The Lighter Side Of UFO Catcher.

While hunting through drawers looking for items* to donate to a shelter in Ishinomaki, I came across my treasure chest full of precious jewels. I'll show off my rings, necklaces & watches later, but today, let's take a peek at some of the Lighters I've amassed, mostly through UFO Catcher, some actually purchased.

Note: there are about 30 more that I've given away over the years, primarily for birthday presents or to my smoker brother. Thanks to the ban on Lighters in your luggage, I've held on to a few. What follows is The Lighter Side of Lighters:

*I ended up donating several shirts and pants, & a cooler full of cleaning supplies and cologne.

Up The Academy!

Oops, I mean economy. Japan's Economy is looking up for first time since '06.

It wasn't always like this though. It all started with the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK. Then uncertainty hit Japan hard. Here is the resulting backlash:

In the last 7 days, Origami Bank has holded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today's shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

I can't take any credit for the above, I scammed it from Alex's dad last Christmas and he probably scammed it from Reader's Digest. It is rather amusing though!

For the masochists amongst you, here is Part One of Up The Academy!

The Original Two-Face!

We're not talking Harvey Dent here but rather a few examples of...






...上下絵 (Joge-e) or two-way pictures which are a type of woodblock print that can be viewed either rightside-up or upside-down. Large numbers of these playful prints were produced for mass consumption in the 19th century, and they commonly featured bizarre faces of deities, monsters or historical figures. Only a few examples of original joge-e survive today. So courtesy of Pink Tentacle, here are a few:














Created by Yoshitora, 1862. Left column (top to bottom): 1. Tadafumi (Gedo, an evil person), 2. Hunter (Frog), 3. Small tengu (Big tengu), 4. Bad guy (Bad guy). Center: 5. Two-horned demon (One-horned demon), 6. Kasane, possessed female character in famous Kabuki play (Ugly man), 7. Daruma (Daruma). Right: 8. Foreigner (Ainu), 9. Nio guardian (A-un guardian).




(Be sure to click on the pics to see them up close and personal.)



If you are really interested in this, you could always buy your own via Amazon.




What all this brings to mind is Mad Magazines' Al Jaffee who created the fold-in art covers that made wry political statements that even I could understand. Click on Al Jaffee to behold some of them for yourself. Good stuff.




I came across this picture today on Yahoo Japan and it features a politician who flip-flops occasionally, so I think it's worthy of mention here. (Of course, he's not as two-faced as his opponent, but I suppose he's the lesser of two evils.)

Not the most Halloweenish post I know, but some of the joge-e are kind of creepy!

Even Godzilla's Getting Into the Act.

One of the few times where Godzilla lost a match. He knows better than to mock the sanctity of NGSD!














Sergio Aragones of MAD fame knows the importance of NGSD.


















So does Mike Peters of Mother Goose and Grimm fame. (More cartoons at: MG&G)



So why don't you put on your costume?

Aargh! Oot! Greet!

As everyone knows, these are the various sounds a gorilla makes. At least the gorillas in Don Martin cartoons. Since January 31st is just around the corner, it's time to remind everyone about National Gorilla Suit Day. It's your patriotic duty as my blog reader to don your Gorilla suit and go door-to-door greeting the neighbours.
For more information about the event you can always go to this link:
Evanier
For more information about the various sound effects that Don Martin creations have made, go to this site: Mad

Now I'd like to feature a few of my favourite gorillas.

This is Bettie Page getting it on with a NGSD patriot.



















Another lovely propaganda pic from the 40's encouraging young men to prevent NGSD from catching on in Japan...Good thing they weren't successful.
















Like every great holiday, NGSD does come with its tragedies.








And finally this was my intended costume for NGSD. I won it via UFO Catcher last summer when Japan was in the throes of King Kong fever. Unfortunately, it wasn't until I got it home to discover that it isn't a mask, but rather a stuffed Kong head. I've considered hollowing it out, but that would besmirch the good name of the holiday in question. Now where am I going to find a gorilla costume in a week?