Looking through the clouds

It was a cloudy morning (March 24). Thunder could be heard from the distant East. No rain here, but pleasantly cool.

I fired up Google Earth on my computer. I wanted to find a nearby town.
What the heck happened here?

Took me a few minutes to realize I was viewing the current weather.
Google Earth updates weather every five minutes.
So it's actually a way of seeing what's coming this way. The service also offers time-lapse views.

Ant High Season

It's that time of year, spring, when ants and termites multiply.
With the rainy weather we've been having, all colonies are looking for dry nesting areas.
It's been a daily battle for the last week and so far there seems no end to this battle.
Sat in my office late one evening and turned the overhead light on.
Within seconds the room was filled with a swarm of flying ants.
It took a full can of spray to win that battle.
Two nights later, the same thing.
I knew it was time to find the nest.
A close inspection of external walls ands I discovered the nest in a crack of the metal window frame.  More spray.
Ants and termites have a knack for finding cracks, even in cement.
The battle will continue with a calking gun today.

Another colony, larger red ants, had made their home in a crack of tile attached to the exterior of the house.
Dusted that nest with baby powder and they vacated the premisses in a hurry.

Another colony established residence under a flower pot.  A few drops of dishwater and the garden hose and that crash pad was vacated.

Ants leave a trail by which they find their way and communicate, so it's important to wash places where they have been. 

To get rid of ants permanently you have to follow them to their nest.

For severe infestations a locally available commercial product is part of my arsenal.

The stuff is highly concentrated, just a few drops per gallon of water will do the trick.

After the application has worked to eradicate the pests, I wash the area with water in order to prevent poisoning the house pets.

There's some good information at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on the subject of ants

Noisy Thai Temples & Local Sign taxes

Crazy Californians

Neighbors of Wat Mongkolratanaram, a Thai Temple in Berkley, are complaining.
Their weekly brunches are too noisy.
Neighbors want these events limited to no more than three times a year.
They also want to enforce a "amplifier city ordinance.'
Amplifiers can only be used seven times a year with special permit.
Saw this news item at the Berkley Daily Planet

... would your tax collector do that?

Local Government employees visited Graham at his watering hole. Time to pay the sign taxes.
Yes if you place a business sign on the front wall of your establishment, you gotta pay a sign tax.
It's not much of an expense if your sign is in Thai. 

Gets quite pricier if your sign is in any other language.

Someone had forgotten to collect this tax from the previous business located there (Ned's Bar).
So they just included these overdue taxes on Graham's tab.
Of course he wasn't thrilled about that. He'll gladly pay what's due from the date his business permit was issued.

The tax agents, two very sweet young Ladies, promised to "check with their supervisor."
Meanwhile, one of the ladies, took the broom from Graham's hand and helped him sweep a few dirt spots on the floor. 

Now you have you ask yourself, would your tax collector do that? Not mine !!

What is the smallest country?

"Quiz night was a success," according to Toon Army Restaurant and Bar owner Graham.
"We are going to make it a weekly event, every Wednesday evening starting at 7:30."
Up to four players per team. 

If you are a trivia junkie then you may be interested in joining in.
The smallest country in the world is  vatican city at .2 square miles, with no permanent residents. 

S-BAC Graduation Ceremony

Joey graduates. (March 21)

Even though Joey had spent weekends in school for previous two years, he only had a high school equivalent certificate.
For the past few years he had attended school with me as teaching assistant.
Based on that experience, he earned a college degree.

See the complete album here -->> 090321 S-Bac Graduation

Slow News Day

You can't call it anything else, other than slow news day.

... Busted Boner.... Phuket Gazette

Thai Man Breaks Penis.... THAI VISA Forum

Been that way for me to: "SLOW"
On the morning of Joey's graduation I had a sore throat and my ulcer was tap dancing in my midsection.
I handed Joey the camera and wished him all the best. Of course after the ceremony there was an extensive party.

"M" showing the emotion of the day.

A couple stiff drinks reduced the throat pain and stomach problems in the afternoon.

Looking ahead: There seems to be plenty of rainy periods over the next ten days.
It's too early to tell, and let's hope its downgraded.
The forecast FEELS LIKE temperature for one day next weekend is 53 (129F). Drink plenty of water!! Stay in the shade.

Essential Home Improvements

As sad as it may be, with the economic downturn crime and especially burglaries are on the increase.

It's been quite a few years ago, but I had two such intrusions.  Once a computer was stolen, a week later a video camera.  Things which are easily sold and hard to trace.

The windows did have metal bars on them, held in place by quarter inch screws. After the fact I tested these bars. I was able to remove them in under two minutes.



I was afraid to leave my house unattended, for fear of further intrusions.

Metal bars and noisy dogs reestablished my confidence.

Hack, Hack, Cough, Cough

Those aren't clouds in the sky.  See the NASA photo here

Sakon Nakhon FC had a sort of exhibition game last weekend against a local team with a 7/2 win.
Last years horrible season can be blamed on team selection.
Provincial teams played off and the winning team represented the province. It's player selection this year.

Mango trees may be the next major money crop Bkk Post

Formaldehyde in your American made Baby products SKY News

Big C advertisement flyers in English

Lets get this college party started...

My invitation to a local party stated 18:00 (previous post). But then I am familiar with 'Thai Time.'  
We arrived early and had a drink in the hotel's restaurant.
When we made our entrance in the ballroom at 6:15, the room was almost empty.
I expected that. The Thai Lady Band was doing some final rehearsals and kept me pleasantly entertained.

By 7 p.m. people began to trickle in. It took another half hour before the room began to fill.
Meanwhile I continued to enjoy the performances by the "Thai Lady Band." They are simply superb.

090318
Uploaded by luanghans

Then all of a sudden every person with a camera cell phone sprang into action.
Right about then I lost control of my camera. The party had turned into a paparazzi frenzy.
Where have I seen these guys before? Ah.. well... of course... television. 

Everyone wanted to pose with the "stars."

I do enjoy graduation parties, but they also sadden me a bit. It's somewhat of a going away party for students who I have known and befriended.

As can be expected, as the school sponsored party ended, everyone regrouped at the local disco.

See this album here 090318 S-BAC Graduation Party