nisakiman

If former-PM Thaksin wishes former-PM Prem to have more sympathy for him, a good start would perhaps be to stop arranging riots, outside Prem's Bangkok home, or encouraging the UDD to overthrow the legal government.

You jest, of course.

This government was implemented via military coup, elite minority pressure and the illegal occupation of an international airport.

Hardly a democratic mandate.

And certainly not legal.

Subsequent to rule #1, there really is a rule #2: He who is bigger also wins.

Yup. Pedestrians are at the bottom of the "size does matter" food chain, buses and cement trucks at the top.

When I lived in Aus in the 70s, I used to drive semi-trailers. I always had right of way then!

Some good responses - My thoughts seem to run together with Villagefarang, at least, my thinking was not so much about the educaiton or lack of it, of the spouse, but about the lack of clear understanding between a couple, that can cause a lot of the perceptions found in the expat community.

One could say it is the farangs who lack the education, with regard to Thailand. Haven't they heard of look before you leap? If you know next to nothing about Thailand and how things work here, what are you bringing to the party other than money and naiveté. That is placing a rather heavy burden on those svelte swaying hips.

p.s. Be careful about publicly agreeing with VF. It may not endear you in some circles.

Not being particularly concerned about who I do or don't endear myself to, I would say I agree with your sentiments. A very large percentage of expats carry a lot of baggage around with them, and then wonder why they seem to be carrying a heavy load.

With regard to the other half's education, I think it helps if they have a reasonable level of education, but it is by no means a prerequisite for a successful relationship. What is important is for both parties to be able to adapt to the other's cultural background. This then facilitates understanding, which is essential to any successful relationship.

Any chance that wine will become cheaper than whisky?

This was my first thought also. It's something that drives me crazy about Thailand - I don't drink a lot of beer, although I like a cold one, I rarely drink spirits, but I do drink wine. It's my normal evening tipple, and here in Greece, I pay 9 euros for a 5 litre bottle of very drinkable local red wine (agioretiko) from a wholesaler. (10 euros for a Cabernet Sauvignon.) Makes it an affordable indulgence. But the crazy raft of duties, taxes etc makes very cheap and nasty wine an expensive luxury in LoS.

With Australia being part of ASEAN, surely the dropping of import duties will make Aussie wine cheaper, even with increased excise duty.

It's not as if there's a well established wine industry in Thailand they need to protect. (Spy, anyone? ) Yes, I know there's a couple of wineries, but they're still fledgeling, and what I've tried hasn't impressed....

I don't know any Farangs that object to handing over 100 or 200 Baht to a traffic cop when they are caught speeding instead of going to the police station and paying the full ammount.

Every fawker here will pay some tea money in one way or another to make their lives easier, or is it another case of, ThaiVisa members don't ever pay tea money to make their lives easier, they take the harder route ?

Absolute tripe................

Corruption is a terrible thing when you don't gain out of it, but when you do gain, it's acceptable.

Those would be the same ones who've never paid for sex....

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article....;sc=SA_20091216

That article smacks of desperation. Scientific American is obviously part of the AGW "peer review club".

Have a look at this one...

http://www.infowars.com/climategate-peer-r...ming-alarmists/

Notable is this

We have long covered the fact that the so called “scientific consensus” on global warming is wholly manufactured and that there are thousands of scientists who have differing viewpoints to the human-induced warming theorists.

Indeed, over two years ago we reported the fact that a survey of over 500 peer reviewed scientific research papers on climate change, written between 2004 and 2007, concluded that

less than half endorsed the “consensus view,” that human activity is contributing to considerable global climate change.

We now have clear evidence that a concerted effort has been made by the IPCC connected climate scientists to block dissenting opinion on climate change, regardless of it’s scientific merit.

“This is horrible,” said Pat Michaels, a climate scientist at the Cato Institute in Washington who is

directly threatened with physical violence in the emails. “This is what everyone feared. Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for anyone who does not view global warming as an end-of-the-world issue to publish papers. This isn’t questionable practice, this is unethical.”

I read this letter to a broadsheet newspaper the other day, which I found interesting

SIR – As a scientist and geologist, I detest the never-ending list of bogus scare stories about climate change, the latest being the acidification of the oceans.

Man is responsible for carbon dioxide emissions of around 26 gigatonnes per year. The oceans have a total mass of 1.3 billion gigatonnes. So if all the carbon dioxide from man was absorbed by the oceans as very weak carbonic acid (it is only partially absorbed), there would be a ratio of one part carbon dioxide to 50 million parts ocean per year, or one part per million per half century.

The number is far too small to have any possible impact.

Peter Miller

Ascot, Berkshire

The alarmists just keep on thinking up new stories to scare the children.

