Baloo22

There is another country who's leader seems very eager for a strong attack on Assad's military and believes those military strikes should result in a "regime change" in Syria. Prime Minister Erdogan is very enthusiastic about military action against Assad and insists that it be powerful enough to force a regime change in Syria. Obama should be the one saying to Erdogan; "Fine, you want military action, then the Turkish armed forces need to be at the forefront of that action!"

A quick survey of Wikipedia (not saying it's the final authority) indicates that Turkey has the second largest army in NATO and the third largest Air Force in NATO which includes a substantial number of modern aircraft. Erdogan has no excuse not to use his country's military in the effort.

Edited to add: And Obama has no excuse for failing to press Erdogan for Turkish military forces to be included in Syria strikes!

I will agree with those that say that Assad is a brutal dictator. It's true. We certainly should not be putting the term "Saint" in front of the name Assad. Yes, he is a bad boy. One of the many problems with Obama's wish to go in blasting is that it ignores that reality that all antagonists in that conflict are, for the lack of a better term, barbarians! You can't throw a stone up in the air over there without it landing on some group that is now committing or has committed some act of savagery or "war crime".

They have been doing this butchering and massacres to each other for centuries. The only thing that has changed is the technology. And, most likely, they will be doing it to each other for the next century. If you go to the Wikipedia page for the Hama Massacre of 1982 and you will see a comment right at the beginning that is very illuminating. It says: "Not to be confused with 2012 Hama massacre or 1981 Hama massacre."

Here is a nice article,"Erdogan wants Syria regime change, not limited strikes" on the thoughts of Turkey's President Erdogan on the Syria conflict. Erdogan seems to be disappointed that only a "limited strike" is planned. He says “A limited operation cannot be satisfactory for us,”. I wonder if he is going to be upset enough to use Turkish military forces to effect this regime change that he wants?

The cost of the device is a small portion of the overall cost if you are buying lots of books.

How do the B&N prices compare with Amazon?

I don't have a definitive answer for that question. I just did a lookup on for "Dragon Tears" by Dean Koontz on both B&N and Amazon. $7.99 on B&N and $8.83 on Amazon but that is not a comprehensive survey. I have a suspicion that they are both pretty competitive and it may boil down to what kind of resources a person goes for and personal preference.

I'm getting the impression that the Kindle vs Nook arguments is sort of like the Mac vs Windows "wars". A whole lot of personal preference that gets obscured by vehement worship by the fans. I think each has it's advantages.

I noticed that the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 has a webcam, the Nook HD+ does not. The Nook HD+ has both 16GB and 32GB (internal memory) versions and also a microSD slot so you can add storage capacity with a microSD card. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 does not have a SD or microSD slot.

If you're buying in the States, it'd be pretty hard to beat the Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ tablet. Price has been dropped to US$149 and the operating system opened up to full Android. Can be bought online or at B&N bookstores.

B Clendenin

I just bought a Nook HD+ (HD Plus) about two months ago. Barnes and Noble had it on sale and they also had sent me a discount coupon so it was a good deal. I like it a lot. I'm still learning and exploring the things that it can do. Experimenting now with side-loading video (movies) files on it. But it does not have a webcam so it won't do the Skype that the OP wants.

I stayed in the Majestic Grande for three nights earlier this month. It's not a bad choice if you want to be in the lower Sukhumvit area. A little overpriced IMO. But nice room, nice bathroom, and decent WIFI. With only two elevators for twenty-plus floors of rooms, there can a wait for an elevator at times.

If the OP is looking for a hotel along Sukhumvit for a business stay and needs good computer connections, take a look at Amora Neoluxe Suites on Soi 31, Sukhumvit. I stayed there last year. It's a fairly new hotel, and nice and clean. Staff was friendly and professional. If you are a tech-geek, you will love the computer desk setup. It has a connection panel with power outlet, LAN and telephone jacks, and multiple connections (VGA, USB, HDMI, and other types)to the large flat-screen TV.

They do have a small pool. They also have a small fitness room with treadmill, stationary bike, eliptical machine, several resistance machines, two benches, and a rack of light to medium dumbbells. The room also has a safe to store your valuables. The included buffet breakfast did have a not a huge selection but satisfied me.

From Amora Neoluxe Suites, it's a short walk to Sukhumvit Road with plenty of restaurants, pubs, and shops. If you take a left on hitting Sukhumvit a short walk brings you to Villa Supermarket. You are also approx equal distance (around 500m) from the Phrom Phong and Asok BTS stations. Also right next to the Asok BTS station is the Sukhumvit MRT subway station.

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

what a crazy statement

Until u state ur age and what you enjoy doing, no one, I repeat, NO ONE can make any suggestions on where to go or what you should do

I don't consider it a "crazy statement" at all. It is a very accurate statement!

