Diablo Bob

Wow, I always thought fighter aircraft came equipped with wings as standard equipment!

I must be a stupid American.

For the life of me, I am still trying to figure out where exploitation even enters into most of the selections in the "Poll".

I admire the EPL players and teams, from what I know about Soccer (Football) and seen, they seem to be preety da_n good. I can't quite grasp the exploitation angle though.........

Greeny, in making these games available to the local population to view, where is the exploitation? Who is getting taken advantage of?

Methinks you have dug your grave a little to deep! You have shoveled to much S__t in this topic. Give it a rest, re-read YOUR opening coments and explain how we got from there to here!

Just my opinion though......

Been out and about as normal and have been surprised by the amount of tourist in town.

I know I am getting older and don't remember as well as I used to, but to me, it seems like there has been a significant increase in tourists in comparison to the last few years.

Anybody else notice this? Is there something significant drawing them up North? It can't be the temperatures since we have either been matching BKK or been slightly higher the past few weeks.

Any ideas?

I voted OTHER!

I think the country would be better off with no motorcycle's, pickup trucks or car's, with the exception of my car & motorcycle and other selective TV members who know how to drive.

(Had a bad driving day here in Chiangmai) More than the normal amount of morons on the road for a Sunday. At least the English Premier league and American fast food franchises keep a proportion of these drivers off the street, where they belong. The fast food might be killing them, but at least they won't take me with them!

In Afghanistan, the Anatov would land every day loaded with standard shipping containers. These were normally headed to an embassy, who due to security concerns didn't want to wait the normal 21 days trans ocean/overland through Pakistan route.

While heavy equipment is a possibility, somewhat doubtful, the cost to transport via the Anatov would be prohibitive, considering that most major earth moving pieces of equipment can be roaded from Bangkok. Most of the required equipment for the "Proposed" runway expansion is already here in Chiangmai anyway.

As to why the Anatov landed in Chiangmai, your guess is as good as mine.........

I have two daughters....

The oldest (9) has retained her Thai features with the exception of her hair, which is light brown and baby fine like mine. Her skin color is also substancially lighter than my wives.

The youngest (3) is totally different, she has white skin, but when she goes into the sun she tans as dark as her mother who is from Buriram. She does not burn like most caucasions. She has her Thai nose, but her eyes are caucasion in shape, the color is a light brown. Her hair is like her sisters, light brown and baby fine.

The disturbing trait is my youngest's english language. She sounds like she is from New York City! I am from California, I don't speak like that, neither does her older sister or mother!

Another trait which I can't explain is that both girls are described by some of our Thai friends as being so "Farang" in their outgoing personalities. They both have an inquistive nature, but this is more to their upbringing than anything else. In my opinion, both girls are perfect, both will drive me crazy when they hit their teens.

My wife and I have another on the way and we will find out what pops out in around 6 1/2 months.

It has been noted by many observers that the young folks in the US military in Iraq are indeed largely comprised of poor, conservative, southern,Christian lads. Small group prayers to Jesus before combat ops are not uncommon. Yet just like their daddys, the young men are rather hypocritical when in comes to matters of sexual promiscuity.

And seeing that few of the upper echelons of the military opposed this ridiculous and tragic, for all of us, invasion of Iraq, one could argue that they did indeed kow tow to the Christian Right which was both heavily in favor of this pathetic military invasion and also in support of Boy George, Bush the younger.

The US military kow towed to George Bush. George Bush kow towed to the Christian Right. Oops, I forgot, they no longer teach logic in math courses anymore.

Indeed, Inasmuch as the USA professes to be a Christian country you would expect prayer to Jesus & God before combat, matter of fact you might see a few doing the prayer in Pattaya before attacking the beer bars. But unlike previous wars (Pre 1980), this military is a volunteer army, no draft. The days when a kid who can't graduate from high school so he joins the army are gone, they have to actually posses a diploma or pass an equavalency exam. Poor, maybe, but many have joined who didn't need to. In perusing the lists of the casualties you will find that they come from all over the country, not just the South. Interesting note, the Army divisions most active have been from the South and the Marine corps has been essentially from the West. As for being conservative, in the USA you wouldn't expect a liberal to fight for his country!

As for the upper echelon military opposing the war, well it wasn't a few, it was an overwhelming majority, but that opposition stops once the president or congress sends them into action. There was no Kow Tow by the military, they acted as directed by their superiors. As to GWB kow towing to the Christian Right, I think that this statement understates his ass kissing towards the Christian Right.

And I aggree, this war is tragic, never should have happened, and now will drag on far to long for no apparant purpose.

