Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Pole dancing and the I.R.S Shuffle

This pole dance ain't over yet.
Electric wires touching a house where moved June 21.
They moved a pole a few feet  Doing the Sakon Nakhon Pole Dance  They did a fine job on the electric wires, but apparently left TV cable and telephone lines for another day.

TV and telephone cables laid across the roof, a permanent arrangement?

Talking about dancing

I'm still doing the I.R.S. shuffle 
"One step forward, two steps to the rear"
And that dance is really exhausting me!!!

Received a $270 refund on my 2009 tax return. Error on my part.
Before filing my 2010 tax return I sent the I.R.S. a letter Informing them that I had lost the previous tax return.  I asked them to send me a copy, and possibly explain my mistake, so I could avoid it in the future. That was January 27 2011.

I received (mailed April 25 / received May 25)  a notice I owe over $700, tax penalty and interest.
If payment is not made by a certain date, the matter will be turned over to a collection agency.

I  immediately mailed a check and a form 911.
Form 911 requests ombudsman assistance in resolving a tax matter. 

July 4 another notice arrived from the I.R.S "(part of over $700) Overpaid Tax Applied to Other Taxes You Owe."
No indication of what other taxes I owe.  Just a statement that reads
"..if you are currently or were previously married..." "...you may qualify for a complete refund...?
Obviously, this dance ain't over yet. The refund check is in the mail?

Hot and Hotter

No major weather disturbance in the upper atmosphere.
Mostly sunny and increased humidity. High humidity most likely will cause local thunderstorms

--Tuesday-- -Wednesday- -Thursday----Friday--- --Saturday----Sunday--
AccuWeather
Feels like
Low Feels like
  90F  32C
105F  41C
  80F  27C
  90F      32C
104F      40C
  81F      27C
  90F 32C
101F 38C
  81F 28C
  90F  32C
106F  41C
 83F   28C
  87F  31C
109F  43C
  82F  28C
  86F  30C
107F  42C
  83F  28C
Thai Meteo..
high/low C
34/2434/24 34/2434/25 33/2433/23
Wunderground
high/low C
33/25 33/25 34/25  33/25 30/25
MeoWeather
high/low C
34/25 33/25 33/2434/25 32/2432/24


 
Elk rescues drowning marmot  allcreatures.tumblr.com
An elk rescues a drowning marmot at Pocatello Zoo, Idaho.


Monday, July 4, 2011

Hope for the best...

Friday was midyear banking holiday.  Banks closed.  Dear Landlady, the rent will be a few days late.

Saturday morning, a 'hundred days after the funeral party.'  A few people staggering through the neighborhood.

Saturday evening a party across the street.  Quite a few visitors.  It was all very hush hush.  I was able to sleep undisturbed.

Sunday, Joey went to vote around noon at a nearby school.  Voting at that time was very light.

Exit polls were being broadcast after the polls closed at three.
The pie chart representing North East Thailand seemed over 90% RED.
  Pheu Thai wins 101 seats in NE  Bangkok Post
(of 126 seats)

They're calling it a landslide, I'd say it was more of an Avalanche.

Predictions, some declaring imminent disaster, are running rampant on the net.
 What could happen to Thai rice market after election?  Reuters
I have a wait and see attitude:  Hope for the best don't act surprised at the worst.

The election promise to devalue the Thai Baht perked my interest, it is of course something  I would look forward to.
The rich aren't going to stand for that unless they have their bank accounts overseas.
Pensioners will of course love it!!  I would!! 

Prior to the elections Sakon Nakhon province was near the top of the list "where pre- and election violence may take place."
Didn't hear of any. (insert Applause here!!)

JoSakon's Sakon F.C.


A slideshow by Jo (of) Sakon




"one first step... in the learning process."


Music by....???

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sakon Declared winner over Nong Bua Lamphu

In Saturday's game stopped due to insufficient lightening, Sakon F.C. has been declared the winner 2:1.
Sakon F.C. has a new coach.  The former coach had been 'released' some weeks ago.

And there's another story in the makings at Sakon F.C.  It's a story about an old coach being primed.  That story will most likely unfold at a party on July 11 at the Sakon F.C. restaurant.

And that's Football in Thailand

I'd become somewhat of an avid Sakon FC football fan.  Have known some of the players for as long as I've been in town.  Hadn't missed a game.  Away games gave me an opportunity to travel and see other parts of Isaan.

Saturday's game at Nong Bua Lamphu didn't entice me to travel.
You could say I had a premonition.  Besides, they recently started broadcasting the games over the internet.

Joey had moved his computer on the front porch.  I was watching the game in my 'den.'
Surprisingly the video stream was perfect.  No interruptions.
Joey was logged into chat mode which delayed his feed by a minute and had a different announcer than the one I was listening to.

It was almost like instant replay.  If I wanted to see a goal again I could see it again on Joey's computer.

Nong Bua Lamphu apparently had some heavy rains before the game.  Water puddles and mud.

The plank leading onto the field resembled a diving board at a swimming pool.

Sakon Nakhon scored during the first half. Nong Bua Lamphu evened the score early in the second half.  Shortly thereafter Sakon FC had it's second goal.

As dusk settled in the stadium, lights were turned on.  From my vantage point I could only see one set of lights.  The game continued. As it got darker the game was stopped.
A thirty minute delay to fix the lights was announced.
Somehow I knew better. I started watching the boob-tube with one eye on the computer.
Referees and players bowed in front of the audience and exited the field.
Game Stopped due to insufficient lighting. Rematch to be announced!!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Anticipation


Alcohol sales suspended Saturday 6 PM to Sunday Midnight.
That's been mentioned and groaned about plenty by now.

During this time period it is also against the law to post comments about candidates, as this may be construed as political advertisement.

Ms Tum's House dedication
Quite obviously locals seem to be preparing for the short "dry period." 
My neighborhood seemed eerily silent Friday night.  No one home.

If the number of invitations I received are an indication, everyone was attending parties elsewhere.
House blessing ceremonies, funeral rites, plenty of reasons to gather.

A funeral gathering this morning (Saturday) in my neighborhood.  As soon as the religious ceremonies stopped and the monks had left, it was time to get inebriated ahead of the prohibition period.

Some locals are avoiding driving long distances as they fear an increase of police vehicle checkpoints this weekend.






Happy 4th

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Crystal ball not needed: We know what comes next

Elections




Costs


Weather
June 29, 1 PM our weather is arriving from SW and SSW

Thought everyone knew this about web browsing...

...but apparently not. 

Reading foreign language web pages
 
Most browsers let you install Add-ons.
Google translate is one of those add-ons.
Any time you arrive at a foreign language page you can select the translator under your tools.


The translation is far from perfect, but you can get an understanding of what's being written.


Multiple e-mail recipients

If you're sending an email to multiple friends, don't use TO:  use BCC (blind carbon copy).  
If you use TO: every recipient will have most, if not all your friends e-mail addresses.  If you use BCC the recipients only see their own address.
further information

If you're forwarding e-mails, highlight and delete any sender and previous recipients from the mail