bradiston

46 minutes ago, ThailandGuy said:

Well You can say that for most foreigners who try to speak Thai.  They can not string a correct Thai sentence together.  Its harder to speak Thai then to speak English.  So where does it go wrong as English is a pretty easy language to learn?

Disagree totally. Thai is simplicity itself. Learn the alphabet (there's only one) using the kindergarten chart, which any Thai of any age will probably be able to rattle off. Memorize the consonant classes (they're colour coded on the chart). Learn the tones and tone rules - surprisingly simple. The syntax and grammar are easy. No verb conjugations, no gender forms, no declensions, no plurals, phonetic pronunciation, bearing in mind tones.

English: 2 alphabets. Innumerable tenses. Unbelievably weird spelling, frequently non phonetic. Plurals, apostrophes, genders (not as bad as EU languages), impossibly inconsistent pronunciation.

The hardest thing is writing. But reading and speaking Thai is really not that hard.

56 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Let's take a look at the number of Chinese Nobel Prize winners https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_Nobel_laureates  :

 

Living in the People's Republic of China (mainland China):  2

 

Living in the Republic of China (Taiwan):  4

 

Living outside of either China:  6

 

Perhaps I should have specified that the most capable Chinese people don't want to live in communist China.  Either that or the communist government doesn't allow its most capable people to excel.

Hmmm. Slightly skewed stats. China has had 13 winners since 1957. India, 11 in all, including Rudyard Kipling! Most laureates listed belong to countries who were in from the start, ie 1901. The PRC only came into being in 1949. It's obvious looking at China's achievements in the last 50 years they have, and have had, amongst the best scientists/engineers in the world. India has had a whole group of astounding mathematicians who never got recognised, but then there's no Nobel prize for mathematics. Just for instance.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_country#

The Kodak print shop on Soi Buakhao near the corner of Soi Lengkee will make you a credit card sized laminated copy of your passport details page and your visa page on the reverse, for 150 THB.

2 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

By what measure? If its percentage of the population, that is surely UK/US/Australia etc. 

If it's percentage

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Probably very low, but unless you live in Thailand its immaterial?

English is the most widely spoken language in the world and certainly if you are Thai and want to get a job, or live outside of Thailand, speaking English would be a necessity?

it's immaterial

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

There is/are? no end of kids.......12 to 15......careering around on motorbikes (modified exhausts obvs) all day long where we live......never in school.

 

I asked the wife what happens when they don't turn up at school......she shrugs and says nothing happens.

There is no end of kids

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I've never been to the Philippines.

I thought they had to vacate Clark same time as the navy went.

They did. But they didn't take Clark with them! It was buried in volcanic ash. The ash is still evident to this day in the area.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_eruption_of_Mount_Pinatubo

31 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Because nuclear war.

Nonsense

36 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Before Pinatubo (volcano) it was the largest US air force base outside the US. Fort Stotsenberg.

Yes, it's vast, and totally underused as a civilian airport, just like U-Tapao. Both B-52 launch pads. You used to be able to fly there from Bangkok, but now it's just Korean and Japanese flights I think, and maybe Singapore. If it had a high speed rail link to Manila, it would have alleviated a lot of Nino Aquino congestion. Like U-Tapao.

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Surely they will require an airbase for protection needs as well? As Ukraine has proven, anti air missiles are not sufficient.

They have one, at Clark, in Pampanga. Never been to Angeles City? Their very own red light district.

11 hours ago, BigStar said:

The article's making a point about medical tourism. Thais aren't really considered foreign medical tourists. COVID is a sort of red herring thrown in there for dramatic purposes and allow you to demonstrate your exceptional shrewdness.

 

Krungthai Compass estimates that of the 8.9 million foreign tourists who have arrived in Thailand in 2022, a relatively high percentage were here to receive medical treatment. 

 

While it doesn't give numerical breakdowns, but it does offer this projection:

 

The research center predicted the private hospital business will continue to expand by 19.8% YoY in 2023, which will help boost the country’s medical tourism business as well as total foreign patient revenue which, pre-Covid, accounted for about 30% of the total.

