goatfarmer

Indeed. Even the definition is off the wall hyperbole. Totalitarianism is a political system whereby the state controls everything: markets, press, speech, movement, work choice. The term is inapplicable to the US or any other democracy, and the US just proved the power of democracy.

Yes. Ethnic cleansing, Occupation, apartheid, and all the other leftist distortions of the ordinary meaning of words.

I saw one kept in a cage in a suburban lot with a few workshops around it. No doubt if it go out it would go berserk. Unbelievable insensitivity to the needs of the animal.

No matter how good the owner is, no matter how well trained the dog, you can't remove the instinct to fight to the death from this breed.

Right. Different breeds have been bred for different purposes. I have a Malinois, bred for protection, not fighting. She has attacked a few people, but with restraining intent rather than fighting, sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally. (She grabs the arm like in many Malinois training videos.) Although not lethal, she is dangerous and all visitors (I have dozens passing through) must follow a strict introduction protocol. I never take her outside. The house and front yard are her universe. Dangerous breeds need to be handled with special care. They should never be released into public places. As for fighting breeds, they should be banned.

What he really means is that he is a loser who doesn't know who to trust and so creates categories of trustworthy and untrustworthy based on arbitrary criteria such as ethnicity. You know, a common garden variety bigot.

The claim is that of representative sample, not a referendum.

I am taking my daughter overseas without her mother. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the District Office has a new permission form with a simplified procedure: Old: needed to update marriage certificate, bespoke letter created, needed two witnesses, host of documents New: no need to update marriage certificate, standard form issued, no need for witnesses, only requires mother's and child's ID cards. One form required for each child. The whole process was completed in an hour. Uncertainty: There is no specified trip in the letter nor is there an expiry date. It merely states that the mother has given consent for the child to go abroad. So it is unclear how long the form can be used before it needs to be updated.

I called airport immigration to enquire about the proper method. Seems like there is no clear policy. I spoke to four different officers, both at Don Meuang and Suvarnabhumi. The responses I got were: At Don Meuang: No need to have the Amphur document, you can write a letter yourself, signed by both parents and attach your child's birth certificate. At S airport: Three different officers: Get the the Amphur document. They have a form you can fill in. As to the length of validity of the Amphur document, all of them said that a date 10 months ago would be too old. So, to avoid doubt, wife and I trundled off to the Amphur. It took an hour. They only required the ID card of wife and child. (None of the marriage certificate, house registration, birth certificate previously required.) The whole process has been simplified and standardized. As to whether or not you need the Amphur document, my guess is that it's not necessary and that you could probably wing it with a home made letter of consent. However, then you are subject to the discretion of the immigration official. With the official document there is no discretion.

"The Finance Ministry is set to present a proposal" I thought it was a done deal and was going to be implemented as of May 1st; ie, two weeks ago.

If it's only on Ali Express and Lazada stuff, it wouldn't be such an issue, but going to the post office to pay and collect or enabling the ThaiPost delivery guy to collect 20 baht would be a huge inconvenience and burden.

It won't work. Another bright idea that will quietly get shelved.

Good luck to them.

Right. Most people seem to be disregarding this proviso. The only major omission I can see is France.

Chinese tourists down 30k, Israeli tourists up 10k. Seems like swings and balances.