Taxmageddon 2013: Kiss Half of Your Paycheck Goodbye!

The government (federal, state and payroll taxes) is poised to take nearly half (in some states, over half) of your paycheck starting January 1, 2013.

The Heritage Foundation has posted the tax table for all states and the percentages of what you can expect to be taken from your paycheck:

For more, go here.

Gadling.com: "The Perks of Traveling Alone"

Above, with a restaurateur near the Tsukiji Fish Market in the wee hours of the morning.

Gadling.com has a good article on "The Perks of Traveling Alone."

As one who has traveled with a wife/family, friends, groups and solo, the article does spell out the advantages of traveling alone.

I've traveled six times to Japan, one with an organized group and the rest solo.  I've never felt "alone" during any of my solo trips as I have friends in Japan to hang out with or I meet other travelers there.  A lot of the time I find myself too busy to even miss any traveling companions.  It is not that I wouldn't travel with someone, it usually boils down to the cost of a trip, lack of interest or scheduling that has me go it alone.

The main thing I like when traveling alone, I can do whatever I please.  I can do something on the spur-of-the-moment whenever I want to.  In December, 2010, I decided to visit the Tsukiji Fish Market early in the morning (around 4:00) and just caught a taxi and went.  No hassle.  If I had a traveling companion who wasn't interested in visiting the fish market in the wee hours, it might have made things a little more difficult.

Some people wouldn't think of traveling alone.  Much of it involves fear of going to another country by themselves.  One of the advantages of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is that a person who is a kaiju fan can go alone with the travel guide to show them the way.  This is especially true if all their potential travel companions couldn't care less about monsters or Japan.

To read the full article, go here.

Newsweek: "Obama's Gotta Go!"

Oh-oh, President Obama is starting to lose his media cheerleaders.

Newsweek has a cover story in their August 27 edition that boldly states: Hit The Road, Barack!

To read about it, go here.

"2016 Obama’s America"

Before you vote this November, there is one movie you must see:

2016 Obama's America takes audiences on a gripping visual journey into the heart of the world’s most powerful office to reveal the struggle of whether one man's past will redefine America over the next four years. The film examines the question, "If Obama wins a second term, where will we be in 2016?" 

Across the globe and in America, people in 2008 hungered for a leader who would unite and lift us from economic turmoil and war. True to America’s ideals, they invested their hope in a new kind of president, Barack Obama. What they didn't know is that Obama is a man with a past, and in powerful ways that past defines him--who he is, how he thinks, and where he intends to take America and the world. 

Immersed in exotic locales across four continents, best selling author Dinesh D’Souza races against time to find answers to Obama’s past and reveal where America will be in 2016. During this journey he discovers how Hope and Change became radically misunderstood, and identifies new flashpoints for hot wars in mankind’s greatest struggle. The journey moves quickly over the arc of the old colonial empires, into America’s empire of liberty, and we see the unfolding realignment of nations and the shape of the global future. 

Emotionally engaging, 2016 Obama’s America will make you confounded and cheer as you discover the mysteries and answers to your greatest aspirations and worst fears. 

Love him or hate him, you don’t know him.

In theaters now.  For more information and to watch a trailer, go here. 

William Windom Dies At 88

Above, William Windom and Leonard Nimoy on "Star Trek."

A longtime familiar face on television and in the movies has passed away.

The New York Times reported:

William Windom, who won an Emmy Award playing an Everyman drawn from the pages of James Thurber but who may be best remembered for his roles on “Star Trek” and “Murder, She Wrote,” died on Thursday at his home in Woodacre, Calif., north of San Francisco. He was 88. 

The cause of death was congestive heart failure.

The show that Windom won the Emmy Award was My World And Welcome To It.  Prior to that, he co-starred with Inger Stevens in The Farmer's Daughter.

