observer90210

and to spice up the debate a bit, allow me to refer to disputed historical genealogy records of early mediaval periods of an european country (that I admit I forgot the name)....which  conclude that queen Elisabeth would be a long and distant descendant of the prophet Muhammad....funny isn't it?...do Google it or look up historic records in a decent library....you would be surprised....

photoshop is on sale currently?

7 minutes ago, JohnJay said:

In Isaan, all my garbage ends up on the side of the road. It sucks but what can I do. Some of it will get burnt, some things like razor blades, metal tablet packaging, old screws, and etc will never biodegrade. I've seen light tubes on the side of the road, and energy saving bulbs, both of which contain mercury, very close to a water reservoir that feeds houses. This is very bad for the environment. Only glass/plastic bottles are recycled and the money I get for them is negligible (20 baht for hundreds of bottles).

 

Of course there is no main sewerage in Isaan either and so shower water filled with soap and shampoo usually gets piped into peoples gardens. I'm not a scientist, but surely, if you eat plants that have been watered with all sorts of chemicals, that can't be healthy?

 

Littering in Thailand is nothing. There is tons of garbage on the side of the road, literally everywhere, it's not frowned on like in the West. And sometimes I litter as well. If I take it home it goes on the side of the road, if I put it on the side of the road now then I don't have to move it again.

 

I remember once I was on a beautiful island that was barely developed. The water was crystal clear and the beach pristine white sands. A Thai man in front of me took his glass bottle of Coke and threw it off the pier into the water. There was a garbage can 3 feet away. Does he not realize if everyone did that we would be looking at a pile of garbage and not this lovely beach? I saw that years ago, but I can't forget it, just makes no sense to me.

 

There are a lot of sanitation problems in Thailand that should be addressed. They won't be. On the bright side at least Thailand now has 3 new submarines.

sad....the less industrialised are destroying the water with their garbage or waste.....the more industrialised are destroying the air with their factories....add the nuclear waste, the pollution from one single supertanker crossing the ocean etc etc etc.....not to forget the views of certain western clowns in top level governance on global warming and the Paris treaty...and we have a fine and amazing family photo out there!!

Just now, pgrahmm said:

 

you did not answer the question..

6 hours ago, Bonefish said:

The price they quote you when you order an Uber car is only an estimate. The price that they charge you, after your trip is finished, is a combination of actual distance and time, plus a fixed fee. The little scam by the driver consists in passing your actual location without picking you up (feigning not to see you), then driving somewhere in a big circle and coming back to your location, picking you up and charging you for the whole trip (distance, time and fee) since first passing your location. You can see it later on the map that comes with your bill. The big circle the driver drove, without you in the car,  is part of the price they charge you.

 

As I said, this happened to me twice in a short time, with different drivers, different pick-up locations and different destinations. The first time they overcharged me for a little over 30 baht and reimbursed me when I protested, the second time the overcharge was 25 or 30 baht, but I was tired of sending them a protest email for such a small amount. I simply decided not to use Uber anymore

 

I also have a personal, ethical issue with a giant US corporation (which is not even a profitable business, Uber makes enormous losses) disrupting local transportation industries worldwide, with a total disdain for local and national laws and regulations. I observe the same situation in France and in other European countries, where taxi drivers become more and more agressive in their resistance against the illegal encroachments by Uber.

 

Uber, imo, is just another typical example of American arrogance and blatant disregard for the laws, regulations and business structures of other countries. Uber will go down the drain financially, the losses which they are accumulating will not be accepted by their shareholders forever,  and the resistance movements organized by local taxis and other transportation businesses will only become more virulent over time, not only in Thailand, but everywhere else as well. 

 

These little scams used by the local Uber drivers are also an indication that their "business model" is falling apart. They simply do not pay their drivers enough money, and they basically force them to use such scams to make ends meet. There are only victims in this whole Uber enterprise - the local taxis, the Uber drivers and the Uber shareholders. The only ones who made money out of this giant scam are the  "genius" who "invented" it,  and his accomplices.

what to do in that case against the regular thai taxi drivers who cheat and refuse to turn the meter on?...

one could obviously try another and yet another official taxi until you get one that accepts the meter, but that would be quite exhausting and not be a guarantee that the driver won't try to cheat in taking longer routes if the trafic enables of course....

On 18.06.2017 at 4:31 PM, TonyClifton said:

High incidence?  How many rapes = high? 

 

1?

2?

3?

 

Do tell us how many rapes have occurred at the hands ... er Ummm ... of an Uber driver?  

in Europe, none...

8 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Yeah - and NOW London's Mayor is incensed & calling it a terrorist act......

 

Not the ho hum - get use to it like he said after the recent jihadist attacks....

 

Upside down world....

could it have been called a terrorist attack had it been from an individual of a different ethnicity or perhaps if this white male had attacked bypassers on a bridge?

7 minutes ago, Crowes said:

What does him being white have to do with anything?

maybe the intent was to inform that it was not the usual stereotype of such attacks?

(as for what the usual stereotype would be, google would definately give out answers that would be inappropriate on a public forum!)

4 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Why would any passenger regardless of thai or farang get stung for any amount of money if there is an accident involving the taxi your in. Fairy tale time again i expect.

hard to say my dear fellow....was solely referring to some posts read here...up to you to consider if it's true or from Disneyland

3 minutes ago, Mitker said:

there:

 

(Krabi 2 weeks ago - and some questions from the kids, difficult to answer)

sad....really sad...we are destroying our own food chain....

education....no matter of enforcement can change habbits apart from an agressive educative campaign to inform people on the disasters of throwing garbage in the sea and ocean...

