[Rock Bands That Should Have Been Bigger?]

Prince was only 5 ft 2 ins. He could have been bigger.

[Thai taxi driver slams cops for toll indulgence]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

The driver said she then informed passengers that the transport fee from the application was 326 baht, and they had to pay an additional toll fee.

Blame the app maybe, but ultimately a lack of transparency of the fare was the issue.

[Thailand’s aviation hub plans receive airline approval despite concerns]

Sounds like Tassapon should have been consulted before the PM unveiled his plans. 

[Thai widow swindled in romance scam by fake college director]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

In related news, a 65 year old Thai woman lost 3 million baht in a romance scam after engaging in a month-long online conversation with a scammer she met on a Facebook dating group.

This sounds like a slightly more interesting story.

[Phuket café’s lion cub sparks police and wildlife officers manhunt]

Is it even legal to have a lion?

[Can owner refuse deposit after extending a 1 year contract]

I had a similar experience. In the end, we agreed that if we weren't going to make a new lease, 3 months notice from either party was fair. That went on for years no problem, then she jacked the rent up in a new lease. We decided to leave, within 3 months, it was all good and amicable.  We found another house. Her newly inflated rental went empty for 18 months and she ended up trying to sell it. 

Anyway, not sure what my point was but I hoped you liked my story.

Oh yes, talk to her and work something out - she is within her rights and holds all the cards (and your deposit).

[Five Alleged Illegal Drug Users Arrested at Abandoned Hotel in Jomtien]

A squatter with a safety vest, who is an ACDC fan, and probably pretty good with a hoola-hoop.

[Be warned: AirAsia customer service!]

Had a similar experience to those other posts. Air Asia has no customer service effectively - and the real people hiding behind their robots are equally useless. They don't care.

[Tourism Concerns Spark Plea for Alcohol Sales Law Change]

The only rationale of the 2 - 5pm ban seems to be kids are buying it during these times. Never really understood that - they can just wait to go out at 5pm like the rest of us. If shopkeepers/7-11 staff etc had the confrontation skills to request ID from minors and refuse sales appropriately, and, if penalties were applied to those selling it to minors - this ban wouldn't be required. This is the culture that exists in the west, but is not something culturally easy for Thais so it seems. Hence these peculiar rules apply.

[Thai woman stabs herself, spins murder tale to evade debt payments]

I wonder how much the debt is? How much is it worth stabbing yourself in the stomach for?

[Thai food vendor sparks debate after giving free food to foreign backpacker]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

just took advantage of Thais’ kindness

Doesn't one offer kindness to benefit someone in need? At what point can kindness be taken advantage of? 

[Northern Thailand Sees Major Decrease in Forest Fires]

Amazing what rain can do.

[Transwoman thief allegedly tricks victim into oral sex to steal assets]

I hate it when I get tricked into getting a <deleted>. 

[Thai AirAsia merger grounded till 2027]

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

Any airline that doesn't have a phone number, email address or a real customer service people to help you when you have

an issue and only a BOT to address your queries, is an airline i will never fly again with no matter how cheap they're and 

AirAsia is one of them...

Yep, left me and my young family stranded in KL and basically couldn't give a f##! Was my go-to airlines, now a very very last option.

[Thailand moves to ban recreational cannabis use, 18 months after historic decriminalization]

Another blow to tourism.

[German documentary reignites sex tourism concerns for Thailand’s Pattaya]

6 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Wy would  anyone be worried about this .

In the Netherlands when I was living there we had Amsterdam and Rotterdam Red Light districts and Coffee(Weed )shops and Sex/Toy shops Everywhere.

That's were the Tourists  went .

So Figure It's an Advertisement

Maybe there will be direct flights from Germany to Pattaya soon - just to uptake the demand.

[TAT forecasts surge of Chinese tourists into Thailand via land in 2024]

God help us, don't tell me they they are bringing their cars.

[Chiang Mai Tourism Seeks Action Against Seasonal Smog]

The AQI is starting to creep up as farmers start burning off their rice stubs and the rain that clears the air has ceased. AQI up to 141 already in some parts. At least mushroom season is months away and the forest fires haven't been lit yet.

[Child going overseas without mother]

2 hours ago, Yzyz said:

Can the consent letter be used repeatedly or each time child goes abroad, need a new one ? Thanks.

Sorry, can't answer your question but probably a new one would be a good idea.  I wasn't asked for anything at all as it turned out. 

[American Tourist Arrested for Stabbing Incident in Chiang Mai]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

police forces tracked down Brian at a nearby inn the next day.

Doesn't seem an 'expedited intervention' unless I'm missing something. I'm hearing reports one of his random victims has now passed away. Lock the creep up forever!

[Police Warn of Restaurant Scam: Fake Customers Demand Refunds for Incorrect Food Deliveries]

If the refunds are going into a bank account, surely the culprits would be easy to track down? It's the 'insignificant' amounts involved that make it easier for police to issue a warning to restaurants rather than investigate further.

[Indian man caught with 200kg of animal parts at Suvarnabhumi airport]

What airline is offering 200 kg of unchecked checked-in baggage? 

[Child going overseas without mother]

1 hour ago, RedCardinal said:

Same boat as others - I have a 10yo son and we fly out together once or twice a year.  IOs always requested information, often questioned son in Thai, and more times than not called his mother from the airport.  Sometimes sent to a higher-up to have docs checked.  I've always had a letter signed by mother with copies of her ID.  So YMMV.

Probably no harm trying to have mother near a phone at departure time should IO choose to be extra fussy.  I can attest it can happen.

Thank you for your advice.

[Chiang Mai teens seen vaping, sniffing glue in public in downtown]

57 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yet, even when he says that Cannabis can not be used for recreational use, how and why were all of the shops allowed to be opened with no restrictions.  There are still tables set up in places outside on the sidewalks where they sell rolled joints and bud.

There are restrictions. Age (20) & pregnant women from memory. The restrictions may be just as effective stopping kids buying weed as it is with alcohol and cigarettes. The price of weed in these shops is the biggest restriction. 

[Chiang Mai teens seen vaping, sniffing glue in public in downtown]

27 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

so many posts blaming weed for this activity when weed wasn't mentioned! posters think this behavior only happens on weed? I say it sounds more like E or Molly if anything, but quit running to blame weed for the headlines, it's always been the meth and psychosis. find a horrible headline where weed was the only culprit and get back to me

Yes, there was no mention of weed at all. Lots of anti-weeders jumping on a soap box. The glue sniffing is what should standing out as a concern more than anything.