JemJem

In many countries, he would have been lynched within minutes. I am not saying that is the way it should be. Just saying how it is in some places.

Liar liar, pants on fire. Actually, Syrian situation poses a very serious risk, not just to many ordinary Syrians, in terms of democracy, secularism and human rights (especially women's rights) but also to people in some neighboring countries too. Also, of course, there is every chance it poses a security risk to the world overall. I have read someone remarking something like 'Syria will be like Afghanistan light'. I see what he means, but the dynamics are very different. Probably, it will be more like a mixture of Afghanistan and maybe for example Libya. Now, the jihadis basically control most parts of Syria. No one knows how long other groups who control the remaining parts of Syria can hold on against the jihadis, who will become more organised and weaponised soon gradually. There are also foreign intruding armies present which have no intention of leaving anytime soon. What can go wrong?! Gees. A LOT can and possibly will go wrong.

Wow. Nice decoration. I like it.

This incident is one of the relatively bad ones involving foreigners. I mean, yeah, of course it is not as bad, say, murder or rape, but it is a lot more serious than getting involved in a bar fight, which I am sure many of us have at least once found ourselves in. The problem is such incidents often reflect badly on all of us foreigners, due to generalisations. But, I sadly wonder if this thief will manage to get away with just a slip on the wrist.

Good question/point. All this is of course actually a deep topic. But I guess most of us would agree on 'Democracy is far from ideal, but it seems to be the best system overall' cliche. But of course, then, the 'far from ideal' part still constitutes a big problem. Anyway, by the point I made about the Islamic world, I had just wanted to present a different situational perspective. Of course, most of the dynamics here in Thailand are very different from those over there, mainly the religion factor of course. Also, some of you can call me naive, but I feel that the possibility of a coup happening again in Thailand has gotten to be slim by now, and, this will get nearer and nearer to zero, as time passes, I think. As I said, feel free to disagree.

Also, the military factor, at least in some parts of the globe, might oddly be the factor saving democracy and some human rights. As well as secularism. Consider the case of some Middle Eastern and North African nations. Various Islamist parties and/or presidents, over the years, have tried to reach power via elections. Some have succeeded, some not. The succeding ones always presented themselves as 'moderate Islamic parties' initially, and were usually supported by Islamist-appeasing Western liberals and leftists (for a variety of reasons). In the end, it was clearly seen that, once brought into political power, there can be no (or almost no) Islamic movement that is truly moderate. They cause a variety of bad stuff, and the group of people most affected in a bad way are sadly almost always women.

I am guessing that only a tiny minority there were foreigners. Will they get deported? Well, as you wrote, you never know.

Oh, well. Sorry to hear that. Maybe you shall be invited to the next one? 🙂

I have a feeling he will probably avoid a jail sentence, but all this is likely to cost him MAJOR amount of money.

WTF?! Okay, let us say it is not unusual for face recognition stuff not to work all the time. But, ain't no one know or recogize this guy?! 🙂 Weird.

Sad. Man, falls can be really dangerous. I am sure most of us have had at least a couple of such instances. For example, once, I had a bad fall in Sydney, Australia. Must have been 1997. About to enter a danceclub in King's Cross. A basement club. Slipped on the stairs. Was literally in the air and then fell on the hard stairs. Luckily not on my head but on my waist. I was already drunk by then. Still went in there. Danced nonstop for some hours and possibly had great fun. Hey, I was in my twenties 🙂 From next day on, my waist hurt for at least a couple of weeks though. Anyway, life can be fragile. Who knows what would have happened if I had struck the back of my head.

Been to the Nana area recently after quite a long time. Saw many freelancers. Yeah, I have noticed quite a high number of African women in various locations there, at least some of whom seem to be on the game. Saw a few Middle Eastern ones at/near Gulliver's. Of course, needless to mention there were many local freelancer lasses too 🙂 Failed to see Russian/Central Asian Republics ones though that evening. But, I think they still mainly hang out at/near the Grace Hotel. I mean, that was the case back in the pre-Covid years. I haven't been to the Grace for several years. Anyway, all this was not even at a late time. I was in the area around 8-10 PM. So, I guess the freelance stuff is still going strong.

Still no arrests?? WTF?!

Shoes are no big deal, unless it was a very expensive one, but sorry about the laptop. Was it totally rendered useless and so you got a new one? Anyway, good that you didn't get an infection from the incident.

I haven't written in this section for ages, and I know very little is posted here. But, anyway, I hope there will be some replies. After about 35 years of mostly intermediate level to heavy level of drinking, I have decided to quit it in a determined way. I am now doing it for totally due to serious health concerns, so this time I know there is a 99 percent chance I will make it. Of course, all that drinking has already done its damage and sadly there is nothing I can do about it. My serious decision to quit has come at least a few years too late sadly. Anyway, I have already broken my personal record. I am into five and a half months of sobriety now. My previous record was slightly over 5 months and this was about 20 years ago. Most of my other sober periods didn't reach the 1 month mark. I am doing it my own way. I respect the AA and people who go there. It is just not for me. I am now in Bangkok, still going out in the evenings, figuring out which venues have got non-alcoholic beer 🙂 Quite a few pubs and bars do. I am avoiding certain types of venues. Not because I am scared I might relapse but because I am thinking I will get bored at them and they will be disappointing experiences. I mean places like girlie bars and dance clubs, and possibly pool parties. I know I would never enjoy those places without being at least somewhat drunk. But for example places with live music are fine. Especially if the place has food too. Anyway, I just wanted to share some thoughts etc.