Bangkok Barry

Typically Thai. Make up a lie - claiming they have photographic evidence - and unable to think of step two, actually having to produce the alleged photos. Dumb as they come. But then, if she was dealing with fellow Thais many would simply believe what she said without question, as that's the way they were educated - accept what you are told and don't ask awkward questions.

They think ahead and buy early and enjoy in the comfort of their home. With the lights off in case a neighbour wants to shop them to the fun police.

I don't have one, except to point out that there were negatives as well as positives to the Thaksin era. And that their policy of trying to close down nightlife at midnight was lunacy. No holiday venue does that.

I agree up to a point. But if you are intending to attract tourists from Europe, as Thailand was doing back then, closing bars and nightclubs at or before midnight isn't the way to do it. Many countries in Europe allow such places to stay open until dawn. But I see that you're among those who believe that having a beer=drunkeness, and that people are drunk only after midnight. And it isn't "only", as you put it. I gave an example that it wasn't all freedom and fun under Thaksin, but you twisted what I wrote to suit your own agenda.

Up to a point. But it was his government who introduced restricted alcohol selling times, and tried to close down nightclubs at midnight and bars at 10pm. Not much fun there.

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, as I think they said from rather than on when they announced the date, 10th or 11th. And that would be consistent with all the other vague promises about what will be available and what will happen. And then not.

I didn't say it would be better. I said that was the original concept of the Olympics, and that I personally was against the idea of nationalism in the Games. You can have teams comprised of different nationalities, as the The Hundreds in cricket is currently demonstrating. The fact that it doesn't happen at the Olympics doesn't mean it can't be done. But the preferred concept, corrupting the original if you like, is for people to compete under a flag. My impression is that almost all, if not all, the athletes prefer that. As I also wrote, at least the nationalism in the Olympics is benign, as opposed to football for example, when it can be destructive.

Very often that's the case, although quite a number graduate to the media when they retire, so do both. Spending so long as a journalist does give one a very good insight into both the competitors and everything that surrounds them, so it isn't necessary to be able to compete with them as well.

I've been a sports journalist for 40+ years and have co-written a book, so I do know a little about sport and competition. But thanks for your comments.

So if they don't get paid they wouldn't protest against the government? And if they would, who is paying them unnecessarily? If they will only protest if paid then they deserve all they get. People from my village cared enough to pay to protest, not get paid

Until you find one who pushes back. And they can push back harder than you would be able to deal with. Remember where you are.

Yes, whose protectors just happened to find the haul unguarded and abandoned by the protesters. Why would they do that?

Utter nonsense. Many from my village in Red Shirt country banded together and hired a bus to take them to Bangkok to protest during the 2010. protests. They didn't need to be paid to do so. They did it because they wanted to get rid of the government. Not much changes here. Just another Groundhog Day.

Don't say we. Unless you are Thai. We just have to sit and watch.

I've got an old True satellite dish for sale. And a CTH one too. Could be useful for growing plants in, or I am sure other posters can think of more interesting uses. Adapt into bird baths, perhaps?

I'm glad you know this. You'd better warn the banks and governments about what they're doing. And, at the same time, ask them why they are knowingly trashing the world economy, Let us know their answer. Thanks.

The same as it works in tennis, People choose their partner(s). Not that difficult. They chat among themselves at different venues often while competing as individuals, or their associations can circulate lists of people looking for partners At least the form of nationalism attached to the Olympics is benign.

So your comment was really about Thai govt employees? And that was supposed to be understood by your lack of any mention of that? You need an editor. No. That was simply an example. What about any large store where there are usually many staff hanging around with little to do? I'm sure you know that as well as I do. If you think these departments and stores are the epitome of efficiency then you've been in Thailand too long. Millions of jobs would be discarded if these places were more efficient, but with wages so low I guess it isn't a concern. When wages rise though, as they inevitably will, watch the jobs disappear.

Sure, That's why the automobile manufacturing industry has grown so hugely in Thailand. Because 90% of the workers are getting nothing done. Maybe you should let Toyota know about this? When did you last visit any government department, the biggest employer in the country?

Isn't working as a tour guide a prohibited occupation for a non-Thai? Where do you read that she's a non-Thai ????? I wrote that she has a Chinese father. She also has a Thai mother and was born in Thailand.

I have a niece, Chinese father, who went to university in China, came back to work as a tour guide for the hoards of Chinese that once visited. Now they no longer come she's trying to teach Chinese on-line. Good for her, but I can't imagine that even coming close to filling her income gap.

And imagine what the figure would be if they had Time and Motion experts in which found that 90% of the jobs people do was just shuffling endless forms to no real purpose and their jobs should go.

The original Olympics had athletes competing as individuals and not under a flag, and that's the way I believe it should be now. Even in team sports - like they do in tennis doubles throughout the year, featuring players from different countries playing together. In my view, nationalism has no positives and plenty of negatives. What did John Lennon write? "Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too." And I find it amusing to see how enthusiastic people get about watching a sport they had never even heard of outside of the Games. It has been interesting though to note how well accepted sports new to the Games have been, such as skateboarding. If anything raises and spreads interest in the event, then fine by me.

Wow, such a shock in a country of 70 million people. How many people have heart attacks, strokes or an aneurysm or even just something like an asthma attack while driving each and every day? A friend of mine had a minor stroke once, he was driving at the time, bringing the kids home from school. He noticed something was wrong when he started drooling as he lost control of one side of his face. He managed to pull over, this was a very minor stroke, he was lucky. It happens all the time and not everyone is so lucky as my friend was. All I did was point out that there had been two similar stories. I didn't really expect a lecture about it. I wouldn't consider it a shock that two were reported out of 70 million people.

Untested? Really? What planet are you on? But yes, for you it might not be the path to take. You, though, are not the norm. Most people do not suffer from blood clots, nor do 99.999999+% of the people vaccinated. I like the odds for 'normal' people.