piersbeckett

On 8/24/2017 at 4:09 PM, Grumpy Duck said:

Freedom of expression/speech is a basic tenant of a democracy. Limiting dissent is more like totalitarian martial law than a democracy

A tenet of democracy, I agree.

56 minutes ago, Bill Miller said:

Mislead what? Are you blind? There are STILL barriers placed in front of the handicapped access. Your "complete" photo still shows no way around.
MAYBE a person in a wheelchair can make a hard right turn, and then a left right next to the street, but that is not shown in your "improved" view, and besides, why should it be necessary?
Take one post out, and arrest the damned motorcyclists for whom the barrier is intended. Fine them well, and use the part of the fine not needed for tea to make further handicap access available.
Oh, sorry. You did not even show a "complete" photo, so you are babbling about something you do not even have information about.
Shame!

 

Another arrow on the pavement perpendicular to the forward pointing arrow after the wheelchair symbol indicating a necessary right turn, might make the wheelchair passage clearer.

4 hours ago, tharae said:

Better still, look at the label wrapped over the top of the lid.  Blue label is wine, orange label is fruit wine. 

I bought one bottle of 'Brookford' Colombard (Chardonnay) from Australia for Baht 290.00. and one bottle of 'Ramirana' Reserva (Chardonnay) from Chile for Baht 380.00. last week at Villa in Hua Hin for cooking - both blue wraps with no 'fruit' mentioned anywhere.

Trouble might be that the 'Brookford' is labelled 2011 & the 'Ramirana' 2010.

42 minutes ago, z42 said:

So many detractors of the current regime seem to think their blatant corruption and outright criminal behaviour makes Tingluck some kind of heroine.

It simply doesn't stack up imho, she was negligent in performing the role of PM and was little more than a puppet for her criminal brother Thaksin.

The fact she ran says a lot about her moral courage. On more than 1 occasion she claimed she would be ready to die for democracy, yet at the first sign of a major hurdle she bolted off to join her criminal brother.

 

The disgusting nature of Prayuth's govt is undeniable. However YS has shown her true colours here. 

Thailand has some wonderful young figures such as Netiwit, Ja new, Pai Dao Din and others.. What potential Thailand could meet if people like that got a real platform to make a difference. The shin rein is over, but a whole population will now be looking for new faces. I would prefer to be hopeful than cynical for the next chapter

Hope is about all there is.

Metre

On 8/24/2017 at 2:35 PM, Oxx said:

 

More like "wishful thinking".

You're probably white - I haven't been there for a long time.

'military firmly in charge', surely not; I thought that the idea was that they were just taking control temporarily to make necessary reforms to bring about proper rules of engagement between democratically elected political parties and to oversee a much needed transition to a non-corrupt, free and fair voting system but now, 3.3 years on they're 'firmly in charge' so that's alright then, the Thai people can breathe a sigh of relief!

6 hours ago, Bannoi said:

I don't think the outside world gives a toss what goes on in Thailand.

Isn't that what the question marks indicate in wakeuplease's post?

I believe it does sound silly and I believe you should move back to your own place and no, you haven't Westernized her.

There's an old saying here,  'you can take the girl out of the bar but you can't take the bar out of the girl - 'Thainess' can be substituted for 'the bar'.

Beguiling bag blunder betrays Fruedian slip?

Relief

If the goal really was reform; these academics would be meeting with the junta, advising them, not being hounded by them.

Voltaire's, 'I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it' has, I believe, some bearing here in that the notion of free speech is being eroded by political correctness.

Muslims are not a race or merely disciples of a religion but IMV and that of, I believe, millions of infidels, (non-believers) disciples of a religious/political believe system held together by religious indoctrination, the subjugation of females and the fear of punishment for apostasy - apart from that, It's alright!  

IMV if religious freedom is to be maintained it can only be personal religious freedom under the rule of secular law otherwise there is a danger of the religious law of one particular religion ruling over not only secular law but other religious law so religious freedom per se cannot be democratic.

3 hours ago, toofarnorth said:

More folk die before the age of 75 than over . So if you get to 76 things are looking up for you.

i.e. you then officially become a C.D. (coffin dodger)

3 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

Comments from another graduate of Rorschach University.

Well, at least you can read.

Those seemingly reticent, behatted 'toppies' look so uneasy, their attention so ingenuine as if distracted by fear! 

20 minutes ago, JAG said:

I suppose with all the other things going on, minibuses being driven on routes they are not authorized for, scrabbling around trying to find another unopened box of immigration policemen for the airports, the ever present worries about twerking pop stars, wrestling with the outrage of shops selling alcohol near educational establishments and so on its completely understandable that an 800 million Baht arms deal would slip ones mind...

 

 

 

 

and with all those outfits to choose from; it can't be easy

A newbie, ignorant of Thai ways; should have educated herself before travelling.

The Thais seemingly 'mai pben rai' attitude doesn't extend to certain infringements of the law such as stealing, getting involved in any way with illegal drugs or showing disrespect to the Royal Family.  Getting involved with violence toward a Thai person is also a very bad idea.

Other stuff, really serious in Western countries and Australia, is often negotiable.

Whale

Football

5 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

And when it is found that 95% of them are 'Unusually wealthy' how will they go about proving where the money came from ?  

 

If they do prove wrongdoing what will the punishment be and how long will it take to actually convict people of wrongdoing ?

 

The one sensible suggestion made is people being given jobs declaring all wealth and assets before they take their positions.  However; re-checking their assets 'now and again' is not good enough and it should be an annual requirement with papers submitted by independent Auditors.

 

 

Absolutely - 'Junta submits to independent auditors'; reminds me of a Buddy Holly number.

Garden

I was happy at Thong Takhian Beach (Silver Beach); have stayed at both the Crystal Bay Beach Resort and Crystal Bay Yacht Club - both very good, I thought, possibly Yacht Club has the edge.

Happy holidaying!

plead

9 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

                           I can't justify Gore living in a large house, and using a lot of electricity-sucking appliances.  Personally, I take showers using water pumped from a PV electric pump, and heated by passive solar tanks I built for Bt.900.    

 

                        Yet, Gore is a messenger.  He won the Nobel Peace Prize.   He's been educating a lot of people ww about the consequences of emitting greenhouse-causing gases.  It's estimated that each person on the planet accounts for an average of 1 ton of CO2 emissions/year.  That's nearly 7 billion tons of CO2 annually.  Look at any Chinese city by satellite photo, and you'll see a dirty yellow blob.  Similar for most other cities ww.

 

                          When a care-giver goes to a place where there is mass starvation, does that person starve also?  No. The care-giver gets meals (at HQ or wherever), but hopefully that person and his/her organization are effective at handing out aid and water to the starving thousands.

 

                         When Trump stumps about helping the poor & unemployed in the US, do we expect him to also be poor and unemployed - in order to be credible?

I take your point but might we not expect moderation and a good example from such a person?