Rorri

Ianatlarge, on 21 Mar 2014 - 08:44, said:

Really. Imo nationalise the telephone companies. They are using public resources for personal profit. The tech behind phones is easy, simple, and cold be better implemented as a public monopoly. Try and avoid the mess that Australia is in.

The mess Australia is in is because the public were fooled into believing that private business would create competition and therefore a better service opposed to a Government Department, Telstra(previously Telecom Australia and before that PMG).

chainarong, on 21 Mar 2014 - 07:05, said:

Just like Australia, now Thailand , the rip- off really begins.

I think you have an axe to grind, local landline calls with Telstra are a fixed rate eg, 30c/call untimed, talk for as long as you want, National calls 25c/minute, mobile calls 36c/minute (https://www.telstra.com.au/home-phone/plans-rates/), hardly a "rip off." OK, before you say in the US local calls are free, you should understand that "local" is your suburb, if you call the adjoining suburb you pay a timed call. With Telstra you can call any metropolitan(across many suburbs) landline for 30c UNTIMED. Just how cheap do you want things?

MacWalen, on 20 Mar 2014 - 12:05, said:

And now farmers get a reality check as price of rice is going lower and lower so the income will decrease. Ignorance is expensive and now farmers will be financially punished. They knew that their produce was not worth the money government offered. Very interesting story. Let's hope they have learned this lesson well.

Hate to sound like a Thai basher, but they never seem to learn from any lesson.

MrWorldwide, on 20 Mar 2014 - 10:46, said:

rickirs, on 20 Mar 2014 - 10:22, said:

"...only a third of them will have been converted to new systems by April 8."

Anyone know who these banks are?

Just look for this logo on the ATM:

Or more likely this

Gsxrnz, on 20 Mar 2014 - 09:56, said:

Kerryd, on 20 Mar 2014 - 09:44, said:

Yawn - sounds pretty much like all the pre-1999 (Y2K) hype.

"HURRY ! Buy our product NOW or airplanes will start falling from the skies, pacemakers will explode in you chest and we'll all be back in the Stone Age come 1 Jan 2000 ! Hurry and buy our guaranteed upgrade before it's too late !"

So much frikken BS hype that people like myself (and others in uniform) spent New Years Eve 1999 manning emergency response centers "just in case". Some software companies made a bundle selling useless upgrades for a problem the computing industry knew existed literally from the day the first PCs and OSs were sold (banks knew about the "00" date issue as far back as 1975 when they were amortizing 25 year mortgages).

Now what we have is MS in a bind because nobody likes their "new and improved" OS and, surprise-surprise, hardly ANYONE wants their computer to look/act like their frikken phone. The only way they can get people to buy the new system (so they can try to recoup all those wasted development costs) is to stop supporting older, more popular versions of their software.

It is unlikely that just because MS stops supporting the software on 8 Apr that hackers are lining up with hacks that for some reason will suddenly work that same day. And I'll bet a lot of companies are balking at upgrading to Windows 7 when 8 is out and 9 is coming soon. But that's a part of the whole marketing plan. Just like it is with PCs themselves.

Not long after I bought my first 286 they came out with a 386 chip. It was all the "rage" and soon all new software and games would only work on that chip, not the "slightly" older 286. I resisted upgrading mainly because I'd just read an article mentioning that the 486 "Pentium" chip was already in mass production, and "they" had a 586 chip ready to go once the sales of 486 chip equipped machines started to sag.

And that lit a very large light bulb. They had the more advanced tech ready to go, but deliberately held it back until sales of the older tech had slowed down to a certain degree, indicating that the majority of the consumers had upgraded to that level already. Then they bring out the newer chip so everyone is forced to upgrade again, sometimes barely months after just having upgraded previously !

MS is pretty much doing the same. Bring out a new OS when they see the sales of previous versions is slowing down. Write the OS so that most older programs are no longer compatible (meaning software developers have to redo their programs to be compatible, which means you have to buy the new OS in order to keep running the upgraded versions of software you already have and was working fine before). If Win 9 is shipping now, then they probably have Win 10 queued up in the production lines and Win 11 is probably getting it's pre-production QA checks and final polishing.

