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"Police said the boy is a son of a senior Army officer in the province."

That says all you need to know about justice being (not) served.

"...a new poll revealed most kids want adults to shape up by giving up vices and generally behaving better. "

They are just kids. I am sure their parents wanted the same things when they were children, and look how they turned out. This is just a phase in early Thainess which they will outgrow as soon as they develop adolescent hormones and greed.

"...chance to get a free iPhone 6 Plus and cash as handouts scheduled during religious ceremonies."

And Buddha wept.

Not easy for a third world country to enter the 21th century!!

Specially with a "leader" believing in black magic!!

Welcome to Disney-land.............................

Back home in the US most people believe in a sky wizard and his zombie son that will send you to paradise forever if you follow all the rules in his 2000 year old dungeons and dragons guidebook. Every president I've lived through has regularly call on this sky wizard to grant them powers and gifts and mystically guide our nation through danger.

However, combining the belief in the sky wizard and his zombie son with common sense driving and adherence to driving/ crosswalk regulations appears to prevent numerous road and pedestrian fatalities. Thus proving common sense, where it really counts, does work.

"... he is confident..."

Difficult to accept this prognosis in a culture where Mai Pen Rai is the motto of the workforce, and they haven't mastered to ability to build a safe and functional two lane highway.

"Passengers riding a public bus in a Bangkok suburb were forced to evacuate the vehicle early this morning when nearly a dozen technical students reportedly attacked the bus because it was carrying students from a rival school."

How does the government expect to bring the economy and violence in the south under control when they are unable to control a bunch of pubescent hooligans who continually attack innocent people going to and from work in the capital city? If I were a criminal, I would feel very secure knowing that I would not be caught after committing a crime. Mind you, I did not say someone would not be caught and prosecuted for the crime, just not the real criminal committing it.

"Thailand's Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda warns people in 13 northern provinces of possible thunderstorms and hailstorms from Thursday through Saturday as another high pressure area from China and westerly winds will converge in upper Thailand at that time."

Well, why doesn't he make thunderstorms and hailstorms illegal and crack down on them? I'm sure that would work as well all his other reforms.

"A Japanese man she dated prior to Shimato died after he fell down a flight of stairs in 1999."

They had to stab and suffocate Yoshinori Shimato since he insisted on living in a single story house.

"TOT and CAT Telecom are expected to clinch new partnerships with private telecommunication operators this year as they try to survive market competition."

Today's version of Packard partnering with Studebaker. Obsolete is obsolete,no matter who you partner with. If they want to survive, have a successful foreign telecommunication company take over and eliminate the outdated monopoly of lousy technology.

"... a fight between rival groups of emergency responders in Bangkok early Sunday morning."

Getting more like Buddha every day.

"It is not known whether Methas served a jail term or not, according to MThai"

Thai investigative reportiong at its best

"Rock star Pete Doherty has checked out of a rehab center in Chon Buri after apparently beating his heroin addiction..Doherty’s one relapse into heroin use came when he went to Bangkok in early December."

Sounds like the addiction beat him after a short visit to Bangkok. Probably won't be those temptations when he returns to his old environment. I doubt the odds makers in London are giving great odds on him staying clean.

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy..."

When you start near the bottom the only way usually is up.

You missed the most important bit...

Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy, prior to the coup on May 22.

I stand corrected. Thailand has found a way to start near the bottom and still descend even farther. Thailand: The hub of futility.

"MAJOR arteries in gateway provinces were clogged with vehicles all day yesterday, as the five-day New Year holiday break drew to a close..."

One would think that with the increase of road deaths and accidents over the holiday, the roads would be less congested. Just can't win.

"Thailand was judged to have made the ninth |highest progress in terms of its democracy..."

When you start near the bottom the only way usually is up.

"Coming first and third are Namibia and Iran..."

NOT FAIR...Take away the armed rebels along every road shooting at every motor vehicle and the IEDs blowing them up, then Thailand puts these two competitors so far back in the rear view mirror. Of course, no Thai would notice since they only use the rear view mirror to look at themselves.

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed confidence that the project to develop bicycle routes in the historic area of Bangkok will help promote happiness among residents."

Well, we won't have to wait for the holidays to see an increase fatalities. The drunk drivers will be mowing down the cyclists on a regular basis. Especially if there are signs with rules along the routes for them to ignore.

Tough, they only have themselves to blame - well Putin and his idiotic invasion of Ukraine

Putin didnt invade Ukraine. What do watch? Fox News the BBC perhaps. The US and EU where behind a coup that overthrew a democraticly elected government (not the first time). And then lie as if Russia was the bad guy. Its the reverse. Crimea is 90% Ethnic Russian and voted to remain part of Russia. I hope Russia stand up to these bullies and that there economy turns round.

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Most of the Russians I have met here just want to get away from the crap going on back home and live a peaceful life. They've added a lot to the expat community in a positive way. Then again, I don't live in Pattaya.