GammaGlobulin

Dear Friends, I never watch TIKTOK, but you don't need to be a TikTok addict to know about MONK MODE, especially in Thailand, one might guess. I have been in MONK MODE since stepping ashore here about a decade ago, when, not for the first time, I came to this large-and-getting-unfortunately-larger city in the north. Without having resorted to MONK MODE, I doubt very much that I would be able to read Thai script, and I enjoy this lifestyle mode, as well. If you often enter MONK MODE for weeks, months and years, how has this choice benefited (benefitted) you? If you are still not crystal clear whether or not you have ever entered MONK MODE, then here is a link to an article addressing the topic from The Guardian, a rag that many of you might find annoying: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/03/can-monk-mode-help-improve-my-productivity I plan on remaining in Monk Mode for many good reasons, such as there are too many tourists here now, maybe the smoke, the heat, and also my laziness when it comes to getting out the door unless I have a delivery from Lazada. Maybe all of the above is true of you? Best regards, Gamma

Square Hole; Round Peg? Good old Peggotty, do you remember her? In days gone by, people were permitted to be eccentric. Many decades ago, people enjoyed and glorified the Dickensian characters they met on the street. Now, nobody tolerates a fool. I grew up immersed in books that I loved. These characters were my friends. Life, for me, was just too boring. Here I am, for example, with my nursemaid Peggotty; And what a kind person was she. I would never speak anything but the highest of praises for her kindness and selflessness toward everyone she met. Most people here do not understand me. And, this misunderstanding sometimes breeds contempt. I understand this and easily accept this without reciprocating anything but good will towards all. I am sure that if more people had read books, like me, when they were young, everybody might now be benefitting from such a novel pastime. I am full of puns today, it seems. Good day! Regards, Gamma

Did you say, "Normal Farangs in Thailand?" Definitely not. That's impossible. Farangs in Thailand, for the most part, have been considered very STRANGE in their home countries. and have consequently been banished, mostly. This is why I never: Hang with Farang! Yes, in reply to the OP, Farang in Thailand are most certainly strange, and stranger than most Thai understand. Only the Doors knew how strange the Farang can be, when cornered in Thailand:

What is the highest frequency tone you can hear at this point in your life? The highest frequency tone one can hear, beginning from birth to death, can be graphed on a curve with a slope that is negative and never positive. What is the highest frequency tone (sound) you can hear this year? I can hear about 14.2kHz. And, from now on in, I know that it will continue to be downhill from here. What about you?

What a fantastic Songkran Holiday this has been. Hopefully, all contributors to TV have enjoyed blessed time with their families and close friends. I know that I have; I mean that I have spent time here with you. And now, it is a New Monday, a New MANIC Monday, perchance. And it is time to get back to more reality and fewer water blessings. So, until next Songkran, I bid you....a fond and semisweet adieu. Next year at this time, I hope to share with you, once again, .... Another TOP 1O of the Global TO 50... Because, for sure, I will be tuning in to Rick on his UTube channel, 12 months from now, to see what is new, and what is just the same old, same old, as usual. I found Rick Beato's Utube channel last week. I had gone in search of what might be wrong with this year's Top 10. And then, Rick's Hilarious Channel popped up. It was just what the doctor had ordered, I guess. I have no idea who he is or what he stands for, if anything. But, why wait for next year when you can get next year's TOP 10, NINE Months ago!: These Great Songs never change, really... Enjoy if you will...

I should have come to Thailand sooner. I should have spent half of every year in Thailand, and the other half of every year in China/Taiwan/Kyoto/Hong Kong. This way, I would not have any regrets. I also regret not having spent an additional 10 years at university. Those good years, when one is young enough to study hard cannot be recouped later in life. What is the purpose of life, anyway, if it is not the pursuit of knowledge? Or, maybe some are just not curious enough? Curiosity is the only real spice of life. Show me someone without a basketful of curiosity, and you will have found a dullard. Curiosity about reality is not something that one can enhance through hard work. More is the pity that curiosity cannot be learned. Because, we do know, for example, that there is an inverse correlation between much of schooling and the sense of curiosity. One should, however, never be curious about what is beyond the grave, unless one is not a scientist. We also should not be too curious about crop circles, unless we understand that they are not created by ETs. I regret that I will never have the opportunity to visit Mars, most likely. The great potential regret that I might have suffered did not happen. The Webb Telescope is now fully deployed, and did not blow up during launch. It seems to be performing flawlessly. At the very least, I have lived long enough to see the Webb in operation. Such a magnificent achievement. So...I am lucky. I do not have as many regrets as I would have thought. ChokDee

Who can believe? Another year gone by. Such nostalgia for last year, and the years that went before that one, too. So much water under the dam and over the bridge. Look out, though. It's all gonna be comin round again. Can't stand the thought. The Itzy Bitzy Spider song from this film gives me the creeps. I refuse to do this all again! Still, and maybe, our days may just be finally numbered, this time? Such Heartburn.

