sawadeeken

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The initial complaint is of loud motorcycles: 'Loud Pipes Save Lives' but there are limits and some are just ridiculously loud. IF too loud, measure the output dB and if over the legal limit Confiscate the Bike until the owner can place the original pipes back on (and confiscate the aftermarket exhaust).

It 'sounds good' in a TVF post..... But do you 'really' expect the 'Thai Cops' to 'actually' try to do it the right way?????     

I live on a long soi on the darkside of Pattaya and those 'Loud pipe bikes' race down our soi at 80 - 100 KM  (all hours of the night) and the noise is horrendous..... Cops won't do anything good for 'us'..... Only if it brings money to themselves.......

Fortunately for me I have grown used to that noise and can usually sleep thru it.... I grew up living under the Arrival Flight Path of a large International airport and grew used to jets coming overheard all night...... I'm lucky for that.....

I'm still very curious how much of the 'Poor Thai Kid's Lunch Money' was spent on the 'General's' Personal Comforts on this trip......... (ie.. chartered first class flights)

5 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Probably invited the Secretary General to visit the "world class" resort of Pattaya (ugh!!!)

I Think Trump is the one who will be invited to Pattaya..... as long as he leaves the 1st lady at home..... TRUMP will have a fantasy come true on walking street........LOL

Yup......... Again the same ole <deleted>...........

The HiSos and HiSo Generals............. All those making the policies......... won't hurt even a little......

Only the poor will suffer more ........... as usual......

school lunches will be cut further...... Maybe just a toothpick now.......

I personally don't find this Harmful to the kid....... It just may be that the kid had 'buddies' a bit older that enjoyed indulging in drugs.... as in 'Yabaa'..... and the father really had 'Good intent'....

I just came back from 'upcountry - Issan' and learned that a 13 year old girl that I knew from the past couple years has married with a 'Thai boy' and is now dealing and using 'Yaa baa' drugs.... If the mother had chained her to a tree instead of just being 'permissive'.... It just might have been a 'different story' today........ SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT........

Thank you Mr. Prayut and Prawit........  Now the present day government doesen't care about anyone in Thailand unless you are Army Generals or 'HiSo' (Rich Thai's)..... This is a perfect example of the consideration this Gov't has for the poor (mostly farmers)..... and now they are buying attack helicopters.......

It is my opinion (and that of many of my friends) that much of this 'armour' is to be used against 'Any Thai Protesters', Including those 'Armoured Personell Carriers' to 'quiet and dispell' any demonstrators, Protesting his regime (His Police State)......... All we can do is 'wait and see'......

And just a question relative to Gov't spending of this inflated baht (Which I may never be priveliged to know).... On Prayut's current trip to New York I wonder how much Thai Baht was spent 'liberally' on his comforts on this trip?????????  Private chartered Thai-Airways Flight?????  How many 'Inflated Thai Baht' ??????

1 hour ago, Lemonltr said:

Chalerm Prakiat 25. Better known as Soi Chaiaphum!!! 

Thank for that...... That first steet name didn't mean anything to me..... But I know it well as Soi Chaiaphum.... It is about as famous for massage shops as Soi 6 is for bars...... 

1 hour ago, Number 6 said:

I'd lay odds this was some shonky, broken bus with Chinese immigrant driver. Much the same as a zero dollar tour here. You see these bus companies in all Chinatowns and in Vegas. They always have the cheapest point to point buses. City to city. The buses are in appalling condition. 

All supposition, at best.........

The USA and especially California (where the group most likely originated on the bus) has very stringent requirements for safety of 'public transport' and all US states are covered by a federal law that commercial drivers of trucks and busses must carry an up to date (up to the hour) LOGBOOK.....

Also...No commercial driver in the US may drive more than 10 hours (behind the wheel) in any 16 hour period without getting a 8 hour undisturbed break (off duty)

Edited to add that I am a retired Greyhound Driver so I can speak with knowledge....

7 hours ago, zydeco said:

One thing I'll say for the Chinese is that at least their embassies and government defend their citizens' interests and safety when abroad. Worthless American Embassy doesn't give a damn. 

Just how do you figure that??????   Are you just 'guessing' or 'making up this nonsense'??????????????

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Another bailout !

Rice, rubber, cassava I wonder what's next?

From what all the girls at all the bars are talking about "no customers".... I think a bailout is in order for them as well...... LOL ......

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

If the predictions are correct ,it's a downward movement of the mighty $.

regards worgeordie

If the 'Mighty $' does that........ What can you imagine about the other major currencies..........

I've never known of currencies being predictable to forecast like that.....

2 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

It's not my imaginary scenario, is it?

These days, "winning"' wars is less clear cut than it used to be.

You are so 'correct'................ and it is a boiling kettle in the middle east now..........

8 minutes ago, CGW said:

Most definatley! not a doubt in my mind, "petro-dollars" & arms sales are a much stronger influence than conscience or right and wrong to "corporate USA".

Is that just your personal opinion or is there facts somewhere to back that up?????

And that proves that Iran wasn't connected to the attacks??????

5 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

I am willing to be wrong 

That says it all...... Thanks.....

Iran would love to knock out its competition (especially the 'Hated' competition, as SA......

There is confirmed and proven connections between muslim Iran and muslin Houthais in Yemen.

And it's common knowledge that Iran is currently '<deleted>' at most of the world and desperate to try to improve it's own finaces and need for 'It's' oil....

14 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Targets in Iraq  or Iran? To  wipe out  "resistance" to what ? Nuclear what?

