Coss

I can't for the life of me figure out how to post the link to the video here, so go to the article if you want vid - http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/69562122/jon-stewart-abandons-humour-on-daily-show-after-charleston-church-shooting Herein some of the transcript, Daily is right in what he says: >> "I've got nothing for you in terms of jokes and sounds because of what happened in South Carolina. "Maybe if I wasn't nearing the end of my run or this wasn't such a common occurrence, maybe I could have pulled out of the spiral, but I didn't. Nine people were killed on Thursday when 21-year-old Dylann Roof opened fire at a bible study group at an African American Methodist church in South Carolina. "I honestly have nothing other than just sadness that, once again, we have peer into the abyss of the depraved violence that we have to do to each other," Stewart said, "and the nexus of a gaping racial wound that will not heal yet we pretend doesn't exist." The influential talk show host criticised America's disproportionate response to threats from terrorist attacks while doing nothing about homegrown shootings, before declaring the South Carolina massacre a terrorist attack. "This is a terrorist attack. This is a violent attack on the Emanuel Church in South Carolina which is a symbol for the black community." "I hate to use this pun, but this one is black and white. There is no nuance here," he said to cheers from a live studio audience. "In South Carolina, the roads that black people drive on are named after confederate generals who fought to keep black people from being able to drive freely on that road. That's insanity." Stewart's speech came ahead of an appearance from Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai. "Al Qaeda, all those guys, ISIS - they're not s*** compared to the damage that we can apparently do to ourselves on a regular basis," Stewart said. "To be quite honest with you, I don't think there's anyone else in the world I would rather talk to tonight that Malala, so that's what we're going to do, and sorry about no jokes."

ICAO gives Thailand 4 more months to sort out safety standards THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) yesterday continued to red-flag Thailand over safety standards and gave the country another four months to tackle this issue. Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong admitted the country had not passed the ICAO safety standards yet, but vowed to continue the hard work to get the red flag removed as soon as possible. Thai Airways International, meanwhile, issued a statement reassuring its customers worldwide that the airline had consistently adhered to the highest international safety standards and was not affected by the red flag. In February this year, the ICAO told Thailand it had significant concerns (SSC) regarding aviation safety standards. Prajin said yesterday the ICAO had told Thai officials in Canada that the Kingdom had until November this year to continue tackling the issue before the next evaluation. "In my opinion, it looks like we failed this time," said Prajin, adding that aviation authorities in other countries might consider cancelling flights operating from Thailand due to the red flag. Thai-registered airlines will likely face a loss of goodwill, higher operating costs and increasing competition from foreign carriers. In addition, Thai carriers can expect an increase in costs from higher aircraft lease rates, more stringent maintenance covenants, and surges in insurance premiums. The industry will likely see increased competition from foreign carriers that may launch new routes to capture under-served passengers travelling to and from Thailand. Thai carriers may also lose personnel to foreign counterparts looking to boost their own manpower. Of all the sub-segments in the airline industry, charter carriers will lose out the most as their operating licences are issued on a case-by-case basis, while full service airlines and medium-haul low-cost carriers will experience some setbacks to their growth plans from an inability to fly new routes or increase flight frequencies. Domestic low-cost carriers will likely be the least affected. According to the ICAO website, Thailand had secured 76.19 per cent for aviation legislation while getting only 46.15 per cent for organisation of government agencies to ensure safety standards, which is below the global average. As for operations, the country got 64.84 per cent, slightly above the global average of 66.24 per cent. Earlier, the ICAO said the significant safety concerns meant that there were questions about the ability of the state to properly oversee airlines under its jurisdiction. As for other aspects, comprising airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodromes, Thailand got higher scores than the global average. Currently, the countries hit with a red flag are Angola, Botswana, Djibouti, Eritrea, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Sierra Leone and Uruguay. Meanwhile, Thai Airways International president Charamporn Jotikasthira said: "A significant safety concern [as cited by the ICAO] does not necessarily indicate a particular safety deficiency in the air-navigation service providers, airlines [air operators], aircraft or aerodromes but, rather, indicates that the state is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO standards." http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/ICAO-gives-Thailand-4-more-months-to-sort-out-safe-30262658.html