Here is one of the latest events in the Phuket paradise: "Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident"

I found this comment to be very enlightening. You can find many more accounts of the pitfalls visitors to the sewers of Phuket and Pattaya have endured.

you,like most people seem to interchange Patong beach with PHUKET island

they are not one and the same an although Patong Beach might have go go bars ( ONLY found at PATONG BEACH) and open air bars and problems, the rest of the island is beautiful and peaceful

No, I do not interchange Patong with Phuket island. What I have done is hear what multiple people who have lived on Phuket Island have told me. Both accounts seen on boards like this one and face to face. They have been remarkably similar to the account by BM pgrin . One person that now lives here in Chiang Mai told me "The mafia and scum used to be pretty much limited to Patong, but now have spread throughout the island." And that was the reason that, after living more than 6 years on Phuket island, he was fed up with it and moved to Chiang Mai.

If you like living there, by all means, continue. I have based my comment above on my observations, in both Pattaya and Phuket, and the large body of evidence that tells of the violent crime and extreme corruption in both places. When asked to advise friends and others, as I have in the past and will continue in the future, I will advise them to stay away from both Pattaya and Phuket.

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

what a crazy statement

Until u state ur age and what you enjoy doing, no one, I repeat, NO ONE can make any suggestions on where to go or what you should do

I don't consider it a "crazy statement" at all. It is a very accurate statement!

Here is one of the latest events in the Phuket paradise: "Aus Hon Con in tense talks over Phuket jet-ski incident"

I found this comment to be very enlightening. You can find many more accounts of the pitfalls visitors to the sewers of Phuket and Pattaya have endured.

Of course Assad did it. Jeez. It's cool if you are anti US and against US intervention for personal reasons, but pleas stop with the no evidence bs.

The really sad part about all of this crap is that it is purely political. If Bama said we are not getting involved, the Republicans along with a lot of two faced bastards that just hate Bama would be saying "Bama is weak and we need to bomb."

That is what makes me suck. This has nothing to do with right or wrong. It is just drawn along political lines even though the consequences are unbelievable suffering by many many innocent civilians and children.

I mean seriously. It is amazing how all of those that have been against Baama since day one are unanimously against intervention just because he is for it. Shameful.

You are very much mistaken with your accusations that those against intervention are against it because Obama is for it. Sen. John McCain was his opponent in the 2008 election and he is for intervention. There are people on both the left and right that are for intervention and there are people on both the left and right that are against intervention. You can take a look at this far left website and see that even the far left is split on intervention. This is not a left or right issue.

Seriously though if Americans can send erykah badhu for tax evasion, an obviously misprioritized nation, how theXXXXXX can an heir get away with manslaughter, bribery and defamation? Am

I missing something???!

You are missing clarity. You are missing any thought process.

And your comment is missing any sense at all!

Nonsense propaganda! Neither Iraq nor Syria would have needed any assistance to produce chemical weapons. Any country/industry that has the technology/ability to produce pesticides can produce the most lethal of chemical agents. Many of the chemical warfare agents were first produced with 1916 era technology. Both Saddam's Iraq and Syria certainly possess(ed) that level of technology. And nerve agents were first created while a certain company was trying to develop a better pesticide. That was in 1936!

It's common knowledge that US companies supplied precursors to Iraq in the '80's.

It is not "common knowledge" but rather common ignorance. It is commonly repeated nonsense spouted by know-nothing leftists with zero knowledge of chemical agents. Of course, it needs no proof either! They just keep repeating it and so now it is quoted as "common knowledge". As I have previously shown, countries like Iraq and Syria have no need of outside help to produce chemical agents. The technology to produce many such agents has existed since World War I.

Good to see that a majority of British MPs have learned a lesson or two from the Iraq disaster. America and its neocon bullshxt advisors like Max Boot are still a long way away from that.

You could say that a majority of British MPs have given us "Peace for Our Time"!!

Iraq and Syria were long time foes.

Iraq had assistance in building it's chemical weapons from one of the European countries if I recall.

We may have posters who have better knowledge of this than I do.

"Iraq and Syria were long time foes."

And at one time both the US and GB were foes. And then they were close allies with a "special relationship". And that "foes" stuff means even less when a neighboring regime is giving you something that you may want!

"Iraq had assistance in building it's chemical weapons from one of the European countries if I recall."

Nonsense propaganda! Neither Iraq nor Syria would have needed any assistance to produce chemical weapons. Any country/industry that has the technology/ability to produce pesticides can produce the most lethal of chemical agents. Many of the chemical warfare agents were first produced with 1916 era technology. Both Saddam's Iraq and Syria certainly possess(ed) that level of technology. And nerve agents were first created while a certain company was trying to develop a better pesticide. That was in 1936!

This spring I stayed at the Silver Gold Garden Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was a good clean room with good aircon. There was a restaurant next door, a market right across the street, and a 7-11 less than 100m away. Paid 790baht (total) for a Superior room with airport transfer and ABF. I would stay there again.

