Diary of a farang in Isaan

[sirineou]

18 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

We have 40 fruit trees at our house in Florida. My wife has found just about every fruit tree from Thailand she could. Papaya, Nom Doc Mai Mangoes and a few others, Rose Apple, Litches, Longan, Star Fruit, Jackfruit and all kinds of other fruits. These trees grow very well in Florida. 

Where in Florida are you, We are in Palm Coast. 

So far we have Kaffir lime , Papaya,and bananas  along with our oranges and lemons. Last night it got a little cold (30F) and I covered the  lime tree with a bedsheet. Are you further south, How do you deal with the cold days in the winter and frost (we get ir a couple of times a year)? I like to find a Dragon tree (plant realy) I wonder if it will do good in FL.

Edited December 3, 2019 by sirineou

[bwpage3]

6 hours ago, sirineou said:

Where in Florida are you, We are in Palm Coast. 

So far we have Kaffir lime , Papaya,and bananas  along with our oranges and lemons. Last night it got a little cold (30F) and I covered the  lime tree with a bedsheet. Are you further south, How do you deal with the cold days in the winter and frost (we get ir a couple of times a year)? I like to find a Dragon tree (plant realy) I wonder if it will do good in FL.

Palm Bay. We have Kaffir lime as well, Navel Orange, Pink Grapefruit, Peaches, Guava, Dragon Fruit, Cherries, Lychees, Fig, and Some others

 

[Sandy Freckle]

On 12/3/2019 at 4:30 PM, IraqRon said:

If you can't understand what he is getting at then you have not experienced the Issan culture.  I live in far northern Thai and the village is of Issan extraction/culture and what he says about the tools I and all my friends, even one of Chinese heritage, have told me the same experience.   Now the food thing might be a tad overstated, but not by much....

Thank you sir..., for using your special skill......,

 and stating the blindingly obvious.????

[IraqRon]

4 hours ago, Sandy Freckle said:

Thank you sir..., for using your special skill......,

 and stating the blindingly obvious.????

and the obvious was what or which ..... the tools, the food or his overall story? 

Thanks anyway...

[owl sees all]

Owl Log: 05-12-2019

 

A few fires along the road this morning. Temperature dropped down to 12c this morning. I felt a bit chilly waiting for Mildred's bus. I waited and I waited. At seven Mrs owl phoned the  bus driver and inquired his where-a-bouts. Would you believe it? No school today! Father's day or something.

 

The daughter had brought a note home it seems, and gave it to mum. The Mrs read it and then put it down. I'm not even sure she can read Thai. She left school at 12 years old, so it's more than possible she cannot. But, rather than say she can't read she pretends she can. Would explain a lot of things down the years.

 

++++++++

 

Yesterday was an early start. School sports day. And the obligatory march through town. At the school well before seven but as usual everything started much later.

 

Interesting themes this year for the marching. One team; no plastic bags. Another was; wear crash helmets, or was it simply fitness? Then there was a no toxic waste in Thailand and the 'red devils'. I'm not sure about them; maybe 'say yes to dogs'.

 

 

 

 

Local police were there ready and at eight sharp we were off. Without the boys in brown an event like this couldn't take place.

 

 

Many of the marching girls had special shoes on; either hired or hand-me-downs. By the time they got back their legs must have been hurting. I had to supress giggling when I watched them stumbling along. Last year Mildred wore a hired pair, and took them off  half way, as they hurt so much. That in turn holed the white tights. So it was 200 baht for the shoe/boot hire and 150 baht 'cause the tights were ruined. But, no problems this year.

 

 

The fire service were also in action. Spraying water everywhere. M/c wash love? No prob'; on the house!

 

 

A lot of the mums like a special pic' of the occasion, (we bought one last year) to remind them of the big day; or just to give to to the grandparents.

 

 

It wouldn't be the same without balloons. Quick, hide the darts, while plod is on site. These were helium filled though, and were released to promote 'keep Thailand clean and tidy.

 

 

It all ended beautifully with over 1400 children on the football pitch watching the torch being lit up. And let the runing begin; wonderful.