Unlike phetaroi, i can almost never sleep on planes (long or short haul), and the entertainment on offer is rarely to my taste. If I had internet available to me on flights, I would consider it a major step forward in the realms of IFE. Those marathons stuck in a cramped cigar tube would be much less daunting!

Low cost airlines fly from BKK to Udon Thani.

Given the additional costs involved in international flights I assume many budget travellers would be happy to fly to Udon and connect overland

Yes, that's what I did. There are minibuses run direct from the airport to friendship bridge. Probably only slightly more hassle than flying direct to Lao.

I think far too many posters on this thread have been brainwashed by the "everyone's a paedophile" brigade, as promoted by "The News of the World" and other such gutter press.

Perhaps a little common sense wouldn't go amiss.

Here in Greece, it's normal for men to be friendly to kids, and kids aren't shy about talking to strangers. It's all very normal, and very healthy.

I'm sure anyone with any intelligence would be able to differentiate between normal affectionate touching of a child's shoulder/arm and a creepy groping (which I think would be a rare exception).

I have two daughters (now adults), and this kind of paedophile paranoia was never an issue with us. As I say, a little common sense goes a long way.

"No, the science is unsettled, acting as a cover to impose new taxes"

I cannot believe there are so many republicans on this forum to see twisted percentages like this. The governments may have failed in some parts of battling the climate change by imposing foolish taxes or supporting wrong kind of means. I do think media along with Al Gore are making it sound frightening to sell more newspapers but leading scientists do not disagree about the subject itself. 9/11, evolution vs. fundamentalists go in the same category with people who do not believe in global warming.. denialists, not sceptics.

And there we have it.

Nothing to do with science. It's all about politics.

As you can see you are clearly at the wrong place here. Try Lonely Planet or similar.

I would say that cheap places can be found everywhere, even on Samui or Koh Phangan. At Menam Beach for instance are still the old backpacker bungalows.

MrRichards: To be young and travel independently through places never been before is a feeling you don't want to miss in your life. A 24/7 exciting experience. Money and comfort are not important. Traveller can find easily places to stay and to sleep.

Agreed. There are some real curmudgeons on this site. They just don't get it.

I travelled for years on a shoestring when I was young. I had the greatest experiences I can imagine.

When I talk with people about some of the people I met, things I did, places I went and things that happened to me, I am constantly told "you should write a book". I learned so much, not just about the world around me and the people who inhabit it, but also about myself.

This is stuff you can never learn in a 5 star hotel with air-con limos. When you travel with money, you carry your world around with you. You are in a bubble, and you never get to see the reality of the places you visit.

Travelling on a tight budget is something I would strongly recommend to any young person who has the desire to learn about the world he/she lives in.

I hope nobody tells JR about this thread.

We know the Thai way and it can be done in Phiphi some gays like to make some extra, but better to follow the law first.

Follow the law first? No; expensive and not much fun. I think your idea of setting the gays on him is much better. Make his eyes water and teach him a lesson he will not forget. Indeed, it might prove to be a life-changing experience for him.

Yes, some of those katoeys look pretty fierce!

Yeah, great system, innit!

JR, you seem to have missed this post by teatree. All I can find from you in response is

Distort, distract, confuse.........you are transparent.

Now back to reality.............

Open Letter to Secretary-General of United Nations

Dear Secretary-General,

Climate change science is in a period of 'negative discovery' - the more we learn about this exceptionally complex and rapidly evolving field the more we realize how little we know. Truly, the science is NOT settled.

Therefore, there is no sound reason to impose expensive and restrictive public policy decisions on the peoples of the Earth without first providing convincing evidence that human activities are causing dangerous climate change beyond that resulting from natural causes. Before any precipitate action is taken, we must have solid observational data demonstrating that recent changes in climate differ substantially from changes observed in the past and are well in excess of normal variations caused by solar cycles, ocean currents, changes in the Earth's orbital parameters and other natural phenomena.

We the undersigned, being qualified in climate-related scientific disciplines, challenge the UNFCCC and supporters of the United Nations Climate Change Conference to produce convincing OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE for their claims of dangerous human-caused global warming and other changes in climate. Projections of possible future scenarios from unproven computer models of climate are not acceptable substitutes for real world data obtained through unbiased and rigorous scientific investigation.

Specifically, we challenge supporters of the hypothesis of dangerous human-caused climate change to demonstrate that:

Variations in global climate in the last hundred years are significantly outside the natural range experienced in previous centuries;

Humanity's emissions of carbon dioxide and other 'greenhouse gases' (GHG) are having a dangerous impact on global climate;

Computer-based models can meaningfully replicate the impact of all of the natural factors that may significantly influence climate;

Sea levels are rising dangerously at a rate that has accelerated with increasing human GHG emissions, thereby threatening small islands and coastal communities;

The incidence of malaria is increasing due to recent climate changes;

Human society and natural ecosystems cannot adapt to foreseeable climate change as they have done in the past;

Worldwide glacier retreat, and sea ice melting in Polar Regions , is unusual and related to increases in human GHG emissions;

Polar bears and other Arctic and Antarctic wildlife are unable to adapt to anticipated local climate change effects, independent of the causes of those changes;

Hurricanes, other tropical cyclones and associated extreme weather events are increasing in severity and frequency;

Data recorded by ground-based stations are a reliable indicator of surface temperature trends.

