agudbuk

"But as the big-box retailer"

Double entendres can be found in many places

As mentioned the Saphan Taksin.station is the BTS link to the river bus system, so that will mean a walk of about half a mile (750m) to the river from Surasak station.

Bound to affect the numbers using the river service from that point

If anyone wants to send a thank you note to the USA and the US Army, for providing most of the funding, feel free to send it to the US Military HIV Health Research Program in Bethesda Maryland.

The results of the RC144 immunity mechanism lab studies published in the NEJM in April provided the first signs of hope in many years. Again, you can send your thank you note to Col. Jerry Kim of the MHRP. Col. Nelson Michael, the big boss over at MHRP, was a co-author with Dr. Kim. Those guys are brilliant.

The Thai research units recruit & screen the volunteers, administer the vaccines, take blood and do follow ups. All the key research is done at facilities in the USA.

They are doing the recruiting at Bang Lamung Hospital in Chonburi. Its a small 90 bed public hospital so you may have to sit with the great unwashed.

Thanks for this informative post noting that funding was provided by the USA and US Army resources, staff, and facilities. Curious that the newspaper didn't note this. It would be interesting to know what Dr. Punee thinks about the new Quad HIV drug developed by Gilead Sciences of Israel. Curious that The Nation has never noted anything about this new drug currently approved by the FDA in the USA.

Could be interpreted as US uses Thai people for drug research .

Would that be because of altruism, because it is cheaper in Thailand than the USA or because the tests would leave them open to law suits in the US or because the tests may not even be legal in the US?

Or am I just being cynical?

Does anyone know of an up to date map showing the problem areas in and around Thailand. The only ones I have seen in clinics show the only problem area as in the North

Good story,

Is it possible to reproduce the dynasty photo with the names and dates?

Most crime is commiterd by non-Thais

Most crime is of course committed by non -Thais

why dont they just make gambling legal? Like any normal country?

That's a bit like saying why don't they make brothels legal in the UK or most parts of the US.

If you malke it legal it's easisr to control and maybe as important. You can tax it.

What's the differance between eating dog, goat, sheep, chicken, cattle.? All can carry disease and should be raised in healthy humane conditions but why are dogs seen as taboo?

I believe it's generous of any nation to extend residency to non-nationals.

Welcome news - if a long time in coming.

While 20 branches is clearly not enough for a retail banking model, it will be fine for corporate banking, trade finance and (possibly) wealth management. perhaps the ATMs will persuade the Thai banks to roll back their rapacous fee structure for the use of foreign cards in local ATMs.

150 baht is not excessive. The Thai bank charges 150 baht for the convenience. My Hawaii bank whacks me $5.00 plus an international transfer fee.

I've gone back to using travelers cheques for most exchange transactions.

No charges from my home bank

Generally better exchange rates when cashing them

Paying lower commission rates to the exchanger

Happy birthday to His Majesty.

Long live the King.

I thought this was one on the list of Urban Myths

Experts are not needed, any student of physical geography knows the answer, equally any student of Thai culture knows they would never implement it.

The middle and lower reaches of the river are a series of meanders, this is typical of flat land. So in normal flow the water slowly meanders down to the sea. But when in full spate it is like a car that tries to take a bend too fast and goes off the road, the water does the same it can't follow the meander and overflows. In a natural environment the water will carve out a new more direct channel, the original meander is cut off and forms an "oxbow lake".

What Thailand has to do is work with nature, not wait hundreds of years for the river to straighten itself out, rather it needs to dig a straight channel through every meander.

However, this cannot happen because looking at the map you can see that every meander has been extensively developed with housing estates, high rise condos, hotels, department stores and factories, even an airport, many would have to go to clear a channel. But most of this development was by the elite, the rich, they would fight any such clearance tooth and nail.

So Bangkok is doomed because the cure is too draconian for those in power to stomach. I don't care which party is in power, none would have the guts to do what needs doing.

What other way forward as many people have suggested a host of solutions, and as I posted earlier, if it was possible, and I personally think it is with time is to raise the level of the land. carve out some of the hills (then took away a mountain near Pattaya to build foundations for a giant motorway) your suggestion re straightening out the river is a proven thing-quicken nature and do it where you can. USE the land again that you dig out to raise the land on both sides of the river.raise any land that is low lying==including NEW industrial estate sites.

As I said in another topic dig gigantic craters use the soil to raise land again-then use the holes to get rid of rubbish, but recycle first. shout me down if you think the idea is a lost cause.

Eventually that is what needs to be done. Unfortunately to raise the level of the land you have to demolish what's sitting on top of it first; then build it up, consolidate it and then rebuild at the higher level. Essentially you are talking about the total re-building of Bangkok and surrounding towns.. It's a very long term plan .

Nearly every low lying village, town, people are landfilling and raising THEIR houses even.(issan) now Bangkok has certain areas that should not have to be raised, as the land is on high enough ground, the other areas are a long term. But some places their floor level could be filled in and keep your existing building. ????therefore using the second floor as their first floor. (no demolition required)---please get these disgusting klongs sorted out now--it's exactly the time to do it, maybe the only opportunity .

If it was so simple. : Road levels, services ; are still a problem and you've just halved the floor area of all the 2 storey houses in the area. . Many older traditional style homes with accommodation all at a raised level to allow water to pass under the structure have in recent years had the ground level areas enclosed for extra rooms. Just human nature to make a much use of the ground area as possible.

Serious rebuilding and ground restructuring will be a very long term project and a very expensive one.

Experts are not needed, any student of physical geography knows the answer, equally any student of Thai culture knows they would never implement it.

