kmart

Make a list of 12 random things to do; of the 12, at least 2 options might be something you'd normally feel uncomfortable doing...

Take a couple of dice, and throw. Perform the option that you have listed corresponding to the dice throw. Do not cheat. Repeat.

(credit: "The Dice Man")

Thailand have 400 000 soldiers, that is more than the UK, France or Germany. even more than Vietnam or Japan who have a bigger population.

Could this be simply due to the fact that Thailand still has compulsary military service (conscription)?

I think its to keep the world's highest per capita bunch of Generals with at least something to do, other than golf / planning coups.

There are a few fishing parks on the main Sukumvit Rd towards Jomtien and Pattaya. You can see the signs as you're driving a long. There is one place near the Jomtien main traffic lights that has a shooting park also. (Maybe you can get to shoot the fish in a barrel? )

Most of the fish though always seem to be the bottom-feeder catfish. Too bony for eating.

Does anyone know where I can get a watch repaired in Ban Chang? I need it done in the next few days.

What type / brand of watch?

Its just a Rolex copy from Pattaya that I bought a while ago for a friend. his wife likes it so much though that when it broke he asked me to try to get it fixed.

I found a place outside the new Tesco. The guy fixed it for 300baht with a six month warranty.

Thanks anyway.

Good stuff. Before the new Tesco was built, there was a market stall where Tesco car park is now, that did a good trade repairing watches and knick- knacks. Might be the same guy??

Recommended for watches like your friends, but anything worth a bit more, and I'd try and find an authorized outlet.

Lego Stephen Hawking. More fun than that tricky quantum physics, anyhow.

healthy alpen ,unhealthy bacon sarnie

Pretty much the same. Wholesome healthful muesli during the week, and then evil Mr Bacon and the Fried Bread brothers come round at the weekend.

Does anyone know where I can get a watch repaired in Ban Chang? I need it done in the next few days.

What type / brand of watch?

Former deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who resigned from the cabinet for ordering police attacks on PAD demonstrations on Tuesday, now says a military-led coup d'etat is the only way to resolve the political strife.

Well, he would, wouldn't he?

Probably on the sage advice of his missus' soothsayer or whatever.

Very sad. Condolences to the family and friends of the dead, and we'll hope the injured recover quickly.

It is criminal the way the bus companies here schedule routes for drivers. To be sure the guy shouldn't have fallen asleep, if that's what happened, but what is he supposed to do? Smoke yabaa to stay awake? Energy drinks only go so far. At that time of night it is also possible that he swerved to avoid an oncoming drunk driver and lost control. We'll never know. The police will place the blame squarely on the driver. He's dead and won't kick up a fuss.

It is something that needs to be addressed urgently. It is criminal negligence by people who know the price of everything yet the value of sweet FA. These things happen all too commonly here....

Condolenses to the families involved.

The complete nutters are always the best shags unfortunately. Do not marry under any circumstances.

Surley they would involve the tanks. Otherwise where would folk hang their flowers when it is all over.

This may have been the case in the past, but what has been going on over the last couple of years seems to be much more serious.

There is definately a power struggle going on and has all the protentual of developing into a full scale civil war.

So far it just a battle of wits, with the occasional outbursts of violence between the so called elite (Thaksins mob) who are never going to back off and the poorer less educated country folk (PAD), who are never going to back off unless Thaksin`s group call it a day.

I think you may have got this the other way round?

I have a bad feeling about this one and of course like so many other ex-pats here, do not have a bolt hole if the worst should happen.

You mean like the "losers" in another thread you alluded to?

It is a real worry folks, so keep your eyes and ears on the news and keep each other informed if witnessed any unusual military activities in our areas.

He was on his way to Harry Ramp's Tramp-O-Rama in Pattaya, for the all-you-can-eat bin rifling buffet. Other attractions include; "Hair Tangling" by Maurice; Trousers shortening while U wait; and Fight Yourself lessons (by arrangement). A great day out for any itinerant.

