Marpa47

On 2/7/2021 at 10:57 AM, bangon04 said:

"The now former leader fell from grace amid genocide allegations but at least she was elected after a fashion."  She is greatly misunderstood - her motivation was always to reclaim her birthright and family honor stolen from her murdered father. Her political campaign was a means to this end.

Daughter of U Thant aside, the Junta has for the second time shown such restraint in maintaining the leader of the opposition party under house arrest only.  Could be due to worldwide political pressure but does that really reflect the general tone of this dictatorship?  It’s a paradox how after for the second time winning the popular vote by a vast majority the election is overthrown and the leader arrested, the second time after the leader showed so much support for the Junta and even sacrificed her world wide popularity to maintain the status quo.  Or so I thought she must have thought.  Even though the constitution virtually guarantees the Junta vast unchecked power.  So what is it that i am missing here?  Perhaps it is merely envy of the 2000 pound gorilla in the room whose totalitarian regime continues to become ever more so and must be the dream of every would-be dictator around.  Such an example has inspired emulation even with the would-be dictator n the USA whose clumsy imitation has awakened so much bigotry and hatred.  And perhaps this has led to the very similar only more successful decision to bring the current state of things here in Myanmar to an end with the identical transparent lies and accusations.

Happy New Year!   Keep ‘em coming.   Loving every one of ‘em.  Even the parts I don’t get.  Also, learning all the time, both English colloquial and Thai language.  Thank you for an interesting year’s read.  

Thank you for a homely house report.  Have to smile at the projected move  “in (your) dotage”.  And that when internet is in place.  Hope this all works out as planned.   

... and another thing.  Unlike one neighboring country (proverbial elephant in the room), whose wholesale charge to industrialize has left land water and air largely unfit for human habitation, Thailand has on the other hand been developing laws to insure that food at least is not poisoned and hopefully more legislation of this kind will be forthcoming. 

On 10/11/2020 at 12:54 AM, trainman34014 said:

Bangkok being 'The Land of the Living' says it all; never mind the rest of the country !

 

Ok; so we have some better roads than we had and now we have the internet to keep us amused but what about a National Sewerage plan with Teatment Plants etc being more important than uneeded Military Junk, how about a stable Electricity Supply without constant blackouts from a few seconds up to hours, how come there is no National plan to produce all Electricity by Solar or Wind Driven means, especially when this country has so much sunlight, what about getting all the filthy overhead wiring underground, could start by 'ordering' Developers to put all new wiring underground for every Building Project of New Moo Bahn's instead of adding to the overhead clutter ?

 

No interest from any Government in solving the annual Air Pollution problem in the North...Why ?  Lip Service will never cure the problem, only severe punishment for wrongdoer's.

 

I could go on all day but 'Never having it so good' never was the right response in Britain back when and it's not the right response now either !

All you say makes sense.  Unfortunately surrounding countries as far away as Indonesia etc... also have the burning issues.  And the elephant in the room holds too many cards such as the many already constructed dams that have recently lowered the Mekong to the great harm of farmers and fishing communities.  So many serious threats to the security of this nation.  Anyone in charge, faced with so many challenges and with the limited resources of a tiny country facing the aging population problem as well... got to give credit where credit is due.  

Dear Rooster, you said, “As expected, this provided grist to the mill for those who claim that “life in Thailand is cheap”. Perhaps there was a smidgen of cheapness amongst the cruelty. But generally, I loathe this “one size fits all expression” amongst some foreigners in Thailand. It ranks alongside the ubiquitous “brown envelope” and universal “saving face” explanations, “fragile Thai male ego” and criticisms of everything from Thai driving to safety standards without providing any truly workable answers”

My favorite is “TIT”.  As if (insert country, situation, belief, practices, organization of choice), do not also apply.   

Thank You dear Rooster for another superb foray into the passing show that is all things Thailand.  A 3-D surround sound experience.  

On 8/16/2020 at 7:32 AM, sawadee1947 said:

Actually who is on the run at present except "Boss" ??? Did I miss something?☹️

Brother and sister act

On 7/19/2020 at 8:24 AM, Mark mark said:

 

 

 

… Well yes, it actually did not only go to the Islamic School, the untrained Guards, were not using the PPE properly,  it has been said, ... and not socially distancing from each other either, … So some of the other Guards took it home to their own, usually, western Melbourne Suburbs ... and right from the start there quickly were several outbreaks all over Western and North West of Melbourne.

 

It was just easier to identify the families, and friends off the Guards, that took it to their own Suburbs ... and to control it there also ... But the Muslim Community ? Well I would have to be careful here, ? … But a lot of them were Sudanese, and from other totally disasters of places, …. With a lot of Dialects, and no English ? (So how do you write to them if they are basicly Illeriterate ?) … So it was Harder to stop it there ...

 

But the whole thing ...

 

The speed of the Infections, and the time delay before they worked out what was happening !!! ... That is how it happened with this Disease … AND what Thailand, and all of you Fellows also, have to watch out for ... So all on topic here I think, ! ? .... It IS all of our Problems. …. Even if it was probably way Way  off country. ….

