thailien8

Cyber crime bill in progress

BANGKOK: -- The government is working on an anti-cyber crime bill which would carry a prospective penalty of five years in prison for possession and online distribution or posting of child pornography and a one-year term for hacking, whip spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh said yesterday.

Other offences included in the bill are the spreading of false information on websites which could cause public panic (five years in prison), superimposing sexual content on the images of real people or altering a person’s image to make it sexually provocative (three years) and producing or posting general pornographic material (five years).

Wattana said a regulation barring children from playing online games at Internet cafes would be included in the bill.

--The Nation 2005-11-15

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While they are working on this bill, would it be possible for them to define "children". At what age does one cease to be a child? If a teenager is caught playing an online game at an internet cafe, does he/she suddenly revert to childhood and get busted?

A great pool at Goethe Institute on Soi Goethe off Sathorn Soi One. Monthly membership fee, not crowded, open early morning to evening every day. BTW, has anyone ever seen the big pool in Lumpini Park open? It's hidden away next to the rec. center, about 100 meters to the right after you come in the Silom entrance by the big statue. I've looked thru the fence at that pool numerous times, but it's always closed.

But ....Thaksin still owns the phone company so he will always win.

Wait... I thought Toxin owned the country and his servants owned the phone co.

How will the unbarfined bargirls get home after 1 am. if there is no #2 minibus running? The green tin cans, though a lousy way to travel, have for years been about the only option for late-night transportation for those who cannot afford a taxi. Personally, I have been hoping to see Bkk.'s bus system upgraded for a long time, starting with getting the green minibuses off the streets permanently. Still, the BMTA will need to replace them with some kind of comparable service, as there are a lot of people who stay up past midnight and need to get home cheaply. Let's hope a little thought and planning is involved here.

I saw them a couple weeks ago. They were all farangs. When one guy got tired of shouting holy imprecations at the top of his lungs, another one took over, this time in Thai. It was an impressive example of language learning.

I can't pay a bar fine in a legitimate, licensed, tax-paying bar after 1 am. I have to score on the street. I can't buy alcohol in any form in Foodland et al after midnight. I have to drink on the street. Oh sorry, I know, I should just go home to bed like a good boy and behave.

When you got 'em by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow....

Toxin seized this country by the testicles years ago and now he is squeezing.

Anything that will discourage innocent young non-smokers from trying and falling into the clutches of this deadly and extremely addictive drug is to be commended. 7-11's defiance of this law thanks to CP Group's crony connections with the powers-that-be is sad. They will be able to sell cigarettes to the already-addicted with no problems.

Hooray, they are at least making an effort at security in Bangkok. I look forward to the day when I am sniffed before entering BTS or BMT, as it hasn't happened yet, nor have I seen it done to anyone. More effective would be mandatory bag/backpack searches of all passengers before they enter public transit systems, as is done in Manila on their light rail systems. All the security guards standing around in skytrain and subway stations won't be much good if a terrorist with a bomb in a bag decides to do the same as they did in London.

If I were a Thai woman, sbk's comment about a superiority attitude might mean something. Since I am a farang, I am only writing about what I see every day, and read aboout in the newspapers.

I wonder how much of this debt can be attributed to post paid mobile phone accounts? 

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A considerable portion I would think Still, it's encouraging to see the scales falling from the eyes of poor farmers who mostly wanted to believe Thaksin's election campaign promises. As Bangkok Post (26/10/05) reported:

"Several thousand farmers protested in Bangkok yesterday to again demand the government solve their debt problems. Farmers from across the country rallied at Government House calling for action on a promise made in August by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to solve their debt problems within 60 days with the Farmers Debt Rehabilitation and Development Fund.

Mr Thaksin's deadline has passed, speakers said. They said they had waited more than 80 days and there was no end in sight to their financial woes.

The leaders of the protest met with Prapat Panyachartrak, chairman of the fund, and gave him 10 demands to pass on to the prime minister.

Jularat Niratisayakul, acting secretary-general of the fund's office, said the farmers had misunderstood Mr Thaksin's promise. The 60-day deadline was actually only for them to register their debt cases."

Ah yes, of course. The poor farmers, in their eagerness to believe that Thaksin would actually help them, "misunderstood" his promise. Sorry about that. Another honest mistake?

Is this Thaksin's revenge on the voters of Bangkok for daring to elect a non-TRT governor?

First, I think the economies of non-Muslim countries, where women are freer to participate and contribute, have a huge advantage over Muslim countries that restrict females in so many ways.

