lvr181

Too many evil people hide within "religions".

And use that religious/belief system in order to use and justify their perverions and the "caring" world (and the religious/belief systems) seem to not want to become involved in clearing out these abusers! 

15 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Best have a read up on the meaning of the word then .. 

But (and I will say again, as I have said before) it will be 'Thai democracy' as espoused sometime ago by the P.M. (his words) NOT 'western style' democracy. 

So, let's not get 'excited'. 

23 hours ago, sungod said:

I thought it was 'guess the date of the photo' competition, with the budgie smugglers I put it circa 1955, then someone said the guy was Russian, it blew it wide open so now I must hazard a guess that its either 20th or 21st century.

"budgie smugglers" still worn by competitive swimmers and life savers BECAUSE it is not about fashion, it is about suitability when swimming compared to beach baggies! Stop with the fashionista crap! 

And I am not a proponent of P.C. either. ?

12 hours ago, swanny321 said:

 And I'd been led to believe Pattaya was a wholesome place; for wholesome people!

Hole(some) people.?

13 hours ago, idannyb said:

Nastya Rybka (Anastasia Vashukevich) is back in the news. She's evidently had some contact with Oleg Deripaska's emissaries and they've apparently made some 'promised' deal procuring her silence and perhaps her "evidence" too (16+ hours of audio, video, and photographic evidence). Very interesting since the FBI was supposedly rebuffed after flying to Bangkok to meet and discuss her purported 'evidence' involving Deripaska and other Americans that might relate to "election meddling." 

 

Rybka is not too bright (Exhibit A: her activities here in Thailand), but she's savvy enough to know that teasing rabid Trump haters (Left leaning media [90%] and Dem politicians) and Mueller's Team with possible evidence that might (might) somehow implicate Trump, would be a huge bargaining chip. Nastya has unsuccessfully asked for US political asylum in exchange for her "evidence."  Rybka had a fall out w Deripaska and hence did (does) NOT want to get deported back to Russia. It's never a good idea to make an enemy of a powerful Russian billionaire. And happily for her, she has now apparently (???) made some amends with Deripaska via her quid-pro-quo... something for something deal.

 

Sidebar: Deripraska had his US visa revoked by the State Department in 2006 because of charges he was connected to the Russian mob. "Deripaska doesn’t deny he has, at times, had to collaborate with suspected mafia figures. In 2012, he settled a $1 billion court case with a man he said had acted as his mafia cover in the 1990s. Deripaska said he had no choice but to work with the man. Such were the times, he said." 

 

In a show of good will, in 2009, Deripaska was asked (and agreed to) help Bob Mueller's FBI in an effort to secure the release of Robert Levinson, a CIA agent who was captured in Iran. Deripaska spent his own money ($25 million) in the operation -- “We knew he was paying for his (Deripaska's) team helping us, and that probably ran into the millions,” a U.S. official involved in the operation confirmed. The op ultimately failed and no thanks to the Clinton State Department... “We tried to turn over every stone we could to rescue Bob, but every time we started to get close, the State Department seemed to always get in the way,” said Robyn Gritz... “We were told at one point that the terms of Levinson’s release had been agreed to by Iran and the U.S. and included a statement by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointing a finger away from Iran. At the last minute, Secretary Clinton decided not to make the agreed-on statement.”  The deal then collapsed. No doubt Derispaka felt betrayed and adding financial injury to insult, he was not repaid for his efforts.

 

Back to Little Miss Rybka.... No doubt Nastya has a a credibility problem, yet if what she says is even partially true, it raises interesting questions. Was Rybka used as Desipaska's Red Sparrow? There were many powerful politicians who met with Deripaska aboard his yacht, where conversations and "activities" were (allegedly) surreptitiously recorded by Rybka. Perhaps she (Oleg & Russia) does have kompromat on politicians who went yachting with Oleg? While some may think there are tangential connections to Trump (POTUS 45 never met Deripaska) I suspect there are politicians and biz men of all political stripe who may need to worry -- Rybka said that she “witnessed several meetings in 2016 and 2017 between Deripaska and at least three un-named Americans.” As far as the oft discussed "Deripaska + Manafort" dealings??? ... There were many, but they all preceded Manafort's association with Trump. And Deripaska had a falling out with Manafort (and sued him), well before Manafort went to work for Trump’s campaign. "Derispaska has echoed Trump’s claim that the Russia investigation is baseless. In a March 8 op-ed in the Daily Caller, he contended that the probe was a “Wag the Dog” manipulation by the American 'Deep State.'"

 

Who else met with Deripaska? Never-Trumper John McCain was aboard Oleg's yacht to celebrate his (McCain's) 70th birthday... but that was 10+ years ago (Rybka was just 18 at that time and was not yet Deripaska's playmate). American lobbyist Adan Waldman was also close to Deripaska and more recently Dem Senator Mark Warner (HISC) has been texting with Waldman; "the senator asked Waldman for information from Deripaska about Manafort."

 

I'll end this post by saying, it's not smart to secretly tape record powerful people ... Omarosa got away with it, but she is living in a country where the rule of law still has some meaning. Nastya remains jailed here in Thailand, and if she's lucky she won't be sent back to Mother Russia, where you get disappeared for challenging those in power. She may think she's back on good terms with Deripaska, but she's playing a very dangerous game.

 

 

 

 

A rat looking for some safe place on the sinking ship! 

39 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

Then you will be the one in Thai jail..... 

As he lifted his hands (to wai) I would have thought he was going to hit me, so in protecting myself, I hit him first?

No jail.

2 hours ago, mentalcolonization said:

Now , that's what we call an inactive post 

Prawit beat him to it.

