creck

It still amazes me the dollar is even at this level when the US is so broke and yet their spending continues. With GDP about 1/3rd of its debt, it has no way to repay and by continuing to print money to pay debt, means the world at large must be stupid to keep accepting it as the reserve currency. The continuing 'appreciation' of the currencies such as Baht, Won and Peso is simply the USD is getting weaker, nothing to do with their strength of local currencies. IMO USD should be around 22 Baht not 30.

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Printing money, QEs, is much more complicated than paying debt. More about shoring up world banking reserves and backlashes from CMO. QE money has actually landed in the holes that needed filing, much like water seeking the lowest point. Research how much of QE3 has ended up in foreign markets where the banking weaknesses remain. Hate to break it to you, Feds actions is actually keeping world banking afloat more than US at this point in the recovery process. Fed and US could gave just shored up US banking and let European and world banking fend for itself, but it didn't. Rather than read whack a doodle internet sites that comain about anything US, take an objective look at it. Gratitude toward US not being so selfish might be more warranted.

And no, . . . US is not even remotely close to defaulting and will never default on it's obligations. If it gets to that point, all other world finial systems including Thailand will have already failed.

No offense, but statements like yours are just parroting ridiculous political rhetoric that has very litlle to rivalry reality. The truth is, our currency keeps the world currency in check.

Do you realize, we could destabilize China in a matter if 30 days which would take Thailand and all SE Asia finacial with it. China's currency is way more manipulated that US and US keeps it from the Yuan from appreciating and imploding China's entire economy.

We hold so much Chinese currency to keep the Yuan from appreciating, we could stop their entire economy in 30 to 60 days. Default, keep their money and we have 5 trillion and they have hyper inflation and an absolute inability to sell their cheap crappy products at rock bottom low price. What do you think that would do to the Baht?

The US currency is actually the only stable currency.

Your post has intrigued me. I am certainly am no financier or

banker nor do I have much money or gold. However, I think I ought to be able to

understand what you write about. But I cannot.

‘QE is much more complicated than paying debt’ this

statement implies that the Federal Reserve has a choice and it chooses to print

money even though it could repay the debt! Frankly, I do not believe that. The US debt is

about equal to the GDP and there is no way the Fed could repay anything like

significant amounts in the same time frame that it can ‘print money’. That is

the problem that the Fed has solved.

You say that they do it to ‘shore up’ world banking reserves

and backlashes from CMO. The CMO failure caused some banks to fail and most

banks (but not the Islamic banks) to be in deep debt trouble. How does

reducing the value of the dollar help those central banks holding vast amounts of

reserves in dollars? What is the relevance of the CMO failure; apart from that the

banks may receive numerically more dollars for the properties they now hold?

‘Manipulating’ of their currency is done by all governments

when they need to. That is what is happening to the US Dollar – is it not?

‘We could destabilize China [financially]’ I’m sure that statement

is not true. The common Yuan is not convertible and I am extremely surprised if

the Fed holds any significant amount if at all.

(I assume you use ‘We’ loosely to mean the American Federal Reserve.) China

could easily buy up any amount. After all they only have a national debt of 25%

of GDP.

The ‘cheap crappy products’ seem to sell quite well around

the world. I have seen those goods increase in quality enormously in my lifetime

and I see no reason why that should not accelerate. In a few years the RMB may

be convertible (although they have been talking about it for decades!) and their

economy may become the largest in the world. You should be careful what you say

about them.

Or maybe; you are just making this all up just to get some

posts. In which case I’m sorry I took the bait.

Shocking Yes.. surprising NO !

It's about time they shut Pattaya down..

Where!

Just why is this article written/published? Surely, it is common knowledge that nearly all countries either, turn a blind eye, accept whatever happens or control prostitution. Thailand is not unique. Thailand does it in its own way – which admittedly seems rather uncontrolled and widespread. It is not only for foreign customers, the facilities for locals are more wide spread but more discrete.

It is not really strange that we find the service provided in a Buddhist country, as the writer tries to suggest. I have seen just as much available in Indonesia, Spain, Israel and many other counties. If we go by what we see, the dominant religion is not important.

I believe the story that the Vietnam War is at the root of the service being provided for foreigners. Servicemen having a short break from hard conditions and being many months away from their wives and girlfriends were frequent keen customers. I have been told that the provision now is a shadow of what used to be offered in those years.

