WinnieTheKhwai

My thoughts exactly.. If it's electrical and made in Thailand or China then I don't want it. Especially not fairly high Wattage stuff in direct contact with my body.

Very good points Drew... Thanks for that..

Perhaps (as pointed out above), if you considered a niche type of club as opposed to a general gathering of men, it might prove more successful? Maybe you could set-up a debating society that had a format where only one person could speak at a time thus reducing the risk of cross talk and heated arguments. A bit like the BBC's Have your say program. It could literally be anything though:

!!! What an incredible waste of time!! It's already quite a challenge to add a little common sense here and there in an online forum, but to devote actual time to that as well, to educate a bunch of geezers IRL?

Not everywhere, just at PAD rallies, and online forums!

I don't smoke, sorry. Why do so many people feel the need to make this personal? You signed up to the same stuff I did I presume?

Check your calendar then get back to me.

Nice dodge!!!

Any opinion on the larger point: If the forces of change had to look at a calendar then not a whole lot would change for the better in the world, and tyranny would still rule in many places.

Guess not? Fine with me; stick to toeing the Nation line.

None of us want violence, but people who are sympathetic to groups whose members use it regularly, are contemptible. If you support the yellows, reds, blues, etc, then you are no better then those causing the violence. You can say, not all reds are bad - guess what - a lot of them are, and its guilt by association.

Sorry, but that's a fascist statement to make. Though you're right that for this reason I would not claim to 'support the reds', but instead spell it out in full so often.

I don't wish death on anyone, but thinking about Samak's style of politics, it reminds me of something my wife had said, that we have to wait for the old generation to die away, before real change can begin to take place.

YES, and you know what, that's a very Red statement to make. You wouldn't know it if you just read The Nation, but a person that I respect a lot wrote a rather scathing article on Samak's legacy, and he's very much a Red Shirt activist.

Google: " His role in the 1970s is very similar to the roles of ASTV fanatics like Sonti Limtongkul and Censorship Boss Satit Wongnongtuay. "

The reds are very much about Thaksin, but definitely not entirely, as some of the more fanatical opponents try to make it appear. In many ways Red Shirt ideology has developed far beyond Thaksin, their demands on the state surpass what Thaksin has given or would be willing to give. Many of Thaksin's former opponents are part of the Red Shirts as well. But dropping Thaksin would mean loosing their mass appeal to the many especially rural supporters for whom Thaksin was the PM that has done more for them than any other Thai PM.

They have the choice to be a mass movement that has the chance to influence some necessary changes in the system, or to be another irrelevant debating club that won't effect nothing.

And that's exactly right! Good to see some added counter balance to the PAD/Military/FeudalElite-aplogists.

The 'no women' and 'no alcohol' would be a deal-breaker for me. As for problems related to alcohol: even bars in Chiang Mai have very little problems with this, and any idiot could walk into a bar. If it's a member club then honestly you shouldn't expect too much trouble from people having a glass of wine or beer while they chat.

Righty O.

Set up a big rally and then look like a hero for postponing it,

so he can look like a loyal subject...

It's really a challenge to make you happy is it?

animatic is among the great number of us who are aghast at the timing of the coming reds' street actions. We don't want violence, bloodshed, another coup, martial law or anything resembling such horrors.

Let me wholeheartedly join you in not ever wanting another coup, violence, bloodshed, martial law or anything resembling such horrors.

That said, what's aghast about the timing? The Berlin Wall fell around this time, the Velvet revolution happened around this time, the Orange protests in Ukrain happened around this time.. What's bad about it? And, would you rather that those people also woulnd't have bothered standing up for their desire for democracy, due to 'bad timing' or otherwise? I'm genuinely puzzled why you'd feel that way.

( Also, any time is better than Songkran. I like Songkran. )

Best way to solve this "problem" : Don't buy land in Thailand. Quite obviously the Thai government doesn't want foreigners buying or controlling it. How much more of a hint do people need? Buy where your business is wanted.

Correct. Just go to the main Arcade bus station. If you need to leave at other times, you could also connect in Tak. (Some Bangkok bound buses stop in Tak as well.)

The government will be there before and after the rally, all this will do is help people adjust their travel plans and take their winter holiday in another country..

It's such a shame, instead of promoting the kings birthday and inviting people from far and wide to come and celebrate and join with the Thai people and see real thai culture and to be part of a wonderful historic event...we have this vengeful rant sullying a special time.

