"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Kindle Edition #16

The Amazon Kindle Store edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is at (at this moment) number 16 in Amazon's "Hot New Releases" of Asian travel guides.

The Amazon ad that appeared on the Drudge Report (and elsewhere) is doing its job.

Funny thing, when people suggested that I do an ebook version, I checked around different places (who do ebooks) and the main problem was getting it formatted to those sites's specifications.  With Amazon, it turned out to be relatively easy.  I think I made the right move in going with Amazon as they also back their inventory items with aggressive marketing.

Thus far, I am very pleased with Amazon.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Ad On The Drudge Report

Following Rep. Paul Ryan's acceptance speech tonight, I was perusing Twitter, Facebook and different news outlets including The Drudge Report for reactions.

Well, when I went to The Drudge Report, I saw this at the top of page:

The Drudge Report gets millions of views daily.

This is how it looked on The Drudge Report:

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Craigslist Ad Updated

The Craigslist ad for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan has been renewed and updated to include the link to Amazon.com's Kindle Store page.

It is located in the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley Travel section.

To see the ad, go here.

Cartoons

Some cartoons for your viewing pleasure:

ANA Launches "Experience Japan" Fare

Above, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island near Hiroshima.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign tourists to Japan can take advantage of a new program just announced by All Nippon Airways (ANA).

According to an article posted by Japan Today:

TOKYO —All Nippon Airways has launched a new campaign for foreign visitors to Japan, called Experience JAPAN fare, which is valid through Oct 27, 2012. The campaign offers fares to any of ANA’s destinations within Japan for as low as 10,500 yen. 

Compared with a JR pass, this campaign is economical and less time-consuming. 

To be eligible for the campaign, foreign visitors are required to live outside Japan, hold a passport issued by a country other than Japan or, in the case of Japanese passport holders, have permanent residency outside Japan, and must hold an international ticket to and from Japan (it doesn’t have to be with ANA).

This sounds like a good deal (depending where one wants to go) that foreign tourists in Japan should look into.

To read the full article, go here.

GOP National Convention Live Feed

If you want to see the 2012 GOP National Convention without the filter of the liberal media (especially NBC, the National Barack Channel), go to Fox News Channel's live feed:

http://www.foxnews.com/live-coverage/2012-republican-convention

1980 Republican National Convention Photos

Above, a view of Ronald Reagan during his acceptance speech from the convention floor in Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

More so this year than previous years, this election year reminds me a lot of the 1980 election year.

Back in 1980, we had a liberal Democrat in the White House (Jimmy Carter) who made a mess of things, in domestic and defense policy.  We find ourselves in a similar situation, the only difference was that Jimmy Carter was a buffoon and Barack Obama is a true believer in radicalism.

In 1980, it took a former governor, Ronald Reagan, to beat Carter and get the country back in the right direction.  This year, it will take another former governor, Mitt Romney, to beat Obama in order to get the country back in the right direction again.

Funny how history seems to repeat itself.

As this year reminds me of 1980, I went through my 1980 GOP National Convention photo album and scanned a few photos taken during the convention.  I was a member of the California Delegation.

Above, here I am with Rick Stevenson (center) and Arleigh Kerr (right) at Fort Malden, outside of Windsor, Canada. Windsor is just across the Detroit River from Detroit.

Above, here I am in Detroit at the 1980 GOP National Convention.

Above, here I am again at the convention, different night.

Above, Ronald Reagan delivering his acceptance speech.

The Free Library Picks Up News On Monster Japan Travel Guide

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

The news release on the ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at Amazon's Kindle Store has been picked up by The Free Library.com.

About The Free Library:

Since 2003, The Free Library has offered free, full-text versions of classic literary works from hundreds of celebrated authors, whose biographies, images, and famous quotations can also be found on the site. Recently, The Free Library has been expanded to include a massive collection of periodicals from hundreds of leading publications covering Business and Industry, Communications, Entertainment, Health, Humanities, Law, Government, Politics, Recreation and Leisure, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences. This collection includes millions of articles dating back to 1984 as well as newly-published articles that are added to the site daily. 

The Free Library is an invaluable research tool and the fastest, easiest way to locate useful information on virtually any topic. Explore the site through a keyword search, or simply browse the enormous collection of literary classics and up-to-date periodicals to find exactly what you need.

To view the site, go here.

