Emster23

Too bad these politicians (and all, come to think of it) didn't consider serving Thai people as meaningful occupation, other than fattening their bank accounts. Perhaps if they had, wouldn't be in situation we are today.

"Akeyuth became rich running a pyramid scheme two decades ago" (which means many became poor...). lots of reasons to whack him, and lots have been killed for far less. Police were doing it as public service, put a smile on victims' faces, part of their happiness campaign.

I'd like to see "Thai billionaire who killed cops caught" Did son of Red Bull ever go to the cop shop, or just straight down to Singapore?

I (foolishly) hoped the coup rulers might make some slight attempt at being fair and balanced, but most efforts have gone to cracking down on Reds and nothing regarding Demos. Is Suthep in custody yet? Has Hades frozen over?

Those who control the present, control the past

Those who control the past control the future

My ex went to school for gifted. Asked her what they taught about WWII. She said taught that "America was very bad for dropping atomic bombs on Japan". End of story.

Hey, they are talking about forced labor, not slavery...... I thought forced labor was early baby delivery.... As far as last government didn't fix it.... let's just extend that. No government here ever tried to "fix it". Slavery suits the unique cultural values of Thailand that are just not understood by the diplomats who attempt to impose cultural imperialism on this fine Buddhist land of smiles.

Nothing like getting a celeb photo to get staff to fall, Falstaff. With this sort of logic shown, next expect any heftier farangs to be sued as cause of bus crashes when brakes fail: "Not make to stop that much weight. You pay."

"Good story, but why do you need to specify she was Muslim?" They tend to be a bit more moral than average non Muslim in my experience. They try to live by their religions guidelines. Don't hold it against them....

A boy can make a baby, but takes a man to raise a child.

My gf got preg, dropped out of school, had village string ceremony, baby. 6 months after birth hubby decided he didn't like baby crying, so went home to his mama. Last she ever saw of that irresponsible bastard. Daughter is now 18.

My view is that posters who rant and rationalize hopefully know somewhere inside they are full of crap. Yes, women can raise kids on their own, so could fathers. But much better if both pitch in. If they don't then they have severe issues and should seek therapy, unless sociopaths. Therapy is usually a waste of time with them.

Yes, of course single moms look for someone to help them out. So would you if you were in their position. Try a little empathy.

Not all birth control works all the time either.

regarding Samson and his prostitute: Don't think he had a happy ending, if I recall movie right: eyes poked out, pulled down some temple on self and others.

Looking at her id card and job not enough. My ex wife was King's scholar, sent her thru best grad school, helped her get job with international company. Pure sociopath. More games than a decade of American baseball. When I met her she had written a little paper calling self "An Educated Bar Girl" (which I ignored and rationized away). Once she had drained enough of my resources, and become "A highly educated bar girl" she set things up so divorce was best option for me (and what she wanted). Now she is aiming to get up and coming young dude in international business. My only perverse satisfaction is that now she is playing with guys that can out play her. Be careful. I wouldn't wish her on my worst enemy.

regarding Samson and his prostitute: Don't think he had a happy ending, if I recall movie right: eyes poked out, pulled down some temple on self and others.

Looking at her id card and job not enough. My ex wife was King's scholar, sent her thru best grad school, helped her get job with international company. Pure sociopath. More games than a decade of American baseball. When I met her she had written a little paper calling self "An Educated Bar Girl" (which I ignored and rationized away). Once she had drained enough of my resources, and become "A highly educated bar girl" she set things up so divorce was best option for me (and what she wanted). Now she is aiming to get up and coming young dude in international business. My only perverse satisfaction is that now she is playing with guys that can out play her. Be careful. I wouldn't wish her on my worst enemy.

"Since the Thai state controls the schemes and the bosses, the elite will seek those cushy jobs and pay off the state officials with the big bucks."

WSJ apologizes for newbie written article, and issued this correction:

"Since the elite and the bosses control the schemes and Thai state, the elite will seek take those cushy jobs and pay off the state officials themselves with the big bucks."

I think "Money Still #1" nailed it when stated we are lower than fleas of a mange ridden Bangkok soi dog.

How high is too high a price? When it is more than you are willing to pay.

Here is a way you can save big $$$. Get used to the climate, use fans. Take a few weeks, but you can adapt. Also will give the freedom of feeling like you don't have to live in air con bubble. You can actually go outside and stay there in comfort! Leave a smaller carbon footprint so maybe your kids will have a world to live in when you are gone.

