Over 100 deaths due to floods in Thailand

Major cause of drownings  "Drunk"














While heavy rains continue in the southern provinces, local weather continues to be affected by a ridge of intense pressure from China, with local minimum temperatures between 12 and 16C.  Minimum mountain temperatures are forecast between 6 and 12C

Lights Out

A four hour power outage today along I.T.U. started at 10 AM.
From what I could see it was routine line maintenance, replacing a short pole with a taller one.

Glad it was a fairly cool day and I did not need a fan.

    

Reminded me of my own days as pole lineman, except those where wooden poles

Ah... it's the Fallang

Mostly to appease my Thai friends, I've attend a yearly birthday ritual.
Even though I'm not a believer, it never hurts to get that extra bit of insurance.

Giving alms to the monks on this day should improve my chances for good fortune in the year ahead.

It's a triple birthday celebration, Myself, Samart, and one of his grandsons.

While the others gave fruit and rice, I opted for candy and cookies.
Of course there were also the traditional envelops with money.
I was a bit confused about the money envelopes:  There were eleven monks, yet I was expected to give only seven envelopes, Samart only gave six.
It was explained to me it's traditional that you give one more envelope than the last number in your age.  I'm 66, that means seven envelopes.  Samart, having given six envelopes, must be 55 today.




The abbot in front of the group of monks recognized me from previous years: "Ah it's the Fallang," he said with a big smile. 

I'll be dancing with Goblins tonight

Dressed for the Occasion

Why are you dressed like that?  Are you going out?
No, the other long sleeved shirts are in the laundry.

If you enjoyed last nights cool temperature, then you're going to enjoy this evenings 12C (53F).

It's actually 6C warmer in Northern Thailand cities like Chiang Mai and Rai

January weather arrived three months early.  El Nino is continuing to grow...

... prepare for Thailand's version of the Ice Capades

In cold weather, dress in layers.
I spent a few years at the U.S. Army Arctic Training center, I know what I'm talking about here.
If you wear layers, you can always remove a few till feel comfortable.
  

The coldest temperature I have ever experienced was 90F below (includes wind chill), at Ft Greely, Alaska.
We were living in tents. During those times I tried to hold it in as long as I could.  
Didn't dare expose my posterior to such a windchill.

Buffalo would rub their rear ends against warm brick buildings in the winter.  Come spring we had to scrub the #$@ off the brick walls.  Not something I mention in my resume.

Next week expect rain with the cool temperatures.  Going to really feel like home for many of us.

Get Yourself Two E-mail Accounts

A number of friends have complained about identical problems.  


Locked out from their e-mail account.


In these cases new accounts had to be created, but all addresses and mails were lost forever.
In all instances the answers to security questions had been lost a long time ago.


Best suggestion I can make is to have e-mail accounts with two different providers, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.


With your first provider, list the second provider as your alternate account.
With your second provider, list the first account as alternate.


If you loose access to an account in the future, your provider will send you instructions to enable you to access your account to the alternate address.






Quite a few Hotmail users are experiencing spam problems with their accounts.  
Spam is being sent to all their friends from their accounts.  
Change your password frequently, at least once a year. 
Don't let your computer save your password.  
If you can't remember it, write it on a piece of paper.
Never use the same password for different internet services.


Run virus protection software continuously

Wax Castle Vid clips and more

More video clips of the recent Sakon Wax Castle festival are appearing on the tube.
These  are professional television productions, with some insights how they are put together.

 

Another storm is about to hit southern Thailand, and it's another big one.  One Bloomberg reporter states this years flooding is Thailand's worst in 50 years.  Yes, murmurings can be heard of tourist cancellations due to the flooding.  Food prices are expected to rise.  Some people are already stocking up (hoarding).

Sugar Jumps to Eight-Month High in New York on Thai Flooding...  Bloomberg


TWIT Files
Remember the 'Balloon Boy' hoaxer, who just a year ago made headlines, when he claimed his son was aboard a wayward helium balloon. Denver airport was shut down, the National Guard sent rescue helicopters. The kid wasn't in the balloon, he was hiding at home

Richard Heene, the hoaxer, is back in the media.
He's selling tree branches as back scratchers at $20.
Probably to try to recover the $36,000 he had to pay in restitution.



Did a comparison test Apple Juice vs Beer. 

The apple juice went stale.
I really didn't need another alcoholic in my house.





I'm having iron-on's for my T-shirt made.
They should answer the two most predominant questions I am faced with on a daily basis.  

I did travel the entire route back in the mid 60's

BRRRR: I Told You So

We've had some pleasant cool nights in recent days.  
Actually had to cover up to keep the midnight chill off.
From the looks of things, I had better dust off the heavy blankets.

Depending on who you believe, low temperatures will drop down to 18C (64F) Thai Meteorological Department.
or even 14 (57F)wunderground

Recent daytime feels like highs of 44C (112F) aren't in our immediate future.
Expect high temperatures in the mid to upper 20's. (lower 80's F).

Visitors to the area will find the temperatures pleasant, but I expect to see plenty locals in overcoats huddling around smoky fires.

Castles, Solar Plants, and Paul the Octopus

2010 Wax Castle Parade video clip video by sersaman



2010 Wax Castle Festival video clip video by loveisjob.




A 6 megawatt solar facility 
is to be build in SakonNakhon Province.  
It is part of a Bt2 billion project of 34 solar farms to begin operation by 2012
read it at  RYY9  or THE NATION



R.i.P.   Paul, the German octopus with psychic abilities is dead