pitrevie

THE US Federal Reserve’s $600 billion injection is “dismal”, “clueless” and doomed to failure, according to German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

I was told by a friend that works in a bank that when large sums are involved another couple of people are asked to check as that way the loss if there is any can be spread between the people who checked it. Any mistake in a bank and the cashier pays as my friend explained when an American caught him out with some dud traveller’s cheques.

Once in a hotel I got the final bill which was way below what they had previously indicated. I pointed out there was some mistake and the cashier was very grateful when she double checked and found out that she had undercharged me as she said the same thing. Any mistake and they are responsible. So I would say to anyone that next time it happens just think that it might be some poor devil who struggles as it is to make ends meet that you might be putting into an even more difficult position.

Many Thais routinely ignore them completely, refusing to take notice of someone who is on the lowest rungs of Thai society, so if the guard attempts to, say, stop them and waves you through you may easily have an accident because you are expecting the guards' signals to be obeyed by the other driver.

Lowest rung of society? What an awfully cruel way of describing people who work plus 12 hour shifts, contend with sun and fumes, and earn an absolute pittance and struggle making ends meet. Many men would turn to crime in that situation.

Now that gave me a good laugh.

Anyone know a place where I could transfer super 8 mm to a disk? I am in Central Bangkok

Yeah, my wife told me today that the yellow badges are for government officials. What is the advantage incurred by having one I wonder? People do what ever they want on the roads anyway, so I don't understand what the benefits can be. The same goes for the 'Navy' signs. Are people supposed to pull out of their path and respect them or something?

They indicate to the attending police officer in the event of an accident who is to blame.

I still read it. As a matter of fact I just renewed my 2 year subscription which brings the daily cost down considerably. I paid B 11,500 for a two year subscription. Then they add on two months free. So that is a total of 790 days for B 11,500 or around B 15 per issue. In addition when you renew they always throw in some kind of free gift. This time it was a designer bag but a couple years back it was a gift certificate for Tops. I think the subscription offer is only available in the Bangkok area.

Likewise and they extended it for two weeks because I lost one or two issues due to the recent troubles in Bangkok when it could not be delivered. However it is amazing how many times I have been asked by people in cafes, bars etc can they read my newspaper often while they are eating food.

You can't get one delivered here, but book downloads do work in Thailand (in areas where you can get a GPRS/EDGE signal). Coverage does seem a bit patchy.

Interesting but my kindle 1 still cannot connect.

I got my kindle from Amazon UK, a friend brought it to Thailand for me. I have already bought about a dozen titles from Amazon UK and downloaded them with no problem in my condo (Bangkok) using I assume the wireless signal as it is not linked to my home internet connection. I have been amazed at how fast they appear on the device. One of the best things I have bought. if you like reading books then you will love this. Why didn't they invent it before I had my bookcase built and installed?

Not a stupid question, but no, it's not possible.

Thanks for your reply.

Maybe a stupid question but is it possible to get the iphone3 memory upgraded from 16Gb to 32Gb and I dont mean by buying a new phone.

Interesting article on the BBC website regarding Bios' replacement, known as UEFI, will be in new PCs by 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11430069

virtual keyboards drive me nuts - I need to write about 10 to 20 long SMS messages (~300 to 500 chars) a day and using a software keyboard is just too slow.

I agree about the keyboard. I bought the HTC Desire and just could not get used to the virtual keyboard although Phil Connors who is always very helpful on this forum suggested Swype but by that time I had sold the phone. http://swypeinc.com/

I find that the Samsung Omnia with its virtual keyboard which allows me to use a pen to compose the text ideal but getting email and accessing the internet is painful.

I tried the iphone3 and found that I could use the virtual keyboard on that a lot better tahn the HTC Desire. However anyone that comes along with a virtual keyboard that allows you to use a pen rather than my old stubby fingers is the one I will go for as long as you can also access email and the internet with some ease.

i think can pre-book at Sirikit Center tomorrow. If expect to walk in and buy one.....might have a long wait

A friend of mine ordered his through True with a promise of a delivery on October 1st but had to deposit over 5000 baht. Must be nice all that money in their account. The sooner Amazon comes to Thailand the better they only charge when they have the item and send it to you.

Me too. Last saturday, I put down the deposit since they assured me several times it would be here Saturday, Oct 2nd. Well, I since talked to them a couple times and they are saying it will be at least another week, and I bet it will be more than that.

