55Jay

43 minutes ago, heybruce said:

The practice continues because it is still allowed.  Restrictions on times and locations have been put in place, but within these restrictions the lanterns are legal.

 

If you are truly safety obsessed start a campaign against drunk driving or tobacco.  If you want to maintain an aviation theme, you can try to get lithium batteries (a known fire and explosion risk) and alcohol banned on commercial flights.  Granted this may involve advocating the elimination of things you enjoy, but they are unnecessary and undeniably risky, much more of a risk than lanterns. 

 

Will you apply your outrage to where it will do the most good, or will you simply vent at another culture doing things you don't approve of?

Not whether I approve or not.  It's just not very smart is all. 

2 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Skiing, bike riding, swimming, diving, sailing, hiking, zip-lining, etc., name an interesting activity that does not involve a risk.  Those listed involve much more risk than lanterns.  Compared to drinking and smoking, lanterns are nothing.

 

Let's keep it simple--this is Thailand, it belongs to the Thais, they want to keep the lanterns so live with them or leave.

I am keeping it simple.  It's a no brainer.  Thailand, but not only Thailand, isn't renowned for its planning, safety habits and taking responsibility.  That's not a bash, it's just a fact of life here, you can see it everyday.  

But in this case, the Thai authorities who would be accountable are in-line with the rest of the world and their actions to mitigate and prevent this avoidable, unnecessary risk seems to be at odds with your easy come easy go attitude. 

Despite the regs, education, pleas and threats, the practice continues.  1 out of 1,000,000,000 odds ain't so bad.  Unless your one of the poor schmucks on the plane.  It's never a problem until it touches you, or someone you know, directly, and then it's all hands to the pump.

And please, dispense with the love it or leave it cliche.

1 hour ago, heybruce said:

I never said lanterns pose zero risks, I maintain they pose minimal risks.  Far less than other risks in flying, or of walking across a street for that matter.  Regulations keeping lanterns away from airports make sense if only to soothe the nerves of passengers and air crew.

 

A traditionally made Thai lantern is all tissue paper, thin pieces of bamboo, wax and a tiny amount of wire.  The only part remotely damaging to an aircraft engine is the wire, and it is so small it primarily is a risk of minor erosion of the engine blades.  It's not a bad as ingesting a bird, and not nearly as bad as flying through a sandstorm, but anything entering the engine other than clean air reduces engine life and increases maintenance requirements.

 

There is a very simple solution for those who are afraid of what a lantern might do to your aircraft, don't fly during Loy Krathong.  However don't expect the Thai people to abandon a treasured tradition because it makes you nervous, or gives you something to bellyache about.  Go find a topic about road safety you can post on, that is a very real problem.

Thank you.  Much better, at least the first half, before you slipped backward in an attempt to "win".  I guess.    

Our familiarity and easy access to commercial airline travel with a movie and a glass of scotch, dulls the reality that flying is a high risk activity and environment.  Familiarity and routine breeds complacency.    And no, I'm not an alarmist, but if it boils down to a Yes, no problemo or Meh, maybe it's not such a good idea.... after a quick and dirty risk assessment, it's an easy "No" vote.

- Is sending lighted lanterns aloft really necessary?  No.

- Do they present a potential hazard to aircraft systems and pilots?  Yes.

- Is there a probability of aircraft engine damage? Yes. 

- If an in-flight incident attributable to lanterns aloft occurred, would resulting death and/or injury, hull loss and expense be acceptable?  No.  Despite enacting laws, regs and stern warnings of draconian punishment, the Thai government would be crucified for not doing enough to prevent it.

Can't post from "that" other newspaper, but to their credit, the Thais are dealing with the obvious potential risk to air traffic during Loy Krathong by rescheduling and/or re-routing flights. 

Asking for an example of a lantern -v- aircraft before conceding the already painfully obvious point, is really dumb.  This is day 1 of Navy Aviation Apprentice school, and having done 100s of FOD walk downs on aircraft carrier decks, and seen aircraft get fodded out and grounded for objects far smaller than a lantern, the Thais are to be commended for trying to educate the public and prevent the conditions that can result in an incident.   This is a no-brainer.

