Emdog

"...admitted to smuggling them into Thailand in collaboration with another Chinese associate. " Surely there has to be at least a few Thai officials in the mix...?

Does make you wonder why you'd pass them your whole pile. Seem they got 7 $100 bills. Seems if passing them one bill to look at would be enough. I thought maybe they gave the Iranians one $500 and one $200 bill, but I thought wrong... 😞

I've never used Thai VAT refunds for tourists, but isn't that similar... the distinction being "instant" compared to "get yr cash when you leave the country"? Seems "instant" would lead to all sorts of fraud: You, a tourist, approached by regular Chinese citizen whom I assume pays some sort of sales tax. He offers to give you half of what tax would be if you go in and buy xyz for him. You get instant commission, he gets half off on tax....

"...100,000 counterfeit items with an estimated value exceeding 20 million baht...." IF they were real!

"Witnesses reported hearing desperate cries for help during the disturbance, but no one intervened." Welcome to Pattaya... jeez

Just one question: is she a natural blonde? Rarity sometimes is equated with desirability, or so I've read

Maybe get that Thai cabinet member who was busted smuggling heroin to Australia to head the parade. He's looked at law from both sides now, from win and lose, and still somehow....

first trip to Thailand was in 1982, on Thai, Seattle-Tokyo-BKK. Nice enough... So I suppose good news Thai is back to status it had in 1980's....

for the umpteenth time, read the Constitution... I assume you have heard of that document. No dem wants terrorists in the US, to think otherwise is patently stupid. For anyone accused/taken in by gov what is Constitutionally required is due process, aka "your day in court". We are fighting illegality done by the government, not the criminals. "No person shall be .... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" (5th Amendment). What parts of that are you unwilling to allow into your consciousness? "How can Americans feel safe knowing the guy next door could be a terrorist or killer or foreign gang member?" Stupid once more: YOU could be a foreign gang member. YOU could be a terrorist. If I am an officer in ICE and decide you are one or the other, without any court hearing, without any charges, you'd be happy with me bundling your ass off to some Salvadoran prison with zero rights to attorney, hearing, contact with family, etc... a black hole. We have courts and procedures to decide these things. You would applaud Gestapo for rounding up, imprisoning Jews without trial or charges. It is the same thing, the same lack of rule of law. Cut the crap about dems wanting terrorists etc. It is BS and you know it. If you don't, seek deprogramming

When I was a boy..... scouts were totally optional, something you had to seek out, not mandatory by any means. This was in USA. I did cub scouts, but didn't go for boy scouts... whole structure seemed a tad too Nazi for my taste

Another fine solution looking for a problem!

Will they have booths and lectures set up regarding just how to beg for "some of that good stuff" from the female you (wrongly) refer to as "your lady"? How to start a fight over any reason or occasion after 2 drinks? OH YEAH: I beg you guys to watch this: supremely funny and spot on 1 man show... if you don't like it, we can settle this outside later....

When Tesla hit the marketplace, they were hailed by liberals (among others) as a means to drive a stylish car and save the environment. Owning one made you the envy of neighbors. Now driving that same "save the earth" auto, you are reviled, your car vandalized, etc. Your "pointing and calling a fascist" is the sort of stupid knee jerk behavior that lowers opinion of liberals in eyes of thinking humans. It's the same car, for chrissakes... maybe not even paid off yet! I am a liberal, but I also know how to reason (not totally an oxymoron). I wouldn't buy a Tesla, Musk is such a Nazi. And how about all those virtue signallers that proclaim "I sold my Tesla"... okay, but it is still on the road, you took an economic hit & we should salute you? I saw a news report on re-badging.... what the hey, make it look like that VW Nazi staff car that was later reissued to the public...

"An eyewitness reported that the victim had been seen riding the same motorcycle through the soi multiple times during the night" So one might assume he would be aware there are speed bumps on the soi? Did he think speed bumps are there to give an extra thrill to driving beyond ones ability?

