WallyCleaver

Is it just me or does anyone else think Ban Ki-Moon is a complete waste of whatever money it costs to keep him ?.

He seems to fly around the world saying useless platitudes which make no difference at all. I remember his great 'Peace plan for Syria' where he basically said each side should stop killing each other as soon as possible. It was clear at the time what would happen next and it did : they ignored him completely.

Now he seems to pipe up about Thailand every time Thaksin needs him - I assume Mr Amsterdam has some lobbyist on the payroll.

What a joke.

Ban Ki-Moon has political science experts that have advised him on Thailand & no doubt they have read all the material that team yellow tries to ban, block and burn.

I would bet he has a very accurate grip on the situation when he meets a Strongman PM.

If you have read the wikileaks memos from the US Embassy in Thailand, you would have a good idea of the things that are discussed at the highest levels in the Gov. No secrets. Brutal truth. Honest evaluations sent back to the State Department or Secretary of State.

Wonder why The Nation never covered that wikileak story?

The Rosetta Comet in scale with the City of Los Angeles, Planet Earth.

That would hurt if it hit at 45,000MPH. Ouch!

The Dim Sum lunch at Montien Hotel may qualify?

Oh. Never mind.

Other posters have pointed out that none of the hospitals that participated in the media show are accredited for criminal DNA testing, except the Police General Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine which many regard with suspicion for obvious reasons. But anyway these procedures were done privately by the hospitals on behalf of their client, the headman, with the police chief merely acting as MC at a private event. The media was not shown details of exactly what tests the hospitals were contracted to do or on what basis DNA found on the victim was provided to them, if at all. If the hospitals other than PGH are only certified for paternity DNA testing, perhaps that was all they were paid to do and all they are willing to do. It was odd that the results of the DNA testing revealed the staggering news that they were father and son but, there again, perhaps there was a good reason for that.

The media didn't question any of this and all the doctors and nurses from the different hospitals made for good pantomime, even if most are only capable of doing paternity testing.

Tested a second time by the Thai Police.

I don't think that one went over the heads of the British Investigators.

Democracy Thai style.

Two wolves and one sheep deciding whats for dinner.

The UN, Ambassadors & Diplomats don't read The Nation or other Thai papers to form their opinions.

Universities and Embassy staff prepare briefings or 'scene setters' before a meeting is set with a PM or President, etc.

In these circles the facts are understood. That's why nobody is supporting this PM.

The Australian National University - ANU has been following Thailand for years and have some interesting studies, discussions with academics, intellectuals and experts on S.E. Asia.

Bookmark their site to get unbiased info on the political crisis.

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/category/thailand/

If his is successful how long before the next step landing a maned space craft on a comet

Bravo for sure

Quite a long time, I'm sure. It took Rosetta 10 years to chase and match speed with the comet. We have nothing like the technology to keep humans alive in space for anything like that length of time. Not to mention that Rosetta doesn't have to make a return journey.

Unmanned craft are incredibly productive and cost-effective for exploring the solar system. imho, we should be deploying more of them and worrying less about humans in space. We've been pursuing that for half-a-century, have spent incredible amounts of money on it, and are still limited (except briefly in the late 60s) to low Earth orbit.

NASA has a plan to park a comet near earth I read somewhere.

Carl Sagan says they will be bringing these into earth orbit for mining and perhaps converting them into habitable environments. Earthlings may use these habitats to go explore the Milky Way.

The Island Headman said his son (2nd suspect) hurried off to Bangkok for school.

Days later, the Headman said his son was not on the island but was in Bangkok the entire time.

Why change stories?

Guilty.

I remember reading that somewhere too but can't find the link

Headmans brother arrested, caught on CCTV. Son on the run.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/police-release-suspects-in-murder-of-two-brits-in-koh-tao.html

The coup was to remove the Shins from power and to put in place a "democratic" system that would prevent them getting back in power without a lot of hassle, nothing more and that is showing more so day by day.

Ban and the world know this, but too many other problems worldwide to make much of an issue of it while the military are not abusing human rights too much.

Exactly right. The wrong people kept winning the elections. (by a huge margin.)

