Wino

I don't think this is true since it is cheaper to sms than to call. I do both depending on what my intentions are.

Depends on which plan you have, whether texting is cheaper than to call. I also do both. I find it easier to call.

I have had the motorola razor for the last two years. My contract was up and so decided to try one of the camera phones. I have a Samsung T929 Memoir. It's okay but wish I would have bought the iphone.

The winner is Paul G. Kirk Jr. The 71 year old loyal Kennedy supporter is now temporary appointee to replace Ted Kennedy in the US senate. Kirk has been Ted Kennedy's advisor, divorce lawyer, executor of his estate and now replacement to his Senate seat. Looks like a good choice.

The today show had a segment on this newborn. Some are suggesting "Hulk" as a name. This baby boy is not the heaviest baby born. An ABC station reports that the heaviest baby to survive weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounzes. The record is a baby born in 1879 weighing 23 pounds, 12 ounces but it died hours after birth.

This is great news. Thailand needs the beloved King to stay strong in these troubled times. Long live the King.

The US government is to embark on a major policy shift towards Burma after concluding that its long-term policy of sanctions had failed to sway the junta.

The US state department confirmed yesterday that the new strategy, while keeping sanctions in place, will involve high-level engagement with Burmese leaders, in line with Barack Obama's general policy of talking with countries it regards as international pariahs.

Obama, in contrast with George Bush's administration, has already offered to hold direct talks with Iran and North Korea.

The shift was signalled on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York last night when the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said she will move "in the direction of both engagement and continued sanctions".

Speaking at a Friends of Burma meeting, she said: "Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion. Going forward we will be employing both of those tools."

The US is pushing for the introduction of democracy and the release of the opposition leader and Nobel Peace prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

A spokesman for the National League for Democracy party said Aung San Suu Kyi agreed with the change in strategy. Nyan Win spoke after he met the Burmese opposition leader at her home, where she is serving her latest term of her house arrest.

"She accepted the idea of engagement by the US administration. She said she has always espoused engagement, however, [she] suggested that engagement had to be done with both sides the government as well as the democratic forces," Nyan Win said.

The strategy shift comes at the end of a policy review on Burma ordered by Clinton in February. The move coincides with a visit by the Burmese leader Than Shwe to the UN general assembly, the first senior member of the junta to attend for 14 years. In an effort to try to ease criticism of the country's human rights record, the junta is reported to have released 7,000 prisoners on the eve of his visit.

A US official familiar with the new policy said that when Clinton ordered the review she said that neither sanctions or the policy of engagement by the regional body ASEAN had worked.

"We will be using a mix of policy tools. Sanctions remain important. By themselves, they have not produced the results we would like, but that does not mean they don't have value. And also dialogue," said the official.

The official, stressing that the junta had been in power for more than 40 years, added: "I have to stress we're going into this with eyes wide open. We're not expecting dramatic, immediate results but we think that going forward with a more nuanced approach that focuses on trying to achieve results and that's based on pragmatism, it increases the chances of success over time."

Although the US and Burma have diplomatic relations, the official said the contact would be at a higher level than before, and that Burma and the US would soon appoint figures to act as interlocutors.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/24/burma-obama-foreign-policy

Khadafy is really a nutcase. His fifteen minutes of fame turns into 100 minutes of ranting. Muammar really knows how to smooze a crowd with his many insults. I wonder how Obama felt when he said, "Now the black man doesn't have to sit in the back of the bus, the American people made him president and we are proud of that." At least he didn't do a Fidel Castro and talk for over four hours.

As would long time pork chop eaters with heart disease and long time martini drinkers with bad livers.

A bunch of years ago the Gauloise cigarette company ran a billboard where they showed a bunch of people living in a nursing home.

The tagline was "Smoking will take years off your life, but consider which years."

I guess liver disease and many cancers would be a painful death, as well. For me, gasping for air is a difficult way to live. Nothing that a bullet to the temple won't cure!!

I think it started back when Tricky Dick was forced to resign over the Watergate mess. The Republicans have been trying to even the score ever since.

I think it started way before Tricky Dickie. Lincoln was ridiculed to the max by the opposition. I am sure Washington had his detractors. It is the game of politics. Too bad we cannot work together for the good of the country.

If only John-John were alive to go for his seat!

Looks like Massachusetts Governor Patrick may appoint Paul Kirk Jr. as Ted Kennedy's replacement. Kirk worked closely with Ted Kennedy as an advicer and friend. He should be a good replacement and much needed 60th senate vote for the democratic agenda.

JAKARTA (AFP) – An Indonesian woman has given birth to an 8.7-kilogramme (19.2-pound) baby boy, the heaviest newborn ever recorded in the country, a doctor said Wednesday.

The baby, who is still unnamed and is 62 centimetres (24.4 inches) long, was born by caesarean section Monday at a public hospital in North Sumatra province, a gynaecologist who took part in the operation told AFP.

I'm not embarrassed about my smoking.

I don't see it as any different from my love of pork chops and Russian vodka.

