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 January 2016
Click here to read our December 2015 News.
Made to Conceal Some Things
Thailand's new constitution, drafted by Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his handpicked Military Junta, is made to conceal some things, Uthai Pimchaichon, a former House speaker and chairman of the 1997 constitution writers, said at a seminar on Saturday.
Referring to General Prayuth Chan-ocha Mr. Uthai said I'd like to warn soldiers who mess with politics or coup makers. History can tell us how many got out of it unscathed. I think it's fair to say there's none. Look at your predecessors and how they ended up. If you think you're better than them, stay on. But if you think you're not, you'd better back down.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
 Poll found 91% not happy with Thailand's Military Junta
An online Poll found that 91% of Facebook users are not happy with the performance of Thailand's Military Junta.
Ailing economy, high cost of living, curbs on freedom of expression and lack of transparency and accountability mentioned by the participating people as reason for clicking the unhappy face.
Only 9% of Facebook users clicked the smiling face referred to the Junta's National Council for Peace and Order, also known as NCPO.
Definitely another setback for Thailand's self appointed Dictator.
On December 22nd, 2015, Thailand's very own National Statistical Office claimed that 99.3% of people in Thailand were satisfied with General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his Government's performance...
Google to support Military Junta?
Thailand's Military Junta wants that Google makes an exception to the company's worldwide policy and remove content without a court order.
The Thai Officials even urged Google to think about the relationship between Thailand and the United States.
For additional information please read the report published by Khaosod English.
 Thai prison websites hacked
Hackers associated with the Anonymous collective have taken out 20 web-sites of Thailand's Corrections Department.
A post published on the hacked websites asks tourists to boycott Thailand until the country provides justice.
For additional information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
 No Snow in Thailand
Sri Chaiyathon, a Thai meteorologist, told the press that there is no chance of snow in Thailand despite extreme low temperatures in many parts of Thailand.
On Tuesday morning, January 25th, the temperature fell to minus 3° at Doi Chang Moob, a village located next to the Thai border with Myanmar in Chiang Rai province.
Milking Foreign Tourists?
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is considering an Entry Fee of US$10 for Foreign Tourists.
Tourists will be asked to pay the surcharge before entering the Kingdom.
With the new entry fee the country could earn an additional 12 billion Baht per year, a TAT spokesman claims.
On January 19th Thailand's Government already approved an increase in the visa-on-arrival fee from 1'000 Baht to 2'000 Baht to all Tourists arriving from Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, mainland China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
20 Billion Baht for Single Gateway?
Khaosod English reports that Thailand's Military Junta approved 20 billion Baht to improve the country's internet.
Thailand's internet freedom advocates fear the money will be used to develop General Prayuth Chan-ocha's controversial single gateway project.
Thai Military Junta is abducting opponents
According to media reports uniformed soldiers from Thailand's Military Junta allegedly abducted a member of a pro-democracy activist group in a cloak-and-dagger operation.
For more information please read Student Activist Leader abducted from University. The abductors allegedly abused the victim verbally and slapped him in the head and back.
Update:
Thailand's peace-loving Military Junta ordered the arrest of three more student activists.
Please read US State Department concerned over human rights in Thailand too.
Update (January 22nd):
Thai Government warned the US Department of State that its criticism could adversely affect bilateral ties.
The United Nations tells Thailand that the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and opinion are fundamental rights and should never be regarded as a serious criminal offence.
Sleep in Peace
Since January 1st 2016 all bars and nightclubs on Koh Samet must close by midnight, and all music has to stop by 23:00.
Koh Samet's business operators complain that NCPO's nightlife curfew is driving tourists away.
According to Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his handpicked Military Junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the order is meant to benefit tourists who prefer to sleep in peace...
Dengue Warning
A day after a popular Thai actor lost his 10-week long battle against a severe dengue fever Thailand's Public Health Ministry predicts that dengue fever cases will jump more than 16% this year.
The ministry urges the public to help authorities to reduce the mosquito population in their neighbourhoods.
