55Jay

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

Actually, what can contribute to an increase in these attacks is the kind of over the top reaction of people like you. Attention and being taken seriously as a grave threat is exactly what these people want.  And they're finding plenty of dupes.

After all, these punks are just the Junior Varsity (JV) team.  Don't give them the satisfaction, it only elevates their stature, and gives them the credibility and attention they seek.  

Maybe these numpties, and their puppet masters, will become so frustrated at being ignored, they'll give up this silly caliphate everywhere nonsense and associated pin-prick attacks, and just go away.   Never mind, we wuz jus kiddin'. 

If you're taking bets against history, I've got 100 Baht burning in a hole in my pocket.  I'll take a side bet for 500 that your password isn't the only thing you've lost. 

20 minutes ago, theswedishguy said:

5000 is cheap. When my Iphone 6S was "lent" in Pattaya they demanded 10K.
With find my iPhone I could track the phone were it was. Somehow they cracked the pin code, but they could not crack the iCloud password = they could not wipe the phone. 

I talked to the police. Showed maps where my stolen phone was. Well.. People live here know whats happens next. Somehow the lender managed to get the police of the case.

 

For weeks I had fun sending findiPhone localization pings waking the "lender" up 2-4 AM each night. Each time they tried to use the phone, the got a new nasty message that they stole my phone.

 

After a month they gave up and send the phone back to me via post office. I promised 5K to pay, after I received the phone. Maybe Im a stupid person. I payed, since I promised. 

 

I know as a farang in TH: I have no rights here against the national population. Thats is just how it is.

 

Go to the tourist police and explain the problem: "what do you want us to do about it?"

Wow. Actual conversation. 

Maybe take some guns. Go to the lender and get back all my stuff that is stolen? Like police should do?

---

My Thai teacher later explained to me how its done: Bring a case of Singha to the police station at beach road. Go to operations on second flor. Give a beer each time they help.

If you were prepared to pay money to the ones who had your phone, you should of said yes and set up meeting at Starbucks (or whatever) to get it back.   But first, give 1,000 to a policeman if he will go with you to the meeting and say if he catch them, you will call Pattaya 1 to make him look like a hero in the newspaper for helping poor tourist get back an expensive phone. 

You get your phone back, only spend 1,000 not 5,000. 

It's not fair to target the whole group based on the actions of a few.

If we could just get the bat shit crazy jihadists to follow that rule....  In the meantime, everyone's a target of opportunity.  You don't even have to be a Christian.

15 minutes ago, fvw53 said:

could become extended like X-mas season which first was one week and now starts already from early November

On that note, I wonder what this gaggle of tone deaf morons would say if someone suggested they go shop to shop, house to house, and sing Christmas carols instead? 

"Are you mad?  It's only April, far too early for that, mate!"

Then stand there and stare at them with a grin, expectantly, waiting for the penny to drop.

"Right, mate, too early indeed.  Good point!". 

9 hours ago, Chiengmaijoe said:

Not harmless? Maybe you can explain what harm comes from a splash of water.

Was anyone here ever young?Songkran hasn't even started and the killjoys have already had their say. 

Since you edited your post after my comment, I'll edit mine. Asssault! A splash of water is assault! Let me guess, you're a westerner, right?

 

You're funny, keep 'em comimg.

I'm not old but she deserves a kick right up her fat arse.  Spray the wrong person outside the festival timing, one of them is going to get a kicking.  If these harmless tossers get their back up, the local motorbike crew is going to teach them a lesson.    

They ought to use some of that advanced western intellect we are rumored to have.  Must be the Beer Beta Blockers in the way of common sense again.

I would say that was a smart decision in the short term but long term...... dunno.  History tells us the paradigm shifts and seems to be holding true, slowly but surely.  Russia ought to be interested in this area and it's good to have rich friends.  

Not many bites.  I suspected as much being the overwhelming opinion here is to sell/shed everything, except the most personal of possessions and clothes.  Beds, stereos, etc., available here for the full range of budgets. 

Having said that, I'm happy to have all my/our stuff.  Unloaded the big shipping container and after a bit of organizing, you've got an instant home with all your familiar krap in it. 

