I was thinking

[parrot]

"light skinned farang as "white buffalo""

I suppose there could be two ways to view the name:
- if the wife is praising you for being a 'white buffalo' she may be referring to the tradition of a Thai family who acquires a white buffalo.......the family won't use the buffalo for rice farming and will not kill it off to be sold. They'll simply care for it until it dies.

- if you're on the wife's wrong side and she calls you a white buffalo, she may be using the term 'kwai ควาย' in the traditional derogatory sense of calling someone an idiot.

You're probably in the best position to determine the wife's use

Thais call the animal in your photo 'วัว' for cow.......whereas the photo of the campaign poster shows what Thais typically refer to as a kwai (ควาย) without the necktie and jacket, of course!

[JR]

Wife says she has never heard people use "white buffalo" about farang men.

[old-timer]

Wife says she has never heard people use "white buffalo" about farang men.

OT's not entirely bi-lingual, however if someone in the Thai language said see cow kwai, I'd have a feeling who they were thinking about, especially if they were looking at me. I think falangs can get them back with far more foul language if need be in English

OT............................

[old-timer]

OT was going to post this under the euro thread, but thought, as it's just my thoughts on a reported article today I'd post it here.
Eurozone leaders agreed another £96 billion bailout for Greece. Greece debt is £290 billion,more than 142% of the GDP for the nation. unemployment is at 15%, the highest, other than Spain (20%) throughout the Eurozone. The report went on and on listing countries throughout Europe and how toxic each country is. Germany has the biggest debt of 1.8tn but is considered the least toxic.
What caught OT's attention was the mention of the unrelated US toxicity rating: Debt in £ not $ = £8.7tn. % of GDP = 96%. Unemployment 9.2% ....and if this one blows - we'll all have to run for cover.
The immediate threat of the collapse of the Euro has been prevented, If Obama fails to strike a deal with apponents to borrow more money it could cause the US to default on debts, sending shockwaves worldwide.

B0llocks to my outstanding £2500 on barclaycard, if the world can't pay it's bills then nor am I.

OT.................

[JR]

When a country is in debt over the mountain summits, then borrowing more money to pay off interest is not exactly the best solution. It is not only the EU which is in deep s..t but the US too, as <OT mentioned. And when the economical bottom finally collapses, where do we want to be? Or maybe, where do we not want to be?

[old-timer]

OT was down the pub lunchtime for a couple of cheese and tomato rolls and a pint of lager, and I noticed a guy reading a book. He was one of these people whos lips moved as he read. I was thinking, is that a sign of madness? Your eyes, which you use to read with works the brain and goes nowhere near your mouth so why was he doing that? Prahaps he was reading the book to the book.

OT...................

[jackspratt]

I would have thought eating cheese and tomato rolls is more a sign of madness.

[old-timer]

OT’s sister and her husband who is on three weeks leave from camp Bastion, together with their kids came over to my place for dinner last night. When I got back from the fish and chip shop and we settled down to eat my sister mentioned that they had a new postman and he suffers from tourettes. Apparently he swears and ticks uncontrollably at everything. The morning post is normally delivered with a roar of b0llocks or go f yourself. I was thinking – how did his interview for the job go? I can imagine him sticking his shirt in his mouth and doing everything in his power to stop himself from giving the interviewer the middle finger.

OT.................

[parrot]

Reading some of the discussions lately concerning climate change and impact of an impending default, I was wondering whether Einstein would have suffered the same second-guessing by the general population on his theory of relativity, or Newton his theory of gravitation. And I wonder what Pythagoras (6th century BC) would have thought, had he lived an extra 12 or 13 centuries, as the French argued that the world was round like a table rather than like an apple.
It seems like in today's world, everyone is suddenly an expert on issues that seem to stymie some of the world's most brilliant minds. Constitutional experts can't seem to agree what's exactly behind the meaning of section 4 of the 14th Amendment.....yet many a man/woman on the street profess detailed knowledge of the same section.
What's even more surprising is when the man on the street is so certain of his knowledge that he will belittle others for believing differently.
Back to you, OT, I still haven't solved the question of an interviewer's reaction to the tourette's applicant. But I have known a few folks over the years who suffer from tic monsters. At least in the cases of people I've known, they're no different than you or me, with the exception of their tics. I may be oversimplifying, but it's sort of like talking to a voluptuous woman with a short skirt hiked to her upper thighs and a v-line dress that hangs low over her buxom. If you can't get past those features, you can't carry much of an intelligent conversation with her, even if she were a Princeton grad like Brooke Shields or a Harvard grad like Natalie Portman.
I'm still waiting for the torrential rains to begin.

