tim armstrong

Thai farmers are no different to farmers elsewhere. They tend to ignore weather predictions in favour of doing what they have always done. The only way to get them to change here would be to banthe second rice crop and force them into growing something else. But I can't see this happeneing anytime soon.They could of course go into whisky production with the stored rice, or better still - biodiesel.

The older I get the more I realise that having a happy life is firstly about close relationships. I'm lucky I have one with my Thai wife ( 13 years), and both my sons. But ageing well is also about staying healthy, and I'm still working on that one.

Good decision on the part of the Belgian guy.

Wrong - thehottest chilli last year was the Trinidad scorpion - then grown in Australia. Not sure what the winner was this year but there is an annual competition. see google.

The last time I gave my wife a red rose from the garden she looked at it with an evil grin, and ate it ! - funny ?

Yes, Thai visa is the only mediator between us and the Thai government.

Really?

Well maybe not the only one, but one of a few. The countries with free trade agreements are more likely to be helpful. But really, if you are Thai you can buy anything here, if you are farang, you can buy most things. End of story, money talks.

Yes, Thai visa is the only mediator between us and the Thai government.

Really?

Well maybe not the only one, but one of a few. The countries with free trade agreements are more likely to be helpful. But really, if you are Thai you can buy anything here, if you are farang, you can buy most things. End of story, money talks.

I love everything about books, their smell when new, the layout and of course reading. But at 65 I was brought up in an age of reading. New digital technologies are an inevitable evolution from the printed page. I will adapt as best I can, but will always prefer a book. Thais mostly will adapt to the digital change - and that's ok, it's just progress. more worrying is the use of language and the abbreviation of words like c u instead of see you. i hope that remains on phones only.

I'd try Kubota. They make a range of ride ons in other countries. Alternatively John Deere may beimporting some. I doubt that you will find a push mower with that big a cut.

I know it been done before, but can anyone give me some feedback. I've just been refused the aged pension - because 'I live permanently overseas'. Does anyone have recent experience of this situation or suggestions for my next move in this looming battle.? Thanks.

Sub standard rice is not worthless, it just means that there will be a massive loss in revenue. Who will pay ? probably no one. Just start again and hope the monitoring is more effective this time around.

simply chain them to a live elephant

It's hard to believe this is an innocent trip o/s, when she must know that a jail term is quite possible soon. From the NCPO standpoint if she does 'do a Thaksin' they could still sentence her in exile and cancel her passport. But that would leave many rice farmers believing that justice was not done.

So much negativity. If you choose to live here, and make this country your home, how about a few positive suggestions, rather than endless moaning about how Thailand has to change this or that. Most expats have chosen to live here, so its up to us to adapt to Thailand, or go and live somewhere else.

The best punishment would be to set him free...

As tempted as I am to agree with this, - 'punishment by a mob of vigilantes' as would inevitably happen, is not the answer either. The UN expert is right but it doesn't help the family of this poor girl now, or satisfy community anger. - This rape was a sickening act of inhumanity to an innocent victim. The rapist needs a very public trial soon, and then sent to a maximum security prison for life, without parole. Maybe he would be killed in prison, but that's better than the mob approach,and it would send a strong signal to the community.

Yingluck already has a gaggle of witnesses. What's wrong with them, and why does she want more ? She is now trying to defend the indefensible. Not a clever move, and as one who used to have some sympathy for her, I hope she gets held accountable to the full extent of the law.

why then you had some sympathy and not now may I ask? I an interested to know what changed your mind?

I met her once before she was elected to PM. As a person she was friendly, easy to talk to, very presentable and someone who was used to being at business meetings and public events. But as a politician she seemed very naive, someone who could be manipulated, and would always agree with the Party line, - which is what has happened. I had hoped she might be a bit more independent than she has been.

Now she is trying to separate herself from her roles as Prime Minister and Head of the rice scheme by appealing to public sympathy. She is not accepting any responsibility for what has happened, and presumably will claim she didn't know what was going on. There may even be some truth in that, but ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law, and the buck stops with her.

