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Anonymous Notifier
Let your co-workers know about their annoying habits: AnnoyingCoworker Yeah, I know what you’re gonna say, “why not just shit in their drawer/key their car/exploit their drug habit,” but as an added bonus, perhaps you could donate their work e-mail address to a dedicated spam concern! I will only remain an annoying coworker until the end of next week. After that I aspire to be an Annoying Operator of the world’s first water buffalo power plant (sorry, it sounds better in Japanese, “??????”).
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Wakayama Kayaking Trip: Successful
We beat all odds and experienced the best possible weather for our trip, right when the typhoon should have been beating us up – it was like we somehow squeezed into a good weather belt. Anyway, photos are forthcoming and many thanks to my pal Hirata for setting us up. ????????
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More than words…
This is the funniest video I’ve seen in ages! Many thanks to reader Nevin for sending it.
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New Bangkok Airport Opening
Over at the Beeb website: Bangkok’s airport faces nervous start I, for one, will miss the old airport because I don’t fancy the clusterfuck that seems to be taking shape regarding transportation from the new airport. Apparently, the regular taxi terminals are 3 kilometers from the arrival gate! I hope that gets worked out sometime soon. Since I am leaving on October 20, I will probably be flying into Suvarnabhumi (airport code NBK has been assigned until until all international flights are transferred from Don Muang, the old airport, after which it will assume the code everyone is used to, BKK). The funny thing is, I really can’t remember a…
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Farming in Isan
I never would have guessed there are so many foreigners running farming operations in Thailand: Farming in Thailand Forum The above sentence is worded awkwardly because it’s apparently illegal for foreigners to do actual work on farms! Actually, that makes a hell of a lot of sense visa-wise because it theoretically deprives a Thai national from performing the same work – it’s just that I never thought there were that many foreigners interested in agricultural there.
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Re: Sea Kayaking Trip
Well it’s not exactly going kayaking into a typhoon, but we are going out to Wakayama and will check the conditions tomorrow morning before deciding whether to set out or not. I just don’t have enough time left to reschedule. Then again, I’m not gonna drown myself by being stupid, either. Surf’s up, dude!
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Thai “On-arrival” Visa Changes
In a bid to crack down on illegal workers, Thailand is limiting the number of consecutive “on-arrival” visas as of October 1, 2006. Details here and here. This makes sense. I realize that a lot of people depended on these visas for work, but that’s kind of the point – Thailand wants them to work legally and pay taxes, or get out, and I can’t really fault this line of thinking. I also realize there are people who will suffer who were not working illegally and just don’t qualify for any alternative visas, and I feel for them. Overall, though, it only makes sense that the “on-arrival” visa loophole would…
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Veritas Air
“Please switch off all mobile phones, since they can interfere with the aircraft’s navigation systems. At least, that’s what you’ve always been told. The real reason to switch them off is because they interfere with mobile networks on the ground, but somehow that doesn’t sound quite so good. On most flights a few mobile phones are left on by mistake, so if they were really dangerous we would not allow them on board at all, if you think about it. We will have to come clean about this next year, when we introduce in-flight calling across the Veritas fleet. At that point the prospect of taking a cut of the…
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Short Movie Review: X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
Bad movie! Bad! This movie was only slightly more entertaining than waiting at the hospital for 7 hours today. The Moment I Most Wish I Could Unwatch: Wolverine giving the younger X-Men a motivational speech against an orchestral background.
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Japanese Hospital Suckage
Would it suffice to say that I spent 7 hours today waiting to get treated for a common cold, then got overcharged, and then got written the wrong prescription? Or should I add that they tried to charge me for getting the right prescription after I came back from the pharmacy? Seven hours! I read the book I took along (Dogs and Demons, a truly appropriate reread for today) one and a half times! Future residents of Japan, I bequeath the nation’s gloooorious health care system unto thee! (The first rule of Japanese hospitals: You shall not visit without being written a prescription)
