Friday, February 28, 2014

Heatwave Ahead

It was actually hotter at noon than at 4 pm.  
The humidity increased in the afternoon and made it feel like 41.  

My pool was occupied during much of the afternoon.

The Thai Meteorologist still considers these temperatures as cool and is still wearing  a sweater.

With the weekend ahead, I expect large crowds in my pool

Apples Friday

Name That tune+Dating Game host dead



Garden


UKTV Asia merged with Thai Expat TV

UKTV Asia is to be merged with Thai Expat TV effective 1 March 2014.
Existing UKTV subscribers will continue to receive the service using their existing player.
Subscription costs will be brought in line with the current Thai Expat TV pricing 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Gimme some old time religion

Thai Style

Bild gefunden bei Phu Phan Thailand, in und um und drum herum in Deutsch


Reminiscent: remind one of something


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

NY Times Article: Expat Health Insurance

The Dream of Moving Abroad in Later Life, With Good Health Care

health premiums can range from a couple of hundred dollars a month for the most basic plan to several thousand 


  • checked the link in the article: age 69 policy quote $439 14,308 Baht per month for the silver package Overall annual benefit - $1,000,000 - Deductible: $375.00
  • I'd prefer a package with a zero removed from the annual benefit

Local cold Season ended last week


This week is middle ground week as far as the weather is concerned.

Temperatures are forecast to rise quickly for the next week.

Expect daily temperatures in the low forties.
This is air conditioner maintenance businesses high season.

Earlier this month  the worst drought in 20 years in Sakon Nakhon had been declared.

This will be a big impact on local rice farmers

Time to Reload and "Secure your Load"


Monday, February 24, 2014

Thank the stars, I have a pool

Enjoy the weather this week, expect scorching temperatures by the weekend. 
  • Feels like 41 C 106 F

Aerobics Half Time Show

I've always been of the opinion that a half time show would enhance attendance, BUT
No disrespect to the 'performing ladies,' I had really hoped for a 'more lively' halftime show.



For a while I thought this fly by was part of the entertainment

Architectural Fail



Thai Trucker Road Rage

Hollywood 'colorized' vs Reality



The real Von Trapp family (15 minutes)

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Bikers relax at Apples


Bikers from all over Isaan gathered in town for the fifth annual bike week.  Many of the biker spent the afternoon at Dan's, and were planning on attending an evening concert at the Sakon Nakhon fair grounds







Bikers had gathered at other locations in the area

Best Sakon Nakhon Information Website

Any foreigner living in, or just visiting Sakon Nakhon should have a translator extension installed on their browser to get the full benefit of 

sakonnakhonguide.com


The website is 'professionally done' 



Latest  updates can be followed on 'Google+' itep snguide

Friday, February 21, 2014

Thailand Post to launch parcel services at 7-Eleven

 Thailand leads shift away from desktop PCs

 15 Chinese kicked off flight from Thailand for fight

Convoy of protesting farmers on 
tractors head to Bangkok airport
  • the convoy was expected to arrive there Friday afternoon
  • raising concerns about disruption to passengers

Slice of Thai

This 'Best Boss' Video is exquisite 
1 hour 37 minutes of great Isan music 
The slideshow lasts 15 minutes, after that it seems to be a repeat. 
Those 15 minutes tugged at many of  my emotions, from chuckles to 'oh wow' to 'W T F'
An excellent collection of a Slice of Thai life

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Nong Hahn receding early

February 19, 2014
March 10, 2010

Water levels seem to be receding earlier this year, an indication of  less rain, greater use by an increased population.  
Very obvious is all the litter on the beach


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Pay Rice farmers, not with my money say protesters



Thai's Govt Savings Bank under-fire for lending funds to rice-pledging scheme

Angry customers reportedly took their deposits out of Government Savings Bank in protest against the bank's funding to the rice-pledging scheme.

Deposit run at GSB branches in Chumphorn

management of the bank’s branches to ask several depositors to return the next day

Monday, February 17, 2014

China turns off the spigot


Concern over Mekong water levels

The river is already at dry season levels



And this little piggy went surfing

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Floods all over the world

We've all seen images of the flooding in England and the deep freeze in the US. 

Obviously it's the worst on record.
Very little has been mentioned what's happening in other regions

Japan


Australia



Bolivia



India



Italy

Krazy Thai

I felt quite safe with this hotel security system

Who was their English Teacher?

Sakon Nakhon FC at Amnat Charoen FC 2-2

                    5:28 pm                         5:41 pm                        6:57 pm                        7:01 pm              

The Sakon Nakhon FC team departed their home base on their bus at 9 am. 