It is not the responsibility of 'climate realist' scientists to prove that dangerous human-caused climate change is not happening. Rather, it is those who propose that it is, and promote the allocation of massive investments to solve the supposed 'problem', who have the obligation to convincingly demonstrate that recent climate change is not of mostly natural origin and, if we do nothing, catastrophic change will ensue. To date, this they have utterly failed to do so.

Signed by:

Habibullo I. Abdussamatov, Dr. Sci., mathematician and astrophysicist, Head of the Russian-Ukrainian Astrometria project on the board of the Russian segment of the ISS, Head of Space Research Laboratory at the Pulkovo Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

Göran Ahlgren, docent organisk kemi, general secretary of the Stockholm Initiative, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden

Syun-Ichi Akasofu, PhD, Professor of Physics, Emeritus and Founding Director, International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.A.

J.R. Alexander, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Member, UN Scientific and Technical Committee on Natural Disasters, 1994-2000, Pretoria, South Africa.

Jock Allison, PhD, ONZM, formerly Ministry of Agriculture Regional Research Director, Dunedin, New Zealand

Bjarne Andresen, PhD, dr. scient, physicist, published and presents on the impossibility of a "global temperature", Professor, The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Timothy F. Ball, PhD, environmental consultant and former climatology professor, University of Winnipeg, Member, Science Advisory Board, ICSC, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Douglas W. Barr, BS (Meteorology, University of Chicago), BS and MS (Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota), Barr Engineering Co. (environmental issues and water resources), Minnesota, U.S.A.

Romuald Bartnik, PhD (Organic Chemistry), Professor Emeritus, Former chairman of the Department of Organic and Applied Chemistry, climate work in cooperation with Department of Hydrology and Geological Museum, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

Colin Barton, B.Sc., PhD, Earth Science, Principal research scientist (retd), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Joe Bastardi, BSc, (Meteorology, Pennsylvania State), meteorologist, State College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Ernst-Georg Beck, Dipl. Biol. (University of Freiburg), Biologist, Freiburg, Germany

David Bellamy, OBE, English botanist, author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner, Hon. Professor of Botany (Geography), University of Nottingham, Hon. Prof. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems, Central Queensland University, Hon. Prof. of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Durham, United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Award Winner, Dutch Order of The Golden Ark, Bishop Auckland County, Durham, U.K.

M. I. Bhat, Professor & Head, Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Ian R. Bock, BSc, PhD, DSc, Biological sciences (retired), Ringkobing, Denmark

Sonja A. Boehmer-Christiansen, PhD, Reader Emeritus, Dept. of Geography, Hull University, Editor - Energy&Environment, Multi-Science (www.multi-science.co.uk), Hull, United Kingdom

Atholl Sutherland Brown, PhD (Geology, Princeton University), Regional Geology, Tectonics and Mineral Deposits, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Stephen C. Brown, PhD (Environmental Science, State University of New York), District Agriculture Agent, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ground Penetrating Radar Glacier research, Palmer, Alaska, U.S.A.

James Buckee, D.Phil. (Oxon), focus on stellar atmospheres, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dan Carruthers, M.Sc., Arctic Animal Behavioural Ecologist, wildlife biology consultant specializing in animal ecology in Arctic and Subarctic regions, Alberta, Canada

Robert M. Carter, PhD, Professor, Marine Geophysical Laboratory, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Dr. Arthur V. Chadwick, PhD, Geologist, dendrochronology (analyzing tree rings to determine past climate) lecturing, Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas, U.S.A.

George V. Chilingar, PhD, Member, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow President, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, U.S.A. Section, Emeritus Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Ian D. Clark, PhD, Professor (isotope hydrogeology and paleoclimatology), Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Charles A. Clough, BS (Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology), MS (Atmospheric Science, Texas Tech University), former (to 2006) Chief of the US Army Atmospheric Effects Team at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; now residing in Bel Air, Maryland, U.S.A.