Myself, I hope the kids enjoy their stay in LOS, get laid often and dump incredible amounts of cash into the local economy. You might be looking at some of the next generation of TV Expats in this group.

Funny, how the US government just has to come to Pattaya every year. Is it really about training? George Bush loves Jesus but he sure has no problem with American GIs in cash-for play.

Remember, todays Generals and Admirals were Junior grade officers around 25 years ago, and you can bet they had a great time in Thailand. I remember Pattaya in 1961 when there was basically the JUSMAG compound and dirt roads to Sukhumvitt. No bars, No beer bars, No ladies for hire just a pristene beach.

Important note: GWB might be a born again Christian but the Military doesn't Kow Tow to the Christian Right in the USA.

Slippery When Wet,

I have two children, a 2nd grader and one entering Kindergarten. Rather than return to the USA, I chose to educate them through the International School system in Chiangmai. Myself, I am a Third Culture Kid, someone who was brought up outside of their own culture, and the International School system worked tremendously well for me.

Where my decision was sound in entering my daughters in the International School System. this system has some major drawbacks, primarily educating the students in Thai! The oldest can read Thai, but the youngest couldn't read a word, nor will she as long as she goes to International School.

Now if I was confidant that my daughters would continue their education in a Western country (USA, UK, Australia) I wouldn't be concerned. But the reality is that I doubt if either of them ever will want to leave Thailand. So I am now facing a decision, enter them into a private Thai School that will not only address their Thai needs but also address their needs for a quality education, and enable them to enter a quality university here in Thailand.

Will tell you my decision this coming fall.

Wow, I hadn't considered a ban on alcohal!

Guess, I will leave for Buriram tomorrow instead of Saturday, that way I can buy a case of beer to tide me over until Monday.......

Thanks for the info.

I thought it was getting more expensive then I realized I was just spending more!

Lidsay, sorry but to the best of my knowledge Taksin didn't use a penny of his own money nor was the debt totally paid off, certain amounts were forgiven by the WMF.

As to if I support Taksin, inasmuch as I am not a Thai, it doesn't really matter. My opinion of the man and his party are not that much different than the protestors. Will Thailand be better off without Taksin, maybe yes, maybe no....... I am getting a little tired of Taksins wars on Drugs, Nightlife, Pornography the Internet, Breathing!

Has Chiangmai lost its’ charm to me? No and it probably never will.

I think that with all the development, haze (smog) and traffic the city still has retained its’ soul.

No it isn’t the city it once was, but all cities mature and evolve. I for one, still think that this is the best city in Thailand even with its’ negatives, at least for me and my family.

I bitch at the traffic daily, but when I reflect on Bangkok and Mexico City and Los Angeles, well it isn’t so bad. I too hate the smog, but again when I reflect on some cities elsewhere it isn’t so bad.

We all judge differently, and as such have different opinions. By my criteria, I am living in a city with a lot of charm and a vibrant soul. Wouldn’t consider moving…….

My first trip to Thailand I stayed at a friends wives families house in Bangkapi. We went to the normal tourist attractions and a few disco's during my first two weeks. I then had them drop me off at the Diamond Beach Hotel in Pattaya for a week stay.

Upon my return to the uSA, I found myself working a project, hoarding my money and at the projects end returning to Thailand. Initially, I returned for around a month the next project ended and it became 2 months then it became two months twice a year then .........

Well, I just gained employment in the region so I could return at least once a month, then I just went to work in Thailand. I was wasting to much valuable time flying!

I haven't done the bar scene in years..... I am into the domestic tranquility phase of my life in Chiangmai. My last trip to Pattaya was spent at a family resort, but you know...... looking at it today, I couldn't return to the USA for long, Thailand is my home. I will die here, but until then I am just enjoying a decision I made many years ago.

Too bad

Collector´s worldwide should be united against this kind of maniac acts..

How this poor man can protect His property, himself or whatever after this?

BS, i say

You are a collector if you have 23 different weapons.........

You are not a collector if you have 23 of the same weapon .......

The report doesn't really specify does it ........

OK.....

Let me throw another issue into the fray!

I was in Iowa when the EPA banned burning of the corn fields. At the time, approximately 30% of the farms were already tilling the fields without burning. The reason the other 70% were resisting was the cost in equipment required to accomplish the work!

Consider this, these farmers had a certain amount of time from the melting of the snows to when they could actually enter the property with equipment. Using the standard disc of 18" required approximately a day/acre to till burned land and 3 days to till unburned land. Now some of these farms equated to a thousand acres or more, and would be using many tractors.

