Tomorrow

Tomorrow, our long national nightmare is over.

About the only good that Barack Obama did for American was that he was the best salesman for the gun industry that it ever had. I guess we can thank him for that.

Dollar At ¥113 In Tokyo Trading

The inauguration of Donald J. Trump is only two days away and the exchange rate in Tokyo between the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen is a bit jittery. It seems to be in a "wait and see what happens" mode.

According to The Japan Times:

The dollar bounced back above ¥113 in Tokyo by late Wednesday after tumbling below the threshold on incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported frustration with the U.S. currency’s current strength. 

At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥113.32-33, against ¥113.28-29 at the same time Tuesday. 

To read more, go here. 

Japan Making Going To The Loo Easier

Above, a Japanese high-tech toilet. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Quite often, foreign visitors to Japan are amazed and, in some cases, intimidated by Japan's fabled modern toilets.

Some have even been confused with what each push button is for (I've never had any difficulty). With the 2020 Olympics coming to Tokyo, Japan has decided to standardize the symbols used on their high-tech toilets to make going to the loo easier for foreign visitors.

The Guardian (U.K.) reports:

Navigating the array of buttons on Japan’s high-tech toilets can be a disconcerting experience for the uninitiated, who, expecting to hear a familiar flushing sound, are instead subjected to a sudden, and unwanted, cleansing of the nether regions. 

As Japan prepares for an influx of overseas visitors during the 2019 rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics the following year, the country’s sanitation industry has agreed to standardise pictograms on toilets so users know for certain if they are about to receive a blast of warm air or a jet of water. 

Nine manufacturers belonging to the Japan sanitary equipment industry association will soon start using the same eight symbols to explain the buttons found on their state-of-the-art WCs.

To read more, go here. 

Caroline Munro: Greatest Talia There Never Was

Above, Caroline Munro and Armand at Monsterpalooza 2012.

An interesting article was linked at a Neal Adams Facebook page on actress Caroline Munro. It was posted by 13th Dimension.

The premise of the article is that Munro would have been the best Talia (daughter of Ra's al Ghul) ever in a Batman movie. Unfortunately, she never got the chance, but she does bear a striking resemblance to Talia in the Batman comic books.

The article has plenty of photos of Munro to enjoy.

Also mentioned in the article was that yesterday was Munro's 68th birthday (born January 16, 1949).

A happy belated birthday to Caroline Munro!

Total Eclipse of the Sun Coming

If you happen to be a RVer and have not yet made any plans for a vacation trip this coming summer, here's an idea to consider.

On August 21, there will be a total eclipse of the sun that will cut a swath across the United States.

Below is a map of the path of the obscuration:

I may go up to either Oregon, Idaho or Wyoming for the eclipse.

For map details, go here.

Japan's Record Tourists Keeping Wallets Closed

Above, the ticket counters of the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Foreign visitors came into Japan in record numbers in 2016, but that didn't translate into big spending while they were in the country.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

TOKYO—Tourists are flooding into Japan in record numbers, but spending growth has slowed sharply in part because Chinese visitors are shying away from expensive items such as jewelry. 

The Japan National Tourism Organization said Tuesday that a record 24 million foreign tourists came to the country in 2016, nearly double the figure two years earlier. Visitors from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong combined make up slightly more than half the total. 

The visitors spent a total of ¥3.75 trillion ($33 billion) in 2016, another record. But the growth slowed sharply during the year. In the fourth quarter of 2016, spending was up just 1.3% compared with the same period a year earlier.

During my 2015 trip to Japan, since there was the three of us, I spent a little more than usual. Our spending mainly comprised of food, lodging, JR Rail Passes (a money-saver bought in the U.S.) and attractions and activities (such as the Tokyo Skytree, Sumida River cruise, Osaka Castle, Tokyo DisneySea, studio photos and a half-day tour of Kyoto). We did pick up some souvenirs, but those tended to be "practical" items such as yukatas and cutlery. Still, the trip was "under budget" as I returned home with plenty of leftover cash.

To read more, go here.

Take Part In a 1,000-Year-Old Tradition At Kiyomizu

Above, looking downslope towards the shops below Kiyomizu-dera. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the best places to buy souvenirs in Japan are the shops below Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto.

There are many shops and the prices are quite reasonable.

Souvenir Finder has an article on what visitors can find while they make their way to Kiyomizu-dera.

