connda

Yep, HAARP can do this! Just what it was designed for.

But most of the population don't have a clue as to what HAARP is, and if they do they've probably drank the mass media Kool-Aid and will vehemently deny that HAARP technology can do anything like this.

Oh well, we live in interesting times

Where's the proof?

Suppressed for reasons of National Security <chuckle> Now it's time to take a walk in this wonderful, new, cool Thai weather... เดินไป!!!

Further Temperature Drop

The Meteorological Department has reported of a further temperature drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius today while rain should still be seen nationwide. Waves will continue to be high at coastal areas so small boats should remain onshore.

Another high pressure cell from China is expected to reach Thailand again on March 22-23, causing cool temperatures and rain again.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-18

More cold weather??? Way Cool!!! (pun intended) Bring it on. This Scottish, Irish, Bavarian Farang just Loves this wonderful, chilly weather. Agat Dee Maak! อากาศดีมาก

For the jetstream to drop down this far which is totally out of character for this time of year, it needs a low pressure place to go. One way that can be accomplished is by pushing the upper atmosphere up which seems to be exactly what happened, you can read it here: http://presscore.ca/2011/?p=1624 So for Somchai to say it has nothing to do with the earthquake off of Japan is totally out of line and misinformation. The HAARP technology was designed to do just this, divert jetstreams and therefore control the weather. Not a myth, not a theory, just facts you can search out for yourself there is a ton of information out there about it.

I see you've opened your mind. Not many of us out here. A few years ago my friends were calling me a crazy, paranoid survivalist because I bought a Katadyn emergency water filter and potassium iodide tablets. Right now, my friends and probably half the population of Japan would die to have my water filter and potassium iodide tablets (no pun intended).

Funny, huh?

Yep, HAARP can do this! Just what it was designed for.

But most of the population don't have a clue as to what HAARP is, and if they do they've probably drank the mass media Kool-Aid and will vehemently deny that HAARP technology can do anything like this.

Oh well, we live in interesting times

My thick furry persian cats feel right at home...

Both my American Shorthair cats have been freezing their asses off! Seriously, they have buried themselves under the blankets the last two days.

nothing worse than a cold pussy

+1

Al Gore will probably try to say it's " climate change" caused by our SUV's!

Right on Miami Bob!

Mr. Gore and his cartel of elites, who produced the movie on global warming called An Inconvenient Truth, would probably tell you that all of this cold weather is being caused by global warming. Yes, Mr. Gore and his friends spent a few million dollars to convince you that cold weather really means hot weather

What Mr. Gore did not tell you in his film is that he and his friends own very lucrative companies that deal in the marketing of Carbon Credits, and that they stand to make billions of dollars if they can convince you to support your government's plans to pass legislation to limit carbon emissions and to legally mandate the global, international trading of Carbon Credits. Hummm. That was just a small, inconvenient truth that was left out of the movie. Darn!

So everyone! Open up those beautiful minds of yours and connect the dots... and enjoy this wonderful cool weather we are experiencing in the middle of the hot season. 'Tis just a small proclivity of Mother Nature for your enjoyment.

"Gee Whiz! Thanks Mother Nature!!!"

&lt;deleted&gt;! Older Farangs will just stop going to Cambodia -- and remember -- we're the one's with most of the saved money. BTW, Central American countries will welcome you with open arms. So will Malaysia. What a bunch of losers -- no common sense at all.

What a crock of &lt;deleted&gt;. This will probably give the Thai politicians some new ideas. I married my 49 year old Thai wife when I was 56. So what's this "robbing the cradle" BS? Most of my over 50 friends are married to middle aged Thai women! Come on... And I don't know anyone in a "sham marriage"

You know what really pisses me off is if he had had a weapon in his home, and had the opportunity to defend himself, he probably would have ended in in jail for assaulting the robbers with a deadly weapon -- in his own home.

