thailife69

The question that must be answered by the Thai Military is why are your guns repeatedly pointed at the majority?

Is K. Suthep Thailand's most successful failure!

Close down BKK - FAILED

Stop democratic elections -FAILED

Shut down Government - FAILED

Gained International support - FAILED

Gain National support - FAILED

Unify Thailand - FAILED

Learnt from his mistakes - FAILED

Become less corrupt - FAILED

Ousted Shinawatra family from politics - FAILED

Is AV suggesting a Royal Decree is unconstitutional?

Totally amazed at the number of expert US government foreign affairs spokes persons posting a pethora of unvetted US positions to this website . It begs the question of which nation is the dumbest, the Thais or the US! If the US government was to sack these people for ignorance and stupidity, the government would be able to support medicare!

AV's letter to Ban Ki-Moon would be the shortest on record.

Both PT and my party the Democrats are extremely corrupt!

98, 99 and 100

The Democrats need a heart and brain transplant, but it will mean having to remain on medication to prevent rejection for it's life time!

The National Security Council acting as terrorists!

Is the article referring to the USA?

80,000, what happened to the millions of Pitak Siam followers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It'll end up being 8 and only for the free music.

Lag would be an under-statement by at least a two centuries!

I could be wrong on this, but I read somewhere that even the current Foreign Minister cannot speak English!

I'm afraid you are wrong on this, though the rest of your post was very interesting.

Dr Surapong has a masters and a doctorate from the United States and has taught at university level in the US. (Doesn't mean he's the right man for the job, of course.)

I think the previous Democrat Education Minister and the Deputy Minister of Education did not speak English. I heard both of them make a terrible mess of speeches written for them in English at a World Teachers' Day forum before an international gathering. On another occasion, at an English-medium (World Bank) seminar I attended the minister gave the introductory speech entirely in Thai. This is the same minister who said English could not be an official language for teaching purposes here because other countries would think Thailand had been colonized!

Thanks for the correction. As I said, I wasn't sure, as the article was some months back, so memory may have failed me a bit.

(Doesn't mean he's the right man for the job, of course.) Now, Thailand actually does have "the right man for the job" in many cases. Unfortunately, the "right man" is usually ignored and the position given to someone from the family, or a political crony, who knows nothing about the job.

I remember the comment the Minister made about how English could not be an official language as other countries would think Thailand had been colonized. That one had me laughing for a very long time. Made me wonder if anyone had ever pointed out to him that both Hong King and Singapore were once colonies, but look at how far ahead of Thailand they are in just about every area?

Your comparisons are based on pointless assumptions. Let's try listing the countries that had been or have been colonised and you soon discover how detrimental it has been to them. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, all of Africa, Central and South America but to name a few. Did the people of HK have any rights? No! Do they now? Very few! Did Singapore? No! Does Singapore now, it's improving, but you still wouldn't want to live there.

The importance of English is declining as world language. It used to be French until they became overly self-indulgent, English is not far behind. If a country wants to be at the fore front of a modern advancing world,they would be better advised to instruct Chinese or Indian. These so called advanced western industrialised countries are swiftly becoming nobodies as they spend the next few centuries paying off debt due to greed and the costs of sustaining imperialism.

It's a myth that Thailand has not been colonised, they tend to overlook the Burmese, Chinese who own and run the country, Japanese and now the Americans. It helps if you understand a little more than 60 years of Thai history. There is another 7 centuries before the devastating effect of allowing the USA to colonise Thailand during the Vietnam massacre and US advancement of imperialism into South East Asia.

To this day American's are amazed that the Japanese attacked. Brainless fools. Might have something to do with the invasion of Japan by the USA in the 19th century solely for the purpose of gaining access to goods that they had squandered, whale oil for their industrialized growth.They had already killed off their own supplies. Ring any bells? Texas dry, let's meddle in the Middle East then. Prior to the US invasion, Japan was a peaceful insular country. Before the American invasion of Thailand, Pattaya was not the world's largest brothel. Am convinced syphilis has made Americans brain dead.

What the Thais learnt from these imperialist was that they were and still are an easy touch. Thailand made billions and continues to do so, yet the imperialists still believe they are a superior civilisation. The communists control their people for the greater good of all, while the Americans control their citizens for the greater good of a few. Walk outside of the tourist spots of the USA and you soon realise what a disgraceful state that country actually is in and has been for decades. All in the name of GOD.

as far as I can see this has nothing to do with hiring foreigners to teach English, it is solely concerned with hiring Thai teachers?

Here is the very first sentence.

'The Phuket Primary Education Area Office has relaxed the requirements for foreigners to be hired as English-language teachers at government schools in Phuket.'

