Patong2021

It is terribly ignorant and disrespectful to label Trump a nazi. He is not. Nor should I have to write that. Ignorant because Trump is the furthest thing from a nazi and while some of his policies distasteful, they have nothing in common with nazi ideaology. Disrespectful, because it diminishes the suffering and horrors of those who suffered at the hands of the nazis.

It is a claim that has been made from South Africans. The ANC is accused of having taken a donation from Iran in return for bringing the charges. The reason this claim is difficult to conclusively fact-check is because we don’t have access to the ANC’s balance sheets, so there’s no way of categorically refuting the idea that the party has just received a massive donation from Iran. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-25-iran-fund-south-africa-icj-israel-palestine-fact-check/ The ANC has been asked to open its books by journalists and the ANC has refused. Iranian groups (who are opposed to the current religious regime) have also made mention of Iran's complicity. A group of 160 lawyers, in a letter to the US Secretary of State, the Department of Justice, and the leaders of the US Congress, requested an investigation into the alleged receipt of bribes by South African leaders from the Islamic Republic. https://iranwire.com/en/news/129348-160-lawyers-write-to-us-leaders-alleging-iran-bribed-south-africa/ At the very least the allegation merits investigation.

I would not attach such lofty political sentiments. How about we just be real, and recognize that he was a mediocre actor who realized his career was tanking and he engaged in an attempt to manipulate public opinion. It's a tactic that has long been used by that industry. He is a vile human being and hopefully, he is treated accordingly.

I note your reference to the term "genuinely" and draw your attention to past Israeli responses to similar actions. Israel has demonstrated that its judicial system does have a provision for punishing those accused of war crimes and has brought charges against IDF members who have violated the applicable code of conduct and has punished responsible parties. Human Rights groups have been able to bring cases and to receive due process in the Israeli court system. The case is very politically tinged and rests on a complaint brought by South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti. A supplemental complaint was brought this year by Chile and Mexico. The first group is not known for its respect for human rights , let alone due process. The second due, are now lead by leftist political leaders, both of whom subscribe to the 1970's era liberation ideaology. The cornerstone of the charges rests on allegations that the accused have intentionally starved and deprived Gazans. IMO it will be difficult to prove when the number of fatalities has been relatively stagnant for the past year, and when it can be shown that Israel has allowed aid convoys to enter Gaza. If one looks at the videos of people in Gaza as they detail their hardship, no one is emaciated or has the appearance of being starved. There are lots of claims of "on the brink of starvation", or "Gaza is likely to experience an epidemic", yet no evidence of such a situation. Yes, the people are experiencing hardship and it is obviously difficult living in Gaza. However, that can all change if the Gazans release the hostages and agree to stop attacking Israel. To be blunt, I would have done a lot worse than Israel if I was in its position.

There was no mobilization of NATO personnel.

They did not necessarily agree to a shredding of due process that allows for the review of appointments. The Republicans control both the House and the Senate. Why would Trump be so afraid to allow proper review of appointments? What is he trying to hide?

According to some international legal jurists who have prosecuted cases at the ICC, the warrant for the Israelis are flawed and can be challenged on the basis of non compliance with the Rome Statute under which the warrants were issued. Your attention is drawn to Article 17 of the statute. The court must first give the nation, where the accused are located, the opportunity to investigate and or prosecute. Typically, the period allowed is 60 days for a preliminary investigation. In serious crimes the investigation can take a year or more. The ICC did not present its allegations to the Ministry of Justice of Israel and did not allow for an Israeli investigation of the allegations or an opportunity to prosecute. Nor did the ICC provide a formal description of its charges. In effect the ICC did not follow its own rules. One need only read the applicable statute to see how obviously flawed the warrants are. Either the action was intentional, or an attempt to satisfy some interest groups who are needed for current ICC actions in Africa and Asia. The technical error is so flagrant that even signatories of the treaty may be compelled to ignore the warrants on the basis that the warrants were issued without cause. Article 17 Issues of admissibility 1. Having regard to paragraph 10 of the Preamble and article 1, the Court shall determine that a case is inadmissible where: (a) The case is being investigated or prosecuted by a State which has jurisdiction over it, unless the State is unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution; (b) The case has been investigated by a State which has jurisdiction over it and the State has decided not to prosecute the person concerned, unless the decision resulted from the unwillingness or inability of the State genuinely to prosecute; (c) The person concerned has already been tried for conduct which is the subject of the complaint, and a trial by the Court is not permitted under article 20, paragraph 3; (d) The case is not of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the Court. 2. In order to determine unwillingness in a particular case, the Court shall consider, having regard to the principles of due process recognized by international law, whether one or more of the following exist, as applicable: (a) The proceedings were or are being undertaken or the national decision was made for the purpose of shielding the person concerned from criminal responsibility for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court referred to in article 5; (b) There has been an unjustified delay in the proceedings which in the circumstances is inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice; (c) The proceedings were not or are not being conducted independently or impartially, and they were or are being conducted in a manner which, in the circumstances, is inconsistent with an intent to bring the person concerned to justice. 3. In order to determine inability in a particular case, the Court shall consider whether, due to a total or substantial collapse or unavailability of its national judicial system, the State is unable to obtain the accused or the necessary evidence and testimony or otherwise unable to carry out its proceedings.

