James Bond Will Return...

Above, Daniel Craig in Spectre. Photo: MGM/UA.

...in the form of actor Daniel Craig.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Apparently playing James Bond is still better than slashing one's wrists.

It's still Craig. Daniel Craig. 

The British actor has reportedly signed on for the 25th Bond film despite his notorious disdain for playing the super spy. Craig said in 2015 that he would "rather slash [his] wrists" than return to the role — and if he did play 007 again, "it would be for the money." 

The U.K.'s Mirror reported that Craig decided to stay on for Bond 25 after hearing of the wealth of British talent eyed to replace him. Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Norton and Aidan Turner were among the rumored contenders.

Personally, I'm glad! Craig has been the best Bond since Sean Connery.

To read more, go here.

The Gridlock of Yosemite National Park

Above, Yosemite Valley during the off-season. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

You can tell it's the summer vacation season at Yosemite National Park. There's plenty of things to see and do, but the roads are so gridlocked and parking is difficult to find that people can't get even out of their cars.

That is why I prefer to visit national parks during the off-season. There's far less traffic to contend with and the place isn't crawling with people. In Yosemite, the Yosemite Valley shuttle system is running, which also is a big help. Other than my drive into the park and leaving the park, my RV stayed put at the North Pines Campground. I either walked or made use of the shuttle during my stay.

The Modesto Bee has an article on the gridlock problems of Yosemite during the summer.

It begins with:

It’s the summer tourist season, and Yosemite Park is gridlocked with traffic. 

At 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon, a long line of cars, buses and RVs that entered the park at Big Oak Flat move slowly along the main paved road past Cascade Falls and on down to merge with vehicles coming east on Highway 140. A quick left turn brings a car into the line of traffic heading into Yosemite Valley. 

Then all vehicles come to a stop. 

For the next two hours, vehicles either sit parked in traffic lanes at a complete halt or they inch forward at a pace far slower than their frustrated passengers, who get out of their vehicles and walk ahead searching for the source of the problem. There are rare surges when vehicles may move forward 100 yards before traffic returns to a gridlocked standstill. There is nowhere to even turn around.

If the above isn't bad enough, after getting into the park (after paying the $30 entrance fee) is another nightmare awaiting visitors:

Park employees at the entrance stations are still continuing to allow literally hundreds of additional vehicles each hour into the Park to jam up behind the already gridlocked traffic. Knowing full well Yosemite Valley is jammed with traffic, park employees are continuing to charge $30 per vehicle and send hundreds of additional vehicles on into the park to literally come to a standstill and then inch forward for hours in a traffic jam. New families become trapped in the traffic jam nightmare.

Instead of enjoying a visit to Yosemite Valley, people are stuck in their cars for hours in a looped traffic jam without ever being able to step out of their cars to see the wonders of the park. Does that sound like fun to you?

To read more, go here.

George Foreman Indoor Ceramic Grill

It is not too often when my expectations on an appliance, particularly a cooking one, are exceeded. But that is the case with the George Foreman Indoor Ceramic Grill.

I picked it up yesterday at Target for $40 to replace the old grill that croaked. It is the 5-serving model and we tried it out for the first time today. We cooked three steaks on it for three minutes and they came out perfect!

The features on the grill:

• Enjoy grilled food in the comfort and convenience of your own kitchen
• Non-stick, angled & removable grilling plates mean quicker, hassle-free cleanup & healthier eating
• Floating hinge lets you evenly cook thicker foods
• 2 indicator lights let you know when it's powered up ready to go
• Multi-layered ceramic trays are more durable than ever before
• Includes: grill, drip tray, cleaning tool & removable plates

The next food we will cook with it will be chicken breasts. I am almost tempted to get one for the RV, but I generally barbecue when I am out camping.

My grade: A+.

Travel + Leisure's 2017 World's Best Survey Results

Above, Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel + Leisure has posted their annual "World's Best Awards" survey results.

For example, in their top cities of Asia, Kyoto made number two on the list, although Japan isn't really in Asia, but a chain of islands off Asia.

They start with:

When it comes to Asian cities, T+L readers are shifting their allegiances. This year’s World’s Best list leans heavily toward ancient traditional capitals and tropical resort towns, rather than the sprawling, futuristic super-cities that have often dominated the rankings in the past. 

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

To access their top awards, go here. 

"Earhart" Photo Published 2 Years Before Disappearance

Above, the photo allegedly of Noonan and Earhart.

It appears that the photo above may not have been of aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan after all.

A Japanese blogger found a photo book that published the photo in 1935, two years before Earhart's disappearance.

