Emster23

Very nice of them to wait until most of the protestors had gone home. May have a tussle with vendors, as they seem to be in the majority at the sites. Action is like taking over a football stadium four hours after match is finished. Such bravery is commendable.

I would think there was more crime in Thailand than the West.

Are you SERIOUS?! WAAAAY more crime in the US than Thailand, hands-down! Thailand is one of the safest places I've been...and Bangkok is hands-down the safest large city on the planet...no place even comes close.

Thailand: 20k murders with firearms, USA: 9.3K

Thailand 41 homicides per 100k, USA 9.1 per 100k

Reported crimes can be a problem, because many crimes are "taken care of" with tea money in Thailand, whereas to try that in USA is a (Ta Da!) crime....

This comparison is interesting, at least to me anyway... http://www.nationmaster.com/compare/Thailand/United-States/Crime

Govt To Convince Try to con Foreign Tourists into believing All Is Well

"both sides' demand for justice and real democracy is the middle ground upon which a debate on the future of Thailand can be built"

I must have missed that part. Seems to be buzz phrases they use to hypnotize the masses. Both sides had plenty of time when they were in power to institute real justice and real democracy, but neither did. Judge a tree by it's fruit, and both of these have too many worms.

Tiger Woods for PM! Oh wait, he is "luk krung". Never mind......

"Afet bids for govt rice come in low amid high supply"

Duh. High school economics taught here? Supply and demand? This hare brained scheme accomplished several noteworthy things: lowered supply while government warehouses filled up (thus raising prices paid for those others who were not part of that boondoggle); now oversupply released will lower prices all around; and helped make Thailand no longer #1 rice exporter. 3 in 1 palm oil for those who don't actually make a living doing work, like raising rice for instance.

Glad to see that finally there will be a trial in Bangkok..... oops! Wrong topic!

These crackdowns always crack me up.

"Monks may be activily involved in struggles for democracy, but they stay out of politics" Uh, stop and think. Pray tell how is a "struggle for democracy" NOT politics????? This makes as much sense as some of Sutheps or Charlerms pronouncements, and that is saying something. And as I posted somewhere, rules of monastic life forbid involvement in politics. Period.

I don't expect the farmers to have degrees in economics, but seems if any of them would have thought through this whole program, they might have been able to conclude that it was defective from the start: buy high and sell lower (if a buyer can be found)? But they sold out, gave the reds their mandate to screw things up in new and novel ways, as opposed to the old guard, and now they are blaming the government they were so in love with? Your carriage has now turned into a pumpkin, it's time to face up to harsh reality of bonehead choices the farmers made.

Lay down with dogs and you get fleas.

"Crime and punishment: they apply to Thai govt as much as to individuals" in plain speak, they don't.

"Corruption main cause of ******* problems" and the tolerance of the public for it as long as they get a piece of it. Plenty of surveys confirm that.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Shit or get off the pot. Get in it or shut up. Can't win elections? Then change! The logic is so illogical and nonsensical in this piece.... It would be similar to my saying "More people in USA didn't watch superbowl than did, hence, Americans don't like the superbowl".

"complaints from Thai Tour Guides who claim that the Russians are employed in jobs they are more than capable of doing themselves."

Not just capable, but MORE THAN capable!

"the DSI who are the Thai equivalent of the FBI."

Not "federal bureau of investigation" (as in USA), rather Thai FBI (fawning bureaucratic incompetents)

Seems a no brainer to me: Get the master's. Above answers are right. Plus you may come to your senses and teach in a country where teaching takes place. BTW I have master's + 105 hours credit beyond in teaching.

Being half cast or half breed can not be changed.

We can start using a more neutral language that does not legitimise discrimination, by insinuating these are improper people.

I agree with you completely.

Only used this terminology to emphasize the Thai problem.

It is not mine and not OP family problem, but it is here and very real.

Half-caste (not half cast, btw) and half-child are not really that un-PC to be honest. I find the term African American more insulting, for someone who has never left America never mind been to Africa. Never mind that White South-Africans are not allowed to compete in some school's African American games in the States.

