Morden

I've finally settled for Boncafe beans because of their price and constancy of quality. Their 100% Arabica from Northern Thailand make good espresso.

I'm an American, here for 12 years now, found my 1st job in Phuket as a P1 teacher, was allowed to live in the teachers dormatory and after school mixed with the Thai teachers and school workers also living on the school grounds. There was one 2 year old girl living there also with her grandma who was the school cook. The little girl was a special needs child with water on the brain, a club hand, vision problems, and left side body cordination difficulties. She was a throw-away child by her mother who would have nothing to do with her. I took the child under my wing after her grandma concented, and started teaching her English, and being she was so poor, I bought her clothes, toys, books and etc. She is insulted by her mother whenever she sees her, and she is verbally/physically abused by her grandma. I have stuck by her all these years, and she is 12 years old now, she has no friends at school and is constantly picked on and bullied by them. I am her best friend, and she's allowed to visit me on weekends and holidays. We meditate and study about the Buddha every time we're together, and she is such a great student that eventhough there's 175 students among the seven P5 classes in her school, because of her outstanding grades and respect for others, she was just awarded the Student Of The Week. Eventually she will be old enough to choose not to live among her family and will be free at last to live with me!

What a sad but yet wonderful story. I'm moved by it. Credit is due to you for your humanity and perseverance. You know, just one kind act from a stranger can save an abused child. What you are doing will achieve much more than even that and she will remember what you are doing for her for the rest of her life.

Good for you and I'm sure you will see your reward in the way she develops into adulthood.

You might at least publish some more detail of this wonderful product, such as a summary of the benefits, limits and exclusions, so that those interested could better see what it is. You wouldn't break any forum rules if you didn't name the insurance company, I'm sure. So far, it looks to me like no more than one of those hospital cash with life cover contracts.

What's more remarkable than people who post on more than one forum is the person who spends time noticing.

Why do some people use that word 'multiple' when others such as 'several', 'a few' or 'many' do a better job?

Thats what I thought might be the case.

It appears to be an interesting product but, from my experience, the inclusion of life cover usually indicates that the 'hospital' part is a daily cash benefit rather than medical insurance. That would explain the limited range of terms, exceptions and conditions. THB30,000 doesn't provide much in the way of medical cover unless one is very young.

There are full medical insurances available in Thailand for new customers up to age 75 with guaranteed renewal.

Still, it would be useful to see more information given in public.

Why the request for a PM and not a note of the company's details in the OP?

I've had spam from several yahoo accounts of friends over the past couple of years, none connected with Thailand. In the last month I've also had spam from a Googlemail account. In another case, a friend's btinternet account was hacked and the hacker set up a Yahoo account using her name.

Changing passwords isn't enough. The hacker-spammer has his victim's contact list. The offence should be reported to your service provider and a message about the hacking and spamming sent to everyone in the contacts list.

Thanks, Are saying that changing password, report and send messages to contacts should surfice?

It's just about all you can do as far as I know. You will have taken back 'ownership' of your email address and you will have warned others on the contact list which was stolen.

My friend in England who had her btinternet account hacked was, of course, unaware of what had happened. I received an email address in her name but on a Yahoo account to say that she and her family were stranded in Greece with no money. It's an old scam and you can guess what the next email would have said if I had replied. I knew that she and her family would not be in Greece and emailed her at her correct address with the same advice I gave you. All seems OK now except, of course, some scum bag has her contact list.

I've had spam from several yahoo accounts of friends over the past couple of years, none connected with Thailand. In the last month I've also had spam from a Googlemail account. In another case, a friend's btinternet account was hacked and the hacker set up a Yahoo account using her name.

Changing passwords isn't enough. The hacker-spammer has his victim's contact list. The offence should be reported to your service provider and a message about the hacking and spamming sent to everyone in the contacts list.

I'm not against guns and we have one at home for self-defence (not something I would see the need for in the UK) but, surely, something must be done to reduce the frequency of gun massacres in the US.

