Why is the MAGA movement so susceptible to crazy conspiracy theories?

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FLOWER OFFERING BUDDHIST FESTIVAL
Merit making for the masses
Phatarawadee Phataranawik
The Nation


Temple abbot Phra Dhamabhidok who innitiated the massive merit making in 2008, accepts offerings during the procession. Photo/DMC TV

Saraburi's unique Tak Bat Dok Mai ceremony, which marks the beginning of the rains retreat, risks being overshadowed by commercialism

SARABURI: -- THOUSANDS OF BUDDHISTS in the Central province of Saraburi will be up and about before the sun on Wednesday, busying themselves preparing dried foods and rice to offer to 3,000 monks in the annual merit-making ceremony known as Tak Bat Dok Mai.

Wat Phra Phutthabat, about 30 kilometres from Saraburi town, has long been famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual Buddhist lent retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha and every year in the late afternoon, as part of the ritual, the monks climb the steps of the temple to pay their respects to the footprint.

For their part, the faithful offer food to the monks early in the morning and return later in the day to present them with dok khao phansa - yellow and white flowers that bloom only in the weeks leading up the Buddhist lent - along with candles and to wash their feet in a gesture symbolic of washing away their sins. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study.

The unique Tak Bat Dok Mai and Royal Candle Festival is a firm part of the cultural heritage of Phra Phutthabat district, and has been practised since the Ayutthaya period.

Back then, it was a simple and touching rite. Today, though, the merit making, while undoubtedly sincere, is also a major tourist attraction.

Traditionally held on the day following the full moon in July - the beginning of Vessa - which this year falls on Friday, the festival is now a three-day affair, beginning on Wednesday and running through Friday.

"Traditionally, we held Tak Bat Dok Mai on one day, but now the merit making takes three days and is very much focused on Buddhist business," says Saraburi native and devout Buddhist Supot Mahabohisat.

"When I was young, I climbed Suwan Banbhot mountain to collect dok khao phansa to offer to the monks. We never spent money buying the flowers. Today it's a business. The villagers here plant them and you can easily buy them in front of the temple," adds the 65-year-old Phra Phuthabat native. "Even 40 years ago, the merit making was very basic. We would offer the dok khao phansa in the late afternoon. Now it's being done twice a day, both in the morning and afternoon."

Supot is not against business. Indeed, for the last two decades, he has been one of the dozens of vendors selling amulets and other devotional items within the temple grounds.

He is not, however, keen on the way the festival has been adapted to benefit the tourist industry nor on the promotion it receives to draw more visitors, as manifested in the Tourism Authority of Thailand's call to "witness the world's largest and Thailand's only Tak Bat Dok Mai and Royal Candle Festival".

The one-day event evolved into a three-day festival in 2001 to accommodate the ever-increasing number of devotees making their way to Saraburi to mark Vassa. Seven years later, the temple introduced a massive merit-making ritual, leading to criticisms that it was turning Buddhism into a business in much the same way as Pathum Thani's Dhammakaya Temple, which also supports this event. A notable difference is that Wat Phra Phuthabat offers the food it receives to needy monks in the South.

"The massive merit making was initiated by the abbot Phra Dhamabhidok in 2008 when Buddhist monks in the three southernmost provinces were unable to go on their alms rounds because of the insurgent attacks. The abbot offered all the food to monks living in 323 temples in the south," Phianjai Rotjanasinwilai of Buddhist group Saraburi Romyen tells XP.

But the festival is still big business, generating Bt180 million for the province, according to provincial governor Vichien Putthivinyu.

This year's merit making begins at 6am on Wednesday with the mass alms giving to 3,000 monks. Phainjai says Saraburi has about 3,600 monks living in 500 temples and in 2008, 2,552 monks joined the event. "The numbers increase every year," she adds.

The morning continues at 8.30am with the offering of 89 elaborately carved candles to Phra Phutthabat temple. Then at 3pm, there's a parade featuring cultural and floral floats. The official opening ceremonies are set to begin at 5pm.

Designed accomodate tourists from around the world, there will be two rounds of offering flowers to the monks on Asalha Bucha Day (on Thursday) and Buddhist Lent Day (on Friday) at 9.30am and 3pm.

And in addition to the food, candles and other daily necessities offered to the monks, a more recent twist is the giving of light bulbs and LED torches to the monks, instead of candles. It's a modern upgrade that has Supot wearing a frown.

"Although the festival benefits my business, I do worry that that young generation will misunderstand our heritage of Tak Bat Dok Mai," he says.

