smileydude

Those with a glass half empty = meh, he was surely doing it for the reward as taxi drivers are not generally known for their honesty thus the disappointed expression on his face.

Those with a glass half full = kudos to him, he's just trying to do the right thing and his facial expression reflects the fact that he doesn't care for nor crave recognition.

Rather strange story how a rapists attempts are distracted by a smartphone and changes his intentions.

So was the primary intent to steal and the rape secondary?

Its pretty obvious that Thailand is not a safe place for women to sit alone especially if your young and attractive.

If its in the wee hours and a secluded place then your risks increase 100 fold.

Even with the best law enforcement system and harsh sentencing sometimes good common sense is the best prevention though I still advocate chemical castration for repeat offenders.

I understand that straddling these powerful big bikes emboldens riders to feel like moto-racing champions and throw caution to the wind.

Whether it is haphazard or reckless depends on the individual's understanding of the limits of one's skill and control over his ego.

A non-conformist with big principles and even bigger cajones.

As much as they would like to as the Thai's say "slaughter the chicken for the monkeys to see" I hope the NCPO do not try to make an example of him.

Best to let him do as he pleases as long as he does not have a hidden agenda.

Maybe because statistically speaking any faults found in cars with high sales volumes such as the Fortuner are amplified by the number of complaints when compared to say a few dissatisfied Land Rover owners?

I think the number of Fortuner's on the road and its high resale value speaks for itself. If it was piece of crap people wouldn't buy it in droves.

The Fortuner also seems to have better over all reviews compared to the Mitsubishi Pajero and Isuzu MuX.

Personally I think Toyota's designs are bland and prefer the Pajero but the whirring gearbox noise alone has put off a lot of potential buyers.

Legitimate question and from the answers here (ranging from questioning the posters sexual orientation to sanity) the answer is clear.

0.001%

I'm guessing the situation in the south of Thailand had much to do with this undesirable ranking.

A few decades ago Spain and Ireland would probably have been high up on the list with all the separatist activity.

Apart from the countries that make up for 80% of terrorist activity I don't think the rankings reflect the chances of being kidnapped and having your head lopped off. Thailand should be fine.

Heard news on the radio report that Pol.Sgt. Matthew found out that Pol.Sgt. Wichit was having an affair with his gf.

The unexpected and furious nature usually points to something very emotional and jealousy usually tops the list.

Misleadingly creative use of the descriptions "black hole" and "glory hole".

Pretty sure one describes where your money goes when spendin on the missus and the other the favorite destination of those with a flair for the anonymous.

Sure some people are born into poverty and have less opportunity to lift themselves out of it but as long as you've got your health and determination there really isn't a solid excuse that you have to remain in a state of hopelessness.

Hopelessness is what often causes the have-nots to remain where they are today.

Those who are able to lift themselves out of poverty do so by sheer determination on their own part not because of some government policies or handouts.

Problem is a lot of the have's have implemented discrete mechanisms that ensure they stay rich e.g energy lobbyists, corporate tax breaks, monopolies, etc.

The countries that have the lowest Gini coefficients are those that have systems of checks and balances that make sure no group or individuals have an unfair advantage. These systems emanate from a culture of absolute zero tolerance for corruption and entitlement.

Nevertheless the have-nots must also become the do-somethings instead of waiting for handouts from the government subsidies or falling back on social security because you've spent your money on booze, gambling or lottery tickets hoping for that big break.

No one is born equal and we have to make do with what we are born with and climb up from there.

Knee-jerk reaction resulting from frustration and lack of proper oxygen supply to brain or perhaps the lacking of a brain itself.

Social media has in a good way made us more accountable for our actions.

Suddenly Thai males are getting horny and have a violent penchant for western women?

Its a well known fact that Thai men find western women very attractive due to their more voluptuous proportions in general and often fantasize about it after watching too much western porn/hollywood movies but this sudden rash of violence if not explainable as copy cat crimes is really weird.

Drug use cannot explain the rationale to target only farang women. The laws really need to get serious about all kinds of rape crimes.

Chemical castration would be a good start.

The title is rather misleading. According to what I read in the Bangkok Post the owner of the clinic is a plastic surgeon who is licensed and the one who originally performed surgery on the British patient. He subsequently then allowed this doctor who is a GP to remove the prosthetics.

