Misterwhisper

One doesn't need to wonder how this ultra-nationalist attitude is fostered when one looks into Thai history books. The Thais throughout the centuries only did great deeds, created a florishing, sophisticated, just civilization. The aggressors always were the "others", i.e. the Burmese (especially the Burmese!), the Khmer, the Lao. They were unsophisticated, murderous savages who only had one thing in mind: to destroy that peace-loving nation that was Siam or, to be more precise, her pre-cursor city states. No word that in fact the Thai themselves wrestled territories from the Khmer, the Lao and - yes - even the Burmese, more often than not by way of bloody warfare. In the process, they "acquired" (adopted?) a lot of the cultural traits of these peoples which they nowadays so despise. Classical Thai dance is basically an almost identical copy (down to the costumes) of Khmer classical ballet. Classical architecture is largely copied from the Lao and - again - the Khmer. One only has to get a brief glimpse of "Wat Arun" to recognise that it's distinctly Khmer in style. Even food: Curries based on coconut milk (particularly in northern Thailand) are Burmese in origin. The Thai script is a derivative of Pali and Khmer and thus hardly "original".Now, one cannot really hold this against the Thais. Many countries have to one larger or lesser degree adopted and modified some of the cultural achievements of their neighbours. But point out to a modern Thai how much of their "superior" culture is actually the product of other peoples and in the majority of cases you will earn a frown or even downright animosity for your refusal to acknowledge Thailand's cultural superiority or at least question it.

Oh dear, talk about paranoia.

On the other hand:

"Moreover, it will spread rumors that the Pheu Thai-led government is trying to help fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra."

Rumors? Hardly.

It's actually amazing: We know that we can expect floods every single year - more or less severe. One would actually reasonably think that the government (any government) had a framework of emergency relief measures in place to some degree in anticipation of the next flooding disaster that's sure to hit. But not so. It really seems like they've got to organize something from scratch each and every time.Foresight and planning ahead is not a 'forte' of the powers-that-be in this country.

I know that sort of so-called 'ping-pong bombs'. They are little more than powerful firecrackers, yet do have the ability to inflict serious injuries when thrown at somebody and exploding in close proximity. They have been banned for years.

Isn't it amazing to what measures simple farmers resort nowadays to scare the birds off their fields?

Besides, I was under the impression that all redshirts were peaceful people who just wanted to protest for their rights and that in fact they are the victims. But hey, those 'bombs' were only bird scaring devices anyway. Never ever did the defendents contemplate that they might use them for some other purpose than getting rid of wretched birds.

In any case, 20 months in jail is reasonable enough, in my opinion. I am actually surprised they even received that much - with the wind blowing from a new direction and all, I mean.

Ho Pacific Co

Nomen est omen.

Amen.

For a minute I thought this was a genuine news story. I mean we read every day about the most absurd and blatant scandals happening in this country, plus we are all aware that even 80% of the 'real' police officers are dummies. I didn't even an eyebrow when reading the story. It sounded so plausible.

Then I read the source from which it was taken, of course....

Wonderful! Thanks! :jap: :lol:

........the integration of the ASEAN nations will make it easier for foreign investors

who are raising their families to consider Thailand their second home ........

I thought we are only guests here.......

She means foreign investors who pump in millions/billions of baht, then the rules change.

However, she might be considering letting a foreigner buy a talang wah of land to build a dog kennel on.

... or a basketball court for their child.

Prime Minister Yingluck said "(Thailand's) international education is second to none".

After making this statement.

And coming from Chiang Mai, I would imagine that Sacred Heart school has caused the Prime Minister of Thailand great embarrassment around the world and I'm sure she will step in at some point to rectify the damage done.

Well said. The PM's statement also clearly explains why she has received her own "international education" abroad. Perhaps instead of "(Thailand's) international education is second to none" she meant to say "(Thailand) is none but second (class) in terms of international education".

And yet another hub? Yawn...

How about sprucing up local education first before eyeing "international education"?

And what is this supposed to mean anyway:

"Thailand is the only country in the world with the largest number of international schools."

If even local journalists cannot construct one single concise sentence in English, then this new hub (I really have come to hate this word!) ought to be nothing but a bad joke.

What a ridiculous story!

Did you also notice that the breast slapping shop's owner is "Khunying Tobnom"? Translates as "Lady Breast Slap".

Even worse is that the government got involved and that the Health Ministry reportedly even endorsed this so-called 'traditional therapy'.

If I slap, hit and massage a breast (could practice on my own man-boobs first) for 10 minutes, it of course becomes bigger, because it swells due to trauma and increased blood flow. But to claim that this "painful procedure" would "shift fat from one area to another" is just utter nonsense.

If Wan Yubamrung's former appointment as 'Mr. Toilet', during which his shining aura alone was enough to vastly improve the cleanliness of public toilets in this country, is any indication, his current appointment as 'Mr. Airport Link' surely must catapult the failing service to new magnificent heights.

The right people for the right jobs!

I have never really understood these strange penalty structures here. How does 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter possibly weigh against 20,000 Baht maximum fine for the same crime? It's just insane.