I believe that the article (intentionally or not) is trying to make the foreign men a scapegoat for what was always regarded as normal service available discreetly for locals.

Genitals are making contact, whether you allow their owners access to condoms or not.

what a short sighted statement,i bet u dont use condoms

Nothing short sighted about that! It is clear sight for sure.

Some "Genitals are making contact" and access to condoms will help to prevent every contact being so hazardous.

Sukhumvit 11 Sub Branch

171 Suhumvit Rd Khlongtoei Nua Wattana

Bangkok 10110

Tel : 02-2553680-3

Fax : 02-2553684

For sure this is the branch. I have used them for 10 years and the only guy who was a little bit of a problem left many years ago. I recommend them. Most helpful and seem used to helping us farang.

My English pension is paid directly to them in my normal ac - no special ac.

What are Travellers Cheques? Oh yes! I had some from my company for a foreign trip many, many decades ago.

I use a direct debit card for living; home and away. Cash is for taxis and small purchases, or where discount is offered for cash. For company expenses - a company credit card.

Am I lucky? From China to Brazil, I’ve never found a faulty ATM.

Hardly a motto ..... maybe an inaccurate description!

In a few minutes I garnered the following. I concluded that we need a new definition.

Motto:

Short phrase that usually expresses a moral aim

Short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule for sensible behaviour

Brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal.

Usually pithy and familiar statement expressing an observation or principle generally accepted as wise or true

Word or phrase used regularly to characterize something or some group

Phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization.

Sentence, phrase, poem, or word prefixed to an essay, chapter, and novel

Short, suggestive expression

Slogan, catchword, shibboleth (noun)

Favourite saying of a sect or political group

Brief statement of cherished truth

Kratae’s 62-year-old father, Lamiat Khetkhan, told Daily News that his daughter had supported the whole family as a “pretty”

“We thought of Kratae as the pillar of our family, who earned money to look after her younger sister and mum and dad,” he said. “All [we] hope is for our daughter to get better.”

Such touching words from the loving father almost make me cry.

In all families (or other groupings) the duties and needs of the group are shared around. Why is it that we (me included) are so surprised at an arrangement that is not: the man of the family earning the money; a woman doing domestic duties; the junior members getting ready for independent life and helping in domestic? The same comments would be made and not get the sarcastic response if it were the man in danger of his life.

By the way.........there are essential cosmetic procedures, people who have been born badly deformed or injured in accidents for example. By definition these procedures also carry risks but the benefits are far more tangible and essential in these cases.

In this particular topic it's vanity cosmetic procedures.......so that's a different matter altogether.

Cosmetic surgery, in this case and many others I am sure, was not for pure vanity. She was earning money though her looks. As she aged this became more difficult and she wanted to extend her ‘useful’ or productive life. This is true for many working in the entertainment business; both at the start of their working life and as in this case, it begins to end.

Ahem - a few members (if you catch my drift) could learn a thing or two from this post.

Don't want to catch your drifting member!

He'd be even dumber if he had got himself in all this bother for targeting ugly girls

Not funny.

It would certainly be very strange if he picked ugly women.

Who says he picked pretty women – he does – maybe his ‘eye’ is very unusual and he sees no pretty girls in Soi Nana.

Seems like you need the reading lessons 'master'!

"Phan Kamkong, 43, was caught in a volley of gunfire when he ran out of a central Bangkok apartment block to see what was happening after hearing soldiers open fire at a minibus" Phan had not been driving the van and did nothing more incriminating than coming outside to see what was going on...if not murder definitely manslaughter!

BP for once you make a good point. It is clear that this man was not the intended target of the soldiers gun fire - the van was - so the intention to kill him surely isn't there as the soldiers weren't aiming at him - so not murder as that was not the intention, responsible for his death yes, but not their fault, partly their fault at best

The van driver has to hold some of the blame as his actions, led to the reactions which caused the death.

Sad but true as life is cheap here, wrong place wrong time - bad luck.

Yr comment is only valid if the Taxi driver appeared from behind the van (in the army’s view) or immediately. I doubt if he was on the street in the right place at the wrong time. He had to get to the door and to the street after the volley of shots were fired. He may have been close, as he may have been in the security hut when he started. However, his positioning and timing seems to be over looked by the report and maybe at the inquest. I consider where he was, to be of crucial importance. If the Army could see where he came from and separate to the van (the van must have looked suspicious) they were just too trigger happy IMHO.

Just punish the guy who made it ... And all this will be gone ....

