Welcome to rascott.com
This is a
personal site that reflects my interests in news,
current affairs, aviation and travel.
email me:
robert@rascott.com
rascott.com
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My photographs have been moved off this site and are now stored on Picasa. They
were simply taking up too much space on my web host.
Please use
this link to see my list of photo albums.
Some
Useful links:
Information:
World Time
Clock
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Journalism:
ForeignPolicy
Nationsonline.org
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There are many other links on my AOB blog page.
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An Occasional Blog
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Dubai based Airine bloggers
TampaxTowers Thailand Blogs Thai-blogs.com - rather serious
2bangkok.com
-
yellow-tinged summary of Bangkok news
Thai
Girl The exotic adventures of a literary
sexagenarian.
Thai Films
Asia Unbound - CFR
Dubai Blogs
dxbae
- picture blog - also Gerald Donovan
The Gulf Blog
Grumpy
Goat
Digging up my past
Arabic affairs blogs
The Arabist
Egypt
Hong Kong Blogs
Hong
Kong Outdoors In China: Danwei - media and advertising news from China
Shanghaiist.com
Hong Kong Cinemagic
Chinageeks
In Singapore: Xiaxue - self-confessed mean, bitchy, sex goddess who says "wah" a lot!
Mr Brown
- colourful commentary from Singapore
In Burma:
In Canada:
Media:
Tabloid
Watch (UK) Aviation: Amadeus (airline schedules) Airline meals - see it b4 you eat it!
Airliners
- aviation forum, trip reports and pix
archive Planenation - commercial aviation news Airchive - a web museum of commercial aviation.
CrankyFlier - mainly US commentary
Sharjah -
1937
KPAE - Paine Field Blog
Johnny Jet News: The Guardian - UK
Arabian
Business Bangkok info sites: Worthy Sites:
Rconversation - from Rebecca
MacKinnon, ex-TV reporter-turned-blogger.
Golf Sites:
The Christina Kim
Cricket sites:
Alternative
Cricket Almanac
Other Sports
Fun Sites:
Fun signs
Cooking
Technology Ideas:
Stuff -
gadgets
TNooz - Travel Tech
ViralBlog
Photography
The Rest:
Black
Flamingo - recipes and life (no golf!)
Previous months:
May -June 2012
Nov - Dec 2011
Nov - Dec 2010
Nov - Dec 2009
Nov - Dec 2008
Nov - Dec 2007
Nov - Dec 2006
Nov - Dec 2005
Nov - Dec 2004
Author
Robert Scott lives and works in Dubai; born in England I have since lived in Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. I am very happily married to Tai.
If you want to know more you only need to ask! ask.
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31 December 2013 A6-EMM is apparently haunted. Just so you know.
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*************************** And thank you to Tai for always being there. 29 December 2013 Out of sorts. No explanation. Cold in the evenings. Back to exercising which is a good thing. And heard from Alex and his mother (no news from them over Xmas) - sounds like they are having a memorable trip around the South Antarctic. 27 December 2013 "Must you always sound like a trumpeter on the peak of the high ground" - "Downton Abbey." One of the better lines in a dreadful Christmas script.
************************** The video in question reportedly violated the UAE's 2012 cybercrime laws. Yet the. But the mock-documentary style video was prefaced by a statement saying that, “The following events are fictional and no offense was intended to the people of Satwa and U.A.E.” Cassim is a graduate of the University of Minnesota; the local StarTribune said this in its editorial: "Rather this is about a nation that does not seem to understand that along with its bid for global importance comes some measure of freedom of expression as well as freedom from fear of heavy-handed tactics often seen from the region’s repressive regimes." "Given its global aspirations, the U.A.E. should realize that it will only do more damage to its international image if it continues to punish Cassim for doing nothing more than making a silly video." Sensible editorial. Dubai seeks the attention of the world and will learn to accept that not every commentary, editorial or video is fawning in its praise. Indeed some of the commentary may be valuable even if it is not flattering. 26 December 2013 Emirates will launch A380 service to London Gatwick, once a day, from 30 March 204
**************************** But our kitchen was not designed to cater for 10! Pictures are on facebook. It was a nice evening. 23 December 2013
Nok Air of Thailand and
Singapore based long-haul LCC Scoot have signed an agreement establishing
NokScoot a Bangkok Don Mueang-based LCC that will operate in the long-haul
low-fare sector. NokScoot plans to launch in the second half of 2014 using "two or three" B777-200(ER)s sourced from Scoot. The aircraft will be repainted into Nok Air's livery but operate under the NokScoot brand name. Initial services will include East Asia, Japan, South Korea and northern China. Nok Air envisions NokScoot complementing its current network, which covers only Thailand and Myanmar. This will go head to head with Thai AirAsia X also based out of DMK. But a 777 painted in Nok colours will be interesting!
