GOP Establishment Needs To Get With The Program!

The Tea Party movement scored some major upset victories last night. The main one was the victory of Christine O'Donnell over Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware.

Castle defeated Castle. He ran a nasty campaign and he was called on his voting record including his support for cap and trade. As I told Karl Rove last night, "Castle stepped on his d*ck" in this campaign.

The establishment Republicans are smarting over their losses. The Republican senatorial campaign committee originally said it won't provide funding to O'Donnell, claiming she has "no chance" to win, but has since relented. Mike Castle, showing sour grapes, refuses to endorse her.

Remember, Ronald Reagan wasn't the favorite of the GOP establishment.

R.I.N.O. (Republicans In Name Only) can't count on support anymore. There's been several instances where a R.I.N.O. has been defeated in a primary and goes on to support the Democrat or jumps ship and becomes a Democrat.

Either they support the nominees or they can get out of the party. The internal cannibalism must stop!

To give Christine O'Donnell a fighting chance in November, go to her official campaign website and make a contribution.

UPDATE: National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn quickly offered his endorsement — and a $42,000 check — for the O'Donnell campaign.

"Let there be no mistake: The National Republican Senatorial Committee – and I personally as the committee’s chairman – strongly stand by all of our Republican nominees, including Christine O’Donnell in Delaware," Cornyn said. "I reached out to Christine this morning, and as I have conveyed to all of our nominees, I offered her my personal congratulations and let her know that she has our support. This support includes a check for $42,000 – the maximum allowable donation that we have provided to all of our nominees – which the NRSC will send to her campaign today."

O'Donnell Defeats Castle

Above, Delaware GOP U.S. Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell.

Christine O'Donnell, appears to be the victor in the Delaware GOP U.S. Senate primary over Rep. Mike Castle, a R.I.N.O. Republican.

Delawareonline.com is reporting:

With 98 percent of the primary vote tallied across Delaware, Christine O'Donnell is defeating U.S. Rep. Mike Castle in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

In unofficial returns, O'Donnell has 53.2 percent of the votes tallied; Castle has 46.8 percent.

The Associated Press has called O'Donnell the winner.

The ruling-class R.I.N.O. Republicans are probably shaking in their boots tonight!

UPDATE: The Hill is reporting:

A Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) campaign source confirmed to The Hill late Tuesday that the longtime congressman will not be endorsing Christine O’Donnell.

Typical of R.I.N.O.s, sore losers!

Stoned (2005)

Stoned (2005) chronicles the last three months of the life of Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones. There are also flashbacks showing the founding of the group and Jones's shenanigans (including impregnating a 14-year-old girl).

The movie stars Leo Gregory as Brian Jones, Paddy Considine as Frank Thorogood, and David Morrissey as Stones manager Tom Keylock. Stoned was directed by
Stephen Woolley.

Thorogood was a builder hired to remodel Jones's estate and is confronted by the decadent lifestyle of Jones. He is surprised at first but is drawn into it and tries to participate, but never quite fits in. He was also hired to keep watch on Jones as Jones drifted away from the band he founded.

During the three-month span working at Jones's estate, Jones played mind games on Thorogood which eventually causes Thorogood to snap and drown Jones in his swimming pool on July 3, 1969, not too long after Jones is ousted from the Rolling Stones due to his erratic behavior and drug use.



Left, the real Brian Jones.

Allegedly, Thorogood confessed to murdering Jones in 1993 on his deathbed.

The movie captures the decadent lifestyle of Jones and the Rolling Stones. Leo Gregory is believable as Jones. It is not a movie about the Rolling Stones, but they are essential to the story.

MPAA rating is Rated R for drug use, sexuality, nudity and language. The version I have is the "unrated" version.

There are some factual errors and there's some editing and sound effects flaws. It is an interesting movie and it draws in the viewer.

My grade: A-.

Brad Sherman Debate Refusal: Baloney Avoiding The Slicer

Above, GOP candidate for congress Mark Reed.

We have less than two months to go before the November general election. Yet Rep. Brad Sherman still refuses to take up GOP nominee Mark Reed's challenge to a debate.

Naturally, Sherman would have to defend his votes in support of President Barack Obama's socialist agenda in front of an audience. Is it clearly cowardice that guides Sherman in his refusal, perhaps? Is the clue in the two photos here?

