mfd101

Western countries all slow to wake up to a new world order that is not in their interest.

Really? Must say I've never heard of a 'curtain hotel' before. But I've led a sheltered life ...

In any rationally governed country the rice would have been disposed of years ago - either rubbish heap or feed for animals or sold off. Pursuing grudges seems to be a national pastime, at least for the pollies. Pathetic.

Produkdibity? Wot dat?

In short, yes.

My garden gets ruined at least once every 2 years as my b/f - without consulting me - has the family hackers destroy 3 or 4 beauties with crude slashing with a blunt instrument, leaving jagged wounds open to disease. And other trees and bushes get moved (because 'too big' or 'too close house') and shoved into a shallow hole with no manure & little water. Death follows in about 40% of cases. Even those that do survive - because I water them against instructions through the drought - will probably be killed off next time round. (Sigh)

The post-dictator rules for change are the ruling class's rules for no-change.

Bullsht.

OK, that'll be France. I need at least a week to show him all the sights and to fill my suitcase with books that - because we live in Thailand - I can't buy here on Kindle. 😀

Noted, thanks.

I'm planning - well, beginning to think about - a 3-week trip to France, Austria & Italy next May. Accompanied by my Thai b/f. Will he - on the current arrangement, still likely to be in place - have to apply separately for each Schengen country? or just once for all 3 (or more)?

Well, good for him. He's just risen in my estimation.

Given the relative numbers, that's not surprising! But in the present instance in any case it's not RICH Thais who are the (potential) problem.

In many countries (eg Oz) a growth rate of 0.6% would be ample ground for throwing the government out of power at the next election!

Last seen heading across the Cambodian border.

You'ld wonder what the point was ... Come to the tropical paradise but spend the whole time hiding under the bed.

In short, the usual semi-corrupt greatly incompetent Thai shambles, which never gets better. Complexity for the sake of complexity. We love it.

Nonsense, the lines were drawn as already but Israel keep stealing more land. I rest my case.

Yes, and - everywhere in the world - people are responsible for the governments they elect and tolerate.

Nothing to do with 'free trade'. That's about military security.

A two-state solution will never work because noone can work out where to draw the lines that everyone will agree on. In theory only a one-state solution can work. But not in our lifetime, though I do note that there are an awful lot of Palestinians who live pretty comfortably within the current State of Israel - working, educating their children, voting for Parliament, serving in the Israeli Army ... The other alternative is that the Palestinians leave to disperse amongst the Arab countries. But that'll never happen either - the Arabs actually can't stand them (not Arab enough) and the Arab states are in quiet league with Israel against the greater enemy Iran.

But surely arsonists deserve to have a regular supply of matches for their enjoyment?

Well, that's my loony news item for the day. Now what's happening in Ukraine?

Yes. If you don't know that you probably haven't lived amongst the millions of poor Thai peasants living in rural Thailand, poor as dormice.

Good in theory. The practice will be interesting to watch.