Back in the 1970s, I was with a group of friends at the Mann's Theaters in Tarzana (this was twenty years before I moved to Tarzana) waiting in line when I saw Windom with his kids jaywalking at a fast trot across Ventura Blvd. to get to the theaters.

To read the full New York Times article, go here.

Corn Status

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

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

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

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

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

Margaret Herrick Library Search Engine

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library now lists The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan in their website's search engine.

I tried it out and here's the result:

To view the Margaret Herrick Library website, go here.

Metropolis Magazine's List of "Q & A" Articles

While perusing Metropolis magazine's (based in Tokyo, Japan) website, I happened upon a link to their archived articles of the past two years for their "Q & A" column.

Listed among them was mine of January 6, 2011 (which, coincidentally, is my daughter's birthday) and noted that it was one of the most viewed (over 2,000) with 2,204 views, in comparison with the others on the list.  The screen capture at top shows mine in the middle with the one before it and one following it.  This is quite flattering, to say the least.

I was interviewed on monster movie locations and The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To view the full page list of "Q & A" articles, go here.

Next Comic Book Yard Sale Saturday, August 25

This is the first Saturday in over three weeks where I didn't have to get up early to set up a yard sale of comic books.  I thought I'd take a break, although I do have to go to work this evening.

The next sale is set for next Saturday (August 25).

It will be at 18618 Collins Street, Tarzana, CA 91356 (cross streets are Reseda Blvd. and U.S. 101 Freeway).  Hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

I have (mostly DCs) Silver Age (1960s), Bronze Age (1970s) and Modern Age (1990s).  They're priced to go!

Along with comic books, my book, The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is also available at a 20% discount off the cover price!

C'mon down!


It is also listed on Craigslist: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/clt/3214002735.html

Shocking Obama Photo

I received an email with the following:

For those who still believe Obama has America's interests at heart, take a look at this photo and what kind of books he reads.

The name of the book Obama is holding is called:

The Post-American World,

and it was written by a radical Muslim.

(Fareed Zakaria)

"Post" America means:

The World "After" America!"

Is the book as bad as the email makes it out to be?  Go here for Snopes' review.

Japan Logs 2nd Highest Number of Foreign Visitors In July

Above, the resort city of Atami, Japan.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese tourism industry had a great month in July, according to an article in The Japan Times.

According to their article:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan totaled 845,000 in July, the second-highest monthly total on record and a 50.5 percent increase from a year earlier, the government's tourism promotion agency said Friday.

The latest figure reflects a continued recovery in tourism after the plunge following the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, but officials are concerned the recent territorial rows with China and South Korea could again spark a drop-off.

This is still down 3.8% from the record high set in July 2010, but it is still a welcome statistic.  It shows that Japan's tourism industry is nearly fully recovered.

The article does note the continuing problem concerning the yen's appreciation (something I've been keeping close tabs on) as well as radiation fears:

The yen's appreciation, which makes travel to Japan more costly for foreigners, and concerns over radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster continue to weigh on the industry, the JNTO said.

The JNTO is the Japan National Tourism Organization.  

To read the full article, go here.

Christine Nguyen In "Loop"

A new short film entitled, Loop was released on August 15.  It stars Christine Nguyen.

From the Loop website:

Combining the themes of top secret military installations, government conspiracies, a little taste of Lambda Core and Aperture Science, and framing it against the beautiful barren remoteness of New Mexico, gave us the seed for the idea that would eventually become Ophelia's temporal loop story.

For more information, go here. 

August 16 Marks 56th Anniversary of Bela Lugosi's Death

Two days ago, the 56th anniversary of the passing of actor Bela Lugosi was marked.

Lugosi died of an apparent heart attack while taking a nap in his Harold Way apartment in Hollywood.  The year before, he checked himself into a state hospital to detox from his addiction to morphine.  His last movie was The Black Sleep, which co-starrred Basil Rathbone and Lon Chaney, Jr.  It was a non-speaking role as Lugosi's character was a mute.