 

++++++++

 

There is a big market every 4th day of the month near Bandung. On the shopping list was reishi and a couple of ducks to put into pond 6. Finished up buying 15 ducklings. A bit young to survive without mummy duck, but we'll do our best. At last  count; 11 survivors. When they start to quack it will be time for swimming.

 

 

At the market there was a snake show. Not one of those dodging the cobra things with a half-nose Thai, dodging its strike, but some big snakes just begging to be cuddled for 10 baht a stroke.

 

Largest was a python; about 6 metres long. No pics - as I'd exhausted the batteries at the school Olympics - but if they are there next month?!

 

++++++++

 

My mangoes have just started to germinate from seed. Much more on this later.

 

 

 

Farm this afternoon. Have to release a few new fish (bought at the market yesterday) and potter about. And yes! Must get some straw for the little ducks.

Edited December 5, 2019 by owl sees all

[FarangULong]

On 11/30/2019 at 12:01 AM, sirineou said:

It sounds to my like someone wrote this in another language and then  used Google translate .

Well his username is Finnishmen [sic].. Not everyone is a fluent English speaker, let alone can write with correct grammar and spelling. I am sure, that if those talking c.rap about him had to write a post in Finnish (or Thai or whatever), it would be far less intelligible. While his English isn't great, I understood his point... but I find that often the native speakers seem to struggle far more(*) with a) foreigners speaking not correctly and b) other native English speakers having a different accent, esp. if it's a thick one... i.e. Americans needing subtitles for certain English or Scottish people on TV...

 

And more often than not, native English speakers cannot speak a 2nd (let alone a 3rd) language, so they should be the very last ones to mock anyone, for not having great English language skills.

 

(*) Far more compared to non native English speakers, such as myself.

Edited December 5, 2019 by FarangULong
clarification

[sirineou]

20 minutes ago, FarangULong said:

Well his username is Finnishmen [sic].. Not everyone is a fluent English speaker, let alone can write with correct grammar and spelling. I am sure, that if those talking c.rap about him had to write a post in Finnish (or Thai or whatever), it would be far less intelligible. While his English isn't great, I understood his point... but I find that often the native speakers seem to struggle far more(*) with a) foreigners speaking not correctly and b) other native English speakers having a different accent, esp. if it's a thick one... i.e. Americans needing subtitles for certain English or Scottish people on TV...

 

And more often than not, native English speakers cannot speak a 2nd (let alone a 3rd) language, so they should be the very last ones to mock anyone, for not having great English language skills.

 

(*) Far more compared to non native English speakers, such as myself.

All that you said is is fine and makes good sense but it does not excuse anyone from calling other people "Monkeys" unless he is willing to be called one himself. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log: 05-12-2019

 

Yesterday was an early start. School sports day. And the obligatory march through town. At the school well before seven but as usual everything started much later.

 

Interesting themes this year for the marching. One team; no plastic bags. Another was; wear crash helmets, or was it simply fitness? Then there was a no toxic waste in Thailand and the 'red devils'. I'm not sure about them; maybe 'say yes to dogs'.

 

 

 

 

Local police were there ready and at eight sharp we were off. Without the boys in brown an event like this couldn't take place.

 

 

Many of the marching girls had special shoes on; either hired or hand-me-downs. By the time they got back their legs must have been hurting. I had to supress giggling when I watched them stumbling along. Last year Mildred wore a hired pair, and took them off  half way, as they hurt so much. That in turn holed the white tights. So it was 200 baht for the shoe/boot hire and 150 baht 'cause the tights were ruined. But, no problems this year.

 

 

The fire service were also in action. Spraying water everywhere. M/c wash love? No prob'; on the house!

 

 

A lot of the mums like a special pic' of the occasion, (we bought one last year) to remind them of the big day; or just to give to to the grandparents.

 

 

It wouldn't be the same without balloons. Quick, hide the darts, while plod is on site. These were helium filled though, and were released to promote 'keep Thailand clean and tidy.

