JCauto

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You are welcome to your viewpoint of course, but IMO nothing is going to change unless it benefits the unknown that run our world.

Am I complacent- no, but I know what a losing battle looks like.

 

A "better future"? I think that hope vanished the day the world population passed 3 billion, and now it's just a long, slow downward spiral to the end, whatever the end may be, but IMO not good for anyone around then.

 

Am I cynical? Absolutely.

I only have to look outside my door to be so.

At least you post honestly most of the time even if we disagree on substance. Many of your brethren are far more cynical than you in that they refuse to be honest about their own cynicism and acceptance that nothing will change and there's no point. This is to me one of the fundamental differences between Conservatives and Liberals (in the context of their US designations). Liberals do believe in working towards a better future and for the improvement of conditions for others. Conservatives do not see much in the way of hope for the future and are not particularly concerned about others. This is demonstrated in their lack of coherent policy other than "does it <deleted> the Libs off?".

14 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I thought the sections in question were similar to what the Yingluck administration tried doing and which led to a coup after Sutheps protest, or did I read the sections wrong.

 

"These include the amendments to reduce party membership fees, to allow individuals sentenced to imprisonment, but who are not yet in prison, to stand for election."

 

That sure sounds like an Amnesty clause to me.

I would recommend not attempting to apply logic or reason to Thai politics, especially when the former Prime Minister is the one carrying the water for the Coupmakers to ensure all is whitewashed to become "legal". This, ironically, was what Chuan was derided for when he was PM, his adherence to legal principles over practical consequences and unwillingness to make things work. Now he's somehow ended up being the guy putting up the Christmas windows for those who simply seize power and use it whenever they feel like and use people like him to make it all look nice to casual passers-by. Pathetic end to a hopeless political career, the Thai version of the Vampire Lestat.

Yeah, the PM just picks and chooses how long he will be in power and when and to whom he will delegate it should he decide (this time) to stick to whatever it is he said. This is the "democracy" the Yellow Shirts and Amaat have "fought" for, one where only they or the ones who represent old power can continue to govern, or as Prayut properly refers to it, "rule" the population despite their clear preference for other leadership. Oh, and you'll notice that their "fight" is one without violence, one where the authorities give them food and water, one where the Army never starts shooting from concealed positions and racking up the bodies. Quite unlike the situation of those who are against the illegal and continual seizure of power by the Elite.

3 hours ago, allanos said:

There are billions of downtrodden people all around the world. It is heartbreaking and shameful. But where are the activists who should be decrying it? And where are the governments who

should be uplifting their people, or the rich governments who should be doing their utmost to

alleviate it?

 

Where are the activists who should be decrying it? They're usually in police cells or on the receiving end of violence from the authorities or their stooges.

Where are the governments who should be uplifting their people? They're the ones beating any attempt to change the status quo which is in every case the propping up of the local Elite (in Thailand, these are the "Amaat").

Where are the rich governments who should be doing their utmost to alleviate it? They're mostly doing business with the local Elite.

And where are the Cynical? Asking questions they already know the answers to and making it seem hopeless so they can be satisfied in their complacency and justify their lack of action or thought towards a better future.

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Sport has been propaganda for ages. When a team win at the Olympics people act as though the country won, which is a nonsense, especially in professional sport when the team members may not even be of that nationality.

There's a new term now, "sportwashing". Quite apropos for this situation in my opinion.

19 hours ago, DaLa said:

100% agree. Especially with the 'can't be ar**d' part. Whenever I've been confronted with a situation that isn't personal to me I give it a wide berth. That include anything to do with politics , picket lines, protecting the continued existence of the 3 legged octopus..  Simpler to just work around the problem, move on and not get heated about the subject. Life's too short.

Or, like some of us whom you might label as "activist", we actually give a toss about the future, especially as we have children who are likely to have to live with the consequences of our choices whether they like it or not. They plainly do not. Which is logical, as would you I suspect should your future have been compromised before you even got going. 

I'm going to continue to work towards a better planet and future, and you not giving a shirt just means you are part of the problem. That's your choice and your right to choose. However, please get out of the way of those of us who haven't given up yet. Thanks.

11 hours ago, Willy Wombat said:

Xi shook the hand of the Canadian cuck Trudeau too.

 

Thai Government spokesman just trying to save face and anyone who believes his words is a moron.

Ah, clearly this is a refined and educated poster! Now do tell us all about how Trudeau is a "cuck", which I understand is Incel for "cuckold". Have you been naughty with Justin's wife? Perhaps, as I expect you've come here since you were so darn hansum that the gals back home couldn't keep their hands off you and you needed some relief from being sexualized constantly. I personally find only the sharpest minds dwell on the imagined sexual fantasies of their political enemies. I look forward to your future incisive analyses of Canadian politics...

On 11/10/2022 at 7:37 AM, nigelforbes said:

You need to do some reading and learn about Bill Henecke.

