end, what happens to the crop after it is sold to the buyer is not my concern. I am a free-marketer who believes in letting the free market (i.e., supply & demand) set prices without government interference. Too often, interference by the government with farm policy regulations written by clueless politicians cause more problems. Federal energy policies pertaining to oil by the current administration are insane anyway.

To read the full article, go here.

Life is good!

As I mentioned a few days ago, August is off to a good start. The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is selling, despite the worsening economy and the lingering problems of the Japanese travel industry in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.







I received news from my Nebraska farm tenant on this year's corn crop:

Crops look okay, not a bumper yield, but price will offset yield loss. Can't seem to get a rain, haven't had any since first of July.

Thank goodness we've a good on-site well for plenty of irrigation water!

Also, two claim assignments have come in since the first of the month. That's good sign! The latest one is to do a scene investigation on a sheriff vehicle vs. a big rig collision. We're still down in claim file count for the year (so far), but any work that comes in is welcome.

A quick note on last night's GOP presidential debate. I think Romney did well and didn't do anything that would endanger his "front-runner" status. Pawlenty came off like a petulant high school kid. I was most impressed by Bachmann.

On the home front, my "roomie" made a great middle-eastern dish that was delicious last night for dinner. It is great to have more regular home-cooked meals and a fully-stocked refrigerator and a woman in the house again.

Life is good!

"Godzilla" Strikes Nebraska

Well, a "Godzilla" hit Nebraska yesterday. It is a Godzilla as far as I'm concerned.

I received some bad news this morning from my tenant farmer:

Hi, Armand. Had a big storm go thru last night. It hailed and wind broke alot of corn. Turned in fields to adjuster. They will not be out for two weeks so will not have any idea till they come out to amount of damage. It is a very sick feeling when this happens. My wife and I are going to go to see her sister in Kansas City so will be gone a couple days. It was a 50 mile strip that went thru.

As bad as this is, I have to thank my lucky stars (and a little prodding from my crop insurance agent) that I got the crop insurance paperwork in before this happened. So we're covered for any losses.

Someone was sitting on my shoulder!

Having natural disasters, be it windstorms (including tornadoes), hail or other perils, striking crops are just a hazard that farmers have to deal with. It is always a risk. This isn't the first time this happened as I remembered my mom had to deal with it on more than one occasion. Sooner or later, this will happen again. We've been lucky for the past several years. That's why there's crop insurance.

It is too bad this happened as the crop this year looked great. About a week or two ago, the corn crop was waist high.

"Nature has a way sometimes of reminding Man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up terrible offspring's of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake, or a Godzilla." - Ending narrative by Raymond Burr from "Godzilla 1985."

Or a hail storm.