RamblingSam

I'm a Win7 user on my desktop PC; just prior to Win 10 was announced, upgraded by laptop to Win 8. I do not like the different interface on this, looks and feels like MS had got their latest batch of young Geeky programmers and told them, 'Show us the interface you'd like to see on our next version of windows' ... without any support from programmers they have been employing for over a decade. When I get a new OS, I expect it to be bug-free, and if I am finding any, the MS or anyone else for that matter should pay me, for finding them, and not acting as their free de-buggers. Maybe I will eventually upgrade, but to an OS that has at least 2 years of use under it's belt.

My all-time favorite OS has to be that on the Atari STe and Falcons; The OS is held on a chip, any software that has to interrogate the OS, places that data in a folder OUTSIDE the OS, and cannot embed anything into it. With today's ultra-fast processors and massive amounts (in comparison) of memory, there is no need or reason whatsoever why MS, and any other OS, needs to embed any files at all inside it's OS.

By using a single directory file outside the OS, and the data in this is used like an Adobe-style plug-in, makes far more sense. However, that seems to be wholly unacceptable, or maybe some other OS maker (Digital?) took out a Patent on this?

With Windows, when you get a system crash and have to re-install an OS, only to discover the software you had been using on it, no longer doesn't work, so you have to re-install that as well! Is that just too simple a concept for OS designers to take on board?

Rant over.

Kovaltech's remark about ice-picks and cross-bows is relevant, there was a US tv programme (I think stunt equipment designers?) which showed that when an arrow or gun/rifle using black powder was fired into water, these would considerably more effective than bullets from high velocity guns, because on impacting water, the latter would shatter. It was kind of concluded that the lower velocity of the former, was why they were more effective. That would kind of imply, that body armour containing Silk, may well be effective against low velocity impacts such as knife attacks?

I'm a Brit, without any military personnel experience, hence my ignorance on some aspects of the capabilities of firearms of any kind.

Do you get Chinese tourists here? A few complaints from that country might make things even hotter. I would not be surprised because how 'controlled' these groups are, they just would probably buy their own jet-skis, and not even bother dealing with the local mafia or anyone else. Of course, a group of farangs living over there, could get together and buy some, which they 'share' ... That, wouldn't have thought, constitutes a business, and if it does, what about setting it up as a Charity for Farangs only? Other tour operators could, I am guessing, do the same thing for their clients .... There seems to be lot of complaints about what happens out there, but in this thread, no-one has suggested an alternative way of getting around this situation. "Jest a thort" as Bluebottle (The Goon show) would often say ....

Pot, Kettle, Black.

A couple of questions:

If you use a tablet or mobile phone for your e-mails, send and receive documents, so your PC running XP, doesn't have a direct connection to the internet, does malware etc, have much chance getting onto your PC?

Furthermore, can your PC be hacked if you also transfer data between your PC and other devices via a USB memory stick?

Malware via a CD or DVD may well corrupt your hard drive and files on it, but without a being directly connected to the internet, other more serious damage, which would need an internet connection is probably also prevented.

Stuxnet, and more modern variants of it, might cause XP users problems, but isn't that using a sledge-hammer to crack a peanut, and the size of the files needed to to install this nasty worm, are pretty big, and target things I doubt an XP user doesn't use such a PC for.

At the end of the day, this is surely more about MS wanting users to spend money on upgrading their O/S and software, which in the vast majority of cases, is more than capable of doing the types of things most users want a PC to do, and MS, are just peed off that a lot of people just don't want, and are refusing to upgrade!

Can I suggest what I think is a very reasonable compromise?
Only allow 'pretties' if the establishment uses it's delightfully-looking resident Mamasan and her similarly aged friends?

I too love the Ducati's, especially the 'naked' versions, and both have pretty good reputations. However, being utterly practical and logical, I'd ask myself the following questions before going for the Ducati, since absolutely stunning as it is, owning one comes some down-sides you might not be aware of, the main one being it's Desmodromic valve set-up, which is pretty complex, (or certainly used to be!) requiring a well-trained mechanic to sort out ... I'd suggest you get to see something like a Haynes manual so you can see just what's involved. You may well scream and run away from the 'love of your life' after looking at what's involved if you intend servicing this yourself. Here's a link, regarding the Desmo setup Ducati use:

http://www.seastarsuperbikes.co.uk/ducatiengines.html

I'm not too sure, but the Triumph may well be a better bet, and here is a link to Triumph's production set-up in Thailand ...