Dinosaur Fossils

This morning, I wandered into a coin shop in Tarzana and saw some dinosaur fossils on display and for sale. I immediately thought of Donald F. "Dinosaur Don" Glut, who collected dinosaur fossils and memorabilia.

I already emailed my find to Don, in case he may be interested in them.  For your viewing pleasure:

Above, this is "Dinosaur Don."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Below are my cell phone photos of the dinosaur fossils:

Collection DX Picks Up News On "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan"

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

Otaku.Collection DX picked up the news on the ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at Amazon's Kindle Store.

What is Collection DX?  Here's what they say:

The goal of CollectionDX is to provide reviews, news and information from the world of Japanese Toys, Action Figures and Pop Culture. Although our content focuses on Japanese toys, it really comes down to whatever we think is cool at the time.

To view the (cached) site, go here.

Being On C-SPAN and A New Discovery

Above, Ronald Reagan's 1980 acceptance speech in Detroit, Michigan.  I am at the arrow.

One of my favorite things during convention season in presidential election years is to watch old GOP National Convention acceptance speeches.

Above, the California Delegation on the convention floor.  I am circled.  Photo: Los Angeles Times.

Saturday night, I managed to watch on C-SPAN the 1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower acceptance speech at the Cow Palace in San Francisco (actually Daly City), the 1964 Barry Goldwater acceptance speech (also at the Cow Palace) and the 1980 Ronald Reagan acceptance speech at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

I only recently discovered the above Los Angeles Times photo.

Above, one of the campaign buttons in my collection.

Watching the 1980 Reagan acceptance speech was especially interesting to me as I was there as a California Delegate and saw myself a few times with a much thicker head of hair (I am probably one of the few who welcomed having my hair thin out, if only I can get it to stop).

It is fun looking back 32 years.

FCC Wants To Tax Your Internet Service!

Now they want to tax your Internet Service!

The Hill.com reports:

The Federal Communications Commission is eyeing a proposal to tax broadband Internet service. 

The move would funnel money to the Connect America Fund, a subsidy the agency created last year to expand Internet access. 

The FCC issued a request for comments on the proposal in April. Dozens of companies and trade associations have weighed in, but the issue has largely flown under the public's radar.

"If members of Congress understood that the FCC is contemplating a broadband tax, they'd sit up and take notice," said Derek Turner, research director for Free Press, a consumer advocacy group that opposes the tax.

Numerous companies, including AT&T, Sprint and even Google have expressed support for the idea.

Consumers already pay a fee on their landline and cellular phone bills to support the FCC's Universal Service Fund.

The Republican Platform has an "Internet Freedom" plank.  It is, however, silent on Internet taxes.

 To read the full article, go here.

National Geographic Channel's "Witness: Japan's Disaster"

Last night, I was watching the National Geographic Channel saw for the first time "Witness: Japan's Disaster."  The video above is I saw.

The program was on the Great East Japan Earthquake and resulting tsunami and Fukushima nuclear meltdown.  I have seen footage of the disaster before, but this presentation was absolutely stunning.

According to the National Geographic Channel:

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck 75 miles off the eastern coast of Japan. Almost immediately, tsunami warnings blared, urging residents along Japan's coast to quickly move to higher ground. For the next several hours, residents watched in stunned horror as a series of massive waves slammed into the coast, inundating entire towns and sweeping across the countryside, laying waste to everything in its path. Throughout, amateur videographers, news crews, government agencies, tourists, and countless others were recording the sights and sounds of the unfolding catastrophe. Weaving together their footage, Witness: Japan's Disaster reconstructs the earthquake and tsunami as they happened, entirely through the eyes of those who experienced them.

The video shots of the tsunami were amazing.  One aerial shot in particular was left a major impression.  It showed the tsunami rolling into a coastal town, washing away buildings, cars and farmland.  But from the perspective from the air, it look like it rolled in at slow motion.

When the National Geographic Channel replays the show, I recommend watching it.

Neil Armstrong, R.I.P.

Photo: NASA

Stunning and sad news.

From the Washington Post:

Former U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong, who stepped from the Apollo 11 lunar module on July 20, 1969, to become the first man to walk on the moon, has died at the age of 82, his family says.

Armstong is one of those rare men you can call "hero" but it would be an understatement.

His family's statement:

“We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.

Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.

He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.

As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.

While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”

Akihabara Enticing Shoppers With Bargains

Akihabara, Tokyo is the mecca for electronics and anime, but they've had a bit of a slump in sales of late.