In Thailand, the women generally seem much more capable and honest than the guys. As a current example, there is Khunying Jaruwan, the auditor who was doing her job too well of stopping Thai guy corruption and theft of taxpayer money. She scared the political thieves so much that they fell all over themselves to remove her. Now the dudes in government are looking increasingly silly as they still try to neuter her.

During my teaching days in Thai classrooms, it was quickly apparent that the women far outclassed the male students, with rare exceptions. The average class was about two-thirds female, and the Thai guys tended to copy their homework.

In workplaces, the women usually have the responsible jobs such as handling money as bank tellers (while the guys stand around in security guard uniforms) and supermarket cashiers (while the guys put groceries in bags). So much of what passes as work done by Thai guys involves basically putting on a uniform and doing little or nothing, though some are adept at blowing whistles loudly. Then of course there is the huge number of Thai males who do nothing but drive around all day on their motos, in tuktuks and taxis, contributing to Bkk.s eternal traffic jams. IMHO, Thailand desperately needs to empower its women even more, as they are by far the best and the brightest in this society.

In the long run, Mr. SAMART said emphasis would be on the mass transit system, such as the electric train and the BRT rapid bus. Meanwhile he believe that traffic congestion will be greatly alleviated once construction on all 15 flyovers are completed.

Let's get to the "long run" as quickly as possible. It's well past time to wean Bangkokians off their dependence on the private motor vehicle. The 15 flyovers will look pretty pathetic some years hence when the price of petrol has risen even more so that even putting oneself in debt up to one's eyeballs will not suffice to pay for the precious privilege of joyriding around in one's face-giving car or motorcycle. Maybe then Bkk. will be a more livable city.

Pongsak rejects city's plan to finish route

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

"Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal has refused to approve city hall's plan to complete the 2.2km extension of the BTS skytrain from Taksin station to Thon Buri, a decision sure to anger Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin. Mr Pongsak said there were several reasons for the decision, but in particular the authority to proceed rests with a city mass transit authority that the government has yet to establish.

Mr Pongsak said while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) could build the existing BTS network, because the Interior Ministry had authorised it to do so, it needed approval from the mass transit authority to extend any routes.

But the government had still not set up the authority, which would supervise all mass transit services in Bangkok."

This quote from Bkk. Post 25/10/05 is a classic Thai excuse for doing nothing, especially when something really needs doing. Yes, of course, nothing can be done because the government body which does it does not exist!!! The perfect technicality! Never mind that a lot of work has already been completed on the BTS extension over the river to Thonburi. Never mind that many Thonburi residents are hoping so much for Skytrain to be extended to their side of the river. Never mind that this 2.2 km. extension would be possibly the most cost-effective project ever done in Bkk. It's not BIG enough, EXPENSIVE enough, and certainly does not garner enough face for the glorious TRT rulers. And what is the problem about the fares?? Just charge the BTS riders the same as they are paying now. In case you haven't noticed, Skytrain doesn't exactly lack paying customers. Most trains I get on are packed. I hardly ever get a seat, not that I'm complaining. I love public transport, Bkk.'s greatest need. It sickens me that the Thaksin government is stalling on this simple, obvious, easily-achieved, greatly-needed BTS extension to help the many people living in Thonburi.

I think this is a bad solution. I think street vendors are part of the charm of the place and loved by Thai's. The source of the problem is there is no thought in designing walkways to accomodate vendors. When you line a sidewalk intended for foot traffic with rows of vendors, it just doesn't work. Walking you have to thread your way through and bump into people and Thai's are the most erratic walkers on the planet; walk on the left? right? middle? weave about? It all depends. If they could just design up front space for vendors it would be great, but people are too greedy to ever give that extra patch of land they could otherwise develop so Thai's will just be content to "mai pen rai" it and shoe horn vendors in every place they shouldn't be.

Agreed. There is nothing better than a convenient noodle stand right there on the sidewalk when you're hungry, broke, drunk and it's late at night. Silom Rd. would not be a problem with one row of vendors, but when they try to squeeze in two rows, curbside and up against the storefronts, then walking becomes a problem.

Thai walking is amusing, when not maddening. He will stumble just out in front of you, completely unconscious of your presence, walk slowly along the narrow way, cigarette in one hand and mobile phone pressed against his ear with the other, doing the "Thaksin salute". While he shuffles along, forcing you into his turtle pace as there is no room to pass him, he looks behind him, though still not seeing you. Then, guided by some invisible Thai karma, he will suddenly stop, turn around and go back the other way , leaving you wondering if he has any idea where he is going, or even where he is....

