Jump to content

Coss

Board Sponsors
  • Posts

    17340
  • Joined

  • Days Won

    353

Everything posted by Coss

  1. I'd want to know what the effect of those cities, that the Chinese built to house millions, and are still empty, is on the short to medium term future of the Chinese economy.
  2. These are the subways in Vientiane, no-one knows where they go to...
  3. High-profile scams at the airport are threatening Thailand's allure for tourists Bangkok's taxi drivers are once again in the spotlight for overcharging, after recent complaints by foreign visitors and expats garnered huge attention on the social media. Two Japanese expats, both of them long-term Thailand residents, drew much support from both the locals and foreign tourists for their separate condemnations of cab drivers who refused to use the meter and attempted to overcharge them. Thais, too, have long had to deal with the unscrupulous practises of some Bangkok taxi drivers. But unlike foreign tourists, few natives of the city are refused the meter - probably because they know its use is mandatory, so cabbies don't bother to try the scam. Instead, the biggest complaint against cabbies made by Thai Bangkokians is being refused a ride. Each year sees several thousand official complaints of cabbies saying no to a fare. Refusing a passenger is against Department of Land Transport regulations and is punishable by a fine of up to Bt1,000. The drivers often come up with excuses for their reluctance, such as having to return the taxi shortly or being low on fuel. But many simply drive off without bothering to offer a reason. Of the more than 1,000 complaints filed against taxi drivers every month on average, most of them involve refusing passengers, according to Department of Land Transport records. That leads to about 3,000 fines handed out each year to rogue cabbies, while more than 1,000 others get official warnings, according to the agency. Dissatisfaction with Bangkok cabs hailed on the street helps explain why more and more of us are switching to the taxi apps and pre-booked services as a more reliable alternative. The problem at Suvarnabhumi Airport is a long-standing one. Observing the undisguised disappointment of cabbies at being handed the job of ferrying a Thai passenger to a destination close to the airport is an all-too common experience for users of this service. The cabbies prefer foreign tourists, who are more likely to want to go to destinations outside Bangkok, such as Pattaya. In such cases, unscrupulous drivers can add hundreds of baht to the standard long-distance fare. The Land Transport Department is studying the feasibility of doubling the surcharge for airport taxis from the current rate of Bt50. Increasing it to Bt100 may help satisfy the many cab drivers who have complained about making insufficient income, but it will certainly upset many passengers. However, if an extra Bt50 will help discourage taxi drivers from overcharging or refusing to use the meter, it is probably a price worth paying. But the authorities must ensure that cab drivers keep to their side of that bargain, and don't add extra charges. It should be remembered that the majority of Bangkok's taxi drivers are honest and professional. However, a minority of rogue cabbies are damaging the image of the service as a whole by trying to cheat passengers, particularly foreigners, whom they view as easy targets. These unscrupulous habits threaten to drive visitors away and damage Thailand's allure for tourists. To deal with the rogues, authorities need to properly enforce the rules already in place - especially at the Kingdom's gateway, Suvarnabhumi. So, if someone is increasing fares illegally, effectively stealing, then give them more money to stop them? What a good idea. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Use-carrot-and-stick-to-rein-in-rogue-cabbies-30252875.html
  4. Both humpback and blue whales are being hunted for research New Zealand and Australian scientists are about to hunt some of the biggest predators in the icy Southern Ocean - humpback and blue whales. The NIWA research vessel Tangaroa leaves Wellington today for a six-week voyage to Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica via the Balleny Islands, about 2000km south of New Zealand. Twenty-one scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Antarctica NZ and the Australian Antarctic Division are aboard, hoping to find out more about the Antarctic population of whales, as well as Antarctic toothfish and what they feed on. "The Balleny Islands are known as a feeding hotspot for humpbacks but little is known about what they eat," says voyage leader Richard O'Driscoll. "Commercial whaling almost wiped out the blue whales, however, there are signs they are now starting to come back." The scientists will drop "sonobuoys" in the water which will allow them to listen for the whales' songs and pinpoint where the whale "hotspots" are in the frigid waters. The expedition is costing $4 million and the scientists say it will be well worth it for the information gathered. source
  5. I post this not to argue for or against global warming, but to demonstrate that as far as projections go, which are models, not facts, the jury is still out, when they can't agree. --- Catherine Griffin First Posted: Jan 26, 2015 12:06 PM EST Temperature variability is important to take into account when it comes to long-term trends. Now, though, scientists have discovered that climate models may disagree on why these temperature "wiggles" occur. (Photo : Irina Gorodetskaya) Temperature variability is important to take into account when it comes to long-term trends. Now, though, scientists have discovered that climate models may disagree on why these temperature "wiggles" occur. "The inconsistencies we found among the models are a reality check showing we may not know as much as we thought we did," said Patrick Brown, one of the researchers, in a news release. "This doesn't mean greenhouse gases aren't causing Earth's atmosphere to warm up in the long run. It just means the road to a warmer world may be bumpier and less predictable, with more decade-to-decade temperature wiggles than expected. If you're worried about climate change in 2100, don't over-interpret short-term trends. Don't assume that the reduced rate of global warming over the last 10 years foreshadows what the climate will be like in 50 or 100 years." The researchers analyzed 34 climate models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its fifth and most recent assessment report. While the scientists found good consistency among the models explaining the causes of year-to-year temperature wiggles, they found inconsistencies in the models' abilities to explain decade-to-decade variable. For example, the models had trouble explaining why global mean surface temperatures warmed quickly during the 1980s and 1990s and have remained relatively stable since then. "When you look at the 34 models used in the IPCC report, many give different answer about what is causing this decade-to-decade variability," said Brown. "Some models point to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation as the cause. Other models point to other causes. It's hard to know which is right and which is wrong." The findings are published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. ---
  6. Coss