 

…  But well just about Virus free … like almost Zero ... like Thailand ! ? … But now we have thousands there in Victoria, and it is moving on to N.S.W. ... (And probably is already in South Australia, here also) ... But it has been documented so well, !

 

... Like That is how it happens !!! ... And you can see, Socially exactly how !!!  And how it will happen in Thailand, if you just take your eye off the ball for even a moment !!! … So yes the Thais DO have to be very VERY careful still !!! ...Until the Whole Bloody thing IS over ? ... And God knows when that will be, this Micro Beast is so resilient and Effective !!!

 

Like, Like Ebola, a horrible and highly HIGHLY fatal disease ... but it killed all of it's Hosts ! .. And before they could transfer it to too many others also ! … So basically it was committing suicide for itself !!! ...

 

But well ... Like HIV ? ... And in Particular this CV 19 does not kill all of it's hosts !!! … It infects, but leaves Plenty still alive ! .... So the sick people have the chance of Infection Hundreds of others !!! ... And now they are seeing much higher Contagion I think ? … And young people, like 30% of them without any symptoms at all … but all Contagious !!! ... So the person who does not know that they have it, ... can infect hundreds of others !!! ....

 

Like what a clever Little Disease this one is !!! ... Like VERY well worth being very VERY scared of !!!  ... Especially if you are over 50 I would say !!! … In any Country !!!

A story I love comes to mind:  King Edward the somethingth(?) was asked how long it would take to train up archers of the high quality of the English long bowmen.  His reply went something like, “first, start with their grandfathers...”.  In other words for the traditions of training and discipline, the culture surrounding the training and discipline that nurtures it, maybe even the physical attributes needed to maintain this quality, it would take three generations of archers to achieve the level of ability of his archers.  
 

all this to illustrate the opinion that, unlike the SE Asian sphere, the western nations were not exposed to, (and consequently never learned the hard-won lessons from), the several earlier outbreaks of killer viruses so generously provided by our dear neighbor farther East.  So we western nations have neither the leadership willing to concede authority to the rightful ... authorities, (the scientists and healthcare leadership), nor do our citizens evince any inclination towards following the few simple rules that would keep everyone safe, (long complacently assured of their a). Superiority of judgement in every way and b). Innate freedom of choice in everything),   The result must be in the case of the current pandemic inevitable.  Can’t take away the freedom to drink alcohol, take drugs, congregate up close and personal to all hours, and not wear a mask.  That would be unpatriotic.  And so it goes.  
 

in many Asian countries, the volatile mixture of ignorance and face-saving aside (of which quality we westerners have in spades if not in the same terminology), there is also the many generations ingrained Confucian ideal of allegiance to the ruler.  This just may be the key to how readily citizens of so many Asian countries have shown remarkable compliance to the few simple rules of conduct so vital to the evident success in controlling and eliminating the contagion in their countries.  Never would American citizens tolerate the merest hint of the use of the apps used in South Korea from the start, to trace and track the outbreak, then display the locations of infectious people on a map.  An outrageous violation of one’s privacy!!!   Never mind it’s essential.  And so it goes.  
 

Here’s wishing that there was an easy answer to the terrible hole we’ve dug ourselves into.  

On 6/30/2020 at 1:57 AM, fred110 said:

I just tried to mail a postcard to the USA, they refused it. She doesn't know when it will be allowed.

Saw a You Tube video wherein the host (in Austria or Germany I think), was going to ship something to someone in the USA as was usually done and, twice, it was returned refusing delivery.  So the rules are changing everywhere.  It seems. 

3 hours ago, Jane Dough said:

Cheers, this was consecutive edition #219.

 

See the archive for ones you might have missed.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Rooster

... and (May there continue to be) many moooooore!   One more thing.  About the success in Thailand as well as other oriental countries, two things strike me as influencing the astounding positive outcomes.  One is that, hewing to a Confucian tradition of familial piety so thoroughly ingrained as to be taken as a matter of course, the western ideal of ‘rugged individualism’ is rare and in this case thankfully so.  The second thing is that, having so recently delt with one or more of the SARS, MERS, Avian influenzas, there is a more well-thought-out plan of action, medical and scientific opinion carries their due weight of authority unimpeded and crucial institutions and procedures seem to have fallen in line almost automatically.  Contrast that with the good ole US of A and we find floundering incomprehensiblity from the top down with the White House having thrown away all the planning and preparation instituted by the prior administration.  Rioting against sequestering, masks being interpreted as political statements.   The list goes on.  The Etruscans are said to have had a philosophy that measured their civilizations history in cycles of 90 years.  Why 90 years and why cycles?  Because history is condemned to repeat itself unavoidably. 90 years because that is the amount of time to pass until the last of the elder wise ones, (having learned about the catastrophies in life and how to avoid and/or prepare for them), have all passed away and now the wisdom has to be learned all over in a new cycle because that’s just the way we are.  

5 hours ago, GAZZPA said:

It's an English term, don't think it is really used elsewhere as it is believed to have roots in cockney rhyming slang which is of course native to London. Here is a short description from the internet.