Sure, they aren't great for my health - but, so what, life is short and they make my life better.

Smoking is your right. I wish you could talk to some long-time smokers with lung cancer or end-stage emphysema. I think they might advise you to take a different path in life.

If I recall right, I once had ringside seats at Lumpini and the ticket cost was 1,000 baht. Except for some really big fight, it's hard for me to believe that the cheapest seats now are 1,000 baht.

I have been to Lumpini several years ago. I did not have ringside seats but the cost was nowhere near 1,000 baht. I will have to revisit and report back.

I have been to Chiang Mai several times and enjoy the city tremendously, especially during Loy Krathong. In CM Loy Krathong is 3 days not just one as here in Pattaya. There is a huge nighttime street parade and canals to float your krathong. It is the most romantic time in Thailand. If you go to CM, one thing you must find to eat is kow soi, a curried noodle dish which is specific to CM area.

I, too have fond memories of Chiang Mai. Have been to this fine city several times and enjoy the Lanna people. My first visit to a bar was coffee boy with a friend. It really freaked me out. Boy, was I a greenhorn? On the last visit, I really enjoyed the Sunday street market. There were a lot of nice arts and crafts and the people watching was wonderful.

I love to learn more about Laos.

I would love to learm more about Laos, too.

Boobs are the best part of a girl.

I would have to disagree. The best part of a girl, in my humble opinion, is the nice round ass.

Excuse my ignorance here, but are ladyboys like pre-op transsexuals in the States...they intend to become full-on women and just have a cock while saving up for the operation? Or, do they purposely have boobs and feminine appearance and a cock? Do they tend to be both masculine and feminine, or tend more to feminine? Just curious.

Excellent questions. I do not think there is one answer. Everyone ladyboy, I would think, is different.

Guess I was thinking asians versus Thais in Vancouver (there do seem to be a lot of asians there).

As I understand it, the then-existing King went to Switzerland in 1932 when the absolute monarchy ended in Thailand and I think the royals lived in Switzerland until some time after the second world war.

North of Chiangrai, at Doi Tung (Doi means mountain so I'm guessing that "Tung" is the name of the mountain), the

Queen Mother (present King's mom) built a swiss chalet which presumably was built because of fond Swiss memories.

There are a lot of very well manicured gardens next to the chalet and the place is open for tourists. I'd recommend it if you're in the area although I'd note it that it often rains there because it's at a slightly higher elevation.

The Queen Mother's mountain retreat is one of the many favorite places I have in Thailand. The gardens are wonderful. I agree, it is a must-see destination, if you are in the Chiang Rai area.

I am also a respectful smoker. And, I won't smoke around non-smokers.

That said, I wonder why I have to justify my smoking. I work hard for my money and if I enjoy smoking I should have the right to spend my money on it and enjoy it.

I'm not going to be one of these people who apologizes for it.

I think both smokers and not-smokers should be respectful of each other, but not everyone is like you and Bob. Some smokers light up when and where ever they want. I have also seen a non-smoker have a hissy fit because a person was smoking nearby in an outdoor patio setting. Can't we all just get along?

I don't know about the "per capita" statistics but, frankly, I'm very doubtful of what you heard. According to Wikopedia, the entire population of Switzerland is about 7.5 million and, of that number, about 1.5 million are registered resident foreigners. Of that 1.5 million resident foreigners, only about 69,000 are from all of Asia.

I'd bet a nickel that Vancouver has a much higher number and percentage (per capita) of Thais living there than Switzerland.

According to wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Vancouver there are 1,565 Thais or .08% of the population. Not sure if Switzerland has a similiar chart showing the number of Thais. Of course, we are are talking percentages of Thais in the country and not in one city.

I saw the pictures from last year buffalo races. I have never been but it looks like a good time.

I heard foreigners can buy a condominium a condo in a building? Is that true?

Yes, it is true foreigners can buy a condo in his name. There is a certain percentage of foreign-owners and a percentage of Thai-owners the law allows in a condominium complex.

I hear that Switzerland has more Thai expatriates per capita than anywhere else in the world. I wonder if that is true? Since the King grew up there, perhaps there is a sort of allure to Switzerland. Any thoughts on this?

So I'm saving for a trip in the next few years. I'd like to be able to stay at least a month. Do you think $5,000 would do it for airfare, place to stay, food, in-country travel, entertainment, the whole bit?

I do not think you would have any problem staying within a $5,000 a month budget. If you take $1,000 for airfare that leaves $4,000 or $133 a day. Buy a Lonely Planet guide before you leave. You will find it very helpful.

Hi all,

I just joining this website coz this website has sthing to do with Thailand.

What attract me to join ? My boyfriend study in Thailand ;-)

You can call me Keola (not koala ya... hehehe).

I live in Jakarta, I work as business development in an IT company.

Okay guys, have a nice day !!!

Hi Keola! Welcome aboard. What is Jakarta like? If someone were to go to Jakarta, what would be the things that a visitor must see or do? Thanks.