Today Tim had tickets to a live show based on the Thai TV show which name translates as "Oh My God". The show is a variety show which features some Thai culture and comedy. There are three hosts, two Thais and one falang. The falang, Todd, speaks Thai very well.
This was one of those shows that I was kind of luke warm on. I mainly went so that I could go with Tim. I assumed (correctly) that it would all be in Thai, and I would understand very little.
We left home very early, and arrived at the location almost an hour before the show was to start. Well, we thought the Thai Cultural Center was the right location, but the parking lot was closed. Tim called Ticket Major (Ticketmaster equivalent) and learned the show was actually across town at the King's Power theater. After calling Top for directions, Tim ended up hiring a motor cycle taxi to follow there.
We arrived at the will call window five minutes before the show started (at 2:00 p.m.) The customer service rep told Tim that a buffet was included in the price, and that we could have come from 12:00 to 2:00 to eat. So even though the show was about to start Tim, wanted to grab some food really quickly. We ended up sitting down about five minutes after the show started.
The show was okay. The dialog between the hosts was pretty boring to me, as I didn't understand most of what they were saying. The acts included some singers, dancing, and a musical Thai comedy skit. About an hour and forty minutes in the show, they broke for a fifteen minute intermission. Tim had told me that the show was only two hours long. She had a meeting at 5:00 at her office, so we ended up leaving. Apparently the show went on until about 6:00 p.m.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Mother's Day
Tomorrow Thai's celebrate mother's day. Mother's day is August 12th of each year, in honor of the Queen's birthday.
Of course the kids are off school, and Tim doesn't have to go to work. I mean, the kids have been in school three whole days (two for Aleena), so they need a break already.
Of course the kids are off school, and Tim doesn't have to go to work. I mean, the kids have been in school three whole days (two for Aleena), so they need a break already.
Not Very Appealing
By a vote of 103-4 (12 abstaining), the Thai Supreme Court voted today to reject former PM Thaksin's appeal of their verdict in the seizure of 46 billion baht of his assets. It was no great surprise that they rejected the appeal, as the "new evidence" presented as grounds for the appeal involved evidence that the court had already refused to consider. Now the the appeal was rejected, the verdict is final and it does not appear he will have the opportunity to get back those assets.
So today certainly isn't a good day for the red shirts and the former premier. First he and twenty four others appear to be on their way to being indicted as terrorists, and then the court shuts the door on any chance of getting back his seized assets. Definitely not a good day.
So today certainly isn't a good day for the red shirts and the former premier. First he and twenty four others appear to be on their way to being indicted as terrorists, and then the court shuts the door on any chance of getting back his seized assets. Definitely not a good day.
Indictments
The Bangkok Post is reporting that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is planning to indict former PM Thaksin and twenty-four other red shirt leaders with terrorism charges based on the rally early this year. Peau Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan disclosed that his source in the OAG reported that the decision has already been made. MP Jatuporn is among those to be indicted.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
1st Day School
The kids started back to school today. Yes, indeed it was a joyous day in the Vogel house. I'm not saying I won't miss them at all, but its good that they are a way for a bit so I can find out if I do.
Aleena's first official day isn't until tomorrow. She goes and meets with her teacher and some of her classmates today. I guess they want to ease those first graders in a bit. This explains why Aleena is not wearing her uniform.
There is also something different about today as far as Nalin and Jacob's uniform. No, it doesn't have anything to do with the different color pants, at least not directly. Students have PE every other day and on those days wear their PE uniforms. The 1st, 3rd and 5th graders have PE on the same day, while K, 2nd and 4th graders share PE days. Jacob and Nalin normally do not wear their regular uniforms on the same. day. Maybe this is also boring and inane trivia day. I'll let you decide the accuracy of that.
Aleena's first official day isn't until tomorrow. She goes and meets with her teacher and some of her classmates today. I guess they want to ease those first graders in a bit. This explains why Aleena is not wearing her uniform.
There is also something different about today as far as Nalin and Jacob's uniform. No, it doesn't have anything to do with the different color pants, at least not directly. Students have PE every other day and on those days wear their PE uniforms. The 1st, 3rd and 5th graders have PE on the same day, while K, 2nd and 4th graders share PE days. Jacob and Nalin normally do not wear their regular uniforms on the same. day. Maybe this is also boring and inane trivia day. I'll let you decide the accuracy of that.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Aleena
Today was a big day for Aleena. When we got home from the doctor's office, her best friend McKayla came over and visited today. This was the first time that they'd seen each other since we left for the U.S. in June. McKayla bought Aleena a matching outfit, so they have two identical sets of clothes that they can wear.
