5th Anniversary: Democrats Caused Wall Street Debacle

Since the media is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the start of the financial crisis, this is a re-post on why it all happened and why we still haven't recovered.

This was originally posted in October 2008. Just a stroll Down Memory Lane for those yo-yos who blame George W. Bush:


The Democrats are up to their eyeballs with responsibility for the current crisis on Wall Street over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Barack Obama was the no. 2 recipient of campaign donations from Fannie Mae (Sen. Christopher Dodd was no. 1).

Two former CEOs of Fannie Mae are now on Obama's staff as economic advisors: Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson. Those two raked in millions of dollars for themselves.

Another noted Democrat was involved (from Michael Reagan's article, link below):

Jamie Gorelick, an official in Clinton’s Justice Department — the woman who built the “wall” that prevented the FBI from targeting terrorists before 9/11 — worked for Fannie Mae and took home $26 million.

Gorelick should be familiar to us from the 9/11 Commission Report as she was the one responsible for keeping the CIA from sharing terrorist data with the FBI before 9/11 thanks to her wall.

The Wall Street Journal has a compendium of articles warning of the debacle and the involvement of Democrats: Wall Street Journal Compendium

The Obama campaign is currently trying to blame Republicans for this crisis, but that won't fly as the real facts are now coming out. In fact, McCain warned of a possible crisis (source: Michael Reagan):

Obama brazenly blames John McCain and the GOP for the current Wall Street mess when it’s clear none of it was due to Republican policies. The truth of the matter is that it was McCain and three GOP colleagues who sought to reform the government’s lending policies three long years ago after the Bush administration had failed two years earlier. On May 25, 2006, McCain spoke on behalf of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, and warned against the debacle we are now facing if it failed to pass.

He told the Senate that a report by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight charged that “Fannie Mae employees deliberately and intentionally manipulated financial reports to hit earnings targets in order to trigger bonuses for senior executives.”

McCain warned, “If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”

McCain predicted the entire collapse we now are suffering through. He stressed the falsification of financial records to benefit executives, including Obama advisers Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson.

Jonah Goldberg at National Review Online writes:

The current financial crisis stems in large part from the fact that people who shouldn’t have been buying a home, or who bought more home than they could afford, now can’t pay their bills. Their bad mortgages are mixed up with the good mortgages. And thanks in part to new accounting rules set up after Enron, the bad mortgages have contaminated the whole pile, reducing the value of even stable mortgages.

Of course, there are other important factors at work here, having to do with changing technology among other things. And even if the bad mortgages weren’t in the system, we’d still have the hangover from the end of the housing boom. But the financial system could have handled that with the usual corrections. The biggest dose of poison entered the financial bloodstream through Washington. And some people warned us. In 2005, Fannie Mae revealed it overstated earnings by $10.6 billion and that it didn’t really know what was going on. The Bush administration pushed for reforms, but those efforts were rebuffed by Congress, with Democrats Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd taking point, because Fannie and Freddie have spent millions in campaign contributions.

In 2005, McCain sponsored legislation to thwart what he later called “the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole.”

Obama, the Senate’s second-greatest recipient of donations from Fannie and Freddie after Dodd, did nothing.

Meanwhile, Raines, the head of a government-supported institution, made $52 million of his $90 million compensation package thanks in part to fraudulent earnings statements.

Hopefully, people will remember this when they go to the polls in November.

To see Michael Reagan's full article:
Michael Reagan: Democrats Own Wall Street Debacle

To see Jonah Goldberg's full article: Wall Street Fat Cats Aren't At Fault This Time

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Since the above was posted, a YouTube video surfaced showing Barney Frank and Maxine Waters attacking "whistleblowers" who were sounding the warning over Fannie and Freddie with Waters injecting the "race card." Just do a search at YouTube for Barney Frank and Maxine Waters along with Fannie and Freddie and you'll find it.

Japan's Top 8 Fast Food Chains

Above, after loading up on some toys, shoppers can go next door for some fast food in Asakusa.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This has been a topic I've blogged about before, but Japan Today has the survey results of 5,708 Japanese men and women that asked what's their favorite fast food establishment.

Before getting into the survey results, they start the article with:

TOKYO —Do you have a favorite place to get a quick, cheap meal? Maybe you go through the drive-thru at McDonald’s and enjoy a Big Mac or cruise on over to Krispy Kreme for a sweet treat. Even though Japan doesn’t have a strong culture of driving motor vehicles, people in the island nation still enjoy a wide variety of quick bites. But what is Japan’s favorite fast food?