Paul Copper, BSc, MSc, PhD, DIC, FRSC, Professor Emeritus, Department of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Piers Corbyn, MSc (Physics (Imperial College London)), ARCS, FRAS, FRMetS, astrophysicist (Queen Mary College, London), consultant, founder WeatherAction long range forecasters, London, United Kingdom

Allan Cortese, meteorological researcher and spotter for the National Weather Service, retired computer professional, Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Richard S. Courtney, PhD, energy and environmental consultant, IPCC expert reviewer, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Susan Crockford, PhD (Zoology/Evolutionary Biology/Archaeozoology), Adjunct Professor (Anthropology/Faculty of Graduate Studies), University of Victoria, Victoria, British Colombia, Canada

Claude Culross, PhD (Organic Chemistry), retired, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Joseph D'Aleo, BS, MS (Meteorology, University of Wisconsin), Doctoral Studies (NYU), Executive Director - ICECAP (International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project), Fellow of the AMS, College Professor Climatology/Meteorology, First Director of Meteorology The Weather Channel, Hudson, New Hampshire, U.S.A.

Chris R. de Freitas, PhD, Climate Scientist, School of Environment, The University of Auckland, New Zealand

Willem de Lange, MSc (Hons), DPhil (Computer and Earth Sciences), Senior Lecturer in Earth and Ocean Sciences, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand

James DeMeo, PhD (University of Kansas 1986, Earth/Climate Science), now in Private Research, Ashland, Oregon, U.S.A.

David Deming, PhD (Geophysics), Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

James E Dent; B.Sc., FCIWEM, C.Met, FRMetS, C.Env., Independent Consultant, Member of WMO OPACHE Group on Flood Warning, Hadleigh, Suffolk, England

Robert W. Durrenberger, PhD, former Arizona State Climatologist and President of the American Association of State Climatologists, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Arizona State University; Sun City, Arizona, U.S.A.

Don J. Easterbrook, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Geology, Western Washington, University, Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A.

Per Engene, MSc, Biologist, Bø i Telemark, Norway, Co-author The Climate. Science and Politics (2009)

Robert H. Essenhigh, PhD, E.G. Bailey Professor of Energy Conversion, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.

David Evans, PhD (EE), MSc (Stat), MSc (EE), MA (Math), BE (EE), BSc, mathematician, carbon accountant and modeler, computer and electrical engineer and head of 'Science Speak', Scientific Advisory Panel member - Australian Climate Science Coalition, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Sören Floderus, PhD (Physical Geography (Uppsala University)), coastal-environment specialization, Copenhagen, Denmark

Louis Fowler, BS (Mathematics), MA (Physics), 33 years in environmental measurements (Ambient Air Quality Measurements), Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

Stewart Franks, PhD, Professor, Hydroclimatologist, University of Newcastle, Australia

Gordon Fulks, PhD (Physics, University of Chicago), cosmic radiation, solar wind, electromagnetic and geophysical phenomena, Corbett, Oregon, U.S.A.

R. W. Gauldie, PhD, Research Professor, Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, School of Ocean Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Manoa (Retired), U.S.A.

David G. Gee, Professor of Geology (Emeritus), Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavagen 16, Uppsala, Sweden

Lee C. Gerhard, PhD, Senior Scientist Emeritus, University of Kansas, past director and state geologist, Kansas Geological Survey, U.S.A.

Gerhard Gerlich, Dr.rer.nat. (Mathematical Physics: Magnetohydrodynamics) habil. (Real Measure Manifolds), Professor, Institut für Mathematische Physik, Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, Co-author of "Falsification Of The Atmospheric CO2 Greenhouse Effects Within The Frame Of Physics", Int.J.Mod.Phys.,2009

Albrecht Glatzle, PhD, ScAgr, Agro-Biologist and Gerente ejecutivo, Tropical pasture research and land use management, Director científico de INTTAS, Loma Plata, Paraguay

Fred Goldberg, PhD, Adj Professor, Royal Institute of Technology (Mech, Eng.), Secretary General KTH International Climate Seminar 2006 and Climate analyst and member of NIPCC, Lidingö, Sweden

Wayne Goodfellow, PhD (Earth Science), Ocean Evolution, Paleoenvironments, Adjunct Professor, Senior Research Scientist, University of Ottawa, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Thomas B. Gray, MS, Meteorology, Retired, USAF, Yachats, Oregon, U.S.A.

Vincent Gray, PhD, New Zealand Climate Coalition, expert reviewer for the IPCC, author of The Greenhouse Delusion: A Critique of Climate Change 2001, Wellington, New Zealand

William M. Gray, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Head of the Tropical Meteorology Project, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A.

Kenneth P. Green, M.Sc. (Biology, University of San Diego) and a Doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of California at Los Angeles, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Charles B. Hammons, PhD (Applied Mathematics), systems/software engineering, modeling & simulation, design, Consultant, Coyle, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

William Happer, PhD, Cyrus Fogg Bracket Professor of Physics (research focus is interaction of light and matter, a key mechanism for global warming and cooling), Princeton University; Former Director, Office of Energy Research (now Office of Science), US Department of Energy (supervised climate change research), Member - National Academy of Sciences of the USA, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society; Princeton, NJ, USA.