[trubrit]

Reading some of the discussions lately concerning climate change and impact of an impending default, I was wondering whether Einstein would have suffered the same second-guessing by the general population on his theory of relativity, or Newton his theory of gravitation. And I wonder what Pythagoras (6th century BC) would have thought, had he lived an extra 12 or 13 centuries, as the French argued that the world was round like a table rather than like an apple.
It seems like in today's world, everyone is suddenly an expert on issues that seem to stymie some of the world's most brilliant minds. Constitutional experts can't seem to agree what's exactly behind the meaning of section 4 of the 14th Amendment.....yet many a man/woman on the street profess detailed knowledge of the same section.
What's even more surprising is when the man on the street is so certain of his knowledge that he will belittle others for believing differently.
Back to you, OT, I still haven't solved the question of an interviewer's reaction to the tourette's applicant. But I have known a few folks over the years who suffer from tic monsters. At least in the cases of people I've known, they're no different than you or me, with the exception of their tics. I may be oversimplifying, but it's sort of like talking to a voluptuous woman with a short skirt hiked to her upper thighs and a v-line dress that hangs low over her buxom. If you can't get past those features, you can't carry much of an intelligent conversation with her, even if she were a Princeton grad like Brooke Shields or a Harvard grad like Natalie Portman.
I'm still waiting for the torrential rains to begin.

Strange that we should think alike. I thought every American child was taught about the amendment thingy whilst at elementary school. Apparently not.
Bit like an English kid lighting a firework on November 5th and not knowing who Guy Fawkes was.

[Sateev]

Reading some of the discussions lately concerning climate change and impact of an impending default, I was wondering whether Einstein would have suffered the same second-guessing by the general population on his theory of relativity, or Newton his theory of gravitation. And I wonder what Pythagoras (6th century BC) would have thought, had he lived an extra 12 or 13 centuries, as the French argued that the world was round like a table rather than like an apple.
It seems like in today's world, everyone is suddenly an expert on issues that seem to stymie some of the world's most brilliant minds. Constitutional experts can't seem to agree what's exactly behind the meaning of section 4 of the 14th Amendment.....yet many a man/woman on the street profess detailed knowledge of the same section.
What's even more surprising is when the man on the street is so certain of his knowledge that he will belittle others for believing differently.
...

Isn't it the process of learning, Parrot? I mean, people try on their pet theories, and others poke them full of holes, or go back and re-assess their own notions. Of course, no one of the posters here has the same grasp as Einstein, or Galileo, or even Barack Obama. And their conclusions will never become policy or law.

I remember some dork, way back on Compuserve, saying that a cure for HIV was simple: the virus can't live above a certain temperature, so it was obvious: run the patient's blood through a heater, and viola! No more HIV. And this guy was SURE that he knew the answer, when the NIH, and countless research efforts didn't...

I guess it's the smugness and arrogance that is so off-putting, as well as the macho need to win the argument at all costs. Still, I think it's useful to have the discussions, bombast and all. Don't take it too seriously.

[Shado]

Recently I've been thinking about how much good information is passed along on this forum. I've been following Udon Map for well over four years now and have benefitted greatly from members input. I'd like to take this opportunity to especially thank parrot and papaguido for their expert responses to so many questions. They seem to have an inexhaustable wealth of knowledge and experiences to share with fellow members. I'm often amazed at their timely and accurate responses on almost any subject. Thanks for the help guys, it is much appreciated.

