Don't overdo Christmas

The Year I led the Sakon Christmas Star parade

Christmas 2003, 2006,2008, 2009

The first year I saw the starlight parade I noticed none of the parade participants were passing out candy.

The following year, the year MACRO opened here in town, I bought five large bags of candy. We timed it at an intersection, merged our vehicle into the parade, and began trowing candy. Unfortunately, Santa's helpers were a bit too eager throwing candy at onlookers.  Within three blocks, Santa's candy bag was empty.

The next year I bought a sh.t load of candy and we parked near the parade starting point.  As the parade was about to get underway, a Sakon Nakhon man in brown (policeman) immediately nixed our plan to merge into the parade.

Of all things, the officer confiscated all candy and escorted us to his police truck. 

There we were introduced to his nieces and nephews.  With emergency lights flashing, we were now in the lead vehicle of the parade. A dozen hands throwing candy at onlookers.

A few of my Thai friends were a bit surprised to see me standing in the lead vehicle

Over 50 hours of Americas funniest here

Tacky Lawn Art

Was at a wedding reception at the Elegant Hotel last night. 

 It's one of the newer hotels in the city. 

I highly recommend the hotel. 

Some of the decorations are a bit tacky though 

Flower Pot

Thai construction has always befuddled me

This is the walkway from the hotel parking lot to the banquet room.
There is no door to the urinals. I suspect the first one is seldom used.

There's an elaborate cement creek and ponds at the hotel

Must be a new car, a new driver, call a tow truck and the tile man

It's that season again in Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon temperatures rising, temporarily, then...

Monday and Tuesday  up to 35° C 95° F   Feels like 36° C 96.8° F

Before and after the hotter days, a few days at 34° C  93.2 ° F

The difference between real and feels like temperature is very minimal, probably an indication of lower humidity.

Clear skies above.
Sunscreen advisable during extended exposure

Cold Season starts

Shortly after Christmas 

expect 

•     daytime 27° C  80.6 ° F

•     nighttime 10° C 50° F

AFF Suzuki Cup Semi-finals game this evening

Thailand vs Malaysia Today 7 PM broadcast on Thai TV Channel 7 

Malaysia protests Thai football training ground 

Must See Photo!! Not really a field day for Malaysia 

Sakon Nakhon streaming reception of USATV NOW

I've subscribed to the service. The price is right for what you get.
But I'm not cancelling my local TV services just yet.

USTV NOW is great during non peak internet periods

During peak internet hours,  frequently it's nearly impossible

Possibly when Thailand finally gets the 3G upgrade 'installed,' things may improve.

Then again: maybe not.

I suspect it's not entirely a slow overloaded, internet service in Thailand,
rather the cables between the US and Asia are overloaded. 
The reasons for my suspicions are the fact that I can watch some US TV channels through European providers without any down time, even during peak hours.

Again I surmise, internet traffic between Europe and Asia is far less than traffic between the USA and Asia.



Related reading:

WiFox could boost Wi-Fi performance by 700 %  techradar

USTV NOW offers a limited number of stations on a trial basis free for 45 days, just by registering.  No financial information is asked for during the trial period registration

• USTVnow - Watch Live American TV Shows Online: 

New Alcohol Sales Restrictions Effective January 1

Alcohol sales in public places face restrictions  Bangkok Post

• "...it prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks on footpaths, in public parks, and in public areas..."

Alcohol sales set to be banned at roadside stalls THE NATION

• "...The ban on roadside alcohol sales, except on personal property, was imposed on grounds that consumption of alcohol causes traffic accidents, he said..."

Opinion

Another attempt at curbing drunk driving, which will do little to diminish drunk driving. 

It's probably somewhat of a windfall for  ma and pa shops, which are all on private property.

The law may be easier to enforce than the sales hour restrictions  (11 am - 2 pm and 5 pm - midnight). 

The hourly restrictions are more of an inconvenience creating a noontime alcohol purchase rush hour.  These restrictions tend to be ignored at many ma and pa shops.

The occasional alcohol purchases I make for home consumption, not available at local ma and pa shops, have to be scheduled similarly to most doctors visits.