Above, the section at Holy Cross Cemetery where Bela Lugosi's grave is located.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lugosi is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Californa in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes section.  He is only a few feet away from Bing Crosby and in the same row.

Above, Bela Lugosi's grave.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Happy Birthday, Maureen O'Hara!

One of Hollywood's remaining greats is celebrating her 92nd birthday today: actress Maureen O'Hara.

By chance, I happened to watch the 1963 comedy, McLintock! starring O'Hara and John Wayne on YouTube.

I had recorded the movie ages ago, but the version I saw a few nights ago was more complete.

Happy Birthday, Miss O'Hara!

Beach Boys Play Before 12K In Chiba, Japan

Above, the Beach Boys monument in Hawthorne, California.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The most famous band from my hometown of Hawthorne, California played to a big crowd in Chiba, Japan.

Japan Today reported:

CHIBA —The Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands, kicked off their three-concert tour of Japan with a trip down memory lane for 12,000 fans at QVC Marine Field in Chiba Prefecture on Thursday night. 

Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks (supported by a backing band composed of members from the group’s various touring entities) performed 33 songs, including old favorites such as “Surfin’ USA” and “California Girls.” 

They will be playing in Osaka Friday night and Nagoya on Sunday.

To read the full article, go here.

Hollywood Left Choking Their Own Industry

It boggles the mind that the left-wingers in Hollywood are in support of the Democrats' plans for higher taxes on businesses and individuals making over $200,000 (and families making over $250,000) when enormous taxes are already driving corporations out of California.

These irrational tax policies, by the Democrat-controlled state government, are killing jobs in California.  They are also killing jobs in their own industry.  Of the 23 new television dramas, only two are being shot in Hollywood, according to an article in Los Angeles Times.  Studios are going to states where there are better tax breaks.

How does the Hollywood Left reconcile advocating higher taxes in California, while at the same time, those tax policies are killing jobs and driving business out?  It is killing jobs in the catering industry, prop workers, make-up artists and production support positions in the industry.   Naturally, the Hollywood Left (like most leftists) don't think things through, they just act on emotion or "feelings."

Rational people, who see the situation where less money is to be made in the state, will opt out of the state.  The state's tax policies are driving businesses (and jobs) out and the over-generous entitlement programs are attracting the parasites.  In a nutshell, the makers are leaving and the takers are coming in.   How is this sustainable over the long term?

It is total lunacy.

California used to be the "land of opportunity."  Not anymore.

UPDATE:  The blog, The People's Republic of California picked up this post and re-posted it with some extra graphics.  To see it, go here.

Streetcars Making A Comeback In U.S. Cities

Above, a Nagasaki streetcar (or trolley).  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a mode of transportation that is making a comeback in U.S. cities: the streetcar.

The Wall Street Journal posted:

Cities from Los Angeles to Atlanta are making big bets to revitalize their downtowns by bringing back a form of transportation many abandoned decades ago: the streetcar. 

Some cities are counting on help from federal stimulus dollars, but a few are going it alone. 

Late last month, about 500 residents in one part of Kansas City, Mo., voted to create a special taxing district to raise $75 million over about two decades for a streetcar. In the same week, Cincinnati officials passed a measure to allow about $15 million to be spent on a 3.6-mile loop. And in Los Angeles, the city council approved a plan to ask voters if they are willing to pay additional taxes for a four-mile downtown streetcar loop. 

Proponents say the streetcars would boost economic growth and catch the fancy of younger generations.

I remember the Los Angeles streetcars and remember riding them.  I relived those "thrilling days of yesteryear" in 2007 when I rode the streetcars (or trolley) in Nagasaki, Japan. The last streetcar line in Los Angeles was closed down in 1963.  Old streetcar tracks occasionally are exposed in cracks in street asphalt.

To read the full article, go here.

Romney Channeling Reagan and The Duke

With renewed energy and drive after his choice of Rep. Paul Ryan for vice-president was announced, Mitt Romney seems to be channeling Ronald Reagan and John Wayne.