In theory an anethesiologist should be present when administering any kind of sedative/anethesia prior to a surgical procedure.

I think the violations in this case are:

1. A certified anesthesiologist was not present when the sedative was administered.

2. A GP was allowed to perform a surgical procedure that he was not trained and certified to do so.

3. The clinic did not have the appropriate life-saving equipment present in its facilities.

These violations are widely known to occur on a regular basis at most clinic-based surgeries and only come to attention when something goes wrong.

Its about time the Medical Council got serious about it.

Most if not all surgeons operating in clinics administer anesthesia via IV such as Ketamine, Dormicum etc. (not General anesthesia which involves intubation, an anaesthesia machine and training as an anesthesiologist). This type of anesthesia is normally limited to minor procedures such as eye, nose and lip jobs but also in liposuction and breast implantation. The risk of developing an adverse reaction to the anesthetic/sedative is always there regardless but the difference is hospitals are equipped both with personnel and equipment to handle such emergencies while clinics are not.

The response time is critical and possibly as in this case if there was a severe anaphylatic reaction you only have minutes to react and even with the best equipment and personnel often is fatal.

Having any kind of plastic surgery procedure done at clinics always carries higher risks then when done at hospitals.

Problem is patients prefer the lower costs while the surgeons prefer the relatively higher doctor fees (due to less overhead).

I think these kinds of incentives/rewards are counter-productive but great for police PR.

If you really want to get to the core of the problem trying teaching and ingraining the word Integrity into the minds and core values of the police force.

Nip em in the bud when you recruit them.

If you respect and have pride in the uniform your wearing and what it means to "protect and serve" then maybe we've got a chance at seeing something longer lasting then trying to bribe officers not to accept bribes.

Wishful thinking is an understatement of that ever happening looking at the gimmicks they keep coming up with.

I think the danger is not in the men leering as they can't really do anything beyond that if your daughter is in the safety of your presence or in other relatively safe situations but rather how she will react to all this attention when her hormones kick in. I understand at some point girls turn into women and enjoy the attention. I try to teach my own daughter that any male attention should be taken for what it is, superficial appreciation and though it may be an ego booster, she'd probably appreciate attention from someone who really knows her and likes her for who she is (both inside and out) rather then for how she looks. Worse when their looks are used to judge them as only blessed with positive physical attributes and little mental capacity.

I try to keep my daughters feet firmly planted on the ground by telling her looks only get you so far and that sometimes you have to work twice as hard to convince people your more then a pretty face so I remind her from time to time not to let it get to her head otherwise you get lost in the attention and lose your way in trying to achieve something more meaningful in life. All this could sound overbearing but I'd rather try my best in parenting then be sorry.

Sensible approach, that is the right way to teach a young impressionable girl in my opinion, as long as you do still give her the freedom to implement the lessons she is learning.

I agree, as the best way it can be test-run and made to work is if they get to learn it and try it on their own.

We can only be there for them so long and then its their own life to live and choose.

Conspiracy theorists aside, if the Thai Police want to clear up any doubts they should get Scotland Yard briefed and involved with the entire evidence gathering, interviewing and judicial process. I don't believe they can pull the wool over experts eyes.

For the rest of us untrained in police investigative methodology I doubt we can say with certainty whether these migrant workers are guilty or not.

Its nothing but speculative heresay that does nothing to contribute to the pursuit of justice and closure for the parents of those murdered.

A lesson that certain perps especially pedophiles and sexual offenders cannot be profiled according to their looks, age, race or dress code.

Capital punishment is the only way to rehabilitate them, that is to have them rot in hell.

Contrary to the ridicule being poured onto the poster I find nothing wrong with being prepared and self-sufficient.

I recalled during the big floods around Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya etc that people were fighting over bottled water, instant noodles and toilet tissue. The shelves were picked dry. The water supply was contaminated and electricity was out in several areas. Just a simple flood and necessities like water and power were gone. I could imagine utter chaos if this lasted more then a few days.

Common knowledge to survivalists is that the best place is the most remote place.

In Thailand that would also mean higher places away from the most likely scenario to besiege Thailand --> Flooding.

I'd pick the more sparsely populated areas of Khao Yai. Not too far from civilization that makes building a refuge difficult or life too hard.

