Ukiyo-e Noren Curtains at Daiso

If you are person with a small budget that wants to add a little practical art to their living space then may I suggest buying some Ukiyo-e Noren curtains at Daiso.  I use a lot of utility shelving (Turn
Utility Shelving Into a Great Clothes Rack) as a space multiplier for my
small place in Thailand but this shelving gives my place a warehouse feel that I
don’t like.I flirted with various solutions but ran into these Daiso curtains.  The Daiso curtains cover the shelving, keep out the dust and add an artistic touch to my place.  The curtains are 83 cm (32.6 inches) by 149 cm (58.6 inches).

I spent about 100 Hong Kong dollars at The One in Hong Kong at the Max Valu in the LG 1 floor which is kind of a 12 HK dollar store that sells mostly Daiso goods.  100 HK dollars is 12.88 USD!  So for around thirty bucks I radically changed the look of my apartment.  Below is “A Fine Breezy Day” by Katsushika Hokusai and is no. 4 in the Daiso product line and is one of the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji collection.

The next one is “Woman Playing a Glass Toy” by Kitawagawa Utamaro and is no. 3 in the Daiso product line.  The Japanese name is Bidoro o Fuku Musume and literally means a Woman Blowing a Vidro.  The vidro is a glass toy that makes a sound when you breathe through it.

The last one is “The Great Wave of Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai and is no. 5 in the Daiso product line.

Below is the before picture of my apartment shelving.

Below is the after picture of my apartment shelving.

Happy Birthday Mom!

My Mother’s Story

Kitsch Justice League

Mr. Nebula is a planet level decorator with cosmic power!  In an alternate Earth, Mr. Nebula decides to change the “drab” and predictable color scheme of the Justice League costumes.   Even if the hero changes costumes, the new color scheme goes into effect!  Some would argue that Mr. Nebula’s aesthetic sense is essentially kitsch.  Only the clothes of the Justice League are changed and not their powers.  Each hero has a different opinion about the new color scheme of their costume and their comments have been recorded below.

Kitsch Superman

Well I was getting tired of the red, white and blue at the symbolic level.   Especially, since I renounced my US citizenship (Can Superman Renounce his US Citizenship?).  The new color scheme does remind me of the Kryptonian flag which was strong on secondary as opposed to primary colors and maybe I should wear a costume that reflects my interplanetary roots.

Kitsch Green Lantern

All the Green Lanterns wear the same basic uniform.  If I wanted to wear a uniform then I would have joined the army.  I am a superhero for goodness sake.  Being a super hero is all about being an individual and I always envied the costumes of the other super heroes but no more!  I am not sure I am into the garish color scheme but anything that makes me stand out among the other Green Lanterns is a good thing.  I am happy to report that the Guardians of the Universe have had no success in undoing the spell or whatever of Mr. Nebula so I guess I am “stuck” with this outfit, LOL!

Kitsch Aquaman

I have been meaning to change the orange and green outfit for awhile anyway.  The new colors are a little too feminine for me if you know what I mean but the good news is that Mera really likes the new color scheme and I guess that’s what really matters.

Kitsch Flash

I hate it.  I hate it.  I hate it.  Did I mention I hate it?

Kitsch Batman

How am I supposed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals in this get up?  The Joker was practically laughing to death the last time I fought him.  Catwoman likes the outfit and that can’t be good given her garish taste in costumes.  Normally I don’t condone murder but I think in some cases murder is acceptable.  I wonder what sort of cosmic weapon would be needed to destroy Mr. Nebula totally!

Kitsch Martian Manhunter

Clothes are a human affectation.  On Mars we only wore clothes for special ceremonial purposes.  I neither like nor dislike this outfit although I do think the softer colors bring out the green of my complexion and eyes in a more pleasing manner than my previous costume.

Kitsch Wonder Woman

I am an Amazon not a hooker which is what the current color scheme makes me look like.  Even the power of Zeus has not been able to undo the hex of Mr. Nebula but I swear by Almighty Hera that I will find a way to undo this curse!

Matrix Justice League

In an alternate dimension, Brainiac has matrixed the Justice League.  A matrixed being is downloaded as pure data into a virtual environment.  The matrixed being is the perfect data vessel for simulations involving that being.  A matrixed being still contains the x-factor, human unpredictability unlike a computer generated being.  The Mad Thinker and Brainiac had struggled to make simulations that took account the x-factor but had failed.  Matrixing is the answer to the x-factor problem.  Brainiac may want to conquer alternate universes with alternate Justice Leagues and plans to use the matrixed Justice League to test simulated combat scenarios in a environment that is safe and controlled but something goes wrong.  The Matrix Justice League is taking over the computer systems of Brainiac and Brainiac is helpless to stop them.  Over time in the virtual reality, the powers of the Matrix Justice League change.

