Camelot

So the co-pilot from Martinique with 2,000 hours experience, was flying the plane throughout the ill-fated journey (BBC, CNN). Nothing unusual about that in normal circumstances,. As a passenger, though, I'd feel better knowing the Indonesian captain with 20,000 hours experience was at the controls while the plane was in acute distress.

So the airport taxis that have been overcharging at Suvarnabhumi since it opened in 2006, and for decades prior to that at Don Muang airport, haven't suddenly stopped doing so.

Did anyone really think they would? Can regular travellers suggest ways other countries have successfully tackled the problem and found a lasting solution? The practice certainly isn't limited to Thailand. I've had my worst experiences at Manila and Heathrow.

Martial law a bitter pill? I don't think so. It not only keeps crime in check but slaps much needed controls on the way the police operate. The real bitter pill was the chaos that made its imposition necessary.

If Daniel Russel got his information from cables filed by former US ambassador Kristie Kenney, who was unashamedly a Yingluck fan, then his confusion is understandable. He did come across as a tad naive and demonstrated pretty poor diplomatic skills.

I hope his tour also took him to China, the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. I'd like to see what he said to the rulers of those undemocratic states and how they reacted.

Wouldn't want any double-standards, now would we?

Full HD Samsung 50" LCD is 22k (list price), 20k for a plasma isn't a bargain these days.

Watch out though, Big C and places like it often sell low definition, don't buy below full HD.

Smart is a waste of money.

Advertising hype.

Samsung Plasma screens are top picture quality, LG are bott

In 1958, LG Electronic was founded as GoldStar which was a very bad product.In Australia it was the cheapest brand you could buy.GoldStar was one of the LG group with a sister company, Lak-Hui (pronounced "Lucky") Chemical Industrial Corp.n 1994, GoldStar officially adopted the LG Electronics brand and a new corporate logo. LG.

l.g MEANS Lucky if it Goes

Lucky Goldstar (LG) was definitely a brand to avoid at one time. But, to be fair, they have come a long way since those early days. Friends who have bought LG haven't complained to me about their purchases.

They have shown innovation in their smartphones and Oled, edgelit and plasma TVs. I'm still suspicious of the quality of components they use to mass-produce this equipment, but not as much as I was a couple of years ago.

They also know how to capitalise on the WOW factor. Now they're chasing Samsung and are number 2 in South Korea.

They must be doing something right.

This is not the first time lanterns have been banned, or their use restricted here, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

Do what a friend of mine did and marry a nurse.

Be sure you have the correct postcode. A few have changed in recent years. A small error of one digit at the end can cause massive delays as I found out to my cost. No mail went missing; deliveries just went into slow motion..

Malaysia permits a quick border hop. If you go by train you can check out of Thailand and in and out of Malaysia very quickly at Padang Besar station. No visa required for most nationalities, but Malaysian immigration might ask you to show money to prove you can afford to travel.

At least it's reciprocal. British crooks come here, so major Thai crooks go to the UK.

Isn't globalisation a wonderful thing?

Duplication error

Why stop at Suvarnabhumi Airport? Hijacking of parking spaces reserved for the disabled is a nationwide problem and should be tackled from the top. Security guards are easily intimidated. More muscle and clout are needed.

The US knows full well that if a magazine like Charlie Hebdo was launched there, it would have a very short life span before being closed down for hate speech.

It would probably meet the same fate in the UK, Israel and a host of European countries whose leaders marched in Paris on Sunday.

Freedom of expression means different things in different countries and the French are, by far, the most tolerant. I think David Cameron, who echoed the call for free speech, would be horrified if such a magazine appeared in the UK and the police would swing into action. He has enough trouble with Private Eye.

Here's my golden rule.

Always take taxis cruising for a fare. Never take a taxi parked outside a hotel or a major tourist venue. Often they pay a commission to park there and will pass this onto you.

Sorry to say that's a normal situation, especially at night. The charity organisations shuttle the victims to hospital.

Check the Bangkok Nursing Home Hospital website. They have a foot clinic open Wednesday and Friday mornings. They took care of complications arising from my ingrown toenail and knew what they were doing. Not cheap, though, but popular.

I think Theptarin Hospital on Rama IV Road has similar facilities but they are more oriented towards diabetics..Their foot clinic used to be open on Saturday but that might have changed. Cost is more affordable.

Multiculturalism doesn't seem to be working out as well as Tony Blair predicted. Fine in theory, but no one seems able to make it work in practice. Human nature, religion and bloodshed keep getting in the way.

Even Angela Merkel has admitted to having some doubts, but the PC juggernaut rolls on..

First is to unlearn everything you think you've learned !

DONT buy anything for atleast 2 years, RENT it, dont invest anything you not completely happy walking away from.

Take time to enjoy your surroundings , get a feel for whats right for you, explore different areas and not just where "she" feels comfortable, then and only then start considering how the female fits into the plan.

Wise words. You'll get no better advice than this.

When will falling fuel costs be reflected in the fares Suchinda charges for her buses?

Don't hold your breath.

Definitely far fewer firecrackers. None landed on my roof this year and, for once, the dog wasn't terrified, thinking his house was under attack.

A welcome sign.

Why all the negativity?. I wonder how many of the 4,056 tried to bribe their way out of trouble --- and failed. I've been stopped and breathylysed several times, while sober, and seen attempted payoffs being rebuffed while waiting in the queue. This is one offence the cops have been ordered to take very seriously.

These figures are encouraging and, I hope, will be improved upon.

The usual penalty for a DUI first offence is community service plus, I think, a fine. I hope never to find out. Scrubbing the courthouse steps is a favourite. Some foreigners are asked to provide English-language tuition. It also means an unpleasant night in the police station lock-up until the court opens in the morning. No instant bail.

No question that private hospitals overcharge, especially for ICU treatment, but I've seen amounts in baht get confused with amounts in sterling in provincial British newspapers before now. Not saying that is the case in this instance.

I know that some private hospitals insist that older patients spend at least one night in hospital after cataract surgery to guard against complications. My eye doctor said this was hospital policy but didn't tell me the age at which this became mandatory. I would guess around 65.

Now this is in Bangkok, but I suspect it is also practiced in Chiang Mai. It would explain why some patients stay overnight while others don't.