WinnieTheKhwai

Pretty bad day today. Most years have a couple days like this though, you'd expect that.

On the bright side, it keeps the afternoon high temperatures down.. It's only just warming up which I hope means the air is getting clearer.

I wonder if we are looking at the worst single day ever though. If I ignore some of the really old data (which looks iffy) then the worst day would have been 14 March 2007 when we hit 303.9 for the Chiang Mai station, and 382.7 for the Upparaj station.

No idea where 'the air apologists' are, be it now or ever? I know of some people who refuse to join in a forum-wide drama-queening contest come March every year and look at facts & data instead however good or bad the figures may be, but apologists for air?

Oh wait, if we go for the highest of the Chiang Mai stations then I would like to revise my guess to 286.5

you sound like tony webster!

Please provide the evidence that you have to authorities so they can deal with the offenders, I am assuming that you have evidence for this.

You are like suthep, first the turd throwers were red shirts, then the guns were stolen by red shirts, it really is laughable.

many examples of drama queens over reacting can be found in many threads over the past week, even one post talking about A10s flying over Udon thani

the fact is barring one incident that may or may not be linked to the reds it has been a peaceful protest, and I know how much that annoys some of you so i will keep repeating it.

Oh, and why mention me in a thread that I had not even posted in? seems a little childish to me, Like I actually matter in the bigger picture, it is an anonymous internet forum yet some of you seem to think your opinions are gospel and the opinions of others are trash, if any of you can PROVE my posts to be wrong then please feel free, you are all adept at posting untruths and wrong opinions yet seem to get all uppity when someone else writes a post that you disagree with.

Whistleblower come on blow the whistle, you must have lots of proof for all these wrongdoings you keep accusing people of.

Breaking in to an army barracks by cutting the fences = illegal entry - source The Nation newspaper.

The issue may be with your choice of news sources. Recently I see updates in the News Forum that aren't even attributed to any source. I'm suspecting it's ASTV or related, but not sure because no source is mentioned.

So far I think the consensus is that it's been a well organized peaceful protest, well within the liberties allowed by the constitution. You would't know it reading some newspapers though. If you look beyond those, you also see pictures that the usual suspects would never print, such as these: http://www.prachataiwebboard.com/webboard/id/29022

Ok here's my guess for tomorrow's report of today's air quality, or lack thereof: PM-10 of 243.5

^That may very well be what happens at the next election (scheduled for late 2011 if I am correct). The problem with the red leadership is Thaksin. If he appoints an honest, popular Red leader he risks being sidelined himself. I believe that that is the reason that the Red leaders are always either corrupt or weak or both.

Well, we're departing from unbiased discussion as stated in your original post, but I think the main reason is that TRTs best people were all banned for 5 years by the courts. That leaves the current crop plus the dinosaurs. I don't like those at all, but am willing to admit the reasons why we're stuck with them. For now. The 5 years are almost up.

If this is for travel abroad then you will want it to be in English.

I think you should just share all your income and assets. Letting her manage the money makes that even easier. Just ask her for an allowance for whatever you think you need.

Today's figures will be in tomorrow am. Yes, it'll be a huge spike, possibly exceeding 200.

<deleted>..

Let me say it first.. That's beyond disgusting.

EDIT: I'm sorry I don't have a picture to post, I know this is for pics only. Wait, I'll dig up some good pics from my sources, but it's still disgusting. Just what his parents are thinking is beyond me. (Or what the health-care provider going along with it is thinking, for that matter.)

EDIT 2: Pictures added:

Reading the poll results, can I just say that we've collectively married an excellent cross-section of the population? Congratulations to us all. Now back to the fun sport of arguing.

Double post for some reason... Might as well think of something else to say but gotta run.

For the Red Shirts to win, this needs to happen:

1. Win an election, again. (This is the easy part)

2. Buy some of those regional power brokers back to their side (Newin, Banharn). (Also relatively straightforward; they've been there, done that)

3. Somehow avoid the judiciary banning them, again. Likely this means making back-room deals with the powers that be, to allow them to govern under

strict circumstances which will likely include to stick with the military drafted constitution and for Thaksin not to return in any sort of influential position

So.. while most 'Reds' may perceive that as a victory, it really isn't because it doesn't get rid of the shackles of managed democracy.

The visible part of the government not only makes no difference in expats everyday life, it also makes no difference in Thais everyday life.

so can anybody tell me who is better than abhisit at this time?

One who is voted in by a majority at the next election would be the democratic rightful choice, Abhisit is most likely not willing to call an election as he knows what the outcome would be.

No. He's not calling an election because he doesn't need to yet.

In most countries where the government calls elections early, they get blasted for wasting everyones money.

He does not need to call an election, however it would be a way to put the issue to the test and hopefully a peaceful solution.

I personally feel that he shouldn't call an election. Next year is just fine, and Thailand could do with some perceived stability. My opinion only. Reds have the right to protest, Abhisit has the right to call elections whenever he wants. Wouldn't surprise me if his new found friends in the Newin faction jump ship again though, they probably need to do that well before election time.

