Easing into the Rainy Season

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We have occasionally cooler weather when the clouds block the sun, and a strong rain usually relieves the constant heat.  The monsoon rains have been late this year, but they are welcomed whenever we can get them. 

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Our neighborhood Royal Thai Army “Emergency Rapid Deployment Force” that is bunkered down at the corner police station is well-armed.  As well as some sort of Humvee-like vehicle, they have a light machine gun as well as multiple assault rifles.  I passed their bunker today when they were changing guard, and I caught a look at their standard weapons drill, e.g., checking live ammo from the last shift, etc.  

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Because of my own super-strict Marine training, I was a bit alarmed at the random way they were pointing their weapons as they locked in a live magazine into their rifles (if not, hopefully, having a chambered round in them).  I think that this military institution has not had enough bad historical experience with accidental live fire disasters to get truly radical with weapons safety rules.  Our standard Vietnam War weapons rules were rigid and uncompromising.  I cringed as I walked past their relatively careless procedures with weapons and ammo, and I will in the future avoid being anywhere nearby at their change of guard. 

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Other than that, most of us feel more secure and safe now – except for that inconvenient curfew of midnight to 0400. 

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Movie Review:  X-Men: the days of future past (2014).  It was a great film, making good use of several of its fine actors.  What I really loved was the travel back to 1973, a classic year, one that I somewhat remember.  Yet I wish they would have picked better representative examples of the music of that era.  A bit of harder rock and Southern rock would have made it perfect. How about Elvis' "Aloha from Hawaii" broadcast?  Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"?  The Who's "Quadrophenia"? And most importantly, the Allman Brothers Band's "Ramblin' Man," and also the birth of AC/DC?  

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-Zenwind.

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