outsider

Very well, if protecting the economy is the underlying reason for this message. Still, you should get your facts right first, sir. Not sure where you fixation on 'foreign athletes' came from, but most athletes including Thais, have carbohydrate in their diet as one of the sources of energy. Carbs come from a variety of food including potatoes, pasta, bread and yes, rice. BUT... the right way to go is to have unpolished brown rice, not the polished and white variety. Anyway, athletes eating rice as a part of their diet has been going on for a bit, the phenomenon didn't just start now. Just informing you sir, General Sir!

Just waiting for a TAT release that says how this will help raise tourist arrivals to record levels.

Of late, the BiB has had to defend almost everything it has done or is doing. Some may say the 'bashers' are being particularly harsh and unfair, that they (bashers) have nothing else better to do. I say on the contrary. If you have to defend almost everything you do, therein lies a problem already. Either what you are doing is not well-thought, or half-cooked or your stakeholders have lost all confidence in you. In the case with the BiB, I'd say it's a case of both. I don't think blind and blatant bashing is nice, but in the case of the BiB, I say this - there's no smoke without fire. In the midst of all crackdowns and reforms, why doesn't the good government consider changing something with the BiB? Installing a working brain at the top would be a good start.

I see a HAPPY face...

Continue digging nitwits.

LOS - Land of Stupidity

See? When you do your jobs properly, good results follow. Nice work.

This is heartening that Thais are thinking about foreigners

When it is convenient, or beneficial for them to do so.

On sites like agoda.com, they should have - for Thai hotels and resorts only - a disclaimer that reads "Book at your own risk. Property on illegal land" for properties that have run foul of this enroachment law. That would be helpful.

Then don't say it's unbiased, you dumb fool. It is biased from the start. Sheesh... And for the record, I am NOT a Shinawatra sympathiser. Nor a red supporter. Or any of the coloured gangs, for that matter.

So they're getting three Burmese to 'rat' on two of their countrymen. No foreigners involved. And the Thais are just sitting on their sorry arse watching this like a damned lakorn.

"I have instructed other inmates to monitor the two Burmese men" - this coming from a prison chief. Not instructing his own men. Or putting more men on the job. But instructing inmates. Since when did the inmates start to work for the prison authorities? Day after day after day, the Thai authorities do nothing but spew stupider and stupider statements. Just when you think it can't get worse, another one comes along and gives a new low. How are we to take anything in Thailand seriously anymore?

Here we go... pray I am wrong where I think this is going.

Instead of saying taxi condition and driver behaviour ' must ' / ' has to ' im prove ' how about ' will be made to... ' ?

I've met some very good taxi drivers over the years but there will always be those who will continue to break the rules unless there's a genuine ' crackdown ' to get most in line. It has to be accepted some will still take chances.

Unfortunately Thai officialdom is long on talk and short on action.

Thai officialdom is 'NATO': No Action, Talk Only.

I think they are nicer and simpler to the Japanese sailor-moon outfit. Sexier too.

There's still substantial support for YL? Hmm... odd. I thought I read somewhere 97% of Thais loved and are HAPPY with the current government? Hmm...

I consider myself a native English speaker and until today, I am still learning the language. They want to attend some half-cooked classes and in a blink, expect to be competitive (at least where language is concerned) with the likes of the Filipinos? Whatever this perm-sec is smoking/drinking, I'd like some. Good luck.

And what can be done to prepare 'vocational school students for the arrival of the AEC'? Wai and say sawasdeekrub/ka?

Creating jobs and income is commendable. And I hope it works. But... fighting corruption? How... by promising bigger monetary rewards than what the average motorist can afford? You want to solve a problem, you go to the root. Not come up with short-sighted solutions and bandaged fixes.

The BIB have dug themselves a massive hole, be interesting to see them try and dig out of this.

The outcome of this will depend on the General's stance.

In my opinion, it's a wonderful opportunity for him to show he's sincere about wishing to stamp out police incompetence and corruption.

Agreed. Especially if he is sincere about showing that he is sincere. Only problem is, the good general has gone on record to say that it was a 'job well done' and that the police (or those involved, whatever) will be rewarded. More interesting to see how the good general himself back out of THAT one.

No, no... NO!!! They're NOT from Myanmar. Where are they from? Nobody knows.

There... HAPPY? (pun intended)

Two points - why are they being rewarded for a job they are already paid to do? It doesn't make sense. You want to raise their dignity? Raise their salaries. I'd rather their pay be raised, and not the cabbies', if I had to choose. The more they are paid, the more they will feel obliged, and committed to their jobs. That will bring about dignity and pride too. This reward crap is just so shortsighted and as usual, shallow.

Secondly, the police's (and I don't mean the band) bad rep doesn't come from taking bribes alone. In fact, taking bribes is the lesser reason. It's their complete and bumbling ineptness at anything and everything that is giving them bozos a bad name. Think about it you lot. The police I mean.

Assuming they read anything.

The police may be right, but this one is something Gen P should keep his nose out of just in case at a later date new evidence emerges that proves them wrong.

I think it's too late already. The good general already had his nose well and truly buried in the thick of things when he commended and offered to reward the police for a 'job well done'. As far as endorsements go, this is as solid as it will get. Don't see how General Sir can backpedal out of this one if things take a wicked twist.

Too bad it's only good enough for GT racing and not F1.

It was very challenging making a world class track smooth and impact resistant. Hopefully this technology and technique can be transferred to the public roads now?

Correction. The circuit has FIA's Grade One and FIM's Grade A certificiation. This means it is certified to hold F1 and MotoGP races. It is, according to the media, the 27th circuit in the world capable of accommodating F1.

It makes malaysia circuit looks like child's play. Soon f1 will dump kl and make mahathair looks like an idiot. F1 will have to come in all 4 fours begging to use newin's circuit instead.

No arguing re your statement about the good old man. Malaysia's Sepang track does need some upgrades too, in my opinion. However, if you knew F1, you'd know it'll be Newin and his team on all fours begging F1 to come. Not the other way around. To Thailand, F1 is a 'must-have'. To F1, Thailand is a 'good-to-have'. F1 (read: Bernie Ecclestone) has more than enough alternative venues in the list to go to. Thailand needs to put together a very strong case to convince F1 to come. You can see then, who will be begging who...

On a separate note, perhaps a race or two in Thailand may be a good wake-up call to the bozos running the track in Malaysia. They recently went on record to say they are losing money holding F1 races. If it is so 'un-viable', why are countries lining up to have one race on the calendar?