Public health officials have been instructed to educate and work with members of local communities to implement measures to prevent dengue and control mosquitos before rainy season, permanent secretary for public health Sophon Mekthana said and added that the department estimates that the number of cases of dengue infections will rise from 142'925 last year to 166'000 this year.
Update (January 21st):
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration warns of high-risk dengue fever.
 Spike reports from his Zoological Garden
Spike from Pattaya Days reports from the horror in his Zoological Garden.
Same, same isn't the same
After all the legal action against Thailand's former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for subsidizing rice, Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his handpicked Military Junta is trying to solve its rubber problem exactly the same way - with subsidies.
Note: When two do the very same, it is far from being the same...
 Thai Censorship Font
A typographer named Sungsit created VAIN, the Thai Censorship Font. A font everybody can write but nobody can read.
Vain is an ideal font for authoritarianism under which people are not allowed to freely express their views, especially in a country where the military government wants its citizen to keep silent, the fontcreator claims.
George Bernard Shaw already said it:
Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody can read.
You can download VAIN, the Thai Censorship Font, free from GitHub.com.
297 Thai Court Website hacked
In retaliation for the death sentences handed down to two Myanmar men for murdering two British tourists on Koh Tao, Hackers yesterday have knocked offline 297 Thai Court and Government websites.
A post published on the hacked websites asks tourists to boycott Thailand until such time changes are made with the way Thai police handle investigations involving foreign tourists.
A spokesman for the Court of Justice claims that the websites were attacked by people involved in about 10 internet protocol (IP) addresses located abroad.
It is believed that the same group of people also hacked the 13 Royal Thai Police websites on January 5th, 2016.
The Office of the Court of Justice announced it would take legal action against the hackers.
Offences covering disruption of computer systems and computer-based information that was a public service were liable to a fine of up to 300'000 Baht and a jail term of up to 15 years, a spokesman said.
Investments missing the Target by 43%!
Thailand's BoI (Bord of Investment) approved applications worth about 800 billion Baht last year.
Therefore it missed its target of 1.4 trillion Baht by nearly 43%!
Since the May 2014 coup, Thailand's Military Junta is struggling to kick-start Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
According to the BoI, the agency recorded 1'038 project applications in 2015. In 2014 it still approved 3'469 investment applications.
What happens if an Army retreats?
People get more freedom, self-confidence and new opportunities and the country itself prospers.
BBC and The Atlantic are reporting about Switzerland's decommisioned Army Bunkers.
Paranoid?
Some Provincial Governors in Thailand banned the distribution of Pheu Thai calendars showing pictures of Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck.
Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha supported the ban by saying 'just use your judgement and think whether it is appropriate or not, because there is a lawbreaker pictured on the calendar'.
The lovely Dictator forget to tell his people that no other internationally relevant country accepted the verdict mentioned by Thailand's Dictator. They all knew that the verdict was politically motivated.
Thailand bans double-decker buses
General Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered a ban on the registration of new double-decker buses as well as stricter road worthiness checks for all public transport vehicles, Bangkok Post reports.
Dreamer or Storyteller?
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, currently Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister, is expecting a record high of 32 million international tourists arrival in Thailand, according to Reuters.
The Minister estimates that 29.88 million visited the Kingdom during 2015.
The numbers of tourists visiting Pattaya droped from about 9 million visitors in 2013 to only 6 million tourists in 2015.
Update:
Today TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn announced that this year, TAT will be focusing on quality, not quantity. We want to increase arrivals by 4 per cent but revenues by 8 per cent.
According to TAT golfers, honeymooners, wedding-party members and long-haul travellers are big spenders.
From the somewhat more than 8 million Chinese tourists last year only about 10 per cent of them were quality tourists, but this year we will seek more high spenders from China, Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said.
TAT's target of 30 million visitors for this year translates into revenue of 2.3 trillion Baht, the Governor estimates.
Obviously Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister and TAT's Governor have a different view of the same subject.
