jamesbrock

How convenient for you! That means you can call me ignorant and then hide behind a mod so you don't have to explain why or back up your view.

No, not hiding behind a mod at all; just trying to respect the rules of the forum.

I am a farmer, I am not ignorant on the subject of organic food at all.

So, you're not ignorant, just biased.

Here's a tip mate: If you disagree with me but don't have the knowledge or debating skills to explain why, it's fine to just say "I disagree" and leave it at that. Calling me ignorant and pretending you can't elaborate because of the topic is gutless.

You see, I know how this is going to go: you're going to make a stupid baseless statement (e.g. "If every farm in the world went "organic" tomorrow, over 5 billion people would starve to death within 2 years.", I'd probably counter by referencing a Cambridge University study that disproves said baseless statement, and therefore your argument; you would, if you hadn't already, reference the very prestigious Skeptoid, and you might also commit a logical fallacy by referencing a UK Department of Epidemiology Population Health study that states that there is insufficient data to conclude either way - as though this proves your point - which, by the way, does not.

We will both cherry pick data that proves our argument, until Rooo puts a stop to it, and, ultimately, change nobody's mind.

In the end, I really couldn't be bothered. Have a good afternoon.

Like I said, there's no health benefit at all to organic food. The only benefit is the warm fuzzy feeling that hippies get from knowing that they are more "environmentally aware" the the proles who eat regular food.

If anything, organic food is far less healthy, because it is grown in manure which contains e.coli bacteria, highly dangerous to humans.

And yes, demand for organic food increases the cost of food to everyone. There is a finite amount of land on earth suitable for growing food. The portion of that which is deliberately underutilised because of superstitious opposition to scientific advances results in higher food prices on average.

If every farm in the world went "organic" tomorrow, over 5 billion people would starve to death within 2 years.

Wow, your ignorance is staggering! As Rooo quite correctly pointed out, however, this is not the topic of this thread...

The forum sponsor Sunbelt Asia could be a good start too.

if you check this guys other threads ,he has another one running about a new oil that saves fuel ..........coincidence or what ?

he should be fired from whatever oil company paid him to do this "advertising"

They should also fire whoever wrote that ridiculous copy!

I've never heard of a generic no-name mc tire. In my humble opinion tires and brakes are not something you want to be cheap with... Graham stocks and sells Pirelli tires at BIRA. Most tire vendors in Bangkok will ship to anywhere in the country. I'm sure Kawasaki in Pattaya can get you oem Dunlops or Bridgestones if you insist.

True. I'm getting a set of Pirellis sent from Bangkok to Samui - 1100 baht for the set, plus 200 shipping. Will get them in two to three days.

Actually, now that you mention it - maybe there still is a section visible heading north just out of Nathon? Haven't ridden that way in about seven weeks, but I think theres a left-hand bend and a bridge, followed by a heap of parked cars...

Driving through Namuang a couple of days ago, i was surprised to see how wide they are making the new road, with extensions on both sides, anyone have any idea why ? There must be enough room for 4 lanes there.

I assumed the idea is to provide additional separate lanes for both motorbikes and pushbikes. I've seen roads like that on my travels around Thailand, and I think it's a good idea.

I bought a Real here in Chiang Mai size XXX and was very suprised that is very comfortable and when moving it is very good ventilation. It is a full face came with 2 shields and a bag to store in for a bit over 3,000baht

Yep, just replaced my full face Index with a full face Real, and bought my gf a full face Real too - same deal with 2 shields and a bag for each - 2000 baht each. Fits my head pretty nicely - much nicer than the Index.

Wow, as a woman ive never had another physical fight with a woman (or a man for that matter) since i left school! Ive had play fights with my bf though, but i dont think that counts

Unless you stomp on his head it doesn't count!

For comparison, here's last night's moon pic overlaid on a pic I took on 7 Feb. Same camera, same focal length, same settings.

Wow. So this is what video games do?

That being said, when I first read "which celebrity/well known person you'd love to <deleted>" I had a whole list - then I read on and realised that '<deleted>' wasn't what I thought it meant...

Well, it looked pretty big to me.

Beautiful

Yep. Couldn't get a pic as it was rising, but got a few ok shots while waiting for it.

This one was taken at 10:26PM

The professor is targetting his blurb towards Thais - who generally don't know that earthquake prediction is not a reliable science. He's not addressing farang. Similarly, the gov't agency which spent millions of baht on gas to power the boats which were supposed to move the flood water downstream faster - was addressing Thais, not farang.

