I'm a tablet skeptic

They were celebrating Mothers day in the early evening

Didn't attend the public gathering myself, but there was plenty of activity right across the street from my house.  A birthday party. I was quite surprised that the noise level was almost non existent after 10 PM.
After I went to sleep I slept undisturbed until the party ended at 5 AM.
Anyone who lives in Thailand can tell you that these parties can get quite noisy, especially with all night off key karaoke.



Thailand's political landscape is changing quite noticeably

• Terrorism Charges Against Red Shirts Were 'Inflated'  The Nation

• Japan To Allow Visit' By Ex-Thai PM Thaksin  ASIA ONE  

Thailand's 1 Student 1 Tablet policy

• Pheu Thai defends its 1 student 1 tablet policy Thai Financial Post
• Primary students will definitely get tablet PCs Bangkok Post

Based on my own experience, I'm quite skeptical about the outcome.  

First year teaching English I bought all my students dictionaries.  

By the next day most of the dictionaries were no longer available. Most had been traded in for CASH.

Then there was the incident where  missionaries on bicycles were happily passing out dozens of Thai bibles, convinced they had converted a whole flock.  At the end of the day Mama collected all the bibles to be traded for CASH.

I seriously doubt that this policy will serve its intended purpose of a improving literacy.  

Instead I suggest it will improve gaming skills.

Nakhon Phanom Dog Rescue

• Dogs saved from dinner tables, but still in danger

Of course this sort of news is abhorrent to most, but eating dog meat is more prevalent than you think  WIKIPEDIA. It won't be part of my diet!!

It is the rainy season

Earlier this week I observed that our neighbor province Nakhon Phanom was getting heavier rains than here at Muang Sakon (Wetter than Wet).  Apparently my observation was correct

• Non-stop rain swamps Nakhon Phanom in worst flood in decades -  The Nation

A new weather warning has been posted today at the Thai Meteorological Department website

• "Heavy to very heavy rain in the North and the Northeast" 

This warning affects the upper portions of NE and N Thailand.

Daytime temperature forecasts thru the middle of next week  indicate temperatures in the low 30's, with feels like temperatures in the low 40's  Nighttime temperatures remain in the low to mid 20's.


Flood warnings had been posted earlier this week for Bangkok and surrounding provinces.  Been checking this Bangkok webcam daily and haven't noticed any drastic changes.  I'm not denying that flooding is occurring, but it's not noticeable at this particular view. 

 

Mothers Day Celebrations at School

When I arrived at the school, 9 AM, they were busy preparing lunch.

Fish BBQ

They were still setting up some of the displays.  Didn't quite figure out what was on display here.
I kept looking for darts

Is that a spare gas tank or the glove compartment (BLEND)

Adults seem to be more into the POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE (formal ceremonies)

Ceremonies honoring mothers

For some reason this part of the mothers day ceremonies quite often becomes very emotional.

For some reason this poster made me think of 'Hot Dogs.'

On my way home I passed a number of schools, all seemed to be having mothers day celebrations

Rain Alert (again), Mothers day Friday, My IRS migrane

Video posted to You Tube two days ago taken at the nearby school.

Heavy rains and flash flood highly likely over the coming days Bangkok Post Aug 8

Mothers Day this Friday.  Even though I quit teaching at S-BAC, I did receive a formal invitation to attend their celebrations this Thursday. Public holiday on Friday.



Computer glitch at the (U.S.A) IRS?
They sent me a refund on my 2009 tax return.  Then I made the mistake to ask for an explanation. 

I received a notice to pay over $750 in back taxes for that year. "Failure to pay will result in the matter being turned over to collection."

Mailed in my check for the money and requested a review of my file.

I received a refund.  Thought the matter was settled.  I was wrong.  A week after the refund check arrived I again received notification to pay up, now with increased interest.

Of course phone numbers given are all prerecorded messages.

