mazeltov

my cat goes crazy for the green rind of watermelons.

He was singing 'Turning Japanese." I really think so.

It was dedicated Takki Shinegra.

Quite appropriate, considering what a knob and total jerk-off he is.

Who?

I notice that the anti-China propaganda machine is still functioning...

If this article would be exactly the same but anti-USA, the topic would have been closed already.

Oh yes.

Mazeltov, if you can't read the printed words of several websites, and news journals,

and viable pundits from multiple sides of the questions of the day, and come to valid conclusions

as to facts, that match across the board, then don't insult the intelligence of those that can and do.

I am not a propagandist, because I am not Thai, nor paid by any to sell their point of view. A la Amsterdam.

It's obvious what Samak was doing and the court ruling against him was published copiously with quotes.

If you want to believe counter propaganda to the contrary of facts I could care less.

But don't aim your miscomprehensions at me any more.

If he cooked for free, and didn't take advantage by talking his political spin on a bully pulpit provided

for free by a concessionaires supplier, he might have beaten this, but he was to arrogant.

End of story.

Again: That Samak misused the cooking show for his politics was never part of the court case against him. That is just you your propaganda agitation.

repeating that fantasy without backing it up with "hard facts" doesn't make it true.

well, i thought that the number of 30,000 third graders is also somewhere heavily rounded, so i did the same. and you would have to look at the birth rate some years ago and then you still get a very vague result using this method but accurate enough to put that 30,000 into relation and have a figure in percent and better than NOBODY can answer your question, so don't try to be smarter now.

the modern latin alphabet with its 26 letters is a highly abstract system, that its less complicated than the Thai writing system i would not call a fact.

1. Everybody knows that you are smarter.

2. Nobody called it a fact since there hasn't been a study, AFAIK, which alphabet is more difficult, Latin or Thai, for dyslectic people to read and write.

LaoPo

1. you wrote: "the OP's article 30,000 children diagnosed with a substandard literacy but NOBODY has been able to inform me and others if that's a high percentage or not "

I gave you an answer and it was not that difficult to figure out (if you are not mentally handicapped 'GIFTED with the OTHER ABILITIES').

Instead of being happy with my assistance to give you a clue, you started to schoolmaster me, but failed actually a second time. now the third. don't try to be smarter than you are.

2. you wrote: " but the fact that Thai script is more complicated than our normal 26 letters in the west,"

is nobody your second name? like in this two instances, when you spoke of 'nobody' you meant actually yourself.

and please for the future don't alter and modify my entries when you quote me, like putting words in bold.

One thing that does concern me is the increasing number of 50 plus ladies of the night, kind of an aesthetic blow on an already not very pretty situation.

Thank you for warning us about this situation. Maybe the boys in brown should start arresting their customers just for having very questionable taste?

disgusting and of very questionable taste are grumpy old white men (50 plus) who make misogynistic comments towards woman that in the same age group like them meanwhile they seeking sex with prostitutes who could be the same age of their children or grandchildren.

Anyway, you point rightly out that we should look at the percentage of those children diagnosed with a substandard literacy. but you a wrong when you say NOBODY can answer that. quick google search 'Thailand Birth rate ' and i know there are around one million new born Thai each year. So it is safe to assume that there also around 1,000,000 third graders. Makes that impressive number of 30,000 to only 3 percent. Funny isn't it, the headline could be Literacy Of 3-5% Thai Third Graders Substandard That is actually a to good to be true rate. school system in other countries around the globe will not do much better.

And that is below some estimated rates for dyslexia in a population but I think that dyslexia issue depends also very on the language spoken and the writing system is used for that language so maybe that dyslexia diagnosis cannot be applied here.

The number of 1,000,000 third graders in Thailand is too optimistic since there is a birthrate of 13,21 per 1.000 population in Thailand on a 66 Million population.

You will get a number 872,000 third graders but that number doesn't include the babies that die, are retarded or any other reason -AIDS- or other sickness for instance- which makes that child not reach the third grade.

The world book of facts by the CIA says:

"note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)"

But, I give you that 3-5% is a very optimistic number in an article which describes it as sensational BAD news for Thailand.

Like I wrote before I have no idea whether Dyslexia is better or worse in Thailand with Thai script but the fact that Thai script is more complicated than our normal 26 letters in the west, it seems to me that Dyslexia could be even worse in Thailand than any given Western country but again, I don't know.

well, i thought that the number of 30,000 third graders is also somewhere heavily rounded, so i did the same. and you would have to look at the birth rate some years ago and then you still get a very vague result using this method but accurate enough to put that 30,000 into relation and have a figure in percent and better than NOBODY can answer your question, so don't try to be smarter now.

the modern latin alphabet with its 26 letters is a highly abstract system, that its less complicated than the Thai writing system i would not call a fact.