"...the accused remain on bail, each posting 200,000 Thai Baht, and must appear in court to hear the court's conclusion. " All my bags are packed I'm ready to go I'm standing here outside your door hate to wake you up but it's time to go...

l taught severely emotionally disturbed students, first for Oregon county, grades 4-8 and later at "inner city" high school, ages 14-21. Students who got in my classroom didn't just "act up" or "ignore" teachers. They had to go thru all sorts of placement procedures and psychiatrist interviews. My mentor/boss was renowned author and educator who promoted "democracy in the classroom" and outlook of Dreikurs. Whole different thing from typical carrot/stick behaviorism. https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/maintaining-sanity-classroom-management-techniques/author/rudolf-dreikurs-bernice-bronia-grunwald/ Why do adults use corporal punishment against children? Simple answer is we are bigger than they are. and can't think of alternative. With tantruming grade school kids we would cross arms over chest and hold them til they calmed down. More difficult with high school students. Most of my students were young, black males, often with gang affiliations. Like to see one of the pro spanking crowd here try that on them! I had some who could bench press 425 pounds, were taller, bigger and in prime of life. I was older white guy, hardly Reacher material. So you had to work with them. Treat them with respect, treat them as equal citizens within the framework of schools (not easy as most US schools patterned after 19th century Prussian military academies). Together we made the rules and the consequences. It made sense: last chance before becoming full fledged adult citizens.... put democracy in practice, not just theory. One might get all nuts and complain "this place is like a prison!!!" I'd agree to some aspects, but what we have to work with and if they have a better plan than being in school, well, the door isn't locked.... you could walk out any time... a couple times they had guns in my classroom (didn't know it at the time, and if I did what would I do anyway?). In the decades I taught I was only shoved once. Sadly, lost average of one a year from load of 18 to gun violence: murder/murdered or suicide. I loved those guys. I always thought if they could just make it into their 20s with a lick of sense, they could be awesome. Some did and some were. But to finish up: no one sends their kid to school to be physically assaulted by authorities. School should be an inviting place

Good job by the police! New hires? I would not suggest wearing a 50k necklace while waitressing, but maybe varies by culture...

That is the time when Pattaya's atmosphere is at it's most vibrant!

Thailand's future is most countries pasts

She is a fine example of what "a good guy with a gun" can do for school safety when they put their mind, or nerve bundle, to it. Give her the MTG citizen involvement award

I agree with your assessment in areas where western tourists gather. Normally passive aggressive farang A holes become active aggressive farang A holes. I leave Pattaya every year for last 20 years ( been here 25). Stay in Ramkhamhaeng area of BKK. No problems at all.

"..dodging the rules and bribing officials." Isn't that standard operating procedure here?

Well it clearly states that ""No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;" This is the text of US Constitution, the highest law in the land. DO you agree? EXPLAIN why I am wrong, do not merely say "I am wrong" You should be prepared not matter what case happens to be in court. "the Constitution applies to illegal aliens, righ?" What part of "NO PERSON" don't you understand? Illegal aliens are "Persons". Authors of Constitution were smart; they deliberately chose 'person" and not 'citizen". Seriously. Answer the question. What argument could you make that illegal aliens are not persons?

"A system of race- and gender-based patronage.." well, since the founding of US (and theft from the natives) the land comprising USA was "A system of race- and gender-based patronage oppression" Millions of Africans kidnapped and enslaved, along with all their children. How many white European slaves were there? How many women had the right to vote? US did not lead the way in that category, along with day to day rights like opening bank accounts, attending (Some native cultures women DID have a vote), higher education (The Harvard Graduate School of Education was the first to admit women, in 1920. The Harvard Medical School followed in 1945. Harvard Law School didn't open its doors to women until 1950.) Chinese exclusion laws (after having them build our railroads). Could go on and on.... yes, whatever is done now will not redress the devastation of the past, and some may yelp about the playing field now being tilted a bit the other way now. But nothing compared to most US history. If you think things are fine and fair now, honestly answer the question: Which race would you prefer to be born into? Until people can honestly say "it does not matter", we have more work to do

Your ignorance is broad and deep. It is about the 5th amendment: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." "no PERSON" no mention of citizen: PERSON. He is being deprived of liberty and may soon lose life. The state has not provided evidence before a court that he is a gang member. That has already been settled. There is no legal basis to send him off for rest of his life in El Salvador prison.