ollylama

though many folks disagree with the actions of the US, attacking an embassy is akin to shooting the messenger. let's not confuse one for the other. if i don't like a thread on thaivisa, do i throw tomatoes at their office? well, i might if they were suffering a severe tomato shortage inside, but otherwise, not.

Interesting dilemma. However much one might be pleased at the prospect of the destruction of outlying symbols of the American empire, one finds oneself concerned by the prospect of collateral damage hurting innocents.

Seems a pretty bigotted statement to me.

I struggle with this one, given that the -- or at any rate a typical -- definition of bigot is '

One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.' But I imagine you were just trying to grab and apply a word that seemed to you would make your statement a proper denunciation.

I think the reason your statement might seem bigoted is that the way you've phrased it could be taken as ambivalence for support on an attack on the embassy. I trust you didn't mean it that way, but at first blush I was also a bit taken aback. Perhaps it was your undefined use of the word "dilemma", which primes the following statement to be read as if an attack would only be unsavory if innocent (again, undefined in this case - the embassy staff, or passers-by?) folks were blown to smithereens. Surely an attack on an embassy is a tragedy, even if no one is killed. But again, I'm confident that's not what you meant.

Oops, apologies, I missed some of the intervening dialogue.

Strange criticisms (and leavening of the original message) from the OP. The problems in Chiang Mai are surely not due to a "foreign invasion." It's just growing at a rapid pace. No need to forsee a Krystallnacht just yet.

I think that a lot of people say this kind of stuff because they miss the idyllic Chiang Mai of ten or twenty years ago. And this forum always has its share of farang Defenders of the One Thai Faith, blaming whitey for all the ills, from obesity to violence to inept art gallery collections. I too wish we could go back to a time when I was one of the few people who knew what a jewel this town was, before all these outsiders f**ked it up for me (and, of course, the poor Thais).

Let's watch with amusement as the young whippersnapper hurls invectives at the oldies. He too will grow older and in turn be subject to the scorn of the know-it-all uppity young righteous. Talking bout ma ma ma generation.

Personally, what bothers me (as someone neither old nor young) is the increasing mass of young foreign kids riding around town ineptly and aggressively in gangs of three or four on rented scooters with their shirts off. Seems like an epidemic.The grey gang in comparison are by and large quite unobtrusive and well mannered.

There was a time when one of the best things about Chiang Mai was that you could hang out with people from all nationalities and ages and everyone was very nice and interesting and open-minded. The OP's post seems indicative of the changing nature of Chiang Mai. It's not a fraternal paradise anymore, but rather just another holiday town where the friction is growing palpable.

you can go to the silversmiths on wuwalai road. silver is insanely expensive right now but you could have them engrave them from copper. probably get them done for a dollar each if they're not too complex.

Yummy Pizza, especially if you're partial to a slightly thicker and firmer New York style crust on your 'za. Also, I play guitar there with the musos most Wednesday nights so I might be biased. I love their new tapas menu. That's a spicy meat-a-ball!

Bit of a trek for the inner city dwellers - just north of the Night Safari/Canal road intersection - look for the golf range sign. Nice breezy open air atmosphere.

There used to be three good bowling alleys in Chiang Mai. I heard that Lanna Bowl (at the northwestern corner of the moat) is now closed, as is UFO bowl. What about Buddy Bowl in Kad Suan Kaew?

A French TV station is coming to film me going bowling with friends and disciples of Dudeism (www.dudeism.com) but if there's no bowling then it's not possible.

If anyone is interested in being on TV whilst bowling in a bathrobe next week, let me know. The more the dudelier.

In the Hang Dong area of Chiang Mai - sitting on the ground floor i felt the most unearthly feeling of seasickness, unsure if it was just in my mind. Didn't see anything sway but i felt like I was on a large boat swaying after a strong wave. it went on for at least a minute. One of the strangest earthquakes I've ever experienced.

I'm from Los Angeles and have felt plenty of earthquakes. But the one that just happened (unless I'm having an acid flashback) was really really weird. It felt like being in a huge boat swaying to and fro very slowly for a full minute. Did anyone else think it was strange?

