... and he headed to the pub for a beer

China Chicken Roundup

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
 

• Thailand Flood Map Dated October 31

• Mile-long cracks found in Bangkok floodwalls telegraph.co.uk

Weather

Local: increased chance of rain over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday.
While Thai Meteorological Department suggest only a 10% chance of precipitation, others predict anywhere from 40 to 80% possibility.
All weather agencies are in agreement of a cooling trend noticeable on Wednesday with lows ranging from 18C to 16C (not the previously forecast 14C)

As if there isn't enough misery in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, rain is in their forecast during the early part of next week.

Those crazy men and their flying machines

In aviation  terms this is called a crash landing.

There was no "crash" though.

With the exception that the landing gear failed to deploy, this was a near perfect landing

German aviation marvel
The eggbeater is airborne

Anti Drug Campaign a Suck Seed

Suck seed ชนะ VS สกลนคร .wmv‏ - YouTube การแข่งขันบาสเกตบอล "บาสเกตบอลเชื่อมสัมพันธ์ต่อต้านยาเสพติด 2554" โรงยิมส์บาส มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น วิทยาเขตหนองคาย ระหว่าง 6 สิงหาคม 54 ถึง 28 สิงหาคม 54 Suck ...

I must confess this headline in my Google Alerts made me turn my head. 

There's an English lesson gone haywire. 
Really that's not how you succeed. 
Think the team's name may be success?
But then I am reminded that the Thai language has a similarly sounding word meaning honor. 

Here's my Google translation:  

Team Honor beat Sakon VS. Wmv - YouTube.

Competitive basketball against drugs in 2554  at the Khon Kaen University basketball gym . between August 6, 54 and 28 August 54 honor ...


Have  a suck-seed-full day!! 

I did mention Hot and Hotter

This week has definitely been hotter than usual for this time of the year.
Weather you'd expect to experience in April, Thailand's hot season.
Temperatures on my perimeter walls exceeded my thermometer limit of 50C/122F
Much of that heat radiates toward the house.


If I'm not in the pool or in my air conditioned den, then I'm reclined in front of the TV with three powerful fans.
This must be the drought forecast over a month ago.  I was a nonbeliever then.

'Slightly' cooler with increased chance of rain over the next few days.





Thai Students below global average (I.Q)

Even though the world average seems to be right in the middle at 100, anything above 90 is considered normal.  6.5% Thais intellectually impaired.
You can't read too much into these tests though.  I had a very smart friend, over 130 I.Q.  But when it came to common sense, he was dumber than a doornail.


Test your own I.Q. at iqtest.dk  mine is 109

Thailand Rerun Season

• Thailand's Democrats seek ban on Thaksin party BkkPost

• Critics of New Thai Leader File Legal Challenge  Wall Street Journal

• Shinawatra's likely return good for Thaksin Inc but not for Thailand  Sydney Morning Herald

Thai Sport

• Fowler joins Thai Premier League  The Phuket News

• Sakon FC hosts Yasothon this Sunday, July 10, 5 PM

This event makes no sense to me
Seems like we should have left that behind during the barbaric period.
Notice all the senior citizens with a death wish?

Happy Easter to those who believe

Easter parade Saturday at Tha Rae.  Exact time unconfirmed 2 or 3 PM

Click on picture to go to lolpix

My personal opinion is that it was a body snatching.
The case of the missing body was twisted in the news media of the day to suit everyone, especially the sleeping guards.
Before Christianity this was a time of the year (April) when spring was celebrated.  The 'rebirth' of plants.


I'd always been told, as a catholic, if your don't attend weekly services during the year, Easter Sunday is a must.
Easter Sunday was more of a fashion show to me.  All the ladies wore their finest and newest creations.  
The hats were just outrageous. A complete flower garden and fruit stand.



The things I did enjoy about Easter during my childhood was coloring hallowed out eggs. 
At my Aunt's and Uncle's house the bunny was the main course of that day's feast.


Remember the fairy tale of the bunny that was outfoxed by the tortoise and lost the race?  After that incident the bunny met up with the chicken and started an egg enterprise.

Pool Weather

Feels like  Sunday - 41C (105.3F)
                   Monday - 42C (107.6F)
Hottest temperatures for this time of the year.  Check out some of the local weather history at meoweather
The canals are open for swimming.  At least that's what I've been told.  Haven't had the interest to venture out and see for myself.  Too busy with the groups around my pool.  We've used up all pool towels and I got to squirt ice water at the unsuspecting while enjoying a coconut-rum.

Last weekend, the video

Regional Football League Division 2 - North-East Schedule and results

thai-fussball.de

Thatnaraiwittaya School wants 2 full-time English teachers

ajarnjobspace

seventies press conference

Things you can do while driving

Friends sent me these Videos, I loved them

.

Local Beef costs inching up

Mama does my weekly beef purchases every Saturday morning.  Recently prices have crept higher on a weekly basis. 
My freezer is almost empty.  Plenty of room.  Within the next few days I'll head to the slaughterhouse and purchase a six month supply.  The slaughterhouse sells to the general public after 8:30 PM, every day except Mondays.