Why punish the filmmaker and accept oppression from Arabs? Freedom of expression anyone?

Because Freedom of Speech shouldn't allow hatred of religion or ethnicity....wouldn't you agree that the world would be a happier place if there was less hate of others?

Yes it would be a better, happier place. But you will not get that by trying to gag people.

What is this “legal wrangling”; I thought a court had passed sentence, no wrangling there. If he can show miscarriage of justice then appeal…

Only crowd control police kill people.

Crowd control soldiers are well trained to shoot only at the legs, and only use blanks or rubber.

Like the police are well trained to help the public and uphold the law.

many people don't know traffic rules. corruption is the major cause. issuing driving license is too easy.

Driving skills in the UK were promoted through constant airing of short advertisements on road safety and courtesy. This was then followed by the production of the Highway Code, which all drivers had to study before going forward for their driving test. A basic awareness of right and wrong, what all the signs refer to, and the penalties for ignoring them, makes all the difference!

When I first came to Thailand to work on a traffic survey and recommendations I asked the drivers in the office for a copy of the local Highway Code. After explaining what it was they assured me it did not exist. I did find one after a few months, too late.

The UK accident rate is as low as ever since records began. This takes a long time and persistent action on all items mentioned above. It proves that accidents are not a necessary part of life on the public highway.

The OP mentions two well publicised accidents. They are remarkable accidents but that is not why they came to prominence. It was because of the clear mismanagement of justice and policing. Not much to do with road safety.

The most important thing needed in Thailand is the setting of standards, training and licencing of driver training schools. The driving licence test needs to be to be useful. These two can only cause a long term improvement in accident rates but almost all other attempts are useless without this being implemented. Of course, the real enforcement of regulations must also happen before we will see any improvement.

The OP’s example of the hill start problem is a good example. The driving instruction and test needs to include a demonstration of this simple technique. I go about in taxis and rarely come across a driver who can do a faultless hill start. It certainly is nothing to do with the introduction of cars that help in this – how can it be?

The OP seems to be saying that better cars make worse drivers. This is an illogical and unproven connection. Cars have been steadily improved from the beginning. A reduction in vehicle caused accidents has been clearly shown. A mitigation of accident in car injuries is also evident. Other improvements have helped the driver in his difficult task of driving safely.

A better standard of accident recording and investigation would show improvements that could be made in the road environment. Many privately (and some utility) erected items block views and even intrude onto the road space. Road design and construction is quite good but maintenance and reinstatement is poor even when it happens.

Signs and white lines are not bad in Thailand; although the use of warning signs seems to be almost non-existent. The use of warning rumble lines is either over applied or absent depending on the route. Such things need to be consistently applied.

I dare not start to mention traffic control. It is so bad it needlessly causes driver frustration.

Yes will be there and my wife, she is over 20, and over 30 but don’t tell her I said so . Noted the date. Thanks for organising!

This seems like another tactic to delay the whole procedure by another year or two by ordering the DSI as to what they should do. Who the hell is he anyway to give orders to the police, that is the job of the police and the public prosecutors. I hope Weng produced the proof that the army did not have any rubber bullets.

Good, relevant information is far more useful than quick information.

Unless all the possible queries are answered then the controversy will never end.

It is fairly easy to prove that the army had and issued and used rubber bullets. So I hope that proof is issued. The absence of that proof would shout very loudly. However, that live rounds were issued and used has never been questioned by any one as far as I know – that is far more important.

The orders and the issuer of those orders under which the live rounds were fired are the most important item. Why were no ‘Normal’ crowd dispersal apparatus used? The police failed but did not seem to really try very hard. Do armoured water cannon not exist in Thailand? Armoured bulldozers? Tear gas? – Oh! I forgot, the normal way for the Army is to come out shooting. They have done it so many times in Bangkok. Look at history; can the Army change its spots?

They used 'Normal' crowd dispersal equipment at Thaicom and government house, when the protesters used molotov cocktails.

They were also had it on April 10. It's not much use against grenades though.

If you increase your own ferocity to match your opponent you will never bring an end until one side or the other is eliminated. Isn’t that what we see now? One side has to be more adult, more thoughtful, more clever, do the ‘security force’ want to win at any cost or do they want to bring a diplomatic end in a diplomatic country?

(Armoured water cannon will shield against grenades and blow away grenade throwers without injury to the security force.)