Romney hit hard against the Obama campaign and its surrogates today.

According to The Hill.com:

Mitt Romney used a tough new campaign speech to personally blast the Obama campaign on Tuesday, saying comments earlier in the day from Vice President Biden are "what an angry and desperate Presidency looks like." 

"Mr. President, take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago," Romney said while campaigning in Ohio.

This shouldn't come as surprise, Romney proved during the primary campaign that he can get tough when necessary.

He finally decided that after being accused of being a "felon," causing a woman's cancer death and putting people back in chains, he isn't going to take it lying down anymore.

What I meant by saying Romney seems to be channeling Ronald Reagan and John Wayne, remember the 1980 New Hampshire Primary campaign debate when a moderator tried to shut off Reagan's microphone and Reagan, not willing to shut up or back down, barked, "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green!"

And, many of us remember how tough The Duke was off-screen.  Here's a story (written by Reagan in 1979 as a tribute) about a Screen Actor's Guild meeting about Wayne, who was standing up to radicals:

The Alinskyites in the Obama campaign are finding out that they've got a tiger by the tail!

Emperor Announces Surrender August 15, 1945

Above, General Douglas MacArthur with the Emperor.

It is now August 15 in Japan.

On this date:

In 1945: The people of Japan heard their emperor's voice for the 1st time as he announced the nation's surrender, ending World War II.

To read the text of the speech (broadcast from a phonograph record), go here.

Special thanks to Andrew Nguyen for reminding me of this date in history.

August 14, 1969 - San Clemente, California

On August 14, 1969, this photo of Richard and Pat Nixon was taken at La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, California:

Photo: Nixon Foundation

Fans Flocking To Graceland For "Elvis Week"

Above, Graceland.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fans of Elvis Presley are flocking into Memphis, Tennessee for the "Elvis Week" celebrations commemorating the 35th anniversary of the "King of Rock 'n Roll's" death.

Japan Today posted:

MEMPHIS, Tenn —Fans of Elvis Presley are flocking to his Graceland estate for Thursday’s 35th anniversary of his death, their enthusiasm for the king of rock ‘n’ roll undiminished by the years. 

Organizers of the annual Elvis Week expect this year’s edition—which shifted into high gear on Tuesday—to be the largest ever, with Presley’s widow Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie Presley participating. 

“Elvis is fan-driven,” Joe Guercio, Presley’s musical director from 1970 until the star’s death at the age of 42, told AFP, “and there are not a lot of people (in show business) who are fan-driven.” 

Actually nine days long, Elvis Week got off the ground in Memphis last Friday, centered around a 1,200-seat air conditioned tent across the street from Presley’s Graceland home and next to the preserved remains of his private jet.

"Preserved remains" of Elvis's jet?!  Okay.  Interesting terminology.  Below, is my photograph of the "preserved remains" that I took in 2001.

I visited Graceland in 2001 with my mom and daughter along with my great-aunt and uncle.  

Above, Elvis's grave.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before one tours Graceland, visitors have to go to the tour shuttle station across the street from the mansion to board the shuttle tram/bus that will take them into the mansion grounds.  Before boarding, a photograph is taken of all visitors.  When they return from their Graceland tour, souvenirs with the photograph are ready for pick-up (with a nominal charge that visitors are, more or less, willing to pay). Ours is below.

Above, Armand, Amber and Mary Vaquer.  

To read the full article, go here.

Gutter Politics Continues...

Can the Obama campaign get any lower into the gutter?  Apparently not.

The Washington Times reported:

Injecting racial politics into an election that had already turned ugly, Vice President Joseph R. Biden told a largely black audience Tuesday in Virginia that Republican Mitt Romney would put voters “back in chains” with a plan to loosen regulations on Wall Street. 

“Romney wants to, he said in the first 100 days, he’s gonna let the big banks again write their own rules, unchain Wall Street” Mr. Biden said of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee at a campaign rally in Danville, Va. 