Above, Rep. Brad Sherman.

So why won't Rep. Brad Sherman debate Mark Reed? As the late William F. Buckley put it: "Why does the baloney avoid the slicer?"

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow (All The Way To The Bank)

Unfortunately, due to economic hard times (at least I am better off than many), people have to part with collections just to survive.

Fortunately, I have a sizable coin collection and I am a little pinched financially despite 2 jobs and The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan to help.

I was able to get a good price today for an uncirculated Carson City 1884 Morgan Dollar that my dad bought in 1972-73 for $15.00. I had several Morgan dollar sets that I sold over the years via eBay and to collectors. Prior to today, the last one I sold was for some extra cash for my 2007 Japan trip.

Here's the coin I sold today:



Here's a similar one (same packaging).

Kevin McCarthy Dies At 96

The pods finally got Kevin McCarthy.

Kevin McCarthy, the star of the original 1956 science-fiction classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, died yesterday at age 96.

His most famous line in the movie was, "Can't you see? Everyone! They're here already. You're next!"

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Kevin McCarthy, the veteran stage and screen actor best known for his starring role as the panicked doctor who tried to warn the world about the alien "pod people" who were taking over in the 1956 science-fiction suspense classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," died Saturday. He was 96.

McCarthy died of natural causes at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass., said his daughter Lillah.

To see the full article, go here.

9/12: America's Monumental Shame

Above, the World Trade Center before the attacks.

Political correctness, foot-dragging, design disputes, politics (right vs. left) and a myriad of other reasons why the World Trade Center construction in New York has not been completed after nine years. This is the topic of an article by Michelle Malkin.

To read it, go here.

9/11 Victims Honored By Pepperdine University

Above, the flags as seen from Malibu Canyon Road.

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and in a field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Pepperdine University in Malibu, California has erected a special memorial to those killed.

From Pepperdine University's press release:

Honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Pepperdine University’s expansive lawn at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road will display one flag for each of the nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11, beginning on September 11 and continuing through September 19.

Above, the flag display as seen from Pacific Coast Highway with Pepperdine University in the background.

Yesterday, I passed the university and took these cell phone photos of the flags.

Above, another view from Pacific Coast Highway.

From Pepperdine University's press release:

See the display come together and interview volunteers Friday afternoon, Sept. 10, between 4 p.m. and dusk . . .

The beautiful flag memorial is the work of students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and Facilities Management and Planning staff. The tribute was conceived originally and led by Pepperdine’s chapter of the College Republicans.

9/11 Ceremony Planned: As it has annually since September 2001, the University plans to stage a brief prayer service on September 11 at the Heroes Garden, a 14,880-square-foot outdoor garden which honors 9/11 victims and overlooks the Pacific Ocean on one of the highest bluffs on the Malibu campus. This year's service begins at 8 a.m.

The Heroes Garden serves as a public space to pause, reflect, and honor those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11, including Tom Burnett, alumnus of the Graziadio School of Business and Management. Burnett's heroism as a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 has been well documented. As a result of the passengers' attempt to take control of the hijacked airliner and divert it from reaching the terrorists' target, United 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania rather than striking a building or landmark in the nation's capital, causing more loss of human life.

The Dark Writings of Jessica Lynne Gardner

While updating my Favorite Links "gadget," I noticed that The Dark Writings of Jessica Lynne Gardner has a new URL. So I checked it out and it is an excellent website for an up and coming horror writer.

To see Jessica's website, go here.


Left, horror writer Jessica Lynne Gardner in one of my favorite pictures of her in her kimono.

James Brolin: Reagan Fan?

Actor James Brolin (a.k.a. Mr. Barbra Streisand) says he liked Ronald Reagan in a Hollywood Reporter article:

Seven years after playing Ronald Reagan in a miniseries detractors say maligned the 40th president, James Brolin is setting the record straight.

"I thought he was a terrific guy and he was a terrific leader of the Screen Actors Guild, and he was a good governor," Brolin said of Reagan.

Brolin, who has a politically liberal reputation like his wife, Barbra Streisand, says he even voted for Reagan for president once.

What kind of a job does Brolin think Reagan did?