According to NPR.org:

A Japanese military history buff has found library records showing a photo supposedly depicting Amelia Earhart survived a crash landing in 1937 was actually published two years before the famous aviator vanished. 

The photograph in question was featured in a History Channel special and received widespread media attention.

To read more, go here. 

Dollar Hits Four-Month High In Tokyo

Here's some good news for travelers to Japan. The U.S. dollar has reached a four-month high in Tokyo trading.

According to the Japan Times:

The dollar went up to a four-month high near ¥114.50 in Tokyo trading Tuesday, lifted by higher U.S. long-term interest rates and a stock price rise. 

At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥114.31-31, up from ¥114.17-18 at the same time Monday.

To read more, go here. 

American Experience: Reagan

Some shopping was done today at the local Target store. One of the things I picked up was a George Foreman grill to replace the grill that kicked the bucket a couple of days ago.

On the way home, I stopped by the CD Trader to see if they had a copy of The Eiger Sanction, starring Clint Eastwood (they didn't). Instead, I bought a copy of The American Experience: Reagan, a PBS documentary on Ronald Reagan that is part of their Presidents series.

It is probably the best of the Reagan documentaries produced. I have it on VHS, but wanted a DVD copy. I had been on the lookout for it for a while. It was new and priced at only $5.99.

Later, I was showing it to Jes, my house guest, and mentioned that I was in it. When it came to that part (at the 1980 GOP National Convention), she was amazed.

The documentary is well-balanced and there's a lot of great footage.

My grade: A.

National Parks Senior Pass Jumps To $80 August 28

Now we know.

Above, Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For months, we've known that the lifetime Senior Pass to the national parks will jump from its current price of $10 to $80, but we didn't know when it would take effect.

The Sierra Star has reported that the date the price increase (still a bargain) will take effect on August 28.

They wrote:

In order to meet requirements set by legislation passed by Congress in December 2016, the price of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase from $10 to $80. The change will take effect Aug. 28. 

Pass holders are given lifetime access to more than 2,000 sites and parks. The fee increase will support critical investments in maintenance projects at national parks and federal recreational lands nationwide. 

The Senior Pass has cost $10 since 1994. Until Aug. 28, U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 62 years or older can purchase the lifetime Senior Pass for $10. Previously purchased lifetime Golden Age or Senior Passes will be honored for the lifetime of the pass holder.

If you are age 62 and old between now and August 27, now is the time to get one at $10 (or $20 if you get it online).

So get out of your rocking chairs and get yours now!

To read more, go here.

Places where you can buy your pass:

https://store.usgs.gov/sites/default/files/PassIssuanceList.pdf

Where To Go In Japan That’s Not Just Tokyo

Above, watching the sunrise from our Atami ryokan terrace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many websites will give potential travelers a lot of advice on what to see and do while in Japan. Some are good and some not so.

However, the United Kingdom's edition of The Huffington Post has some good ideas on what to see and do outside of Tokyo.

They focus on the shinkansen (bullet train), Osaka's Dotonbori section, Kyoto, Atami (right down to watching the sunrise from a terrace) and onsens, which are exactly what we did two years ago. The article almost duplicated our exact itinerary.

They begin with:

It’s easy to be lured in by the bright lights of Tokyo, and while away your trip there. But to experience true Japan, you’ll need to tear yourself away from the crazy capital. 

First off, invest in a bullet train pass - and you’ll need to buy it before you go. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s easy to get your money’s worth - not to mention it’s an incredible example of Japanese efficiency.

To read the full article, go here.

A G-FEST XXIV and G-Fans Helping G-Fans UPDATE…

The committee members of G-FEST have decided to do something special for our beloved suit actor Haruo Nakajima.

A Best wishes poster will be placed in Artist Alley for all the conventioneers to sign.

And….. Stephen Schilling, who will have an table in Artist Alley, is spearheading a free lance poster montage done by several other of the artiest in attendance. I hope to have the theme of the poster to represent Mr. Nakajima's film work. This poster will be then donated to the G-Fans helping G-Fans to be auctioned off.

So everyone… please visit Artist Alley and do something special and sign the best wishes poster.

And .......I want to thank Armand Vaquer for permission to use his photographs of Mr Nakajima from G-Fest XV to create this poster.

********

G-FEST will be held this coming weekend (July 14-16) at the Crown Plaza O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois (outside of Chicago). For more information, go here.

In Little Osaka A Year Ago

Above, people waiting for the call to be seated. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is amazing how fast time flies, or seems to.

It was a year ago this evening that Asya and I met up at the Kula Revolving Sushi restaurant in the West Los Angeles area dubbed "Little Osaka" for photographs to be taken of me for the portrait painting.