The  analogy of the  mosquito?  Yes, a single   mosquito  can assuredly  take down  a buffalo slowly  but surely  by disease. A disease usually  requires a  vector. Who is providing and encouraging the  vector for the disease of the middle east? Who is waiting by the roadside  to  answer the  call Medic  Medic  !

You think that a mosquito will (assuredly) take down a buffalo?????..... I have a bridge in San Francisco called the Golden Gate Bridge I really want to sell to somebody cheap---- You just may be interested to purchase it from me....

How did you ever get a name like 'Dumbastheycome'.... I wonder.... 5555

Who mentioned Iraq?????

Nuclear what? Don't you read the news about Irans claims and satalite images of Irans Nuclear achievments (and their threats)??????

I will wait for more information that will surely be coming soon about the attack on SA oilfields

2 minutes ago, CGW said:

No, not Muslim! thanks for your viewpoint, I have worked extensively in the Middle East and see things a little differently - mainl point being the western MSM takes "sides" for commercial reasons - they are both as bad (or good) as each other in my view. That Saudia had a role in 911 is beyond reproach etc...............

Never proven that Saudia (Government) took part in it but yes it was found certainly that many factions were from SA. Just a bit of a 'distortion' at best..... Do you think that the USA and SA would have continued a relationship had they (US) felt there was a governmental involvement??????  It is just like the Muslim or 'free world'  countries or anywhere........ You have the trouble making factions although the Governments don't condone them..... I feel Iran is an exception and does condone and encourage (and support) them.........

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Unless ALL the Iranian oilfields are destroyed then Iran is an indirect winner also.

 

To completely destroy all the Iranian oilfields will amount to a full scale war in the Gulf region which will not only destroy Iran oil fields but all of the Gulfs nations and it will be a worldwide disaster.

I think the world is only waiting for more exact info as for targets in Iraq...... so as to wipe out all resistance and 'Nuclear' targets in one swift attack.... I think several countries doing satalite monitoring intensly to determine the best sights to wipe out first...

I think many countries consider Iran a threat.......

And My personal feeling is that Iran is nothing more than a 'Mosquito' trying to bite a buffalo......

6 hours ago, billd766 said:

Equally so the USA furnishes the weaponry that Saudi Arabia uses indiscriminately to attack and kill innocent civilians in Yemen. Does that make the USA guilty in the same way that you believe Iran was behind the attack?

Are you insinuating that Yemen, the Houthis. are BUYING the weapons from Iran???? as the saudi's are buying from the USA?????? How much money do you think the Houthis and Yemen's have to purchase 'High tech' stuff?????? or is it maybe donated for a good cause by Iran?????

And since when do warring nations show concern for 'Innocent' civillians????? I only know of a couple countries that care........

Edited to add........ The muslims surely didn't on 9/11 on their attacks....  muslin intentionally NOT capitalized......

7 hours ago, CGW said:

Out of interest and to hopefully understand the situation further - what is your problem with Iran, what has compelled you to want to believe they are sooooo Bad,

Do you consider that Iran is morally a worse place and country than Saudia?

Looking forward to your POV.

As I said I am not defending Saudia.... You ask: what is my problem with Iran? I see too many news items about Iran trying to act like a big power, trying to 'overpower' their sanctions (applied by 80% of the worlds countries - all UN members) and shipping their oil secretly to Syria. I see them policing the 'straits' as if their own, damaging and pirating shipping in the 'straits' .... They are producing drones now and are jealous of their enemy 'Saudia' selling so much oil and them selling 'limited' amounts..... I see Iran claiming to do 'serious damage' (Possibly 'nuclear') to MANY free world countries as well as their own neighbors.... They are muslim Majority and express hate for non-muslim 'Infidels' and express desires to 'Nuke' the infidels....

Are you 'muslim'... By chance?????  It might explain a lot.....

The 'Houthies' (spelling ??) from neighboring Yemen...who claim the attacks are... are sponsored by Iran although located in Yemen.... Do you believe that Yemen has money for missiles and drones?????

Getting back on topic...... I copied from OP:

"Iran’s clerical rulers support the Houthis, who ousted Yemen’s internationally recognized government from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014. But Tehran denies it actively supports them with military and financial support."

If you believe Tehran..... Then what more can I say.....

I am from a free world country...... I am an 'Infidel' in their eyes.... I don't want them 'leveling their sights on me or my family'.... and I can believe that they (Iran) would fund a 'second party' (Houthis) to disrupt the Oil supply from their hated neighbor..... hurting much of the free world....

I hope I am 'on topic enough for this post and you (and a few others) start to understand my thoughts and intent....... If not.... you have my permission to continue any argument by my Personal Mail (If you are muslim.... Never mind my PM)

I, IN NO WAY, try to defend Saudia Arabia.............. BUT....... I am Sooooooo ready to believe that Iran was behind the attack and probably furnished the equipment that was used in the attack.....

So since Iran has similar oil refineries...... I BELIEVE in the old proverb: "An eye for an eye".....

And ALSO....... I am thinking that most of the trash/plastic in the pictures are dumped bins off of tourist and fishing boats.... at sea........    Many passenger ferries also contribute as the crews are too lazy (Thai) to bring ashore to dispose of it at the end of their trip...... If these boats were 'policed' (and crews educated - or fined) to see if they offload any trash, It could reduce the trash on the beach........... Maybe..... Just a little........

The beaches are just half of it....... The 'roadsides' are just as bad...... In and around Pattaya I drive by a number of places in rural areas that are local disposal sites.... I don't know why 'authorities dont install remote video cameras to catch the illegal dumpers..... They can't do that at sea but they could on land....