BigDUSA

Burger King serves a very tasty flame broiled burger. Let's not forget at a reasonable price. Add in the ocean view and what more could one ask for.

I'm fond of Burger King at the Royal Garden Shopping Center. If you sit outside there's a nice view of the ocean.

As Boeing's 787 Dreamliner program creeps toward first delivery this year, managers are intensifying efforts to smooth production. But people working on the airplanes and others familiar with the state of the program say progress is painfully slow. While Boeing may meet its deadline to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airways of Japan before Sept. 30, the production pace projected for 2011 appears out of reach. Boeing executives told Wall Street analysts in January the company would deliver somewhere between a dozen and 20 Dreamliners this year. "It isn't going to happen," said one mechanic working on the airplanes. "There are too many jobs to be done." One job taking weeks per airplane is the painstaking removal of sealant from the interior of fuel tanks in the wings, then resealing them. And because the computerized system that provides mechanics with data on parts isn't operating well, even simpler modifications take much longer than they should. Boeing has leased extra space so it can work on multiple airplanes at the same time. Managers last week held all-hands meetings aimed at galvanizing the work force, and formed employee committees to identify and solve the major holdups. Tough questions ahead On Wednesday, when Boeing releases its quarterly earnings results, executives no doubt will be questioned about the state of the 787 program. Six Dreamliners are flying flight tests, while 29 more have rolled off the assembly line and are parked on the Everett flight line or at adjacent Paine Field. Those planes await thousands of incomplete assembly jobs and modifications necessary because of design changes since they were built. Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter conceded Monday that the rework is a difficult challenge, and she acknowledged the two specific problems raised by 787 insiders: the wing sealing and the computer data glitches. Still, she insisted, there is a "very specific airplane by airplane plan" for completing the rework. "Nothing we've seen ... is raising red flags for us," she said. In an effort to come to grips with the extensive rework, Boeing is modifying one Dreamliner in Texas, two more inside the main Everett assembly plant, and five airplanes inside a large hangar at the south end of Paine Field leased from maintenance and repair company Aviation Technical Services (ATS). Plenty of headaches Yet, those close to the program say production headaches continue. "The assembly process is still a mess," an engineer said. "They are building airplanes in the final-assembly process that then have to be rebuilt in the pickup process, which is many times longer." Parts that don't fit, including doors and control surfaces on the wings, still are arriving in Everett. "The wings on the 787s aren't even close to being ready," the engineer said. The employees spoke on condition of anonymity because Boeing doesn't allow them to talk about their work. The latest airplanes rolled out to the flight line from the factory with about 1,600 jobs incomplete. It has been taking on average about a month to complete 1,000 of these catch-up jobs, the 787 mechanic said. "They are just digging the hole deeper every time they send one out with that many jobs on it," he said. Gunter said she didn't have the information to comment on those numbers. Sorting it all out is made much more difficult because of the balky computerized system that manages all the data about specific parts. Mechanics are spending hours trying to call up parts information and drawings before performing any rework or modification. And individual jets have been reworked so often that engineers have a hard time just figuring out what is the particular configuration of parts and assemblies on a particular plane. "Productivity has crashed," said another employee with knowledge of how the computer system is failing. "A worker spends four hours a day on the computer just trying to pull up his work." Boeing's Gunter said the company is working to improve the digital tools, which she admitted "could work better." But she said that, even without that, productivity has been improving. "Our mechanics are doing a great job," she said. Among the major rework that must be done on every jet built so far is the laborious resealing of the wings. That's currently being done on two jets destined for Royal Air Maroc of Morocco, inside an empty bay of the main assembly plant. As the engineer put it, the planes are "essentially getting gutted." The wing seals are important not only to avoid fuel leaks but also to coat metal fasteners so as to prevent sparks inside the fuel tank during a lightning strike. Gunter said Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), which builds the wings in Japan, is not entirely at fault. "The sealing that was done did not meet our expectations," Gunter said. "We worked together with MHI to identify the need for resealing." At the root of the issue, she said, are "elements of both workmanship and design." Nothing new She added that this is "not a new discovery" and already was factored into the last schedule revision in December, which requires the first delivery by the end of September. But first delivery may not matter as much as the smoothing of the production system, said the employee who spoke about the computerized data problems. "They'll make some deliveries," that person said, "But does the assembly line work? Almost no one thinks so." Among several people who work on or with the program, the most optimistic projection was that Boeing might deliver 10 Dreamliners to customers by year end. Others predicted the number would be much smaller. Inside the ATS hangar, Dreamliners Nos. 8 and 9 are being prepared to join the fleet of flight-test planes to speed up the certification process. These jets will fly long flights to try to gain a certification known as ETOPS — Extended-range Twin-engine Operations — which an airplane needs to fly more than an hour from the nearest airport. One Dreamliner, No. 23, flew to San Antonio last month. That plane is having its wing tanks sealed there and also is being rewired. When it's done, it will fly back to Everett to have an interior installed. More employees Boeing has been hiring mechanics steadily to beef up its work force and by the summer plans to have 1,200 people working at the ATS hangar, which the work force has dubbed "Factory South." "Boeing is throwing money and bodies at the problem," the mechanic said. QUOTE

