jacnl2000

Life’s rhythms are like coconuts falling in their own time—it’s not absolute or predictable down to the second, but there’s a natural rhythm or pattern. Just like coconuts, things happen when they’re ready, not always when we want them to. Holding on to this mindset helps with patience and letting go. I’m aware other mindsets exist too, but personally, I find those less favorable. I don’t want to force the flow of life into a neat box—I prefer to choose one that feels most nourishing. Riding the usual waves rather than fighting them brought me underneath the coconut tree. Until my time comes, I prefer to go coconuts.

Showy

How do you become a champion at guessing locations? Tucked inside the ellipsis on the left is a little hint—one that pairs with the Thai-Lao scribble on the sign to the right. Only the locals can truly read it, since it describes exactly what their eyes already know. A smile? Same kind of magic.

It’s fascinating how the word “flasher” connects to several very different realities: one deeply personal and unsettling, another coldly bureaucratic and impersonal, and yet another tied to lasting impressions. The speeding fine I received near Schiphol was a clear-cut case—no consent, no negotiation, just an unavoidable penalty handed down. Yesterday, I was invited to visit an escape room. I must have been quite popular somewhere in the south of the Netherlands—someone who recognized me even asked to take a selfie with me in the background. Today, I find myself imagining a far bleaker kind of escape room: one containing nothing but a bare table, a single knife, and no food. That stark image captures the feeling of being trapped by impossible choices—an unforgiving test of endurance and will. It brings to mind a person I met in Nepal, educated at Wageningen University—someone who learned to appreciate the existence of seeds and watched the steady growth of his own belt—who once advised me always to offer others a way out. That wisdom feels more important than ever—a reminder that in life, compassion and humane options are essential, rather than forcing ourselves or others into cruel dilemmas with no escape.

Maybe this helps? Toddler logic is pure, uncompromising, and hilariously charming: “I belong here. So why am I not where I deserve to be?” When my oldest son, at just three years old, entered our local theatre next door, he became very angry upon discovering all the front seats were taken by people much larger than him. Without hesitation, he shouted: “I’m Thai!” In that moment, his proud declaration wasn’t just about seating—it was a bold claim to belonging, identity, and a rightful place in the world.

The political draft rose slow and steady from the mud, like a village path laid with good intentions — not quite headed for trouble, but winding gently toward a possible yearly escape across the border, as noted before, where our spirits melt like warm chocolate or cold ice on our tongues, and time itself forgets to hurry, choosing instead to rest. Expect the price and number of required stamps to go up, and bloody government agency calendars to get overbooked. Pfff. When it comes to bureaucracy, “fast” is just a setting on the microwave. Aren’t we all just forced to learn how to live in a modern escape room?

I’m about to leave my library behind, to begin the autumn of my life. It’s painful to let go of the books—the pages filled with distant worlds and quiet thoughts. But who needs pages, when life speaks first? Here in my village, I’ve learned to sleep beneath the loudspeakers of our phu yaa baan—the village headman. (ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน) Every morning, before the first light settles on the rice fields, his voice fills the air. Lost cattle, community announcements, wedding invitations, and warnings roll through the tin roof above my head. And before the announcements begin, there’s always his favorite morlam—the soulful traditional Isaan folk music, echoing through the village like a heartbeat. It’s not the silence of a library, but a living story—raw, loud, and unfiltered allowing my tired eyes to get their deserved rest. Life reads itself aloud here, in a language older than words on paper. No bookmark needed.

As an enthusiastic Honda Jazz owner myself—I especially love its wide front view—I'm aware that fire-related issues have occurred with these vehicles in the past. However, this particular incident doesn’t seem to fall into that category. It does make me wonder how regularly the car was serviced at the Honda dealership—interestingly located along Phetkasem Road. Another important consideration is where the vehicle was typically parked. Whenever possible, it's best to park in a garage, carport, or at least away from dense vegetation or open fields. If using a garage, make sure there are no gaps or entry points where rodents or lizards could sneak in to chew on hoses or wiring—or worse, nest under the hood.

He hurled a piece of wood at the drone with his one good arm. Missed, but made his point.

The Massgrave site @topt shared (and yep—thanks for setting me straight!) actually shows a real, though unofficial, way to upgrade Windows 10 Home or Pro to IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 without wiping your files or apps. That falls under the “Reality (with workarounds)” column below. Earlier, I was talking about what’s officially supported by Microsoft—the other column:

Once, back in my own country, I was bitten rather close to the heart—by a Tibetan wolfdog, no less. The owner? My health insurance agent. (Make of that what you will.) That incident left a scar and a lasting impression. For years after, whenever a dog barked, something stirred in me—tight, involuntary. Fear doesn’t leave politely. Fast forward to life on our Thai farm. I’m now co-owner of two adorable little rascals who strut around freely like they own the land. Every day, they eat lovingly cooked Thai meals, prepared by my wife—the true pack leader. Now, here’s the twist: once in a while, they wander off with their local dog gang and pay a surprise visit to a neighbor’s henhouse. The chickens squawk, feathers fly, and—inevitably—the owner shows up at our gate. Not thrilled. Fair enough. We considered buying little dog masks to keep them from biting or at least soften their image. (Thailand has a way of turning chaos into charm.) But the best solution turned out to be much simpler: we caught one of them in the act. And believe it or not, they never did it again. The real authority stepped in—my wife, the one who fills their bowls. She didn’t raise her voice, just raised an eyebrow. And that eyebrow has more weight than any fence or leash. Dogs, when signaled properly and consistently, are remarkably capable of learning. It’s not about punishment. It’s about presence. Timing. Respect. And maybe, just maybe, a little Thai rice with chicken. As the Thai say: “รักวัวให้ผูก รักลูกให้ตี” – “If you love your cow, tie it up; if you love your child, discipline them.” A proverb that sounds strict, but in reality, it speaks to care through responsibility. Boundaries show love. We’re judged not just by how we care for animals, but how we handle things when they go wrong. Responsibility, remorse, and action can heal wounds. Ignoring or downplaying it only breeds distrust and fear. Btw. in Thailand, the law falls under the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act (2014), and local police or the Livestock Department can be contacted. When a formal complaint was already filed then let authorities act—or let them explain why they’re not.

Don't forget a clean install is usually required when moving to Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 🥲 The official Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 ISO available for download from Microsoft's Evaluation Center is the IoT Enterprise edition. This version is intended for specialized, embedded devices and offers a 10-year support lifecycle (5 years mainstream + 5 years extended), compared to the standard Enterprise LTSC's 5-year support. IoT stands for Internet of Things. While both editions are functionally identical, the IoT version includes additional features tailored for embedded systems, such as support for smaller storage devices and enhanced device lockdown capabilities. These features are beneficial for devices like ATMs, kiosks, and industrial controllers which need to keep running as stable as possible. ISO = IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (from Microsoft’s evaluation/download site) Key = determines if it’s IoT Enterprise or regular Enterprise LTSC For a normal PC and full 10-year support, just use the ISO + a standard Enterprise LTSC key. Warning: For Windows 11, it's a little bit different. Windows 11 Enterprise evaluation ISOs are designed specifically for testing and evaluation, not for direct upgrade or activation. Unlike Windows 10 LTSC evaluation editions, which support a direct key-based activation upgrade, the Windows 11 Enterprise evaluation is more locked down. After the Windows 11 Enterprise evaluation period (typically 90 days) ends, you cannot simply activate it with a product key to make it a permanent installation. Hopefully, the internet shop where you bought the product key provides you also with a proper download link for obtaining a full (non-evaluation) Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC IoT ISO. I was not that lucky.

Many Chinese tourists travel during the Chinese Labor Day holiday (May 1st) and the Golden Week in early May. After these holidays end, there is usually a dip in outbound travel because most tourists return home. Outside major holidays, Chinese travelers tend to take fewer trips. May is typically a regular working month without many school breaks, reducing leisure travel. Peak travel seasons like Chinese New Year and summer holidays offer more promotions and group tours. In May, tour operators might reduce packages, making it less appealing to tourists. In short, the May drop mostly reflects the transition between holiday peaks and the onset of Thailand’s rainy season, combined with regular travel patterns from China. Rain in my little village seems to arrive a little bit late this year... Love charts:

I’ve got some questions too 😉 From what I see on Google image search, the Sydney Morning Herald has this picture tucked behind a paywall: This picture you've uploaded. Clearly a different viewing angle: Looks like a striking resemblance. So my take? You've pretty much shown that the photo’s angle and context aren’t all that exclusive to the Sydney Morning Herald anymore.

Yes, I take responsibility for the presence of the uniformed one's tail in my satirical cartoon in this thread. Satire is often misunderstood—especially in Italy, during the ongoing Eurovision 2025 Song Contest: However, I feel compelled to respond to the picture I replied to—one that has received no text so far—because I believe it doesn’t belong in this thread. Perhaps the poster had too much coffee? In the context of moderation, this image carries a far more troubling and subtle 'tail.' It’s a six-year-old photo related to the Thai cave soccer team rescue. I believe it shows Pol. Maj. Gen. Chaiyanan Srisaengsak bowing before a person who has since passed away (RIP): https://thethaiger.com/news/national/pathum-thani-governor-and-tham-luang-rescue-hero-narongsak-osatanakorn-dies-at-58

<removed> meters on Lazada and Shopee are great for testing water quality. But if the glass contains red wine, beer, or anything other than clear water, the reading won’t be reliable or meaningful. These meters are designed to measure inorganic dissolved solids in water, not complex liquids like alcohol or beverages with lots of organic compounds. Ah, yes—onions! They definitely deserve their spotlight, especially for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Onions do make you cry—but that’s part of their charm and power. Tears are a small price to pay for all the goodness onions bring.