It is sadly a fact that underage sex workers are available in Pattaya and many other parts of Thailand. To imply they are the majority is absurd. One thing that does concern me is the increasing number of 50 plus ladies of the night, kind of an aesthetic blow on an already not very pretty situation.

How old are you?

Is it not about time some of if not all of these inept officials had a reality test ?

No doubt it's yet another pronouncement by a female official who is long past her, ''best before date.''

Echar perhaps of modern youth ?

a female official who is long past her, ''best before date.'' - such comment can only come from a male brain that never developed past the early stages of adolescence.

Well, I'm not going into a debate whether Einstein or others were/are dyslectic or not since it's not the point of the OP.

Against your link, there's another link where it is claimed that Einstein was suffering from dyslexia; the problem is that there are many signs that he WAS dyslectic but never tested and dyslexia (also called reading blind) is only commonly accepted since the late '60's (I'm talking Europe here)

http://www.einsteinm...albert_einstein

In MOST cases Dyslexia is only discovered with young children if they're 7 years of age or even older.

I know, since I have been living with members in my family who are dyslectic; many people cannot even understand that one of them wrote the name "Monique" in SEVEN different ways in one-and-the-same letter...go figure.

My point was that in the OP's article 30,000 children diagnosed with a substandard literacy but NOBODY has been able to inform me and others if that's a high percentage or not in a country with 66 Million people and how many amongst those 30,000 are suffering from Dyslexia or not.

EDIT:

Many people do not even know in detail what Dyslexia is and that there are many grades, minor and major, and for those who're willing to learn a bit about it:

http://www.dyslexia.com/

LaoPo

OMG. what a bizarre cult: 'dyslexia is a gift'.

While i agree with the point that this reading disability have nothing to do with the intellect of a person. It doesn't makes one dumber as the 'normal' people.

Dyslexia also makes one not superior to the 'normal' people, but the website seems to suggest otherwise.

Also that star cult of famous people with dyslexia s questionable. I am pretty sure you could make also a long list of infamous people nobody really wants to associate with, based on the common trait dyslexia. Just listing the 'heroes' with dyslexia is a fallacy. Nobody blames Vegetarian because some 20th century dictator and mass murder was a Vegetarian.

Actually that website looks like a scam. It doesn't provide much information but is all promotional stuff and advertising for a commercial product. Promising the persons suffering from dyslexia a miracle cure. Nothing more then the intent to sell some videos, DVDs, workshops. For example: the 12 minute video "I Can Do It: The Confidence to Learn" - $9. 5555. Cheating the money out of gullible suckers.

Anyway, you point rightly out that we should look at the percentage of those children diagnosed with a substandard literacy. but you a wrong when you say NOBODY can answer that. quick google search 'Thailand Birth rate ' and i know there are around one million new born Thai each year. So it is safe to assume that there also around 1,000,000 third graders. Makes that impressive number of 30,000 to only 3 percent. Funny isn't it, the headline could be Literacy Of 3-5% Thai Third Graders Substandard That is actually a to good to be true rate. school system in other countries around the globe will not do much better.

And that is below some estimated rates for dyslexia in a population but I think that dyslexia issue depends also very on the language spoken and the writing system is used for that language so maybe that dyslexia diagnosis cannot be applied here.

There are few western journos who understand Thailand as well as Crispin. People may not like or agree with what he writes but in terms of understanding he far surpasses any of the local beat rotated in and out of Thailand while on their career ladder

Of course all journalism is propaganda and so it is right to be cautious in believing what any journo writes but generally those better informed and understanding have the goods somewhere in what they write even if it is half hidden, coded or even accidently let out. Other lesser infromed ones are well just like the not the nation portrayed them as parachuted in.

There are a lot of myths about journalists that have been reinforced over the years by hollywood etc

Fully agree your views on Crispin.Having said that there's no law of nature which rules that a journalist "parachuted in" is going to have less interesting or relevant insights.Indeed sometimes it takes an outsider to identify issues that are important.My concern about resident journos and stringers (and I exclude people from Reuters,CNN, BBC etc who are only here for a few years) is that they tend to be unduly influenced by the seductive nature and charm of this country.In practice this means that visas and resident status becomes very important (usually but not exclusively because of family ties), and the prospect of offending the authorities becomes difficult to contemplate.This doesn't necessarily make for robust and healthy journalism.I have no idea whether this is an issue for Crispin, and indeed all the evidence is that he is admirably independent minded.