FLORAL OFFERINGS

For more information, call the Phra Phutthabat Municipal Office at (081) 398 5133 or the Saraburi Romyen group at (089) 787 4462.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Merit-making-for-the-masses-30265212.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-27

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SURVEY:

Is the new law about selling alcohol near an educational institution a good idea?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843462-survey-is-the-new-law-about-selling-alcohol-near-an-educational-institution-a-good-idea/

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Car Accessory Shop Owner kills himself at his North Pattaya home



PATTAYA: - In the early hours of Saturday Police and medics were called to a shop-house in North Pattaya where a 27 year old man is thought to have taken his own life by shooting himself in the head.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843540-car-accessory-shop-owner-kills-himself-at-his-north-pattaya-home/

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5-man motorbike theft gang arrested by Pattaya Police



PATTAYA: -- A press conference was held at Nongprue Police Station in East Pattaya on Saturday Morning which announced the arrest of a 5-man gang who are thought to have stolen motorbikes around the Province and stored them in Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843541-5-man-motorbike-theft-gang-arrested-by-pattaya-police/

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'Suicide by Hanging' in North Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- On Saturday afternoon the body of a 26 year old man was found hanging from a tree in an area of woodland in the Northern outskirts of Pattaya.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843542-suicide-by-hanging-in-north-pattaya/

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Fatal Road Crash in Central Pattaya

PATTAYA: -- A 46 year old motorbike driver lost his life in an early morning road crash on Pattaya Second Road in front of Soi 6 on Sunday Morning.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843544-fatal-road-crash-in-central-pattaya/

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Network slams order on Songkhla public gathering
Somchai Samart
The Nation



Wants governor to step down from public review of coalfired project

SONGKHLA: -- THE PUBLIC review of the project to erect a coal-fired power plant and a coal pier in Songkhla's Thepha district is scheduled to start today amid tight security.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843545-network-slams-order-on-songkhla-public-gathering/

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Drought to drag on for six months, say experts
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE DEVASTATING drought currently affecting Thailand could drag on until the middle of next year due to what experts are calling the mother of all El Ninos.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843546-drought-in-thailand-to-drag-on-for-six-months-say-experts/

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Govt urged to withdraw bid for UN Security Council seat
Wiraj Sripong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT should withdraw Thailand's application to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2017-18, as the country has little chance of being successful, former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843547-thai-govt-urged-to-withdraw-bid-for-un-security-council-seat/

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SPECIAL REPORT
Media groups still concerned about proposed reforms
Piyaporn Wongruang,
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation

Media representatives and reform council committee agree on regulation but differ on how to do it

BANGKOK: -- Media reformers discussing a new press freedom protection law agree on the need to regulate the industry, but are split on how to do it.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843548-thai-report-media-groups-still-concerned-about-proposed-reforms/

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Abused boy, 5, to get psychiatric help
Jeerapong Prasertponkrung,
Santipap Ramasutra
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE SOCIAL Development and Human Security Ministry will rehabilitate the health, both physical and emotional, of a five-year-old boy who had been physically abused by his father.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843549-abused-thai-boy-5-to-get-psychiatric-help/

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
BOT receives foreign exchange warning
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand (BOT) should think twice before increasing its usage of foreign exchange rates as one of the central bank's monetary targets since Thailand's hand is already showing and the repercussions could be severe, said Usara Wilaipich, senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843550-bank-of-thailand-bot-receives-foreign-exchange-warning/

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EDITORIAL
Thai diplomacy faces mammoth challenges
The Nation

Not everything, however, is up to the Kingdom

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's political strife has greatly affected the country's diplomacy, and the situation is not expected to ease any time soon. In addition to the United States, which has been very critical of the military rulers, much to the resentment of those supporting a "long" reform process - who constitute quite a big number in Thailand, countries like France, Australia or those closer to home like Singapore, Cambodia and Laos have more or less been drawn to the Thai conflict.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843551-thai-diplomacy-faces-mammoth-challenges/

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Thailand's Navy needs to get ship-shape
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- JUST IMAGINE these two scenarios: an aircraft falling from the sky into the Gulf of Thailand, or a large liner sinking in the Andaman Sea. What would be the response from the Royal Thai Navy? The answer is clear: nothing.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843552-thailands-navy-needs-to-get-ship-shape/

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THAI to reduce international and regional flights to cut costs



BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International has agreed to reduce several international and regional flights to save costs and, at the same time, increase flights to Europe which have more potential to make profits.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843553-thai-to-reduce-international-and-regional-flights-to-cut-costs/

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Phra Suthep to leave monkhood on July 28 to head a foundation dedicated for reforms



BANGKOK: -- Former leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee Phra Suthep Prakakaro (formerly Suthep Thaugsuban) will leave the monkhood on July 28 to head the PDRC foundation.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843554-phra-suthep-to-leave-monkhood-on-july-28-to-head-a-foundation-dedicated-for-reforms/

