chang1

1 hour ago, TTSIssues said:

My goodness, imagine if the police in UK, France, Germany or other western countries listed crimes committed by foreigners ! 

Albania is up in arms as it was suggested many crimes are being committed by Albanian asylum seekers. Then, soon after,  it was being widely reported that Albanian gangs are paying for illegal immigrants to enter the UK on condition they work for them.

34 minutes ago, Pinot said:

I've always been a big supporter of the General. I think he's done a good job and would probably be reelected today with a big majority. 

 

The alternative is Thaksin or even worse Yingluck, a couple of incompetent crooks that bought themselves into power. Let's not forget that Prayut came to power because there was complete anarchy. The General offered to broker the deal but the two sides were incapable of anything except more anarchy. It's been peaceful with FAR less corruption than when he took over. He hope he rules forever. 

 

My Thai wife loves the new Bangkok Mayor by the way, but he doesn't have a national party that could run the country. Thais are bad at democracy. My General has been a satisfying alternative. They just legalized ganja for Buddha sake! And legalized abortion this week. This guy is best liberal dictator a country can have! I don't understand the whinging that goes on here about him. Again, there is no viable alternative. 

This is the kind of attitude that has enabled Putin to be a dictator in Russia. People thought small changes were not a problem as things were going well for them. Then when Putin started to go off the rails they found out he could not be removed from power and clamped down on any resistance to him. A leader who can't be removed is very dangerous. 

We might not like Biden or Truss but we all know in a few years we will have a chance to remove them. LM and defamation laws are also extremely dangerous as they can be used against innocent people to stop free speech. 

If Cha Cha is so popular - why doesn't he want free elections? Why is the voting system rigged in his favour? Why are opposition parties persecuted? These are the basics any government should be judged by before you can take anything else seriously. 

Look at the world's greatest democracies and the most notable dictatorships and ask yourself which gives the majority of its citizens the better quality of life? I certainly wouldn't pick China, North Korea, Russia, or Thailand over the UK. 

19 minutes ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Report by Khaosod says Ford will buy the car back.

So it worked out for her.

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

"I can't stand it any more," she told the media. So I decided to smash it up so that the company will really know how I feel. It was a new car but it has meant nothing but repairs. I will let them repair it then I'm going to sell it and get what I can for it. Then I'm going to buy a new one".

 

Such a sensible act. Such common sense and reason, and such a clear head. Huh? I can think of a dozen ways of approaching this problem. I have absolutely zero fear of defamation. One has to fight for what is right, and those laws were written by easily bought and paid for men, by people with tiny hearts, great fear, and tremendous cowardice. I know I could have gotten satisfaction from the company, if it required going right up to the top executives of the company, with my pleas, and if that did not work, threats of major online campaigns. I have done it before. It works, in this day and age. 

Not in Thailand, you will get sued for defamation and the company will just keep adding more law suits to keep you tied up for years.

I'm sure you will remember not too long ago a pineapple juice company did it. I can't remember much but it was something like a Finnish NGO researching low wages for migrants. 

Search for Finnwatch and Andy Hall.

18 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Agree.

 

Totally agree.

Again, I agree.

 

I totally disagree. Without getting into the debate of the death penalty, it does not, has never done and never will deter people from killing.

It's probably less of a deterrence than life in a Thai prison but at least she could never harm anyone again. 

What to do in cases like this possibly involving mental issues is never going to have a perfect solution and I am glad I don't have that responsibility. 

However I  will say capital punishment should only be used in cases where guilt is beyond doubt as some people on death row have been found innocent.

She may have been coerced or be taking the blame for someone else. 

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

Disagree. Do you know what Buddhism is? One that speaks to others about how one should not live one’s life should not desire to look good. 

How come they are allowed to eat or drink? As that fulfills there desire to look good - being dead is not a good look.

How do differentiate monks who exercise to fulfill their desire to look good and those that only want to be healthy?

Just because it has the side effect of making them look good does not necessarily mean that is why they do it. 

Those videos may have been released to encourage other monks to be more healthy. I have not seen them so can't comment, but maybe they were trying to look better than the next monk.

2 hours ago, rwill said:

If having balls means wanting to go to prison then yes I don't have them.

Nor do I but I am not a resident. People like pumpkin are not just fighting for Thais, they are fighting for us. Thailand is on the edge of becoming a dictatorship and anyone who says they wouldn't protest or at least fully support those that do, are as guilty as those that are creating it. 

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

 Go apply this wonderful idea in China then report back and let us know how it went???? 