Boeing works to take pressure off busy Everett 787 facility Remember Boeing’s plan to have a single Dreamliner assembly line in Everett produce a new Dreamliner in just three days? Just how wildly optimistic that forecast was is now becoming clear as Boeing expands its facilities in the Puget Sound area and elsewhere to handle the long-delayed 787 Dreamliner and the not-quite-as-delayed 747-8. Consider these recent developments: • Boeing acknowledged this week that it has leased a huge hangar at Aviation Technical Services at Everett’s Paine Field to install modifications on already built 787s and to finish work still undone on those planes waiting for the plane’s certification for delivery. That ATS hangar will have five stations, a post-assembly line assembly line of sorts where incomplete work and modifications will be done on the 26 Dreamliners now in storage at Everett. • The company said this week that it will hire 800 temporary workers at its San Antonio maintenance facility to refurbish six Dreamliners and five 747-8s that are early production or test aircraft. • The company’s new 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in Charleston, S.C., is nearing completion, with initial startup sometime this summer. • A second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in Boeing’s Everett plant is under construction in space formerly occupied by the 767 assembly line. That production line will start early next year. The 767 production has been moved to another area. That second Everett production line has been called a surge production line, but some aviation analysts suggest that line may become permanent as Boeing moves to settle an unfair labor practice complaint about its opening the South Carolina assembly line. Those same analysts have said that Boeing is studying increasing production to as many as 17 787s a month to reduce the backlog of promised deliveries. The company is more than three years late in delivering its first Dreamliner. That delivery to All Nippon Airways is promised sometime in the third quarter. John Gillie: 253-597-8663 john.gillie@thenewstribune.com QUOTE

A drunken British tourist who violently rocked a baht bus “for fun” ended up getting punched in the face by its driver. Philip Champreks, 39, complained to police he’d been punched in the eye by the taxi driver and assaulted by other passengers April 4. Champreks received three stitches for a cut. Champreks admitted he was violently rocking the pickup truck, but said he was only having fun. Clearly intoxicated, the Brit then stormed from the station without pressing charges and ranting about unfair treatment. QUOTE

Check out Pattaya Park Hotel in Jomtiem. Hotel is on the beach and has a big water park for the kids. I've stayed there a few times with my family and it's a OK hotel.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Monday that it had gotten approval from regulators in several countries for flight training campuses for its 787 Dreamliner, which is due for first delivery this year. The world's second-largest plane-maker after EADS (EAD.PA) unit Airbus said its Dreamliner training devices -- including flight simulators -- were ready to be used with training courses. The company has training courses in Seattle, Singapore, Tokyo, London and Shanghai. Full-flight simulators and other flight training devices for commercial pilot training require approval from each airline's home country. The Dreamliner is about three years behind its original schedule, but Boeing is set to deliver the first plane to All Nippon Airways (9202.T) in the third quarter. Shares of Boeing were down 0.3 percent at $72.40 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Kyle Peterson; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) QUOTE