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/689/11346/Motorcycle-Article/Inside-Triumph-Motorcycles.aspx

This may well change your mind about getting the Triumph instead.

So, what is now going to rule your decision as to which to buy, your Head, or your Soul?

Probably isn't going to happen in anyone's life time, but opening regional passport/Visa offices wiould help. as for ...

'OK got your point, but 1 time a year isn't that hard to swallow compared to the same lot (you are referring to) sitting next to you in an overcrowded bar now is isn't it?' ... maybe if these offices also had a bar, Falangs would be more enthusiastic about visiting? LOL!

... I own a rich farm and let me be the first to tell you - very little labor is required any more. All you need is a phone to call the guy to do whatever needs to be done by machines. ...

Hmmm; If the highly mechanised farming methods used in Europe, the US and elsewhere are to be used in Thailand, where are all the existing farmers and their families going to seek employment? Are these farmers also going to take on the cost of the equipment, and not pay off these costs via the savings made by reduced labour costs, AS WELL AS plough their increased profits into developing other forms of employment for those not now working the land? I doubt it, they'll want the former heavily subsidised, and the latter, well, that's someone else's problem, not something they want to address. Furthermore, they'll demand imported equipment, not kit which is manufactured in Thailand, by those who are no longer working in the fields. Many people don't look back 2-3 centuries at what happened when countries like the US and Europe industrialised it's farms, and the problems that then had to be solved.

The Army will be carefully overseeing what the Mayor and the Police do; but one thing I'd like to ask those who were around Thailand whilst the Army held power last time is, was the level of corruption and graft as high as it is now, or did things operate differently then?

With all the Thai political parties and their followers continually acting like a baby, kicking toys out of the pram and making a hell of a racket, I'm not at all surprised that 'Mummy' (the Thai Forces) has come along, stuffed a bottle in it's gob, and is just about to clean the crap (political supporters) out of it's nappy. Mummy has held back from taking action, and maybe this time, having brought up one baby, (the political leaders who revoked the last Junta) may actually be better prepared and informed than she was last time.

So, we have a range of different English language exams ... but is which English they are teaching, (US or UK) the problem? I seem to see more US followed by what seems to be US and UK language mixed up together, than just UK English being used. I'm guessing this is because of the much larger number of Americans who visit or live in Thailand. I get the impression that most countries outside the US, prefer to teach UK rather than US-English, and maybe, there is an underlying 'conflict' going on within the education system, as to which version is supposed to be taught? I'm a Brit, don't have a particular axe to grind as to which is taught or used, but I'm guessing, the fact that you have US and UK English operating in Thailand side by side may make producing and marking a 'Written' English exam, a bit of a mess, if one is preferred over the other by those marking the papers!

All religions and Buddhism, are subject to being 'manipulated' by those who wish to use it for their own ends; some of these certainly are, or were, meant to improve te lives of those in (for instance) countries like Thailand. You could quite reasonably say that pretty well all of them in the early centuries of their existence, educated the masses and ran hospitals and other social care services. Just look at what Christianity delivered up until probably the 12-13th century, after which time, those ruling countries, probably decided that they needed to set up government-run versions. In Thailand and some other Asian countries where Buddhism is the majority religion, I would guess this religion is still delivering these 'welfare type' services.

I do wonder Buddhism following the influx of other religions such as Christianity into Thailand, and the ways of 'commercialised' and fundamentalist Christian churches have gradually changed the way Buddhism operates in Thailand. I'm by the way, an agnostic, but I do however, highly regard the positive aspects that many religions deliver.

You've forgotten the Persians, Alexander and the biggest one of them all, the Mongol empire ... ah, but one could say that one is being rebuilt again by stealth, via trade!

Learn lessons about what? In what context? Circumstances are different, as are how people are ruled in both countries. The lessons to be learnt are also different. If the questioner is relating this to the level of violence in either country, the question probably needs to be the other way round. This might be a more relevant question if you were comparing the situation in the deep South and Ukraine, but in that instance, the Thais could teach them a number of lessons. However, I still think it's a 'strange' question.

