- Popular Post
Kiwi1
-
Posts
64 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Downloads
Posts posted by Kiwi1
-
-
Smoke inhalation can be very dangerous to health. Suggest monitor AQI on internet. When at unhealthy levels close up rooms, use air cleaner or run aircon. In airc leaner and aircon place Filtrete cloth (filters out micro particles) over inlet to aircon and over filter capsule in aircleaner.
Stay indoors, if you go out wear industrial quality mask. Cheap rag masks useless.
Best strategy to head for the coast. As well as Thailand there are nice spots in Cambodia. Will keep my favourite place secret, do not want it over run!
If you feel ill get medical check ASAP. The particles are very fine and can penetrate cell walls, leading to blood poisoning. You can be very ill, even die from smoke inhalation without normal respiratory distress signs like coughing or shortness of breath.
-
Speaking generally:
A cult is a group of people who are bonded by a shared belief system and typically follow the teaching of a charismatic leader.
Most religions are cults that have continued to grow and prosper following the death of the original leaders. i.e. Most 'mainstream' religions are successful cults e.g Christianity, Islam, Buddhism. Note that these organisations usually branch off into different streams, each claiming to have special understanding of the teachings of the master.
A clear example of a cult is the Dhammakaya sect here in Thailand. If one takes the trouble to do a little research you will find that cults abound in the USA and UK.
-
It seems likely that the fundamental problem is lack of political will to make any significant improvement in mass education in Thailand.
As mentioned, examples of excellent mass education systems are to be found in the region.
Taiwan and Singapore both have fine education systems, Singapore's has been developed comparatively recently. I understand the Taiwanese built on a model introduced by the Japanese who in turn designed their's on the late 19th Century German system.
I did not know about developments in Vietnam, but this certainly sounds like another success.
If the Thai government was serious about reforming mass education, then this could be introduced with little trouble or expense.
Simply set up a number of model schools as pilot projects for new approaches.
These would only need to run for a couple of years to see how well they met local needs.
Given a viable model that had been objectively evaluated, the new system, could be introduced by stages over a number of years.
Singapore can give guidance on this.
Costs would be trivial compared with the potential benefits.
There are many Thais who have great potential and I hope the time comes when more of them have a chance to show what they can do.
-
The politicians woke up to this a long time ago.
The right wing politicians encourage Muslim immigration because they provide cheap labour in competition with other workers, thereby dividing and distracting the working class. Meanwhile, most Muslim immigrants vote Labour so their presence will be quietly encouraged by politicians on that side.
The oldest trick in the book.
In earlier times they used to work the Catholic - Protestant caper which lingers on in Belfast.
After 9/11 Muslims have been set up to play the same role as Jews were forced into in the Third Reich.
FWIW, 9/11 is often compared with Pearl Harbour, but the prototype was almost certainly the Reichstag Fire. The trail is easy to follow if you take the time to research it. Grandfather Prescott Bush was a friend and business associate of the German industrialist and banker Thiessen: Read his book " I paid Hitler".
If you take the time to read the history of the Middle East after WWI (or look at good stuff on Youtube) you will see that millions of Muslims have good reason to hate the West. The ISIS movement appears to be a warped attempt to revive the Caliphate of old. Where there is no positive outlook for the future one can hardly be surprised if people start following a weird millenial vision. Has happened before in many other times and places.
ANZACs in particular should take a long hard look at our role in military adventures in the Middle East and try to work out what benefit we gained for our sacrifice.
Tony Abbott committed Australia to yet another deployment in Iraq, with Labour falling in behind. Parliament never even
sat to debate the wisdom of the venture, let alone try to evaluate the costs and benefits of the previous campaign.
All over the West we are being failed by our politicians, and more and more people are becoming disenchanted with the political process where their vote is wasted and the same stuff goes down no matter who you vote for.
Our enemy is not Islam, it is us.
-
Do not bother with monorail!
Set up a factory to produce flying cars and personal helicopters.
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
Not sure how one draws the line between long term expats and tourists, but think the distinction is valid.
As for the economics of tourism, subject may be more complex than it appears.
Some time back the NZ government studied high end (? quality) tourists vs low budget "backpacker" tourists.
Found that the backpackers stayed in the country longer than high end tourists and actually spent more money over the time of their visit than the high end tourists.
Moreover, the backpackers spent most of their money in small businesses, whereas the high end people paid for international hotels etc which were mainly foreign owned and much of these funds went out of the country.
So the backpackers were actually gave a better income to the country than the high end tourists.
I suspect that the same principles would apply to Thailand.
-
9
-
Note that Putin scores around 85% support in polls done in Russia. Including polls done for western intelligence.
How are Obama, Cameron, Tony Abbott doing?
