orosee

US bombing a sovereign nation thousands of miles away, and at the same time condemning Russia for helping its neighbours.

"Islamic State" is a sovereign nation, recognized by the U.N. or any single state? Go home, you're drunk!

Ukraine on the other hand, is still a sovereign nation, a little bit less so now after Adolf Putin stole the Crimea.

You are wrong on both counts. US is bombing Syria. Islamic State is not recognised by anyone except you.

The Kiev regime illegally overthrew an elected government.

Say what now???

US bombing a sovereign nation thousands of miles away, and at the same time condemning Russia for helping its neighbours.

"Islamic State" is a sovereign nation, recognized by the U.N. or any single state? Go home, you're drunk!

Ukraine on the other hand, is still a sovereign nation, a little bit less so now after Adolf Putin stole the Crimea.

Isn't it standard police procedure in Thailand to release dozens of statements to give the impression that they're hot on the perps trail, including wild guesses? This done to make the criminal nervous (some guesses may be close to the mark) and surrender to the nearest police station, since voluntary surrender + confession means a more lenient sentence with a chance of pardon later. Edgar Allan Poe style.

Over the years I've read plenty of police stories that ended this way. Not this one, I'm afraid.

I really wonder about the hoe and where it was placed after the crime. Of all the available options:

- leave it at the crime scene

- throw it into the ocean (not sure how the tides are there)

- wash off the blood and place it back where found

- carry it around for 30-something meters and place it very visibly against a fence, increasing the risk of being seen by a witness

the last one (what appears to have happened) seems to be to most risky and least rational. I feel there has to be some meaning to this.

Perhaps the police have already identified the owner or user of the hoe, and are finally smart enough not to pollute their investigation with their stream-of-consciousness press releases. At least there would be a vector from where the hoe was taken to the crime scene to the place where it was found.

Well if you can accept that a conscious entity (a god) always existed, how can't you accept that unconscious matter/energy always existed? For me, the former is so much less likely than the latter. Some religions gave creation myths for their deities but not the Abrahamic ones.

If you only wonder how matter (something) could come from "nothing", the answer gas been printed on millions of t-shirts, posters and Web sites. Maybe in the beginning there was no matter, but there was not nothing.

Now origins of life and consciousness, those are really big questions begging for better answers.

The problem with agnosticism is that it leads to Pascal's Wager. If you don't know whether or not (a) God exists, would it not be wiser to act as if there were one, considering the consequences (none if one doesn't exist, eternal damnation or bliss if there is one and you picked the right/wrong one)?

I imagine being agnostic as standing in front of a naked electric wire, not knowing if it is live or not. Now you can say "I don't know if touching this wire will kill me or not", but unless you're taping for "Jackass 4", you're not going to touch that wire.

Faith would mean trusting your 25 years younger Thai wife or her brother to flip the breaker.

An atheist of course uses an instrument of science to test for a live current.

But seriously, how does someone who labels himself "agnostic" manage not to be either atheist of believer?

I don't see any problem with Pascal's wager.

His words were primarily directed at the church, at a time when being an atheist could cost one his life.

"acting as if" = make believe.

Your example about the wire is flawed. Let's say the wire is connected to a switch.

The Atheist will see the switch in the "off" position and touch the wire.

It's rather the Agnostic who will test the wire for current, because he doesn't know the switch, maybe it has been wired wrong inside, or the "on" and "off" labels are swapped.

The Agnostic will also have tested the wire tester on live current before and after the test to make sure it tests correctly.

The Agnostic knows something is not there when it has been proven that it is not there.

The Atheist will jump to conclusions.

For example, let's say the wire is not connected to anything - the atheist will trust his knowledge and touch the wire. Maybe static electricity will kill him.

My soulution (pun intended) would be to find a good religious person and throw them onto the wire knowing their invisible freind in the sky will save them from the laws of physics....55555

555... The problem is, you'll never hear the end of it how that person was saved by divine intervention! The church was one step ahead, throw the with in the water, if she drowns she's innocent. The house always wins.

Oh also, god will turn the power back on once your test subject has been saved. Working in mysterious ways etc.

So how exactly is the Russian government 'hitting back'? What a piece of garbage journalism.

Need some glasses?

According to Paragraph 1 of a bilateral intergovernmental agreement [between Russia and Thailand], Russian tourists are allowed to enter Thailand for up to 30 days, after which they must leave the country, [but] the number of entries is not limited.

i.e. they can do in and outs as many times as they wish.

Yeah that's not what most people understand when they read "hit back."

That's like literally getting hit in the face and "retaliating" by saying "you're not supposed to do that."

So the poster is quite right, a sensationalist headline with nothing to back it up in the text. Garbage journalism.

OK, let's get this straight. For you, "hitting back" is a literal thing, not figuratively.

In "Diplomacy", publicly pointing out inaccuracies in what the people on the opposite side think/say/do IS "hitting back".

For you, "hitting back" means Putin should invade and annex Thailand in response to the Thai's ignoring a clause in an agreement made between the two countries? Is that right? Is that "hitting back" enough?

Nope, you're wrong.

