John Drake

Have a lease? Use that. I did to open up a State Dept. Federal Credit Union account in the US. Sent them the lease in Thai and they asked me to translate. Got a friend to do so, and they accepted it. Not an official translation at all.

The replies to this topic seem filled with overwrought hysteria. People predicting civil war, malign influences, and others making barely veiled accusations of a color revolution. And most of them by people who have no say in the matter. You would think people who don't have a vote would be more detached and dispassionate in trying to figure out what is occurring. Instead, hysteria, hyperbole. Things will play out as they will. Might as well take a sober approach to it, instead of going all Che Guevera.

Yes, I thinks it.

No disadvantages, unless you look at gray businesses, triads, land purchases, etc. I'd think that a party that wants to hold the line on that sort of thing is doing a favor for its citizens.

Wish someone would go into this topic in detail and ferret out what the parties intend to do with us.

What's wrong with anti-China politics? After years of sycophancy towards China, a move the other direction would bring some balance back.

You'll only find the true story of the Peace Corps' operations in Thailand when you watch John Candy and Tom Hanks' movie, Volunteers.

Blatant attempt to hornswoggle customers out of their money.

I'm waiting.

Khaosod says there was a second incident the same night involving this guy and some motorcycle toughs

Will China finance foreign debt denominated in Yuan? That's what they'll need to do. Build up a credit and liquidity pool to rival that of the US. And do it behind a manipulated currency with no transparency. I just don't see an alternative to the dollar, unless people want to go back to trade and barter.

Most likely, yes, I think they would accept him again. The people out in the streets, who are they? I saw mostly kids in secondary school and some university uniforms. That is the elite by definition in Thailand. Their parents and families have a lot to lose. And they won't allow it. When you get down to it, it's a tamer version of HK. So, if Prayut somehow managed to regain power, I think things will just go along as they are right now. And I doubt the USA will do anything either, despite Dick Durbin, who tends to shoot off his mouth a lot without having anything to back him up. There was a lot of movement during Covid by the US to try and re-engage with Thailand. Essentially, it was rebuffed by the Thais. I think the US has now taken a position of indifference towards this country, diplomatically at least. They've sort of written them off as eventually becoming a Chinese satellite. I don't expect them to keep throwing good money after bad at Thailand.

That link mentions Dick Durbin. Oddly enough there is no mention of Tammy Duckworth, the only Thai-American in congress. In fact, she tends to be pretty quiet about everything going on over here. That says a lot.

This government has already made it clear that they don't care what the US says, thinks, or does. They didn't in 2014 and they don't now. Nothing short of a civil war will change things in Thailand. And there is not going to be a civil war here. Most people have far too much to lose. Remember when the tractors were rolling down the road to reinforce Yingluck and they were all told to turn around. And they did.

If. If. If. Germany especially has more than a couple of clubs it could use. But would it? It could not only organize EU actions, but use its trade options. But I don't think any of these countries will do anything. Can add South Korea to the list too.

China won't. Russia won't. India won't. ASEAN won't. Will Japan? Will France? Will Germany?

This is what happens when countries don't trade in US dollars. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia-says-theres-problem-billions-014447565.html

Yuan? Reserve currency? Don't think so. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1655210890470277122.html

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Looks to me like they were "mob-handled" after "they all tried to scarper."

About 10 to 12 years ago, Syfy used to come to Thailand to make some of their Saturday night movies, which were really awful. Grand Elephant and Living Films used to have quite a busy schedule, although it would be about June or July when they would go into hibernation for the rainy season. So if the lead film they are hawking right now is some Czech comedy, I'd guess things are not doing too awfully well. Would guess it's Greenlight doing the production services for the reality stuff.

Look on twitter some time. It's the new normal. People in the UK (and the US) apparently just brawl and fight all the time for nothing. Mass riot if the KFC runs out of chicken wings. These people are why Thailand, whatever its problems, is a better place than back home.

Good on the guy for running into the tuk tuk driver and then sucker punching him?

Went to the Bangkok Bank branch where I opened my account. And this morning they spent 20-30 minutes giving me forms to fill out. And then the branch manager got onto his computer terminal and punched around for 10 minutes. At the end of all that I was told, "cannot do for foreigner." She did add a "today" at the end of that. But couldn't say if/when I could get the facial recognition registered.

This is precisely what happens when you have an influx of people from these two nations. Chinese triads and Russian crime syndicates. Why is anyone surprised?