Fortean1

Heckuva waste of space if no other life out there.

Yes, I jumped the gun there. I found this on Fareed's Global Briefing: "Whereas Putin wants artillery shells, The Economist writes, “North Korea’s wish list probably includes nuclear weapons designs, re-entry vehicles for intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as technology related to satellites, submarines and hypersonic weapons. Russia could also provide less flashy, but still important support for North Korea’s conventional forces, such as spare parts for aircraft or ships and more modern air defences.” A warmer relationship with Russia could also give Pyongyang more leeway in dealing with its main benefactor, China; Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace tells The Economist this opening with Russia constitutes “the biggest strategic opportunity for North Korea since the end of the Cold War.” That said, while the word “bromance” is thrown around vis-à-vis Putin and Kim, and while some Western commentators worry about a three-way, anti-Western partnership between China, Russia and North Korea, The Economist sees these relationships as more transactional and limited. The magazine concludes: “The picture that emerges is less of a neat authoritarian axis and more a messy love triangle.”'"

Giving? I think not. Fat Boy needs help improving his ballistic missiles. Putin can provide that.

Melanistic leopards! In 2003, Bob Mantz and I were employed to work a classified radio jamming test. We put up a 50 foot antenna for HF. We then turned on and calibrated the automated broadcast and jamming equipment. We were driving the 'bread truck' on the East Range of Fort Huachuca, Cochise County, Arizona about 0630, along a dirt road. We saw the black animal crossing from right to left and not turning its head towards us as we approached about 200 feet away. No cameras allowed. It was about five feet from head to end of tail. It was either a melanistic jaguar or mountain lion (puma). The latter is not accepted as melanism is unknown in that population throughout the Americas.

I somewhat agree that NATO/OTAN expanded too quickly whereby former Warsaw Pact countries (esp. Poland) became members. I served in a NATO/OTAN communications center in Naples, Italy from 1977 to 1980. Every November we war gamed a Soviet invasion through the Ruhr river valley into Germany and the Po river valley in northern Italy. The command was Allied Forces South. There was a war headquarters northeast of Naples at PROTO. It was inside a mountain, a poor man's version of Cheyenne Mountain in the U.S. Few troops, planes, and ships moved throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Almost two weeks of clattering Olivetti teletypes and then a stillness. Those tank armies could not be stopped by conventional means, therefore, the U.S. and designated Allies began using tactical nuclear weapons. The Soviets and the reluctant Warsaw Pact countries went home without using tactical nuclear weapons. That is hardly likely. I'm pretty sure that Putin is aware of this war gaming scenario. He threatens use, and hopefully, the world will not see this. I want to add that the French military did participate. I recall sending and receiving teletypes from FS Foch, an aircraft carrier. One customer in our communications center was the French Military Mission. The messages were often in both English and French. At the beginning of text there were passing instructions in specific messages that said, NOT RELEASABLE TO THE FRENCH MILITARY MISSION.

Yes, recent history is always acceptable. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, I worked in the NATO/OTAN communications center in Naples, Italy. At that time it was Allied Forces South, that is, the countries in and near the Mediterranean Sea. Oddly enough as the shift or watch supervisor I was given a list of officers, both U.S. and Allied, who had either an assignment in Afghanistan or were affiliated in other ways. This was highly unusual. I guess the switchboard operators, Italian civilians, did not have security clearances, and were not allowed to make telephone contact. I improvised as I had no transcript to follow. I basically said after identifying myself that a crisis required them to report to Admiral Shear's Command Center.

Here is a discussion which begins aimlessly, then gets into weather, climate, and environmentalism. I don't know the detailed background of Dr. Patrick Moore. His comments do make sense or maybe he is a shill for the petroleum industry. This is almost two hours. I watched the whole thing. Please see:

About ten years ago the GoT (Government of Thailand) blocked the uncooked turkeys from America, such as Butterball, basing it on a single outbreak of some type of bird flu on a turkey farm/ranch in Illinois. This helps to protect the Thai turkey farmers. My friend/mentor, retired Air America pilot Les S., stopped buying as he likes to prepare his own stuffing inside the turkey. I also stopped buying. Terry, a few miles south of Hua Hin.

Yes, re open beaches from Khao Kalok beach which is maybe a 30 minute drive south of Hua Hin. I live nearby but 0.5 miles from the beach.

There is little to no control on who can become a monk. There is little to no auditing of the temples. My wife's home village is near Ayutthaya. We've lived in Thailand since 2008. The new village temple now under construction for 15 years. Gossip says the abbot has not one, but four mistresses. I asked one monk why so long in the construction. He just smiled. I see the abbot at the tamboon ceremonies for my wife's mother. He acts like a businessman.