Had it not been my company footing the bill though, for the most part, I would of gone the sell/shed route. 

Hopefully somebody chimes in with their shipping experience on a retirement visa.  My story isn't relevant and out of date being 4 1/2 years ago.

18 hours ago, Kadilo said:

What?! How dare you spoil a good ol Thai bashing thread.
Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

LOL, I know, I know, but true story. 

At any rate, Thais don't get a free pass, and if there was ever a story worthy of a Good 'Ole Thai Bash, the OP is it.  Gold plated, diamond encrusted example at that.   

PS: Thai FaceBookers agree ^ as well.  Seems the police finally pulled their head out and did the needful as well.

11 hours ago, jabis said:

The US ain't eyeing the FX rate, but Trade Deficit / Surplus, and it's not just SEA-region, the list was a global one, including many EU countries - the THB FX rate is being propped by BoT using foreign reserves, keeping it artificially as high as possible for the importers' advantage. This is totally different subject though than comparing trade exchange..

Agreed, however the point, and the OP, is about Trump's allegation that Thailand (and others) is manipulating the Baht..... to gain unfair trade advantage.

At least the way I read the article, Thailand (BoT) denies the allegation then goes on to say they have and do intervene to control the Baht, explain why, but fall short of saying one of the "negative consequences" of a strong Baht they refer to is it screws up the Thai export sector.  Trade.  I may be saying that wrong, strong/weak currency.  Up is down, down is up in this thing.  LOL.

Nuanced semantics.  Thailand manipulates the Baht to preserve stability and predictability in trade - exports in particular - which is a significant part of Thailand's economy.  The benefactors they care about, of course, is here on the Thai end of the transaction, but of course the Dollar buying side benefits from stability and predictability.

Trump's accusatory language and Shoot 'em in the Face First policy, causes the Thais do deny and save face, and play word games.  Trump might be right, but his bedside manner sucks.

Trump's long-standing campaign bluster about China manipulating the Yaun seems to be stalling out using the existing Obama Administration metrics. They'll have to change the benchmarks.  And they probably will. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-trade-idUSKBN1772Z4

My former company relocated me, agent on the Thai end was Sante Fe Relocations.   I don't know how much it cost, I suspect they charge companies more than individuals.  Heard a few guys speak well of Asian Tigers. (Asian Tigers-mobility).

It's been some time since I read up on this, and haven't followed very much ~ as you say, it's a steady drum beat that fades into the news cycle except for the occasional "burst" of activity. 

But if I understood their core issue, even in my humble opinion, a separate state with autonomous government, is a trojan hose proposal.  Once they get that inch, they'll take a mile.  Because that's what they really want. 

1 minute ago, tukkytuktuk said:

Does anything matter when they hear about the troubled South? So long as its not in Bangkok it's just another Southern violence news article. A bit like hearing about Syria. This lack of interest just makes these terrible events normal news. Less people are surprised. Maybe its time for the terrorists that continue these evil acts to give up and stop as no one is listening to them. Or would some diplomatic solution to end this be a good idea now as this constant terror doesn't work. Come on PM talk to them find a solution. Then you will be truly popular.

The solution is one the Thai Government will never agree to. 

16 minutes ago, sabian said:

I had nearly the same situation a couple of years ago, I found a nice phone on the ground near a motorbike shortcut, so got the missus to trace the owner and she came round my house to collect it, but I'll never forget her comment, "if a Thai person had found it I wouldn't of got it back" absolutely true, that did surprise me at the time. Not now so much.

Not always.

My wallet fell out of my pocket one night while getting out of the car to open the gate.  Didn't realize it until late next morning.  Checked my iBanking and credit cards, no activity.

One of my wife's friends called and brought our attention to a post on a Thai Facebook page with a photo of my US driver's license!  Turned out to be the Headman in a small village about 10 minutes away.  Went out there, said a local resident found my wallet and turned it in.  Everything still there, including 800 some odd Baht in cash.   Tried to give the Headman a "thanks" presento, he was having none of it.

Only detail I saw in linked articles was "home made" bomb.  Doesn't really matter though, does it? 

