himalayan

So, tell us, LaoPo, why do you have such a keen interest in this case? You've posted voluminously about it here thus far. Do you have a background in detective work? Just curious.

My own interest is not more or lesser than the one of the average fellow viewer/reader about the case;..however....I hate "trial by media" and therefore I try to post unbiased news and/or opinions, including my own. But, I'm the first to say that that is extremely difficult in the case about Joran van der Sloot and the disappearance of Natalee Holloway because Joran has already been found guilty by the majority of the readers/viewers, even knowing that he has been arrested two times (his fellow suspects -the two brothers on Aruba- even three times) and sent home because there was 'not enough evidence' to hold him any further. And, no, I have no background or interest in detective work. LaoPo

So, then, would you agree that my assertion (that the case more likely involves human trafficking) is a plausible one, given the evidence thus far (or lack thereof?)

A strong "NO" to your so called plausible explanation. Your assumption that Natalee Holloway: "(That's why I stated that I think she) was sold into sex slavery and not murdered." is purely based on rumors and unfounded speculations. Such a speculation is exactly why I am trying to guide this thread a little, avoiding ''trial by media' or claims by people who KNOW (....yeah right...) what happened... LaoPo

So, then, you do have a vested interest in the outcome of this case for some reason.

"Guiding the thread", you say?

What if everyone took it upon themselves to "guide" a thread, especially when they've expressed that they have neither any expertise in nor any personal connection to the subject matter?

Concerned about "trial by media"?

Then take it up with the media. This is just a message board.

Say, are you looking out for Joran here? (do you think Joran would even care? )

Have I missed something? It seems to me that there is no mention of sex, but only an offer to dance at a club in Holland, with job description and pay disclosed...as well as the concern for work permits to be in order. Is this illegal? I don't trust this guy...he's scum...but this "evidence" is flimsy at best.

I believe that is a common enticement. Offers for jobs as dancers, models, etc., is what these hapless girls fall for.

Then, they are never seen or heard from again...

So, tell us, LaoPo, why do you have such a keen interest in this case? You've posted voluminously about it here thus far. Do you have a background in detective work? Just curious.

My own interest is not more or lesser than the one of the average fellow viewer/reader about the case;..however....I hate "trial by media" and therefore I try to post unbiased news and/or opinions, including my own. But, I'm the first to say that that is extremely difficult in the case about Joran van der Sloot and the disappearance of Natalee Holloway because Joran has already been found guilty by the majority of the readers/viewers, even knowing that he has been arrested two times (his fellow suspects -the two brothers on Aruba- even three times) and sent home because there was 'not enough evidence' to hold him any further. And, no, I have no background or interest in detective work. LaoPo

So, then, would you agree that my assertion (that the case more likely involves human trafficking) is a plausible one, given the evidence thus far (or lack thereof?)

I am watching sky lanterns in the distance (and putting up with the usual loud fireworks locally, too)

This is my favorite Thai holiday. It's civilized. Even somewhat magical.

(Songkran, on the other hand, is ...well, forgettable)

So, tell us, LaoPo, why do you have such a keen interest in this case? You've posted voluminously about it here thus far. Do you have a background in detective work?

Just curious.

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but here's an interesting link related to this case: judicial-inc.biz/Joran_va_der_sloot.htm I personally think she was not murdered (since SOME forensic evidence should have turned up by now) but instead was "selected" by scout Joran for the price she would fetch, drugged, and then quickly shipped off the island in a speedboat to a waiting white slavery broker. From what I've read, this apparently is not the first time this is known to have occurred on the island. The murder story is a cover.

The link you provided is made by someone who like you " has heard" ... Just circumstantial rubbish, presented like ` facts`. There are 100`s of these links, all made by arm chair detectives.

Agree.

That's why I stated that I think she was sold into sex slavery and not murdered. The evidence for murder is just not there. But the evidence for known human trafficking on the island is. Since there is no body, human trafficking is the more likely explanation for what happened.

