connda

"...unelected ′People′s Council′ established to rule the country."???

Sounds a little like 1917 Bolshevik Russia, eh' comrade. Hummm.

But Thais don't pay much attention to the affairs of foreign countries, no less ancient history like 1917. I wonder if any companies on the SET manufacture hammers and cycles? It might be time to go LONG agriculture product manufacturers in Thailand.

Getting Engaged - Giving Gold To Parent "normal"?

Only if Mom and Dad are willing to shell out for the cost of the wedding. Otherwise, Run!

"Boo-hoo....Ok, I'll stay."

Actually, I believe that Thailand is in the birth-throes of legitimatizing a new form of government: Government by Coup

It would sort of work like this: Someone fans the flames of discontent in some faction of the Thai social strata; critical massed is reached; and an unelected government is establish -- rinse and repeat ad infinitum -- no elections needed.

However, in reality, elections will periodically take place in order to give the world the feeling that there is a semblance of democracy in Thailand (don't want to scare all the farangs away), and of course, for the purpose of income redistribution in the form of 500 to 1000 baht payouts at to poll booths in order to keep the toiling, poor masses in check from time to time.

Actually for Thailand, I think Government by Coup works pretty well. They have the history for it. They just need to do is a few more times to refine the form.

Someone should make a Wikipedia entry for it!!! lol

Huh? Guess I haven't read the news for a few days.

I'm confused.

In Thailand when I what to call my wife, I dial 089+<her number>.

Outside of Thailand, I dial 66+89+<her number>

Why is the zero '0' not used in International calls, but is used domestically?

Has everyone else who has applied recently sent their Social Security Number and personal information to Manila via email?

That concerns me too, especially after over a million Google, Yahoo, FB users were hacked about two days ago. Email isn't secured, and can easily be hacked. At least the SSO website in the US is encrypted.

What "original" documents will the Social Security Administration in Manila require to be sent to them when applying for social security benefits.

A acquaintance said that they will need you to sent them your passport. If that's the case, then you are without valid passport while living in a foreign country. That doesn't seem right.

Has anyone done this recently. What can be verified at our local US Embassy and what needs to be sent directly to Manila.

We know it's game over when the guberment decides that you need to put 400k in the bank for your Thai wife tool I really don't believe that level of stupidity is out of the question. Give it time.

According to my wife, and confirmed by reply #34, the derailment was caused by points being the wrong way ie, operator error and nothing to do with the tracks per se.

So, those scoffing at the rail repairs can shuffle off quietly in embarrasment at being too fast to criticise.

How many derailments does it take to make a point. Please, get real.

Then they would have to start reviewing cases from 2006 onwards. Ain't gonna happen.

This is not my group being expat/expat partners in Thailand - however - this is blatantly another nail in the coffin for Thailand’s expat community and the ability to retain desperately needed expat managers at many global companies in Thailand such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other big or not so big companies with global offices.

You have obviously never worked for a global multinational company. They pay for everything.

Now, you and the misses want to retire here on a limited income. You're just got screwed. Try South America. Actually, I"m sort of sorry I didn't see this before, otherwise I'd have retired in South America. Still might be an option.

So they think "farangs" will marry each other to get a thai visa? Yeah, we are the scammers here,right?

...and what married retired couples in Thailand have a joint annual income equivalent to GBP 32,000...? If we placed such a restriction on Thais entering the UK, they'd be screaming "racists"....!!

If this happen in the UK, they would be screaming 'racists" in the world community, they would have every global anti-racist organization up-in-arms.

But LOS...who cares. No social welfare programs available for the farang masses to suck on, so who cares?

It only harms Thailand. Fine. What a stupid f***ing piece of legislation.

This only hurts middle and lower class farang.

Xenophobic legislation at best. Let's figure out how to keep the farang (who can't display income streams) from entering the country.

OK -

Husband has $500,000/in liquid assets

Wife has $0/year in liquid assets

KICK HER OUT!!!

What total f***ing stupidity. Idiots!

Have you ever played with one of these.

If you have, you'll understand the strategy.

Hummm. checkmate in two?

My goodness. That's one of the most biased articles I've seen on this situation. The author is not even trying to hide it.

It also needs to be run by the editor again for grammar checking, imho. Biased? I'm assuming this is op-ed which is opinion which is...well, biased.

Why a lying piece of crap! Thaksin and his cronies have blurred the lines between the legislative and the administrative branches of the government. To say they're both seperate is an outright lie we've come to expect from this PTP government.

Wait until they blur the lines between administrative, legislative, judicial, and their corporate sponsors; then they'll have truly achieved 'developed country, first-world, status. Lol

"Business as usual" defined: Corruption, damned corruption, and outright criminal acts.

Now, throw those pesky protesters in the hoosegow and toss away the key. Lmfao

Somebody better be there to take pictures of their nervous faces the next time these officials board a train to prove how safe it is.

I'm assuming the Railroad Puiyai will head back home in their chauffeured BMW's and Mercedes' with police escort. They should be coming down Thapae Road any minute now.

Road accidents are possible; derailments are a guarantee; loss of face -- priceless!

the ghosts don't want anybody to go to Chiang Mai by train

It's a 'sign' by the ghosts that we a 2 trillion baht High Speed Train from BBK to CMX to China.