looping

Why not just brew Sake?

Many beers are made with rice as one of the grain ingredients. e.g Beer Laos and I believe Budweiser (US)

Brew more beer?

What are we waiting for then?

20 million tons of rice can produce 50 billion litre of 15% Sake or about 800 l per person in Thailand.

In the case of junmai-shu, around 2.1 liters of genshu (18% alcohol) can be

produced from 1 kg of polished rice. When diluted to 15% alcohol, the typical

level in sake products, it comes to around around 2.5 liters.

Well, Thailand is already the 3rd (or was it 4th) heaviest drinking country (hard alcohol) in the world. If all of us here start drinking almost 3 litres of sake a day, thailand should be able to be number one!!!

More realistically, the sake still has to be sold - no channels to handle the volume. Need facilities. Wouldn't the sake quality depend on the quality of the rice?

My suggestion. Make home brewing legal. Let small brewers sell. Sell the rice to anyone wanting to brew lao kao, beer, sake etc. If the rice was cheap and available, I think that a lot of the rice could be consumed. Maybe even develop a new export market for artisan sake, beer. Through in making it legal to have a small distillery, and in a few years have a new industry brewing artisan, quality, lao kao. Brilliant isn't it?

Agree, brilliant! Only two slight issues. The govt aren't listening, and they don't give a shit.

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We have to remember it was "only an election promise", not budgeted for, just another empty promise.

Looking at the headlines, things seem to be reaching a critical mass.

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Yet another gimmicky failure on the part of PTP just waiting and ready for a proper opposition party to exploit at the polls. Pity for Thailand that there's no democratic opposition anymore.

A failure of the PTP but not a failure for PTP. Got them in power. The rest is history, hopefully to be uncovered in the future.

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Let's see if they can 'brainstorm' their way out of this!

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Tip of the iceberg.

This time it will be harder as no one is funding them. Hope they get what they want before they all go bankrupt.

So she's going to deflect the blame for the rice scheme onto the banks.

Crude, desperate, simplistic, unethical, ridiculous, and laughable enough that it will probably work.

I've said it before, more 'Gaul' than Asterix.

Best line ever!

"However, the Finance Ministry reportedly threatened the banks with revoking their right to be the ministry's primary dealer if they didn't join the auction."

A culture of intimidation. They can't help themselves, even when begging.

What's the collateral for the loan... Issan?

What an embarrassing mess, have they even presented accounts for this scheme?

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

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Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

Not sure this student would agree with you:

'Dear Suthep

My name is Netiwit Chotepatpaisarn. I am a Grade 11 student who is interested in political news. I am truly worried about the situation since it is violent and there have been some deaths. As you are part of this crisis, I would like to show you my concern, and also ask you some questions. I am sincerely concerned about our country.

1. I am curious about the objective of your protest. What do you want? I am so curious that I cannot hide it anymore. You protested against the Amnesty Bill. And I agreed that the government was not right about this. But the government already scrapped the bill, so why is the protest still going on, and even getting more violent? You said that it would stop this day, that day, since before New Year. Why you are still there now?

2. As I asked you “What do you want?” You say you want to reform Thailand to become a “perfect democracy”. However, I am curious if your methods, and your protesters, will really lead Thailand to reform. You proposed that Thailand elect provincial governors, but your council said the governors should be 75% designated, and 25% elected. You also proposed that soldiers come out to enact a coup d’état. You also said that you are against the upcoming election. You know this violates people’s rights. They are people, and you are one of them. We must respect each other’s rights, mustn’t we? I am not sure if what you are doing is really called democracy, or that it will lead to a “perfect democracy”.'

(continues here: http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3111)

First things first, it's ok to disagree.

It's a well written letter for a student and I'm glad that she has decided not to hide her curiosity anymore; a big step in the right direction.

Her next step may be to research some different perspectives, maybe draw on different conflicts to find some connections, as well as looking into why the Thaksin clan have divided the nation. The facts.

This would certainly provide a broader viewpoint, and she may be able to answer some of her own questions.

Thanks for sharing

Your never read the article did you....??? " she" is a " he "

I'm sure you've heard that before

But seriously, I read more than enough to get the gist of the argument and thought that my original response was very fair.

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

Not sure this student would agree with you:

'Dear Suthep

My name is Netiwit Chotepatpaisarn. I am a Grade 11 student who is interested in political news. I am truly worried about the situation since it is violent and there have been some deaths. As you are part of this crisis, I would like to show you my concern, and also ask you some questions. I am sincerely concerned about our country.