Here we go again! In April; 18 Korean Tourists Injured In Speed Boat Accident In Pattaya

The Air Asia website is evil. It's dedicated to stealing from their customers through unwanted/unneeded charges. It takes a skilled hand to navigate through that mess without incurring some kind of bogus charge. Yea, they're cheap so they try and make it up on the extra charges.

I have to disagree with you. The website is not evil and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to navigate through the AirAsia booking process. A person just has to take their time and pay attention to what they are doing.

Different people visit or live in Thailand for different reasons. Can you be a little clearer on why you want to visit Thailand? Sightseeing, the beaches, other? And how long will your trip be?

As far as speaking English, many Thais can speak a little, but most have limited vocabulary and limited conversational ability. Thais in major tourist areas and hotels catering to foreigners will tend to have better English language ability. But with a little patience, necessary communication always seems to get done. Patience, staying calm, and a smile gets you a long way here.

I would suggest that you stay away from Pattaya and Phuket. They both are big tourist centers with a large number of go-go bars and other "girly bars". Both places tend to attract the worst people. The worst Thai people and the worst foreign people.

Avoid traveling long-distance in vans or minibuses. They have a horrible safety record here. Drivers tend to be very reckless. Just about every other week there is a news story of a fatal crash of tourist van or tour bus. Flying is the safest way to travel followed by train. Some bus companies are good, such as NakonchaiAir and, in the north, Green Bus. But they are a little more expensive than the normal Thai buses. I would use the low-fare, long-distance Thai buses only if I had no other choice.

No, that is an actor from the Ferris Bueller movie. He played the principle that was obsessed with catching Bueller skipping school.

That filthy vermin Bradley Manning got off easy. That piece of trash should give thanks for every day that he is allowed to perform hard labor in a military prison.

Last time I took the van; it made two stops. One for 40 THB instant noodles. The other, Thai Cashew Nuts, selling for 3 times what I pay for them.....in the USA. Even though the vans may appear to be in good condition, the all important suspension will be shot. I vote for Greenbus, and all you gotta do is get to Chiang Rai, and there are busses and vans leaving frequently for Mae Sai. I used to almost always get a room in CHiang Rai, drop my stuff off, then take care of visa, and come back to Chiang Rai to party. I'll leave the one day whirlwinds for the teachers.

I like to do similar - but I stay in Maesai instead - boring place, but only do this if the kids come with me. If I go alone (most often these days as the youngest gets car sick on coaches), I do the "teachers' whirlwind tour" so I can be back before night, don't like them alone at night even if they are well behaved teenagers. The other benefit for doing over night trips (other than going to a bar at night and easy travelling when you get back to Arcade) is that you can take the afternoon bus out and morning one back, thereby avoiding the crowded "teacher whirlwind tour" passengers - and tickets are easier to come by.

I agree! I did the same for a border run last year. Took the Green Bus up to Mae Sai and stayed overnight at the Navy Home Hotel. Used that afternoon to wander around the local market and visit the Wat Phrathat Doi Wao temple. Then the next morning did the border crossing and got the needed stamp. No crowd at all at the border in the morning. I enjoyed the two-day trip; Instead of nine (4.5 up and 4.5 back) hours on a bus in one day.

Boric acid that is mixed with the same type of food that those specific ants like to eat. Usually ants that you will run into in the house will go for sugar or grease (or items containing one of those two).

Take a look at How to Make and Use Homemade Ant Baits. A google search on ants and boric acid will give you more info also.

I've been trying out some Burmese food and ran across the Tam Jai Sung Restaurant. I believe that it has only been open for about six months. It's a small place on Sermsuk Road, a little ways off of Huay Kaew Road. If you are heading north on Huay Kaew turn right on to Saijai Road and then right at the T. It's on the corner here.

I ate Tea Leaf Salad and a "Burmese Curry" with rice. Tasted good to me. The portions were not large so I definitely get the salad and another dish. On the plus side, it's inexpensive; the total bill was 109baht. It's close to where I'm staying so it's convenient. I'm not familiar with Burmese food so I can't say how "authentic" it is. I'll leave that up to some of the resident experts.

I have used McAfee Antivirus Plus on my personal computers for several years now. It's been fine for me. It's been stable, keeps itself updated, and has kept my systems clean and working. As an IT Professional, I worked with Symantec (Norton) for years. Administered the "Enterprise" version for a college IT system. Symantec is good also.

IMO, that old saying that "You get what you pay for!" still applies. When you have any kind of major outbreak, larger companies like McAfee and Symantec have the resources to break apart the virus/worm's code and then design and distribute their virus signature updates out to their customers quickly.

Let me add: I recommend that you have only one Antivirus program installed/running and only one firewall installed/running. For example, if you are going to run the McAfee firewall, then turn off any Windows firewall. I have encountered many people/computers with problems running different applications because of conflicts resulting from multiple Antivirus and/or multiple firewalls running.