Bangkok Barry

How many of the over one million people there were involved in crime? The video says around 200 were arrested, which is 200 too many, but not too bad I'd say. Comparable with large football events, for example. And that violence has nothing at all to do with immigration.

Depends. You can't put everyone in the same basket. I grew up in London, and there was an enormous influx of West Indians in the early 50s who introduced their vibrant culture into a very staid UK. Now, the Notting Hill Festival is one of the highlights of the social scene, attended by black and white alike, Then in the early 70s a large number of Indians arrived after they were expelled from Uganda, and they pretty much took over running local corner shops, open all hours. That 'none integration' led to many more businesses adopting their greater work ethic. Another positive from immigration. And curry is now the UK favourite food. Next came East Europeans, who again added their culture, and then the Muslims. Many of those tend to be more insular, but it might only be a matter of time before they offer another layer to UK culture. I do know that when I paid a visit to my local museum, a large group of Muslim girls in full headgear were there as a group to be shown around the place to learn the history of their new home. I'd suggest that those who have no interest in integration are in a minority, just like right-wing idiots.

It goes a great deal deeper than that, far beyond politics.

The very foundation of society is being eroded, first by photoshopping, then by social media and, now, AI. Foreign governments work behind the scenes to manipulate elections in democratic countries. And there is, seemingly, nothing that anyone can do to stop it. Pandora's Box has been opened. There is no longer any certainty that what we see, read and hear is real. Can you imagine what the world will be like in a few decades from now? I often wonder what the founder of the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, thinks of how it has developed. On one hand we have the history and knowledge of the world available in our pocket, and on the other it is used as a tool to harass, threaten and corrupt.

It's not a bad way to go, is it.

I'm sure that any hospital in Thailand, maybe anywhere, can refer to documents signed by the patient before treatment that state the hospital and those who work there are not responsible for anything by anyone at any time. Not that that makes it right, of course. The patient might be lucky in this case that the hospital finally relented, after media pressure. I recently had eye surgery and had to sign such documents, and even had my thumb print taken twice in case I later denied the signature was mine.

It doesn't matter what they call them. They do not tour, they go from A to B. Do Americans call buses that go from, say, New York to Boston a tour bus, or in the UK from London to Glasgow a tour bus? Are VIP buses in Thailand for VIPs? English words in Thailand mean nothing. I stayed in a hotel called * Suites in Bangkok and it had normal rooms. The manager told me that suites was just a name.

Anyone anywhere is allowed to be a parent. Less qualifications needed than you need to work in McDonalds. In fact, none needed at all. It's a strange world.

I guess you didn't read The father faces charges under Section 246 of the Customs Act for distributing untaxed vaping products, facing potential penalties of up to five years in prison, a hefty fine, or both. Authorities are also probing the supply chain responsible for selling the vape devices.

Maybe you didn't read that The boy has been placed under the care of Mueang Saraburi Shelter for Children and Family for a thorough examination regarding vaping's impact on his health.

They might be referred to as tour buses, but they are not on tour. See my post above. Stay safe.

Why? Because for some reason most regular bus services are called tour buses. It's another example of Thais using English words that they don't understand. The bus in the photo is a regular service that goes from A to B, unless it was hired in this case to be a tour bus. Which I doubt is the case. It doesn't 'tour'. Putting Tour Bus on the front doesn't make it a tour bus, in the same way that putting VIP on the front doesn't mean it is for VIPs. VIPs do not take the bus.

One - it isn't a tour bus, From the photo, it's a regular bus service Two - someone wasn't paying attention and was going too fast to avoid a collision. Perfectly normal here.

That thought crossed my mind.

Who says they buy it? All they do is report what is happening. Have you seen any commentary articles supporting him?

Not difficult to see why people might be less than helpful to you. Locked up for weeks (keeping why a secret) which means you've been in conflict in Pattaya about something or with someone, you slag off the Australian bank clerk who had to tell you to calm down, and then you slag off the police there. Ever wonder why it's you against the world?

I'm amazed there are not more accidents like this. Many locals simply don't have the know-how to run something as dangerous as a rocket festival, It needs discipline and an awareness of danger and adherence to safety standards something that is so often lacking in Thailand.

Sounds reasonable, but these come and go at quite short intervals. I remain puzzled.

A place near me sometimes has around 40-50 goats, My wife said it was for their milk, and when I saw it for sale in the supermarket I saw the attraction. It was very expensive. What puzzles me is that sometimes the goats are there and sometimes they aren't.

Yep, that's the kind of thing. I'm guessing it's the first step of a potential scam. As you say, a pity 😃

I've never forgotten the six words a Korean tv producer said to me many years ago when we worked together for a weekend. The standards here are so low. Summed up Thailand perfectly, and I'll just leave it there so I'm not banned for exercising free speech.

He said it was a polite warning.

Yet again, long straight road, well-lit, and someone drives straight into a van and kills themself. Amazing.

Because of traffic lights ahead, do you think?

And when the reporter asked the tv station to comment, what did they say? Oh wait. Thais are taught from first day at school never to ask awkward questions, Not great training for a journalist. And when one tried it with the previous PM the PM threatened to have his mouth taped shut.