And yet - After a lot of talk about Thai flag carriers losing permission to fly to Europe and North America due to safety issues, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) today announced that it operates with the highest safety standards in all operational areas. Mr. Charamporn Jotikasthira, THAI President, said that in light of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) public posting a red flag today on Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation (Thai DCA), as a result of the findings during the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) and the issuance of a Significant Safety Concern (SSC), Thai Airways International wants to reassure the travelling public that THAI operates with the highest safety standards in all operational areas. “A significant safety concern (SSC) does not necessarily indicate a particular safety deficiency in the air navigation service providers, airlines (air operators), aircraft or aerodrome; but, rather, indicates that the State is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO Standards,†ICAO. Despite the ICAO having “identified that Thailand has a significant safety concern with respect to the ability of the Thai DCA to properly oversee airlines under its jurisdiction,†Thai Airways International assures all parties that THAI strictly practices the safety standards of these international agencies. EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau) IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) Since 13 February 2015, when ICAO first issued the SSC on Thai DCA, Thai Airways International has had to rely on other states’ civil aviation authorities to provide oversight for where THAI operates. As such, THAI has undergone additional and more frequent safety audits and station inspections by these authorities; and as a result of these audits, THAI has been able to continue operating regular flights to these countries. In the very near future, THAI will be audited at the Company’s base by other states’ civil aviation authorities. http://www.eturbonew...afety-standards

ICAO red-flags Thailand The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICASO) has red-flagged Thailand for its failure to address significant safety concerns (SSC) regarding safety standards within the 90-day deadline. According to Bangkok Post, SSC indicates that Thailand is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO standards, said ICAO. Former director-general of Civil Aviation Department, Mr Chaisak Aungsuwan, said that the placing of red-flag on Thailand ICAO website is a normal procedure to inform the public of Thailand not providing sufficient safety oversight. He added that this was not a matter of serious concern as concerned Thai authorities have been trying to solve the problem. THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said that ICAO’s red-flagging indicated the Civil Aviation Department’s safety oversight failure but it did not mean that air navigation services, airlines, airports and air craft of Thailand were substandard. http://englishnews.t...-flags-thailand

I don't think it's the bar, it's mostly the operatives I would think.

" i just can't help putting out a counter-point, it needs to be done." that's right !

What the planes should do, is have big seats at the front and slowly they get smaller as you get to tiny ones at the back. That way, all the important people, (Wives, Children, small men Politicians) are protected most, in case of a crash. And all us fellas get to make the plane front-heavy, which'll make it go faster right? Saving fuel and time.

Yep and the excess baggage gets moor room in the hold, having paid for it. Should do, I think that would be fair, along with a smaller seat. I'd (and you'd) be better off with larger seats. Actually, between you and your wife, you'd average two normal fares Now if only they could get you a large seat and your wife a smaller one.

What Pretendingtobemale said. and also I've woken up in much worse condition than I should have, sometimes I put it down to really crap G&Ts, sometimes I thought I had been drugged, but still had my money, not sure. I suppose it's eminently possible that my forays into mind altering experiences when young, had predisposed me to some measure of control and theretofore the charming little pixies had no opportunity to rob me, if I was a victim of spiked drinks. But I guess I'll never know.

If we're going to open the 'fatties pay more' argument, I say this - If I'm three times the weight and I'm paying three times the price, I want three times the space, three times the food and three times the G&Ts. Thats how it works. And three times the obsequious smiles, while we're at it. Think Mr Creosote.

Heres one on climate change http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11465003 NZ should expect more droughts.

Not those evil Aussies though http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/indonesia-waives-visa-requirements-for-45-countries and Vietnam soon too.... http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/06/vietnam-extends-visa-free-list/

Nice to see Brosnan in this type of role, he's getting better as he gets older.

Survivor 2015 - Milla Jojovich Pierce Brosnan, both very good in this, modern day explosions, intelligence people, well worth a watch.

