JaiRai

You know who the monk is right? They say he has sequestered himself in a temple and is preparing to give sermons in the future.... God help us.

When I first saw I didn't recognize him.

Probably consulting Flash's favorite monk (on the left)

Yep. I'm even surprised that made it into the newspaper. Suspects refuse to give DNA sample and are let go -- that's the foul odor of bullshit and shady influence. Be grateful there is international attention on this otherwise a couple poor blokes from Myanmar would have had their difficult life shit on even more in taking the blame for these cowardly pricks. I'm losing some of my liberal ideals over the years in that when I hear stories like this - my response is to let the perpetrators endure the same treatment they were willing to mete out on these young tourists. Hats off to the Scottish lad for doing something about it.

Per Richard Barrow (with pics/sources): https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow?lang=en "The German doesn’t have an urgent medical condition. He was born this way & it “doesn’t hurt†"The German has been put up at VS Guesthouse on Khao San & will be taken to his embassy today" "Update on German seen begging on Khao San: Tourist Police & others have now come to his aid"

Beat me to it Flash. Well, hat's off to Scotland regardless for making things interesting. Good night.

26 of 32 electorates complete now. Still 54 to 45 against independence. I was wondering how it would pan out if they actually did it. Oh well. Note: Glasgow, largest electorate by far, came in 53% yes. No matter what it's been close, curious to see the aftermath.

For security reasons no one in the cabinet will be wearing a bikini this volleyball season...

Right now 51% (no) to 49% (yes) - we'll know in the morning (Scot time) unless there's some unforeseen drama. I wonder if bookies are taking bets...

http://www.bbc.com/news/events/scotland-decides/results - Kinda moot posting this link as will be decided by morning, but if you want to follow the tally close to 'real time...'

Saw this on Khaosod a few days ago (and they got it from twitter where it was pointed out a couple weeks ago). You can't make this shit up. MuangThai didn't do the screen grab, they just took it random off the net without investigating. Some superb thai student with Flash's sleuthing skills posted on twitter and... the rest is recall history. Original twitter post (worth it to see an image that better illustrates the SNAFU): https://twitter.com/T3Thee/status/507161105437696000/photo/1

^^ not sure what your point is. That makes the verdict correct? Curious to see what they do with manslaughter. One of my favorite quotes from the judge on the case: ""During his evidence, he seemed composed and logical ... (but) under cross-examination he lost his composure ... (and it seemed) the accused was suffering from enormous emotional stress and was traumatized by reliving the incident," she said. "The accused therefore cannot be found guilty of murder dolus eventualis (legal intent)..." Really? Are you fucking serious. It's like the opposite of Camus' "The Stranger" where his lack of emotion made him guilty (when he wasn't), in this case his 'emotional stress' on the stand indicates innocence? Puh-leaze.

History of significant domestic violence incidents on record, along with threatening texts and conversation in the days up to the shooting. But since he shot her through the bathroom door he didn't realize it was her - and no intent to kill?? wtf. Patently absurd to let him off for trivial and naive reasoning. If he doesn't receive something it's a farce. Tragic for her family.

Ahhh the wonders of Western Influence. http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/09/04/fattening-thailand <snip>: “Anytime a developing country has a big rate of progress, there’s obesity," adds nutritionist expert Brian Allen, who has been based in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia for over two decades. While in the region, he allegedly witnessed a “dramatic growth in [the] average size of women and men in Thailand.†Allen goes to to explain that healthier individuals weren’t as scarce pre-progress as many were more self-sufficient in making their own food. The diet problem arises once individuals become “Westernized.†------

Thought this funny (because a little true).

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HOly fuck let that be a lesson - don't try to post while on a conference call (a boring one) taking notes for your boss. Hoped I was making a 'thoughtful' post but it's a meandering mess. Anyway - what I wanted to say is that the consolidation of power by the military and the decrease in civil liberties gives pause. The country itself might be X times safer and cheaper, but.... Now, I hope that in the long run it's all an overblown dog/pony show and much ado about nada. We shall see.

I made my point poorly. Thailand has been a draw for a broad range of people, I think we can find common ground there. Whatever shortcomings and problems it had were eclipsed by the idea that it was an open environment where to some extent you could redefine yourself and experience a different culture and a different perspective on the world. An army of attractive and available women certainly doesn't hurt. Yeah yeah yeah this kind of environment also draws problems and scams and assholes and people to avoid -- but with a little common sense Thailand had a lot of appeal for many (and disillusionment for many too, granted). Too some, seeing the environment change to become more like Burma, or China or Singapore or Vietnam causes the appeal to diminish. It's not really about safety (don't get me wrong, I'm not going on walkabout through Libya and safety is always a factor, but not the most important one and the least appealing thing is a sterile environment - people who want that can go to Disneyland). But when you hear about increasingly strict media and speech and social controls - this is a deterrent, and it goes against some deeply ingrained values for some. Especially young people. Whether this be naive or not. So a military government with great hotels and deals and parks... yeah you'll still get tourists and the curious. I'll certainly come back unless they start executing falangs. But it most definitely ain't the same. Hence, a lot of folks are curious about where the country will go. This impacts how they see things there, how much time one is willing to invest in learning the language, culture, etc.. Go read the backpacker forums.

I get the impression that a lot of expats on the ground see recent events in one way: country falling apart on verge of violence due to corrupt self serving political clan leaders unwilling to compromise. Need a Paternal political 'father figure' to take control and straighten things out before shit hits the fan. But, outsiders see it a different way: Military leaders consolidate power and control of the country, clamp down on personal liberties and media. The truth is probably somewhere in between (or not), but I know a lot of folks who have taken Thailand off their destination list for the time being, waiting to see what happens. Waiting to see.

Me too. If this was something done in private and these people didn't have their faces plastered in the media in self promotion - skeptical they would do/give anything. And then who knows what happens to the actual money. I trust the Red Cross, peace corps, and a few others (to some extent) - but wary of the numerous charity organizations proliferating. Nothing against the cause here either.

Use Amazon a couple times a week. Will try and remember the T360 through-link. Question: How the f*ck did you come up with a book by 'the blether' to be displayed? That guy used to be all over the thaivisa forum, you couldn't escape him - considered himself the font of wisdom on Thailand and yet he only traveled there. Another fool who thought Stickman was a god and was dying to be one of 'the guys' in expat circles, he left there after folks realized he was slinging bullshit. Ahhhhh... Thailand.

No corruption or fighting like the old governments, because now we control it all. NLA and PM. Not to mention the media, police, and even Academia. Good time to be a general. Bad time not to be a yes man.

Went to a dinner party in Minburi once and realized when the taxi dropped me off that I had forgotten to pick up a bottle of wine or bring anything. God damnit! Just outside the couple's home an old lady with a bicycle had one of those makeshift tables set up with lottery tickets. I bought one (pair) as a joke just to bring something. Anything. Anyway, was surprised at how happy my friend's wife was to get this. Cool. Since then it's become a de facto small gesture of thanks when I don't know what else to get. And it's surprisingly efficient. Thai lottery itself is shady as hell and expensive for the shitty reward if you win. I love the fact that they have an underground lottery running blatantly in the open side by side with the state lottery (and many times you can buy the tickets from the same folks for either one).

What's up with the soundtrack? I thought I was watching an art school project.