dcsw53

1 hour ago, BestB said:

Do tell how exactly they breed them to be violent?

God did it because rabies is a bit too obvious. Dog foams at the mouth and can legally be shot, so no mystery.
With the pitbull you have equal lethal potential, except you don't quite know when it's going to happen. Bit of a tease, and you cannot just blow them away. More's the pity.

Great sound bite for K Sar, it will raise his profile in the government, but that is all.
Government statistics show that the vast majority of road deaths are from motorcyclists crashing while drunk, so it is fair to assume motorcyclists are the large majority of drunk drivers. How many actually have licences in the first place. In our village < 10%. So how do you take away something from someone that they never had.

1 hour ago, luis888 said:

If he's closed the business then the business is gone yes.

He can  sell the machinery but not the business as such.

He's probably carried the business as long as possible. 

We don't know the circumstance, but you shouldn't expect the owners to carry the business until they're also penniless. Maybe they're already in debt to their eyeballs. Maybe they are already worse off than some of their staff.

It's always easy to criticize. 

I've been a business owner in the past,  I know what it's like to struggle at times, just saying, don't judge.

It's not a "he" it's a "they"
The Japanese group have closed one unit of their empire, for what reason might come out in the fullness of time.
When the families are included, 000's of people will suffer, but the share price and corporate profits will probably go up. i will bet my pension the GM has a golden parachute into his next job, so no harm done.
Merry Chrsitmas !

3 hours ago, webfact said:

One of the activities for a new kind of Pattaya adventure is the shooting of EM Balls.

E M Balls is innocent, lay off him

Is that her exacting revenge on his nether regions ? Go girl !!

32 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

Seems to be a problem here with getting guns into the court buildings. Second time in 2 weeks; granted the earlier case involved shackled suspects which to me would be slightly more serious. if it wasn't for the two dead men in the latter case.

Seems to be no problem with getting most types of armourment into almost any government building here.
Years ago things called " metal detectors " were invented. I believe there are some working models at Suvarnabhumi, maybe the powers that be might like to have a day out to go and see them.

You are in Thailand. It has the same legal status as 3 kids on a motorbike ( naturally no helmets ), ghost driving, driving on the hard shoulder and many others. Not to mention that at least they have number plates, round here they are an optional extra.

Recently TAT's obsession has been to up the number of quality tourists. How many of these will be out after 2am, risking their jewelry being snatched ?

If this is the answer, then why are bookings in Pattaya, where you can today drink 24/7 down so dramatically ?
Chinese and Indians do not go to bars in general. Koreans like early nights, and Farang are an endangered species who cannot make up the numbers.
Better idea, that will never be allowed. Legalise gambling and do the following :-
1.  Sell licences to the big hotel groups who can then build casinos on the back of their properties. Limit the number and sell by auction.
2.  Tax the earnings like hell.
3.  Like Singapaore, charge locals admission fees to counter the " he spent our savings " arguement.

4.  Crack down with an iron fist the huge number of existing back street dens, seizing all assets on the premises.

5.  Stand by for a Chinese invasion like they now have in Sihanoukville, but limit the number of establishments.

You believe official statistics in Thailand ???  OMG wake up and smell the coffee, they make them up to suit the argument !!

5 hours ago, webfact said:

and beautiful marine and inland tourist attractions that are now world-renowned

He must be talking about Koh Lanta Beach

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Research by the Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre shows that the baht has risen 5.1 per cent against the dollar since January 1, while the yuan has dropped 2.3 per cent. 

Bullshit
Dec 31 close   USD 1 = THB 32.54          Today     USD 1 = THB 30.72
                     CNY 1 = THB   4.73                        CNY 1 = THB 4.37

They have both weakened against THB, as has almost all other currencies, EUR, GBP and AUD. 

Why the selective journalism ?
One year ago USD was 33.5, now 30.8 and the sacred Chinese RMB 4.85 down to 4.40. Chinese now invading Cambodia and Vietnam because they see them as better value.
Baht is overvalued and as usual no one in government wants to acknowledge the impending problems. Only when tourist numbers drop substantially, and this is admitted, could things change.
I will not hold my breath.