Above, the Kiyomizu-dera stage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It begins with:

Kiyomizu temple, the Eiffel tower of Kyoto 

If you’re like most travelers, you’ve probably seen a dramatic photo like this one of Kyoto’s Kiyomizu temple, perched in the trees like a bird’s nest, and thought, I must go there. 

That is, until the bus drops you off at the bottom of the hill and you are left looking straight up at the nearly half-mile incline standing between you and the temple. 

Family owned shops, sweets stands and tea shops all make perfect pit stops during your trek up the hill. And as a bonus, by shopping your way up to the temple you’ll actually be participating in a time-honored custom followed by temple visitors for the last 1000 years.

To read more, go here. 

It Has Happened Again

Well, it's happened again.

A longtime friend and Godzilla fan writer, who happens to be liberal and a Hillary supporter, decided to discard our friendship over politics. In the past, we hardly ever talked politics, choosing instead to just discuss Japanese rubber monsters.

It all started last night when I sent an email to him to see if he was up for lunch this coming Thursday (sushi, naturally). We haven't gotten together since October. The email bounced back with a message indicating that my email address was blocked.

Next, I went over to Facebook and, sure enough, I found that he unfriended me there. So, I sent him the following:

Pedro, I tried emailing you to see if you're up for lunch Thursday and it bounced back. Then I find you unfriended me here. What gives? - A.

His response came this morning:

 I don't break bread with Trump supporters.

My reply:

What? That is so ridiculous.

When this first happened, I was on the road at the time in Kansas and I got into a beef with Yuu Asakura, a Japanese national living in the U.S., over politics. I tried to smooth things over privately to no avail. Since the person now in question and I were a lot closer, I am refraining from posting his name. (At least for now.) I later posted a blog on this with a link to a National Review article by Dennis Prager, "Ten Reasons Left-Wingers Cut Trump Voters from Their Lives". I didn't go too much into it, but this time I am posting those ten reasons.

They are:

1. Just like our universities shut out conservative ideas and speakers, more and more individuals on the left now shut out conservative friends and relatives as well as conservative ideas.  

2. Many, if not most, leftists have been indoctrinated with leftism their entire lives. This is easily shown. There are far more conservatives who read articles, who listen to and watch left-wing broadcasts, and who have studied under left-wing teachers than there are people on the left who have read, listened to, or watched anything of the Right or who have taken classes with conservative instructors. As a result, those on the left really believe that those on the right are all SIXHIRB: sexist, intolerant, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic, racist, and bigoted. Not to mention misogynistic and transphobic.  

3. Most left-wing positions are emotion-based. That’s a major reason people who hold leftist views will sever relations with people they previously cared for or even loved. Their emotions (in this case, irrational fear and hatred) simply overwhelm them.  

4. Since Karl Marx, leftists have loved ideas more than people. All Trump voters who have been cut off by children, in-laws, and lifelong friends now know how true that is.  

5. People on the right think that most people on the left are wrong; people on the left think that most people on the right are evil. Decades of labeling conservative positions as “hateful” and labeling conservative individuals as “sexist,” “intolerant,” “xenophobic,” “homophobic,” “racist,” and “bigoted” have had their desired effect.  

6. The Left associates human decency not so much with personal integrity as with having correct — i.e. progressive — political positions. Therefore, if you don’t hold progressive positions, you lack decency. Ask your left-wing friends if they’d rather their high-school son or daughter cheat on tests or support Trump.  

7. Most individuals on the left are irreligious, so the commandment “Honor your father and your mother” means nothing to those who have cut off relations with parents because they voted for Trump.  

8. Unlike conservatives, politics gives most leftists’ lives meaning. Climate change is a good example. For leftists, fighting carbon emissions means saving human existence on earth. Now, how often does anyone get a chance to literally save the world? Therefore, to most leftists, if you voted for Trump, you have both negated their reason for living and are literally destroying the planet. Why would they have Thanksgiving or Christmas with such a person?  

9. The Left tends toward the totalitarian. And every totalitarian ideology seeks to weaken the bonds between children and parents. The Left seeks to dilute parental authority and replace it with school authority and government authority. So when your children sever their bond with you because you voted for Trump, they are acting like the good totalitarians the Left has molded.  

10. While there are kind and mean individuals on both sides of the political spectrum, as a result of all of the above, there are more mean people on the left than on the right. What other word than “mean” would anyone use to describe a daughter who banished her parents from their grandchildren’s lives because of their vote?

Read more here.

It is really incredible how the election polarized people to this extent. Will it ever end? It has been two months since the election.