In the ME, Shi'ites used gas cylinders quite a bit.  Bomb the electrical sub-station in their neighborhood and torch the large, communal rubbish bins.  Then complain because they have no power, and rubbish is piled on sidewalks.   

If the roles were reversed, the "finder" woman would be indignant.

I don't claim to know anything, but the headline says we don't do that, while the article/BOT basically says they do.  The reason they do is to keep the Baht in a "happy zone" and a significant motivation for that is.......... TRADE! 

Right?  Again, I don't know anything, it's just how I read the (linked) article vs. the headline.

Looks about right to me.  Got dark up here in Korat, the green blob is approaching.

Windy.tv site is pretty neat, thanks. 

Toshiba Hybrid circa 2006, "12.6 Q" is the capacity of my model # (GR-H41KT) according to google translate.  I didn't pay attention to capacity, just eye balled it, sure, looked about the same "size" as what I was accustomed to, but learned that is deceiving.  Added a slightly smaller Samsung two door to keep beverages and other things in and for the extra freezer space.  That wasn't quite enough either at times, so I was about to buy a dedicated chest freezer, then we moved from the countryside to the city suburbs, and a stone's throw from all the main supermarkets.  I moved both fridges to the new house and keep the same separation, but now we make more frequent, smaller quantity shopping trips, and don't keep 2 months of stuff jammed in the freezers. 

This daily sight is just asking for trouble .  Then again, that old beater ain't going very fast either but even at slow speeds, a swerve to avoid a pot hole, or whatever..... physics is a bitch.

Not going very fast on the trip upcountry and back either.  Gridlocked slow crawl. 

34 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

'Now save your own political skin ...' Thing is, he has no political skin to worry about, does he?

I did consider that when I typed it.   You're spot on, technically he doesn't.   Self-preservation maybe?  If the natives finally get fed up, out come the pitch forks and torches.  He and the Army will lose the initiative and be forced into the fight of flight box. 

Hmm.  The corporate police arresting people at the behest of a big corporation.    HP should of made a complaint in the courts instead of getting the police and themselves, involved in a raid. 

But I get it.  If these guys were buying empty/used HP cartridges, refilling, then selling them as new, genuine products at a discount, then that's the rub.  Hell, I used to have my Indian/ Nepalese staff get our toner cartridges refilled at small computer shops in the middle east.  I didn't really think about the intellectual property rights at the time but I do see the point now.  Reluctantly. 

Watched a YT video of a Chinese lady taking a clean but used Iphone and re-packaging it in a  new box.  She had stacks of the plastic tray inserts, user manuals, etc., heat shrink the plastic wrapping....took her about 10 minutes to put it all together, it looked perfectly legit sat there in the display.

In the absence of wild tigers and salt water crocs, passengers in pick up truck beds, and no seat belts, helmets, etc., are effective population control measures.   Funny that Thais resist by ignoring the glaringly obvious, and claim this is a cultural birthright, and their way of life.  At any rate, thanks PM Prayuth for showing us your Big Brass Army Balls.  Now save your own political skin and carry on letting the Thai people you claim to love soooo much, serve themselves up as road kill smorgasbord.  Well done you! 

Shortly after moving over here, seem to remember my wife mentioning a helmet law campaign had kicked off, I saw the Keystone Kops up on the main highway nicking people for it.  Lots of moaning about how poor folk couldn't afford to buy a helmet, and other creative reasons why it was unreasonable and unfair. 

But they kept chipping away at it and now, IMO, it's fairly well established that you've got to wear a helmet, at least in city areas and main highways.   Not for reasons of self-preservation or idealistic Health and Safety nonsense, rather you might come upon a police check point and get nicked for a couple hundred Baht.  That's the only motivation that seems to work. 

Went through a seat belt and helmet phase in my country, about 30 and 20 years ago, respectively.  But the approach is about the same - education campaign + establish fines and/or increase existing ones, often to stupid levels, to demonstrate they mean business. People piss and moan for a while, then it becomes the new normal.  After sufficient repetitive messaging, folks eventually adopt the safety mantra and regurgitate the marketing jingles on command, and don't moan so much about the fines.