The surviving email nodes should keep us in contact with each other. America's DARPA began using a network that kept governments offices, university science labs, and other facilities in touch even with a WW III scenario. I agree that ground zero would be best.

The Lotus's in Pran Buri just south of Hua Hin has stopped stocking sour cream. Bread is scattered in two or three areas around the store, and IMO prices went up after Mr. CP bought it. The same with our Makro re no sour cream. I found sour cream at Villa Market in Hua Hin at the same price of 107 baht. My Thai wife of 50 years suggested I buy more than one and put these in our chest freezer. I looked up freezing sour cream and found: "Sour cream can be stored in the freezer for up to six months. To thaw, simply transfer the amount of sour cream you need to the fridge and allow it to thaw for several hours. You'll notice the texture will be a bit watery and separated. Simply whip it with a whisk to reach a smooth consistency. Jan 5, 2566 BE" Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin, near Khao Kalock )

Yep, communications at constant level does degrade hearing. I worked in communications centers with its alarm bells, high precedence alarms, high speed printers, card punches, and more for 15 years. Did you work at 7th RRFS at Ramasun Station near Udorn Thani, Thailand?

True Visions often uses Thai language subtitles. I watched Equalizer 3 and saw the translations where curse words were used to have been censored with a black rectangle. My Panasonic is fairly old and does not offer Audio Compression. If I Stream Boost my hearing aids that helps. Also, the sound is awful compared to the other three televisions in the house. Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

I heartily agree with your humor. Paris, France for at least one U.S. agency. Again, on the pro side my mail service here just south of Hua Hin is very good. International mail office in Bangkok often delays my monthly issue of Fortean Times magazine. It's a British magazine. It gets sent somewhere in Europe, arrives in Bangkok. Couple times I've received the previous month and current month on the same day.

Good information. I've never used a VPN. Avast security program has one.

One U.S. government agency has consistently changed my zip code in Thailand, 77220, to 939, which is routed to Paris, France. I've tried shortening the province name from Prachuabkhirikhan to Pracuab as Thais often do. That does not help. I've dealt with Capital One banking. They will not send credit cards or allow me look at their web site. During a visit to the U.S., our first in nine years, I closed that account. I still must make another phone call to have the 1099-INT statement sent to my son's home in Las Vegas. Capital One bought out ING and US/REI Bank. I could access those account on-line. Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

It varies at each IO. More importantly, what has happened to my ASEAN NOW newsfeed? I used to get at least two updates daily. Now I see mention of X, formerly Twitter. It has been over a weak. I am a member or was a member. Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

Rooster, where are you these days? I miss your podcasts and written reports. I suspect you are a bit put off by the treatment one often gets here on ASEAN NOW. We just returned on 3 Oct after spending four months in Maryland and then in Las Vegas. We visited and were visited by our five adult children, their spouses, and our 12 grandchildren. I did feel somewhat like an alien in my own country. Cheers to you. Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin ) . . .

We arrived in Bangkok on 3 Oct, then back home on Sunday the 8th. No True Visions service so I called 1242. The woman said there were thunderstorms two weeks ago in Bangkok. I told her we were gone for four months to the U.S. As we were talking True Visions service came back on our four televisions. I always hesitate when someone tells me "automatic". Terry near Hua Hin . . .

HSR in Thailand seems to be stymied with negotiations between the governments of China and Thailand. There is some speculation on why this is so. I heard that the Chinese wanted to have entrepreneur rights along the railroad lines. Also, who pays the construction costs seems hazy. Design and construction by whom is moot too. Terry ( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

Yes it is. I am 74 and still impressionable.

That ain't a close encounter, whatever those may be. You'd think with advent of cell/mobile phones(*) that there would be abundant photos and videos of UAPs, but it is just the opposite. I did forward this to the Fortean Times in the UK, but think it won't make the cut. (*) During testing of Mobile Subscriber equipment (1984-1987), conducted by the U.S. Army and the French Army, we laid some of the groundwork for the architecture of sending data while maneuvering. Later Nokia picked up on and improved on all that. Testing done at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Several lucky blokes trained on equipment in France. . Terry .

"Monsoon" weather in the American Southwest has been wonky, that is, unpredictable. We return to Thailand on 3 Oct. Our house is a few miles south of Hua Hin. Terry in Las Vegas.

Our first trip in 9 years to the U.S. Departure on 1 June was quick. We return on 3 Oct from Las Vegas so I expect a quite full plane. Wheelchairs both ways. Nine years ago I and my Thai wife used the Thai immigration lanes, just a few minutes.