 

All happy now? ????

 

 

No, and very condescending too. But I don't have the energy to carry on this discussion. There's enough debatable info in the original article to last at least a week of arguing to and fro. BS baffles brains, as I'm sure you've heard. Let's save ourselves the trouble.

1 hour ago, bradiston said:

Read the full article.

"She cited a report that sees 24 SET-listed private hospital service providers enjoying revenue and profit growth in the first quarter of 2022 when compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to her, the hospitals’ total revenues increased 48.9% year-over-year (YoY) to over 125 billion baht in the first quarter of 2022 and their net profits grew by 173.8% YoY to over 24 billion baht. The growth was mainly attributed to revenues from Thai patients who sought medical treatment for Covid-19 infections."

 

Last sentence. You done?

 

And what's wrong with the premise that people might come here as cannabis is legal for medicinal purposes, amongst others?

Hmmm. Seems Mr Bigstar has exploded.

34 minutes ago, BigStar said:

No, since it refers only to private hospitals.

 

Yawn. You done?

Read the full article.

"She cited a report that sees 24 SET-listed private hospital service providers enjoying revenue and profit growth in the first quarter of 2022 when compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to her, the hospitals’ total revenues increased 48.9% year-over-year (YoY) to over 125 billion baht in the first quarter of 2022 and their net profits grew by 173.8% YoY to over 24 billion baht. The growth was mainly attributed torevenues from Thai patients who sought medical treatment for Covid-19 infections."

Last sentence. You done?

And what's wrong with the premise that people might come here as cannabis is legal for medicinal purposes, amongst others?

Is this article sponsored? Seems the rise is attributable to Thais seeking COVID treatment.

And soon medical tourism will no doubt include ganja lovers from all over the world. Yes! Ganja saves the day!

4 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Yeah, other than classifying Cannabis Flowers as a "Controlled Herb" -  a new category - with no new controls. Not much to see here. Carry on.

 

Google Translation of new order gazetted yesterday....

 

The wait is over! Announcement of the Ministry of Public Health to provide bouquets of marijuana flowers It is a controlled herb and has been published in the Government Gazette. Do not sell to children, pregnant women, students. Do not advertise for commercial purposes. It is forbidden to sell for smoking in the establishment. Do not sell through vending machines.

 

