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"The Rounds"
Songkhran Right Around the Corner * * * * * * * * * * Just a reminder you can sign-up for free to receive the BangkokAtoZ.com Updates (plain text) e-mail to always know when I add something new to the site or modify it in some important way. A great way to be sure YOU don't miss something of interest, best of all is that this service is absolutely FREE! * * * * * * * * * * This week has been pretty hectic. Started off with me downloading the software to record radio shows, but having trouble figuring it out (solved today). Wednesday night I got pretty sick with Bangkok Belly from some spoiled meat I got in a dish from a street vendor. Yesterday I was so useless it wouldn't have been a hard call for someone to say, "Let's just shoot him and put him out of his misery." Been awhile since I felt that bad. I do feel vastly better today, if tired, but fooled around with the software etc., dealt with a bunch of e-mail, and just now -- 8:15 P.M. Friday -- working on this column. But today was productive in another way; see the next story. [Friday, March 17, 2006] * * * * * * * * * * As I mentioned above, I got my software problem for recording shows for RadioBangkok.net sorted today, thanks to the good offices of Bill, the gentleman from there with whom I'm dealing. I already had a test column recorded -- but couldn't get it to save in the proper format. Just because I use a computer extensively doesn't mean I understand much about one! Anyway, it's in the correct format now and on it's way through the ether of the Internet to Bill. Once everything is worked out, I'll be recording regularly, largely based on this column, but not exclusively. We spent a fair amount of time this afternoon bouncing ideas of each other, some of which we'll look into further, others which we thought about them a minute then said, "Nyaaah." I don't want to get into details yet, since much remains to decided. (I have a feeling we'll be spending a fair amount of time either talking on the phone or meeting. I will say we did retain a number of the ideas and do plan to get into them further. One nice feature of an Internet radio station is you don't have to tune in at the scheduled times -- the shows will be available, for instance, as downloads, including for IPod's. The company is pretty impressive. The folks there have seen the number of listners increase at a rather astonishing rate the past few months. And they're in various other negotiations for some exciting possibilities. Obviously, we both hope this turns out to be a productive symbiotic relationship: they get content (and some exposure) and I get a lot of exposure. And yes, there are commercial possibilities as well. Once I have stuff online, I hope you'll tune in and listen -- and listen to other offerings the station has. [Friday, March 17, 2006]
* * * * * * * * * * The current impasse between those opposing the Prime Minister and him and his supporters has some features that might be of concern and some that might be encouraging. Conciliatory movement between the parties involved remains at a standstill, the Prime Minister standing firm that he won't resign, the opposition insisting not only that he do so, but that he be banned forever from any political activity. On the other hand, an increasing number of respected figures are weighing on the side of some sort of conciliation. For example, senior military officials have been reported to be hoping to see that happen. (I got a curious message about this. The writer asked, in apparent irritation, when I was going to stop worrying about Thais so much? The only honest answer I can give is "not any time soon -- if ever." I live here. I have Thai friends. Just as I lived in China and Macau and developed friends in those places, and I still follow events in those places.) There is one major driving force to bring the situation to an end -- quickly: this June marks the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King to the throne, and I suppose all sorts of people will come for that. As all of you familiar with Thailand already well know, His Majesty is deeply (and rightfully) highly respected and venerated. [Friday, March 17, 2006] * * * * * * * * * * I was glad to hear that some projects that will help Cambodia greatly are moving ahead at full steam. I don't know much by way of detail, but in broad strokes I know infrastructure projects and projects to generate income for everyone in a win-win setting are very much in the works. There are also the ongoing concerns about landmines and other unexploded ordinance, concerns that are being addressed, if not as quickly as everyone would like, but it's an enormous undertaking, and a dangerous and costly one. And plain time-consuming, from what people in the business have told me. But there is progress. I'm amazed anew every time I go to Phnom Penh and see the rapid changes -- for the good -- going on there. In this regard, Phnom Penh reminds me a little of Macau and Hongkong. I slightly know one senior Cambodian official who is involved in one way or the other with a number of these things, perhaps most notably the clearance of explosives. He works tirelessly -- that I know from good friends of my own who interact with him regularly and frequently. Good luck to Cambodia and her people. [Friday, March 17, 2006] * * * * * * * * * * Songkhran Right Around the Corner Thai New Year, Songkhran, will be upon us in less than a month. If you're not familiar with the traditional activities associated with this celebration, they include pouring a tiny amount of water on another person's shoulder and to lightly dab the other person's face with a bit of power. I've heard this can still be found, but I sure haven't ever seen it. Long-time readers don't need to worry; I'm treating this in summary form. Now, much of the time, there are wild water fights, including those in which some are unwilling "combatants" who want to do nothing more than get away. As I normally do, I'll leave the country for the Days of Madness. A fair number of my friends just lock themselves in their homes for several days, but I refuse to be made prisoner in my own home, you know? If you don't want to get drenched, better start making your travel plans now. [Friday, March 17, 2006] * * * * * * * * * * Enough for one go . . . Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
E-mail Change Notification Sign-up Sign-up here for e-mail notification when I add or change something on the site. Just go to the sign-up page. * * * * * * * * * * Where Is *Your* Name??? So you've been a slacker and still haven't signed up for the free BangkokAtoZ.com Updates Mailing List??? ;-) Well, get with the program and sign up right now to be notified via e-mail whenever we add something to the site -- that way, you don't even have to visit the Updates Page to see if there's anything new -- we'll let you know by e-mail. If you want to sign up, just go to the sign-up page. I'm pleased to say that more and more of you are signing up, and I urge all of you not to hesitate! * * * * * * * * * * Where is *Your* "Traveler's Tale"???
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Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 by Kurt T. Francis, except as noted otherwise. Materials by Christopher G. Moore, Dean Barrett, Richard K. Diran, Sonia Pressman Fuentes, and Hardy Stockmann are copyrighted © by those respective authors. All rights reserved. Please see the Copyright Notice for further information. Click here for our Privacy Statement Please direct all inquiries to MekhongKurt [at] BangkokAtoZ.com
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