Funny thing is, the losers kept crying vote buying but at the same time, denied international election observers.

Resorted to the coup again and again. Create a mob that shuts down an airport or Bangkok and call in their buddies in the Army to prevent a disaster!

The UN and every ambassador stationed in Thailand know whats going on. That's why the General cant get a VISA to the US or dozens of other countries.

With this amount of funds and full scale vote buying I or my dog would win the election and get premier.....With enough cash, even being a Farang would be just a "honest mistake" like Thaksins "honest mistake" when the got him for lying.

Where have you been?

The vote buying excuse was put to bed.

Even Korn, a Democrat big wig admits that. And besides, the losers would not have international election observers. Funny, eh?

Scream vote buying after every loss but deny a remedy. Create a crisis and call in their buddies in the Military.

-The Chef Salad at the popular Cafe Pittini is huge and the DEAL OF THE CENTURY.

(excellent management, every seat was full yesterday)

Cafe Pittini is good, and deservedly popular, but I've never had the salad. What's in it and how much does it cost?

A typical chef salad with chicken, bacon, ham, cheese, bell peppers, lettuce etc.. Very fresh & large size too.

I think it was 149Bt.

Cafe Pittini is on Soi Bukow, 100 meters north of the Sawadee Hotel on the same side. Across from Coffee & Beer.

The coup was to remove the Shins from power and to put in place a "democratic" system that would prevent them getting back in power without a lot of hassle, nothing more and that is showing more so day by day.

Ban and the world know this, but too many other problems worldwide to make much of an issue of it while the military are not abusing human rights too much.

Exactly right. The wrong people kept winning the elections. (by a huge margin.)

Funny thing is, the losers kept crying vote buying but at the same time, denied international election observers.

Resorted to the coup again and again. Create a mob that shuts down an airport or Bangkok and call in their buddies in the Army to prevent a disaster!

The UN and every ambassador stationed in Thailand know whats going on. That's why the General cant get a VISA to the US or dozens of other countries.

From BBC it sounds like they are considering moving it.

If they can't get the machine into the sun, the batteries will run out in days.

They have to choose. Get as much science in now, as it sits or use the batteries to run some devices that might bounce it into a better position.

Sorry for the poster above that has tried to derail the discussion, I must reply.

By popular I mean, indicative of the understanding and taste of the majority.

The Genaral/Prime Minister didn't know his vacation home was on public land, eh?

What a dummy.

Next time the guy is watching you shop, act like a shoplifter. Pretend to stick a salami or sausage down your shorts and see where it goes from there.

After the 2006 coup the cleanest General they could find was installed as PM.

He was caught red handed with a nice home on public forest land. Ooops. Just an honest mistake.

Guess where that General is now.

If a big Army General has a house in the national reserve, what would happen?

1. A court trial and jail.

2. Ask him politely to remove & forget it.

3. Pretend it did not happen.

Light as a feather. Gravity 10,000 to 1. A baby could easily lift a fully loaded semi truck up there.

Now it is turned on it's side, sitting in a shadow under a cliff they say. The batteries will run down because of the limited sun exposure to the solar panels.

They may use some of the mechanical instruments to get it to float back up into a better position.

"Without anything to tether it to the comet’s surface, the probe bounced 1km into the air before where it floated for around two hours before making its way back to the surface."

A splurge in Pattaya? Thats tough. I can't remember the last time I saw anything on a menu over 400Bt.

Most people in Pattaya seem to covet their 6Bt bottle of water from the QuikMart.

Salads. The only healthy thing I eat are salads. (Is Caesar Salad healthy? I keep telling myself it is..)

-Some nice salads at LaBaquette in Naklus and Jomtien. Served with some fresh bread.

(they have a discount card too)

-The Chef Salad at the popular Cafe Pittini is huge and the DEAL OF THE CENTURY.

(excellent management, every seat was full yesterday)

-Bon Cafe, Chef Salad was tasty last time I was there.

Live report of post landing events.

Photo of the landers feet touching surface.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/11222612/Rosetta-comet-landing-live.html

She needs a good spanking.

Who is protecting the headman's brother and son?

The phone records of the headman and island police need to be looked at.