richard_smith237

That you, Bob ????

👍 So it was an electrical short circuit in a transformer for a charging station... Your relief must have been overwhelming, Khun LA... all those "EV's cause fires" comments you don't have to respond to now....

I think a happy balance could be attained... (or rather, should be attained) between safety as it exists in the West and Thai attitudes towards safety. In the UK we see two lanes of the motorway closed for 6 months to repaint white lines (I know I know, an exaggeration) - but in my area (countryside of the UK) the 10km stretch of B road into town was closed with a 20km detour for two weeks while potholes were very poorly repaired and white lines were painted... much to the aggravation of locals. Meanwhile in Thailand we'd have seen a workaround of partially closing the road at night in periods of far less traffic and other measures which mean as little inconvenience to locals as possible - but at the same time forgetting to mark the road-works leading to accidents... Hence the happy medium - Thailand is a dangerous place and far more incidents occur due to utter incompetence and a complete lack of consideration for safety.... the UK overdoes it... but I wouldn't be saying that if I was a motorway worker...

Agreed... . Given the already heightened tensions... an announcement stating... "This was 17 year old Christian male born in the UK to Rwandan parents, this is not a religion related act of violence, due to the age of the attacker the name cannot be announced - this is the only information that can be legally released at this moment".... Or words to that effect - rather than the Police stating "the incident is not currently being treated as terror-related"... which opens the door to people thinking 'it could be terror related if more information is found out"... which then lends to further suspicion... Its obviously incredibly difficult to handle such a situation publicly, but officials are supposed to be trained for this and they failed to 'set the correct temperature' with their clumsy announcements.

Hmm.... the real reason then.. To meet with parties to arrange his 'acquittal'... and if there isn't enough money - he knows not to come back.

Valid points and well argued comments to a subject that can so easily get heated. Though, I disagree that we should not 'publicly speculate'... the point of forums is to discuss subjects... Perhaps as you have pointed out we each have a greater responsibility to be more careful with our speculation... ... however, I would then argue that pandora's box has been opened and I would question why such speculation took the path it did.

An agreeable statement - however, why is there so much suspicion of such atrocities being carried out in the name of Islam in the first place ???? Were the authorities clumsy in not providing greater information in the first place?... Holding back information led to the void that was filled by social media and the spread of inaccurate rumours. I also agree with your sentiment that 'people like you [me], lapped it up'.... as soon as the name Ali Al-Sh..(something) was spread, I completely bought it - as I already had my suspicions... those suspicions based on a bias fuelled by numerous recent events.... I was wrong of course... But why did I and many others like me who'd claim they are not racist and open minded individuals fall for the social medial lies ??? - are we actually racists / Islamaphobes and should place ourselves under greater 'self-check' before commenting on forums ???... perhaps, as I for one commented on social media (here) without any proof or knowledge official information... I'll hold my hand up and say I was wrong - but, I'll also hold up my hand and ask the question of myself, why did I so easily fall for the social media lies ??....

Agreed.... but in the UK there is unfortunately a growing anti-Islam sentiment.... Why is that ?... Is a certain amount of Islamaphobia simply down to racism and bigotry? or, are there 'other' elements and reasons lending to these growing tensions. I consider myself a balanced individual, however, I allowed my bias to surface when first hearing the reports of these abhorrent murders with my first suspicions being of a muslim male murdering in the name of Islam - Quite clearly I was wrong... nevertheless, I didn't think it was a Chinese or Indian Male carrying out such atrocities. We are of course often led by our bias, often incorrectly so, however, that bias is often born of a reality, unfair when generalising, perhaps.... nevertheless, not wholly inaccurate either.

An unpleasant individual perhaps, equally so, perhaps quite necessary.... as 'equally unpleasant' as people having to kill others in the name of freedom, yet quite necessary although not on the same level.... Tommy Robinson is perhaps necessary for spreading an unpopular but not inaccurate message (depending on ones perspective of course). I don't find the the 'Just Stop Oil' message necessary in an manner or form... Arguing for carbon capture and more sustainable recycling would be a far better stance IMO. Taking an individual facet of a larger argument - while we buy milk from a supermarket in plastic bottles when it was once delivered to the home by EV in reusable glass bottles highlights a bigger issues.

Even by 2030 - without oil we will revert to the dark ages.

Not to mention the extra carbon footprint of importing all the oil in the first place... An utterly ridiculous situation the UK has placed itself him - attempting to go carbon neutral, importing oil from overseas at a higher cost and higher carbon footprint than domestic production - all in the name of and woke vote-buying.... ... meanwhile China's Coal production and consumption has tripled in the last decade and they are laughing at the world as we end up buying all their products making them more powerful and wealthier as we cripple our own economies.

