dkstoney

3-meter wall, razor-wire on top, automatic gate, rolling platforms with pots of boiling oil on top, sentry tower with sniper. That oughta keep 'em out.

What is it that makes government in the West think they can impose their own morality as to when a person should be working and earning money? I am sure they would be more proud if the kids was out stealing, starving and/or abusing drugs and dying at a young age. You know, the LA way...

One of the most significant failures regarding this 'protect the children' hysteria is that it has missed the point ('save the children'), as seen when factory-owners in India and Nepal got caught up in boycott-calls, their western customers imposing trade-rules and the companies then summarily dismissed all underage (by western standard) workers, leaving them to poverty.

Even UNICEF write of the plight caused in Bangladesh after the Child Labor Deterrence Act was introduced in the US, an estimated 50,000 children were dismissed from their garment industry jobs, leaving many to resort to jobs such as "stone-crushing, street hustling, and prostitution", jobs that are "more hazardous and exploitative than garment production". The study suggests that boycotts are "blunt instruments with long-term consequences, that can actually harm rather than help the children involved."

( http://www.unicef.org/sowc97/report/ )

I agree with you. It's simply not possible for one country to apply it's value system to others.

Just as it's not possible to bring political systems from your own country to others that have a different culture / dynamic.

Unfortunately this is what the British Empire tried to do, and now the "US Empire" is revisiting the sins of it's parents.

How about just putting them in school and teaching them a few things that might keep them out of the workplace where they are easily intimidated and off the streets where they find trouble?

We're all better off without credit cards. It's the credit industry that has ruined the economy.

All it is is an excuse for the Federal Reserve to print more money (worthless paper) at interest thereby creating more debt to the taxpayers. A credit card is the same thing. People put their money in bank accounts and accept paltry interest rates, while the bank turns around and uses the deposits to collateralize loans from which they earn a significantly greater amount of interest. All the while they are nickle and diming you for every surcharge and fee they can think of. That's the gratitude of the banking system to their customers upon whom they rely to continue the game.

It seems to me that the ratio of people contracting swine flu and dying out of the total population is much less than those getting the vaccination and dying. Don't want mercury. Don't want squalene. Don't want to even know whether my body can tolerate them or not. I'll take my chances refusing to be a guinea pig for big pharma. Bayer is guilty in several cases of spreading HIV through contaminated blood, plasma, and pharmaceuticals. In at least one case, because they were discovered to be contaminated, they were taken off the shelves in the US but then resold to Asia and Europe. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it? Just Google "bayer aids scandal".

TH

You will I am no doubt be aware that C$W has a long tradition of influencing Thai music, especially luktung. Once it's themes were so popular the term cowboy luktung was widely used and american country riffs constantly appeared in some artists work, along with yodeling, the banjo and the full western dress. The most famous singer in this style was awarded an honour by his majesty in the early 90's. The style was also known as phleng ho and is still sometimes used. You must have heard of Hank Williams inspired luktung surely? The most well known modern example I can think of is Mangpor Chonticha's Sao luktung from a couple of years ago.

Again, the OP isn't saying that all Thai music is bad and I haven't said that either. I also like music from the good old days of Pongsri Woranut and one of my favorite acoustic albums is Jaran Manupet who is now dead. The only thing that you're doing is reinforcing the fact that Thai music has been influenced by Western music more than anyone on this board cares to admit. It's just unfortunate the music industry here chooses to reproduce ad nauseum many stereotypes of western music, i.e.-boy bands, weak pop icons modeled after B. Spears, etc. The music that is being consumed the most is pop and it's fitting for a country mired in commercialism, while denying any pretense for the future betterment of themselves or others, because apparently Thais believe they can exist in a vacuum.

P.S.--You forgot the Mexican roll of the tongue and the "Hay, hay, hay!" At least half of that is here in Thai music too.

... And just to prove my point, the whole country is is gaga over and singing Que Sera Sera from Doris Day. Talk about about mind-numbing propaganda to further the "mai pen rai" curse of Thai society, this is it!

