Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Seatbelts now mandatory for all vehicle passengers

The law is meant to reduce traffic deaths. It does not address passengers riding in the back of pickups, 
The new law has flaws. Older cars do not have seatbelts in back seats. Older buses do not have seatbelts.  Songthaews don't have seatbelts. 
Don't see how this will reduce the highway carnage, it will increase opportunities for more tea money.


There are moments when seat belts become useless, in fact they can be deadly

Sakon Nakhon

It ain't all sunshine


Scattered thundershowers. 
Heavy tropical downpour by the weekend

Sakon Nakhon Recoup


Annual report


Internal organ failure

Sakon Nakhon

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Tropical Rain easing this evening

Always been a bit suspicious regarding reported rainfall.  They average it out for the entire province and come up with some low numbers.  My rain gauge recorded over 2 inches of rain in an hour.

Neighbors roof

I got a clog, waiting for the next clear moment

Sakon Nakhon

Toilets in the news and other important stuff

REALY? YEP ! LOCAL HEADLINES
    DELIVERANCE
  Villagers protested  sugar factory

  Look out for Boobytraps 

  Produced and edited in Mukdahan

Which Phad Thai do you prefer


Thailand education in need of upgrade


Mob tourism coming to your neighborhood


It's really Healthy

My electric bill  ฿ says a lot about the weather. Airconditioners and pool pump suck up most of the energy

                   January -271.93   February -547.71       March -231.10




Tuesday: unlucky colors white and yellow
Mars / Mangala god of war
Sakon Nakhon

Monday, March 20, 2017

Rainy interlude


Looks are deceiving


High chance of rain today and tomorrow. Then a couple of days with less chance of rain. Increased chance again as the weekend approaches.  Spring rains appear to be running late this year. Songkran thunderstorms seem highly likely this year.
With the rains come nightly free bullfrog concerts. Snakes are listening. Be Aware !!
  
Much of the recent damage seems the result of poor construction and maintenance (including tree trimming)



Sakon Nakhon

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sensible drivers pulled to the side of the road, stopped and had their emergency flashers on, vision limited safe driving speed to 30 km

Sakon Nakhon rainfall 13.3 mm    4pm to 1am 
Mukdahan rainfall 16.5mm            7pm to 10pm



Rain started right around the time we got on the road, 2 pm. It quickly got very heavy.  Then there were miles of land where it had not rained for days, then back to another heavy rain. Mukdahan was bright in the distance.
We arrived at the Mukdahan stadium at about game time and were told the field they are playing on is some distance away.  A forty minute drive, like a bat outa hell, and  we arrived at the correct stadium as halftime started. Sakon FC 0.

It was a well played game, Mukdahan players obviously performed better. Refereeing was flawless.
Mukdahan Chaiyuenyong
4Sakon Nakhon       1

Arrived home shortly before 9pm. Heard that the players were somewhere. Bus broke down, waiting for mechanic.


Sakon Nakhon

Saturday, March 18, 2017

It's Saturday, the sun is out, I'm outa here

Kickstarting the day


 Breakfast coffee with chocolate and muscle relaxant

Planning a happy day

Guess I been on social media since the mid 1980's.  Then known as BBS Bulletin Board Service. Had a Commodore 64 with 7 floppy drives connected to the phone.  Lived in Seattle at the time, called it "the Entertainer."


There still is rain in the forecast, 

I just don't see it. 

The weather from the west has forced the rain system to stay further south of us. 
I'm expecting a dry football field in Mukdahan later in the day

I've heard it said before, 
this time Merkel used the line on Trump



You got a nice ASS

Sakon Nakhon

Friday, March 17, 2017

Try to stay dry

Happy saint paddy's day

Weather Warning
"Summer Thunderstorm over upper Thailand " 

No. 15 Time Issued : March 17, 2017 TMD

"Outbreaks of summer thunderstorms occur over the upper country composed of thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail in many places ... ...During 17-18 March..."


Travel direction from south
Sakon Nakhon

Thursday, March 16, 2017

How many Thais can afford this education

New drivers license requirements have been proposed.  Every new or renewal applicant must undergo 15 hours of driver training at a cost of up to 6,000 baht.  In Thailand's 76 provinces there are less than 100 certified driving schools.   
The plan has to be modified.  There aren't enough schools to handle the demand.  
Just like you can at many private schools in Thailand, you can probably get your license for the right price without ever attending.    
What's the sense of rules when they are not uniformly enforced and allow corruption to flourish.
Farm vehicle sales, including three wheeled motorcycles, will probably benefit. No license needed.
 In my days high schools offered driving classes.  I received a student drivers license, which mean a licensed driver had to be in the vehicle with me.  I learned driving in a VW bus.
Sakon Nakhon