I was recently in a rush (before travelling on late notice) and didn't have time to order from the usual Roaster I get coffee from... I bought Bon-Cafe's blend of Arabica-Robusta (Morning Roasted Coffee - red pack) and also the Eyesen blend.... I was quite happy with the coffee... in the situation where beggars can't be choosers, the morning couple of cups from the above mentioned blends (brand) were quite enjoyable (not as good as my espresso from my home machine, but not a lot is).

That depends how far down the rabbit-hole you go... As with many things, the more detailed we go, the more we realise there is to it... With 'pour over' coffee - if we are prepared to go down that rabbit-hole, there is a great amount of detail involved with even distribution of grinds, perfect distribution of pour, from a specially designed hot water pot (long thin curved spout) that easier to control and pours the hot water evenly over all the coffee in the 'filter'... Or.. we just dump a load of hot water in the filter washing a lot of coffee up the side of the filter under-extracting a lot of the coffee and over extracting the grinds in the lowest part of the filter cone..... (as I said, going down the rabbit hole)... This is why some do not prefer 'drip coffee' and only go for 'pour over' coffee if the process is carried out with greater attention to detail.... To some, its just a cup of coffee... to others, the detail is important and thats what makes a quality cup of coffee (which admittedly some may not be so bothered about). I for one consider the efforts needed to make a consistently high quality pour over coffee a little too much with too many variables to make a repeatedly consistent enjoyable cup of coffee to the richness and strengths I prefer... (and understandably to others, its just a cup of coffee... as is instant coffee to others)...

You sailed to Thailand under 'wind' ????

100% agree... While I am completely behind the need for continued petroleum production, firmly believe that our need for such products (petroleum) is essential to not only our standard of living, but our well being... and, that we should be concentrating on carbon-recapture instead..... ... I also believe everyone has the right to peaceful and non-inhibitive protest... But, these are not peaceful protests, they are acts of vandalism and should be treated as such with heavy fines and jail sentences (where appropriate).

Careful - that soap box gets slippery... When you refer to animal lovers... Do you mean... Those of us who love a good bit of beef ???... ... or were you going for the bestiality angle ?

The 'Good people of Southport' did not throw stones, burn police cars and assault police officers. Reported, thugs from 'outside of Southport' turned up, beer cans in hand and started to get violent as the vigil drew to a close... ironically, outsiders (outsider to Southport) violently protesting about outsiders (immigrants). IMO The speculation in social media was fuelled by the recent distrust in the Police to 'protect' the identities of minorities for fear of the very same reaction that occurred anyway. Agree - the advice not to jump to conclusions while avoiding the release of any information itself led to people 'reading between the lines' and was incendiary... the distrust of the police lead to no one believing the "this was not terrorism related" line... As the Poster was just 17 years old facts were not presented the public... But, the released facts were initially "a man born in Cardiff and from Banks".... seemed to obviously mask the fact that he was born to immigrant parents... "A 17 year male born in Cardiff to Christian Rwandan Parents and now living in Banks, Lancashire" - would have perhaps subdued some of the initial speculation that this was an attack in the name of Islam.

I think you've made a wholly valid point in exampling the 'other festivals'... However, the point I made about 'time and place' holds fast.... ... the Brazilian festivals, Sidney Gay Pride, Japanese Penis Festivals etc can be avoided - they are 'in their place, in their time' and people know what to expect before attending of viewing.... they are not 'thrust' (pun not intenteded) onto the 'world family viewing stage'... That said: I find the annual naked rides utterly ridiculous... .... and if the people were running around thrusting steel willy's at each other in a lewd over-sexualised manner at the Televised at the opening of the Rugby World Cup rather than respectfully participating in a 'Kanamara Matsuri ceremony (to pray for easy childbirth, marital harmony, and protection from infections) at the Kanayama Shrine, then your point would have greater strength - even so, the 'commercialisation' of such a ceremony has brought with it lewd connotations - I mean, a vulva lolly-pop... Nudist beaches can also be avoided, then are not a globally televised event during prime time viewing. Perhaps you are correct that this issue is being over played and misrepresented, but I don't think this (the Olympic Opening ceremony) was the time or the place for what was quite a lewd and potentially offensive performance - those in charge of the ceremony should have been more clever about this.... Am I offended... No of course not, but I understand the why people maybe - if watching with children I can understand parents thinking... W.T.flook is this ???... thats not appropriate for family TV viewing.... in much the same way, the EuroVision Song Contest is no long appropriate for family TV viewing... Its been taken over and decency seems to have been knee-capped.