"TGC", which I assume means Thai Gold Card.

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TGC is the Thaigolfer Card, nothing to do with the Elite Card. The Elite card covers several courses in that area including Laem Chabang and St Andrews 2000.

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You're right - TGC is the Thaigolfer Card (www.thaigolfer.com) and you can get membership for 600 Baht per year. Great card to have if you play golf all over the country.

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OK, I stand corrected. I'd never heard of the Thaigolfer Card, which actually sounds like a pretty good deal, unlike a certain other card. Still, one would think that a brochure promoting Thai golf courses put out by TAT would mention if the Elite Card covers several courses in the area of the map.

Hey it's not so bad. The loudspeakers were for the lovely winged angels who promoted the mall for a couple weeks. They're gone now. The mall has some much appreciated features for this subway rider. I can now buy a newspaper, surf the internet at warp speed and have a half price coffee at the comfy True internet shop (with seating) get a 10-minute haircut (I passed on this actually) and even take a leak in the only public hong nam I know of in the whole skytrain-subway system. As an English teacher with an interest in the ever-amusing misuses of my native language here, I even got a cheap thrill out of the mall's slogan: "Let's join us".

Just keep the accursed motorcyclists off the beachfront promenade that was built for walkers, joggers and bicycle riders. Of course the tsunami shelters is a hoax. The construction work is to put overhead wires underground and make the promenade better than ever -- if they can keep the motor vehicles off! Sadly, the rude drivers seem to have taken advantage of the construction mess to invade their intrusive presence to pedestrian territory. The TAT actually responded to my written complaint with an emailed promise to restore the promenade to what it was several years ago, before the digging started. They will supposedly put up high curbs and other physical barriers to keep the moto geeks where they belong, on Beach Road with the other motor vehicles. I look forward to being able once again to walk in peace and safety on a lovely beachfront walkway, trying my best to ignore the noisy chaos of the road on the other side of the barriers.

I've had two ex-bargirlfriends die in my 13 years in Bkk. The first died from sniffing too much glue. I saw her collapse on stage during a gogo dancing shift, one of the saddest sights of my life as I really liked her. The second to die was from cigarettes. She was small and frail so she couldn't handle the damage that her cigarette addiction was doing to her lovely little body. Toward the end just a few puffs would make her go into a spasm of coughing. Very unsexy and again very sad.

Exactly -- preventing terrorist actions is my whole point, and I agree with you that too often little or no efforts are made to stop or mitigate tragedies, natural or manmade, until after the damage has been done. Sure, hindsight is 20/20 and foresight is obscured, but not impossible. The preventive measures to cramp terrorists' style are fairly easily done and not expensive, especially compared to the cost of the damage and death toll. The experts talk about sharing intelligence, which may be useful, but physical barriers to bombers may work more effectively.

Patpong has been turning into a scene full of katoeys (lady-boys) and rip-off bars, a sad contrast to what it was 10 years ago. The shows do not begin to compare with what was on display in Nana Plaza before Thaksin (1999-2000). Still, there is hope for your friend. The former Pussy Galore bar (what the hel_l is it called now, I can't keep up since I rarely go to PP anymore), which is upstairs right next door to Kings Castle III (a horrible katoey bar) in the middle of Patpong One, is still trying to do it the good old Patpong way. They have a generous happy hour with drinks for 70 baht until 22:30, no ripoffs, a few attractive girls, and the usual complement of traditional Patpong pussy shows which your friend will probably enjoy if he has never seen any.

I usually pay once in a night, normally 20 baht, some of you should try as their attentions can really freshen you up. I once gave 100 baht, mad I know but was a bit drunk and my fav singer had just given me a signed photo with peter+ Jin on it  peter

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Now I know why those fckers are still hovering around behind me when I am trying to take a piss and want to be left alone so I can do what I came in for -- which is definitely NOT a massage from some fag.

Dear zaz,

In the unforgettable words of an MRT subway security person to whom I made my above suggestions for improving security in order to discourage terrorists and possibly save lives -- "Have you been drinking alcohol?"

It's not a "law", it's a law. The answer to both of your questions is YES. Of course 7-11 is in position to disobey the law because indeed they have lawyers, a plague of lawyers, and CP Group is, I believe, the biggest company in Thailand, with many powerful friends. Thaksin and his Shin Corp. are pretty big and well-connected too. Does that make it Ok for him to "fight back" with multiple lawsuits and try to kill the messengers in the media who are trying to keep the public informed and protect some pretty basic democratic rights like freedom of speech and of the press?