IMHO, of course.

falung

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but here's an interesting link related to this case:

/judicial-inc.biz/Joran_va_der_sloot.htm

I personally think she was not murdered (since SOME forensic evidence should have turned up by now) but instead was "selected" by scout Joran for the price she would fetch, drugged, and then quickly shipped off the island in a speedboat to a waiting white slavery broker.

From what I've read, this apparently is not the first time this is known to have occurred on the island.

The murder story is a cover.

I must admit, kind of a strange question, but I would like to know...

To be more precise, the correct diagnosis for my condition was acute spinal stenosis.

Again, have someone competent interpret the MRI scans, preferably a board-certified neurosurgeon.

It'll save you a lot of grief...

Like Sheryl suggests, get an MRI first.

Then I would then recommend having a board-certified neurosurgeon take a look at the scans.

Reason? I had the same symptoms you are having and, after much wasted time and money consulting incompetent doctors offering useless remedies (one even suggested I try Prozac when I refused to go on Oxycontin or Percocet!), my neurosurgeon took one look at the MRIs and immediately scheduled me for surgery at the next available slot in two weeks time.

I had a rapidly worsening case of vertebral stenosis (excess bone growth pressing against spinal nerve roots) and was getting to the point where I could hardly sit, walk, or sleep, and was starting to go crazy from the slowly increasing, 24/7 pain.

They trimmed only the excess bone (hemilaminectomy -- not full lamina removal, which tends to cause instability to that area of your spine and may cause the disc to slip later...).

After a day and a half I was out of the hospital and could walk with hardly any pain. They did a good job. I was lucky.

Had I not had the surgery, I probably would have ended up in a wheel chair by now addicted to strong opiates or something.

Advice: always get a second (or third... or more) opinion when it comes to serious medical matters...

I have an airasia flight out of Penang at 10:00am on Saturday. I was wondering what my options would be for traveling down there from KPN / Ko Samui / Surat Thani

I figured I'd catch a minibus from Hat Yai to Penang. What time do the minibus's leave Hat Yai? Will the minibus drop me off at the Penang Airport? What is the earliest/latest departure of the minibus's from Hat Yai?

What time do buses leave Surat Thani headed for Hat Yai?

Thanks

Bus schedules from Surat Thani to Hat Yai I'm not aware of (try a Google search?) but once in Hat Yai go to Cathay Guesthouse and book an air-con minivan to Georgetown from the agents on the ground floor at the entrance. Cost is 260B. Departure times: 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4:30pm, everyday (last one is 280B for some reason). Van starts loading a half hour before departure so get there early for a good seat.

I think if you want to go to Penang airport maybe you can ask them to drop you off right after the bus crosses the bridge and then you can flag a taxi from there rather than go all the way to Georgetown first and then have to double back (and pay twice the cab fare).

I see it everyday, too, and it's disturbing. "Collective stupidity", you say? I don't think so. Irresponsible? Absolutely.

From HDY arrivals, go outside, ignore the taxi touts and look across the parking lot out to the main road (via the parking lot's exit street which runs perpendicular) and you will see a blue waiting songtaeo just outside the lot. Walk across the lot to this main road. He will wait until the back is full before he leaves for town (but make a bee-line for it anyway). Cost is only 20B for the 10 min. ride. It drops you off at the main taxi stand. From there you can take a short taxi ride (20B) to Cathay Guesthouse (rooms from 160B) and book an air-con minivan to Georgetown from the agents on the ground floor at the entrance. Cost is 260B. Departure times: 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4:30pm, everyday (last one is 280B for some reason). Van starts loading a half hour before departure so get there early for a good seat.

Having just spent 2 weeks in CM house hunting I'll take the fish factory smell any day over the ridiculous pollution up North...

Why are you "house hunting" in CM if you like Songkhla so much?

I doubt this is the place to be asking about a new direction for your life...

Twice the local rate is "expected" sometimes. Be polite and pay one time but never go back.

10x the local rate is criminal. Refuse to pay and publish a nasty review on the web, if you can.