Hollande has one of the lowest approval ratings for any French PM, ever.
Note also the enthusiasm for the Chinese initiative AIIP.
Just about every country except the USA seem to think it is a good idea to have an alternative to the dreaded IMF and World Bank.
Meanwhile the Yuan chugging along to becoming a reserve currency.
The world is changing, whether some people like it or not.
-
Thanks for that.
It is a real rabbit warren in there!
Also delighted to find that by entering your gps coordinates into the search box on google earth it brings up the map like magic,
-
Was in Chinatown, think near Klong Thom area where they sell tools and automotive stuff.
Came across a sort of blind soi , bit like a garage.
Not much in it, but two spaces full of second hand stereo speaker enclosures.
Not displayed well at all, looked as if they had been stacked in there in a hurry.
The lights were on and music playing but nobody there and people around could not give contact info in form understood by this old farang.
No way I can find my way back there using own resources.
Was interested in looking over the stuff, so posting this on the off chance that somebody might know the place (or something like it) and could direct me to it.
Thanks for your attention.
-
I have been told that the ordinary Thai police are very poorly paid and practice petty corruption to make ends meet.
I do not know the facts, but once stayed in a guest house where my room overlooked a compound with two or three police families living there. They certainly lived a very modest life style, even by Thai standards.
Has anybody information on the working conditions of rank and file Thai police?
-
-
I live in CM. Have had mild flu symptoms for last two weeks.
One of my friends similarly effected.
Checked diary and had same problem last year.
Seems like a seasonal flu.
-
Have had cataract ops at Sripat/Maharaj, both eyes, operations about one year apart.
Did not have to wait long at any stage and was out of hospital same day, certainly no overnight stay.
Cannot remember price, but quite affordable for me and I am on modest income.
Quality of care excellent in every respect, am very pleased with the result.
At age 79 no longer need glasses which I had been wearing from about age 40, so saving on eyewear, too.
The second op I chose a multifocus lens, but now think the combination of short and long focus lens probably as good and is less expensive. This based on comparing notes with experience of my sister who had her ops done in New Zealand with long and short focus lenses and she has excellent functional vision and no need of spectacles.
Feel free to pm me if you want to know more.
-
The Nancy Chandler map of CM available from most book shops is a good guide for exploring Chaingmai. Not so good for serious route finding, though. Otherwise Lonely Planet. guidebook or website, or Rough Guide. For most visitors a cheap older edition available in second hand bookshops near the Thapae gate will serve well enough.
-
There is a lot of research based information about road safety.
One source: Evans, "Road Traffic Safety and the Driver."
Speaking generally, the most effective way to improve road safety is strict and vigorous enforcement of the road rules.
More rigorous driver license tests are unlikely to make a significant reduction in injury accidents.
It could be that the new licensing regime has been installed to harmonise with practice in other ASEAN countries as the new "Smartcard" licenses are valid in all ASEAN countries, but this is speculation on my part.
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
Huge topic.
For a different and very practical approach try Google : "No dig garden"
Suggest following the Australian advice as they have experience in growing in tropical conditions.
You can grow most of the vegetables to feed a family in a plot the size of a double bed, with little labour.
Because of small area easy to spread a shade cloth over in the hot season.
Am no gardener but made a no dig garden back in NZ and was amazed at the quantity and quality of produce.
-
3
-
Thanks JimShortz and all:
Things seem to be falling into place.
Not learned in these things, but the 10.000 baht recipe sounds excellent value for the money.
Now looking beyond that.
The 120 GB SSD sounds like the way to go.
I do have Google + and will try to do the trick that Jim uses and get everything backed up to the Cloud.
So looks like we after 120GB SSD, plus enclosure ( like the one with the bigger fan), plus happy to spend a little bit more for a generous power supply.
More or less by accident I acquired a 1TB external HDD and use it for backup now. Assume could use it as working HDD if I ever ran over the 120 GB. but present pattern of use suggests that not very likely.
Looks to me like I would be getting good speed and reliability and value for money.
Thanks all around.
-
Thanks for all the constructive interest,
Am presently uisng 41 GB of my 111GB hard drive.
Assuming I use SDD for Windows 7 OS then could I get away with, say 60GB SSD plus a larger HDD for data?
-
Thanks very much!
There is no hurry and would be good to meet with you early next month and put this deal together.
Will PM you with my contact info, providing I can work the Thaivisa system.
Thanks again.
-
Thanks very much JS:
Will need a little study to get all on board, but good learning curve for me.
Yes, I have been a ham radio operator for a bit over sixty years and look forward to learning how to build PCs, or at least replace major components.
Will take a bit of time to get up to speed.
Yes, Lenovo has two front fans and I sit it on a laptop cooling pad. Case still gets warmer in the way of the power supply than I would like, tho.
