Yes! Siam!

A snake in the grass? No, more likely in your toilet. Heavy rains in Bangkok, Thailand bring a surge in the number of snakes seeking refuge indoors. The fire and rescue department has received over 31,000 calls for help in removing snakes so far this year. This city of 8.2 million has expanded into formerly wild lands and the new housing is encroaching on the creatures' domain. The eight foot python emerging from a resident's toilet was not named Monty. One native wrote "There's an old saying that if you encounter a snake, you will meet your soul mate." The bite victim replied "I'd rather be a widow."
tjs

Don't Build a Wall

Don't build a wall - build a fence - in Northern Norway - where the National Railway freight trains killed 100+ reindeer during a four day period last week. The herders - known as Laplanders - are urging the government to erect more fences in herding areas. They estimate that 200 to 600 reindeer have been in train related accidents each year. With Northern Norway's proximity to the North Pole, it would behoove Santa to plan an alternate route this year, and he may definitely need Rudolph in the lead to light the way.
tjs

Lend Me Your Ears

The upper corners of newspapers are known as "ears" and can convey a brief message. After Pearl Harbor, the Philadelphia Daily News ran the Stars & Stripes in the upper left corner with the phrase "She'll fly over Tokyo" which continued throughout WWII. The NY Times runs their motto in the left corner and a brief weather report on the right side. What I didn't know was that the Times runs 27 different Accuweather reports to coincide with their 27 printing locations. So if your weather app is not at hand and you are reading the Times in Seattle, they will give you the rainy forecast you learn to expect, while it is sunny in Manhattan. Bring the umbrella.
tjs

Dating 101

China is now paying the price for their one child per family policy - since ended. With a preference for boys, many couples aborted female fetuses. Now they find that young marriage age men outnumber women by 33.6 million. With those odds even I couldn't get a date. Enter the dating coach and young men are signing up for lessons in courtship. Even the government is playing matchmaker.  And, of course, this reverses the dowry arrangement. Dolly Levi, where are you?
tjs

Did You Know?

The little blue bird that is Twitter mascot and logo has a name - it is Larry - supposedly after Larry Bird the great Celtics basketball star.

NYT Science section states there are estimated 17 million flies for each person on earth. Quick, Charles, get the swatter!

A.G. Jess Sessions, under oath, admitted that all cabinet members use an alias or pseudonym. His predecessor, Loretta Lynch, of tarmac fame is known as Elizabeth Carlisle on email. I have trouble remembering my sign on moniker.
tjs

On Aging.

The Julian calendar on the wall reminds me that tomorrow 11-11 I will reach my eighty-eighth year or as my golfer son might call it (88) a double-snowman. I try to keep sharp with the blog and the crossword puzzles. An old sea captain once told me he carries an envelope in his jacket and when he feels he is slipping he opens it - the contents read "Port is left - Starboard is right" - and that keeps him on an even keel. My solution would be to play Billy Joel's "Piano Man" - the instrument with 88 keys - (52 white - 36 black) if you're counting.
tjs

Target Audience

Yesterday my land line rang, disturbing my nap.
The (live) female voice began extolling the merits of a Medical Alert system. Before she could query my age  I said "I already have one - my wife." They must think that anyone with an old fashioned land line must be an old codger. They know everything about you except the hours of your nap.
tjs

Tax Reform?

Yesterday my land line phone rang. Being the day before Election Day I thought it might be a political advocate. Yes it was a robo call but the recorded female voice said "You are being sued by the IRS and you need to call this ten digit number." She didn't mention my name, age or gender - it might have been my maid answering my land line phone and that would have scared the beejeebers out of her. With Congress currently tearing apart the present tax code, one would think that the real IRS would have more on their mind than suing this senior. Coupled with the IRS commissioner retiring in two days. The present is to remind all that the scammers are still out there preying on all of us. Stay vigilant and keep your maid off the phone.
tjs

Asia Bound

POTUS arrived in Honolulu where they presented him with the usual flower lei. Except this one was lacking in perfumed flowers and appeared to resemble something growing up my garden wall or perhaps a garland like they place on the withers of a thorobred in the winners circle. Now on to Japan. He expects to play golf with the Japanese P.M. Mr. Abe.  These hosts take their golf seriously and he shouldn't be surprised if his partner visits his bag to count his clubs. (The max allowed is fourteen) They also don't recognize Mulligan San and gimmees are non-existent. But, Donald, don't let it spoil your round.
tjs

Man bites Dog

Two weeks ago my blog post title was "The Sound of Silence" - was I prescient? Now we read of a disgruntled Twitter contracted employee who on his way out the door pulled the plug on Donald Trump's Twitter feed for eleven minutes. My hero! And so it can be done! Reminds me of the Network anchor who said "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." But wait......On POTUS' current trip to Asia - at 30,000 feet - he crossed the International Date Line losing twenty-four hours - Utopia! Unfortunately, upon arriving home he will regain that lost time but hopefully, that with jet lag, he will be too busy pardoning turkeys.
tjs

Piling On

POTUS said recently that the press makes him out to be more uncivil than he really is. Duh!

While people were suffering in Puerto Rico he gave himself a 10 rating. He certainly is old enough to recall that Bo Derek was the real 10.

I hire only the best people! - Donald J. Trump
tjs
(Roll back the clocks this weekend - don't forget the clock in the car.)