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graymo

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Everything posted by graymo

  1. graymo

    Mercy Kiilling

    Got some rich relatives Changy?!?!?!
  2. graymo

    Heartless Jerks?

    Granted Chang, they could but that just wouldn't get asses in seats. Lets be honest, cartoons have been ruffling feathers for ages and will continue to do so. I remember a few choice South Park episodes one of which even had a pop at the Family Guy writers during the controversy over the 'anti Islamic' cartoons published in a Danish newspaper.
  3. The Thong Lor Police apparently 'fined' the venue many times times for operating illegally. Lo and behold it was then the Thong Lor Police who were assigned to investigate the fire... The place should have been shut down long before the tragic event. I suppose the ranking cop who had the shares in Santika will get further promotion whilst others take the fall. Ironic perhaps that the man accused of setting off the fireworks on that night, Saravuth Ariya is the lead singer of the unfortunately named band Burn.
  4. Not when I came through a month ago... The most recent news I've seen is as follows from end of January. Opening Soon!!!
  5. If you are registered on the Air Asia website you can change your flights online quite easily; at a fairly hefty surcharge of course. I had to change the return leg of a KL-Colombo flight and it cost me a whopping 240 Malaysian ringgit. I'm not sure about getting a refund, doubtful about that but let us know. I live in Krabi and often have to fly at short notice; this is where AA starts to balance it's books. The Bangkok to Krabi route is served by AA an Thai only and for last minute flights Thai is usually cheaper. For example, a one way ticket to Bangers booked Friday 12th Feb to travel Monday 15th was around 5500 Baht... Thai business class (all that was available - high season) 4500 Baht. Obviously you shop around for the best deals but whilst I agree that AA do have some amazing deals I don't have any problems seeing how Air Asia turn a profit!
  6. graymo

    Mercy Kiilling

    Yes, a touchy subject indeed and one unlikely to be easily resolved. So many of the cases that come to our notice through the media would appear to have merit due to their compassionate nature. However, once a person is unable to make informed choices for themselves and it becomes the responsibility of next of kin then it becomes an ethical minefield.
  7. graymo

    Fat Flier

    With budget airlines coming up with ever more ingenious(?) ways of turning a buck (shrinking baggage allowances, Ryan Air's toilet charge or the 'standing seats' idea for example) the 'stout' passenger looks like just one more way for airlines levy a surcharge. Would be interesting to see how they might apply that to wailing children though - perhaps per decibel?! There are some amusing business possibilities here however... PS. Is "Sorry Sir/Madam, you're carrying excess baggage" a PC way of telling a passenger that they're overweight...?
  8. graymo

    Heartless Jerks?

    Agreed, I think the jury will have to remain out on this until the context is clear. If the show was directly targeting Downs sufferers as the butt of their jokes then shame on them. I do love Family Guy though...
  9. This is a copy of an actual letter sent to Ryan DeVries, from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan. Wait till you read this guy's response - but read the entire letter before you get to the response. Mr. Ryan DeVries 2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339 SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Site Location: Montcalm County Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of SpringPond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January31, 2002. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division RESPONSE Dear Mr. Price, Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Your certified letter dated 12/17/2000 has been referred to me to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan De Vries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation - so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition - please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter being unable to read English. In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources(Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams). So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers maybe under the dam ice then, and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears. Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office via another government organization - the dam USPS. Maybe, someday, it will get there. Sincerely, Stephen L. Tvedten The University of Texas at: Austin Office Community Relations/Accounting Unit P.O. Box 7367
  10. I'm not an American and managed 8 out of twelve with only a general knowledge gleaned from an eye on the media (and the odd guess...). If the majority of the people who did this were in fact American then the results are indeed telling although dare I say not entirely surprising.
  11. Has anyone had the pleasure of one of these at all on their travels? I believe they are testing one at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi although it is on a purely voluntary basis. One wonders how many people chose to be subjected to this and whether the numbers were sufficient for a valid trial. Perhaps they will need a further period of testing with slightly more bias on the 'random compulsory'. An interesting and contentious subject this considering all the issues with regard to privacy etc. Any thoughts?
  12. graymo

    Fat Flier

    Yes, the judge certainly wasn't pulling his weight when he handed down such a light sentence...
  13. graymo

    Avatar

    Couldn't agree more, a good trip out for the missus and I and worth the bahts spent. Unfortunately however, a rare occurrence as the cinema in Tesco Krabi only shows the movies with Thai soundtrack... Oh well
  14. Talking about Led Zep, Jimmy Page might look like Gandalf now but he still plays guitar like the master he is. Looking forward to seeing 'It Might Get Loud' - Anyone seen that yet?
  15. graymo

    Fat Flier

    On the edge of his seat...! Here's another incident; Virgin Airline this time. My link
  16. The half-time show certainly wasn't one of the bands best but go back less than 5 years to Live Aid in Hyde Park and it was the 'old boys' who blew away all the youngsters that day. The Who and Pink Floyd were superb musically no matter their age. As to why they carry on, well, not for me to speak for them but if it were me I imagine that I'd probably still love it.
  17. graymo

    Fat Flier

    Absolutely, couldn't agree more if that were the case - seems though that 'Bob' fitted...
  18. graymo

    Fat Flier

    If it's a safety issue perhaps the airlines could apply similar standards to its crew, some of which would be found wanting in an emergency situation... Air France recently decided to start charging double to anyone who can't 'comfortably' fit into a single seat however, Southwest had no excuse as Silent Bob was already seated as per their own regulations. Their excuse (sorry, statement) that he "usually booked two seats" is lame and assumes that he needs them; if that was the case why let him on the plane in the first place with only one seat available...
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