richard_smith237

4 hours ago, factual monk said:

It's matter of few more years... Songkran will lose it cultural significance... as it is ... past couple of years... it has changed drastically... thanks to extreme commercialization of Songkran by Authorities...

No it won't...  even 30 years ago the 'water fight' aspect of Songkran was a major facet - that has not change in every town across the nation - commercialisation has brought more tourism to key areas, thats all.

The traditional aspect of Songkran is still respected and valued as much as it ever was, its just not as 'social media' newsworthy to trigger netizen outrage as a ladyboy getting her norks out or someone dancing near a statue where 'faux offence' can be taken or the 'honourable family resort reputation of Pattaya Soi' to be brought into question... 

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, you are not damned both ways. You still have a foot that can remove the bottle if in the way.

IMO a driver is [damned both ways] - there are many accidents where the vehicle cannot slow or stop because the bottle is under the pedals.

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Also, if you slow down and drive into the side, you are of course not making an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. You slow down and at the same time driving out on the shoulder.

There are many accidents where a lorry, truck, car, motorcycle etc has driven into a stationary vehicle at the side of the road / on the shoulder...  Stopping makes you a hazard (even though drivers should of course be more aware - the are many incidents of this in Thailand).

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

It´s nothing judgemental, no hindsight and no need to be an expert. The only thing you need is to be an experienced and composed driver making the right decisions. And no, we do not get the right to call something that might pose a deadly risk for others a mistake.

Obviously, the only correct option is not to have anything that can roll under in the first place...  thats the correct decision and its made before taking to the road (we have a tray compartment as part of our centre console, my wife put a water bottle there and I had to get her to remove it due to this very risk).

You (and others) have suggest one solution in the event of this issue (slowing to a stop and removing the item) because the accident in this event occurred a certain way...  had the bottle rolled under the pedals and the accident occurred differently, it would then be argued that he should have tried to remove the bottle.

Your comment about 'composure' stands out - thats the key in any issue - remain composed, sometimes there is no perfect solution to an issue.

9 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

But, all of that is of course only my opinion, and based on my experience driving cars and riding motorbikes for over 37 years without any accidents. Anyone with that kind of track record, are of course welcome to oppose.

You have 1 year of experience and have repeated it 37 times ???... 

5 years experience repeated 7.4x....  ?.....  Thats the issue with quoting experience as a time-frame - its not a valid metric of 'quality'.... Its also the issue with stating no accidents - you are always 'another drive' away from one (hopefully not of course)...

...But time and not having had an accident before are not an accurate measure of a better driver.... its simply an accurate measure of time and luck in most cases...

... there are life long 'advanced driving instructors, police drivers etc. who have had accidents'..

On 9/25/2024 at 12:27 PM, Finlaco said:

One of the better methods is to use boiled water in the chamber and use a paper coffee filter.  I use a basic Bialetti (4 cups).  The Moka pot metal conducts heat very efficiently and if you start with room-temperature water, you are burning the coffee grinds as the water boils.  Brew it with the lid open and as soon as the coffee begins to come through, remove it from the heat and be careful not to over-extract the coffee as this is the main reason why many people give up on their Moka purchases after a while.  

 

Give it a try. 

 

There is a very significant taste difference between starting with boiled water and room temperature.

 

There is a subtle difference between using a paper filter and no paper filter.

100% this - though I've never used the filter paper. 

As mentioned, using boiled water prevents burning of the grinds.

Also brewing with the lid open means you can observe the extraction, as soon as the fluid (coffee) starts to flow out of the spout, remove from the heat to prevent 'over-pressure and spurting' - where the boiling water lifts the grinds in the 'brewer organ' and passes through the coffee with incomplete extraction...   (filter paper may also help this).

Using a Moka Pot requires some trial and error to 'perfect' the extraction, but once achieved - the end product is very good value for money if not wanting to go the whole-hog and get a decent espresso machine.

Note - Consistency of grind is perhaps the most important part - thus: Use a quality grinder or have pre-ground beans.

I personally like Espresso ground coffee and like the Moka Pot Coffee slightly muddy.

