Blockchain? #expatlife

This strange article got little attention. Maybe not enough people understand blockchain. But for those who do.....What?

Finance Ministry to use Blockchain Tech

The reason stated in the article is to improve government services to citizens. Of course, this really would work because people could apply directly for assistance and eliminate the middle man.

The middle man is the bloody, cruel heart of this place. The man with the tractor, the rice mill, the government contract.

Could we actually see smart contracts? Immutable agreements? Integrity? Wow....

Kratom #expatlife

Kratom...Good Stuff

The legalization trend should pull Kratom in too. It's almost as useful as ganja.

How Pretty Thai Girls Make Money #expatlife

Wages High for "pretties"

A very good infographic about how young, attractive Thai women earn money. This is a Thai industry...not expat. But, it's important to understand to have perspective and knowledge...

Watch Out! #expatlife

Bank Employee Steals Cash

It's easy to feel complacent. You have more money. No worries. Things are fine. You have some lazy days running errands while everyone is at work. But, be careful.

This happens. The level of professionalism is different. Not better or worse, just different.

Expect everything to happen and pay attention to the small details. Your life here will be much easier.

A Lesson You Must Learn #expatlife

A Lesson You Need to Learn

If you want to be an Expat.

A friend who teaches at the university with me is in big trouble. About 1 year ago he had an accident. While making a left hand turn, a motorcycle tried to pass and they collided. The motorcycle driver, a young woman, was injured and spent about 2 months in the hospital treating her broken shin and ankle.

His insurance was paid up; he actually had a Thai driver's license. It clearly was not his fault. When the police got involved a lot of paperwork and conversation was passing back and forth between his wife and the officers and in the end the wife knowingly or unknowingly signed a confession for the husband which, apparently, is legal here. Crazy?

My friend assumed his insurance would handle things as it would back in the states. He never imagined his wife would sign a confession! And no one discussed it with him at all. He went on with his life. 1 year passed... He forgot all about it.

And now my friend is in court defending himself from the judge's threats of jail because he didn't visit the girl in the hospital, the insurance hadn't paid the claim and my friend had not paid any cash-based apologies all stemming from his apparent confession written in Thai and signed by his wife. It didn't help that he was not contrite and servile...

Surprise!

He ends up paying the court 300,000 baht for an appeal and is put on probation. You get a big red X on your immigration screen that is quite a shock.

He went to court 5 or 6 times over the course of a year and has been constantly paying out small fees to the lawyer, court costs, and to the complainant.

And living with the threat of jail is not easy.

Lesson learned? Do I need to write it out?

Draft Law: 6 Ganja Plants...Maybe

Thais Allowed 6 Plants....Maybe #expaatlife


Expats will not be allowed to grow if the law passes, but there could be an abundance of ganja in town if it does!

There is no way the laws will remain restricted to medical use. 

It's just too small a market. Give it 1 year before the oversupply emerges.

Ganja Battles Go On #expatlife

One thing I love about living in Thailand and Thai news is the truth often emerges about what's really going on....Bravo!

Agency Given 15 Days

Is it Worth Chasing? #expatlife

I chased it most of my adult life and this chase even brought me to Thailand and the life I now lead. I cannot say I regret the writing or the choices, but there was no glory.

Is Literary Glory Worth Chasing?

Most Interesting Interview Ever Recorded #expatlife

I found this article today about bugs in space.

ISS

First learned about the idea of bacteria and organisms in outer space and some of the reasons for them from James Horak. Originally, I learned of James through the Kevin Smith podcast out of Thailand. Kevin is not with us anymore, but James sure is...

This is the link to the 4 part series of the most fascinating, enlightening and engaging interview ever recorded:

A Refined Cosmology to Address Cosmic Anomaly

Enjoy.

                     

                   

Bizarre Russian Visa #expatlife

There must be more to this story. Why sell a visa when they are so easy to get? I assume they are much longer than tourist visas or they are multiple entry visas for businessmen?

What else is going on here? Such an interesting story.

The Visa process here is currently being unraveled and updated which is very good news because it is extremely confusing.

Russian Consul Charged

Ganja Money Battles Rage #expatlife

As the legalization of ganja draws near the different groups fight for little slices of the ganja pie.

Update: Law Clears Thai Cabinet

This will continue for the next year or so as the winners and losers align.

Article in the Nation newspaper.

Sadly, this process may go down the usual road and end up another heavily regulated, controlled and unprofitable crop for most aka rice, corn, cassava, and so on...

But, at least it will be legal and available and Thais can begin unraveling their social taboos. In the end it will be a positive step socially as people question their old belief systems and allow new ideas to seep in.

Great article to get you up to speed.