That's one thing I really miss about living in the US. If the perps had broke into my home in America, they would have exited my home horizontally.

I know...crazy, gun-loving Americans. But the fact of the matter is that no matter what country your in, their are no policemen hiding in your closet at the ready to rescue you and your loved ones from bad people who break into your home with the intent of doing you and your family bodily harm. It's just that in some countries, you're afforded the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution should you be put into the situation of having to defend yourself in your own home. Unfortunately, Thailand is not one of those countries. At least not for Farangs. So the only other option is to make you're home into a fortress for your own protection.

But I agree with one of the other posters...inside job? Perhaps family?

Connda, I agree. There are only 2 things I miss, living here; my grand kids, kids, and my small arsenal of hunting and defense weapons. You got that right too,about Gun lovin Americans! Because "an armed society is a polite society" and it works. For all the bad mouthin done about gun ownership in the US, I have noted that most comes from those whose countries have already banned or greatly restricted ownership. The law abiding Thai neighbors and friends I listen to, wish they had America's freedom to choose whether to own or not own guns. I've been here long enough to see that Thai laws restricting guns has not stopped violent crime here. It has only changed the 2 legged predators' choices of weapons, machetes and knives. Ask any surgeon which they would prefer to repair in e.r., bullet wounds in a man, or a man thats been hacked to pieces by a machete.

I truly hope the gentleman makes a full recovery, and his wife is not forever traumatized.

The rest of the Western world make Americans out as a bunch of gun-toting vigilantes. But the people I know who pack are some of the sanest, responsible people I know. Heck, look at Switzerland. The whole country is armed. Who's going to mess with them. Yeah, an armed society IS a polite society, and generally stable too.

You can have a gun here -- well you can't but you wife can. I'm still thinking. But it you light some armed thug up in your own home, you're going to jail unless you can buy your way out. And if I decide not too, the next step once I build my home is multiple security layers: fence, bars, locks, security system, and trained dogs. Probably less likely to see the inside of a cell if one of the German Shepherds does the heavy work. Hong hong.

You know what really pisses me off is if he had had a weapon in his home, and had the opportunity to defend himself, he probably would have ended in in jail for assaulting the robbers with a deadly weapon -- in his own home.

That's one thing I really miss about living in the US. If the perps had broke into my home in America, they would have exited my home horizontally.

I know...crazy, gun-loving Americans. But the fact of the matter is that no matter what country your in, their are no policemen hiding in your closet at the ready to rescue you and your loved ones from bad people who break into your home with the intent of doing you and your family bodily harm. It's just that in some countries, you're afforded the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution should you be put into the situation of having to defend yourself in your own home. Unfortunately, Thailand is not one of those countries. At least not for Farangs. So the only other option is to make you're home into a fortress for your own protection.

But I agree with one of the other posters...inside job? Perhaps family?

or get the hell out of Dodge, to someplace that does support shooting people who break into your home.

Yeah, but I like it here better than America. So you deal with the reality of the situation. Put your valuable in a bank and lock that house up at night. I like the comment about putting a "panic button" in the bedroom. That's actually a neat idea. Thailand ain't perfect, but we've chosen to make our homes here for a reason. You take the good with the bad.

You know what really pisses me off is if he had had a weapon in his home, and had the opportunity to defend himself, he probably would have ended in in jail for assaulting the robbers with a deadly weapon -- in his own home.

That's one thing I really miss about living in the US. If the perps had broke into my home in America, they would have exited my home horizontally.

I know...crazy, gun-loving Americans. But the fact of the matter is that no matter what country your in, their are no policemen hiding in your closet at the ready to rescue you and your loved ones from bad people who break into your home with the intent of doing you and your family bodily harm. It's just that in some countries, you're afforded the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution should you be put into the situation of having to defend yourself in your own home. Unfortunately, Thailand is not one of those countries. At least not for Farangs. So the only other option is to make you're home into a fortress for your own protection.