Despite laws, regs and punishments it persists.  And not just the Thais.  Dopey tourists and expats do it too. 

3 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Prove me wrong. Give me an example of damage caused by lanterns in Thailand. 

 

You do seem to hold all things Thai in contempt.  Why are you here?

Quit being such an cavalier, intentionally obtuse dork about FOD and jet engines.   Why do you think there are laws and regs against these lanterns in/around airports?  Not just in Thailand either, and you know it. 

And for the love of christ, quit this sanctimonious sniffles and tears guilt trip act about oh so sacred Thai traditions.  It's ridiculous, and it doesn't work.

Go float a Krathong instead.  At least a few Thais can steal the coins after you let go, and people are employed to go clean up the bloody mess the next morning. 

10 minutes ago, heybruce said:

It seems people in the UK either don't know how to make lanterns or don't know how to safely launch them.  People in Thailand do a better job of it, which is why an incident like this has never happened in Thailand.

Oh yes, the average Thai person is a real pro, concerned about the potential ramifications of their actions.  LOL. 

Just now, heybruce said:

Seagulls are far more common than lanterns and do far more damage to an aircraft in flight, yet people don't worry about them.  The risk to aviation from lanterns is so minuscule that nobody can cite a single incident, but some people with too much free time still get worked up about them.

 

You think Thai culture and traditions are stupid?  You should avoid Thailand.

I'm not surprised you are still avoiding the original question.  What would happen to the engine if it ingests a lantern?  Would it get fodded out or not?  Answer the question, Bruce.

People avoid thinking about risks for a lot of things.  Bird strikes are fairly common if you look at av forums and we know what the result are, or can be.

The risk is obvious and well known, and in the case of lanterns, completely avoidable.  

Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't.  Luckily, the Chinese ground crew was on the ball and spotted the lantern in this commercial airliner's engine intake earlier this year. 

https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/02/07/chinese-new-year-flying-lantern-delays-commercial-flight

Just now, heybruce said:

Walk up to an aircraft sitting on the  tarmac, engines running.  Bring an adult seagull and allow it to be ingested in the engine intake.  Take notes and report back once you are done with jail and court proceedings. 

 

There are many more seagulls than lanterns in Thailand, and they are flying around all year long.  Does the risk of seagulls cause you to avoid flying anywhere near a beach?

Not so easy to control seagulls.  Shit happens.

Lanterns launched by humans for stupid reasons can be controlled. 

Walk up to an aircraft sitting on tarmac, engines running.  Light one of these big lanterns, hold it in front of the engine intake and allow it to be ingested.  Take notes and report back once you are done with jail and court proceedings. 

In the gym, got the tattoos, shagging models.... and here he is, literally crying his poor wittle eyes out on the internet like a precious mamma's boy.   What the hell is wrong with these poofy millennials. 

On 11/4/2017 at 11:59 AM, Naam said:

i can confirm that! happens all the time.

me: "ask him whether it can be delivered today"

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

me: FOR BUDDHA'S SAKE... YES OR NO?

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

Thai assistant: "yadayadayaketyyakdwogdotdooodoodooyumkenlung wattokwa na?

shop keeper: "doodoodwahdidydygonglungwahnpornwoohahaa alai aloykwadongtingmooba.

 

So did you wind up getting the short time with happy ending, or not? 

OP's mate has money, but chooses to live on 15k/mo. 

I can relate in a way.  I moved here relatively young (early 40s) with a decent monthly pension and a modest portfolio of growth and income producing holdings that often matches or exceeds the pension amount.   Strategy was/is to live a modest but comfortable life on the pension amount, and only take divs and distributions for 6 months to fund discretionary purchases, travel abroad, etc.  The other 6 months, portfolio set to reinvest proceeds.   Be dumb to blow money just because it's there and we can.

Would have been better if the departing Twitter employee "accidentally" disabled the account and left it that way until discovered later by President Trump.  Saturday Night Live would have fun with that one.  POTUS sat on a 24k gold toilet, composing a Tweet at 02:30, giggling to himself as he hits <send>..... but nothing happens!   