This seems like another tactic to delay the whole procedure by another year or two by ordering the DSI as to what they should do. Who the hell is he anyway to give orders to the police, that is the job of the police and the public prosecutors. I hope Weng produced the proof that the army did not have any rubber bullets.

Good, relevant information is far more useful than quick information.

Unless all the possible queries are answered then the controversy will never end.

It is fairly easy to prove that the army had and issued and used rubber bullets. So I hope that proof is issued. The absence of that proof would shout very loudly. However, that live rounds were issued and used has never been questioned by any one as far as I know – that is far more important.

The orders and the issuer of those orders under which the live rounds were fired are the most important item. Why were no ‘Normal’ crowd dispersal apparatus used? The police failed but did not seem to really try very hard. Do armoured water cannon not exist in Thailand? Armoured bulldozers? Tear gas? – Oh! I forgot, the normal way for the Army is to come out shooting. They have done it so many times in Bangkok. Look at history; can the Army change its spots?

This can not be true.

There were many soldiers around my house in the middle of that shootout, and most soldiers had rifles with very large barrel, I would say about 1.5 cm or so. The bullets had a red "ball" at the front, which was most likely rubber.

I am not saying all soldiers had those. Some had different weapons, but 6 or 7 out of 10 had those large rifles with big barrels.

The shots coming from the other side though, made holes through 2 "thai sized" concrete walls, so I could pretty confidently say those were not rubber bullets nor did they come from slingshots.

This event is surrounded by smoke, lies and fairy tales. I would love to believe what you report and why should you lie? Do you have evidence to shut up half the posters?

No system I know of can spy on criminals. It can attempt to spy on all of us. But with so many cameras the video cannot be observed in real time. If that was possible they could stand a policeman (or three) on each corner. I am sure that facial recognition software will have to be used after the event is reported. First you find the event. Then try to find ‘other’ shots of someone who seems to be shown as committing the suspected crime. The bits of footage I have seen are nowhere near good enough for this to work effectively. Are the ID photos held on a data base? And even if it does work how does that help? Maybe I have missed something. The number of crimes and people involved will be huge, or such a small proportion it will be pointless. Publishing bad pictures and saying ‘have you seen this person’ will not work; simply because there will be too many.

How can this prevent crime? There is no way this can be called crime prevention. It may be a small disincentive if it is seen to be effective at apprehending a significant percentage of wrong doers – but I doubt that will happen.

On line is an article published in the Telegraph (yesterday) that stated the Metropolitan (London) Police admit for each 1000 cameras one crime is solved per year. The cost of the system ‘so far’ divided by the number of crimes detected (not sure if this means solved) gives the astonishing cost of 20,000 GBP (about 1, 000,000 THB) each! Clearly not useful for the vast majority of street crimes.

telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/6082530/1000-CCTV-cameras-to-solve-just-one-crime-Met-Police-admits.html.

Not clear in the article or in the information about Bangkok is the distribution of cameras between the several tasks they can be used for. The type and positioning is different for traffic information (traffic control), number plate recognition and facial recognition. Many are poorly supervised private property security only. The numbers (crimes and cameras) in London (about 1,000,000 cameras) are also put into doubt by saying they are based on a small sample. This should not be true if (as stated) they were produced in response to a ‘Freedom of Information’ request.

Important Note: Important Note:

Since posting the above I have found an article on the BBC site exactly similar but dated August 2009. I guess the date on the Telegraph article is a revision date and the data refers to 2009 not this year.

It seems that a possible story that fits the Facts(?) is that he arrived on the 4^th. Didn’t find the girl he was expecting. Had no money. Waited and thought he could not survive without her.

Well it’s as likely as some other crazy suggestions.

Maybe he was so green that he didn’t realise that with no money, he wouldn’t survive with her!!!

“Any chance of explaining how one man uses his wealth to try to unseat a government with weapons. And the other does his job to protect the citizens he was elected to protect.”

How did that man use his wealth to unseat a government with weapons – we all know. That was an immoral and undemocratic thing to do. Why did he do it? It was a silly thing - he only had to be patient, the government would have been voted out.

The other man didn’t just protect the people he was elected to protect. He behaved as if he headed a freely and fairly elected government. Which he did not. All the demonstrators wanted was an election – why did he resist? Again, we know why.

What would I have done? Either resign or got water cannon in there before the barricades got too high and booby trapped.

In terms of body count, Thaksin will take the lead; in his term of office far more than 94 died. However, they were not demonstrators.