Q. What is dengue? A. Dengue (pronounced den' gee) is a disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses (DENV 1, DENV 2, DENV 3, or DENV 4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the most important transmitter or vector of dengue viruses, although a 2001 outbreak in Hawaii was transmitted by Aedes albopictus. It is estimated that there are over 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year. Q.What is dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)? A.DHF is a more severe form of dengue infection. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated in a timely manner. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue fever. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%. Q.How are dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) spread? A. Dengue is transmitted to people by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that is infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected with dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue virus in their blood. The person can either have symptoms of dengue fever or DHF, or they may have no symptoms. After about one week, the mosquito can then transmit the virus while biting a healthy person. Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person. Q.What are the symptoms of the disease? A. The principal symptoms of dengue fever are high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash, and mild bleeding (e.g., nose or gums bleed, easy bruising). Generally, younger children and those with their first dengue infection have a milder illness than older children and adults. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by a fever that lasts from 2 to 7 days, with general signs and symptoms consistent with dengue fever. When the fever declines, symptoms including persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing, may develop. This marks the beginning of a 24- to 48-hour period when the smallest blood vessels (capillaries) become excessively permeable (“leaky”), allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels into the peritoneum (causing ascites) and pleural cavity (leading to pleural effusions). This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, followed by death, if circulatory failure is not corrected. In addition, the patient with DHF has a low platelet count and hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding. Q.What is the treatment for dengue? A. There is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing aspirin. They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician. If they feel worse (e.g., develop vomiting and severe abdominal pain) in the first 24 hours after the fever declines, they should go immediately to the hospital for evaluation. Q.Is there an effective treatment for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)? A. As with dengue fever, there is no specific medication for DHF. It can however be effectively treated by fluid replacement therapy if an early clinical diagnosis is made. DHF management frequently requires hospitalization. Physicians who suspect that a patient has DHF may want to consult the Dengue Branch at CDC, for more information. Q. Where can outbreaks of dengue occur? A.Outbreaks of dengue occur primarily in areas where Ae. aegypti (sometimes also Ae. albopictus) mosquitoes live. This includes most tropical urban areas of the world. Dengue viruses may be introduced into areas by travelers who become infected while visiting other areas of the tropics where dengue commonly exists. Q.What can be done to reduce the risk of acquiring dengue? A.There is no vaccine for preventing dengue. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with Ae. aegypti is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, primarily artificial containers that hold water. Items that collect rainwater or to store water (for example, plastic containers, 55-gallon drums, buckets, or used automobile tires) should be covered or properly discarded. Pet and animal watering containers and vases with fresh flowers should be emptied and cleaned (to remove eggs) at least once a week. This will eliminate the mosquito eggs and larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes present in these areas. Using air conditioning or window and door screens reduces the risk of mosquitoes coming indoors. Proper application of mosquito repellents containing 20% to 30% DEET as the active ingredient on exposed skin and clothing decreases the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. The risk of dengue infection for international travelers appears to be small. There is increased risk if an epidemic is in progress or visitors are in housing without air conditioning or screened windows and doors. Q.How can we prevent epidemics of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)? A.The emphasis for dengue prevention is on sustainable, community-based, integrated mosquito control, with limited reliance on insecticides (chemical larvicides, and adulticides). Preventing epidemic disease requires a coordinated community effort to increase awareness about dengue fever/DHF, how to recognize it, and how to control the mosquito that transmits it. Residents are responsible for keeping their yards and patios free of standing water where mosquitoes can be produced. Contact Us: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dengue Branch 1324 Calle Cañada San Juan, Puerto Rico 00920-3860 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 24 Hours/Every Day cdcinfo@cdc.gov QUOTE

Check the can for the highest concentration of DEET. This is the active ingredient that repels the little ankle biters.

Any time I can be helpful.

Good price end of April. About $1150 all in.