Take the time to read all the article, understand what is written, "comprehension and clear thinking" you will quickly discover that the person you are being critical of is actually correct. The education department has decided to relax the requirements on foreigners because they are unable to source enough locally qualified teachers for the reasons stated.

Let's hope you are not intending on applying for a job until 6th. grade English has been attained. It is safe to assume that Phuket will be sourcing teachers that comprehend the English language.

Thanks for the entertainment.

Reading yours and other posts it amazes how self important so many are. Why would they assume that the only people capable of speaking and teaching the English language come from western countries.

I imagine there would be thousands of of teachers out there that do not expect to received over inflated salaries to teach in a foreign country. If they the westerners were competent enough as teachers they would still be teaching in their country of origin. As many western education departments now expect results from teacher, it is safe to assume that the majority of western teachers teaching in Thailand are doing so because they cannot gain suitable employment elsewhere.

Why does the flood water always seem to come at night?

Interesting observation. Is it because sabotage or officials opening gates is done at night?

Whatever it is, it works and this morning I can see green returning to the edges of field in some areas in my province. So things do get better and in few sunny days citizens will be able to stretch their legs outside the relief camps..........

The problems in Bangkok have a silver lining, although difficult to appreciate as water rises. Good luck Bangkokians

Pretty simple. High tides in Thailand occur once per day, and at this time of year occur in the late afternoon; around 4.50pm today.

As the water rises, the amount of height the water will drop as it flows to the sea reduces, and therefore the river at a certain point, stops flowing out to sea, and upstream for some distance, the rate of flow reduces out to sea, while the water coming from upstream keeps flowing at the same rate.

This results in the water being at its highest, in line with the high tide. At this time of year, due to (IIRC) the moon, the tides tend to be higher and the lows not as low. April/May is when you see super low tides in the Gulf of Thailand.

Also, which doesn't help, the normal rainy season monsoon which we saw yesterday, tends to fall in the late afternoon following the land heating up and pulling in a sea breeze and pushing clouds up with height resulting in rain etc etc; which is why EVERY YEAR Sept and Oct are the most prone to flooding, as it is a perfect storm of soaking soil, rainfall from the north, high tides and afternoon rain.

Bangkok can handle flash flooding; what it cannot handle is the amount of water coming south.

No conspiracy (unless you believe Jatuporn) it is pretty simple stuff.

Ummmmmmmmm.

I almost believe you, but now I feel a conspiracy is going on and doubt all that you say.

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth.

Most places in the ocean usually experience two high tides and two low tides each day (semidiurnal tide), but some locations experience only one high and one low tide each day (diurnal tide).

Tide charts for Bangkok show two high tides and two low tides each day, so I am beginning to wonder where you live.

Thu 27 Oct. 2011

High 5:48 AM ICT / 3.67 m Low 11:41 AM ICT / 2.32 m

High 4:21 PM ICT / 3.15 m Low 11:18 PM ICT / 0.66 m

It's Wednesday through Thursday day time that will hurt, 2.32 m to 3.67 m

Thursday night might bring some relief with a 0.66 m low tide.

<Snip!>.... I'm coming to bangkok on the second and i will be staying near the Chao Phya river on the other side of the saphan taksin bridge even if i'm going to be on the 9th floor its going to put a dent in my holiday plans. any advice guys?

floaties

By what stretch of the imagination is this not a state of emergency - Thailand should be asking the rest of the world to help not pretending that it will all be alright!

I will never in a million years understand this "loss of face" thing - life is much more simple "if you are in trouble ask for help" and when you are not in trouble look for others that need help!

I really hope that something is done before any more people needlessly lose their lives - they could have evacuated areas days ago in an orderly fashion - now they are opening the way for panic. I dont think this government or PM are particularly responsible since it seems that no Thai public figures are ever prepared to admit there are problems they cant deal with!

You have never been to Thailand? Thailand should ask foreigners to help in Thailand?? Get real. The government will let people starve and die before that would happen.

Love repeating myself. Goes to show how little you understand about Thailand. The dumb farang is always right and why the Thais call it Thailand.

Definition = free of dumb stupid ignorant god fearing cultural void cheap charlie farangs. Yet to meet one foreigner that is not cultural inept. If you don't appreciate the country there are 63 million Thais willing to to see your potentially flabby backside wobbling through any departures lounge.

Everyone will be glad to know that their fav korean soap is on channel 3, gameshow on 5, sitcom on 7 and 9, nbt is showing old footage of flooding from today, only tnn deams it a big enough story to go live with it.

