spidermike007

I have had a question for a long time. Many Thais love durian. The price is now 130-180 baht per kilo, including the massive skin. So, when you buy 300 baht worth of durian, you are not getting alot of fruit. Yet, the Thais buy it like it was gold. They do not seem to hesitate to spend a days wages on some of it. How does that compute? It is probably the most profitable crop in the nation.

This guy is such a clown. He stole the government for 9 long years from the people. He stole their economic well being. He presided over a horribly inept administration. He appointed a crony senate, that is causing a breakdown in the little bit of democracy that remains here. And he expects a peaceful transfer of power? He is asking for everyone to lie down, and accept whatever comes. Leave it to the army and the elites. Don't interrupt our actions. Be obedient. Do not rebel, do not resist.

Rebellious activities of the teenage girls. My, my. Sounds like a movie plot. Rebellion can be a good thing in a highly conservative society. Based on the level of passivity we are seeing, I would say bring it on.

Unconstitutional, unethical, likely illegal, corrupt, ugly, snarly, sleazy, suspicious, bizarre, fishy, ill mannered, inconsiderate, and arrogant. Can anything be done about it? Why have only 1,000 people shown up for a protest? Does anyone care? Where is the anger, indignation, and refusal to accept such a miscarriage of justice? Do the Thai people have any fight in them, or is this a complete surrender to the forces of darkness?

I no longer trust the Supreme Court, at all. They seem to be bought and paid for. I am in favor of expanding the court. Dems should add another 7 justices, asap. Too few justices. Important decisions are being made by folks with absolute no wisdom.

Some people I know seem to like to "collect friends". Like is it some kind of badge of honor, to have over 1,000 "friends". I have seen some accounts with 5,000 friends. Nobody has 5,000 relationships with people. It is just another bizarre aspect of modern, contemporary popular culture, something I just cannot relate to. However, I am not a big social media guy. I consider twitter, instagram, and especially tiktok, to be highly corrosive and part of the reason for the decline of culture and modern civilization. Facebook does not seem as toxic. But, collecting friends is just bizarre, regardless.

Theoretically, 95 should have a higher octane than 91. Both are 10% gasahol. I find my new car gets far better mileage with gasahol 95, over E20. Never compared it to 91. Gasahol 95 (orange) is 10% gasahol. Supposed to be easier on a newer engine. Would use benzine 95 (yellow) , but at 7 baht a liter more, seems too expensive. Hardly seems to matter with older cars. Does anyone know the difference between 91 and 95 here? Price is almost the same, so hard to believe there is a real difference in octane. However, bike mechanics have told me 95 is better for a bike. So, there must be some reason to use it, over 91?

Dumb and dumber. Darwin was right. The theory of natural selection, means we all have to exhibit certain survival skills, to thrive in this world. Self protection is just one of those skills. Some have it, some do not. Darwin insisted that some species and some members of those species were more fit for survival and self preservation than others. This clown does not appear to be particularly fit. Spending many years in a Thai prison is not a good way to preserve one's well being. Or a Chinese prison. Take your pick. Which would you prefer? See ya!

Outstanding news. I truly hope we start seeing more of this kind of civil disobedience. Especially directed at the crony senators and their families. Children included. No exceptions. Harass the families, embarrass them, shame them. They are traitors, and are defying the election and the will of the people. Encourage them to move overseas!

They kept the nation closed off for far too long, and decimated tourism. Then they partially re-opened, with draconian restrictions. It could take years for a recovery, that will likely never return to what it was before. So, if you want to put the blame in the place it belongs, blame Prayuth and Prawit. They are the architects of the downfall of Thailand, the increased suicides, homelessness, crime, unemployment, and unhappiness of the people. Let us call it the Prayuth Decimation. In regard to tourism, the very things people were coming here to enjoy, have been diminished. Less nightlife, less color (due to the pasteurization and homogenization of the place), fewer resorts and restaurants, and alot of visible decimation of the economy. The fake puritan goons continue to homogenize, pasteurize and eliminate what little culture, character, street life, entertainment and nightlife that exists here. This is not smart. This is fake puritanism. This is hypocrisy which is operating at the zenith of human foolishness. A total lack of understanding of human nature, and a complete inability to see what it truly appealing about this place. Thailand still has not figured out that it needs the support of the world 30X more than the world needs Thailand.

Kirida Bhaopichitr, who honours the position of Director for the Economic Intelligence Service at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) seems to be living in an alternate universe. There are a multitude of problems facing China's economy, hundreds of millions have not recovered financially from the severe covid shutdowns, and Chinese tourism to Thailand is way, way down. China's economy continues to face problems as factory activity contracted for a third straight month in June, following on from other lacklustre surveys this week. This is increasing the pressure on policymakers to shore up growth in the world's second-largest economy, which is flatlining after an initially strong post-COVID rebound in the first quarter. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/06/us-china-economy-stories-to-read-this-week/ The fizzled reopening isn't just a short-term disappointment, it's a sign that the old China is gone. The mechanisms that drove the "Chinese miracle," a triple-decade transformation that made the country an international force, have broken down. The bubble in China's property market finally popped. And because of real estate's central role in the economy, the painful process of absorbing those losses will continue to suck money away from Chinese households, banks, and China's massive web of local governments. China's working-age population is getting old, and there are fewer young people to replace them than at any time in the country's modern history. https://www.businessinsider.com/china-debt-economy-implode-stock-market-wall-street-xi-jinping-2023-6 Add in the ghost city issue, and the debt crisis really comes into focus.