Debt-ridden Thailand being sucked into whirlpool of deflation Thanong Khanthong BANGKOK: -- Disinflation - or negative inflation - has hit Thailand for the past five months in a row. In the first quarter of this year, inflation was minus-0.5 per cent. The situation worsened in April, with inflation at negative-1.04 per cent. In May the disinflation surged to -1.27 per cent, prompting growing concern as to whether deflation is waiting on the horizon. While disinflation is a temporary phenomenon of price decline, deflation represents a general collapse in prices and demand, aggravated by a lack of fresh investment and a marked slowdown in the velocity of money (its speed of circulation). Once an economy plunges into a deflationary spiral, it is extremely difficult to perk it up again. A dose of fiscal expansion and sharp rate cuts will have to be met with renewed confidence and fresh investment to create employment. The advanced economies - the United States, the UK, Japan and most recently Europe - have embarked on this policy of Keynesian spending and zero interest rates to pull themselves out of the severe slump, yet despite seven years of unorthodox methods a recovery is nowhere in sight. Indeed, a recovery can never come under the current insurmountable level of indebtedness. Global debt has reached $200 trillion, or three times the size of the global GDP of $70 trillion. The global economy can't grow with more debt. Without debt restructuring, any recovery is out of the question. Most Thai economists agree that deflation is not on the table yet, as the marginal fall in prices, caused by weak oil and food prices, will hit rock bottom soon after the economic pickup. "We expect headline inflation to bottom out and then pick up gradually from June onwards," Phatra Securities reported on Tuesday. "However, we expect that headline inflation will not turn positive until the fourth quarter of 2015." Disinflation and deflation aside, Thailand is entering a dangerous period of economic slump and geopolitical risks. The downturn is caused by weak demand, both internally and externally. Household debt has reached Bt10.4 trillion, in a Thai economy whose total size is Bt13 trillion. Thai consumers no longer have much room to buy. To consume more they will have to further leverage their household balance sheet. They can't create more debt. This has resulted in an overcapacity or oversupply situation in the economy. Businesses do not want to invest further because they can't sell their goods or products. Banks are more reluctant to lend for fear of bad debts. Small and medium-scale enterprises are being hit hard by the lack of fresh credit and weak consumer demand. Externally, the Thai export sector, which has been the engine of the Thai growth, is sputtering. The export sector has also registered shrinkage five months in a row, with figures for the first quarter of 2015 showing minus-4.3 per cent growth. The explanation is either weak overseas demand or a lack of competitiveness in Thai industries. If overseas demand is the problem, there is nothing much we can do. If we cut the prices - by lowering the baht exchange rate - other countries can do the same, triggering a currency war. If the problem lies in exports' loss of competitiveness, then Thai industries have to take responsibility. So what should be the appropriate policy response from Thai authorities? Government spending grew almost 30 per cent in the first quarter of this year, offering a degree of economic stimulus. But we all know that fiscal stimulus has its limitations. One can't expect the government to create a heavy debt burden year in and year out in order to perk up the economy. Japan and other welfare states have tried this medicine before and all ended up with unsustainable public debt. In the case of Japan, the government debt to GDP has reached a staggering 240 per cent. Creating more debt risks destroying the value of the yen, now hanging by a thread and on life support provided by the Bank of Japan's government bond-buying programme. Then it comes to the efficacy of monetary policy. The Bank of Thailand acted as if it had blood in its eyes when it cut its benchmark rate twice in a row to 1.50 per cent. The banking authorities must have seen disturbing signs in the economy, prompting them to cut the rates in a hurry. First, they want to send out a signal that they are providing an accommodative environment to stimulate domestic demand and growth. Second, they want to encourage the banks to extend further credit, particularly to the SMEs. Third, they want to rely on exchange rate targeting to boost exports. In macroeconomic management, we can't overdo both the fiscal expansion and the monetary stimulus. Government overspending will create debt burden for future generations. Besides, disbursements are not timely enough. At the same time, monetary stimulus, if it is overcooked, discourages businesses, industry, households and the private sector in general from making appropriate adjustments to the actual prices. For the Bank of Thailand's low interest rate policy carries a double-barrel effect: lowering the cost of borrowing and weakening the baht. But we can see that the banks have not cut their borrowing rates to match the central bank's rate reduction. Thai banks' profit margins remain at a historic high compared to banks in other countries, with profits of Bt50 billion in the first quarter of this year. A quick calculation projects bank profits at Bt200 billion this year. Banks are fattening their pocketbooks at the expense of the general economy and Thai borrowers. That's why Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul was rather emotional when he found out that the banks had maintained their borrowing rates intact. That means Thai consumers are not benefiting from this round of rate cuts. Now we come to the exchange rate targeting. The baht is losing value in a hurry under the Bank of Thailand's deliberate policy to weaken the currency. Last month alone, the baht weakened by 4 per cent, almost touching Bt34 to the dollar. Siam Commercial Bank recently predicted exchange rate targeting could drive the baht down to Bt35 before the end of the year. Destroying currency value is a bad money policy, but, strangely enough, most central bankers have adopted it in earnest. Weakening a country's currency might benefit the domestic export sector in the short term, but overall it harms the nation's purchasing power. Inflation will strike back with a vengeance. Under good money policy, the value of the currency remains stable over time. This benefits not only grass-roots citizens but also the overall economy, because all the participants do not have to play catch-up with runaway inflation. A low interest rate environment, coupled with a weakening currency, discourages the economy from making the necessary adjustments. Bad companies, which should have folded, remain on the scene to create future burden. They use resources that they don't deserve access to. A low interest rate policy also drives away savings. Capital accumulation gives way to speculative investment in the stock market or real estate. Retirees or pensioners earn nothing from their bank savings. They do not deserve this kind of punishment from bad money policy, in which they almost earn nothing from interest returns while at the same time the baht's value diminishes steadily and harms their purchasing power. In the end, the way out for Thailand is a combination of appropriate doses of fiscal and monetary medicine that allow the economy to adjust at its own pace. Thailand has already fallen into a debt trap, with combined private and government debt to GDP reaching 130 per cent. This high debt level will have to be brought down via restructuring, because raising incomes to pay down the debt looks almost impossible now given the global outlook. The government can tax the rich more to help out the poor. The banks must make less profit. The Bank of Thailand must not be tempted into a monetary trap, which would risk plunging the country into a zero interest rate environment. By that time it would be too late to save the baht. Source: http://www.nationmul...o-30261656.html

