T.i.T. Snipped's

Weather:

Even though rain had been forecast for the last month.

There's been very little. For some reason clouds seem to continuously dissipate before reaching the city and surrounding area.

But there's been plenty of high humidity early evenings and nights. Up to 96%.

7. a.m. weather map. Sakon Nakhon is above the arrow head (the clear spot).

Weather is approaching from the S.W.

AH1N1: As if Thailand Tourism needs another problem.

Bangkok Health Ministry confirmed three new cases of AH1N1 influenza Jun 10, raising the confirmed cases in Thailand to 16. Nineteen people are currently under observation.
MCOT

Eight Taiwanese students returning from vacation in Bangkok and Pattaya have been infected with AH1N1 influenza
Taiwan News

Update Influenza outbreak in Pattaya

Carradine Findings still a month away

The picture I saw on the internet, I don't think so, Asian like dark skin.

The guy in the picture is hanging by his wrists.
Then the hotel room is not the type you'd expect to be occupied by people of means.

Eroticism also does not hold water.
People who are into that sort of thing always have a 'SPOTTER,' especially if you are over 70 years old.

U.S. law enforcement agencies have offered assistance.

Impatiently waiting on the official verdict.

Residential Project Areeya2

A local builder is handing out promotion and information literature For the Areey 2 Housing project. Single and two level homes are available.

click on the pictures to see prices and further details

For a good laugh visit

TiT bits

Heard it through the grapevine: There may be problems doing a 'border run' and Nakhon Phanom.
Supposedly there are not enough safety jackets to accommodate foreigners wanting to cross by boat.
This rumor is third hand. Just a rumor. But there may be something to it.
Can anyone confirm?

Monday: Had luncheon with two longtime expat friends at the Dusit Hotel. Their restaurant is a great choice to eat.

Tuesday: Had a drink at Toon Army after lunch.
The place still seems to be a regular stop for foreigners throughout the day.

Next stop: the Branch Bar. Just as I arrived the skies opened and I got drenched. Dried out quickly and had a great visit there

In the evening a birthday dinner at a local 'all you can eat' restaurant.
25% restaurant capacity at 6 p.m. The place gets quite busy later in the evening.

Then we got word by E-Mail, of a ladies luncheon being interrupted by a snake slithering through the kitchen window.
Lesson: If you cross paths with a snake, let a Thai person handle the matter. They've been taught the how to and the how not to since childhood.
If you are bitten by a snake, kill the snake and bring it with you to the hospital. Treatment varies according to snake types.

Learn more about poisonous snakes of Thailand at Siam-Info

For a good laugh visit

What's been happening at my house

I'm an early riser,
getting up at 2 a.m., like I did this morning, that's just stupid.

I had some minor oral surgery yesterday afternoon.
I didn't feel the medication take effect, I was waiting for some sort of buzz ... 

... next thing I was asleep by 6 p.m.

I had an infection on my gums. Could not wear my dentures.
Thus my meals were prepared in the blender, or it was oatmeal, milk, and honey.
Food you can gum.

Antibiotics provided no relief, the infection had to be cut out.
Half an hour in the dental chair, novocaine, and pain pills to take home.

Price: 300 baht ($8.76 U.S. todays exchange rate).

Well Wishers and Healers

Early last week, an entourage of 6 teachers and a student from S-BAC brought me a basket of fruit.  

Of course my bout of Shingles was discussed, diet suggestions made, healers recommended.  

I declined a visit to a local healer.  

Been There, Done That.  They spit spray water on your skin, then blow-dry you with their breath.

So instead the next day this dry "Nut" was delivered.

 

I was given a demonstration of it's use.  

The nut is grated on a sharpening stone.  

The dust is added to water and applied hourly to the wound.

I tried it for six hours.  Pain increased.  I stopped the ritual.

With local elections coming up soon (Looking Ahead), expect noisy interruptions to your day, 

as meetings  and other election news is announced.

 Psychological operations. Been There, Done That.

Interesting Headlines

A case for Stem Cell research:  

Three patients had their sight restored after implants of cultured stem cells.
gizmodo.com

This weekend marks LOVING DAY in the U.S.

Celebrating a five year court battle by the Loving's, a mixed race couple, who had been arrested for sleeping in the same bed.
transracial.net

Neil Patric Harris to host the Tony Awards

Will the last person leaving... please turn off the lights.
Read on the net: 

Many Pattaya Bars are closing down for three months, 

hoping for better days with the next high season.
Many Bangkok hotels are experiencing single digit occupancy, but they won't admit it. Advertisements for residences and hotels for sale are on the increase.
Reminds me of the BOEING downturn of the mid seventies. Recovery took a number of years

TiT Bits (This is Thailand Bits)

tidbit: a choice morsel, as of gossip or food (titbit: British)

David Carradine in 2004 interview admitted: he considered blowing his head off ...'
Family and friends don't believe it was suicide. E-ONLINE

Carradine was found hanged with the rope also wrapped around his neck and genitals, 

suggesting it may have been auto-eroticism gone wrong.  He was 72 years old.

Thai Government vehicles not insured?
Government employees using government vehicles for official purposes are not covered by vehicle insurance.
That according to a local government employed nurse,
who had to pay 35,000 baht for repairs, after having an accident with a government vehicle.

Is this true, or is this a .....?

Morning Explosion

It sounded as if a huge clay water pot had been dropped from above my house.

I looked around and saw nothing had fallen.  So I suspected it was probably the neighbor.

An hour later I returned to the kitchen for a coffee refill.

I noted the refrigerator door open and juice all over the floor.

A bottle of Juice on the shelf door had exploded, damaging plastic shelving.

Shrapnel of the shelving plastic is embedded in most of the food.

Three shelves in the refrigerator were destroyed

Addendum: 

Lessons learned:  When shopping refrigerated foods, check the expiration date.

Shelf life is shortened once the container is opened.  

Product should be consumed within 5 days after opening.

Refrigerator temperatures are not low enough to inhibit fermentation.

After opening, consider transferring the content to a POPTOP type container. 

Fermenting gas pressure will pop the lid open, letting gases escape.

The responses from the Nuboon Co., Ltd customer services where prompt, informative, helpful and courteous.  Really Thai !!

Meanwhile I will consider such juices for winemaking projects

New Immigration Regulations aimed at border runners

Border runners who cross the border by land and return to Thailand with a 15 day extension will now be limited to four extensions.
Read the details at ThaiVisa

True (UBC) lineup changes

Channel 38 formerly BBCE has been changed to AXN Beyond
Find a daily schedule here

Channel 40 formerly Animax has been changed to ASN All Sports Network
Find a daily schedule here

Channel 42 formerly STC has been changed to Nickelodeon

According to web postings changes were based on customer request and popularity of new channels within Asia

Bang Fai Season

TiT. I was informed at noon that there were a number of Bang Fai Celebrations around the area.
An hour later we headed out of town.

Just a few miles out of town, parachutes could be seen on both sides of the road.
I counted eight parachutes on one side of the road, so that's where we headed.
No breeze, and those parachutes seemed to just hang in the hair indefinitely.

Four rockets shot into the air simultaneously as we arrived. A dozen parachutes in the air.

Of course many hello's and where do you come from.
I declined a number of invitations to indulge in some Whiskey White.
Walked around for 40 minutes. I needed the exercise.
Who am I kidding, I love public events because I love people watching.

The meet market.






Waiting line to fire, trampoline (first I have seen in this country).  Of course the security guys had to get into the picture.