"Look at the results. He's such an Americana attribute. He's literally our best icon in recent years. He represented America quite well. There were some clandestine things going down, but for the most part I think he was a good president."

To read the full article, go here.

"Why Am I Not Surprised?" Department



CNSNews.com reports:

Obama Added More to National Debt in First 19 Months Than All Presidents from Washington Through Reagan Combined, Says Gov’t Data

(CNSNews.com) - In the first 19 months of the Obama administration, the federal debt held by the public increased by $2.5260 trillion, which is more than the cumulative total of the national debt held by the public that was amassed by all U.S. presidents from George Washington through Ronald Reagan.

The U.S. Treasury Department divides the federal debt into two categories. One is “debt held by the public,” which includes U.S. government securities owned by individuals, corporations, state or local governments, foreign governments and other entities outside the federal government itself. The other is “intragovernmental” debt, which includes I.O.U.s the federal government gives to itself when, for example, the Treasury borrows money out of the Social Security “trust fund” to pay for expenses other than Social Security.

At the end of fiscal year 1989, which ended eight months after President Reagan left office, the total federal debt held by the public was $2.1907 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That means all U.S. presidents from George Washington through Ronald Reagan had accumulated only that much publicly held debt on behalf of American taxpayers. That is $335.3 billion less than the $2.5260 trillion that was added to the federal debt held by the public just between Jan. 20, 2009, when President Obama was inaugurated, and Aug. 20, 2010, the 19-month anniversary of Obama's inauguration.

Obama's "Manic Depression"

Folks are really getting into the swing of President Obama's "channeling" of Jimi Hendrix with his "they talk about me like a dog" quip right out of Hendrix's song "Stone Free."

Political commentator Michelle Malkin has a post at her site by Doug Powers, titled, "The Barack Obama Experience — Taxes: Bold as Love." (Jimi's band was the Jimi Hendrix Experience and their second album was "Axis: Bold As Love.")

In the article, Powers noted:

As it turns out, some intrepid researchers are speculating that Obama might have been channeling a line from the Jimi Hendrix song “Stone Free.”

I was skeptical at first, but it kind of makes sense, because another line in that song is “I got to, got to, got to get away” — perfect for somebody who just came off several weeks worth of vacations.

This is just the beginning of the fun. Powers and people commenting on the article came up with some clever Hendrixesque lines. The one I like is one from Powers:

“Spanish Castle Magic” would cover the first lady’s Antoinette-esque trip to Costa del Sol.

To read the full article, go here.

By the way, the first Jimi Hendrix Experience album, "Are You Experienced?" includes a song called "Manic Depression." Perhaps it is fitting that Jimi Hendrix is getting this attention as this month marks the 40th anniversary of his death.

Obama Dog Hendrix

Looks like the ol' Rancho here is at the cutting edge of current events.

The major media has now jumped on the bandwagon of Obama's "They talk about me like a dog" comment of yesterday and noted that it is right out of the Jimi Hendrix song "Stone Free." It appears the Rancho may be the first to make note of it and everyone else picked up on it.

A caller to the Rush Limbaugh radio show today mentioned it.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show suggested Googling "Obama Dog Hendrix" and when you do, the Rancho's post is at the top. In fact, the Rancho is the only starred result in Google! (So far, that is.)

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

Top Five Godzilla/Kaiju Books

by Armand Vaquer

With Christmas just around the corner, it is worthwhile to take a look at what English language, mass-market books to buy for the newbie or longtime kaiju fan.

Most of these books are still available through various sources such as Amazon.com, eBay, Barnes and Noble, Border's Books, etc.

So if you are wondering what to buy, here's my top five Godzilla books:


Number One. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters by August Ragone is the top book to pick up without question. Ragone is thorough in his research on the genius of Japanese special effects with many rare photographs. Toho Co., Ltd. and Tsuburaya Productions cooperated in the production of this book and it shows! Hardcover.




Number Two. Japan's Favorite Mon-Star by Steve Ryfle is a valuable reference book on the history of the Godzilla movies. Although dated (this one cries out for an update as it ends with the 1998 U.S. Godzilla), Ryfle's research on the King of the Monsters makes this a must-have in your book collection. Softcover.