But I agree with one of the other posters...inside job? Perhaps family?

Is there any place in Thailand that can do custom dry pack canning, such as bulk canning of rice, grains, and other staple items.

Thanks

Is there any place in Chiang Mai that can do custom dry pack canning. I'd like to can some rice, grains, and other staple items.

Thanks!

Why isn't 99.9% investment-grade silver bullion and coins traded in Thailand like it is in other countries such as the US and Canada?

I have a 2010 calendar that it's time to get rid of. Normally I'd just toss the calendar in the trash. However, this particular wall calendar has a picture of the King and Queen on it.

It sort of seems disrespectful to toss pictures of the Royal family into the garbage bin.

So I've got a bit of a dilemma -- I don't want to inadvertently do anything that could be considered to be disrespectful, but I don't want a bunch of old calendars stacking up in my small apartment.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

Does anyone know where I can find a list of prices for new cars and trucks sold in Thailand that are 500,000 baht or less.

I'm on a budget and I'm paying cash (no financing). I'm retiring here and whatever I buy I will drive into the ground (I don't care about resale value).

Considering that buying a used car seems like a crap shoot here in the LOS, I've decided to go for the new a vehicle.

Thanks!

What kind of person in Thailand can afford a brand new Fortuner, carries a handgun and is willing to shoot it at strangers? who are driving BMW's!!!

This must be someone that is very sure of their ground like the son of a politician or top cop.

+1

I don't know what you're all talking about the pilot.. but thats a normal reaction for some thai..

but the point is, that there are LOADS of these lunatics driving around.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was some drug abusing retard pulling the trigger again.which of course... bought his driving licence for 500 baht or doesn't even have it..

for all who drive the Thai roads... Please stay calm when an idiot wants to pass you or whatever...you never know these days what they have been eating or if they are armed..

I almost got into such a thing myself because of such a madman's doing

I know what you mean. When I first started driving here, the mrs and I were driving down the road on my motorcycle when a shiny SUV pulls out from the right, crosses traffic driving backwards, and then stops with the SUV blocking the two left lanes of traffic. I hit the horn while I was braking. Both the driver and passenger rolled down their windows and just start screaming -- and the look on their faces was just unbridled rage. Over what? Someone on a Honda 125 beeped at them? I racked it up to excess alcohol, yaa baa, and who know what else as I gingerly drove around them and exited the scene.

Three years later, I find I let that sort of stupidity go when I see it. There are wayyyyy too many screwed-up drivers here in the LOS.

When I am riding my motorbike, I sometimes get these SUVs behind me, blinding me with their high beams. I just pull over to the side and let them pass. They know they are blinding others... and they don't care.

What happened to "kreng jai"; consideration for others?

On Thanon Thai there's no Kreng Jai!

BTW, it's not like I haven't seen road rage stupidity that included flying bullets in the USA. It happens!

But with that said, at least in the US, the vast majority of drivers display some semblance of road courtesy. However in Thailand it's every man, woman, and unlicensed 16 year old girl for themselves. Given just about everyone's lack of respect for everyone else on the road, I'm surprise there aren't more violent road rage incidents than there are. I'm I painting with a broad brush? Yep! But if the shoe fits.....

By the way, if you think things are different in, let's say, the United States -- think again.

My only child was killed in a one car accident as a passenger. The driver was 20 years old. The driver failed to navigate an S turn at the end of a long straightaway and the car went off to road killing my child. The driver walked away uninjured.

The information I received from various sources was that the driver was involved in a street race and had entered the corner at a high rate of speed (in excess of 100 mph). Interestingly enough, when the police arrived, no one would admit to a street race. A blood alcohol test was performed on the driver that came back negative and the driver was released.