Perhaps they should talk to each other first before they inform the press.
Best Joke so far
BloombergBusiness claims that Thailand and Switzerland are this world's Happiest Economies.
Safety Remarks
According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) 2015 was the safest year ever for commercial aviation.
The ASN recorded a total of 16 fatal airplane accidents, resulting in 560 fatalities. This makes 2015 the safest year ever by number of fatal accidents and the 5th safest year ever in terms of fatalities.
Driving a vehicle in Thailand is a lot more dangerous, even with using all these Buddha amulet.
But it could be even worse without using them, Spike from Pattaya Days reports.
 Swiss Sheep Farm?
Spike from Pattaya Days reports from the City's new Swiss Sheep Farm.
Pattaya's latest attraction opened on December 28th, 2015, and is located close to the Silverlake Grape Farm and the Buddha Mountain.
The company already runs a Swiss Sheep Farm in Cha Am just north of Hua Hin.
Be warned: Pattaya's Swiss Sheep Farm supports the double pricing trick: 90 Baht for Thailand's Citizens (mentioned in Thai script only) but 180 Baht for the rest of us.
The Thai - not the Swiss - way of money making.
Top 10 News 2015
 Pattaya News Flash does not report about the daily crimes in Pattaya.
It you are interested in - and you should for your very own security - then please click Pattaya Daily News and Pattaya One.
Pattaya News Flash reports about the funny side(s) of this World Class Resort.
Thai Police Websites hacked
In a cyberattack a Blink Hacker Group attacked 14 Thai Police websites, the international hacking group Anonymous claims today.
For more information please read Police investigating Myanmar links to website hackers.
 Russian Dancers arrested
In the early hours of December 29th Tourist Police and the Crime Suppression Police from Bangkok raided on two Russian Go-Go Bars on Walking Street, the Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Russian Girls Bar across from Soho Square and arrested a total of 23 (or even more) Russian and Kazakhstan Nationals, a mix of staff and some customers.
For an unknown reason Police 'forget' to check the Deja Vue Bar on Soho Square, also known as Mour A Mour, and Walking Street's two most spectacular Russian Clubs, the Galaxy and the XO, both allegedly managed by the owner(s) of Rasputin Body Massage on Soi 5.
But the best
is yet to come: We update NightWalker's News Page as soon as we get new information.
 Important Notice
Since General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his Military Junta launched their Coup d'état on May 22nd, 2014, Thailand's Visa ground rules are constantly changing. More over, not every consulate can issue all the different Visas. Some smaller consulates even display notices to the effect that non-immigrant visas are unavailable.
Our advice: Before booking your holidays please contact the Embassy in your country to obtain information about Thailand's latest regulation(s) and check the Chonburi Immigration Website or the website of Thailand's Immigration Police.
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Pattaya News Flash January 2016 - The Source
 from the City where your Passion is still a Possibility©
New Year's Eve at Bali Hai. The Waterfront eyesore prevented a full enjoyment
Walking Street was crowded with people, this time not from China but from Thailand. They all took the way to Bali Hai where the Countdown happened. At about 24:00, just before the Firework started, the people were completely locked.
Shortly after the colorful firework started we could hear a voice crying demolish, demolish immediately and everyone agreed with the shouter. The Waterfront eyesore prevented a full enjoyment of the spectacle as did the car park building.
With the bunker-like parking garage Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome created a monument. With this monument as well as the failed Beach Promenade Pattaya's citizens will remember Itthiphol Khunplome forever as the Blotter of Pattaya.
As mentioned above, Thailand's youth celebrated the Countdown at Bali Hai, but the Farangs, including their pretty companions, enjoyed the last night of the year on New Plaza's Party Street.
 New Year's Eve at New Plaza's Party Street
 Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and a part of the Khunplome Clan welcomed the crowd from the wall of the unused Drug Prevention Center building on Bali Hai
 The stage was impressive, the endless chatter of officials annoying
 Pattaya Bazaar is History
In 2013 Pattaya, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome's World Class Family Resort, welcomed 9 million Tourists. 2014 7.5 million people visited this City and in 2015 only about 6 millions were in the mood to visit Pattaya.