If financial institutes are reluctant to upgrade to newer versions of Windows, MS has no one to blame but itself, for continuously releasing such buggy versions of it's software that they require constant patching and upgrades to keep them going. Banks do not want to have to be upgrading the software in their huge ATM chains every week (or more often) and risking their machines crashing frequently (which would of course drive customers to use other bank's ATMs). Not to mention that every frikken new version of the OS that comes out would require them to buy 10s of thousands of new licences.

Unfortunately, until someone comes out with a better system (no, not Linux), one that is better in every way than windoze and easy for people to switch over to, we are stuck with what we have.

Ah.....those were the days. I still remember when I asked the computer shop to upgrade my new 386 to 1 meg of memory from the standard 640k. The guy asked my why the hell I wanted a "super computer" with so much RAM.

Ah, we do go back a long way, I can remember wanting to upgrade my 386SX, from 1MB to 2MB of memory, it would cost $100/MB and I had to remove the existing chips then repopulate the motherboard, my current PC has 16GB of memory, which using $100/MB my PC has the equivalent of $1,600,000 worth of memory never mind the CPU, graphics cards etc.

expatoz, on 19 Mar 2014 - 18:26, said:

it is petrol because it comes out of a petrol bowser

sold at a petrol station and delivered by a petrol tanker and is derived from petroleum (yes, look it up). Also let us not forget, when you need lube we can use petroleum jelly...not gasoleneum jelly.

expatoz, on 19 Mar 2014 - 18:43, said:

this is a petrol tanker tanker.jpg

.. would you trust a Thai driving this? I wonder if these are uniquely Aussie?

Alwyn, on 19 Mar 2014 - 17:30, said:Alwyn, on 19 Mar 2014 - 17:30, said:

orosee, on 19 Mar 2014 - 16:50, said:orosee, on 19 Mar 2014 - 16:50, said:

Seriously? A sub-discussion on a foreign country forum used by an international audience, discussing why the whole world does not use American words?

Both Benzin and Diesel are named after Germans car/engine inventors, and are synonymous in many countries for the more generic petrol (not named after a person) and gasoline (ditto). Also called gas, which confuses people who don't expect gas to be a liquid.

Next discussion: Why (oh why) can't all the world call a photocopy by its proper American name: Xerox (not named after a Persian king)?

Actually Benzene is not an American word for petrol (or gasoline if you're American). Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil and is an added to petrol as it's highly inflammable so not only are these people debating the use of Americanisms, they're totally wrong too. Countries in Eastern Europe use the word 'Benzin' or 'Benzine' instead of petrol.

I always believed the Europeans used the term "benzin" derived from Karl Benz (from Mercedes Benz fame) who invented the first petrol powered car patented January 1886. Where as benzene is a chemical naturally occurring in crude oil, and gives petrol its octane rating.

fab4, on 19 Mar 2014 - 12:33, said:

edwardandtubs, on 19 Mar 2014 - 12:27, said:

Why do they use the word benzene when they're talking about petrol (gasoline to Americans)? It's a completely different thing.

Benzene in this sense is a homophone and means gasoline / petrol.

A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning and spelling. You chose the wrong word. In fact it is a miss-used word, by Thais, for petrol, simply because petrol contains benzene, which was used as a selling gimmick ( ALL petrol contains benzene) hence the word benzene became synonymous with petrol.

edwardandtubs, on 19 Mar 2014 - 12:27, said:

Why do they use the word benzene when they're talking about petrol (gasoline to Americans)? It's a completely different thing.

Yeah had me confused, especially when they start of with benzene (most Thais call petrol, benzene) and diesel (granted diesel could be from the trucks only fuel tanks, but a badly written article does not make it clear), then changing to 20.000 litres of oil.