I forensics team checked out the scene and in the final police report it was determined that the driver entered the corner at over 60 mph when the posted speed limit was 30 mph. I find this interesting because I drove that same corner in excess of 70 mph without difficulty a few days later -- which leads me to believe the racing scenario was probably true and the forensic report was flawed or deliberately understated. The report concluded that the accident was caused by the drivers age and relative inexperience as a driver and he was charged with simple negligent driving. The reporting officer seemed to have a very sympathetic bias toward the driver. The death of my child was inconsequential. We were able to see a copy of the driver's driving record which included a number of speeding offenses and moving violations. We contacted the Justice Department and were told that the prior violations would have no bearing on this case and the driver would only be charged based on the police report. The driver walked away with a $400 fine (roughly 12000 baht at the time). We file a civil suit against the driver. The family hired a lawyer. The lawyer simply came back with a statement that the driver, at 20 years old, was no longer a dependent of the family, therefore the family could not be financially held responsible for the crash. Then the driver declared bankruptcy to avoid any financial consequence for his action. The driver nor the family ever expressed any remorse whatsoever for my child's death..

And there you have it -- justice in the United States. How do you say it in Thailand -- Same Same but Different.

Truly sad story and am very sorry you lost you son and felt no justice was served.

I am not in any way advocating one way or another whose justice is more right but it should be noted that one difference here in Thailand is that the majority of Thais don't get satisfaction, as we often do in the west, by seeing somebody punished (incarcerated, huge fines, death penalty ...). They would much rather see some form of compensation which they believe, in a case like this, honors the dead by having something good come from their death (helping the family). Many of us in the west would see the money as blood money or as profiting from the death of a loved one and often use a civil actions, as you attempted, to punish the person who escaped criminal responsibility.

My point being is that as a victim, to the above tragedy, your wishes and desires should play heavily in what justice is served by the courts. The same should be true in this case. None of us can assume what the victims want but the few I have heard from have not demanded prison, met with the family and accepted the token sums they have so far given (last I read a week ago the girl had met w/5 families and the mother I believe 2 more). There was one family who was upset that the family had not reached out to them yet or given them anything and believe I read about 1 family who was not ready to meet with them yet. I doubt most people in the west would be ready or want to hear an apology within the first week regardless of how sincere it was as our grieving in cases like this often needs to go through a blame stage and we don't want to see the person we believe responsible as a person. Again, just pointing out differences and not saying one way is better than the other but I guess simply saying that I wish the authorities took your feelings and needs into mind more in handling your tragic circumstances and hope the same happens with the family's of the van tragedy.

You point is well taken and I understand what you are saying -- I hadn't considered that perspective before.

Very honestly, I probably would not have brought a civil suit against the driver had he simply expressed remorse. But he never did then and never has since. Yeah, and the civil suit was an attempt to get him to accept some responsibility for his actions. But I can't live his life, I can only live mine. So over the years I've come to accept what happened and move on. And I took the word "Fair" out of my dictionary long before that incident happened. We live in an imperfect world -- you either accept it or it drives you crazy. I can continue to live in Thailand because I can accept the biases and inconsistencies without taking them personally.

By the way, if you think things are different in, let's say, the United States -- think again.

My only child was killed in a one car accident as a passenger. The driver was 20 years old. The driver failed to navigate an S turn at the end of a long straightaway and the car went off to road killing my child. The driver walked away uninjured.

The information I received from various sources was that the driver was involved in a street race and had entered the corner at a high rate of speed (in excess of 100 mph). Interestingly enough, when the police arrived, no one would admit to a street race. A blood alcohol test was performed on the driver that came back negative and the driver was released. No arrest.