I expect the Chinese wished their ancestors had fought the communists a bit harder. 

21 minutes ago, novacova said:

Because it’s poison? Too much make’s one stupid maybe? 
 

I don’t touch the stuff either. Why? Because it’s POISON! for me anyway. I can’t speak for anyone else though 

Agreed, my interest was why he had never tried it, which he has explained. I am not criticising him at all, just curious. 

1 minute ago, AsianAtHeart said:

My parents taught me well.  I was taught that some people have personalities that will bring instant addiction the first time they try it, and then be drunkards for life--so best not ever to have even a sip, as one cannot know, until too late, if such applies to him or her.

Thanks, makes sense but I doubt 1 sip would do anything. I have an 8 year old and have the opposite view. I normalise alcohol around him but also show the problems associated with excess. I am lucky as I  know my limits, have never become aggressive and don'tget headaches. 

When he was about 3,  I showed him police interceptors on UK TV. Some showed people fighting after the pubs closed and I explained what was going on. The next time I  opened a beer to have with my dinner he didn't want me to have any, even though this was normal for me. When my wife asked why, he said it would make daddy angry. She gave me a black look and I was confused until I realised how he came to that conclusion. 

I applaud your abstinence but alcohol has given me a lot of pleasure (and pain) over the years and I will let my boy make up his own mind about it - with some guidance from me. 

4 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Not a drinker.  I've never spent five minutes in a pub, much less an hour.  Never consumed an alcoholic beverage in my life. 

Off topic I know but we all want to know why?

8 minutes ago, novacova said:

…I’m sure his wife and her family is probably embarrassed. If I did such a foolish exercise I’d never hear the end of it…Why you do like dhat ahh! ควาย!

Is she happy with the way Thailand is governed?

6 minutes ago, wombat said:

i don't understand why a guest in this country would do something so stupid?

Politics is obviously not your strong point. Look at my last post and maybe then you will understand. 

Russia was a democracy. Yeltsin got pushed out and Putin took over. Like chano cha he was popular. Putin used his popularity to gradually change laws which happened without opposition. Then he made it harder to protest which ended up with him starting the invasion which is killing thousands and will end with Russia being totally defeated and its economy in tatters.

Maybe if a few more people had stood up to him earlier Russia would be in a much better position and not despised by every decent country in the world. 

This guy is a hero standing up for Thais who can not speak out for themselves. He has more balls than 90% of posters here put together. 

When would you protest? If Thailand invades Cambodia and forced your Thai family to fight in a pointless war maybe you would think a little bit of resistance might have been a good idea. Countries can turn into a dictatorship in small steps. Not that Thailand would ever change voting procedures or impose harsh laws restricting opposition or removing opposition leaders or have laws restricting free speech or laws that stop people telling the truth about their leaders or monarchy, so nothing really to protest about here.

45 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Thailand will not have to get involved in the South China Sea scuffle, and nor should they. Thailand has been very intelligent by refusing the western narrative that you outline above - that the issue in Ukraine is 100% Putin's fault and that NATO are angels and their behaviour 100% perfect and certainly they didn't trigger Putin. An "undeniable" fact that is of course denied by many.

 I'm not usually praising the Thai government for their maturity in decision making, but here yes, well done.

Rather off topic but here goes.

Putin didn't want NATO on his doorstep so why is he trying to move his doorstep to Nato countries? Putin is doing a land grab pure and simple. Same as the ccp wants to do with Taiwan and the South China Sea. 

If Thailand doesn't care about the ccp land grabs, why would other countries care if China invades Thailand? Appeasing aggressors only makes for worse problems later on - just ask Germans how being in putins pocket feels now?

2 hours ago, blazes said:

When you've seen one wat, you've seen  'em all. 

I come for the weather and the smiles.

Getting rid of face masks would help. They really spoil interactions with Thais as smiles are important to tourists. 

1 hour ago, shackleton said:

Yes there are Tourists who do come to Thailand for the Temples

And beaches ⛱ 

Then there are others who come for the young girls in the bars and drinking alcohol and having a good time ????

I also agree 2am closing of the bars is a good thing as some people need their beauty ???? 

Exactly - some people come for temples and some come for fun.

After 4 weeks sorting out the house in Ubon I have booked a week in Patong. My wife can go look at temples while me and my 8 year old can have fun in Hooters but I doubt we will be out till 4am.

6 hours ago, swerve said:

Sounds to me like yabaa is involved.

"Taken into evidence was the fake gun, a 50 cm axe and one orange  yaba tablet in a plastic container as well as an item of gold jewelry."

I agree.