Exactly, its a joke, also they show these slow motion videos about the flooding and mix it with emotional pity songs, what a joke is this, i just laugh.. But pity those families who live on daily income and now no house, no jobs, no food, no nothing, well done khun mai pen rais... Anyway, its a natural disaster regarding the changing climate same like Katrina or other so they have to put their best efforts to tell the ppl the truth not showing this useless dramas all the time...

Goes to show how little you understand about Thailand.

The Chaopraya river is the natural way for Bangkok to be flooded by this deluge. The chaopraya river has never been blocked. Bangkok could never escape "sharing the flood misery" with the rest of central Thailand.

But flooding Bangkok's residential and commercial areas by opening the flood gates of those canals (designed with intention to protect these areas) will have little positive effect (on the dispersion of flood waters) in the final analysis ..... but will have huge negative effect on the population

It was because of the negative effect that the closed gates were having on the population that the gates were open. Helps if you keep up with the rest of the country.

Why are "No Votes"being counted and reported?

Were they a registered party?

Were they listed on the ballot paper?

Shouldn't they be reported as invalid votes?

A border that is defined by a water shed line is not a border, it's a joke.

Are you suggesting the entire border from the sea to Laos be a national park? We all know about national parks in Thailand. Encroachment, encroachment, encroachment. So please inform all how you will define the border of the National Park? Will you use Thai standards or Cambodian standards or International standards. They have been there before with the ICJ and it left the two countries with a bigger problem than they first had.

Face up to the Face. This region only makes agreements to save face, not to resolve issues, solving issues generates loss of face. Why is Thailand so anti third party? For fear of losing face! Thailand gave up Eastern, North Eastern, Northern and Southern Thailand to save FACE.

If it was only as simple as you propose. Everyone is an expert including me, but no one really understands.

In some aspects you need to congratulate Cambodia in wanting to end it by any means possible.

Possible solution (please feel free to ridicule):

1) withdraw troops

2) talk

3) declare the disputed area a Bi-national Park / Wildlife refuge / open area...whatever

4) temples accessible from both nations

5) unarmed (!) park staff recruited from both nations to care for the ruins, collect entrance money etc.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

6) make it a buffered zone... no entry..... like the Korean.

and the world will be as one.........

How nice! I'm dreamin' too.... but let the Yellow back off first ....

let the Yellow back off first? Yes, absolutely and Let Hun Sen and his mates back off too. There are people rattling their sabres on both sides.

The ignorance of Thailand. Imagine what a good education would do for the country. Oops stupid idea, that would empower the people and we cannot have that in Freeland, where would they get their slaves from, "Cambodia"? No, much easier to find them in Issan.

Historically the Khmer were here before Thaskin, The Elite, the Yellow, the Red or the Siamese were even a glint in their mother's eye.

The Khmen occupied most of what you call Thailand, but then where is the free in Freeland. It's Thai culture, it's all they know. Expert killers, expert slaves, expert liars and expert at saving face, it's been going on for 700 years. It will not be fixed in a couple of months?

Thailand only exists because the Khmen self destructed. Now the same is happening to the Thais.

Share? Why....?? The Thais have no historical claim to the broader that is factually Khmer - outside of the promoted Thai fantasy, of course.

The Thais were there for 6-700 years. Isn't that historical enough for you?

reminds me so much of the USA, in fact a mirror image, Lincoln was right, problem is it did not get better, it only got worse.

the ignorance of the moral high ground! but then the world is used to it! apathetic to it! except for the people that continue to remind us by attacking it.

In some ways you could blame them for financially supporting a corrupt system here for so long.

Please tell me where the humanity is in that? Where is the moral high ground this righteous nation preaches from?

It's standing on a DOLLAR sign that is getting weaker and weaker by the day because bullshit, the selfishness and true patriotism.

Everything in S.E. Asia the US has made a mess of. Philippines, Indonesian, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

50 years after the fact when it feels it's time to tell the truth, we learn it slaughtered 2 million Laoations for no apparent reason.

It is ironic that they compare what happened in US due to the selfishness and true patriotism,

Someone should remind the Author, this is Thailand and Money talks and bushtit walks

The service has always seemed a step more shady than other similar ones, but...

Having survived many a day on the brink of death with some similar services, I found this service, friendly, informative, on time, but most of all safe in the shade.

it's all about location location location.

Genius, life altering idea.

Life, starlet gazing produces endless original life altering ideas. NOT.

I must confess I thought my starlet gazing idea was the most original to date. Getting 10 visas each time I went to the Embassy.

I also came up with the idea of doing away with visas all together! Imagine how simple life in Thailand would be for us ex-pats.

And then last night while starlet gazing, I landed on the idea of one country one world.

The best advice I can offer, is after starlet dreaming, take a few deep breaths and stay away from Blog sites or better still switch off your computer.

Now I have had my fun at your expense, the answer to your question is YES.