This time around Trump wants a broad imposition of tariffs, an across the board general levy of 10%. Previous tariffs were on select industries. The conservative positioned Tax Foundation states that Trump has proposed significant tariff hikes as part of his presidential campaign; we estimate that if imposed, his proposed tariff increases would hike taxes by another $524 billion annually and shrink GDP by at least 0.8 percent, the capital stock by 0.7 percent, and employment by 684,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

He or she should have stayed home? What do you expect people who have been in Thailand for decades, or who have moved here to do when they develop a disability? To disappear? Being able to use a mobility scooter is not a big ask, nor an imposition on anyone. The user is taking responsibility for their own movement. Did you know that Thailand has a mobility device initiative? Are you even aware of the Ministry of Health sponsored Wheelchair Project that has provided tens of thousands of mobility device to Thais? Its royal sponsor is Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and it is a serious initiative that has been in place for 25 years. Perhaps you should share your thoughts on enabling 2 million+ Thais to be more self sufficient.

what's this year's campaign going be called? 14 days of death on the road?

One large city is not proof of anything. One need only look at some of Istanbul's cities that experienced recent earthquakes. They are scarred collapsed buildings and failed infrastructure due to shoddy construction. The article boasts of "proven expertise in cutting production costs by using 75% locally sourced parts, slashing expenses by up to 20% compared to imported options." and it was because of that strategy that so many of Turkey's buildings collapsed during the earth tremors.

TG has used the widebodies during previous peak periods. Every airline boosts capacity when there is a demand.

And once again, the nasty old blowhards are out in full force to blame the victims. Methanol is a common event in South Asia. This has been reported on and documented. For example, Giovanetti F. Methanol poisoning among travellers to Indonesia. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2013;11(3):190–193. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.03.013. Westerners who come from countries where there is regulation and a degree of quality assurance do not appreciate that South Asia is the region where anything can go, and where alcohol that is dispensed from a name brand brand bottle can be bootleg counterfeit and deadly. The extent of poisoning is intentionally suppressed as it would destroy the tourist trade in many regions. The intent may not be to poison or to kill. Unfortunately, like all counterfeit products in Asia, the goal is to make a quick profit. The suppliers of the products have no care for product quality or assurance. That comment is more appropriate for a judgemental person who ridicules without knowing the extent of the problem , nor the manner in which it occurs. The kids who were poisoned were typical of their age group. To call them morons , aside from being heartless and cruel says alot about you. To all those criticizing the victims, why not look at your own local bars and see if you can determine if the liquor dispensed is bonafide. Don't be so arrogant to believe that some operators don't substitute counterfeit versions.I can think of one bar that had the same vodka bottle on its shelf for years. The owner would refill it from a plastic bottle.

The video was a parody and has absolutely no validity. I am amazed at the gullibility and stupidity of some people. Please read the US Constitution; Article II, Section 1, Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen,....... shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither Elon Musk was not born in the USA. He cannot become President of the USA. Surely, the "Birther" nonsense that Trump pushed in respect to President Obama can not have been forgotten so quickly?