If you don’t think the video of the group of handicap children singing Que Sera Sera to their parents is one of the most powerful and poignant things you have ever seen then you are an unfeeling, narcissistic asshol_e that probably has not had a thought for anyone else is his entire life.

Guess you probably don't like American C&W music much either?

The cultural bias in this thread is shocking.

TH

I'm glad we have now been provided with the bar for determing who qualifies as unfeeling, narcissistic, asshol_es who have never had a thought for anyone else in their entire lives. Thank you. One would certainly have to be as you have described to not be affected by the image of handicapped Thai children singing Que Sera Sera and their parents solemnly attuned. However, if you had half a brain, you would understand that that wasn't my point. The song is about not expecting anything from the future and that you should live your life not thinking about the future; not striving for betterment; accepting that the future is COMPLETELY out of our hands. What a horrible sentiment, especially for a nation of people trying to shrug off the remnants of feudal serfdom and pursuing self-determination. Thais aren't singing that song because they have some suddenly realized unspoken sympathy for retarded and disabled children. They're singing because it's on TV, which is the point of this entire thread. It just proves that it has to come from the mainstream media for Thais to accept it in any way, shape, or form.

As for your guess, it was a bad one. I do like American C & W. What does that have to do with the rest of your ill-thought out retort?

Just like the adage about how even the worst book can have something good to read, Thai music is the same. I don't think the OP is trying to insult or challenge anyone's taste in music, but just to point out that there is a serious lack of creative experimentation within the overall body of Thai music. My guess is that society in Thailand is manipulated through the media and the education system to adhere to a strict mental image of what is Thai and what is not, unfortunately placing the blinders on the proverbial horse. And just to prove my point, the whole country is is gaga over and singing Que Sera Sera from Doris Day. Talk about about mind-numbing propaganda to further the "mai pen rai" curse of Thai society, this is it!

Typical Thai ballad line:

Boy sees girl on bus and falls in love immediately.

Boy goes to talk to girl.

Bus stops, girl gets off, drops her hair pin.

Boy is hindered by crowded bus and can't get off.

Bus goes again as he picks up her hair pin.

Boy stares smitten out bus window.

Sees girl go into restaurant.

Comes back next day to give her hair pin.

Girl is waitress.

Girl's boyfriend is there taking her money. Slaps her.

Boy steps in to protect her.

Boy gives girl hair pin.

Girl thanks boy. Has an innocent date walking along the river.

Boy goes to restaurant next day.

Boy sees girl smiling and laughing with bad boyfriend...bouquet of flowers in her hand.

Girl gets in Benz with bad boyfriend and drives off in to the sunset.

This is such a prevalent theme in Thai music and television that it makes me sick.

I'll be your German chef. I need B50,000 per month with visa and work permit provided. All sausages and ingredients are already sourced. PM me.

Does anyone recall how, in the early days of T's 'war on drugs,' when the eastern border was closed to the traffickers in the WY, Khao Phra Wiharn became their main route into the country? Surely HS knows what he is doing with this polite little overture?

I don't. Could you provide a source for that?

Wouldn't that be like Chancellor Alistair Darling or Vice President Joe Biden directing law enforcement to arrest an individual, therefore overriding a court of law's legal decision to set him free?

Considering the political apathy of the citizens of both countries, I can't see anyone lifting a finger to do anything about it. As a matter of fact, anyone who did would be called a crackpot, a commie, a conspiracy theorist, or a loon for defending their countrymen's civil rights.

For fear of getting warned again by the thought police and suspended for a day I won't name the unnameable, but considering which companies owned by "you-know-who" are being hindered by this environmental hoopla, is it any surprise that he would come out and say this?