I found a local clinic in the smaller town I live in, which offered a full blood workup, for around 3,000 baht. It was quite comprehensive. Also get uric acid tests from him for 200 baht. Bangkok Hospital charges 2,200 for the same test. A recommendation from a private hospital has to be taken with a grain of salt. They are very profit oriented, and I would not be surprised if the doctors were compensated for those recommendations, if they resulted in significantly higher costs. I would always get another opinion, before moving forward with anything substantial.

Srettha began his career in 1986 as a production assistant at Procter & Gamble Company, where he worked for four years. He then moved to San Samran, the company owned by Apichart Chutrakul, his older siblings and cousins. Later, the company changed its name to Sansiri. In the following years, Srettha held the position of CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the company. Before his political debut this year, Srettha helped build a family real-estate business into an empire called Sansiri Development, worth $880 million in market capitalization. Srettha positioned his company to attract upper-income home buyers and dialed up its posh image by completing construction on an uber-lux Bangkok condominium project, 98 Wireless, seven years ago at a prime location — next door to the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Thailand. Srettha was able to sell 98 Wireless at the country's top market price of more than $16,000 per square meter. He told the Thai Rath newspaper the 25-floor structure features rare Italian marble surfaces, Ralph Lauren Home interior designs and elaborate wall details executed by craftspeople who worked on Buckingham Palace and the White House. "I don't believe in military coups," Srettha said in an interview with VOA Thai. "The idea of me working with them in the same government, sitting in the same Cabinet … I can't see myself doing that." Well, he certainly sounds like a step up from the dinosaur realm. Will he show some sincerity when it comes to reform?

Total nonsense. This means nothing. The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) is one of the most feeble and ineffective of all the tools Prayuth has used to deceive the people into believing that he is fighting corruption. Who was the last high level authority, in the police, immigration, the army, or the active administration they arrested, charged, tried convicted, and sent to prison? Nobody. Zero. Nunca. Nada. Why? Because Prayuth has had a mandate from the beginning to do the very opposite. To protect the elite, the super wealthy who are guilty, those that are connected, and those who are in power. Just think Dark Tao. Just think Red Bull. The list goes on, and on, and on. Only the most naive amongst us believe he or ACT secretary-general Mana Nimitmongkol are sincere about this.

Most Thai real estate developers seems to be quite filthy. Have a good friend who battled one for 2 years in court. The judge consistently belittled their attorneys, as they were so arrogant they always came unprepared, unlike my friend. Eventually, the company had to pay, plus legal fees.

Aamzing how often we see someone on social media, revealing just how low they are on the Darwinian evolutionary scale. Some just do not have much in the way of self preservation skills.

Your son sounds like a very man. Good on you. Always nice to see one who does not give into family pressure, especially when it is nonsensical and sleazy.

I do agree. They are reasonable. It is shocking what some people are paying for domestic fares back in the US now. I find premium economy on EVA to be quite comfortable. Granted it is not business class, lay flat pod seating. But, it is half the price. And I fly often.

Also factoring in the fact that AirAsia does not allow hardly any changes, nor refunds. And they over charge for baggage too.

Low impact cardio, weight training with relatively light weight, and plenty of stretching. As much as you can justify. Helps alot in avoiding painful and long injuries. The older we get the longer it takes to heal the body. No exercise and no stretching are a recipe for impending disaster.

Sweet. I would have loved to have seen the look on the landlords face when she received the fine for malfeasance and failure to fulfill her responsibility as a landlord.

It does appear any meaningful change will require a full on revolution, by the people. Toss the goons out of power, and perhaps out of the county, into exile. But, I just don't see that happening yet. One would think after the covid failures, the highly selective business shutdowns, and the Prayuth Economic Decimation, the people would be fed up. I guess they have a much higher tolerance for pain, suffering and deprivation than I thought.

I used to know a guy who dealt in ganja on Samui, and he got busted with about a kilo. The cops gave him a choice, come up with 1 million baht within the next 48 hours, and you walk, or be tried for dealing and spend some time in prison. He couldn't come up with the money and he ended up spending about 17 months in the Samui prison. That is law enforcement in Thailand in a nutshell. Highly selective, who you know, who you are, and how much cash you have. This especially includes the joke, as he is chief. Even more so. Just higher amounts.

That is irrelevant. Thailand makes some very good products. The vast majority of high quality products made here are made by foreign companies, to their standards, and it all about foreign managers and supervision, coupled with pride of craftsmanship. Huge difference.