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TheScribe

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Posts posted by TheScribe

  1. Any updates here? I'm in the same area (San Sai, Doi Saket) and I need to get rid of some large items too. Is there a dump nearby? The local recycling guys don't take stuff like ancient knackered furniture...

  2. Not sure which forum this should go in, but I have a problem with new electric kettles. Before Christmas our old one broke so I bought a new 2 litre column water boiler with teflon-type inner lining. On first use it had a nasty chemical smell, so we boiled and discarded the water a few times. However, even after about 20 fill and discards, it's still got the nasty smell/taste.

    So then I bought an inexpensive electric jug kettle with plain steel body - and dammit that's also got the same smell as the column even after many changes of water! And its not just me, the missus complains about it too. Not only is it unpleasant, but I worry if its toxic and dangerous too.

    These are devices not from the same brand, but I perhaps the manufacturers are using a new process or something.

    Anyone had a similar experience? Or any idea what to do about it?

  3. I live in a rented house in a gated development on the edge of CM. Behind the house is a patch of empty ground that's part of the next development. On Sunday, a family drove their pickup full of rubbish (broken plastic and waste building materials etc) and dumped it right behind my house. I'm really not happy about that. I've got the number of the pickup and maybe I will contact my landlord about the problem.

    Surely dumping rubbish like that is illegal, but maybe I'll get into trouble if I start reporting it to landlords/cops etc. Should I just forget about it? Move house?

  4. Like most of the readers here, I use the Internet mostly for stuff outside Thailand. I had TOT ADSL for years, finally got fed up with it slowing to a crawl, especially in the evenings. Few days ago I got the TOT Fiber 2U 15Mbps service and had the kit installed. The max speed between about 3am and 8am is about right, but evenings are still terrible. testmy.net to the Amsterdam server can be around 300Kbps or 3% of what I was hoping for!

    Tech support said I should go to the TOT office and get a different package. Went to the TOT office this morning, they said they would send round a tech support guy tomorrow! I guess my crappy Passa Thai didn't help, but does anyone know what's going on here? Is this something I have to put up with? Are there different packages for International Internet from TOT?

    Sensible and knowledgable advice gratefully received.

  5. I have now cancelled my subscription to True cable internet, as I was unhappy with the performance as well as the strange additional network. True DOCSIS users can only check for an extra wireless net using a WiFi scanner or looking for available networks on a PC, iPhone etc. My case may have been a one-off attempt to hack, or may be part of True's means of keeping control. Whatever, I'm happy to be back on TOT ADSL and want to forget the whole thing.

  6. I've just had True install a 15 Mbps cable internet, they've given (sold) me a 4-port WiFi router branded as "Technicolor" (!).

    I've set up what they call the Primary Wireless Network and its OK. I don't really need it as I have an Apple Airport to support WiFi.

    However, there are problems:

    1. The DOCSIS router has an additional WiFi network called Tech_nnnnnnn that I can't access or delete. It's on the 5MHz band, even though my configured network is stuck on 2.4MHz.

    2. When I try to switch off the WiFi altogether, the router just won't do that - WiFi is permanently on whether I like it or not.

    My guess is that True have set this up so they can get into it anytime from outside my house. For me it's an unwanted security risk and power drain, and I'm not happy with it at all.

    Anyone seen anything like this? Any ideas about what I can do about it?

  7. New Honda scooter with a 150cc engine been anounced - looks more expensive than the cheap Clicks

    http://www.aphonda.co.th/product/2013/HondaSh150i/index.asp

    I think I have seen those in Europe. They are a bit larger (also larger wheels I think) than your average Scoopi. Perfect for us heavy farangs thumbsup.gif .

    The SH is the real world model for Honda and they they could not make a better move introducing it to Thailand. Look at the yell saying "N. 1 in Italy" on the main page, it is also the most stolen scooter over there. The optional trunk is also "Design in Italy", and it looks nice even with the (virtually unknown in Thailand) windshield. Can someone explain what are other three accessories ?

    The ESP is a fantastic engine and with the full plane footrest this is the scooter that one wants for uncompromised mobility, practicalness and short trips. Well done Honda, it took you 20 years but then you did it.

    [edit] Just saw the price. Overpriced. But if noney is not an issue, it is in my opinion, the best scooter one can buy.

    Can't see the price on the website. How does it compare to PCX150?

  8. Agree with Cuban. I rent rackspace at a couple of locations, and run them as dedicated VPN endpoints. Cheaper than using a VPN service provider, you get dedicated IP addresses, use any choice of port ID, and OpenVPN is the software behind most of the commercial offerings and comes free. Absolutely rock solid and fool-proof, as far as I can tell.

    This sounds great to me. Can you please post some info on how to set this up. Recommended server offerings in the UK and steps needed to get it up and running would be great, thanks.

  9. If your going to be using the VPN on apple products you need to keep in mind the IOS only supports pptp l2pp and IPsec. Most Vpn providers use openvpn. You will have to use 3rd party software (tunnelblick) on OSX which may or may not be hard for you to setup.

    Don't the VPN providers set you up with what you need, or at least give instructions for their network?