 

 

It all ended beautifully with over 1400 children on the football pitch watching the torch being lit up. And let the runing begin; wonderful.

 

 

 

A few months ago we visited my gf’s hometown ( Lat Yao , Nakhonsawan ) and it was her nieces sports day at school.

The gf helped her with her makeup as she was , as she told me, Drum Major ( not sure if correct term, at the front twirling the baton. )

 

As she was in the yellow team afterwards she and her colleague changed into yellow football shirts and shorts .

 

 

Unfortunately the shirt had the sponsor Pornhub written across the front !!

I kept it to myself but thought it wasn’t very fitting for a couple of 14 year old girls to be wearing !!

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

A few months ago we visited my gf’s hometown ( Lat Yao , Nakhonsawan ) and it was her nieces sports day at school.

The gf helped her with her makeup as she was , as she told me, Drum Major ( not sure if correct term, at the front twirling the baton. )

As she was in the yellow team afterwards she and her colleague changed into yellow football shirts and shorts .

 

 

Unfortunately the shirt had the sponsor Pornhub written across the front !!

I kept it to myself but thought it wasn’t very fitting for a couple of 14 year old girls to be wearing !!

A bar girl told me - as I couldn't possibly have found out - that Pornhub will launch an International crypto very soon.

 

I too, have seen Pornhub avertised on girl's T-shirts. What could we say; even if we wanted to?

[FarangULong]

3 hours ago, sirineou said:

All that you said is is fine and makes good sense but it does not excuse anyone from calling other people "Monkeys" unless he is willing to be called one himself. 

 No, it doesn't. I was merely refering to the fact, that some people pretend that they didn't understand what he was saying. I can understand his anger towards his neighbours and other locals in his area though. If people were stealing my tools, or breaking them, I'd get upset too. Especially if you make a somewhat meagre living farming.

 

All that being said, not in every culture (esp. mainland Europe, but even with some UK people) does the word "monkey" have racist connotations. I.e. the southern English call the northern English "northern monkeys", Germans (some anyway, like me haha) call the English "Inselaffen" aka "Island Apes" or "Island Monkeys", and the term can be used generally to refer to idiots with somewhat primitive demeanor and/or no respect for others and their property, but it can also be a term of endearment, especially towards a child...

 

Obviously he wasn't using it as a term of endearment, but it wasn't necessarily racist either. I don't know enough about the Finnish language and their use of certain words, to make a judgment call. And neither do you, most likely.

Edited December 5, 2019 by FarangULong
added a couple sentences

[rumak]

  On 12/3/2019 at 9:37 PM, sirineou said:

Where in Florida are you, We are in Palm Coast. 

So far we have Kaffir lime , Papaya,and bananas  along with our oranges and lemons. Last night it got a little cold (30F) and I covered the  lime tree with a bedsheet. Are you further south, How do you deal with the cold days in the winter and frost (we get ir a couple of times a year)? I like to find a Dragon tree (plant realy) I wonder if it will do good in FL.

Palm Bay. We have Kaffir lime as well, Navel Orange, Pink Grapefruit, Peaches, Guava, Dragon Fruit, Cherries, Lychees, Fig, and Some others

 

 

Rumak here.  Whattaya know, learn something new (almost) every day .  Two guys with Thai wives

living in Florida and posting on TV.  And farmers to boot.   My significant other also from KhonKaen.   Planted our 100 Mango trees 4 years ago.  Expecting a nice crop this year.

We have various other things but the lady has to do almost all the hard work now.  My back is kapoot.   Sorry to disrupt the thread.  Enjoying it.     over and out

[owl sees all]

Owl Log: 07-12-2019

 

Another day off school for the daughter yesterday (Friday). Don't know why. Maybe the staff are tired after the Olympics! Mildred, and a younger cousin (never seems to attend school), accompanied me to Udon, to pick up my visa. The office has recenlty moved close to the railway station, but I found it easily enough. It was grub time. We ate at the giant food hall, next to the station. Food was OK, and quite cheap.

