trihent

Bank choice is very very important in regards to US banks. My wife and children use a small regional bank (Ohio) which disregards the SS#

The varicella-zoster virus which causes Chicken Pox (and Shingles) is a once only virus, meaning one you have had it your immune from the Chicken Pox primary form. The virus though continues to remain in the nervous system prefering the (usually upper) spinal column. For about <10% people who have had it can experience "Shingles" medically called "Herpes Zoster" a condition where the virus migrates along the nerves from the spinal column (usually across the chest region) causing nerve pain (not nice) and local pox adjancent to the nerve(s) to which it is spreading. There is a vaccine BUT there is some questions still at this late date (I think it was introduced in the mid 70's) on how effective it is and if it needs to be renewed every 10 years or so. For children as the primary form can kill thats good But how long that immunity lasts......... from the vaccine. People who have not had the primary form should get vaccinated (the vaccine is a dead virus type) if they are likly to come in contact with the live form (ie around un-vaccinted children).

Oddly as an American with previous dealings with the British embassy (and no I cannot elaborate) I have found over the last 20 years that they are MORE helpful then the americans (just my experience)

When I lived in Bangkok and Nontaburi the security guards would offer me beer on my way in knowing that I would do the next beer run sometimes. NO ONE ever in said anything about it and the other residents sometimes would do the same thing. Granted it was usually soewhat later in the evening but when the shops shut down early.....

3000 stations!!.......I had no idea that there were anything like this number of broadcasters in Thailand........maybe just small part contributors of the madness!

Ahh I know that at least 2 of those 3000 were HAM radio operators without "public" broadcast permits. Here in Surin

It should be noted that should this be started then the electricity would be FREE. There is no practical way to prevent any device, place or thing from accessing it. Try stopping radio waves or light. Same thing different frequencies. Make my day I'm in, Do-it Thailand.

I've been using Visa & Mastercards here in Thailand for over 10 yrs including the new chipped ones, all re-mailed from the states. Thai banks cannot be used to activate most cards, simple reason that doing so "flags" the bank that it is not the country of issue. The only way is to comunicate with the bank and remind them that your out of country (banking computers don't always see this). All Visa (Mastercard I'm not so sure about) are required to have both teller query and administration rights and access to online account transaction, which apparently you have. Call your branch's local telephone # identify yourself and ask that they activate your card. Then tell them where you are and that you didn't receive the pin # with the re-mailing and ask them to reset it, give them the pin # you want. Easy done costs a bit for the call but its easy works every time. Calling during business hours never more than a min. or 2 wait and your talking to a branch that in theory knows you. This branch designation is never placed on credit or debt cards so it can't be used by the crooks.

Most usefull item from the US in hardware that I've never seen anywhere in Thailand are the hollow wall anchors known as butterfly bolts. (spring loaded self opening anchors). Always bring a bunch whenever I'm stateside. Another (just to blow Thai's minds and tongues) Habanero Pepper seeds which you can find at home depots plant dept.

Heck in the US they are trying to get drones to deliver pizza for the gods sakes!

I should point out that the rainwater here is slightly acidic due to the "Indian pollution cloud" As with the Chinese pollution which extends all the way across the Pacific so the smog from India extends this far east. (Can be actually seen from orbit) But in 15+ years I've never had any trouble drinking and cooking with collected rainwater using nothing but simple clothe filters and stored in the ceramic tubs they use here. Also in Issan I had no problem convincing my wife as she had been doing just that her whole life.

Such a sad state for Latitude 8

My computer really isn't setup for hard video manipulation at the moment (tho it appears yours isn't either) But I can tell a couple of things right off. (going through the shot frame by frame)

1. It was outside the opening

2. It was solid (no doubt) a very faint color change on the subject caused by the slight wall protusion waist high left and the subject gives some sense of depth as the subject came into view.

3. It bounces as it moved just as a normal walker would do, so it didn't float.

Just for what it's worth

Here you go, cheap safe and easy to make: http://www.instructables.com/id/Flower-Pots-Tea-Lights-Heater/

First thing is you need to consider "how to" all of the below though not necessarily in the order given!

A. Creating a working prototype. Can you do your own or do you need help?

B. What is your target market? Is this something for local sales, highly specialized etc..?

C. Is it in fact patentable?. or will a design copyright work as well?

D. 1.Assuming you would use cheap labour (local I would assume) would you want to oversee production and farm out marketing? or 2. farm out production and marketing? #1 will get you better returns but is a lot more long term headache. 2. means patent or design copyright first, then flogging the idea and/or putting up cash for manufacture and marketing of an untested product and just low % of sales.

