JimHuaHin

Chiang Mai - lots of aid, because that is where Taksin lived. Southern Thailand - no aid, they did not vote for daddy.

Sad, but accurate.

The answer to your first question, is, in addition to your possible responses in the second paragraph, two-fold - status and citizenship. Sending your kids to an overseas (elite) university gives the family a lot of status in Thai society. Back in the mid 1970s, while I was studying at university in Australia, I had many Asian friends Some told me straight out that one of the main reason that they were in Australia was to get Australian citizenship, and then possibly return back home. (Remember 1975, and Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam became communist.) At that time, one university friend from a prominent Chinese-Thai business family old me her father had sent her elder brother to Taiwan to study, her older sister to New Zealand, and herself to Australia. They all obtained citizenship in those countries, and eventually returned to Thailand to work (in the family business) and live. More recently, about a decade ago, I met a son of a senior Thai Army General who was studying at a top Thai university. He told me his father wanted him to go to study for a Masters degree in Japan, and for a PhD in the USA; which he eventually did. His younger sister followed a similar course, by in mathematics. The young man received his "Green Card", I do not know about his sister.

In my case, on an OA (Retirement) - yes, has always been enforced since it became policy.

A proposed nuclear power plant and high speed rains, what could possibly go wrong?

Since Thailand is such an innovative technological hub, it amazes me that it is not possible for the Immigration people to produce a table of, say, (1) exactly how many people arrived in Thailand on day x from country y under visa z, or (2) as of day z, how many long-stay foreigners were in Thailand yesterday under visa x from country y?

The problem of misdiagnosis happens in most, if not every, country. On the other hand, many public hospitals in Thailand are understaffed, and medical staff are under a lot of pressure. I generally go to my local government hospital. On my last visit to the hospital's general outpatients clinic, a staff member told me that there was going to be about 50 patients to be seen by one doctor over the 3-4 hours that the clinic was open. Ever 5 months I have an appointment to see a specialist at one of the specialist clinics. To avoid waiting for 5-6+ hours to see the doctor, I usually arrive at the hospital at about 1500, go to the clinic to get into the queue, go and have my blood tests, then back to the clinic and wait. Usually my queue number is around 160-180; in other words, the doctor has to see around 160-180 patients over about a 9 hour period.

5 months, 5 years, 50 years, or just in time to be covered by the ocean?

Ashame the doctor and hospital cannot be named. But, on the other had, this could be indication of the pressure that the (public) health care system is under - too many patients, not enough doctors and nurses.

Anything for the power elite to maintain the status quo.

Yet again. And how many Rama II construction "accidents" do not get media attention?

No sympathy. If my phone rings while I am driving, I try to pull over to the side of the road to answer the call. If I cannot, I shall call back. Simple.

And the current government wants to protect Buddhism? Are the two adults involved in this crime Buddhists? Maybe protecting Thai children would be a better priority? The Thai PM is a mother, is she not?

I think every major "religion" in the world has a "morality" problem with its clergy, and Thailand is no exception. And just like Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Islam, Buddhism has a wide diversity of schools of thought, practice and interpretations.

5 5 5

Time to retire Professor Rose.

What about arrogant Thais defying the laws? What about Thais corrupt and marfia-connected Thais breaking the laws? What about the Thai officials involved in the Tak Bai massacre? - Opps, too late. Not to mention the 6 October, 1976 Thammasat University massacre?

I have been travelling overseas since I was 17 years old (69 now). I have always had travel insurance, including comprehensive travel health insurance; and I always read the policy fine print. No sympathy from me.

Poor America.

As of this time, Trump has 50.0% of the vote, Harris 48.4%, others 1.6%; Trump does not have a mandate.

The same in many countries; too many graduates in areas where there are low employment possibilities; too many poor quality universities producing virtually unemployable graduates; and massive shortages in STEM and health care industries. For example, the average age of nurses in Australian public hospitals is about 50 years old. Universities are not responding quick enough to labour market demands and societies' needs.

Correct, the US has been debating this issue with respect to Viet Nam due to the large number of Chinese tech companies which have moved operations to Viet Nam.

All it takes is one psychopath fool to give the launch order - no urgent phone call to the target state stating "I just made a terrible error". The technologically "advanced" states all have early warning systems than detect launches a few minutes after the event; within 10 minutes most systems can detect the nature of the warhead and its then current destination. Check out "Dead Hand System" aka Perimeter, in English.

Maybe very Thai city should do the same.

Maybe Musk should look in the mirror.