See this on December 11

Avoid this on Dec 11 (don't stand too close)

It's a strange world out there

Keystone Cops Alive and Well

Detectives spent eight hours investigating the grizzliest murder scene in 35 year before realizing it was a movie set.   Read about at  Mail Online

Molesting for Dummies by TSA

TSA recommends using sexual predator tactics to calm kids at checkpoints

They should make him an Ambassador
Immune from petty prosecution

Willie Nelson charged with misdemeanor, rather than felony pot possession

Wikileaks

No new revelations. Confirms what we already knew and gossiped about.

Parade... Parade.. Parade

Can I borrow your Beamer?

A tenant from the apartment house across the street is moving 100 yards away to a different apartment.
He came to ask me to borrow my Beamer. 
I was somewhat puzzled, since I don't own a BMW.
He pointed...  It was time for a short English lesson:  "Wheelbarrow" 

 

Televised this evening

Football Thailand vs Lao, starts at 5 PM

Saturday Dec 4
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair

Starts at sunset, downtown

Sunday, Dec 5 
Parade

Celebrating the birthday of HRH the King, starts at 4 PM

Friday, Dec 10 

Constitution day

Saturday, Dec 11
Dragon Festival 

December 11.  Parade departs the temple at 6 AM.  Don't miss the main show at about mid morning, and evening celebration at the temple.  If you visit the temple the night before you can see practices and makeup application

A number of local schools  have Sports day early in the month.  These include parades and entertainment 

The silly side of U.S. Airport security

 
Your airport screening x-rays may soon be available on Pin-Up Calendars

Loudoun County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors member Eugene Delgaudio claims TSA airport pat downs are part of the homosexual agenda. wusa9



A lesson in Bird Photography

by Photographer: Andrey Goncharov found at pixdaus

Eight years and I still don't know her real name

Family Dinner Party

She's the head of the household and everyone simply calls her "Mama."
It was her birthday yesterday, a time to celebrate with a family dinner.
Plenty of kin attended. I stopped counting after 25. They don't sit still long enough for that. As some left, more arrived.
I guess, being the oldest, I was honored to sit at the head of the table.
A bottle of my favorite Thai rum was placed in front of me.

Did make a slight mistake of mentioning that I really enjoyed the jumbo shrimp.  After that I had more than I could handle.

Jet Lag

We've all experienced it after a long flight.  Takes a while to adjust to the local time zone.
Latest research explains it even more:  Jet Lag May Cause Stupidity.
The findings are authentic. They tested hamsters to come to their conclusion.

You're gonna have to pay royalties for the word 'face'

The word is about to become a trademark

How many times has this happened, 
think they lost count

Weird Science

Even though I had little interest in a Thanksgiving turkey, I had this  inexhaustible desire for pumpkin pie with ice cream. As an alternative I considered pumpkin soup.  I couldn't explain why I had such a strong desire for it.

Now I know:
Pumpkin: Natures Viagra
Read the article and watch the video at WPBF

And there is another valuable research finding

Coffee and glucose can improve brain efficiency

  Read the article at Science Daily

For every action, there's a RE-action

You ain't seen nothing yet. 
It's going to get much colder in Britain
.

Oddity

Could you hand me my broom !! Videolink

So where's my beer?                                        Videolink

Long Weekend Ahead

August 12 is HM The Queen's Birthday and Thailand's mothers day. Birthday celebrations have been extended through Aug 15. Banks and Government offices to be closed Aug 12

US Embassy Bangkok warns citizens to exercise caution this coming week
"...information has not been verified.  Nevertheless, holidays like those coming up next week have at times been exploited by violent elements within Thailand to conduct disruptive operations such as bombings.

Meteorological Department Weather Warning 
Heavy rains and risk of flooding possible through Aug 8

Scientific Discoveries
     Herpes virus used to treat cancer BBC Health
     Cancer cells feed on fructose, study finds (such as soft drinks) MSNBC

Hilarious Advertisement

Buffet

Thailand Tourism

Is it really going to make a difference?

Free Tourist Visa and Travel Insurance extended through March 2011

Local

A local college is making a video Welcome to SakonNakhon.
They want to have a foreigner in the video. Can you be here in 20 minutes?
NO WAY !  I need advance notice for s.s.s. (s. shower,shave), wardrobe selection, travel.
Tell me the day before.
I'll call you back.
World

Are we having more than usual earthquakes.

Not so far. This years earthquakes are happening more in populated areas
Humor

Who writes this stuff?

Spanish Viagra Bandit tells Pharmacist "Stick it up."
Says the law officer "He faces stiff sentence."
Says the politician: miss-use of the drug is a throbbing issue... atlanticdrugs

Who says there's never a policeman available when you need one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTGgT_V5F8&feature=player_embedded

Guys being Helpful

The party is over

Arizona slow news day

They were all out of headlines for the evening news
Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel:  Penis Tree Perturbs Neighbors