calibanjr.

Well, I'm in LA for the next three months, so I'll try to fill up for everybody while I'm here. I'll try Diablo a couple months after I get back on Xmas day.

From what I see around, all high seasons (and next low seasons) everywhere (and I mean everywhere) will be lower than usual. That doesn't make me a chicken little, I'm not predicting economic apocalypse, but people will be tight for a bit, at least. Okay, there are "regulars", and there are people who have planned ahead and booked long ago, but I believe any rosy predictions are overly optimistic. Hope the current miasma clears up, but I don't see either clear skies or armageddon. Yeah, I know I'm going WAY out on a limb there , but that's all I got!

I like the latitude here, about 19 degrees north. We have a good attitude. But how high are we?

When my friends visited from lower San Antonio last month, they thought they had come down with altitude sickness. However, my tech courses from 1961 tell me we are just not that high. Now some lowlander in southern Thailand says I need to adjust my carburetor for the [extremely high] altitude here. Okay, so I also am a lowly lowlander, but I've crossed the continental divide in Colorado and Chihuahua, and I do not think Chiang Mai is high. Doi Suthep or Doi Inthanon or Doi Boy, maybe. But at the feet of the 3 kings monument downtown, how high is the muang?

People being a bit goofy, I think. CNX is about the same elevation as Phoenix, and just a bit more than San Antone, no effect really.

I went to college in Santa Fe, and even though I was 18-21 at the time, it took me a good couple of months to get acclimatized when returning every year, being from sea level (Boston). It sure was cheap to get drunk though, when just going up to 7000 ft from sea level, 6 beers and you're toast!

People here do respect the law, if they understand it. I also noticed today that I was parked in the bike lane. I knew it by guessing. It does seem like a stupid idea to me, too. There isn't any place to put a bike lane without infringing on parking- sorely need parking in my opinion, much more needed than a bike lane.

If by "understand" a law, you really mean it doesn't interfere with their current activity or inconvenience them, then yes, I agree, that law they will respect. Laws that don't meet those criteria, not so much. Now that's true to some degree almost everywhere, but here, ESPECIALLY when it comes to vehicles and traffic regulation, it's pretty blatant. I'm used to watching out for unlicensed youths and licensed adults speeding at me the wrong way on major thoroughfares and minor alleys, else I'd have been in more accidents than I've already had. But, I must say, it's more of the charm of the place, keeps things interesting.

As mentioned above, what is "quite a lot"? It'd be easier to answer if you'd supply rough cu. meters and general description (boxed, crated, loose, and if loose what type of goods) as to how it would be stored. There are a few shippers (I'm an exporter) with warehouses I know in Hangdong with whom I would feel secure for a year.

I just try to get to the Tuskers get togethers (missed the last one, I was stuck in the states) in Chiang Mai and meet whomever I can before I get to the "forgetful" zone in my drinking evening.

Congratulations! I saw the game and Cassel did exactly what he was supposed to, no more/no less. He certainly didn't get any help from Moss, who dropped more passes than he caught (he held on to just 2).

Where Cassel will get in trouble is if the Pats get behind and he needs to throw to win. The Pats need a QB that can do that if they are to get back to the SB. Fortunately, they have Miami next week (which is like a bye), then a bye, then SF before they play their "season opener" against SD. Plenty of time to bring someone else in.

Thanks, OMR. But you're dead wrong on the Cassel situation. There will not be anyone else brought in to start at QB for the Patriots. Matt Cassel is growing into the job. There may be a vet brought in as backup; but not as the starter.

As you pointed out, Cassel did a very good job of running a conservative game plan. He made no serious judgment errors, and thus ensured perfect ball security. His slowness to recognize defenses, and improvised breaks by Moss and other receivers, was to be expected for such an inexperienced QB. But the judgment and perfect ball security issues can not be over emphasized. Great job for kid starting his first game beyond high school level!

As you also pointed out, the schedule gives him two games against relatively weak defenses, plus a bye week of intensive film and practice, to continue his improvement without facing "championship level" opposition. Great break for him, and the Patriots.

Don't worry about Moss. He and Cassel, with Brady assisting, will likely be spending a lot of time working together to develop the "silent recognition and communication" that made the Brady-Moss combination so dangerous. Right now, Cassel's defense recognition skills are weak. That is a skill that can only be improved with experience. When that comes, look for Cassel's ability to come off his primary target, and make those critical second and third reads, with enough time to get the ball off, rather than get sacked. When that happens, the Cassel to Moss combination will be there. I'd suggest that we can look for that by time Thanksgiving rolls around.