Agreed, but it must be something that actually has a chance of working and with the many, many millions of guns already in circulation in America, that is a tall order.

I have to agree. Very sad.

When crazy people get a notion to kill it will happen by whatever means necessary. I seem to remember a few aircraft being used to devastating effect. My professional career was weapons for many years, still wouldn't have one in my house though. Too many negative downsides. I know plenty of people in Thailand that want one and I am glad they don't have easy access to buy them.

Actually, buying a gun is easy in Thailand.

America is a gun CULTURE. Even if you banned every gun, and went door to door and took every gun away. There are enough people who know how to manufacture them and they would just make their own. A new black market would start importing them, and you would have Al Capone types dealing Smith and Wessons instead of booze. The Wild West is alive and well, and probably won't die out any time soon. Just expect more stories like this. Probably a lot more.

BTW, Chicago has banned hand guns for decades and is the murder capital of the USA right now...yep--death by hand guns.

Bans don't work.

You have to change the culture, and that probably won't happen.

Once again, this thread is not about the US gun culture as a whole but about the latest massacre and the pattern of such events in the US.

I'm not against guns and we have one at home for self-defence (not something I would see the need for in the UK) but, surely, something must be done to reduce the frequency of gun massacres in the US.

I'd like to ask the pro-gun lobby a serious question. Assuming that the number of guns in the USA remains as as it is and the 2nd Amendment remains unamended what would YOU do to decrease the rate at which these random shootings occur? What realistic and practical steps would you take to attempt to stop them happening?

Remove legal barriers contained in many state laws that prevent the long term commitment and confinement of mentally disturbed people. Considering that the recent shooters of the last ten years have all had track records of mental instability documented PRIOR to the shooting - seems like a good place to start. And - work on a real screening program to cut short jihadies before they get to their mission target - whether as a part of an international plan or whether lone wolf jihadies ... Remove political correctness from both these efforts.

I don't think it would be correct to suggest that they all had mental health records. After the event, they were found to have shown signs of mental issues but I don't think that all had records that would come to the attention of those vetting a permit application. The Sandy Hook killer is obviously a slice short of a loaf but he didn't own the guns he used.

The speculation is starting in advance of clear information. Even the news reporters on the scene are confused about the detail.

CNN has said this morning:

1. According to a woman on the bus, the killer was of very white complexion.

2. The other person arrested is said 'to be of interest' and 'Asian in appearance'. No-one other than a few reporters has yet connected this person with the killer.

3. The gun is said to be an AR15.

However, given the present confusion, we don't know whether any of this is correct or what the background of the dead killer and the 'Asian' might be.

All that seems to be established publicly is that there has been yet another gun rampage with significant loss of life involving a long barrelled gun.

On a general note, the more legal guns there are around, the more illegal guns there will be. I can't understand why there is still so much support in the US for open gun laws amongst people who seem to have no compassion for the victims or their families.

The AR15 is one of the most common semi-automatic rifles in America. It's used for competition, sports shooting, target practice, and hunting. But it's only one of many semi-automatic rifles sold. But the media loves to demonize it because it looks like a fully-automatic M16. It isn't. An the media is simply fear-mongering.

Educate yourself: http://www.assaultweapon.info.

Also, gun advocates are generally individuals with conservative values: like the love of family. We have immense compassion for the victims of gun related crimes. We arm ourselves so we (and our families) do not become victims of gun related crimes. And I reiterate...since 1993 gun related homicide in the United States has decreased 49%.

I concur, we always have compassion and proper justice for the victims of gun related crimes unlike other countries where justice for gunmen can be based on money and status. Make no mistake we have problems with gun related homicides but we do not lead the pack worldwide, Thailand for example exceeds us in this category and it seems that weapons are banned but pretty common regardless. We have a proud history of civil rights that allows us certain freedoms like choice of religion, free speech, right to assemble, right to vote and right to keep and bear arms. Many of these simple freedoms are no longer available in many countries of the world especially the second amendment of the right to keep and bear arms. Personally I believe that the less control the government has on it's people the more freedoms you can enjoy. Guns never kill people but people do and they will find whatever weapon they can to accomplish their goal. Making weapons illegal for law abiding citizens will never prevent criminals or whackos from finding guns to kill people. I have a shotgun at home for defense in the house and feel quite secure at night. Just an opinion I could be wrong.