KamalaRider, on 19 Mar 2014 - 14:36, said:

PaullyW, on 18 Mar 2014 - 22:13, said:

Quotethe Department of Special Investigation, Thailand's equivalent of the FBI

EXCUSE ME?! Thailand has NO equivalent of the FBI. How dare they!!

I rather like to think its the equivalent of the Keystone Cops

Actually, they have and while we would like to think they aren't effective and eqv to the "keystone cops", the ones getting caught because of DSI, would absolutely not agree with you, and there are plenty of them.

True, but they only seem to catch small fry, when was the last time they successfully investigated and charged big fry, eg pollies, powerful family members tuk tuk/taxi mafia etc. Failed so badly they have run away, quietly, from Phuket.

PaullyW, on 18 Mar 2014 - 22:13, said:

Quotethe Department of Special Investigation, Thailand's equivalent of the FBI

EXCUSE ME?! Thailand has NO equivalent of the FBI. How dare they!!

I rather like to think its the equivalent of the Keystone Cops

So true... FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation DSI - Don't Investigate Seriously.... big difference

Card, on 17 Mar 2014 - 18:39, said:

wilcopops, on 17 Mar 2014 - 18:28, said:

This thread is full of cockamamy theories which basically all denigrate Thai people and smugly infer that the poster is by dint of race superior in latent intelligence - only an idiot could subscribe to that concept.

So I assume you have not experienced anything like what I describe. How long have you been living in Thailand wearing blinkers? Perhaps other posters would not subscribe to the fact that I have latent intelligence. Maybe it's not latent. Who knows?

BTW, I have not assumed that the points I raised means that Thais are somehow inferior. It's just that I observe such incidents all the time. The regular incidents involving having to avoid people on the street, without it being reciprocated, is usually restricted to young women. I have no idea why and have not the least bit of judgment if it is a bad or good thing. It may have survival attributes! My Thai partner experiences similar things and he says it's because they know that people will move out of the way eventually. The road behaviour speaks for itself in the road accident and death statistics, so there is no need for judgement on my behalf, is there?

Contrary to what some say, that is, some of us feel we are superior, I have had the feeling that it is the Thais that feel they are superior and expect others to move out of their way, to the point where sometimes I will stop, and the buggers will bump into me, this while looking at me.

Sigurris, on 17 Mar 2014 - 15:30, said:

There is a theory that Asians (not just Thai's) have a different perception of personal space and regard for people outside their immediate circle. Therefore people will stand 2 abreast on escalators without regard to the people behind them. For in their perception they don't know these people therefore they don't exist. This can extrapolated to safety issues. Add to this the Buddhist belief that you will be reborn and everyone has a preordained time to die and the facts speak for themselves. When you add this to the mix of almost zero health and safety regulations (or at least H&S res that are followed) and its a dangerous place to live.

Next door to me is a building site with all the H&S signs forbidding workers on site without helmets and safety boots etc etc. The other day I counted (on 25 workers) three safety helmets, no safety boots and a welder without any eye protection.

Your analogy to an escalator is flawed, simply because two abreast is perfectly OK, it is people who walk ,while on escalators, that are, as far as safety is concerned, wrong. You should stand still and hold the hand rail, this is clearly shown on the safety label before you step on. The reasoning is that your mind expects each step to be the same, on an escalator this not so, this difference can cause you to trip with severe consequences, if any body parts strike the edge of the metal steps.

NomadJoe, on 13 Mar 2014 - 09:37, said:

Rorri, on 12 Mar 2014 - 12:25, said:

PattayaPhom, on 12 Mar 2014 - 11:05, said:

PattayaPhom, on 12 Mar 2014 - 11:05, said:

ingvar, on 12 Mar 2014 - 10:39, said:

ingvar, on 12 Mar 2014 - 10:39, said:

If you have a work permit to work at a dive shop, that is where you have to be when working and nowhere else.

For example you as a foreigner cannot wash your car or cut the grass in your garden, if you do these tasks you illegally are taking away a job opportunity from a Thai (Burmese) worker.

Cutting grass etc isnt work....