6 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

It appears to be good but, like all DJI products, severely overpriced.

very very true, overpricerd for the Made in China tag!!

As for Xiaomi, in your previous post, was unaware of this make...will look out in MBK during my next trip to Thailand as one can really never have to many drones around!!....thanks for the tips...enjoy your flights in the meantime!

15 hours ago, Chou Anou said:

Ha!  I wouldn't be too sure about that "not hurting the passenger" idea, especially if the passenger is a farang.  Everyday Thais will often try to collect damages from a farang passenger in a taxi that's involved in an accident with their car (that's why, in case the taxi you're in ever has an accident, you throw a few hundred baht at the driver and get the hell out of there, FAST)...so why would the mafia hesitate at injuring a farang passenger in a taxi encroaching on their territory?

 

Anyway, Uber is not long for this world...they're taking a real publicity beating in the US right now for their unfair treatment of drivers, sexist comments by board members, and high incidence of drivers raping passengers.

Hi There...I was not aware if the issue in racketing farang passengers in a taxi, when the vehicle is involved in an accident....Thailand is becoming a real rogue country it would seem and looks that a farang needs to watch his back and his cash 24/7 to avoid getting ripped off by the Thai's??!!....not a very pleasent social climate to be around despite the great food and beauty of the scenery????....about time the boys in the military realy start to clean things up and enforce a change of mentalities???

42 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Thanks!  Just got back from a week long holiday in Krabi area and got some spectacular aerial videos and photos of Ao Nang beach area with my 'infamous' Hubsan H501S toy/hobby drone.  Sadly, while visiting Pra Nang beach saw a warning sign that said it was verboten to fly drones without permission.  The fine was 1000 baht.  And since Pra Nang beach is part of the national park system I guessed that can't fly in many of the nearby islands also.

 

Amazing that those folks who watched my drone as I took it off and flew it slowly up and down the beach seemed impressed with it.  In fact, I got plenty of positive comments and smiles and no negative reactions.  Of course, I was flying high enough and as unobtrusively as possible.  My drone is also so quiet that it can't be heard above the surf unless you're within a few meters of it.

 

And did I mention that the aerial shots are stunning?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that's cool!...what I like in Hubsan's are their efforts to integrate the FPV in the controler (i.e. no need to use your smartphone for the screen), if I'm not mistaken?...what about the Mavick Pro?....Any plans to get into that lovely baby? the M Pro is a blast!!

the regular taxis are a bunch of thieves and cheats in Thailand and quite a few countries in the world....if Uber has become a multi billion $ venture practically overnight, there is a reason for that.....long live Uber..and I will use it as long as it exists, anywhere anytime....to hell with the taxi mafia gangs...

©

8 hours ago, Lamkyong said:

wow some fire place  36c here today

.absolutely...which is why my intention is to use it solely outdoors on decoration purposes along the pools or the entrances....would you have any idea where to get such stuff and the bioethanol combustion liquid in Thailand, Sir???

for a regretful few many, it goes thrown down the many lovely rivers of this lovely country

16 hours ago, Lamkyong said:

i am interested burners for what ??

you would know better then me in what you are interested I guess...

more seriously, as you seem curious on my intentions, this reference should give you a better picture on what I am talking about, my friend!

(ref. https://ecosmartfire.com/)

10 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Cleantech products are gaining popularity these days. I've gotta say Bioethanol chimney burners are old Cleantech already. I'd be waiting till 2018 when Elon Musk releases his new clean energy product on the market that he's been working on. I've heard that it's a real game changer and will also save you a lot of money too.

 

But this being said, is the hot & humid weather in the high 30's - 40 degrees celsius too cold for you that you need to install a fireplace in your house to keep you warm?

thanks for the info, . I was not aware that Telsa is into decorative bioethanol chimney burners!!!!??...

however I did catch your intrigue regarding the use....

Rest be assured, it is not for heating!!....it was rather to use  the burners as mentioned in my post for the outdoors as decorative elements, inserted in cement structures on different areas around the pool and the property...no no..don't misunderstand my intentions, it's not for shooting making a decor for a X rated movie, but decorative and controled fire elements do  give a certain decorative touch around various outdoor areas within a private estate.

Wondering if bio ethanol for outdoor ethanol chimney burners is available in Thailand?  Anybody familiair with the availability of this technology in Thailand?

interesting comments....what seems to be a common denominator is the residency certificate with a 30 day tourist visa waiver....however, if a tourist is staying in a hotel or a rented home, how would he be able to obtain a residency certificate?...seems a bit unlikely???

Not that I mean to be inquisitive and sorry if you already give this information that slipped the eye.....but from which country would this embassy be?

2 minutes ago, SovietChild said:

Have you seen what street food people do after they finish their day shift? Instead of using sinks to clean their dishes, they clean it outside on the streets. 

 

I like the street food don't get me wrong, but I like Bangkok too. And, if Bangkok does succeed to become like a western city then good for them. 

I fully get the point not to worry sir!!...

hum...it might put the local apotik's off the business too, for the regular poo attakcs amongst street food patrons!!

Even though a maid is necessary from time to time, I solved the issue with 2 cleaning robots. One that vacuums and another that washes the floor. Never regreted the purchases!

By experience, with a maid or construction workers be it in Thailand or anywhere else in the world, you just need to be around to supervise...if not, forget it or be prepared for annoying situations.

iRobot Braava for washing the floor

Neato for vacuum

"throw away"?.....allow me some doubts that they were thrown!!...or can you be 100% sure that they were thrown????