mfd101

Meloni is fun to watch at assorted EU meetings & with Trump. Lots of eye-rolling at others' idiocy or indecision. No-nonsense approach. Refreshing. Particularly for staid & stumbling ol' Italy, now emerging on the world stage again for the first time in many many moons.

Same obsession as in Thailand for the official beginning of the monsoon season, regardless of what's been happening on the ground for days or weeks beforehand. Here Thai officialdom declares the opening of the season some time in June and says we must prepare for possible flooding, often weeks after the annual deluge has begun. The annual symbol of official incompetence.

A modern survey vessel could be very useful in the much-disputed waters of the South China Sea ... And India has much relevant experience with Sri Lanka & the Maldives.

A politician assuring you that nothing's happening is a sure sign that something's about to happen.

I think this is a tourist problem, not a Thai one. In all the 14 years my b/f & I have either lived in BKK or visited there 2 or 3 times a year, we've never had a Bolt/Grab, just regular taxis that we hail. B/f opens the door & says: "We're going to X, metered only". Driver either agrees or doesn't. If not we slam the door & hail the next one. But that very seldom happens. Don't know what would happen if I tried it on my own, but knowing the drill I think I would manage OK.

CCTV is the preferred weapon of authoritarians everywhere, China being the obvious example. It makes law enforcement very efficient. But it's useful for law enforcement only if you have a competent police force in the first place.

Mmmm, I suspect more dangerous to the pilots than the Cambodians.

No , as a health minister in the covid years he proved to be a danger . Yes, there's a difference between 'politics' (A+) and 'policy' (D-).

A careful reading of the Op sheds absolutely no light on the question whether she'll have to pay up or not. On the one hand this, on the other hand that, and then this other possibility but on the other hand ... Thai law and its interpretation at its best. Depends who you last talked to, and the politics, and um other matters ...

The obvious question for a practical & sensible person (as opposed to the holier-than-everyone kind of person) is: Were the 'wars on drugs' - here or in the Philippines and however measured - successful or not?

And noone outside Myanmar gives a damn.

Title of the Op is (intentionally?) ambiguous. Seems to say the opposite of the content of the article ...

Mmmm, not easy. I'll have to look at the possibilities carefully. Both Toyota & Mazda are my only practical options for maintenance purposes here at the end of the world, Toyota just 5 minutes away & Mazda 30 minutes. Whatever we get it'll spend 95% of its life on rural roads & daily access to the family farm, where larger tires & higher ground clearance are desirable, and with space for passengers. Currently we have a lovely little 2016 Mazda 3, beautifully designed for city and careful driving, but not my b/f's driving!

I've been thinking of buying a Rav 4 next year but I gather they're not available in Thailand(?).

Khon Kaen's not far from here. Must pay a visit some time.