While brushing her teeth tonight, Aleena lost her first tooth. To say that she is mildly excited would be a very large understatement. She is dancing around in anticipation of the tooth fairy's visit.
Tomorrow I'll try to get a photo of the new smile.
While brushing her teeth tonight, Aleena lost her first tooth. To say that she is mildly excited would be a very large understatement. She is dancing around in anticipation of the tooth fairy's visit.
Tomorrow I'll try to get a photo of the new smile.
Emergency Decree
Its weird, but we are still under the emergency degree invoked back in April. I say weird, because it really doesn't have any noticeable impact on things around here.
One area it actually does impact is the plan for some groups to rally over the Preah Vihear temple issue with Cambodia. The government warned that a rally in Bangkok would be illegal and violate the emergency decree.
The yellow shirt PAD have been critical of how the government has handled the issue. At the last Unesco meeting, a Thai official signed some document that the PAD said actually gave away some sovereign Thai soil. The Thai government denied that the document did any such thing, and some pundits have said that the PAD's zest for the Preah Vihear temple may have more to do with bolstering its newly formed political party than concern over the temple.
One area it actually does impact is the plan for some groups to rally over the Preah Vihear temple issue with Cambodia. The government warned that a rally in Bangkok would be illegal and violate the emergency decree.
The yellow shirt PAD have been critical of how the government has handled the issue. At the last Unesco meeting, a Thai official signed some document that the PAD said actually gave away some sovereign Thai soil. The Thai government denied that the document did any such thing, and some pundits have said that the PAD's zest for the Preah Vihear temple may have more to do with bolstering its newly formed political party than concern over the temple.
Rat Out Your Bloggers
Tim and I were taking the girls downtown (no not to sell them) and I spotted a large billboard that included the Prime Minister's photo on it, and a phone number. I jokingly asked Tim if I could just call that number and the PM would answer. She told me that the sign actually was encouraging people to call the number if they saw any inappropriate material on the Internet.
While there is a chance that they might take some pornographic material off the Internet, it seems like the big target is usually speech allegedly offensive to the monarchy. I say "allegedly", because the papers cannot print the "offensive" speech. A few months back, the Thai authorities arrested someone who ran some forums for leaving posts deemed offensive on their boards for too long.
While there is a chance that they might take some pornographic material off the Internet, it seems like the big target is usually speech allegedly offensive to the monarchy. I say "allegedly", because the papers cannot print the "offensive" speech. A few months back, the Thai authorities arrested someone who ran some forums for leaving posts deemed offensive on their boards for too long.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Slingbox
Now that the Internet is not constantly disconnecting, the Slingbox seems to work pretty well. For those not in the know, the Slingbox is hooked up to a cable box in my home in Cincinnati. The Slingbox then streams that content to my PC over the Internet.
The good part is that it works. The downside is that my connection speed means that the quality is not the greatest, certainly not HD quality. Still, its pretty nice. The box in Cincinnati is a DVR, so I can record things and watch them later.
There is some software that is supposed to allow you to save the the recordings as wmv files. I may give it a try, so they I could possibly burn some DVDs for the kids. Of course, that means subjecting everyone in the house to hours of iCarly.
The good part is that it works. The downside is that my connection speed means that the quality is not the greatest, certainly not HD quality. Still, its pretty nice. The box in Cincinnati is a DVR, so I can record things and watch them later.
There is some software that is supposed to allow you to save the the recordings as wmv files. I may give it a try, so they I could possibly burn some DVDs for the kids. Of course, that means subjecting everyone in the house to hours of iCarly.
Good Night's Sleep
Last night I ended up staying awake until about 11:30 p.m. That was good, as I wanted to stop falling asleep early and waking up at 4:30 am. It worked out, as I ended up sleeping until 7:30.
Although I'm sure I'm not over jet lag completely, I am feeling so much better today. Worked out today again and was pretty wiped after 30 minutes on stair master and lifting for thirty minutes. While I don't lift a lot of weight, unlike some people at the gym, I actually spend most of that time lifting, not sitting on the machines resting. I've worked out four of the five days since I've been back, so hopefully I'm back on track.
Although I'm sure I'm not over jet lag completely, I am feeling so much better today. Worked out today again and was pretty wiped after 30 minutes on stair master and lifting for thirty minutes. While I don't lift a lot of weight, unlike some people at the gym, I actually spend most of that time lifting, not sitting on the machines resting. I've worked out four of the five days since I've been back, so hopefully I'm back on track.