However, some merchants are coming up with ways to increase sales to thrifty shoppers.

The Asahi Shimbun reports:

Forget Godzilla and giant robots. Merchants in Tokyo's Akihabara district, the anime and electronics mecca of Japan, have been battling two truly ferocious foes this summer: slumping tourism and thrifty shoppers. 

Officials of Takarada Electric Co., a home electronics chain that has an outlet near Akihabara Station, said that while the number of foreign tourists this summer had finally rebounded to levels seen before last year's earthquake and nuclear accident, many visitors are still keeping a tight grip on their purse strings. 

"The amount of purchases is lower than two years ago, probably due to the strong yen," one store official said. 

Now local companies and organizations are scrambling for ways to encourage spending, especially among Chinese tourists, who account for an overwhelming majority of the area's visitors. 

Takarada Electric has found one winning strategy with its low-price, high-volume approach. A section of its store where everything is priced at 1,000 yen ($12.80) has been doing brisk sales.

To read the full article, go here.

Melodika Picks Up Monster Japan Travel Guide News

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

Melodika.net has picked up the news release on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan ebook at Amazon's Kindle Store.

Melodika covers a wide range of subjects including music, travel, sports, fashion and entertainment. They appear to be based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

To view the site, go here.

Phyllis Coates To Be Honored September 2 At Cinecon 48

Above, Phyllis Coates and Armand in 2007.  Photo by Carl Glass.

Actress Phyllis Coates will be honored with a Career Achievement Award September 2 at Cinecon 48 in Hollywood.

From Cinecon.org:

Phyllis Coates, Samantha Eggar, Carleton Carpenter and Richard L. Bare will be honored with a Cinecon 48 Career Achievement Award at our celebrity banquet which will be held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel (formerly the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel) on Sunday evening, September 2, 2012.   

Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates.

Coates played Lois Lane in the Superman and The Mole Men (1951) full-length motion picture, which served as a pilot for the Adventures of Superman television show starring George Reeves.  She played Lois Lane in the show's first season.

For more on Cinecon 48, go here. 

Amazon Kindle Stores Overseas

Sales have been doing great for the Kindle version of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan over at Amazon.com.

The guide is also available at these overseas Kindle Stores of Amazon:

Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)
Amazon.de (Germany)
Amazon.fr (France)
Amazon.es (Spain)
Amazon.it (Italy)

GOP National Conventions

The Republican National Convention will be held next week (Monday-Thursday) in Tampa, Florida.

It appears that the tropical storm/hurricane will just skirt Tampa. So things should go well, one hopes.

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan arrive at the Hilton Plaza Inn during the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Each time the GOP National Convention is held, it reminds me of the times I was a California Delegate for Ronald Reagan.  Do I miss going?  You bet!

My first was in 1976 in Kansas City, Missouri when Reagan challenged President Gerald R. Ford for the nomination. Reagan barely lost, but it was a memorable convention (it was probably the last time a presidential nomination came down to the wire at a national convention).

My next national convention was in 1980 in Detroit, Michigan. Reagan won the nomination before the convention, so all there was to do is go through the formalities and nominate a vice-presidential candidate. Reagan decided on George Herbert Walker Bush.

Above, a welcome home rally after the 1980 GOP National Convention at LAX for the Reagans. Flanking them are Johnny Grant and Hugh O'Brien.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As we were just across the Detroit River from Windsor, Canada, we rented a car and drove under the river into Windsor. We toured Fort Malden while there.

We also toured the General Motors X-car assembly plant. What I saw there made me decide not to buy an American car. Two weeks later, I bought a Toyota pick-up truck.

My last national convention (as a member of the California Delegation) was in Dallas, Texas in 1984. This was to re-nominate Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. While there, I attended a bar-b-que at the H. L. Hunt Estate (in 112 degree heat) and went over to Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.

My daughter Amber and I did go to San Diego for the 1996 Republican National Convention. We didn't get any passes for the convention itself, but managed to get some souvenir campaign buttons.

Next week's GOP National Convention will be Florida's first since the 1972 Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Miami.

It will be fun to watch.

Press Release Now Circulating

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

The press release is now being circulated by the service I use.

Here it is:

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Now at Amazon's Kindle Store

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" is now available as an ebook at Amazon.com's Kindle Store.