Thais are a superstitious people, so they're apt to believe that earthquake prediction is plausible. The only way an earthquake prediction has any worth is if it can tangibly get people out of danger areas quick enough to avoid danger. Generalities don't cut it. There's been some interesting work done with animals, but to get it to work reliably enough to compel tens of thousands of people to immediately evacuate a city, is not yet reality.

Of course you're right. They are a superstitious egocentric people, the vast majority of whom have no idea what is happening or has happened outside their border - which is why the good professor needn't mention no other country in the world has such a system.

Did anybody see the story on the news the other day? Apparently the Thais have now invented flameproof curtains!

I am using OSX 10.7.3, and Safari (with AdBlock installed), and I have no issues booking flights on Bangkok Airways' website.

You should pretty much have all of the details from the responders but you might also find this resource helpful: http://darindunn.com...versLicense.pdf

I began to worry as soon as I saw Clip Art! While a good try, your guide has a few errors, and makes too many assumptions (which, presumably, were based on your personal experience) to be helpful to the greater expat population of CM.

1. It assumes the reader is a US citizen.

2. It assumes the reader already has a driver's licence for a car.

3. It assumes the reader doesn't have a driver's licence for a motorbike.

As for the addendum, your one year licence has to be expired before you can get the five year licence.

Again, a good try, and kudos for putting in the effort.

Never had a dude suddenly wanting to get a piece of me; therefore, I don't have any attacks, let alone a favourite one!

Have only knowingly met one other TV member - a fellow Aussie who is new to Thailand, and was looking for a place to live; I mentioned that there were vacancies where I live and he came around to have a look. He will become my neighbour tomorrow.

I have befriended two others - one: we have similar interests and email quite often, but we have not actually met yet; and two: found out we come from the same place and have similar interests, and will meet up fort a beer in the next few weeks.

Is this tonight or Sunday

Super Moon Over Earth Saturday Night

http://www.dailygala...DailyGalaxyNews

Strange how it has already occurred in the US and Pakistan, but not here! In trying to confirm this, it seems that the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) has it wrong... Surely not...

Time and date dot com says the moon will be full today at 10:35am ICT - http://www.timeandda...on&afl=-1&day=1

Full moon dot info says the full moon will occur at 05:35 am CEST, which is 10:35am ICT - http://www.fullmoon....n-calendar.html

Moon phases dot info say the full moon will occur at 03:35am GMT, which is 10:35am ICT - http://moonphases.in...ndar_dates.html

Even this website says it's at 10:37am this morning - http://www.kwathaben...ountry=Thailand

Obviously I am not an astronomer, so I could be reading these completely wrong... I hope I am!

Edit: I just opened my trusty Night Sky iPhone app, and it shows the moon is currently on the other side of the planet - not where it would be if it was going be full here in an hour or so!

.

One of the budget casualties to pay for the tablets was scrapping the free school uniforms program...

a shame it's one of the reasons the poor are having to turn over their few meager possessions in order to pay for them...

Pawnshops Thriving Ahead of New School Term

Parents' need for cash for the new school semester coupled with the economic hardship have forced more people to use pawnshop services.

The atmosphere at pawnshops in the Chiang Rai municiplaity was very active with locals bringing in their valuable items for quick cash the entire day.

The need for cash for the approaching new school semester coupled with rising good prices and the economic hardship have driven more people to use the services .

A pawnshop manager said for the new school term this year, he has allocated as much as 170 million baht to help relieve people’s financial trouble.

Most customers complained that goods and oil are more expensive, thus causing them liquidity problem.

In Trang Province, parents brought their children to buy school uniforms and other basic education materials. Most of them purchased large-size uniforms to use for many years.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-03

The entire government should hang their heads in shame, especially those with their snouts in the tablet-trough.

@jamesbrock and others: I now have all my documentation together and getting the certificate of residency at immigration was easy, just had to go with my passport, make some photocopies, have pictures taken and fill out a short form (I'd already done this when I bought my motorbike on another occasion). Then I had to come back later for the certificate, 500 baht. Also the medical certificate was easy, just 100 baht at the public hospital. I am wondering if you know if I need to bring passport-sized photos to the office where I get my driver's license? I imagine I do since it seems I need them for everything in Thailand but you didn't put it in your post so wasn't sure.

@lexilis One worthwhile use for a Thai driver's license is getting the same price as Thai people at places like the zoo, hot springs, museums, etc. Getting the certificate of residency at Immigration is quite easy; you just bring a signed letter from the place where you live and your passport and you probably will have to come back later to pick it up and pay 500 baht.

