Classic Ray

When I arrested an Irish itinerant for trying to steal a roadworks compressor, he crapped himself in the police car. On arrival at the station, we threw him in the shower, squirted him with washing up liquid and scrubbed him with a broom. The bugs flew off him. At least the smell went away. i believe they treat detainees better in the U.K. nowadays, we were a little more direct in my time.

Most democratic societies separate the military and the state, with military and the police forbidden to take any active role in politics. They are seen as the servants of the society rather than the masters. Unfortunately they don’t seem to take this role in Thai society, with even teachers and civil servants wearing military style uniforms.

Certainly the police (including Immigration) already have to supply their own uniforms, weapons and equipment including some office supplies. With their low salaries, it encourages corruption to supplement their income. Reform would entail much higher salaries similar to what happened in Hong Kong and Singapore. Better to concentrate on the higher management in education and the civil service who are in charge of the budgets and ensure they spend the money on providing services to the public.

Would be better to stimulate the economy by supporting manufacturing, agriculture and higher education to enable competition with other developing countries. Casinos are just a short term boost, come with their own addiction problems and the main customers, the Chinese, are subject to their own economic downturn and restrictions. Thinking casinos will remove underground gambling is a fallacy. Most Thai gamblers are low end and will not travel to casinos.

In some Middle Eastern and Asian countries they would be subject to the death penalty for proselytising, luckily Thailand is more tolerant.

Non-light controlled crossings are poorly defined here. Road markings rarely include zig zag markings to denote no stopping either side and no overtaking on the approach side, or have spotlights to illuminate pedestrians who are crossing, and make up for the poor street lighting in most urban areas. They also have no Belisha beacons, the oversized flashing orange globes that give drivers warning they are approaching a crossing. Along with proper enforcement (a dream I know), and driver and pedestrian education, these economical measures would greatly increase pedestrian safety. But because most of the victims are poor, this does not seem a priority for the Government.

So a woman hands over money obviously intended to pay off corrupt officials then complains when it doesn’t work. I’m not feeling very sympathetic, it’s just another symptom of how broken the system is where people try to game it with bribery.

Thailand has more than enough laws but enforcement is based on corrupt payments or absent.

No, even voluntary unpaid work needs a work permit. Mad but true.

I am surprised (not really) at the lack of implementation of flood prevention schemes in Thailand. This is a country with an annual rainy season and many talented civil engineers. The Asian Development Bank offers funds at low rates of interest for worthwhile projects like these. Instead of platitudes and relief packages, time to stimulate employment and construct proper diversionary measures to prevent further disasters. They could also make sure current drains are properly maintained and kept free flowing.

You can understand the reluctance of most motorists to offer assistance at collision scenes if this is the possible result.

If they have already been named elsewhere, why aren’t their names published to prevent further crimes?

Can I ask the journalists to stop using the word “accident” which implies an unavoidable incident with no blame, and instead use “collision” or “crash”? ”Accident” sends the wrong message to road users and is inaccurate. Thanks

Maybe authorities could look after the trees, felling the ones that are becoming weak. i know there is cultural reluctance to fell these holy trees, but that should not come before protecting human life and property. I remember one in Chiang Mai falling onto a motorcycle narrowly missing killing the rider. There are many of these dangerous holy trees in Thailand not being cared for. The taboo of maintenance again.

Paying for pilot training is no different to the Student Loan schemes offered in many countries, as long as they don’t demand full upfront payment. Pilots should be able to pay back the training costs from their future earnings, as should those who don’t complete or fail the course. But with this many unemployed qualified pilots I don’t see why they need to recruit more. Students should be encouraged to enter other industries instead.

Just had call from scammer trying to buy my mobile phone number Obviously Government crackdown on ID verification for phone numbers is hitting the cheats hard. Told them to do one. My wife also had similar call, beware.

My wife has a Government job that pays for my healthcare, and has already started a side business to maintain a better income when I’m gone. The house is paid off and she will get a good proportion of my pension for life or until she marries again. Our kids will have a good start in life as a result, even though we are not millionaires. My previous kids have also been well looked after. She better look after me!

This may be time for the Red Bull family to step up and pay some money to this family to atone for the lack of responsibility they have shown for their member who is evading punishment for the death of a police officer killed in a collision many years ago. With a gesture like that, I may remove my boycott of Red Bull products.

Wise (formerly TransferWise) operates in Australia, cheaper than a bank transfer, and importantly in my, and thousands of others, experience, 100% reliable.

Any sign of an Interpol Red Notice or initiation of extradition proceedings to help close this case? If not, why not?

The ATR 72-500 is the same model of aircraft that was involved in the recent fatal air crash in Brazil. But that was a passenger rather than freight aircraft. Initial reports are tending to suggest high altitude icing could have been a factor in the crash. i hope this does not affect the Pattaya Airways aircraft.

Girls? These are 36 year old women.

UK Coroner can hold an inquest on a British citizen no matter where the death took place. Drowning is not the cause of death, it’s the inability to breathe air due to the inhalation of water, ie asphyxiation, that is the cause.

I became age-related short-sighted when I was about 50, and started with reading glasses, but for ten years or so I have gone with varifocals which I wear all the time. Tell the optician to slow down until you get it exactly right.

In the UK the employer is fined up to £60,000 (over 2,400,000 baht) for each illegal employee. https://www.gov.uk/penalties-for-employing-illegal-workers