This will take time. But Cassel has shown that he has both the physical skills and arm, and the football intelligence, to continue to improve. Nobody, including Cassel and Belichick, can predict where his ceiling is. But I'm confident that it's well above the "safe and sane" performance we saw against both the Chiefs and the Jets.

Make no mistake about it, Matt Cassel will be the Patriots starting QB for the remainder of the year. And I believe that will include at least some participation in the Playoffs!

I have not watched Cassel. Nobody has (and not you either) as he hasn't played before Brady's injury. What is known is that the Pats are very high on O'Connell, and Belichick had already invited other QB's to talk to before the Brady injury after the decision had been made that Cassel couldn't do the job.

Stay confident, by all means, but don't delusion yourself here. Belichick is the best coach in the NFL and he decided that Cassel was not good enough to back up Brady. Do you really think that now, all of a sudden, Belichick has a different view? If he did, he wouldn't have put in a game plan calling for screens and short passes only. It was the Jets, remember, not a good NFL team. Wait for SD and the Broncos and then make up your mind.

You both have reasonable points. Could go either way. Only time will tell. Thank God we've got Miami and a bye upcoming.

Hey, Cassel is undefeated as a starter in both college and the pros! (1-0) That can't happen often!

BTW, Tom Brady's gotta be one of the best temporary assistant quarterback coaches in history!

George, the Pats wouldn't have won 18 games last year being a one man team. Still, the Bucs won with Dilfer because they had a dominant defense that year. Last year, you know the Pats defense wasn't dominating and it isn't expected to be dominating again this year. They do have a very, very easy schedule, but they need to score points to have any chance of making the playoffs. Hope for the best, of course, but it is all uphill from here.

I have no illusions about the angle of the terrain from this point on, OMR. But the fact is that the Patriots truly do have a special spirit that has carried them since 2001, and was given a bump up on that spirit when Rodney Harrison joined the team. They have overcome more adversity to rise to 4 Super Bowls, and 3 Lombardi Trophies, than any team in history.

Objectively, I'm sure you acknowledge that Belichick is among the best coaches in the history of the game. The adjustments that will have to be made to accommodate the change from Brady's level of talent, to that of Matt Cassel, are well within BB's scope of knowledge. Cassel is still surrounded by the same outstanding group of offensive players that Brady had, minus RG Steve Neal, who will rejoin them later. They have 4 solid RBs who can assume the greater burden that will likely have to assume now. And Cassel's job as a passer will be eased considerably by having Randy Moss and Wes Welker on the other end of those passes. Also, don't overlook the difference it will make to practice all week as the starter; getting all the reps, and all the attention of BB and OC Josh McDaniel.

Defensively, they will have some growing pains with the youth they've added in the back 7 (LBs Mayo and Crable; CBs Wheatley and Willhite). But all 4 of those players look very good, and will, under the coaching of BB and Dom Capers, be MUCH better in December than they are in September. The DL is, of course, among the very best in the NFL. It was the lack of speed at LB and DB that hurt them most last year. That speed has been upgraded significantly.

So, while it is certainly an uphill climb, this is a team that has the horses to climb that hill, both on the field, and on the sidelines. This is a team will most certainly improve as the year goes along. There will definitely be some bumps to climb over, as Cassel and those young defensive players gain experience. But they have the best teacher in the NFL to guide them throught that.

As I said, I'd much rather have Brady back in there. But I am really looking forward to the excitement of watching them step up to this challenge. Whether or not they make it to the Super Bowl, I promise you that teams will have a tough time climbing over them to get there!

Weak division (though better than last year), easy schedule, only two games (one with Miami at home) before the bye week gives some more development time. If Cassel or whoever we bring in can gel sufficiently, we have an experienced team's chance to win the division and roll the bones in the playoffs. I mean, who would you favor (with the limited info at hand presently) to win the AFC East right now? I'd STILL say the Pats.

But, let's face it, the Chiefs are not exactly "Playoff caliber" competition.

That's being generous. KC was riding a nine-game losing streak, from last season, and has a boat-load of rookies.

Belichick should have left Brady on his weekly injury report, as he had done for every game over the past five years.

9-7 would be an amazing achievement, and that's with potentially the easiest schedule in the NFL.

I think they'll go 10-6 and maybe win the division. It's just all up in the air, though, isn't it?

Tom Brady, it appears, is gone for the season. No need to comment on the importance of that. But I do have some comments on the injury, and the likely future for the Patriots this season.