Also, obvious strawman is obvious strawman.

So how exactly is the Russian government 'hitting back'? What a piece of garbage journalism.

Need some glasses?

According to Paragraph 1 of a bilateral intergovernmental agreement [between Russia and Thailand], Russian tourists are allowed to enter Thailand for up to 30 days, after which they must leave the country, [but] the number of entries is not limited.

i.e. they can do in and outs as many times as they wish.

Yeah that's not what most people understand when they read "hit back."

That's like literally getting hit in the face and "retaliating" by saying "you're not supposed to do that."

So the poster is quite right, a sensationalist headline with nothing to back it up in the text. Garbage journalism.

It doesn't get better than the Monty Python sketch but: Isn't that the van that takes kids to Clown College?

Besides, if that was my kid inside, I'd be having a very stern talk with the headmaster. Crowded bus or no seat belts, there's no excuse either way.

They found it necessary to pronounce her "dead at the scene"?

From a beheading...sherlock !

How british of them.

Yeah, that was a pretty redundant sentence (I guess writers get paid by the word?).

In the German press, they wrote about "the allegedly beheaded person." Not sure how you would be able to fake your own beheading in front of police and a coroner, but stranger things have happened.

Most smokers are inconsiderate.

Even with the E cigs!

This week I was dinning in a fine restaurant and two men were puffing on their E cigs and the smoke was so annoying I had to move the plates and glasses to another table.

In view of the foregoing, I'm in favor of a ban on E cigs.

I see idiots stomping out lite cigarettes on hard wood floors in restaurants where they should not even be smoking.

The streets and sidewalks are littered with them.

If you smoke, be considerate.

I would outright say that you're either lying or deluded. A fine restaurant would never have you move the plates etc. by yourself. Oh, and where there's no fire, there's no smoke.

2015 and half of the posts here are "he's not WHITE, how can he be British?". Yet the same person with a US passport would not be challenged, shows how far ahead the former colony is with respect to integration despite all the overt and covert racism going on there - if you're black in the US, you're hated because you're a black US citizen. In the UK, they still hate you because you're coloured AND question your right to citizenship at the same time.

Weird stuff to read from a country which used to have a mission to bring civilisation to the World.

So building safety is now decided by popular vote of lay people? And quite late at that. I'm looking at it now, fortunately it'll not block my sunrise. A visit to the observation deck will be in order when finished, a shame that the Seoul skyline is so unattractive.

Perhaps you can provide an up to date pic?

If I get a little closer I'll snap a few pictures. The construction is actually illuminated at night, but using my Samsung for a decent shot would be hopeless.

If this is it, it sticks out like a foreskin in a jewish nudist camp.

It looks like much more than just the foreskin.

Serious compensation issues!

So building safety is now decided by popular vote of lay people? And quite late at that. I'm looking at it now, fortunately it'll not block my sunrise. A visit to the observation deck will be in order when finished, a shame that the Seoul skyline is so unattractive.

With respect to the Spanish Flu of 1918,that date should give you a hint why it was so deadly. People were generally in a bad shape in Europe that year.

I used to catch the flu twice a year for decades, like clockwork. 4 years ago I started washing my hands after using public transportation and after handshakes and haven't had a case of flu since.

With kids of course you can't rely on such discipline, and if in contact with other kids, they'll catch whatever hoes around.

Still I consider the family flu shot to be a luxury vaccination, I never even heard if it until I met Americans. Perhaps it's not so much a European thing, but the statistics seem to say "don't sweat it".

Including a tobacco free product under the tobacco act? Very logical. Is it because it simulates smoking tobacco but without smoke or tobacco? Then I propose to include masturbation under the prostitution act, since it simulates sex without... Well you know what I mean.

Shisha makes sense, but vapes? You know it's about the money, a sin tax on a sin free product.

^^ Mate, I can understand your feeling.

Sadly the OP just worded his OP the wrong way.

Attacked me ... and then lost his audience as a result of the combined negative comments.

I don't think he's a Troll ... he has a long posting history asking the logical questions along the way.

Most likely he hasn't returned because because of the loss of face.

Simply put, I wish he would return, offer a blanket apology, suck it up (now that is being a man) and ask some more advice.

.

'loss of face' on an anonymous internet forum. You make me laugh david48. I did ask you to try and make more intelligent comments. Please make more of an effort- if your able to that is.

cheers

Taking your own advice? Try it?

Most people complain because they don't know the difference between an embassy and a consulate/consular section.

I'm enticed with those who left their country because "the government is too easy on social migrants" and then get furious when they can't get a visa for their Thai girlfriend in 60 minutes no questions asked.

I don't understand all the vitriol towards the OP.

His questions was: I'm having a baby, how much will it cost.? This is a completely appropriate and acceptable question to ask on this forum. Any foreigner, or for that matter any soon to be father living anywhere, for the first time having children wants to know the answer to that question, regardless of how poorly it was/is worded. It is a huge responsibility that comes out all blue and wrinkly, screaming and peeing everywhere. Yes, how much will it cost?

Ask me 20 years from now and I'll have the answer.