Firstly, please note the post earlier, entitled "Defense Minister: Thailand will be able to have yellow card given by EU rescinded" ________________ Agriculture Min admits inability to end IUU fishing by deadline BANGKOK, 5 June 2015 (NNT) – Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya has indicated a possibility that Thailand’s effort to eradicate illegal fishing will not yet be successful within the six-month deadline given by the European Union. After Thailand was given a yellow card by the EU due to its failure to comply with the Regulation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, Mr Petipong affirmed the government has clearly demonstrated its determination to address the issue. Personally, he believes it is unlikely for Thailand to become completely free from the problem of IUU fishing in a matter of only six months as demanded by the EU. However, he insisted that the goal will eventually be achieved with the cooperation from all sectors. At present, the minister sees the need for the government to beef up its control of fishing methods that can be harmful to the environment and make amendments to the existing fishery laws for higher effectiveness. He said the overall operational plan will also have to be improved in order to restore the EU’s confidence while anticipating more clarity on the plan within this month. Regarding the management of fishery workers to prevent human trafficking, Mr Petipong conceded it is a difficult task despite the ministry’s cooperation with the Royal Thai Navy and the Immigration Bureau. According to him, the inspection of fishing vessels departing and arriving at the port is especially hard to manage while the shortage of workers on board experienced by some operators is another issue to be addressed. Ahem

AFAIK most asian cell phone providers will load you with extra services like calling melodies and pink frilly emotions on an opt out basis, i.e. you have to tell them you don't want them. Even with my limited language abilities I've found the best approach is to confront a pretty and nervous service girl at the phone companies offices and point at the offending service on the phone, whilst uttering "Mai Ow" (Thailand) or "Bor Ow" (Laos) this usually works and has the tangential result of flushing the nervous and pretty girl's complexion. Hope this helps.

Ex Machina 2015 - quite good, notable for beautiful female lead and also a hot asian chick. Deals with AI and Turing test, for real (well movie real). Not quite as deep and meaningful as the makers no doubt think it is, but well worth a watch.

Actually, from the OP, if meat and dairy farms drain half the country's water, we should be grateful. The amount of rain we get here, if half of it wasn't being drained, we'd be flooded all the time.

on an unrelated note, apparently this one is 28-year-old reality TV star famous for? being in the same family of fat girls who are famous for wanting to be famous circle jerks

How do you know if someone's a Vegan? Don't worry, they'll tell you.

good bad or indifferent?

Modern thinking suggests they are all able to be rehabilitated. Though I'd bet a dollar or two, that the young'un who held up the human head, will do it again when he's a teenager and full of angst. The tribalist in me says put them in the grinder and make fertiliser.

Kingsman The Secret Service 2014 - previously reviewed here. My take is - enjoyable, some nice music, a little 20 something-ish, nice exploding heads, if they do a sequel I'll look. Worth a watch.