Point being? I think his point might be that he finds such fast food places to have been below his station since 1970 !!

For the Espresso Machine I much prefer Medium Dark Roast 100% Arabica... I also prefer Medium or Medium dark roast 100% Arabica for the French Press, but find that a blend of Arabica-Robusta to be good, but not as rich as 100% Arabica. For the Moka-Pot I find that 50/50 Arabica-Robusta works well and there's not a huge difference when to using solely Arabica. One thing I've noted - when making a French Press coffee with Robusta or a Robusta-Arabica blend is that the caffeine hit is stronger and if I have more than two cups I can get a caffeine headache and sometimes the heebie-jeebies if the caffeine intake is too much - which is one of the reasons I prefer Arabica, not only the richness, but less of a caffeine 'injection'... ... But, for a one stop quick hit of caffeine in the morning, the French-Press 50/50 Arabica-Robusta blend does the trick very well...

Agree with this... While the Bialetti is the original (and the one I currently use), newer designs are perhaps better. I have learned that one key point with the Moka-Pot is to watch it... try and anticipate the 'boil' so the coffee doesn't flow / spurt up the 'upper spout thingy-ma-jig' too quickly...

I agree with this... I used a number of brewing methods... - Espresso Machine (best coffee / expensive machine) - Nespresso Voluto (quick & convenient / expensive per cup) - Moka-Pot (easy for travel) - French Press (at work / most convenient) - Picopresso (hand held espresso machine - PITA to use) I'm currently drinking a coffee brewed by Moka-Pot (as I'm not at home and dont have access to my espresso machine). I'd say the Moka-pot brews the best coffee next to the machines, but it also takes 'some technique'... After adding the desired amount of coffee (I like a fine grind), I gently press the coffee into place, not too hard as that causes the coffee to 'lift up and crest, which cracks through which the water can flow' (making weaker coffee), also if not pressing at all, I find the coffee could channel (again making weaker coffee) - so a gentle press works for me. Cafetière (French Press), also works well and is perhaps the most convenient, I use the same coffee for the Moka-Pot. IMO this is the simplest, most hassle free brewing method, easy to clean etc. As mentioned by STF above - the quality of coffee is important, doesn't need to be the best, but getting decent coffee is key to a decent brew and most important is grind size... too small and the coffee is over-extracted, muddy and bitter, too coarse and its under-extracted and bland. I find that with a French-Press choosing a grind size specifically for french press leads to under-extraction, as mentioned earlier, I prefer finer ground coffee and go for Espresso Grind sizing and don't 'over-brew' by pouring in recently boiled water (about 1-2mins after boiling), stirring and allowing to sit for about 1 min before 'plunging' gives me the extraction I prefer. I don't use 'drip coffee' - I've never felt it comparable and have found anything left for a second cup rather horrible. Pour over coffee is popular with aficionado's, but find that too much effort and time consuming, so I've never tried it. Finally - Cowboy coffee !! (as some call it)... just putting grinds in a cup... but, I much prefer Turkish Coffee, extremely fine grind and boil it up in a Cezve Pot - rich, but also somewhat muddy coffee - definitely worth a try. Beans - For more 'caffiene' go for Robusta, for a finer taste, go for 'Arabica'... then there is roast level, I prefer medium dark, but thats individual and often individual to the bean - then it starts get like wine and we can end up going down a rabbit hole... My current Cup is a morning Arabica-Robusta blend, espresso ground, brewed in a Moka-Pot. My preferred cup is a Khun Chiang Khan Medium Dark Roast, Espresso (2:1 ratio / 30 seconds) from my espresso machine, lengthened to a double latte. +1 on the James Hoffman suggestion - his coffee knowledge is second to none with some excellent advice and lots of different brewing methods covered - the general consensus in many of his videos is that grind size is more important than anything when brewing fresh-coffee.

Votes from the Wokerati...

Too many open pickups full of junk permitted on the expressways... Only fully covered vehicles are permitted on expressways - but we all know that regulations and laws mean nothing in Thailand anyway... A very lucky lady... I hope CCTV can track down the vehicle from which this metal 'litter' originated. I know someone who'd hit a bag of cement which had fallen off a truck or pickup - it completely trashed the front end of their car.

I'm all for equal treatment - If anyone throws rocks at a car for no reason they should be charged. At first I read the headline and started to assume the rock was thrown out of anger for a car not stopping for a person in a wheel chair at a crossing etc - but this is clearly not the case.... This is just a thug in a wheelchair who committed a dangerous crime.... ... He should charged according to his actions (crime) just as anyone else committing the same acts should be - its that simple, seems like equality to me.