Tarzana, CA, August 24, 2012 --(PR.com)-- "I am pleased to announce that 'The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan,' the world's first and only travel guide to monster locations and landmarks used in Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies, is now an ebook at Amazon.com's Kindle Store," said author Armand Vaquer. "Several fans have asked me to consider having the travel guide available as an ebook. I looked into it, and got it done. This will be an additional handy tool for Japan tourists as they can access the travel guide on their iPads, iPods or notebook computers while exploring the country."

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" contains information on monster movie locations, accommodations, attractions, transportation and general tourist information for Japan tourists.

The ebook version is available at $4.99.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Listed In Amazon's Hot New Releases In Asian Travel Guides

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is now listed at Amazon.com's list of Hot New Releases in Asian Travel Guides.  At this moment, it is number 18 on the list.

Looking at other books, especially Kindle versions, I wondered if I under-priced mine.  

To view it, go here.

Monica Crowley: "Morning In America, Obama-Style"

Political pundit Monica Crowley really nails Obama Campaign's spokesperson Stephanie Cutter (the campaign's "Baghdad Bob") in her blog post, "Morning In America, Obama-Style."

An excerpt:

Top Obama Spokesliar Stefanie Cutter said this yesterday:

"Well I think that worker has a pretty good idea what has happened over the past 4 years in terms of the president coming in and seeing 800,000 jobs lost on the day that the president was being sworn in and seeing the president moving pretty quickly to stand the losses to turn the economy around. Over the past 27 months we've created 4.5 million private sector jobs. That's more jobs in the Bush recovery, the Reagan recovery.there's obviously more that we need to do."

I love when socialists invoke Ronald Reagan. Especially when they try to use his actual record of economic achievement to hide their own record of economic catastrophe.

Cutter---who has never really been acquainted with the truth---lays on a big whopper here.

To read Crowley's full blog post, go here. 

Medical Emergency Tips for Travelers on Holiday

Guest Column by Casey Riley

Medical Emergency Tips for Travelers on Holiday
No matter how hard you plan for things to go perfectly while you are on holidays, you have to always be prepared for unexpected emergencies. Below are some great tips you can use before you travel on a holiday to help avoid any health hazards. These can also help you be more prepared about what to do if an emergency does arise while you’re away.

Prepare Medically
Before you go traveling, you should have a checkup with your regular doctor. This is especially true if you have not had a recent check up. Tell your doctor where you’re going, what you will be doing and have him check to be sure you’re physically able to do all you plan. Your doctor will be able to recommend any vaccinations you may need before you go, especially if you are going overseas.

Medical Insurance
Make sure you have enough medical insurance coverage to cover transportation while you’re traveling. Being transported from overseas to a location far away can be quite expensive so you want to be sure you are properly covered. If not, you can always get a supplemental policy from an insurance agent to cover you while you are gone. Some credit card companies have good referrals for services you can contact for emergencies when you are overseas. They may also offer some reimbursement to customers for medical emergency expenses. Check with your credit card companies.

Research Medical Locations
It’s always a good idea to research and find out where some medical emergency locations are when traveling abroad. If you need emergency transportation or have to find a hospital, it’s a good idea to have some things written down ahead of time should the need arise.

Embassy Address
Always know the address of your local embassy at your home location when traveling. The embassy is your one connection back to home when you are traveling overseas. Check the embassy website so you can see if there are any advisories before you travel or anything of concern. The people who work at the embassy will help you in any emergency situation and if things are bad enough, they can help take you and your family back home if need be.

International Medical Service
There are plenty of organizations now who can help you coordinate insurance, legal help and medical assistance when you are traveling overseas. They can help you find the right contacts you need while you are away and if you need medical assistance, some of these places can find a doctor that speaks your language and arrange for them to see you while you are away.

Medical Information
Always carry your medical information with you when you travel. You probably know what your blood type is and if you have allergies to anything, but if you are in an emergency situation and you cannot talk or communicate, the emergency medical personnel would need to know about medicines you may be taking, surgeries you may have had or any serious health issues that may be going on.

Hopefully, some of the above medical emergency tips will help you prepare for your travel plans abroad and your trip is safe and uneventful.

Casey Riley writes about medicine, travel health & finding affordable group health insurance.

--
Guest Post U

The University of Great Content

www.guestpostu.com

This 'n That

The sales numbers of the ebook edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at Amazon's Kindle Store were excellent for the day it "went live."  Maybe I should have done this sooner.

A permanent link to the Kindle Store has been added to this blog (on the right).

Things will really pick up once the news release is issued late tonight through the press release service I use.  It will hit travel-related news sources and websites.