Give it time.... Let's all come back in 300 years and listen to Abba. Remember, we are still, today, falling in love with JS Bach music that was first played in 1710, or thereabouts. Anyway, GPT4 can do better than the Beach Boys in 2023, for sure.

I doubt that Bach would be interested in any Hall of Fame, as he is in a set of one, a unique set. However, concerning the Hall of Fame, and other TOP of the Chart Music some people enjoy, including the World's Top Chart Music today, here is a critique of the same that might be worth a view... There is no beauty in Hall of Fame or Top-of-The-Chart music. This music is composed and played in order to be quickly placed on the dust heap of history, and quickly forgotten. If you want to know the difference between Music and music, please watch this hilarious video, and have a harmless chuckle. In fact, all music is good if one, or anyone, enjoys listening. And, same with a tree that falls in the forest. And, concerning some music, same with a bear that....oh well...

Still, you must admit that I fought the good fight, while I lasted. However, one just cannot maintain the tempo, month after month, and still have a life. "Something's Gotta Give," Marilyn. Anyway, I think I found a new hobby; I have been trying to comment on UTube for a while. However, some UTubers can be finnicky about humor they do not perceive to be humorous. Some guys just don't know what's funny and what's not. Ho Hum, nothing new on UTube, I guess.

SATO is Good. He is interesting because after birth in Japan, he immediately chose to move to the mean streets of Philly where he discovered the delights of BAROQUE, Baroque EVERYTHING. Who knows if he ever survived on Cheesesteaks while in Philly. But then, he made an even better move, after a spell at Julliard, to take up his bowing at the Netherlands Bach Society. All in all, Sato has made many good choices during his short life, so far. Anyway, as you will agree, this Bach Society is a gift to the world. We can live where we want, and still enjoy the ultimate in music. Nothing, NOTHING, tops JS Bach. Everybody knows this. No debate is even entertained on this matter.

Strangely enough, unlike in the Netherlands, in Thailands, I have never seen people gather outside a house, in droves, just to listen to people sing the praises of JS Bach. Maybe, someday this will happen in the Thailands, it is hoped. One can only wish. Again, wishing everyone here a very pheasant and Blessed Sunday on the last day of the Blessed Songkran Holiday. Again, Happy New Year! Although, in almost cases, I do prefer instrumental JS Bach, yet, once in a while, the Human Voice is also acceptable for a change in listening pleasure. Viva JS Bach! But not, so much, Viva Zapata, because, Hollywood Productions get old, while JS Bach is Eternal. Regards, Globby

IF one is to survive in East Asia or SE Asia, without going completely BONKERS, then there is only one FINAL SOLUTION in order to escape the RANCID ASIAN POP Music...ONLY ONE Solution. And that is JS Bach, and Bach played as loud as necessary at any given moment, especially during Thai Holidays and Music Festivals. Years ago in Thailand, years before amplified music, during a time when we could often listen to classical Thai and Chinese instruments being played by masters with no need for electrical amplification, then we could have probably gotten along more easily without so much JS Bach to save us. But times have changed. Today's pop music is not music, for the most part, and is not, culturally speaking, Thai, either. The pop music which is being blasted at us throughout the nation, in the countryside and in the cities, is mindless rancid garbage compared to what music should be. Therefore, the only way to survive is to either dig a sound bunker 10 meters below the surface of the earth, or to play JS Bach, or, when the Music Festival is upon one, then you will need a bunker AND Bach. By the way: I have been enjoying the Netherlands Bach Society for a few years. Often, Bach is played on period instruments. In fact, I often prefer modern instruments, just because they sound better. And yet, I enjoy period instruments, as well, when in the mood. The Netherlands Bach Society is a service provided free to the world. I just hope we feel sufficient gratitude. Free is a very small price to pay for Sanity. Regards, Gammy

I plan to move to Chiang Rai in the future where I will be able to listen to more JS Bach, and also enjoy a more culturally traditional Thai life with plenty of Chinese Green Tea. Or, I may choose to live in CM half the year and CR the other half of the year. I may opt to live in Chiang Rai during the Smoky Season, and return To Chiang Mai during the Raining Season. It's all up in the air, this year, but I hope to make the move in the relative future, yet only for six months of each year, if possible.