Oh, I know, there is of course a reason behind this: a bigwig (a.k.a. 'influential person') usually gets away with a 20,000 Baht fine for manslaughter, while a nobody must languist 10 years in jail.

" Weak stomach Yongyuth ?"

" No, I'm throwing it as far as everyone else mate."

(P.S thanks for the image Bucholz)

YOngyuth looks highly uncomfortable. I probably would, too, if I tried to have a quiet lunch and were surrounded by 60 people watching every single spoonful I shoved in my mouth.

One of the good things about a coup is that suddenly all those mind-numbing game shows and pulled-by-the-hair soap operas go off air for considerable time (wish it were for longer). Bring it on! The country has some catching-up to do anyway with serious contenders like Liberia and other illustrious nations. If we lag behind with our numbers of coups, we'll never ever become a real hub in that respect. This can only reflect badly on Thailand and its face-conscious establishment.

Whenever a Thai official 'denies' something, it means only one thing: the accusations were spot on.

He said Thaksin and he were among recipients of medals awarded by the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International in Phnom Phen in recognition of their international service

Description:

Centrist Democrat International is based on clear moral and ethical values dedicated to the promotion of democracy, justice and enlightened political moderation.

If Thaksin has ever excelled at "enlightened political moderation", then I surely must deserve at least 3 of those coveted medals. Shall call Hun Sen at once. And clear moral and ethical values? Don't get me started...

:cheesy:

Due to the uncertain situation regards illegal gambling and police protection, I have closed both of my casino's until the situation becomes more clear. My patrons are disappointed but understand and appreciate the realities of this.

I can only hope that some posting here can understand and appreciate this as well.

:cheesy:

How about "relocating"? I might be able to give you the contacts of a few moving companies that engage in nothing else but assisting casino owners in relocating their establishments from Tao Poon to other districts in Bangkok that are still safe - and there are many.

And the 'new' boyfriend didn't realise she was 9 months pregnant? A blind man perhaps?

Furthermore, the only thing the mother-turned-murderer had on her mind was to join the Full Moon Party on Phangan.

Some crime stories are so mind-boggling that they're hard to believe; like something straight out of an Edgar Allen Poe short story.

And there she is seen in the file photo, sucking on a straw and looking worried. A tad late for that, huh?

"...stood blocking the six entrances to the community complex, which is known to house many gambling dens."

Hold it! Didn't a certain police commissioner only insist a few weeks ago there were NO gambling dens whatsoever in Bangkok? Has the man been held accountable for his statement?

"Also, they could not enter the premises because they were privately-owned properties."

Owned by who? Now, that shouldn't be all too difficult to find out, would it?

"...the complex would continue being blocked until clients stopped visiting or den owners felt the pressure and opened new dens elsewhere."

Wonderful strategy!

And yet another "hub". I am getting soooo tired of this.

If the man manages to clean out the cesspool that is Thailand's police force and mete out real punishment to drug dealers camouflaging in police uniform (i.e. jail time instead of transfers to 'inactive posts' and discharge, which are a joke in terms of 'punishment'), I will gladly discard my bias that he is a member of the wider Thaksin clan. Not holding my breath, though. Even if his intentions should be honest, he'll still fight an uphill battle against a powerful and well-connected establishment and will make himself many, many bitter enemies. But if he wants to go ahead, I think he deserves support.

"Earlier, sexual services were provided only at brothels but recently have been infiltrating in other entertainment places such as bars, karaoke, restaurants, massage parlours, traditional Thai massage houses or even in dormitories and hair salons."

Recently? What has this "research institute" been doing all those years?

"- Whether the petitioners are entitled to petition for a royal pardon as per the Criminal Procedural Code;"

Sure, it happens all the time that 3 million people scramble together to have a convicted felon pardoned.

"- Whether the manner in which the petition was submitted is in accordance with traditions, precedents and prescribed rules and regulations;"

Of course, it must be quite traditional procedure for people being visited at their homes to sign a petition to pardon a man they have neither family ties with nor do personally know.

"- Whether past pardon cases are applicable to the Thaksin case, such as the issue of serving time before seeking clemency."

Excellent point. How many convicted criminals in the past have actually been pardoned before serving even a single day of their sentence? Especially if those convicted criminals have jumped bail even before the verdict was handed down and thus indirectly admitted their guilt and since then have not shown one iota of remorse.

"May the person who abuses his authority be doomed. May the people who commit bad deeds get the bad karma. Thawil was right in that respect," he said.

There speaks the right man - and proud father of a clutch of unruly sons.

Honestly, I have never understood the reasoning for that decision. The Shinawatra children were legally not the owners of those massive shares, but were able to sell them for a hefty profit? Who pocketed that money? Please correct me if I am wrong, but if I sell something that isn't really mine, then I must be held responsible in some way. Or not? And wouldn't the 'real' owner of those shares still be liable to paying tax anyway? Or at least should be held accountable for tax evasion for cunningly nominating other people for holding shares on his/her behalf and then using them to sell them at a grossly inflated price while pocketing all the profit?