That means during the last 2 years the City lost at least 3 million fans. In reality the number is even higher, because Western visitors got replaced by Chinese ones and they usualy do not buy condominiums, they not even are visiting shopping centers, let alone ordinary shops.
Nevertheless, some investors as well as the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) still believe into the future.
The TAT even believe that the Russian will come back to Thailand and to this City.
On the ground of the former Pattaya Bazaar an investor is building up an immense Shopping Complex with Hotels, similar to Beach Road's CentralFestival, but a lot larger, we learned.
  Pattaya's New Leisure Complex
First announced to open during the fourth quarter of 2015, the management of Beach Road' s new Food and Drink Complex believes they can open the new building during the first quarter of 2016.
The Bay will provide Fast Food and Coffee Shops, Restaurants serving international and Seafood, Bank Offices (to get the money to pay the bills?) as well as a Wine Lounge and a World of German Beer(s).
The Bay is located a few meters only from Soi Six.
Announced as the most awaited leisure venue in Pattaya, the management has still space available for rent.
  On January 1st Hooters opened its restaurant on Pattaya's Beach Road.
It's a large lifestyle food outled on 2 floors with (silent) TVs showing all kinds of sports and a live band playing during the evening hours. But we couldn't find an answer yet for the question of almost all Farangs in this City:
What will be bigger, the Burgers or the Boobs?
The problem is that our editorial office in Switzerland told us that we have to compare real things with real things, e.g. appels with apples but not pears with silicon...
For Cartoonist Mike Baird this case does not pose a problem at all. He already knows the answer. He's a gifted painter from England - but we are watchmakers from Switzerland and therefore our office is expecting extreme accuracy in our judgement.
On December 25th, the two ladies went to their area that they had paid for just to learn that the organizer moved their stall to another zone in a area where clothes will be sold - unappropriate for selling BBQ food.
When the ladies asked their money back, the organiser refused.
In the meantime the ladies also learned that Pattaya's Officials were selling some plots for up to 15'000 Baht. The ladies reported the incident to Pattaya Police.
TiP (This is Pattaya)
TiT (This is Thailand)
 Despite a government crackdown on underground lending, Thailand's Justice Ministry had to agree that the problem of loan sharks has not improved.
The Military Junta launched the campaign soon after the regime took over last year.
According to Pol Lt Col Wichai Suwanprasert the total value of debts to these loan sharks amounted to more than 1 billion Baht per year, with some debtors forced to repay triple the actual amount of money borrowed.
In Pattaya loan sharks still are distributing their namecards. Our Police seems unable to call the phone numbers printed on and to arrest them.
 Loan Sharks are still active in this country
TiT (This is Thailand)
 On January 8th, 2014, Chonburi's Province Governor officially opened 17 pick-up and drop-off zones for Baht Busses along Pattaya's Beach Road.
Chonburi's lovely Governor claimed that any Baht Bus who stops outside of a parking area will be fined and clamped!
Today some Restaurants (e.g. Green Tree) even block the Bus Stops for their guests. Baht Bus drivers can't even use it.
Nobody cares, not even Chonburi's Province Governor and his Police Organisations.
What matters is that somebody obviously could make some money.
TiT (This is Thailand)
 For a gathering to search stolen motorbikes, members from Pattaya Police parked their cars in 3 rows in front of CentralFestival:
 The street in front of CentralFestival is marked with white and red stripes, still indicating a non parking area - even in Thailand's most amazing World Class City...
TiP (This is Pattaya)
Health in War
During 2001 Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched the universal health care (UHC), also known as the 30-Baht scheme, for Thai nationals. It was introduced in 2002.
It made healthcare available to Thais not covered by existing health insurance for a modest sum of 30 baht (US$1.00) per visit.
"Much of the middle class has exited the scheme," says prominent economist Ammar Siamwalla. "The public hospital system has become a slum for the poor."