Number Three. Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda by Peter H. Brothers is the first (it came out last year) English language biography of Japan's top director of science-fiction and fantasy films. Although it has no photos and there's some glaring typos, this is a must-have book for G-fans. Softcover.





Number Four. Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! by Stuart Galbraith IV is a collection of interviews of actors, directors, special effects directors and others organized by topic. Although the organizing could have been better executed (some fans feel it is too disjointed), it is a valuable resource as it includes interviews with some who have since passed on. Softcover.




Number Five. Godzilla On My Mind by William Tsutsui is a tome of what Godzilla means to fans. If you're looking for a filmography, this isn't the book for you. But if you're interested in Godzilla and his pop-culture influence, grab this book. Softcover.

Others


A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series, 2d ed. by David Kalat. This edition just came out and I haven't read it yet. But, I am told that it is an excellent book on the Godzilla series. It is available at Amazon.com. Hardcover.




The Official Godzilla Compendium by J. D. Lees and Marc Ceracini is long out of print and if one can find one, it is generally pricey. It is a good introductory book aimed at the small-fry fan. It has reached the status of a collectors' item. Softcover.




The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan by Armand Vaquer came out this year and is a travel guide to Japan tailored to fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films featuring movie locations, attractions, transportation and accommodations. Magazine format.

THEY TALK ABOUT ME LIKE A DOG: Obama A Hendrix Fan?

Above, Jimi Hendrix.

President Obama spoke before a union crowd in Milwaukee today and said this according to Politico:

“They talk about me like a dog,” Obama said with a chuckle of his political opponents. “That’s not in my prepared remarks but it’s true.”

Although the comment was characterized as a joke, it shows that President Obama is engaging in self-pity.

Funny thing, when I first heard of the comment, it made me think of the Jimi Hendrix Experience song "Stone Free."

Here's the lyrics with the line in bold:

EVERYDAY IN THE WEEK I'M IN A DIFFERENT CITY
IF I STAY TOO LONG PEOPLE TRY TO PULL ME DOWN
THEY TALK ABOUT ME LIKE A DOG
TALKIN' ABOUT THE CLOTHES I WEAR
BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO'S SQUARE

HEY!
AND THAT'S WHY
YOU CAN'T HOLD ME DOWN
I DON'T WANT TO BE DOWN I GOTTA MOVE
HEY

STONE FREE DO WHAT I PLEASE
STONE FREE TO RIDE THE BREEZE
STONE FREE I CAN'T STAY
I GOT TO GOT TO GOT TO GET AWAY

ALRIGHT
LISTEN TO THIS BABY
A WOMAN HERE A WOMAN THERE TRY TO KEEP ME IN A PLASTIC CAGE
BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE IT'S SO EASY TO BREAK
BUT SOMETIMES I GET A HA
FEEL MY HEART KIND OF GETTIN' HOT
THAT'S WHEN I'VE GOT TO MOVE BEFORE I GET CAUGHT

AND THE IS WHY, LISTEN TO ME BABY, YOU CAN'T HOLD ME DOWN
I DON'T WANT TO BE TIED DOWN
I GOTTA BE FREE
OWH!

I SAID
STONE FREE DO WHAT I PLEASE
STONE FREE TO RIDE THE BREEZE
STONE FREE I CAN'T STAY
GOT TO GOT TO GOT TO GET AWAY
YEAH OW!
TEAR ME LOOSE BABY

YEAH!
STONE FREE TO RIDE ON THE BREEZE
STONE FREE DO WHAT I PLEASE
STONE FREE I CAN'T STAY
STONE FREE I GOT TO I GOT TO GET AWAY
STONE FREE I GONNA LEAVE RIGHT NOW
STONE FREE DON'T TRY TO HOLD ME BACK BABY
STONE FREE GO ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY
STONE FREE OH YEAH BABY
STONE FREE GOT TO GOT TO GET AWAY
STONE FREE BYEBYE BABY

Maybe Obama is a fan of Jimi Hendrix?

Sublime Noble Grand Humbug's Birthday

Glenn H. Thornhill, The Sublime Noble Grand Humbug (2010 - 2011) of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow.

So, in honor of his sublimeness (is that a word?), I am enjoying a Brandy Alexander at this moment (couldn't wait for tomorrow, and I'll probably have more tomorrow anyway).