 

Food done, it was time to explore. First stop being the Chinese quarter. My favourite place in Udon. But on the way, I couldn't help but snap a white car parked right on a zebra. There must be at least a couple of hundred zebra crossings in Udon. The trouble is that although the markings are nice and bright at first, they don't get repainted. After a while they don't  much resemble a crossing. and the Thais just ignore them. All of them; old or freshly made.

 

 

+++++++++++

 

Police out in force. Theme for the day; m/c riders without crash helmets. But! Only stop them if they look like they have 300 baht in their pocket.

 

++++++++++

 

Very quiet at the water garden until,,,,,,,

 

 

 

 

a coach-load of children showed. They were really excited, but not as excited as the koi carp were to see them and get extra food; banquet day for them.

 

 

Good to see a farang enjoying the water garden. The first I've ever seen there. Hope he visits often.

 

 

Had a wander 'round the open areas by the lake. They do keep it very nice. Probably quite busy on those special Chinese occasions. Must visit then.

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++

 

Then it was off to Prajek park; dinosaur section. The kids had a great time and I took a few pics. The little lad (Wow), lost one of his shoes. Looked, but couldn't find it anywhere.

 

 

Who is that in the egg?

 

 

 

Someone has had a baby dinosaur away. Probably turn up in our neighbor's farm.

 

 

+++++++++++

 

I'll have to be more ruthless with these pics. They need culling; big time!! I reckon I've taken well over 100k in Thailand alone; saved onto a dozen flash drives. Most pics are family orientated, and quiet ordinary, but there are some decent ones depicting other countries, and just a couple of crackers.

I used a small 'Vitivar' camera for years. Could slip easily in my pocket. Unfortunately it was dropped in Laos (not by me) and I couldn't get it repaired. Then I used a Samsung, until that was dropped; by me this time.

Since then I've used an ancient 'Minolta Dimage'. Bulky old thing that straps around the neck, but it does have great zoom capabilities.

 

+++++++++++

 

@Faraday had said about the annual Udon market. Had a quick look with the children.

 

I like markets, and our local monthly one is the nuts. Decent hats, shorts, shirts, shoes all for 30 baht a throw; new stuff a little extra. All sorts of home brews and the natural remedies you could want, snakes, iguanas. hundreds of trees, fish and terrapins, and ducks.

 

Stop in the close-by Kabota showroom, have a quick wander 'round, show interest in a tractor, pick up a brochure, get free bottled water, coffee and hassle-free parking (not me of course; wouldn't dream of it).

 

+++++++++++

 

Bought a nice cage for the ducklings in Penn.  Mrs Owl was moaning about all the mess. Mildred gave the ducks a yak-yak, and said to consider being more tidy in future. Her mother didn't appreciate the lecture, and threatened to throw them into a pond on Saturday (tomorrow). Mildred tearful. Wife in a strop. Now the big question is!! Should I ask Mrs Owl to make me a cuppa, make one myself, or go without?

 

 

All calm on the Isaan front at 19-30 ,  I'll post in the morning.

 

+++++++++++

 

Another chilly one. The temperature reads 11C outside and 16C inside. This cold spell should hopefully be over by Tuesday. The electric, and water  keep going off. Water heater put us in the dark last night. So cold wash.

 

Misses just got up, and Wow's mother (Mrs Owl's sister) outside looking for a shoe.

[Bredbury Blue]

On 12/7/2019 at 11:46 AM, owl sees all said:

Wife in a strop. Now the big question is!! Should I ask Mrs Owl to make me a cuppa, make one myself, or go without?

I know that dilemma only too well. They are highly emotional creatures the Thai female  ????

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/29/2019 at 8:17 PM, owl sees all said:

Regarding the daughter-in-law; it was the school attitude to the students, rather than the actual teaching. A couple of instances spring to mind, but there were many.

 

We were at the farm one morning at 11-00, and a lady rode by on her m/c to say that 'Nan' was not at school. The wife went back to the village, and sure enough, her daughter was there. It turned out that she had been sent home to have a haircut. i went up the school and spoke to the one person that could speak English. It turned out that the whole class (43 of them) has been dismissed for the day at 10 in the morning. The lady teacher had also left the school.

