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Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 12:37 pm
by kerrensimmonds
or even 'dyes'?

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:22 pm
by J.R.
kerrensimmonds wrote:or even 'dyes'?

Ho-Ho

I could edit my post and make you look silly, Kerren..... BUT

Well spotted !

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:26 pm
by kerrensimmonds
You are a gentleman.
(Did I really say that.....??!

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:58 am
by NEILL THE NOTORIOUS
kerrensimmonds wrote:You are a gentleman.
(Did I really say that.....??!
Now THAT should sting you JR !
(A GENTLEMAN ???) :?

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:05 pm
by J.R.
NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:
kerrensimmonds wrote:You are a gentleman.
(Did I really say that.....??!
Now THAT should sting you JR !
(A GENTLEMAN ???) :?

never has my flabber been so gasted ! :roll:

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:25 pm
by kerrensimmonds
:lol:

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:41 am
by Ajarn Philip
Elections are coming up, which means that bars are closed and the sale of alcohol is forbidden. Hence this spoof article that appeared to day. It's so good that I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't genuine - it's rather too near the mark for some sad expats in this country.
Police Prepare For Election Day Expat Sobriety Riots
Bangkok’s alcoholic farang population “unpredictable”

29 Jun 2011

BANGKOK – Thailand’s police have called up all reserve staff for a full show of force ahead of this weekend’s election, as a precaution against unrest and violence from angry, sober alcoholic expatriates during the ban on alcohol sales.

The ban, in accordance with national election law, prohibits retail alcohol sales at stores, bars and restaurants from 6pm Saturday to midnight Sunday. The 36-hour period is traditionally a high-risk period in areas with high concentrations of expats, such as Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok and large swaths of Pattaya.

“Due to the importance of this election, we are taking no chances with expatriate sobriety-related violence,” said a stern National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potphosri. He justified the deployment of over 20,000 additional security officers nationwide as a necessary precaution against “deranged, sober foreigners.”

Additionally, numerous bars and nightlife areas in Bangkok and other cities will be shut down altogether to avoid gatherings of large numbers of non-drunken expats. Wichean has launched a PR campaign encouraging them to stay home on Saturday night “for once.”

Although large-scale rioting by un-intoxicated foreigners is rare, many previous Thai elections have seen small outbreaks of civil unrest, usually by expats who were unaware of the election at all and who reacted badly to being told that they can’t have a drink at their favorite establishment.

“For many of these men, 36 hours without a drink and the company of a rented Asian female represents something unacceptable, terrifying even,” said Noppawan Rangkulan, sociology professor at Thammasat University. “Sobering up means becoming momentarily aware of their graying bodies and emotionally hollow lives. What we think of as an alcohol-free night represents an existential crisis for them.”

Noppawon claims this “sobriety shock” is an actual medical pathology and recommends that hospitals offer free alcohol IV drips during the election weekend.

“Most expats are perfectly reasonable people,” she said. “The few deranged ones that end up yelling at waitresses at Irish pubs, they just need help.”

But according to Election Commission member Prapun Naigowit, much of the problem simply stems from a lack of communication. “Many expats are so isolated from the realities of the country they live in that something as major as an election can slip under their radar,” he explained. “Those who prepare ahead of time can easily get through the weekend by having a case of beer and a few DVDs ready at home.”

The EC has launched an educational campaign by posting messages on (forum name removed).com, reminding expatriates of the alcohol ban and suggesting that they host ‘Election Parties’ in their apartments.

Major grocery chains such as Tops have also joined in the campaign, touting 12-packs of Chang and Singha at their outlets with offers of free coolers as part of their “Stay Home, Stay Wasted” promotion.

Although the EC is confident in their campaign, Noppawan still thinks that planning ahead simply goes against the mentality of the alcoholic in general, and the alcoholic expat in particular.

“The people likely to cause a stir on election day can’t think three hours ahead, much less plan for a weekend,” she said. “You might as well ask your dog to feed himself while you’re on vacation.”

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:10 am
by Katharine
Ajarn Philip wrote:Elections are coming up, which means that bars are closed and the sale of alcohol is forbidden. Hence this spoof article that appeared to day. It's so good that I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't genuine - it's rather too near the mark for some sad expats in this country.
Police Prepare For Election Day Expat Sobriety Riots
Bangkok’s alcoholic farang population “unpredictable”
....But according to Election Commission member Prapun Naigowit, much of the problem simply stems from a lack of communication. “Many expats are so isolated from the realities of the country they live in that something as major as an election can slip under their radar,” he explained. “Those who prepare ahead of time can easily get through the weekend by having a case of beer and a few DVDs ready at home.”....
I can really relate to the section I have left in of your report, Philip. I've known those expats!

We have lived in 2 different countries when they went dry, both for political reasons. Firstly it was Pakistan - we still had access to the duty free supplies for diplomats, and it wasn't illegal for Pakistanis to drink in our home but they preferred to do so if the glasses were dark so that nobody could be sure what they were drinking. I well remember being out at a Chinese restaurant in Islamabad and our guest, straight out from UK, being offered "special tea" and not realising it was Chinese beer!

The second time was Brunei, they gave us a month's notice and beer was bought by the dozen crates to be ready for the day. They did make an allowance for Christians of 12 (yes TWELVE) beers a year! We were posted elsewhere before the end of the first year.

