theanimaster

This sounds scary. Not the fact that Chalerm wants him back, but the fact that Chalerm wants him back SO SOON? Doesn't take a goddamn brain surgeon to realise that Thaksin will be in danger if he came back while blood was still boiling over in a lotta people.

I'd be careful about Chalerm if I were Thaksin.

Weird. Just two nights ago my neighbour's nephew was robbed at knife point by a gang of 6 scumbags on 3 scooters. The police said they KNOW the scumbags from the description the victim gave -- apparently the scumbags were jut released FROM PRISON last December!! I mean <deleted>. This country needs more vigilantes. I'd be happy to apply.

That was the last I heard about the police report though -- I guess the Police will be waiting for these scumbags to get a little fatter before bringing them in -- which is the typical Thai Police marketing strategy. Either that or wait till this gang kills a little kid before knocking on their doors...

Hm. Upgraded to SL to get Pages? Why? Pages runs on Leopard. Maybe for the AppStore?

Upgraded to SL instead of Lion? I know they say Lion's full of bugs but...

Alright. Let's cut to the chase. Your pictures should still be there. They should still open with iPhoto, provided you've used iPhoto to organise them. You are also confusing terms -- pictures go into FOLDERS not FILES..

The picture you painted for us is all weird.

Here's how iPhoto works on the newer versions of OS X:

You open iPhoto. You import photos into iPhoto. iPhoto keeps those photos in an 'file' called iPhoto Library, which is found in your Pictures folder, in your Home Directory (it won't say 'home' per se but will have your account name instead). This iPhoto Library isn't just a file -- it's a 'packaged' folder -- it's sort of like a folder that you can't really get into unless you right-click and choose Show Package Contents. Then you've got a mess to deal with from there -- but that's why they don't fancy you opening it like this.

Again, use iPhoto to manage your photos.

From you description it seems you're using a really old version of iPhoto, which I can't believe you're actually using, but ... it's true the first versions of iPhoto stored photos in a readily-accessible folder, rather than a 'packaged' folder.

So, in order to solve your problem, first locate your pictures on your desktop. I'd imagine they're all in the same folder.

Then, drag that folder (the one that contains all your photos) onto iPhoto -- whether it's iPhotos window or its icon in the dock.

iPhoto will then import (by copying) all those photos -- it will also organise them into things called 'events' (which is pretty nifty).

When it's finished, all your photos will have been copied into the iPhoto Library, which leaves you to deal with the original folder -- I'd say keep it -- just in case ; )

No doubt Scope is owned by the Thaksin clan...

I remain optimistic.

You aren't a teacher by any chance are you? I am, and at this point I can only DREAM of being optimistic about all this. But why should I worry? I'm getting two -- one for when my first child enters primary 1 next year and another two years later when my second child enters primary 1. My kids get free tablets woo-hoo. Games games games.

But seriously, they will NOT learn a thing unless the teachers are trained to use these things. They aren't. I'm a teacher, I should know. There has been absolutely ZERO training for this. Computers have been around for ages and the Thai computer curriculum is absolute rubbish.

There is a POTENTIAL for this to be good, but this country's policies are not based on potential. It's based on MONEY.

When my kids get their tablets, the first thing I'm going to do is wipe it to get rid of any eavesdropping software, then I'm going to lock them so that they can only be used during certain times of the day, then I'm going to make sure my kids aren't playing games on them all night. If my kids are doing poorly in school, then I'm going to take steps to find out if they are still being distracted by their toys.

Do you think your typical Thai parent would do any of this? Hell no -- as long as little Dekchai is out of your hair, you can get back to spending your wife's earning with your drinking buddies.

I think that the teachers will make the best of these tablets and do the very best they can to maximise the opportunity. I remember when I was at school and touched a Mac for the first time. I still remember that magical glowing green screen.

Except that the first mac had a black screen. The Apple I and II may not have, but I'm certain the first MACintosh computer had a white and black screen -- with a GUI. And a Mouse. And its OS on a Floppy Disk.

I am personally disgusted with this, but let's look at the bright side: they are being TRANSPARENTLY CORRUPT. There's a SLIGHT chance Thais would see this, but again, I emphasise the word SLIGHT.