Above, the sushi conveyor belt. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was about a 45 minute wait to be seated, so we took the opportunity to do the photographs while there was still sunlight.

Above, yours truly during the photo shoot. Photo by Asya.

The food at Kula Revolving Sushi was very good and it had a fun atmosphere. There are several in Southern California, including Torrance, Little Tokyo (L.A.), Irvine, Brea, Laguna Hills and Rancho Cucamonga. Go to their website for more locations and menu details. I highly recommend it!

Above, Asya working on her sketch book. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was here that I introduced Asya to Asahi Super Dry beer. She is currently in New York working on several graphics projects.

Bob Dole Statement On President Trump At The G-20 Summit

Former U.S. Senator Robert Dole issued the following statement on President Trump's trip to Poland and the G-20 Summit in Germany:

10 Things To Do At Narita Airport

Above, Narita Airport's departure Terminal 2. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With the exception of the 2004 G-TOUR, I don't think I've been at Narita International Airport any longer than three hours before my flight back to L.A. In the case of G-TOUR, a group of us went back into Tokyo for a few hours (we had flown to Narita from Osaka).

In case one is going to be at the Narita Airport for just a couple of hours or so and need something to do, Time Out Tokyo has some suggestions.

They begin with:

Perhaps you've missed your flight, showed up three hours too early, or have a transfer not quite long enough to visit Narita city before boarding your next flight. In any case, OK, you've got some time to kill at Narita Airport. Considering the size of the complex and its three passenger terminals, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a fair share of entertainment to be had here. Read on for our top picks of how to have fun at Tokyo's (OK, Chiba's) main international airport.  

Note that some of these are after passport control and require a plane ticket to access.

To read more, go here. 

What An Evening

Above, cooking beef kabobs in 106 degree heat.

Last evening was rather interesting.

My former roommate and current house guest Jessica and I were going to cook kabobs on the indoor grill for dinner.

About two or three minutes into cooking them, the grill element died. I think the grill was over 31 years old as it may have been a wedding present. So, having an appliance last 31 years is not too bad. I'll have to get another one this coming week.

This forced us to fire up the Weber barbecue outside. Unfortunately, it was 106­ degrees outside. Before firing up the barbecue, I started the generator to The Beast so I could run the air conditioner. After that, I then fired up the barbecue.

Dinner came out good with no problems. After dinner, we decided to head over to Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors ice cream parlor (only a few blocks away) for some ice cream. While driving there, we saw a huge black plume of smoke coming from the Northridge area.

We arrived at the ice cream store and they had no power, the power went out about ten minutes before, they said. But the ice cream was still cold and they could take cash only due to the power outage. So we bought some ice cream and I checked my Google Chrome feature on my phone and found that a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Station in Northridge had an explosion and fire. In five minutes, the power came back on.

We headed home after eating the ice cream and settled down to watch the 1931 Universal Pictures Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi. Jes had never seen it before. Just when the movie got to the part of Renfield (Dwight Frye) being taken to Castle Dracula by coach, the power went out.

Even though it was around eight o'clock in the evening, it was still hot out. So, we migrated to The Beast and I fired up the generator again to run the air conditioner. The stay was short-lived as the power came back on in the area within 30 minutes.

So, we went back inside and resumed Dracula.

Message From Ventura Beach RV Resort

CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH US AT  VENTURA BEACH RV RESORT! Dear Valued Guests,  Ventura Beach RV Resort has finally re-opened after many months of working around the clock to get the resort back up and running. If you didn't know, we experienced a massive flood back in February of this year, that swept RV's out into the ocean. It destroyed our store, some landscaping, damaged the pool, recreation room, office and much more. Nevertheless, our team has been working around the clock to welcome you back! We thank you in advance for your patience as we work through sorting each reservation out and taking care of refunds and reservation transfers.  For those seeking new reservations for the summer, we highly suggest you book now as we are filling up fast.  Should you have any questions please feel free to reach us at: (805) 643-9137 We look forward to seeing you again here at Ventura Beach RV Resort! FREE Pancake Breakfast is Back! Enjoy our famous FREE pancake breakfast every  Sunday morning with  your resort pass! Beach Cruiser Rentals  Don't have a bike? No worries! We have a fleet of beach cruisers and other fun bike rentals for you to enjoy! Live Entertainment Kick back and relax to  LIVE MUSIC every  Saturday night this summer! New Pool! Take a refreshing splash  in our NEWLY LINED pool.   The kids will love at!

Ventura Beach RV Resort, 800 West Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001

Elvis Presley's Memphis Featured In Motorhome Magazine

Above, Graceland last November. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since it is 108° outside, I am spending the day inside in the comfort of central air conditioning.