    Any New Jokes

    Where are the Women?
  7. Not that there shouldn't be propaganda, there are numerous reasons why one should promote one's own culture in the face of others.
  8. I think that Thais may equate tourism, as being paid/rewarded for being, just the best little people there are, merit for being Thai. SO... when a foreigner behaves in an inappropriate (not to the sensibilities of the locals) manner, they are not only dicking with the stream of money and merit, but with Thai-ness itself. This of course, brings on that less talked about facet of Thai-ness, that of going 'ballistic', 'apeshit', 'berserk' and applying unnecessary and excessive violence to a Foreigner.
  9. Mystery over death of Irish man in Thailand http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mystery-over-death-of-irish-man-in-thailand-30936941.html QUESTIONS have been raised over the circumstances surrounding the death of an Irish man in Thailand. Sligo native John Fintan Brett (68) was found dead at his apartment in the provincial capital of Buriram, about 220 miles north east of Bangkok yesterday. Mr Brett is understood to have suffered extensive head injuries. While Thai police are claiming the death came as a result of a fall, a friend has questioned their version of events. John Porteus, and IT manager based in Thailand, has called for Mr Brett’s body to be returned to Ireland to allow a full post mortem to take place here. “Police are trying to say he just fell over. None of his friends believes the police storyâ€, Mr Porteus told The Star. “He had very serious head injuries.†Mr Porteus claimed Mr Brett had been involved in disagreements with locals. However Mr Brett’s son told the paper the family have been told their father died as a result of a fall. His family said he had been injured in two previous falls. The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to the family. --- Thai Police spokesman Major General Captain Admiral Cheerleader Vice Consul General Secretary Colonel Somchai, newly of inactive post 423 Buriram, but known to readers as a former leading criminal investigator from Bangkok, Koh Tao and islands division, was forthright in his view that, "I believe this is all part of a concerted effort by foreigners and especially the foreign press to disrespect Thailand and Thainess. I think the government should consider legal action, clearly, this is defamation and damages the reputation of Thailand, as the home of the most beautiful people in the world." when referring to the Independent news article. Further, he said, "Everyone knows, that extensive head injuries are the clear indication of suicide by fall. This is one of the more popular methods of suicide. In fact it is the most common method of suicide by foreigners, when exiting upstairs bars in PatPong in Bangkok. We have many, many cases of foreigners deciding to end their lives by throwing themselves down stairs in shame, after finding that they are unable to pay the check bin, or bar tab at these entertainment venues." When asked to comment on his new post and the apparent unexplained death of John Fintan Brett, just days after his assuming his new role, Major General Captain Admiral Cheerleader Vice Consul General Secretary Colonel Somchai, was keen to expound that, "With my expert and perspicacious skills, that I bring to this post, I am confident that Foreigner Deaths, until now almost unknown in this part of Thailand, will now be quickly and efficiently processed and attributed to suicide, indeed I am confident that Buriram will become Thailand's leading hub of suicides by cunning foreigners bent on damaging Thailand's reputation". Major General Captain Admiral Cheerleader Vice Consul General Secretary Colonel Somchais superiors have been unavailable for comment.
  10. Khaosod English 26 January 2015, Last update at 12:48:00 GMT Koh Tao Mayor Blasts UK Media's 'Negative Reporting' SURAT THANI — The mayor of Koh Tao island, where a 23-year-old British tourist was found dead last week, has accused British media of damaging the island's reputation with spurious and negative news coverage. Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul said he is angered by unspecified "British media agencies" who have suggested that the death of the tourist, Christina Annesley, is connected to an alleged "mafia" syndicate on Koh Tao island. "It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media." Last September two other British tourists, 24-year-old David Miller and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, were found dead on Koh Tao. As police struggled to pin down a culprit, a number of media agenices began reporting about suspicions that "powerful families" on the island were engineering a cover-up. Two Burmese migrant workers were later arrested on charges of murdering Miller and raping and murdering Witheridge. The two 21-year-olds are currently awaiting trial in prison. Police have yet to determine the cause of death for Annesley, who was discovered dead in her bungalow on 21 January. Police did not publicly confirm her death to the press until 23 January, and were quick to stress that Annesley "was not murdered." Police say there were no apparent injuries or signs of struggle on Annseley's body, which has been dispatched to an autopsy center in Bangkok. Chaiyan, the Koh Tao mayor, said some media agencies have been unethically spreading unsubstantiated rumors about Annesley's death. "They have assumptions that match what they think, then publish those assumptions, because that's how the media works: do whatever will draw the attention of readers." He also complained about the behavior of some foreign tourists on Koh Tao island. "They want to have fun. They want to go all the way and liberate themselves. They like to do things without caring about other people," he said. "But we cannot interfere with them much. This is reality." The mayor said he hopes that "progressive" tourists on the island will help publicize the island’s positive attributes to fellow foreigners. "As for Koh Tao people, all of us are thinking about how to increase the number of foreign tourists every year." Chaiyan told Khaosod. "Koh Tao is lucky that people come all the way here to spend money. How can we maintain such a good fortune in the next 40-50 years?" comment would be superfluous
  11. Hobbit Five Armies - satisfying, if a little pedestrian conclusion to the Hobbit trilogy and a link to the first Lord of the Rings movie. I think that after a year or two, the whole six movies could make a day or a weekend's viewing, in the middle of a rainy winter.
  12. Very refreshing, and again raises the question, "Why would these folks want to go to a country full of infidels, public women and alcohol etc. Then try and convert it into a barren, rock strewn sandpit like they came from?" Wouldn't it: a/ be easier to stay home? b/ be a sin to leave the wonderful society they've built and expose themselves to western hedonism? On the other hand, good that they have a right to peacefully protest without being lynched. And good that the Aussies gave them 'what for'. BTW "Where are the Women?" is a phrase we all should remember if we encounter like situations. And calling them ZZtop is unwarranted, it's an insult to American Rock and the god of American Rock, Arthur Brown who could realistically unleash Fire on events like this.
  13. Coss