The growing season is actually quite short in Iowa, around 6 months. Every day wasted in the tilling of the soil equated to a reduction in the yield of the farm.

Now, the only solution was to upgrade to larger tractors which would be able to move through the unburned soil at the same rate as before. The cost? Well a John Deere tractor in 1995 was running a million +.

So you ask why are the farmers indifferent? Maybe they aren't, maybe they are cost conscience. The family farmer in the USA esentially died with the burning mandate by the EPA since the family farms didn't have the deep pockets of the corporate farms and just sold their assets away.

Well after reading this thread...... I have decided "What the <deleted>, why not!" I can't golf anymore or play any sports anymore, but they have a Bar and Restaurant, this I can do!

Will go to the fund raiser this weekend and see about joining, my membership at the RBSC (long story) probably won't be upheld, besides I live in Chiangmai.

I too have thin falang hair.

I normally use a barber over on the road by the Train station. The barber is close to the intersection of Charoen Muang Road.

Now, since not only is my hair baby fine, it is also oily, I opt for the "Short" style, but they seem to do a fine job no matter how you get it cut. I have seen other Falangs there getting various lengths of hair cut.

Look at the bright side, if they <deleted> up the cut, it will grow back.

Maejo, it used to iritate the hel_l out of me during Sonkran to return to base (Sattahip) and get written up for wearing a wet uniform and having powder smeared all over me. The Master Chief didn't accept excuses.

Didn't know we trashed the neighborhood, now that would have gotten me the Captains Mast!

The US Military during the Vietnam war was generally disciplined while in theater or on R&R, there were always a few bad apples, alot like the football hooligans. Please don't judge us all based upon the few..........

Wow, looks like a Coyote........

If its' anything like a Coyote, its just a matter of time before we can see them in their NEW habitat, from the Mexican restaurant, in downtown Chiangmai.

If they are like Coyotes they will get a culinary delight from domestic dogs and forego the deer. Deer run to fast anyway, and you don't need a pack of 5 friends to run down a Soi dog........

Nah, I will just wait a few weeks at the Mexican restaurant to take my pictures!

I have a TOT line and am using a Loxley dial-up.

No changes in my neck of the woods....... I have yet to be disconnected, speeds aren't that fast but are better than nothing.

Gee..... Don't most cough medicines contain alcohol?

When they say alcohol of any kind, does this also include wood grain alcohol?

My hays off to the crew of this Nok Air flight. Sitting in the back of an aircraft is a little different then sitting in the front. S__t happens pretty fast, decisions have to be made fast.

You can't argue with the stats though can you! The figures don't lie....... but liars can figure! One set of stats presented only consider 3 factors in the presentation of their data, and also use almost as much space in disclaimers and and explanations as to the inaccuracy of the data.

If this set of data is to be believed , explain why they list Hawaiian Air with no accidents and no fatalities! Back in the 70s they had a 737 enroute from Kauii to Honolulu which had the top pealed right off the airplane due to metal fatigue and had a passenger and stewardess sucked right out of the aircraft....... to many holes in the data! The aircraft landed safely.......

NTSB stats over the last 40 years have shown that in more than 90% of all accidents it has been PILOT ERROR, not the aircraft, not the manufacturer, not the maintenance, THE PILOT! And yes, the NTSB will have a representative here in Thailand to review this incident since this aircraft was manufactured by a US firm, consequently they have become involved.

Again, good work Nok Air, GREAT Crew.

Breconman, I won't join the others in bashing you publically......

Being from the States where we consider it a right of all free men/women to trash whatever they chose, and interfere wherever we choose, well I can't see what your problem is!

Taksin is an ass, a crook and is really starting to irk me with his weekly campaigns to defer criticism on himself by picking on my beer gardens and night venues.

This being so! I feel it is my right to stand up and be heard! I don't wish for a nice tar and feathering, but maybe seizure of his bank accounts for non-payment of taxes would help lower my blood pressure. Firing the minister of Health would help retore his position in my mind as just another petty politiciam with a Napoleon complex rather than the position he now holds.

Did you know that Taksin and GW Bush are the same height?

Well Peter has pointed to the solution, not the problem...... What Peter neglects to mention that the "Chicken Barns are bio-secured, limiting the area and population density which could be infected "IF" a there was a virus attack.

Having constructed these facilities throughout much of the USA, Central America and South America,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you done any in Guatemala? Ladex? Aka. Maya Shrimp?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not guilty...... Nicauraga, Costa Rica and Beelize and Mexico if you want to call them Central......