ronnie50

"Anutin’s Return Sparks Hope for Thai Cannabis Industry" Is the Pope Catholic?

Sure, it's not good - fully agree. But compared to most of its neighbours - except maybe Jordan - you can buy/drink alcohol, and prostituion seems fairly open by Middle Eastern standards. That's what I meant.

Yes, but Emirates isn't very radical. It's the least radical in that part of the world I'd say.

So clicking on a link of a porn site is a criminal offence? If so, why don't the Thai ISPs simply block access to them? Aren't they aiding and abetting the crime if that's true?

I've never really understood the legal difference/definition between 'stored' on your computer, versus 'downloaded'. While 'stored' is pretty clear - you have an MPEG etc., of a porn physically taking up space on your computer. But if you click on a link, and watch the video is that the same as 'downloading' it and, by extension, is that also the same as 'storing' memory of the URL? Is the history of the viewing the same as having it stored?

Trump, a guy with such a thin skin, watches Putin's full support for Xi's idea of ganging up on America, and he still whimps out. Keep up the winning MAGA.

You sure Songkran isn't worse than December peak season? Pattaya is horrible during Songkran (unless you like that kind of thing).

Another dig at PT Party and Thaksin - by Veera. He's such a joke. And as though the PT Party needs any help at sticking the knife in it's own heart. I wonder if Veera still has his hand-clapper. (For those that don't know him, he's a former editor of the Bangkok Post and was always a fierce critic of Thaksin and was, and still is, clearly a servant of the establishment's propaganda. He published excuses for the yellow shirt mobs and their - violent - overthrowing of elections during Yingluck's time). https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/3100449/thaksin-exit-seals-partys-dismal-fate

I think this misses the point. It's not just Thaksin and his clan that have been repeatedly deposed, despite winning majority elections, it happened to the People's Party too (Move Forward) in the last election. And it's exactly the same group of people that are always thwarting the majority of the electorate. Thailand does not have a functioning democracy. And it's pie in the sky naivete to think, come January, there will be a chance to elect a party that can form a government that truly represents the aspirations of the majority over the wealthy minority establishment. So even if Thaksin doesn't come back and the rest of the clan scoot off to where ever - Thaksin was never the real problem. The problem remains.

To me the takeaway of the debate here (to me, anyway) is always bring everything to Imm. Previously I didn't bring my overseas account statements (origin of the money transfered), just the foreign outbound transfer slip, inbound slip at the Thai bank, and two letters from the Thai bank. But given this discussion, I will bring the foreign bank statements for the next extension - just in case the IO wants to know where the money came from (and maybe how much money I actually have). The 800k method I use would be a bit tight to live (solely) on given the number of months much of it has to remain at a certain amount and not fall below. Also good idea to bring other Thai bank account books if you have them. As mentioned various times in other posts recently, it really does look like Imm is trying to weed out those who are just scraping by on the minimum amounts.

Rather than the morons who like to constantly troll me with 'thumbs down' - why don't you morons check to see if Trump said ANYTHING about this?

Gotta wonder if the party is still united at this stage...there must be many who are outraged and don't agree at all with the decision to back Anutin - regardless of some flawed rationale given by the senior ranks of the PP.

I think most hope for that. But if recent history is anything to go by - either the establishment-compliant courts or the armed wing won't allow a progressive party to assume power. The former are of scared of the latter as it poses a threat to the wealth and privilege of some 500 families - and that of their inner/outer circles of influence.

Even Bangkok - the capital - doesn't have a Sanitary Sewer system like most developed countries. AFAIK, most places have a septic tank, though you wouldn't know it by the smell of some storm sewers. I wonder how many cities in this part of Asia have Sanitary Sewer systems. Anyone know? I guess Singapore?

I've always used bottled water for coffee. At our place, we have one of those four-cylinder stupidly expensive filter systems that works alongside the tap water in a separate stream. I tried using the filtered water in the kettle for tea but it gave me an upset stomach. So that was that. Wife still uses it, but now I pour it out of the kettle and refill with bottled water when I want some tea. I'd never drink the tap water here (Bangkok), despite the assurances. And the filtered water we use only for cooking vegetables, otherwise. I've brushed my teeth with tap water on occasion, but usually it's bottled water. I doubt you'd be sick though if you boiled it before using it for coffee. Might give your gut a bit of a rumble like it did to mine. Maybe it just takes persistence to get used to taking the filtered water. It's what many Thais drink (from the refillable machine on the sois that filters the mains). I've had norovirus from contaminated food in Bangkok. That was very rough. But got over it in a few days.

Apparently Anutin showed up today in his Rolls Royce. That's sending a deliberate signal - you know who his constituency is - and who his constituency is not. Another one of his pals, the convicted heroin dealer/politician/Minister, also has a Rolls. He used to park his in front of the Ministry.

American College of Cardiology (benefits from vaccines to reduce risk or heart attack and strokes - inc COVID-19 and Shingles vax). Published just over a week ago. https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/08/26/13/46/American-College-of-Cardiology-Issues-Vaccine-Guidance-for-Adults-with-Heart-Disease More on the same benefit from Shingles vaccines. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emerging-topics/shingles-vaccine-linked-lower-heart-attack-stroke-risk

For a guy who campaigned and promised his followers he was an anti-war, anti-US-military-involvement candidate, he's sure turning out to be something else, isn't he? Bombs Iran (as Israel's military proxy, as usual), now changes the name of the Defense Department to the War Department - when the nation is not at war - except with itself.

Maybe he did, dunno. But you really think that would be worth the paper it's printed on? Back of a napkin type thing? Also, PP realizes there's now been a significant backlash to them and they are in damage control mode now - various hi profile members of the party saying they were aware of the risks that Anutin's party can't be trusted.. then they make up excuses for the actions of backing him - as opposition..

Yes I think so too. But how long will they wait to see if Anutin keeps his promise? I figure they (PP and PT) will have a no-confidence motion only when PP realizes there will be no referendum on the constitution (Anutin will drag his feet and maybe call for a drafting committee, but that will be a stalling tactic, IMO), and no election date called. I reckon it will be late November when that all hits the fan.

Verbal promises in politics aren't a 'contract'. People's Party helped Anutin get to be PM. Now, as they are not part of his coalition, and as he no longer needs them, there is nothing they can do to make him keep - what you call - his 'contract'. Wait 2-3 months and see if you're right.

Well you know the answer to your question, right? It's 'no' the CC and EC won't get their wings clipped. Who would do that? Anutin?? Their entire reason for existence is to maintain the Establishment's status quo. Anutin is their interim guy - maybe their long term guy. We'll see. My own sense is there will be a coup sometime late November or early December when the PP realize (finally) that they were duped - no referendum of the Constitution and no election called. So they will withdraw support as will PT and Anutin falls - and the coup takes place to 'restore order'. Establishment wins again.

Well, okay. If you call deciding to ride in the back seat of the elitist clown car which is driving in the opposite direction to the one they told you, then yes - great manoevering on their part.

If they were smart, instead of playing the calous retribution card, they could and should have held PT's feet to the fire, indicating they would join PT in forming a government - as part of a government, not opposition - agree to the PT PM role, but demand significant cabinet positions like the ones already mentioned. PT would have had no choice but to go along with it. It was a major blunder. Now Anutin will do nothing that PP has asked. Eventually, come late November, the penny will finally have dropped but it will be too late. Then PP will withdraw their support, there will be a no-confidence vote, the 'Anutin elitist government' will fall, and there will be a coup. Then the same establishment types don't even miss a heartbeat going from one supportive government to the next.

Yup