Post something at the Chabad house - maybe there are some Israeli teachers in town.

Have you tried Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? I studied both and preferred the latter. Better workout as well.

I just heard that Azriel Cohen passed away in his sleep, I presume in the States as New Jersey was the last place he posted from on Facebook. Anyone who used to hang out regularly at The North Gate Jazz Co-op will remember him. He was always painting groovy and impressionistic black and white ink drawings of the performers.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Hi, I'd like to learn how to bowl properly. Anyone want to teach me? Just a few lessons so I can learn the proper form and technique. Thanks.

what was the original title? just curious.

Bowling is popular in Chiang Mai - there are at least three bowling alleys. Are there any stores that sell bowling balls and bowling supplies? I'd like to buy a bowling ball bag and some other stuff (wrist brace, shoes, etc).

Thankee!

i find it odd that all these supposedly open minded, culturally sensitive people can't give a poor farang a break for soberly voicing his or her opinion that songkran is an annoyance. it's almost as if they have something to prove - some kind of holier than thou (or more tolerant than thou) mentality.

one could make the exact same argument about thaivisa as about thailand - hey, thaivisa is full of people who like to complain one in a while (surely more than once a year for a week). if you're not tolerant of that they you should get the hell out of the thai visa forum! don't be bringing your foreign sensibilities here!

certainly thai visa has been criticized for being full of whiners and bitchers and moaners. but that's a part of its "culture". if you don't like it, then go back to your own forum where you came from!!! you imperialist swine!

in other words, stop picking fights. learn to enjoy the heated discussions without making this personal, passing judgement or blowing things out of proportion. the ancient art of Argue-Jitsu.

imagine what kind of arguments the Rio de Janeiro expats get into once a year.

i'm no fan of songkran, but it could be worse. we're not the only group of cold blooded imperialists who wish we could have our cake and strictly administer its aspects too.

at least it severely curtails the witch population for a week.

what an udder boob she is not to give a hoot. keep us abreast of this sensitive matter.

350,000 baht. a drop in the bucket for the owner of a porsche cayman. 12,000 USD. that's a tenth of what the car is worth. that's not to say it should be more - you can't fine people a percentage of their net worth - only to point out how the wealthy can act with impunity in cases like these. there's no way to prevent the spoiled offspring of the wealthy to drive like maniacs and fear no consequence. it's much easier to see when reduced in financial scale here in thailand, but this applies to the wealthy all over the world.

Warning - careful what you write here or on Facebook, as Facebook conversations are being used as evidence against the charged musicians. Please don't mention any names or opinions that might be damaging to their case.

there's a paper shop on ratchamankha road (close to lost bookshop) that can cut special size paper for you. i had US letter sized paper made there for me. i don't think the sizing was that exact though. can't remember for sure. worth a try.

There's a lot of info on Thaivisa suggesting that there are a lot of good furniture outlets in Lamphun. Only they don't indicate where exactly. It sounds like there's a special area of town full of furniture outlets. I'm shopping for a big couch. Can anyone point me to the right part of town? I've never been there before. Thanks.

My garden has gone to hell. It's now a dirt lot, just waiting to turn to a mud puddle when the rains come. Time to lay down some grass I guess.

It's about 100 square meters. I'd like to use the more hardy ice-grass variety (ya malay?) instead of the fancy soft stuff which will surely die a cruel death under my watch.

how much should it cost? who can do it for me? should i just mash up the dirt, sprinkle seeds in and hope for the best? or is pregrown sod required?

thanks for your kind and generous help.

Hey where's the best place to buy a big sofa? The L-shaped kind. But big. Index has some good deals at 10,000 but they're all pretty small. Or they're really expensive (30,000-40,000). Where to find a big sofa for 15,000-20,000?

Concept has a couple options but the patterns are pretty horrible.

Aside from Home Pro, Index and Concept, what is there in Chiang Mai when it comes to sofas couches and generally comfy TV watching furniture?