The Boeing Co. both lost and saved orders for its delayed 787 Dreamliner this week. Fiji airline Air Pacific canceled orders for eight 787s -- a deal worth about $1.5 billion, according to a Boeing spokesman. But the company also settled a deal with Kenya Airways after delivery of that carrier's 787s was pushed back more than three years because of delays Boeing has experienced on its Dreamliner program. Boeing spokesman Miles Kotay said the jet maker and Air Pacific continue to talk about replacing the carrier's wide body fleet. Air Pacific's evolving business model has affected its fleet requirement, he said. Air Pacific ordered five of the 787s in 2006 and added three more in 2007. Boeing is flight testing its 787 to gain Federal Aviation Administration certification on the mostly composite jet. Problems with Boeing's global supply chain as well as issues that cropped up in flight testing have delayed the 787, which originally was to be delivered in May 2008. Boeing is aiming to deliver the first 787 in the third quarter. Boeing and Kenya Airways agreed on delivery for that carrier's nine 787s on order, the airline said Thursday. Analysts had thought Kenya might cancel the 787s because of delays, ordering Airbus A330s instead. Kenya Airways signed a purchase agreement in 2006 for nine 787-8s and options for four more. Boeing was to deliver Kenya Airways' first 787 in October 2010. That delivery has been pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2013, the carrier said in a statement Thursday. "The 787 Dreamliner fits well with our expansion strategy, giving us an opportunity to expand our markets beyond the current offering while cementing our mandate of connecting Africa to the World and World to Africa," said Dr. Titus Naikuni, chief executive of Kenya Airways. Boeing's Kotay said in an e-mail the total number of 787 cancellations is 140 airplanes. Boeing has said on its website that it had about 835 orders for the new model. The Associated Press contributed to this report. QUOTE

Pattaya Beer Garden has clean toilets. So does Secrets Bar and Grill.

I read the above and I wonder what drugs is this dude on? LOL.

LOL at a post from so long ago. I was in Pattaya last week. Try and keep up.

I hate to burst your bubble but do you really think I'm concerned with what forum members think of me? I travel half way around the world and pay BG to fuck me. I treat them with dignity and respect. Stop by the bar at Sky-Top and ask the BG who work there how I treated them.

Like I said it's about 50 meters.

Some women are snakes with tits. Same goes for guys who are dickheads. Stop by the bar at Sky-Top and ask the girls how I treated then during my recent stay in Pattaya.

I treat all women not just BG with dignity and respect.

I get to Pattaya last month for a three week vacation and the first thing that happens to me is my back decides to spasm in two places. I try pain pills, heat, massages and my back is so bad it hobbles my ability to walk. I'm barely able to get from Sky-Top to Tropical Bert's to eat. It's about a 50 meter walk. On a number of occasions I had Thai men offer to help me across the street. I was glad for their assistance. BTW my back started to straighten out about five days before I left. Now that I'm home. My back is fine and I'm able to walk again without the use of a cane.

GENEVA – The World Trade Organization has ruled that some U.S. government aid to aircraft maker Boeing Co. is illegal. The WTO's report details findings first issued in private to the EU and U.S. in January. It says the EU has demonstrated the U.S. gave Boeing "export subsidies that are prohibited" and recommends the U.S. either withdraw them or "take steps to remove the adverse affects." The report is based on an EU complaint and the dispute will likely next go to a WTO appeals panel. The Geneva-based trade body also has faulted European governments for illegally supporting local aircraft maker Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. Quote

Many companies are running into parts shortages. This will take months to straighten out. If you're in the market for a car or electronics. I'd look to purchase now. Personally I was thinking of upgrading my motherboard and CPU 6 months from now but I pushed up the purchase. The mobo uses high quality Japanese parts and these may be in short supply.

Don't listen to the guys who want to run you down. Run a quality guest house with excellent service and you'll have many repeat customers. The guest house I stay at has been slammed numerous times but they are booked out with repeat customers.

My wife and daughter recently flew from Philly to Paris. They thought the service was good and they received a free upgrade both ways.

I was stationed in Saigon when the so called peace treaty was announced. I was on a cruise when I witnessed the launch of the space shuttle at night.