hermespan

Here is the earlier article I posted

http://www.care2.com/causes/do-vegetarians-kill-more-animals-than-meat-eaters.html

Here is the claim part that people are going to challenge.

The assertion that vegetarianism is a moral high ground.

Yes Gandhi was a vegetarian. So was Adolph Hitler.

The Dalai Lama famously said at the White House that he is Dalai Lama and not a vegetarian.

If vegetarians want to lay claim to moral high ground then that would be considered an extraordinary claim and extraordinary claims need to have extraordinary evidence to back it up.

I cannot speak for other vegetarians. Put simply, I feel guilty if I eat meat, so I refrain.

TNT have an express road service which could be worth checking out.

Thanks to you and all for the enthusiastic quick response. Repeat: ECONOMY is the key issue, not speed. Box size will be rather large - like a suitcase!

btw, i get knee problems if seat is too low.

The Flamingo purchased in Singapore appears to have been made (by design or default I do not know) for more diminutive southeast Asians. What else would explain the rather short seat post - cost savings? I already have it an inch beyond the safety mark. And I am only 5'8" (174 cm). I have it set at maximum saddle distance to make fit more comfortable but the tracks on every seat I look at are so short!

Vegetarianism is certainly a choice that anyone has a right to follow.

The rub occurs when vegetarians/vegans make assertions like

-- all the nutrients one needs in the diet can come from vegetarian diet

-- vegetarian diet is healthier and results in longer life and lower disease

-- vegetarian diets are more environmental

-- vegetarian diets result in less death or cruelty

evidently some folks didn't read the earlier mentioned book or article I posted that seriously challenge that death/cruelty assumption.

So I think most people are fine with someone saying its their arbitrary personal choice, spiritual path or semi religion to not eat animals.

When the questionable claims get dragged out then don't be wildly surprised if many challenge those assertions vigorously.

Thank you. I will read that. On the face if it I see no logic that not eating animals dies not reduce death/cruelty. For example if you never kill or injure humans (except in extreme situations of self-defence) it is obvious you reduce suffering. For me and many children if the 1970s, admittedly strongly influenced by Gandhi, Hinduism, yoga - it was and remains a moral choice, tainted to some degree by elitism, religion and sentiment. I would agree wholeheartedly however that you can be a junk food vegetarian. I know a lot of obese vegetarians.

You missed 'folding bike'. In my case Flamingo London 7NX

I have been meaning to try St. Louis. My experience is limited to BKK Christian ;good value), Bum (good quality but you pay for it), and Siriraj (not sure if good value if just cheap). More important to me than the facility is the MD.

Top-notch not mediocre. I mean a shop where the cleaner...

1. takes his/her time

2. knows what he is doing

3. Has a lot of experience

4. treats the bicycle like it's his mother's

Obviously, I expect to pay a premium price for such a service. Was just in Hanoi and asked a good shop there to remedy three nights at seaside (salt and sand). I was not satisfied. I would have disassembled more, used a toothbrush, done it by hand, and NOT used an air hose which could make it worse.

What do you pay for top quality bike cleaning in Bangkok? If I paid over $1000 for my bike in Singapore I don't want a cheapo cleaning.

Worst in SEA would include CAMBODIA, presumably Laos too. Curiously medical care in Philippines is NOT good value either.

I do not see option to edit post in mobile version of TV. So, postscript here...

Vietlife dies not do heart MRI.

private message me for contact info. I have no connection with them, but finding best value medical care in Asia is a 'hobby' of mine.

Unless things have changed in 2 years, the best value (not just cheapest, I mean comparing equivalent machinery, training, experience) the winners in medical are...

1. INDIA

2. Malaysia *

3. Thailand

4. Vietnam (MUCH cheaper but hard to find quality?) *

5. Singapore (top quality but expensive)

I have no knowledge of China, Korea etc.

I contacted both Toshiba (CT) and Siemens (MRI) HQs in order to determine which hospitals/clinics in which countries in SEA have the newest and best. Neither responded.

* In 2012 private hospitals in KL and Melaka charged HALF of similar businesses in Bangkok and Pattaya for brain MRI w/ contrast. Now?

** Vietlife MRI. in Hanoi charges 2.5 million VND for knee MRI with contrast.

I don't care either way. I, along with many other vegetarians, are not refraining from eating the flesh of dead animals for health reasons.

Attention all middle aged bicyclists with wonky knees!

Biking on my folding bike has damaged/ aggravated one knee.