    Sidegra

    As a side note, any partakers of pecker pills notice an increase in Gout or Arthritic type problems? Just curious.
  14. Unfortunately I can't get a link to the vid but I saw one recently where the fake hens eggs are being sold in China again. Looking at one in isolation, you might be persuaded to buy them. They make people sick. In comparison to a real one it is obvious the fakes are fakes. All this brought to you by China, because some f**k has worked out how to make a fake toxic egg, at tenths of a cent cheaper than producing a real one and now wants to make his millions.
  15. You said it, and without getting into the argument too much, we should all remember that Hollywood essentially is propaganda. If you (Hollywood) can't have the populace living in fear (Alien films, Zombie films, War films, Disaster films), then you're not doing your job.
  16. The Little Death 2014 - 'stryne film - several interwoven stories - subject matter is sexual deviancies, if deviancies is not too strong a word. I thought this very good, made me laugh out loud several times. Not hollywood humour though, better. Well worth a watch, I recommend.
  17. all this taxi talk reminded me of Geronimo, a taxi driver from one of my long ago visits, an excerpt: "So my look sow, wants a mobile, having got it into my head that Seacon Square may offer better prices than MBK, I google a little map. Looks simple, On Nut BTS station, down that road and up that road, I could do a short walk. As it happens when I got there I was hot and bothered so I grabbed a cab, and that's when I met Geronimo. Geronimo was the cab driver, about ninety years old, wizened, consumptive, dissolute and sporting a pair of coke bottle bottom glasses that serve to collect light for his eyes. Yes he knew Seacon Square, so off we go. At considerable speed. And with agility not becoming of a middle aged Toyota. The coke bottle bottom glasses appeared to be helping him navigate, and whilst I thought that he was taking me to wherethefuckarewe? I then noticed the Soi 77 sign from the little map and concluded we were in for a longer trip than I had first thought. As we turned into Soi 77, barely on 4 wheels, scattering motor cycles in all directions, he started talking to me in Thai, one coke bottle bottom glass lens on me and one coke bottle bottom glass lens on the road, two different directions, like a chameleon. I didn't know what he was saying. He didn't appear to be too excited so I didn't worry. Hang on we've been past that building before! Whoaa! huge high speed u turn between two trucks and then we were there. Now that was exciting. Had a look around the mobiles at Seacon and concluded that MBK was the place for me. Taxi to Seacon Square with Geronimo 110 bht. Return taxi to On Nut with a regular driver, 60 bht."
  18. Excellent production values, but despite a good try, it really is bunch of arty actors trying to portray the reality of war. I would wager that some on this board could give us a 15 minute rundown on reality in conflict. But then it wouldn't be suitable for "Gosh Golly Big Box Office"! - worth a watch if only to see how tanks fight in wars
×
×
  • Create New...