I am ~SO~ pushing through with this game concept I'm working with. It's called THAILAND: the BORED Game. It's a game for up to 6 players: The Government, The Opposition, The Red Shirts, The Yellow Shirts, The Military and The Elite. Your objective (playing any of these roles) is to gain and maintain control of areas in Thailand, until you have complete control over the country i.e.: the entire population favours you, or, until the other players give up. You gain control over areas through EVENTS (which are based on real events) etc. It's my way of trying to educate the Thais about the sh*t that's happening right in front of their own shut-eyes.

I would be glad if someone would help me realise this project. Fight back corruption with fun and EDUCATION, that's all I'm sayin.

Ah well... At least the driver of the other vehicle didn't run away this time.

Maybe because he wasn't at fault ?

Feel sorry for the deceased... But really, I would NEVER under ANY circumstance put my kids in the back of a motorcycle. Especially in this country. It's just common sense.

Unfortunately, Thais have a different set of common sense than us stupid, clueless westerners.

Every time someone tries to sell Chiangmai as a place with good, fresh, clean air I tell them "BULLSH_T~!"

The government can't figure it out. It is beyond their capacity to put 1+1 together. Farm fires, increased respiratory illness problems... Hmmm. Must be a coincidence. Also a coincidence so many are committing suicide.

First tablets, now taxis. Well, it's not like a "som-nam-na" wasn't in order. I just wonder if these imbeciles will learn? The government couldn't be more blatantly corrupt, yet they took those 'promises' as if they'd ever be implemented. Hey, there's ALWAYS a catch, isnt there?

I'm trying to do my share -- our AFS students asked about Phuket. I told them don't bother. I told them what a shithole it is and to stay clear away from the place. Go to Krabi instead. I feel so embarrased and sorry that I actually recommended Phuket to my mom last year (idiot I am). Until recently I was always getting Pattaya mixed up with Phuket!! But from then on I've started my own personal campaign to boycott Phuket. Just hope the scum don't spread to other places. Wishful thinking?

The Iranian Thai Sulaiman states that he became aware of the SEJEAL stickers the "day of the incident." The question raised is why didn't Sulaiman disclose this immediately? He should be arrested for aiding and abetting terrorism. The spray painted messages all around is another interesting aspect yet to be amplified. Where are all those Thai politicians and tourism officials who were pounding the table and claiming that there was no terrorism activity in Thailand, that these were passing through and not aimed at Thai soil. Where are the ones advocating that the government disclaim the terror and propogandize this to the public so as not to compromise tourism? Where are the ones who admonished the US embassy for posting an alert and leaving it up, the same ones who went to state this case with the ambassador?

Who gives a flying f~? These cowards will never come out and apologise, and the US doesn't expect them to. I certainly don't. Still, kudos to our government for looking after us. Too bad the Thai government doesn't do the same for its people. Shrouding them in lies and deceit.

The scariest part of this report is the picture of the minister. He looks like my sister's husband.

Hey... there's an idea...

"His experience and expertise will still be useful to the Agriculture Ministry and the Royal Irrigation Department," he added."

Since when did ANY Thai official have experience let alone expertise in any of the offices they've been appointed to?

No shit?

dam_n. So much for getting Megatron for my son. It'll probably go missing (and stupid Central, the Mall and even Toys R Us are all out)!

Am I totally screwed (as a non-domiciled US citizen) with my sons' citizenship-at-birth? As I understand it, my children gain US-citizenship at birth but ONLY if one parent is a DOMICILED US citizen i.e.: has been living or working in the US 5 years at any point prior to the birth. I don't fit that category (I've only ever lived in the States for a year).

So I guess my only option now is to live and work in the US for a year and apply for a spousal/family visa for the wife and kids after a year (which can later be upgraded to citizenship)?

Wouldn't it be amazing to see what happened to Gloria Macapagal (the former Philippines president) happen to Thaksin? It's funny coz it's just one scumbag replacing the other. But apparently the scumbags here follow some strict rules (although it seems Thaksin is bending them... hence people are jealous/mad). The Philippines has "evolved" into a state where the next president isn't just content on being the next scumbag to ruin the country, but now they're making sure the bloodline of the former dictators die with them.