I tend to approach it with the view that all journalists and their organs are propaganda apparatus;) Independent healthy journalism imho is long dead, if indeed it ever existed outside of a Hollywood film set. That isnt to say journos dont soemtimes publish the truth, or let it out by mistake. The difficult part is seperating the wheat form the chaff and that usually just comes down to our own bias. What I like (my own bias coming out here) about Crispin is that he does have contacts on all sides that others writing in English dont have and at times interesting snippets do come out via him that otherwise can only be found in Thai, and apart from the obvious headaches associated with analysing Thai journalism a lot forget that Asian philosophy is very different from western philosophy being more spiral than linear and this is reflected in rhetorical approach which creates its own problems in seeing what is really being said.

All in my humble and media untrusting opinion of course

Asian philosophy vs. Western philosophy ... what you mean, (beside that it is obvious that there are a lot of differences)? Crispin the Richard Gere of foreign journalism in Asia? 5555. sometimes that 'philosophy' Esoterism is still Western US-american bias.

Nah, Crispin doesn't go to much local. He hangs around with other foreign observers and in the diplomatic circles, mostly the American-English speaking (native) ones bemoan their own loss of influence and the Chinese takeover.

Anyway, what you think of Crispin latest writings? Turns out that he isn't a fan of Abhisits rule by decree. He doesn't show much empathy and appreciation for the current 'Thai way how things are done in politics'. So you could say he has a clearly Western (liberal) approach here. Some board member, the usual suspects, would immediately reply with some "you red shirt" comments if you would post here a few lines from Crispin.

["So will people ever learn the truth?"]

Well if they do it won't be from the press unless it sells newspapers.

Actually most every one knows the truth. The reporters were in a combat zone and for some reason thought they were different than every one else there only to find out they weren't.

SIMPLE

That is more than a bit simplistic. "The truth" would involve important such facts as who actually shot the journalist in question, and whether he was hit by a stray bullet or deliberately targeted. Journos in a combat zone are pretty aware that they are in danger, and there is nothing "different from everyone else" in expecting that accredited members of the media won't actually be targeted deliberately. Otherwise, either side could just pick them off at will and say afterwards "Well, they was in a combat zone and they wasn't special or nothin' - so goddamn what?! You mean you expect an investigation? They shouldn't-a been there in the first place!"

I find it sad that you demonstrate such contempt for the journalists, as if the ones who were hurt or killed somehow deserved what they got, and as if it was some sort of just punishment for thinking they were special. These are the people who are trying to bring you information on what is actually going on out there - so you don;t have to risk your nuts yourself. But perhaps more importantly than bringing you the news, is the fact that if the media were not present (and risking their lives) at conflicts bearing witness to events, the combatants would be free to do whatever they wanted and commit any war crimes that they felt like, because there would be no credible witnesses to tell the tales of their savagery. In all conflicts it is crucial that the combatants realise that the whole world is watching.

second that.

looks like some people start to dislike journalist when they don't deliver the SIMPLE story every one knows.

That is very probably the boy in Chiang Rai holding up a banner saying " I saw dead people at Ratchaprasong"

I don't think that he needs a 'mental rehabilitation programme'.

And such a programme is questionable. only hard core right wing extremist, wannabe thought-policemen and dictatorship lover boys, anti democratic hillbilly redneck nazis and other authoritarian enemies of an open society would think of such programme as useful.

What are you smoking a two day program such as this would not even be considered a fair start for the people you mentioned much less useful they need a lot more time. They are certainly long term cases. We live in a fortunate time in Thai hystory. We have Abhist in control can you imagine what would happen if Thaksin and his red shirt following were in control. Bang Bang no more problem

For the boy it is adequate.

IMHO “re-education programs” were a monopoly of communist regimes.

call it the totalitarian regimes. of course, a lot of them were so called communist countries, but the commies don't hold a monopoly on this. the enemies of an open society don't come only from that side.

I had the bad luck to spend childhood and youth up in such a system and would argue that the "commies" with their ruling party weren't much different from the nazis. both staunch national-socialist, 'loving' the leader and the ideology. having a fetish for the army and militarism. witch-hunting dissidents and critics. with an independent mind you became their enemy.

are you having fantasies again?

Are you?

thanks for proving once more that you cannot substantiate your fantasies.

and you, what is your contribution?

what is the opinion of our 'libertarian' member in the case of the 16 years old student with his banner 'I saw dead people'?

what would a true libertarian say to an emergency decree that violates civil rights?

Are you able to post without labeling people using ad hominem attacks?

Or perhaps there is some relationship between being a libertarian and the topic of this thread.

Dear way2muchcoffee, better get a beer. This (type of) discussion with mazeltov I already gave up. Better things to do.

so what is now the contribution to the debate by the both of you?

Then perhaps you can explain why the UDD was allowed to rally in BKK each of the last 4 weeks without interference from security forces.

are you having fantasies again?

you talking about what? without interference?

