John Drake

It's not about being "updated," it's about the use of a single anonymous source to launch a story. And that is what happened a couple of days ago, here, on this forum, which caused people to react so assuredly. A "single anonymous source" was all they needed then. Here are the pertinent parts of the story linked to in the original topic https://aseannow.com/topic/1285572-revealed-three-chinese-spy-balloons-infiltrated-the-us-during-trump-administration-but-he-never-shot-them-down-or-told-the-public-as-republicans-call-for-biden-to-resign-for-putting-americans-at-risk/ That launched a 10 page discussion, all based on a single anonymous source. It used to be in journalism that anonymous sources were only very rarely used (think Watergate). Nowadays, it has become something of a default. Why did this "senior official" need to "speak on background" for this story? It was either an identifiable fact or it wasn't.

It does look pathetic. "What did you do on your vacation, Huang?" "I watched a train run through a ghetto."

Wow! Big news!

And all of it benefitting a relatively select few. Should have kept the electricity subsidy for home users instead.

This is funny. Because it was only a couple of days ago that all those stories about balloons spying on the US during the Trump administration were being spilled all over this forum and they were sourced by a single anonymous official. I'm all for sabotaging, sanctioning, isolating, and confronting Russia/China. But to see the news media act as little more than an appendage to a particular political ideology and outlook is not only disturbing, it will eventually undermine and discredit the existing system of news gathering and trust.

Following this on Twitter, it looks like Trump's followers are all piling in with him on this. Because he is unelectable, it's clear they all intend to sink to the bottom with him. Trump simply is a degenerate person for whom this sort of <deleted> slinging is an integral part of his make up.

Because incredibly it seems most of the Western military and intelligence agencies either 1) cannot detect them or 2) sit around in their underwear and wonder "what's that?"

Because that's where the money is!

I think that is the point of any crackdown that might come. Since Chuwit exposed the extensiveness of Chinese triads operating in Bangkok and elsewhere, it's clear that a lot of immigration falsifying of documents is going on. I don't want triads or Russian gangsters here. Not only will they make things more dangerous in terms of violence and financial fraud, they'll destroy the price structure, especially for Thai people. I don't really think that the small fry will be caught up in this. But they might. The problem of a growing foreign criminal class, however, is a greater threat that needs some sort of resolution that gets them out of here.

They probably were good looking a year ago.

Stopped for lunch.

And this reminds me, whatever happened: 1) To the taxi driver who killed an American with a samurai sword over a fare dispute? 2) The Western tourist who was tracked down and arrested and made to make an apology for a critical post about a Thai resort? Will be interesting to see what happens in any altercation between a Westerner and a sacred Chinese tourist, won't it?

The price for durian is already sky high thanks. Now, you might not be able to get them at all as all the produce is directed towards China.

And watch the triads' cash filled suitcases walk right on in.

And there are many ways in which to help achieve this goal. According to Khaosod, starting today, and coinciding with the start of Chinese group tours, Immigration will no longer use baggage checks, requiring tourists to open their luggage. Just makes me wonder how many suitcases stuffed with cash from China on its way to triads in Bangkok will start going through today, too.

Saw this topic on the AN sidebar. Thought it was about Thailand. But it's the UK. Hmmm. Not much difference, apparently.

So, just like July, August, and September back where I came from. The 43 degree high does seem a bit on the high side for Thailand. Feel sorry for the people not used to this and facing it for the first time. Doesn't take much to overwork and get heat stroke.

Sounds like you have a vision of American travelers from the 1960s. You know what else was typical of the 1950s and 1960s? Places like The British Club Bangkok. And The British Club Bangkok, a clear vestige of colonial mindset in Asia, still exists today, mainly limiting itself to British, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian citizens. Whatever the faults of Americans, they don't need a private club based on nationality to take refuge in because they can't deal with the reality of Thailand.

Then why did China use a balloon?

Says who?

Then why did Biden have it shot down?

Where? When? That article isn't specific. I have heard that there were incursions near Hawaii and Guam. But in the past a spy balloon just taking its time and slowly passing over the US mainland and nobody bothered to mention it?

I'm starting to wonder if SSI made such a mess of it that they are just going ahead and maintaining eligibility automatically for another year. And maybe try again next year. It's clear to me that the problem is at the US end of things, not Thailand. ThaiPost has been pretty reliable, especially since I took out a PO Box.

I do think the US is a lead indicator of what is to come for many other countries. Whatever Thailand's problem, and you're right, fat kids are becoming a problem here, too, I at least see them out and about. On bikes mostly, but some walking, when they aren't on scooters.

Looks like Canada may have one, too. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-chinese-spy-balloon-spotted-b2274974.html