anon467367354

I like it! Don't think anybody would want to be responsible for screwing up a national holiday. Great move.

a very reliable source told me two friends of his got arrested at a language school for not having work permits, and that is true. I haven't found anything in the news about it yet though. How can a language school offer offer work permits to all the part time teachers anyway? Does that make the language schools liable for employing people illegally?

I don't think it's a heavy sentence at all. If a Thai that's caught with large amounts of money, drugs, guns, admits he's a big time dealer, and why have the guns? only gets 5 years and probably less with "confessing" more, where as these people acted in cold blooded murder, get their sentenced reduced by admitting the crime. The crime is the a crime, why is the sentence reduced for admitting it? I do understand that 17 year old boys are not consequence conscious and should have a rehab program, but to reduce sentences for cold blooded murder is stupid. Death sentences for foreigners with drugs, minimum sentences for the Thai counterparts, and reduced sentences if you admit the crime after getting caught red handed. <deleted>?

Just thought of it, "heavy sentence" by Thai standards. That must be it. But at least they caught somebody.

The PR person for the police dept. must be using some form of template regardless of whether or not there is any relevant information to fill in the blanks. Is this article even remotely significant in anyway other than reinforcing to the populous the ineptness of this taxpayer funded money trash receptacle? PR In A Box - how ironic and fitting would that product/title be?

So this means, and I never knew it was this easy; "original name" has was a warrant for his/her arrest. By changing name tags, we don't recognize the person because we can't get past the name tag? And therefore, they become invisible, or can't legally be arrested, because no one is anything more than a name?

Thai politics, aka ludicrous, that doesn't make sense either I gather. oy!

I was wondering how he was doing, now I know, RIP. Then end of another era.

"what was your name again, Dick? OK Khun Dick, let me write that down, by the way, do you have a pencil dick?

so it's not just the economy that's shrinking. Maybe they should start promote "an educate the public awareness program".

"don't be a prick, make them stick"

how about Condom Super Glue- stick it on and stick it to 'em Definitely a need to subscribe to the breaking news SMS alert service.

that's a tragedy. I wonder if they have contacted all the dive shops. RIP

they certainly don't "promote" changes in immigration rules, or something exciting like "no jaywalking". Geng jai the Thai people even if the end result is not good for the country in general.

I don't understand promote what? You make a statement that stores have to charge for plastics bags, and they do. They post something in their stores that says it's going to be that way and so it is. How do the authorities know if they are charging for their bags? Charging for bags should be a source of revenue, both from the plastic bags and the canvas ones they could sell. Maybe they should charge the companies for littering when they come across a bag with their name on it, would create incentive.

Was the software in question "Pirated" by any chance?

I'm glad someone thought to say that.

Why not paper bags? Yes, I know it uses wood but at least it is biodegradable. You get paper in Central, The Mall, and Robinson's in certain counters.

In other countries, I have been asked, "paper or plastic?" I normally chose paper other than good for the environment.

Sounds like another way to gouge the customer, be he/she Thai or otherwise.

strangely enough, it takes less energy to produce plastic bags than the paper ones. The alternative would be to make paper bags out of hemp, that would make it feasible. Hemp is the greatest textile resource on the planet. Ford even made a car body from hemp, couldn't smash it or dent it with a sledge hammer, and oh so light. Getting around the Duponts would be an issue though.

I'm O+ and I'll donate tomorrow, good excuse to get out of the house.

This will be the second time I've answered this call in Bangkok. As a former phlebotomist, this is something we gladly do.

Bier Ha Noi would be nice. Maybe they don't want us to leave after all. This could be a great marketing strategy to increase tourism. What a great idea!

What are all the wonderful regulations here? No buying beer (alcohol) in the morning, no buying in the afternoon. Close bars early. No buying beer on "dry" days for elections and religious holidays. I just cannot see hoards of beer swilling tourists rushing to Thailand to peer at beer through locked glass doors. But, hey, that's fine by me 'cos I wouldn't want to be sharing bar stools with a tourist who makes their travel destination decisions based on what brand of beer they can buy.

What's the emoticon for sarcasm, or do we have to spell it out? Sharing bar stools, or sharing with bar stool? Seems to me a lot of people are drinking in the mornings, and I've never had a problem buying beer on those pre-election dry days. Cheers!