^^

nazis suspend civil rights. democrats don't.

my remark is still valid too, defend that violation of basic civil rights and you are nothing more than some right winger, anti-democrat, authoritarian dictatorship lover and an enemy of an open society.

That is all you can bring to the thread, labels?

and you, what is your contribution?

what is the opinion of our 'libertarian' member in the case of the 16 years old student with his banner 'I saw dead people'?

what would a true libertarian say to an emergency decree that violates civil rights?

^^

nazis suspend civil rights. democrats don't.

my remark is still valid too, defend that violation of basic civil rights and you are nothing more than some right winger, anti-democrat, authoritarian dictatorship lover and an enemy of an open society.

@rubl

you mean countries like north korea?

many countries, at least the ones that are called democracies, are not using emergency laws nor send their youth, when dissent to the doctrine of the ruling party, to a 'mental rehabilitation programme'.

The parents of the 16yr old boy mentioned 'mental rehab. prog.' others just 'rehab prog.' If you can provide details on the specific two-day program the boy has to go, I may withdraw my remark.

If someone holding up a banner with the words 'I saw dead people' he shouldn't be subjected to any treatment or measures of the authorities at all.

It is his civil right to do so.

I don't see any connection between the emergency decree and not being able to help people. Also in the article there is no connection at all visible, except for the claim by Prompong Nopparit.

the emergency decree makes arbitrary detention possible. without these emergency laws many of these people would not be in jail and could not kept in jail.

@rubl

you mean countries like north korea?

many countries, at least the ones that are called democracies, are not using emergency laws nor send their youth, when dissent to the doctrine of the ruling party, to a 'mental rehabilitation programme'.

What are you smoking a two day program such as this would not even be considered a fair start for the people you mentioned much less useful they need a lot more time. They are certainly long term cases. We live in a fortunate time in Thai hystory. We have Abhist in control can you imagine what would happen if Thaksin and his red shirt following were in control. Bang Bang no more problem

For the boy it is adequate.

of course such 'treatments' would not 'heal' the people i mentioned. but what i said was that these idiots, when in charge and power, are thinking such programmes were good and adequate to deal with the others.

How it would have been under Thaksin ... well, he didn't had a problem with calling new elections when the street protest by the PAD started in Bangkok. There is the main difference to Abhisit. To stay in power Abhisit don't use elections but emergency decree and special laws to suppress and crack down the opposition and dissidents.

Oh boo hoo hooo ooo PT got them into this mess,

and now PT whines loudly when they can't get them out as fast as they got them in.

"The parents don't want to see their son undergoing a mental rehabilitation programme. They are afraid it will make their son's record look bad. We will see how we can help," Niran said.

The youngster has been ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme on August 16 and 17. However, the boy insists he has no mental problems.

"There's no need for me to undergo the programme because I am neither crazed nor insane. I am willing to cooperate if that's the normal procedure, but I'm worried the records will make me look bad," the boy said.

Righty O won't look as bad as being arrested and charged

for arson or rioting or terrorism with his Red Buddies.

What an amazing priority list this family has.

Rehabilitation from red brainwashing, is worse than

crimes committed against the whole country, like helping burn Bangkok.

That is very probably the boy in Chiang Rai holding up a banner saying " I saw dead people at Ratchaprasong"

I don't think that he needs a 'mental rehabilitation programme'.

And such a programme is questionable. only hard core right wing extremist, wannabe thought-policemen and dictatorship lover boys, anti democratic hillbilly redneck nazis and other authoritarian enemies of an open society would think of such programme as useful.

I forgot to mention, France generates 78% of it's energy from nuclear power. They are able to make it so cheaply that they export much of it to neighboring countries. The remaining 22% is almost entirely from renewable sources. A great model for the rest of the world.

Though France and Thailand are roughly the same size and have about the same # of people, there are differences. One difference is the way they deal with technology. The French were developing heavier-than-air motorized machines that could fly in the air, during a time when Thailand was discovering what a ball bearing was.

the hypocrite hippie with a ugly white man superiority complex.

What are you on about?

France - for instance the Montgolfier brothers - were in the forefront of aviation.

It is not anything to do with a superiority complex - it is fact.

it is if the argument of the nazi hippie goes in that direction that Thai people are not smart enough to handle a nuclear power station.

I forgot to mention, France generates 78% of it's energy from nuclear power. They are able to make it so cheaply that they export much of it to neighboring countries. The remaining 22% is almost entirely from renewable sources. A great model for the rest of the world.

Though France and Thailand are roughly the same size and have about the same # of people, there are differences. One difference is the way they deal with technology. The French were developing heavier-than-air motorized machines that could fly in the air, during a time when Thailand was discovering what a ball bearing was.

the hypocrite hippie with a ugly white man superiority complex.