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Thailand's move to return Uighurs to China is a massive moral failure
By Editorial Board
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON: -- AFTER A military coup in May 2014 that converted Thailand from democracy to dictatorship, the country bade farewell to free expression and fair elections. Now, it’s saying goodbye to its international obligations, too. There’s no starker example of Thailand’s legal and moral failures than its decision this month to send 109 refugee Uighurs — an ethnically Turkish Muslim minority — back to China, where they will almost surely face persecution and possibly torture.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843555-thailands-move-to-return-uighurs-to-china-is-a-massive-moral-failure/

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Yingluck sends birthday best to Thaksin, 66
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ex-pm Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday posted a message and pictures on her Facebook page and Instagram to wish her brother ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra on his birthday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843556-yingluck-sends-birthday-best-to-thaksin-66/

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Decision on impeachment of 248 ex-MPs 'may not have big impact'
Kasamakorn Chanwanpen
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- NO matter how impeachment charges against 248 former MPs turn out, there is likely to be little impact on the Thai political landscape, political observers have predicted.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843557-decision-on-impeachment-of-248-ex-mps-may-not-have-big-impact/

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Groups lobby for unified position on charter draft
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Two groups from the National Reform Council (NRC) are lobbying other groups to unify their decision on whether or not to accept the charter draft, NRC member Wanchai Sornsiri said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843558-groups-lobby-for-unified-position-on-thai-charter-draft/

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EDUCATION
Vocational education panel set to focus on automobile, food sectors
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation



Almost 190,000 skilled labourers needed to work in 14 industries in the next two years

BANGKOK: - RECOGNISING the particularly high demand for qualified vocational graduates in some specific industries, such as the automobile and food industries, the Vocational Educational Commission has vowed to pay special attention to those fields.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843559-vocational-education-panel-set-to-focus-on-automobile-food-sectors/

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NOMINEE
Phuket firms face DSI probe over alleged use of nominees
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

PHUKET: -- Four Phuket companies will soon face an in-depth probe by the Department of Special Investigation for possibly circumventing the Foreign Business Act by letting Thai nominees hold a majority stake.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843560-phuket-firms-face-dsi-probe-over-alleged-use-of-nominees/

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Turkey calls for NATO meeting to discuss security threats
By SUZAN FRASER

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey on Sunday called for a meeting of its NATO allies to discuss threats to its security and its airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in Syria and Kurdish rebels in Iraq.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843562-turkey-calls-nato-talks-on-is-and-pkk/

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Syria's embattled president admits manpower shortage
By BASSEM MROUE

BEIRUT (AP) — In his first public address in a year, embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad vowed Sunday to win his country's long-running civil war while acknowledging his troops had lost territory to rebel forces and were running short on manpower.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843563-syrias-embattled-president-admits-manpower-shortage/

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Obama: Kenya at 'crossroads' between peril and promise
By JULIE PACE

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Declaring Kenya at a "crossroads" between promise and peril, President Barack Obama on Sunday pressed the nation of his father's birth to root out corruption, treat women and minorities as equal citizens, and take responsibility for its future.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843564-obama-kenya-at-crossroads-between-peril-and-promise/

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Police suspect husband of decapitating wife, 2 dogs

PHOENIX (AP) — A woman was found decapitated along with two dogs in a blood-soaked Phoenix apartment, and police said Sunday they suspect her husband, who was found naked and severely wounded, in the grisly attack.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843566-us-phoenix-police-suspect-husband-of-decapitating-wife-2-dogs/

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Salmond says another Scottish independence vote 'inevitable'

LONDON (AP) — The former first minister of Scotland says a second referendum on Scottish independence is "inevitable."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843567-second-scotland-referendum-inevitable/

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2016 Republicans use Trump, TV to make debate cut
By THOMAS BEAUMONT and NICHOLAS RICCARDI

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Rick Perry is attacking Donald Trump's credibility and branding the billionaire businessman "a cancer on conservatism." Rick Santorum, a conservative stalwart, popped up on a TV program popular with liberals. Lindsey Graham set his cellphone on fire.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843568-2016-republicans-use-trump-tv-to-make-debate-cut/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

From Burma to Nagasaki: the man who walked through hell

Jan Bras endured years of forced labour as a Japanese POW before witnessing the aftermath of the atom bomb. Now 92, he tells Elizabeth Day about the horror and brutality he endured – and how he lives with it today.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843571-from-burma-to-nagasaki-the-man-who-walked-through-hell/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Cambodia tells U.S. not to interfere in its judicial affairs

PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has urged the United States to stop interfering in its judicial affairs, saying that the country is a sovereign state, according to a statement of the government Press and Quick Reaction Unit.

Read more: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/843573-cambodia-tells-us-not-to-interfere-in-its-judicial-affairs/