So, brother Clampers, raise your glasses in honor of SNGH Glenn Thornhill's birthday!

Satisfactory!

September Sunset

Category: Photography

The days are getting shorter and autumn is just around the corner.

I took a few photos of the sun setting the other evening and noted that the sun's position is where it was around late-June to early-July. It was only a month ago, the sun set behind the hills.

Above, the setting sun as viewed from Malibu, California zoomed in.

Above, the setting sun without zoom.

Above, cars with their headlights on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu at dusk. It was only a month ago that the sun set behind the hills in he background.

Above, an interesting effect as the sun is about to go below the horizon.

Bill Millin

A great man had died last month. Not too many people heard about Bill Millin, but thanks to Karl Rove, many people will.

Rove passed along a great article from The Economist via Twitter.

It starts with:

ANY reasonable observer might have thought Bill Millin was unarmed as he jumped off the landing ramp at Sword Beach, in Normandy, on June 6th 1944. Unlike his colleagues, the pale 21-year-old held no rifle in his hands.

Millin did have a weapon in his hands: his bagpipes.

To read the full article, go here.

Labor Day 2010

Above, Armand with his "third job." Photo by Amber Vaquer.

So today's Labor Day.

For many people, it isn't a day of celebration. The economy is stalled (some say it is getting worse). The latest unemployment figures had it inched up to 9.6%. The actual unemployment figure is probably 17-19%, which are people who have given up looking for work, those who have taken part-time work or jobs for much lower pay, etc.

The Obama Administration called this the "summer of recovery." Not much of a recovery, is it? This is the worst recession in my lifetime. Bad as it was, it was made even worse by congress and the Obama Administration. Now we're saddled with huge debt.

As for me, Labor Day is an opportunity to reflect on my job situation. I should be working full-time as an insurance claims examiner. However, since the insurance industry is so tied in with the financial markets of Wall Street, it is in the doldrums with very little hiring (some areas have no hiring). I am grateful that I have an insurance claims job with an independent adjuster, even though the work is sporadic. One week I can be socked with lots of work. And then I may get nothing in the following week. That's why I have to work in Malibu (can't complain about the scenery, though) as a security patrol officer (what I call my parachute job). That's to guarantee that my bills are paid and have a roof over my head. At least with the work that I am doing in claims, my adjusting skills are kept fine-tuned.

A few years ago, my claims supervisor used to wonder why I would go to the target range every six months to do my re-qualification shoot for my firearms permit (better security jobs are obtained if one has a firearms permit). I told him those permits are hard to get and it is better to maintain them because one never knows when it might be needed. He sees my point now. He got laid off a few months after I did.

Promoting and filling orders for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan can be considered my third job. If I don't have any claims work to do and in my spare time, I concentrate on that.

The job picture is bleak. The order of the day is survival. I can't criticize someone who took a menial or "hamburger-flipper" kind of job even though they are qualified for a much more substantial occupation. Just be grateful to have a job, period!

I am, therefore, grateful for the sources of income I have. Even though I'm not exactly living "high on the hog," at least I am not on public assistance either. The next few months will be better as I will be getting income from the farm property I inherited.

The glimmer of real hope (not that phoney "hope and change" slogan that hoodwinked the voters in 2008) is coming up in the November elections. If the GOP re-takes the House and Senate, we may have a chance to get policies that will actually lead the country into real recovery. The template for recovery is the Reagan policies of the 1980s.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan in 1980:

A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Barack Obama and the congressional Democrats lose theirs!

Happy Labor Day!

YES ON PROPOSITION 23: THE CALIFORNIA JOBS INITIATIVE

YES ON PROPOSITION 23
SAVE JOBS – STOP THE ENERGY TAX

With millions out of work and the California Legislature bankrupting our state, here's a ballot proposition in which California voters can do something about it.

It is Proposition 23, the California Jobs Initiative. Prop. 23 will:

Proposition 23 is a common sense approach to protecting jobs, preserving environmental protections, and holding the line on costs for California’s struggling families. Proposition 23 would simply suspend California’s global warming plan until the economy stabilizes, we get people back to work and we can afford these investments.

For more information on Proposition 23, go here.