First: You'll need to have your own water supply. Drilling a decent well 60-90 meters deep costs anywhere from 60-100,000 baht (including pump).

If you can afford it buy a water filter and softener if you don't want to develop gallstone, kidney or bladder stones. A stored supply of liquid chlorine will also come in handy as a few drops can purify several gallons of water for safe consumption.

Second: For power to run the pumps I'd go for solar as its getting more affordable and unlimited life supply not counting the battery storage system.

Wind turbines are just too costly to maintain on an individual basis. I'd also include a diesel backup generator just in case somewhere between 6-10kw is probably more then enough as anymore and your sucking fuel at rates of over 8L/hr.

Third: for shelter building a basement would be good only if your on high ground because flooding is homeowner enemy no. 1, and the humidity alone will probably wreak havoc on your stashed supplies. Need to have a really decent ventilation system to counter that.

Fourth: Food. Locals raise fish in ponds. They position chicken hatches over the ponds so the waste feeds the fish. They grow grains and veggies in sloped land above the pond so the water used to irrigate trickles back to the pond. So you've got a complete food supply cycle. The grains and veggies feed the chicken. The chickens feed the fish. The nutrient rich water feeds the grains and veggies.

You get fish, eggs, meat, grains and vegetables.

Fifth: Perimeter security. Barbed wire is cheap and deep canals surrounding your land are possibilities. I personally prefer growing a kind of plant called "Fueng Fa" around the perimeter. Its extremely tolerant to drought and when fully grown is difficult to penetrate due to the thorns and bushiness. Even a guy with a machete would find it tiring to get through.

With this set up your pretty much self-sufficient if the SHTF.

All well thought out...until somebody shoots you through the wire.

Point taken. If your on higher ground I think I would have the advantage and also knowing the terrain better.

Of course having a vest, sniper rifle and thermal vision would be advantageous also.

At the end of day its better to try to remain unseen and alert.

Though your focus is more on flooding issues, which you do supply a number of very good ideas and points to address, the idea that growing a certain type of Fauna around the perimeter and the erecting of barbed wire though interesting, would not stop someone who really wants in. The fact that you do not address is the need one will have for some firepower on hand. A shot gun is useless for anything else other than for close-quarters confrontations (pump-action is best) . At ranges beyond those you will need something better (M16, AR15, or AK). Also you would be far better off with an early warning system that would give you a heads-up. Also as for accommodation you would really need to fortify your house that would need the ability to provide sanctuary as well as protection (kinetic energy weapons, NBC as we are talking about the End of the World in the original post, as well as fire, to name but 3).

Switzerland has bunkers built into every home, office, and building. used to be the law there that each had to have one that could cover all possibilities (not sure if it is still the regulation these days). Montana is full of these private bunkers. There are even companies in the US that for a fee can supply you and your family living accommodations in a huge bunker complex and some even will have you bring your own camper trailer into the fortification to act as your living space.

But do you really want to live in a world where it is all doom and gloom? Is there nothing you could offer that would be of help, other than to just yourself but also to all of us... like help in the solution rather than simply hide in the ground and defend whatever it is that you have managed to put together in the name of self-preservation? We as Humans have created this world and so we have a responsibility to make it better, and not just hide our collective heads in a bunker! So, remember that "Whatever is made by Man can be overcome by Man" can be applied to both your survivalist ideas and the collective crap that the World is faced with these days.

I don't think anyone wants to live in a world of doom and gloom. There are two kinds of doom and gloom, natural and man-made catastrophes.

Most think we can't do much about the natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and Tsunami's.

I think we can if these phenomenon are exacerbated by human behavior such as global warming and over exploitation of our natural surroundings such as occupying swamp land that was meant for water storage and blocking natural waterways as in the case of Suvarnabhumi airport that resulted in massive flooding.

We can make the world a better place if we use no more then what we actually need to sustain our lives but as collective humans its easier said then done. The advancement of technology has only made us lazier, highly dependent on power sources (fossil fuels) and taking nature for granted that if we deplete her we can find other forms to exploit because we believe we can develop the technology.

I think I'm doing my part by generating power from natural resources that result in low CO2 emission, planting my own veggies insecticide-free and building an efficient home water system (sink and shower water recycled to irrigation system). I also use LED lighting throughout.