Bier Ha Noi would be nice. Maybe they don't want us to leave after all. This could be a great marketing strategy to increase tourism. What a great idea!

I have a friend that has an internet cafe with 61 computers. All his operating systems are legal, and he's upgrading the OS on all of them, and when you buy in bulk, it's right around or just under 2000 baht I think per computer. Some people do it right, and if a company is large, then I'm sure discounts for large purchases do apply. But these are not being bought from Thailand, but from Microsoft.

Since when do junkies get prosecuted instead of the dealers? Yes, I agree if there's a company who has millions of baht in assets, that they should buy licensed stuff only. Why are Software-Products not cheaper in Thailand then in Europe/USA? The Game Industry found that and adjusted accordingly. Most games you buy in Thailand (licensed) are much cheaper then in Europe BECAUSE Thai people just have much much less money, simple like that. Only important English Games cost more. Unfortunately most 'big' company's just don't give a shit about it. Yes. They only push their agenda and the local justice system makes the big profit out of it, even they themselves use STOLEN/PIRATED software. I know of two police station which uses Office 2007 copies and have the black (genuine) star on the lower right tray (from windows genuine). If those cops get a call to hunt down copyright offenders what does that mean? A double standard.

There are people who are bad and there are people who are 'bader'.

EDIT: Typos

I don't know, it just seems to me I've heard of people getting arrested for possession, and in some cases were doled out severe punishments. The jails in America are mostly full of nonviolent offenders where there was nor would ever have been a victim. But in all fairness, dealers do get arrested too, but I'll bet there are more users than dealers in the jail systems, anywhere they have them.

interesting response, target the users and not the suppliers. Targeting the suppliers hasn't done anything on the profitable "war on drugs" the US created. The CIA still flies it in and they still arrest the users. Hello? that's it!!! keep the supply coming in, and you have more people to arrest, and more people in jails, and then build more jails, giving more people jobs, and increase the police force, buy more uniforms and police cars, and then increase the taxes to fund this war! Thailand has emerged from the swamp known by many as 3rd world status. Congratulations are in order, or as ordered.

I just don't understand Cambodia's intentions by even having Thaksin there. It almost seems that life is so dull that one needs to pick a fight with someone or something just to make it interesting. Can't Thaksin consider this a work at home job and do it from the comfort of some tropical island? What a home business opportunity, advisor to Cambodia, I wonder if he accepts Paypal?

I think the raids should be targeted at those computer shops that "repairs" your computer, only to find out that your legal OS has been replaced with a pirated one. There has been no recourse for this theft and should be. Target the big Thai companies, sure, but what does the average schmoe out there do when their legal system has been hijacked? Let it rain, but let it rain on all parties involved. Rain is not selective about who gets wet and who doesn't.

Personally at this time, I don’t think I would consider going anywhere else other than Hanoi for my Visa needs. It was the easiest, most pleasant visa experience I’ve had in my 4 years of living in Thailand, even nicer than Singapore. I went for and got a student visa. There are a few rules, but nothing one can’t deal with. For some like me, being an American, one must have a visa to enter Vietnam. I got my entry letter online from this site here: http://www.vietnam-immigration.org you can check at that same website I listed. For some, a visa isn’t even necessary if you are going to travel in Vietnam for less than 15 days. I did hear one of the immigration officers ask to see the plane tickets of some European visitors, and they said they were leaving by train. I don’t know what became of that situation, or how it was handled. It did seem to be kind of a problem though. Americans no matter what need a visa.