As luck would have it, the August issue of Motorhome magazine arrived in the mail and it features a one-page article (page 13) on the new Elvis Presley's Memphis entertainment complex that opened in March.

The complex "resembles an outdoor mall" and cost $45 million. It houses Elvis's car collection, performance paraphernalia, an exhibit of "Icons: The Influence of Elvis Presley" (that features original wardrobe, instruments and artifacts of Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Elton John, Billy Joel and others), a soundstage, theater and restaurants.

The complex was in its finishing stages of construction when I visited Graceland last November. Admission prices range from $57.50 to $159.

Lodging is available at the new Guest House at Graceland hotel (450 Elvis-inspired rooms/suites) and the Graceland RV Park & Campground (78 full-hookup sites).

For more information about the complex, call (800) 238-2000, or visit www.graceland.com.

Dump Station Etiquette

Above, The Beast at the Malibu Creek State Park dump station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every once in a while I've read stories in which someone using a public dump station to empty his RV holding tanks would take his sweet time (while a long line forms behind him) or, even worse, leaving a mess at the dump station so bad that nobody will want to use it. Thankfully, I have never had any kind of bad experience at a dump station.

For those who have no idea what the proper etiquette is at a dump station or some mental midget who needs a refresher course, RV Life had an article covering just that.

They begin with:

Most of us picked up on life’s little niceties when we were young, say in kindergarten. Sharing. Taking turns. Working at developing patience. For the most part, we see it in our fellow RVers— courtesy seems like a general rule among most. But still, there are areas where it seems like some need those little ‘gentle reminders’. Some RVers leave a bad reputation behind when they leave the RV dump station. Leaving behind a “Number Two” mess is just plain rude, and completely unnecessary.

To read more, go here. 

"Tokyo Geek's Guide" For Otaku

For those of you who are otaku of different aspects of Japanese pop culture, there's a new book out called Tokyo Geek's Guide that should interest you.

According to GameSpew:

Tokyo in particular is a sprawling megacity filled with enough cool stuff that it can easily be overwhelming. It can be difficult for any fan from the west to figure out what and what not to do while making their first trip. Luckily, we’ve found the perfect companion for your would-be trip: Gianni Simone’s Tokyo Geek’s Guide. 

Now, to be clear, this is the sort of book you want to read before going to Japan, not while you’re there. It is, after all, jam-packed with enough information that it can feel like a trip in itself just by reading it – which is a good thing! Coming from the mouth of someone who has worked for Vogue Italia, The Japan Times, and CNN Travel, it’s an essential piece that I recommend for planning a trip. Just maybe not for those already there, mainly because of its extreme focus on Otaku culture which, hopefully shouldn’t be too much of a surprise given the book’s title.

Gianni Simone is a familiar name as he reviewed The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan for The Japan Times several years ago.

There is a Godzilla section (below) in the Tokyo Geek's Guide, by the way!

The Tokyo Geek's Guide will be available on Amazon August 11.

For more, go here.

Earthquakes Giving Yellowstone Area The Jitters

Above, volcanic activity occurs all over Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last Wednesday, a 5.8 earthquake struck the state of Montana, raising fears in some that the super volcano known as Yellowstone National Park is set to blow anytime soon.

According to the U.K.'s Daily Star:

The epicentre of the tremor was just 240 miles away from Yellowstone Park – the site of a dormant supervolcano with destructive potential. 

Panicked residents of Montana feared the worst when the quake struck, with concerns over the stability of the Yellowstone volcano. 

But the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the volcano is not due to erupt anytime soon. 

Nontheless locals were freaking out on Twitter.

A spokesperson for USGS said: “The location and focal mechanism solution of this earthquake are consistent with right-lateral faulting in association with faults of the Lewis and Clark line, a prominent zone of strike-slip, dip slip and oblique slip faulting trending east-southeast from northern Idaho to east of Helena, Montana, southeast of this earthquake.” 

The huge quake came just weeks after a swarm of around 900 smaller earthquakes rocked the region. 

A massive basin of lava that lurks beneath Yellowstone National Park was hit by the flurry of seismic activity in June.

Meanwhile, Montana Public Radio says the seismic activities in the region is no cause for panic.

Yellowstone National Park took to Facebook today to tamp down ongoing speculation that a cataclysmic seismic event is imminent. 

Jeff Hungerford is the park’s chief geologist and volcanologist.

Sitting in front of Mammoth Hot Springs, Hungerford told his Facebook Live audience the Yellowstone region’s recent earthquake swarm is perfectly normal: 

“They can make up about 50-percent of our earthquakes that we have yearly," Hungerford said. "It happens all the time. It’s why we’re here. Yellowstone National Park is a beautiful, wonderful place because it is an active area.”