Sorry but this thread is about yet another gun massacre in the US. It's not about gun or other violent crime in other countries.

If I understood a report on CNN correctly, one of the freedoms in the US is that injured victims of a gun massacre have to pay their own medical bills. There seems to be no State or Federal provision to help them and no crime compensation law. Is that correct, because those victims are having to beg for money on the internet?

I think that some people confuse freedom with selfishness. That would explain the determination of some to resist any change to their freedom to carry almost any gun when there is very clear evidence to suggest that it's needed. It would also explain why injured victims have to beg for money on the internet. Every man for himself!

Gun laws to be effective need to be FEDERAL. Duh. Thank you Australia for showing the way. Too bad the USA has become retarded in attempting such basic and helpful changes to save the lives of their OWN citizens.

The US is a republic of states. All powers not expressly given to the federal government in the constitution are reserved for the states. That's why laws vary state to state.

As for federal, it is bound by the constitution which demands that citizens be allowed to keep and bear arms. So are the states bound by that constitution.

This topic isn't about Australia.

Haha, gun laws in Australia are governed at state level. They just managed to get their crap together and bought laws into line.

As for refering to the the constitution. What a cop out! It isn't an infallible document. If they had the lobby groups they have today two centuries ago, I'm sure negro's would still be counted as 3/5 of a white person, given the argument used by NRA types that you can't dare strike out an antiquated piece of text written for different times,

The Constitution has already been amended by laws so there's no reason why it shouldn't be done again. The NRA and its followers use several red herrings and the sin of amending or clarifying parts of the Constitution is one of them.

Just to let you know that California has the stricter gun control laws in the entire country. It haven't stopped the guy from shooting six people. Also, UK has the highest violent crimes homicides in the world and they have gun and knives control laws. Well, once you understand that you can't stop these crazy people from committing a crime, you understand why you need guns. Once the criminals starts following the laws, I'll be glad to dispose of my weapons.

Show us the separate stats. for homicide and gun homicide and massacres, please.

from what I'm reading here, I'd be much safer in the UK than the US.

Why is that relevant wether the crime has been commited by a knife, a spoon or a gun? What is relevant is the ratio per capita of violent crime rate.

Sadly, UK do have the highest crime rate per capita. That means that even without guns (as you have gun control laws), the criminals uses other weapons to commit their crimes. You would feel safer in the UK than the US? Fine, but I can't wait to see the day a muslim will be able to butcher a soldier in the middle of the street, during the day and in front of everyone in Texas. Also add that the state of Vermont has the lowest crime rate in the US and have absolutely no gun laws.

Fact is that criminals will never comply to the laws, they don't care about it. The only people complying to the laws are the honnest citizen, those who will never shoot anybody for nothing. Gun control laws works, they remove everybody the right to defend themselves against somebody with an illegal gun, a knife or any other weapons that can be used for a murder.

Also, knowing that everyone around you bear a gun, do you think the criminal wants to try to arm anybody? He knows he is going to have 10 guns behind the head before he can shoot a bullet.

This said, look at all the gun crimes in the US. They all have a point in common, they have been perpetrated where there is strict gun laws. Chicago is the most dangerous city in the US with very strict gun laws. Again, the criminals refused to comply to them.

Source:

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/12/what-country-has-most-violent-crime.html?m=1

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States

If you want to argue about the different methods used for killing people, then stats. are relevant! You can apply that to comparison of deaths in the US and elsewhere in the West caused by Muslims if you wish.

Yes, I would feel safer in the UK than in the US. I have lived in one for many years and visited the other several times. Violent crime is not widespread in the UK as it seems to be in the US.

Some of your honest citizens are rather careless with their guns, aren't they? How many kids have got hold of Dad's gun and killed their brothers or sisters this year in the US?