To find out, go here. 

DeLoreans Getting Outfitted To Celebrate "Back To The Future" 30th Anniversary

Above, a DeLorean "Back To The Future" car on display at the Mad Monster Party.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Can it really be 30 years since the first Back To The Future movie starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly was released?

Well, it will be in 2015 and many DeLorean owners are having their cars outfitted to look like the one in the 1985 movie.

According to The Japan News:

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP)—It may not time travel, but the DeLorean sports car is finding its way into the future. 

People are spending thousands of dollars to have DeLoreans outfitted to resemble the one that starred in the 1985 movie “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.
About 9,000 DeLorean DMC-12 cars were produced from 1981-82 before the original company went bust. About 6,500 are believed to still exist, easily recognizable with their boxy, stainless steel bodies and gullwing doors. 

The current brand owner, DeLorean Motor Co. of Huntington Beach, handles everything from oil changes to full reconstructions. But as the 30th anniversary of “Back to the Future” approaches in 2015, there’s been an increase in requests to re-create the movie’s iconic car, according to the Orange County Register.

Above, Haruo Nakajima with Lea Thompson, who played Lorraine Baines McFly in
 1985's "Back To The Future" at the Mad Monster Party.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last March, a DeLorean outfitted to look like the time-travel car from the movie was displayed at the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina. The original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima, posed for photos in it and with actress Lea Thompson, who played Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty's mother.

To read the full article, go here.

Surprise Airfare To Narita From LAX!

Above, nighttime in Nagasaki, Japan.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in a few weeks, I perused a copy of the Los Angeles Times Travel section (September 15 edition) and saw that the airfares they obtained in their check from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Narita International Airport (NRT) ranged from $1,171 to $1,359 (not including taxes and fees).

For the heck of it, I went to my favorite source for airline tickets, GatewayLAX and was stunned at the lowest round-trip fare they came up with (this is with a departure on September 23 and a return flight on September 30) was $277 (again, not including any taxes and fees).

Don't believe me? Here's a snip of the the lowest fare they presented:

This is the lowest fare I've ever found since I first went to Japan in 2001!

Now is the time to book your flight to Japan to take advantage of fares like this one and the favorable foreign exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Above, Shibuya Crossing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The only installment of The Fast and the Furious car racing movies I've seen (or have in my movie collection) is The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). Although not what one would call "high art," it is a fun little movie with many scenes of modern Tokyo that kaiju fans are familiar with.

While some of the movie was filmed in the Little Tokyo section of downtown Los Angeles, much of it was filmed in Tokyo. Familiar places like Shibuya Crossing and the Tokyu Department Store at Shibuya Station (who'd ever suspect there's a soccer field on the roof?) are prominently shown.

Japan Visitor has a review of the movie and a little bit of history of "drifting."

The article reads, in part:

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, released in 2006, was directed by Justin Lin, and stars Lucas Black. 

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift depicts the adventures of young, troubled Sean Boswell, about to face jail for street-racing-related incidents committed in LA, so sent by his mother to live with his hard-bitten US military dad stationed in Tokyo. Once in Tokyo he discovers street racing with a Japanese twist, i.e. drifting. 

His escapades lead him into the murky underworld of the yakuza, where, through drifting, he gets himself in debt to a gangster, earns the wrath of another gangster by winning over his Japanese girlfriend, then finally, and climactically, proves himself through his drifting prowess.

Read more: http://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-culture/film/tokyo-drift#ixzz2f0YrHZbi

Ultraman Certified By Guinness World Records For Most Spinoffs

Above, a collection of Ultraman helmets at the Bandai Museum.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something you don't see everyday.

The Asahi Shimbun in their AJW section reported:

After nearly a half-century of battling monsters and aliens in every shape, size and form, the beloved "Ultraman" TV series has been certified by Guinness World Records as having the most spinoffs in the world, Tsuburaya Productions Co. announced Sept. 12. 

A total of 27 spinoffs of the "tokusatsu" science fiction series, known for its special effects, has been aired since the first series “Ultraman” premiered in 1966, Guinness World Records said.

To read the full article, go here. 

Dread Central Picks Up "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Story

The blog post featuring my conversation with Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga producer/director Jonathan Bellés has been picked up by Dread Central.

They posted, in part:

To read the full article, go here.