One has to have an entry letter from Vietnam to even get on a plane to Vietnam, and that is done online, with multiple ways to pay for it. Normally it takes two days, or so they say, you can get it in one, if you have about 15 dollars more. PayPal or Paysbuy is a great way to do it. The rates vary depending on how many are in the group, and for how long one stays. Single entry visa to Vietnam for 1 month (Quote per person in USD) Only 1 person US$20 US$25. Group of 2 - 3 persons US$18 US$25. Group of 4 - 5 persons US$16 US$25. Group of 6 - 9 persons US$15 US$25. Group of 10 upward US$14 US$25. The second price is the stamp one gets upon entering Vietnam. They want US dollars for this. 25 Dollars is 1000 THB in their eyes. Getting off the plane, someone will hand you a piece a paper warning you to be wary of con-artists and illegal taxi drivers. The information desk told us that the taxi to the hotel, about 40 kilometers away was 30 dollars, the sign at the taxi stand was 15 dollars, or 250,000 VND. Change your money before you leave Bangkok, or make sure you are getting to the airport at a time the banks in the airport are still open. I recommend doing it in Thailand just to be sure. Jewelry stores and such will change money, but only give you 450VND/baht. The best place to change money is at the Vietcom Bank, for they will change any currency and give a fair price. 1 baht=536VND, big difference. A jewelry store wanted to give us 70 dollars for 3000 baht, we didn’t do it. Taxis are plentiful, I would not recommend using the smaller taxis, they seem to have a meter problem. It was an 18,000VND ride from the hotel to the Thai Embassy. On the way back, the meter in one of those small taxis was 396,000VND, we told him to stick it. Another short ride in one of the smaller taxis was 31,000VND when it should have been around 12,000, we gave him 15,000 wrote down his cab number, and looking very worried, drove away quickly. The best bet is to have the hotel call a taxi so you can get an idea of what the rates are, they were never a problem.

At the Thai embassy, there were no lines, no waiting, air-conditioned, has a nice restroom, the people spoke perfect English, and we were the only ones in there. It could not have been a more pleasant experience. I thought back at my last visa trip to Laos, with the long snaking lines, the smell of sweat, listening for your name to be called from some guy behind a glass wall in a room full of noisy people. Hanoi is the way to go. Hanoi has Internet, which is good for me because I have an online business, wifi in the room was just great. I would be more than happy to share what I do with anybody interested, I know job security is not a strong point here and if one doesn’t teach, one usually can’t stay. We stayed at the Prince 1 Hotel, wonderful people, breakfast was included, and the room was bigger than most people’s apartments, with beautiful wood furniture, and 20USD or 360,000VND per night. The people were awesome! They took care of everything, even included the 15 dollar taxi back to the airport in a very nice new car. Hanoi is the place for me, cheap beer, delicious beer, extremely friendly people, good food, amazing food really, but the beeping horns can certainly wear one out. Great markets, good times. Any questions I would be more than happy to answer them personally. Sawasdii ka, Danielle

The address for the Thai Embassy is this:

Royal Thai Embassy

63-65 Hoang Dieu Street,

Hanoi

Tel. (84-4) 3823-5092 to 94

Fax. (84-4) 3823-5088

Website : http://www.thaibizvietnam.com/

so if a foreigner brings a joint into Thailand, or even get caught with remnants in a plastic bag, he gets 99-life. But if a local, well known dealer admits what he does is illegal, he gets 5 years? <deleted>? How is that in compliance with the Thai constitution?

I think Thailand is a wonderful place to live, as long as one is not tied here, either by a work contract, or a position where moving is a difficult option. To live here is great, but to depend on Thailand, especially with the shenanigans of the government, seems risky at best. The best scenario is to have some business that one can take anywhere in the world should that be the case. I hear about people with internet businesses and all the money that make, so if that's the case, how difficult is it to pack up and leave for a few months and live somewhere else. It's the being tied here that makes it difficult. It's the stress of the possibility of having to move and start over. What the gov't is doing should only make people want to positions themselves to be able to make a quick exodus. You people out there should share some of these techniques to help others deal with the uncertainty of living here, I don't know why sharing how you make money is such a secret. it would give relief to a lot of people, personally I don't mind sharing, just ask. But as far as this latest stunt by the government, it just shows how dangerous it can be here, and to what lengths they will go so as to not lose face. As far as I'm concerned, trying not to lose face is just that, losing face. If Thailand had nothing to hide, they wouldn't have this problem. No one out there is smart enough to lie all the time, too much to keep track of. Just a thought.

Well it's about time! Legalize it, regulate it, make it safer, and tax it. Should help to bring down the HIV/Aids problem. Now lets do like Amsterdam, and make Thailand the mellow hub in Asia. More smiling is good thing