cheshiremusicman

I think this is a lack of communicating with the right people. As a person that has more than 14 family members stranded by these floods in the Bangkok area, I am very concerned and planning accordingly for the entire family. Loosing all their possessions is a minor thing as their safety is paramount. My concern is when the floods are over. There will be limited water and food sources that are not contaminated, the likely outbreak of disease and of course the inability of the common man to earn a living and provide for himself. I think someone better call the U.S. Military and ask them to return. Heck their water decontamination capabilities alone will be worth many lives.

You have put the case in a nutshell, but how long before the people 'supposedly in charge of this country'can break into the nut - I think the people who said NO to the American offer of help should be charged on the grounds of causing unnecessary suffering to their own people and incarcerated for a very long time.

As previous posters have said, the vast daily amounts of clean drinking water alone that the nuclear powered vessel alone can provide is the main reason that this offer should have been accepted. You CAN live without food for quite some time but NOT without water.

Let us all keep our fingers crossed that somebody in power will reverse this stupid decision.

"The problem now is now bigger than before, please don't panic"

Well that must be the understatment of the year. Where do these buffoons get their ideas from. Firstly to be a problem bigger than before is he saying before he spoke yesterday, before last week or before he had his lobotomy ?

Secondly to make such statements, "please don't panic" guess what will happen ?

I suspect that so long as their own residences are not hit their primary concern even now is how the billions of aid and re-development that will be needed is going to get skimmed to this country's leaders friends and families businesses and associated cronies rather than spending it on a 50 year water management scheme that all of Thailand could benefit from, rich or poor!

In a televised solemn flood warning by Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Palibatra last night, Bangkok residents are advised to stay clam and keep monitoring the situation in the next 48 hours, when the next statement is possible if not flash flood.

'Everyone stay CLAM' . Does he mean just 'clam up and don't make any comments?'

Bangkok residents could in the meantime move their belongings to uipper floors or move up power sockets, he said. If not for this year, this might be useful in the future, who knows," he said. "Problem is now bigger than before, but please don’t panic."

I didn't realise that Bangkok residents now have the luxury of 'moveable electric sockets' - another Thailand first, truely Amazing Thailand! What a load of clowns, but the yellow wellies look great, very impressed.

we moved up all electric sockets. What is the problem with that?

Unscrew them and screw them in again somewhere higher. If you want it nice shorten the cables.

5-20 min per socket for someone without skills.

Yes, I am perfectly capable of doing that if the feed to the sockets is in plastic conduit and fixed onto the wall and it is being fed from above (with or without an earth connection) - easy peasy. I was assuming that the sockets were being fed from BEHIND AND ONE WOULD THUS HAVE TO CHISEL OUT THE WALL TO GET TO THE CABLES IN ORDER TO MOVE THEM. Sorry, I'd forgotten that most electrical work here is done on the cheap and cables are run on the surface. I would hazard a guess that the 'Minister' who made the remark does not have cables running in HIS HOUSE in this way.

As you say a 5-20 min per socket for someone without skills - just like most of the people that 'installed' them in the first place and left death traps for the unwary.

"The problem now is now bigger than before, please don't panic"

Well that must be the understatment of the year. Where do these buffoons get their ideas from. Firstly to be a problem bigger than before is he saying before he spoke yesterday, before last week or before he had his lobotomy ?

Secondly to make such statements, "please don't panic" guess what will happen ?

I suspect that so long as their own residences are not hit their primary concern even now is how the billions of aid and re-development that will be needed is going to get skimmed to this country's leaders friends and families businesses and associated cronies rather than spending it on a 50 year water management scheme that all of Thailand could benefit from, rich or poor!

In a televised solemn flood warning by Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Palibatra last night, Bangkok residents are advised to stay clam and keep monitoring the situation in the next 48 hours, when the next statement is possible if not flash flood.

'Everyone stay CLAM' . Does he mean just 'clam up and don't make any comments?'

Bangkok residents could in the meantime move their belongings to uipper floors or move up power sockets, he said. If not for this year, this might be useful in the future, who knows," he said. "Problem is now bigger than before, but please don’t panic."