Thais seem to have no problem treating each other like shit based on skin tone, geographic origin and age.  Funny how they tip toe around handling illegal Africans, you'd think it would be rather straight forward.  Jeez, in the Gulf countries, when too many Asian bar girls got out of hand, cops would scoop them up and deport them wholesale, then cancel the visa waiver entry.  Sorted.  Just like that.  No fuss, no muss.

Anyone think the hot, 21 year old buxom blonde with big boobs is humping Hugh Hefner for his looks and personality? 

5 minutes ago, selftaopath said:

Oh how I agree with you. One point of concern is The Liar can pardon "everybody." 45 does NOT care a/b America/democracy/ integrity/rule of law etc. He has done and will continue doing EVERYTHING that benefits him and his family. Look how he and Russia has diminished the office of The President of The United States and America. I say TREASON.

 

Trump doesn't need any help from a Russian Bogeyman.  He's doing fine all on his own.  Nice photo though.  Is that the back of Kevin Spacey's head there?

It would be interesting to know what caused the spike in spike in C02 approx 3.5 million years ago.  And what factors caused the cool period that followed, at which point our human ancestors emerged.

https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/features/199704_pliocene/page3.html

Regardless though, seems a warmer Earth isn't conducive to human life, so any effort to address one part of the issue seems like the right thing to do.... but it also seems like it's gunna happen regardless. 

When digging around in the swamp, use a very small shovel and only dig in designated areas.  5 months.  Tax evasion.  Good job. 

48 minutes ago, balo said:

All the Hollywood actors that does not want to talk about their private lives are gay , most of them . So no surprise here. They protect their privacy to continue earning millions .  

Now Spacey will be left with stupid roles in B-movies and no more big earners for him .

He could run for President of the United States.  Why not?  Seems qualified.

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

Clearly a right wing plot to take down the nation's first female president.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/netflix-pulls-plug-house-cards-190801019.html

 

I really like Kevin Spacey's body of work and I think he is extremely talented. I do not know if this incident was a "one off" or part of a larger pattern of behaviour.  Too bad for all concerned including we fans.

I've enjoyed Spacey's work too, House of Cards in particular, but this might be a preemptive move for the next skeleton to burst out of his 1980s closet of forgotten advances and moist encounters. 

4 hours ago, swissie said:

Plenty of Thai's live on 4K in the sticks. So do certain Farangs, even in Pattaya. Example:

Last time I was in Pattaya, occasionally a Farang in his mid-fifties showed up during Happy-Hour at the B****a Bar on Soi Post office/2nd Rd. We got to talk:
- He lives in a Thai-Dwelling and pays 1000 Bht per month for rent. According to him, his expenses are never more than 5K per month.
An "old hand", speaking Isaan-Thai very well. Extremely popular with the Thai female bar-staff and Thai's in general.
Him living from hand to mouth, I asked him "what if any sort of emergency should come your way, requiring money"?
He put on a broad smile and replied: "Well, If I die, I die and I don't know what tomorrow will bring."

Clearly a guy that has aquired a lot of "Thainess" over the years and still comes across as a "happy camper". Happier than many fellow Farangs, that spend 20 times this amount, so it seems to me.
But still: I myself could never aquire so much "Thainess" and remain a "happy camper".
Cheers. 

IMO, resigning one's self to the welcome relief of death due to lack of funds for medical care, is definitely a symptom of something; but I don't think it's happiness.  

38 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I can survive on 4,000 baht a day.  That's my budget and I generally stick to it.

That's excluding the hotel room as that's paid weeks in advance.

You live in a hotel?

Oh Gawd, not again.....

How to live on 4k/mo?  Same as shagging a porcupine.  Very carefully, and it's not very enjoyable. 

They still plan to finish tonight?  Or I'm on the wrong feed, I've got the puppet show still at 22:20 hrs.

11 minutes ago, Spyker said:

Did click on camera for English version and did click on English block. Nothing happens

 

There were some long periods without commentary as well.