Thank you, Dread Central!

They're Spying On Your Credit Card Transactions!

Big Brother Obama is watching you!

The Washington Examiner reported:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials are seeking to monitor four out of every five U.S. consumer credit card transactions this year — up to 42 billion transactions – through a controversial data-mining program, according to documents obtained by the Washington Examiner. 

A CFPB strategic planning document for fiscal years 2013-17 describes the “markets monitoring” program through which officials aim to monitor 80 percent of all credit card transactions in 2013. 

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 1.16 billion consumer credit cards were in use in 2012 for an estimated 52.6 billion transactions. If CFPB officials reach their stated "performance goal," they would collect data on 42 billion transactions made with 933 million credit cards used by American consumers.

“This is one step closer to a Big Brother form of government where they know everything about us,” said Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis.

To read more (if you dare), go here.

Kōban Police Stations In Japan

Above, the kōban near the entrance to Asakusa's Nakamise Street.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is one of the safest countries to visit. The Japanese people are one of the most honest you can find. This doesn't mean that crime is non-existent in Japan. If it were, they'd have no need for police.

If you should be on vacation in Japan and have the need to contact the police, there are neighborhood "police boxes" or "kōban" for people in need to talk to police officers.

According to Wikipedia:

A kōban (交番, kōban^?) is a small neighborhood police station found in Japan. Kōban also refers to the smallest organizational unit in today's Japanese police system. In addition to central police stations, Japanese uniformed police work is done from small buildings located within the community, a form of community policing. As of 2007^[update], there are about 6,000 kōban all over Japan. Since the 1990s, many of them are found with signs in Roman letters: "Koban."

During my travels to Japan, I have seen several kōban stations. Fortunately, I have never had the need for the Japanese police. If you need one, but don't know where the one nearest to you is, ask a local shopkeeper or business and they can direct you there.

A Word With "Godzilla & Hiroshima" Producer/Director Jonathan Bellés

Above, Jonathan Bellés.

My grandfather (on my dad's side) came from the island of Mallorca (Majorca), Spain. Spain is also where Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga producer and director Jonathan Bellés comes from. Specifically, he was born in Castellón, which is on the Spanish mainland near the island of Mallorca.

Now Bellés is based in Valencia, Spain where his production company, Producciones 451 is headquartered.

I asked him if there are many kaiju fans in Spain and he says there are. "In Spain, there many kaiju fans. In fact, I am the co-founder of the website www.godzillaencastellano.com.  It was founded in February 2003," he says.

Many people remembered the 50th anniversary of Godzilla events in Hollywood back in 2004. Fans in Spain also commemorated the anniversary in 2004.

"In 2004, Angel Sala, the Catalonian director of The International Fantasy Film Festival (in Sitges, Barcelona), screened several Godzilla movies because of 50th anniversary of Godzilla," said Bellés.

On the Godzilla documentary, Bellés said that it will also include Gamera, Ultraman and other monsters in the genre.  Financing for the documentary is limited as it is a doctoral project for him. He plans to travel to Japan, United States and elsewhere to interview actors, producers, critics and others for the documentary.

In Japan, besides interviewing, he plans to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Lucky Dragon No. 5 exhibit in Tokyo. "I want to travel to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Museum mainly. I will visit the Lucky Dragon No. 5 also," said Bellés.

He hopes to have Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga completed and released by summer 2014.

"The Kaiju Diet" In JapanTourist

Above, the National Diet Building.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest article contribution to JapanTourist, in order to educate the non-fans with some interest in Japanese monsters, has been posted. As today is Friday the thirteenth, this is their lucky day!

The article is on the National Diet Building or, as it is titled, "The Kaiju Diet."

Fans are familiar with the National Diet Building as it was prominently featured and partly demolished in Godzilla (1954). It is also spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To view the article, go here.

Where's Mothra?

Above, the main entrance of Toho Studio through Google Street View. Note the end of the driveway at center left.

While playing around with Google Street View, I aimed it at Toho Studios in Setagaya, Tokyo.

In doing so, I noticed that the Mothra mural, that was down the driveway from the studio's main entrance during my 2010 visit, was gone as is the building that was behind it.

Above, looking down the driveway in December 2010.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see Toho Studios for yourself through Google Street View, go here and click on the photograph of the studio that appears. That'll get you started.