-
Am new to Thaivisa so forgive me if this message posted twice.
Thanks Jim and all for the encouragement and advice.
As said, have a reasonable technical background but lack clues about IT.
Very interested in following JS recipe.
Questions:
1. Logistics:
I go to Advice with JS shopping list. Assuming all the stuff available, pay them to assemble, test and load with my Windows7. Think I can load everything else myself or with help from friends.
Will this work?
2. Technical:
Take it the JS system uses one HDD for the OS and reuses the owner's existing HDD for data.
(a)My present Lenovo flat pack desktop probably 6 years old, so think new HDD a good idea. Would appreciate advice on suitable units to fit.
(
Like the idea of SSD for the OS. Advice on unit to buy and price?My budget can go over 10,000 baht.
Would be great if someone in CM learned in the art could come with me to supervise the shopping. (No need to hold my hand). My pleasure to buy lunch or a present such as a bottle of something.
-
This old guy thinking of copying the recipe.
Just go to the shop in Chiangmai with the list?
Cost not all that critical.
Already have the UPS.
Question: HDD always seemed a suspect technology to me.
How about solid state alternative.
Is this feasible nowadays, and at what cost?
-
Hello all:
Fascinated by this thread.
Am a grizzled 78 year old, am very pleased with my Lenovo Thinkcentre desktop which has flat profile ie lies on its side which convenient for my desk set up.
Bought it second hand in New Zealand for around $50.00 US and it serves me very well.
I too have no need for games or photoshop.
Have some technical nous but the digital world a mystery to me.
My present machine Lenovo 80089 BM
Bios Lenovo
Now runs Windows 7 (would have preferred to stay with XP but there you are)
RAM 2GB
CPU 2 @1.8 (3.6Gb)
Disc 111.786 GB
P/S 225 W
This suits me fine but cannot fit a HDML graphics board and would like this to give display on flat screen TV.
Am very interested in baseline budget around 10,000+ baht and happy to pay more for a bigger power supply.
Can get help reinstalling software, or could I get away reusing the existing hard drive?
Live in Chiangmai and would be delighted if some kind person could coach me on what to order and where to go to get machine assembled.
Would like flat pack box if possible.
Thanks for your time.
Baz
-
Serious question.
I have lived in CM about six years.
In 2011 smoke was very bad and I ended up three nights in hospital on drip and supplementary oxygen.
Left for the coast, Sihanoukville, and symptoms cleared after a few days.
Stayed in SHVL for about five weeks but became depressed towards the end as I became more aware of the suffering of many in Cambodia.
Believe escape to anywhere on the coast will be effective.
Or time visit to home country to coincide with smoke season.
See : aqicn.org/map/thailand/
This gives map showing air quality monitoring sites and real time air quality readings. Plus lots of information about atmospheric air pollution.
The masks advertised on the site are grossly over priced.
This year for various reasons will try to stay in CM over the smoky season.
Plan for when pollution levels from CM monitoring site go red:
Keep my small condo flat closed as much as possible.
Use portable m mains power air filter unit to clean air inside flat.
Will monitor air quality and not go out on days that are very bad.
When I do go out will wear 2.5 rating mask (see URL above for info on masks).
The simple cloth masks may be worse than useless.
2.5 rated masks available from 3M agent on LH side Wualai road going away from the moat.
There is a large PHILLIPS sign on the front of the building.
Do shopping and meet friends in air conditioned buildings.
Will avoid exercise and long walks outdoors.
At first sign of distress will head for the coast.
Note that the particles are so fine that they may not induce coughing but pass through biological barriers into the blood to give symptoms like flu and hence you may not realise that air pollution is the cause of the problem. Air pollution in CM can and does kill susceptible people.
Would be grateful for any comments on this topic.
Like the idea of SSD for the OS. Advice on unit to buy and price?
Is Thailand's climate hotting up like other parts of the world?
in General Topics
Posted
Spectral analysis of the best estimates of global surface temperatures over the last two thousand years or more indicate a slow wave of approximately one thousand years, conveniently peaking around year 0 BCE, then 1000, 2000. Note that records from Europe and China indicate that the warm periods were times of unprecedented prosperity and social and economic advancement. Note also the invasions of the British Isles around these times, the country then being very attractive with grapes growing and wine being made along what is now the English / Scottish border. The shorter eleven year cycle is understood by many people. I am old enough to remember 'climate scientists' around 1970 claiming that the earth was cooling and popular magazines had covers depicting ice floes and icebergs off Manhattan. The present muttering about 'climate change' (they gave up on 'global warning' when there was no increase in temperatures short term) is discussed in the 19th century classic : 'The Madness of Crowds, and other Popular Delusions'.