JonnyF

I don't think we're near the top of the curve. Looking at the UK, their cases are still increasing and they have a higher vaccination rate than Thailand using better quality vaccines (No Sino Junk). Even though Thailand theoretically has more restrictions than the UK, they are mostly useless and for show only (masks, stopping alcohol at 11pm, pretending that bars are shut because they now have a restaurant licence, pretending that massage places are not brothels etc.) so this won't stop the spread. I think cases will continue to rise in reality, although the figures might not show that since like most things in Thailand, they are just for show. Hopefully we don't lock down again. But I wouldn't put anything past this 'government'.

Banning plastic bags at 711 and Tesco was a good start. Unfortunately, they subsequently brought them back (but now charge 1 Baht for them, so the same environmental damage but more profit for CP which was probably the plan all along). CP should really donate every Baht they make from selling these plastic bags to environmental projects. Having said that, even if they did that - the director of these projects would just spend the money on a Benz so nothing would improve anyway.

I disagree. Certainly as a white guy in most of Asia I have no more chance to do well than an Asian of equal status/education/ability. Having worked here for 14 years, I would argue it's more of a disadvantage in terms of available roles etc. If over representation is because of bias, why are black guys over represented in certain highly paid sports like Basketball and (American) Football? Is it because of bias in team selection against white guys and Asians? Why do Asians do so well in certain fields at University? Are the lecturers biased towards Asians? In the company I work for (a large multinational), over half of the Thai management team are Asian women. I'm not crying about it, most of them are very good at their job. Finance, purchasing, sales and Customer service is dominated by women, production and warehousing tends to be more male dominated. It's unrealistic to expect perfect representation of every race/gender in every field. Focusing on traits such as race and gender and trying to manufacture equal representation with positive descrimination is patrononizing to those under-represented. Just pick the best person for the job, if that results in more white people than black people then so be it. If that results in more black people than white people, so be it. More women than men? So be it. Those blaming their race or gender for their lack of success tend to be lacking in other departments such as ability, diligence, determination etc. It's much easier to play the victim and blame someone else.

Lie detectors are psuedoscience at best. In the land of smoke and mirrors, in the hands of inept operators and corrupt officials they are worse than useless, hence there is really no point continuing this charade.

More race baiting nonsense. Identity politics continues to divide and weaken the countries in which it festers.

Oh I do hope he has a great day, I thought these would be be a fitting reward for returning happiness to the Thai people.

But is it really legal? The answer is clear.

Difficult to smile with a damp, dank nappy covering half your face in 38 degree heat.

Turn off the air con? Is this really the best they've got? Really? I'd bet my bollux to a barndance that no senior government officials will be turning down their air con for a single second.

I doubt I'd pay 2,500 Baht, let alone 25,000. It will be a friendly, with loads of substitutions and squad players jogging around in incredibly heat and supporters no doubt will have to wear masks throughout. The atmosphere will be nothing like a Premier league game. It wouldn't surprise me if cheering was banned. The stadium looks poorly maintained as well. I'll wait until I'm back in the UK and watch a real game thanks.

I had a similar incident 2 years ago on an 850cc bike. The marks on the road showed I slid about 50 metres down the road after being hit from behind (the damage to the bike showed me that) but I escaped with a broken collarbone, 3 broken ribs and a broken thumb (plus the usual road rash even though I had a bike jacket on). I was knocked unconscious and woke in the ambulance but my helmet shows that I slid at least some of that distance on the side of my head and count myself lucky not to have suffered a serious neck injury like this guy did. I never ride at night now. I will never know but strongly suspect whoever hit me was drunk. RIP to this guy and his friend.

I guess it's possible she could become the next PM, assuming free and fair elections are ever held. But if the Thai people elected her via the ballot box, it wouldn't be long before the army got the tanks out to "return happiness to the Thai people" again.

Excellent news. More chance to catch it from a positive person on the flight and get hospitelled for 100,000 Baht upon landing.

In terms of productivity, I found the opposite. For tasks that require high concentration (e.g. coding) I was able to immerse myself in the job completely without someone sticking their head into my office every 5 minutes for a personal chat or an opinion on something work related but generally unimportant. Also, I like to take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes or so and I was able to do something useful during that break like take my laundry to the dropoff point, water the plants etc. instead of just browsing the internet (often this website) if I'm in the office. I also lost weight as I'd spend my hour lunch break on the treadmill instead of browsing the internet as I do at the office. I ate better as well, it's easier to prepare decent food in your own kitchen that at the office. Typically I would work from home 2 days per week though and 3 days in the office. I think this is a good balance. If it was 5 days at home, I think I'd slip into bad habits, couch surfing in my underpants, watching Netflix etc.