First, on the hit. There was an eery similarity of the hit on Brady to the hit that Wilfork was fined for last season. The difference is the Wilfork WAS, in fact, pushed toward the QB. They claimed that he could have changed his direction. On this hit, the defender was NOT pushed, but made the lunge to Brady's leg totally under his own power. It was, without a doubt, an illegal hit, according to the NFL rules. Let's see how the league office treats it.

Whatever the case on that, it obviously won't change the condition of Brady's knee. From what we've seen in slo-mo and stills, and what we've heard from several sources, it appears almost certain that he is gone for the season. I have always stated my regret when ANY player is seriously injured in this game. I don't have to tell anyone how much more it hurts when is the best player in the history of the Patriots.

The Pats coaching staff now faces the greatest challenge of their years with this team. I will say that the signing of Lamont Jordan, and next week's return of Kevin Faulk, are plusses for them, as the team will now place much greater emphasis on the run that it would have with Brady at QB. We need to get Ben Watson back onto the field too, to give Cassel more short passing options. Look for lots of screens, and flat and swing passes to the RBs to come into the game plans.

I was, to say the least, pleased with the way that Cassel, after that horrific pre-season, stepped in and performed to get us the win. But, let's face it, the Chiefs are not exactly "Playoff caliber" competition. The Patriots immediately made the call to bring Chris Simms in for a look. If they sign him, it will be interesting to see whether he can beat out Cassel, or just serves as a vet backup, since our #3 QB is the rookie, O'Connell.

To be honest, I was a bit laid back about the regular season this year. I basically assumed that we'd make the playoffs, and was anxious to just get to it. I'm certainly not laid back about it now. It will, if nothing else, be interesting to see if Matt Cassel really can cut it as a starting QB - a job he hasn't had since high school!

Oh yeah. One more thing. This SUCKS!

George

Not the circumstances we'd like of course, but we'll get to see Cassel's first regular season start since HIGH SCHOOL next week! Gonna be tough. The Jets on the road are always tough for us, and they have an axe to grind from last year (and more, of course). I've got surreal levels of reality-suspension software in my head, so I have this highly plausible (to me anyway) dream of Cassel getting us to the bye week either 2-1 or 3-0 and Tom getting his mojo back. If it truly is that bad, then of course I want him off the field for the entire year, but I can dream.

I think with their schedule, their coach, and the remaining staff, the Pats will make the playoffs, they've just gone from strong contenders and maybe SB favorites to one of the pack, maybe second level SB contenders, which is fine by me, I guess. Not like I have a choice.

I use Ashampoo Movie Shrink & Burn 3

It'll convert a wide variety of files, compress them according to desired size v. quality and burn you a DVD or VCD. They have a free 30 day trial. I did that then actually bought it, a rare occurrence! I usually go in for the "discount" route, but paid up this time.

loosecannon, you misunderstood the definition of agnosticism, you misunderstood that it is not my definition, you misunderstood that it is not up for interpretation, you misunderstand that my opinion has anything to do with it, you misunderstand that it is not the ontology of a thing which agnosticism concernes itself with, only the probability of two options (not three, not one, not six). Logic does not even concern itself with the world, only bits, bytes, and other variables such as sentential, deviant, modals... and so on. You're confusing logic with english reading comprehension, the latter of which allows you to piss all over something to confuse the subject. You're making a fool of yourself trying to argue that agnosticism is not a declaration of equiprobable probability between two potential options. My post is not an argument against god, or faith (got 30 000 words on those subjects though if you're interested ho ho), it is an argument against agnosticism. Have you ever actually examined the position in any detail, or just assumed because many other people say they are agnostic, and they seem like reasonable people, its safe to do so also?

Also very telling is your comment on how its "maybe" impossible to prove a negative. Hmm.

I think we all (including loosecannon) understood your essay to be an argument against agnosticiscm, pretty obvious, just a weak one. I think the crux (but not the only point) of your disagreement with loosecannon is the importance of "equiprobability", or even the ability to quantify "equiprobability". I would be more along the lines of loosecannon (I believe ) in thinking equiprobability a non-starter. The use of "lazy" in your original text begs for what would be a more "rigorous" view on the existence of God.

You guys could lay off the ad hominem a bit, but we've all seen worse.

FWIW, I do the minimalist, Des Cartes' "Je pense donc je suis" which leaves me with myself as the only somewhat provable (to me) god, which makes me understand why one needs to do mental gymnastics to sign on with a team with an omnipotent, omnipresent team captain. Me as my own team leader isn't working out optimally, I'm afraid. But in the end, all the teams in the tournament end up with the same record (which is another part of the question).