A Korean cardiologist in Hanoi, after ultrasound and consultation learning medical history diagnosed me as having osteoarthritis. I have doubts and want a second opinion. I am in Bangkok now but could come to Phatthaya if suitable professionals are just as good or better there.

There is a long thread in a popular bike forum already so I will spare you the details.

I have used BKK-Pattaya before and been happy with all but the price.

In Bangkok, if you injure your knee from bicycling do you visit an orthopedic physician, a sports medicine clinic or what? Recommended ones for local price (not expat hospital$ like Bum)?

In an obviously titled thread in a US bicycling forum keywords 'knee clearly hurt biking' I have already elaborated the details.

I have a Flamingo from Taiwan which takes many of the same parts as Brompton (UK). This call goes out to owners of either bicycles to review the shops that cater to the world's premium folding bike and its copies (MIT etc).

Perhaps there is one shop that is better at English fluency, another at selection of products, yet another at repairs, etc

I have a bunch of personal belongings to ship ahead to Melaka - no rush (weeks is good enough, though not months.

- reliability?

- cost?

see subject. One month is OK. No rush. Not valuable. Just 'stuff'

Of course consulting a lawyer here in Hanoi best, but is there a commercial publication, forum or some such that can answer questions such as...

1. Law changing to legalize foreigners owning land like locals do (50+ year lease). Talking heads or reality in July?

2. Until then how to buy and hold in local's name as was common in Thailand for decades? Will courts honour such contracts?

3. Areas with likelihood of appreciation in 5-8 years (e.g. pending Skytrain on Hanoi)

4. Paid in cash (USD or VND) or hold still?

5. What are the pros and cons vs. Burma

Etc, etc

I know a guy who bought 3 plots of land in the Delta, built a house and now owns a nice place for under 30K. Of course, it's in a working poor neighbourhood.

I don't like Thorn Tree because the forum participants seem to be 22 years old and female.

"Is it safe to go to place CYZ alone?"

Cynthia with a 30 kilo backpack

Yes, it is that expensive. I know an EDL teacher who pays 25% of his salary on rent - USD1000 for ONE room in a shared house .

WARNING: As good and cheap as Korean clinic inside St.Paul's Hospital is in Hanoi. - the MD I saw there prescribed what I later discovered (when I got HIGH) was TRAMADOL, a narcotic.

How did he know I am not a member of Narcotics Anonymous?

Possibilities...

1. Censorship: The state has ways of controlling media. Still a state socialist and much stricter than Thailand. [Probably true]

2. Profitability: Not enough expats in Vietnam to make it worthwhile [bS?]

3. Experience: Thai Visa has been around a long time, is well- funded and learned through the school of hard knocks. Difficult to get into forum market successfully now. [bS?]

4. Advertising: Forums don 't run on 'community ' they are run as businesses. Not enough local budinesses to supports foreigners' forum [plenty]

5. Capital controls: Ba king and exchange reasons make doing business in Vietnam problematic compared to Thailand. [ Hmm, Thailand doesn't have a free market either really]

6. Political: ISP outside of Vietnam will not be licensed and therefore face huge red tape problems.

7. There is one! Its name is... (do not provide link as this violates Thai visa policies)

8. Other

No one seems to be interested in this subject. Or there is a minimal readership for SEA issues. So off to find a more suitable forum. Hmm, Mekong and another VN forum for expats that were both active in 2001 seem to have disappeared,

Bye guys.

and if you think (as I did) that it will be cheaper to go to a lab (at least a foreign owned one with online access to results - Hi Precision post above) .... WRONG

Five examples

PSA 180VND. vs. 130 at B. V. Han Hanh

Anti HCVII 180 vs. 125

HDL/triglicerides 130 vs. 88

Ure 38 vs. 20

HBsAg 80 (same)

Oh, and unlike Thailand and Malaysia I was not even asked to produce ID. This is a plus in my view. If I hire a math tutor, prostitute or carpenter for a service they don't ask me for ID. Why should non-gov't (i.e. taxpayer sponsored) medical services be any different? Yet I argue to no avail in other countries. Maybe 'communist ' Vietnam has more of a market economy than socialist-leaning western nations these days.

Oh, and call call in for HIV results. Actually I'll want a printout because I can see a benefit to having my status in black and white.

Specialist in India suggested I go see a doctor of his same specialty to see if there was any need to continue meds. So, it is time for a follow- up. I find it odd that to verify problem was temporary or not the B.V. Van Hanh MD dismissed it, saying 'when you have that problem again see a doctor, no problem ' That doesn't answer the question whether to continue to take meds.