Swinging dog repellant

There are a few Thai dog owners who control their animals, walking their dogs on a leash.

But that's pretty much an anomaly (deviation or departure from the normal).
Most pet dogs are left to roam the neighborhood.

Walking through many neighborhoods is like walking through hostile dog territory.
I came across a tactic in dealing with those threatening house pets.
It's actually quite simple and has worked for me without fail.
Simply carry a camera, an umbrella, a purse, or even a plastic shopping bag.
When a growling dog approaches, simply swing that item back and forth.
For some reason (which more educated persons may be able to explain),
dogs back off as soon as they see this swinging motion.
It's worked for me every time !!

Dogs on the menu

And then of course there is that reputation Sakon Nakhon has for the dog meat as a menu item.
It's been outlawed, mostly because foreign dog lovers are abhorred at the idea of eating dog meat.
The practice continues, but on a smaller less visible scale.

Used to be(2003-2004): Dog catchers would come into the neighborhoods and pick up any stray dogs.
Trucks with cages and lots of plastic buckets.
Dog owners who wanted to get rid of their dogs would get a free plastic bucket in exchange.
The local dogs seemed to sense when these trucks would come into the neighborhood.
No barking, they all went into hiding.

These days you don't see the dog collectors trucks very much.

Recently I drove by a nearby village where I recognized some folks from my neighborhood.
They proudly showed me evening meal purchase...

Let's face it, in many places of the world dogs are just another farm crop

From Zoo-ology

Supplementary reading:

Will Sakon Nakhon province governor Panchai keep promise to ban dog meat? (2003)
Rabies infections highlight dangers of processing dog meat
Dog Meat in the Philippines
Growth of Chinese Dog-Meat Market
Cuisine of Dog Meat

Read online

USA TODAY:   Most adults should restrict salt intake...
Salt increases the risk of high blood pressure

Phuket Wan:   Show us the Money
Select Thai's receive a 2,000 baht stimulus package. 

That should liven up the economy for a few days.

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.