@Gladiator Yeah but he wrote his post as if he really knew what he was talking about like he was some great authority when in reality he had no clue: "your case is really quite simple: no license on a tourist visa". Please. Welcome to Thailand.

Good to hear the certificate of residency was so easy to get.

Be sure to let us know how you go.

re .

Going south on Hang Dong road on the left side of the road just before

this footbridge : )

dave2

lol, great work dave2!

Thanks again to the TV posters who provided the information and location. I have been in Thailand for 15 years and have never had a Thai drivers license and it has never once been a problem. But having just moved to CM I was thinking I might as well get one. Now I know what to do and where to go. Question: Does immigration provide this "certificate of residence" easily just for asking?

From what I understand, they should ask to see proof - rental agreement, yellow tabien ban, work permit, etc., but, my last sentence in the post above could apply to this as well.

In my situation, I had none of the above, so I grabbed a Statutory Declaration (Stat Dec) from the Aussie embassy in Bangkok (they don't require proof). As I wanted to get both licences, but only got one Stat Dec, I took this to Immigration in Nathon, and used it to get two Certificates of Residence.

Well on the second try I was able to register from my phone, using my phone number. In this case they send you a password by SMS so you need the SIM to be in the phone. But now I can check balance and top up from within the app on the iPad, which is all I need, really.

Thanks for the tip!!

I had previously searched for True on the app store, but this app didn't show up. I guess it's from "true iServices" rather than "True Move". The technical staff at True / Chiang Mai apparently was blissfully unaware of this option as well - they told me it can't be done. No mention of this app.

The app is crappy but ... as long as it works I don't really care.

If anybody else is interested in how to do this:

9 simple steps:

1 - Get the above app on both the iPad and your iPhone. If you don't have an iPhone you can do the same via website but I didn't try that.

http://itunes.apple....d394602822?mt=8

2 - Put the 3G SIM from the iPad into the iPhone

3 - Start the app on the phone. Click "register with number"

4 - Enter the iPad's 3G SIM card phone number

5 - You get a login screen on the app - switch to SMS app and wait for the SMS with the password

6 - Log in with number and password

7 - If that works - all OK. If not, get another password -> back to step (3). I had to do it twice.

8 - Then swap the SIM into the iPad, open the app on the iPad, and log in with the phone number and password there. Click the remember me button so you don't have to do it every time you start the app

9 - Write down the number and password somewhere on the iPad.

Now you have the app on the iPad, linked to your 3G SIM card.

PS: Yep half the reason I wanted to get the 3G is the GPS. I will try to use it as a sort of mobile motorbike map / GPS - not sure if that will be practical. I don't need a lot of data - I can always tether via iPhone... the new iPad is definitely worth the money, the screen is just amazing.

Glad you got it working eventually!

Although that 'remember me' button has never worked for me!

I'd love to have a play with one, to see the screen, but my iPad 2 is basically a paperweight. It's a thing of beauty, but I really don't have any use for it at all, except occasionally playing Sudoku...

Yes, you can use this app to check your balance.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/true-iservice/id394602822?mt=8

It's a crappy buggy app, but I don't really expect much more.

I agree that their pre paid plans are far better than post paid.

No, it is not available for tourists. You must have a NI-O visa. You may drive on your home-country license as long as it is valid plus an international license issued in your home country. The clearest information is found by using Google. Sometimes, the threads on ThaiVisa can be confusing to newcomers. Your case is really quite simple: no license on a tourist visa.

Sorry Mapguy, but it's posts like this that makes some threads confusing to newcomers - written with a sense of authority, yet factually wrong.

As others have written, and the OP's mate can testify, one can get a DL on a tourist visa.

OP, you'll need to take in the following documents:

• Main page passport.
  
• Visa page passport.
  
• Last entry stamp and TM card.
  
• Proof of residence (work permit, yellow tabien ban, or certificate of residence from your embassy or Thai Immigration).
  
• Medical certificate (available at almost any medical centre)
  
• Your current DL & International Drivers Permit (IDP), if you have them.
  

If you’re going for both motorcycle and car, take two copies of each.

If you have an IDP, you will only need to do the colour blindness and reaction tests; if not, you might be able to getting away with doing these with just your licence, but you should have do to a theory test and a practical test.

It seems the rule is there are no rules.

Oh there are rules, but whether they're followed depends on who you see at which office, their level of training and/or knowledge, their job satisfaction, and their particular mood on the particular day you see them.