I forensics team checked out the scene and in the final police report it was determined that the driver entered the corner at over 60 mph when the posted speed limit was 30 mph. I find this interesting because I drove that same corner in excess of 70 mph without difficulty a few days later -- which leads me to believe the racing scenario was probably true and the forensic report was flawed or deliberately understated. The report concluded that the accident was caused by the drivers age and relative inexperience as a driver and he was charged with simple negligent driving. The reporting officer seemed to have a very sympathetic bias toward the driver. The death of my child was inconsequential. We were able to see a copy of the driver's driving record which included a number of speeding offenses and moving violations. We contacted the Justice Department and were told that the prior violations would have no bearing on this case and the driver would only be charged based on the police report. The driver walked away with a $400 fine (roughly 12000 baht at the time). We file a civil suit against the driver. The family hired a lawyer. The lawyer simply came back with a statement that the driver, at 20 years old, was no longer a dependent of the family, therefore the family could not be financially held responsible for the crash. Then the driver declared bankruptcy to avoid any financial consequence for his action. The driver nor the family ever expressed any remorse whatsoever for my child's death..

And there you have it -- justice in the United States. How do you say it in Thailand -- Same Same but Different.

This high season is pretty low, increased competition for money, police owned jet skis, corrupt police everywhere, why is anyone surprised this shit is happening? These Irish guys will go home and tell their friends, who will tell their friends, etc etc , next high season even lower, blah blah.

This is not Disney Land people, pay attention.Give then what they want, the police are in on it, and live to play another day.

The best thing to do is: don't rent jet skis (or any other equipment) in Pattaya and Puket. If you're an expat who is living here, educate you're friends who are visiting to the types of scams that are being run here. You can eventually put these jerks out of business by simply boycotting their services. Maybe and even better idea -- find a different location other than Pattaya or Puket. There are many other beautiful places to visit in Thailand where the service providers are relatively honest business-people trying to make a living without ripping off tourists. Just don't play the game.

Try Dokmai Massage on Thapae Soi 1. It's a small place owned by a very friendly, English-speaking Thai woman named Ooy. She does oil massage and traditional Thai massage. Oil massage is 250 baht / hr and Thai massage is 200 baht / hr, although you could probably talk her into a discount. She even has an espresso machine in case you want a coffee fix (which I do).. There is a shower in the restroom. Ooy is a wealth of information about the local area and she really helped me when I visited Chiang Mai. I've attached a Google Earth placemark to her business. Enjoy!

Dokmai Massage.kmz

There are many guest houses all over CM, especially between Thapae Road and Loi Kroh Road, and inside the moated area.. Many rent on an extended basis and you can probably get a room with a fan for between 2000 - 3500 baht. I suggest just coming here, rent a room for a couple of days and walk around to the various guest houses until you find something that you like within your price range. There are numerous places to rent bikes also. Generally a 125 cc bike will run you 150 baht a day. Obviously cheaper if you rent by the week or month. Again, just walk around - they are everywhere. However, they will want your passport for collateral. This is standard practice. Make a copy of your passport to carry with you. If you want something bigger than a 125cc, look up Tony's Big Bikes Chiang Mai on the Internet. If you want a nice massage, try Dokmai Massage on Thapae Soi 1 (see Google Earth placemark). The owner, Ooy, is a very nice, talkative Thai lady and she can give you all sorts of information about the local area and a great massage too. She helped me find a place for 2000 baht a month last year. Have fun!

Dokmai Massage.kmz

Dongtawan. On Loi Kroh next to the night bazaar isn't bad. It has a decent pool also.

But as Heybruce said you might want to broaden your search.

I agree with the Dongtawan Hotel. The Fitness center is located on the 4th floor. Well equipped with both free-weights and machines, although the free-weight selection is a bit limited compared to clubs I've used in the U.S.. They have a pool outside on the roof, but it's not really a lap pool. Membership fee is $1000 baht a month. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the facilities are well maintained. Located at the end of Loi Kroh on the right side of the road just before you get to the Night Market. They have a parking garage and the fitness center will validate your parking -- i.e., free parking.

Try Prirate's Cove. Nice owners and staff. Very airy. Free internet. And the food's pretty good. They also rent motorcycles. See attached Google Earth placemark.

Pirates Cove Bar.kmz