When she was 16 or so, we went to the school to ask if Nan could go on a m/c. (She had been nagging about it to her mum). We saw the head teacher and he informed us that the daughter had not been to school for weeks. (No wonder she wanted to go by m/c). I asked to see the register, to check attendance, I was told they did not keep formal records. Each teacher took a mental note.

That first 5/6 years at the village were full of frustrations. All concerned, Mrs Owl, Nan, myself and the school, could have, and should have done better. (The topic 'Poisonous B in L' showed that i was not alone; frustration quite common in Isaan.)

I want Mildred to be able to compete in whatever field she journeys to. Along the way she has simply to enjoy life. 

I think I did my best to enjoy my school days, but I learned little and obtained zero qualifications. Didn't stop me becoming a nurse and travelling the world. Probably have to go to uni even in LOS to become a nurse, so only need enough to be able to get into uni, not that I'm suggesting she becomes a member of that abused and bullied occupation.

 

"could have and should have done better" should be tattooed on everyone's forehead. Every human being on the planet could have and should have done better. When I think of my lost opportunities, it makes me sad.

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

I know that dilemma only too well. They are highly emotional creatures the Thai female  ????

The problem (this time) was the ducklings. Mildred wanted a couple of ducks and the wife took charge; finishing up with 15. They had obviously only recently hatched and were without mummy, and ducks tend to stick closely to mummy for a few weeks.

Without the mummy duck they are insecure, frightened and unsure. Mrs Owl dropped them all into a bucket of water on the evening of the 4th.. That night there were deaths. Mildred brought a couple of barely live ducklings into the home and put them onto the oil heater. Tensions were running high. I said to keep them at home until they could quack. That could be a few weeks.

The problem I find with my wife, is that she feels she has to win a discussion, often at all costs. Out come recriminations, lies, and anger. I have to ignore her in order for the hostile situation to subside.

Anyway, the ducks are still outside the door, but only eight.

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I think I did my best to enjoy my school days, but I learned little and obtained zero qualifications.

<snip>

"Could have and should have done better" should be tattooed on everyone's forehead. Every human being on the planet could have and should have done better. When I think of my lost opportunities, it makes me sad.

I hated school. Mr Sergent, the Science teacher, was the only one I actually got on with.

In later life (27) I read for a degree in Civil Engineering. Did very well in the maths, and did a post grad on the history of maths and civil engineering. Became a lecturer to civil engineering students for a few years after.

The "could have and should have done better" was regarding the wife's daughter. I agree that we can all live and learn, but the spell from when she was 14 to when she went off to live with her dad at 18, rated as one of the low periods of my life.

But!!!! I'm blessed with the most wonderful daughter. The journey of life certainly can be mysterious.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log: 10-12-2019

 

Just so quiet. Maybe it's the cold; 11C this morning at 8am. Very little traffic on the local roads and the village has no-one walking about. Even the sugar carts are missing.

 

There is a distinct absence of kites this year. I've seen the sellers lined up at the road-side along H2 when I came home from Udon, but I've yet to see one in the air.

 

Went to a local town yesterday for the wife to buy some things for her elderly mother. Pills and tonics; 800 baht. While I was parked up I noticed some little animals lined up at the Buddha site. Very sweet; In twos

 

 

 

+++++++++++

 

The ducklings are doing  OK. No more dead 'ns; touch wood. That's 8 out of the original 15 now doing nicely. They are incredibly messy. As soon as a plate of grub is in front of them they kick it everywhere.

 

+++++++++++

 

Mildred not at school today. That's one day in school out of the last four (not counting w/e). I don't mind at all really. It gives me chance to educate her a little; and she hardly notices the new words she is learning or the subtle input of info'. One of the posters on the wall is a world map. I reckon she can name over 30 countries now; and other little things too, like populations, languages and other other snippets of information that I hope will be useful one day. If we get to England, I'm thinking that she might not be too far behind (but top of the class in Thai). Her drawing is exceptional though, and maybe there is a future for her down that avenue.