    I'm using Witopia, so I don't know about the other providers. Witopia provide an app for Windows or OSX that does all the setup for you. In OSX, you can allow it to show in your top menubar. When you want to connect, you drop down the menu and select the server you want (from which country), or you can just allow Witopia to connect every time when you start up.

    As for OpenVPN, yes Witopia supports that on OSX with their app. You do not have to install and configure Tunnelblick or anything else.

    Witopia supports OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP and IPSec on their servers and supplies setup instructions for iOS and OSX (and more). It works well for me. On OSX their client supports OpenVPN (default) plus L2TP and PPTP. OSX and iOS have native L2TP, PPTP and IPSec.

    Unfortunately, none of this seems much help with the abysmal degradation of service from the Thai ISPs.

  10. Some works going on in Mee Chok Plaza behind Rimping. It's taken out a lot of parking, now almost impossible to find a place. Ever more development and less and less parking seems like a ripoff for existing tenants and customers.

    Anyone know what's going on there?

  11. Unholy Smokes !

    The AQM "Report" site showing detailed tabular (by the hour) data for Chiang Mai for today (Tuesday) now reports PM10 = 297 (!) at Yupparaj Wittayalai at 11am today, and 165.14 at 10am, and City Hall reported at 157.5 at 11am.

    The main page summarizing all AQI listings, shows Chiang Mai Yupparaj at PM10 = 171 at 11am: the value #297 appears only if you use the "Annotated TimeLine" view, and click the "Table" option for view type; all other views are consistent with a reading of #171.

    I assume this an error in measurement, or editing, etc., unless a major fire just happened near that monitoring station, or a cyclone just transported 100 million cubic meters of air direct from Mae Hong Son and dropped it on Thanon Phra Pok Klao.

    Seeing a PM-10 of 297 did give me a certain tingling sensation.

    yours, ~o:37;

    I think its the difference between a spot reading and 24 hour moving average. At 12:00 its 122.

    The moving average avoids huge changes in the figures when a passing wave of dirt hits.

    • Like 1
  12. Sorry to hear about your loss. Hope it works out and you get your money back.

    Things to do to protect yourself from this kind of thing in the future:

    1) Set a low daily limit on your ATM card. (If you need more, take bankbook and passport to your branch).

    2) Set up SMS notification for all activities over 1000THB for all your accounts.

    3) Set up 2-part authentication for all online transactions over 1000THB. This means the bank sends a code to your mobile phone that you have to type in on your web session. Thieves have to steal your password AND your phone.

    Constant vigilance is the price we pay for not getting robbed.

    • Like 1
  13. Really its a bagatelle. Try a box or a bottle, seems pretty nice, buy another and maybe its OK too. Next time, the brand can't be found. Or even worse, it can be found but this time the box or bottle look the same but what's in it really isn't. More fool you (or me).

    I like wine and I've travelled a lot. I've been cheated on wine in the UK, US, France (often!) Switzerland, Germany, Australia and, yes even Thailand. I think the level of deception and swindling is even worse than the used car biz. And its global.

    There's no solution - unless you're very wealthy and can buy your own vineyard and winery.

    Sorry about that.

    • Like 1
  14. Because it's only 11 months old, I think you should put the original disk back in the machine. Then read the support info that came in the box. There will be phone number(s) - call them to find out what to do next.

    Hope this helps.

  15. Well somebody's got to kick off the topic, because it's shaping up to be a whopper.

    I'm living in a development/moobaan close to the Ching Mai/Doi Saket border. Last three nights, the foulest smell and fumes of local burning at about 9pm and 5am have been terrible. The selfish ignorant bastards are burning domestic unsorted refuse with every kind of plastic and industrial waste, I'm sure. Me, my misses & our kids are coughing and choking. Men mark mark doesn't begin to describe it.

    Well I'm really very very sorry about the shootings in Connecticut, but right now I want to grab my (unfortunately non-existent) M16 and shoot the fugh out of these Chiang Mai burn perps. Why? 'Cos they're killing me and my family. I believe I have the right to defend myself and my family against severe harm, and that includes access to breathable non-toxic air. And that right is morally and legally enforcable irrespective of nationality/residency/ethnicity/whatever.

    So are we going to do anything about the burn perps? I think we need to found the Chiang Mai Clean Air Retaliation Brigade. Lots of Canadair water-bombers, troops with asbestos boots and Fahrenheit 451 fire-trucks. Will we do it? Will we fugh. In our impotence we will eat the airborne <deleted> like just we always did before. Or... or..? Could we really... Could we really fight back? Really?

  16. I live a bit out of town in a modern development. Over my back wall is the next development - but most of the lots are empty. With the rains, a few nearby empty plots have pooled and there's a plague of mosquitoes brewing. I'm tempted to buy a few gallons of insecticide, a pair of Wellingtons and do the necessary.

    Is this the right move? Or should I complain to the management of the neighbouring moobaan (assuming they give a dam_n, which I doubt).

    And if go with the DIY insecticide and Wellies, where can I get this kit?

    Thanks for your considered advice.

    TheScribe.

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