I don't think anyone is getting worked up. They are just pointing out that it is an outdated pointless law. We all know multiple ways around it, which just reinforces the fact that it is pointless. When laws are so obviously pointless, it makes breaking the law socially and morally acceptable. It becomes a habit for otherwise law abiding, considerate, reasonable people. Essentially, it makes people lose respect for the law and those legislating and enforcing it. The sensible thing to do would be to revoke it. But, we all know how common sense is applied here so I'm sure it will stay for a few more decades, inconveniencing tourists and locals alike.

I get the impression Thailand will be one of the last countries in the world to drop the mask wearing. A lot of people seem to like them. Whether that's the anonymity I'm not sure? Girls enjoying not having to wear make up or being leered at? The pollution? The Thai mindset of conforming and appearing virtuous while looking down on 'non maskers'? 2 years worth of fear being pumped into the population? Blind acceptance that they save your life? It's definitely a bit odd in this heat. Not conducive to getting tourists rolling in that's for sure. I saw a Tuk Tuk driver shouting at an elderly farang for not wearing one as he walked down Sukhumvit at 7am on a Sunday morning with nobody anywhere near him. It doesn't create a nice atmosphere that's for sure.

"people will be allowed to travel and visit with family," Well that's very gracious of you Anutin. When are we going to get away from this mentality that the default position is being locked down, and we need permission from people like Anutin to travel and visit our families? The fact that these illegal power grabbers feel like they have any kind of authority to lock us up is really concerning. They're going to keep Covid fear dragging on as long as possible, they simply love the power it gives them to micro manage the lives of the population.

Well obviously not everyone can work from home (I was working on the basis that sometimes things are so obvious that they don't have to be stated but well done on pointing that out). However, removing a lot of office workers from the roads would reduce traffic congestion and make life easier for many of those you mentioned getting to and from work. It would also reduce demand for oil, reduce pollution, traffic deaths etc. Don't let perfection stand in the way of improvement.

They should implement Work From Home for 1-2 days per week. It worked great in the company I work for during the height of Covid, yet for some strange reason we all have to return to the office now, spending time and money in traffic again, polluting the city for no reason whatsoever despite the fact we've proved we can be as (if not more) productive working from home.

It's a stupid law. The only people who really suffer are the likes of 7-11, Tesco etc. since we all know you can simply go to a Mom and Pop shop to buy your beer between 2-5 or sit happily in a pub all afternoon getting wasted on lovely draught beer and quite often this quiet afternoon period is happy hour as well. Given who owns 711 and Tesco (Lotus's), I am amazed the law has lasted so long. Maybe they haven't offered enough 'incentive' to remove it yet.

Well done to Ratthawut. This is the reason theft is relatively rare here, because people actually defend their property so the thief has to take quite a risk to take it. I also suspect a few of the thiefs injuries occured after the crash, rather than during the crash.

Why the sudden focus on Motorcyclists, who typically only kill themselves? Is it because the doctor that was killed was young, attractive and of a certain social status? Typical knee jerk reaction. Go after the Somchai's in their modified, smoke belching pickups and the Puu Yai's in their expensive European sedans. Both drive like absolute maniacs and these tend to be the people killing innocent bystanders (pedestrians, motorcyclists, passengers and other drivers). Nothing will happen though without changing the culture though. The stifling expectation of subservient, deferential behaviour by the proles, and the arrogant, petulant, entitled attitudes of the wealthy means that once either group gets behind the tinted glass of a large and/or expensive vehicle they behave like complete asshats. The first time I came here I remember thinking that the traffic looked like a bunch of angsty 13 year olds had been given the keys to their parents cars for the day. It was like dodgems at the fairground. The attitude and ability of the drivers is woeful.

Amsterdam is arguably the sex capital of Europe. It's got nothing on Pattaya/Bangkok. Not even in the same league.

If Thailand wishes to market itself as some kind of puritanical, moral society then at least do a decent job of it. Because right now, these alcohol advertising bans and posturing about the illegality of prostitution are doing absolutely nothing. Thailand is still known worldwide as a basket case, the sex capital of the world renowned for ladyboys and scams. All that effort for nothing.

Beaten unconscious by his seniors? A microcosm of Thai society if ever there was one. Whatever happened to Freshers just going out, getting drunk and having a good time with the second year students like I did in London in the mid 90's? With the second year students showing us the best pubs, clubs etc. in the area and friendships forming. Why the need for this 'show of power' by 'senior' students. It's absolutely pathetic. Mind blowingly stupid.