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++

 

Election in UK this week. I've had a wager on the actual seat count. We'll see soon enough if I'm in the money or not

 

Farm later today; at one/two pm.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I hated school. Mr Sergent, the Science teacher, was the only one I actually got on with.

In later life (27) I read for a degree in Civil Engineering. Did very well in the maths, and did a post grad on the history of maths and civil engineering. Became a lecturer to civil engineering students for a few years after.

The "could have and should have done better" was regarding the wife's daughter. I agree that we can all live and learn, but the spell from when she was 14 to when she went off to live with her dad at 18, rated as one of the low periods of my life.

But!!!! I'm blessed with the most wonderful daughter. The journey of life certainly can be mysterious.

 

I learned nothing from my teachers except that adults are not all good people.

Whenever I see teachers demanding more money I curse all their ilk as they were rubbish at my schools and don't deserve respect. Now all they do is i ndoctrinate their students in stupid things, such as the new religion that we all know about on here.

I did have one decent teacher, because he helped us make kites, but he didn't teach me anything that I remember. Most I remember because they were horrible, or useless.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

The "could have and should have done better" was regarding the wife's daughter. I agree that we can all live and learn, but the spell from when she was 14 to when she went off to live with her dad at 18, rated as one of the low periods of my life.

My first partner had a daughter age 9 to 14 while I lived with them. OMG. The trials and tribulations of a young  girl are unbelievable, and the boy thing was just awful. Her mother got her on the pill, which saved her till she was 18, at least. Ended up with a kid and a ruined life.

I gave up after 5 years of it, and was a million % better off for leaving them. I'd never have even contemplated another woman with offspring.

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My first partner had a daughter age 9 to 14 while I lived with them. OMG. The trials and tribulations of a young  girl are unbelievable, and the boy thing was just awful. Her mother got her on the pill, which saved her till she was 18, at least. Ended up with a kid and a ruined life.

I gave up after 5 years of it, and was a million % better off for leaving them. I'd never have even contemplated another woman with offspring.

The wife's daughter was 14 when I moved to the village. The problems were mostly because the wife could not see what was staring her in the face. When she wanted to ride the m/c to school; I reluctently agreed (for want of a quiet life), only to find that the m/c helmet (that I insisted she wore) was being dropped off at Grandma's, before she left the village. When I found out, quite by accident, the wife took her side. There were many, many similar instances. Very stressful time for all.

 

Now she has two children from differnet fathers in different parts of the country and doesn't live with either.

 

 

[Sandy Freckle]

On 12/5/2019 at 1:34 PM, IraqRon said:

and the obvious was what or which ..... the tools, the food or his overall story? 

Thanks anyway...

It was a rhetorical question..., 4 syllables..., look it up in your Funk and Wagnells  

[Lacessit]

18 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I learned nothing from my teachers except that adults are not all good people.

Whenever I see teachers demanding more money I curse all their ilk as they were rubbish at my schools and don't deserve respect. Now all they do is i ndoctrinate their students in stupid things, such as the new religion that we all know about on here.

I did have one decent teacher, because he helped us make kites, but he didn't teach me anything that I remember. Most I remember because they were horrible, or useless.

There are teachers who just do it by the numbers, rote fashion. And there are teachers who can actually get their students enthused with the subject matter.

If you are referring to climate change as the new religion, I am surprised someone with your Antarctic experience would take the denialist view, given what is happening there with the Larsen Ice Shelf. I was fortunate enough to get a good grounding in the sciences by a succession of teachers at the secondary and tertiary level. The laws of thermodynamics are not religious dogma, and they are what is in operation.

[owl sees all]

Owl log: 13-12-2019

 

Good to see the neem tree at the farm prospering. A very big tree, just by our road, but in the next farm, was cut down a couple of years ago; sad. Let's hope this one can live for 20 years or more.

 

 

The cooler weather had had an effect on the mekongs. Only saw five at feeding time yesterday. They do not like changes of any description. Carp don't seem to care. They just gobble down the food.

