dekestone

If so, what's it like? Bands, sound system, seating arrangement, prices. etc.

Thisis a good support site, too. http://wqd.netwarriors.org/forum.php

Good luck Livinginexile. Keep in mind many people have done this and you can too.

Gramaphone, 2nd flr Paragon has by far the best jazz selection in town. Lots of back catalogue stuff too.

There are actually two branches of this shop in Paragon. the one on the 4th flr has more rock, Thai pop and classical (some jazz)

Agree with Sabaijai about Chatuchak and Rex. Worth checking out. Also, 3rd floor Pantip, near the north east stairway. Kind of an open stand, very much into heavy metal but she's got jazz too.

Those 'Hitman' stands move around a lot. There's currently one set up at the Villa mall, Phaholyothin Soi 7 (Soi Aree) if you're in the area.

There are some guys who bushwhack their own trails on the "mountain" range in Ban Chang, but it's not hiking it's...masochism. it's called geocaching

Yeah, I used to do that in Songkhla. We called it hashing.

I've been to Khao Yai, any other national parks or other places that have good hiking areas? Maybe a day trip from Bangkok or something you could do on a weekend without spending all your time travelling there and back.

I've got an ancient Dell notebook that I'd like to give away to a worthy group. Any suggestions? (The keyboard is useless but otherwise it works OK.)

And what would I have to do to ensure that all my data files are completely deleted and unretrievable?

Anybody know what happened to this fitness club on Phaholyothin, near Soi Aree? I know they had reduced hours in December but was shocked to come back to town after two weeks in the US and discover it was closed and completely gutted. Fortunately for me, my membership comes up in January so I didn't lose any substantial amount; though there must have been others that did.

Anyway, now I'm looking for a new gym. Can anyone recommend one in the phaholyothin soi Aree /saphan kwai area? The closest I know of is maybe at the Central Sofitel Hotel in Lad Prao.

I sent a query off to bangkokjungle.com and here is the somewhat enigmatic response I got.

Those of you asking about the 2008 Bangkok Jazz Festival will be amused to know that it’s to be held in the usual location but in March 2009. Our mainstream Thai media entertainment spies say it’s then or not at all and the names invited may not be as bright and shining as years gone by. More when we have it.

http://www.bangkokjungle.com/news/2008-ban...-jazz-festival/

Doesn't look real good...

Wonder what happened.

Nothing on Heinekin Thailand web site calender for December, which is not a good sign as they are usually the biggest sponsor.

If it's happenig it should also be listed on TAT's website for December (it was last year); but I can't get to their calender page.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that they're just being slow.

(About the Michael Frank's web site dates mentioned above -- earlier in the year I was checking Mike Stern's web page as he was suppsoed to be appearing at the Hua Hin festival. The dates -- and the location -- of his Thailand appearance kept changing but they eventually got it right. He came to Hua Hin and put on a fantastic show. So, there's still hope for Michael Franks (maybe))

I bought one of the wrist type monitors earlier this year, for just 2,800 baht. My doctor had me bring it to his office and we checked against his reading.

Very important! My Doc did the same thing. Any BP monitor you buy should be brought in and checked with your doctor for accuracy. They may be able to correctly calibrate it for you at the hospital if it's off.

Need to buy a winter coat/ski jacket before I head stateside in December. I know that there are some 'export' shops that often sell brand name stuff -- like Old Navy or Columbia -- for considerably less than you would pay in the states (with the labels cut off ). I've looked into the two at Silom Center but they didn't have much in the way of winter coats.

Anybody know any others that might have a better selection? Or anywhere that I can get a decent ski jacket, large size?

Cool. Thanks. Have any idea if it'll be a long ride? I understand some of the buses stop frequently.

The buses that travel down the old sukhumvit highway from the Ekamai station make a million stops. But the ones that come from Mor Chit via the motorway are more your "express" type buses. After Phu Tha Loong they typically stop in Ban Chang, Map Tha Phut and then Rayong. Shouldn't take too long.

You can catch a bus from the Plu Tha Luang intersection. The buses that run from Mor Chit to Rayong on the motorway come down that road past the train station and then turn left on to Sukhumvit Highway.

You buy a ticket and board the bus at one of the shophouses near the intersection.

Many Marines were at the Independence Day party on Saturday. Not just the guys in uniform; I believe there were some out of uniform there as well.

You guys are lucky you can choose! I have to take anything I can find in US 12 1/2. (Though usually I can find Saucony's and sometimes Asics if I'm lucky.)

If anybody knows where in Bangkok there is a good selection of large sizes, please let me know.

Edit to add: Oh yeah and straws as well. How many people really want a straw with their bottle of water or can of coke? (except ladies perhaps). Why not ask if we want a straw. I bought 2 x 1.5 litre bottles of water the other day as our supplies were low, and was amazed to find 2 straws in the bag when I got home!!

Yes! I think I've finally got my local 7-11 staff trained so they don't put straws in my bag when I buy beer!

I dreamt that the Patriots lost.

Yo Jims, let us know if you dream of any lottery numbers!!

I dreamt that the Patriots lost.

Nope, according to the prophetic film, "I Am Legend", the Pats beat the Giants 23-7. Look at the news feed at the bottom of the screenshot,

May very well be prophetic. We'll have to wait til 2012 to know for sure, since that's when the movie takes place.

I still cannot believe that incredible play on the Giants final scoring drive. Somehow Manning escapes the clutches of at least three Pats rushers, nearly gets his shirt ripped off, gets a little breathing room then heaves the ball downfield, Tyree catches it against his helmet, is hit, somehow manages to hold on to the ball as he falls with his arms outstretched above his head and the ball never touches the ground and he finally hauls it in.

One of the mosy exciting plays I've ever seen in the NFL (this from a neutral observer).

Last Sunday I walked thru Lumpini and there were kids skating. Seen it before too.

Sad, he was better at beating the wife up than music.

RIP.

but not a nice guy.

Not a nice guy maybe. But better known for beating the wife than for his music, I'd say.

http://www.slate.com/id/2180162/

Always felt a special kinship with him because i used to see him in the coffeeshops in Champaign-Urbana (University of Illinois) before he moved to Calif. and made the bigtime. Even back then he was head and shoulders above the rest of us wannabe folkies -- he was incredibly skilled on acoustic guitar which I don't think ever really came out on his albums.

Didn't like "Longer" -- thought it was a bit saccharine and over-produced -- but really admired and enjoyed a lot of his earlier stuff.

RIP Dan and condolences to the family...

Dutch man arrested for forging ex-wife's signature

Nonglak said Dahan later fell in love with a transgender and filed for a divorce.

An only in Pattaya tale of romance

Nice detail I have to admit.

If you wrote this in a novel they'd say it was too far fetched.

And note that the Packers Cowboys game is scheduled to be broadcast live on True at 08:00 am Friday, Nov. 30th. Should be a good one.

Wow, UBC programming seems to be improving its American sports broadcasts by the minute! I can't believe it!!!

The college football coverage has definitely improved this year. Hope that continues for the bowl games. The downside is that the number of NFL games televised locally has greatly fallen off. No Sunday or Monday night games as there have been for many years. None of tomorrw's three turkey day games are on, as far as I can tell.