If it's not there on Oct 2nd as they initially promised, I will be demanding a refund and buying it elsewhere.

Received a text message from True this morning stating that the iPhone4 was available at the Queen Sirikit Centre mobile exhibition. Needless to say no phones were available but they would be available in two weeks I am not sure if that is earth time. Over at the Samsung stand the same story for the Samsung Tab, you can order it and it will arrive SOON as in Thailand soon.

i think can pre-book at Sirikit Center tomorrow. If expect to walk in and buy one.....might have a long wait

A friend of mine ordered his through True with a promise of a delivery on October 1st but had to deposit over 5000 baht. Must be nice all that money in their account. The sooner Amazon comes to Thailand the better they only charge when they have the item and send it to you.

One of the things I am always asked to bring from UK are the Beecham's powders or the Boots own brand. Never found them here in Boots.

I am also looking for a recommendation for an all-in-one modem/wireless router. True ADSL supplied me with that crappy Billion Sky modem that often redirects to the True homepage so I want that replaced and I also want wifi. Whats the geek favorite for an all-in-one like this in Thailand?

I would recommend Netgear any day. I am currently using DG834N, easy to configure and never any problems although True often ask me to check the configuration before they accept the fault is their end. I have always used Netgear and configured a few for friends with never any problem. However I agree that Linksys are also a good make although I havent any experience of current models. I had to configure one of their cable modem/routers and their tech support was first rate.

No but I hear the word "soon" in respect of just about everything if you ask when is something going to come in.

Another email from True informing me that iPhone 4 is coming soon.

I like the remark of Dame Edna, "I was born in Melbourne with a precious gift. Dame Nature stooped over my cot and gave me this gift. It was the ability to laugh at the misfortunes of others."

No but I hear the word "soon" in respect of just about everything if you ask when is something going to come in.

Several years ago I was in a bank and this guy wearing a rather large overcoat with numerous inside pockets was busy filling them with wads of cash. I guess wearing the overcoat was meant to make him look inconspicuous. However I also noticed he was accompanied by a couple of rather large menacing looking gentlemen. It was apparent that I was the only one who thought this looked a bit odd, having lived here several years since I now realize it was anything but.

I wonder have they read about the Luddites?

Yeah, it's a shock/surprise when you come from a country where there is a greater separation of "church and state." However Thailand is essentially a "Buddhist country," and it comes just about as close as possible to a "state religion" without it technically being so. As a result you see all the trappings of a state religion (preferential treatment of religious figures, intermixing of religious/political resources in the community, etc.)

Believe it or not, 100 years ago and longer, Christian ministers also received this same type of preferential treatment in western countries (the USA, where Protestant Christianity was the de facto state religion, where the local minister was usually also the school teacher), and the U.K. which has an actual state religion.

Nothing really new. Just new to you.

I see that several Christian ministers in the USA have their own private jets after being told by god they should go out and buy one especially the ones with all the luxury extras.

Thanks. Yep. Cleared the cache too.

I'm looking for a solution that's more permanent. Is there some reason why this (not loading fully) phenomenon should start now? Is it an ISP problem? I recently switched to Wifi.

It can be a problem in the ruter... some crappy firewalls are doing stuff like that for example the firewall in my old Belkin wifi router.

It is not a good idea to give advice to turn off the firewall though, so I leave you there...

MArtin

I am getting the same thing started in the past few days and on two different desktops both using the same router connected to True. I would like to know from the OP if he is using True?

Yes, using True. It was OK, and has been for 6 years, but since I changed to Wifi (to get a cheaper package) with a supposedly higher speed 4 mbs instead of 3 mbs, the speed appears slower, and now I have this picture loading issue.

This morning I am not getting any problems loading the pictures so I think it is something related to True. I am using a broadband connection.

Thanks. Yep. Cleared the cache too.

I'm looking for a solution that's more permanent. Is there some reason why this (not loading fully) phenomenon should start now? Is it an ISP problem? I recently switched to Wifi.

It can be a problem in the ruter... some crappy firewalls are doing stuff like that for example the firewall in my old Belkin wifi router.

It is not a good idea to give advice to turn off the firewall though, so I leave you there...

MArtin

I am getting the same thing started in the past few days and on two different desktops both using the same router connected to True. I would like to know from the OP if he is using True?

Completed in the nick of time.

I wonder if it will be finished in time for the official 23 August opening?

This is the state of things now so not much chance of it being finished by the 23rd.