Benjie

The international schools cost less than private education in the UK.

That's simply not true.

"British International School" quickly rises to nearly 10,000 pounds per year and "The Academy' is around the same amount. That's probably twice as much as the average private school in the UK.

Will you be working or retiring?

Xanax will be OK for a short course and often a quick blocking of the anxiety will allow yourself to settle into a state more normal within a few weeks.

SSRI's will likely take a few weeks to even start to work, may well make you more anxious to start with and will likely be a longer course that is useful if you will be going to some sort of therapy to sort out the underlying causes of the anxiety.

Any medicine that you rely on to combat anxiety will have addictive properties, in that relying on a medicine to stop you from feeling bad will obviously make you want to continue taking the medicine.

I'm not a Doctor but If I was you I would follow the prescription, it may well be that once the Xanax has taken off the edge your Dr might move you onto a SSRI.

"But if there was no theft there also would be no opportunity for the scam "

Your logic fails you again, Bienje

If you are riding your bike legally breaking no rules and stopped and asked for money, is that a scam without a crime?.

Can you tell posters a bit about your background . It might help us understand why you are taking these rather " hang them high" views without looking at all the evidence ansd sources.

Why are you quoting yourself?

The video evidence and the 8,000 pound get out of jail manuscript have both been posted online. Its pretty easy for people to make up their own mind about what happened. Of course there will be conspiracy theorists who see a much 'broader' picture possibly involving Freemasons but its pretty obvious to anyone without an agenda that they stole the wallet and were forced by the police to pay a huge sum of money to escape justice and Jail in a 3rd world country.

Two wrongs don't make a right, so it's fairly simple as far as I see it, Try to refrain from shoplifting and you will most likely have little to worry about.

"But if there was no theft there also would be no opportunity for the scam "

Your logic fails you again, Bienje

If you are riding your bike legally breaking no rules and stopped and asked for money, is that a scam without a crime?.

Can you tell posters a bit about your background . It might help us understand why you are taking these rather " hang them high" views without looking at all the evidence ansd sources.

I find it quite amusing that you talk of people selectively quoting and yet seem to be the biggest example of such action.

Some people just can't accept the fact that the Thai company involved in this is in the right, the ONLY evidence is a video showing them stealing the wallet and a piece of paper they have bought (and even talked us through the details), saying that they are innocent. They went against the advice from the British consulate - and wouldn't accept their help.

It sounds like you really want them to be innocent, for some reason.

It all just sounds dodgy to me, their acknowledgement that it's them (or him) in the video but that there is something 'odd' about the video. The fact they wouldn't accept the British Consuls help or guidance, sitting apart on the plane, the original article in which they hardly even protest their innocense.

I'm quite happy to say that in my opinion I am satisfied that they stole from the airport, what happened to them afterwards is terrible and would only happen in a 3rd world country, however if they would have simply refrained from stealing they simply wouldn't have been in that situation.

As other posters have said you are selectively quoting but you just can't see it, can you?

Look at youtr post above , you say and you put it in capitals: the ONLY evidence is the video.

what about the police letter. that's just one bit of "evidence" you don't mention.

Its only you that has said I am selectively quoting.

If you actually read my previous post I do mention the 'evidence' that they bought from corrupt officials, I don't think a piece of paper that costs you 8,000 pounds bought from corrupt police proves innocence.

"But if there was no theft there also would be no opportunity for the scam "

Your logic fails you again, Bienje

If you are riding your bike legally breaking no rules and stopped and asked for money, is that a scam without a crime?.

Can you tell posters a bit about your background . It might help us understand why you are taking these rather " hang them high" views without looking at all the evidence ansd sources.

I find it quite amusing that you talk of people selectively quoting and yet seem to be the biggest example of such action.

Some people just can't accept the fact that the Thai company involved in this is in the right, the ONLY evidence is a video showing them stealing the wallet and a piece of paper they have bought (and even talked us through the details), saying that they are innocent. They went against the advice from the British consulate - and wouldn't accept their help.

It sounds like you really want them to be innocent, for some reason.

It all just sounds dodgy to me, their acknowledgement that it's them (or him) in the video but that there is something 'odd' about the video. The fact they wouldn't accept the British Consuls help or guidance, sitting apart on the plane, the original article in which they hardly even protest their innocense.

I'm quite happy to say that in my opinion I am satisfied that they stole from the airport, what happened to them afterwards is terrible and would only happen in a 3rd world country, however if they would have simply refrained from stealing they simply wouldn't have been in that situation.

