spidermike007

3 hours ago, jackh said:

I keep getting these girls saying "Love you long time...buy me honda". What's up with that?

The best line I ever heard was "Me love you tonight, me forget you tomorrow". A classic.

There are con men everywhere. We are all run into them. This is nothing new, nor is this interesting on any level. Just deal with it. Just say no to a con.

Years ago, I spent some time in India. This was back in the 1970's, when India was dirt poor. There were so many beggars, and some of them looked genuinely hungry. I started by giving out spare change. But, I quickly realized how many pros were working the street. So, I started carrying around a day pack, with bananas. If someone approached me, I offered them a banana, or two. If they were truly hungry, they were very grateful, and you could see it in their eyes, how much that little bit of food meant to them. If they were pros, they looked at me with scorn, and occasionally cursed me out. I did not care one iota. I had found that precious "truth meter". That was all I cared about, was being able to see through the charlatans, and being able to help the hungry. 

15 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

Funny. I was not a big fan of Obama. He just broke too many promises, and tended to lean toward what was expedient. But, after 8 months of Trump I will take him. For that matter, I would take Brittany Spears. Or Humpty Dumpty. Or Michael Dukakis. Or President Pence. I kind of like the sound of that, at this point. Get used to saying it.

Having a hard time finding airlines that are on the bottom tier on this forum. So here goes:

That's Okay, I'll Pass (Rating: 3)

• Afriqiyah
• Air Bagan
• AirAsia Thailand
• AirAsia Zest
• Avia Traffic Company
• Bangkok Air
• Camair-Co
• Cambodia Angkor Air
• Drukair Royal Bhutan
• FastJet
• Felix Airways
• Fly540
• Garuda Indonesia
• JetStar Pacific
• LAM
• Libyan Airlines
• Nauru Airlines
• Orient Thai Airlines
• Polynesian Airlines
• Scat
• Somon Air
• Tajik Air

Definitely Not (Rating: 2)

• Airlines PNG
• Ariana Afghan Airlines
• Blue Wing
• Daallo Airlines
• Kam Air
• NOK Air

Not If You Paid Me (Rating: 1)

• Batik Air
• Citilink
• KalStar Aviation
• Lion Air
• Nepal Airlines
• Sriwijaya Air and Nam Air
• Tara Air [Editor's Note: Tara Air's rating is now listed as "Pending" on AirlineRatings.com. As per Captain Samir Sajet, a regional aviation safety officer for the UAE, Tara Air and sister carrier Yeti Air are "the only airlines in Nepal to achieve an IATA global safety standard" and "the only Nepalese fixed-wing operators to have been assessed by the UN World Food Programme as having good enough safety standards to pre-qualify for their global humanitarian air charter work."]
• TransNusa
• Wings Air
• Xpress Air

The World's 20 Safest Airlines

On a brighter note, AirlineRatings.com just released their annual announcement of the world's 20 safest airlines. At the top of the list for the third year in a row is Australian carrier Qantas, which has never had a fatality. Here's the full list, in alphabetical order: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Scandinavian Airline System, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/lowest-airline-safety-ratings

I have flown Kan Air, and Nok Air a number of times. Have enjoyed the flights, and have never had an issue. Service was good, baggage handling was fine, and on Nok many of the flight attendants are adorable. Like their uniforms too! Kan Air flies small planes, which are an absolute joy to fly in. Highly skilled pilots, and nearly new equipment. It is a shame they do not cover more routes, in my opinion. I flew them from Chiang Mai to Pai. Utterly delightful 22 minute flight. There were only four of us on the plane, that seated maybe 20.

20 hours ago, Dave67 said:

They are Santi Thipamon, Nanthaporn Boonmak, a school director's son, Apipat Apinyakul, a Nong Khae-based police senior sergeant major's son, and engineering student Supakorn Sopa.

 

If true good, if not surely defamation, oh sorry forgot where this took place

 

Thank you for calling them out. More of this needs to be done. Cowards and toads need to be shamed. The family names need to be sullied. Since we are not able to tar and feather them anymore, we must do what we can, to call a pig a pig. Rape is itself a heinous crime. But, when coupled with murder, it boggles the mind. There are certain acts a man or a woman can commit, that essentially revokes their right to breathe the same oxygen those of us that have kindness, goodwill toward all people, and charity in our heart, are able to breathe. 

Hope they get convicted. It is highly unlikely, that they can find a judge who is both impartial, and courageous. But, one can hope. 

She was a hero to so many, for so many years. And now that she is in power, she has turned out to be weak, ineffective, and unable to resist the mind boggling degree of hatred, ignorance, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance coming from a large part of the Burmese population and alot of the ignorant Buddhist clergy in that country, being expressed toward these rather helpless minorities. 