[old-timer]

OT has been thinking about the amount of money needed to aid the reported 12 million starving in East Africa. A UN consolidated appeal, trying to raise $2.4bn for east Africa, has so far received $1.2bn. That works out $100,000,000 ( one hundred million USD per person). If the target of $2.4 Billion is met that will allow $200 million per person.
I know I'm playing around loosely with the numbers here, but the amount needed to feed the starving seems incredible considering a lot of big companies, like BA for instance, are giving free services to help.
OT hates the thought of anyone going hungry in this day and age, however I'd like to see a breakdown of how the money will be spent and how much, in dollar terms, ends up on the plate of each starving individual.
I don't get it.

OT.....................

[Sateev]

OT has been thinking about the amount of money needed to aid the reported 12 million starving in East Africa. A UN consolidated appeal, trying to raise $2.4bn for east Africa, has so far received $1.2bn. That works out $100,000,000 ( one hundred million USD per person). If the target of $2.4 Billion is met that will allow $200 million per person.
I know I'm playing around loosely with the numbers here, but the amount needed to feed the starving seems incredible considering a lot of big companies, like BA for instance, are giving free services to help.
OT hates the thought of anyone going hungry in this day and age, however I'd like to see a breakdown of how the money will be spent and how much, in dollar terms, ends up on the plate of each starving individual.
I don't get it.

OT.....................

Hmmm, I think I read this in an Ian Fleming James Bond novel, a long time ago. Now I can use the info.

In Brit-speak, a billion is a million-million, i.e., 10^12. In the REST of the civilized world, a billion is a thousand-million, or 10^9.

Since we are talking about US greenbacks, the 10^9 figure should obtain. Therefore, the poor urchins will have to make do with a mere US$100,000 (One hundred thousand and 00/100) dollars apiece, which will become, after the NGOs get their sliver, about $9.87, (Nine and 87/100) dollars.

I knew this reading thing would pay off, albeit at a future date...

[jackspratt]

Can I throw in the benefits (?) of schooling in a third country.

Based on that, and a bit of help from google, I reckon if $2.4 (US) billion is raised, each of the 12 million people will get $200/head. If only $1.2 billion is raised, it will be $100/head.

[Sateev]

Oops.

Based on that, JackSpratt is hereby nominated for president of the World Bank, Sateev will mop the floors.

[old-timer]

Can I throw in the benefits (?) of schooling in a third country.

Based on that, and a bit of help from google, I reckon if $2.4 (US) billion is raised, each of the 12 million people will get $200/head. If only $1.2 billion is raised, it will be $100/head.

Sounds a bit more reasonable, far too many zeros for OTs brain to deal with and they wouldn't all fit on my calculator which I have launched across the office. Piece of crap.

OT...............

[jackspratt]

....... JackSpratt is hereby nominated for president of the World Bank............

Seconded - time they got rid of that former pro golfer who is running the joint currently.

[old-timer]

OT this afternoon had his hands under a supersonic hand drier after washing his hands after taking a quick leak. During the time my hands were being dried I was thinking. WTF am I doing this for. It's not as if I've just p1ssed on my hands, in fact I'd had a shower within the previous hour and put on two layers of protection between the outside world and my jerk, ie underpants and jeans so my jerk must have neen the cleanest thing on my body yet I was cleaning my hands after touching it. I should have washed my jerk instead as my hands had had no protection.

OT................

[old-timer]

What about those cans of shaving Gel ? I was thinking how the makers of that product got it just right. You only use half - here's why:
Two things will happen, first one is you press the trigger and you always end up with at least three or four times as much as you need as well as getting it all over the wash basin, mirror, floor and wall tiles and even the ceiling or your eyes if you've forgotten what way the nozzle is pointing.
The second thing is that you do everthing in your power to give the trigger the slightest tap to get the amount needed and you end up with nothing more than a drop in your hand that is nowhere near enough. So then you go ahead and give the trigger a second pull to make up for the shortfull and the first thing I explained happens again.

OT...................