How to Fit a Titan into a Toy? In a satirical light, comparing Premchai to Mr. Creosote isn’t too far-fetched—it’s a sharp jab at unchecked appetite, whether for foie gras or forbidden game. The figure in following cartoon resembles Mr. Creosote, but his entourage clearly echoes our dear friend Premchai. The whole sketch isn't just a grotesque satire on overindulgence and excess—classic Monty Python style: shocking, hilarious, and deliberately revolting—but also a twisted commentary on the construction process of fitting someone like him into a Bugatti. It's less about engineering and more about entitlement in high-vis vests, where concrete plans and legal loopholes are poured just to make the impossible comfortably possible:

2 + 3 = 5 million… Numbers published on Friday, April 19, 2024: One possibly overlooked—but potentially important—pre-2000 forum and its location wasn’t mentioned in the list above. You’ll find it referenced in “Planning for International Retirement Migration and Expats: A Case Study of Udon Thani, Thailand” by John Koch-Schulte (2008). In most large forums—especially platforms like ASEAN NOW (formerly ThaiVisa)—the ratio of active posters to lurkers tends to follow the 90-9-1 rule, based on Jakob Nielsen’s 2006 research: 90% of users are lurkers who read but don’t contribute, 9% post occasionally, and 1% generate the majority of content. Of course, much can change over two decades.

Well, @hotsun, I hope I don’t disappoint you, but your phone might not be the best choice for Thailand’s hot climate. It could offer worse performance and unreliable battery life under the sun. Personally, I’m planning to switch in the near future, perhaps to an Oppo Find X5 Pro, which seems well-suited for use in Thailand. This isn't about nationalism; it’s more about how phones are designed and optimized for today’s market needs.

TCL 32S5400A currently for approx. 4700 BHT @ Lazada. An USB 3.0 drive will work perfectly fine, but it will operate at USB 2.0 speed (slower transfer rate). This doesn’t affect video/audio playback as long as the file isn’t extremely large or high-bitrate. Finding a 32-inch TV with a USB 3.0 port in Thailand can be challenging, as most models in this size range typically come equipped with USB 2.0 ports. If you really need an USB 3.0 port then not only price doubles but also the screen size will be larger, for example the Hisense 43A6K – 43" 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for 8.190 BHT.

In the case of anthrax spores, the traditional proverb “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” becomes not just inapplicable—but dangerously misleading. A better piece of wisdom might be: the safety of the pudding is in the testing, not the tasting. The problem with anthrax tests is that they cannot be done on-site, such as in a restaurant, by an operator named Pat—whose whereabouts after nearly seven years on AN are still unknown. 😉 Well, you can't test every cup of water, but you can protect the well. I wouldn't trust anyone too much either.

A Quiet Kind of Freedom Being born Dutch, my sense of remembrance is shaped less by victory than by loss—and by the enduring importance of freedom. While many commemorate May 8th as Victory in Europe Day, in the Netherlands our hearts are turned toward May 4th and 5th: days not of triumphalism, but of memory and reflection. On May 4th, at 20.00 hours, we fall silent. For two minutes, we remember all those—known and unknown—who suffered, who were taken, who never returned. We do not compare losses. We do not rank grief. In those two minutes, everyone should feel free to honor what matters to them most. On May 5th, we mark our liberation. Not with parades of conquest, but with the quiet knowledge that freedom is precious, and never guaranteed. I think of my uncle, the first in our province of North-Brabant to be killed in a faraway land—his loss rippling through generations of our family. Today, as then, people are still being forced to travel to places of death. That is why we remember. That is why we speak quietly. That is why we stand still. So others may one day stand free. Hope this helps.

Let me raise a question, especially when it comes to ensuring that proper standards are being followed here. It's always good to scrutinize things to make sure everything is in order, particularly when it comes to public health and safety. In terms of 100% certainty, it’s true that we can’t guarantee absolute assurance based on just a photo. While standards (such as cremation temperature and burner specifications) might appear to be followed, the actual functionality of the burner and the temperature control system in that particular crematorium would need to be tested or verified through more direct means (e.g., equipment inspection, operational logs, temperature monitoring systems, or official certifications). Even if the crematorium looks up to standard in a photo, there could still be underlying issues with how it’s maintained or operated (human factors). It’s reasonable to ask for confirmation from the facility or health authorities, particularly when handling biohazardous material. An instinct to ask tough questions will always be valuable, especially when protecting clients and ensuring everything is in place. And as my wife says, maybe I think a lot, but that's a good thing when it comes to ensuring safety and standards!

Hormones start it, culture shapes it, and Occam’s razor may want it gone—but personality finishes the job.

The photo of the very first article is probably well-intended, but it raises an important question about the containment of anthrax spores, no?