Best Hotel in Bangkok #expatlife

Best Hotel in Bangkok  is:

Maduzi Hotel

Education Slump #expatlife

Weaponizing Education

A lot of people will disagree with me, but I do not believe there is a conspiracy in Thailand to indoctrinate children through the education system. Maybe once a long time ago, but no more. Could there be discrimination among class systems? Of course.

I feel most Thai teachers truly believe in the values of their society and have a genuine, even enthusiastic desire to teach children.

You don't know what you don't know.

Yes, there are classes and class differences. Is it realistic to teach children from rural villages western ideals about freedom and opportunity? I don't know. This is the kind of reality they deal with below:

Arrested

I know quite a few young education majors and they are smart, worldly, critical thinkers. One example, a woman named, Sai, is one of the smartest, mature young women I have ever met. She is fluent in English, she reads, she is comfortable with other cultures, new ideas, critical analysis.

She passed her tests, she has her degree. Now what? Waiting list. Up to 3 years before she can get a job assignment! Ridiculous. What is she supposed to do? Watch Netflix for 3 years? Of course not. She has to find job and move on with her life. 

The problem here is rules, systems, bureaucracy, power systems that will not bend or adapt to a new world.

Facebook Dating #expatlife

Facebook plans to roll out a dating app in Asia only for now. Thais love Facebook.

Facebook Dating

I am sure it will be a huge success as FB has about 46 million registered users in LOS.

FB is part of day to day life. They do not really use it to chat or make calls- even for business (Line is for that), but rather as a photo and commenting source, usually about family.

Dating and family are intimately connected here so a connection might be inevitable.

Thailand Scores Low in English Proficiency... #expatlife

EF EPI English Proficiency Index

It's out for 2018 and Thailand's rank is even lower this year. Interesting also is the difference between Bangkok and Isaan is quite small.

Quote from page 4: "Societies that speak English are more open, less hierarchical..."

A catch-22 as the hierarchical nature of Thai society is one of the reasons English proficiency is so low. Apply the hierarchical mindset to education and you do not get stellar results.

Of course, the English language, in the report, coincides with many trends: quality of life, jobs, innovation, economy, etc...

European countries are steadily moving in chunks to the higher proficiency bands while our Thailand is moving down.

Singapore, PI and Malaysia remain at the top.

Finally, an age gap has emerged: all Asian groups over 20 years old posted declines.

Big Joke Promises

This should eventually lead to an updated immigration process with long term expats like me not having to renew the visa every year, check-in every 90 days or even keeping lots of money in the bank.

Most of the odd regulations and outdated paperwork relates to the benefits of confusion and handwritten rules...

Big Joke Promises

And finally, marijuana will be legalized:


LEGAL

Growing up a Little? #expat #expatlife #isaan

Is Thailand growing up a little? I think so. And this is great news. 

This article published:

App to Assist Small Shops

Yes, it probably will not work and so on. I know. But, what's important about this is admitting why the 7-11 is so popular and the mom and pop shops are not. They aren't clean, convenient or organized.

And the article acknowledges the major obstacle: middlemen.

The middleman, the intermediary agent between rich and poor is killing the small farmer, the small shop, etc...The middle group owns the tractors, the trucks, the sacks, the fertilizer, the tools, distribution, even sometimes the labor (why it is so hard to hire labor here because people have learned their crucial role and the community spirit has evaporated in some cases).

The middle protects its fiefdom and prevents development. 

Now consider this below. Another cultural myth or taboo shattered. Doctors are not Gods.

I fought with my partner and destroyed much of our relationship over this issue because she could not understand why or what I worried about. But, now the powerful voice from above is letting out some truth and wisdom. Too late for me, but the next generation has a chance.

BANGKOK, 29th OCTOBER 2018 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has instructed all hospitals under it to prescribe medications appropriately, and lower antibiotics use by 20%, by 2021. 

A few weeks back I was discussing vaccines with a Thai medical doctor who is also the director of a school. I was worried about discussing this with him, but felt obligated as a few people had been asking me about flu vaccines.

Much to my surprise the doctor completely agreed with me that vaccines are not as trustworthy as people tend to think (without thinking) in part because the companies manufacturing them are concerned primarily with profit.

Isaan Podcast Coming soon.

the Siamese Collectors....On its way to being a best seller.......

the Siamese Collectors

This new novel has already sold more than 300 copies in the first weeks. Amazing. I know all of the places where the novel is set....A  kind of literary tour of Bangkok- which is not really known as having an academic culture, but it really does!

This picture shows a group of the very first antiquarians of Siam building the collection for the Siam Society. An extraordinary group.

Free for 3 Days #expatlife

Water Heart

Free for 3 days