My Dearest Friends, Above all, Songkran is a family holiday, and family is important above most else in Asian cultures. For those who are a year older this year, I wish you an even better new year. I like almost everything about Songkran holiday, other than the water fights and loud "music", or what has been called by some, the mindless and repetitious Thud, Thud, Thud...Thud-Thud...Thud, Thud, Thud...Thud-Thud. There was some of that this morning beginning quite early, but it seems to have mostly dissipated as of SongTome-Krung. There is only one change I might make to Songkran, for those who enjoy music: I would try to promote more love of JS Bach. The diversity of JS Bach is broad enough to appeal to everyone. JS Bach has composed music for almost every occasion, and most of it is unforgettable. Try this on for size for this year's New Year Celebrations: aa. Opening Chorus Herr, unser Herrscher from St John Passion BWV 245 | Netherlands Bach Society bb. St John Passion (1725 version) BWV 245 - Jacobs | Netherlands Bach Society See you guys on The Other Side. Happy New Year. Let this be a time in Thailand where, as usual, there is good will among men. And, May JS Bach continue to grow on you, and everyone. Regards, GammaGlobulin

Some still refer to Thaiwan as Formosa. Thaiwan is a more appropriate name, in fact.

So anyway, the most that can be easily gleaned from this tune is that this guy Nanker has begun supplying this girl with diamonds, and Nanker also hints that he will supply her with more. However, he continually warns this girl not to play with fire. However, what is unclear is why her mother lost her diamonds, and why she must get her kicks in Stepney. Also, it is not discussed whether these were blood diamonds. We only know that, if this girl does not play with fire, then she will have more diamonds. She will have others. Such an unsettling song. And, as well, this song pops up in the Finney film, Shoot The Moon. Likewise, this film ends in such an abrupt and unsettling way. For example, in the final tennis-court scene, Finney, after being beaten to a pulp by his estranged wife's lover who built the tennis courts, reaches out to his wife, aptly named FAITH. However, Faith seems reluctant to grasp the hand which is extended to her. Therefore, this Fire song is not only CRYPTIC, as was stated above, but it pops up in an equally cryptic film. The song is amazing. Finney is always amazing. Play it again, Sam! And, by the way, what about Rick Blaine? Did he and Ilsa ever meet up again, after the war, and get it on? If one is of a certain temperament, maybe one should refrain from listening or watching content like this, unless one is willing to pay the price of lasting uncertainty, and sleepless nights.

Well, I think old Nanker dropped the ball when he wrote this song with no resolution to it. The song stops abruptly. There is too much left unsaid. Why could her father not be with her mother, for example. Did he die prematurely? Did his mother kick out her father to be with another man? Will the daughter follow in her mother's footsteps? Has this guy Nanker never said more about this song?

Shoot the Moon? This tune popped up in this Finney film, as well. Rather haunting. RIP Finney... We all love and miss you. Thankfully, Mick is still jumping; He's not dead yet, by a long shot.

Dear Friends, During the past 58 years, have you been puzzling the meaning of this rolling enigma? There is too much left unsung in this threatening song. What kind of kicks? Who is the old man? The father, the husband, or somebody else? Back in 1965, what was it REALLY like to live in Stepney? And then, how was it in Knightsbridge in 1964? Were the two places, Stepney and Knightsbridge, better than cities and districts that one might find in the UK, today? I love chamber music. I love Baroque classical music. Is this FIRE song the closest to baroque that there is? How much do you love this song? Is it even possible to dislike this song written by Nanker Phelge? Who is this guy Nanker? What a name. Whatever happened to the young woman? Did she move to Stepney, eventually? Regards, Gamma

Yes. A miracle. Every breath I take, Every move I make, A miracle. In fact, I am stardust. That's the real miracle.

But... Nothing Zip Nada

I prayed: IF you are God, show me a sign.

And so, I prayed again

How can my God say He is not God? This makes no sense.