I didn't realise that Bangkok residents now have the luxury of 'moveable electric sockets' - another Thailand first, truely Amazing Thailand! What a load of clowns, but the yellow wellies look great, very impressed.

remove cat to let turbo spool up more rapidly, in other words at lower rpm

Ok, so that would mean taking it off and replacing it when the car went in for service. Do you know the cost of the replacement pipe and where you can buy it?

No its Tick Over. Not Idle Power..

[/quote

OK,I suppose it's obvious when you think about it! 'Engage brain' is my comment in my diary.

Now to the problem of 'HOW TO GET THE BOOST BELOW 2100rpm' We have had no answers to this apart from shutting the EGR gate. Anybody got any comments please.

Thanks for the above which is fine explaining how to adjust the power levels, but it still doesn't answer my question as to 'Can I make adjustments that will enable the power to come in BELOW 2100rpm', or is this determined by the reaction to the Turbo? It would be great to get the power coming in at lower revs as at the present it means that it feels as though it is just coming in at 120km/h and above in top gear. The power 'seemed' to be still available when I was doing 140 on the odd occasion whilst overtaking, but this is just 'seat of the pants feeling'.

I recently did a long run up to Khon Kaen; some 720 kms each way and on the way back I adjusted the setting from D F to E 2 which seemed to give more boost but still the power felt as though it was coming in at 2100rpm. fuel consumption was great at 12.2 km/L doing 120/130km/h most of the time until I hit BKK on the way back and spent over 90 mins getting across on the 'toll roads' just solid bumper to bumper from the NW to the SW, so this obviously dropped the fuel comsumption levels a lot, but still very impressive.

Can one of our experts please tell me why diesels seem to use so much fuel whilst idling. I have noticed the average fuel consumption readings dropping whilst just sitting in traffic as described above down from 12.5 to 12.1 whilst on the BKK toll road and this after lots of kms establishing the 12.5 average?

Since when can a Retired Person move to Saudi Arabia? You would have to be Retired and crazy to move there!

Sorry, but shouldn't this have read:-

Since when can a Retired Person move to Saudi Arabia? You would have to be Retarded and crazy to move there!

Most cars with big intercoolers run like this or dispence with the plate altogether is it illegal don't know doubt it as most lorries the rear plate at least is not central ,tractors etc the same.

I don't think that you will have any problems with the plates being not centred. Considering that you see so many vehicles without ANY plates on I hardly think you've got a problem.

I finally took the top off the race chip and tinkered. Moved the setting one click on both dials, on one meant going back. Still had the

lag from idle ( auto trans ), BUT, holding the ride on the brakes reached a stall of 1500 RPM and wheels started to break loose, released the brakes and it flew. More tests tomorrow.

I've had the 'Racechip Pro' on my 3litre diesel Fortuner 4x4 now for a couple of months and am still 'fiddling' with the settings to see how the vehicle reacts. The first 'decent run' was about a week ago when I went up to Bangkok. Got stuck in traffic of course when I hit BKK but had been keeping up 120km/h nearly all the way from Hua-Hin. Interesting that my 'info meter' was showing an average fuel consumption of 12.4k/L as I hit the traffic then it dropped to 11.3 by the time I'd reached my destination on the other side of BKK. I finished off the tank with local work and had some 620kms on the trip and all in all it managed a very creditable (IMHO) of 10.354k/L = 30.41mpg which for a 4x4 with aircon running all the time and good acceleration I reckon is good going. I seem to recollect on the old 'Racechip'thread someone with the Fortuner saying that he regularly got 11k/L and he was not talking about long runs. Any comments. I know that fuel consumption is very much related to your 'style' of driving. I don't go mad but I do use the acceleration.

Can one of the many experts on this site tell me what they personally reckon are the best settings for the Fortuner and which of the tuneable dials controls the revs when the unit starts to give the boost to the performance, from the seat of my pants I reckon that with settings D & 1 at the moment the 'power' seems to come in at 2100rpm can this be lowered?. I understand that one of the clickable variable resistors controls the 'Efficiency of the engine' or am I talking rubbish. I would be very interested to know precisely what the two settings are doing just for curiosity, but I assume that one of them is controlling the 'injection pressure', so what is the other doing - changing the injection timing , length of injection, or what?

All in all I am very happy with the 'Racechip' and reckon that it was certainly worth the money and thanks to the person who brought this device to our attention on the Forum.