Internet Issues & Kids Entertainment
Starting a little while before we left for the U.S., I started getting frequently disconnected form the Internet at my house. The frequency kept increasing to the point where yesterday it was disconnecting every five or so minutes. Not very conducive for browsing, watching my slingbox, or anything else Internet related.
Tim had someone come from True (the dsl provider) to come and take a look. Before they got here, I decided to change to my old router. After I did that, everything seemed to work. A few hours later the True guy showed up and said the line in the house was broken so we called the landlord to try to get it fixed. In the meantime, however, it seems to be working just fine. Hopefully it will continue.
I finished setting up the DVD, x-box 360 and Wii in the living room. We actually have two TVs there. The old large screen (similar to the one in our family room in Cincinnati) had broken, and while it was being repaired, Tim got an HD set. When the old one was fixed, there was really no place for it, so it ended up next to the new one. I ended up setting it up so that the kids can play x-box or watch a DVD on either TV. That way if someone is already playing or watching TV on the new TV, the others can still watch on the old one. They can only play the Wii on the old TV, but truthfully, I don't think it will get that much use.
Tim had someone come from True (the dsl provider) to come and take a look. Before they got here, I decided to change to my old router. After I did that, everything seemed to work. A few hours later the True guy showed up and said the line in the house was broken so we called the landlord to try to get it fixed. In the meantime, however, it seems to be working just fine. Hopefully it will continue.
I finished setting up the DVD, x-box 360 and Wii in the living room. We actually have two TVs there. The old large screen (similar to the one in our family room in Cincinnati) had broken, and while it was being repaired, Tim got an HD set. When the old one was fixed, there was really no place for it, so it ended up next to the new one. I ended up setting it up so that the kids can play x-box or watch a DVD on either TV. That way if someone is already playing or watching TV on the new TV, the others can still watch on the old one. They can only play the Wii on the old TV, but truthfully, I don't think it will get that much use.
Preah Vihear
The ancient Khemer temple complex of Preah Vihear is in Cambodia near the Thai-Cambodian border. Some of the land around the temple is claimed by both countries. The border dispute has heated up recently, as Cambodia has attempted to get Preah Vihear declared a World Heritage site.
Cambodia submitted a plan on its own to get the temple recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage site. Thailand has opposed the plan, claiming that the submission did not recognize its rights, and strongly protested recognition. After negotiations failed, Unesco ended up delaying its decision, citing technical deficiencies in Cambodia's application.
Unesco's decision has not resolved the issue, as Cambodia can undoubtedly refile and correct the identified issues. It is unclear whether Thailand and Cambodia can resolve their issues. Some here have made it an issue of national pride; claiming that Thailand is losing sovereign territory, so the issue definitely won't go away quietly.
Cambodia submitted a plan on its own to get the temple recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage site. Thailand has opposed the plan, claiming that the submission did not recognize its rights, and strongly protested recognition. After negotiations failed, Unesco ended up delaying its decision, citing technical deficiencies in Cambodia's application.
Unesco's decision has not resolved the issue, as Cambodia can undoubtedly refile and correct the identified issues. It is unclear whether Thailand and Cambodia can resolve their issues. Some here have made it an issue of national pride; claiming that Thailand is losing sovereign territory, so the issue definitely won't go away quietly.
Cincinnati at Night
While I was back in the States, I managed to make my way down to the river to get some photos of the city at sunset. My sister-in-law Heather joined me.
While we were there, we saw a helicopter parked in Newport along the river. I talked to one of the pilots of Stratus Helicopters. He was a really nice guy, and was really cooperative in letting me take some photos. He even let some kids who were hanging around get inside the copter. A few customers came for a ride, so I got a chance to take some photos of the helicopter in action.
Heather had some lens problems. By problems, I mean that she didn't bring the lens she intended to bring. She had no lens with a focal length less than 50mm, not your traditional landscape lens.
While we were there, we saw a helicopter parked in Newport along the river. I talked to one of the pilots of Stratus Helicopters. He was a really nice guy, and was really cooperative in letting me take some photos. He even let some kids who were hanging around get inside the copter. A few customers came for a ride, so I got a chance to take some photos of the helicopter in action.
Heather had some lens problems. By problems, I mean that she didn't bring the lens she intended to bring. She had no lens with a focal length less than 50mm, not your traditional landscape lens.
10k
Tim ran her first 10k race today. I'm not sure of her exact time, but it was in the 50's. The big thing was that she finished.
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