GET ON YOUR KNEES, PEASANTS! FATHER IS UNHAPPY AND MIGHT BE LOSING FACE! YOU WILL HAPPILY BREATHE AND CONSUME CARCINOGENS IN YOUR FOOD AND WATER SO THAT THE GREAT ONE MAY INCREASE HIS EVER-GROWING TAX-FREE WEALTH! ACCEPT YOUR TUMORS AND BIRTH DEFECTS IN HIS ALL-MIGHTY NAME!

The local "Che Guevara Bar" near here does Chang at 37฿ and Leo at 43฿, at all times.

Where's "here"?

The majority of western men i am friends with or have interacted with have been great, polite, friendly. Its been less common that ive met or seen one that is bitter and rude...certainly to no extent that some of you seem to be in this forum.

If we can barely get away from the feminist judgment calls here, why would you think we'd talk this openly in public.

Women like to tell you how wrong you are and then go into detail about it, rubbing it in so you never forget, comparing you to various fictitious stereotypes, and then bring it up once or twice a week for the rest of your life.

Men just tell you you're full of sh*t.

^^Back on topic!?!?! This is the Thailand news section. What does this have to do with Thailand? This shouldn't even be posted here. Close the thread.

RSS feeds allow them to control the original publication. I suspect it's so they can change the information presented in the original at the government's whim and not have any proof of what was printed earlier circulating around the internet. They can just turn off access to the article at their discretion. Keep cutting and pasting their articles. There is no law.

What's the point if the condom just keeps falling off? Maybe someone could make a fortune importing finger cots.

Now if they can lift their ridiculous tariffs.

Although the procedures are in line with customs regulations, they have long been relaxed.

Just playin' hardball.

When I clicked on the link to this thread I got an error message: IPS Driver Error

Anyone else get this? I think it's being blocked. Government doesn't want us talking about their hardware purchases?

I'm in now by a workaround.

Wishing HM a quick and full recovery from our family.

Just shut up and consume.

They should inform the public on how to inspect their own children BEFORE they send them to daycare or school. Bass Ackwards, they are.

I would like to see each and every "protestor" who attacked the PM's car charged, convicted, and locked up. What country is supposed to tolerate this? In many countries including my own, they may have been shot, and the people would have applauded it. Is Abhisit being too weak? Isn't it time to send the message this is going to stop, whether you like it or not?

No they wouldn't have. You must be from Burma.

“On the day George W. Bush was inaugurated, tens of thousands of Americans poured into the streets of D.C. They pelted Bush’s limo with eggs.”

“Shouting slogans like ‘Hail to the Thief’ and ‘Selected, Not Elected,’ tens of thousands of protesters descended on George W. Bush's inaugural parade route yesterday to proclaim that he and Vice President Dick Cheney had ‘stolen’ the election.” Michael Kranish and Sue Kirchhoff, “Thousands Protest ‘Stolen’ Election,” Boston Globe, January 21, 2001.

“Scuffles erupted between radicals and riot police while an egg struck the bullet-proof presidential limousine as it carried Mr. Bush and wife Laura to the White House.” Damon Johnston, “Bush Pledges Justice as Critics Throw Eggs,” The Advertisers, January 22, 2001."

From the start in 1985?

Originally designated as the SF340, the aircraft first flew on 25 January 1983. When Fairchild exited the aircraft manufacturing business in 1985 after about 40 units, Saab continued aircraft production under the designation 340A and 159 units were built.

You know, it's been really enlightening to read 10 pages of everyone's opinions here, and you know what they say about opinions--"they're like a**holes, everyone's got one"--but is there an updated report about this issue? If you're a high-rolling big-shot, then this really isn't you're concern. Just keep drinking your over-priced drinks on your luxurious yacht and remain a part of the problem rather than being a part of the solution. Some have decided to make a modest living teaching here. They have families and don't make a lot of money, but for most of them it's enough to have a comfortable life. However, fee raises of this sort, if they are of any significance, could make or break the venture for many of them and you'll get your callous wish--they'll have to seek greener pastures elsewhere, possibly dividing their families for a period of time. Whether they seek them in another country or return to their origins, it's a sad day for someone.