Happy and safe motoring to you all.

Something that has always bothered me about alms and the making merit thing giving to the monks seems backwards....as a monk aren't you seeking to become a better person? Wouldn't it make sense for the monk to be out in the community doing for the poor, cutting wood, washing clothes, helping the elderly, there is a whole list of things that can be done to help people...giving guidance on how to be a better human with positive action seems the best way to becoming a better person with a chance of skipping reincarnation the next go around....but with all religions humanity seems to get in the way....

Only rarely do we get the chance to be reborn human....only rarely does a Buddha appear and teach the true Dhamma. The true Dhamma is a gift without price, exceeding all others. Studying the Dhamma then practicing it (meditation), before going and teaching it are a monk's duties. A monk is more useful doing this than any other common kind of work or social assistance. Building schools, hospitals, feeding the poor etc. are noble, but short term....only helping people with their present day problems and suffering. Teaching people the Dhamma whereby they can understand the causes of suffering, helps them find relief now, and also can help them escape all future suffering by avoiding rebirth. A far more long term help.

This is the kind of B.S. that keeps the 'Masses in their place' and always will, and has allowed the parasitical religions to live off the general populous for thousands of years through the power of retribution to the 'none believer'

If you take a young child and 'indoctrinate them' early enough you can get them to 'believe' in anything no matter how ridiculous or stupid.

Islam is the real proof of this and as a 'Religion' it just proves that you can go backwards not forwards with thinking. No child brought up in an 'Islamic' society has a chance of free thought, it is like being a caged animal with no hope of escape except death if you dare to try and cross the line into free thinking.

I do not wish to upset those people that get solace from their 'Religions',and I do respect their feelings, but I do think that the world would be a far better place without any Religions. The number of wars that have been fought (and are still being fought with even more vehemence than before) under the banner of religion have accounted for tens of millions of deaths around the world and will continue to do so.

I think that the only people who had a sensible concept of a 'diety' were the Inca's; who at least had the common sense to worship the Sun; without who's existence we would not be here (and continue to exist) in the first place.

Seems to me from what I've seen in my life that all the 'Religions' of the world all seem to (and forgive the pun) prey on the poor and uneducated. Was it Lenin who said "Religion is the opiate of the masses" - Sorry, but how true.

Once I went to a school in Roi Et, I met an english teacher and... he did not speak ONE WORD of english.A few other teachers I met spoke english at a level my daughter of 6 years would be ashamed of. So if this applies to other subjects the explanation of the low standard of thai student is really really SIMPLE.

iT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, it's the fault of the sub-sub standard of the ones who are supposed to teach them, period.

My colleagues and I have also made similar observations over the past 10 years. Some friends who work in universities here also agree that the standard of student performance has dropped noticeably over the last decade of us teaching here. PISA measures mostly application of math/science skills to solving problems. This is the main reason why they have perfomed so poorly on this exam. Once the MoE changes its policies to de-emphasise rote learning and puts more emphasis on application, analysis and synthesis skills, then their scores might improve. The kinds of tasks are rarely addressed in regular classrooms in Thailand.

I've been at several schools and the problem is not the teachers, not in general anyway. The main problem is that students can't fail here and they know it. So naturally a lot of them develop a I-don't-have-to-do-anything attitude. Most schools suck up to the parents, especially if it's a private school. It's all about the benjamins and if you as a falang teacher complain about it to the school and/or the parents too often, you will either have to back down or you'll get the boot so the parents and the school can save their faces.

The next problem is that in a lot of cases both parents have to go to work in order to make enough money. This leaves the kids to be raised either by their grandparents or someone else. A lot of grandparents have a tendency to spoil their grandkids or aren't physically able to keep up with them and let them have their way because it's easier. The result is a bunch of spoilt brats that think they can do whatever they want.

I had classes with up to 55 students and 50 of them never did their homework, never paid attention or showed any interest whatsoever. They were just physically there. I complained about this a million times and always got the same answer: "That's the way it is. We can't change it. We have to be nice to them because the parents pay a lot of money for their kids to be educated at this school, bla bla bla". At the end of the second term parents were asking: "How come my kid can't speak English, yet, when there's 33 falang teachers at this school?" It was really ridiculous, so I left. But there's also schools were it's such a pleasure to work because the kids are diligent and genuinely want to study, and if you get one of those you will really enjoy going to work. Most often these kids are working class kids whose parents look after them, teach them manners and to be respectful towards their teachers. The way Thai kids are supposed to be. That new generation of spoilt undisciplined brats that spends every possible second in an online game shop will all end up in factories or bars because they're no good for anything else.

