Thai Flood Hacks
November 15, 2011 12:55 PM   Subscribe

The Thais, resourceful as ever, have come up with numerous ways to overcome the recent flood waters that have killed over 500 people.
posted by gman (27 comments total) 18 users marked this as a favorite
 
The cat flotation device is just perfect. The dog one is almost so.

These are all really cool. Ingenuity at its finest.
posted by Hactar at 1:03 PM on November 15, 2011


aww, flotation device. I guess that's cool. At first, I thought it was a jetpack.
posted by mannequito at 1:20 PM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


Cat floatation device for the win.
posted by jimmythefish at 1:21 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


Plus one for gettin' things done!
posted by SharkParty at 1:25 PM on November 15, 2011


If they work together ...

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2010-07-26-plastic-bottle-boat_N.htm
posted by LoudMusic at 1:33 PM on November 15, 2011


Many Hard Drive components are made in Thailand, and the recent flooding has caused prices to more than double in many cases.
posted by schmod at 1:35 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Tesco's making sure they have customers using their carts alright
posted by infini at 1:38 PM on November 15, 2011


You had me at underbones dangling from trees.
posted by sonascope at 1:40 PM on November 15, 2011


But, this guy is rather disgusting.

Why?
posted by Malice at 1:40 PM on November 15, 2011


yeah that guy is awesome
posted by mannequito at 1:43 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'm picturing Akha women with snorkels, holding above the water little croaking wooden frogs: "You [blub blub] buy frog [glub glub] mistaaah?"
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:50 PM on November 15, 2011 [4 favorites]


Lass wakeboarding.
posted by Jehan at 2:04 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


That flooding has a major consequence for us'n. Turns out a large percentage of the world's hard disks are made in Thailand. Two major factories were flooded out. A couple of others are not running because their suppliers were flooded out.

This represents a loss of something like 20% of the world's manufacturing capacity for hard disks, and that means prices are going way, way up. (Already have, in fact.)

The shortage isn't expected to be relieved until next year some time.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:37 PM on November 15, 2011


Why?

Flood water is gross.
posted by empath at 2:53 PM on November 15, 2011


No matter how practical they may be, stilts will still make you look like a big nerd.

I have seen MacGyver and he is Thai. Homemade jetski.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 2:54 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


The guy at the 1 minute mark keeps going with just a couple chunks of hose. Submarine moto Jump to 2:35 for a closeup of his work around. MacGyver would be proud.
posted by calamari kid at 2:57 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


I need proof they didn't do this stuff before the floods.
posted by srboisvert at 3:29 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


favorited for the awesome junk-ski.
posted by ninjew at 3:58 PM on November 15, 2011


They used the wrong breed of dog - I ARE FLOTATION DALMATIAN would have been great.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 4:01 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


But the slow-moving floodwaters have been a boon for quick-witted small traders looking to cater to some of the startling demands of water-weary Thais.

I respect what journalists do, hey they're on deadline, alright?
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:51 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


Hill people FTW.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:09 PM on November 15, 2011


Oh man, I first read this as being about the THALS.... too much classic Doctor Who lately
posted by scrowdid at 8:56 PM on November 15, 2011


For some reason that motorized swan brought tears to my eyes. At some point the images go beyond an absorption threshold and then there is one that opens the flood gates.

Living with water: Bangkok residents share their stories

Having lived through a comparatively small flood upstate NY in 2005, floods do not, generally, inspire a sense of humor about the filthy water mixed with every kind of human and chemical waste that pollutes everything, the massive loss of property ruined, the expense of the clean up. But somehow the Thais have found some core humor to get them through this massive flood, even in their ingenuity, which is charming while also very lovable.

Aww, distemper is horrible for dogs. A terrible dying/death process.

Crisis Chic: Bangkok blog takes a humorous look at the city's floods

Bangkok Flood Map for Tourists

Essential Flood Information for Foreign Tourists in Thailand

2011 Thailand Floods, expected to go into the New Year.
posted by nickyskye at 6:46 AM on November 16, 2011




The Thais, resourceful as ever

Given that this is the part of the world where a scooter is a vehicle for the whole family,* I'm not at all surprised at this ingenuity.

*Not my pic. Google images search for "thai scooter family" returns 461,000 results. Resourceful indeed.
posted by lunasol at 1:21 PM on November 16, 2011


people precariously balancing small appliances

two wheeler as a home appliance
posted by infini at 2:17 PM on November 16, 2011


oops, lets try that image link again
posted by infini at 2:19 PM on November 16, 2011


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