What should have been a three hour drive to Amnat Charoen ended up being a five hour road trip, with a lunch hour stop along the way.
My estimate is that the bus' top speed is 60 km.




You can't expect the team to be at their top performance within an hour after such a road trip.

Amnat Charoen has a new stadium, still somewhat under construction.

Hardly anyone in town could give us directions to the stadium.

Possibly an explanation why attendance to the game was 'meager.'






Walking around the stadium I must have looked lost.  I was repeatedly asked if I needed help.
The 'Ant' folk were very friendly and made me feel very welcome.




Amnat Charoen apparently does not allow alcohol in their stadium.  I mentioned these folk were very friendly, telling us to keep our beer out of public view. We drank from plastic cups.



First half was somewhat slow and sluggish.  But that completely changed during the second half.
The Ant Kung Fu player was red carded early in the second half. 
One player from each team received a yellow after some fisticuff.

A red card ejection of a Sakon player was a very obvious bad call by the ref.


The team stayed overnight in Amnat Charoen as their bus died.
How the team left the stadium to get to their accommodations is a funny must see

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Java Dust

Pictures: Volcanic Ash Java

Volcano eruption
cancels Bali, Phuket flights and closes Indonesian airports

Accomplish Nothing


U.S. Embassy BKK informs U.S. citizens...

... that protest activity continues in several areas throughout greater Bangkok, including at a new protest site at the intersection of Ploen Chit and Wireless Roads near the U.S. Embassy.  In addition, police have recently taken action in attempts to regain control over a number of protest sites. Plan ahead for the possibility of traffic and other potential disruptions in downtown Bangkok.

Sakon Nakhon FC at Amnat Charoen Town FC

Game time 17:00

It's a new season, a somewhat rebuilt Sakon Nakhon FC team.
You can't rely on past history to predict the outcome.

I don't have the complete history, but from the statistics I have:
in competition with Amnat Chroen, Sakon Nakhon wins on the road and looses at home.

In the past both teams were closely matched. 
Sakon Nakhon FC placed 11th, Amnat Charoen placed 13th last season.

May 12, 2013        Sakon FC 4 - Amnat Charoen 1

May 12, 2012        Sakon FC 1 - Amnat Charoen 2

May 29, 2011        Sakon FC 4 - Amnat Charoen 2

Aug 22, 2011         Sakon FC 4 - Amnat Charoen 0




Friday, February 14, 2014

Every Day is Halloween at Wal-mart

Thailand's highest court rules ...


My Opinion
No mention of destruction of property, hindering others from earning a living...
There should be a law: Public demonstrations are legal, but you pay the costs of security and damage and lost wages claims

Two Parade day on I.T.U. minutes apart

Heard this obnoxiously loud music and announcements a few blocks from my house.
9:30 am was really too early for a wild party in the Neighborhood.

When I arrived at the main road I saw what I perceived an advertising parade.  
Complete with police escort.




Notice how many vehicles with mounted speakers. 
Of course the volume was obnoxious.
Four vehicle simulcast



I had just returned home when I heard marching music.
Kids parade by a local school.

Pardon me, but dressing up young girls as Vegas showgirls just doesn't seem appropriate to me in a children parade. I tend to be a bit prudish in public.



The bands where actually very impressive sounding.





Thursday, February 13, 2014

"I brought Laughter to the World"

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Sid Caesar replied:  
"I brought Laughter to the World"
American comic actor and writer best known for the television series Your Show of Shows, a live 90-minute variety show, broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC,  February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.

Comic legend Sid Caesar dies at 91


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Thailand Protest Financing


"... which included Saha Pathanapibul Plc, Gaysorn Plaza, Siam Paragon Department Store, King Power Group, Dusit Thani Hotel, Siam Intercontinental Hotel, and Riverside Hotel ..."

Strange place for a circuit breaker

Fifth Olympic Ring found



Disposing the Evidence


"... believed to be arson ... predicted there would be more fires

Floods & Snow

The Minor Ice Age cometh









Man made Global Warming is loosing to mother nature.  
According to the evidence. So They Say U+21B4.svg

How long will volcanic ash cloud last?
New rules to aid ash flight chaos
...eruption beneath the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in south-western Iceland began on 20 March, 2010

May 12, 2012


Video published Feb 22, 2013


OK, so we had two cool days locally. Rest assured, by the weekend it will be warmer again.
AccuWeather forecasts a high of 37 C /  99 F by Monday,
Meo    36
BBC    35
rp5.ru 32

Dry Season

Yes they did, No we didn't


... the show must go on



"... for the areas where the general election was disrupted by protesters"


Shirley Temple (cocktail) wikipedia

Shirley Temple wikipedia