You have hit the nail on the head! FACE, FACE, FACE. Until this country starts to (excuse the pun) 'face up to the fact' that their so called 'Degree's' aren't worth a piece of sxxt in the REAL WORLD then nothing will happen.

I have a friend with two sons and the 'work books' have to be bought brand new for every term. She cannot give her second son the books that her first son used because the school will not allow it, she has to buy new ones from the school of course!!! another bloody Thai rip off.

I live not far from one of the 'Universities' and all that I seem to see is the young students going backwards and forwards at all times of the day. They never seem to be attending any lectures and I'm sure that they will all come out with 'Masters Degree's' , what a fxxxing joke.

Another friend of mine, who was previously a teacher here in Thailand, told me that at one of the private schools that he 'Tried to teach at'(his words not mine) he was told by the 'Head' "Don't teach them too much". What a wonderfully encouraging way to start a term off! He now teaches in the middle east and the exact opposite is applied and he is in his element and tells me that the youngsters that he teaches are ravenous for knowledge - again his words not mine. So it would seem that if you teach sod all you encourage the mentality; do the opposite and you stimulate the brain. As previous posters have said and I believe it to be true, 'Keep the masses uneducated' as it keeps the price of labour down.

I am sure, that there are an awful lot of very bright minded children here in Thailand who's ability to learn and develop their thinking capacities are being denied this by the 'rote' system that seems to be endemic in the educational system that is prevalent here in Thailand. Until somebody in authority has the 'THAI BALLS' to confront this and change it nothing will happen and Thailand will continue to drop down the educational ladder until it disappears into the mire, never to surface again, whilst it's 'neighbours' continue to grow in REAL educational strength that is acknowledged by the 'Outside World'.

As an old man I feel extremely sorry for the Thai youngsters who are being denied a decent education through no fault of their own. Those that 'don't want to learn' can go to hell as far as I'm concerned; but for goodness sake give those that do want to further their knowledge a chance. I live in hope that Thailand will see the light before it is far too late for all concerned.

My knowledge of club fitting is nil, why did you go for stiff flex in the clubs you have now? I was once told if you are very strong and swing very fast the stiff is for you, I am very strong and think I swing very fast but chose reg flex which are great...

When I bought my last set of irons I was in the UK playing off 9/10 with Taylor made Tour irons - these being of the 'blade variety'. I had tried out regular and stiff shafts on the course and even with these 'blades' I was hitting better shots with the stiff shafts as compared to the regular ones. When I bought the X14's I also tried out regular and stiff but these were 'graphite' not steel shafts and the same thing applied, so hence I stuck with the graphite stiff shafts. My swing has not altered much over the years and I probably swing with the same speed now as I did when I was 40; the swing being described by others as smooth and rhythmical. What you say about speed and shaft stiffness is according to all that we read perfectly correct, but as I am sure you are aware; golf is not an exact science and the only way to really find out what is suitable for you and your kind of swing is to try out various /shafts /heads before you buy them. I have tried other peoples clubs at the driving range and can hit 'extra stiff' to 'senior ladies' shafts. I found that I was getting about an extra 6-8 yards out of regular shafts compared to my old X14 graphite stiff clubs and over time the flexibility of the shafts does change. I still have some of my Taylor made tour irons and if anything these steel stiff shafts have become even more stiff. Upto about a year ago I regularly carried X14 1 or 2 irons and would use these both off the tee and fairways, but I have now stopped carrying anything higher than a 4 iron and use a couple of woods to replace them. I still practise with a 1 or 2 iron at the range as I find that this really shows up any swing faults; as they are totally unforgiving, so you can't kid yourself that you are hitting the ball correctly with these club if you are not.

Technology advances day by day in golf and I think that I might as was well benefit from these advances and get a 'launch monitor' analysis of my swing done and go with the flow for this 'last set. As you can see from what I have said previously I don't exactly change my clubs ever year like some people do; so I might as well get the 'best' that I can find/afford and hope that they will see my golfing days out and give me a little bit of help in my dotage.