************************** Of course these are not really Etihad investments but investments by the Abu Dhabi government on behalf of its 100% controlled airline. It is a very different strategy from Emirates. And for the most part I do not like it. Air Berlin is still not profitable for instance. So this is cash being poured into loss-making businesses and active operational participation is a huge management distraction for Etihad. *************************** The anti democracy anti government protestors in Bangkok simply cannot help but lie - Thailand's anti-election PDRC claims 6 million people in Bangkok took the streets to protest yesterday. Al Jazeera wrote 150,000. And with their lies goes any faint lingering credibility. 21 December 2013 So Abhisit and the Democrats have decided that they will boycott the 2 February general election in Thailand - just as they did in 2006 precipitating the coup that removed Thaksin and which in time led to the default government by the Democrats from 2009 to 2011. Abhisit's reasoning: Abhisit: "The Thai people have lost their faith in the democratic system." Actually, no. In 2011 the turnout rate was 75.03% 13 December 2013 So here is a headline that you will not see everyday: Hong Kong star denies he was washing the Thai ladyboy out of his mouth 12 December 2013
The 4 stages in life:
Worrying when you are in stage 4 !
************************ Idiot. On People's Council selection, Suthep said there'd be "no negotiation"; those disagreeing with it could just shut up and not get in the way. So dictatorship then. With a small group of like minds telling the nation what they should do. This will never happen. 9 December 2013 Thai Lion Air (SL, Bangkok Don Mueang) operated its maiden flight from Bangkok Don Mueang to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai on Wednesday, December 4. The route was operated using on of the airline's two B737-900(ER)s. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Thai Lion CEO Darsito Hendroseputro said: "We have two B737-900(ER)s in the fleet and we plan to add two more in February. www.lionairthaicom Thailand's troubles:
For people with short
memories: 4 December 2013 From @bkkbase on twitter: The real reason protesters are trying to break into the Royal Thai Police HQ:
30 November 2013 On Facebook tonight: "The sad truth is Thai people are permanently divided now. At least for this generation. Doesn't matter who does what, who wins, who loses, we all lose" Very sad. 27 November 2013 Heading for Bangkok this afternoon - such a basket case of a country - and flying into another political crisis. So here's the gameplan for next 48 hours — NACC files charges against 312 Pheu Thai MPs, making them ineligible to vote in no-confidence debate, which the Democrat Party will then win by default When the Democrats win the debate, the PM has to resign and dissolve parliament. Then what - the electoral commission should call a new election. That will not happen. The Senate will declare that Parliament is unable to govern and will appoint an unelected PM and a new cabinet arguing that it is a government for national unity and reconciliation. Control of parliament is necessary to manage the succession. That's the whole point.
************************* This is classic yellow shirt - it is this awful sense of superiority and entitlement.
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25 November 2013 Phil Tufnell - "The Australian's haven't beaten us for so long, they've forgotten how to do it with class." Indeed.
************************* Inevitably his conclusions are not to the liking of all Thais or to the farang who populate ThaiVisa - but he wrote this 25 days ago and it is depressingly accurate: "Another terribly damaging crisis is looming. The Yellow bloc will do its best to once again incite mayhem in Bangkok in coming days and weeks. The Democrat Party has totally abdicated its duty to be a responsible parliamentary opposition that holds the government to account via constitutional methods. Instead, they intend to continue to sabotage parliament’s ability to function, and then claim democracy in Thailand is no longer working... They will attempt to mount more mass rallies in Bangkok to paralyse the city. And when they have ramped up chaos and tension to fever pitch, they intend to remove the government via a judicial coup by partisan judges. They will then seek to freeze democracy for years and instal a government probably headed by Prawit Wongsuwan with no democratic mandate." Andrew concludes that "The only thing that is different from my forecast is that the government may be toppled by a NACC ruling rather than a judicial coup by judges. But the strategy is the same — cause chaos to give the impression the government has lost legitimacy, then use a judicial/institutional intervention to topple the government." Read Andrew's full research here : www.zenjournalist.com 24 November 2013 Just a sense that the nuclear deal with Iran has to be a good deal if it has upset the Israelis and the Arab nations....