Um, wrong, by definition it is, in fact, by the Thai definition even "thinking" can be considered work. Section 5 of The Alien Work Act 2551 ""Working" means working by physical strength or knowledge whether or not intended for wages or any other benefits." Technically you can not do anything, even cut your own grass (I'm assuming here lawn ). It's not that long ago that two guys were charged for building their OWN boats in their OWN yards. Another interesting point is, volunteer police do not have work permits, but by law they should as there is no Royal Decree removing the need for a WP. Therefore the volunteers AND the police, who hire them, are guilty.

I can't imagine you two are serious about the grass cutting comments, but just in case others are falling for your troll posts:

"...you cannot do any kind of work for anyone else even if you dont receive pay or any other reward for it....However, this doesnt mean that you cannot do work for your daily life at your home. You are still able to clean the dishes, cut grass, cook or whatever in your home, just as anyone does in their normal daily lives."

- Janya Yingyong, an officer at the Phuket Provincial Employment Office Work Permit Section.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=1038&Search=workpermit%20cut%20grass

There were several versions of the story about the foreigners arrested for building their own boats. One was they were building them for others, another was they were arrested for overstay, not for violating labor laws. Who knows where the truth lies.

Nomad Joe, I suggest, instead of taking the word of this officer, as we know, they all interpret the laws differently, I suggest you read the "Section 5 of The Alien Work Act 2551 ". I am fully aware there were several versions, mostly on this site not from the islands news media, of the boat building saga, the fact remains they were not charged with anything else except no WP.

speedtripler, on 12 Mar 2014 - 07:13, said:

Mango Bob, on 12 Mar 2014 - 07:11, said:

It's easy to make a mutual agreement when money is involved.

money or threats or a combination of both .......it would be easy for a smart cop and lawyer to

pipck holes in the victims testimony as well .....sounds like they had her tripping over her own words

but then ,thats theyrye job ,isnt it ?

victim had no chance in this one

Let's not forget, it is also 9 years AFTER to alleged incident, I'd be confused trying to remember exactly what happened.

Mango Bob, on 12 Mar 2014 - 07:11, said:

It's easy to make a mutual agreement when money is involved.

And threats.

PattayaPhom, on 12 Mar 2014 - 11:05, said:

ingvar, on 12 Mar 2014 - 10:39, said:

If you have a work permit to work at a dive shop, that is where you have to be when working and nowhere else.

For example you as a foreigner cannot wash your car or cut the grass in your garden, if you do these tasks you illegally are taking away a job opportunity from a Thai (Burmese) worker.

Cutting grass etc isnt work....

Um, wrong, by definition it is, in fact, by the Thai definition even "thinking" can be considered work. Section 5 of The Alien Work Act 2551 ""Working" means working by physical strength or knowledge whether or not intended for wages or any other benefits." Technically you can not do anything, even cut your own grass (I'm assuming here lawn ). It's not that long ago that two guys were charged for building their OWN boats in their OWN yards. Another interesting point is, volunteer police do not have work permits, but by law they should as there is no Royal Decree removing the need for a WP. Therefore the volunteers AND the police, who hire them, are guilty.

Simon, I would suggest contacting the governor, he often requests Phuket problems to be sent/phoned to him, but I suspect his actions will be the same as usual...NOTHING, he is as useful as tits on a bull.

atyclb, on 11 Mar 2014 - 13:12, said:

sirchai, on 11 Mar 2014 - 11:32, said:

kotsak, on 10 Mar 2014 - 19:48, said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkrbsjTe52I

How can anybody like such an accident?

Looks like traffic is driving on the right hand. Is that thailand in the video?

Does it matter?

pattjock, on 11 Mar 2014 - 06:35, said:

balo, on 11 Mar 2014 - 01:10, said:

pattjock, on 10 Mar 2014 - 21:33, said:

Everyone turn left while it is red even if this is only alowed in very few crossings where there is a specific sign saying you can do this.

.