Is she a racist? A xenophobe? A nationalist? I am not certain. But, more and more she is appearing to be. She needs some good PR assistance. Or she needs to grow a set, and start standing up to the truly ignorant, and making a case for compassion and tolerance. So far, she has been fabulously unimpressive, as a leader. 

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I do not think it matters if Obama started this to win votes or if he thought it was the right thing to do. What matters is that people brought to America as kids, a decision in which they had no say, ( and given the laws on age of criminal responsibility didn't commit a crime by doing so),were offered the chance to come out of the woodwork on a road to being legal. Those who did have shown a respect for the law and in so doing are quite possibly better and more honest citizens than many native born. To pull the carpet from under them is a really low and reprehensible thing to do. Those young adults TRUSTED the Government, who now wants to use their honesty and desire to abide by the law as the tool to send them to a country they don't know, may well not speak the language of, and quite possibly have no friends or relatives.That is a very shitty and narrow minded, evil thing to do.

True that. Well said. There is no doubt that Trump is the most callous, heartless, soulless, black hearted half man to occupy the office since Nixon, that paragon of virtue. His entire life has been devoted to the pursuit of money, no matter what the cost. He has taken down thousands of small businessmen, and ruined countless families, in this vain, ruthless pursuit, and left 3,600 active lawsuits in his horrific wake. It appears that this man, who is completely lacking the quality of charity, kindness or generosity in his heart and soul, is applying that same M.O. to the White House, and subsequently to the US. For some Americans, who have been indoctrinated with the false belief that their quality of life has been reduced by these immigrants, it all makes sense. Personally, I think most are overwhelmed by nostalgia, and the feeling that things were better before. Sure, on some levels they were. That is due to a combination of factors, primarily both the outsourcing and shifting of overseas jobs that began under Reagan, and the mind boggling degree of easing of environmental, and industrial regulations started by Reagan. 

But, the America that I see, is a much better place because of these immigrants. Most I know work really hard, for low wages, and do not complain about it. They are real men and women. They are dignified, law abiding, honest, and kind. They pay taxes, and most do not get anything back. Despite what alot of the extremists, and racists on the right like to say, many studies have shown them to be a net benefit to the system, economically. Plus they bring alot of color, and flavor to a land that would be mind numbingly boring without them. And if you want to discuss the fact that they are illegal, we then have to discuss immigration reform, and the reasons why so few legal immigrants, who are not wealthy, are admitted into the US. Not something the deflector in chief likes to talk about, nor alot of his devotees. 

Lastly, it should be known that I an NOT a bleeding heart liberal. I am centrist, and believe in some conservative positions. But, I am also a man of some compassion and reason. 

Until today, 9 airlines in Thailand have passed the ICAOs strict Recertification Inspection regime and can now resume normal operations.

These include Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, NokScoot, NokAir, Thai Smile Airways, Lion Air and Sabaidee or New Gen Airways.

So, is it possible to determine the other airlines, who did not pass? Were they small charter airlines? Or tiny players like Kan Air? Were any of the big guns cited? Defamation, schmefation. It absolutely stinks. The law reduces Thailand to a very small state. 

The majority of the fake news I am seeing is coming out of the White House. From the deflector in chief. The ultimate manufacturer of fake news.

The defamation laws here are almost criminal in themselves, in their extreme level of cowardice. Call them out by name. Stop cowering in a corner. Live your life.Stand up for what is right. Be a man. Why even write the article, unless you are going to call out the ones who have failed the test?

Well, if it was really 40 men, and it is a small village, it means alot of the men in the village would have been involved. More than likely the headman, and possibly the police. So, there has to have been alot of covering up going on. My suggestion is that the family move immediately, and find a village with decent, respectful people living in it, not an animal village populated by pigs. Then they can pursue the case with some degree of safety.

The recent hyperbole about making America great again, and putting America first does not help at all. It encourages nutters like this guy, and creates a false sense of pride, in an eroding, declining, downward falling empire. It encourages nationalism. It brings out the worst in people. That is what Trump is best at. Bringing out the worst in people.

Donald Trump. The art of "I can't make a deal to save my life". 

5 hours ago, Thian said:

Well compared to it's neighbours Thailand achieves a lot more...Still nothing compared to the West but hey you can't expect that.

Both Indonesia and Malaysia are far more dynamic and progressive than Thailand on countless levels. And Indonesia is far stronger economically. Sure, stronger than Laos, Burma and Cambodia. But, what does that mean? Not much of a comparison. A better comparison might be the Thailand of 15 years ago, and the Thailand of today. 22nd largest economy in the world before. Barely 30th, today. 

Anyone in Thailand who is worth over 500 million baht is above the law. Any and all laws. Just look at the Dark Tao murder case, for proof of that. The fabulously wealthy headman of Sairee beach was able to buy permanent freedom, and lifelong immunity for his son, with his wealth and influence. When someone is worth billions here, there is no touching them. Not in recent Thai history, and not in the near future. Just the way it is.