Anyway, this thread is about yet another massacre in the US.

The AR15 is one of the most common semi-automatic rifles in America. It's used for competition, sports shooting, target practice, and hunting. But it's only one of many semi-automatic rifles sold. But the media loves to demonize it because it looks like a fully-automatic M16. It isn't. An the media is simply fear-mongering.

Educate yourself: http://www.assaultweapon.info.

Also, gun advocates are generally individuals with conservative values: like the love of family. We have immense compassion for the victims of gun related crimes. We arm ourselves so we (and our families) do not become victims of gun related crimes. And I reiterate...since 1993 gun related homicide in the United States has decreased 49%.

The AR15 and Bushmaster might be useful for target shooting but I doubt even that is they are no more than .22 rifles with fancy bits stuck on them. There are several hunting programmes on the box made in the USA. In none of them is anything other than a standard rifle used.

How is putting a gun within reach of your children 'love of family' when there are so many cases of siblings killing siblings whilst playing with Dad's loaded gun? if you really feel the need to protect yourself at home, and I fully understand that, then you should learn how to keep the thing safe. Carrying a loaded gun stuffed under your jacket in public is likely to cause more trouble than it might solve.

'Love of family' is not exclusive to gun toting Americans. Some other countries deal with that my taking action to minimise gun crime.

Gun homicide might have decreased but what about massacres involving guns that have no legitimate use outside of a gun club?

Why do you need a semi-automatic for hunting. Do you pretend that deer are Taliban?

Don't you know that most modern firearms are semi-automatic? The press has managed to make that into a dirty word. All of my shotguns are semi-automatic including my fancy walnut stocked, hand carved bird guns. Many of the most expensive walnut and polished blued guns are semi-automatic. Some of the best come from Europe.

They aren't fully automatic machine guns. They are "auto loaders."

And how many rounds do the mags. hold?

I agree that some of the best guns come from Europe. Much recommended to me is the CZ .22 range - bolt action and auto loader but certainly not a semi-automatic like the AR15.

No, you have to show residency in the state that you are purchasing the firearm. Before you get into a gun control debate, you really need to learn the laws, and not just believe in what someone wants you to believe. There are so many falsehoods put out by the anti-gun lobby that will not pass any test of being truthful.

And what about private sales?

By the way, there's no anti-gun lobby of which I'm aware. It's a falsehood! But there is a gun control lobby. Most people advocate better controls on the types of gun, permits, private sales, the suitability of a person to have a gun and the enforcement of laws.

Until they tighten up gun show loop holes, I guess we will never know. BTW, those loopholes put assault weapons and guns in the hands of criminals in case you didn't know. I mean xxxx, does common sense and people brains just blow out the window when guns are discussed. I wish we could IQ test all members of the NRA to fully appreciate the . . .

Let's at least get our facts straight, OK? California doesn't have a gun show loophole. Background checks are required. California doesn't allow high capacity "assault" type weapons.

Laws bind only the law abiding. Let's wait and see what the facts are, OK? Apparently there were two guys and who knows what motivated this?

Nothing precludes someone from buying a gun out of state. This is what the problem is. Some states have tough laws, and others do not.

In any case, the gunman is reported to have killed his father and brother. Hardly seems like anything other than a mentally ill male.

I am very sorry about the killings.

You are mistaken. A person may purchase a firearm only from a citizen or dealer in his own state. A Federally licensed gun dealer may transfer a gun to another Federally licensed dealer in another state, where then within that new state a citizen of that state may purchase the gun from that dealer in his state. All sales through dealers require background checks.

So, if I wanted to sell a gun to my best friend who lived in another state, I would have to go to a licensed dealer in my state and have him ship the gun to a dealer in my friend's state. Then my friend could go to that dealer in his state and pay the transfer and background check fees, fill out the Federal paperwork and get his gun. I would have to fill out paperwork with the dealer in my state, and pay him to ship to the new dealer in the other state.

In this case of California, no dealer would accept a gun which had a magazine which held more than 10 rounds because such magazines are illegal in California. That applies to rifles and handguns.