So many mean and nasty people who appear to be projecting their own fears. To those saying that the man is in the wrong because he was on the road, have you ever been in Thailand? Sidewalks are often impassable, or too narrow and filled with obstacles making it near impossible to use for people with mobility issues. Curbs are rarely adjusted to allow ease of transition between two adjacent sidewalks. People in wheelchairs and mobility scooters are forced into the roads and they are allowed to be there. To those claiming the device was illegal; read the applicable Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 (1979. Motorized wheelchairs are legal and do not require a license or registration. As per the Act definitions, a “Motorcycle” means a vehicle driven by motor or electric power with not more than two wheels, or not more than an additional wheel in a sidecar, and shall include a bicycle equipped with motor driven devices; A mobility "scooter" typically has 4 wheels, and is not considered to be a vehicle. To those claiming the man was drunk or blind; what part of pallet left in a road (and without warning barriers, signs, or lights) did you miss? If one cycles or drives a motorbike drives long enough in Thailand, one will have a similar incident when people leave debris or construction material in the road without any warning indicators. At night, in poorly lit areas, it is easy to run into them. I ran over rebar that was just left on the road, and I nearly wiped out. Thailand is not very mobility friendly to the elderly or those with physical impairments. Not everyone wishes to live in a confined space. Wait until you have a mobility issue and then you will understand the difficulties people encounter. One doesn't realize how difficult it is to walk around in Thai urban areas until one has an injury or an impairment.

The assumption that tariffs will bring back manufacturing to the USA is unfounded. Supply chains and logistics, access to skilled and cost effective labour, and access to markets are the drivers of manufacturing location. Consumers forced the relocation of consumer goods to low cost countries because consumers refused to pay $25 for an item that they felt should cost $10. Manufacturers liked the profit margins. The USA did not have workers willing to work low wage manufacturing jobs. Even when the wages were good, the product quality was terrible. The US auto industry killed itself in the 1970's with its poor quality vehicles that ignored consumer desires. Consumers want the high quality Japanese vehicles and forcing them to pay more isn't going to help Chrysler or GM sell more of its crap. The United States Tariff Act of 1930, aka the Smoot-Hawley Tariff was an unmitigated economic disaster. It resulted in a catastrophic trade disruption and magnified the negative effects of the the Republican induced Great Depression. Prior to its implementation, more than 1,000 economists urged President Hoover to veto the Act, but he refused. In the words of the great US sage Yogi Berra, it's deja vu all over again, because economists are warning Trump not to impose tariffs. Broad tariffs implementation are anything but compatible with "free thought" and are not Democratic. On the contrary, they are hallmarks of dictatorships and of simplistic thinking when confronted with complex issues. If there are issues with alleged dumping or unfair trade practices, deal with them directly. Mass threats do not work and have never worked, because corrupt people will find away to work around the edicts. It is obvious that you haven't the slightest clue on anything. You are like those people in the US who claim they are Sovereign Citizens and recite mangled misinterpreted nonsensical legal references. You accuse proponents of liberalized equitable trade practice as being leftists, and yet you offer absolute support for tariffs. Broad tariffs and restrictive trade practices go hand in hand and they have never delivered the promised results in the USA. Anyone who disagrees is accused of being a "leftist".

The tariffs are intended to get the attention of the countries who trade with the USA. In some cases, the USA is quite right to threaten the use of tariffs. Mexico has willingly facilitated China's export strategy, exploiting the US/Canada/Mexico trade pact hurting both Canada and the USA. However, if the USA imposes an across the board 10% tariff, it will hurt the US economy and will have some serious immediate damage to key Republican strongholds.This would translate into an absolute rout of the Republicans in two years at the midterm election. Just as the USA is free to attach tariffs, so to can other countries like Canada. 30+ US states have Canada as their largest market and some Republican states are dependent upon Canadian trade. Canada can choose to purchase more produce from its latin American trade partners, or make a push to expand trade with its APEC trade partners. The EU will present a united front and will retaliate. Tariffs are easier said than done. The USA is dependent upon some countries for critical imports. Critical Minerals are one example; The USA does not have trillions of dollars of liquid gold that it can sell. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 64% of total U.S. crude oil production in 2023. came from tight oil, i.e fracking of shale. This has tremendous environmental consequences for the USA, in particular to US agriculture. Fracking requires large amounts of water and many regions just don't have it to spare. It is a pipe dream to assume that manufacturers will move the manufacturing of cheap consumer items to the USA. They are labour intensive. US consumers who vote for Trump are going to be upset if the mop at walmart that once cost $10, now costs $20. Oh sure, eggs might be cheap, but the new Secretary of Health may not support that strategy. The use of chemicals. antibiotics and growth hormones to produce bigger farm animals might no longer be allowed and poof goes your factory egg farms.

