The night before... the dragon festival

Many of the festival participants spend the night before the big event at the Chinese temple.
Final practice and rehearsals and getting everyone into costume is an all night job.
Meals are served to participants, and if they tire they can roll up in their bedroll until it's their turn at makeup

There's not just dragons, but also cobra's are part of the celebrations






(Photo's 2004)

 
(Slides 2006) 



A post at Thai Visa regarding Sakon Nakhon Immigration 

The individual renewing his yearly visa was confronted with a new requirement:
He had to sign a document acknowledging  that if at any time he no longer has required the  income, he may be subject to 'be asked to leave Thailand.'
Noteworthy here is the fact that there are some basic guidelines for all immigration offices.
Individual immigration offices have the authority to ask for any additional documentation they deem necessary.

Congratulations to Martin

He is celebrating the one year anniversary of  his establishment.
It's really an accomplishment, considering the number of similar establishments in the area which have failed.  Martin is offering the first drink free to visitors on Saturday.

Weird 

Disasters are occurring more frequently these days
It's not just better media reports, it's actually happening.
Look at the frequency of  Worldwide Earthquakes between Magnitudes 6 and 8 over the last century, at a chart prepared by the Horizon Project

Santa Home at the north pole is a mobile home
The Magnetic pole, which previously moved an average of 10 km per year, has picked up speed in recent years, now moving at 40 km per year.  Airport runways, which previously pointed north have had to be renumbered because of the directional change

The video below does not cover all the natural disasters which happened this year.
When this year is over, the world will probably have experienced the most natural disasters in one year.
At the moment, Los Angeles is experiencing the strongest Santa Ana winds on record.
Heavy 165 mph winds in Scotland
I'm repulsed by religious fanatics who point out to predictions in the bible that the end is near.
There's a scientific explanation.
God is a woman and her name is Mother Nature