Paul Conrad Is Dead

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the paper's longtime political cartoonist Paul Conrad has died:

Paul Conrad, whose fiercely confrontational editorial cartoons made him one of the leading political provocateurs of the second half of the 20th century and who helped push the Los Angeles Times to national prominence, has died. He was 86.

Conrad died early Saturday of natural causes, surrounded by his family at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, said his son David.

With an unyielding liberal stance rendered in savage black and white, Conrad both thrilled and infuriated readers for more than 50 years. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, a feat matched by only two other cartoonists in the post- World War II era.

Conrad was vitriolic in his cartooning, but even his work could be occasionally hilarious to a conservative.

During my college days in the 1970s, I worked for the L.A. Times as a phone solicitor for subscriptions. One of the reasons most often cited to me when people declined taking the paper was Paul Conrad (besides the paper being "too liberal").

To read the full article, go here.

Boris Karloff's "Thriller" On DVD

Boris Karloff was known as the Frankenstein monster, the Mummy and a variety of ghouls during his career. In 1960-62, he hosted the anthology series, Thriller, on NBC-TV.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting:

Karloff served up plenty of suspense and thrills as host and frequent star of the 1960-62 NBC anthology series "Thriller." The entire 67 episodes are being released Tuesday [The day before yesterday - A.] on DVD from Image Entertainment. Though not as strong as the landmark anthology series of the era — "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Twilight Zone" — "Thriller" offers some pretty terrific tales.

The article discusses Karloff's career and includes comments by his daughter Sara Karloff.

To read the full article, go here.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan: A Great Stocking-stuffer!

We are now in the -ber (or Burr) season (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, DecemBER), and that means the holiday season is just around the corner.

Are you in a quandry over what to get your favorite kaiju fan for Christmas? Do you know someone who wants to go to Japan to see the locations used in the movies and soak up the Japanese culture?

Well, fret no more! The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will make an excellent stocking-stuffer for the giant monster fans in your life.

The Guide will give him/her the nuts & bolts of Japan travel including what to do, what to expect, where the locations are and how to get to them, what nearby attractions there are and where to stay. Even if your favorite kaiju fan isn't planning a trip to Japan, the Guide is a good reference source on the movie locations and their history, which would come in handy if they're stuck inside the house due to snow and need something to read.

To order, have your favorite Santa's helper go to one of the following links:

ComiXpress

About The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan

Monsterland Toys

Or, you can go to Kinokuniya Bookstores' Little Tokyo store in Los Angeles:

Kinokuniya Bookstores (Los Angeles)

Dollar Falling Against Yen: Intervention Coming?

Things are looking depressing in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar (USD) and the Japanese Yen (JPY).

I went over to the Universal Currency Converter and did not find any good news on the current rate of exchange between the dollar and yen.

Here's the rate:

1.00 USD = 84.2395 JPY

A strong yen against the dollar is really not good news for Japan, who relies upon exports to foreign markets. This is putting pressure on Japan to intervene.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal yesterday:

TOKYO—Data released Wednesday on the growth of the global foreign-exchange market shows that if Japan tries to intervene to stop the yen's rise, it will face a much larger task than it did in 2004, when it last waded into the market.

The latest triennial report from the Bank for International Settlements shows that trading between the U.S. dollar and the yen, almost certain to be the target of any intervention, has nearly doubled between April 2004 and April 2010, soaring to an average daily turnover of $568 billion from $328 billion.

"Compared with before, it's now more difficult to manage or manipulate the market because it's grown so much," said Minoru Shioiri, chief manager of foreign-exchange trading at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

The report comes as Tokyo faces pressure to do more to curb the yen. The dollar fell to a 15-year low of 83.58 yen last week. In early Wednesday afternoon trading in New York, the dollar was at 84.48 yen, up from 84.01 late Tuesday. The stronger local currency makes Japanese products less competitive overseas and diminishes the size of overseas income repatriated to Japan.

Of course, a strong yen against the dollar means that American tourists would be getting less yen per dollar, making a vacation to Japan more expensive. This is detrimental to Japan's tourist industy. But, on the other side of the coin, this makes a vacation to the United States a bargain for Japanese tourists.

Keep in mind that I got an exchange rate of 116 yen for every dollar I exchanged back in April 2007.

To see the full WSJ article, go here.

September 1st

Above, at the Kinokuniya bookstore in Little Tokyo last month. At least August ended on a high note.

