Cyclist

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Obama granted 70 pardons during both terms, fewer than his 5 immediate predecessors.

https://www.thoughtco.com/number-of-pardons-granted-by-obama-3367601

It is no problem cycling across the bridge at Nong Khai, I've done it many times. The bridge at Thakek Nakhon Phanom however will make you put the bike on a shuttle bus.

Yes, I've done it many times.

in a country where they drive around in pickup trucks going 10 kmh with cheap loud speakers blaring some advert advertising who the hell know what, why would they care about a loud motorbike?

I had the same problem last April going into Laos. I found it really annoying. I did see a group of Singaporeans on big BMW's that were allowed to ride across. Not sure if they were given special treatment because they were in a group or not.

I'm glad Steve Jobs didn't have your attitude towards new technology.

Exactly!! Jobs must have been a Thai.

He outright stole the Gui and the computer mouse from Xerox and that fact isn't in dispute.

And improved upon it and made it mainstream so now that everyone has one. Thanks for proving my point.

I'm glad Steve Jobs didn't have your attitude towards new technology.

So they will buy a Prius, a Nissan LEAF and a Chevy Volt and reverse engineer them.

What are they going to charge the batteries with? More coal fired power plants?

Do they know what they are going to do with 200 kgs of batteries when they need replacing?

Do they know what small market share electric cars have in the developed world?

Do they know that manufactures don't make real money on these cars, but rather sell them to be PC?

Do they know that even then the cars are expensive compared to those with just an internal combustion engine?

Do they know that the USA has a 100 year supply of natural gas already drilled with many more places to drill?

Do they know the sticker shock for the consumer when he has to replace the batteries?

Do they know that these cars are more often rich guys toys rather than the main family car?

Do they know that "peak oil" is a myth for our lifetimes and that more oil is being discovered every year than is being used causing the supply to increase? Think Russia, Canada, Brazil and the US just for starters, and the UK with natural gas.

Do they know how clean the newer internal combustion engines run, and what great fuel economy some of them can get?

Do they know that some places are beginning to consider an annual tax on cars instead of a fuel tax because fuel economy is improving so much not enough tax is being paid to maintain the roads?

This announcement ranks right up there with big announcements of government to government rice sales that never happened.

I've taken a bike on the trains many times but never boxed up but it shouldn't make a difference. It usually costs 90 baht and you load it yourself and pick it up at the destination. Should be no problem putting it on the airport bus that leaves from the train station.

For Beach I would suggest Nha Trang in Vietnam.  It's been a few years since I've been there but in my opinion it's got a great beach and great night life too.

You should probably tell the staff, I was there last week and asked for a discount and they just laughed.

B

If you do do it, be careful, Cycling is dangerous anywhere in Thailand, unless you are off the road..

Bullshit

Oh please,, off road, no problem, on road , well just take a look at any road in Thailand or look at the road fatality statistics, please be real....

I assume you're basing your opinion merely on perception. I've been cycling in Thailand and it's neihbouring countries for 10 years now and would rather cycle here than in my home country. Also I find that Thais tend to respect bicycles more than other road users and talking to other foreigners who cycle here they tend to agree.

B

If you do do it, be careful, Cycling is dangerous anywhere in Thailand, unless you are off the road..

Bullshit

You might want to try this lady: http://www.thailanguagechiangmai.com

I studied with her and she's a stickler for proper tones.

Alcohol makes you smarter. It's the same principle as in the animal kingdom. When a predator attacks a herd they go for the weak or older animal which makes the herd as a whole stronger. It's the same when drinking alcohol. Yes alcohol kills off brain cells but it'll kill the weaker brain thus leaving you with the stronger brain cells and making you smarter. It's a fact.

Astonishingly superb rationalization, I don't even think Bill W or Dr Bob even heard that one.

What if the opposite is true, alcohol kills only smart brain cells? or even worse, is non selective and kills any/all brain cells?

Well you see, Norm, it's like this...A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

- Cliff Claven to Norm Petersen from Cheers TV Series (1982-1993)

Cyclist, tsk tsk, even when you paraphrase, you need to cite the source.

I actually never heard that source, I've never watched the show. I genuinely thought it was an original thought. Although I had a few when I wrote it.

Alcohol makes you smarter. It's the same principle as in the animal kingdom. When a predator attacks a herd they go for the weak or older animal which makes the herd as a whole stronger. It's the same when drinking alcohol. Yes alcohol kills off brain cells but it'll kill the weaker brain thus leaving you with the stronger brain cells and making you smarter. It's a fact.

Astonishingly superb rationalization, I don't even think Bill W or Dr Bob even heard that one.

What if the opposite is true, alcohol kills only smart brain cells? or even worse, is non selective and kills any/all brain cells?

I'll do some more experimentation and let you know.

Alcohol makes you smarter. It's the same principle as in the animal kingdom. When a predator attacks a herd they go for the weak or older animal which makes the herd as a whole stronger. It's the same when drinking alcohol. Yes alcohol kills off brain cells but it'll kill the weaker brain thus leaving you with the stronger brain cells and making you smarter. It's a fact.

So this sort of suggests that the dual tracked lines won't be electrified and they will continue to run diesel train services. This is exactly why we can't have military generals who have no idea what they are talking about from running the country....

All locomotives in the US are Diesel/Electric, meaning diesel powers electric generators to turn electric motors. Expecting electrified lines for freight trains shows that YOU have no idea what you are talking about.

You're failing to take in to account that the US rail system is one of the most antiquated in the developed world.

like laos, cambodia, burma and vietnam??

I would say Malaysia and Singapore did benefit in some way, because of the British there is a high level of English proficiency there and there is also respect for the constitution and the rule of law to some extent.

Malaysia and Singapore did not benefit from the colonization, but from the Chinese who were brought as labourers there. Thanks to the working spirit of the Chinese immigrants, these countries gained wealth. See Hong Kong as well. In most cases colonization was only to take as much benefit and profit of the colonized countries as possible. I doubt that Thailand would have been better off. It might have been worse. Look at all the colonized countries. How well are they doing? What suffering had the population of these countries to go through, to get rid of the colonialists...?

And if you think that countries like the US, Canada, and many countries in South America benefited from colonization, then you're wrong too. The local population has been murdered and decimized and now the "locals" are all descendents from Europe.

Also had SE asian countries never been colonized Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia would not doubt have avoided their civil wars.

I suspect if Thailand had been colonized it would be filled with Europeans acting superior to the Thais. In short no real difference.

Raining in Nong Khai.  Nice and cool.

There's a VIP bus direct from Nong Khai to Chiang Mai. I think around 900 Baht.