BKKBike09

If you just want to plink at cans in the backyard, get a BB gun. No license required and way cheaper than an air rifle here (.22 air rifle will cost about the same, if not more than, a .22LR rifle). And unless you live close to a shooting range, no point in getting a 'real' firearm licensed to your wife because you'll not be shooting in your backyard. Even if you do live near a shooting range, officially the registered owner of the weapon needs to be present (although it's very rare for ranges to check that someone who brings a gun to shoot is actually the registered owner).

Exactly. If anything they should raise the voting age to 21. One can't be other than cynical that this is a ploy by Labour to boost their potential voter base and thus chances of retaining power at the next election. As with the changes to Mayoral voting. On the other hand, Labour's changes to employment legislation and employer NI obligations have reduced employment opportunities for many 16-18 year olds, so perhaps they won't be so keen on Labour. Although I suspect many 16-18 year olds only care about what's next on their TikTok or other social media feeds.

I'm concerned for the welfare of that chair.

It's a little off topic but you're correct. Most regular cops here rarely get to practice at a range because of cost.

I can report that the BMA have leapt into action on this new initiative. Yesterday I observed this high tech structure newly erected near the Landmark Hotel, with a notice saying something in Thai like "BMA Safety Promotion" or something like that. Clearly no expense has been spared. I understand from sources at the BMA that each of these structures is a) earthquake proof (certification by the Wob Li Institute of China) and b) very reasonably priced at THB 8.888 million each (NB: maintenance contract separate). I did notice a rather strong odour of cat urine associated with the structure but again was assured by my sources that a) the rain would soon wash it off and b) that in any case this is also considered a traditional Thai street smell and that 'farang you no undersatand'. So, all in all, well done BMA!

I knew her mother ! Did her buffalo ever get better?

Luckily however the crack team didn't encounter any prostitutes. Or perhaps they didn't realise - they're very hard to spot in that area. I think I saw one last night near Soi 11 but I'm not sure how one would know.

He deserved a beating for his execrable attempt at speaking Thai.

And it was during the two-day long booze free start of Buddhist Lent. So of course the bar wouldn't have been serving alcohol. I blame all the sugar and additives in his soda pop.

Another harebrained scheme that will be overly complex to administer and will cost the state (ie the taxpayer) billions. They're already spending billions (USD not baht) to keep electricity and LPG prices artificially low. It doesn't say if open-ended but that's the implication. BTS at many hours of the day is already literally creaking at the seams so how this will work out if it encourages large numbers of people to commute in from the 'burbs is anyone's guess.

Another thing - what they don't say here is that confidence in Thai coconut water exports has been much more heavily damaged by claims of 'organic certification': it's been well documented that Thailand exports far more coconut water than could possibly be produced by the plantation area that has been formally certified as 'organic' to the stringent standards this requires in the West. That is one area where large-scale producers have an edge: supply chain traceability and accountability is much easier than when sourcing from "300,000 farming households", many of whom are probably using chemical insecticides and fertilisers left right and centre.

In other words a number of large corporates have set up an industry group that will operate to maintain their market position using mechanisation and high-investment new crop trees, all at the expense of the little guy with the monkey. What's next: it's 'cruel' to use a buffalo to pull a plough?

Not sure it isn't also now the case. Prices of both are dropping because banks are much more reluctant to lend, which does affect secondhand market if buying from a tent. It's a buyer's market now. I recently bought a 5 year old Volvo XC40 (2L turbo AWD) for under 900K - cost new was something like 2.3 million.

Actually BYD has been making vehicles for 10+ years (buses and cars). One of the reasons i went for BYD is because they produced the EV taxis that came into service at Suvarnabhumi around 10 years ago - and were going strong for many years, and which I took from time to time.

I think the Atto claims 20-80% in something like 30 minutes. That's probably not far off real life. The max rate the Atto will charge at is just under 90 kW/h. I don't know about Sealion. But thing to bear in mind is that it doesn't really matter at the moment, in Thailand, what your max charge rate is because at a typical PTT station the chargers run I think at 150 kW max output. They can charge two cars at the same time ... but the total capacity is 150 so you often end up with much less as it's split between the two cars. DC fast charging is also not supposed to be great for battery longevity if it's the way you intend to charge on a regular basis (as opposed to home AC). Range is very variable: basically the faster you go, the quicker the battery drains. If I go to Jomtien at 100 kmh it's much better for range than going at 120 kmh. Atto is supposed to be 480 km and I think that's quite possible with car in Eco mode and driving at 80-90 kmh and avoiding any heavy acceleration. But that's really tedious and one of the pleasures of EVs is instant torque. The Atto is supposed to do 0-100 kmh in about 7 seconds; it will do it in nearer 6.5. In the 1980s that was hot hatch performance. Of course it's a lardy SUV so its general handling can politely be described as cumbersome. But for overtaking that torque is very handy. Tyre inflator - I have a heavy duty Makita one, but in part because the battery can be used with other Makita power tools. Wasn't very expensive - i think 1500 baht or something like that.