So today's September 1st.

This means that we're in the last quarter of 2010, a dreadful year if I've ever seen one. Oh, some good things have transpired, but generally speaking, if someone would find a way to flush the year down the toilet, I'd be all for it and wouldn't miss it. Still, this year has been flying by pretty fast.

Next Monday will be Labor Day, which will basically mark the end of summer vacation for the kiddies (not mine, she's 23). Then the holidays will be here, which will not be so joyous as in years past.

I noticed that I will be scheduled to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days, unless I decide to take my trip to Japan during one of them. Working on those holidays will take a little of the sting of my mom's passing off.

One thing I am definitely looking forward to, and that's the general elections on the first Tuesday of November. This will be the first step in taking back our country.

Gadget Added For Monster Japan Travel Guide Dealers

A new "gadget" (well, that's what Blogspot calls 'em) has been added to this blog.

It is a listing of dealers links for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. As more dealers carry the Guide, they will be added to the list. It is located on the right side of the page, about 3/4 of the page down.

Of course, The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan may be ordered directly though ComiXpress.com or through me. See "About The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" link just below the main Rancho photo at the top of the page for more information.

Above right, Yuu Asakura. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Feel free to visit the dealers listed and all other advertisers on this blog.

Greg Smith vs. Lisa Benlon Campaign Analysis

Above, Greg Smith.

This morning, I was perusing SwingStateProject.com's analysis of the 2010 Kansas state legislature races and noted their analysis of the race between Greg Smith, the father of Kelsey Smith, and Rep. Lisa Benlon in Overland Park.

They wrote:

KS-HR-22: 34.6R/32D/32.5U : District Map : (D) Lisa Benlon - Another former Republican state representative, Benlon returned to politics in 2008 as a Democrat, winning 53% to succeed Democrat Sue Storm, who rose to a seat on the state Board of Education. Benlon did draw a fairly strong opponent in Greg Smith, the father of the late Kelsey Smith. Still, the district's blue tint, and Smith's very conservative profile, should be enough to save Benlon, assuming Democrats actually turn out. Rating: Lean Democrat

Note that the district is 34.6% Republican and 32% Democrat with 32.5% Unaffiliated. Swing State Project's rating would make some sense had Barack Obama and the Democrats hadn't made a worse mess out of the economy than it already was in and, also, not forced Obamacare down people's throats. The voters are hopping mad!

Additionally, this is marginally a Republican district. Independents (the unaffiliated voters) tend to be more conservative and vote GOP than they do Democrat. Also, independent support of Obama and the Democrats nationally has plummeted.

It doesn't help matters that Lisa Benlon became a Democrat after being a former Republican state representative. There are three kinds of unpopular politicians this year: Liberal-Socialist Democrats, R.I.N.O.* Republicans and turncoats. Just ask Sen. Arlen Specter! By being a turncoat in switching parties, Benlon makes her chances at re-election much more difficult than what meets the eye, especially this year.

Keep in mind that Swing State Project is a left-wing website, so their "analysis" may be more wishful-thinking than objective.

Greg Smith is running on a conservative platform.

If Greg Smith mounts an aggressive campaign on the issues and ties the Obama/socialism noose around her neck, Benlon can be defeated.

To read swingstateproject.com's ratings, go here.


*Republican In Name Only

Police Searching For Kara Kopetsky?

Sheriff deputies are draining and searching ponds in Johnson County, Kansas "for a body," possibly that of Kara Kopetsky, a high school girl who has been missing since May 2007.

KCUR-FM in Kansas is reporting:

Twenty Johnson county Sheriff's Deputies were able to get within inches of the bottom of a pair of ponds south of Leawood today. They've been searching for human remains.

A tipster last week gave a credible enough account to send deputies to a remote area near 164th and Mission Road.

The site where these ponds are located was the former site of the Kuhlman Die Casting company.

A surveillance video at the high school Kopetsky was attending shows her walking out of school in Belton, Missouri, but she has not been heard from since. Weeks later, high school graduate Kelsey Smith of nearby Overland Park was abducted from a Target store near her home. She was found days later and her killer is now serving a life sentence. Many have speculated that the Kopetsky and Smith cases are related.

So far, no body has been found during this week's search.