Haruo Nakajima At Weekend of Horrors In Germany

Haruo "Mr. Godzilla" Nakajima will be appearing November 8 -10 at the Weekend of Horrors Convention at Turbinenhalle Oberhausen, Germany.

There will be quite a number of American horror actors attending the convention.

For the official website, go here.

Media Blasters and Toho Settle

Media Blasters posted this a few days ago on their Facebook page:

Godzilla issues have finally come to a settlement with Toho so going back to the BDs and DVDs work but will take lots of time.

Since the issues concerning extras are now resolved, we can soon (we hope) scoop up those DVDs and Blu-rays of Destroy All Monsters (at least get it back in print) and Godzilla vs. Megalon (with extras). It took long enough, but at least they came to terms.

12 Years Ago...

Gun-Grabbing Democrats Ousted In Colorado Recall Vote

Two gun-grabbing Democrat legislators lost their seats in a recall election in Colorado.

The Washington Post reported:

DENVER — Colorado voters ousted two state lawmakers Tuesday in first-ever recall elections that came in reaction to the Democrats’ support for tougher gun laws in the aftermath of last year’s mass shootings in Aurora and Newtown, Conn. 

Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo lost their jobs as lawmakers in an election seen as a national measure of popular support for gun legislation. They were replaced by two gun-rights Republicans.

This recall vote should send a loud and clear message that the citizens take their Second Amendment rights seriously and any attempts to infringe on those rights will be dealt with.

To read the full article, go here. 

Latest Article Submitted To JapanTourist

Above, the National Diet Building.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest article submitted to JapanTourist takes us back into Tokyo. It is on the National Diet Building, where Japan's bicameral legislature meets.

It was also featured in several monster movies, the first being in Godzilla in 1954.

The National Diet Building is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 24.

A notice will be posted once the article is available for viewing.

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Star Trek: Into Darkness (Paramount Pictures) was released on DVD/Blu-ray today, so I hopped into my jalopy and picked up the Blu-ray.

I just finished watching it and have to give it a "thumb's up."

I found it interesting with some good acting and great special effects. There were some disappointments and twists, but I won't divulge them as they would spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet.

However, I enjoyed a "role reversal" scene that hearkened back to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982). It is hard to believe that 31 years have passed since the release of that movie!

The movie also includes a nice little cameo by Leonard Nimoy.

My grade: A. 

Asahi Shimbun's Glimpse of Tokyo

Above, the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"The onslaught" of articles on Tokyo since it won the 2020 Olympic Summer Games continues. I can't really say that I blame them.

This time, the source is from the Asahi Shimbun's AJW (Asia & Japan Watch).  Today, they have a page of attractions that visitors to Tokyo should, in their opinion, would want to see.

They start it with:

In 1964, Tokyo had the honor of being the first Asian city to host the Summer Olympics. For Japan, the hosting of the international event symbolized its postwar economic success. Since then, the Tokyo megalopolis has seen many changes and is still an evolving megacity, yet it retains much of the charm of its traditional faces. In this special page, we offer a variety of Tokyo stories to give you a warm feeling for this exciting city's culture, festivals, leisure attractions and traditions.

Following the above, are their list of articles (interestingly, they are all dated September 8, 2013) on Tokyo's attractions. I suspect they had these ready to publish just in case Tokyo came out the winner of the September 7 vote.

One of the articles of Tokyo's attractions is on the Tsukiji Fish Market. Supposedly, the fish market was to be relocated from its current facilities in Tsukiji, Tokyo this year, but a contaminant chemical was found in the new location's soil. The government is now decontaminating the new location so that construction can begin and finished in time for the fish market's new planned relocation in 2015.

To read them all, go here.

"Hands On" Displays At Niigata Manga Animation Museum

Above, the JR Niigata Station.  The Niigata Manga Animation Museum is nearby.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in June, I reported on the new Niigata Manga Animation Museum that just opened (as I mentioned then, I apparently visited Niigata two years too early).

Malaysia's The Star Online reports that the museum now has interactive exhibits for visitors to "try their hand" in learning about key expressions of used in manga:

IN the fast-expanding field of manga and anime museums, an institution that opened in May in Niigata is aiming to take its exhibitions to a whole new level through a bonus element: interactivity. 

The city has produced many renowned manga and anime creators, and the museum hopes to make that a more visible part of the city’s identity, say those behind the founding of the new Niigata Manga Animation Museum. Among the big names that have hailed from Niigata are Shinji Mizushima, Rumiko Takahashi and Mineo Maya. Fujio Akatsuka also lived in the city during his teens. 