It all costs money but I get it back in power/water bill savings.

My survivalist ideas are meant as my responsibility towards my family and not being over-dependent on the state in the event of a catastrophe.

If I can help others then its a bonus but that help would have to be controlled otherwise I would only be over run by looters and opportunists.

I think many of us here are ex-military but I don't really want to get into that sensitive area. Your points on the weakness of my perimeter defense is valid for highly determined or trained individuals. Though I have an alarm system, CCTV and shatter proof film installed on all my windows, it cannot stop bullets, explosives or a full-blown invasion of opportunists.

I'm not going to build a bunker because I don't see how anyone could survive a nuclear fall out on an individual level.

As with PDW's even the most highly trained well-equipped homeowner, and I mean one man, cannot stop a large group of armed looters but I can stop a group of amateurs. Every preparation is relative to the scenario and has its limitations.

Even if they settle without a lawsuit I hope the Medical Council and Medical Licensing department investigate to see if this was an unforseeable complication or due to negligence. Just because doctors are willing to pay compensation does not exempt them from the responsibility of adhering to standards of practice.

In order to have a balance between the aging population and working population you need to have a constant birth rate of 2.0 children/family.

2.1 and higher you have a rising population. Thailand's average is 1.7 children/family so by 2020 we will have a significant decrease in the population coupled with more then 25% aged 60 and above. Problem is the shortage of workforce-aged persons and a large proportion of unhealthy aged people.

Currently 70% of the costs of the Universal Healthcare Program are due to chronic illness like hypertension and diabetes.

The fact that it is 100% free does not encourage them to take care of themselves or live a healthy preventive lifestyle.

The solution may be to introduce co-payment in the healthcare system. If people are partially responsible for footing the bill they tend to be more aware and take better care of themselves of out of concern of the costs. Bad health is usually due to poor habits of diet and inactivity. No one can get people to stop smoking, drinking, cramming cholesterols down our throats or being couch potatoes better then ourselves.

With a larger proportion of healthy aged citizens we can raise the retirement age to 65 and extend the workforce years.

Working and staying active into our sunset years also decreases the chances of developing Alzheimers and many other diseases of aging.

Contrary to the ridicule being poured onto the poster I find nothing wrong with being prepared and self-sufficient.

I recalled during the big floods around Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya etc that people were fighting over bottled water, instant noodles and toilet tissue. The shelves were picked dry. The water supply was contaminated and electricity was out in several areas. Just a simple flood and necessities like water and power were gone. I could imagine utter chaos if this lasted more then a few days.

Common knowledge to survivalists is that the best place is the most remote place.

In Thailand that would also mean higher places away from the most likely scenario to besiege Thailand --> Flooding.

I'd pick the more sparsely populated areas of Khao Yai. Not too far from civilization that makes building a refuge difficult or life too hard.

First: You'll need to have your own water supply. Drilling a decent well 60-90 meters deep costs anywhere from 60-100,000 baht (including pump).

If you can afford it buy a water filter and softener if you don't want to develop gallstone, kidney or bladder stones. A stored supply of liquid chlorine will also come in handy as a few drops can purify several gallons of water for safe consumption.

Second: For power to run the pumps I'd go for solar as its getting more affordable and unlimited life supply not counting the battery storage system.

Wind turbines are just too costly to maintain on an individual basis. I'd also include a diesel backup generator just in case somewhere between 6-10kw is probably more then enough as anymore and your sucking fuel at rates of over 8L/hr.

Third: for shelter building a basement would be good only if your on high ground because flooding is homeowner enemy no. 1, and the humidity alone will probably wreak havoc on your stashed supplies. Need to have a really decent ventilation system to counter that.

Fourth: Food. Locals raise fish in ponds. They position chicken hatches over the ponds so the waste feeds the fish. They grow grains and veggies in sloped land above the pond so the water used to irrigate trickles back to the pond. So you've got a complete food supply cycle. The grains and veggies feed the chicken. The chickens feed the fish. The nutrient rich water feeds the grains and veggies.

You get fish, eggs, meat, grains and vegetables.

Fifth: Perimeter security. Barbed wire is cheap and deep canals surrounding your land are possibilities. I personally prefer growing a kind of plant called "Fueng Fa" around the perimeter. Its extremely tolerant to drought and when fully grown is difficult to penetrate due to the thorns and bushiness. Even a guy with a machete would find it tiring to get through.