The middle and lower reaches of the river are a series of meanders, this is typical of flat land. So in normal flow the water slowly meanders down to the sea. But when in full spate it is like a car that tries to take a bend too fast and goes off the road, the water does the same it can't follow the meander and overflows. In a natural environment the water will carve out a new more direct channel, the original meander is cut off and forms an "oxbow lake".

What Thailand has to do is work with nature, not wait hundreds of years for the river to straighten itself out, rather it needs to dig a straight channel through every meander.

However, this cannot happen because looking at the map you can see that every meander has been extensively developed with housing estates, high rise condos, hotels, department stores and factories, even an airport, many would have to go to clear a channel. But most of this development was by the elite, the rich, they would fight any such clearance tooth and nail.

So Bangkok is doomed because the cure is too draconian for those in power to stomach. I don't care which party is in power, none would have the guts to do what needs doing.

What other way forward as many people have suggested a host of solutions, and as I posted earlier, if it was possible, and I personally think it is with time is to raise the level of the land. carve out some of the hills (then took away a mountain near Pattaya to build foundations for a giant motorway) your suggestion re straightening out the river is a proven thing-quicken nature and do it where you can. USE the land again that you dig out to raise the land on both sides of the river.raise any land that is low lying==including NEW industrial estate sites.

As I said in another topic dig gigantic craters use the soil to raise land again-then use the holes to get rid of rubbish, but recycle first. shout me down if you think the idea is a lost cause.

Eventually that is what needs to be done. Unfortunately to raise the level of the land you have to demolish what's sitting on top of it first; then build it up, consolidate it and then rebuild at the higher level. Essentially you are talking about the total re-building of Bangkok and surrounding towns.. It's a very long term plan .

So what can be done to reduce future flooding along the Chao Praya?

Maybe

Higher dykes and wall defences

Re-forestation to central and northern Thailand to slow the water run off

Deeper dredging of the Chao Praya to increase flow

Cleaning and dredging existing relief klongs

Extra relief klongs and underground large scale drainage systems

Building regulations introduced to prevent the obstruction of drainage and perhaps stipulating a minimum floor height above a notional high water level.

I'd have not to hoard water in the big reservoirs when unusually high monsoonal activity is upon us at the top of your list.

With the resevoirs it's got to be a balance.. They need to be low enough to accept some of the water surges but at the same time they can't be allowed to fall too low before the wet season to ensure water flow when the rains are delayed or reduced below the average.

The present government can not be blamed for the flooding .

What the government needs to do now though is look to the future and do some forward planning

So what can be done to reduce future flooding along the Chao Praya?

Maybe

Higher dykes and wall defences

Re-forestation to central and northern Thailand to slow the water run off

Deeper dredging of the Chao Praya to increase flow

Cleaning and dredging existing relief klongs

Extra relief klongs and underground large scale drainage systems

Building regulations introduced to prevent the obstruction of drainage and perhaps stipulating a minimum floor height above a notional high water level.

Long term ventures but the only way to reduce future risk

only 10 years?

Yeah that was my thought - "Ten WHOLE YEARS?" Except that is even shortened by the over one year he already served...

Even with a reduction for an early confession I believe it should have been a longer sentence. I would have thought 20 which would still be better for him than execution.

300 baht a day.

Could someone tell me how many hours that is based on

With the enormous air taxes from UK airports Eurostar to Brussells and a flight from there could well be a money saver

At 6 hours it's not a long enough journey for an overnight train (arrival time is too early ) and too long for a bus or day train journey.

So what's the real difference between a dog and a cow - apart from the endearing expression? and that's a real question...

I don't know .

I like to have my dogs sleeping at the side of my bed.

I'm not so sure I will enjoy a cow so much

I was married for many years and yes the dog is better

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.

Not knocking Thailand but this post is unbelieveable--55555555555555555 10 mins bags and immigration, that isn,t luck--thats something in itsself-----you Must be on TAT payroll....If this is real-you are 1 in 40 million ???? busses -good--if not full-(airport Jomptien) taxis NO see picture here--normal chaos

The walk from the plane to immigration has taken me longer than the immigration queues. Taxis, well I get the voucher walk to the road side and there it is.

If I use the scheduled bus service maybe I wait 15 minutes until it leaves but not been on a full one yet.

Sometimes I use the Bell bus company to Pattaya, that may be a longer wait depending on the flight arrival but cost effective.

Takes longer walking from place to place than any of the queues.

Having said all that Murphys law states I'll have a massive delay when I arrive on Friday

4th March: Well timed it as 28 minutes from leaving the aircraft to opening the taxi door. (this included the 10 minute wait in theoassport control queue.

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.

Not knocking Thailand but this post is unbelieveable--55555555555555555 10 mins bags and immigration, that isn,t luck--thats something in itsself-----you Must be on TAT payroll....If this is real-you are 1 in 40 million ???? busses -good--if not full-(airport Jomptien) taxis NO see picture here--normal chaos

The walk from the plane to immigration has taken me longer than the immigration queues. Taxis, well I get the voucher walk to the road side and there it is.

If I use the scheduled bus service maybe I wait 15 minutes until it leaves but not been on a full one yet.

Sometimes I use the Bell bus company to Pattaya, that may be a longer wait depending on the flight arrival but cost effective.

Takes longer walking from place to place than any of the queues.

Having said all that Murphys law states I'll have a massive delay when I arrive on Friday

What's all the fuss ?

I must be lucky, not had a problem at either the old or new Bangkok airports.

I've not had problems with delays going in or out at immigration, the shopping experience and the food on offer are OK at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On arrival probably no more than 10 minutes in total waiting for bags and in the immigration queue

Going out from London Heathrow I pay to use a business lounge because the main part is so bad. I don't bother at Suvarnabhumi because the general areas are so good.

Transport from the airport is well organised with either bus or regulated taxi services.