Prager has this thought:

I wish none of this were true. But there is a way to prove me wrong: Re-friend your friends and relatives who voted for Trump, and tell everyone who has ended relations with family members — especially with parents — to reach out to them and welcome them back into their lives. 

What's "Hot" In Japan For 2017

Above, Osaka's Dotonbori food district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2017 is the "Year of the Rooster" and Inside Japan Tours has their prediction on what will be the hottest places to visit this year.

They start with:

After 17 years in the Japan travel business, you might have thought we'd seen everything there is to see. And it's true – we have explored every inch of Japan, toured every prefecture, eaten in thousands of restaurants and slept at countless hotels. Yet in a country as fast-paced as Japan, there's always something new and exciting happening to make us see our favourite destinations in a different light. So in 2017, where will we be heading? 

To read more, go here. 

8 Most Disappointing Sightseeing Spots In Tokyo

Above, Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is one interesting city. It is a blend of the ultra-modern and ancient history. There are many places to see of either category. But, as with anything else, some places may be one's "cup of tea" while others aren't. Not everyone will be awed.

Japan Today has a list of eight most disappointing sightseeing spots in Tokyo that were culled from a recent survey.

Before going into the list, they wrote:

TOKYO —It’s hard to fully express just how much exposure Tokyo gets from the Japanese media. As the center of the nation’s cultural, economic, political, and entertainment worlds, websites, talk shows, and magazines are constantly running features about the city, meaning that many people have seen images and heard stories of Tokyo’s points of interest before actually visiting the locations themselves. 

Because of that, it’s inevitable that some people are going to find that the real deal doesn’t mesh with their preconception of it. Japanese Internet portal Goo recently asked its users what sightseeing spots in Tokyo didn’t live up to their expectations, and from 2,168 responses compiled the following top 8 list.

Some of the places I would disagree with, but as with all things, it is all subjective. What may impress one person won't impress another. The number one disappointing spot is surprising.

To see what the eight sightseeing spots are, go here. 

Phyllis Coates Turns 90 Today

Above, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates.

Television's first Lois Lane, Phyllis Coates, turned 90 today.

She was born on January 15, 1927 in Wichita Falls, Texas as Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell.

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

She first portrayed Lois Lane in the 1951 feature, Superman and the Mole Men. She continued in the role during the first season (filmed in 1951) of the Adventures of Superman, sharing star billing with
George Reeves. She departed the series after the first season.

She is the last living main cast member of the Adventures of Superman.

Happy Birthday, Phyllis Coates!

Power Outage and the New Percolator

Above, coffee all ready to drink. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning didn't start off too well.

At around 6:40 to 6:55, an area-wide power outage occurred. Naturally, nobody could reach the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as the lines were busy.

The outage lasted over an hour. During that time, I got dressed and went to The Beast. I figured that this was a good time to try out the new Stanley percolator. So, I got it set and fired up the burner and made a pot of coffee.

I made a "best guess" on the amount of coffee grounds to put in. Since it is a 6-cup percolator, I figured three. It turned out that I was right as the finished coffee came out great!

Along with myself, our building manager joined me for a cup. He was grateful since he has a long drive to Norco, about 80 miles away.

At least I know the percolator works great and how much coffee grounds to put in. This will work out great while dry camping and at Clamp-outs.

John Baker Memorial and Hawthorne

It had been a while since I was last in Hawthorne, California. The last time I was there was when I picked up Sierra from the animal shelter back in 2015.

It had been even longer since I was last in the area of Hawthorne where I lived. But today I went to Hawthorne to attend the celebration of life memorial for Cougartown's John Baker, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home.

Above, the gathering for John Baker at the Hawthorne VFW. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 300 friends and family members attended the memorial at the Hawthorne VFW hall. There were some tears, but primarily, it was people telling happy remembrances of John Baker. The celebration included a slide show.

Above, the Hawthorne VFW. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cougartown, the Hawthorne High School alumni website, was started by Baker in 1999. There was one very well-received announcement made: the Cougartown website will continue! It will be going full throttle "once the dust settles".

I briefly visited with friends Linda Huthmaker and Larry Bach.

Above, with Wayne Dickey (class of 1969). Photo by Dennis Kilroy.

After leaving the memorial, I decided to cruise around to see a few of my former "haunts".

The first was a drive-by of my former residence on 129th Street:

Next, a cruise by Hawthorne High School. It looks vastly different than when I attended there.