On 9/25/2024 at 3:25 PM, WebGuy said:

Moka, is this the coffee that tastes like chocolate? That's my favorite coffee I buy in Amazon.

 

If it is, which of these two types of coffee gives it that chocolate taste, Arabica 100% French Dark Roast or HillKoff Arabica coffee?

 

Thanks

While similar sounding... Mocha coffee and Moka Pot are different things.

Mocha is a coffee bean that originated in Yemen and was known for its 'chocolatey' notes - this evolved into Coffee Shops making Mocha coffee with regular coffee and cocoa powder (or actual chocolate).

Whereas the Moka Pot is a specific brewing technique (subject of this thread).

30 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Anyway, not need to be any Sherlock to understand. If a bottle or something else falls down, you keep your composure and drive to the side, picking it up. Anything else is a dangerous person on the roads.

As pointed out...  when slowing, anything that has rolled into the footwell, can also roll under the pedals....  There's a strong argument to suggest it should be retrieved as quickly as possible (though the accident itself contradicts this)...

...  this is a case of 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' - the link below highlights an accident where a thermos rolled under the pedals, perhaps there's an argument to suggest the drive 'should have' retrieved the flask ASAP.

Its easy to judge with 20/20 hindsight.

IMO - thats rather poor hindsight - should those judgemental enough to suggest they have never made a mistake on the road not instead suggest that nothing should be present to roll into the drivers footwell in the first place instead of suggesting he slowed to a halt ?

Additionally: this incident could have occurred in many other ways. Had the driver stopped to retrieve the item and was rear ended by a truck, would those with 20/20 hindsight not then suggest he should have retrieved the item quickly to avoid stopping and becoming a hazard.

Too many variables of course - the non-variable are the 'experts' forgetting they too are human and that mistakes are made. 

https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/21/deadly-bus-crash-was-caused-by-drivers-thermos-getting-stuck-under-brake-pedal-8706682/

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

56 minutes ago, Lopburikid said:

Have you seen the amount of violent gang fights which took place over Songkran involving just Thai youths? All over Thailand. One involving a shooting.

Witht the daily reporting of a foreigner doing something wrong her, some don't realize that 99% of criminal and stupid activity here is still locals against locals.

More than 99%...  but most of it is of no interest to the social media rhetoric that either likes to point the finger at foreigners, or serves foreign social media.

There is also the element that when Thai's commit violence it considered normal by many because it is expected and they know no better, where as foreigners 'should' know better than to behave as they have, for some reason attracting more commentary.

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Of course.  It's one drunken idiot and a crowd of mostly Thais encouraging him.  Noting is done to deescalate or defuse, and he doesn't actually get violent with anyone, but eventually one security guard, who shouldn't get violent with anyone, punches him.  As soon as he is down, loads of Thais (who he has not harmed and he is no threat to) rush in to attack him while he is vulnerable.  They even attack his friend who had only been trying to calm the guy down.  If they had not been stopped, they might have killed him, and there was likely a racial element to their anger and desire to harm him.

 

I'm not sure how you can not think this makes Thais and Thailand look bad.

100%  - but you'll be accused of being a 'Farang Apologist' and a 'Thai Basher' for making such observations...

Of course, its easy to suggest the Western guy had it coming, because he did... But as you point out, 'security' should be held to a higher standard and de-escalate the situation instead of actively escalating to violence. 

The idiot Westerner makes Thailand look bad, but so do the security and all the others who join in. 

While watching the video, I'm surprised the Security didn't react earlier, he showed initial restraint and of course, like most people I wanted to Western idiot to receive his comeuppance, after-all, what an utter tosspot - nevertheless, the reaction from the security does nothing to service Thailands reputation as anything other than a mongers paradise full of idiots and violence - which of course is untrue for the vast majority of areas - but the normal stuff is not spread through the social media - just this craziness.

On 4/15/2025 at 4:30 PM, Red Phoenix said:

A day not laughed, is a day not lived...

Indeed... thank you for being someone to laugh at - you're a great service to the forum community.