 

Mildred told me that her class had a math test on Thursday, and two of the boys got zero. Reminded me of an exam when I was at school; scored just 2 out of 100. Strange as I left the paper blank and told dad. He wrote a letter to the school asking why I actually got 2 and not zero. I was later called into the head's office and handed a sealed letter to take home. Dad opened it and just laughed. One point for putting my name and one for the date. Good job the subject was already on the paper, or I might have scored 3.

 

Not quiet so chilly this morning. Mildred off to school without a scarf. A lot of dogs along the road, but not bothering anything or anyone. I think they are just tolerated by the villagers, but they must be getting food, or they would form a pack and go seek it.

 

+++++++++++

 

No more duck fatalities. They are looking strong and it's nice to see them allowing hand feeding.

 

 

+++++++++++

 

There is a big chicken gala at the w/e. Villagers are putting their chickens outside for show. There is a lot of interest. Money is changing hands. I'll try to find out where the fighting will be, but it's very secretive. There are look-outs on the day to warn of approaching plod. Big pay day for them if they can disrupt the occasion; which they have done in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++

 

Got one eye on yesterday's UK election results. Signing off for now.

Edited December 13, 2019 by owl sees all

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/11/2019 at 1:44 PM, Lacessit said:

If you are referring to climate change as the new religion, I am surprised someone with your Antarctic experience would take the denialist view, given what is happening there with the Larsen Ice Shelf.

Not sure how to respond to that. I guess that I just don't believe that we can change climate no matter how many bird killing windmills they build or how rich car makers get selling electric cars. Just too many people on the planet and we are doomed anyway because humanity is going to pollute itself into extinction whatever happens with the climate. The seas are already dying.

They can't even get the car thing right. Electric batteries are a dead end, as just not enough raw material on the planet for billions of vehicles. They should be pursuing hydrogen, whether as fuel cells, or as the motive power. While the alarmists are saying we must change, governments all over the planet are encouraging expanded air travel- such hypocrites. When the last human dies, it will be because of what people did to destroy the environment, not because it got a couple of degrees hotter.

 

RE Antarctica, Larsen or not, it is changing. Scott Base can be completely snow free in summer, and the sea ice in front can all disappear, which never happened when I was there. That does not mean that we can change it back by riding bicycles.

What Antarctica taught me is that humans are nothing. Nature wins every time and we either work with nature, or we die. Even dressed in all the warm gear, I couldn't look into the wind or I'd have lost my nose.

Scott and his party died because he hated the place and thought nature was an enemy to be conquered through determination and human en devour, Amundsen went to the pole and back like it was an adventure, working with nature. No one died, except his dogs. Cherry Garrard and the others going to Crozier in the winter almost died because they did not respect nature.

Some guys went down there to make money- they hated the place and hid in the buildings, afraid to go out in a blizzard. I loved going out in a blizzard. I'd sit in the lea of a building and experience the raw power of nature. The idea that mere humans can tame nature is pathetic, and dreamed of by people that have never experienced real nature in the raw. I've been lucky in my life to experience real nature, as opposed to the insipid version that townies see. They know nothing.

Edited December 13, 2019 by thaibeachlovers

[ThaiBunny]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not sure how to respond to that. I guess that I just don't believe that we can change climate no matter how many bird killing windmills they build or how rich car makers get selling electric cars. Just too many people on the planet and we are doomed anyway because humanity is going to pollute itself into extinction whatever happens with the climate. The seas are already dying.

Have you set the date yet to slash your wrists?

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

Have you set the date yet to slash your wrists?

If I were suicidal, have you considered how that might have been received?

Any more insightful comments to make?

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Reminded me of an exam when I was at school; scored just 2 out of 100.

LOL. I got 14 in an exam subject for university entrance. That's what happens when the school forces students to take subjects they don't want to study, and the teacher not only hates the pupils, but hates teaching. If he had any enthusiasm for the subject, or love for the pupils he kept it well hidden.

Needless to say, I didn't go to university, but back then jobs were done on ability and not by virtue of a piece of paper.