To read more, go here.

Hiking In Bryce Canyon National Park

Above, one of many natural amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon. Can you
 spot Thor's Hammer and Queen Victoria? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite national parks is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. I was last there around 2003 with my mom and daughter over Labor Day weekend.

There's plenty of things to see and do, including hiking among many rock formations.

Deborah Wall has a special article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on how best to enjoy Bryce Canyon during the summer with the focus on hiking the park's many trails.

It begins with:

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is on everybody’s list of must-see places in the Southwest, but during summer, dealing with the crowds and traffic can be frustrating at best. However, if you have some flexibility in your schedule, there’s a remedy. Check out the park’s popular main area, with its natural amphitheaters filled with striking hoodoo formations, first thing in the morning, before most visitors arrive. Then set out to other areas of Bryce for hiking.

To read more, go here. 

11 Differences Between Camping and Glamping

Above, the Spring Platrix Clampout on the Keene Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Glamping, also known as luxury camping or glamorous camping. - Glampinghub.com.

Up until about two years ago, I have never heard the term "glamping" until I started reading Camping News online. There, they talk about all kinds of camping, from the "roughing it" kind to luxurious "glamping".

Do It Yourself RV has an article on 11 differences between camping and glamping.

They begin with:

The beauty of nature is just absolutely breathtaking sometimes. Whether it’s on the shores of a lake, on a mountainside, or in the middle of a sprawling desert, there’s a good reason that over 40 million Americans are involved in some form of camping each year. 

The true definition of camping tends to vary, though. For some purists, it’s simply not “camping” if it’s anything more than a sleeping bag in a tent. For some, it’s still camping even if you’re kicked back in a luxury RV. But whether or not you think “roughing it” is a requirement, there’s no denying that “glamping” is bringing a whole new level of interest to the outdoors. 

RVC Outdoor Destinations, a leading operator of high-quality outdoor vacation destinations, came up with 11 fun differences between camping and glamping. Here’s our take on their list.

For me, I paid my dues camping out in tents and sleeping bags where a small pebble under your sleeping bag feels like a boulder poking your back. Since I am much older, I prefer to have more comforts while out in the wilds somewhere.

To read the 11 differences, go here.

Ventura Beach RV Resort Back In Business

Above, Ventura Beach RV Resort last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last weekend (Fourth of July weekend), Ventura Beach RV Resort re-opened after several months of repair and clean-up work due to a river flood from heavy rains back in February.

According to their Facebook page:

Welcome guests to our grand opening weekend! We hope you are settling in at #VenturaBeachRVResort. For those seeking to join us this weekend, we still have some tent sites available, so call the #resort at 805-643-9137 to secure your tent site and take part in all the weekend activities!

I, for one, am glad they're back open again. I'll be making some reservations for some stays before I head up to Idaho next month for the eclipse.

Above, The Beast at Ventura Beach RV Resort last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For access their website, go here. 

How To Tighten Your RV Roof Air Conditioner

Above, The Beast at the Keene Ranch near Tehachapi before the rain squall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I spent a few days camping at the North Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park. It rained about half the time I was there, but I was dry inside the comforts of The Beast.

About a week or so later, I attended my first Clampout (on the Keene Ranch near Tehachapi) since 2007 and we had a small and brief rain squall come through. During this, some drips were coming down onto the dinette seat from the roof air conditioner. Oh, God! A roof leak?!

After getting back home, I checked on the iRV2 Forum about this and was advised that the roof air conditioning unit probably came a little loose and told me how to remedy the problem.

So, I followed their directions and tightened up the bolts inside the RV and, sure enough, it solved the problem. No more leaks.

The good folks at RV Life posted an article on how to tighten your roof air conditioner.

It begins with:

Rattling down the highway does more than jar an old man’s dentures. Your RV suffers too. One way those bumps and jolts can manifest themselves is in what appears to be a roof leak. But wait! Don’t think your roof is leaking from something ‘upstairs’. It may be something that you need to fix from downstairs. 

One area not often thought about: the RV air conditioner. Sitting up there on the roof, all by its little lonesome, the A/C unit is subject to vibration and rattle like everything else. And buried under the “inside cover” are bolts that hold all that machinery tight on the roof. Those bolts, sadly enough, can get shaken (not stirred) by rough roads and vibration from running. In time they can loosen, and may first make you aware of the situation by allowing the passage of precipitation from the roof to fall into your rig. Not a happy way to spend your summer afternoon!

To read more, go here.