Someone's trying to grab hold of a tiger's tail.

He's predictible though. When things go badly, try and drag in the monarchy, wrap yourself in the flag and claim all those that oppose you are anti thailand.

Been there, seen that already. Needs some new plays methinks.

Amen to that. Its time to drop the phoney nationalism and lese majeste catch-all.

If Sonthi actually said that, he might chipping away at his own support base?

Booze+guns=hilarity.

I think it might be bad karma to band about dismissive slurs like "losers"; etc. Especially whilst the global financial markets are going tits-up big stylee. A lot of retirement plans / holes in the wall might currently be vanishing for a lot of people...

I keep telling him that I largely believe that most of the martial art practitioners could not fight their way out of a paper bag.

To bolster my opinion I recalled the contest between Mohammed Ali/ Cassius Clay and the then World Heavyweihgt Champion at Karate, a huge lantern jawed Japanese guy.

At the bell, he dropped his ass to the canvas and for 15 rounds scooted around trying to kick MA/CC on his calves.

I cannot find any reference by web searches to this fiasco, did I dream it?

So my grandson was leaning to TaeKwanDo, until he saw the Olympic contestants hopping from foot to foot and never ? making any contact with the opponent.

I told him all these sports are good for fitness and agility, but as for self defence, they are useless.

Grabbing the leg of the high kick should end the contest.or a low level kick to a very sensitive area.

But hey ! What do I know he says.

Any martial art that does not include some actual fighting., ie; getting hit, and knowing how to react to that is not worth much out on the street, imo.

A lot of martial arts teachers concentrate on the high / pretty kicks aspect, because thats what kids see in the movies... Once upon a time, being a black belt dan meant something. It meant you were disciplined, yet knew how to fight, and had no unreal expectations of your own ability, because of the years you had put into the dojo, or on the mat, in the ring, etc. You really had to earn it.

The martial art part of the equation has been largely sacrificed for commercial interest. You buy your way through the grading systems of a lot of organizations.

However, the "mixed martial arts" system is gaining in popularity now. And that is real fighting.

I also find that a surplus of alcohol can interfere with the "election" process.

Thankfully, Thailand is too hot for hoods, or "hoodies" (as worn by ferret-faced chav adolescents, in the UK, at least).

If someone feels the need to tell you that they're gangsters (or special forces soldiers, e.g.), this is a sign that they probably are not...

I hope someone can manage to stop this "rogue computer" in its tracks before it starts trying to take over the world and defeat all mankind. Like in the "Terminator" films. Probably.

Melamine seems to be a great "all-rounder" additive in Chinese products then?

Never use anything in a fight that you wouldn't want shoved up your arse.

There should be be a separate forum on TV on Thai Politics.

Some expats here are really experts on the subject.

There the pro-thakin and pro-PAD can verbally assault each other and we don't have to read the sh...t.

I second that. Bunch of disenfranchised people who do not have a voice getting themselves all in a tizz about the shoving match in Bkk.

Get a separate forum / room together.

Thailand should take Dubai's lead and start issuing "alcohol permits", these can be issued to short stay tourists on arrival but then declined to all the undesirables littered about Thailand. It should provide Thailand with the first step of the cleansing program needed within the farang population here.

Define "undesirables". ...

"Cleansing program"?????

Zis vay for de-louzing.

Lonely up there on that bit of moral high ground, mate?

Russia has many different "mafias." Two of the most powerful, for example, are the Jewish and Afghan War Vets mafias.  Several different mafia groups started coming to Thailand, specifically Pattaya, some time ago in order to launder their ill-gotten gains.  They established a presence, and now, "regular" Russians have followed drawn by the weather, the beaches, Russian press reports, and the prevalence of Russian-speaking services.  These Russians are now the single largest demographics of condo-buyers in the Pattaya area.

Whether the criminal Russians carry on their activities here in Thailand, I really don't know. It may just be safe haven for them.

Doesn't Thailand extend some special visa freedoms to Russian nationals? (From one kleptocracy to another).