Thursday, December 22, 2011

Beating a dead Horse: The Sakon Nakhon Book Fair

Out on the highway next to Bus terminal 2 (which is not in use yet), is the Sakon Nakhon Book Fair.


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"Beating a dead horse" or "Flogging a dead horse"
When something is already dead, and you keep bring it up over and over again
With  such things as E-Reader, E-Books, and plenty other on line services, bookstores are failing

From my own experience learning English...

During a class break they paraded this young man in front of me.
He recited four pages of a fairly tale in English. Quite a feat.
It was a very fast recital, and many times I only understood a word here or there.
A proud adult, probably a teacher was observing.

When it was all over I praised him  on his memorization skills, told him he needed to slow down his speech.
As if he was telling the story to some little children.
Suggested he find some music he liked and sing the whole story.

From my own experience learning English:

I've been telling all  my students, the best way to learn a language and get the pronunciation right.... SING IT!!

It's the best way to loose the foreign accent in your speech!!

This KPOP video is a great example   

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Winter came early this year

According to an article in RYT9, if temperatures drop below 15C (59F) for 3 or more consecutive days, then the government can declare a natural disaster.

O.K. stop laughing I say to myself.

It's not that they call out a major aid force.
Instead what you see in the news is that agencies are passing out blankets to the poor.
I doubt that a free blanket will suffice. My opinion.

Even though we have experienced such low temperatures in recent days, temperatures in the Phu Phan mountain region and along the Mekong river have started to drop to lower teens and below.

These lower temperatures are also ideal breeding times for flu.
There's a lot of people around me lately with sore throats..

I have a feeling that winter came early this year.
These cool temperatures are generally reserved for January.

My question is "will the hot season also arrive early, or will winter linger with record lows in January?"
Cool temperatures forecast till after Christmas, a warming trend in time for the  arrival of the new year 33/19

Crystal Frost Draws Tourists to Chiang Mai TAN Network 

Sakon Nakhon District 18 may be pre-declared disaster area cold RYT9 (Thai)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Remembering A Great Friend

The largest gathering of foreigners in Sakon City
A year ago.  December 22
Eddie is laid to rest





Found this recent YouTube upload, which seems to fit the mood

Nongharn Blues - Pong Srabua & Bert Deivert  

My recent Khon Kean- Udon Trek


Monday, December 19, 2011

Fireworks High Season approaches...

... and with that the hazards.

Sales of fireworks at some Ma&Pa shops should commence any day now.

  • Have a SAFE and fun celebration
  • Be ALERT.
  • Make sure pets have a place to to hide close by and are unable to flee from home.


Temperatures rising 34C, and dropping 10C

Local 


Wednesday Highs and Lows
Thai 
Meteorological 
Weather 
Underground
accuweather
Feels Like
Meo 
Weather
Weather
Channel
29/15
28/17
34/16
27/17
29/16


Sunday  Highs and Lows
Thai 
Meteorological 
Weather 
Underground
accuweather
Feels Like
Meo 
Weather
Weather
Channel
24/12
22/10
27/11
21/10
26/11


  • Tropical storm Washi  to weaken before reaching  Malasia  
    Bangkok Post


  • Tropical storm Washi recently created havoc over the Philippines

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sakon vs Khon Kaen Coke Cup Final, Friday

Sakon faces Khon Kan in the final match of this year's coke cup.
3 PM Friday, municipal field.