Good English cheese is expensive and hard to find even here in Germany.

Good english cheese ?

I heard unicorn are hard to find in Germany too !

Oh Man!, Blue Stilton (from England) is one of my cheeses for near-religious experience! Some White Stilton's I like a lot, too.

They show up at Rimping (Nim Branch, at least) now and then, but as usual, pricey.

My two baht: I have been using Office 2007 since it was released in 2006. I have been sending documents generated by the suite in a 2003 compatible format as a courtesy to those still using Office 2003 and prior. I think I will wait until after the new year (2009) and start sending everything in the current format. If anyone complains, I'll send them the link to download the software that will enable them to open those documents. I think 2.5 years is long enough. At that point those folks should "get with the program" or unplug their PCs.

Get with Microsoft's program you mean. Don't see the need for the upgrade for everybody. I've got 2007, but will continue to send 2003 format (.doc, etc.) I don't think everybody with whom I do business need update their office suite just because I did. A little twist of the wrist on my part is no sweat. Until they ask for the new format, I'm not going to force people to upgrade or convert. But then again, I've always underestimated the cost of my time vs. others' , just a habit.

Thanks for the link GuestHouse, makes life easier. I ALWAYS vote, even though my vote is somewhat superflous, given that I'm from RedSox/Kennedy land.

One of the drawbacks of Thailand, super expensive cheese. What're ya gonna do? The indigenous folk don't dig it, so it's no skin off their nose, so we're out of luck.

I've given many a longing look at the cheese rack at Rimping while I order my cheap cold cuts at the deli counter.

In Chiang Mai, there's a place (company is DACHEESO, I love that name) where they make decent Mozzarella (smoked or plain), sell it at Rimping. I'm cheap enough to just go buy it at the factory shop, but then I end up buying their homemade cheesecake too.

How about totally FREE with no coffee?

Check out Green Bangkok Wi-Fi. I picked up a free card at Central department store and have gotten decent (but not great) wi-fi speeds at various places throughout Bangkok. Fast enough to get emails, usually better. http://www.truewifi.net/th/promotion/green_bangkok.htm

I believe they provide 64 kbps, so the speed is comparable to many adsl services in Thailand

As my hero Homer Simpson would say, "ha, it's funny cuz it's true!"

I'm one of those "hard core fans", Lomo; so I watch every Patriots game. If it's not broadcast by Truevisions here, I use a "streaming" site, and watch via "Sopcast", "TVUPlayer", or "VLC" software. We are at the mercy of the guys who are nice enough to set up streams for the games (with no fees paid to them); but there is rarely a case when somebody isn't providing a stream of a game.

The quality of the picture varies, with TVU being the sharpest. But they're all "watchable", with a little "jumping" and lack of resolution. I still transfer it from my PC to my big screen, and just deal with it. It's better than trying to follow it on the "NFL Game Day", or other printed updates available online.

But I still hope for as many games as possible on Truevisions!

That's how I watch all the Pats games live (at whatever time). I definitely DON'T think it's for the visually or hearing impaired! You gotta have those skills sharpened to the format!

I fly CNX-LAX-CNX 3-4 times a year.

Pluses:

1. Obviously, if you live here, flying into CNX (I live maybe 3 miles from the airport) is way more convenient than swapping planes and airlines in BKK and you get 46 kg. checked baggage (69kgs. if you have Dynasty miles) which all of the cheap airlines CNX-BKK will get cash off of you for.

2. China is almost always the cheapest fare, in my experience.

Downsides:

only 3 flights per week (737, small plane, cramped), Tu-Th-Sat, which are almost always full now. So they're crowded and if you need to change flight dates, especially coming back to CM, it can get dodgy.

I'm one, but probably not THE Dave. I prefer David, anyway.

I've been just watching on Thai local TV, random events (UK vs. Pakistan in field hockey) NO Commercials. I kinda dig it this style.

Yao Ming closing it out carrying the Chinese flag.

The Ukraine has some seriously hot women on their crew.

The woman carrying the Syrian flag was jaw-dropping beautiful. I need to find out what event she's in.

Yeah, there was a vision from Jordan, too, among others.

You're right, my bad, Afghanistan, but it was Karzai, without his usual groovy hat.

Putin looked Zen, I'd like to get a look at his betting pad, methinks he's got the inside scoop.

The Americans wore some goofy white caps, looked okay though, f'ing huge contingent, but of course we had to see Shrub, guess I can handle it. The American Samoan team looked well fed.

Well the UK's off the hook, there've been plenty of blander outfits than theirs now.