Matrix Superman

Superman finds that more and more his super strength is less important than his super intelligence which enables him to infiltrate and control simulated beings sent against the Justice League.

Matrix Green Lantern

Years creating green energy constructs with his power ring mean that Green Lantern can take over the image processing systems of the virtual reality and create not just create simulated beings.  In this virtual environment, Green Lantern is by far the most powerful Justice Leaguer.

Matrix Aquaman

Aquaman can swim through data streams unlike his fellow Justice Leaguers.

 

 

Matrix Flash

Flash has a super fast mind that allows him to out race any countermeasures created by Brainiac.

 

 

Matrix Batman

Matrix Batman can deduce trap doors and back doors Brainiac has in his computer systems due to his keen analytical intellect.

 

Matrix Martian Manhunter

Matrix Martian Manhunter recognizes bits and pieces of Martian computer systems that have been incorporated into Brainiac’s computer system.

 

Matrix Wonder Woman

Matrix Wonder Woman hates the virtual reality and finds herself being the weakest member of the team due to her inability to figure out how computer systems work.

Demonic Justice League

In an alternate dimension, Trigon has conquered Earth.  The Justice League has been transformed into demonic beings that have all their former powers and new powers due to their demonic state.  As demons all the Demonic Justice League members are virtually indestructible, superhuman endurance, have super strength, generate magical flames in different ways and can travel via dimensional portals within an alternate Earth and to other alternate Earths.  Trigon now uses the Demonic Justice League to conquer other Earths in other dimensions.  Sooner or later the mainstream universe Justice League will face off against the Demonic Justice League!  How can the Justice League defeat a Justice League that has all their powers and abilities and more!

Demonic Superman

The Demonic Superman can use his infernal flame to increase his yellow sun based powers to levels he never could before his transformation.  The Demonic Superman has flame breath. The Demonic Superman can project flame breath that resembles the wavelength of a red sun in order to defeat a normal Superman counterpart.  The Demonic Superman is immune to magic and Kryptonite and the effects of a red sun.

Demonic Green Lantern

The Demonic Green Lantern can make constructs of flame that are far more powerful than his green energy constructs and also corrupt when they touch an opponent.  The Demonic Green Lantern wears a suit made of the blue skin of the Guardians of the Universe.   The flame ring also can absorb magical energy and knowledge from almost any source.  Whether or not a normal Green Lantern Power ring could do this is not known but this is unlikely since such an instance is not recorded and the Guardians of the Universe were essentially anti-magic.

Demonic Aquaman

The Demonic Aquaman maintains his aquatic powers but can now destroy entire oceans with flames generated from his body in hours.  The Demonic Aquaman is invulnerable unlike the normal Aquaman.  The Demonic Aquaman is far stronger than the normal Aquaman.  The Demonic Aquaman can transport himself from one ocean to another via dimensional portals as can all the members of the Demonic Justice League.

Demonic Flash

The Demonic Flash generates flames of destruction from his feet wherever he runs and can leave entire continents aflame in minutes.  The Demonic Flash is invulnerable unlike the normal Flash.  The Demonic Flash is far stronger than the normal Flash and essentially does not tire for months.  The Demonic Flash and Demonic Aquaman are used to destroy the environment of an attacked planet rather than engaging in combat with superheroes directly.

The other members of the team protect the Demonic Aquaman and Demonic Flash while they pursue their mission of environmental destruction and can easily defeat any alternate Earth Justice Leagues alone due to their augmented state.  The Demonic Aquaman and Flash are the bait for superheroes.  The Demonic Wonder Woman, Batman and the Martian Manhunter generally defend the Demonic Flash.  The Demonic Superman and Green Lantern generally defend the Demonic Aquaman since they can operate underwater without difficulty.

Demonic Batman

The Demonic Batman has added a sword of flame that can cut through anything to his usual arsenal.  The sword of flame can also convert into any melee weapon the Demonic Batman requires.  The Demonic Batman is virtually indestructible and far stronger than the normal Batman.  The normal Batman could fight for hours due to exceptional physical conditioning but the Demonic Batman can fight for months without the need for rest or nutrition.