******

The last comic book yard sale for the foreseeable future will be held this Saturday (August 25) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 18618 Collins Street in Tarzana, California.  There's plenty of Silver Age (1960s vintage), Bronze Age (1970s vintage) and Modern Age (1990s vintage) to choose from.  They're priced to go!

The re-stocking is done and ready to go.

******

The LAPD is investigating the cyberstalker complaint I made and will soon refer the matter to the City Attorney.

******

The GOP National Convention is still set to start in Tampa, Florida next week.  Hurricane or no hurricane.  The delegates and convention should be okay, but the anarchists and left-wing "protesters" will probably have some problems with hurricane/tropical storm winds and rain.

Great First Day At Amazon's Kindle Store!

Sales for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan ebook over at Amazon.com's Kindle Store are doing great.  Thanks to everyone!

The sales are broken down by country.  The countries are:  U.S.A. (essentially, Amazon.com and includes India), United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France and Germany.  So far, the U.S.A is leading the way in sales with the United Kingdom following close behind.

To go to Kindle's page, go here.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Now Available At Amazon.com Kindle Store!

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is now available at Amazon.com's Kindle Store!

Several fans have urged me to take the next step and have the travel guide tailored for fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movie available as an ebook.  Today, I am pleased to announce that it is now available for those who use iPods and iPads (or even notebook computers) while traveling.

The cost is a measly $4.99 (or, as Mad Magazine would say, $4.99 cheap!).

To go to The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan Kindle Store page, go here.

The regular hard copy edition is still available at ComiXpress.

Thomas Sowell: Barack Obama And Ruling By Presidential Decree

If a president ignores laws he doesn't like, or even parts of them, he is ruling as a dictator.  This is tyranny.  It is also an impeachable offense as he is willfully failing to uphold the oath he took.

Columnist Thomas Sowell has an excellent editorial in Investor's Business Daily's website.  Part of what he wrote is as follows:

No president of the United States is authorized to repeal parts of legislation passed by Congress. He may veto the whole legislation, but then Congress can override his veto if they have enough votes. Nevertheless, every president takes an oath to faithfully execute the laws that have been passed and sustained — not just the ones he happens to agree with. 

If laws passed by the elected representatives of the people can be simply over-ruled unilaterally by whoever is in the White House, then we are no longer a free people, choosing what laws we want to live under. 

When a president can ignore the plain language of duly passed laws, and substitute his own executive orders, then we no longer have "a government of laws, and not of men" but a president ruling by decree, like the dictator in some banana republic 

When we confine our debates to the merits or demerits of particular executive orders, we are tacitly accepting arbitrary rule. The Constitution of the United States cannot protect us unless we protect the Constitution. But, if we allow ourselves to get bogged down in the details of particular policies imposed by executive orders, and vote solely on that basis, then we have failed to protect the Constitution — and ourselves.

Why hasn't Congress taken action?  It is because the system is broken and the GOP doesn't have the testicles to initiate action.

This is a must-read.  To read the full article, go here.

Prepping The August 25 Comics Yard Sale

Today and tomorrow I'm spending some time re-stocking the comics that will be on sale at this coming Saturday's yard sale.  It will be the last one for the summer, so this is your last chance to get the comics to fill in the gaps in your collection!
 
Interestingly, I received an email with a query on how much do I want for the total collection, and along with that, how much to ship to Indiana.

I have no idea on how much it is to ship since the postal service charges by weight.  As for the price tag, I estimated that to carry off the collection (roughly 600 Silver Age/Bronze Age comics, not counting the Modern Age ones), since I am getting $5.00 per Silver Age comic, roughly $3,000 would be the price.  (I am selling the Modern Age ones (from the 1990s) at two for $5.00.)

It will be interesting to see if I hear back from the person.

******

I've posted the sale on different websites that are yard sale-oriented.  Here's some of them:

http://gsalr.com/comic-book-yard-saletarzana-los-angeles-ca-14832572.html

http://www.pennysaverusa.com/classifieds/garage-sales/yard-sales/usa/california/los-angeles/tarzana/91356/comic-book-yard-sale-in-tarzana-august-25-55790715.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/clt/3214002735.html

http://www.atgaragesale.com/yard-sale.php?id=17238281&q=CA,TARZANA,91356

http://www.yardsalesearch.com/yss-garage-sale.jsp?id=27537379

This is the last comic book yard sale for the foreseeable future, so c'mon down!