Be fair. Those assaults were 25+ years ago. It was a different era. They would not get a pass if they did it now. Sexual assault is a part of the Egyptian culture, so he may have believed he was doing anything wrong. In Egypt, sexual harassment is a major public threat against women for which there has been no sustainable policy or practice. Such harassment can range from verbal to physical—the latter of which can lead to severe harm and, in some cases, murder. According to a 2013 United Nations report, nine out of ten Egyptian women have been sexually assaulted—ranging from simple harassment to rape. This demonstrates a real problem that requires rapid and sustainable solutions, policies, and advocacy work. There has been extensive public discussion on the topic for the last couple of years, and the state has denied the breadth and severity of the problem. Source: The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) https://timep.org/2021/12/14/sexual-harassment-laws-in-egypt-does-stricter-mean-more-effective/

Patong has many of these types of sewage/drainage catchment areas. Usually they have grates over them. An example are the grates on the side of the entrance to the Jungceylon (Patong) parking area at Rat u Thit Rd. The railings shown are not particularly secure, but at least there is something.

Thailand relies on natural gas for its electricity generation (68% in 2023). Canada has some of the lowest electrical rates in the world. The abundance of water resources in some provinces allows for their rates to be a fraction of many other highly industrialized nations. 2023 average rates for 1000 kw consumption was; British Columbia 11.4¢/kWh (2.83 baht) Manitoba 10.2¢/kWh (2.53 baht). For comparison sake, even with a large residential subsidy, Thais pay a higher rate; Electricity Tariffs Schedule 1: Residential (Applicable to households and other dwelling places, monasteries, rectories and places of worship, including its compound through a single watt-hour meter.) 1.1 Normal Rate Energy Charge (per kWh) Service Charge Baht Baht/month 1.1.1 Consumption not exceeding 150 kWh per month 8.19 - First 15 kWh (0-15th) 2.35 - Next 10 kWh (16th-25th) 2.99 - Next 10 kWh (26th-35th) 3.24 - Next 65 kWh (36th-100th) 3.62 - Next 50 kWh (101st-150th) 3.72 - Next 250 kWh (151st-400th) 4.22 - Over 400 kWh (401st and over) 4.42 Germany has a rate of about 14.5 baht kWh Australia (varies by state/territory dependent) 6.5 kW/h Overall, Thais are doing ok with their electricity rates. What kills many of us who rent is that the landlords inflate the rate for their own gain.

He is doing his utmost to prevent a war. Russia is using North Korean slave soldiers in Europe. It sets a precedent.

Why are you accusing the utility of "scamming old ladies"? Where is your evidence? You just toss out whatever you nastiness you feel like doing, and then when held accountable try to avoid responsibility. Always the same M.O. It is an anti-social behaviour.

Looks like it was a planned absence. He most likely is having a holiday, or medical treatment or perhaps engaged in planning meetings. He will eventually emerge, and his fans at this forum will cheer him on.

How do you know? You have no facts but are quick to accuse. You are the worst type of person to have in a community because you stir up trouble just for the sake of personal agenda. The electricity bill covered what period of use? Are you certain someone else was not connected to their electrical grid? The consumer received a bill. It is up to the consumer to accept or to contest the invoice. A high invoice can be caused by many reasons, none of which you have verified, but there you are to point your accusatory finger. It is not just unfair, but nasty and malicious to accuse when there is no evidence to support the claim.

Have you tried reading an article before rushing to blame and condemn. The man had insurance. It will not cover all of the related expenses.