Karma for him would be a bunch of fives and a mouthful of crushed calcium followed by a "Sorry"!  ?

57 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

Response..."the blank stare syndrome".

AKA - I not understand or this is not up for discussion?

That a terrible thing to happen - he bought an iPhone.

Oh.....that reminds me, hope the shop assistant is okay and sues the a rse off the d head! 

35 minutes ago, hyku1147 said:

29 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

Is this the 16th century drawing by Nostradamus when he tried to illustrate his predictions for Thailand 4.0?

Not going to happen!

Never will be Thai 4.0, despite announcements from Government authorities! I didn't think that they had achieved Thai 1.0 yet. ?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Police chief going after participants despite no nakedness

Needs to stock up on mia noi potential? 

13 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I think guns and tanks and soldiers will be the most important factor for winning the next election.

Nothing changes in a feudal society.

12 hours ago, ricklev said:

I'm sure that when the time came you would do the research, but just letting you know that there is no such thing as 30+30.

"but just letting you know that there is no such thing as 30+30."

So long as you live? In perpetuity?

Slightly off topic but speaking of Ferraris - the reason I don't have tattoos is, you wouldn't put bumper stickers on a Ferrari. 

14 hours ago, David Walden said:

Well maybe but you have missed my point completely.  Forget the politics.

No & No. 

22 hours ago, Esso49 said:

And the seediness is not helped by corrupt Pattaya RTP

They are the "seeds" and from these seeds a mighty Oak (Pattaya) will grow. And did.

(Paraphrased)

4 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

I too was under the impression that the coronation must take place before any thought can be given to elections, or am I confused ? it has been known ?

If you are correct (about the coronation) then that will be a legitimate reason to further delay any election. 

You can buy "integrity"? 

Just thinking.

2 hours ago, connda said:

Four years difference in age?    Really?
What about the 70 year old expats hooking up with 20 year old bargirls?  

 

I can understand 'statutory' laws to protect underages kids from predatory adults, but in this case it's two teenagers with a 4 year age difference.  A kid's life is being ruins for naught.  "Older man?"  Don't make me laugh.  He's a teen-aged kid.

Never let the "truth" get in the way of a good story. He is only just out of nappies himself. And still a boy.

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

I know you hate BKK but how can the people in BKK be responsible for a not completed flood barrier in Chiang Rai. I would say its the Chiang Rai officials that are responsible for that one. It has nothing to do with the people in power just incompetence in Chiang Rai. These things are done by local governments not the countries government. 

 

We can blame the government for not completing the big infrastructure (and I do) but not for local things like that.

Agreed but, I think some "big infrastructure" needs to be considered to mitigate the continual flooding.

Just doesn't seem to be on the mind of central Government! They would rather "bash" kids into submission because it is easier? Or talk (incessantly - without successful action) about the road toll.

6 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

While I will be happy to see an election called, the question is under what rules? Will there be free discussion or will it be the hideous monstrosity that was the Charter referendum?

 

Will politicians be able to criticize the NCPO?

Will there be campaign rallies? Under what specific circumstances?

Will there be street rallies?

Will there be a 'caretaker' PM?

Will the Junta try to ban the PTP?

Will the military keep its nose out of things?

Will the Bureaucracy be allowed to be neutral?

???????????????????????

 

There are numerous questions that need to be answered before any sort of celebration can be held.

 

And, as the 'Devil is in the details' combined with the past performance of the Junta, I wouldn't be celebrating just yet. There still remains the very real idea that perhaps it is better to boycott rather than participate in an unfair process and give undeserved legitimacy to the Junta.

 

 

Will politicians be able to criticize the NCPO?                                           Doesn't matter

Will there be campaign rallies? Under what specific circumstances?  Hope so.

Will there be street rallies?                                                                            Hopefully without violence.

Will there be a 'caretaker' PM?                                                                      Doesn't matter.

Will the Junta try to ban the PTP?                                                               Hope not - otherwise it is hardly "democratic". (I am not a PTP supporter)

Will the military keep its nose out of things?                                            NEVER!!!!

Will the Bureaucracy be allowed to be neutral?                                        Is it neutral now and without corruption?

???????????????????????

There are numerous questions that need to be answered before any sort of celebration can be held.

REMEMBER the PM spoke about Thai "democracy" NOT western style democracy - don't get them mixed up! 

P.S. My bold.

1 minute ago, connda said:

Heck, blame it on Chinese tourists! 

No no no - that is not fair - must always be fault of 'farang'. They not understand.

15 minutes ago, David Walden said:

Some of the requirement for credit card travel insurance are that you must have full Govt and private cover in a medical fund in Australia as well, the credit card cover may only provide the gap.  Often Medical cover insurance policies including travel, as is with most insurance will only cover you where the primary insurer does not or will pay where the claim cover is not available.  We are now going from a bush lawyer to a Philadelphia lawyer.

   In my young days working in an a large insurance company in Australia, all insurance policies in Australia began with the statement that " This policy is issued with utmost good faith"  This really means that the company and the insured set out to honour the intent of what the policy is offering.  It really means to be a bit like offering a handshake, and that you are agreeing that the intent of what is offered in the policy will happen.   Sadly along the way this statement is no longer offered on any contract for anything in Australia.  This condition was deleted sometime ago.  It has created a "bonanza" for lawyer in Australia, USA and a host of other countries.  Julia Gillard our previous Prime Minister tried to make it law that all contracts in Australia will be proceeded with this phrase.  This would have devastated the legal profession because it would mean almost all legal disputes would be settled by arbitrators.and not a lot of need for expensive lawyers...ouch!

 

Juliar would have great qualifications to fit in well as a part of a Thai government!