I would have thought, if people are saying they don't see as many as they used to, it means their numbers are declining; after all, (for instance) americans were saying that Bison and Passenger pigeons were declining and the next thing they knew, one was extinct and the other almost. brown Bears, Wolves and Tigers heading the same way, (There's vastly more illegally-kept Tigers in the US, than in the wild) These and other species get in our way because we want to be where they are, so just respect their territorial rights and educate others as to which are in fact poisonous. I'm not a dyed in the wool environmentalist or wild amimal welfare activist, but killing off snakes, means you are allowing a far more dangerous species, the rat, get out of control and spread disease. Sadly, a lot of people (including myself) just target one type of species, but are unaware of how it's loss will impact on other things they keep under control, which are far more undesirable. Some people dislike/hate Gekkos, but this cheeky little character, keeps down the bugs and other nasties within the home ... that's why traditionally in Thailand, a house with Gekkos in it,is considered lucky and better than one without any. Also, I like hearing them in places I stay at!

I expect there is quite a lot of tax whacked on food imported into Thailand, for instance, have you seen the price of a jar of Marmite! On the other hand, look at the price of rice in the UK, and what it sells for in Thailand. One gets the distinct impression that in the UK, virtually any 'packaged/prepared' meal with rice in it, is considered a product you can charge over the odds for, as I'm guessing they use a fair number of artificial flavourings inside them instead of the spices and herbs used in Thailand.

I don't think this can be called the 'Ramadan' diet, because I'm guessing booze, as in beer, and all soft drinks, so dieter only drinks water, should be included amongst the things you do NOT consume, but I'm betting no-one wants/intends giving up the former, under ANY circumstances, and still have the option of drinking the latter!

I also am concerned about monks getting too involved in politics, though managing to remain unaffected by what's going on around them, in Thailand must be pretty difficult. Buddhists in other countries have got involved in this area, usually I think, because things have reached the point where that countries political and social climate has put them in a really difficult position. They are, and pretty well always have been, a 'force' promoting moderation and reason during troubled times ... something that is badly needed when things kick off.

I wish you the best of luck on that project .... As for the Placebo effect, yes, it is a lot more powerful than people imagine. Modern medical practitioners all over the world know of it's effect, but the Pharma companies dismiss it's effects as almost 'hogwash', cos they can't sell it!

Is it right or left leg first? ...
Ah, first things first, make sure, (a) your not holding your wife/GF's pants, ( You are not holding them back to front ... After that, well, as to which leg first, it doesn't matter at all, but, butting both feet through the same leg-hole, doesn't help matters much when you stand up!!!

What they prefer, and the falangs they are likely to meet, are old, fat, boozers and prone to chasing anything with a skirt on. If the 'Boot was on the other foot' so to speak, and you were asking about Thai women visiting or living in a non Asian country, I'd lay odds that they would be tracking down the kind of men who mainly do NOT visit Thailand ... Young, slim, non boozers and womanisers!

I have no idea why so few farang are joining this kind of school. (99% of the language schools provide visa services).

Every year around 200 people do the Thai language government test. In this group there are usually only 2 or 3 farang.
Are we too good? Too lazy? Too stupid? Or we don't like tests? Or we don't like to study? Or there are just less farang than Japanese here? I have no idea.

I'm betting people who only want a course that expects people to attend 4-5 hours a week, are using this as a 'cover' for their extra-curricular activities, doesn't want other Falangs around as it reduces their chances of chatting up etc. the other younger students .... I'm looking forward to being proven wrong!

I'd bet (if I was a betting man) that every religion's texts may well not contain, or now be as they were centuries ago. However, the vast majority of people (including my self) don't need to know how and why and why things changed; that's something that probably only those who are really devout or academic-type monks need to be concerned about these variations. We 'just' need to follow what the Buddha taught, not get tangled up in the 'technicalities' ... that's how things like the various forms of the Christian church evolved into what they are nowadays.

Sukhumvit Rd ... Ha ha ha!
That's a hell of a looooong road! I've been along some of it from BK down to Rayong, dunno how far it goes beyond there, or come to that, how much further it goes from Bk in the other direction!