Hi I am no expert but if I was in your shoes I would be going for Regular flex which I am sure you have already, cavity back over blades, also make sure the grips are of the correct thickness, if you have the money and you think your game would truly benefit from custom clubs then go for it, personally of the peg clubs are fine as long as you choose the correct flex, the right head i:e cavity back over blades and have the correct thickness of grip, custom clubs are very expensive and the fitting service is not an exact science. all just my opinion of course. good luck with your club choice.

Hi Kenny999.

Thanks for the advice. My irons are stiff graphite, as are my woods, but I am now looking for a bit more flexibility in the shafts and maybe a different kick point to help with the length. I'm lucky that my 'normal' shot is nearly always straight or with a slight draw. I think that I will push the boat out and go to Bangkok to the Wildings centre and get a proper analysis. This seems to be the only source of high tech analysis that I can find on the internet for Thailand. I realise that 'custom made clubs' are going to be expensive, but as I said, this will probably be my last set (if they last me as long as the old ones) so what the heck!

Cheers and happy golfing.

Every airline has to make on-the-fly calculations about number of passengers, baggage allotted to each passenger, distance of flight, and fuel load/fuel margin. Each flight is different.

Of course no airline wants angry passengers....who can't get their luggage on the plane or find they have to pay excess baggage charges for their gear.

The ultimate consideration is always passenger and flight safety. No airline will jepordise the safety of a long-haul flight by arriving with a fuel load that means they will arrive at their destination with less than a minimum of fuel left for safety purposes.... in case they are required to circle the airport due to congestion or weather forcing them to be unable to land.

That depends a lot on the type of plane, how much fuel it can carry, and what the legally required minimum fuel on arrival is.

Once that is figured out, they can figure in the passengers and how much each passenger can be allowed in luggage allowed.

If the passenger load is relitively light...or they see that passengers are cheking in with little bggage...they may be willing to give you...the golfer with extra baggage...a break. They won't charge you for the excess baggage. If it is a heavy passenger load..or passengers are checking in with a lot of luggage...you as the golfer may have to pay excess baggage rates. Every long haul airline does this calculation on each flight...there is no hard-and-fast rule. You can be sure that as passengers check in the wieght of luggage is being entered into a computer...and a projection of wieght and fuel is being made continously. If that calculation starts to show problems with overwieght baggage of fuel consumption..those girls at the check-in counter will see an alarm indicated immediately.

Most airlines, especially those that run a lot of long-hal flights, spend a lot of time and money analysing their passengers and the normal luggage load per passenger. If they know a lot of their passengers are going to be those going on golf vactions...they wll make allowances on passenger load factor...and raise their prices a little to compensate for that.

So one time on airline XXX you may be able to bring your golf clubs...but the next time airline XXX may charge you excess baggage for the same golf clubs.

Think of it as paying for the extra fuel cost/lower paying passenger revenue required to carry your (and other passengers) luggage.

Luggage doesn't pay for seats...so the more luggage a plane has to carry...and the fewer paying passengers they can carry for that reason...and the more likely you are to pay excess baggage for you golf clubs. It's just basic economics for the airlines. They are there to make a profit on your travel.

For that reason, you are more likely to be asked to pay on a long-haul flight than a short-hop flight.

No matter what you think, the airline never hauls your luggage for free...one way or the other you do pay for the cost of hauling your luggage around. Including golf clubs.

On the one hand, you say, it's all to do with safety, and on the other, it's all about the money. If it was all about safety, they would have to completely reject additional weight.

So when will the day arrive when they request to weigh the passengers themselves. I only weight 70 kilos, but when you look at the size of some people they must weigh at least twice as much as me ! Why not have a weight allowance for the passenger + their luggage, that would seem a much fairer way of doing things and it would also give the airlines a much better chance of doing their calculations accurately if this is so important - as I believe it to be for the safety reasons outlined above. What do the airlines assume is the 'average' weight of a passenger, 80,90,100,120,140,150 kilos? Surely, as they do NOT weigh each passenger, the room for 'error' must be enormous; what with some planes now carrying 400+ passengers. Come think of it, what does an A380 or a 777 weigh when fully fueled and what percentage of the TOTAL weight does the passenger/baggage then constitute?

