Leaving aside the arguments about who's to blame, and understanding that our tiny problems are dwarfed by the situation, what are the practical implications of the current situation on life here.

For examples:

Is my auto insurance still valid if I drive during times of Martial Law?

Are there times I'm not allowed out on the streets, streets I should avoid?

Do I need to stock up on groceries or bottled water?

I doubt you'll notice any difference

Don't panic. I do not expect you will get any serious and credible replies warning about any impact on your daily life. You wil be able for 100% to carry on as usual.

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

OHHH NOOO..!!!!!!!! Not the Bum gun....

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

That would be tragic...

last time martial law, there was a curfew that wasn't enforced. Everything else was normal.

last time martial law, there was a curfew that wasn't enforced. Everything else was normal.

I thought that was only when a state of emergency was declared.

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

I wrapped mine with a popcorn bag.

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

Yes I read a report that the CEO of Home Pro has been arrested and denied bail for stockpiling 1000s of them.

last time martial law, there was a curfew that wasn't enforced. Everything else was normal.

I thought that was only when a state of emergency was declared.

I can't recall exactly....must have been 2006 (but it could be the I complete mix it up with 2010, I am not sure now....).... we repaired a CNC machine and as it worked so smooth I invited the repair guy to a couple of beers.

It was a lot over curfew time. And as he often carries large amounts of money with him he also has a gun (not registered). But he told he already went a few times home during curfew....

I am more worried about what happens after all this has settled down. I don't imagine that things in 'Ban Kwai' where I live will change much.

No curfews (yet).

Keep away from the hot spots, if your car is damaged in a clash/military action: no compensation.

You live in Bangkok?

Today some intersections are blocked/heavy jams.

Some BTS stations jam packed.

Today I would avoid unnecessary travel.

Outside of Bangkok: no problems reported yet.

Here the villagers did not even notice in the morning.

TV is on in the evening only

In my opinion no need to panic (yet).

It all depends whether the rival groups will keep their mind.

If the reds would march to Bangkok? I'd better be off.

The main implication is that you can see loads of cool guns.

Even in the military coup, nothing changed.

Business as usual.

But ... what is a bum gun?

A curfew is the last thing they are going to want as it would mess with the tourists.

It wil be interesting to see what Thaksin tells his lackeys to do. it will also be interesting to see how long in his normally lubricated state it takes Chalerm to realize no one is at CAPO or listening to him anymore.

Unless jatuporn or Suthep doing something stupid goth of these groups will be left alone. I would not want to try anything dumb like a shooting right now i imagine the army has a shoot first ask later order.

Also under martial law there is no unjust shooting by military.

MY ADVICE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS:

IF YOU SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH SIGNS AHEAD TURN AROUND AND GO A DIFFERENT WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read that way too quickly as ...

"Practical implications of Martial Marital Law on Foreigners Daily Activities" ...

This is a good informational topic. Please keep it non-political. Cheers.

My Thai work mates are not even talking about it at the office today. It is a non issue for them. It is more an issue for foreigners like myself who have never had a situation in our home country such as this.

But ... what is a bum gun?

Ohh you poor innocent sausage you...

Years ago one might have been tempted to pack up and leave in a situation such as this but after a few years here it's...Oh well; what's for dinner tonight ?

Stock up on flowers for all the selfies you'll be taking posing next to the troops while you push a flower in their gun

From a similar topic. Well the cops were out up here collecting money for their mia noi's this morning so looks like nothing new up here. The wife is back to the farm with her workers, nothing new there. I was a couple of weeks late with the mortage payment to our subdivision owner, her husband big wig general, paid up right away, didn't want her to send a 'bill collector' around...lol. F-16's were up and about, visiting I presume, along with an air tanker, nothing unusual there, they've been here several days. The internet is working fine, seems like the tv also. I'll head into town this evening and see if the beer is flowing and the ladies working. Somehow I think it will all be as usual, just like '06. While we may yak away about what happens here, it isn't our county and try interfering, you will find out rather quickly. Frankly I worried more about the knock on the door, getting it kicked in or being disappeared when I was still in the states and would be worried even more there now. The US government doesn't like those that oppose it's un-Constitutional foreign, domestic policies or the plutocrats that own it. The finest 'democracy' money has bought. Sorry for the politics at the end, the devil made me do it.

My Thai work mates are not even talking about it at the office today. It is a non issue for them. It is more an issue for foreigners like myself who have never had a situation in our home country such as this.

Yes but do they even know?

Bum guns have been banned...apparently.

That would be tragic...

no shit!

For those of us in Back of Beyond land, it'll mean absolutely nothing. Generally outside of Bangkok (and of course the political hotbed of TVF) life goes on, nobody noticed or cared, it just interrupts TV while they scroll the latest proclamation. The last curfew we had in 2010 I seem to recall wasn't really enforced, maybe in Bangkok, but it'll have little if any impact...except for some of the more rabid posters on TVF, their poor little Yellow/Red fingers will be red raw with all the frantic typing!

Stock up on flowers for all the selfies you'll be taking posing next to the troops while you push a flower in their gun

I heard it named many things ... 'play hide the sausage' comes to mind.

But never have it heard it called ... 'push a flower in their gun'.

You learn something new here on Thai Visa each and every day ...

But ... what is a bum gun?

It's that handy little water fountain on a hose next to the toilet.

Stock up on flowers for all the selfies you'll be taking posing next to the troops while you push a flower in their gun

I heard it named many things ... 'play hide the sausage' comes to mind.

But never have it heard it called ... 'push a flower in their gun'.

You learn something new here on Thai Visa each and every day ...

Yeah, I might have phrased that a bit better lol

This is what I meant . . .