It is hard to sieve the reality from the rhetoric about the scheme. This is partly because it is so closely associated with Thaksin, who upended the old order dominated by royalist elites and polarised Thailand over the past decade despite being ousted by a 2006 military coup and living in exile since 2008. Such is the rancour between the two camps that the post-2006 coup administration waived the 30-baht fee to distance the scheme from Thaksin. It was later reintroduced by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who was elected in 2011 - but ignored by some hospitals.
Since its introduction Bangkok's Elite considers the scheme as an eyesore. No wonder that General Prayuth Chan-ocha has declared a war against the scheme.
On July 2nd, 2015, Thailand's Dictator branded the universal healthcare scheme a costly populist policy which helped deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra win the 2001 election.
On December 25th, 2015, Thailand's Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has hinted the universal healthcare scheme in its current form. It might not be sustainable, he claimed.
After heavy protests in the media Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd on December 26th insisted that the regime had no plan to end the programme but was trying to improve it to cover more low-income people...
For more infromation about UHC please read the report published by The Guardian.
  BBQ Buffet Restaurant opens at Rompho Bar Complex
On January 18th the Katathong BBQ Buffet Restaurant opened on the back of the Rompho Bar Complex on Jomtien's 2nd Road. It provides a huge parking space for its customers. At the time of writing, food costs 195 Baht/Person.
 Jomtien Beach
Jomtien's new Beach Promenade is partly accessible. During the evening hours the seating near the renovated Police Station is already a big success.
 Jomtien Night Market
Jomtien sucessful Night Market got a new surface. Your shoes remain clean now and you can use them the next again, even without polishing!
 There are now a lot more seats and tables
 There is a free and open disco for children and people that never got older
 From the small restaurants you have a view of Jomtien's busy Beach Road
 The market's food street is always crowded by people and food
 The hit seems to be fresh seafood: During our visits it never was smelling from fish!
Poised to continue
 New Hotel in Naklua
On Soi Photisarn Soi 1/1 the all new Vareena Palace Hotel will open soon. The hotel is located about 200 meters only from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Sukhumvit Road and Soi Photisarn's well-known day-and-night market.
For bookings please call 0 (66) 97-173-9749
 Ice Cream
On Naklua Road, just at the Windmill Beer Garden, Jungle Snow opened an Ice Cream outlet.
 Mama Duck
On Naklua Road, just between the Honey Bar and the VIP Center Bar Complex, Mama Duck opened a simple restaurant, serving European and Thai Food at reasonable prices. Thai food starts at about 85 Baht. A Gulasch Suppe (Gulash Soup) costs 85 Baht, for a Wiener Schnitzel or Spaghetti Carbonara you have to pay 120 Baht.
Semmeln Brötchen (German, Austrian or Italian type Bread rolls) are available at 20 Baht/pcs.
The restaurant opens at 15:00 and closes at 23:00.
Poised to continue
 Belgium Restaurant & Bar closed on Soi Buakhaow
Flandria, a Belgium Restaurant, Bar and Guesthouse located on Soi Buakhaow, closed down its lights during the third week of January.
Until May 2013 the venue was on Soi LK Metro and also known as Patrick's Place.
The venue is on the block.
 Another era comes to an end in Pattaya
Taverna, a popular Swiss Restaurant located on Pattaya's South Road between Wat Chaimongkhon (the Temple) and the City's Second Road had to close, as well as the shops to its left and right.
The venues have to make space for something new.
Kari run the restaurant for about 20 years. He was known for his Rösti, a Swiss speciality made from potatos. For many of his customers he was Pattaya's King of Rösti. Thank you for the good time.
 MonaLiza moves
MonaLiza, a popular Massage Parlour located at the already destroyed Pattaya Bazaar in North Pattaya, will move in a few weeks time to a new location on Sukhumvit Soi 32, just across the entrance to Soi Pattayanua 1.