Located near Niigata Station, the museum is adopting an approach to programming that allows visitors to enjoy manga and anime through interactive experience. 

At an exhibit titled Manga Taiken Table (Interactive manga table), visitors can learn about key expressions used in manga by playing with characters created by Fujio Akatsuka. One example is Iyami from the comedy series Osomatsu-kun, who is best known for his flashiness and signature three large buckteeth.

For those of you who are fans of anime and manga, the Niigata Manga Animation Museum just may be your cup of tea. The ride to and from Tokyo to Niigata on the shinkansen is roughly a couple of hours long, but riders are treated to scenic vistas along the route. If you have a JR Rail Pass, you have even more reason to take a jaunt to Niigata.

To read the full article, go here.

Japan's Travel Industry "Elated" Over Olympics

Above, the shinkansens and the rest of Japan's transit system should be able to absorb the influx of visitors.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japanese tourism industry sees the awarding the the 2020 Olympics Summer Games as a big boost to the economy.

The Japan Times posted:

The tourism industry is cheering the news that Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics since the major sporting event is certain to become a money-making bonanza. 

“The anticipated increase in foreign visitors will have a significant effect on the Japanese economy,” said an official of major travel agency JTB Corp. 

The capital’s hosting of the first Summer Games in 56 years is expected to be a tailwind for the government’s goal of boosting the annual tourist count to 10 million in 2013 and over 30 million in 2030. 

“I’m pleased that Japan was again granted a chance to gather the world’s attention. Our industry will work as one to make Japan a tourism-oriented country,” said Jungo Kikuma, chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents.

There are concerns that the Olympics will cause major traffic jams and overtax the transit systems:

The already heavy traffic jams that plague central Tokyo are expected to get even worse as the public transportation system is forced to absorb an estimated 10.1 million extra staff and tourists from Japan and abroad for the athletic spectacle. 

Tokyo, however, believes that no new roads or railway lines will have to be built, thanks to its sophisticated transport networks covering highways, expressways and train and subway lines.

 To read the full article, go here.

Tokyo 2020: The Onslaught Begins

Above, Tokyo at night.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that Tokyo has been selected by the IOC to be the host city for the 2020 Olympics Summer Games, the onslaught begins of media travel recommendations. They will probably increase as we get further down the seven years before the Opening Ceremonies.

The latest is from The Telegraph (United Kingdom):

As Tokyo is chosen to host the 2020 Olympics, we offer a guide to the city's best sights, hotels, restaurants and bars. 

Still, it is worth a look if one is planning on visiting Tokyo a lot sooner. After all, what is said and written now may be a bit outdated by the time 2020 arrives.

To view the article, go here.

"Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga" Documentary

Above, the a-bomb mushroom cloud over Hiroshima.

A new Godzilla documentary is currently in production in Spain.

The documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Dawn of the Kaiju Eiga is being produced and directed by Jonathan Bellés. The production years are 2013-2014 with a release in Summer 2014. The planned running time is 90 minutes.

Film historians, critics and others from Spain, France, Belgium, United States, Canada and Japan will be interviewed for the documentary, which will take a look at the influence and connection between the daikaiju eiga genre and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nakasaki.

The website for the documentary is here.

Here's the teaser trailer for the documentary:

Copyright & Trademark Issues Revisited

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

Almost three years ago, I was interviewed during my trip to Japan by several news outlets on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.  JapanToday asked about the issue of copyrights concerning Toho Co., Ltd.'s characters.

I answered it as follows:

Was there any copyright trouble over the content of your book?  Toho is very protective of how Godzilla’s image is used. 

No. The guide only discusses the locations used in the movies and since it is educational in content and no movie stills or any other Toho-generated stills were used, it falls under the U.S. Fair Use laws. I gave a copy to a friend who used to be the general manager of Toho’s Los Angeles office. He was involved a lot of litigation involving copyright infringement cases with Toho’s characters while general manager in LA and he was impressed with the way it turned out. I always consulted Toho in the past to make sure they’d have no problem with anything I did and they have been very cooperative. Additionally, to be on the safe side, I included a disclaimer in the book stating that Godzilla and related characters are Toho’s copyrights and trademarks. 

To read the full interview, go here:  http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/the-monster-movie-fan%E2%80%99s-guide-to-japan

Wired.com posted an article back in 2008 on Toho's aggressive pursuit of possible copyright infringements on their characters.