On November 23, 2022, reporters reported that at the Royal Gazette website has published the announcement of the Ministry of Public Health on controlled herbs (marijuana) B.E.
Whereas it is expedient to revise the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health on Controlled Herbs (Marijuana) B.E. 2565 dated 16 June 2022 that has declared marijuana as a controlled herb valuable for study or research. or economically important to suit the current situation In addition, there has been a change in the regulatory system. Category 5 narcotic marijuana is a controlled herb during that transition. Only the inflorescence portion of cannabis should be controlled to prevent misuse of the purposes of protection and promotion of herbal utilization.
By virtue of Section 4 paragraph one, Section 44 and Section 45 (4), (5) and (6) of the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Act, B.E. 2542 (1999), the Minister of Public Health With the advice of the Committee on the Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom at its meeting No. 99-4/2022, the following announcement was issued.
Item 1 To repeal the Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Controlled Herbs (Marijuana) B.E. 2565 dated 16 June 2565.
Item 2 gives marijuana, which has the scientific name Cannabis sativa L, family Cannabaceae, including other scientific names. synonymous only part of the inflorescence is a controlled herb
Clause 3. Any person who wishes to study, research, export, sell or process controlled herbs for commercial purposes. This can be done only after obtaining a license under section 46 and the licensee must comply with the following conditions:
1) Those licensed to study, research, export, sell or process controlled herbs for commercial purposes must: Provide information on sources, uses and amounts stored at the workplace. and provide information reports to the Registrar in the form prescribed by the Director-General.
2) Licensees to export controlled herbs for trade Export details must be notified. per licensor on a case-by-case basis according to the form prescribed by the Director-General
3) Do not sell controlled herbs. or processing controlled herbs for commercial purposes to people of the age under twenty years Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding
4) Do not sell controlled herbs. or processing controlled herbs for commercial purposes to students student
5) Prohibit the sale of controlled herbs for smoking in the workplace. except for distribution by medical practitioners According to the law on the medical profession Thai traditional medicine practitioner Practitioner of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Indigenous healers who have been certified according to the Ministry of Public Health Regulations on Indigenous Healers Certification B.E. 2562 and the amendments. According to the law on profession Thai traditional medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner According to the law on practice of the art of healing and dental professionals according to the law on dental profession used to treat their patients. or a veterinary practitioner According to the law on the veterinary profession used to treat animals
6) Do not sell controlled herbs. or products processed from controlled herbs for trade Via automatic vending machines (Vending Machine) through electronic channels or computer networks
7) Advertising of controlled herbs is prohibited in all commercial channels.
???? Do not sell controlled herbs. or products processed from controlled herbs for commercial purposes in the following locations:
(a) a temple or a place for performing religious ceremonies
(b) a dormitory under the law on dormitories
(c) Public parks, zoos and amusement parks.
4. The licensee under section 46 must stay before the effective date of this announcement. only in the part that is controlled herbs according to this announcement Must also comply with the conditions specified in Clause 3 of this announcement.
5. Reporting form and detailed notification form for export of controlled herbs individually It shall be in accordance with the form prescribed by the Director-General.
6. This announcement shall come into force from the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.
Announced on 11 November 2022
Anutin Charnvirakul, Minister of Public Health

 

 

 

What's with the pregnant women ban? Are they not capable of deciding for themselves to puff or not to puff? Or breast feeding? How will the vendors check that out? Heads in the clouds, as per. And what man has EVER experienced the pain of child birth? Why are they being allowed to rule on this?

7 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

No i haven't experienced that, or seen it and neither have any of my friends or associates.   

Well I have, as have others on this thread, so why are you unable to listen to people with experience in this type of situation instead of denying facts just because you have not experienced them?

 

Here's the OP:

"Pattaya — A foreign man allegedly brutally beat his young, 20-year-old Thai girlfriend while drunk early Tuesday morning, November 22nd, claiming police “got his back”.

The incident took place at a residence in the Eakmongkol 8 Village in Banglamung’s Nongprue subdistrict, Chonburi. Sawang Boriboon rescuers received a call from an unidentified Good Samaritan to help a domestic violence victim and rushed to the scene at 4:30 AM.

The victim, Ms. J (name withheld to protect her privacy), 20, was found lying on the ground crying in pain on the front porch of her house. Rescuers administered first aid to the bruises around her body and rushed her to a hospital.

Sawang Boriboon rescuers encountered an unidentified Caucasian male foreigner believed to be in his thirties in an intoxicated state at the house. The man was suspected to have beaten the young woman. He was reportedly aggressive as he kept shouting, broke his own property, and proclaimed nonchalantly in English that he was backed up by police, according to rescuers."

So how do we get from that account of an out of control man, to your experiences at the hands of an out of control woman?

Moral:

Women lose control. Men lose control. 

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Obviously "Thai-Sino High-Speed Train Project" went over your head.

I don't see any references to "Thai-Sino High-Speed Train Project". Your graphic is labelled "Thailand HSR plans 2022". The op referenced China-Laos-Thailand. Pointless intervention. It's not happening in Thailand.

8 hours ago, bradiston said:

And true has dual language commentary

They all seem to!

17 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What more do you want.

The project is not due for completion until 2040, you can come back then and give us your opinion.

 

Save you waiting, I can give it to you now, gratis. It ain't gonna happen without China.

Easy. Give the bank book to the actress. Job done.

48 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

Imagine if they passed a law that sex was legal anywhere in Thailand. 

 

You mean it isn't?