Tropical Storm KAI-TAK (Helen)

Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Weather warning
"...isolated heavy to very heavy (rain) over the North and the Northeast of Thailand during 17-19 August."

Tropical Storm KAI-TAK with wind speeds of 120 kph is moving at 25 miles per hour in a West - Northwest direction.

The center of the storm is expected to travel through Northern Laos.
Tropical Storm KAI-TAK is the 13th tropical storm to hit China this year, it is expected to make landfall in Quang Ninh, Vietnam sometime tonight.

  News Bites

Thailand rice prices stir up debate - Asia-pacific - Al Jazeera English Thailand Sees U.S. Drought Lifting Rice Prices as Stocks Grow - Bloomberg

Man died in Thailand after beating by teen (From Oxford Mail)

Four dead in pub fire on Thai holiday island of Phuket - Reuters Four dead in fire at Thai tourist spot Foreign tourists killed in Phuket, Thailand, nightclub fire - The Australian

Fewer Malaysians visit Thailand - TTR Weekly

Kaew Pongprayoon Leaves Boxing After Winning Silver - Boxing News

555555 Thailand says film, music piracy on the decline

Escargot Travels

As the story goes:

 Snails were imported as a farm crop for export, due to a seemingly high demand by certain foreigners.
Of course the crop quickly turned into a major pest for local  rice farmers.

They especially flourish during the rainy season

  News Bites

Thailand braces for storms, but severe floods unlikely   Reuters

Thailand- Under-the-table payments account for 50% of the costs of all government concessions   2Bangkok.com

Thailand Buys Indian Wheat to Cut Costs; First Time in 8 Years   4-Traders

Work under way at Xayaburi dam in Laos -project leader   Reuters

Planes Can Avoid Turbulence With New Technology   YouTube

West Nile Virus Detected in 43 States   YouTube

9 things that will disappear in our lifetime xenohistorian

WOW Washington House Miraculously Escapes Wildfire   YouTube

Sakon Country Road

With some sun breaks after the morning torrential rains, I decided on a mid morning trip through the countryside.

Attractive Thai Home, but the plastic sun shild is ugly

Inquisitive

A second too late:  Dog was in crapping position a second earlier





The color green has a calming effect on humans.

Funny Mail   Same Same Thailand

Sakon Roadside T.V. at the TIN MALL

Just what you need at a busy intersection:  Driver distractions!
They were testing the screen last weekend.
Two speakers below drowned out all traffic noises.
Plenty of wires to obscure the view.  Brand new, and there are a few holes that need patching.

Torrential, followed by light, then heavy

Thai Meteorological Department: 

24 hour rainfall August 15, in Sakon Nakhon 102.7mm (4.04 inch).
NO ACTIVE ALERTS:  The last weather alert / warning by the department was posted on July 26.

Torrential rains continue through tonight, light rain Friday

Note:  Path shown below is that of the weather system presently over Sakon Nakhon.
It is not the forecast movement of Tropical Storm KAI-TAK. (Tracking map in sidebar).

I'm not jumping the gun, not just yet. Could be that KAI-TAK will follow the same path, possibly moving a bit fater.

Mail Bag

Egg whites for burn treatment

Claims by a 1899 doctor.  No healing powers.

Used as a temporary  wound dressing  until medical professionals attend to the burns.

Oil has a similar wound dressing capability.

CAUTION:  Raw eggs at times contain salmonella

Recommended reading:

www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/eggwhite.asp