  LK Group opened a new 25-storey Hotel
Pattaya's most successful LK Group just opened its all new LK President Hotel on Pattaya 3rd Road, just opposite of Soi Chaiyapoon.
The Lengkee Empire
It is said that Mister Lengkee, the founder of the LK Group, started as a motorcycle taxi driver in Pattaya. A few years later he opened the now well-known Lengkee Restaurant on Central Road. Then he entered the real estate market with shophouses, upper class appartment houses and villas. In sharp contrast to some of his competitors, most - if not all - of his projects are in strong demand.
Mister Lengkee made his fortune with hard work, not with scandals. In the long run Honesty pays off - even here in Pattaya.
Poised to continue
No News from Soi LK Metro yet.
Poised to continue
 FLB closed
Pattaya's first Freelancer Bar, known as FLB Bar, closed its door on January 31st after celebrating a farewell party on January 29th, 2016.
 Virgins are now on Walking Street
Virgins, a new men's club, opened on the second floor of the l'italiano building. It presents Hot Girls from Russia.
A lot of work for all the relevant clinics in this City to keep the ladies virgin...
 Bombay left Walking Street
Bombay Palace, a well-known Indian Restaurant for many, many years, closed down. Craftsmen are already undermining whole the building.
 Irany Restaurant opened
Irany, the discotheque on Soho Square with an entrance on Soi 16, opened a Persian Restaurant on the first floor of its building.
Poised to continue
 Better check first!
For more information about Ladyboys please click PattayaShemales.com
 We are proud of our skills
  Thailand likes to possess everything what other countries have - even when its officials do not understand how to use it.
Therefore Trottoirs (or sidewalks) in Thailand are not designed for pedestrians, handicapped or mothers with buggies but for anything else.
You ever wanted to know why streets such as Soi Buakhaow do not have sidewalks?
I don't have to ask Google, as always myLady™ knows the answer: As long as Pattaya City Hall can fix its cables, street lights and advertisements directly on already existing buildings, a street does not need pavements, she claims.
  Rent a Bar for 100 Baht/Day but don't forget you need a licence and a work permit too...
 Thailand's Dictator ordered: Return Happiness to the People, but where is it?
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This Month
Additional Information:
Opened:
Marcos Jomtien
Kiss Food and Drinks Naklua
Mike Plaza 2nd Road
Siggy's Beer Bar 2nd Road
Foodcourt 2nd Road
Touch A Go-Go LK Metro
Mannu Walking Street
Reincarnation:
Food Fair Walking
Russian Cafe Walking
Closed:
Fellini Jomtien
No Name Bar Jomtien
Kiss Food and Drinks Rounabout
Big Event:
For more information click December 2015 News.
More Information
NightWalker's Pictures
Disco's in Pattaya Thailand's Fruits Tasty and Affordable Koh Samet Oil Disaster Thailand's Workforce Settling Down Chonburi's Godfather City Hall's Efficiency USA control Europe Turmoil in Thailand Junta reigns Thailand
Beach Promenade:
Paloma's Destruction Artist's Sketches Beach Destruction I Beach Destruction II
Previous Publications of Pattaya News Flash
Wikipedia about Pattaya No Alcohol Days
Thailand's National No Alcohol Days include Buddhist holidays and election days.
On all oher days alcohol can only be sold between 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-24:00.
Vendors caught breaking the ban are liable to a prison sentence of up to six months, a 10'000 Baht fine or both - but local Police use their own discretion to decide which venues need to be visited and fined...
Never forget:
It's not your Face and not your Body that makes you sexy.
It's your MONEY!
Electric Vehicles use batteries and batteries are not only a threat to our planet during manufacturing, the 'Recycling' of batteries is still an unsolved problem in most countries.
If the power for charging the batteries is generated by fossil or nuclear power plants than the LCA (life cycle assessment) turns completely to the worse.
 Nature destroyed by Solar Cells - Please click for a larger picture
Solar Cells are a threat to our planet:
The higher the efficiency of a Solar Cell the more Cadmium it contains.