 

He started off with nothing and built a multi billion dollar global conglomerate, from scratch. He relinquished his US citizenship and became a Thai national. What he did, his efforts, were remarkable, he is however sadly wrong on this particular point.

Practically nobody starts with nothing who became a billionaire. His father was a diplomat working in the foreign service, his mother a correspondent for Time Magazine, they were on full international salaries and bennies. He went to International Schools as a kid growing up in Bangkok. 

I respect that he was able to build his business through his efforts although I know none of the particulars other than his abysmal products in the pizza industry and what I've read on this thread. But any international school kid gets a leg up from the cradle. I gave the same advantage to my kids, nothing wrong with that at all, it's what most parents who can do would do. If they start a business, as no doubt with Bill I'll give my kids a hand as I will when they want to buy their house. That's something I can do but not everyone else can, hence it is privilege. I assess character more by how they treat others, particularly those who live ordinary or poor lives. Often these people haven't any understanding of the day-to-day issues of the majority of the population because they don't experience how expensive it is to be poor for example, or how hard it is for someone in the middle class to save for that honeymoon or dream vacation to Thailand.

Ah yes, another child of privilege and enormously wealthy man telling us proles how $8 a day is a pittance, practically nothing, wouldn't even bend down to pick it up in the street. Which for his ilk is likely not even true, they never met a penny they didn't desire. Not sure where becoming enormously wealthy by peddling abominations of a beloved food sits on the billionaire sin scale, but every time I see a hot-dog and cheese-stuffed crust with fake crab and pineapple on top, it makes me sad for what we've become.

On 11/10/2022 at 3:03 PM, Mbolo said:

 I've spent my life collecting such sticks all over the world on my travels and Thailand is the most 'stickless ' country I've seen !

For ur info - these sturdy sticks pictured ( below ) on Lazada are available in JJ Market for about THB 200. I've bought three there.

Also the Daiso shops in Thailand sell perfectly good sticks - cheap and cheerful - for THB 60. I've got a load of Daiso ones.

 

 

 

As is often the case, one finds real expertise when one asks on TV. Appreciate your input, and like those ones too, imagine they'd be less hassle than a metal-topped one when it comes to boarding airplanes etc. I'll see if I can stroll around the top floor of Emporium and have a gander at a few other spots nearby that have been mentioned, then will go the Lazada route if I can't find a winner in the wild. Cheers.

1 hour ago, phetphet said:

If you also want it for protection, one of these might do:

https://www.etsy.com/market/knobkerrie

Ooh, some of those are way cool. Love the Zulu one, may go for that instead. Get all Druid-like, grow the beard and wear long robes. People would probably start listening to what I said. Or perhaps the opposite, not sure.

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Perhaps this Lazada link may help.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=wooden+walking+sticks&_keyori=ss&from=input&spm=a2o4m.searchlist.search.go.585a44edWnlUgD

Had a look through the online links, and there's a few meeting my description, but with something like this that requires high quality and the correct height etc., I need to actually see it before buying. Thanks for the suggestion though.

31 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You need to learn the difference between facts and statements.

Sorry Frits, I know you're Dutch and I persist in making posts that utilize humor and reasoning methods that are not understood by Dutchies with their tendency to take things at exact literal value and their, uh, inexperience with humor in general. 

Carry on and ignore me. 

I am looking for a high quality wooden walking cane, preferably with a nice metal handle of some sort that has a bit of heft so it can be both an aid to my recovery from surgery and a security boon in a sticky situation or to protect against aggressive dogs. I saw one online at Chanintr.com but unfortunately no stock and not available to order.

If anyone has come across such a thing recently, would be greatly appreciative.

On 11/7/2022 at 10:25 PM, FritsSikkink said:

Show me some facts then. What % of Pitbull's are aggressive compared to other breeds?

From my personal experience Yorkshire terriers are much more aggressive, the little shts can do too much damage though.

I'll show you facts! What percentage of gun owners are irresponsible? It's a very small amount! So what's the problem? Similar to irresponsible Yorkie owners. Small amount! I don't see the difference between owning a Pitbull and owning a Yorkie at all! It's the same as owning a gun and owning a water pistol.

On 11/7/2022 at 11:29 AM, kennw said:

So why then do you need a gun?

What's the "whoosh" sound you just heard? Never mind.

On 11/7/2022 at 9:58 AM, FritsSikkink said:

No, as there are many nutters who own guns and are properly trained.

I'll be charitable and assume that you meant "aren't" since English isn't your first language. 

So...what do you reckon? Should guns be free for all to own given that we're certain that there are many nutters who will buy them and not be properly trained? Or is it just the price to pay for freedom? 

Do you reckon that all people who own Pit Bulls properly train them and are of sound mind? 

So it sounded ominous, but in fact was actually just sensible regulation ensuring whomever is producing the booze doesn't just dump effluent in the local stream and pays tax on what they sell. That doesn't sound unfair to me. Was he hoping for a land of Lao Khao stills producing who knows what quality hooch and even more carnage on the roads?

So weird when this government does something sensible, just put it down to random luck I suppose.