Howard Hayden, PhD, Emeritus Professor (Physics), University of Connecticut, The Energy Advocate, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Ross Hays, Atmospheric Scientist, NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, U.S.A.

James A. Heimbach, Jr., BA Physics (Franklin and Marshall College), Master's and PhD in Meteorology (Oklahoma University), Prof. Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences (University of North Carolina at Asheville), Springvale, Maine, U.S.A.

Ole Humlum, PhD, Professor, Department of Physical Geography, Institute of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Craig D. Idso, PhD, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A.

Sherwood B. Idso, PhD, President, Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A.

Terri Jackson, MSc MPhil., Director, Independent Climate Research Group, Northern Ireland and London (Founder of the Energy Group at the Institute of Physics, London), U.K.

Albert F. Jacobs, Geol.Drs., P. Geol., Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Zbigniew Jaworowski, PhD, DSc, professor of natural sciences, Senior Science Adviser of Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, researcher on ice core CO2 records, Warsaw, Poland.

Terrell Johnson, B.S. (Zoology), M.S. (Wildlife & Range Resources, Air & Water Quality), Principal Environmental Engineer, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Green River, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Bill Kappel, BS (Physical Science-Geology), BS (Meteorology), Storm Analysis, Climatology, Operation Forecasting, Vice President/Senior Meteorologist, Applied Weather Associates, LLC, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, U.S.A.

Wibjörn Karlén, MSc (quaternary sciences), PhD (physical geography), Professor emeritus, Stockholm University, Department of Social and Economic Geography, Geografiska Annaler Ser. A, Uppsala, Sweden

Olavi Kärner, Ph.D., Extraordinary Research Associate; Dept. of Atmospheric Physics, Tartu Observatory, Toravere, Estonia

David Kear, PhD, FRSNZ, CMG, geologist, former Director-General of NZ Dept. of Scientific & Industrial Research, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Madhav L. Khandekar, PhD, consultant meteorologist, (former) Research Scientist, Environment Canada, Editor "Climate Research" (03-05), Editorial Board Member "Natural Hazards, IPCC Expert Reviewer 2007, Unionville, Ontario, Canada

Leonid F. Khilyuk, PhD, Science Secretary, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Professor of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

William Kininmonth MSc, MAdmin, former head of Australia's National Climate Centre and a consultant to the World Meteorological organization's Commission for Climatology, Kew, Victoria, Australia

Gary Kubat, BS (Atmospheric Science), MS (Atmospheric Science), professional meteorologist last 18 years, O'Fallon, Illinois, U.S.A.

Roar Larsen, Dr.ing.(PhD), Chief Scientist, SINTEF (Trondheim, Norway), Adjunct Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Douglas Leahey, PhD, meteorologist and air-quality consultant, President - Friends of Science, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Jay Lehr, BEng (Princeton), PhD (environmental science and ground water hydrology), Science Director, The Heartland Institute, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Edward Liebsch, BS (Earth Science & Chemistry), MS (Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University), Senior Air Quality Scientist, HDR Inc., Maple Grove, MN, U.S.A.

Dr. Richard S. Lindzen, Alfred P. Sloan professor of meteorology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Peter Link, BS, MS, PhD (Geology, Climatology), Geol/Paleoclimatology, retired, Active in Geol-paleoclimatology, Tulsa University and Industry, Evergreen, Colorado, U.S.A.

Anthony R. Lupo, Ph.D., Professor of Atmospheric Science, Department of Soil, Environmental, and Atmospheric Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.

Horst Malberg, PhD, former director of Institute of Meteorology, Free University of Berlin, Germany

Björn Malmgren, PhD, Professor Emeritus in Marine Geology, Paleoclimate Science, Goteborg University, retired, Norrtälje, Sweden

Fred Michel, PhD, Director, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Ferenc Mark Miskolczi, PhD, atmospheric physicist, formerly of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, U.S.A.

Asmunn Moene, PhD, MSc (Meteorology), former head of the Forecasting Centre, Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway

Cdr. M. R. Morgan, PhD, FRMetS, climate consultant, former Director in marine meteorology policy and planning in DND Canada, NATO and World Meteorological Organization and later a research scientist in global climatology at Exeter University, UK, now residing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Nils-Axel Mörner, PhD (Sea Level Changes and Climate), Emeritus Professor of Paleogeophysics & Geodynamics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

Robert Neff, M.S. (Meteorology, St Louis University), Weather Officer, USAF; Contractor support to NASA Meteorology Satellites, Retired, Camp Springs, Maryland, U.S.A.