Any protestations to the contrary are based of naivety, and any declarations to the contrary by the authorities, are simply meant for public consumption, and the avoidance of a loss of face. Anyone in power knows he will never return to Thailand, and if he does, he will be exonerated, or granted immunity. He is completely above the law. Any and all laws. Including the army, as tough as they pretend to appear. 

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

After the Ebola cure comes one for macular degeneration and cancer and heart attacks.  Is there no end to Thailand's contribution to the world's health?

They are the world leaders in innovative cures for disease, international sports competitions, film awards, drama awards, literature, journalism, nuclear research, botanical inventions, pharmaceutical progress, traffic safety, crime solving, the fight against corruption, human trafficking, slavery, and the development of contemporary cultural, and awareness of such. As well as the environment, and sustainable energy development.

In the dreams of a few rather silly and churlish men.

20 hours ago, JAG said:

Thought provoking.

 

If they do not enter the lists in the next election, will they perhaps fall foul of the principal that if a party does not compete in an election it disbars itself from the next one?

I know that clause was not enforced in the case of the Democratic Party (well surprise surprise), and I don't know if the same rule exists in the new constitution. If it does it will surely be gleefully enforced, if it doesn't it will probably be retrospectively introduced.

 

If they do take part, win a majority of elected seats and form a government you can as you suggest expect them to be overruled constantly be the "independent agencies", Suthep and his goons will probably hit the streets again, there will be manufactured "chaos" and thy will be removed at some stage, to be replaced by a junta.

 

Taking part, but not attempting to form a government? Well that may be a better way. Their presence in the lower house, especially if they have a majority of seats, will be a permanent reminder, domestically and internationally of the gerrymandered nature of the new system. The case for doing so will need to be well-made, and constantly re-presented to the public.  There may well be a reluctance to form a government, even if it is theoretically possible given the "casualty rate" - jailed and missing of those who did last time round! Their presence in the elected house may serve as a Siamese  equivalent of the slave who rode in the Roman Emperors chariot on grand occasions, whispering "remember you too are mortal" in the imperial ear....

 

When the current regime, or it's gerrymandered successor self destructs, they will be better placed to succeed.

I firmly believe there will never be another military coup. I believe we have seen the last one. Why? Well, the moral authority that was present for the past 70 years, that more or less allowed the coups to happen, and gave them the blessing of the people, is now gone. Forever. So, there is no longer a moral authority to sanction the coup. And without it, the people will not back it, and will resist with every ounce of their strength. So, the only way for one to happen now, is if it was a brutal Egyptian style coup like the one in 1952, the Pakistani coup of 1958, the Burmese coup of 1963, or the Pinochet coup of 1973.

And I think the army understands this predicament. And that is at least part of the reason they are hanging on with such a sense of desperation. Remember. The reason for them remaining in power, was to assure a smooth passage. Once that happens, whatever tiny shred of legitimacy they had, will be gone. Forever. 

It always struck me as a big risk, carrying the entire family on a motorbike here. One wonders how many of the riders were wearing helmets, and if any of them were helmets of decent quality. And when you are driving, and you are this tired, you just pull over, rather than risking your entire family.

Many of us drive motorcycles or scooters here, and it is dangerous getting on the roads with some of these other drivers. 

Getting on a scooter, or a motorcycle anywhere in Thailand, much less Phuket, Phangan, Dark Tao, or Samui without a very good helmet, is like playing Russian Roulette with three or four bullets in the chamber. It is absolutely asking for problems. The degree of recklessness here is astounding. And many foreigners come here thinking "how much trouble could I get in on a little scooter, on a tropical island"? Well, the answer is alot. The amount of foreigners who are killed on the Southern islands is staggering. Most are not reported in the media. I had a friend who worked for Samui rescue for many years, and said the numbers were about 30-60 a month, on Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. The official number is about 3 a month. Rider beware. Use as good a helmet as you can afford, and do not use these eggshells pieces of crap. They crack at the first impact, and what lies underneath them? Your skull, which is very delicate. 
 
Just ask yourself- do I have enough problems already, without a broken skull, or smashed head, or face injury, or lost eye? I have two friends who have been in motorbike accidents on Samui within the last two years. One still cannot walk, or talk or function on her own, from a motorbike accident, where she hit her head on the pavement going only 20 kph. The other one has lost alot of his mental capacity after hitting his head. He insisted for years he would never wear a helmet. Now, he seems 15 years older. 

2 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

 

Personally I don't believe anything that comes out of Thailand from official 'sources'. Having lived here a decade any illusion that this is the LOS has been dispelled. I have also found Thais, generally, have no respect for truth, ethics or integrity and that's not because they are 'bad people' but it's just not been taught as important. What they care about is 'face' number 1, 2 and 3 and if they have to lie that is completely acceptable.

