MrJohnson

for those who never saw it-

complete fake passed off as a documentary the 'bar girl' was an actress

The (Australian) film maker was booed out of the theatre when it was first screened in Sydney.

The devil is, as always, is in the detail. I understand that is a different set of criteria for discipline-specific rankings. And where is KMUTT?

As far away from me as possible. Noisy nuisances. And dangerous. But if you must ride one do it from where people are swimming please.

There is a blind man plays the clarinet (misery stick) outside Silom Complex. I give him money to stop playing. It sometimes works. I guess he is not really begging, he is busking. I'm the one begging. Please stop playing that one tune over and over.

anyone been to the airport today?

Surely a rhetorical question. It is a package deal. Strongly collectivist cultural framework etc. etc.

It will be a long and winding road. No elections until after ..................

On a completely unrelated note, a new season of "Game of Thrones" starts this week.

Indeed.

One failed state reaches out to another.......fàiled state.

Flimsy law enforcement as usual. A disgrace.

There seems to be a tendency for everyone to forget that this isn't just about the standard of law enforcement, its also about animal welfare

One follows the other in this case. It is not that I am unconcerned about the animal welfare aspect but at the core of this issue, as with so many others, the issue IS enforcement. There are laws that govern so many aspects of life here - but it is the issue of enforcement that renders them ineffectual.

This post is far too positive, cheerful and uplifting to be allowed on this forum.

Happy family! No scams! Everyone gets along! Outrageous!

Have a nice Songkran, it sounds like you will. Cheers.

The Sangha in this country is a disgrace. The 'temple' has been used as a haven for fugitives, criminals, rapists, pedophiles and worse, for far too long. It is clear they cannot self-regulate. This latest affair simply highlights it yet again. It will be however, a brave politician who wades into this particular cesspool. Net result? Nothing will happen. A bit like the Catholic church in some ways.

More quality, big-spending tourists.

Most of you do not speak or understand a word in Thai.

So, please cut the BS you are giving me about the Prime Minister and his speeches as you never understood anything he ever said.

Just spilling nonsense on TVF doesn't make you look clever but quite the opposite.

My Thai is good enough to recognize propaganda when I see/hear it Comrade. Is your Thai good enough to do likewise?

Born poor, stay poor and be grateful for the crumbs thrown your way occasionally.

Welcome to the Sufficiency Economy.

End of the month. Everyone is cashed up and going to Pattaya for the weekend. Not sure why.

If Grab taxi and other clones of this idea take off then that may go some way to solving the problem. The whole system needs re-working. There are no shortages of cabs in Bangkok but you have a 'system' where 90% of them are just driving around in circles looking for business. This not only wastes fuel it adds to traffic congestion. The flag fall needs to be increased and the fares to go as well. Part of the reason most taxis refuse to pick up passengers is that they know they will be stuck in traffic for hours for no reasonable fare. Just a start perhaps.

I was the only full professor at MUIC for six years, not teaching English. Likely the top University in Thailand, MU when AT ITS BEST, can prepare students to cling to passing if admitted to later study in USA.... and that is for the 20% fully motivated, studying students.

Let me spare you the sad stories and just say that Thailand universities will NEVER be on a rank equal even to state universities in the USA, the places I know.

The impossibilities range from desperately incompetent administrators (they do hiring, too) to faulty international faculty recruiting, to below low standards on "research" papers, to disinterested students not near in love with learning and having curiosity, to corruption and rug sweeping.

Improvement would only come from an expert determined Education Czar... like Robert Moses was for New York city planning. He had total authority to sell bonds, spend money, and on hiring, etc. His single intelligence and power given him shaped NYC forever. (He can be loved or condemned for the results of his plans and work, but he did bring housing and a coherent plan and achievement to that region of USA.)

The Thailand Education Czar must stop campus corruption, clean out deans' offices, appoint ethical competent presidents, and then move in an international team to revise the professorate with international standard teachers while converting whole campuses to all English and moving existing substandard faculty to contract employment during their phase-out. Credible tenure must be offered to get foreigner teachers to commit to living long term here (and interviewing costs be met by Thai colleges) and moving assistance provided (on campus housing for teachers is ideal).

TOTAL freedom of inquiry and expression is guaranteed faculty and students.

To get in, Thai students must be able to converse in English and take the mandatory 4-year English mastery courses regardless of their other major. (Think of that pressure on earlier-grade schools!) Counseling is provided to learn to be curious, politely, and to love reading and free inquiry and that questioning everything is noble and necessary.

The Education Czar also is to be provided with an armed home enclave and 24-hr bodyguards of retired SEALs. Good luck.

Well put. Good points all. I like the czar idea. Someone with autonomy, budget and power.

And of course, the bodyguards, a bus load!

They are a pain in the ass. Pure and simple. Every Thai I speak to is fed up with their sidewalks being taken over by the vendor mafia. It is not just foreigners moaning about it. What a pleasure it was to walk down Silom about an hour ago and not be dodging here and there around vendors. Now could the boys in green now go over to Sukhumvit Soi 11 and do likewise to the vendor mafia there. Many thanks.

It is clear that there are still some bugs in the system. I've used Grab about a dozen times and about half the

cars were old, dirty and poorly maintained. The drivers were OK although several kept hassling about how the

meter system was unfair and how they really needed an extra tip. My response " Take care of your mother".

However, better than standing on the side of the road flagging down 4-5 taxis before you get one willing

to take you to your destination.

Try using the trains in Sydney, Australia. Was there last week. Hopeless. Slow, old and always late. The BTS rarely has a glitch. Not too much to complain about IMHO.