John Nicol, PhD, Physics, (Retired) James Cook University, Chairman - Australian Climate Science Coalition, Brisbane, Australia

Ingemar Nordin, PhD, professor in philosophy of science (including a focus on "Climate research, philosophical and sociological aspects of a politicised research area"), Linköpings University, Sweden.

David Nowell, M.Sc., Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, former chairman of the NATO Meteorological Group, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

James J. O'Brien, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Meteorology and Oceanography, Florida State University, Florida, U.S.A.

Peter Oliver, BSc (Geology), BSc (Hons, Geochemistry & Geophysics), MSc (Geochemistry), PhD (Geology), specialized in NZ quaternary glaciations, Geochemistry and Paleomagnetism, previously research scientist for the NZ Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Upper Hutt, New Zealand

Cliff Ollier, D.Sc., Professor Emeritus (School of Earth and Environment), Research Fellow, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A., Australia

Garth W. Paltridge, BSc Hons (Qld), MSc, PhD (Melb), DSc (Qld), Emeritus Professor, Honorary Research Fellow and former Director of the Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Visiting Fellow, RSBS, ANU, Canberra, ACT, Australia

R. Timothy Patterson, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Earth Sciences (paleoclimatology), Carleton University, Chair - International Climate Science Coalition, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Alfred H. Pekarek, PhD, Associate Professor of Geology, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Ian Plimer, PhD, Professor of Mining Geology, The University of Adelaide; Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Daniel Joseph Pounder, BS (Meteorology, University of Oklahoma), MS (Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign); Weather Forecasting, Meteorologist, WILL AM/FM/TV, the public broadcasting station of the University of Illinois, Urbana, U.S.A.

Brian Pratt, PhD, Professor of Geology (Sedimentology), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Harry N.A. Priem, PhD, Professor (retired) Utrecht University, isotope and planetary geology, Past-President Royal Netherlands Society of Geology and Mining, former President of the Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tom Quirk, MSc (Melbourne), D Phil, MA (Oxford), SMP (Harvard), Member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Australian Climate Science Coalition, Member Board Institute of Public Affairs, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

George A. Reilly, PhD (Geology), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Robert G. Roper, PhD, DSc (University of Adelaide, South Australia), Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Arthur Rorsch, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Molecular Genetics, Leiden University, retired member board Netherlands Organization Applied Research TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands

Curt Rose, BA, MA (University of Western Ontario), MA, PhD (Clark University), Professor Emeritus, Department of Environmental Studies and Geography, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Rob Scagel, MSc (forest microclimate specialist), Principal Consultant - Pacific Phytometric Consultants, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Clive Schaupmeyer, B.Sc., M.Sc., Professional Agrologist (awarded an Alberta "Distinguished Agrologist"), 40 years of weather and climate studies with respect to crops, Coaldale, Alberta, Canada

Bruce Schwoegler, BS (Meteorology and Naval Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Chief Technology Officer, MySky Communications Inc, meteorologist, science writer and principal/co-founder of MySky, Lakeville, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

John Shade, BS (Physics), MS (Atmospheric Physics), MS (Applied Statistics), Industrial Statistics Consultant, GDP, Dunfermline, Scotland, United Kingdom

Gary Sharp, PhD, Center for Climate/Ocean Resources Study, Salinas, California, U.S.A.

Thomas P. Sheahen, PhD (Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology), specialist in renewable energy, research and publication (Applied Optics) in modeling and measurement of absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric CO2, Oakland, Maryland, U.S.A.

Paavo Siitam, M.Sc., agronomist and chemist, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

L. Graham Smith, PhD, Associate Professor of Geography, specialising in Resource Management, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Roy W. Spencer, PhD, climatologist, Principal Research Scientist, Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A.

Walter Starck, PhD (Biological Oceanography), marine biologist (specialization in coral reefs and fisheries), author, photographer, Townsville, Australia

Peter Stilbs, TeknD, Professor of Physical Chemistry, Research Leader, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), member of American Chemical Society and life member of American Physical Society, Chair of "Global Warming - Scientific Controversies in Climate Variability", International seminar meeting at KTH, 2006, Stockholm, Sweden

Arlin Super, PhD (Meteorology), former Professor of Meteorology at Montana State University, retired Research Meteorologist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Saint Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.A.

George H. Taylor, B.A. (Mathematics, U.C. Santa Barbara), M.S. (Meteorology, University of Utah), Certified Consulting Meteorologist, Applied Climate Services, LLC, Former State Climatologist (Oregon), President, American Association of State Climatologists (1998-2000), Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A.

Mitchell Taylor, PhD, Biologist (Polar Bear Specialist), Wildlife Research Section, Department of Environment, Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada

Hendrik Tennekes, PhD, former director of research, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, Arnhem, The Netherlands

Frank Tipler, PhD, Professor of Mathematical Physics, astrophysics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Edward M. Tomlinson, MS (Meteorology), Ph.D. (Meteorology, University of Utah), President, Applied Weather Associates, LLC (leader in extreme rainfall storm analyses), 21 years US Air Force in meteorology (Air Weather Service), Monument, Colorado, U.S.A.

