News and Fortune

The Bangkok Post, from January 26th, and this weeks Chaing Mai Mail reported the following stories.

The Thai economy is expected to grow by 4.5 percent in 2008, continuing the rate of growth seen in 2007.
The world price of gold reached a record high, at 880 USD per ounce.
Two Thai men were arrested in the south, driving a modified cargo truck containing stolen motorcycles in hidden bays. Part of a suspected motorcycle theft ring, the two men claimed they were innocent, and that Kamelporn Suriyakod is responsible. The police are currently looking for this woman.
Si Ngoenngan, a suspect in a major investigation into narcotics in the region, escaped from jail in the city of Nan, in the north east. The police who were on duty are being investigated, though they claim the jail is in disrepair. The authorites in Lao have been alerted.
The Thai army destroyed another opium crop on Lishu hill tribe land as part of their annual crackdown timed with the winter opium harvest.
Food prices in China soared in Novemeber 18 percent, driven by the price of pork and noodles, despite the government fixing the price on cooking oil.
Thai politicians have been filling flights between Bangkok and Thailand, as they rush to meet deposed, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawata, who is widely believed to be behind the new coalition governement.
Nakhon Sawan is responding to the recent outbreak of avian flu discovered late last week.
The post did a profile on drug abuse by disaffected youth in the south of thailand, where political unrest in the largely muslim population persists. the new drug of choice is Kartom, a mix of coca-cola, cough syrup, mosquito repellent and Kartom leaves. The drug is not officially banded under Islamic law, unlike alcohol. Kartom, technically illegal in thailand, is commonly found growing in the south and is available in the markets of Bangkok and elsewhere. Chewing the leaves has a mildly narcotic effect.

At the night market last night i slipped a coin into a wheel of fortune which stopped on the number 26. "the 26th number tells you that you are going to be lucky. everything will be getting better and better."
This mornng i found a fortune at the table as i sat for a coffee. It reads, "following inner prompting brings quiet accomplishment."

My stomach is not happy today. perhaps it was the whiskey and the spicey, fishy, green mango salad at the night market.

think i'll spend the afternoon laying low and reading.