They wrote, in part:

But Godzilla is a pussycat compared to the coterie of lawyers and investigators in Los Angeles and Japan who aggressively protect the radioactive behemoth from anyone who dares to appropriate his lizardly image for profit. 

Hurling hundreds of lawsuits and takedown notices like so many fireballs, Godzilla’s owner — Toho Co. Ltd — has roasted Hollywood studios, automakers, toy manufacturers, rock bands, book publishers, national food chains, record labels, bloggers, wineries and just about anybody seen as capitalizing on the monster’s unique features, name or theme music. When it comes to policing trademarks and enforcing copyrights in the United States, intellectual property attorneys say Tokyo-based Toho is easily a match for Walt Disney, Fox and Lucasfilm in terms of courthouse zeal.

To read the full article, go here: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2008/11/godzilla-terror/

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Dates Set

Above, Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The dates have been set for the 2020 Olympics Summer Games in Tokyo.  It will be interesting to see what the exchange rates between the Japanese yen and foreign currencies at that time. Currently, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen is hovering around ¥100/dollar.

According to The Mainichi:

The Tokyo Summer Olympics will be held from July 24 to Aug. 9, 2020, while the Paralympics will be held from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6, 2020 under the theme, "Discover Tomorrow," according to a plan that Tokyo's bid committee submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Of 33 venues, 28, or 85 percent, will be concentrated within a radius of 8 kilometers from the athletes' village in downtown Tokyo, under the slogan, "Athlete First." 

The venues will be located in two zones -- the Heritage Zone, where facilities used for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics will be reused, and the Tokyo Bay Zone that symbolizes growing Tokyo. 

The National Stadium will be rebuilt to be used as the main stadium of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and will stage the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track-and-field events.

Above, Atami City is a an hour's ride from Tokyo via the bullet train.  Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

For visitors going to Tokyo for the Olympics, there's plenty to see and do in Japan. Thanks to Japan's transportation system, visitors can easily see many attractions in and outside of Tokyo. The JR Rail Pass will be a great asset for visitors who want to venture out of Tokyo to other Japanese locales such as Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, Sendai, Fukuoka, Mount Fuji, Kamakura and other places. The bullet trains will take them there with speed and efficiency. Since Japan is roughly the size of California, it won't take too long to get to many places.

Above, the Imperial Palace's Nijubashi Bridge.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People wanting to visit Japan during the Olympics have seven years to save their pennies. Tickets to the Opening Ceremonies will be going for ¥150,000. Tickets to different venues start at ¥4,400, with an average of ¥7,700.

So start saving!

To read the full article, go here.

Tokyo Opening Ceremonies: What Will They Do?

Source: BBC News

Now that Tokyo has won the 2020 Olympics Summer Games, what will they do to "wow" the worldwide audience during the opening (and closing) ceremonies?

Last year, during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, James Bond 007 parachuted with the Queen from a helicopter. What will Japan do to top that?

Will they do something with a manga or anime character? Will it involve Hello Kitty? Will Godzilla peer over the stadium? Will Mothra or Rodan do a fly-by?

Whatever they do, they should involve a pop-culture icon that is well-known to the rest of the world for it to have an impact.

Any suggestions?

"The Outer Limits" Hits 50

Above, "The Galaxy Being."

Sometimes it is hard to believe how much time has gone by. This is one of those times where one is reminded of their age.

It was fifty years ago this month, the science-fiction anthology show, The Outer Limits premiered on ABC-TV with "The Galaxy Being" episode starring Cliff Robertson.

Above, the Galaxy Being and Cliff Robertson.

I remember watching it with my mother (my dad was likely out bowling). We became regular watchers of The Outer Limits during its 1963-1965 run. This episode hooked us!

The original The Outer Limits episodes were released on DVD in 2005.

Godzilla 1956 Kodachrome Slide At eBay

A color transparency is up for auction at eBay.

It is of a car's eye view of a New York movie marquee of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! in 1956:

It appears to be the same location as the photo below was taken.

If you want to bid on it, go here.

Thanks goes out to Matt for telling me of this!

He wrote:

Both photos show the Loew's State Theater, Broadway between 45th and 46th Street, Manhattan. 

You can see the Bond sign, Hotel Claridge sign, Pepsi advertisement free-standing script, Maxwell House Coffee store, etc., in both photos.