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:39 pm
by NEILL THE NOTORIOUS
I regret the days when Elections were preceded by a cart, carrying a barrel of beer, which toured the Village, to ensure that the Locals voted the right way !!

(No -- contrary to popular opinion -- it was before my time ! ) :(

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:48 pm
by jhopgood
I have lived in various countries where the sale of alcohol has been banned the day before the elections, which just meant that people stored up and drank at home.
I have also lived in places where voters have been bussed to the polling station, given T shirts etc, all in an effort to secure their votes.
Just recently we have had local elections (May 22) and a lot of "funny" goings on have happened in the village.
At the previous elections, the governing party, PP, bussed the pensioners in from the Old People's home down the road, many of whom were foreigners and had been persuaded to register in the village. PP won quite easily.
There are only about 300 voters so every vote counts.
This time a new party got involved and lost by one vote.
The result has been protested as 3 voters who are registered in the village, actually live in the next village, where they have lived for the last 20 years. Rumour has it they they registered in our village to protect their jobs, as they have the franchise for the local village owned bar, which is up for renewal. If the last 20 years is anything to go by, the ruling party gives the franchise to their party friends, and only they get to see what has been submitted.
We were unable to vote as our postal vote got sent to us 3 days after we left for the UK, but we have exhausted all avenues of protest.
Anyway, the village is now split down the middle and with the village fiestas about to start, it will be interesting to see how successful they are.
I find it all very "third world", which is probably an insult on third world local politicians.

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 6:42 am
by Ajarn Philip
It's a bit wet in Thailand at the moment.

Actually the flooding is very serious (in most places other than where we live), and there's no immediate sign of a let-up. "Worse before better" is the most likely scenario.
In the spirit of "desperate times call for desperate measures", the nation's decision makers have put their undoubtedly formidable combined intellectual powers behind a scheme to hasten the flow of water from where it is currently causing havoc downriver into the Gulf of Thailand by using "propeller power"...

Read on:
Operation launched to propel water flows

Published: 16/10/2011 at 10:55 AM Online news:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday morning presided over a ceremony to launch an operation using motorboats to propel the flows of water along the Chao Phraya river into the Gulf of Thailand.

The ceremony, televised live on Channel 11, was held at 10am at Phra Nang Klao bridget in Nonthaburi.

The operation is aimed at accelerating the flows of water in three main rivers - Chao Phraya, Bang Prakong, and Tha Chin - into the Gulf of Thailand with propellers of motorboats with engines running.

It is hoped that the operation would quickly help reduce the amounts of water now wreaking havoc in Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and other riverside provinces.

Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Surasawadi, chief of operations of the National Flood Relive Centre, said more than 500 boats took part in the operation at various spots in the Chao Phraya river, and about 300 each in the Tha Chin river west of Bangkok and the Bang Prakong river west of Bangkok.

He said the operation would be conducted all the time during the ebb tide.

Judging from previous trials, it is believed the operation would help accelerate water flows into the Gulf by about 50 million cubic metres of water per day.
Surely they are 'avin a larf!

Can any of you scientists confirm that this is a scientifically valid exercise?

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:36 am
by sejintenej
Ajarn Philip wrote:It's a bit wet in Thailand at the moment.

Actually the flooding is very serious (in most places other than where we live), and there's no immediate sign of a let-up. "Worse before better" is the most likely scenario.
In the spirit of "desperate times call for desperate measures", the nation's decision makers have put their undoubtedly formidable combined intellectual powers behind a scheme to hasten the flow of water from where it is currently causing havoc downriver into the Gulf of Thailand by using "propeller power"...?
I was thinking about you when I heard about the floods - glads to hear you are not affected.
The idea is OK in theory but ........ the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok is so wide that you could get 500 water taxis abreast but their propellors would affect water in the top 9 inches of the river; what about the rest which I think is deep enough for sea going vessels? In addition you would need such driving forces all down each of the rivers to maintain the driving force.
Seems likely to be a publicity stunt to show that the Government is trying to do something - but is actually trying in the other sense. Prime Minister Yingluck needs some yang to have any luck.

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:41 am
by Ajarn Philip
sejintenej wrote: Prime Minister Yingluck needs some yang to have any luck.
Oh very goooood! Did you know that 'yang' can also be interpreted as meaning sunny (apparently)?

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:58 am
by Angela Woodford
Having once read a hippy-dippy rainbow-tinted raised-conciousness book about the joy of natural macrobiotic childbirth, I gathered that yin was moon (feminine) and yang was sun (masculine).

Still needed the forceps and gratefully accepted some nice pethidine though. The yin-consciousness did me no good at all. Just my non-Yingluck!

Still :offtopic: Sorry, but yes... Thought of you and flood risks! Very relieved you are safe!

Re: Just a glimpse...

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:28 am
by sejintenej
Just a thought about all those propellors. Of course they will have an effect and if they keep going then they will start to make the rivers run more quickly but it will take time - perhaps centuries until any real effect can be measured. This is the concept behind the ion drives used in the latest deep-space vehicles.

As Kirby, Crosland perhaps van Praagh and Newton taught us, action and reaction are equal and opposite. Ergo, as the water is forced southwards, Thailand will be forced northwards; perhaps our descendants will learn about Gobithai.