There might be some truth to that. On occasion, I have even gone as far as thinking that some Thais in the tourism industry, in really jaded places like Samui and Phuket, think there might actually be "Buddhavistic" merit, in getting over on a foreigner. Who knows? But, I agree about official sources here. I do not believe any of it for a nanosecond. 

However, having said that, I think the party may be losing some of the little bit of momentum and popularity it once had. I think alot of supporters were very turned off by the actions of her brother, while the recent demonstrations were going on. They seemed extremely self serving, and it did appear he had no love for his nation, nor it's people, and only his self interests were of concern. The fabulously inept leadership of his sister did not help either.

My question is, where is the next group of leaders going to come from? Does Thailand have anything to look forward to, in this regard? The countries political future does appear to be rather bleak at the moment.

This is good theatre. Actually too good for Donald. It seems for a change, maybe he is actually listening to advice, from his advisors? This is very, very unusual behavior from this man. Perhaps Kelly is slapping him around after all. 

My guess is that it is actually quite painful for Donny and Mel to be mixing it up with commoners. I wonder if she wore her stilettos to the shelter. Much less handing them food. But, heaven knows he does need some good PR for a change. 

Another out of work actor, having a bad day, after having forgotten to take his medications. He is in no way indicative of the average American. Granted, there are alot of ignorant Americans out there. I am American, so I know from experience. But, this fool was just "acting" out, and being stupid. It really means nothing, except that he needs to stick with his prescriptions, that he got from his psychiatrist. 

Kings of the world is the last thing Americans are, these days. The empire is crumbling, and it is being led by a freak show.

More than likely it was the truck used to escort her to a private jet, at Don Muang, so she could escape the country with the blessings of those at the top. All of the fuss that is being made is strictly for public consumption, and to avoid the pathological fear of losing face. 

19 hours ago, nausea said:

Yeah, in my ignorance I was thinking tactical strikes might be an option, buI I just read an article by Geoff Shares (https://warisboring.com/why-there-are-no-military-solutions-for-north-korea/ ) and, wow, it is scary; we're talking WW2 scale casualties and God knows what impact on the global economy. So it seems a military solution is just fantasy, and I have to agrèe Putin is right, however much kowtowing to Kim Fatty the Third might stick in the craw. 

Absolutely correct. There is no way to bomb North Korea, and not have it lead to a massive conflict. As usual, Trump is just blowing alot of hot air, and the man who devoted a substantial amount of effort to avoid the Vietnam draft, and who is pathologically scared to death of personal danger, or harm, is just spurting more hyperbole, to placate his devotees. Chances are, if he was in a street fight, and got slapped on the side of the head, he would fall to the ground, crying hysterically. That is just the kind of man he is. Hardly any man at all, in the heat of battle. 

It would appear to be common sense, to yield to an ambulance. We are talking about the sacrifice of anywhere between 5 to 15 seconds of your life, to help an injured or very sickly person to safety. Is that not just a decent thing to do? Wouldn't your instincts tell you so? 

The concept of fining people for not pulling over is kind of silly. First of all, they do not hand out tickets here, for traffic violations, and public safety risks, nor for reckless driving. It rarely happens. So, how does anyone except the man in the ivory tower expect this to happen? 

On 9/1/2017 at 5:13 AM, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Or, put another way, Bangkok's middle classes and elites arrogantly believe that only they should have a voice in the running of Thailand. Not surprisingly, rural voters and the poor don't accept this. 

 

While I am not a fan of the Shins or the red shirts, I applaud them for opening up the debate and empowering the less fortunate. They have created a situation whereby any future government will have to take into account the needs of the poor and rural people if they want to have any chance of success. 

 

The lesson for the Bangkok elite and middle classes is that you cannot ignore a large portion of the population anymore. 

 

And you won't have legitimacy if you do. Period.

 

And that is a good thing. 

 

As much as some of us disliked Thaksin, and Yingluck, the former was the first prime minister in the history of the nation to really do anything specific, to benefit the poor. The vast majority of the nation had been completely ignored prior to that. Perhaps the small man can learn something from that lesson. Perhaps. He does not appear to embrace learning, nor does he seem to have any interest in doing anything to benefit the majority. 

Good idea. Though it should be taught by people with experience, instead of some ignorant teachers. 

For those of us who are trying to understand Thai women, always remember a few things. First of all, Thailand is not a foreign country. It is a distant planet. Secondarily, do not have an expectation of common sense. Thirdly, do not attempt to use Western style reason. Fourth, take your time getting to know her. Time is always your ally, and rarely is it an ally of hers. If it is good, it will only get better, and if there are real problems, they will manifest themselves, over time. So take your time. Do as Bond would do.