It will be interesting to hear his majestys comments during his birthday speech.

Taksin, Jutaporn and Jakrapob - Buddism 101: Desire = Suffering, (You desire power, you will experience suffering)

I don't understand why these idiots spoil the touristseason again. Who want to spend holidays here under circumstances like riots and demonstrations. I'm sorry for the peaceloving 90% of the Thais.

Quite possibly a lot of people realize that there are greater things at stake than the occupancy rate of some hotel or resort chain.

I'd be more sorry if Thailand goes all the way turning into a fascist or feudal state.

He said the ISA enforcement is necessary because there will be celebrations of His Majesty's birthday during the period.

LOL.. The december 5th holiday and events surrounding it are specifically EXCLUDED from the protests; they have made that clear from the start.

Anyway, I hope Abhisit will remember this next time there is a protest after the 5th. Surely he can lift what is effectively martial law from December 6th onwards??

Something tells me though that he'll find another excuse..

VERY good comments Steve2UK, and another sign that bit by bit Thailand is becoming less free, and freedom of expression is being limited. (And not just for foreigners either).

( BTW, no need to jump through all those hoops in relating to the BK Post; Suthep's inane comments were all over the Thai media as well. I read it in Matichon. )

He basically said that 'freedom of expression applies to Thais only'. Makes you wonder what other rights apply to Thais only. (In Suthep's mind, that must be said). Fortunately some Red groups seem more open, and have a much more enlightened view of Democracy. (Note: "some" does not mean "all".)

Alright then if he is the "good guy" who or where are the bad guy's and hold your breath before any quick answer and have good look at the "bad guy's"....

Mr. Thaksin gave a very frank interview not too long ago where he was asked that exact question. I don't like Thaksin very much, but I think his answer to that particular question was very close to the mark. (General Prem, etc.) He left out high ranking military though, but I think they should be included.

That said, I would find it a struggle to call Mr. Thaksin ' a good guy '.. Honestly, why the need to simplify things to the level of a 4 year old in good & bad, white & black? There are a lot of players out there, and very few true 'good guys'.

My guess would be 'closed'; so a significantly worse chance than 50-50. I agree it was 50-50 in the past, but if anything Thailand is on a certain path of becoming less free, or at least less 'lessez faire' if you will.

Also, you don't mention a region. In Bangkok it's most likely to be very strict. Upcountry it will be less rabidly enforced.

That's commendable that you still bother too read any "ANALYSIS" in The Nation!

Of course Thaksin had nothing to do with the LCM51 action against the HIV awareness parade organized by gay groups. LCM51 are a lunatic extreme group who have judging form an interview, previosuly posted on this site, with one of their leaders decideed that they are the arbiters of what is acceptable Lanna culture in Chiang Mai and who have a proven track recored in threats and violence that includes actions against farmers and even other red groups. LCM51 should be condemned but that should not extend to routine condemnation or demonization against all red groups or their supporters and sympathisers. Most of these are reasonable people with mostly reasonsble demands who probably themselves dont even agree with what LCM51 gets up to. It is possible to condemn the actions of lunatics on any side in this without having to resort to demonizing all.

Although I use LCM51 as an example here it can be equally applied to other sides.

Very well said. Anyone willing to take the trouble of finding news sources other than the ones typically peddled here will find no shortage of reasonable people on any side.

Doi Mai Sa Long is beautiful, cool quiet, has mostly Chinese food and very few farang tourists!

He said he wanted without Thai tourists though, and for the Dec 5 holiday it will be swarming with them.

(Unless we get some good riots in during Abhisit's visit in CNX )

EDIT: Personally I like BKK tourists. They're in a much better mood while travelling than the miserable gits they are most of the time while stuck in traffic back home.

COLD!!!!

I hope it's final, only because we won't have ridiculous polls anymore. Honestly, it's worth it.

I went for the Grouchy choice.

Why would the polls stop?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

( You're right, you'd probably just find something else to poll over. Did you do a poll on the meaning of the word Farang yet? )

Chiang Dao mentioned 2X.....didn't know there was acomodation there. tell more details please!!

www.chiangdao.com

and others, probably.

Sigh.. Honestly, people electing Mr. Thaksin elected him BECAUSE of his business experience in running one of the biggest Thai companies. Honestly, tranferring ownership of so many mega-companies was never going to be easy. And now the "burden of proof rests with the accused", with the prosecuting simply stating they don't believe the evidence.

Unbelievable.