1. I am curious about the objective of your protest. What do you want? I am so curious that I cannot hide it anymore. You protested against the Amnesty Bill. And I agreed that the government was not right about this. But the government already scrapped the bill, so why is the protest still going on, and even getting more violent? You said that it would stop this day, that day, since before New Year. Why you are still there now?

2. As I asked you “What do you want?” You say you want to reform Thailand to become a “perfect democracy”. However, I am curious if your methods, and your protesters, will really lead Thailand to reform. You proposed that Thailand elect provincial governors, but your council said the governors should be 75% designated, and 25% elected. You also proposed that soldiers come out to enact a coup d’état. You also said that you are against the upcoming election. You know this violates people’s rights. They are people, and you are one of them. We must respect each other’s rights, mustn’t we? I am not sure if what you are doing is really called democracy, or that it will lead to a “perfect democracy”.'

(continues here: http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3111)

First things first, it's ok to disagree.

It's a well written letter for a student and I'm glad that she has decided not to hide her curiosity anymore; a big step in the right direction.

Her next step may be to research some different perspectives, maybe draw on different conflicts to find some connections, as well as looking into why the Thaksin clan have divided the nation. The facts.

This would certainly provide a broader viewpoint, and she may be able to answer some of her own questions.

Thanks for sharing

Your never read the article did you....??? " she" is a " he "

I'm sure you've heard that before

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

Not sure this student would agree with you:

'Dear Suthep

My name is Netiwit Chotepatpaisarn. I am a Grade 11 student who is interested in political news. I am truly worried about the situation since it is violent and there have been some deaths. As you are part of this crisis, I would like to show you my concern, and also ask you some questions. I am sincerely concerned about our country.

1. I am curious about the objective of your protest. What do you want? I am so curious that I cannot hide it anymore. You protested against the Amnesty Bill. And I agreed that the government was not right about this. But the government already scrapped the bill, so why is the protest still going on, and even getting more violent? You said that it would stop this day, that day, since before New Year. Why you are still there now?

2. As I asked you “What do you want?” You say you want to reform Thailand to become a “perfect democracy”. However, I am curious if your methods, and your protesters, will really lead Thailand to reform. You proposed that Thailand elect provincial governors, but your council said the governors should be 75% designated, and 25% elected. You also proposed that soldiers come out to enact a coup d’état. You also said that you are against the upcoming election. You know this violates people’s rights. They are people, and you are one of them. We must respect each other’s rights, mustn’t we? I am not sure if what you are doing is really called democracy, or that it will lead to a “perfect democracy”.'

(continues here: http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3111)

First things first, it's ok to disagree.

It's a well written letter for a student and I'm glad that she has decided not to hide her curiosity anymore; a big step in the right direction.

Her next step may be to research some different perspectives, maybe draw on different conflicts to find some connections, as well as looking into why the Thaksin clan have divided the nation. The facts.

This would certainly provide a broader viewpoint, and she may be able to answer some of her own questions.

Thanks for sharing

Mr Ban Ki-moon must feel that his intelligence has been insulted, if he even got to read this letter personally.

Anyway, I thought Noppadon was in prison for the 3 million baht in a shoe box attempted bribe. Or was that another of Thaksins personal lawyers! "Regrettable", I think was Thaksin's statement.

I'm sure that Ban Ki-moon is well aware of the situation, which is why he won't publicly support the Thai government, even in an apparently un-democratic situation such as this.

Maybe I'm wrong, let's wait and see

"I thought Npooadon was in prison"

That was another lawyer, who served his six months, and was released some time ago IIRC.

And I believe it was a cake-box, rather than a shoe-box, full of moolah ?

Shame it was the messenger who took the wrap...

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

"Change is needed and not through the ballot box."

And you a teacher can write this? Unbelievable! You should be struck off the register for spreading your vile anti-democratic opinions to young minds.

So now the kids will be thinking, 'we don't need to vote, voting is a waste of time. Thaksin and Yingluck are bad bad bad. Teacher says so, Mr Suthep says so, so it must be true. Coming up, coup number 19: that's fine - the wise Generals and the armata know what is good for us.'

As I said, they figured it out for themselves

I don't teach, I facilitate learning.

But then, not digesting what's right in front of you and jumping to wild conclusions is what you guys are all about.