The amount of power used here to turn malls, theaters, homes, 7-11s into walk in freezers is substantial. I can't be in those places for long. Just too damn cold. I am from NW USA, and grew up in less than tropical climate.

Should have had category "<20k/month" imho

I had no problem living on less than $3k a month in USA, and was buying a house

Re: what is an expat? Quick look up got this:

"An expatriate (sometimes shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ("out of") and patria ("country, fatherland"). Nothing to do with job or age.

"They all tell me, they love me like a brother because i know too much." many tales of so called "brothers" visiting and getting in honey jar. And some girls friends and I have known play an advanced game where they refuse money (so you think not hooker) but actually just setting the hook in your cheek a bit deeper, going for bigger payoff, freebies are like an investment in the future.

We used to have that sort of riff raff messing with the land long ago in USA. We called them Indians and did our best to wipe them out. So what if it was there traditional homelands and way of life. Hmmm is this cultural imperialism by Thais? (see post about that)

Jpop? Kpop? oy vey! If one were looking for reason to suicide, listening to that stuff ought to do the trick!

oy vey!

What does this mean in English? Are they real words or have you just made them up? What language is it? Thai? Why is it used on the English language forum?

"oy vey" is a Yiddish term in common usage by regular American English (there is such a beast) speakers. Ever kibitz while watching a game of chess? Like bagels? Does it take chutzpah to say this? Or am I being a klutz... Good of you to catch it. All languages borrow from others. That's why I sit on my veranda in pyjamas in the boondocks and have a nosh. (Spanish, Urdu, Tagalog, and Yiddish again, I think). Good book is "The Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson... how English got to be the way it is. ALL cultures take from each other. I think there are more Thai restaurants in Portland now than Chinese. Should I protest that? Should all Thais give up their smart phones? (good luck!). You have a CV? That's latin, per se (so is that).... Enough of this spiel. Shalom

Jpop? Kpop? oy vey! If one were looking for reason to suicide, listening to that stuff ought to do the trick!

Kind of wish Sepp was old school Japanese. Their tradition is if lower screws up, then boss falls on his sword, so to speak. How he can dare even run again astonishes me.

How long before someone accuses the general of "cultural imperialism" in that he is trying to implement concepts like responsibility, accountability, following orders, etc?

'Not wearing helmets is our constitutional right." I assume you are referring to US Constitution. If so, please show me that amendment (they didn't have motorcycles when it was written, fyi). There is the clause referring to rights of states, which gives them decision making power regarding helmets and areas not specified as Federal duties. That is why helmet laws vary from state to state.

If an adult doesn't want to wear a helmet I think they should have something like a donor card, except this one would exclude medical care if you get your head cracked open because you confuse freedom with (dare I say) stupidity. I don't want my tax dollars or any of my other dollars keeping you alive on life support.

Other topic: taking vows of being bodhisattva does not make one a bodhisattva. I can take swearing in ceremony for new president, but doesn't make me president. Nice you did that, but do not assume that simple act "gets you there".

And..... concept of 0 was unknown (and leads to all sorts of math problems if using Roman numeral) was imported as "Arabic numerals" tho perhaps origin is India. And algebra is an Arabic word, which also gives you a hint of where that came from.

And.... I think the smallpox blankets 'gift" may have happened before there was such a thing as USA. But it is so easy and fun to blame everything on USA, even when there was no USA.....

Contrast that with Thai man whose driving caused death of friend's wife and fetus here: 1,500 baht fine.

23 sharks down, 100,000 to go. Get on it with a quickness, please

This is a slippery slope, be careful! Next thing you know, they will take licenses from the blind and this will be a nanny state so many whinge about.

Dear General: thank you for shaking things up. It was sorely needed, and I am sure there are more than enough screw ups and shirkers here to piss off a saint. Just try to keep a somewhat humble attitude, ask yourself at decisive moments "Is this of benefit to the Thai people?" and remember Lord Acton's "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" saying.

Everybody knows it was that dang Brit Newton (English ethnocentrist!) invented gravity and laws of motion. If he hadn't done that and forced it on the rest of the world, no one would need a helmet, crashes wouldn't happen (which law was that again?), and people wouldn't suicide off balconeys! Don't get me started on the likes of Faraday and that imperialist crowd!