Plenty Red keeps spectators on edge

We're talking red cards at a football game, 
no political statement, or Chinese New Years celebrations gone haywire.


Security was very tight.
Haven't seen that many police and military
at a Sakonnakhon Football game EVER.
Even the SWAT vehicle was at the scene.

Largest crowd
at a Sakonnakhon Football game EVER.

That was mainly due to fact that Buriram brought with them
ten bus loads of spectators.
Sakonnakhon spectators were outnumbered.  Across town a parade and a food fair competed for attention of the local population.

Most foreigners
at a Sakonnakhon Football game EVER.
During halftime a gentleman from Australia was awarded a team jersey.
The call had gone out to the local audience for a "loving couple' in recognition of Valentines day.

The real action started after half time.
Two successive goals by Buriram within a matter of minutes, followed by an easy goal by Sakonnakhon.

Things got very tense.
A red card for a Sakonnakhon player...
...then a red card for Buriram...
...and then another for Buriram.

The last card had the umpire referee walking backwards in quickstep.  I figured at that point security forces needed to step in.  I looked around.  They had dissipated ... gone.  Things calmed down.

Final score      Sakon Nakhon. 1 - 2 Buriram

For other regional football scores read Thai Football News  Regional League Results - Day One

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

This video by ASIA Travel TV
explains it quite well

Day one: Spring Cleaning.

Day Two: Family gatherings and feats

Day 3 and 4: Ritual Celebrations

Day minus one:   Heard the first barrage of fireworks yesterday morning at 6 a.m.

Later in the evening, I was already napping, I was awakened by two frightened dogs trying to

nudge as close as possible.

Day one: Today I'll pass on the housecleaning.
I'm focusing on the Soccer game this afternoon.

Sakon Nakhon FC vs. Buriram FC
For the first time they are charging admission.

40 Baht ($1.49) is not going to break the bank.

Day four Main Event: 
Received a verbal  invitation to the big shindig at the Chinese temple, Tuesday evening.
I'll be a guest of Ms Tum.
She's reserved three tables for S-BAC staff and guests.

See Thailand before it disappears

Used to be many fertility shrines like this one all over.

Most have been placed into storage or hidden from public view,
I suspect western morality arrived.


951104 Pattaya Beach

By the seat of my pants

Thursday mid-day I received a phone call.  The school is having "an event," can you attend ?
From past experience these events are social events with parades and / or student entertainment.

I usually take a thermos of coffee discretely spiked with Thai rum.
It relaxes me and numbs all my body aches.
I'm there as a "special guest,"  no longer in any teaching capacity.

These phone call invitations are usually followed up with the delivery of a Thai written invitation.
I don't read Thai.

This invitation was delivered to me at 8:30 p.m.
I had already been dozing for an hour in front of the TV.
I did not bother to open the letter.  I should have.

At six in the morning I did open the letter and was flabbergasted to have both a Thai and English version of the letter.

The English version was obviously translated with GOOGLE Translate.

"... opening new born education With information and technology department.... " probably means they are starting a new education curriculum.

Reading further into the letter, it sounds like they expect a speech or lecture from me.


Three hours to prepare.... where's the rum bottle

This lecture is going to be by the seat of my pants phrases.org.uk

Drought Conditions forecast for Sakonnakhon

Recently a nationwide drought forecast had been announced for 2010.
Sakonnakhon province water levels behind damns are a good indicator.
Capacity 520 million cubic meters. Present level 199 million cubic meters.
Thai language source: Sakon News - ryt9.com.

Water storage tanks may be advisable

Full Plate Sunday Ahead

New Years, Football,Valentine

The Chinese Year of the Tiger begins this weekend. It's a three day celebration February 14 through 16.
Even though red is generally the color in conjunction with the celebrations, many Thais will wear pink in order to avoid any political implications

my favorite past time Tush watchers day (Feb 14)

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The world is going into RECALL mode

Remember the big milk scare when high levels of  melamine where found in milk products from candy, cookies to baby formula, etc...
Think they took care of the problem ?  Think again:  170 tons of milk powder recalled from Chinese domestic market.
dailyfinance.com

In December I noted that airline seats on a particular flight were 'like a metal bench."
Today's headline Koito airplane seat maker needs to fix over 150,000 seats
businessweek.com

The number of cars being recalled is continuing to grow to staggering hights.
The most extensive recall in history Toyota Prius
Honda airbag recall 400,000 

Our age is showing

The Pool is open

Double shift
1 to 3p.m.
3:30 to 5 p.m.