Purdey

I am not sure what you cannot do in Thailand that you could do in a western country. Gyms, hobbies, cycling at weekends, parties, photography - how can anyone get bored? I think one reason for boredom may be not having friends who talk about the subjects you like. Thais know little about what goes on in Europe or America. And they don't care. I have found many friends who speak good English as well as a couple of westerners. I would hazard a guess that anyone who is bored in Thailand misses the mundane life they had in their home country and should never have left.

My main problem with the death penalty (besides the fact it is sanctioned murder by the state) is that innocent people do get executed. Most of the information on the web is available in regard to the USA. Since 1973, at least 195 people who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated. Whew, just in time, eh? Except some spent decades on death row. The Death Penalty Information Center (U.S.) has published a partial listing of wrongful executions that, as of the end of 2020, identified 20 death-row prisoners who were "executed but possibly innocent". Imagine it was your son. Would you say, "Oh well, never mind, you have to break some eggs to make an omelet."? The death penalty in the UK was ended due to a travesty of justice. Derek Bentley was a learning disabled young man who was executed in 1953. He was convicted of the murder of a police officer during an attempted robbery, despite the fact that it was his accomplice who fired the gun and that Bentley was already under arrest at the time of the shooting. Christopher Craig, the 16-year-old who actually fired the shot, could not be executed as he was under 18. Craig served only ten years in prison before he was released. Again, if it were your son, would you say, "Well, he shouldn't have been on the job."? And before someone says we would only execute the ones who are really evil, as if they have a flashing light on their head, a court has to abide by what evidence, often circumstantial if the criminal is not caught in the act or left DNA.

A good move. Next, other drugs in small quantities.

I seem to remember the Lord Buddha instructing monks not to indulge in magic. Defrock the guy.

There used to be a famous transgender last nicknamed Ma who was the first fashion model in Thailand to not wear a bra on the catwalk. Later she became a well-known makeup artist. There is life after beauty.

Those small tiles are the worst. Ankles twisting in opposite directions at every step. I don't know what is the solution as every now and then a different vendor supplies new tiles and they are wobbly within weeks.

Unfortunately, I don't get a pension but the missus still loves me.

The statute of limitations in Thailand for murder requiring the death penalty is 20 years (why have a limitation on murder?), but they can hold the boy in a psychiatric treatment until he is over 15 then charge him as a criminal.

If only the government focused on educating what children there are, AI and technology may take up some of the slack. It is still a land of cheap labour.

I feel sure that more foreigners would invest in businesses here if they were not forced to give 51% ownership to a Thai they didn't know very well.

I think you mean atrocities?

Again, AN reverts to personal attacks. The question is simple - did he stop doing what he was told to stop, or did he carry on regardless?

Keeping in mind the low education levels in Thailand, people who want to borrow money need a free financial advisor in every bank. I understand they could get some advice even now, but perhaps they need someone to write their business plan before lending them money. Banks are partly to blame for lending money to people who will never be able to pay their debt.

I guess if customers want sugar in their drinks, the shop should pander to their demand. However, neither side is helping to reduce diabetes.

Many of the people high up in Thailand are descended from Chinese, so they have some affection for "the old country" through rose tinted glasses. Mind you, the American GIs promoted a thriving prostitution industry so fair's fair.

Their American masters have instructed then to allow Sands to take in more billions.

I understand why many are shocked but bowing has always been a form of greeting especially in Asia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowing#:~:text=However%2C bowing is not reserved,and with the eyes down.

Good to see America still friendly with Thailand.

What is the point of encouraging tourists if the air is unbreathable? Why focus so much on tourism as an economic savior but not protect it? Why doesn't the government survey what locals and foreigners think about air pollution? There seems to be a lackadaisically ignorant attitude to cleaning up Thailand.

Every time someone praises a Thai film and I watch it I am aghast at how bad it is. Blissfully Yours impressed however many are poorly made and acted.

Peace with its communist neighbor should progress until the Thais give Laos high speed rail access to the sea.

Black President and Sorrow Tears and Blood. Black President is my favorite.

And the lottery winners are...

Amazingly, Pheu Thai appeared not to have been able to figure out how much the policy would cost and where the money would come from before they made the promise in the run up to the election they didn't win outright. Now they seem to be digging themselves deeper into a hole.

Gambling is a serious addiction for some Thais. I do hope they figure out a way to only allow those who can afford it to enter. On the other hand, having visited Las Vegas and Macau as a non-gambler, the professional entertainment was good and I understand why even families go. As most employment in Macau seems to come from the casinos and related businesses (restaurants etc.), I doubt they can afford to end gambling.