I think you got this wrong. That specific sign means you are not allowed to turn left until there is a green light.

So in most crossings without that sign you can turn left.

Sent from my SM-P601 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I know I'm right.

In Thailand you are only allowed to turn left on red light when there is a blue rectangular sign with a white left pointing arrow. This used to be easy until a few years ago when a number of confusing signs appeared saying TURN LEFT WAITING LIGHT.

Now you have crossings with these new signs sayng to wait, the old, still official signs saying that you can turn and crossings with no sign.

The law still stand, No blue sign with white arrow means no left turn on red light.

You are correct, balo is very wrong.

Emster23, on 11 Mar 2014 - 13:20, said:Emster23, on 11 Mar 2014 - 13:20, said:

"Flight information seen by AFP shows that two tickets in Kozel and Maraldi's names were issued in Pattaya, a beach resort south of Bangkok, on March 6, 2014, and were paid for in Thai baht."

Does anyone that writes this stuff live in Thailand? Look at a map? Last time I looked, Pattaya is east of Bangkok (slightly south, but mostly east). If you can't get the simple stuff right.... Did like press conference when Malaysian said something like "Does Balotelli look Italian?". Still wonder why won't at least say skin color. Nigerian scammers branching out?

Get a new compass.

Lupatria, on 11 Mar 2014 - 09:49, said:

Chang_paarp, on 11 Mar 2014 - 07:47, said:

Quote

But entering Western countries with a stolen Western passport "is not easy," said Ahmed Salah Hashim, Associate Professor at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

He gives credence to the theory that terrorists may have targeted MH370, particularly since the two stolen passports were under Interpol surveillance.

Thailand does not check passports against Interpol's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database -- which has more than 40 million entries -- a senior Thai immigration police officer told AFP.

The international police organisation has urged countries to screen all passports "for the sake of innocent passengers".

So Thailand does not even check passports against the Interpol list, great security. It appears they don't even check their own data base.

Its not that they don't check in Thailand !

However, if you browse a passport for three minutes just to find evidence for an overstay to fork in some head-money, you have little time to look for unrewarded issues with 100 more people waiting in line.

Another unbelievable point: They take your picture at the counter and the Italian passport contains a biometric scan of the holders face. If it doesn’t match with the biometric scan of the data base photo, you are not the person on the pic. Even a six year old can identify the difference. But maybe that takes one too many mouse clicks- and as we all know- that will cause headaches.

A mandatory European passport with biometric scan cost around 4.000 Thb, it was half price for the former ones. Value for money? Not here, as they turn out just to be stamp pads.

Thailand does not have biometric readers, at immigration, for foreign passports. Checks are done, as you should know, visually, They also take your photo when you enter the country, and check it when you leave, it is not checked with the biometric photo stored, on electronic chip, on your passport.

noitom, on 11 Mar 2014 - 08:03, said:noitom, on 11 Mar 2014 - 08:03, said:

Why didn't the Thai travel agent enter passport numbers in Interpol database at time of booking and why didn't South China Air before authorizing tickets? The Thai racketeering and human trafficking looks very exposed on this. The Thai criminal network and corruption is massive.

This time there was a major airline crash and dues have to be paid, stories have to reconcile. We'll see the Thais placing blame on the Malaysian, the Italians. We'll see the Thais blustering and puffing, twisting, squealing, and squirming. This MH370 incident confirms a very big security breach in Thailand. Very high risk for tourists.

Um, silly man, travel agents and airlines do not have access to Interpol's database, it is for Government authorities to use eg, immigration.

Greenhill, on 09 Mar 2014 - 23:25, said:

Jingthing, on 09 Mar 2014 - 21:55, said:

Burl Ives, on 09 Mar 2014 - 21:18, said:

Is that the American spelling for chilli??

I thought you were talking about a South American country at first

555

Chile chili chilli are all correct.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Chile is not correct for the vegetable - only the Country!

Wrong, in fact the word comes from Spanish where it is spelt Chile, as search on google always helps... chile, chili and chilli are all correct.