31 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

46 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Because you're a perfect driver and have never ever made a mistake.... right ? 

Evidently considerably better than you

And there is your flaw....  the delusion. The moment you announce you're “better,” you expose the exact opposite. Confidence built on ignorance isn’t superiority.

Your response shouts 'Dunning-Kruger effect'...  highlighting your cognative bias and zero self-awareness. You’re not making a point; you’re performing your own lack of insight.

Claiming to be a “better driver” than someone you’ve never even encountered? That level of baseless arrogance is cognitive flatlining. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1338306-passport-required-for-domestic-flights-i-have-a-thai-dl/

https://aseannow.com/topic/846749-domestic-thai-flight-without-passport-yes-again/

https://aseannow.com/topic/1011119-local-flight-without-passport-possible/

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

4 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

Parents should be charged with gross negligence and have their kids put up for adoption.  Parents are simply lazy and use those phones as a babysitter.  Recently I visited a friend whose wife is exactly as I described.  Their adopted son is 6.  When I walked into their condo he was gaming on an iphone and couldn't even say hello to me. A generation messed up beyond belief.

 

Same was said for previous generations.  They'll be fine (most of them, anyway!)

& we can see how 'some' of the previous generations were messed up with their daft 'boomer' generalisations....

2 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

What roads do you drive on? Just asking so I can avoid them.

Because you're a perfect driver and have never ever made a mistake.... right ? 

10 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

As long as no one else was hurt, I say just fine him. There is no need for jail time. Also, he could be required to take a very complete driving test to verify that he should be able keep his license. 

Why 'fine him' ?....   it was an accident, he made a silly mistake...  They happen all the time all over the world...

Its the same as if someone pulled out in front of someone else - its an an accident, no one gets fined for those sort of events.

He wasn't speeding or drunk etc... 

It was an accident, he made a daft mistake...  Luckily no one else what involved or hurt.

At least it wasn't a Drunk Driver, dangerous driving etc causing the accident like so many others.

Some excellent 20/20 hindsight going in this thread already !!... 

30 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Nonsense. It’s one building. A thousand soldiers each picking up a stone from day one would’ve had it cleared with a lot of people saved. I’ve been to the site a couple of days after. Lots of emergency vehicles, people in uniform all around the site, hardly any movement. 

These 'stones' weigh tonnes - its not a pile of small rocks that can easily be handled.

GeorgeAlberts response above should help educate you a little.

9 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Nobody seems to be aware that an alternative exists - The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program (RorDor), which offers exemptions from full military service.

You do this via completing the three-year ROTC program, typically during high school, which provides an exemption from mandatory conscription. 

My nephew did it.

What to do if your Thai / Western child (who has a Thai ID card) is going to be educated overseas (secondary through University) ???

51 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Condescending conjecture aside, perhaps you have no real clue about the people you are speaking about?

 

No offense.

Very possible...  every discussion is a learning curve...   try it.

Flippin drunk drivers again - there really needs to extreme penalties for this…

… too many selfish ayholes simply do have any concern for the consequences of getting caught…, & don’t care if they hurt & kill someone.

some of them forum members here too… 

36 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

However, in my opinion most people are sensible and show respect to the ones who wish so.

Yup - that’s what I see too… ‘most ppl’ are respectful & sensible. 
 

But the key thing is area - the ones arguing the opposite are probably dying read between your lines & have generalised. 

Without any criticism of the AN news team who I understand work hard to bring us information and news sourced from many different recognised and reputable news sources.....

We have just the one side of the story from Ms. Mod, but no comment from other party.

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

According to Ms. Mod, her boyfriend became aggressive without warning, pulling her hair and striking her on the head with a beer bottle. She claimed to have repeatedly pleaded with him to stop, but to no avail. In the struggle, the beer bottle shattered. In self-defence, she said she grabbed a shard and stabbed him.

I'm not sure we should take one version of events as fact, rather, both sides would need to be considered for better evaluation of events.

I'd be interested to hear what the Indian man had to say - and suggest that the truth is somewhere between both events.