Ralf D. Tscheuschner, Dr.rer.nat. (Theoretical physics: Quantum Theory), Freelance Lecturer and Researcher in Physics and Applied Informatics, Hamburg, Germany. Co-author of "Falsification of The Atmospheric CO2 Greenhouse Effects Within The Frame Of Physics, Int.J.Mod.Phys. 2009

Gerrit J. van der Lingen, PhD (Utrecht University), geologist and paleoclimatologist, climate change consultant, Geoscience Research and Investigations, Christchurch, New Zealand

A.J. (Tom) van Loon, PhD, Professor of Geology (Quaternary Geology), Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland; former President of the European Association of Science Editors

Gösta Walin, PhD in Theoretical physics, Professor emeritus in oceanography, Earth Science Center, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

Neil Waterhouse, PhD (Physics, Thermal, Precise Temperature Measurement), retired, National Research Council, Bell Northern Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Anthony Watts, 25-year broadcast meteorology veteran and currently chief meteorologist for KPAY-AM radio. In 1987, he founded ItWorks, which supplies custom weather stations, Internet servers, weather graphics content, and broadcast video equipment. In 2007, Watts founded SurfaceStations.org, a Web site devoted to photographing and documenting the quality of weather stations across the U.S., U.S.A.

Charles L. Wax, PhD (physical geography: climatology, LSU), State Climatologist – Mississippi, past President of the American Association of State Climatologists, Professor, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, U.S.A.

James Weeg, BS (Geology), MS (Environmental Science), Professional Geologist/hydrologist, Advent Environmental Inc, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, U.S.A.

Forese-Carlo Wezel, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Stratigraphy (global and Mediterranean geology, mass biotic extinctions and paleoclimatology), University of Urbino, Urbino, Italy

Boris Winterhalter, PhD, senior marine researcher (retired), Geological Survey of Finland, former adjunct professor in marine geology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

David E. Wojick, PhD, PE, energy and environmental consultant, Technical Advisory Board member - Climate Science Coalition of America, Star Tannery, Virginia, U.S.A.

Raphael Wust, PhD, Adj Sen. Lecturer, Marine Geology/Sedimentology, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

Stan Zlochen, BS (Atmospheric Science), MS (Atmospheric Science), USAF (retired), Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.

Dr. Bob Zybach, PhD (Oregon State University (OSU), Environmental Sciences Program), MAIS (OSU, Forest Ecology, Cultural Anthropology, Historical Archaeology), BS (OSU College of Forestry), President, NW Maps Co., Program Manager, Oregon Websites and Watersheds Project, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon, U.S.A.

Now I didn't count how many signatories there are, but there are a lot, and they all appear to be real scientists, and not only that, but scientists working in climatology and related fields.

Are you going to tell us now that these people are of no account, or will you tell us that they all work for BIG OIL?

Has it not occurred to you that because the "scientists" from whom you derive your dubious prognostications have been found to be falsifying and omitting data so as to arrive at a predetermined conclusion that the temple you have built to AGW has foundations of sand?

You keep posting the same tired mantras, with the same tired "we love Al Gore" links, but you have yet to post anything that would convince anyone of the veracity of your parroted claims.

Admit it mate. You really don't have a leg to stand on. The scam's been sussed.

And here's a little gem to warm the cockles of your hearts...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8401864.stm

And so it starts, the evisceration of freedom of movement.

The thin end of the wedge....

And JR

By the way, does it really take ten of you to respond to one of my posts?

the reason is that you are outnumbered 10 to 1 on this issue.

You could call that a "consensus".

Just read this in the paper.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environme...o-new-poll.html

It would seem that considerable numbers of people can see through the smoke and mirrors approach of the AGW lobby.

A pertinent point in the article is this:

The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Professor Phil Jones, who headed the CRU and who has stood aside after the leak of the emails, has received more than £13 million in funding for his research.

Good work if you can get it, what? No wonder they wanted to keep the AGW ball rolling.

I have to admit to unreserved admiration for JR.

I really mean that.

He doggedly, blindly ploughs on, despite the overwhelming evidence against his arguments. He never loses faith with the movement.

Anyway, I'm thinking of changing sides. I read in the paper this morning that Gordon Brown compared "deniers" to flat-earthers.

Well, if the best, most successful Prime Minister in parliamentary history says AGW is real, then it must be so. Yes?

No?

Errr. Maybe I'll think about that.....

Looks like you can still stay for 70-100 (US$2-3) baht/night at Khao San Road.

http://www.khaosanroad.com/directory/listi...id=1&char=D

You will have to make your way across town to Nana (Sukhumvit Soi 4) for a beer. I have some friend from Galesburg in town in March/April.

