Plenty last minute preparations at the Red Cross Fair

Heavy tropical rains for most of the morning delayed much of the preparations at the fair grounds.

It was obvious when I arrived shortly after noon.  Much still needed to be done.

Most likely there will be work going on late into the night.

The fair starts tomorrow.

Pongsit Kumpee appears in concert on January 20

Sakon Nakhon

Jan 17, 4 pm  

• Temperatures rising
  meoweather...this day in history depicts the average highs and lows for every month.
  It also compares today's temperatures with that of recent years.
  Temperatures this year seem to be from 5C to 7C higher since 2009
  January average temperature is 25.

• Sakon Nakhon dog trader sentenced to four months in jail and a Bt35,000
  The Nation
  ... confessed he had detained 5,000 dogs to be sold...

• Terrorism suspect leads Thai police to potential bomb materials
  CNN

• Is Thailand’s civil war escalating?
  asiancorrespondent
  ...the situation is growing increasingly worrisome, say diplomats

• Man hit with £1200 mobile phone bill for holiday in Thailand
  daily record uk
  ...even though he never made a call or sent a text...

• English WIKIPEDIA announces 24 hour global blackout
  wikimediafoundation
  ...to protest against proposed U.S. legislation

Let's build a Tree Observatory

 

Wonder if mom is looking for her kitchen knife

Funnies in my mail

Recent and Upcoming Events in Sakon Nakhon

Possibly the foggiest Day 
in Sakon Nakhon  yesterday

I wasn't the only one who thought yesterday's fog was very unusual for this area.
Picture at Facebook and a You Tube video also came to that conclusion

Rescue teams work with what they have

Another Accident video appeared recently (Jan 12)
Somewhat demonstrates a lack of proper equipment
"Jaw of Life" comes to mind

I'm Impressed...
... by the acrobatics by Rajabhat University students












Neighborhood Kids celebrating  Children Day 

Just a couple of blocks from my house kids where celebrating Children Day last Saturday

So when is Phu Phan Deer Season?

Dog Season continues

Busts show dog-smuggling trade booming 
ASIA ONE

Upcoming events in Sakon Nakhon

15	16	17	18	19	20 Red Cross Fair	21 Red Cross Fair
22 Red Cross Fair	23 Red Cross Fair Chinese New Year	24 Red Cross Fair Chinese New Year	25 Red Cross Fair Chinese New Year	26 Red Cross Fair Big Ass Bodyslam Concert	27 Red Cross Fair	28 Red Cross Fair
29 Red Cross Fair	30	31

Hot Season Sampler this week

Possibly the foggiest morning I have experienced in this town.
No rain, but water was dripping from the roof
Expect the heatwave  to make an appearance starting Tuesday.
After this heatwave expect a rapid drop in temperatures.  Nighttime low teens likely

	Mon -16	Tues-17	Wed-18	Thur-19	Fri-20	Sat-21	Sun-22
Thai Meteorological	30/19	31/19	32/21	33/22	32/22	31/23	32/23
Wunderground	32/18	31/20	32/22	33/22	31/23	31/22	31/22
Accue Weather	32/19	33/19	35/20	36/21	36/21	36/21	33/19
Feels like	37/19	37/20	39/22	41/22	41/21	38/21	33/18
Meo Weather	30/18	32/20	32/22	33/23	33/23	32/23	32/23
Weather Channel	30/19	31/19	32/19	32/19	31/19	29/19	29/20

Thai Children day or Armed Forces day?

This is Thailand.
Where else does the military put on a demonstration of their might and readiness for young kids.
Saw this video of children day in Surin and thought "What the Heck!"

 

On kids day you play kids games and pass out candy and toys, not induce nightmares!
Armed forces demonstrations are best done on armed forces day.

If you don't believe me, ask the kids in Chiang Mai who witnessed an Air Force sky diver fall to his death

• Thai Air Force skydiver killed as parachute malfunctions AISA ONE

Sakon Nakhon Children Day

Thailand Children Day is an annual event which takes place on the second Saturday in January.
There are government ceremonies, special children events on military bases and neighborhood kids parties. 

Manager online (Thai script)  the subsidiary of ASTV has an article about the activities at the nearby military base, with a few pictures.

Some schools were in session for a student activity day, as in the video

A favorite Children Day memory is when I was asked to spend a few thousand Baht on snacks, fruit and drinks. We spent a few hours going through the children ward at the local government hospital.  Was a great feeling seeing all those sick kids smile.


Then of course there was the day in 2077, when I hung out with the older 'children' and their toys ♥

"O" becomes a (15 day) monk

Must have been quite a high ranking visitor at the temple this morning.
Plenty of uniforms (police, military), buses and government vans all over the place.
"Do you speak Thai?" A policeman approached me.
"Sorry No."
The policeman did understand "my friend" and "monk.' but he continued to linger near me till the convoy approached and the passengers were waving at me.
From that moment I was no longer scrutinized by dozens of policemen.

It had been raining before we arrived at the temple.
Wet tile was quite slippery.  Novices were tasked with mopping up.

Plenty of uniforms and security

US Embassy issues Bangkok advisory

Updated

January 13 The Embassy of the U.S.A. in Bangkok has posted an advisory which reads in part : "...foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future. U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists..." Read the entire text at U.S. Citizen Services - Embassy of the U.S.A. - Bangkok

January 13 Thai police question Lebanese man as US warns of possible terror attack in Bangkok

January 13  US advisory is real and Bangkok is specific The Nation

January 14 Chalerm denies threat of terror The Nation

Recurring mechanical glitches at local ATM's

The recent article  Caution advised when using ATM
was based on false assumptions*.
Not a theft, as suspected, rather a mechanical glitch
Simon explains the details with a happy ending at Sakon in English
This is the second mechanical glitch at local ATM's.
Previously wrote of my own ATM misshap  Reason to drink

*assume (ASS-U-ME)  take for granted or without proof