I am sure that all hell would break loose if my suggestion was ever implemented and the bloody 'Human Rights Lobby' would be up in arms, but let's take a sensible view on this. It would be very interesting to try and get a census/vote done on this here on the Forum. Another idea would be for the Airlines to charge the passenger a per kilo rate for their fare based on the total weight of the passenger and their luggage combined. Just think; the Airlines could even claim that they were trying to project a healthier lifestyle for us all and still make money.

I am looking to buy a new set of clubs to replace my present 12 year old Callaway X14's. I'm 68 and this will probably be my 'Last set'. I have decided that I might as well push the boat out (not too many boats left probably) and get a set 'Custom Fitted', as I realise that the shafts are the most important thing at my stage in life as a 12 handicapper. I live in Hua-Hin and wonder if anybody can give me information as to where they would suggest/recommend me to try for a fitting. I don't have any problem if I have to go to Bangkok for this service.

Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

Happy golfing to you all and don't forget what the great Arnold Palmer once said:-

"Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satifies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - It is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented."

Thanks for that. What is the problem with the cart staying on the path? go with the flow; golf is supposed to be enjoyable.

lol, I guess I'm the old fashioned type who want to keep the equipment with me rather than first having to walk to the ball and find out the distance and then wait for the caddie to run back to the cart and get the equipment. But I see your point!

When I play tournaments and have a caddie, the instruction is "my bag is NEVER more than 5 yards away from me". I guess not very relaxing...

I agree. I want to walk as long as I am able; I'm 68 and sometimes play 4 times a week. I really HATE being in a cart and the noise of the clubs rattling around behind me does my head in. I now decline to play at Banyan here in Hua-Hin, because a cart and its cost are 'compulsory. You CAN walk if you wish -which is what I've done on the last few occasions when I couldn't get out of playing there, but the caddies don't like having to pull a trolley when their counterparts are driving the buggies. Also at this venue they only allow one golfer per cart and the caddy must drive.

I don't mind paying for the caddies and as previously stated the courses are probably better for it as lots of people would never think to repair a pitch mark or rake a bunker - FAR too demeaning; in fact some lazy sods won't even pick their ball out of the hole.

26 cars stolen in 1 year .. i'd say thats low compared to english cities

What a blxxdy joke! 26? I'll bet it was a dam_n sight higher than that.

Don't they have some swell offices for the BIB in Phuket to have their 'high level meetings'

I suppose that all present will have been awarded another 'stripe' to add to the one's they have already got on their brave chests.

Another pile of BS, why don't they just get on with their 'real job'; Oh sorry that might offend some of the mafia eh!

Also that doesnt sound like AC current? Its usually high vold DC current that makes you drop or cant release something when shocked it contracts the muscles. AC was introduced because it makes you jump i you get a shock, jump away and release the wire/plug etc

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/770179-overview#a0104

High-voltage DC often causes a large single muscle contraction that throws the victim away from the source; thus, usually only brief duration of contact occurs with the source flow. In contrast, AC of the same voltage is considered to be approximately 3 times more dangerous than DC, because the cyclic flow of electrons causes muscle tetany that tends to prolong victims' exposure to the source. Muscle tetany occurs when fibers are stimulated at 40-110 Hz; thus, the standard 60 Hz of household current is within that range. If the source contact point is the hand, when tetanic muscle contraction occurs the extremity flexors contract, causing the victim to grasp the current and bring it closer to the body causing prolonged contact with the source.

Table 1. Physiologic Effects of Different Electrical Currents (Open Table in a new window)

EffectCurrent (milliamps)Tingling sensation/perception1-4Let-go current – Children3-4Let-go current - Women6-8Let-go current – Men7-9Skeletal muscle tetany16-20Respiratory muscle paralysis20-50Ventricular fibrillation50-120

Direct current (DC) injury: These injuries typically cause a single muscle contraction that throws the victim away from the source. They are rarely associated with loss of consciousness unless there is severe head trauma, and victims can often provide their own history.

http://emedicine.med...770179-clinical

I know that this AC versus DC is still a point of contention as to which one will 'throw you off and which one will not', but I still have to agree with you. I have had some large DC 'belts' in my life; due in part to my own stupidity I have to say, but they have always resulted in my body reacting by throwing me away from the source.

