SoiSauce

If you are going to take away a fundamental human right- which speech is- you need to have a compelling interest. That's why dishonestly yelling fire in a theatre can be barred.

What was Chavalit saying that justified muzzling him? What was he saying in that interview that was so outrageous, that rose to the level of shouting fire in a theatre?

Because, according to the original report on page 1, Peace TV was raided to stop the interview with him. Not because Peace TV was broadcasting without a license. Not because Peace TV had "incited violence" in the past. Chavalit's speech, at the time he was making it.

So far, nothing about the speech's content. Just more "trust us, we know what's best for you." That's comforting. I'm sure they know what's best.

You're confusing extremely poor journalism and pathetic reporting for inconsistencies with the government's actions.

Peace TV was ordered to be closed for provoking and inciting violence before Chavalit.

Typical of Thai police historical inaction, they had not been closed.

Today, they have been closed.

Actually, according to The Nation, they were not closed for inciting violence, but for "providing programmes that caused confusion, misleading people and creating conflicts in society."

Pretty serious stuff, but not actually "inciting violence."

Of couse, Natee probably didn't really say that, it's just bad reporting, right?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Regulator-revokes-Peace-TVs-licence-30258889.html

If you are going to take away a fundamental human right- which speech is- you need to have a compelling interest. That's why dishonestly yelling fire in a theatre can be barred.

What was Chavalit saying that justified muzzling him? What was he saying in that interview that was so outrageous, that rose to the level of shouting fire in a theatre?

Because, according to the original report on page 1, Peace TV was raided to stop the interview with him. Not because Peace TV was broadcasting without a license. Not because Peace TV had "incited violence" in the past. Chavalit's speech, at the time he was making it.

So far, nothing about the speech's content. Just more "trust us, we know what's best for you." That's comforting. I'm sure they know what's best.

My American parents weren't really thrilled with the name we gave our son... so naturally, within moments of meeting him, they decided upon a nickname. My (northern European) wife wasn't having any of it and put her foot down immediately.

So, while both Thais and farang do nicknames, I suspect only a farang daughter in law will tell her parents in law to piss off. Which is of course, hilarious for me.

For the younger set (pre-school and early primary), the Early Learning Centre (ELC) is quite good, and bloody expensive. Each class has one expat teacher and one local assistant teacher. I presume if they are expats they get paid rates competive internationally.

Wow. What a fascinating man! A quick Google search produces some really interesting results. But enough about him.

I understand that Thais are sensitive to criticism by foreigners, farang or others. Most people in most countries are similarly sensitive.

What worries me is that Thais cannot even have these discussions amongst themselves. Expressing an opinion should not be a crime, though expressing certain opinions IS a crime in Thailand. And that does not make for a healthy country in the long run. While Thailand has had a good run, it will be left behind by others in the region unless it can have more honest discussions about itself, its strengths and its weaknesses.

I can never tell if this stuff is satire, genuine, some weird combination, or what.

Ping pong bombs? Injured three people? Who probably get injured a lot anyway on a very hard job? If every garbageman who got injured on the hand warranted an article, there would be nothing else in the paper.

But, since everyone is all worked up, I think it was the:

jihadists or

yellow shirts or

red shirts or

the junta or

Yingluck herself or

Suthep himself or

gangsters or

the Dalai Lama or

some meddling kids.

And I'm sure of it. I could be a local cop!

Does anyone sense a ruse here? The bombs are timed so that they cause minimal loss of life...seems a bit odd really if you think about it.....if you really want to shake things up you don't set bombs off in the middle of the night when no-one is around, do you? I am convinced that the army is correct in thinking it is the same group responsible for both bombs, but clearly the terrorists strategy is not to hurt tourism or tourists, otherwise the bomb would have had a very different timing. In circumstances like this it is good to ask 'cui bono?'

Who benefits from these bombs. Personally I cannot think of a single person, either in Thailand or outside of it, that benefits from setting off bombs which only do property damage and where no group claims responsibility. It seems that the ongoing struggle in the South is much more serious where lives are being lost regularly.

Who benefits from creating a sense of danger and insecurity? Pretty obivious, if you ask me. Just look at all the posters demanding that the government "crack down," shoot terrorists on sight, suspend civil liberties, etc. Perhaps impose martial law? That's just what Thailand needs!

Put these two quotes together:

"There's a sucker born every minute." P.T. Barnum

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjeman Franklin

These have got to be the worst terrorists in the whole world. One attack after another-- a few injuries here and there and that's it.

This is playtime.

And, incidentally, a dandy excuse to keep a military junta in power, if that's your intention.

Hi all,

I've got a 2008 Nissan Dualis (Qashqai) imported from Japan. I've had trouble getting some pretty basic parts for it. I needed brake pads about 6 months ago and B-Quik said that it was impossible as they don't have the parts and they are just impossible to get. Lo and behold, after a short phone call made on my behalf to B-Quik by a hi-so lady, the parts appeared and no problem. Everything installed, everyone happy.

Naturally I go back to the same place (success should be rewarded, after all) and it turns out that I may need new shocks- after driving for a few hours on the road from the border to Siam Reap in the rain, they started creaking like crazy. Naturally, the manager told me, we don't have these parts, it is impossible, the implication being that my only option was to toss the car in the bin.

So, a few questions:

First, I thought brake pads and shocks are pretty much interchangeable across wide models of cars. Are they not? I could understand if this was a Ferrari that I was trying to repair, but it's a freaking Nissan.

Second, are there any good mechanics in Sukhumvit or anywhere in Bangkok that could manage this sort of issue? Before anyone suggests a Nissan dealer, I tried that, along with several other places that seemed like they knew the right end of the wrench. I was told by the dealer and the others that finding such parts is impossible. If it comes to that, I'm perfectly happy to pay to import the parts from Japan or Oz as the car was quite inexpensive in the first place and I'd rather not leave it out for the trash collector just yet.

Third, do I really need new shocks or is it a simple lubrication issue?

Cheers and thanks ahead!