Not sitting together on the plane, yet obviously together as a couple - its starting to sound even more nefarious, wonder what their real purpose in Thailand was?

my agenda is to determine for myself if innocent people are being shaken down and so far I have yet to be convinced of it . People making judgements between the photo and the video is their call - I have not done so - my judgements have been on the video and whether it looks to me as if they have shoplifted an item. I don't think KP has released a video of some other couple.

as for your snide little insults ,maybe it is better for you to be a little more broadminded in your outlook

You can't even see that you actually state that you have seen nothing to convince you of their innocence. This is where we are different - I want to see something that convinces me of their guilt before I form an opinion. You want to see something that proves their innocence. Maybe it is better for you to be a little more broadminded in your outlook

"People making judgements between the photo and the video is their call - I have not done so "

Yes you have

"I don't think KP has released a video of some other couple."

Unless you have access to something that we do not, you have judged that the couple in the video are the same couple who's photograph appears in the news article. Are you losing the plot?

Hang on - So you are saying that you think it was the man in the video, but accompanying a different woman - who just happened to be stealing.

Its the same guy, Its the same girl with her hair brushed in a slightly different manner. It's obvious to anyone who hasn't got an agenda or point to prove that they stole. Regardless of our thoughts on the shakedown afterwards.

Still thats less than are likely to die from the 'normal' flu this year.

How many people do you know that have died from the normal flu? Most people get it every couple of years.

216 views and only one coment I am dissapointed.

What are you looking for?

Not sure but I had a very good experience with Bupa this year. We have coverage through our company, my wife included. We have the cheapest cover available, costs something like 2,500 baht a year for each person.

Earlier in the year my wife had to go into hospital for an operation, the cost was 54,000 baht - We got to the counter expecting to have to pay and try and get our money re-imbursed, instead we were charged 7,000 baht cash and Bupa paid the rest direct to the hospital.

Sorry its not a horror story, but I thought I should share it anyway.

Put the child in it's own room as soon as possible . I think certainly after 1 or 2 months , unless of course the child has some medical problem or disorder.

Why?

So they know their place. I think it is better for the kids to be in their own room as soon as practical. Presumably you think they should sleep with the parents ? Why ?

They know their place? they aren't dogs.

We have our children in our room at the moment, the oldest (3 years) is about to move into her own room at her own request and is looking forward to helping decorate the room. Having the children in our room has really been quite nice for us, we are a really close family and have a lot of fun together.

I'm sure that shoving a child in their own room immediately might promote individuality, however its only in the last 60 years or so in the West that humans have done that, the kids who grew up in that generation have the highest divorce rates.

Being accused of snatching a bag is not the same as being accused of mugging !

I don't think snatching handbags is something most people do when they are young, Its hardly stealing penny sweets from the local shop is it?

It's nothing to do with the PAL/NTSC signals like on the old days (50/60Hz).

Its more to do with regional encoding of the games. There are 3 regions, American (referred to as NTSC-UC), Japanese (referred to as NTSC-J) and European/Australian (PAL).

Not ALL games are region locked, some locked for 2 regions etc...

A list of the regional locking for almost all games can be found here Xbox 360 Game Regions

You seriously cant see the lady put down the wallet on the 2nd shelf down, then put it in her bag. Its not rocket science, simply look for the wallet, its on the 2nd shelf, she puts it into her bag and then its not on the 2nd shelf or anywhere else.

Well done - glad it all worked out for the best in the end, don't worry about the naysayers.

Surely there's no need for a guarantor for a 50% down.

I did hear something about Farangs not being able to stand as guarantors recently.

It will have to work hard to pull Linux off my netbook.

It is Linux

You are absolutely right. But Benjie has opened a new thread to continue his ramblimgs. Presumably because he has lost the argument on here

I haven't done either of those things.

Theres really no argument, they got caught stealing, the British embassy offered to help but they declined that and bribed their way out.

For a member who's new (since 2 weeks) on Thaivisa you're quite busy, defending Kingpower

But, let me repeat what I wrote:

""It's also not the point; the point is -guilty or not guilty- the extortion of enormous amounts of money from the people involved, apart from the fact that they were kept against their will, missed their plane and the amounts are not proportionate to the products involved, whether KP is/was involved or not.""

LaoPo

Yep You've got me, I'm obviously a Farang employee of Kingpower planted here to wait for two weeks to strike in their defense, more tin foil hat stuff.

Anyone who gets caught stealing is kept against their will by the police - that's the point.

Wow, Bengie. You love to be judge and jury, don't you

You obviously see no other person's point of view, only look at the posts that support your prejudged views, and selectively quote, ignoring anything supporting the alleged victims.

So if you were on a jury - and with people like you around I can see the reasons why some people are against a jury system - you would not question the timing of the kp letter, take no account of kp's history, would not question the video, would ignore the letters showing innocence given to them by the police ( and reproduced on this forum for all to see); but you would consider anything that you could twist to justify " hanging them high"

In a live debate you would be roasted alive by a ten year old schoolboy if you used the debating skills you are showing on this forum.

If I selectively quote, its only to keep the size of the post down.