Any foreigner asking questions on this forum should also expect a substantial amount of vitriol even with the assistance rigorous moderation.

Well, there was quite a bit more than what you paraphrase. Plus an aggressive reply of the OP further down the page. A lot of the comments here refer to the first post, the "5 Baht per shirt" thing (personally, I found the strictly alternating restaurant bill settling a bit more funny). That, and a possibly unfortunately worded "man-up". Most posts here are from people who read the OP and then nothing else, so repetitive first reactions.

Whether the OP is a troll or not (probably not), some of the replies are actually helpful for others. People posting here seem to have a much more civilized behaviour towards their wives than you normally read about on TV. That alone is worth reading through every page.

A (good) man changes when he holds his children. Let's give the OP a chance :-)

You can budget in advance for children, but do not treat them like your car instalment plan! Every dollar the child needs extra goes out of your own fun budget, so learn to have more fun with the kids, I'm just finding out that that's an equally rewarding pastime (week 7 now and let me tell you, the first 6 weeks were tough!).

OP's total household budget seems to be limited (I figure 300 to 40 thousand baht more or less), that would explain the stingy tone of it.

I'm in Korea where you pay 2-4 times the price (compared to Amazon or Western prices) so my numbers may be off, I just list a few of the major cost producers:

- clothing (get second hand stuff, barely used. Family of your wife perhaps?)

- bottles and nipples (they used to be more fun without a baby). At least 8, and baby needs bigger ones after a few months.

- towels, napkins, blankets, lots of stuff you never thought you'd need

- bottle sterilizer (steam, worth it!)

- diapers. 6 to 8 a day, it's mad!

- formula. Try different brands. You may end up throwing a nearly full can away if baby doesn't respond well

- stroller, rocker, bassinet, toys, all that stuff that shops charge you dearly for

And your wife needs extra care too.

In fact, let her do the calculations. Discuss, but don't force your will.

Now go see the other thread about where baby sleeps.

I find it curious that apart from some insignificant Chiang Mai rag, this report that evokes so much emotion is only being carried by ThaiVisa. The normally reliable Bangkok Post has not touched it neither has ThaiVisa's mate, The Nation from where they usually lift their news items

Could this be nothing more than a cynical marketing ploy and alcoholic scaremongering by the owners of this forum, who clearly know the mentality of many of it's members, to enhance their advertising revenue by virtue of more hits to their website?

"George" is probably watching this thread in delight at the number of banal (but potentially lucrative), misunderstood comments that are being made.

I don't suppose my post will be allowed to remain here for very long!

Now you're getting it ... it's far more profitable to post "rumors" rather than "facts" ... page hits go through the roof (and consequently advertising revenue) when there's some controversy, true or not.

Just look at the pages of replies you see on the "I thought my gf/wife loved me, but she's only after my money" threads ...

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who checked for a "Not the Nation" tag after reading halfway through!

"Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal, so if a waiter is asked to recommend a particular brand of beer he would be breaking the law if he responds"

I have never been to a French restaurant or in fact any reputable fine dining establishment in Bangkok without relying on the knowledge of wines drawn from a Sommelier when I am at a loss for an eloquent marriage of food and wine. Their ability to match fine wine with a superb meal is ‘strategically on a par with that of the chef de cuisine's ability to bring a certain magic to the table through the food itself.

​For one NOT to have a sommelier at a fine dining establishment should be illegal!

Lets hope the Junta rethink this specific ban.

Sorry don't have the time of day for Sommelier..... I saw a documentary recently that got a group of "supposed" wine experts together and tested them. They dyed the red white and the white red. The poor fools couldn't even identify the simplest of wines..... It's mostly a matter of personal tasted like art, and Sommelier are little more than jumped up salesmen.

OK, yes I agree that advice on what is available in a restaurant is useful, and a basic agreed vocabulary helps, but it seems to me that EVERY Sommelier that I have ever seen or talked to, acts like a bad art critic, using flowery language that has little or no relationship to the subject they are talking about......

Sorry, I should have said IMHO, but not feeling that humble

As far as this new crackdown is concerned, it sounds ridiculous! No old bottles, no posters, no logos on glasses, no "pretties", and no promotional events, not even verbal promotion?! Sounds like the already poor beleagured landlords are gonna have to totally redecorate, replace half their glassware, replace glass fridge doors and all extravagant draught taps ( (promotional obviously).

Thankfully I believe that these will never be properly enforced and will fall by the wayside along with a lot of other similar Monday morning "relevations".

Wow, whatever they used to "dye red wine white", release it as a laundry detergent and make billions off it! I've been looking for such a thing forever!

Seriously, they may have filtered out the red particles but with that, they would have changed the wine's properties as well. Why not just conduct a blindfolded study and tell the test subjects "now you're drinking a red one, now it's white"?

My personal way to select a proper wine for dinner is simple: Find the cheapest wine on the list (not glass, bottle). Now find the wine that's 2 steps up pricewise. If I don't like the country of origin, check again one up or one down. I'm going to have to drink 2/3 of the bottle anyway (women!), so at worst the first 2 glasses will be awful, the rest of the bottle will taste great.