After this, I went down to Hawthorne Blvd. There's not too many businesses that operated there during the days I lived in Hawthorne, but one place that is familiar and still in business is Phil's Bike Shop.

Here's Phil's Bike Shop across the street:

After my little tour, I stopped by at a friend Les's house. Fortunately, he was home at the time. We had a very pleasant visit.

Then, it was fighting heavy traffic as I made my way back to the San Fernando Valley.

Photos of John Baker's Celebration of Life can be found here.

Mammoth Lakes and The Drought

Last July, I took a trip up the Owens Valley of California on U.S. 395 and ended up camping in Mammoth Lakes.

It was a nice trip, but a little on the warm side. That was fine with me.

Below, is a photo of The Beast parked at Mammoth Lakes Village:

Below, is what the Mammoth Lakes area looks like today:

It does appear that the drought in California has ended.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Storms drenched the San Francisco Bay Area and created blizzard conditions in parts of the Sierra Nevada over the last week. They dramatically boosted the Sierra snowpack — a key source of water for California — to 161% of normal and helped rectify the state’s water shortage.

Something's "Fishy" Going On At L.A. Sushi Restaurants

Above, Sushi Go 55 in Little Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Oh-oh! Just when you thought it was safe to eat sushi in Los Angeles, a story comes out.

Generally speaking, it is still safe to eat sushi in Los Angeles, but one must make sure that what was ordered is what is placed on the table.

The Japan Times reported:

LOS ANGELES – Next time you order halibut, red snapper or yellowfin tuna at a sushi restaurant in the Los Angeles area, you may want to ask for proof that you’re getting what you ordered. 

According to a recent four-year study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Loyola Marymount University, nearly half of the fish served at more than two dozen highly rated sushi restaurants in the city is mislabeled.

To read more, go here. 

William Peter Blatty Dies At 89

The author of The Exorcist, who also received a "Best Screenplay" Oscar based on his novel, has died.

The Sun reported:

THE legendary horror writer who penned The Exorcist has passed away at the age of 89. 

William Peter Blatty’s death was confirmed on social media by the film’s director William Friedkin this afternoon.

To read more, go here.

TSA Confiscated Record Number of Guns In 2016

I have not packed a firearm in my check-in luggage since the 1980s. Those were the days where a traveler can lock their suitcase before entering the airport and check it in without having it opened and inspected.

My main concern these days are that not all TSA agents are honest. There have been reports of thefts by TSA agents of valuables taken from baggage, including guns.

Still, some dumb clucks are still packing guns into their carry-on baggage and the TSA had confiscated a record number of them in 2016. 83% of them were loaded.

According to Condé Nast Traveler:

In 2016, TSA officers had far more to deal with than just four-ounce bottles of shampoo. According to a Year in Review report from the government agency, officers discovered a record number of firearms last year at airport security checkpoints. 

The TSA prohibits packing a gun—loaded or not—in a carry-on, but whether out of absent-mindedness, ignorance, or disregard of the laws, it doesn’t seem to have stopped people from trying. In all, 3,391 guns were confiscated from passengers’ carry-on bags in U.S. airports in 2016 (that’s an average of nine a day) and a full 83 percent of the firearms were loaded. Firearm discoveries have been steadily rising over the years: The number of gun seizures this year is 28 percent higher than in 2015 and 313 percent higher than ten years ago.

To read more, go here.

Tatami Floors: Popular With Foreign Tourists

Above, a ryokan room with tatami floors in Atami. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan should try out a Japanese style hotel room or stay at ryokan for a taste of the "Japanese experience".

Japanese style rooms or ryokans with tatami floors are currently in high demand by foreign tourists, even though the demand for tatami floors in Japanese homes has been "in the doldrums".

According to an article in The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Tatami straw mats, a key feature of traditional Japanese life, are attracting the attention of tourists from overseas, who are growing in number. 

To meet the newfound demand, lodgings, including high-end urban hotels, are publicizing Japanese-style rooms. 

At the Hotel Grand Ark Hanzomon, Japanese rooms overlooking the sprawling Imperial Palace in central Tokyo have seen growth in reservations from foreigners, a hotel official said. 

Tatami-floored rooms are cool in summer and warm in winter. The scent of rush, used for tatami, has a comforting, therapeutic effect, similar to forest bathing.

To read more, go here. 

In A Nutshell...

A friend posted this over in Facebook:

That's a very accurate definition. 

“Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act” Reintroduced In Congress

Above, Los Angeles can lose up to $500 million in funding. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cities and other municipalities who are so-called "sanctuary cities" will be feeling the funding pinch under a new law that has been reintroduced in Congress.

PoliZette reported:

Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) reintroduced legislation Wednesday that would strip funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, which refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. 

“Across this country, more than 300 sanctuary cities are thumbing their nose at Congress, flouting our laws, and endangering the lives of their citizens — all while relying on federal funding from American taxpayers,” Black said in an official statement. 

✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ 

“Why on earth would we continue to pay cities for neglecting their most basic duties?” 

✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪ 

The “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act” was cosponsored by 59 other members of the House of Representatives and would cut off a number of federal revenue streams to localities that persist in protecting illegal aliens from the law.

Los Angeles can lose up to $500 million in federal funding under this act if passed.

To read more, go here. 

Making Clampin' Great Again Hats

Most everyone who has "lived" through the 2016 election campaign are familiar with the above hat that I'm wearing.

Some enterprising hawker(s) at one or two E Clampus Vitus chapter stores (Lord Sholto Douglas Chapter 3 is one of them) are selling Clamper hats "loosely based" on the Trump campaign hat.

Here's a couple of examples:

9 States Driver's Licenses Unusable By TSA In 2018

Above, you'll need one of these if you have
 a driver's license from one of the listed states.

Nine states have driver's licenses that will no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints starting in 2018.

That means that it would be a good idea to obtain a U.S. Passport.

According to Condé Nast Traveler:

Bad news for Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington: Starting January 22, 2018, driver's licenses issued by these states will no longer be accepted at TSA checkpoints. They fail to meet the federal government’s minimum security standards under the Real ID Act. Instead, travelers have to use another form of identification to pass through security for domestic flights—think military ID, permanent resident card, or passport.

To read more, go here. 

iRV2.com Forums

Above, the little storage compartment next to the house door is getting moisture inside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, I took part in a Winnebago owners chat at iRV2.com.

I have been a member of iRV2.com for nearly two years and every so often, an organized chat is started for and by Winnebago RV owners. This was the first time I participated in the chat. Up to now, I had either forgotten about the chat or was doing something else (like working) at the time.

Above, iRV2.com logo.

Other owners of different RV brands also organize chats in the site's chat room, so this is not just something peculiar only to Winnebago owners.

iRV2.com is a sister site to RV Park Reviews.

I am glad I did participate as I asked a question on moisture getting into a small storage compartment where I store tools and barbecue equipment in The Beast. The responses were quite good (the weather-stripping on the compartment's door is probably not sealing correctly and may need to be replaced, was the general consensus) and recommendations were provided on where to obtain replacement weather-stripping.

If anyone owns a motorhome, travel trailer, 5th wheel or any other kind of RV, I recommend joining iRV2.com's forum. I have learned a lot since I've joined. Other members are willing to help if anyone has a question pertaining to travel and care & maintenance of RVs in the forums.

Their link (I also posted it at top): http://www.irv2.com/forums/

Found What I Wanted

As mentioned the other day, I was looking for a 2' x 3' Navajo style rug (or blanket) to use as a cover for the widest part of The Beast's dinette seats.

This was made necessary to protect the upholstery from Sierra's claws. It will also add some color to the interior. So, I began this "quest" as "Operation Flying Carpet".

I found one and this is it:

The price wasn't bad, only $28.00.

Tokyo Cheapo's Asakusa Hotel Guide

Above, the Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Hall are just across the Sumida River from Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Asakusa is one of my favorite sections of Tokyo. During my 2015 trip to Japan, I stayed at the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa, which is within walking distance to Sensoji and Nakamise Street. Asakusa is also close by to the Asahi Beer Hall and Tokyo Skytree. And, Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" is a good walk or a short cab ride away.

There are other places in Asakusa to stay at. Accommodations range from five-star hotels to capsule hotels.

Above, my "base of operations" in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on where to stay in the Asakusa area.

They begin with:

Asakusa is one of the most popular places for tourists to stay in Tokyo—and there are good reasons for this. For one thing, the area’s got history. Not the dull, textbook kind of history—the colorful stuff of pleasure houses (geisha central), trade and wild tradition. Still a renowned entertainment district, good food abounds in Asakusa (the noodles are particularly nom-worthy), as do shopping and sightseeing opportunities. 

