p_brownstone

Whilst I despise Taksin and his megalomaniac abilities to be expert on everything whilst listening to no-one, I have to remember that Dr Prasert Thongcharoen is one of the main proponents of an ongoing AIDS vaccine experiment in Thailand using a combination of two drugs - each of which has been proved to be ineffective by itself. This experiment has been roundly critisised by major AIDS experts as unnecessary and pointless, however Dr Prasert and his colleagues insist on continuing with the project.

I would also love to see some enterprising reporter investigate share dealings in the major chicken producing companies over the past two weeks or so - the time when insiders knew the disease was Avian Flu but decided to tell no one for fear of causing "panic".

I'm not holding my breath though.

By all means, I'll be taking it slow w/the guy. He's been in a monastery (as a novice, then a monk) since he was 12, but I'm still a little leery about the whole thing because, as I mentioned, we spent a few weeks together (but he was a monk at the time) and now we communicate only through email. But, you never know how these things will turn out...it could be really nice!

I don't wish to hijack or divert the thread at all but this comment raised major concerns in my mind about the chap, and perhaps any of the ladies here who have contact with the original Poster might consider passing them on.

Usually - not always, but usually - a child of 12 would only enter into the noviciate, and then continue on to become a Monk in adulthood, if he had no other alternative, i.e. he was destitute and had no family to support him. The only other explanation would be that he was a very devout Bhuddist.

Bhuddist precepts forbid direct contact between an Ordained Monk and any female; perhaps I am reading more into "we spent a few weeks together" than I should, but if he WAS a Monk at the time I would seriously question his character, and his motives for entering into, and continuing, such a relationship - particularly with a Farang girl new to Thailand and almost certainly not aware of all the implications.

Perhaps to get the thread back on track:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...401230032000013

I bought the card. So far so good. I don't play golf and have a residence already. The benefits for me are going in and through immigration very conveniently and getting to residence with limo in no time. I do not like standing in line at immigration or wait for visas, 90 days or retirement or other. The card takes care of that so I can come and go at my convenience. We fly abroad Europe, at least twice a year, Business Class, usually about 120,000 baht a tkt, times two. now it is two for one, some savings here.

Whilst the benefits for Piet may seem to make the Card justifiable for him (although as, say, an Amex Platinum Cardholder - at Baht 25,000.- per year - anyone can get 2 for 1 Airtickets ..... on many airlines, not just Thai) surely they serve to better emphasise doubts about the system:

1) The reason for issuing the Card in the first place

2) It's sustainability

1) If the reason for introducing the Card was to generate more income for Thailand, this has eminently failed in this case, Piet was quite able to purchase full price Airtickets in the past, now the Thai Government is committed to paying for him to fly. It is poor business sense to give something away if the Customer would be willing to pay for it.

2) In order to pay for Piets' Airticket benefits alone, the Card Company must generate Baht 240,000.- per year on the Baht 1 million Piet paid for the Card - just not possible on a consistent basis, so it is VERY clear here that the benefits are being funded out of new Card sales.

Like all Ponzi type schemes, those who get in first will probably recoup their investment, the unfortunates drawn in later won't.

Looks like even Leslie Kierig has given up attempting to justify the existence of this Card - yet another sign that its' days are numbered??

Arrived in 1971 and stayed for 13 years, felt I was in a rut and got a job in West Africa for 4 years (not my smartest career or lifestyle decision!) Came back to Thailand and been here ever since.

Thai citizen now, running my own Companies and enjoying life to the max, as a close friend of mine used to say "they'll burn me here".

I think you just have to look at the basic Maths:

Quote:

Paisit denied the firm was taking the measures because it was afraid of losing money. Income was sufficient to cover the Bt40,000 estimated maximum annual expense for each member, he said.

Unquote

Quote:

Proceeds from card sales are currently stashed in bank deposits but in the future an asset management company will be retained to invest its funds in the same manner as the Government Pension Fund. These idle funds represent 90-95 per cent of total reserves and the fund manager must make an annual return from investment of at least 6-7 per cent.

Unquote

If, just to cover the cost of benefits to Cardholders, the Company must make a Return on Investment of 4% (Baht 40,000 on Baht 1,000,000.- ) and is only expected to make a maximum of 7%, then the - at most - 3% is all that is available to cover day-to-day expenses (Office rentals and expenses, Salaries - including at least 2 Farang apparently), PLUS the cost of the promised "Roadshows" - Thai style Junkets for executives, wives and other hangers on - to promote the Card and attract more members.

It has all the markings of a Ponzi / Mae Chamoy scheme - so long as new "investors" are drawn in, their money can be utiulised to fund outgoings, once that income dries up, the whole thing folds, and the "Assets" including the Property "purchased" by Cardholders but actually still in the name of the Card Company or its' subsidiaries, are sold off at firesale prices to insiders to repay Creditors - quite possibly those very same insiders!

I believe you would also have major problems with the high Caffeine content of the real Thai Red Bull - and other Thai "energy Drinks" too I guess.

The U.K., and Europe, have strict rules on this.

You will find Chinese made Pellet Guns in Chatuchak, pistol types for around Baht 400 believe it or not, which fire plastic, round, pellets. Not particularly accurate above 10 meters or so but practice helps. I have one to get rid of the neighbours cats who used to use my lawn as a toilet!

Probably easier to let a Thai to buy one for you though.