************************* The fact that the story is in the Mail, Telegraph and Sun today suggests that Murdoch has decided it is time for the story to be public. Wendy Deng was Rupert Murdoch's third wife - their divorce is expected to be finalised in court next Wednesday.
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But cricket could do
without classy moments like this from Michael Clarke - the Aussie captain
who has a responsibility for setting the tone: Classy. 23 November 2013 British Airways have a new billboard on London's Piccadilly Circus that dynamically reacts to planes that fly overhead, showing the flight number, destination and so on. A bit like the FlightRadar24 app for your phone/pc, but on a billboard.
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***************************** 22 November 2013 50 years ago today President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. There is a page on his life on this website.
************************** Wonderful episode. Great TV. 21 November 2013 The Dubai Airshow final day has been cancelled due to the weather this morning. Rain and wind. Fair enough that they could not continue with the flying display but the exhibition and even the static park should have been available to visitors who have paid good money to attend the show. The problem was the exhibition hall was badly damaged by the weather. Flight Global posted a picture of the morning flooding inside the hall - with waterfalls of water pouring from the roof. So the building was not ready. If damage was caused to some of the exhibits who is liable? And what does this tell you about the UAE's ability to deliver the 2020 Expo? Flight Global's video had 3.8m views in less than one day, on you-tube, showing video of the situation. By nigh-time the video had been removed. Embarrassment on certain faces is probably why 19 November 2013 Letter in 7 Days today:
"Living in Dubai, I
continue to be impressed by the levels of ingenuity when it comes to new
buildings. Exactly. 18 November 2013 The Guardian newspaper managed today to publish a story that combined football, vagina and Qatar in the same story. That is a first. The story was based upon the apparent resemblance between this planned stadium and said part of the female anatomy. Said the Guardian- "The design for Qatar's new Al-Wakrah sports stadium has quickly gone viral: with its shiny, pinkish tinge, its labia-like side appendages and its large opening in the middle, the supposedly innocent building ("based upon the design of a traditional Qatari dhow boat") was just asking for trouble"
16 November 2013 Very messy front nine from Thongchai Jaidee in the DP World Championship today - 3 puts on each of 1.3 and 9. And a ball in the water on the 3rd for a double bogey 5. 3 birdies on the back 9 meant it was not a disaster but 74 was the second worst round of the day. As we left an angry Thongchai was with his coach on the putting green. 15 November 2013 There was a wonderful turnout at the Philippines consul in Dubai yesterday as volunteers collected donations to be sent to their home country after the awful devastation of typhoon Haiyan. These people do not have a lot to start with - but they have huge hearts and the numbers of volunteers and people donating were remarkable. There is more on the typhoon in this Economist commentary. 14 November 2013 A few aviation updates: Vanilla Air has set December 20 as its official launch date when the carrier previously known as AirAsia Japan will resume operations under a new brand. Now fully owned by ANA, it will resume scheduled services in December under its new brand and with new aircraft.
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****************************** 11 November 2013 The ICJ has ruled on the ownership of Preah Vihear - and no one will be happy - which probably means that it is a good rulling - while there was no question the Preah Vihear temple itself belongs to Cambodia, the 4.6 sqkm area around it claimed by Thailand was the point of contention. In the ICJ ruling today, the promontory (a high point of land with a cliff that directly leads into water), belongs to Cambodia, while the rest of the disputed area is still unresolved and should be subject for talks between both countries, as Thailand has to pull out all its troops from the area. Both sides will claim a win.....but the yellow shirts will claim that the PT government has sold out Thailand....just another excuse for anger. 5 November 2013 So on 1 November we flew from Dubai to Seattle about 14 hours over the North Pole. It was pitch dark over the pole...even in the middle of the day. And with just two engines you have to wonder what happens if something does go wrong. Yes we can fly ETOPS. But when the nearest airfields are probably in Mumansk Russia and Fairbanks Alaska - and both can have weather problems....then just how safe is this flight...
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******************************* The flight down from Seattle to LAX was on a small CRJ. OK. Less than two hours so manageable. The onward connection from LAX to Maui was on an ageing 757. This plane had not been re-equipped with winglets or seatback IFE. IFE was on overhead monitors. The service comprised of two runs of soft drinks. Small packets of pretzels or nuts were offered on the first run only. There is a menu card that offers some sandwiches or snacks for sale - though these were not offered by the cabin crew so may or may not have been available. What a grim way to fly.
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