But a criminal would merely cross a State line and buy a gun privately.

Because there are already so many guns out there that new laws will have no effect on criminals for at least another 50 years. Law abiding citizens want some chance to defend themselves.

Yes, laws that forbid people to have guns will only increase and make the ilegal gun business much more profitable and high demand. Yet normal hard working citizens loose the their rights to defend themselves. It makes you wonder who is lobbying for gun control? I want to have a gun so I can defend my self and my family if I have too, but of course you need training, security understanding and special skills in order to have a gun.

This kind of crimes are very unfortunate and I feel for their families and relatives from what happened today...

also, imagine if a guy was carrying his gun and saw the shooting, he could have killed the guy before he went further killing more people.

'Very unfortunate'? Is that the extent of your feelings about yet another massacre?

Your assumption about the possible increase in illegal gun trading isn't borne out by the experience of Australia and the UK. Sure, there are still illegal guns around but not so many as there seem to be in the US.

A gun at home properly controlled by someone of sound mind and with training may be reasonable. However, as I understand it, most US States don't even require the owner to have a gun safe. Carrying a weapon in public is lunacy and, if it's necessary, a sign of a society that has some serious problems.

The speculation is starting in advance of clear information. Even the news reporters on the scene are confused about the detail.

CNN has said this morning:

1. According to a woman on the bus, the killer was of very white complexion.

2. The other person arrested is said 'to be of interest' and 'Asian in appearance'. No-one other than a few reporters has yet connected this person with the killer.

3. The gun is said to be an AR15.

However, given the present confusion, we don't know whether any of this is correct or what the background of the dead killer and the 'Asian' might be.

All that seems to be established publicly is that there has been yet another gun rampage with significant loss of life involving a long barrelled gun.

On a general note, the more legal guns there are around, the more illegal guns there will be. I can't understand why there is still so much support in the US for open gun laws amongst people who seem to have no compassion for the victims or their families.

The AR15 is one of the most common semi-automatic rifles in America. It's used for competition, sports shooting, target practice, and hunting. But it's only one of many semi-automatic rifles sold. But the media loves to demonize it because it looks like a fully-automatic M16. It isn't. An the media is simply fear-mongering.

Educate yourself: http://www.assaultweapon.info.

Also, gun advocates are generally individuals with conservative values: like the love of family. We have immense compassion for the victims of gun related crimes. We arm ourselves so we (and our families) do not become victims of gun related crimes. And I reiterate...since 1993 gun related homicide in the United States has decreased 49%.

The AR15 and Bushmaster might be useful for target shooting but I doubt even that is they are no more than .22 rifles with fancy bits stuck on them. There are several hunting programmes on the box made in the USA. In none of them is anything other than a standard rifle used.

How is putting a gun within reach of your children 'love of family' when there are so many cases of siblings killing siblings whilst playing with Dad's loaded gun? if you really feel the need to protect yourself at home, and I fully understand that, then you should learn how to keep the thing safe. Carrying a loaded gun stuffed under your jacket in public is likely to cause more trouble than it might solve.

'Love of family' is not exclusive to gun toting Americans. Some other countries deal with that my taking action to minimise gun crime.

Gun homicide might have decreased but what about massacres involving guns that have no legitimate use outside of a gun club?

Gun laws to be effective need to be FEDERAL. Duh. Thank you Australia for showing the way. Too bad the USA has become retarded in attempting such basic and helpful changes to save the lives of their OWN citizens.

That's absolutely clear.

Both Australia and the UK took quick action after they suffered massacres and it seems to have worked. After the Hungerford massacre, which was similar to the Santa Monica massacre, the law was changed to ban semi-automatics and pump action shotguns. After Dunblane, similar to Sandy Hook, handguns were banned. Only a few sporting shooters had any objection.

Here's something from the BBC about Britain's developing gun laws. It shows that Britain had a Bill of Rights confirming the right to bear arms and that the law was changed periodically in line with changing circumstances.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7056245.stm