Cadmium is banned from most products in almost all countries, but it can be used without restrictions in Solar Cells. Who controls the 'Recycling' of Solar Cells?
Never forget Chernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki & Fukushima!
Never use a technology you do not master 100%! MRI Scanners will get a lot cheaper
In about five years time the price of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines will be reduced to a tenth of their current cost.
A new technology introduced by Kyoto University and Canon makes it possible.
Today's MRI machines have superconducting electromagnets which need large-scale cooling units and costs between US$4 million and $8 million.
They are not only expensive but also bulky, heavy and need a lot of power and are (therefore) unreliable.
The new MRI machines utilize novel sensors developed by Canon that employ rubidium, an element which becomes magnetized by lasers.
The smaller machines can be compact enough to fit inside mobile diagnostic units, much like X-ray machines. And they will cost a lot less, between US$400'000 to $800'000.
Canon does not make MRI machines itself but it will provide the technology to specialized medical equipment makers.
CES 216
Read the latest reports from CES 2016:
Do you trust Ford?
There is no real security with smartphones and the internet. The networks are open to hackers, the NSA and your Government. In some countries even the Police and the Military is controlling your phone(s) and your surf-habits.
In the future your new car will communicate with all the other cars in this world, with the manufacturer of your car, with your insurance company and with all the advertising companies interested to sell the products of their clients.
Therefore even the thieves will know if you are at home or if you are far away and if there is a virtual plate on your door telling them please come in and rob my house.
The electronics in your new car (and your house) can be a threat to your privacy and your life says Ian Drew, the executive vice president of marketing and business development at ARM in an interview with Junko Yoshida, Chief International Correspondent of EE Times.
ARM is the company behind almost every Smartphone sold in this world, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft (Nokia), Xiaomi, HTC and all the others.
Ian Drew knows what he's talking about. Read the interview now! Everything you don't need
3'500 exhibitors at the CES in Las Vegas show all the gadgets you don't need:
The Doctor in your Pocket
Professor Chih-Ting Lin from the National Taiwan University (NTU) is developing a Bio-System-on-Chip (B-SoC), a microfluidic add-on to a smartphone that can perform the same lab tests that a doctor would ordinarily order a lab to perform, but within a microfluidic device using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors.
With the help of a smartphone the device will performing analyses in less than 10 minutes.
Known as "in-vitro diagnosis" (IVD), the device analyzes fluids such as blood, saliva or urine outside the body. The software not only performs diagnosis, but also recommends treatments and provides prognoses.
As an add-on to a smartphone, the device merely needs to sense the properties of the body fluid with the calculations performed by the smartphone.
The research is funded by Intel and the NTU.
Pending FDA approval, the about 5 square millimeters 'large' Bio-SoC will be commercialized within the next few years.
 Milking Foreigners!
Thailand's National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department ordered that admission fees for foreigners at national parks throughout the country have to be 400 Baht.
Entry charge for Thai nationals remains 40 Baht for adults and 20 Baht for children.
To cover the inequity the local's prices are printed in Thai script only.
 No progress on Jet Ski saga:
Pattaya City Hall still doesn't do anything to stop the scam!
All the announcements made during last year were City Hall Blah-Blah only...
As long as Jet Ski vendors - respectively their victims - fill up our officials' pockets nothing will happen!  The boats are overloaded, don't provide lifevests for all passengers, are badly maintained and aren't covered by adequate insurance policies.
Pattaya's lazy and allegedly corrupt Officials promised to check owners, personnel and boats regularly, but they don't.   According to Pattaya Police, it is common in this resort that foreign tourists get drugged and robbed in their hotel rooms, apartments or houses by prostitutes or ladyboys.  Ladyboy Pick-Pocket Gangs are working almost daily on Pattaya's Beach Promenade!  Never wear Gold in Pattaya! Between 30 to 50 snatching valuables cases are reported to Pattaya's Police every single month. Love is sold out in Pattaya, but we still have Vodka
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