Imagine if Thailand were to become like that.

Wait wait wait wait wait.... so Thaksin is preparing a war room and is going to lead a riot against the army.... the army responds by mowing down the redshirts... hey, doesn't that mean his SISTER, the current PM gets blamed?

I mean, the redshirts were blaming Abhisit for the way the army reacted when ~he~ was in power... shouldn't the blame then be on the current PM (Thaksin's sister) if the army goes and shoots a redshirt now? Or are we going to practice triple standards here?

What really makes me shudder -- does Mr. T. really CARE about his sister and the position he's putting her in???

AH well. All for big brother, I guess...

What if we all got this wrong and the Redshirts and Yellowshirts are all the same -- The current government and the Democrats are all in this whole charade? They've definitely got us all fooled.

I mean, you ~DO~ need a cause, right? Brilliant performance!

I think allowing him back will be the best thing. I mean how easy was it to put a bullet through Seh Deang's head?

When reading the headline I thought this might be related to the US warnings. From the accounts of the story it appears it may not be.

Really. What fkwit terrorist blows his own legs off? Second -- what fkwit terrorist THROWS bombs like this anyways? Something just doesn't add up. This was no 'professional' terrorist and unfortunately I fear we are yet to see the REAL professionals at work. No... This looks like someone forced some convict to throw bombs around and the ending story would have been te guy gets caught and the government gets all the credit and the threat is over. Sorry, but that's not how it works. The threat will remain and the Americans know that all too well.

So here's the question: WHO put the guy up to it?

Waiting to hear the arguments how this is really "a good thing". Who is going to defend this policy? Come on Calgaryll, Lansford, and gang!

Thank you for asking Reasonable man and Soi Sauce^.

I made some inquiries, with the following points being made, in no particular order:

• This is nothing new. It has been going on for many years. To try and stop it would be well-nigh impossible.
  
• Best to make it transparent.
  
• Many schools ask parents for money. In an example personally experienced during my years of teaching English some time ago, was teaching at a local school where enrollment requests exeeded availablity. I recall seeing parents huddled with the Director, and it didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening.
  
• In some cases, schools ask money from parents, in some cases parents urge money onto the school.
  
• Questions need to be asked, where does this money go. To confront this would obviously be of concern to the Opposition, from whence this money flow mainly originates......frankly, that is where the money is.
  
• Increased transparency and scrutiny is urged by the Minister for a practice that cannot be prevented. In other words, "follow the money".
  
• Trying to prevent this practice would piss off a lot of parents, who are focussed on one particular school for their little Johnie or Sally. If it was prevented, they would find another way.
  
• As opposed to engaging in self-righteous indignation about an established practice, sentiments could better be focussed on transparency of this issue.
  
• But if it serves the Opposition to demonize the Education Minister by characterizing this practice a certain way, is par-for-the-course.
  
• In particular, they have the MO of "laundering" their agenda through others. Many times creations of their own, but ostensibly separate. At the very least an entity of other Oppositional elements. I bet none of you have heard of "Building Thailand Club" as referenced in this article. I haven't either.
  
• Have watched this Minister in action. Let me tell you, he relates to the people in a way Abhi. could only dream of doing. An impressive guy.
  

WOW. Have you been living here so long that you forgot that picking your nose in public is a sick thing to do? SO you're basically saying "Well shit... it's been done before, why not just accept it?" OH alright. So we should all go and break traffic rules and all and pay the "accepted" 100 baht get-out-of-shit card and go about our lives as usual. So now you're off going "We should focus on being more transparent..." Bullshit. You know what? School are NOT going to be transparent and hey --- coz that's just how they've been going about it all this time...! So we're gonna say "Well shit... it'd been done before, why not just accept it?"

Yeah, that's just what mindless dimwits do. Just keel over and take it in the arse. On the other hand, intellectuals will see this as it is. Oh hell -- really, anyone with half a brain can see it for what it really is. But the Red Shirts won't. But like the other guy said -- I think this is a good thing. It'll award more places for the rich, and the poor will be demoted to third class. Everyone gets what they deserve.

It's illegal because only politicians are allowed to control it. Just like gambling. And drugs. These things are all controlled trade -- controlled by the government.