I have quite moist skin and thus a low resistance and even low voltages like the old 'AC bridge' device used measure inductance and capacitance would be sufficient to give me a severe tingling sensation. I have looked at your reference 'source' and it seems quite adamant as to which one is the worst of the two.

I have not seen anybody come back with any comment re my question as to why AC supplies are 'referenced to earth?'

Any takers please.

My condolences to the family of the young man who was killed; a tragic accident that should not have happened.

Also that doesnt sound like AC current? Its usually high vold DC current that makes you drop or cant release something when shocked it contracts the muscles. AC was introduced because it makes you jump i you get a shock, jump away and release the wire/plug etc

I think that you will find that the exact opposite applies ! DC causes a violent shock that 'normally' causes the body to be thrown off the power source; whereas AC causes the muscles to contract in sympathy with the frequency of the supply line - typically 50 cycles per second and you 'normally' cannot release your hand etc from the supply.

I understand that if you use an 'Isolating Transformer' you have NO reference (circuit/conducting path) to earth and therefore the only way that you can sustain a 'shock' under these conditions is to be in contact with BOTH of the supply lines at the same time and hence form a conducting path for the current to flow. Hence the reason for using the 'Isolation Transformer'when working with electrical equipment like drills etc when working outside or inside come to that. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than myself would like to comment on this and why if this IS the case do we have AC supplies that ARE referenced to Earth in the first place?

With regard to the comment about someone not using swimming pools out here in Thailand; I can only assume that one could only receive a 'shock' if there was faulty wiring around the pool that contacted the water itself, because the underwater pool lights are normally run off 'Isolating transformers' that step the AC down from AC 220v to around AC 12v to supply the halogen lamps in the underwater fittings. The AC 12v would in itself not be sufficient to cause any shock and again it would be isolated from an earth/water reference, provided that there was no problem with the said transformer.

Earlier this month we were at Central Bangna in Bangkok. While my wife was renewing her passport at the government office in that complex, I wandered through (the huge) Tops Market there. I thought I was back in the U.S.! The market was clean, uncluttered, and had items imported from around the world at (less than Villa Market) reasonable prices. There were many items from the U.S. that I have not seen anywhere else and their bakery section, meat and seafood section, and fresh vegetables and fruits sections were better stocked with fresher items than I've seen at any other store in Thailand. Made Tesco look like total crap and the Big C's I've been to (like the one in Petchaburi) are Tesco clones, certainly nothing special.

Where did the following chains originate anyway:

Tesco - (England is what I've heard?)

Big C (Carrefour) - (France is what I've heard?)

Tops?

Foodland?

Villa Market - (Thai family owned chain according to a friend who owns a restaurant here?)

We have two Tops here in Phuket, and do some shopping there, but no problem to manage without when we live in Hua Hin.

What I have missd in Hua Hin is Makro, but seems to be on rail now.

Makro and Villa Market basicly cover 90% of what we need

Yes, MAKRO at Pranburi are excellent along with the Tesco store there - no where as crowded as the one in HH.

Excellent fresh meat/fruit/veg at Makro with huge carpark. No requirement to enrol, just walk in. I use these two all the time now as I am on the south side of HH some 10kms from Market village. I suppose that another large 'chain' opening up in the HH area should, 'In theory' keep everybody on their toes; but only time will tell as I feel sure that they run a 'cartel' amongst themselves.

I do not gloat or take any joy in the death of Amy, it's sad for her family and her fans, and I feel for everyone who was close to her. ButI am a little pissed off with the attention this has drawn…….More to the point the disproportionate out-pouring of grief for Amy, (I suspect OD'ed) and a young guy a long way from home, friends and family, to die from enemy action defending, OUR way of life.

This is NOT about politics, it's not about saber rattling .....A young British soldier who was killed 5 days ago in action fighting for your right to speak your mind and have a beer. Did you know this? Do you know his name? Do you care?!

A smackhead dies and it's all over the news and all over Facebook within minutes!!

RIP Corporal Mark Anthony Palin from 1st Battalion the Rifles,'...We will remember them' I will remember him!