[Lacessit]

12 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not sure how to respond to that. I guess that I just don't believe that we can change climate no matter how many bird killing windmills they build or how rich car makers get selling electric cars. Just too many people on the planet and we are doomed anyway because humanity is going to pollute itself into extinction whatever happens with the climate. The seas are already dying.

They can't even get the car thing right. Electric batteries are a dead end, as just not enough raw material on the planet for billions of vehicles. They should be pursuing hydrogen, whether as fuel cells, or as the motive power. While the alarmists are saying we must change, governments all over the planet are encouraging expanded air travel- such hypocrites. When the last human dies, it will be because of what people did to destroy the environment, not because it got a couple of degrees hotter.

 

RE Antarctica, Larsen or not, it is changing. Scott Base can be completely snow free in summer, and the sea ice in front can all disappear, which never happened when I was there. That does not mean that we can change it back by riding bicycles.

What Antarctica taught me is that humans are nothing. Nature wins every time and we either work with nature, or we die. Even dressed in all the warm gear, I couldn't look into the wind or I'd have lost my nose.

Scott and his party died because he hated the place and thought nature was an enemy to be conquered through determination and human en devour, Amundsen went to the pole and back like it was an adventure, working with nature. No one died, except his dogs. Cherry Garrard and the others going to Crozier in the winter almost died because they did not respect nature.

Some guys went down there to make money- they hated the place and hid in the buildings, afraid to go out in a blizzard. I loved going out in a blizzard. I'd sit in the lea of a building and experience the raw power of nature. The idea that mere humans can tame nature is pathetic, and dreamed of by people that have never experienced real nature in the raw. I've been lucky in my life to experience real nature, as opposed to the insipid version that townies see. They know nothing.

You're taking a more gloomy view than me; however, we can't all be optimists.

Hydrogen is not the answer to the heat problem. It is the answer to the carbon problem. Electricity from solar and wind power is starting to make inroads. Efficient battery storage is the next frontier. A smartphone nowadays has more computing power than a mainframe of 30 years ago.

I'd like to think science could put us back on a better path. It's politicians and economists that are getting in the way, plus vested interests.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You're taking a more gloomy view than me; however, we can't all be optimists.

Hydrogen is not the answer to the heat problem. It is the answer to the carbon problem. Electricity from solar and wind power is starting to make inroads. Efficient battery storage is the next frontier. A smartphone nowadays has more computing power than a mainframe of 30 years ago.

I'd like to think science could put us back on a better path. It's politicians and economists that are getting in the way, plus vested interests.

 

 

Are you aware of the amount of rare earth material that goes into a smart phone, and how much pollution rare earth refining causes? Not for nothing do most nations refuse to process it.

People have become so obsessed with "computing power", that they disregard the destruction and misery that is caused by the making of the things. We don't NEED more computing power. They went to the moon with a computer having the power of a modern toaster, and slide rules. Perhaps humans need to consider the life of poor people before they think 5G is important so they can play games faster.

 

Humanity had a golden opportunity to advance the human condition between WW2 and the Vietnam war, and greed won, people lost. NB, there were no personal computers or mobile phones back then and we were better off for it as human beings. We had real friends, as opposed to fake ones on social media. Families talked to each other at meal times etc.

[owl sees all]

31 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You're taking a more gloomy view than me; however, we can't all be optimists.

Hydrogen is not the answer to the heat problem. It is the answer to the carbon problem. Electricity from solar and wind power is starting to make inroads. Efficient battery storage is the next frontier. A smartphone nowadays has more computing power than a mainframe of 30 years ago.

I'd like to think science could put us back on a better path. It's politicians and economists that are getting in the way, plus vested interests.

 

 

Bang on the money.
 
There is 10,000 times more natural energy, than mankind requires at any time. If Spain was fully covered in solar cells, that would be enough to power the earth.
 
Personally, I think transport, needs to utilize the sun. Airships can carry massive loads, and be powered by solar cells. Trains can be directly powered by the sun. Cars, trucks, pick-ups, busses etc, can all be powered by natural energy.

Edited December 13, 2019 by owl sees all