Open End of an Era

Thailand Bids Farewell to the Telegraph

Speaking of things slipping into extinction, Thailand has now discontinued use of its telegraph service.

Bangkok Post: “Telegraph service closes after 133 years”

After 133 years, the curtain came down on the telegraph service yesterday in a ceremony which saw several thousand people bid it farewell.

”The last chapter of 133 years of the Thai telegraph will be in the memory of Thais forever,” was the last message sent by telegraph, by Information and Communications Technology Minister Mun Patanotai from the General Post Office.

It was sent to 40,000 people who had reserved a final telegram, according to the Thai News Agency.

On the final day parents, teenagers, the elderly and first-time users packed the headquarters of Thailand Post Plc in Bang Rak district, waiting for hours to send final telegrams to friends, family and loved ones, and to buy souvenirs.

The number of telegrams sent across the country in the final week of the service, which began 133 years ago with a morse key and ended with the teleprinter, rose to 50,000 _ the total usually sent in six months.

The public enthusiasm was overwhelming, said Wiboon Sereechaiporn, assistant vice-president of the corporate and marketing communications department.

”It is in the character of Thais to often feel regret when things that once belonged to them leave them for good.” Among those turning up on the final day was Krisada Limthongtip, 28, who sent telegrams to his friends and family members.

”It is my first and last time for telegrams,” said Mr Krisada as his fingers constantly punched the keyboard of his smart phone.

”I don’t need to use it. I email and skype. But I came here today to soak up the [nostalgic] feeling,” he said.

Actor Supravat Pattamasuit was also at the General Post Office.

”It is a walk down memory lane and I feel nostalgic. I wish this service would remain. But the world changes,” said the 69-year-old, who sent his message saying ”Long Live the King” by telegraph to Chitralada Palace.

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Open Expression

Earlier this week the provocative Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe performed in Bahrain, but not before Bahrain's MPs protested and tried to ban her concert.

Mahmood gives us a taste of Haifa Wehbe's music in a vlog:

So sit back, relax, and watch what you will be missing if she decides not to bother with a little sand-pit called Bahrain because of a few neophytes’ deafening braying.

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Open Blessing

Emphasis mine...

Sami al-Haj is free !!!!!!!!!!!

By Paul R on Fri, 02/05/2008 - 10:42am

An al-Jazeera cameraman detained by American forces in Afghanistan was last night released after spending nearly six years imprisoned without charge at Guantánamo Bay.

Sami al-Haj, 39, was arrested on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan on December 15 2001, while on assignment to cover the war against the Taliban. Although he had a valid visa to work in Afghanistan, US intelligence alleged that he was an al-Qaida operative, and he was transferred to Guantánamo in June 2002.

Last night, his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, said Haj was en route to his home in Sudan to be reunited with his wife and son. He said: "I'm very glad Sami has finally been released, but the question is why he wasn't freed many years ago."

The US military alleged that Haj had secretly interviewed Osama bin Laden, smuggled guns for al-Qaida and worked as a financial courier for Chechen rebels. But the evidence against him was never revealed, and he was never charged.

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Open Opinion: Rev. Wright Revisited.

Rev Chickens-Come-Home-To-Roost

Dave Winer mentioned that once again we have spent a week dealing with Rev. Wright... again... against Hillary McCain/John McClinton's Gas-tax Holiday ... what better way to attract public attention than put the right Rev. Wright up and let Senator Obama once and for all "refute and repudiate" him. Cheap at the price, no harm, no foul.

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Open Nostalgia: My first computer

Build Your Own Digicomp Mechanical Computer!

The Digicomp is a plastic mechanical computer from the 1960s. It offered three bits of tabletop computing, back in an age where corded telephones were considered high-tech. The machine arrived in kit form; your first task was to assemble the jumble of tubes, rods, and elastic bands into something that resembles a Jetson's parking garage. Once complete, it's a fantastic hands-on way to teach Boolean algebra and binary numbers.

I'm a bit too young to have enjoyed the Digicomp era, but enthusiast Larry Groebe explained the attraction of these clever toys to me, "Digicomp 1 in particular (the cheaper model) started a bunch of kids on a career in computers -- myself included. I got mine for Christmas in 1968 and took it to the 5th grade show and tell, where I tried to explain binary numbers to a deeply suspicious teacher and uncomprehending class." Larry went on to start the "Friends of Digicomp" on Yahoo Groups -- an excellent source of information about this nifty device.

And now for the best part... Group member Tim Walker has introduced an updated $49 version this cool little machine, in an era where classic Digicomps change hands on eBay for up to $100 a pop. Unlike the original, the new machine is manufactured from laser die-cut 80-point binders board. The box contains the necessary assortment of jig-formed steel rods; plus rubber bands, plastic tubes, and various odd-looking widgets. An attractive spiral-bound 48-page user guide contains illustrated assembly instructions plus over 30 hands-on experiments.

Digi-Comp I (v2.0) Mechanical Computer Kit

Posted by james on February 21, 2006 at 09:43 AM in Classic Computing, Games + Toys |

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Open Poem: Amid warring cries

Amid warring cries for peace

we have heard the lullaby

and succumb to the dreamless sleep

rocked in the handmade cradle

of the eternal holocaust.

We drift a warm bed made

when half the world away

a mother cries, “My Sargent son

of only nineteen years is dead;

laid aside his hero father.”

To enter the maternal void

of wedding white she bespeaks

the seed of new cries, she carries

tears to his shroud, accepting

his honor within a folded flag.

There alone to join as one:

we have laughed and loved,

and now fought and died,

all in the name of freedom,

it's golden chariot to ride.

As the one, another yet becomes,

amid warring cries of peace

we drift a warm bed made

to enter the maternal void,

there alone to join as one,

as the one, another yet becomes,

rocked in the hand made cradle

of the eternal holocaust.

(Originally posted to 2Voices on Oct. 6, 2006)

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Open Choice '08

John McClinton
or
Hillary McCain

OK, now you decide.

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Open your eyes exam

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Open Malaise: Quid pro status quo

Hillary Clinton is advancing in her undermining of the Democratic process with a very simple message that resonates with Mr. & Mrs. Middle America:

"If you let me keep mine I won't try to take yours away from you."

"If you scratch my back I won't scratch your eyes out."

Quid pro status quo

Barack Obama is destine to lose the popular vote because he is willing to say that there are things wrong with this country. Things that need to be fixed.

Barack Obama is willing to say that in order to fix what is wrong with this country everyone will have to give up some of what they have.

Hillary "same-as-it-ever-was" Clinton is appealing to Democrats and Republicans alike to maintain the status quo - because things just aren't all that bad after all.

The truly sad part of the whole thing is that Mr. & Mrs. Middle America believes Hillary Clinton (and John McCain) is right ... for status quo America.

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Open Applied Physics

55 MPH beats $3.50/GAL

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Open BeatBoxing

Hat tip to hakiri

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(Now forming...the committee to N E V E R elect a President Clinton)
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Open Confirmation

If we do not preserve the right of free speech

then

free speech will not be heard.

Welcome home Fouad Alfarhan.

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(Now forming...the committee to N E V E R elect a President Clinton)
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.