These options are tricky. If you can do A. on the cheap do this first even if you need to find a friendly partner with manufacturing knowledge (production engineer) or someone else with production experience.

Considering B. Comes with the result of additional costing if it would need to shipped around will that in fact be cost effective? Ronco's "Pocket Fisherman" is a good example where D-1 was started and led to millions upgrading to D-2. Under a "Patent Pending" scenerio = C. Design Copyright

While I know no inventor (myself included) likes the idea, there is no free ride bringing anything to market, either a lot of hard work or cash (usually both). Stay well away of these companies that claim they can patent and produce your idea, every one that I have seen can never claim any success ratio that is better 1 in a hundred (usually a lot less) and will charge you money upfront to even listen. Getting the kid down the block with a CAD program to run out blueprints and private "Patent Attorney" for some cheap advice is your better bet until you know the ropes.

P.S. In my experience being able to prototype yourself and some sort of early cheap production ("under the radar of the big boys") is by far the most effective start. also as above (I was working on this when the post above me was made) Marketing is easy once you have something useful in hand. Advertising it is getting easier and easier via the net if your product would have a wide usage. Costing out tho is getting harder.

BBC this week reported an almost total lack of sunspots on the surface of the sun. The last time the sun was so inactive The Thames and the Baltic Sea froze over.

Chalk up a major goof for the BBC if they in truth reported this. http://www.spaceweather.com , NASA and the NOAA are reporting what might be a "called" a light solar maximum but the truth is sunspot activity does not have much effect on our planetary weather. Currently there are 144 active sunspots and the CHANCE OF STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Jan. 23rd in response to a glancing blow from a CME. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for midnight auroras.

http://spaceweather.com/images2014/23jan14/hmi200.gif

Cambodia was in the same boat in the 70-90's, I had to wait years to do any cultural studies (save from those that fled from the Kymer into Issan). As an researcher I'm very much enthused about getting long term visa's into Burma as travel restrictions should be relaxed for folks that have "proper" "countryside" residence. I would be glad to talk to anyone also interested that is there already or planning to go. Central (OLD) Burma (I don't mind swamps) (not interested in north)

There is only 1 solution to the problem (not 2 or 3) Within the country Yes it could take decades to fix the problem. BUT the EU and the USA have anti-bribe laws and should be using them. Australia is a matter as are China and India are something that should be looked at. BUT the only way this can be dealt with is the countries which are hosting the international banks and companies need be held to account. As corruption follows certain rules (as does everything) it is bound to fail same as an MLM, it just takes longer. With Burma coming into the ASEAN chair Thailand if she is careful Might be able to a massive change, which tho I watch as an Farang I cannot infulence and as most readers neither can you

I would be a 1. However not because I believe in God but because I believe in ALL GODS. Something that monotheists don't understand is that if you accept the possible existence of 1 god you open the door to all of them (whether you've heard of them or not). This is polytheist stance is actually in the Bible (Genesis) in the fall from Eden. (forgotten the verse #) "They have eaten of the knowledge so they must be cast out before they eat of the tree of life and become the same as us." (paraphrased) Please note the "us" in the text found in all common versions.

Well you can imagine that your from this country or that country. What you should remember is that your a Citizen of the World first as are everyone else!

The heck with the poster that says get more cats. The very best anti-snake animals are Geese, they hate snakes and are very good at keeping them away and/or killing them. If your upcountry and have a snake problem get a goose.

There is NO regulation on these machines (up country) an owner could put paddy water into it and no one checks or would ever know. I don't use them and there is machine 300 m down the road and I know that THEY use the local bulk water service as a source and they are suspect also. Another machine near me uses water from the local system administered by the local Wat. Who can you trust. A "Branded" machine might be ok upcountry there are no regualtion

This is news worthy? Thumbs down to the Thai Visa editors.

The Marine Department has been very lax in doing inspections and has been for as long as I've been in Thailand (19yrs) If I understand correctly. technically the Tourist Police (tourist related issues) really don't have authority to do this but if they are good on them. It really takes a person with specific knowledge of marine equipment to do a proper inspection something I think The tourist police lack. So these checks are just PR the easy and obvious problems. Thailand really needs to combine the Marine Department into/with the Coast Guard so that inspections are funded and kept up to date.