The area is a dense tangle of old-meets-new on the banks of the Sumida River, and in the midst of its sprawl of homes, stores and sacred spots you’ll find reasonably priced accommodation aplenty. An Asakusa hotel can range from capsule to swanky, all just a 15-minute train ride from Tokyo Station. Read on to see what’s available.

Above, you know you're in Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" when you see the giant chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Welcomed 24 Million Foreign Tourists In 2016

Above, Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji "Golden Pavilion". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan set a new record in the number of foreigners who visited it in 2016.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign tourists to Japan reached a record high 24.04 million in 2016, up 22 percent from the previous year and topping 20 million for the first time, the tourism minister said Tuesday. 

The pace of increase, however, was slower than 47 percent in 2015, amid a strong yen, China's economic slowdown and earthquakes that hit Kumamoto Prefecture in April.

To read more, go here.

Mark Reed For Los Angeles City Council District 7

Above, Armand with Mark Reed and a campaign supporter at the Valley Relics Museum in 2014.

No sooner than the 2016 election is over and done with, there's another election that Los Angeles residents have to deal with.

According to Ballotpedia:

The city of Los Angeles, California, will hold primary elections for mayor, eight city council seats, city attorney, and city controller on March 7, 2017. Any race where no candidate earns a majority (50 percent plus one) of the primary votes cast in that race will advance to a general election on May 16, 2017. Thus, the March election is functionally a general election and the May election is functionally a runoff, as it is only held for races that are not determined in the primary. 

Terms won in this election will be impacted by Charter Amendment 1. Passed in March 2015, the amendment shifted city elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2020. As a result, any officials elected in 2017 will win special five-and-a-half year terms ending in 2022. The following candidates are running in the primary election for the District 7 seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

District 7 is on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley. The communities in the district are:

• Pacoima
• Lake View Terrace
• Sunland-Tujunga
• Mission Hills
• North Hills
• Shadow Hills
• Sylmar

Mark Reed, a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives is running for this city council seat and would be a good voice for the district. He is not part of the leftist Democrat-controlled establishment.

In a letter to the Daily News:

Elizabeth Chou
City Hall beat reporter
LA Daily News 

Hi Liz, 

Thank you for reaching out. 

The northeast San Fernando Valley has always been represented by insiders looking to advance their political careers, consequently we have always been short changed in resources. The idea that Mayor Garcetti did not even reach out to the other candidates, or interview them for endorsement consideration tells me we will get the same as we have in the past if she is elected. Monica Rodriguez is an insider backed by the political machine and the unions and has no real interest in the community she wants to serve. You can not serve two masters. It's time we have a council person who will serve the community as if it were their home front. I have an extensive background both on the local and national stage. I have lived in the community for 60 years. I have several proposals to address the main issues in our communities. Would love to sit for an interview to discuss them. 

Thank you again for reaching out. 

Mark Reed 

One advantage that Reed has over other candidates is his name recognition from his past congressional campaigns.

Vote for Mark Reed on March 7!

UPDATE: I sent this blog post to Mark Reed and received this reply:

Thank you Armand Vaquer for your continued support. We can and will win this one. We need volunteers for phone banking. Please email at mrcongress@verizon.net.

Electoral Votes Controlled By Moscow, Rep. Brad Sherman Says

Above, Rep. Brad Sherman

Well, it's been a while since I last reported on any dumb statement or action by Rep. Brad Sherman, who just happens to be the congressman in my district. In fact, I supported Sherman over former Rep. Howard Berman a few years ago when reapportionment put the two into the same district.

But, sooner or later, Sherman was bound to say or do something stupid. And he has done so this week.

PoliZette reported:

A Democratic congressman from California on Monday said President-Elect Donald Trump’s pro-Russian posture helped him win “Electoral College votes that are controlled in Moscow.” 

Rep. Brad Sherman’s statement came in response to a question by CNN anchor Carol Costello about alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election. She wanted to know if Sherman believed Trump himself was “in cahoots” with the Russians. He said probably not, but suggested that direct participation by Trump was irrelevant. 

"The fact is, in the campaign, Trump said things that would have hurt him — just a little bit — with American voters, but it helped him with the Electoral College votes that are controlled in Moscow," he said. "And Moscow returned the favor." 

Sherman backed off after Costello challenged him on that preposterous assertion. He conceded that Moscow does not, in fact, control Electoral College votes and acknowledged that there were dozens of other factors in Trump's surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Although Sherman tried to walk back his comments, he still made those remarks and they are now in the public record. Jeez.

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