Monday, November 24, 2008

Cheating Death

This is a few years old, but still worth a watch



Money Matters

Full length movie, a must to really understand the financial crisis.
This is worth the time




Saturday, November 15, 2008

Wash your hands - Wear a hat

Wash your hands
Bird flu has been detected once again in a number of locations throughout the country.
It's that time of the year again. Flu thrives in cold climates.

Flu viruses can not move about on their own, they are hitchhikers.
There are some claims that up to 90% of flu transmissions in humans is by hand contact.
Touch a doorknob, shake a hands, and the like, and then scratch your face, or rub your eyes, and you are sure to get it.

During the flu season frequently washing your hands should be a priority if you want to avoid the flu.
Disposable hand towels containing alcohol are an ideal way of keeping your hands clean while traveling.

If your are traveling through farm country where poultry is raised free range,
it's even a good idea to wash the soles of your shoes.

The Thai way of greeting, the Wai, thus becomes a very sensible alternative to shaking hands.


Wear a hat
Fishing, golfing, gardening, farming,any outdoor activity: wear a hat or use an umbrella. Protect your skin.
Around here, even on seemingly cloudy days there is still enough sun out there to burn and give you skin cancer.


Friday, November 14, 2008

Put the Medicine Where ? ? ?

This is the latest e-mail going around with medical cure claims

To stop nighttime coughing in a child put Vicks Vapor rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime,
then cover with socks.
Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many hours of relief.
Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines.
In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.
The Canada Research Council describes these findings on the part of their scientists
when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children....

The e-mail also states: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

The internet is a great source for information and research, but you really have to weed out the truth from fiction.
The National Research council of Canada denies making any such findings or claims according to snopes

Monday, November 10, 2008

Temperatures dropping below thirty year average

November average low temperatures for this are 18.6C according to the Thai Meteorological department

Forecasters differ on tonight's predictions: 18, 16, and 13.
But all forcasts are below average.

Cooling nights became obvious last Friday.
Early evening was quite warm and humid, somewhat sweaty.
Then a pleasant cooling breeze arrived.

The following evening jackets, sweaters and scarfs made the scene at outdoor activities.

If this trend continues we may see record lows in January.

The coldest day on record for Sakon Nakhon according to Dan the Weatherman's trivia is 1.4C in 1974.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Friday Night Double Header


Wedding and a Show
More and more retirees are discovering Sakon Nakhon as a retirement eden.

An outdoor wedding reception, Friday evening, marked a new arrival.
The celebration was one of the more memorable ones I had the pleasure to attend.

Good food and drink and the entertainment just kept getting better as the evening progressed.

As I had reached my safe drinking limit to drive I left the party, only to discover yet another party at the government complex near the night market.

This public event was to celebrate the end of the rainy season.




Feel like doing some flag waving ?


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Going Bananas

- enhance mental and physical capabilities


An apple a day keeps the doctor at bay.

Just think what a banana a day will do for you


Here are some comparisons

Minerals
Apple
Potassium -158 mg Calcium - 9.5 mg Phosphorus - 9.5 mg Magnesium - 7 mg Selenium - 0.4 mg

Banana
Potassium - 467 mg Calcium - 7 mg Phosphorus - 27 mg Magnesium - 43 mg Selenium - 1.3 mg Iron - .4 mg 
 trace amounts of zinc, manganese and copper.


Vitamins
Apple
Vitamin A - 73 IU Vitamin C - 09 mg Folic acid - 4 mcg Vitamin E - .66 IU

Banana
Vitamin A - 95 IU Vitamin C - 11 mg Folic acid - 22.5 mcg Vitamin E - .67 IU Vitamin B6 - .7mcg Niacin - .6 mg Pantothenic Acid - .31 mg

Bananas are the first solid food for many Thais <>

Here is a list of touted benefits

Bone Mass Decay: Slows bone deterioration."

Brain Power: Improves alertness.

Constipation: Helps to restore normal bowel function.

Cosmetic: Mashed bananas are used to relieve dry skin. exfoliating masks, hair conditioner

Depression: Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Diarrhea Contains pectin, a water-absorbing nutrient which aids in firming your stool.

Hangovers: Make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

High Blood Pressure: The U.S. Food and Drug Association recently allowed the banana industry to make official claims that bananas reduce the risk of blood pressure problems.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.
Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: The New England Journal of Medicine reported that adding banana to your regular diet can cut the risk of death by stoke by as much as 40%.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.
In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Ulcers: Neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


Bananas can be refrigerated.
Refrigeration will cause the skin to turn black without damaging the fruit.
Peeled bananas can be frozen

Apply the inside of the peel to leather (shoes, etc), then polish

Cough Relief from Bananas

Thursday, October 30, 2008

WTF

World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly gathers in Pattaya

Makes you wonder why they choose Pattaya.

Imagine where they are headed after the meetings convene.


blas⋅phe⋅my: irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, etc.


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

A recent news article making the rounds through media outlets:

Thailand Named Best Tourist Country (by Danish people and Danish tourism firms).

As much as an 80% drop in tourism is expected this high season.

One Million Factory and export jobs are at risk: The Nation

Sugar prices drop

Rice Price Vietnam $400, Thailand $630 per ton

Thailand rubber output cut


Australian researchers identify Transsexual gene BBC

10 year old Australian golf cart road racer nabbed Reuters

Traces of Melamine found in Hong Kong eggs, Lipton Milk Tea