Mountain roads dangerous during extreme weather

Advice: 

• Avoid driving on Phu Phan highway during extreme weather conditions MCOT (Thai)
  Some road shoulders have slipped down the mountain side

Debit card users

• If you have a Thai Bank account, recently enacted policy throughout Thailand lets you use other banks ATM up to four times a month without charge.

Sakon FC vs Loi City FC

• Final Score Sakon 1 Loi 3

• Next Game at Ubon.

• MY OPINION: Sakon FC, formerly ranked in the upper half, is now ranked number 11 of 16 in the division. No surprise there. At the beginning of the season 5 of their players were traded to Nakhon Phanom. At mid-season foreign players left the team for teams where paycheck were not a worry.
  Hiring a new coach hasn't had any impact on team performance to date.
  Obviously it's a shoestring operation...

... compared to other teams.  Some teams additionally provide bus service for their fans.

Wetter than Wet

• TV broadcast of the Nakhon FC football game seem to indicate that they are getting more rain than in Sakon. Anyone having business on a thoroughly soaked field had to wade through an ankle deep stram surrounding the fields

Britons are behaving better than in previous years, 
or is it just fewer are traveling?

• ....the place Britons were more likely to be arrested was Thailand... Mail Online

Stock Market Jitters, Yeah me too

• My pension fund depends heavily on the stock market.
  Gives me a good reason to be nervous.
  The dominoes just keep on falling.

• Slim pickings World's richest man loses $6.7 billion in stock market rout The Sydney Morning Herald

Sakon FC start time moved ahead

Thailand's flood death toll rises to 13 MCOT Aug 5

SakonFC at Loi Saturday, link updated  Livestream

Saturday afternoon wind gusts 8 to 16 kmph (5 to 10 mph) ....
WEEK AHEAD Increased humidity 80 TO 88%.

Sunshine Garden 11 AM to 8 PM or much later. 
Now serving meals

S and P Downgrades US Credit Rating From AAA to AA+  

further downgrades likely

Sharia Law: Battlefield London 

NOK five remants

Two days ago, while the rain subsided I traveled south on I.T.U., past where it officially ends.
Past the new pavement where pothole highway begins.
Water runoff was fairly rapid. No extreme water levels.
But some locals will have to be extra cautious on their way home.

Vegetation flourished during the dry season in the river bed, now the river is widening on the side without vegetation.

Sakon FC has a new MERCEDES

At least new to the team. 

Latest I heard it was being 'repaired' before it's brought into service. Anyone have a guess what year this bus was new.  I'm guessing 1060'

From 110805 SakonFC bus

Mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaks, rain

The Google earth image can be somewhat deceiving. 

It seems to show only the upper atmosphere.

A better view of local weather can be seen at the 

Thai Meteorological Satellite page.
It indicates mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaks

No Surprise here!  Can't afford the insurance?

• Pattaya’s Jet Ski Problems Not Solved Yet Pattaya Daily

 U.S.A. Biggest meat recall EVER

Why would anyone want to dig a six foot trench on the Beach?

Sakon Nakhon Agricultural Fair and more

Sakon Nakhon Kasetsart University Agricultural Fair 
August 31 to September 4

• RYT9 (Thai)

Thailand to ban alcohol consumption in public locations

• Press TV
  

Thailand football violence.

• That red card should be permanent, but that's just my opinion

I've been fighting Alzheimer's all my life

• 2009 studies show caffeine markedly reduce Alzheimer's 

Municipal Advertising Stunt in Lithuania

Can you guess who's doing cyber warfare

UK seize biggest Cocaine haul

Using Cologne can be dangerous to your health

I'm really going to miss teaching!!

The change of my schedule by the school this semester, has made teaching English senseless.
My new teaching schedule of Thursdays and Fridays is repeatedly superseded by student and school activities on those days.
I see no sense in teaching English once a month, or even once every two months.

I have been with S-BAC since its inception and have hundreds, if not thousands of enjoyable memories, interacting with students and their  families,  teachers and staff.  Weddings, birthdays, graduations, public events... it's a long list of activities: Pleasant memories.




I'm really going to miss teaching!!