bkkcanuck8

I don't generally buy alcohol outside of hours at the store, but I do actually make an effort to buy anything I can from my local mom & pop shop before opting for other locations.

It can be worse than that, cell sizes of 20 square meters with 30+ prisoners per cell (that is head to toe - side to side by side sleeping arrangements - no room for anyone that moves around in their sleep)... with one squat toilet per cell with very little privacy... and you are locked in the cell for more than half the day... The 5 by cell is relatively nice accommodations. That picture of 5 to a cell is going to give foreigners the wrong idea of humane treatment of prisoners in comparison. That cell with 5 is for 'special cases' (i.e. high profile individuals).

Not a surprise since there is no appeals from the Supreme Court... only constitutional issues to the Constitutional Court (of which I am hard pressed to find any myself).

That is a semi-VIP cell, regular cells are much more overcrowded.

No appeals court is possible UNLESS it is a constitutional issue and then that would go to the constitutional court. Only way out now is a pardon... which if there was a ruling that the medical process was the issue.... I am pretty sure there are people in the prior government (aka coup government) that were part of this scheme and everything was worked out... which might be at risk if Thaksin feels he is free to spill the beans. He would not have come back unless everything was choreographed.

Constitutional norms would require a constitution be in place long enough to have norms... the only norm with the constitution is it is not worth the paper it is written on if the military decides that it is a national emergency and they MUST take control of the government.

I am tired of people using that and not being charged with when it is not applicable. I however was expecting it.

Whoever you place near the trough - eats from it... it is endemic here. I think it was Suthep (though not sure) that basically indicated that the crime was letting everyone know it - as opposed to keeping it hidden from sight. The issue with the party dissolution is that the democratic processes here are never given the chance to mature and thus no ruling that offends those that are powerful is ripe for getting a party dissolved... It will prevent the government for actually working for the people... What is needed is to pursue those that are corrupt with criminal sanctions and long sentences... but not disrupt the maturing of the democratic processes.

He is protected by the Chinese, if he had any problem they would have arranged his ability to get back to safe territory. i.e. he is living openly in China... that would not be possible if not being protected.

It is not a matter of want, if you were on the low end of the market (lets say less than 10K / month) you get a studio with no kitchen typically (est 75%+). If you have a condo at or below 15K you don't typically get a kitchen... (est. 60%+). Having street food everywhere is really a necessity given the limitations of accomodation many could afford... The delivery option just made it easier to order it and have it delivered when it is not the best conditions for going out. If they have a balcony with a sink then you might be able to prepare some limited food, though you are not suppose to have gas on balconies.

A lot of Thai style 'condo' and apartments do not have a kitchen...

It really depends, if you want wealthy people who will spend their money in central areas visiting places that will bring well-to-do Thais more business... and relying on trickle down economics to reach the poorer people - then focusing only at the higher end is wise. If you want people that are more likely to move to less touristy areas that will look to spend their money locally and thus more likely to reach people that are not connected but regular people... then you need a mix. It does not tend to be the people on a tighter pension that tends to cause issues IMHO.

Canada's Visa Waiver gives you up to 6 months. I had a friend from Japan stay for 18 months on a 6 month visa waiver plus two extensions... which was not a problem since she could easily prove she could stay without employment or support -- so it was a non-issue. Thai Retirement Visas are glorified tourist/visitor visas that last up to 12 months (non-permanent - same rights as a tourist just longer).

That is like saying someone taking a couple of cooking courses now needs a visa... It really depends on length of the courses...

The 60 day renewals are not the problem, it is just that at a certain point you should be required to show that you have the means to be here without working. Canada's visa waiver entry allows you to stay 6 months and I had a friend stay in Canada on one of those with 2 x 6 month extensions (submitted by mail)... but she was required to submit proof that she could stay without resorting to working locally (which for her was no problem since her family was fairly wealthy). If there is a noticeable enough outcry of foreigners working illegally, then just send out the immigration enforcement in force and crack down making an example... Simply put, it is not the length of stay -- it is the corruption or lack of enforcement of abiding by the agreement not to work. BTW, the 1 year visa that allows retirees to stay here is just that - it is a glorified tourist visa that allows you to reside here a year by showing that you have the means not to work locally. Other than the length - it is effectively the just a temporary non-immigrant visa just like a tourism visa.