The vice president then lowered his voice and added, “They’re going to put y’all back in chains.” 

Some in the audience laughed. But Republicans said the Obama campaign had lowered itself to new depths of gutter politics.

President Obama said he's fine with this kind of inflammatory rhetoric.

Obviously, they are getting desperate to stoop to gutter politics.

To read the full story, go here.

Loophole May Keep Japan Sales Tax Low

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street, souvenir mecca for tourists.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Wall Street Journal Online reports that a loophole in Japan's new law eventually raising the sales tax from the current 5% to 10% by 2015 may keep the tax from rising.

They report:

The provision in the law says the government should consider the overall economic situation before implementing the increase and calls for policies to achieve annual average economic growth of about 3% in nominal terms, or about 2% in real terms, by fiscal 2020. But these figures are a stretch for a deflation-hobbled Japan that hasn't seen such growth rates since the early 1990s. 

Once at the full 10% rate, the tax is expected to generate an extra ¥13.5 trillion ($172 billion) annually, which could help stem the country's mounting debt pile, now at nearly ¥1 quadrillion and equal to more than 200% of annual gross domestic product. Outside analysts and ratings agencies have stressed that a tax increase is a vital first step in repairing Japan's finances, but insist that more is necessary, including measures to boost GDP. 

This is good news for Japanese consumers and tourists.

To read the full article, go here.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Video Picked Up By Zomobo

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

The slideshow video on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan has been picked up by Zomobo.net.

What is Zomobo?

Imagine being able to research a particular topic of choice, and bring back information from every kind of medium that is useful to the user, in a very fast, informative manner. Also imagine being able to discuss search topics with other people around the world, and get live feedback from people searching the same thing as you do. Welcome to Zomobo.

To view the site, go here.

Monster Japan Travel Guide Slideshow Video Picked Up By WritersTip.com

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

WritersTip.com picked up the slideshow video on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

WritersTip.com covers a number of topics including sports & recreation, shopping, health & medicine,  food & cooking, work at home and travel & places.

To view the site, go here.

Tornado In Lake Elsinore? My Cousin's Five Minutes of Fame

My cousin, Ashley Kerr got some airtime on KABC-Channel 7 on a story about a funnel cloud that touched down at her home in the Lake Elsinore area.

The funnel cloud caused some minor damage when it touched down yesterday.

Here's the KABC video of my cousin:



From the KABC website:

Residents said the strong winds were frightening. Ashley Kerr and her children were in their home near Lake Elsinore when the powerful winds tore through, knocking down patio furniture.

"We were all swimming in the pool and we look up and we just see dirt and like leaves and trees and tumbleweeds flying through the air. I just yelled, 'Get out of the pool, get out of the pool," said Kerr.

Bing Videos Picks Up "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Slideshow Video

Above, Yuu Asakura with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan."  She is featured in the video.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bing.com's Bing Videos picked up the YouTube slideshow video on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Bing.com is a new incarnation of the Microsoft search engine, MSN live. It was launched on May 28, 2009 by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.  (Source: The Online World)

To see the site, go here.

Google Buying Frommer's Travel Guide Brand

In other travel news, word is out that Google is buying the Frommer's travel guide brand.

According to Investors.com:

Google (GOOG) is buying the Frommer's travel guide brand from publishing house John Wiley & Sons (JWB) for an undisclosed sum, according to a Monday story in the Wall Street Journal's online edition. 

The Journal says the deal is expected to close shortly. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The acquisition is expected to bolster Google's offerings of travel reviews and travel-related content, putting it in more direct competition with travel review provider TripAdvisor (TRIP) and social network companies like Facebook (FB) that also offer travel recommendations.

I have a few Japan-related Frommer's guidebooks.  I prefer their guidebooks to Lonely Planet's.  I used both brands as references during the making of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read the full story, go here.