Yingluck already has a gaggle of witnesses. What's wrong with them, and why does she want more ? She is now trying to defend the indefensible. Not a clever move, and as one who used to have some sympathy for her, I hope she gets held accountable to the full extent of the law.

It's a pity that there is no way to speed up the inspections, as those involved in what is now obviously a massive fraud have a lot of time to cover their tracks and flee the scene.

tim armstrong claims to be Thai, then said "It takes time to make the changes being raised, and maybe its about time for some of us to support and give credit for what,s happening, and stop the meaningless criticisms."

Meaningless criticisms? What Thai planet are you from? There are some good changes, but they are very thin and vague.

If a man builds me a good house with terrible windows and doors, and I say "The doors and windows are terrible." I am not lying, and am worried about intruders, the weather and have a reasonable criticism.

Unless I have a dark family secret, then for sure I have no claims to be Thai. But, I have lived, worked and retired here long enough to make some observations, which may not be supported by others. As for the thin and vague changes, I would say that paying the farmers and sorting out the rice industry is very specific and far from vague. As to your 'house problem' I suggest you get a new builder, and stop worrying about the weather as you can't change that.

There seems to be a lot of generalisations out there - ' the main influential people in Thailand are almost always corrupt', or 'most political candidates are mentally challenged'. Thailand is not a western democracy, the thinking is different, legal principles are different, the social structure is different, so the way to govern the country will be something that suits Thai people - not westerners. We may not like nepotism, but much of business is tied into very long standing family connections and obligations. All the talk about Thailand going down the gurgler is nonsense. It has a strong economy, and has survived various recent world downturns rather well.

The current military government clearly doesn't fit the stereotype view of the US and others,- tough ! It takes time to make the changes being raised, and maybe its about time for some of us to support and give credit for what,s happening, and stop the meaningless criticisms.

The first stage of a fascist military dictatorship is enthusiasm. The second stage is "well, give them more time."

There are five stages. Sounds like you're in the second stage.

Thailand has had many military coups. How many have transformed into long term military dictatorships in the past 50 years ? History speaks for itself.

This is weird language.

She hasn't been awarded anything by a court. The perpetrators have been found guilty in a civil case and been ordered to pay.

The court is not paying her anything. God knows how this can persist as a civil case without there being any criminal charges. What amount of evidence do the police need to act? The court could have ordered them to pay 100mn.

All in all absolutely shameful.

I don't understand it either. Even if they find the perpetrators, it would seem unlikely that they have that much money. So if the court isn't paying who is ? The courts' decision is pleasing but the girl is still in limbo. I'm not a supporter of capitol punishment but this case could make me change my mind.

Ah, yes, it's Amazing Thailand in so many ways.

It has so many fine medical doctors, then were have this:

"Jakkriss said "homeopathy" was safe and low-cost and had been used in various countries including

the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, the United States, Australia, India and Malaysia"

And, some people in the above countries have likely tried as iridology, reflexology, aromatherapy, accupuncture,

magnetic therapy, collodial silver, reiki and other unproven or fraudulent medical practices to cure various

diseases and ailments.

If Jakkriss were to read any of the _ethical_, peer-reviewed, medical journals, he would find that

homeopathy is mere insubstantiated quackery.

Acupuncture is quackery ? If so then why are so many western GPs now trained in it ? Oh and its been around just a tad bit longer than western medicine. But of course you are right, - snake oil salesmen have been around for a while- fleecing people. Unlike the big pharmaceutical companies who are only too happy to share their knowledge after their 20 year patents run out, plus the 'sunset ' clauses in commonly used drugs ? Oh, and they really don't mind that some countries can now make generic brand AIDS drugs ? I could go on but LukDod if you ever get to read or see - "The Constant Gardener' it might open your mind.

Its not noble to think they should be paid more. If the money they earn from bribes were reduced or eliminated and the wage structure reviewed that would generate some increased incomes. Even a very modest movement of money from the fuel tax would help. There are many ways of doing it. Its all part of the need to redistribute wealth, which of course will be fiercely resisted by those who have it.