I could not agree more with you. 'A smackhead' with a reasonably good voice, but nothing more! Pity that the UK spends more on looking after 'smackheads' than our 'disabled/traumatised troops',but what do you expect now with the BS Political Correctness that typifies the upper echelons of the UK ?

I had v-cool fitted to my last BMW just before I sold it just to make it look better.

Looked great but night driving was terrible, it was just too darn dark.

Had a lighter v-cool film fitted to my new Fiesta , just one notch down, and its perfect.

What was the level of the original tint and what did you change to on the Fiesta?

Seems a lot of people have had the same problem with 'Night Driving' - pretty dangerous when you have to wind the windows down to see properly at night !!

I believe that in the UK there is a legal limit on the maximum amount of 'Tint' that you can have fitted and understand that this is to do with 'Identification of the driver' also have seen the same thing in Dubai where there were signs that you had to wind your windows down before entering certain areas - again one would assume that this is with regard to identification. Interesting to find out what the laws are like in other countries with regard to this subject just out of interest. Pal of mine had recently increased the 'tint' as he says that the BIB tend not to stop those with heavier tints - don;t know if this holds up or just somebody winding him up.

A Bell Jet Ranger, UH-1 Huey or Black Hawk helicopter is my guess.

Did you hear any thumping sounds?

Hi Rakman, thanks for the message!

I did not hear any thumping "copter" sounds!

It was a clear and quiet beautiful afternoon.

I hear and see helicopters all the time. I must live over a flight pattern.

Ive seen military, medical and news choppers before many times, and i do not believe this is any of those. when they fly over, i hear them coming 2 or 3 miles away. im the first one to jump up and run out to look up because i just like helicopters, and want to see what kinds are flying around BKK.

I am speculating just as much as any of you. If this was a chopper, then tell me, where is the rotor and heli blades? this is clear enough and close enough to see both of those characteristics..

I do have to agree, it does look chopper shape like, but again, where are the blades.? also thought of a bird diving with wings tucked, but it is too big, and like i mentioned, i was in manual mode on the camera

. anything moving with that much light out (just like today, July 6th) would have been completely blurred out due to aperture speed, this is OBO is quite still no?

This was near Rama II area. Ive seen helicopters and airplanes, day and night flying way beyond Rama II and to the south and you can still hear them. Those choppers rattle the place.

Thats all i can say for now. now that this was caught on film, it makes me recall another event where I did a double look , like "what was that", kind of response. In short, it was a light that went from way far out, to close, then far out again, quite quickly.

this could have been a number of things. but because i don't have it on film, i don't care to comment more. interesting thing is, this picture was taken in the exact same vicinity as when i saw that light months ago. this was at night.

makes me wonder no doubt! ! have to be honest, i have my eyes up in the clouds the last day and half! was out last night, beautiful open starry sky. didn't see anything!

people, grab your cameras, and take pictures, never know what might show up in the film.

a lot of people are playing with cheap to find/buy infrared cameras and finding some interesting things.

ill post if i catch another one!

You haven't said what shutter speed your camera used on this pic . This is easy enough to find from the camera data of the said picture. My guess is that your camera was recording this pic at about 1/500th of a second as you were shooting into the sunlight. Probably, the image is that of a bird; as you previously suggested with its wings either edge onto you or folded.

Competition Fluid is available that stands higher temps,as used in Rally Cars when the disks glow orange at night,a lovely sight.

yepp, but it also needs to be replaced within 2 years

on my rally cars, brakefluid was replaced every 6 months, to keep boiling temp up. for more ordinary driving, every 2 year is sufficient

So, is this part of a 'scheduled' maintenance service by the likes of Toyota and others?

Is it not possible to ask the Toyota dealership to upgrade the braking system to the latest designs/modifications? At least if they did it you would have peace of mind that it was correct for the vehicle!

Guessing between 1 and 2 K's past the flyover on the left side. Big building on nicely landscaped land with white board fence. It's immediately at the south edge of Takiab (between Takiab and the new military golf course.

Yes that is about the right distance from the end of the flyover. Look out for the 'Banyan Estate' on your right hand side and the Vetenary university training hospital is on your left immediately past the first road on your left that you come to. You can't miss it, it has a huge stone sign outside the entrance and is surrounded by huge landscaped gardens.

Does anybody know what days and hours this is open; do you have to make an appointment etc?