I think it's safe to say you wont ever see a Reuters, CNN, BBC, AFP reporting using language like that used in Bangkok Post & The Nation. Eg This that is not only 100% inaccurate as Thaksin wasnt in Cambodia but referring to neighbouring country as a 'Gangster State' isn't something an impartial news source should be doing

Excellent catch.. See, foreign journalists don't miss that sort of rabid jingoism and know where a newspaper is coming from after that.

We should do this more often with image captures of the Thai 'mainstream' press, to name & shame.

The AOT closed the airport, after the Thaksin government did not evict them. Thaksin's fault.

Can you please check facts.. Thaksin was long disposed in coup and out of the country when the airport siege happened.

The then government TRIED to get the police/military to evict them, but they did not obey that order, because they take orders elsewhere, and not from any democratically elected government. In any other country that's be a court martial, when disobeying orders.

And then finally it's not the protesters fault for blocking access to the airport? You seriously believe that? Even the yellowest radicals on this forum don't try that one.

EDIT: (Or were you joking... dam_n, it worked in that case. Sorry for the rant if this was just irony, it's hard to tell sometimes these days. )

Well, rains don't come for another three months.

That's incorrect in two ways:

1. First rain showers start happening on or shortly after Songkran. They kick of in ernest with evening downpoors somewhere mid May. At most that's two months out.

2. It's seems to imply that rain is the only thing that will bring haze levels down. This is also not the case; early April, well before rains kick off, the readings are back to general cool season levels (say, January). (Hit 'Query' on the Regional Air Quality page on the pcd.go.th site, then select Chiang Mai. You'll get all the information ever recorded on Chiang Mai's air.)

I think the next big issue we will hear about is the lack of water over this time frame...

That issue seems to be better under control as well. We'd be hearing about it right now if it was an issue.

As to Tak, I hope that comment is true. I remember driving thru sukothai and petchaboon provinces last year this time directly east of Tak and they seem even worst tham CM province...

Yes, here I share your doubt. Friend of mine drove up from the Bangkok area and reported that it starts getting really hazy from Nakhon Sawan onwards. I was in Bangkok myself last week and that place is pretty hazy right now, definitely not clear skies. Of course it varies a bit; generally I don't doubt that Tak is better than Chiang Mai, but it's not guaranteed to be clear either. So my advice to head to Pattaya or Hua Hin stands.

WTK

Umm, ok I'll make an exception for the animal, but of course the tiger zoo itself is not without controversy. (But let's not debate that here. )

Whats is "a typical Thai seafood chilli dip"

Is that the gloopy clear sauce - with red flakes?

No, that's horrific stuff, more sweet and gloopy than anything else. That's typically called dipping sauce for chicken, though it's also served with things like fried battered shrimp and fried spring rolls.

This one, avoid:

Seafood dipping sauce is less sweet, and more spicy. Get it:

Note that there's another horrific 'avoid-at-all-costs' chilli sauce in Thailand, that's the Sriracha Sauce, typically served with fried omelettes. (Nothing good ever came from Sriracha. )

An issue that I have with many Western 'super-spicy' hot sauces is that they contain cups full of vinegar, making them more sour than spicy so it doesn't really go well with anything anymore as they completely take over anything they touch. I need to work on a sauce that has an interesting balance of other flavours, in addition to being insanely hot, preferably with a 'delayed action' that you get with many habanero type chilies. Something you'd consider 'fresh & pleasant' tasting, seconds before it rips your head clean off.

I don't buy it. I think they just have a more balanced view, and with a look at the last elections know that this country is split down the middle, with one half thoroughly disenfranchised by the factions in power, not limited to the government. I think that 'The Regime' may refer to more than just the visible part of the government, currently fronted by Mr. Abhisit.

To be honest anyone who occasionally looks up from the pages of the English language dailies would likely see that.

I don't really know, not being old and ugly. Also I think it's widely known among her friends that I'm poor. (Well, not as rich financially as the Mrs. anyway. )

Apparenlty, being young and handsome and hung like a donkey is enough.

Year on Year George ... year on year

Certain posters endless, anti-red propoganda posts? Agreed!

and again a series of oneliners from the UG ... You've been watching FOX far too much!

He lives in Chiang Mai; he doesn't get Fox.

But then, who needs Fox when you got ASTV and The Nation. .

For people claiming that Mr. Thaksin is 'finished', there sure is a lot of interest in where he is.

You could make it yourself. I start with a typical Thai seafood chilli dip, add some tomato ketchup (for color and consistency more than anything else) and a handful of habanero peppers. ( These take 4 months to grow, though. )

This will answer your question:

http://www.pcd.go.th/AirQuality/Regional/Default.cfm

Look for PM-10 numbers under 50. Pattaya looks awesome. (Chonburi reading)