So then in answer to my final question, possibly not you.

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

"Change is needed and not through the ballot box."

And you a teacher can write this? Unbelievable! You should be struck off the register for spreading your vile anti-democratic opinions to young minds.

So now the kids will be thinking, 'we don't need to vote, voting is a waste of time. Thaksin and Yingluck are bad bad bad. Teacher says so, Mr Suthep says so, so it must be true. Coming up, coup number 19: that's fine - the wise Generals and the armata know what is good for us.'

I don't teach, I facilitate learning.

But then, not digesting what's right in front of you and jumping to wild conclusions is what you guys are all about.

Nobody credible outside Thailand is supporting the pdrc actions.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Nor is anyone credible supporting Yingluck. Just like they're not supporting the current govt in the Ukraine.

Change is needed and not through the ballot box. Hard to understand, for some people.

My students had a debate during our current unit on conflict resolution, entitled "not all conflict is bad"

They finally agreed that it is true, at every level, in certain situations, especially when a bad, greedy government is stealing from the people for themselves. Some mentioned Thailand as an example. Others talked about Syria and The Ukraine.

They figured it out for themselves, grade 5 students.

So, this begs the question, who's as smart as a grade 5 student?

Mr Ban Ki-moon must feel that his intelligence has been insulted, if he even got to read this letter personally.

Anyway, I thought Noppadon was in prison for the 3 million baht in a shoe box attempted bribe. Or was that another of Thaksins personal lawyers! "Regrettable", I think was Thaksin's statement.

I'm sure that Ban Ki-moon is well aware of the situation, which is why he won't publicly support the Thai government, even in an apparently un-democratic situation such as this.

Maybe I'm wrong, let's wait and see

Khun Vicha's political views are not exactly secret, given his involvement in and comments about the drafting of the 2007 constitution: "...elections are evil" (wilkipedia piece). Very transparent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Constitution_of_Thailand

If he was referring to the way elections have been run in Thailand, he would be spot on

With all that money gone missing id say that the govt would consider the scheme a resounding success.

More money than they can spend in several lifetimes.

However, I guess they didn't think any further than the crime, blinded with greed per chance?

Guess you could say the rice is coming home to roost

Talking of the rice pledging scheme, has the govt outlined any policies for the upcoming 'election'?

Guess not, no one is asking, and why would they?

I wonder if they plan to carry on with this particular policy, I guess it's worked out for them on a personal level.

They shouldn't be too concerned, as long as sex sells they can claim the credit for their shitty ad campaigns.

"If not, they could be Thai gunmen who were paid to attack the protesters, he said, describing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and her elder brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as extremely cruel."

Now this really makes me laugh. This is like the pot calling the kettle black. What an idiot he is. I guess he forgets what he did 3 years ago or maybe he thinks he did righ to kill 90 people.

2010 and now? Apples and oranges. Nuff said.

The good thing about today, it was a dry-run for February 2nd...As the saying goes, :"It doesn't matter what happens, it's what you do about it that counts".....Now the Democratic, pro-electoral majority have seen what the unelectables will try to do, in order to avoid voting....And they can assess how best to control it......It also exposes the EC, not that anymore could be exposed...They have been mirroring the coup-monger mantra's about voting avoidance, and they used the slimmest of reason to do so.....According to the UDD/RS, they were looking for a reason....To the point if a guy a block away gave out a yell,...Their reaction?..."Close the polling station... I know this is an exaggeration but that is the way the RS's are talking....

The only problem of course, is the Elitist user-friendly judiciary....That will protect these EC people who had every intent, almost pre-emptively, to scuttle voting where they had the least bit of cover to do so..

.I note with interest some opinions here, faulting attempts to hold those responsible to conduct an election, for not doing it, and holding them to account. In many cases there seems to be a double standard---One for Thailand, and one for their own country....The anti-electoral and anti-electoral Democracy in whatever form seems to be acceptable here, when I know they would be livid if it happened in their home country.

I seem to remember Abhisit offering an election in 2010, as per RS demands, then they refused and eventually forced a crackdown.

This was after months of violent intimidation and bullying, including an attack on Abhisit's car, if you remember.

But that was different, right? Thaksin needed the crackdown.

Those machete wielding, tyre burning, hospital raiding thugs are now in power, and let's just use one of their policies, the rice pledging scheme, as an example of how UTTERLY useless they are, unless you judge them on their ability to fill their own pockets.