With this set up your pretty much self-sufficient if the SHTF.

Sixth: Land mines, strategically placed clay mores, and a moat with crocs (can be eaten in a pinch)

Seventh: Several anti aircraft emplacements a few can be dummy's. for the well to do vulcan or a patriot battery or iron dome would be a nice touch.

Eighth: a bunker 40 ft deep should be enough keep you safe from the blast and those times when things get a little out of hand.

Ninth: Escape pod

Tenth: cyanide capsules for the easy out

Poor mans kit: a hammock slung by a stream next to a bug farm, knife and cup small pack for extra undies and your kit when you want to move.

Really not at liberty to spell out my armament.

I've been using a very simple perimeter alarm for years when I go camping in case 4-legged things try to eat me or 2-legged intruders try to jump me. Its composed of a 200 meter long fishing string attached to a modified siren that will sound when tripped. I just string it around my camp site at about knee high using trees and branches. Wind and touching won't trigger it so never had a false alarm. You need to go through it and pull the string by about 4-7 inches depending upon how tense you strung it. If it sounds it gives you enough time to either run in case its an elephant or grab your personal defense weapon if its 2-legged.

Contrary to the ridicule being poured onto the poster I find nothing wrong with being prepared and self-sufficient.

I recalled during the big floods around Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya etc that people were fighting over bottled water, instant noodles and toilet tissue. The shelves were picked dry. The water supply was contaminated and electricity was out in several areas. Just a simple flood and necessities like water and power were gone. I could imagine utter chaos if this lasted more then a few days.

Common knowledge to survivalists is that the best place is the most remote place.

In Thailand that would also mean higher places away from the most likely scenario to besiege Thailand --> Flooding.

I'd pick the more sparsely populated areas of Khao Yai. Not too far from civilization that makes building a refuge difficult or life too hard.

First: You'll need to have your own water supply. Drilling a decent well 60-90 meters deep costs anywhere from 60-100,000 baht (including pump).

If you can afford it buy a water filter and softener if you don't want to develop gallstone, kidney or bladder stones. A stored supply of liquid chlorine will also come in handy as a few drops can purify several gallons of water for safe consumption.

Second: For power to run the pumps I'd go for solar as its getting more affordable and unlimited life supply not counting the battery storage system.

Wind turbines are just too costly to maintain on an individual basis. I'd also include a diesel backup generator just in case somewhere between 6-10kw is probably more then enough as anymore and your sucking fuel at rates of over 8L/hr.

Third: for shelter building a basement would be good only if your on high ground because flooding is homeowner enemy no. 1, and the humidity alone will probably wreak havoc on your stashed supplies. Need to have a really decent ventilation system to counter that.

Fourth: Food. Locals raise fish in ponds. They position chicken hatches over the ponds so the waste feeds the fish. They grow grains and veggies in sloped land above the pond so the water used to irrigate trickles back to the pond. So you've got a complete food supply cycle. The grains and veggies feed the chicken. The chickens feed the fish. The nutrient rich water feeds the grains and veggies.

You get fish, eggs, meat, grains and vegetables.

Fifth: Perimeter security. Barbed wire is cheap and deep canals surrounding your land are possibilities. I personally prefer growing a kind of plant called "Fueng Fa" around the perimeter. Its extremely tolerant to drought and when fully grown is difficult to penetrate due to the thorns and bushiness. Even a guy with a machete would find it tiring to get through.

With this set up your pretty much self-sufficient if the SHTF.

there is nothing wrong with being prepared for something, but when it starts becoming obsessive,and a "life style choice" that's when it crosses the line.

one only has to watch "Prepper's" on Discovery to realize these people are nutcases/tinfoil hatters.

must sad that that a person is living their every waking moment in a state of paranoia.

Agree. I don't think any kind of knowledge or plan could guarantee survival in an end-of-the-world scenario and I'm not condoning a lifestyle of paranoia.

My point is I prefer to have some kind of back up plan to take care of my family when certain milder scenarios such as flooding occur and from personal experience just the interruption of power/water due to various problems has made me prefer to have a certain degree of self-sufficiency that of course doesn't put a strain on my pocket.