Why would he have to go to Nana for a beer? Plenty of bars in Khao San. In fact they are shoulder to shoulder all along Khao San Road.

17 seems to be a bit young to be alone in Thailand, You can get rooms as little as 100baht a night , but they are very very basic, Look near bus stations there are usualy rooms that the Thais stay over night .

17 a bit young to be alone in Thailand? What rubbish.

When I was 17 I was hitch-hiking and bussing it all over Iran,Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Thailand. For years, until my early twenties. And I wasn't the only one. Met quite a few people my age doing the same thing.

And that was back in the late 60s, when there was no instant communications.

No internet, no mobile phones.

You were on your own.

Good for you kevbomac for getting out there and seeing the world. You'll learn a lot, as much about yourself as about the rest of the world. Good luck to you mate. Don't worry, you can find plenty of cheap places to stay in Thailand. And you can eat good food for next to nothing too.

This isn't the best place to ask about cheap and cheapest, as most of the guys on this forum are either retired or working on western salaries here, and have never been penniless travellers, so they have no idea what living at street level is all about.

My youngest daughter was in Thailand a couple of years ago (gap year travels), and stayed in Khao San etc. If you want me to ask her for some recent info, PM me, and I'll email her.

Don't know what all the fuss is about.

I always stick to those really great gift baskets that come in a plastic bucket containing such delights as floor cleaner, scrubbing brushes, scotchbrite pads etc etc. And they're wrapped in a very classy orange cellophane, often as not.

Try giving them, and see the expression of utter joy and appreciation of your generosity on the face of the recipient! For someone really special, you could include a mop handle too! And all with that warm feeling of knowing that you aren't transgressing any of those sensible rules that those-who-know put in place for our protection (may they be eternally praised).

Who needs booze in a gift basket anyway!

After disappointing her that does the ironing last year when a 6 months supply of Weedwhacker and a new spade didn't find favour, I am making up for that this year. After much thought I've come up with something that she will find really useful. A new set of ladders.

Man after my own heart. You are obviously a thoughtful and caring partner. (Can't understand why she wasn't thrilled with the spade, though...no pleasing some people...)

Her indoors will be getting a brand new set of high quality paint brushes and matching paint roller and tray for Christmas this year. I've even gift-wrapped it all for her!

Don't know what all the fuss is about.

I always stick to those really great gift baskets that come in a plastic bucket containing such delights as floor cleaner, scrubbing brushes, scotchbrite pads etc etc. And they're wrapped in a very classy orange cellophane, often as not.

Try giving them, and see the expression of utter joy and appreciation of your generosity on the face of the recipient! For someone really special, you could include a mop handle too! And all with that warm feeling of knowing that you aren't transgressing any of those sensible rules that those-who-know put in place for our protection (may they be eternally praised).

Who needs booze in a gift basket anyway!

And here's what you have to prove:

1. That the earth is warming gradually but unmistakably

2. That this is tied to human activity

3. That this is a dangerous process

4. That there is something humanity can do about it.

My answers to the above would be: Probable, Unproven, Unproven, Unlikely.

BB's answers in red

1. That the earth is warming gradually but unmistakably.

It is

2. That this is tied to human activity

Probably, though lessening pollution emitted from fossil fuels is a no-brainer. Lessening human populations is also important, regardless of the GW debate.

3. That this is a dangerous process

GW can be dangerous, not just to the planet's #1 destructive species (guess who?), but also to myriads of other species, fauna and flora. Granted some species will thrive if GW is exacerbated. Some notables: spiny weeds, mice/rats, ants, jellyfish.

4. That there is something humanity can do about it.

Move to higher ground. Lessen pollution. Have less babies. Be responsible. Plant trees, die young.

Sorry. Fail.

RB asked for proof - you provided opinion. There's a world of difference, I'm afraid.

There is not, nor has there ever been any proof that CO2 drives climate change.

You are asking that the world spend trillions of dollars and compel the world's population to make fundamental life changes (the heaviest burden of which will fall on those poor souls who are trying to escape a life of grinding poverty) based on the precautionary principle.

That is utter madness.

As pointed out already, all that money would be better spent addressing the real problems of the world, not pursuing some half-baked quasi-religion.

(By the way RB, I already posted the link to the "Hide the Decline" ditty. JR didn't get the joke...)

It's curious to me that all the posters here are throwing out different countries to consider... But almost no one above ever mentions what the prospects/requirements are for a farang to settle more or less permanently in that country... That leaves a pretty gaping hole in the discussion, wouldn't you say???

If (as I assume) the OP hails from the UK, then within the EU is obviously hassle free visa-wise. However, not cheap like LoS, and not warm all year.