Enzian

I'm not defending Suthep but this case goes WAY back in the past and the article doesn't mention any timeline. Why in this country do they so often wait so many years before deciding to bring action on some cases?

5 hours ago, Snow Leopard said:

did you certify yours at the Thai Embassy in your country?

No, that didn't come up because I got my long stay visa here in Thailand by the method of converting a 3 month tourist visa. Also want to say that tho the office woman did not ask to see my birth certificate (which is in the US anyway), she had us fill out a complex form with information including both my parents full names and then worked with my girlfriend to to translate them into Thai script and put them on the form. We did it right there at her desk, and she just took my word for what the names were. So I can see why they might want to see an actual birth certificate; as I say, we were lucky. I can also see why some offices might want the passport certified, tho any Thai government officer ought to be able to tell if a particular person's US passport is real or fake. Our officer just accepted it.

6 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Wow my amphur wants certified copies of my passport and birth certificate.

We were lucky, because we went in knowing that that those might be required, but the girl was nice and went with what I said. That's the problem, every office and officer can be different. 

6 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Yes i am just in Samut Prakan and they want a shed load of documents. What did you hand over in the way of documentation? 

Just my passport, two photos, copy of passport data page and copy of recent visa page, her ID and blue book.

16 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

Which amphur is that please? I am having issues. 

Din Daeng Bangkok in my case, but I would think you have to go to the one that covers your address.

I'm in same situation, live in my girlfriend's condo, on a "retirement visa", and she nor I have ever filed a TM30 that I know of. But we recently went to the amphur, got me put in her blue book, got a yellow book for me, and to boot, without us asking, they fixed me up with a Thai ID "pink card". I've read reports that all this makes me exempt from filling the TM30, and my attitude is that they can bite me; a 2000 baht fine is next to nothing, but if and when that happens then I'll go ahead and file one of the damn things. Of course I might have to when we go to Chang Wattana to apply for my next extension later this year.

When a major Cambodian politician admitted he consulted an outside country (the USA) for suggestions on how to improve democracy in that country, he was forced into exile. Not that it could happen here, but anyone should think carefully about "interference" from outside.

I have an appointment at a private hospital (Mission) but I assume they will be open or they would not have scheduled me.

Is it true that those zebra ex-voto offerings at sidewalk shrines are every one a remembrance of someone hit and killed in a "zebra crossing"?

As we all know, in CA hitting a pedestrian in a crosswalk or even jaywalking can result in financial ruin, or at least great financial distress. That's what it takes, but by keeping half the population in total poverty, there are all these people who are effectively judgement-proof.

19 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

If you read the article, it says "the culprit would pretend to be a customer wanting to buy goods and ask for the seller’s Thai ID card number ". Ergo, the scammed persons are Thai.

Minor correction (I think): I'm American and I just got a Thai ID card, the pink card. I got it included when I went to be put in my girlfriend's Blue Book as a regular resident in her condo. I also was given a Yellow Book and my motive was that all this may exempt me from having to file the dreaded TM 30. 

I've been to Pai and people like that (and better of course) are the life blood of the local economy; drive them away and the standard of living for the locals would drop in half. Even the local police know how their bread is buttered.

The whole thing is a show. Sea Watch and others are not rescuing people, they are making a show of rescuing people. They are out there for months at a time and that is all they do. It's not like they are engaged in an actual enterprise and just happen across the migrants; it's almost certain they co-ordinate with those putting the migrants out there. If Sea Watch and others were not out there, very few migrants would attempt (and pay people to help them attempt) to embark on what has to be a 50-50 chance of being a suicide mission.

I had the return flight? question from ANA at San Jose CA airport a week ago. I insisted the retirement visa in my passport made the question moot, and after asking a manager they accepted that.

Have to say I came in to BKK on business class last night and was given a Fast Track voucher by the airline, but it wasn't worth all that much because at 11:30 PM the regular line per station was about 6 persons and mine was one person in front of me, not a big difference. And why spend for business class? 1. because at 80 of age I deserve it, and 2. I put oodles of money on an expense card that gives me lots of frequent flyer points:I'm not crazy enough (usually) to spend that much actual cash. (And certain FF programs offer deals that you can't find paying cash.)

Prostitution has to remain technically illegal, otherwise the police might have to do some work. Example: say you have a woman to your room and later notice your watch is gone. If you try to report it you will be told you were doing something illegal and have no standing. So if it were legal they would have to be involved in the details all the time. They will never want to do that work. The way it is now they can deny it and let anarchy take its course, as it does on the highways.

Highly relevant to me. I'm going to be needing monthly injections of Avastin. Rutnin hospital has quoted me 23,000-25,000 for one injection. Bumrungrad, where I am registered, quoted me 9,400 for the medicine needed for one injection, medicine only-the doctor and other fees to be added. The global cost of one dose of Avastin is normally under $100, and sometime almost free in Thailand. The other drug commonly used for the same problem (look it up, complicated) Lucentis, does cost ten or twenty times as much; that's why doctors use Avastin. I want to know how to follow up this issue. How much is Bumrungrad marking it up? Do they have to tell me?

But one gets a lot of exercise in Pattaya; bedminton comes to mind.

It's good to see the Democrat party finally thinking about the wealth gap and associated issues. But they need some fresh ideas. An all-out crash attack on rural education, all free for all kids to age 16, compulsory, would be my choice.

We all know that in the States that driver would get a stunning fine from the police, and that's why people don't do it there.

My Thai girlfriend's father when he was alive co-signed for a friend's loan. The "friend" defaulted and the bank took part of dad's farm. My girlfriend said the problem was dad was Jai dee, had a "good heart". I said he was stupid. Cultural differences. I'm still trying to get her to be better with money since her own track record is not good, though not catastrophic. In dad's case, his brother's wife went ballistic and got an extra job to pay back the bank so the land would stay in the family. But eventually he let it be alienated to more remote family members anyway. 

July 15, today, there were some major delays at Chiang Mai airport. Anyone have an idea what caused the delays?

I'm impressed by the argument that Thailand is a profoundly hierarchical society and that there is an invisible line below which the people there are considered by the elite to be disposable and not worthy of human rights. This is ingrained and never articulated.

Same, same...  but different...

Check out the documentary Beltracchi, The Art of Forgery

There are people, like him, who spend their lives making up these things.