I don't understand the other point of view, they stole something, got caught and luckily were able to bribe their way out of it. They then proceeded to claim their innocence, shout about their unfair treatment and how they were scammed. Everyone had condemned KP until the video showing them stealing shows up, and people continue to condemn them.

I would have thought it pretty obvious (Yes, even to a 10 year old) that the 'letter showing their innocence' is what they paid the money for.

In terms of the timing of the release of the video, the internet moves fast, large corporations, especially in Thailand don't. I'm sure there was quite a few meetings whilst they decided on releasing the video.

Kingpower found some thieves and told the police, what exactly do you think is their responsibility to those they find stealing from their stores? To mollycoddle and protect?

Whats this "even if the couple is guilty?" There is a video of the lady stealing the wallet - I'm not sure if there is any better evidence available.

The real issue for Kingpower is that the couple were guilty and passed over to the police as required by law, nothing else is their responsibility, including the wellbeing of the people who stole from them.

Personally I'm glad they had to pay 8,000 pounds, I'd be even happier if they were in Thai jail though. I see no excuse for their crimes, and doubt this would be their first offense - for all you know they spent their whole holiday stealing, probably paid for their holiday through theft and sounds like they are currently trying to defraud money from their insurance company with their allegations.

Sorry but there is not video of this couple stealing anything. There is a video produced by KP which they say shows someone they accuse of stealing. Only a court and not as jumped up kangaroo court can decide that.

You are a sad individual if you are happy that they had to pay £8000. You are pronouncing them guilty before they are have been to court and you condone, nay, you actively encourage police extortion and corruption.

I hope you receive your brand of compassion, multiplied to the extreme, when you are in need or protection from the "law".

So you're saying that Kingpower have produced this video, hired actors, commited libel, directed the MD to make a statement etc... and the couple are innocent. Yet you seem to have pronounced Kingpower guilty of making this up and the production of a false video simply on the hearsay of a couple, accused of stealing?

They decided and paid not to go to court. Personally I think paying 100 times the amount of the item you stole is getting off lightly, likely they have stolen 100 times before they eventually got caught, thank god they have been shown for what they really are, liars and thieves. Got to love technology.

If I ever decide to take up stealing I'll make sure to keep your advice in mind.

Whew, i was just in that store last week.

Never again!

Thanks for the warning everyone.

just wondering or am i a little confused - what in hells name are any of the Embassies or more importantly TAT doing about this - seeing that TAT in fact control the tourist police -- have u ever noticed that the tourist police are driving better cars - have smart new looking uniforms - all paid out of the TAT budget - so if this sort of things is inpacting on the tourist sector - which has been suffering numerous down turns and bad publicity why the hel_l is TAT allowing this sort of thing or are they just turning a blind eye -- and how the hel_l can this Sri Lankan embassy gangster be allowed to roam the airports and also work as a so called volunteer translater for the police -- or is this just another amazing case of amazing thailand - i had to laugh earlier when some TV poster was extolling the virtues of this country - was this the sort of thing that he condones - oh well keep the thai smiles going and ummmm TIT --

Apparently the British embassy offered to help and the couple turned them down.

In light of the footage showing the couple clearly stealing, its fairly obvious why they didn't want the embassy to help settle the matter legally.

Kingpower found some thieves and told the police, what exactly do you think is their responsibility to those they find stealing from their stores? To mollycoddle and protect?

Whats this "even if the couple is guilty?" There is a video of the lady stealing the wallet - I'm not sure if there is any better evidence available.

The real issue for Kingpower is that the couple were guilty and passed over to the police as required by law, nothing else is their responsibility, including the wellbeing of the people who stole from them.

Personally I'm glad they had to pay 8,000 pounds, I'd be even happier if they were in Thai jail though. I see no excuse for their crimes, and doubt this would be their first offense - for all you know they spent their whole holiday stealing, probably paid for their holiday through theft and sounds like they are currently trying to defraud money from their insurance company with their allegations.

I don't understand why men choice to have sex with themselves. Especially in Thailand. Although I disapprove of it, but to be realistic, sex partner in Thailand is not exactly difficult to find. Just give the bell boy a call, and things can be easily arranged at minimal cost (by western standard).

This might be a huge surprise to you, but some people refuse to engage in prostitutes. Shocking I know! Something to do with morality, or some such nonsense. Fascinating isn't it?

These same people who strangle themselves to death while masturbating in a cupboard of a hotel, thank god for morals.

Anyone who gets caught stealing is kept against their will by the police - that's the point.

It's not.

If anyone steals and the police takes him/her/them I fully agree.

It's the extortion of GBP 8,000 that blew the story, not the theft.

LaoPo

They've already proved they are liars and thieves, who's to say they didn't beg and plead to be let out the country (knowing full well they were guilty) offering more and more money. I'm surprised why you are inclined to continue to believe these guys were hard done by when there is a video posted of the lady in question stealing, and then their obvious lies and outlandish claims.