 

There is another route to the word and this is via rhyming slang. Farmer and Henley's 1893 Dictionary of Slang defines 'grasshopper' as 'copper', that is, policeman. The theory is that a 'grass' is someone who works for the police and so has become a surrogate 'copper'. The rhyming slang link was certainly believed in 1950 by the lexicographer Paul Tempest, when he wrote Lag's lexicon: a comprehensive dictionary and encyclopaedia of the English prison to-day:

Thank you very much.  Would say “ man after my own heart” or “ that’s right up my alley” only wouldn’t want the follow ups.  ????

Wondering how the expression “grassed on” got its meaning ‘to inform on’.  as has found it’s way into numerous bylines this past week?  In the US of A there is a term, (grass roots), meaning a political movement originating among the common people.  But that term has some connection to it’s meaning since grass is kind of a symbol for something common and not of the upper class.  But “grassed on”?   Can’t imagine the connection although that’s probably the point. 

Enjoying your many articles.  The personal touch in “the week that was” is as always a very rewarding read.  

“We trusted that a democratic government might end corruption within 20 years. Trusted that people who traverse its roads and waterways might one day all arrive safely at their destination. Trusted that the environment might be cleaned up, rejuvenated where necessary, despite the cost. Trusted that schools might one day deliver the finest education that promotes free thinking. Trusted that a police force that will go out of their way to maintain law and order and instill confidence in an admiring public might one bright day solve all crime. Trusted that in time the judiciary would act in the best interests of the common man utilizing a system of law easily accessed by all. Trusted that those in authority might begin to say it like it is and never once spout the complete opposite of what they mean. Trusted in a drive for more fairness” 

you might be interested in the history of the (original) Ayutia as per absence of all forms of suffering under the benevolent rule of Lord Rama.  All that was needed was for all subjects to refrain from sinning.  Or at least so goes the story or allegory or myth if you will.  At the very least something beautiful to contemplate.  Talk about Golden Age! ????

13 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not at all. 

It's a very shameful feeling to be scammed like that. 

You blame yourself for not knowing better. 

I certainly didn't call the police and I'm sure only a fraction of such cases internationally are reported. 

That's one of the insidious aspects of this kind of crime. The criminals know that they probably won't even be reported because being a victim is so embarrassing. 

...and the amount of $ stolen, (the tale of the $500 being scammed in home country), isn’t enough to warrant a... warrant?  ????.  If nothing else an expensive lesson.

10 hours ago, yuyiinthesky said:

Breathe in that bad air deeply, your lungs will enjoy and if the virus shows up it will be thankful for the lack of resistance!

How can you order lockdown and travel restrictions and make half the country jobless and let them continue to burn Thailand???

Is that a trick question?  Have to laugh, because what’s the alternative?  You hit the nail on the head.  Only thing is who can change an entire culture without far reaching repercussions?  And who is there currently with the moral fiber needed who is willing to take on this thankless even dangerous job?  

11 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Only if one is "put into the position", as apposed to one being elected by the residents who might have a better idea of whose up to the job!

If it is the residents setting the fires out of an entrenched mindset then who would get elected but ‘one of their own’?   Perhaps it is time for some extensive re-education followed up by enforcement.  Unfortunately the ones needed for that seem to be harder to find than a ventilator in NYC. 

18 hours ago, Jane Dough said:

It's brilliant!

 

Reminds me of the one about the potato who had a serious accident. He survived but was a vegetable for the rest of his life.

 

Rooster

Reminds me of the tragic accident on a local army base after a large popcorn spill.  A passing Jeep ran over two kernals.    Thanks for the memories.  Almost always enjoy reading your articles and learning a few things.  

Telling the time Thai style has left me with more questions than answers.  When asking my Thai daughter or my Thai wife, one receives what only seems like completely different answers.  It just boils down to common usage it seems, a la age, region etc...  So here is the ‘difinitive’ answer via Google search ( at least a basis from which to begin one hopes):

https://www.into-asia.com/thai_language/reference/time.php

It's not necessary, although I've noticed some people having that habit of rinsing dishes before putting them into the washer. I guess some are worried the drain will get clogged, but it really doesn't happen unless you leave some very big pieces of strong fibrous vegetables inside. The detergent is so strong combined with hot water, that it liquifies the food remains you left on your plates. If something doesn't melt, there is a removable sieve inside that can be emptied. I do that a couple of times per year. 

My (Thai) wife here in NYC really loves the dishwasher. (And, yes we cook/eat almost exclusively at home) Because the hot water kills germs and, like in Thailand most kitchen sinks are only single in apartments not double where one can be used for soaking and one for initial rinsing. Also the hot water and detergent requires the need for gloves. Not necessary to add that the drying cycle means no need for drying by hand. Just rack em and stack em. Only complaint is frugality requires it be full to the brim and that leaves one short of spoons sometimes. One more consideration. Cold climate seems to allow for more and more virulent infections, spread in the crowded venues of mass transit. The heated drying cycle is something she swears by and especially in winter. See you in BKK soon!

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the Chinese outspend us all. it is a myth that they don't spend money.

You're correct. I gave two members of my partners family nice watches as presents. Both dropped and smashed the watch glass within weeks, and of course it damaged the movements as well and neither had the money to fix.