The Demonic Batman has replaced Robin with an imp that was once the Joker.  The Demonic Batman did this out of revenge but also because the Joker as an imp makes an excellent advisor and combatant even if the Joker Imp harbors treasonous thoughts.  The Demonic Batman no longer uses bat themed vehicles since like all demons, he can travel within and between dimensions to almost anywhere in the Multiverse.

Demonic Martian Manhunter

The Demonic Martian Manhunter can not only use his telepathy to communicate but to corrupt.  The Demonic Martian Manhunter has dealt with his original fear of fire by projecting this fear telepathically to others.  The Demonic Martian Manhunter has developed an interest in Martian black magic which is far worse than the black magic of Earth.

Demonic Wonder Woman

The Demonic Wonder Woman is by far the most powerful being of the Demonic Justice League.  The powers given to her by the Greek gods are now at Greek god levels since they are magically based and now have a new near infinite source of power.  The Lasso of Truth is now a Lasso of Corruption and has developed a separate sentience and can fight autonomously.  The Demonic Wonder Woman no longer uses her Invisible plane since like all demons, she can travel within and between dimensions to almost anywhere in the Multiverse.

The Demonic Wonder Woman has mastered many spells rooted in the black magic of Hecate.  The Demonic Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman can combine Hecate and Martian black magic to create spells of exceptional power.  However, the spells often have volatile and even dangerous side effects.  Both the Demonic Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman are wary of the Demonic Green Lantern who may be tempted to absorb their increasing magical knowledge for himself.  The Demonic Justice League secretly plots to over throw Trigon and conquer the Multiverse for themselves but Trigon expects such plotting from his exceptional demons and is not worried, yet.

Confucius in Thailand 2013

Confucius had visited Thailand from the past before. Confucius decided to return to celebrate the 111^th anniversary of Bangkok’s Chinatown (Yaowarat) in 2013.

Photos

Chihuahua in a Top Hat

Photos

Santa at Art in Paradise in Pattaya

Art in Paradise is a trick art museum and bills itself as the largest trick art museum in the world.  The museum is very similar to the trick art museum in Korea,  the trick art museum at Odaiba in the Decks Tokyo Beach , the trick art museum in Takao and the museum at Nikko.  I guess someday every city will have a trick art museum!  Art in Paradise includes trick art in the following categories: Aqua, Zoo, Classic Art, Ayutthaya, Egyptian, Thai, Surrealism and Dinosaur.

The museum is located at: 78/34 Moo 9, Pattaya, 2^nd Road, Nonprue, Bang Lamung, Chonburi, Thailand 20150.  The museum’s telephone number is 038-424-500.  No one was answering the phone when I went and I could not have the people at the museum give directions to my driver.  The place is relatively new and the taxi and scooter drivers have no idea where the place is located.  The local drivers do know where Alcazar is and the museum is more or less in that neighborhood.  The museum is more or less across the street from Tiffany’s.  From 2^nd road which is one of the main roads in Pattaya, you can see the Museum about two blocks down Moo 9 which intersects 2^nd Road.  If you hit Nakula Road then you have gone too far.  Actually finding the place was not easy and below is a map in Thai that I suggest you print out and give to your driver before going to the museum.

I am a farang working in Thailand and paid 300 baht when I showed my university ID.  There are reports that farang pay a higher price than Thais but I think I ended up paying the Thai price.  Keep in mind I was also dressed as Santa.  After playing Santa for 14 years in Asia, I can tell you that Santa does get preferential treatment!

More photos of Santa

My Asian Adventures as Santa Claus

Best Wishes to His Majesty the King of Thailand on his 85th Birthday!

Harvey Comics Chess Set Proposal

 

King – Casper the Friendly Ghost

Queen – Wendy the Good Little Witch

Bishop – Hot Stuff the Little Devil

Knight – Nightmare the Galloping Ghost

Rook – Richie Rich

Pawn – Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost

Other Chess Set Proposals:

Alice in Wonderland versus Wizard of Oz Chess Set Proposal

DC Superheroes versus DC Supervillains Chess Set Proposal

DC Superheroes versus Marvel Superheroes Chess Set Proposal

Greek Gods versus Norse Gods Chess Set Proposal

Revised Batman versus Superman Chess Set Proposal

Star Trek versus Star Wars Chess Set Proposal

Harvey Comics Related:

 

Harvey Comics vs. Marvel Comics

Harvey Comics vs. DC Comics