Road trip: visit Eddie and Tony

You have to be ready for anything.
I was barreling down the highway towards Tony's place on my crotch rocket.
Right about that time a cow decided to climb out of a ditch.
To get out of that ditch, the cow had to run. I mean really run
Saw the cow running onto the street just in time. But it was close. Very close.

Tony's place is easier to find, some brush along the highway has disappeared.



The place now has a tack on google maps, which will be updated as soon as Tony gets a decent internet connection



By the time I made it home, my pool was fully occupied and so was the play station.
Took six pizza's to feed the herd. I do have a "buy one get one free card."

High Finances

If you noticed the advertisements on this blog.
Feel free to click on those links. I earn a few pennies every time you do.

Was a bit on edge in regards to finances recently, but now I'm quite content.
Social Security raised my monthly stipend by $66 effective January.

I started to panic when I had not received tax papers from my retirement income.
I asked them to send the information to me, here in Thailand, and while you're at it, change my address.

They made a whole federal case out of this address change. They sent me these federal forms.
Fill these forms out and return them by April 20, or we will increase your tax deduction to 30%.
If you are a U.S. citizen, don't use this form. Mail us and we'll mail you a different form.

That got done in time, my next benefit check was increased by $160.
Panic, am I going to pay more taxes at the end of the year?

No, it's the revised tax code, I get to pay less taxes. Thanks UNCLE SAM.
Oh yes, another tax revision is on it's way. Thanks again UNCLE SAM.

Bad Press: . . .Real Estate

New York Times Real Estate section has an article worth reading.
Pattaya's Russian population, which dominated the area has evaporated.
The first comment to the article is a harsh opinion of Thailand's treatment of foreigners.

Russian buyers have disappeared from Thai Resort

Weather Outlook

More of the same: At times cloudy conditions from a northeasterly direction continue.

Feels like temperature warming trend, especially for night time. Rain possible on at least one of the holidays.


The traditional water splashing for the new year has been well under way around my house.
Generally we use one jug of drinking water per week.
Water use has now gone up to three jugs per week and it's not being consumed.

Time to head to the canal for a swim.

Happy new year 2552 "SPLASH"

Thai New Years celebrations are just two weeks away.
This is a traditional time of the year when every Thai goes home to be with family.

Expect traffic congestion during the days leading up to the festival.
Of course there will be those traveling in opposite directions, just to get away from the celebrations and water fights.

Camera and mobile phone shops do quite well during this season, repairing water damaged cameras and phones.  
I've used plastic zip lock bags with minor success.

My passport also did not fare too well over the past five years.  
It's gotten so waterlogged an embassy employee told me that it would not get me back into the U.S.

Dressing right is also important.  Thais get quite indignant if too much cleavage is visible.
For heaven's sake don't wear while slacks.  
Experienced that a few years ago:  

Doused a teenager who was wearing a white shirt and white slacks.  While cotton and water equals see through.  He walked home with one hand up front, and the other behind.  It was quite obvious that the teen was not observing the law.
It’s against the law to leave your house in Thailand if you’re not wearing underwear.

If you're driving a motorcycle, wear goggles and slow down if you see water puddles ahead.
The puddles are a good indication you're about to get splashed.

If you're throwing ice water. Be careful that you don't throw chunks of ice.
I had a near miss, thank you.
With all that fun don't forget to stop by a local temple and pay your respects.

.

News buffet

Water pollution a Threat in Thailand. Green Peace

Alcohol sales O.K.'d for Songkran celebrations MCOT.NET

Chinese computer espionage in Thailand  Bangkok Post

Supposed virus checking programs are being installed by many computer technicians in Thailand.
The software is actually malicious software which is hard to delete.
An informative and well written article at PATTAYA PEOPLE

CONFICKER virus to activate April 1 GUARDIAN.CO.UK

Sakon Nakhon F.C.  สกลนคร เอฟซี will face Surin F.C., next sunday, at Surin.
Surin lost their first game to Buriram 1-0 THAI LEAGUE


(2007)

Football on a Shoestring

Division 2 Sakon Nakhon 1 - Mukdahan 0

Of course I had completely false pre-game information.
The game was neither televised, nor was there charged admission.

Thailand's Division 2 finances must be in the deep red.
Many features from previous seasons were very obviously missing.
No medical team or standby emergency vehicle.
No security forces, not that they were ever needed.
Not enough ball boys.  I counted three.

You know, the guys who run after strayed footballs.
So there were plenty of delays when the ball went into the bushes, and players had to retrieve the ball.

No sponsors.

In previous years car dealerships and breweries were sponsors.
Alcohol advertisements were outlawed in sports events a few years ago.
Really do miss those beer tents. These days you have to bring your own.

No vendors
Attendance at the game was sparse, to put it mildly.



Sakon Nakhon in red and Mukdahan in yellow jerseys. Other colors were worn by substitute players not in the game.
The Sakon Nakhon cheering section was promoting the team as the yellow army.

I don't think it has anything to do with the present political situation in the country.

The action was nonstop, both teams needed a win. During the first half of the game I wondered many times if the referee had come to town on the bus from Mukdahan. A player from Mukdahan tripped over the ball, flipped over and landed at the feet of a Sakon Nakhon player. The Sakon Player got yellow carded.

My guess, it was between the fifth and tenth minute since the start of the game,
when Sakon Nakhon scored (NO PUBLIC TIME CLOCK).

It was the only score of the game, even though there where plenty of near misses which kept the game interesting
The new coaching team substituted only one player during the entire game, while Mukdahan substituted a number of players.
A number of players who sat on the sidelines have great potential, as they have shown in previous seasons.





For the price of admission (free), it was well worth the time. 

The team has potential.  They obviously need some sponsors.

Thailand 3 - New Zealand 1

Watched the game on local cable TV. Could not find it on UBC/True.
Had no idea what to expect.
First fifteen minutes the action was somewhat ho hum, at least to me.
Then New Zealand scored. Now the game started to liven up.
Three minutes later Thailand scored. The goal was replayed four or five times.
Think the New Zealand goal only got one replay.
 
Lot's of enthusiasm. Lots of flag waving from the fans.

Only one downer in the match was a Thai banner.
Wish I would not have been told the translation.
Red shirts stay away or Red shirts don't come here. 

I prefer my sport served without a side order of politics.

Good game recap at GOAL.COM Thailand fights back ....

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