Eurasian sounds a bit crap.

Perhaps call them DC's. For Doubly-Cultured.

Though that would go against so many Westerners here not wanting their child to undergo any sort of Thai culturisms.

Brought to mind all the derision Theresa Heinz-Kerry got when she said she is African American: born in Madagascar and naturalized US citizen. More African than American blacks, but Caucasian ethnicity. And anyway, the largest city in Africa is Cairo, hardly a "black" city.

"Rules of monastic restraint"

10. to persist,in spite of repeated admonitions, in trying to cause divisions in a community which lives in harmony, and in emphasizing those points which are calculated to cause division

11. To side with a monk who strives to split the community

(from Buddhist scriptures, Penguin Classics)

Could be argued that community wasn't living in harmony, but I think number 11 takes care of that issue.

time to go get a real job AND drop "Buddha" from your name.

He's never seen any violence. So what I saw last night EARLY EVENING (along with a large crowd) was a hallucination. Sorted.

I did not say the might never be, but calling it a "cauldron of violence" implies that it is some sort of ongoing constant WWF tryouts type situation. But it isn't. Try rereading my post before coming to conclusion that I was doubting it took place or that you were hallucinating. Enough hyperbole's.

"The school of life has a high tuition, but some fools will learn in no other."

-Ben Franklin

I would not call the situation a "cauldron of violence". I have been living here for 8 years or so. Never seen any violence, perhaps some rushing like after Christmas sale. Then again, I don't get drunk and join that mob in the wee hours. I think lots has to do with attitude. At times there are many waiting it is true. But that means they are loading up as fast as they can. Gently move up with the crowds. Someone cuts ahead of you? So what. Means you may get home 3 minutes later than if hadn't been the cut. Don't sweat the small stuff. Even if you somehow win a fight with the Thai crowd, you are still not on your way home, which I assume is why you joined the line.

It is useful to learn a working ability level in Thai. I do not think you should try to show "you're one of them" by insulting other farangs and kissing ass. You will never be one of them. Be brief, polite and realize they have to deal with loads of <deleted> every day. Don't be one more. I know I would be hard pressed to be courteous to certain tourists from Eastern Europe, and I don't have to work with them. Not surprised at all that it was a Russian that was beaten down. Common manners seem to be very lacking in many of those who grace this land of smiles.

In high season I go up to the line, low season catch just after overpass. I always ask if "rot tamadaw" or they want "chatuh". Their business, up to them.

Lighten up people. No one is questioning your manhood, and even if they were, who cares what they think? Keep your goal of getting home or where ever in a reasonable amount of time, not the absolute shortest amount regardless.

"Inside every person with good moral values, there is a knight in shining armour, ready to fight on the side of justice"

Next time, bring your armor! Haha... Good job by the way. Do knights go out when their armor is not shiny, or they misplaced it and just stay home and have a cuppa?

Is he saying the "Thai way" of teaching blind obedience to those said to be of higher status, crushing anyone who dare ask a question, is not working? How can that be? Lots of teachers in Thailand are neutral: they just read a book and tell students to read a book. No teaching going on would imply they are neutral, or neutered. Whatever....

"More legal cases are to come. The government, before and after it assumed "caretaker" status, threw legal charges against Suthep and his key assistants."

hmmm they started out protesting amnesty bill, right? Is this suggesting there should be amnesty for the lawbreakers protesting amnesty? They knew full well they were breaking the law. But will not accept the consequences. I suggest reading "Civil Disobedience" by HD Thoreau. Plenty of my generation went to prison rather than serve in the military during Vietnam war. If anything they should flood the police stations en mass and demand to be arrested.

I have 54 mbps (supposedly) but actual transmission is usually between .01 and .04% of that, which works out to somewhere around a 56 k modem, and even that dribble is often not enough to send a line of text on skype.

Their true purpose is to turn "sex tourists" into "medical tourists"