The Social Security Administration (SSA) has consolidated its overseas operations into several regional offices that provide a full range of SSA services for U.S. citizens residing outside of the United States. Effective October 1, 2017, individuals residing in Thailand who require social security services or have questions about SSA benefits must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in the U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines, rather than the U.S. Embassy, or U.S. Consulate in Thailand.
Please be advised that as of October 1, 2017, the U.S. Embassy, and U.S. Consulate in Thailand can no longer accept telephone calls, emails, or walk-in consultations regarding Social Security issues.
For more information or any questions about the services provided at the FBU in the U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at: http://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen -services/social-security/ You can also reach them at (+ 63 2) 301-2000 ext. 9 , or FBU.manila@ssa.gov . For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage, “Service Around the World” https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
All YOU CAN EAT BUFFET BBQ, Beef, Pork, Chicken Green Curry, Fried Chicken Wings, Papaya Salad, Spicy Salad, French Fries, Fried Curry Powder, Rice, Fruit *** Drinks not included Also KILLER POOL from 7pm.
Watched NCIS on USTVNOW this morning, while updating theTV Streams and Schedulespage. Have quite a bit more to add to that page. (work in progress).
Sunshine and clouds occasional scattered thundershower. I love those late afternoon - early evening showers, cools the evening down to comfortable with fan conditions. Increased rain chance this weekend.
Alcohol price increases due to tax increases have been hopscotch. Some of it is explainable. Pre existing inventory is sold at the old prices. Prices go up with new stock. Increases appear to be not uniform, they differ from one establishment to the next. I've paid 55 baht for a beer at a family store and 90 baht at a bar. Should be obvious where I hang out.
Setting up early at the the Town Square. That open space across from the immigration and police compounds. Many of the vendors are already operational. Half the field is still used for sport. The grass area is still a slightly mushy from all the recent rains. Watch your step, possible 'dog poop.'
Lost the key, door was locked, so I had someone install a new door handle. Needless to say, there was a problem. Had to break this one off and buy another one.
Been busy the last few days digging through years of photos and uploading them to google albums and facebook Here's a sample of 5 albums I've been working on.
Local cops confiscated a truckload here in Sakon Nakhon just last week, a few days later same thing in Khon Kaen
The great Sakon Nakhon fire
Been spending less time on the computer the last few days instead spending a few hours each day with my toys.
Using premix wall plaster to make mountain scenery. Seems to stick quite well to the foam layout. Experimented with sand saturated with paint. Turns out just as solid as plaster.
Then I'd been wondering how to move the train from the table and extend it around the room. Waterpipe cut in half may be part of the solution.
Muang is easily translated to town Ming on the other hand gets a bit more complicated. It is doubtful that it has anything to do with a Chinese dynasty centuries ago.
Google ming muang grounds and you find the name used all over Thailand.
http://www.thai-language.com/dict/search has some interesting answers: " to converse, mingle, mix, blend, combine, intermingle, interweave, join, merge, unite; associate, consort, fraternize, hang about or around, hobnob, rub shoulders (informal), socialize"
Google maps erroneously labels the area a stadium. I have frequently referred to the area as the Municipal grounds. The name is most appropriate. Government Office on the map is actually the Sakon Nakhon Immigration office.
During the Wax Castle Festival there are a variety of contests, performances, displays, eateries, etc.
Oh yea, I lived in Munich for a few years in the mid fifties, I had just become a teenager. Of course I went to the Oktoberfest. Drank Kinderbier. There was this grassy hill. Drunks passed out. Drunks were 'encouraged' to sleep it off before leaving.
There appear to be no Royal Longboat Races this year. As the boat races are royally sponsored events, it would be inapropriate the have such events before the royal cremation
The way I understand it, the tax increase was presented one day, rubberstamped the next. Those days no one knew how much of an increase. Of course that allowed media to start guessing and false rumors.
For me it's been four days of trying to separate fiction from fact. I had stocked up on a few days supply of beer and smokes. Figured I'd wait till the dust settled.
Very obvious in this new tax law is protectionism. There will probably appear a few complaints from foreign companies, but little will change in the end
There's been a tobacco import argument going on for years. Thailand ain't flinched.
There's some tax increases consumers won't notice at first, it will creep up on a later date
Started to fill some holes with plaster. Think I'll get some fabric plaster tape with the next bucket of plaster. Almost everything is white, so I'm thinking Mount McKinley National park, or Zugspitze. Been to both in the winter.
Taking frequent photographs seems to aid in design. Realized the third track was way too high. Blocked my sitting view of the tracks at the other end of the table
A couple days a week I open my pool to neighborhood kids. Some days it gets quite crowded. Most times a parent comes along. I prefer when parent come along, seems to keep the rowdiness in check with larger crowds
Everything had been on hold for a while, awaiting a shipment of rail tracks and other building material. This morning I put my new skill saw to use and cut out a bridge base which will accommodate two side by side tracks. It's not the final bridge. It's a lumber test. Thinking of making the bridge siding from bamboo. Using plumbing pipe as bridge piers
Had considered fabricating buildings from cardboard. Changed my mind when I picked up a cardboard box and it collapsed from the humidity it had collected.
Next up, wrap some tracks in plastic and build plaster hills
Incentive to quit, or incentive for black market?Bars and restaurants will suffer, tourism will alsoand then there are those who will keep drinking and shortchange the food bill. These huge price increases will have a ripple effect on other cost of living