An election won't solve any problems, not before some systems can be put in place to deter the further rape and pillage of Thailand.

Is that simple enough to understand?

It's very difficult for some people, including some of the international media, to see past the fact that the election is being blocked.

Thai public opinion cast out the RS because the Reds laid siege to Bangkok in 2010 by camping in the city, tying up the city and for being involved in bloodshed and riot. The RS still haven't ever recovered from it.

Thai public opinion is against Suthep and his militants in the streets because they have camped out in Bangkok, laid siege to the city and want to stop the election.

The vast and moderate Thai political center rejects mob action Red or Yellow and wants to express its support Sunday for continued democracy and stable government in Thailand by voting in peace and security.

It's clear the voters, the government and the international community are all on the same side.

That would be the vast majority of Thais, the ones who think that corruption is ok as long as they benefit from it? No quick fix for that.

This protest is a desperate measure to save Thailand, just as the coup was in 2006.

I agree that's it's just my perspective, which, for the moment, I'm entitled to. Before the coup, half of these posts would have been deleted for fear of the forum being closed, by a certain 'democratically elected' person.

That would be the vast and moderate Thai political center, yes, the one that recoils at the extremism, intolerance and intemperate nature of Suthep, his mob and his backers. Yes, the vast majority of Thais who firmly support democracy and who oppose your feudal council with its secret blank check agenda of "reform."

And yes, the 2006 military mutiny coup d'état was the desperate act of desperate men in uniform and out of uniform, and the country to include fahlang continue to suffer the consequences of the coup, i.e., the loss of democracy which has compounded the country's problems and confounded its leaders and its citizens from the top to the bottom.

No more suspensions of democracy thank you by anyone at any time for any desperate motive, cause, fascist design.

Keep drinking the Lao Khao...

The good thing about today, it was a dry-run for February 2nd...As the saying goes, :"It doesn't matter what happens, it's what you do about it that counts".....Now the Democratic, pro-electoral majority have seen what the unelectables will try to do, in order to avoid voting....And they can assess how best to control it......It also exposes the EC, not that anymore could be exposed...They have been mirroring the coup-monger mantra's about voting avoidance, and they used the slimmest of reason to do so.....According to the UDD/RS, they were looking for a reason....To the point if a guy a block away gave out a yell,...Their reaction?..."Close the polling station... I know this is an exaggeration but that is the way the RS's are talking....

The only problem of course, is the Elitist user-friendly judiciary....That will protect these EC people who had every intent, almost pre-emptively, to scuttle voting where they had the least bit of cover to do so..

.I note with interest some opinions here, faulting attempts to hold those responsible to conduct an election, for not doing it, and holding them to account. In many cases there seems to be a double standard---One for Thailand, and one for their own country....The anti-electoral and anti-electoral Democracy in whatever form seems to be acceptable here, when I know they would be livid if it happened in their home country.

I seem to remember Abhisit offering an election in 2010, as per RS demands, then they refused and eventually forced a crackdown.

This was after months of violent intimidation and bullying, including an attack on Abhisit's car, if you remember.

But that was different, right? Thaksin needed the crackdown.

Those machete wielding, tyre burning, hospital raiding thugs are now in power, and let's just use one of their policies, the rice pledging scheme, as an example of how UTTERLY useless they are, unless you judge them on their ability to fill their own pockets.

An election won't solve any problems, not before some systems can be put in place to deter the further rape and pillage of Thailand.

Is that simple enough to understand?

It's very difficult for some people, including some of the international media, to see past the fact that the election is being blocked.

Thai public opinion cast out the RS because the Reds laid siege to Bangkok in 2010 by camping in the city, tying up the city and for being involved in bloodshed and riot. The RS still haven't ever recovered from it.

Thai public opinion is against Suthep and his militants in the streets because they have camped out in Bangkok, laid siege to the city and want to stop the election.

The vast and moderate Thai political center rejects mob action Red or Yellow and wants to express its support Sunday for continued democracy and stable government in Thailand by voting in peace and security.

It's clear the voters, the government and the international community are all on the same side.

That would be the vast majority of Thais, the ones who think that corruption is ok as long as they benefit from it? No quick fix for that.

This protest is a desperate measure to save Thailand, just as the coup was in 2006.

I agree that's it's just my perspective, which, for the moment, I'm entitled to. Before the coup, half of these posts would have been deleted for fear of the forum being closed, by a certain 'democratically elected' person.